HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-21 Transcription#2
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ITEM 2 OUTSTANDING STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS -Weber
Elementary.
Bailey: Would the students from Weber Elementary please come forward. Thanks
for being here. It's good to see you all. It's not too bad up here. Really.
It's not too bad at all. Um, we're excited to hear what you've done in your
school, and congratulations on your award, and I'll pass down the
microphone. You need to hold it really close, and read your statement.
Can you...
Amouzou: Okay. Um, all the years you spend trying to prevent something or trying
your best by persevering don't always pay off, but sometimes they do.
Even if it's a small accomplishment or a great award like this. At school,
at recess sometimes I help kids solve the conflicts which is sometimes a
difficult task, but I'm always glad to help. The best thing about doing
something helpful is knowing that you feel good about what you did and
pushes you to want to do more. And that's what I feel when I do, when I
help someone out. Um, I do it for helping the community. Thank you.
(applause) Sandra, yeah...Sandra.
Wilson: Uh, my name is Abbie Wilson. I'm a sixth grader with the great teacher
(unable to understand) at Weber Elementary and my school, we try to
practice the core virtues, which are a giving, perseverance, respect,
compassion, responsibility, self-discipline and honesty. I've tried to be
compassionate and giving by raising money in my neighborhood for the U
of I Children's' Hospital and also for flood victims. A couple of summers
ago I went to an orphanage in Mexico and made friends with the kids and
helped paint new...a new house for them. Um, I have always tried to
respect my teachers and classmates. I have demonstrated responsibility by
volunteering and working at the school store and in the...in the media
center. I have also worked as a conflict manager and a safety patrol. I am
also in student council. I have practiced perseverance, self-
discipline...and self-discipline by getting work done on time or before it's
due, and always trying my best. I thank all of you for this award and all
my teachers at Weber, especially Mrs. Curts. (applause)
Rodriguez: Well, hello everybody! My name is Malik Rodriguez, and...well
(laughter) I am highly honored to have this award. One of the things in
Weber, we try to practice the core virtues and all that stuff that they said.
But of course I made a lot of contributions to the (mumbled) such as
buddies, a thing we do with fifth and sixth graders...a system in our
school where the fifth and sixth graders meet up with fifth... first and
second graders, meet up to do various activities. Sorry, I'm really nervous
about this (laughter).
Wilburn: Just talk to us, buddy, just talk to us.
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Rodriguez: School store, where...I'm a school store manager. The school store is
basically where you try to raise money. All the students can work in there.
It's pretty cool. And the third thing is community service. Me and my
friends, Eric and Will, are going to on...in November we're going to the
local animal shelter (laughter) to help raise money, to take care of the
animals, and give food and toys. Thank you for this...all these awards and
I'm sorry I'm so nervous, but...thank you for these awards. (applause)
Bailey: Nice job, everybody! Nice job. I know. It gets nerve-wracking up here
sometimes, but you did it...you did a great job. I have your awards here.
I'm going to read one of them. They all have your own name on them.
This is a Citizenship Award -for your outstanding qualities of leadership
within Weber Elementary, as well as the community, and for your sense of
responsibility and helpfulness to others, we recognize you as an
Outstanding Student Citizen. Your community is proud of you. This is
presented by the Iowa City City Council. (applause)
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ITEM 3 PROCLAMATIONS.
a) Change your Clock, Change your Battery Day -November 2, 2008
Bailey: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Iowa City Firefighter Roth. (applause)
Roth: Thank you, Mayor Bailey. On behalf of the Iowa City Fire Department,
I'd like to receive this proclamation and thank you for, uh, recognizing
this important date. A working smoke alarm is one of the most important
pieces of fire protection equipment you can have in your home. When a
fire occurs, you could have as little as two minutes to escape safely. A
working smoke alarm can provide those precious moments. Uh, across
the United States it is estimated that 94% of the homes have smoke
alarms. Unfortunately, as you said, nearly 20% of those smoke alarms do
not work, and the most common reason for inoperative smoke alarms is
dead or missing batteries. On November 2, it is important for all of us to
change the batteries in our smoke alarms when we change the time on our
clocks. This simple life-saving habit can nearly cut in half our family's
chance of dying in a home fire. Thank you.
Bailey: Thanks for being here, and thanks for the reminder. (applause)
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ITEM 4 SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
a) Water Fluoridation Quality Award
Bailey: Okay, we have a couple of special presentations. First, our water
fluoridation quality award. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention commend this water system, the system in Iowa City, for its
consistent and professional adjustment of the water fluoride content to the
optimal level for oral health, for 12 consistent months. Consistent, high
quality water fluoridation practice as demonstrated by this water system is
a safe and effective method to prevent tooth decay, improving the oral
health of the community...community residents of all ages.
Karr: Here to accept the award is Iowa City Water Superintendent Ed Moreno.
(applause)
Bailey: Congratulations, Ed!
Moreno: I'm honored to accept this on behalf of the (mumbled) and the very good
staff of the Iowa City Water Division. So thank you very much. This is a
good testimony to the high quality standards that we always strive for.
Bailey: Thanks. And thanks for your work, Ed.
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ITEM 4 SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
b) Iowa City Area Development Group Annual Report
Bailey: The next item on our agenda is a presentation by the Iowa City Area
Development Group. This is the annual report, and Joe Raso will be
providing this for us.
Raso: Thank you, Mayor Bailey, and Council. I appreciate the opportunity, uh,
to speak to you and all the citizens of Iowa City about your relationship,
uh, with our development group. It was just today we had the opportunity
to celebrate our annual meeting, and had over, or nearly 250 individuals,
uh, from the Iowa City area, hear one of the top researchers and business
leaders at the University, Dr. Karem Abdul Malik, a talk about his Santos,
uh, virtual human project, and so it was, uh, really exciting to see several
of you here today, uh, at our luncheon to celebrate that. I just want to take
a few minutes, uh, this evening and update some of the activities, uh, that
are underway, and...um, more specific, the memorandum of
understanding that we have with the City for the considerable investment
that you make in our organization we greatly appreciate that, but we also
realize there's some commitments on our part, uh, to live up to that
agreement, and I just want to touch on a few of those tonight. Uh, one of
those items, uh, that we try to accomplish on an annual basis, and just
completed, uh, for the City was to provide some aerial photos, updating,
uh, the growth areas, especially the industrial and commercial, uh, areas
here within the community, and making sure that when we have
perspective clients coming into the market, they're able to see via our web
site the City's web site, State utilities and others, those available
properties, and also, uh, getting an idea of the growth that's occurring here
in the community. Uh, I'll take just a few minutes to cover some of the
highlights of a report that you received in your Council Packet on, uh,
really the most important aspect of the work that we do, and that's to visit
with our existing companies. Well over 70% of the growth of any
economy occurs with the expansion of existing business, and we want to
make sure that we're staying on top of that, and working with your staff,
uh, when, uh, when we can report the good and address any issues that
might come up that the City as a whole can address on behalf of our
clients, which are the primary sector companies, uh, here in the Iowa City
area. Also want to make you aware that we're continuing with the
headquarter, uh, visit programs. We have a number of companies and
clients here in Iowa City, and quite honestly the decisions aren't made
here in our market, uh, they're made at their corporate headquarters
somewhere around the world, and uh, we are continuing with visits to
those sites, visiting with decision makers and of course, uh, when
appropriate sharing information back with staff on things that we can do to
improve the environment here for their companies, so as they're making
decisions on where they're going to expand or unfortunately with the
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economic times where they might be, uh, reducing operations, that those
decisions don't negatively affect our community and our region. Also
want to, um, make you aware of an initiative that we have underway.
We've actually sent out, and I think received, uh, responses from several
of you, including City Manager Lombardo to attend a November 13
meeting where we will, uh, be leading a discussion on probably one of the
more important, uh, issues and concerns that we hear from site location
consultants and companies doing their own site searches, and that is
having shovel-ready sites, uh, properties that are available and ready to go,
um, are understood by the community types of development they want to
have, have the infrastructure working in conjunction with utilities...our
office, the State and others, uh, right now the State of Iowa has no such
program and there are well over a dozen states across the country that do.
We felt it was important as a development group representing this area
that we, uh, take a broader role, um, than what's been done in the past
and...and try to develop those shovel-ready sites, working with you and
getting everybody to understand the importance of that, uh, to the
marketing that we do for the community. Now as it relates to our existing
companies, uh, a few months ago we produced a report, and I think the
full copy might have been, uh, electronically sent, uh, for you in your
Council Packet. This is on a11...I guess summary report on the 62
different companies we interviewed last year, uh, throughout our service
territory, and for you and the listeners, we served ten communities. Those
in Johnson County, but we also serve West Liberty, uh, West Branch, uh,
Tipton and Kalona outside of Johnson County, so we have a somewhat
larger service territory than just the Iowa City area, um, but within Iowa
City and you would have received a report just on, um, the data we
received from 26, or almost 42% of all of our clients that took part in this
interview are Iowa City area businesses, and I just want to highlight a few,
uh, pieces of information from the report that was in your Council Packet.
First and foremost, uh, these 26 companies represent nearly 6,000
employees, uh, private sector employees herein the Iowa City area, and I
can just tell you that the, uh, multiplier impact in terms of other
employment is pretty significant. We're probably talking close to, uh,
10,000 individuals employed here in our market, um, because of the
business activity of those 26 companies. So that's pretty significant, uh,
the listing of those companies was in the, uh, in the board packet for you.
Uh, few things to note - uh, what we found this past year, that 20 of these
companies indicated plans to increase employment, uh, over the next few
years with intentions to increase their employment by more than 600 new
positions and to occupy an additiona1340,000 square feet of new
expanded office and/or manufacture or distribution space. So that's fairly
significant. We also found, uh, in talking to our clients that employee
availability continues to be the primary concern, uh, with our companies.
Uh, software engineers, uh, software developers, technical positions,
marketing and sales were identified here in the Iowa City area as the most
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difficult positions for which our clients, uh, are trying to recruit or retain.
Uh, employers made numerous comments that recruiting employees to
Iowa as a state can be a challenge. Um, but when they get that individual
into our community, they feel nine times out often they can sell them on
living here, and I think all of us here in this room and listening tonight can
understand that, um, because we really know the quality of life that we
have here in the Iowa City area and uh, a very cosmopolitan environment
for a small community, but it's a challenge that we have and one that you
and your investment dollars, along with 170 other investors that devote to
us is where we're focusing a large amount of our resources on recruiting
and retaining the talent that all of our companies need. One of the thing
that we ask in our interviews with company executives is give a rating of
satisfaction with the number of services, in fact, 30 services. Overall,
many of those are focused on, uh, infrastructure and things that the City
has control over. LJh, with our clients here in Iowa City, uh, it should
come as no surprise that the ratings for streets, roads, and highways
dropped a little bit this past year, due to the harsh winter and the flooding,
uh, that was no surprise. We also saw a, uh, significant drop in
satisfaction as it relates to, uh, property taxes, um, and zoning permitting,
uh, and regulatory enforcement. Now, uh, what we're doing and uh, from
an earlier conversation with some of the City staff is we're following up
with some of those companies that...that, uh, provided those satisfaction
rankings that were lower than what we saw just a year ago. Uh, we don't
have any response for you tonight yet. We're still trying to collect that
data, but we will definitely share that, uh, with the Economic
Development Committee of the Council and with staff to see if we can
address any of those issues, and to give you an example of how important
this process has been for us, and I think for you as a city, is last year when
we received these results, because we do these interviews, uh, every year,
uh, we found that in general the businesses, our clients here in Iowa City,
rated the water and sewer, but especially the water, fairly low, and that
really surprised us, given the multi-million dollar investment, uh, that the
citizens have made in the water system. iJh, so we did a little additional
research, and what we found was really two things. One is, uh, many of
the business clients here that we serve, uh, felt that the costs were out of
line, but when we went back and we did research on like communities
across the Midwest, we found out that Iowa City's costs were right in line,
uh, with many other communities. So I think it was a perception that we
were able to overcome, uh, with some other data and other markets. Uh,
the second issue that arose was somewhat, I guess more interesting to us,
and that is, uh, couple businesses had indicated they felt that the quality of
the water was not, uh, to their needs, especially for some of the processing
that they were doing, uh, and we found in one case, what had happened
was, again, it was a lack of knowledge about what...what is in the water
system, in terms of the measures of particulates and other things, and
when we shared that information that we received, uh, from Public Works,
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uh, one of the companies went back and found out that, uh, their chemical
supplier to their water system wasn't being as honest with them about the
quality of the Iowa City water. So we were able to save them quite a bit of
money, uh, in their own business, and so I think it goes to show that, uh,
taking a part in...in these types of interviews, one-on-one, can provide
some real value to you as a city in allowing our clients, and really your
clients, um, to understand, uh, what services are available, but also when
issues arise to see if we can resolve, uh, resolve those issues. So with that,
I welcome the opportunity to answer questions you might have on the
services that we are providing all of you and the citizens here in the
community.
