HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-05-13 Transcription#2 Page 1
ITEM 2 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Champion: I'd like to move adoption, uh, removing d.2.
Bailey: Okay.
Wilburn: Second.
Bailey: It's been moved and seconded to move adoption of the Consent Calendar,
removing and considering separately d.2. Um, roll call. Motion carries 7-
0. Okay, Item d.2. is consider a motion setting a public hearing for June
3~d, 2008, on an ordinance amending Title 16 Public Works, Chapter 3A,
City Utilities, General Provisions, Section 6 Billing and Collection
Procedures, Delinquent Accounts to eliminate the delinquency charge for
all...for all State and local government entities.
Wright: Move the motion.
O'Donnell: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Correia: I have a conflict of interest so I won't be voting on this.
Champion: (mumbled) I'm going to be voting no on this because I think all of us pay
delinquent charges when we don't pay our utility bills on time, and
because, uh, other governing bodies are late they don't have to pay
delinquency charges, and I think all the citizens of Iowa City are going to
have to pay for that, so I'm going to vote no.
Bailey: You're going to vote against setting the public hearing? That's all we're
doing tonight. (several talking)
Champion: ...that's right, well, I'm still going to vote no.
Bailey: All right. (laughter and several talking) All those in favor of setting the
public hearing say aye. Those opposed same sign. Okay, uh, motion
carries 5-1, with Champion in the negative and Correia abstaining due to a
conflict of interest.
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ITEM 3 COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
Bailey: This is a time for members of the public to speak to items that are not on
this evening's agenda. If you have something to bring before the Council,
please step to the podium, state your name, and limit your comments to
five minutes or less.
Engel: My name is Bob Engel. I'm a Member of your Senior Citizen
Commission, and I appreciate this opportunity to keep the Commission
apprised of the Senior Center, and also the people who might be viewing
your Council meeting tonight - it gives us an opportunity to give them
some information about some of the work of the Commission. While the
Senior Center has been going through a lot of remodeling, uh, and
upheaval this year, as far as facilities are concerned, it's really been a very
good year for the Senior Center, and we started this year with, uh,
somewhere in the neighborhood of 950 or 960 members. In the past year
we've increased that to around 1,040 or 1,050, 10%, um, I'm not sure of
all the reasons for that. I've suggested to the staff that they might do a
little research on that and see if we can find out how we did that and see if
we can continue that, but I have some, uh, some hints about that. I think
part of it is that we have been reaching out a little more than we have in
the past. That ought to do it, with some Newcomer breakfasts, um, we've
extended our hours a little bit through the use of volunteers, and I may say
a little bit about that later. It's been a very good year. Um, you know that
our Center of course does different kinds of programs. It has one-time
programs that occur. We have classes that maybe ongoing, uh, we have
programs that are, um, perennial, you might say, such as the Senior Center
Band and Voices of Experience. Um, currently for example, uh, more
than 50 artists from Johnson County are displaying their artworks at the
Senior Center. Uh, and many of those people also participate in our art
education programs at the Senior Center. We held a little over a week ago
a Senior Prom, not for high school seniors or college seniors, but for
people like myself who are really senior, and we held it out at the Moose
Lodge as a matter of fact. We provided some transportation for those who
can't get there. We had very good attendance. I'm mentioning it partly
because we had a co-sponsor for that, and, um, I think getting co-sponsors
for some of our work has been very good, both for the co-sponsors and
also for the Center, doing some things that might not be able to afford to
do otherwise, uh, in fact regarding new members, another co-sponsor in
town, another...anotherbusinws in town is...is going to be funding our
Newcomer breakfast starting in June. So I mention that for your interest.
Oh, by the way, coming this Friday at 6:00...6:00 P.M. Friday, uh, we're
going to have a terrific concert. Uh, a solo concert by Brett Messenger.
Now, I... for you people on the Council and for anyone else that might be
listening, Brett is one of the college, um, assistant directors of the New
Horizons Band. You know, one of our wonderful associations is with the
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School of Music, and uh, a lot of citizens from Johnson County and Iowa
City participate in that band. By using some of these assistant directors,
who are students, we give them an opportunity, as well, to work with us.
It's good for University-City relations, but it's also good for people who
play and for the students to learn. Brett is an unusual, uh, young musician,
who plays the trumpet marvelously. He's to perform a concert at the
Center at 6:00 on Friday. He'll be doing Gershwin and a lot of other tunes
- some of them are classical nature and some of them are popular nature,
um, both from the 20`h and 21 S` century. Um, memory training courses
that we have offered in the past will continue this summer. The popular
Spanish language course that we've been offering will continue this
summer, and by the way, Jay Honohan said I had to tell you that he's been
taking that course, how successfully I don't know. I wouldn't know, but
he wanted me to tell you that because he said the course that just finished
went over to the West Liberty schools to help participate in their English
is a Second Language Program, and he said it really helped us hear some
really good Spanish and we think it helped them hear...we hoped some
pretty good English, but he said it was wonderful for both of us, and he
said tell the Council it was a good outreach for us. So I'm bringing that
message to you. We offered a course on tolerance and diversity, which
was overpopulated, overflowing the room, uh, very popular. iJh, as you
know, the, uh, the physical conditioning equipment at the Center has been
installed -brand new physical conditioning equipment. You may wonder
some of you, or some people who maybe watching this, but people like
myself are very interested in, in, uh, keeping ourselves in good shape.
That conditioning, by the way, is, uh, if people need some training and
they're a little concerned about whether or not they, uh, could learn how to
use this equipment, that it might be strenuous, we have a person there who
is a volunteer who will help, by appointment, and in fact this...this
Thursday and next Thursday, uh, she will be there in the morning at 10:30
for any seniors who want to come in and...and uh, be helped particularly
at those hours. Um, as you know we've had roof problems at the Center.
I noticed on your agenda you'll be taking up some other, uh, situation
dealing with that, goes with the air handlers and boiler. Uh, we had a leak
just the other day, um, in fact I got an email from...from the Center
yesterday, saying when you come in today to be careful because there
might be some water problems with...in the Assembly Room, coming
from the ceiling. My point is, we just did that Assembly Room so
beautifully and so it's very important that we take care of these things, as
we are able to do that, and you know that already, and we thank you for
your support. Um, I'll close by simply saying that, uh, as I said we used
some volunteers - we wanted to expand the usage a little bit on weekends
because of demand for that, particularly in the computer room, and the
fitness center, and not being able to add staff to do that, uh, we debated on
the Commission to what extent we could, and should, depend upon
volunteers. We're willing to depend on volunteers, but to what extent we
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should do that in these kinds of settings, and arranged a training program
so that we are able to keep the Center open from 10:30 to 1:30 on
Saturdays and Sundays, for those who want to use the computer, those
members who want to use the computer center, and the fitness room.
That's the extent of my report. Thank you very, very much.
Bailey: Thanks for your update, Bob. Other people who would like to address the
Council?
Pickup: Hi, my name is Sandy Pickup, and I work at the Free Medical Clinic, and
I've just come before you because I'd like to thank the Council and the
Housing and Community needs commission for all the work that they do.
Bailey: This is on the agenda later, Sandy. Item 6. Would you rather...
Pickup: I know, but I just wanted to...to put out there that I'm, that, you know, for
all the past support and that, um, part of the thing that's so wonderful from
my standpoint, my perspective of that, um, work is that it's given me the
opportunity to collaborate with some other people in the community that I
might not have known about before, um, you know, Lori Dowd is here, I
see, other entities and other, um, organizations that, um, that come to the,
to the, um, community to ask for funding, and that's I think opened up
opportunities for Free Medical Clinic and hopefully the other
organizations as well, knowing about us, and if it weren't for that process,
um, arduous and kind of painful though it might be, you know, it's...it
does...it does, you know, some stuff for the community, I think, that I just
wanted to make you aware that, um, that's how I feel about it. So, thank
you.
Bailey: Thanks, Sandy.
(male): I, uh, not quite sure what the decorum is here for an item that is in fact on
the agenda later on, which is the attempt to collect on delinquent...
Bailey: Yes...
(male): ...snow, would there be a public...
Bailey: ...you speak then.
(male): Thank you.
Bailey: Thank you. Other people who would like to speak to items that aren't on
the agenda tonight?
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Hotchkiss: My name's Holly Hotchkiss and I'm the current Director of the Friends of
the Animal Center Foundation, and I just wanted to let you know that we
are out there. We do fundraising for the Animal Shelter here. Been
around...our ninth year was 2007, and we, um, hit a milestone of
$100,000 in, uh, donations for 2007. Since 99 we've raised $400,000, and
have spent $88,000 on Center programs. So, um, we do things like
medical and equipment, and um, dog training. We just started a foster
program, um, so um, you'll be hearing more from us, as we work towards
a capital campaign to expand the Shelter. So, I just wanted to let you
know we're out there!
Bailey: And thanks for your correspondence. Other comments? All right, moving
on.
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ITEM 4 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
e) REZONING APPROXIMATELY 11.7-ACRES OF LAND
LOCATED ON RUPPERT ROAD WEST OF OLD HIGHWAY
218 FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC-2) TO
INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI-1). (REZ08-00004)
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Bailey: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open.
