HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-05 Transcription#2 Page 1
ITEM 2 OUTSTANDING STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS - Helen
Lemme Elementary
Lehman: Item 2 are the Outstanding Student Citizenship Awards. If those folks
from Helen Lemme would come forward please. This is the most fun
part of the meeting. Most of us can't remember when we were that age,
but we can remember that we probably couldn't have said the things that
these kids are going to say. So what I'd like you to do is tell us your
name and why you've been nominated.
Katie Schneider: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Katie Schneider. I'm
very honored to accept this award. As a citizen I respect my parents and
my teachers. I care about others. I'm a good friend to everyone and I try
to do my best at everything. I almost always have my work finished on
time and I am prepared for class. One way I show leadership is by being
a crossing guard captain. As a captain I have a lot of responsibilities.
The weeks I have patrol I have to call the other patrol members and
remind them they have patrol. If the member would be sick and was not
able to make it as a captain I have to be ready to sub at any time. I also
have to come early in the mornings to be ready to head out to my
position at 8:20. Another way I show leadership and responsibility is I
babysit. This summer I completed the safe sitter course. One of the
after school activities I'm involved in is playing the saxophone in the
East Side Advanced Band. I am first chair. I also play the piano. I have
played the piano for five years. One of my favorite activities is dance, i
am in five different dance classes. I enjoy dance very much. I've taken
dance lessons since I was four. My other favorite activity is basketball.
I started basketball last year. I like to stay busy and active. Every year
since I can remember I have raised money and participated in Bowl for
Kidsake. The past six years my dad has either been president or on the
board of this organization. I also participate in Hospice which is now
Run for the Schools. I really enjoy school. I am very glad to accept this
award. I ~vould like to thank you once again for this a~vard. This is
something I will remember forever.
Matthew Gosse: i am Mathew Gosse. First of all I would like to thank all of my teachers
and peers for having me as a representative of Lemme School. I am
honored to receive this a~vard. I think this award is not just recognizing
me, but recognizing all of the kids at Lemme School. I think being a
good citizen means using good language, respecting your parents and
elders, caring for others, trying to do your best and taking responsibility
for your actions. I think I received this award because I try to get my
assignments done as soon as possible. I've been in Scouts since first
grade. I've played the cello since fourth grade. I've played soccer since
first grade. And I've played football since third grade and I'm in safety
patrol. I try to have school and school work as my number one priority.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#2 Page 2
Again, I am honored to receive this award. Thank you.
Lehman: It really makes me tired - all the stuff you guys do. I guess that's why
you do all those things when you're younger. Well the Council is very
pleased and honored to give you these certificates. And I don't think any
of the Council people are nearly as honored and proud as your families
are especially your grandparents. I know about parents too because I'm
one of them too. But grandparents are especially proud. The certificates
read: "For outstanding qualities of leadership within Lemme Elementary
as well as the community as for a sense of responsibility and helpfulness
to others we recognize these students as outstanding student citizens.
Your community is proud of you. Presented by the Iowa City City
Council. November 2002." Katie and Matthew. Thank you guys very,
very much.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#3 Page 3
ITEM 3 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Lehman: (Reads item).
Champion: Move adoption.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by O'DonnelI. Discussion?
Karmer: A couple of items. First is Board and Commission Minutes number b4.
They said that the PATV contract is due...expires December of this year.
I thought it lasted longer than that.
Helling: It was a four year contract with two three-year renewal options upon
review by the Commission. And so this would be then end of the second
term. There was a four year term and a three year term and this would
be for the last three years of the franchise. I don't recall if the date is
January 1 or if it corresponds with the franchise which I think the 8th
year the franchise starts around the end of February. But it's that
timeframe.
Kanner: So do we expect to renew it as is or I'm not following this?
Helling: Well they've made the request. The Commission will review it and
they'll come back with a recommendation on whether or not to renew or
not and whether to recommend any modifications.
Kanner: And it will be done by December?
Helling: It will be done shortly after the first of the year I would think.
Kauner: So we'll operate a little bit without?
Helling: Well again I'm not sure what the dates are because it was to correspond
with the 10-year franchise and the end of the 7th year of the franchise
isn't till like February 26th. We'll take a look at that.
Kanner: Okay.
Helling: They were late in requesting renewal, but I think we can accommodate
that.
Kanner: Sounds good. And then the other item of note I just wanted to mention
in our correspondence number f5 from Rod Sullivan from MYEP which
works with youth. He made note that his organization pulled in
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#3 Page 4
approximately $160,000 in outside grants and I think that's indicative of
a lot of the organizations that social service and otherwise that we help
support bring in a lot of outside money and help our economic
development. So I appreciate the letter from Rod.
Vanderhoef: And then I have one thing in the HCDC Housing and Community
Development Commission minutes there is some discussion about
changing the loan agreements and something about the occupancy for
the Pheasant Ridge neighborhood center and I wondered if we might
have a memo, an update on this. I'm presuming that a recommendation
will be coming for our review and possible action.
Atkins: I'll find out for you.
Vanderhoef: Thank you.
Kanner: Yeah they wanted to change halfo£a loan to TOL conditional
occupancy and then spread out the rate of the loan repayment on the
other half.
Vanderhoef: Well that's what I'm reading and if the loan payments or any of those are
changed then that is a Council decision.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#4 Page 5
ITEM 4 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Lehman: Item four is public discussion. This is the time reserved on the agenda
for folks to address Council on items that do not otherwise appear on the
agenda. If you wish to speak please sign in, give your name and address
and limit your comments to five minutes or less.
David Burnett: Good evening. My name is David Bumett. I've been a resident of Iowa
City since 1995. I moved here to attend college and I've grown roots I
think. My purpose tonight is to raise your attention to the ordinance
proposal put forward by Oliver Belcher and myself yesterday to the City
Clerk. You can find it in that office to get the details. The municipal
ordinance would mandate that all coffee brewed and served by business
vendors in Iowa City be fair trade, organic, or shade grown coffee. So
I'm just going to go through and talk about this a little bit more in detail.
