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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-21 TranscriptionPage 1 ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Throgmorton: So the first order of business is something we do once a year and that is to have the Mayor read a State of the City speech. So before I start doing that, I want to welcome all of you to your City Hall, especially Adam and Grace, who will be receiving our Leadership Awards this evening. So, bear with me, um, you two, because, uh, this will go on for, I don't know, 15 minutes or so while I read this speech. (reads State of the City address) How many of you attended that event? I did! It was great, I tell ya! (laughter) It was terrific! (continues reading State of the City address) I mean we're gonna be really hopeful it gets finished (laughs) this ... uh, this coming, this year! (continues reading State of the City address) I won't name names! (laughter) (continues reading from State of the City address) Stay tuned on that one! (continues reading from State of the City address) ...including people watching on television, we need your help. (continues reading from State of the City address) (applause) [See correspondence Item lb for State of the City speech transcript] This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 2 ITEM 2. STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS ITEM 2a Hoover Elementary School Throgmorton: So, let me invite Adam and Grace, Adam Bywater and Grace Welert? Wielert ... to come up. (unable to hear, away from mic) (laughter) Good thing I wasn't usin' the mic! (laughter) All right, so this is always such a treat to do this, especially parents being present and seein' their kids be rightly, uh, praised for the great work they're doin'. I think, you know, uh, the deal is here, the .... these, uh, awards say exactly the same thing. So I think what I'm gonna ask you to do, Adam, is for you to go first and read your statement and then, Grace, I'll ask you to read your statement, and then I'll read the award, uh, the text of the award. Okay? So, let's do that. You ready to go? All right, Adam (mumbled) and I'll hold this for ya! Bywater: Hi, my name is Adam Bywater. I am a sixth grader at Hoover Elementary School and I would first like to thank the City Council and my teacher, Miss Doling, for allowing me to be here tonight. I think that I am here today because I am a good citizen and a leader in my community, at school, and in extracurricular activities. I participate in many service activities like safety patrol and student council at my school, neighborhood clean-up in Boy Scouts, and helping those in need in church activities such as serving free lunch and playing games at the nursing home. In Boy Scouts I'm currently working on my citi ... citizenship merit badge and I also learned to be a leader and apply it in other activities such as baseball and band, where I do my best to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent, the points of the Scout Law. In the future I will continue to try to be a leader and a good citizen. Thank you. (applause) Throgmorton: Great job! Great job! (applause continues) You know, I've heard from your father that you're related to some former mayors, or at least one former mayor. One former mayor, right? (unable to hear person speaking in audience) LeRoy Mercer, that's right! So, you've got some good bones there, you know, you're... you might be, uh, en route to become a future mayor, ya know! Are you thinkin' about that? (laughter) All right. So, Grace, you're next! Could you read yours? Wielert: I would like to thank the Council for the opportunity to speak about the citizenship award. A ci... a good citizen demonstrates the quality of respect and leadership. I respect my parents and teachers. I use the Golden Rule when I interact with friends. I show leadership with classmates by (mumbled) them to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 3 follow the rules and offering to help them if needed. I also encourage classmates to listen to teachers and other adults. Thank you. (applause) Throgmorton: Good! (applause continues) So I guess I forgot to say, Grace and Adam go to Hoover Elementary. So .... good deal! I don't ... I don't have any kids that went to Hoover. Mine went to Longfellow and Mann and all that. Okay, so .... let me read this, uh, the award and remember, it's exactly the same —just has your name on one of `em and Grace's on the other. (reads Student Leadership Award) Here you go, Adam. (mumbled) And Grace, that's yours. So I know there are proud parents, Dave's right there, and who ... who else? Right there, and .... over there and over there, yeah! So, bravo, you've done brilliantly with your kids. All right, thanks! (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 4 ITEM 2b. RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION (Read on 2/7 formal meeting) Throgmorton: The next item doesn't really appear on our, uh, on our agenda, but in our last meeting I read a proclamation declaring February to be Black History Month and regrettably no one was, uh, available to accept that proclamation. So, I commu... I had some communication with a friend who is in the room. She's going to accept the proclamation for us and might say a few words. Dianne, could you come up? (applause) Voparil: Dianne Dillon-Ridgely accepting. Dillon-Ridgely: Having filled out the form! (laughs) There we go! Um ... thank you very much. I wanted to say that not only to Mayor Throgmorton, but to the entire Council, and in particular I want to take the opportunity to thank you for all the time and energy that you put forth. I don't think people always appreciate and .... and realize how much effort goes on beyond the on -air time, even the committee time, because there's reading, there's background information, there are other meetings. It's probably why I don't run for office! So (laughs) I do appreciate it very much! And I think, uh, what .... as was expressed in the Mayor's excellent, uh, State of the City address, if nothing else, I mean, we are very polite and we dance around certain words, but one of the things that seems to have become very apparent to a lot .... much larger part of the citizenry of the country and our community as well since the election in November is it is both an opportunity and a responsibility for us to be much more engaged and making sure that those sentiments and ideas that we want to have reflect our policies and our regulations do so. Um, in that vein, I wanted to take a moment, um, this particular.... this past year, and I understand it's five minutes, I was invited to, uh, participate in the first day issue of this year's Black Heritage Forever Stamp, which honors Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. Uh, it's the 40`a Black History stamp that has been issued, and it's the 156' time there has been a woman on the stamp, and anybody who knows me knows that I'm not a bean counter, but I was a math major so I can count! Uh, Dr. Height was, um, the, um ... she passed away at 98 in 2010, um, then President Obama did her, uh, eulogy at the National Cathedral and I attended that event in Washington, D.C. also, because Dr. Height knew me all of my life, and I say it that way because, um, my maternal grandmother had chaired the committee that hired her from the YWCA of the USA to the National Council of Negro Women, and my grandmother, my maternal grandmother Rebecca Covington... Harding, uh, was the Texas Chair of the National Council of Negro Women, and had spent 33 years on the, uh, board of the Maria Morgan Colored Branch of the YWCA, and I This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 5 emphasize that because it makes the point about Black History Month. Um, it was a wonderful event, by the way, and if people are interested or if there are any young people left, I did bring the stamps, the first issue stamps and the program and ... and some things like that if people are interested, but just in the last two minutes, to say something about Carter G. Woodson, who was the, urn... creator and inspirer, uh, behind the, uh, Black History Month, which was initially called Negro History Week, in 1926 and while I'm pretty old, I actually .... he died before I was born, but he did start in 1926, uh, what was called Negro History Week and he placed it in the second week of February because that week had both Abraham Lincoln's birthday and Frederick Douglass's birthday, and Woodson himself had been born in 1875. He did his undergraduate work in Berea ... in, uh, Canton, Virginia. He did his undergraduate work in Berea College in Kentucky. He did his master's at the University of Chicago, and he was the second African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University, which he did in 1912. In 1915, realizing a sense of people needing to know and understand the value of. ... of all ethnicities, making contributions to the history and values of the United States. In 1915, he started what was then called the Association of Negro Life and History, but now, um, 102 years later is the Association of African American Life and History. And probably his best known work was a book that he published in 1933 called The Missed Education of the Negro. And I had the privilege when I was in undergraduate school at Howard University to work on his papers at the Mooland-Spingarn Research Center and I hadn't even thought about that until just now! So anyway, uh, just ... uh, in.....in conclusion, um, Woodson.... really had this sense of biographies, uh, and .... and the stories being mea.... meaningful and I think many of us have seen with Ken Burns' works, uh, for this period, a month or anytime, I would recommend people look at the PBS. We have a copy of the set in the library here of, uh, Eyes on the Prize, which was created by Henry Hampton, someone I knew for many, many years, and he was dedicated to recording the... what we now call the Civil Rights Years and that .... that primary footage, and just in .... in .... in ending, the point is, all groups have contributed to making this country the powerful, great country that it already is, and whether one came voluntarily or one was involuntarily an immigrant in this country, or one was native to this country, we have to figure out how we are going to make, and I think this is ultimately the point of your State of the City speech, we have to figure out how we come together, how we work with and support each other, how we truly become a family, because the one thing that this country has always been, it's been a promise. It's much more so than the reality. It's been the promise of what we can be, and whether you use that from the quotes of Frederick Douglass talking about it or Thurgood Marshall talking about it or Sojourner Truth Harriet Tubman or Thomas Jefferson. We've all understood and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 6 all of those fathers and mothers, heroes and sheroes all, have understood that what has made us great is our commitment to each other, our caring for each other, and our love for each other. So I just wanted to make a point of thanking the City Council for doing the proclamation. It means a lot. It's not insignificant, and it needs to be understood that we take these moments — Cinco de Mayo, Black History, etc. - and we appreciate how we got to be where we are and it inspires us to go further, to be better, and to do more, so thank you very much. (applause) Throgmorton: Thank you for accepting the proclamation, Dianne, and for speaking so eloquently. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 7 ITEM 3. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED Mims: So moved. