HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-05-18 TranscriptionMay 18, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 1
May 18, 2009 City Council Work Session 6:30 P.M.
Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Correia, Hayek, O'Donnell, Wilburn, Wright
Staff: Helling, Dilkes, Voparil, Davidson, Howard, Purdy, Moran, B. Neumann,
Dulek, O'Brien
UISG Rep: Shipley
Joint Meeting Parks & Recreation Commission -Master Plan (ref agenda 10):
Bailey/ Well, um, welcome. Thanks for joining us tonight. We just wanted to have a...a
meeting with the Parks & Rec Commission, you know, with this, uh, voluminous Master
Plan we wanted to go through it with you. So, um, nice job! And, uh...did you want
to...did you have any remarks that you wanted to start with or should we just jump right
in with discussion, or...
John Westefeld/ Unless anybody wants to open with anything. It's fine if you want to start
wherever you want to start, and then we can respond or.. .
Bailey/ Okay. Did anybody have...I just wanted to have an idea of after this resolution what do
you see as the next steps for the plan, sort of how are we going to move forward? It's
very ambitious. There's a lot of stuff here. What...what's next, basically?
Westefeld/ Well, I would say, and Mike, feel free to chime in on this if you want to at any time,
but uh, after the hopeful adoption of the plan, I think that the next step for me at least
would be some kind of prioritization. There's a lot of different things in there, of course,
and a lot of different timelines, lot of different items in terms of expenses. So I think it
would be a matter of, um, working with staff to prioritize the items and then begin to
address them in a, you know, in a timeframe that's reasonable, given the budget situation.
I don't know if anybody else wants to comment...
Bailey/ You know...you know what I should have done though? I know most of you, but I'm not
sure everybody knows everybody. We probably should do introductions. Yeah. I'm
sorry. (several talking, noise on mic)
Voparil/ Get the mics as close to your...your face as you can, so we can hear. Please!
O'Leary/ My name is Ryan O'Leary.
Westefeld/ Uh, John Westefeld.
Krohmer/ Aaron Krohmer.
Elliott/ Maggie Elliott.
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Gustaveson/ Craig Gustaveson.
Ditzler/ I'm Lorin Ditzler.
Loomer/ Margy Loomer.
Bourgeois/ David Bourgeois.
Shipley/ Jeff Shipley.
O'Donnell/ Mike O'Donnell.
Champion/ Connie Champion.
Bailey/ Regenia Bailey.
Hayek/ Matt Hayek.
Wright/ Mike Wright.
Correia/ Amy Correia.
Wilburn/ Ross Wilburn.
Bailey/ Okay, thanks. Okay. We were saying that after this resolution, your next step is
prioritizing the goals and...(several talking)
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Westefeld/ ...determining probably the best source, particularly in the CIP for funding. I know
there's some discussion obviously...funding the CIP, funding the maintenance position
seems like that, uh, that are necessary to do that expansion is out of the General Fund
budget, but discussing you know, I've heard some talk about the idea of doing a Parks
and Rec bond being issued if something like that. Is that the best way to maybe look at
pursuing the long-term, uh, capital improvements or trying to continue to do it out of
General Obligation bonding as traditionally done, uh, you know, just that type of
discussion.
Champion/ Are you talking about a referendum?
Westefeld/ Yeah, uh, I mean looking at if that's a good way to try and get the funding, uh, across
a large spectrum of the projects in here. (noises on mic)
Champion/ That's a good idea.
Correia/ It seems like some things in the Master Plan aren't related to new projects or even
enhanced programming, but are related to like goal to track performance measures. I
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mean, so I guess those are things that, I mean, I guess I would see some things as, um,
guiding sort of how the...how the Parks and Rec department operates, what types of
information is requested about programming, as well as then the other sort of planning,
expansion, or re-design (mumbled) been talk about some of those kind of, I would call
them infrastructure type things more than, um, you know, we want to expand parks or
programs.
Westefeld/ Well, again, I'm just speaking for myself. What I would envision is after
endorsements, probably a fair amount of time spent with, again, both staff and the
Commission working together, and going through the Plan, identifying the different
categories, the suggestions and input, looking at the finances, looking at short meeting
and long-term, and trying to arrive at a consensus about, uh, some kind of plan of action
in terms of...in terms of timeline. One of the challenges for me is, there is so much
information here, an awful lot of very good information, I think, is I think the challenge is
going to be, again, to figure out what is doable immediately, what's going to take longer,
what's down the road, particularly given a lot of the financial changes that have occurred,
the budgetary issues that have come up, since some of the initial data gathering was
done...with the Plan.
Correia/ Which I think would be one of the...make the tracking performance measures even
more important now as part of, leading that...um, prioritization.
Wright/ I'm sorry (both talking) I just, following up with that, that can give you some good, uh,
metric type of data to go ahead with, and I was also curious -how long did you anticipate
to carry out the bulk of the Master Plan? (several talking) Pardon me?
Krohmer/ The CIP portion?
Wright/ Yeah.
Krohmer/ LTh, obviously I can speak for myself. I think I would speak for the Commission, the
timeline presented would obviously be what we would like to pursue. LTh, you know, it's
between now and 2020, basically, uh (mumbled) projects that are listed here, and I
would, on my own, go out and state that I really do think Council needs to view the
pursuit and completion of this plan as an economic development tool. When you're
looking at doing seed space in downtown for high-tech companies and stuff like that, the
employees of these companies are going to attempt to retain from the University with
things they're interested in are exactly the types of things that are in this plan here. Um,
one way to get economic development, two tax revenues is to build an industrial park
where you're going to have large warehouse type operations and you get some good tax
revenue, you get some decent jobs out of that. You know, another way is to try and get
high-tech companies to seed in the downtown area, and then research parks, and for that
it's less about the sewers I think than it really is about having a completed integrated trail
system; having, you know, really world-class park systems; having the recreational
opportunities outside of the University that are, I think, need to be mentioned, going to be
removed slowly (mumbled) Wellness Center will not be open to the general public by
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and large. The Fieldhouse when it's renovated will not be open to the general public by
and large anymore. You'll need to be staff or a student to have access. So, those
facilities that people have grown up here accustomed to using, aren't going to be on the
playing field anymore in five years, and we're going to need to be able to provide some
similar...(mumbled). I mean, I think it's an important aspect of economic development.
We're competing with Madison, and Boulder, and Lawrence in our minds, but we're not
on the ground right now in terms of parks. Their trail systems are completed. Ours are
not.
Hayek/ Good point!
Bailey/ Other questions or comments? Well, that's exactly my concern about the resolution
endorsing this plan, is what we're entering into, because it's very, very ambitious. It's
very, very expensive. I mean, let's not kid ourselves (several responding). Um, and I
know that the resolution is sort of anon-binding, sort of support, but as the Commission,
I'm sure that we're doing a resolution because you have expectations to a level of
commitment to this, and so what are your expectations of, should this resolution pass
tomorrow night, what are your expectations of Council, and further Councils, what have
we just set ourselves up for in...in agreement?
Westefeld/ (several talking) Well, I would say that there are kind of several levels of this for me,
uh, I think that the endorsement of the Plan, um, the general endorsement of it is...is very
important, and very significant, in addition to all the obvious reasons for that. I also think
that it's something that, uh, an awful lot of energy and effort has gone into this for a long
period of time, and I think psychologically it's important to support the idea and the
concept, and...and so for me, the....the endorsement tomorrow night is very important. I
certainly recognize that, uh, given everything that's happening with the budget, that the
specific timeline, um, you know, maybe, the timeline that's presented here, given the
recent budget changes and everything that we're looking at was at, uh, there maybe some
amends that maybe, uh, need to be made to that, of course. But the...the concept of
supporting, um, not just the financial component of this, but a lot of the activities here
suggest that I think will give the Commission and the staff, um, both a literal and a
symbolic, uh, support that they need to go ahead and try to do some of these things and
make them happen. So I feel like, you know, the specifics of it, we've not arrived at a
point where we've actually set down and gotten into that. We're kind of waiting to see if
it's endorsed, hoping it's endorsed first. So, again, that would be my comment.
Champion/ Well, I...don't have any problems endorsing it. I hope when you prioritize you kind
of start out the priority with some least expensive things that maybe we can actually
tackle, we can actually do, and to kind of get things rolling in the...at a much slower pace
than you would like, but, I mean, part of the trails, those are the monies (mumbled) those
kind of things that we don't...that we could possibly come up with the funds to do.
Krohmer/ ...you know, compared to expanding, adding five or six, you know, smaller parks,
something like that, focusing on trails, and we haven't discussed this as a Commission, so
I'm purely speaking for myself (mumbled) or anything else (mumbled). I would be
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comfortable with an idea in the first two to three years of it, really focusing CIP money
on completing the trail system, which is a lower maintenance cost overall from what I've
been told. I'm not entirely sure about that. The numbers they indicate are about 10,000
miles per year, or 10,000 per year per mile for maintenance cost on trails, and you know,
we're looking at adding (mumbled) around 7 to 8 miles in the integrated trail system, uh
to complete certain key segments. Um, focus on something like that over the first two
years, and begin trying to build up public support for a bonding initiative to maybe fund
the remainder, particularly if you could somehow do a bonding initiative. That way both
operating, or funding for the capital improvement, but also possibly if State law can be
changed, to allow us similar to the Transit levy, allow us some sort of Parks and Rec levy
or something that the public could vote on, um, something that specifically directed into
Parks and Rec, uh, that, you know, it would indicate public support. They're saying, hey,
we want to pay the higher taxes to have these opportunities. I mean, they're going to be
hearing about budget cuts that are going to be coming through here shortly and they're
going to realize that you got to pay if you want the service. So, I...I would be
comfortable personally, and I think we'll talk about it on the Commission once it's
approved, focusing on trails initially, getting that finished, having that as a marketable
thing that we can go out to companies and say, hey, we have a trail system on par with
Des Moines. You don't need to move to downtown Des Moines, you can move to Iowa
City. iJh, and then look at sort of the larger probably like the west side rec center,
completion of the south Sand Lake, you know, some of these larger, several new
neighborhood parks as part of a bonding initiative.
Champion/ How many miles of trails do we need? Did you already say that?
Krohmer/ It gives, I mean, some estimates in it, over the entire life plan. I have some own
estimates I've come up with my own that are sort of just things I did in my pastime,
before I got on the Commission, um, but the completion of the, uh, Highway 6/Highway
1 trail system, the completions of River Trail system up around the Peninsula,
waterworks area with direct connections, um, and then some kind of key access, either
using the complete street policy, sort of jumping ahead, and putting an 8-foot sidewalk in,
rather than waiting the 10, 15 (mumbled) to have two or three direct north-south, two or
three east-west avenues that bicyclists can use to get through the city quickly and
efficiently.
O'Leary/ In trails, I think trails is a very good example, because trails repeatedly in here is
emphasized, both as something that...there's a lot of good things happening, but
something that the community really wants even more of. So, in their survey data and
some of the other things that they looked at, uh, their focus group said that one came out
time and time again.
Hayek/ Is that $10,000 per mile figure inclusive of personnel?
Krohmer/ ...I don't know off the top of my head. It...it (mumbled) I don't know if that, you
know, how much snow removal that includes, obviously different trails could be
maintained differently over the years. Some as, you know, all year bicycle transit where
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it's full snow removal. Others could be done where you switch 'em over to a, you know,
cross-country skiing use in the winter or something like that to lower maintenance costs,
um, I do think you need to, if you're going to try to pursue a full bike system in the
community that you do need to have a certain number of trails that are maintained year-
round at street level, obviously.
Loomer/ And I think as a Member of the Board that it's good to have that plan, otherwise things
come up and we're like, well, should we do it or not, or, but if something comes up and
it's within the plan, it works for us then, because we have faith in the plan, so...
Gustaveson/ ... a little dimmer view on the, uh, on the Master Plan and what's been presented so
far. You know, we've been talking about a Master Plan for, I've been on the Commission
for 11 years now. We've been talking about it almost since I came onboard, and the idea
behind the Master Plan was to give us an overall view of what we needed in our
community, short-term and long-term, and I...I kind of equate it to a road map. You
know, we can get from here to New York if we keep going east, eventually you're going
to get there, but if you have a road map, you're going to get there a lot quicker. And that's
what this document is. We...we've talked to the community, we've gotten feedback;
we've gotten feedback from various groups in our community; and it's a road map for
where to go over the next 10 to 15 years. Um, and as you know with your
Comprehensive Plan that nothing's etched in stone. It's...it's, there's always things come
up, budget cuts and everything, but it's given us a plan of how to attack what we need in
our community and what our...our citizens of our city want, and so from that standpoint
I'd like to see it approved, just...just an endorsement of the...the time that's gone into this
from our citizenry, and from us, and the main thing, it's a plan, it's a road map, that will
get us over the next few years.
O'Leary/ One other thing I wanted to mention, just as a simple but I think important example of
the...the effects it's already had. One of the suggestions in here that came up was, uh,
just the idea of the Commission attempting to provide avenues for additional citizen
input. So, over the last month, we just in a very small way started to try to do that. Um,
Mike and different Commission Members have gone to a couple of community, um,
community meetings in different neighborhoods to, uh, update them on some things that
the Commission is involved in, and get their input about some things as well, so I...I
think that might have happened without the general activity surrounding the plan, but I
think it's an example of how something like this can energize people, and I think that's
another important component of it for me.
Krohmer/ Similar point on that would be, uh, relating to your budget discussions later, in the
Master P1an...I don't have this page actually marked. I probably should have found it
earlier so I (mumbled) additional revenue sources through, uh, users. Uh, user fees and
the types of agencies, organizations that use the park system. We're currently having a
discussion with DogPAC, uh, that revolves around that and part of that is we mentioned,
you know, we're going to have a discussion quite possibly with Babe Ruth, these other
youth organizations, um, and in our Commission meetings we've talked about how some
have been really good users, have kicked money back in for maintenance; others not as
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much, but the Master Plan (mumbled). You know, we're not just doing this arbitrarily.
This is part of our plan. This is something that we stated we want to do, and it's
something that other communities do, as a way of funding the maintenance on ball fields
and things like that. It gives us a little bit more of a backing, when we go to those
agencies, you know, that have had their, the way they've had it for 20, 30, 40-plus years,
and suddenly we're going to tell 'em that the rules have changed a bit, having something
in a Master Plan that's been approved by Council is obviously going to be beneficial in
those discussions.
Westefeld/ Mike, is there anything you want to comment on this, I just want to make sure if
there's...no? Okay. Okay. No, I just wanted to check!
Bailey/ Other comments? Another thing that, um, communities across the state are doing is...is
they draw in money from outside the communities to fund. I mean, the pursuit of grants
and the pursuit of active parks and rec foundation, that's actually raising funds on a
regular basis and is very visible, I think, is probably I hope something that comes up very
high in your priorities, because it's going to be necessary if...if we're really going to
implement something as visionary as this Master Plan, it's not going to be on the back of
the City budget, or even a bond referendum. It's going to require a lot, diversified
revenue streams. So I hope that that...I would like to see, especially our community
pursuing more grants in the state for these kinds of projects.
O'Leary/ (several talking) ...citizens, you know, who, I mean, as a Commission we can
certainly do a subcommittee (mumbled) I don't know what...and outside advocacy group,
it seems to me, just for political reasons is started...it's best if that is started by outside
citizens who come to the Commission and say, you know, hey, we'd like a, you know,
form a board and start this organization, and obviously if anybody here (mumbled) on
that. task, go ahead (several talking)
Bailey/ Communities have active trail groups that help with the maintenance, and certainly
pursue some of t hose grants, and...and do a lot of work, and um, those are the trail
systems that are the most successful.
O'Leary/ (several talking) ...I think, I mean, I think again that's alluded to in several places in
this document, and I think it's something that the staff and the Commission both are
focusing more and more energy on thinking about ways of...of trying to make that
happen.
Champion/ Adopt a trail.
Bailey/ Yeah. (several talking)
O'Leary/ Right, exactly, and that's a great example! (several talking)
Hayek/ I like the plan. I mean, it is aspirational, but I think that's the point in part, and I think to
the extent that you may sense a dampened mood, it...that stems from our budget crisis,
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which is the worst...worst we've had in a generation, and uh, which underscores I think
the...the, at least the wisdom of at least the first few years, I mean, you know, two, three
years, however long it takes us to get out of this, to pursue bite-sized projects and ones
that maybe minimize the personnel intensity, things like that.
Krohmer/ (mumbled) two to three years is actually currently in your CIP plan so...um, you
know, we feel like, or I feel like you can get through the first two to three years, with the
CIP plan that you already have in front of you, and (mumbled) restroom improvements,
some of those things, uh, in the direction. I would like to see more money put into trails
over that time period, uh, whether if we can get more money, you know, out of
government over time. (mumbled) stimulus package, who knows, you know, that type of
thing. Um...
Hayek/ And I completely concur on the economic development end of this, uh, so called creative
economy, uh, gurus talk about outdoor recreation as being part and parcel of the
recruitment of...of those kinds of people.
O'Leary/ That's one of the things that I found most fascinating about the process, and as the
Master Plan consultants gave us advice in how taking these steps and implementing the
plan, then builds the public support and the referendum that you would...you would have
that sweeping support as they see hands-on certain aspects improving, then the public
wouldn't feel as though umpteen million dollars for the Westside recreation center as
being ambitious or being, um, too far reaching. Um, they would see what we've done to
better the park system and would just make sense. The consultant talked to us about how
this process of implementing the Master Plan is about building support and, again,
interacting more with the public, showing the public the efficiency with which we can,
uh, spend the budget, and in some ways, Parks and Rec is...it's not something that you
just leave in the hands of, uh...the masses to say, well, parks aren't important, um,
obviously we have talked about how we can recapture user fees, and...and probably a
little bit higher percentage. Jerry Raaz isn't here, but he would probably tell you at length
if he was here about how the percent of cost recaptured by user fees varies pretty heavily
through different Midwestern cities, and although I wouldn't say we're far, um, below
average, if we're at average, Jerry's point would be that be recoup more, uh, of our costs
through fees, but um, it's kind of like refuse and recycling. It's kind of like transit, um,
we need to have the parks and rec. We need not just for the creative economy. Not just
for having a great place to live, but um, even if people didn't feel as though, uh, a
Westside recreational center was important, um, it is. Um, we have an eastside
recreational facility, and a downtown recreational facility for a reason. We have the
neighborhood parks for a reason. And I would hate to see the day when people could,
um, vote out the parks, that somehow 50 years from now people would vote in a public
election to remove Willow Creek Park because it was seeing better use for something
else. So, um, I feel that we need to be this ambitious moving forward, and having these
kinds of goals, because otherwise we find ourselves being reactionary, and finally
approving the Rocky Shore Bridge over the Peninsula years after, um, years after it was
proposed, um, as the cost have gone up, and I think this proactive approach rather than a
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reactive, uh, approach is...is a smart one. To see that Westside recreational facility on
the horizon and build up that public support to make it happen.
Bailey/ Anything else? I...go ahead.
Gustaveson/ I...I was just going to say, we appreciate very much you asking us to come. First
time that I've been on the Commission which has been quite a while that we've had this
kind of meeting, and it's really nice to be able to, uh.. .
