Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-12-11 Transcription m P~l ITEM 2 SPECIAL PRESENTATION. Wilburn: At this point, I would like Council Members Vanderhoef and Elliott to join me out front. (several talking) Let's see if!.. .hope I don't screw this one up like I did the roll call. (laughing and talking) I'll get yours, Dee. I'll mess Bob's up and call him Regenia! (laughing) Just want to announce to the public a reminder, and uh, just want to thank Bob and Dee for your services to the City of Iowa City. This is, uh, a somber time for us, urn, you know, we're coming up on the end of the year, but also coming up on the end of your City Council terms, and Bob, you've done a wonderful job with your four years on the Council, and Dee, with your twelve years on the Council, and your.. .did you do one or two years on Parks and Recreation? Five.. .wow.. . yeah, yeah! Five, that's a lot. (several talking) Yeah, you are, but uh, needless to say, urn, I and the City staff and Council Members, and the public, are all very grateful for the work that you've done for the City. Urn, I'll give you an opportunity to address the public here and then we have some.. .some goodies for you that, uh, we hope you appreciate and remember your time with the City fondly, so, uh, shall we do ladies first? Elliott: Ladies first, always! Wilburn: Okay. Vanderhoef: Thanks, and thanks to all of you. I'm not going to talk long, because I'm going to lose it. (laughter) That's, uh, it's been a real happy, uh, experience for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Uh, I have enjoyed especially meeting the people, to listen to their concerns, to do, uh, what I felt was best for our community. I know we all love our community. It is each one's prerogative to say what's important for it. What I can honestly say as I leave, there's been very, very little that got to me. It's been easy to look at very respected Council Members sitting along side of me and respecting their opinions, their views, and no matter how a vote came out, it was easy to move on afterwards. So, I thank the Council, those that are seated here now, the Council people that I have worked with over the twelve years, urn, we've had a great time and I think our City is better for it and, uh, it's been just a real privilege to serve. Thanks! (applause) Elliott: Well, whatever I have done, Dee has done it three times more and better. So, uh, there are certain words and phrases they call bromides and old wives' tales and one of the reasons they have existed is because there's a lot of truth. So it has been an honor and a privilege. I've enjoyed it, and I'm going to enjoy not being here, almost as much as I enjoyed being here, but I will miss the camaraderie with the other Council Members and the staff, because it has been an experience that I never in the world would have expected. Bob Elliott to me was always a kind of a nice guy that This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #2 Page 2 faded into the background. So, uh, this has been, uh, very interesting, very memorable, and I appreciate everything. It's been an honor and a privilege. Thank you to everyone who made it possible for me to be here. (applause) Wilburn: Once again, thank you both, and for the members of the public, unless you've served on a City board or commission, or even if you have, you don't know about the time, energy, and effort that, uh, that goes on back here and urn, as both of my colleagues, and I do feel colleagues and a lot of respect for both of you, that, urn, you know, you put your heart and your soul into the work because you're right - everybody does, urn, want to see this community continue to be a special place, and urn, the respect is there, and indeed you both have touched a lot of lives and we thank you. We do have, uh, couple gifts for you in appreciation. I'll read it so the public can see it. In appreciation for your tiles ser.. .I'm going to mess this up again! Gosh! For your tireless service, and steadfast dedication to the Iowa City community, presented to each of you City Council Members, and Bob. Elliott: Thank you very much! Wilburn: There we go. Don't leave yet! And, Dee. Vanderhoef: Thank you. Wilburn: All right. Champion: (unable to hear) Wilburn: Uh, actually (laughter) if Marian could bring something out. We have something for each of you. Elliott: I'm just trying to clean out my office.. .(laughter).. .now you're giving me more things! (laughter) Am I supposed to do something... Wilburn: No! I just wanted to make sure your comments were on. (several talking) These are both, if you'd hold them up, prints of the new bridge on the Clear Creek Trail, and I know, Bob...I think these are apropos because Bob spends a lot of time walking on some of the, uh, the trails and being outside and Dee, all the work that you've done in trying to get our trail system going here, urn, so I hope... Vanderhoef: It's a great system! Wilburn: There we go! All right, thank you. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11,2007. #3 Page 3 ITEM 3 OUTSTANDING STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS - Lincoln Elementary Wilburn: We actually called the Principal at Lincoln Elementary. They were the students who were going to receive Outstanding Student Citizenship Awards, and we will do that in January, so that they didn't have to come out this evening, and try to get out of here so the roads don't get too treacherous on us. