HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-09-18 Transcription
#2
ITEM 2
Wilburn:
Karr:
Royar:
Wilburn:
Royar:
Wilburn:
Royar:
Page 1
PROCLAMATIONS.
a) International Student Day - September 19,2007
(reads proclamation)
Here to accept the proclamation is Ken Royar, a member of the Board of
Directors, Friends of International Students. (applause)
If I might just say a word to you on the City Council, and express our
thanks and the appreciation of the Board of Directors for Friends of
International Students, and all of those that are involved. Thank you for
this proclamation. I think it goes without saying that having the numbers
of international students here in this community has a tremendous impact
on all of us, not just those within the University, but all of those in the
community as well. As the proclamation stated, this community now
becomes a microcosm of the world and whenever we interact and relate to
an international student, who knows what the impact of that relationship
will be when you go back home, or when they go back home, and
remember the relationships that were created here in Iowa City.
Whenever we become a friend of an international student, in some sense
you have an impact on the future of international relationships of the
world, and so we want to thank you for that proclamation that's been
given, and to those of you on the City Council and those of you, uh, on
either side of them on the desk, we've placed there one of our brochures,
and have also placed an application, meaning that we would invite you to
become a friend to one of our international students. It just so happens at
the present time, I have 77 students who have asked for a friend, but I
don't have any friends for them. So it would be a shame if we came to,
uh, the end of the semester and I had to write them a note and said to
them, 'I'm sorry, we didn't have enough friends for you.' What kind of an
impact on their life would that statement be? So, we make a plea for
friends in the community to respond and to be a friend of an international
student. It can make a world of difference in the future. Thank you very
much, and we look forward to having some response.
How can, how can viewers get a hold of you?
You can find a web site on the brochure that's there, and for those of you
here today, Ijust happen to have some more that I'd be glad to share with
you. Um, there's a web site there, or you can call the office of
International Students and Scholars at the University, and they will be able
to put you in touch with us.
Thank you very much.
Thank you
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#2
Page 2
Wilburn:
Just a reminder to the public, this is the second City Council meeting that
is being live streamed on the Internet. So welcome to those viewing in
other parts of the world.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#2
ITEM 2
Wilburn:
Karr:
Wilburn:
Wilson:
Wilburn:
Page 3
PROCLAMATIONS.
b) Constitution Week - September 17-23, 2007
(reads proclamation)
Here to accept the proclamation is Shalla Wilson, Chapter Region.
( applause)
Thank you very much. The folks that are standing in the doorway, we
need to keep the doorway clear, for the Fire Code. It is being broadcast
out in the lobby, and feel free to move on up this side here. Go ahead.
Thank you, Mayor Wilburn, and City Council Members. On September
17, 1787, in Philadelphia, the U.S. Constitution was signed, fulfilling the
promise that the Declaration of Independence had made eleven years
prior. In 1955, the President General, the Daughters of the American
Revolution, Gertrude Carroway, adopted a project to promote the
observance of the U.S. Constitution, with a memorial week beginning on
the anniversary of the signing of the document. Chapters were encouraged
to help schools and communities study and understand the Constitution.
President Eisenhower officially declared Constitution Week in 1956.
Today, the members ofIowa City Pilgrim Chapter of the DAR are very
appreciative of the Proclamation of September 1 ih through the 23rd as
Constitution Week. The National Society of the DAR was founded in
1890 by four women, two southern and two northern. When the Sons of
the American Revolution rejected their application for membership, their
goal was to heal the terrible wounds still bleeding from the Civil War.
The founders believed that a call to the common bond, the ancestors who
fought together in the Revolutionary War to liberate us and found our
country would be a unifying and healing process. The objectives ofDAR
are historic preservation, promotion of education, and an understanding
and upholding of patriotism. Membership is open to interested individuals
who want to trace their ancestor and lineage to Revolutionary ancestors,
and for more information, please contact our Chapter Region and take a
look at our web site. Thank you.
Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#3 Page 4
ITEM 3 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Bailey: Move adoption.
Champion: Move adoption.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Champion. Discussion? Within the
Consent Calendar, we are setting three public hearings. Two are related to
ordinance granting MidAmerican Energy, uh, its successors, um, the right
to franchise and acquire, construct, or maintain, operate in the City of
Iowa City, uh, both electric and gas power. That public hearing is October
2nd. For the benefit of the public just so that you're aware, we will have
the, uh, public hearing October 2nd, but we will not have first
consideration that evening. The third public hearing, um, that we're
setting tonight is for October 2nd on a proposal to convey a storm water
management drainage easement and a storm sewer pipe easement at the
Iowa City Municipal Airport. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item
carries 7-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#4
ITEM 4
Wilburn:
Belman:
Wilburn:
Belman:
Wilburn:
Belman:
Wilburn:
Belman:
Wilburn:
Belman:
Wilburn:
Belman:
Wilburn:
Belman:
Wilburn:
Belman:
Wilburn:
Page 5
COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
This is the time for the public to address the Council and the public on
items that do 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.
Thank you. City Council Members, Mayor Wilburn, I'm very glad to be
here tonight to talk about this topic, because I recall several of your faces
when the first house was built on B Street.
Excuse me for interrupting, but I'll need you to...
.. .Dee and Mike was here.
I'll need you to state your name for the record.
Pardon?
Need you to state your name for the record.
Oh, I'm sorry!
That's all right! That's...
.. .on a sticker over there. (laughter) Marilyn Belman. I now live at 3458
Killarney Road in Iowa City, Iowa. I think I forgot to do that the first time
I talked here.
Um, the item that you are, that you are addressing, I believe, you want to
talk about the Building Code?
Yes.
That is an item that is on tonight's agenda, so, uh, which item is that?
(several responding) Seven, um, so I'll need you to wait until Item 7 to
speak to that. Sorry about that.
No problem. Is it okay if I just sit here?
That's fine, uh-huh.
It'll be easier.
Okay, sure.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#4
Belman:
Honohan:
Wilburn:
Smith:
Page 6
Thank you.
Jay Honohan. Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, I'm a Member of the
Senior Citizen Commission. The first thing I have to do is correct a
mistake that I made the last time I was up here. You may not recall, but I
indicated at the Sorority/Fraternity Dance, I danced with sorority ladies,
and uh, my Spanish professor and my roommate of 59 years. I really got
it when I got home, because it's only been 49 years. (laughter) I tried to
get Marian to expunge it from the record, but she wouldn't do it.
(laughter) Getting back to the Senior Center Commission, uh, some of
you, because you are our candidates, and Bob because he's in the Task
Force, have seen the new furniture and tables, the chairs and tables, in the
Assembly Room. We're very proud of that. We're also proud of the new
lighting and the paint, painting that we've done on the Assembly Room,
and it has taken the Assembly Room, in my opinion, out of the
institutional type setting that we had with the old furniture. This all came
about from the funds provided by the Foundation from the Iowa City
Senior Center Fund Inc. At this time, we're planning, as 1.. .as we did last
year the drill team is going to be in the homecoming parade. I think this
year without me because I couldn't learn the steps of the "jailhouse rock."
(laughter) I may get to carry the flag, if they'll let me! Uh, we're having
our membership dinner, sponsored by the US Bank on the 2ih of this
month, and uh, I look forward to that as I do every year, and if you want to
be members, you're welcome to come, and I can get you a membership for
$25.00 and your spouse for another $15.00. I see you have a lot of people
here tonight and so I'll leave you with that. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Jay.
Good evening. My name is Terry Smith. I'm here tonight on behalf of
MidAmerican Energy in Iowa City. Few months ago, I was before you,
uh, presenting Mr. Wilburn with a check for $20,000 for our "Trees
Please" program. At that time, I believe Amy Correia asked us to come
back, and talk about our "Plant Some Shade" program when that, uh, was
time that we would do. I believe Marian has passed out some information
to you tonight with regards to the "Plant Some Shade" program, and I just
wanted to let the public know and others know that MidAmerican Energy
customers in Iowa can reduce the future energy use and at the same time
landscape their homes through "Plant Some Shade" program. Um,
customers can purchase up to two, 3- to 8-foot trees, landscaping trees, for
only $25.00. This is approximately half of the cost that it would normally
take, and uh, we encourage the residents to partner in that cost, because it
helps encourage ownership and maintenance for a long living tree.
Encouraging residents to plant trees in their yards is an efficient way to
reduce the energy costs, and promote a healthy and aesthetically pleasing
environment. You'll notice on the form there that, uh, it is important to
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#4
Wilburn:
Barber:
Milani:
Barber:
Page 7
note, all trees must be picked up on Thursday, October 18t\ between the
hours of 4:00 and 6:30 P.M. at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. I've
given additional copies of this form to Marian so they can pick them up
from the City Clerk if they would like, or they can also go to our web site
for additional information at www.midamericanenergy.com/
plantsomeshade if they can remember all of that. Thank you.
Thank you, Terry.
Hi, I'm Anne Barber and this is Sarah Milani, and, um, I know that many
of your heard a rumor that there's an angry mob of students coming
tonight, and we're really not an angry mob, we're just a mob of concerned
Iowa City residents and students, um, and we're here, as you can guess, to
talk about safety in Iowa City. Um, Sarah and I are both members of the
University of Iowa Student Government. I'm the Panhellenic Council
President and Sarah's also a sorority member, and um, we really think that
this is an important issue right now, I'm sure as everyone does, and we
believe that collaboration is necessary and that.. .so that's why we're here
tonight. Um, we believe that it's imperative that, um, as stakeholders, we
create a community-wide dialog about this issue. Um, in your September
13th information packet, there's a statement from the Police asking for a
community effort to prevent further attacks, and to hold those responsible
accountable, and we would like to participate in, um, being part of that
community effort. Um, Sarah's passing around a petition right now that is
signed by University ofIowa students. Um, it was sponsored by the
University of Iowa Student Government and Panhellenic Council. Um,
it's asking for a task force, that's what we like to call it, or any kind of
committee, um, to look into this issue further. We would hope that this
committee would be comprised of a variety of community individuals, um,
Council Members, students. As students we think it's really important
that we're at the table on this.
Just to clarify with you, not only is that approximately 5,000 student
signatures, but also community members, um, University administration
and faculty and staff, as well. So, like Anne said, this is definitely not a
City issue along. This is a University issue, as well as a community issue
at large, so, um, we're not here to ask for a solution only from you guys.
We're here to work with you and find a solution immediately.
We're just looking for a place at the table on these discussions. Um, we'd
hoped that we could have a committee of, like I was saying, different
stakeholders - University administrators, faculty, staff, students, Council
Members, Iowa City citizens and residents. Um, we would hope that
there's some specific areas the task force could look into. We understand
that the Police.. .this is the Police's number one priority. We've spent a
lot of time on the phone with them lately. Um, we aren't asking for
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#4
Milani:
Barber:
Milani:
Wilburn:
Page 8
detailed reports or anything like that. We just want to do what we can,
and look into educating the public about what is being done. Services that
are offered.
We're looking to complete four major things. The language on the
petition says task force, that's the committee Anne is referencing. Uh, the
four major things we would like to see that this group complete are, we
would like to create some sort of neighborhood watch or patrol program.
Um, comprised of a group of community members and students, that
would have a direct, um, conversation with a specific, um, member of the
City of Iowa City Police Department that we would be able to contact if
need be if an emergency happened, or just for information purposes so we
can work with them. Um, the second thing is to increase resources with
the Iowa City Police. They address their number one major problem is
manpower. They do not feasibly have enough, um, people on patrol at
that time of night to cover the areas where these attacks are taking place,
and to also patrol the downtown area that seems to be very busy during
these times that these events are occurring. So, it's very important for us
that we ask you the City Council to please consider increasing their
resources, um, whether that be asking for more help from surrounding area
police forces or giving them a monetary, you know, monetary amount to
help them increase their force. The third thing is, we would love to see a
campaign, um, take place, like a public service announcements through
the newspaper or on television in the community to educate the
community on these events. Um, the other major problem that the Police
force noted was that there have been zero witnesses to these attacks. Um,
we find that hard to believe because the downtown area where these are
taking place, or right surrounding that area, are usually full of people at
the time of night that these are going on, and we just feel like it's
necessary that the public know what, you know, what these sketches look
like or know that it's not difficult to help out with this, and the fourth thing
is we'd like to have this community evaluate the current street lighting,
um, situation and explore further options of, you know, outside just
community patrolling. What we can do with that.
Just to wrap up, as students, I mean, most of the students here are here to
support us, but as students we think Iowa City's a great place to live and
we just don't want to be afraid to live here anymore. We think it's a
wonderful city.
Please contact us about a meeting or we'd like to see if you could put this
on the agenda at your next, uh, work meeting, next Monday night to
discuss this. Please contact us for more information if you feel necessary.
I want to thank both of you for coming forward and everyone here tonight,
and everyone who participated in your, uh, in your petition. I, we had
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#4
Page 9
brief conversation about this at our work session last night, uh, as you're
probably well aware. I think, you know, it's clear that the City Council
and everyone at the City, both, um, doesn't want to see something like this
going on in our community. We know the importance of safety, um, we
also had some conversation about, um, you know, where the education and
working together effort might go beyond, um, danger from people we
don't know, but in areas where the majority of assaults that occur with
somebody you do know. Uh, there was some brief conversation about
possible looking at lighting schemes and those types of things, too. I
guess I would, it would be helpful for me, 00, and I would suspect that
Council would be willing to put this on our next work session, which is
not next week actually. But, um, it would be helpful if...if since we set up
the Student Government Liaison, if we can kind of work through that
office to. . . to help kind of coordinate things as we go forward with the
objectives that you have here, but there's conversations that we would
have to have too, is if we put together such a task force, would it be time
limited, who's going to.. .if we move from City staff, and those type of
conversations, but does anyone else want to.. .did I cover fairly what we
had discussed? All right. Thank you.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Bailey: So moved.
Champion: Moved.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Champion to accept correspondence. All
those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0.