Organic coffee is defined by the National Organic Program under the
direction of the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA. Organic
coffee is produced under an approach that views the farm as an
ecosystem promoting long-term production.., excuse me protection of
the farm environment with emphasis on recycling, composting, soil
health and biological activity. Synthetic chemicals are rigorously
avoided. Why organic? Organic farming methods do not employ a
number of chemicals used in conventional coffee productions -
Chemicals such as DDT. By not using pesticides, water tables, soil, and
indeed the coffee itself remain safe. Farmers and working people
cultivating non-organic coffee suffer health problems such as skin
irritations and run a higher risk of disease. Shade grown coffee carries
either the bird friendly seal of approval of the Smithsonian Migratory
Bird Center at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. or the eco O.K.
stamp of the Conservation Action Network of Rainforest Alliance in
New York City. Shade grown coffee is planted in a shaded forest like
setting created by a canopy of trees. The diversity of plant and animal
life found in such settings creates very little need for chemical treatment
of the coffee. The forest canopy is home to hundreds of species of
animals including native song birds which of course make the forest the
forest. Such sites where shade grown coffee is produced leave and tag
the migratory birds' habitat - birds that travel through North America
and indeed Iowa. Shade grown coffee saves forests that would be clear
cut for coffee plantations. Finally, fair trade. Fair trade is a certification
provided by the Trans-fare U.S.A. non-government organization located
in Oakland, California. Fair trade grew into a movement in the 1990's
as a response to the wild swings in commodity prices brought on by
what's called globalization. Concerning coffee prices in 1990 the
International Coffee Organization Agreement stipulating production caps
and import quotas fell apart. This left coffee prices to float on the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#4 Page 6
volatile global market. In just the last four years coffee prices have
fallen 50% and 25 million coffee farmers and workers are struggling just
to survive. Fair trade coffee means a price floor insuring farmers can
live with dignity. The proposed ordinance provides quite a bit of latitude
to business vendors here in Iowa City in that the coffee that they
purchase and sell to consumers can either be organic or fair trade or
shade grown. The proposed ordinance would then provide a market -
Iowa City - for any of these above mentioned types of coffee. Basically
making the world a better place one cup at a time. It is just an
idea...excuse me, it is an idea out of the spirit of the great slogan "Think
globally and act locally." I hope you consider it and I hope you sign our
petition. And thanks very much for your time.
Lehman: Thank you Dave.
Oliver Belcher: Hi. I'm Oliver Belcher. I authored the ordinance. Before I start I would
like to thank Mrs. Dilkes and Mrs. Karr who've both been a lot of help,
especially Mrs. Karr. Her patience is much appreciated. I'm willing to
pay extra tax dollars so that she gets a raise. I want to talk about the
importance of this issue. People have questioned the importance - why
are we doing this. I think there are a lot of answers to that. But I think
first what we should do is go to the most respectable publication around
which I think is the New York Times. I want to read you parts of an
article that was printed September 18th of this year which if you recall
September 18th was the time that George Bush was talking to the U.N.
about going to the war in Iraq and this article if you're familiar with the
New York Times appeared on page A3 which is usually the international
crisis page - right after the front page of course. I'll just read you a little
bit of this and then of course ifI have time then I'll go on to other issues
like democracy. The name of the article is "Lower prices threaten
Coffee Farmers' Livelihood." The report says, "'Global economic
forces are crushing millions of coffee farmers around the world'", the
British charity (can't hear) said today in a report. In Latin America,
Africa and Asia farmers are paid roughly 24 cents a pound for their
beans which may their lowest price in a century. Four multi-national
corporations: Kraft, Sara-Lee, Nestle and Procter and Gamble buy
nearly half the world's coffee and sell it for an average of $3.60 a pound
the report said. People in New York, Paris and Tokyo may pay that
much for a single cup. The value of coffee exports has fallen by 4
billion dollars since 1997 as supplies glut a market that was once
regulated and is now free. Farmers in places like Mexico, Nicaragua,
and Guatemala are penniless and starving while 'the coffee companies
are laughing all the way to the bank.' Asking some of the poorest and
most powerless people in the world to negotiate in an open market with
some of the most richest and most powerful results unsurprisingly in the
rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. The four corporations
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#4 Page 7
cited by (can't hear) each said in varying ways that as buyers they were
well aware of the crisis among coffee growers. But Kraf~ says it is
"fundamentally opposed to any scheme that intervenes on price." Sara
Lee says it is "uneasy about price support." Fair trade coffee the
response of an international movement that helps businesses buy directly
from rural coffee cooperatives eliminating the corporate middle man and
paying the farmers double or more the market price is a growing
alternative. Fair trade coffee now represents about 2% of the world
market. In the United States such coffee is sold in about 10,000 retail
outlets. Sales grew 36% last year. But without a worldwide plan to raise
prices paid to farmers and give them new alternatives to old ways Oxban
said the livelihoods of millions are at risk - millions. The coffee market
is failing the report said. It is failing the producers on small family
farms for whom coffee is used to make money. It is failing local
exporters and entrepreneurs who are going to the wall in the face of
fierce international competition. And it is failing governments that are
encouraged...that had encouraged coffee production to increase export
earnings. Now since businesses operate within communities like they do
here in Iowa City I think it's important that citizens and representatives
of those citizens democratically decide on standards on which, you
know, business operate. It is the reason why we have handicap
accessibilities, no more leaded gasoline, you know, other such things in
the world where the communities or the governments decide what sorts
of standards are going to be there for businesses.
Lehman: You need to wind this up pretty quick here.
Belcher: Oh, I'm sorry. So I think, you know, this is just socially responsible
business practice that we can democratically decide. Thanks for your
time. Have a good night.
Lehman: Thank you Oliver.
Kanner: I just want to say I appreciate your initiative in international thinking.
Already you've attracted some nationwide attention. We had
correspondence in our package from Mississippi and if it weren't so
scary it would be laughable. They're talking about the international
communist conspiracy that this is part of. I think it's a great way for us
to have a community education and debate on the issue. Thanks for
bringing this to the City. Eleanor, is this...we had some problem with
the last initiative and charter amendments, does this pass code review
that you see so far? Do you see any problems with what's presented and
if they get the required signatures in a legal fashion do you see any
problems with this?
Dilkes: What I have told them is that I have to date only done a cursory review
of...a facial review of the proposed ordinance. I pointed out a couple
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#4 Page 8
things that I could tell just from looking on the face of it that would be
problematic - the enforcement provisions and they have made changes
to those. I have not done a full-scale review of the ordinance. If it
comes to Council the way this works .just for the public's information is
that if the required signatures are obtained it comes to Council. Council
can choose either to adopt it or put it on the ballot. At that point I'll be
prepared to advise Council in greater detail.
Lehman: Thank you. Other public discussion?
James Thomas: Good evening. James Thomas. 131 North 1st Avenue, Iowa City. I
really came to thank the Council for the construction of the sidewalk on
1st Avenue. It makes a lot of sense to see after that construction was
completed and the expansion being open what a beautiful drive it is
along 1st Avenue all the way to ACT and then down to Dubuque and
Dodge Street. However, I do want the record to be straight in terms of
the issues involving the sidewalk on 1st Avenue. It came from a 1987-88
subdivision plat approval where that sidewalk was supposed to be
constructed and completed as the sidewalk in Rita Lynn subdivision. It
wasn't. I think the developer had a year to construct that sidewalk - she
didn't. The City lost its ability to go after that developer after that year.