Bailey/ Well, I was going to say that I think we can be better partners on the implementation of
this plan, if we don't have to be completely reliant upon the minutes from your meeting to
know what's going on. Some of the other commissions do have people who come to
Council meetings on occasion and report, and if that would be something that would be
within...(both talking) I think that would be very helpful. I'd be very interested to hear,
and I think everybody else would be very interested to hear once you get your priorities
set how...what the timeline is and what those are.
Gustaveson/ Right.
Hayek/ The other benefit of that is the public then hears about you and what you're doing. It's
part of the momentum you talked about pushing.
Westefeld/ We did have one other very brief issue, but I don't want to get into that before we...if
there's anything else you want us to respond to about this.
Bailey/ Is there anything else? Well, let's jump in.
Westefeld/ We...we were thinking that, you know, there are different ways to bring this kind of
thing up. We were thinking in a situation like this, where we're all together, it might be
the best venue for it, and obviously a complex issue in some ways, but we've gotten quite
a bit of public input and the Commission, uh, agrees and would like to, uh, move forward
on naming the Sand Lake, uh, recreation facility for Terry Trueblood, and so this has
come to us in a variety of ways, um, we've talked on the Commission as something we
support. You know, the timing, again, is always complex for this kind of situation, but
we wanted to put that out there and see if you had any immediate response or reaction.
Bailey/ What are our naming policies?
Westefeld/ I'm sorry?
Bailey/ What are Parks and Rec's naming policies?
Westefeld/ Well, we...my understanding, Mike, again correct me if I'm wrong here is we can
endorse, make a recommendation that comes to you, and then you make the final
(mumbled)
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Bailey/ Do we have a...a set of policies, um, for naming rights in the community? (several
talking) for buildings, parks and rec? (several talking)
O'Leary/ ...naming rights for donors, that type of stuff, right, but I don't think there's a concrete
plan (several talking)
Moran/ Just have, um, what we've done before in the past is when, uh, Bob Lee retired, they
named the Recreation Center after him and the same process happened where it went
through the Commission, was approved by the Commission, and then came to Council
for that, uh, Mercer Scanlon Gym, uh, that whole thing was done under the fundraising,
uh, thing that we did, Oral-B, Courtyard, P&G room, all those so the policy is what's
been withstanding before us. We don't have anything that's actually written out or
anything.
Bailey/ LTh.
O'Leary/ The dog parks, both of them, serve as an interesting example where you have both.
Um, you have, uh, tributes to individuals who have contributed in starting them, in... in,
um, getting them put together, and you also have tributes for financial donations, and um,
although we've seen both in the past, we feel pretty strongly that this is the most
appropriate.
Moran/ And we have received, I would say both the quantity and intensity of the input about this
has been very high. So, again, it's something we support and anticipate trying to get it to
you, and wanted to give you a heads up on it (several talking)
Bailey/ Yeah, I think we all saw it, yeah. (several talking) It's....we all, I think, understand the
tribute (mumbled). We would all like to recognize Terry's (both talking)
Moran/ ...that'll be coming to you, um...
Bailey/ And I think it would be helpful, as we move forward, to consider what our policies are,
and not just precedent but, I mean, as somebody who works with non-profits all the time
and different organizations, it's good to have some kind of structure, even if it has been
in...even if everything's worked up to this point in the past, because um, once again,
we're embarking on something very ambitious and exciting, and I think that some
structure for that would be (noise on mic).
Westefeld/ Anybody else want to make any comments on that...on the (mumbled)
Bailey/ Any other comments, Council? Well, thank you so much (both talking) and thanks for
all your work on the Master Plan. We know that wasn't just consultants who worked on
this. You're up! (several talking, noises on mic)
Passenger Rail Presentation by Chamber of Commerce:
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May 18, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 11
Neades/ The only rules I have to tell you about using these things is you're not allowed to do in
the middle of meetings, especially during public comment, especially when I'm up
talking, but tonight you can use it as many times as you want, and these are really great
because they give a web site, icrailnow.com, so feel free to get on there and sign up as an
official supporter. We won't ask you for money, but we do want to keep track of how
many people are supporting passenger rail. Um, and I'll give you a lesson (blows
whistle) (laughter) Isn't that great? Sounds just like a train. Although I was also giving a
history lesson that that's not what trains are anymore. Trains now have, um, steam
whistles, so it doesn't sound exactly like that. I have maps for you of the proposed route.
I should start by saying hello. I'm Rebecca Neades from the Chamber of Commerce and
I'm here supporting the Chicago Flyer initiative for passenger rail from Iowa City to
Chicago. And I know a lot of you are familiar with this, so I'm going to kind of breeze
through the initial facts and get right down to what's new. Um, but this will be a 79-mile
an hour train from Iowa City to Chicago, through the Quad Cities. We are really thinking
big picture with this, and although this is the initial route where the funding study has
already been done, um, we are also working, the DOT is working with Amtrak to look at
a, um, the route from Iowa City to Omaha, via Des Moines. So that's certainly the next
phase down the road. They're not...that study isn't done so that's not eligible right this
minute for the stimulus funds. There are $8 billion out there, um, that will be put into,
um, inter-city passenger...intra-city passenger rail, city to city, um, the ridership is
expected to be about 190,000 between Iowa City and Chicago a year. You can make that
trip in about five hours, and there will be one train that takes two trips a day. So you'll
have two shots at going to Chicago and two shots at coming home. Um, and the capital
cost in Iowa is $32.5 million. Really we are in fantastic shape for that. Um, the, as you
may know, the Iowa Legislature put $3 million back this past year, uh, in the refund, and
then passed the I-Jobs which included another $10 million that's supposed to go to rail,
trail, and um, airplanes, and so we think we can get a nice chunk of that, as well, but um,
what that did was really let the feds know that the State of Iowa is at the table and...and
ready to move forward with passenger rail, and that was a big deal! Um, they...to that
point not seen that commitment from the state. And so they were very, very excited
about that. In addition, the State passed, um, Senate File 151 which was really a structure
language bill, um, that allows the money to go then to passenger rail, so that's...all is well
there. And another thing that has happened is that, um, Governor Culver's really
embraced passenger rail, more than I heard him embrace it in the past year or past couple
years, and after Iowa City did the, had the excursion ride, um, about a week and a half
ago from Iowa City to the Quad Cities and back, um, Governor Culver did one actually
for National Train Day in Des Moines to, um, really solidify his commitment to
passenger rail in the state of Iowa. Now, um, why here? Why is this important, and how
do I know, or why do I think that we're in a good place to get this money? We've got
Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, from Illinois. We have Senator Dick Durbin
from Illinois. He chairs the Transportation Committee. We have President Obama from
Illinois. Illinois is going to get their trains. They've got multiple trains. It's going to
happen for them. And we have the ridership in our area to get that train from the border
of Illinois to Iowa City. Without Iowa City, Davenport really isn't that...I don't want to
say it's not viable, but I want to say it looks a whole lot better with the University of
Iowa, the Hospitals and Clinics, the V.A. Hospital, the 5,800 students a year that come
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from Illinois, the 2,000 international students a year, um, that fly into the U.S. somewhere
and have to find their way to Iowa City, Iowa. So we are in very, very good shape here.
Um, of course we can talk about property values increasing, business development, but
those are things that you get and, um, you can understand. Um, the what's new is that the
capital bill, um, for passenger rail is now, um, moving forward. Illinois is getting their
first capital funding, which is very, very important for them. That's their first capital
funding and it's important for them to move forward. Um, and then the, uh, surface
transportation bill just was, uh, introduced in the House, and passenger trains, passenger
rail is going to be hopefully the title of that, which is a technical term of getting it in there
and getting it right to the top. Um, so we are in, can't say it enough times, but really good
shape, and where's the Chamber's piece in this? I think that it takes a community to move
a train, obviously, and we have been, um, very, very happy and, um, supported by
JCCOG, the City of Iowa City, now the Chamber jumped on in March and kicked off the
Chicago Flyer initiative. We have more than, uh, S,000...we have just about 5,000
people signed up on our Facebook. I think we're fewer than a hundred people short, and
that 5,000's a big mark on Facebook. Apparently you can't communicate individually
after 5,000. So, that's a big deal, and we have over 1,000, um, official supporters signed
up on our web site. So, I encourage you to go there. I'm here to answer any questions.
Brad's here. He can answer anything I don't know.
Bailey/ Any questions?
Neades/ I'm not going to say whoo, whoo, cause the staff said I wasn't allowed to do that
(laughter)
Wilburn/ What's...once, uh, things really get moving on that, uh, what...are there any predicted
timelines for...
Neades/ There are. Uh, if we had the money today, we would really, um, we'd be pushing it to
get it done in three years, but we could get it done between three and four years. It's
really the upgrade on the track will not take all that long. It's finding the rail cars that
take a bit longer.
Wilburn/ Has anyone, um, with this group, uh, been in contact with Chicago's, uh, Olympic 2016
Committee? Okay.
Neades/ Yep, and I should have mentioned that earlier. That's another perfect, um, thing that's,
or perfect reason for us to get this rail. The timing is right and there really aren't enough
hotel rooms to put everyone in Chicago, so Dubuque and Iowa City are very viable.
Also, I should mentioned, uh, up and running within three years, but Secretary Ray
LaHood is, had, um, 60 days to come up with a timeline, that started back in February,
and 120 days to come up with the criteria, um, so the states can start applying for that $8
billion, um, and really that 120 days is up next month. June 17th is our hot date, and the
DOT and other organizations like ours are already working, um, on those...those, uh,
requests.
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Hayek/ I assume you're aware of this memo from Jeff Davidson on the depot. (several talking)
Okay. That would be the first step I would think, from the City's perspective.
Neades/ ...to work out the depot would be fabulous. We know that downtown Iowa City is the
perfect spot for it to be, but you have to make, you know, you have to make whatever
decisions you have to make, and um, I think we've got some willing sellers. I think we've
got some good property, but you know, those things.. .
Bailey/ Well, and also the Amtrak officials seem really excited about being able to use a historic
depot for this rail. I mean, they're really.. .
Neades/ They love that.
Bailey/ They love that, and...it also is just....it's such a nice facility.
Champion/ ...use historic trains too. (laughter) (mumbled)
Bailey/ Oh!
Neades/ Let me ease your mind just a bit about Amtrak, and that is that this is a short-line run.
This is really Chicago to Iowa City and back, and the southern route through Iowa is a
long-distance run, so you will have many, many more delays on that route. There aren't
that many places to get delayed between here and Chicago. And so, uh, you're on time,
um, statistic is going to be much, much better on these short-line runs. And, we wish the
City well in negotiating for the fabulous properties that are downtown Iowa City and.. .
Bailey/ Any other questions for Rebecca?
Wright/ The possible stops that are listed on the map, are those...all contenders, or would it be
some of that list?
Neades/ No, they're all contenders, but no stops have been set yet, um, to my knowledge. Is that
correct, Brad? They...the Quad Cities, there will be a stop, but every time you have a
stop, you really slow the train down, so...
Wright/ Right, right.
Champion/ Yeah, I figured it out. So they're taking two hours beyond their speed limit for stops,
from here to Chicago. It's 237 miles.
Neades/ Well, remember, it will run right down to Union Station so...Brad, what have I missed?
Bailey/ Anything else?
Champion/ (several talking) exciting (several talking)
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Neades/ Thanks!
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(male)/ Are there any other investors in this project? (mumbled) stimulus bill and then I jobs...
Neades/ Yeah, um, this is a transportation project, so like you have your highways, um, those are
typically federal funded, and your buses, your long-distance busing, um, again, federal
funding.
(male)/ This is all government funding then?
Neades/ Yeah, so this...this would be a transportation project, um, and really when you get into
local projects for local streets that aren't state highways or federal highways, that's when
you'll get a lot more match, but as this comes, um, more to fruition, um, I imagine you're
going to have a lot of investors in the area around the depot and, yeah. A lot of your local
infrastructure (mumbled) Thanks!
Bailey/ Rebecca, as this memo indicates, we're also applying for funds for the grade separation
for First Avenue, and I hope that the Chamber can join us in strong advocacy for that,
because I think that that will create a better environment for good feelings towards
passenger rail, if people aren't sitting at that inter, or that grade.
Neades/ Thank you. I will share that back with the (mumbled)
Bailey/ ...blocked for 20 minutes. So...please help us get funds for both! Yeah, it's the
interstate, Iowa Interstate, so I think...I think the grade separation is going to be
important, um, important sort of...
Hayek/ ...this week's packet.
Bailey/ Absolutely! So...
Wilburn/ 31 minutes is the longest I've sat there.
Bailey/ yeah, we all have stories. So we could use your help!
Neades/ I will be happy to share that back.
Bailey/ Thank you! (several responding) Thank you, Rebecca.
Neades/ Keep your whistles under control! (laughter)
Champion/ I can't wait to blow mine!
Council Appointments:
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Bailey/ I can't believe (mumbled) (several talking) Yes, please! All right, next item -Council
Appointments. Um, applicants for the Human Rights Commission. Didn't get
applications for the other positions. So we have four applications for one vacancy.
Champion/ I thought they were all really good candidates, and I decided to support Monica
Lewis.
Bailey/ Okay.
O'Donnell/ I like...I like Monica also.
Bailey/ That's two for Monica. Do we have others who would be interested in...
Wilburn/ Kelli Fleming.
Correia/ I liked Kelli Fleming.
Bailey/ We have two for Kelli.
Wright/ I was thinking of Kelli Fleming.
Bailey/ Three for Kelli.
Hayek/ As between the two, I'd...I'm having a hard time.
Bailey/ I think either would be absolutely fine, so...um, just make sure (mumbled) I liked Kelli's
work with, um, her, um, tutoring work and her other work, so I would support Kelli.
Wright/ I also appreciated her language background.
Bailey/ So, I don't think we're going to go wrong here. Kelli? (several talking) Nice to see so
many applicants, isn't it? Okay. Um, Planning and Zoning items b and c.
Voparil/ Madame Mayor, I have an addition for a vacancy, Telecommunications Commission.
We received a letter of resignation today. One vacancy to fill an unexpired term,
effective upon appointment, ending March 13, 2012. Brett Gordon resigned.
Bailey/ Okay. All right. So we'll announce that tomorrow? Okay. Thanks. Lots of vacancies.
I think we should all work hard to recruit. (mumbled) (noises on mic)
Planning and Zoning Items:
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14, ZONING,
ESTABLISHING DEFINITIONS AND A USE CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURE
FOR DRINHING ESTABLISHMENTS AND ALCOHOL SALES-ORIENTED
RETAIL USES AND ESTABLISHING MINIMUM SPACING REQUIREMENTS
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FOR DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND FOR
ALCOHOL-SALES ORIENTED RETAIL USES IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS
SERVICE (CB-2), CENTRAL BUISNESS SUPPORT (CB-5), AND CENTRAL
BUSINESS (CB-10) ZONES. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
c) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF
HICKORY POINTE, A RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS 39-41, FIRST AND
ROCHESTER PART ONE, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB09-00002)
Davidson/ (mumbled) You have two items on your agenda that we're going to discuss this
evening. The first one I guess can be discussed as much, as little as you wish, but we did
put it on the agenda in case, uh, there were any questions about the testimony that you
heard in terms of the liquor ordinance changes that, uh, are proposed. This is item b
under Planning and Zoning items. LJh, Karen Howard, who is the, uh, department's
resident expert on this item is here, in case there's anything you would like to, uh,
discuss. Otherwise, second consideration is on your agenda tomorrow evening.
Champion/ I just wanted to clarify something, which I'm sure I understand correctly, but I want
to make sure I do. And that is, when we're talking about making this city-wide, and not
just downtown, um, I think (mumbled) about the question of the development on the east
side (mumbled)
Bailey/ Blackstone's.
Champion/ (several talking) was considered a bar because it's open from 12 to 2, but if
somebody wanted to put another restaurant that wasn't going to be open from 12 to 2, that
would be possible, isn't that correct? (several talking)
Davidson/ ...and they could put another bar, as long as there was 500 feet separation (both
talking)
Champion/ ...just wanted to clarify that, because I've had several people question me about it,
and I said I'm sure you could put another restaurant right next store.
Correia/ As long as it closed at midnight.
O'Donnell/ As long as it closed at midnight.
Champion/ Right. As long as it's not a bar.
Bailey/ Right. Right.
Champion/ Okay. Thank you.
Wright/ There's even a provision there, as I understand it, where they could (several talking)
something.
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Bailey/ Is that correct, on occasion they could be open later?
Champion/ For a private party or something?
Dilkes/ Very rare occasions.
Bailey/ So not every home game? Okay, thank you.
Champion/ Have a party there, a private party.
Page 17
Howard/ We put the language in there as, it says regular hours, so (mumbled) Friday night, it's
still regular hours. I think a lot of restaurants will have weekend hours for their bars
(mumbled), but otherwise they're (mumbled) before midnight.
Dilkes/ We didn't want to use the private party language, because we've had problems with that.
Champion/ Right, exactly, but that's how I'm using it.
Wilburn/ And it's closed, not stop serving, correct?
O'Donnell/ What...what was that, Ross?
Wilburn/ It's closed, not stop serving.
Correia/ Closed at midnight.
Wilburn/ Closed at midnight.
Bailey/ Okay. Any other questions about this item?
Hayek/ I mean, I'11...I'll repeat my problems with that particular portion of this proposal, but I
think (mumbled) tomorrow night.
Bailey/ And I'll repeat my response to you (laughter) do that dance again this time?
Champion/ ....last meeting minutes? (laughter and several talking)
Bailey/ Yeah.
Wilburn/ What's the width on that, on the commercial part of that property?
Howard/ Well that whole development there, I think there would be space for another bar out
there.
Wilburn/ There would or would not?
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Howard/ I believe there would be. It's a fairly large development.
Wilburn/ Right, so they just have to space it out.
Howard/ They just have to space it out, I mean, that's the idea.
Davidson/ ...put it right out there, the idea is not to have two establishments of the intensity of
Blackstone next door to each other, in that (several talking)
Bailey/ Which is important out there. Cause it's (several talking) I'm sure we'll have this
discussion tomorrow night. Anything else for Karen? Thanks for being here. Sorry we
didn't have more questions! (laughter)
Davidson/ Item c then is a final plat, um, very quickly, uh, probably recall, um, this is final plat,
um, of Hickory Pointe. Three-lot subdivision, as you can see here, uh, it's a resubdivision
of lots 39 through 41 at First and Rochester. Uh, it's at the northwest corner, and I
apologize but I didn't put the location map in, but it's at the northwest corner of the
intersection of First Avenue and Hickory Trail. iJh, it's across the street, uh, from
Hickory Trail, and then right next to Hickory Hill Park. Um, the preliminary plat was
approved on March 10. Um, the one thing that is the only difference, uh, between the...if
I can get the arrow to come up...here, right here. You see that little dogleg in the
property line -that's the only thing that's changed, and that was to
accommodate... accommodate the connection of the sanitary sewer to the, uh, sanitary
sewer main that runs along First Avenue. So that's the only difference, and we did not
determine there was a substantial need to go back to the Planning and Zoning
Commission, but that is the only thing that is different from the preliminary plat that you
saw. Uh, we do recommend approval, uh, subject to the legal papers, construction
drawings, and a detailed plan for the shared open space, uh the shared open space is
behind the units, here. You really...I can't (mumbled) uh, in this vicinity here, and we
wanted to review the plans because of the adjacency to Hickory Hill Park and just make
sure (mumbled) plantings and that will be a private open space, uh, for the people who
live in this development. Um, Eleanor, do we know about the legal papers and
construction drawings yet?