O'Donnell: Thank you for...
Correia: And I just want to also, I mean, I want to thank all of you for being here.
It's amazing to see so many out to communicate with your City Council.
Um, especially on a night when we're, um, did the proclamation for the
Constitution and this is really democracy in action. I know the type of
work that goes in to getting signatures like that. I mean, I've done that
type of work in the past as well, and that takes a lot of effort and a lot of
coordination, and so I really, um, think that's tremendous, what you've
been able to accomplish, and I have been in conversation, and a couple of
us have been in conversation with, um, Abbie and Carole and other
University representatives and we will be talking this week with
University and City officials about planning.. .the beginning, having the
community wide dialog, and so Abbie and Carole, urn, Peterson are going
to be involved at that initial meeting, and so we will bring this to that
conversation that we have this week, and so there will be, um, follow up to
this. So, thank you very much.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#4 Page 10
Brown: (unable to understand - speaking about the under 21-age in bars)
Wilburn: You're raising questions about enforcement of, um, of, um, public
consumption of alcohol and, uh, underage drinking. Uh, if you're talking
about the ballot initiative, about whether or not you should be 21 to be in
bars after 10:00, that'll be on the ballot, but in terms of just general
enforcement and house parties, uh, it is against the law to have open
container outside. If there are house parties where things are spilling out
of the house and there's underage, uh, people can currently call law
enforcement and make a complaint, and Police are following up on that,
but sir, I'll need you to state your name for the record.
Brown: Mark Brown, but.. .but I (unable to understand) Kum & Go, I don't know
(unable to understand).
Wilburn: Okay, thank you for your comments this evening. Would anyone else care
to address the Council on an item that does not appear on tonight's
agenda?
Dieterle: I'm Caroline Dieterle. How much does a Council Member make a year
now?
O'Donnell: Millions. (laughter)
Dieterle: No, how much?
Wilburn: Council's in the $7,000 range. The Mayor makes $1,000 more, so...
Dieterle: Pardon?
Wilburn: Council makes in the $7,000 range, and...
Dieterle: So it is $7,000?
Wilburn: It's between $7,000 and $8,000, yes. (several talking)
Elliott: I don't believe so.
Wilburn: Okay, $6,000 and $7,000, the Mayor makes $7,000. Sorry.
Dieterle: All right. Well, let's just say for the rec.. . for the heck of it $6,500, about.
Wilburn: Okay.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#4
Dieterle:
Page 11
Um, now the cost to run a campaign for Council is like three times that
salary. Urn, at least it can easily be that, and people are spending that
amount of money, and having to gather that amount of money, and the,
um, the, um, ballot issues, for instance the public power. I noted last night
that you were talking about public power and.. . and the fact that there'd
been an election in that people had voted, um, not to have public power
and that that ended the discussion. Well, it doesn't really end it in the
sense that if you, like me, have used your Internet access to do some
hunting around and have gone to the Ethics, Finance and Disclosure web
site on the State, you've learned that, um, you know, MidAmerican and
the MidAmerican employees, uh, Committee, uh, spent almost $143,000
to get that vote, and that dwarfed the amount that the citizens are able to
raise to counter that advertising that had been bought by the MidAmerican
interests. And, from what I can judge so far with the ballot issue of the
2 I-ordinance now on the books that we're going to be voting on, um, from
the preliminary signs at least, it looks to me as though we are about to be
basically carpet-bombed with, uh, an immense amount of publicity that is
being paid for by interests that are not Iowa Citians' interests, that are
bringing in the money. Outside, um, entities, uh, are interested in this
election, uh, because they basically are against alcohol consumption, and
everybody knows that alcohol consumption can prove to be a problem,
and it always, you know, comes back to the fact that it involves individual
responsibility and enforcing extinct laws that are on the ballot, or on the
books already, but you know entities like the Alcohol Awareness Task
Force, um, the Institute for Social Progress, the Stepping Up Project,
which is funded to a large extent by the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation. I imagine all of these people will be pumping money in so
that any local idea in any local group that decides to, that decides to band
together and try to, uh, advocate for the other side, is going to be basically
drowned, and however you feel about these ballot issues, whether you're
in favor or against, uh, I'm not here to advocate one way or another, but I
am saying that most people, I think, would probably prefer that Iowa
Citians make the decision, and that people coming in from outside do not.
Um, whether it's the Bar Entry Ordinance or whether it's what your power
is going to come from, or any of the other issues that are going to be
coming before the City, you know, in the coming years, and I'm just
wondering whether State law, now this is my point here really, uh,
whether State law permits the City to pass any kind of a cap on spending
on campaigns, um, as a total spent by the entity that is advocating for or
against. So that any candidate would have a limit on the total amount that
they could raise and use. I know there's a limit, I think, of$lOO.OO for
contributor for a private citizen right now, but that really doesn't come to
the issue that I'm talking to you about, namely that of outside corporate,
um, entities, whether they're non-profit or for-profit, interesting
themselves in our local affairs, and pumping a great deal of money into
our election process. Uh, I don't want to see Iowa City become a mirror, a
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#4
Dilkes:
Dieterle:
Dilkes:
Dieterle:
Dilkes:
Dieterle:
Wilburn:
Elliott:
Page 12
microcosm of the basically I think corrupt situation on the national level,
where the person that wins is the person who can raise the most money
and the one who can pay for the most advertising, uh, talent is the one who
wins. That isn't good for democracy, and it isn't good for home rule,
which we pride ourselves on having. So, do you know, Eleanor, whether
there, this is possible or not?
I think Iowa City had a spending limit years and years ago, or
contemplated one, but there's a U.S. Supreme Court case that found
spending limits, not contribution limits, but spending limits
unconstitutional.
Unconstitutional. Is this because of their, their ridiculous idea that
corporate interests are equal to a person, they've given personhood to
corporations?
I haven't read that case in a long time, so I'd hate to characterize...it was
essentially, it was a First Amendment reason case.
Uh-huh, well, I think that's what I'm talking about. Well, in the event that
that's true, is there any way that we can lobby the State to have the
disclosure amounts, um, posted sooner, because October 19th is going to
be two or three days after, even we will have begun balloting, for this
particular election for instance. So, rather than having the reporting time
deadline be October 19th, there ought to be earlier deadlines, or more than
one or two, so that people who are watching this can tell, you know, where
the money is coming from and who is spending it. At least then it would
be public.
You should contact Charlie Smithson, who's the. ..Attorney for the
Campaign and Ethics Board. He's very responsive to questions and.. . and
I'm sure he would talk to you about those issues.
Uh, could you send him.. .could you send my, to my email the contact for
that person? Thank you very much.
Thank you. Would anyone else care to address the Council on an item
that does not appear on tonight's agenda? I apologize to the Council for
getting your salaries wrong. Maybe it was a wishful thinking on my part.
(several talking)
Just as long as you make up the difference, Ross.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#5
ITEM 5
Wilburn:
Davidson:
Page 13
PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
a) CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 45.04
ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED EAST OF CAMP
CARDINAL BOULEVARD AND SOUTH OF KENNEDY
PARKWAY FROM INTERIM DEVELOPMENT - OFFICE
RESEARCH PARK (ID-ORP) ZONE TO MEDIUM DENSITY
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-8) ZONE WITH A
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY (OPD-8) ZONE FOR
APPROXIMATELY 33.69 ACRES; INTERIM DEVELOPMENT
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (ID-RS) ZONE FOR
APPROXIMATELY 9.32 ACRES, AND INTERIM
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE COMMERCIAL (ID-COl) ZONE
FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.03 ACRES. (REZ07-00011)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
That's a mouthful! (laughter) And this is a public hearing. (pounds
gavel)
Uh, good evening. Uh, to summarize what the Mayor has just said, uh, we
have 45.04 acres proposed for rezoning. Uh, this is what is known as the
Cardinal Pointe South subdivision. The way that acreage breaks down is
we have 33.7 acres proposed to go from ID-ORP to OPDH-8 and this, um,
the essential part of what I'll show you a detail of in a second here. Uh, it
consists of, uh, multiple unit buildings, townhouses, zero-lot line duplexes,
and single-family dwellings. Uh, there is also then a little over 9 acres,
um, which is basically.. . and again, I'll show you on the detail an outlot
that will be held for future development. Um, and then there will be 2
acres, which you see in the corner here, uh, rezoned ill, uh, to CO-I. Uh,
that will be held for future, um, future consideration for a commercial
development. Uh, both the outlot and the commercial parcel still have the
ID designation on them, so they will have to come back to you for future
decision-making. The OPDH is basically what we're here to discuss this
evening. Uh, here's an aerial view, uh, you see Cardinal Ridge
subdivision here, uh, Kennedy Parkway which is already extended through
this area will then continue through, uh, to this intersection right here, uh,
right here's the corner with the commercial parcel. This is the outlot for
future development, and this is the area, uh, which is under consideration
for the OPDH plan. This is to orient everybody. This is, uh, Camp
Cardinal Boulevard recently constructed, and of course U.S. 218 here.
Uh, just a close up view of the parcel that's proposed for redevelopment.
Okay then, um, this is the detail of the parcel. To orient you again, here is
the parcel, uh, that is on the corner which is proposed for commercial
development in the future, um, it will still have the ID designation. This
area here is the outlot proposed for future development, again, with the ID
designation. It will have to come back to you for future decision-making.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of September 18, 2007.
#5
Page 14
You see then the single-family lots here, uh, and then, uh, these are, in this
are here are townhouse units, uh, with zero-lot line duplexes in this area
here. Uh, this outlot right here will be dedicated for a City park. The
Parks and Recreation Commission have indicated they're excited about
receiving that parcel. Uh, obviously you can see the access point here, and
then the other access point will be Kennedy Parkway. There were just a
few items here, uh, which were discussed at the Planning and Zoning
Commission. They have all been resolved, uh, storm water management
has been resolved to the City Engineer's satisfaction. There was an issue
with the location of mailbox clusters. All of these units will have
clustered mailboxes. That has again been resolved. Uh, there was also,
uh, some discussion of the - there's a panoramic vista of the property-
there was some discussion ofthe design of the various units. Here you see
the townhouse units. I think the essential thing for your decision-making
this evening is that in accordance with the planned development standards,
there are a variety of housing types that will be introduced, uh, into the
area. Uh, there was some discussion, and again, resolution of issues
relating to the detail of some of the parcels, particularly the backsides of
some of them that will be visible for, uh, from Camp Cardinal Boulevard.
Those will be trimmed out very nicely, and I think will be, uh, will create
a nice impact on Camp Cardinal Boulevard. Um, couple of other things,
oh, I mentioned outlot B as parkland. Um, the other significant issue is
then Kennedy Parkway - this portion right here. There was a lot of
discussion with the developer, uh, the City's initial position was that we
wanted to see that constructed concurrent with the first phases of this
development. The developer, um, had some issues with that in terms of
going to the expense of that, uh, prior to some buildout of the area, so
what we have arrived at, and these are basically the points in the
Conditional Zoning Agreement, um, and that is that Kennedy Parkway
will right up front be platted, and the right-of-way will be dedicated and a
Letter of Credit for installing a water main, uh, along the road, uh, will be,
at the time of final plat approval. So that'll be done right up front, and
then by January 1, 2009, the subgrade, which is basically the base for the
road, will be installed by the developer, uh, and then a year later, prior to
January 1, 2010, uh, or prior to when the school site is developed,
whichever occurs first, um, the, uh, paving will be installed, and then if the
sub grade is not constructed prior to its deadline or the road is not built
prior to its deadline, the issuance of building permits will cease for
Cardinal Pointe South subdivision. So that is basically the deal we have
worked out with the developer that is reflected in the Conditional Zoning
Agreement. Um, are there any questions about the proposal, or uh, the
overall plan for this area? This is an element of a larger plan that you have
seen, uh, called The Crossings, uh, that will be the area to the west here,
uh, west of Camp Cardinal Boulevard, um, but the Cardinal Pointe South
subdivision, oh, one other thing I failed to notice, and I wanted to cull out,
let's see where is it shown. ..maybe.. .the very first one, was the school
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site, right here. This is a school site that is under ownership of the Iowa
City Community School District. Kennedy Parkway here is the corporate
limits line, all right? From this point to the west, between Coralville and
Iowa City, so the school site is actually in Coralville. Corporate limits line
will run down the centerline of Kennedy Parkway. To the south will be in
the City ofIowa City, to the north will be in the City of Coralville, but I
did want to cull out the school site, because obviously that's a very
significant improvement, that the school site has indicated in their short-
term plans will be a site where an elementary school will be constructed.
Wilburn: Who shovels which side of the street?
Davidson: Uh, we typically work that out in a maintenance agreement so that we
don't have two snowplows out there at the same time. That's done in
several places around town. (several talking)
Vanderhoef: Okay, can you just, uh, point for me where Camp Cardinal Road is, versus
the boulevard.
Davidson: Uh, the old Camp Cardinal Road, Dee, is right here. And that will be,
with subsequent development of.. .ofthe subdivision up in this area, that
connection, um, well, the connection is still there. There's construction
traffic using it right now. In fact, it was just recently chipsealed, but that
will remain in place, and then provide a connection from the subdivision
here, down to an intersection at about that location with Camp Cardinal
Boulevard, which has been, was all reconstructed at the time Camp
Cardinal Boulevard was built.
Vanderhoef: So, the entry to the school site will be off of Camp Cardinal Road?
Davidson: No, it will be. ..
Vanderhoef: Or Kennedy?
Davidson: This will be, this area here will likely mimic this commercial area here.
We would plan to have commercial development on both sides of
that.. . Coralville is handling that parcel similar to the way we are with
consideration in the future for.. . for the commercial zoning there. The
school site will have its access off of Kennedy Parkway, in this vicinity
here. It could potentially off of this road, however, that's unimproved at
this time, chip sealed surface, so more likely it would come off of Kennedy
Parkway. The school's not designed yet, so we don't know for sure.
Vanderhoef: Thank you.