Bailey: Thank you, Joe. Any questions for Joe this evening? We all have this
report. I think...if we have questions we can follow up.
Raso: Great. Thank you.
Bailey: Thanks for being here.
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ITEM 5 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Wright: Move adoption.
Champion: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Correia: I had one item that I neglected to bring up at the work session yesterday.
apologize. In the, uh, minutes of the Housing and Community
Development Commission, it was indicated that, um, the report from
FAIR on the survey that they did of Iowa City residents was attached to
the minutes and being forwarded to Council, and it wasn't attached. So,
just wondering if we can get that.
Bailey: All right. Any other discussion? Okay, roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM 6 COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
Bailey: This is a time for members of the community to comment on items that are
not on tonight's agenda. If you would like to make a comment to Council,
please approach the podium, state your name for the record, and limit your
comments to five minutes or less.
Smith: Hello. My name is Kadijah Smith. Um, I'm 18-years-old and I'm a
current graduate and has lived in Iowa City off and on for the last 12
years. Um, I'm here speaking on behalf of Teens Against Alcohol and
Drugs. Um, I'm not as concerned about the age group of those drinking;
however, I'm very concerned about the amount of alcohol being
consumed by those drinking. I'm also concerned about those who are
inside the bars and leaving bars, coming out into the community drunk and
affecting others, who are in the community. Um, a prime example would
be last Saturday after the football game. Um, my group felt very unsafe to
be downtown, and my opinion is that people should have the right to go
outside in the community and have a good time, whether their family or
their friends, and know that they are in a safe environment. So, thank you.
Bailey: Thank you.
Robinson: Hi, my name is Perswaysia Robinson and I'm the Vice President of
TAAD. Um, I'd like to share my experience. On Saturday of the football
game, we were very afraid to be downtown. It was very unsafe and um,
we were trying to distribute our rough draft publication packets when we
were interrupted by people who were harassing us and asking us questions
and (mumbled) they were drunk. Um, once again, we felt unsafe and I
don't think...I also don't think the problem was underage drinking. I
think that the problem was binge drinking, um, and I would like it if
people like us can go downtown with their families without having to be
harassed by other drunk people. Thank you for your time.
Bailey: Thank you.
Robinson: Hi, my name is Sameah Robinson, and I totally agree with the first two
ladies who went. It is very unfair for people my age and who want to go
out downtown to feel unsafe, and I hope that we as a group can get more
people to, um, help with the environment so it could be more safe. Thank
you.
Rodriguez: Hi, my name is Destiny Rodriguez and I'm a senior at City High School.
I'm a President of TAAD. I'm a concerned student about underage
drinking. I'm really concerned about the bars in downtown because from
what I have heard they know a time and place where, from what I've
heard from my friends, they know a time and place, um, where they can
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get in the bar easily without having to check for I.D.'s. In my opinion,
they should check I.D.'s all times and make sure the bartenders are
watching over people who are over 21 and not giving out drinks to
underage kids. That's all I have to say. Thank you for your time.
Reyes: My name is Stephanie Reyes. I'm a student at City High. I'm
representing Teens Against Alcohol and Drugs. I think it's irresponsible
whenever or if a bar owner doesn't check I.D.'s. I think there should be
more enforcement on I.D. checking to make sure there is no underage
drinkers. Thank you.
Gathua: Hi, um, my name is Maureen Gathua and I also go to City High School
and I'm 17 years old, and um, I'm also a member of Teens Against
Alcohol and Drugs, and um, personal experience, when me and my mom
and my little sister were driving through downtown, like Friday or
Saturday nights, my mom's always like, she slows down and she tells us
like watch out to see, because not only once has like drunk people been
running, because I can tell they're drunk because they're wobbling and
stuff, she...we had to like slow down and like she had to hit the brakes so
hard. That's just not one time, and also that at school I overhear students
talking about, oh, it was really easy getting into the bar. I don't know
what the situation is. If they don't check I.D.'s or either they have friends
they know that let them in the bars, but either way, it's still a problem and
something needs to be done about it. So, thank you.
Boltanova: My name is Katya Boltanova. I'm a Teens Against Alcohol, um, Alcohol
and Drugs, uh, student group advisor, um, they mentioned, um, the
packets, informational packets, about rough draft. They were not
distributed in rough draft itself to the businesses downtown. They were
distributing the packet that educates the business owners about, uh, what
that publication carries inside it, and they have some samples for you to
share. Uh, I personally support, um, best practices that would force a
reduction of underage and uh, excessive drinking in Iowa City, and now I
would like to step out of that role and talk to you about, uh, my
experience, my personal experience as a resident in Iowa City. Um,
when...I've been to Iowa City for over seven years now and I came from
Russia on a scholarship. Uh, I come from a town that's, um, also a college
town, it's 70,000 people. Uh, there is a large university there and several
community colleges. So there is an abundance of young people who are in
the prime age for drinking. So, uh, when we think about Iowa City as a
college city and normalize the excess and underage drinking that's going
on here, I personally don't think that should be the case, um, because I
grew up in a town where the same, um, population lives there, but the
problem is not nearly as elevated as here. Um, my biggest, um, cultural
shock was when I first, uh, went on a Friday night with my friends, with
my new American friends, uh, to the Ped Mall and I saw lines to the bars.
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I had never seen something like that in my life. Uh, then we went inside
of a bar and it was so crowded it was impossible to move around and
people were stumbling and...and kind of being rude as I thought, um, so
that was also shocking. And I remember taking pictures of lines to the
bars. Uh, another thing that I would like to share is some of the
experiences that other communities have done. Uh, I happen to work in
Washington, Iowa for five years and they have an ordinance there that,
um, their downtown is dry. They do not allow any liquor licenses, any
bars around the square. Um, why don't we, uh, change that to Iowa City?
Maybe not necessarily to that extent, but we should not be afraid to
change, to make some changes here as well. And, uh, another thing,
when...in my hometown there was a large sporting event or community
event where there are several thousand people gathered together, the
Mayor declares that all of the bars and uh, liquor stores close that day. So
there is no alcohol sales the entire day when there is a large event going
on. And I have not seen drunken crowds there all my life growing up
there, and one of the stereotypes about Russia, uh, there is...there tends to
be the wrong tendency thinking about that there is a lot of drinking there.
There is probably drinking taking place in other places, um, but I have not
seen large, um, events like this, like I see in Iowa City on a regular
Saturday and uh, Friday night, and as a resident in Iowa City, my husband
and I when we decide to go out on Fridays or Saturdays, uh, evenings we
try to avoid going to downtown because it is scary driving, uh, or walking
downtown. If you walk you can get harassed. If you, um, drive it's very
easy to be hit by somebody else or to be able to hit somebody accidentally
who's walking or stumbling, that is something that...that's my personal
experience. Thank you for the time.
Bailey: Thank you.
Vander Werff: My name is Kelly Vander Werff and I'm the Prevention Supervisor from
MECCA Services, and we just want to really thank you, um, for taking on
this important issue again. Um, I know it's a challenging one, and so we
really appreciate the thought that you're giving to it. Um, it does seem
clear to us that there is a consensus throughout the community, um, that
we need to do something to change the culture, um, of alcohol in our
community. There may not be a consensus on what the best solution is,
um, but I think we're moving in the direction where we at least agree that,
you know, we need to take some action. Um, it'll come as no surprise to
anybody here that MECCA does advocate for enforcing the legal drinking
age, as a really critical and central piece of any comprehensive plan that's
developed to reduce alcohol problems in Iowa City, and we continue that
position not only because of what we know about what science tells us
about the risks of underage drinking, and the effectiveness of enforcing the
21-legal age, but also because of what we see, um, every day in the work
that we do in this community with people, and the way that alcohol has
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affected their lives. Um, that said, any movement forward is good. Um,
and as you all know, the best approach to changing the environment and
the culture is amulti-pronged one, and you spoke about that last night, and
it needs to involve all sectors of the community, whether it be bar owners,
law enforcement, policy makers, students, parents, educators, and the
media, just to name a few, and while we may not be able to do everything
all at once, any changes that we can make now are going to move us in the
right direction to changing the social norms that we currently have that are
supporting and encouraging underage drinking and over-consumption by
all ages. Making the kinds of public policy changes that you've been
talking about is really key to changing our environment and culture. Until
we make these important policy-level changes, prevention strategies like
alcohol education and alternative activities cannot be successful and will
have very little impact in terms of changing behavior. We'd also like to
make known that MECCA strongly supports the creation, or the recreation
as the case maybe, of a strong campus-community coalition as was sort of
alluded to last night, um, and we are willing to take the lead on, um,
developing that coalition and putting that together, and we welcome any
input or interest from the Council or anyone else, um, and anyone can
certainly contact me at MECCA, uh, with any input about that issue. So,
thank you for listening to the Teens Against Alcohol and Drug students
and what they had to say, um, they feel strongly about this issue and I'm
glad they had a chance to share that with you, um, and thank you for your
time.
Bailey: Thanks, Kelly.
Klein: Good evening. My name's Garry Klein, at 628 Second Avenue, where
I'm living harmoniously with my neighbors, and I wanted to, uh, address
the Council, uh, on behalf of my neighbors. Um, in a positive way
actually. I want to...I want to say a couple things to congratulate City
staff. LTh, we have been, uh, one of the neighborhoods that, uh, the
sidewalks are being, were inspected this year, and uh, there was a number
of concerns raised by my neighbors, and so instead of storming City Hall -
I know you all love that - uh, we decided that we would meet and...and
perhaps do something constructive, like figure out what the problems were
and bring them to appropriate City staff, which we did, and the result of
that has been two-fold. One, we have a brand new web page put up today
about the sidewalk, uh, the rules of sidewalks that never existed before.
So when people like us were wondering, what should we do about our
sidewalks, uh, we...now you don't have to call the City, and get that
question answered. There's a wonderful new page set up. Um, and I
think...and so, um, my neighbors who were part of the NIMFY group, not
in my front yard group, um, are...I think we're standing down a little bit
about what it is, um, that we have problems with in terms of enforcement
of that policy. However, there is one thing that we need the City
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Council's, uh, thoughts about. Our neighborhood is a wonderful
neighborhood where about 60% of our neighbors don't have sidewalk, and
40% do. Um, we think that over time, uh, particularly now that we have a
brand new trail going through our neighborhood, and we're encouraging
more people to get out there and walk and pick up their sticks and rake
and all that good stuff that it would be great if over time, uh, folks were
able to have sidewalks put in, not the ones who are living there today, but
when the houses change hands. That might be an appropriate time to
consider that the new person moving in there, that should be part of the,
uh, part of the deal. That way, uh, the City doesn't end up having to build
sidewalks for safety reasons, and it's taken care of in a reasonable manner
so that the older neighbors don't feel like they're having to put out money
they don't have, or take care of a sidewalk that they don't feel like they
can take care o£ Um, and with that, I...I appreciate the time tonight. I
would, uh, appreciate hearing back from City staff about a way that we
could perhaps move in a direction that's positive to make sure that there is
a consistency in the sidewalk policy, in all neighborhoods, not just mine.
