HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-03 Transcription
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ITEM 2 PROCLAMATION.
c) Fair Housing Mouth - April 2007
Wilburn: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Sally Cline, President ofthe Board,
Association of Realtors. (applause)
Cline: (several talking, laughter) Mr. Mayor and City Council Members, I'd like
to thank you very much on behalf of the Iowa City Area Association of
Realtors. We do so appreciate our partnership with the City, and with the
City Housing Authority. We work together in the interest to promote
home ownership and affordable housing. The people that were up here
with me were Cheryl Nelson who is the Executive Director ofthe Iowa
City Area Association of Realtors, and Dee Miller, who is Chair of our
Home Ownership Readiness Program. Again, thank you so much.
Wilburn: Thank you.
Vanderhoef: Thank you. (applause)
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ITEM 3 OUTSTANDING STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS - LEMME
ELEMENTARY.
Wilburn: Will the students from Lemme Elementary please come forward and join
me up front. Good evening, and thanks for coming down tonight. Really
appreciate you coming down and joining us. We're looking forward to
hearing what you have to say. I guess you have a few words to say about
your recognition. It's really an honor for us to have you down here to let
us know what you've been up to and why you think you've been
nominated as a good citizen. 1'11.. . start with you.
Ettema: My name.. .good evening, my name is Jennifer Ettema. I'm extremely
proud and grateful to have received this award from the Lemme 6th
graders and teachers, along with Jordan, Ethan, and Luke. I believe I was
selected for this award because I'm polite and considerate to my peers and
teachers. This is important, because the way you talk to someone reflects
your personality and self-esteem. Another reason I think I was picked is
because I try my best on my assignments and schoolwork. I believe the
pillars are important because they remind us every day that respect,
responsibility, caring, trustworthiness, and citizenship are part... are part of
everyday things. You mayor may not realize it has so much to do with
them. Thank you. (applause)
Mendoza: Hello, my name is Jordan Mendoza. A good citizen is trustworthy,
respectful, responsible, fair, and caring. A good citizen will help others
play fair, clean up after themselves, be respectful to others, and is able to
be trusted. I try my hardest to do these things daily and this award is
telling me that I have made progress. I know that there are many other
people that deserve this award, but I'm thankful to be chosen for this. I
always try to help anyone who needs help. I help my classmates if they
ask. I help my teacher if! have free time, and I help around my house a
lot. Helping people is fun and it makes me feel like I am a good citizen.
(applause)
Kottemann: Hi, my name is Luke, and I think I was chosen for the Outstanding Citizen
Award because of my mom and dad. They taught me right from wrong.
Also, the training I get from the Bible tells me how to respect and care
about other people. The Bible and my parents also teach me to obey the
law and that makes me a good citizen. The Bible also says never to lie, so
I am trustworthy. Where I get all this training are from my parents, my
teachers at school, the friends from the Kingdom Hall ofJehovah's
Witnesses, and the Bible. Thank you for this award. (applause)
Zierke: First, I'd like to thank all my teachers, friends, and family for all their help
and support that has gotten me this far. I'd also like to thank the City of
Iowa City for providing the Outstanding Citizen Award. Trustworthiness,
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respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship ~ these are the six
pillars of character. I try my very best to follow these life-long tools for
success every day. Simply offering a helping hand when someone is in
need, and showing teachers respect and responsibility are only a few ways
of showing good character that I feel are very important. What our
Principal, Mr. Bacon, says each day on the morning announcements about
the pillars of character is enough to last me through the day. It reminds
me that our school has a goal that is set for a reason, so that we have
something to work for, and to attain that goal, everyone has to do their
part, and everyone can make a difference in our world. (applause)
Wilburn:
Well, great job, everybody. Dh, again, we're glad to have you down here.
You give a nice example that, uh, it's what you do and how you conduct
yourselfthat are traits of leadership, and not how old you are, so we really
appreciate your coming down here. I'm going to read off the award. They
all have your own name on them. They say the same thing. Uh, for their
outstanding qualities of leadership within Helen Lemme Elementary, as
well as the community, and for their sense of responsibility and
helpfulness to others, we recognize you as outstanding student citizens.