Davidson: Any other questions?
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Elliott: Question, Jeff, uh, being out there, and also the photograph clearly
illustrated, heavily wooded. Any of that going to be...
Davidson: Yeah, let me show you, Bob. This.. .you can see here, this, and I
neglected to point out and I should have. I pointed out the three outlots,
the one for future development, the one that'll be the City park, there's
also a third outlot, right in this vicinity here, which you can see all these
dark blobs are sensitive environmental features. That will be maintained
by a homeowner's association, and.. . and obviously as you can see, there's
been a clustering, you know, basically additional density down in this
area, clustered onto areas that do not have sensitive environmental
features, in fact it's...I can show you - it's that area, right there, that does
not have the woodlands. Um, this area up here with the steep slopes and
the wooded areas will be preserved.
Elliott: I'm just wondering, how much of the trees would be, uh, would be
removed.
Davidson: It has been designed, uh, in.. . consistent with the Sensitive Areas
Ordinance, um, and.. . and any, anything as part of this that would have
triggered the Sensitive Areas Ordinance would have been taken into
consideration, um, is there more detail that you need?
Elliott: No, no, that's fine. As a matter of fact, Regenia just pointed out
something that I should have read.
Davidson: Okay.
Vanderhoef: Tell me about the elevation in the southern part of the outlot that will be
dedicated to the City.
Davidson: Um, you know, I think that the intent here, Dee, is to have the public
access in this area off of the new street that will be constructed. There is
an open, flatter area in this area here. Obviously, you get into more of a
wooded, rugged topography in this area. Uh, my understanding from
Parks and Rec is they think it's a nice parcel for having both of those
features, both an open area and a wooded area, and they'll incorporate that
into the eventual plan.
Vanderhoef: Ijust couldn't read the numbers on elevations on my map, so...it was
like.. .
Davidson: . . . but I think that's the basic, the basic layout for it.
Vanderhoef: Okay.
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Davidson: Any other questions about this proposal?
Champion: Go ahead.
Correia: I was just going to say, do we have information about the range of price
points, because we're getting diversity of housing types. I'm wondering...
Davidson: Um, it's been indicated by the developer that there will be a range of price
points. You know, obviously the smaller units, the multiple units, the
townhouse units will be down at the lower end of the scale. The single-
family units here will be at the upper end of the scale, so it is intended to
be a range. Perhaps if the developer is present during the remaining public
comment period they can elaborate on that for you.
Champion: The thing that, um, I don't know if you want our discussion on this now or
you want it later, but I'd like to hear a little bit from the developer. To me,
this is one of those times, since there obviously last night there wasn't
support for the code changing, to uh, bargain with the developer to provide
a certain number of houses that would meet the code for accessibility.
Um, I'm not saying they had to do universal design. I'm suggesting that
1 % or 2% would have the changes in the code that we obviously did not
accept last night, to make these houses easier to make accessible later. I
mean, was that ever discussed? Probably not, but...
Davidson: It wasn't, to the best of my knowledge, Connie.
Champion: But I'd like to hear what the developer. . .
Davidson: Sure, and I would say that, if that was something you wanted to stipulate
in the Conditional Zoning Agreement we would need to amend, as it is
presented currently.
Champion: Right.
Davidson: Anything else for me?
Wilburn: Okay, this is the public hearing, so anyone else wish to address the
Council on the public hearing?
Siders: My name's Glenn Siders with Southgate Development Services. We are
the applicant for this project. I wasn't intending on commenting, but I'd
be happy to try to address some questions that apparently have come up.
Connie, we have never discussed with the City...
Champion: I'm sure you didn't.
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Siders: .. .various options. Our anticipation on the townhouses, right now we
have roughly six different floor plans. They vary in square footage and
they vary in design. Urn, the zero-lot lines, we have developed about four
right now and hopefully we're going to come up with some more of those
for variation. Single-family, it just kind of depends on how the lots
contour and what house might be conducive to that. But as far as the
townhouses go, we've never discussed that - on this particular project -
with the City of Iowa City. 1'd entertain a discussion with them.
Champion: Oh, great. I mean, because we do want houses built, um, that can be made
accessible later, or are accessible, but we don't want to mandate it to you.
So this is the ideal time to say let's talk about it. You don't have any
objections to talking about it.
Siders: I would love to chat with the City officials. (laughter)
Champion: Great, I like your style! (several talking)
Wilburn: Excuse me a second, Amy. Uh, just for clarification, uh, for. .. this is for,
for those of you here speaking about the zoning, uh, the Building Code,
uh, items later on, Council did not take formal action. There was
discussion, but there was no formal action taken. The action is tonight,
so.. .go ahead, Amy.
Correia: Well, I was just. . . so that the question just to have more detail, wondering
if you think it would be possible to have a certain number of homes that
would have these usability features, the no-step entry, the 36-inch doors,
the electrical...I know you're familiar with, but the proposal is for all...
Siders: These particular units?
Correia: Not for all of them, but would there, I mean, do you think there would be a
(several talking) negotiation to have, you know, a percentage...
Siders: Anything's possible, but to be honest, Amy, we don't, you know, we
haven't finalized our grading plan yet, um, you know. Yeah, that's a
possibility, but I don't want to encourage you to think that that can
happen. Or will happen, I should say.
Elliott: But, you'll be happy to talk.
Siders: Absolutely!
Dilkes: The Conditional Zoning Agreement, you have to remember that the State
Code requires that the conditions imposed in the Conditional Zoning
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Agreement have to have been created by the rezoning. Okay, it has to be,
and so I'm not sure, while the discussion is fine, um, I'm not sure that a
negotiation in this particular rezoning, or subsequent rezonings, is the, the
good way to go about resolving your usability, um, starIdards issues.
Elliott: However, it just seems that if we talk informally, perhaps the developer
would say, 'That's a good idea. I'm glad you brought it to my attention.
Perhaps we CarI do that.'
Dilkes: I don't have arIY trouble with informal discussions, but I'm hearing about
negotiating a CZA that includes those, and I'm not, I have some. ..
Champion: But it wasn't a bad idea! (laughter) Knock me down. . .
Correia: But you're saying you don't think state law would allow to include it .
because it's (several talking).
Dilkes: No, I think the purpose of a CZA is to look at what is happening with the
changes in land use. In this case we're going to a planned development.
I'm talking about clustering arId that kind of thing, and.. . and is to assure
that as a result that needs created, um, uh, impacts resulting from that
rezoning can be addressed in a Conditional Zoning Agreement. Okay, like
the road issue. There was some concern with this rezoning and this
development, there.. .we wanted to assure that Kennedy Parkway would
be built. That kind of thing. Not that we don't often talk about a lot of
things with Conditional Zoning Agreements, but 1. . . your discussion last
night about the building code changes, and wanting to explore other ways
to address those issues, either by incentives or by, um, broader zoning
code requirements, that kind of thing. . I think that's a perfectly appropriate
discussion to have, but not, I don't think, in the context of individual
rezomngs.
Champion: Okay. Okay, I see what you're saying. So it would be a policy decision.
Dilkes: Yes, it's a policy decision rather than a particular negotiation in a
rezomng.
Champion: Maybe Mr. Siders will think about it.
Dilkes: But he certainly can think about it, and talk to you about it.
Vanderhoef: And, ElearIor. . .
Siders: I can only talk to two of you at a time! (laughter)
Vanderhoef: Uh, would that mean that at the, at the final platting?
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Dilkes: You have.. .yes. There's no, no, you...it wouldn't help to get to the final
platting stage. In fact, it would hurt. Plat approval is essentially an
administrative approval. You have far less discretion at the platting stage
than you do at the zoning stage.
Champion: Well, I want to make it clear that I'm not going to hold their feet to the fire
on this, because of what you've just said, um, but I'm glad that they're
willing to talk about it.
Dilkes: I'm just concerned... because of the conversation you had last night. I
don't...I really don't think this, you know...
Wilburn: This still is a public hearing, so ifthere's any other comments that you'd
like to add.
Siders: No, I would just comment that 1.. .that I don't disagree with anything that
Jeffhas told you. We are fine with everything. We have signed the
Conditional Zoning Agreement and given it to the City, so we're ready to
proceed with final platting.
Correia: So in terms of what the, what you're thinking about for the price points,
the range of. . .
Siders: I can't, I can't tell you it's x-dollars to x-dollars, but.. .but it's our
anticipation that we're going to have about eight or ten different price
points.
Correia: Okay.
Siders: Uh, with the variations there. I mean, it could be even more than that,
Amy.
Correia: Okay.
Wilburn: Thank you, Glenn.
Siders: Thank you.
Wilburn: Would anyone else care to address the Council at the public hearing?
Have any Council Members have any Ex Parte communications that they
need to disclose at this time? Okay. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is
closed.
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
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O'Donnell: Move first consideration.
Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 5
Wilburn:
Davidson:
Elliott:
Davidson:
Page 22
PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
b) REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.95 ACRES OF LAND
LOCATED AT 805 & 817 SOUTH GILBERT STREET FROM
INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI-1) ZONE TO COMMUNITY
COMMERCIAL (CC-2) ZONE. (REZ07-00012)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
This is a public hearing. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is open.
Item b is to consider the rezoning of property that you see on the diagram
here. It is located along, uh, in the 800 block of South Gilbert Street, uh,
between Benton Street and.. . and where the Crandic Railroad tracks come
through, which would be the extension of Lafayette Street. Uh, the
recommendation on this is for approval. We feel that this proposed
rezoning is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Uh, you can see that
the area, uh, across the street to the east is already zoned, uh, CC-2. Uh,
staff feels that CC-2 zoning is more appropriate for frontage along an
arterial street. CI-l zone allows things that are, it's probably our most
unsightliest zone, in terms of the ability to have outside storage and that
sort of thing. Uh, the one concern we had was in terms of Gilbert Street,
which already has a considerable amount of traffic on it. The CC-2 zone
does typically, uh, accommodate higher traffic generating type businesses;
however, we feel that there are two, there are existing buildings that are
likely to be reused. There's no new development project that we're aware
of currently. You see the two buildings here. Because of those buildings
and the configuration of parking, and the fact that there are very little,
there are very few other opportunities, that shows across the street, uh,
very few other opportunities for accommodating more parking on this site.
We do not feel it's likely that we are going to get higher traffic generating
uses on this site, because of simply the limitations, uh, of the parcels. Um,
the other thing that we had some concern about was pedestrian and bicycle
access, because typically again CC-2 uses do generate more pedestrian
and bicycle traffic, but pedestrian and bicycle traffic, excuse me,
accommodate is reasonably good in this area. There is full sidewalk
access on all the streets, uh, good connection to downtown from this area
so, again, we feel that the CC-2 zoning, uh, is an appropriate change. Are
there any questions?
What are the kinds, typically kinds of businesses that would be in that...
Well, for example, South Riverside Drive is. . . the retail businesses along
South Riverside Drive is, that's a typical CC-2 zoning. It's typical CI-l
zoning would be the Gilbert Court, Maiden Lane area, where you have the
car repair businesses, contractor yards, that sort of thing. Any other
questions?
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Wilburn:
Would anyone care to address the Council public hearing on this item?
Any Council Members have any Ex Parte communications they need to
disclose at this time? (pounds gavel) Public hearing is closed.
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
Champion: Move first consideration.
Wilburn: Moved by Champion.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 5
PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
1) AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF THE VACATED
EAST-WEST AND NORTH-SOUTH ALLEYS IN BLOCK 102,
IOWA CITY, IOWA, TO HIERONYMUS SQUARE
ASSOCIATES.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Wilburn:
This is a public hearing. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is open. (pounds
gavel) Public hearing is closed.
2. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
O'Donnell: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Move the resolution.
Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Bailey. Discussion?
Correia: I was just going to...I though Jeffwas approaching us to say something.
Wilburn: Are you?
Correia: Um, I was just going to make the comment that while we're conveying
this, um, it will still act, operate as if it was a public alleyway, um,
however, we won't have to maintain it. It will be maintained.
Wilburn: Okay, thank you.
Vanderhoef: This is in consideration the fact that there will be parking underneath the
alley, and we, uh, chose to vacate for them so that that could take place,
and add more parking spaces down there.
Wilburn: Did I close this public hearing? Okay.
Bailey: You have a motion on the floor.
Wilburn: All right, a little vapor lock there. (laughter) Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 6
APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF
CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE OLD HIGHWAY 218 WATER MAIN
EXTENSION PROJECT ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID
SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY
CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, AND
FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS.
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Wilburn:
This is a public hearing. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is open. This
involves extending existing 12, 12-inch water main along old Highway
218, along Riverside Drive to Isaac Walton Road. Estimated cost is
$670,000. It'll be funded with water revenues. (pounds gavel) Public
hearing is closed.
b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Bailey: Move the resolution.
O'Donnell: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Correia: Ijust have a question about this, actually. Do.. .when we put that water
main in, will there be disruption to the, like to street for construction?
Will...
Helling: Ron is here.
Knoche: I didn't hear your question.
Correia: When we're, when we're putting this, extending the water main, will there
be road, will it tear up the road?
Knoche: There's a possibility.. .that's a, a rural cross section, so it's a shoulder
down along old Highway 218, so there may be some work on the
shoulder, but there won't be any road improvements with this.
Correia: Okay, well I guess...
Knoche: Because it's going down in the bottom of the ditch, is where the water
main's going.
Correia: Oh, okay. I guess the reason I was asking is I was wondering ifthere
would be a possibility, because I know there's no sidewalks along that.
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And I know we've talked about that, wanting sidewalks, and if we were
doing construction anyway, would there be some benefit to installing, but
it doesn't sound like it's close enough to the road to have...
Knoche:
Yeah, and in this area, it's further south in front of Hawkeye Weld and
Croell Readi-Mix is where this area is, so it's not really contiguous with
any sidewalks.
Correia:
Okay. Okay. Thanks.