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #5 ITEM 5 Wilburn: Volland: Wilburn: Volland: Wilburn: Elliott: Wilburn: Parsons: Page 4 COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). This is a time when the public can address the Council, and other members of the public, on items that do not appear on tonight's agenda. If anyone wishes to address the Council, please step forward, state your name for the record, and limit your comments to five minutes or less. Hi, it's Joe and Abbie, the City Council Liaison, the alternate. Do you want my last name, Marian? Yes, please. Okay, Volland, Abigail Volland, and Joe Maske. Mayor and Council, Joe and I would like to take a moment to express our deepest thanks to the Iowa City City Council. As a student body, we have gotten a lot of bad press after the recent City elections. And instead of taking the time to complain, we wanted to thank you for your support. As a Council, you have shown that the student body is important to you and to our community. Some examples include, the City Manager profile section, including the University and student relationships; appointing a student representative the past two years to Aid to Agencies; including student interest groups, as well as the student co-chair in the City of Iowa City Task Force on Violence Against Women; allowing a student representative to attend National League of Cities; and take on the leadership role of representing the City of Iowa City. Your dedication and investment to our position on Council, as well as to us as individuals. It is our belief that as students this is our community too. We live, learn, play, volunteer, spend money, and simply take an active role in the City. You, the Iowa City City Council, have stood by and supported us, without looking at only a portion of our identity being students, but as people. Thank you again for the sometimes challenging task of treating us as vital and contributing members of this City. As we maintain our work together, it is our hope that we will continue to bridge any gaps that which divide us from our community. With a special thanks to Dee and Bob at your last Council meeting, and thank you to the whole Council again for your support. Thank you! Thanks, guys! Anyone else care to address the Council? Hello, my name is Cindy Parsons, and I am here tonight on behalf of Project GREEN. I'm the new President of Project GREEN, I guess as of June. It still feels new to me! Urn, and with me is Jim Maynard who is This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #5 Page 5 our, uh, landscape maintenance coordinator, and I think with your packets you had the. . . the main purpose tonight is to present our report on the entryway beautification project, which was the North Dubuque Street and Foster Road, uh, the plantings that were just completed. But first, hopefully most of you are familiar with Project GREEN, but I'd just like to make a few comments about what Project GREEN is. Some of the listeners may not be aware. Project GREEN, actually GREEN is an acronym and it's always in capital letters. It stands for Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now. So that's, when you hear Project GREEN, that's what the green means. Urn, we're a non-profit, all volunteer organization and dedicated to the beautification and the preservation of public green spaces in the reater Iowa City area, and coming up in 2008, it's going to be our 40t anniversary. So, we've been doing this for 40 years! Urn, we attribute.. . attribute the long.. .longev...I can't say that.. .longevity of the organization, urn, mainly to our volunteers. We... we couldn't do it without volunteers. We have about 300 to 400 active volunteers in our group. Urn, certainly without the cooperation of the City, County, and School District personnel in our efforts to enhance green spaces, and the generosity of all of our donors through monetary, uh, and in-kind gifts. So, our first project back in 1978 was the six-block long Iowa Avenue medians, and since that time, since 1968, since that project, we've invested more than $1.5 million in more than thirty major landscaping projects, and I think this shows our concern for, uh, county roadways and facilities, the riverfront preservation, bike trails, arterial roadways, but particularly with, urn, the entryways into the City, such as north Dubuque Street and the project that was just completed. Urn, also included in this $1.5 million, uh, we've. ..we've invested about $200,000 in all of the schools in the Iowa City Community School District with their plantings, and they submit plans to us and then we, uh, fund them for plant materials. So, uh, Project GREEN has, I think I also included a list of.. . fairly comprehensive list of some of the City projects we've done since 1968, and uh, some of the monetary values, but in addition to doing those original plantings, we also still maintain a number of those projects, and the projects, the main projects that we currently still maintain are the six-block long Iowa Avenue medians, the Melrose Avenue medians from Emerald Street to Camp Cardinal