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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-09 Transcription#2 Page 1 ITEM 2. PROCLAMATION. b) Suicide Prevention Week: September 7-13, 2008 Bailey: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Crisis Center Board Member Sarah Witry. (applause) Witry: Um, thank you to the City of Iowa City for acknowledging this as a serious issue. Uh, this school year the Crisis Center is collaborating with the University of Iowa to bring suicide prevention workshops to the campus, and we hope to extend that to the City as well. We appreciate City Council beginning this discussion because talking about suicide is the first step in prevention. Thank you very much. Bailey: Thank you. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #3 Page 2 ITEM 3. PRESENTATION. Iowa City Fire Department Accreditation Bailey: Andy? Rocca: Good evening, Madame Mayor, Members of the City Council. My name is Andy Rocca, Iowa City Fire Chief, and as you know, uh, we had the opportunity to work through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International process, and what I'd like to do tonight is maybe just spend three to five minutes and give you a bit of an overview of that process, and ultimately I share the award, share the award that we were presented with out in Colorado. So if I might, clear back in March of 1997, I approached then City Manager Stephen Atkins about a long process of developing a new mission, vision, and values for the Fire Department, and outline further a strategic planning process and a process that involved looking at becoming an accredited fire agency, and he agreed, and so we set out on that journey together with, uh, with support of the City Administration. We worked initially with the Iowa Institute of Public Affairs and developed our mission, vision and values, and it was about, uh, three months later we had identified the...the accreditation process that we wanted to work through, through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, and we started to look at the process, and we realized that there were a number of significant deficiencies, frankly, within the organization of the Fire Department that needed to be addressed. So we proceeded with the self-assessment process and that...that called us to look at ourselves, identify the strengths and weaknesses, and everything in between, uh, about the Fire Department. And of note, we actually started out with the second edition of the self-assessment manual, and some ten plus years later, we were accredited under the seventh edition. So a number of changes occurred through that process, but one of the things, the next component of that process, was the development of our strategic plan. The Department was without one. And after we had done the...the accreditation or the self-assessment process, those, uh, weaknesses which we identified, we were able to formulate into a strategic plan, a strategic planning document. And we had the distinct pleasure of working with a number of professionals in the community. One of those noteworthy who facilitated the process was Mr. Jude West, Professor Emeritus from the College of Business here at the University of Iowa. As well we had Ann Rhoades from the University of Iowa, a retired realtor by the name of James Berry, working in the area, and we had then Assistant Director of Planning and Community Development, Jeff Davidson, working with us. A number of, uh, Fire Department command staff as well, and then Fire Marshall Roger Jensen working with me, uh, Battalion Chiefs Jim Humpston and Dan Smith, and retired Battalion Chiefs Ron Stutsman and Elmer Brennaman, and so we set upon this strategic plan in February of 2001. It took us quite a while to put it together, uh, and in fact, uh, the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #3 Page 3 actual self-assessment and strategic plan were completed, uh, in, um, January, excuse me, August of 2002. And in that strategic plan we had identified 18 goals that we had wanted to accomplish, and then in 2006 we set forth with an addendum, um, which identified an additional nine goals, and if I look back, uh, 11 of the 18 strategic planning goals either were accomplished or substantially completed, and all nine of the addendum goals to the strategic plan were either completed or substantially accomplished, and I think that's a significant accomplishment in itself in a period of fiscal constraint. The next portion of our journey had to do with developing standards of response coverage. And that's basically how we have our fire stations and firefighters distributed throughout the community, and look at that in terms of how many minutes it takes us to respond to a given emergency, with a number of people to begin successful intervention, whether it be on a medical emergency or a fire emergency and the like, and we had the help of a number of student interns from the University of Iowa. We used, uh, interns from the College of Engineering, as well as the Urban Planning Department. And they did a number of things for us very well. The end product essentially was allowing us to take all the response data that we've assembled and look at it, not only in the context of the City and the fire districts, but clear down to the census tract by type of emergency. Again, fires, EMS, hazardous materials, uh, all those types of emergencies that we do routinely respond to. And so it gives us the ability to quantify where we, uh, where our strengths and weaknesses are, and I think we'll have an opportunity to probably talk about some of those in the coming months, uh, but I think it's exciting news for the community to know that we have that kind of a detailed look at the community and have identified those strengths and weaknesses. Um, on September 15 in 2005 we started to go through a series of different agency status, uh, points. The first one was registered agency, where we basically had access to all the accreditation, uh, policies, procedures, rules, regulations and standards, and the next one had to do with the, uh, applicant agency status, and this was a key one because it, uh, it happened in March of 2006, and that's when the clock started running. That's when we engaged, formally engaged in the process, and so we had 18 months to essentially clean up our strategic plan, uh, our self-assessment manual, and our standards of response coverage, and so all those documents were submitted to the Commission for review, and then, um, in September of 2007, a year ago roughly, we, uh, went to candidate agency status, and that says, `Okay, we the Iowa City Fire Department and the City of Iowa City are ready to have a peer assessment team come into the community and look at our documentation to verify and validate what it is we say we do.' And they did. They came in March, as you well know. A team of peers from across the United States, as well as Canada. And, uh, on Monday of that week in March, uh, they actually assembled and began their work, and some of their duties and responsibilities are to review our documentation and exhibits, conduct This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #3 Page 4 interviews with the Mayor, other department heads and division directors, observe activities demonstrating compliance, such as our emergency response activities. Again, verifying and validating all of those actions, to score us where appropriate, to write a draft report of their findings, and then participate in a debriefing meeting. And I've got just a brief excerpt from their report and I'd like to share that with you verbatim, if I could. The accreditation report executive summary -The Iowa City Fire Department's accreditation self-assessment reflected a genuine appraisal of current performance and improvement needs. This study represents a very time-consuming, detailed analysis of the Department and their personnel are to be commended for their efforts. The Iowa City Fire Department has demonstrated that all core competencies have been met, and received a credible rating. The Iowa City Fire Department has demonstrated that all applicable criteria have been met and received a credible rating. The peer assessment team recommends accredited agency status for the Iowa City