Bailey: Thanks, Garry. Um, do we know if Second Avenue is on the in-fill
schedule? Okay. Because we do have that program (mumbled) Thank
you. Others wishing to, uh, address the Council for public comment?
Okay. Moving along.
Wilburn: Move to accept correspondence.
Bailey: Oh, thank you.
Hayek: I second.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Hayek. All those in favor say aye.
Those opposed same sign. Motion caries.
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ITEM 7 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
a) AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INCLUDE
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAN.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Bailey: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open.
Davidson: Good evening, Madame Mayor, Members of Council. I...in just a
moment, Bob Miklo, Senior Planner, and Karen Howard, Associate
Planner, will make a brief presentation, uh, prior to receiving public
comment on the Central District Plan. We also have with us this evening
two representatives from the Planning and Zoning Commission, uh, Wally
Plahutnik and Charlie Eastham, so if you have any questions specific to
the Planning and Zoning Commission's discussion, they would be, uh,
happy to answer those, I'm sure. Um, I did want to very quickly, um,
address a couple of questions that came up, um, yesterday evening at your
work session. Uh, the first one pertained to affordable housing, and the
fact that there wasn't a definition of affordable housing in the, um, in the
document which is under your consideration, uh, this evening. Um, I did
discuss that with Steve Long who manages our Community Development
department and our affordable housing programs, and...and Steve felt that
it's appropriate not to have a specific definition because in a document,
which basically represents the Comprehensive Plan for this area, you want
that to be as broadly, uh, defined, or undefined as possible, uh, because in
the future we will likely bring specific initiatives, specific programs to you
for your consideration, that will hopefully represent a range, uh, and the
complete range, uh, of affordable housing options. In the plan there are
clearly some statements in the housing and quality life, uh, section, uh,
dealing with supporting efforts to, uh, create affordable work-force
housing, encouraging the University and other employers to establish
affordable housing programs. So I think we have the broad vision here,
and as time progresses, hopefully we'll have the specific vision, as well.
Uh, the second item pertains to, uh, the trend, well, it was characterized as
the trend of large apartment complexes in the Central District, and uh, Bob
and Karen will highlight, uh, some of the things that are in the document,
but certainly the south Johnson, south Van Buren area, and some of the
concerns, uh, with the way that that area has developed over the last 30
years, 25 or 30 years. That is addressed. We do believe there are some
options for that area that could result in a higher quality living
environment for the people in that area, and Bob and Karen will go
through those. Uh, we also have language in there, uh, regarding
enforcement of occupancy rules, which I think in those larger complexes
with the four and five bedroom units, is a...is a concern, and one
that...that is addressed in the plan. iJh, finally, there was a question about
the, uh, consistency of the bicycle and pedestrian initiatives, I guess it was
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specifically the bicycle initiatives, with the, uh, ongoing bicycle master
planning that's being conducted by JCCOG, and I did discuss that with
JCCOG Director John Yapp today, uh, he felt that the documents...he was
heavily involved in the production of that section of this document, and
felt that it is, uh, consistent with the work that JCCOG is doing, and
again....again what we're trying to do, and it's called out very succinctly
in Goal #3 in the Transportation Goals and Objectives, um, develop a plan
to formalize safe bicycle and pedestrian connections between the major
destinations in the district, including downtown Iowa City, neighborhood
commercial areas, University campus, elementary and secondary schools,
and then there's a whole, uh, list of specific objections that go under that
goal, uh, so that clearly...clearly one of the major emphasis areas of the
Central District is that it is a very walkable, uh, and pedestrian and
bicycle-friendly environment, and the linkages between the employment
center and the University and residents...residences makes bicycling and
walking specific importance in this district, and so hopefully the initiatives
that come out of this plan will be some things that can make that safer and
more efficient for, uh, everybody, and... and hopefully increase the
percentage of people that...that do, uh, commute by those modes. So, um,
again, Karen and Bob will make a brief presentation now, and um, we'll
entertain any questions then. Thank you.
Miklo: Before we talk about the Central District Plan itself, I'd like to talk a little
bit about the, uh, Comprehensive Plan, the larger Comprehensive Plan,
um, and the process that led to the, uh, creation of this document. Many
people know that the Comprehensive Plan deals with zoning and land
development, but it also deals with a number of other issues that are
important to our...our community. Issues such as economic development,
transportation, housing, public safety, environmental protection, arts, and
uh, social issues. Uh, given that it's acity-wide document in scope, these
issues are addressed fairly broadly in the Comprehensive Plan, uh, so we
recognize that there is a need to, uh, bring more detail to, um, to the
neighborhood level in the community. So the plan does divide the City
into ten sub-districts. The Central District is the one we are, uh, speaking
of, uh, tonight. The, uh, district is bounded roughly by the, uh, Iowa
River, the University of Iowa campus in downtown on the west, uh,
Brown Street and Hickory Hill Park on the north, First Avenue on the east,
and Highway 6 on the south. In terms of the, uh, the policies or the
specifics of this plan, um, it wasn't just drafted by the Planning and
Zoning Commission or in the City Planning offices. Rather it was very
much of acitizen-driven plan. We began two years ago with a...a kickoff
meeting where over 100 citizens participated, uh, they worked together,
uh, to identify, uh, the needs of the Central District and to propose
solutions and to create a vision of...of the future of the district. We had a
really good representation of residents, property owners, uh, business
owners. We had University administrators, uh, students, uh, civic groups
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and other interest groups, uh, participate in the process. Um, we also had
a, uh, a series of in-depth workshops where we met on Saturday morning,
Saturday afternoons, uh, and early evenings, where we, um, addressed
very specific topics, such as housing and quality of life, streets and
transportation, parks and open space, and uh, two commercial areas -the
south Gilbert Street and the north Market, uh, place area, and those two,
uh, sessions we had a large turnout of business and property owners who
were interested in the economic fatality of those areas. I'd like to now just
highlight some of the major points of...of the plan itself. In terms of, uh,
housing and quality of life, um, there was, um, a lot of support for the
older neighborhoods in the Central District. People recognize that they
have a certain charm and quality that's hard to duplicate, uh, that there's a
sense of place and that there are quality tree-lined streets and...and good
schools and easy access to downtown and the University. Uh, but there
was also a recognition that there's a need to do some things to help
stabilize and improve those older neighborhoods, uh, to maintain and
reinvest in the housing stock, uh, and for the City itself to invest in some
of the public infrastructure, such as the alleys and the parks, uh, and
streets, in...in the district. Uh, there was also, uh, an identified need to
address some of the nuisance problems, uh, in some of the older
neighborhoods, uh, that may discourage people from reinvesting in their
areas. The, uh, citizens also showed a lot of support for some of the City
programs, such as the public art program and the historic preservation
program, that help to solidify those neighborhoods and encourage a sense
of identity. In terms of, um, some of the policies that came out of...out of
the workshops, uh, there was a, uh, a strong desire to promote safe and
healthy off-campus environments, uh, for the student population, and
suggestions for perhaps on-site management for some of the larger
apartment complexes, um, the, uh, need to provide some recreational
opportunities in the, uh, heavily, uh, populated neighborhoods, and also to
improve pedestrian safety. One of the things that the plan suggests is that
we explore some, uh, ways to improve multi-family areas, uh, areas that
come to mind would be south Johnson and south Van Buren Street. Those
areas, uh, initially were single-family neighborhoods that over the years
have been converted to, uh, fairly dense apartment complexes, uh,
unfortunately, because they were such small lots, there's very little open
space left. Most of the properties are paved for parking and there's little,
uh, little room for recreation. Uh, one of the concepts proposed in the plan
is perhaps, uh, some incentives for redevelop, even at a higher density, uh,
so that we could create some open spaces perhaps through taller buildings,
putting underground parking or structured parking, uh, in those areas. Uh,
another key plan, or idea, that came out of the workshops, uh, came from
people who were familiar with other university communities where the
university itself has a program, uh, to encourage faculty and staff to, uh,
live close to campus, and uh, therefore, help stabilize some of the closer-in
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neighborhoods. Karen will now cover some of the transportation issues
that came out of the plan.
Howard: The technology here without the mouse....um, I think Jeff characterized
some of the issues in the plan, and also some of the assets to the Central
District -we've already covered. Uh, people enjoy, uh, the sidewalk
network and mature trees. It makes it a walking...uh, walking very
pleasant and convenient. Uh, there's multiple routes for bicyclists to take
to area destinations, and there's good access to bus routes in the Central
District. Some of the challenges though in the Central District are because
we already have an existing street network and a fairly dense
development, um, it's hard to balance the needs of all users along our
existing street, uh, network, and so that's a challenge. Um, there's also
competition for on-street parking in some of our more dense
neighborhoods, particularly close to the University and large employers
like Mercy Hospital. Also there's aging infrastructure, as mentioned, the
streets, alleys, and sidewalks need some work in certain areas of the
district. And, as mentioned, Jeff mentioned specifically that a major part
of the plan is to, uh, improve...continue to improve the district for both
pedestrians and bicyclists, and there's some very specific things
mentioned in the plan and I urge you to look those over because, uh, they
are important to the people that live in the Central District. Also to
improve public transit, some ideas came out of the plan to explore ways to
increase the ridership on our bus system, to educate and improve
awareness of our transit options, through signage and programs to, uh, for
people to, uh, increase their ridership; investigate expanding the free
downtown shuttle was one idea. That's a very popular option, and work to
establish a commuter rail system, and I'll go into that in just a moment.
Moving on to some of the major ideas that came out of the parks, trails,
and public ways discussions. LTh, as you can see from this map, there is a
deficit of parks and open space in the Central District. While we have
one...a beautiful park in Hickory Hill Park, one of the largest parks in the
city, um, there are not a lot of smaller neighborhood parks. While some of
these existing parks are well-loved by people in the community, um,
people felt like there was a dearth of...of options and particularly in the
highest density neighborhoods, um, a problem with the shortage of
recreational options for people living in those neighborhoods. So one of
the initiatives of the plan is to take advantage of those few opportunities
we do have to acquire new parkland. Here's just a couple of examples -
the Chaddick property along Friendship Street, and of course opportunities
for new parkland along the Iowa River. Another idea that's an interesting
idea of the plan is to investigate requiring a neighborhood open space fee
when there's a request for upzoning a property for residential
development. And using our existing public ways in creative ways to
inject green elements into, um, the neighborhoods, enhancing public
infrastructure, public ways along the street, creative ways to create festival
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streets, for example, um, some really exciting ideas in the parks section of
the plan that I urge you to look over. People are very fond of Ralston
Creek, and there was much discussion about how children in the
neighborhoods use Ralston Creek, how much they enjoy it, how much
people enjoy having that green element within the community, and
wanting to, uh, enhance efforts to improve awareness and access to the
creek. And I'd like to move on to, uh, our two commercial areas, uh, first
of all the south Gilbert Street commercial corridor, what we call the, uh,
the corridor here centers around Gilbert Street, as you can see, but it
includes a lot more land than just the properties along Gilbert Street. It
includes the riverfront area where the north wastewater treatment plant is,
and also the quasi-industrial areas along Gilbert Court and Highland
Court. This area has a lot of, um, opportunities for a wide variety of
businesses, business owners think that it's a, that they have good access to
arterial streets, uh, we have an asset in the area which is the Iowa River.