Then that problem is passed onto subsequent developer. He didn't pave
it and he sold the land to us and we were contacted in 1992 that it was
our responsibility to construct it. It was not. We paid our proportion of
sidewalk construction fees when we brought the property and the house.
To impose the construction on us would be a burden that would be
unfair. So we resisted. So for the last 12 years we have gone around and
around in terms of who should pay. So I applaud the City Council for
paving that section even it was not the reason that you saw the issues that
we raised in 1992, '93, '94, '95 and so on. It's paved. The City's happy.
We're happy. And I'm certain the property o~vners in Rita Lynn Court
are happy because they would have had to pay a proportion share of that
sidewalk. It would have only been fair. I also attended the inaugural
meeting of the new Housing and Community Development Commission
a couple weeks ago. I was impressed by a number of the developments
with the past committee especially with the works of Bill Stewart and
Kathleen Rehnquist who are no longer...who are off the Commission.
Because they pretty much sounded a concern that every citizen in Iowa
City should be aware of. You know this is a community. It's a
community of people who are different. We look different. We act
different. We have different desires. But you know we should be
concerned about one another - ail of us should be concerned about each
other. And I've spoken with members on the Council including Mayor
Lehman. He knows basically...I'm sum he knows basically my intent is
not to be a problem. The one thing I will not reckon with is unfairness
especially when it concerns people that may not necessarily have a voice
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#4 Page 9
in this community. The reason that I bring that up at that meeting was
were the Daniels was Wanda Daniels, Mrs. Wanda Daniels and Mr.
Phillip Daniels. And her comment struck me and she said, "I came to
this meeting because I want to buy a house." She said, "I don't know if
I'm in the right meeting or not, but I feel that I'm here by divine
intervention." So I worked in housing 25 years ago and one of the
difficulties is the aspects of consumer education, debt counseling, pre-
purchase mortgage counseling and all the nine yards of the special (can't
hear) programs - Fanny May, Jenny May and what have you. So I
offered to help her. About a week or so later she called me and I thought
it was about the start of the counseling that we were going to do. And
she said I'm having a serious problem. She said I have been very patient
with the aspects of housing situation that's intolerable. Can you help
me? And she invited me to come out.
Lehman: You need to wrap this up.
Thomas: Okay. Well, I'm through. I basically am going to turn it over to the
Daniels and have them address you. Thank you.
Lehman: Okay. Thank you.
Kanner: Before you go I had a question. Eleanor, let's assume that was true
about what Mr. Thomas was saying about the plat must include
sidewalks. Do we have any recourse as a City for situations like that is
the final plat says there will be sidewalks and they don't fulfill that?
Dilkes: There are a number of legal issues involved in this. We've
communicated with Mr. Thomas' attorney. I don't...
Kanner: No, this is in a general case. Let's say this is a case where there is a ....
Dilkes: I understand that...
Kanner: Do we have recourse as a City?
Dilkes: We sometimes have recourse, we sometimes don't. I mean I think it's a
difficult issue to address generally. It depends on the terms of the
subdivision documents, etc.
Kanner: So we do have some recourse. I had a question for you Mr. Thomas.
You also had concerns about the walk-thru. Has that been settled?
Thomas: i don't think it's probably appropriate Mr. Kanner to discuss that at this
time.
Lehman: That's correct.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#4 Page 10
Kanner: Is it still in litigation? Is that in litigation?
Dilkes: Let me just say this if there's a majority of the Council that wishes me to
address this issue right now I can do that. I don't think it's in an
appropriate form in which to discuss the legalities of this...
Lehman: I don't either.
Kanner: I just want to know if it's in litigation or not.
Lehman: I don't think so.
Dilkes: There is no pending litigation no.
Kanner: Okay. Thank you.
Thomas: One thing I think I should say...
Karmer: Because we have...just I brought it up because we have received
correspondence from you - lengthy correspondence and response - and
just wanted to clarify what's happening with that, but apparently...
Thomas: This is probably not the best form to discuss it Mr. Kanner.
Kanner: Okay.
Thomas: Before they come up I do want to ask Council do you think it's
appropriate...well, maybe I should address it to you Mr. Wilbum. They
are in your district. Do you think it's a possible conflict for you to hear
what they're about to...?
Wilbum: Not knowing what it is that they're...this is time for the public to speak.
Thomas: Okay.
Wilburn: If we deliberate on something that I would have a conflict of interest
probably because of whatever funding mechanism may or may not come
up then I would have to excuse myself. But without...this is their time
and if there is problem then I would remove myself.
Thomas: Thank you.
Wilburn: Thank you for asking that.
Lehman: And I'll point out before you speak this is not the time for debate. This
is a time for accepting public input. So we certainly are interested in
what you have to tell us.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#4 Page 11
Kanner: Public discussion. We had a vote on that.
Lehman: I know. But this is generally a period where the public addresses the
Council and we listen.
Kanner: Right. (Can't hear).
Lehman: Go ahead.
Wanda Daniel: (Read statement).
Phillip Daniel: And also in closing our main concern was pretty much security, you
know, we just have a board over the window and we know coming from
Gary, Indiana and Chicago, you know, we couldn't live in that type of
City with a board over our window because all you have to do it pull it
down and come on in especially ~vhen we're asleep or we're not at
home. That's our main concern and trying to get everything done.
Wanda Daniel: If you've got time I'd like to explain the pictures that you have if need
be.
Lehman: You have about a minute.
Wanda Daniel: Okay. Okay this picture page 1 of 1 is me standing next to the window
where there is supposed to be a window. And that was taken 10-28-02.
Okay. Page 1 of 1 is me where you can see that the contractors have
came in and so-to-speak gutted the basement out. That's about three to
four feet from the four and that's insulation hanging out. Page 1 of 1 is
the pictures ofho~v unorganized my house has been. Page 1 is also a
picture of where the window needs to be. Okay. Here's pictures of the
sidewalk. I have pictures of where the construction men have come in.
I've asked for my carpet to be cleaned so hopefully they'll do that. Oh
here I have pictures where we have a family of five and we have been
unable to use our...we have two bathrooms...we have been unable to
use our basement. Our toilet sits in the shower so we have no access to
that which is very much needed. This is a picture of myself where the
construction men...well there hasn't been that many construction men,
but the ones that have been in there they've been tracking back and forth.
So that's just mildew just everywhere. And I just deserve some answers.
i deserve to be respected as a taxpaying citizen. And I had no choice but
to come and make you guys aware of what's going on. Thank you.
Lehman: Steve, can you check that out for us?
Pfab: I have just one question. Are you saying these pictures are from a flood
of what date did you say it was?
