HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-16 Transcription#2a Page 1
ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS.
a) Pride Month -June 2009
Bailey: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Kirsten Plowman. (applause)
Plowman: On behalf of the Iowa City Pride community, I thank you for once again, um,
showing your support to, um, the LGBT community here in Iowa City, and even
throughout our great state. Um, this year has been a monumental year, as many of
you know, within, uh, the community, uh, here in Iowa, and uh, it is great to know
that a committee that has, uh, and a council that has been celebrating with us for
so many, many continual years continues to do so. Thank you.
Bailey: Thank you. (applause)
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ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS.
b) Relay for Life -June 15-20, 2009
Bailey: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is survivor Linda Schrock. (applause)
Schrock: My name is Linda Schrock. I'm a two-time cancer survivor, surviving 16 and 21
years. My husband Greg and I have been chosen as the honorary co-chairs of the
17th Annual Johnson County Relay for Life this year. We honor those who have
fought the battle, those who have been caregivers, and everyone else who has had
cancer touch their life in some way. As, uh, Regenia said, the Relay for Life this
year is from 7:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. Starts Friday, uh, June 19th at Clear Creek-
Amana High School in Tiffin, and goes until 7:00 the next morning. It's an
overnight event because cancer never sleeps. Everyone who participates in Relay
for Life has a unique reason for doing so, but we all have something very much in
common - we want to make a difference in the fight against cancer. We gather as
a community to support those who are facing cancer, remember those who have
lost their battle, and continue to fight back so that one day no one in Johnson
County will hear those dreadful words -you have cancer. We invite you to join
us at the Relay on June 19th. Our opening ceremony gets underway at 7:00 P.M.
with the ceremony celebrating our community's cancer survivors and caregivers at
7:15. Again, thank you for your support of the American Cancer Society and for
Relay for Life. (applause)
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ITEM 3. PRESENTATION.
a) Public Library Friends Foundation
Karr: Here to make that presentation is Tom Martin, President Elect.
Martin: Good evening. I'm Tom Martin, President Elect of the Board of Directors of the
Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation. With great pleasure, I'm here to
present the City of Iowa City with this check for $100,000. It's the final payment
of the Library Friends Foundation's pledge to pay $1 million of the cost of the
Library's expansion and remodeling project, which was completed in 2004. It's
very exciting to be able to fulfill that pledge, thanks to our community's generous
support and our exceptional...of our exceptional Public Library. And it's very
exciting to be here tonight, on the eve of the Library's first-ever author in
residence project. Tomorrow and Thursday, the award-winning author, Jack
Gantos, presents programs for children, teens and adults. We hope you will be
there for at least one of the programs and help celebrate the 5th anniversary of the
new Library. And while you're there, be sure to use your Library card to borrow a
few things because you could be the person who checks out the 1.5 millionth item
this year, and we're only half way through the year. Well, we're almost
(mumbled). Circulation has gone up so much this year, nearly 5%, that the
Library expects to reach that incredible milestone before the end of the fiscal year
on June 30th. On behalf of the patrons, the Library Board of Trustees, Friends
Foundation Board of Directors, and staff of the Iowa City Public Library, I now
present you with this $100,000 check, Madame Mayor, and note that our $1
million pledge is paid in full! Thank you! (applause) (laughter and several
talking away from mic)
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ITEM 4. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Wilburn: Move adoption.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn.
O'Donnell: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by O'Donnell.
Wright: Um, I'd like to ask that we pull out, uh, number 4.c.1. from the Consent Calendar
for separate discussion.
Bailey: We have a motion from...amendment, and a second. Um, any discussion? All
those in favor of pulling 4.c. 1. out say aye. Okay. Let's vote on the Consent
Calendar as amended. Roll call. Okay. Item carries 7-0. Item 4.c.1. is consider a
motion granting asix-month Class C liquor license to Los Cocos Inc., dba Los
Cocos, consistent with the agreement reached between Los Cocos and the Iowa
City Police Department.
Karr: Do we want to move it on the floor? You want to move it on the floor.
Wright: Yes.
Bailey: Moved by Wright.
Hayek: Second.
Champion: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Hayek. Discussion? Chief, did you have any comments?
Wright: Um, I just wondered, Sam, if you'd be willing to explain the process for, um,
putting together the six-month agreement. This has been one of those, uh, things
I've gotten a couple phone calls about, and I know the press picked up this story,
as well. Um, how we came to the six-month's renewal and.. .
