Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-22 Brd Comm minutes Animal Services Advisory Board Minutes January 23, 2002 Iowa City Transit Building Present: Tammara Meester, Jonelle Hankner, Michele Brandstatter, Tom Gills, Maryann Dennis Staff: Misha Goodman, Tom Widmer Public: Absent: None Old Business 1. Approval of Minutes. No minutes were available at this time 2. FACF report. No one present for report 3. CNWH report. Misha reported that approx. 5 animals were currently in foster care. 4. William Wegman. Misha reported on the upcoming events to take place at the children's museum and the art museum. 5. Heating and air system update. The city has approved a temporary fix for the system that will include new coils, damper, and other equipment to the system. This will fix the heating system for the winter months. All the air ducts in the building will also be cleaned. 6. Licensing. Misha explained the possibility for a mail in form that both jurisdictions could use to collect additional licenses and insure information gets onto the computer system so tags can be searched at any time. Tom Gills from Coralville stated he would speak with Coralville representatives and report back to the board. New Business: 1. New Board members. Maryann Dennis and Tom gills were introduced at new board members. 2. Elect open positions. Tammara meester president, Maryann Dennis Secretary? 3. Supervisor report. Misha reported that a scholarship had been received from Humane Society of the United States for training 4. Board member's reports. None 5. Citizen comment. None Minutes ~ Animal Care and Adoption Center Advisory Board March 20, 2002 Attended by: Michele Brandstatter, Maryann Dennis, Jonelle Hankner, Tammara Meester Staff present: Tom Widmer Absent: Tom Gill Old Business 1. Approval of Minutes of January 23, 2002 Tom Gill's name was misspelled and not capitalized in the minutes. With those corrections, the minutes were approved. 2. FACF Report - Jean Walker, President FACF The Friends of the Animal Center Foundation has increased its Board to 15 Members, including 3 officers (President, Secretary, and Treasurer). The Executive Committee consists of the officers and 3 at-large Board Members. There are 8 committees which are now populated: Education, Events, P/R, Fundraising, Facility, Programming, Finance, and Volunteer. FACF will put on a Dog Walk (as their signature event) in the Fall. The actual date has not yet been £malized. FACF donated $100 to help pay for a full-page ad in the Gazette concerning Spay Day. It had an information table at the UI Health Fair. It will have an information table at the Chili Dog Fair, and at the Grief Workshop sponsored by the Johnson County Humane Society. Our application for fundraising opportunities at Skate-for-a-purpose was put on file for consideration in 2003. FACF will benefit from proceeds of the Animal Communication Seminar. FACF will re-apply, on behalf of the Center, for a Miccio Foundation grant. The Center is waiting to hear about the HSUS Shelter Partners Grant submitted by FACF on its behalf. FACF is investigating other grants for which to apply. 3. CNWIt Report- None Given 4. Licensing Report - Tom Widmer No information to report. Tom Widmer will follow-up with Coralville regarding the licensing form presented at the last meeting. New Business 1. Adoptathon Will be held at the Animal Center on Friday June 7, 2002 from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM and on Saturday, June 8, 2002 fi.om 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 2. Veterinary Bid Proposal Tom Widmer distributed a bid document. The Iowa City City Manager requested that bids be let to contract veterinary services to the Center so as to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Board members were asked to review bid document, especially Jonelle Hankner, and submit comments to the Center. Staff would like the contract to be in place on July 1, 2002. 3. Statistics - Not Available 4. Director Report- Not Available 5. Board Members Reports - · Members discussed micro-chipping which will be revisited when veterinary bids are received. · Chubby - The dog owned by a family arrested in Coralville and jailed. Chubby is now the property of the Center. He will go to a training center and to a Rottweiller rescue center for adoption. This will be at not cost to the City. 6. Citizen Comment- Jean Walker discussed the feral cats living around City Carton. The Johnson County Humane Society prefers to trap/capture the cats, spay or neuter them and release them. The Center cannot release animals. Tammara ~[eester agreed to speak to the owners of City Carton to discuss the issue. 1{ Sue Pearson will present "Come Spot Come" at the Children's Museum on Saturday March 23, 2002 at 1:00 PM. Minutes Animal Care and Adoption Center Advisory Board Meeting May 22, 2002 Attended by: Tammara~ Meester, Michele Brandstatter, Maryann Dennis Staff in Attendance: Misha Goodman, Tom Widmer, Sue Cote Others: Jean Walker Absent: Tom Gill, Jonelle Hankner Old Business 1. Approval of Minutes of March 20, 2002 - T. Meester's name was misspelled in the minutes. With that correction the minutes were approved. 2. FACF Report - Jean Walker updated Committee Members on the activities of FACF 3. CNWH Report - M. Goodman and S. Braverman (Voltmteer Coordinator) are staffing this program. One dog in foster care is recuperating. There are a couple of litters of kittens in foster care. The program needs more foster families. A litter of pups is expected to need foster care. The application and foster parent selection process is being revised. Staff hopes to recruit foster parents at the upcoming adoptathon. A press release may help to recruit volunteers. 4. Licensing Report - No Coralville report given with absence ofT. Gill. Licensing does not appear to be a priority for Coralville and would require an ordinance change. Iowa City will implement late summer or early fall. The Board will try to encourage Coralville to respond. 5. Adoptathon - Will be held on June 7, 2002 from 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM and June 8, 2002 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There will be 25 vendors, a clown, live radio, obedience, agility, and fly ball demonstrations at the Animal Center. M. Brandstatter volunteered to help. 6. Veterinary Bid Proposal - M. Goodman handed-out RFP instead of bid. An RFP allows more discretion in the selection process. The RFP deadline is June 27, 2002. A Selection Committee will be chosen by Iowa City. If and interview is part of the selection process, a Veterinarian from outside of this area will be included on the Committee. New Business 1. Miccio Foundation Grant - The Center received a grant of $2,291 for a one year dog training program and $1,000 for a medical fund which matches City funds. The Center spends more than $2,000 for medical care. Additional medical care is paid for from donations and from FACF. A discussion ensued regarding medical issues. Cats are tested for feline leukemia. A cat can test negative and still have the disease. The presence of disease does not mean it is contagious nor is it necessarily fatal. Center is debating whether or not to test. Manufacturer of test kits will provide it to non-profits at a great discount. The Center is examining whether to have FACF purchase and then give to shelter. Meester is researching pros and cons of testing for FIV. 2. Shelter Parmers Grant - Awarded $5,000 for low-income pet owners to attend Spot and Co. dog training. A portion of cost will be paid to Spot and Co. to reduce cost to pet owners. Program to be called DOGS (Dog Obedience Grant Support) and is targeted to serve 100 households. 3. Pets for Life Grant - The Center received funding to pay for all expenses for one employee and all but airfare for another employee to attend a two week course at the Denver Dumb Friends League fi.om July 22, 2002 to August 2, 2002. The training is for shelter staff and is sponsored by the Humane Society of the U.S. Volunteers will cover staff shortage. 4. Petfinder.com - The Center is now on this website. Petfinder. com has pets available for adoption fi'om several shelters and other links. 5. Statistics - Goodman handed-out YTD statistics as of March 31, 2002. 6. Directors Report- U of I Business students donated $600 from a basketball tournament. KCJJ donated $500 fi.om a steak eating competition. Information was distributed regarding a dog-walk to be held on September 15, 2002 sponsored by KXIC. Anyone may sponsor a dog or solicit sponsors for their dog to raise money for the Center. There will be awards given in several categories. KXIC has donated $7,000 in flee radio spots and the Press-Citizen will also provide an in-kind donation in the amount of $2,500. Other donors of $2,500 include Iowa State Bank, Creature Comfort and the Pet Degree. ~' A proposal was sent to provide services to Johnson County provide to quarantine biters, vicious animal assistance and for animal welfare cases. 7. Board Member Reports - none 8. Citizen Comment- none Minutes Animal Care and Adoption Center Advisory Board Meeting August 29, 2002 Attended by: Tammara Meester, Michele Brandstatter, Maryann Dennis, Jonelle Hankner Staffin Attendance: Misha Goodman, Tom Widmer, Sue Dulek - Iowa City Sue Cote, Terry Koehn - Coralville Others: Mark Dennis D.V.M, Alan Berger D.V.M, William Gay D.V.M Absent: Tom Gill 1. Minutes - July 24, 2002 A correction to the minutes: Page 2, New Business #1. Miccio Foundation Grant. Delete the sentences "A cat can test negative and still have the disease. The presence of disease does not mean it is contagious nor is it necessarily fatal." Correct next sentence to read: "Center is debating whether or not to test for FIV as well." Moved by Meester, Second by Dennis to approve minutes as corrected. Motion passed. 2. 28E Agreement - Sue Dulek, Assistant City Attorney appeared to distribute and explain the 28E Agreement between the City of Iowa City and Johnson County. She asked the Committee to provide a recommendation to the Iowa City City Council regarding the Agreement. A 28E Agreement allows governments to sign agreements to share in responsibility for services. This Agreement is between the City of Iowa City and Johnson County and allows City to engage in governmental action in the County in regard to animal control services. Representatives from both units of government have discussed the Agreement and recommend approval. The fee schedule and responsibilities were explained to the conmUttee. County Officers do not have the expertise or the equipment to pick-up animals in certain situations (e.g. aggressive animals). The Agreement allows Center staffto assist in the County. Either party may terminate Agreement with a thirty-day notice. Goodman responded to question by Meester that an increase in the number of animals at the Center is not expected if the Agreement is entered into. Moved by Dennis, Second by Meester to recommend the Iowa City City Council adopt 28E Agreement between Johnson County, IA and the City of Iowa City for the provision of animal consol services. Motion passed. 3. Veterinary Bid Proposal - A draft of the RFP application dated May 22, 2002 was distributed. Drs. Dennis, Berger and Gay provided technical assistance in the review of the application by Committee members. Widmer stated the selection of Veterinarian providers at the Center must be fair and equitable. Goodman differentiated between an RFP and bid process. The RFP process allows more discretion for provider selection (i.e. more than accepting the lowest, qualified bid.) Goodman asked the Committee for input regarding the RFP process. The draft application was reviewed including the purpose of the RFP, the scope of services required by selected providers, proposal requirements, provider qualifications, and the application and selection process. Goodman explained that it might be desirable to select a "pool" of providers for availability or that it may be more efficient to have an exclusive provider. Veterinarians in attendance discussed the pros and eons of participation in the process for their individual practices. The veterinarians agreed to review the RFP application and provide recommendations at the November Committee meeting. Moved by Dennis, Second by Hankner that the community Veterinarians review the application and present recommendations at the November meeting. Motion passed. 4. Licensing Report- Presented by Widmer Widmer met with Coralville Chief of Police about the licensing issue. The goal is to have a joint agreement that is agreeable to both Iowa City and Coralville. Koehn stated that Coralville is interested in a coordinated licensing system for both communities. Widmer offered to review the 28E Agreement between Iowa City and Coralville and to examine current Coralville ordinances with Coralville staff members. A desired outcome is to increase licensing revenues and to increase the awareness of residents of the importance of licensing pets. Widmer, Koehn and Goodman will discuss the next steps and report back to the Comnuttee. It may be necessary to change meeting days so that Koehn may attend. 5. Paws in the Park: Brochure distributed. This is the biggest fund-raiser for FACF. It will be on Sunday, September 15, 2002 in City Park. 6. Animal Care and Adoption Center Advisory Board FY03 Plan: Goodman distxibuted the annual plan and reviewed FY01 Accomplishments. The goals for FY03 are: · Install roof over outdoor kennel runs to protect dogs from adverse weather conditions. · Research installation of an outside drainage system for the outdoor kennel mm · Complete dual licensing system with Coralville · Complete RFP process for Veterinary Consultant/Services by June 31, 2003 · Establish a Pets for Life behavioral hot line 7. DOGSP (Dog Obedience Grant Support Program: This program is for low-income pet owners to participate in ~'aining classes at a reduced cost. Low-income pet owners would pay $15 to participate in classes at Spot and CO and the remainder ($80) would be paid by the grant. 8. OTHER: Goodman reported that the second phase of the HVAC has been approved by City Council. FINAL/APPRO Minutes Animal Care and Adoption Center Advisory Board Meeting September 25, 2002 Attended by: Michele Brandstatter, Maryann Dennis, Jonelle Hankner Staff in Attendance: Misha Goodman, Tom Widmer, Sue Cote Absent: Tom Gill, Tammara Meester Old Business 1. Minutes August 29, 2002 - Hankner moved, Brandsttater seconded approval of minutes. Motion carried. 2. Paws in the Park Report - The Friends of the Animal Center Foundation fundraiser on Sunday, September 15 was a smashing success. It was a beautiful afternoon and very enjoyable. There were 170 registered dogs that walked. The fundraiser cleared $15,000. The funds will be used to cover the outdoor kennel. In October there will be a meeting to evaluate the event and make suggestions for next year. 3. Pets for Life Training - Stacy Dykema and Misha Goodman attended the training in Denver at the Dumb Friends League. The training is intended to help maintain pets in homes rather than placing pets in shelters. Staff received good training materials and good ideas. Some of the strategies offered are already in place at the Center (e.g. "in- house" training for dogs in preparation for adoption.) Some news ideas included: puppy training with follow-along available; a behavioral hot line to deal with problematic behaviors after adoption, many of which have very simple solutions. The Center plans to develop a hot line, which will also include follow along services. Goodman is still looking for classroom space to train hot line volunteers. 4. Fiscal Year Plan FY03 - The Committee reviewed accomplishments and plans for FY03. Covering the kennel is one of the goals for FY03, which will now be accomplished. Other goals discussed were development of a dog park (location, numbers of volunteers, etc.), completion of the RFP process for veterinarian services, and settling the licensing issue with Coralville. New Business 1. Term Expirations - Three terms expire on December 31: Iowa City - T. Meester CoraJville - Tom Gill At-Large - Hankner New appointees terms will be from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005. Hankner will not re-apply. Committee members expressed an interest in having a veterinarian as a member. Vacancies will be advertised in October. Goodman reviewed the requirements and the conflict of interest rules. The Committee must notify the City Clerk of Committee officers. 2. Statistics- Not available 3. Holidays with the Hounds - Will be held at the Center on Tuesday, December 10, 2002 probably from 6-9 PM. Need volunteers for decorating/baking. The event is an open house for the animals at the Center. The goal is to gather donated supplies for next year. Denise Cassady is the organizer. 