Wanda Daniel: The flood occurred August 23to.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#4 Page 12
Phillip Daniel: It was a tornado storm. Yeah that late morning like three or four o'clock
that morning.
Lehman: Heavy rain.
O'Donnell: I remember that.
Wanda Daniel: I wouldn't call that nature's disaster though. I wouldn't blame it on
Mother Nature.
Atkins: Mr. and Mrs. Daniel would you write down your address in Clearwater
and your phone number and we'll give you a call. We will contact the
Housing Fellowship and let you know.
Wanda Daniel: Thank you.
Lehman: Alright. Thank you.
Wilburn: Thank you.
Pfab: is there correspondence?
Wanda Daniel: Have a good evening.
Lehman: No, Well we have pictures.
Pfab: Pictures is a correspondence? (no pictures submitted to or retained by
Clerk)
Kanner: Was this filled after our...?
Atkins: I don't know Steven.
Kanner: So our drainage regulations would have been in effect most likely.
Atkins: Reasonably new construction.
Wanda Daniel: Actually sir I was the first tenant.
Lehman: You have to speak in the mic. But we do have to wind this up.
Wanda Daniel: I'm sorry. Actually those apartments over there - Saratoga Springs - is
our landlord and I was the first tenant to move in. It is a three bedroom
townhouse. And they're about six years old.
Atkins: Okay.
Lehman: Okay. We will get back to you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#4 Page 13
Wanda Daniel: Thank you.
Atkins: I just need the number. Thank you.
Wilbum: Thank you.
Lehman: Any other public discussion?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#5g Page 14
ITEM 5g PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
g. Conveyance of vacated portions of right-of-way along South
Front Street, the 100 block of West Prentiss Street, the 100 block of
West Harrison Street and the alley between the 100 blocks of West
Prentiss and West Harrison Street to The University of Iowa/Iowa
State Board of Regents, without compensation.
(2) Consider a Resolution Authorizing
Wilburn: Move adoption of the resolution.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by O'Donneli. Discussion?
Vanderhoef: This is one of those cases where there is a need and an opportunity to
work with the University and the City. I don't think it's in the best
interest of the City to convey the properties in this point in time. I
think there may be some future use for them. However, I would be
very willing to lease this property to the University for their immediate
needs which is for some parking that has been moved away from the
University Library area at this point in time and also for some
additional buses that they need. I recognize that this...the use of this
property might not be every, it might be in 10 years, 15 years. I just
feel that at this point in time that to not know what the future of the rail
and the riverbank and whether the rail line would stay there, whether it
would become a commuter line, whether the traffic would be taken out
and then it would be open for a riverbank expansion and green space
in the area. I hate to put our future Councils in a position of having to
renegotiate for land that they once owned. So I'll be voting "no" on
the conveyance.
Lehman: Other discussion?
Kanner: Ditto Dee.
Lehman: I'll be voting "yes" for the opposite of about everything Dee said.
O'Donnell: I second that.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roi1 call.
Dilkes: Pfab?
Pfab: Okay we're voting for conveyance?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#5g Page 15
Lehman: Right.
Pfab: Yes.
Lehman: Motion carries, 5-2, Kanner and Vanderhoefvoting the negative.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#5h Page 16
ITEM 5h PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
h. Consider an ordinance vacating the twenty-three foot wide
Grand Avenue Court right-of-,vay, commencing from the north
right-of-way line of Melrose Avenue and extending north*vard for a
distance of two hundred ninety-five feet. (Pass and Adopt)
Lehman: (Reads item).
O'Donnell: Move adoption.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Vanderhoef: Well, I'I1 say it one more time.
Champion: Why?
Vanderhoefi From the beginning of this whole request for vacation there seemed to
be a larger issue that effected our entire community which includes the
neighbors in that neighborhood. It includes University faculty, students
in that area and for everyone who lives anywhere in the City - the
greater community which is what I feel is my responsibility to look for
the future. We had an opportunity to allow the University to move
forward with the Athletic Learning Center by changing the grade of the
road which as our engineers have subsequently told us will not effect the
use of that Grand Avenue Court in the futura even if the street is raised a
bit to accommodate the building. In the meantime we are doing a study
with the Urfiversity to look at the entire traff~c plan, traffic flow, and
where and how the expansion of Melrose down to Riverside Drive will
take place. I think six months is a very reasonable time period to put
this together. The University indicated that they could work with us and
produce a plan in six months. And I still think we should wait to vacate
this and certainly to convey it. So 1'11 be voting no both on the vacating
at this point and on the conveyance of the property until the study is
done.
O'Donnell: I will be voting "yes." This has been through the process. It's been
through Planning and Zoning. It approved. There's been two public
hearings now with the City Council. There's no doubt in my mind this
would be conveyed in six months. I respect your opinion Dee, but I
disagree with you.
Lehman: Other discussion?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#5h Page 17
Jean Walker: (Can't hear) make some comments?
Lehman: If you have different comments then you've had before.., we have had
public heatings and public discussions.
Walker: Yes.
Lehman: You have something new to add to what you've already said we're
happy to hear it.
Walker: Alright. Myname is Jean Walker. I live at 335 Lucon Drive. (Reads
statement).
(End of Tape #02-85, Beginning of Tape #02-86)
Walker: (Continues to read statement). Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you Jean. Other discussion?
Kanner: Yeah. I voted against the street vacations down by the river and also
these I'm going to vote against this because it is a bargaining chip. I
think that we are up against an 800-pound gorilla - a friendly gorilla,
nevertheless a gorilla. And we're not a mouse, but maybe we're a
stallion. And I think it's good to have some negotiation with the
University in terms of multi-model transportation, housing and other
issues. And in fact we did have an effect when we were going to defer
it in the letter also...I'11 quote from the October 17th letter from Doug
True, Vice President at the University, "We will hold projects until
Council approval of enabling conditions." And I think that's the
relationship we want to have with the University. I think it was well put
by Jean and her fellow letter writers. We want to continue to have that
discussion at least for the next six months. I would urge folks to vote
"no" on this. Irvin it's not too late to change your mind back. You were
the switch vote on this.
Pfab: That's con'ect.
Lehman: Let me just say this in fairness. This request from the University of
Iowa was a result of discussions between the University of Iowa Staff
and our Staff. Their decision to build that building there was at the best
advice of their own Staff, our Staff, engineers, whatever. They
proceeded with that, they applied for a vacation. It went to Planning
and Zoning in which case there was a public hearing. A vacation was
recommended by our Staff. It was approved by our own Planning and
Zoning Conmaission. It came to the City Council. We had a public
hearing. At that point the Council...at the following meeting the
Council decided to postpone this for six months pending a traffic study.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#5h Page 18
Council later decided to reconsider. This would have been the same
time as we would have had the third reading had it not been for a motion
to postpone for six months. We have enjoyed, I believe, a very, very
good relationship with the University of Iowa and the City of Iowa City.
