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Home My WebLink About2006-10-12 Info Packet I;; 1 ~~~~'r -..;;;..... -....m~ ..... ~ ~ CITY OF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET October 12, 2006 OCTOBER 16 WORK SESSION ITEMS IP1 City Council Meetings and Work Session Agendas IP2 Memorandum from the Director of Planning and Zoning: Inclusionary Zoning Discussion IP3 Memorandum from the City Manager: Priority/Policy review for proposed '08 Budget IP4 Memorandum from the Parking Manager: Moped/Scooter Parking MISCELLANEOUS IPS Letter from Gary Christiansen to Mayor Wilburn: Resolution regarding Iowa City resident Army National Guard Spc. Kampha B. Sourivong IP6 E-mail from Tom Milke to Mayor Wilburn: Parking Ticket [Mayor Wilburn's response included] IP7 Memorandum from the City Manager: Sand Lake Recreational Area IP8 Letter from the City Manager to Brad McCusker: Noise pollution on Scott Boulevard IP9 Memorandum from the Chief of Police: Que's Liquor License Renewal IP10 Memorandum from the City Engineer: Ralston Creek Cleanups IP11 Memorandum from the Director of Public Works: Plasma Arc Technology Waste Disposal IP12 E-mail from Ibrahim AI-Khattat: New "green" science as a tool of economic development IP13 United States Environmental Protection Agency Fact Sheet submitted by Beckie Himes: Record of Decision Issued - Iowa City Former Manufactured Gas Plant Superfund Site, Iowa City, Iowa IP14 Memorandum from Public Works Department Project Coordinator: Agenda Items IP15 Memorandum from the Assistant to the City Manager: Wildlife Management Service Agreement IP16 The Human Rights Commission presents: Crimes of Hate October 25,2006 IPH E-mail and invitation from Helen Burford: Friends of Historic Preservation and Economic Development IP18 Douglas Elliott: Public Leadership Group Minutes- August 2006 October 12, 2006 Information Packet (continued) 2 IP19 Final Minutes: Public Access Television Board of Directors Meeting - June 15, 2006 IP20 Agenda Packet: Economic Development Committee October 17, 2006 Memorandum from Director of Planning: Central District Planning Process [Distributed at 10/16 Work Session] Article: Nation's Cities Weekly reo Preparing for an Aging Population [Submitted by Council Member Correia] PRELIMINARY/DRAFT MINUTES IP21 Economic Development Committee: September 19, 2006 IP22 Economic Development Committee: September 11, 2006 IP23 Historic Preservation Commission: September 14, 2006 IP24 Historic Preservation Commission: September 28, 2006 IP25 Housing and Community Development Commission: September 21, 2006 October 12,2006 Information Packet (continued) 2 Final Minutes: blic Access Television Board of Directors Meeting -75, 2006 Agenda Packet: Ec nomic Development Committee October 17, 2006/ IP19 IP20 ELlMINARY/DRAFT MINUTES IP21 Economic Development Co mittee: September 19, 2006 IP22 Economic Development Com 'ttee: IP23 Historic Preservation Commissio : IP24 Historic Preservation Commission: IP25 Housing and Community Development om 'ssion: September 21, 2006 \ \ \, \ \ \\ , , , \ \ , \ \ , .;;; ! --= -lit ~~~!:'t =-~ _...~ -.......... CITY OF IOWA CITY City Council Meeting Schedule and Work Session Agendas 11,"pt , October 12, 2006 www.icgov.org . MONDAY, OCTOBER 16 6:30p Council Work Session . Planning and Zoning Items . Inclusionary Zoning . Agenda Items . Priority/Policy Review for Proposed '08 Budget . Motor Scooter Parking . Council Time . Schedule of Pending Discussion Items . Future Meeting Schedule Emma J. Harvat Hall . TUESDAY,OCTOBER17 7:00p Formal Council Meeting Emma J. Harva! Hall . MONDAY, OCTOBER 30 6:30p Special Council Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall TENTATIVE FUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDAS I . MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Special Council Work Session . TUESDAY,NOVEMBER7 Election Day - No Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall . MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13 5:00p Legislative Meeting 6:30p Special Council Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall . TUESDAY,NOVEMBER14 7:00p Special Formal Council Meeting Emma J. Harva! Hall . THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23 Thanksgiving Holiday - Offices closed Emma J. Harvat Hall . FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Thanksgiving Holiday - Offices closed Emma J. Harvat Hall . MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27 6:30p Special Council Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall . TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 7:00p Special Formal Council Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall . MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 Meeting Rescheduled Emma J. Harvat Hall . TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 Meeting Rescheduled Emma J. Harvat Hall I ~ 1 ~~:.._~... ~~W~~ ~.. ......., ....,. ... it CITY OF IOWA CITyrn:J MEMORANDUM From: \ October 10, 2006 \ 0 orL--: City Council j < ~ . Karin Franklin, Director, ~ Inclusionary Zoning Discussion Date: To: Re: During the Council's last discussion of affordability in housing, the staff was directed to prepare a presentation for the Council, and invited organizations, on the topic of inclusionary zoning. At your work session on Oct. 16, I will go over the components of an ordinance, a couple different approaches to inclusiveness, some of the legal issues, and some suggestions for process. It is my understanding that the goals of the Council in exploring this concept are to find a tool to use to increase the number of more affordable units in Iowa City and to provide for a scattered distribution of those units geographically. If there is not consensus on those goals, the Council will need to have another discussion to define the goals. Attached is a chart of various inciusionary programs throughout the country. This information was compiled by FAIR; finding it to be accurate, I saw no reason to duplicate their effort. The purpose of our time at the work session is to provide information, not a recommendation. I assume you wish to hear from a broader spectrum, including input from the newly formed alliance presented by Glen Siders and Karen Kubby at your Oct. 3rd meeting, before proceeding beyond the information gathering stage. All of the groups represented in the Siders/Kubby alliance plus other affordable housing providers, the Housing and Community Development Commission, and the Planning & Zoning Commission have been informed of the Oct. 16 discussion. Cc City Manager FAIR! Affordable Housing Task Group 9/10/06 GA.GK Examples of Communities with Inclusionary Housing Programs Population figures taken from 2000 census, unless noted otherv.'ise NB: Iowa City population == 62,220 in 2000, 62,887 in 2005 No units produced Permanent- Mandatory (passed August 2006) tied to subsidized JIKome Target < 80% A\1J ($70,000 for a Off-sitelocationpernlitted Increased floor-area ratio (FAR) fmancing farnilyoffour) 55 years for 25% density bonus is' C'f . 1,300 units produced =,", Threshold: 100units Fee reductions or waivers i ' an DiegO, ahorDla and planned In-lieu fee (1992, expanded 20(3) MandatoI)' 10 years for Income Turl!et: Rental units <65% oCtile 10% --- - sales, 30 years AMI; owner-occupied at:'S 100% AMI Off-site locationpennined Pop: 1,223,400 $300,000 in-lieu A deviation from applicable development with incentives regulations Fairfax County, 2,300 units produced Threshold: 50+ units that need public action 10-20'% density bonus Virginia and planned 15 years for sales Income Tar\.!ets: 2/3 rental for households < In-lieufeeinhexceptionalcases"where 1.5% sales commission or marketing :(1990) MandatOl)' 20 years for 70"/0 AMI, 1/3 rental for households < 50% 6_5-12_5~/o on-site is physically impossible or allowance rentals AMI Saleullitsforhouseholdsat<70% financially infeasible 2% allowance for funds to improve ' iPoP 1,041,200(2005) $435,000 in-lieu Al-.-fL , appearance 10 years 12.5.15% In.lieufee Up to 22%,densitybonlLS MontgomeryCouDty, Over 11,500 units 1l-20years: Threshold: - 35+ units PHA may Off-site location permitted in a Waiver of water. sewer charge and impact Maryland (1974) Mandatory produced portion of pmchase33o/", contiguous planning area iflow- and fees. Pop: 873,341 appreciated Income Tantet: < 65% AMI moderate.income residents will not be resale price paid and qualified not- Offer 10% compatihility allowance and other to county for-profits may able to pay expected housing costs incentives purchase?"A. Threshold: 5+ units In-lieu fee San Francisco, 21Sunitsproduced. California (1992, Mandatory 50 years 15% Off-site location permitted within 1 mile. i Minimal: refunds on en"ironmentalreview 745 units planned Income Target: < 80% AMI far rentals; < but the affordable housing requirement and building permit fees expanded 2002) 120% AMI for sales increases to 20% Pap: 776.733 Threshold: I 0+ units Boston, Massachusetts 526 units produced Income TUllet: Half targeted to < 80% In.!ieufee (2000) Mandatory 30 years 13% Increased height and FAR allowances AMI; remaining priced between 80 and Off-site location permitted if 15% of all (financial district only) Pop: 589,141 $4.8 million in-lieu 120% AMI (average must be 100"10 AMI) units areaffordabie 10% for-sale at SO'% AI'>II arbelow 10% Denver,Colorado Mandatory far Threshald: 30+ units in far-sale rental at 65% AMI or below ,(2002) residential sales 3,395 units produced I developments Sales: 10% In-lieu fee Cash subsidy 15 years IroP554.636 Voluntary for Income Tarcet Sales at SO% to 95% AMI; Rentals: 10%. Off-sitc location permincd Dccreasedparking rentals L rentals al 65%-S5%A!\-H I Expedited review .. See glossary for defi~ili:;o~i's-oftel:ni"s---" _..-~ ,------ - ._--. - ------- ..-- ----,,- 1 FAIR! Affordable Housing Task Group 9/10/06 GA.GK Examples of Communities with Inelusionary Housing Programs (continued) SacramentO,California Threshold: 10+ units at one location J\landaloryinnew 15% Expedited pennit process (2000) 649 units produced 30 years Income Tar~et: li3 of units priced between Off-site location permined if there is Pop: 407,018 gro",thareas 50 and 80%A\1I; remaining 2/3 of units insufficient land zoncdmultip\e-familyat Fee waivers priced at <. 50% A..\11 the development sile Relaxed design standards 50 years for Density bonus varies according to zoning rentals Withre-sale, Decreased park fees and parking Madison,Wisconsin owner must Threshold: 10+ units requirements (2006) Mandatory No units produced reimburse the 15% In.!ieufee Cash subsidies (passed 20(6) Income tar2et: < 60'% AMI fOf rental, < Increased parking permits Pop: 208,052 city fora 80'%AMI for owner occupied Additional height for some buildings percentage of Expedited review lotalvalue Reduced street widths I In-heu paymem 10 Affordable Housing I I Loodoo, CO""" I 15 years for Threshold: 50+ units Fnnd Relaxedregulatot)' requirements Virginia(1993,2000) :>.1andalory , 1,195 units by 2005 sales, 20 years lncometarl!el: 30-50% AMI for rentaL 30- 6.5% Pop: 169,599 for rentals 70%AMI for owner occupied Case-by-case consideration of off-site 10% density bonus location 4, 150 units produced Threshold: No threshold Irvine,Califoroia(1978) 20-30 years, Income Tareet: S% of the units for households In-lieu fee Mandatory in 2003 and planned depending on earning < 50"/0 of tile County Median Income; Mandato!)'; 2S% density bonus Pop: 143,072 financing 5% targeted to 51.80% CM!; and 5% targeted Other alternatives to on-site units S3.8million in-lieu 15% of all units t080-120%CMl 30% density bonus Cambridge, :193unitsproducedand Threshold 10+W1its In-lieu fee if developer demonstrates a Increased FAR 'fassachusetts(1998) Mandatory in 1999 UnknoWIl 15% iPop:IOl,355 I planned Income Tar2:el: 65% to 80"/0 AMI "significanthardship_" Decreased minimum lot area requirement, I No variances needed for affordable units New York City, New Incometareetontions: Density bonus York: Hudson Yards & 20% < 80"/0 AMI OR Greenpoint- Voluntary 6,900 units anticipated Permanent Off-site location pennitted., but on-site is Tax benefits Williamsburg (200S) in these areas 10"/0<80"/0+ 15%< 125% AMI OR prioritized Financial incentives Pop:? 10%L 80"/0 and 20"10 < 175% AMI In-lieu fee Threshold: No threshold 20% or 1 unit if Off-sitelocatiollpemlincd Boulder,Colorado \1andatory in 2000 56W1itsproduced Permanent ~ development = Lallddedicatioll None I ,(1980) , IncomeTarl!et < 80%,A\11 <5 units Dedicate existing units Pop: 94,673 /l-1l.1stconstruct V, of required units Semi-mandato!)' Stateshasanti-Sllob 225 units produced Newton, Massachusetts ordinance, zoning $600,000 in-lieu Tn-lieu feeif< 10 units (1977, revised 2003) 1egsoveniddenif Theanli-snob Threshold: 2+ units 20% density bonus 2S% units are Pennanent 15% Off-site location 01 rehabilitation Pop: 83,829 affordable ordinance has Income T8IlZet: < 50"10 AMI pennitted Developers can produced twice as follow either many units ordinance - * See glossary for dcfinitiOIl oftenns 2 FAIR! Affordable Housing Task Group 9/10/06 GA.GK Examples of Communities with Inclusionary Housing Programs (continued) Longmont,Colorado IOyearsforsaJe, Threshold:~othre,hold In-licufce Rela!\.cdregulatOlyrequiremcl\ts (1995, expanded 2001) \1andalory 989 units prodllced and 10'% of all units OIT-site location is considered on a case-bv- planned 20 years for rentals Income Tar~et 80% A\1! for sales and 50% > , Fee reductions Pop: 71.093 AI>1!forrentals m annexallonareas case basis Expedited review .~.- Davis, CA (1990) 1,500 units produced, Threshold: 5+ units Ifdeveloperproveshardship Mandatory partly through land Permanent Income Target: < 50<'10 AM] fOf 217 units, 50- 10% 25% density bonus Pop: 60,308 dedication 80% A.\H for 5!7 units Land dedication 15%multip1e- farnilyresidential unitsforvel)'. Threshold: 15+ units, bUl prOJects under 15 low-and1orIO\v- units mmt pay an in-lieu fee Income Off-site location permitted Pleasanton, California 562 unit> produced hous~holds: Fee waiver/deferral OriginallyvoluntaJY and planned Income TaJget Land dedication ,(Iale1970s) Unknown Ve!)'-Iow-, low-, and moderate- income 20% single- Design modifications I Pop 63654 Mandatory in 2002 In-lieu fee , 514mJlhonlll-leu houscholds(basedonl-fl.:Ddcfinlllon) familyunits for Pnomyprocesslllg , very-Iow-,Iow-, and/or moderate- , lllcome households , i (HUDdefinitions) l1%in developments Santa Fe, New MeJ[ico targeted over 11-16%density bonus Threshold: No threshold 120'% AMI Only permitted in case of economic (1998) Mandatory in 2005 112 units produced Unknown hardship Waiver of building fees, impact fees, and Pop: 62,603 and planned Income TaJl!et: 80"10 to 120"/0 AMI 16% in tap-onfees i developments wgetedover 200% AMI South San Francisco, Threshold: 5- units I In lieu fee Califoroia(2001) !\.landatory Income Tarl!et: 50-80% AMI for 2/5 of units. I 20':'0 Pop: 60.552 80-120% A~I for 3/5 of units 200/0 off-site location permitted . Chapel Hill, North Threshold: 5+ units In-lieu fee and off-site construction Carolina (2000) Voluntary 162 units produced Unknown Income Tar2et: low- and moderate- income 15% negotiated on a case-by-case basis Expedited permit and approvBl processing Pop: 48,715 $178,000 in-lieu households (HUD definition) 10-25%. depenJingonthe average sales Development Review Board can gran! Threshold 5+ for new construction proJects: price of prOJect pennission to build affordable units off- I Burlington, Vermont 10+ for adaptive rellse or conversion of non- umtsllla site, but density bonlls is revoked and set- (1990) Mandato!)" 150 units produced 99yeaJs resiJentlal to residential projects development: the aside increases 10 1,25 times the number 15'%-25% density bonus depending on 1essaffordab1ea othcf\',ise requircd; developcrs are not zoning district i Pop 38,889 Income Target < 5% A!\ll for rentals and development is, allowed to build affordable llnits off-site "75%A!\fIforsales thehigberthe ifthc prOJcct is located in awaterfrOl1t affordable zoningdisnict reqUlrementl> (up to 25%,) * See glossary for definilions oftenllS 3 FAIR! Affordable Housing Task Group 9/10/06 GA.GK Examples of Communities with Inclusionary Housing Programs (continued) Vohmtary, but tight : 10% very low J\1organHil1,California grol'<thmanagement income, 20% low policy limits building 300 UJ1its in 26 years 30 years unknOV>l1 income, or 50'%, 25%densitybollUS : Pop 33.556 permits without senior aITordablehousing Threshold: 5+ units Income Tar2ets: Permanent for Sales - 50% must be sold to low-income In-lieu fee I Highland Park, Illinois ..." households, averaging <65% of the AMI; 20"/" density bonus (2003) Mandatoi)' 6 produced remaining unilS target, on average. 100"10 of 20''10 Off-site location pennitted Pop: 31,365 25 years for the AMI. Land donation Waiver of all development fees =,", Rentals - 33% target 0-50".1,. AMI, 33% target 51%-80% AMI, and 33% target 81'%- 120'% AMI i Lexington, Massachusetts Threshold: unknown 5-40%. Discretionary approval of housing projects depending on Off-sile location permitted I '(1985,updatedI998) Voluntary Pennanent Income Target: Low to moderate income. alternative "~oo ,"00"',",' _ '~"'. POJl:30,335 depending on altemative chosen chosen housmgtoppingthehst Density bonus of2O"Io South Kingstown, Rhode Threshold: 6+ units Decreased lotlunit size bland (2006) Mandatory No units produced 99Y'~ 20% Exemption from Fair Shard Development I (passed Angust 2006) Income Tarl!'et: Low to moderate income Pop: 27, 921 F~, Exemption from other development fees 12.5% for new Threshold: 8T units must build on sile (less developments than 8 units can citherpay in-lieu fec or cxceptfannhouse ; Davidson, North Carolina i build off-site) cluster,low- In-licu fee or off-sitclocation pennitted ;(2002) \1andatory 230 units approved Unknown Impact Kone Pop: 7,139 IncomcTarl!ct:30%forhouscholdsearning subdivision. and for projects with less lhan 8 units < 50'% median family income; 70% for conservatton households caming <80%l\tFl easement -~ subdivisions · See glossary for definitions of terms 4 ,! 1 f~~~'t -.:::...-....~~IIIII' ..,.. .. CITY OF IOWA CITY~ MEMORANDUM From: October 9, 2006 City Council City Manager Priority/Policy review for proposed 08 Budget Date: To: Re: Scheduled for your discussion on Monday, October 16, is an opportunity for the Council to provide priority/policy direction as it relates to the preparation of the 08 budget. As I understand the Council's interest, and based upon last year, this should be an opportunity to discuss various ideas, proposals, and other budget related issues you would like to see as part of the upcoming budget. For the purposes of this discussion I would suggest each Council member be able to present budget ideas and thoughts which will be recorded (flip charts) to allow you to express your individual interests and then collectively assess what would be a priority. I would encourage you to provide for some time limit in our discussions in order that we may move through this review and yet fulfill the other work session agenda items as we have a full agenda scheduled for that evening. mgr/mem/Prelim Budget Review OB.doc I~' 1- TO: FROM: DATE: RE: City of Iowa City ~ MEMORANDUM Steve Atkins, City Manager Chris O'Brien, Parking Manager~;I.:.. October 5, 2006 Moped/Scooter Parking Wj0J/rv~ ec~ Parking for mopeds and scooters has become a hot topic due to rising fuel costs and the popularity of scooters. The areas of concern seem to be limited to a small area of downtown along Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue that contains multiple bike racks. We had received many complaints about the manner in which mopeds/scooters were parked, as at times in excess of 12-15 mopeds/scooters were in an area on a sidewalk. This led to portions of the sidewalk being blocked, access to transformers along Iowa Avenue was limited, and the area became unsightly. We observed an increase in moped/scooter usage beginning last year. As a result, we designated a free area in the Capital Street Garage for mopeds, scooters and motorcycles to park. Since, we have doubled the area at the Capital Street Garage and intend to add more space at other facilities_ We also allow multiple scooters to use on-street metered stalls and no citations are issued unless the meter expires. Section 9-8-4(A) of the Iowa City Code states, " No person shall drive a motor vehicle in a designated bicycle path, lane or parking area or park any motor vehicles in such a path, lane or parking area. This shall not prohibit the parking of a motorized bicycle, motor bicycle or moped in areas designated as bicycle parking areas." The definition of a motorized bicycle or motor bicycle or moped in section 9-1-1 of the Iowa City Code states, " A two(2) wheeled vehicle having a saddle or seat for use of a rider, with an engine having a displacement no greater than fifty cubic centimeters(50 cu em) and not capable of operating at a speed in excess of twenty five (25) miles per hour on level ground unassisted by human power." Our enforcement of mopeds/scooters has been to issue a citation to any vehicle not located "in" the bike rack, meaning that the front wheel of the vehicle must be within the boundary of the bike rack. The citation is a $10.00 fine with an escalation to $15.00 if not paid within 30 days. Cc: Joe Fowler Mark Fay Mark Rummel PHONE (712) 755-5137 FAX (712) 755-5138 BOX 650 - CITY HALL HARLAN, IOWA 51537 EMAIL: cityhall@harlannet.com , r:1[] (S~_~ ~~s, October 6, 2006 ~(Q)~p Mayor Ross Wilburn CI1Y OF IOWA CI1Y 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240-1826 Dear Mayor Wilburn: Enclosed please find a copy of our recently adopted Resolution No. 1664, regarding Iowa City resident Army National Guard Spc. Kampha B. Sourivong. The nature of this resolution is self-explanatory. We have passed this resolution to officially demonstrate our support for one of our sister communities in Iowa. Feel free to pass a copy of this resolution to whomever you feel would benefit from knowing that the people of Harlan care about them. Thank you. Gary . Christiansen Mayor GHC:pm Enc!. " o ~ " " . o Marian Karr ~ From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Ross Wilburn Wednesday, October 11, 2006 11 :21 AM Thomas Milke 'City Council RE: Parking Ticket Dear Mr. Milke, Thank you for your correspondence. I do not know the circumstances of where you received your parking ticket (I presume you were at a metered spot... that is inferred since you say you haven't paid a game day meter in 20 years) nor do I know how you managed to avoid being ticketed in 20 years of not paying a parking meter in Iowa City on game days, perhaps luck I suppose. We do not have our police department ticket only on one game day or any other day in order to make money off of visitors. Our meters are enforced to get compliance with the designated time allotted on our streets. For example in our downtown area, the metered street parking is designed to have a quicker turn around so that many people can take advantage of shopping, eating, or other commercial activities. Metered street parking overall is not intended as longer term parking. There are other police activities going on during game day as you can imagine, related to traffic safety and the overall physical safety of Iowa City residents and our game day visitors. Perhaps there were other game day priorities being attended to during the times when you were not ticketed. I encourage you to use longer term parking options by either using our parking ramps, University designated parking and then the free Cambus over to the stadium, or perhaps even parking out further and using the University game day train down to the stadium. Otherwise if you wish to contest the ticket you received, I believe there are instructions on the ticket itself as to the procedure you would need to follow. Respectfully, Ross Wilburn Mayor -----Original Message----- From: Thomas Milke [mailto:tmilke@fbx.com] Sent: Sunday, October OS, 2006 S:ll AM To: Ross Wilburn Subject: Parking Ticket Mr. Wilburn I received a parking ticket this saturday while attending the Iowa Football game against Purdue. The game had an 11:00 am kickoff. I have been a season ticket holder for over 20 years and have parked on the street in Iowa City for every game during this period. I have never been ticketed before. Also I have never fed a meter either. I think it is poor policy of the city to randomly ticket vehicles on game day. If it is against the law to park on the street without feeding a meter then Iowa City should ticket every violator every game day. It is sad the city picked one saturday to make money on visitors to the city. Tom Milke Des Moines Iowa 1 I ~ j !~~~-r ~.. .,l1li.'- .....~ CITY OF IOWA CITyrnJ MEMORANDUM Date: October 10,2006 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Sand Lake Recreational Area I was asked about the possible long-term capital costs of this project. To give City Council some general ideas about the cost estimates for the newly acquired Sand Lake Recreation area the following is provided: 1) General conditions which include demolition, clearing of debris, mobilization, and surveying $412,500 2) Site development; earthwork, sub grade preparation, access points, trails, parking, fishing pier, and boat launch $2,392,413 3) Utilities; electric service, sanitary service, water, and lighting $392,500 4) Park architecture; park lodge, marina, shelters, restroom, and signage $1,180,000 5) Landscape restoration; lake jet, trees, shrubs, aquatic seeding, erosion control, and beach plantings $612,550 Grand Total $4,989,963 748.494 $5,738.457 The total estimated cost with this plan is: 15% contingency These are rough estimates for discussion purposes. JtlJli~ I: j ~~~'Ilt -=.. .-'i.if__ ......------- -~ CITY OF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER Stephen J. Atkins City Manager steve-atkins@iowa-city,org Dale E. Hemng Assistant City Manager dale-helling@iowa-city.org Jio E. Washington Street JdiV.City, IA 52240 Ph~ne: (319) 356-5010 Fax: (319) 356-5009 ~ October 4,2006 Brad McCusker 94 Heron Circle Iowa City, IA 52245 Re: Your e-mail of October 1, 2006; noise pollution on Scott Boulevard Dear Mr. McCusker: The following is in response to your e-mail of October 1, 2006 expressing concern about noise on Scott Boulevard. I will attempt to answer your questions in the order in which you have them listed in your e-mail. 1. Are there any future plans to reroute large vehicles away from Scott Boulevard and its residential neighborhoods? I have heard Taft Avenue as an alternative truck route. Taft Avenu&will be the next north-south arterial street constructed east of Scott Boulevard. Taft Avenue is not currently in the City's five year plan of funded construction projects. However, it is among the projects the City Council will consider for funding when they discuss capital project priorities. If constructed, it is likely Taft Avenue would receive much of the truck traffic currently on Scott Boulevard, as truck drivers prefer to avoid the more congested routes. However, Scott Boulevard is a designated arterial street in the City's traffic system, so we expect the traffic volume on Scott Boulevard will continue. 2. What are the chances of reducing the speed limit on Scott Boulevard? At the present time the posted speed limit is 35 mph, but this seems to be largely ignored. Unfortunately, reducing the posted speed limit on Scott Boulevard would not result in a significant reduction in vehicle speeds without constant police enforcement. Rather than pay attention to speed limit signs, motorists generally will travel the speed at which they are comfortable, and this is where we try to set posted speed limits. We tend to concentrate our police speed enforcement on residential streets/school zones. 3. Would it be possible to resurface Scott Boulevard? The Department of Public Works is aware of the issues regarding the pavement condition of Scott Boulevard that you raise in your e-mail. The Scott Boulevard pavement has deteriorated and we believe this is due to the relatively heavy truck traffic it receives. We are currently evaluating whether or not an asphalt overlay or diamond grinding is the preferred maintenance solution, but we do hope that one of these strategies will reduce the noise. The specific timing of this project will be discussed by the City Council during upcoming budget prioritization meetings this winter. You may wish to make your views known to the City Council. I also wanted to let you know the City Council recently enacted an ordinance to make truck engine braking illegal. This was in response to noise complaints from your neighborhood. Hopefully this has resulted in less noise from that source. Thank you for your message. Sincerely, /~ Stephen J. Atkins City Manager cc: City Council Rick Fosse Jeff Davidson Mgrlltr/mccusker.doc ,/, ";..."\\\!, " ~;tl!l'i-" :.:::o--:~!.:\iI.\;:\t'ii /,~ O\l'l-~ C!j.J-~~'" &>~, <~:-, ':::-:-'>:-/J' i'_~';,! ~t, Go/"'-"~_\'- j\tl ,.,,,.! j"'!!'\" .'Y..i\\'t ~";:':o,>~./.,~.\;.]D~ " ~'tft~;&' ~;j--=1~ ;t~t~, .,.,,~..~,;. ULl DEPARTMENT MEMO FROM: Mr. Steve Atkins Chief Sam Hargadine ~ .~ U- Vrrt1 / ,. ~~ tv~ TO: RE: Que's Liquor License Renewal DATE: October 10, 2006 On June 27,2006 Resolution 06-216 went in to effect which approved guidelines for determining renewals for liquor establishments and on July 24th, 2006, Ordinance 06-4221 went into effect tightening up the expectations as it pertains to city inspections and liquor license applicants. As a result of the summer legislation all of the liquor establishments in Iowa City were sent letters explaining the new expectations. Additionally, every establishment that has failed a liquor enforcement sting has received a letter warning that continued violations of the liquor laws will be grounds for consideration for non-renewal. Because this was a change in strategy it was decided that a'12 month warning period, starting in July would be implemented. The Que bar has one Sales to Minor case in 2005 which resulted in a 30 day suspension and $1500 fine. Since the July ordinance went in to effect the Que bar has violated the Sales to Minor law twice. On August 19, and September 8, 2006 the Que sold alcohol to an undercover-underage agent of the police department. Based on the warning 12 month warning period agreement I have signed approving the Que's application for renewal this year. If this was October 2007 based on the pattern of violations I would be recommending to the City Council their liquor license not be renewed. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM ~ TO: FROM: DATE: RE: Steve Atkins, City Manager Ron Knoche, City Engineer ~ October 12,2006 Ralston Creek Cleanups As part of Iowa City's effort to increase stonnwater quality in our community, the Public Works Department will be hosting a series of six cleanups along Ralston Creek. Over 100 load of debris have already been removed from different areas of Ralston Creek in 2006, but there still is plenty of more work to do. The first of six cleanup events occurred on October 1", where 35 volunteers met at the First Avenue Hy-Vee to clean up trash, and remove brush and creek bed obstructions from the First A venue bridge to the east edge of Memory Gardens. Three quarters of a ton of scrap metal, various odds and ends, 3.5 tons of woody debris, and two chipped loads of branches were removed. Some of the volunteers who participated included those from Southeast Junior High, City High, the University ofIowa, and Kirkwood Community College. The next opportunity to help will be on Sunday, October 15th, from 1 to 4 PM. Volunteers are to meet at the Dick Davin Realtors parking lot 201 E Benton St. just south of Gilbert St. and Benton St. Bridge. We will clean up trash and remove brush and creek bed obstructions from the Benton St bridge north along Ralston Creek to the Bowery St. Bridge. As with all events, trash bags and gloves will be provided for picking up trash and City staff will be hauling the trash and brush away as it is removed. We are also in need of volunteers with rakes, shovels, ropes, branch loppers, and chain saws to assist with the brush and creek bed work. Please wear long sleeve shirts, pants, and sturdy shoes or boots if you want to work in the water. There will be four other upcoming opportunities this Fall to help clean up Ralston Creek. They are on the following Sundays; Oct. 22nd, 29th, Nov. 6th, and 13th. If you are interested in helping on any of these dates, please e-mail Carol Sweeting at carol-sweeting@iowa-city.org and your name will be put on the list for Friends of Ralston activities. Or, for more infonnation contact Carol Sweeting at 319-356-5164 or Brian Boelk at 319-356-5437. Cc: Rick Fosse Carol Sweeting City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM ~- DATE: September 26, 2006 FROM: Daniel Scott, Sr. Civil Engineer De<; r;~/ ~ ~~ TO: Rick Fosse, Public Works Director re: Plasma Arc Technology Waste Disposal A plasma arc operates on principles similar to an arc-welding machine, where an electrical arc is struck between two electrodes. The high-energy arc creates a high temperature gas or plasma, which is enclosed in a chamber. Waste material is fed into the chamber and the intense heat of the plasma breaks down organic molecules (such as oil, solvents, and paint) into their elemental atoms. In a carefully controlled process, these atoms recombine into harmless gases such as carbon dioxide. Solids such as glass and metals are melted to form materials, similar to hardened lava, in which toxic metals are encapsulated. With plasma arc technology there is no burning or incineration and no formation of ash because of the extremely high temperature, but air pollution is still a concern. We looked at this about two years ago and found it to have very expensive start up costs along with a complicated maintenance process. We would still need a standard landfill during the maintenance periods. While it may work in densely populated areas, it seems too expensive for this area at this time. We will continue to monitor new technologies as they come up. I ;OP;Lj Marian Karr Cc: SustainableScience.org Inc. [info@SustainableScience.org] Friday, September 29, 2006 9:33 AM jfausell@ci.coralville.ia.us; Ig i II@ci.coralville.ia.us; j lundell@ci.coralville.ia.us; jsch nake@ci.coralville.iaus; jweihe@ci.coralville.ia.us; h herwig@ci.coralville.ia.us khayworth@ci.coralvilie.ia.us; Oleary.Mike@iccsd.k12.ia.us; Saehler.John@iccsd.k12.ia.us; 'City Council New "green" science as a tool of economic development From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: May10-15.JPG; Aug26-2.JPG ~ ~ May10-15,JPG (21B Aug26-2.JPG (235 KB) KB) Dear Mayor and Councilors: The attached pictures show local K-12 students assembling bridges next to Kirkwood and Coralville Central schools. The bridges are a demonstration of a new "green" building and bridge technology that advocates environmental sustainability as a tool of (instead of a tax on) development, worldwide. Even before Coralville constructs foundations and lifts bridges onto final positions across adjacent creeks, the truck sitting on the "pedestrian" bridge is an early verification of the highway-bridge quality predicted by advanced engineering analysis. Having developed the technology and secured federal cooperate funding, this non-profit research institute, together with Coralville (Kelly Hayworth) and two school principals (John Saehler and Mike Oleary) have transformed this science demonstration into an environmental education and community empowerment exercise. Despite the timeless and global implications of the technology and its major educational, social and economic dimensions, ALL media have ignored it. Although publicity is irrelevant to our mission (except for attracting more volunteers), I thought that you, at least, should be aware of this unique event. Please look up our web site (below) for more info and pictures. I would welcome your ideas on how to use this building technology as a formidable "green" tool of wealth generation and infrastructure building out of presently unmarketable local resources. Ibrahim Al-Khattat, PhD ********************************** SustainableScience.org Inc. 720 9th Avenue Coralville, IA 52241-1917 USA Advancing sustainability and conservation as tools of development via science. +1 319 541 0675 (mobile) +1 319 338 4528 +1 319 338 4528 (fax) www.SustainableScience.org ********************************** 1 --~----~_._----~--"_._---~-~._---"."