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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-09 TranscriptionFebruary 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 1 Council Present: Botchway, Dickens, Dobyns, Hayek, Mims, Payne, Throgmorton Staff Present: Markus, Fruin, Hargadine, Hightshoe, Dilkes, Karr, Boothroy, Ford, Dulek, Bockenstedt, Knoche, Miklo, Yapp, Rackis, Frank, Andrew, Bramel, Ralston, Davidson, Hart Others Present: McCarthy (UISG); Planning and Zoning Commission Members — Freerks, Martin, Theobald, Eastham, Dyer, Swygard, Thomas Consult With Planning and Zoning Commission: Hayek/ Okay, so this is the Iowa City City Council work, uh, session. I want to welcome everyone. Uh... before we get into the Council -only items we have a consultation with the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding 608 and 610 S. Dubuque Street. I want to welcome our colleagues from P&Z. I think we should do introductions, uh, John, if we could start down with you. Thomas/ John Thomas. Swygard/ Paula Swygard. Dyer/ Caroline Dyer. Botchway/ Oh! Kingsley Botchway. Throgmorton/ Jim Throgmorton. Mims/ Susan Mims. Hayek/ Matt Hayek. Dickens/ Terry Dickens. Payne/ Michelle Payne. Dobyns/ Rick Dobyns. Freerks/ Ann Freerks. Martin/ Phoebe Martin. Theobald/ Jodie Theobald. Eastham/ Charlie Eastham. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 2 Hayek/ Okay, thank you! Well, is there someone from, uh, I mean this is a ... a consultation that ... that by our law we're, uh, required to have, based on the temperature that the Council, uh, took, uh, at our last meeting. Is there someone from P&Z who ... Ann, are you the... Freerks/ I... Hayek/ ... you the designated... (laughter) Freerks/ It's a joint meeting. I'd be happy to start off if that's how you'd like? Hayek/ Would you please? That'd be great! Freerks/ Um ... so ... uh, we're required I think when we have, um ... a difference of opinion I think, uh, potentially about key items that we, uh, come together and try to understand. Um, perhaps, um ... how things are differing and, um ... you know, we need to move forward and make sure that whatever occurs ... we try to have this happen, uh, not very often, because I think it sends, uh, the wrong message when it does occur too often. That's my take on it. Um, the Riverfront Crossings Master Plan specifically calls out these properties, um, in this block, for special attention. It calls out this block in general because of the, um, Ralston Creek and because of the, um, historic cottages. And so, um, preservation is a goal for these in the Comprehensive Plan. We've seen, uh... we've seen a positive, um, instance with the Tate Arms! Where, uh, preservation, uh, was something that occurred there and, um, development of transfer rights were used and ... um, we would hope that that would be the same case here. Not quite sure, um, why there is a difference for some of the folks between the two properties and the two areas, when they're called out equally in the plan. So, I'll kick that out maybe as a thought and if you guys want to discuss, or you can just look at me and not (laughter) I'll leave it up to you! (laughs) Throgmorton/ I wonder if any other Commissioners would like to elaborate on any of those points (several talking) Freerks/ John, did you have anything you wanted to (mumbled) Thomas/ Um, well one of the things is, as Ann mentioned, has to do with the, um ... the ... the transfer of development rights, which I ... to my, in my understanding, this is a new strategy that we have. I don't believe until ... Riverfront Crossings was established with that that we ever had that opportunity, and um ... I think it's a really innovate and extremely important strategy here where, you know, we're talking about... coming up with a way in which we can truly have a win-win solution here, it seems to me, in that we are... satisfying the ... the desire to preserve the cottages while at the same time preserving the value of the upzoning, which is significant. Um, the upzoning at the same time has kind of generated interest in redevelopment. So I think the idea was, we need something to ensure that in the redevelopment ... uh, if there's something there that we want to have This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 3 as a condition on that redevelopment, that we have that as a way of making sure that the development doesn't end up ... not allowing (mumbled) that ... that goal of the Comprehensive Plan. So, um ... in that sense, it does seem to be an opportunity here where everyone can come to the table here... and... and hear their concerns met, which I view as a very important outcome, um, insofar as ... you know ... you know, having heard, you know, some of the public comment on this, that there's a great deal of...difference of opinion on this. Um ... and in the difference of opinion there's become... almost a kind of amplification of those differences, uh, in terms of how people view the other side, so to speak, and so this has ... the, this transfer has the opportunity to bring people back to the table and for Council in effect with ... with the designation to say, look, we ... we want to achieve both the historic preservation goals of our Comprehensive Plan, and move forward with the redevelopment and the increased intensification of use. Freerks/ Right, and I ... I was going to say, I think we're talking really about ... we tend to talk about the transfer of development rights and rezoning. I know this is specifically about, urn ... whether or not we designate these properties as historic, um, properties in our community, but the... they're... the two really are going hand-in-hand because something's going to occur in the future in this spot and ... um ... you know, a ... a tremendous increase in property value, um, would go along with a rezoning, and ... um, (mumbled) in our opinion that in order to achieve that, that ... this goal should be met for preservation in this property as well, cause it's a key goal called out, in the Comprehensive Plan. Comprehensive Plan had over... (mumbled) over 200 people that participated in this. It was a ... a long process. It was, uh, very well received. Um, this area was in overflow when it came time to adopt it, and it was adopted with a very positive feeling in the community, and I think to go against ... a key portion of this plan for ... I'm not sure what the specific reasons are. Um, that it sends the wrong message to the community as a whole. Hayek/ But did ... didn't the plan, um ... as ... as relates to, uh, the ... the density bonus incentive that was embedded in that plan... you know... confirm at the end of .. of... of the language that, you know, ultimately it's ... it's a voluntary elective move on the part of the property owner. Payne/ It says, `The decision to redevelop is ultimately up to the property owner.' Freerks/ Well that's not from the Comprehensive Plan. That's from the staff (both talking) Payne/ ...from the Riverfront Crossings Plan. Freerks/ ... yeah. Thomas/ I guess my ... my thought is that this ... I view this as a ... it's a rezoning. Hayek/ Yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 4 Thomas/ And often times when we have a rezoning, we ... we negotiate through a conditional zoning agreement, uh, what ... you know, what the outcome will be with that particular property. So in that sense that's how I view this. It's a ... it's a conditional zoning agreement, in effect. Uh, we're ... we're granting a significant upzoning. I think staff said... Freerks/ It's five -fold increase in (both talking) Thomas/ Five -fold increase in residential density (both talking) Freerks/ That's huge! Thomas/ I mean, it's a huge leap in terms of the upzoning. And so the condition, based on our Comprehensive Plan is ... preserve the cottages, and we ... we have this transfer of development rights, which actually do not diminish the value of the property. I mean, that ... that I think is why it's so significant. Freerks/ Actually there are state and loc... and federal tax, um, credits. I believe up to 45% of any, uh, repair costs can be paid for with that. There are more incentives than just transfer of development right. There are lots of things that can be done. These properties could even be sold to another person and transfer rights still received and... and utilized by the person who owns the property around it, so ... um, I think there are lots of ways that this could be a big ... a positive for