Dilkes/ I'm not sure. I'm assuming...I haven't heard that there's a problem...
Davidson/ Yeah, I haven't heard there's a problem either, but we'll let you know for sure
tomorrow night.
O'Donnell/ Jeff, what's the zoning there?
Davidson/ Uh, well, this is a PDH. Let's see, um...the existing zoning is...excuse me, Mike.
Dilkes/ You recently went through a rezoning of this property, and the clustering (several
talking)
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Davidson/ Yeah, and...and it was zoned single-family residential, and this...this rezoning allows
the clustering of the units for the condominium development, but it is not at a higher
density than the underlying zoning was...was before.
O'Donnell/ Okay, that was the question.
Bailey/ Since that's, um, private open space and so close to the park, how will that be indicated,
or how will that be clear?
Davidson/ Well, that'll be up to the condominium association to do that, if they have a problem
then I assume they'll put signage out then that they could even put a fence up if they
decided to, but that's...that's strictly up to them.
Bailey/ Okay. Right.
Davidson/ Any other questions?
Bailey/ Okay. The next item CDBG Flood Assistance. IP2, and then we just got a handout.
CDBG Flood Assistance (non-HMGP eligible acguisition)(ref. IP2):
Davidson/ Yes, you did just get a handout, which incidentally all of us just got. Um, it is, uh, the
result of some meetings that the flood recovery staff from the Planning department,
Public Works department, and the City Attorney's office, and along with Dale, um, had a
couple of meetings today, and it...to be perfectly honest with you, we struggled a little
bit, in terms of...of bringing this to you, and...and having something that was, um,
basically a cohesive policy position for you. I guess just by way of explanation, you'll
recall that a month ago, Rick Fosse and I took you through five, uh, funding programs
that the State had made some indication were going to be available. One of them was
available immediately to us. Another one, the I jobs bill was just signed, uh, 30 days
later, last week. Um, and...and what we're talking about tonight is...is the fourth,
program #4 if...if you recall the memo from Rick and I, which is housing buyouts, non-
FEMA, and just like the name indicates this is, uh, indicated for purchasing properties
that are in flood hazard areas, uh, but it is non-FEMA, and is in fact funded by the CDBG
program. Uh, that being said, our indications are for the time being that the State, which
is administering the program, is largely patterning it after the FEMA program. It will be
a voluntary program, uh, like the FEMA buyout program is, and that's key, because we
know in the Parkview Terrace neighborhood, which you see before you, and we thought
we'd show you this slide just to remind you about the HMGP, the FEMA buyout
program, which we have just this week started receiving the funds for that, and will begin
the negotiations with the property owners, but...but the green and purple here indicate,
the green indicates the, uh, HMGP-eligible properties that have at least up to now
indicated they will accept a buyout. The purple properties have indicated they, uh, will
not accept a buyout. There is also 717 Normandy, right here, uh, which is not in the 100-
year flood plain, and thereby was not eligible, uh, for the...for the buyout. Uh, you
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remember it's a combination of, uh, being in the 100-year flood plain, or the...or the
floodway, uh, and being substantially damaged were the two criterias that had to be met,
so this is the HMGP plan...program, and basically what we're talking about this evening
is a program that would allow us to augment, uh, this program, and when I say "us" this
is a statewide program. It's...it's open to all of the, uh, municipalities in Iowa that were
impacted, um, by the flood last summer, and so we are in competition with the rest of the
state in this, and...and a couple of the things that we feel are key about this, we'll talk
about in a second, but does pertain to us competing with the rest of the state. ITh, we
really quickly wanted to take you through just a refresher in what our overall strategy is,
because, um, there's been some misunderstanding in that. We...we want to begin from
that point, okay, in the discussion this evening. We are attempting to buy...buy out
residential property in the 100-year flood plain of the Iowa River. That remains the main
focus of what we're trying to do, and is a distinction between properties in the 100-year
flood plain and the 500-year flood plain. This neighborhood is a perfect example of...of
the mix, uh, of those two. Um, and...and our strategy here is trying to reduce the risk of
future flood issues with these properties to zero, and...and you've heard us say that the
buyout program is the most effective way to do that. Um, for the remainder of the
neighborhood then, uh, in the 500-year flood plain, uh, or not substantially damaged, we
want to, uh, try and institute some protection measures to protect the rest of the
neighborhood, and have it remain a viable neighborhood, and there...there has been a
certain amount of discussion about the, um, the more significant, major, uh, projects,
such as, uh, levees and flood wall systems. And these are very, very expensive, and
you've heard us say that we simply do not believe, and we continue to not believe, that
funds are going to be available for those types of projects in these types of areas. We are
certainly receptive to...to those projects coming along and we will continue, uh, to...to
certainly keep open the possibility of those. Uh, Engineering division for the City has
done enough research to determine that it is going to be, with the density of development
in this neighborhood, and the...the stipulations that we have about the...the, both the
FEMA buyout program and then the one we're going to discuss tonight -the non-FEMA
buyout program -that the property has to remain open space, uh, it'll be almost
impossible to construct a levee in this neighborhood, because the footprint of the levee is
so wide that we just can't fit it in down here, unless the City purchased the property, and
of course if we purchased it, we can do whatever we want with it then, but because of the
necessity of it remaining open space, we...we just don't think the levee's going to be
realistic. Now, a floodwall does not have that major footprint, basically does the same
thing, uh, as the levee does in terms of keeping floodwaters back. So...so we'll keep that
option open, but we do want you to understand that it's not something that we're under the
impression funds are going to be made available for right now. Um, you did receive the
memorandum then, and we're just going to walk through it, uh, real quickly here. Um,
make sure there wasn't anything (mumbled) Excuse me. Um, you saw in David Purdy's
memo, um, in the Council Packet, uh, as well as you can see it laid out here. The State
has six priorities for acquisition, and unfortunately, the first three do not pertain to the
properties that we are dealing with here, and so we are basically going to be behind the
rest of the state in terms of getting into priorities 4, 5, uh, and 6, in terms of our
eligibility, uh, for these. Um, we are a little confused and have asked for some
clarification from the state about the ordering of those priorities. You can see that
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priority #6, vacant land in the 100-year flood plain, pertains to a riskier area than the 500-
year flood plain, which priorities 4 and 5, uh, pertain to, and we've asked for a
clarification from the state, because we think they're not taking into consideration that
vacant land in the 100-year flood plain, under our flood plain management ordinance, and
I think many flood plain management ordinances, you can still build a structure. LTh, the
event we had last summer notwithstanding, you can still, and we've in fact even had
inquiries of interest down on the Taft Speedway neighborhood about somebody who
wanted to build a house down there, since the flood that we had last summer, uh, doesn't
appear that it's going to go ahead, but there was at least interest, and...and it was possible
for that individual to do that, had a lot been able to be subdivided out for t hem. So, we're
not sure about these priorities, and we're going to ask for clarification, because we could
potentially be attempting to access funds for any three of those priorities 4, 5, or 6. Um,
the easier one maybe priority 6, so let's talk about that real quickly. Um, we have at least
two and possibly four parcels of property that would qualify under the vacant land in the
100-year flood plain that we would...we are basically recommending to you, as staff, that
you approve us attempting to access these funds for that. IJh, here are three of the
parcels, uh, just to orient you. Uh, this is the Elks Club driving range, uh, down at
the...down at the bottom of the hill of Foster Road. You see Idyllwild
subdivision...there, uh, so it's directly across No Name Road there, the north-south road,
um...I don't know why that keeps doing that...this property here then is along the river,
uh, and is also under the control of the Elks Club, uh, so those two Elks Club
property...Elks Clubs properties, we would attempt to, and in our...the...the, we have
talked to the brass at the Elks Club, and they, uh, are receptive to us negotiating with
them. They do have to have their full membership, uh, address the issue, but, uh,
they...they at least want to talk to us about it. Um, this would enable the Iowa River
Corridor Trail to be, uh, established. If you'd look at the JCCOG trails plan, it does show
it along the river, so that the...those of us, or those of you who, uh, have chugged up the
Foster Road hill, you wouldn't have to do that anymore. You'd be able to stay on the
trail. It would connect then to the City well-field trails, uh, down in the vicinity of the,
uh, the disc golf course, down here on the Peninsula. In the middle then you see what are
called, what's called the, we...we, the property owner is Jack Young, and this is a
property that includes the old Elks Club. I don't know why...I must be (mumbled), um, it
includes the property that has the old Elks Club, uh, club house (mumbled) Iowa River
you can see it real clearly. Um, so those three parcels, uh, the Jack Young property,
we've just made an initial contact. We're not sure about the, again, remember this is all
voluntary. So we're not sure about the property owners, uh, inclination there, but they've
at least given us, uh, some inclination that they...they may want to work with us. The
fourth property then is down at the bottom of the, um, old quarry pit lake that is behind
Hills Bank, and you can see at the very south end, uh, adjacent to the Metro Pavers'
property is basically an outlot of that subdivision, uh, and...and we would like to have
you go ahead and authorize us, uh, to begin negotiations for this parcel, as well, um,
we're not certain...Metro Pavers may have some rights to it, even though it's under
another ownership, through a lease agreement, and again, we're not certain about the
rights there, but...but we at least would like to tap some discussions about, uh, acquiring
this as well. So, those are the four parcels, uh that fall under this category of vacant land
in the 100-year flood plain.
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Correia/ Can you go back to the...Elks one? That's currently part of the golf course. I mean, it's,
I mean, the golf course is all on the other...
Davidson/ The golf course is up on the higher part, up here.
Correia/ Right. What sort of development could happen on there?
Davidson/ Um, hypothetically you could build houses, fishing cabins. As long as it's elevated,
you know, as long as the building pad is elevated a foot above the 100-year flood plain.
Correia/ Is there a street?
Davidson/ No, you'd have to provide access, but you could (both talking) when we...when we
originally constructed the, uh, I'm not certain of the zoning, Amy. I'd have to (both
talking) yeah, um, right. I believe the Elks thought they could provide access down
through their property to that, uh, when we began negotiations, when we were initially
developing the Peninsula area, we tried to acquire this property, and they were absolutely
dead-set against it, at that time, because they thought that was a very favorable, uh, piece
of their property, in terms of selling it for future development. I think maybe they feel a
little differently about it now.
Champion/ I just want to ask a question. Um, this is all new land that we could purchase. This
doesn't have anything to do with the last group of land that we were going to purchase,
like...okay. Cause that's a different...new money. (several talking)
Davidson/ We're trying, Connie, to take advantage of that provision, vacant land on 100-year
flood plain. When we saw that, we said, all right. (several talking) Um, okay then, let's
talk...let's back up then and talk about those...those fourth and fifth priorities. Um,
obviously if you direct us, and by the way, where we're at with this, you know,
we...David Purdy's been in contact with the state, trying to find out as much about the
program -they're still developing the program rules, which is frustrating for us,
frustrating for the people who...who live in the neighborhood here, as well, um, but what
we need to do is file, they even gave us a day extension, because we wanted to be able to
meet with you and we told them we were going to do that t his evening. iJh, David has tc
file essentially a Notice of Interest tomorrow, and give the addresses, and it would
include those four parcels we just look at...the addresses of properties that we may wish
to acquire, under all of these six priorities. Um, so...here, obviously, we're getting into a
change in public policy that you've given us, and that is acquisition of properties, uh, in
the 500-year flood plain. Um, and we really struggled with this at the...at the staff level,
because we're trying to recommend things to you that create a cohesive, consistent public
policy in terms of how we manage park land and how it all fits together into something
that the public could have access to the open space that results. Um, it's...it's also
frustrating, as you might imagine, in that we have people that live in the neighborhood
who, uh, are absolutely thrilled about the notion of possibly being bought out. People
who live in the 500-year flood plain, and people who are absolutely dead-set against it.
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LJh, and I'm sure some in the middle that aren't quite sure, but would at least like to
explore it further. So, um, within that framework, what we are suggesting is that...that
probably the best way to handle it right now...oh, and by the way. Apiece of
information that you might be interested in knowing is that the majority of the properties
in the 500-year flood plain that you see here, essentially the area in the white, the
majority -the vast majority of them I would estimate maybe 90% -have substantial
damages to them...substantial damages to them. Uh, even people on Manor Drive that
had, well, one family that I've spoken with had six inches of water, but very substantial
damages because the water wicked up the walls and they had to replace the electrical
system and basically gut the house down to the studs and that sort of thing, so
very...quite a few substantially damaged properties. Now, um, we're not sure exactly
what criteria the state's going to use for constituting substantially damaged - 50% of the
value of the home or 60 or 70 or what that will be. What we will probably go ahead, if
you decide you want to proceed in this direction, is we would just submit all of the
residences that are in the 500-year flood plain. I think we've got it outlined here. In the
500-year flood plain, and meet the CD...CDBG damage, um, requirements. We'll
probably start at least 51%, and that's going to include the vast majority of properties
here, and we would submit all the addresses, just to keep the eligibility there. Remember,
it's a strictly voluntary program. We kind of did this remember with the HMGP program
too. (several responding) And that would be our suggestion to you. Um, I apologize that
we can't, oh, by the way, you see the 500-year flood plain line here, the red line, uh, right
there. That'll give you an idea, pretty much everything but the very tip of Granada Court
there. Um, in the 500-year flood plain...um...
Correia/ And meet the significant...very significantly or substantially damaged.
Davidson/ Right. Essentially whatever the program ends up requiring.
Correia/ Right.
Davidson/ But...but David Purdy called the state today, .and they said, we want to know
everything possible. Because they're...they're trying to get the program more specifically
set up, based on everything that they've received from the state, uh, now, that's the other
thing, you know, given that we're down on priorities 4, 5, and 6, and there's $10 million
available right now. Statewide. There maybe more, um, we know Cedar Rapids
has...has got a lot of homes in the 1, 2, and 3 criteria, so they're going to get a lot of this
money, and we know there are other communities as well that, uh, we want to...we're
trying to be realistic about this, but...but we also want to leave our options open
(mumbled) future. Um...
Hayek/ Do...do you know offhand what, in terms of the statewide HMGP pot what our take
was? As a percentage?
Davidson/ Uh, as a percentage I'm not sure. Steve, or David, I mean, we're going to end up with
a total of about $11.5 million. David, do you want to come up here, if you know the
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(mumbled) about $11.5 million. That's both from the HMGP program, plus the matching
funds from the state.
Purdy/ The...amount has been going down, so I think it's slightly below $100 million now. So,
if you're asking of...$11.5 million of the total amount, from the state level for HMGP, it
would be roughly 11, 12%, somewhere (mumbled)
Hayek/ Extrapolating to this is a million dollars (mumbled)
Davidson/ You know, we thought it might be realistic, Matt, if we would end up with a million
or $2 million, and...and you know, given the prices that we know for the HMGP buyout
program down here, the assessed values, you're probably talking 8 to 10 homes. If we
got $2 million, it'd be 8 to 10 homes. iJh, if again, if they keep to that, uh, priority. If
they end up moving priority 6 up, um, then it might very well use up all of that money
acquiring those...those four parcels, but, um, what we're trying to do, you know, we like
to come to you with a recommendation, and so our recommendation, uh, to you is to, um,
go ahead and have us submit the addresses here, just to...to keep everybody's options
open, but again, that's if there's a majority of you that want to get into the 500-year flood
plain. It is a change in policy, um, it...you know, what we'll try and do when we see if
we're going to be able to get money for this, is further -not tonight -but further stratify
with you exactly what our policies are going to be. For example, one of the things that's
been very frustrating for us, we're really pretty sure that there's going to be area that's
right now in the 500-year flood plain that's going to end up in the new 100-year flood
plain, and...and one could draw the conclusion that probably the...the properties that are
closest to the 100-year flood plain now will be the ones that will be added. And so, that
might be a logical thing to do, when we see if we're going to be able to get money, is
prioritize those homes that are closest to the 100-year flood plain because we think they
may eventually end up in the 100-year flood plain.
Champion/ May be a good idea.
Davidson/ Uh, certainly properties that are adjacent to City Park can easily be added to the
parkland, won't create a maintenance burden for Parks and Rec. Again, that would be,
but we thought about going through that with you tonight, and we just...we just don't
know enough yet, that we'd like to wait and have that discussion later, and that's why
we're being a little bit general, in terms of our recommendation tonight.
O'Donnell/ Jeff, we...
Dilkes/ But we have...but we have listed on the second page of the memo the...the four criteria
that we think would be significant in making some kind of prioritization.
Davidson/ Yeah, and that's kind of what we've been talking through here, but let's...let's look at
them specifically. The location of property, and that's what I was talking about, the
adjacency to the 100-year flood plain, the adjacency to the City Park. The extent of
damage to the structure, we know that will be a requirement. We don't know exactly
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where it will be, but we know that will be a requirement. The feasibility of protecting the
structure, in terms of where it's located. Again, that's important criteria, and then we felt
like we had to include the, as well, the feasibility of acquiring the property. Obviously,
you have not seen a picture of Idyllwild here tonight. We still are under the impression
that similar to the HMGP program, because the criteria for these funds are the same,
we're just not in a position yet where we can attempt to acquire any Idyllwild property,
because it's all on one lot, uh, same...same issues that we had with the HMGP program.
O'Donnell/ Jeff, I know...I know staffs been working really hard on this, and um, kind of new
territory here (mumbled) but it's been almost a year. Are we getting closer to a...to a
timeline? People down there saying when is this going to happen? (both talking)
Davidson/ The HMGP buyouts are starting this week.
O'Donnell/ So we'll be able to start this week.
Davidson/ And, and we've distributed probably in Parkview Terrace approximately $2 million in
state Jumpstart money, so I mean, there's been some things happening down in this
neighborhood. We certainly understand the frustrations of these people, and that's why,
you know, it's frustrating to come to you tonight with these very general things we're
asking you to improve, because the people in the neighborhood would like more specific
answers. Uh, hopefully once the...once the program rules are more firmly established for
this program, and we know if we're going to end up with any money or not, then we can
get specific in terms of specific addresses, um, that we would propose for this non-FEMA
buyout program. Right now what we're asking you to do is to consider keeping
everybody eligible in the 500-year flood plain, of Parkview Terrace.
Wilburn/ I guess the way that I look at...this...um, new look beyond the policy that we had in
place, going into the 500-year flood plain, is that I feel that the commitment that we made
to the public was that we would pursue resources, and if there's a potential resource out
there, then let's...let's keep our hat in the ring, and...go for it.
Davidson/ And, Ross, you couldn't have said it better. That's kind of where staffs at too. We
now have a program that enables us to access the 500-year flood plain; we feel obligated
to try and access it.
Wright/ I don't think there was a program like that when we first started having these
conversations, which is one of the reasons we focused in on the 100-year flood plain
(several talking) so I...I'm all for (both talking)
Davidson/ And, Mike...Mike, we still think we should focus on the 100-year flood plain.
Because that's where the highest risk is.
Wright/ That's the higher priority.
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Davidson/ But certainly this is a program that we...we should try and see if we can get any
money out of it.
Hayek/ Same use restrictions, CDBG, HMGP, as of right now.
Davidson/ As of right now, Matt, yeah.
O'Donnell/ Tell me what happens when...when the homes are bought out.
Purdy/ These homes, or the HMGP? These homes?
O'Donnell/ these homes that we're presently looking at.