Boulevard, the two and a half mile Highway 6 bypass from Lakeview Apartments to Gilbert Street, on both sides, and the north Dubuque Street entryway from Interstate 80 to the Park Road bridge. Urn, so our main purpose tonight is to present you with the final report, and actually Jim Maynard prepared the report and put it together. He's probably the one in our organization who's the most familiar with the project, but uh, we just want to state that we greatly appreciate all the support of all the contributors to Project GREEN and the grants received on this project from MidAmerican energy, the "Trees Please" program, and the Iowa Department of Transportation "Keep Iowa Beautiful" program that made This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #5 Page 6 this project possible. Project GREEN is pleased to be able to present this improvement to the appearance of our community to the citizens of Iowa City. So, if any of you have any questions, urn, general for me and about the report, probably Jim can answer anything you might have. So... Bailey: I just have a big thank you on Dubuque Street. It looks great out there, and the work is very nice, and I'm impressed that you're doing the deer protection sort of. Parsons: Have to do the deer protection, yeah, that's actually been a fairly major expenditure the last few years, but it's gotta be done! Okay, well, thank you so much. Champion: Over the years, you've just done a tremendous amount of good for this city and we really appreciate it. Parsons: We'll keep at it, so. ..it' s a great partnership. Champion: I tend to kill everything that I touch, so you don't ever want me to volunteer. (laughter) I have a steel flower now. You don't have to do anything to it. Wilburn: Thank you. Anyone else for community comment? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #6 Page 7 ITEM 6 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. a. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SENSITIVE AREAS DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND REZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 10.41 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED EAST OF HIGHWAY 218 AND SOUTH OF MELROSE AVENUE. (REZ07-00015) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Wilburn: Expedited action has been requested. Davidson: As the Mayor has noted, this is second consideration of this item. Uh, expedited action... Wilburn: I'm sorry. Did someone want to place this on the table for discussion or. . . Champion: Oh, move. O'Donnell: Second. Wilburn: Moved by Champion, seconded by... Vanderhoef: Ifwe're going to...J move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that the ordinance be voted on for the final passage at this time. Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef to expedite. Champion: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Urn, I've also, uh, Jeffwanted to be available to comment on both Item 6a and 6b, if that's, since they're related, if that's okay. Davidson: Just real quickly, I wanted to let you know that should you decide to take expedited consideration on Item a, then you would want to consider Item b. Otherwise you would not want to consider Item b, if you chose to only have second consideration, urn, and unless there are any questions about the amended item, that's all I have. Thank you. Wilburn: Any Council discussion on expediting? Urn, the, uh, do any Council Members have any Ex-Parte communications that they need to disclose at this time? Nope. Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #6 Page 8 Vanderhoef: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time. Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef. O'Donnell: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #6 Page 9 ITEM 6 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AMENDED PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT OF GALWAY HILLS SUBDIVISION - PART IV, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB07- 00007/SUB07-00008) Bailey: Move the resolution. Wilburn: Moved by Bailey. Vanderhoef: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11,2007. #7 ITEM 7 Wilburn: Bailey: Correia: Wilburn: Page 10 APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, SPECIAL PROVISIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE COURT HILL TRAIL PROJECT STP-E- 3715(6350)-8V-52, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDS AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. a) PUBLIC HEARING This is a public hearing. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is open. This will construct a new trail along Ralston Creek, from Court Hill to Creekside Park. Estimated construction cost is $610,000; $305,676 will be Federal Transportation Enhancement Funds. (pounds gavel) Public hearing is closed. b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Move the resolution. Second. Moved by Bailey, seconded by Correia. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11,2007. #10 Page 11 ITEM 10 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 84- 39, WHICH ESTABLISHED A CONSULTATION POLICY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. Champion: Move the resolution. Wilburn: Moved by Champion. Bailey: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Bailey. Discussion? Champion: I think it's important for the public to know that we're repealing this because it's part of the Zoning Code now. Wilburn: But the practice will continue. Further discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #11 Page 12 ITEM 11 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE MCCOLLISTER BOULEVARD PCC PAVEMENT (HDP- 3715(628)-71-52) AND MCCOLLISTER BOULEVARD BRIDGE (HDP-315(634)-71-52) PROJECT. Vanderhoef: Move the resolution. Bailey: Second. Wilburn: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Bailey. Discussion? Engineer's estimate was $6,500,000, urn, staff recommends awarding the contract to Peterson Contractors, Incorporated of Rein beck, Iowa, which is $6,033,593.60. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #12 Page 13 ITEM 12 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE CITY OF IOWA CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET. Champion: Move to withdraw this resolution. Bailey: Second. Wilburn: Moved by Champion to withdraw, seconded by Bailey. Discussion? Elliott: I would simply think this is a mistake, that we've been talking about this for so long, and we always say it's important, and nothing ever happens and unless we take a step to insure that it does, it's going to be a long time before it does happen. Urn, I would be happy to amend the amount of dollars or the percentage, but I really think it would be in the Council's and the City's and the resident's ofthis city's best interest to take a stand that this is something we will do. Correia: I would be interested in amending this to have, to not have the percentage or the amount, and to specifically call out a three-year plan to staff the fourth Fire Station. Urn, I think we need to have more discussions about police officers and number of police officers and for what purpose. We had that memo from Sam. We haven't had a face-to-face presentation from him, urn, so that's what I'm interested in doing at this time with the resolution. Elliott: I would hope that with the new Council, Amy, you could lead the charge on that. Champion: I do, urn, certainly support the idea of a fire station and staffing it also. Urn, but Ijust don't think that's the way to go about it. I think it needs to be dealt with in the budget. Bailey: And as I stated last night, I'll echo Connie's sentiments. I agree, which doesn't mean I'm not supportive of a fourth fire station and it doesn't mean that I'm not supportive of public safety. Urn, I've worked closely with both the chiefs in the past year on the Emergency Communication Center, and I've developed a greater understanding of the needs of both departments. I just don't believe that this resolution is the way to go. I believe that there is leadership enough on this Council and the Council moving forward, that we will insure that it is in the budget, urn, for Fiscal Year 09. Vanderhoef: I can understand your. . . your comments, uh, I felt sure that we would have it by now also, and it hasn't happened, so I support the amendment as it's written. I am very well aware that a resolution can be rescinded at any time, but that would at least, uh, reflect that at this moment in time, we This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #12 Page 14 know we have to do this, and how it happens, uh, certainly is up for debate, or during Council, uh, budget sessions. We've had this debate for a long time and nothing has come of it, so I think it's more important to put a little more teeth into, uh, the resolution, and urn, go forward with it. Bailey: Well, given that a resolution can be turned over at any time, there's no more teeth in a resolution than there is publicly stating your support for something and allowing public sentiment to pressure you. I mean, this is the same as all of us standing for this, and I think we've indicated that there's support here, and that's the direction we're going to move forward, and Dale has indicated that the budget would reflect that, uh, reflect our wishes in seeing, urn, movement forward on the fourth fire station. Wilburn: Dale, can you, uh, just state for the public what it is you and staff are, how you are proceeding with reflecting this... Helling: Yeah, we've prepared a.. .our initial proposed budget to include these positions. Urn, and timing was part of that. We had to prepare it in such a way that if you adopted this resolution, or gave us direction to put those positions in that we would be able to do that at this late date. They will be in there regardless of whether you pass the resolution or not, simply because we have to go to print on budget yet this.. .late this week or on Monday morning to get it to you next week when we promised we would have it for you. So, those positions will be in there, and as I said last night, that, uh, they will be in there, the budget will be balanced with a draw-down on your Fund Balance, and you'll have to.. .on the General Fund Balance, and you'll have to look at ways to see whether or not you want to displace that with finding money somewhere else in the budget. Wilburn: So, since, uh, my position, since staff is, uh, preparing this in such a fashion that the decision will be for the Council in January as we start working with budget, on how to either chose another source, or make other modifications within the budget, and uh, I'm comfortable doing that, without, uh, and put my support towards withdrawing this, uh, as proposed, since, uh, we have two new Council Members who are going to be starting. The net effect is that it's going to be placed in the budget, and it'll be our job and responsibility, with the two new City Members, to, urn, to try and make it happen. Vanderhoef: What.. . what I see as having the resolution in place is the fact that it takes a conscious effort, and a motion to, uh, think about this one more time, and it would have to be done prior to the adopting of the budget, so if that goal is sitting out there in front of, uh, front of Council during budget time, I think it's.. .it's a real positive goal to, uh, try to achieve. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11,2007. #12 Page 15 Bailey: I think here tonight we've made a commitment to holding each other accountable for this. I mean, that's what I've heard, and that's what I've heard in other discussions this fall. Vanderhoef: And we have two that aren't here to make that commitment. Bailey: I've heard from them in the discussions... Champion: We can pressure them into it! Bailey: We'll put Connie on it! (laughter) Wilburn: The motion on the floor... Elliott: I've heard.. .excuse me.. .I've heard that discussion before, and uh, I respect there's no reason why you can't disagree. I certainly respect that, but if you're wondering what impact a resolution has, consider the fact that just the presence of this on the agenda has caused the preliminary budget to include three new police officers and, uh, I believe two new, three new firefighters and two new police officers, and I certainly, if this goes down in defeat tonight, I certainly encourage you to have something like this for the City Manager, and.. . and the Finance Director, so they know what to count on when they present it for you. Because if you don't tell them what you want, they can't put it in. Wilburn: Okay. Urn, roll call. Dilkes: You don't need a roll call. Wilburn: That's right. All those in favor say.. .ofwithdrawing this resolution, signify by saying aye. Opposed same sign. Um...it carries 4 - 3 with, uh, Correia, Vanderhoef, and Elliott in the negative. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #13 Page 16 ITEM 13 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A METROPOLITAN COALITION AGREEMENT. Bailey: Move the resolution. Wilburn: Moved by Bailey. Champion: Second. Wilburn: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Correia: I think it's a good move. I think that we're going to learn a lot about how the Coalition is going to work in the first year, and so I'm interested at the end of the Legislative session to do a debrief, uh, have an accounting for the Council from the member who's serving on the Coalition, how it went, you know, do that sort of evaluation. Urn, I think it has really good, exciting possibilities. Bailey: I agree with you, and as I indicated last night, I have some concerns about building an organization, urn, rather than attending to the work, so I hope that that message comes loud and clear to the Coalition, that we're interested in getting the work done and the Legislative work, and that's how we'll measure success, when we do the evaluation, and I think we talked about doing that at least by June. So if something doesn't go well with this Coalition that we can appropriately withdraw and give the other cities enough time, urn, enough notice as required by this agreement, but I think it's a great idea. I think that, urn, it's unfortunate that we haven't been lobbying this hard for ourselves long ago. So I think. . .. Champion: The only thing I disagree with you on that is that I don't think you can decide after one Legislative term. Bailey: It's going to be tough, but I think we're going to have to be tough about this because, I mean, so much rides on our advocacy in Des Moines and in D.C., and I think we have to be a little bit more pragmatic about having a presence in both places. Wilburn: And I think the...! took notes from last night. I'm not sure when we have a conference call and/or get together, I'm not sure what the format is going to be. Most likely, urn, well, they'll be some there by phone and some in person, that I'll certainly bring the concerns that were brought up, and I'm, uh, pretty sure that at the end of Legislative session that each city will want to have parts of that conversation to see how it went, and uh, just a reminder that, uh, this agreement, there is a provision for exiting from the Coalition. There's also a, uh, an alternate would need to be selected, urn, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #13 Page 17 but we've also put in provisions that you can join by conference call or electronically, to try and, urn, try and have some success with dealing with the Coalition, and I'm sure all of the cities will be doing some type of evaluation, but, uh, the end of the Legislative session would be a natural time to sit and reflect and make a decision about the next year. Bailey: Something that didn't come up last night is I think we should have a regular process for updates about the progress of the Coalition, and Legislative updates. I mean, once