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Uh, so we're gonna linger here for a minute. Um ... get my notes here, uh.... I know there are a couple people who, uh, have topics on the Consent Calendar that they would like to speak toward. So one has to do with, uh, a request from Mississippi Stand Solidarity Divestment Group, uh, would .... and that concerns, what, Item 3f(10)? Is there anybody who wants to speak to that? ITEM 3f(10) Anne (Aaron Silander): Item for 2/21 agenda — Mission Statement! Mississippi Stand Solidarity Network Fixner-Orait: Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, City Council. My name is, uh, Vanessa Fixner- Orait. Throgmorton: Thanks! Fixner-Orait: Just gonna sign in here. I am a Iowa City resident and I'm a member of Mississippi Stand Solidarity Network. I'm gonna be joined herein a minute by another co -member, um, who's gonna read a letter that we submitted, um, to be on the agenda for, uh, last week. I'm here just to read our Mission Statement so you can get a sense of who we are. Um, so we are Mississippi Stand Solidarity Network and in the, in view of the threats to our land, water, and climate, and the violent attacks against the Native American water protectors, U.S. veterans, and others at Standing Rock, the Mississippi Stand Solidarity Network will continue to support the sovereignty and leadership of all indigenous people. We will explore ways to halt the completion of pipelines designed to transport fossil fuel production, recognizing that until they have oil running through them, the battle is not lost. We will identify and execute creative, non-violent methods of opposition. We will hold decision makers accountable. We will collaborate with other groups when possible, and continue to meet and support one another in the struggle for social justice, for social and environmental justice. We know these things to be true. Clean water and uncontaminated soil are essential to life. The U.S. Government has violated treaties with Native Americans, including the requirement to consult tribes prior to construction and the taking of lands ceded to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. UM tribes and must make restitution. Unnecessarily .... unnecessary violence was used against water protectors at Standing Rock and other areas of protest. And finally, the Iowa Utility Board shall be held accountable for pipeline spills and accidents. It granted permission for construction prior to all permits being issued. It granted a private company the right to take property via imminent domain. The I .... the IUB also has not held energy transfer partners to stated construction standards, keeping soil and sub -soil separate during and after construction, prohibiting construction during rain, and enforcement of run-off regulations. This is our Mission Statement and things that we know to be true, and I'd like to invite my co -member Aaron up here to read our letter! (applause) Silander: My name's Aaron Silander. Uh, thank you for accepting our letter and putting it on the agenda for tonight's meeting. Um ... I am a, here as a member of Mississippi Stands Solidarity Network, um, we're a noDAPL organization. We're a group of people living in or near Iowa City. We've come together to fight the Dakota Access Pipeline, running through 18 Iowa counties, from the fracked oil fields in North Dakota, to ... Pa .... Patoka, Illinois. The pipeline threatens Iowa's farmland, wildlife habitat, our recreation areas, and clean drinking water for state residents and millions of other people along the 1,700 - mile pipeline route. Tonight we're asking the City of Iowa City to join others, including the cities of Seattle, Washington and Davis, California, by .... by divesting from institutions financing the Dakota Access Pipeline. Investors include U.S. Bank with $275 million committed to companies hoping to profit from the pipeline, and Wells Fargo, with $467 million committed to this project. We were glad to note ... we were glad to learn that the Iowa City Council currently has $1.1 million with Wells Fargo, down from $50 million. We understand that this decrease in funds was for the City's financial benefit, but we appreciate, uh, we appreciate, we want to express our appreciation for that move. Currently, however, the City does have about $10 million invested with U.S. Bank. We would respectfully request that the City of Iowa City move all funds from U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, and others supporting the pipeline to local banks and credit unions, and cease doing business with U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo to the extent possible. We believe that there are sound reasons for doing so. First, $3.75 billion of the $3.8 billion in cost to build the pipeline is in credit. Moving our money from financial institutions funding the pipeline can make a difference by putting a stop to a project that threatens the well-being of Iowans. Second, Wells Fargo has been banned in some communities for its fraudulent practices of creating multiple additional accounts for customers without the knowledge or permission of those customers. And finally, local banks and credit unions are more likely to make local loans and investments, benefiting individuals, small This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 9 businesses, and communities in our area. So thank you again, uh, Members of the City Council. You work very hard, we know that. Uh, thank you for your consideration. This is an important environmental and financial issue. (applause) Throgmorton: Thank you for conveying the request, both of you. Uh, we won't be deliberating it right now. Thank you. Uh, and there's also, uh, Item 3f(11). What, I'm sorry, did somebody else want to speak to that topic? Sorry, Matthew, I didn't realize it! Peirce: Uh... Matthew Peirce. Uh, 318 Finkbine Lane, #7, Iowa City, Precinct 9. Um ... (mumbled) So I wanted, urn .... I wanted to submit for the record a, uh, a very powerful graphic that has been around for many months, uh, put together by Food and Water Watch, which essentially lists all 39 of the largest banks in the world, uh, funding the Dakota Access Pipeline and its parent companies, um, at a ... at a, to the tune of something like $5.2 billion. Um, so yet we've heard a lot about Wells Fargo. There's also City Bank, uh, J.P. Morgan Chase, Barclays, Credit Suisse, uh, Morgan Stanley, um, banks of, uh, Japan, Italy, France, England, Germany — they all want this pipeline to go through Iowa and they all want to take our land from farmers, without their consent. Urn... and they want this oil. This is, this pipeline is .... is one of the major steps to the death of life on this planet. So we must divest and we must encourage other governments to divest in our local area. Um .... and, I mean, I expect to live for another 65 years, and I know that ... that it is going to be....it is 75 degrees in Iowa City in February. That is wrong! That is very wrong! And if this is going to happen for the rest of my life, there are massive species extinctions that will come about. We will not be able to farm in this state. We will have food crisis, water crisis. This pipeline will hurt millions of people. So I will submit a copy of this to the record, if I may, and um, I'd like to distribute it to anybody else here who wants it. So ... thank you! (applause) Throgmorton: Thank you, Matthew. Voparil: Motion to accept correspondence. Botchway: So moved. Mims: Second. ITEM 3f(11) Erich Schmidt: Message from Iowa State Building Trades/City Council Request for Feb 21" This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 10 Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Does any... anybody else want to address that specific topic? Okay, so we'll move on to Item 3f(11), which is a .... a request that came to us in a letter. It's from the Building Trades Council and ... we had a discussion about it during our work session and it's my understanding that the request is .... very explicit. The request is that we, as a Council, instruct our staff I guess .... that the City, urn .... uh.... indicate or try.....try to persuade the Metro Coalition, which we are a part of, to ... change its position with regard to a specific piece of legislation that's in the State legislature at the moment. Uh, we .... I don't think we need to go into detail about that legislation at the moment, but the .... the request is that we urge our ... the Metro Coalition to change its position from being in favor of the legislation to being neutral on the legislation. Am I correct, that that's the narrow topic before us. I see Bill nodding his head out there, so ... okay. So, and we learned a lot about this during our work session. I don't think we want to re- process that unless we have to. Okay. So, do ... you folks have, uh, a view about whether we should instruct our staff to ask the Metro Coalition to become neutral on that bill? Pauline, you're saying yes? (several talking) Botchway: Yes, I would be supportive as well. (several talking) Throgmorton: Okay. Yeah (unable to hear person speaking away from mic) Sure, yeah .... yeah (several talking) Oh, you want Geoff (several talking) All right, there's a request here, Geoff. Fruin: I didn't hear the request, sorry! Botchway: Sorry! Could you just give a short synopsis of, I mean there's maybe some people that don't know (both talking) Fruin: Sure, um.... Throgmorton: As concise as you can get! (laughs) Fruin: The proposed legislation, uh, is .... is commonly referred to as "swap" legislation and essentially it ... it, uh, changes the way federal dollars are distributed in the state. Currently federal transportation dollars, um, are provided to the State, who then divvies them up to local governments, who spend those on .... on local projects. Uh, when you, um, pursue those local all those federal rules come with those funds. What the proposed legislation looks to do is to, uh, change the way that those funds are used in the state of Iowa, so the State would keep all the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page I I federal funds and put them towards fewer projects in the state, basically consolidate, uh, the federal dollars to fewer projects, um, and replace the funds that that .... the federal funds that cities were getting with State dollars. So they're swapping federal dollars for State dollars, um, and uh, it would be a dollar -for - dollar swap under the, uh, proposed legislation. Throgmorton: Okay! Thank you. So, I ... I guess I want to say one thing about this. I think this is an instance, in my judgment.... speaking as one person, where we need to stand with our construction workers and stand with the union that is representing them because they too are under assault. That's my own personal view, so ... it's one of the reasons I'm going to vote the way I'm going to vote. Okay, so the ... now we just need to do the whole thing, right? The Consent Calendar? Yeah. Okay. So we have a motion on the floor to, uh, it's already been done, right, the motion to approve, as amended. So ... discussion .... anybody else want to say anything? I guess not. Roll call. Motion carries 7-0. Thank you! