HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-05-12 TranscriptionMay 12, 2008 Special City Council Work Session Page 1
May 12, 2008 Special City Council Work Session 6:30 P.M.
Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Correia, Hayek, O'Donnell, Wilburn, Wright
Staff: Karr, Helling Dilkes, Fowler, Rackis, Hightshoe, Davidson, O'Brien,
O'Malley, Briggs, Long, Boothroy, Mon-is, Jordan
Other: Gunn, UISG
PlanninE and Zonin¢ Items:
Bailey/ Okay, I think we'll get started...on Planning and Zoning items. Before we go to the
agenda items, there's been a suggestion to only do Planning and Zoning items on
Tuesdays, and take care of all of them at the formal meeting, and I indicated to Dale that
we would talk about what the preference is. It's entirely up to us how we proceed. Jeff
has indicated that...you have no preference`?
Davidson/ It's up to you all.
Bailey/ Okay. Um, is there a preference? I mean, obviously the rezoning items we talk about at
the formal meetings.
Champion/ I don't care one way or the other (mumbled)
Hayek/ So as a general matter do them on Tuesdays, orjust this week?
Bailey/ All of them, even this, even these sorts of things would end up being discussed on
Tuesdays.
Correia/ (mumbled)...questions...that's the only thing.
Bailey/ When I first came on Council I found it very helpful to have a work session, um, (noise
on mic) but it really is up to...
Dilkes/ I,et me elaborate a little bit. The problem is that most of the meaty items -the rezonings,
um, have to be on Tuesdays now by the policy that you put in place, and so what we're
left... so we're always dividing up what items can only be discussed on Tuesday and then
leaving a few that can be discussed on Monday and Tuesday, and I think there's some
concern that that's confusing to people, you know, whether your Planning and Zoning
items are going to be talked about on Monday or Tuesday or potentially both. Um, so
that's...that's the idea, that for members of the public anyway, it would...it could be less
confusing just to have everything on Tuesday. Um, do you have anything else to offer,
Marian? That's where it comes from. For instance, we usually....the ones that are lefl
from Monday we usually run through fairly quickly. Now, we might have a controversial
subdivision, for instance, um, that we could talk about on Monday, and then also talk
about on Tuesday, but if that's the case, then you're going to have applicants that come
both on Monday and on Tuesday, as opposed to just coming on Tuesday, listening to the
pitch by staff, and then listening, and then getting their pitch. So that's the...where the
suggestion, yeah...
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Karr/ It is primarily one of confusion, to the applicant and to the, uh...pardon me?
Bailey/ ...are they just not hearing?
Dilkes/ Well, for instance, if we have a comprehensive zoning item that is linked up with a
rezoning item, it's been my, and as we're sitting at staff trying to divide up these items
between Monday night and Tuesday night, I have said we should put the Comprehensive
Plan amendment on Tuesday night. It doesn't make any sense to me to split up, even
though a Comprehensive Plan amendment is not a rezoning, to separate those two items
and have the Comprehensive Plan talked about on Monday night, but the rezoning only
talked about on Tuesday night. And so it's not just a matter of explaining that there's a
simple rule to the public. (several talking)
WrighU ...or previous Council, I don't know, made that...
Davidson/ The notion, Michael, was - at the time, that the formal meeting, you're on camera, you
know, you might have a huge agenda anyway. The thought was that at the work session
you would...I think there were two things. You'd be more likely to have perhaps a freer
exchange of ideas than you would when you're on camera at the formal meeting, and that
it was a way to not clog up the formal meeting with, uh, I mean, I think that was
Council's intent at the time. That was before the Court case that led to us now
considering the rezonings on Tuesday, it was all prior to that. So I think...I think some
of the things have changed, but that was the original thought on Council's part and
having them...at that time, all of the P&Z items were presented at the work session.
Bailey/ So, preferences? Do you want to try all P&Z items on the formal for the summer and see
how it goes? Or...(several responding)
O'Donnell/ It seems to me though, Regenia, on many...many occasions somebody's had a
question, wanted information, and that's brought to Tuesday night, and may delay some
things if we ask for a specific piece of material.
Correia/ That would be my concern too, since we don't meet every week, it could potentially
delay projects, delay decisions.
Bailey/ But an email or a phone call to me or to Jeff or the planning person, I mean, we can
probably take care of that, but that does promote (both talking)
Correia/ Well yeah, promotes discussions outside and then sometimes questions come up because
of the discussion that we're having and what other people's questions are.
Bailey/ So shall we leave it as is? That's kind of what I'm hearing, is leaning towards keeping it
as it is? (several responding) Okay, let's just continue the way we're doing it.
Hayek/ I mean, I wouldn't mind experimenting with this proposal L ..I think that the potential
for confusion is an issue we should be concerned with. Um...but I also share your view,
I mean, all things equal, I'd rather have the ability to ask stupid questions off camera
(laughter) and get some answers by Tuesday.
Correia/ I don't care so much about that, I mean...
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Hayek/ Uh, so...
Correia/ ...but, do applicants or however we refer to them on Planning and Zoning, do they
receive any direct communication, written, of when their item will be discussed by the
City Council?
Davidson/ Well, I think most of the regular customers, our local developers, are pretty much in
tune. You know, if they've got an item, if it's a controversial item or one that may have
some discussion, they come to both meetings. I mean, they know that. If we're dealing
with someone maybe from out of town or that we're not typically...don't typically work
with, we'll explain to them the process and they'll have somebody there both nights, uh,
typically.
Correia/ Okay, so then what's the...why are people confused, if they know.
Davidson/ Well, I don't think the local developers, well, perhaps some of you have some
anecdotal evidence. I...I haven't noted a lot of...
Bailey/ I haven't heard any...
Wright/ Nothing.
Davidson/ Eleanor, did you want to elaborate on...okay.
Bailey/ So we will leave it as it is. Yes? (several responding) Thank you. All right.
Davidson/ Madame Mayor and Council, uh, we will be considering items D, G, H, and I this
evening.
Item d) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 3,
2008, ON A RESOLUTION TO VACATE NORTHTOWNE PARKWAY
RIGHT- OF-WAY. (VAC08-00002)
Item 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)
Item h) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY PLAT
OF KENNEDY'S WATERFRONT ADDITION PART FIVE, IOWA
cITY, IowA. (suBOS-ooool)
Item i) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF THE
PENINSULA NEIGHBORHOOD PHASE 2A, IOWA CITY, IOWA.
(SUB08-00004)
Davidson/ Uh, Item D will be setting a hearing, um, on the vacation of Northtowne Parkway,
which is in Northgate subdivision. Basically a swap, one street for another. Any
questions about that? Moving on then to Item G. Item G is a discussion of an application
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submitted by William and Mia Wang for a vacation of an alley located south of 829
Kirkwood Avenue. This is the, uh, home on the corner of Kirkwood and Keokuk that
they've been building a new foundation for, for over the winter, and there maybe
a...well, yeah, there's the house, right there. Um, Here's where the alley is located. If
you're like me, uh, none of you knew that there was an alley there. It was a platted alley
that was never built. The Wangs own the property on both sides of it, and now have
something that they would like to do with their property for which this alley is an
encumbrance. Um, see there was a couple of things...um, if I can find that here. Um,
yeah, the alley was platted in Lucas Addition, never built; uh, we have several factors for
any vacation of any City property that we consider. We have been through all those. Uh,
I think the pertinent ones for this one, uh, we do not feel...we do not feel the vacation of
this alley will have any impact on pedestrian and vehicle access, emergency vehicle
access, or utility vehicle access. Access to adjacent properties will not be affected; the
Wangs property is on both sides of it. Uh, the alley is too small to be used for a public
park. As far as we know, there are no utilities, uh, in the right-of--way. We know that
there are no public utilities. We've notified the private utilities, and uh, they have a
certain duration of time to contact us. L` we find any private utilities, it would be the
Wang's responsibility to, uh, relocate those or go around them or retain whatever
easement was necessary. Um, our recommendation is to approve.
Hayek/ Does the City have any policy on financial consideration to the City...
Davidson/ Yeah, a subsequent action then is the conveyance. They would be required to provide,
I mean, it's typically fair market value, right, Eleanor?
Dilkes/ They've been provided with the information. We have a memo that tells them what we
need. If they want to go to the expense of getting an appraisal and provide that to us, we
will do that. Otherwise we expect an offer that's based on the assessment of the
neighboring properly.
Davidson/ Which is their property.
Dilkes/ In this case we've not received an offer yet.
Davidson/ Any further questions? Okay. Yeah, next item, uh, Item h, is discussion of an
application submitted by Southgate Development for a preliminary plat of Kennedy's
Waterfront Edition, Part Five, um, which is a four-lot, 6.4-acre commercial subdivision
located west of South Gilbert Street, south of Stevens Drive. Uh, this is directly north of
the new school bus facility, to orient you. Uh, there you can see it, uh, and I think we
have...there's the plat, you can see the four lots. Uh, couple of things about this. Uh, the
property is currently zoned CI-1 and we...we put some language in the staff report just
for your information about the Comprehensive Plan. You know, if the applicant were to
have requested a rezoning of this to CC-2 or CO-1, that would be consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan. You know, the bottom line here is that the City, nor the applicant,
has taken any initiative to rezone it. Uh, the existing zoning is CI-1. Even though it is on
the arterial street, the applicant has considered that is the zoning that they prefer and so
that's the....that's what's under consideration here is with the CI-1 zoning, uh, this plat
would have CI-1 zoning. Um, in terms of...of traffic and access, there will be a common
driveway, if I can get uh...right here, for lots 2 and 3. Uh, lots 1 and 4 then, well,
obviously lot 4, but lot 1 even though it has frontage on South Gilbert Street would not
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have access on South Gilbert. It would have access from the cul-de-sac that would be
formed here at the end of Stevens Drive. Currently Stevens Drive ends right here. This
cul-de-sac bulb would be added as part of the subdivision. Uh, the staff report referred to
some storm water management issues, which at the time of the staff report were
unresolved. I'm informed that those have been resolved, and that the engineers have
accepted the storm water management plan for the property. Um, the other thing that
may occur here - it would be up to the applicant - is an access easement, uh, could be
placed from the end of the cul-de-sac...basically it'd be a driveway. If, for example,
there was a sale of lot 4 and they wanted to have more direct access to Gilbert Street,
there could be an access easement put in that would then go out via this common
driveway here, uh, not required but as an option that the subdivider would have, if they
wish to do that. ilh, recommendation to approve then as presented.
Bailey/ So there's a driveway off of lot...
Davidson/ There's currently a driveway to the...this is the school bus faciliTy down here.
Bailey/ Okay.
Davidson/ And there's a driveway right at that point.
Bailey/ Thank you. (several talking)
Davidson/ The only other curb cut will be right there. There's not a curb cut to lot 1.
Bailey/ So there potentially could be another curb cut (mumbled). Okay.
Davidson/ We would expect there to be a common one there for lots 2 and 3. Any further
questions about this? Uh, there's the property. I didn't realize we had more pictures.
I'm sorry, I haven't reviewed the slide show, prior to seeing it. Um, Item I then, uh, is
discussion of an application presented by Peninsula Development Company for a final
plat of Peninsula Neighborhood Phase 2A. Phase 2A, uh, as...was basically carved out
of Phase 3, and I can explain that a little bit more further. Uh, it's 17 lots, 17.6-acre
residential subdivision, uh, located off of Walker Circle. Uh, there's the Peninsula
neighborhood, and you can see the shaded portion is where Phase 2A is. There are
currently two, uh, stubs of Walker Circle here, let's see...yeah, that's basically the
shaded area that was just shown. Here's the basically Walker Circle would make a loop
like that, and then there will be Barbers Place here, which will be a circle drive there.