Davidson: Good evening, Madame Mayor, Members of Council. I'm Jeff Davidson,
Director of Planning and Community Development for the City. Uh, Item
4.e and 4.f, uh, my presentation will cover both of those tonight since they
are related. You'll vote on them separately. Um, what this is is a City-
initiated rezoning, uh, of actually some platted lots and two outlots. As I
mentioned, this is aCity-initiated rezoning. You can see the shaded areas
there, uh, I can get...these are the platted lots (mumbled) outlot C and
outlot A. Outlot A is a remnant parcel. As you can see there, outlot C,
well, there's the next slide, which shows the actual, uh, plat. Outlot C is a
drainage way, and so the proposal is for, uh, the platted lots to be rezoned
from CI-1, excuse me...from CC-2 to CI-l, and for the outlots to be
rezoned from CC-2 to P-1, which is public zone. Uh, just a little bit of
history here, uh, in 2005, Wal-Mart was interested in purchasing the west
half of Aviation Commerce Park subdivision. Related to that, Council did
rezone, uh, the Aviation Commerce Park North, the entire subdivision,
from CI-1 to CC (mumbled). The Comprehensive Plan at that time was
amended to be less specific about the nature of the commercial
development, and it just sort of identified it as appropriate for commercial
development, rather than intensive commercial, commercial industrial was
identified as commercial. Quite frankly, the rezoning at that time was
related to it being Wal-Mart, and the fact that an entity like Wal-Mart can
really, because of it's...because of what it is, can change the dynamics of
an area like this. We never really felt that Wal-Mart was a, uh, excuse me,
we never really felt that property that was...that didn't have the visibility
and the traffic count that this area has was necessarily appropriate for, uh,
CC-2 zoning; however, the dynamics of it being Wal-Mart kind of
changed things to where there was some appropriateness, uh, to that, we
felt. Subsequent to that, the sale to Wal-Mart did not happen, and so for
the majority of, uh, people who would be interested in purchasing this
property, the CC-2 zoning had some issues with it, uh, we were more
likely to get requests for CI-1 zoning, and of course that happened in
2007. Let me go back here. 2007 the lots in this vicinity here...um,
which were lots 1, 5, 6 and 7 were zoned back to CI-1, uh, again, based on
the judgment that because of the less visibility and lower traffic count, the
commercial industrial uses were more, uh, more appropriate. We did then
have interest in those lots, as well, for CI-1 type uses. Um, subsequent to
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that, just recently, you rezoned these lots out here, and the outlots
associated with them. Again, from CC-2 to CI-1. This map has obviously
not been updated (laughter). I just noticed that, but those are CI-1 zoning
at this time, as well. So, what we have then...is basically the shaded area
you see there, the platted lots, uh, surrounded...still zoned CC-2, but
surrounded by CI-1 zoning, and quite frankly, uh, we feel we are more
likely to get interest in those lots from CI-1 type uses, as well. So the
recommendation is to rezone then lots 8 through 17, uh, to...uh, from CC-
2 to CI-1, outlots A and B, excuse me, B and C from CC-2 to P-1, and a
Comprehensive Plan amendment is not necessary. Questions?
Bailey: Thank you.
Davidson: Thank you.
Bailey: All right. Before we hear from members of the public, are...have any
Council Members had ex parte communications about this rezoning, just
disclose those now. Okay. Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
O'Donnell: Move first consideration.
Champion: Second.
Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Champion. Any further discussion
among Council? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 4 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
~ REZONING APPROXIMATELY 8.95-ACRES OF LAND
LOCATED ON RUPPERT ROAD WEST OF OLD HIGHWAY
218 FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC-2) TO
NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC (P-1). (REZ-8-00004)
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Bailey: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open. Let's just
start with any ex parte communications among Council Members. Okay.
And we covered this on the previous presentation. Anybody else like to
speak to the public hearing? Okay. Public hearing is closed. (bangs
gavel)
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
Champion: Move first consideration.
Correia: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Champion, seconded by Correia. Discussion? Roll call. Item
carries 7-0.
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ITEM 4 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
g) VACATING 150 FEET OF THE 20-FOOT WIDE EAST-WEST
ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY LOCATED BETWEEN LUCAS
ADDITION LOTS 3 AND 4, AND LOTS 5 AND 6. (VAC08-
00001)
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Bailey: I've been informed that the applicant has asked for an indefinite deferral,
and I would entertain a motion to that.
Wilburn: To defer indefinitely?
Dilkes: Hold on a minute. Um, we can't defer the public hearing indefinitely.
Bailey: Oh, we can't...
Dilkes: So your choice is to open it and close it, and then defer the item.
Bailey: Okay, all right.
Dilkes: Um, or defer...or continue and defer the whole thing to a date certain.
Bailey: All right. Let's open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) And then let's
close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
Wilburn: Move to defer indefinitely.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn to defer indefinitely.
O'Donnell: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed same
sign. Okay, motion carries.
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ITEM 5 APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF
CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE EAST SIDE RECYCLING CENTER
PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO
ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO
PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, AND FIXING TIME
AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS.
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Bailey: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open. Public
hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
O'Donnell: Move the resolution.
Wilburn: Second.
Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Wilburn. Discussion?
Correia: Well, I think this is an exciting project. We heard about it last night at our
work session. I wish I had thought to ask to bring some visual aids for the
public hearing portion, um, for this evening, um, one of the exciting parts
of it is we'll be going for the platinum LEED, um, certification. Um,
that's.. .
Wright: First building in Iowa.
Correia: ...first in Iowa, so, uh, a leader that way, but also good for our
community, and there's other, uh, items in there that will serve as learning
lab, um, to see what different bioswells and I don't know if, Kumi or
Jennifer, if you want to come forward and just kind of...let the public
know some of the things that we might be experimenting with, um, out at
the Eastside Recycling Center. Why don't you come forward.
Jordan: Hello again. I'm Jennifer Jordan. I can talk just briefly about
programming we're planning at the Eastside Recycling Center. Um, some
of the things I mentioned last night, and I'll just pick kind of some of my
favorite things to talk about, because there's a lot going on out there so I
won't take too much of your time. I'm really excited about the capacity
for the Education Center at the Eastside Recycling Center. Um, the tours,
um, the class, uh, program that we'll be able to have out there, um, even
listening to the gentleman from the Senior Center earlier, my mind was
racing with possibilities of working with the senior population in Iowa
City, so I think there's going to be a lot of great opportunities, both in
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Iowa City and within Johnson County for numerous groups, um, city
activities, all kinds of exciting stuff in the next couple of years for that
site.
Correia: And so this will include an eastside location for e-waste, so for people
needing to recycle their computers, for hazardous waste.
Jordan: Yep, the Restore is already on site. We already have drop-off recycling
bins on site. As I mentioned last night, it's already the most second used
site in Iowa City, not counting City Carton because I'm sure that's far and
above the first used, um, so the e-waste...we'll have an oil drop-off
recycling site, um, we'll have compost and wood chips available for the
public out there. Um, the Restore is already on site - I think I mentioned -
and then also the Salvage Barn and Furniture Project will be moved out
there eventually. So...
Correia: Good access for the community, and the funding is from our Landfill
revenue proceeds. So...
Bailey: Jen, something I neglected to ask last night is how many classes are you
seeing right now for field trips and those sorts of things about recycling?
Jordan: In April and May with Earth Day and kind of the follow up to that, we've
done probably half a dozen tours in the last eight weeks at the Landfill,
ranging from five or six kids earlier this week to we had a class last week
that was I think 14 or 15. So mostly smaller classes, but very busy this
time of year. I can see that definitely picking up at the Eastside Recycling
Center, because it's specifically oriented towards education, um, I think
it's a bit of a stretch for a lot of classes to take a trip all the way out to the
Landfill to go to a landfill, even though there's a lot of other activities
going on out there, a lot of people don't associate that...such activities
with the Landfill, so this site specifically will, I think, increase that quite a
bit.
Bailey: Thanks.
Wilburn: I think not only in the, uh, Iowa City Community School District, but
possibly at the University -they also have an environmental engineering
department, so there may be some opportunity for them to come and do
some stuff too.
Bailey: So let's get a vote so we can have this fun programming. That's great!
Thanks...thanks for being here. Okay, further discussion?
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Hayek: It's an impressive facility and I think, uh, shows that this community can
lead in the area of environmental protection, and I hope other communities
can follow this, uh, this direction.
Bailey: Well, I'm eager to see what we can demonstrate through the, um,
permeable concrete and the bioswells for, um, stormwater management,
because I think that that will be potentially cutting edge for other
communities and other entities. Okay, roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 6 ADOPTING IOWA CITY'S FY09 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN,
WHICH IS A SUB-PART OF IOWA CITY'S 2006-2010
CONSOLIDATED PLAN (CITY STEPS), AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT SAID PLAN AND ALL
NECESSARY CERTIFICATIONS TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND
DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER AS THE AUTHORIZED
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Bailey: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open.
Huedepohl: .Good evening, uh, Mayor Bailey and all Council Members. Uh, my name
is Kathy Huedepohl and I wanted to speak to you particularly about the,
um, monies to be allocated to, um, Iowa City Housing Authority, uh, for
the downpayment assistance program for homeownership of those low-
income, and I hear that, uh, you are looking very favorably at this,
and...from conversations and from the media, and I just wanted to come
and speak anyway to sort of give a face to, uh, to this money, um, that, uh,
as a person on low-income with a disability I never thought that it would
be possible to own my own home. I...early in my adulthood I spent some
time in institutions and I'm in an apartment, I mean, it's nice, the landlords
are great, but I'm really ready to have responsibility for my own place and
have a little more freedom and I'm really excited about that coming up,
and um, one thing that I did want to, um, ask about is the...some of the
details and the, uh, the particulars of the, whether it was going to be a
forgivable loan and apro-rated, uh, forgivable, and I understand that
obviously, um, with a forgivable loan I think that, um, your making a good
investment, like because I could...I would absolutely be willing to, um,
you know, make a commitment to stay in a particular place, per se, five to
ten years, maintain and improve that place, and obviously be, you know,
paying property taxes during that time, and I...so I think that making it a
forgivable loan would be really, um, a good step to making this even more
affordable as there are, you know, some folks are in this program because
they are, um, you know, getting off of welfare and moving on, but
unfortunately with alife-long disability, my situation can improve over
time, but I most likely will never be in a better financial situation that I
would be able to pay back that, uh, money so that was, I just wanted to
express that concern, and thank you guys for, um, taking into
consideration this money.
Bailey: Thanks, Kathy.
Cooley: Hello, my name is Franki Cooley. I wasn't prepared to speak on what she
just spoke on, but I wasn't aware that that was on the agenda, but I'm
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familiar with the housing program. I've been a recipient for two years,
um, I've been an Iowan for seven, and I've always paid market rent, and
when I moved here from Davenport, um, I took advantage of the program.
Um, I'm a single mom of five, soon to be six any day, and anything that
the Housing Authority, any programs that they have, I'm the number one
participant. Um, I'm also (mumbled) I own my own business, so I too, uh,
participated and went to the homeowner's classes and the credit classes
and it, being a single mom of six, just renting and moving every other
year, it doesn't accommodate me, because I, they tell me they want to rent
long-term, then I move in and they say, `Oh, well we're selling,' so I have
to move again, and that...this money will be well used. So, that's a good
thing.
Bailey: Thanks, Franki.
Rackis: Good evening, Steven Rackis from the Iowa City Housing Authority. Just
take the opportunity that, um, the way the plan was presented is that if the,
um, home is sold in the first five years, it's a 100% repayable, but every
year after that it's reduced by 20%, so essentially if somebody stays in the
home for ten years, it's completely, uh, forgivable, and that...that was
something that we had negotiated with the Housing...Housing
Commission. Um, so that's really the mechanics of the program.
Bailey: Okay, thanks for that clarification.