4. Other - Information is available at the Center for a Blessing for animals. FACF, the Humane Society and Lansing Funeral Home are sponsoring a pet loss seminar this week. Ann Bullock of Knutson Construction has volunteered to donate the materials and labor to install sound baffles in the dog runs. This will be completed this week. Hankner moved, Brandstatter seconded to adjourn at 7:40. Motion carried. FINAL/APPROVED MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2002 CITY MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael Gunn, Michael Maharry, Jim Ponto, Amy Smothers, Tim Weitzel, Michaelanne Widness MEMBERS ABSENT: Richard Carlson, James Enloe, Peter Jochimsen STAFF PRESENT: Shelley McCafferty OTHERS PRESENT: Diana Russo, Mark Russo CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Maharry called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m. DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA: There was none. PROPOSED COLLEGE HILL CONSERVATION DISTRICT: Guidelines. Maharry thanked Gunn for working on the guidelines. Gunn said he worked from the Longfellow District guidelines. He said, in general, starting from the Longfellow District and then going away from it will at least achieve some consistency throughout the guidelines. Ponto said on the second page under Building Styles, the last sentence should read, "In the College Hill Neighborhood District...." Widness asked if all of the mentioned styles were reflected in the College Hill Neighborhood District, and the consensus was that all of those styles are present in the District. Ponto said the first sentence under Balconies on the third page should read "...were not common in the College Hill neighborhood..." Widness asked if the statement about balconies also applies to the College Hill neighborhood, and Gunn and Maharry believed it did apply. McCafferty said Carlson submitted grammatical and typographical corrections to her. Regarding the Woodlawn Neighborhood, Gunn proposed that the sentence under Site and Scale Guidelines read, "Due to the unique site characteristics of each home in the district, the Historic Preservation Commission will use the Secretary of Intedor Standards for Rehabilitation (Section 2.0) for these guidelines." He said that because each house stands on its own merits, the standards work very well for review purposes. Ponto said there are now guidelines for every place except Brown Street. McCafferty said the Commission has discussed working on a downtown district, then a National Register nomination for the Northside, and then a local nomination for the Northside. She said she would expect to do the guidelines for the Northside at that time. Gunn said there would then be Northside Neighborhood Guidelines, rather than guidelines just for the Brown Street Historic District. He added that there is a lot of consistency in that area, except for the Bella Vista Neighborhood. Widness stated that Gunn had done great work on the guidelines. She said that if guidelines had been available for the Summit Street area in the past, the two big, controversial projects proposed for Summit Street a few years ago would have been non-issues. MaD and surveys. Maharry said the key structures have been identified on the map, and they are scattered throughout the area. He asked about McCafferty's comment regarding the east side not being contiguous. McCafferty said there is a pocket of houses on Iowa Avenue that seems to have enough historic integrity that the houses should be regulated. She said the Commission could include some non- contributing properties in order to make the district contiguous. She said the other possibility was breaking the area off as a second district. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes August 8, 2002 Page 2 For purposes of discussion, Gunn demonstrated two shod lines he drew on the map to make the area contiguous: one on Jeffemon Street and the other on iowa Avenue. He stated that this would include some properties that certainly are non-contributing, but the number would be very few. Gunn said he has always been in favor of including as much property as possible in the local designation, because that gives the Commission some control over it. Gunn said if something is proposed for a fagade, perhaps some Commission even thirty years in the future can make improvements on some of the apartment buildings. He said if they are excluded, the owners will be free to do anything the building code allows, right in the middle of one of the City's districts. Gunn said he therefore tends to want to include more properties, although historians tend to want to exclude properties because they want nicer, tighter, more uniform districts. Gunn said that 511 Iowa Avenue is certainly not a contributing property, as was indicated on the map. The rest of the Commission agreed. McCafferty said the criteda for contributing properties in a conservation distdct is less stringent. Gunn said the Commission didn't stray much in time; he said if the property didn't follow the pedod, the Commission tended to call it non-contributing. He said the Commission was more lenient with alterations, so that siding, storm windows, etc. weren't enough to make a property non-contributing. Gunn said at some point, such as with a changed roofline, it becomes evident that the property is not going to be contributing even to a conservation district. Maharry said when he surveyed the area, he found that Marlys Svendsen frequently mentioned that because the building was sided, it was non-contributing, even though it may have been a nice, old historic building. He said he counted a few of those as contributing because he could see it no other way, but another review could increase the number of contributing properties even more. McCafferty said that issue relates to the criteda for contributing versus non-contributing properties. She said it is important, as Commission members go out and do the fieldwork, that everyone is using the same criteria. In terms of the Northside, McCafferty commented that since the Commission will be hidng a consultant to do the National Register nomination, the Commission will want to roughly define where that district wil~ be in order to get a reasonable bid. She stated that in the case of the Northside, the Commission will not have to apply the criteria to the extent that a consultant would. Maharry said the criterion he used was whether the property was infilled new construction, which would cleady be non-contributing. He said that if there was an old house with some modem alterations, it may still have the potential of, if everything was taken off and it was put back together, being labeled contributing. Maharry said that is how he looked at it. He said properties that clearly have potential and were technically built 90 to 100 years ago, even if they have some replacement items, still are contributing properties. McCafferty showed a map that she put together based on Maharry's survey work of the Northside neighborhood. She said there are houses that are non-contributing because of siding, removal of columns, or some type of work on the porches, that could be brought back, with enough work, to be contributing. McCafferty showed non-contributing structures that are historic structures. Weitzel asked how far gone is too gone. McCafferty said the Commission has not made that distinction previously, but she did make the map to get a sense of, historically, what is in the area. Maharry agreed that it is important to look at the potential for a property. He said it could be contended that it is a matter of taste, but it sort of follows the age of the house and the age of the neighborhood. Gunn said in the Longfellow District, the criteria ended up being based on the architecture on those few occasions when the dates didn't seem to make sense. McCafferty asked how many factors a property would need to have against it before the Commission would decide that it may be an historic structure, but it is no longer contributing. Gunn said on Summit Street there are a lot of houses with siding, storm windows, and altered porches, but that was not enough to keep the properties from being contributing. He said almost all of the properties on Summit Street are, in fact, contributing. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes August 8, 2002 Page 3 McCafferty showed photographs of properties in the College Hill District, which the Commission felt was a fairly conservative designation. She showed the first photograph, which depicted a house on the National Register that is considered non-contributing because of the small addition on the side. She said the addition is really fairly innocuous and could be easily removed. McCafferty showed a photograph of a property that was considered non-contributing because of the siding and shutters. She showed a photograph of a third property that was considered non-contributing because the exterior was sandblasted. McCafferty showed a photograph of a property that was slightly outside the time period and was therefore considered non-contributing, although it was within the scale and size parameters, which was part of the context. She showed a photograph of another property that was designated as non-contributing because of a change in the roofline but was considered individually eligible for the National Register. McCafferty said she has discussed with Carlson the possibility that there may be properties that are outside of the context but are older than the context. She said such an older property could still be part of the context because it was there as the neighborhood developed, and it was part of the neighborhood. McCafferty said this issue relates to getting consistency among the districts in terms of criteria. Maharry asked if anyone objected to the additional properties in the College Hill conservation district by virtue of the two lines proposed by Gunn. Maharry said he thought it would be a good thing. Weitzel agreed that it makes sense for the reasons already stated. Gunn said this will be a real test of historic preservation in Iowa City. He said this is quite a collection of different sorts of properties with different interests. Gunn said if this goes smoothly, it will be like a consensus in Iowa City that historic preservation is a good thing. Maharry asked if any properties should be recategorized when the district is applied for. McCafferty said, as the ordinance is now wdtten, there is no language referring to contributing and/or non-contributing structures. She said therefore that technically, recategodzing a property would not have to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission or to the City Council; the Historic Preservation Commission could simply adopt the properties as contributing. Gunn said the Commission will change the status of a property occasionally, hopefully from non-contributing to contributing. Maharry asked what the next step in the process would be. McCafferty said Carlson surveyed properties east of Muscatine and recommended that the Commission could include additional properties in this area that fit the context of the College Hill District. McCafferty said currently that area is not in as much danger as the other portions of College Hill, because the zoning is RS-8, for single-family or duplex residences. She added that more survey work would need to be done in the area if it is to be included in the College Hill District. Maharry said he would rather not delay what the Commission has going on right now. He said if everything goes according to schedule, it would still be January before this is finally approved. Weitzel asked if that area is intact enough to be a historic district, and McCafferty said it probably was not. She added that another factor in keeping the area relatively safe, besides the zoning protection, is that the further away the property is from campus, the less economic incentive there is to tear down structures. Widness agreed with Maharry that the Commission wants to get the process started sooner rather than later. Maharry said the Commission needs to set a date for a neighborhood meeting, compile a mailing list, and send out meeting notification letters. McCafferty said the meeting would be informal and would give the Commission a sense of the kind of support it has for the district nomination. Gunn said the map should be presented, as well as the guidelines, to accurately ~)ortray what it would be like to be part of a conservation district. Maharry suggested September 5 for the neighborhood meeting. McCafferty said she would check with the neighborhood coordinator to see if there would be any conflicts with that date. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes August 8, 2002 Page 4 CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS: 614 CLARK STREET: Russo said this is a big project with a lot of facets. He said the first floor of the structure is well above grade, and he would like to turn the first floor into a living space. Russo said the basement is a walkout basement and will be used for storage. Russo said, in looking at the structure and its significance in the neighborhood and location on the corner, it is his opinion that there are two significant architectural features, one of which is the interior and the other of which is the apse. He said the apse is situated at the back. Russo said he felt that the best option to add a screened porch may be to use the existing entrance structure on the south side and enlarge it. He said deepening it to about six feet would be enough to put a small screened-in porch thers. Russo said the other big part of the project would be to add a garage. After considering the grade and the structure, he felt that this would be an ideal location for an underground garage. Russo said minimal landscaping would be required, with only a small retaining wall on the west side. He said the amount of dirt to be removed would be around 30 to 36 inches of height. Russo said there would be a small retaining wall onto which the column would came, and it would be no deeper than the depth of the porch. He said it could be concrete or brick or whatever the Commission found suitable. Russo said there would be structural work required to make the opening into the basement. Russo said he felt that anywhere on the lot, a garage addition would impose on something. He said a small garage would either impose on the site, on the back view with its apse, or on the neighbors. Russo said the latest drawings show a stairway that would either go left or dght. Diana Russo said the plan would be the most economical way for them to go. She said the steps ars separating from the building, so they will have to be repaired anyway. Diana Russo said they are trying to preserve the front and back views and feel this plan will be the least disruptive to the building. She said she felt the neighbors would actually prefer the underground garage as well. She commented that building a garage to the north of the house would block the neighbors' windows. Maharry asked if the angle of the extension would be mostly the same. McCafferty said the Russos will either have to extend the roof, which will make it lower, or they would have to redo the mol at a less steep angle to keep it at that height. Smothers asked for more details about the garage door and whether it would consist of three operable doors or if it was all one door. Russo said he believed it would be built as three separate doors, and then he would mull them together. McCafferty said a company named Designer Doors can build a door and then attach it to a wooden overhead door. She said it results in a really heavy door, however. Russo said it is really a question of what the Commission deems is historically appropriate. He said he modeled the doors in his sketch after a door in a millwork catalog from the 1920s. Smothers said there are three separate panels and three separate sets of lights. She said she is having trouble proportionally with the windows that are already there. Smothers said she would like to see how these relate to the proportions of the windows and what the plans are for the mullions. McCafferty asked Russo if he was asking the Commission to sign off on the plans so that he can further develop the details or if he was looking for approval of the general concept. Russo said he is not in a hurry on this pad of the project. He said what he is hoping to get is permission to proceed. Russo said he will work with anyone to refine the plans to the point where the Commission thinks it ought to go. McCafferty suggested the Commission make recommendations to Russo so that he can produce more complete drawings. Russo said if the Commission decides that he needs to build a separate garage, he would still like the development of the porch to be considered. He said there is no other place on the building for the porch. Smothers suggested Russo look at his neighbor's screened-in porch to see that it is constructed of wood. Russo said he did not need to have metal railings. He said the drawing was done in the interest of presenting a general concept and then developing it over the course of the year. Russo said he expected to begin work on the porch next spdng or summer. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes August 8, 2002 Page 5 Gunn said he did not have any problem with the pomh drawings or details. He said he is still not happy about the garage doors. He said he would say no hands down to two of the (drawings? proposals? can't hear) that Russo presented. Gunn said the new drawing is less clear to him, and he is not at the point where he would just say it can't be done. He stated that still, on that house, the garage is not the historically appropriate thing to do. Gunn said the guidelines recommend detached garages, and if it has to be attached, it should be set back from the facade. He said the guidelines would make it difficult to approve this design, although he did not think there was anything in the guidelines that require the Commission to not approve this. Russo said he was presenting the garage under the porch as the least intrusive of all the options. He said his primary objective is to have a porch. Russo said the garage is important to him, but if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Gunn said, given the front porch and the side porch, there is a certain consistency in the appearance in that there is mass below. Russo said he was trying to avoid the mass of the wall. He said there could be a nice, brick retaining wall brought out of the ground. He said he tried to minimize it, but it could be brought up two or three feet above what is being proposed to keep the proportions. Gunn said that would be preferable to him. Russo said the other parts of the project would include central air and a new furnace. He said they are also building a loft and would like to install three or four skylights on the north side, which is the least obtrusive side. He said there are currently no windows in the upstairs, although they will be exposing a gable window. Russo said he would also like to use a wooden replacement sash. McCafferty gave Russo some reading material for him to consider before he made a final determination. Russo asked if he could clad those. Gunn said it could be done as long as it ends up paintable. Russo said there is no reason to clad it if he is going to paint it. Russo said all the windows have obscure glass. He said he planned to take the sash out and change out the glass. Gunn asked if the exterior changes are limited to the sashes, skylights, and the comer. Russo said there is an original roofline over what is an awful door. He said at some point there should maybe be an enclosure or a new small gable put on. Russo said the front doors are huge. He said at some point he would like to change the hinging so that the doors open inward. He said then he could figure out some type of storm door system. Gunn said skylights are not recommended. Gunn added that Russo is not putting the skylights on the street elevation. Gunn said from his interpretation of the guidelines, the roof skylights would be acceptable, as would the sash, as long as it looks like the odginal sash and is paintable, which it is. He said if the sash is to be clad, it can't be clad with a non-paintable substance. Gunn said he had no problem with the porch but still had reservations about the garage door. He said he is not saying he would vote no under any circumstances, but he is not comfortable with the drawings. Gunn said if pressed to vote now, he would say no, based on the garage, although he thinks everything else about the project is acceptable. Gunn said from front view, there is no reason why it shouldn't look about similar to how it currently looks. He said the retaining wall could step down in a manner similar to what is presently there. Gunn said, at least from the side, it could look like the original entry. He commented that no Historic Preservation Commission would say no to a porch, as porches are historic. McCafferty suggested that the current permit be just for the interior work. She said primarily the building will be concerned with structural issues, and obviously the Russos won't want to proceed with that until that is resolved and the aesthetics are okayed. McCafferty said most likely then the Russos will need two permits. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes August 8, 2002 Page 6 Gunn asked if access would be critical from the outside. Russo said he actually did not like the idea of a stairway; he felt it might be less obtrusive if the stairway came down into the yard. Gunn said the stairway is very modern looking. He said if it were on the west, it could be smaller and would improve the whole look of the porch. Russo agreed and said that on the west, the stairway could actually come down to either a sidewalk or a pathway. Gunn said changes such as not having wraparound stairs and using bigger walls would make the garage less visible. He said from the sides, it would pass for original. McCafferty suggested the Commission provide direction one way or the other on the garage doors so that the Russos know whether to proceed with the engineering or to look for another solution. Gunn said the entrance to the garage would be more of a tunnel into a porch and would be much less noticeable. Maharry said that won't be true when there are cars in the driveway. He said the Commission would like to see the garage hidden, but if there are cars right there, there would be no way to hide that. Russo said the basic conflict is that the change of use of the building alters everything about it. Maharry said with having a garage all the way back and having the cars go all the way back, they would be away from the sight of the neighborhood. He said if that is what the Commission is trying to preserve, then that would be the best location for the garage. Diana Russo said that would be the logical spot, but she is concerned about blocking the neighbors' windows. Maharry said the neighbors' house finishes before the back of the Russo house so that the garage would be behind the sight line for the house or the deck. Ponto pointed out that there is no back door from the church at the northeast side. Russo said he would have to build a lane way back; he said the problem is that this will either disrupt the site or the building, and he had to weight the alternatives with that in mind. Gunn said he would be much less concerned with an east side entrance with a small curved drive. He said it will not be easy to put a door in the basement. McCafferty said the Commission might want to have the Russos explore another option so that the two can be weighed. Weitzel said the issue of the garage may need to be separated out from the rest of it for the simplicity of not thinking about the entire thing at once. He said he could agreed with putting the garage back there, but there are no doors on that side of the building so that it would not be very functional. Maharry said he is not absolutely against it either, but there are definite disadvantages to it, including a very long driveway. Russo said if he put the garage back there and faced it west, the ddve would have to be continued all along the property line to the east. He said there would then be a huge impact on the site. Maharry said he is not against the garage going in there, but he would like to see another drawing to look at the changes. Gunn asked who would be opposed to vehicular access on the south side. Ponto said as much as he would prefer having a detached garage, because of the way the site is, it would really be disruptive to the site. He said he did not think it would be a great idea to put the garage in the northeast corner. Ponto said the bottom line for him is that the basement garage might be the best compromise. Smothers said she just had issues with the design. She said there are transoms are on the windows on the front all around the building. Smothers said if the Russos make a continuous transom on the garage and maybe even in the screens, where there could be operable screens above, those small details could do a lot. MOTION: Gunn moved to approve the installation of skylights on the north roof, the installation sashes that retain the appearance of the original and are paintable, and to approve a porch and garage entrance on the south, subject to details being approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. Weitzel seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 6-0. Maharry said the vote allows the Russo to develop more plans that include both, rather than one option or the other. McCafferty said now this project just requires the Russos taking it to the next level of detail so that the Commission can approve it for a certificate of appropriateness, Historic Preservation Commission Minutes August 8, 2002 Page 7 Gunn said he is not opposed to replacement sashes, but the Commission feels it is better to save as much as possible. McCafferty said one good thing about keeping the old sash and just doing a storm on it is that is alleviates a lot of issues, including condensation, and typically only the storm will potentially have to be replaced again. Russo said energy efficiency in this building will be very important, and the issue of windows will probably come down to having the most effective sash at the least expense. He also asked if a half-screen would change how this looks and the Commission's approval. Smothers said it will definitely be noticeable, as it presents another layer of shadow. Gunn said that is not regulated by the Commission, but the Commission is just giving recommendations. He added that the Commission does regulate the sash. Russo asked what more he needs to do to get the building permit process back on schedule so that he can start to ~ine up contractors. McCafferty said, based on the motion and approval of the motion, she can issue a certificate of appropriateness for everything but the screened porch and the garage. She said the Commission will still need more details on those last two items, although the Russos basically have the Commission's approval to pursue that direction. Russo asked, if he wants to put a fireplace in the apse, if the wall penetration would be subject to approval. Smothers said it has to be put in, so the Commission does not deal with the aesthetics of that when it is a necessity. McCafferty added that the Commission would recommend that the vent be on the northeast portion. Gunn said that for the interior work the Building Department will need more drawings from the Russos, including footing drawings and structural drawings. He said that when Russo begins to work on the porch design, he should stay as close to the appearance of the current as possible, and the more discrete the stair coming up is, the happier the Commission will be. McCafferty pointed out that besides more detailed drawings, the Commission would like to see elevations of both sides of the porch. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES: June 27, 2002. Weitzel said that on page two in the first full paragraph, the second sentence should read, "For instance, Weitzel said choice of paint color is not dictated by the Commission." Widness pointed out that on the same page in the first paragraph under "Proposed College Hill Historic District" in the fourth sentence, it should read "..proposal documents to get an idea..." McCafferty stated that Carlson recommended stalking, in the second full paragraph on page three, the sentence beginning with, "Weitzel..." Widness said that at the bottom of page three in item three, the word should be "FORUM", instead of "FORM". McCafferty pointed out that in item two, Hardi-plank is misspelled. MOTION: Ponto moved to approve the June 27, 2002 minutes, as amended. Weitzel seconded the motion. The motion carded on a vote of 6-0. July 11,2002. MOTION: Gunn moved to approve the July 11, 2002 minutes, as written. Weitzel seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 6-0. UPDATE FROM COMMISSIONERS OF PROJECTS AND TASKS: Maharry said Gunn had completed the College Hill guidelines. Smothers said she is working on the Iowa Avenue information and still plans to have it done by August 15th. McCafferty said staff was to prepare the map, and that is in good shape. She said staff is preparing the invitation to the neighborhood meeting. McCafferty said she will prepare the report to the State Historic Society once she receives Smothers' completed work. Regarding the Downtown Histodc District, McCafferty said Carlson had volunteered to update the site inventory forms. McCafferty said she has completed a good portion of the mailing list. She said that Historic Preservation Commission Minutes August 8, 2002 Page 8 determining the boundaries of a conservation district has also been completed. McCafferty said Weitzel had volunteered to prepare the map of downtown, and she still needed to provide him with some information for that. Weitzel said he is working on the brochure, and it is coming along. McCafferty said Carlson is also working on the brochure. Regarding the Moffitt Cottages, McCafferty said Gunn has completed the guidelines. McCafferty said she needs to complete a report to the State and also needs to wdte the ordinance to pull the Moffitt Cottage District into the Longfellow District, because it would be a zoning change. Regarding the Historic Preservation Ordinance, McCafferty said the consultants hired by the City were expected to rewrite the entire ordinance, but the City has discontinued its contract with them. McCafferty said she would therefore proceed to work on that herself. She said Kerry McGrath has agreed to review it for the Commission. McCafferty said when work on the ordinance is completed, she could take the entire preservation package to the Planning and Zoning Commission and to City Council. She said that would include the by- laws, the handbook, and the ordinance. Regarding the ordinance, Gunn said the general idea is not to change anything that has been established but to make the ordinance a little friendlier to read. McCafferty said she would write a staff report to spell everything out. Gunn said the ordinance has been written over 20 years or more. He said things have been added here and there, and although the ordinance is being followed, the order is not very good. McCafferty agreed and added that there is not much reference to the handbook and what that really means in terms of the legality of it. She said she is coordinating things and hopes to have an update on the ordinance for the next meeting. McCafferty said everyone seems to be on task with his or her assignments. Maharry asked if there were any other pressing tasks at this point, and McCafferty did not believe so. Widness asked if McGrath had responded to the Commission's questions regarding Hardi-plank. McCafferty said she had not heard anything about that yet but would ask again. REVISED LONGFELLOW NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDELINES TO INCLUDE GUIDELINES FOR MOFFI'I-I' COTTAGES: Ponto said the "Outbuildings" section of the Longfellow Neighborhood District Guidelines discusses garages and asked, since some of the Moffitt Cottages have garages, if anything special needs to be said. Gunn said he had prepared a clause regarding the garages, but it wasn't included. McCafferty said she had the original guidelines and would search for that clause, Ponto asked if the "Siding" Section should comment about the Moffitt Cottages and their stone construction versus brick. Gunn said he had considered that, but the guidelines discuss any changes and any additions and materials, so it seemed to him that it was already covered in the handbook. POTENTIAL LOCAL LANDMARKS: Stone Brid(3e south of Lower West Branch Road. McCafferty said she and Maharry visited the Stone Bddge earlier in the week and discovered that there was really not much there. Maharry did not recommend it as a local landmark, as there is no evidence of anything interesting going on there. Goss Brickyard at 1026 St. Clements Street. McCafferty showed a photograph of a small brick house on St, Clements Alley. She said the two newer houses adjacent to this one are owned by the same family as this house, and the relative who inherited this small house would like to sell it for multi-family development. McCafferty said Jim Goss and Shirley Turner would like to downzone the property, and the City would support that since there are not sewer or Historic Preservation Commission Minutes August 8, 2002 Page 9 street improvements there yet. She said they atso asked the Commission to see if the property would be eligible for local landmark status. McCafferty stated that this property is the last site of the Goss Brickyard. She said the Goss family moved here from Germany and began a family brick-making business. McCafferty said the Gosses also built two houses on Brown Street that are identical to this one. She said there is another one on Dodge Street by the brickyard that was the family home. McCafferty said she has found that there is nothing left to indicate that this individual site was a brickyard. She therefore questioned whether the property would be eligible individually. McCafferty said one thought might be to do a multiple property listing on based on the history of the Goss Brickyard or the history of brick-making in Goosetown. She said a noncontiguous district could be done as a National Register nomination, but it would not be allowed as a local distdct due to State law. McCafferty said a sedes of individual landmarks could be done, but this property in and of itself would not meet the criteria. McCafferty asked Weitzel if the site would have any potential for an archaeological survey. She asked if an archaeological survey would be required if the site were to be developed. Weitzel stated that it is difficult to comment until a hole is bored into the ground to do a soil profile. He did say that an old house probably has a privy on the site, which would provide data regarding diet and other information. Weitzel