-~... ---- -~._-----_.~-------- ~ 'II .-", ~-- ! 1-,.1 \ I ~ 1._..L_ t_j ",\",~OS7'"" ,:; ~<l' i ft t, ~.~ o Cl 'Z, <( ~1- "l ~( PRO~v Region 7 ,,,one U' ',' t.LiUJ Li-9 'H'lll' , r /"0 . 1,~ 0 Fact Sheet October 2006 , Record of Decision Issued Iowa City Former Manufactured Gas Plant Superfund Site, Iowa City, Iowa INTRODUCTION SELECTED REMEDY Iowa Kansas Missouri Nebraska 1~:T",i vIi f '0.,1" I 'vV/.\ The U,S, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a Record of Decision (ROD) that addresses contamination at the Iowa City Former Manufactured Gas Plant (FMGP) site in Iowa City, Iowa, This action is being taken under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, also known as the Superfund law, The ROD was signed on September 26, 2006. . A public comment period ran from July 28- August 27,2006, EPA was available to take public comments on the Proposed Plan at a public meeting on August 9, 2006, EPA recommended specific actions in the Proposed Plan to address the site, EPA and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources concurred on the preferred alternative in the Proposed Plan, After the comment period closed, EPA selected a remedy, as documented in the ROD, The ROD includes a summary of EPA's responses.to comments received during the public comment period, ABOUT THE CONTAMINATION Coal tar contaminants, such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons; volatile organic compounds, including benzene and toluene; and cyanide have been identified in samples taken both onsite and offsite, The selected remedy is the preferred alternative in the Proposed Plan, which includes: . Local ordinances and state rules governing ground water would be enhanced by environmental covenants to restrict land and ground water use at the site and in a portion of Ralston Creek adjacent to the site; . Indoor air and sediment monitoring would be conducted; . Ground water monitoring that would include analyses to ensure that bioremediation of ground water is occurring to limit contaminant migration; and . Removal and off site disposal of light nonaqueous phase liquid contamination from ground water. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Record of Decision and other site- related documents provide details of the nature and extent of/contamination and the work that has been completed at the Iowa City FMGP Superfund site, These documents are part of the Administrative Record File, available during normal business hours at the following locations: Iowa City Public Library 123 S. Linn Street Iowa City, Iowa EPA Region 7 Records Center 901 N. Fifth Street Kansas City, Kansas If you have questions or need additional information, please contact: Beckie Himes Community Involvement Coordinator U.S. EPA Region 7 Office of External Programs 901 N. Fifth Street Kansas City, Kansas 66101 913-551-7253 Toll-free 1-800-223-0425 E-mail: himes.beckietCD.eoa.Qov o :>n -.-..\... ,J::"":=, c.-) '- , - -' -, '-.' rTi 0;& ~./""'" )3; 2 ,--'., .c- O) '" c::;;;, C~ Ct"> o (-) -"I f \.D _' I """ ~- -:0. ,Tj i--: \._J City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM ~ Date: October 11, 2006 - ~ ttt} - u, To: Steve Atkins From: Kim sandberg~ Re: Agenda Items The following are costs associated with the Capital Improvement Projects being presented for acceptance at the October 1yth Council meeting: 1) 2006 Water Improvements - Ellis Avenue, McLean Street & Moss Street Contractor: Yordi Excavating, Inc. .:. Project Estimated Cost: $ 245,000.00 .:. Project Bid Received: $ 173,730.00 .:. Project Actual Cost: $ 178,608.50 -~..__._..._----------- -_.._----,-,-,-~-~---_._-_._-~---~-"- I ~ I -,...= -&:I ~~~~-r ~... "IIII'~ ...... .. CITY OF IOWA CITY~ MEMORANDUM From: October 5, 2006 ~ \ City Council . ~ Administrative Assistant to the City Manager Dt Date: To: Re: Deer Management The 2006-2007 Wildlife Management Service Agreement has been finalized with Dr. Tony DeNicola of White Buffalo, Inc. The University of Iowa has granted permission use of their property in support of our effort to reduce the number of deer on the west side of town. The removal of antlerless deer will coincide with the University's winter break. ._--_...~ --~.- ------------~.._-~._----------_._._--.----_.- The Iowa City B1IIIl8D RIghts COIlllllill.lOD P . e. October 25,2006 at 7:00 p.m. Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room A 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA This video reveals the twisted thinking of perpetrators of bias crimes, the anguish of the victims, and the strategies used by law enforcement officials, community organizations, and individuals to address these crimes. When: Where: Light refreshments will be served and a panel discussion will follow featuring Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine and Members ofHARRT (Hate Acts Rapid Response Team) For more information call 356-5022. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Marian Karr rnrJ From: Sent: To: Subject: Helen Burford FHP [hburfordfhp@mchsLcom] Wednesday, October 11, 200610:12 PM 'City Council Historic Preservation and Economic Development Dear Members of the Council: Friends of Historic Preservation invites you to attend a presentation on Thursday, November 2nd at 7:00pm at the Iowa City Public Library at 7:00pm. Glenda Castleberry of the Siouxland Development Group will discuss how the region and in particular, Sioux City, utilized historic preservation as a catalyst for development. We would be pleased if you would put this presentation on your calendar. *BANKING ON HISTORY* /Historic Preservation as a Catalyst for Economic Development/ IOWA CITY, IOWA, October 11, 2006, Glenda Castleberry, Vice President of Siouxland Economic Development Corporation and Chair of the SiouxLandmark Corporation will discuss how Sioux City and SIMPCO, a regional planning organization have integrated their efforts to support regional economic development. A key element of this program is the Downtown Historic Preservation Plan. Ms. Castleberry will explain the process, recent incentive initiatives and the results of this effort on Thursday, November 2^nd at the Iowa City Public Library, meeting room A at 7:00pm "Historic Preservation is a positive force in a corrununity," said Jerry Anthony, Associate Professor, Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Iowa. "Ms. Castleberry is an economic development planner and financial specialist well known for her knowledge of state and local small business development programs. Combined with her intimate knowledge of historic preservation governance, Ms. Castleberry is able to provide examples of how a corrununity can make the connection between economic development and historic preservation." The speaker, Glenda Castleberry has been with the Siouxland Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), a regional economic development corporation for 25 years. In 2003, she was recognized as Iowa Financial Champion of the Year for her efforts to foster economic development and assistance to small businesses. In addition to her association with the Council, Ms. Castleberry chairs the SiouxLandroark Corporation, Sioux City's only historic preservation non-profit. Ms. Castleberry is a past member of the State of Iowa "Main Street" Advisory Board and has facilitated the start up of two Certified Local Government Historic Preservation Corrunissions. The lecture is being sponsored by the University of Iowa, Friends of Historic Preservation and the Iowa City Historic Preservation Corrunission. "We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate to the corrununity the positive contribution historic preservation makes and how it stimulates economic growth," said Mike Haverkamp, President, Friends of Historic Preservation. "This discussion could not come at a more ideal time, while Iowa City is reviewing and reconsidering its Historic Preservation Plan." 1 rn:J Marian Karr From: Gina Peters [gina.peters@ecicog.org] Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 20061:12 PM To: Brian Fagan; Allen Witt; Beth Freeman; Chuck Peters; Doug; Gary Grant; Hills; James Houser; Joan Benson; Joe Raso; Joshua Schamberger; Kent Ralston; Lee Clancey; Linda Langston; Lu Barron; Mary Day; Mayor Betty Svoboda; Mayor Dale Stanek; Mayor David Franker; Mayor Don Gray; Mayor Eldon Slaughter; Mayor Glen Potter; Mayor Jim Fausett; Mayor Joel Miller; Mayor John Harris; Mayor John Nieland; Mayor Kay Halloran; Mayor Louise From; Mayor Mike Williams; Mayor Patrick Murphy; Mayor Paul Tuerler; Mayor Robert Kurt; Ross Wilburn; Mayor Rozena McVey; Mayor Thomas C. Patterson; Mayor William Cooper; Mayor William Voss; Michael Lehman; Monica Vernon; Nancy Quellhorst; Pat Harney; Paula Freeman-Brown; Priority One; Rod Sullivan; Sally Stutsman; Scott Grabe; Terrence Neuzil; Tim Boyle Cc: Adam Lindenlaub; Administrator Brian James; Becky Shoop; C Clerk Tracey Mulcahey; Casie Kadlec; Chad; Christine Taliga; Marian Karr; City Clerk Nancy Beuter; City Clerk Susie Siddell; City Clerk Tawnia Kakacek; Executive Assistant Mike Sullivan; Steve Atkins; Jane Tompkins; Janelle Rettig; Jeff Davidson; jeff schott; John Yapp; Kelly Hayworth; Mike Goldberg; Sandie Deahl Subject: Leadership Group Attachments: August 2006 Minutes.doc Dear Leadership Group: Several of you have contacted me regarding the next meeting date. At the August 24, 2006, meeting, the Group decided to schedule the next meeting pending a response from the Technology Corridor Business Alliance. The goai is to schedule a joint meeting, or to have the results of the Alliance's planning process presented to the Leadership Group at its next meeting. Allen Witt, who spoke at the August meeting, and I have been communicating on scheduiing the next meeting. I will notify you as soon as possible with a proposed date(s). In the meantime, I've attached the minutes of the August meeting. You'll note they're rather lengthy, so you may need a couple of days to read them anyway. I had considered also attaching a copy of the PowerPoint presentation on the trail link, but was concerned about overwhelming some recipients' servers. If you'd like a copy of the presentation, please contact me directly. I'm also checking with Sg!. Choate to see if a copy of his presentation on the aviation program is available. Contact me if you have questions about any of the attachments, and I'll keep you posted on the next meeting date. Douglas D. Elliott Executive Director East Central Iowa Council of Governments 700 16th Street NE, Suite 301 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402 319.365.9941 319.365.9981 (fax) www.ecicog.org 10/1112006 Minutes ofthe Public Leadership Group Russ Gerdin Conference Center North Liberty, Iowa Monday, August 24, 2006 5:00 p.m. 1.0 Call to Order Co-chair Houser called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. Co-chair Harney introduced North Liberty Mayor Dave Franker who welcomed the Group to North Liberty. Present: Linn County Board of Supervisors Linda Langston and Lu Barron; Johnson County Board of Supervisors Sally Stutsman and Terrence Neuzil. Also present: Hiawatha Mayor Tom Patterson, Marion Mayor John Nieland, University Heights Mayor Louise From, Senator Joe Bolkcom, Central City Mayor Don Gray, Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran, Cedar Rapids City Council Member Brian Fagan, Shueyville Mayor Pat Murphy, Allen Witt and Chuck Peters with Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Iowa City City Council Member Regenia Bailey. ECICOG staff present: Doug Elliott and Mary Rump Others present: Cap!. Gardner, Linn County Sheriff; Sgt. Kent Choate, City of Cedar Rapids: Terry Dahms, Iowa City; Mike Sullivan, Johnson County; Janelle Rettig, Iowa City; Mike Stineman, Shoemaker & Haaland; Ron McGraw, Linn Co. Trails Assoc.; Kent Ralston, JCCOG; Rachel Gallegos, Iowa City Press-Citizen; Adam Lindenlaub, Linn County Regional Planning Commission; John Yapp, JCCOG; Greg Parker, Johnson County Engineer; Shelly Simpson, City of North Liberty; Beth Freeman, Senator Tom Harkin's Office. 2.0 Welcome and Introductions Attendees were asked to introduce themselves. 3.0 Subcommittee Reports ill Rump presented a PowerPoint presentation on the two proposed alignments for the trail link: one generally following the alignment of Highway 965, and one generally following the Hoover Nature Trail alignment (east alignment). (Copy ofPowerpoint and Subcommittee recommendations attached). Houser said Linn County had recently received additional funds for the trail from Ely to the county line. Langston said the funding would allow construction south of the county line, and that mOT had given permission to expend funds. Harney noted that earlier this morning, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors had asked the county engineer to design the completion of the trail from the Coralville I Reservoir to the city limits of the City of North Liberty as a separated trail. The next piece would be from North Liberty to Sugar Bottom Road and Mehaffy Bridge Road. Langston asked McGraw if the Linn Co. Trails Association owned the railroad right-of- way on the Hoover Trail. His response was that the association owns segments, which are not contiguous. Stusman asked for the length of both routes. Rump stated 10.3 miles for the east alignment and 24 miles for the 965 alignment. Bolkcom requested clarification on the mileage differences. (Note: this figure was misread at the meeting. The actual length is estimated at 7.4 miles. See the Power Point presentation). Neuzil asked for clarification on the east route, and noted there is no planning for a separated trail between Solon and North Liberty, other than a wide shoulder from on a section from Solon to Lake McBride. Rump confirmed that the proposed alignment was using the Mehaffy Bridge Road. Dahms noted there is a dedicated trail from Solon to Lake McBride. Neuzil agreed, and asked why another trail would be built. Yapp said the trail around Lake McBride is not included in the Johnson County plan because it is not a paved trail. Harney noted that Senator Bolkcom needed to leave, and asked ifhe had any comments. Bolkcom said the legislators in the corridor are very interested in continuing to assist, regardless of which alignment is chosen. He looks forward to working with local officials as they choose the best route, and legislators will work on the state level to find resources to assist in funding projects. Neuzil asked how Linn County accessed local matching funds for state grants. Barron, Houser, and Langston stated matching funds came from the county's general fund, and not the rural fund. Stutsman asked ifthat was a choice Linn County has made. Houser said it was. Langston said secondary roads completes much of the work, but funds come from the general fund. There is also a partnership with county conservation. Rump presented the Subcommittee's recommendations (attached). Nieland asked for the status of $600,000 in funds Senator Harkin's office had secured for the Cedar Rapids metro area. Lindenlaub stated that the money was approved in the Senate, but apparently not in the House, and would go to conference committee. Elliott asked if the Group concurred with the recommendations of the Subcommittee. Members indicated so, and Houser asked that it be reflected in the minutes. Stutsman thanked the Subcommittee for their work. 2 Rump asked what the Group thought the next steps would be. Neuzil said Highway 965 improvements from 120th Street to the waterway are included in the county's five-year road plan for next year. Parker is looking into adding shoulders, and with this recommendation, the supervisors would ask him to consider making some accommodations for a potential future separated trail. A separated trail is not currently in the plan. Fagan said the rail rights-of-way not owned by the Linn County Trails Association should be inventoried, and acquisition of those segments should be a priority. Stutsman said they'd always believed it would take significant legal work to complete that. Fagan encouraged Johnson County to seek out volunteer attorneys to assist the county. Dahms reintroduced himself, and said he had been on the Hoover Nature Trail board. Since the decline ofthat organization, the deeds were transferred to the Linn County Trails Association with the intent that at the proper time, they would be returned. He has maps of the trail and information on the deeds. He summarized the trail alignment. Elliott noted that in order to assist jurisdictions with leveraging additional funds, the Group will need direction from the Johnson County Board of Supervisors for the creation of consistent, reliable estimates. Stutsman asked how much design needed to be completed for a competitive application. Langston said alignment and cost estimates are needed. Langston suggested that a joint meeting of the two conservation boards might be helpful. Stutsman said the Johnson County Board of Supervisors has a joint meeting planned with the conservation board on September 27. Linn representatives said they'd be willing to attend. Neuzil asked what the role of the boards would be. Linn representatives said it would be determining how to fund projects, the funding processes. Stutsman said she thinks the Johnson County Board of Supervisors needs to regroup regarding alignments in the county. Elliott asked if the Subcommittee could wait for the county to report out the results of their discussion. Discussion followed. Stutsman said the county would need to choose an alignment and focus on it. A member of the public (Rettig?) spoke in support of a separate, dedicated trail. Hamey reiterated that the recommendation was for a separated, dedicated trail. III Hamey called on Patterson to introduce this agenda item. Patterson noted that he's been working with Elliott and that a meeting was held on June 27th with representatives from the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Area Chambers of Commerce. He recalled the trip two years ago by the corridor group to Washington DC, and at that time, that a combined MSA was a significant issue for that trip. He noted this coincided with the formation of 3 the Leadership Group. He felt that conversations in the Leadership Group were related to what might happen ifthere were a combined MSA. He also noted that the Group had a regionalism group. He has been working with Allen Witt, one of the Hiawatha city engineers, and they have been having discussions about the MSA issue. Witt also serves on a similar group for the Chambers. He introduced Witt. Witt explained that the Chamber board has a regionalism task force, and he said the goal was so that someone in Washington would look at the corridor as one area, and not two separate metropolitan areas. He explained how Ames and Story County had become a Combined Statistical Area (CSA), and that the corridor should strive for the same status. The Iowa City/Cedar Rapids barely missed the opportunity statistically with the 2000 census. Peters briefly described the Technology Corridor Business Alliance, which is made up of the two chambers of commerce, the two economic development commissions, the two convention and visitors bureaus, Kirkwood Community College, the University of Iowa, the cultural alliance, and Diversity Focus. The staffs of these organizations have been meeting to develop an action plan to be approved by the volunteer boards. Staff is currently reporting back with recommendations. Examples include land use issues, joint marketing issues, and branding issues. He noted he and Witt had just been appointed to the Cedar Rapids chamber regionalism task force, and they're interested in knowing how they can interact with the Leadership Group. He stated this was important for the trip to Washington, but should also be done on an ongoing basis. Patterson noted that Lincoln and Omaha Nebraska are pursuing CSA status. Witt said they also were waiting for the 2010 census, but were working on it. Patterson said there needs to be some formal communication between the Leadership Group and the Alliance. Nieland agreed, and felt that the Leadership Group was a good form in which to start define regional goals across the groups. Patterson asked what the next steps were. Halloran noted the cooperation should continue. Elliott asked Peters if staffs are prepared to make reports to boards in the Alliance. Peters said they are currently developing reports. He noted the meeting held with Rebecca Ryan at South Slope last year. Approximately 120 people attended, and staff took that input to make recommendations to their boards. Elliott asked if the Alliance could make a report at the next Leadership Group meeting, which should take place on October 26. Witt said the chambers have the staff to keep the process moving along, which would allow the chambers to take the leads to head up meetings including action items and reports back on key agenda items. He said that they are, in essence, asking permission that the chambers take a strong role in keeping the organization moving. Nieland asked that communities like Marion and North Liberty be kept informed. 4 - -_._-_.~--,---~_.~-_._..~_.__._--_._._---~--_._'-_._.-,.._---~,--_._-~-~---~-_._- Elliott asked what the key agenda items were. Witt responded the CSA was the first priority and the second was the idea of regional branding. He summarized the goals would be driven by the agenda for the next Washington trip. Patterson noted concern that the next Leadership Group meeting would not be until October. He asked if the next meeting could be keyed off the Alliance's readiness to report. Houser said it might move things more quickly. The Group concurred. Patterson introduced Rump regarding the regional land use project. The main purpose of the project would be to complete an inventory of all land use maps in the six-county ECICOG region, and from that inventory create a regional land use map. The map would be in digital format. A graduate student from Iowa State University would complete the inventory and create the regional map. Additional layers would be created regarding land use changes, employment, and population. The cost of the project is $5,466.21. Because this project would fulfill one of the priorities of the Leadership Group's Regionalism Subcommittee, ECICOG proposes the cost be split equally among Johnson and Linn Counties and ECICOG. Witt asked how the regional map would be kept current. Elliott proposed that ECICOG would be a regional repository for land use maps, and would seek to update it annually. Bailey supported the idea. She noted that JCCOG had previously tried to have a subcommittee on regional land use. A major barrier was a lack of a comprehensive regional land use map. Stutsman said it would give a bigger picture ofthe corridor. Elliott asked if the Leadership Group would be willing to endorse the proj ect. Houser noted a concern that each board of supervisors should have the opportunity to discuss and take action on the expense. He noted that the supervisors could take the consensus of the Leadership Group back to their meetings. Nieland requested the Group vote to show their endorsement. M/S/C (Nieland/Stutsman) to endorse the project. 4.0 Citv of Cedar Rapids Aviation Program Nieland introduced the topic. He indicated that at monthly meetings of the Linn County mayors, Halloran noted that the program ought to be a regional endeavor. Nieland agrees, and believes this is the time to discuss it as the budgeting process is beginning. Nieland is concerned the program will go away if others don't support it. Choate presented a PowerPoint presentation, which provided a history ofthe program, a sununary of the types of services the program provides, and a sununary of the program's resources and budget. 5 Nieland asked how the cost of the program would be allocated regionally. Halloran said that she'd need to talk to staff to determine how to allocate them. They would be fixed costs not directly correlated with when the service is used locally. Halloran said a fair, equitable way to divide costs hasn't been determined. Nieland asked if governments would be interested in looking at regionalization of the program. Neuzil said the county would look to the sheriff for leadership on the issue. Gray said that Central City might consider it. Neuzil said that the sheriff and police departments in Johnson County get together regularly, and maybe perhaps a group presentation to them would be beneficial. General discussion followed. Fagan noted that discussions on joint communications should also include discussion of this topic. Houser noted he had brought information on joint communications, which he had acquired at a recent National Association of Counties conference. He distributed the information to those present. Neuzil said he'd communicate with the Johnson County sheriff to see ifajoint presentation would be possible. He asked Fagan if the City of Cedar Rapids was saying that it would not provide the service in the future. Halloran said that was where the city was. A variety of funding possibilities was discussed. 5.0 Next Meeting Date Elliott said the next scheduled meeting would be October 26, 2006. Nieland said the Group should wait for a response from Witt regarding a report out from the Technology Corridor Business Alliance. Elliott said he would keep the Group updated on the next meeting date. 6.0 Adiournment The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:50 p.m. 6 Trail Link Subcommittee ofthe Johnson/Linn County Public Leadership Group The Trail Link Subcommittee ofthe Johnson/Linn County Public Leadership Group makes the following recommendations for consideration by the Leadership Group for the general alignment of a trail linking the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids metropolitan areas; . That the priority for development of a trail linking the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City metropolitan areas be the Hoover Nature Trail alignment . That to the greatest extent possible, this trail be a dedicated/separated trail . That development include parking and other facilities to allow for segmented use of the trail by various users . That the Leadership Group and its members assist affected jurisdictions in leveraging additional state and federal dollars for development of the trail, and . That, to the greatest extent practical, facilities for trails along the Highway 965 corridor be included in future plans for redevelopment of that highway. These recommendations were formulated in a meeting ofthe Subcommittee on July 20, 2006, and after a review and consideration of the benefits and challenges of two possible alignments for a trial linking the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City metropolitan areas; I) a trail following the alignment of Highway 965, and 2) via the Hoover Nature Trail/American Discovery Trail running from the southeast Cedar Rapids metropolitan area through Ely, Solon and North Liberty (Hoover Nature Trail). Members of the subcommittee in attendance included: Jim Houser, Linn County Supervisor Pat Hamey, Johnson County Supervisor Sandi Deahl, Lisbon City Administrator Brian James, North Liberty City Administrator Dale Stanek, Mayor, City ofEly Brian Fagan, City of Cedar Rapids City Councilor Others in attendance included: Doug Elliott, ECICOG Mary Rump, ECICOG John Yapp, JCCOG Kent Ralston, JCCOG Adam Lindenlaub, LCRPC Mark Trumbauer, Linn County Planning and Zoning Marty Jones, North Liberty Parks and Recreation Board Shelly Simpson, North Liberty Recreation Director Aaron Anderson, Ely City Clerk/Administrator 7 ________..._._~_..,__.~...,_..___ __.____.___.____,._______n_________.____________.___._.-----~.---_.---------..---"'.-..-.,.- --'- -- - -~-_.__..._------ ~ Public Access Television Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - FINAL Thursday, June 15, 2006 7:00 PM PATV - 206 Lafayette Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 1. Meeting called to order at 7:20 PM by Tom Nothnagle. Present: Holly Berkowitz (11/04- 11/07), Jack Fuller (12/01-12/07), Brett Gordon (11/04-11/07), Steve Newell (11/01-11/07), Tom Nothnagle (11/05-11/08), Phil Phillips (11/03-11/06) and Director Josh Goding. 2. Consented to agenda unanimously. 3. Approved minutes for May with discussion [HB: Draft had been labeled as "final" and sent to Josh in June before corrections: Holly corrected on 6 13 06 and resubmitted to Josh/BOD marked as "corrected"]. 4. Old business: See "New business." 5. Short public announcements: Ronny Jacobo, Producer from Bradman Show visited. 6. New business: Discussion of Barton-COPE legislation in committee in US Senate, amendment for net neurtrality, convergence, judicial, multiple tier, centralization PEG stations, developing PSA. Tom read letter. BOD signed. And submitted to send/fax. Developing list. Tom wants to do PSA ACM added amendment killed by US House, access to Internet and speed of internet, capacity of donated server, Linux. 7. Reports A. ICTC: B. Committees a. Building and grounds: Jack came in to work on a weekend. i. Outreach and fundralsing: Discussed significance of tornado coverage (Bradman Show) for BITS legislation. b. Technology: See below. C. Treasurer a. Discussion; markets, contacting Joe Brisben. Tabled discussion on TIPS. i. Discussion; mortgage. D. Management- a. Web streaming server upload: PATV will offer classes in Video logging. b. SWitChing to X wires from AOL for ISP Pod casting in the fall. c. PA TV changed high speed internet service to gain bandwidth at lower rate with a different e-mail: PATV e-mail address is now "contact@patv.tv" d. PATV web address is the same. e. Class; DVD; web. f. Raffle tickets to sell for Iowa Shares. If make $500, equals annual dues to Iowa Shares. g. Joe can came third Thursday in July, 2006. h. Closed 18t week in July (ACM Conference, 7/2 to 7/9/06). Open 7/10/06. 8. Board announcements/discussion: a. Brett on Surf TV, Penguin Revolution, Installing Linux on computer(s), YouTube, Tom's Show. 9. Adjournment: about 9 PM Draft of PA TV BOD minutes of 6/15/06 respectfully submitted to Josh Goding, submitted 7/20/06 to Josh and BOD by Holly Berkowitz. Final copy 8/17/06. ~. _...._____.__.~_._.. ...._ _,_ n' __ _ _ ___' _"'_.'-"_'____ .'._.M.___ __ __ ,,__._.,_._.____~ _._._...__________,.__,_...,__.._.._.____~__.u _ __.'__0"_ . __n____._'..u...__ -- --.-. ~-...,,-- -. --,.----------.--..---"" ----.-....-...--..-.---- Public Access Television Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - FINAL Thursday, June' 15, 2006 7:00 PM PATV - 206 Lafayette Street,lowa City, Iowa 52240 1. Meeting called to order at 7:20 PM by Tom Nothnagle. Present: Holly Berkowitz (11/04- 11/07), Jack Fuller (12/01-12/07), Brett Gordon (11/04-11/07), Steve Newell (11/01-11/07), Tom Nothnagle (11/05-11/08), Phil Phillips (11/03-11/06) and Director Josh Goding. 2. Consented to agenda unanimously. 3. Approved minutes for May with discussion [HB: Draft had been labeled as "final" and sent to Josh in June before corrections: Holly corrected on 6 13 06 and resubmitted to Josh/BOD marked as "corrected"]. 4. Old business: See "New business." 5. Short public announcements: Ronny Jacobo, Producer from Bradman Show visited. 6. New business: Discussion of Barton-COPE legislation in committee in US Senate, amendment for net neurtrality, convergence, judicial, multiple tier, centralization PEG stations, developing PSA. Tom read letter. BOD signed. And submitted to send/fax. Developing list. Tom wants to do PSA ACM added amendment killed by US House, access to Internet and speed of internet, capacity of donated server, Linux. 7. Reports A. ICTC: B. Committees a. Building and grounds: Jack came in to work on a weekend. I. Outreach and fundralslng: Discussed significance of tornado coverage (Bradman Show) for BITS legislation. b. Technology: See below. C. Treasurer a. Discussion; markets, contacting Joe Brisben. Tabled discussion on TIPS. i. Discussion; mortgage. D. Management- a. Web streaming server upload: PATV will offer classes in Video logging. b. Switching to X wires from AOL for ISP Pod casting in the fall. c. PA TV changed high speed internet service to gain bandwidth at lower rate with a different e-mail: PA TV e-mail address is now "contact@patv.tv" d. PATV web address is the same. e. Class; DVD; web. f. Raffle tickets to sell for Iowa Shares. If make $500, equals annual dues to Iowa Shares. g. Joe can came third Thursday in July, 2006. h. Closed 18. week in July (ACM Conference, 7/2 to 7/9/06). Open 7/10/06. 