Long: Hello, Steve Long from the...Communitybevelopment Coordinator for
the City. Just wanted to give you a little summary of the process and what
the Housing and Community Development Commission goes through.
We had applications that went out in December of 07, and they returned in
January of 08. The Commission Members made site visits to most of the
proposals in mid-February, uh, they made...and the applicants came in
and made a presentation to the Commission on February 20th. Then they
spent many hours reviewing the project rankings and average allocations
on March 13th, and then made the final recommendations on March 27th
And these are nine volunteers who spent literally dozens of hours
reviewing these applications. I just wanted to give them some thanks and
credit for that. We received 27 funding applications this year, for about
$3.6 million in requests, and we only had about $1.5 million to allocate, so
it was a pretty difficult choice...choices to make, but that $1.5 million will
leverage over $5 million in other funds. And will be assisting over 5,000
people in Iowa City over the next year. So we're asking you tonight to
approve the Fiscal Year 09 Annual Action Plan, and knowing that you
have...at last night's meeting you did make a couple of changes to the
proposed budget. One was removing the Chauncey Swan rental housing
project, the $18,000 in Home Funds, and moving that to the Housing
Fellowship's affordable rental housing project. The second change was to
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remove Southgate Development's homeownership project, in the amount
of $80,000, and move that money to the Iowa City Housing Authority's
downpayment assistance program. Again, thanks to the nine Commission
Members.
Bailey: Thanks, Steve.
Dennis: Hi, I'm Maryann Dennis. I'm the Executive Director of the Housing
Fellowship. I'd like to thank the Housing and Community Development
Commission for recommending funding for our application, and I'd also
like to thank you for, uh, adding to that recommendation. However, as
you might guess, I'm here to ask you to fully fund our application. The
Housing Fellowship has proven to be an exemplary housing developer.
The trustees and staff of the Housing Fellowship seriously examine the
data available in order to address identified needs in our community.
Clearly the data shows that the biggest need is for affordable rental
housing. We just completed the rehabilitation of 14 existing rental homes
and, um, using several sources of financing, including General Obligation
bond financing from the City, and an investment, uh, equity from investors
through the low-income housing tax credit program. The project that we
are planning includes combining our FY08 and FY09 Home, City Home
allocations in order to construct up to 26 new rental homes. The homes
will be scattered throughout the community, the types will include single-
family detached homes, zero lots, and townhomes. City Home Funds will
allow the Housing Fellowship to reduce rents further than what is, uh,
required by the statutory funders. If you fully fund our Home request, um,
the City Home dollars will represent less than 15% of the total project
cost. We plan five other sources of funding, um, over half of those funds
will come from investors, via the tax credit program, with combining two
years of local Home allocations. We expect an investment of over $3.5
million in tax credits, and an additional $1.8 million from other sources.
So Steve talked about the total leveraging of the entire budget, and it
sounds to me like, um, if you fully fund our project we would significantly
add to how much money will come into this community. Um, we believe
that this request results in a very wise use of very limited funding, and
addresses the biggest local affordable housing need in Iowa City. So,
thank you again for your consideration.
Bailey: Thank you, Maryann. Would others like to speak to the public hearing?
Eastham: My name's Charlie Eastham. I'm President of the Board of Trustees of
the Housing Fellowship, and I'd just like to follow up on Maryann's, uh,
comments about external sources of funding for the, uh, rental housing
developer program that we're, uh, trying to put together. As Maryann
pointed out, part of that, uh, half of that external funding or more will
come from tax credits. We also will apply for, uh, State Home Funds
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from the Iowa Department of Economic Development in an amount of
about $800,000, uh, which is actually a good deal more than we're asking
for, or very similar to what we're asking for in terms of Iowa City Home
Funds. We're also looking for, uh, borrowed funds from the Iowa Finance
Authority, um, the, uh, Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County, and the
Affordable Home Program from the, uh, Federal Home Loan Bank, uh,
bank program, as well as we're planning on making an equity contribution
from Housing Fellowship funds of about $150,000 from this total project.
So, as Maryann said, we're trying to assemble funds from a number of
different sources to provide affordable rental housing, which will be at a
rental rate, which people can afford without additional assistance, and we
think that's, uh, certainly well called for by the Affordable Housing
Market Analysis. Uh, I do understand the comments made earlier by
people that, uh, homeownership is something that a lot of people desire,
and I think there are a couple of recommendations by the HCDC that
could fulfill those desires, including Southgate's and Dolphin
International, uh, application. So I hope the Council will consider our
request to fully fund this, uh, affordable rental housing development.
Bailey: Thank you, Charlie.
Wolfe: Hi, my name's Christy Wolfe. I'm on the Board of Trustees with the
Housing Fellowship, and I'd just like to, um, support what both Charlie
and Maryann have said in terms of rental properties being affordable in
Iowa City. I work up at Coe College as a Teacher Educator, and so I'm
more familiar with some of the schools that we work with there. One of
the schools we work closely with has one-third of their student population,
about 200, are considered homeless, the way that we categorize homeless,
for statistic purposes, which means they're either living in a shelter,
doubled or tripled up in an apartment, or some of them are literally living
out of their cars, and uh, I talked to the Principal about that situation and
he said if you were to look at our test scores, and look at the students who
started with us as kindergartners, and have stayed with us through fifth
grade, we are at or above proficiency. Stable housing, affordable stable
housing for students is just an incredibly important thing. I understand
that the home assistance programs for homeownership are very important,
and regrettably there's many things that could...could be funded and I
know you have to make a tough decision, but I've been kind of frustrated
by the situation lately in Iowa City with this idea that people are coming in
and out of the community. I think I'm proud of the work that the Housing
Fellowship does in terms of, uh, renter management, and I think that we
would use the money that could be allocated for affordable rental property,
to best serve the community, the families, and the children of the
community. Thank you.
Bailey: Thank you.
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Anthony: Good evening, Members of Council, uh, my name is Jerry Anthony. I'm a
citizen of Iowa City, and uh, I'm a Member of the Housing Commission,
and I stand before you as a Member of the Housing Commission, not to
represent the Housing Commission. Um, first off, I wanted to thank you
for having this public hearing on the CDBG Home allocation FY09
allocation process. As you know, these are federal funds that we get as an
entitlement community. Unfortunately these funds have declined,
declined very sharply in the past five years. Um, but thankfully for us,
innovative agencies, innovative organizations have come up with really
exciting proposals and uh, the Housing Fellowship is one of those
organizations that has really stepped forward and brought a lot of money
through excellent projects for the community, but going forward,
especially in light of the housing market now since we might have to think
of something beyond depending on non-profits. We might as a city I hope
that we can move on the Housing Market Analysis and put in place
policies and programs that could build, um, increase the supply of
reasonably priced housing for the work force, as well as provide more
funding for reasonably priced rental and ownership housing for the work
force. I also want to thank you for having, uh, two work sessions where
you discussed, uh, this, um, allocation plan in great detail, and for the
numerous ideas that were expressed, I think they were...you really did a
good job, and the citizens of Iowa City should really be proud of the due
diligence that you have exercised (mumbled) allocation process. Um, I
attended both these work sessions and was really impressed and excited by
two sentiments expressed by many of you. The first was, it seemed to me
that most of you had read all the applications that were there. Most of you
seemed to me had read all the minutes of the, uh, extraordinarily long
HCDC meetings that met, and many are very familiar with. It seemed like
all of you had read the minutes, and um, so it's nice to know that the work
that Housing Commission Members do is really important to Council
Members. It's really nice to know that. The other thing I was really
excited about was many of you expressed the sentiment to move forward,
or react to the Housing Market Analysis. Uh, the last time we did housing
market analysis was in 1997, uh, for all intents and purposes, it seems to
me that it was quietly filed away somewhere and nothing happened, but it
seems to me this time there's going to be some radical, uh, differences,
there's going to be some action, and that's really very, very exciting. Now
there were a couple of other ideas expressed that I, uh, want to, that
concerned me a little bit, and uh, these ideas were expressed in the first
work session and I think they were laid to rest in the second work session,
so my comments maybe mute, but nonetheless I'll go ahead and share
these couple points. Uh, the first was, I think, um, a concern was, a
sentiment was expressed that in light of the Housing Market Analysis, um,
we should, uh, now allocate more money for rental housing because that's
what the Housing Market Analysis says, and I think that's an interesting
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point, an excellent point, but from a process perspective, the RFB for this
allocation came out in December. The deadline for applications was in
January, January 22nd or January 23rd, and the Housing Market Analysis
came out after that. So in some ways using the Housing Market Analysis
to decide upon projects and an allocation process that happened, really
took off before that, is like changing the rules at half-time. It's just not
fair. At least it gives the impression that it's not fair, but that's why I
think for the next allocation cycle you should definitely make a change.
You should definitely change City Steps and make a change to reflect
what the Housing Market Analysis says, but not perhaps for this
allocation, because I think it does call into question the fairness of the
process. The second, um, and I think it's been laid to rest so my points are
probably mute, but the second thing that I, uh, heard was that this
allocation, there are...it seems to be biased in favor of owner housing, as
opposed to rental housing, and the numbers that were I think presented
were, there would be only six rental units produced and 31 ownership
units produced, and yes, that is right, but if you look beyond that, if you
take a more detailed look at the allocation you would see that those six
rental units would be allocated...the recommendation is $274,000, and the
31 ownership units would get only $247,000. So it's much less in terms of
dollars. It's much less for ownership housing. Now in this rental housing
allocation, if you include some of the other rental housing projects. For
example, $60,000 that is...that is recommended for the DBRA program,
which is a rental assistance program; the $80,000 for HACAP transitional
housing; um, $15,000 for a local non-profit that essentially does rental
housing development; $28,000 for the same local profit...non-profit for
doing, uh, rental housing. The total allocation in terms of dollars for rental
housing is $457,000, almost twice the, uh, the allocation for ownership
housing -- $247,000. Also, uh, the allocation process is supposed to be
guided by City Steps. HUD requires us...we are supposed to, we ask our
applicants, the Commission asks the applicants to respond to City Steps.
City Steps is a five-year plan, and uh, the current one is from 2006 to
2010, so FY06, FY010, and the target allocation for rental housing in that
is 25%. 25% of funds spent on housing should be for rental housing.
Now in FY06, FY07, FY08 -the last three; if you aggregate the amount of
funds, housing funds allocated for rental housing, it's 44%. So rental
housing has got a lot of support. It needs more support, and perhaps City
Steps, uh, should be modified in the light of the Housing Market Analysis,
for the next allocation cycle. But again, I think you've discussed this and
laid this issue to rest. So, with...likewise, join Steve in requesting on my
personal behalf -not on my behalf of the Housing Commission -that you
would accept this allocation, uh, as proposed and approve it as proposed.
