HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-10 TranscriptionJuly 10, 2008 Special City Council Work Session Page 1
July 10, 2008 Special City Council Work Session 7:42 A.M.
Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Correia, Hayek, O'Donnell, Wright
Council Absent: Wilburn
Staff: Karr, Helling, Dilkes, Lombardo, Boothroy, Davidson, O'Malley,
O'Brien, Jensen
Other:
Flood Mitigation Plan (memo):
Bailey/ Let's start with our flood mitigation plan. (mumbled) start at the top of the list.
know we just recently got a memo. Do you want to...
Lombardo/ (coughing, unable to hear) and many thanks to...to Jeff Davidson who
compiled, and Eleanor for her efforts in editing the, um, memo that was handed
out, that kind of goes through the Q&A. Uh, and there's some additional updated
information in there. Jeff, was there anything in particular that you wanted to, uh,
to point out in here? This summarizes kind of our discussions and the Q&A
relative to the, um, hazard mitigation grant program, in particular, uh, how it
operates, but um, what are the details, um, all the questions that had come up in
weeks prior and as we add more, or discover more, we'll continue to update this
for you.
Bailey/ Okay. Any discussion on this? I know that we just got it.
Dilkes/ I...I want to just point out a couple things.
Bailey/ Okay.
Dilkes/ iJh, it...question #2 has some additional information about...that we got at the
meeting on Monday, um, about the timeline for the buyout and how that...at least
we understand that will work. Question #6, um, gives some additional
information about how fair market value is determined. That's done on a
community basis, so that's something, an evaluation that we'll have to make.
Um, question #14 addresses whether the local match can be provided in whole or
in part by the homeowner, and we have determined that it can be structured in that
fashion.
Bailey/ Do we just have to have an indicator from the homeowner in some way? Do we
know how that would...
Dilkes/ No, we could structure the program such that the local match would be provided
by the homeowner.
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Bailey/ All right.
Dilkes/ It's considered a third party in-kind donation by the homeowner. Um.. .
Bailey/ So if we structured the buyout like that though, it would have to be consistent
across the board?
Dilkes/ You...you could chose to do a percentage of it, um, assessed, you know, local
match provided by the homeowner, um...yes, it would be consistent across the
board. I mean, I don't know...it depends on what kind of inconsistency you're
talking about.
Bailey/ Well, I mean, if for example a homeowner was...I mean, we've had some people
approach us and say that they would entertain that, (mumbled) local match, but
now if we're saying that we can structure it like that, we are basically saying we
expect a local match from the homeowner at "X" percent.
Dilkes/ Yes. That would be the case.
Bailey/ And that would be consistent. Okay, that's....that's what I wanted to...
Dilkes/ If that's what you chose to do.
Bailey/ Right. So if...there may be people, for example I think we've discussed this, who
might be unable to go in that direction from a buyout perspective, for whatever
personal financial reasons, and so...
Champion/ I don't see how that could be, because if they provide the local match, at the
closing they're going to get that money back. I mean, it's going to be a very
temporary loan to themselves basically.
Dilkes/ There could be any number of situations that would effect the, um, how that
would work out for any individual homeowner, but the way it would work is we
would make an offer to the homeowner of let's say you decided the match from
the owner, the homeowner, would be 10%. You'd make an offer of 90%,
requiring that there be a don...and in-kind donation by them of 10%. Um, there's
any number of ways that...someone's personal financial situation would come
into play. I mean, for instance, what's the amount of the mortgage, um, do they
have any resources in addition to what's in their house. I mean, there's any
number of things. But, um.. .
Bailey/ But we would be making a 90% offer on (several talking)
Dilkes/ ...if that's the way you chose to go.
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Lombardo/ I would hope that you would structure the program based on, um, the goals
that you would want to see accomplished, but also in our financial ability to
structure it, and keep it uniform, because if we get into acase-by-case basis, then
you have to be in a position to defend your reasons, and justify, and plus it gets
very difficult to administer on our part, so whatever we come up with, I...I hope it
will be uniform throughout.
Bailey/ All right. I just wanted to make sure we were all clear on that. Other highlights,
Eleanor?
Dilkes/ I think that's the main...those are the main ones.
Lombardo/ In addition to the...the memo, I've provided a spreadsheet, um, or a matrix,
uh, that kind of takes the subdivisions and also arrays them in terms of the number
of properties and the assessed value, um, and group them according to what was
in the floodway, what was in the 100-year flood plain, uh, and then what was in
the 500-year flood plain. Now, this is based, certainly, on our interpretation
of...in our flood maps, of what may or may not be in the 100-year flood plain,
and we basically took any...any property, uh, not structure, but any property that,
um, had a portion in the 100-year flood plain we included in that. I think we have
some further work to do with the FEMA guidelines to make sure that we're
consistent with their interpretation of what to include there or not. I think we're
in pretty good steed but...these numbers are subject to change, uh, a little bit, and,
um, and then took a, uh, a crack at establishing a preliminary estimated market
value and that's based on, um, the information that we've received from the
Assessor's Office based on current sales in some areas and what they project our
assessed values to be in relation to the market. Certainly if somebody has an
appraisal that's been done, uh, in the last year or is able to provide a current, uh,
an appraisal, then we can take that into account, and so the...the potential local
match, or the...the potential market value could go up, as well. These are just
kind of to give you a basis for discussion, um, and then, again, for the sake of
deliberations, I broke it out, um, in terms of what it would be in terms of 5% and
then a 15% local match so that you could see the magnitude of...of the dollars
that we would have to provide towards the program, uh, based on either condition.