Wilburn:
Any other discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. It's been requested to
take a break. We'll take a ten-minute break - back at 8:15. (BREAK)
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ITEM 7
Wilburn:
Boothroy:
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AMENDING TITLE 17, CHAPTER 1, BUILDING CODE, BY
ADOPTING THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, 2006
EDITION, AND THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE,
INCLUDING APPENDIX F RADON CONTROL METHODS, 2006
EDITION, PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE
COUNCIL AND PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN AMENDMENTS
THEREOF; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE
HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS OF
IOWA CITY, IOWA.
a) PUBLIC HEARING
This is a public hearing. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is open.
I just wanted to make a couple quick comments before the public started
their comments. I'm Doug Boothroy, Director of Housing Inspection
Services. Uh, and Tim Hennes, the Senior Building Inspector, is here
tonight, and I think Roger's here also from the Fire Department, uh, to
answer any questions from the public or from the Council on these, um,
Code amendments. You're considering tonight, uh, uh, just for brevity,
the Uniform Construction Codes, or building code, uh, these have been
reviewed by the Board of Appeals and recommended to you. We've also
worked closely with the Homebuilder's Association, uh, with these
regulations and with the exception of one local amendment, we are all in
agreement as far as the, as I understand it anyway, just in the last couple
minutes, that we're still all in agreement on, uh, on these Code
amendments. So, uh, I will just briefly summarize for the folks in the
audience, as well as at home, what the area of disagreement, uh, involves,
and that involves amendments that expand the, uh, standards for
accessibility in single-family and duplex structures. Uh, what we
proposed is, um, four changes to the Uniform Code, uh, one of those
changes deals with doorway width, um, presently single-family structures
do not have a minimum doorway width requirement for passage doors or
doors that go from one room to another. The only doorway width standard
is for, uh, the front door, and the only, uh, other standard is for hallway
minimum width. So, we are proposing a 32-inch clear standard, uh, for
the first floor of, um, single-family and duplex type structures. One of the
things that I mentioned last night, and I'll repeat it for tonight, is that we
did look at the cost difference on that, uh, for the.. .as far as the material is
concerned, and.. . and uh, I won't mention the lumberyard that we visited,
but the difference was... between a 36 and a 30 door was $10.00 a door.
So the cost is, is relatively minimal in terms of the installation; to have to
remove that and remodel it at some later date, the cost would be in the
hundreds of dollars. So, one is doorway width, um, and that 32-inch
standard is based on the standards that are. . . spelled out in the building
code, as well as in ADA. It's a recognized accessibility standard. Uh, the
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24-26, uh, standard that's being used presently is not based on any
particular standard that we could find. It's just a matter of practice. So,
we're recommending that we have a recognized standard for the doorway
width, uh, and it piggybacks with the hallway and the entry door, as well.
The, um, height of outlets and switches, this is based on, on standards that
are also well recognized, particularly in ADA, and at the State level.
There would be no cost involved - that's just a matter of changing the
location ofthose switches. The powder room on the first floor, um, uh,
that, uh, is looking through our plans that we received, most houses have a
powder room now on the first floor. It is, it is sort of the level of
expectation for houses that are being built. Um, there could be some
exceptions to that, and that would, uh, there are some modifications
allowed for in the Code. If there's financial hardship or, uh, possibly just
framing in that powder room and not installing it at the time of
construction. The other one that's probably, uh, maybe a little more
contentious than the ones that we just talked about is the zero-step
entrance. One of the things that, that staff has proposed, uh, on this is that
instead of requiring it to be installed at the time of construction, what
we're requiring is that.. .that if you chose not to install, you chose to plan.
We feel that it's important that you think about how you're going to
accommodate that in a house, if you should ever need it, and the cost of,
of.. .of doing that, in terms of planning, will reduce your costs at some
future point in time. I think the other important thing about planning it is,
is that, uh, we have received criticism, the City, or this department has
received criticism for handicap ramps located in front of buildings, and I
have, uh, allowed those to occur because I think those are important, for
even in historic neighborhoods, but, uh, if you don't plan for those
locations, then sometimes there aren't many choices and sometimes they
have to be in the front yard and they have to run out in an area which
disturbs other neighbors. Um, so those are the, those are the four issues
that we're going to talk about tonight. The, um, uh, these are supported,
as I mentioned, by the Board of Appeals. Also, there's a letter in your
packet from the Johnson County, um, Livable Communities for Successful
Aging Policy Board. I have to read that each time. Um, and, uh, they also
support this, as a way to improve the quality of housing in this
community, um, for everyone. One of the things I think that I'd also like
to sum up with is that, uh, I've been in the housing, uh, business for quite
some time. We are, I am in the process of building affordable housing to a
standard that's higher than what's being discussed here tonight. Uh, I
have not had any problem or it has not impacted the design of any of those
houses that I've dealt with now. Granted, those designs are coming from
scratch, that I'm not necessarily working off a, an existing floor plan. I'm
putting it together, but I'm building houses that are in the vicinity of 1,240
to 1,360 square footage. Every inch, absolutely every inch, uh, has to be
planned carefully in that house. I spent hours, uh, moving things around,
maximizing all the space within that house. Minimizing hallways, making
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sure that every inch is accounted for, so that they have as much livable
space in those houses as I CarI possibly do. The Longfellow houses, if you
want to go through them I can show them to you, but the minimum
bedroom size on those houses is 10 by 11. The closet size is 6- foot, arId
the master bedroom they have two 6- foot closets, they have two baths, two
full baths, uh, arId they have many other amenities. Uh, what I have found
in...in dealing with design is, and cost, and we have to keep those costs
very low because as you know, uh, because you participate with me arId
you approve those plans, is that, uh, we're selling these to individuals with
families that are 80% median income, so every inch means more dollars,
and every, uh, thing that we do in that house, uh, adds to the cost. What
I've found that impacts the cost most significantly is, uh, material cost,
labor cost, land cost, arId uh, the expectation of the consumer. Uh, we
market houses with garages, with air conditioning, uh, and those are
expectations that the neighborhood has as far as garages are concerned,
but also the consumer is reluctant to buy homes without.. .without those
things in place. Um, it is not the 30-inch, 30 door that's causing the cost
of the housing to be a little bit higher. It is some of those other amenities
- the two baths, uh, and so forth. Um, so 1...1 strongly believe in flexible
design. I'm a strong advocate for it. I can't even imagine regulations that
would limit that in any kind of condition, arId I do not believe, uh, that
these have any impact on design. If you plan properly and you consider,
uh, the features that you're trying to accomplish in terms of room location
and so forth. The other thing I wanted to mention in closing is that. . . that I
think that the Homebuilder's and staff are in agreement, uh, in general that
these are importarIt features that should be included in houses, that these
are standards that, that people are advised to.. . to implement, because it
makes that house a better house, and that house will be there for them, and
it will not be, they will not be a hostage to the house arId they won't be in
a hostile environment if they have mobility impairment. Where we differ
on this is, uh, we're suggesting that it, or recommending I should say, that
it be a requirement, and they do not wish it to be a requirement. They
want that to still be the consumer's choice. I also support education. I
was involved with the Homebuilder's in 2002 after that Parade of Home,
and I think education is an important part of it. This policy board is
involved in education. Uh, I know Amy is involved in a subcommittee
with education. There's a meeting tomorrow. We need to continue
education. We need to continue educating the public on this issue,
because it's too critical to the quality of our life, and to, uh, not wasting
our resources by not building, uh, to a level that we should. Uh, finally, I
would like to say that. . . that I also support, and I know this is being
discussed, arId that is some kind of community recognition program, uh,
that, uh, shines the spotlight on those who do provide universal designs in
their houses, because I think it's importarIt that people understarId the
value of that, and how it makes their life easier, and it's not just for those
that are aged or mobility impaired, but it's for everybody that's choosing
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to move about their home. So, while you may not choose to support these
amendments tonight, hopefully we can agree to the value of these things,
and we can continue this discussion and hopefully come up with, uh,
program that will, that will, uh, uh, get the word out and continue to, uh,
encourage this type of design in housing. Thank you.
Thank you. Okay, members of the public, please state your name for the
record, and limit your comments to five minutes or less. State your name
again for the record and...
Hi, my name is Marilyn Belman. I'm from 3458 Killarney Road, and I
live in such a house. You folks helped build the first one where I got the
idea, and um, when I lived in a beautiful 1905 house, I could no longer do
the steps. Um, and so we sold it to Tim Dwight, and now it's, it is close to
campus, but it doesn't, it doesn't have to be something I have to concern
myself with. The house that we built is very much like the house that you
folks built on B Street, the Sackett house. Um, I think what I wanted to
say most of all is that, um, visitability is something I think that maybe it
only comes to people as an important issue if somebody in their family
needs it, and I think that's why I was lucky to have Ben Moore as my
builder. Ben's dad was in a wheelchair, and he had a special sensitivity to
people being in wheelchairs and when I called out to Earlville, the home
I'm going, that I went to my 50th anniversary, 50th reunion for, I wanted to
make sure that there was a home that I could get into where they were
having the meal. Low and behold, it was a visitable house, in Earlville,
Illinois, population 1,300. (laughter) And so the idea's catching on. I
have a list here, if you want to see it, of folks afterwards. It goes Florida,
George, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Vermont, Minnesota, New Mexico,
Kansas, Illinois, Oregon, Kentucky, New Jersey, Michigan - these are all
different levels of, and some are mandatory and some are voluntary, but
it's an idea whose time has come, and I guess my personal experience has
been, um, after I began to have difficulty from the brain tumor I had in 77,
I began falling, and I fell five times in three months, and my doctor said
you're not walking anymore. (laughter) Independently.. . get rid of that
cane and that walker. You're going to be in a wheelchair or a scooter, and
I have both a wheelchair and a scooter now, and I think part of me was
blown away when they said that. Another part of me was cocky. I built
the right kind of house. (laughter) And I think I owe a lot to you folks
who were on that initial planning, because that's where it all started with
me, and uh, I think that, I know it's difficult for some people to grasp how
important it is, but I know I can tell you from first-hand experience that
when I knew I could go home and roll in my door, and I could go to the
bathroom with grab bars, and I could feel safety, and every place in my
house, I can roll out to the deck, I can roll into the garage. They built that
house, of course mine has 36-inch doors, but my wheelchair I think is only
27 inches. Um, and I think that those kinds of factors are...I remember,
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Dee, you once saying in something where voting on quality of life is such
a big issue, and I think that's what I think of when I think of this, is that
my quality oflife has been greatly enhanced by the kind of house I live in,
and I think a lot of other states are jumping onboard arId saying, "Wow!
This is something that just makes sense," and you look at Iowa and the
population. It makes sense here too. Urn, so, what I wanted to do besides
just say that was, please come and see it. (laughter) Open invitation -
I've already got, uh, Regenia, I'm trying to pronounce your name. Do you
pronounce Regina, don't you? Yeah, um, she came out last weekend, and
please do come and see it. I think you'll see once you see the house arId
you see me in it and how I function, you'll see what an important measure
it is to consider, and how even though you may not make the decision
tonight, I think over time you'll start to think of that as a valuable aspect
of our livable community. Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Jordan Petis, uh, Solon, Iowa, 61 Solon Road. I'm President and Owner
of Corridor Design Inc. I specialize in home residential designs. I, uh,
help people with disabilities arId accessibility needs in their home, and this
is a growing area, and I feel this is a community issue. This should not be
a private sector issue. It should not have anything to do with the
Homebuilder's Association. They make their money doing what they do.
This is a community problem, and these are the problems that this board
was elected to solve. And the house that are being built today are not
substantially different than the houses that were being built in 1945, as far
as design. They still have basements, they still have stairs, and they still
will only function for arI individual that has a life expectancy of 45 to 50
or 60 years old and is perfectly healthy. Our mainstream people are living
upwards towards 100 years old. We really need to start looking and be
progressive with this. Fear stifles any kind ofleadership, and you're going
to hear all kinds of people say this shouldn't be done or can't be done.
Well, it can be done and it should be done. It doesn't cost money. It's
common sense, not dollars and cents. We need to take a proactive,
community stance on this. We have a very, you have a very unique
situation down here and relationship with the University of Iowa and they
serve a large community of individuals that have their services because of
some kind of disability, upwards of 10% of the disability community in
this area needs housing of this type, and a home is no longer a home when
you're told you got to leave because you've got to drag yourself into your
bed or into your bathroom. That's all I gotta say.
Thank you.
Ellen Widiss, and I did not come prepared to speak to this and haven't
even looked at this part of the agenda, but having watched, uh, cousins in
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another state have to move from a lovely but impossible home when my
cousin became wheelchair bound in his forties, um, I can only say, Yes! I
mean the more people, the more homes that are designed with this need in
mind, the more we simplify life for people, and improve life for people.
Things happen unexpectedly, and um, you know, it is important to the
community, and you know, as our country ages, as the population ages,
it's only going to become more important. So, please do consider it in the
future.
Thank you.
My name is Louise Young. I am the Chairperson of the Coalition for
Persons With Disabilities, and I'm speaking on behalf of the Coalition,
and also on behalf of some of my own experience in this regard. We were
very much involved in input on the design of the first universal design
house on B Street, and the two people that purchased that home found that
it was very helpful for them, to be in one that they could move around in
and get access to everything they needed. And, it is so very important
when you run into the situation, for instance, if you have too small a space
in the kitchen, and you do not have the proper kind of shelving that allows
you to pull out the parts of the shelf so you can get to it to get your
equipment, it makes it that much harder for you to prepare your meals.
Uh, having the space to get into the bathroom readily, or to, if you have to
use a wheelchair, to come right into a shower instead of having to try to
heist yourself over a, over the edge of a tub. These things are very
important and uh, my latest experience on that, I do babysit my grandkids
in North Liberty. Now my children, my son and his wife when they built
their house, built a pre- fab house. It is not a universal design house, and
there are some aspects of it that do sometimes pose a challenge to me
when coming into the house, or going down to the rec room. In a
universal design house there'd be a lot less of that, and the kids will run
into a situation, should one of them be immobilized or an accident
happened to one of their kids where they're immobilized, where they
might find that it's not terribly handy to be in a non-universal design
house. I think that the code to require the universal design housing in
affordable housing is very important.