Fire Department from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, and on August, last month of this year, uh, Deputy Chief Jensen, Battalion Chief Humpston and myself went to Fire Rescue International in Denver, Colorado, and we had to, uh, defend our accredited agency status in front of the, uh, Commission, the 11-member Commission, and it was a unanimous award, uh, these, uh, 11 Commission members unanimously voted to award us with accreditation, and this is quite an honor for the City, as well as the Department, because there are 128 worldwide accredited fire departments. We are one of a 128, so it's quite an elite group to be part of. Not that we're perfect! Don't get me wrong, `cause we still have plenty of room for improvements there. But with that, I want to just share briefly, and I'll rap up, um, it was quite a journey. I mean, you look at a 10, 11 year process and the commitment that it took from past administration, present administration, elected officials, and other department directors and division heads, uh, I couldn't be more pleased to stand here before you tonight and have this opportunity to address you, uh, regarding this award. I asked myself a number of years ago, really what does accreditation mean, to the City...to the Department, and I really wasn't able to quantify it or qualify it at that time, but I knew in my heart that we, as an organization, would be better. Even if we never were an accredited agency, we would always be better because we're striving for that best practice. Well, I'm pleased to say that we made it. Um, I also look back and just...it's just a testimony I think of the commitment of the organization and the Department, and so it's truly a distinct honor and a pleasure to be before you tonight and to present you with your accredited agency award, uh, that recognizes the City of Iowa City and the Iowa City Fire Department for achieving that accredited agency status. For that I thank you very much. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #3 Page 5 Bailey: Thank you, Andy. This is (applause) very much a credit to your leadership, Andy. Thank you very much. (several responding) Thank you. Hayek: Is there anyone else in Iowa who has this? Rocca: There is one other department, West Des Moines, Iowa. They're a combination department, and I believe they've had it for just over two years. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Bailey: Congratulations to the entire Department because we knew...know that it took the entire Department to get there. Rocca: I will indeed. Thank you very much. Bailey: Thank you. It's kind of nice to start off a meeting like that. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #4 Page 6 ITEM 4. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED. O'Donnell: Move adoption. Hayek: Second. Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Hayek. Discussion? Correia: I actually have discussion on agenda, or correspondence, f, um, 5, the changes to the 7th Avenue bus route. Bailey: Okay. Correia: We had correspondence from a parent regarding the scheduling changes, that make it a barrier for youth to use that route to get to school. They have to get there an hour early.. . Bailey: LTh-huh. Correia: ...um, with the changes, and I'm just wondering if, um, there's a way for...in our next year's process to look at that bus route. I think it's...you know, the School District does not provide transportation under three miles to school, um, so I think it's important that there is, where feasible in the City, to have transit opportunities. Um, the habit of ridership, um, cuts down (mumbled) O'Brien: Um, we're actually in the process of evaluating all of our routes currently. Um, some of the issues being, uh, timeliness, um, serving I guess...serving areas that are either under...under-serviced or aren't getting the service that they require, um, this route was changed and, you know, forgive me, I wasn't a part of that. I'm catching up on this as we go. Um, for the 7th Avenue, the issue we have right now is it's paired with routes that...so if we change it right now, it changes three other...two others that are currently paired with it. So, um, but with the comments that we've received, um, we're in the process of, uh, getting feedback from our current drivers, as far as basic needs -what do you see, what needs to change, um, there will be a chance for, uh, we're going to go out to the community and ask for, you know, things like...and this is a prime example of feedback we've gotten from the public, so we, in the next 12 months we plan on looking at that. Bailey: But we should hear something back.. . O'Brien: Yes (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #4 Page 7 Bailey: And let's not get into a protracted discussion. Correia: I was going to say, when you're getting feedback, um, are you contacting the schools to find out start time? O'Brien: We're going to go with schools, we're going to go with agencies where we know that people are transit dependent, um, I guess things (mumbled) Bailey: Thanks, Amy, for bringing that up. I've heard concerns about other routes as well, about school start time, so I think that will be addressed in that process. Any other discussion? Okay, roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #5 Page 8 ITEM 5. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL 8 PM] Bailey: This is a time for, uh, citizens to speak to items that are not on tonight's agenda. If you have a comment to make to the Council, please approach the podium, state your name for the record, and limit your comments to five minutes or less. Townsend: Good evening. My name is Orville Townsend and I'm a citizen of Iowa City. I just want to talk to you briefly tonight, um, I was just thinking and something I'd like to share with you on a personal basis. Um, you know, we often look at politics and when we elect you as citizens, you know, we want to turn it over to you and expect you to do everything and be perfect, but in reality when we elect you, we form a partnership in which we as citizens are also a part of what's going on. Uh, I was thinking the other day and you know, Mother Nature visited us and the impact was very negative. There were a lot of tough decisions to be made, um, you know, things had to be put back in order,.and uh, you know, you did that. Uh, I was thinking that if I were upset about something, I'd come before you with my comments and we always focus on the negative. But tonight I'd like to focus on the positive, and I'd just like to say, uh, there was a job to be done, you took care of it, you did a good job, and I'd like to thank you for that. Bailey: Thank you so much! (laughter) Townsend: Second topic I'd briefly like to talk about is diversity. Our community is becoming more and more diverse. Diversity is the buzzword. I've heard, you know, people talk about it in terms of acknowledgement, uh, tolerating it, but tonight I'd just like to make a suggestion that we as citizens take another approach to diversity, and that is to embrace it. The difference between accepting and acknowledging diversity and embracing it is that we make a personal commitment, uh, we're willing to get involved. If we can get to that level, it'll be impossible to have a situation where we see something on a web site that's uh, culturally insensitive. That wouldn't be possible because if an individual walked into an establishment, dressed inappropriately in a culturally insensitive way, or making statements along that line, citizens in that room would say, `That's not acceptable, and if you want to do that, you can do it, but you can't do it here. You have to do it someplace else.' That type of personal involvement and responsibility I think can get us as citizens and as a city to where we want to be. Thank you. Bailey: Thank you. Other people wishing to speak for...at public comment? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #5 Page 9 Fidelis: My name is Libris Fidelis. I'm also a resident of downtown Iowa City. LTh, what the last City Council meeting's callous approval of the Wal-Mart expansion, it seems kind of pointless... Bailey: Sir, the Wal-Mart vote is on the agenda. This is a time for items... Fidelis: Oh is it? Well, this is not on that. This is, um... Bailey: All right. Fidelis: ...this is a request for intelligent planning that does not destroy our community. Bailey: Okay. Fidelis: And, however this presentation is about the past and present City Council and planning system failure, um, which reflects a total ignorance and disregard for Iowa City that goes back probably a century. Uh, with no single guilty party in this actually, as our City has not been protecting existing community businesses and the traditional hometown culture in our Iowa City, and continues to not protect our community. Zoning ordinances and planning have basically originated from the post-World War I period of national expansion. There has been no legitimate property zone format for the development of our city that could have resulted in symbiotic social and economic integrations. Uh, both to protect and nurture our community culture. Since the post-Korean War era there has been an invasion of rebellious economic commercial development into single-family residential areas resulting in a rampant widening of streets into major thoroughfares and even residential development infiltration into industrial areas. And, um, even in the transportation sectors that brings habitat discord to these businesses, that both destroys the historic aesthetic residential, uh, values which people treasure in a community environment, and it drives off the traditional small businesses in a hostile takeover of the community. There is no grandfather clause to stop development from destroying traditional local culture and historic aesthetics. In the past 15 years I have witnessed about a dozen municipal airports across the western states that were shut down due to complaints of noise and one railroad line that was built in the 1880's that once ran through Encino, California. These were forced out of business because of loud air horns at railroad crossings and airplane noises, which became an irritant because of bad zone planning, which allowed residential development encroachments into industrial areas. University of Iowa's and Johnson County's recent expansion of sterile, inhuman architecture in the now inappropriately placed U of I Recreation Center being built, in a formally prime industrial area of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City railroad will put two more nails in the coffin of that railroad, to run it out of business. A huge student This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #5 Page 10 apartment building that was constructed on the hill overlooking Iowa City's Airport causes a problem no different than building an apartment next to the Iowa Interstate railroad crossing on Clinton Street. All of this poor planning is going to eventually kill those traditional economic entities, yet Iowa City City Council continues to make bad judgments, just as it did to kill our community with small business with Wal-Mart. We cannot exist only with large corporate development of apartment buildings and shopping centers alone. We need our traditional industrial and transportation businesses and farms to be protected from development encroachments by providing a rich community environment, each entity zone having a protection and a transition within the community, not antagonistic and non-compatible development that is intrusive and overbearing. We need transitional zoning and zoning compatible to and protective of the traditional entities in our cities, not conflicting use integration to change things. Industrial and manufacturing zones should be zoned to transition into retail commercial zones which transition into multi-family housing zones, which transition into single-family housing zones to provide a natural buffer between extremes, and we must end this immoral subsidization of large business to have them conquer and destroy our traditional family-owned small businesses. Bailey: Thank you. Other... Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Wilburn: Move to accept correspondence. Correia: Second. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Correia. All those in favor say aye. Okay. Cohen: I'm Leah Cohen with Bo-James, downtown Iowa City. I got some props for you tonight, kinda weird. If I get over, holler at me... Bailey: I will. Cohen: ...in my conversation here, um, I'm here in your packet this week, um, I myself and Brian Flynn, the co-chairs of the Alcohol Advisory Board, have both resigned from that. Um, I'm here to kind of go into a few things and kind of frustrations that...that we've gone through and hoping that we can see some other changes going on here in regards to what goes on, um, with in particular we've had an interest in the bars downtown, and I think as most of you know, we have put our concentration on excessive drinking, rather than underage drinking, as we've always felt that that was one of the major problems connected to it. Um, through about the four or This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #5 Page 11 five year period of time, we've come forth umpteen times to the Police Department, to the City, to the University with suggestions that, um, could take place. I think the University has come forward with some pretty good things now with expansion of their housing, opening their new 24-hour facility, Friday classes is a big one this semester, which I think will make a big difference probably on Thursday nights downtown, but we've been pretty frustrated with City Council and with the Police Department in regards to cooperation that we've had, or lack of cooperation that we've had. Um, through this period of time, I think we were able to make lots of changes in our community, and I think we've done a lot of good things, but where our frustration came was we worked with peer pressure a lot within the bar scene and when we get no policing, no cooperation otherwise it kind of does no good to work with that peer pressure anymore. So it's gotten to the point that the bars are saying, `What are you going to do about it,' if we put a little pressure on them in regards to specials, different things that are going on. So, what we ran into most recently, um, with it, and that's why I have my props here today is to kind of let you know what's going on right now. We have some ordinances on our books in regards to alcohol and drinking, um, one thing that we put on several years ago was to eliminate the happy hour 2-for-1's, all you can drink specials, those sorts of things. If you increase alcohol in a drink, you're supposed to increase the price proportionately. So if a single is $3.00, then a double would be $6.00, that sort of thing. So what's happened recently is several bars, one kind of starting it and it snowballs, um, as price of beer has gone up, liquor is much cheaper, and it's cheaper to do drinks than it is with beer. So we've started into, or several have started into this program of large containers of alcohol drinks, rum and cokes, those sorts of things. And I brought for you just to kind of show you what's happened with it, um, we did consult the City Attorney's office in regards to this, and we were told that in accordance with our ordinance, these specials are fine because they are specials. A particular bar owner put in what he thought were okay and the City Attorney's office agreed on that. So we were...kind of had our hands tied. This would be what you would call a typical highball glass, a rum and coke, that sort of thing. If you would go into a bar, that's what's served most of the time. This would be a pint glass, so if you came to my establishment, for instance, and wanted double, it would probably be in this glass would be your double drink. So, it would have to be double price, unless it was the special of the night. So we've got those two. Then we got into big beers, and I'm one at fault with the big beers because I started this six or seven years ago to eliminate pitchers and beer going to people that weren't legal. So I started these and got rid of pitchers totally. But big beers have now, or big cups now, these are 32 ounce, have become a standard for rum and cokes. This sort of thing. Um, some can tell you they put two shots of alcohol in that. You can believe it if you want to believe it. That happened. Then we got into personal pitchers that were beer. These are