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)
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.