Thank you. Would anyone else care to address the Council in the public
hearing?
I was waiting, Your Honor, thinking that there might be somebody that
would be speaking against, but I gather there's not anyone that wants to
speak against.
Well, there's still more public hearing left. Bob, I'll need you to state
your name for the record.
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Bob Welsh, 84 Penfro. Let me ask you, Your Honor, I'm here
representing, uh, the Johnson County Livable Community for Successful
Aging policy group, uh, could I speak on their behalf, and then later speak
as an individual?
Um...
Or do I need to speak to both at the same time?
I will, uh, allow you to speak a second time, provided everyone who
wishes to have a chance to speak will go first.
On behalf of the Johnson County Livable Community for Successful
Aging policy board, let me read the statement so that those who are
listening to this on television hear this. The Johnson County Livable
Community for Successful Aging policy board is supportive of all efforts,
underline all efforts, to make sure that the future housing stock in Iowa
City and throughout the County, enables persons to remain in their home.
Age in place. Survey after survey indicates one, uh, done by the Johnson
County Consortium on Successful Aging, shows that over 90% of seniors
want to age in place, but we know that home modifications needed are
often too expensive to allow persons to do so. Iowa City can lead in the
effort to build a housing stock that allows persons to age in place. We
support an aggressive educational program; however, we recognize that
change often has not come from voluntary action alone, but only after
rules and regulations have been adopted. Nationally, the ARP and its
publication, Beyond 5005, advocates that communities should promote
universal design and visitability. The blueprint for action developed by,
for a livable community just released last month by the National
Association of Area Agencies on Aging suggests that communities should
encourage universal design and visitability in new housing construction.
We believe that the proposal before you from the Board of Appeals
contains minimal universal design features and visitability standards that
benefit not only those who are older, but persons of all ages, young
mothers with a small child in a stroller, or the person who is temporarily
or permanently disabled. All benefit from the four features in this
proposal. We urge you to adopt this section of the Code. In addition, we
hope that Iowa City will explore incentives to homebuilders who chose to
promote and build homes incorporating universal design features, which
as you know is far more extensive than the proposal before you. We also
assure you that the policy board is committed to working with the
Homebuilder's Association and local government officials to establish a
certification program for homes incorporating universal design features.
Discussions have already taken place and all parties have so far agreed
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that such a program should be developed and would have broad appeal.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Good evening. My name is Dan Smith. I'm here tonight on behalf of the
Greater Iowa City Area Home Builder's Association. Letme first say,
state perhaps the obvious, we are here tonight in opposition of the ease of
use amendments. Let me preface my comments first by saying we do
appreciate the efforts by Doug Boothroy and Tim Hennes. We've always
enjoyed a very good working relationship with them. They've been
tremendous in outreach and we have, I think, always very productive
conversations with them. As Doug has mentioned, the goal may be
shared, but the means by which we attain that goal, we differ on. We do
support the building codes, aside from the ease of use amendments. And
in may, I want to articulate the Homebuilder's position on universal
design, in a sub-set of that category, ease of use. Since 2002, we've been
working on our own to educate and promote universal design concepts to
our members and to consumers. We believe our efforts have been
successful to a degree. Part of the challenge, of course, is trying to
determine how successful. We have no ability to monitor or report or
track what people chose or chose not to put into their homes. Not
everyone chooses universal design or ease of use features, even when
apprised of the benefits. We had one member who spoke on, at the Board
of Appeals meeting, unfortunately he's not here tonight. Sat down with a
customer and explains a number of options, such as zero-step entrances,
wider doors, lower countertops, walk-in bath.. .this customer chose only
the wider doors, and I'm not sure it was throughout the entire home, but I
know it was at least on the entrance. Was that customer wrong? Was
their judgment for the home they purchased wrong? That's an issue that
this Council needs to think for, and think through. We believe that
homeowner, and all homeowners, should have the utmost ability to design
their homes that they are paying for, based upon their preferences, needs,
financial, and familial situation. One other thing I think is very important
to mention is that multi-family housing (coughing) excuse me, is already
covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act and Federal Housing
Administration. They already have multi-family apartments,
condominiums, they already have zero-step entrance requirements. They
have clear floor space requirements, and they have wider doorway
requirements on the ground level. That includes apartment complexes and
condominium developments where there's an elevator. My understanding
that one exception is the ground floor has the accessibility requirements; if
there's no elevator, only stairs, perhaps for obvious reasons, those
accessibility requirements do not, uh, do not apply. So there is some
housing stock available. The trick is, of course, single-family. And like I
said, we've been working, and Joan Tiemeyer, our Executive Director,
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will speak to this in greater detail, on promoting universal design and ease
of use, as it fits each individual customer. The second matter I would like
to talk about is cost and design. I don't think there should be any dispute,
there should be no ambiguity, these will cost money. We may disagree to
the extent because that extent will depend upon the individual home that's
being purchased and being constructed. I would also like to draw a
distinction that was mentioned, an example that was mentioned at the
work session last evening about publicly assisted housing. It's not quite
an exact comparison, the financial mechanism, the financial packages
involved are different. Purchasing power is different, and the bargaining
power is different, then it is in the private market. As far as the individual,
discrete components of their proposal, as has been indicated, we would
agree to outlets and switches, the cost is probably negligible. The only
issue we've ever heard with that is a potential safety concerns with the
location of outlets, which is being eye level with children. That's the only
thing we've ever heard about that. I don't think it's a real cost issue.
Bathrooms - again - and this will be a recurring theme. Is the amount of
space sacrificed due to increased, sort of defining itself, with the more
room you have for open space, the less room you have for livable space.
The over, and the effect that will have on the overall design of the home.
And the wider doors - as Doug has mentioned, the doors themselves will
be more expensive. We believe that it could be more than $10.00 per
door. That's if you're using a very basic door, presumably if you use a
more expensive door, and that applies to all interior doors in the ground
level, uh, accessible level of the house, including walk-in closets. And
like with the bathrooms, we are concerned with the systemic effect on the
overall design of that home. Again, it's a zero-step. This is potentially
significant cost. First like to draw a distinction again, or to highlight a
comment that was made at the work session and perhaps a belief that
exists that this is not a requirement, per se. That's not true. This, the way
the Code is written now, this is absolutely required, unless, but the default
is a zero-step entrance will be constructed, unless of course you can show
on your plans that you have allowed, accommodated for one to be built in
the future. Now the obvious cost is construction, whether it's built today
or tomorrow. Another cost though is that every single-family home
because they often are different and unique based upon on consumer
preference will be, will have to be engineered. Every single family home
will have to have an engineered entranceway. And again, as with the clear
open space and the wider doors, we are concerned with the systemic effect
this will have on reduced living space. Taken together as a whole, our
design concerns is that any time you increase the regulatory cost,
particularly ones that dictate actual design features of a home, you will
lessen the ability to differentiate and innovate on housing designs. And
this is particularly true on smaller starter homes. A last concern is more
the fundamental values, if I may borrow a phrase from... that came up at
last night's work session.
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Dan, you're going to have to wind this up. You've...
I'm sorry?
You're going to have to start wrapping this up.
Sure. Weare first concerned that this but the first step in a more
expansive universal design effort. Uh, we believe that these are the first
four features in what is likely to come down the road as more aggressive
features, and further intrusion into the single-family home. And again
with fundamental values, one of the fundamental values we absolutely
stand for are private property rights. We believe the Iowa City community
is a better and more vibrant place when these private property rights are
respected and encouraged. As a matter of policy, we simply believe local
government should not be involved in the design of people's homes, and
it's important to note, rejecting the mandatory approach in no way, in no
way, ends the conversation. The housing question that's out there, as Joan
Tiemeyer will speak to, continue the work, continue their productive
work, and proceed with a voluntary effort that respects private property
rights. I have some alternatives listed, some things for consideration, but
I'll submit those in writing. If there's any questions, I'll be happy to
answer them, um, I'll be here. So, I thank you for your time and
consideration.
Good evening, I'm Joan Tiemeyer, Executive Officer for the Home
Builder's Association. Um, I've been working very closely with the
Johnson County Livable Community Aging.. . for Successful Aging. I
know many of you people are on that task force and it's been a pleasure to
work with a group of people like that, that are trying to accomplish
something that definitely is good for our community. I mean, we're not
disagreeing the fact that.. .that some of these features need to be built into
the homes themselves. We have a meeting tomorrow to talk about the
progress that this group has been made, but it's not just housing. It's
managing and creating resources. It's health and supportive services that
kind of all need to work together, as a community. We need to, we need
to come together and try to bring as many groups as possible so that we
can start building housing stock for people that definitely need those types
of services. I was on the Housing Action Team, and we have been trying
to work with the Homebuilder's Association to promote universal design
and ease of use standards. Um, we've talked about things like an easy
living certification, or some type of seal that would entice our builders to
build and construct homes that have these particular standards. The
progress could be monitored. These are some of the things we've talked
about, by the building department, so then we would have an idea of what
builders are building these homes to those specifications, and they could
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also be, there could be some type of incentive for that particular builder to
build this type of housing. I know there's several custom builders that do
work with, you know, the elderly, and they do incorporate some of those
designs in their homes. We've seen them on the Parade of Homes. You'll
see it in the Remodeler's Parade, which is in October. We've also did, uh,
what. we called a tech home at the Iowa City Home and Builder's Show,
that featured universal design concepts. I have literature in my office. I
promote education for certification, CAPS, which is Certified Aging in
Place Specialist. 1...I think the only thing we disagree on is the fact that it
should not be mandated, that it should be market-driven, that we should
continue to work with our builders, continue to work with the resources
that we have in this community to build housing stock that are needed for
people in our community. And we're talking about maybe 10 or 15% of
the people that need this type of housing. There are people that want that
type of housing, but there are also people that do not, and I believe federal
regulators have looked at this when they went through the code cycle, and
they determined that there may be housing stock that would have to be
exempt from that, because I don't think split levels, maybe even some of
the homes that are being built in the Peninsula, not real sure, you know, a
step less entry in some of those things would actually work in some of
those houses and some of those new developments. So, I ask you to just,
you know, think about a marketing approach, and continuing to work with
the resources in this group that's meeting tomorrow, to really try to do
something good for the community, and I think we'll probably be very
successful, based on the people and the resources that we have.
Thank you. I need to open it up for anyone who has not had an
opportunity to speak first. Okay? And if anyone is coming up a second
time, I would ask that you, if you're presenting new information, that
would be helpful for the Council.
I do support (unable to understand) but some day we all going to be
disabled, and (unable to understand)
Could you restate your name for the record, please, so we know your
comment?
Mark Brown.
Thank you, Mark. Would anyone else who has not had an opportunity to
speak to the public hearing, please come forward if you wish. Bob, did
you want to continue? And again, please limit your comments to five
minutes or less.
Bob Welsh, 84 Penfro. Uh, I always had the problem when I was a
minister of, uh, separating that I was not representing the Church when I
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spoke. And I probably have that same problem tonight. I'm not now my
remarks representing the policy board that I chair. Um, I pointed out to
you that the demographics are changing. In the year 2000, the Census
projected that, uh, by 2005 there would be 8,729 persons 65 plus, and by
2010 there would be 9,511. Interesting enough, when the 2005 population
came out, it was 9,042, only 29 persons short of what was projected for
2010. So, we are facing a demographic change, and we need to build a
housing stock that will serve these persons. Mandatory is not a bad word.
All rules and regulations are mandatory. Now, if you don't want to do
mandatory things, then fire Eleanor and don't have your rules and
regulations. The fact of the matter is, is that I cannot build any kind of a
house that I want in Iowa City. Fact is, that the minimal standards before
you are minimal in cost. And third, the building code should not only
insure the physical integrity and safety of the structure, it should assure
that usable homes are being constructed. Let me assure you that
personally, uh, I will work with all parties to help assure that Johnson
County in all aspects of its life become a place where persons can age
successfully. I personally support a large and aggressive educational
program, but I personally know from experience that education alone
needs to lead towards rules and regulations. And so I personally hope that
you will adopt these. I'm a little bothered about the comments that were
made in your statements about the rezoning, first rezoning matter. That
sort of indicated that the decision's been made not to approve this. I
appreciate, Mayor, your statements saying a determination hadn't been
made, uh, I'm not sure what that...I wasn't there last night so I'm not sure
what considerations you made at this point, but I do hope that, uh, in light
of the public hearing and the comments that have been made by persons
that, uh, you will adopt these building codes. Thank you.
Thank you.
I have been hearing from the Home Builder's people that there are only a
certain percentage that need the universal housing design. Uh, I don't
think that's necessarily so. Anyone of us can have a disability, uh, now
before 95, I had no particular problem on where I could go in a housing
situation, but then I broke my leg, and boy that really raised some royal
challenges getting me back to my apartment from the emergency room at
the hospital, to start with. Uh, the point is, anybody can have a disability
any time. It would be a shame to have a person have to give up a house
they had just had built because it didn't have some preparation for that in
it that allowed them to stay in that house. Also, it does not have to harm
creativity in the design of the house to have certain minimum standard
rules like this in place. The.. . some of the best designs that come up in art,
in architecture, come up because of limitations that people have to work
with.
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Wilburn: Louise, can you please restate your name for the... that's alright. Louise
Young was the prior comment. Okay.
Young: Okay, my name is Louise Young from Iowa City.
Wilburn: Thank you, Louise. Okay, folks, um, I realize this is a passionate issue. If
you have some new information that the Council has not heard. Okay, all
right. I'll give you two minutes.
Petis: My name's Jordan Petis, I'm a Solon resident and I do a lot of business in
town, but I, it should also, you only have so much building space to build
with. You're only going to be able to keep up with so much infrastructure.
