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HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformal minutes of 12/15Joint Iowa City Council -Board of Supervisors Informal Meeting December 15, 1988 meeting: uecemper 1b, 1988, at the Johnson County Administration Build. ing. Sehr and McDonald co -presiding. Iowa City Council Present: Ambrisco, Balmer, Horowitz, McDonald, Courtney, Larson (5:05 PM). Johnson County Board of Supervisors Present: Ockenfels, Myers, Sehr, Burns. Absent: Donnelly. Supervisor Elect Duffy present. Iowa City Staff Present: Atkins, Timmins, Karr, Smith Johnson County Staff Present: Peters, LiIiedahl, Carpenter, Brunner Tape Recording: Tape 88-43, Side 1 8 2 Call to Order: McDonald and Sehr called the meeting to order at 4:05 PM. Discus tAon regarding E911: Myers said that an ad hoc committee has studied emergency communications within the City and County for the last three months. Myers explained the committee has representatives from Iowa City, University of Iowa, Coralville, Johnson County Emergency Services and rural areas. Myers stated the ad hoc committee will meet again on Monday, December 19, at 4:00 PM which may result in a recommendation to the Iowa City Council and Johnson County Board of Supervisors regarding hiring a consultant. Myers noted that the County is required by law to appoint an 1911 service board. In response to McDonald, Myers stated that the ad hoc committee will try to reach a consensus regarding hiring a consultant. Myers stated he believes that the present structures should be able to handle a county- wide communication system, In response to Balmer, Myers stated that a consultant would advise on equipment, location and options. McDonald agreed that the time is right for considering options. Myori stated that one question to be resolved is the contribution of the University to the County tonvnunicatlons system and the E911 system. Ockenfilc sold the biggest hurdle Is the location of tho communications system. Burns stated that the location is not an issue for him, the main thing Is to get a communications center built. Myers stated the committee members, Police Chief Miller, and fire Chief Donner all want to sea the problem resolved. Myers itited that the 1$ -cent fee called for in the low will solve the capital needs. Myers stated the PSAP (Public Service, Answering Phnnes) will cost about $140,000 plus the database to back It up. Myers stressed the Importance of comnwnicition. Lnurtnpy stftpg thN hp 1. concerned about the cfflclency of any p,upuu "d system if us syita3 Is not located at the commend center. Courtney stated that commanders bring able to talk facs•to-face with radio -2 - operators is different than phone conversations. In response to Horowitz, Myers said that a new system will not call for fewer personnel. Myers said the idea for a joint facility originally came from the Johnson County Sheriff's Department because they are concerned about coordination of two or three PSAP. Myers stated that the Iowa City, Coraiville, Lone Tree, North Liberty and all other area emergency volunteer fire departments need to be considered. Myers noted that savings will not come through less personnel, but rather through the economy of scale and delivery of service and the type of hardware used. Myers stated that such systems have worked in other places. Johnson County Sheriff Elect Carpenter said that his main concern is that Johnson County is different from Scott County which has one major city. He stated the real problem is how the system can work when backups are 20 miles apart rather than three miles apart as in Iowa City. Carpenter noted that Johnson County currently has two full-time dispatchers on duty out of a staff of seven. Carpenter stated he would see the need for an additional two dispatchers on duty if Iowa City is added. Carpenter stated that it is important that a common bond be maintained and that bond is currently the county jail. Carpenter stated that his primary concern is taking away from the safety of officers in the service to the people. In response to Courtney, Carpenter agreed that being on different radio frequencies is a problem in Johnson County and that it is impossible to talk between Johnson County and Iowa City patrol cars. Carpenter stated Johnson County handles all the county communications through their dispatcher, except for Iowa City Police and Fire Departments. Myers stated if joint communications 1s tied in with E911, cost of the consultant could be recovered from the 25 -cent fee. In response to Horowitz, Myers said that a state law authorizes a 25 -cent charge per telephone line in a county to pay for the capital costs, if approved by voters in a regularly scheduled election. Myers said a plan must be in i place and the charge for a consultant can also come from the 25 -cent fee. coers unty Stexcluding the tated that hUniversity. Myers ere are tstated � nego000 tiations lineshone ationsare proceed - Ing with the University. Myers stated it is felt that the 25 -cent fee would generate more than enough money to cover capital costs. jreftic on South-Dybu ti0irsyll Behr stated that people go down the street the wrong way almost hourly on south Dubuque Street near the County Adwlhistration Building. Myers noted that people use the lot as a shortcut through the County Administration Building because of the traffic pattern. Atkins said that when the Benlon Street bridge Is widened, it could complicate the problem. Atkins stated the Traffic Engineer can propero, a roport. >,ehr sold that a larger sten might help direct traffic. Myers said that if the traffic pattern is changed, traffic islands will hovo to be Peaf0vpd. 3?n1 i Gsaterl6vll ryyatu mails.