said there is a potential that would need to be investigated. He said a Phase I survey of this sort would simply determine if there were a potential for archaeological site impact. McCafferty said she believed this house was constructed around 1905. Weitz. el said there would still have been a privy, but the resulting information from that date would probably not be as interesting as from an earlier time. The consensus of the Commission was that this property is not eligible individually for local landmark status. DISCUSSION OF STATE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND QUESTIONS FROM KERRY MCGRATH: McCafferty referred to an e-mail from McGrath that asked what legislative issues the Commission would like to see addressed at the State level. McCafferty suggested the adoption of non-contiguous districts as one possibility. Smothers said she has always been in favor of certification. She said it is a matter of continuing education and getting everyone on board. Gunn said there are some places where it would be very difficult to require certification. Smothers said she believed McGrath had in mind something more like having people meet at the State level and then take that information back to their communities. Weitzel said certification is a less stdct level than licensing. McCafferty said part of it is making sure there is some training available so that people can make competent decisions in terms of preservation. Weitzel said he certainly feels there is merit in a certification program. McCafferty said there is also the issue of having a design review subcommittee and the issue of having one representative per district. Gunn said the Commission could not have a subcommittee because of State law. He said the number of properties in historic and conservation districts has increased so much so that at some future point, there may be an avalanche of projects to review, and the Commission will be so overwhelmed that it will be unable to function properly. Gunn said a design review subcommittee is something that would streamline the certificate approval process. Ponto said if there were a design review subcommittee, then the Commission could focus on larger issues. Gunn said the subcommittee could review projects and then present them to the Commission, which would have ultimate oversight. McCafferty said another possibility for streamlining the process would be to allow the staff person or Commission member to sign off on minor work. Gunn said that is done with conservation districts, although not with historic districts. Weitzel said the issue is how minor work would be defined. Gunn said, for a conservation district, minor work is specifically defined. Histodc Preservation Commission Minutes August 8, 2002 Page 10 Smothers asked why the Commission cannot currently have a design review subcommittee. McCafferty replied that State law requires a vote of the full Commission to grant a certificate of appropriateness. Smothers asked about the process for the subcommittee to receive Commission review. Gunn said the Commission review would be after the fact and would be too late for the Commission to change anything. He said it would be a way for the Commission to monitor the subcommittee and how it works. Gunn said if the subcommittee brought in a report and the project was discussed and voted on by the full Commission, it would satisfy State law. He said, however, that even that would become burdensome eventually. Gunn said the Commission was busy when it had only 120 properties to review, but at some point there could be somewhere in the realm of 2,000 properties. Maharry suggested that the Commission propose one thing only to the State and represent it as the Commission's one goal for this year. Gunn therefore proposed that the Commission request that State law allow a design review subcommittee, subject to after the fact oversight by the full Commission. He agreed that it would be a good idea to make one strong statement. Weitzel added that if the Commission asks for one thing, it doesn't dilute the message among several issues and makes it clear what the Commission wants done. McCafferty said the request should be fairly simple and said she would wdte the proposal. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Minutes submitted by Anne Schulte. FINAL/APPROVE MINUTES IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2002 - 5:45 P.M. IOWA CITY AIRPORT TERMINAL MEMBERS PRESENT: P,ick Mascari, Baron Thrower, Mark Anderson, Alan Ellis STAFF PRESENT: Sue Dulek, P,on O'Neil CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Anderson called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the August 6, August 8, and August 29, 2002, Commission meetings were approved as submitted. AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENDITURES: Mascari made a motion to pay the bills. Thrower seconded the motion and the motion passed 4 - 0, with P, obnett being absent. (Mascari wanted it noted that the bill to PES should be deducted from the final payment to Double Check.) PUBLIC DISCUSSION - ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA: No items were presented. ITEMS FOP` DISCUSSION/ACTION: a. Bldg. H - Simulator project - O'Neil said this was on the agenda in case there was any decision by the Commission that needed to be made to move the project along. There were no new issues to discuss concerning the installation of the simulators. b. Aviation Commerce Park 1. Iowa Realty September repod- Overton said that there was not a lot of new activity. He said there is a tenant that is still very interested in purchasing one or two lots. Overton said he thought the next step was to get a waiver from the FAA. O'Neil said he needs a current ALP to send with the waiver request. Anderson said that the Council and City Manager should be kept informed on the progress of the ACP sale project. O'Neil said he and Dulek had met with Atkins twice to discuss the progress of the project. Thrower asked why the Commission wanted to sell the property? Anderson said the primary goal was to lease the property to provide income for the Airport. Because the leasing was going so slowly, the Commission met with the Council and requested that the property be sold. Ellis said that the Commission originally wanted to lease the property to provide a long- term income from the property. Because of the recent budget constraints, it was decided that Overton should also be given the option to sell some of the lots. Ellis said he would still prefer to take a little more time and try to lease the property before considering selling any of the lots. He asked Ovedon if he would have Scott Byers, Overton's boss, attend the next meeting to discuss leasing and marketing strategies. Mascari said there is the potential to sell off enough of the property to pay off the capital debt and then lease the rest. Ellis said that he thought once the approval was given to sell the property, the Commission would lose control of the property. He said he would like to slow the process down and try to do something different to encourage leasing. Overton said the lease rates could be dropped enough to make it as attractive as buying the property. He said the rate would have to be about $.15 a square foot and the Commission would only break even by the time the infrastructure was paid for. He said the market in Iowa City is geared toward purchasing. Thrower said the airport is an economic value to the community and that if any of the property is to be sold, it should be with the goal of strengthening the facility that is left. Mascari said that if the property is leased at $. 15 a foot, there will not be any money left for improvements. He said that if the land is sold, the $1.6 million dollar infrastructure could be paid off, as well as the $700,000 for Building F, the money remaining on the three south t-hangars, $ 700,000 to $1,000,000 for an ILS, some other improvements to the airport, and still have money left over. Thrower said that whatever the money was spent for, it should stimulate the airport economy enough to provide for the future. Mascari said an ILS would bring in more aircraft. Thrower asked if an ILS would increase traffic enough to improve the budget by $1,000,0007 Ellis said a precision approach is important, but he didn't know how much it would be increase the revenues. Mascari asked what has changed since Iowa Realty was hired? Mascari said all the real estate companies the Commission interviewed said they could lease the property. One company said everything could be leased in three years. Mascari said he thought Iowa Realty was looking at having most everything lease in five years. Overton said he underestimated the difficulty of leasing an entire subdivision. He said there are isolated cases of land leases in the area, but not entire subdivisions. He said the market dynamics have changed. Commercial loans are as cheap as they have ever been and tenants are willing to borrow to buy property. Mascari said he wanted to require Scott Byers attend the next meeting and the Commission needed to look at their contractual obligation with this realtor. He said there were two other firms that were interested in marketing the property. He said maybe the Commission should consider making a change in realtors. Thrower asked Overton what type of market research he did before submitting a proposal for the project? Overton explained what he normally did to identify potential tenants. He said they use local and national advertising. 2. Lot #10 - O'Neil said that the tenant from lot #10 has not paid any rent. The lease was signed in February, with payments to begin on July 1. O'Neil said he has billed the tenant for July, August, and September and has not received any response. Dulek said he owns about $ 5200. In order to terminate the lease, he would be given 10 days to pay up or the lease could be terminated 30 days after notification. Mascari suggested having an executive session at the next meeting. The Commission directed Dulek to give the 10-day notice to pay up or his lease would be terminated in 30 days. O'Neil said if the lease is terminated, the Commission should pursue recovering the past rent. 2 3. Other issues- No issues were presented. c. Obstruction removal project - Mike Donnelly, from Stanley Environmental, said that they had staded to do an inventory of the obstructions and other data gathering. Once the obstructions are identified, Stanley will prioritize them and associate some cost for removal. At the next meeting, he will provide a list of the obstructions, their owners and costs for removal. Ellis asked about the 14-story building that is proposed for downtown Iowa City? Donnelly said that an air space study would need to be conducted by the FAA. It is the contractor's responsibility to have this done. O'Neil said the Planning Department and Building Department are aware of the requirements. d. Iowa Environmental Assessment and Section 106 project - Blum, from H.R. Green, said the main contract has been approved, but the Task Order #1 has not been approved. There were two issues. One, is this a reimbursable item from the FAA. The answer from the FAA is that it is reimbursable. The second issue is whether the Finance Department is prepared to fund the project up front and then get reimbursed. There is a bit of a problem in that funding for the project must be included as part of a grant. A grant will not be issued for the first phase of the Runway 07 project until an environmental assessment is completed. Anderson directed O'Neil to document the verbal commitment he has received from the Finance Department. As soon as O'Neil receives a reply from the Finance Department, Green will be given a Notice to Proceed. O'Neil said documentation is important because the Council emphasized a need for better communication between the Commission and the Council. Blum said Green's environmental team is ready to go immediately. e. Airport Layout Plan - update - Blum said that at the last meeting, the Commission requested Blum to contact the FAA to see if the FAA's only objection to the ALP was the number of obstructions in the 50:1 approach for Runway 25. Blum said he contacted Jan Monroe, the FAA Planning Supervisor, and was told that there are criteria for the ALP and he would need to follow the list of criteria. The regulations state that each runway must be evaluated by it's own obstructions. The ALP obstruction table does not categorize the obstructions by runway. Blum said that Green can modify the ALP to meet the Appendix 16 criteria, but the contract for the ALP will need to be modified. Mascari made a motion to modify the ALP contract with H.R. Green. Ellis seconded the motion and it was passed 4 - 0, with Robnett being absent. The contract total, including the modifications, will be $ 2000.00. Blum said the modifications would have an affect on the proposed modifications of the Zoning code. f. Bulletin board policy- Flight Planning room - Ellis said he thinks the Commission should have a policy on what should be on the bulletin board. He said he thought only appropriate things, such as FAA information, should be on the board. He thought the Commission should approve all things on the board. Ellis said the Commission should supply a space in the vending room or pilots room for other things, such as planes for sale or fly in breakfast posters. Mascari said what goes on the board should be decided by the Airport Manager. Dulek said other City buildings have policies. The Commission should get policies from other departments if they want to set a policy on bulletin boards. Thrower asked where Jet Air would post their information if they didn't post it in the Planning Room? Ellis said that they could put it in space they rent. He did not think Jet Air should have free use of space on the bulletin board. Mascari said that he doesn't think the Commission needs a policy to decide what goes on the bulletin board. It should be taken care of by the Airport Manager. Ellis said there should be a policy to direct the Airport Manager what can be on the bulletin board. Mascari said he would support a policy to let this be part of the discression of the Airport Manager. Anderson asked O'Neil to locate other City bulletin board policies. This can be on the agenda next month. g. Building E, meeting room policy- O'Neil included a copy of the current policy in the Commission's packet. He included a revised policy. O'Neil said there have been several groups that have asked to use the room. E~lis said he was concerned about increased liability. The Commission will review the old policy and this will be on the agenda at the next meeting. h. Strategic planning - schedule- Anderson said the Commission should discuss whether or not to have a facilitator. He said he thought Robnett had someone who would facilitate a planning session. O'Neil said the Commission should set a deadline and work back from that to set a timeline. Thrower said the planning he has been involved with usually takes about 5 to 8 hours a day for a week. He said there is a lot of preplanning that goes on before the actual planning session begins. Ellis asked if the planning was different for a non-profit group? Thrower said it is only an accounting difference. He said the Airport is not for profit, but is also not for loss. Ellis said he had a copy of the Fire Department's plan. He said it was a 10-year plan, with unsupported ideas. He wondered if this was typical and if it should be followed up with a business plan? Thrower said a ten-year plan developed a strategy, which should be followed up by tactical solutions. Ellis wanted to know if it could be done on a weekend or done in one long day. Anderson said it could be done on two weekends. O'Neil said the Commission might have a difficult time getting citizen participation on weekends. Thrower said he thought each Commission member should bring a list of things to the next meeting that they felt should be discussed at a planning session. The Commission could narrow the list and tailor it toward the type of facilitator the Commission should look for. Mascari said the Commission members should get their list to O'Neil in the next two weeks. Anderson said he would like to see the plan finished by February 1, 2003. This would help with the next year's budgeting. Robnett and Thrower will be the subcommittee for this project and help determine who should be on the planning committee. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: Anderson said there was an aircraft emergency landing a couple of miles from the airport. No one was injured and there was no damage to the aircraft. Anderson asked O'Neil if he sent information to Councilperson Vanderhoef concerning the Army Reserve lease? O'Neil said he sent information to the City Manager. Anderson said he would like to review the Airport Manager's job description because it had changed so much over the years. Thrower and Ellis are the subcommittee for this issue. 