Your community is proud of you. This is presented by the Iowa City City
Council. So, Ethan, good job (applause). And Jordan (applause). (unable
to hear, applause)
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ITEM 4 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Champion: Move adoption,
Bailey: Move adoption.
Wilburn: Moved by Champion, seconded by Bailey. Discussion?
Bailey: I just wanted to point out that, urn, I'm glad that we have the downtown
Iowa.. .Iowa City market niche analysis on this Consent Agenda. We
worked very hard in the Economic Development Committee to find a
consultant for this, and are delighted to bring it to you and.. . for vote
tonight.
Wilburn: And, good job to the Committee. Wanted to point out a couple public
hearings. On April 16th there'll be a public hearing, on a proposal to
convey a single-family home located at 938 Longfellow Place. This is
another home under the Affordable Dream Program. There's also a public
hearing on May I st on the Iowa Department of Transportation
Consolidated Funding application for Iowa City Transit. Any other
discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 5
Wilburn:
Kelly:
Wilburn:
Kelly:
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COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
This is the time for the public to address the Council on an item that does
not appear on tonight's agenda. If you wish to speak to the Council,
please approach the podium, state your name for the record, and please
limit your comments to five minutes or less.
Good evening, Mayor, Members of the City Council.
Good evening.
I'm Betty Kelly and I'm the Vice Chair of the Senior Center Commission.
I'm here to give our little monthly report on what we're doing. We did do
a survey on the desire for the proposed merger of the City Recreation
Center and the Senior Center. We thought we should do that with the
members of the Senior Center. Unfortunately, nobody was in favor. They
seemed to think that they would have diminished choices, a loss of
belonging that they feel now, and a loss of socialization. Some of them
found the activities at the Senior Center overrun with young teens.
Evidently they were there on Saturday morning. The Commission also
needs to report on the relocation and allocation of space. As you know,
we're moving things around in the Senior Center, in order to have a
weightlifting room, which was, has been sought by many senior citizens.
So, many of our rooms are going to be shuffled slightly, but this was a
committee, decided by the Senior Center Commission, and also the
Relocation Committee. I think one of the things that I enjoy most
reporting about is the Standing Committee Status Report, involving the
legacy letters. I hope you have heard about this. This is, we're asking
people 50 years old to write and say' If I knew now. . . I would have done
things differently when I was 20'.. .so this is really directed at people 18 to
20 years old. We've had some very interesting letters, and many of them
are going to be displayed on June 1st when we have the Gallery Walk. It's
not only... so if you haven't written one yet, you have until May I st to
write us a letter and tell us what you.. . there's many things I would have
done differently, with what I know now. One of the things that you may
have heard about, the Senior Center has.. .it's an old building, and it's
been confronted by several structure problems - corroding piping forced
the Senior Center ground floor restrooms to be closed. So, we're taking
this opportunity to redesign these rooms so they are more ADA approved.
We also had a pipe burst. We found out pipes had been laid, even before
the Senior Center was built. So, some time this sunnner we're going to
have to close a day, for two days, to have new pipes put in, but until then,
we can get along the way we are. Also, we are redoing the Assembly
Room, which is a much-used room at the Senior Center. We're rewiring it
so we can get better sound and we are actually the first... the top half of
the room is going to be padded with acoustical tiles. We're going to
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repaint it. So, if you come in, you'll suddenly be confronted by green,
instead of that institutional tan. We have very different chairs have been
ordered. We've ordered 200 chairs, a 100 without arms and 100 with
arms, and we are changing the tables so that they can be folded more
evenly. Being one of the people that go in for meetings and have to shove
tables around, these can be flipped over very easily and shoved inside. So,
this will be very nice for us and we're looking forward to it. The Center
did receive a check for $21,737 from the Community Foundation of
Johnson County, which we have the Iowa City...this is where we put our
endowment and charitable giving funds and due to the giving this year, we
have been able to acquire $21,000, which we're going to put in the
Operation Fund. This will help us a great deal! Finally, on a very
interesting note, the Senior Center television staff and producers did a
presentation on the Iowa City Senior Center television line in
Chicago.. .this...on March ih. I think it was the most fun that they had
had, and they also signed up to do interviews. So they went around and
did their interviews on everybody. If you haven't seen some ofthe
productions that the Senior Center does, very intriguing. They've done
some very intriguing ones and they're going to improve, now that the
sound is improved! So, do you have any questions for me?