Uh, let's see, couple of things about this, oh, uh, well, as I mentioned, Barbers Place I
guess is the name of that, um, circle street, total of 17 lots. If you approve this then you
have on your agenda Item 8, which is the conveyance of this property. The way the
Peninsula development has worked -this will not be news for some of you, but it might
be for others - um, the City purchased the entire, uh, Peninsula property when we were
constructing the new water treatment plant, and the...the lower portion was purchased
with flood control monies that we received from the Federal government, can only be
used for the well fields that are down there and for non-flood sensitive type uses, parks,
the...there was also a portion that was leased to the Elks Club for the relocation of some
golf holes. The upper part where the development project is, uh, we had a whole bunch
of easements that we needed to get through there. The property owner in the course of
that negotiation finally said why don't you just buy the whole thing, and so we purchased
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the entire thing, got our easements through there that we needed, and then the City
Council at that time determined they were interested in a traditional neighborhood type
development. It was not occurring through the private sector without public involvement,
so with some public involvement we, uh, went out and got requests, got a developer, and
I won't bore you with all the subsequent details, but basically the developer purchases
additions. For example, they purchased the first addition. They were required to
complete it to a certain percentage. Then they could purchase the second addition. What
happened with Phase 2A here is the developer came to us and said there are some
housing types here that we don't have in Phase 1 and 2. We would like to carve out a
part, uh, even though we have not completed the percentage that we would normally have
to do to purchase more. The City Council at that time did grant approval to carving out
Phase 2A. There are some housing types, particularly these, uh, right around here. These
homes will be very nice homes that will have a view of the river, and they will have
nothing built between them and the river, and they don't have any product out here right
now that they can sell, that meets those qualifications, and so that was their reason for
having, uh, Phase 2A preliminary platted, and now the final plat.
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.TLINE 3, 2008
Davidson/ Uh, and as I mentioned, Item 8 on your agenda will be the conveyance and the
conveyances according to the model that we have been using, um...
Correia/ Can we talk about this agenda item now, since it's...(several talking)
Dilkes/ It's just setting the public hearing.
Davidson/ Right. It's, uh, resolution of intent, I guess you call it, uh, and if you have any
questions about the conveyance, I'd be happy to talk about that, but otherwise, uh, yeah,
it would be your intent to convey the property.
Correia/ So, I mean, I have a few questions. So that circle, the Walker Circle, is that
infrastructure already in place?
Davidson/ No, just built, it's built to right there.
Correia/ So the developer, okay, so the developer...
Davidson/ Ifd be just like a regular subdivision. The developer will build that, put al] the
infrastructure in. The City will then inspect it and accept it. There'll be public
improvements done.
Correia/ Okay.
O'Donnell/ How short are they...how short are they in the first part?
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Davidson/ Um, well, the most recent update I had was last fall, and they had, I think they had
five, six, eight out of, I mean, they were a long ways from the percentage that they would
have to complete to buy all of Phase 3. But, they have a new manager out there...excuse
me, Amy. They have a new manager out there. Regenia, I think you've spoken to him,
haven't you? He's very enthusiastic and said that, you know, his...what at least he has
indicated to me is that, you know, since they're the only game in town really for this type
of development, there are people who are interested in, and they're actually, in spite of
the downturn in the real estate economy, they're seeing some good interest. That's at
least what they're telling us.
Hayek/ In these or...
Davidson/ No, in the development in general. (several talking)
Hayek/ Is there anything in our agreement that requires some, meeting some target number?
Davidson/ Yes.
Hayek/ Okay. So...
Davidson/ This has been an exception to that, which a previous Council approved.
Hayek/ Right, I understand that, but as to the first and second. I mean, I know...
Davidson/ The first has been met.
Hayek/ Okay. (mumbled)
Davidson/ They had to meet, they met the target with the first, in order to purchase the second.
Hayek/ Okay, but as to the second, I recall last fall some press on that and how...how far off...
Davidson/ Yes. Well, the Council approved the amendment to...to allow them to purchase 2A,
which is the (mumbled)
Dilkes/ The Council approved amendment to the purchase agreement.
Davidson/ Right. I think...
Dilkes/ Or the development agreement/purchase agreement, and that's the document that sets the
targets.
O'Donnell/ Could we get a report, Jeff, on how short they are?
Davidson/ Yeah. I will. Well, why don't wejust give you a general update report on what's
going on.
O'Donnell/ That'd be great.
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Dilkes/ Just to be clear -they're not short anymore, because the agreement was amended.
(several talking) We're in compliance with the agreement.
Davidson/ What I took Mike's question to be was in terms of their subsequent purchase of Phase
3, how close are they to making the target for purchasing Phase 3.
O'Donnell/ Right.
Davidson/ We'll find that out. Any other questions?
Coneia/ Yeah, so...
Champion/ We actually approved this before, that's correct, right? This is just bringing us now
the next stage. Right, fine, thank you (several talking)
Davidson/ Right, this is a final plat.
Correia/ A lot of us weren't here when you all set this up, so it's...
Bailey/ Last fall.
Correia/ But the whole thing.
Bailey/ This part, this is a final plat.
Correia/ In terms of, we're talking about the next phase. (several talking) So, just to remind me,
I do remember having this conversation. These are all single-family lots. There's not a
mix with another phase.
Davidson/ No, Amy, there are some, I think some of these, you know, I apologize for not
knowing that (mumbled) let's see, it is, no I'm sorry. They are all single-family lots.
Yeah, different types of units, but they are single-family lots.
Correia/ Some larger lots, obviously.
Davidson/ Yeah, and then obviously these are the more modest homes on the interior here, on
smaller lots, and more modest homes.
Correia/ So...
Davidson/ These are what they're...at least at one time the developer called "estate homes."
Correia/ And so the range of price points that were... sort of expecting...
Davidson/ Well, I really think this has been a model development in terms of range of price
points because of...
Correia/ For this phase.
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Davidson/ Oh, for this phase? This phase would clearly be a mix. I can't tell you exactly what
those price ranges are, well, they don't even know because they don't have any houses
built out here yet, but these would clearly be the more modest homes on the smaller lots.
Correia/ So, but when you're saying modest, you're...
Davidson/ You know, at one time, Amy, they talked about having price points as low as
$160,000, $165,000...I don't, you know, that's all private market. They're not required
to meet those, but that was at least their goal at one time.
Wilburn/ As I recall from one of the concepts when we were having the original developer and
then the change, that, uh, I recall, um, some of the larger lots being, uh, on the outskirts
and facing the river, so...yeah.
Dilkes/ Can L..because we're just setting the public hearing, we traditionally talk about these
things when we're holding the public hearing, and so you have time to gather information
about this and ask questions, and I think...
Davidson/ This is approval of the final plat, isn't it, Eleanor?
Dilkes/ That's the final plat, but they're talking about the conveyance, and the terms of the
development agreement and the purchase agreement, and we're just setting a public
hearing on that, so I think it's best to get the facts and... and talk about it when we have
the public hearing, rather than trying to remember what the agreement says.
Davidson/ And clarify for me, because I haven't heard anybody request any facts about Phase 2a.
Just about Phase 3. So is there any additional information you would like before the next
Council meeting when you'll actually approve the conveyance of the property?
Correia/ Where we'll vote on it.
Davidson/ Yeah, that's true. (several responding) Any further questions?
Council Appointments:
Bailey/ Okay, next item is Council Appointments, but I don't think we have any so...
Champion/ We don't have any.
Agenda Items:
Bailey/ Agenda items?
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)
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Champion/ I want to talk a little bit about Item 14, Senior Center Air Conditioning, Boiler. I
mean, I...the bid, the recommended bid is $759,000.
Correia/ What item are we?
Bailey/ Item 14, page 13 in your agenda.
Champion/ And I'm wondering, I mean, that seems like a lot of money to me. It is a lot of
money, and I'm wondering if somebody can tell us if there's a way we can economize on
that. I mean, is this the Rolls Royce of air conditioning/boiler units?
Bailey/ Kumi is here. I bet she can give us some information.
Champion/ I have trouble approving that.
Morris/ I don't have that agenda item in front of me, but um, what we do know is that there were
nine general contractors that came to the pre-bid meeting, and um, one of the things that
makes this project so incredibly expensive is that, um, to remove the, uh, well, the
majority of the, um, the systems you have to go into, um, you have to go through the side
of the building to get to it. It's all in a mezzanine space, and so basically there's one
crawl-through hole to get into, um, access through the building, and in order to take out
all of the duct work and materials, you're going through what would be the, the northside
of the Senior Center. There's a huge panel that will come off, and then everything will
be unloaded via, um, through a crane, from the building, to get to all the ductwork. So, in
terms of, um, we're going with high energy efficient cooling systems and a new, um,
high energy efScient, um, furnace system that's replacing an antiquated boiler. However,
the majority of the cost is that it's just a very difficult site to work with. There are, one of
the things that we have to do is we're trying to keep as much of the, um, the, um, Senior
Center dining facilities operational, and a majority of this is above that, um, facility, the
kitchen facility. So it's neighboring that, so part of that, they'll have to put up a lot of
screening for materials. They'll have to put what's called Visqueen, which is like a
plastic material, over a lot of the area and work in phases to be able to, um, to get a lot of
the material out. So...
Champion/ Why couldn't we, well, I don't know. This just seems like a lot of money to me.
Wright/ ...bid price is where the actual mechanical, as opposed to labor going in and out and
(mumbled).
Morris/ No, I don't know the breakdown of that. I do know that, uh, about, um, $80,000 of that is
in controls because we...in order to, because the system is so antiquated. We tried to,
um, just update through computer systems, through software upgrades, but there was no
way to do that because of the types of systems that we had in the building. Some of those
systems are over 25 years old, and um, in order to have the controls be able to talk to one
another in terms of heating and cooling systems, and humidification, um, it, you know,
we had to upgrade the controls completely in order for the system to operate properly.
Bailey/ I don't like this bid any better than you do, but I think once we move forward on this
project; we agreed that we own the building and we can't defer this kind of maintenance
any longer, and I think that's why we're moving ahead.
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Champion/ Well, if part of the expense is working around the dining room, why couldn't they
move the dining room to the Rec Center?
Correia/ No kitchen. Or not a...
Hayek/ Has anybody done an analysis of how much could be knocked off this bill if we were, uh,
if we caused more inconvenience to those who use those facilities for a period of time?
Morris/ You know, one of the things that is, um, the majority of the work that is occurring is right
above the mezzanine space of the dining area, so we would have to close that, I mean, if
we were to really do that, we would close that down for the whole...pretty much the
whole period of the, um, of the contract work.
Hayek/ Well, then that's what I'm suggesting...
Champion/ How long would that be?
Morris/ Well, I think that we have...I don't have it in front of me, but the start, I think we have a
start date of at least, I think it's about athree-month period. I'm not sure. I'm talking out
of tum here because I don't have it in front of me, but...
Correia/ Well, I'm wondering if it's over the summer, if they could use a school space. I mean, if
you could move and not have additional costs to be moving if...you know, if there was a
facility that was available.
Bailey/ So are we...can we defer this and get some more information about what portion of that
bid could be, um, reduced...if, I mean...
Dilkes/ What's your timing Kumi7 (several talking)
Morris/ ...award it from the time we took the bids.
Dilkes/ And it's been deferred once, so...
Morris/ Right. One of the things we....we did look at bringing it to another site. We did explore
all those different options, and they are having a prolonged shutdown period for the
dining area, um, where they're going to do sandwiches and things off-site and bring them
on, so we do have, um, we do have a shutdown period of the dining area, as much as we
could do that would make it reasonable to work within that space, because there's certain
times when they're going to have to have complete shutdown and won't have access to,
you know, any...it's going to be hot as heck in that kitchen because there's not going to
be any cooling... in the building.
Dilkes/ So that's May 22°a
Morris/ That's correct.
Dilkes/ That you'd have to award by. If you want to...
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Wright/ I would expect that if we try to have something off site at a school, for example, then you
start bringing transportation issues with some of the folks that maybe are at the
Ecumenical Tower and...
Wilbum/ I understand the explanation you're talking about, but it's close to the engineer's
estimate, is close to the other bid.
Bailey/ Well, and it's not so far out of the engineer's estimate, I mean, we've certainly made
awards like this before, that have been above the engineer's estimate (mumbled).
Wilburn/ And I'm saying relative to the other bid too, which is almost another couple hundred
thousand more, so...
Morris/ I did give calls to the other, there were, as I said, there were nine contractors that came to
the pre-bid, and I called the other contractors to find out what were reasons that they
didn't submit a bid, um, and most of them had talked about just the difficulties of the site.
Once they got...we had a mandatory pre-bid, which we don't always do, but I wanted...I
wanted the contractors to be well aware of what they were getting themselves into, um,
because of the nature of having to have the crane for a lot of the operation, which is very
costly, um, and um, the majority had said that there, you know, they could find other
work without having to work around that kind of situation.
Bailey/ So perhaps we're fortunate that we got a bid this close to the engineer's estimate.