Purdy/ It's going to work the same way as the HMG, I mean, they haven't told us that it's going to
work the same way as the HMGP, so if we buy'em out, there's probably going to be a
deed restriction, that they have to be open space, uh, probably have to follow the same
demo guidelines as HMGP.
O'Donnell/ What...what are those?
Purdy/ That we have to do a competitive bid, um, that's uh, we have to demo within 90 days of
closing.
O'Donnell/ And that is...that's policy? We have to demo within 90 days?
Purdy/ For HMGP, right, of closing date.
Champion/ But you can scatter this out somehow.
Purdy/ Closing yes, and that's one of the items for your discussion later.
Champion/Right. I think you're going to need to!
Davidson/ Any...any questions before we step through? We have organized these into five
questions, plus the question that Mike just raised about the HMGP program. We just
added this to (mumbled) talking about flood. LTh, any questions about anything before
we step you through the decision points? Madame Mayor, you look puzzled.
Bailey/ No, I'm fine, thank you. Any other questions?
Davidson/ Well, let's go ahead then. The first...the first, uh, the Elks driving range, which is the
larger parcel right here. Yay or nay?
Champion/ Yeah (several responding)
Bailey/ Yes. Do we want to pursue this?
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Correia/ Is this a priority order, or we're just saying...
Davidson/ Well, the priority order is the existing priority order that you see there, Amy. (both
talking) We'll let you know if there's any change to that. We are going to ask for some
clarification. It seems to us not quite...right, but we'll...it's what the state lands on.
Hayek/ My only reluctance is...is that there are not individuals and properties on that spot that
were damaged.
Davidson/ What you're buying out here, Matt, is the potential that in the 100-year flood plain,
something's going to get built.
Hayek/ Although the Jack Young property is well above...it's probably...
Davidson/ That building is well above, yes.
Hayek/ My grandfather drank a lot of Scotch in that building (laughter)
Bailey/ Thank you for submitting that to public record. (laughter)
Hayek/ It'd be a historic site then, I guess. (laughter) And he was on the Council.
Wright/ This is one of those things, I understand the strategic reasons for doing that. At the same
time it would certainly be nice to offer something to the homeowner that's been badly
affected, and it doesn't sound like that pot of money's going to stretch very far.
Correia/ Right.
Davidson/ that pot of money could have money added to it. You know, when the state sees, oh
my gosh! We have $70 million in requests and only $10 million; they may add some
money to it. I mean, we want to be ready for that, if that happens.
Champion/ Well, I think this is, it's very preventive for the future, and I'm all for it, for buying
that land.
Bailey/ Eleanor, did you have a comment?
Dilkes/ Well I was just going to say, in...I mean, you could give us some kind of general
direction that in the event, rules come out that indicate to us that there's
some...maneuvering that we can do that...that will give more, make it more likely that
we'll get buyout money for the structures, as opposed to the vacant land, we can certainly
do that.
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Bailey/ And I think that that's what we would probably...that's the general consensus, that we're
interested in helping people who have property, first and foremost, but if, I mean, if we
can get funds for this and that...we want (several talking)
Davidson/ And remember, these...these first three here are consistent with your existing (several
responding)
Bailey/ Right, yeah.
Davidson/ So we're...I had one vote. Ross, were you a yes? (several responding) Three. Okay,
we have four.
Wilburn/ I think that's the challenging part, is you're really, you're stepping down the road so that
when the next flood happens, after someone would build on there, the community saying
why did the Council allow this to happen, and...
Bailey/ I think we need to make those decisions that aren't, as many as we can, that aren't
questioned to that degree, and I think that these are the kinds of decisions that are good
for future.
Wright/ I wonder if we need to consider tightening our flood plain ordinance to preclude
construction in some of these hazardous spots (several talking)
Bailey/ Have we looked at that?
Davidson/ We're looking at it.
Bailey/ Okay.
Hayek/ Cause that is the other way to approach this.
Correial Cause it seems like especially for this property, I mean, I know for the, some of the lots
around Idyllwild and that, there's sort of infrastructure in place, to have them continue to
develop the roads, the, you know, other public infrastructure, and there were plans. This
to me feels like a lot of things that potentially have to be approved in order for there to be
development. Most likely zoning, although we don't know. Public infrastructure, streets,
you know, other public infrastructure would have, I mean, there would be a lot of things
the City would have to agree to, as well as there's opportunity to do revising of the flood
plain ordinance, because there's not really anything, you know...
Bailey/ But it links to our earlier discussion with Parks and Rec, because didn't you say that this
would enable us to complete the Iowa River Trail?
Davidson/ Yes.
Bailey/ I mean...I think that's interesting that these both come up tonight. I mean...
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Davidson/ I apologize for not knowing that zoning, but if...if the Elks Club property is zoned
RS-5 right now. In the case of this they could, by right, sell that to one person and build
one house on it, without any further subdivision of it.
Bailey/ Without seeing us at all, right? (several talking)
Davidson/ And my guess is that with the roads and the utilities to Idyllwild, that might...
Bailey/ They wouldn't have to do a platting, I mean?
Davidson/ Not to build one house. It would be a single lot.
Dilkes/ They would have to do a plat, but our platting regulations would most likely allow it.
Bailey/ By right.
Hayek/ I suppose the other analysis is that, I mean, these...these clubs struggle financially, and
um, which means that land could potentially be on the market for presidential or other
development.
Davidson/ Oh, there's been speculation about the Elks possibly selling.
Hayek/ Sure.
Davidson/ Lower areas, yeah. Um, okay, so we had a majority for this parcel. How bout this
one along the, uh (several talking) one at a time, because David has to submit them
individually, so technically you can say yes to one and no to another, if you want. Are
there four for this? (several talking)
Bailey/ (laughter) Yes.
Davidson/ I'm sorry, Eleanor? Right, both sides of the Jack Young property. We had'em split
into separate...how about the Jack Young property then? To again, go ahead and
negotiate?
Champion/ Don't want to leave that little island there!
Davidson/ No, that would also be, uh, how about...(several talking)...how about, uh, the
property down here. This is labeled Metro Pavers, but it is not under Metro Pavers...
O'Donnell/ what is there now, Jeff?
Davidson/ Pardon?
O'Donnell/ What's there right now?
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Davidson/ It's an area used by Metro Pavers, but under separate ownership. I believe Mr.
Kennedy who owns much of the property down here (mumbled). As I said, we're
uncertain right now. There may be a lease agreement that we need to explore further, but
again, we're just asking the authority, your authorization to go ahead and submit it.
Wright/ Does the City own the property to the south?
Davidson/ Um, I...there's a subdivision...we own this property (several talking)
Wright/ How about directly south of the Metro Pavers?
Davidson/ I think that's in private ownership.
Dilkes/ Rick says no.
Davidson/ Rick says no. Are there four here for this?
Hayek/ What do we accomplish with that?
Davidson/ Uh, again, Matt, it's primarily buying, it would remain open space, subject to
inundation from flood waters forever, and not have anything built on it.
Correia/ It was damaged. I mean, what's...
Bailey/It's just open.
Correia/ What are they using it for?
Davidson/ Metro Pavers uses it for part of their operation now. They park things on it and...
Wilburn/ ...storage, uh, they also clean, there's that little pond there to the north. They use that
to clean out their vehicles and...yeah, they do.
Bailey/ Seems like a good storm water (mumbled). Runoff...I'm supportive.
Champion/ I am too. (several talking)
Davidson/ All right. Well, I guess (mumbled) out of order. Well, the remaining then is the, uh,
the change in policy, and that is if you, uh, are interested in expanding into the 500-year
flood plain.
Correia/ Yes.
Bailey/ Yes.
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Champion/ I am.
Bailey/ I agree with what Ross said. We told people we would pursue funds, and we're pursuing
funds.
Davidson/ And we'll go ahead and submit everybody who's in the 500-year flood plain that meets
the 51 % or greater (mumbled)
Hayek/ I think...
Bailey/ At some point we're going to have to talk about potentially what neighborhood we're
going to have down there, if we continue to get money.
Davidson/ That's absolutely right.
Bailey/ I'm really concerned about that.
Hayek/ And I...to the extent this provokes a new wave of hope, uh, among homeowners down
there, I think we need to get the message out quickly that the funds, at least presently, that
are potentially on our plate, are limited. This does not mean the entire 500-year flood
plain area.
Bailey/ and it's voluntary too for those who are really committed to staying down there. I mean,
those are the two ends of (several talking)
Purdy/ I guess I'd like to reiterate, um, first round of funding, the $10 million, talking to the guy
from the state today, their priority's going to be number 1, damaged structures in the 100-
year flood plain that compliment an HMGP acquisition area. Now, remember we have to
look at this state-wide, we have to look at Cedar Rapids, we have to look at Oakville,
Waterloo, Cedar Falls. So there's a possibility it won't go down to 4, 5, and 6 in the first
round of funding.
Bailey/ Uh-huh.
Purdy/ Second round of funding is supposed to be coming in this summer some time. We don't
know how much that's going to be, so I would reiterate Matt's discussion point about not
giving false hope. We're leaving this open, but there are a lot of properties that possibly
could not end up being purchased with this.
Wright/ We're creating a possibility, but definitely no guarantee.
Bailey/ A slight possibility it sounds like with all the competing interests.
Champion/ what happens with all of our little purple spaces here?
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Davidson /The purple spaces are the ones that have turned down FEMA buyout funds right now.
We remain committed to purchasing those properties, at some point. Long, long-range
strategy. LTh, very common with FEMA buyout projects, that takes...takes ten years,
takes 15 years, but at the end of that time, there's going to be a change in property
ownership. There's been subsequent floods, subsequent damage, and eventually you get
them all, Connie.
Champion/ Okay. And then somebody called me today because they're eligible, their house is
going to be bought out.
Bailey/ This is the next question, the next bullet point on the...
Champion/ Oh!
Dilkes/ Can I just ask before we move to that? So there, it's unanimous direction to purchase all
these, or to apply for all these properties?
Champion/ Yes.
Bailey/ Yes.
Dilkes/ Yes? Okay.
Davidson/ Yeah, we did have the final bullet there about the HMGP closing process. David,
why don't you outline the issue there.
Purdy/ I believe that, uh, in one of the memos that Sue and I did, we discussed that, um, the
timing of closing...closings (mumbled) consideration. The HMGP program, we have
three years total from the award date, which was, um, about a week and a half ago, um,
to...to close out everything. I mean, that's dot every "i', cross every "t," everything. Um,
the City staff met and um, the thing that, as I reiterated in the memo, the thing that we
were focusing on was, um, that the priority is to remove the property before the next
flood (mumbled). Um, we realized that the problem wasn't going to happen during this
flooding season, but we established April 30, 2010 as a date before the next flooding
season. Um, the state, um, (mumbled) leave it up to the locals to make the decision, um,
but uh, basically told me that most of these are following those guidelines of, you know,
one year. You know, two years max, but that's really stretching it. So, again, the staff
recommendation is to do it by April 30, 2010, um, to avoid the flood season of
2010... flood season.
Champion/ And, then when you say three years from the award of the money, does that also
include demolition and everything?
Purdy/ That includes everything. That includes closing out the $11.5 million contract so that we
(mumbled).
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Davidson/ So you have the specific recommendation, uh, from us, that the closings occur before
April 30, 2010 for the FEMA buyout program. Concurrence?
Champion/ Well, I just want to ask this question. Somebody called today and maybe other
people have talked to this person too, but they wanted to wait as long as possible, because
they're planning on retiring. What's the possibility of that?
Purdy/ Again, we have three years, um, to close out everything. So, uh, three years would be an
impossibility. The State HMGP folks are suggesting that we not run it past two years.
So I, you know, that's a possibility, but then you're...you're going into another flood
season, um, we did have one other gentleman that wanted to extend the Apri12010. He
wanted to do it till Apri12011. Um, again, you...you would be into another flood season,
uh, so...you know, three years out is...is not something that we could work with in, as far
as, you know, saying three...three years minus 90 days from now. I couldn't close out
$11.5 million grant in 90 days.
Hayek/ How many...how many people would be interested though in...in going beyond April of
2010?
Purdy/ Right now we've only had two so far that have indicated that interest.
O'Donnell/ What would it hurt to do that?
Purdy/ Uh, again, it's the, the, uh, going into a flood season. It would, uh, probably...um, extend
the demolition contract, but the main thing is, uh, going beyond the...the uh, moving into
the 2010 flood season.
Dilkes/ And we are, I mean, I think Public Works can comment more if they want, but we're
trying to group the demolitions and not have, you know, disrupt...not only disruption to
the neighborhood by the demolitions, but the price of the demolition contract, etc.
Bailey/ And I'm less concerned about that, although I do appreciate that, um, than I am...I want
to see people out of harm's way as quickly as possible, and I think that that's a good
objective. I know it seems...difficult when a person might want to just extend it so close
to the deadline, but we've already acknowledged that this is a problematic place to live,
and it's in danger of flooding, so I think that that makes sense to me.
Wilburn/ Well, I think if you step back too, just the...the purpose of purchasing in the first place
is to reduce future risk, and so the more you extend that out there, you're potentially
increasing the chance of risk.
Bailey/ Well, and if we do it for two, I mean, I'm...I'm sure that there are others who would be
interested and then once again we're upping the risk.
Wilburn/ Right.
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Bailey/ To them, as well as to the public safety and all kinds of things.
Hayek/ I guess I'm not adverse to having some flexibility, um, especially since, you know, if...if
in fact we're getting new funds for 500-year or other properties, I think this will be a
process that unfolds over a (coughing, unable to hear) years, as opposed to a one-time
opportunity to do demolition.
Bailey/ I'm not as concerned about grouping demolition as I am of getting people, uh, I mean, as
Ross said, we've acknowledged that the purpose of this is to get people out of harm's
way.
Wright/ Jeff, are the people who've indicated that they'd like longer time, have they done enough
repairs that they're back into their homes?
Purdy/ Yeah, I believe the two people that have expressed an interest, they are back in their
homes, so...
Champion/ Did you...possibly work out a time schedule, I mean, I'd be interested....I don't know
if anybody else is, on how late that could happen for these people.
Purdy/ Yeah, I mean, I could work out a time schedule...
Champion/ I mean, not for just me (mumbled) Council'd be interested.
O'Donnell/ I would like to see that too.
Correia/ I mean, it would...I mean I...I'm on the fence a little bit. I mean, because I...we...we
want to...decrease risk, and it would be one thing if these were, if there were a handful of
homes that were going to be the last homes remaining in the neighborhood, that we
would have to be...we would be creating, you know, needing to protect in the event of a
flood, but there are many homes that are going to take a long period of time to acquire, so
um, will we...if there's another flood, we will be providing protection to the
neighborhood. So I mean I, so I think that, I mean, it would be one thing if these were
the last two homes, um...
Davidson/ Well, we can try and...and work with a couple of folks. Um, we won't be able to wait
till three years, because we have to have time to close the grant out and make sure
(several talking). Um, but why don't you let us see what we can do.
Champion/ Okay! Great!
Bailey/ I think two years, I mean, closing out a grant of that magnitude is going to take some
time, so I think two years makes....seems to make the most sense, but...
Wilburn/ I'm not trying to be insensitive, um...but, you know, um, the...the fewer homes that are
out there for another flood opportunity, even though we would still be going down in the
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area, that's two, three, four, five, six fewer homes that have to be evacuated, that there's
an opportunity at 3:00 in the morning that a sanitation worker is down there, helping
evacuate folks for, you know, a power line to fall down and someone to get, you know,
zapped, um, I...again, I'm just looking at trying to...
Champion/ What about all the purple people? (laughter)
Wilburn/ Well, they've, uh, made (several talking) they've made some choice, and...and...
Champion/ ...putting workers at risk for them also.
Wilburn/ That's true. That's very true.
Davidson/ Yeah, I mean, you'll recall, Connie, that the purple people, as you put it, have been
apprised that they maybe on the wrong side of the...the, of flood mitigation or the
emergency, uh, barriers.
Wilburn/ I also look at it too in terms of, uh, I mean trying to do what we can to close out the
flood event, you know, when, um, I know different natural disasters have (mumbled)
uniqueness to it, I mean, but you know, the...the tornado hit - we cleaned up. Then the
process with all the historic preservation grants (mumbled) you know, you set that event
aside. I mean, not only just...the risk in terms of, uh, exposure to flood, but uh, but also
trying to capture any savings with efficiencies of demolition costs, but also the
administrative piece to being able to close out this event, you know, should another one
unfortunately happen, then you're dealing with two different...two different
administrative, you know, sets of...of, uh, data and documentation and all of that.
Champion/ Well there is some limit though, because it has to be closed out in three years. So
there is a limit.
Wilburn/ That's true.
Champion/ It's a pretty rapid limit actually.
Davidson/ I do want to emphasize, we will have to start prior to three years. (several
responding)
Champion/ Oh, definitely!
Wright/ I have to say as I'm sitting here going, weighing these arguments. I have to come down
on the side of the...the purpose of this program is to remove people from harm's way.
Bailey/ Yeah.
Wright/ And...I don't, I honestly don't see.. .
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Bailey/ I don't...
Wright/ ...logical reasons to extend the closing date.
Bailey/ I wouldn't want them living there another flood season, even if we are protecting others
in the neighborhood. But, I think that there are only three of us who are interested in that
direction. So...is that, was that accurate count? Okay. So...seems like we (mumbled)
Davidson/ We'll see what we can do.
Champion/ Well, not an extension. I don't want you to go over your three year thing. I don't
(several talking and laughing) I don't want that to happen!
Purdy/ I don't either!
Champion/ I'm just trying to think of some leeway we could have.
O'Donnell/ Just a way to be somewhat accommodating.
Purdy/ Right.
O'Donnell/ That's (mumbled)
Davidson/ Any other comments or questions for us?
Bailey/ Any...okay.
Champion/ I appreciate this. A lot of information.
Bailey/ Thank you. We're going to take aten-minute break. (BREAK) All right, are we ready?
(several talking) Okay, Chris.
Parking Fine Schedule/Ordinance Changes (ref. Agenda 2e3):
3. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 2,
2009, ON THE PROPOSED RATE AMENDMENT FOR PARHING CITATIONS,
PARKING METERS, AND MONTHLY PARKING PERMITS.
O'Brien/ Um, the reason that we're here, um, the reason I'm here I should say, is on your agenda
for tomorrow is a resolution for a public hearing to talk about parking rates. Um, just to
give a little recap, um, when we had our budget discussions...few months ago...most of
the things that are in this proposal were approved by Council for the...for the FY10
budget. Um, we've made a...a change in one of our...our proposals, um, and that's with
the, or the expired meter parking citations, um, when we initially proposed that we had a
flat rate of $10 for everybody. Um, going from $5 to $10 for everybody. Um, we got a
new software package that we've implemented. We're also in the process of removing all
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of our old equipment and putting in new credit card access, um, there's a lot of different
things and a lot of exciting things that we're doing, but one of the things that we...uh, we
came across that we're able to do is to...to look at our...our fines and the...the...I guess
to tier them if we want to, and we thought that was a great idea to be able to take citations
and to address people who I guess are frequent violators from those that are habitual
violators. Um, and I apologize for those sitting at this table (laughter and several
talking). One of the things we've seen, um, and I've been with Parking since O1, is the
number of emails, letters, calls we get from the...the person who just visits or the person
who one time out of every, you know, ten, fifteen visits downtown, um, runs over by a
few minutes, four or five minutes, uh, on their meter, and so what we're looking at is a
system that looks at those people differently, the ones who habitually leave their vehicle,
um, and...and gather a lot of citations. So, um, what we did is we created a...a different
offenses, or different rates for different offenses, um, in the packet we have those listed. l
can go through them if you'd like, or they are there for everybody, but um, what we did
was the first offense, um, and this is every six months figure so July 1st through the end
of December, and then starting January 1st, um, until the end of June, uh, the first offense
is a warning citation.