Champion:
Thank you.
Wilburn:
Thank you. Would anyone else care to address the Council on an item
that does not appear on tonight's agenda?
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ITEM 6 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
a) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
APRIL 16 ON AN ORDINANCE REZONING
APPROXIMATELY 5.75 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED ALONG
A PORTION OF SOUTH GOVERNOR AND BOWERY
STREETS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION
RESIDENTIAL (RNS-12) ZONE TO MEDIUM DENSITY
SINGLE FAMILY (RS-8) ZONE. (REZ07-00002)
Vanderhoef: Move to set the public hearing.
O'Donnell: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? We can
start with any Ex parte communications if anyone has any to disclose.
Dilkes: I don't think we need to do that when we're setting a public hearing.
Wilburn: Okay. Then I won't worry about it. Urn, discussion? Roll call. Oh, all
those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0. Threw me off
there a little bit, Eleanor. Just kidding!
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ITEM 6
Bailey:
Correia:
Wilburn:
Franklin:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
Wilburn:
Correia:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
Wilburn:
Correia:
Wilburn:
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PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING APPROXIMATELY
12 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED ON RUPPERT ROAD WEST
OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL
(CC-2) ZONE TO INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI-l) ZONE.
(REZ07-00001) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Move second consideration.
Second.
Moved by Bailey, seconded by Correia.
I would request that that the City Council consider expediting this. Uh,
we have a closing that we would like to get completed next week on one
of the lots, so if you could waive the second consideration, go to pass and
adopt tonight, we'd appreciate it.
Okay. So's anybody have any Ex parte communications before we
entertain another motion? Okay.
So I withdraw my motion and move that the rule requiring that ordinances
must be considered and voted on for passage at two Council meetings
prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended. That
the second consideration and vote be waived, and that the ordinance be
voted on for final passage at this time.
Moved by Bailey to expedite.
Second.
Seconded by Correia. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Moved by Bailey.
Second.
Seconded by Correia. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 6 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
d) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING FINAL PLAT OF
SIL VERCREST RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY - PART 3,
IOWA CITY, IOWA (SUB06-00010) (DEFERRED FROM 9/5
AND 9/19/2006)
Champion: Move the resolution.
Correia: Move the resolution.
Wilburn: Moved by Champion, seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Correia: The only discussion I had is I'd just like to remember to look into the
Transit.. .
Atkins: East side express serves that area.
Correia: Okay. Is that all day? Or...
Atkins: That I can't tell you. (several talking at once)
Franklin: I'm sorry, sir, but it is the eastside loop.
Atkins: You told me it was the express, because I said the same things you just
did.
Franklin: Eastside loop, and you go to Sycamore, and then you get a transfer to go
downtown.
Atkins: Oh.
Correia: Okay. But is that all it operates, all during the day, not just before and
after school? Okay, great.
Franklin: Yeah, because the express is just the one.. .it's just part time.
Correia: Great. That's good to know. Thank you. (laughter)
Wilburn: Any other discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 9 CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 3, ENTITLED
"CITY FINANCES, TAXATION AND FEES," CHAPTER 4,
ENTITLED "SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES, CHARGES, BONDS,
FINES, AND PENALTIES," SECTION 3-4-5, ENTITLED "SOLID
WASTE DISPOSAL," OF THE CITY CODE TO INCREASE OR
CHANGE CERTAIN SOLID WASTE CHARGES. (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
Champion: Move second consideration.