the entire community, including the developer. Eastham/ And as I understand those ... that transfer of development rights can occur at some points during the future. I don't know is there ... I don't know if there's actually a limitation on when the property owner who has, who acquires a development, to ... the, uh, transfer of development rights, uh, I'm sorry. When the property owner can actually transfer the rights. As I understand it they can transfer them any time in the future. So... Throgmorton/ Not only can they be transferred, but we understand that they can be sold. Eastham/ Right, and ... and that's basically what (both talking) Throgmorton/ They could be transferred to another piece of property that the property owner owns. Eastham/ And to me basically that's (both talking) that's a difference in terms of working with a ... a, potentially designating buildings as historic in this case than in ... past practices in the City inasmuch as the, uh, the, uh, designation of property rights (noises on mic) historic in this case actually creates a va... a value which the property owner can eventually sell, uh, for ... for the benefit. I ... I just want to make another point too. My, uh, I tried to understand what the Planning and Zoning's Commission, uh, role was, is, in this process. As I understanding, it's pretty ... it's pretty clear that the Planning and Zoning's Commission's role is to, uh, is to look at the ... at the recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission about designating a property or a building as historic, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 5 and whether or not that recommendat ... recommended designation by the Historic Preservation Commission fits into the Comprehensive Plan for the area that the building or property is located in. And it's, as Ann and John and other Members of the Commission said during our deliberations and ... and now, it's very clear the Comprehensive Plan does, uh... uh, support the recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission. Uh, it was very ... and it's also quite clear to me that I don't have any business questioning... the decision of the Historic Preservation Commission that these properties, uh, meet the criteria for historic designa... uh, historic designation. Freerks/ I...I guess... Hayek/ Go ahead, Ann. Freerks/ ...interested if...if the, uh, Council is ... has any thoughts about how this, I mean, there's so few properties that the plan calls out, and you can see it in tiny red dots in the ... as you look through the ... the proposed ... of the Comp Plan here. Um, I'm just not sure, you know, what the difference is maybe between what we've just done with Tate Arms and what we have here. Payne/ (several talking) ...to me the biggest thing is that ... the property owner. The property owner wanted to do it with Tate Arms. The property owner doesn't want to do it here. Freerks/ Well, I think in both cases it was initiated by Friends of Historic Preservation and um, I think if we went according to what always the property owner wants, I don't know that we would see (laughs) necessarily a lot of, uh, historic properties... adopted in the community, if we look back at ... it's not always been the case. So I would have to say looking back historically that is not ... that has not been what we used as a criteria, ever. Payne/ But ... but with Tate Arms, the property owner did agree. Freerks/ But it is not the criteria that we used. Payne/ No, but this says, `The decision to redevelop is ultimately up to the property owner.' Freerks/ It is! They don't have to redevelop. They can leave it as it is right now. They can leave it without any ... (several talking) Thomas/ Isn't it the City's right to ... to approve the rezoning? I mean... that... that to me is why ... why we're sitting here is it's a rezoning, with a ... with a major increase in the value of the property. Hayek/ Well the ... the rezoning is the landmark request. What's... what's before us (several talking) Freerks/ But we all know what's coming next. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 6 Thomas/ The rezoning ... the reason it came through Planning and Zoning was ... the historic properties... where the condition that staff said ... cause you know the property owner went to the City, and the City said, well, they're historic properties... or, they're historic buildings, potentially historic buildings on the property. So we'd like you to present... a scheme for developing the property with the historic properties preserved. So there... there was a condition there on the property based on our Comprehensive Plan which suggested that ... you know, the standard method of approval in Riverfront Crossings... didn't apply, because we had this special condition. Freerks/ I mean, these were called out in the 1997 plan even. So this is not anything that's a new, um ... (both talking) discovery. Payne/ No, but if it's ... if it's ultimately up to the property owner and he didn't want to do it, why would he have done anything? Freerks/ Well then we don't have to say that there can be a five -fold increase if we don't see that there's a goal that's obtained. It can continue to be (both talking) Payne/ We're (both talking) we're not rezoning the property. We're only (both talking) Freerks/ But we do need to keep that in mind then in the future. Payne/ (both talking) ...have that opportunity. Eastham/ I just wonder, uh, I've been involved in a number of, uh, historic preservation rezoning, uh, proposals before the Planning and Zoning Commission since I've been on the commission, and in every one of them I believe... property owners, especially the shor... the historic and conservation district request, in every case a property... property owners have objected to their properties being included in those areas, and... Freerks/ And we still continued. Eastham/ ... and I (both talking) Freerks/ ...including (both talking) Eastham/ ...property owners object, you know, to rezoning... rezoning, uh, requests (both talking) Payne/ I don't remember an objection, this much of an objection. Freerks/ Oh there have been! (laughs) (several talking) Payne/ I mean and obviously I haven't been around forever but I mean Tate Arms, you keep going back to Tate Arms and... Tate Arms, they agreed! You know? They didn't at first, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 7 but they agreed! So, I mean, I don't think that's a good comparison! When ... it was a different situation. Eastham/ Well, I agree with Ann. I don't... if Council going forward wants to add property owner concurrence for historic designations, then I think that should be part of the ordinance. Freerks/ Yes. Payne/ Well it's no different than it says, `This is a vision.' It's not ... it's a vision to preserve the cottages, not a... (several talking) requirement. (several talking) Freerks/ It's not a vision — it's a goal actually set forward. (both talking) It's more than a vision. It's here in the plan. I'd be happy to show it to you. Mims/ I think the other thing that's crucial is even the State code calls out, when there's rezoning applications, um, and the property owner does not concur, they formally protest to the rezoning, that it requires a super -majority, uh, of the Council, and I think to me that says that the State in writing that code says, as a Council, not as historic preservation or not as P&Z, but as a Council we have to give more weight to the rights of the property owner than historic preservation or P&Z has to, and so I think that's something that ... that is very important for us as we look through that is that balance between... historic preservation and what are ... what buildings and properties we feel should be ... need to be preserved versus the weight of the owner's wishes, and I think ... I think that becomes important. Freerks/ Well, clearly we know these can be demolished. I mean, there's ... at this point in time, this is ... this is the trigger. This is the time when people are looking at it. You know, do you want to do this or not? So you have to take a careful look at it. And ... I think in Planning and Zoning's mind, we follow with Historic Preservation and we feel that there's... according to the Comp Plan, which we've put a lot of interest and time, many, many meetings, lots of conversation put this together, was voted on, was agreed upon, it's called out very specifically in this document, and um ... feel that something better can happen here, that can maintain those cottages and keep the character of our community and still have an increase in density, have a wonderful new structure or structures on that property, something... we're a creative community. Something better can occur there. And ... that's what I believe. Eastham/ And I wonder, the ... as ... as we all know, the, uh... uh, the University has agreed to sponsor a, uh, a survey of, uh, a great deal ... a great part of the Riverfront Crossings' area, if not all of it, to determine if there are additional historic, uh, structures which may be eligible for historic designation or areas which may be eligible for historic designation, and uh, as I understand it, that survey hasn't been completed yet. Um, so if...I'm curious as to how the Council thinks that, uh, we should, uh, Planning and Zoning Commission should interpret the results of that survey if it does find that, you know, that additional properties or areas may be, uh, eligible for designation, for historic designation. