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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-06-17 Transcription#2 Page 1 ITEM 2. PRESENTATION b) UPDATE ON FLOODING Bailey: We are rescheduling a presentation, and we will move right away to the Flood Update. Um, as we announced at our press conference, this is an abbreviated meeting. Um, when I called it a regular formal L ..I hardly think that it's a regular meeting, really. Um, we decided to abbreviate this meeting in a desire to, uh, limit the use of staff time and resources that have been so dramatically taxed in this week. It's been a challenge, I think, to our staff and to the rest of the community, so we thought that this was the better use of our time, is to move some through...through some basic business, but to also talk a little bit and update the entire Council on, um, flood information. So I have some information. Michael will present some information. I'd like to hear from all of you about what you've been hearing in the community, um, and then I have some items to wrap up. So, basically, as most of you know, the river has appeared to have crested, but as we all know, we are not back down to 1993 levels. So as you talk to...as we talk to community members, it's really important to emphasize that. Um, most of our mandatory evacuations remain in place, although we withdrew a few this afternoon, and we will be doing that. We've developed some protocols to do that. Um, we want to emphasize that residents shouldn't remove sandbags, just because we are not back down to 1993 levels, um, we anticipate that the water will continue to recede, barring any significant rainfall. Um, the curfew is still in place, and that curfew means that you cannot be within a 100 yards, or a football field, in aflood-effected area. It's not for the entire community. I really want to clarify that. Not within a 100 yards of flood-effected areas, from 8:30 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. Um, but that doesn't mean that we don't want people downtown or at other events throughout the community. Other events, City events, will resume. Our Farmer's Market will resume tomorrow night, and the Friday Night Concert Series will resume this weekend. So, we encourage people to begin to participate in community activities again. We know that transportation is still a challenge. We look forward to some of those roads opening up in the next couple of weeks, but I just wanted to clarify that the curfew is just for the 100 yards within flood-effected areas. So now I'll turn it over to Michael. You can give us some more details about this. Lombardo: Received some really good news, uh, late this afternoon, and um, the first piece is that recycling will resume on Thursday, which is a good sign. Um, access to well #3, uh, in the Peninsula area that we were concerned about, uh, we've secured that site and are in the process of bringing it back online, and so with that coming back online, all of our water, uh, sources are...are there and ready to be used. So that's really good news as we look towards, um, the cleanup and recovery efforts, and the volume of water that we're going to need to do our work there, and then, uh, finally, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 17, 2008. #2 Page 2 Park Road Bridge has been assessed by our engineers, and they feel that it's safe to put a...an apparatus or piece of equipment on there to start cleaning the debris that is kind of hung up on the bridge, and so they'll be doing that I think tomorrow morning. Bailey: Oh great! That's good news to hear. So I'll just turn it over...and we'll just go down the line and talk a little bit about questions you might have or comments that you've heazd, or concerns that you've heard. Mike? Wright: One comment that I have had consistently is citizens aze reporting that they're terrifically pleased with the response of our staff, um, the responsiveness, timeliness, courtesy, effort, uh, and I can certainly speak to that from the angle of somebody who's been (mumbled) trailer courts. We've had tremendous amount of support and help from City staff, and uh, of course, that's one of the areas we thought we really might lose, and so faz we're...we're keeping the water out, knock on wood. I also had the privilege of working the, um, flood...flood hotline this week, flood hotline this afternoon. I'll be doing so the rest of the week, um, and I can't emphasize enough when you mentioned about the folks not taking their sandbags down too early. A number of calls about wanting to take sandbags out and, uh, it's just...it's just too early to do that yet. We don't have anything down to the flood levels that we had in 1993, and as you said, one bad rainstorm is going to really be a setback. Bailey: Thanks, Mike. Connie, welcome back to town. Champion: Well, thank you, I was out in the desert, which is quite different than here! But, uh, I came back, um, as soon as I could, just because I wanted to make sure I got home. I ended up coming back Saturday night, the airlines were very accommodating on changing my flight to Des Moines. They were making special exceptions for people who were going in and out of flood aeeas, which never happens. I was very pleased, but I can tell you I spent two days downtown at my business, and everybody has complimented the City and told me what a great job everybody has done. The Administration, the staff, the Council...I just took credit for it anyway! (laughter) Bailey: Well of course you did! That's good! Champion: But they were, I can't tell you how wonderful they thought the City reacted in the situation, and I think we have a strong...uh, past in dealing with emergencies in this community, and dealing with them very effectively and very quickly. Bailey: Thanks, Connie. Mike? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 17, 2008. #2 Page 3 O'Donnell: I'd like to echo what, uh, Michael and Connie said, and add, uh, not only did we have, um, so many people out doing the sandbags, but uh, I mean, I sandbagged beside athletes from the University and it was just incredible. The young church groups would come up with numerous people, and they'd just start sandbagging. But also we had Hy-Vee and we had Wal- Mart that were delivering pallet after pallet of water to the Salvation Anny for distribution, and um, it's kind of what Iowa City's about, at a time like this people pull together, and uh, it's just incredible thing to watch. So... Bailey: (mumbled) Wilburn: Uh, couple questions that I have, uh, really, but I would echo the comments, uh, of the other Council Members, my colleagues, about, uh, just...we...it's amazing to see the volunteer effort and support that comes out, but we know From past experience that, uh, this community supports each other and that's what we do in these difficult times. The, uh, a couple questions that had come up, and just some observations. It's already been talked about, uh, you know, not pulling the sandbags out, but I presume when cleanup does happen we will be getting...posting information out, uh, on the web page about, uh, who, and where, what will be the process for picking up, uh, that kind of debris. Lombardo: It won't just be the web site. We're working on a comprehensive approach, um, in specific areas. How to stage, uh, roll-off containers, is that the most effective way, and...and how to handle the sandbags and other debris that we're going to be getting, so...we'll be getting that information out there in a lot of different outlets. Wilburn: Very good! And, uh, just exercise some caution to, because I was talking with the building inspection folks because I had some business calling me, questioning whether or not they had flood damage, or you know, I only had water in my basement, just a little bit, and it's like i£ your utilities were cut off and you had water in the basement, if you got outlets in your basement, then yes, your electrical system was exposed to...to water and it would need to be checked by a certified electrician, but uh, again, I presume that'll be part of the comprehensive, uh, information for folks on the process for getting back into your homes and businesses. Um, I want to compliment the media for all the time and effort that you all put in, uh, to trying to get out the facts and information as it came to you. You all worked very hard and really appreciate your efforts, because that certainly helps us, uh, especially those that, uh, went the extra mile to make sure that the information they were putting out was, uh, true and accurate, and it's challenging, I know, because you're trying to get up to date information, but as we move forward, uh, through this process, I encourage members of the media to make sure you're getting information from downtown here, or from our web page if, uh, I understand the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 17, 2008. #2 Page 4 temptation is to talk to a City staff member who's been out in the field, but if you've been out schlepping sandbags for 15 hours, you don't necessarily know the up to date information. So really encourage you to work with City staff and uh, and our web page to make sure that you're getting up to date, accurate information. Um, also had a...did an NPR radio show on Monday, and uh, neat suggestion came up, uh, for future reference. A question about the role that the neighborhood associations might play in the future. People will naturally gather in those type of relationships, but uh, as neighborhood associations go here on forwazd, and as new neighborhood associations form, uh, you know, having some type of communication plan during a natural disaster like this is a great idea. Not only for disaster itself, but coming back together and how you all can work together as a group to, uh, to do cleanup, things like that, but otherwise, uh, just compliments to the Council Members, the Mayor, and the City Manager and all the staff for all the great work that you do during this time. Bailey: (mumbled) Hayek: I do have a few comments. Um, obviously this has taken an immense toll on so many individuals and businesses throughout the community, but our community, uh, showed itself to be both prepared and resilient throughout the entire ordeal, um, and every last person who pitched in, uh, has made this a better community. Um, there is to be sure a lot of work ahead of us, but I am so very proud of Iowa City right now. Bailey: (mumbled) Correia: I echo everything everyone has said about, um, City staff and the community, uh, I just wanted to share some recovery efforts, the recovery efforts that are already underway. The United Way Disaster Relief Fund, um, is up and running and accepting donations to the United Way of Johnson County. Um, there is individual assistance available, um, there are currently four case advocates, um, working through the Crisis Center, and they are located at the United Way of Johnson County in Coralville, at the Crisis Center in Iowa City, and there's an outreach, uh, Spanish- speaking case advocate who will be doing outreach at the two Red Cross shelters while they're still open, so that's a resource, um, for individuals and they can call 351-0140 for more