Wright/ In the scheme of things, it's not that far off.
Bailey/ Right, and that was my point.
Hayek/ We've dealt with some HVAC issues in our building, and I can, by comparison, actually,
this doesn't strike me as all that incredible. It's just incredibly costly to deal in this area
with building maintenance. But if you, if the likelihood of being able to shave down this
cost through, you know, a longer shutdown of the dining room is not worth pursuing,
then let's not do that.
Bailey/ Timing wise it sounds like it would be difficult to do, I mean, just because of the
closeness of the...
Wright/ May 22"d, yeah.
Bailey/ Okay, Connie? Thanks, Kumi. Other agenda items?
Davidson/ Madame Mayor, if anybody has any questions about Items 12 or 13, Tracy Hightshoe
is here this evening. She will not be in attendance tomorrow evening.
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
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AND SUBMIT ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
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.
Bailey/ 12 and 13, this is Alfie's Beauty Supply and Textures. (several talking) CDBG,
Economic Development.
Correia/ The question I had about the, um, I can't remember now. I think it's...for the business
that's expanding to Iowa City. Textures? Is that the business that's expanding? Does
the owner live in Iowa Ciry? (unable to hear response) Okay, so...
Bailey/ I don't think she does.
Hightshoe) Usually to be eligible for CDBG assistance, the owner does not have to live in Iowa
City. That's not something we always verify. But the business has to be in Iowa City.
Correia/ Okay.
Hightshoe/ Uh, she lives in Coralville. The business is currently in Coralville, but she would like
to expand, so she needs a larger space and she's looking in Iowa City.
Bailey/ Other questions for Tracy?
Correia/ So it's contingent upon finding a location and all of that.
Hightshoe/ Looking for a location; she secured a private loan, and that private loan was
contingent upon SBA guarantee and CDBG financing.
Correia/ So I see the percentage rates are coming down, that's nice!
Bailey/ Thanks. Other agenda items?
ITEM 2. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED
OR AMENDED.
d) Public Hearings.
2. CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 3, 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 STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.
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Wright/ I had a question way back at the beginning, in Item, uh, 2, d.2. Way at the beginning,
2.d.2. Consider a motion setting a public hearing on an ordinance amending public
works, um, billing and collection procedures, delinquent accounts, delinquency charge
for all state and local government...
Bailey/ Yes.
Wright/ Can somebody expand on that a little bit? I'm just...
Correia/ I actually have a question about that too, in terms of whether I have a conflict.
Helling/ It's, um, go ahead, Kevin.
Bailey/ Yes, Kevin.
O'Malley/ The current...the current ordinance requires us to charge a late fee of all customers.
We put that...we had an agreement, wasn't on the books, that we wouldn't charge, um,
fellow governments, and then we decided after we got some new people in they said,
`Let's charge everybody.' So we charged everybody, and University came back with a
State statute that said we could not charge them a late fee for 60 days. So, we honored
that, then we thought we probably should change the ordinance so that the other public
bodies wouldn't be charged, because they were giving us some grief about the 5%
penalty and not paying it. And we didn't want to shut their water off so we said we'll
look into changing the ordinance.
Champion/ Well, if I'm late I have to pay.
Coneia/ (several talking) because the County is a water customer, part of the problem can be that
we get, even if we get the bill and put it through that same week, the way the County
does -going through the Auditor's office - it could be late.
O'Malley/ It's similar with the School District.
Correia/ Right, and so, I mean, we should...
O'Malley/ And...
Dilkes/ I wouldn't have thought you had a conflict. I would say that was (mumbled), but you, I
think you seemed to think you have a conflict, so...
Bailey/ And so we need to move this from the Consent Calendar, so...somebody please take note
that this needs to be pulled out. And...
Champion/ Well, the University says that...yes, I'll make a note of it. (several talking) The
University said that you can't charge them a late fee unless they're 60 days late. Is that...
O'Malley/ Right, they have 60 days in the Code of Iowa to pay their bills, and most, uh,
governmental bodies pay their bills, subject to board approval, and uh, it's been kind of
a...the more advanced cities, or governments, actually know that they'll be paying these
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bills and get approval, and so that's how we do our business. We pay bills every week,
and then every month we send you a list of all the bills and all the vendors, and ask for
your approval, and if you ever said no, I don't want to pay X bill, we'd have to go back
and get the money from those people. In order for the School District and the County not
to be in that situation, they wait until they get the approval and then they write all the
checks, and uh, we don't have a problem with that. We...we can still shut them off if
they don't pay the bill. So...we can still shut off the University if they don't pay the bill.
Champion/ Interesting!
O'Malley/ But they don't want, they don't get...
Champion/ It's kind of strange that everybody else in town gets charged, but if you're a public
entity you don't! And...
Correia/ But they don't have to go through an approval process, Connie. (laughter)
Champion/ No, I understand that, but why don't we change the ordinance for 60 days? To match
the State ordinance.
O'Malley/ I don't think...well, we could, but I'm not sure our computer systems can handle it,
but we could probably figure it out.
Bailey/ So this is the recommendation from staff about how to...
O'Malley/ Right. We want to treat all the governmental bodies the same. First we were trying to
treat everybody the same, and since one governmental body got out.
Bailey/ It's going to be separate now. You can vote against it.
Champion/ I will! (laughter)
Bailey/ I'm glad we get to pull this out! Qaughter) Any other questions for Kevin? We do
understand the reasoning behind it. Now you just need to figure out where you are on the
issues.
Wright/ It's just one of those things...I read through that about three times. I could not...I wasn't
sure what it was referring to. So...
Bailey/ Other agenda items?
Hayek/ I have a question, not about a specific sidewalk cafe application, but about those
applications generally, um, is there...do we know what the approximate lag time is
between an application and approval by Council for such a permit?
Karr/ Well, there are degrees of the application. From the time the application is complete, and
by that, the diagrams have been in place, the inspection is done, the agreement prepared
and signed, it goes on the next agenda. Uh, there is no lag time. Sometimes an applicant
will say they filed an application to get the ball rolling, but they have not completed
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inspections or scheduled them, or provided enough of the supplemental information.
Um, so ofren that will slow it down to complete the application.
Hayek/ Somebody's approaching me and asking me why a sidewalk cafe hasn't been approved,
and might want to ask some questions about the completeness of the...
Karr/ Absolutely. It's put on immediately once the agreement is signed, and the agreements
themselves are pretty much boilerplate.
Hayek/ Okay. All right, thanks.
Bailey/ Okay. Other agenda items?
ITEM 9. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE BUDGETED POSITIONS IN
THE REVENUE DIVISION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE
PARKING DIVISION OF THE PARKING AND TRANSIT DEPARTMENT
BY DELETING ONE ACCOUNT CLERK -REVENUE POSITION AND
CREATING ONE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE -PARKING
POSITION. (DEFERRED FROM 4/29)
ITEM 10. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE BUDGETED POSITIONS IN
THE REVENUE DIVISION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT BY
DELETING ONE ACCOUNT CLERK -REVENUE POSITION AND ADDING
ONE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE -REVENUE POSITION
AND AMENDING THE AFSCME PAY PLAN BY DELETING THE
POSITION OF ACCOUNT CLERK -REVENUE.
Correia/ I had questions about the Item 9 and 10, the changing of the staffing...
Bailey/ Yeah, I have a question about 9, so...I think Joe and Chris are here for that.
Correia/ Right. My first question for both of them, actually, are related to the source of funds for
the increase cost. So for example...
Helling/ For both of them?
Correia/ Right.
Helling/ Yeah, the, well the Parking one will obviously come from parking fees.
Correia/ So it's coming from fees. It's not coming from our...
Helling/ And the increase will come from the General Fund in, uh, Finance.
Correia/ So, even though the position related to...water, okay, I'm getting confused. Oh, so the
utility account...this is a utility account clerk, so that's working like with our utilities?
Water utility?
Helling/ Kevin can answer that. Yeah, I think, well, we'll let him answer, but I think there's
reimbursement back to the General Fund (mumbled) paid out of there.
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Correia/ Okay, that's my question.
O'Malley/ Uh, yes, a lot of the water utility, all the utility counter clerks, get paid out of a charge-
back from waste water and water and refuse. So...
Correia/ Why do we do it as a charge-back, rather than a direct...
O'Malley/Because some of their, because not all of their efforts are water or utility. Some
people come in, well, some people come with parking and some people come with just
Finance questions or...or, uh, assisted housing questions, and pay rent, um, and other
types of general Ciry questions. So, we came up with a calculation...we do it every
budget time. We go through and see how many...there are some direct charges for
postage and that, but...then we go through and look at all the supplies it takes to do a bill
and all the labor, etc., and we create that charge-back.
Correia/ So, on our budget page, that revenue would be the infra-city charging, or...
O'Malley/ Yes, correct. That's part of the infra-city charges.
Bailey/ I have some questions about the parking operations.
Coneia/ Thank you.
Bailey/ Thanks, Kevin. Um, and I had some real concerns about this, but I see you added parking
availability to that, which I thought was very smart.
Fowler/ That was always in our plan. We just left it out (mumbled).
Bailey/ Oh, I think that'll make it a lot easier. Um, what other options, besides paying tickets, are
available on the web site? Can you fill out an appeal online?
O'Brien/ Not currently, but that's something with the new softwaze that we're purchasing, um, or
in the process of attempting to purchase, that will be available. So...
Bailey/ So what's the timeline for that?
O'Brien/ Uh, right now we're still...we're working on their contract, um, Legal and I are going
back and forth with the company, working on the contract they gave us.
Bailey/ And I like the hours of operation. I think that would allow customers... do we have a
sense of what it would cost us to add a Saturday morning option? As well.
O'Brien/ That's something we could certainly figure out, um, or we could certainly tweak hours,
um, with the person. Maybe have a Tuesday through Saturday, uh, we do have a
supervisor on Saturday's as well, so...
Bailey/ That might, I mean, you know, just looking at making it as customer-service friendly as
possible. Um, I'm still not sure that it won't have an impact to the parking customer,
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relocation of this. I'm not sure I agree with your statement, but I think...I think that you
have made it as easy as possible.
O'Brien/ Right.
Bailey/ Part of it is people just don't know that office is there.
O'Brien/ Well, I think they're advertising it, and I think a lot of people....we, the tickets that we
issue, um, informationally put out, the addresses, one of the more bold things we put on
the actual citation itself, so by, um, making sure it's our address versus the City Hall one,
um, and a lot of the functions will still be available at City Hall -paying your citations,
um, filling out appeals, um, it's a lot of the, sort of the administrative, um, and when
somebody has complaint, which we get those anyway, um, itjust...we're trying to
prevent from shuttling people back and forth.
Bailey/ And if your car gets towed, you still have to come to the police station, right?
O'Brien/ Correct, because if you come in after hours, um, we like having the one source for...for
tows.
Bailey/ Okay. That's essentially all the questions I have. Any other questions for Chris and Joe?
Correia/ So the increased cost is due to the additional hours, or it's a different...
O'Brien/ It's a different position actually, from an account clerk to an actual customer service
representative. Thank you.
Champion/ Thank you for keeping our ramps so nice and clean. They are really clean...
Bailey/ ...ticketing people. (mumbled)
Helling/ For clarification, um, does everybody have their questions answered? Or do you want
somebody from Parking back here tomorrow night?
ITEM 7. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 3 ENTITLED "CITY
FINANCES, TAXATION & FEES," CHAPTER 4 ENTITLED "SCHEDULE
OF FEES, RATE5, CHARGES, BONDS, FINES & PENALTIES," SECTION 3-
4-4, ENTITLED, "WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS USER
CHARGES," OF THE CITY CODE TO INCREASE OR CHANGE
WASTEWATER USER CHARGES AND FEES IN IOWA CITY, IOWA.
(SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Bailey/ I'm good. I don't need somebody from Parking. I think we can explain it, um, I do want
to note on Item 7 that staff has recommended expedited action, so if somebody wants to
make a note of that tomorrow night, that would be good.
ITEM 2. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED
OR AMENDED.
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fj Correspondence.
11. Petition: Re-establish parking on the 1300 block of Oakcrest
Bailey/ Um, and then on 2.f.11, we got some correspondence from Oakcrest, um, a petition and
it's my understanding from talking, um, to Transportation Planning that there's an
amount of time that needed to pass before we would reconsider this parking, and that
amount of time has passed, so if we're interested in looking at that again, we...the
appropriate amount of time has passed.