Wilburn: Moved by Champion.
Correia: Second.
Wilburn: Seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Champion: Steve, does this make.. . keep us competitive with landfills?
Atkins: Absolutely! Yeah.
Champion: Okay.
Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 10 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A COMPLETE
STREETS POLICY FOR IOWA CITY, IOWA.
Bailey: Move the resolution.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey.
Champion: Second.
Wilburn: Seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Bailey: I'm really excited that we're adopting this. I think it, um, confirms what
we're already doing, but it's nice to have it in the resolution form.
Wilburn: The Complete Streets Policy will affirm Iowa City's commitment to
including pedestrianlbicycle and public transit facilities in street
construction and reconstruction of projects, as well as facilities for
motorized vehicles. Any other comments?
Bailey: And we agreed on the 20%? Right.
Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 11 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A POLICY FOR THE
EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE PROVISION OF
SIDEWALKS WHERE THERE ARE GAPS IN THE EXISTING
SYSTEM.
Bailey: Move the resolution.
Correia: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Vanderhoef: This is certainly a positive thing for many neighborhoods that are looking
for connections to the trails, or the overwidth sidewalks that we have in
the community, and this gets them to those areas. So we have priorities
set up that would take that into consideration, and certainly consideration
with those areas that are along arterial street connections, versus in the
local neighborhoods. The second area that is very, very important is to get
our students safely to their schools, and where there are breaks in the
sidewalk, we find students who are walking in the street, and this is not a
safe situation. So, they will be a top priority also for our complete
sidewalk system.
Correia: So we.. .just to confirm, we're putting this into policy now because we're
doing the complete streets, to have it go together. The funding starts July
I because it's in our July, our 08 CIP?
Atkins: Yes.
Correia: Okay. And so, are we going to develop information similar to traffic
calming, in terms of getting information out to the neighborhood
associations and others who might want to request sidewalk infill in their
neighborhood? How are we going to...
Atkins: Go ahead.
Franklin: The way it was presented to you was that this was a set of criteria that the
staff would use to prioritize the sidewalk projects, not that we would be
running it like our traffic calming program.
Correia: Okay. So, how, urn...
Atkins: Of course that does not prohibit a neighborhood association from making
a request for a sidewalk.
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Correia: Right. So, how would, I mean, will there be, how would people make a
request? I mean, will there be some type of process, a form they would
fill out or a...
Franklin: I've already received requests.
Correia: Right.
Franklin: Urn, just because it's been in the news. I mean, we can make it known to
our neighborhood associations that through those associations, or just
generally, they can let us know ifthere are gaps in their system. I mean,
we have gone throughout the City and looked at where there are spots, but
as I said, we're already getting input from people.
Correia: Is that something where we could just get a report, sort of we've had these
requests, staff has had these requests. I had a call from...
Franklin: If you'd like, yes, I've gotten that already.
Correia: Okay.
Bailey: And I also...I also received a call. This item, or this situation isn't on our
list that there are sidewalk gaps leading to bus stops, and I'm not quite
sure about that, but that's also something I think we should look at
because I think that's as important as the items you mentioned, Dee, is
getting people to those bus stops safely.
Vanderhoef: It is. Sometimes... I recall a couple of them where the cost for a sidewalk
is prohibitive so the sidewalk comes down the opposite side of the street,
and then crosses over where the street light, to get to a path. (several
talking at once)
Bailey: And, yeah, the paths are also something that we should talk about.
Champion: With the sidewalk where people walk...
Vanderhoef: ...north Dubuque Street is one of them that I'm thinking of right now that
is a problem along there, but there's a sidewalk system on the other side, a
stop light to cross with, and a pad beside the stop light on...
Franklin: Between Ronalds and Brown? Yes, we looked at that when we were
looking at the Dubuque-Church intersection.
Vanderhoef: Isn't there another section, 00, north of Park Bridge?
Franklin: Yes, on the... east side of the street, right.
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Vanderhoef: There's a good system on the other side.