The University of Iowa and Hospitals are probably the largest industry
in the entire State of Iowa. If this were an ACT or a Procter and
Gamble or somebody else who wanted to build a 4.6 million dollar
building we would jump through hoops to accomplish that for them.
But because we have the ability to have "bargaining chips" we are doing
something that I think is inappropriate in handling a partner which I
believe the University is and always will be in this community. So I
will be supporting this.
O'Donnell: Well said.
Champion: Thank you.
Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries, 4-3, Pfab, Wilbum...pardon me, Kanner,
Wilburn and Vanderhoef voting in the negative.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
O'Donnell: So moved.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Dormell, seconded by Vanderhoef to accept
correspondence. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#5i Page 19
ITEM 5i. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
i. Conveyance of the 23-foot wide Grand Avenue Court right-of-
way, commencing from the north right-of-way line of Melrose
Avenue and extending northward for a distance of 295 feet, to The
University of Iowa.
a. Public Hearing
James Thomas: James Thomas once again. I respect Miss Walker's position very
much, but I must admit that it was the University of Iowa Law School
that's caused my family and I to move which caused my family and I
to move here almost 19 years ago. When the Law School was
completed.., prior to the Law School being completed Grand
Court...Grand Avenue Court basically was the exterior sort of
structure behind those houses. The problem with Grand Avenue Court
- and I use that street - the street is one block long. It's not wide
enough for two cars to pass with any degree of safety. There's
absolutely no room for a sidewalk. One of the things that I did and I
have to admit that I did it well in terms of selling Iowa is linking the
University of Iowa with Iowa City as well as the State of Iowa. And
for those who didn't know it the State being chartered in 1847, the
University was developed in 1850. So not only is it a very vital
employer and neighbor and partner in this process it's probably one of
your oldest neighbors. And if you don't grand leniency and if we all
approach life as if we're green teeth, green eyed Wall Street
investor...investment bankers that's no way to conduct business. Not
only on this issue, but all other issues. We should never lose sight in
this community that we are a community. It's not "us" and "them."
University of Iowa is not an adversary. A matter of fact if the
University of Iowa relocated.., if there were some miracle.., no if some
disaster happened.
Champion: That's right we'd be in big trouble.
Thomas: You would still have Iowa City. So Iowa City is the host. And most
hosts we host. Thank you.
Lehm an: Thank you.
Paul Leonard: Hi. Paul Leonard. 506 Brookline Park Drive. I live in the same
general neighborhood. I am also a member of the University faculty.
And I wanted to mention - it's no secret to this Council - that in
higher Melrose Avenue area has been a problem with traffic
congestion. It's abone of political contention many times. And I
think making changes to the traffic flow - I don't think necessarily that
closing the Court will cause a traffic disaster, but it's very difficult to
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#5i Page 20
know without study. And when you do something irreversible would
you do it in such a high risk area where there have been political
problems before. Where a year from now, five years from now some
future Council 10 years from now may find themselves facing, "We've
got a problem here. How are we going to solve it? Well we can't go
through that because we gave it to the University." And so we end up
widening streets through a neighborhood where there are other historic
houses. I am very concerned about - I understand this has been
through a process with the Staff and I appreciate your comments on
that. That is reassuring to me, but I still find myself wanted to know
what this study would show before doing something irreversible to that
neighborhood that then leads down the line to problems with a
neighborhood with a significant number of historic houses. Thank
you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Jean Walker: (Reads statement).
Lehman: Thank you. Other discussion?
Kanner: Eleanor? Or are we done with this?
Lehman: Yeah. Public hearing is closed.
b. Consider a Resolution Authorizing
Lehman: We'll take a resolution to authorize and then we'll...
O'Donnell: So moved.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Champion to convey. Discussion?
Karmer: Eleanor in the conveyance of the streets we just did before number g in
the therefores it talks about conveying without compensation and in this
motion, this resolution it doesn't have anything about no compensation.
It has a whereas about allowing us to do that. So I'd like to know is a
plan to convey without any compensation or to ask for compensation?
Dilkes: The resolution provides that the conveyance is contingent on the two
conditions stated and that's it.
Kanner: Okay, but no monetary...you're not stating like in the previous one
about no monetary compensation.
Dilkes: Right. There is no monetary compensation.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#5i Page 2I
Lehman: Okay. Other discussion?
Wilbum: Yeah.
Lehman: I'm sorry, go ahead.
Wilbum: I will be again voting "no" on this. I was one too who wanted to see the
results of the study and I agree that the University of Iowa is a
community partner here with the City of Iowa City. I do not feel that
voting against this would have damaged the relationship. There are
other items that we just passed tonight and other items historically even
since I've been on Council that we've supported and there has been no
problem with the University. We're both institutions and occasionally
institutions butt heads. And I don't think that this would have damaged
the relationship. And while I agree that Procter and Gamble, Oral B, or
even the upcoming the food store...what's the new grocery store?
Champion: Fairfield.
Wilbum: Fareway.
Champion: Fareway.
Wilbum: I should know it after all that. That we may try to work aggressively,
assertively to provide an opportunity for them to come here. The
Fareway didn't break ground, didn't take any action until formal actions
at Council. And so that's where I see a little difference there. But
regardless again I don't think that waiting to see the results of the study
would have damaged the relationship. And that's all I have to say.
O'Donnell: Okay.
Lehman: Ross you're right. Absolutely right when it comes to following the
proper channels. This was an oversight and I think it was something
that was assumed. It should not have been assumed. I just...
Wilbum: And we'll...this will...you know your suggestion that us meeting with
the University officials on a regular basis I think that will be a good
idea.
Lehman: And I also don't think the conveying the property is an irrevocable
decision. The University of Iowa just gave the City of Iowa City a
significant amount of property to do Mormon Trek Boulevard. And I'm
equally certain that if a traffic study in this area indicates that part of this
street needs to be used for the road we will have that property just as
they did with Mormon Trek. So I really don't have a problem with that.
Any other discussion? Roll call. The motion carries 4-3, Vanderhoef,
Wilburn and Kanner voting in the negative.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#6 Page 22
ITEM 6 PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO IOWA CITY'S 2001-2006
CONSOLIDATED PLAN (CITY STEPS).
Wilbum: Mr. Mayor, excuse me for interrupting, but I will not be participating in
this hearing due to a conflict of interest or the appearance of such
because I work for an organization that's funding through the CiTY
STEPS funding process and Community Development Block Grants.
Champion: Before you leave Ross I'd like to ask Eleanor a question. Since we're
not going to be discussing distribution of funds or organization of the
consolidated steps is that still a conflict of interest?