This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #5 Page 12 now rum and cokes. (laughter) These are, I don't know how many ounces this is, but that was kind of the next thing that came along. Then we got into pitchers of rum and cokes, and we are now into jumbos. So this is what is being served. There's an ad in the DI today that will tell you, um, go big or go home, $5.00 jumbo well drink pitchers. This is what we've been dealing with, this type of stuff, and we've been able to work with the ordinances and peer pressure thus far. It's gotten to the point we can't do that anymore with this. Um, I think the City Council seriously needs to look at what's going on with this. Um, the excessive drinking factor is obvious. It is very dangerous for our young people to be having this type of a rum and coke drink, or whatever alcohol is in it. Um, many, many have told me that it's not unusual to have half the pitcher of alcohol. One girl told me the other night she went to a place with these, and between she and her friend, they had a bottle of alcohol in their two pitchers. So, just kind of getting into some of these things. I have a few suggestions. Can I wrap it up with a few.. . Bailey: Very quickly. Cohen: ...suggestions. We feel that the ordinances need to be looked at in regards to this. Um, in particular, um, we need to look at what's going on with this and staff drinking sort of thing. Um, we also are very unhappy with the policing that's gone on. You can look at stats, you can ask for the stats, and you'll see what's going on with it, and without that we have little down there, so we really need to look at the policing. We need to look at the fire department and what is happening with our capacity, uh, person that you guys assign, a whole capacity person, and that's not being effective at all either. So...thank you. Bailey: Thanks, Leah. O'Donnell: Thank you. Farris: Mayor, Council, Greg Farris of the Iowa City Airport Commission. Just want to give you a quick update on the Airport, because I don't believe we have spoken since, probably before summer, um, and a lot has happened, as you can imagine since then. Two biggest things, or the biggest thing going on if you've been down around the Airport area, the runway, the east-west, the 25/7 is being, uh, torn up and actually put new concrete down. This is part of the AIP, the Airport Improvement Plan, uh, that started, uh, maybe three or four weeks ago, and it'll run into mid-October. Because of that, the runway of course is closed and you're down to one runway, which does change, uh, some of the patterns at the Airport, and aircraft are flying over different areas than they generally do because the 27...or 25/7 runway was the longest and most used of the runways. But now we have the one that runs, uh, the 30/12 so it does change traffic This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #5 Page 13 patterns and does change the way, uh, people may have seen aircraft coming in and out of the Airport. As I said, that'll be finished up in October. We were trying to get it done before the football season because as you can imagine there's a lot of traffic on weekends at times at the Airport, but uh, the best we could do was pull it off by mid-October. So that's going well so far. The next thing coming up, I think in the next week or so, we have started conversation again about the South Aviation Park, uh, we have some initial meetings, uh, and then I think it'll broaden out to more talk about what we have as a plan, we have a study so far about the future needs of the Airport and how that land could be used along those lines. So, those are two largest things coming up, uh, right now. Bailey: Thanks, Greg. Farris: Yep. Bailey: Anybody else wishing to speak at public comment? All right, we'll move on to Planning and Zoning matters. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #6 Page 14 ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. c) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CONDITIONAL ZONING AGREEMENT TO MODIFY THE CONCEPT SITE PLAN FOR APPROXIMATELY 25.16 ACRES OF PROPERTY IN THE COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC-2) ZONE FOR WESTPORT PLAZA INCLUDING WAL-MART AT 855, 911 & 1001 HIGHWAY 1 WEST. (REZ08- 00006) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) O'Donnell: Move second consideration. Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell. Champion: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Champion. Um, at this time I'll ask people to disclose any ex pane communications, regarding this. Champion: (mumbled) Bailey: New since the last time. I think I forwarded most, or the correspondence I've received, um, you all have that. Correia: I received a letter from Larry Fleckenstein. I don't know if others received the letter (mumbled) Bailey: Did you (several talking) did you want to, did you want to outline that? What was presented in the letter. Correia: It says I hope that you will continue to support the expansion of Wal-Mart. I live on the west side and am a frequent shopper at Wal-Mart. Right now I have to go to the super Wal-Mart in Coralville. Why would Iowa City want to lose my tax revenue (mumbled) there's other things...nobody forces anyone to work at Wal-Mart who doesn't want to. We've lost Cub Foods. It is important to maintain a positive business environment on the west side. As a taxpayer and born in Iowa City, this is important to me (mumbled) issue. Bailey: Thank you. Any other ex parte? Wright: Yeah, I have, uh, letters or emails from Maria Cozinius, Harry Sanderson, Susan Beckhold, Chris Bonfit, Peter Hanson, all except Harry Sanderson, uh, thanking me for voting against the Wal-Mart, uh, expansion. Harry Sanderson was, uh, one expressing displeasure. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #6 Page 15 Bailey: Okay. Any other...all right. I see the Planning Director here. Did you have any comments before we open up further discussion? Okay. All right. Discussion? Sanders: Hi, my name's Gary Sanders. Just a point of clarification. Was that all of the correspondence you folks received on either email, faxes, or whatever? Karr: There is a number of them already in the packet, Gary. This is above and beyond that. Sanders: Okay, okay, well, as the correspondence from President of the Teamsters, Jimmy Hoffa Junior. Karr: That's tonight. (several talking) Sanders: Thanks. Okay, uh, you know, it's unfortunate that we get to speak, and then when we're all done speaking you guys get to speak, but then we don't get a rebuttal, so this is really the rebuttal from two weeks ago, and then I'll have to come back in two weeks for the next rebuttal, but uh, first of all I wanted to thank Mike Wright. He understands that no zoning can be changed or amended that would result in a "detriment to the community," as many of you acknowledge Wal-Mart is, and again I want to emphasize that in all my remarks we are talking about corporate Wal- Mart, and not the Iowa City store or the Coralville store, because it is the corporation in Bentonville that you are signing an agreement with. And therefore their practices are what is to be inspected. I also want to thank in particular Connie Champion. Surprise! There's bigger surprises coming. Uh, even though you voted yes, you were the only one, the only one sitting up there who asked, is this going to be built using local labor. And I want to thank you for that. IJh, and another surprise, I want to thank Mike O'Donnell, who voted yes, amidst all the hysteria that we've heard, both in here and online and in newspapers about losing business to Coralville, said, "I for one don't shutter when I hear the name Coralville. Iowa City has many viable businesses and we will continue to grow." Thank you for a sane comment about this whole business. O'Donnell: Thank you, Gary. Sanders: Then we get to the Councilors and what they said. Uh, Ross Wilburn stated that "corporate citizenship is not part of what we consider in zoning decisions". Oh? Can't ever be? What if the Lions Den, and I know none of you are ever going to cop to going into one of those stores, but maybe you've seen it on the freeway at the Newton exit. They're all over the Midwest. They're the largest purveyor of pornography. You know, what if they