Correia/ So you get kind of a free pass one time.
O'Brien/ Um, just a reminder that we do have regulations, um, and...and what we're looking at is
the person that, let's say you come into town to visit. You have a child here on campus or
you come downtown to do business, and uh, you go to lunch and it runs over by five
minutes or there's a lot of different scenarios that occur where somebody just misses their
time. Well, during the enforcement part of that, we don't know that, you know. All we
see is an expired meter. We don't, uh, and if it's for somebody who follows the rules the
rest of the time, we thought considering we're raising the rate to possibly $10, um, I
assume that the emails and calls would have increased at that point. Uh, plus you just
look at fair. Is it...is it, you want to treat the person who follows the rules, um, you
know, give them that, whether they call it leeway, freebie, um, but I think just more of,
hey, just a reminder, um...meter was expired, but here's a warning. Um, and then if for
six months they have nothing, eight months down the road they come back to town and it
happens again, just another warning for them -hey, just here's another reminder. Um...
Champion/ I do like that. I think that's really.. .
O'Brien/ Well, and we've gotten a lot of positive feedback.. .
Bailey/ ...very visitor friendly.
O'Brien/ We've floated it out to the DTA. We've floated it out, um, to other people downtown,
and we've gotten a lot of positive feedback of, um, of how this affects...I don't know how
much it'll affect their businesses. Hopefully in a positive way, of saying, hey, you know,
coming downtown, if...trying to find a place to park. If you run over a couple minutes,
you know, here's just a warning citation for you. Whereas the people that leave their
vehicles on the street for days at a time, hours at a time, four days a week, five days a
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week, um, what we're trying to do is modify their behavior and move them into areas
such as the garages, things like that, so that opens up spaces for the people that are doing
the quick business downtown or doing lunch, things like that is what we're really looking
at with that parking meter citations, um, that was the big change. Um, from where.. .
Bailey/ ...my fourth offense, will I know it on my ticket? You said by the dollar amount.
Correia/ ...say fourth offense?
Bailey/ Will it say fourth offense?
O'Brien/ I'm not sure if it'll say offense, but the...the fine obviously will...you'll get a warning,
the first one'll be a zero, then a $5, then $10, $10, um, and I don't think even...I'll check
on the statements to see if the statements, when we send them out a layout, exactly what
offense you're on, um...
Bailey/ Because I think that would be helpful, because if for example you get a warning, you
might think, oh, that's how they do it here, and then if you get a $5, I thought your tickets
were, you know...
Correia/ So can the...on the back of the ticket?
O'Brien/ Yeah, and that was what we're looking at, is laying out our structure. We have all the
(both talking)
Correia/ ...it would be there.
O'Brien/ And if...that's what we were checking, is if the actual citation doesn't say first offense,
but actually laying out the structure on the back.
Bailey/ That would be great (several talking). And that would help modify behavior more
quickly, I would assume.
Correia/ They would know after the, if they looked at it (both talking)
Bailey/ ...okay.
Champion/ No, I think that's a great plan.
Correia/ Would the...
Champion/ Oh, I actually like it! (laughter)
Bailey/ Like a parking plan?
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Correia/ Would the tickets also escalate in price, I mean, if they don't pay within ten days?
Continue to...
O'Brien/ Correct. There's actually 30 days.
Correial Or whatever it is.
O'Brien/ Yep. Yep, the state regulates it. We can only increase that escalation fee to $S...by $5.
Correia/ By $5, okay.
O'Brien/ So even if you get the $25 citation, it's still a, there's...there's so much paperwork that
goes into letters and processing that information, that escalation is, um, how we have to
cover those costs.
Champion/ At what price do we, um, tow at? What number?
O'Brien/ It's $50 currently. If you have $50 in outstanding citations.
Correia/ You do what?
O'Brien/ Tow.
Correia/ Tow, right.
Dilkes/ And, you all understand that...that you could get...you get could your freebie and tickets
at the same sitting. Because they issue tickets every...hour.
O'Brien/ Yeah, and that is...thank you, Eleanor. It would be every hour for expired meters.
Bailey/ You could move through many offenses in a day.
O'Brien/ Correct, and that's...that's another thing we're looking at is...do you really want to drop
seven citations on somebody, you know...here's your warning, thanks for coming to Iowa
City. Oh by the way, here's your $5, $10, $10, $15, $15, and $20, as well. T here's some
things we need to look at internally, but I think the...the structure of how we're setting
this up, uh, is beneficial to those that are infrequent violators of...the expired meter
portion of it. All the other citations, um, excluding the commercial loading zone, uh, we
are proposing an increase from $10 to $15, so if you block a sidewalk, if you park in the
no parking here to corners, uh, no parking alley, blocking alley -things along those lines
- you get $15 with a $5 escalation if not paid within 30 days. Um, the next section which
is the commercial loading zones, and I'll take questions at any time, or I can wait till the
end if you guys have them. The commercial loading zone, um, and this has come up
several times, um, in different areas of town, but the number of personal vehicles that
park in commercial loading zones, which makes it difficult then for the commercial
vehicles to utilize them, um, and I think we're seeing this a lot in our commercial loading
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zone, uh, up on 10 S. Dubuque, um, a fine that deters people from parking there illegally.
Um, so that we can allow for commercial traffic to park in those areas. So...and once
again, this is something that was approved, um, when we went through the budget
process. Um...and then the parking meter rates is the next section. There are some stats
in there about occupancy rates, meter fee, and that led us to, in addition to the fact that
we...we feel that your on-street meter rate, in your high-use area, should always be
higher than your...your garage rate, to encourage those people that park long-term to use
the garage, um, and provide the on-street spaces for the people that are doing short-term
business in downtown, um, an increase from 75-cents to a dollar per hour for those high-
demand areas, um, we're kind of looking in the, and byhigh-demand we meant more in
the business district. We didn't expand up Clinton Street like we...we had before when
we had those rates at 75. So we'll have kind of three tiers of...of meter rates. We'll have
a dollar, kind of your central downtown core; 75-cents in the high-demand area, just
outside; and then 50-cents for those areas that are a little lower usage, and a little bit
further from the downtown.
Bailey/ Any questions (mumbled)
Champion/ The question I wanted to ask, um, well, first I want to comment on the commercial,
uh, fines. I mean, I understand the reason for it, but since...those spaces on Dubuque
Street are not being used for commercial parking most of the day, um, I...I have a hard
time supporting that large of a ticket, when people see nobody there for two blocks and
so they park there to run in somewhere, and then they get a ticket when there's not even a
commercial vehicle...
O'Brien/ Right, well none of this would take place until after we've switched that loading zone
over to...we're looking at July 1st. This...we're in the process of, um, working with
Planning on creating signs that make them extremely different from the commercial
loading zone, so you can tell which zone's which, as well as pavement markings. So that
will be in place before...any of these fine changes ever take place, to...to address that
issue that you have.
Champion/ Okay. Thank you. The other thing...on the parking, oh, we've not...you didn't really
talk about monthly permits.
O'Brien/ No, we'11...I was just about to go to that one.
Champion/ I just have one question on that. I don't have any objections them being raised, by
the way.
O'Brien/ Sure.
Champion/ But, it seems to me...that the out, the outlying parking garages, like Chauncey Swan
and, uh, the Court Street Transportation Center have been cheaper, and that's because
they're further away, and I...I think that's probably still a good idea.
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O'Brien/ Well, the reason that we got away from that...there's two reasons, well, actually there's
probably more like three or four, um, one is we...we've seen the difference in how the
permits are being allotted. It was kind of, you know, your downtown zone for people that
we're...business owners, things like that. Well, there's so much residential now that we
have a lot of long-term parkers, where you call it storage...whether you want to,
um...that really, and with...the downtown's kind of sliding a little bit to the south as well,
past Burlington Street, um, is another reason that we looked to that. Um, also the
University rents a high number of our spaces, and then turns around and rents them out at
$82 per month, versus us being at $60, um, you know, there's several things that went
into determining that factor, and actually when we proposed this initially in the budget,
we came with two proposals. One was just jumping straight from...one was staggering it
over multiple years, because of...it's a large jump to go from 60 to 80, and at that time,
you know, we have 350-400 people on our waiting list for those facilities -Court Street
Transportation Center, um, as well as the Chauncey Swan, uh (coughing, unable to hear).
So that was, those are a lot of the reasons why we...we chose to bump it to 80 just
straight off, uh, and once again, that was something that we, that was approved, um...but
like I said, the big one we wanted to kind of discuss before you made...before we had
any, uh, public hearing, discussions, things like that was the expired meter because that's
a big change from where we were at a few months ago, and something we thought was
very positive. (several talking)
Wright/ Somebody said "visitor friendly" (mumbled) one question, if we're going to jump the
fines that much, are we going to...look at increasing the...the towing level?
Champion/ The what?
Wright/ The towing level, $50 worth of tickets.
O'Brien/ It's $50 of unpaid citations. Um, and I guess what we're hoping is that people pay their
citations before...right now towing is a mechanism for us to collect the outstanding
revenue that we have. We tow. They can't retrieve their vehicle till everything is paid
off. Um, you know, if you start raising the tow limit, you know, some people say three
tickets, some five, some communities do it where you, once you get to three citations you
get towed every single citation after that, until, you know, athree-month or a six-month
term expires. I think that's something we could certainly look at, depending on, you
know, how many of these are we going to see, where we're...but in order to get to that,
and that's the thing, in order to get to that, you have to have had, you know, five, six,
seven violations, and not paid. (several talking) So that's, I guess that's where we're
looking at it from, is the stance of, you know, if you have six, seven, what's it going to
take for you to come in and pay it, if the six citations wasn't enough.
Champion/ And you can pre-pay, and you can pay online.
Bailey/ Yes you can.
Wright/ I know people have had deposit accounts essentially (several talking)
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O'Brien/ And with the...the online payments is a very high used and it's a way to avoid
those...those escalation charges, um...and, you know, hopefully like I said, we can...we
can get people into the garage where they'll have credit card options and other options
like that.
Bailey/ Did you have a question, Matt?
Hayek/ Well, it was...um, I...I'm generally supportive of this. I...I do want to follow up on
what Connie mentioned. I have heard from a number of constituents on...particularly the
Chauncey Swan (mumbled) real unhappiness about the extent of the increase, and they
say that they park there because it's less expensive, but they know they have to walk a
longer distance to get to where they're going and general concern about that.
O'Donnell/ What's the waiting list for, um, monthly parking permits downtown?
O'Brien/ It depends. At Chauncey Swan and Court Street Transportation Center because we
have such a high percentage of, uh, you know, we have 475 spaces at Chauncey Swan.
Four hundred, maybe a little bit over, permits that are in there. It turns over quicker
because there's more people. ilh, your Capitol Street, Dubuque Street, it's gonna...it's
two to three years (mumbled) before you can even get in there. Um, where if you're
looking what was three months to be in Chauncey Swan or Court Street two years ago,
because of the list you're looking at six, eight, nine, ten to a year before you can get into
those facilities. Um...like I said, we...we're aware of the jump that we had, and when we
came in and proposed it, we...we offered two different scenarios that we...because of
that. We...we understood what that was...what was going to come from it. And then
there's the argument do you want just one jump and then you're steady for a while, or do
you want multiple jumps every year. It's coming up that we have to keep making these
changes, and then we (mumbled) at the time and the feedback that we seem to get was
that one jump and then it steadies out for a while, um, you know, it's
consistent...University's at 82 for covered facilities. They have a lesser rate for their
uncovered facilities and that's what we're looking at is, you know, your garages that, um,
an $80 rate and then $60 for those areas that are...are parking lots, surface parking, um,
was the reason that we went to that.
Hayek/ Is there any reason to have differing rates to incept people into different ramps?
O'Brien/ There used to be, but at this point, it's almost like Chauncey Swan is like aminor-league
franchise. You get in there to get your foot in the door, and then you work your way up
to the other facilities, because it takes so long to get into, and that's how we...we kind of,
and that's where we are at this point with the number of people we have on the waiting
list. And that's how we encourage people. We say, hey, you know, if you want to get
into a facility right off the bat, we recommend these. Then keep your name on the
waiting list for the one you really want at the end, um.. .
Wright/ When was the last time we bumped up the monthly rates for the ramps?
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Champion/ Maybe a year ago? (mumbled)
O'Brien/ No, we...06, 07 we had a $5 increase...at that point.
Bailey/ Never thought I'd ask this question is how far away are we from bringing another garage
on line?
O'Brien/ Well, we have the St. Pat's property.
Bailey/ Right. When are we...
O'Brien/ December, we have kind of an informal agreement with them that we'll allow them to
be in that space until December, and then at that point.. .
Bailey/ December 09, okay, I just wondered.
O'Brien/ It just depends on, you know, funding, things like that, but...
Bailey/ (several talking) I know! Me either. (laughter)
Wright/ One last question from me is, uh (mumbled) at going away from meters to pay stations
that allow people to pay, even pay with (several talking)
O'Brien/ Yeah, yeah, we've, uh, there's a couple different things you need to look at. Um, we've
looked at pay stations, pay by space, you know, basically you know a meter that covers
ten, twenty spaces. The problem is that you have to either have signs on the ground
because of the snow, because of the ice, um, or you have to have a pay and display,
which means someone has to get it, then walk all the way back to their car to display it,
and there's a, I don't want to call it an annoyance factor. From the customer's standpoint,
to go to the meter to pay and then walk to your car and put it...that's tough for the pay-
by-space. The pay and display, for pay by space then you have to make sure that, um,
you know, you...right now the meters, there's talk you know, sightlines, you know, you
have meters. Well you have to have a sign in every single space with a number on it, so
that people knew what number they were paying for if you wanted to do pay by space.
Those are the reasons we haven't really looked at those.
Champion/ I can see that'd be a problem.
Correia/ ...station might not be where you were walking to. There'd be (both talking)
O'Brien/ Right, you'd have to put two or three of them, and then there's a cost issue for parking
meters, you're talking $179 per. You're talking tens of thousands, depending on the pay
station you get. Um, but there are things that you can do with the parking meters that
we're (mumbled) in between phase right now of going credit card type, pay bycell -these
are things we're investigating, but there's a key that you just put on your keychain,
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however, they're starting to work a little bit away from that technology, um, but that's
something that's been the most solid, but it's also been around the longest. And so we're
afraid that it's going to phase out, so we're just trying to keep an eye on where the
technology's going. You know, is it going towards a swipe card, um, is it going pay by
cell, um, both of which are pretty new technologies, and um, you know, any time you
have in a parking meter something you have to slide, there's maintenance issues, there's
um, there's just a lot you have to look at, and the key, you know, we've got some feelers
out because we like the key. It's a solid technology, um, but we're afraid it's going to go
away and we don't want to invest a lot of capital in it to have it turn around and...and
disappear. So...yes, it is something that we're looking at, uh, we want to get through
these garage changes first and then I think we're going to focus on our meters, and see
what...what we can do to offer different payment options for people.
Champion/ And when will the credit card, um, processing be...be ready for the ramps?
O'Brien/ Uh, right now at Tower Place the equipment has been installed. We're working with the
vendor on the software. Um, we just got the credit card software approved, as far as, um,
we've installed the credit card software at Tower Place. We're working out some bugs on
the...it's reading our credit cards fine from us to the...the carrier. The carrier then taking
it to the bank. We're having some issues that we're working on, trying to debug before
we go into our other facilities um full bore with everything, so...
Champion/ I think it's just a great idea.
O'Brien/ We're hoping by June 1st to have Tower Place. going full with credit cards, um, and you
know, we're hoping obviously, uh, by, well, by July 1st the whole project's supposed to
be wrapped up, so it'd be nice to have that done before Jazz Fest with all the credit card
options (mumbled) (several talking)
Champion/ Go ahead. I have...I have an off question.
Bailey/ Is it about parking?
Champion/ Yeah.
Bailey/ I do too. Go ahead.
Champion/ Oh, well, I just was curious how we decided what's going to be metered or not. Um,
the block of Dubuque Street, past the Post Office, on the east side is not metered. I mean,
is metered. But the block across the street is not. What is the reason for that? I mean,
you probably don't know (mumbled)
O'Brien/ I think the...Clinton Street it's the same way. There's some down on south Clinton
Street, just down from the Post Office, there's...
Champion/ It's Clinton I'm thinking of.
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O'Brien/ Um, I think that has to do with the fact that there were some businesses on one side of
the street, and they wanted to keep parking, short-term parking available for those
businesses, whereas you know, it's an empty lot on the other side of the street (both
talking) my guess. That accurate, Jeff?
Champion/ I'm sure that's exactly it. That seems logical.
O'Brien/ That...and we had that on Iowa Avenue for a while. As the businesses move, then
we...we make changes into how those are structured.
Bailey/ And my question is, um, just the signage for parking garages. Do we have sufficient
signage, I mean, I was in Des Moines and they have a lot of signs about (several talking)
where their garages are, not that I can ever find the one I'm looking for, but that's another
problem. Um, do we have, I mean, have you done any studies about that?
O'Brien/ Yeah, we've done a (both talking)
Bailey/ ...people to the garages...
O'Brien/ Right, L ..I think a lot of it is, some wayfinding signage and I know we've...we've
entered into some initial discussions with the University about overall wayfinding signs
and trying to coordinate, and they're very supportive of...uh, especially with parking
garages, they actually have talked to us about diverting more in order to keep some of
theirs open. Um, so yes, that's certainly something we're interested in, as well as, uh, I
don't know if you, some of you are familiar with the signs that we have on Tower Place,
the large exterior signs, pointing out public parking.
Bailey/ Right.
O'Brien/ Well, we don't have those (several talking) facility, um, and those...
Bailey/ Yeah, those are nice.
O'Brien/ ...something that we certainly could look at, um, down the road.
Bailey/ Any other questions?
O'Donnell/ There seems to be an element of unfairness in this new parking rates for... for the
parking ramps. I...you know, if you're parked in the Capitol Street ramp it costs you 75.
Goes up $5, and then Chauncey Swan goes up $20, and you know, it...is the rational is
well, that's okay because Chauncey Swan is farther away. I mean, it just doesn't make
any sense to me!
O'Brien/ Yeah, and like I said, I think a lot of it's the fact that, you know, back when these rates
first came in, downtown was a little...little different. Things are starting to expand,
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um...how, I guess the...the usage of downtown, the number of residences in downtown.
There's just a lot more long-term demand I think than even there was in 2001 when I first
started, and to get to the point where you start adding up all our waiting lists and we're
1,200, 1,500 deep, um, we had to look at something in order to...to get those under
control. Otherwise people even at Chauncey Swan will be waiting three, four years for a
space, um...so that was the....and I think trying to move towards a covered facility
non...I...and like I said, that was the...the reasoning we came with multiple proposals
the first time, um, that is quite a jump.
Bailey/ Any other questions (mumbled) for Chris?
Hayek/ Just briefly, do you have, offhand, can you estimate a percentage of our downtown ramps
filled with long-term student parkers, as opposed to commuters or.. .