8. Board announcements/discussion: a. Brett on Surf TV, Penguin Revolution, Installing Linux on computer(s), YouTube, Tom's Show. 9. Adjournment: about 9 PM Draft of PA TV BOD minutes of 6/15/06 respectfully submitted to Josh Goding, submitted 7/20/06 to Josh and BOD by Holly Berkowitz. Final copy 8/17/06. Public Access Television Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - FINAL Thursday, July 20, 2006 7:00 PM P A TV - 206 Lafayette Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 1. Meeting Called to order at about 7:10 PM by Tom Notbnagle. Present: Holly Berkowitz (11/04-11/07), Brett Gordon (11/04-11/07), Ross Meyer (12/04-12/07), Steve Newell (11/01-11/07), Tom Nothnagle (11/05-11/08), Phil Phillips (11/03- 11/06) and Director Josh Goding. Joseph (Joe) Brisben as Financial Advisor. 2. Consented to agenda unanimously. 3. Approved minutes for June with discussion. 4. Old business: None. 5. Short public announcements 6. New Business a. Joe Brisben discussed financial options for investments for Board of Directo rs. i. PATV Board of Directors discussed how to change the investment strategy. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Reports a. ICTC: None. b. Committees i. Building and Grounds: Ross would like Jack to call. ii. Outreach and Fundraising 1. Art Collection or Show? 2. Speakers 3. Chili Supper in September or October a. Video 4. Discussed idea: Producers' Club 5. Discussed idea: Whine and Choose Party at Old Brick? Mid September? iii. Technology: No discussion. c. Treasurer: See New Business. d. Management i. Josh and Brett Reported on conference: Keep community access alive. Josh suggested starting a blog. Discussion of mood at conference. Public seemed unaware of pending legislation. . Discussion series of PSAs. Call senators. ii. Discussed Iowa Shares. 8. Board announcements/discussion: None. 9. Adjournment about 9 PM. Minutes respectfully submitted by Holly Berkowitz as draft on 7/20/06, as final on 9/7/06. Revised 9/21/06. Public Access Television Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - FINAL Thursday, July 20, 2006 7:00 PM P A TV - 206 Lafayette Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 1. Meeting Called to order at about 7:10 PM by Tom Nothnagle. Present: Holly Berkowitz (11/04-11/07), Brett Gordon (11/04-11/07), Ross Meyer (12/04-12/07), Steve Newell (11/01-11/07), Tom Nothnagle (11/05-11/08), Phil Phillips (11/03- 11/06) and Director Josh Goding. Joseph (Joe) Brisben as Financial Advisor. 2. Consented to agenda unanimously. 3. Approved minutes for June with discussion. 4. Old business: None. 5. Short public announcements 6. New Business a. Joe Brisben discussed financial options for investments for Board of Directors. i. PATV Board of Directors discussed how to change the investment strategy. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Reports a. ICTC: None. b. Committees i. Building and Grounds: Ross would like Jack to call. ii. Outreach and Fundraising 1. Art Collection or Show? 2. Speakers 3. Chili Supper in September or October a. Video 4. Discussed idea: Producers' Club 5. Discussed idea: Whine and Choose Party at Old Brick? Mid September? iii. Technology: No discussion. c. Treasurer: See New Business. d. Management i. Josh and Brett Reported on conference: Keep community access alive. Josh suggested starting a blog. Discussion of mood at conference. Public seemed unaware of pending legislation. _ Discussion series of PSAs. Call senators. ii. Discussed Iowa Shares. 8. Board announcements/discussion: None. 9. Adjournment about 9 PM. Minutes respectfully submitted by Holly Berkowitz as draft on 7/20/06, as fmal on 9/7/06. Revised 9/21/06. Public Access Television Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - DRAFT Thursday, August 21, 2006 7:00 PM PATV -206 Lafayette Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 1. Meeting Called to order at about 7:10 PM by Tom Nothnagle. Present: Holly Berkowitz (11104- 11107), Jack Fuller ( ), Brett Gordon (11104-11/07), Ross Meyer (12/04-12/07), Steve Newell (11101-11107), Tom Nothnagle (11/05-11/08), Phil Phillips (11/03-11/06) and Director Josh Goding. 2. Consented to agenda unanimously. 3. Approved minutes for July with discussion. 4. Old business: Send Joe Brisben a "thank you." S. Short public announcements: None. 6. New Business: None. 7. Reports a. ICTC: None. b. Committees i. Building and Grounds: 1. Ceiling in studio: Committee to research to revamp studio (Brett, Ross, Jack, Tom). 2. New sign: Jack on plans. 3. Cracks: Get estimate on replacing concrete. Measure. Studio committee also driveway. To call for estimate 6 inches, to slope outward. Approved motion to add parking lot repair duty to studio revamp committee. ii. Outreach and Fundraising 1. Committee report: Holly reported on fundraising and outreach discussion, including: a. Whine and Choose partY before November election. Discussed possible locations and lists. b. Chili supper or tailgate partY for grass roots involvement. c. Handout on fundraising. Ill. Technology: No discussion. c. Treasurer: Steve reported on TIPS fund, divestment and other. d. Management i. Iowa Shares 1. Raffle: Josh reported. Hiring for executive director. 2. Silent auction. 3. New member groups. ii. DAY camp. m. September 7 event. iv. October 14 Barn Owl dance (auction). v. Openings on BOD in November, 2006. (See announcements) vi. Workshop in late September (or October) 1. iPodcast 2. Compression and uploading to web 8. Board announcements/discussion: a. Phil on Josh Silver: Update on legislation. 750 groups from across the political spectrum. b. Tom on recruitment: Phil will complete his term in November. Also, BOD will need to fill other position(s). 9. Adjournment about 9 PM. Minutes respectfully submitted by Holly Berkowitz as draft on 9/21106. Public Access Television Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - DRAFT Tbursday, August 21, 2006 7:00 PM P A TV - 206 Lafayette Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 I. Meeting Called to order at about 7:10 PM by Tom Nothnagle. Present: Holly Berkowitz (11/04- 11107), Jack Fuller ( ), Brett Gordon (11104-11107), Ross Meyer (12/04-12/07), Steve Newell (11101-11/07), Tom Nothnagle (11105-11/08), Phil Phillips (11/03-11106) and Director Josh Goding. 2. Consented to agenda unanimously. 3. Approved minutes for July with discussion. 4. Old business: Send Joe Brisben a "thank you." 5. Short public announcements: None. 6. New Business: None. 7. Reports a. ICTC: None. b. Committees i. Building and Grounds: I. Ceiling in studio: Committee to research to revamp studio (Brett, Ross, Jack, Tom). 2. New sign: Jack on plans. 3. Cracks: Get estimate on replacing concrete. Measure. Studio committee also driveway. To call for estimate 6 inches, to slope outward. Approved motion to add parking lot repair duty to studio revamp committee. ii. Outreach and Fundraising l. Committee report: Holly reported on fundraising and outreach discussion, including: a. Whine and Choose party before November election. Discussed possible locations and lists. b. Chili supper or tailgate party for grassroots involvement. c. Handout on fundraising. III. Technology: No discussion. c. Treasurer: Steve reported on TIPS fund, divestment and other. d. Management i. Iowa Shares l. Raffle: Josh reported. Hiring for executive director. 2. Silent auction. 3. New member groups. ii. DAY camp. iii. September 7 event. iv. October 14 Barn Owl dance (auction). v. Openings on BOD in November, 2006. (See announcements) vi. Workshop in late September (or October) I. iPodcast 2. Compression and uploading to web 8. Board announcements/discussion: a. Phil on Josh Silver: Update on legislation. 750 groups from across the political spectrum. b. Tom on recruitment: Phil will complete his term in November. Also, BOD will need to fill other position(s). 9. Adjournment about 9 PM. Minutes respectfully submitted by Holly Berkowitz as draft on 9/21106. IP20 AGENDA City of Iowa City City Council Economic Development Committee Tuesday, October 17,2006 9:00 a.m. City Hall Lobby Conference Room 410 East Washington Street 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes - Sept. 11, 2006 & Sept. 19, 2006 Economic Development Committee. Meetings 3. Activity Report - August 30 - October 10 4. Discuss Draft Memo of Understanding - Iowa City Area Development 5. Review of CDSG Economic Development Fund - Tracy Hightshoe 6. Discussion of Economic Development Strategies, Policies 7. Committee time 8. Adjournment NEXT REGULAR MEETING DATE: November 21, 2006 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM Members Present: Members Absent: Staff Present: Others Present: Regenia Bailey, Connie Champion, Bob Elliot NONE Karin Franklin, Wendy Ford Kevin Digmann, Mike Hodge CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chairperson Bailey called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM. . APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Sept. 5.2006 Bailey noted the word ladder should be changed to lever on page three of the Sept. 5 minutes. MOTION: Champion moved to approve the September 5, 2006 minutes as submitted. Elliot seconded the motion. The motion passed 3:0. DISCUSSION OF APPLICATION FOR TIF REBATE FOR A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - HIERONYMUS SQUARE ASSOCIATES Ford noted changes made to the agreement over the last week include a) that the project will be certified energy efficient with LEED or a utility company, creating an incentive to be energy efficient, b) that the project will include three floors of commercial space and c) the developer's best efforts to include a minimum 40 unit hotel in the project. Bailey said LEED is the architectural standard and asked what programs are offered by the energy company. Ford offered file information on MidAmerican's Energy Advantage corporate energy efficiency programs. Champion said that MidAmerican has good programs for residential and larger scale projects. Bailey said that LEED is the standard the committee should promote and use as the standard for future developments. Kevin Diamann said their concern with LEED certification is how the mix of uses within the project may affect their ability to qualify for LEED points. Franklin said that LEED encompasses more elements of energy efficiency than MidAmerican energy, citing the example of points attainable for the use of energy efficient vehicles during the construction phase by contractors. She estimated the project could fairly easily attain enough points to be certified. Digmann said that they are interested in becoming certified, but do not want to get in the position where it would be cost prohibitive. Bailey said that if they do become LEED certified it could be promoted as a marketing tool to attract building tenants and for future development of the downtown. Discussion ensued about related parking needs with an increase in commercial space in the project. Digmann and Hodge reported on a meeting they had earlier in the week with Joe Fowler about securing an additional 50 parking spaces to accommodate the additional commercial space in the building. Fowler had agreed to the amount. Champion said she as comfortable with the new changes. Elliot said he would like to see more than three levels of commercial space. He noted he would like to see most of the building built for commercial. Hodge said that the addition of another floor of commercial and their best effort to establish a hotel means that at least the majority of 6 floors of the building would be commercial. Digmann said they, too, would like to have more commercial floors but that it is difficult to get commercial tenants to occupy space above second floor, citing an example of other property they own -- new 3'" floor office space with on-site parking that has remained unoccupied for some time. Champion said she does not like the idea of granting financial assistance for condominiums, however, the project would be grand scale and net a lot of new property tax for the community in a relatively short period of time. Economic Development Committee Minutes September 11, 2006 Page 2 Hodge said that they have done extensive financial analyses of the project and that without an economic development grant of TIF rebates, the project does not break even for the developer, and thus, they could not go forward with it. Digmann reported sharing project proformas with the staff. Elliot inquired if the staff was comfortable with the numbers and certain the project could not go through without TIF funds. Franklin and Ford confirmed that the documents shared showed that additional funds are required for the project to realize a positive cash flow. Bailey said she is feeling more comfortable with six potential floors of commercial. She added the LEED certification or energy efficiency certification is really important and should be encouraged for further projects. In answer to Elliot's question about the history of the development site, Franklin said that for the years Frieda Hieronymus owned the property, she always said she would never have a building with a bed in it. Franklin added that nothing ever happened there because she could not get a tenant. Franklin said that this is the difficulty of doing downtown urban projects without assistance or residential components. MOTION: Champion moved to recommend to the council that the TIF agreement with the Hieronymus Square Associates be approved. Elliot seconded the motion. Motion passed 3:0. COMMITTEE TIME NONE ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:42 A.M. NEXT MEETING DATE: Sept. 12, 2006 at 7 P.M. s1pcd/mlnuteslecdevI2006/9-11-06.doc _._-~-------~~---"_._-,._-_._"-_.,,._.- .._"--~.__.._--_..._------,,--_._,..----_._,.._,._._. MINUTES CITY COUNCIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 19, 2006 LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM Members Present: Regenia Bailey, Connie Champion, Bob Elliot NONE Members Absent: Others Present: Karin Franklin, Wendy Ford Raso, Nancy Quellhorst, Tannin Fuja Staff Present: CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chairperson Bailey called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM. DISCUSSION OF APPLICATION FOR CEBA FUNDS-NATIONAL GENECULAR INSTITUTE Dr. Tannin Fuia gave an overview of the proposed project. He said Dermacia, parent company of the applicant company NGI, is a customized pharmaceutical company specializing in skin care products and post surgical skin treatments. National Genecular Institute (NGI) is a fully owned research and development (R&D) subsidiary of Dermacia. He noted that Dermacia is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and seeks to locate NGI in the Iowa City/Coralville area. Fuja said Dermacia markets themselves via info-commercials, direct solicitations and physician's offices. Fuja stated they have two product lines. One is a prescription and one is an over-the-counter version of the same. He noted they have an established distribution line in Dermacia. He added that as NGI develops skin-related products, there will be an instant interested party to license the products, and a way to get their products to market faster than most R&D companies: through Dermacia. Fuja said they are working with the City of Coralville and the University of Iowa to construct a facility they would lease at the Oakdale Research Park. He noted that they are also seeking to buy land in Iowa City to build a second facility that will house a biobank and more facilities for cell research and administrative functions. Fuja said they are looking at the property located in the Northgate Corporate Park, and are also securing an option to buy 30+ acres of adjacent land. He stated that NGI has already developed products that are licensed to Dermacia and that they have just entered into clinical trials on a face wound healing product. Fuja said they focus on devices, research and nano delivery which will be located in the Oakdale Research Park, as well as biobanking which will happen in Iowa City. Fuja explained that a biobank is a depository of genetic and cellular materials which are linked to updated medical history of donors. He said the future of customized medicine is based on having biological samples of people for whom a customized product is developed. Fuja said a biobank is tremendously important from a research standpoint and from the development of customized pharmaceuticals. Fuja said the largest biobank in existence is located in the UK. He added that they have studied the UK facilities and will build theirs to surpass them in size and in scope. Fuja said NGI has developed a system to immortalize cells. He explained that when a sample is collected, it can be used until it is exhausted. He said that in culture, cells typically continue to divide for a series of cycles and then stop dividing. With the immortalization of a cell system, as NGI plans to create, the cells continue to divide without incorporating genetic anomalies, and thus, produce an infinite source of cellular and genetic material. Fuja said they have a fully automated process which allows them to bank hundreds of thousands of samples. Fuja said that they will be providing genetic material for other biotech companies as well as for NGI's research. He said they have a number of pharmaceutical companies that are very interested to see the success of the biobank. He said that without the ability to immortalize the cells the biobanks are not attractive enough to pharmaceutical companies for investment because of the finite resources of cells available. However, with the ability to immortalize cells and link with updated medical histories, the biobank becomes an important key to the scientific processes. Economic Development Committee Minutes September 19, 2006 Page 2 Fuja said that in January 2007 they will occupy an interim space made available by the University of Iowa until the new Oakdale building is completed. He said within the same time frame they will be purchasing the land in the Northgate Park and building the biobank. He said the facilities need to work jointly; one can not exist without the other. Fuja said that it is a unique opportunity to involve both the City of Coralville and City of Iowa City in this project. He noted that they will create a total of 178 jobs, out of which 36 will be in Iowa City. Fuja said the cost for the Iowa City portion of the project is expected to be around $11 million dollars and that they seek a $1.2 million economic development grant from Iowa City is in the form of TIF rebates. Elliot asked about tax credits Fuja had mentioned and Raso explained the state of Iowa's high quality job creation program allows for the rebates of sales and use tax spent on the construction of the facility. Elliot asked why the company is choosing to locate in the state of Iowa and specifically in the Iowa City! Coralville area. Fuja said the University of Iowa is the main draw for locating to the area. He said they have developed a positive relationship with the University. Ford asked if the company is considering other locations and Fuja said they are, but if they have a positive response from the state of Iowa on their CEBA application, they are prepared to move forward in Iowa. Bailey inquired about animal research and asked Fuja to describe the extent of and security for such research. Fuja said they employ the highest security standards and said their research calls for the use cell samples from rabbits, mice and dogs. Bailey asked about the creation of high quality jobs. Ford said the draft TIF agreement requirements includes the creation of 36 jobs in Iowa City by the end of the third year of operation, as outlined in the CEBA application. Raso said that all state-approved applications meet or exceed the benefits requirement of the City. Ford said the requested $1.2 million economic development grant in the form of TIF rebates on a $6 million building would amount to $188,940 per year and be completed within seven years from the first rebate. Bailey asked when the valuation date would be. Ford said she will confirm, but November 2008 will be the initial valuation date, with the first assessment in January, 2009 and the first rebate paid in June, 2010. MOTION: Champion moved to recommend the council approve the development agreement. Elliot seconded the motion. . Responding to Champion, Raso said there is always an element of risk involved in supporting a new company, however Iowa City is mitigating their risk because the company has to fulfill its obligations before they are eligible to receive any benefit. Raso said that the State of Iowa and the City of Coralville will be providing dollars "up fronf' and therefore are taking a much greater risk. Answering a question posted by Elliott, Fuja said Dermacia is 7 years old. He said the company started with a product called Lipo gel that allow for healing for post cosmetic surgery. He noted that the success of the product propelled the company forward. Fuja stated that at present the company is doing about $1 million a month in revenue. The motion passed 3:0. MOTION: Elliot moved to recommend the council to support the CEBA application. Champion seconded the motion. Motion passed 3:0. Raso said that any documentation from the current meeting should be sent to Mike Farley as quickly as possible. He added that the lDED board wanted to see the Committee's approval and recommendation to the Council. Economic Development Committee Minutes September 19, 2006 Page 3 COMMITTEE TIME NONE ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:3'7 AM. NEXT MEETING DATE: October 17, 2006 at 9 AM. Minutes submitted by Bogdana Rus. sJpcd/mlnuteslecdev/2006/9-19-06. doc Economic Development Coordinator Activities August 30 - October 10 Outreach & Contact. Meeting. & Event. ICAD Annual Lunch Iowa City (Chamber) Committee Lunch (9-5, 9-25) Local Government Committee Meeting (9-14) Chamber-hosted TIF seminar with Bob Josten (9-15) Foster's CrossinglPeninsula lunch event (9-19) Chamber Legislative Committee meeting (9-20) National Genecular Institute Press Conference (\ 0-2) Attended International Downtown Association Conference (10-7 through 10-10) Public Relation. Dottie Ray show (9-20) Wrote TIF information guest opinion(s) Updated TIF informational slides (to be posted on web) Contacts Met with JeffDisterhoft, ICAD Chair, President ofUlCCU Met with Downtown Association staff person Met with Jim Davis, Developer Met with Greg Theis, Mid American Energy Economic Development Director Met with Tom Cilek regarding Everyone's and Entrepreneur Event Met with Nancy Quellhorst, Chamber Met with Joe Raso, ICAD In Hou.e Developed FY 08 ED Budget Continued gathering information for Community Profile Interviewed, hired Intern for Economic Development Attended LEED certification information session Met with County Auditor, Mark Kistler re: TIF district certification process Economic Development Project. - Meeting. Hieronymus Square TIF agreement (9-7,9-11,) National Genecular Institute meetings (8-30, 9-27, 9-29) Responded to various inquiries, including specialty bar, non-profit start-up, pet grooming business, insurance agency building. City of Iowa City and Iowa City Area Development Group Memorandum of Understanding for Services Provided by ICAD Group to City of Iowa City of Iowa City The City ofIowa City is committed to investing $100,000 during ICAD Fiscal Year 2007. The services to be provided for this investment will include, but are not limited to the following items. I. Provide aerial photos of industrial, office parks, and other substantial commercial site in Iowa City. Additional fees may be associated with photos of sites not linked with the core work associated with ICAD Group (i.e., residential, retail, etc.). It is expected that these photos will be completed in the spring of 2007. 2. ICAD Group will interview all oftheir clients residing in Iowa City as part of the existing business services program (Synchronist). 3. ICAD Group will continue to visit the corporate headquarters of companies with operations in Iowa City and will provide a verbal report related to issues pertaining to city services or areas in which the city can provide resources to improve general business conditions or specific company needs. 4. The leAD Group President will provide a general organizational update to the city council in the spring of 2007. Other presentations, such as company expansion/location opportunities, or on special request by council will also be granted. 5. ICAD Group will engage the City ofIowa City and other city investors, as it redevelops the content of its prospect packets, including site and building formats. 6. ICAD group will continue to work with city officials and area leaders on the development of the commercial and industrial zones: Northgate Corporate Park, Scott Six, Lower Muscatine Road and Highway 6, Industrial Park Road, Heinz Rd. and Highway 6 Commercial Urban Renewal Areas. 7. ICAD Group will provide a year-end report on the progress made on the above action items. Steve Atkins date Joe Raso date Iowa City CDBG Economic Development Fund Purpose: Stimulate private sector investment that results in the creation and/or retention of permanent, private sector jobs for low-to-moderate income persons. Referral Sources: Referrals generated by private financial institutions, Small Business Development Center, and the public. If the applicant is referred by a financial institution or the Small Business Development Center, Community Development staff will work with the private lender or technical assistance provider to review the application, the underwriting analysis for the project, and work with the private lender on a financial package that makes the project viable. All applicants are encouraged, however not required, to apply to a financial institution for financing. If applicant does not apply for funding through a financial institution, the applicant must explain why. Process: 1) Referral received from a financial institution, SBDC, or directly from the business 2) Applicant meets with staff/staff completes preliminary review. If referred by a private lender, meet with lender to review project. 3) City Council Economic Development Committee approval 4) Council action/approval 5) CDBG agreement executed 6) Business mentor shall be established and maintained during life of CDBG agreement if applicant not working with a private lender through a party approved by the City. If not working with a private lender and receiving business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, this relationship must be maintained during the life of the CDBG agreement. 7) City monitoring and compliance Review Criteria for the Economic Development CDSG Fund Application will be evaluated based on the City of Iowa City Financial Assistance Guidelines established on 9/24/1996, amended 2001, as applicable. 1) Meets all CDBG requirements and creates/retains employment opportunities for low-to-moderate income persons 2) Applicant's financial contribution to the project 3) Quality of jobs created (federal poverty wage rate, 30% of area median income, for a family of four in Iowa City is $10.48/hour as of 3/8/2006) 4) Economic Impact - potential for future growth 5) Consistency with the City's Comprehensive Plan 6) Environmentallmpact 7) Community Involvement Drafl10/4/06 Business Plan (new businesses): . Plan must demonstrate the feasibility of the business venture . Creditworthiness of the business/applicant . Reliability of the job creation and financial estimates . All private financing options considered . Business plan MUST be readable (font 11 or larger) The City may verify the following (To verify some of these items, the City may be required to ask the applicant's birth date and/or social security number.): . Credit history - Applicant Credit Score . Past employment . Current references . Financial institution - verify if assistance approved or denied. If denied, primary reasons the institution denied the request. If approved, review private lender's underwriting analysis. . Any other information as supplied by the applicant on the application and business plan to assist in evaluating the proposal Special considerations of the CDBG Economic Development Fund: . The City will not shop banks. . The City will encourage applicants to seek private financing, but will not recommend institutions. . A business mentor relationship must be established for those applicants who do not obtain private financing. . Job creation/retention by low-to-moderate income persons is a federal requirement for CDBG assistance. City will take all enforcement measures for repayment if business fails to create or retain the jobs required by the Agreement the applicant enters with the City. . The CDBG ED fund is not meant to compete with private lenders but to provide incentives that lower private sector risk and leverage private sector dollars in order to expand the amount of capital available to small businesses. Draft 10/4/06 Business Financial Assistance Application for Iowa City CDBG Economic Development Funds Prior to submitting your Business Financial Assistance Application, please make sure to do the following: . Fill out the application completely. If any questions are left unanswered or required attachments are not submitted, an explanation for the omission must be included. . Should you have any questions while completing the application contact Community Development staff at 319.356.5230 or by email at tracy-hig htshoe@iowa-city.org. . Sign the application. . Application Deadlines: The City Council Economic Development Committee typically meets the third Tuesday of the month. Completed applications for Business Financial Assistance projects should be submitted to the Community Development Department two weeks prior to the meeting at which the applicant wishes to have the Committee review the application. However, under special circumstances the Economic Development Committee will call special meetings to review Business Financial Assistance Applications. Prior to completing an application, an applicant is strongly encouraged to contact the Iowa City Community Development Department to discuss the project for which they are requesting funding. Have your application and related materials delivered to: City of Iowa City Community Development Department 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Phone (319) 356-5230 Fax: (319) 356-5217 Iowa City CDBG Economic Development Funds Application for Business Financial Assistance Business Requesting Financial Assistance: Individual Home Address Name of Applicant Business Full Street Address of Business Phone Number & Email Address Tax 1.0. No or SSN: DUNS Number (If awarded funds, applicant must obtain a DUNS number): Type of Business Date Business Established Bank of Business Account and Address (if applicable): NOTE: The City will not provide assistance in situations where it is determined that any repre- sentation, warranty or statement made in connection with this application is incorrect, false, misleading or erroneous in any material respect. If assistance has already been provided by the City prior to discovery of the incorrect, false or misleading representation, the City may initiate legal action to recover City funds. October 2006 Draft 1 - ----~.~_.._---------~-_._-~_.._------_._._~--~---~_..---.---.-----.-------.- ......------.---- Section 1: Description of Business and Proposed Project 1.1. Describe the proposed "project" (for example, company relocation, building expansion, remodeling, new product line, number of new jobs, amount of investment in machinery and equipment) and the expected benefits it will receive from the financial assistance requested: 1.2. Provide a brief history of your company: 1.3. Describe the organizational structure of the business: 1.4. Management (Proprietor, partners, officers, directors, all holders of outstanding stock, 100% of ownership must be shown) Name & PositionfTitle Complete Address % Owned Attach a brief description similar to a resume of the education, technical and business background for all the people listed under Management. 1.5. Will the project involve a transfer of operations or jobs from any other Iowa City or Johnson County facility or replace operations or jobs currently being provided by another Iowa City or Johnson County company? If yes, please indicate the facility(s) and/or company(s) affected. October 2006 Draft 2 -----------.".------..-.- ---_._--_._,---_._-_.__.._---_._~-----_.._-~-----------,._----,---,,-~_.__...- ----.---.-.,----..---. Section 2: Financial Contributions to the Proposed Project 2.1. Use of Proceeds USE OF Proceeds Loan Requested (Enter gross dollar amount rounded to Activity the nearest hundreds) Land acquisition $ New Construction/Expansion Repair $ Acquisition and/or Repair of Machinery $ and Equipment Inventory Purchase $ Working Capital (including accounts $ payable) Acquisition of Existing Business $ All Other (provide description) $ Total Loan Requested (All Sources): $ 2.2. Terms of Proposed Financing (Sources) Proposed Financing Financial Institution: $ Financial Institution : $ Other: $ Iowa City CDBG Economic Dev. Fund $ TOTAL: $ Amount Monthly Payment Type(1) Rate Term (l)For example: forgivable loan, direct loan, or grant. 2.3. Explain why assistance is needed from the City, and why it cannot be obtained elsewhere. If the applicant did not apply for a loan through a private financial institution, please explain why. If denied assistance through a financial institution, please attach the letter of denial. October 2006 Draft 3 ...._._,_.._~---~._"------~._-~-,---~---_._--_._~--_.----------.--------.,.-..--..--.--------.-------.----..----~--,-- - 2.4. Indicate the owner's contribution (cash, assets for the operation of the business, etc.) to this project. 2.5. Identify all agencies or institutions involved in the project (financial, technical assistance, etc.) and what their involvement is: 2.6. What type of security will the assisted business provide the City? If no security or less than the dollar amount requested is offered, an explanation must be provided. o Corporate Guaranty o UCC Financing Statement o Irrevocable Letter of Credit o Personal Guarantee o Surety Bonds o Mortgage on Real Estate o Escrow Account o Other: Before execution of a CDBG agreement, if the collateral consists of machinery and equipment, inventory, or other, the applicant must provide an itemized list that contains serial and identification numbers for all articles that had an original value of greater than $5,000. Include a legal description of real estate offered as collateral. 2.7 If the City did not provide financial assistance, could the project proceed? Section 3: Jobs to Be CreatedlRetained Special Note: The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program requires that at least 51% of the jobs created or retained must be held by or made available to low- moderate income persons. The business acknowledges that if it fails to create and/or retain the jobs identified below by the end of the project period and maintain them for a period of time (usually 12 months from the date of the award); it may be required to reimburse City funds for the employment shortfall. 