Correia/ Where's Oakcrest again?
Davidson/ It's uh the block of, I mean, Oakcrest is several blocks long. The particular block that
you had the petition for is between Sunset Street and George Street.
Bailey/ And I think we took parking off during the day, and now they want to put it back on
during the day. There's lots...there are some rental houses over there that this is
particularly (mumbled). So, I'd be interested.
Correia/ And why did we take parking off then? (several talking) It's fumed over now, is that...
Bailey/ Exactly.
Correia/ Gotcha!
Bailey/ So I'd be interested in resurveying the neighborhood, if others are. (several responding)
Yeah, resurvey. Okay, any other agenda items? Okay. Let us move on then to the
Eastside Recycling Center. Kumi?
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.
Morris/ The point of this presentation is to give you an update of the Eastside Recycling Center,
where we are now as we are taking the plans and specs out to bid. Um, this is, um, a
rendering that some of you might have seen last year of the site. Um, we are looking at
seeking a platinum site rating and a platinum building certiScation for the education
building, which is this building to the south, on the lower part of your screen, and um, it
would be the first, if awarded, it would be the first platinum site, LEED site rating, for
any, um, facility in Iowa, and so that...we're hopeful that we'll be able to get that. This
is also, um, a site plan that some of you had seen last fall, and there had been some
changes and I thought I'd go through some of those. Um, I'll be probably trying to flip
back and forth between the two site plans here. This is the current site, uh, site plan.
Um, as you can see, um, one of the main changes is, um, as we looked more at
operations, um, one of the main changes is 8 and 1.A. If you look 8, it's electronic waste
drop-off site, and 1.A is Habitat Restore expansion, um, as you can see we're moved
those around within the facility. I'm not sure how many of you have seen this, um, have
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seen this plan before, and if there's those that need to walk through the actual site plan for
you. Have you...is there, in terms of Council, is there anyone...
Bailey/ I think all of us have seen...
Morris/ Okay, great, just so that I'm not showing things that people haven't seen.
Correia/ So the Habitat Restore expansion is not contiguous with their...
Morris/ It will be, yes. It's just there's been...here's the old one and here's the new. Okay, so
what we're done is we've made some modifications -sorry about that, Amy. Let's see,
and then also one of the other main changes that we have made is we're moving the
concrete truck wash-down station, number 10, up to the north part of the site, and as you
can see, it was down further south, but we've moved that up, so that there would be an
easier, um, travel for trucks and vehicular travel. Um, the other major change is if you
look down, um, south of, um, part of building number 2, um, we've widened the road for
a broader turning radius, and um, another major change is that if you look at building 12,
which is the education facility, um, it's a much larger facility from what we started with.
As we started to look at classroom sizes, that, um, that we see at most of the city, um,
visits and so forth, we've made some modifications to that.
Bailey/ So what's the change in square footage? If you...
Morris/ Yeah, I think that it was....let's see. Basically what we did was we moved some of the
facilities around. We had...we had incorporated at one point the restrooms within the
classroom space, and we've moved that out, so that the restrooms can be open, um,
during, um, when for example when the Center is, when the Education Center is actually
closed, but if there's other activities going on at the site, you can have another, um,
access to bathrooms. And so I think that what we have right now is about 2S...I think,
let's see here. Um, it's 2250 is the square foot finish of the Education Center, at this
point.
Correia/ And that...I think we talked about this before, but will this center be open or available
for members of the public to rent, for...(several talking)...oh, okay.
Morris/ I'll go ahead and go through the architectural and then we'll go through operations. Let's
see here...so those are the major, um, changes to the site. Otherwise, it's similar to what
you have seen in the past. Um, as we, the estimate at this point is, um, $3,284,500, um,
one of...as some of the changes to, from the increased, um, and the estimate, was again
was some changes to vehicular travel improvements. One of the things that we did was
we changed the bulk water facility, which is, let's see here...number 11 on the site. You
can see it's on the, um, on the west side of the site. It's ayear-round facility now. The,
um, Restore...one of the major changes that we've also done is made some
improvements to the Restore building itself. Um, the...Jennifer has been dealing with
leaking problems with the roof, so we're replacing it with, um, an energy-star roof
system, um, we're making it...some changes to the HVAC system within, at Restore, and
um, looking at ceiling modifications within the sales area. Right now there's, um,
because of all the moisture issues that it has, it had some... some sagging in all of the, um,
the materials and the roofing materials, and so you can see that from the sales space, and
then also one of the other changes is to the Restore space. Let me go back one slide here,
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and if you look at, um, building 1 to the south of it there's been, that we've made some
modifications to, um, to the south of the building so that Restore can have better site
observation of the site. They're responsible for, um, viewing all of the traffic that comes
in, dealing with the public that comes in, and so one of the things that we did was to have
a better access point for them to be able to view the site and maintain it, and lastly, one of
the, uh, changes that, um, increased the estimate is the education facility - as I spoke that
we have increased the classroom size, we brought the restrooms to the north side of the,
um, to the Education Center so that they would be accessible when the building is closed,
and um, we've improved the...what would be the future outdoor education so it's more
of an amphitheatre area, and um, increased some storage. Some of the components of the
Eastside Recycling Center in terms of the environmental and energy components that
we're looking at for LEED will include bioswells pervious pavement. Those are the first
two, and I'll be talking a little bit more about that in the next slide. Um, and then many
of the building materials that are recycled, um, content material. We have energy-smart
roof systems or a cool-metal roof. We're actually bidding out both to see what will be
the better cost-savings between the two, but both are, um, will be able to get LEED points
from both, and both would be considered white roofs. Um, we're looking at recycled
contents too on all the storage steel facilities, um, as well as recycled content carpet and
um, cork flooring. Um, many of the materials were selected due to, um, based on how
much, how far they had to travel, as well, as the recycled content material and where
they're made. Um, we're looking at water-free urinals in the, um, in the Education
Center restrooms, as well as ultra low-flow faucets. Um, we're looking at LED site
lighting -let me go back one slide here - um, that will be on the south part of the parking
lot. Excuse me, the LED lighting will be on the...on the education facility and then the,
um, and then the panel lighting will also be on the south part of the parking lot.
Um, we're looking at a wind turbine, which will be probably the first one at a City
facility, um, and as well as a green roof, and low volatile organic materials, such as paints
and sealants.
Bailey/ Kumi, I have a question. Can you go back to that list? Some of these in the long run will
save us money - a smart roof, and you know, the wind turbine. Do some of these, like
the recycled content steel and these others have a larger upfront cost that really have no
cost savings over their life time, and...and simply make it a greener building.
Morris/ Sure. I think at this point, um, one of the things that we're doing, that we're going to see
a long-term kind of payback is the wind turbine. It's an experimental...
Bailey/ Right.
Morris/ ...right now it's, I think we'll have 12% savings for electricity for the Education Center,
but the upfront cost is quite large. So we'll be, that will take some time to pay off, but it
is an experimental, um, item on the site, and then...
Bailey/ But items like cork flooring, there's no long-term payoff benefit, right?
Morris/ No, there isn't, but there...it's a material that when we did the cost analysis between, you
know, between doing a vinyl flooring, for example. It's longevity...it's life span is much
longer, and um, obviously you're selecting a material that is, uh, ecologically, um, better
for the environment.
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Bailey/ So there is a cost competitive aspect because of the longevity of the material.
Morris/ That's correct.
Bailey/ Okay.
Morris/ For example, the recycled steel. That was one that was a no-brainer, because basically
we didn't find, even with the cost of steel as it's going up right now, um, we didn't find
any difference of cost of mandating that that would be part of the specs, so, and that's a
majority of the storage facilities.
Bailey/ Okay. That helps. Thank you, that was good. I understand now.
Morris/ And so, um, the bioswells pervious paving, um, just thought I'd talk a little bit about that.
As you, um, bioswells are several areas of (mumbled)...I was just trying to see if
there...oh, here we go. (mumbled) There's...what we have are, bioswells to the west
of...on the site, as well as to the south of the site, and bioswells are, um, are natural
features that are designed to remove silt and pollutions from, um, traffic and vehicular
traffic that are on the site, and surface water run-off. Um, we have natural vegetation and
basically, um, special soils that we're using on-site to help drain, um, drain the site of
those pollutants, and it's a better way to do that rather than putting, um, you know, a
drainage ditch or a ponding, a pond, on the site, or just taking it all completely off the
site. So the way to keep it on the site and drain it to the creek in a natural way, um, and
you can see that there's several areas of that here, um, just all along the base of the, um,
south and west part of the site. The other thing that we have that's kind of exciting, and
we're trying for the first time on...on a City project is we're having pervious paving, and
basically it's a lightweight concrete (coughing, unable to hear) allows water to pass
through, um, some of the School District sites have tried this. Um, it's an EPA best
management practice. We were looking at two areas to try this in -one is on the, um, in
the northern parking area, and the second one is in the lower area, next to parking for the
Education Center. And then lastly, um, something that's not on... in written form on the
site is, uh, the site will have geothermal, um, system for heating and cooling, and...and
that will be a first, as well, for the City. Um...
Wilburn/ ...that the bioswells and pervious pavement might be something...I know we charged a
fee for, um, commercial areas where they, uh, because of run-off we charge...
Morris/ That's correct.
Wilbum/ ...potentially in the future that, uh, if this could serve as a demonstration for some of the
commercial areas, future commercial areas, that they might be able to get some type of
creditor something potentially, if they adopt any of these features. (mumbled)
Morris/ That's correct, and it's a way to show the public and private sectors, you know, other
methods of dealing with the stormwater management that has come into effect. I mean,
one of the other things that we have that is a very minor, but I might point out, is that we
have what are called rain gardens, and um, those areas of green areas on site are going to
be tiled to the bioswells, and so it's another way of dealing with water management on
the site.
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Wilburn/ A truck wash, that goes through sanitary sewer, is that correct?
Morris/ That's correct. I want to talk a little bit about the green roof. It's a little different from
green roofs that you may have seen on, um, on other facilities, and for example, there's
one in Coralville. It's a different type of system from what Coralville has, which is a
deep planted system. This is a, uh, we're looking at using something called "live roof'
and it has a sedum plant base, um, it's a much lighter, um, growing medium, and um,
basically they're pre-planted panels and they're brought to the site, and they've been ,um,
it's what the City of Chicago has been using for some time now because of the weight
issues. I think this is kind of an example of what, um, how they grow and the type of
medium, and we're looking at that on both the roof and a wall at the education building,
and this is clearly, um, it's a small area of the site and it's mostly as a demonstration
model, and I'll show you where that is (mumbled) images here. Um, wanted to give you
an update of what we're looking at for, um, the Restore salvage barn and Fumiture
Project buildings. Um, the...this image is what would be...what the public would see
from, um, the east elevation, and that would be...that would be this side, this face of the
Restore building. The, um, the next, um, architectural rendering or drawing that's from
the, actually it's from the plans, it is what would be the south elevation, and this face of
the building, and then the bottom, um, image is what would be the east elevation, and that
would be the loading area for Restore and what we're adding onto for Restore, as well as
salvage, which is the center facility here (mumbled) glimpse of that in the, um,
architectural rendering, and then finally, um, the Furniture Project is on the, um, is on the
furthest south side of the site. This is the waste oil drop-off, um, compass pickup station
and wood chip pickup station and storage. Um, I wanted to...pretty similar to what I
showed, um, showed you last fall. Um, the one thing is that we did add is, um, the wind
power generator, the turbine, which is, um, what would be on the storage facility.
Bailey/ What will that look like? I'm trying to get a sense of...
Morris/ It's much larger than I had thought when we first started discussing it.
Bailey/ But it's not...right, it's like this. It's...
Morris/ It's actually, yeah, it's a rotating, what looks like a, you know...
Wilburn/ Weather vane.
Morris/ Yeah, it...
Bailey/ Like a what?
Wilburn/ Weather vane.
Morris/ Weather vane, or someone said it looks like something like if you look inside a washing
machine, you know, something that goes azound in that sense.
Champion/ One of those attic fans that catch the (several talking)
Bailey/ That's good. Thanks.