O'Brien/ No, and that's another thing with our software, that as we're, um, we can actually track
that kind of data of...resident, non, we have different fields that we can utilize so that we
can track that kind of data going forward, uh, in the past it wasn't something that we had
the capability to do, um, could I estimate...50%, I mean, I'd say it's probably 50/50.
Um...but we've also added a lot of...of permit space and you know, 600 spaces for Court
Street, and if you look at that area, you know, things are starting to move that way, which
is why you know those 300 that the University hold are very precious permits to us right
now, um, as something that as we see development occurring towards that area, it allows
us to move that direction and open up some space for it, but there's a lot of residences,
um...high-density residences in that area.
Hayek/ Yeah, and I mean, to the extent we want more office space downtown, and more
professionals and people working downtown, you know, parking is an obstacle to that,
and that's why a lot of offices will go out to the...to the fringe, because they can get
parking next to their place, and so it's something we need to keep in mind that...that part
of inventing business downtown is tackling parking.
O'Brien/ And there's a couple different...
Bailey/ We've always been (mumbled)
O'Brien/ ...what we, for economic development we have...we're not bound by the number of
permits that we have in the facility. We are able to offer economic development permits
to people that are coming to downtown with new businesses so that we don't prohibit a
business, but rather encourage them to come downtown, um, you know, they just have to
come speak to us, uh, at, you know, they ask for what...what they think they need, you
know, and at that point we make a judgment as to what we can offer, um, but we, for
economic development we do...um, I guess break away from what we have as far as a
lock on the number of permits that we offer in each facility.
Hayek/ Does that apply to, uh, existing business, or...is that...
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O'Brien/ If the business is expanding, things like that, we will make...we consider that a new
business when they take on.. .
Hayek/ Okay.
O'Brien/ The Sheraton is a recent example of one where we made...(both talking)
Bailey/ ...engineering firm (mumbled)
O'Brien/ ...Engineering was one that we, yeah...
Bailey/ ...sometimes you'll get calls and...
O'Brien/ ...large expansion and we sat down with them and...
Bailey/ Any other questions? Thanks, Chris.
O'Brien/ Thank you.
Agenda Items/Information Packet Discussion.:
Bailey/ Agenda items. Any agenda items that you wish to discuss? So let's just group this all
with agenda items and info packet. Okay.
Wright/ I have one question.
Bailey/ Agenda or info packet?
Wright/ Agenda.
Bailey/Okay.
Wright/ Um, correspondence, 2.g(5), about the, uh, A-frame signs.
ITEM 2. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
g. Correspondence
5. James Adrian and Jack Piper: Business Signs
Hayek/ Yeah.
Bailey/ Yeah! And the question is?
Wright/ I guess I...I didn't know we prohibited them, because I do see them (several talking)
Bailey/ They are!
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Correia/ So that's what I was thinking, maybe we should go through the process of allowing them
with certain...that we have. Yeah, well fees, but then certain requirements so that (both
talking)
Wright/ ...want some size limitations.
Correia/ Right.
Bailey/ Dale, has staff discussed this?
Helling/ This...yeah, this has come up before, um...free-standing signs on the sidewalk, that
kind of thing (several responding). There's been some issues about, uh, liability, in terms
of where they're placed and so forth, and also (mumbled) pedestrian traffic, um, in the
past councils have opted not to...not to allow them.
Correia/ So if a business has a sandwich board sign that's...prohibited, then if somebody gets
hurt they're liable? Or the City's liable?
Helling/ Well (mumbled)
Dilkes/ It's all in the facts. If...somebody suing would probably name both parties.
Bailey/ And they are asked to remove them, but I mean, I think we all see them frequently.
(several talking) They are.
Wright/ I was surprised when I saw it.
Bailey/ Oh!
Wright/ Haven't been around long enough to have this discussion before (mumbled)
Wilburn/ If I remember right in the past too, the issue got into placement and then the sign words
and the size and...and then a concern in terms of, uh, accessibility, people being able to
get by them.
Bailey/ Uh-huh.
Wilburn/ I'm just trying to think back and remember some of the stuff that's come up related to...
Helling/ Yeah, there were...uh, concern about somebody could put the sign anywhere in front of
their establishment, and put it very close to the next establishment's door and...
Wilburn/ Sign wars!
Correia/ Right. Would these...I didn't actually read the examples too closely on this.
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Bailey/ They were pretty specific about placement.
Correia/ They were there, so we could...make.. .
Wright/ I'd be interested in seeing if we couldn't come up with something that would work, if
you have guidelines on placement.
Champion/ Well, yeah, because they are...people are using them all the time.
Wright/ They're already there.
Champion/ They're already there, so (mumbled) (several talking)
Bailey/ Is this a liability issue, or is it a sign clutter issue, as well, that we don't allow them? I
mean, I understand the tripping over them, possible.
Helling/ Yeah, I can't go clear back to your sign ordinance when it was written (mumbled) was
around then, um, I think I was anyway (laughter) must have been, um, but it had to do
with all those issues, and I think clutter was one that the whole sign ordinance was...was
fashioned around something, you know, less...less, um, invasive.
Champion/ ...wouldn't allow sidewalk cafes, that made up that sign ordinance. (laughter)
Helling/ It was very different, there's no question.
Champion/ Yeah, and I think the...actually I look at them every day cause I'm trying to see what
the lunch specials are (laughter). I wouldn't turn anyone in for having one.
Correia/ They seem pretty common, I mean, I'm not talking about here, I mean, they seem pretty
common.. .
Wright/ Elsewhere.
Correia/ ...elsewhere, the restaurant districts, I mean it does create a sense of activity and
festivity and things, I mean, I think that...
Bailey/ Are. a majority interested in directing staff to draft us something that would address some
of these issues? (several responding) One, two, three, four...
Dilkes/ Ifd go through the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Bailey/ Yeah, yeah.
Helling/ Are you talking specifically about restaurant signs now or.. .
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O'Donnell/ That's a good point!
Bailey/ Can we limit it to restaurants?
Dilkes/ (several talking) I think you probably could.
Bailey/ Are we talking specifically about restaurants, or are we talking about all businesses
downtown?
Champion/ Well, I don't want one!
Dilkes/ (laughter) Why don't you...you know, why don't you just let staff take a look at the issue,
and...
Bailey/ Take a look at that issue, the signs, what are the (several talking) Other agenda items or
info packet items? (several talking)
ITEM 2. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
g. Correspondence
8. Arvind Thakore: Dolphin Lake Point
Correia/ The, uh, the correspondence from Dolphin Lake Point, it indicates that they may not be
continuing the owner-occupied, you know, we have Home or CDBG or some fund in
there for owner-occupieds, so we'll...we'd be...
Wright/ Which correspondence are you referring to...
Bailey/ That's 2.g.(8).
Correia/ 2.g.(8)
Wright/ Thank you.
Champion/ That's Lakeside, right?
Correia/ Yeah, yeah.
Davidson/ Yes we do. I think $180,000 in CDBG for downpayment assistance, so we'll have to
figure out.
Correia/ Okay, so we (mumbled)
Davidson/ ...find out more, yeah.
Correia/ And with CDBG, it is CDBG?
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Davidson/ Yes. CDBG or Home, I'm sorry I don't know which.
Correia/ So I know one of them has a quicker trigger on (mumbled)
Davidson/ No, I did talk to Steve about that when we got the letter from Arvind too, and so
we're, I think Steve's in the process of figuring out what's going on, how much they spent,
and that kind of thing. We'll get to the bottom of it, and when it goes back for
reallocation you'll hear about it.
O'Donnell/ But, Jeff, I think more into that letter what's the intention of (mumbled)
Davidson/ iJh, one would assume it would be to convert back to rental.
O'Donnell/ To rental.
Davidson/ That's kind of the impression we're under, Mike, but we don't know...basically we got
the same letter as you did.
O'Donnell/ Yeah, and that's how I interpreted it too. It's going to be rental.
Bailey/ Thank you. Other agenda items or info packet items?
Hayek/ Mine is, I mean, it's in the info packet, but...we're going to be picking it up in the
prioritization, um, in terms of, uh, it's IP2 technically and (mumbled) referring to
the...the drop in the, uh, the number...the number shown on the amended spread sheet
there, and I don't need us to talk about it today, but...but, Dale, I think as we get into the
budget priority, some sort of recap of where we are financially, um...this month, as
opposed to where we were when we did the budget, in terms of (noise on mic) greater
dollars coming in...
Dilkes/ Matt, I'm heaving a hard time hearing that.
Hayek/ Can you not hear me? (several talking) May 7th, I'm sorry. (several talking) I
apologize. We don't need to address that specific packet item, but I just...I was looking
at that and then there's one somewhere else, as well, and maybe it's our investment, uh,
quarterly report. I just think some broad information about how we're doing financially,
at the beginning of our...restarted budget discussions next week would be helpful for us
and the public, and I just wanted to flag that.
Bailey/ Okay. Other items from the info packet of the 7th, or the 14th, or the agenda packet?
Okay, we're going to move on then. Uh, crime statistics report.
Crime Statistics Report (IP3 and IP14) (southwest Iowa City area):
Helling/ I just wanted to...I don't know what questions you'll have, but...
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Bailey/ Oh, okay, thank you.
Helling/ But Steve's been involved, um, in terms of the southeast Iowa City issues and that (noise
on mic) um...(several talking) You've got some information in your packet, uh,
statistical information. We kind of, sort of reshaped some of it from what was in the, uh,
in the annual report from the Police Department. And that's...that's pretty general. If
there's...more information you'd like on a specific (mumbled) uh, types of crimes
(coughing, unable to hear)...get that for you (mumbled)
Champion/ I think we've got a lot.. .
Wright/ These were disturbing enough. (mumbled) 25% so far.
Hargadine/ I'll start out here. Um, if I could refer you to page 25 of our annual report, um, our
overall numbers are down by 203 (mumbled). We did have a spike in homicides in 2008.
Uh, five were in one incident, and the...with seven total (mumbled) and that's an unusual
spike for Iowa City. Assault and fight calls for the time period of January through March
31 of this year are up significantly, 31% for this time period. That was one of the things
you asked for (mumbled) where we were in 2008 and then ayear-to-date statistic. Our
challenges this past year, um, originally were with, uh, we had a spike in armed robberies
to convenience stores. Um, a rash of burglaries to commercial businesses. LJh, vehicle
burglaries and break-ins. We've had different rashes, uh, throughout the year, uh,
assaults and fighting in the downtown district and uh, most recent the neighborhood
disturbances in the southeast area of town. Um, the earlier challenges all have been
cleared by arrest. One thing to note is...
Correia/ I'm sorry. Just...the...
Hargadine/ For instance, the, uh, armed robberies to convenience stores.
Correia/ Those have all been...
Hargadine/ We've cleared those by arrest.
Correia/ Okay.
Hargadine/ Rashes of burglaries to commercial businesses, um, when we solved those, we
actually solved a fairly large number in the Johnson County area.
Correia/ Sure. So those were all solved.
Hargadine/ They're solved.
Correia/ Excellent!
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Hargadine/ Um, vehicle burglaries and break-ins, um, to include mine I might add, um, we got
into a couple of groups and um, those have been solved, as well.
Correia/ Okay.
Hargadine/ Um, and there are multiple groups. Um, we're talking about vehicle break-ins. The
assaults are...still continue to be a...a challenge in the downtown area; however, we have
collaborated with the UIPD and um, I think we've been fairly aggressive, and... and the
last month I'd say things have stabilized (mumbled). Um, one thing to note about Iowa
City is that the size of this town, one person or small group can affect our statistics
significantly. Uh, it's not like we're St. Louis or Kansas City where one person really
can't affect the statistics overall, but here we're...we're small enough that if, uh, for
instance like with the vehicle burglaries, um, those were...they were hitting 20 cars. in
one parking garage, or they'd go to a, you know, the retirement center and they'd hit 40
cars in one night. So those really do...when we make an arrest like that, it clears up a lot
of crimes. Um.. .
Correia/ It seems to me that, um...you know, we hear in the press...the press picks up stories
around the burglary, you know, the...the event that's happening, and then they don't pick
up that we've made, you know, we've solved that crime. We've made arrests, and so
we've seen that go down, because I think that that's something that's missing with the
public, because we hear, you know, a rash of car burglaries and so people are justifiably
worried, and then we don't hear so much that this crime has been solved, um, you know,
we found and charged the persons responsible and then, you know, we can then see
that...that's, you know, cleared up for the time being, not that there's not going to be any
other, you know, similar type crimes happening, but I mean, I think that that's significant
and I think what you're saying is significant too about, so you have small group of people
doing a lot of...so when we solved that, then it really impacts the sort of stability of...the
area or whatever, so I think that's important. I don't really know how to address that, um,
you know, I know that the Police Department puts press releases out when, I mean,
we11...I suppose it's not necessarily (mumbled) the media goes through the police log
these events are happening and you don't have a log for when you clear that...cleared the
case or you know...
Hargadine/ For example, the armed robberies and when we solved those. Um, that's a sexy story
to write about. And so those tend to make the...the front page, but um, you know, the car
burglaries, that's probably going to be on the third page.
Correia/ Right. Right.
Champion/ It was in there. I didn't read (mumbled) but it's not fun to read it. It's more fun to
read about (laughter)
Hargadine/ Unless it's your car!
Champion/ It's only a car!
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Bailey/ Right.
Champion/ Um...I'm going to talk a little bit, and I'm sure you're going to about the problems in,
um...
Bailey/ Sam, were you done with your presentation?
Hargadine/ That's my, uh, overall. But we can go anywhere you...
Bailey/ Go ahead! Connie.
Champion/ I think we're all concerned about the problems in the Hollywood Boulevard area.
Um, I mean, how can you, cause I can't do it, how can you go about making this better, a
better situation down there? Tell me what...just off the cuff.
Hargadine/ Um...I think one of the key problems down there, I mean, it was really a simple
issue. It was two families that got into a squabble and it got blown out of proportion, and
uh, got larger and larger really fast. Um, to the best of our knowledge, baseball bats was
the worst, uh, weapon there was, but obviously there was the rumors and...that's...it's
pretty common for us to receive a call that there's been shots fired and that just gets us
down there quicker. And so that's pretty common that we get that...that threat, that, um,
someone's got a gun or whatever. Sometimes it's true; sometimes it's not. Uh, so we
have to go into each one of those situations like it's true. Um, one of the things that we
did early on was I got with Steve and collaborated. I said I need every...all the help I can
get. Got any suggestions? And um...(mumbled)
Rackis/ Well, yeah, the um...the original um, incident involved I think...what was it? Six or
seven, uh, six or seven kids and um, turned out, um, all but one were families either on
public housing or the Housing Choice voucher program, and of those families, three of
those families are relatively new to the program. They've just been admitted in April, and
in May. So, um, you know, when it turned out that, you know, five out of the six were,
uh, part of the Housing Authority programs, we've always tried to mediate and work out
solutions with families, when it involves juveniles, and just, uh, in the winter and uh, sort
of in the fall, winter, and spring of the last two...two years, we, um, launched an effort
with Mediation Services to...to bring them in, to truly do mediation, where we did a lot
of internal work at the Housing Authority, working with families to, uh, very great
success in terms of not having, uh, a lot of repeat offenses by kids, and really in...in
looking at drug-related offenses and violent, uh, disorderly conducts, fighting. So it
really was effective, but as time was going on, I was sort of in the dual role of these are
the rules, how can we work out a solution, and it just seemed like we...we should find
some other...other way to do that, so I approached, uh, Annie Tucker of Mediation
Services and then eventually that led us to Valerie Kemp with the Sixth Judicial District
and...and what it is, while we call it mediation, is...is what Valerie calls like a family,
uh, circle, where it's more of what happened, you know, what's the harm of what
happened, you know, what are the results of your action, what are some things that we
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can do, uh, what are some things that we can do better, what...what can we do to avoid
this situation, because these kids are not necessarily thinking about how their actions are
going to affect the remainder of the household. So we just launched this effort so when
Sam, uh, you know, contacted me and we were able to identify the...the number of
families that were on the program, I said well, we've got a new process. We'll just invoke
that process and uh, then I called Valerie Kemp and...and Valerie, which I suspected
would, said, well, you know, instead of doing five separate family circles, let's have like a
community mediation and...and involve the families that are not on the housing program,
and...and see if we can't, um, you know, sort of put a lid on this, try to you know address
this neighborhood situation, address it with all the families involved, and... and some
other key stakeholders like, I think she's invited people from the Neighborhood
Associations to talk about, you know, sort of when you fight in the neighborhood, this is
how it affects me, and how can we work together to not have fights in the neighborhood
and find other solutions then, then resorting to, uh, you know, multiple fights. So, that's
really what we could bring to the table. Now if none of these kids were on...on housing,
there really wouldn't be much that...that we could do. LJh, but we do have. I think, you
know, we brought that to your attention two years ago. Many of our families living in
public housing in Whispering Prairie, Whispering Meadow last...you know, two years
ago were identifying a lot of issues and we worked together with the Neighborhood
Association and uh, seemingly things were looking brighter in the neighborhood, but I
think what it really, uh, in many cases boils down to, there's still a lack of a lot of positive
activities for these young kids to do, and uh, and I know Chris Jones at Grant Wood
Elementary is working very hard, uh, with, uh, the Boys and Girls Clubs, to see what it
would take to bring a Boys and Girls Club to Iowa City to perhaps, you know, even
locate it near Grant Wood or somewhere in that side of town. So that...I think it does
boil down to, you know, some more positive activities. Now, I don't know if we had a lot
of recreational activities it would have stopped this. It seems like from what Sam's
saying it just sort of blew up and carried on over...over a course of a few days. So...so,
again, because of our involvement with the families, we were able to sort of take a lead,
to you know start the mediation, uh, or family circle, and...but really everything right
now is...is (mumbled) she's um, taken the lead on organizing it, and I...I think it's...I
can't remember, um, Sue Freeman is going to assist and Bruce...Bruce (several
responding) Kiddle, are going to be the three, uh, main facilitators for our...our
Wednesday meeting, and...and you know, hopefully that, um, we can, uh, find a, you
know, positive resolution and...and put this conflict away.
Hayek/ Who are the landlords involved, when you say public housing. Is any of this Iowa City-
owned?
Rackis/ Two homes are public housing, which are, uh, city-owned properties.
Hayek/ Okay.
Rackis/ LTh, two properties were, um, the Housing Fellowship's, and I...I can't recall who the, uh,
who the other landlords are. I think one of the homes on, um, 2304 Hollywood where a
lot of this activity took place, I believe is Aries Property Management.
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Hayek/ Who's that? Is that a just a local landlord...
Rackis/ Yeah, local like a management company. I...I think...that's not the owner. That's the
management company for the... for the property. So it's kind of a mix -private.. .
Correia/ I would say, based on my knowledge of what happened and, um, information about the
community mediation and...and being involved, you know, wearing my professional hat
with juvenile court services, um, and even kind of comparing some of the fight issues that
are happening downtown, versus this issue, I mean, it's a very different...the assaults
downtown are random acts of violence. Somebody...people are being jumped. It's, you
know, this is there were kids that got into an altercation and it got out of control. No
doubt about it, and you know, we needed to respond and, you know, kids are being
charged and they're, you know, getting involved in juvenile court office to get services,
you know, and...