Franklin: Right, yeah. And that's one of the criterion that was included in the listing
was, was there street on the other side. There's $100,000 a year that's
allocated for this and so the idea is to try to stretch that, you know, as far
as we can. As I indicated at our work session, if there's big proj ects like
Highway 1, or something that is going to be a multi-hundred thousand
dollar project, then that would be a project in itself as a Capital Project and
would be proposed to you.
Bailey: And we have seen PIN Grants before for sidewalk projects. I mean,
that's.. .
Franklin: Usually that's been to help people with replacing squares, but yes, we
have seen them.
Bailey: There was a gap one that was...
Franklin: It was then rejected by. ..(several talking at once).
Bailey: But, I mean, that's also an option for neighborhoods, I suppose, if that's a
priority for them.
Franklin: Uh-huh, sure. I'm sure you all will let me know if you hear of any...
Champion: Karin, that particular one that came up for a PIN Grant that was rejected
by the owner, when we do these sidewalk intills, will we need owners'
permission to do it?
Franklin: No, not in most cases, because we're talking about sidewalks in the public
right-of-way. Um, because there are obligations that it places on owners,
uh, for clearing the sidewalk, there is a sharing ofliability, we would
prefer to do it in places where people are going to feel comfortable with it,
but sometimes you have to look at the overall public good.
Champion: Okay, thank you.
Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 12 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO
SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A LICENSE
AGREEMENT FOR TEMPORARY USE OF PUBLIC RlGHT-OF-
WAY BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, LANDOWNER
ONE TEN PROPERTIES, LLC, AND TENANT KMARCELLA, INC
DIB/AI DONNELLY'S PUB, FOR A SIDEWALK CAFE.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Wilburn: Moved by Champion.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion?
Correia: Does this mean it's spring? (several talking)
Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 14 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO
SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN IOWA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
AGREEMENT FOR THE DUBUQUE STREET & CHURCH
STREET INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT STP-U-
3715(632)-70-52. (DEFERRED FROM 3/20)
Bailey: I'm going to move to defer this until our engineers have had an
opportunity to meet with the neighborhood.
Champion: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey to defer, seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Bailey: I recognize that this is only a contract, but I think the concept design has
created a lot of concern among the neighborhood, and as I indicated last
night, this is a neighborhood that feels particularly not supported in its
stabilization efforts by the Council, and I think that we. . . this would be
good process, and I think that this is something that we need to do to move
this forward. I, urn, as I indicated originally, I was interested in the turn
lane and there are some concerns, but I think when these plans are
presented to the neighborhood, they'll develop a greater understanding of
what the issues are and then they can make a more informed decision
about what they would like to see.
Wilburn: Further discussion?
Atkins: Question.
Wilburn: Yes?
Atkins: We gave you two options, A and B. Is that, that's what you'd like for us
to take to the neighborhood?
Champion: No, we had C too.
Atkins: C was talked about, but I never...1 didn't sense that it was...
Bailey: I think C's always an option. I'm not (several talking, laughing). I think
there's always a C out there, if there's an A and a B.
Atkins: C as I understood it was do nothing.
Champion: C was to just widen the road for the bus turns. (several talking at once)
O'Donnell: I thought C was to do nothing. (several talking) Can we have D now?
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Bailey: Thank you, Mike!
Wilburn: I think the, as the conversation evolved, I guess it truly is....there's
improve the radius and to do nothing. So...
Champion: A, B, C, and D.
Atkins: Okay, so A and B is we prepared those drawings for you; C being the bus
turn only; D do nothing.
Wilburn: Right.
Bailey: With the understanding that we're going to talk about what that, regarding
this funding, because we know that doing nothing, D, means that we don't
get a half a million dollars into our community, and I think that that's
something people should be aware of.
Atkins: I wouldn't say we don't get it, Regenia, if we were to compete for it again.
Bailey: We would have to recompete, you're right. Thank you.
O'Donnell: Would it not be wise then to, to take this money now, and then go to the
neighborhood with the plans? And we can always reject this money at a
later date.