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Morris/ And Education Center...and this is probably the most exciting part of the site. Um, as,
um, I discussed earlier, we're looking at...we've moved the restrooms. Excuse
me...we've moved the restrooms to the north so we can completely, um, lock off the rest
of the facility in the case that they would have the site open, um, to the public for events
and so for...still need to have extra, um, facilities. Um, we're looking at a variety of
things on this, and this is the, um, site that has the green roof structure, and that's to...and
this, um, part of this building here, which is the north part of the building, and then, um, a
green wall, and so that'll be an experiment to see how that goes. We, um, did some
studies and talked to the, um, the green roofing supply manufacturer about incorporating
that and what side of the wall to use and how, um, how best to use it on the site, as a
test...as a test facility. Um, basically, as I said, it's a demonstration roof. Um, we're
having cork materials for flooring, recycled content carpet, um, one of the things that was
a change from what I showed last, um, last year was that we, um, expanded the outdoor
education area. One of the things that we're going to do, and I think Jennifer will talk a
little bit more about programming, um, on this aspect is that, um, one of the things we
wanted to focus with school groups that coming through, not just recycling, but also
bioswell...and, the bioswell and um, stormwater management, and what that might mean
for school children, but one of the things that we did create was an amphitheatre, um,
area. You can see that (mumbled) um, it's astepped-up, tiered-up area where, um,
students can come and sit and, you know, see the bioswell and listen to programming
and, um, and discussions. Let's see here...and we're looking at a start date, um, of June
8°i, and um, and then date for construction of March 2009, and then a final end date for
planting, spring 2010. Planting will be, of the bioswell, will be the last thing that we do,
and we're giving it a full year to see what plants survive, what things we might need to
modify, and as...it's kind of a living site for testing a lot of these, um, new...new
products, and new, um, developments for the City.
Bailey/ Um, it's a really aesthetically pleasing site, particularly the Education Center. Are we
incorporating public art pieces, or art features, into particularly the Education Center?
Morris/ Um, one of the things that we do have is we have an interesting, um, we have an
interesting panel that the public will be able to see... see if I can go back a few slides
here. There we go. Um, this...these are glass, um, glass walls, as you can see from the
bottom, um, slide, um, that glass windows all around the Education Center, and one of
the things that we're doing is we're having, uh, an interesting, um, panel for displays that
can change over time, and that's part of, um, there was a lot of work that went into, um,
developing the design of that, and I think in terms of an architect...the art feature is the
architectural feature of the building.
Bailey/ Uh-huh. Okay.
Morris/ I'll let Jennifer talk about programming. (mumbled)
Champion/ What about security at that building?
Morris/ I'm sorry?
Champion/ What about security at that building with all those windows?
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Morris/ We are incorporating some, um, we have fiber optics that are going to different parts of
the facility, and we have...we're working on that, at this point. (several talking)
Jordan/ All right. I'm going to talk mostly about the Education Center, the programming that
we'll be having at Eastside, so...and you covered the rest very well. I did have one other
thing, um, (mumbled) one of the reasons we switched 1 A and 8 around is that we moved
the dock from the north side of the building to the west side there, and the e-waste that
we'll be collecting at the site will be mostly what we're loading from the dock, so rather
than trekking it all the way across the building, interfering with Restore operations, we
just moved the e-waste back there anyway, because they're going to be accepting e-
waste, as well, so just to help with their efficiency within the building. So I just wanted
to clarify on that. Okay. So, on to the Education Center. As Kumi mentioned, the focus
for this building, and really for the whole site, is really on demonstrating what the public
and businesses in Iowa City can do to green their sites. So, well, some of the things are
pretty basic. Some of them are a little bit more just demonstration projects, the green
roof in particular, um, but the focus is really on demonstrating what people can do. Uh,
we are looking at kind of at afour-pronged educational approach. It started out as kind of
the recycling...it's obviously still the recycling center, but it's become the Education
Center. So environmental education in general, to cover not only waste reduction,
recycling and disposal and composting options, also that we're looking at water
education which would include water usage and efficiency, um, waste water and
stormwater. Stormwater's become a pretty big component of education on this site,
simply because there's so much asphalt and so much area, and so much water is going to
hit that, so we really wanted to focus on that. Uh, the green building education is really
ramped up from the last presentation and really looked at getting the platinum
certification for LEED. As Kumi mentioned, there are no platinum LEED buildings in
Iowa at this point. There are eleven other buildings that have LEED certification, either
basic certification, silver or gold, and most of those are on college campuses. So, if, uh,
if we can do this in a timely enough manner, there are other buildings out there in Iowa
that are going to LEED platinum. If we can beat them to it, and I'm not sure if there are
any, frankly, at this point. Ifll be a pretty big deal, educationally and for the City, so I'm
very excited about that. The fourth thing besides then the waste reduction, the water
education, the green building, there's also a huge renewable energy component. Kumi
mentioned this a little bit with the, uh, geothermal, the wind and the solar, um, there's
also a component in which we will be purchasing a small amount of renewable energy,
um, per the contract, and that's for the first (mumbled) two or three years? Okay, so it'll
also give the public an idea of what they can do...if they can't do something on their site,
what they can do then to kind of go a little bit further and say, `Well, I can't do this
myself but I can purchase it and allow that money to be used for someone else to do those
things.' Uh, so moving on to the features, and I think I'm just going to skim through my
list here, and I think Kumi covered all of those, so I won't... oh, the one thing I will add
that I'm also really excited about, because I live on the east side, we will have bike racks
out there for both the public and staff to use. There will also be shower facilities for staff,
both City, Restore, whoever's working out there to use on site. So that's something that I
think is going to become more prominent as we move forward in our green society.
Moving on to activities and programming, I'm really excited about what's possible at this
site. Um, we initially went from a relatively small Education Center to just over 2,000
square feet. We're looking at being able to seat 50 students in the classroom at any given
time, in classroom style, so there's a huge capacity for getting our school children out
there and really learning about what's at the site, what's going on, and then taking it
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home and sharing it with their parents. Um, the outside seating is also, I think, going to
be really beneficial for them in that it's going to allow them to see first-hand what's out
there, um, you can kind of see a little bit...the stairsteps here (mumbled)...the stairsteps,
and this is kind of the podium area, and then the stairsteps will be right behind it, and the
stairsteps are, um, constructed as such that the students can actually sit right on, so they'll
be literally within feet of the bioswell so we can point things out in the tours and really let
them see exactly what's going on and really let them be a part of it. Throughout the site,
and specifically in the bioswells and for the Education Center, we will have signage
incorporated through everything to let them know, you know, this is a, um, purple
coneflower, this is a, you know, this was constructed in this manner to save energy, and I
think that gets to a lot of the questions earlier about the demonstration and really ]et the
kids -and the adults who will be with the children, of course - um, to really see, again,
what they can do with their home, and you know, consider what they might be able to do.
And actually we've talked about that quite a bit, and if we've made a decision not to go a
certain way, even though it might have been environmentally better in some ways, uh, we
want to incorporate those things too and how we got to that, the 5na1 decision and why
we didn't incorporate some of the things we had talked about. I'm drawing a blank on
examples at the moment, but can you think of anything?
Morris/ One of the things would be, for example, the pervious paving, um, where there's some
discussion as to how...how well that will work on site. Pervious paving is where
you...the water can shed through the parking area and uh, be incorporated and
maintained on the site, but you know there's aspects of well, will sand clog it up. Will it
be able to be maintained over the years, how often will we have to take it out and replace
it, that sort of thing, and so in that sense that's an experimental, um, option.
Jordan/ And also when the Landfill guys come out with the trucks to blade off the snow, are they
going to rip the pervious paving up. We're all very interested to find out if that happens
or not. (laughter) Supposedly not, but we'll see. Um, so indoor seating, um, we have,
we'll have a lot of technology on the inside so that we'll be able to project, um, videos,
movies, any kind of media in there to help with the education. As Kumi mentioned, we'll
have display cases along the whole west side, the glass display cases. There are also
numerous panels inside which will have wall space so that we'll be able to have, um,
change the presentations that we can change out, and I can envision, you know, the
history of the Iowa City Landfill, uh, history of recycling in Iowa City, history of the
waste water plant -just kind of general background information for the kids and then
those would be a great backdrop for the presentations that are going on at a workshop
that's going on. Um, as far as workshops for greening activities. There already are a lot
going on in Iowa CiTy and they're scattered and they're put on by numerous different
organizations, all which aze...are very qualified and able to do so, but I think if we can
pull some of those activities into one location and really help people get a feel for a
central area to find this information. I think it would be really helpful. There's a lot of
stuff on line and there's a lot of knowledgeable people in Iowa City, but often times when
people start thinking about, well, how do I take the first step, they don't even know where
to start because there is so much out there. So if they know they have this site to go to,
even to, you know, even if they're just starting to change out their light bulbs, we'll have
information on that for them. So, you know, on the other end of the spectrum, we'll also
have a major wind turbine. So, kind of the whole gauntlet. Um, along those lines, we
are, we have planned and space for a small library, specifically about environmental, um,
education and activities, and that's just something that, uh, we plan to use for people
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when they're on site, so I don't think we'll, we haven't really worked out all the details
yet, but I don't think we'll really have like acheck-out system. It'll just be for perusal
when people are on site there. We are definitely envisioning this as a meeting space, not
only for City staff and non-profit organizations, uh, but Scout troops, numerous
environmental groups in town. I think this will be a very popular space, um, very similar
to how the Library offers their space out. Um, with the benefit of a kitchenette area,
which is very important. We have talked about working with the Library and the Rec
Center, and actually the Rec Center staff sat in a couple of our early meetings to
determine how they could use the site, so we've talked with them about that and
definitely want to incorporate, um, have incorporated and definitely want to utilize their
ideas for how they might move some of their program out to that site to really get a feel
for what's going on out there. And I touched a little bit on the signs that will be
throughout the site. Part of the DNR grant that we got for stormwater, uh, best
management practices last fall is specifically for signage throughout the site, so that'll be
a major component of that, and I'm envisioning both, um, guided tours on the site and
unguided tours, and the facility is going to be open I think quite a bit of the time, and
again, that's a detail that we haven't worked through yet, um, but I can also see it, you
know, people wanting to come out there. The recycling bins are already very highly
used. Of the five recycling drop off sites that we have in Iowa City, it's...having been
there 18 months, it's the second most highly used. So we're seeing a great response from
the public on that, and I can see people taking their recycling out at 3:00 in the morning
and seeing kind of what's going on and wanting to take a look out there, and that...I
didn't have this on here, but I do want to talk a little bit more about the security on the
site. Besides the cameras that we're looking at, um, we're being very conscientious
about the lighting out there. We're also talking about working with the police department
to install a, um, kind of a data port (several talking) where they can download, so they
can park out there and download the information they need. So they're hoping there will
be a police presence there more often, um, than would otherwise be the case. Um, so
Kumi also touched a little bit on events out there. Um, we held our second Earth Day at
Eastside event, just last month on Earth Day, and I'm hoping that's something that we
can continue out there. I think people are starting to get a feel for what the site is and
what it's going to be, um, and again, going back to the, um, comment earlier about really
helping people get a feel for us. If they're starting in greening this is the place to kind of
find out where things are going on and what else is going on in the community. So, um,
so I'm really excited about the site and I'd be happy to take any questions that you have.
Bailey/ Do we anticipate that this facility will require down the road additional staffing?
Jordan/ I may not be the best person to answer that question. Um, I'm seeing a lot of this in the
future falling on my shoulders, and at the current time. We have hired a, um, part-
time....or atemporary full-time naturalist position through waste water, and she's been
actually working a lot with the bioswell test plot that we're doing out behind the
Furniture Project, so there's a temporary position already in response to specifically to
the bioswells. L..frankly I could see that increasing, as much as anybody wants it to.
So...
Bailey/ Um, working with Parks and Rec though I think that we're, right now it sounds like we're
using current staff and engaging other (mumbled). And then, is there a trail connection
out there? Is there a trail connection? (several talking)
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Jordan/ The sidewalks on Scott Boulevard and wide, and there will be...do you know which one
it's on, Kumi7 (mumbled)
Bailey/ Oh, okay, there.
Jordan/ You can kind of see on this one, in the north comer, or the south-east corner of the site
here, um, there's a trail connecting Scott Boulevard, which is here in front, to the
Education Center, so there'll be a sidewalk through there. There's also, that's also one of
the placements of the bicycle racks.
Bailey/ All right, thank you. Other questions...