Hargadine/ Additionally, Amy, there were parents lining up behind the kids, and supporting them
in the fighting efforts, and I think by Steve's quick interaction, letters were hand-
delivered that next day. We need you to quit, uh, you know, lining up and supporting the
fights and be a parent, um, and he has the carrot that is the incentive for...for them to
listen, because their housing.. .
Champion/ Well, you're really talking about changing behavior patterns.
Hargadine/ It changed quick. We have not had a flare up since that occurred. So...
Rackis/ Essentially I did go out and just and hand delivered our...we created a...a form letter to
use for our mediation process, and we hand delivered that, and then we subsequently
hand delivered, um, the invitation letter to the...the Wednesday...Wednesday event, to
try to get that out, um, as quickly, and I think as Sam said, not rely on the...not rely on
the mail.
Wilburn/ The other two... the other critical piece is to, in addition to the, you know, the um,
quick response, and working, involving you know the other folks in the neighborhood,
and whether (mumbled) group or the neighborhood centers, um, and trying to get, uh,
other neighbors involved and showing how it impacts, and you know, neighborhood
center (mumbled). I think that's a helpful, um, community type response, and it also gets
it away from law enforcement involving in the role of mediation, given that some folks
may have some, uh, preconceived animosity, uh, towards law enforcement, but it's a
different face of the community and it's not just law enforcement, uh, either picking out
certain segments of the community or...or that type of thing, but it....um, just seems like
a more holistic type response and so I think that's.. .
Hargadine/ We received a phone call this morning from the, uh, U.S. Department of Justice
Mediation Service, and they had been tracking this and had read about the riot. Because
the riots got...made national news and (several talking) uh, when they found out what our
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efforts had been, um, this is what we're doing -this is what we're going to do -they were
very complimentary. That's what we would do as well. So, um, I think...I think we're
doing what we need to be doing. Hopefully it'll...it'll, uh, continue to work.
Rackis/ Actually, uh, Tom Meade called me, as well this morning, and uh, and I explained
our...our process and he still (mumbled) meet with me next, uh, Wednesday, and I
invited Valerie Kemp and...and Anne Tucker. Apparently he has a meeting in Cedar
Rapids and would still swing down, um, to...to just get some information from us on
what we're doing and see if that's, you know, something he could incorporate into...into
what he's doing. So, as far as I know, I'm still meeting with Tom Meade next...next
Wednesday.
Hayek/ So what happens if there's a repeat of this, um, if...if another flare-up occurs, involving
the same people? Um, I mean, it...do we, I mean, I applaud this intervention and I...it is
a holistic approach, but at some point, you know, a 14-year-old could...could really hurt
somebody, could be tried as an adult, and...and I don't know if being a juvenile means
you take a different approach, even though the outcome could be the same as a 19-year-
old doing something that was...
Hargadine/ As far as I'm concerned, um, what we...if it's a crime violation, we'll go after it just
like we would, um, any other case. And um...
Hayek/ Okay.
Hargadine/ Hopefully...I mean, can keep it from spreading just like (mumbled)
Bailey/ Well, and that...and I think that you've done great jumping in and responding very
quickly and really knowing the direction you wanted to take it -amore community-based
sort of approach rather than enforcement, and I think that that's great, but um, I think that
how...besides activities on the southeast side, I mean, obviously this plays into a lot of
stereotypes, we're all aware of that, about the southeast side. What can we do to address
the issue more broadly and more, you know, to make sure that it's more systemic, that we
don't necessarily see aflare-up, besides other activities?
Hargadine/ Well, they were in a recreational activity when this started, so.. .
Bailey/ Great! (laughter)
Hargadine/ ...um, that's something (both talking)
Bailey/ We'll continue this.
Rackis/ I think some education, uh, I, uh, at the disproportionate minority contact meeting, um, I
can't think of the young lady's name from the school district.
Correia/ Valerie.
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Rackis/ Uh...Valerie Niber, yeah. Valier Niber brought it up that...that she engages with some
of these kids in class. The ones at City High, and...and they just sort of don't get it. I
think what happens in some cases is, you know, perhaps Sam and I get in...into a little
altercation. And then, you know, Amy and Ross decide they're going to tell the police
officer just, you know, what happened, and interject themselves into the situation and the
police say...please step back and let us deal with this, but people keep interjecting
themselves into a situation and then now all of a sudden they get charged with Disorderly
Conduct or...or Interference, and I think Valerie brought up, you know, we need to find a
way to communicate to these kids that, you know, you need to step back. You don't, you
know, ah, interject yourself and...and make the situation worse or expand the situation.
So I think we've got to find ways, you know, to...to do more outreach or be a little bit
more proactive on, you know, what your actions can ultimately lead to, and you know, I
don't know, you know, if the school's the best forum for that. The neighborhood center's
the best forum, but I think we need to find some comprehensive approach of...of
addressing, uh, this with...with families, and especially you know families that are
newcomers to the community, you know, coming from perhaps a larger, urban area
that...that it's a little bit different here. Maybe this Urban Dreams, uh, that's coming to
town can...can become a vehicle, but I think it really is sort of finding ways to work with
the school district, work with the police department, work with any other active players
to, you know, it's different here, and, you know, we're not out to get you, but you know
you have to sort of work with us. So, I think it's just, you know, it's going to become sort
of an every day comprehensive effort of multiple agencies to just try and stay ahead of it.
Bailey/ Well, and who's going to be the point person on, I mean, I see that. I think that that's a
great approach, and I'm excited that Urban Dreams is considering coming here, but I
mean, who's going to be the point person on that, because I think that...I think the time is
now. We can't wait for this to flare up again.
Correia/ Right. And we have a, I mean, we have a juvenile justice, youth development
(mumbled) and policy board. We're a...some of the members attended the Urban
Dreams (mumbled) meet monthly, um, we're meeting on Wednesday and we're going to
talk about, um, I mean, part of what we're going to talk about is sort of a debrief
from...from last week and how can...how can...youth development programs, sort of
rally to support kids and families in specific neighborhoods where there maybe identified,
um, lack of programs, um.. .
Rackis/ (several talking) sort of lacking because I think the Housing Authority in this situation
we can take the point, but in the case of all the kids burglarizing cars, that didn't involve
any of our...of our families. Some of the fights that happened, you know, couple of
weeks or a month ago at the spot didn't involve any of our families, so it's hard for us to
step in when, so I mean, at some points we can take the point. Some points we can't.
O'Donnell/ (several talking) What are the consequences of, if this flares up again? We...we had
young people with baseball bats and called in officers from surrounding communities
(several talking)
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Correia/ Kids that get charged have consequences, Mike. They have to, their parents or
their...they have to go into the juvenile court office. They have to follow a case...they
have to follow a case plan, depending on what the County Attorney says. They might
have to go to court, but they certainly have either a formal or informal probation where
there's expectations on their behavior. (several talking)
O'Donnell/ We had parents involved also.
Correia/ And they (both talking)
Hargadine/ ...repercussions for them.
Correia/ There were parents that got charged. They got charged. They went and stayed in jail
over night. They went to court the next day. They have that charge. They go through, I
mean, with anybody you know, and the same thing...and I think some of what's
happening with the downtown, you have people being jumped and nobody sees those six
guys that beat up somebody, and so far, you know, we're not...we haven't spent much
time talking about what are the consequences and repercussions for those folks.
Bailey/ Well, I think we'll get to that. I mean, first things first.
Wilburn/ One of the things Steve was getting into, um, and I don't know if this helps. Uh, there
are...there are forums, formats, meetings, different...compilations of groups that are
involved with, uh, juveniles and/or, you know, I mean, you see kind of the same
organizations, but I think more and more they're bringing these events to the table
because where a particular incident is going to occur is going to determine really who has
first, you know, something in the most recent thing, um, you know, it involved something
that happened over the weekend and law enforcement was very quick to contact the
school and say this has been brewing, this happened over the weekend, so that the
schools were able to be prepared for something that may spill over in...during the school
day and so, uh, on...in one situation, uh, Housing may be taking the lead. In others it
maybe the schools. It maybe, um, law enforcement, or it maybe some folks from the
business community, if something happens over there and...and all of these folks are
coming to some of these...meetings. I think the other thing that gets that in terms of the,
uh, it's related to, um, the um...talked about a holistic or a community response, not to be
earthy-crunchy or anything, but, uh, we...we have in place the reactive consequence
piece. That is law enforcement. That is the juvenile court. That's the adult probation
system, and um, what some of the other systems that we have in place get at trying to
modify...you know, it's (mumbled) is still proactive, trying to get out and to talk about
individual behavior, and talk about individual choice, and it's just one of those situations
where it's, um...you're not going to stop something 100% of the time, but because of the
sum of those other efforts, you know, um, you may get a reduction of one out of, you
know, one or two out of five flare-ups may cease to exist because there's some
connections, because some folks have done some of that community involvement,
prevention type work, uh, to help...to help at that, but we're not going to live in a society
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because of individual choice that...negative events like this are going to be completely
eradicated.
Bailey/ I understand that, and I understand that it's not necessarily our role, but we're the people
who get the calls and I...and I firmly believe that there are systems in place to address
these issues in our community, including our own systems, and you know, I have
confidence in that, but...I guess my broader question is, how do we get that information
to be able to address the broader community, because it's playing into stereotypes, and I
think we need to do that, as well as, are there policies, like our Aid to Agencies, should
we be putting more funding into programs that are addressing these kinds of issues, and
begin to prioritize what broad community issues we are seeing that need to be addressed,
and how are we partnering. So I'm talking about what's our responsibility, what's our
role, and how can we better communicate what's happening in the community to do a
better job to address, and then if we see gaps...are there places where we need to be
jumping in? I guess that's where I'm coming from.
Rackis/ I think, you know, to answer Matt and...and Mike, I think even with the Housing
Authority you know potential consequence is the loss of housing, and one of the goals of
the mediation is to provide, you know, the parents with the tools and the resources.
Juvenile courts, you know, they...they have, you know, wonderful resources that they
can bring to bear. We don't have resources, but we have the housing voucher, we have
the housing, so we can partner with these other agencies in...in terms of encouraging the
access to the resources. So what it becomes after that is...is sort of putting onus back on
the parents that to participate in these services to access these services to help them, to
help them with their kids, so...so where it begins to shift is we're not necessarily looking
at what the kids are doing, we're looking at what the parents are doing to prevent the
further behaviors in the kids. Now we have...we have some parents that just have some
kids that are out of control, and they are hooked up as deep as you can get hooked up in
the juvenile court system and are, you know, sort of one offense shy of...of perhaps
going to, what is it? Um, Elkader...Eldora, and you know, we haven't, um, jeopardized
the rest of the family because the...the parent can demonstrate to us...I'm doing
everything in my power. I'm working with the probation....I'm working with everybody
and yet this...this child still...so we continue to work with that family. If the parents
begin to fail, I think we could look at, you know, you're failing. That could lead to the
potential loss of...of the housing assistance. They...again, it would come back on the
parent, not necessarily the kid.
Champion/ Well...it's a problem. I don't know how to address it. I don't know how to answer it.
These kids, um, these are learned behaviors. They aren't born with them. They've
learned them. They don't want to change. Some can, some of'em won't, and so I...I
don't know how you deal with that. Uh, they say they need more activities. Well, you
know, there's a lot of activity in this town. I mean, that's part of the Grant Wood Gym.
That's part of the Neighborhood Centers. Uh, I don't think the kids that are failing this
want more activity. I think they can make their own activity. Um, I...I don't believe that
activity is a solution to this problem. I hate to be really narrow about it, but I know my
kids didn't have activities, but you know, they had a really mean mother. Um (laughter)
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so, you know, I think we've got a bigger problem here than we can deal with, um (several
talking)
Bailey/ ...go back to what's our role here.
Correia/ Right. L ..I don't think that I'm ready to say after this group of incidences that we're
involving specific kids around a specific event to...to...to generalize over a whole bunch
of kids.
Champion/ We're not generalizing about (both talking)
Correia/ Well, I mean, I feel...I kind of feel like that's, you know, I feel like that it's gotten, it's
gotten very heated in the press. I don't read the blogs so I'm sure that it's really gotten
heated in the blogs. That, um, and that there are...responses, very quick responses that
have occurred around a specific, very...
Bailey/ That's my point! There were, and but unfortunately whatever happened, now that we
know the details, whatever happened played into a lot of assumptions about the southeast
side. How, and my question is, what's our role and how do we get that information to
assure people that there are things happening to address these issues, not just in
enforcement? I mean, and I think that that's, I mean, that's what we're interested in as a
body, and that's...those are the kinds of questions that we get. And so, short of having
you wear two hats at every Council meeting, how do we get that kind of information, is
my question. And...and...and how are we able to address some of these broader issues?
Correia/ Well, I mean, does some of that, I mean, some of that was communicated in Dale's
memo.
Bailey/ Right.
Correia/ ...to us, yeah, and there is a, well, there's a parent, or there's a community meeting...
Bailey/ I'm not talking about the specific incident. I'm talking about the assumptions about the
southeast side and what is (both talking)
Champion/ Which are not new!
Bailey/ Which are not new. And that's more broadly what, I mean...this incident obviously is
being handled very, very well. I mean, it was fast. There was...response, those sorts of
things. But, when we get calls about this and that on the southeast side, it would be good
to know what is happening. I mean, in a broad sort of sense, not details, not.. .
Correia/ There could be a way, I mean, there's a Broadway Restorative Justice meeting that
happens once a month. Many City staff attend that meeting from Parks and Rec (both
talking)
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Bailey/ ...who's our point person.
Correia/ Yeah, I don't know if you attend those meetings, Steve. You used to attend maybe...
Helling/ I used to...it's hard forme to be quiet being acard-carrying sociologist, but I (laughter)
I used to attend those because I am on the (mumbled) (several talking) but, uh, there are
so many things going on, and so many agencies involved.. .
Bailey/ Right.
Helling/ ...and I think one of the reasons why this hopefully is under control and came under
control very quickly is because those agencies in that area and other areas of town too
have worked together. For a long time, and they know each other, and they know how to
work together, and I mean, that's...that was a great help to...to us, just to have them on
board and ready to go. Valerie's, you know, a prime example of that. Um, so and she
also is...is the person who...who, um, coordinates everything in terms of the Restorative
Justice, uh, just listening to the conversation, I guess...I don't know...this...this was
handled very well, and the outcomes thus far anyway have been...has been very
favorable, and...and some other things are happening that I think will help guarantee that.
Um, in terms of point person, I don't know that there can be a point person.. .
Bailey/ Okay.
Helling/ ...in these kinds of situations, but for the...the resources that we have, we have people,
we have the Chief, we have Steve, we have Marcia, who can, you know, be the point
person for those particular resources, and I think the main thing that we need to do maybe
to, at least partially respond, Regenia, in what you were talking about is to try to...to
support within our organization as best we can all those resources that come into play in a
situation like this, uh, to keep...make sure that we have people from Parks and Rec at
those meetings, make sure that we have representatives, depending on what the issues
are, and they're very good about letting us know this or that particular issue is something
we're dealing with in the neighborhoods and that we'd like somebody from this or that
department to be there and I think the Police Department's been represented, uh, rather
extensively, not every meeting, but a lot of'em, and same thing for folks from Parks and
Rec, and I know Steve has been to some of the meetings to address housing issues. Um,
so I guess bottom line for me is that we...we keep in mind what we as a city do and how
we can...how we can best, uh, you know, mix those interests and support each other, and
the other groups that are doing things that, they're outside the purview of City
government.. .
Bailey/ Right.
Helling/ ...and um, just...just keep working together, because that's...that seems to be what
works the best.
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Rackis/ Regenia, I live south of Highway 6, and I...I wish I could answer your question.
Because um, probably a week, you know, a month, a day doesn't go by that I don't get an
email at work that...that you know is directly related to south of Highway 6, typically
it...it's you know, myth generated that I, you know, I keep thinking there has to be a
solution to this and you know, I do keep thinking that you know there must be something
that we can do to really empower the, uh, neighborhood associations, uh, you know, we
tried that, you know, in Grant Wood Neighborhood Association with the cleanup. We
tried that in Wetherby, you know, sort of empower people, empower the neighborhood,
but the reality is, you've got a lot of hardworking people that don't have the time and
energy to do it. There's a lot of people like...I have neighbors that live next to us and
they're like, you know, in two years we're going to be out of here. So, we just hope when
we go to sell our home we can get it sold. So they're not really interested in participating,
and then we've got families that literally (both talking)
Bailey/ That's where my parents live, so I'm really familiar with...
Rackis/ Yeah!
Bailey/ ...I mean, exactly!
Rackis/ I wish I...I can't answer your question. Because I don't...cause every day I think, how
can we make this better?
Bailey/ Dale really helped, I mean, I think...I think that when I get questions and the hardest
questions of course come from my parents -what's going on on the southeast side, um,
that...that I'll give you a call, and it sounds like depending on what the issue is, or what
the event is or the activity that we have staff, um, participating in a lot of things there,
and obviously Marcia's a good point person, as well, so...
Hayek/ This reminds me of...of the Scattered Site Task Force work that I was a part of for 18
months, uh, four, five years ago. (mumbled) to the Council when I was on that
commission. There...there are areas of that part of town where a third of the housing is
assisted, and...and you have poverty issues and we've been through that, and Steve, you
and I talked ad nauseam about that back in the day, but...
Bailey/ And we need to educate as to community norms and that's a challenge and, I mean, as
Steve said.
Champion/ Well, you can't redistribute people but we certainly can (mumbled) status quo and
that scattered site housing thing was, I'm totally in favor of...of scattering, um, all ghetto
groups, whether they're rich or poor. I like mixed housing, but I don't know how we're
going to tackle this problem. There's a lot of talk in town about it, um, the perception
was there before, and this just reinforced it. And then you think about (mumbled)
becomes detrimental to the neighborhood, and then sometimes the (mumbled) creates
reality. And people...it's just a bad, it's been a bad situation.
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Rackis/ Well, then too, I just remember one group that is, uh, going to come in. Cheryl Nelson
with the Iowa Association of Realtors is going to be out of town, but uh, Marcia, Cheryl
and I are attempting to get together, because the Fair Housing Ambassadors are very, uh,
very willing to do whatever they can as well to, uh, you know, try to help out, to help out
the image of you know the southeast side, you know, because obviously there are a lot of
nice properties there, uh...
Champion/ A lot of affordable housing there!
Rackis/ A lot of affordable housing.
Bailey/ Well, I mean, yeah (mumbled)
Champion/ Well, anyway....
Bailey/ Any other questions about this particular issue? Cause we're probably going to move to
discussion of downtown next, so shall we leave the southeast side (several talking) Yes.
Um, I do have one question for Council generally. I see that there's a neighborhood
meeting on Thursday night. Are...are Members of Council planning to attend? I am.
O'Donnell/ What time is that?
Bailey/ It's at 7:00 to 8:30.
O'Donnell/ That's at Grant Wood?
Bailey/ Yes.
O'Donnell/ I'm fine with (mumbled)
Correia/ I was asked to facilitate, so I'll be facilitating.
Bailey/ So keep in mind that if there's four of us there, you know, I mean, Amy will be
facilitating but the rest of us don't talk. I was just going to...
Champion/ Is she allowed to talk?
Bailey/ She's facilitating!
Champion/ I'm just teasing! (several talking)
Bailey/ Yes, okay, but I just wanted to give you a heads up that I was planning to attend.
O'Donnell/ I've always found it best if four people don't go. If there's going to be three (several
talking)
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Bailey/ I just wanted to let you know that, I mean, if others were planning to be there, and I knew
you would probably be involved. Okay.