3.1 If an existing business, how many employees are currently employed at your Iowa City location? Please attach a copy of the company's quarterly Iowa "Employer's Contribution and Payroll Report" for the most recent quarter. October 2006 Draft 4 ..____,.._._...__.__~__.__..__._n_._~__________.._'____.-_...._.._.._-~----_._.- 3.2 Complete the following chart identifying the number of jobs to be created and/or retained based on this specific project. Type of Job and Hourly Rate for Created and/or Retained Positions in First 12 Months of Project Award (p/8as8 S88 attach8d Job Category 08"n/tions) # of Jobs # of Jobs No. Hours Hourly Fringe Created Retained TVDe of Job Per Week Rate of Pay Benefits. Officials & Managers Professional Technicians Sales Office & Clerical Craft Wokers (Skilled) Operatives (semi-skilled) Laborers (unskilled) Service Workers .If fringe benefits are provided, please attach a description of all employee benefits provided by and paid for (in full or in part) by the business. 3.3 What is the estimated annual payroll for the new employees resulting from this project? 3.4 If an existing business, will any of the current employees lose their jobs if the project does not proceed? If yes, how many? Explain why: Section 4: Economic & Environmental Impact 4.1. What other Johnson County companies could be considered to be your competitors? 4.2. How will this project benefit the City/County? 4.3. Please describe the energy and resource efficiency programs, waste reduction, waste exchange, and recycling programs at your Iowa City operation. Oclober 2006 Draft 5 ----------_._._-~---~_._,-_.,._--_...-.---~-------------~----"-----~-_..._.__._'-_..- Section 5: Community Involvement, Compliance with Law 5.1 Please describe your business' history of contributing to the community through volunteer work, financial contributions, or other means. If a new start-up business, please describe commitment to becoming involved in the community. 5.2 Has the business been cited or found to violate any federal or state statute or regulation within the last five years (including, but not limited to environmental regulations, payroll taxes, Occupational Safety and Health Administration laws, Fair Labor Standards, the National Labor Relations Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act)? If yes, please explain the circumstances of the violation(s). 5.3 Has the company or any officer of your company ever been involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings? If so, please provide the details. 5.4 Are you or your business involved in any pending lawsuits? If yes, provide the case name of the lawsuit, docket number, and city and state where it is pending. Section 6: Summary of Required Attachments Check off each attachment submitted. If not submitted, explain why. [] Business plan (if start-up business) [] Balance Sheet (3 year historical if an existing business. Start-ups must provide a pro- forma balance sheet) [] Profit and loss statements (3 year historical if an existing business) [] Cash Flow Statement (one year) [] Description of fringe benefits provided to employees, if applicable [] Brief description of the education, technical and business background for all the people listed under Management as well as the Social Security number for all those included in Question 1.4. October 2006 Draft 6 -,---~--------_._----~_.,----'-'-~------_.._--"._-----.-'--'." [] If an existing company, copy of the company's quarterly Iowa "Employer's Contribution and Payroll Report" for the most recent quarter. [] Construction loans only: Cost estimates for construction and a statement of the source of any additional funds [] Include a list of any machinery or equipment or other non-real estate assets to be purchased with the financial assistance and the cost of each item as quoted by the seller. Include the seller's name and address. Upon review of a submitted application, the City reserves the right to request additional information in order to assist the City with its evaluation of an application. Release of Information and Certification NOTE: Please read carefully before signing I hereby give permission to the City of Iowa City (the City) to research the company's history, make credit checks, contact the company's financial institution, and perform other related activities necessary for reasonable evaluation of this proposal. I understand that all information submitted to the City relating to this application is subject to the Open Records Law (1994 Iowa Code, Chapter 22) and that confidentiality may not be guaranteed. I hereby certify that all repre- sentations, warranties or statements made or furnished to the City in connection with this application are true and correct in all material respects. I understand that it is a criminal violation under Iowa law to engage in deception and knowingly make, or cause to be made, directly or indirectly, a false statement in writing for the purpose of procuring economic development assistance from a state agency or political subdivision. If applicant is a proprietor or general partner, sign below. By: Date: If applicant is a Corporation, sign below: Corporate Name and Seal Date By: Signature of President Attested by: Signature of Corporate Secretary October 2006 Draft 7 I ~ 1 ~~~~'t ~"Sr"'IID'~ ....~ CITY' OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: October 11, 2006 To: Economic Development Committee From: Wendy Ford, Economic Development Coordinator Re: Economic Development Strategies, Policies Discussion, Part I: Goals For Agenda Item 7, Discussion of Economic Development Policies, Strategies, I suggest we begin by looking at the last Economic Development Strategy Document, from April 2004. Further, let's focus on the first two pages of that document. This is the last economic development "situation analysis" and provided the backdrop for the strategies and policies set forth in 2004. We need to do that again because substantiating the reasons for doing what we do naturally leads to a discussion of goals. It is quite possible that other factors may now influence or change our situation and goals, and require different strategies. Following our discussion of goals, we will move to a discussion of strategies to achieve those goals. That discussion most likely will occur at the next Economic Development Committee meeting, currently scheduled for Nov. 21, 2006. ------,._"'-_.,,~-----_._-----_._-----_.._-----~~._----_..__.._-~_._~-------'--'--"-- .--.--..--.------..........----..... 2004 Economic Development Strategy ~""'-- CITY OF IOWA CITY April 2004 Economic Development Strategy Over the last two years the State of Iowa has drastically cut funding for cities by eliminating local government aid, reducing funding for programs, rolling back taxable values, and retaining revenues formerly shared with local governments. These actions have had a great impact on the City's ability to deliver services as many of the City's services to its citizens are financed from the General Fund. In addition, citizen expectations for our existing services are high and consequently the City is continually under pressure to expand, modernize or offer new products even as local and state budgets are shrinking. The options the City has to obtain the revenues necessary to meet these needs and desires of Iowa City residents is limited by State law regarding taxation. The primary revenue source that is available to cities is property taxes. Even if a City Council was willing to raise property taxes, for all practical purposes this is not possible due to State regulated property tax levy limits. Because of the structure of the Iowa property tax system, commercial and industrial development is the most fiscally advantageous development for local governments. This document proposes a policy for sustaining the actions the City has started and instituting a more aggressive, targeted and proactive role on the part of the City government to encourage and facilitate commercial and industrial development in Iowa City. To build upon the successes of the last few years, and to continue development within the commeFcial and industrial sectors, it is important to strengthen and enhance the Economic Development Strategies put forth in 1999 and enable growth for the future. Prioritizing economic development within City government is not a suggestion to pursue "expansion at any cost" policies but to approach commercial and industrial growth in a managed way. . This document addresses economic development opportunities from the perspective of three of the most common strategies of economic development: business retention & expansion, business attraction, and entrepreneurship (others opportunities being: tourism/conventions, downtown development, and workforce development). Focusing on business retention & expansion, business attraction, and entrepreneurship will provide Iowa City with the highest degree of success and return on investment. Prior to developing an action plan for these specific areas, we need to evaluate progress made on three issues that impact the success of our economic development efforts. These issues are the relationship between ICAD's economic development activities and the City's economic development goals; perceptions of the City's business-friendly attitude; and the resources directed toward economic development activities. Iowa City Area Development Group. The City's partnership with ICAD has been greatly enhanced since 1999. ICAD is doing an excellent job of promoting the greater Johnson County area. Since ICAD serves more than one community in Johnson County, ICAD cannot promote one specific area over another. When a prospect considers sites in more than one Johnson County community, ICAD does not advocate only for Iowa City. Over the last few years a different relationship with ICAD has emerged in which information is shared and joint activities are commonplace. Depending on the circumstance, either City staff or ICAD can assume the role as the lead economic development agency when working with a business expansion or a new prospect. Working with prospective new businesses and expanding existing businesses currently reflects the City's more active role. A Business Friendly Community. A continued perception exists locally that Iowa City could be more business friendly. This perception is disputed by a number of nationally recognized sources which have repeatedly named Iowa City as one of the best small cities in America to do business. This is evidenced by the 2003 Milken Institute Study that ranked Iowa City the #1 Small Metropolitan Area in the United States for Business and Career Growth. In July 2003, Expansion Magazine ranked Iowa City as the 11th best metropolitan area in the nation for companies looking to expand. It is clear that we should focus on marketing Iowa City and promote our successes to reverse the perception that Iowa City is not a "business friendly community". Quality of life is an important factor for locating or expanding businesses and Iowa City's reputation for being a leader in this area is beneficial. For Iowa City to keep its high quality of life and remain competitive as a community people choose to live in, we must be constantly reminded of the need to grow the commercial and industrial sectors to expand the tax base in order to be able to afford the amenities and services our residents desire and provide jobs. Expanding the commercial and industrial tax base does not mean the community will lose its unique character as long as the new development occurs in a way that is consistent with and respectful of existing development and meets the goals of the community as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan. By undertaking and promoting the planning process we are continually keeping community quality and economic development issues before us as important issues. According to the Iowa City Business Survey that was completed in 2001, municipal regulations and their implementation by city staff needed to become more sensitive to facilitating and regulating new development in the community. Some of this will be done with the adoption of the new development code in 2004. We must continually review how we approach development in the community to balance the goals of a quality community and industrial and commercial development. The City Council and the Economic Development Committee have worked to set the tone for a new approach to encouraging development. This has been successful and a number of new projects have been approved. Resources Available for Economic Development. The City of Iowa City has a number of tools available to assist economic development efforts. These tools include Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Tax Exemptions or Tax Abatement, CDBG Funding, bonds or other city funding resources. Marketing and using these tools to assist business growth is key to furthering the City's economic development efforts. As such, an expanded proactive and more aggressive economic development program will require additional resources to implement an expanded program. Actions for a Stronger Economic Development Role for the City The following lists actions we can reasonably take in selected, key areas of economic development to implement a more aggressive approach to economic development and to build the City's future tax base: Retention & Expansion . ICAD will conduct business retention surveys and gather information about existing businesses. Iowa City staff will work with ICAD to evaluate the satisfaction with governmental and area support services, explore company growth plans, and offer assistance where appropriate. . Complete and implement the new City Development Code. . As needed, consider changes to the City's regulatory process. . Propose redevelopment plans and/or invest in public spaces in areas of the community, such as South Riverside Drive, Towncrest, South Gilbert Street, North Dodge Street and the Muscatine\First Avenue commercial areas. . If approved, support the SSMI D and encourage identification of potential market niches in the downtown. . Refine a comprehensive package of tax incentives and/or a revolving loan fund for low-interest loans for economic development projects. o Continue to utilize tax or other incentives to increase the tax base through new construction of facilities and/or additions to existing improvements. o Promote quarterly business breakfasts, hosted by the City or with other partners. Business Attraction o Prepare materials that specifically market and promote Iowa City as a place to do business and live. o Continue to participate with economic development partners (e.g. ICAD, Chamber of Commerce, MidAmerican and University of Iowa) to post site information on commercial and industrial spaces in Iowa City. o Upgrade the City's ability to provide site and other information electronically to prospective companies. o Proactively work with realtors to make them aware of Iowa City's positive economic climate. o Increase Public Relations to promote Iowa City through mailings, press releases, web and other avenues. Promote Economic Development success stories and activities. o Continue to utilize tax or other incentives to increase the tax base through new construction of facilities and/or additions to existing improvements. o Support educational and outreach efforts to youth so they will remain in the area. Market job opportunities to post-secondary students, GenXers and others. o Build and enhance the City's relationship with commercial and industrial developers and property owners in order to improve opportunities for development projects within Iowa City. Work pro-actively with landowners and developers to solicit and plan for commercial\industrial\office growth. o Plan, zone and/or annex land for future industrial park land in southeast Iowa City and near other major transportation corridors (e.g. 1-80, Hwy 218, Hwy 6 and Hwy 1). o Work with the IDED, IDOT and the railroad(s) to extend rail spurs within existing or new industrial areas. o Encourage expansion of office and/or office research park space through zoning and/or annexation in NE Iowa City. o Market the availability of new commercial\industrial properties along the Mormon Trek extension and the Aviation Commerce Park. o Construct an industrial speculative building independently or with a private sector partner. o Take an increasingly active role in marketing and promoting Iowa City through cooperative efforts with ICAD, Chamber of Commerce, CVB, IDEO, and MidAmerican Energy and other regional economic development interests. o Proactively pursue federal and state funding for economic development projects and infrastructure. o Evaluate the need and, if necessary, plan for new commercial cores in the community in coordination with the district planning process. Entrepreneurship o Continue financial assistance programs for start-up businesses or small business expansion by using CDBG funds. o Help develop a privately funded low-interest loan program for targeted businesses. o Periodically re-evaluate the incubator concept, and when appropriate, pursue development. . Discuss with the University of Iowa the possibilities of developing a commercial\industrial\research park based on the "Oakdale" model. . Work with the Small Business Development Center, Institute for Social and Economic Development and the Pappajohn Center to facilitate the creation of new businesses. . Develop relationships with the University of Iowa Office of Research to collaborate on activities related to technology transfer and commercialization. . Partner with ICAD regarding relationships with businesses at Oakdale and the University's Technology Innovation Center (TIC) and determine spin-off business opportunities in Iowa City. Future Economic Development Work Program City of Iowa City Economic Development Division Retention & Expansion Work with ICAD to evaluate and coordinate information collected through their annual business retention survey. Continue to evaluate satisfaction with governmental and area services, explore company growth plans, and offer assistance where appropriate. . Partner with ICAD on their business retention surveys and interviews. Summarize findings and act to address outstanding issues. . Follow-up on issues of concern to Iowa City businesses. . Maintain outreach to businesses through one-on-one site visits by the Council Economic Development Committee and staff. . Periodically, conduct a business retention survey process ($2,500-$3,000). Implement the City's New Uniform Development Code . Maintain an on-going evaluation and consideration of changes to the City regulatory process dealing with commercial and industrial projects. . Reduce "red tape" and streamline processes. Develop area redevelopment plans and/or invest in public spaces in areas of the community, such as South Gilbert Street, North Dodge Street, S. Riverside Drive, MuscatinelFirst Avenue and the Towncrest areas. . Conduct meetings with property owners and tenants in these areas to determine the level of redevelopment and/or investment in public spaces. . Review current zoning and land use patterns. Rezone property if needed. . Consult with publiC works staff to prepare public improvement design plans or redevelopment concepts and plan for such projects within the Capitallmprovenients Plan. . As needed, construct physical public improvements\infrastructure. . Consider applying for Vision Iowa, Community Attraction & Tourism and/or other funds from the State of Iowa. Support a retail and office market analysis to identify potential retail and office market niches in defined commercial areas. . If approved, support the CB-10 SSMID and encourage the identification of potential market niches in the downtown. . Work with the Chamber of Commerce, business and property owners in retail/office areas to convey information from market study and develop strategy to act on results. Establish a comprehensive package of tax incentives and/or a revolving loan fund for low interest loans for economic development projects. . Continue to utilize tax or other incentives to increase the tax base through construction of new facilities and/or additions to existing improvements. . Encourage the use of existing tax exemption areas downtown to assist owners with renovations or redevelopment that will increase the tax base. o Pursue the development of a faQade renovation low-interest loan program for buildings in targeted areas and support the use of State and Federal resource that may be available including Historic and Rehabilitation Tax Credits. Business Attraction Prepare materials that specifically market and promote Iowa City as a place to do business and live. o Meet periodically with ICAD/CVB/Chamber of Commerce to review materials already available to determine what supplemental materials are required. o Prepare supplemental marketing materials specifically promoting Iowa City and why it is a good place to do business. ($2,000-3,500) o Update and link the City's web site to provide additional information, and promotional items to highlight the City's economic development activities. Enhance the City's relationship with commercial and industrial developers and property owners in order to improve opportunities for development projects within Iowa City. o Develop contacts with area commercial/industrial developers and property owners. o Host a workshop for area commercial/industrial developers and property owners (modeled after the District Planning process) to engage them in proactive planning for commercial and industrial areas. Plan for new future industrial parks adjacent to major transportation corridors and the expansIon of the Scott-Six industrial park In southeast Iowa CIty. o Identify potential industrial sites, contact property owners and begin preliminary discussions. o Consider acquiring land for future city-owned or public-private partnership in an industrial park. o Identify development costs and resources for new or expanded infrastructure capacities in industrial areas. o Work with property owners, the railroad and state agencies to extend rail spurs in Iowa City. Construct a speculative industrial building. o Identify a location for speculative building. o Prepare a proposal for a city/private sector partnerShip or partnership with the University of Iowa. o Construct a speculative building of 20,000 square feet or larger. ($1.5-$1.75 million) Develop a plan for new or expanded future office and research park land In northeast Iowa City. o Utilize existing transportation infrastructure (1-80, Highway 1, Scott Blvd and First Avenue) to identify potential sites begin discussions with property owners. o Identify development costs of needed infrastructure for new office\research areas. o Explore the possibilities of extending fiber optic, wireless or other communication enhancements to facilitate the location and expansion of information based companies. Continue an active role in marketIng and promoting Iowa City through cooperative efforts with ICAD, IDEO, the University of Iowa and MidAmerican Energy. o City staff to participate with ICAD, the State of Iowa and others in the development of prospect proposals and prospect site visits. . Plan and host regular meetings with UI officials (e.g. Business College, Medical School, Pharmacy, Research and Technology). . Use MidAmerican programs and incentives to enhance Iowa City's marketing and other economic development efforts. . In conjunction with ICAD, include Council Economic Development Committee members to visits with major employers in the community as requested. . Participate in "Sell Iowa" trips with the Iowa Department of Economic Development ($2,000- $3,000). Evaluate the need and plan for, if necessary, new commercial cores in the community. . As part of the retail\office market analysis, comprehensive planning and/or district planning processes, identify need for future commercial cores. . Development of redeveloped or expanded commercial cores at Towncrest and North Dodge Street. . If necessary, rezone property for future commercial cores. Entrepreneurship Encourage the development of a Business Information Center through exploring the creation of a one-stop business development facility. . Encourage co-locating a Business Information Center with the Small Business Development Center, Institute for Social and Economic Development, SCORE, and other business development groups . Preferably locate in a high-visibility street level location. Develop a financial assistance program for start-up businesses using CDBG funds and develop a low-interest loan program for targeted businesses. . Continue and promote the CDBG Economic Development Fund. . With assistance from the Small Development Business Center and the Institute for Social and Economic Development, work with area banks to .create a privately funded low interest loan program to promote the creation and expansion of small businesses. Periodically re-evaluate the incubator concept, and when appropriate, pursue the development of one in Iowa City. . Upon direction from the Council Economic Development Committee, explore the incubator concept. . Work with the University of Iowa to develop a high tech inventor incubator on campus. . Perform a feasibility study outlining the framework for establishing an incubator, if the decision is to proceed. Develop a relationship with the businesses at the TIC Center and directors at the National Advanced Driving Simulator to determine spin-off business opportunities in Iowa City. . Periodically contact the TIC Director to discuss Iowa City's role in working with the TIC Center businesses. Hold individual meetings with TIC businesses as needed. . Prepare marketing materials specifically targeted towards TIC businesses and NADS spin-off businesses. This work program outlines numerous activities and projects that may be undertaken. However, if the City budget mandates the continuation of a .5 FTE Economic Development Coordinator, the tasks will have to be prioritized by the Council Economic Development Committee and City Manager. Please note that on-going reporting and other efforts related to past economic development activities (e.g. TIF projects) must also be maintained. The work plan also assumes contracting for specialized work such as drafting redevelopment plans, market analyses, design work for capital projects, and development of marketing materials\web enhancements. City Council Economic Development Policy Committee To implement an active economic development strategy and create a high profile policy, the City Council Economic Development Committee was established. We believe the economic development activities and policy to be very important to our economic future. Please note that in order to implement the economic development strategies effectively we will need to be flexible, able to reach a decision in an abbreviated timeframe, and be creative with our resources. In addition, we will be looking at ways to target federal and state funds for these efforts. This approach will likely involve greater interaction for staff and/or Council with federal\state agencies and our federal\state legislators. April, 2004 City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM October 12, 2006 To: City Council /. ::J!~ From: Karin Franklin, Director of Planni~ Re: Central District Planning Process The Department of Planning and Community Development is currently gathering public input for the City's Central District Plan. After conducting some preliminary research this past summer, we are hosting a public planning workshop on October 18 at City High School. Invitations were sent to property owners, residents, business owners, developers, neighborhood associations, and other interested parties. We are very pleased with the response. We are expecting about 100 to 150 people at the workshop and many others have requested to be on our mailing list. Information has also been posted on the City's website and disseminated through area schools and businesses. The workshop is designed to provide a comfortable forum for the exchange of ideas about the future of Central Iowa City. After a brief staff presentation, participants will work in small "planning teams" of six or seven people on a number of tasks regarding housing, commercial development, transportation, and parks and open space. The planning teams are provided with maps and background materials to help them in the process. If you wish to attend, we ask that you remain largely observers rather than actively participating in citizen discussions. The next step in the planning process will be to form citizen working groups to work on issues in more depth. A second planning workshop will be scheduled early next year to coordinate the efforts of these working groups and provide another opportunity for the general public to provide input. Based on all of the input received, staff will then draft a plan document and map for public review. 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'"" = "',:.;:1 ~ = C. tIl rIl .....:::r ..... .... .... ~ ~~~i'~.~~='8~~~~~~.o~g . In=-: =- "l:lOQ $]: 1:1 fI1 ("D ("0 ('tI l'Il ~ .., I>> '" ~ ,~. ,,' S Q '" ~ S > 0;' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 8; c~~fI1"'1~ C'Il.~ 8o.~Q..~ a &~s~~~ ~8gS~=-~~t!:l ~,,~ ~::I B8@s"'ot30."~ ~g,s,'!;lg:e: 1ts~'S~~@''O~@ o OQ g; 9 (JQ = Co I =r " Q..Q.. rIl S. ~ n ~ ~ 9, " I::l l: i!i ::: zo I ~. (Do ~~ ~y (D t;' "'O~ 0 ~ z :s e O' ~ ~ V' C1CI r:> (D :r- oo '"' . V"\ n t 0 .... ~ '" "". -:::-' ::s ...... t""'l- ...... ('D 00 t""'l- 0 ~ (D "'0 ~ ~ (D ~ ~ ~ > C1CI ...... ::s C1CI d' "'0 s.. ~ ...... 0 ::s 8 ~ \,,' l' ~ ~ ~ '\ ~ "i {\ ~ , ~ ~ ~ MINUTES CITY COUNCIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 19, 2006 LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM PRELIMINARY Members Present: Regenia Bailey, Connie Champion, Bob Elliot Members Absent: NONE Staff Present: Karin Franklin, Wendy Ford Others Present: Raso, Nancy Quellhorst, Tannin Fuja CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chairperson Bailey called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM. DISCUSSION OF APPLICATION FOR CEBA FUNDS-NATIONAL GENECULAR INSTITUTE Dr.Tannin Fuia gave an overview of the proposed project. He said Dermacia, parent company of the applicant company NGI, is a customized pharmaceutical company specializing in skin care products and post surgical skin treatments. National Genecular Institute (NGI) is a fully owned research and development (R&D) subsidiary of Dermacia. He noted that Dermacia is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and seeks to locate NGI in the Iowa City/Coralville area. Fuja said Dermacia markets themselves via info-commercials, direct solicitations and physician's offices. Fuja stated they have two product lines. One is a prescription and one is an over-the-counter version of the same. He noted they have an established distribution line in Dermacia. He added that as NGI develops skin-related products, there will be an instant interested party to license the products, and a way to get their products to market faster than most R&D companies: through Dermacia. Fuja said they are working with the City of Coralville and the University of Iowa to construct a facility they would lease at the Oakdale Research Park. He noted that they are also seeking to buy land in Iowa City to build a second facility that will house a biobank and more facilities for cell research and administrative functions. Fuja said they are looking at the property located In the Northgate Corporate Park, and are also securing an option to buy 30+ acres of adjacent land. He stated that NGI has already developed products that are licensed to Dermacia and that they have just entered Into clinical trials on a face wound healing product. Fuja said they focus on devices, research and nano delivery which will be located in the Oakdale Research Park, as well as biobanking which will happen in Iowa City. Fuja explained that a biobank is a depository of genetic and cellular materials which are linked to updated medical history of donors. He said the future of customized medicine is based on having biological samples of people for whom a customized product is developed. Fuja said a biobank is tremendously important from a research standpoint and from the development of customized pharmaceuticals. Fuja said the largest biobank in existence is located in the UK. He added that they have studied the UK facilities and will build theirs to surpass them in size and in scope. Fuja said NGI has developed a system to immortalize cells. He explained that when a sample is collected, it can be used until it is exhausted. He said that in culture, cells typically continue to divide for a series of cycles and then stop dividing. With the immortalization of a cell system, as NGI plans to create, the cells continue to divide without incorporating genetic anomalies, and thus, produce an infinite source of cellular and genetic material. Fuja said they have a fully automated process which allows them to bank hundreds of thousands of samples. Fuja said that they will be providing genetic material for other biotech companies as well as for NGl's research. He said they have a number of pharmaceutical companies that are very interested to see the success of the biobank. He said that without the ability to immortalize the cells the biobanks are not attractive enough to pharmaceutical companies for investment because of the finite resources of cells available. However, with the ability to immortalize cells and link with updated medical histories, the biobank becomes an important key to the scientific processes. Economic Development Committee Minutes September 19, 2006 Page 2 Fuja said that in January 2007 they will occupy an interim space made available by the University of Iowa until the new Oakdale building is completed. He said within the same time frame they will be purchasing the land in the Northgate Park and building the biobank. He said the facilities need to work jointly; one can not exist without the other. Fuja said that it is a unique opportunity to involve both the City of Coralville and City of Iowa City in this project. He noted that they will create a total of 178 jobs, out of which 36 will be in Iowa City. Fuja said the cost for the Iowa City portion of the project is expected to be around $11 million dollars and that they seek a $1.2 million economic development grant from Iowa City is in the form of TIF rebates. Elliot asked about tax credits Fuja had mentioned and Raso explained the state of Iowa's high quality job creation program allows for the rebates of sales and use tax spent on the construction of the facility. Elliot asked why the company is choosing to iocate in the state of Iowa and specifically in the Iowa City! Coralville area. Fuja said the University of Iowa is the main draw for locating to the area. He said they have developed a positive reiationship with the University. Ford asked if the company is considering other locations and Fuja said they are, but if they have a positive response from the state of Iowa on their CEBA appiication, they are prepared to move forward in Iowa. Bailey inquired about animal research and asked Fuja to describe the extent of and security for such research. Fuja said they employ the highest security standards and said their research calls for the use cell samples from rabbits, mice and dogs. Bailey asked about the creation of high quality jobs. Ford said the draft TIF agreement requirements includes the creation of 36 jobs in Iowa City by the end of the third year of operation, as outlined in the CEBA application. Raso said that all state-approved applications meet or exceed the benefits requirement of the City. Ford said the requested $1.2 million economic development grant in the form of TIF rebates on a $6 million building would amount to $188,940 per year and be completed within seven years from the first rebate. Bailey asked when the valuation date would be. Ford said she will confirm, but November 2008 will be the initial vaiuation date, with the first assessment in January, 2009 and the first rebate paid in June, 2010. MOTION: Champion moved to recommend the council approve the development agreement. Elliot seconded the motion. Responding to Champion, Raso said there is always an element of risk involved in supporting a new company, however Iowa City is mitigating their risk because the company has to fulfill its obligations before they are eligible to receive any benefit. Raso said that the State of Iowa and the City of Coralville will be providing dollars "up front" and therefore are taking a much greater risk. Answering a question posted by Elliott, Fuja said Dermacia is 7 years old. He said the company started with a product called Lipo gel that allow for healing for post cosmetic surgery. He noted that the success of the product propelled the company forward. Fuja stated that at present the company is doing about $1 million a month in revenue. The motion passed 3:0. MOTION: Elliot moved to recommend the council to support the CEBA application. Champion seconded the motion. Motion passed 3:0. Raso said that any documentation from the current meeting should be sent to Mike Farley as quickly as possible. He added that the IDEO board wanted to see the Committee's approval and recommendation to the Council. Economic Development Committee Minutes September 19, 2006 Page 3 COMMITTEE TIME NONE ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:37 A.M. NEXT MEETING DATE: October 17, 2006 at 9 A.M. Minutes submitted by Bogdana Rus. sfpcd/minuteslecdev/2006/9-19-06, doc Council Economic Development Committee Attendance Record 2006 Term Name Expires 1/18 2/16 3/10 3/15 3/30 4/4 6/27 7/18 8/22 9/5 9111 9/19 Rellenia Bailey 01/02/08 X X X X X X X X X X X X Bob Elliott 01/02/08 X X X X X X X X X X X X Connie Chamnion 01/02/08 OlE X X X X X X X X X X X I Key: I X = Present I 0 = Absent OlE = Absent/Excused I I I i I I I I I ! I , I , I I I I , I I I MINUTES CITY COUNCIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM m:J PRELIMINARY Members Present: Members Absent: Staff Present: Others Present: Regenia Bailey, Connie Champion, Bob Elliot NONE Karin Franklin, Wendy Ford Kevin Digmann, Mike Hodge CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chairperson Bailey called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Seot. 5. 