Thank you very much.
Correia: Jerry, what was the percent of, in those three years, of supporting
homeownership?
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Anthony: It's just...just a shade, uh, it's approximately the same. 44% went for
rental housing, 45% went for owner-occupied, so it's about the same. It's
an even split across the three years, but in the light of the Housing Market
Analysis, maybe you want to increase more for rental housing, but the way
to do it would be to reflect that in City Steps, and then for the next
allocation cycle, um, require applicants to respond to modifications in City
Steps.
Correia: And in the current City Steps is rental housing identified as a high need?
Anthony: Uh, both rental and ownership. In fact, in the current City Steps there is
nothing that is not high need, and that's one of the big process (laughter)
problems that we face (several talking). Almost everything is a high need
thing.
Bailey: Other questions?
Wright: Thank you. That was very well put.
Bailey: Thank you, Jerry, and thanks for your work on the Commission.
Anthony: Thank you.
Bailey: Thank you very much for your work on the Commission. Okay, other
comments?
Eastham: Well, I hesitate to present a contrary viewpoint to my real good friend and
colleague, Jerry Anthony, uh, one, the City Steps priorities for rental
housing are actually higher than they are for owner-occupied housing, and
it's our, uh, the Housing Fellowship's position is that the, uh, the Home
and CB allocations actually should be guided by the City Step's priorities,
which have been priorities since 2006, uh, and the Affordable Housing
Market Analysis reflects those, uh, those priorities, but, the priority for
affordable rental housing has been in existence for the last three years, if
not longer.
Bailey: Thanks, Charlie. Other comments? Okay, public hearing is closed.
(bangs gavel)
b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Champion: So moved.
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Bailey:
O'Donnell
Bailey:
O'Donnell
Bailey:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
Moved by Champion.
Second.
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Seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed same
sign. Motion carries. I would entertain a resolution.. .
Move the resolution.
Moved by O'Donnell.
Second.
Seconded by Wilburn. Discussion among...
Correia: I'd like to make a motion to amend the allocation, to move $50,000 as a,
um, compromise from the Iowa City Housing Authority Homeownership
Program, to the Housing Fellowship Rental Housing. That would give
that project, um, $250,000 which would enable them to do 12, um, if their
application for the $500,000 of 26, it would still keep $137,000, $137,500
with the Iowa City Homeownership Program.
Bailey: It's been moved to move $50,000 from Homeownership to the Housing
Authority Rental.
Wright: I second it with some discussion.
Bailey: Okay, seconded by Wright. Discussion?
Correia: I have, uh, information that I'd like to pass out to the Council on two
different homeownership programs that would be available to the Housing
Authority, and other non-profits. Um, one of the, uh, considerations that I,
uh, made in wanting to support rental housing, um, are multiple, um, but
one is the leveraging of other outside resources that I don't see in the
homeownership applications, but which I believe those projects would
have the ability to be competitive with other funding, um, there is, through
the Iowa Department of Economic Development they operate American
Dream Downpayment initiative, which is federal funds that come to this
State for homeownership assistance. It does allow for downpayment
assistance for condominium units - it doesn't have to be single-family
detached only. I have information about that that I'd like to hand out to
(mumbled), and then I also have information for Council on First Home
Plus Program of the Iowa Finance Authority. It is also, um, a
homeownership assistance program for, uh, both of these programs that I
am talking about do support at 80% of the area median income and below,
and so captures, um, households that we are considering. Um, the first
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Home Plus Program provides, uh, finance...uh, loan tools, lower interest
rates as well as assistance with downpayrnent and closing costs. There
are, uh, the information from the web site lists, um, many, many Iowa City
banks that participate in this program. Um, what I don't have is
information about how often our lending institutions are utilizing this
program, and I believe that would be interesting information to have. I
believe we need to, um, make sure that we are leveraging as many
resources as we can into the community to support all of the, um,
important projects that we really want to see happen here, um, I do
understand the position about using the, using data that we received after
and um, the process and I can see your point, um, one is though that we
have understood that there is a great need for affordable rental housing.
We now have the data to see how great a need that is, um, so I would, um,
suggest that already knew that this was a very great need, um, that it does
cost more to produce rental housing, and so while the amounts are the
same, it costs more to produce rental housing and so we need to make
consideration for that, as well, um, and safe, decent and affordable rental
housing stabilizes communities and it stabilizes families. I'm not
suggesting that we shouldn't support homeownership programs in any
way, shape or form. I think we need to make sure that we are, um, making
an important effort, I think, when we see a funding round that comes in
that's supporting 31 homeowner and 6 rental -that's out of balance. Um,
these are federal funds that are shrinking, and I think we need to spend,
um, at the highest need, um, and at the most difficult to produce. I think
we have anon-profit that does an amazing job. I think they're proposal is
to scatter around the community which has been our goal, as well. What
I'm suggesting is not to eliminate the homeownership program, um,
programs that are presented here. Um, there would still be significant
monies available in this pot, as well as the information that I was able to
provide on other funding that is available, as well.
Bailey: Before we have discussion I'll entertain a motion to accept this
correspondence.
Champion: So moved.
Hayek: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Champion, seconded by Hayek. All those in favor. Okay, um,
discussion, and then perhaps we could get some information from, um,
Housing Authority or from Steve Long about how these programs have
been accessed in the community, if you're familiar with them. It would be
helpful, I think. I don't mean to really put you on the spot, but.. .
Correia: I mean, I don't believe the Housing Authority has applied for the Iowa
Department of Economic Development Homeownership Assistance Fund.
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Bailey: We'll let Steve speak to that.
Correia: Okay.
Rackis: I can tell you a little bit about the First Home Plus Program. 1 did talk to
someone at the Iowa Finance Authority recently, and it is used quite a bit
in Iowa City. The top five lenders last year did about 1501oans, and about
$17 million worth of loans. The problem with the fund, and what's
happened in the very recent past is that you can no longer buy a
condominium with no money down. So you need to have at least 10%
down to work with, to buy a condominium. So, that $2,500 is a nice, a
nice boost, but you're going to have to have some matching funds to go
with it. So, it could compliment this program well.
Correia: Yeah, and this, and the information that I have from the Iowa Department
of Economic Development for the American Dream downpayment
initiative, uh, does provide up to, um, $34,000 for a household for
downpayment assistance, and does allow for, um, downpayment purchase
of a condominium, so it's my understanding is that the Southgate project,
uh, price points of $60,000 to $100,000 - I think that this program would
be, um, help that project to be viable.
Rackis: I believe they did look into that. It was a timing issue, for this year for
the...for next year that could work out well. And the funds have been
used locally. The Housing Fellowship has used the funds over the past
year successfully.
Bailey: The American Dream downpayment initiative funds? Okay.
Correia: But the Housing Authority...Steve, can you just address whether the
Housing Authority has applied for those funds?
Long: With our existing homeownership programs, we've predominantly have
sold 26 public housing units, and uh, those and the ad-hoc program, the
proceeds of that were turned back into, uh, for example, Longfellow Place,
so, uh, speaking of the top and ad-hoc programs, what typically has done
is the family has qualified for a private loan of 75% of the purchase price,
and then the Housing Authority has made up, um, a second mortgage for
25% of the purchase price. What...what typically happens is that
participates in our program will meet with Deb Briggs, and the first step is
to determine what their credit...their credit rating is. If somebody scores
over 600, then we refer them to a bank for the private lending. So it is at
the bank, and with the banking, uh, representatives that the family is
putting together these various packages. So we've had people using
USDA loans, uh, federal home loans, just a different...you know, the bank
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basically has access to that information, puts the package together for the
family, they come back with their pre-qualifier, and they're qualified for
75% of the purchase price, and then we move forward with the second
mortgage. In, uh, the Section 8 homeownership program, which I think
we're up to about 20, 25 families that have purchased homes using their,
uh, housing choice voucher not for rental assistance, but mortgage
assistance. Same scenario. I forgot to mention everybody goes through
the homebuyer education class before we even have homeownership
discussions with them, but same scenario. Somebody wants to use their
voucher. They qualify. They have the credit rating. We again refer them
to whatever lender they want to choose, and then they again go to the bank
and then the bank puts together the various packages. But we, no, we
have not. We haven't had the need with...in providing homeownership
opportunities for our participants to apply for additional funds because of
how the voucher program works for homeownership, and how we've been
doing with the second mortgages with either the public housing units or
the properties that we've built.
Correia: But I mean you have applied for other funds now through this process,
which to me would also be applicable to apply for these funds so that we
could leverage our local dollars with other state and federal dollars so that
the money that we have can be.. .
Long: Absolutely, and... and in speaking with Jody Braveman and, uh, Dennis,
uh, Craven, uh, from Southgate that we...we do plan on looking into...as I
understand, one ofthese - I'm not sure which one (mumbled). One of
them is, doesn't have any money right now. Now, I don't know if, uh, if
that is a federal October through September allocation, or if it's a July
through June allocation. So it could very well be if it's, you know, a July
through June allocation, they've expended those funds and then those
funds are, so that's something that we'll have to research and look into.
Correia: And unfortunately I think right around this same time Housing Trust Fund
had put out an RFP fora "building the future" campaign, which was
requesting applications from the collaboration s offor-profit, non-profit,
and governments, which it sounds like this could have been, would have
been an exciting application put together.
Long: The...at this point, um, the Iowa Association of Realtors is putting
together, uh, an application and partnership with the Housing Authority,
uh, to potentially look at building, um, two universal design green homes.
So...so we are partnering with...the Realtors will be the lead applicant.
Correia: I guess I was talking about some of what was currently...
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Long: Yeah, that application's due, um, May 15th, and like I said, the Realtors
are the lead on that particular application, so we are partnering with them.
And, uh, the money that we would be using in that partnership would be
our top ad-hoc.
Bailey: Other questions for Steve about leveraging outside dollars? Okay.
Discussion on the amendment to move $50,000 from the Iowa City
Housing Authority Homeownership Program to the Iowa...the Housing
Fellowship Rental Housing Project. No discussion? This group...no
discussion? Mike?
Wright: Not a whole lot of time to absorb the information. (laughter)
Bailey: I understand.
Wright: (mumbled) scan through some of this. Um, it maybe at a...further down.
Do you know what the income guidelines are...oh, I just saw...80% of
median. Okay. For the ADDI.
Correia: Oh, right, uh-huh. Yep.