Rackis/ Thank you.
Bailey/ Thank you, Steve. Okay, shall we talk about downtown? (several talking) No, no, no,
no! We're moving from the southeast side to the central. And there have been concerns
brought to us, of course, and I think we're in a meeting next month about downtown
violence, um, and the University's very concerned. Talk a little bit about the...the
partnership with the University and what we're doing to address these issues.
Hargadine/ Uh, for the past couple months, um, we've...ramped up our enforcement, our officers
present downtown, specifically, um, to remain on the perimeter of downtown, not to be in
the bars working alcohol enforcement and stings or those kind of things. We've had
those events go on as well, um, but we wanted to be on the perimeter looking, um,
specifically for the violence and the fights. Uh, likewise, University of Iowa, uh,
they've...they've beefed up their staffing, as well, uh, so we were paying for overtime
officers, as were they, in addition to the additional staffing that (mumbled). Um, it took
probably a week or two for that to sink in downtown, but I think once it did, we didn't see
any more fights in that particular area. Um, you know, it...it seemed to make a
significant impact, um, but it was very expensive for us to do, um, this...now that they've
gone home this weekend, we're looking to go back to a normal staffing level.
Bailey/ And will...will the collaboration with the UIPD continue?
Hargadine/ If necessary. Um, they've committed as necessary.
Bailey/ Okay. But a presence really has affected frequency.
Hargadine/ Right.
Bailey/ Okay.
Hargadine/ There are other parts of town, um, where there's you know parties or uh, after-hours
parties for example, um, and go ti114:00 and 5:00 in the morning. There may be a fight
out on that parking lot, but that's not where we have our, uh, beefed up staffing. So there
are other parts of town where things could flare up, but um, we're aware of that.
Bailey/ Did you have any comments?
Shipley/ Yeah, uh, how many officers are generally assigned to patrol downtown normally. I
think it's seven? Is that correct?
Hargadine/ Uh, on...it'd be seven or eight, um, would be the minimum. Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday the minimum would be eight. Um...
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Shipley/ And then how many, uh, how many officers did you add...
Hargadine/ We were adding either two or four, and likewise University was adding two.
Shipley/ And, um, I mean, with...there were no charges made with any of these assaults?
Hargadine/ There have been charges, um, made in...in several fighting instances, um, there have
been, uh, a couple of the assaults have been cleared -not all of'em. Uh, one of the things
that we've kind of alluded to, um, is the, uh, disorderly conduct, uh, I would recommend
looking at that (mumbled) if someone's down there looking for...to pick a fight, before
they get into that fight, before they get into an assault, their committing disorderly
conduct and it's a very low fine. LTh, I can't remember off the top of my head what it is,
but uh, compared to the other alcohol offenses, this is somebody who's looking for
violence, um...
Shipley/ So of the percentage of people you apprehended, how many of them were actually
students?
Hargadine/ Uh, probably the minority, several were...most of the time they were young people
from other jurisdictions.
Shipley/ Because when I met with, uh, President Sally Mason that was the concern, that there's a
lot of perception that all the problems downtown are just the students being drunks, but
you know, we have other people (both talking)
Hargadine/ Absolutely!
Shipley/ ...Cedar Rapids and other places.
Champion/ And Ames, Waterloo, Quad Cities.
Shipley/ Yeah, so there was kind of a, the feeling that the University was being unfairly targeted
for these problems. I'm new, so I don't know how much that's true, but.. .
Champion/ I don't think (several talking)
Correia/ ...young white male.
Hargadine/ I think that's, uh, I hate to use the word profile, but uh, that would be accurate.
Champion/ Too much alcohol and too much Red Bull (mumbled)
Hayek/ If you've...if you've got, uh, eight officers down there, I mean, how many are you
running on a single shift? Is it...out and about?
Hargadine/ Not much more than that.
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Hayek/ No, I mean citywide.
Hargadine/ That's the number.
Hayek/ So you got (several talking)
Correia/ ...eight downtown.
Hargadine/ No, eight total!
Bailey/ So our entire resources (several talking)
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Hargadine/ They have ten...if no one is sick, no one's injured, no one's on vacation, we could
have ten down there. If no one has asked for a night off. ilh, but right now I've got three
on injured...injured status. So...that all...that puts it back to more than likely there's
going to be eight down there.
Bailey/ So our resources are completely focused on the downtown.
Correia/ You're saying that there are eight officers on duty, citywide?
Hargadine/ There could be.
Bailey/ On a shift?
Hargadine/ On a shift.
Correia/ They're all downtown?
Hargadine/ If necessary, yes.
Hayek/ But as you go into a Saturday night, let's say, would you proactively put everyone
downtown?
Hargadine/ No. They all have their own assigned district, but as the calls keep going down there,
and as...if one officer says I need help, then they're all going.
Hayek/ But up to that point, where...how many are downtown versus out cruising.. .
Hargadine/ Two or three.
Bailey/ (several talking) normal staffing. Okay.
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Hargadine/ Now there is, as...as the shift is spread out throughout the whole town, there are
more in that particular district, uh, than there are anywhere else. Most of the average, uh,
beats have one (mumbled) There'll be two or three in that beat.
Correia/ On the Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights.
Wilburn/ And that concentrated response, I presume would be based on actual calls of an
incident and/or the assessment of the officers that are based down there, that you know
things are kind of brewing, stirring up down here. We could use some additional help, I
presume that's the case?
Hargadine/ Well, that is the case. They don't have to assess it. It's just fact. Uh, Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday. We've become a Mecca, kind of gets back to the point you made,
uh, we are a destination point for young people statewide. This is the Mardi Gras of the
Midwest. Um, they come here because they don't go to Cedar Rapids' bars. Um, if
you're from Cedar Rapids, you come here.
Wilburn /That was...actually part of the conversation that has evolved over the years, related to
why there is an interest in making it 21 here, because, um, under 21 couldn't, they
couldn't do it back home and so...so it wasn't just a...the conversations historically
related to the motivation that different Council Members have had to making it 21, to get
into bars here, has not only been around University of Iowa students. There has been a
concern about people from other areas under 21 coming to Iowa City for the purpose,
because they knew they could get in here, when they couldn't get into the bars back
home.
Shipley/ So is a current thought now that 19 to 20 year olds are driving a lot of the problems
we've seen downtown or...
Correia/ Or the culture. Of the (mumbled)
Bailey/ (several talking)
Champion/ By the time people are 30 they usually settle down a little bit.
Correia/ (several talking)
Wilburn/ And the reason the conversation is centered around that age group's because there's
already a penalty, a consequence for somebody who's over age who has consumed too
much alcohol or has been served by someone. There's already that...that, so that's why
there hasn't been as much attention to that perhaps, in addition to just...
Hargadine/ (mumbled) and there are, uh, well, Ames, somebody brought up Ames, they bring in
buses to Iowa City. Um (coughing, unable to hear) high schools will come to Iowa City.
High school, sometimes senior sometimes not, and they're coming here for a pub crawl.
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iJh, and we find out about it on Facebook and...and meet'em when they get here.
(laughter)
Bailey/ So you're a welcoming committee, as well!
Hargadine/ That's right!
Bailey/ Um, so I just had another question about this deployment as, you know, you have eight
officers per shift, as they get downtown, I mean, they're in their cars, but it's mostly foot
when they're patrolling downtown, so it's also...an even smaller area really that's capable.
Hargadine/ Yeah, that's really common for those that are assigned that area. They will be out on
foot. Um...those that are coming in to a sister beat, they're going to be in a car, because
they're there to help and then get back to their own...
Bailey/ Okay.
Correia/ So when you...when you were talking about having the increase enforcement
downtown with the extra officers and you were using overtime, that meant that the other
areas of town still had their officers patrolling and would call with help, but you had
additional officers because they were getting overtime? Is that, am I hearing that right, or
is that...not
Hargadine/ There were always cars going citywide, so we always have to maintain those, but we
had a lot of people in those, generally on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday everybody
seems to migrate in towards the center of town, because they know there's going to be.. .
Correia/ The other officers that we had...essentially we were putting overtime so
additional...there was additional...
Hargadine/ Yes.
Correia/ Okay, so it wasn't... gotcha.
Shipley/ I've spoken to a few individuals about the fighting downtown, um, and a couple people
who spoke to me who witnessed the fight personally, right outside of the Fieldhouse,
right, you know, in a very visible area, um, essentially they saw it. These six people
swarmed this one dude, and you know, beat the crap out of him, whatever, um, but
usually when I'm downtown, uh, you now, you have two cop cars right, perched by the
Taco Bell, and another officer kind of standing around, where the food cars are set up,
wherever, so I mean, the question in my mind is, you know, when you do have like such
strange occurrences of violence in a very highly visible area, I mean, um, wouldn't we
expect the response time to that be almost instantaneously or...
Hargadine/ You're making an assumption that those officers that were down there that you saw
weren't already doing something. So if they're on another fight call, then they can't just
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stop, or if they have an arrestee in the back of their car, and they're taking a statement
from a witness, they can't just stop what they're doing and...so there's too many variables
to answer that question.
Shipley/ Cause I know, um, you know, a lot of the people I've talked to (mumbled) about this
violence there's a tendency to blame all these cops that are too busy giving PAULAs in
the bar and not caring about the violence you know right outside the bar. So I...I've been
hearing that.
Hargadine/ Everybody's welcome to their opinion! (laughter)
Champion/ Everybody likes to blame the police. Um, I...I do want to ask a question though, uh,
about downtown. We used to see a policeman walking around during the daytime, but
they never seem to be down there now, and the reason I'm asking is there's been several
incidences that have occurred on the Ped Mall where they couldn't even get a policeman
to show up. For instance, some of the scum bags down there started a fire by one of
those old buildings.. .
O'Donnell/ You've got to quit holding back. If you have something to say, say it! (laughter)
Champion/ ...and uh we called the police and they said they were too busy. So my daughter,
Catherine, who's quite aggressive, she went out there and took care of it, but I wouldn't
have done it.
Hargadine/ How long ago was this event?
Champion/ This last week.
Hargadine/ Then I need to hear about those instances.
Champion/ Yeah, and you know, yeah, that's the only...that I know as a fact. I don't know it as a
rumor or somebody, but the person at the desk, yeah, I mean, this really did...
Hargadine/ (mumbled) there have been times...if we have nobody to send, that's one thing, but
I've...(several talking)
Bailey/ ...we have no, we don't have anybody assigned to the downtown district during the day,
or we don't have anybody assigned out of their car to the downtown district during the
day?
Hargadine/ What probably happens is there's no one available to go.
Bailey/ But that's not somebody's regular district, or area?
Hargadine/ Yeah, but there's nothing said that they might be called to some other place to back,
um, that happens all the time where you get (both talking)
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Bailey/ I get a lot of those questions, as well. And comments.
Champion/ And I get the comments, but if I don't know it for a fact L ...
Bailey/ That's the thing. I can never corroborate necessarily.
Champion/ But um, I think we need some presence downtown. When we started doing it a
couple years ago, it really did clean up some of the actions on the so-called Ped Mall.
Because there are people hanging out there who really, I guess they don't have anything
else to do. And...and they just like to harass people.
O'Donnell/ You said we have eight officers downtown, Chief? Sometimes...
Hargadine/ Citywide.
O'Donnell/ Huh?
Hargadine/ Citywide.
Bailey/ A shift.
O'Donnell/ Citywide, but on like a Friday night of a football game, how many officers do we
have downtown?
Hargadine/ Um...we could have a dozen. I mean, minimum.
O'Donnell/ How many University of Iowa officers do we have?
Hargadine/ None on a football game because they're...they're (several talking) um, generally
they're not going...the University's not going to do that, because they're...they know
they've got a big day the next day, and they're out, most of their duties start at 5:30, 6:00
in the morning, opening those lots and those kinds of things.
O'Donnell/ How about anon-football weekend then? Like a typical Friday night that is a bunch
of people downtown. Do they assist us in watching downtown?
Hargadine/ Only if we ask.
O'Donnell/ And if we ask, do they send us like two to four officers or.. .
Correia/ Can we ask for something more consistent? During the school year?
Champion/ I think during the football games'd be...
Correia/ Well, for sure during the football games but...
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Bailey/ When I was in a meeting, um and Dale and I were in a meeting with the President, they
were very happy to collaborate, um, and...
Hargadine/ That never made it down beyond that level.
Bailey/ Well, if...I...here you go. Dale was there too. I cannot imagine it...
Hargadine/ I know. I've heard it a couple of times. I've heard it...I've, um, I'm very respectful of
that.
Bailey/ ...need us to do something.
Hargadine/ ...but the Vice President over the police department has never heard it.
Bailey/ Okay. Well that's unfortunate. Because apparently at some level it's believed that it's
happening, or should happen. Okay, any other, I mean (both talking) ask Sam...
Champion/ Is there something we can do to help the downtown situation, besides giving you
more policemen, which I'd love to do, but we don't have any money.
Hargadine/ Other than that, uh.. .
Correia/ We're doing a zoning ordinance. (laughter)
O'Donnell/ A police auxiliary. (several talking) What does it do -they're very effective. The
Sheriff s Department has 'em, um.. .
Bailey/ I don't know what...I really, that was a legitimate question. I didn't know what they did.
O'Donnell/ Yeah.
Bailey/ Okay.
Hayek/ You know, let me say something, there's been great focus on downtown and it is an issue
and...and you're getting pulled in a lot of directions, I know that for sure. I guess...I
think there is growing concern in the community about crime elsewhere, uh, and it's...it's
substantiated, and I mean even on my own street on the north side of town, in the last
year there has been, uh, a major sting operation connected by your staff...
Hargadine/ We talked about some houses.
Hayek/ Yeah, exactly, and involving sophisticated crack dealers, uh, few doors down from that
there were some guys who were trying to carjack vehicles with armed, with pistols on
Dodge Street, four houses up from me. Um, and those are two of a zillion examples, and
uh, it's my sense that...that there is a growing unease in the community about crime
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and...and not the stuff we're seeing downtown. It's...it's outside of downtown. I don't
mean to diminish, uh, what occurs downtown, but we can't be distracted by that when we
have serious situations throughout the community.
Bailey/ We are! (several talking)
Wright/ You raise a good point that I think there is...concern throughout the community for all
parts of the community, not just one specific area and we're...the thing that disturbs me is
that I know when I look at the numbers here, some of these people have been (mumbled)
it always seems like there's somebody else to come along and take their place, and if I
look at the numbers right now, we're really running a lot higher in reported crimes than
we were a year ago.
Bailey/ (mumbled) certainly.
Wright/ Definitely trending up. If it continues at the current rate, it's a 20 to 25% increase. We
have a problem.
Correia/ Is there any relationship in crime to the state of the economy? Just sort of as a general,
yeah, I mean...just sort of thinking about that. There's...
Hargadine/ (several talking)
Wright/ It's pretty well established.
Correia/ Right, so I mean on some level it's not, this is probably not a unique thing to Iowa City.
It's disturbing. We need to make sure that we're doing what we need to be doing, um, I
mean, if we did receive more help from the University around downtown patrolling,
would that free up...you know, on those nights that we get more calls from downtown,
because certainly we get calls and you know, if that's something that can be put into place
during the University session.
Hargadine/ It does free us up. We did have...when we had that help down there, it did free us up
for those (mumbled) uh, places that can flare up, um, but the problem is (mumbled) they
have their own issues and they have their own responsibilities.
Champion/ Well, I read that Providence is (mumbled) tax the students for police (mumbled)
Correial Providence, Rhode Island?
Bailey/ (mumbled) (laughter)
Champion/ Well, I don't think it would happen, but...
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Bailey/ Any other questions for the Chief? We are concerned. We need to hear what we need to
do, um, we're getting calls and obviously in some of our neighborhoods we're seeing it,
so...
O'Donnell/ You guys did a great job on the south side of town.
Hargadine/ Thank you.
O'Donnell/ Great job!
Bailey/ Thanks for being here (several talking) (laughter) That's just next week! Okay, we've
done info packet. Matt would like to get out of here, so we're going to buzz through the
rest of this stuff quickly. Council time? Budget priority setting -any comments? That's
set for next week. I have a quick question. I think you mentioned to Marian the
possibility of moving these from 5:30 to 6:30. Is there a preference? We're scheduled for
5:30. I'm good with 5:30, but if others...any preference?
Wright/ 5:30's probably (several talking)
Hayek/ I wouldn't mind 6:30 actually.
Correia/ I wouldn't either.
O'Donnell/ I wouldn't either. I think that's...
Bailey/ Three for 6:30. Ross? You're the...you're the swing vote here. 6:30 or 5:30?
Wilburn/ 6:30s fine.
Bailey/ 6:30, okay. We'll change those. (several talking) Uh-huh. We'll change those to 6:30.
Come fed! (laughter) Any other comments for the budget priority setting? Okay. Dale,
did you have anything?
Helling/ No, I think 6:30 will give you plenty of time.
Bailey/ All right. Um, schedule of pending discussion items -we've talked a little bit about that.
We do need to do, um, City Attorney and City Clerk evaluations. I'd like to talk about
that process on June 1st. We did put some structure in place for the City Manager
review, if we'd like to use some of those tools for that, um, that's what I'd like to discuss
there. Any other pending items?
Hayek/ I would like to add something to the list.
Bailey/ Gotta stop doing that, or we're going to be here until 10:00 every work session.
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Hayek/ And that has to do with the, uh, Historic Preservation guidelines (mumbled) or last week.
Um, and this has nothing to do with tomorrow night's vote. It's...it's, if there are at least
four people, I would be interested in sitting down with Historic Preservation Commission
and at least having a discussion about, um, some of the things I talked about, are the
restrictions too tight on issues of environmental and...and energy efficiency, uh,
progress.
Champion/ I think a work session with them would help you greatly.
Bailey/ Well, or do we want to ask Christine...Christina to provide us with a memo first, and
then if there are further questions to sit down?
Hayek/ That would be fine. I'm not inviting a 20-person meeting.
Bailey/ Yeah.
Hayek/ I want to do what makes sense, but I don't want that issue to...to...
Bailey/ I want to do a system...a process that gets your questions answered, but what's the most
expedient way to do that? Do you have...
Wright/ It might be more (mumbled) start with Christina.
Bailey/ And then if we have further questions (several talking)
Wright/ I would add that this is a discussion that's going on nationally, even with the National
Historic Trust.
Bailey/ Right, and so there might be some guidelines and might be some things, in examining it,
they'll begin to...they'll be motivated to bring to us, as recommendations, so...
Hayek/ And there are some people locally, and I...I obviously heard from them through the
process that...that have some knowledge about this.
Bailey/ So, um, is there interest among four of us to, um, just to have a memo from Christina
regarding specifically environmental issues and historic preservation, is that how...
Hayek/ Yeah, environmental, energy efficiency.. .
Bailey/ She can call...
Hayek/ ...things like that.
Bailey/ Okay.
Wright/ With the possibility we may...at some point later on (mumbled)
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Bailey/ Right, or her. Or just having (several talking) It was kind of fun with the Parks and Rec
today. Any other pending...um, upcoming community events, Council invitations - I
made sure, I didn't know if you guys received this from the, um, the Memorial Day event.
Wright/ ...somehow I think somebody got mine.
Bailey/ Julie made copies, so you all should have one, um (several talking) Mayor and Council
Members so I didn't know if people had gotten them.
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