HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-07-11 Council minutes
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COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF COUNCIL ACTIVITIES
JULY 11,1994
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Iowa City City Council, special meeting, 6:20 p.m. at the Civic Center. Mayor Horowitz
presiding. Council Members present: Baker, Horowitz, Kubby, Novick, Pigott, (6:25 p.m.),
Throgmorton. Absent: Lehman. Staffmembers present: Atkins, Helling, Gentry, Karr, Burnside.
Council Minutes tape recorded on Tapes 94-88, Side 2.
Moved by Novick, seconded by Throgmorton, to adjourn to executive session to discuss
strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent
where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental
body in that litigation; and to discuss the purchase of particular real estate only where premature
disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have
to pay for that property. The minutes and the tape recording of a session closed under this
paragraph shall be available for public examination when the transaction discussed is completed.
Affirmative roll call vote unanimous, 5/0, Pigott, Lehman absent. The Mayor declared the motion
carried and adjourned to executive session, 6:20 p.m.
Council returned to open session 6:55 p.m.
Moved by Kubby, seconded by Novick, to adjourn 6:55 p.m. The Mayor declared the
motion carried unanimously, 6/0, Lehman absent.
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City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
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Date: July 15, 1994
To: Mayor and City Council
From: City Clerk
Re: Council Work Session - Economic Development, July 11, 1994 - the Civic
Center Conference Room.
Mayor Susan Horowitz presiding. Council Present: Horowitz, Baker, Kubby, Novick, Pigott,
Throgmorton. Absent: Lehman. City staff present: Atkins, Helling, Gentry, Karr, Franklin,
Schoon. ' Others present: Bolkcom, Lacina. Tape recorded on Reel 94-89, All; 94-90, Side
1.
Economic Development Discussion
Reel 94-89, Side 1
City Manager Atkins presented issues associated with the City's economic development policy
as outlined in his July 5, 1994 memorandum regarding Economic Development. Atkins asked
City Council for direction on what is the role of the City Government in the Economic well
being of our community. '
1. Review Current Participants in Economic Development Activity. Atkins explained that
the current City policy is that the role of the City Government is primarily a support or
secondary role. Atkins stated that business recruitment initiatives in our community
rests primarily with ICAD and the City pays them money to represent City interests.
Kubby raised concerns that City Council does not give any direction to ICAD.
2.
Economic Development Policy as Part of the Comprehensive Plan. Atkins stated all of
the players involved with Economic Development need to be aware that the Comp Plan
is an expression of the community policy and the Comp Plan can serve as identification
of local preferences. Atkins noted the Comp Plan is now under review and various
boards and commissions will prepare a policy recommendations and submit them to
Council as part of the Camp Planning process. Atkins reported the Task Forces are
currently involved with the Comp Plan update and have stated there are three very
,critical factors; the City needs to look at ,its existing industry, as its strength and the
City should create opportunities from within and they question the importance of the
overseas involvement; and the Economic Development Agenda is far broader than just
job creation. Other factors associated with Economic Development are social,
environmental and fiscal.
Statewide Economic Development Policy. Atkins stated the State has two strategies:
1) the need to create business networks - groups of businesses having similar or
specialized n'eeds in a supplier market relationship and 2) most of the towns in Iowa
are too small to have any kind of economic policy on their own so they need to be
considered in conjunction with other communities. Atkins stated the ICAD does serve
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July 11,1994
Work Session
2
Revised 7/19/94
that purpose somewhat. Atkins stated the State Policy involves high paying jobs,
standard of living, and the income of our citizens as major issues for economic
development.
4. Economic Development Initiatives Under Way That Are Beyond Direct Control of City
Council Policy. Atkins provided information about public and private initiatives that
impact Economic Development.
Kubby referred to current participants in Economic Development activity and stated the public
and consumers should be involved. Atkins responded that in the economic well being vision
statement one of the goals that they have adopted is "to the fullest extent practical, promote
awareness of City's Economic Development projects through public forums." Throgmorton
stated that the City needs to diversify the types of people involved in Economic Development *
and consider developing a different forum within which they can argue and debate the nature
of economic development. Kubby stated there should be a policy statement that we have
greater consistent participation and direction. Horowitz stated that she would like to know
the pros and cons of getting greater public involvement. Novick stated that the City will
receive public input during public hearings before Council adopts policies.
