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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-02 Transcription#2 Page 1 ITEM 2. SPECIAL PRESENTATION. a) MidAmerican to Fire Station #2 Bailey: Would the representative from MidAmerican please come up. Schadler: Hi, I'm Jeff Schadler. I represent, uh, MidAmerican Energy here in Iowa City, and I'm here tonight to present a check to the City of Iowa City for their participation in MidAmerican's commercial new construction program for, uh, Fire Station #2, over on Emerald Street, uh, wanted to thank you for...for participating in the program and congratulate you for a successful project. Karr: Here for the presentation is also Fire Chief Andy Rocca. (applause) Wright: Nice thing about a check that big is you can't lose it in your pocket. (laughter) Rocca: Madame Mayor and Members of the City Council, I'd like to make just a few brief comments if I could, uh, related to Fire Station #2. Uh, first of all I'd like to once again thank Mr. Jeff Schadler from MidAmerican Energy. Clearly an honor to work with, uh, MidAmerican Energy on such a fine endeavor as our green building -our Fire Station #2. So thanks to him and MidAmerican Energy. I would certainly be remiss if I didn't pass on a few other thank yous at this time, and certainly the citizens of Iowa City for their ongoing support of Fire Station #2 and the Iowa City Fire Department. Of course you, the City Council Members, uh, I have to chuckle. I think back a few years ago, when you toured our former facility and uh, there were some interesting comments made, and I won't repeat any of those tonight, uh, but certainly uh, with your insight, and that tour, I think we ended up with a very fine Fire Station #2 today. So thank you. Like to also thank City Administration and staff. You don't demolish a...a former fire station, move into temporary quarters and then rebuild your fire station and move in without a lot of divisions and departments involved in that, and so my thanks to all of them as well. Lastly, Rohrbach and Associates, our design professional, clearly a state of the art fire facility that will serve our community very well for many years to come. Uh, just a few things I want to talk about, the uh, the LEED design or LEED certification, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Fire Station #2 as you know is...is located at 301 Emerald Street, and we're seeking a silver LEED certification at this time. We might even achieve a goal based on points, and we're really excited about that. We believe it's, uh, one of the first, if not the first, City building that would get the designation of a LEED certified building, so we're excited about that. LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building performs across all the metrics that matter the most. Those being energy savings, water efficiencies, uh, C02 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Specifically what we've incorporated into our facility is responsible demolition and debris removal of the former fire station and some of the products of the new construction site. A geo-thermal system and energy recovery system; high This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #2 Page 2 efficiency building systems that include windows, roofing and insulation; green interiors -carpets, paints, and finishes; low-flow plumbing systems -lavatories, faucets, urinals, and shower systems; natural ambient light in all the areas of the building, and efficient lighting control systems, which would include automatic motion detectors to turn lights on and off, and ambient light sensors to limit what lights are necessary. So, again, we're quite pleased with this state of the art fire facility that's been, uh, constructed at 301 Emerald Street, and with that, I'd like to also take this opportunity, you know we have an open house planned for this Sunday, and again, our open house will be at Fire Station #2, 301 Emerald Street, and an invitation to the public, as well, to attend our open house. Can't think of a better way to showcase this facility than to open it up to the public, and with that, on Sunday, June 7, from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. we'll have that open house. There'll be abriefribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:30. Our Mayor, City Manager, myself will have a few brief comments, uh, some refreshments will be served, and we do have some parking. There's limited on-site parking, but our good friends at the University of Iowa over at Finkbine have...have graciously offered to, uh, put together some overflow parking for us, and so we...we look forward to Sunday - our open house -and with that I thank you very much. Bailey: Thank you, Chief. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #4 Page 3 ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). Bailey: This is a time on the agenda for those of you who wish to address the Council on items that are not on tonight's agenda to approach the podium, state your name for the record, and limit your comments to five minutes or less. Honohan: Mayor Bailey, Members of the Council, I'm Jay Honohan. I'm a Member of the Senior Center Commission. Tonight I'd like to invite all of you to the Boomer Bash that we're holding this Thursday, particularly you, Mike, you might enjoy it! (laughter) O'Donnell: I'm not the correct age yet, Jay. (laughter) Honohan: And by the way, anybody in the audience, you can all come. It's being held next door, or across the street, whatever you want to call it, in front of the Senior Center, and we hope...we have the Beaker Brothers Band, and they'll be running from 6 to 9, and if you can't make that, Mike, we've got an English country dance on Saturday night (laughter) at the assembly center. Maybe that'll be better for you, Mike, at your age! (laughter) We also have...I'd like to re...to report that we're having a health fair June 20th in which various businesses and agencies involved in healthcare will have booths at the Senior Center and again, the public is invited. We'd like to see all of you there. Uh, briefly I'd like to tell you about our summer program, uh, I'm kind of pleased about what we have this summer coming on. We have 73 classes running this summer in June, July and August. We have 31 events and we have 20 performance groups performing. The Drill Team is getting ready to do the Homecoming Parade again, and uh, we're looking for a team to work on the sand sculptures, which I think you're all aware it's going to happen in the community in August. So if you want to join our team, you're welcome. I...we haven't played in the sand for a long time, but I'm looking forward to it. Thank you very much. Bye-bye. Bailey: Thank you, Jay. O'Donnell: Jay, I can't let you go without asking -will we see you...your world-famous rendition of the Chicken Dance? Honohan: No, I'm practicing it right now, Mike. (laughter) O'Donnell: Okay. Bailey: Anybody else wishing to address the Council? Richmond: Hi, my name is Kristof Richmond and I'm with the, uh Friends of the Animal Center Foundation. I'm the Treasurer of the Board there. Uh, I know at the last meeting our Executive Director presented, um, some correspondence to the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #4 Page 4 Council, um, in regards to building a new shelter, and sighting a new shelter for the City. LTh, I'm just here to follow up a little bit with that, um, everyone on the Council should have received, uh, the letter that we sent, and I'm here just again to reiterate, um, the Foundation's um, willingness to help the...the City in sighting the new shelter and in providing any support that we can in creating a new shelter that supports the community, um, that it can really be a, uh, focus point for community activities, so we see the shelter as being a place that people can go and visit, a place where, um, where children can come and learn about animals, and sighing it in a place like a park, like the Sand Lake Recreation Area is a great, um, step to improving the number of adoptions out of the shelter, uh, and to creating a new kind of community center we can have, uh, community center events room, um, where activities can happen, that could be rented out for different kinds of activities. Um, so in considering the new shelter site, we just wanted to um, say that we've already, you know, started looking at some architectural firms that are specifically, um, skilled in, um, constructing shelters, um, which is actually a pretty technical area, um, and we're willing to provide any support that we can to the City, including potential fundraising needs, um, in order to create a really wonderful shelter for the city. Um, and so if there are any questions from the Council or um, we'll continue to follow up with the Council, um but wanted to just make sure that you guys know that there is significant support in the community for, uh, a shelter that is located in a park-like area, and that has...is well designed and has room for extensibility for creating a really wonderful community center. (mumbled) Bailey: Thank you. Champion: Have we heard anything from FEMA yet about the covering, the money? Helling: Nothing final. Champion: Okay. Correia: ...interested in putting this on a work session agenda? Bailey: Once we hear from...FEMA, and have some ideas from the staff (mumbled) that's looking at it. Helling: The search goes on, we just haven't (several talking) a place yet, but until we get the final word from FEMA, we won't know sure about the relocation but uh, it looks good so far. Correia: So could we have this on a work session agenda, just in terms of talking about sighting? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #4 Page 5 Bailey: I think once we know about the money from FEMA I think that would be...give us the better information. So, as soon as...do we want to put it on the pending list, pending information from FEMA, I think that would be fine. Richmond: Is the work session open to the public? Bailey: Absolutely! Richmond: Okay. Bailey: Okay, thank you. Others wishing to address Council...concerning things that aren't on tonight's agenda? Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #Sb Page 6 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING APPROXIMATELY 23.25 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED ALONG THE 400 - 500 BLOCKS OF N. VAN BUREN STREET, THE 300 - 500 BLOCKS OF N. GILBERT STREET, THE 300 - 700 BLOCKS OF N. LINN STREET, THE 200 - 300 BLOCKS OF RONALDS STREET, THE 200 - 300 BLOCKS OF CHURCH STREET, THE 200 - 500 BLOCKS OF FAIRCHILD STREET, AND 200 - 400 BLOCKS OF DAVENPORT STREET FROM NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION RESIDENTIAL (RNS-12) ZONE TO HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY/ NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION RESIDENTIAL (OHD/RNS-12) ZONE AND FROM MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY (RS-8) ZONE TO HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY/MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY (OHS/RS-8) ZONE. (REZ09-00001) (PASS AND ADOPT) Correia: Move to pass and adopt the ordinance at this time. Bailey: Moved by Correia. Wright: Second. Champion: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Wright. Discussion? Okay. Hayek: Do we need. to do ex parte (mumbled) Bailey: Oh, thank you. Ex parte communications? Go ahead, Matt. Hayek: Yeah, uh, bear with me, the list is long. Um, since the...between the second vote and tonight, I've heard from the following people, uh, received a letter from Dana Thomann encouraging a yes vote, noting a decline in owner-occupied homes in the area and noting the numerous small businesses in the near northside, and suggesting that a stabilized neighborhood helps those businesses. I received a note, uh, from I believe her sister Deanna, uh, encouraging a yes vote and suggesting that many of the registered opponents to this overlay do not reside in the neighborhood. Received a letter from Terry Kaplan, uh, also encouraging a...a yes vote and uh, noting a decline in owner-occupied homes within the dis...within the neighborhood. Received a note from Clair Sponsler thanking me for, uh, my yes vote, acknowledging the need for flexibility with Historic Preservation guidelines. Uh, but suggesting that the experience in other districts, uh, in the city shows that, uh, the entire community benefits from this kind of protection. An email from Rod Sullivan, agreeing that the Historic Preservation guidelines need to be reviewed, but endorsing the overlay for the district. Uh, a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #Sb Page 7 letter and some enclosures from John Kammermeyer, uh, he noted the, uh, notarized objections and how many there were. He enclosed a couple of recent Press-Citizen pieces, uh, and he questioned whether some of the homes in the affected neighborhood, uh, could or should be saved. A voicemail from William Lake, uh, stating his total disapproval, uh, with the, uh, proposal and indicating that the restrictions are too heavy, um, I called him back, uh, and left him a short voicemail telling him I was returning his call. A voicemail from Kevin Hochstetler, uh, stating his general objection to the district. He did not leave a number. An email from Niki Neems, a northside business owner, thanking me for the yes vote and encouraging me to maintain my position. Um, a...a note from Judith Pasco, identical to what I just described, encouraging me to maintain my position. I think I got a note from Marshall Poe. I can't remember for sure, uh, generally thanking me for, uh, my earlier votes. A phone call with Ellen Widiss, uh encouraging me to vote yes on final passage, and concurring with some of the sentiments raised, um, or made in a letter from (mumbled) who, uh, sent hers to Council, and that's part of our packet. Uh, a phone call with Willa Dickens, uh, stating his general objection to the district, and...a belief that the neighborhood needs refurbishing more than it needs preservation. Um, and then a voicemail to me from Bob Elliott in which he passed on some information, uh, that suggested that Historic Preservation would, uh, potentially jeopardize Iowa City's eligibility for, uh, stimulus funding, uh, but then he followed up the next day with an email, uh, retracting that information and explaining that what he had left in his voicemail was not correct, um, and then uh, lastly a phone call from Dan Smith, uh, today. He's a lobbyist for the Home Builder's Association, called to report that the Home Builders had been asked, uh, you know, in the 11th hour to weigh in on...on this issue, um, he acknowledged that the Home Builder's Association does not have a practice of advocating for or against Historic Preservation districts and didn't offer a position on behalf of his group, or request anything on behalf of the HBA. I...might have received a couple of other notes, uh, I can't find them. I've done the best I can to recap the communications. Bailey: Thank you. Others? (several talking) Champion: I...well, I didn't keep track of all my notes. I thought we only had to report things that we actually conversed in (mumbled) had an interaction. I think I got all the same notes you got, but I also verbally did talk to Ellen Whitest and Mr. Lake, Niki Neems. Wright: Um, I spoke to Mr. Lake, um, I received messages from Mr. Hochstetler and Mr. Dickens, and I honestly...don't remember if I returned those calls or not, but they were urging, um, a no vote on the historic district, uh, based on the number of property owners that did not support it in the area. I also received, uh, notes from the Thoman sisters, uh, urging support of the district, and I had a very general conversation this afternoon with Judith Pascoe, whom I ran into at the University campus. We actually barely talked about the historic district, and mainly talked about City Council elections (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #Sb Bailey: Others? Page 8 O'Donnell: I spoke with, uh, Bob Elliott, and I got one letter (mumbled) forgotten the name, plus all that we've received in our Council packets, uh, and everybody's gotten those, so that's all I got. Bailey: Um, I basically received the same correspondence from the same people that Matt outlined, um, generally, um, being supportive. Most of those thanking...thanking for the support. I had voicemail messages from Willa Dickens. Was not able to get back in touch, and William Blake, um, urging a change of vote, and expressing concern that so many property owners have protested and that this was going ahead, and I had an extensive conversation with Kevin Hochstetler about the economics of historic preservation and that, um, short-run it may look very challenging to some property owners, but over the long run historic preservation tends to play out well for, um, people, property owners in the district. And then had an extensive conversation with Sue Futrell about, uh, owner-occupied and the mix of the neighborhood. So, and actually we were supposed to be meeting about something else, but we did drift into that conversation. So, those are mine...ex- parte. Okay? Is that sufficient unto the day (laughter). All right, further...now discussion? Hayek: My...my vote hasn't changed, um, I am mindful of the opposition to this district, but I'm also mindful of the Council's charge to make zoning decisions based on the public good, and I find compelling arguments on both sides, but I am convinced that, uh, in the long run this is going to benefit not only the northside, but the entire community. Champion: It's a vote for Iowa City, it really is. Wright: (several talking) tremendous example of Council taking the long view (mumbled) ultimately going to be best, as you say, for the northside, and for the city, and uh, I think as we've seen some of the other historic districts in town, uh, this does play out very well for property owners. If you look at south Governor Street, uh, 15 years ago as opposed to south Governor Street now, um, it's amuch-improved area, and uh, certainly that is...that's applied to even Brown Street from 30 years ago to now -Brown Street is, made a tremendous jump. O'Donnell: Well, and my vote also hasn't changed. I'll continue to vote no, um, when you have the majority of the people in an area, 60%, as well as 70% of the tax base in the area, um, that opposes it, that's what I'm basing this on, and I don't know any where that it's written that it says if you buy property that you don't live in you forfeit property rights, so my vote will...will remain no. Bailey: Any other comments? Roll call. Item passes 6-1, O'Donnell voting in the negative. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #Sb Page 9 Champion: (mumbled) Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Wilburn: So moved. Wright: So moved. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Wright. All those in favor say aye. ...carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #Sc ITEM 5. Correia: Wright Bailey: Page 10 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. c) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14, ZONING, ESTABLISHING DEFINITIONS AND A USE CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURE FOR DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS AND ALCOHOL SALES-ORIENTED RETAIL USES AND ESTABLISHING MINIMUM SPACING REQUIREMENTS FOR DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND FOR ALCOHOL-SALES ORIENTED RETAIL USES IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS SERVICE (CB-2), CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB-5), AND CENTRAL BUSINESS (CB-10) ZONES. (PASS AND ADOPT) Move adoption. Move adoption. Second by Wright...seconded by Correia. Discussion? Hayek: I'm going to continue to vote no on this for the reasons I've stated twice before, which is that, uh, although I support this in the downtown area, I think this goes well beyond what this intended to address and um, I don't... and I worry about the dampening effect on economic development in areas where we're not worried about these kinds of problems. But, you've heard that line before. (laughter) Wright: And I will continue to support this amendment, uh, because I...I don't think this is going to have a dampening effect on...on restaurants opening up in other parts of the community, and I...I think it should make no difference to restaurants opening in various parts of town. It will make a difference in bars opening other places in the community. I think that's actually very important. We have other areas of the city which could easily become bar zones along the side of the...the, besides the downtown, uh, we don't need the extra problems. We also don't need, uh, much of these are outlying areas, we don't need people drinking and driving. Bailey: Okay. Any other discussion? Wright: (several talking) yeah, but we still don't (mumbled) Bailey: Further discussion? Okay, roll call. Item carries 5-2, O'Donnell and Hayek voting in the negative. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 11 ITEM 8. AMENDING TITLE 3, FINANCES TAXATION AND FEES, CHAPTER 4, SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES, CHARGES, BONDS, FINES, AND PENALTIES, SECTION 8, PARKING VIOLATIONS, TO AMEND PARKING FEES, RATES, AND FINES. A) PUBLIC HEARING Bailey: This is a public hearing (bangs gavel). Public hearing is open, and Leah, if you wouldn't mind, it would be easiest to hear first from staff. Thank you. O'Brien: Madame Mayor, City Council, um, items that we're going to discuss are amendments that we have for our fee schedule for parking rates in Iowa City, uh, some of the...some of these have come from, uh, budget discussions. Some of these have come from a plan we put together to try to address some congestion issues that have been raised by Council in the downtown of Iowa City, um, and so I'm just going to summarize these briefly, uh, if you have any questions, or if any other items come up, I'll be free to discuss those. Um...we'll start with the parking meter rates, uh, the proposal that we have is to increase those meter rates from, uh, 75-cents an hour to one dollar per hour in the high demand areas of downtown. Uh, this was a proposal that came from our plan to help, uh, with the congestion we were seeing in downtown, uh, we did a study. 98% of our meters, uh, were occupied during peak time; 39% of those, uh, were found to be feeding the meter, uh, this was a study done by Planning and JCCOG, um...what we're trying to do with this is to...I guess encourage people to park in the parking garage if it's going to be people who are doing longer term business so that we can open up those meters in the downtown for people that actually, uh, are stopping in to do business downtown, stop in for lunch, things like that...and, and that was the reason that we put that part of the proposal together, was to try to encourage turnover in those spots, and to encourage the people that were parking long-term to...to move into the parking garages where the rate was less than that on the street, um, and that was something we've been trying to do for a while. Um, in addition, there would be an increase in contractor parking rental from $10 to $12 because of the increase in rate there. Um, monthly parking, that was another area that we addressed. This was one that was addressed in the budget, um, when we put our budget numbers through, and that was an increase in, um, all of our parking garages -Capitol Street, Dubuque Street, Chauncey Swan, Tower Place, and Court Street - to increase those rates to an even $80 per, um, per facility, per month. Um, historically there had been a stagger in the rate, uh, Tower Place, um, and Capitol Street were at a higher rate than Dubuque Street, which was at a higher rate than, um, Chauncey Swan and the Court Street Transportation Center. The reason we're trying to even those out is, uh, we've seen a, a change in downtown. It's started to move towards the south and if you actually look at, um, where Court Street is in relation to Capitol Street and the Dubuque Street garages, it's really just across Burlington Street, and as things have developed and we've seen commercial spaces and more residences in that area, um, we feel the rates comparable to those in the downtown, um, in the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 12 immediate downtown and felt that an $80 rate for all of those was, um, something that we'd like to do. iJh, and when we came to, uh, to you about the budget, we actually proposed two ways, uh, one was a $70 proposal for the first year, and then the next year moving Chauncey Swan and Court Street up to $80 per month. Um, and at that time it passed as $80, uh...I think...uh, the commercial loading zone, I'm sorry I forgot about the citation for commercial loading zone. Uh, that was another change that came as a result of our study of downtown, in trying to, uh, eliminate some of the congestion issues we were having and what we found is that 80% of the vehicles that were parking in commercial loading zones were actually personal vehicles, um, and when that was happening, those commercial vehicles weren't finding any space in the commercial zones, uh, so what we proposed was an increase in that citation from $10 to $25, which would be posted on the signs, uh, and the reason for that is to discourage people with personal vehicles from parking in those stalls, freeing those up for the commercial vehicles that are coming downtown to do deliveries, and to serve the businesses downtown. Um, and in addition we also proposed raising the rates on $10 citations to $15. That would be for your no parking anytime, your blocking alley, for your citations along those lines. Uh, and t hen lastly, and this is one that is a change from what we initially proposed, uh, was the expired meter citation. LTh, this is one we recently, uh, received a new software package, um, prior to when we initially started the budget we didn't have this in place so that's why there's such a late change, uh, we initially proposed an increase in expired meter fines from $5 to $10. Uh, what we're doing now is proposing, um, kind of a tiered system, where the first offense for people, and this is every six months starting July 1st and January 1st, uh, the first offense for people would just be a warning citation. So for those people that are visiting downtown or are visiting, uh, friends in the downtown or coming down to do business, who rarely ever run into situations where they run...have an expired meter, uh, they would get a warning citation, once every six months. Subsequent violations and increase, uh, with their frequency of violation so your first offense is $5 and then two...your third and fourth offense are $10, fifth and sixth offense are $15, seventh and eighth $20, and those people they get nine plus offenses in six months, all of those are $25 per, um, and once again, the reasoning was, for those people that, uh, follow the regulations that we have and for those people that are visitors to downtown, um, and it's a destination point, uh, we didn't want to have anything that would discourage them from coming in and, uh, so we thought the warning citation for people once every six months was a...was a way to encourage people to come down, and if they accidentally forgot to, uh, come out and feed their meter. If they, uh, over-ran their time, uh, that warning citation is there for them. And I think that addressed all of the fee increases that we have proposed. Bailey: Okay. Thank you, Chris. Cohen: Hello, I'm Leah Cohen here with Downtown Association. And I just wanted to, um, speak to you just briefly about the parking rates. I've heard from all...pretty much all the merchants downtown that are very concerned about what's going on This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 13 with parking rates right now, with the percentage of increases when you look at it, um, as far as their customers are concerned, in particular, um, but also looking at the ramps and what we're doing with the ramps for the regular people that are parking there, um, a lot of those people make $8 to $10 an hour that are parking in those ramps, so if they have a $20 increase a month, it's pretty major to them. Um, so generally across the board if you look at the percentages of...of how these rates are going up, it's pretty high. And it's...there is a big concern amongst merchants, um, I was kind of sent here to express the concern and to let Council know that they feel that you're not listening to them right now, that they are expressing this to different Councilors and they aren't being listened to, um, merchants are concerned. It's a...it's a, not a great economy right now and I think right now that everyone is looking at that and looking at their stores and what's going on, so we just wanted to positively, um, encourage people in coming downtown and we just did not feel that this is a way to do it. Thank you. Hayek: Can I ask you aquestion -sorry, Madame Mayor. (both talking) One of the many rationales behind this, uh, at least with respect to the increase in on-street meter parking, is that staff wanted to make it less expensive to park in a ramp on an hourly basis, to give people an incentive to move into the ramps, and therefore free up space on the streets. And that's why there's a proposal to take up the hourly rate on on-street meters to a dollar. Has your organization talked about that, uh, in terms of.. . Cohen: Yes, we've talked about that, and I think that basically what merchants are saying is we understand that we're trying to encourage people to park in ramps, but we don't feel that it's in place, everything is in place for that to happen right now. If we're going to, um, you know, look at a different...additional signage, public parking and direct, you know, those sorts of things like they do in a city. Um, I think is what merchants are talking about, that that would probably encourage people more, particularly people from out of town, which we get a lot of people from out of town in. If they have direction on what they should be doing, rather than just stopping and parking at the ramps...or, I mean on the street. So I think that they feel that until everything can be in place for that, until the City really looks