HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-08-25 Council minutes~~,®~ C[TY C)F [OVtIA C[TY
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Date: August 25, 2008
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk
Re: Council Work Session, August 25, 2008, 6:55 PM in Emma J. Harvat Hall
Council: Bailey, Champion, Correia, Hayek, O'Donnell, Wilburn, Wright
UISG: Gunn and Swedlund
Staff: Lombardo, Helling, Dilkes, Karr, O'Malley, Davidson, Kuecker, Trueblood, O'Brien
(A complete transcription is available in the City Clerk's Office)
PLANNING 8~ ZONING ITEMS "b,c,d'
PCD Director Davidson presented information on the following items:
b) APPROVING VACATION OF THE NORTHTOWNE PARKWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY AND
PARTIAL RELEASE OF PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT WITHIN HIGHLANDER
DEVELOPMENT, THIRD ADDITION, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (VAC08-00002)
c) AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF VACATED NORTHTOWNE PARKWAY RIGHT OF-
WAY LOCATED IN HIGHLANDER DEVELOPMENT, THIRD ADDITION TO SOUTHGATE
BP PROPERTIES.
d) AMENDING TITLE 15, LAND SUBDIVISIONS, BY REPEALING TITLE 15 IN ITS
ENTIRETY AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW TITLE 15, LAND SUBDIVISIONS. (PASS
AND ADOPT)
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
Airport Zoning Brd of Adjustment - readvertise, no applicants
Airport Zoning Commission - readvertsie, no applicants
Housing & Community Development Commission -Mike McKay
Police Citizens Review Board -Janie Braverman and Abigail Yoder
Youth Advisory Commission -Patrick Daimitani
AGENDAITEMS
1. (Agenda item # 18 -resolution awarding the vehicle towing and storage services ... to Big
10 University Towing ...) In response to Council Member O'Donnell, Asst. City Mgr. Helling
stated generally there is only one company that meets the specifications. Council Member
Hayek stated he would be abstaining due to a conflict.
Council Work Session
August 25, 2008
Page 2
2. (Agenda item # 6 - ... deciding the appeal ... decision of the Historic Preservation
Commission ... 803 E. College Street) PCD Director Davidson and Urban Planner Kuecker
present for discussion. Council Member Hayek requested information on the source of the
rule on majority vote prior to the hearing the next evening.
3. (Agenda items # 7 - # 11 - ... instituting proceeding ... $18,500,000 General Obligation
Capital Loan Notes.....$27,000,000 Sewer Revenue Refunding Capital Loan Notes ...
$10,300,000 Sewer Revenue Refunding Capital Loan Notes ... $8,000,000 Water Revenue
Refunding Capital Loan Notes ... $11,000,000 Water Revenue Refunding Capital Loan
Notes) Finance Director O'Malley present for discussion.
4. (Agenda item # 15 -resolution ... real estate contract ... Hawkeye Area Community Action
Program (HACAP) ... 1926 and 1946 Broadway ...) In response to questions from Council
Member Correia, City Manager Lombardo stated staff would be present at the formal
meeting to provide the information.
5. (Agenda item # 19 -resolution approving submission ... Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
benefits for the purpose of acquiring flooded properties) PCD Director Davidson present for
discussion. (continued later on the agenda)
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN [reference IP#2 of 8/21 info packet]
City Manager Lombardo and Asst. City Manager Helling presented information on proceeding
with a Facilities Master Plan, and preparation of an RFP soliciting firms and costs associated
with the project. Majority of Council agreed to proceed as outlined.
STAFF ACTION: Proceed with development of RFP. (Lombardo and Helling)
YEAR END FINANCIAL REPORT
Finance Director O'Malley and City Manager Lombardo presented information and distributed
two handouts:
• Budget to Actual Comparison for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2008
• General Fund Balance History and Projection -Version August 25, 2008
METROPOLITAN COALITION/LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES [reference IP#3 of 8/21 info packet]
Council Member Wilburn and Mayor Bailey reported on the Metropolitan Coalition meeting held
in Iowa City in July. Broad areas identified included:
o Flood related issues (avenues for funding or policies to stream line the process;
economic infrastructure)
o Alternative revenues
o Goal is to identify five or six specific pieces of legislation
Next meeting scheduled second week in September at the state League meeting
Council Work Session
August 25, 2008
Page 3
CITY DESIGNATED NO SMOKING AREAS [reference agenda item #16]
City Atty. Dilkes and Parks & Recreation Director Trueblood presented information on the
proposed ordinance. After discussion a majority of Council directed staff to make the following
changes in the ordinance prior to first reading:
1. allowing smoking in private vehicles in Municipal Parking Ramps
2. re Mercer Park -prohibit smoking around softball/baseball complex, and tennis courts,
and clarify intent was not to make entire park non-smoking
AGENDA ITEMS (continued from earlier on the agenda)
6. Continued discussion of # 5 above (Agenda item # 19 -resolution approving submission ...
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program benefits for the purpose of acquiring flooded properties)
In response to Council Member Hayek, Council agreed to highlight portions of the City Atty.
memo regarding subsequent owners of property not being eligible for the pre-flood market
value price buyout, and the issue related to duplication of benefits. The City Atty. noted the
City website would also be updated with the memo.
INFORMATION PACKET DISCUSSION
(IP5 of 8/21 packet - At A Glance newsletter) City Manager Lombardo requested feedback on
his communication and urged Council Members to let him know if information needs were not
being met. Council Members suggested the communication be incorporated into the City
website as well.
COUNCIL TIME
In response to Council Member Correia's questions on parking in the City Hall lot during
Farmers Markets and signage, Parks & Recreation Director Trueblood reported Parks &
Recreation is unable to store the temporary signs and easels or have the personnel to
ensure they are placed. City Manager Lombardo stated he was considering an expansion
of the Market. Council added the expansion of the Market discussion to their pending list,
and directed staff to explore better signage for parking needs this year.
2. In response to Mayor Bailey's concerns on alcohol advertisement, City Atty. Dilkes stated all
complaints are investigated, noting there are no price restriction in City ordinances, and a
letter sent to establishments,
3. In response to Council Member Wright, City Clerk Karr stated staff was researching a
technology plan for Council and would report back.
4. Mayor Bailey reported she had received two complimentary tickets to the Summer of the
Arts finale and acceptance would violate the gift law. She stated she asked the City Clerk to
return them and explain the gift law; and encouraged others who might have received them
to do the same or personally return them with the explanation of the law.
Council Work Session
August 25, 2008
Page 4
SCHEDULE OF PENDING DISCUSSION ITEMS
The following items were added to the pending list:
Farmers Market expansion
Litter/gum/cigarette butts downtown
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS/COUNCIL INVITATIONS
Food Fest, August 27 (Taste of Iowa City)
Evaluations of City Council Appointees (City Clerk to schedule after calling each Member)
Untied Way Kickoff, September 3
DISCUSSION OF MEETING SCHEDULES
None
Meeting adjourned 8:35 PM.