again, it's not just about being part of a Coalition, it's about also informing ourselves and part of our own mindset to be advocates, and I think those Legislative priorities and how things are going, and when we need to be talking to people, as well, would be very helpful, I think, as part of this process. Wilburn: Work sessions might be a natural place for that to occur. Bailey: Yeah, I would think. Although, you know, some of the formal meetings, the public might be interested. Wilburn: Sure, sure. Bailey: Because their voices are just as important in advocacy as ours are. Vanderhoef: The kind of action alerts that are routinely sent out, uh, to those, uh, persons belonging to the Iowa League of Cities, uh, as I spoke last night, uh, I do not agree with this being a separate organization. I fully support the idea of a coalition for large cities, uh, they do have different issues than many of the small cities in the state ofIowa, and certainly putting, uh, an emphasis on advocacy for certain, uh, issues for large cities is very appropriate. Ijust am very disappointed that it's not being done as a sub- set within the Iowa League of Cities, rather than a stand-alone. I think, uh, Iowa League of Cities could, uh, be the, uh, liaison on giving you the updates that you need and the action alerts, so that everyone gets on the emaillist and you'll all receive it at the same time, and be able to pick up the phone and/or send an email to our local, uh, legislators to make sure that they hear our voice about certain issues. So I will be voting no on this, and yet I do support a coalition within the organization. Elliott: Connie disagreed with something Regenia had said. I find myself agreeing with both of you. Uh, as Regenia said, I think the emphasis needs to be on the lobbying, not on the organization building. I would think it'd be in our city's best interest to keep the organization as fluid and as informal as possible. Through the formative stage, keep the, uh, emphasis on the lobbying. I do agree with Connie that I think, I'd like to not see us take too quick a look at what happens over a six-month period. Kind of like a new coach taking over a team and being evaluated by the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11,2007. #13 Page 18 following year. You have to give people time to see ifthere's anything working, but I really like this idea and, uh, I hope that the Council the next few years looks at it carefully, and as a matter of fact, looks at everything to which we belong and evaluates it for the benefit that it provides for us. Bailey: Thanks for all your work on it, Ross, because forming something like this, I'm sure, you've been on the phone and in Des Moines quite a lot. Wilburn: Roll call. Item carries 6-1 ; Vanderhoef in the negative. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #14 Page 19 ITEM 14 ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES. Wilburn: Previous announcements, Board of Adjustment, one vacancy to fill an unexpired term ending January 1, 2009. Michael Wright resigned for obvious reasons since he's going to be on Council. Board of Appeals, one vacancy at-large to fill an unexpired term ending December 31, 2011. Five males and zero females currently serve. Applications must be received by 5:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 2nd. New listings, Airport Commission, one vacancy to fill a six-year term, March 1,2008 through March 1,2014. Historic Preservation Commission, two vacancies, one at- large and one Longfellow representative, to fill three-year terms, March 29,2008 through March 29,2011. Elliott: Ross, excuse me just a. . .Kelly, thanks a lot. Kelly wrote some nice things about me and I wanted to say thank you! (laughter) Champion: What is wrong with her? (laughter) O'Donnell: Good night, Kelly. Elliott: Sorry, Ross! Wilburn: That's all right. (laughter) Telecommunications Commission, two vacancies to fill three-year terms, March 13,2008 through March 13, 2011. Three males, zero females currently serve. Applications must be received by 5:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008.. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #15 Page 20 ITEM 15 COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. Wilburn: Last night at our informal work session, there was consensus to make the following appointments. I will say, uh, Council agreed that there were a lot of very, uh, qualified applicants for our boards and commissions, and if you are not receiving an appointment at this time, we encourage you, we have many others, some that I just ran through, openings on other commissions, you might consider an alternate commission to one that you had previously requested. At last night's meeting, there was consensus to appoint Andrea French to the Board of Appeals, five-year term. To the Human Rights Commission, Corey Stoglin, Dell Briggs, and Yolanda Spears. Parks and Recreation Commission, Margaret Loomer and Jerry Raaz. Public Art Advisory, Jan Finlayson as the Art or Design Professional, and there was question about Ex-Officio... Karr: Right, you have a revision in front of you this evening, noting that it's two vacancies for an art professional and an open position. There is no ex- officio. Dilkes: Just to clarify, there.. .there are