Bailey: Well, I mean, this is helpful information, but the amendment is not
necessarily contingent upon this information. I mean, discussion on the
amendment, to move these dollars.
Correia: The reason for sharing the information was to let us know that there are
additional dollars that are out there that we, that our community can
compete for, so that we can leverage our local dollars. We have an
application that is significantly leveraging local dollars, um, almost on a
one-to-three, or more, um, I can't do math that fast, but um, and I think
that's...I think that's something you know not to look away from, um, I
think, you know, I offer this amendment as a compromise. You know,
what I have been talking about the last two work sessions is moving all, or
moving 107,000 um, you know, compromise on 50, um, to get to a
significant amount for the Housing Fellowship and to a rental project that
we know costs more and needs more investment, um, and we have known
there is a high need and we have been seeing, um, over the last couple of
years rental, um, homes that have been on the affordable rental market be
either demolished or converted, and so, um, you know, we have been
needing to pay attention to this, and so I'm not suggesting that we not do
homeownership. I think homeownership is an incredible vehicle, um, and
I think we need to support affordable rental, um, because it also, it creates
stability and it creates a path to homeownership. If you don't have stable,
affordable housing to be able to stay in a place, you know, keep a job,
move on in your job because you don't have to worry about, that you're
able to, um, move on to the next, um, stage.
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Champion: Well, I'm not going to support the amendment. I like what you're saying.
I love the Housing Fellowship. I just think that right now we have two
exciting proposals for homeownership in areas of town that need some
help. I don't think anything provides more stability than homeownership,
for schools, for families, for whatever. I think these are just two incredible
programs. I'm really excited about them, and I'd like to put more money
into it.
Wright: I agree with you 100% that they are two terrific programs (mumbled).
Wilburn: Steve, how many...how many (mumbled) units you do, if this were
to...how many...
Bailey: If $50,000 is moved, what...what's the impact on your...
Correia: About how much would each home be subsidized if it's a home...$5,000?
I mean, when I was looking at the map, some of them were $6,000 to
$8,000, so...
Wilburn: Well, how many fee...this is designed so that the individual could, uh,
directly receive, so how...
Long: It depends on the price of the home, and you can go up to 10% with this
fund, so anywhere from 5 to 10 fewer units, probably. I mean, $50,000
(mumbled)
Bailey: Okay.
Wright: I do think that the amendment helps strike a, a...
Bailey: You're going to have to speak up.
Wright: I'm sorry. We were having this conversation last night about speaking up,
and I was one of the whiners on that. Uh, I do think that the amendment
strikes a balance, strikes a better balance between the funding that's
available to ownership programs, which are important. The downpayment
assistance is...is very important to folks, and I agree that good housing,
whether it's rental or owner-occupied, stable housing makes for more
stable home situations. Uh, it's...I'd like to see us split the difference.
Wilburn: I'm not going to support it at this time, if I...if I'd received the
information proposal before I may have considered, um, a little more, uh, I
wanted to move forward the projects. I have a concern about, um,
well...we have, ourselves, had the conversation of the challenges that the
Commission had with some of the public service projects, and you've got
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a chunk of money and you...you start shaving bits and pieces off, uh, here
and there, and maybe you don't end up with, um, the quality and the
impact that you hoped to have, um, if it's...if it's kept intact. Um, and this
talk about, you know, we know what some of the needs are out there, um,
I'm a little concerned about arbitrarily picking, uh, well, we're splitting
the balance, we're splitting the difference, um, I'm looking forward to,
um, working on policy related to impacting the results that we received
form the rental study, whether that's trying to work in partnership with
some of the local developers, whether that's um, by incentive, by
voluntary, but I've also historically said I've been willing to include, um,
mandates related to policy that, uh, gets inclusionary units throughout the
community, um, again, it's a situation where there's a lot of requests, a lot
of need, um, and not as, you know, um, little less than half the amount of
money available, so at this time I won't...I won't support that, but again,
uh, I'm looking forward to, uh, policy trying to impact, um, some of the,
uh, future needs, and um, yes, leveraging dollars is, uh, is a...is a thing
that you also want to consider. It's also not a mandate of the process that
we have set forward. Um, and I too would have a concern about trying to,
uh, could be perceived as changing...you may get...if you, um, changing
the conditions, um, after the applications have already been out there. So,
um, again, uh, a lot of good projects, not enough money to do that. I also
would point out, uh, since I'm talking I was going to say this during the
main point, but I'll go ahead and say it now, if that's okay, um, Madame
Mayor. That, uh, I'm just glad the Council, um, is willing to, uh, fund and
support these types of projects, uh, there's a focus on the housing project,
but there's other projects on here, as well, um, those of you in the
audience you don't necessarily hear, uh, while this Council's supportive
of, um, providing housing, whether it's rental or uh ownership
opportunities, it's not something that's unanimously accepted in our
community. You don't get the phone calls that we do, um, on the
weekends, complaining about, uh, the City participating in these in
general, um, so we think it's an important thing. I think a majority think
it's an important thing, and this is more just a conversation about, uh,
where you want to have the biggest impact and uh,1 think it's important to
try and diversify things, but as we move towards the future, again, I think
there's some policies we can try and impact that run our market.
Bailey: Other comments about the amendment?
Hayek: Yeah, Amy, I very much appreciate the information, um, provided by you
tonight, but I'm not going to support the amendment. I will support the
resolution we tentatively reached last night. I don't want to completely
reiterate what I said to...
Champion: You did a good job last night.
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Hayek: Um, but I...but I see this as a...as an opportunity, uh, on the one hand to
address a set of troubled structures in an area of town that needs our help,
um, and we have an applicant that has a proven track record of being able
to do that in other buildings in the area, and I think we need to strike while
that iron is hot. That's an important thing to me, and I think it makes this
a unique situation, uh, versus, uh, other years, other funding cycles, and
the other reason this resolution is compelling to me is that I view it as
more than simply a homeownership project. The applicants idea is to
invite families that are currently renting....uh, buildings and perhaps
elsewhere to move into homeownership, um, in these buildings, and to that
extent that will free up, uh, rental housing elsewhere, and that's exactly
the purpose of this program, to bring people up through the system, and so
that's appealing to me, as well. I think it worked, they have worked very
hard with both the City, um, both the Housing, um, Authority and the
planning staff, and they have, uh, eight or ten local banks willing to jump
in and take this risk with them, um, they are willing to take a risk on this
project, and I'd like to see it succeed.
Bailey: Thanks, Matt. Other comments?
O'Donnell: I think it's all been said.
Bailey: Okay. I...I mean, I will support this failing amendment. Um, I think
before I read the Housing, the most recent housing study, I didn't fully
appreciate the importance of affordable rental housing. I think I really
was very much in Connie's...and I don't disagree with Connie, that...that
owning a home is very important for stability, but, um, it really made it
clear to me how that can also be another way to stabilize families
and...and um, communities, and just reading some of the reports in the
Press-Citizen this week about the schools and how important stable
housing is for students. I think that, um, we can get at that in many
different ways. So I'm interested in supporting, um, more affordable,
rental in this community, and Amy, thank you for bringing that
information. I do think if there's one organization that's well positioned
to leverage funds outside of our community, it's our own Housing
Authority, and we really need to be a lot more aggressive I think as a
community in bringing in outside dollars to meet the needs of this...this
community is facing and will continue to face in the upcoming years. So I
look forward to seeing what we can do to leverage the funds and the
programs that the Housing Authority is already doing by bringing in these
additional dollars. I think that's absolutely critical. So, um, all those in
favor of the amendment to the recommendation please say aye. Those
opposed say....say nay. Okay, the amendment fails, um, let's uh, consider
the resolution on the floor for the proposal that we discussed last night.
We have the revised in front of us. Um, further discussion on this
resolution?
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Hayek: I assume...the only thing I've seen is this Exhibit A that we were
provided, and I assume the details of what we discussed last night, in
terms of percentages and that sort of thing are part of the resolution.. .
Dilkes: They'll be addressed in the agreements.
Bailey: In the agreements, and in the documents that we send to HUD, like Fed
Ex'd tomorrow or whatever, right? Okay. That will be covered. Okay.
Other questions or discussions about this resolution?
Champion: Well, I'd like to thank the Commission for doing a tremendous amount of
work, and it...you know, it's a nice sum of money. It's never enough. I
mean, I'm sure we could find many ways to spend it better. (several
talking) Spend more, but we're lucky that we're a community that gets
these funds at all, and it's been incredibly helpful in that, ten years or
however long I've been sitting here, in the same seat, it's amazed me how
many people get help through this...through this money, and it's a
tremendous amount of work to distribute it. Just like to thank everybody
who got involved, and uh, hope you're here again next year.
Wright: I'll support Connie's thanks to the Commission, the...uh, the commitment
that's present for meetings, for attendance at meetings that start at 6:00
and end at 10:30, uh, and that happened I think on a couple different
occasions. It's phenomenal, and we all really appreciate it.
Bailey: And I'd like to thank the staff, as well. Steve and Tracy, you do an
incredible job, and knowing those HUD regulations, I mean, after seeing
the notebook that I saw yesterday of HUD regulations on relocation
assistance, I was appalled and impressed. So, thank you also for your
work. Okay, other comments? Roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
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ITEM 8 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE
PENINSULA NEIGHBORHOOD, PHASE 2A, IN IOWA CITY,
IOWA, TO PENINSULA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, AND
SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON SAID CONVEYANCE FOR
JUNE 3, 2008.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Correia: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by Champion, seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Correia: Um, so, I just have a question, about this, the...when we do the public
hearing, um, the resolution will include the, um, sale price, will we be
including the sale price? Okay. I just wanted to let folks know when we
have that public hearing, I will be asking us to consider, um, having the
proceeds of the sale of this land, um, be put in that affordable housing trust
account that we created last year, where we sold land that was, that had a
housing related purpose. Um, I think that, you know, this is public land
and it's going to be used for higher end housing and (mumbled) as we are
moving forward and will be identifying how we want to respond to the
Housing Market Analysis that those would be dollars that should be
considered, so I just want to let you know in advance that I will be asking
to do that on June 3ra, as part of that June 3~a
Helling: We'll put together for you a...sort of a snapshot of the funds. What we
paid for the Peninsula, where the money's gone thus far, and where it's
earmarked, if it is, and so forth so you have that information. (several
talking)
Bailey: Okay.
Hayek: ...maybe some, even more background, background information on the
genesis of the project and the purpose and that sort of thing, just in brief,
would be helpful.
Correia: Of the whole project, of the Peninsula?