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 12 ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL 8 PM] Throgmorton: This pertains to ... any, uh, topic that's not on our formal meeting agenda. If you want to address any such topic, uh, you .... please feel free to speak to us now. I'd like to ask you to, when you come up to the podium, to state your name, write it down on the sheet of paper there, and keep your comments to not more than five minutes. So, does anybody want to address... Brandon, are you getting up? (laughs) I'm sorry! Does anybody want to address any topic not on the formal meeting agenda? Good evening, Adil! Adams: I would like just to follow up, um, .... from my last, uh, respond to the letter I sended to you but still I did not receive any response from you and, uh, today I just, uh, first I want to talk about, uh, the sanction they lifted from Sudan, from my people, also was unfair sanction for 27 years and President Barack Obama before he leave the office he lift this, uh, sanction (mumbled) million of children died according to this sanction and also it is unfair and uh, the same like, uh (mumbled) I hope also to the City Council to look about this, uh.... uh, ordinance and cancel it, uh, because it's discriminated. Uh, as a taxi business, for example as I said, if you didn't answer the phone, you have to go to the court and pay $585 because (mumbled) and there is no (mumbled) to pay this money, and also if you didn't bring back the sticker. It's just a small piece of plastic, like this month I pay $335 because the smallest sticker, just like when you .... (mumbled) small sticker they put on your plate (mumbled) so if the police... while you drive the police catch you, they give you ticket because you need a new sticker. The same thing like this, uh, sticker (mumbled) even if you .... you park your car at home, inside your garage, you can .... you have to pay $335. It's plastic. They want to give it back to .... (mumbled) something, there is no logic to go to court and to pay $335 and every time we go to court, we have to pay $85 fees to the court. Why we go to court? Why not pay this fine here at the ... just like parking ticket? Why the ordinance go to court and the City Attorney (mumbled) she knows the law and she make this law, as I mention last time, and this also .... unfair law or unfair regulations. And this also discrimination. If you discriminate business, we are taxi business, just like any other business. (mumbled) now they don't have, uh... color. They don't have, uh, they give them ticket because they have (mumbled) taxi business just like us. I don't want in the same place to discriminate business and let the other business do what they were because they are rich. So I want the City Council to adopt my .... my request to (mumbled) people from other taxi company and fix this mess, because I pay this month... this year almost $1,000 just fine. Every time (mumbled) I pay (mumbled) I have children, I have six children. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 13 So instead of give this money to my children, I go pay to the court. Does the City need this money? It's not fair. Instead of I ... I pay this money to my children, and then I go get my food from Crisis. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you, Adil. So (applause) Geoff, we do have a copy of a letter from Adil. Is that correct? Uh, raising these particular points? Fruin: Yeah I'd have to go back and check what we have, but I think we're pretty familiar between our office and Clerk's office and the Attorney's office (both talking) Throgmorton: If we have not responded in writing, I think we .... I think we probably should. Uh... Fruin: I think the request is to revisit the taxi ordinance itself, uh... that's (both talking) Yeah. Dilkes: We've given you the memos ... or the letters about what has happened in terms of the .... the infractions. Throgmorton: Yeah. Uh.... um, Adil, thank you for bringing up the point. We'll.... we'll see if we can find a way to address it. All right, uh... does anybody else care to speak to us about any topic that's not on the agenda? Gearhart: Bill Gearhart. Um ... 5134 Rapid Creek Road NE, Iowa City. I just want to say thank you for that, uh, vote on the road swap bill, and I just want to say that, uh, this is just the beginning of a .... of a barrage of attacks on Home Rule comin' from the State House and you really sort of maybe put a stake in the ground because there's going to be the minimum wage law comin' up that's gonna take away from Home Rule. There's gonna be some competitive bidding laws that are gonna take away from Home Rule. The voter I.D., which takes away from our County Auditor. I think you guys are in the .... in the front lines here to really say no to some of that stuff, so thank you for the action you took and .... and, uh, we're all in this fight together, so thank you. (applause) Throgmorton: Thanks, Bill. Anyone else? Good evening, Brandon! Ross: Hi, I'm Brandon Ross. Um .... Iowa City. Um .... resident. And, uh.... couple of things before I just, uh, mention something here. Uh, first of all, I heard in your State of the Union address that, uh.... that there are 15% affordable housing, uh, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 14 requirements, uh, that are being made. Um, I think that's.... that's interesting, but, uh, I ... I would like to know, is that .... I'm not great in math, but, uh, I think it leaves 85%, uh (mumbled) 85% unaffordable. Uh, right now it's very hard to afford housing for the common man is, uh, very difficult, um, whether you be a teacher or you're workin' in a library or ... you're a musician. It's almost impossible! So, I would like to encourage growth of affordable housing. Um... it's Black History Month. I would like to, uh, remember Frederick Douglass. I just read a autobiography of his and it's fantastic. And I can't help but think of a moment where he said, uh, he was .... he was in the presence of slave traders and plantation owners, and they were talking about the slaves, which ones they wanted, you know. They were dealing, you know, wheelin' and dealin,' havin' a great time! Frederick Douglass said, uh, never did a ... such a group of pirates resemble their father, the devil. Um, I can only imagine what .... what Frederick Douglass might be saying about the cabinet of the current president. Anyway, I was wondering to ask a.....a question just in re ... a rhetoric question. I was thinkin' about, uh, friends and I were thinkin' about who our favorite presidents were and I've got two — one is Abe Lincoln, uh, the Republican, uh, and the things ... some of the things that I like that he did, uh, was sign the, uh, Emancipation Proclamation, which I think was major, and uh, well .... for me to say that is even ridiculous. Uh, also the land grant colleges, he had a great respect of, uh, for education. And, uh... right in this climate I think that education is being disrespected and, uh, I want you to note, uh, that you probably already do know that the land grant colleges were free and on September, uh, 1862 the State of Iowa was the first to accept the terms of the Morrill Act, which was the Land Grant College Act, uh, provided the funding to boost, uh, needed for fledgling state agricultural college. Eventually renamed Iowa State University. Under the act, each eligible state in the union received a total of 30,000 acres of federal land, either within contiguous, uh, to its boundaries, for each member of Congress the state has its census of 1860. That was a give-away, by the government, for free education. Um ... and I would like to .... bring that forth, considering, uh.... Governor Branstad's, uh, $34 million consideration of cuts in education, which I think are.... are criminal. My second president, I would say, uh, is, uh, Franklin Roosevelt, and I just read you a little bit .... people probably know a lot of what he did. He's .... he's more contemporary, and he was talking about a second Bill of Rights. He said this: this republic has had its beginning and grew to its present strength under the protection of the certain inalienable political rights, among them the right to free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom of, uh, unreasonable searches and seizures. Uh, these are the rights of, uh, life and liberty also. He said in our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident and we have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 15 Rights, under which the new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all, regardless of station, race, or creed. And among these he wrote: the right to use and remun.... the right to a useful and remunerative job, uh, in the industries or shops of farms or mines of the nation. The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation. The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at the return which will give him and his family a decent living. The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad. The right of every family to a decent home. The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health. The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment. And finally, the right to a good education. Now I ask you.....you said tonight, Mayor, uh, Throgmorton, our first order of business is economics. Well, what kind of economics can you have if...if these things are not covered? Some people think of economics as just ... let's just get the businesses, uh, to thrive. But Adam Smith considered some ... by some the first great economist said: You have to make provision. If you don't make provision, if you don't spread the capital around, if you don't provide, you don't have an economy. Thank you very much. Throgmorton: (both talking) Thank you. Thank you, Brandon. Anyone else? Good evening. Roberts: Evening! Botchway: Before you start, Mayor, can I ask that we extend the period, uh, a .... after 8:00 P.M.? Throgmorton: Sure, yeah (several talking) Yeah, sure! Sony, go ahead. Roberts: Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Um, my name is Scott Roberts. I'm a graduate student here at the University, uh, studying urban and regional planning and masters of business administration programs. Uh, I apologize in advance if my remarks seem cad or disjointed. I did not prepare them in advance. Um, part of the reason for me coining here tonight is I recently came from a meeting taking place earlier tonight between the graduate student union, um, which is the Council of Graduate Students, COGS as it's informally known, and representatives from the nego ... negotiating board, uh, for the Board of Regents. Um, for those of you that .... I guess aren't, uh, familiar with some of the specifics, um, negotiations between these two parties have been going on for some time, um, and have been significantly impacted by, um, recent political events. The law that was signed, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 16 uh, by Governor Branstad the other day and .... there's really been a considerable devolution in the .... I would say the cordiality of the relationship between the two parties and I'm concerned about the reverberating effects that it's going to have on the University of Iowa, and consequently on the Iowa City community. Um, essentially the union's ... I wouldn't say demands, but really their position is simply continuation of the union guaranteed benefits that graduate students at the University of Iowa have enjoyed for the last 20 years, since the inception of COGS in 1996, which essentially guarantees, uh, working conditions, pay, pay increases, and specifically benefits, uh, in the form of, uh, subsidized health insurance, certain types of paid time off, and other traditional worker benefits, um, that the union has, you know, fought hard to protect over these past 20 years. Um, given the legislation, there's urn .... really been a considerable shift in leverage between the two parties and .... even though the ink is barely dry on said legislation, it's taken no time at all for the effects of that to be seen in a way that the Regents and their sort of hired negotiators have been.... have been bargaining with the, uh, you know, with the graduate student union. Um, I wouldn't say the discussions earlier tonight were heated, but there was a very tangible sense of controversy and difference of positions, and there was very much an adversarial type tone in the .... in the way the negotiations were conducted. Um, essentially it was a fruitless mediation session, um, to which now seems to be headed toward a form of binding arbitration, which, again, given the result of the legislation, is not .... does not appear to be beneficial for, you know, for the graduate students, uh, the ... hundreds or thousands, I'm not sure of the number, you know, who study and also work at this university. Um, part of the reason this is