And there's good access to rail in this area of the city. Some of the
shortcomings mentioned by many of the business owners at our meetings
were that there's traffic congestion and confusion in the area, a real lack of
aesthetic appeal along this corridor. It doesn't have a distinct identity. It's
not particularly safe or welcoming for pedestrians and bicyclists, and it
lacks a connection to surrounding residential neighborhoods, and really it
turns its back on the Iowa River. So we feel this is a real, uh, exciting part
of the Central District Plan. Uh, it really excited people that came to our
meetings to discuss the potential for redevelopment. I think the business
owners were very excited about this when we talked about potential for
redevelopment, um, the recent flooding has...has caused us to rethink the
use of the riverfront, and how we might prevent future flooding, how we
want to use that land along the river, and also this idea of reintroducing
passenger rail as a catalyst for redevelopment along the river. As you can
see in this, uh, map, uh, we have two rail lines that come into the district -
the Iowa Interstate Railway, um, which we've been discussing
reintroducing Amtrak service from Chicago, um, all the way through Iowa
City to Des Moines is a possibility. And also regional rail along the
CRANDIC rail line, from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids. And both of these
rail lines cut right through this area, so it makes it prime land for
redevelopment, if these two initiatives occur, uh, and what we call transit-
oriented development. And what we mean by that is high-density, mixed
use residential and commercial, designed to maximize the use of and
access to public transit systems. And we talk about high density
development initiatives to create a strategic plan for redevelopment of the
area, uh, to generate ridership to justify frequent service, and to create an
active street life to support commercial activity within walking distance of
homes and work sites. The benefits oftransit-oriented development is to
reduce automobile dependency, reduce commute times and traffic
congestion, and create a different kind of...of living environment, which is
healthy and affordable, and close to area employers, uh, where you could
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live and work, and shop in, uh, without using your automobile. Uh, when
asked to brainstorm ideas about how they would like to see this area
redevelopment...redevelop, uh, citizens talked about preserving the
riverfront and public access, creating open space and trails along the river,
um, encourage development that would support the rail service, provide a
mix of housing, include...there was much discussion about creative ways
to create affordable housing in this area. Also green building initiatives,
using this as a showcase for those kinds of building initiatives, and also to
develop rules to insure that we receive maximum economic benefits in a
distinct, uh, identity to this area. These are some just illustrations of how
you might, um, transform what is an auto-centric district to a transit-
oriented district. And an auto-oriented transit corridor to something that is
more pedestrian-oriented. With lots of people living in the area, it could
support a lot of different kinds of retail businesses. And I want to move
on to the Northside Marketplace, which is really already apedestrian-
oriented, uh, commercial area in the Central District. There was much
support for, um, focusing on the Northside Marketplace and its assets, its
proximity to downtown and the campus. It has a unique identity already,
and a unique scale. Has a lot of historic charm, locally owned businesses
are very active, uh, it's bicycle and pedestrian friendly, and has a strong
connection to the surrounding neighborhoods. Uh, business owners
mentioned that they felt like people didn't know that they were there. So
ways to find out, um, wayfinding, uh, reactivating the business
association, um, there's some uncertainty over time how businesses might
redevelopment...redevelop, uh, and they feel that there's some obsolete
zoning that gives no assurance that redevelopment will be compatible with
what exists there now. So they want to preserve that main street charm,
protect the historic properties, and organize promotional events and
activities, and re-energize their business association. And one of the
fundamental changes in... suggested in the plan is to establish new zoning
rules to insure that new development in the area is compatible with the
existing character. Also to improve the awareness of the area by creating
wayfinding, particularly in the avenue, uh, the connection between Iowa
Avenue and the Northside Marketplace. And to improve the streetscape -
we have a streetscape plan in place but we need to continue to implement
that plan. And just to sum up that we wanted to mention that
implementing the Central District plan, just as with many of our district
plans, that it takes many partners, and um, we want to thank the many
people that came to our workshops, and also encourage, uh, partnerships
between all these different entities, um, to make the vision of the Central
District plan a reality. Any questions?
Bailey: Thanks, Karen. Thanks, Bob. Are there questions regarding the Central
District plan? I think as was noted last night this is a beautiful plan. The
photographs are great, and um, I think it really helps communicate what
the area is, and what the area could be. Okay. This is...continues to be a
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public hearing. If people would like to comment on this plan, please step
to the microphone and state your name and limit your comments to five
minutes or less. Okay. Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Wilburn: Move adoption of the resolution.
O'Donnell: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Hayek: LTh, I would add to your comments, uh, Madame Mayor. I think this is a
thoughtful and comprehensive, uh, document and I really appreciate the
historical context you provide, uh, which I think is helpful for the reader,
um, and I think as it relates to residential neighborhoods, you've done a
good job in recent years of arresting some of the less fortunate trends, uh,
and promoting, uh, better trends, uh, moving forward, but one question I
will have as we go forward is, um, what the impact, uh, has been and
continues to be of...of, uh, large dorm-style apartments, uh, in the
downtown, immediate downtown area, and the areas immediately around
there, uh, in terms of the impact of those structures on our retail and
commercial and...and uh, white collar office space, um, I think that's a
discussion we should have, um, but I support this document. It's really
well done.
Wright: One thing that impresses me, Matt, as you pointed out - it is thoughtful
and it's very comprehensive, uh, and in addition, as someone who
attended the planning workshops that the public, uh, for the...putting this
plan together, I am astonished at how accurately it represents the mood in
each of those meetings. The...the staff did a tremendous job of...of
compiling people's thoughts and putting this together. It's just really a
terrifically well-done document.
Champion: And it's obvious that one of the shortcomings of Central District is the
lack of park space, and we're lucky if we have schools in the area that
have, uh, playgrounds that are shared by neighborhoods, but we really do
need to keep the lack of park space in mind there. (several talking) I
know!
Correia: Well, I think one of the other things about that, as well, that's included in
many different parts of the document is the wayfinding issues, and I've
heard that. I think that's...while there might not be the same density of
parks, I mean, there are quite a few parks, and schools in the area, but
folks might not know how close they maybe to a park because of...of the
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wayfinding, um (mumbled) for our trails, as well as parks and... and I like
seeing that was (mumbled) many parts of the plan, that wayfinding.
Champion: I did take grandchildren to Hickory Hill Park last Sunday. They were
going to play on the troll bridge, and all they talked about was going to a
real park, because there wasn't any choice there. (laughter) We went to
Longfellow.
Bailey: Other comments? I would also like to, um, express appreciation for our
process, and as you noted, it was a very public process and...and Mike
noted, it was very participatory and this is very reflective of the
discussion, and...and that's something that I've always been proud of in
our planning process is that we really do involve stakeholders in these, in
development of these plans. So, thank you. I know it's a lot of work, but
thank you. Okay. All right, roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 7 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 14-5B,
SIGN REGULATIONS, ARTICLE 14-9C, SIGN DEFINITIONS,
SECTION 14-4B-1, MINOR MODIFICATIONS, AND ARTICLE
14-3C DESIGN REVIEW, TO ALLOW LIMITED USE OF
FREESTANDING SIGNS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS
SERVICE (CB-2) ZONE, ADD A DEFINITION AND
STANDARDS FOR ENTRANCEWAY SIGNS, AND CLARIFY
REGULATIONS REGARDING SIGNS ON RENTAL
PROPERTIES. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Wright: Move second consideration.
Correia: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Hayek: Well, um, I brought this up last night, um, I think...L ..I have no problem
with the majority of this proposal, but um, it affectively outlaws
permanent signs on what I'll call small rental structures and allows them
on large rental structures. Oversimplifying it, but that's essentially what it
does. I could live with that, uh, because there is a distinction in terms of
where those structures tend to be located and what the expectations of the
neighborhoods, uh, are, but um, I think creating that distinction, um, raises
a fairness issue, um, and I think that fairness issue is compounded, uh, by
the other thing that this does, which is, uh, strictly limit the ability of the
so-called small landlord to place a temporary sign, uh, on the ground when
the place needs to be rented, and it limits it to a four-month period, starting
April 1St, uh, assuming an August 1 lease turnover, and so in my view it
amounts to essentially adouble-whammy against a small landlord, which
I'd like to see us, um, address to lessen a little bit. It seems to me that it
would make sense to, uh, encourage houses...we want to encourage
landlords to rent their houses as quickly and as efficiently as possible, um,
the reality is that landlords start to lease their, uh, places up, uh, after the
first of the year, often in January, and uh, waiting until April or May or
June to do that is risky, and it's just not the way the market works in Iowa
City. Uh, this ordinance would prohibit placing those temporary signs
until after April 1 and I would suggest we consider either expanding that
window during which you can place a temporary sign so it's more than
four months prior to August 1St, or keeping that four-month window, but
moving it up on the calendar, so it starts earlier and...and ends earlier.
Wright: Uh, part of what you're referring to is, you know, it's the nature of zoning
or compromises that are made, and I...I appreciate the, your concern on
that, Matt, but I frankly don't think that the signs are the primary way that
these houses are rented. Most of the signs that we're talking about really
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are not informational signs that this property is for rent. They're
advertisements. They're directions where you can go to find more
information about lots of rentals, um, homes in my neighborhood, your
neighborhood too, uh, typically rent before you and I even know that
there's been a change. Uh, house on our corner, uh, I had a student who
was interested in finding a place to live with some friends. I said well I
think the house on our corner is going to be turning over this year, uh, I
believe that was in January, maybe February that they were talking about
it. They had to contact the landlord. It had been rented for two months.
So I just don't think this is the way these houses rent, and I think the, uh,
your concern is...is certainly sincere, but I don't think it really reflects our
situation.
Hayek: But the effect of what we're doing for a small landlord is, number one,
we're removing any permanent signs from that structure, which is not a
bad idea, but we're also eliminating the ability to advertise with the
temporary sign for the majority of the year, and that one-two hit, I think,
is...is more than we need to do to...to undertake to accomplish this goal,
um, and I don't have a problem with removing the permanent signs and,
you know, we're in the same northside neighborhood that's concerned
about that.
Correia: When I consider this, I think back, you know, even two or three years ago
before we saw the proliferation of these permanent affixed signs, um, and
we didn't see "for rent" signs up in January or February, um, I mean... and
we have a very low vacancy rate, um, I think that we...we've been seeing
these signs because they have been a way to have permanent advertising
on rental homes that was not intended to occur, um, and I certainly
understand wanting to be competitive in the market, um, in terms of
finding tenants, but I do think that there are many ways that, I mean, I
think we're talking primarily about students, um, and that student market
when we're talking about the August 1, the leasing up in January, that sort
of thing, and so I think that generally students have a wide variety of ways
they find out about housing, including through University housing clearing
house. I know there's a web site, IowaCityRentals.com or whatever that
is. There's the DI. I think that there are plenty of ways and word of
mouth which I think probably for many smaller rental homes that there're
people that like to live in...in, um, more of a residential-feel home and
others like to live in apartments, and they manage to find those homes and
those, I mean, they have a low vacancy rate, and so I don't have any
problem with the way this ordinance, um, is structured.
Wright: I think the point you made underscores what I was talking about, and
(mumbled) the temporary signs, or the permanent signs rather popping up,
we saw very few temporary signs going up (mumbled). Still don't see
very many of those.
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Bailey: ~ Further discussion? Roll call. Item carries 6-1, Hayek voting in the
negative.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Wilburn: So moved.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn.
Wright: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Wright. All those in favor say aye. Motion carries.
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ITEM 7 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
c) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING
APPROXIMATELY 3.87 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED
SOUTH OF DODGE STREET AND WEST OF SCOTT
BOULEVARD FROM RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PARK
(RDP) TO COMMERCIAL OFFICE (CO-1) (REZ08-00008)
(SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Champion: Move second consideration.
Correia: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Champion, seconded by Correia. Um, let's take this time to,
uh, any ex-parte communications regarding this, um, rezoning? Okay.
Discussion? Okay, roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 9 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION DENYING THE EXTERIOR
DESIGN OF SLUMBERLAND FURNITURE, PEPPERWOOD
PLAZA.
Champion: Move to defer.
Bailey: Moved by Champion...to defer.
Wilburn: Second, for discussion purposes.
Bailey: Seconded by Wilburn. Discussion?