Um, at the bottom there, it was requested as well that, um, we give some
indication of what potential loss, property tax revenue would be, and under each
of the categories I've included that, uh, so in total, uh, approximately $450,000 in
lost revenue, if all of the properties were purchased.
Bailey/ Okay.
Davidson/ Madame Mayor, I also wanted to point out that question #9, uh, refers to the
identification of specific properties when the Notice of Interest is submitted, if
you were to decide to do that, uh, it does refer to a copy of the property data sheet
being attached, and in our haste to get everything copied this morning, that did not
get attached. I can just tell you real briefly that there are ten pieces of information
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that are included on that property data sheet. Much of it is very perfunctory, the
name of the property owner, property address, city, uh, whether or not
the...there's a National Flood Insurance policy on the property, the year the house
was built, uh, the key thing that's going to require some effort then is the building
damage estimate. We've been indicating that to people in that they should try
and, uh, have a professional contractor of some type do that. Whether or not the
property is located in the 100-year flood plain. Obviously we expect that to be
part of the prioritization process that the State and Federal government use.
Whether or not the house is...or maybe I should say "house substantially
damaged or destroyed", the house is, uh, whether it's occupied by a primary
owner, it's a rental, secondary owner or commercial. You remember again, that's
the priority order in which the State will rank properties, and then the pre-flood
fair market value, uh, which as City Manager indicated, we have a formula that
we'll probably use to arrive at that. So those are the ten pieces of information for
each property that we'll need to submit.
Bailey/ Can we get that in our packet this afternoon?
Davidson/ Sure, we can make a copy.. .
Lombardo/ Yeah, I can provide it before we adjourn.
Bailey/ Oh, okay.
Lombardo/ Technical difficulties between my home computer and getting things here this
morning, and I apologize. We were last minute copying.
Bailey/ (mumbled) Any questions about that information, or the...any discussion about
the matrix?
Dilkes/ I just...I want to note too that with respect to the Idyllwild properties, um, I'm in
the process of going through that declaration of condominium, and I need to
communicate with the Association's attorney about how such a buyout would be
structured, whether it would be with individual property owners or...with the
individual unit owners or with the Association, so that's something that we're
going to have to work through.
Bailey/ Right.
Lombardo/ I made a similar request to FEMA and the Iowa Homeland Security office
to...to give their interpretation as well, uh, just to make sure that we're working in
concert and getting good information on how to proceed.
Bailey/ Does Iowa Homeland Security have somebody in the AG's office that we, I
mean, is that who we're talking to?
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Lombardo/ We're working with the Director of the Iowa Homeland Security office. I'm
sure that they would avail themselves of the services.
Dilkes/ Yeah, we're going to have to, we're going to have to understand how that
declaration works before I think we're going to be able to get guidance from...
Bailey/ Right, right.
Hayek/ Can I get a, um, a confirmation...my understanding that at present the indication
from FEMA is that buyout funds, uh, will not likely be provided for anything in
the 500-year plain? Is that our understanding right now?
Lombardo/ We had a meeting this past week with Iowa Homeland Security and FEMA
Director, um, the Regional Director, and their indication is that based on the cost-
effectiveness formula that they use, uh, that it is difficult to see, uh, where funding
would reach, um, houses or structures in the 500-year flood plain. They also
indicated though that if....if a justification could be made, if there were just
perhaps a few houses and it was in an entire neighborhood, they would make
some considerations, so...so that, not essentially impossible, but there would have
to be acost-effective, um, analysis done to demonstrate why it was important, or
why they should be included, uh, despite the way their formula plays out.
Wright/ So they would be willing to consider that circumstantially, based on individual
applications.
Lombardo/ Right. Based on, and again, I...I don't...we don't know how their formula
works specifically. It's a computer model that they use, but looking at the
neighborhoods, um, that are affected here in Iowa City, it's a fairly even split
based on our flood maps, and so...there...I have questions as to whether or not
they would be willing to consider or not. It seems from the language that they
used in describing it to us, it seemed that it...that they would be the exception,
and I don't know how that would work with such an even split between, um,
structures that are in the 100 versus 500-year flood plain.
Hayek/ The real kicker would be consideration of Idyllwild with almost half of those
properties in the, considered in the 500-year plain. Um, but yet their part of...you
know, a monolithic entity and some of them are probably connected to other
properties, which maybe in the 100-year on the other end depending on the grade
on that site.
Lombardo/ And we've asked them these questions, and...and if you have a...a four-plex
unit and two are in the 100-year and two are in the 500, you know, is that part of
your special exception or not. Those are some of the questions that we've relayed
to FEMA and Iowa Homeland Security for clarification, because we need to
know, uh, how to proceed in submitting these requests.
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Wright/ Have there been expressions of interest from the owners of the two mobile home
parks?
Lombardo/ Not at the present time, no.
Dilkes/ Let me just...I can elaborate on that a little bit because there was a question last
time. Um, the way that that would work, you know how those properties are
owned by the owner of the mobile home park, the whole property is one piece of
property that's owned, and then the mobile homes are either owned and the pad is
rented, or the mobile home is rented and the pad is rented. Um, if there was going
to be a buyout there of...of the property owner's interest, there would be
relocation expenses that would be paid, would have to be paid, to the, um, tenants,
and owners of the mobile home, including replacement housing, etc., and it's our
preliminary, um, determination that those relocation expenses would be included
as part of the project costs, you know, the 75 split, but I haven't pinned that down
exactly yet, so...