Hayek: Well, yeah, but I think it informs a proposal.. .
Wright: Yeah, I think particularly something of this...(noise on mic, unable to
hear)
Helling: You're talking about the development project -not the entire water
project.
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Bailey: Right, right.
Hayek: Correct.
Bailey: The housing aspect of that project, yes. All right? Other, further
discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 12 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING FUNDING FOR
ALFIE'S BEAUTY SUPPLY, A SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, FROM
IOWA CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
(CDBG) -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACT AS CHIEF
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND SUBMIT ALL NECESSARY
DOCUMENTATION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
Wilburn: Move adoption of the resolution.
Correia: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Correia. Discussion? Frankie?
Cooley: Oh, I thought you called me. Didn't you say Alfie's Beauty Supply? Oh,
okay.
Bailey: It was part of the resolution; if you want to make a comment, you're
welcome to.
Cooley: Oh, well no, I mean, I didn't know if one was needed. I'm, y'all speaking
all formal. I don't understand what y'all are saying. (laughter)
Correia: Tell us about your business.
Bailey: Do you want to tell the rest of the Council what...the Economic
Development Committee has heard a little bit about your business, but
would you like to tell the rest of the Council a little bit about your
business, just briefly.
Cooley: Oh, okay, oh, yeah, I could do that. Um, like I said, I move here from
Davenport two years ago, um, I've been a recipient of the Iowa Housing
Authority program for two years now, um, I'm taking full advantage of
every program that they have. Um, I...I always worked. I worked at the
Post Office and having five kids at that time, it just didn't accommodate
me or my family, and then I have one that's disabled, so I needed to be at
home, but I needed to work. And I didn't want them to think just because
oh I got this voucher, I'm not going to work now. So, um, I started my
own business. I did everything backwards. Did everything out of order.
Um, I had, um, a garage full of supplies and no location. I didn't do
anything in order. I didn't even have a sales tax number, and then I just
started researching and I did everything gradually, correctly. I'm legit,
and um, I finally found a location at 400 Kirkwood. I'm in the same
parking lot with Goodyear Tire, and my landlord, he's great. Um, he, I
went to him and explained to him, so he was like, well, just go ahead and
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move your stuff in, and then as you start opening, that's when we'll start
the lease, so that's what he did. So March 1St was officially a year that I
had been open, and again, like I said, I just had, um, a year and a half
worth of pay saved up. I was just basically living off, um, I ran a candy
store, so I paid my rent, my utilities, everything off my candy store
money, and my work check for a year and a half, I saved it, and that's
what I opened, that's how I got all my inventory, and it was hard because
when you do a business you can't go buy two items or three items. You
have to buy things in bulk, and bulk can be 24 or bulk can be a dozen, and
hair is really hard to get, hair is really hard to get, and some accounts, they
won't even open an account with you, unless you have, unless your first
purchase is $2,000. So your first purchase has to be $2,000 or more. I
don't have a lump sum of money like that. So, um, by grace of God, it
just survived this first year, and um, Tracy Hightshoe and Deb Briggs,
they seen my struggle and they jumped in, and told me I could apply for
this, for these funds and I did, and I originally asked for $10,000, because
that would stock my inventory to where every month I wouldn't have to
get like all my gross, I mean, whatever I make, it goes right back into the
store. The store takes care of the store. It pays the rent, the utilities, the
inventory. It...I don't take anything outside to pay for my house. So I try
to budget my...my house rent and my house bills is totally separate from
the store. And um, they...the, I think they approved $5,000, which was, I
mean, anything helps, I'm not being picky, but, um, it was just hard
because the main account that I really need, they're first purchase, they
want you to spend a minimum of $3,000. So, that's where I'm at now, but
um...
Wilburn: Can you tell us a little bit about your, excuse me for interrupting, can you
just tell us a little bit about your business, the products and the hair care
and...
Cooley: Oh, okay. I sell, it's kinda like Sally's but more for African Americans,
um, I sell wigs, hair pieces, extension, um, I even have some customers
from the University Hospitals, cancer patients, and they come in, and what
I do is, cause I can't afford to donate it, I give them discounts, so, and I get
human hair. They come in, I can size them, get their color, so it's...it's
real good. I have some retail stuff, some clothing, some shoes, but mainly
hair, and hair care products.
Wilburn: Thank you.
Cooley: Uh-huh.
Bailey: Thanks.
Champion: We wish you well.
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Cooley: Oh, thank you. Thanks, Connie.
Bailey: Thanks. Okay, discussion, Council?
Hayek: Yeah, I don't have much to add to it, I mean, I'm on the Economic
Development Committee and I was one of the three of this group who
looked at the application, and we were comfortable with it. It's a little
more, it's a little riskier than, um, some just because it's aless-established
business, and that was the reason staff recommended shaving down the
requested amount somewhat, and we followed staff's recommendation on
that. Um, but this is the purpose for which this fund was created. This is
micro-enterprise, and we felt comfortable taking a flyer with this and
hoping that we could help a new business success in Iowa City.
Bailey: Thanks.
Wright: This looks like a really good opportunity.
Bailey: Okay, roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 13 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING FUNDING FOR
TEXTURES, A SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, FROM IOWA CITY'S
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) -
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND AND AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO ACT AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE
OFFICER AND SUBMIT ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION
TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT.
Wright: Move the resolution.
Correia: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by Correia. Discussion? Did you want to
say anything?
Champion: Come on, say something!
Bailey: Introduce your business to us, um, we don't have staff here so this is very
helpful.
McMillan: Hi, how are you? I'm Cheryl McMillan. I am the sole owner of Textures
Salon. I've been in business about five and a half years now. Um, I work
with a lot of the University people, students, college of dentistry, med
students, and just children, um, in elementaries and up. Um, what I also as
Alfie has going on, is working with cancer patients and working with
women who have hair loss due to alopecia, so I've been doing this for
about five and a half years. Actually, almost eight years, but five and a
half at this location. So my idea now is to expand. Um, I'm more into
helping people become their own entrepreneur, so I would like to, um,
build a salon and help each one become their own business owner so they
can jump out and eventually do their own business, as well, and having the
hair in my business, um, will also support what I'm going to be doing.
Bailey: Thanks, Cheryl. Any questions? Thank you.
McMillan: Oh, you're welcome.
Bailey: Further discussion among Council? Okay, roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 14 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK
TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE
SENIOR CENTER BOILER AND CHILLER REPLACEMENT
PROJECT. (DEFERRED FROM 4/29)
Bailey: The Engineer's estimate is $725,000 and Public Works and Engineering
recommends the award to RMB Company of Iowa City, at $759,900.
O'Donnell: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell.
Wilburn: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Wilburn. Discussion?
Champion: It's so much money!
Wright: It's a terribly big amount of money, but.. .
Champion: I'm going to vote for it, but...
Wright: ...part of that money is just the way that the...that the work is situated in
the building, and apparently that there were some contractors that didn't
want to bid on it.
Champion: It's a lot of work. It's too bad our climate requires both heat and air
conditioning.
Wright: Yeah but (several talking and laughing)
Bailey: This is a very expensive, old building, but those of us who live in old
houses know (mumbled). Roll...
Champion: My air conditioning didn't cost this much! (laughter)
Bailey: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 15 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING DISTRIBUTION OF
THE "PROGRAM FOR IMPROVING NEIGHBORHOODS" (PIN)
GRANT FUNDS.
Wright: Move the resolution.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by Champion. I think, um, and we have
(several talking) and we have some people here for discussion.
Wright:. ...this side of the table than that one.
Koppes: Yes. Usually he does the introductions so this time I'm going. I'm Beth
Koppes from the Wetherby Neighborhood Association here representing
the Neighborhood Council of Iowa City. The Neighborhood Council of
Iowa City has reviewed the, um, fiscal year 2009 grant applications
presented by the Neighborhood Association for funding through the
program for improving neighborhoods PIN grant program. This is the 14t''
year the City Council has made funding available to the Neighborhood
Associations to make improvements in their neighborhoods. This year
$15,000 was appropriated for funding for programs for improving
neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Council developed the program
guidelines, the ranking criteria, the process for evaluating the applications
when the program began in 1995. They have regularly revisited these
program details and updated when necessary. The most...they most
recently reviewed the ranking criteria this year and made some minor
changes. This year, seven grant applications from five neighborhood
associations were reviewed. The Neighborhood Council reviewed the
applications, established rankings, and negotiated funding levels. The
Neighborhood Associations' representatives would like to provide a brief
summary of each of these applications tonight, and we thank you very
much for the uh, ongoing support of this grant program. It's very well
used and appreciated from the neighborhoods. Um, I'll introduce Jen
Kardos from the Morningside-Glendale Neighborhood Association.
Kardos: Hello. Um, so the purpose of the Morningside-Glendale PIN grant was to
assist home owners of low to moderate incomes to defray part of the costs
they'll incur to the City's inspection of sidewalks in our neighborhoods,
um, this year. They inspect them about every ten years, um, also as part of
this project the community members will be able to pool their resources to
negotiate the best possible price with contractors by negotiating as a large
group. Um, very similar PIN grants to this one have been granted to two
other neighborhoods in the past through this PIN grant process. Residents
wanting to take advantage of the grant funds will have to complete an
application process, um, there'll be a mailing sent out that let's them know
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that this is intended for low to moderate incomes, and there's a higher
reimbursement rate for lower incomes. We feel that this project is one that
the whole neighborhood can appreciate, um, especially given the harsh
winter effects, um, and if our sidewalks have any impact like our roads do,
which they do a little bit around our neighborhood, um, and then
especially given just also the increasing prices of, um, essential things like
gas and groceries these days. Um, this will be an unanticipated cost for
homeowners' budgets and so this will help them out. Um, also, our
neighborhood is kind of near downtown and City High and has a lot of
heavy pedestrian traffic, um, so a lot of children also and a lot of retired,
um, folks so we want to make sure they are in good repair and safe.
Bailey: Okay.
Champion: How much was your grant for? I don't have it.. .
Kardos: Um, $5,000.
Bailey: Thanks, Jen.
Pascoe: Hello, I'm Judith Pascoe from the Northside Neighborhood, and um, our
project was an alley beautification and alley walk garage sale day, and we
asked for some funds, $800 was what we were, are hopefully going to be
granted to distribute plants and seeds for people to plant in the alley, in the
historic alleys of the northside neighborhood, and then we're hoping in
August to have a day in which we encourage everyone to take an alley
walk and, along a route that will be passing some of the plantings, and
we're also on that day going to encourage everyone to have garage sales,
and we're planning it for the day before the, the Saturday before the
students come back to campus, so we're hoping it's going to be an event
that will bring together all the different parts of our neighborhood.
