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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-07 TranscriptionPage I ITEM 2. PROCLAMATION ITEM 2a Special Olympics Month — March Throgmorton: I have a proclamation to reading, concerning Special Olympics. So let me read the proclamation and then I'm sure you can .... accept it. (reads proclamation) Rossi: Thank you very much, Mayor. Um, I would like you all to know that in 1968, uh, Eunice Shriver Kennedy was the one who originated Special Olympics. Now Special Olympics is throughout the world and the State of Iowa serves over 13,000 athletes. Here to accept the proclamation tonight is Brian Bates, who is an athlete, a coach, and a former board member. Tracy Long is an athlete, a global messenger, and a ... now a member of the Board of Directors for Special Olympics. Excuse me, Brian also is a global messenger. Some of our upcoming events, we are having the Mid -Winter Tournament this weekend at the Fieldhouse, City High, and West High. Um, please come and watch. We will have over 1,000 athletes here. We will have a banquet for them on Friday night. Urn ... we also have our Polar Plunge coming March 25th. If any of you would like to join us you're more than welcome! We're out at the Reservoir, and then our last fund... fundraising event is June 27th at Brown Deer Golf Course. Through all of our fundraising efforts, we are able to provide overnight stays for all of the athletes who come and participate at the Mid -Winter Tournament here in our city. We are the only venue to do that, and we're very proud of that. Thank you very much for making this once again Special Olympics Month! Throgmorton: All right! (applause) (several talking in background) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 2 ITEM 3. STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS ITEM 3a Mann Elementary School Throgmorton: And we have two students from Horace Mann Elementary — Alma Coronado - Castillo and Mara Maas. Could y'all come up, please? (mumbled) Okay! So .... Alma, right? So ... each of you brought a written statement, right? Yeah, okay. Maybe you could start by reading your statement, Alma, and then, Mara, you could read yours, and then at the end of that I'll read the .... the, um, the award statement for ya.... each of ya, okay? All right, so Alma, you're first! Coronado -Castillo: Hello, my name is Alma Coronado -Castillo and I am a sixth grader at Horace Mann. I am in Mr. Kemp's class. My favorite subjects are art, math, and PE. I enjoy helping others. At Horace Mann I've been involved in student council. At home I he .... I help my mother take care of my two younger sisters. My youngest sister is only 11 -months -old. I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me through good and bad times. I also want to thank my classmates and teachers for voting for me, and thank you to the Iowa City City Council for giving me this opportunity. (applause) Throgmorton: Well done! So you have a terrific teacher back there, Mr. Kemp from, uh, also Mayor of Hills, last I knew, so (laughs) It's great to see you, and Horace Mann's such a good school. My .... I think I told both of ya out front that my daughter Zoe went through Horace Mann ... what, probably eight or nine years maybe, so, uh, it's a terrific school and I'm glad you're doin' great there! Mara! I know your .... your mom and dad are out here. There's the dad. Oh, there's the mom. (laughter) Okay. So, your tum! Maas: Hello, my name is Mara Maas. Over these past few years in school, I have been involved in safety patrol, student council, chess club, book club, environmental club, (can't hear), Chinese -English class, and Lego robotics. Outside of school I've been involved in the Iowa City Soccer Club, known also as ISC, and I play the harp! I would like to thank my family, class, and the Iowa City Council for recognizing kids. (applause) Throgmorton: Good job! All right, I think I see your mom down here. Am I right? Yeah! Is that ... is that your sister? All right! You're very proud of her I bet! I know Liz and .... Mr. Liz (laughter) is very proud too. Sorry! I can't remember your name. I know Liz! Okay, so let me read the announcements. Or .... the awards. It's exactly the same award, but just has your name on this one and Mara's on the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 3 other one, okay? (reads Student Leadership Award) So that's yours, Alma, and Mara, your's is exactly the same, but it has your name on it, okay? Okay, so please join me in celebrating our terrific students from Horace Mann Elementary! All right! (applause) (mumbled) ...proud parents! Okay. It's always so much fun to do that! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 4 ITEM 5. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL 8 PMJ Throgmorton: For any, uh, if anybody would like to address us about any topic that's not on the formal meeting agenda, please feel free to come up to the podium and .... tell us what's on your mind and I'd like to ask ya to state your name before you speak and please keep your comments to not more than five minutes. Hi, Terri! Byers: Hello! (mumbled) ...take me five minutes to write! Okay, um, I'm Terri Byers and I as of April 19a' I will be a 30 -year City employee with the City of Iowa City. (applause) Throgmorton: All right! Byers: I am also President of AFSCME Local 183, and I want to thank you for your letter of last month, and during all of our hub -bub in Des Moines. I also want to thank the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager Simon, for meeting with the Executive Board of AFSCME recently and we ironed out a few things about informing our employees. Um, some people thought that the changes were immediate, that we didn't have a contract anymore, and Mr. Fruin wrote a really nice letter in the employee newsletter about what's going on and how supportive the City is of all of our workers. But I want to .... I'm here tonight cause I want to take that a step further, and you may have heard of what Sioux City did, and Sioux City did a resolution of support for their collective bargaining units, and I don't think I'd be out of line to say this .... this would include the Police and the Fire too, because they're our brothers and sisters too, and .... what I would like you, and maybe in a work session .... in the near future, to talk about is maybe having a .... a resolution of support for our bargaining unit. Um, we're set for the next three and a half years. Our contract is in place, um, there aren't going to be any changes, but.... eventually there will be changes, and unless we .... we have two election cycles and three lawsuits, so there may be some.... some (both talking) Throgmorton/ Ya never know! Byers: You never know! And my fear is that the dup... diplomatic corps will find out what the Governor's really like and reject him, but (laughter) that's.... that's an aside! But anyway, um, I would like you to look at the Sioux City resolution and .... Eleanor will probably have to look at the legalities and .... and all of that, about doing a resolution, but I would like to see the City Council do a formal This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 5 resolution of support for our employees, and, again, thank you for the letter. Thank you, Geoff, for everything that you've done, urn .... we have an open dialogue. We are happy to talk to all of you about anything that's going on with the union and what we're finding out, um, right now we're all kind of in limbo because, you know, there's like the other shoe's gonna drop when we find out about IPERS next year. Throgmorton: Right! Byers: But... anyway, but thank you very much. Throgmorton: Thank you, Terri. Can you send us a copy of that resolution or do you have one? Byers: (both talking) ...right here! (several talking) Throgmorton: ...give it to the City Clerk, please? Or to our City Attorney. Thank you. I'm really happy that we were able to extend the contract. Yeah. Roger, we haven't seen you for a while. How ya doin'? Knight: Oh not too bad. Yourself? Throgmorton: I have a cold! (laughter) Knight: Been there! (laughter) So sorry if, uh.... (mumbled) (several talking and laughing) That's good! (mumbled) Throgmorton: He's experienced with it! Knight: (mumbled) Um .... I just wanted to .... urn .... come on and mention about the idea for .... uh, the night mayor. Throgmorton: No, it's nighttime mayor! I thought about that a lot. You know, it....it, naming somebody the `night mayor' (laughter) is pretty scary (laughter) so.... Knight: I understand! You know my last name, so I understand! (laughs) Urn .... no, but as of right now the downtown in the evening time has got a lot of issues with policing, and to bring in someone who is a nighttime mayor should know what the problems are. I've seen police officers drive by problems and not police the city. These are very serious issues .... that lead on to other things not being allowed. Or um, being allowed that shouldn't be! Public urination, uh, public nudity, and we This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 6 can go on from there for the list. I'm not here to tear down this city. I love this city. That's why I'm here! There's a lot of serious issues that need to be looked at first, before let's even think about making evening to nighttime events. Like security for the city. I've seen someone who was in a, you know, just usin' a walker, fell because his legs gave out. A cop drove right by, didn't even stop, because ... I don't know what he was doing! But .... that's not service to the city when your own police force is doin' somethin' like that. I think this City Council a lot of times goes into this move on an action, and then they don't think about the consequences. The, uh, new .... half or whatever of Washington Street looks good. But then it was, oh, what about parking? We kinda limited that. Just the quick move and you're not thinkin' it all through. So I would like to hope that ... the City Council can take a step back a lot of times and just make sure this is what's best for the city. There's a lot of issues that need help, and .... a lot of times I think I'm speaking to a brick wall .... on issues that need to be done. And ... I just kinda get to the point of. ... why waste my breath. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you, Roger. Uh, just as a point of clarification, uh, and please tell me if I'm wrong, Geoff, or anybody else, uh.... this nighttime mayor was not hired by the City of Iowa City. The nighttime mayor is hired by the Downtown District. Yeah. Anyone else? All right, I don' t see anyone else, so we'll turn to Item 6, Planning and Zoning Matters. Item 6a (both talking) What? Mims: Did we have, uh, correspondence that we need to move on? For what Tem gave us or not? Throgmorton: Oh, the resolution? (several talking) Botchway: Motion to accept correspondence. Mims: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you, Susan! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 7 ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS ITEM 6a REZONING SCOTT BOULEVARD NORTHWEST OF FIRST AVENUE — ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING 10.26 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT NORTH OF SCOTT BOULEVARD BETWEEN HICKORY HEIGHTS LANE AND FIRST AVENUE FROM INTERIM DEVELOPMENT (ID -RS) ZONE TO LOW DENSITY MULTI- FAMILY(RM-12) ZONE. (REZ16-00008) a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: Uh, has there been any, uh, does anybody need to make an ex parte disclosure about conversations with anybody about this? Dilkes: Nope! Throgmorton: Okay. All right. So I'm gonna open the public hearing, if I can find my hammer here. (bangs gavel) Open the public hearing. Hi, John Yapp! Yapp: Good evening, Mayor. John Yapp, Development Services. Uh, this property is on the north side of Scott Boulevard, just west of First Avenue, as shown on the overhead. Uh, south of the ACT campus. So the .... the parking you see to the north of the property, that's all, uh, parking of ACT. Uh, the property is currently zoned Interim Development, uh, that's a.....a zoning designation that is kind of a, uh, a holding zone until infrastructure is brought to a property and the property owner is ready to rezone and develop. Uh, it had the Interim Development zoning since before Scott Boulevard and other infrastructure, uh, was in place. Uh, the requested zone is Low Density Multi -Family, or RM -12. Uh, the RM -12 zone allows one dwelling per 2,725 -square feet, which would come out to about 164 units, uh, for this property. Uh, due to the wooded ravines, and I have an image of that, and for storm water management, this density cannot be achieved, and the applicant had submitted a plan of much lower density, uh, and is requesting up to 60 units on the property. In the, uh, materials in your packet, there's references to 54 units. Uh, the applicant went back to the Planning and Zoning Commission last week, uh, and Planning and Zoning did recommend approval of up to 60 units, uh.... it's 60 because they .... they decided they may want to split some of the two-bedroom units into one -bedroom units. Didn't change the overall footprint... of the .... of the prop ... of the project. Uh, this is an image with .... uh, elevations or contours, uh, on the property and the ..... uh, east side of the property, this is where the largest wooded ravine is located, where all these blue lines are closer together. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 8 Uh, the center part is where the project is proposed, uh, on land that, uh, much of which is currently occupied by a house and other outbuildings, uh, and then there's a small wooded ravine on the west side of the property. Uh, this is a plan view of the proposed project. Uh... essentially two multi -family buildings, uh, but the easternmost building is, uh, split to give the appearance of being two different buildings. The, uh, narrow part of the buildings would face Scott Boulevard, uh, and would be on a north -south orientation. Uh, although the buildings are large, uh, they are located away from the wooded ravines, uh, helping to minimize disturbance of these areas. Uh, the concept plans also located most of the required parking underneath the buildings, which minimizes impervious surface. Uh, and they are set back, uh, between 130 and 180 -feet from Scott Boulevard. Uh, this is a .... a 3-D rendering, uh, of the project, giving you the sense of what it, uh, might look like. One of the design concerns is the City's design standards do not allow a garage door to face the street. And I'll show that on the planned view. So this building would have a garage door facing the street. The applicant is proposing to address that with berming and landscaping, uh, so that it's not visible, uh, from the public street. Uh, just another 3-D rendering. Uh, back to the planned view, uh, the recommendation .... uh, is .... staff recommends approval of this rezoning, conditioned upon general.... general compliance with the concept plan, uh, up to 60 dwelling units, and the Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval also. Uh, the applicant and the architect are in the audience, uh, if you had specific questions related to the, uh, architecture. They may be better able to answer those than me. Thrognmorton: Any questions for John? Dickens: I .... I have one question. Is there a roundabout planned for First Avenue and Scott Boulevard, because the traffic there gets backed up for.... Yapp: There is a roundabout planned. It is in the CIP, I believe, for .... within a couple years. Fruin: I think it's year four or five of the CIP. Dickens: I'm just worried about this project. I think it's a great project. I like where it is, but .... I'm concerned that that may need to be moved up, if ...because the amount of traffic that's already backed up there, with them coming out, trying to get on to Scott Boulevard, that would be a concern. Thomas: John, I had just one small question. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 9 Yapp: Sure. 1HI .'i'70"IM. Yapp: Thomas: Yapp: Thomas: Yapp: On the plan, the site plan .... I ... it seems to me that the ... the pedestrian walk, um, which leads down to Scott Boulevard, does not quite make it there. (laughter) It will be required (both talking) Okay! (laughter) Concept plans are very early in the design process. I ... I saw it in the perspective, so I figured.... it was there, but uh, just had to ask. It will be required. Throgmorton: (mumbled) (laughter) Yapp: Thank you. Throgmorton: So before we, uh, continue I want to say somethin'. Uh, I need ... well I guess I should hear whether there are other people who want to speak first. So does anybody else want to address this topic? (laughs) (unable to hear person speaking from audience) Yeah, urn .... do any of you feel you have to ask the architect or anybody else, uh, a question? I .... I don't think it's necessary. Yeah, thanks! Okay, so I need to ask you if you're inclined to vote in accordance with the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation. See a lot of nodding heads, so yeah, so ... yeah, I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Do I have a motion? b. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE Mims: So moved. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Mims: I think this is a great project... for this property. I walk and drive by there a lot, cause I live across Dodge Street from there, and ... I think this is just a great use of This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 10 this property because if you .... if you go by there and you're familiar with it, the terrain is not friendly (laughs) to doing a lot of building, and I think what they've done to accommodate that and get, um, the best use out of this property they.... property that they can, given the steep ravines and the woodlands, um, is very well designed and laid out. I like the idea that the narrow side of the building faces Scott Boulevard, so you don't get the sense of how large these buildings are, um, as you drive by. So I think it's going to be a great addition, and infill, I think, is always great, so.....it's a good project! Throgmorton: Anybody else? Botchway: I'm just excited about the parking. I like the fact that it's underneath the building, um, not having a huge parking footprint is (several talking) great! Taylor: (several talking) ....like that too (both talking) I echo Terry's concern about the, uh, Scott Boulevard and First Avenue interchange, if we can get that bumped up a little faster, cause otherwise I think the development's wonderful. Dickens: Project's beautiful. It's well designed. It takes care of that property. Uh, having lived up in the north end now for eight years, I know all about the sensitive areas there and I think you've done a great job of addressing the .... the gulleys that run through that property on either side. So the only concern I have is the parking ... or is the ... is the traffic coming out there and I think that can be addressed. Cole: I love the natural landscaping too. I just think it's beautifully done. It's contextual and it's density in the proper location, so I think that's great work. Throgmorton: I like the common space as well, between the two buildings. Thomas: Yeah, I would .... I would .... my ..... my comments relate in part to the fact, and I ... I think some of you know that I've had concerns in the past on projects with large footprint buildings, uh, and it ... in many respects they're.... they are in response to what I would consider to be the context of the project. Um, and also the expectation of those who reside, uh, near .... near the proposed.... near these proposed projects in terms of what their expectation was with respect to any future development. Here I think the context of the proposed project does not have any of those issues. Um, first of all. So I think that's very important. Uh, the other .... the other issue, um, that I'd want to highlight is the common space, um, that Jim mentioned. This too has been an issue that I've raised concerns about, that we have projects, particularly on the periphery of town where, you This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 11 know, you do not have ready access to, uh, open space or any other amenities, you know. This is, to some degree, a stand -along project, and it's 60 units. You know, I always translate density by my own neighborhood. That's three blocks of development. You know, we have roughly 20 houses per block. So it's a large project. It .... it needs open space and it's got it, and um ... so my question in part is, you know, looking ahead, I'm.....I'm sensing this is a very strongly supported project. I really think as a Council we should be looking at codifying the need for open space on projects of this size, uh, particularly in areas where they are more remote and, you know, less .... other alternatives with respect to open space are... are not as accessible. So ... you know, I ... I'm strongly support the project. I think the, um ... oh, one other comment. The ... the buildings here are used to shape the open space, which is another.... another important aspect of it. Sometimes we see these large buildings and they're kind of stand -along facilities, structures. Here they're being used to shape the ... the open space. So .... a lot of. ... a lot of strengths to this project, you know. Congratulations to the ... to the team, and I think it's a good model, uh, from my standpoint, as to how we can do this in a way which is ....resolves the issues that can come up with higher density development. Throgmorton: Any other comments? Okay! I don't hear any more. Roll call, please. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 12 ITEM 7. AMENDING FY2017 OPERATING BUDGET - RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING NNE 30, 2017 a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Looks like Simon Andrew's on the verge of saying something. Fruin: We, uh, we combined the staff report for the next two items, so, uh, currently you're considering the amendment to the, uh, current budget, FY 17, and then the next item you'll be asked to adopt the fiscal year 18 budget. So, I think ... we don't have anything formal to present to you, uh, on the 17 amendments. Uh, there's some details in your memo and staff can respond to any questions. We do have a presentation that we'll go through on the next item. Throgmorton: Okay. Simon, before you speak... Eleanor, will I need to open and close the public hearing... for, uh.... uh, item ... where is it, Item 8? Dilkes: You'll need to open and close it on both. Throgmorton: Okay. Yeah. Dilkes: So I would go ahead and take Item 7 now and then (mumbled) Tbrogmorton: All right, so I .... I'm gonna close the public hearing now. Is that correct? No? Yeah? Dilkes: Yeah. Throgmorton: Gotta make sure about this stuff! Okay, I'm closing the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Botchway: Move resolution. Mims: Second. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 13 Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. Discussion? What's changing? Couple things, right? Couple small things. Fruin: Yeah. Bockenstedt: (mumbled) as the 17 budget amendment? Uh, there's not a lot of changes to the 17 revised budget. Uh, there is a ... a detail in the packet, in the memorandum that was provided. And, uh.... $18,000 that was transferred out of the general fund contingency, uh, $4,000 for equipment for the City Attorney's office, and $14,000 to help cover the historic properties inventory. Um, there was, uh, also amendment in the storm water fund of $136,926 and that was to cover the sale of HESCO barriers to the City of Cedar Rapids and the subsequent reimbursement. And also there's an addition of $106,741 for the Housing Authority's 2016 capital program. So that's the summary for the 2017 amendments. However, this also does incorporate all of the amendments that came through the budget process throughout the year and that was covered as part of the hearings and the discussions from the City Council. Throgmorton: Okay. Thank you, Dennis. I .... I just wanted to make sure that, um, it was noted that the amendment adds basically $6,000 for the downtown historic properties inventory, because the grant request, uh, wasn't fulfilled or whatever, we're not getting money from the State like we hoped we would, uh, but that we are proceeding with the downtown historic properties inventory. Thank you, Dennis. Yeah. Okay, so, uh, let's see ..... have I .... I haven't closed the public hearing yet (several talking) I did? Okay, good deal. And we got a motion on the floor, is that right? Okay. Any further discussion about it? 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 March 7, 2017. Page 14 ITEM 8. FY2018 OPERATING BUDGET - APPROVING PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2017 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2018, THE PROPOSED THREE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN FOR FY2017 — 2019, AND THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2017 — 2021 a. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Fruin: Okay, we do have a condensed, uh, summary of the budget, at least condensed from the version you received on that Saturday in January. Um, real quick, a ... a, on the screen you'll see the general timeline, uh, that we follow (coughing, difficult to hear speaker) and this would be our intention to have a similar timeline for next year's budget, but we start in August with a work session with you to determine any, uh, particular budget goals or project requests that you have. Uh, from that point we begin to work with departments, uh, who formulate their own budgets, uh, reviewed by the City Manager's office and the Finance Department, uh, and then, uh, once we have, uh, made the changes that we feel are appropriate, we present that budget to you. You had a number of, uh, work sessions, uh, over the last few months to get us to this point and uh, we are now asking you to adopt the budget tonight. Our budget goals, um, are always to ensure that we're providing resources to achieve your strategic plan objectives, and I'll cover that towards the end of the presentation. We still want to make sure that, um, we are taking the steps necessary to prepare for the, uh, continued impacts of the 2013 property tax reform. Um, we, uh, closely monitor the Moody's scorecard and want to ensure that we can maintain our triple-A bond rating. Uh, we take a good hard look at all of our taxes and fees to make sure that they are kept at, uh, the most affordable level, uh, they can be, while still achieving the service levels, uh, that our community has come to expect, and then, uh, we do have a .... a couple of, uh, kind of industry awards, um, that we strive for that we think, um.....uh, promote, uh, good budget transparency and openness with the public. So, overall impressions, um ... we feel very good about where we are today, and urn ... our nervousness is really what the future holds. So we've had some really good growth. We've been able to build some healthy reserves. Uh, we've, uh, had some success... success with debt restructuring, um .... and, uh, early retirements, uh, that has put us in a good strong position, but year after year we continue to deal with the erosion of our tax base, uh, particularly in the multi -residential, um ... uh, classification of property. Uh, we are anticipating, uh, that the rollback figure will decline, based on, uh, agricultural prices, um, and uh.... uh, the .... the, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 15 um, reduction that we're seeing in that industry. Um, we don't have a whole lot of confidence in the State right now that we'll be able to keep our backfill for a much longer period of time. We hope that, uh, is ... is not the case, but we're preparing to, uh, live without that backfill if that time comes. And then we have