Bailey/ And we are paying relocation costs for...theoretically, we would pay relocation
costs there, but not in the other areas, is that...tell me how that works.
Dilkes/ When there's a buyout of the property owner, it's considered to be a voluntary
transaction and therefore there are not relocation expenses paid. You pay for
the...you pay for the property, but you do not pay to relocate, but when there are
tenants on the property that you are buying out, then the requirement for
relocation kicks in.
Davidson/ Another factor, just to be aware of with Baculis and Thatcher is that the
criteria that is used by the State and Federal government in evaluating these
properties basically requires them to be substantially damaged or destroyed, and
the properties at Baculis and Thatcher were not substantially damaged and
destroyed, so that would be a factor that would play against...against that
property being bought out, because basically the levee held down there.
Hayek/ Good point!
Bailey/ So, buyout might not be an option, but some kind of mitigation probably should
be discussed, so we're not building a levee every ten years.
Lombardo/ Through our CIl' meetings, we're discussing, uh, city-wide, what types of
infrastructure projects, uh, we want to consider, and uh, make requests for, in fact,
um, our State reps have asked for, uh, damage estimates, but also then potential
projects and costs attending to, and so I'm expecting numbers today to compile
that, and you'll have them as well, uh, probably by the end of today, giving some
indication of potential projects and the costs associated with it, where they're
seeking to get additional funding for.
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Bailey/ That does move us into lobbying, um, is everybody okay if we move on to that
next topic?
Dilkes/ Can I make one more comment, just make sure we kind of touch base on all these
properties. You'll see on Michael's spreadsheet, um, the Napoleon
Drive/Showers Estate, um, the...I'm communicating with Chuck Meardon who's
the attorney for the Hagen Estate who owns that property, and my understanding
is that from him, my preliminary understanding is that there are only three
structures remaining down there that were not affected by the flood, so they're
considering whether to request participation in the FEMA buyout, um,
which...which might ultimately, um, be beneficial to us as well, if we can get
some Federal money for that. As you know, we have an option to purchase that
property.
Bailey/ Uh-huh, okay.
Hayek/ How does that option work? Do they, do we elect to purchase? Can they call
it...
Dilkes/ The way the option works is, within three years of our purchase agreement, which
was like last fall, um, if they can...if they can clear the land so there are no lease-
hold interests, um, they can require us to purchase it. I mean, our concern was we
don't want to buy the land unless it's vacant. We don't want to deal with tenants,
and trying to address those issues. So, if they can clear it within three years,
we're required to purchase it. Otherwise, we have an option to purchase within
five years.
Lombardo/ One of the things I think we'll need to discuss perhaps as early as the next
work session is...is really how are we going, are we going to structure, uh, our
Notice of Interest, and what are we going to include. Is it 100, 500-year, is it all,
but we have to make some decisions about, um, what will be included in the
Notice of Interest, and a lot of that will be tied to, um, what we're able to make
available for funding, and so um, over the next week if we can give that
consideration and if you have any questions, call me, um, but I think next work
session we really need to roll up our sleeves and come to some determination
about what we're going to do and how we're going to proceed.
Bailey/ So, with that in mind...Amy, did you have a comment?
Correia/ Well, I just, um, with the extension of the FEMA deadline for applying for
disaster assistance, this September 12t" is still a firm date. I know they extended
that to September 27tH
Lombardo/ That was for individual assistance, um, it doesn't affect our Notice of Interest
at all.
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Correia/ Okay.
Davidson/ As far as we're aware, September 12`" is still the date.
Correia/ Okay.
Bailey/ So, with that in mind, that we're going to have to begin to discuss the formation
of this Notice of Interest and how we want to structure it, um, are there additional
pieces of information that you can think of now that you might need from staff to
help, uh, make that decision? I know that we're, you know, we just got a pile of
information, but what other pieces of information might be necessary? So think
about that - if you don't have anything now, make sure that you let Michael
know.
Hayek/ Is there any way of getting an estimate from Parks Department or somebody else
about the potential cost of maintaining open space once created. May be a hard
number to track down, but.. .
Lombardo/ I guess...just in our initial discussions and kind of in my own thinking, um,
I...I would think...and likely how this will play out in terms of the number of
properties and how it might be somewhat hodge-podge, um, my recommendation
likely will be, and again, we've got a lot of ground to cover before we do...but
would be not to have it be a park such as we know it, such as City Park, but more
of a naturalized area, uh, that would require less maintenance. Um, this is
intended to be part of the flood plain, part of a naturalized setting, that when
inundated there would not be further damage, and if we're planting shrubs and
grasses and trying to beautify the area, um, not only is it, um, an additional cost
on an ongoing basis, but then we have the potential for considerable loss, um, you
know, the next flooding event, and we know that area floods.
Hayek/ And query whether...natural grasslands, like you describe, would actually
provide more of a benefit than a flood event, whether from an erosion perspective
or...or any other perspective. So, there maybe other reasons on top of saving
money.
Correia/ I was going to say, if we could hear from staff about the benefits of the, that
Peninsula open space, because we had, the City had purchased that for, because it
was in the flood plain and, um, I think that would be information that would be
helpful, about how that has worked to our benefit to have that, what the costs are
to maintaining that as open space or...