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 8 Hayek/ Well I .... one of the things I'm struggling with is ... is ... is the plan for the area, which is only... a year or so old... and I think developed with considerable participation of P&Z and many other groups, ultimately on the issue of ... of...of preservation and the density bonus makes it elective. And... and... and we have two examples, two empirical examples to ... to look to in terms of how this is playing out in the area. One was Tate Arms, and the second is this. (several talking) Freerks/ I have to wonder if Tate Arms might, given the opportunity, have fought this as well. think this is the first time we've had a property in this area balk at this, and I think it's setting a precedent for us to back away from it so immediately. (both talking) I'm just going to lay it out there how I see it (both talking) Hayek/ No, but well ... I know ... I, but I think the ... the flip can be sugges... the flipside can be argued as well that, you know, this ... this, uh, regime, this incentive program, is quite new. It's been applied a couple of times. One successfully in terms of achieving the desired historic preservation outcome, and the second ... not so much! Um ... uh, but ... but, and what we're being asked as a Council at this point to do is to ... is to override that elective... Freerks/ Do you think these are historic properties? Should they be deemed (both talking) Hayek/ But ... can you square that for ... can you square those two things with me? We've got a... we've got a plan that... that... that makes the preservation elective, and ... and talks about, I don't want to say aspirational, uh, the aspirational angle of it, but it ... but it definitely makes it elective and... Freerks/ Right but (both talking) Hayek/ ...but this is quite different. Eastham/ I guess I don't understand the wording of the plan, the way that's being suggested. Swygard/ It seems to me too we have a process for determining whether something is histor... is historic, and it's come through Historic Preservation to us as it is. So it's the process that's set up by Council ... that we have believed in, that we ... feel should be followed, and that's what we are doing. You know, separate... separate from Tate Arms or whatever, Riverfront Crossings, this is the process set up. This is the criteria we've looked at, and we are in agreement. So ... I think it could be looked at that way also. Payne/ And this ... this does say, `Because they are unique 19th century buildings, preservation of these structures should be a goal,' and then in order to encourage their preservations, it's recommended that (mumbled) density bonus be granted for their preservation and renovation. So to me the wording is like it's elective. I think that was a good word. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 9 Swygard / That's before they're declared. That's before they go through the process (both talking) Freerks/ ...in a different stage right now though. This is a different ... I mean, that's... you're reading from the October 16th minutes, I believe, probably. Payne/ December 18th Freerks/ Or December 18th. The, um ... what we're talking about specifically right now, and I know lots of things feed into it, but ... do we believe these are historic properties, should they be deemed historic in our community. That's what we're talking about. Payne/ Right, but there's a reason why it's come to City Council. Freerks/ Because the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission believe that they are. Payne/ And the owner doesn't. (laughs) Eastham/ Well I ... I wonder (both talking) Freerks/ Again, that's not a criteria that we've dealt with in ... as far as making our decision (several talking) Payne/ ...goes to what Susan says, that that's what ... that's what ... we have to! Eastham/ I ... I wonder if...if the, if the ... parts of the Comprehensive Plan that applied here other areas in the community, uh, has ... does it have similar language to what's in the Riverfront Crossings Comprehensive Plan? In regard to the, uh... in regard to potential preservation of historic ... of historic buildings in areas. So I ... I didn't ... I did not interpret that language in the Riverfront Crossing Comprehensive Plan as being a real departure from what's been done in the past, in terms of...uh, considering owners' wishes ... which have been an element in the past, I suppose, uh, but uh... have, as I said before, have certainly been, uh... have been overridden. Dyer/ (mumbled) historic designation of the Jefferson Street District, one of the property owners objected. Strenuously, and ... it was recommended, and it ultimately was approved by the Council. Um ... how's that different? Swygard/ That's what I'm sort of wondering because that also ... that, uh, Jefferson Street Historic overlay required a super -majority vote from you too, due to owners' protests. So ... trying to figure out how this case is different from that. Freerks/ Even the conservation district that I live in, I believe, required a super -majority. So, it's not uncommon at all. I know that you have to wrestle with this. I understand. I just think that ... in the end, um, removal is not in the best interest. Protection is in the best This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 10 interest. Money can be made. Good things can happen on the property. Um, and sometimes it takes the community as a whole to help try to guide that process and that's what we believed was the case here. Martin/ I want to say that I echo, you know, John, I think you stated it very eloquently, you know, that there can be a win-win situation. You know, we're tasked with do we deem these to be in, you know, historic according to our master plan? Yes, I mean, that was spelled out very clearly. Um, I think that sitting here we are ... I think we are all homeowners. We, you know, nobody wants to be told what to do ... but at the same time, I think that again, you know, John talking about, you know, the possibilities and working together towards that ... that situation is absolutely possible, and ... um ... perhaps, you know, I don't ... I don't know the answer but it just feels that things were, um, maybe cut short very quickly and prematurely without enough of a ... back and forth dialogue. Throgmorton/ One ... one of the things that puzzles me about the questions that, uh, mainly Michelle has been asking, uh, the Commissioners is if I hear them correctly they seem to be presuming that any subsequent request for a rezoning from the landowner will be approved, and that the landowner then will be able to do whatever the landowner wants to do with that property. I don't think that's a given, at all! So ... uh, one needs to take that into account. There is no right to a rezoning, and no right to a rezoning without conditions. Freerks/ Uh huh, I would agree. Dyer/ There are other incentives in the Riverfront Crossing plan that the developer can apply to develop the remainder of the property. They're... incentives for, um, workforce housing. Incentives for green building. Um... Freerks/ And what could be ... this is really, truly the oldest workforce housing example that we have in our community. We tend to talk about that and throw that word out there, I think because we know something like that needs to occur. Why not actually make this a part of our community where these key places of historic housing like this, from so long ago, can sit amidst something that develops as key workforce housing in our community. So, I just think there's so much more potential here, and ... and it's ... it's up to us to try to help guide it. We're all stewards of the places where we, uh, you know, keep our money, I guess, and the things that we own for now, but ... um, it's all about what we decide to do long-term and I ... I take this very seriously. I don't know, anything else? Hayek/ Yeah, any ... this is a very, this is an incredibly (several talking) and uh... you all have been very involved. Is there ... and we've got to try to ... get through a bit of... Freerks/ Yeah, I know you have more to talk about (several talking) Hayek/ ...eight bullet points on our, uh... Freerks/ Okay, thanks so much! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 11 Hayek/ Well, is there anything else that ... that, since we're here... Freerks/ Okay! Hayek/ ...that either the Council wishes to (several talking) Thomas/ One thing I wanted to mention, um, and I think Jim made some important points about, you know, the right to a rezoning. Um, but there was mention a few weeks ago about the Sabin building at Council ... at recent Council meeting, maybe it was your last one, and you know, there was expression on the Council about the regret of the demolition of the Sabin, and, um ... and that same time Council said, well, we didn't have a hand in that. That was one we had no involvement in whatsoever. And ... we're talking about ... the cottages, which are about a block away. And this is one we do have some control over. And it...it does seem to me to be an opportunity where, granted it's going to be a more complicated, complex process in terms of the transfer of development rights, but I think cities are complicated. You know (laughs) the ... the mixture of historic buildings, new buildings, our best commercial districts are blending of both — the downtown, Northside Marketplace — this could become a hybrid of historic and contemporary buildings, and ...and the, the um, the transfer addresses, from what I can see, the ... the harm that comes from an historic designation, which is that it can ... it can and it has taken some of the market value of a property away. But in this case it seems to me to be preserved, through the transfer. Freerks/ I mean, we really worked ... hard to try to figure out the best way to be able to achieve these goals, and I'd like to see it ... um (both talking) Thomas/ There's not much down there! Freerks/ No there really isn't! (laughter) I mean, there's the waterworks building. That's probably, you know, there are very few structures, and I think the ... you really need to think very carefully about this, and... Hayek/ Okay. All right. Thank you (several talking) for your service to the City. Mims/ Appreciate it! Hayek/ ...very much appreciate it. Okay, we are still in our work session and uh... we'll keep moving apace. Next item is questions regarding agenda items. Questions regarding aptenda Items: Botchway/ So, uh, whatever, uh, IP #... for the taxicab. Throgmorton/ Nine! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 12 ITEM 9. REVISION TO TAXICAB - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 5, ENTITLED "BUSINESS AND LICENSE REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "TAXICABS," IS AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF RIDE SHARING SERVICES OPERATING VIA A WEB BASED APPLICATION SYSTEM, TO REQUIRE THE CITY TO ISSUE IDENTIFICATION CARDS, TO ELIMINATE THE EXCEPTION FOR DISPATCHING FROM A LOCATION OTHER THAN THE OFFICE FROM MIDNIGHT TO 6:00 AM, TO REQUIRE COLOR SCHEMES, TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF DESTINATION RATES, AND TO REGULATE SHARED RIDES. (PASS AND ADOPT) ITEM 10. SHARED RIDES REVISION - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 5, ENTITLED "BUSINESS AND LICENSE REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "TAXICABS," SECTION 4, ENTITLED "DRIVER REQUIREMENTS," TO REVISE THE PROVISION ON SHARED RIDES. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) ITEM 11. TAXI FEES / DRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARDS - RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 13-42 AND SETTING FEES WITH RESPECT TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF REGULATIONS FOR NETWORK AND METERED TAXICABS, AND ESTABLISHING A NEW FEE FOR DRIVER PHOTO IDENTIFICATION CARDS. Botchway/ Nine? Uh, basically I know maybe everybody, or just me, has been inundated with emails. I see that... oops, I see that we made a change as far as making it more specific as far as that particular one that was talked about or discussed. I'm looking at you, Eleanor, because I know that was one of contention at our last meeting, that it was ... the language was problematic, um, and I think that was cleaned up in the amendment. If I'm remembering. Um... Mims/ (both talking) ... share a ride basically. Botchway/ Yeah, being able to share a ride. Um, my only question is, based on the ... amount of emails that we got, um, and I'm assuming it was somewhat of a, you know... Mims/ (both talking) ...push by Uber. Botchway/ Yeah, just a push ... while we maybe haven't addressed all their concerns, um, to the way they like it, do we at least address it in a way that ... allows for ... this to become a viable... process or company or um, business in Iowa City. Not necessarily Uber but any particular company that decided to come to Iowa City. Andrew/ Absolutely, and in staff's view, uh, this is much more amenable to somebody like Uber operating here than in many cities that they already operate in. Um, we made a conscious effort to focus on what information police or City staff need in the event of an investigation or to, um, conduct our administrative process easier, irrespective of what that business model was, and it was written expressly with the ... with the intent that they This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 13 would be able to operate here, uh, given some minor, uh, driver requirements. Almost all their requirements are on the driver. Essentially we want to know who's driving for them. Um, so we can avoid those 200 police man hours trying to find out who a driver was on a given (mumbled) But you're right. The, uh, second agenda item on there, uh, regarding taxis does clean up (mumbled) to reflect Council's discussion at the second reading. Mims/ I thought it was a very crea... I'm sorry! I thought it was a very creative ... urn ... good way to go about it without... stopping our progress, you know, on the ordinance already, but to get that one done and then (both talking) Yeah! But then getting these changes in, so... Andrew/ And we have to thank the City Attorney's office for that! (laughter) It was a good solution to allow us to move forward on the more public safety focus (both talking) Mims/ Yeah, cause I knew we had some deadlines that were... Botchway/ The other question I think, um, focuses more on policy maybe than the ordinance itself. There have been a couple of comments brought up by individuals from I'm assuming other taxicab companies that spoke to, you know, um ... I don't, I can't remember if this was addressed before and so I'm just trying to help my memory again. Um, you know, if there ... if somebody was called late at night, called at like 2:00 A.M. and they didn't answer, then there was an automatic charge of however much money, um, and then also speaking to, um, the violations, as well. You know for example if... a ... I can't remember all the ... maybe help me if I'm forgetting something, but I ... I think it was during public comment, but a driver would get a ticket or something and, um, maybe that same driver would get three tickets, but that would stop the entire cab company from being able to, urn ... uh, conduct business. Am I tot ... totally off base? I just remember a gentleman coming and speaking about that ... those two specific points. Andrew/ Well I'll take the first one first. Uh, I believe that the letter that was sent out to cab companies was a warning letter essentially, that... reminded them that, uh, there were violations, but it didn't levy any fines. Um, is how I understand that that was ... uh, that ... went down. Um, the second question I think I'd have to defer to ... to the Attorney's office. Dilkes/ And tell me what the (both talking) Botchway/ ...it was like two meetings ago but, um, the gentleman came up and spoke about the fact that if there was a violation, if one of their