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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-05 Transcription #2 ITEM 2 Shiu: Jensen: Donovan: Wilburn: Page I OUTSTANDING STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS. REGINA ELEMENTARY My name is Kimberly Shiu. I was chosen for the award because I possess the qualities of good citizen and like the willingness to give up time to help others. I volunteer frequently and work to see that things are completed for things such as doing things that are difficult for me, I try hard. I am responsible with my work, which is completed on time. I was chosen by my peers to be a Student Council Representative this year. I gained an understanding of a leader's responsibility, like taking pride in my community. Everyone around me has helped. Thank you. (applause) Hi, my name is Tyler Jensen. I'm in the 6th grade at Regina Elementary. There are a few reasons why I think I was chosen to receive the Outstanding Student Citizenship Award. I always try my best in everything I do. I am responsible and organized. Though I am in sports year round, I maintain A's in many of my subjects. I turn in all my work in on time and do it right the first time. I am helpful and outgoing. I respect all my teachers and my peers. I study hard for tests and do any extra credit that is available. I also volunteer to be a greeter at masses and at other extra events at Regina. I am very honored to receive the Outstanding Student Citizenship Award. Thank you. (applause) Hi, my name is Michael Donovan and I'm a 6th grade student at Regina. I won this award because I help my teacher and 2nd grade buddy's teacher almost every day. I help them stay organized by grading and sorting papers, and I help little kids read and do math. Another reason that I was nominated is because I live on a farm and often help my dad take care of all the animals. That is why I received this award. Thank you. (applause) Well, good job with your statements, and you all may not think much of the activities that you do, but it does make a difference in your school. It makes a difference in your neighborhoods, your synagogue, church, mosque - it does make a difference and people do pay attention, and some day you may apply to be on one of our boards and commissions, like Audrey here. She's on our Youth Commission, and so she's what you're going to be doing next here. All right! I'm going to read the award here. They each have your own name on them, but we'll read what they say. It says pretty much the same thing for each one of you. So... for their outstanding qualities ofleadership within Regina Elementary, as well as the community, and for their sense of responsibility and helpfulness to others. We recognize each of you as an outstanding student citizen. Your community is proud of you, as presented by the Iowa City City Council. Goodjob! (applause) Goodjob! All right. And could the students from Grant Wood please come forward. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #2 Page 2 GRANT WOOD ELEMENTARY Wilburn: So you saw how this works, right? Okay, but the comments do hold true. I know as the Regina students, you all have worked very hard at what you're doing. So, we're looking forward to hear what you have to say too! Gertson: Thank you for this award. I am very grateful. My name is Kayla Gertson. I attend Grant Wood Elementary and my teacher's name is Ms. Shaw. I have a little sister named Elaina. I also have two dogs named Coda and Bear. I'm involved in a lot of activities, such as orchestra, after-school art club, Girl Scouts, and during school I'm involved in safety patrol, conflict managers, box tops, and I'm also working on a book called, "The Roman- off Project." My hobbies are handicraft and reading. I want to become a marine biologist, animal cruelty officer, or architect as my career choice. Thank you. (applause) Koppes: My name is Shannon Koppes. I am honored to be standing here today as someone who takes community service seriously. I would like to thank my 6th grade teacher, Norm Volke, and my parents. At school, I'm a member of student council, safety patrol, conflict managers, and_ kids for life, which is a group that raises money for a charity by having bake sales. In the Lucas 4-H Club I have participated in angel tree shopping, military kids project, Benjamin Smiles pillow case project, and the Project Green sale. In my Girl Scout Troop 1112 we are doing a project to help clean Ralston Creek. Thank you. (applause) Phanthavong: Thank you for this honor. Hi, my name is Lia Phanthavong and I attend Grant Wood Elementary School and my teacher there is Mr. Glen. Activities I am involved in during school are conflict managers, reading buddies, and I am a bank officer in the classroom. Out of school activities are sports, softball, soccer, Tae Kwon Do, orchestra, I play the violin, and I was in the chorus of a musical for the community theatre, called "Oliver." I hope to be in another musical soon. I am also in Jazzy Jumpers, ajump rope team. Again, thank you for this great award. (applause) Wilburn: Okay, and once again, good job! For their outstanding qualities of leadership within Grant Wood Elementary, as well as the community, and for their sense of responsibility and helpfulness to others. We recognize each of you as an Outstanding Student Citizen. Your community is proud of you. Presented by the Iowa City City Council. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #3 Page 3 ITEM 3 PRESENTATION. a) Girls Softball Karr: Here to make the presentation is Dave Darner, Shelly Hull, and Julie Pelechek. Pelechek: Actually, Shelly is not here yet. Good evening. My name is Julie Pelechek, and I am currently the President of Iowa City Girls' Softball. With me tonight is Dave Darner, our Vice President; Beth Koppes, Board Member; and some ofthese girls here are softball players. Some ofthem that were up there too. Iowa City Girls' Softball provides recreational softball for over 600 girls, grades K through 12 in Iowa City. We are located at Napoleon Park. On behalf of everyone involved with Iowa City Girls' Softball, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued past, present, and future support of Iowa City Girls' Softball. Since the incorporation ofIowa City Girls' Softball, we have been able to make many improvements at Napoleon Park. The most recent being the lighting of fields 5 and 6 in 2006, bringing the total to six of eight fields being lit. We hope to continue this project by adding scoreboards to those two fields, and then to light and put scoreboards on fields 7 and 8, making Napoleon Park a top-notch softball facility, for not only Iowa City Girls' Softball, but for other area programs who rent the park on weekends for tournaments. These projects would not be possible without funding from the City ofIowa City, and the nurnerous businesses and service organizations and personal donations. Please accept this check, which I'll hand to you injust a second, for $16,500 from Iowa City Girls' Softball for the 2006 lighting proj ect. Once again, we'd like to thank you for your support. We'd also like to thank Terry Trueblood, Mike Moran, and Terry Robinson for all their help and support at Napoleon, and we look forward to a great future at Napoleon Park. (applause) Champion: Wow! Vanderhoef: Thank you! Wilburn: Wasn't quite sure if you (unable to understand), but Ijust want to say that, you know, both the staff and the Council, the community at large, appreciates the work that you and the rest of the Board does, in terms of keeping girls' softball going, and all the work that you've done helping out with Napoleon Park. It's a great facility, and we hope to see it continue to grow and develop for years to come! Pelechek: So do we! Thank you! Wilburn: All right, yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #3 Page 4 Vanderhoef: Just as an added note for the softball people, in the budget that we are approving tonight, we have added the new restrooms for Napoleon Park, into this next year's elP budget, to get that started too. Wilburn: That was with extra stalls, right? (laughter, several talking) Vanderhoef: Definitely female oriented! Pelechek: Thank you very much! Wilburn: Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. ~ P.5 ITEM 3 PRESENTATION. b) Trees Please! Karr: Here representing Mid American Energy is Terry Smith. Smith: Good evening. My name is Terry Smith with Mid American Energy. I'm here tonight on account of a program that Mid American offers. We're providing $273,500 to III cities and community organizations throughout its Iowa service territory, in support of our Trees Please! Program. Trees Please! funds are distributed to local communities each year in an effort to promote energy efficiency and environmental beautification throughout the, through the planting of trees. Trees improve energy efficiencies by serving as natural windbreaks and providing shade to homes and businesses while beautifying parks and roadways and other common areas within our community. At the same time, planting trees improves air quality and helps protect and nourish the soil. Since 1992, Mid American Energy's tree planting grants have helped communities across the state plant trees in excess of 60,000 units, which is the equivalent of avoidance of emissions produced by using approximately 198,000 gallons of gasoline, or from generating electricity needed to power 223 homes for a year. Based on the grant proposals submitted by Terry Robinson from the Forestry Division ofthe City ofIowa City it's my pleasure to present to you a check in the amount of $20,000 for the City of Iowa City. (applause) Wilburn: I just wanted to thank you and Mid American Energy for this grant. As you had said, this helps provide shading and it helps reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which helps communities fulfill, not only the spirit, but tangibly the agreement and it really makes a difference here in the community, and while I have you here, I just want to thank you all and all the utility workers for the work that they did in restoring power. I know it's a dangerous business out there, but fortunately no one from Mid American was injured. Someone from another company was, but wish you all well and thank you for the work that you do. Smith: Thank you. Wilburn: All right. (applause) Champion: Can you tell us a little bit how that money is used? Do you know.ootell us a little bit how that money is used? Atkins: What we have planned are a couple of tree planting programs in the springtime and the fall of next year, and really what this does is just simply expands the inventory, that is the number oftrees that we can plant. We budget annually a fixed amount. This is about an extra two and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #3 Page 6 a halftimes that amount. So, simply, where they're going to be and when they're going to be planted, I can't tell you, other than this significantly improves the inventory that we have in trees. Correia: Is this a project that we could use community volunteers to help plant trees? Atkins: I know that Terry tries to do that. We've also, because.. . particularly money this large amount, we can sort of move up a notch in the size of the tree, and then we really need somebody who knows what they're doing with the tree and... Smith: And I'd just like to also add that we do offer residential tree planting program in the fall of each year too, so as the residents of the community- if they have interest in getting a small tree for a subsidized price of only $25 each, they're able to do that to add to their own personal, private property. Vanderhoef: How do they access that? Smith: We do advertising and they just show up and pick up the trees. It's on a first-come, first-serve basis. Vanderhoef: Okay. Correia: Show up on Muscatine? At your location where... Smith: No. We usually do it down at the Johnson County Fair Grounds location is usually where we do it, and it's in the fall ofthe year. So the date has not been set for next year. Correia: Would you just make sure that you do an announcement to the City Council packet so that we have a sense of it and we can announce it at our Council meeting? That would be good. Smith: I'd be glad to. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. M P~7 ITEM 4 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS l'RESENTED OR AMENDED. Vanderhoef: Move adoption. Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef. Champion: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Just like to point out, we in the Consent Calendar, are setting a public hearing for May 1 ,t on the Iowa City Housing Authority's Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2007, and a resolution setting a public hearing for March 20th on ordinance amending Title 3, entitled "City Finances, Taxation, and Fees," Chapter 4, entitled "Schedule, Fees, Rates, Charges, Bonds, Fines and Penalties," all related to solid waste increase of collection fees. Vanderhoef: I would just like to have a memo on what the percent of raise was a year ago, and how many dollars it went up at that point in time. Atkins: Sure. Vanderhoef: Ijust don't remember what we did a year ago, so I'm asking for it. Correia: I'm hoping that the, this public hearing on May I " (unable to hear) happens during a Council meeting, and I was wondering ifthere were plans to do any public comment sessions outside of the Council meeting. I know City Steps they generally do public hearings outside Council meeting to get. . . Atkins: For the Housing Authority? Correia: For the Housing Authority, and... Atkins: I'm not aware anything, but I'll find out for you. Okay. Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #5 ITEM 3 Wilburn: Maiers: Wilburn: Maiers: Wilburn: Page 8 COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). This is the time for the public to address the Council and community on items that do not appear on tonight's agenda. If you wish to address the Council, please step forward, state your name for the record, and limit your comments to five minutes or less. Hello, my name is Sarah Maiers, and I'm a member of the Senior Center Commission, and I'm here to just make a slight report on our last Senior Center Commission meeting. Um, it was a fairly short one so I will be here way less than five minutes. So, urn... That's okay! (laughter) The, there was a recommendation... we have a Participant Committee for reallocation of the building space, and it's always somewhat of a controversial thing, but this Committee was, gave a very informative PowerPoint presentation that laid out all the pros and cons for the proposed room changes. A great deal of objective thought and consideration was given to the recommendations. The Commission voted to adopt these recommendations, and instructed the staff to begin the implementation. Basically it's changing some rooms around. There. . . there's going to be some exercise equipment put into the lower level and there'll be some moving of different rooms and different places, and there were pros and cons to each thing, and a lot of thought went into it. So, we'll be seeing a few changes in some of the rooms. Um, and an exciting thing that was discussed was the standing committee status report by David Gould. He explained the legacy letters project that's being conducted by the University ofIowa and the Senior Center. We're asking people who are 50 years and older to submit letters that contain stories, advice, and other life wisdom to college students. The idea of the project is to pass on knowledge and help bridge the gap between the generations. All these letters will be displayed at the Senior Center during the June 15t Gallery Walk, and I think from some ofthe letters I've seen so far it'll be quite interesting. We also had operational reports that discuss the funding of the Memory Training program. There was a $3,000 grant from the Johnson County Community Foundation for that. There were grant applications submitted to the Iowa Arts Council and the Iowa City AM Rotary Club to help the jazz program and the band extravaganza. Um, there was also a report on the assembly room renovation progress, and also the Center received a $3,000 grant from First American Bank for their scholarship program. The next Commission meeting is March 19th at 3:30 PM. Any questions? Thank you. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #5 Page 9 Pino: Good evening. I'm Bonnie Penno, and I reside at 28 Galway Place. I'm the Neighborhood Representative from Galway Hills and tonight I have the honor of representing the neighborhood council. We are attempting to give you quarterly reports and the first having been given in the fall. So today I give you the second report, and all of you reside in neighborhoods and know the importance of communication within those neighborhoods and largely the neighborhood newsletters. We're trying to be fiscally prudent and help to reduce some of the costs in the budget, and we're trying to convert from traditional mail to the electronic form, using the City's subscribe to you, I think, web site so that we can reduce the cots in paper usage, postage, and of course the human resource of putting it all together. Marcia Klingaman, who is the Neighborhood Services Coordinator, is the one that is converting those addresses from conventional addresses to electronic addresses. Sometimes within neighborhoods, of course, there are some concerns and we need to have help with getting communication effective among neighbors and sometimes there's problem properties and so for, therefore, we have a booklet that's in the final draft that we are, it's kind of an outgrowth of the nuisance ordinance, nuisance property ordinance, that helps people who want to file a complaint, if they know the direct department to go to, via. . . be it the Police Department or Housing and Inspection. So it can be done efficiently and effectively. So this booklet is in final draft, but it'll be presented to you, hopefully, in April. We do have several committees within the neighborhood council. One is, has been going for a while and it's for communication throughout the community at large. It is a proposal to create a community council. Many communities that have universities have these in existence currently, and many of you, we've talked with you about the pros of this. We hope to gain a little bit more momentum in the future and certainly at our next quarterly report we'll probably be giving you a lot more information about this proposal. We also have a new committee that's working on pedestrian and cyclist safety, and this committee wants to have the community safe for this kind of movement throughout the whole community, and they want to do education, planning, and enforcement. We look forward to their updated report at this Thursday's meeting. Our next neighborhood council will be this Thursday the 8'\ I believe. We do use another form of communication and that's in the form of a letter, which we submitted prior to the SILO tax to the Iowa City Community Board Administrators, suggesting that they really look at what's funded for playground equipment. We've looked over the last five to seven years of how we've allocated our PIN grants, which are those projects in neighborhood funding, and we're very appreciative of the Council, of course, putting that in the budget, so that great projects in neighborhoods can be done. Playground equipment is really important for neighborhoods in that it's a green space, it's a social gathering spot, it's good for physical development and recreation, but we found within these years of looking at the PIN grants that there's been so This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #5 Wilburn: Shields: Page 10 much money allocated to playground repair, replacement, and installation of equipment that we really feel and encourage that the budgets reflect that this be attended to by the school, and hopefully other projects in neighborhoods that are really warranted if other funding through PIN grants can be done. Our PIN grants for this year of 2007 were submitted. The deadline was Friday the second. We received five grants, applications I should say. We are going to have the neighborhoods present those on Thursday when we meet, and we'll be voting on those in April and then we'll present them to the City Council in May for your discussion and acceptance hopefully. We appreciate the interaction that you as Council Members give to our neighborhood council and we look forward to giving you future quarterly reports. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, I'm Beth Shields. I live at 3010 Clover Street. I'll introduce her in a moment. I'm here as a representative of Dog PAC tonight and have just a couple ofissues that I wanted to share with you. First, as you all know, it's been just over eight months since we opened up the Thornberry Off- Leash Dog Park and it has been a success beyond everyone's wildest dreams. We want to thank the Council for putting up with us and working with us for four years to get that park opened. We want to report that we've sold over 2,000 permits for the use of the park, and if any of you go out there on any nice evening or even in this inclimate weather, sunshiny afternoon, you'll see the parking lot completely full and hundreds, literally hundreds of dogs out there using the park at a time and having a great time. Lots of people getting out there socializing, people who - myself included - might otherwise be sitting at home enjoying a TV show and not getting any exercise are out there playing with our dogs. So, it's been really a great experience. We've gotten lot of positive feedback, positive comments. I think the Board has a lot of great ideas for the direction of the park and so we're really excited about that. We also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank Dean Thornberry for his amazingly generous contribution, without that contribution the Thornberry Off-Leash Dog Park or any off-leash dog park in Iowa City might not yet be a reality. So, we wanted to once again publicly thank him and I would like to personally thank Terry Trueblood, Director of Parks and Rec, who was a great supporter for us through the four years of getting the park opened. As all of you know, I was one ofthe founding members of the Board of Dog PAC and for three of those years was President of the Board, and have decided that the park is open and it's time for somebody else to have all the fun. So, having said that, I would like to introduce to you Diana Harris who has been elected our new Board President. I'm very pleased that she will be taking over this role. I feel, as I said to many of the Board Members earlier this last year that I would not leave the Board unless I felt I could leave it in good hands, and I know that I've left it in good hands This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #5 Page 11 and so, so I'd like to introduce Diana and she has a few words for you, and then I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of her in the future. Harris: Diana Harris. I live at 1025 E. Davenport Street. I also want to add my thanks to those that Beth gave to the Council, and to Parks and Rec, to Terry Trueblood. Of course to Dean, but we can just keep saying that over and over. I mean, I was thinking about what kinds ofthings has the Council done. There are things, there are... .Dean gave us a really big thing, but you guys did some little things that were really important, like passing the law that lets dogs run off-leash. Inside of those gates that's very important. You worked with us to get the fee to the park established, and that's made a huge difference in what we can do in the park. So, thank you again for big and little things that you've done. You will see me again. As Beth mentioned, the dog park has been amazingly successful. One ofthe Board Members just adopted a second dog and she bought park tag #2497 or something like that, so when we first ordered tags for the park, that opened in June of2006, we ordered a 1,000 tags. We thought that would be plenty to get us through until December of 2007, and we were wrong. So, Dog PAC has as its mission to advocate for off-leash dog parks in the County, although we're not done with the Thornberry Park yet, I want to let you know that we will be advocating for other parks. There are clearly many, many dogs using that park, maybe too many, and I wouldn't really go so far as to say that, but it's pretty clear to a lot of us that there is demand for another two, three, four, five, I won't guess, other parks. So, thank you for your support. I hope we can look forward to that in the future! Wilburn: Thank you. Vanderhoef: I'd just like to say thank you to Beth Shields for her positive attitude, her willingness to work with us, and with the community, to do such a great job and we do appreciate that! Wilburn: Would anyone else care to address the Council on an item that does not appear on tonight's agenda? This represents only a reasonably accurate trauscription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Page 12 ITEM 6 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. b) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 20TH ON AN ORDINANCE REZONING APPROXIMATELY 12 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON RUPPERT ROAD FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC2) ZONE TO INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CIl) ZONE. (REZ07- 00001) Champion: Move to set the public hearing. O'Donnell: Second. Wilburn: Moved by Champion, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Vanderhoef: Uh, ifCouncjl thinks it's appropriate, I would like a generalized discussion on appraisal comparisons of that land, whether it is zoned CC-2 or CI-1. Franklin: I'm sorry. I didn't understand the request, Dee. Could you repeat that? Vanderhoef: Okay. Land values change sometimes with zoning. Franklin: Oh, you want relative land values from CC-2 to CI-l. Okay. V anderhoef: Yes. Franklin: I didn't hear the first part. Thank you. Wilburn: Make sure that's part of correspondence and available for the public hearing. All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Page 13 ITEM 6 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. d) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 1.03-ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1902 & 1906 BROADWAY STREET FROM COMMERCIAL OFFICE (CO-I) TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC-2) (REZ06-00028) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) O'Donnell: Move second consideration. Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell. Vanderhoef: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Bailey: Are we talking about communications... that we've had... tonight? Wilburn: Oh, I'm sorry, that's right. One of those logistical things that 1 mentioned is that, again, in order to make sure that we are satisfying due process, related to rezonings, Council will inform or disclose any communications to other parties outside of the formal meetings. So, if anyone wishes to inform the Council, please do so, and the public. Correia: Well 1 had.. . after, once the first agenda where the item was in our agenda setting a public hearing, and had a call from a newspaper. There was a quote in the paper, saying that 1 was concerned about the loss related to this rezoning, concerned about the loss of affordable homes. 