You're only going to be able to build so many houses in the areas that are
going to be adaptable to this type of construction. I strongly recommend
that you use the same guidelines like they do in the ADA on residential, or
commercial buildings. There's grade regulations that could be very easily
adapted for guidelines on this issue that could be run through the housing
department. I don't see where it runs into problems in zoning; it'd be a
great requirement, just like it is in the ADA. Don't fall to this fear thing.
It does not cost that much. It's a common sense approach to a housing
need that your community's going to face. Thank you very much.
Wilburn: Okay, thank you. Public hearing (pounds gavel) is closed.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
O'Donnell: So moved.
Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef to accept correspondence. All those in favor say
aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0. Need someone to place the
ordinance on the floor.
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
O'Donnell: Move first consideration.
Correia: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Champion: I can start. I don't think any ofthese ideas are bad. I don't think I want to
mandate them for every single house being built, for a couple reasons. I
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Bailey:
Elliott:
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think it does limit style. Um, I also think it. . .it isolates people. I am
willing to do through policy that we do have some of this going on in new
construction. We can do that through policy like the situation that came
up tonight with this large development. We can make that part of our
policy that a certain percentage of those houses or a certain number will be
built this way, and then you don't get this cookie-cutter approach to
construction. I'm totally willing to work with the Homebuilder's and with
the groups with disabilities, and the usable living or aging, whatever
that...I wrote it down but I can't read my own handwriting. I think we can
work with them to come up with, um, a way to get some of this done on a
regular basis, but not every single piece of construction.
I agree with you, Connie. I think that, this has been one of the most
difficult issues that I've faced on Council, and.. . and I'm trying to figure
out a little bit why, and part of it has to do with what, um, we're trying to
do for people in helping them prepare, and I think it crosses a line, for me.
I live in an 80-year-old house. I won't probably be able to age in it. I'm
clear on that, and we were clear when we purchased it. That was a choice
we made consciously, and people make conscious house choices. It's not
necessarily for me to say what you should choose or not choose. It is,
however, for us to consider what our community needs and I think
Connie's point is well taken, that we can get at this in other ways. I have
concerns about homogenization of neighborhoods. New construction
tends to happen at the edges of town. The isolation question is not
without. . .I have a lot of concerns about that. There would be implications
about transit, expectations about transit, um, I think that this needs to be
looked at in a broader policy sense, what it would do for how we build a
community. So, whereas I think that these are great ideas for people who
choose them, and for certain percentages of homes, because we are an
aging population and people should have housing options, I'm not
prepared at this time to mandate these kinds of ease of use requirements in
our building code and um, I find myself in a very odd position agreeing
with Bob tonight (laughter).
I also would be, uh, in favor of an education program. I would be in favor
of the City providing, um, encouragement, providing incentives for doing
this. I think that there is a way of informally working with builders and
those people who are paying to have their homes built to have a
percentage of those that would have some of these characteristics that are
very badly needed. Marilyn Belman and I had a very good conversation
this morning, and she aid, 'Boy, Bob, you really do have an opinion on
this, don't you?' And I said, 'Yes, I'm afraid I do.' I respect the people
who are for this because they are very sincere in what they see as a need
and how it can be so very helpful, but I am not in favor of my city saying
that the home in which my wife and I live is so bad that no more homes
like that can be built. The home that my neighbor, John and Cathy
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Christianson live, is so bad that no more can ever be built. Same with
Regenia's home, same with Connie's home, and I would be in favor of
encouragement, incentives, working for something that is needed for a
percentage of homes built, but not universal, not required.
O'Donnell: And I agree with Bob and Connie and Regenia, um, and it's impossible
not to have a good conversation with Marilyn, but individual property
rights do come into play here. Um, when you come into our home, an
indoor community, you should be able to expect you can build the home
that you want to build, you're paying for it. Um, I agree that it should be
market driven, um, and incentives must be offered, and it should not be
mandatory. I guess the bottom line with me is I really don't think that the
City should design my home. That's an individual choice.
Wilburn: I do support, um, this as presented. I think they are minimal standards. I
think that, uh, um, this is something that we can do, um, it is a aging
community. It's been recognized by several, uh, journals, magazines that
this is a place to retire, but also in terms of just, um, the fact that, uh,
anyone can incur a condition where their mobility is limited, and there are
communities that have done this on a voluntary basis, and I speculate that
more and more will move from voluntary to mandatory, because the
market is not responding in those communities, and I don't believe it will
here either. I'm hopeful that it will and the folks that are, uh, willing to
continue to work towards this, and Council, I hope there's ways that we
can come up to provide some type of incentive or those things, because I
think everyone recognizes that it is important. It's just a difference in
philosophy, and I believe that this is something that we can do, so I will be
supporting it.
Correia: Well, I want to take this opportunity to disclose my involvement on the
Livable Community for Successful Aging policy board. I did talk with
Eleanor. We had a conversation abut whether my involvement on the
policy board would be, could be considered a conflict of interest with
this. . . this issue before the Council. Um, I do represent, my position on
the policy board is representing the County, as my employer, I mean, I'm
representing the County, um, as appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
It's not a policy recommendation from the Board of Supervisors from the
policy board, uh, I have been, I've been co-chairing the Housing Action
Team that's been part of this grassroots effort, um, I've been very
encouraged and heartened by the collaboration that's been going on in the
community, which I think is a deeper level of collaboration and effort, uh,
going into trying to increase housing stock, production, um, for universal
design. I have to say, um, that I do feel torn about this, um, tonight,
whether, you know, you sit up here it's different from when you're in a, at
a policy board meeting, um, and think it is a good idea. You know, there
are examples of communities that are doing this. Now, of course, I'm not
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visiting that community to.. .to get a sense of how homogenization of
housing stock, that, you know, if something that, um, you know, there are
communities that I see as I'm traveling that the housing all looks the same,
and that's not something that we have a value here, in this community,
um, I do, and what I do hope, you know, the Bolingbrook example, and I
have just given a policy brief to you all yesterday that this is not a position
paper, it just lists different communities and the things that they have
done, um, in the past to support the usability and the visitability and some
of those. . .the Bolingbrook, Illinois example, particularly, was voluntary,
that moved to mandatory. Not because the market wasn't responding, but
because the market was really, had really embraced it and they were pretty
much doing it, and so it was just sort of a validation of how the market had
responded, um, and there was wide-spread support of all of the different
stakeholders in that community, um, which is something that, um, I value,
um, especially on this issue. Um, I'm wondering, because I'm hearing
that there are four folks on the body that aren't supportive of all of these
measures. What I'm wondering is ifthere, um, ifthere maybe support to,
um, keep some items. Well, I'm looking at the electrical outlets which I
feel like is not, you know, where the electrical and the switches are now,
you know, I didn't.. .that's the way it is, and so it seems that's something
that we change, if that's the way that is, I mean, that's a very hard to
renovate later, and the doorway passages, again, when we want to go back
and remodel, that's something that's very, um, expensive to do the doors,
and it sounds like it could be a minimal expense, some expense, but less
expensive than maybe a no-step entry, um, and the main floor bathroom.
The other thing that, Irvine, California in the city of Irvine passed a
mandatory consumer education law which requires builders and
consumers to go through a checklist of that, at least there's that. ..that
information is required to be given, and then consumers then can say yes
or no (coughing, unable to hear) information. So, I'm wondering if
that's.. .
Champion: I'm not willing to concede that now, Amy. I am willing, um, to have staff
or have a combination of Council people and staff and Homebuilder's.. .or
come up with some ideas on how we can get some of this done. Um, all
four things done in a certain amount of houses, Ijust don't like this
cookie-cutter approach to it, and um, so I'm certainly willing to move on
from here, but I'm not willing to vote on that tonight.
Vanderhoef: Well, I'm the only one who hasn't said anything yet tonight, so I guess I
better let you know where I stand. Uh, just for information, I helped my
parents design a component home back in the late 70's, and I told them
they could not build it without 40-inch doors, which were really big doors,
and my mother complained a little bit because it cut down on the powder
table in the bathroom and I said well, if you can't get into the bathroom,
you're not going to need the powder table anyway. So, uh, that's part of
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it, so that was a component home that was built and moved in on basement
and foundation. I also helped a mother-in-law here in town do one, and
uh, she was not very receptive to it, and yet, she was 78 at the time we
were building this house, and I said well, if you ever need it, uh, it would
be nice to be able to wheel a wheelchair around here and be sure to get it
into a bathroom, if you needed it. And the reply I got was, 'Well, ifI have
to I will, however, you're just building this for someone else.' About 18
months later, she was in a wheelchair, for a very brief time, but she
appreciated the ability to handle herself. So I have deep, uh, sympathy
and strong feelings about this. Where I have a problem is, um, weighing
the difference between mandatory and doing it, uh, in a more gradual way.
I think we could come up with policy that would make sure that we would
have this mixed kind of housing, we wouldn't be eliminating any style of
housing. Uh, I will work for that right away. I would, uh, strongly
recommend in our education that the 40-inch or, in this case they're only
talking 34-inch, uh, doors, but I'll tell you, those doors, there are some
bathroom doors right now you can't even get a walker through it, and I
assisted my neighbors this last winter, uh, but we had one that was a
roller-walker, but we couldn't take it into the bathroom, and there was, it
took two people to assist this person, because you had to have one go into
the bathroom ahead and one behind in case they got dizzy. So, it's.. .it's a
space problem, uh, I recognize it. The space problem is expensive. I
recognize that, and how we can, uh, redesign, uh, I have seen designs that,
uh, created closets that would be the extension of a bathroom space, a
powder room space, uh, I don't need to get into designing tonight. What I
would like to do is put an amendment on the floor that said we will do the
switches and the plugs, and the wider doors.
Correia: Is that a motion?
Vanderhoef: That is a motion.
Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef to, and seconded by Correia, to do the switches,
wider doors, and the plugs, correct? Um, discussion on the amendment?
Elliott: I would be willing to discuss that. As a matter of fact, I would like very
much to discuss it in the future, but I would not support that tonight.
O'Donnell: I also will not support it tonight, uh, but, um, would be agreeable to
discuss it down the road.
Wilburn: Okay. Can I get a roll call on the amendment, which includes, um, the
switches, the plugs, and the doors.
Karr: .. .just the motion to amend.
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Wilburn: Just the motion to amend. The amendment fails 3 to 4, um, Correia,
Vanderhoef, and Wilburn in the affirmative. We're back to the main
motion, which includes all of them. Any other discussion?
Dilkes: Now if you want to proceed with the rest of the Building Code...
Wilburn: An amendment to remove the usability...
Dilkes: .. .may want to amend it to remove the usability requirement. So we can
proceed with the rest of the. ..
Bailey: So moved.
Champion: . . . the original motion.
Wilburn: (several talking) It's already been...
Karr: . . . as presented.
Wilburn: .. .as presented. There's been a motion by Bailey to remove the usability,
uh, requirements.
Champion: Second.
Wilburn: Seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Correia: So, can I just review what we've agreed that we want to talk about,
and.. . and can we agree when we want to start talking about those, so it
doesn't get lost. So we wanted to talk about policy issues related to
rezoning agreements, or broadly related to zoning.. .
Bailey: Think we need to figure out what we can do, and what we can require, and
how we would want to proceed with that. Connie talked about
percentages. Connie talked about doing it with the CZA. Eleanor
indicated that that would be challenging. I think that that would be a good
first work session approach, is finding out what the parameters would be, I
think, and then we could go from there.
Correia: Well, I mean, I think the other thing. ..I guess I just didn't want to lose the
other, that thing that I heard would be talking about incentives.
Champion: Yeah, we talked about that too, but we're just going to have to have time
in a work session to bring.. . and the Home Builder's Association might
have some ideas.
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Elliott: I think, Amy, that we have indicated very sincere interest in most, ifnot
all of these things, uh, whether it's, uh, in one form or another, and let's sit
down and talk and see how we can best address this.
Correia: I mean, is that something that we can work with Dale to. get scheduled, I
mean, because we have a lot. . .
Wilburn: We have a lot of things that we have not, that we've been adding to the
work session. I suspect this would have to be later in the year, or possibly
the next Council. That's just being real with what's.. .what we've been
adding to.. .go ahead, Eleanor.
Dilkes: Just based on what I've heard, and what I know now, it looks like there's
going to have to be some, um, background work done by probably the
Planning staff to figure out what other, both in terms of incentives and
then less than universal mandatory requirements, are the two things I'm
hearing you want to look at. There's just going to have to be some
research done on that before we can bring it back to you, I think.
Correia: Is that something we can direct research to be done and brought back?
Bailey: I think we need to clarify what we want to get though, right?
O'Donnell: Well we'll have to do that at a work session, won't we?
Dilkes: Yeah, I think if you, I think if you outline. . . those are the two things that
I'm taking from you now. If you want to be more specific and have more
discussion about where you want to direct us to look, then you're going to
have to have a work session about it, before we can start looking at it.
Wilburn: There's a.. .um, there's a motion on the floor to amend this to remove
these ability standards, or requirements, so this is, uh, a roll call to remove
the usability requirements. The amendment passes; Vanderhoef, Correia,
and Wilburn in the negative. Now we have, um, this as presented, minus
the usability requirements, and it was pointed out that, 00, that, uh,
everyone is pretty much in agreement with the rest of these. So, roll call.
Vanderhoef: This is on the amendment?
Wilburn: This is on. . .
Karr: This is on the ordinance.
Wilburn: This is on the ordinance that has just been amended.
Elliott: Sans. . . usability.
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Wilburn:
Minus the usability. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 9
AMENDING SECTION 17, CHAPTER 4, MECHANICAL CODE,
BY ADOPTING THE 2006 EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
MECHANICAL CODE PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL
CODE COUNCIL, AND PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN
AMENDMENTS THEREOF; TO PROVIDE FOR THE
PROTECTION OF THE HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY OF
THE CITIZENS OF IOWA CITY, IOWA.