information and to make an appointment, um, with one of those case advocates and they'll be working with individuals to get signed up for FEMA assistance, uh, Red Cross assistance as, um, as Red Cross comes in to do their next stage of assessment and ongoing assistance, as well as, um, other gaps in federal aid that's available for individuals, um, and there are needs for donations of persona] hygiene items that the Crisis Center will accept, as well as Food, baby diapers, formula -those types of things, um, Goodwill and the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 17, 2008. #2 Page 5 Salvation Army are providing clothing vouchers and down the road will be providing household items as well through vouchers. So... Champion: Amy, since you mentioned the Crisis Center, I know that they were moving. Are they back at their original location now? Correia: They are back. Champion: Okay, so people know that. Correia: Yes. The Crisis Center is back. Bailey: Thank you. Correia: Their regular permanent location. Bailey: Good. Wilburn: ...Gilbert Court. Bailey: Glad to hear that. Okay. Michael, did you want to add anything? Lombardo: I just, you know, want to reassure folks that if you were in a voluntary evacuation area that, uh, if your power is shut off, you can start contacting building inspections now to schedule, uh, an inspection of your premise to see if it's, uh, possible for you to get back in there. For those in the mandatory evacuation zones, we are working daily to determine at what level, um, is there safety and access issues satisfied so that you can get back in there and working through protocols for...for getting re-entry or and ultimately reoccupation. So I just want to assure folks who have been displaced, we're working and hoping to get you back in there as soon as possible. Wilburn: Just a reminder to the public, and we know this from past experience, uh, with the tornado and the flood before, uh, as, uh, on the good side we've been talking about the great community effort. We also have to remember, uh, this is a time as cleanup efforts begin where, uh, some of the predatory behaviors start with, uh, contractors who may or may not be, um, familiar to the area. So make sure that you're checking out references and not giving out personal information by phone call or, um, signing contracts or handing cash to someone, uh, and use those usual precautions that...that you would do, and then uh, secondly, just to, uh, Michael, welcome to town! (laughter) Bailey: Dale, did you have any comments to add? Eleanor, would you like to add anything? I know you're been working hard on this, as well. Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 17, 2008. #2 Page 6 Marian? Okay, does anybody else have any other comments? I do want to let you know, we talked a little big about sandbags, not the most glamorous piece of conversation, but I want to thank the volunteers for their work on filling sandbags, and actually we do have one more sandbag detail. Tonight we are loading some unused sandbags. There're actually some unused, filled sandbags, and we are sending them to Burlington, Iowa, because Burlington is the next place apparently that is experiencing these challenges. So if you would like to stop watching this right now, you can show up at Madison and Burlington. I encourage you to park and walk down the hill, and they're loading up unused sandbags on a truck to truck down to our neighbor to the south, Burlington, Iowa. So, I'm glad we can do that for that city. I just want to wrap up by saying that, you know, I've been down here and seeing the work of the staff and we are very fortunate to have a very skilled staff, many of whom had been through the 1993 flood and that expertise, uh, really leant itself to the response to this particular disaster, so I just really wanted to commend staff who have been working long hours, most of whom are here this weekend, in all departments it's been incredible, and I want to, uh, thank all of you for all the work that you've been doing, out in the community. I know I've been talking to all of you. You were calling in with good suggestions and information. That was absolutely critical to our response and our great response to the community, and finally, I just want to thank the community for their response to this disaster, that the amount...the number of volunteers that we had out at the Water Plant, for example, uh, just shoring up some of those wells, was just incredible. We had a thousand volunteers out there, and we couldn't have done what we did, we couldn't have responded so well without the support of the community and the support of the volunteers, so, as we've all said -this is a great place to live, um, because of the people and we know that there's a lot of work ahead of us, but we know that together we can get through it, because we've gotten this far together. So, I think that that's really important. We're working on plans to, uh, involve volunteers in the cleanup, and we're excited, uh, to get all the calls from people who are interested in continuing to help, and we will have information as soon as we start that cleanup effort for people who are interested in helping us move forward on this, and as roads become open, and as access is granted to properties, we will be announcing those and sending out those press releases, and those will continue to be posted on our web sites. I just want to emphasize that our City events have resumed, so get out and be part of the community. We all need to really connect and have sort of a relaxation and celebration time as we move ahead, and...and