ex-officio positions on this board, but what that means is it's by virtue of the position, and that's the staff for Parks and Rec and Public Works. Karr: But the ex-officios are not appointed by the Council. Champion: So the term is wrong. Karr: No, the term is correct.. . the length of term is correct. The designation is incorrect, yes. (several talking) Wilburn: And so, urn, it was Barbara Nicknish is the appointee. So congratulations, and again for all those who were not appointed, please consider applying another time or. . . Bailey: Move the appointments. Correia: Second. Wilburn: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Correia. Urn, any discussion? Encourage you to consider another commission. All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #17 Page 21 ITEM 17 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Wilburn: Amy? Correia: Uh, I attended last week the FAIR and local homeless coordinating board and another organization, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission co- sponsored a panel on homelessness and mental illness. I thought it was very well done. It was taped by the Community Television Service, so that will be shown again. It was a really good panel of folks, urn, from the University and the community, urn, providing services and advocacy to persons who are homeless and have mental illness. Urn, they shared the data that Johnson County has, urn, about 1,200 homeless a year, who are not housed. I think that's a pretty large number, and I'm interested in making sure that we have adequate services. I think we do a good job through our Aid to Agencies, but I know that there are ways that the County and City can improve. I also attended the John's Sleep-out and will let Connie talk about that because she was a real hero, urn, but I commend all those who were involved, urn, and slept out and who work every day to.. .to care for the homeless and hungry in Johnson County. Wilburn: Connie? Champion: Well, I did sleep in a box, until 1 :30 or 2:00 in the morning. Correia: You are a hero! Champion: Uh, it was really an experience. I'm really happy I did it. I could not last the night. It was a little cold and damp, but if you're homeless you don't have a choice to get out of that situation. Elliott: Connie, Shakespeare said discretion is the better part of valor. Champion: Yes, and I had every possible, conceivable thing to keep myself warm, except I didn't have a heater, which would have been nice, but I did have sleeping bags, a down comforter, a long, cashmere coat, and hats and gloves and boots, and I even wore socks (laughter) and I was still freezing. It was damp and it was kind of like being hot and cold at the same time. I hope one thing that happens with things like John's Sleep-out, it does make the public very aware of the people in our city and county who are in great need of basic human services, uh, and I hope that it has some appeal to the public and I make my yearly appeal to, as you're buying Christmas presents, to.. .or holiday presents. I guess I'm not allowed to say Christmas presents, uh, to send money to organizations in our city who provide basic human needs, which are not provided by anybody else, and those three that I really like are Shelter House, the Crisis Center, and the Free Medical Clinic. My husband and I both think these organizations are This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #17 Page 22 really worthy of our concern. So, please take some time, fill out your checkbook, and send these organizations some money because we have a great need here, or try being homeless in your backyard for just two hours tonight. Just try it. It's not easy. Wilburn: Thanks, Connie. Mike? O'Donnell: Dee and Bob, thank you. Champion: Oh, yeah, I meant to thank them too! O'Donnell: It's been a pleasure. I know you'll tune us in every other Tuesday night, and uh, (laughing). I'm sure without you our ratings will go down. Wilburn: Dee? Vanderhoef: I'm just going to say good night. It's been a great run! Wilburn: Thanks, Dee. Regenia? Bailey: Urn, I have a question for the City Manager, urn, I've gotten some questions about our taser, urn, project and our grant, and Ijust wanted an update on that. Helling: Right. The, uh, the tasers haven't actually been ordered yet. We have a commitment on the grant, but we don't have the check, so to speak. It's in the mail or whatever, so until we actually have the money, we will not order them, urn, we have done some training of some of the police officers. We sort of trained the trainers. They will be the ones who will come back and train the rest of the officers, when we get the tasers, so they can have a hands-on experience with them. Urn, right now, they're working on a re-accreditation, and as soon as that's finished, they'll start working on a policy, an operating policy for the use of the tasers, and that has to meet all the accreditation standards, much like any of the other internal policies they have. Urn, I'm told that in that policy this will be treated like any other use of force, and on the force, use of force continuum, it will be somewhere between the use of pepper spray and the use of the lethal weapon, deadly force. So it will be very high on that continuum. It will require, as does the discharge