Atkins reviewed the following handout: what is the role of City Government in the Economic
Development (economic well being) of our community.
Current Policy. Atkins stated that the current policy includes support/secondary role; others
do it on our behalf; provide traditional public services; and encourage private sector initiatives.
More Aggressive Policy. Atkins explained that a more aggressive policy is a matter of degree;
the City needs to tell the parties representing the City's economic interest what the City
wants; it may require more independent action on the City's part including recruitment and
public expense.
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Greater Control Through Stronger Policy Pronouncements. Atkins stated that Iowa City needs
to qualify and establish expectations with issues related to Economic Development; tell clearly
what we expect; tell how we are willing to accomplish economic development and that the
City's expectation level will rise accordingly when the City participates financially.
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Even Stronger Policy Pronouncements. Atkins explained the City will plan to do more and
more ourselves; create opportunities such as a municipal industrial park which will allow the
City to accommodate industrial development; preserve zoning opportunities; establish local
preferences; leave overseas initiatives to others, such as the University of Iowa and Cedar
Rapids; and influence regional and corridor plan.' ..'
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Recognize Others Will Act Independently. Atkins noted that other entities mayor may not
seek the City's involvement and that ICAD and the State economic policy occurs through their
institutions. Kubby suggested the City could behave in a way to coordinate and communicate
better. Horowitz stated that once the University of Iowa and other cities know what Iowa
City's policy is in terms of developing internally within the city it might be that Iowa City can
supplement something that other communities have planned.
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Revised 7/19/94
How Best to Express Your Policy. Atkins stated that the City's economic development policy
should include the economic well being component of the comp plan; the capital plan and
public investment including infrastructure, quality public services and industrial park; zoning
including legislative and regulatory initiative; communicate policy positions to other economic
development players; and establish and articulate expectations. Throgmorton noted that the
the list should include financial incentive.
Throgmorton stated that the City ought to take a more active and aggressive role in economic
development, provide a clearer statement of expectation, and establish some kind of fo-
rum/process for discussing and arguing through disagreements about whether to grow, how
to grow and if we grow, how much. Atkins stated that 81 citizens and Task Force already
debate issues relevant to economic development. Throgmorton suggested that a commission
on sustainable economic development, such as a seven person body with diverse representa-
tion, be established to argue about what the City's policy should be and to collect information
about the City's current circumstances. Novick stated that the general economic development
policy is a Council policy and not something to delegate to a commission. Kubby stated that
a citizen's group could establish standards of criteria, and do evaluation and research to find
out about companies. Throgmorton stated that a citizen's commission could analyze the
City's existing economic development problems or set of opportunities. Pigott suggested
making a list of what the options for public participation are. Novick emphasized that policy
decisions are not the kind of thing that should be delegated to a commission. Baker noted
that City Council is a form for public participation and the public participates in Council
deliberations.
Throgmorton stated that a public participation process could help to probe the meaning of the I
idea of sustainable economic development. Response to Horowitz, Throgmorton explained
that sustainable means nurturing development to provide quality living and working conditions
over generations without undermining the area's physical and social systems of support. *
Kubby stated that the City needs to be more aggressive by establishing criteria and then going
and looking at what kinds of businesses are expanding that meet those criteria. Atkins stated,
the City can telllCAD they want a more aggressive marketing of local preferences. Horowitz
said that she does not see ICAD as being aggressive and promoting local industry. Atkins
stated that one of the goals of the economic development well being task force is to
encourage the creation of business development clearinghouse a network that would assist
individuals pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities. Council discussed industrial parks. Kubby
stated that she would only support a City owned industrial park if there were criteria.
Horowitz suggested an industrial park with parallel office research park. Pigott questioned
whether an industrial park would provide better jobs for underemployed and jobs for lower
income people or unemployed people. Throgmorton stated that he doesn't see how Council
can make any kind of determination about whether they want to have an industrial park
without having reasonable sophisticated analysis and some form of continuing public
commission to help advise Council. Horowitz stated that if any commission were to bring a
recommendation to the City Council, the Council would probably want to go back and reo
discuss just exactly what that commission had discussed. Throgmorton emphasized that
Council does not know what sustainable development is all about and what it means for the
City. Pigott said he did not know if an industrial park will employ a higher educated work
force. Kubby asked if an industrial park would provide jobs and create the kind of standard
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Revised 7/19/94
of living that they want. Kubby suggested figuring out some kind of flexible industri-
al/research park zoning so that the land could be used in a flexible way.