Correia/ I guess, in terms of the operations, um, so how...in terms of thinking about how the
collaboration with other City departments. So I'm, you know, Boy Scout troop leader
and I want to schedule my troop meeting out there, do I schedule that through Parks and
Rec7 Do I call you? Do L..I mean, how, I mean, you could see that it could be quite
busy. Are we going to...are there plans to use our regular system through the Parks and
Rec department to do that, where I think you can do things on line to check calendars, or
the Library -how aze we...
Jordan/ I would envision it how the Library is set up, that you can check on line and reserve, I
believe, on line and by calling.
Correia/ But, through the Landfill or through another...
Jordan/ I don't know that we've gotten that far. (laughter)
Correia/ And then in terms of, I guess I was also wondering about private individuals being able
to use the space. Is that...are we only thinking about non-profit organizations or if I'm
having a...
Jordan/ We talked a little bit early on and using it like the Coralville site is used, the North
Pavilion Park out there, and then it is available for public or private use, as well. Um, I
don't think that a decision has been made on that. (several talking)
Bailey/ That's probably something we'll discuss as it gets closer.
Jordan/ I can see it being in very high demand for both groups and private.
Bailey/ Other questions?
Hayek/ How much higher than the initial estimate is the current price?
Morris/ (several talking) Let's see, the preliminary estimate that we had was $3,144,831 and then
the, um, the most current estimate with the changes and modiScations is $3,284,500.
(several talking) Yeah, about that.
Hayek/ And how...what does that impact us on the budget? (several talking) Take from that,
okay.
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Correia/ I guess I do have another operations question with talking about the temporary, full time
naturalist. I think at one point we had talked about, maybe in one of our budget sessions,
about (mumbled) Conservation Board, um, maybe that was...I don't know if that was the
Landfill or thinking about the request from Parks and Rec for a naturalist. A lot of what
we're planning to do here, things that the Conservation Board also does. Have there been
conversations about how to work together to do some of the programming, share staff?
Jordan/ There have not, but I think that would be a good way to go, simply to (mumbled).
Correia/ Well, not only to save the City, but working in collaboration so everybody knows what
each other's doing and it's, you know, working together (mumbled).
Jordan/ Well, and the Iowa City Landfill serves all of Johnson County, so technically I think that
it's going to be a county-wide, I mean, there's going to be appeal county wide.
Bailey/ Other questions? Thanks for being here, thanks for updating us. Do we need a break
before we jump into the next item? (several talking) Take a 10-minute; we'll be back
here at 8:00. (BREAK)
CDBG/Home Funding Recommendations:
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.
Bailey/ Are we ready, Marian? Great. Okay, CDBG/Home Funding recommendations. This is
Item 6. Mr. Long.
Long/ Hello.
Bailey/ Thanks for being here.
Long/ ...enjoying a beautiful evening.
Bailey/ It's beautiful in here too! (laughter)
Long/ So we're continuing the discussion from, I think it was April 28`h we reviewed each of the
recommendations by the Housing and Community Development Commission, and at that
meeting, you had, or you had decided to reallocate $18,000 from Chauncey Swan to the
Housing Fellowship's affordable rental housing project, and also agreed to continue this
discussion tonight. Uh, we are...(mumbled) tomorrow night's agenda and the Annual
Action Plan, which is the budget is a part of, has to be submitted to HUD by the 15`h of
May.
Correia/ Of May?
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Long/ Very soon. Because of the timing...you only had one Council meeting in May. It kind of
puts a little more pressure on this. And in your packet, you did have a couple letters -
one from, uh, the Housing Fellowship, one from Southgate Development, and one from
the Iowa City Housing Authority. And, another one late this afternoon, um, we've been
dealing with HUD, um, since January, and we've talked to the Omaha office, the Kansas
City office, and the Denver office, trying to get a final opinion on relocation and how it
relates to downpayment assistance, and the memo from Sue Dulek, which was distributed
this afternoon along with the three applicants for downpayment assistance. Your...laid
out basically a situation where relocation assistance does and does not apply, and I don't
know if you want me to go through this, if you each have read it...okay.
Bailey/ Why don't you just touch up on the high points. I think thafll be helpful.
Long/ Well, basically, it does not apply if a person buys a unit from aowner-occupied house. Uh,
if the person buys a unit that has been vacant prior to the eligibility date, then that
eligibility date has been the key, has been kind of the, um, stumble...or the key to all of
this, and the eligibility date for the Southgate and the Dolphin International proposals is
the date that the agreement between the City and the developer is signed. Eligibility date
for the Iowa City Housing Authority project has changed since this memo was...drafted
at 3:00 this afternoon. It's not actually when the buyer makes an application with the
Housing Authority. It's actually when the purchase offer is signed. So, it gives you
some indication of what it's like to deal with various offices of HUD, but we're pretty
comfortable, we're very comfortable, and Eleanor's been working with this, as well, um,
as of today (laughter) this is the way it stands, and so basically three options were laid
out. One is to not allocate any funds for downpayment assistance to any of the three
entities, and place those funds into an uncommitted pool, and then we'd quickly have an
HCDC meeting, discuss this, and get it back on your agenda on June 3rd, but that means
for the action plan is we would send it in without those funds, and then just do an
amendment in June. Second option is to not award any funds, instead reallocate those
funds to other applicants that were not fully funded. Or, the third option is to proceed
with allocating the downpayment assistance funds, and put conditions on it, such that
relocation would not apply. Um, all three applicants are here tonight, if you'd like to talk
to them. They've only had a couple hours to digest this memo, um, but I think...I've
talked to all three and um, L ..I don't know if you want to speak to them, ask them
personally if it would affect their project, or if you just want to talk about the allocation
process.
Champion/ Well, Regenia, I would like to hear from them (mumbled)
Karr/ I'm sorry, put on your mic.
Champion/ Oh, no! (several talking) I would like to hear from them briefly about how it would
affect them. I really want to keep the funds into downpayment assistance.
Bailey/ Would others like to, I mean, I think that that would probably be helpful to our
conversation.
Wilburn/ I think given the late notice about the changes and the interpretation (mumbled).
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Correia/ I just have a quick question. When relocation assistance...when it meets the criteria for
relocation assistance, who pays that? Does that come out of the HUD funds?
Champion/ It can.
Long/ It can.
Correia/ And how much is it generally, or what's the formula, or how do you...
Long/ There's a set, well...
Dilkes/ The two big components are the moving expenses, um, and a rent differential for 42
months, so that if the tenant who's displaced, in order to get them into decent, safe and
sanitary housing, if there's a, um, difference between the rent they were paying and the
rent that they have to pay, that, um, differential is paid.
Long/ If they find a unit, uh, say, if Dolphin or Southgate finds a unit, in a close proximity, at the
same price, then they just pay the moving expenses.
Bailey/ Can I just leap frog a little bit over the housing projects. Before we jump right in
and...and start talking about those details. Are there any, um, discussion items - I know
we have people for public facilities and public services. Did we want to make any
changes in those allocations? Are we, um, content to move forward with those
allocations? We talked a little bit about last time, and if we can decide this now and
those people can leave, I think that would be (coughing, unable to hear). Were there any
discussion points under public...
Champion/ Regenia, could you repeat those allocations that you're interested in us moving on?
Bailey/ Um, the public facilities projects-this is in the packet, um...
Hayek/ Page 17 of the Info Packet.
Bailey/ So, the public facilities project, um, the ARC, DVB', Free Med Clinic.
Champion/ Right, right, yes.
Bailey/ Um, I know that we're going to talk to the School District about the playground
equipment, but it was my understanding that we're comfortable with this time with the
Twain allocation, so are we leaving those as is at this point?
Champion/ I'm willing to leave those as is. (several responding)
Bailey/ Okay, and the public service projects? I mean, I had that question about, you know,
doing a little bit more strategic funding, but I understand what the Commission was doing
and I think they'll discuss it again next year, so, um, so those will stay, at least we've
made some progress. Okay, let's go back to the housing projects, and um, talk about the
downpayment assistance issue, and why don't we hear from...
Hayek/ Poor guys!
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Bailey/ ...hear from the applicants here. I'll let you kind of facilitate this.
Long/ Arvin, would you like to say something?
Thakore/ Good evening, my name is Arvin Thakore, and I'm the Project Manager for Do1pMn
International, and the email received from Steve, it does not change our...and it's not
going to hurt us. We do have buildings which we kept empty, and we did go to Code. In
the City, we have told them we are not going to rent this place, and we have asked them
to defer the inspections. Those buildings are empty (mumbled).
Correia/ So you're saying that the current projects that you're targeting for the downpayment
assistance, or the current units, are currently vacant, are not being rented at all, will be
rehabbed and then sold?
Thakore/ That's correct.
Correia/ Would that then meet the criteria of...
Thakore/Yes we do.
Correia/ I'm just going to confirm. That meets the (several talking) unit that's been vacant.
They're currently vacant right now.
Thakore/ Yes.
Correia/ Okay.
Bailey/ Okay, any questions for Arvin? Thank you, thank you for being here.
Thakore/ Thank you.
Long/ Dennis, do you want to...or Jody?
Craven/ Dennis Craven, Southgate Development Services, um, again, we got this at 3:00 this
afternoon. This...this does have an impact on us, based on the definition of effective
date. Though as he said earlier included in your packet is a memorandum that I prepared
last week about the potential consolidation of our program with ICHA's. Based on
Steve's now most recent explanation of what, uh, the effective date issue would be, that's
it's purchase agreement, we think that's...that's doable. If the funds are allocated ICHA,
uh, we will work with prospective tenants and at the time that a, that an applicant comes
in to apply, the unit will either be empty or they will occupy that unit as a, uh, as a renter.
So, that's doable. If the effective date is sometime in June, and those units, uh, like in
Dolphin's case either have to be empty or would have to be, um, sold to the occupant of
that unit, that would be problematic for us. Am I misinterpreting, Steve? The terms of
the effective date?
Dilkes/ Let me just understand. So, if the effective date is the purchase agreement, you are okay
or not okay with limiting relocation assistance to these three situations?
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Craven/ Yeah, if the effective date is the date of the purchase agreement with the applicant, then
we would, I believe we would be able to comply, that that applicant would either be the
tenant of the unit they're buying at the time that they execute the purchase agreement, or
that unit would be vacant at the time they signed the purchase agreement.
Champion/ Great.
Craven/ But if the effective date is locked down as sometime in June of 2008, that would be
problematic. So that supports combining our program with ICHA, which is... we already
provided for in the memorandum of last week, we were not opposed to.
Champion/ Great. Sounds good.
Bailey/ Okay, questions for Dennis?
Correia/ I just have, just so I understand as I had a conversation with Jody. The units that you are
converting to homeownership, are...are there plans to do any rehab on those units before
putting them up for sale?
Craven/ Uh, yes, actually substantial rehab of the entire complex is...is proposed. Some of those
rehabilitation will be done to the...to the condo area. This is already condo projects. So
some of them would be common area, uh, renovations, and other would be unit-specific
renovation.
Correia/ So not all of the units that would be for purchase would be a renovated unit?
Craven/ Uh, probably to a certain degree they would all be renovated. That's what we're leaning
to. It actually would be up to the buyer, as to what they want to do inside a specific unit.
We're encouraging the folks that we're talking to to renovate as much as you can
renovate. Ijust think that makes economic sense.
Correia/ But that would then be at their expense, after their the homeowner.
Craven/ Well, yeah, what we have put together, and this was in our application, is...is we,
Southgate, our construction company, has put together a relocation plan for the entire
complex. We sort of did it as a menu of items that you could pick and chose from. For
example, one of the items is completely renovated kitchens. Um, if...if a buyer came
along and they were able to get financing, and they did not want the kitchen renovated,
then they could elect not to...to have the kitchen renovated. We're encouraging people
that we're talking to to do complete renovations so they have something similar to a new
unit when they move in. When you think about long-term repair and maintenance, we
think the newer it is and the more modem it is when they move in, um, the less repairs
we'll have in the future.
Correia/ For the renovation to be part of their financing (mumbled)
Craven/ Yes, yes, and then they're paying...in fact, in the menu that we put together, which you
probably didn't see, we actually itemize the cost o£ ..of items on a monthly mortgage
payment basis. So for example, the cost to put the laundry center into a unit, I believe,
was $7.00 a month in mortgage payment costs. We actually broke it down on that basis.
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Correia/ That includes interest?
Craven/ That's actually what the impact would be on the...on the monthly payment. Interest and
principal.