drivers got, um, a ticket and I can't remember what type of... structure he was talking about from, if one driver got a ticket or the ... three tickets to one driver or whatever, but it seemed like three violations mean that he could not conduct business, his entire cab company could not conduct business anymore. If you're looking at me strangely, maybe it's just ... then it isn't the case, then I'm okay with that (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 14 Hart/ Sue just reminded me. I think he was talking specifically about his driver's license, not his drive ... his taxicab authorization. Hayek/ Ah, that's right! (several talking) Botchway/ Oh, okay. Payne/ ....was talking about his driver's license. Hayek/ Reminding me of my high school driving record! Botchway/ Okay! Throgmorton/ So I think all the emails we got concerning Uber, and all the other literature that's been appearing in newspaper and everywhere else, uh, clearly reveals that, uh, it's really something new and important coming into the transportation system. We need to be figuring out how to respond, even ... even if after we pass these regulations, and I don't have any problem with passing them as they are, but ... uh, it ... it's transformative. I think we need to have extensive public discussions among the public about the desirability and likely consequences of Uber's style of network services coming into this city. I think it'll have a ... very large effect on ... on the taxi system obviously, but maybe on the public transit system, maybe on, uh, just ordinary traffic as well. I ... I've seen literature saying, you know, 20% reduction in use of automobiles by ... by millennials, uh, as a result of Uber's presence and so on. Uh, so I think we need to look at that. Another thing I think about and I don't know ... this is downstream, so I know we ... can't talk about it, uh, in great detail here. I ... I wonder about the, uh... uh, the potential, uh (mumbled) language here, uh... uh, racial equity implications of Uber's services, or equivalent services here. If a potential rider chooses... which driver to accept on the basis of the driver's photograph and maybe a few other bits of data that accompany the photograph, there's a potential there for, uh, adverse, um, for ... uh, racial inequity. You know, if you have an African American driver or a Latino driver, whatever, some... some other driver and the potential user says, oh, I don't want to ride with that person. You know, I don't think that's been studied at all and I ... I've been talking with, uh, research over at the University about this a lot. It's not being studied yet. I worry about that, and other things. I don't want to ... go into all this too deeply, but I think we really need to be doing some systemic inquiry here. Payne/ I interpreted all those emails that ... Uber did not pass entirely factual information on when they asked their (both talking) Throgmorton/ No, they didn't. Payne/ ... constituents or whatever you want to call them (laughs) customers to send us information. So ... I mean... Throgmorton/ I agree! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 15 Payne/ I ... yeah, people want Uber but ... yeah, and they need to figure out how to work within our rules. That's the bottom line! Botchway/ I guess ... I guess to Jim's point, is there any way ... um ... and this I guess would stem from the Communications Department, we can do some type of.. communication, letting people know ... I'm looking like ... like at you, Tom, right now. Communication to let people know that ... just basically what you said, you know, obviously we ... this is an important process. We're considering, I mean, we considered it. We're making changes to the regulations because of it, and urn ... I just don't want to be in a PR nightmare basically, because of what was sent from email and there being no, I mean, I tried to respond to as many as I could, but just kind of...talking about, you know, we addressed safety, we addressed these different things, and we still believe that this is, um, a viable, um, business model that can occur at Iowa City. I mean... simple as that I guess. Markus/ It seems to me there was an orchestrated effort to lobby the Council and put pressure on Council (both talking) Throgmorton/ Oh yeah, obviously! Yeah. Markus/ ... to ... to alter the course of direction in terms of rules and regulations that in some level of equity have to apply to both the taxi business and this online type of business, and there's a bit of a game of chicken here being played. I think you're being, urn ... I think you're being tempted to pass the ordinance and then see if in fact, uh, Uber is going to join this ... this, uh... their service into our community. And that may have nothing to do with your ordinance at all. It may have more to do with whether there's enough economics in this jurisdiction to sustain it. Cedar Rapids I think has taken a very, um... hands-off approach to the way they've approached this and pretty much let `em operate within the city, without, you know, imposing a lot of rules and regulations. At the end of the day, I think, um ... it's a business decision for Uber whether they wish to participate in this jurisdiction. At the end of the day health, safety, and welfare is the issue that this Council has to discern and decide, and I think that's what you're doing by passing the ordinance. No ordinance is written in stone. So if we find that there are complications with what we've drafted and we already have and we're suggesting this kind of...kind of dissected approach to proceeding to get some of these provisions in place. You can change things, and we likely will as we, and Uber and others in that same line of business, evolve in the process that they're ... that we're addressing right now. So, my view is ... take a stand. Put the ... put the provisions in place. Let's see how this rolls out. Let's see how, you know, quite frankly, um, the social media type delivery services react to us and if we have to adjust, we can adjust to make it all happen, but you know there ... I think there are equity issues between the taxi services, which are kind of the, you know, more provincial way of providing that kind of service, and this whole new service model that's being used. Quite frankly I think Uber would be well served to ... to enter into our market place. I think they'll do quite well here. Um, but ... there may be some gamesmanship that gets played on their part getting through this process. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 16 Botchway/ Speaking (several talking) Oh, go ahead. Throgmorton/ I think there's another way in which they have been somewhat misleading in... in encouraging people to write us, because many of the emails we got, uh, emphasized the, uh, the income -generation aspects of this for... for Uber drivers. And yet, uh, it's my understanding that Uber is engaged in ... research about, uh, long ... a long-term shift to autonomous, driverless vehicles, instead of ones that have drivers. So the more that they shift in that direction, the fewer job opportunities, or income opportunities, there would be for, uh, for, um ... uh, people who think they're going to be able to make money by driving for Uber. Uh, tonight I think when we do our public discussion period, uh, fellow named Dan McGehe who's a researcher at the University I think is going to come and say a few words about the autonomous research... autonomous vehicle research that he's engaged in and how that research is potentially connected to Uber. I think potentially connected to Google as well. Uh, so ... if he shows up (laughs) and speaks, we'll learn more directly from him, but ... there's transformation involved is all I'm saying. Hayek/ I'll have some comments. I'm going to save them for the formal, cause we're ... we're running out of time here but I want to thank staff for I think an excellent memo on (several talking) and on the broader issues, uh, very helpful. Other agenda items for... discussion? ITEM 4d(4) GRANT ACCOUNTANT - RESOLUTION AMENDING THE BUDGETED POSITIONS IN THE ACCOUNTING DIVISION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT BY REPLACING THE BUDGETED TEMPORARY STAFF WAGES WITH A PERMANENT .6 FTE GRANT ACCOUNTANT POSITION, GRADE 13. Payne/ I have a question on the, uh, 4d(4), which is the permanent, part-time grant accountant. Um ... Dennis, you gave us a nice memo on ... I just have a question. Is this included in the