of a firearm, will require a supervisory review whenever, urn, somebody deploys that taser. Urn, and just in terms of where we will go from here, urn, typically the, well, regularly, once a year, every operating policy is reviewed by the PCRB. Uh, I think they're meeting this week and they have a list to review. Probably when they meet again, uh, and do this review again - I think they do it quarterly - urn, by that time this policy should be in place and that will be one ofthe policies that will be sent to them for review, and I want This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #17 Page 23 to emphasis that this is not required that PCRB approve these policies. They're operating policies, but it does have an opportunity then for the PCRB to review them, and get input back to the Police Department, and often that happens, and my understanding is that more often than not, that is something that winds up being considered and in many cases incorporated into the policies. Uh, so that should happen. The thing that I want to emphasize the most is that the tasers will not be used until every officer is trained, not only in the use of the taser, but also familiarized with the policy, so that they have both the technical and the, uh, and the knowledge of the policy, both of those abilities, before we deploy them. So... Bailey: And because they'll be, urn, included in the use of force report, we'll be seeing jftasers have been deployed, and that information will be available to the public. Helling: Right. Just like any other use of force. Bailey: Right. And I think that's good for people to know. Thanks, Dale. That's.. . and Ijust want to say thank you to Dee and thank you to Bob. It's been, urn, nice sitting between the two of you. I've appreciated all the support, and information, that I've gotten from both of you and I know that you'll be tuning in. You won't be able to resist! Elliott: That's true! (laughter) Me? Wilburn: You. Elliott: Years ago when I was first married and we finally could afford a TV set, there was a program called Peter Gunn. He was a detective, and it had one of the first really great jazz sound tracks by Henry Mancini, and one of the great tunes that they played was called "Profound Gas." That's what it's been for me. Thanks! (laughter) Champion: Because I forgot to thank them, can I have another minute of Council time? Wilburn: Sure. Champion: I have really enjoyed working with both of you, and I know that many times we're disagreed, but I think, urn, how we've dealt with that was really thoughtful and actually pleasant. Not that it was always pleasant to disagree with you, but it didn't turn out to be a bad experience, but I'll miss both of you. (unable to hear, laughter) Vanderhoef: And to Connie, I bequeath being the elder on Council. (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #17 Page 24 Champion: I'm glad I'm still here! (laughter) Wilburn: Just want to give a reminder to the public that Project Holiday will be going on December 18th and 19th, next Tuesday and Wednesday. This is a collaboration between the Salvation Army, the Crisis Center, the Elder Services, and the Visiting Nurse Association, and it's an opportunity for the public to support, urn, various projects for the holidays, whether it be toys or food or gift certificate for food, or urn, homebound persons or the elderly. It's a, makes a huge difference for some folks during the month of December, the holiday season, whichever holiday anyone in particular follows according to their beliefs and faith. But, uh, any of those organizations are still taking, urn, donations. You know, Connie mentioned the three organizations there. That is one collaboration that is going on this time of year, and Council Members here have been very supportive, and Dee and Bob, both, uh, while you'll be leaving Council, I know you continue your involvement in the community because that's just the people that you are, connected here. Otherwise, thank, urn, Rape Victim Advocacy Program for their White Ribbon campaign. Men working to end violence against women, wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge never to commit, condone, nor remain silent about violence against women, and this is another worthy project that I know people in Johnson County will hopefully embrace. Otherwise, be careful out there driving and this is our last formal meeting, so Happy Holidays. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007. #18 Page 25 ITEM 18 REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF. Wilburn: Dale? Helling: To Dee and Bob, thank you. Connie, thank you, because but for you with them leaving, I would be the oldest one sitting here. (laughter) Be safe! Wilburn: Eleanor? Dilkes: Uh, thanks, Dee, thanks, Bob. It's been fun. You've been very, urn, nice and respectful of my opinions, and I appreciate that. Wilburn: Marian? Karr: Thank you and Happy New Year! Wilburn: All right. I would entertain a motion and a second from Bob and Dee to get us out of here. Vanderhoef: So moved. Elliott: Ad Red Skelton used to say, good night and God bless. Wilburn: Seconded by' Elliott. All those in favor say aye. Opposed same sign. (pounds gavel) Weare adjourned. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of December 11, 2007.