Dilkes: I believe so.
Lehman: Okay. Thank you, Eleanor.
Wilburn: I asked that several times.
Champion: Sorry about that.
Wilburn: Thanks for trying for me.
Lehman: (Reads item). Public heating is open.
Amy Correia: Good evening. I'm Amy Correia, current Chair of the Housing and
Community Development Commission. I live at 11 South 7th Avenue in
Iowa City. At it's October Housing and Community Development
Commission meeting the commission passed a resolution
recommending that the CITY STEPS be amended to be amended
around the CDBG economic development fund to read, "The current
CITY STEPS reads the City Council voted to increase the set aside
amount for economic development activities from 5% to 9% of the
budget resources represented in the CITY STEPS." We are proposing
an amendment to that to read, "...from 9% of the CDBG resources
represented in the CITY STEPS" as the CDBG is the funding that's
required - can only be used for economic development.
O'Donnell: Thank you.
Kanner: Amy why are you removing the percentage of the whole? The whole
including the home funding why you're eliminating the home funding
as part of the percentage?
Correia: From the calculation?
Kanner: Yeah what's your reasoning behind that?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#6 Page 23
Correia: Because home funds cannot be used for economic development
activities. Only CDBG money can be used for economic development.
So by taking 9% of the total amount it's basically shrinking the amount
of money of CDBG that can be used for public facilities and other
services and houses that's non-home related. Any other questions?
Lehman: Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? This is a public hearing on...in
the absence of a motion to change the formulas as we presently have
them we close the public hearing. We continue with the plan as we
presently have. Is there any other discussion. Go ahead.
Kanner: I'd like to make a motion.
Lehman: Go ahead.
Kanner: To amend the plan as noted by the Chair of Housing and Community
Development.
Lehman: Do we have a second for that amendment.
Pfab: I'II second that for discussion purposes here.
Lehman: There's been a motion and a second. Discussion.
Pfab: Is this the law Steve?
Steve Nasby: The way the CITY STEPS plan set up we look at all of our resources
and plan for them in aggregate which is CDBG and HOME. Now when
we earmarked in our consolidated plan we have 50% that goes to
housing, 9% to economic development, 9% to public services, about
19% to public facilities. We calculate those numbers on under whole
resources which is CDBG and HOME and that's kind of the premise for
having the consolidated plan is to plan for those together. Certain
activities though as Amy points out are eligible for one fund or the other
and economic development dollars do come out of the block grant
program exclusively. Does that answer your question?
Kanner: Steve?
Pfab: No, not quite.
Vanderhoefi Well by law...
Pfab: Go ahead, go ahead finish.
Kanner: To answer your question I assume we have the power to set those
percentages. There's no Federal law that says we have to have ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#6 Page 24
Nasby: No that is local discretion.
Lehman: Right.
Nasby: And you did that last year you changed the set aside - you raised it a
little bit.
Lehman: And what you're saying is we would be turning it back to the previous
level.
Nasby: Essentially that's what we do.
Kanner: Right. Well, ! had a question Irvin if you were done.
Pfab: Go ahead.
Kanner: Of cities that give some money for economic development out of
CDBG can you give me some varieties of percentage - some examples
of what percentages they set of their total budget?
Nasby: Without going into all the cities and collecting that information I guess
I don't have that.
Kanner: Do you have any knowledge of that off the top of your head?
Nasby: I know the city of Dubuque uses a very large share of their dollars.
They actually for the first 10, 15 years of the program exclusively used
it for economic development funding and then now their generating
substantial amounts of program income. So actually we...Iowa City
has been on the kind of the lower end of communities across the
Country. When our HUD rep was here prior to your passing your
amendment last year they were going to note that we were somewhat
low in that area. So...just from that anecdotal evidence I think we're
kind of on the low end.
Kanner: So Dubuque about our size let's say they get a total of 1.5 million as a
rough estimate.
Nasby: They get more than us yeah.
Karmer: And they.., and CDBG would be half of that so they would use all of
that half for economic development is what you're saying?
Nasby: I don't know what their current percentage is, but they have used it a
substantial...
Karmer: In the past. Something really close. Okay.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#6 Page 25
Nasby: Yeah they have used a substantial amount yeah. And they do not get
HOME funding.
Lehman: Further discussion of the amendment?
Kanner: Well I would say that one of the reasons we're a leader in the State is
because we've had a low percentage and we've been moving in the
right direction in the past years with reducing the rate of poverty. In
fact our amount that we're going to be getting is lowered because our
poverty rate is lower. Actually we probably should look into what are
some of the reasons. It could be because we're effective or it could be
less poor people are moving here because it's getting expensive. But I
think we were on the cutting edge in putting our money into different
community resources and I think we should move it down to that level
and give the discretion back to the Housing and Community
Development Commission. I think that would be a move in the right
direction.
Pfab: I'll just relate one experience I had - this was four or five days ago. I
was speaking in passing to a City employee and how...I just asked
where the person lived. And we discussed maybe for a minute or two.
And what I learned was that person is one of a two person employee
family - the mother and the dad or the husband and wife they both
work in Iowa City. And it's not great jobs, but not bad jobs either.
And they said we can't afford to own a home in Iowa City. And that
leaves me with the problem that maybe we need to be doing more
work so that people that are employees are not forced to live out of
town. I'm told that even our police officers can't afford to own a
home in Iowa City. I don't know...that's an open problem. I don't
have a solution and I don't know if this gets us any closer to it. That's
just a comment.
Vanderhoef: I won't be supporting the amendment in that I truly believe in
economic development. I'm not sure what you were referring to when
you said, "Iowa City is a leader." However, in my mind back in the
early '90's it took a long time to get a consolidated plan put together
that met all of the needs or addressed ali of the needs and to work side
by side in one single commission that...then there was discussion
between what was for bricks and mortar type things and what were
more human service type activities. Yes we do have to keep the
Federal dollars squared and reported as Steve just told us. And I see
this as just an attempt to decrease the amount of dollars going into
economic development. And I need to remind folks that when we talk
about economic development dollars we're not only talking about
bricks and mortar we are talking about job training and training for
people who are coming into the jobs. If we bring in a business and
create jobs we also are in business in assisting people to learn new
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#6 Page 26
skills to participate in those jobs and move up. And I think this is a
real positive thing that a lot of our human service folks would like to
see happen to give this hand up folks with job training. So certainly I
have been a proponent of even more dollars into economic
development. So I do not see any need to step back from our 9% as
we had been doing this past year.
Lehman: I concur with what you say Dee. I think this is important that we help
folks in the manner in which they can help themselves. And certainly
this gives the ability to try to do that. Other discussion? I'm sorry.
Champion: I just wanted to say I think the most important thing that we can do as
a Council is spur and encourage economic development so people can
have a decent job and can live decently. So I'm not going to support
the amendment either.