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Wilburn:
This is a public hearing. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is open. (pounds
gavel) Public hearing is closed.
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Bailey: Move first consideration.
O'Donnell: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Elliott: No appurtenances? (laughter)
Wilburn: And I appreciate that! (laughter)
Elliott: Oh!
Wilburn: I'm just glad that I can, you know, say that and...I do not know how to
pronounce that word. Uh, roll call, please. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 10
AMENpING CITY CODE TITLE 17, ENTITLED "BUILDING
AND HOUSING," CHAPTER 13, ENTITLED "FUEL GAS CODE,"
BY ADOPTING THE 2006 EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
FUEL GAS CODE PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL
CODE COUNCIL AND PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN
AMENDMENTS THEREOF TO PROVIDE FOR THE
PROTECTION OF THE HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY OF
THE CITIZENS OF IOWA CITY, IOWA.
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Wilburn:
This is a public hearing. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is open. (pounds
gavel) Public hearing is closed.
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Champion: Move first consideration.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Champion, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Roll call.
Item carries 7-0. Except now the world knows that I can't pronounce that
word since we're live-stream on the web. (laughter)
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ITEM 11
AMENDING TITLE 7, CHAPTER 1, FIRE PREVENTION AND
PROTECTION, BY ADOPTING THE 2006 EDITION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE TO REGULATE AND GOVERN
THE SAFEGUARDING OF LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM FIRE
AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS ARISING FROM THE STORAGE,
HANDLING AND USE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES,
MATERIALS AND DEVICES, AND FROM CONDITIONS
HAZARDOUS TO LIFE OR PROPERTY IN THE OCCUPANCY
OF BUILDING AND PREMISES IN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY
AND PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS.
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Wilburn:
This is the public hearing. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is open.
(pounds gavel) Public hearing is closed.
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
O'Donnell: Move first consideration.
Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion?
Correia: Just want to thank the Fire Department for doing all of these.
Bailey: And for answering all the questions last night. (laughter)'
Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0. Anybody need a break? Okay, we'll take a
break for ten minutes. (BREAK)
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ITEM 13 CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, CHAPTER 9-
3B OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF IOWA CITY, IOWA
AND AMENDING THE BOUNDARY OF VOTING PRECINCT 16
IN IOWA CITY TO REFLECT A BOUNDARY CHANGE TO THE
CORPORATE LIMITS OF IOWA CITY. (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
O'Donnell: Move...
Bailey: I move that, I was going to expedite.
O'Donnell: Oh, you're going to...
Bailey: Want to expedite? (several talking) I 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.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Vanderhoef to expedite. Discussion on
expediting? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
Bailey: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Boundary
change reflects some annexations that occurred recently. Roll call.
Champion: Can I ask a.. . ask a question? Do we need to expedite this for...
Wilburn: We just did.
Champion: Oh! (laughter)
Bailey: You voted to expedite this, Connie. (laughter)
Wilburn: Item carries 7-0.
Elliott: Mr. Mayor, if somebody just tuned in, could we explain that we get kind
of squirrelly after two and a half minutes?
Wilburn: I think you just did! (laughter) I think you're all just trying to help me out
because I couldn't pronounce that word earlier. (laughter)
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ITEM 14 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO
SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A LEASE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND
FOUR OAKS FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES FOR
OPERATION OF A CHILD CARE CENTER AT 1516 SHERIDAN
AVENUE.
Correia: Move the resolution.
Champion: Move the resolution. . . second.
Wilburn: Moved by Correia, seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Champion: Really glad to see this continue.
Correia: Uh-huh, really good program! They offer the pursuing adventures in
learning, which is a...a daycare program for children that have behavioral
problems, and can't be maintained in the mainstream childcare. They do
really fabulous work at this program. So...
Elliott: Thanks! I didn't, I had no idea of that. Thank you.
Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 15 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING
THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO
ATTEST AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT FOR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY AND MULLIN & LONERGAN ASSOCIATES FOR
THE PREPARATION OF AN ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO
FAIR HOUSING.
Wilburn: I have a conflict of interest, and will not be voting on this item.
Bailey: (reads Item 15)
Correia: Move the resolution.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Correia, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion?
Elliott: Talked with Steve Long about this. This is something that's required by
the federal government, and we're paying for it with federal funds.
Correia: Uh-huh, and we're.. .based on the memo, we're getting a good deal too,
since we've already contracted with them. They're already gathering
much of the data that they need to use, so it's at a reduced cost than if we
were going out.. .new contract or waiting and doing it later in the contract.
So...
Bailey: We're doing it with staff resources that would take much longer.
Correia: Yeah, it would take longer. Yep.
Vanderhoef: I was curious, um, whether we had actually, uh, budgeted in our CDBG
Administration Funds, uh, to pay for this additional study. I know we can
pay it with CDBG monies, but did we budget that much?
Helling: I don't think it was budgeted for this year, but it's $10,000 and it can be
covered.
Vanderhoef: So there's enough space in there, to do that? Okay.. . (several talking).
Correia: .. .my understanding from the memo too is that (unable to hear).
Vanderhoef: Okay, so we don't have to flex any other monies someplace else?
Correia: No.
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Helling: No, not to my knowledge.
Vanderhoef: And then this time schedule, uh, when I read through it, uh, on the various
deliverables and so forth, does this mean it's going to be a full seven
months before we get the entire housing study done? Because that's what
it's, uh...
Bailey: The impediments study, or the full housing study? Which are you
referring to?
Vanderhoef: Well, the.. .they're using part of the housing study, but it would seem to
me that the impediments go along with.. .with the housing study. So, how
would we start our conversation on the housing study, uh, if we don't
know what some of these impediments are?
Correia: Well, the impediments are impediments to fair housing.
Bailey: . . . fair housing.
Correia: Which is a little bit. . .
Vanderhoef: Yeah, but that's...that's part of the discussion.
Correia: Yes, but I don't think it's going to hold up parts of our discussion about
the other. . .
Vanderhoef: Ijust don't know that we can. That's my question, whether this is going
to delay us a little bit on the start of that discussion.
Champion: I don't think so, Dee.
Bailey: Bob?
Elliott: I was just going to say, I think the main study is what we requested. This
component that we're putting in that is required by the federal
government. It's going to be carried out, and I suspect it will be done as
quickly as possible, and we'll get it when we get it, and...I also don't see
this as any hindrance to our discussions upcoming.
Bailey: Okay. Roll call. Item carries 6-0 (several talking), Wilburn abstaining
due to conflict of interest.
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ITEM 16 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING AND AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A
CONTRACT FOR THE NAPOLEON PARK CONCESSION AND
RESTROOM FACILITY PROJECT.
Wilburn: The architect's estimate was for $275,000 and staff recommends awarding
the contract to Apex Construction for $255,025.
Bailey: Move the resolution.
Correia: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Champion: Thank goodness!
Vanderhoef: Yes.
Champion: .. .more restrooms at Napoleon Park.
Vanderhoef: How much more expensive was it to do the metal roof, versus the
shingled? Do we know?
Helling: We can get that for you, but I don't have that detail.
Karr: It was a deduct. It was a deduct to install a shingle roof. It was a deduct,
not an add-on.
Elliott: Meaning it's less expensive this way, and it matches up. (several talking)
So, for appearance sake, we're doing it, and it saves money also.
Wilburn: Yes. (several talking)
Vanderhoef: ...in the long run, that's.. .that was my question, whether it was that much
more expensive, uh, to do it the other way.
Helling: If you want the numbers, we can get them for you.
Champion: I don't need them. (several talking)
Vanderhoef: Okay.
Correia: And so these will be done for the next softball season?
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Helling:
Yes, that's. . . that's the intention to have it done in the spring, and just for
your information, uh, we're going from three fixtures in each restroom to
six in the women's and four in the men's.
Champion:
Terrific!
Wilburn:
Well done. (laughter) Napoleon Park, for those who don't know, is, uh,
primarily a softball park, uh, for girls. Enough said. Roll call. Item
carries 7-0.
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ITEM 17 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
INSTALLATION OF SPEED HUMPS ON KIMBALL ROAD
BETWEEN N. GOVERNOR STREET AND N. DUBUQUE STREET.
Correia: Move the resolution.
O'Donnell: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Correia, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? I just want to
compliment the third and fourth grade students at Shimek Elementary,
who now know the difference between speed bumps and speed humps
(laughter) and they wrote me to tell me so.
Bailey: Goodjobl
Wilburn: Further discussion?
Champion: I think it's important to tell people that there was some concern about the
speed hump, bump, whatever it's called, at the bottom of the hill, uh, and
because that is a steep hill, it probably is dealt with pretty rapidly as far as
snow and ice though anyway. So, ifpeople...it should be just fine, we
decided that. We don't even know, but that's what we thought.
Wilburn: Roll call. (person speaking from audience) Oh, I'm sorry, hold on. Yes,
go ahead. Please state your name for the record and limit your comments
to five minutes or less.
Stanford: I'm Dr. William Stanford. I live at 619 Whiting Avenue. I'm concerned
in terms of what I'm seeing as proliferation of speed humps, not bumps.
Speed humps. Um, I travel Kimball Road two, four, six more times a day,
to and from work and everything. That's my primary route to get to
Dubuque Street. The upper part of Kimball, they put four speed humps in,
in response to the question in the survey and so forth, and I understand
that. And, uh, I wasn't sure that that was really necessary at that time.
I'm still not real sure that's necessary, because I don't see cars speeding
on that area. Nor do I really see cars traveling in excessive speeds up and
down Kimball Road from Dubuque Street. It's a very heavily traveled
street because of people coming up and, and uh, getting up to Governor
and, uh, that area of the town. What I'm concerned about is that for me to
go to Dubuque Street from my house, I'm going to probably have to
travel, I travel four speed bumps now. I'll probably have to travel six,
eight, ten speed humps. I don't know how many to get to there, and I
wonder from the Council's standpoint whether it is, uh, of concern to the
Council that we end up with speed humps in our residential areas. I can
maybe see it as a policy for entrances to, let's say high schools and kids
driving, to slow things down - in situations like that, but I really wonder if
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it's a good policy for any group of individuals, uh, that request that in the
city, uh, comes under the various criteria that would accept that, whether
it's a good policy that we end up with these in our multiple residential
areas. Um, 1...I don't like them, uh, I think, uh, but again, I tolerated
them. I didn't object. I did talk to some of the people up there with that,
but seeing the proliferation now and seeing the fact that this is what I'm
going to have to do every day, uh, I really wonder if this is a good policy
and ifthere's not other ways to control speeding, other than, or fast
driving I guess, other than, uh, having to put in speed humps in our
residential areas. Thank you.
Wilburn: Well, thank you for your comments, and I appreciate your coming down
this evening. 1...I can let you know, um, and apparently some more folks
want to speak too, but 1.. .you can come forward to speak. I'll just let you
know that my, uh, um, they are designed to be in residential areas, not on
main arterial streets. The purpose is, as you alluded to, to help, uh, slow
traffic down as one... that uh, and the criteria that you laid out, uh, it has to
meet a certain threshold of number of vehicles, of.. .of speed in excess of
the speed limit, and so unfortunately it's one of the ways, one of the tools
used to help control behavior, in this case, you know, probable behavior.
I'm just providing some, just some extra information, um, but uh, go
ahead, sir, you can express your concern.
Yang: My name is Charles Yang. I live in the bottom part of slope at 250
Kimball Road. I went to work in the north, so the wintertime, last year I
have a, twice, I cannot get to the home. (unable to understand) speed
hump. I think I cannot get home at all, because you know, it happens.. .on
the slope in my house, so please come see this (unable to understand).
Thank you.
Wilburn: Okay, thank you for your comments.
Vanderhoef: One of the things that we do is, we review these one year after they've
been put in place, so if it shows up that there is a problem with the ice and
snow this year, then a year from now we would have that opportunity to
review that, and uh, reconsider whether there is one in that particular
location or not.
Elliott: And I would just say to, uh, Dr. Stanford and to Charles Yang, who's a
former colleague of mine, uh, we've had numerous discussions about the
philosophical and the practical points you raise. We have discussed that.
Bailey: But it was all laid forth in our traffic-calming program, that neighborhoods
can come forward and ask for this. As Ross outlined, certain criteria that
must be met, including support from the neighborhood, as you're probably
very familiar.
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Wilburn: Sir.. . state your name and please limit your comments to five minutes or
less.
Peck: Hi, I'm Jerry Peck. I live at 308 Kimball Road. Uh, I attended the earlier
meeting when your traffic engineers presented, uh, the idea of speed
humps to us, and it's my understanding that the average speed going up
and down Kimball Road was 42 miles an hour in the survey that they did,
uh, and the speed limit is 25 miles an hour. Um, the, uh, and it's also my
understanding from what they told us, that other cities that have used this
have not had significant problems with, uh, with winter, with, uh,
with.. .with these speed humps causing accidents. Uh, I live just beyond
the curve going down the hill on Kimball Road, and I say a small prayer
every time I back out there every morning, that somebody's not coming
out of the curve and is going to hit me. Several years ago, someone who
was visiting our house was in fact hit in the morning by someone coming
around too fast around that curve. She had backed out and uh, 1. . . the
street is narrow. The sidewalks narrow, uh, it is, it's not built to be an
arterial, arterial road. Uh, I think that the speed humps are a wonderful
idea! Thank you.
Champion: And according to the traffic, um, engineers, speed humps - if you're going
the speed limit, you don't hardly know they're there. And I can attest to
that, that I was driving on 4th Avenue by City High I guess a little bit too
fast, because I really felt it was there! (laughter) When I came back out, I
couldn't feel it at all! (laughter)
Wilburn: Again, 1.. .go ahead, go ahead.