Bailey/ And I'm curious about the presence of trail, um, a trail on there, even if it is
natural grassland. And what that, I mean, we'd probably have an average cost
per.. .
Lombardo/ Yeah, we can come up with some...some, uh, information for you.
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Bailey/ And I know that, um, the State is talking about, I mean, for example, there's this
recap fund and I know that, um, there's an Iowa board will be visiting this area to
look at river redevelopment, and so there might be outside funds available for that
kind of development, that it wouldn't address, uh, the concern about ongoing
maintenance. Okay.
Hayek/ I had one other question. I'm going to try and remember it here.
Bailey/ Okay.
Hayek/ Shoot...uh, oh! It is this. Uh, in terms of calculating the City's potential cost in
relation to a buyout, exclusive of the local match requirement, can we get a handle
on what we would anticipate our costs to be in terms of demolition, uh, and all
other ancillary costs, so as we're looking at this we can...have those numbers too.
Lombardo/ We'll have those next time.
Bailey/ And we can...we can apply for demolition dollars in our...I thought that was
mentioned.
Lombardo/ It would be part of our public assistance request, and so 90% reimbursable.
Bailey/ Yeah, okay. That's good to know. Any other questions or, um, indications of
what other information you might need, as we begin to structure this Notice of
Interest? Connie?
Champion/ No, I don't have any questions. I mean, I...I'm positive that I want to go
forward with it, and I'll have to give some thought about what I want (mumbled)
Bailey/ Okay. So, if you come up with things, let staff know so we can have the
information, and move ahead on that...at the next work session. Okay, let's um,
well, let's just keep going down the list. River corridor update -Michael, what
do you have for that?
River Corridor Update:
Lombardo/ We've begun meeting with, uh, other entities who, um, are partners in this
river corridor - Coralville, and the University, and um, are contemplating what
type of broader planning effort might be warranted in the wake of this...this, um,
flood event, and there seems to be strong support for, uh, for an effort such as
that. So we're conceptualizing how and what that might look like, and...and um,
are trying to put some, uh, some definition to that and then are going to meet
again and kind of refine it, and then uh, would present you with kind of thoughts
on...on a planning effort and then start bringing in the broader, um, elected bodies
and...and start discussing how do we want to approach or revisit our use of the
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river corridor, and what we might be able to accomplish on a lot of different
levels.
Bailey/ Questions? Okay, update on lobbying strategy. Did you want to just expand a
little bit on the information you're providing to our Federal, um, officials? Which
is due today, I guess.
Update on Lobbyin~ Strategy:
Lombardo/ Yeah, they've, um, they've requested...uh, we compile a list of residential,
commercial, and then uh infrastructure type projects, uh, and estimated costs.
Um, my understanding is they're seeking additional appropriations to assist, um,
the areas that have been affected by floods in Iowa, and so we, uh, well, the
housing I think we have a good handle on, um, staff I think in my email box there
should be several with estimated costs for various infrastructure projects, um, and
the like, and we're going to pull that together. I'll make sure you get a copy of
that today, but uh, we're quickly information gathering in a day and a half and
trying to provide them with that information.
Champion/ Michael, do we know anything yet about the bridge, the Park Road bridge?
Lombardo/ Uh, divers, they maybe in the water right now, in fact, are going down this
morning, uh, to do an inspection of potential scouring, and we'll know more today
and update you on that.
Champion/ Great, thank you.
O'Donnell/ How about the sinkhole on Iowa Avenue?
Lombardo/ It was a big one. iJh, we're uh...do I have engineers here? Uh, they're
developing a project plan, and we're going to, you know, get it fixed, but quite
unexpected, and it's a very large sinkhole. I don't know if you've been down
there, but we're going to get right on it and get it fixed. I can give you updates on
when, uh, that'll start, reconstruction'll start happening, but it's going to take, you
know, perhaps a week or more, uh, at a minimum to get it kind of defined and
engineered.
Hayek/ Good place for storing sandbags? (several talking, laughter)
Bailey/ Has D.O.T. indicated that they've made some emergency dollars available for
these kinds of things, at the State level? I mean, have we talked to anybody there?
I mean, I'm sure we're not the only people in this boat.
Davidson/ We're still trying to get a handle on that. We did meet with Federal Highway
Administration, and again, we're not entirely clear, but it appears that for, uh, at
least the Federal Aid Street System, which is the major arterial systems, uh, might
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include Dubuque Street even though it's not a federal route. It's a federal aid
eligible route that the money for, uh, those types of improvements would come
through the Federal Highway Administration, and not through FEMA. So, uh,
hopefully there's going to be some funds made available through the Federal
Highway Administration.
Bailey/ So is that something we're also talking to (mumbled) and Loebsack's office
about?
Lombardo/ We're talking to anybody who we think has...has funding that can be made
available, and making sure that we are, our interests are represented in that, and
that we have a shot at getting some of those additional funds.
Bailey/ Is there anything we should be doing at the State level, regarding that? Because it
would be Federal dollars coming through, right?
Davidson/ Right, and...and the general appropriation that would be made, some of that
could come through FEMA, some could come through Federal Highways, I mean,
it just depends on programmatically where the money's intended to go.
Bailey/ Okay.