2006 Bailey noted the word ladder should be changed to lever on page three of the Sept. 5 minutes. MOTION: Champion moved to approve the September 5, 2006 minutes as submitted. Elliot seconded the motion. The motion passed 3:0. DISCUSSION OF APPLICATION FOR TIF REBATE FOR A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - HIERONYMUS SQUARE ASSOCIATES Ford noted changes made to the agreement over the last week include a) that the project will be certified energy efficient with LEED or a utility company, creating an incentive to be energy efficient, b) that the project will include three floors of commercial space and c) the developer's best efforts to include a minimum 40 unit hotel in the project. Bailey said LEED is the architectural standard and asked what programs are offered by the energy company. Ford offered file information on MidAmerican's Energy Advantage corporate energy efficiency programs. Champion said that MidAmerican has good programs for residential and larger scale projects. Bailey said that LEED is the standard the committee should promote and use as the standard for future developments. Kevin Diamann said their concern with LEED certification is how the mix of uses within the project may affect their ability to qualify for LEED points. Franklin said that LEED encompasses more elements of energy efficiency than MidAmerican energy, citing the example of points attainable for the use of energy efficient vehicles during the construction phase by contractors. She estimated the project could fairly easily attain enough points to be certified. Digmann said that they are interested in becoming certified, but do not want to get in the position where it would be cost prohibitive. Bailey said that if they do become LEED certified it could be promoted as a marketing tool to attract building tenants and for future development of the downtown. Discussion ensued about reiated parking needs with an increase in commercial space in the project. Digmann and Hodge reported on a meeting they had earlier in the week with Joe Fowler about securing an additional 50 parking spaces to accommodate the additional commercial space in the building. Fowler had agreed to the amount. Champion said she as comfortable with the new changes. Elliot said he would like to see more than three levels of commercial space. He noted he would like to see most of the building built for commercial. Hodge said that the addition of another floor of commercial and their best effort to establish a hotel means that at least the majority of 6 floors of the building would be commercial. Digmann said they, too, would like to have more commercial floors but that it is difficult to get commercial tenants to occupy space above second floor, citing an example of other property they own -- new 3"' floor office space with on-site parking that has remained unoccupied for some time. Champion said she does not like the idea of granting financial assistance for condominiums, however, the project would be grand scale and net a lot of new property tax for the community in a reiatively short period of time. Economic Development Committee Minutes September 11 , 2006 Page 2 Hodge said that they have done extensive financial analyses of the project and that without an economic development grant of TIF rebates, the project does not break even for the developer, and thus, they could not go forward with it. Digmann reported sharing project proformas with the staff. Elliot inquired if the staff was comfortabie with the numbers and certain the project could not go through without TIF funds. Franklin and Ford confirmed that the documents shared showed that additional funds are required for the project to realize a positive cash fiow. Bailey said she is feeling more comfortable with six potential floors of commercial. She added the LEED certification or energy efficiency certification is really important and should be encouraged for further projects. In answer to Elliot's question about the history of the development site, Franklin said that for the years Frieda Hieronymus owned the property, she always said she would never have a building with a bed in it. Franklin added that nothing ever happened there because she could not get a tenant. Franklin said that this is the difficulty of doing downtown urban projects without assistance or residential components. MOTION: Champion moved to recommend to the council that the TIF agreement with the Hieronymus Square Associates be approved. Elliot seconded the motion. Motion passed 3:0. COMMITTEE TIME NONE ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:42 A.M. sfpcd/minuteslecdev/2006/9-11-06.doc Council Economic Development Committee I Attendance Record I 2006 I Term Name Expires 1/18 2/16 3/10 3/15 3/30 4/4 6/27 7/18 8/22 9/5 9/11 Regenia Bailev 01/02/08 X X X X X X X X X X X Bob Elliott 01/02/08 X X X X X X X X X X X Connie Champion 01/02/08 OlE X X X X X X X X X X I Key: I X = Present I 0 = Absent OlE = Absent/Excused I I I I , i i i ! I I I G[J MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 EMMA J. HARVAT HALL PRELIMINARY MEMBERS PRESENT: Esther Baker, Michael Brennan, Michael Gunn, John McCornally, Pam Michaud, Jim Ponto, Ginalie Swaim, Tim Weitzel MEMBERS ABSENT: Richard Carlson, Tim Toomey STAFF PRESENT: Sunil Terdalkar OTHERS PRESENT: Helen Burford, Guy from Sears Home Improvement, Ben Lewis, Philip Lutgendorf, Shelley McCafferty, John Roffman, Rebecca Routh, Terry Stumpf, Tim Taffe CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Weitzel called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Terdalkar suggested that the election be deferred until later in the meeting. MOTION: Ponto moved to defer the election of officers until later. Swaim seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 6-0. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANYTHING NOT ON THE AGENDA: There was none. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION: Certificate of Aoorooriateness. 923 Iowa Avenue. Terdalkar said that this property recently received a certificate of appropriateness for demolition from the Commission, without a certificate of appropriateness for the new construction of the proposed building on the site. He said the Commission is now reviewing the proposal for the new structure on the site. Terdalkar said the applicant is proposing a six-unit, 18-bedroom apartment building to replace the storm- damaged nine-unit, nine-bedroom rooming house. He said that the staff report is based on the Design Guidelines for Multi-Family Buildings, (Section 10) which require certain criteria to be demonstrated before a certificate of appropriateness is issued for the project. Terdalkar said that staff has asked the applicant to revise the drawings to comply with all the guidelines and regulations. McCafferty, the consultant for this project, distributed a revised site plan. She said that the only changes to the building that are not reflected in the Commission's packet are that there will be 18 inches taken out of the depth, the length of the building. McCafferty said that the side elevations would therefore not be changed. McCafferty provided an elevation to show that the building would comply with the front setback requirements and where the building sits in relationship to the other properties on the block. She said the building should therefore comply with the multi-family guidelines in the historic preservation handbook. McCafferty said there was a lot of discussion in the staff report about site issues. She said that the owner would like to request approval of the architecture at this time, as well as the site plan as it is right now. McCafferty said the site plan is still somewhat of a concept, because the owner did not yet have the site engineering. McCafferty said the owner did not want to engineer the site around a building that may not be approved by the Commission. McCafferty said the owner would therefore like to have approval of the Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 2 building. She said that, when the application gets to the additional stages of site engineering and there is a possibility of a sensitive areas rezoning, this would come back to the Commission for an amendment. McCafferty said that the owner would, however, like to have the confidence to proceed with the engineering of this building at this time. Weitzel asked for clarification that McCafferty is therefore asking for approval of the architectural plan at this point and the concept for the site plan, which the Commission would then review at a later date. McCafferty said that if there are significant changes, it could be reviewed again. She said that if the site can be engineered pretty much to be exactly what is shown, she would leave it to staff and request that it not have to go before the Commission again. McCafferty said there will probabiy be retaining walls and other things like that that are not yet resolved, and they may be of a height and such that this needs to come back. McCafferty pointed out that she tried to design this so that it complies with the guideiines. She pointed out the front elevation and the drawing that shows how this would compare to the outline of the previous building. McCafferty said the goal of the elevation was to lower the overall eave height and put living units more under the roof, so that there are three stories but with a lower eave line. McCafferty said that the building is much more articulated than what was there previously. She added that it is a little wider than the original building, but her intent in designing it was to design it so it looks more like a large duplex. McCafferty said there are two front fa~ades essentially connected by a stairway. She said she lowered the eave line where the stair is to accentuate the fact that it is more of a link that is pushed back. McCafferty said the intent is to maximize the look of this as a duplex as opposed to an apartment block. Swaim asked how much wider this would be than the original building. Terdalkar said that the original building was 42 feet wide, and the new building would be 58 feet wide. McCafferty said that with the side bay, which is back away from the front fa~ade, it would be 58 feet, and without the side bays, it would be 52 feet. She said the perception of the building from the front is going to be that it is ten feet wider. McCafferty said that the site plan shows a darker outline showing the relative difference in the footprint of the old versus the new. She added that she broke up the pitch and articulation of the roof and some articulation to the front surface by using the two different siding materials. McCafferty stated that it would all be done out of fiber cement board, with a concrete base. McCafferty said that, given the slope of the site, not a lot of the bottom foundation would be visible. She said that with the ramp, there will probably be some landscaping to deal with that, so that one would not really see any of the foundation. McCafferty said that at this point, she is proposing to just paint the foundation. Michaud asked what the difference is between the sidewalk elevation and the plateau. McCafferty said that it goes up approximately nine feet within 15 feet of length, which is about a 60% slope. She said that, with that slope, in order to get the ramp, there will probably have to be an easement on the adjacent property, and there is a verbal agreement to do that. McCafferty stated that the slope will have to be softened somewhat on the side next to the large apartment building on the east side in order to have ramp accessibility from the front. Ponto said that staff had discussed the issue of lighting in his staff report. McCafferty said that on the revised site plan, she did indicate some lighting. She said that typically, a civil engineer will do a light plan to guarantee downcast, shielded lights with appropriate lumens and so forth. McCafferty said that this plan is not at that step yet, so she is basically proposing a concept. She said there would be lights underneath the porch, on the back of the building, underneath the roof over the rear stairway, and there will probably have to be a pole or two in the back. McCafferty said she is trying to push them as far back as possible so as not to add glare to the singie-family house. She said that there are buffering requirements, and there is already a natural tree line, and she is showing some supplement of that. 2 ---------------"--~--------------~._---- Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 3 Phillip Lutgendorf requested permission to address the Commission as a neighboring property owner. He said that he has lived at and owned the adjacent property, 911 Iowa Avenue, for 21 years. He said the Commission is mostly concerned with how things look, but he has other concerns as a neighborhood resident, and he wanted to at least express them. Lutgendorf said the building that was at 923 Iowa Avenue was a remarkably good neighbor in that he has never had a complaint toward that building. He said that in terms of noise, a major issue on that block, he has never had a problem with that building. Lutgendorf said he suspects that the reason for that is that there were one-bedroom apartments and only nine people living there, and they tended to be quiet students. Lutgendorf said that his biggest concern about this plan, apart from the sheer size of the building, is the fact that it would double the density of people living at that site. He said that he also feels that three- bedroom apartments will attract a different kind of clientele - people living with their friends and having parties. Lutgendorf said that the reality is that what is driving single families off that block on Iowa Avenue is the noise from parties. He said that the police have been called many, many times, mostly because of houses on the north side of Iowa Avenue. Lutgendorf said that the thought of having that now come in right next door is really troubling to him. He said that if the goal it to stabilize that block as mixed, single-family and rental, this is a step backward, not forward. Weitzel said that the Commission has had direction from the City Council that if it does not take neighborhood concerns into consideration when discussing historic preservation, then it is not doing its job either. Weitzel said the Commission, however, is primarily looking at architectural, aesthetics and historic character issues. MOTION: Swaim moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 923 Iowa Avenue, with the stipulation that things may changed based on the site plan. Ponto seconded the motion. Michaud said that she thinks the design iooks like a historic duplex. She asked if there would be retaining walls, as one can't really put grass there. McCafferty said that would be part of the next step, the engineering process. She said that she would like to minimize the amount of retaining wall required, but that will be dependent on working out the plan. Roffman said that what is helping a lot is that the Clarks to the east have verbally agreed to let him ext8l1d his ramp over the front of their property, which is the lower part of the slope. He said that will then be blended in to work with the topography. Roffman said he would then share access to the ramp with the neighbors. McCafferty said that one of the other issues is working with the City. She said that at this point, the slope of the hill starts right at the sidewalk, which is within the City right-of-way. McCafferty said if she has to cut back to the property line and then back an additional 42 inches, that is where there would be the most retaining wall. She said that if she can work with the Engineering Department to start the sidewalk and ramp right at the City sidewalk, that would help reduce that. McCafferty said that is still in negotiation. She said that the ramp access has to be in the front of the building. Weitzel asked Terdalkar if the Commission has any purview over the type of material used for the retaining wall. Terdalkar said it would have purview if a permit is required. Michaud said that this plan conforms with the density the City allows there; however, it would double the number of tenants. She said that perhaps there could be some stipulation in the leases to restrict times that parties can be held. Swaim said that she likes the look of the proposed building but agreed that it is a substantial increase in the number of tenants. 3 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 4 McCafferty said that when this conservation district was rezoned, the Commission specifically responded to concerns of landlords that if in fact a building was destroyed, that it would not be a down zoning and the owner would not be unable to reconstruct to the same size. She said that is the reason there is not a fa9ade limit on multi-family. Gunn said that in this conservation district, the size limitations are fairly clearly spelled out. Weitzel confirmed that there are site and scale guidelines. Terdalkar said the guidelines state that the Neighborhood District Guidelines apply to single-family and duplex units. Weitzel said there was a lot of opposition from those owning larger buildings who were concerned that if the building was destroyed in its entirety that there would be a lowering of their potential. Weitzel said that it is a neighborhood conservation zone, Terdalkar said that a neighborhood conservation zone is intended to stabilize the neighborhood with lower density. McCafferty stated that under the current RNS zoning, seven units would be allowed, and Roffman previously had nine units. Terdalkar said that seven units would be allowed if one only considers the land, without parking requirements. McCafferty agreed but said that with what is allowed just basically by doing the numbers in that particular zone, the owner could not go back and build nine units, but the bedrooms under density are not specified, so that is where the density is increased. Weitzel said he assumes this plan reflects the required parking spaces. McCafferty confirmed that it reflects required parking and the required buffering necessary per the zoning code. Gunn asked McCafferty if she thinks the fa9ade area requirement does not apply here. McCafferty said that when the conservation district was designated, the concern was that if a building was destroyed and the existing fa9ade square footage was X amount, would the owner then have to go down to Y amount, based upon the neighborhood guidelines, and the owners considered that a down zoning. She said that is her recollection of why the area requirement does not apply to the multi-family, because it would be a de facto down zoning. Weitzel asked Terdalkar if that fa9ade area requirement would apply, because the guidelines don't allow that. Terdalkar replied that staff feels that the standard as written does not apply; because the introduction states that it applies to single-family and duplex. He said he thought, however, one could say that it does not state that they do not apply to multi-family. McCafferty said that this is an 80-foot lot. She said that legally, based on the zoning, this could be divided into two 40-foot lots. McCafferty said the building proposed is approximately 2,170 square feet, and that is including the roof, which slopes back. She said that the previous building was approximately 1,600 square feet. McCafferty said there are two ways it could be done. She said that forced with this limitation, one could do a 1,600 square foot building on an 80-foot lot or do two three-unit buildings of a 1,200 square foot fa9ade and get exactly what is proposed. Terdalkar said he had some reservations about whether that could be done. He said that if a building is within 15 feet of a single-family zone, the height of the structure is limited to two and one-half stories per the zoning requirements. Terdalkar said that if one splits the lot and builds a three-unit building on each lot adjacent to a single-family structure, the zoning code limits height of the structure to two and one-half stories. He said that McCafferty is not presenting complete information when she says that one could build two separate buildings by dividing the lot into two small lots McCafferty said that even if there were two single-family houses, there would still be less aggregate square footage in this particular proposal than there would be with two single-family houses. Terdalkar said the intent of the neighborhood guidelines is to limit the size of the front elevation to 1,200 square feet. He said it the guidelines do allow two buildings with 1,200 square feet, as other existing buildings in the area have similar elevation sizes. He said that it is not appropriate to say that the proposed building would be smaller than two separate buildings combined into 2,400 square feet, the overall size of one building should matter. 4 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 5 McCafferty said she is just using this as an example to gauge the size of what is being proposed versus what could be done with two single-family houses. She said this is something that would be of a scale of the smaller sorority houses in the neighborhood so that the scale of the proposed building is not unusual to the College Hill area. Brennan agreed that the scale of the building is similar to other iarge buildings scattered throughout the neighborhood, some of which are old but most of which are newer. Gunn stated that the guidelines are perfectly clear. He said there was a lengthy discussion when the guidelines were being drafted, and the argument was that because the predominant fa<;:ade size of a structure in the district is only 1,200 feet, if one has a large apartment building and it burns down, can it be rebuilt. Gunn said the answer is yes, and that is why it says, "and if the structure has a street elevation surface area of 1,200 feet or greater, it may be reconstructed, provided the street area does not exceed the area of the pre-existing primary structure." He said he reads this to say that one can build a building back as big as it was but cannot built it back bigger than it was. Gunn said that to say this whole thing doesn't apply because this is a multi-family building is a stretch that would come from a contorted view of what the guideline is. McCafferty pointed out that the architectural features have been added to this to reduce the perceived scale of this building overall. She said that if one is discussing just the technical square footage, a large portion of it will be such that it is not going to be seen in the same way that one sees a big, fiat surface, for instance, with the bays in back receding quite a bit. Weitzel said this building does borrow architectural elements from buildings in the near vicinity. He said one question would be if there are any examples of duplexes. McCafferty pointed out that there are some duplexes around town with a similar concept as that proposed. Weitzel said that the examples show peaked gables facing out and a single roof behind that, cross- gabled, so it is the same design. He said there are architectural elements from the neighborhood and a style that is prevalent in Iowa City. Weitzel asked Terdalkar whether the Commission has any purview over the neighborhood issues. Terdalkar said that if the Commission members feel there is an issue that affects the character of the conservation district, the Commission may consider it. Weitzel said the Commission can therefore talk about the neighborhood issue to a certain extent, but the reasoning has to be made clear when voting. Swaim said that, in terms of the neighborhood and the number of tenants, she did not know about the other houses and how many bedrooms are in their units. McCafferty said she believes the Clark apartments have one and two-bedroom units. Michaud said that there are three to five-bedroom houses across the street. Swaim said that this is an attractive building that in some ways will fit better into the neighborhood than the very big, three-story building did. She said she is empathetic with the issue of noise. Swaim said it is an issue that a lot of older neighborhoods have to stay on top of and find some good solutions. She said she did not want to single this out as not being a workable project because of the increased number of tenants. Swaim said she would rather find better ways to address the noise issue. Michaud said that, as a landlord, if she puts some restrictions such as quiet hours on her tenants, she has very cooperative tenants. McCafferty said that she feels that better maintained buildings tend to have better, quieter tenants. Roffman discussed the appearance of the building prior to the storm; he said he has always tried to maintain the building and increase the street appeal. Gunn said that in his tenure on the Commission, a lot of times a project has come in and everyone says it is big and really out of scale with the neighborhood, but there is never any1hing in the guidelines to prevent it from going up. He said that here, it is very clear in the guidelines. Gunn said that this building was big for the neighborhood, and if the new building is constructed, it's going to be bigger. He said that the whole point of controlling the scale is to control the size of the building, and the only way the Commission thought it could be done legally was to define it as front elevation. 5 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 6 Gunn said that if this project is to be 1,600 square feet in its front elevation, as defined in the guidelines, then it's a wonderful building. He said, however, that if it is 2,000 or 2,400, he thinks it is clearly way too big and would vote against it. McCafferty read from the guidelines, "The College HIli Neighborhood District guidelines apply to the College Green Historic District, East College Street District, College Hill Conservation District. They apply to single family and duplex buildings in these neighborhoods." She said she would like to get clarification, as it seems rather clear that it does not apply to multi-family dwellings. McCormally said that there is another large, blue apartment building near the corner of Iowa Avenue and Dodge Street that is still in the same district. He said that the building repiaced many smaller buildings, and it is gigantic and has an enormous frontage. Weitzel said that building was constructed well before this was a conservation district. McCafferty agreed and said that regulations have been changed because of that building. Gunn said that there are several apartment buildings within the district larger than the 1,200 square feet, but they all existed prior to the conservation district being established. Weitzel asked Gunn if he would be okay with the building if it were reduced in size. Gunn confirmed this. He said that the original building was big, and this would be bigger. Gunn said he doesn't buy the argument that somehow if one builds a big enough building, the scale doesn't apply, because the lot is big enough. He said that the whole point of the guidelines was not to allow this to happen. Swaim asked clarification about the issue of and the demolished square footage of the front favade. Terdalkar said that the front favade of the original building is estimated to be about 1,600 square feet. He said the footprint was about 42 feet wide, and the height is about 35 feet. Gunn said that 1,632 would be one thing, but 2,200 square feet is hard to ignore. He said it is a nice looking building, but it's not small, no matter how many bump outs there are on it. Swaim asked about the 2,100 square feet figure and if it comes from not only the front forward favade but also anything that is facing north. Gunn confirmed this and said that the roof would also be included. McCafferty said that another option is to make this narrower, but one ends up filling all the recessed areas and ending up with basically one large roofline that will look much more boxy. She said that the plan is for a wider building so that it would fit in the neighborhood. Gunn said this is just flat out making this a whole lot bigger than it was, which absolutely flies in the face of the guidelines. He said that if the Commission approves this, it is saying that the scale doesn't matter. Brennan asked if this was originally two lots that had been joined. Weitzel said it was not; he said it was part of the Governor's Square and was subdivided into this size lot. Brennan said the owner could split this into two lots and put up two 1,200 square foot facades that would be bigger than this. Terdalkar said that the lots can be split, but new buildings would need to comply with all the site requirements and design guidelines. Terdalkar said that from his perspective, the guidelines intend to achieve compatibility. He said that one can certainly build six units, by reducing the number of bedrooms, and reduce the size of the structure which will reduce the number of parking spaces required. Terdalkar said that from his perspective, the scale standard is not limiting anything to add more units than what was there before. He said it is certainly possible. Terdalkar said the question is if it is appropriate to build the maximum possible or something that is compatible with the whole neighborhood. Brennan stated that he thinks this is consistent with other buildings that already exist throughout the entire district as a whole, and that is what the Commission has to look at is the district as a whole. He said the Commission can't just isolate a block here or there, or it makes the meaning of the district disappear. Brennan said that given the consistency, the size, and styling, and that the owner could split this into two lots and have larger massing than what is proposed, he would be inclined to vote in favor of the proposal. 