Champion: I think that assumes that we already have our plans in place. (several
talking)
O'Donnell: .. .at least we have the money (several talking)
Correia: .,. . gotten a lot of emails and correspondence from the neighborhood with
concerns. I like the process better, and I...in terms of thinking about the
presentation, other good information would be the traffic flow
information. I mean, I know staff or JCCOG or whoever has that how
many cars, that... through the intersection from different directions. I
mean, I think all that type of information, not just 'here's the design,' but
what some ofthose issues and the data behind it, that we're trying to
address with...
Bailey: And Dee pointed out, urn, last night that she favors sort of the more
aggressive approach because it's a 20-year fix, and I think also talking
about that, there might be the potential to traffic patterns increase as some
of our engineers anticipate, that that intersection would have to be tom up
again and so how do we want to approach this project, I think, is another
question that we should be talking about with the neighborhoods, and
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obviously, this would be a community meeting. So, as Bob has pointed
out, streets are not just for neighborhoods. They're for the entire
community, so...
Elliott: You listened!
Bailey: I did. (laughter) So, I think that good publication of the meeting too
would be helpful.
Elliott: I'm not in favor of Plan C or D, but I believe I heard Ron Knoche say at
our work session time before last that it would be easier to delay and not
put in for this funding, than to put in for and have to revise it later, as I
recall I heard him say that. So, I would be in favor of doing it this way.
Champion: Again, we agree with you. (several talking, laughter)
Wilburn: You better take a roll call then. (laughter) Item carries 7-0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Atkins: That was a vote to defer.
Wilburn: That is correct. Chair will entertain a motion (several talking at once). I'll
entertain a motion to accept correspondence.
Bailey: So moved.
Correia: So moved.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Correia. All those in favor say aye.
Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0.
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ITEM 17 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK
TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2007
SANITARY SEWER REPAIR PROJECT.
Correia: Move the resolution.
Wilburn: Moved by Correia.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Sorry, Dee, I almost forgot there for a second.
(laughter) Engineer's estimate is $180,000, uh, Public Works and
Engineering recommending award of the contract to Municipal Pipe and
Tool of Hudson, Iowa, for $111,529.50.. .$111,529.50. Discussion?
Another good bid.
Correia: An Iowa firm.
Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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#18 Page 20
ITEM 18 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 DIRECTIONAL BORING PROJECT.
Bailey: Move the resolution.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Vanderhoef.
Champion: What is this? What is a boring project?
Bailey: It's a boring project!
Elliott: It's us talking! (laughter)
Wilburn: I presume it is boring a hole.
Atkins: It's like drilling.
Panos: Right, it's directional drilling that's done at... without doing pavement
removal, basically in conjunction without doing pavement removal, boring
under the streets, for installation of water mains. Right. (several talking at
once)
Champion: Oh, oh, okay. It's like building a tunnel.
Panos: Correct. (unable to hear)
Wilburn: Connie must be a great escape movie fan! (laughter) Engineer's estimate
was $75,000. Public Works and Engineering recommend awarding the
contract to Gaylord Construction Inc. ofFt. Madison, Iowa, for $81,180.
Champion: Moved.
Wilburn: Moved by Champion. (several talking at once) Sorry bout that!
Discussion? Any other discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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#22 Page 21
ITEM 22 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Wilburn: Bob?
Elliott: I had a couple phone calls asking me what the big pile of gunk was in the
parking lot at Mercer Park, and I said, 'It's mulch.' I checked with the
City Manager, he said that's there for people to take and use if they would
like to do so. One of the phone calls asked ifthere was a danger, whether
or not it was treated for termites. I checked with Terry Trueblood, Parks
and Rec; he said, 'No danger. It has not been treated, but it won't.' I
double-checked with the County Extension. They said that is an urban
myth that there is danger from termites. So, people, no termites! The
mulch is there. Use it and take it if you would like to. Uh, secondly, uh,
big crowd for Hillary Clinton today out at the old Highlander Quality Inn
and Suite, I think it is. Interesting. That means we've had at least two of
the major candidates, and it's nice to see the people here. Urn, I would
say, welcome to Iowa City, the University ofIowa, and the State ofIowa,
Mr. Lickliter. And, I will close by saying, usually at this time I put this
cap on because it's the start of the baseball season, but in light of the
world champion St. Louis Cardinals, I will say the baseball season is
officially going. (laughter) Next!