-Pri3alrat Drkenfels said that 1t 1e tilt ehr Vt t&nar..yt 6i iho Johnson L"FAY 96iFil 61' Supervisors that the County pare ;(A +)i the %onlor fontor Congroyste Meals builp}et but should not ba reapon;tblr for pain! ing or other !neJor Iwprgre mortt In the tongrogato Mrels efrf rt: !" senior cancer uusiAlnp. aallnnald noted that tho Ongrogaio- Neal• program Is a illunly Ptogras. -3. Carol Peters noted that the County received a request to pay for repairs and painting if Iowa City furnished the paint. In response to Atkins, Peters said the bill was for painting the entire County stated that under the agreement, there is an obligationthe appliances, fixtures or to pay for repair or replacement of furniture, app ' objects if such repair or replacement results from the negligence, act or omission by employees or officers. Atkins stated if the repairs in question are routine, he sees no problem with the City just paying for it. Ockenfels said that she was particularly thinking of the painting of the Congregate Meals kitchen area. Atkins stated that a vandalized spot on the semblsaidaascloset inathe oCongregate or needs eMeals area nhad ns ntoebe cleaned. Myhe Health ers Department rssaid 0% of the that the County, according to contract, the repliedis thatr heonsible for understands2 that the repair of the building. P County government pays 20% as a basic policy, but a separate agreement nd controls how rthetmatt r Meals sh uld be resolved. Peterststatedothereais also a need for additional storage area because the federal government is now Centersbissing spaciouss,dibuts on a therequisltvery quarterly Atkins specificstated Senior storage area. Councilmembers and Board of Supervisors discussed the need for storage. Atkins stated he will meet with Peters to consider the storage issue. Ambrisco suggested that staff consider the idea of suspending storage racks from the ceiling. clothower Road: in response to Horowitz, Myers explained Slothower Road is located on the west side f the and the north part ofHome dthe south the road is owned byart of the road the City.is owned Ockenfelf said the County would like the road opened and the City does not want It cost $100,000-$125,000dtosmaketatedthe ,improvements to open eers tSlothow Simated lothower ld Myers stated that the road just needs a tube and a couple loads of rock, Counhe roadc11members Sehr saidntheoard of County oadervisors crews and areaefarmerslr and use of would like to use the road. Horowitz asked 1f the County could repair the road, then fence off the road and only allow Countemployees to use the road, Iowa City Attorney limnlins stated Slothower Led Is an isolated raid stuck. the raid I$ not ilghifieslltly improved, people are bound to g ot said $lothewer Pot dd could be aprlvete lane the City could allow the Countdrafty aild it the Myers statedywant-, to the County take couldhconsldocould the Oty r est blishinpa Level 6 rea4 system. Councilmembers and Board of Supervisors discussed the April 1946 OILY-4dopted resolution that does not allow development In the area 4 RO1s. McDonald 000 t i peovestated Iowa lhe road, McDonaldIs not SlidnthPosition ould virote the Peed Ann pIw It to the County. Sehr sold the county already has lo" iiabtllty because of the two houses located on tho road. SsalYr_LtuilttilttiillY.Yutie 1!€ats Program °' Ockenfalt 11011"I thr Sriwr fenlor Ci vhltslon his raqurttr� egn S4p,•i staff. Atloine told the Senior Center Commission his endortnur a Vaasa fianA�l inn to ,:meed the YE#iuhteer ceerdinator posltien by :P l .4 - Landfill Uadate: Horowitz reported that the Technical Advisory Committee of ECICOG has hired a consultant to look at a six -county area to develop options regarding management of solid waste. Horowitz cautioned that everyone will need to educate themselves to the potential of solid waste manage- ment. Ambrisco stated he monitored the University of Iowa public hearing regarding the incinerator at Oakdale. Horowitz asked if the issue was raised regarding how there can be a research park located near the incinerators. Ockenfels said the University of Iowa feels there will be no problems. Burns said only 1,600 pounds per day will be incinerated. Myers reported on the proposed incineration process and said that he would recommend the air emitted from the chimney be scrubbed because of the potential for acid rain. Myers raised concerns regarding the University of Iowa keeping the County informed about their solid waste management proposal. Myers stated he has requested the University send project inspection reports to the County. Councilmembers and Board of Supervisors discussed the need for information from the University regarding their incineration plans. Balmer said the University should coordinate the dispposable medical waste from all area hospitals. Myers said there seems to be a new spirit of cooperation from the University. Balmer noted appreciation and thanks to Johnson County Board of Supervisor Sehr for his years of service as a Johnson County Board of Supervisor. Meeting adjourned at 5:15 PM. r.J