Hayek: You know, we, uh...I think there's another option before us...which
would, uh, look at the applicant's needs as they relate to their tenants, um,
when I...maybe we just need to get into this to be able to flesh this out
more, but it would be to permit essentially a...an approval of this,
contingent on amended TIF agreement, as this relates to the design
standards, and I think we ought to talk about that.
Bailey: So are you suggesting that we not defer this item and go ahead and, um,
put it on the table and perhaps, um, address the issues?
Hayek: Well, I'd be willing to defer...deferring, if what I just proposed doesn't
fly. Uh, so I don't know how that works out, in terms of Robert's Rules,
but...
Bailey: We'll have to have the vote on the deferral first, so...
Karr: It can be withdrawn.
Bailey: Or it can be withdrawn, right.
Champion: I'll withdraw it.
Bailey: Okay. Do you withdraw your second?
Champion: She made the motion, so...
Bailey: All right. So, the motion to defer is withdrawn. Do we have a motion to
consider the resolution at this time?
Wright: So moved.
Bailey: Moved by Wright.
Correia: Second.
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Bailey: Seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Champion: Explain to me again, Matt, how this would work.
Hayek: Well, we...we're just handed this. Can we hear about this document?
Bailey: Who's going to walk us through this? Is Karen going to walk us through
this (several talking) or Eleanor? Karen?
Dilkes: I can walk you through the procedure.
Bailey: All right.
Dilkes: I can't address the design issues, since...you need Karen for that.
Bailey: All right. Thanks.
Dilkes: It's my...in listening to the discussion last night and in talking to staff
further today, um, it appears to me that there is a conflict between the
design that was contemplated by the TIF agreement and the design that
was approved by the design review committee in 2004 for the entire
development. It is my understanding from staff and Karen can correct me
if I'm wrong, that staff...the design review committee does not necessarily
have a problem with the Slumberland design as proposed, but doesn't
think it's consistent with the existing TIF agreement, and there would have
to be some...the TIF agreement would have to be addressed to either...it
could...it could be addressed in a number of ways. It could be addressed
by eliminating any design criteria. It could be addressed by seeing what
kind of design of the whole development would be compatible with the
Slumberland design, um, so it's...but my understanding is that there's
some sensitivity to needing to get the Slumberland design approved, and it
seems to me that one...one way to do that would be to, uh, withdraw the
motion...the resolution to deny and...and propose a resolution, uh, that
would approve the Slumberland design, subject to...or conditional upon,
amendment of the TIF.
Wilburn: And can we do that on the floor?
Correia: I just have a quick question about that. Can I continue to clarify that?
Okay, so...and you know we just got this memo, right before the meeting,
so...if I...what...if...what Iunderstand is that in 2003 we, the City
entered into the TIF agreement and part of the TIF agreement says that the
site plan needed to go through, um, the site development review
committee, so the site plan that was approved in 2004 wasn't part of the
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TIF itself, that site plan...the agreement was the plan would go through
the site development review committee and be approved.
Dilkes: Well, there is a site plan attached...you didn't get this last night, but
there's a portion of the TIF agreement...I think Mr. Siders has handed it
out to you, which attaches the site plan, and I have seen the original site
plan and it includes, as I understand it, the elevations that were shown to
you last night.
Correia: That's not...that's from 2003, not from 2004?
Howard: Maybe I can clarify. I do have one slide here and maybe I'll just bring it
up to show you...a little bit about that, uh, approval process. This top
illustration is the, uh, what was, uh, adopted with the TIF agreement, um,
there was a site plan and building elevations, conceptual building
elevations, and this included, um; it's not a color rendition here, but
these...this wording here is that these would be metal panels, these would
be gray, and this would be a red focus wall, and this would be gray. And
so that was the conceptual, it was adopted with the TIF agreement, and
then later when Southgate Development wanted to actually implement the
TIF, they came in with an alternative plan, an actual building permit, um,
and then the, um, design review committee looked at that. They had made
some proposals for changes, and um, sorry here...uh, this bottom portion
was what was actually approved by the design review committee. And I
wasn't part of the committee at that time. From what I understand, they
felt that, um, the...what they had proposed was not to do the central red,
uh, portion of this metal, but to...to, uh, substitute these red, uh, pillars
and the colored pillars, and tie that whole development together,
implement the...the metal panels on the other thing, and adopt a lot of the
elements from the existing plan, and this...the design review committee
felt that the proposal for the building permit, uh, was consistent with the
original TIF design concept, and since this was what was approved and
what was implemented by Southgate Development. Now we have a new
facade design, and that's what design review was taking into account -
both of these original plans.
Bailey: Does that help clarify?
Correia: Yeah, I think it does...um, it also seems to me as well that the TIF
agreement allows for... and we've already seen that in one instance
already, allows for a new site design to be approved, if...if we believe, if
there is a belief that it meets the...these elements, uh, the approval criteria
elements.
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Dilkes: I...I...that was what I thought yesterday, but I didn't know at that point
that the elevations that Karen has showed you were attached to the original
TIF agreement. And I think that changes it.
Champion: But we could move this forward, and then we would meet again to amend
the TIF agreement.
Dilkes: Yes.
Champion: Now what if we can't come to an agreement on amending the TIF
agreement?
Dilkes: Well, you're...this is cont...what you would do is make the Slumberland,
um, design, well, approve the Slumberland design, contingent on
amendment to that TIF agreement. That's going to take working with
Southgate and figuring out how that's going to happen.
Champion: Well, I'm willing to do that, uh, I think it's a good way to approach this,
because we'd like to see this get going, but what happens if we can't come
to an agreement? What if Mr. Siders is too stubborn?
Wright: Not likely! (laughter)
Dilkes: I think at that point, both parties have motivation to get it worked out.
Champion: Okay.
Wright: We're going to come to an agreement one way or another.
Champion: Oh yeah, we will.
Bailey: All right. Glenn?
Siders: May I have the opportunity to address the Council?
Bailey: Absolutely!
Siders: Thank you, Mayor, Members of the Council. My name's Glenn Siders.
I'm with Southgate Development Services. We are the applicant. We are
part owners of the Pepperwood Plaza facility. I want to make it real clear
that I'm not here to demean any of your staff or generate arguments. I'm
here to work this out. I'd like this opportunity to have a discussion with
the Council, present our viewpoint. I disagree with your staff that we're
not in compliance with our TIF agreement. I'd like a few moments - I
don't know how long that might take - I know along with me this evening
I have Wally Haight who is with Slumberland. I know he has an interest
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in addressing this Council. It's very important to us that some day in the
very near future, and I'm thinking like tomorrow morning, we can walk in
here, get a building permit, and start working on our facility. We have
been negotiating with your staff for the past couple months. We're
looking...I'm not looking forward to another two week delay or four week
delay. I know staff has kind of encouraged me to the fact that you could
have special meetings and Economic Development Committee and this
could come back before you for November 3rd, but thugs happen. People
get sick, have busy schedules, so November 3rd could turn into November
18th. We cannot afford to wait. We've been two months. I'm not sure
why I'm here tonight defending a resolution for you people to tell me no,
come back in two weeks with an amended agreement. Why aren't I here
talking about an amended agreement? I mean, we're just wasting time. I
need to get a permit. All right. So, what I'm going to do tonight is ask
you to amend this resolution and approve the site plan. Hopefully I
can...my viewpoint...you might understand my viewpoint, why I'm
not...why I think we're not in non-compliance with our TIF agreement. I
want to first mention that the TIF agreement has worked wonderfully.
We've been involved with the City of Iowa City five years in this
complex. We appreciate the City giving us the opportunity to go through
TIF. I think it's the only way that this particular complex has survived. In
2003, that complex was over 50% vacant. We lost Best Buy. We lost
Econo Foods. Big box users. It was over 50% vacant. We just turned in
recently our new TIF reports, and I'm sorry I don't know the technical
name of that report, we're 99% occupied. We have a 1% vacant rate. I
don't think we'd achieve that without TIF. On top of that, this complex
has gained over 13,000 square feet of new spaces. In the five years you've
seen Taco Bell, you've seen Pizza Hut, you've seen Sherwin Williams,
and you saw ahalf-vacant building get added on to and turned into
Goodwill Industries, a great tenant in that space. K-Mart has had a facelift
with their complex, even though they're not part of Pepperwood, per se,
they've had a facelift, and they look much better. A lot has happened in
five years. Again, I don't think that could have been done without the
TIF. We certainly don't want to loose Slumberland. They're a large
tenant. Part of their request for a building permit is not only to change the
front facade, it's to increase their square footage by about 30%. They're
expanding from a 30,000 square foot user to 39,000 square feet. That's
what they want to do. They're a taxpayer in this community. They're an
existing business. I think we want to encourage to keep those people here.
Some of these things, like changing the facade to look like their trademark
is very important to this company, and Wally probably will get into
that...he's knows a lot more about that than I do. It's important we keep
this tenant. It's a good tenant. It pays its rent. That's key to us. Um, we
are investing over $350,000 in this project. We don't make investments
like that unless...unless we think it's going to work. We think the design
is nice and from what I've gathered from the majority of Council, I'm not
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sure...and staff, I'm not sure there's a lot of opposition to that design. So
why can't we move forward? We've heard a little bit about a site plan,
and the site plan attached to the TIF agreement, um, the TIF agreement is
a 32-page document. Nine pages of that are attachments, exhibits. One of
those exhibits is the site plan that you'll find in the information I handed
out. That is the site plan. A site plan is a birds' eye view of your
property. It shows the parking, uh, pedestrian crossings, your plantings,
the general layout where your buildings are going to sit - that's a site plan.
The staff has interpreted that the site plan includes building elevations.
When you apply for a building permit, which we did in 2004 or whatever
the date was, you give the people, the Building Department, a document
that not only shows the site plan, it shows the building elevation. It shows
wall profiles. Those are different than a site plan. A building elevation is
a building elevation plan. A wall profile is a wall profile. We're obligated
to comply with the site plan, and if you read through the TIF agreement,
and what I did was highlighted what I think is the meat of those 32 pages,
as far as what we're obligated to provide in this mall, to comply with TIF.
They're pretty general terms. Nothing in this 32 pages says it has to be
bright red or brilliant yellow. It says you need to comply with that site
plan. It identifies some things, and then it says in general terms you need
to focus towards the mall. When we originally built those pylons, nobody
really liked those pylons. Nobody from our office really liked those
pylons, but we thought that would accomplish that goal. Now, after
Amy's comment the other night, I might question how well that's
working.
Correia: ...other things about it too...
Siders: We want to remove those pylons, and we want to remove those pylons
because of the change of the complex and the way the buildings are there
now. Things like Amy's comment, but 60% of those business owners
where those pylons are in front of, they want them removed. They block
their signage. They're ugly. They want them removed. Again, do you
want to listen to the tenants in your complex? So, 60% of that main
building is asking we get rid of those. They don't think they're important
for that focal point. So we perked up and listened. We want (mumbled)
And there's kind of a tear in my eye when I (mumbled) because those
babies cost a lot of money to put up. They were very expensive structure,
but I think they're an unnecessary, and actually I think they're a
detriment...to this complex. So we want to try and achieve our focus
other ways. If you go through the meat of that document, on page 6, the
highlighted area refers to an Exhibit B, and Exhibit B is referred to in a
couple other places in this agreement, and Exhibit B is kind of what we're
obligated, some additional things on design. On page 7 it outlines seven
steps, and hopefully the staff would concur that we meet most all of those.
I highlighted steps 3 and 4, those I think are the two areas that might be up
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for contention, but if you read those, I'm not sure that what we've
proposed has violated any of those things, in the legal binding agreement
we have with the City, that has this site plan attached on the last page.