Lombardo/ And...and we're looking at this not just in terms of...of damage and flood
mitigation, but we're looking at what...what projects or changes would make
Iowa City even better, and...and they may not be direct flood mitigation type
programs, but um, you know, may contribute to that, or may enhance, um, there's
a lot of different angles and there's some very large kind of projects that could be
considered, um, we're including that and saying, `Look, this is an opportunity for
us to really look at not only flood mitigation, but enhanced transportation and
housing and commercial,' and...and just attacking it from all levels.
Bailey/ So we're looking at an additional access to the Peninsula, for example, or raising
Foster Road, or raising Dubuque Street, as well.
Lombardo/ Right, all of that.
Bailey/ Okay. Questions regarding that?
Hayek/ When...at what point do we, uh, see a, the draft, bullet point of lobbying points,
and...and bullets around that.
Lombardo/ I'll have a list of projects, um, today likely. They've asked for that today, and
so we'll have that. I'll clean it up, and...they'll probably get something a little bit
more raw than...than, I'll try and clean it up and group it, so that you can, you
know, use it a little bit more effectively.
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Bailey/ Okay, other questions for Michael regarding the Federal, um, I just wanted to let
you know, I was in Des Moines for a Vision Iowa meeting and took advantage of
being able to meet with General Dardis who's heading up the Rebuild Iowa
Commission. This is the Governor's commission in response to the disasters, and
I just wanted to figure out for us how that was going to proceed. I understand that
they are going to be naming an Executive Director, I think the Governor indicated
this week. The first meeting of the commission will probably be next week, and
this, um, in the area, Jim Fausett is on this commission, representing the Iowa
League of Cities, um, Bill Bywater, Bill Gerhard, and Carroll Reasoner. There
are also, um, members on the commission, I'm sure you've all seen the list, um,
from other areas of the state that have been affected, and so he indicated that we
will probably be called in to do a briefing, probably similar to what our funding
needs are, because they'll be looking for funding gaps at the State. This is what
the Governor has asked for, um, and, um, they are looking at task force areas also
in the areas of housing, transportation, and economic development, and they have
an opportunity, um, for representation from the affected areas, so we may want to
make sure that somebody from our staff or our Council, if these task forces are
formed, participate in those to have, to make sure we have a voice around the
table. Um, so that's, um, that's what I know about that, and I think more
information will be forthcoming. I know Michael's been in contact, um, with this
group as well. I've talked with Jim Fausett a little bit. So if you know people on
this commission, I think it's important to be talking with them and...and making
sure that they understand our needs, here in Iowa City. Um, additionally, on
behalf of the Council and the City I did stop and thank the Governor, um, for his
attention to our area, and I encouraged him to be advocating for additional Federal
funds (mumbled) as much as he could draw down, and so, um, I think that's
another message that we need to continue. It's unclear if there will be a special
legislative session in August. I hear mixed, Michael hears mixed, um, but we can
all just keep an eye on that, so I just wanted to update you regarding that, and
obviously, those funding gaps, those needs will be reflective of the document that
Michael is preparing for how we want to proceed, and those will be part of our
talking points at the State level, um, so...questions, comments, ideas of how we
need to proceed moving forward? I know you all have contacts with our State
and Federal delegations, so it's really important to be making sure that they're
hearing from you, as we proceed. Matt?
Hayek/ I'm king of thinking more about, uh, the buyout program, and I've got a follow
up question. It has nothing to do with lobbying.
Bailey/ That's fine. We can jump around. We're capable.
Hayek/ The other day we...we talked about, um, the process that the State would follow,
and how that impacts what happens locally, and maybe this is in the materials we
just received, maybe it's not, but I think one lingering question I would have is, if
we put together an application and it's got "X" number of properties on it, um,
and the dollar amount at the bottom is reflective of those properties and goes up
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the chain of command and then comes down with money attached, it goes through
the State, is that right?
Davidson/ Homeland Security is managing it on behalf of FEMA in Iowa.
Hayek/ Okay. But when it comes back down to us, is it a lump sum that we must apply
to those properties on the application, in those, you know, respective amounts?
Or is it, is it a lump sum that we can do with as we chose. These are probably
questions you can't answer now, but I think I'd like a sense of how that would
even play out.
Davidson/ And I think what we have is a sense, collectively, from...from the information
we've gotten. Uh, we believe it's pro...it's property-specific, that it will not be a
lump sum that we have discretion to do whatever we want with, but rather it will
be fair market value for specific properties that have been approved through the
program.
Lombardo/ Ultimately I think, um, what translates from the Notice of Interest to the
actual formal application for the funds would...would pretty much, um, guide
what we purchase, so it...at that point I believe it would be a commitment that
here are the properties that are...are going to be bought out, or should the owner
desire so, and we're making a commitment at that time to put up the necessary
funds to make that happen.
Davidson/ What Michael alluded to is...is something that, again, in our discussion of
exactly what we're going to do, we're going to have to explore a little further, and
that is do you want to in the Notice of Interest submit properties that we're not
certain that...that the property owners wishes to be bought out. But for example,
as a matter of policy, we could say we wanted to do the entire, uh, 100-year flood
plain, for example, and then later, when we actually would make the formal
application is when we would find out if individuals were or were not interested
in being bought out. So, um, you know, all policy issues that you'll have to
discuss, decide what you want to do before we submit.
Hayek/ But potentially somebody outside of Iowa City, higher up the governmental
chain, is approving on aper-property basis, these applications.
Davidson/ That's our impression, Matt.