finish moving through this disaster. So, that's what we have for the flood update, um, one other thing... Hayek: One more thing on the flood. It's just to give the public a sense, an extent, of the volunteer effort. Iowa City volunteers alone, uh, filled upwards of This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 17, 2008. #2 Page 7 one and a half million sandbags. Over less than two weeks, and I believe there aze some six million sandbags throughout the County, uh, that's just an incredible number. (several commenting) Bailey: And we are, in the spirit of Iowa City, we are looking for ways, our Public Works Director, is looking for ways to actually recycle the contents of those sandbags and be able to use them in the winter, so we're looking for ways to do that. Um, we will have information about how to, when it's safe to remove those, and our collection efforts, and we'll tell you what we're actually going to do with the sand once we figure it out, so I think that's kind of exciting too, that we're always looking for opportunities to carry out our values in this community. So...there we go. Shall we move through the rest of the meeting now? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 17, 2008. #3 Page 8 ITEM 3. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED. Bailey: I would entertain a motion to amend the Consent Calendar to include Items Sa, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, and 19. Wilburn: So moved. Wright: So moved. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Wright. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Those opposed same sign. Motion carries. Item 3 is consider adoption of the Consent Calendar as amended. Champion: Move adoption. Bailey: Moved by Champion. Hayek: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Hayek. Discussion? Our Consent Calendar became quite a bit longer. Are there any discussion items, or items you would like to emphasize, bring attention to for the public? Wright: Um, just a one question, the uh, bid that we had for the Recycling Center. Bailey: The Eastside Recycling Center? Wright: Right, Eastside Recycling Center. We only got one bid, which I thought was a bit curious, and that was significantly above our engineer's estimate. Any explanation why that (mumbled)? Bailey: Kumi...oh, I thought I saw you, that'd be great! Thank you. Moms: Hi, I'm Kumi Morns. I'm with the engineering division of Public Works. Um, we had four...four generals that came. We had a pre-bid meeting that was mandatory for general contractors that were going to submit a bid, and we had four that came to that meeting. Um, out of seven that we were hoping on from seeing the, um, plan holder's list. Of the four, only one had submitted the bid, um, what we learned after talking to the other three, as well as the fourth that actually submitted a bid, was that there were a number of items that, um, that um, created that situation. Um, First was that, um, the, um pricing for a number of items were not submitted by subcontractors. Um, some of those including mechanical and electrical work, um, were submitted with some major contingencies, and um, roofing costs for the entire facility was high, and we only had one supplier This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 17, 2008. #3 Page 9 that actually submitted a bid. Um, metal roofing pricing, which was one of the alternates, was not submitted. Um, and not available to contractors. The glass and curtain wall pricing was high, and um, again, we only had one contractor to chose from for subs for that. Um, lastly, there was no pricing for steel or pre-cast concrete erection, um, available at the time, when the bids came in. So, right now what we're doing is we're regrouping, and looking at, um, what we can do to alleviate some of those issues. We know that some of the, um, contractors at the, afterwards had called and had talked to both the architect and myself about, um, you know, perhaps ways that we might be able to modify the specs to be able to make it more amenable to contractors. I know that LEED had scared off some, uh, of the local, major contractors who had not done this before, but were interested in the project, but were concerned about the paperwork and some of the, um, some of the involvement of LEED and a project of this scale. So we know that because of the number of items that did not have particular pricing, or submittal pricing from subcontractors, um, contractors, um, the contractor that submitted a bid was making a ballpark questimate of...of what those numbers might be. Bailey: Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion? I did want to point out that we are, um, in the Consent Calendar, authorizing and application for funding assistance for, um, recreation trails around Sand Lake, which I think is exciting to...that we're moving ahead on that project. Further discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. Next item on our agenda, I would entertain a motion to. Wilburn: Move to continue all public hearings and defer Items number 4, Sb to 10, and Items 12, 16, 20, 21, 22, and 23 until June 24`h. Hayek: Second. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Hayek to, um, continue all public hearings and defer these items. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Those opposed same sign. Motion carries. I would entertain a motion to adjourn. (several responding) Moved by Hayek, seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor say aye. Thank you very much. Stay safe out there. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 17, 2008.