1 had a call from Glenn Siders, asking to sit down and meet with him, and so 1 agreed. 1 sat down and met with Glenn, and Glenn Siders and Dennis Craven a few weeks before the public hearing. Basically, they outlined the proposal. 1 think most of what we discussed was related to things that were discussed in Planning and Zoning minutes, or Planning and Zoning meetings. They also shared with me the condition of Coronet Apartments, that they had looked into renovating. Because it's built in 1966, there's asbestos. 1 agreed that 1 didn't think the Coronet Apartments were worth saving, and 1 continued to consider things that 1 consider making a rezoning, in terms of the neighborhood. 1 drove through the neighborhood a few times. 1 spoke with Sue Freeman, who works at the Neighborhood Center, letting her know that 1 would be available if there were any neighbors in the community that wanted to discuss or have any questions. 1 didn't receive a call back from her, but 1 did make that, make that call, and after the first vote, 1 received communication in favor of my "no" vote from Rod Sullivan, Charlotte Walker, Mona Shaw, Garry Kline, Kevin Hanick, and the owner of the Knitting shoppe, Eddie...1 can't remember her last name, 1 apologize, Eddie. 1 also had a conversation with two women that 1 work with who live on the southeast side of town, not This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Page 14 directly on that street, just asking their opinion as folks that live in the neighborhood. They're in the area... when they first heard of it in the paper they thought the area in question was in the K-Mart parking lot and I said, told them that it wasn't, and they said, 'Oh, it seems that would be a very high impact business on that comer.' So... Wilburn: And again, just. . . for the public's benefit, the idea being that any communications, we encourage those to be discussed at the work session so Council will be letting you know of particular parties that they have been speaking with and the general notion of what the conversation entailed. So, anyone else? Champion: I had several phone calls from people. I don't have their names. I didn't know we were going to need them. They were mainly concerned with the lack of affordable housing and did not understand that the Coronet Apartments were not going to be renovated, whether or not we did this rezoning or not, and that was their concern, was the loss of those apartments. Bailey: Urn, before the first consideration, I did speak with Karin Franklin, the Director of Planning, just to clarify, because we didn't have the minutes of the Planning and Zoning meeting in our packet. I wanted to clarify some of the discussion, why the buffer was changed. I was questioning that change, and then after the first consideration, I did hear from Rod Sullivan and Charlotte Walker in support of my vote. Elliott: I also, I've heard from a number of people at this point, by a number- probably half a dozen or so. I have no idea in my feeble mind who they were at this point, but I did initiate contact with Dennis Craven to get, to make sure that the information that I thought he presented to us was what I gathered. He confirmed that. Talked with Al Axeen ofHACAP to confirm that what had been reported to me was his position on that and he agreed that it was. I talked with a member of our Police Department. At this time.. .at the time I talked with that person, I did not ask if! could use the identification, so all I can say, it was a member of the Police Department at this time and, to get information, all of which led to a further confirmation of my support of this proj ect. O'Donnell: I spoke with several people.. . Connie, maybe the same people who called you, that were not aware that it was not going to be renovated and I also spoke with the Police Department (unable to hear) as Bob mentioned, I won't disclose who I talked to, and that's basically all I've had on it. Correia: You said you talked to members of the Police Department, but what was that conversation? I don't think we're supposed to say just who we talked to. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Page 15 Elliott: My conversation was I asked is it accurate to say that this, this specific, particular location has been probably the number one spot where police have responded to, to situation calls. They confirmed that. I asked if in their opinion this would be a positive impact on lessening the number of those calls, and those situations, and they indicated, that person indicated in the affirmative. Vanderhoef: And I spoke with a couple people, who were talking about scattered site housing and once they realized that those apartments would not be retained, no matter what, they were highly supportive ofthe proposal that's in front of us, in that they thought that the jobs were important, and not to add more affordable housing in that particular location. Wilburn: And as we continue to work forward from this process since we just had the discussion about rezoning's due process and ex party communication, those gaps that you may hear tonight in terms of who someone spoke to will be filled in. And for the benefit of the press and the viewing public, this memo about this process and the results, interpretation ofthe Supreme Court case was Sutton vs. Dubuque City Council. Is that correct? And is information...is in our information packet oflast week, IP2, and yep.. .so, otherwise, any discussion about this item and disclosures? Correia: I'm concerned by the maligning, it feels like a maligning of the law abiding people that live, urn, and work and raise their families in this neighborhood, and that that is a consideration over whether we maintain a CO-I zoning and the principles of our current zoning code, of having CO- I as a buffer to residential. I think these, this CC-2 is extremely close to a residential on two sides, and without, there are available CC-2 locations, right across the street. You have the old Pizza Hut on Keokuk Street. You have outlots available in the K-Mart parking lot. You have the old Stuff Etc. building that's been sitting empty. There are empty, available parcels of land in the adjacent area for jobs, for rehab, that zoning there, so it doesn't seem to me that there's a need, a compelling need to jump CC-2 zoning across the street. This is also a travelway for children going to school. The neighborhood worked diligently for almost ten years to get a signal and a sidewalk so children could safely cross the street there on Highway 6. There's a countdown signal and now these children will be walking through drive-through parking, um, consumers going in and out and potentially if they're CO-I, behind those, you know, customers of that business. I feel like that's an unsafe situation for a neighborhood that is working as hard as it can redevelopment to reach up to its potential and I feel that this CC-2 is not warranted, based on our current zoning philosophy and our code, and the availability of CC-2 right across the street. So I continue, urn, through all of the input that I received, to maintain my "no" vote on this rezoning. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Page 16 Bailey: And I'm going to continue to maintain a "no" vote, and just to let the public know how I came to that decision - I agree with Amy's comments about available CC-2 properties in this area. Seems like we're just spreading out CC-2 zoning that isn't being very well used, and it doesn't make any sense to me, and I don't think that that's what we should be doing, especially because we do use CO-l to buffer commercial and residential, and I think that makes a lot more sense. This doesn't make sense to me, and so I will have to vote "no" just because, encroachment upon residential without really intensely using the area if it's already there seems a waste of resources and inappropriate encroachment on neighbors, and I just, I just wouldn't want to see that. Wilburn: Any other comments? Vanderhoef: I have wondered, after reading the packet, about the HACAP housing that is also adjacent to this property, if! read the information correctly, they're saying approximately seven to nine years is the life expectancy for that particular multi-family housing. So, it's like that is zoned RM-44, I believe it is, which is right next to CO-I, and then we have a mix onto the east of that, and it seems as though we have highway commercial facing Highway 6, therefore, the CO-l property that is part of this consideration could even conceivably be highway zoning, highway commercial zoning, with Highway 6. So there are several things to look at in this, and I keep thinking that if we're going to have a shopping area that exits to the east, so those cars are shining their lights directly into those properties, and then they're sitting at that light, or the light at the next one. So, we have turning activities with lights and it's almost like that whole block facing the Pepperwood ought to be commercial zoning, because it's going to be a continuous from... Correia: It is commercial zoning. It's CO-I. Vanderhoef: No. I'm talking about the whole face of that, that block.. .no, it's RM-44. Correia: Oh, sorry. Vanderhoef: So, there's a combination in there, and that's what I'm trying to resolve in my own mind is how should that whole block look. Correia: How far down do you think it should go? The commercial? Vanderhoef: That that is facing Pepperwood. That that is facing to the comer, just to the comer, the first comer. Correia: The first comer, which...... ..(several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Page 17 Vanderhoef: Down to the corner of the edge of Pepperwood. And the Coronet.. . Bailey: So you think HACAP should go commercial? Vanderhoef: I'm saying, I want to look at this whole thing together. That's what I'm trying to say. Bailey: Why would you junk commercial ofthat street, if the commercial to the west... to go back to it hasn't been intensely developed. I mean, there are empty lots sitting there. Why would you increase the size of commercial when apparently commercial development isn't, I mean, it's not naturally expanding by the market. Vanderhoef: What I'm saying is that (TAPE ENDS) Correia: (tape is garbled) ... property and the comment in the Planning and Zoning minutes ofthe life of this property being another seven to nine years, makes me feel like there's a conflict of interest in HACAP's support of this zoning. I'm thinking are they hoping to be able to market this for rezoning when they're ready to not provide this type of situation any more, and so that, to me, is not... Wilburn: I'm sorry, go ahead and finish your... Correia: . . . feels like a compromised public comment in terms of thinking about what's best for the neighborhood and Karin's question, statement to us last evening of the question, at the meeting, ask yourself the question, is this the type of development that's appropriate as we're thinking about the rezoning, which for me, the answer is no. Wilburn: I was just going to put out there that there is no legal conflict of interest that HACAP would have in expressing their views. One that may be considered a biased opinion, but just be careful of saying "conflict of interest" in this context. It's not a legal conflict of interest. O'Donnell: I'm going to support this. The creation of jobs, I think, is incredibly important for that area. It was brought up at the last meeting that these are low paying jobs. We don't know that. These are jobs that, in some cases, have tips and these people make a lot of money off tips. They... occupancy, I believe it was 7 and 34, it is not going to be renovated. I think this is a good match. Southgate has demonstrated a willingness and ability to bring back an area that was largely vacant and I'm ready to vote yes on this. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Page 18 Champion: Well, these will not be high paying jobs, but they are jobs associated with youth, and I think the youth in that area could really use some stable employment. Be a great learning experience for them and a stabilization of the neighborhood. Bailey: Well, we don't know though at this point. There's been no communication with the owner that they plan to higher in the neighborhood, out of the neighborhood, and I don't think we should assume that they will, or won't either, but I don't know that. O'Donnell: I don't think there's any way we could ever require that. Bailey: Well, no, we couldn't, but what I'm saying is, if this business venture wanted to go in this area, and provide, and be available to provide jobs, there are lots available within, across the street, two blocks, in the vicinity of the area in question. Elliott: I don't think that we know that for sure, what lots are available, what lots might have business agreements pending. That sort of thing. Southgate, I presume, would know. (several talking) O'Donnell: .. . more important than that is where does this think it can be viable. Wilburn: Urn, I had a, it wasn't my intention to reopen a public hearing on this item tonight. I know there may be one or two folks here expecting to speak to this. So, I guess I will just ask the Council, were you hoping to hear from someone in the audience tonight that hasn't spoken at the public hearing. There's individuals who...we know what their opinion is, it's been in the newspapers, things like that, but it wasn't my intention to reopen the public hearing on this item. Elliott: I'm not hoping, but I would certainly be happy to listen if someone wanted to speak. Champion: I think we've always allowed people to speak. Wilburn: Okay, Ijust wanted to clarify that. So, if there were a few of you that wanted to.. . okay, go ahead. Please limit your comments to five minutes or less. State your name. Anthony: Good evening, I'm Jerry Anthony. Honorable Mayor, Members of the Council, Iowa City officials, I have no financial interest in this or surrounding property or any restaurant in town. While proponents of this rezoning have done much good for the city, to me this rezoning proposal seems both callous and careless. I strongly urge you to not rezone. My comments tonight are in two parts. First, I explain why this rezoning This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Page 19 seems callous. This proposal will place a fast-food restaurant in a low- income neighborhood. Fast-food places with drive throughs have well known negative effects from traffic, noise, and lights, which is why they are not allowed in residential areas. In a February 27th editorial, the Press- Citizen said that, I quote, it's hard to imagine Iowa City Council would even consider rezoning to allow for a drive-through restaurant if the properties were abutting a more-affluent section ofthe city. And if you look around, you will find that statement is true. I agree.. . end quote. Low-income families are people too. Let's be sensitive to their living environments, just as we are towards those of higher income families. Next, for several years, families in the Broadway neighborhood have been concerned about their safety, the safety of their children crossing Highway 6 to get to Twain Elementary. And you mentioned this, but I want to place it on record once again. Three or four years ago, City Council had discussed and debated this issue extensively. As far as I can tell, there was a new cross walk there, but the problem remains unresolved, and this new drive-through restaurant at that comer is going to bring more traffic to Broadway and Highway 6, making it even more dangerous for children and parents going to Twain from Broadway and back. So, in some ways, this rezoning issue comes down to this: the safety and security of kids and families in Broadway on the one hand, and five or ten burger flipping jobs and extra profits for one business on the other. I'm sure that no Councilor thinks that the safety and security of school children is less important than a few minimum wage jobs and more profits for one business. I urge you to vote no. This proposal has been backed as economic development for a poor neighborhood. I cannot believe that proponents of the rezoning are claiming a few fast-food service jobs as economic development, as if this rezoning is approved it would somehow unleash a wave of redevelopment, that would magically transform the Broadway neighborhood into a very desirable place. The problem is, for any development to have such an impact, it must have an economic based multiplier effect. The higher the multiplier effect, the greater the possibility of spin-off economic development. For fast-food service jobs, the multiplier effect is zero, or very close to it. This new restaurant will not unleash a wave of redevelopment. The proof of the statement lies all around the properties sought to be rezoned. To the west is Pepperwood Plaza. That some years ago was designated a TIF district so that its redevelopment could spur a wave of new development in the Broadway area and transform it into a piece of paradise. Sadly as you all know, that hasn't happened, because the jobs in Pepperwood Plaza pay about the same as burger-flipping jobs and they don't have an economic based multiplier effect. Pepperwood Plaza is fifty or more times as large as they two properties. So what is unique and special about this 1.08 acres ofland that would bring about a massive wave of redevelopment that the much larger Pepperwood Plaza could not, and the answer comes with the Council, is nothing. So the argument that this rezoning is, or would spur economic development of This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Wilburn: Anthony: Wilburn: Anthony: Wilburn: Siders: Wilburn: Page 20 Broadway is quite simply false. My second set of comments pertain to why this rezoning is careless. Briefly, this rezoning is potentially illegal, could result in inverse condemnation claims against the City, and because it undermines the City's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. That this rezoning is against the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance is accepted by the proponents ofthis rezoning as well. However, the proponents of the rezoning say so what if rezoning is against the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. We were not in favor of those documents from the get-go. Well, Iowa has a state seatbelt law. Many people are against it. If you get pulled over on 1-80 for not wearing a seatbelt, try telling the officer that you didn't support that legislation in the first place; therefore, you should not be ticketed. Some say that the negative effects from CC-2 zoning can be mitigated by design guidelines. What if they are not? Ten years from now, residents of neighboring properties, such as on Taylor Street, can go to court and file an inverse condemnation suit for a (unable to understand), claiming that traffic, noise, and light from the drive through have lowered their property values and if they win, as they most likely will, guess who pays their claims? The City and taxpayers of the City, not the applicant or the owner of the drive through. As an Iowa City taxpayer, I am simply not willing to risk, to run the risk of paying compensation to allow a new drive-through restaurant, no matter how exotic it is, nor should you. Now, as rezonings happen for legitimate and legally valid reasons. Since December 2005, Council has approved 15 to 17 rezonings. As best as I can tell, they all had legally valid reasons. This proposal is not based on legally valid reasons and brings little benefits to the citizens of the city. Such rezoning has been repeatedly in many, many court cases across the nation, has been ruled illegal. Now, two legal grounds for rezoning... ...comments down. ...briefly finish. Okay. I'll just, Ijust have two paragraphs, very short, is that okay? I just have. . . I'm going to ask you to stop. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. So, I hope you will not rezone. The costs and risks are far too many, and the benefits too few. Thank you. Thank you. ... willing to open this back up, I'm willing to respond to a couple of Issues. Go ahead. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Siders: Elliott: Dilkes: Elliott: Wilburn: Page 21 Thank you. My name is Glenn Siders. I'm with Southgate Development Services. I'd like to make, respond to one comment that Councilor Correia had, and perhaps I misunderstood what she was speaking of, but as far as pedestrian traffic going through a drive-through restaurant parking lot. That may in fact occur. You can only place walkways and stuff in certain places, and then people will walk where they want to walk, but there is an 8- foot trail that the City put in that does abut this property. I would presume that would be the walk that the people would most likely use, and that trail was put in about two years ago, that is required to be maintained. Second item I wanted to address is the item of the adjoining CC-2, and as I understand, as I think I understand the discussion, you're talking about, why don't we just take the Sonic Burger and put it in Pepperwood Plaza. The simple answer to that is is there's no space in Pepperwood Plaza. There is one outlot in Pepperwood Plaza. We have contractual commitments to another user for that outlot, or lot. We have had those contractual obligations to that user prior to Sonic coming, and I know the input we received from Sonic, there is no CC-2 south of Highway 6 along that area because they have looked. So there is no availability in the Pepperwood Plaza to simply relocate this business. I'm here for any questions should anybody have some. Thank you. My question.. . Eleanor, is there any validity to the legality concerns? I don't have those concerns. Thanks. Karin, can you refresh my memory about something. This.. . for the benefit of the Council, I'm not looking...when this rezoning came up, might as well have a seat for a second, Karin. . . (laughter and talking)... but I do have a question related to the, to sidewalk and safety. Urn, when this rezoning came up, I was looking at it, I didn't hear, I do live in the neighborhood, and I didn't hear much of anything from folks, other than there was some general excitement about a Sonic coming to the area. I was not looking at it in terms of economic development. I was not, um, from the flipside, I was not looking at or presuming a certain economic side of town will benefit, or any type ofprejudice or discriminatory action. Were.. . since there is, you know, the Pepperwood Plaza across the street, some of the issues about encroachment on a neighborhood, I didn't have, didn't seem to me given the distances that we're really talking about here, relative to some other parts of town, for example, off of First Avenue- some of the residential things that are up there and up towards your neighborhood, Dee, off of Rochester, which is a more affluent neighborhood, so I was not viewing that, again, given the distances that we're talking about with light and noise and traffic volume. Having said that, the one thing that I would like to hear, Glenn mentioned that we do This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Franklin: Wilburn: Franklin: Correia: Wilburn: Franklin: Wilburn: Correia: Page 22 have the trail there, but some ofthe kids, some of the kids when they walk on the, on that southeast corner, do kind of cut across that area, and that existing commercial space, because it is an existing commercial space. I don't have a mental map. Is there a plan for a sidewalk to go up there to connect to the trail on the southeast corner, at least so there's an awareness. ..for any potential mitigation, what is currently in the Plan for any pedestrians coming on that corner that would walk in front of cars exiting or entering the driveup? There is a sidewalk that is planned along the east side of Broadway. Okay. Which would continue north to Highway 6. Urn, that will, there will be two driveways which would cross it. One is the existing driveway that goes into the HACAP Coronet parking lot now, and the other would be the, a curb cut for the driveway for the redevelopment ofthe property, not in the same location as the office driveway is now, but fairly close. That's what I meant. I didn't mean, when I was talking about the....pedestrians, I didn't mean they would be cutting through the parking lot or the space, I just meant crossing the driveway while they were traveling on the sidewalk, having more. . . But coming from the southeast then. Okay. Yeah, they will cross the same number of driveways. The amount of traffic that's anticipated will be greater than it is right now. Okay, and, you can sit down, Karin, I'm sorry. Urn, again, you know, it's an existing commercial spot. So we're really talking about, you know, the volume here - any ways that it could be made safer for anyone choosing to walk on that side. Urn... I have great respect for what Southgate does in the city and what they've done with Pepperwood Plaza, I mean, I think that's been a good partnership, with the city investing, but I don't think you make, you should make your rezoning decisions based on like what the, who the people are and what they've done in other areas of our community. I give great accolades to the work that Southgate does and I respect their work. I'm making a decision and a vote on what I think is the right thing for this piece of property I'm rezoning, not what I think might be good for, in particular, owner whether I think they're great or I don't think they're great because I shouldn't make decisions because I think a particular owner is not good either. So, I just want to make that point. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. ~ p.n Champion: .. . asked to make it clear. I'm not making my decision... Correia: I know you're not, but Mike has said that a couple times, and I just wanted... Champion: I don't know if! like Southgate. (laughter) O'Donnell: No... Correia: I mean, I just think that that shouldn't be part of our decision - the owner is a certain company that does great things in our community and, I mean, I just think that that shouldn't be part of ... Wilburn: That was part of my conversation. I was. . . what I was getting at was I was not making a decision based on Southgate's reputation and I don't know, Glenn probably doesn't care whether I like him or not, but urn, but the implication out there has been if this were in any other neighborhood, it would not be happening, and I'm just saying that is not a reason that I'm, that I've been looking at. It's an existing commercial spot. It's been sitting for quite some time. Urn, have to wrestle with some of the safety issue there, but anyway, any other comments by Council? Bailey: I have a question, and I think it was discussed at some point, but I can't remember at this point. Urn, was there any discussion about limiting the hours of such a business, even if it went to CC-2, turning the lights out in the parking lot at a particular hour or, or.. . can we even do that? I mean... Franklin: This is not the venue for it. Urn, there would, there is another step that this all goes through for the particular use that is potentially going to locate there. As you all know, it's contemplated that there would be a drive-in restaurant on this location. That will need to go before the Board of Adjustment and there will be a hearing on March 28th for the specific use, and that's the time at which any limitations on.. . over and above our code on noise, lighting, circulation, all ofthose things are looked at by the Board of Adjustment when they are reviewing the special exception for the drive-through restaurant, and so ifthere were to be time, business hour limitations on it, ifthere is to be limitations on the use of outside speakers or the decibel level or anything that is beyond what is required by the code, because we do have some things in the code that relate to the issues of light and noise. Bailey: Right. (several talking) Have we ever done...do we have any... Franklin: Yes. Bailey: Okay. Okay, because I... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. ~ ~~ Franklin: We have through a special exception process in the past put hours of operation. Bailey: . . . because so many businesses seem to insist upon lighting empty parking lots. 1 can understand lighting the front of your business to make sure that there are, you know, vandalism or break-ins, but lighting empty parking lots, especially this close to residential, seems like something we should look at and consider. Wilburn: Question about the screening, that is going to be within 35 distance of...1 having seen some ofthe young people navigate themselves around, they (unable to understand) 1 have pretty good faith in kids' ability to, at some intersections, to pay attention to what's going on, but with the screening, how will the siting, how will the siting... will there be good visibility... Franklin: Yes. Wilburn: . . . for the kids to be able to see, and visa versa for the drivers to be able to... Franklin: One of the things that is required as part ofthis is a setback from Broadway, which is greater than what would normally be required, and part of that is just to insure that the visibility as one looks down Broadway, one sees the residential corridor and understands that. that is a residential corridor. Wilburn: Okay. Franklin: But also it's to pull it back from the driveway intersection with the street. Wilburn: Okay. Thank you. O'Donnell: And 1 want to make it clear, based on your comment, Amy, that 1 support this project, what was the name you mentioned earlier? Michael Smithly or whatever it was? 1 don't care if he was doing the project, 1 would support it, because 1 think it's good for this side of town. 1 think it's good for the area. Correia: 1 understand. O'Donnell: Ijust wanted to clear that up with you. Correia: 1 just wanted to point out that we had a letter to the Council from a Katie and Ben Voss who live on Apple Court against the rezoning, and Apple Court is off of Broadway Street, down closer to Sandusky. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #6 Page 25 Wilburn: Any other Council discussion? Can I get a roll call on second consideration. Approved 5-2, Bailey and Correia in the negative. Karr: Excuse me, could we accept correspondence. Bailey: So moved. Vanderhoef: Second. Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Vanderhoef to accept correspondence. All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #11 Page 26 ITEM 11 CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, ENTITLED "POLICE REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED "MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES," SECTION 2, ENTITLED, "BEGGING," TO PROHIBIT SOLICITING FROM AN OCCUPANT OF A VEHICLE FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) O'Donnell: Move first consideration. Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell. Vanderhoef: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Baeth: Can I speak to this, Mr. Mayor? Thank you. My name is Austin Baeth. I'm the City Council Liaison with the University ofIowa. The following comments, however, are not on behalf of the University, but are on my own behalf. You know, as I sat with you in the work session trying to gather information on this issue, I was puzzled on what the right direction is to take with this, and what I would vote if I were in your shoes. And that was until I heard one piece of information that made up my mind that I don't think got a lot of fan fare, and so, here... we had the issue of safety versus the donations that people receive who are often in need through this panhandling (unable to understand), and while the gentleman who spoke to this said that, yes, there had been several complaints about panhandling, he said that there is no record of any accidents that have occurred from this. That we have no record is in fact hindering the safety in Iowa City, and so knowing that, it tells me that I think the balance is tipped in favor of allowing this act to go on, for the people who need these donations from people to eat, to survive the day, to buy food, to buy clothing, so they can get ajob. Now I've heard the argument that some of this money might be used for alcohol or for cigarettes. That may be in some cases, but I think the overwhelming majority of cases, it's used to survive. And my own sort of method of getting through, making sure my donations go to the right place, is whenever I go to the gas station, I go and I buy Planter's peanuts. You can get two packs for a dollar. High in protein. Yeab, a little salt, but better than nothing, and my friends think I'm crazy because my glove box is full of Planter's peanuts. So whenever I'm at an intersection and I see somebody begging, I roll down the window and hand them the peanuts. Now, of course, these people think I'm crazy too. They're expecting money, but it doesn't go without thanks. They say, 'God bless you.' Because I've allowed them to go on another day. Now if you pass this law, that sort of transaction will be illegal. It will be outlawed, and Iowa City for a long time has been a beacon of compassion, throughout this region, and I hope that we can live up to that still. Thanks. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #11 Page 27 Wilburn: Thanks for your comments. Champion: I intend not to support this because I'm not so sure it's a safety regulation rather than an anti-begging regulation. I've never heard somebody to say, 'That person that's begging is dangerous.' I've heard them say, 'Can't you get rid of the beggars?' So, I just have problems with the motive behind this is, from the people who called, and I'm not going to support it. I don't see any danger. It seems logical...that it's a good resolution, but I just.. .I'm not going to vote for it. I think it's got problems. I don't like it. O'Donnell: I'm going to support this, and if you read here, it says it makes it illegal for a person who is in the right-of-way. Right-of-way is for cars, it's for vehicles. It doesn't mean you can't panhandle on the sidewalk. I mean, this, I believe, is moving people out of harm's way and I will support it. Correia: Austin, I appreciate your comments and that was a main piece of information for me, was that. . . there's a, a sense that there are safety concerns, but that there haven't been any accidents reported involving this type of activity, and thank you for giving peanuts. Great idea! Vanderhoef: Well, there's lots of times that we do things for safety, not because there has been a reported case, but to avoid that problem. I look at a lot of our fire laws and our fire safety activities. It's the same thing. People wonder, 'Well, why do I have to do it for my business,' or for my own home, or because I live in a multi-plex building, I have to have certain kinds of fire safety things that maybe are not required in homes, but the whole point of it is we are trying to avoid that first accident. I think anyone moving outside of the crosswalk in traffic is not appropriate, and I will support this ordinance. Elliott: Austin, I think that you were eloquently persuasive, and you're a tough act to follow, but I will be supporting this. I think that when we talk about safety, the main point of safety that, on which my concern is focused, is not on the individual. I think the individual probably will be able to take care of himself or herself. It is the disruption of traffic, particularly when you're turning on to a major thoroughfare and the traffic, when people have a light that changes or a stop sign that allows them with a quick entry into traffic, you have a tendency to look one way, look the other way, and get the heck out into the stream oftraffic, and when there is someone who stops quickly, unexpectedly in front of you, that's to me where the safety measure comes in. So, my concern is safety among the motor vehicles in traffic, and I will be supporting this. Bailey: Not very often that I don't know where I stand on an issue that comes before us, but I find myself completely in the middle on this, because it's This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #11 Wilburn: Page 28 not about begging for me. It's about speech, and that's a primary consideration, primary concern when I spoke with Eleanor earlier today about this. I understand the safety concerns. I have often seen people out on the traffic islands and wish that they weren't there. They made me nervous, and that was strictly from safety. It wasn't strictly because I didn't want to see somebody with a sign begging. It's just, you know, they're so close to traffic and people in their vehicles aren't always paying attention to things around them, but I have a huge concern about limiting speech and I know that Eleanor's done a great job oflooking at this and making sure it's constitutional, but I can't support this. Similar to Connie, it just doesn't sit right with me about the speech issue, and I think that we're trying to regulate something else. I don't think we're trying to...I don't think safety is our primary concern here. I think this did come from our Police Department in terms of safety and they currently, under the current ordinance, are able to handle certain situations. There is a judgment call, and readers ofthe newspaper, people that are watching this rebroadcast, I think, you know, a focus will be on.. .regardless of where this came from, the safety aspect and the intent, there's another aspect to this, related to some of the comments you were making, Austin, about balancing safety with someone's ability to sustain themselves, and while there are, so, you know, regardless ofthat, you know, you can't control how everyone's going to interpret this vote on this item tonight. Urn, and this is.. . Regenia was mentioning not knowing where she stood, I think she knows where she stands, I think we all know where we stand, but there's a philosophical component that you don't always have involved with, whether you call it human rights or those types of things, given different circumstances, and some people may not see the connection with this, but you know, on one hand, we do have some services that address people's ability to get food in the community, not necessarily money, but there are some programs that work with people with that, but even just people's ability to gather and, rather than the example of begging or panhandling out in the community. You know, we're sitting where Shelter House was trying to address, you know, some ofthe issues of basic homelessness and creatingjob training opportunities and those type of thing, and that's on hold. I guess it was heard, the arguments were heard today, but given that some things like that haven't been able to proceed forward, I just personally am not willing to go the extra extent to totally eliminate this. Again, we do have an existing ordinance governing this. There's just a little bit more room for interpretation on whether it is impacting traffic or not. I personally have never had the experience of someone that's asking for money that has no job, the begging aspect of it, hasn't felt as disruptive of traffic for me as there's one or two organizations, and it's not clear to me whether or not they are from this community. I don't believe they are, that wait for a traffic light to stop and then they walk through the intersection car to car. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #11 Page 29 That clearly to me creates a problem. You know, in find that later on that the example of Shelter House being able to locate and another avenue for folks in this situation to go to, I might be willing to go ahead and eliminate this possibility through this safety ordinance, but at this point, I'm not willing to do so. Can I get a roll call please. The item fails, Vanderhoef, O'Donnell, and Elliott in the affirmative. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Champion: So moved. Wilburn: Moved by Champion to accept correspondence. Bailey: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Bailey. All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. ._.------_.._-------,_.._-----_....~---_._----_..-.- #13 Page 30 ITEM 13 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY INTERESTS NECESSARY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE MCCOLLISTER BOULEVARD PAVING AND IOWA RIVER BRIDGE PROJECT. Vanderhoef: Move the resolution. Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef. O'Donnell: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Roll call. I'm sorry, go ahead! Bailey: I just have a question about... we've talked about this before. Weare talking with Thatcher Mobile Home Park and this whole impact, three....I think, manufactured homes, and I'm assuming that our, that when we make the property acquisition from the mobile home park, that.. .how then will their relocation, those residents, will their relocation be handled? Because it's not up to us. Dilkes: They received notice and they're entitled to relocation benefits. Bailey: Okay. Thank you. Wilburn: From the City? Dilkes: From the City. Wilburn: Yes. Bailey: I assumed that. Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. ..__._____._..___._.___..___._.._____.____..__.._____._.___,____.._..~__...,._.__,.."...,_.___._._____m.."'.__"..__,._,_ #14 Page 31 ITEM 14 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2007 SADDLE REPLACEMENT PROJECT. Champion: Move the resolution. Correia: Second. Wilburn: Moved by Champion, seconded by Correia. Discussion? (several talking) Vanderhoef: After all these years, I've never seen that word that I recall used. (several talking) Boelk: It's at the connection where the service ties in to the main itself. They've had a problem in several areas where those saddles have deteriorated, cause problems with leaking and such, so they've been pinpointing those areas, trying to get those fixed. Vanderhoef: It's outside of the meter where the leaks are. Wilburn: Yes is the answer. Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accnrate transcription of the Iowa City City Conncil meeting of March 5, 2007. #15 Page 32 ITEM 15 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET EXCLUDING HUMAN SERVICES AID TO AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2008. Champion: I'd like to move the resolution, with an amendment that we remove the Gilbert Street-Highway 1 construction, run it separately. Wilburn: It's been moved to adopt the annual.. . (several talking) Champion: Okay, I withdraw my amendment. Elliott: And I'll second that when you... Wilburn: Moved by Champion to, it's been moved by Champion to consider the resolution adopting the annual budget, excluding Human Services Aid to Agencies. Seconded by O'Donnell? Discussion? Correia: Well, 1.. .I'm appreciative in this budget that we are not raising our tax rates. Urn, I think that that will be appreciated by the taxpayers ofIowa City. I'm disappointed that we were not able to come to an agreement to incrementally build capacity of our professional firefighting force. I am expecting, we've had a consensus that we will start discussing building capacity of our fire capacity, after this budget cycle is over, and I look forward to those discussions. Wilburn: Actually, we're approving the budget plan now, but we're not going to wait until the budget year is over to start... Correia: I know, I mean after our.. . (several talking).. . okay. Wilburn: Any other comments? Bailey: I just want to thank everybody who came to the public hearing. It's nice to see people take an interest in the budget, and I appreciated their comments and concerns, and I think we worked very hard to keep the taxes the same this year and I appreciate everybody's willingness to work on that. Vanderhoef: This is an interesting year for budget in not raising taxes, number one, when we are being restricted on new incomes with the fall of the rollback set by formula through the state. I can support this one year of this activity, and I will support this budget, but when we get to the future, I'll make some comments about the whole three-year plan coming in. I do want to thank the people who are educating themselves a whole lot about our ClP in their comments that they have been making, that they've been watching, and are appreciating the televised portion of our CIP budget. I This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #15 Page 33 think that's been a very, very positive move that we've done in the last two years now, and people say, well, I watch it, and then I say all four sections, and they'll say, well, I guess not, and I said, it went on all day and there are four sections, and it's being rebroadcast. So they say, well, I'm interested enough that I'll go see ifI can pick up another section or two of that. This is a difficult time, certainly, for budgets, and you'll notice that other than bonded capital improvement projects, we have basically nothing new in this budget, and we don't have the money to do new things in this budget, and much as we all recognize and would like to fund nine new firefighters, that is not a possibility at roughly $50,000 per firefighter, that goes into General Fund spending. It's not going to be possible until we have new revenues, sources, beyond property tax to make that happen in Iowa City. Elliott: This is typical.. . this budget is typical of almost anything that's put together in a political, democratic, legislative process. I can't imagine that there's anyone on this Council, and perhaps anyone on the City staff, who is totally supportive of every aspect of this. This is a compromised. It was done by good people putting serious effort into do it. I'm proud of the fact that we have worked hard, and the staff came through with providing us a means of not increasing the tax rate. I'm continued to be disappointed. I disagree with some... we do have the funding to put the necessary priority on public safety. We just don't put that priority on public safety. I am disappointed (TAPE ENDS) O'Donnell: ...we don't cut services and you don't raise taxes, it's successful. I was very pleased not to raise taxes. I had a couple calls that affected me deeply about people on fixed incomes that it would affect, and I was happy about that. I'm also disappointed about the, our ability to fund the new firefighters, but that's something we can work on down the road a ways, but I, like I said, I think it's successful when you don't cut services and you don't raise taxes. Wilburn: I want to thank the Council for all your hard work on the budget, and we had some tense moments there, but everyone, as Bob was saying, everyone does care about this community, that we want to continue to see it grow and prosper, and I want to thank the staff for all their work in putting it together. We couldn't have any of these discussions without your work and putting the documents together and, Kevin, please thank the folks in your department, too. The, remember the budget is a spending plan. Sometimes, you know, it sets the tax rates and things like that. There are times throughout the course of a year, some opportunities may come up that you are unaware of at budget time and it's more fun when it's things that can work in your favor. For example, we're continuing to do some work and hope that we're able to get some fiscal funding to do the First A venue railroad bridge overpass, that grade elevation there, and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #15 Page 34 it's no fun when things happen like three years ago when certain State aid items are taken away from you and the State is continuing discussions about tax reform and as those discussions go on, I'm sure you'll hear more discussions here at the Council level, and who knows how broad those discussions may get in the next couple of years at the State level. There may be the possibility...may be the possibility of alternative revenue sources for cities, but regardless of what happens at the State, we will continue to need to talk about revenue sources, as well as expenses, while trying to mitigate the property tax. We're going to have to continue to have discussions including things like local option sales taxes for municipal purposes and those type things, whether or not other alternatives like local income taxes and things like that, those are at the State level and those discussions will be there and encourage the public to contact your State Legislators if you have concerns about how the State authority impacts your ability to enjoy the benefits of services that you're asking for this community. With that said, roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. --,-----_._-,---_._,---_._---'_.-.-..._"---~-"-_._.".-- #16 Page 35 ITEM 16 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR HUMAN SERVICES AID TO AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2008. Wilburn: Item 16 is a resolution related to the Human Services Aid to Agencies for Fiscal Year 2008. I have a conflict of interest because I work for an organization that is an applicant for funds in this category, and will not participate in the vote. (Wilburn leaves; Bailey presiding) Bailey: Item 16, consider a resolution adopting the annual budget for Human Services Aid to Agencies for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2008. Correia: Move the resolution. Vanderhoef: Second. Bailey: Moved by Correia, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Correia: We just vote this in, the Aid to Agencies, in the amount of$456,151; $105,000 of that is from CDBG. Roughly $36,000 is from Water, and the rest is from the General Fund. Bailey: Any other comments? I am proud that Iowa City is committed to the agencies and does commit this money from the General Fund and always a source of pride that our community supports our agencies in this way. Roll call. Item carries 6-0, Wilburn abstaining due to conflict of interest. The next one too (several talking, laughter). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #17 Page 36 ITEM 17 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ALLOCATING THE HUMAN SERVICES AID TO AGENCIES FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2008. Champion: Move the resolution. Vanderhoef: Second. Bailey: Moved by Champion, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Correia: I'd like to make an amendment to the memo in the packet. Bailey: Okay. Correia: This is an old memo. We had an updated memo for the Shelter House line, dated January 29th, so it would have Shelter House, proposed Fiscal Year 08 at $35,000, with the purpose of the grant being used for case management, which is a STAR program, increase current case management levels to 107 adults served. Champion: Do we have to vote on that? Bailey: That was an amendment (several talking). Champion: Second. Bailey: So we have an amendment to the motion, is that how we should handle this? Dilkes: No, I think Amy has just moved the resolution... Bailey: As amended, okay. Champion: Oh, okay. Karr: We had a motion on the floor. Champion and Vanderhoef. Champion: Well, I withdraw mine and accept hers. Karr: Well, we can take it as a friendly amendment. Champion: Yeah, that's good! Bailey: Friendly amendment. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #17 Elliott: Bailey: Elliott: Bailey: Correia: Champion: Bailey: Page 37 What is amended is the memo that specifically, okay. You guessed what I was trying to say. Because this memo has become part of this resolution. Fine. Okay, further discussion or questions? I want to thank the work of the Committee on this. It's a lot of work and student liaison, Abbie Volland, who worked with the Committee members, Regenia and Connie, thank you for your time and effort in getting this recommendation. We actually had more agreement than we thought. It was probably more fun than we anticipated. (laughter) We were glad to work with Abbie. Okay. Roll call. Item carries 6-0, Wilburn abstaining due to conflict of interest. (Wilburn returns) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. _._~._.._"-_.__._----_._-~~-~---_._--- #18 Page 38 ITEM 18 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA, FOR FISCAL YEARS 2008 THROUGH 2010 AND THE MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2007 THROUGH 2011. Correia: Move the resolution. Wilburn: Moved by Correia. Bailey: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Bailey. Champion: .. . make a friendly amendment. Is this where I do it now? Dilkes: This won't be friendly, I don't think. (laughter) Champion: Ijust want it moved on separately. Dilkes: Let's just get the resolution on the floor. Champion: Oh, okay. Dilkes: And which we do, and now you can make... Karr: An amendment. Dilkes: ...an amendment. Champion: I'd like to ask the Council.. . Wilburn: I won't get into that amendments are amendments, whether they're friendly or not. It's really kind of irrelevant. Champion: I'd like to ask the Council to remove the Gilbert.. . is it Highway I or 6? Atkins: Gilbert and Highway 6. Champion: Gilbert and Highway 6, from the Capital Improvement Plan be voted on separately, so I can approve the Capital Improvement Plan. Wilburn: It's been moved by Champion to remove the Highway 6-Gilbert Street project for separate consideration, and it was seconded by O'Donnell. All those in... This represents only a reasonably accnrate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #18 Page 39 Bailey: I want to ask Connie a question. Wilburn: I'm sorry. Dh.. . okay, discussion, I'm sorry - go ahead. Bailey: So, are you saying that without the removal of this project, you couldn't support this Capital Improvement Plan? Champion: Right. Bailey: Okay. I just wanted to make sure I was hearing that correctly. Wilburn: Any other discussion? Do I need to do a roll call on.. . okay. All those in favor of the amendment, signify by saying aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0. So now we are considering the Capital Improvement Program, minus the Gilbert Street project. Vanderhoef: Okay, I don't.. .this Capital Plan, the improvement program, I can support that completely, but the Financial Plan is not according to our Council policy that is in all of our planning books and has been in place for as many years as I've been on the Council and a number of years prior to that. The Financial Plan is to take our reserve funds below 30%, which is the policy, and it not only goes below 30%, it goes on down two years n a row for sure, and conceivably longer than that, and it takes it down to 27%. I've heard arguments from fellow councilors that, well, we didn't use anywhere near all ofthat money when we had the disaster of the tornados this past year and when we had straight-line winds and so forth, but that reserve fund, in my mind, is sitting there specifically for the unforeseeable kinds of things that could befall a city, that has to do with infrastructure, and we have aging infrastructure that we work consistently to upgrade, but whether it be in the transportation plans or where it is, the revenue that we receive in comparison to the increased cost of these items is getting further and further out of balance, so we're getting further away from being able to meet our infrastructure needs in the way of old sewer pipes, old water pipes, streets that need total rebuilds rather than one more overlay, many ofthese projects are all combined together because the water and sewer is underneath that street or in that right-of-way and so when we look at some ofthose projects, we're looking at millions of dollars to replace them. To me, that's one of the greatest things of safety for a city to be able to say we have the reserves to handle it right now if we have to. Certainly, we don't plan to have that kind of disaster, but they can happen. A water plant go down, a sewer plant go down, multiple things can happen. So, with this three-year plan showing that we will be going below the Council policy of30% reserves, I will have to vote no on this Financial Plan and I can support Capital Plan and if you'd like to separate Capital Plan away from the Financial Plan, I would make that a motion. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #18 Page 40 Wilburn: It's been moved by Vanderhoef to, you said it was the Capital Improvement Program that you...is your motion to, yeah, to separate the, these items, Capital Improvement from the Financial Plan? Vanderhoef: Uh-huh. Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef. Champion: I'll second it, but I don't see how you can do that. If you're approving a Capital Improvement, how you going to finance them? Vanderhoef: The Capital Improvements are primarily with outside funding and bonding. They're not from General Funds. (several talking) Champion: So...I thought you said you have a difference on the Financial Plan? Vanderhoef: Uh-huh. Champion: For the Capital Improvements? Vanderhoef: No, not that I object to the financial... Champion: Oh, I see. Vanderhoef: I approve the Capital. Champion: Yeah. Elliott: Are you seconding, Connie? Wilburn: Yes, it's seconded by Champion. Elliott: I guess I would simply disagree. We have decided that there will be a work session or a session where we will discuss and debate the merits of the current policy on year-end cash balance. I just fail to agree that you should financially budget for the worse-case scenario. I think you financially budget so that ifthe worse-case scenario happens, you have access to the funds, and we certainly, with our Triple-A bond rating, have access to additional funds, if they're needed, but suffice to say, I'll not support the amendment. Wilburn: Any further discussion on just separating the items? As opposed to the merits of the actual....all those in favor of separate, going for separate consideration of the Multi-Year Capital Improvement Program from the Financial Plan, signify by saying aye. Can I have a show of hands? Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #18 Page 41 Those opposed, same sign. Urn, it's approved to separate, who were the three? Bailey, Elliott, and O'Donnell in the negative. So, we are now considering the Multi-Year Capital hnprovement Program. (several talking) Without Gilbert Street. Discussion? Correia: I just want to...this Capital Improvement Program without Gilbert Street, includes a $1 million kind of placeholder for trails, that has come up, and we're going to have a discussion about trails, and so there have been some comments during our public discussion about the bridge trail, the pedestrian bridge over the river to the Peninsula, and it sounded to me like there was a group of folks that may be working on getting some private financing, and so, I mean, I think there may be the ability for there to be a request to help support through this, ifit was an amount that the Council supported, because I think part of what our decision was related to was such a high cost. So... Bailey: Such a high cost, I think, with other trail priorities, or trail concerns, or trail interests. Correia: Yes, right. Champion: Trail connections. Bailey: Yeah, and I think that, I'm looking forward to that discussion about trails, because I think that we can set something in motion and have a plan that can fold out over years and get some of those connections that people are interested in seeing, and certainly, interested in seeing how we could make that pedestrian bridge possible, without funding at such a high amount. Atkins: Pedestrian bridge remains in the plan that you.. . (several talking). Correia: And then we had had the discussion about having design on the fourth fire station, and it turned out that we didn't need to add that into this Capital Improvement because there were funds available. Can you clarify that... Atkins: Yes. We have, I believe, $165,000 identified. Now, that will not cover the complete design, but that'll certainly get you the preliminaries. And that's in the budget. Correia: Right, that's in the budget, we just need to... Bailey: . . . preliminaries, not architectural? Atkins: Not to bidding. Bailey: The bidding, okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #18 Page 42 Atkins: Yeah, I mean, we can certainly higher an architect and we can certainly give you that, but not the final.. . final. Champion: What about the new fire station we're building on the west side? Are they taking into consideration, is that going to be a duplicate? Atkins: A duplicate? No, it's.. . you mean, as far as.. . yeah, I think they're dissimilar enough. We... Correia: Piggyback the design, is that what you're talking about? Champion: Yeah, but maybe the land is too different. Atkins: The land is dramatically different, and we do need to bring that back to you because you did in your discussions add some other components to.. .that's Station #2. Yeah, that'll be coming back to you. Wilburn: Uh, just for clarification to what we are considering now, and I believe we had a motion and second for was to consider the Capital Plan minus Gilbert Street, and that's what we're discussing now. There was also, by a 4 to 3 vote, a motion to just separate the Financial Plan from the Capital Improvement Program, minus Gilbert Street, and I don't have a motion to consider the Financial Plan. I was on top of this, how about that! (laughter) Well, can we finish these before I get that motion? (several talking) I would like us to, if there's no other discussion on the Capital Plan, minus Gilbert Street, I would like to get a roll call. Karr: But I don't have a motion to that. Champion: Oh...(several talking) Elliott: Connie moved.. . (several talking) Dilkes: Can we take a quick break so we can figure this out? Karr: Yeah, could we? Sorry. Wilburn: Let's take five. (ON BREAK) Okay, ready to go? The Chair will entertain a motion to consider the Financial Plan. Champion: So moved. Wilburn: Moved by Champion, seconded by Correia. Discussion? Elliott: The Financial Plan, minus Capital Improvement. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #18 Page 43 Wilburn: Financial Plan. (several talking) The Financial Plan for the City ofIowa City. Elliott: Okay. Wilburn: Fiscal Year 2008. Elliott: For me, I was talking about Financial Plan lower case f and p, because to me and most people, financial plan is the budget, but this is the part of the budget, minus (several talking). That's boring! Correia: Well, I feel very comfortable with what we decided with our, in the Financial Plan, 27% reserve. I think, historically, we end up at the end of year with more going into our reserves than we planned for because we are conservative in our planning, which is very good. I agree with Bob's statement earlier that we have in the need, in the event of a need, in excess of what we have in the reserve. You know, we have additional reserve in our business type activities that we would have access to. We also have the ability to bond and borrow money and so I feel very comfortable. . . we made in this Financial Plan and I look forward to our continued discussions about those policies which we've agreed to do. Bailey: I look forward to that discussion, as well. I think 27% is by no means risky. I think we're making a prudent, cautious decision. I don't feel that we're putting anything in the community at risk, even given the worst case scenario. We do have ability to raise capital should something terrible happen. We did get through the tornado quite admirably, with no help from the federal government, so I don't, I'm not concerned about this at all, and look forward to that discussion because I think we need to review that policy. Elliott: Same. Wilburn: Roll call on the Financial Plan. Item carries 6-1, Vanderhoef in the negative. We'll continue with the questions separated. The Chair will entertain a motion to approve the Multi-Year Capital Improvement Program, minus Gilbert Street reconstruction project. Vanderhoef: So moved. Wilburn: ...Fiscal Years 2007 through 2011. Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Champion: It's a good plan. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #18 Page 44 Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0. Chair will not entertain a motion to approve the Gilbert Street project from the Gilbert Street-Highway 6 project, from the Capital Improvement Program. Bailey: So moved. Wilburn: Moved by Bailey. Correia: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Correia. Discussion? Champion: I ask that this be removed because I think it's a grave mistake. I don't think we should do anything with this street until at least McCollister Boulevard is in, which will give us another river crossing and to take some heat off of Highway 6 and Gilbert. I think we're going to destroy a long- time Iowa City business that, a local business - owned by local people- where all the money's staying in the community. They will be totally destroyed by this construction. There's just no way they're going to survive it, and I think it's, to me, that business is much more important to Iowa City than being another turn lane on Gilbert. I've driven down there at least fifteen times this week. I never had to wait for more than one stoplight, and it just seems that we all get so obsessed with moving traffic, that we don't take into account that maybe people and businesses are more important. It's, to me, it's not a big traffic mess. I mean, I didn't grow up in Iowa City. I don't think we have any traffic problems. I have a hard time supporting a lot of things we do with traffic, but by voting for this project, you will destroy some very good businesses along the way and one that is locally owned with all the money staying in the community. Elliott: The only thing that I would add to that is we're talking about not just one business. There are multiple businesses that will be significantly harmed by this, and I don't think that that, I think the benefit does not come close to outweighing the harm that it will impose on those businesses. Champion: And we could really evaluate after McCollister is in. Elliott: Sounds good. O'Donnell: My problem is with the length of the median. I think we make it very, very difficult on old-time Iowa City businesses there, and I'm not going to support this. You know, I travel that area a lot and there may be traffic congestion problems for a short period of time at 8:00, 12:00, and 5:00- I've said that before - but the rest of the day, that intersection moves, I believe, very smoothly. Like I said, if you want to double the turn lane, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. --------.~"~----_._---_.,-_._...._._._-~-~--------_._-.----.