at, you know, directing people where they need to go, that this is kind of a step before. Hayek: What about the information we have to suggest there are a lot of people who work downtown on a regular basis or own downtown businesses and plug the meters with their own cars, uh, all day long. Cohen: Right, and we've...we're addressing that as owners, um, we've started to address that through emails and such to make sure that people know that their employees should not be doing that. Um, how that will help I don't know, but...but we all certainly see that done a lot and we also have students, you know, of course that are...and I think that the students, um, probably if they're using it for class and they're getting caught in the expired meter, you know, a lot so they're paying a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 14 price for that and hopefully coming up for better alternatives, then to park at those parking meters downtown. The smart ones do, anyway. (laughter) Wright: Am I remembering (mumbled) some conversations about improving the signage for the public... Bailey: We did. Chris, where are we on the improvement of the signage? Thank you, Leah. O'Brien: That's something that we're pursuing in the next budget year, as well as talking to the University about some joint signage, um, but we haven't actually put a proposal on the table for that yet. Um...it wasn't feasible in this budget year with the other improvements we're making at the facilities, um, so that'll be something we address in the next budget year. Wright: Chris, before you...I just have another question, you mentioned the plugging the meters. O'Brien: iJh-huh. Wright: Uh, are we not chalking tires anymore to make sure that spaces rotate after they're...they've been filled for an hour or whatever the time limit is? O'Brien: yeah, that's one of those ordinances that we did enforce, and one that we were told...to ease up on I guess is the way that I'll address that. We were told to not enforce that regulation, um, so we don't. Wright: Seems like enforcing our own ordinances would open up some of these spaces. O'Brien: I agree, and this is, but once again, this was one that, through discussions, was expressed to our staff, um, and the previous director, to...not enforce that one because... Wilburn: ...to the Council and not saying that the Council received complaints about ticketing and a majority of Council asked for that to be eased up, so (several talking) Champion: They were allowed to feed the meter once, or was it twice? O'Brien: It's... it's.. . Bailey: According to ordinances? O'Brien: Term of meter. Wright: Sorry. If we're going to have the ordinances (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 15 O'Brien: If the term is...if the term is 60 minutes, 60 minutes is the term that you're allowed to stay. Anything over that is considered overtime. Champion: Wasn't the ordinance, I mean, I can't remember the exact details, but people were allowed to feed the meter once, isn't that correct, before they (both talking) O'Donnell: I don't remember that. Wright: There's no way to keep track of that. O'Donnell: No. Bailey: Unless you chalk. Champion: You chalk! Well...um, okay. Wright: Thank you. O'Brien: Thank you. Wright: Leave it to parking! Fidelis: Um, I'm Libris Fidelis. I originally was going to make a very brief statement in support of this, but I have a few more comments that have come up since then. LJh, I used to live in St. Louis for three years, and in St. Louis they have, uh, proximity detection devices in all of their parking meters, and so they let you go beyond the stated, I think it was like an hour...I think they would allow you to do 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes or an hour, but they would let you go beyond that, and I don't remember what the amount of time it was, but they had cut-off time, and if the proximity detection device did not indicate that the car had left the site of the parking meter, it wouldn't let you renew it. Also, Kansas City, Missouri has city credit cards. Now these are not Visas, they're not Mastercards. These are city credit cards, where you can go down to city hall or you can do it on the web, um, using your credit card. You activate your credit card, which is reusable, and you can go to a parking meter and the parking meters have slots in them for these credit cards, and they only accept the city credit cards. And an interesting thing about this is, it charges the full rate, so if you're only in there for 15 minutes, it's going to charge the full rate, but when you come back and you put...your card back inside the meter, it will deduct from that amount the amount that you haven't used. So you're getting back money that you haven't used, and it also, uh, frees up the, uh, the employees from having to pick up all that coinage and all that. It's just basically, um, I don't know how they work it exactly, but it must work through some kind of a...a communication system, which automatically registers the fee. Um, one of the reasons why I'm in support of the parking meter increase is that, as everybody knows, uh, University of Iowa is a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 16 spreading amoeba that spreads all over our city, so there's students parking everywhere, and uh, case in point is, uh, the area around Old Capitol where you have a parking structure located on south Dubuque Street between, uh, Burlington and Court Street. You also have a parking structure that's, uh, down close to the Lindquist Center, which is near Capitol...Old Capitol, um, Street and Burlington, and you have the, uh, one that's over by Linn Street, and um, Washington Street, um, but the people w ho want to go downtown, they're not going to want to park and walk several blocks, and I don't see what's the problem because it's good exercise. It's not that far. It's only a couple blocks, but a lot of people don't think that way. So they want to park other places. I think that if they have better signage on the buildings, on the parking structures that says public parking, that is seen maybe 30, 40 feet long for the entire signage that says public parking that they can see this, but blends in with the community so it doesn't look like Las Vegas, um, I think the people will be probably more, uh, inclined to park here, because really the one on Linn Street and Washington Street is not that noticeable. I think it's Washington Street. No, maybe it's, um, Iowa Street and Linn Street, um, but that structure really, if I hadn't been going to, uh, one of the bakeries there that's closed now, um, I wouldn't have even realized it was a parking structure, and I think that if they have, uh, signage on the side of the building, uh, in paint or whatever, uh, that says parking structure, or uh, public parking on it, I think people will be more inclined to use it. And I have also seen people pull up, uh, ad park and run and do their business and come back out, get a ticket because they were in there too long, and they just leave the tickets on the windshield, and they drive off, and they don't think very much of it. Well, I think that the first offense could be a warning. I don't mind that. Maybe the second, uh, violation'd be a $5 or $10 fee, but I think the third time should be $25. Make 'em really think that this is serious, you know, we don't want people continuously violating it, because I see this all the time. People coming up to their cars and especially on north Dubuque Street and places like that, getting in their cars and they just drive off with the tickets in the windshield. They see the windshield, uh, applied the ticket. They just drive off, and they let it blow off in the wind. So they're not taking it seriously. So...that's all I have to say. Thank you. Bailey: Thank you. Others wishing to comment at the public hearing? Bennett: Hello, my name's Astrid Bennett and I've been associated with Iowa Artisan's Gallery for...18, 17, 18 years, and downtown issues. Um, thanks for the opportunity to comment. I would say that many of us as business owners understand the need to raise revenues. I feel that right now, being on the sales floor of the gallery, we daily encounter parking issues as a problem with customers. Whether it is accurate or whether it is just the public perception. My concern right now is that we have been dealt a huge double whammy in the sales tax vote in early May. Not only are we facing the possibility of raising our, um, rates on meters, people are now...if that comes out and they say, well, Iowa City alone is, uh, facing the 1 % sales tax increase. That is definitely a reason not to come downtown. I would say downtown businesses are, you know, we This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 17 have...we're not in the flood district yet. Of course our employees were impacted by the flood and we in good faith, many of our residents voted to help with that process and having Coralville not voted in really puts a lot of the burden on Iowa City businesses. To hit us at the same time with the parking rate increases, I feel is a double blow in the face, and while I personally, and I believe that I would, uh, speak for a number of business, would be in favor of visiting, revisiting this issue in perhaps a couple years when the sales tax increase has been, uh, you know, absorbed, um, that is my main concern. The customer's perception. Um, it's a very real issue out there. I would also say that there are some possibly some compromises that could be made. We, downtowners, need a little more time to really, I think, discuss what those compromises could be, but I already know that several of us through a survey have recognized the issue with some businesses going and plugging...that staff are plugging meters, and a number of us in downtown are prepared to go and address that issue with particular businesses themselves. Um, so right now, uh, you know, the public education is always behind the actual realities of issues, um, we just want to try to help our downtown as much as possible, and not through several things in the face of customers at the