6 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 7 Michaud said she respected Gunn's opinion about the building. She said that McCafferty has done a great job with the blueprints. Michaud proposed that there be some kind of compromise. She said there is one more indentation than seems necessary, and it might iook more convincing to do away with the some areas, such as the dining room windows. Michaud said that one of the things that contributes to parties, in her experience, is having a big living room area with a connected dining room and kitchen. Ponto said he likes the looks of this and thinks that from the street this will not have the appearance of the mass that the big box did. He said, however, that he did not think the Commission could go against the guidelines. Ponto pointed out that Section 3.6 has alternative design criteria to aliow the Commission to deviate from the guidelines in exceptional circumstance, but he is not convinced that this is an exceptional circumstance. McCafferty said that if the Commission is basing its decision on the 1,600/1,200 square feet issue, she would request an opinion from the legai department on whether this applies to a multi-family building. Weitzel asked if the owner would agree to have the Commission table this issue at this time and have that issue investigated. He said that the Commission could have two meetings this month to reconsider this issue at the second meeting. Roffman said yes. Gunn said he was okay with tabling the proposal. He said that he might be unable to attend the next meeting but added that he would be amazed if the legal opinion is that the guidelines don't allow the control of a new structure in the place of one that was destroyed. Gunn said that would be a ridiculous contortion of the guidelines. Weitzel said that it is important to find out what the Commission's latitude is with these sorts of issues. MOTION: Ponto moved to table consideration of a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 923 Iowa Avenue. Gunn seconded the motion. Terdalkar asked if this is the first time such an issue has come up. Weitzel said the Commission considered this with regard to Brad Houser's house on Dodge Street. Weitzel said that the Commission did hold Houser to the height requirements. Terdaikar said that if the intent of the guidelines is to not allow large buildings, then the language should be clarified to reflect that. He said the guidelines should say that it applies to single-family, duplexes or multi-family buildings. The motion to table carried on a vote of 8-0. 726 Iowa Avenue. Terdalkar stated that the applicant for this proposal requested deferral of the item at a previous Commission meeting. He said that the application is for the review of windows on a carriage house garage at the back of the property. Terdalkar stated that this is an Iowa City landmark property and part of a conservation district. He said that the windows that were used as replacements are vinyl windows. Terry Stumpf of Stumpf Construction introduced himself and Tim Taffe, the owner of the house. Stumpf said that he was the contractor for this project. He said he was at the house for another project, but Taffe had told him that the windows didn't open and could not be cleaned. Stumpf said he looked across the aliey and saw a new structure with vinyl windows, and he didn't give it a thought. Stumpf said that he just left the existing frames outside and nothing would change; he put the vinyl sash in to have a functional window with the least amount of money spent. He said he did not think about the house being in a historic district. Stumpf said he has never put vinyl windows in a new structure but does think there is a place for them, and he just didn't think about putting this in a garage. He said the windows are all up high, and all the original trim and wood jambs are left. Stumpf said he believes that the garage was built in the 1970s, based on the material and subflooring, on the existing foundation where an old garage used to be. He said the windows apparently came from an 7 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 8 old house. Stumpf said this is in the back alley where no one can see it. He said there is also a vinyl window on the south end of the house. Taffe said that his house is the prettiest house on Iowa Avenue. He said that the last two owners haven't cared about the house. Taffe said that when he bought the house, it had a sagging front porch with rotten pillars and beams. He said that Stumpf has put the porch back together with new concrete, and now it is level. Taffe said that all of the tongue and groove is exactly the same dimension as it was before. Taffe said that on the roof, the bottoms of the dormers were all rotten, and he had Stumpf fix that and replace the trim where it was missing. Taffe said the house is a gem, and he is making it a lot better than it was before. Taffe said that the garage in the back is not a gem and is not a carriage house. He said that it is a two-car rollup door garage. Taffe said he loves the house, but the garage is not the house. MOTION: Ponto moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the installation of vinyl windows at 726 Iowa Avenue, as proposed, because the garage was built in the 1970s and is on the back alley. Michaud seconded the motion. Gunn asked how the Commission would know that this is a 1970s garage. Terdalkar responded that the contractor can tell the best by the kind of materials used. He said that it cannot be determined by the exterior appearance. Terdalkar said he checked the Sanborn maps, and there appears to be a similar footprint on the site after 1930, so if this is a new structure it may have been built upon an older foundation. He stated that the site inventory form for the landmark designation does not mention any of the outbuildings on the site. Weitzel said that he is familiar with Stumpfs work and is prepared to accept what he says as legitimate and right on target. Gunn asked what the guidelines say, since this is not a historic structure. Weitzel added that this is a conservation district, and Terdalkar added that this is a landmark property. Weitzel said the outbuilding is from the 1970s, so it can't be contributing to the landmark status of this building. He said therefore the Commission only needs to be concerned with whether it detracts from the building. Weitzel said that an outbuilding can be part of the landmark, but if it is not mentioned on the inventory form, there is no way that it contributes. He recommended that the Commission consider this as it would any other non-historic structure in a conservation district. Weitzel said that it does not affect that landmark, just historically speaking. Swaim agreed that this does not distract from the house. She said it is sort of like the neighborhood issue discussed before. Swaim said that often someone replaces something not knowing that it needed to go through design review, even though homeowners received a letter from the City. She said she wondered how other cities dealt with this issue. Weitzel said the Commission should look into that and also redouble its efforts to make sure notification is getting out there. Terdalkar said the Commission could double its efforts to inform people but asked if ignorance should be an excuse for everything. Weitzel said that in the past there has been a problem with distinguishing whether something was done intentionally or not, but he did not feel that is the case here. Terdalkar said the only reason this is being reviewed is because it is not allowed to install vinyl windows in the guidelines. Weitzel pointed out that is why the Commission meets - because it has to make leniencies and considerations that can't be accounted for in a flowchart. Brennan asked what happened with the house on Grant Street that had vinyl windows installed. Terdalkar said the owner replaced them with approved winodws. Brennan asked why this building is different. Weitzel said that the house on Grant Street invoived the contributing structure itself. Michaud said that was the primary structure, while this is a garage. 8 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 9 Brennan said there is no distinction according to the guidelines. Weitzel said that the building on Grant was also a historic building itself, and this garage is not. Brennan said the guidelines say there is no difference. Weitzel said the main purpose of this is to be concerned with detracting from history and with detracting frorn the appearance of the neighborhood. He said he does not see how that is changed by putting vinyl windows in a garage. Weitzel said that vinyl siding has been allowed on new structures in conservation districts. He said the Commission is allowed the latitude to interpret the guidelines. Swaim asked how many windows were installed in this house. Stumpf responded that there were three: one is a twin/double window on the south and a single window on the alley. Taffe said the twin windows face his garden, and the single window faces on the alley. Weitzel said that, first and foremost, he is looking at what this does to the neighborhood and what it does to the history of the landmark. He said that in both cases, he does not see that it does any1hing negative. Weitzel said that if the Commission is going to follow the guidelines and penalize people who otherwise are doing the right thing with their structures, then the City will not back the Commission on the guidelines, and they'll be turned over again and again. He said he does not see it as productive to fight this and be pedantic about the guidelines in a case where the spirit of the guidelines is being fulfilled. Terdalkar said he agreed with that but said that the Commission decisions should be consistent, and the guidelines should be amended to include such exceptions. Weitzel said that historic preservation involves a case by case analysis, and one must consider the context in which something is looked at. Brennan said that the impact of seeing something from the street disappeared from the guidelines or the ordinance in the last revision. He said that the structural framework of the case by case analysis is the guidelines. MOTION: Michaud moved to call the question. Swaim seconded the motion. The motion to call the auestion carried on a vote of S-O. AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION: Ponto moved to amend the main motion to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the installation of vinyl windows at 726 Iowa Avenue, as proposed, in keeping with the spirit of Section 3.3, exceptions for non-historic properties, since this is a non-historic garage that is not part of the landmark primary building. Michaud seconded the amendment. The motion carried on a vote of 7-1. with Brennan votina no. Swaim volunteered to do some research on how other communities handle these types of issues. 919 East Washinaton Street. Terdalkar said the applicant for this certificate of appropriateness requested deferral of this item. The consensus of the Commission was to defer this item indefinitely. 822 Rundell Street. Terdalkar stated that this is a contributing structure in the Clark Street Conservation District. He said the application is to replace nine of the existing wood windows on the house with vinyl windows. Rebecca Routh, the owner of the house, said she moved into the house in June and loved the historic neighborhood. She said that nothing was said to her at the time that the Historic Preservation Commission would have to approve the windows. Routh said she was concerned about the state of the windows when she moved in and was unaware when she ordered the windows from Sears that the windows had to be approved. Routh said the salesman suggested casement windows, because they are less expensive, but she wanted to preserve the look of the windows, although she did choose the less expensive option of vinyl. She said that the panes and screens on the windows are broken, and she is unable to open about 2/3 of the windows because of the swelling. 9 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 10 Weitzel said that the Commission specifically disallows vinyl windows on contributing structures and in general, without exception, unless there are extenuating circumstances. He pointed out that there are numerous other replacement-type windows, and the Commission allows wood or aluminum-clad wood. The Sears guy asked if vinyl windows are allowed anywhere on the house. Terdalkar said that basement windows are allowed to be vinyl-clad windows but only on non-contributing structures. Michaud asked if these windows have been ordered or installed or both. The Sears guy said that the owner has placed an order for the windows, and they have arrived but not been installed yet. He said that the windows were built for this home. Terdalkar said that he discussed the guidelines with the Sears representative, Jennifer Stanley. Terdalkar said he provided her with of the web link for the guidelines and the application, and she does know that the guidelines apply to all of these applications. Terdalkar said that when he received the application, he again called to let another representative know that vinyl windows are not allowed. MOTION: Swaim moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 822 Rundell Street, as submitted. Ponto seconded the motion. Ponto said that this is much more clear cut as far as what the guidelines do and do not allow than the previous application. Brennan agreed it is clear that this is not allowed. He suggested the owner contact her real estate agent and let him know about this. Brennan said that because this is an ordinance and not something in the title to the property, it is not really the seller's obligation to inform a buyer of this, but the buyer's representative in the process would want to be aware of all the pertinent laws that cover it. Weitzel said that even if the owner is not aware of a designation, he is still required to treat the historic property properly. Swaim asked if the windows were custom built to specific sizes for this house. The Sears guy confirmed this. He said that Sears only sells vinyl windows. Weitzel said that vinyl windows are not allowed by the Secretary of the Interior Standards, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation cites all kinds of reasons why vinyi windows are inferior to wood windows. Swaim said this is another case where the word has to get out before changes are made. T erdalkar said that this year, besides letters to property owners, we have sent letters to the real estate agents in town. Terdalkar said the guidelines first recommend repair of the windows, and if not reparable, recommend replacement of the sashes, and the windows with wood. He said the commission has also allowed metal- ciad windows. Weitzel encouraged the owner to work with Terdalkar regarding window contractors and window products. The motion failed on a vote of 0-8. 520 Grant Street. Terdaikar distributed a page that was missing from the packet regarding option two for the porch on this project. He said that this is a contributing structure in the Longfellow Historic District. Terdalkar said the Commission discussed this project in April, and it was deferred at that time to allow for revisions from the applicant. He said that at that time, the Commission approved the replacement of the aluminum siding on the house with fiber cement board, although the Commission asked the applicant to investigate the possibility of maintaining the wood underneath. Terdalkar said the applicant is proposing two options: one is to construct a porch across the full length of the structure in front, and the other is to build a smaller portico and also includes the construction of a building about the full length of the building in the back, a deck with a screened porch about 14 feet by 12 feet in the footprint, and installing actual windows in the existing screened porch, which currently uses storm windows. He said that part of the screened porch is set back, and the deck is not set back. 10 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 11 Ben Lewis, the owner of the house, said that he received an insurance claim for damage to the siding as a result of the hailstorm two years ago. He said that the aluminum awning on the building is beaten up and has a big hole in it; he thought it was put on in the 1960s when the siding was installed. Lewis said that 85 to 90% of the houses on the street have front porches. of some type, and he felt that a front porch would be really practical, particularly because the front entrance is the main entrance to the house. Lewis said the full front porch idea came from a magazine that showed a full front porch on a house that is identical to his. He said he thought that would give a little more space, although he is not tied to the idea of the posts or stones or anything like that. Lewis said the preferred option would be to have the porch go the full length of the house. He said he has discussed this with Terdalkar, who came up with the portico option. Lewis said that would be the biggest change to the house; the deck and the porch in the back are not hugely significant to him. Weitzel said there Is a stairway leading from the garage up into the screened porch and asked if there are details planned for the railing. Lewis said that he did not have specific plans but thought the style of the railing should match what exists there now. Weitzel asked how many steps are there. Terdalkar said there appear to be five risers. Weitzel said that in that case, HIS would require a building rail according to the universal building code. Terdalkar said it would need to be something grippable to meet the dimensional requirements. He said that it can be added to the existing railing or part of the handrail. Weitzel said that something in the style of what is there looks like it would comply. Michaud asked what the deck level of the screened porch would be. Lewis replied that it wouid be level with the door bottom. Michaud said that she likes the full front porch look and understand the desire to optimize the space. Terdalkar said that proposal was deferred at the April meeting, because the Commission did not feel the full porch would be compatible with the style of the house. He said that as the applicant was not able to attend the meeting, the Commission deferred the application to allow the owner to come up with an alternative. Terdalkar said that generally these Cape Code style houses would not have a large front porch, instead they have just an enhanced entry way or a small portico to guard the entry way, which is similar to option two. He said that additions for this type of house are generally built on the side, similar to the existing screened porch addition to this house. Terdalkar said that the site constraints don't allow for another addition on the side; therefore staff believes that it should be allowable to build a front porch but not a full- width porch. McCormally said that he has seen Cape Cods with full porches on the front before. He asked Terdalkar to elaborate on that. Terdalkar said that if a front porch is included in the plan for a Cape Cod, it is included within the main footprint of the house. He said it is built as a recessed porch within the main building. Terdalkar said that this house would require major roof renovations in order to make it work. Weitzel said this house was built in the 1930s. He said that the sun porch was built with the house originally, as was determined previously. Terdalkar agreed and said that is the compatible way to enlarge this house. McCormally said he believed that an addition on the front of some sort would make the house more attractive. Terdalkar said that if it can be done to serve the needed function and is compatible with the style of the house that would be the way to do it. He recommended the second option. Terdalkar said that in this neighborhood, many of the houses built during this time were from mail order catalogues like Sears Modern Homes. He said that book included a model showing porches of many styles, one of which shows a front-gabled porch with a pitch to match with the main roof. Lewis said there are several houses in Iowa City with an enclosed porch with one of these gables, but he doesn't think they look good. He said he took Terdalkar's suggestion and found one that he thought he could use. 11 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 12 Lewis asked If anyone knew how much more expensive the full width of the house porch would be. Weitzel said that would require the redesigning of the roof, and that would be terribly expensive. Lewis said he was okay with the smaller option. Gunn said the bigger porch would cost three to four times as much as the smaller porch. Weitzel said he believes the smaller porch would fit the function in that it would be a cover over the door. Michaud asked if the porticoes would have a fiat roof. Weitzel said it would be pitched inside - like a small hip. Gunn said this would be about a 3:12 pitch. Terdalkar said that, depending on the height of the porch and the eaves of the main roof, it could have a 2:12 pitch or a 3:12 pitch. Michaud asked if there is already a room on the other side of the house. Terdalkar showed the existing screened porch with the deck that is there now. Weitzel asked if the proposal is to change out the windows. Lewis confirmed this. He said that he wants to keep the style and keep the windows exactly the same size. Lewis said he had thought about doing some type of addition on the back, because he needs some additional space in the house. Lewis said that structurally, he has to fix the wailS and the windows on this room in any case, because the wood below the windows is rotting. He said the idea would be to make the room more weatherproof. Michaud asked about the windows in the screened porch. Terdalkar said that they are like storm windows. He said that they need rebuild the framework for the porch structure to install windows. Weitzel said that with that much glass, this would always be a three-season porch - that it would be hard to make the room weather tight. Weitzel said that what is before the Commission is a porch on the front of the house, a deck on the back, a screened porch on the back, and a proposal to redesign the sun porch to be able to hold windows. He said that it is not a window replacement really, because it is changing the structure to hold windows that are functionally different than what is there now. Lewis said the contractor has stated that one can get windows that look just like the ones that are there. He said that they operate like storm windows now. Weitzel suggested holding off on the screened porch. He said there are ways to make it work, but it would be involved, and the owner might want to discuss it with his contractor and Terdalkar before the Commission reviews it. Lewis said he was putting it out there to find out if it would ever be a possibility. MOTION: Gunn moved to approve the application for a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 520 Grant Street, as submitted, using option two for the front porch instead of option one, but including parts three and four, with details to be approved by staff or submitted to the Commission in a subsequent application. McCormally seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 8-0. 923 Dearborn Street. T erdalkar stated that this is a non-contributing property in the Dearborn Street Conservation District. He said the application is to install two skylights on the house, one each on the north and south sides of the roof. Terdalkar said that the skylights would be approximately two feet by three feet. Weitzel said the Commission recently approved other work on this house. Terdalkar confirmed that a rear addition was approved last year and is completed. Weitzel said the Commission didn't find the house to be of a significant type or style. MOTION: Swaim moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 923 Dearborn Street, as submitted. Gunn seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 8-0. 609 Brown Street. Terdalkar said that this is an application for a certificate of appropriateness for a fence, because it would be over six feet high. He said the original application was to build a ten-foot tall fence, which is not permitted by the Code; the maximum fence height permitted by the Code is eight feet. 12 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 13 Terdalkar said the applicant was asked to revise the height, or the applicant could have attached it to the house, and effectively called it a wall extension. However such a 'wall' is required to have a proper foundation. He said the applicant therefore decided to lower the height of the fence to eight feet, and that is the application in front of the Commission. Terdalkar said that the work was started without a permit and had to be stopped. He said the applicant now plans to reduce the height of the fence. Ponto said that he wants to report 'ex parte' communication as the owner had contacted him to ask for his opinion on this. Ponto said he informed him that he could not speak for the Commission and suggested he speak with Terdalkar. Ponto said the owner wanted a fence of six feet or less but where it meets the house, have it match the roof pitch and the rafter tail details, and he wanted it high there for a privacy screen, because the neighbors' dining room window looks directly into his back door. Gunn suggested that the owner consider using plantings for a privacy screen. Gunn asked about the door in the proposal. Terdalkar said that is the door within the fence, but it is not attached to the house, although it is very close to the house. Gunn asked if the door is part of the application, and Terdalkar confirmed this. Swaim asked if it is the L-shaped doorway that the Commission is reviewing. Terdalkar confirmed this, saying that because the western section of the fence is only six feet high it is not part of the review. He said that only the taller section of the fence, which would essentially be a doorway, is under review. Michaud asked if nine inches or so could be taken off the rafter so that the notch would be removed. Ponto said that the notch matches what is existing on the arts and crafts house. MOTION: Gunn moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the revised plans, as submitted, for the project at 609 Brown Street. Swaim seconded the motion, The motion carried on a vote of 8-0. 805 East Washinoton Street. Terdalkar stated that this is a contributing structure in the College Hill Conservation District. He said the Commission is reviewing the rebuilding of a garage on the property that was damaged significantly in the recent tornado. Terdalkar said the applicant explained to him that he wanted to rebuild the garage as it was, but the proposed drawing does not show that. Terdalkar showed a photograph of the garage as it was the day after the tornado. He said that the wall on the side of the house and the roof COllapsed, so the owner had to take down the structure because much of it was unstable. Terdalkar said the owner did save much of the brick. Terdalkar pointed out that a detail on the previous garage that is unique to the garage is not included in the plans. He said it matches the pitch of the house roof on the dormer, and it is in style with the craftsman details on the house. Terdalkar said there is a possibility that the garage was built at the same time or right after the house was built. Terdalkar said this application was submitted for HRDP Emergency Grant, and at that time, it was determined that the house and the garage together would be eligible for a National Register property. He said this was one of the houses built by a builder named a.H. Carpenter. Terdalkar said he believes this was a matching garage, and therefore, details similar to that on the house and the original garage should be used for new garage. He said that it had a detailed parapet and some crenellation, and these details can be repeated with the brick that has been salvaged. Terdalkar said that if the garage needs to be widened to allow for parking a vehicle, that could be done, so that there is room to revise this plan. He said he suggested that possibility to the owner, who wanted to submit something new, but that has not yet been done, possibly because the owner lives out of town. Terdalkar suggested that the Commission defer this, since the owner has not yet provided a response. He said the owner has been very cooperative about rebuilding the house. 13 Historic Preservation Commission September 14, 2006 Page 14 The consensus of the Commission was to defer consideration of a certificate of appropriateness for the garage at 805 East Washington Street. MINUTES FOR AUGUST 10. 2006 MEETING. The consensus of the Commission was to file the minutes of the August 10, 2006 meeting, as written. OTHER: Weitzel said that the window restoration workshop would be held Saturday at 1 :00 p.m. at the Craft Guild Building at 815 Oakland Avenue. He said that a PIN grant is being used to sponsor the seminar regarding re-glazing and weather stripping of windows. Weitzel stated that after the last meeting, he discussed holding the awards ceremony this fall with Helen Burford. Terdalkar said that Buford is reserving a room in the Library for the ceremony for late November or early December. Terdaikar said that a subcommittee is being formed for the National Trust and Friends of Historic Preservation Grant. He said that Michael Maharry and Mike Haverkamp will be on the subcommittee, and possibly two people from the Historic Preservation Commission will be needed for the subcommittee. Terdalkar said the subcommittee will be working on a timeline for the awards, as well as doing the awards themselves and providing a response to the National Trust as to what was done with the money. Terdalkar said that ten applications have been received so far. He said the funds consist of $5,000 from the National Trust, as well as a $5,000 match from Friends of Historic Preservation. Weitzel said that he thought the work could be done in a few hours. He said that the subcommittee would be deciding which projects should get funding and how much each should get. Gunn volunteered to work on the subcommittee but said that he could not attend a meeting during the day. Terdalkar said he would send an e-mail to Commission members regarding the subcommittee meeting date and time so that members could decide If they wouid be willing' to attend. He said that he would also put the applications on the website. Terdalkar said that there was a suggestion from a professor in the Planning Department to invite the Chair of the Sioux City Historic Preservation Commission, who is also the Chair of the Sioux City Economic Development Committee, to arrange for her to give a public address. Terdalkar said that she was going to be in town the first week of October to give a lecture to students. Weitzel asked Terdalkar to coordinate that with Burford to ensure that it is advertised. Terdalkar said that there would be a statewide preservation conference in Dubuque on Friday and Saturday and asked if anyone would like to attend. Weitzel said that he was interested but he could not. Terdalkar said that a CLG application was submitted for the Manville Heights Survey. He said that there had to be approval for the resolution, and the City match for this would be about $8,000. Weitzel said the City Council has expressed concern that this not become another GilberULinn Street issue. Terdalkar said the project timeline was revised per City Council direction to state that the designation recommendations and nomination papers will be sent to the SHSI office after review and approval by the City Council. He added that the City Council has also directed to notify property owners by certified mail about such designation. Weitzel asked if that can be done as part of the informational meetings, and Terdalkar confirmed this but all the property owners affected by this action will receive individual letters. Swaim asked about the second round of HRDP Emergency grants. Terdalkar said that the SHSI office has not announced it yet, as the contracts from the first round have been finalized or signed yet. 14 Historic Preservation Commission September 14. 2006 Page 15 Terdalkar said that after the long process of asbestos abatement. the sorority building at 828 E. Washington Street is to be demolished in the next week or two. Swaim asked about the house at 17 South Governor. Terdalkar said he has drafted a follOW-UP memo/petition to HIS to investigate why the house has not yet been stabilized. Michaud asked about 903 Iowa Avenue. Terdalkar said that the building has been stabilized and boarded up. and they are working on some smaller repairs. He said the owner is working with the insurance company on some issues and is also doing some work on the property. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:59 p.m. Minutes submitted by Anne Schulte pcd/minuteslhpcl2006/09-14-09. doc 15 Historic Preservation Commission Attendance Record I 2006 I Term Name Expires 01/19 02/9 02/22 03/16 04/13 04/27 05/04 05/11 05/18 OS/25 06/08 06/22 07/13 07/27 08/1 0 09/14 00/00 I E. Baker 3/29/09 -- -- ---- ---- -- -- ---- X X X X X X X X OlE X X M. Brennan 3/29/08 X X OlE OlE X X X X X X X X 0 X OlE X i R. Carlson 3/29/07 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X OlE OlE I J. Enloe 3/29/06 X X OlE OlE -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -~ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- ---- -- -- ---- I M. Gunn 3/29/07 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X I M. Maharl"y 3/29/08 X X X X X X X OlE X OlE X -- -- ---- ---- -- -- ---- I 3/29/06 X X X X I M. McCallum -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I J. McCormally 3/29/08 -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- ---- -- -- X I P. Michaud 3/29/09 -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- X X X X X X X J. Pardekooper 3/29/07 X X X 0 ---- ---- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- ---- -- -- ---- , 3/29/07 X X X X X X X X OlE X X OlE X X X X I J. Ponto I I M. Schatteman 3/29/09 ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- X ---- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- ---- ---- ---- G. Swaim 3/29/09 -- -- ---- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X X X X X X X T. Toomey 3/29/09 ---- -- -- ---- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X X X X 0 J. Weissmiller 3/29/06 0 0 0 0 -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- T.Weitzel 3/29108 X X X X X X X X X OlE X X X X X X Key: X ~ Present I o ~ Absent OlE ~ AbsentlExcused I NM ~ No Meeting I -- -- ~ Not a Member I , ! I ! I 10-12-66 IP24 I MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 EMMA J. HARVAT HALL PRELIMINARY MEMBERS PRESENT: Esther Baker, Michael Brennan, Richard Carlson, Pam Michaud, Jim Ponto, Tim Toomey, Tim Weitzel MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Gunn, John McCormally, Ginalie Swaim STAFF PRESENT: Sunil Terdalkar OTHERS PRESENT: Helen Burford, Joseph Codr, Ann Estin, James Estin, Alison Ames Galstad, Susan Lutgendorf, Shelly McCafferty, Beth Rapson, John Roffman, Mike Waltz CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Weitzel called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. The election of officers was deferred until later In the meeting by consensus of the Commission. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANYTHING NOT ON THE AGENDA: There was none. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION: Certificates of Appropriateness: 923 Iowa Avenue. MOTION: Ponto moved to take consideration of a certificate of appropriateness for 923 Iowa Avenue up from the table. Brennan seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 7-0. Terdalkar referred to the memorandum, issued at the request of the Commission, in the packet containing an opinion from the Zoning Interpretation Panel regarding the guidelines. He said that the Panel has basically said that the guideline in Section 8.2 is not applicable to this project. Terdalkar said the Panel rendered that opinion because there is a particular section for multi-family buildings and their design in the guidelines and also because there is a sentence in the guidelines in Section 8.2 that says that those guidelines refer to single-family and duplex buildings. However, he said that the design guidelines for multi-family buildings do address the issues of scale, mass, and height of the proposed building, so the Commission may choose to apply those guidelines in this case. Weitzel re-stated, for clarification, that Section 8.2 is from the College Hill Neighborhood Guidelines, which do not apply, according to the Panel. He said, however, that Section 10, Design Guidelines for Multi-Family buildings, does allow the Commission to consider the effect on the neighborhood. Weitzel said that correspondence was received from Frank Gersh and Susan Lutgendorf. He said the Commission also received a petition stating that the undersigned had concerns that the scale and mass of the proposed apartment building will enable the property owners to double the number of tenants and that Iowa Avenue has become dominated by student renters and that the few remaining single-family homeowners feel increasingly embattled and isolated. Weitzel said the petitioners argue that the aesthetic architectural guidelines for historic preservation and conservation should ultimately be in the service of quality of life and also intend to help stabilize neighborhoods that contain mixed owner-occupied homes and rental properties. He said the petitioners state that they consider the mass of the building proposed for 923 Iowa to violate the spirit of these principles and hope the Commission will seriously consider the spirit of Section 8 of the guidelines. Historic Preservation Commission September 28, 2006 Page 2 Weitzel said there is also a proposal by Susan Lutgendorf that the Commission defer consideration of this item, based on the number of people who may be absent from the meeting. Public Comment: Susan Lutgendorf stated that she wanted to underscore some of the things written in the letter. She said that she has always considered the 900 block of Iowa Avenue to be an ideal place to live. Lutgendorf said it is easy to bike and walk to downtown, and this is an ideal block for families to live on. Lutgendorf said it is real important to her to preserve the quality of life on that block and to stabilize the neighborhood. She said she was glad to see that there is a provision in the guidelines that does relate to mass and size of building, because her concern is that the massive structure that is proposed, something about the sheer size of it and the fact that it Is going to be substantially iarger than the building that was previously there, really changes the character of that neighborhood. Lutgendorf said it introduces a larger apartment building, and she feels that it really does further destabilize the neighborhood. Lutgendorf said her great concern is that the Commission has made its own guidelines for stabilization of neighborhoods, and she did not see anything in this maller so urgent as to cause the Commission to renege on the guidelines that it has made. Lutgendorf said she understands that the owner of the property is allowed to replace the number of units that he previously had, and that is his economic prerogative. She said, however, that if there were nine people there before, why could there not be three apartment units of three people each or six apartment units of two people each. Lutgendorf said that just because there is a certain number of bedrooms, that does not mean there will only be one person residing in that bedroom. Lutgendorf said that the amount to which the population density will be increased could be quite massive. She strongly requested that the Commission honor its own guidelines regarding the character of the building and the character of the neighborhood. Alison Ames Galstad said that she has lived on this block for about 14 years. She said she chose this area, because it is a mixed neighborhood and because it is walking distance from downtown. Galstad said that as a property owner, she respects what the City is trying to do in terms of historic preservation. She said she is disappointed to see people stepping away from the intent of those guidelines. Galstad said that in the case of her neighborhood, she hoped that the Commission would stand up for the intent of the guidelines. She said that it is of great concern to see the population density here increase so drastically. Shelly McCafferty, the consultant for the applicant, provided some revised handouts for the Commission. She reminded the Commission that its purview is the architecture, and the scale, design, and mass of the architecture. McCafferty said it is not the Commission's purview to look at the underlying zoning code or the housing code. McCafferty said that this neighborhood is not all single-family houses or ail smaller scale houses. She showed some photographs of other buildings and said that as one stands at the end of Iowa Avenue, there are a couple of large buildings in view that are substantially larger than what the applicant proposes. McCafferty said that Washington Street has additional.large buildings, varying from 50 to 75 feet in width. She stated that a larger scale building is not necessarily out of place in this neighborhood. McCafferty said she has been working on revising this building to make it smaller, based on previous public comments. She showed an illustration of the proposed building surrounded by blue lines to represent the previous proposal. McCafferty said the width of just the front fa~ade without the bays would be 46 feet; the original building at the front was 42 feet. Historic Preservation Commission September 28, 2006 Page 3 McCafferty also showed an illustration of how the proposed building relates to the previous building, represented by red lines. She stated that the front elevation area of the proposed building would be 1,656, and her best estimate of the front elevation area of the original building is 1,646. McCafferty said that the front wall area, which excludes the roof, would now be within 50 square feet of what it was previously. She said that the typical eave height would actually be three feet lower than that of the previous building. McCafferty said that the roof height as the Building Department would measure it would be four feet lower than the previous building. She said the only dimension that is not less than what the previous building had is the width; the new building would be just four feet wider than what the previous building was, excluding the base. McCafferty showed the side elevation of the building. She showed the base laid out in the lighter lines on the left and right of the building and on the side elevation. McCafferty showed examples of bays on buildings in Iowa City. She showed the bays from the side and showed how from the front, they are essentially not visible and do not contribute to the perceived mass of the buildings. McCafferty said that to look at the straight elevation and measure it is not really an accurate portrayal of what the perception of the scale of the building will be from the street. McCafferty showed what the building would look like in three dimensions. She said that mostly what one would see is the porch and the front projecting gables. McCafferty showed examples of fiat elevations of various buildings. She said that seen in three dimensions, the sense of scale of the buildings is significantly different. McCafferty said this proposal is for a building that is not a solid mass, as the previous building was. She said that it is a little bit wider but is more articulated, however. McCafferty said that one's perception of the building as seen from the street is actually going to appear smaller than what it was previously. She said that is what should be discussed: the scale, the perception of scale, and how it relates to the neighborhood. Lutgendorf asked McCafferty if she had a side overlay of what the side of the building would look like as compared to the previous building. McCafferty said that she did not have photographs of the side of the previous building. Lutgendorf said that she will be experiencing the building from the side, not from the street. McCafferty said that the previous building would probably have gone back to the middle of the large center bay. She said the exterior back wall was previously about at the middle of the center bay. McCafferty said the depth would increase from 40 feet to 69 feet. McCafferty said that there are screening requirements to mitigate having multi-family next to single-family. She said there is a required setback of 15 feet from the side property line, but this will actually be at 21 feet at the base and 24 feet at the largest mass of the building. McCafferty said there is a screening requirement for parking, but she also put in screening along the property line where the building is. She showed another larger, over story tree that she said will further diminish the appearance of the back of the building from the street. Beth Rapson asked how the placement of the building on the lot would relate to the building that was there before. She said she is the person who will be most impacted by this building, as it will take away light and privacy and will add noise and a structure where there was open space before. McCafferty said she did not know exactly where that building was before, as she did not have exact dimensions. She said that it would go back a little bit further and would be a little bit closer, maybe three or four feet. John Roffman, the owner of the property, said that the west line would not be a whole lot different than it was on the previous building. He said there was an addition on the east with that offset, and there was still side yard beyond that. Roffman said there is only a seven-foot side yard over there now, and to that front porch there would have been about ten, so it would be about three feet less there, so it might be a foot closer. Historic Preservation Commission September 28, 2006 Page 4 Michaud asked if the space where the rear shed was located would be used. Roffman responded that it was part of the building; it was not a shed. He said he would be using that space and then perhaps another foot to the right. Michaud asked if it would be one foot closer for the most extreme bay on the west side. Roffman replied that that would be his best guess. Regarding light and so forth, McCafferty said that at the portion of the building adjacent to the single- family house, there should actually be more light. She said that it will not be as tall of a building overall, and it is also going to have a slope on it. McCafferty agreed that there will be more length. Michaud asked if going from nine efficiency units or single-bedrooms to three-bedroom units has all been cleared with the zoning plan. McCafferty said that it all within the zoning code. Weitzel said that it is Neighborhood Stabilization 20. McCafferty said this is allowed under the baseline zoning, and what the Commission is looking at here is really the mass and scale of the building. Michaud asked if the footprint is then not relevant. Weitzel said that under Section 10, the Commission can look at front setback; lighting; parking; parking below buildings; garages; buiiding orientation; pedestrian access; balconies and decks; building height; mass; roofline; building moduiation, which is the street elevation setback; window fenestration and architectural style. He said there is also a series of building point items to be awarded to a multi-famiiy building. Terdalkar said that the building has already been determined to qualify for the required minimum points. Carlson asked if there is anything in the Commission's purview that would relate to building depth. Weitzel said the Commission never has traditionally been able to do that, except for in the Summit Street District where it is specified in the guidelines. Terdalkar said the Commission can consider the mass of the building, which is the overall size of the building-all about the height, scale, and depth of the building. Michaud said that square footage is therefore relevant. Terdalkar read from the Building Mass/Height item of the Design Guidelines for Multi- Family Buildings, "Measures should be incorporated into the design of a new building that help to reduce its visual mass and overall height. Examples include 1) holding the height of the eave line down by making the upper floor of a building a half story and utilizing dormers to accommodate the use of the floor area, 2) stepping the height of the taller building down to two stories at ends adjacent to existing buildings that are two stories or lower in height, 3) providing significant variations in the roofline and front building plane which help to reduce the scale of the building along the streetscape." Terdalkar said these measures can be incorporated into the design, and this is not an exhaustive list of what can be done. McCafferty stated that although application of the 1,600 square foot front elevation language in the preservation handbook may not have been correct in terms of saying it only applies to single-family and duplex buildings, the reason it dealt with the square footage of the front faC(ade and not with anything dealing with depth was to ensure that a multi-family property that was destroyed could be reconstructed and that the depth was something that was specifically not addressed. She said that the specific intent was to only deal with the square footage of the front faC(ade, and this proposal is within that, regardless of whether it would be applicable here or not. Weitzel said that this [application] was tabled to get a clarification of whether the faC(ade square footage guideline applied here. He said that it does not, but the building height and mass standard section 10.1 can be applied. Weitzel said the Commission is charged with whether or not this building and this design meet these guidelines. Lutgendorf asked, with respect to the mass issues, if there is any way that the mass consideration can be thought of with respect to the depth and if the architectural design issue can be applied with respect to the depth to make it a less massive building from the side. She said that Section 10 of the guidelines has to do with ways to make a building more architecturally appealing. Terdalkar said it doesn't just limit the Commission to review the architectural features. He said the section states that one way to reduce the overall height is to step down a building that is adjacent to a lower building, so that does address the overall mass. Historic Preservation Commission September 28, 2006 Page 5 Lutgendorf said that, as someone who is going to be impacted by the mass of this building, if one just considers how big this is going to be, she would ask the Commission to consider whether there is any way to scale this back. Regarding the dimensions of the building, Terdalkar said the dimensions for the front elevation, as shown on the drawings distributed today, do not include the overall width of the building. He said the dimensions do not include the projections [referred as bays by the applicant], and for the sake of clarification, the guidelines define the area of the eievation as the entire front elevation shown on a drawing, so the faded lines should be included in the elevation. Roffman's attorney asked if there was an updated staff report since the last meeting. Terdaikar said the memorandum from the Zoning Interpretation Panel was included in the packet. Regarding the revised proposal, he said that he just received it as the commission members, so that he cannot comment on the new plan. MOTION: Ponto moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the revised plan for the building at 923 Iowa Avenue, as presented. Brennan seconded the motion. Ponto said he likes what McCafferty has done to minimize the visual mass from the street. He said he remains concerned about the length of this. Ponto said his personal interpretation of mass would include three dimensional, so that the length of this is still a concern. Ponto said this is a real exceptional case, because, in general, the guidelines do not allow a demolition permit until the Commission has first approved the replacement building. He said that because of the tornado damage, the Commission deemed this an exceptional case and went ahead and approved the demolition permit before there was a plan. Ponto said that if he had seen this plan before the demolition permit was approved, he does not think he would have voted for it, because he would have thought this is much bigger than the previous building, and he would have wanted to see something more in the three- dimensional mass of the previous building. Baker asked if, in Section 10.1 under building height and mass where it says, "Design of the new building to help reduce its visual mass," visual mass includes the side view. Weitzel said that Terdalkar's opinion is that architectural mass is the 360 degree view. Weitzel said that as McCafferty pointed out earlier, when the Commission looked at these guidelines, there was discussion about limiting buildings and their size, and that is not specifically in these district guidelines. McCafferty said her recollection is that depth is not one of the dimensions that the Commission was going to enforce in a conservation district; it was the front dimension that was of primary concern. Toomey stated that this is a big increase in density. He said that comes with the accompanying baggage of having to supply parking, and that impacts the neighborhood too when there is not a yard but a concrete pad. Toomey said this would have a major impact on the neighborhood. Ponto said that a counterargument would be that the Commission has always allowed additions on to the back, many of which have had additions a third as large as the house. He said that if there was a request to add a third again addition to the back of the original building, that would approximate this. Ponto said, however, that most additions would not have the same height, would have a somewhat smaller scale, and would probably be set back as well. Toomey asked if this was built as a single-family house. Carlson stated that the core of this structure was built as a single-family house, but it was expanded to a fraternity in the 1920s, and that is when the third and one-half story was added. Brennan said that the neighborhood, as defined in the district, runs along Iowa and Washington from Johnson to Muscatine, on College from Governor to Summit, and on Burlington from Summit to Historic Preservation Commission September 28, 2006 Page 6 Muscatine. He said that is the neighborhood this concerns, and one shouldn't focus just on a little block, because the City has defined this neighborhood as that area. Brennan said the neighborhood is sprinkled with very large buildings, as shown in the photographs provided by McCafferty. Brennan said that the proposed buiiding exceeds side setback requirements, has a sloped roof, and the fayade is certainly no greater than that of the buildings the Commission was shown photographs of, and they are fairly liberally sprinkied around the entire neighborhood. Carison stated that he agrees with Ponto in that he has to view the depth as part of the mass of the building. He said he likes the fact that this was scaled back quite a bit from the original proposal, but it still is much bigger than what was there before, and what was there before was already bigger than most things in this neighborhood. Carlson said that at this point, he did not think he could vote for approval of this plan. Michaud said she lives on College Green Park and is sensitive to the neighborhood concerns. She said that if this was being built next to her property, she would be ambivalent, because the owner is making an attempt to do landscaping and ameliorative things. Michaud said she would not have any problem agreeing to the height and width of this if it were for two-bedroom units with the same original footprint. Carlson said that the fayade is bigger than what was there but is within reason. He said the Commission shouldn't be taking landscaping into consideration when considering the mass of the building, because it is not known whether the landscaping will always be there. Carlson said the issue is really what one can see based on the buildings around this right now, and it will clearly be a very deep building from the street. He said that if there was some way of reducing setting back the back of the building in some way - making it shorter or pulling it in - that could reduce the scale enough to make it within the guidelines in his opinion. Carlson said that as it is now, he does not think it is within the guidelines. Weitzel said that this is a tough case, because it concerns landowner rights as well as the rights of the neighbors. He asked what historic preservation is if it isn't taking into account what something does to the community. Weitzel said the Commission can't always make everybody happy. He said he did not remember ever having this much opposition to a project in recent times from the neighborhood, so he would have to vote against this. The motion failed on a vote of 1-6, with Brennan votinll in favor. Weitzel suggested the applicant work on another design or consider the appeal process, which determines whether the Commission has been arbitrary or capricious in its decision. 805 East Washinqton. MOTION: Ponto moved to take consideration of a certificate of appropriateness for 805 East Washington Street up from the table. Carlson seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 7-0. Terdalkar stated that this item was deferred at the last meeting, because the applicant could not attend the meeting. Terdalkar said he suggested that the design of the new garage should be somewhat compatible with what was demolished. He showed sketches that he had discussed with the applicant. Terdalkar said the applicant was going to determine the cost of the brick needed for the project. Terdalkar said he suggested that if there is not enough original brick salvaged from the original structure, the owner can probably use face brick to match the portions of the brick, and use stucco as it was on the original structure. Terdalkar said he also asked the owner if he could install a window on the south fayade to match the original. Terdalkar said if that is a concern, with regard to a nearby parking lot, the owner could build a recess in the stucco, which would give a break in the mass on the side and give the impression of a window. Historic Preservation Commission September 28, 2006 Page 7 Terdalkar said that instead of the addition that was done to accommodate a larger car, he suggested just installing the roofline on the front of the building, which will somewhat replicate the front elevation, which will be similar to this. Joseph Codr, the owner of the building, said that he likes Terdalkar's proposal. Codr said that Terdalkar gave him six to eight ideas, and he thought they were all right on. Codr said he wants this to look as much like the original as possible. He said he has no problems with anything proposed by Terdalkar. Michaud asked about the depth of the gable part. Terdalkar said that the eaves on the house are very deep. He said it could be about the same depth as the eaves on the house, about one foot or so. Terdalkar said the garage will be 18 feet, to accommodate a modern car. MOTION: Ponto moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 805 East Washington Street in accordance with the drawings provided at this night's meetings. Baker seconded the motion. Terdalkar said the wall will be constructed with concrete block, which will not make it easy to build the step down from one end to another. He said it will have a shed roof, as it did before, which wili drain toward the east side. Weitzel said the building was demolished as a safety issue, because the north wall was pretty much gone after the tornado. Codr said he has to use block, because the north wall is against the steps of the house, and everything would just rot out if he used wood. He said he is going up six feet with block, which will be stuccoed and then six-inch timber from that point up to the ten feet that it was before. Terdalkar said he had suggestions for the garage doors. He suggested a very simple garage door faC(ade. Terdalkar said that if the owner chooses to have windows on the garage door, he could use a similar divided light pattern as that on the house. AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION: Ponto moved to amend the main motion to include details to be worked out between the owner and staff. Baker seconded the amendment. The motion carried on a vote of 7 -0. 934 Iowa Avenue. Terdalkar said that this application is for another storm-damaged structure. He showed a photograph of the building from 2003, before the house had vinyl siding on It. Terdalkar said that the porch was destroyed in the tornado, and the roof was completely destroyed. He said the chimney was also destroyed, and this proposal is to rebuild the roof and the porch as they were, but without the chimney, so this proposal is for the demolition of the chimney. Weitzel said that the focus of this is whether or not this particular chimney needs to be rebuilt. Mike Waltz, the owner of the house, said the reason he does not want to reconstruct the chimney is because the brick is gone, and aiso, the chimney is down to about the level of the second floor. He said he is taking out the boiler from the basement and putting new heating and air conditioning units in the building. Waltz said he would bring the stack up through the chimney and go up to the roof with the ventilation. He said he would run PVC up through the chimney and bring out electrical to the second floor. Michaud asked if a structure is needed around those things. Waitz said it would be like on a modern house, which might have a stack without a chimney. Brennan asked how the Commission could compel rebuilding of the chimney. Terdalkar said that a demolition permit would be required to demolish the chimney. Waltz said that the storm demolished the chimney. Terdalkar said that if something was accidentally demolished, the Commission can mandate rebuilding. He said the Commission can give approval to modify something or rebuild it as it was. Historic Preservation Commission September 28, 2006 Page 8 Michaud asked what the problem would be with rebuilding this. Weitzel said he thought the owner is arguing that it is superfluous and would have to be built from the top of the first story up through the whole thing. He said that masonry work is very expensive, and the owner would either have to construct some kind of false chimney at the top or build it from the stabie part of the chimney. Michaud said that the garage issue just considered centered around what was a bastardization of a 1920s garage, but the Commission made him replicate that compromise of the 1920s garage. She said that this is at least coherent with the building. Michaud said she could see not rebuilding the whole chimney but thought there would be something the owner could put it there. Weitzel said that in the past, when the owner was willing to do so, the Commission has approved false chimneys to be built. He said the Commission has also allowed a similar type of chimney to be demolished before. Carlson said he did not know if how the chimney was lost should enter into the deliberations, but his personal opinion is that if a tornado knocked down a chimney, he is more willing to let it go than if an owner wanted to take down a chimney. MOTION: Ponto moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for a demolition permit for the chimney at 934 Iowa Avenue. Baker seconded the motion. Terdalkar asked if the Commission is letting the chimney go just because it is smaller. He said he did not feel that should be the way, because it would not be consistent. Weitzel said the real question is whether the Commission feels this is an architecturally significant feature. Weitzel said that one way to look at this project is that the building is being rebuilt instead of being demolished. He said that one could look at the tradeoff of having a chimney versus the fact that now it wouid be gone. Michaud asked if a simulated brick chimney is affordable. Waltz said that he was not sure if putting the chimney back up on there would support that weight. Toomey asked how high the chimney originally was above the roofline. Waltz said that the roof had a 4:12 pitch, so there was probably at least three feet of chimney above the roof. Toomey said that with some simple wood framing underneath, with a chase, one could still frame that in and build the chimney right on top of it if it is only three feet. He said that if the Commission members believe the view of that chimney is an architectural feature, it could be built up without building it all the way up from anything other than what is above roofline. Toomey said that one could build a straight roof on that, with a hole coming through for the vent, and build a framing underneath it to support the additional weight of the brick chimney that is put up there. Waltz asked if one would basically just put a fake chimney up on top of the roof, and Toomey confirmed this. The person with Waltz said that would not necessarily be historic. Toomey said that it would provide the architectural footprint that the eye sees with the building. He said the chimney was a functional aspect of the building, although there are architecturally significant chimneys. Toomey said that it would be a stretch to call this an architecturally significant chimney. Waltz agreed that this is just a plain, old chimney. Weitzel asked if the chimney brick matched the foundation on the porch. Waltz said he did not believe so, but he has only owned the house about a week. Terdalkar suggested that a fake frame chimney would cost almost the same as it would to use real brick. Weitzel asked Helen Burford if there was 1920s tapestry brick at the salvage barn. Burford said there was not but suggested a couple of other places where brick could be obtained. Historic Preservation Commission September 28, 2006 Page 9 Weitzel asked if the insurance settlement on this building was transferred to Waltz, and Waltz responded that it was not. Waltz stated that the Building Department is waiting for Commission approval on this so that he can put a roof on the house. He said that the whole attic is gone. Weitzel stated that he is a strong proponent of keeping chimneys when they are there, as they are not that hard to maintain and are one of the single features that best define some rooflines. He said that practically, he is so glad that this house is being rebuilt that he is willing to make concessions on this. With regard to the garage considered previously, Terdalkar said that the garage was buill later than the house and was an addition to the property. He said that it was done tastefully, as opposed to some garages modified for larger cars by adding a snout coming from the back. Terdalkar said this garage was done properly to make it compatible to the house and has perhaps gained enough significance on its own. Carison said that it looked like the brick on the chimney did not match the foundation and was just plain red brick, from what he could tell. Ponto agreed that it was just a functional chimney and was not a decorative chimney. The motion carried on a vote of 7-0. Waltz referred to where the front pillar on the left side is totally gone and said he did not think there was enough brick to put it back up. He added that on the far wall, there is a big hole where there is no brick on the side. Waltz said that if he cannot find the brick, he might propose to take down the pillar on the right-hand side, use the brick on the other side, and put round white pillars on both sides. He asked if that would be acceptable to the Commission. Weitzel said he believes the porch was built with the house, and Waltz agreed. Weitzel questioned whether the square columns should be replaced with round columns. Waltz said that they would not have to be round columns. Weitzel suggested that square, tapered columns would be more appropriate. Waltz said that if he can find replacement brick, he will put it back up. Terdalkar suggested filling in on the side with new brick or a similar type of brick. He said that by going with the tapered columns, it will make this more like a craftsman-style house, although the front appearance is not that stylistic. Carlson suggested the Commission doesn't yet have enough information to make a decision on the porch pillars. Waltz said that if he can find the appropriate brick, he will put it back. Waltz asked what the owner of the house next door would be doing with that house. Terdalkar said the Commission issued a certificate of no material effect for the roof to stabilize it, but he did not know more beyond that. Weitzel said the Commission's approval allows the chimney to be demolished. Regarding the front porch pillars, he said that they could be addressed with a certificate of no material effect if the owner can match the brick and, if not, the owner can submit a proposal for the Commission's review. 