Dilkes/ If you look at the answer to question 2, that's the latest answer that we've gotten
with respect to the timeline, and I think one thing that has changed, as Michael
alluded to, is when our original thought was after we submit the Notice of Interest
we were going to get some input about what properties we should apply for. I
don't think that's the case anymore; we're going to submit this Notice of Interest,
they're going to start their process, they're going to tell us go ahead and apply,
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um, and it won't be until after the application where we get some, and a response
to that application, that we get indication of what they're willing to fund.
Davidson/ I think the important part of the Notice of Interest for them is to see on a state-
widebasis what the demand for the program's going to be, because that's then
going to impact the messages they give back to all of us local communities, in
terms of if or if not they want us to apply.
Bailey/ Okay. Other questions that you thought of in the meantime for this Notice of
Interest? I mean, we can keep coming back to this, because this seems to be the
thing that's going to (mumbled) for us. Okay, let's move on to the animal shelter
update.
Animal Shelter Update (memo from Police Chief):
Lombardo/ Yeah, we've been doing some quick calculations, and based on the number of
animals that we have, uh, we figure if you each take 11 cats and 7 dogs (laughter)
We were able (several talking) cougars last year I heard! Um, we were fortunate
enough to find a space, um, out on Sand Road, uh, that's been going to be made
available. We signed aone-year lease, um, and they're in the process now of
getting it prepared to accept the animals. Um, it's a, I forget the property owner's
name.. .
Dilkes/ Long.
Lombardo/ Dave Long, um, property...there's an awning business in one of the
buildings, but there are two other buildings that are, um, either attached or
separate that we're going to occupy for a time. We're trying to make reasonable,
uh, accommodations for technology, but this is...this is a stopgap measure. This
is not going to be its permanent home. We've received damage assessment,
initial assessment of the current facility, and we're going to be meeting, uh, next
week to start discussing our approach to renovating or how are we...are we going
to fold that into any broader plans that we may have, but um, we have aone-year
solution at least.
Karr/ There is a memo distributed this morning from the Police Chief on it, as well.
Bailey/ Thank you. And I know that some of us have been receiving correspondence
regarding a new one, but you...you're developing this plan with the damage
assessment (mumbled)
Lombardo/ Right. And...and you know, I'm sympathetic but we have, um, tens of
millions of dollars worth of projects in our CIP, and um, the expedient thing
might be to renovate as opposed to rebuild at this time. We're considering it as
part of a lot of broader projects, and we want to make good decisions, but...but I
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don't want to get a false hope out there that we're going to just react and build a
new facility.
Champion/ I don't think Animal Shelter flooded during the 93 flood. Was it 93? (several
talking)
Helling/ Access was a problem, but the facility continued to operate.
Bailey/ Okay.
Wright/ How does the temporary space, uh, compare to the old facility, just in terms
of...of usable room for staff and (mumbled). Roughly the same?
Lombardo/ You know, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles in terms of drains, um,
and there's uh, some water in some partitions that they want to put in to help
segregate animals, and keep things a little bit more manageable. Um, but...
Wright/ But the space is going to be adequate for the capacity that they had before?
Lombardo/ Misha seems very pleased with the space and their ability to work with it, and
have it, you know, get them through this period of time.
Bailey/ So, and so far as our public assistance, um, is this essential corporate purpose, or
that other thing?
Lombardo/ My understanding is that they would fund the lease for six months (mumbled)
Bailey/ Okay. And how about rebuilding or renovating?
Correia/ And cleaning.
Bailey/ And cleaning?
Lombardo/ I would think that part of the cleaning would be, um, part of our public
assistance. I've got to look into the details.
Bailey/ Okay. But we are pushing that, as well, right?
Lombardo/ Yeah, we're going to open up project worksheets for everything that we can
consider and that they will fund.
Bailey/ Okay.
Hayek/ On the subject of CII', are we going to need to have a conversation, you know,
with Rick and others at some point about infrastructure, uh, fixes or
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improvements or modifications that would impact that portion of the budget going
forward?
Lombardo/ Well, the CIP is already impacted. I mean, we're behind on...on several
projects that because of, you know, dealing with the flood and, uh, we've been
meeting...we've met the last two weeks in a row to discuss those projects and
what do we think we can continue to proceed with, and we're meeting again week
after next, um, to...to just kind of confirm where we are. For instance, um,
McCollister Boulevard, very large project, that's behind perhaps nine months at
this point because of the delay in engineering and all the work that we do on the
front end, um, we're...we're discussing delaying the sidewalk inspection program
for a period of months to give us some breathing room to catch up on some other
projects, so I'll...we'll put together a list of...of impacted programs and get that
to you, um, perhaps in the wake of the next CIP meeting, that'd be a good point
for us to do that.
Hayek/ And then we have amid-year budget review at some point, don't we?
Bailey/ Well, I mean, we're...we should do a final budget review (mumbled) we just
closed. So we do need a budget check-in, as we talked about doing that. So, we
probably need to get that scheduled in August.
Hayek/ Have a lot of wrenches in the wheels these days.
Lombardo/ Kevin...we were going to get good figures by when, July, end of July or early
August, I think.
O'Malley/ Normally we close by the tenth of the month, and then the year we usually
close around 20, 25~", and because of the FEMA and all the stuff, we're probably
looking at maybe the first week of August having some decent numbers to share
with you for the closing of Fiscal Year 08.
Bailey/ We need to schedule disasters earlier in the fiscal year. (laughter and several
commenting) Yeah, right, exactly! Okay.