Widiss: My name is Ellen Widiss, I live at 316 Kimball Road. Uh, I'm very, I feel
fortunate that from my driveway, I can see in both directions for a short
distance. I am right on a curve. Um, even with that, I have been, seen it
be, you know, perfectly clear and by the time I have backed out, I know
there's someone right on my tail who's obviously come quite fast. Uh, as
I under.. .as I'm remembering the criterion that the City required after we
handed in our petition, that you did a traffic survey and not only was the
average speed 42 miles an hour, but I think that the criterion was that, um,
85% of the cars have to be going at least five miles above the speed limit,
if I'm remembering correctly.
Wilburn: I believe.. .yes, that's correct.
Widiss: So, yes, the answer is people are speeding, and all of us who live on the
street have tales to tell of very narrow misses, especially at the curves
where people are going fast and therefore not staying in lane, and you
know, you learn to drive very defensively, but sometimes it's not enough.
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There have been accidents there, and uh, the sidewalk, I mean, not only is
the street narrow, hilly, and curvy, but from 316 on up to Governor, um,
the sidewalk is immediately next to the road, no green buffer. When we
moved there in 67, the traffic was much sparser and slower, and motorists
were usually courteous enough when you were on that portion of the
sidewalk to turn out a little and give you a bit of space. These days they
don't. They speed right by, you know, a couple feet away from where you
are. Anything that slows it down and reminds people that the speed limit
is the speed limit will be greatly appreciated by those of us who must use
the road, and, you know, it will slow us down too.
Champion: You know, Ellen, that's a really valid point that I hadn't thought about.
That sidewalk is very close to the road, and kids walking to school, uh,
you know, kids like to horse around, well my kids always did anyway, and
that's a very good safety point.
Enzle: I'm Susan Enzle. I live at 216 McGowan, but I used to live at 501
Kimball, and I used to walk that sidewalk, and my husband, walk that
sidewalk every day into work to the College of Business, and luckily he
got home every night. Many days I chose to go down Dodge Street if I
was going downtown, because there was greater protection, traffic was
moving, um, at a more reasonable speed. I remember several years ago I
went to a Planning Committee meeting at Shimek School where we talked
about that whole area up there, and how, as I recall, Foster Road was
going to be extended, Scott Boulevard built, so that Kimball Road would
no longer be a cut-through for people who were going from the northeast
side of Iowa City to the west, and in my experience when I lived on that
road for almost 15 years, the traffic increased, the speed increased, I
witnessed no fewer than two accidents of cars crashing into the light pole
across form our house at 501 Kimball, which is where Kimball adjoins
Governor. It is scary to walk that. It is frightening to take a bicycle on it,
and I strongly support as a former resident of Kimball Road putting in the
speed humps to slow people down. Probably will save some lives.
Wilburn: Go ahead, sir.
Knorr: My name is George Knorr. I live on 330 Kimball Road. I, uh, noticed
that the, the Kimball Road has become a kind of racetrack for some
drivers, and unfortunately the number of these drivers are not numerous,
so when I was walking out there, and as my neighbor Ellen has mentioned,
there is no, the narrow sidewalk and there's only one on, one on one side,
is right next to the street, uh, walking there is outright dangerous. And it's
frightening, and something has to be done to change this. Thank you.
Wilburn: Thank you for your comments. Okay, sir, if you have, you've made your
point of view known. If you have new information, I'll allow you to speak
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after everyone who has not had a chance, if you have some new
information, but you've made your point. . . very clear.
Junkins: My name is Ed Junkins. I live at 406 Kimball Road. We.. .our neighbor
has, uh, a young child that I've only lived there for about five years, but
uh, I worry every time she goes by, because the cars some by so fast
and.. . and sometimes she's not paying attention, and uh, the other day, I
was sitting in my den, and I looked out, and a car went by so fast it was a
blur. I couldn't, I didn't almost realize it was a car. It went by so fast, and
this happens so often. I'm 72 years old, and I'm not as steady as I used to
be, and sometimes when I walk my dog, doesn't always go where he's
supposed to go, and uh, the cars.. .before I said, they no longer go around.
They.. . sometimes I think they're trying to hit us, and that's what I've got
to say. Thank you.
Wilburn: Okay, thank you.
Shaeffer: I'm Greg Shaeffer, and I live on, at 418 Kimball Road, and we've been
going up the hill on the east side of the street, and so I figured I was next.
(laughter) So, um, I just want, I completely support, or agree, with
everything that's been said, and I support the placement of the speed
humps, and uh, there's one other point that 1.. .I'm surprised when I
looked at the plan, sometimes people come on to Kimball Road off of
Dubuque Street, very quickly, and then shot up Gilbert Street. And what I
was wondering, I hope you guys approve the humps on our part of
Kimball, but maybe something could be done about that lower end too,
where the cars come in and zip up into the neighborhoods, you know, to
make a quick entry into that part of the city. Because I've.. .I've
encountered it several times.
Champion: Is that the part of Gilbert that has that blind side as you're coming from...
Bailey: Yes.
Champion: Okay.
Shaeffer: And I come down the hill to get onto Gilbert Street, and I have to slow
down and I start to turn and all of a sudden there's a car right on my rear
end, you know, and somebody's coming in. (unable to hear person in
audience) So that's the only new thing that I have to say.
Wilburn: Okay, thank you.
Golden: Debra Golden, I live at 409 Kimball. Uh, couple of things to add, I'm a
frequent dog walker on Kimball, and one of the problems with the narrow
sidewalk, urn, is that on about five properties, there's either a hedge or a
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fence directly, there's a street on one side of you on the sidewalk and
there's a hedge or a fence on the other side of you. So, you don't have
anywhere to go if you wanted to get out of the way of a car. Um, and
another indication of what's going on on Kimball is the frequency with
which I see broken, uh, car mirror glass on the sidewalk. There's a lot
of.. .cars' mirrors hit the telephone poles and they break their mirrors and I
see their glass on the sidewalk. So I'm frequently kicking the car mirror
glass off the sidewalk, so that's how narrow the street is. I measured it.
It's actually, you guys have the statistics, you know, somewhere, but it's
10, it's about 10-feet from the center of the road to the inner edge of the
sidewalk. So, there's not a lot of space. Thanks.
Wilburn: Thank you~ Anyone else who has not had an opportunity to speak but
would like to address the Council on this issue? Sir, if you had some new
information. If you have some new information to add then I'll let you
speak again, but...
Belastrarie: My name is Pete Belastrarie and I live at 315 Kimball Road, and I'd just
like to say that, um, I have two small boys and uh, I'd really like to think
that when we moved in 2001 and bought that house and saw what the
neighborhood was like, there wasn't anywhere near the amount of traffic
that's on that road now, and the traffic wasn't moving anywhere as fast as
it does now. It has become like a speedway. People do fly up and down
that road, especially at rush hour, and use it like just, you know, the fastest
kind of shortcut they can find. I would just like to say that if the speed
bumps are put in, people will still be able to use Kimball Road. They'll
just have to slow down to approach something closer to the legal speed
limit. Um, the people on Prairie du Chien and on Whiting can go down
Whiting in the other direction if they want to get to Dubuque Street, which
after I drop.. . after I pick my kids up, um, at Shimek, there are times when
I don't turn the other way and will go down the hill that way. So, they still
have access to Dubuque Street, both through Whiting and through Kimball
Road. It's just that they'll have to slow down a little bit, and pay a little
more attention to the people that live on that street. Thank you.
Wilburn: Um, if.. .at the microphone (unable to hear person in audience), and if you
have.. .she's already spoken, as well.
Stanford: All I'll say is this, I've lived there 25 years. There is access through,
going down the other way. It's not convenient, it's out of the way unless
I'm going north with that, and so that part is true. I would, again, ask the
Council in terms of your policy, are you going to end up with a city with
multiple speed bumps in various area, because.. . and within the city, and
we end up with that. Granted the criteria there, but consider overall
whether this is a good policy.
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Wilburn: Okay, thank you.
Widiss: I would like to, um, urge also as one other speaker did consideration of
one additional bump. The, um, materials that were sent out talked about
the area between Governor and Dubuque, so the area from Gilbert to
Dubuque is included in what has been considered and what is announced
on the signs on the street. Um, my concern is that if the final bump is
where it is shown on the proposed map, which is before, up hill from the
last curve, that people will say as they get to know the placement, okay,
good, we're past them we can speed up and we're right at the last curve,
and when I did call the, uh, the City to ask whether there was any reason
why, you know, why there wasn't one proposed for that last segment
between Gilbert and Dubuque, I was told they don't want to do one close
to where traffic turns off a major arterial onto a smaller road, but I did a
very rough pacing of the distance, and by my count, there about 260 feet
to the west edge of the first driveway, uh, the concern I was told was that
someone could turn off Dubuque Street and see a speed hump coming up
very quickly and immediately, you know, throw on the brakes and then be
rear-ended by someone else turning off. Um, I would think that there is
ample space to consider in addition to the ones that are shown, putting
one, uh, just west of that last driveway on the north side of Kimball, which
is relatively flat, but it would encourage people as they go past the one
near 250 Kimball to, and hit that final big curve right at Gilbert Street, to
know that there is still one more bump and they still need to keep their
speed reasonable. Because that curve is, at least for me, it's the one where
I've had most narrow escapes, where someone is cutting the curve, and
being over the centerline. So, I appreciate very much your presumed
intention to go ahead and at least put in the ones that are on here, and I
would urge consideration of one additional one.
Wilburn: Thank you. All right. Any further Council discussion?
Champion: Well, I'd just like to say that I'm certainly going to support this, but I
think Kimball, uh, would be a fun road to drive down fast (laughter and
several talking). I mean, you know, it's kind oflike San Francisco, and
uh, we don't have very many San Francisco streets in this town, but on the
other hand, San Francisco, in their residential areas, has thousands of
speed bumps, and people still drive down those streets, or humps, I can't
keep the two straight! So, I'm going to support it. I think it's a great idea
in neighborhoods. Neighborhoods are not meant to be sped through,
especially when they're not real arterials, so I have no problems
supporting this.
Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
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Vanderhoef: So moved.
Correia: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Correia to accept correspondence.
All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0.
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ITEM 18 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF STATE
LEGISLATION ALLOWING LOCAL CONTROL OF SMOKING
IN PUBLIC PLACES.
Bailey: Move the resolution.
Correia: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Field: Hi, my name is Katie Field, and I live at 627 81. Thomas Court. I'm a
board member for a local tobacco prevention coalition, CAFE Johnson
County. Because second-hand smoke is a cause of disease in healthy non-
smokers, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and lung
cancer, CAFE Johnson County is asking the cities of Johnson County to
sign a resolution showing their support for local control over smoke-free
environments. The resolution does not commit you to passing a smoke-
free ordinance, but states that cities and counties should have the ability to
do so, to protect the health of their citizens. CAFE will then collect the
signed resolutions and present them to Legislature during the next session
to show that our local elected officials support restoring local control over
this issue. Thanks.
Wilburn: Thank you. Further discussion?
Elliott: I'm very much in favor of this. It will take place after I'm sitting home
watching you folks struggle on TV next year, but I wouldn't, I wouldn't
vote for Iowa City to go smoke-free unless others did, but we have found
at our joint meetings that I think there's unanimity among the
communities, that if one does everyone will, and I think that would be
great.
O'Donnell: I agree with you, Bob.
Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 19 CONSIDER MOTION APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF
JOSEPH MASKE AS THE ALTERNATE FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA STUDENT GOVERNMENT (UISG) TO
THE CITY COUNCIL UNTIL MAY 1, 2008.
O'Donnell: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Move the resolution.
Wilburn: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Bailey. Discussion?
O'Donnell: Are you sure?
Elliott: Who is this guy and what do we know about him?
Bailey: We always have meetings until 10:00. (laughter)
Wilburn: I remember when they went to 1 :00 A.M.
Vanderhoef: So do I!
Wilburn: Um, no, be good to have you on board.
Elliott: You bet!
Champion: Glad to have you.
Wilburn: All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Vanderhoef: So moved.
Correia: Second.
Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Correia to accept correspondence.
All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0.
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ITEM 23 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Wilburn: Bob?
Elliott: No thank you.
Wilburn: Regenia?
Bailey: No. ..thank you. .
Vanderhoef: Real quick, um, I attended the refuse planning update, uh, plan update
with the regional group. They're going to have one more meeting. It
appears it will be next week, but I don't know which day, but I'm out of
town so if anyone else is interested in, um, going to that, meeting, let me
know. The second thing was I went out on the Parks and Rec tour again
this year, which was, uh, informative and fun, as always with that group.
Uh, one of the new things that is definitely coming towards Council is, uh,
with the overwhelming success of the dog park, they're talking about now
another small dog park, somewhere in the city. So, they're looking at
various sites. That's it.
Wilburn: Mike?
O'Donnell: Nothing.
Wilburn: Connie?
Champion: I think we should discuss some time, either through traffic.. .what to do
with that intersection at City High, at 4th Avenue, 4th Street intersection.
That is an incredibly busy intersection with a lot of pedestrians, and then, I
don't known what we can do. Some type of stoplight that only works
during school hours, I don't know, but there should be something we can
do with that kid that was killed. I don't know if a stoplight would have
helped because it was the son (several talking) I mean hurt. He wasn't
killed - I'm sorry. (several talking) I think we should talk, we should talk
about that.
Correia: Well, I actually talked to John Yapp and they are, they're starting to do
traffic counts, and, at that intersection, and speed, and he also talked about
the possibility of pulling in sort of an outside person to look, to do an
analysis of options for, whether it was crossing guard or portable stop sign
or something. So, we.. .they are already starting to look at that, because I
asked him about that.
Champion: And then one of my usual yearly complaints is bicyclists on the sidewalks
downtown speeding, speeding really fast, faster than I could run away
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from them. (laughter) But, I mean, it's become.. .it's a problem every
time the school year first gets started, and I do think somebody's going to
really, really get hurt. Like me!
Wilburn:
Okay. Just want to thank, um, Sigma Theta Tau Chapter. I spoke with
them earlier this evening, and it's a nursing, um, service organization, and
wish them well on their activities this year.
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