1141 Colleae Street. Terdalkar said that this property is a contributing structure in the East College Historic District. He said the project is to reconstruct the exterior stairway, which provides primary access to the second unit in the building. Terdalkar referred to a sketch provided by the applicant and said it appears that the new stairway wauld be longer than the existing stairway. He said it may therefore have to be extended further form the southern most point that is there now on the site, which will probably run into the required setback but is not allowed by the zoning code. Terdalkar said the applicant therefore needs to revise the proposed Historic Preservation Commission September 28, 2006 Page 10 stairway such that it meets the code requirements. He said he has discussed this with the applicant, who planned to provide measurements of the site/property boundaries and the stairwell. Michaud asked if there is a way to go toward the back bay and then forward, by putting a landing in there. Terdalkar said that the window on that side may cause some problems with installing a dogleg-style stairway. He said that this is also the only access point here so that it is stationary and cannot be moved drastically. Toomey asked if there is not a stairway inside the building, and Terdalkar said there was no stairway inside, as far as he knew. Terdalkar said that this would not be allowed today for a few reasons. He said that a duplex can now be oniy on a corner lot. Terdalkar said that primary access to a unit cannot currently be through an exterior stairway. He said that this building was grandfathered in so that the City cannot make the owner remove the duplex unit, but there needs to be a solution to this. Terdalkar added that the fire escape unit has to stay to provide egress. Weitzel said the Commission does not even know if this proposal would be allowed, so the Commission may want to defer a vote on this. Terdalkar agreed that there are items for the owner to consider. Weitzel said this application is not complete enough for the Commission to consider. Terdalkar said the stairway can be repaired, but what will happen is that every year there wili be another part that needs stability and repair. He said that the stairs really need complete reconstruction. Terdalkar said the Building Department asked the owner to repair the stairway, possibly subsequent to a rental inspection. MOTION: Ponto moved to table consideration of a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 1141 College Street due to lack of adequate information. Baker seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 7 -0. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Chair. Weitzel asked for nominations for Commission Chair. Ponto nominated Weitzei for the position of Chair. Toomey seconded the nomination. Ponto said that he feels Weitzel has done an excellent job as Chair, especially in light of all of the issues that have arisen as a result of the April tornado. He stated that it has been a lot of work. There were no other nominations for the position of Chair. Weitzel was accepted as Chair by acclamation. Vice Chair. Weitzel asked for nominations for Commission Vice Chair Baker nominated Brennan for the position of Vice Chair. Michaud seconded the nomination. Brennan was accepted as Vice Chair by acclamation. OTHER: Burford said that Old Brick has confirmed space for Wednesday, December 6'h, for the historic preservation awards. She stated that Friends of Historic Preservation would like the Commission to consider giving the historic preservation awards in the fall, instead of in the spring, as it gives people more time to complete work within a given year. Historic Preservation Commission September 28,2006 Page 11 Michaud said that the work generally takes a year no matter what is done. Ponto agreed but said that if the work is completed in the summer, it is still fresh. Terdalkar said there is pressure to finish projects before any given deadline. T erdalkar suggested setting a timeline for a project from January through December, with the awards ceremony to be held in May during historic preservation month. Weitzel suggested that there be a photo montage of the tornado recovery for the awards, including work in progress photographs. Burford said that Margaret would be speaking about the new museum at the ceremony. Weitzel asked about the meeting to be held regarding the grant. Terdalkar said the meeting would need to be held on an evening or a Sunday. He said that the National Trust is requesting an update of what is going on. Weitzel asked about the grant applications. Terdalkar said there have been applications for 819 Iowa Avenue, 821 Iowa Avenue, 934 Iowa Avenue, 103 Governor Street, two houses on College Street, and one house on Jefferson Street. Burford stated that four people have applied for the State grant. Weitzel asked Terdalkar if he has spoken to Kathy Gourley recently. Terdaikar said that he has and that Gouriey is considering naming October 9th as the second round deadline. Terdalkar said there will need to be a meeting to discuss which projects will receive funding. Weitzel said there is $10,000 available for the seven projects. Michaud said she feels that need should be a consideration for receiving the money, and Weitzel agreed that need is a prime consideration. Terdalkar said that he would contact Michael Maharry and Mike Haverkamp from Friends of Historic Preservation regarding the meeting. He said that Mike Gunn and Weitzel have also volunteered to attend the meeting. Michaud, Ponto, and Toomey said they would try to attend the meeting, depending on which evening it would be held. Weitzel said the meeting would therefore be tentatively scheduled for next Wednesday or Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Terdalkar said that he would send an e-mail notifying members of the final date and time. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Minutes submitted by Anne Schulte sfpcd/minsfhpcl2006/9-28-06. doc i I I i I I I I I Historic Preservation Commission Attendance Record I 2006 I , I I Term Name Expires 01119 02/9 02122 03/16 04/13 04/27 05/04 05/11 05/18 OS/25 06/08 06/22 07/13 07/27 08/10 09/14 09/28 I E. Baker 3/29/09 ---- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- X X X X X X X X OlE X X X I M. Brennan 3/29/08 X X OlE OlE X X X X X X X X 0 X OlE X X R. Carlson 3/29107 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X OlE OlE X J. Enloe 3/29/06 X X OlE OlE -- -- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I M. Guon 3/29/07 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X OlE M. Mahan)' 3/29/08 X X X X X X X OlE X OlE X -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- M. MeCallnm 3/29/06 X X X X -- -- ---- ---- ---- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- J. McCormally 3/29/08 -- -- ---- -- -- ---- ---- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- X 0 P. Michaud 3/29109 -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X X X X X X X X J.Pardekooper 3/29/07 X X X 0 -- -- ---- ---- -- -- -- -- ---- ---- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- J. Ponto 3/29/07 X X X X X X X X OlE X X OlE X X X X X M. 8chatteman 3/29/09 -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- X -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I G. Swaim 3/29109 ---- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- ---- ---- ---- -- -- X X X X X X X OlE I T. Toomey 3/29/09 ---- -- -- ---- ---- ---- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- X X X X 0 X I J. Weissmiller 3/29/06 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --.- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- T. Weitzel 3/29/08 X X X X X X X X X OlE X X X X X X X I I ! I Key: , I X ~ Present i o ~ Absent I OlE ~ Absent/Excused i NM ~ No Meeting i -- -- ~ Not a Member I I I I i , I f Historic Preservation Co",mission , September 28, 2006 Page 13 I I I i I I , I MINUTES HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2006, 6:30 P.M LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL J][]- IP2 PRELlMINA 5 MEMBERS PRESENT: Jerry Anthony, Steve Crane, Holly Hart, Brian Richman, Michael Shaw MEMBERS ABSENT: Marcy DeFrance, Matthew Hayek, Thomas Niblock STAFF PRESENT: Tracy Hightshoe, Steve Long, Linda Severson OTHERS PRESENT: Bob Cremer, Maryann Dennis, Charles Eastham, Sadie Hildebrand CALL TO ORDER Anthony called the meeting to order, and asked everyone to introduce themselves. APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 15. 2006 MEETING MINUTES Long noted a change in the fifth paragraph of the first page, where it should say there is a formal application process. MOTION: Shaw moved to approve the minutes as amended. Richman seconded, and the motion carried on a vote of 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA Anthony noted that an inclusionary zoning subcommittee was formed at the last meeting. The subcommittee met for the first time on September 18 and will be having a series of meetings in the next two months. Their objective is to present a recommendation to the full commission for discussion in December. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS Hightshoe said no one has expressed any preference to her regarding serving as officer. Anthony said he would like to continue as chair for another year. Shaw asked if a nomination is required. Hightshoe said yes, and asked if Richman is interested in continuing as vice-chair. Richman said he would be happy to continue. MOTION: Shaw nominated Anthony to continue as commission chair and Richman as vice-chair, Crane seconded, and the motion carried on a vote of 5-0. Long suggested discussing design standards first. Anthony agreed. NEW BUSINESS Discussion of Design Standards for Federally Assisted Housing Projects Hightshoe noted this has been discussed for the last few months. Every HOME agreement has a provision that the city must approve the building design before the developer may obtain a building permit. There are currently no design standards in place, thus there is no consistent criteria to use when reviewing these plans. This has caused some confusion and/or frustration with applicants and staff as for the applicant it is unclear what staff will be looking for during the review. Having guidelines would assist applicants save time by establishing what will be reviewed and what is required so the applicants does not have to spend time designing a building that will not be approved. Hightshoe said staff started with the design guidelines from Springfield, MO and made revisions based in part on input from planning staff and affordable housing providers. There are revisions that will be implemented based on conversations with affordable housing providers such as changing the minimum requirement that the foundation extend six inches (not two feet) above grade to be in agreement with city code. Hightshoe said the purpose of the guidelines is to have housing developed with CDBG/HOME funds fit or complement the surrounding neighborhood to lessen opposition to affordable housing in our neighborhoods. Most of the guidelines are based on what homes in the vicinity look like. There is ----_.._------,--,~_...__.._--.._---~~.._------'---~_.,.__._._-----~--,... Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes September 21, 2006 Page 2 currently a question about how "vicinity" is defined, whether within the same block or a mile of the proposed affordable housing. Shaw asked whether that would be added to the guidelines. Hightshoe said staff would look into a definition. Staffs opinion of vicinity is the immediate vicinity - the neighboring homes when standing on the lot and looking around. The neighboring homes would be considered, not those severai blocks away. Long said it Is basically a matter of looking at the immediate neighborhood and making sure that affordable housing does not stand out. With the city investing a lot of money in these projects, the intent is to have the affordable housing look like the other houses as much as feasible. Richman said that makes sense, though he would like to hear what some of the developers have to say about this. He noted some other standards that were quantitatively expressed that seemed too limiting, such as the requirements for garage placement and the width of pedestrian paths. He asked whether those requirements were in agreement with city codes or if they are specific to these design standards. Hightshoe said pedestrian paths in single family uses are specific to the design standards. There are standards for multi-family housing in the code. Richman asked about the garage recess requirement. Long said it is a requirement for multi-family, but not about single-family. Richman said he is not opposed, but is wondering If the specifics are too limiting. Hightshoe said inclusion of garages is not required, but the guidelines could indicate that if a garage is included, It should be similar to the houses currently in the neighborhood while the specifics are removed. Long said they did hear concerns from the Housing Fellowship about that requirement (Provision H.2 on draft). Dennis said the Housing Fellowship typically purchases lots that are in subdivisions for new construction, so they are required to meet standards based on the covenants in the subdivisions. If there were a situation with an infilllot, they would have concerns if the standards required something other than what is currently in the neighborhood. Dennis asked whether there would be a specific dollar amount listed to define "substantial rehabilitation," or if staff would determine that on a case-by-case basis. Hightshoe said substantial rehabilitation is defined by HUD, however did not remember the exact definition. Hightshoe said she will research and include a definition in the guidelines as to when applicable. Dennis asked if that is a dollar amount. She said that state HOME regulations specify that anything above $49,999 per unit would be considered substantial. Eastham agreed that substantial rehabilitation needs to be defined. Eastham said new construction also should be clearly defined, since that could include both homes that the Housing Fellowship and Habitat build, but also homes the organizations purchase that are newly constructed. Hightshoe stated existing homes purchased is considered acquisition, not new construction. Dennis said that when their organizations apply for funds that are allocated through this process, they have already presented a budget and plan for how many units will be built or acquired with those funds. Their concern is going through an additional review process that would potentially change the budget of the project. She said the concern is not with changing the building plan as much as the budget, since they have to coordinate so many sources of funding in order to complete a project. Shaw asked for confirmation that this would be the reason to have guidelines available for their use at the outset. Dennis said that is fine, as long as the guidelines are not subjective. Dennis said she is comfortable with having Hightshoe and Long evaluate the plans, but there is no guarantee that they are the only ones who will be doing it. This design review also adds another layer to a process that is already complicated. Eastham said any guideline that has potential cost effects to the project should have a justification for the additional requirement. Since this is applied to affordable housing, funds are extremely limited; it might be a choice between doing additional work on the interior of the home versus adding an element for the exterior look. This could possibly add costs to the projects at a time when they have no additional sources of funds, except to come back to the city to ask for more money. He noted that the council has shown a disinclination to follow the Scattered Site Housing Taskforce's recommendation to have additional local funds made available to assist with scattering. He suspects the council will also not be inclined to supply additional local funds to cover the costs of design guidelines beyond those required by the zoning code. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes September 21,2006 Page 3 Long agreed that is a valid point, though staff understands that the council would like housing that is built with federal funds not to stand out from the surrounding neighborhoods. Scattering housing is a totally different issue. He noted that the city is investing a lot of money into affordabie housing, and is interested in having that money be a good investment for the people living there. Long added that most CDBG and HOME projects aiready meet the proposed guidelines. Dennis said the philosophy of the Housing Fellowship has always been to make it attractive. They have to make sure people want to live in it, so they want to have their houses fit into the neighborhoods, too. She said that though there are benefits to keeping the guidelines flexible, that flexibility might unintentionally provide ammunition for neighbors who object to affordable housing being built in their neighborhoods. Richman said from his perspective there are places where quantitatively expressed specifics that could cause some concerns for developers. At the same time, in concept, the guidelines ought to help fight the neighborhood objections to affordable housing. Dennis said some of the requirements seem very rational. Mainly the concern is with the infilllots, which are small in number. Most of their plans have to agree with subdivision covenants, so the design standards are already covered. Shaw said his additional concern is not to set the guidelines too rigidly, so that all the affordable housing looks alike. There is vaiue in diversity. Long said the guidelines are not concerned with style of the house, but with fitting into the surrounding neighborhood. He said staff does not really want strict standards, but they have had some cases that have caused them to feel it is necessary to have some written guidelines. He added that one executive director of a non-profit housing developer requested written guidelines, though that person is not in attendance. Richman asked how specific covenants get for building in new developments. He asked if they specify such things as roof pitch, front door alignment, and similar exterior elements. Eastham said garage is often regulated, roof pitch can be, but size is often the largest consideration. Dennis added that colors are specified as well. She said that most developers require a plan to be submitted and approved before they can begin building. Richman asked for confirmation that having the guidelines specify similarity in design to the surrounding neighborhood would not be problematic. Eastham said if it is phrased that way, it could be implemented, though there is still a question on how the review process would work. There needs to be a timeline specified so that the applicants can have a definite idea about when things will happen and a decision will be made. Dennis asked for confirmation that the issues leading to the development of these guidelines involved infill lots. Long said yes. Dennis suggested specifying that the guidelines only apply to infill lots, while construction in new subdivisions are required to comply with covenant restrictions. Richman suggested first defining the word "vicinity." In the case of construction in new subdivisions, the vicinity would the subdivision in which it is located. For infill lots, it would be a three-block radius, for example, which would likely accommodate a wide variety of housing styles, but would hopefully also be reasonably consistent. Shaw asked Cremer if he had anything he would like to add to the discussion. Cremer introduced himself as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and said he is present at the meeting on his own to listen to the proceedings and learn more about the issue. In his opinion, the guidelines are completely unnecessary and are designed to solve a problem that does not exist. He does not see how adding these guidelines and the associated cost would be necessary. He asked for clarification of what the problem is. The idea of having to match a house with the surrounding area is very difficult and nebulous. Matching to the surrounding architecture in some cases might be a detriment to the neighborhood. Habitat objects to the guidelines for good reason, and he does not see why some of the specific architectural additions are necessary. Long said the city feels that a tremendous investment is put into affordable units, so they would like them to conform to the rest of the neighborhood. They do not what the houses to stand out as obviously built as affordable units. It hasn't been an issue except with Habitat, and Habitat's director asked city staff to come up with consistent guidelines. He added that the complaints about housing have been about Habitat homes. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes September 21,2006 Page 4 Cremer said he wondered whether the complaints were actually about the architecture of the homes or about concerns with poor people moving into certain areas. Anthony said he believes the concern is primarily the architecture because the people who move into Habitat housing are pretty much the same people who move into Housing Fellowship and other agency housing, though no complaints are heard about those. Shaw noted that Habitat houses do have visual indicators that it is affordable housing during its construction, because of the large groups of people who work on the houses. Eastham said he agreed that adding costs through added features is not going to accomplish much. Long suggested sitting down with the involved groups to figure out what the additional costs would be for some of these requirements. Hightshoe pointed out that if the city has $60K invested in the lot, and if you could document that these guidelines increased cost by $1,000 (if any) that would still be a relatively small amount considering the level of subsidy provided. Eastham noted that Habitat does not receive the benefit of the city investment. The homebuyer receives that $59,000 or $60,000 benefit, and additional design elements just add to the cost the homebuyers pay. Long said he would like to meet with the groups to look at what additional costs would be incurred by these design elements. He said he looked at all the current Housing Fellowship projects, and they fit all of the guidelines they could come up with. Dennis said if the guidelines were requested by Habitat, what is Habitat's objection to them? Cremer said he is not aware that Habitat asked for guidelines, but that being the case, it is a case of not liking what is being proposed. Shaw confirmed that the primary concerns are additional costs, and restrictiveness. He asked whether there was a way to look at the community from which the guidelines were drawn before the standards were put into place. Long noted that there are many communities that have design guidelines for affordable housing. Shaw asked if there was a way to determine what the additional costs when the guidelines were added. Hightshoe said she called the community that the proposed guidelines are patterned after, and they said they have had great success with these guidelines, both with homeowners and neighbors. Homeowners have gotten more equity from the homes and the homes have been appreciating faster. The Neighborhood Conservation Office (Springfield, MO) stated that if the design requirements did cost the developer additional funds, it was no more than 5% and that most designs did not increase the price. Hightshoe stated the original guidelines (Springfield, MO) are stricter than the ones proposed in this draft. Crane said that most of these homes probably meet the covenants already, except for some situations that need to be discussed specifically. Richman agreed, except in the case of infill lots. He said it seems that it would be hard to supply objective analysis of increased costs, since there is such wide variance in building costs due to neighborhood, size of house, etc. Maybe they add some cost to the price of the house, but it does not seem that asking for houses to be consistent with the surrounding area should add a significant cost. If it does, it is probably worth it, since the objective of creating affordable housing is not to build the cheapest possible unit, but to build something that makes affordable housing acceptable and adds value to the house. Anthony said that the things that will really change the cost of building any home are the foundation, the square footage, requirements for garages, and minimum heights. Exterior and interior finishes add costs also. Since none of the regulations pertain to any of those, he is unsure how much of a cost increase they would cause. Most of the housing developers of affordable housing build homes that exceed the requirements, but there have been cases that have caused problems in the past. Also, Anthony agreed with Richman that this should be viewed from a long-term perspective of improving the quality of those few problematical units, so hopefully neighborhood resistance to affordable housing would be reduced. Long said staff would take the suggestions and talk more with the providers of affordable housing, then bring it back to the commission in October. Hightshoe said these guidelines would be applied for houses approved in FY08. She said the city would not require a developer who already had a design for FY07 or FY06 redo their design; however it is in the HOME agreement that the city approve the design before a building permit is issued. There will be flexibility in review of FY06, 07 projects. Having the guidelines to review before design or submitting plans will help to avoid additional design costs or time delays. She added she hoped that if there were any questions that the developers would ask staff for clarification during the process. ---~---~-_.~-----_.------"--_.~..__._---_._--'-_._-----.- Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes September 21,2006 Page 5 Shaw asked since this would be for FY08, what would be the timeline for approving the guidelines. Long said they would have to be approved by December 1, 2006. Shaw asked if there was a way to get the revised guidelines early, before the packets. Long said yes. Cremer asked for clarification of the decision made about the guidelines. Anthony said that staff would be making the changes that were discussed at the meeting, and will emaii out the revised version to interested parties in advance of the October meeting. Then there will be more discussion about it at that meeting and perhaps a vote on whether to adopt them. PUBLIC HEARING & APPROVAL OF THE FY06 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE & EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) Anthony asked for confirmation that this is a formal, mandated public hearing on CAPER. Long said yes. Anthony said the public hearing is open. Long distributed the year-end reports, which are formatted according to HUD guidelines. He summarized by saying that $855,111 in HOME funds and $1.2 million in CDBG funds were spent. Income received was $320K from loan repayments. CDBG funds assisted 17,300 people, some of which are duplicated between agencies. Still, he noted that is a tremendous number of people. Richman stated the chart on page 9 was beneficial to show the progress towards meeting our CITY STEPS housing goals and identifying the need to focus on affordable rental housing. Hightshoe stated that is this the first year of the plan and staff is reporting accomplishments differently than last year. In previous years, staff reported projects underway as well as those completed in the fiscal year. This year staff only reported on the housing projects completed in FY06, however there are several projects underway such as Melrose Ridge (18 units affordable rental), Whispering Garden (12 units of affordable rental, and Longfellow Manor (6 units affordable rental) that are not reflected in the chart. Hightshoe stated some of the goals identified in CITY STEPS may be difficult to achieve given the funding available. We will continue to look at this during the 5-year plan. MOTION: Crane moved to approve the FY06 CAPER and to forward it on to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Shaw seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0. SELECTION OF PROJECTS TO MONITOR IN FY07 Each HCDC Member selected 2-4 projects to monitor. Anthony suggested that staff assign projects to those not in attendance. Hightshoe stated she will complete the monitor list and forward it in the next packet as well as emaii out to HCDC members. TIMELlNE FOR THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN Hightshoe stated that each year, staff review the strategic plan and priorities established in CITY STEPS. CITY STEPS is our 5 year plan to address the needs of low income residents through housing, jobs and services. Two meetings are scheduled to obtain feedback on CITY STEPS. Staff tries to obtain feedback each year from different agencies and clientele. This year, meetings were set up at Successful Living (agency that provides supportive services and singe room occupancy rooms for persons living alone, men and women) and at the Local Homeless Coordinating Board meeting. A summary of the comments received will be sent to HCDC members in the October HCDC packet. Hightshoe encouraged HCDC members to attend one or both of these meetings. Staff will also be meeting with police officers to discuss emergency/crisis needs. If any HCDC member would like to be present at that time, just let staff know. We will be holding a public meeting during the October HCDC meeting to go over the comments received. If HCDC wishes to amend CITY STEPS a recommendation to amend CITY STEPS must be sent to council. _,_______~_._._.__~__."__"___'____.~.____~________~____.w.._..,..________.__... Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes September 21, 2006 Page 6 OLD BUSINESS DISCUSSION OF CDBG AND HOME INVESTMENT POLICIES Long discussed a waiver of the investment policy for transitional housing for homeless families upon receiving a request from HACAP (FY06 HOME recipient). HACAP requested HCDC review possible loan forgiveness due to the due to the inability to pay the full loan. The investment policy requires a 100% pay back loan at 0% for non-profit housing developers. Richman stated he would prefer to review housing policy and not make exceptions for one provider. Anthony stated he would like to have flexibility of loan terms for all transitional housing such as part loan, part grant due to the ability to payor rent structure. Richman suggested pay back be based on rent revenues and could possibility be determined at intervals, such an annually, every 6 months, etc. Long stated he would recommend flexibility in the terms provided to transitional housing providers as many do not receive full fair market rent or a rent that would cover operational and maintenance expenses during the life of the project. Hightshoe stated there are housing providers that can make full payment as their properties receive fair market rent due to Section 8 vouchers or the residents in the unit are of a higher income than the clients in transitional housing. Hightshoe stated she would encourage a policy that recognized the rent revenue collected. When providing housing to homeless families and individuals, the developer will not collect fair market rent or typically any Section 8 subsidy. As they only charge 30% of the household's income, this may not be much and certainly in some cases not enough for the project to provide sufficient cash flow. Hightshoe would like to see some flexibility with the terms recognizing the ability to pay instead of a set policy stating transitional housing providers all get a conditional occupancy loan. Anthony suggested upon reviewing the proforma, a determination of the appropriate loan terms be made. Shaw questioned if that would be too time consuming for staff. Long stated that staff currently performs that function now and could review for repayment terms as staff had that flexibility in the past. Hightshoe stated that agency rent rolls could be reviewed to determine/verify estimated gross rent revenue for the project and what payment could be made. Therefore the financial assistance provided could be in a form of a certain percentage conditional occupancy loan and the remainder a loan. Anthony asked staff to come up with COBG and HOME investment scenarios to discuss at the October HCOC meeting. DISCUSSION OF CDBG AND HOME COUNCIL EARMARKS Aid-to Agencies - Severson gave information on the Aid-to-Agencies process. Local health and human service agencies complete one application form yearly and may request funding from City of Coralville, City of Iowa City, Johnson Count Board of Supervisors and/or the United Way of Johnson County. For FY 07, the City of Iowa City allocated $446,973.00 to 15 agencies (17 programs), one collaborative effort and the contingency fund for Aid to Agencies. Of this amount, $305,923 comes from the General Fund, $105,000 from CDBG and $36.050 from utilities division. The City of Iowa City has typically appointed two council members to handle the review of the paper application and participate in presentations and/or site visits to the agencies. Then the two council members develop funding recommendations to present to the whole council for review and decision. Each agency that receives funding from Iowa City submits quarterly information (program report, financial reports, and board minutes) which is reviewed by Severson. She also visits agencies on an informal basis and may attend programs or fund raising events. Richman recommended to leave process as is, that is, that HCDC allocates whatever remains in the public service category after the Aid-to-Agency set-aside is removed. Shaw commented that the reason he is on the commission is to review public service needs and make recommendations on the allocation. Other reasons included the availability of funds for the allocation to new projects or services and that the allocation refiect CITY STEPS priorities. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Shaw moved to adjourn. Richman seconded and the motion carried on a vote of 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10. s/pcd/mins/hcdcJ2006/9-21-06hcdc.doc Housing & Community Development Commission Attendance Record 2006 Term Name Expires 01119 02/16 03/09 03/23 03/29 04/20 07/20 08/15 09/21 Brian Richman 09/01/07 X X X X X X X X X Hollv Jane Hart 09/01107 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- .- -- -- X X X Jerrv Anthonv 09/01108 X X X X X X X X X Kelly Mellecker 09/01108 OlE X X X X X X -- -- -- -- Lori Bears 09/01107 X OlE X -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I Marcy De France 09/01/09 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X X OlE Matthew Hayek 09/01107 OlE X X X OlE X X X OlE , Michael Shaw 09/01106 X X X X X X X X X Thomas Niblock 09/01108 X X X OlE OlE X OlE OlE OlE William Greazel 09/01106 OlE X X X X X X OlE X Yolanda Spears 09/01106 -- -- X -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Key: I X = Present , 0 = Absent i I OlE = Absent/Excused i NM = No Meeting i I -- -- = Not a Member , I I