next budget we're going to vote on? This ... with the way you have proposed both this and the other, the next... Bockenstedt/ It is. The grant accountant is in next year's budget that way. The ... the other position change occurred after, uh, the budget was finished. So... Payne/ So the grant accountant is part of the budget, but the finance... Bockenstedt/ Senior systems engineer. Payne/ Uh huh. Bockenstedt/ Yeah, that ... that was just a grade change. Payne/ Okay, so (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 17 Bockenstedt/ ...FTE account change or anything. It's just a ... the position's going from a 29 grade to a 28. Payne/ So it's a downgrade. So it might (several talking) probably budgeted higher than what it (both talking) Markus/ You're offsetting. Payne/ Okay! Markus/ And ... and I would say as to the grant accountant, I think the ... you know we ... we scrutinize these very closely and what we're trying to achieve with that is some stability in that particular position and ... and I think his memo clearly states that that's kind of the goal of...of going in that direction. It's about a $7,000 to $8,000 bump in terms of...I think the additional benefit package associated with that but ... I think that's well worth, um ... trying to have somebody that has some stability in (both talking) Mims/ Grants! Markus/ ...providing those services for us, rather than jumping out and do a new temp every time. Bockenstedt/ And ... and the hours tend to spike, like when FEMA shows up ... to be a very long week, and... and trying to manage the temp hours with the ups and downs of it has been very difficult. Payne/ Thank you. ITEM 4e(2) FIRST AVENUE GRADE SEPARATION — RESOLUTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 23, 2015 ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST AVENUE GRADE SEPARATION PROJECT [STP -U-3715(636)--70-52], DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID HEARING, AND DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER TO PLACE SAID PLANS ON FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION. Mims/ on 4e(2), uh, the First Avenue grade separation. Markus/ Yes. Mims/ Uh... who's getting stuck with the extra ... $2 -plus million? (laughs) Are we going to have any more state or federal money or is that all going to be additional GO bonds? Markus/ I think it's probably moving to us more than anybody, but you know, if there's other opportunities to secure funds, we'll pursue those. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 18 Mims/ Okay. That's kinda what I figured! All right. That's what I was afraid of. Thank you! Council Appointments: Hayek/ Anything else? Okay, Council appointments. I think we just have one. HCDC. Item 12a. Mims/ I thought the last person, let me find my... Dickens/ Bob Lamkin? Mims/ Yeah! Dickens/ He looked like the ... he had a lot of history with the real estate and... insurance (mumbled) Mims/ And ... quite frankly of the three he was the only one that commented on what he knew about the commission. I ... I'm sorry, I find it very concerning when people apply ... I mean, we want people to apply (laughs). We need people to apply! But when people don't ... take the time or effort to learn a little bit about the commission they're applying for and even be able to put down one sentence about what they know about the commission, I find that concerning! Payne/ You can go online and copy and paste! (laughs) If you can't interpret! (laughs) Mims/ So ... that's why I was looking at Bob Lamkins too. I think the history he's got ... the banking history and understanding of some of those things is advantageous, as well. Throgmorton/ I ... I find it concerning as well. I've thought about this quite a bit actually, but I think there's also merit in having members, some members of a commission... understand, uh, the circumstances that low to moderate -income households actually face. Day in and day out. And a lot of those circumstances have to do with not understanding how city government operations work. And ... and that's regrettable and it's, uh, I think it would be good if it was not the case, and it would be good if it could be changed. One way to change it is to appoint people like that to commissions like this one so that they can learn how ... city government operates and ... convey that insight back to other people, uh, that they know! It (sighs)... well ... (several talking) Dobyns/ How many people are on this commission? I mean... 12? (several talking) I mean it's pretty big so I... and... and Susan, I would agree. If you're looking at the metric of, you know, being able to come into this and make an impact or understand, I mean, you know, the uh... the final candidate is the best but ... the, if...there's another metric in terms of being able to come in with a different viewpoint, not necessarily being able to understand. Um, that also has value, and uh, I was trying to weigh both. I mean, it is 12. If it was six, I think we need to have people... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 19 Hayek/ It's eight. I think the membership is eight. Mims/ It's nine. There's eight on it right now (several talking) Karr/ (several talking) ...this is a vacancy. Hayek/ Oh, right! Dobyns/ I'm sorry ... what's the number? Hayek/ Supreme Court! Just (several talking) Dobyns/ Okay, it's nine. Um, you know, can you make a point where some people can come on and, uh, you know, come up to speed and sort of, you know, learn how to do it because, um, they need that time? I mean there frankly are a lot of people who don't know how to write a CV. And do they add value and ... the first two ... failed in a lot of different ways. Um ... I ... I will ... I'll go with the ... the first one cause I thought he brought so much to the table in terms of his application. The other two did not. But, um ... you know, I ... the other two, had they brought just a little bit more ... I would of, you know, pushed for them. Because I think they bring in other things that aren't traditionally measured in an application. Hayek/ So who are you supportive of? Dobyns/ The ... the last one, I agree with Susan putting forth... Payne/ Bob? Dobyns/ Yeah. Well I ... I guess I want to, uh, reassert what Jim said. I think there are some things that aren't measured, um, in terms of what they bring from a viewpoint of others. That the others cannot bring. Um, but it just didn't ... you know, there wasn't enough there ... for me to bring those, the first and second forward. Hayek/ Well I'm hearing four for... Payne/ Lamkins. Hayek/ Okay! That's the majority. I ... I can support him. Botchway/ I just want to make, I mean, based on Jim and, uh, Rick's comments ... I mean ... we... we expect a diversification ... we expect a diversification without assistance. I mean and just ... you know, understanding and going through my own process of, urn ... you know, applications, um, how things are advertised and everything else, I mean, we have to ... we have to understand that there are barriers, even within ... what we're ... what we're trying to do. So if we're not ... I guess my thing is is if we ... I get the fact that he has 20 years experience and looks good, and I ... I totally understand it and, you know, won't make a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 20 gripe about it, but ... I ... I agree with Jim, I mean, when we're talking about diversification, other people can bring things to the conversation that aren't followed in a 20 -year, uh, a degree or, um ... or requisite experience and ... all these different things, and I think we have to ... I don't know how we take that into account. I don't know how each of us take that into account, but ... if we are serious about trying to diversify our committees, we might need to take another look at maybe how we ... how we do our committees or how we advertise our committees, because if not, then we're going to have the same applicants always apply and we're not going to get anything, which if that's ... what we decide as a Council, I just think we need to make that clear, that's all. Mims/ I would comment ... (both talking) Payne/ That's okay, go ahead! Mims/ One thing I checked on, we do have one African American on the ... on the group. Okay? So we do have some diversity on there. Secondly ... I'm sorry, you know ... my background, I...I came from nothing, like a lot of people did, okay? And if we're going to be appointing people, I don't care ... what their ... I mean, I think