same time. One other thing I will add, there's been the comparison to being, uh, to being in line with UI rates. People who go to UI have no choice. They want to go to UI, I mean, if you're visiting, you're attending event, you're going to a medical, uh, appointments, you have no choice, but to park there, and downtown, you have plenty of choices about where to shop, and so people are likely to shop elsewhere. So if we want to really help our downtown and lift the tax base, to me the...the metered parking rates are a small amount of money coming in, compared to the harm that it will do in the public perception. Um, and that's all. Hayek: May I ask you a question? Following up on the question I asked Leah Cohen. Are...do you think your customers are more concerned about the availability of spaces, or the cost per hour, of spaces? Bennett: I think customers in general have a perception that parking is...is, uh, an issue, a distasteful issue downtown. Um, there are a lot of customers who do not like to park in the ramps, so I understand the creative solution. I think, um, in general, personally, I feel that in future, um, this could be a good solution. I just think the timing of it right now is very mistimed, as with the sales tax increase. Hayek: I guess my...my question is, is their perception, and your perception, is their perception that...that parking's a problem in downtown Iowa City because it costs too much, or because there isn't enough of it, in front of places like yours? Bennett: Um, I think...I think there's both going on. iJh, I think what is not so much the person on the ground, it's that when it comes out in the media and the general talking back and forth, that yet again it becomes, oh! Parking rates have just increased to a dollar an hour, and this is one more reason forme to go out to Coral Ridge. So...and I feel that perhaps if we can work with businesses to get their staffers, uh, more clued in to this issue. Obviously it's not always the really active This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 18 businesses. It's the ones who are not as active and thinking about downtown. Um, I've known of business owners who in the past would make it a condition of employment that their staffer would not park in the meters, and I think that that's a legitimate avenue for...for some people to go, so if we can possibly work on that issue a little, you know, that would be one way to help with availability a little more. But, forme it's all about the public narrative, so... Bailey: Thanks, Astrid. Those wishing to comment? Okay. Hayek: Do, uh, well...all right, so we're done hearing from members of the audience? Bailey: Yeah, and we can close the public hearing and move first consideration. We can continue the public hearing.. . Hayek: Uh, how you guys feel about this? Bailey: I'm getting ready to close the public hearing. Does anybody have a problem with that? (several comment) Okay. Public hearing is closed (bangs gavel). B) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Champion: So moved. O'Donnell: Second. Bailey: Moved by Champion, seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor say aye. Motion carries. Um, shall we get the first consideration on the floor? Champion: I don't want to! Bailey: Do you want to talk about it? (laughter) You know how it goes. Wilburn: I move for first consideration of the ordinance. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn. Wright: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Wright. Connie, did you want to talk about this? Champion: Well, I want to talk about it quite a bit, um, I'm actually was in favor of the meter increase, uh, for the reasons that I thought it was a good idea. My problem with the fine increases, and I'm just going to...you guys have heard me bitch about this enough, but today there was, um, two beer trucks parked on Dubuque Street This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 19 across...in front of the Deadwood, two huge beer trucks, for two and a half hours. During that time, two of my customers got tickets. They did not get any. Uh, they were not unloading or loading, um, the man who owns the pizza place next to me, Pizza on Dubuque, was parked in the middle of the street for an hour and a half in a big van with a trailer behind it. He did not get a ticket. I mean, I don't care if he was there, but my whole point is, I think all these fines are unfairly...what word am I looking for? (several responding) Wright: The enforcement is unfair. Champion: I think the enforcement is unfair. So what we're doing with all this stuff on Dubuque Street right now, we're making sure that the bars get their beer, and that beer delivery people get their lunch. But in the process of doing that, we're totally discouraging retail customers, and we all say that's what we want to improve downtown, yet we're making things that limit the number of bars, we're talking about other things, but we're never talking about how do we keep the customers coming back downtown. Um, this afternoon there was another pizza delivery thing parked, and I was...stayed outside during my (mumbled) and um, a customer came out of my store. Her meter had been expired for three minutes and she got a ticket. Um, which is fine. I'm not saying you shouldn't get a ticket if your meter's expiring, but it just bothers me that the customers who are helping pay the taxes downtown by purchasing things downtown, something besides beer, are the ones who are paying for all these fines, and not the commercial vehicles who don't obey any of our parking laws. So I'm not going to vote for any of this. I'm done. Bailey: Okay. Other...other comments? Hayek: Well, I...I guess, uh, first of all I feel like we're moving the goal post a little bit for staff, and it's got to be frustrating to them. Uh, we've discussed this actual proposal before, um, but...but I guess that is what it is. The fact of the matter is the public's engagement on issues like this, uh, lags our movement here down at City Hall. Uh and I'm a member of the downtown business community, that I'm frustrated by the inability of the downtown business community to, uh, organize itself and...and uh, reach a consensus on a issue, and then speak promptly about it, in a way that gets ahead of or at least stays with the issue. That's a problem we've probably had, uh, since time in memorial. Um, so here we are. The business community, the downtown business community, is...is engaged and there appears to be a concern about this. I've had a couple of conversations with other downtown business owners, and uh, I guess the...the two main concerns that I'm hearing are number one, uh, the...the hourly rates and the meters come at a bad time, not just because of the sales tax, but the economy in general and they had a terrible year last year, and they're seeing some signs of...of, uh, improvement this year but they're hoping to get through the...the holiday season, and...and a consensus I'm hearing is...is that the meter increases on the streets would be better for them if we delayed this into the next calendar year, and then This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 20 the other thing I'm hearing is...is the, uh, increase on, uh, monthly parking ramp fees, and I've talked about this in earlier meetings, with you folks and have passed on some of the information I've received. Not so much the $5 increment increases in the ramps that are already the most expensive, but the $20 increases in the less expensive ramps, which represents cone-third increase over night. Um, and so I'd be open to looking at those two things, mindful of the fact that we've discussed this, wouldn't say ad nauseum, but uh, with some degree of thoroughness, uh, with staff on several occasions already. Correia: So would you...oh... Wright: I was just going to, procedurally, how would you suggest we look...we excise those two items (both talking) Correia: Do you want to amend this...ordinance...on the table? (several talking) Hayek: I...I don't know, I mean, I...we could...we could slow the increase in the less expensive ramps, um...I'm in agreement with those ramps ultimately being, uh, the same price as other ramps, because the demand is now consistent across all of our ramps, and the University is, as we're informed, buying up monthly passes at X dollars a month and then selling them to their...to people in their institution for a profit, um, and that doesn't make sense to me. Um, but the...the degree and...and speed of the increase at those less expensive ramps is...is a bit much. Um, so I'd be in favor of looking at that, and then I don't know about the meter rates. Maybe delaying that. Bailey: Well, and I would be comfortable, and I think we (mumbled) business owners and I've spoken to others, I would be comfortable in...in looking at delaying this until January. I think I talked with Mark about that earlier today. Everything, pardon me. I'm okay with the fine schedule. So everything above the fines for parking violation, the parking ramp fines on through that, I would be interested in just taking that out of this at this point, this increase, and just increasing the fines at this point and then looking at this again in January. Um, because I do believe that a good holiday season will change a lot of our concerns and attitudes. I did not have the concerns about the meters because I understand what we're trying to do, but um, i£ ..if the experts downtown, the retail shop owners are telling me that this is going to be a burden, and I want to see more retail downtown and I want to see those businesses hang on and succeed, I'm going to have to listen to them. So, I mean, they know...they know what they're seeing and they know what they're hearing from their customers, but I also hope that all restaurant and retail owners downtown are really getting their people, their staff members or themselves out of those metered spots, because we're never, I mean, Matt, we're always going to be talking about parking in Iowa City, I think (laughter) but um, I think we're not going to see a lot of improvement on availability