Correia/ Right.
Bailey/ Other questions for Dennis?
Hayek/ If, uh, if there weren't this combination with ICHA funds, um, and you were looking at a
June date, do you have a sense of how much impact this would have, or how many units
are you talking about would be impacted by this memo?
Craven/ I guess first off we don't fully understand the memo. I mean, I asked this
afternoon...what relocation actually constitutes, and I don't think anybody's quite sure
yet. Our focus, when we applied, uh, last...last fall was to get as many dollars as we
could into the hands of the buyer, to be used for downpayment assistance. In today's
financial world, you can't do zero-down loans. You have to have downpayments. Um,
and so, any money that we have to take out of this allocation and apply it to relocation for
somebody vacating that unit, really defeats our purpose. One of the challenges that we
have with this project is Southgate does not control all of these units. There's 108 units
in the complex. We only own 60 of them. We're working with the other landlords and
coordinating them to participate in this program, as well, but with tMs kind of an
effective date restriction, that just adds another layer of complexity to us, that it would be
really nice not to have to, uh, not to have to deal with. Certainly it's not feasible to...to
empty these units out now, and have them sit empty until...until we have buyers in place.
That also would defeat the purpose, from my perspective, of the, you know, we could
chew up the $5,000 fairly...fairly quickly in vacancies. So (several talking)...yeah,
that...that is something else if I can just take another second of your time. HCDC asked
us about relocation, because these tenants...these units are occupied by tenants, some of
whom will be relocated. That's something that we take very seriously, uh, we dealt with
that, I think, very effectively in the Coronet transaction, and we do intend to deal with
relocation. We would just not...we'd like to not deal with the HUD bureaucracy of
tenant relocation. We will move tenants laterally into other units for the same rent, with
the...with the Coronet, we actually physically moved people. So, we will take care of
tenants that are in this building. We just like to do it on a case-by-case basis as opposed
to following the bureaucracy of...of HUD.
Champion/ Is it possible? To not follow the bureaucracy? (several talking)
Dilkes/ It is...if you're not, if you don't obligate yourself to pay relocation assistance under the
HUD regulations then you can do it as you chose to do it.
Bailey/ Other questions for Dennis? Thank you, Dennis. Thanks for being here. (several
talking)
Rackis/ Steven Rackis, Iowa City Housing Authority. Uh, relocation really wasn't an issue with
us. We were, uh, our program was looking at expansion of our existing homeownership
programs, reacMng out to non-Housing Authority, um, clientele, uh, primarily
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anticipating referrals through the Iowa Association of Realtors and, uh, lending
organizations that work with us on, uh, our regular homeownership programs. So our
program would have been tied to, uh, loan commitments and purchase agreements, before
we would have taken any action. Again, I think the only Housing Authority projects that
would be eligible at this time would be Longfellow, and they are not occupied and they
are not rentals. So those would be the only ones we have that would qualify. So really
not...not really an impact on our proposal.
Bailey/ Questions for Steve? Thank you.
Correia/ Well, I have just a quick question. The Longfellow project that you just referred to,
those already have downpayment assistance, tied to...
Rackis/ Well, they would have second mortgages, so, um, most likely, um, I mean, we already
have a vehicle in Longfellow...
Correia/ Okay, just...
Rackis/ ...that would be a funding mechanism already, but...but we don't have public housing,
any rentals, that are on the market.
Correia/ Right. Okay. Oh, I see what you're saying, okay.
Bailey/ Okay. So, further discussion? I know that we all just got the memo, um, and I think it
does a nice job of outlining some options, one of which is to, um, to put these funds into
an uncommitted pool, send it back to the Commission, and then talk about it in June,
which gives us some more time to absorb. That's certainly an option.
Correia/ Well, I mean, given that...Dolphin says that this doesn't affect, this relocation issue
doesn't affect their project because their units are already vacant. They were claimed to
rehab, and then also given that we have received a memo from Southgate requesting to
fold into the Iowa City Housing Authority, I mean, I feel comfortable doing that. Um,
what I would like to do is move $107,SOO...go into part of that Housing Authority
allocation, into the Housing Fellowship for rental housing, um, because I believe that the
need for rental housing is, uh, greatly (coughing, unable to hear) data from our Housing
Market Analysis. The way this current allocation is presented, it's supporting 31
homeownership units and I think six rental, and so I think it's out of balance.
Bailey/ And that's something we had started to discuss last time, um, the $107,000 and I think
there's a memo from the Housing Fellowship that also indicates that they believe the
allocations are out of balance with homeownership and rental. So, are there other people
who are interested in...I had expressed my interest in doing that as well Are there other
people? (several commenting)
Wilburn/ Can you say the dollar figures...walk me through again what you're wanting to do?
Correia/ Okay. Um, what I would propose, as an amendment or whatever, is that the 94,000 from
Southgate be moved into Iowa City Housing Authority to operate that...
Bailey/ 80,000 from Southgate (both talking).
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Correia/ Sony, 80,000, yep, sorry, the 80,000 from Southgate, um, but move that 107,500 to the
Housing Authority, into the Housing Fellowship.
Bailey/ Question about that - if we move the 80,000 that is currently indicated for the Southgate
project, if we move it into Housing Authority, could it also be designated for that
particular location?
Rackis/ No.
Wright/ Then it would just be a pool...
Rackis/ It'd be open City-wide.
Bailey/ Okay.
Hayek/ My understanding is that Southgate's, uh, willingness or interest in sending the 80,000
recommended for it over to ICHA, um, was contingent on the 107,000 staying in there,
and be opened up on a first-come, first-served basis.
Correia/ No, I do understand that, uh, but it sounds like the 80,000 at this point can't go to
Southgate, unless they're willing to do (mumbled) so unless I misunderstood that, they're
not...they're not wanting to deal with that HUD bureaucracy of the relocation assistance,
and that even if it got paired with other additional money out of the Housing Authority
(mumbled) assistance, it couldn't be set aside in agreement, in a contract, for Southgate
because then the relocation assistance...
Hayek/ But I thought sending the Southgate allocated dollars, the recommended dollars, to ICHA,
um, then frees Southgate...or pushes back the trigger date for compliance with relocation,
and they're confident they're not going to have to do that if we're not looking at a June
2008 trigger date. And I don't think they're asking for those dollazs, whether 80,000 or
any other dollars, um, to be guaranteed. Maybe they are for the 80,000, but not for the
107,000.
Correia/ But...either way we can't guarantee any amount of money if it goes to the Housing
(several talking)
Rackis/ We can't set aside funds. Well, we can, but it triggers a lot of...
Bailey/ I just want to ask Dennis to clarify what their position is. I think (several talking) us
making assumptions (several talking)
Long/ LTh, well 5rst off, we would prefer that the $107,000 remain in... in downpayment
assistance. Um, the...we are okay with the 80,000 moving to ICHA and being available
on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the 107,000. Um, just on the basis that we will try
to work hard to, uh, to be there first.
Bailey/ Thank you. All right.
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Champion/ Well, I think that these opportunities for homeownership are incredible. I think we've
got a couple things going here that aze just fantastic, and I would want to keep all that
money for downpayment assistance. It's the American dream...can provide it to a lot of
people. It is the American dream, and people who think they would never allow them to
buy a house any other way.
Correia/ I totally...I agree with that, Connie. I think there are a couple of tMngs. One, I think
that there are other opportunities for securing downpayment assistance that I think need
to be more assertive at trying to get, um, through the Iowa Department of Economic
Development. I also see that...what's also happening in these projects is we're taking
what has been affordable rental and converting it to homeownership, without replacing it,
so we're going to continue...that need that we see in the Housing Market Analysis is
going to continue to grow. We're not going to be able to keep up with the demand.
Champion/ A lot of the people who are going to be able to buy these condos are people who are
living there on rental assistance.
Correia/ And there aze also plenty of people who are living there who aren't on rental
assistance...
Champion/ Right.
Coneia/ ...as well (several talking)...but...but there's, there's additional factors for folks being
ready for homeownership, notjust that there's downpayment assistance available, but
that they have...their credit score is good, that they have good credit. I think there may
be, uh, folks that are interested and want to, but it could take them a year to repair their
credit. I have worked, um, with folks in the past that want to be a homeowner and
they're in this...in this bracket, but it took them a year after they went to the bank for
their first, um, to see if they were eligible for the bank to say `you have these credit things
you need to work on, come back next year,' and you know, that happens, but that takes
them a year and I think that this project will get started after July ls`, um, I think if
Southgate and the Housing Authority are working together to get, if they have folks in
line that have gone to the bank beforehand and are pre-approved, that, um, I don't think
there are people beating down the door, and they can come back and apply for funds in
our fiscal year 1Q as well as try and utilize the (mumbled) first time home buyer
assistance and other programs. I don't think we need to only look at this limited pot of
dollars.
Bailey/ Do you have a comment, Steve? That's okay.
Long/ See it on my face? Um, they have...I guess I...the Housing Authority does have...it's a
unique case. They do have an established program to help potential homebuyers in a
partnership with the Board of Realtors, homebuyer education course. They do look at
credit scores and work with potential homebuyers on how to increase those credit scores;
um, in the case of Southgate, I know they've been working with a pool of seven or eight
lenders in the community, um, and they actually do have, I believe, a pretty substantial
waiting list, and they've been working with the Housing Authority to review some of the
names to make sure, to do some pre-approval already. I think this is a unique case, and
the Southgate proposal, although it may be merged into the Housing Authority, initially
they were targeting families, households below 60% of the median income, which is
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much lower than typical homeownership programs. I mean, I just think you have to look
at all the different factors. Although I agree the market study did suggest that we have a
bigger demand for affordable rental, um, the fact that a lot of these units, the majority are
going to be targeted below 60% is also a factor to consider.
Bailey/ And that would continue if we...even if folded these dollars into Housing Authority...
Long/ That's...(several talking)
Bailey/ ...that could be a stipulation...okay.
Wilburn/ Which I would be interested in doing, and I.:.I understand, you know, we had the
analysis done, um, but I don't think that's a reason to not, I mean, to not diversify the
opportunity of addressing both rental and housing.
Long/ We're kind of caught a little bit because the housing study was released after the
applications, or the same week that the applications came in, so I think next year may be
a better time to, uh, use the information from that study, because we can actually go out
and tell applicants, `This is what we need in the community.' That's just my thought.
Bailey/ But what I found compelling, I mean, and first I did take the study because I think we
have to be speaking, or responding to the data we have instead of our emotional, I mean, I
think most of us are homeowners so I think that there is an emotional understanding that
it is the American dream, or the American nightmare, depending upon how much water is
in your basement at any given time (laughter) um, but the one thing that I found
compelling from Housing Fellowship too is the leveraging amount, is they are bringing in
dollars from outside the community and you know, L..you guys have heazd me say this
so many times - we have got to get better about bringing in additional dollars - not j ust
HUD dollars, but you know those additional programs that are out there, and I think
that's why this is compelling the Housing Fellowship is doing that, and...and leveraging
these dollars that we're using locally, and so that's where I'm interested in moving...I
personally, um, you know, we're talking about getting people into affordable housing. I
don't tMnk we're going to go wrong, but as Amy said, we might get farther behind on
some other objectives that in six months we think that we need to work towards, and so
that's I think a consideration of mine, as well, but...so...Mike, you were also interested
in...
WrighU Um, yeah, I was, um, as you and Amy have both pointed out, the, uh, issue of taking
away some more affordable rental housing after we've lost a fair number over the past
year as it is. We have a number of, um, units that could be going off the availability for,
um, affordable housing over the next couple of years, a substantial number, and we're
looking at...well, looming there's going to be a crisis in availability of affordable rentals
here in the next few years. I think for the...there may be a waiting list for people
purchasing property, but at the same time there are lots and lots of folks, for whatever
reason, for whom buying is not necessarily the best choice.
Bailey/ And you know I'm not saying that the Southgate project isn't a great project. I mean, I
just want to be very clear (both talking)
Wright/ I wouldn't say that at all. These are both (both talking)
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Bailey/ ...innovative.
O'Donnell/ I don't know if buying is their best choice or not, Michael. I don't know if that's our
call, but I do know that there are, we do have a waiting list of people, and a small amount
of money.
Correia/ We have lots of different waiting lists. (several talking)
O'Donnell/ Well, we have, but homeownership is extremely important. I mean, I think for the
City, for...