Lehman: Ali in favor of the amendment signify by saying "aye." Opposed same
sign. I hear one affirmative, Mr. Kanner, and five opposed. The
amendment fails. Mr. Pfab did you vote?
Pfab: I vote with the majority.
Lehman: The vote is 5-1.
O'Donnell: 6-1.
Pfab: No. 5-1.
Lehman: Any other discussion?
O'Donnell: Oh, Ross.
Lehman: Public hearing is closed.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#7b Page 27
ITEM 7b. CONVEYANCE OF 656 SOUTH GOVERNOR STREET TO
GARY HUGHES.
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
Lehman: Do we have a motion?
Champion: I lost track.
Lehman: Number 7.
O'Donnell: So moved.
Karmer: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Dormell, seconded by Karmer. Is that right?
Kanner: Yes.
Lehman: Okay. Discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
Champion: You move so fast.
Lehman: We requested that we take a short break.
Chan~pion: Wait you moved so fast I wanted to just inform the Council that Gary
Hughes did meet with the neighborhood and I guess there was quite
a...the neighborhood thought it was a very productive meeting about
what kind of house would be constructed there. And I just wanted
everybody to know it was good neighbor part and it worked out well.
I talked to the neighborhood.
Kanner: I didn't hear....I live two houses down I didn't hear any notice about
that. But how does that operate?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#8b Page 28
ITEM 8b. CONVEYANCE OF 707 WALNUT STREET TO EDWIN
TEAGLE
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
Lehman: Do we have a motion?
Vanderhoef: So moved.
O'Donnell: So moved.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Karmer: I had a question. Can he tear this down and build new?
Vanderhoef: He's supposed to.
Dilkes: No, it's for rehabilitation.
Atkins: For rehab.
Vanderhoef: Oh, this is the rehab the other one was the demolition.
Kanner: It says it supposed to, but...
Lehman: It said for sale for rehabilitation.
Dilkes: No the agreement provides. So provides.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. (Motion carries).
Champion: Here. Yes. I'm here too.
O'Donnell: It's early.
Karmer: Did Irvin leave?
Lehman: Yes he did.
Vanderhoef: He's not feeling well.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#9 Page 29
ITEM 9. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14,
CHAPTER 8, ENTITLED "AIRPORT ZONING" BY
REPEALING THE EXISTING CHAPTER IN ITS ENTIRETY
AND REPLACING SAME WITH A CHAPTER REGULATING
AND RESTRICTING THE USE AND HEIGHT OF
STRUCTURES AND OBJECTS OF NATURAL GROWTH IN
TItE VICINITY OF THE IOWA CITY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
BY CREATING APPROPRIATE ZONES AND ESTABLISHING
BOUNDARIES TItEREOF: DEFINING CERTAIN TERMS
USED HEREIN: REFERRING TO THE IOWA CITY
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT ZONING MAP, AS AMENDED,
WHICH MAP IS ADOPTED BY THIS ORDINANCE:
ESTABLISHING AN AIRPORT ZONING COMMISSION:
ESTABLISHING AN AIRPORT ZONING BOARD OF
ADJUSTMENT: PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT: AND
IMPOSING PENALTIES. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Lehman: (Reads item).
Vanderhoef: Move first consideration.
Wilbum: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Wilburn. Discussion?
Karmer: In some ways I think this is similar to the conveyance of the Grand
Avenue Court in that I don't think we should give up the height that
we might use in the future. And was talking to Karin Franklin and she
emphasized that she couldn't give specifics about what certain heights
would be. And I think that we need to at a minimum hold off until we
get more specifics. And one other concern that I have is that cities
throughout the country are realizing that large parking lots are not to
their advantage and they're doing infill development there - putting up
apartments, some subsidized, some not. And someday we might want
to do a PDH perhaps on the parking lots near Hy-Vee that go above
the 35 feet and perhaps over at K-Mart and it seems that if we lower
the zone which is what a major part of this proposal is we take away
that option. I think it behooves us to hold off on the voting for this.
Lehman: I think you're right Steven. It does limit what we can do, but airports
do that. And if we want an airport there are certain limitations that
will go along with that airport for it to be a safe airport. We have a
master plan that's going to invest about 15 million dollars in that
facility. I can't imagine that we would invest that kind of money
whether it be Federal or local money and not protect the integrity of
the airport.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#9 Page 30
Kanner: Right now we are...we have a safe airport. This is allowing a different
type of approach. We can still continue with the other approach that
we have.
Lehman: Well I think the whole idea of the airport master plan is to upgrade the
airport and make it even a safer airport. I have to either support
the...in supporting the airport I must support the zoning that goes
along with it. During our work session two week ago, I think, it was
pointed out that you're right if you build a six-story structure on K-
Mart...maybe K-Mart would, I'm not sure if K-Mart even comes in
that triangle. I don't think it does. The restrictions are so miniscule
that...and certainly we got in trouble with this airport a number of
years ago by allowing construction in areas that did affect the airport
and there was a lot of hard feelings over that. I would not like to see
that ever happen again. So I certainly will support the ordinance.
Champion: I totally support the airport.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roi1 call. Motion carries, 5-1, Karmer voting the
negative.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
# 12 Page 31
ITEM 12. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING TItE BUDGETED
POSITIONS IN THE LANDFILL DIVISION OF TItE PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT BY DELETING ONE FULL-TIME
SCALEHOUSE OPERATOR POSITION AND ADDING ONE
F[ILL-TIME RECYCLE CLERK - LANDFILL POSITION AND
AMENDING TItE AFSCME PAY PLAN BY ADDING THE
POSITION OF RECYCLE CLERK - LANDFILL.
Lehman: (Reads item).
Vanderhoef: Move the resolution.
Wilburn: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Wilburn. Discussion?
Kanner: Steve, this changes the AFSCME grade. Is that mean the pay goes up
or Dale?
Helling: Yeah. I don't have the resolution right in front of me, but I believe it
does.
Kanner: It goes from 3 to 6. Does that mem~ there's a pay differential in the up.
Helling: Yeah that would basically 3 grades. I don't know what that would be
in percentages. Probably somewhere around 9 percent higher.
Kanner: Yeah you gave a nice memo in justifying this.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#15 Page 32
ITEM 15. ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES.
Lehman: Animal Care & Adoption Center Advisory Board - One vacancy to fill a
three year term January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2005. Board of
Adjustment - One vacancy to fill a five year term January 1, 2003 -
January 1, 2008. Board of Appeals- Two vacancies, one representative
from the Home Builders' Association, and one Licensed Plumber to fill
five year terms January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2007. (Human Rights
Commission - Three vacancies to fill three year terms January 1, 2003 -
January 1, 2006. Parks and Recreation Commission - Three vacancies
to fill four year terms January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2007. Public Art
Advisory Committee - Two vacancies to fill three year terms January 1,
2003 - January 1,2006. Senior Center Commission - Two vacancies to
fill three year terms January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2005. Applications
for these positions must be received by 5:00 Wednesday November 13.