Students will be involved because they'll be looking for furniture, and
that...that'll be held by the garage sales. We're also hoping that people
that just have interesting things in their garages, such as antique cars or
other odd things, will open up their garages. So it's sort of like an
alternative to the usual house and garden walks -we're doing an alley
walk. Um, the other thing that we hope it will do also. All the things the
plants we are providing are going to be things that will reseed themselves
and keep growing year after year, and this morning for the very first time I
saw a bluebird in an alley on the northside, so maybe a secondary benefit
of this will be to encourage wildlife in our neighborhood. iJh, and then
one last thing is we're hoping to ally ourselves with one of the other
neighborhood projects which is especially good, and also very ambitious.
The Wetherby Splashpad project, so we're hoping to collect donations on
the alley walk day and make a contribution to the Wetherby
Neighborhood's big project. Thank you.
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Bailey: Thanks, Judith.
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Khan: I'm Annadora Khan and I represent the Longfellow Neighborhood
Association, and we are asking for money for our annual block party,
which regularly attracts about 200 or so neighbors, and for two summer
movie nights. The goal is to foster neighborliness, meet new people, and
identify issues of common concern. For, um, we have over 200 people
attend our block party. LTh, the neighborhood buys meat, buns,
condiments, drinks, and paper products. Everyone who attends is asked to
bring a dish to pass. We've traditionally self-funded the block party, but
are trying to conserve funds this year for one of several projects that we
have in mind for next year. Um, we feel movie night will help the same
way, and hope that it will develop into our neighborhood tradition. Thank
you.
Bailey: Thank you.
Wright: Those block parties are fun.
Champion: They are.
Harms: Chris Harms, and I'm with the Grant Wood Neighborhood Association,
and this year we put in for two different grants. Um, the first one is for
$750 to get speakers, um, at the Grant Wood gym. We're trying to utilize
the gym. We realize that the City put in money to have events held there,
and so the Grant Wood Neighborhood Association is trying to, um,
provide different activities there. We have movie night once a month and
um, now we'd like to do workshops, um seven of `em during the year, and
do, um, you know, like landscaping, something to help the neighbors and
to bring people together, that would like to know different things in the
neighborhood, um, and we want to uh pay them an honorarium so that,
that um we (mumbled), and the other one is, um, $500 for a Harvest Party.
Again, this year we had 500 people, the last two years, so this will be our
third time. We have a big response and it's a big undertaking, but it really
brings all the community at Grant Wood together, and I think it's
definitely worth the time and effort that we put into it.
Bailey: Thanks.
Koppes: And I'm Beth Koppes from the Wetherby Neighborhood. Um, I put in for
two grants this year. The first one was for the Splashpad for $5,000, um,
we are approximately at $180,000 of committed funds right now, which is
great. You know, we would like to get up to our original goal of
$200,000, but if we have to downsize we have to downsize. So we're
really hoping to...got a couple grants out there right now that we're
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waiting on hearing from, so we're crossing our fingers one of those will
come through and we can get up to our goal. Have a couple other things
that we're working on with that also. Talking to some businesses, um, one
of our committee members has been calling a couple of them to see if we
can get some more commitments from some local businesses, but we have
gotten a few from like some of the banks in town and a couple
construction companies, so that's been great, and if you'd like to see the
list, l could forward it to you, but right now it's really, we've gotten a
variety of people from all over. We also hold a garage sale, which we
raised over $600 from the garage sale and then had about $100 in
donations, so that was early April. Having a car wash in June, over at
Hills Bank. You should all come and get your car washed. I think it's
June 7`h, so it's on Slamfest for you. So you (several talking and laughing)
Bailey: It's on the way.
Koppes: Anyway, so, anyway, we're doing a lot of things in the neighborhood, and
Grant Wood and Wetherby are working together on this, so it's not just
Wetherby. The other grant that I applied for was $2,000 towards benches
for around the Splashpad. Um, like to get somewhere for the parents to sit
and watch their kids when we get it built, so that was that one, and so that
was...now I'm on to my closing comments. I want to thank you, and from
the neighborhood council, again, from doing all these great grants. You
can see we have quite a variety of grants, all the way from movie nights to
parties to big projects, like Splashpad, and we do really appreciate it. We
ask that you approve the resolution recommending these grants tonight,
and authorize expenditure for these funds for next year. Thank you.
Champion: I think it's totally amazing that you raised that much money. I think
you've done a terrific job, and I think it's important that citizens know
they can make contributions to this project, which will benefit the whole
City, not just your neighborhood. I...sending money to the Parks and
Recs Foundation. That's correct, right?
Koppes: That is correct. Parks and Rec Foundation has an account set up for the
Wetherby Splashpad, just write on there that it's for the Wetherby
Splashpad, and we've had a few private donations, um, some more recent
than others, and so when we first started we had a gentleman in our
neighborhood donate $500. So, you don't know where they'll come from.
Thank you again.
Champion: You are going to get there!
Koppes: Yeah, I hope so. Thank you.
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Wright: I do want to put in a pitch for the PIN grants. Um, this is a phenomenal
program for the neighborhoods, and the, uh, the gnashing of teeth that
goes into working out the amounts that each neighborhood gets when they
apply is pretty phenomenal (mumbled), uh, I think I pointed out to the
Council a year ago that PIN grant monies were cut from $25,000 to
$15,000 (mumbled) something I hope we can revisit with the budget
sessions.
Champion: I can tell you that I did not vote to cut them! (laughter)
Bailey: You can add that to the budget discussion list for sure. (mumbled) Well, I
think the PIN grants, I mean, I think we all enjoy this, these, uh, projects
and I think one of the neat things too is as neighborhoods come together to
plan their projects, it really builds community as well, and they plan them,
they implement them, and then they also have projects that bring the
community and their neighborhoods together, so I think that there...it's a
great program, and thank you all very much for the work that you do in
your neighborhoods, because I know that you're all volunteers and I know
that it takes a lot of time, so, and thanks, Marcia, for your work with the
Neighborhood Council I know, but you do a lot of work connecting and
that, so...further discussion, on the PIN grants? Roll call. Item carries 7-0
with an enthusiastic vote from Hayek. (laughter)
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ITEM 16 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE SCULPTURE
TITLED "IMPERMANENCE IS INEVITABLE" AS A GIFT FROM
BRIAN FRITZ, SCULPTOR, TO THE CITY OF IOWA CITY,
IOWA.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Correia: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Champion, seconded by Correia. Discussion? (several talking)
It is! Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 17 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CONTRACT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE ARTIST FOR
DISPLAY OF A SCULPTURE ON THE IOWA SCULPTOR'S
SHOWCASE.
Wright: Move the resolution.
Champion: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Wright: This is also a nice sculpture. (mumbled)
Bailey: Yes. I like our public art, our sculptures. I think they're quite exciting.
Roll call.
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ITEM 19 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A
CHAPTER 28E AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA
CITY AND THE CITY OF CORALVILLE REGARDING CERTAIN
OBLIGATIONS INVOLVING THE I-80 CORRIDOR LANDSCAPE
DESIGN AND BEAUTIFICATION PLAN.
Hayek: Move adoption of the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by Hayek.
Wright: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Wright. Discussion? I think you have that 28E agreement in
front of you tonight, or we got it last night. Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 20 CONSIDER A 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.
Wilburn: Move adoption of the resolution.
Hayek: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Hayek. Discussion? (unable to hear
person in audience) Wait till the microphone...
Cohn: My name is Yale Cohn. I'm actually here advocating on behalf of
homeowner Ray Thompson of, uh, what is his address - 1207 Muscatine.
I served upon the City Council via email earlier this afternoon a copy of
the motion to dismiss the fine. I can't fathom that it's made it into your
hands in that length of time. I have hard copies which I can present to you
if you would allow me to approach.
Bailey: Just hand them to our City Attorney and she'll give them to us.
Cohn: The respondent, Mr. Thompson, um, is contesting his individual finding of
violation on five grounds. I'm only going to address three of them here
that are relevant to possibly anyone who's been so charged, because
they're not all unique to him. Um, the invoice alleges...the invoice which
was sent for work allegedly done on February 14t", the invoice alleges that
two people working for half an hour removed snow and ice, and applied
two bags of ice melt on the respondent's driveway where it crosses the
public sidewalk. Respondent contests for five grounds, but I'm only going
to address three of them here with you this evening. The City Code
provides that if there is a second violation confirmed during that same
season the City can immediately clear the sidewalk without notification of
the property owner. Uh, this violation that I'm contesting stems from an
alleged violation which occurred on February 13t". On December 27th, a
notice violation, here and after a snow notice, was sent regarding this
property. Was that alleged violation that this snow notice regarded that
the sidewalk was completely covered in ice? It was not. Was the
sidewalk entirely unshoveled? It was not. The snow notice was issued
because the shoveling that had been done was allegedly only one shovel
width in width. A reinspection that occurred on 12/31/2007 and showed
that the path had been sufficiently widened, such that the sidewalk was
found now to be in compliance with City statutes regarding snow removal.
Hence, although a snow notice was sent on 12/27/2007, the property was
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not found to be in violation, due to the fact that the path on the sidewalk
was widened, and the issue satisfactorily remedied. Because the snow
notice issued on 12/2'7 was in fact remedied and the sidewalk upon
reinspection was found in compliance, said mere notice of violation
should not then be allowed to stand as a defacto violation, sufficient to
allow the City to act without notice, to address a second alleged violation.
Acting to correct the second alleged violation without sending due notice
improperly views the first snow notice as though it were an actual
unremedied violation, even though it was satisfactorily remedied. Doing
so gives then the same punitive weight to a mere notice of violation, an
allegation, as it does to a genuine finding of violation stemming from
abject and reckless and material non-compliance with City Code. For the
City to view the original alleged violation of the sidewalk being shoveled
only one shovel width with the same eye that it might view a completely
and utterly unshoveled sidewalk, or otherwise impassable sidewalk, is
fundamentally improper. Just as there are degrees of theft, degrees of
murder, degrees of assault, so too by the same reasoning there must also
be accommodations made for degrees of snow removal violations. Given
that the first notice of violation was remedied, it should not then count as a
genuine and material violation sufficient to allow the City to act to remedy
subsequent alleged violations, without first giving due notice. The second
point that I'm raising, which is also I believe...