getting different viewpoints, I totally agree with Jim! But if somebody is not willing to make the effort to get any information about the commission they are applying for, so they can put even one sentence in terms of their understanding of the commission, then what that says to me is they are not ... they're not showing me that they have ... the work ethic to put into that commission. All I'm looking for is even one sentence that tells me they know something, and I would have looked more strongly at those other two candidates. Dobyns/ Susan, I'm not lobbying for the first two candidates. Mims/ No, I ... I know. Dobyns/ ...for the future. I'm lobbying for candidates who bring, um, diversity. I agree, there has to be some element of acknowledgement and recognition, more so than these. Mims/ Yeah! Dobyns/ Uh, I ... I can't speak for you guys, but I'm lobbying for the future. (several talking) Mims/ ...I want diverse people applying (both talking) Botchway/ I understand as well about filling out the boxes but there are times when people don't fill out boxes simply because they don't have that information, and so when others know that it's good to, you know, go to ... um, and I ... I think I did the same thing for mine! Go to, you know, the web site and copy and paste it and put it on there ... I don't think I did, so don't double check me on that, but that was the case then some people know that and some people don't, and my point is is that when we make these determinations, um, I understand making them based on what we have in front of us, but I think there needs to be an extra lens or whatever the case may be to ... to understand that this This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 21 discussion ... (sighs) I'm gettin' all flustered! I think we need to understand that if somebody puts none, it could mean that they have no information about it, but they're willing to learn, and so work ethic, I understand where you're coming from, but I can take a totally different perspective on that, based on the fact that the person's just applying, period! That ... that to me shows some determination that they do care about something, because based on how many vacancies we have in this entire process, a lot of people don't care. (both talking) Hayek/ I think that's a fair point. Um, I would say I think we've been pretty good as a Council in pursuing diversity on our boards and commissions. Throgmorton/ I don't think that's true, Matt. I, you know, we got a report about, from Stefanie Bowers that indicated that our commissions are ... are significantly wealthier, whiter, and older than (both talking) Hayek/ ...what I'm saying, and we've got seven minutes before we have to disband for the formal here, is that ... uh, I think when ... when presented with... applicants, we ... we tend to focus on, we have done a good job in the last ... in recent years I would say of focusing on ... on the more diverse applicants. I mean, I ... we, it's part of our discussions. Um... and the numbers should be better. The ... the applicant pool should be better, and that... that has to do with how we get the message out and ... and recruit applicants. But, um, and I could live with any of these three but ... I ... I think ... I think in this particular case what people are ... are stumbling on is the apparent lack of knowledge of the commission for which they're applying and ... think (both talking) Payne/ And we have lots of positions open on many... commissions, and the people that don't get on this commission can apply to another po ... commission and I hope they do! You know? I hope they definitely do. Throgmorton/ So ... look ... looking ... I mean, we ... the Council's already made a decision here, so looking forward, I ... I'd like to offer a suggestion. It seems ... I'm ... I'm guessing that we don't really know any individual's motivations, uh, for ... for completing or not completing the entirety of a form. But we could ask the City Clerk to make sure that every applicant is informed, maybe they're already told this, I don't know, uh, is informed that they should fill out each element of the application and to the extent possible, show that they have some knowledge of the commission and what the commission does, and hence what they will be doing as a commissioner. If they're not told that, they may not know that that's a smart thing to do. Hayek/ Well and maybe this can be part of our outreach, right, the communication that we communicate out of City Hall as we recruit ... or attempt to ... to (mumbled) engagement between City Hall and the community (several talking) All right, let's ... let's move on. Um, I think we can maybe get through the three Info Packets, depending on conversation, and then we'll take up the balance after our formal. So the first Info Packet is from... Dickens/ 22°d This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 22 Hayek/22 nd Information Packets: Payne/ I do have a comment on that one. Um ... it's on page ... 67 of the entire packet. It's on page 54 of the Boards and Commission... section. We still have Rick Fosse listed as the Public Works Director on the Public Art Advisory Committee. Is that still true or is Ron on that committee now? Karr/ It was last year's annual report. Payne/ Okay! Oh, okay, so it ended ... gotcha! Thank you! Hayek/ Anything else? How about the January 29th? Okay. How bout the February 5th? Throgmorton/ IPS, the memo from Alec Bramel. Great job, Alec! Uh, it was really, uh, looked to me like you did a lot of research for that and uh (both talking) Hayek/ It's a good job, yeah! Throgmorton/ ...well done. I ... I do have, uh, a couple questions, I guess, um ... uh, I think I know the answer to the first. Am I right in understanding that ... that any of the mobile vendors would, in accord with your suggestions, be able to operate in any other part of the city outside the downtown and ... and north market area that you highlighted in your maps? That they'd be able to operate in any other part of city, so long as the cart was more than 150 -feet away from a brick and mortar food establishment? Any other part of the city, right? Bramel/ Yeah... Throgmorton/ ...(mumbled) sort of, they'd be able to sort it out on their own, right? Bramel/ Yes! That'd be correct. Throgmorton/ And then comply to all the other elements. Could they locate in, uh... parks such as Wetherby or Fair Meadow? Bramel/ I think when it comes to parks, I think the Parks Director has the ultimate say in that and I'm ... we spoke with Mike Moran a few times at some of our meetings and he expressed that he'd be more than willing to welcome in the, uh, food vendors into the parks, um, as kind of a, uh, as a ... yeah, to make food available in the parks. So, um, yeah, the Parks Director has that ultimate say, but he has expressed that ... yes, he'd most definitely do that. Uh huh! Throgmorton/ Thanks! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 23 Botchway/ My two questions had to do with the timeframe, cause I ... and correct me if I'm wrong, it limited the timeframe to 9:00 P.M. and no extension of that. Um, for any of the mobile vending, and then ... the other part has to do with, and I'm just using one story cause I only know of one story but, um, and I think they changed their name. It's the business ... it was La Mechokona. They used to be a food truck and then turned into a, um, a business. I ... I guess, a brick and mortar business for ... for clarification. I guess I'm ... you know, just wanting to make sure that, you know, we're promoting obviously the economic process in this and I think, again, I think you did a wonderful job. I'm just splicing now, but ... I just, I still fail to understand why we can't have them a part of our network of, um ... urn ... food trucks downtown. I think it is ... it's ... it's a problem. Um, and maybe we can revisit this after we've tried it out, whatever the case may be, and I think that was the same answer I was given last time, but ... I guess I'm just expressing the opinion, um, it'd be a problem because I think that many of the food trucks, and also talking about it from the Cedar Rapids' market, have gone on to be brick and mortar businesses, um, and I just think that ... there's a model there that we might be missing, and I, again, I understand that, you know, there could be ... we ... I understand the arguments, so I'm not... disagreeing, I'm just ... wanting us to expand the thought on the matter, um, in the future. That's all