And a wonderful opportunity to get involved in City government.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#16 Page 33
ITEM 16. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Lehman: City Council information. Connie?
Champion: Nothing.
Lehman: Mike?
O'Donnell: The election season is about over here. It has been a long, drawn-out
thing. I've never had so many phone calls. You just feel like telling
call somebody and that you don't care. I hope everybody voted. It's a
responsibility and it's so important. So I hope everybody voted. Steve
I want to thank Joe and Ron and yourself for helping in the negotiation
of the SEATS contract. And Dee, thank you. It looks like we can see
the light at the end of the tunnel.
Atkins: I hope so.
O'Donnell: The tone has been different. We intended it to be this year. And I'm
looking forward to getting this resolved.
Vanderhoef: I'll ditto all that.
Champion: Me too.
Lehman: Well let me say the Council thanks you folks. That's a very, very
important job and hopefully it's well on the ~vay to being completed.
Dee?
Vanderhoef: I have nothing else. I was going to talk about SEATS, but I think it's
all been said.
Lehman: Ross?
Wilburn: Just congratulations to some City High students who have been
working I saw in the paper today to try to get the voting age changed
in Io~va to 17. I spoke at City High. I think you were there a few
months ago and they mentioned that they were looking at that. It looks
like they've got some things happening across the State. Some
different teacher's groups looking at it as an effort to try to get build
citizenship. And I think one of the students perhaps referred to
perhaps taking more of an interest in high school economics and some
other courses if they knew that it was tied to something meaningful
like what's happening in their community.
Vanderhoef: Voting is important and the students that I spoke to were very
interested in the elections and what ~vas happening.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#16 Page 34
Wilburn: Yeah, they were.
Lehman: Okay. Steven?
Kanner: Yeah, Mike I never got so many calls from Vilsack and Harkin as I did
during this season - a couple a days it seems like. A few things one it
was impressive response to the request for proposals for the Muni-
electric study. We got 10 responses. I was able to go through and
look at those briefly and I appreciate that our Staff is going to be able
to go over closely and give a recommendation. One...I have a couple
questions on that. One is when will we as a Council discuss whether
or not we want to pay for that study?
Helling: Either at your next meeting or the one following. I'm not sure which
depending on how the process goes that the volume of proposals may
take a little longer to wade through them. But what we will do is
review them. We'll have our input along with the other I assume 15 of
the cities that will all review them. And then out of that some sort of
recommendation will come on who to hire and we'll know what the
cost is. We'I1 come back to you with ail of that and then it will be time
to decide whether or not to proceed with the preliminary study.
Kanner: There were wide range of firms including Bob (can't hear) and a
number of others and prices from what I could discern $5,000 for Iowa
City and UI which I assume we would most likely foot the cost up to
$50,000 - $60,000 for Iowa City. So it'll be interesting to see how
people rate those. And the other question in that regard was two of
the.., at least two of the firms mentioned an additional cost for
studying energy efficiency for conservation.
Helling: Right,
Karmer: And will that be brought to us...how will that be brought to us in terms
of whether or not we want to prove that?
Helling: As I recall those proposals were sort of an aside that we could do that
individually if we want to. I think the first step is to engage somebody
for the preliminary study on behalf of all the communities and then we
can talk about whether or not you want to go forth with some
additional things and contract separately for those. If we're interested
what I think what we would need to do there is probably get some
suggestions from the consultant about what are types of things that
they're aware of along with, you know, any concerns that you as
Councilors might have.
Lehman: It'd be like an alternate added to a bid?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#16 Page 35
Helling: Or just a separate contract.
Lehman: Okay.
Champion: When is the Thanksgiving dinner...lunch? When is the employee
lunch with all the turkey and gravy?
Vanderhoefi It's the third Thursday.
Lehman: 21st.
Vanderhoef: Because I have a meeting and unfortunately I can't go.
Kanner: And the finally thing with muni power is on the front page of the Wall
Street Journal yesterday there was mention of it and Carol Spaziani
was quoted - I haven't been able to look at the article. Thank you. So
we're making the news in all different ways. I think that's a positive.
One other thing with public power. IAMU Iowa Association
Municipal Utilities is having a workshop. "'Governance in the 21st
Century' introduces utility trustees and council members to the
responsibilities and processes ofpolicymaking in a changing utility
marketplace. It examines regulatory and market forces affecting
electric utilities and discusses how public power fits into the new
market." I would love to go, but I think it would be good for anyone
of us to go - to send someone. There's a cost of this of $280 and if
someone else wants to go and Council would approve I think we
should send someone to this to get more of a handle on this issue. And
I think it would help us in our decision making. Any thoughts on that.
That's November 20th - 22nd in Ames at the IAMU headquarters.
O'Dounell: We could talk about it at a work session.
Lehman: Well the problem is the next work session is like the day before
the...wait a minute...
Kart: 18th and 19th.
Lehman: Yeah and this is the 20th and if we're going to send someone my
presumption is they probably need to be registered.
Vanderhoef: I'm not available to go on that date.
O'Donnell: I'm not either.
Atkins: I know I'm committed and Dale is also on those dates. We can get the
literature at the very least. We'll contact them and get the literature.
Lehman: You mean the material they're going to be using?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002
#16 Page 36
Atkins: Yeah the material they use they're usually pretty good about that. You
pay a small amount. (Can't hear).
Lehman: That would be good to have in view of what we're considering.
Atkins: Okay. At the very least we'll get that for you.
Lehman: Okay.
Karmer: And then we got a response from Steve on the dog park. There are
people working on that and I guess we'll at the budget time we'll see if
there's any actually dollars or if private citizens are going to be putting
up in regards to this. There was a big article in the paper about the
anniversary I think it was the Cedar Rapids dog park and they seem to
be pretty successful there. They got a lot of...they have a licensing fee
$20/$25 a year for 500 people who signed up. So it seems to have
been pretty successful. And then finally to our Muslim friends I wish
you a good fast during Ramadan which is coming up this Wednesday
on the 6th.
Lehman: Okay. Just a reminder the Veteran's Day dinner is Monday the 11th at
the Highlander. That's always a huge event in Johnson County. One
that I wouldn't miss and I think Dee if you have ever missed one
either.
Vanderhoef: I haven't missed it. I don't think so.
Lehman: It's a really...it's a marvelous event and I certainly would encourage
anyone who's interested to get reservations.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of November 5, 2002