wanted to build a store there? None of you would have any problem with that? Zone for store -you'd approve it! What if...what if This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #6 Page 16 somebody wanted to set up a big retail shop selling artifacts from the Ku Klux Klan? Glorifying them. Not a problem? It's zoned commercial. You're not going to ask any questions about corporate practices or what they're doing, right? You're just going to allow it. I don't think so. Of course you'd consider the corporate citizenship. There is no legal restriction upon you to not consider it. It is your choice...period. Next we have Amy, who started off, "because we have a Wal-Mart, the train has left the station". Now of course we're going to replace moderately sized station with Grand Central Station, twice as big, and I know, Amy, that you do not really believe about other wrongs in this world. Well, the train's left the station so there's nothing we can do about it. Well, there's still plenty you can do, and the points about tax revenue, yes, we need tax revenue. I acknowledge that. Empty stores -this is the gateway - somebody is going to develop that area, if this is not Wal-Mart, somebody will. And, when you stated that it's not surprising as large a corporation as Wal-Mart there are issues. Well, again, you're ignoring the record, the legal record. Not my hear say, that Wal-Mart is the worst. Bailey: Gary... Sanders: I'm, yeah, I'm getting, I'm getting there. Bailey: All right. Sanders: Okay. And then, finally, Amy, your topper. "Our own beloved University of Iowa has a checkered past when it comes to sexual harassment and racial discrimination". Are you actually making this comparison, seriously, comparing the records of Wal-Mart and the University of Iowa? Absolutely untrue, false, and thank the Daily Iowan for printing that quote. Mr. Hayek, you said that you very much "appreciate the concerns about Wal-Mart's corporate citizenship, the appropriate forum to air these grievances is not the City Council -it's state and federal labor departments". Then you cited the New York Times article which I gave you about the female Wal-Mart workers in Minnesota winning a lawsuit against Wal-Mart in state court, and you said, "This shows that labor grievances do have means of being heard and dealt with." Let me ask you something, Matt. Do you have any idea how many years it took from when they first sued to this little state court decision that can be appealed? It's been seven years. It's going to be another seven years. I'm sure you agree with...with, uh, the British statesman William Gladstone that justice delayed is justice denied, and that's the reality of our court system in labor cases. Justice delayed, justice denied, and finally, Madame Mayor. Bailey: Yes? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #6 Page 17 Sanders: "The question is land use. Is this appropriate land use?" Again, you ignore the larger questions. Those of you who acknowledged Wal-Mart's crimes, but don't see fit to act, as you legally could, by saying, `It's not my responsibility. It's some other body's responsibility.' Of course it's your responsibility! Bailey: Thanks, Gary. Anybody else wishing to speak? LJh, new comments please. But, yes...come forward to the podium. Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt, and I thought this Wal-Mart horse was dead. I mean, we've been beating him for how many weeks? Now, we're talking, the main argument is Wal-Mart has never fulfilled its, uh, its status or whatever. Well, Wal-Mart was there for 18 years, not obeying its zoning promises or whatever, then I thought ten years you get ten years to complain about a thing, about a crime that's being committed, or you become party of the crime. Now, we hear all these moral arguments and we hear about these businesses that will develop that side of town, but there's only car dealerships on that side of town. Now how many people buy a car every day? You have...it's a viable business. It's been there 18 years. It's like having public domain. You walked across this property, now you can't fence it in. Wal-Mart is here. Wal-Mart is going to stay. Wal-Mart is going to pay its taxes, and any arguments people have with Wal-Mart, you take `em to court, no matter if we're going to talk about justice. This is what the courts are for, to get justice for people. So, I don't know about this, about whatever, moral business, but I'm here because I love the city of Iowa City, and I know we need money, and we have a problem. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae should be enough for us. So, that's all I got to say about it. Bailey: Thank you. Anybody else? Ross: Hi, I'm Brandon Ross, and uh, I have a lot of agreement with both the previous speakers, and uh, I know this has been boiled down, uh, but I have to say that, uh, that you do have, uh, you do represent the people of the community, and uh, including the Wal-Mart...well, uh, all the points have probably been made, but whenever you include a Wal-Mart into an area like this, it always hurts the fabric of the community. iJh, it always does. The initial boost is that you get some tax base, but once you let, once you open Pandora's Box, it's out, and so I really do want to thank Michael Wright, who I think really stood up in this, and uh, and others of you who did make good and thoughtful comments, uh, along the way in this, and um, as the woman who spoke before me, uh, I do...I do love Iowa City very much, um, and I've been here for quite a long time now, and uh, and you know, the local business situation, uh, you know, local businesses and uh, the personality of the town that's really why people do come to a town, uh, when you put in something like Wal-Mart, you...you This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #6 Page 18 really, uh, are injuring the local businesses. You are making a statement about labor, uh, you're making a statement about, uh, about wage earning. You're making a statement about, uh, about the way that the town looks and uh, the fabric of the town. LTh, earlier we had somebody who, uh, who brought up...we had the point about teenage suicide, which is such a, uh, a great, a great issue, nationally, not just locally, but you know, there is studies that actually show that driving and suicide, which are the two top killers of teenagers, also has to do with city planning. And, uh, and city planning does affect those two things in a large way. First of all suicides really only take place in suburbs, where there usually is, it's usually isolated areas. And uh, driving, well, if teenagers are driving drunk, it's usually because they have to drive, not necessarily because they're drinking, because people drinking and walking generally don't die. And when you include something like Wal-Mart, what you're doing is you're including something that will, that will create more of a driving type of culture and not a centralizing, in-fill type of culture. Uh, you're pulling from the center, which is really weakening your city. And, uh, it has psychological effects. It includes more policing issues. It involves the fire issue. Uh, the fire station issue. Uh, it includes the whole fabric of the community, and uh, I disagree with this whole point. I can't think that you could be more wrong, uh, by doing this. Uh, go to school, read, you know, there are books and books, volumes and volumes, uh, about the Wal-Mart problem nationally, and I just disagree with what the Council's vote is, and again, thank you, Mike Wright, and also those for you on the Council who have made thoughtful decisions, but I encourage people to stand up and to write in and to be part of this, and don't just let this go by, because this is a major planning decision, and connect with your Councilors, uh, and the Mayor, and let them know what you feel and come out and make a statement. Don't just make it a few people like us here today. All right, thanks so much for your time. Bailey: Thank you, Brandon. Anyone else? Discussion among Council? Correia: Well, the last few statements, do people not understand we already have Wal-Mart. We're not letting Wal-Mart come into the community, and 18 years ago, it was put to the voters, did they want Wal-Mart to come in, and the