I'm saying, but I did have a question about the timeframes, because that does limit that part. Bramel/ Okay, yeah, so your first question was (both talking) Botchway/ Was ... I think it stops at 9:00 P.M. Bramel/ Correct. Botchway/ Why wasn't it allowed to go further? Bramel/ We looked at kind of the existing mobile, uh, ped mall vendors and uh, their operations, and uh, we ... we took really the 9:00 P.M. as a ... more of a safety and nuisance, um, aspect. We wanted to make sure that, you know, we didn't have, um, we wanted to make sure that, um, safety was a key and um, late-night nuisance was ... wasn't, uh, wasn't a problem ... with that. Um, you know, we ... we don't want, uh, as ... as they can vend wherever they wish in the city from, uh, morning till 9:00 P.M., um, we wanted to make sure that we didn't have, um ... you know, any safety, uh, issues after 9:00 P.M., uh, litter issues, uh, noise or, uh, nuisance issues after 9:00 P.M. That was really the ... the, uh, idea behind that. Botchway/ Okay. Bramel/ And then did you... did you have a second question? Botchway/ No, that was more of like a question/statement. Bramel/ Okay, sounds good! Great! (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 24 Hayek/ Thank you, Alec! Good job! Thank you, Tracy Hightshoe, for a very good memo. And we're running out of time. Uh, anything else on the February 5? Throgmorton/ I want to briefly mention one thing, Matt, on IP #6, which is the memo from Brenda Nations about the partnership projects having to do with sustainability. It's terrific work so I ... I admire all that and I actually sat in on one of those, uh, activities that Brenda had organized. But I ... but I am concerned that ... um, this social justice component of sustainability is being ... is, I think unintentionally being marginalized, uh... uh... and ... and that there ... there are possibilities for weaving the Equity Report and the Sustainability Report together because ... it's a ... the social justice aspect is a really key component of sustainability and if it's ignored, that's a problem. Anyhow, we don't have time to elaborate or anything so... Fruin/ Can I make one quick comment on that, Jim? There is a... a brief mention in here on a star community rating system program, and if... if you get a chance you might Google that and look, but it's a ... it's a national metric that's been developed for cities on sustainability that includes some social justice criteria. We are going to go through that program, uh, we received some financial scholarship to go through it this year and uh... um, we hope that ... that program will help us tie those two things together, better than we have done in the past. Hayek/ Thanks, Geoff! Okay! Why don't we, uh, suspend the work session for the formal and we'll come back and finish up the last few bullet points after the formal. (BREAK) Council Time: Payne/ Were we on, um... (several talking) Botchway/ ... almost done with it (several talking) Hayek/ We were at Council time. (several talking) Botchway/ We didn't talk about... February 5th but ... (several talking) Hayek/ If you got something else to say, say it! Or forever hold your peace! Botchway/ (laughter and several talking) No we did, no we did, cause I mentioned something. Dickens/ IP6, IP7, yeah. Social justice... marginalized. Hayek/ Mobile vending, remember the whole ... (several talking and laughing) Who's tomorrow ... no, no, I'm thinking KXIC cause that's part of the, uh, Info. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 25 Mims/ That's me on Wednesday, I think. Hayek/ Okay! Dickens/ Do we need to update that... oh I guess we (both talking) Karr/ Next time! Hayek/ Good. Okay, so now we're at Council time. Payne/ We kinda did that already, didn't we? Throgmorton/ No. several talking) Well I have one thing to say (mumbled). So, uh, on February 301 I went to Dubuque to meet with Mayor Amy Nielsen of North Liberty. Dickens/ January 30tH Throgmorton/ Sally Scott, Latasha Massey, Stefanie Bowers, Kingsley by phone, three members of Dubuque's city staff, and uh, Julie Nelson. That's the reason we went up there, to meet with her. Uh, she's the director of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, which is a national network of governments working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all. It was a very stimulating and informative meeting, and I'm sure Stefanie, uh, had ... has or will report, uh, to Tom about it and ... convey to him the ... the core of what we learned. And, you might end up seein' her down here, Julie Nelson that is. Payne/ And I think you meant January 301h because February doesn't have a 30! (laughs) Throgmorton/ I was close! Hayek/ (several talking and laughing) ... leap ... leap years! Throgmorton/ Thank you! Mims/ Yeah, my only comment on, you know, things like that I think when Council Members are aware of events like that, or get, I mean, I don't know if it was a specific invitation dust to you and then Kingsley, I mean, was in by phone, but I think it'd be nice for the rest of Council to know about things like that in advance and if there's an opportunity for other people to be involved ... I ... think that would be nice. Payne/ I think ... you did talk about it before (both talking) Mims/ Oh but it was ... just kind of briefly mentioned that he was going! Payne/ Yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 26 Mims/ It wasn't like ... this is happening. Is anybody else interested? Kind of thing. Botchway/ I think I made the assumption that it had gotten sent out to everybody, but I didn't check it when it got sent out. That's a good point. (several talking) Mims/ So... Hayek/ Well and ... and, you know, as long as people go to these things and they're representing themselves and they're not in any sort of official capacity, I mean, I think that's... Mims/ Right! Hayek/ ...or if they are, that there's... discussion in advance about that. Mims/ Right. Hayek/ ...um, anyway! Sounds like a good, productive event! Uh, any other Council time items? People are pretty frazzled here. Uh, meeting schedule. Meeting Schedule: Karr/ I will be coming back to you the next time, I'll put a note in the packet, with a proposed scheduled that will go into the summer months. So we'll talk about it at the next work session, but I just urge you to take a look at your calendar and be prepared ... at that time, so we can... Payne/ So we should ... we should have our, kind of our vacation for the summer schedule at that time (laughter) Is that what... Karr/ ...if it matches the proposed calendar, that'd be great! (several talking) Payne/ Just don't... Karr/ So I thought I'd send it out. I'll send it out early so we can talk about it. Hayek/ Taking my first one in seven years, in March! Pretty excited about that! Botchway/ Where you going? Hayek/ South Carolina! Botchway/ Oh! Good deal! (mumbled) Might piggyback! (both talking) Drop me off at my house! Hayek/ Yeah, I'll drop the kids off and then Mary Kate and I'll head down (laughter) be back in seven days! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015. February 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 27 Botchway/ not my house I guess (mumbled) mom's! Pending Work Session Topics: Hayek/ Uh, pending work session topics? All right. Mims/ Plenty of `em! Hayek/ I ... I did make some progress, uh, I know we're going to be coming back and talking about the nuisance and exterior house stuff, and that does need to get onto the work session, uh, list, but I've made some progress. I took my five-year-old around, uh, and we snapped some photographs and he ... expressly told me he wanted credit next time we talk about (laughter) He was taking photographs of...what did he call it? Uh, yucky houses! (several talking and laughing) From about a three-foot perspective. Dickens/ Well they see things differently that's for sure! Hayek/ Yeah they do! Upcoming events? Upcoming Events: Payne/ Don't we have something coming up on February 19th? What is that ... dinner? Botchway/ Oh, Chamber (both talking) Hayek/ Chamber. Payne/ Yeah, okay! Hayek/ Oh, I gotta get that scheduled! Payne/ It's a good thing I brought it up, huh? Hayek/ And we probably have some sort of Conference Board, uh, activity. (several talking) Yeah, I know! Throgmorton/ Can't meet too often, ya know! Hayek/ Yeah! Okay, I think that brings us to the end of the work session. Thanks everyone and have a good evening. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 9, 2015.