Champion: Is that a St. Louis hat?
Elliott: Oh, get out ofhere!
O'Donnell: And so help me, Bob.
Elliott: I know. (several talking, laughter)
Vanderhoef: I'm surprised you even know the name of a team.
Wilburn: Regenia?
Bailey: I just want to add something to our Transit discussion that's upcoming. I
had a discussion with somebody this weekend about accessibility of the
bus stops, and 1... and it was particularly concerning to know, and I think
it's easy to sort oflook at the past season and look what we can do in the
upcoming season when there's no snow on the ground, to talk about what
we can do about accessibility... so, I think that would be helpful. Thank
you.
Atkins: Okay.
Wilburn: Dee?
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m p~n
Vanderhoef: Okay. Urn, busy time at the State House, and Ijust want to recognize
Drew Shaffer from our staff, who has done yeoman's work on
negotiations and wording for the new franchise bill for cable franchise, uh,
Senate File 554 was passed by the Senate. It is now in the House. These
amendments are coming out sometime probably out of Committee this
week, and to meet the second funnel, which is Friday, and there will still
be some opportunity for, 00, more amendments. We certainly don't have
everything in this bill yet that Cities would like to see in there, but Drew
has been down there. Drew has been on the email and participating in this
actively, and I have had many compliments from people at the State
House on what a good job he is doing. So, I want to acknowledge him. I
also want to acknowledge that it is spring and that means orange
construction cones are out everywhere. They're showing up on the Dodge
Street area, so be careful when you are driving around construction zones.
They are up and down 1-80. I was across to Des Moines yesterday. Des
Moines has more than Iowa City, so Ijust want you to know that they still
are in their construction season, but it. . .
Wilburn: Which means they got all the construction, federal construction money.
Vanderhoef: Well, they've been getting it for quite some time (several talking and
laughing), and it's very confusing trying to go through town on 235 at this
point, and that's it.
Wilburn: Okay. Mike?
O'Donnell: Dee, talking about orange cones, any news on north Dodge?
Atkins: They be paving! (several talking at once)
O'Donnell: They are paving? Any scheduled completion dates? 'Cause that has been
a long, long project.
Atkins: Let me check the status and I'll put a memo together for you all.
Elliott: On one of the lanes on the west side is done. I know I traversed that
today.
O'Donnell: Okay. I'mjust...
Wilburn: Was the concrete dry when you traversed it or.. . (laughter)?
Vanderhoef: Or did you just leave footprints in the sand?
Elliott: I did it all!
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#22 Page 23
O'Donnell: Great hand, Bob!
Champion: I have a couple things. Urn, the light poles on Dubuque Street are rusting,
terrible. Were those new when we did the...
Atkins: Which ones? The.. . are they green or yellow?
Champion: The green ones.
Atkins: They shouldn't be.
Champion: They are really rusting.
Atkins: Where again?
Champion: On Dubuque Street. In fact, one is rusted through.
Elliott: Street lights? Not stop lights?
Atkins: The mast arms and the...
Champion: The bottom, the bases.
Atkins: Dubuque and where? Where on Dubuque?
Champion: Oh, like where Hills Bank was - all those along there, Prairie Lights. I
mean, they're really rusty down.. . and those are fairly new. Didn't we put
those in when we did that...
Atkins: No, it's been a long time for those.
Vanderhoef: When we did the downtown...
Atkins: I don't know if we changed it. Anyway, I'll get you a better answer.
Champion: Yeah, they're really rusty, and they look pretty bad. The other thing is I'm
going to beg some of you who voted for the Gilbert Street construction to
please reconsider looking at that again. I've been out there several times.