Shows the parking lot. Okay? The next page, Exhibit B, goes a little bit
more in detail, not much, of what you need to do, and it talks about the site
plan that's attached. Now the site plan that's attached does not have
building and elevations on it. The building elevations were there when we
applied for a building permit because the building inspector says before I
give you a permit, we need an elevation. We need to see where the
footings are, we need to see where the exit doors are, windows -you give
`em an elevation. That elevation was determined to comply with our 32-
page TIF agreement. The amended site plan, the amended elevation
complies with our TIF agreement. I think. I think you provide a focal
point...yeah, we're changing some colors. We're changing some building
materials. We have not, I don't think, violated anything in our TIF
agreement. The proposal...proposed, uh, vote on the floor, the proposed
recommendation is to amend our TIF agreement. I'm not sure what we'd
amend. If you want us to attach another building elevation, as the
amendment, what happens next time a national tenant comes in, and we
need to alter the storefront? Do we need to amend the TIF agreement
again? For what purpose? The meat of the agreement is in this 32-page
document that tells you what you need to do for this complex. Now, how
you accomplish that, I think, are numerous alternatives to that. So,
therefore, I don't think we're in violation of any agreement, and I'm not
sure what we'd amend. I certainly don't know that I'd entertain giving the
City new building elevations so the staff could say next time I come in for
a building permit, oops, your application doesn't look like this picture.
Instead of maroon, you've got blue. We're talking about colors, and
materials, building materials (mumbled). So, I don't think we're in
agreement...I don't think we're in violation of your agreement. I don't
think that we can afford a time delay. For the number of reasons that I
pointed out before, we have no assurance that we're going to be back here
in two weeks, and we have no insurance that we can work out an
agreement, because, again, I'm confused as to what the agreement might
be -the change to that agreement might be. I'm not sure we can work that
out in two weeks. The way the current motion is on the floor, approve the
site plan contingent upon us working out an agreement, we still don't walk
in here and get our building permit tomorrow, because we haven't met that
contingency. It's very important that we do not experience a delay, and
like I said before, I don't understand why I'm here now talking to you to
tell me no, come back in two weeks with some different words. That's
very confusing.
Champion: Eleanor, what did we have to do tonight to allow them to move forward
with that new facade?
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Dilkes: You have to approve it. Yeah, if he wants to move forward tomorrow.
(several talking) I mean, I really had hoped to avoid getting into the he
said, she said tit for tat thing, and I can certainly respond to a number of
things that Mr. Siders has said, both with respect to the timing of the
process moving through staff, and with respect to his contentions about the
design and the approval of that design. I don't think that's a good use of
our time right now, so I'm not going to do that. But if he wants his
building permit tomorrow morning, I don't see how we're going to
accomplish that without approving the design that's in front of...
Correia: And I...well, and...so this is an area of town that I spend time shopping,
um, and I think it's important to our community that it's a vital retail
center. I think that, you know, I've been in town a long time so I've seen
the cycle of this area where it was very vibrant, then it was not, and while
you know, in 2003 when I was not on the Council I might have had
questions about whether this TIF was a good idea, um, now I can see that
it's having the, we're seeing the results that wanted to see from having this
TIF agreement, and so I really appreciate that. Um, I drove around the
area four or five times today from different angles, just to, you know, to
get a sense of looking...thinking about what the intention of the TIF
agreement, for having it, you know, pop...for a lack of a better word,
when you're...from Highway 6, um, when you're driving from Sycamore
Mall, so you're going...east...west towards Kalona, you don't really see it
at all because Goodwill's in the way. It's not, um, when you're driving
from the other direction, you can, um, and in all honestly, given the design
that we saw yesterday, I mean, I think that it's beneficial to have the
trademark Slumberland look there. I think, you know, we've heard people
say we don't have as many retail options in Iowa City. This is the only,
you know, trade...I don't really know the industry name, um, furniture
out...store in Iowa City. We have some, you know, high-end stores. We
have consignment stores, um, but I think it's important to have this here,
to keep it here. It sounds like they're expanding. That's good. I mean,
it's good for the tax base, um, the red pylons, when you're driving by, it
just looks like the building...you don't get a sense that it's, I mean,
visually different, um, so I think people will recognize when they're
driving by, oh, there's Slumberland. I'm going to go in there, um, I mean,
I feel like based on the information that this meets the spirit, the goal of
the TIF agreement. Um, and I'm prepared to allow...allow it tonight.
O'Donnell: You know what? I also, um, there's a reason in town that we have the
golden arches rather than golden triangles. It's site recognition. It's color
recognition. And I think it's very important to be...for the corporation to
be consistent across the country. Um, I...I think this is an incredibly
important to this particular mall, as well as that area of town, so I agree
with you, Amy, and L ..I know it's...it's very difficult to go through a 32-
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page TIF document, Glenn, and I think I understand how complicated they
are, um, but I would like to see this move forward.
Siders: They're really not that complicated, because 28 of those pages are your
insurance, your certificates. (several talking)
Bailey: I would rather not engage in a dialog, but let's have a discussion, I mean,
among Council Members, and then if you have comments.
Hayek: I think the people involved are... are all in a tough spot here. The
landlord's in a tough spot, it wants to move forward. It's got a tenant
that's ready and willing to move forward. And we certainly want this to
develop. Design review, uh, folks are in a tough spot because they
genuinely believe that what has been proposed does not match the...the
design criteria that were imbedded in this TIF agreement, and we're in a
tough spot because we're being asked to essentially play exterior design
team, um, without fully looking at, or even having at our fingertips, as far
as I can tell, all of the things that were considered several years ago, and
it's like being asked to...to hear a legal case for the second time without
the same evidence that was heard in the first case, and it puts us in a tough
spot, and...and I don't really like the idea of us approving or disapproving,
um, this application, uh, as it relates to this...the criteria that were set up
before, because I just think the process hasn't been good. It's almost like
the cart is before the horse. Having said that, I agree. I don't think there
is a...I think the sense, uh, among staff and probably among Council, and
certainly with the applicant, is...there's not a particular problem with the
design, uh, the problem is, does it, uh, comply with the criteria, uh,
themselves, and if there is a way for us to approve this without getting
into, uh, exterior design team review work, um, and somehow amending
the criteria in the TIF so that they match this, and provide flexibility going
forward so you're not back here in six months on the next project, uh, and
do so in a quick fashion, that makes more sense to me.
Bailey: Well, and I think...I would like to see this move forward, but I think
fundamentally the problem that we have is perhaps with the TIF
agreement, and Glenn says that he doesn't know how the TIF agreement
would be changed to meet this, and I simply think that we would simplify
the design. I mean, that's what immediately comes to mind, although um,
you know, thinking of how we would change the TIF agreement on, you
know, off the top of my head is quite a challenge, but I think that it can be
easily done to enable us to move forward with this particular design, and
also that gives clear direction to staff, because I don't take TIF
agreements, nor do I take any agreements with the City very lightly, and
so I would have concern moving forward with this, unless we change that
agreement. Because, you know, we don't want to put some...another
situation as you just indicated. You don't want to be back here in six
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months. I don't want you back here in six months, telling, you know, us
disagreeing about this, you know, design review. So I think that the best
option that we have tonight is to, um, approve this, contingent upon
changing this TIF agreement, and get that done in a...in a very expedited
fashion, and I believe that we can do that. I believe we've done it before,
and I believe we can move forward on this, and meet the objectives that
we're all interested in meeting.
Correia: So when the site plan was, the 200...so the TIF agreement was entered
into in 2003. The site plan, there was a site plan that was submitted in
2004, and it was approved through the review process. That didn't require
an amendment of the TIF.
Dilkes: If you look at the letter, um, that is attached to the memo that you got from
the design review committee, and you look at the 2004 approval by the
design review committee that was signed by, uh, Mr. Braverman, uh, of
Southgate, you will see the reference there to approval of that design for
the entire development, on the grounds that they believe it's consistent
with the design of the TIF. I think what staffs' concern is here is when
they get the next building, they want to know what they're...what it's
supposed to be consistent with, and that's what I think the TIF agreement
needs to make clear. Now one more thing I suppose you could do is you
could approve...you could approve the design...specify that it will not,
that it must be...it's contingent upon a, um, thinking off the top of my
head here...contingent upon, um, the amendment to the TIF agreement, to
clarify what those standards will be in the future, but that that amendment,
um, can, um, that that need not hold up the issuance of the building permit.
Correia: That it wouldn't hold it up?
Champion: Yeah, I'll move that. (several talking)
Dilkes: What I'm saying is...unless you guys see any problem with that.. .
Bailey: I think that meets what I've heard. We want to move forward, but I...I
think that we do need to look at this TIF agreement so we can give good
direction to staff so we don't have this issue again, when we get another
tenant.
Dilkes: I mean, I think what that does, I mean, that requires that you're, you know,
you're going to, that Southgate is going to negotiate with you in good
faith, because frankly if you issue the building permit, the grounds to do
that kind of go away. Um, and that's what you have to be comfortable
with.
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Siders: I can assure you that we'll be more than happy, Mayor, to sit down and
talk to whomever with the City and if there's an easy resolve, God bless
everybody.
Bailey: And if there's a difficult resolve?
Siders: If there's a difficult resolve, I can't answer that question. I mean, we're
not going to be resistant. It's working. We want to continue to work. We
have to deal with it for five more years.
Champion: Yeah (several talking)
Siders: And we want this to be a prosperous mall. So...
Wilburn: I think...um, I'm sorry, were you finished, Glenn?
Siders: We'll work with you. We just don't want to experience a delay.
Wilburn: All I was going to say is that I think, uh, and I agree that, um, the feel of
this particular request, in terms of Slumberland, uh, it, um, it makes sense
to, uh, makes sense to me, um, and in terms of the TIF agreement and uh,
I'll let, um, (mumbled) their frustration with, uh, our process, um, I think
what, um, I'm comfortable doing is moving forward with it. Let's...if
there's a general agreement that this looks okay, we've got time before the
next, um, the next building, uh, comes before...that's the time to sit down
and get clarification on what the TIF agreement does or does not say, um,
and uh, because that...that was just my concern is like, what do we do
with the next one, so if...if there's understanding that this is okay, you're
coming from the back end, so if this is okay, this is how it ties in and looks
consistent with the rest of the development. Um, so I'm comfortable
moving, uh, forward with, um, that. We've got time for the next one to
come in. There's incentive, uh, knowing what you've been through now,
the time, and your timeline, time crunch, uh, that there's extra motivation
for Southgate to, um, come sooner rather than later to work with us to
flush out what that might mean, um, I appreciate the fact that you
mentioned the, uh, TIF earlier. Um, I just wanted to mention for the
public, the Council's not trying to be difficult. We have to base our
decisions on, uh, on a process, and if we need to smooth out, or I'm sorry.
Our understanding about, um, as other proposals come forth, that we're
doing it in a consistent fashion, and um, I appreciate your comments about
the tax increment finance proposal, um, again, not trying to be difficult,
but some of us still have tread marks on our backs from approving that
TIF agreement with some community rejection of that. So...
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Bailey: Okay, the motion on the floor as I understand it is to consider a resolution
denying the exterior design on Slumberland Furniture at Pepperwood
Plaza, and I...who made that motion?
Karr: Wright.
Bailey: So we would need a withdraw of that motion (several talking) or amend
the...(several talking)
Karr: Withdraw would be cleaner.
Wright: I withdraw the resolution.
Bailey: Okay. With that, the resolution is withdrawn. Can we have another
motion.. .
Correia: Can we move to approve...we don't have a resolution written, but move to
approve.. .
Wright: Contingent upon...
Champion: No. A move (several talking)
Correia: ...contingent upon...the, what was the...
Champion: Eleanor said it well.
Bailey: She did use the word contingent. But...um, I don't think contingent is
accurate, given...
Dilkes: Why don't we do this. Why don't you, um, I mean, I think you could
resolve to approve...approve the design. We will put enough recitals in
that resolution when we draw it up, to make it clear that Southgate has
agreed to meet, um, to discuss an amendment to the TIF agreement. Um,
that Southgate, uh, is not going to get another approval by design review
or the Council, until that TIF agreement is amended. Um, because we're
going to be in the same spot that we're in tonight. Um, and then we
don't...you can just do a clean resolution, approving the Slumberland
design, subject to those wherefore clauses and...