4 COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: Mascari wanted to know if there was something broken on the runway lights? O'Neil said the radio control switch is burned out and it is difficult to get parts because of the age of the equipment. O'Neil said it is a micro-switch that needs to be replaced. Mascari said he wanted to welcome Baron Thrower to the Commission. He said that it would be helpful to have a full five member Commission. Mascad said he thinks the Commission should carefully review the contract with the realtor. Mascari said that Overton said he can't lease the property and Mascari said that makes his contract null and void. Mascari said the Council has given the Commission one year to "get their house in order". He said that means working on a constant basis with the City Manager to assure the Council knows about the operations of the Airport. Thrower asked if there were any other documents he would need that pertain to the Airport? He said O'Neil gave him the bylaws, the City code and the Minimum Standards. Dulek said much of that information was on the City website. Anderson suggested Thrower look at the Master Plan and the FBO contract. Ellis asked if the Commission was going to send a memo to the Council, outlining what the Commission thought the Council expects from them in the next year. He said that it should emphasize that there will be no change in the financial side of the Airport. He said he thought the Council was going to give them a year to see what changes there are on how the Commission works. He said that the financial problems that started all this were probably not going to change in the next year. Mascari said that there were four items mentioned that needed to be addressed. None of the four issues involved finances. Ellis said that in a year, the strategic plan would be done, and maybe the business plan. He said the Airport Manager's job description will be defined. The Airport Manager should keep in contact with the City Manager. Ellis said it is important to send the Council something in writing. Anderson said it was discussed at the Council/Commission meeting. Ellis said it needs to be in writing. Ellis said he thought the Airport Manager should write a manual on how the SERTOMA fly in is organized. He said that would create continuity. Ellis said the Airport Manager should also write an airport operations manual. It is not required at a non-commercial airport, but it is recommended by AAAE. Mascari said that the Commission talked about having the Commission or the Airport Manager attend Council meetings on at least a monthly basis. He said that hasn't happened yet. Mascari and Ellis said they would attend the next Council meeting. Ellis said that he thought it should be a Commission member or members that attend the meetings. Ellis said if they spent three to five minutes to inform the Council on what is going on. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Dulek said there was an e-mail that was sent to the Council, thanking O'Neil for his help in getting Dulek's neighbor's son the hospital to spend some time with his mother before she died. The son was going to school out of state and had a friend fly him to Iowa City. His mother was $ in the hospital, dying of cancer. As soon as he arrived, O'Neil took him to the hospital and the son was able to spend some time with his mother before she died. Dulek said she would get a copy of the e-mail for the Commission. O'Neil said that the tenant in hangar #34 would like to begin negotiating another lease. His lease expires in February of 2003. This will be on the agenda for October. The new t-hangar leases will require a certificate of insurance. The leases and insurance are due October 1. If they are not received by October 10, notices to vacate will be sent. O'Neil suggested a meeting be scheduled in Kansas City with FAA officials to discuss the Iowa City Airport and what might be expected as far as future funding is concerned. O'Neil said there was a problem with the Dreusicke lease. The property Toyota would like to lease is in Johnson County and is zoned residential. Toyota can not use the property for vehicle storage if it is zoned residential. O'Neil said the Commission could request to annex the property and rezone it commercial. The Commission asked O'Neil to see how much it would cost to annex that area. O'Neil said he thought the Commission should have a meeting with SERTOMA at one of their meetings in the next few months to discuss responsibilities for the annual fly in. O'Neil said a he included a copy of the memo in the packet he sent with the new hangar leases. The State Aviation Conference is October 8 and 9 in Ames. O'Neil said that if any of the Commission members are interested in going, they should contact him by next week. He said it is not a split tuition, so if a Commission member wants to go, they should go both days. O'Neil encouraged participation. The Zoning Code revisions will cost about $ 9,000 - $10,000. The Zoning Commission does not have a budget because they rarely ever meet, except every few years to update the code. O'Neil said he has discussed this with the Finance Director. The Commission had discussed including a set fee for electricity in the new hangar leases. O'Neil said there was nothing in the lease for charging an electrical fee. O'Neil said he has been appointed a member of the national AAAE subcommittee for general aviation airports. A lot of information is exchanged by phone and e-mail and meetings at national conferences. Thank you letters were sent to some of those that contributed to the fly in breakfast. Copies of two memos to the City Manager were included in the Commission packet. One was about the USAR lease and one was about the Hagen property. The 2004 budget information is due on October 2. O'Neil asked the Commission members to send him their comments by September 30 so he can include them in the next packet of information. A special meeting could be scheduled before the October 2 deadline. Anderson will schedule a special meeting if it is necessary. Ellis asked what happened to the Council's request that the Commission model their accounting to be like the Library's? O'Neil said he discussed this with the Finance Director and the Airport already does business similar to the Library. As soon as the new leases are completed, Accounting will do the monthly t-hangar billing. SET NEXT MEETING The next regular Airport Commission meeting is scheduled for October 10, 2002,at 5:45 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at $:55 p.m. Mark Anderson, Chairperson FINAL/APPROVED Iowa City Human Rights Commission I~lake-up meeting for August (due to lack of quorum in August) Council Chambers September 10, 2002 MEMBERS PRESENT: Lisa Beckmann, Paul Retish, Bob Peffer, Keri Neblett, Lucia Page, Nick Klenske, Jan Warren, Charles Major MEMBERS ABSENT: Rick Spooner STAFF I~IEI~IBERS: Heather Shank 1, CALL TO ORDER: 7:04 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Beckman asked for approval of or any changes in the minutes from the July meeting. ^ correction was made under Old Business, page 3; the sentence referring to just cause should read as follows, "just cause is a very high standard." I~lotion: Warren moved to accept the minutes as revised. Page seconded the motion. Motion: Minutes as revised unanimously approved. 3. RECOI~II~IENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: None 4. NEW BUSINESS: Introduction of new student legal intern, Danelle Smith. Smith will be working in the offices of Shank and Dilkes during the fall semester. Commission re-training and possible dates: Shank explained that the staff discussed commission retraining in discrimination law during the last month. The topic came up after there was Commission confusion as to the law in a couple of cases. Shank reviewed numerous decisions from the Human Rights office, the state and federal courts. The case decisions frequently used different language to describe the elements in a prima facie discrimination case. VVhen using different case law to support the opinions of the investigators, the language of court is frequently incorporated. The language in the court decisions can differ significantly. This creates confusion as to the elements necessary to establish a prima facie case. Shank pointed out that she believes the Commission will achieve a better understanding of discrimination law when the language in the investigative summaries are consistent from case to case. Shank clarified that while the language in the opinions frequently describes the elements differently, it does not mean the opinions are stating the law incorrectly. The cases presume that persons reading them will understand the intent of the language. Sometimes the courts are just lazy and attempt to save time by omitting the language or addressing several issues in one paragraph. Shank believes the opinions from the human rights office should be less confusing. Therefore, the staff has agreed to use the same language in describing the elements in the cases received and investigated. Shank added that the language setting forth the respondent's burden remains generally the same from case to case so that will not change. Shank suggested a retraining in the law after the changes were instituted. Retish suggested developing a one-page explanation to include along with each case. Shank stated that she hoped to do something like that as well as provide a more comprehensive reference setting forth the different types of discrimination, elements, etc. Shank added that if the Commissioners believed another training session would be helpful, she would schedule it. She also suggested having another training for everyone after Commissioners are appointed in November. 5. OLD BUSINESS: Reschedule Guest Speakers: Beckmann asked Shank if she knew why the speakers from Mount Pleasant did not arrive for the August meeting. Shank indicated she received information from the people in Mt. Pleasant regarding a diversity conference. She believes that the program in Mount Pleasant, referred to as Community Voices, is so popular and successful, the Mt. Pleasant Commission decided to invite people from all of the local commissions to their town. This will allow information regarding their program to be disseminated without having to travel all over the state. Shank asked if any of the Commissioners wanted to attend. Retish noted that the dates for the conference are October 10th and 11th at Iowa Wesleyan. Beckmann would like to send a couple people to this conference even though it is a Thursday and a Friday. Beckmann asked whether anyone wanted to attend. Neblett and Page agreed to go. Shank said that we could send up to four or five people. Peffer stated he would also like to attend and will get back to Shank about it. Beckmann would like a report on the conference at the October meeting. Neblett mentioned that she would not be attending the October meeting due to a family member having surgery. Page asked about the program Diane Finnerty wanted to discuss at the August meeting. Shank stated that Finnerty wanted people to participate in dialogue and/or be facilitators for a diversity session involving both the community and the University. Shank will ask Diane if she wants to come back and address the Commission. Human Rights Breakfast: ('1) Survey. (2) Education Committee Recruitment. (3) Ticket takers. Beckmann asked how many ticket takers were needed on the day of the breakfast. Shank said that people are needed at the table and one right inside the door. Klenske, Page and Major volunteered to take tickets and they were reminded to be in place by 7:00 a.m. Shank said people would start arriving right after 7:00 a.m. The food will be ready at that time so Commissioners need to encourage attendees to begin breakfast as soon as they arrive. Shank further added that the banner and the posters are finished and look very nice and she expects a great turnout. Shank indicated she would pay for Commission members to attend the breakfast. Commissioners can, however, purchase their own tickets if they preferred. Beckmann encouraged all of the Commission members to attend. Shank will get nametags for Commissioners in need of them. Education Recruitment: Beckmann stated that at the last meeting, someone suggested that an announcement be made at the breakfast that recruits were needed for the Education Committee. Beckmann was unsure as to whether a decision had been made to do so. Retish thought the breakfast was a good opportunity to bring it up. Beckmann asked if Retish or Shank would volunteer. Shank thought Retish should bring it up. Warren suggested there should be an announcement regarding the Commission vacancies that will occur next January. The Council will choose commissioners to fill these vacancies in November. Shank will check on when individual's terms are up and report at the next meeting. Letter: Beckmann asked Shank about the letter to the DI. A letter was drafted to the Daily Iowan in response to an article that appeared today. The article was about the breakfast and President Boyd receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. The article, however, did not mention any of the other award winners with exception of Monique DiCarlo. During her conversation with the reporter, Shank asked the reporter to at least mention all of the award winners but the final article did not do so. Survey: Beckmann stated that she and Jan used a survey created by the Minneapolis Human Rights Resource Center to develop a survey for the Commission. Shank, Burnside and Smith reviewed the survey and then revised some of the questions and added others. The final survey included thirteen questions, a five-point scale, and a section for suggestions and demographics. Beckmann asked for feedback on the survey. Warren said that she and Beckmann had discussed the kinds of things they wanted the survey to convey. Since the Minneapolis survey was about schools, it did not cover what the city would be covering. So Beckmann and Warren decided to look at things differently, including gathering demographic information. In a place like Iowa City that is relatively homogenous, if there is a question asking whether people in Iowa City are discriminated against, 90% might respond no. Therefore it is important to know the demographics of the other 10% that are responding affirmatively to the question. Shank said that the Minneapolis survey was one that focused on schools and the questions and responses were designed to facilitate discussion. Retish asked if the survey would be ready for the breakfast. Warren said yes. Retish mentioned that he believed that the Commission really couldn't determine whether the survey was adequate. He believed that feedback on the survey should come from a small group of people such as the Iowa City Senior Center or United Action for Youth, etc. The Commission could add a comment section on the bottom about the simplicity of the survey or not. Retish believed the survey was at a point where it needed to be tested. Warren replied that she put a lot of work into the survey in making the changes from a school survey to a city survey. She agreed that it was a good idea to test the product, but if testing was done at this time, the survey would not be ready in time for the breakfast. Shank suggested handing the survey out at the breakfast but conducting additional tests afterwards. Beckmann suggested taking both surveys to the breakfast for feedback. Retish thought it would be a great honors project for a graduate student interested in surveys and data analysis. Warren agreed it could be used that way, but it would not be prudent to proceed in this fashion if the Commission wanted the survey before the breakfast. Next two meetings: Beckmann reminded all that the September 24th and October 22nd meeting would be in the City Attorney's conference room. Unemployment and underemployment of persons with disabilities: Beckmann would like to table this until Spooner is present. Web site: Warren asked about the Commission's web site and she mentioned that it was outdated by at least seven years. In Warren's search for the website she found one that listed as a commissioner a person that she knows has been off the commission for a very long time. Beckmann suggested going to a more current website like Iowa City.gov. Warren indicated that her point was that the first web site she came to was the outdated version and she feels strongly that it needs to be updated by someone. Beckmann said that she works right next to the office of the librarian for the hospital website and she will ask her how this situation can be remedied. Warren asked if Iowa City had a web master for the City of Iowa City. Shank indicated that Lisa Mollenhauer was the person in charge of the web for the City. 6. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS: Page spoke of articles she received from the Orlando Sentinel about the efforts being made to add sexual orientation to the ordinance. Apparently there was an effort to turn the Black population against the idea. The articles will be included in the next packet. Neblett no report. Retish spoke of receiving an email from Jon Simon that contained a complaint that he had sent to the governing board of the public library. Simon complained about a display in the library. He thought the display was a biased look at what was going on in the Mid-East. He further stated that while the library had every right to put this up the display, the display should not have presented just one view. Retish's friend thought the library could have put together a more generalized statement about the situation in the Middle East. Retish suggested the Commission go and look at the display entitled "A Look at the Mid-East." Peffer spoke about the upcoming birth of his first child and how he was checking into the leave policy at his place of employment. After Peffer talked to the Board of Directors, the Board drafted something similar to the family medical leave act. Peffer will get thirty days paid time off as opposed to just getting time off without pay. Major asked if the San Francisco ordinance was upheld by the courts or whether a decision was made. He stated that the issue was first presented to the Human Rights Commission about two to two and a half years ago. (San Francisco adopted an ordinance that mandated that businesses contracting with the City could not discriminate against persons based on the protected categories including in the ordinance. Dilkes agreed to look into whether the City of Iowa City could adopt something similar.) Major wondered whether Dilkes had heard any news recently regarding the San Francisco ordinance. Shank reported that Dilkes had just finished writing an opinion when a case was decided by the Supreme Court of Iowa that had a bearing on Dilkes' decision so she was planning to rewrite her decision on the matter. decision. Warren discussed material she had seen in a publication called The Rainbow Donkey where they discussed the differences in the party platforms of the Republicans and Democrats on certain key issues. She stated that one of the platform issues of the Republican party in the state of Iowa was quote, "we oppose any attempt to add sexual orientation to the Iowa Civil Rights Code or to any city code and call for its repeal where already existing." She further stated that they (Republicans) believe the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with military service, they also oppose the teaching of homosexual behavior as a normal or acceptable life style in our government schools. Warren was quite concerned about the fact that the Republicans mentioned in this article were going to stop any effort to add sexual orientation to municipal law in Iowa. In addition, they want to repeal any law that currently exists in Iowa prohibiting discrimination against persons because of their sexual orientation. Warren also reported that the Democrat platform, stated, "we support equal opportunity for 4 military service regardless of gender, sexual orientation, clean combat positions when qualified." They (Democrats) also support governmental statutes and regulations prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identification. Warren wanted to emphasize the difference between the two platforms as they pertained to human rights in the State of Iowa. Warren also brought up an article found in the Des Moines Register that read "Ministry aims to convert gays." She went on to explain that Jack Morlin, a Des Moines resident and the founder of Freedom Ministries was the former chair of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. Beckmann urged members if they were interested, to do some research on the Exodus International Organization because she found some very interesting information on its background. Warren stated that last month she met with Jim Leach to discuss the employment non-discrimination act, of which he is a co-sponsor. She also asked him to sign on to the Local Law Enforcement Act, which she believed he had already done. The Local Law Enforcement Act provides federal funding to local law enforcement agencies to investigate hate crimes. It has passed in the Senate, but is currently stuck in Committee in the house. She pointed out that Jim Leach has a 100% approval rating from the Human Rights Campaign as far as his stance on human rights issues, particularly as they relate to gay and lesbian issues. Beckman announced that in the original packet for the August 27th meeting, there was information regarding communities that have passed ordinances pertaining to the US Patriot Act. Shank reported she called the North Hampton City Council in Massachusetts and a council person told her that the resolution their city council passed was a symbolic protest because there really wasn't any way the City could order the federal government to give them any information. North Hampton wanted, however, to indicate that the Patriot Act was not acceptable. Beckmann asked Shank to add the Patriot Act to the agenda for the September meeting. Beckmann also wanted members to be aware of the letter in the packet to the Burlington Human Rights Commission. 7. STATUS OF CASES: Shank reported that the complainant's attorney in a case involving discrimination based on race sent a demand letter to the respondent. If the parties can reach an agreement, conciliation will not be necessary. 8. ADJOURN: Motion made by Neblett to adjourn with a second by Warren. Motion passed with meeting ending at 8:35 p.m. MINUTES FI NAL/AP P RO17ED- PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 4, 2002 MEMBERS PRESENT: Toni Cilek, Doug Ginsberg, Nancy Ostrognai, Matt Pacha, Rex Pruess, Al Stroh, John Westefeld MEMBERS ABSENT: Kevin Boyd, Craig Gustaveson STAFF PRESENT: Steve Atkins, Mike Moran, Terry Trueblood FORMAL ACTION TAKEN Moved by Pruess, seconded by Cilek, to approve the Auqust 14, 2002 minutes as written. Unanimous. BUDGET A question and answer open forum was held with the City Manager with respect to the present state of the budget, specifically with regard to the lack of park and recreation projects in the capital improvement budget. The City Manager provided an overview of city budgets. In Iowa there is a home rule provision in its constitution, which grants broad powers to cities to enact legislation on their behalf, except the levying of taxes. Taxes and tax policy are strictly reserved for the State legislature, with the tax rate, base and caps regulated by legislative action. He noted 83 percent of the revenue in the City's general fund is subject to some sort of State and/or Federal regulation. In answer to the question if there are other possible sources of income available other than bonds, taxes, fees or grants, the answer is no. With respect to the issue of debt and borrowing to finance capital projects, factors involved are the IRS, Securities Exchange Commission, market analysis, credit worthiness/analysis as well as State laws which apply to debt that require a referendum. Atkins referred to the property tax bill citizens recently received. He noted as a "rule of thumb" 40 percent goes to the City, 40 pement to the schools and 20 percent goes to the County, with the City's 40 percent covering operations and the payment of debt. He referred to page 21 of the FY03-05 Financial Plan, which sets out the City's property tax amounts and levies. He noted employee benefits have much to do with the tax bill. This year's tax bill went up substantially for two reasons - $30 million in debt to pay for library and capital projects approved by referendum and the cost of health insurance program that went up approximately 40 percent. In FY02 the employee benefit tax rate was 2.11; this year its 2.8. State law permits cities to levy what is required to finance employee benefits, and can only be used for health insurance, social security, and pension payments. The irony is the City has the ability to borrow money because its credit rating is so good, but the problem is it doesn't have sufficient funds for operating budgets. For example, if the City were to open a new pool, it could afford the debt, but could not hire the staff to operate it. The City does not have a sales tax, gambling revenue, or any other major source of income available other than the property tax. This year's State rollback factor is 51 percent; therefore, residential property with an assessed value of $100,000 has a taxable value of $51,000. A spike in the tax rate does not substantially change the property tax. Last year the rollback factor was 56 percent; ten years ago it was 75 percent. The State sets tax rate caps and virtually caps the tax base. Last year the assessed value went up almost 10 percent citywide. After applying the rollback factor, the overall effect of available revenue to the City was less than a 1-percent increase or a little less than $200,000 additional monies for operations. The Commission's concem is mainly with the capital improvement budget. Atkins noted the operational budgets are just as bad. Trueblood has brought to the City Council on a regular basis the need for additional staff, but the City would have to cut other employees. The library project will come on line in 1.5 years that will require 3 new employees, for a project approved by referendum. Parks and Recreation Commission September 4, 2002 Page 2 of 4 Atkins referred to page 34, which set out the State regulations in relation to the City's allowable debt margin. State law limits the general obligation debt. For FY03 property valuations total $2.7 billion. The State allows the City to have general obligation debt of $136 million, which equates to 5 percent of the total property value. The current debt level for FY03 is $85 million or 59 percent of the City's allowable debt margin. Atkins explained the two types of bonds - revenue and general obligation debt. Revenue bonds are water, sewer, and landfill where the assets of the system are pledged to pay the debt. There has been some hefty borrowing in revenue bonds over the last 8-9 years, most recently $50 million for the water system and $50 million to bdng the wastewater treatment plant on line. These bonds are scheduled to be paid off over the next 27 years, but they pledge system revenue and have nothing to do with property tax. These are not relevant to park & recreation interests. General obligation debt (GO Bonds) means the City will pledge its full faith and credit to pay the bond by levying an irrevocable property tax. This bond has boundaries of State regulations with respect to what the City can sell, when they can sell, what for, and whether a referendum is required. The City presently borrows on average around $6-8 million in general obligation bonds, while annually retiring $5 million. The City has been borrowing at a more rapid rate than it has paid off. Atkins noted there is nothing to panic about in that the City's allowable debt margin's peak has been 59 percent. The City maintains some margin for catastrophic events, such as a huge uninsured loss or judgment bond. This also is a factor in the City's creditworthiness and its ability to manage its money. There are 2 types of G.O. Bonds - essential corporate purpose and general corporate purpose. For example, to build a street it can be funded with an essential corporate purpose bond that does not require a referendum. If the City wants to build a recreation center it is considered to be general corporate purpose and is subject to a referendum. This is spelled out in the State Code. An independent body, Moody's Investor Service, rates the City's bonds and its creditworthiness. The City wants the best credit rating possible because taxpayers benefit. The City is currently rated "AAA", which it constantly works hard to keep. Atkins stated it is of utmost importance to him to maintain this rating. A "AAA" rating means the City is getting what the taxpayer wants to have financed at the lowest possible cost. For example, out of $20 million payable over 20 years there would be $1 million in savings over this period with the "AAA" rating as opposed to the "AA" rating. A "AA+" rating has minor variations. Ginsberg queded whether maintaining a "AAA" rating is a catch 22 in that it may be at the expense of growth in Iowa City. Atkins stated when a business borrows money it wants to borrow it at the lowest rate possible and the City is not any different. He felt the question posed was a political question and judgment call. Atkins listed a number of projects that will be completed over the next 3 years that are very growth oriented. It was asked how long the City has had a "AAA" rating; Atkins noted at least 18 years. Before that time it may have been a "AA" or "AA+". Atkins indicated when he arrived in 1986 one of the financial concerns was that the City's cash position had declined to 5-6 percent of its general fund, which was unacceptable. For example, with the 1993 flood the City had instant cash and went to its reserves, with working capital available. Also, the City Council adopted a policy 8-9 years ago that the City must have a 3-year average of 15 percent and no year can it go below a certain amount. It was asked what CoralviIle's rating is; Atkins guessed it is likely "A+" and they are borrowed to the max at 99 percent. At a previous meeting, Boyd had stated Coralville doesn't seem as concerned about its rating and they continue to grow and do things, unlike Iowa City with a "AAA" rating that can borrow a lot more money at a lower interest rate but doesn't seem to be keeping up. Atkins noted Iowa City is not in competition with Coralville and he is only responsible for Iowa City's finances. He indicated Coralville chooses to take risks that Iowa City won't. Stroh noted Iowa City is an odd ball in the State of Iowa, with a "AAA" rating; Atkins stated there are only 3 cities - Ames, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City with this rating. He noted Ames was the Parks and Recreation comrmssion September 4, 2002 Page 3 of 4 first big city in Iowa to have a local option sales tax, and their property tax rate is substantially lower than Iowa City's. If Iowa City had a sales tax, it would pull the tax rata down dramatically and would allow the ability to levy more. Cedar Rapids also has a sales tax, along with a huge industrial base. With respect to capital projects, many overlap City Council terms, tt takes a year to propose, a year to plan and design, and a year to build. As members of the City Council change so do the priorities - different priorities for different councils. Atkins reviewed the major projects and how they are being funded. Stroh noted these projects would fall into the category that does not require a referendum, which goes back to the 59 percent margin. He asked what level the City Manager was comfortable with; Atkins indicated approximately 60 percent, assuming the debt is paid off in 15 years. Atkins noted in looking at the current projects a $1 million project could be added. Pacha stated it would also depend on its impact on the operating budget as well. Atkins noted the City does not borrow for operating expenses. It is one thing to add a facility, but staffing it is the problem. Westefeld asked about the power dam project; Atkins indicated it is still moving forward and would include an 8-foot sidewalk/trail. Also, as new roads are opened, wide sidewalks will be installed whenever possible, such as along the extension of Mormon Trek. Trueblood stated this project is an opportunity to connect the trail into what is referred to as Willow Creek Trail extended, past the airport and eventually across the river. Cilek asked about plans for the Iowa River trail and whether or not it would connect into the N. Dubuque trail going out into the county. Trueblood noted it would, and future plans take the trail through the Waterworks Park, under the Interstate, through property around the peninsula, with one segment crossing over a proposed bridge to Rocky Shore and onto City Park. Since it does not appear the City can get a trail from the peninsula around the Elk's property, the other segment will probably have to be on streets/sidewalks through the new subdivision down to Foster Road across No Name Road/Taft Speedway. Pruess asked if FostadDubuque would connect up to Praide Du Chien; Atkins indicated it would eventually occur. Pruess noted this would be a very popular biking trail. He also asked if Dodge Street would have an arterial sidewalk; Atkins stated it should. A question was asked about the current status of a local option sales tax; Atkins stated there was no interest on the part of the Council at this time. Trueblood noted Iowa City is the largest city in Iowa without one. Atkins also noted Iowa City is the only large city that does not have some alternate form of tax. For example, Cedar Rapids adopted a sales tax for their swimming pools. Pruess stated he could understand why iowa City does not have it, but questioned why Coralville doesn't. Atkins explained the law covedng a local sales tax option. All 6 adjoining cities - Iowa City, Coralville, University Heights, Hills, North Liberty, Tiffin - vote as if they are one. It could pass in Iowa City, the largest in population, but fail everywhere else and be defeated. He noted Coralville has been opposed to it. Ginsberg noted Coralville benefits from a lot of the social programs that Iowa City puts money into which Coraiville doesn't. As far as the role of the Commission, Atkins stated it is an advisory role, appointed by the City Council, to develop positions. The Commission needs to let the City Council know what they are interested in seeing done, and encouraged the Commission to be aggressive. He felt the large bond issue and whole strategy of trying to maintain credit rating binds the Commission to the present position for at least 2-3 years. Westefeld asked from the City Manager's perspective if parks and recreation is on par with other City departments with respect to projects funded. Atkins stated he would like to believe so, but Trueblood may be the person to ask. He noted over the last couple of years there has been big park and recreation projects approved and completed - Hunters Run, City Park, Hickory Hill, Skate Park. Trueblood noted over the next few years parks and recreation projects are fewer than the past few years. Pacha stated it is the first year he could remember that there was nothing on the plate. Atkins noted there is $250,000 in Parks and Recreation comrmssion September 4, 2002 Page 4 of 4 the budget for park and recreation annual projects. Pacha noted it seemed like, at minimum, parks and recreation has been able to do one major project each year until now. Pacha asked about the City Park pool project to replace the filtration system. Trueblood stated the project was scheduled for FY04, but may have to be moved forward due to problems experienced this summer. Atkins noted the City was not going to sacrifice the pool not being opened. Stroh noted the Commission's top 10 CIP priorities and how to get them funded. Atkins suggested that the Commission keep in mind how to minimize the project cost by looking at other ways to provide the same service, minimizing operating costs, and partnerships. Atkins indicated the Commission's prioritization of its CIP projects is very helpful. Pacha expressed the Commission's appreciation to the City Manager for the finance tutodal and answering its questions. Pacha stated the Commission might have to rethink the way it looks at things in order to get them done. Things change on a weekly basis and the Commission needs to react to them and needs to push a little harder. PARK TOUR The park tour will take place on October 9, beginning with a bdef meeting at 4:00 p.m. Sites being considered at this time are the skate park, waterworks and peninsula areas, trails in Hickory Hill Park, Sycamore trail to Kickers Park, Sand Lake loop, and sand ~rairie area. Pruess indicated he would not be able to attend. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Trueblood reported on the following: Recoonition. Trueblood presented a certificate of appreciation to Terry Robinson for 20 years of service to the City of Iowa City. Skate Park. Staff, contractor and consultants met with a geometry class from Clear Creek High School at the skate park to learn about curves and angles, and how such a project develops. Hickory Hill Park Trail System. A few problems have occurred which are being corrected. One of the things that isn't a problem that people seem to think is a problem is the small wetland area that is part of the trail system. It is holding water, but has not been planted yet. The area will be redesigned so water drains better. Individuals have expressed concerns about the West Nile virus, and an anonymous person has posted several notes in the area. Robinson has completed a fair amount of research with an entomologist from Iowa State University Extension Service about the virus and there is very little, if any concern on a puddle like this for West Niles virus. He also leamed there are only 2 of 51 varieties of mosquitoes in Iowa that may carry the virus. The washout areas are being dealt with along with a few unanticipated problems. There are only 200 total feet of the trail with problems out of a total of 15,000- 16,000 feet of new trail. It is a crushed limestone trail that will require fairly routine and continual maintenance; it is not like asphalt or concrete and people have to understand that. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. FINAL/APPROVED MINUTES PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2002 EMMA J. HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Dean Shannon, Beth Koppes, Ann Bovbjerg, Jerry Hansen, Benjamin Chait, Don Anciaux MEMBERS ABSENT: Ann Freerks STAFF PRESENT: Bob Miklo, Mitch Behr OTHERS PRESENT: None CALL TO ORDER: Bovbjerg called the meeting to order at 7:34 pm. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Bovbjerg said a listing of current vacancies on the various boards and commissions was posted in the outer lobby. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA: There was none. DEVELOPMENT ITEM: SUB02-00015, discussion of an application submitted by David Dunlap for a preliminary plat of Sweet Springs, a 3-lot, 2.67-acre subdivision, and rezoning from RS-8, Medium Density Single Family Residential to RS-8/OSA, Sensitive Areas Overlay located at 1517 N. Dubuque Road. Miklo said a letter had been received from Dunlap requesting the item be deferred indefinitely. Dunlap was pursuing an alternative which would result in the tower being moved and attached to his house. The tower would therefore become part of the principal structure and would not need a Sensitive Areas Overlay rezoning or subdivision. Miklo said Dunlap had indicated that if he was successful in that attempt, he would withdraw the application. Staff recommended SUB02-00015, be deferred indefinitely. Public discussion was opened. There was none. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Anciaux made a motion to defer SUB02-00015, an application submitted by David Dunlap for a preliminary plat of Sweet Springs, a 3-lot, 2.67-acre subdivision, and rezoning from RS-8, Medium Density Single Family Residential to RS-8/OSA, Sensitive Areas Overlay located at 1517 N. Dubuque Road. Shannon seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0. CODE ITEM: Discussion of amendments to the Zoning Code, Sensitive Areas Ordinance, regarding requirements for Sensitive Areas Oveday Rezoning and Sensitive Areas Site Plans. The amendment will generally require approval of a Sensitive Areas Site Plan by staff unless an applicant seeks modification of a Sensitive Areas Buffer or seeks a modification of other zoning requirements. Miklo said that there would be four conditions that would require a SAO rezoning rather than just the presence of critical or protected slopes, wetlands, woodlands, or stream corridors on a property. If Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes September 19, 2002 Page 2 an amendment were approved, a SAO rezoning would only be required if there was a request to modify one of the required buffers; there was a proposal to disturb more than 35% of the critical slopes on a property; there was a proposal to remove a greater percentage of trees on the property than was currently specified by the ordinance, which varied by zone; or there was disturbance of more than 10% of a protected feature or it's buffer for the installation of an essential public utility. Development plans that would be regulated by the SAO amendments would be reviewed by staff similarly to the way those for prairie remnants, stream corridors, steep slopes or hydric soils were currently reviewed by staff. Miklo said Staff recommended the item be deferred to the next Commission meeting to allow for the potential for public input. Bovbjerg asked what if a sufficient number of neighbors or adjacent landowners objected to any proposed changes. Miklo said that was not specific in the SAO itself, but it was in the Site Plan Review ordinance. A sign would be posted on the property which indicated that a site plan review would occur. If owners of 20% of the property within 200 feet signed a petition, the site plan would then be reviewed by the Commission instead of by Staff. Motion: Hansen made a motion to defer the proposed amendments to the Zonino Code. Sensitive Areas Ordinance, regarding requirements for Sensitive Areas Overlay Rezoning and Sensitive Areas Site Plans. Koppes seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0. OTHER: Miklo said Staff wished to know if the Commission wanted to meet with Council if they decided to vacate the Crandic Railroad Company's application over the Commission's recommendation. Anciaux and Shannon agreed to attend the Council meeting. Behr said the Commission would set the terms upon which the conveyance would occur. He said there was a difference in the law as to the terms upon which the City could convey property to a private entity as opposed to a public entity. The law specifically stated that the City could gift a property to another public entity. When conveying to a private entity, case law indicated that the City should get a fair price, which could be by way of public benefit. The Council, if they chose to convey the property, would consider all the terms of the conveyance. CONSIDERATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 5. 2002 MEETING MINUTES: Motion: Hansen made a motion to approve the meeting minutes as printed and corrected. Shannon seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0. ADJOURNMENT: Hansen made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:48 pm. Shannon seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0. Jerry Hansen, Secretary Minutes submitted by Candy Barnhill shared on c*tynt/pcd/minutes/p&z09-19-02.doc MINUTES PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ~ ~ t ~ I~ ~ ~ ~ ',! ~ OCTOBER3,2002 ;~? .~ ~ ~ ~ EMMA J. HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Don Anciaux, Ann Freerks, Dean Shannon, Ann Bovbjerg, Jerry Hansen, Benjamin Chair, Beth Koppes STAFF PRESENT: Bob Miklo, Mitch Behr OTHERS PRESENT: Mike Singer, Kathleen Steve, Jayson Neison CALL TO ORDER: Bovbjerg called the meeting to order at 7:34 pm. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA: There was none. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON CI~ BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Bovbjerg said a listing of current vacancies on the various boards and commissions was posted in the outer lobby. RECQMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: Recommended by a vote of 7-0 that the City Council send a letter to the Johnson County Board of Supe~isors finding that the proposed rezoning is in conformance with the Fringe Area Agreement and therefore recommended approval provided that an agreement be reached with the properly owner regarding the construction of turning lane / deceleration lane improvements to Herbe~ Hoover Highway necessa~ to se~e future development on this prope~y, and that more information be given assuring adequate wastewater treatment on the prope~y, prior to it being rezoned to CP2, Planned Commercial. CZ02-012 Recommended approval by a vote of 7-0 a request to vacate the noKhern 2' of Benton Street beginning 60' east of Gilbed Street and ending at Maiden Lane, subject to the applicant maintaining the two feet of vacated right-of-way as landscaped area and subject to utility easements if necessa~. VAC02-0005 Recommended approval by a vote of 7-0 an application from Arlington, LC for a final plat of Windsor Ridge PaK 16, a 6.94-acre, 5-tot residential subdivision located at the intersection of Ashford Place and Camden Road subject to staff approval of legal papers and construction drawings prior to City Council consideration of the final plat. SUB02-00014 Recommended approval by a vote of 7-0 an application submitted by Dial Iowa City Land, L.L.C. for the final p~at of Silvercrest Residential Community, Pad 2, an 8-lot, 12.17-acre subdivision located south of American Legion Road and east of Scott Boulevard, subject to staff approval of construction drawings and legal papers prior to City Counci~ consideration of the final plat. SUB02-00017 Recommended approval by a vote of 7-0 amendments to the Zoning Code to provide that a penalty of $250 be assessed against the property owner/tenant/landlord for the first offense, $500 for the second violation and $750 for the third violation and as so stated in Staff's dra~ document, "An Ordinance Amending Title 14 Entitled 'Unified Development Code,' Chapter 6, Entitled 'Zoning,' Adicle U, entitled 'Administration and Enforcement,' Section 7 Entitled 'Violations and Penalties' To Increase the Municipal Infraction Civil Fines for Violating the Zoning Code." REZONING ITEMS: REZ02-00016, discussion of a request submitted by Hawkeye Investments to rezone approximately 1.20 acres from Office Commercial, CO-1, to Community Commercial, CC-2, for properly located at the southwest corner of Highway 6 East and Broadway Street. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes October 3, 2002 Page 2 Miklo said the applicant had requested that the item be deferred. Bovbjerg asked Mikio if he knew why a deferral had been requested. Miklo said he was not sure. Staff had met with the applicant on 10/2/02 to discuss the Commission's concerns from the informal meeting. Miklo said he thought the applicant was considering the information. Public discussion was opened. There was none. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Freerks made a motion to defer REZ02-00016, a request submitted by Hawkeye Investments to rezone approximately 1.20 acres from Office Commercial, CO-1, to Community Commercial, CC-2, for property located at the southwest corner of Highway 6 East and Broadway Street. Shannon seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. CZ02-012, discussion of an item submitted by BOAH L.C. for a rezoning from Al, Agricultural, to Planned Commercial, CP2, for 54.8 acres of property located in Fringe Area B south of Herbert Hoover Highway and west of Interstate 80. Miklo said the Fringe Area Agreement was amended in the year 2000 to show this area as being potentially commercial. The applicant was currently requesting that it be zoned commercial. Miklo said due to the size of the requested rezoning, 54 acres, this property had the potential to generate considerable amounts of traffic. He said it was unclear how wastewater treatment would be provided. Miklo said given those concerns, Staff recommended that the County place a condition on the rezoning that required the applicant to construct turn lanes and deceleration lanes on Herbed Hoover Highway. This would assure that the traffic improvements that might be necessary to serve this amount of commercial area would be installed by the property owner and not a burden on the public at a future date. Staff also recommended that the applicant provide more information about how they were going to handle wastewater treatment on the site. The applicant had offered a couple of options, but none seemed to be concrete. Miklo said if those two issues could be addressed, Staff would recommend that the City recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the rezoning be approved with the two conditions 1) that the applicant demonstrate how they would deal with sanitary sewer for the property and 2) that the applicant commit to making the necessary traffic improvements, mainly turn lanes adjacent to the property. Bovbjerg asked to what standards would the streets need to be constructed and how would the City influence that. Miklo said it would be to County standards for a paved road. The County Engineer would be responsible for determining the specifications for the improvement and for ensuring that it was done correctly. Miklo said Staff would recommend to the Commission and to the Council that they recommend the rezoning be approved only if the two noted concerns were resolved by the developer so it would not become a burden to the tax payers. Koppes asked how many entrances to Herbert Hoover Highway were permitted. Miklo said it would be up to the County to decide how many they would permit in this location. Currently the proposal was for just one. Public discussion was opened. Mike Singer, Hart-Frederick Consultants, consulting engineer. Singer said there was currently one existing entrance on the far west side of the property in the currently zoned CH property that served a farm house. Singer said the two issues, the need for proper assurances of omsite wastewater treatment and continuing with the work that had already been done by Gateway Development for the turning lanes in that area, had also been reiterated by the County. Singer said BOAH L.C. had informed the County that they were fully prepared to guarantee those improvements. However, they were in the position where the request for a rezoning under County regulations stated that, "The necessity for improvements or providing escrow accounts or guarantees or assurances for improvements come at the point of building permit rather than at the point of rezoning." Singer said in order to overcome the impasse of what the City wanted to see, what the County wanted to see, and what the owners were fully prepared to provide, what the owners were offering instead was for the County to work out an agreement to establish an escrow Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes October 3, 2002 Page 3 account at the appropriate period which would potentially cover the cost for the maximum development costs for any type of turning lanes. Singer said whether that would be established at the point of rezoning or at the point of building permit was something that they were still working on with the County. Singer said with respect to the wastewater treatment capacity issue, the established Gateway lagoon across the street had excess capacity at this point. The design capacity was for 80,000 gallons/day, currently approximately 25,000 gallons/day were being used which freed up 55,000 gallons/day. The DNR Standard of Development of Design for wastewater treatment facilities