At least go out there and watch the traffic. I've been out there at least ten
times, purposely to watch the traffic. I've not been there at 5: 15, but I've
been there at five to 5:00 and 5:20. There is never a light where the
people making left-hand turns don't get through on the first light. I
think...I mean, we've just changing the street to protect a neighborhood. I
think we can think about doing some street that's going to protect some
businesses that are homegrown and they're paying property taxes and the
money.. . (TAPE ENDS) I've not seen one time where people making a
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left-hand turn couldn't get through on one light, and so if you're going to
change that intersection for ten minutes twice a day, maybe a few, you
know, how many weeks? Ithink...Ijust wish one of you would, I can't
bring it up again, and one of you who voted for it has to bring it up again,
but at least go down there and stand and watch the traffic. Don't take the
traffic planner's word for it. They're traffic planners. You know, they
want everything to be ideal. Just like if you go to a neurosurgeon with a
headache, you'll get a heck of a lot more treatment than if you go to the
drug store. (laughter) So I.. . (several talking).
Wilburn: If anyone, if anyone is going to change their vote on that one, you should
say so sooner rather than later so we can get it on a work session, urn...
Champion: I could see it coming from the south. There's more traffic, and the left-
hand turn lane is longer.
Correia: On Gilbert? (several talking at once)
Wilburn: We can't really deliberate that tonight, but if...
Champion: I'm just going to tell you what to look for. Please, go stand on the corner!
Vanderhoef: And look at the by-pass traffic that is not using that intersection and going
through the neighborhood.
Wilburn: And we shouldn't discuss this tonight. It's not on tonight's agenda.
(several talking at once) I do not want to (several talking), but, uh...
Champion: I'm not discussing it.
Wilburn: I would say, I WQuld say before the end of this week, let myself or Steve
know, if any of the majority are changing...
Atkins: Big time information.. . yeah, in fact we just finished a number of counts
and that information is going off to the Hill's consultant and...so we're
moving along.
Champion: I know you're moving along! In a bad way! (laughter)
Wilburn: Is that it, Connie?
Champion: That's it. Yes, that's the two things.
Wilburn: All right. Amy?
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#22
Correia:
Atkins:
Correia:
Atkins:
Correia:
Wilburn:
Champion:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
Wilburn:
Page 25
I had a couple of State Legislative-related issues. Urn, last week in the
Senate, maybe the House, they voted to dis-invest State investments in the
Sudan, and Ijust wondered ifthat was something that we might consider
looking at how the investment packages that we use. I'm not sure how
you would go about dis-investing...
I don't think that's an issue for us. After the Iowa Trust scandals, urn, we
are so restricted now.
Which is different from what the State...
The State has.. .
That's good to know then, because I know we have a good size Sudanese
population here, and so just wanted to check on that, and just to let folks
know that there continues to be free tax help available to households that
earn less than $39,000 a year. They're trained volunteers at, there are two
sites currently...three sites currently open at the Iowa City Public Library,
Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons and those are drop-in times,
and then AARP has, urn, appointments available Tuesdays and Thursdays,
between 9:00 and 4:00. You just need to call the Senior Center to make
any appointment for that.
Okay. I was asked to announce to the public that Crisis Center week this
year is April 29'h through May 5'\ and the closing event will be the 19'h
Annual Gourmet Pancake Breakfast. There is a new day of the week - it's
on a Saturday this year, and it's at a new location, which will be Parkview
Church, at 15 Foster Road in Iowa City off of Dubuque Street there. Urn,
so, please come eat pancakes, and for the Council. . .
What's the date?
It's, I'm sorry, Saturday, May 5'h, 2007, Saturday, May 5'\ 2007.
What time does it start?
Starts at 8:00 in the morning, runs to 1 :00. Yeah, but uh, I have an
invitation here for any Council Members that are interested in serving. I
don't have enough. I dropped them in the car on the way out here, but feel
free to look at the information and.. . (several talking).
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of April 3, 2007.