Champion/ ...stabilizes neighborhoods.
Correia/ Well, but affordable...
O'Donnell/ For neighborhoods, for schools, the whole thing, so I really...I'm supporting, uh, I
am going to side with Connie on this. I'd like to see us stay in...and that's a first in a
long time. (laughter) Maybe the last! (laughter) But L..I do support, um,
homeownership over home rental.
Hayek/ Um, I look at this as more than...I look at the Southgate proposal as more than a
homeownership project. I think it...it is that, plus a...an affordable rental project, in that
their proposal is to move a number of families over from Pheasant Ridge, as I understand
it, uh, into homeownership situations, uh, in these condominiums, which would then open
up spaces on the other side of town, and to the extent we're trying to bring people up the
system, I think it accomplishes both of those goals. I think the other reason, uh, that it's
compelling to me is...is, um, is unique to the area, unique to the structures we're talking
about. Um, Southgate is proposing to, um, make massive renovations to an extremely
blighted set of buildings that have, um, a lot of, uh, problems and have contributed I think
to the reputation in That area, and uh, this is a unique opportunity to address that and
improve that, and I think you need only look at the other improvements Southgate has
made in adjacent structures to see what can happen on that street, um, that is positive for
residents there and for the street as a whole. So I think this is a unique opportunity and
one that I...I would support, and they need more than...than the $80,000. They need at
least a chance to, uh, get at the $107,000 that was recommended for ICHA, and they're
willing to take a risk and say, `Look, we think we can get there 5rst. We can out hustle
everybody,' and I think that's something we ought to recognize, and lastly, you know,
from what I can tell, they've worked very closely with the Housing Authority and with
City Planning staff, um, and they've got, uh, numerous local lenders who are willing to
also invest in this, and that's significant to me.
Bailey/ Okay. So I'm hearing, um, really a majority to go into the direction of the third option,
which is to put the funds into the Housing Authority.
Correia/ I haven't heard what Ross' ...
Bailey/ I think that's what Ross...
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Wilburn/ That's what I was saying, yeah. It's...they're both good projects. I think that, um, you
know, we...we just had the rental analysis done, um, if we can, uh, if the target is looking
at 60-60%, we could work towards that.
Bailey/ And are we in agreement that we want that target? Is that...
Wilburn/ If we could work towards that, then I think...yeah.
Bailey/ We can stipulate that...
Long/ We can stipulate that.
Bailey/ Is that...(several talking)...
Long/ Can I ask the applicant if that's okay? Housing Authority?
Champion/ Yes.
Long/ I mean, do you want to...
Bailey/ Deb, you're going to have to come to the mic. A mic, that one or that one. Thank you.
Champion/ Here.
Briggs/ I mean, just based on the folks that we work with, I don't mind the majority of it being
targeted for 60% or below, but I would like to see some of it go up to 80%, which is
(mumbled) funds. So if you guys could figure out a percentage, maybe?
Long/ For homeownership...
Bailey/ ...figure out a percentage maybe?
O'Donnell/ I think we were just given a percentage by somebody who works (several
talking)...right, for...
Long/ 75/25...50/50...60/40.
Champion/ How about 60% for...
Wilbu~n/ Now, what (several talking)
Bailey/ I would like to see it a little bit higher, because I mean what you just said about so many
people not being able to get into a house, I mean, that is really...
O'Donnell/ What would you suggest?
Bailey/ 70, 75.
Rackis/ 70/30.
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O'Donnell/ 70/30 seems fair.
Champion/ Is that okay with you, Ross?
Bailey/ Is that good, 70/30?
Hayek/ I don't know any better, I mean (laughter and several talking)
Bailey/ So say 70/30, Matt. When you don't know any better, just agree! (laughter)
Hayek/ I know it.
Champion/ 70/30.
Bailey/ Okay.
Champion/ I think this is really exciting!
Bailey/ So, are we getting the information that you need to have in two days or three days? So it
looks like we're going with the third option - we want a 70/30 split of the $ 187,500
which would total, in total go to Iowa City Housing Authority
homeownership...downpayment assistance. Part of the memo from Southgate was also a
stipulation about administrative, um, did we want to talk about that? I would. They
indicated that if they partnered with, um, I can't find this....um, Housing Authority...
Champion/ I can't remember the percentage.
Bailey/ Seven...no more than 7%, and it was previously at 9%.
Boothroy/ (unable to hear)
Bailey/ Uh, you're going to have to use a mic, Doug, or you don't exist.
Boothroy/ Uh, so I've been told (laughter).
Bailey/ No, if you don't use a mic...
Boothroy/ No, I understand that. No, L..going 70/30, I think it's important that we give up the
administrative fee so that that 30 is stretch farther, and we're fine with that.
Bailey/ Are you saying you're totally giving up the administrative fee?
Boothroy/ That's what I'm saying- totally. You heard here!
Bailey/ I'll take that.
Champion/ Thank you very much!
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Bailey/ Very nice! All right. So no administrative fees off the top so it will all go to the
homeownership...good. Other, um, stipulations, questions about the (mumbled) number
of memos we have?
Long/ I'll develop an amended attachment to the resolution and have that to you (several talking)
Bailey/ Did you get all the information you needed? You're really clear about the
direction...Eleanor7
Dilkes/ On the...so we've got a combined amount going to the Housing Authority, and then
we've still got the separate amount going to Dolphin?
Bailey/ $68,000 to Dolphin, and $187,500...
Dilkes/ And the $68,000 to Dolphin will be limited to, um, those circumstances where there'd be
no risk of relocation?
Champion/ Right.
Bailey/ Right.
Dilkes/ Right...is that, okay.
Bailey/ No, I don't think that was (several talking). Is that correct? (several talking) Right.
Okay, other questions or comments. Discussion? Nice job. I thought this would take us
much longer. Thank you, Steve (several talking) We're going to do this tomorrow night,
the roll call part.
Hayek/ As...this is neither here nor there, but I think Amy and I can both attest to the fact that
during our service on HCDC, the discussion of public service and public facilities things,
even though they were smaller dollar amounts, often involved a lot more handling for
some reason. I don't know, if it was the emotional appeal of a particular thousand dollar
thing, but I like that we're deferring to the Commission on some of those items.
Bailey/ I do too. I mean, why have a Commission if we can't respect their decision making. Do
you have anything else for us?
Long/ No. Good night.
Bailey/ Thanks. (several talking) Still nice out. Okay.
Council Time:
Bailey/ Want to save it all for tomorrow?
Champion/ Well, L..I just wanted to tell the Council that I'm meeting with Mark Twain principal
this week. I was going to go to the City Council, or the School Board meeting tomorrow
night, but I'm going to wait until we don't have a Council meeting, because I want to be
here to vote `ho."
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May 12, 2008 Special City Council Work Session Page 43
Bailey/ Okay. (laughter) And then, when you do that, I think it would be helpful then...we'll
write a letter and also, hopefully on the joint meeting's agenda, and continue to move this
forward, this discussion forward. Okay. Other Council Time items?
O'Donnell/ I think our snow meeting went very well last week. Um, L..I anticipate some people
coming tomorrow to speak, and you know, I think what we need to do is get in and, uh,
you know, I've had some...we can talk about this?
Wilburn/ You can talk about it because...
O'Donnell/ ...snow removal meeting?
Dilkes/ So far, yeah! (laughter and several talking)
O'Donnell/ Well, I was talking, I've had several people call me and say that they were issued
tickets for jagged edges. They...they got a ticket, then shoveled, and the edge was
jagged. I don't fully understand that. We all know what an incredibly difficult winter it
was, with snow storms and cold and...
Dilkes/ Are you talking about the assessments, that are on the agenda?
O'Donnell/ Yes.
Karr/ Okay, I just want to clarify, that most of those snow removal assessments that are on
tomorrow night's agenda are not for the 08 snow.
Bailey/ Some of them are very early.
Karr/ Very few...very few are, but most of them are...we haven't had, um, assessments since
February of 07.
Bailey/ And that brings up a question that Ihave -why are we so late with these assessments,
because if I were being assessed a year after the fact I would be angry, angry. Why are
we so late with these assessments, Kevin?
O'Malley/ We had quite a bit of turnover in accounting where these assessments...we had two
people come in and two people leave, and then one of those persons hired left
again...let's see. Same position rotated twice, and that's the position for this assessment.
We hired somebody in, and she worked two weeks and then her previous employer gave
her money to come back, and so then we were in the middle of the audit, so we couldn't
hire anybody because we were busy doing the audit, and then we got hired after that.
Bailey/ And we're good now?
O'Malley/ Yes. Everybody's...100%.
Bailey/ And we'll be timely assessing...
O'Malley/ Yes. In fact, there's going to be another one coming up in three months.
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Bailey/ Yeah!
O'Donnell/ That was the only thing I had. Everything else just...
Bailey/ You're right, I think that...other Council Time?
WrighU Could you...somebody refresh my memory. Did we talk at some point about looking
into expanding recycling for multi-family (several talking)
Bailey/ It's on, that leads nicely into "Pending Discussion Items," and we were going to talk
about green initiatives, and I have, I put that on the list because I've heard it from a
couple of you.
Wright/ I've had two people in the past week collar me to talk about that.
Bailey/ There's...and it's contingent upon some (mumbled) stuff, but I think we can get into it at
our June work session, which will probably be the last work session. We're also
probably sometime this summer schedule for pending the Violence Against Women Task
Force recommendations so, um, that's... so we have some response by beginning of
school. Um, which leads me to, um, I do want to...if nobody else has Council Time, I do
want to move on to...
Hayek/ I have one small...
Bailey/ Go ahead, Matt.
Hayek/ ...and it's more stylistic about the way we conduct our work sessions. I've noticed that,
um, we tend to talk very softly, um, and I know I'm guilty of that from time to time, but
I've had some trouble just hearing us talk at each other from these tables, and I don't
know what it is like for somebody in the peanut gallery to hear, especially when the
overhead projector's going. I think it's important for us, even though you may be two
feet from me or you only a few more feet from me for us to address each other loud
enough for people to hear.
Bailey/ And actually wear our microphones?
Hayek/ Wear...yeah.
WrighU And I think actually that applies to not just even the work sessions. There are times up
there that I have difficulty hearing other Council Members. The acoustics in this room
must not be very conducive to...
Champion/ I agree! I had trouble hearing Regenia tonight when I had to ask her to repeat herself
and...
Bailey/ That's unusual. I have a loud voice.
WrighU Your voice is one I often have trouble with. (several talking)
Bailey/ Okay, I wi11...I will talk louder.
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May 12, 2008 Special City Council Work Session Page 45
O'Donnell/ Don't take it overboard! (laughter)
Upcomine Community Events/Council Invitations
Bailey/ I'm sure you'll all tell me if I take it overboard! Um, just an upcoming event. I did get
and you probably received this as well, an invitation to volunteer at the Icare breakfast
which is on June 8'", uh, from 8:00 to 1:00, and I think it would be...it's a really fun
volunteering event, and I think it would be fun if a number of us were there, volunteering.
So I plan to do that. Maybe we could all take a similar shift, it would be...but we won't
talk about Council items if there are more than four of us volunteering at the same time.
(several talking)
O'Donnell/ That's a great breakfast. It's fun to work.
Bailey/ So even if you can't volunteer, it's June 8th, um, from 8:00 to 1:00. And then a question
about the meeting schedule. This is just an option and a suggestion. Summer is coming
up, we have five meetings in summer -two June, one July, two August. I was going to
suggest, or ask you, if you would like to move work sessions either earlier or later to
accommodate summer schedule? I'm fine leaving them the same, but I ]mow that you
have families and daylight and gardening and housework and those kinds of things, and
do we want to move the work session. That is something we could...
O'Donnell/ Move it to what?
Bailey/ We could move it earlier. Marian had said some Councils do that, so that, uh, so that you
can go home while it's still light out and play around a golf or whatever it is that you do,
or we could move it later so you could enjoy the day light and we actually meet when it's
a little bit darker.
O'Donnell/ I think 6:30 is a good time (several talking)
Bailey/ I just wanted to put that option out there, just in case people wanted to...okay. Matt?
Hayek/ Uh, either 6:30 or earlier, but not later.
Bailey/ Okay. So let's keep it the same. Just wanted to check. That's all I have. Any other
discussion of meeting schedule? Okay. See you all tomorrow night. Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council special work session meeting of May 12, 2008.