distressing is, uh, because of the effects that I believe it could have on the University and the Iowa City community at large. Um, part of the reason I myself as a non -Iowan, elected to attend this university, was because of the lucrative assistantship offer that I got, first from the urban planning program, and then.... because of the logistics, um, that I was able to transfer it to another graduate program, electing me to ... allowing me to stay here for an additional year. Um, this was an incredibly generous offer and I'm thankful for it, particularly given the cost of graduate education these day and ages, but um. .... really the ... the way the circumstances have changed is that it's essentially going to make it considerably harder for the University to recruit additional graduate students if these benefits cannot be guaranteed. Um, I'd like to emphasize to be as non -par .... non-partisan as possible that essentially the union's position is not one of demanding more, but simply a continuation of benefits that we've enjoyed over the last 20 years and that the ... that the Regents agreed to in principle several months ago, um, really before the, uh, the current landscape of legislation had taken place. Um, as a result ... and this is not simply my position, but our, uh, a reflection of a letter that was disseminated to graduate This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 17 students several weeks ago. It's going to be continually harder for the University to recruit the talented graduate students that it currently employs. Um, this is simply a result of its inability to guarantee benefits, uh, which it previously had done as a result of the contract, but given the new legislation and the new collective bargaining agreement that we appear to be headed, um, really as I said the circumstances have changed. The deck has been considerably stacked in the favor of the Board of Regents, and it's gotten to the point where not only are other graduate students being cautious of. ... essentially endorsing the University of Iowa as a desirable place to study, but also the state of Iowa at large. I personally, despite being a very invested member of the Iowa City community since moving here a year and a half ago, find myself... very cautious about recommending study here to other students, graduate students, because of the inability of State legislature to guarantee these benefits, and I simply wanted to bring this attention, you know, to .... to the body of the Council in order that you may perhaps, uh, utilize any leverage or positions of influence or relationships that you have, specifically with the Board of Regents or also with the State legislatures, um, I believe this type of, you know, communication, whether formal or informal, can certainly be more beneficial and influential than the .... very dismal luck that the graduate student union has had, attempting (both talking) Throgmorton:...hate to interrupt, but you know, you're well over five minutes (both talking) Roberts: Well, apologies. Again, this is really just an attempt to inform and make you aware of the situation and hope that you can, you know, take the necessary changes in order to benefit, not just the University, but Iowa City at large. Thank you very much. Throgmorton: Thank you, Adam. (applause) It's heartbreaking to hear. Uh, anybody else? All right, seeing no one else, uh, we'll turn to Item 5, Planning and Zoning Matters. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 18 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS ITEM 5a AMPLIFIED SOUND IN OUTDOOR SERVICE AREAS - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 4, CHAPTER 3, OUTDOOR SERVICE AREAS AND TITLE 14, ARTICLE 4D, TEMPORARY USES, TO ALLOW LIMITED USE OF AMPLIFIED BACKGROUND MUSIC FOR EATING AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS SOUTH GILBERT AND WEST RIVERFRONT SUB - DISTRICTS. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: I'm going to open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Good evening, John Yapp! Yapp: Uh, good evening, Mayor. Uh, John Yapp, Development Services. (mumbled) just coming up. Uh, the City has received a request from Big Grove Brewery, uh, to allow them to have low-volume background music in their outdoor service area. Uh, little background. Currently amplified sound is not permitted in outdoor service areas. Most of our outdoor service areas are in the downtown area, uh, where allowing amplified sound, because of their close proximity to each other, uh, would lead to a lot of overlap, uh, in the .... in the amplified sound. However, Big Grove is located on south Gilbert Street, uh, not in close proximity to any other, uh, venues currently that would have outdoor amplified sound, and the location of. ... of their outdoor service area is behind the building, uh, along Ralston Creek. Opposite Ralston Creek will be the new, uh, Riverfront Crossings Park. Uh, staff looked at other communities to see how they allow this type of, uh, background music for outdoor dining. Uh.... and proposed that similar to how we allow, uh, amplified sound in rooftop service areas, uh, background music could be allowed through a seasonal, temporary use, uh, permit, and that permit would govern the location, the design, the hours, and the volume, uh, depending on the particular circumstances, uh, of the location. In other words, it is not a one -size -fits -all. Uh, each application would be evaluated with the temporary use permit. Uh, the other, uh, benefit of a temporary use permit is that if and when there are ongoing issues with, uh, the music becoming too loud, uh, the City has the ability through, uh, through the permit or withdrawing the permit, uh, has the ability to control, uh, the permit and ask for changes. Uh, specifically the recommendation is, uh, to allow, uh.... amplified background music in the south Gilbert and west Riverfront subdistricts. These are the corridors of south Gilbert Street and south Riverside Drive. Uh, provided they are more than 300 feet from a residential zone. 100 feet from another outdoor service area. Or demonstrate This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 19 that the sound is not audible from another outdoor service area. Uh, it is limited to low-volume background music. Uh, appropriate hours will be established through the temporary use permit. Uh, may be restricted during public events, festivals, or concerts. Uh, applicant must submit a sound mitigation plan, uh, and that this is only for low-volume background music. Any live entertainment, movies, or other presentations would require a separate, uh, temporary use permit. Uh, in discussing this ... uh, code amendment .... uh, staff discussed potential issues that could come with allowing background music in a dining environment. Uh, but ultimately felt that it could add to the outdoor dining experience and.... and through the temporary use permit, we have enough ability to control, uh, any potential issues. Uh, staff recommends approval and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended unanimously approval. Be glad to take any questions (both talking) Throgmorton: Okay, uh, I ... maybe there are questions. I'd like to start with one though, uh, we just recently approved that ... the new building just south of Big Grove Brewery. Yapp: Yes. Throgmorton: So is it .... more than 300 feet away from the Big Grove Gre... Brewery? Yapp: It is not, but it is also not a residential zone. Uh, it is considered a mixed-use zone, where there will be commercial, retail, restaurant, and residential all on the same site. Throgmorton: So I assume staff discussed this, uh (both talking) Yapp: Yes. Throgmorton:... and the Commission discussed it, and ... and felt that the ambient.... music would not adversely affect the residential experience of people living in that building. Yapp: Uh, at least at the .... at the staff level of discussion, it's similar to, uh... uh, comparable to a downtown living situation. Uh, where if you live downtown, if you choose to live downtown, you accept a certain amount of noise and activity. Uh, a mixed-use zone like this is .... is similar to that. I hear some feedback in my (both talking) Throgmorton: So I think of the .... the notion of coming to the nuisance, uh, as a legal concept. So, if...if somebody's already living in an area and then some ... some new thing is This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 20 brought to it and creates all sorts of noise or whatever the "nuisance" might be, then that's a problem, but if. ... if people, if the background noise basically is already there, and then people choose to move into the ... to the residence, the, well, they're coming to the nuisance. It's not, you know, it's not the .... the initial activity's fault. So I .... I think about that. Did I get that... close enough, Eleanor? Yeah? Okay, I'm wondering about one other thing too, and then let others do what, uh, ask questions if they want. Uh, this also includes the west, um, Riverside Drive area. Yapp: Correct. Throgmorton: West Riverfront subdistrict. So, are...... are, is staff currently aware .... you don't have to identify it, but are you currently aware of any particular projects that might, uh, be directly affected by this particular ordinance change? Yapp: No, I am not. Throgmorton: All right, uh, other people? Thomas: So this is recorded music, correct, not live music. Yapp: It, uh, my understanding is that it would be, uh.... uh, satellite radio music. Uh, on little .... little speakers, out amongst the .... the tables where people are eating... eating and drinking. Throgmorton: Any other questions for John? Thank you, John. Yapp: Thank you. Throgmorton: Would anybody else like to speak to this topic? If not, I will close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE Botchway: Move the first consideration. Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 21 Mims: It was moved by Botchway. Throgmorton: (laughter and several talking) Wow, I thought (laughter and several talking) Moved by Botchway, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Mims: I'm going to be supportive of this. I ... I like the way it's structured with temporary use. There's enough flexibility for staff to address problems if they arise, um, but I think it gives the .... the locations the opportunity to enhance the ambiance of their, uh, businesses, so I'll be supportive (both talking) Dickens: That allows separate special uses if they do have live music on a .... on a limited basis that could be approved or not. So, I think it's .... it's a good compromise. Cole: Everything about Big Grove is good atmosphere, good music, so I'm confident that it will be an asset and not a nuisance. Throgmorton: Anybody else? Okay! Roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 22 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS ITEM 5b SIGN REGULATIONS IN SOUTH GILBERT SUBDISTRICT OF RFC — AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE SECTION 14 -2G -7F-9, SIGN REGULATIONS IN THE RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS FORM - BASED CODE, TO CHANGE THE SIGN ALLOWANCE FOR FASCIA SIGNS FOR COTTAGE INDUSTRIES AND ASSOCIATED USES IN THE SOUTH GILBERT SUBDISTRICT OF RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Yapp: Uh, John Yapp again, Development Services. Uh, recent changes to the sign code for downtown and Riverfront Crossings changed, uh, the signage allowance for a wall sign in commercial zones from 15% of the sign wall, uh, to 1.5 -rimes the length of the frontage. Uh, so in other words, currently the regulations allow a sign 1.5 -times the length of the frontage of the building. Uh, that, uh, sign code provision is oriented toward buildings that are set close to the street, uh, with storefront windows and there would be a sign band above the storefront windows, a very pedestrian oriented design. Uh, Big Grove Brewery, uh, is locating