City listened to those voters, that overwhelmingly said they wanted Wal-Mart here. So we are not making a decision here to allow Wal-Mart to exist in Iowa City. Wal-Mart exists in Iowa City, and the current plan would actually decrease the square footage of a big box store that we will have in that area, and um, I'm feeling frustrated with Gary Sanders who comes in and makes comments, and then leaves, to not listen to the response, or decides to listen to the response in private. I did not say the train has left the station, don't do anything. I said, this is the wrong vent, this is the wrong battlefield on which to wage this war. If the Teamsters is, um, the Iowa City folks went to the State Legislator to close state tax This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #6 Page 19 loopholes to capture that $61 million back to Iowa, you would be accomplishing more to impact Wal-Mart and bring money back to Iowa than coming to the City Council and asking us to make a land use decision that the majority of the people 18 years ago wanted us to make, and when we have the 21-vote, there was a mixed vote on here of folks who wanted the 21 and who didn't want the 21, and we let the...we listened to the community who wanted that on the ballot, and we are listening to those voters. And so I do not feel at all that I made a mistake on that first vote, and I feel that the attention being put on us, on Wal-Mart, is misplaced. It needs to go to the Legislature. It needs to go to those other bodies that regulate business practices. Not the City Council! Bailey: Thank you, Amy. Other...other discussion? O'Donnell: Well, I'm not going to have any trouble at all supporting this. Um, I don't think Wal-Mart's a detriment to the community. Uh, they had asign-in sheet and 1,600 people went into Wal-Mart in 24 hours. I think that's, uh, that's phenomenal. Um, Wal-Mart will destroy acity -look at the super Wal-Mart in Coralville, and look at the expansion and the development around it. The bottom line is...is people, if they didn't vote with their wallet, Wal-Mart wouldn't be there. The store is important, evidently, to many, many people in this community, and I'm going to very happily support this. Hayek: I've...duly considered everything I got from the last meeting to today, including the comments made tonight. My position has not changed. I...I do not agree with attempts to turn what is a land use issue into a corporate moral issue, and I think if you're going to do that, you can raise questions about other companies. Uh, Volkswagen, for example, uh, has ties to the 1930's German third Reich, and we don't take a hard line on the sale of Volkswagens in Iowa City. Kodak film products, uh, to my recollection, that corporation has ties to slavery. We don't take a hard line on the sale of Kodak film products in Iowa City. Uh, Coors Beer, uh, the Coors family has ties to extreme right-wing politics, and we don't take a hard line on the sale of Coors products here, and...and I apply a similar analysis to this. The appropriate forum for grievances against a corporation, um, are the court system and our Legislator. I agree with Amy's comments on that, um, this is a land use issue and I'm comfortable with my vote. Wilburn: I'll just restate what I said last time. It is a land use decision, um, whether, uh, and also I said last week that, uh, if a tax break were being requested, uh, then I think you can consider other types of factors there. Um, jobs, those type of thing, salary, which we do, uh, that City Council does make those considerations (mumbled) tax breaks. I appreciate the comments where folks have said, you know, we disagree as opposed to you are This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #6 Page 20 immoral because of a decision that you make, and so I appreciate those comments. Um, the same, um, perspective or philosophy that I'm not going to make a land use decision based on whether I like you or don't like you, or you have "good behavior, bad behavior," both for commercial and residential property, uh, you know, I think is, uh, important to maintain. There are certain, uh, prior speaker alluded to other groups, uh, looked at me as an African American and stated about the Klan, which is his right to do, um, but um, believe it or not, if the Klan comes to town and wants to, uh, use park space, use our...their freedom to assemble rights, the same right that protects you to assemble and free speech protects them, and I think it's important for me to apply that equally, but you know I appreciate the comments. We...it's one of those situations where we, um, agree to disagree, and again, I, Brandon, I appreciate you saying, `Ross, I think you're wrong. I don't think you're immoral.' So, appreciate that. Champion: I'm not even going to try to defend myself tonight. Bailey: All right (laughter) fair enough. Mike, did you have anything to say? Wright: Basically the same thing I said last time, if the purpose of zoning is ultimately for the overall good of the community, uh, then you need to look at what's on the table. Is this good for the community, ultimately I don't think this is good for the community, so I go ahead and change my (mumbled) Bailey: I have to agree so strongly with Ross. I mean, we talk a lot about progressive values and quality of life, but one of the, um, one of the values that I hold most paramount is we apply our laws fairly, regardless of the applicant on the other end. Um, this particular corporation is abhorrent to many, um, for a number of years I worked at the Emma Goldman Clinic. I could hear these same arguments that it's morally offensive that, um, that it's inappropriate, it doesn't belong in our community, and it will affect our quality of life. I could hear those same arguments; I heard those same arguments, and yet, if that clinic came to the Council with a zoning question, and it was a very different Council, you would be appalled if they made a decision based upon that clinic's work, and you should be appalled to ask us to make a decision based upon an applicant. The fair application of our ordinances and our laws is an important community value, and when I considered this decision and like Matt, I read the correspondence, Iconsider carefully. I put another corporation in its place. What would I say if this corporation wanted to be there? What's the land use question if this particular corporation, and it all comes out the same. This is an appropriate decision from my perspective on land use out there. And so, insofar as community values and progressive values, I believe that I'm standing by those, and um, I do appreciate the comments This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #6 Page 21 about disagreeing. I agree with Ross. It's one thing to say that we disagree. It's another thing to say that I'm morally wrong, because I am very convinced that this is the fair and just thing to do in this situation. Roll call. Item carries 6-1, Wright voting in the negative. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Wilburn: So moved. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn. O'Donnell: Second. Bailey: Seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor say aye. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #8 Page 22 ITEM 8. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, ENTITLED "MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC," TO ALLOW ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES TO BE OPERATED ON SIDEWALKS EXCEPT DOWNTOWN AND TO REQUIRE OPERATORS TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY TO PEDESTRIANS. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) O'Donnell: Move first consideration. Wright: Move first consideration. Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Wright. Discussion? Certainly there's discussion. Hayek: Sure! Wright: As long as this is, I'm looking for...where is... Bailey: Eleanor, I know we discussed this at the work session, but for the benefit of the public, could you just outline why we are looking at this ordinance, and I think many people are familiar with this because we've talked about segways specifically, but I'm sure it involves other kinds of mobility devices. Dilkes: It applies to any machine that fits the definition of electric personal assistive mobility devices, um, and we just mirrored the definition in the State Code, but it is what we commonly think of as a segway. I think that's a product name. Um, the State Code allows segways to be used on sidewalks. It also allows cities to prohibit their use on sidewalks. Um, the ordinance in front of you, so either...I put the ordinance in front of you because the City code...a technical reading of the City code would say that a segway is a motor vehicle and therefore can't be on the sidewalks, and so I wanted to clean that up. Um, and...and make it consistent with the State Code. Um, and then the one in front of you also prohibits these devices from being used in the Central Business District downtown because our current City code prohibits bicycles from riding on the sidewalks downtown and that seemed consistent to me. So, um, that's what the ordinance in front of you does. Bailey: Thank you. Wright: With the prohibition of the Central Business District, I don't have a problem with this. (several responding) Hayek: Nor do I, and I would also add that our Police Department has weighed in and it supports this. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #8 Page 23 Bailey: Okay. I certainly had some concerns...still have some concerns, um, regarding how fast these go and how heavy they are, and um, with the prohibition of the Central Business District, I think this makes it better, but I...I still have concerns about motorized vehicles on sidewalks, which I'm sure you've explored as well. I understand (both talking) Wright: ...bicycles on sidewalks anywhere. They're quiet and they're fast, and... Bailey: Do you think bicyclists tend to be a little more watchful, just by the nature of what it means to ride a bicycle in this community, but...yeah, I can see the correlation. Any further discussion? Okay, roll call. Item carries 6-1, Bailey in the negative. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Wright: So moved. Champion: Second. Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by Champion. All those in favor say aye. Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #10 Page 24 ITEM 10. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 17 OF THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED "BUILDING AND HOUSING," CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED, "HOUSING CODE," TO MAKE THE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE ZONING CODE AND BUILDING RELATED CODES AND TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF OWNER OCCUPIED AND RENTAL HOUSING. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Wright: Move second consideration, and I was, we had such an abbreviated work session. I was going to ask if other Councilors would be interested in expedition of this one. Champion: I would be totally interested in expediting it. O'Donnell: Sure. Bailey: So, would somebody like to move to expedite this. Wright: Sure, let me get my cheat sheet. Okay, I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended, and that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time. Champion: Second. Bailey: Moved by Wright and seconded by Champion to expedite. Discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. Wright: Move, uh, that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time. Bailey: Moved by Wright. Champion: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #11 Page 25 ITEM 11. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE BUDGETED POSITIONS IN THE PARKING AND TRANSIT DEPARTMENT BY DELETING ONE FULL-TIME PARKING MANAGER POSITION, DELETING ONE FULL-TIME TRANSIT MANAGER POSITION, AND ADDING ONE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PARKING AND TRANSIT POSITION AND AMENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE PAY PLAN BY DELETING THE POSITIONS OF PARKING MANAGER AND TRANSIT MANAGER, GRADE 30, AND ADDING THE POSITION ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PARKING AND TRANSIT, GRADE 31. Champion: Uh, move the resolution. Bailey: Moved by Champion. O'Donnell: Second. Bailey: Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Champion: I think this is a really good move. It consolidates two departments. It'll be money savings, and I also think it'd be a benefit to the consumers of these services (mumbled). Wright: It should be an improvement in service. Bailey: Okay. Further discussion? Hayek: We had a good discussion about this in our work session. I think we had our questions answered well and I'm comfortable with this. Bailey: Okay. Correia: When, oh I'm sorry, when would the change be made in terms of moving the customer service functions from Riverside to that satellite office at Old Capitol Town Center? O'Brien: We're currently in the process of training the, uh, customer service rep that we've hired, so I think when it gets to the point we feel comfortable that she's able to, she's doing very well by the way, but when she's comfortable with everything, we'll start moving it down and we'll want to get word out to the public that that'll be a place to go first. So, um, probably in the three to four week time frame, if it's, uh, if it's approved. Correia: Is that also a place that folks will then be able to buy monthly passes, that sort of thing? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #11 Page 26 O'Brien: Yeah, we're actually...next week, actually, after we get our new software installed for parking, which she would have to be trained on that, as well. I think at first we'll start with the transit function, uh, and then work in the parking function once, uh, we're familiar with the software and can train her properly on that, but I think the transit, getting that aspect downtown where the customers can utilize it, um, the transit customers can utilize that first, is something we can do sooner rather than later. Correia: Would be able to buy your transit pass at the Old Capitol Town Center? O'Brien: Yeah. Correia: Okay. Bailey: Any other discussion items? I certainly support this, um, conceptually. I just, um, the devil's always in the details, and I still would like to see it a little bit flatter, and so I won't be supporting this because of the Associate Director position, but certainly, um, commend you for your innovation and think that this will be a great improvement for customer service. So, roll call. Item carries 6-1, Bailey in the negative. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #13 Page 27 ITEM 13. CONSIDER RESOLUTION DIRECTING SALE OF $18,500,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING CAPITAL LOAN NOTES, SERIES 2008B Champion: Move the resolution. Bailey: Moved by Champion. Wright: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Wright. Discussion? Do you have anything to say, Kevin, about this? (laughter) A comment? O'Malley: Yes, Honorable Mayor, Esteemed Council, it was kind of a happy day in Finance. Both the Mayor and I witnessed some very low bids. We went to the market back in April and May and I thought a 3 1/2% was a good bid. Today we got 3.17 on our GO, so that was an additional savings of $641,000 on that issue. So...I recommend your approval. (laughter) Bailey: Thank you, and thanks for the good news! Champion: Bad for retirement funds! Bailey: Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #18 Page 28 ITEM 18. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REDEMPTION OF OUTSTANDING WATER REVENUE BONDS OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA, DATED MAY 1,1999, AND DIRECTING NOTICE BE GIVEN. Hayek: Move adoption of the resolution. Bailey: Moved by Hayek. Wright: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Wright. Discussion? Champion: Does that mean they're paid for? Is that what that means? Bailey: They're redemption of outstanding...go ahead, Kevin. Champion: (mumbled) O'Malley: Yes, Connie. What we normally do when we reissue these refunding bonds, we have to, uh, de-fees the old bonds, so that's what we're doing here. Champion: Okay. O'Malley: And then tomorrow, Marian will help put together the notices to the bondholder. Champion: I see. Thank you. Bailey: Thanks, Kevin. Any other questions? All right, roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #21 Page 29 ITEM 21. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Bailey: Amy? Correia: Well, I want to start by saying congratulations to the United Way of Johnson County, kicking off, uh, their, uh, United Way campaign last Wednesday and Mayor Bailey did the (mumbled) so that was very nice... Bailey: Thanks. Correia: ...for the community, and they have a goal of $2.55 million, so I encourage people to check out the United Way of Johnson County web site, or contact them directly, about their campaign and consider giving. I also wanted to do an announcement -the, uh, Women's Resource and Action Center at the University is convening a men's' antiviolence council, and so they are accepting applications for male volunteers, um, the training begins on September 22°a, and the training will include bystander interventions, examinations of masculinity, and a focus on prevention of gender violence. The men's' antiviolence council goals include fostering individual and community change to prevent stalking, dating violence, and sexual assault. The idea is to get men actively involved by engaging activities to prevent violence. Um, any males interested in volunteering should contact Jerrod Coon at the Women's Resource and Action Center, um, 335-1486, um and I was wondering on two items, um, there was an inclusive community subcommittee meeting last week, and I'm wondering if we could put an item on our work session agenda. I can give you an update, um, with some direction on where the committee is...shouldn't be much time, um, but we're looking at wanting to address diversity, um, of our boards and commissions, training, um, and impacting policy in specific areas, looking at policies. And, then I'm also wondering, um, if we, and I know we're always putting this on our list of things to talk about, but given, um, comments in the beginning if we could have a work session to look at our alcohol ordinances, which would include a discussion with our, um, members of the Police Department, if we could do that. Bailey: Okay. Thanks, Amy. That's good. They're both very good. Okay, Matt? Hayek: Yeah, I was going to raise the alcohol issue again. I think, uh, the dust has settled a little bit since last fall's referendum. People are looking to the City to...to take that issue up, and...those issues up, and I think we ought to do that, and I don't know whether we consider, well, we can get into it at the appropriate time. One thing too is, for those citizens who voted in today's School Board election, thank you. Uh, it's an important thing to do, uh, my understanding is that the voting rates were extremely low this year, and that's distressing. I think it's the responsibility of each This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #21 Page 30 individual to his or her community to vote, uh, encourage people who didn't vote this time around to do so the next time there's an election. Bailey: Thanks, Matt. Ross? Wilburn: I'll beheading to the Iowa League of Cities Conference tomorrow. The, uh, Metropolitan Coalition portion of that was cancelled, uh, however, I'll still be getting together with some of the, um, representatives from the other cities that are present at that conference. And you're heading out too? City Manager's going to be there, as well. Lombardo: You stole my thunder. Wilburn: I take it back. I'm sure you would have said it more eloquently than I. Hayek: We'll forget what Ross said by the time it gets around to you. Bailey: Anything else? Wilburn: Nope, that's it. Bailey: All right. O'Donnell: Nothing this evening. Bailey: Connie? Champion: Well, I wanted to talk a little about the alcohol issue. I won't go into depth, but been downtown for the past couple weeks. You know, when we last talked about the 21-issue, we had all these promises from bar owners, and it really went pretty well for a couple years. But now, even the Alcohol Board has given up, and I'm...I frankly want to put their feet to the fire again, and this time I think I'd be supportive of bars for the 11 years I've been on the Council, but I think I've given them every chance I can give them, and I'm willing to talk 21 now. Bailey: Okay, we'll add that to the list of discussion. Champion: I'm done with `em. (laughter) Bailey: Mike? Wright: I've got an unusual event that I want to make sure there's some publicity in the community. It's the Third Animal...Third Annual Iowa City Zombie March! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #21 Page 31 Hayek: It goes right past my house. Wright: It goes...it starts at Happy Hollow Park, Saturday at 4:30. Uh, this is actually a fundraiser and awareness raiser for the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center, Johnson County Human Society, and a shelter for special, uh, special needs cats called Witty Kitties. They ask that folks bring non-perishable food items, human, dog or cat, uh, or a cash donation to the park, and uh, preferably dress up as your very favorite zombie character for the procession downtown. This culminates, uh, at the, um, let's see, the Picador and uh, there'll be a concert there with, uh, a number of different groups. It should be a really fun event. I know some people who participate in this and they always enjoy it, and it's a fundraiser for some really good causes. Bailey: And will you be participating? Wright: Um, maybe. (laughter and several talking) Bailey: I will also be heading to League of Cities tomorrow. It's in Council Bluffs, and I look forward to talking about issues that affect cities across Iowa. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #22 Page 32 ITEM 22. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF. Bailey: Um, City Manager? Lombardo: Um, Kevin was somewhat restrained in his enthusiasm by only providing you a glimpse of about a third of the savings, um, with the rates adjusted, there's almost $1.6 million in additional savings because of the favorable market and...and quite frankly, Finance's, um, you know, willingness to make this a focus and stay diligent on these issues. I too am going to the League Conference. Looking forward to really making broader connections statewide. I think it's a good opportunity, and um, Dale will be Acting in my absence. I will be back probably sometime on Friday, depending on the schedule, uh, will govern my time. Bailey: Thanks. Dale, did you have anything? Helling: Nothing. Bailey: City Attorney? City Clerk? And, I guess we can cycle back to community comment at the end. Did we have somebody who has community comment? Kerper: Madame Mayor, Members of Council, my name is Tom Kerper. I'm a resident of Iowa City and also employed by the City as an MTO. I'm not here to comment on Item 11, to either disapprove it or approve it. Um, it was the opinion of a very fine teacher I had at...at the beloved University of Iowa by the name of Eleanor Burch in quantitative methods that when newly hired into a position, it is generally unwise to make some widespread changes, in any organization for a minimum of at least one year, so that that person's had time to adequately appraise whether that may be a good move or a bad move, and since Mr. O'Brien and Ms. Morck are, um, both acting as Interim Managers and Directors within our division, I thought it would be a good idea just to come as a citizen and express maybe a word of caution, and uh, maybe just take a little bit of time, uh, in your appraisal of this item. Um, but on the other hand I also want to thank you for supporting Transit. Um, we've had numerous increases in ridership and demands on the system are...are overloading it. I think it's safe to say at the current time, so I'd also like to thank Mr. O'Brien for his fine work and wanting to improve service, and also Ms. Morck for doing an outstanding job as Transit Manager. So, I just wanted to have an opportunity to tell you that. Thank you. Bailey: Thanks for being here. Hayek: Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008. #22 Page 33 Bailey: Okay. If there is nothing further, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Champion: So adjourned. Bailey: Moved by Champion. O'Donnell: Second. Bailey: Seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor say aye. Motion carries. Thank you all. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Special Formal meeting of September 9, 2008.