Wright/ I've actually been having some similar thoughts to what you were having there.
I'm wondering if (mumbled)
Champion/ We have a lot of (several talking) Falling out of the sky.
Other:
Bailey/ Okay, some other items that, um, flood related items. Oh, I noted that when we
formed the Economic Development funds, we need a representative from the
Economic Development Committee to serve on that and we didn't, um, identify
who that would be. If that's going to get started next week, we should do that.
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So, we have one representative on that fund, um, selection committee from the
Economic Development Committee. So, one of the three of us, so we need, we
should identify that because Michael thinks that will get going next week, so we
need to be ready to go, and...
Champion/ I mean I'm willing to do...
Hayek/ I'd be happy to do it too.
Champion/ Either one of us, it doesn't make any difference. Draw a straw.
Bailey/ Okay. Um...
Hayek/ Pick a number, Connie.
Champion/ Shall I write it down? (laughter)
Bailey/ Should we go with schedule availability? Either one of you can be called and
whoever's available?
O'Donnell/ That's good.
Hayek/ Can we do that?
Dilkes/ Yeah, I think, well, if that'll work for you. (several commenting) Yeah, I don't
think it's going to be too...I mean, it's...
Bailey/ It needs to be responsive if we're on this. Scheduled availability might be the
better way to.. .
Lombardo/ Which one would be more apt to bring pastries?
Champion/ I don't bake! (laughter and several talking)
Bailey/ Okay, so...
Champion/ Why don't you do it, and if you're not available I...they can call me. (several
talking)
Bailey/ Call Matt first, and then Connie is backup. Great, thank you. Um, also, July 29"'
please note that we have a special work session for flood matters scheduled.
There is an option to bring in David Miller from Homeland Security and Bill
Vogel the FEMA regional person to do a sort of town hall meeting. We would
also have our people available, as well. If people are interested in proceeding in
that manner, so, uh, residents and we have the opportunity to ask very direct
questions of these people, um, Michael and I met with David, and um, Bill, and
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then John? The other day, I can't remember his last name. Wegeman, and so that
would be an option for that special work session, if people are interested. They
offer to do that, and...if we think it's necessary.
Wright/ I think from an information standpoint for the community, that might be a very
good opportunity.
Hayek/ What about the, I mean, I can see bringing those entities in to speak to the public
on, and answer questions, but what about, how do we incorporate Council and
open meetings and.. .
Bailey/ It would simply be an open meeting, um, it would be a town hall meeting. We
would have an open meeting, we would be able...as an open meeting, we would
also be able to ask questions...
Karr/ It would be a special work session.
Bailey/ Yeah.
Wright/ But by doing it in that manner, we could all be there (mumbled)
Bailey/ Right.
Lombardo/ Madame Mayor?
Bailey/ Yes?
Lombardo/ I would think if we're going to proceed, that we would probably want to have
it in a different venue because I would imagine it would attract a lot of people.
Bailey/ Right, we would have it in a larger...
Dilkes/ I think we need to give a little bit of thought to what stage we're going to be at in
the process of the NOI, and whether it makes sense at that timing wise to be
having that town forum at that time. I'm having a hard time, you know, we're
going to be...
Bailey/ I'm just bringing it forward. I'm not advocating one way or the other.
Dilkes/ I know, I'm just saying I'm not certain of the timing.
Bailey/ And I know that people have questions, and the ability to create access to state
officials I think is, I mean, that was one opportunity.
Hayek/ Although one danger it seems to me is thus far I think it's safe to say some of the
information we've received verbally from representatives hasn't exactly jived
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with our...what we've confirmed on our own in terms of FEMA policy and other
policy, and I would have...I would have some concerns that what's being
broadcast verbally by one representative might not actually be the case
when...when we get into a particular program or application. Um, and that would
be a problem whether we do it on July 29 or down, you know, later in the fall.
Lombardo/ I think the people that we're considering for this, Matt, are high enough on
the food chain that they would know specifically. But I do agree. I think we have
to perhaps by the 15th we'll have a better handle on whether the 29th is a good
timing.
Bailey/ Do we want to give it some thought, and then maybe decide this next week?
Champion/ I'll have to think about it.
Karr/ So July 29th we'll put into the schedule as a...as a work session, regardless of
whether it is the town hall meeting or some other matters dealing with it.
Bailey/ And then next week we can decide whether we'll go the town hall meeting route
or what topics we, um, we would want to do at that work session, or if we need it
at all. Those are sort of the three.. .
Karr/ So put it into the schedule so you have it set aside.
Bailey/ Is that acceptable to everyone, as a way to proceed? Please give it some thought,
um, I agree with Michael's assessment that, I mean, David Miller and Bill are...I
don't know, high enough that...that we could get sort of definitive answers, and
they're also good enough to say, `I don't know. I'll get that information to you.'
I had a question the other day, and Bill got right back to me with some,
confirming his answers. So...
Correia/ Who would be here?
Bailey/ It would be David Miller, who's the head of Iowa Homeland Security, and Bill
Vogel, I don't know his title, but he is the regional...
Lombardo/ I think he's the...the...
Bailey/ ...regional FEMA person, he's working very closely with the State, and then
John Wegeman, who is...
Lombardo/ He's also an Iowa Homeland Security...(mumbled) from the Governor's
office.
Dilkes/ John Wegeman, I think, is the hazard officer, hazard assistance (mumbled)
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Bailey/ So two of them are Iowa people, so...