-. #18 Page 45 you can do it and I don't really think you need the long median, which hinders access into established businesses. Bailey: I very rarely support traffic projects. I'm not particularly concerned about moving traffic quickly, but in this case, I do trust what our traffic engineers have said, and I have observed some traffic challenges at this comer. I believe our staff is working very hard with those businesses to accommodate. I think accommodations are necessary, and I think that's important. I think we're being a little hyperbolic when we're saying it will absolutely destroy businesses. There are accommodations that can be made. It will make it easier for some of their customers to get into their businesses. I think we've worked very hard and we will continue to have discussions with those businesses about how this can be better. I find it interesting to find myself in a position supporting a traffic project, but I think this will be beneficial for Iowa City, and people who live in that area, because I do think there is a fair amount of congestion down there. Correia: I also wonder with the opening of McCollister and the planned development that we have south, that the potential, and we're making plans as we're looking 20 years, 30 years, 40 years down the road when there's going to be an increasingly busy intersection. In fact, it could be more, there could be more traffic on the north-south, traveling on Gilbert, than less people might not travel onto Highway 6. They may travel over on McCollister and then get onto Gilbert. I appreciate what I've seen of staff working respectfully and diligently with the businesses. In this last info packet, there was a letter from Sarah Okerlund to the owner of Pleasant Valley talking about the accommodations, the worry about parking in the back. They're doing some design concepts for parking on the side, on the south side. I do think their current parking in the front is a little bit tricky. I think that Iowa City residents are very loyal to our locally owned businesses and I think that with accommodations that are being considered and some work being done with the businesses, I'm confident that. . . Vanderhoef: I agree with Amy on the growth south of Highway 6. Just recently we approved two new lots for construction of new businesses, just south of that intersection, by about a block and a half. So, we know that's coming. Housing is coming. And truly when McCollister bridge gets opened, I think like Amy, that we will have more traffic that will cross the river there and then come into Iowa City downtown area from the south. So that's one. Another thing that I see, the one business that will be removed because ofthe widening and change up there, still has a viable building lot, when that business that sits so close to the road is removed. So that still has opportunity for redesign in that area. Ifwe look at the projects that we have been approving and how our building design has gone forward over the last eight, ten years, it's not uncommon, in fact it's being This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #18 Page 46 required, that businesses sit closer to the street and parking is in the back, and it has to do with appearances of our community. At the same time, having consolidation of entrances and egresses onto our street makes it a much safer street in those areas where we have four or five driveways to serve four or five businesses, right side by side, and it's not unusual of having, removing parking, even in the downtown area, where there wasn't opportunities for parking in the back. We removed a lot of parking that businesses along Iowa A venue had plarmed on having that parking in that area and had always had walk-in parking, no longer had it, and... Champion: They weren't carrying trees. (laughter) Vanderhoef: Okay. So, anyway, I think for the public safety, for the movement of vehicles in our corridor, which leads to clean air and all of those other things, that this is a very positive thing to happen. So, I will be supporting it. Wilburn: I agree that it is, it's not just a matter of traffic speed. It's a current capacity issue. I just saw an accident on, last week at this intersection, actually offthe intersection. There's just so many, because of the high volurne, not only on the streets, but the high volume with the bank and the restaurant there, of traffic, in my opinion it's not just three times during the day. There's pretty extended periods where there's, it's a difficult entrance onto Gilbert Street, in particular, with both the speed of cars coming and the number of entrances that are at that location. Roll call on the Gilbert Street-Highway 6 project. Vanderhoef: Excuse me...just one, just making sure, the vote is in the positive for...a yes vote is for keeping it in the plan. Wilburn: Yes, and we, this is the, yeah, it's the Gilbert Street-Highway 6 project in the Multi-Year Capital Improvement Program. Vanderhoef: Yes. Wilburn: So a yes vote is for keeping it in the plan. Elliott: I repeat, no. Wilburn: Item approves 4-3, Champion, O'Donnell, and Elliott in the negative. Elliott: Nothing has changed. O'Donnell: It never does, Bob. (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #18 Page 47 Champion: Well, I thank this Council for letting people break things apart so we can vote on them separately. Vanderhoef: Yes, thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #19 Page 48 ITEM 19 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ALLOCATING THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PROGRAM FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2008. Bailey: Move the resolution. Wilburn: Moved by Bailey. Champion: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Bailey: I think this is a great list, and I'm glad we're supporting Summer of the Arts again at the level that we are, and look forward to partnering with Hancher (unable to understand) performance, their outside performance this summer. Vanderhoef: Free outside. Bailey: Oh, yeah. Wilburn: I think that's an important distinction. I, in the last six months, several of the out of town speaking engagements I've had, people inevitably come up and say, gosh, you know I was there for the Jazz Festival and I think it's great, as opposed to - and I won't name the festivals in some of the other towns - where they do charge entrance fee, anywhere from $7.50 to $15.00 to get into these larger, community outdoor events. So, it really does make an impression beyond the borders of Johnson County. Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. m p.~ ITEM 23 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Wilburn: Bob? Elliott: Quickly, because we're in our fifth hour, I read in the paper there's a request for a local law enforcement involvement in alien employment requirements has been rejected. I wish that had come to the Council. As a matter of fact, I would like to have the Council have that on as a discussion item at some point. I think if nothing else, it illustrates the fact that we have insufficient public safety personnel to do some of these things that we should be doing. Secondly, congratulations to Karin Franklin. She was one often women selected as the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids Corridor's 2007 Women ofInfluence, and I would venture to say, I would be pressed to name any man or woman who has had more positive influence on Iowa City than Karin has. This said from a person who frequently disagrees with her philosophy, but she has had great positive influence in Iowa City and I'm very pleased and Iowa City should be. Regenia Bailey, my friend to the left, was selected as one of those last year. So, I don't know if we mentioned that last year, but Regenia was one of those eleven people last year, identified as a woman of influence. Lastly, I've noticed a trend in some of the things that we've gotten and that I hear, and it's people, I think, are trying to make fancy words out of just regular words. For instance, we talk about charettes when we could just say work shops. We talk about signage, when the plural of sign is signs. It's very easy. Egress and ingress means exit and enter, and I said earlier, I think this dates back to the old Jackie Gleason program when Art Carnie, who worked in the sewer, said he was in subterranean sanitation, and I wish we could get back to just plain old straight language. I'm done. (laughter) O'Donnell: You know, I saw something very similar to this on 60 Minutes with Andy Rooney. Elliott: Oh, you see a resemblance. (laughter) Wilburn: Regenia? Bailey: I want to echo Bob's comments. Congratulations, Karin, well deserved honor for being named Woman of Influence in the corridor this year, and I just was wondering, it's been a rough year for trees in Iowa City. After the recent ice storm, do we have a sense of damage to our public parks yet? Atkins: A sense that... I'm not sure how to describe it. I can't say that there's anything catastrophic. You know, we lost a lot of small limbs and we're This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #23 Page 50 taking care of all of that. There may be some possibilities for some funding and we're sort of exploring that, as well. Bailey: Good, good, and thanks to the power companies for their rapid response. I know it's very dangerous work, but I appreciate that I was only out of power for two hours, which seems pretty fortunate compared to what I've heard from even you all. So, thank you for your work. Vanderhoef: I can ditto lots ofthese comments on congratulations to Karin, to public power, to get us back up. I was out for five hours, but candlelight - I tried reading a packet with candlelight, and I managed to do it, so I thought that was kind of fun, when you sit at the kitchen table with that. So, I thought about studying and so forth in the 1800' s when children did all their studies by candlelight. Elliott: I was not alive then! (laughter) Vanderhoef: For the record! You're right, and I will be headed out this next week for National League of Cities and multiple meetings and seeing old friends and making new friends. So, if you're trying to reach me, you can reach me through City Hall. Wilburn: Mike? O'Donnell: Congratulations, Karin Franklin, and thank you Mid American. I was without power for sixteen hours, and it's amazing what you can find to do in the dark, and we (laughter and several talking) We made pizzas! I said enough! Champion: I'd like to congratulate Karin and I'll ditto everything everybody said. I, however, was not without power, but that's because the last, during the big wind, I was without power for five days. I earned this one. Correia: Well, I also want to say congratulations to Karin, and then to the other local women who have great influence on Iowa City and Johnson County who are going to be honored on Thursday. Joan Benson, Connie Benton- Wolfe, Christine Scheetz, and Christine Grant, so congratulations to all our local Johnson County Women ofInfluence. I have a couple questions, the Youth Sports Park recycling - I feel like I'm a broken record, but now we're starting to get ready for, is there a plan about that, the plastic bottle recycling? Atkins: I can't tell you there's specifically a plan about that. I do know that I had a memorandum prepared, sort of updating me on all the recycling programs, very...sort of intended as a broad-brush approach of where we This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #23 Bailey: Atkins: Bailey: Atkins: Correia: Helling: Correia: Helling: Correia: Wilburn: Page 51 are and a number ofthings, and I intend to share that with you. Hopefully, it'll be in your packet on Thursday. Would it be possible, I don't mean to interrupt, would it be possible to have Jen come, our recycling coordinator, come.. . okay. Yes, that's part of the plan. Because Ijust got a call about multi-family recycling, which is a perennial Issue... No, I'd like to have Jen come here. Then I guess I have a question, as part of a group planning a tournament, early bird softball tournament out at Napoleon, can groups that are renting out the park, access those collapsible recycling that were put around, like during the Summer of the Arts (TAPE ENDS) ...correspondence about animal display board in city public areas, and in terms of just getting the word out on adopting? There is no response in your packet, but I did talk to Misha and she has had extensive conversation with Ms. Schomers about that very thing and I think, if I'm not mistaken, that's also the Task Force...that will be involved in looking at that. I know they're looking... .. .kiosks in the downtown area, I mean, that might be a... Yeah, I think they're looking at a variety of things. Great! Just for the benefit of the Council, in reference to the item that I think you're referring, Bob, there are, as you all know, all kinds of requests that show up in our correspondence and some ofthem, staff will respond to, others I'm sure some of you respond to, and I do the same, as well, and when it's something that involves a, either a request for an appearance or request for certain action from the Council, the times that I respond I take a look at one, whether or not Council has said anything about the item in the info packet. So if something's appeared in the info packet, and I've heard nothing at a work session, there are times when I'll respond that there doesn't appear to be interest from the Council on this particular, at this time. Other things that I consider if someone's asking for money or certain things that will require money, in terms of staffing or those type of things, you know, we've just come out of a budget cycle and I will also reflect either directly or through correspondence that this is an item that has not come up during Council budget deliberations, but there's nothing This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #23 Page 52 in any of the responses that I've made that, seeing my correspondence in the packet, if enough Council members wish to have something considered, then you know, that's (unable to understand) do it. So, but just a reminder for... Correia: WeU, I absolutely supported your letter. Thank you and I appreciated that you responded. (several talking) Wilburn: Well, we shouldn't discuss whether the Mayor or anything like that, because it's not (several talking). Go ahead, Dee. Vanderhoef: Something I forgot to do, but the Iowa City Kickers hosted an indoor soccer tournament this past Sunday that was well attended, well run, very positive for young people, 11 and up, and you want to talk about a fast game versus the outdoor. I had never watched that much indoor soccer and that is really fun to watch, and they should be congratulated for a successful tournament. Correia: Can I say one more thing? Good luck to City High Girls' Basketball on Wednesday. They're playing Roosevelt in the State tournament, their first game, so good luck! Wilburn: And congratulations to some of the West High wrestlers who had success at the State tournament for them. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007. #24 Page 53 ITEM 24 REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF. Wilburn: City Manager? Atkins: Don't show up tomorrow night! (laughter) Wilburn: Okay. City Attorney? City Clerk? Entertain a motion to adjourn. O'Donnell: So moved. Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell. Vanderhoef: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. We are adjourned. (TAPE ENDS) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of March 5, 2007.