of metered spots, which I think is preferential. I think people, and I think if people could get metered spots they'd plug as many quarters as it took, you know, they'd be so delighted to have a spot, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 21 that they would plug, you know, a dollar fifty an hour, I don't know, um, but we need to open them up, and this is...this, I thought, addressed that, but if you're saying that it's not going to work at this time, I'm willing to listen to that. Chris? O'Brien: I was going to address the...the permit question that Matt was referring to. Bailey: Great. O'Brien: Our initial proposal we gave two options -one was to move everything to $80 but, uh, Court Street and Chauncey Swan with those two moving to $70 the first year, $80 the year after that, um, which my understanding is after doing research is that could be done through ordinance, so that it's set so that next year, um, it's already set to go up to $80 after the year passes. Bailey: And people could be noticed accordingly. O'Brien: And the other option then is if you wish to keep them staggered, to where certain garages are priced differently, then we can do (coughing, unable to hear) increase of $10 per facility, which would move some to $85 instead of $80, keeping that...but like I said, I...I think with the nature of...of how things are going, and that we're starting to see development down towards the south that, um, having them the same rate is eventually where we want to be anyway, and um, I think Matt's point was, was the same so...um, but those are two options that you can also consider. Not to throw more on top of you, of course. Bailey: Okay, so where do we want to go with this? Champion: I'm willing to support the new fine, not the new fine schedule, but the new paper, I mean, where the first one is free... Bailey: The new expired meter schedule? Champion: Yeah, I'm willing to support that. Um... Wright: But you're not willing to support the rest of it? Champion: No. Correia: The rest of the fine? There's more than...look on the ordinance, it's.. . Champion: I don't want to (mumbled) individually. That one I just really...really, I do like that. Wright: The rest of this, you're not supportive? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 22 Bailey: So are people generally supportive of the fine schedule? Let's see if we have general agreement. Correia: All of the fine? Bailey: All of the fines. Champion: The reason I'm not in favor of all the fines is because they're not evenly enforced. That's why I'm not in favor of them. (mumbled) my customers should pay the price for commercial vehicles. That really does bother me, Chris. Correia: That's a different issue than what the fine is. Champion: Well, because my customers are going to pay these fines, and the commercial vehicles are not. Correia: But if you don't...pass the commercial loading zone fine...then it would stay low, whether we...what's the current... Champion: ...start paying the fine, not the commercial vehicles! They're not being ticketed! Correia: I don't think we're talking...I think we're (several talking) Bailey: Do you want to comment on something? I was just trying to see where we are with this. O'Brien: Well, no, and I just wanted to...this was a different discussion and I was going to, I guess, come up and talk about the meter, I just want to stress the whole reason for the meter increase as we've discussed was to try to benefit by creating spaces in the downtown, in those select areas, which was in that immediate CBD, or the CB-10 zones, um, so that people could pull up, have easy access to businesses, um, do their shopping, do their lunch, do their business, and then move on. So, um, as far as the others, no, I...um, the question was what was the fine. The fine was $10 for commercial loading, uh, for a violation of that. Correia: And so this proposal increases it to $25. O'Brien: Correct, for people that abuse that. Correia: Right. So the issue is enforcement of that fine, not what the fine is. Bailey: And so let's go back to my initial question, about where we have agreement. Are we all, I know Connie isn't, so I know...I know one thing, um, are we in agreement with the fine increases? Correia: Yes. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 23 Bailey: Is that an area of this that we can (several responding) okay. O'Donnell: (mumbled) the fine. Bailey: All right. So... Wilburn: If this is going to be substantially modified, I'm wondering if we're going to have to...have another public hearing, uh, it's just a question. No? Okay. Dilkes: No, you do not have to have another public hearing. I think what you want to do, when you're to that point, is make a motion to amend what you want to change in this ordinance. Wilburn: And uh.. . Dilkes: I mean, you don't...not specifically, but just substantively, and then we can get the changes made. Wilburn: I just wanted to add, I agree that, you know, eventually the ramps are going to have to be the, uh, the same price. Um, you know, if the, uh, if the business community, downtown business community in particular would be able to...to, um...put out some suggestions that there will be consensus surrounding, and I'm certainly willing to consider to that, but the notion that there's going to be, uh, cheap, available parking in the downtown area is just not, it's not going to happen, um, it...if they're cheap, folks are going to fill up and start plugging them now. Maybe this other alternatives in terms of, you know, allowing a certain, you know, what was mentioned in some of the other communities, so maybe that's a direction to go. Now that involves some technology which involves some budgetary, uh, decisions that would put, you know, would put that off on a, um, you know, one, two, or three budget years down the road, but um...and then the enforcement question. I mean, that's really on the Council, not staff. The staff will do, and enforce, what the Council decides to do. If Council needs to be willing to, um, stick with a fine when someone gets a fine as opposed to a group coming forward saying, um, back off on the ticketing, so... Bailey: I agree with you about the...the concept of free, I mean there is no such thing as free parking. It costs us in some way, even those places that offer free parking, and that's why I was suggesting these increases going up in January. That's...that gives people enough time to wrap their heads around it. Gets through a, uh, a major retail season, which we hope will look better, so that...that would be my suggestion, is to split these and have, um, have them go into effect at different times. Amy? Correia: Oh, so you're saying have...all of the fees delay.. . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 24 Bailey: Increase January 1st, 2010. Hayek: Then on January 1, increase all ramps to $80? Bailey: Um, I'm open to discussion about that. I do think...I still stick with your cookie story last night. Raise the price once, raise it substantially, but attempt to keep it, you know, at that...at that rate for a period of time, and I think that that...but I'm open to discussing that, too, I mean, you've heard some more people about that than I have. Correia: So right now...in this ordinance, the...the hourly parking fees in the ramps, those are the same, right, as they currently.. . O'Brien: Correct. We've proposed no increases in that. Correia: No increases there, so those hourly ramp parking are the same. O'Brien: Correct. Correia: And then the monthly fees...for, are going from $60 to $80 on some, and then from $70 to $80 on others, is that how that... O'Brien: Uh, it's from $65 to 80 and from $75 to 80. Correia: Okay, $65 to $80. O'Brien: Dubuque Street is currently $65. The garage next to the Sheraton, adjacent to. Hayek: Well, I suggest we...we stagger the increases on the cheap...cheaper ramps, okay? Correia: Yeah. Hayek: And that...and that we just hold off on increasing meter increases on the street downtown. I mean, the...the City doesn't see much revenue in a very limited geographic area going from 75-cents to a dollar an hour. The point of this was to try to free up parking to help businesses downtown, and whether...and whether based on...on reality or perception, the business community doesn't think that will help. There's no reason for us to drag them along kicking and screaming. Um, you know, so... Wright: I'd be willing to go along with that, although I think if we really want to open up, uh the spaces in ramps downtown, there should be...on the street downtown, we need to enforce our ordinance about an hour is an hour. It's... Bailey: No feeding meters. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Wright: No feeding the meters. Champion: I can support, this is part I can support, the parking ramp increases. Bailey: Okay. Champion: I can support this part, that part. (several talking) Bailey: Get something that you can vote on tonight in support, but okay. So... Correia: Not staggering those increases? Champion: No, staggering them. Correia: Staggering them, right! (several talking) Bailey: Seems to be general consensus for staggering increases. Correia: And not increasing the parking meters. Bailey: Yeah, where are we with that? Matt suggested that.. . Page 25 Helling: Excuse me. By staggering, you mean incrementally raising them as you were talking...not...not one ramp and then another but.. . Bailey: The proposal that we originally heard. Helling: Number one that Chris said (mumbled) O'Brien: Which was increasing to 70 in year one and 80 in year two? Bailey: Right. Yes. O'Brien: Thank you. Bailey: Did everybody hear that? And, 70 and...okay. Champion: I'd just like to make a point to the public if they're watching this, um, sometimes we need to raise rates because there are no tax dollars in parking. It's a revenue source that has to support itself. So, we don't like to do increases, but if we're going to build a new ramp or maintain our ramps, we have to have cash to do it. Bailey: And we are building a new ramp, within the next three years. So...okay, with the meters, Matt suggested not raising it, and I...I...the intent was freeing up parking This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #g Page 26 downtown to disincent, um, for parking at meters if you're going to be down...a long period of time, but, um, you know... Hayek: It maintains the moral hazard, right? It's cheaper to park outside (several talking) or it's not more expensive to park outside (mumbled) Bailey: I have no incentive. Hayek: So, I have concerns about that, but...but...but we're...we're attempting to do this to...to help not hurt the problems, uh, downtown, and if the perception is we're hurting, uh, then I think we need to proceed-more cautiously. Correia: Makes sense. O'Donnell: Well, I...I don't really think it's perception. We have the people who are downtown on a regular basis that are telling us that they've heard this will affect business, so I'm...I'm okay with staggering the ramps and...and not increasing the meter rates. Bailey: Okay. Sounds like there's consensus on that. Um... Correia: We need to move to amend... Bailey: Right. How would you like to...what's the cleanest way to get this done? Dilkes: I think we need a motion to amend the ramp monthly fees to a two-year staggering of the less expensive ramps, with all of them ending up at $80 at the end of two years. Uh, taking out the meter increases, and that's it. Champion: So moved. Correia: Second. Bailey: Discussion on the amendment, which we seem to have had plenty. Hayek: Let me just ask...staff, in terms of the meter increase on, or the not increasing the meters on the street, um, grave warnings against proceeding in this manner? (mumbled) the entire universe and (mumbled) O'Brien: I think in...the reason we went about this, once again I will say, is that you want to encourage your long-term parkers to park in the garages, freeing up the short- term prime locations as some would call it, on-street, right in front of the businesses, and to do that, you're best off staggering the rates. That was the reason we came this route, um, you know...there's a lot of places that do it that way, um, because that's the whole...the whole reason to do it in a parking system is to encourage all of your long-term into the garage, so that your short terms are This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #8 Page 27 freed up for people that want to come down and do business on a short-term basis. That...that was the reason we proposed it that way. Correia: And there's...there's some communities that do first hour in a parking ramp is free, as a way to incept going into, and I know we talked about this in the past and we haven't...gone in that direction for a variety of reasons, partially because we need the revenue in those ramps to maintain them because there are no property tax dollars in them, but is that.. . O'Brien: The maintenance issue is the biggest issue that we run into currently, uh, all but Court Street are really falling under to where...to where major restoration every two years... Correia: Right. O'Brien: ...um, I think the last proposal we had was upwards of $900,000 in...in maintenance costs for the facilities that we currently have, uh, not to mention the new hardware, software system we put in, uh, you're talking roughly 800, $900,000 we have four elevators that have to be replaced. That's going to be 600, $700,000. That's... Correia: Well, is there any... O'Brien: In that first hour...I think we did a study on this, and I'd have to redo it, um, back, it was about four years ago when we had this same discussion about...about rates, that I believe it was 80 or 9% of our parkers are parking between one and two hours, um...I'd have to dig it up, but it was a large percentage of our...our parkers. Champion: It was a big hunk of money! Bailey: Okay, additional discussion on the.. . Wright: ...fine with the amendment. I would like to have the discussion on the enforcement of our plugging. Bailey: I don't think we'll have that tonight. Wright: Not tonight, but I'd like to get that on a work session. Bailey: All right, all those in favor of the amendment say aye. Those opposed say nay. Okay. (mumbled) amendment carries. Okay, so we now have a roll call vote on the amended first consideration of this ordinance. Any discussion on that? Okay, roll call. Item carries 6 to 1, Champion voting in the negative. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #10 Page 28 ITEM 10. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 9, TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT PROCEDURES, SECTION 4, IMPOUNDMENT FOR ACCUMULATED PARKING VIOLATIONS, SUBSECTION A: DETERMINATION OF TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT, TO COUNT RAMP CHARGES AND VEHICLE UNLOCK FEES TOWARD THE $50 "TOW THRESHOLD AMOUNT," AND TO ELIMINATE THE REFERENCE TO AT LEAST FIVE (5) PARKING TICKETS; AND TITLE 9, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 1: DEFINITIONS, ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC PROVISIONS, SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS, TO INCLUDE DEFINITIONS OF "RAMP CHARGES" AND "VEHICLE UNLOCK FEE." (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Wright: Move first consideration. Bailey: Moved by Wright. O'Donnell: Second. Bailey: Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Chris? O'Brien: Part of this is a cleanup item; part of this is a change that we're making to that ordinance, uh, the cleanup item is that we don't utilize the five citation in order to qualify to impound a vehicle, so we're removing that. Uh, the other is to...give a mechanism to collect the ramp charges where people have insufficient funds, um, or what we call a debit, where they say they have no money and we write them a ticket and they exit the facility, as well as to collect, uh, police vehicle unlocks. So when we impound a vehicle, we collect all the fees that they...they owe, for parking. Bailey: Okay. Thank you. Further, uh, discussion? All right, roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #11 Page 29 ITEM 11. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 4, PARKING REGULATIONS, SECTION 6, PARHING IN ALLEYS: SUBSECTION B, ALLEYS IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS: PARAGRAPH 2, TO LIMIT PARKING IN AN ALLEY TO TEN (10) MINUTES. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Hayek: Move adoption. Bailey: Moved by Hayek. Correia: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Correia. Discussion? O'Brien: Good evening again. LTh, this item is once again a cleanup item, uh we've been saving these up for one, um.. . Bailey: Fell swoop. O'Brien: For one chance, but this was to take, uh, this ordinance, there were two references to parking for ten minutes in an alley, and we condensed it down to one. Bailey: Okay. Any further discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #12 Page 30 ITEM 12. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 4, PARHING REGULATIONS, SECTION 1, PARKING PROHIBITED IN SPECIFIED PLACES, SUBSECTION A, PARAGRAPH 6, AND TITLE 9, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 4, PARKING REGULATIONS, SECTION 7: VEHICLES ON PARKING AREA, SUBSECTION B: STANDARDS, PARAGRAPH 3, SUBPARAGRAPH C, TO CHANGE THE PARHING RESTRICTION FROM WITHIN FIVE FEET (5') OF A FIRE HYDRANT TO THE FIVE FEET (5') OF CURB SPACE IN FRONT OF THE FIRE HYDRANT. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Wilburn: Move first consideration of the ordinance. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn. Hayek: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Hayek. Discussion? O'Brien: LJh, this is another cleanup ordinance, uh, the intent of this was to make sure we left clearance for emergency vehicles. The way the current ordinance was written, it said within five feet of a fire hydrant. Uh, there are several fire hydrants throughout Iowa City that are seven, eight, nine feet away from the curb, uh, so in order to clear that space, we had to clarify this ordinance. Bailey: Further discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #13 Page 31 ITEM 13. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 5, PARKING METER ZONES AND PARKING LOTS, SECTION 6, PENALTIES; PARKING TICKETS: BY ADDING SUBSECTION D, RETURNED CHECKS:, TO ALLOW THE RECOUPMENT OF FINANCIAL PENALTIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS UPON THE RETURN OF ANY CHECK OR AUTOMATIC BANK DEBIT. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Wright: Move first consideration. Bailey: Moved by Wright. Wilburn: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Wilburn. Discussion? O'Brien: We were putting this in place to match what the City already does in other departments when there is a insufficient funds check that is submitted as a payment. LJh, currently Parking doesn't, uh, recoup those charges, and this would just put that fee equal to that of Finance, Water, etc. Bailey: Further discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #14 Page 32 ITEM 14. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 9, TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT PROCEDURES, SECTION 1, TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES; NOTICES, SUBSECTION A, TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT AUTHORIZED;, TO AMEND THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT FROM SEVENTY-TWO (72) HOURS TO TWENTY- FOUR (24) HOURS BEFORE TOWING VEHICLES FROM CITY-OWNED PARKING RAMPS. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Wilburn: Move first consideration of the ordinance. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn. Hayek: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Hayek. Discussion? O'Brien: Currently the City only allows for vehicles to park in a parking garage without...without further permission to stay for 24 hours. We then require a 72- hour notice before we tow a vehicle that we say can only park for 24 hours, so we're just trying to clean this up to where, uh, if a vehicle exceeds its time limit, uh, we post a sticker on the vehicle saying your vehicle will be towed within 24 hours rather than 72 hours. Bailey: Okay, and for the public's benefit would you state the exceptions to this 24-hour limitation? O'Brien: Sure. The exceptions to this obviously will be people that own, or who have purchased a permit through the City, um as well as the Dubuque Street garage, which has a high occupancy level of, uh, people that are staying either at the Vetro or the Sheraton Hotel, um, it's...at that point we would try to determine through the Sheraton Hotel if that vehicle is one that is staying there, uh, if we can't make a determination either way, then we'll proceed with caution and, um, give the benefit of the doubt at that point. Champion: I just have a...another, a question about this, even though L ..I kind of support it, but what if I'm... a mother, which I am, many times over, and I'm visiting my son who's in college and he's living in the Vogel House, and so I park in that ramp because there's nowhere else for me to park, and I'm staying three nights. O'Brien: It takes us an extended period of time to determine if someone's storing their vehicle or not. So then we have to chalk that vehicle at that point in order to determine if they're staying an extended period. It's 24 hours before we can even cite them for, um, a ramp storage violation, so you're talking probably five to seven days before we really get to the point, at which point we.. . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #14 Page 33 Champion: Well, I would never stay five days with one of my kids (laughter) O'Brien: And then we have to give a 24-hour notice if we're going to impound the vehicle. Champion: (laughter) oh, yeah, they would! Or I wouldn't do it! Bailey: iJh, further discussion? Okay, roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #15 Page 34 ITEM 15. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 9, TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT PROCEDURES, SECTION 4, IMPOUNDMENT FOR ACCUMULATED PARHING VIOLATIONS;, SUBSECTION B, NOTICE OF TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT; HEARING:, TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE VEHICLE BE IN VIOLATION OF PARHING REGULATIONS AT THE TIME OF TOWING OR IMPOUNDMENT AND STREAMLINE NOTICE PROVISIONS. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Wilburn: Move first consideration of the ordinance. O'Donnell: Second. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? O'Brien: First I want to say thank you to Eric Goers who helped Mark and I put the, every one of these together, uh, it's Eric in Legal. He, I'm not sure how much he liked me by the end of this, but uh, thank you to him anyway. Um, what this one is for is to...currently we cannot tow a vehicle unless it is in violation, so they have to be an unexpired meter, they have to be illegally parked in an alley, etc. What we've seen is a large number of people move that into the parking garages, when they...once they exceed $100, $200, $300 that they owe the City, at which point they're not in violation, um, what we're asking is that when a vehicle's on City property whether it's in one of our meters or in our parking garages, if they're a scofflaw that we're able to tow them so that we can recoup those charges that are owed. Bailey: Further discussion? Okay, roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #16 Page 35 ITEM 16. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN FARM LEASES AND SECURITY AGREEMENTS FOR ANY AND ALL AGRICULTURAL LAND OWNED BY THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA. Wilburn: Move adoption of the resolution. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn. Hayek: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Hayek. Discussion? Wilburn: What are we going to be planting, Dale? (laughter) Bailey: Okay. Hayek: Bumper crops! That's all we need! Bailey: Roll call. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #17 Page 36 ITEM 17. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE IOWA CITY ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, IAFF, AFL-CIO, LOCAL #610, TO BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009-JUNE 30, 2010. Wright: Move adoption of the resolution. Bailey: Moved by Wright. Wilburn: Second. Bailey: Seconded by Wilburn. Discussion? Hayek: I, um, I didn't support this is January when it came up and I'm going to be consistent and vote against it at this conjuncture, as well. Um, a more than 3% increase in...in salary, coupled with a 7% increase in health benefits, and a 17% increase in pension contribution, which is projected to go up to 25% the following fiscal year and upwards of 45% a couple years after that, uh, is simply not sustainable in the current environment, for this (mumbled) just can't support this. Bailey: Okay. Champion: And I agree essentially (mumbled) Bailey: Further discussion? I do have a question about some language in the contract about domestic partners. Are...are we tending towards changing that, since the Supreme Court decision or...I mean, I just had it (mumbled) question about that. Dilkes: Yeah, I don't, I mean, I'm not sure exactly what language you're referring to, but um, we... Bailey: It's our standard language referring t spouse (both talking) Dilkes: Spouses or domestic partners, no. The plan is that we, because there is now an opportunity to marry that there will be a number of places where that has to be changed. Bailey: Okay. Thank you. Dilkes: But, um, we're looking at some of the other tax issues as well, in terms of trying to get that. Bailey: yeah, I figured it would be a longer period of time. Okay, thanks. Wilburn: All in one swoop then, just like parking. (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #17 Page 37 Bailey: Okay, any other discussion? Roll call. Item carries 5-2, Champion and Hayek voting in the negative. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #18 Page 38 ITEM 18. COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. A) SEATS Bailey: This is an appointment to the SEATS, Paratransit Advisory committee. Mike O'Donnell currently serves and has agreed to serve through the end of this calendar year. Thank you, Mike, and we will, um, make an appointment, um, in January, so do I have a motion to that effect. Wilburn: So moved. Champion: Second. Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Champion. Any discussion, besides thank you very much for your willingness to serve. Okay, all those in favor say aye. The motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #21 Page 39 ITEM 21. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Bailey: Council Member Wright. Wright: Well, not only is this, uh, really my very favorite weekend of the year coming up in the Iowa City Arts Festival, uh, on Sunday morning is also the ICARE pancake benefit breakfast, uh, on the City Plaza near the Sheraton Hotel, from 8:00 A.M., I believe, until noon, maybe till 1:00 (several talking) uh, and I would encourage everybody to come out, get a wonderful breakfast, donate to a good cause, and get a chance to start your shopping with a nice full breakfast and (mumbled) beautiful weather. Champion: Hopefully. Bailey: Are you flipping pancakes? Wright: I will be flipping pancakes, or maybe, you know, frying sausage, who knows! (laughter) Bailey: Connie. Champion: I'm just going to bring up one more thing about parking, um... Bailey: We haven't talked about parking enough, thank you. Champion: I know, but this is, uh, because it really isn't part of the discussion we had earlier, is that I'm a little concerned that nobody was upset as I am about the unfair issuing of tickets. iJh, secondly, at least when they park in the middle of the street there were still parking places available for customers downtown (mumbled) that whole side of the street for that length of time. Um, that's all, I mean I'm going to be (mumbled) drives me nuts, um, I also want to make sure that all of you saw your invitation to the Shelter House groundbreaking on July 1st at 4:30, uh, over by HACAP, behind Hy-Vee, and I hope, um, some of you will come, um, it's going to be...be able to buy better programming and (mumbled) facility which will be built. Bailey: Thank you. Mike. O'Donnell: Well, I was just as upset as you were, Connie. I just have a different way of showing it. (laughter) I don't bounce up and down (mumbled) Bailey: Okay. Council Member Wilburn. Wilburn: LTh, looking forward to, uh, Arts Fest this weekend as well, and the Global Village on Saturday, and um, I want to say congratulations to all of the Iowa City High, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009. #21 Page 40 West High, and Regina and Tate High School graduates, uh, good luck to all of you in the future. Hayek: Nothing. Correia: Well, I want to say congratulations to Creekside Neighborhood Association. They had their unveiling of the, a mural at the, a park shelter: I didn't go to the, to the event, but I rode by on my bike, um, Saturday morning and it's a beautiful mural, so congratulations to everyone who's involved with that. Bailey: Okay. Um, I think we've gotten the plug in for Arts Fest this weekend, but I do want to emphasize this is probably one of the best weekends of the year. Summer's really fun in Iowa City so I hope to see a lot of you down at Arts Fest. Also, -City Park Pool turns 60 years old this weekend, and they're celebrating, um, I think by celebrating, having admissions at 10-cents, and also some rootbeer floats over there, so there are so many things to do this weekend. Somebody be in charge of good weather, but I hope to see everybody out there, because there are great things happening from City Park to our downtown. Wilburn: Madame Mayor (mumbled) Bailey: Oh, yes, the Giant Jam Sandwich on Saturday morning at 9:30 and 11:00, thanks for reminding me, I have to rehearse tonight in fact. Um, it's a... it's an orchestral piece with narration and a great story, by a local author, and so it should be a lot of fun with the community orchestra, and I'm really looking forward to it. It should be great f un. It's a great fun story. At the Englert Theater. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council Regular Formal meeting of June 2, 2009.