Hargadine: Sure. Sam Hargadine, Police Chief of Iowa City. Um, the reason why we
recommended six months versus one year is because the number of calls, time
spent, uh, number of police person hours that we had spent in the bar the last
eleven months. Just in the, uh, last eleven months we've had over 210 calls for
service there, 74 different arrests, a total of 208 hours spent there. And, um,
typically when we come before the Council it's because of excessive alcohol
violations, and that is not the case here. It was mainly that we're spending too
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much time, uh, in that particular...in and around that particular establishment, and
when we're doing that, that's at the cost of the rest of the city. So, um, we
contacted the owner, uh, in consultation with City Legal, uh, sat down, had a very
frank discussion, uh, a very positive discussion, and um, believe we had a, um,
made some, um, strides as to agreements, problems that we were having. We will
reduce the number of...the amount of time that we were spending there, and um,
they were more than willing to sign an agreement in an attempt to address their
own problems.
Bailey: Do you have any concern that this agreement will reduce the number of calls
while things still occur on their premises?
Hargadine: Uh, we tried to walk that balance, and um, we'll take each one of those calls, uh,
case by case, uh, certainly if there are problems...one of the...one of the pieces of
the agreement is that they need to be policing their own lot.
Bailey: Uh-huh.
Hargadine: Uh, whereas before I don't believe they...they were. Um, so if there are instances
where other people are calling us, we'll be looking at why weren't...why didn't the
business call us as well. So, uh, I don't think that that's going to be a problem.
Typically, um, we've had a fairly good relationship, as far as communication
goes, with the owner, and I don't see that as changing.
Correia: I have specific questions about...
Bailey: Go ahead.
Correia: ...so in the, um, on...after the now therefore a...um, do you have that in front of
you? It's the owner and staff shall commit no violations of state or local law, rule,
or regulation. Is that...how is that related to the issues, and would that be an
owner/staff person got a speeding ticket or had some other violation not in any
way related to working at or owning a business, that we...we don't expect that of
all of our bar owners or staff.
Hargadine: Well, under the, um, we do expect certain type of moral character...
Correia: Yes, I understand that.
Hargadine: ....but the spirit of this is intended towards the liquor laws. Uh, I believe they
were already following the spirit of the State liquor laws, uh, but there's no point
in not including that in the...as one of the conditions.
Correia: So this is already in our code.
Hargadine: And the State code.
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Correia: And the State code. I guess I'm not sure why it would be in here, and if there
could be any unintended consequences down the road, since it's pretty broad.
Hargadine: No more so than we would apply at any other bar.
Correia: Right.
Dilkes: I think it's meant to be broad, Amy. There's, um, I mean, there are...they are
going to be...need to operate over the next six months, really dotting their "I's"
and crossing their "t's" and making sure their staff and their owners are not
involved in any type of criminal activity. Now, if it was a speeding...if it was a
speeding ticket, I...of a staff member, I doubt that that would be a problem. But,
we wrote it broadly because we want to have that leeway.
Bailey: Further discussion? Questions (both talking)
O'Donnell: Did you say 210 calls in the last eleven months?
Hargadine: 210 calls for service. Officers were dispatched there 396 total times. That
includes self-dispatches where an officer calls out themselves. So 396 total, um,
we were called there 210 times.
Wright: Would any of this have been enough to...to cause you to consider not renewing
the liquor license?
Hargadine: I think the, uh, the fights in progress would have certainly got the ABD's
attention. That is a high, um, that particular statistic, I think, is one that they
would, uh, have stood behind us on.
Bailey: So why are you recommending asix-month instead of pulling, or not renewal?
Hargadine: Because I think management is trying and I think they're going to try harder.
Bailey: Okay.
Correia: So were those fights outside or inside?
Hargadine: A combination. I don't have that statistical break down.
Correia: Right, right, and do we have...I mean, some of these, like d for example, the
owners will meet monthly. Is that something that...with the Iowa City Police
Department. It seems that, you know, there's a lot of...media attention with fights
in the downtown and I think that we could all agree that that's related to alcohol
consumption, um, and maybe potentially overoccupancy or over....over serving in
the downtown, um, but we haven't seen any types of efforts like this to get our
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downtown business owners to help police, or...better control their bar patrons. Is
that something that we could extend so that...as a fairness, equality type...effort,
because you know there are significant downtown bar-related issues, um.. .
Hargadine: I believe the, uh, internal capacity of Los Cocos is 99, um, and the numbers that
I've already quoted to you are, uh, exceed some of the bars that can seat over
1,000. Uh, so certainly if you were to see that type of behavior attributed to one
particular bar, and not just the entire downtown area, then we'll be back
discussing the same type of issues with that particular bar.
Bailey: Further questions or discussion?
Dilkes: I think one of the differences here is that the...the establishment's responsible
for...for controlling the activity on its premises, and in this case the premises
includes their parking lot. That's a different situation than you have downtown
where people spill out onto the...the, uh, ped mall.
Correia: Well, I understand. So there...those downtown bars are lucky that they don't have
to police those, I mean, they are (both talking) I know.
Hargadine: ...that's correct.
Correia: Right.
Bailey: Okay. Any other...