the typical budget concerns — volatile, um, expense items, uh, that we have and uh, simply not being able to sustain the level of growth that we've had for the last couple of years. So you've seen this slide a number of times. This is the, kind of the graphic summary of the 2013, uh, property tax reform, and what you see there is a ... a time series graph, going all the way back from 1980 up to fiscal year 2024. Um, the red and the green line at the top, uh, represent industrial and commercial properties, and you can see right around the fiscal year 13 that those dropped to 90%, uh, so those classifications of properties are now taxed at 90% of their full value. The gap between that 90% and the 100%, that's what the backfill is. So the State is making up, uh, that difference right now. For us it's about $1.5 million annually. Um, and urn .... that's what we're constantly watching, to make sure that we continue to get those dollars. Of biggest concern to us is the purple line that extends down. Uh, that's a new classification of property that was created in .... in fiscal year 13 called multi -residential. Essentially our apartment stock here. Used to be taxed at the commercial rate of 100%. Um, it is, uh, slowly, uh, being phased down to the residential level, and you can see the schedule to the left of there, of the screen. Uh, and come 20, uh, 23, you'll see that those, um, multi -family units that used to be taxed at 100% of their value will only be taxed at 63.75% of their value. After that, um, the rates will, urn .... uh, match up with the, uh, residential rate, uh, and that's the blue line that you see there. Uh, I mentioned the strong growth that we have. I can't, urn ..... uh, underscore this point enough, but the growth that we've had the last, uh, particularly last year, last couple of years, has really helped us manage the, um, first few years of that property tax reform. So there's two graphs in this, uh, on this page. The first one is, uh, to the left there, is the construction value. Uh, so this is activity, private sector activity that's taking place in Iowa City, and that's on a calendar year basis, and you can see in .... in calendar year 2016 that there was, uh, it's about $388 million worth of private construction, uh, activity. And you can see how that compares to past years. It was far and above beyond what we typically, urn .... experience in our community, and that does, uh, a couple things for us. One, uh, long term it expands the tax base and allows us to continue our service levels and .... and, uh, even improve upon our service levels. Uh, but two, it does provide some one-time revenue to us that we don't necessarily budget for, and that's the graph to the right — the building permit revenue. Now this is on a fiscal year, so our fiscal year starts July 15`. Um, you can see the, uh, second, or the last blue line is fiscal year 16. We did about $2 million in building permit This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 16 revenue, uh, when in the past we've really, um, hovered around that $1 million mark, and so that really helps us shore up our reserves a little bit. Urn ... helps us, uh, reduce, urn .... uh, the need for bonding for .... for particular projects. The yellow, or I'm sorry, the orange, uh, is year-to-date on fiscal year 17. This is, um, year-to-date, it probably has December in it, but it probably does not have any, uh, January or February numbers, and you can see we're well on pace to .... to, uh, match the fiscal year 16 numbers there. So, um, really helped us, uh, begin fiscal year 18 in a good position. I'm sorry, fiscal year, um, 17 in a good position, and we anticipate being able to, uh, start fiscal year 18 in a.....in a similarly strong position. We talk a lot about property tax rate, and this has been something that we've been focused on quite a bit in the last, uh, five or six years, um, is really trying to push down our property tax rate to a more competitive level, um, especially as we look at our peer communities, uh, and ... and by that I ... we consider the 10 largest cities in Iowa our peer communities. We've been able to reduce now, uh, six consecutive years our property tax levy and um, we've been able to .... to come back down to the middle of the pack again when we look at those 10 largest cities. Um, back in fiscal year 12 you can see at our high point there, um, we were essentially tied for second, um, for the highest property tax rate amongst the 10 largest cities and we're now in the middle of the pack and... and continuing to work our way down to a much more competitive level. Uh, when you look at the overlapping tax rate trend, um, this is, um, really comparing our tax rate, um, along side those of the other taxing bodies, uh, in our area. So as a .... a resident of Iowa City, you're paying .... your property tax bill, only part of that goes to the City of Iowa City. You're paying stum... some that goes to Johnson County, to the School District, to Kirkwood, the State of Iowa, and you can see that over the last several years, uh, the .... our percentage of the total property tax bill has declined, and we, uh, expect that that will continue to decline, and I ... I made this point during the budget presentation, but particularly as, um, other jurisdictions, uh, look to raise their levy, uh, for .... for purposes that we all support and, urn .... uh, that may be the .... the school facilities bond, we know that they may need to increase their levy to achieve their goals of equitable, uh, learning environments, and if we're able to continue to reduce our property tax rate, that certainly works, urn .... uh, on .... on .... for the benefit of...of the residents here. So we can offset some of that needed increase in the School District by continuing to focus to pull our tax rate down. Uh, this looks at, uh, a quick snapshot of our debt levels, and this is where we've seen a lot of the reduction in our property tax, uh, levy. The ... the large blue, um, bars there show our, uh, State debt limit. The State limits how much we can bond for, and you can see that that, uh.... urn, bonding limit has grown and yet, uh, the red bar, which is actually our G ... our outstanding GO debt has, um, declined, uh, over that This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 17 same period of time and uh, one of the measures that .... that we look at is the, uh, percent of our debt compared to the, um .... uh, the limit that we have, and you can see back in fiscal year 10 and 11, we were borrowing about 36....34 to 36% of our, uh, State limit. Um, and now we're down to 25%. We continue to look to restructure debt, to retire debt, and to do as much pay-as-you-go on our capital improvements as we can. Okay, a few of the budget highlights, uh, that we have for you. Uh, we continue to, uh.... uh, set money aside in the, uh, emergency fund, which we created a few years ago. Again this is a ... a fund that's created to soften the blow, uh, so to speak, if we do have a sudden loss of revenue. That could be the back, uh, losing the State backfill. It could be, um, any number of things that would be un .... unanticipated drops in revenue. Uh, we can also use those funds for disaster mitigation purposes. The growth in our operation costs, uh, looking ahead to fiscal year 18, is just over 2%. So you can see it's, um, pretty....pretty well, uh.... uh, what I would say is a status quo, uh, budget from that standpoint. Uh, personnel expenses alone are at or exceed that, uh, that level. In terms of service enhancements and fee adjustments, uh, we are adding two, uh, Public Works, Streets Division employees, um, to, uh, enhance roadway maintenance and add a, uh, additional snow plow route. I thought that was going to get a lot better play (laughter) when you suggested that in, uh, December, and it turned out to be a pretty mild winter, but ... um, we trust we will need that 13t` route at some point. Uh, no increases for water, sewer, storm water, or transit. However, we are, uh, adjusting our waste and recycling, uh, fees. Uh, 20% increase for the solid waste fee and that's just, uh, to keep up with, uh, operational costs. We are increasing the recycling fee a dollar per month, uh, as we transition from a sorted system to a single -stream system, and the biggest change, uh, will not be effective until January 1" of 2018, uh, but we will be shifting from the yard waste stickers, uh, to a monthly fee on everyone's bill. Uh, that'll be a $2.00 fee, um, and that, uh, recognizes that the yard waste program is being expanded to included composting, and there'll be news coming out, urn .... uh, later this week, um, promoting the composting opportunities that we're gonna begin, uh, offering to the public yet this month. So stay tuned for that! Couple of the strategic plan initiatives. I won't read all these, uh, but I'll point out a few. Um, we are increasing the local foods program, uh, dollars. Those were, I think, very successful in their first year and we look to continue that. Um, we've created a new historic preservation grant program, um, and to have, uh, turn that over to the Historic Preservation Commission to get their guidance on how to structure and administer that. Uh, we have budgeted funds, uh, to contribute to, uh, the restoration of the Englert Theater, and to, uh, preserve elements