Siders: That allows us to get a permit.
Dilkes: Yes.
Correia: So moved.
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Champion: Second.
Bailey: Okay, moved by Correia, seconded by Champion to move the approval of
this design, subject to the resolution that we will develop.
Dilkes: The resolution that'll have those references to what the expectations of the
parties are.
Wilburn: And that expectation, we're approving the design. That expectation is, uh,
no further, um, no further approvals until we sit down and work out...is
that essentially what you're saying?
Bailey: That's my expectation, is that we will look at (several talking) revision of
the TIF agreement.
Wilburn: And so that's...that's the teeth, if anyone is concerned about any
motivation for Southgate to come forward to work with us, to sit down
(both talking)
Siders: Right. (several talking)
Bailey: All right. Further discussion of this? All right. Roll call. Item carries 7-
0.
Siders: Thank you very much!
Bailey: Thank you, Glenn. Um, with apologies for those waiting for the next
item, we are going to take aten-minute break. (BREAK)
Karr: Prior to Item 10, could I have a motion to accept correspondence on 9.
Wilburn: Move to accept correspondence on number 9.
O'Donnell: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor say aye.
Motion carries.
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ITEM 10 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN
AGREEMENT FOR WALKWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND
FUTURE LICENSE UPON A PEDESTRIAN ACCESS EASEMENT
LOCATED AT 210 SOUTH DUBUQUE STREET, IOWA CITY,
IOWA. (DEFERRED FROM 10/6)
O'Donnell: Move the resolution.
Champion: Second.
Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Ford: Hi, I'm Wendy Ford, Economic Development Coordinator. At your last,
uh, Council meeting you were considering an agreement that included a
partial vacation of the interior easement in the hotel, the Sheraton Hotel, to
facilitate lobby improvements. Uh, also included in that agreement was a
cost-shared project to enhance the exterior easement there so that, uh,
people could walk through in a safer, better lit environment, uh, and
finally, the uh, closing off, or the securing then of the interior easement
when all improvements were made, between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and
6:00 A.M. Last, or a couple of weeks ago, you deferred the item, um,
after discussion of the possibility of, uh, going with a license agreement as
opposed to a partial vacation of the interior easement. The Economic
Development Committee met last week with hotel representatives and
discussed possible terms of a license agreement, instead of that partial
vacation for the interior easement through the hotel, and after the meeting
there was consensus by the Committee about the terms, which in the
agreement you have in front of you now, signed by the folks from
Davidson Hotels, um, to occupy, uh, a portion of that easement. There
would be, uh, trigger points in that license agreement upon change of use
of the hotel, or a redevelopment of the hotel, that allow...that would allow
the City to reoccupy, uh, that easement in those events, if they so chose
to...if you so chose to do so. Um, other points in the, uh, agreement
remain exactly as they were a couple of weeks ago, um, one thing you
didn't see a couple of weeks ago were the, uh, concept designs of the
Sheraton's, uh, proposed designs and improvements, for both the interior
easement walkway and the exterior easement in the, in this joint project
that would be cost-shared between the City and Davidson Hotels. Um,
tonight to help explain that to you is Ron Kim who is the Vice President of
Business Development at Davidson Hotels. So, I introduce Ron to you,
uh, to show you a little bit about their project.
Kim: Thanks, Wendy. Uh, Madame Mayor, City Council Members, thank you.
Um, my name is Ron Kim. I'm Vice President of Business Development
for Davidson Hotels, and I want to thank you for the opportunity, uh, to
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present our proposal, uh, to expand our lobby by reducing the interior
easement to approximately 12 feet. Uh, to provide guest-only access from
11:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. uh, to keep the unwanted behavior out of our
lobby vestibule. And to enhance the exterior, uh, walkway, and so uh, you
know, we have, um, we heard your comments from, uh, a few weeks ago
and you want to see some concept drawings and some, and floor plans, so
I'd like to share our proposed plan with you. Uh, this is what we have
currently, and you can see, uh, this is the exterior walkway. It's recessed,
um, behind the hotel building, so you can't really see it from the
Pedestrian Plaza, or from the Dubuque Street side. The interior easement
currently is 25 feet wide, and it's imbedded in the public lobby. And you
can see the distance from our existing hotel lobby to the, uh, to the
restaurant and the bar. It's a pretty...pretty big distance. So we want to
address those issues. Here's...here's kind of a drawing of what we have
existing and you can see it does kind of look like an alley, uh, an alleyway.
You can't see the Dubuque Street, uh, sign. Again, same thing here.
Same thing here. So, what we propose to do...oh, this is the, this is on the
Pedestrian Plaza side, again, this...this feature is recessed behind our...our
hotel, so you cannot see that entrance really from the Pedestrian Plaza. So
this is what we propose to do. Uh, we want to enhance this exterior
walkway by bringing the...the entrance on both sides out, so that you can
see it both from the Pedestrian Plaza and from the Dubuque Street, uh,
side. We want to create an inviting entrance, and um, I'll show you here.
Um, so and we want to create an inviting entrance and...and really make a
nice architectural feature to the exterior. Uh, what we also want to do is,
um, we want to expand our lobby a bit. Now, we are, uh, bound to, um,
adhere to the Sheraton brand standards and what Sheraton is requiring
us...for us to do is to put in new furniture. They want us to put in a
concept called "the link" which is a...an interactive business center. All
that furniture goes in here, and currently with our existing lobby space, it
makes the lobby feel really small if we have to do all that stuff. So we just
want to expand out our lobby just a little bit, and that means that we
reduce the interior easement to about a 12-foot width. Uh, what we want
to do, `cause currently this...this is the entire lobby vestibule, you know, it
really does attract a lot of unwanted activity after midnight. And so what
we want to do is just make sure that it's a...it's a walkway. Uh, what this
allows us to do also is to narrow the gap between the lobby and, uh, the
restaurant space and the proposed meeting space that we're going to, um,
build out. So, just creates a better hotel experience, uh, a better sense of
arrival. This is, uh, the concept drawing of what we're talking about here
on the covered walkway. We are now going to bring out the entrance so
you can...so it's clearly visible on the...on the front side of the hotel.
Give a little close up here. So, again, this is a concept, but we want to
bring out, um, the entrance, we want to make it a nice architectural
feature. This is an example of signage, I mean, uh, you know, talk about
wayfinding signage, we could put, um, you know, businesses up here, the
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University, you know, the Public Library, entrance to the Pedestrian Plaza,
um, that's what we want to try to incorporate here. Again, this is a, uh, the
picture of what it looks like today, and again, this, uh, this area...that's,
you can't see it, and so we want to bring that out, so...you know, again,
we want to bring it out, versus what we have now. Now, at night, I know
that some of the concerns are at night, uh, we want to make sure that this
walkway is well lit. Uh, we want to make it safe. And we want to also
make it so that you can see from one end to the other, um, this, again, is on
the opposite side of the Pedestrian Plaza. You know, you could put, uh,
some public art signage, again, we...we just want to make it visible, we
want to make it, uh, very inviting. That's, you know, really what our
intent is. Um, you know, currently the, I got a couple more pictures if you
want to see...this is what the vestibule looks like, um, at night. Although
it's bright. When I took this picture, I did not need a flash, um, now, I'm
not saying that the lighting makes sense, but the fact is, we want to keep it
well lit. Um, and again, you can see through the lobby vestibule, or the
exterior walkway. Um, it's ugly, but we want to fix that, and so we want
to make it more inviting, and I think if it's more inviting it...you feel safe.
This is a daytime picture, uh, again, you can see right through it. Uh,
people walking through there. It is ugly, and that's what we want to
address. Now, this...I took this picture from...there's a flagpole, um, near
the grass area. You can actually see right through the lobby and if you see
this window, you can see the front desk of the hotel. So, at night, as soon
as you come out of that exterior walkway, you look to the left, you can see
right into the hotel lobby. So, um, I guess in spirit of trying to create a,
um, a better environment for hotel guests, try to create a safe environment,
I mean, we heard from uh, from this group today about, uh, the drinking
problem that exists, um, on the Pedestrian Plaza. We want to try to
address that, and also, um, you know, we have examples of...of signage,
wayfinding signage to help promote the, uh, downtown area. Uh, we ask
that you approve our plan. Thank you very much.
Bailey: Thank you.
Wilburn: I have a question. Um, in terms of understanding, uh, the flow of traffic,
I'm going to ask an operations question, but it's not too...I don't want you
to change your operation, just so that I understand what's going to happen
to the flow of traffic, uh, so during the daytime, folks will still be able to
go through.
Kim: Absolutely!
Wilburn: Uh, you're keeping abar/restaurant there or not?
Kim: We are reconcepting the food and beverage facilities, so we will have a
restaurant and bar, um, if you want I can go back to our original floor plan
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here, the proposed floor plan, uh...so the...the restaurant/bar will be right
here. Currently, in this area is that Morgan's Bar, where we're going to
build it out and create meeting space there, so...
Wilburn: And so then, um, will there be, I presume there will be (mumbled) like
members of the public will, in the daytime, be able to come through, go
in...
Kim: During the daytime, this is...is open.
Wilburn: Open, right, yeah, I'm just...trying to see, thinking what's going to happen
when that's closed and blocked off, um, and so is there still an ATM
machine in there?
Kim: No. We're moving the ATM machine outside of there.
Wilburn: All right. That was a question I'm trying to think -okay, the doors are
locked, and if people have been walking through there during the day, and
it's nighttime, what's going to continue to attract them to try to move
through that area? Um, and so, uh, I presume that the key card.. .
Kim: Key card access.
Wilburn: Okay. Uh, and so will you still behaving some type of security there in
the evening when a hotel guest pulls the door open and then they hold
(both talking)
Kim: That is absolutely the intent. We have additional security throughout the
week, Monday through Wednesday, and we beef it up even more during
the weekends. Um, and we intend to make sure that our guests are safe,
our employees are safe.
Wilburn: The reason I ask that is `cause if you're asking us to close it off and guests
are going to hold the door open for flocks to come through when it's
supposedly closed, um, are you really accomplishing what you're hoping
to...
Kim: Right, well, hopefully that won't happen. Hopefully everyone will see this
and it'll be well lit and that's really, you know, people are coming from
the bars and they're going to walk right through there hopefully, and you
know, if...if I wasn't a resident, I wouldn't have known that there was
a...there was a walkway here. And so, um, you know, hopefully we'll get
everyone coming through here.
Wilburn: Thank you for that explanation.
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Bailey: Any other questions for Ron? Okay, thank you. Further discussion?
Correia: Well, I like...I like the concept, I mean, I was concerned about, you know,
going to 12 feet. I was concerned about the, um, the giving over in
perpetuity the public easements. I like the lease agreement that was
agreed upon, um, I...I like the design of the walkway. I think it does look
very nice, um, I think it will add to the...that small corridor, um, but I do
continue to be concerned about the walkway being closed from 11:00
P.M. to 6:00 A.M., um, I certainly understand the issue that the hotel has
during that time, um, but I do think that you know it is a function of the
community downtown, and all...all businesses to some degree or another
have impacts to their business, uh, because of, um, the downtown culture,
um, and this is a public access easement, um, certainly when the decision
was made to allow the original hotel to build and use that, um, you know,
there was those accommodations, um, you know, as somebody who has
served on the Rape Victim Advocacy Program board for six years and
worked in the domestic violence movement for ten years, um, I just...I
can't close off safe passageway, you know, in the evening when we know
people are walking and needing to get, um, to where they need to go when
they're leaving establishments, and so I think that there are probably other
things that the Sheraton can do related to having additional security on
those nights causing the most problems, maybe moving the ATM
machine, having it be a smaller walkway might discourage loitering or
whatever in that area, um, but if that...the closing of the walkway remains
in the agreement, I will not, um, support it. But otherwise, I think it's a
great agreement, and I'm very pleased at what Davidson Hotels is bringing
to our downtown.