Correia/ And so they offered to come to be available to answer questions or speak about
any specific items?
Bailey/ Um, they offer the opportunity to do something called a "town hall meeting," so
with the expectation that there would be Q&A from the public, as well as Council,
um, and so we can structure that, if you also have an idea...if we proceed, how
that would be best structured, we should also talk about that, but I wanted to bring
that forward because that offer was made, and if you all had some specific
questions, I mean, this also gives us access to them, which I think could be
beneficial, or the timing, as Eleanor pointed out, might not be effective for us. So
let's give that some thought, and we'll confirm that next week at our, um, at our
work session on Tuesday, and see how we want to proceed with that July 29c''
meeting. Okay? So...
Wright/ If we can have some more information (mumbled)
Bailey/ Potentially, but if it's not, timing-wise it could be the wrong thing. All right.
Any other items, flood matter items, information?
Correia/ Yes. I have, um, we need to speak at our next work session about tax abatement.
The Board of Supervisors at their last meeting, last week, which I attended, not
for this specific item, but it was up for discussion, um, and the Board wants a
sense of all of the taxing bodies in the County, whether the taxing bodies want the
Board to proceed with tax abatement or not.
Lombardo/ I had finished a memo last evening in addition to the report that we quickly
updated and was able to get to you this morning, and unfortunately I'm not
sure...it's in the air somewhere between my house and here, um, and it may
already have arrived, but you'll have a memo today on that very topic, and I
apologize for not having it this morning.
Bailey/ But we'll discuss it Monday (several talking) memo Monday night. Good.
Correia/ And then we can get that to them. (mumbled)
Bailey/ Other topics that we need to be considering?
Hayek/ The work session on Monday, is it, uh, is it flood only?
Bailey/ It's a regular work session, plus a flood discussion, and we put it flood discussion
so it could be general, similar to these.
Lombardo/ Um, Marian and Eleanor, uh, Dale and I were looking at the schedule
yesterday and we had a question of whether or not you wanted flood discussion
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on there. We have it scheduled for Tuesday, as well, at 5:30, uh, a flood work
session, and so would that be timely, or can we just, uh, wait to the 15t" to talk
about flood matters?
Bailey/ (several responding) Knowing the way that this group goes, I think if we had it
on Monday that would be good, because we might stray on topics we're not
supposed.. .
Dilkes/ I think the concern that we had is that if you have people who are coming to these
meetings and we have it on the agenda on Monday night, and then again a whole
hour and a half set aside for it on Tuesday, so that was the question.
Bailey/ Shall we agree to take up the tax abatement question on Monday night? Since
we'll have the memo today?
Hayek/ Yeah, except that once you start wading into the flood issues, you're in them, and
then you've got the same concern back-to-back meetings. I'm not sure what
we're going to gain in 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday.
Bailey/ So do we want to, um, okay...so when do you want to talk about flood issues?
Champion/ I think Tuesday is the time to do that.
Bailey/ Okay. So...
Champion/ Rather than have people coming both nights.
Bailey/ Okay.
Champion/ Um, but if anybody has any questions on Monday.
Karr/ Do you want to do tax abatement Tuesday then too, or not?
Bailey/ Yes.
Karr/ Tax abatement Tuesday with that work session?
Bailey/ Yes. And so, if people have flood questions, we can do it during Council time
and regular work session to prepare for Tuesday nights. Does that work for
everybody? (several responding) You're right. Okay. So, no flood discussion,
thank you, on Monday. If you have specific questions, they're going to have to be
confined to questions in the Council Time...okay?
Hayek/ So then what do we do with Monday?
Bailey/ Monday will be a regular work session for our.. .
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Karr/ Monday...the schedule you're looking at right now is a week old. The one coming
out today has detailed longer listings. You'll have something to occupy the
schedule (several talking)
Hayek/ That's what I'm looking for, Marian!
Karr/ That's what I thought!
Lombardo/ There's plenty to talk about! (laughter)
Bailey/ And I'm sure that...okay, any other items for today or for future meeting
schedule items, any other information you need, questions that you're hearing
from people, concerns about flood. Amy?
Correia/ I just, at some point you might want to ask the, um, members of the,
representatives from the United Way Volunteer Action Center, just to come and
give us an update. I did volunteer for the Action Center last Saturday, and there's
been a lot of volume of calls, both people needing help and people volunteering to
help, and so they've been doing a lot of matching, and um, a lot in the Normandy
area, and now they're focused on helping people get their sandbags out, so there's
a lot of calls for help.
Bailey/ Okay. And there was a...as you saw, a memo, Christine provided last week was
in the packet of information from, um, the United Way Action Center that was
with the letters.
Hayek/ Christine Sheets?
Bailey/ Yes. Um, it was last week, and so I'll ask them what they're doing for regular
updates, and perhaps they can just include us in. That's a good idea. Okay.
Lombardo/ And, um, we're going to be discussing, um, perhaps today or by tomorrow a
timing of more major sandbag mitigation project, and I know they're looking, uh,
to time it with us, and really turn out the volunteers like we did on the front end of
this to help get sandbags out.
Bailey/ Okay. Other questions, concerns, things that we need to discuss that you're
hearing out there that would help you be up to speed on what's happening? Okay.
So, we will see y'all on Monday at 6:30. If you have things about Notice of
Interest, um, get those to Michael, or Jeff. Okay? So we can begin to discuss
that. Thank you.
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