Atkins stated that more facts, figures and information are needed. Atkins stated that the City
has not communicated effectively what their position is. Novick stated the City also needs
to communicate what they don't want. Kubby questioned how the City can establish a trend
so that people who are underemployed can shift around and people who are unemployed can
move into those jobs that are just left. Kubby stated that she has information that says for
100 new professional jobs there are 20 new retail establishments and for 100 new
manufacturing jobs there are only 7 new retail establishments.
Novick referred to Atkins' July 5, 1994 memorandum, last page, policy statement, definition;
basic sector. Novick stated that the basic sector definition of economic enterprise that
imports dollars to the community and exports goods and services deals with manufacturing
and nothing else. Throgmorton suggested the University fits that definition because the
export information in return for money. Atkins noted that the University handles 150 million *
dollars worth of research and that the University is considered the basic sector. Throgmorton
noted that Iowa City imports 97% of its energy used in Iowa City.
Horowitz asked Council what should be Council's participation in economic development.
Horowitz stated that she sees it more important to establish Iowa City in terms of how it
might be more proactive in looking at industries that we have and are able to showcase.
Horowitz suggested creating a video to showcase examples of the industries that could be
taken to Japan. Horowitz emphasized that Iowa City should toot its own horn. Throgmorton
noted that the 30 second TV promotion by the downtown association was quite wonderful.
Pigott stated that it is an important part of elected officials' position to be proactive. In
response to Baker, Atkins stated that staff is involved in economic development activities by
virtue of their position. Atkins stated that he would like to put together the economic
development policy so he can represent Council's collective interests. Horowitz stated that
this Council has not had any clear sense of direction. Horowitz stated that she represents
Council and there is no way she will go off into left field unless she knows that she has
everyone behind her. Horowitz asked council if they would like the City Manager to be more
aggressive and out reaching. Throgmorton stated he needs to know what the policy is.
Atkins stated that his role with regard to economic development has been very clearly
articulated to ICAD. Atkins stated that his position is a reactive position. In response to
Horowitz, Atkins stated that his sensitivity towards economic development opportunities will
increase as a natural outgrowth to the communication process. Horowitz emphasized that
she would like the City to be more aggressive in anticipation of the Avenue of the Saints.
Throgmorton stated that if the City relied solely on staff to provide Council with recommenda- ,
tions about what is the criteria and economic development policy Council will be forcing them
to resolve the kinds of conflicts that are out there in the community. Throgmorton stated that
Council should structure a process whereby people in the community present different
argument about what policy should be and use that input in deciding policy. Horowitz stated
that expediency is needed in economic development issues. Baker stated that in the business
world perception counts and if the perception is that there are too many road blocks and
hurdles businesses will go to the next easier spot. Horowitz noted that this Council has a
tendency to, no matter what staff recommends or draws up for Council, to rearrange it.
Kubby stated that Council makes hundreds of decisions and most of the things there are
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hardly any discussion. Baker stated that on big things Council hasn't clearly established a '
, direction.
Council agreed with Throgmorton's suggestion to instruct staff to draft an economic policy
statement for Council, to recommend a series of possible ways to involve the public in the
process, and ways to communicate that policy more effectively. Throgmorton stated that
staff could recommend criteria the Council could use in making specific decisions.
Throgmorton also asked that when looking at the public participation process that staff looks
at the idea of sustainable economic growth commission. Kubby suggested that a revolving
loan fund be considered. In response to Kubby, Atkins stated that if Council members have
other ideas to send them to him. Horowitz asked if Council wants to consider a combination
research industrial park. Atkins stated that he will prepare a memorandum for Council.
STAFFED RECYCLE CENTER DISCUSSION
Reel 94.90 Side 1
Novick referred to the memorandum regarding the staffed recycle center. Kubby stated that
she does not like the method of silence means it/s okay. Atkins explained that staff felt
council wanted a staffed recycling center and prepared the memorandum for information.
Kubby stated she would like something on the agenda for 30 seconds. Novick stated that if
Council wants to organize it differently more than 30 seconds of discussion is needed. Atkins
,stated the intent of the memo was to inform Council where staff is going and unless Council
felt strongly staff would proceed.
Horowitz announced that the July 18th meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m., 19th at 6:00 p.m.,
and 21 st at 5:15 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
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