Kim: As far as security, we do spend quite a bit on security, and we are trying to
address those issues, um, but we feel that this is, um, a very practical
solution, but I appreciate your comments.
O'Donnell: Well, I am going to support this, uh, I think it makes a great deal of sense
to, um, to close this off at night when the, um, certain bad actors are
coming through, and (mumbled) customers out. I also think that by
lighting this up and making the access, um, more distinguishable will, uh,
certainly help, and L ..I think certainly going to be a lot brighter than
continuing down College Street, because that's very dark. But I...I don't
see the safety concerns with this, and um, with the beefed up security, I
think you've addressed a lot of my problems, but I will support this.
Wright: I still see big safety concerns in this, um, I very much appreciate the, uh,
the advantage to the Sheraton of narrowing the walkway and I actually
don't have a problem with that. I think narrowing the walkway is going to
make that a much less inviting place for people to congregate at night, um,
we did our experiments walking through there, uh, this past weekend, and
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uh, bringing that down to 12-feet is not going to make an inviting space to
gather. Um...they're moving the ATM is another way to keep people
from wanting to be in there, that don't necessarily have to just pass
through or hotel guests, uh, but I can't get away from the public safety
issue, and in fact, the hotel was built with the intent that that was going to
be a walkway open to the public. I think that's a safe haven at night, um,
that good lighting and good design is not going to, uh, alleviate and so
I...I...because of the closing off after 11:00 P.M., I can't support this.
Hayek: I...I was initially, uh, concerned about some of these things, safety issues
you raised, Amy, and Mike, until I saw the concept drawings for the
exterior walkway, and then measures that I saw being taken to improve
lighting, uh, and make that a more visible space, um, and also until I was,
um, until I had an opportunity to learn about the issue, another safety issue
and that is the safety of the hotel guests, and staff, and uh, that's of
concern to me, as well, um, and that kind of pushed me over the edge on
being willing to permit closure of this place between 11:00 and 6:00, um, I
think this is a great project. They've been through the ringer with us, uh,
they've been to Iowa City many times, once or twice, because of
additional measures that I requested with respect to license, um, this was
initially proposed as a TIF or TIF-like assistance project. I didn't think it
was a good candidate for that, and that's not what this is, um, there are
three basic components here, and they are the increased access to market-
rateparking, um, which...which helps the City and helps the...the
Sheraton. There's no giveaway there. We've got this 50/50 cost sharing
on...on improvements of both beautification and in terms of safety on that
exterior walkway which the City would not have engaged in otherwise,
um, and we've got this proposed modification of the easement, uh, on the
inside, but I think balances the hotel's need to thrive and secure its
premises with the public's need for access, north and south of that line, up
and down the Ped Mall, um, and because we now have this license
agreement in there, we're not giving up that portion of the easement, uh,
forever, uh, we've got a couple trigger points that will allow us to revisit
that and that appeals to me because I don't want to bind the hands of
future City Councils unnecessarily. Um, so I think this is a great
compromise. It's...the product of a lot of work on the part of the
applicant and staff, and the Economic Development Committee, uh, and
I'll support it.
Champion: Well, I'm certainly going to support it. I think it's going to be a great
improvement to downtown, to update this hotel that's become kind of
third-class, and um, they have to have certain securities in order to do that,
and they can have more space to do it, so I think it's going to be a great
project for Iowa City and for downtown, and I'm definitely going to
support it.
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Bailey: Other comments?
Page 46
Wilburn: Well, the other thing I'll add, um, is certainly the safety is a concern, um,
like all the other, um, elements. Um, I think that lighting in the walkway
will help. I think bringing those entryways out will...will help. Um, I'm
thinking of overall just behavior in terms of, uh, keeping each other safe,
keeping one's self safe, um, in the big scheme, I mean, we're trying to do
these educational pieces about, uh, you know, alcohol use, uh, safety.
We're trying to do these educational pieces about, uh, you know,
protecting yourself, not walking alone, um, not walking down alleys.
We've got, you know, in the late night, this 11:00 to 2:00 hours, um, I
know we've got, um, we've got people walking through some alleys that
are longer, more recessed, darker than what's going to be proposed here,
um, I think it would be useful to help...to have some type of camera, um,
and I don't know if in your future security, uh, plans, security cameras just
in general around the hotel are a part of that, I would ask you to consider
that, uh, but because I think the improved lighting, that bringing that
entryway out, and um, you know, we really need to be working with, uh,
with folks on this other safety element, because of some of the other areas
where I see people walking, um, that, uh, won't have the visibility, the
illumination, um, that this would have, um, so I'll go ahead and support it.
Bailey: Roll call. Item carries 5 - 2, Wright and Correia in the negative.
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ITEM 12 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING, AUTHORIZING AND
DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY
CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE
CITY OF IOWA CITY AND FOTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL, L.L.C., TO PROVIDE CONSULTANT
SERVICES FOR THE SYCAMORE STREET - US HWY 6 TO
SOUTH CITY LIMITS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
O'Donnell: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell.
Champion: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Karr: Madame Mayor, just like to note the distribution of the, uh, revised
comment to clarify some language. It's in your packet this evening.
Bailey: Okay. Thank you. (several talking)
Hayek: Or is that something else?
Wright: Pardon me?
Hayek: I thought we got aone-page handout right...
Karr: That was item, uh (both talking)
Bailey: ... $154,000 (mumbled) dollars, so yes. The funding sources will remain
GO and Road Use...Road Use Tax proceeds. Okay. Further discussion?
Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 13 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION FINDING THE NECESSITY TO
INSTITUTE EMERGENCY PROCEEDINGS, AND APPROVING
THE WORK OF THE REPAIR PROJECT FOR THE IOWA RIVER
SANITARY SEWER CROSSING AT IOWA AVENUE.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Wright: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by Champion, seconded by Wright. Discussion? Michael, did you
want to...or Ron, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there!
Lombardo: Yeah, we have City Engineer Ron Knoche here to answer specific
questions that you may have, um.. .
Bailey: I apologize for not seeing you, Ron.
Knoche: Um, this is a project, uh, obviously with the flood, uh, of 2008, it washed
out one of our sanitary sewer crossings. It's comprised of three pipes, uh,
two of those pipes are now washed out, and one of them is left hanging up
in the air, um, we...we're working with the University trying to, um, come
to terms with them on doing some work with them, in conjunction with the
contract that they already have in place, and that fell through, um, so we
need to, uh, get rolling. We have to revise some plans, uh, but we'll
hopefully have it under contract in November, and get it started
immediately thereafter with the construction work.
Bailey: Do we have any sense of how long this might take, given that that's a
difficult time of season?
Knoche: The, what we're looking at doing is actually boring the pipes underneath
the river, rather than open cutting like the University did, and that's what's
actually extended their work is due to the, you know, inclimate weather,
they haven't been able to work in the river in the winter, um, but doing the
boring we'll be able to work, um, throughout the winter, hopefully, and
uh, I'd hope we'd have it done by March.
Bailey: Okay. Thank you. Any other questions for Ron?
Hayek: Couple questions. Any ballpark guess on cost?
Knoche: Right now we're looking at approximately a million dollars.
Hayek: Okay. And then secondly, um, we're going to be suspending the usual
process we follow in terms of public hearing and bidding, uh, and I
understand the reasons for doing that and I support it, but I just want a
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sense that we'll be maximizing the bidding process, to the extent we can
given the emergency.
Knoche: Right. We will still advertise for the bid, and we'll still do basically it'll
be a public bid still, um, but we won't have approval of plans and specs
through Council, and there won't be an award through Council. Which
expedites the ability to get the project under contract.
Bailey: And we are certain that there will be FEMA reimbursement for this?
Knoche: That is...we have it written up as a project through FEMA, and the
reimbursement will come through them.
Bailey: Okay.
Lombardo: Certainly they have the ability to review and after the fact determine that
it's not eligible. We don't expect that to happen, but it is a potentiality.
Bailey: Okay. Further discussion? Thanks for being here, Ron. Roll call. Item
carries 7-0.
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ITEM 14 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PURCHASE
AGREEMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 173 ACRES OF LAND
LOCATED AT 4748 420TH STREET SOUTHEAST, IOWA CITY,
JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA.
O'Donnell: Move the resolution.
Wilburn: Second.
Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Wilburn. Discussion?
Champion: I enthusiastically support this. (laughter) I mean, this is terrific.
Bailey: This is great.
Champion: Be a big step forward for us.
Wright: Well, and the opportunity that the City has to just, to control the
development and essentially (mumbled) land, uh, is perfect.
Bailey: Further discussion? Roll call.
Hayek: Well, and this ties right back into the presentation of the ICAD
representative who said that the trend is that...that companies want and
expect so-called shovel-ready sites. They don't want to mess around with
development, if they can avoid it. And I think this is an exciting
opportunity for us.
Bailey: Okay. Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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#18
ITEM 18 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Bailey: And we'll start with Mike...Wright.
Wright: I have nothing this week.
Bailey: Okay. Connie?
Champion: I have nothing.
Bailey: (several talking) Mr. O'Donnell? Mr. Wilburn?
Page 51
Wilburn: The, for Council's information, the Assistant City Manager and I attended
the Metropolitan Coalition annual meeting today, and uh, we have, uh,
approved, uh, four and a half (laughter) uh, legislative priorities, um, at the
next meeting, which should occur within a couple weeks we'll finish
flushing out the strategies, the specific items, but uh, we managed to it, I
guess.
Bailey: Okay. I'm intrigued, yes.
Wilburn: The half is a response, uh, essentially it's being poised and prepared to,
um, be able to respond and encourage, if there's in response to any, uh,
federal packages of assistance related to or responding to the economic
situation, um, whether you know, it's some type of money for
infrastructure to create jobs and all that type of stuff, just to be prepared to
act and encourage the feds to use a CDBG type process for distributing to
cities, rather than to the state. So that, you know, roads, bridges, all of that
can be done, um, by us since we do it and we know how to do it.
Bailey: Okay.
Hayek: Nothing.
Bailey: Okay. I just wanted to note for all of those of us up here that we did
receive information about the United Way campaign, and we all have the
opportunity to, uh, pledge, um, and I encourage you to do so. They have a
really, um, ambitious goal this year, and as we all know, United Way
supports a lot of important human service agencies in our community
(mumbled) generous givers to various agencies, but I also encourage you
to support this campaign. And I also want to note the Humans Rights
breakfast on Thursday morning at 7:30. I know many of you will be
attending, and um, provost who attended our meeting last night will be the
speaker, so I think it's a nice opportunity to hear from him on Thursday
morning. City Manager?
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Lombardo: Today kicked off the ACT annual meeting, and tomorrow I'll be attending
the morning session, uh, encouraged to build relationships with the
leadership at ACT and hear what's happening, what their plans are for the
future, and I'll report that at At a Glance for those who are not going to be
attending. Also, the joint communication, uh, center groundbreaking is
tomorrow. Love for, uh, all of you to attend if you can be there. It's an
exciting, uh, kind of point in the history of this, and in communication
throughout the County, uh, and just a note on, uh, Item #14, I'll be
meeting with folks at ICAD, uh, later this week to discuss a potential
marketing plan and really focusing on niche strategies for the wind
industry, um, and uh, also in CIP, how to get infrastructure in the ground
as quickly as possible.
Bailey: And that groundbreaking's at 1:00 P.M. tomorrow, so...um, Assistant City
Manager.
Helling: One other thing from the meeting today, Council Member Ross Wilburn
was unanimously arm-twisted to retain the Chairmanship for another year.
(laughter)
Bailey: Yes. I think the success of this coalition has been much due to your
chairing that.
Wilburn: Why thank you!
Bailey: You've done a great job, and thank you...for continuing, even though
you're very busy! And thank you both for attending. City Attorney? City
Clerk? I would entertain a motion to adjourn.
Wright: So moved.
Hayek: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by Hayek. All those in favor say aye. We
are adjourned. Thank you all very much.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council Regular Formal meeting of October 21, 2008.