of the existing Film Scene operation in the ped mall. Um, we are happy to be able to, um follow through on our affordable housing action plan and provide $650,000 of general This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 18 fund money to the Ci ... the City's affordable housing, uh, fund that was created. And then after your deliberations, we have increased the UniverCity program to include five homes in fiscal year 18. Couple more highlights, um, we, uh, are currently going through phase one of the form -based code, uh, review on the northside, and the, uh, southside, uh, around Alexander Elementary. Uh, the budget includes, uh, seeing that project all the way through into, uh, we can actually develop a form -based code language. If you decide to, uh, move forward with phase two, when that time comes those funds will be ready, and then, uh, we continue .... we plan to continue to offer the racial equity grant program and, uh, you can note some of the changes that, uh, we've made in the Parks and Recreation Department to .... to continue our efforts in the social justice realm. Couple on the capital side, and you see, um, this certainly is not an exhaustive list of capital projects, but some of the major projects, uh, that we'll be undertaking this calendar year — Gateway, a lot of work on Riverside Drive — not only this year but, um, next year as well with the State resurfacing project. The Clinton and Burlington in, uh, intersection, uh, will be, um, addressed, uh, this construction season, and on the Parks front, uh, very excited to be, um, getting into phase one of the Riverfront Crossings Park project. 2018, um, you see some highlights there. Uh, we anticipate doing work on the pedestrian mall. Uh, we hope to be under construction on our Public Works facility, phase one, and uh, we have a couple of, uh... urn .... uh, continued road projects at Madison and Burlington, and then, uh.... uh, our continued effort to make the, uh, highway corridor a little bit more accessible to other modes of transportation, including walking and biking. We're going to extend the trail that, uh, was brought out to, uh, Sunset a couple years ago, we're going to take that all the way out to Mormon Trek. Those are the highlights and ... we can answer any questions you have about the 18 budget. Throgmorton: Well .... not a single question? Fruin: We spent a lot of time talking about (laughter) Cole: (mumbled) Throgmorton: I guess! Does anybody else want to address this topic? If not, I will close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2018 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 19 Mims: Move the resolution. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: So this is a resolution adopting the annual budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. All right, uh, moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Mims: I just want to thank staff from .... all levels involved in this, cause I know how much, how time consuming it is. Um, and it's .... this has just gotten better and better, I think, every year in terns of the presentation to Council and allowed us to have, I think, better deliberations and discussion, um, as we've added or taken things out and .... and, you know, revamped the CIP, etc. There's just one area that I want to make a quick comment on. I guess actually two! I think we need to be really cautious, um, when we look at the building permit revenue and the value of new construction in the last couple years. Uh, when you look at that graph that they showed for 2016 and the building, uh, permit revenue it was like this high compared to ... this high, I mean, you know, over two million, where we had been around the million. My comment has to do with .... the decisions and actions that led to those building permits were things that may have been two or three or four years in the making. Building permits don't come up over night. It's the result of, you know, maybe Comp Plan changes, zoning changes, etc. It's a matter of what's going on in the economy, you know, locally, statewide, nationally, etc. And when you look back over the last roughly 14 months, our Planning and Zoning agenda at the Planning and Zoning Commission and what we've been acting on in terms of planning and zoning here at Council level has been absolutely dearth of...in terms of major projects. I mean we've had a few, uh, residential projects. We had a great multi -family project tonight that we voted on. Um, but that gives me great pause and great concern for what those building permit revenues, um, and increases in tax base might be going forward. So while those numbers look really good now, the things that we are not seeing come before us now, I'm afraid lend ourselves to seeing a significant reduction in those numbers in the next year to two to three years ahead of us. So, I think we have to be very cognizant about that. We have to be cognizant of the things we're saying and doing and the policies we're putting out there in terms of, um....making sure that we are ... uh.... encouraging, uh, development and the appropriate kind of development within this community. And then one last one was I just, again, want to congratulate staff on the reduction in our property tax levy, um, this ... this one this year thanks to Denise's, uh, great work on managing our bonds is by far the biggest decrease we've been able to do in one year, and so ... uh, getting some of those bonds refinanced so we can drop that debt levy by 25 -cents is, I mean, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 20 before we've been like 3 -cents, 10 -cents, 15 -cents maybe, but to drop 25 -cents in one year is phenomenal, so .... thank you, Dennis, for all your work! Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Thomas: Like to ... want to thank Geoff and staff. I think this was a .... you know, as Susan mentioned, a very.... thoughtftil, uh, effort and .... very concisely presented to us and to the public. Uh, to the community. So, you know, congratulations, uh, on that front. Um .... you know I ... uh, this year, you know, I'm one year on .... serving on Council, it seemed, uh, I would say it's an extension of our strategic plan from last year, so it's, um, there's been, uh, this .... this budget cycle there was less activity than there was last year. Uh, I think we're still kind of in the midst of, um ... you know, executing the ... the strategic plan that we developed last year and, you know, those are multi-year efforts, so that's to be expected. I ... I think we've made, um, really remarkable progress on our strategic plan and I'm really pleased with ... with the efforts on our ... on our side, as well as staff, and on the community side, to move that strategic plan forward. Um ... in terms of the construction, I ... I tend to view that as something that ... uh, you know, there are factors beyond the control of City Council. Um, we certainly can, you know, have an impact on how development moves forward in Iowa City, um, and I'm certainly supportive of development. As I mentioned tonight, I'm ... one of my aspirations and hopes on... serving on Council is that we're not only getting development, we're getting development that we can be proud of and that will, in my view, um, not only enhance our .... our tax base, but increase what I would call our `social capital,' you know, that we're developing projects that will promote community, at the same time that they're increasing our tax base, and I .... I .... I think tonight's project that we saw was a really good example of that, so I ... I hope we can, as Council, that is I think one of our critical roles is make .... try to make sure that the development we see, urn .... serves more, you know, yes we're concerned about the ... the tax base, but that it's actually enhancing the character and the notion of Iowa City as a place of community as well. Um ... so .... those are .... those are my comments! Throgmorton: Any further comments? Well, I'd just like to praise the staff. Uh, you've done a brilliant job this year and I'm really struck by how good the graphics are. I mean they really are communicating information, very, very clearly, and one of the things that I see very clearly from these graphics is what a huge impact the State government has on our operation, and I think it'd be pretty easy for, um, oh an innocent bystander, you know, a member of the public not to have any idea that that's the case, but the rollback figure, uh, the .... the phasing out of, uh, tax This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 21 revenue from commercial and industrial properties, and all that kind of stuff, and other things that are underway at the State level right now, uh, have huge effects on us, and we can't (laughs) do much of anything about it! We .... we have to, uh, adapt, adjust, and do what's best for the people of the city, and this .... this year's budget, or the you know, the one we're adopting tonight, certainly does that, and I look forward to more coming. So anyhow, uh, I guess that's about it for discussion, huh? Okay, so roll call, please. Motion carries 7-0. So we also need to consider a resolution approving the three-year financial plan for the City of Iowa City, Iowa, and the five-year capital improvement plan. c. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE THREE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA AND THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Botchway: So moved. Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? You mean there's going to be more construction? (laughter) I was talkin' to ... who was I talkin' to, walkin' downtown this ... oh, I saw Matthew from 126 Club, and you know, I asked ... we just talked about how things are goin' and that ... this kind of stuff, and he was saying, what, there's gonna be some more construction on the, uh, pedestrian mall, right? And I said, yeah, I thunk there's going to be design work this ... this fiscal year and next year we're going to get into the construction. And Dubuque Street, well yeah, that's like, I don't know, two or three years ahead, I don't remember exactly what and .... so you know, he's kind of imaging (laughs) all this stuff taking place, but it's all over the city. So there's a lot going on! All right, so we have, uh.. ..we've made a motion, we've, uh.....anybody else want to say anything about this? I guess not. Okay. Roll call, please. Motion carries 7- 0. Good work, Dennis! And your staff! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 22 ITEM 9. ASPHALT RESURFACING 2017 — RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF AGREEMENT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ASPHALT RESURFACING 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) (mumbled) Hi, Ron! Knoche: Good evening, Ron Knoche, Public Works Director. Throgmorton: Oh I'm sorry, excuse me! Knoche: That's all right! (laughs) (both talking) Um, just wanted to ... to give ya a quick update on, uh, where we're at with our .... with our 2017 asphalt overlay program. Uh, remind you that, uh, this program is just one piece of our pavement preservation and rehabilitation program that we do annually. Um, we have our capital program which does our .... our removal, replacement, and reconstruction of...of some streets, and then we also have a patching program that goes on with our Streets Division. So, you know, we have kind of a three -pronged attack that we do, uh, in regards to the pavement side of things. Uh, this year's program, we will be doing, uh, overlays on Benton Street, uh, Greenwood Drive, Market Street, and Sheridan Avenue, and we'll have some chip seals that'll be done on Taft Avenue, uh, Gilbert Court, St. Clements Alley, and then we'll be workin' at the Scott Park parking lot. Um, so those, uh, that .... that entails our program this year. I do want to point out that the comment, uh, appears to have the, um, estimate wrong. Uh, the Council action report has our, uh, estimated cost at $1.4 million, $1,400,300. So that ... that's what our revised estimate is. Throgmorton: Sorry, what's that ... what's the number? Knoche: $1,400,300.... is our estimate. That is our estimate on this project. So.... Throgmorton: Okay. Thank you. Knoche: Yep! Thank you! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 23 Throgmorton: Uh, Ron, could you, uh.... um, help us understand how the .... the projects were chosen for the .... the three-inch overlay. What kind of projects... those four (both talking) Knoche: Um, so .... so we, uh, we have our pavement, uh.... review that's done every ... or every other year in regards to doin' the .... the inspections of our streets. Um, we then, uh, sit down with our Streets Department and look at, um, kind of where the ... where we have the biggest concerns that come up from the public, and then also we have the concerns from our staff, um, and I think, uh, Benton Street is definitely one, uh, the Benton Street hill is one of those, uh.... corridors that we get a lot of complaints on. Uh, the Market Street, uh, hill is also another one where we have some rutting going on. So, um, you know, this is not really .... not necessarily the worst first, um, but definitely, uh, areas that we see, uh, preservation being done will definitely extend the life of these pavements. Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks! Cole: Ron, I just have a question about College. When do we anticipate that we could see some work on College? Obviously not this year but .... any update on that? Knoche: Yeah, I .... I'd have to look and see where that fits into the program. We can definitely, uh, fill you ... you know, update you on that, urn .... I'm .... I'm not certain exactly where it fits in (both talking) Cole: Sounds good! Knoche: Yep! Throgmorton: Any other questions for Ron? Thank you! Knoche: Thank you! Throgmorton: Would anybody else like to address this topic? If not I will close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Botchway: Move resolution. Dickens: Second. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 24 Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? I think I'm hearing full speed ahead. 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 March 7, 2017. Page 25 ITEM 11. WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDITS - RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE M&W PROPERTIES, LLC APPLICATION FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX INCENTIVES PROGRAM FROM THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AT 619 & 627 ORCHARD STREET AND COMMITTING LOCAL FUNDS TO THE PROJECT Throgmorton: Is there a motion? Mims: Move the resolution. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Tracy! Hi! Hightshoe: Hi! This is our sixth request for workforce housing tax credits, um (mumbled) um, 45 units. It's a 45-plex, um, off of Orchard. Um, do you have any questions? This is the sixth one so (laughs) (mumbled) the developer is here to discuss... the project ... if you have any questions. Throgmorton: You know, I didn't double-check the street addresses, but is this ... the same project we did a Comprehensive Plan change on? Fruin: Yes it ... encompasses that area. This is, uh, a little bit further north on that stretch. Throgmorton: But it's not the same project as such, is it? It's (both talking) Fruin: Well the Comprehensive Plan covered an entire street. You saw some renderings from some ... some buildings, um, that were contemplated at the time, but those were focused on more of the south end of the street, towards, uh, Benton. This is ... this is on the northern piece, but it was encompassed by that Comprehensive, um, Plan change. Uh, staff feels that what is proposed is consistent with that Comprehensive Plan change; however, the property still needs to be rezoned. So there's still going to be a legislative process to .... to take a look at, um, this particular site. However, given the nature of the ... the tax credits, we want to make sure the developer can get in line, urn .... uh, at the State level. Uh, so kind of our rule of thumb on these tax credit, um, projects going forward is if the project, um, appears to be in line with the Comp Plan, we're gonna be okay bringing that to you, unless you tell us otherwise. Um, if there's some issues with This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 26 the Comp Plan, we think that probably needs to be taken care of first , before we support the application. Throgmorton: Okay! Uh, any other questions for Tracy? Thank you. Discussion? Mims: Got a public (mumbled) Throgmorton: Oh, I'm sorry, Brandon! Hi! Ross: Hey! I just, uh, I just wanted to ask what ... what is workforce housing for the community? Uh, I know this is a very vague term. Uh, we've talked about affordable housing, but what does it mean in terms of dollars and cents? What are people of, uh, Iowa City, uh, going to have available to them? Who's going to be able to move in? Is it integrated, or is it all one type of housing? Uh, it seems very, very vague, uh, so maybe the person who previously spoke or the developer, because I think really what we're talking about is the bottom line, uh, is what's going to be paid. Throgmorton: Yeah, good question. The first thing you need to know is that it's a State program, which has certain State definitions, etc., and Tracy can fill in the details. Hightshoe: The program is not necessarily affordable housing. It's workforce, meant for middle income wage earners. The only requirement it has is that the construction and land has to be below $200,000 to build. So there's no rent limitations, there': no income eligibility. So the program is to increase the supply of moderately - built homes in Iowa. Throgmorton: Right, and it's a statewide program, so we can't change its rules and all that kind of thing. Ross: But the City does have, uh, some play in this. Uh, it's not just statewide so you're gonna be able to do it. What, uh, what kind of, um, capacities do we have for this kind of, um .... legislation here locally, and what can we do to make this, uh, a little bit more, uh, available, uh, since it is in the direction of making, uh, a little bit more affordability. You say workforce — we're assuming middle income... whatever that is! But at least it's a look at that. Uh... what does the City have in its own, uh, its own power to do regarding the State .... uh, the State program? Is there something, uh, you could say about this? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 27 Cole: It's in the Riverfront Crossing districts as well, isn't it, for purposes of the affordable housing requirement? Fruin: Correct. Cole: So we will have 10% that will be affordable housing. Fruin: That's correct. Cole: As it's defined. Throgmorton: Anyone else? Does anybody else want to address this topic? All right, seeing no one else, uh, we have a motion on the floor. Discussion? Hearing.... Mims: I would just say, I mean, in general I'm supportive of these applications. I think it ... we keep talking about affordable housing. Not every project is going to be entirely affordable housing, and I guess Rockne just pointed out, because of the location, this will have 10%, but one of the key things in terms of helping bring down some of the rents and costs is supply, and so with these having to be built for $200,000 or less, um, and .... and, uh, developers being able to get some money from the State to assist in this, it's costing the City $1,000 per unit. I think is a pretty good investment to help increase that supply of more moderately -priced housing. So.... Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0. Brandon, why don't you and I talk about that over at the Co -Op, uh, one of these next few days, okay? (unable to hear response from audience) (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 28 ITEM 12. 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. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Throgmorton: This is second consideration, but staff requests expedited action. Mims: I. move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time. Taylor: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Taylor. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0. Mims: Move final adoption at this time. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? So, uh.... it'd be worthwhile restating what the ordinance will do, uh, and I'll just read some text here. Currently the City must sell impounded bicycles at a public auction or donate them to non-profit organizations that serve low-income youth and families. This ordinance will add the third option that allows City staff to donate bicycles directly to low-income youth and homeless persons. So, uh, and the amendment is requested by the Police Department, in part to support its outreach to local youth. So it's a good program. Really happy about it! All right so we have a motion on the floor. Is that correct? Roll call, please. Motion carries 7-0. Is there a motion to accept correspondence? (both talking) Botchway: So moved. Throgmorton: We need one, right? Moved by Botchway. Dickens: Second. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 29 Throgmorton: Seconded by Dickens. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 30 ITEM 13. HARRISON ST. RAMP ADDITION AND MONTHLY PASS RATE INCREASE - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 3, FINANCES, TAXATION AND FEES, CHAPTER 4, SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES, CHARGES, BONDS, FINES, AND PENALTIES, SECTION 8, PARKING VIOLATIONS, TO ADD THE NEW HARRISON STREET PARKING STRUCTURE, AND AMEND THE MONTHLY PARKING FEE. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Mims: So moved. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Uh, discussion? Would anybody like to address this topic or perhaps explain what's going on with this? Rummel: Good evening. Mark Rummel, Transportation Resource Management. Uh, this is for our new parking facility on Harrison and Dubuque Street. We just need to set, uh, the hourly rate, as well as the monthly rate, for our parkers, um, expecting, uh, to have both visitor and .... and monthly parking like we do in our other facilities. Throgmorton: So I understand the parking structure will open sometime in April, is that the idea? Rummel: Right. I ... the scheduled time right now is, uh, April 11'h (mumbled) Throgmorton: And it has what, 600 spaces? Rummel: 600 total spaces (both talking) Throgmorton: Okay! Good deal! Thank you, Mark. Fruin: The other piece of this amendment is to, uh, adjust the fees across the board for the monthly parking, consistent with the budget. So .... you adopted the budget. We don't waste any time in gettin' those (laughter) fee increases in ... in place while they're still fresh in our mind. Throgmorton: Okay! 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 March 7, 2017. Page 31 ITEM 14. PUBLIC WAYS AND PROPERTY CITY CEMETERY - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 10, ENTITLED "PUBLIC WAYS AND PROPERTY," CHAPTER 7, ENTITLED "CITY CEMETERY," TO ALLOW DOGS IN THE CITY CEMETERY IF THEY ARE ON A LEASH. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Mims: So moved. Botchway: Second. Throginorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. So I must say that I live near City Cemetery. I have a dog. We have long wanted to walk into that cemetery (laughs) with our dog on a leash. Watson is going to be so happy! Uh, but I do have a concern, uh, and the concern has to do with dog droppings. So, Juli! (laughs) You read my mind! Seydell-Johnson: I do everything, right? (laughter) Um, it will be .... just as it is in our parks. Uh, we'll have signs up that say please pick up after your dog, and it will be something that staff would be watching for. Um, we never really chase people out of the cemetery with dogs. This was time just to update all of our policies and we realized it was still in there, but .... yeah, we will do our best to make sure that we remind people to clean up. Taylor: At those little .... like the City parks have the little bags, little .... (both talking) Seydell-Johnson:.... not sure if we'll add those for sure (both talking) but we might. Mims: I think that would be a very good idea at some of the major entrances where people might walk in. If people leave home and forget their bag (coughing, difficult to hear speaker) those little stations and it's easier for somebody to say, oh, yeah, I need to grab (both talking) Throgmorton: .... good idea. Yeah. Taylor: They can't cost too much money, can they? Throgmorton: Thank you, Juli. Mims: I think we can find it! (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 32 Throgmorton: Yeah (mumbled) pleased about that. So, any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call, please. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 33 ITEM 16. CITY CLERK - RESOLUTION APPOINTING CHRISTOPHER GUIDRY AS CITY CLERK AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Mims: So moved. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. So, discussion? Um ... um, I'm very pleased, uh, that Chris will be joining us, uh, joining the community of employees in City government. You have a great background, employment history, track record so to speak, Chris, and .... and I really look forward to working with you, and so I'll pretty soon startin' lookin' over there and there you'll be, sitting in ... where Kellie's sitting right now. Dickens: Like tomorrow? (laughter) Throgmorton: And I also want to praise Susan for having done such a great job of leading the search effort. Mims: Thank you. Throgmorton: Uh.... uh, I can say for my own self, if I had tried to do that, I would have just collapsed. I .... I just was tryin' to do too much, and you did a brilliant job of it and I want to thank you. Mims: Thank you. Throgmorton: Okay, uh.....discussion about this particular item? Mims: Just want to welcome Chris on board. We had a good search process. I want to thank the other committee members, uh, Geoff and Eleanor and Karen Jennings from Human Resources, along with Terry and Pauline and myself, uh, were the search committee and everybody came on time, prepared, good questions, and I think the process went very smoothly and I thank Council for their availability, uh, to get to the final stages, so .... ready to move forward! Dickens: You've got a tough person to follow, so (laughter and several talking) Lookin' forward to workin' with ya, Chris! (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 34 Throgmorton: All right! Uh, roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 35 ITEM 19. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION Throgmorton: Uh, Pauline, would you start, please? Taylor: Well I just wanted to say that, uh, I had the pleasure of helping to serve pancakes at the Crisis Center pancake breakfast. I don't want to steal anybody's thunder cause several other people were also there. Uh.... uh, Sarah (can't hear) and Becky and other Crisis Center staff, uh, as well as some of the church members and as I said, some elected officials and some City staff were all helping to make it a success, and we had some surprise guest volunteers, when Kingsley and I were serving. Um, members of the Hawkeye football team showed up to help volunteer, which was pretty exciting for the crowd and us, and it just goes to show that those young men are not only great on the field and in the classroom, but they want to help in the community too and be a part of the community. So that was ... that was really great to see. It was a good event! That's all. Throgmorton: Excellent! Thanks. Thomas: I'll just report on the (coughing, difficult to hear speaker) partly because there were a couple of, uh, kids in our neighborhood who were participating in Southeast Junior High's musical performance of, uh, the Jitterbug Juliet. We attended that, uh, last weekend and um .... what a pleasure that was, uh, such a... you know, the certain period here we're going through, with so much stuff that we're dealing with on so many levels. It was ... it was just really a pleasure to see that performance of the kids and .... you know, these are junior high level kids putting together a musical with song and dance and (laughs) you know, when I was that age, our .... our junior highs did not have that kind of (laughs) kind of thing that was part of the deal so it was ... it was great fun and our local kids were outstanding, which is .... which is great. Mims: Just wanted to congratulate, uh, the Downtown District on another great Top Chef, um, event last Monday I think it was. Uh, yeah, Terry ... Terry was there! We had a good evening along with a number of other people. Lot of City staff were there as well. Um, just a great way for the restaurants in .... in Iowa City to kind of display their, uh, wonderful, wonderful food. Um, and also lots of, um, mixologists I guess you call them, all the alcohol and stuff, but lots of good desserts. So it was a lot of fun. Had a good time, and they always sell out, um, just if anybody's interested in it, you just kind of need to pay attention to the Downtown District's calendar. It's usually the latter part of February. (both talking) You missed it, Kingsley? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 36 Botchway: Yeah, it was quick! They didn't take any time (both talking) Mims: They went on sale at 9:00 that morning. I had mine by 9:30, so I ... I (both talking) I made sure I bought mine and a few extra for some friends. So, um, that was just great. They always do a great job, and then had the, um, privilege of going to, uh, kind of a party, ceremony for Bary Butler, Provost of the University of Iowa last week as well. Um, another great community member. Barry and his wife Audrey have been in Iowa City I think .... I think they said combined they've given 70 years of service to the University, either as students or employees. Both in the engineering field. Um, he's going to Embry -Riddle down in, uh, Florida, aeronautical engineering is his background and his love, and that's what that school is all about, but urn .... he's been here as a, you know, professor and was Dean in the College of Engineering and moved up through central administration to be Provost, so with his leaving, uh, fairly shortly and Tom Rocklin retiring this summer, we're losing two really good ones. We keep seeing this transition at the University of Iowa, so just want to wish them all well! Throgmorton: For sure! Kingsley? Botchway: Um, I just want to highlight a couple things. I know we've already just kind of praised staff for the budget, but um, had opportunities, and I always have opportunities to work with City staff on a number of issues in my other job, and they justs do a phenomenal job. I think that....as I think about all the other kind of programs and, uh, staff I work with, City staff is always like the group that ... that always are touted out as being the most flexible. Um, just really appreciate that, so I want to do that shout -out, and uh.... the other shout -out, I think, um, you know, Pauline already talked about is just, um, just community activities. I participated in Bowl for Kids Sake and also, um, the Crisis Center pancake breakfast. Just, um, amazed at these events. Obviously the events around food excite me, but, um, just amazed at the community that are... surrounding the events and just excited to be there and give money as well, and last but not least, um, just kind of shout out to the arts scene, um, you know, participated in, um, or went to the Hasan Minhaj concert at the Englert two Fridays ago, um, had the opportunity to go see Yo -Yo Ma, um, last .... month (several talking) whatever it was (both talking) Mims: I was out of town, I wanted to go. Yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 37 Botchway: Okay. But, um, just, I mean, just amazing opportunity. Just thinking, um, taking pictures, I know you weren't supposed to but ... taking pictures and just thinking of the fact that, you know, only in Iowa City. I wanted to make that the hash tag that, you know, you can do some of these things and still, you know, run away to your home like only five minutes away, and in a bigger city that might take like 30 minutes to an hour to do some of those things, and so shout out to the arts scene. Had a conversation with Andre Perry and I also kind of want to give him kudos, and obviously Hancher and all the other folks, that are doin' what they can. Mission Creek's comin' up, always miss it, so I'm trying to be here this time, um, but just phenomenal job! Dickens: Just want to congratulate the City, West, and Regina girls for all makin' it to State. So that's very exciting. I had a granddaughter that got into one of the games, so that's pretty exciting. The West High boys are here this week, and I'm really looking forward to next year having my Tuesdays, that I can actually go to some of the high school games. (laughter) Cole: Mainly kudos to John Kenyon for the One Book, Two Book. Um, we had a lot of fabulous young writers that participated on it and I think when I really think about the core of Iowa City, you think literature, and to actually make this come into reality I think is a real ... a tribute to everyone that's involved in that. I would echo Pauline's comments about the Crisis Center. Um, inspirational event, wonderful food, always a great turnout, and I think it really underscores, you know, how much great work our non -profits do in this community, that's often sort of un - praised, unknown, on a day -in and day -out basis, and we think of what's happening with the crisis intervention, uh, process that we saw in the work session, they can build on such a great partnership and network, and I think that's why I'm so confident that that's gonna succeed because we really have that great framework. Um, related to that, I did my first tour of the Shelter House. It was a wonderful event. Um, I actually met Matt Hayek's mother, uh, which was great, and uh, so it was really .... it was a great process and I really enjoyed learning about everything that they were doing out there. It was really.... really truly terrific. So, going forward I want to remind everyone about the food truck pilot. The first opening day is March 31s` at 10:00. That's P.M.! P.M.! (several talking and laughing) So actually I guess I must be over 40. I start to go to bed a little bit earlier than I used to, but I am going to be there! 10:00, Robert A. Lee parking lot! Um, so terrific event! Throgmorton: All right (several talking and laughing) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 38 Cole: You'll get there soon enough, Kingsley! (laughter) Throgmorton: All right, well I'll mention a few things, uh, and skip over a whole bunch of things, but .... so along with Geoff and Troy Kelsay, I met with members of the Center for Worker Justice, uh, back on the 22nd to discuss their concerns about immigration related executive orders. Uh, I found it heart wrenching to observe, uh, the mothers of small children who were.... confronted with fear, uh, every day of their.... every day of their lives right now. But it was a very helpful conversation with them. I also had an opportunity to tour the City Landfill, first with Chris O'Brien who drove me out to the Landfill, and then with Jen Jordan, and that was a lot of fun. We went up on the, I don't know, the hill, the big hill there now. They .... they have a name for it. Mt. Stump or whatever it is (laughter) But it was fun to be out there and to meet, I don't know, six or so, uh, employees and just chat with `em and banter a little bit. Hear what they were doin'. On the 27d' I discussed immigration concerns with about 60 students at Colleen Schmidt's ELL class at Kirkwood. And I can tell you, they were very attentive, very interested in what I had to say, even though, you know, I have nothing really to say about the, you know, the control of the national borders and immigration executive orders and all that, but they are full of anxiety, at least they were then. They probably still are (laughs) but .... uh, it was quite moving to be out there and talkin' with them. Uh, on a completely different note, on the 2nd of March I read Dr. Seuss' The Lorar to students in Miss Seckman's, uh, fifth grade class at Hoover Elementary. Your neck of the woods, Rockne. And that was a lot of fun. They all kind of curled up in front of me. (laughs) (both talking) Cole: (both talking) Throgmorton: Yeah! I made welcoming remarks at the United Nations Association's "Night of a Thousand Dinners" in Old Brick ... on the 2nd. Big crowd there, it was a big success. And of course the Crisis Center pancakes. It was a lot of fun doin' that. Whole bunch of other stuff (both talking) Botchway: I do want to note, for the Crisis Center, um, Geoff was wearing a hat that I thought was interesting and hopefully he'll bring it to the next City Council meeting. (laughter) Throgmorton: There ya go! Cole: I want to see this thing! What was it? (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017. Page 39 Throgmorton: I .... I also want ... well, I can do that later. I'm gonna be makin' a presentation at the Triangle Club on Sunday the 19a' of this month, and a big long thing about how the City's doin'. So, that's comin' up. Okay! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 7, 2017.