was 5,000 gallons per acre for commercial development. Singer said that could be amended somewhat when actual uses could be shown. For Gateway that had been reduced somewhat because of the condominium development they had had at that point. If the capacity were to be doubled, that would still only cover approximately 20 acres of that area. The owners had identified their willingness and understanding of the requirement but they could not submit any type of site plan or building permit request other than what might occur in the existing CH zoned areas without having gone through the full permitting process which would satisfy both Johnson County Public Health, Iowa Depadment of Natural Resources and the Fringe Area Agreement. Singer said his capacity for being at the meeting was to receive additional comments and concerns that the Commission had and relay them to BOAH L.C. and to their meeting with Johnson County that was scheduled to occur in a couple of weeks. Bovbjerg asked Singer to clarify his discussion on wastewater treatment. Was the idea not to rely on the Gateway property on the other side of the highway, but to do what was necessary at the time they obtained the building permits? Singer said the problem was that the owners did not have a definitive land use for the site. They were interested in having the potential of the rezoning for future unspecified uses. They did not have a client, a proposal or a layout for that area at this point. There were interested in rezoning the property to begin marketing it for any number of uses as long as they conformed to the CP2 standards. Singer said it was difficult for the owner to identify at this time what type of land uses would be on the site and what the wastewater requirement would be. They had an understanding with Gateway that should it be necessary and prudent, they would seriously consider taking advantage of the excess capacity at the Gateway lagoon, as long as it was financially feasible, and a reasonable accommodation could be made by Gateway. Singer gave copies of the Letter of Understanding to the Commission. Singer said if they did not know exactly what the land uses would be on the site, they would not be able to specifically design a wastewater treatment facility to accommodate those needs. The potential for excess capacity could be utilized at the Gateway lagoon, but is seemed unlikely that if the whole 54.8 acres were developed exclusively for commercial uses, that the capacity of the lagoon would be sufficient. Singer said with phased development they could tie in and utilize the lagoon before needing an additional lagoon at that site. Singer said BOAH understood that they needed to provide these types of assurances to the County prior to any type of building permit being issued and certainly as part of the site plan review process. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Hansen made a motion that the City Council send a letter to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors finding that the proposed rezoning is in conformance with the Fringe Area Agreement and therefore recommended approval provided that an agreement be reached with the property owner regarding the construction of turning lane / deceleration lane improvements to Herbert Hoover Highway necessary to serve future development on this property, and that more information be given assuring adequate wastewater treatment on the property, prior to it being rezoned to CP2, Planned Commercial. Shannon seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. VACATION ITEM: VAC02-00005, discussion of an application submitted by Kathleen Steve for a vacation of the northern two feet of Benton Street between S. Gilbed Street and Maiden Lane. Miklo said the property currently contained a two-story building. The western half of the ground floor was vacant, the eastern half was occupied by a resale shop and there were four apartments on the second floor. The property was developed in 1990 with the maximum amount of square footage of building area and the minimum number of required parking spaces with very little green space. The property owner Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes October 3, 2002 Page 4 now wished to lease part of the building to a restaurant, which required more parking spaces than the previous retail/office use on that property. To gain the two required additional parking spaces, the applicant proposed to reconfigure the parking lot with perpendicular parking to the street instead of the current angle parking lay-out. The property did not contain enough depth to allow the proposed perpendicular parking, so the applicant had requested the City to vacate two feet of Benton Street to be added to their private property to be used for the parking requirements. Miklo said that portion of Benton had no public or private utilities that Staff were aware of and therefore was not needed for infrastructure purposes. At that location, Benton Street right-of-way was 80' wide. Only a 60' width was required for a collector street, so there was an excess of 20' of right-of-way available. Staff felt the vacation of two feet of right-of-way would not hinder the function of the street. Miklo said Staff recommended that VAC02-0005, a request to vacate the northern 2' of Benton Street beginning 60' east of Gilbert Street and ending at Maiden Lane, be approved subject to the applicant maintaining the two feet of vacated right-of-way as landscaped area and subject to utility easements if necessary. Miklo said the current standard required 5' of grassed area between the property line and the public sidewalk. However in this case because there were two fairly mature maple trees in the public right-of- way, Staff recommended that the sidewalk remain where it was and the amount of paving not be increased in that area to protect the roots of the trees. Miklo said up to two feet of the cars would hang over onto the grass, but the cars would still be on the private property versus in the public right-of-way. Public discussion was opened. Kathleen A. Steve, 811 Rider Street, said she hoped the Commission could find in her favor. Her property had been vacant for quite some time, she was been looking for a way to resolve her problem so she could go forward with her tenant. Steve introduced her prospective tenant, Jayson Nelson, who would be involved in the management of the proposed restaurant. Nelson said it would not be a typical dine-in restaurant, but a Jimmy-Johns, similar to the one located on Washington Avenue in the downtown area. They would primarily be a limited seating, carry-out and delivery restaurant. The majority of their business was a drive-in, pick-up and leave. They desired 40% of their business to be delivery. Nelson said he didn't think there would be any type of parking problem. Hansen asked if City Staff had thought about signalization at Benton and Gilbert Streets. Miklo said that was a possibility. That was one of the reasons they were not recommending that the western part of the frontage be vacated. Miklo said at some point in the future improvements would likely be necessary. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Anciaux made a motion to approve VAC02-0005, a request to vacate the northern 2' of Benton Street beginning 60' east of Gilbert Street and ending at Maiden Lane, subject to the applicant maintaining the two feet of vacated right-of-way as landscaped area and subject to utility easements if necessary. Hansen seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. DEVELOPMENT ITEMS: SUB02-00014., discussion of an application from Arlington, LC for a final plat of Windsor Ridge Part 16, a 6.94-acre, 5-lot residential subdivision located at the intersection of Ashford Place and Camden Road. Miklo said the Commission had recently approved a planned development zoning overlay for this entire property and preliminary plat. The applicant had requested a final plat approval which would authorize the sale of and construction on individual lots. There were three lots that would include multi-family or townhouse development and one lot that would include a single-family home being added onto the adjacent subdivision. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes October 3, 2002 Page 5 Miklo said Staff recommended approval of SUB02-0001~:, an application from Arlington, LC for a final plat of Windsor Ridge Part 16, a 6.94-acre, 5-lot residential subdivision tocated at the intersection of Ashford Place and Camden Road subject to staff approval of legal papers and construction drawings prior to City Council consideration of the final plat. Public discussion was opened. There was none. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Shannon made a motion to approve SUB02-00014. Koppes seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. SUB02-0001'~, discussion of an application submitted by Dial Iowa City Land, L.L.C. for the final plat of Silvercrest Residential Community, Part 2, an 8-lot, 12.17-acre subdivision located south of American Legion Road and east of Scott Boulevard. Miklo said the Commission recently approved an amended planned development overlay zone on this properly as well as a preliminary plat. The applicant was now requesting final plat approval which would subdivide the tract into several smaller parcels. Four parcels would contain 24-unit apartment buildings, four parcels would contain 4 townhouse-style dwelling units, and 2 outlets would contain stormwater management facilities. A private drive system would connect onto Silvercrest Place and onto American Legion Road to provide vehicular access to each lot. Miklo said staff recommended approval of SUB02-00017, an application submitted by Dial Iowa City Land, L.L.C. for the final plat of Silvercrest Residential Community, Part 2, an 8-lot, 12.17-acre subdivision located south of American Legion Road and east of Scott Boulevard subject to staff approval of legal papers and construction drawings prior to City Council consideration of the final plat. Bovbjerg said a note in the Staff report said, "The Comprehensive Plan encourages creation of group living facility for seniors." She asked if any of the units were specifically funded and designated for any special population. Miklo said these particular units would be restricted to persons 55-years of age and older or persons with disabilities, but there were no other City restrictions on the units. Miklo said it was the applicant's intention to market toward seniors. The zoning restriction was for seniors because only one parking space per unit was provided, which was part of the planned development overlay rezone. Miklo said there was a designation in the zoning ordinance for housing for the elderly. It allowed for the development of less parking than if it was for general population. Bovbjerg asked if any of the units would be subsidized or would be less than market price, perhaps for persons of lower income. Miklo said he did not believe so, but that would be a question for the applicant. Hansen asked if a final lighting plan had been received. Miklo said that would come with the final OPDH plan, at the time when the building permit was applied for. Miklo said at the time of the preliminary plat, there were some restrictions placed on it, so those would have to be complied with. Public discussion was opened. There was none. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Hansen made a motion to approve SUB02-00017, an application submitted by Dial Iowa City Land, L.L.C. for the final plat of Silvercrest Residential Community, Part 2, an 8-lot, 12.'17-acre subdivision located south of American Legion Road and east of Scott Boulevard, subject to staff approval of construction drawings and legal papers prior to City Council consideration of the final plat. Chair seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. CODE ITEM: Consider amendments to the Zoning Code regarding fines for violations. Behr said the municipal infraction was a judicial proceeding the City used for violations of the City Code, some being Zoning Code violations, others being violations of the Code other than zoning. As a recommendation from the Housing Relations Task Force and in accordance with State law, Staff recommended that the City Code, including the Zoning Code, be amended so that the current fines of $100 for first violation, $250 for second, and Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes October 3, 2002 Page 6 $500 for third be amended to $250 for first violation, $500 for second, and $750 for third violation. The City had the authority to make this amendment. Behr said in response to a question regarding the status of the amendments at the Council level, the amendments to apply to the rest of the Code were up for a third reading at the Council level next week. These proposed amendments would follow. They would require a public hearing and would need three readings. The other amendments were not zoning code amendments so they did not come to the Commission. This proposed amendment was consistent with the other amendments. Freerks asked if the proposed fines were consistent with other communities. Behr said it was his understanding that they were. As a basis for coming up with this recommendation, the Housing Relations Task Force had checked on the fines. Anciaux asked what would be done for a fourth or fifth violation. Behr said the $750 was for third and subsequent violations. There were additional remedies available, but he would check on what City practice had been for third and subsequent. Hansen said during the Task Force talks there had been a lot of discussion regarding revocation of rental permits. Bovbjerg requested Behr to follow-up on what happened when subsequent violations occurred. Public discussion was opened. There was none. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Hansen made a motion to approve amendments to the Zoning Code (section 16-6U-7A) to provide that a penalty of $250 be assessed against the property ownedtenantJlandlord for the first offense, $500 for the second violation and $750 for the third violation and as so stated in Staff's draft document, "An Ordinance Amending Title 14 Entitled 'Unified Development Code,' Chapter 6, Entitled 'Zoning,' Article U, entitled 'Administration and Enforcement,' Section 7 Entitled 'Violations and Penalties' To Increase the Municipal Infraction Civil Fines for Violating the Zoning Code." Anciaux seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. OTHER: Miklo said a joint meeting would be scheduled with City Council on October 7, 2002, to discuss the Grand Avenue Court vacation. Copies of letters received from the University regarding that vacation item had been distributed to the Commission. Hansen asked if he were to make a motion to take a re-vote on the Grand Avenue Court vacation, could that be done during this meeting or would it have to be an agenda item. Miklo and Behr said it would have to be an agenda item to change their recommendation to Council. Bovbjerg asked if a reconsideration item could be done that evening or would it have to be scheduled. Behr said they could request that it be placed on the next agenda, but that meeting would occur after the Commission had met with the Council and the Council already had the Commission's recommendation. Behr said from the discussion, it appeared that what the Commission was seeing happen at the Council level was giving the Commission pause as to the way they had voted. The way to act on that was to indicate that at the joint meeting. Miklo said at Monday's informal meeting, many of the Commissioners had indicated that if there wasn't the condition that the historic house be saved, they would have voted against the vacation. Miklo suggested that the Commissioners express the strength of their sentiments to the Council on Monday, also that there might have been a different outcome on their vote and that their recommendation included the condition that the vacation be subject to an agreement for protection of the Cannon-Gay house. Miklo said what the Commission's recommendation had been was that the University commit to following Iowa City Landmark Regulations. That meant that any change to the house or moving it would have to be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. If the University had agreed to that condition and the Council had approved the vacation subject to that condition, it would not prevent the University from going before the Historic Preservation Commission to request to move the house to a different site. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes October 3, 2002 Page 7 Hansen asked if the University had to adhere to federal guidelines for properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Miklo said only if federal funds were used on the project. CONSIDERATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 19, 2002 MEETING MINUTES: Motion: Anciaux made a motion to approve the meeting minutes as printed and corrected. Koppes seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. ADJOURNMENT: Hansen made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 pm. Anciaux seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. Jerry Hansen, Secretary Minutes submitted by Candy Barnhill shared on cityn [/pcd/rmn ut es/p&z/p&z 10-03-02.doc