in a existing building. It's an adaptive reuse of the building, uh, that is set far back from the street. Uh, the brewery is considered a cottage industry, uh, because they both manufacture and sell, uh, their product on site. Uh, because the brewery is repurposing an existing building, uh, and is set back from the street, the signage standards in the code, uh, for a pedestrian oriented sign, uh, don't fit very well, uh, with their building. In all the other commercial zones outside of downtown or Riverfrom Crossings, the, uh, sign code still allows the 15% of the sign wall, uh, provision. In, uh, looking at solutions, uh, staff does recommend that, uh, in limited circumstances, uh, this type of building with this type of use and this type of situation still be allowed to have signage up to 15% of their sign wall, and I have some images to show you. Uh... it makes sense to maintain consistency with other commercial zones. Uh, for buildings that are, uh, repurposed and are not set close to the street, and not pedestrian oriented. Uh, this allows the flexibility to design signage that will create enough visual interest for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists, uh, to .... to see the building and to know what it is. Uh, since the south Gilbert subdistrict is the only area of Riverfront Crossings, uh, where this situation is likely to occur, because of its history as a quasi -industrial area, uh, staff does recommend limiting this, uh, to the south Gilbert subdistrict zone. Uh, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 23 this is an image of. ... if. .... if this code amendment passes, uh, the signage that Big Grove Brewery would have. This is not their final, uh, sign design, but it is close to what their final design will be, uh, and would include both signage and, uh, murals .... on the wall of the building. Mims: Can you go back just a second, John? Yapp: Sure! Mims: What, I mean, these are very different, so I'm assuming some of these are facing Gilbert, some are the (both talking) Yapp: That's correct. Mims: ...perpendicular to Gilbert (both talking) Yapp: That's correct. Mims: Okay. Thank you. Yapp: Uh, so the recommendation is to amend the south Gilbert subdistrict zones, uh... and you can see the language on your screen. Uh, for the south Gilbert subdistrict, the maximum size area for fascia signs for cottage indus... industries located in existing buildings, uh, that do not meet storefront frontage standards as 15% of the sign wall. So it's .... it's written in such a way that it's.... applicable to very unique circumstances. Uh, staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval. Throgmorton: Any questions for John? I don't hear any. Okay. Anybody else want to address this topic? Seeing no one I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE Mims: Move first consideration. Botchway: Move (both talking) Second! Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 24 Mims: Again, I think this is a good compromise that staff has come up with for, you know, businesses that are kind of unique and, you know, I think we didn't ever expect, uh, a lot of these buildings down there to be re -utilized. We (laughs) kind of expected development to come in and tear `em all down and do total new construction. So this I think was a surprise, um, but I think a great surprise. I think everybody's excited about it and it certainly is a huge improvement in the appearance of that building, uh, so I'm very supportive. Throgmorton: Yeah, it .... it's, the building is (mumbled). The maintenance of the building is, uh... is a surprise. I think in some ways it's regrettable that the full idea associated with the form -based code, uh, could not be accomplished, but we are where we are. So I think sign standard makes a lot of sense. So, I']1.....I'll support it as well. Mims: But those that like Big Grove are gonna be happy that they're there even if it's not fitting with .... the original design ideas (both talking) Throgmorton: I intend to test it! (several talking and laughing) Thomas: The good thing is it's an adaptive reuse (several talking) Cole: ...or preservation, sort ofl (several talking) When does it open is what I want to know! (several talking) Mims: ...when you talk about sustainability ... I mean, the most sustainable thing to do is to reuse a building, not tear one down (several talking) a brand new one, so you know when you really talk about that as .... as an important aspect of our strategic plan, it may not fit the exact form -based code idea that we had, but it certainly fits in right at the very top of the sustainability issues we've talked about, so.... Throgmorton: Can't argue with that! Okay, any further discussion? If not, roll call, please. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 25 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS ITEM 5c AMENDMENTS TO RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS FORM - BASED CODE — AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE SECTION 14 -2G -3A TO ADDRESS BUILDING AND PARKING PLACEMENT STANDARDS FOR PROPERTY AT THE CORNER OF SOUTH GILBERT STREET AND HIGHWAY 6. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Wait a minute! You were just up! (laughter) Yapp: John Yapp again (laughter) Uh, and before I start this ... this next code amendment, I would say as we get more experience with the form -based code, uh.... Mims: (laughter) ....fewer amendments? (laughs) Yapp: I was going to say more amendments! (laughter) Mims: Oh, okay! (laughs) Yapp: Uh, but this is regarding the same general area, the, uh, old Pleasant Valley property. Uh, currently the form -based code does not allow, uh, off-street parking in between a building and the street. Uh... part of the Pleasant Valley site borders on Highway 6. Uh, and ... will also have storefront frontage close to Gilbert Street, and I've got some images to show you. Uh, but to use the site more efficiently, the developer would like to, uh, have a longer storefront facade toward Highway 6, with parking, uh, in front of it. This is a view from Gilbert Street, uh, so the narrow face of the building, uh, would face Gilbert Street with the entrance and storefront, uh, windows. And then this is a view looking from Highway 6, uh, where there would be an aisle and, uh, parking in front of the building, uh, with the length of the building facing Highway 6. And then this is another view, uh, roughly from the, uh, bridge, uh, with the, uh, Iowa River Trail in the foreground, uh, looking at the building, and you also see the, uh, back of the building. Uh, because Highway 6 will never be an urban street, with on -street parking, uh, staff found this to be a reasonable, uh, request. It makes sense to allow an aisle and parking, uh, in between the building and the street in this circumstance. Uh, it is similar to an .... an allowance already made, uh, in the code in the, uh, Sturgis This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 26 Corner.... area, uh, for those properties as they redevelop. Um ... and this summarizes what I just, uh, said about, uh, similar allowance on the west side of Riverside Drive, south of Benton Street. Uh, staff recommends amending the building and park.... parking placement standards for a lot that has frontage, both on Gilbert Street and Highway 6, to allow a double -sided aisle of surface parking between the building and the Highway 6 right-of-way, uh, with the provision that the parking and drive are set back 10 -feet from Highway 6 and, uh, are screened to S-2 standards, and what S-2 is a landscaping standard in our code, uh, that.... generally a 3 -foot tall landscape screen. Uh, can block most headlights, but does not block a person's view over the landscaping. Uh, staff .... staff and Planning and Zoning Commission have recommended approval. Throgmorton: Any questions for John? Taylor: Just a quick question then. So the access to that parking that faces Highway 6 is actually off of Gilbert Street though, you would enter (both talking) Yapp: That's correct. Taylor: ....on Gilbert and the parking (both talking) Yapp: That's correct. Taylor: And then the other question deals with this S-2 standard you're talking about with the landscaping. Currently, and when Pleasant Valley was there, and had the, um, nursery on the outside, there .... there were nice plantings along Highway 6, greenery that sort of screened that. Are .... are those going to be removed and they're planning new? It was hard to see from that picture (both talking) Yapp: I can't answer that at this time (both talking) I haven't seen their landscaping plans. Fruin: I do believe the intention is to remove some of the trees (both talking) Taylor: Current trees. Fruin: ...along Highway 6 right there. They're in pretty, uh, rough shape. They've been pruned back pretty, uh.....uh, often over the years to protect `em from the utility lines, uh, so I know the, uh, Parks and Recreation Department, uh, and Zach Hall, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 27 the Forestry Superintendent, has had some conversations with the building owner about suitable, um, landscape treatment, um, along Highway 6 there. Cole: Will the first floor be residential... or commercial? On ... on this particular development. Yapp: Could be either. Cole: Could be either? Okay. Yapp: Yeah, with Riverfront Crossings, urn .... it's a very flexible zone in terms of, uh, commercial or residential, and could — over the life of the building — be one and then another and then .... and then switch back. Fruin: We expect commercial. That's what's been communicated to this point. Cole: Okay. Thomas: So we're not seeing.... you.... you mentioned, John, it's, uh.... double -sided aisle, so there'll be parking facing the building and facing Highway 6? Yapp: That's correct. That's what would be allowed. The images provided by the applicant, uh (both talking) Thomas: They don't show.... Yapp: ...spatial one (both talking) Thomas: ...one sided, yeah. Yapp: That's correct. Throgmorton: Yeah, these .... these look like the images we saw when we first approved this. Yapp: Yes. Throgmorton: Yeah, right. Any other questions for John? Thank you. Yapp: Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 28 Throgmorton: Would anybody else like to address this? Uh, I will close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE Botchway: Move first consideration. Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway and seconded by Dickens! Discussion? Mims: I'm going to support this. I think the uniqueness of this site and the length of that building parallel to Highway 6 makes it sensible that you have parking along that long side of the building, uh, one just to have enough parking spaces, but just also closer access for people who are coming in there by vehicle. Um, otherwise you've gotta do all that parking .... I don't know, between the building and Gilbert or somewhere and walk all the way to the back end of the building. So, I think with ... with Highway 6 being so separated and no entrance from there, this is workable in this case. Throgmorton: Anyone else? Thomas: Well I certainly would prefer, if -with the parking that's right up against the building there, that it be commercial on the ground floor and not residential. Um ... but, uh.... you know.... Mims: It's kinda like knowing the nuisance that's there (laughter) You know people can park there and you're gonna have an apartment and ... (both talking) Thomas: Yeah, but again (both talking) yeah there's no S-2 (laughter) so called S-2, uh, shrub layer there to ... block the, uh, the headlight effect. Um ... but, you know., Cole: To John's point, I don't know if this is directly relevant to this topic, but it doesn't seem like there's much space between the vehicle and the first floor. Um, it seems like they go right up to the building itself, but I don't know that that's directly relevant, but um.... Mims: I think you have to be careful in looking at these, that these are renderings that they (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 29 Cole: It looks like a little sliver, so hopefully there'll be a little wider, so (both talking) Dickens: ....sidewalk. Throgmorton: Okay, anything else? Taylor: I think if....,hope..... hopefully they will have some adequate plantings that add to the attractiveness of it, cause I think that it will be a very attractive addition to that comer .... and that neighborhood. Throgmorton: I agree and I would think plantings along that, uh, that bike trail, which would be for us to maintain, right? Fruin: Um .... I .... I don't know who maintains those, but .... I'm not sure. Throgmorton: That would be an amenity that I think would be desirable, but.... probably doesn't have anything to do with this particular question before us, so.... Okay, uh, any ... I don't see any other.... anybody else want to ask questions? All right. So, uh.... we have a motion on the floor. Roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 30 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS ITEM 5d VACATION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY ELLIS AVENUE — ORDINANCE VACATING ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN 332 ELLIS AND 320 ELLIS AVENUE. (VAC16-00002) (PASS & ADOPT) Mims: Move adoption. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Motion by Mims and seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Botchway: I didn't mean to sound so loud! (laughter) I apologize (several talking and laughing) Throgmorton: Um, I'm not hearing any discussion except this chatter down here on the right, so (laughter) Roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 31 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS ITEM 5e CONVEY TO ELLIS AVENUE VACATED ALLEY - RESOLUTION TO CONVEY TO ELLIS AVENUE, L.L.C. A PORTION OF VACATED ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN 320 AND 332 ELLIS AVENUE a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Now I see why you were gonna speak! (laughter) Hi, Charlie! Eastham: (clears throat) Good evening, Council, my name is Charlie Eastham, 953 Canton Street. I just wanted to ... one, this is a complimentary, uh (clears throat) comment on my part, and I just wanted to call the Council's attention to the purchase agreement. It's under Item 5e, clause number 16 labeled `Rental Assistance.' Uh, this purchase agreement, uh....uh, has ... provides that the, uh, buyer, uh, in this case the property, or I'm sorry, the vacated alley, uh, is going to provide, uh, compensation to assist with relocation of. ... current residents of this building, a full refund of the security deposits, and relocation assistance, other types of relocation assistance. Uh, this (clears throat) clause in the purchase agreement, as I understand it, came about, uh, at least it came to my attention earlier, uh, with the January l la' memo from, uh, John Yapp, Development Services Coordinator, to City Manager Geoff Frain, in which John outlined that, uh, relocation assistance, a requirement for relocation assistance would be appropriate in this transaction because the City is selling property ... uh, land, a parcel, to the developer of the building and the City could use their, uh, authority ... or their leverage under, uh, that sales agreement to require relocation assistance. I thought that was really clever! Uh (clears throat) and I really appreciate the, uh, the, uh, staff's, uh, initiative, at least as I under .... as I gather it's their initiative to ... to put this requirement for relocation assistance into this purchase agreement. I assume the City Manager, uh, I assume the City Attorney also had a hand in putting this whole package together. So I really thank them for that. Throgmorton: Thank you, Charlie. Anyone else? I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Is there a motion to approve? b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Botchway: Move the resolution. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 32 Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Thomas: Well I appreciate Charlie speaking on behalf of this, but it's, um, you know a small but a significant ex .... example of a kind of, uh, value capture I guess you might say, um ... that the City staff took advantage of. Throgmorton: Yeah. And ... and did well! Anybody else? Roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 33 ITEM 8. CURB RAMP 2017 PROJECT — RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CURB RAMP 2017 PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO POST NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) And I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Botchway: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway and seconded by Dickens. Discussion? I'm happy to see more ramps ... (laugher) ... be installed. Dickens: Don't we usually put 100,000 in our budget? And this is just a little more. Fruin: For the last couple of years we've had (several talking) Throgmorton: Happy to see it! Taylor: I was also happy to see this and ... uh, I didn't have anything to do with this, but a number of them are in my neighborhood, which'11 be .... it'll be nice to see that, cause it's in bad need of that. Throgmorton: All right! Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 34 ITEM 9. IOWA AVENUE BRIDGE & EAST BOUND BURLINGTON STREET BRIDGE OVER THE IOWA RIVER SCOUR REPAIR & MITIGATION — RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF AGREEMENT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA AVENUE BRIDGE & EAST BOUND BURLINGTON STREET BRIDGE OVER THE IOWA RIVER SCOUR REPAIR & MITIGATION PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO POST NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Is anybody from staff going to say anything that is ... needs to be said, uh, about this? Fruin: We certainly can if you have .... if you have questions or if you want us to explain what's going on here we can (both talking) Throgmorton: Probably not. But I just (laughter) I saw Jason sittin' out there (laughter and several talking) Mims: Just in case! (laughter) Throgmorton: Okay! Nobody's comin' up. I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Mims: Move the resolution. Thomas: (several talking) Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by ... Thomas (several talking) Discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 35 ITEM 10. FRAUENHOLTZ-MILLER PARK— RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF AGREEMENT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAUENHOLTZ-MILLER PARK PROJECT 2016, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO POST NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Good evening, Julie! Seydell-Johnson: Hi! Um, just gonna remind you what's in this park project. You've seen it once before. We took it out to bid once before, um, the bids came in ... in too high, so we've done some revisions. The drawing you see .... which is not up on the screen yet, um, but .... (several talking) It's the same drawing that you saw before. So the changes are, um, the colored and stamped concrete that you see in this is now an alternate on the bid, so it'll only be done if the bids come in low enough to include the alternate. The berms that you see on both sides, um, have been flattened out, so there'll be considerably less grading of the site, which will save some money. And we will prepare the site for both shelters; however, we will only install the one that's, um, on the west side ... to begin with and would look to do the second one probably with our own staff later on, and we've also pulled out a number of the site furnishings — the picnic tables, benches, those types of things. We plan to put those in still, but they would come, um, through our own staff, rather than, um, as part of the construction project. Throgmorton: Okay! Any questions for Julie? Thank you. Anyone else want to address this topic? Seeing no one I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Dickens: Move the resolution. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Dickens: I did talk to a young couple that was in the .... that area over the weekend and they are very excited about the potential of it being there. Their kids were running all This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 36 over and they said we really need a park for them to play in. They did go to the meetings. The, uh, public meeting. I believe there was over 60 people that attended that, so ... it shows that there is a lot of interest in this area. I just hope the bids come back and ... this gets done! Throgmorton: Anyone else? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 37 ITEM 11. ABANDONED BICYCLES - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, ENTITLED "MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC," CHAPTER 8, ENTITLED "BICYCLES," SECTION 6, ENTITLED "PARKING VIOLATIONS," SUBSECTION B, ENTITLED "OWNER PRIMA FACIE RESPONSIBLE FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS" TO ALLOW THE CITY TO DONATE ABANDONED BICYCLES TO LOW INCOME YOUTH. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Mims: Move first consideration. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Simon! Andrew: Hi! Simon Andrew, Assistant to the City Manager. Um, this is an item that's been on your agenda, delayed a couple of times, to make sure that we got all our ducks in a row in conversations with the Bike Library, making sure that they were supportive of this. Uh, Officer Schwent met with them recently, uh, a couple board members and their staff and they are fully onboard with this. They .... they like the program we're moving forward with. Um, in brief, it allows us to hold back a .... a small number of bicycles, um, for, uh, this outreach program that the Police Department would like to do. Uh, currently code allows us to either, uh, donate confiscated bicycles to a non-profit or to auction them off, and currently we, uh, donate all of them to the Bike Library. Um, we didn't want to put the burden on them of refurbishing the bikes that we would be using for this outreach program for youth, um, so we just, uh, decided that it would be best if we were able to hold some back, uh, initially and then we would still plan on donating the rest of them to the Bike Library. Throgmorton: And it's okay with the folks down there, right? Andrew: Yep, absolutely! Throgmorton: Terrific. I know they were worried for a bit. Andrew: Yeah, I think that they .... just didn't understand the motives behind it and once the ... we were all in the same room and had the conversation it became clear and, um, I think that they were fully supportive after that. Throgmorton: Excellent. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 38 Mims: Good! Cole: Will we help refurbish, with the cost or anything like that or (both talking) Andrew: Um, Officer Schwent has lined up, um, and I don't remember, uh, who the person was that was going to do the work, I'm sorry, off the top of my head, but uh, the... we would pay for the, uh, the parts and that they would donate the labor to refurbish them, so ... we'll be buying, you know, lights and helmets, things of that nature, but they'll be, uh, donating the labor to refurbish them. Throgmorton: Great. Andrew: Yeah, it's a great program (both talking) Throgmorton: Great collaboration. (several talking) Thanks, Simon. So, any discussion? Cole: Great idea and great project, great work, great collaboration. Throgmorton: Can I quote ya? (laughter) Roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 39 ITEM 12. ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE - RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE OF UNPAID MOWING, CLEAN-UP OF PROPERTY, SNOW REMOVAL, SIDEWALK REPAIR, AND STOP BOX REPAIR CHARGES AND DIRECTING THE CLERK TO CERTIFY THE SAME TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY TREASURER FOR COLLECTION IN THE SAME MANNER AS PROPERTY TAXES Mims: Move the resolution. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Is there anyone here who would like to address this particular issue because of, you know, somethin' directed toward them? Dickens: We did have that one gentleman last meeting. I don't know if. ... did that get resolved or ... did we hear anything? Fruin: Urn .... Stan Laverman with our Neighborhood and Development Services Department is here. Stan, did you or staff have conversations with the property owner? Laverman: We've had conversations with him, so, um, we prepared the memo, uh, for your consideration. Dilkes: I think it was made clear to him at the last meeting that ... this is what would happen (both talking) Throgmorton: .... seem to me, yeah. Dilkes: ...or not come. Yeah. Throgmorton: Okay, thanks, Stan. All right. Discussion? Taylor: Well I think it seemed to be like there was a misunderstanding in, uh, him versus his tenant's responsibility of making sure that it was cleared, and I think you included in there that, um, according to the City, the landlord is ultimately, or owner of the property, is ultimately responsible to make sure that it gets cleared, so I think that kind of maybe cleared it up for him. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 40 Throgmorton: I think so too. Okay, roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 41 ITEM 13. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. Applicants MUST reside in Iowa City and be 18 years of age unless specific qualifications are stated: ITEM 13e Parks and Recreation Commission — One vacancy to fill an unexpired term, Upon appointment - January 1, 2018. (Paul Roesler resigned) Throgmorton: Shall we discuss that? Folks, do you have recommendations? I'm gonna say Vera Roe Smith is what I'm gonna say, but.... Botchway: I was gonna say Ben Russell. Mims: I was going to say Lindsey Evans. (laughter and several talking) Throgmorton: Well I ... let me, let me explain why I suggest Vera Roe Smith .... Vero Roe Smith. She's applied for several commissions for many, many months, and I think she's applied for these two commissions. (several talking) Yeah, and ... it seems to me she's most .... best suited for this particular commission and could really make a major contribution to the Parks and Recreation Commission. That's my sense, but the rest of you have other ideas. Botchway: I'll briefly explain mine. Um, Ben Russell, um, provides a diverse element to the commission. Um, I think he labeled under his demographics Asian. Um, one of the other things that I think was, um, pretty clear from my, uh, reading of his was just the fact that he's home-grown, um, he went to Regina, uh, he's trying to give back and kind of. ... gets back to the element of as far as, you know, we kind of talk about, or at least I know I talk about on a consistent basis that we want more young people to participate in our commissions. Um, we want people to step up and, um, and be a part of it, and also add to that diversity, and so ... that's why I picked him. Mims: I .... I agree with the diversity part, but I ... I mean age wise I think there's a number of others that actually are considerably younger than he is. The thing I liked about Lindsey was she talked about how she had actually visited all the parks in the last year and was doing like a blog or a ... a thing, kind of helping people understand and how to utilize the parks for other families and stuff, and so it would seem to me that in terms of really going out and utilizing and visiting the parks and kind of understanding what we have and what we don't have, it seemed to me that she was the strongest in that regard. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 42 Taylor: I .... I heard what she said as far as that, and I thought that was rather interesting. You don't find many people that would do that, but I thought that, uh, there's more to that Parks and Recreation than just the parks. It kinda sounded as though she was focusing on the parks and what I liked about Angie, um, Smith was that she talked about, um, the disabilities and .... and our ... our Council have talked about that as far as accessibility, uh, in ... in our Parks and Recreation facilities and I thought, uh, she would add a nice touch on the commission as far as that aspect. Thomas: Yeah, I ... I also (several talking and laughing) No, that's, um, certainly, um, popped out in my consideration of Angie as well. (clears throat) Cole: (mumbled) any strong feelings. Throgmorton: All right. The .... the vote right now is 2-1-1-1-2 undecided. (several talking and laughing) Cole: ...Supreme Court split! (laughter) Dickens: I'm a Ben Russell. (several talking) Throgmorton: That makes it 2-2-1-1-1. Cole: Ben Russell, I'll go with Ben. I'm persuaded by Kingsley's trenchant analysis. Throgmorton: Yeah, I'd be more inclined to go with, uh, Lindsey Evans. I mean I ... I think very, I think Vero Roe Smith would be terrific! Given her background! Thomas: Well I was interested in Vero for the .... Public Art Advisory Committee, which is the other.... Throgmorton: All right! Well let's take her off, uh, the list of possible people here for this particular commission, uh, which leaves us with, what, uh, three people so far who said ... I'm .... I'm in Angie Smith is what I .... said what I did, not Lindsey Evans. So ... sorry. Angie Smith is who I intended to support, but that's... that's three for Angie Smith and I think, what, one (several talking) uh, for, uh, Ben Russell. So .... (several talking and laughing) Mims: I've ... I've gotta go back and look at these again, cause I hadn't looked at `em (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 43 Botchway: While you're doing that, Susan, I just want to briefly state again that, you know, home-grown (laughter) Mims: You know what, I'm goin' with Angie! (laughter) Taylor: Thank you, Susan! ITEM 13f Public Art Advisory Committee — One vacancy to fill a three-year term, January 1, 2017 — January 1, 2020. (Term expires for Brent Westpahl) Throgmorton: Okay! So Angie Smith is the decision. (several talking and. laughing) All right, we al .... we also have three applicants to fill a three-year term on the Public Art Advisory Committee. So, um, Erin Fitzgerald, Samantha Mitchell, and Vero Roe Smith. You know, again, I think very highly of Vero Roe Smith. Botchway: I say Erin Fitzgerald. Mims: She came highly recommended (both talking) I think all of them had great credentials! I mean that's (several talking) Thomas: I would say the same for the Parks Commission. I really appreciate, um ... the interest on the part of all the applicants. Mims: Unlike the Senior Center! (laughter) Thomas: We have to .... we have to talk to someone (several talking) Mims: No, I ... I just want to reiterate what John just said. I think it's great that this is a hard decision. I mean it means that, you know, to come up here and have like four of us say a different name says that we've got some really well qualified people who have a real strong interest and that, I think, is fantastic, so .... I can't ... we can't pick `em all but I think that's really good, so .... I .... I would go with Erin Fitzgerald. I just....I thought she came with some good recommendations from people that I respect who've worked with her and ... and again, all of them had very good credentials. Dickens: I'll go with Erin. Throgmorton: So is ... that's two, was there three? (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 44 Cole: I'll go with Vero, Jim. Throgmorton: You'll go for her as well? Okay, well that settles that. So Erin Fitzgerald. Thomas: I was.....I was a Vero supporter but .... there are four for (both talking) Throgmorton: I counted four (several talking) Susan, uh, Rockne, Terry, and Kingsley. Thomas: Okay. ITEM 13g Senior Center Commission — Two vacancies to fill three-year terms, January 1, 2017 — December 31, 2020. (Term expires for Jack R. Hobbs and Jay Honohan) Tbrogmorton: Okay, uh, now we get to your.... your commission. Senior Center, one applicant to fill two three-year terms. The one applicant is Jay Honohan. Um... Mims: I have not changed my position. Throgmorton: I haven't either. Mims: I appreciate all the years and time and effort that Jay put in but I really think it's time for.... some.... different perspectives, new blood to that, and so.... Dickens: I'm gonna support him running again. He's .... he keeps applying. He wants to do it. We need to fill some positions here. I think it's.... Cole: Yeah, that's what I was going to say. (both talking) Dickens: ....leave it open this long. I think it...it hurts the Senior Center. Cole: That's sort of what I would say, is like I hear the point that we want to get new people, but I think people have had the opportunity to apply, and .... and he's done a good job and we've all recognized the value of his service. And he's persistent. So (laughter) Taylor: Yeah, he's had an excellent (several talking) Cole: ...he's done a good job too! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 45 Taylor: (both talking) ...attendance record..... Cole: ....bunch of applicants then I probably would not support him cause you want to turn that over, but we just don't have that! Botchway: Well I mean this is where I have somewhat of an issue because, um ... you know, I don't necessarily know that I've advertised this particular commission position that much. Um, frankly I keep going back and forth because I know that sometimes the Senior Center says that it, uh, supportive of all ages but then I'm .... then I ... then at times when we're hearing the presentation is not supportive of all ages, not in a negative way but just that it's... specifically focused on Senior Center when they talk, but then I know that there's multiple initiatives that, um, are kind of advertised to a wide range of people, and so I'm not sayin' that Jay's nota good person. I'm just sayin' that, you know .... can we give me another however many weeks to .... to drum up some interest in this particular position? I would ... I would have hoped that the Senior Center Commission, just by some of the (mumbled) that they've talked about this particular issue would have .... would have gone out, but obviously we're not seeing that. Cole: Uh huh! Botchway: I'm not saying anything bad about Jay. I mean I used to work .... I used to work for Jay, and so I .... I feel really weird every time his name comes up (laughs) but I do think that it's, uh, it's one of those situations where I really feel like we just need to see somebody else in the role. Honestly. Thomas: When is the next, uh, opening? Do we know? Throgmorton: Well, there are two openings (both talking) Thomas: Oh, there are two (both talking) Throgmorton:.... right now (several talking) We have one applicant. This is a problem, seems to me, and you know, members of the commission, if they really care about the Senior Center.... Mims: Should be recruiting. Throgmorton: ... showin' up! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 46 Taylor: Well they must want him to continue (several talking) Throgmorton: Uh, okay, so I'm not gonna support Jay tonight, but it seems to me if we go another month, maybe we will, but that still means we'd have one vacancy, you know, so.... Dickens: ...leavin' it open for.... Cole: How actively are they getting the word out on that, because it does strike me that that should be .... a letter should be sent, either from Geoff or.... Throgmorton: I can tell ya, I've contacted Linda Kopping.... Cole: Okay. Throgmorton: .... intend to talk with her about it and .... just to get her sense of situation (both talking) Cole: ...it's a great position, great facility. We should .... we should have more people applying. Mims: I .... I find it surprising given how .... you know, how vocal people were a year, year and a half, two years ago when we were .... had our ad hoc committee and looking at senior issues in the community, and people immediately thought what we were trying to do was close the Senior Center, which is not what we were talking about. It was, you now, what are all the issues and how can we most efficiently and economically address those issues. I mean, they were out in droves, and .... I find it really disappointing that now when we've got two openings that we can't seem to drum up any interest in serving on that commission. Fruin: I ... I would say when it comes to the Senior Center, and staff can certainly help try to, um .... uh.....drum up some interest in the position, but the Senior Center has a number of, uh, operating committees, uh, steering committees on different issues. They're currently a big .... there's a big focus on fundraising, so a number of their members are .... are focused on that, and then of course the Senior Center thrives on volunteer service, and that volunteer service manifests in a lot of different ways so ... um, I wouldn't.....I wouldn't mistake lack of interest in this for lack of passion for the Senior Center and (several talking) There's just a lot of ways that This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 47 folks are engaged and that may be more in tune with their personal interests than a policy, uh, commission like the Senior Center Commission. Cole: But to your point, Geoff, I think in terms of donors, I mean, they're looking at a full board, I mean, in terms of commitment. So ... I think that's something we need to .... move on. Throgmorton: Okay! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 48 ITEM 16. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION Throgmorton: Why don't we start with Kingsley. Botchway: I'll be (both talking) Throgmorton: .... that way and back around. Botchway: Got a couple laundry list items I'm gonna run through. (mumbled) I do have KX... KXIC tomorrow. I don't know why I didn't remember that, so thank you (laughs) checked my schedule. Mims: It's Jay's last day! You better not miss! (laughter) I was thinking we should all show up! (laughter) We should! (both talking) Botchway: We should! But I mean .... (several talking and laughing) Throgmorton: So if we took some donuts and coffee, we could do it. Dilkes: And talked about the weather. (several talking and laughing) Botchway: All right, well, um, I just want to say happy birthday to my son. He's three -years - old today (several talking) really excited. Um, this, uh, Saturday, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, uh, Bowl -for -Kids Sake. Um, I'm really excited about participating in that. Um, bowled really well last time. Just want to talk about kind of some events — the Hasan Minhaj, a concert happening this Saturday, um, from the Englert. Just really supportive of all their efforts. Uh, the University of Iowa Black and Business Networking function that I'm a part of, just really supportive of the Unit ... the University and their efforts to continually, uh, focus on diversity. One Book, Two Book Festival is this weekend. I'm participating in the 'Write out Loud' event. Crisis Center pancake breakfast is actually two Saturdays from now. I'm obviously participating in that! Um, and then I just will get quickly serious about, kind of what was alluded to somewhat briefly in Community Comment, uh, about the attack on education. I think that people look at it from a .... a dollars and cents perspective, but it does have an overall effect from a diversity perspective. Um, a lot of people come to the University of Iowa, um, a lot of people come to, um, this particular, um city .... I, myself included, um, because of the elements around education. Um, this is not a good path, and I don't necessarily know .... I mean obviously this is a serious issue and I know people have been protesting and speaking out about it, but it is a huge issue, um, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 49 moving forward as we talk about Iowa City in its own bubble, and wanting to continue that vibe of progressive Iowa City that we have. So, I ... I know every one of you feels some type of way about it, so I'm not necessarily speaking out to Council, but just the public at large, um, this is a ... a serious issue, and if there's, uh, ever a time to be more engaged, um, not only obviously at the State level, but the local level as well, I think now is the time because I ... frankly I'm worried, because I know that I've had conversations with other states recently, whether it be other school districts. Really other school districts, and you know, I wouldn't say it's a joke, but it's just been interesting hearing some of the commentary around the fact that other people are gonna be benefiting off the fact that folks are going to go to, uh, Minnesota or some other places because of our.... basically attack, for lack of a better word cause I don't think it was prefaced in anybody's campaign, um, for many different constit.... er, any different elected official. So ... I just want to say that briefly! Thanks! Dickens: All right, I'll move on since we just talked about the Senior Center, uh.... there is a lecture coming up, uh, `Becoming a More Age Friendly Community.' It'll be March 90' from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Senior Center. Uh, I did meet with a....a new group that's been forming for the last couple years called TRAIL, which kind of follows the village to village idea that, uh, to help aging people stay in their homes longer, and uh.... I know they're gonna have a big kickoff coming up in April. I know there was an event the other night that they .... they did some ... some talking to people, but it's, uh, something to look .... look forward to in the ... the near future. Cole: I guess maybe a comment first and then I'll get to a specific event. I think in light of all the sort of political events, both at the State and the federal level, I think we're really going to need to think about as a Council sending more formal communications on behalf of Council to our sister entities, um, whether it be the Board of Regents, whether it be the Governor of the State of Iowa. I think we're really going to have to speak with one voice, and I think even the issue we saw with labor, just think about that. Moving from four to even neutral was considered a significant political act. So I think going forward I think we're all going to really have to keep our sort of ear to the ground. Um, that was not a particular issue that I was even aware of, um, so I think we're all gonna have to reach out and be very collaborative with them. Um .... so that's said. In terms of events I too will be at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, March 4`", for the Crisis Center. Um, if none of you have ever been to that, it's a fabulous event. You have people from all walks of life coming. Um, I like to talk when I'm there, so I'm gonna be handing out pancakes and sausages with Lisa Green -Douglas, so This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 50 I'm sure I'll have a lot of good conversations, and really looking forward to that event. And it's sort of way off into the future, but I do want people to note that the food truck opening event will be March 31" at the Robert A. Lee Center. Uh, 10:00, um, I'm really looking forward to that first event, and I'm probably going to eat way too much, but .... um.....I think it's P.M. is their first kickoff, yeah. That's all! Throgmorton: Pauline! Taylor: I too am going to be serving pancakes at the Crisis Center, uh, along with Kingsley at 11:00, I believe, same timeframe, so ... that's gonna be fun (several talking) That's all I have! Thomas: Yeah, I .... I would just reiterate Kingsley's emphasis on education, and just add to that, you know, coming from the west coast and looking at Iowa, I had always been impressed with the emphasis Iowa gave on public education. You know, it's on the quarter, single -room schoolhouse. It's embedded in the ... the image of Iowa, it was for me, and so it's been ... um ... it's very troubling. I don't know how else to put it, that, uh, this is taking place. Um .... and then locally I think the ... the question of local control, you know, we are seeing multiple attacks on local control, and uh.... so, in .... in addition to trying to address those issues as best we can, it....it just brings to my mind the .... how critical it is we remain unified as a community, uh, through those attacks. Mims: Yeah, I would just piggyback on that a little bit from the standpoint I ... I think as we look at what's happened in the last, you know, few months and few weeks, um, nationally and statewide, it's important I think more than ever maybe, at least for a long time in this country, for people to ... really inform themselves on the various issues, um, and where their passions lie, and to really get actively involved, um, at, you know, whatever, you know, whatever is their most, you know, passionate issue, um, or multiple issues, and find, um, ways to get involved and try to influence, um, policies at all levels, because I think that's critical in terms of the future of...you know, our local, uh, life, you know, state policy, federal policy, uh, it's just really important. So .... strongly encourage that, um ... and I guess that's it. Thank you! Throgmorton: Yeah. So I have just a few things. I .... I had a really excellent meeting with Kim Casko, the new Director of Chamber of Commerce, and enjoyed attending the Chamber's annual meeting. I also really enjoyed attending City Feds annual chili supper. Enjoyed attending the Fire Department's promotion and badging This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017. Page 51 ceremony here. Susan was there as well. Here as well ... on February, whatever it was, the 17'h. And, I also want y'all to know that, uh.... Jessica Peckover and I... had an excellent meeting with some officials at the V.A. Hospital about the possible access center. Uh, I really sensed an opportunity there. Some real interest on the part of V.A. officials about how they.....would like to contribute, be collaborators on this, and so they're.... somebody from V.A. Hospital's gonna be a member of the steering committee that Jessica's been assembling. So, you know, there's no guarantee whatsoever, and they're.... they've got their own, they have their own rules to follow, so .... and maybe things won't match perfectly and they can't do it, but .... they definitely are interested, and I was really happy to be able to participate in that meeting. Beyond that, you know, with regard to the State legislation and national stuff, uh, there's been so much coming our way, and not just us, you know, but people all over the country. Uh, that, uh, I ... I for one have found it very difficult to respond to effectively. Uh, what does that mean? It means simply responding, because things have come so quickly to us and there's, you know, there'll be more legislation enacted this week and, who knows, well and we .... we have an idea of what it will be, but, you know, stuff 11 get passed. Uh... but it's really hard to see how anything we do can be effective at altering the legislation that's being considered, or the.... especially executive orders that are being considered. So it seems to me the best, most effective thing we can do is do our jobs absolutely the best we can do them, and .... enable our, the residents of our city to know that we stand with them, that we are pretty much unified about important stuff, uh, and that, urn .... we're building the ground work for, um, a turnaround, cause I .... I'll speak for myself. I think it's what's happening right now is an absolute disaster, nationally and in our state. Absolute disaster! But things are gonna unfold. Legislation will be enacted. Executive orders will be issued and we'll have to adapt. But there we are. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of February 21, 2017.