Bailey: Sir, I hate to interrupt, but we don't have you on the assessment list. I said
I'm not acting on behalf of myself. I'm advocating on behalf of (several
talking) address is not on the assessment list.
Karr: You're not being assessed at this time.
Cohn: Well, I have the bill. No, I have the...
Karr: You have the bill and the invoice, but that is not the assessment. There
are...
Cohn: Right, but I'm acting to preemptively stave off said assessment on the
grounds, on a number of grounds, that such finding of violations was
improper.
Correia: Is there a process to.. .
Cohn: I believe that this is the outlet that is available?
Bailey: No. (several talking) Actually, um, we are just considering the
assessments in front of us tonight. Can you explain the process, since he's
not on the list, what he needs to do to stave off, and then just clarify this.
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Karr: You...I, again, I did not distribute it this evening because it did come late,
as you had...later in the day, but you were not on the assessed list. I
forwarded it to the City Attorney's office, and to our accounting division,
to research the matter.
Cohn: The fees you're attempting to collect then with this assessment.. .
Karr: Have been billed...that's exactly.
Cohn: I see, so...
Karr: That's correct.
Cohn: Then is there a format then that this motion which I filed with the Council
this afternoon can be regarded prior to any action to put, uh, Mr.
Thompson on a future assessment?
Dilkes: We can...my office can respond to...to what you have given us. Um,
it's...there's not really any forum to do that, but we can certainly have a
conversation about it. Um, I haven't had a chance to read it all, and I can,
we can make a response. We may conclude that we disagree with you and
that there should be an assessment. If that happens, you will show up on
the next round of assessments, and you can make your pitch or your
arguments to the City Council.
Karr: You will receive then an official notice then, uh, announcing that hearing
and that process, which will be much like this.
Cohn: Well, I raise in this, even if I'm not on this, I raise in this several
fundamental Constitutional problems with the City's policy, insofar as due
process, adequate notice, and uh, equal protection, given that some
properties do in fact do receive two snow notices, instead of just one, and
then the, uh, instantaneous action by the City. So I don't know if a private
citizen can ask rather that the Council not move on those, but acting as a
friend of the Court, as it were, for anyone who's been so charged, I'd ask
that these legal points be taken into consideration, before the Council
moves to add to the property tax...
Bailey: And that's a policy, procedural discussion that we...that you could bring
before us, but it's not the item tonight is specifically, um, the act of
assessment. The policy/procedure question is something that you could
write a correspondence to the Council and ask us to consider. We would
talk about it at a work session and if four of us would want to look at that
process, then we would discuss it at a work session, and direct staff to act
according to the results of our discussion.
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Cohn: Would that discussion be something entirely amongst the Council itself, or
would a private citizen be able to come and...
Bailey: Typically in response to correspondence at the work session and then
when it was put on a formal Council agenda item then naturally a citizen
could speak to the issue.
Cohn: All right, well, I appreciate your time. I was here on business (several
talking). I read in the Press-Citizen, last chance to you know avoid your.. .
Hayek: These are, yeah, a lot of these items were from a winter ago, and some of
them were also for weed removal and sidewalk repairs.
Cohn: All right. Well, mine was expressly related to snow removal, but I would
ask that those points brought up here be considered by the Council or the
Legal Department.
Dilkes: I'll respond to your, um, Constitutional arguments.
Bailey: Okay. So, the discussion has started. Thank you. (mumbled) Okay.
Um...
Karr: You wish to accept, uh.. .
Wilburn: Move to accept correspondence.
Correia: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Correia. All those in favor say aye.
Those opposed same sign. Motion carries. Would others like to speak
specifically to um, this resolution adopting the assessment schedule?
Okay, any discussion among Council? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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#24
ITEM 24
Bailey:
Champion:
Wright:
Bailey:
Page 48
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Let's start with, um, the birthday person, Mr. Wright. Happy Birthday!
(several responding)
And you're how old? 30?
31. (several talking and laughing)
Oh, you're finally admitting...
Wright: Long overdue! I have a visual tonight. It's "bike to work" week, um,
every year we have a bike to work week in Iowa City, uh, area. This year,
uh, it comes with very spiffy t-shirts if you're lucky enough to be able to
get one. It's basically to encourage people to use bicycles as a legitimate
form of transportation, not necessarily just for recreation. Um, those of us
who ride our bikes to work every day, some of us even go year round,
know that it's a very pleasant, it's a very inexpensive, and it's a very
healthy way to provide yourself with some pretty quick transportation. I
can actually drive from our house to, uh, my office at the University in
less time than it takes to drive the car. And also, this weekend we have
more festivities for Irving B. Weber Days. The Friends of Historic
Preservation are sponsoring their, uh, tour of homes on the northside and
Goosetown areas, and that's available at, on the web at ic...excuse me,
hp/iowacity.org.
Bailey: Okay, thanks. Connie?
O'Donnell: Was the great bicycle-car race today?
Wilburn: It was yesterday.
O'Donnell: It was yesterday.
Bailey: And how did you do?
O'Donnell: I'm hearing rumors from Coralville that the Honorable Tom Gill is
protesting this race because he got lost on the way to Iowa City.
(laughter) He maybe demanding a rematch. (laughter)
Hayek: I also heard that Ross Wilburn provided directions. (laughter)
O'Donnell: They'd have to be very clear for Tom. (laughter)
Wilburn: I won. The bicycle won.
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Bailey: The bicycle won. Or the bicyclist won in this case. The bicycle doesn't
always win, but uh, in your case, of course.
Wilburn: That's true. I'd also like to thank, you know the main thing is, uh, the
environmental and health reasons to ride the bicycle, but to consider
transportation alternatives. If we all can do a little bit, um, it...it benefits
the, well, the community and the world. I just want to publicly thank on
the way out to the race there's a gentleman had his signal on. I thought he
was going to pull into the parking lot I was coming out of. He wasn't, and
he avoided me and I hit the ground, but just want to thank him for not
hitting me. I publicly apologize to him, and appreciate the fact that I was
able to start the race. (several responding)
Wright: We're glad he didn't hit you too!
Wilburn: What's that?
Wright: We're glad he didn't hit you too!
Wilburn: Yeah.
O'Donnell: Nothing this week.
Correia: But you had your helmet on.
Wilburn: I did have my...I always wear my helmet. Uh, I guess I, should I continue
with.. .
Bailey: Yes.
Wilburn: ...okay. Um, the Friday Night Concert Series, uh, the outdoor portion
actually starts this Friday. Last Thursday there actually was a "battle of
the bands" fundraiser at the Yacht Club, and later on in the Friday Night
Concert Series I guess the winner will perform, but this Friday uh the City
High-West High Jazz Ensembles will be performing. All the concerts take
place from 6:30 to 9:30 on the Weather Dance Fountain Stage outside the
Sheraton Hotel, downtown Iowa City. Uh, just a nice assortment of bands,
solo and group acts that you'll hear, all summer long from Big Wooden
Radio to Rod Pierson's Big Band, to Orquesta Alto Maiz, and it's always
a fun time to get out and see the town and dance or just people watch, so
come on down!
Hayek: Nothing this week.
Correia: Well, I wanted to share some follow up information from the Violence
Against Women Task Force, um, towards the waning weeks of that Task
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Force, I was approached by Bonnie Hendrickson, who's the Education
Coordinator for the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors. Um she had
been to a safety workshop by, um, a gentleman out of Jacksonville,
Florida and the Association of Realtors is interested in bringing him in to
do a safety workshop for realtors, and so when she saw an article, I think,
in the Press-Citizen about the Violence Against Women Task Force,
starting thinking about utilizing him in a community workshop, um, and
pulling together community organizations. So I have joined a planning
committee, along with representatives of, um, the Board of Realtors and
other organizations, um, to hold acommunity-wide workshop on June 4th,
um, Wednesday, from 2:00 to 4:00. It'll be in Old Capitol Town Center,
um, Andrew Wooten, who's the President of SAFE, Safety Awareness
Firearms Education, will speak on personal safety at 3:00. The event is
called "Safety 411, Real Talk About Real Issues, Get the Word on How to
be Safe, Where to Turn, Who can Help," and we're contacting a variety of
organizations, including Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Rape
Advocacy Program, um, RAC, Police Department, about Crimestoppers
and UI Nite Ride, and so there'll be information tables available for the
community, as well, so that's something that's going on. I also wanted to
share that RAC on campus is starting a men's antiviolence counsel. Um,
it'll be male volunteers that will engage in bystander interventions that
foster individual and community change to prevent stalking, dating
violence, and sexual assault. Volunteers will engage in conversation with
others to encourage reflection and beliefs and attitudes related to
masculinity. The summer training begins June 18th, and folks can get
more information on the RAC web site on the www.uiowa.edu and go to
search for RAC, or they can ca11335-1486 for more information on how to
get involved in that important effort. Um, I also wanted to just give a brief
update for folks of, about the success of the free tax prep clinics, um, 660
tax filers were served -that's 100% increase from last year. Brought in
$640,000 in federal and state tax returns, into the County. Incredible
volunteer effort from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business,
um, and Professor Joyce Berg, uh, 52 volunteers, almost 1,000 volunteer
hours, uh, we also had Spanish translation at all of the sites this year, as
well, so really a good community/Universitypartnershfp, um, helped a lot
of people. So...um, and I also wanted to remind folks since we're not
meeting before this date on May 31St is the Irving B. Weber Ice Cream
Social that will be at City Park in the afternoon, beginning at 1:00,
so...encourage you to go out to the ice cream social.
Bailey: Thanks, Amy. Um, in the spirit of bike to work week, we have a Mayor's
Bike Ride tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14th. We're gathering in
Chauncey Swan Park, um, right around the Farmer's Market at 5:15. I
think the ride takes off at 5:30, 5:45, so would invite people to join us in a
leisurely...(laughter)...leisurely ride form Old Pi to New Pi tomorrow.
Bring your bikes and bring your helmets. It should be fun. The weather
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should be great. I checked it out. We're not going to have any rain
problems. So...
Wright: ...have to make a correction. I gave the wrong web site when I was
talking earlier. www.ic-fhp.org. (several talking)
Bailey: ...the Historic Homes tour, great, and your home is on that, yes?
Wright: Yes it is!
Bailey: Yeah, that's great!
Wright: I was hoping you wouldn't mention that. It's not ready!
Bailey: It'll be ready by Sunday.
Wilburn: First 150 participants in the bike ride get a light (mumbled)
Bailey: You mean the first 100 to get out there, so that means it's not leisurely?
It's a race (laughter)
Wilburn: I already have a light.
Bailey: I do too, a great light! I love my light. Okay.
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