O'Donnell: Chief, I've got to follow your recommendation on this, but I...I look forward to
the renewal in six months, to see if they have...if indeed the action has been
cleaned up.
Hayek: I think this is a fair approach to the issue, and we're...we're rewarding productive
response on the part of management and ownership at this place, which is what
we want. Um, this sets very clear expectations during what I would call a
probationary period, and it gives this establishment one last chance to fix these
problems, uh, with...with the help of...of the community, and um, it makes sense
to me. You know, we've had other instances in which, uh, management has not
been so responsive and that changes the dynamic greatly, and the City's
(mumbled) to work with that establishment, uh, accordingly diminished. But
that's not the case here.
Bailey: And I understand that compliance is our goal, but um, I...I like, um, Council
Member O'Donnell will be looking at your recommendation in six months and
um, very carefully because I...I tend to hold bar owners to a higher standard than
other business owners in town. So.. .
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Wilburn: I think it's consistent with the Council's history of trying to look for compliance,
regardless of where the establishment is. It acknowledges that there is risk
associated with operating, uh, this type of business, and... and uh, being granted
the privilege of having a liquor license, and I think um, while some of the
specifics of this agreement, um, maybe unique, uh, from some of the downtown
establishments, clearly some of the, um, activities, exchanges, interactions,
involvement, observations, uh, with management in the downtown area...I think
it's a natural step for us to take.
Hayek: Madame Mayor, there's a gentleman in the crowd who I think wanted to
address.. .
Bailey: Thank you. Are there comments from the crowd? Um, I need you to step to the
podium, state your name for the record, and limit your comments to five minutes
or less. (unable to hear person from audience) Yes, absolutely. Just hand it to
our City Attorney. Thank you, Matt.
Elders: My name is Kenneth Elders. K-E-N-N-E-T-H. Last name Elders. E-L-D-E-R-S.
LTh, the paper I'm handing to you is an email from the Civil Rights department
here in Iowa City. It's from Stefanie, and uh, basically what the email says is that,
uh, she received a PDF, which is a copy of my...first of all, I'm sorry, I'm an
event planner and uh, and a club promoter. I promote struggling clubs, help keep
their doors open. And uh, Heather Graham was one of the clubs I was helping out
at one time. And uh, and I admit I apologize that's the reason why so many
people go there, because I sent them there. And I was helping her out at the time.
The thing is that, uh, I was promoting another club (mumbled) Fiesta Mexico
now, and uh, I had an event there. And what happened was, she let all the ladies
in free at her club, and uh, pretty much, I mean, as marketing that takes the crowd
and pretty much, see, I was directly affected by that, excuse me, I apologize, but
uh, and uh, she knew that, and that was Valentine's Day weekend, okay? Well, I
looked at her, I gave her (mumbled) but at the same time I thought it was...it was
kind of directly affected to me because I helped them establish that business, and
the thing is is that, uh, I didn't...I had, did another party, and I was letting all the
ladies in free till midnight and I was going to charge the guys. Well the thing is is
that that's, uh, discrimination law against the women if you charge, I mean against
the guys, if you charge the women, I mean if you don't let the ladies in free and
charge the guys. Sorry. So, Heather knew that. Valentine's Day I guess she got a
call, courtesy call from the City, and Heather has my number. I worked with
Heather before. Um, Heather gave me a call and say Ken that's illegal don't do
that. She forwarded the PDF to you guys, tried to get me locked up basically.
Fortunately the event hadn't taken place yet. Uh, I didn't know the law. I got a
courtesy warning just like she did, and uh, I went down and took down the flyers
and I postponed the event. And so I apologize, I didn't know the law. Sorry.
Um, also, uh, she is just...it's a matter of consistent things. I've just been
letting...my belief, I believe in the Lord and I was just letting...I put it in his
hands and I let him take care of it. I didn't act out of negligence. I didn't act
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out...I didn't do nothing. I just took it. It was...it's a lot of he-say, she-say, kids
say this...(mumbled) say something now. Now I got a right to speak up for
myself and I want to let everybody know that...I don't think they deserve six
months, at all. My recommendation I don't think they deserve a liquor license
period! And the reason why...I...right now I'm trying to get my own place. I'm
heavily respected in the community, and the reason why, because I give respect
and I get respect back. The same people that go to Los Cocos and have all these
situations, all these problems, and have all these calls for the police is the same
people that come downtown to these bars. At the same time, when they come to
my events, they have enough respect to say aye, calm it down. Just came to party.
Just came to vent. Let's respect Ken. They don't have no respect for them. That's
why they do the things they do. Heather can walk up to 'em and say hey, calm it
down. They'll curse her out in her face, but if I ask them nicely enough, they'll
walk away or they'll stop what they doing, out of respect for me because I give
them respect. The thing is that I've been there before after 2:00 P.M. They serve
liquor after 2:00 P.M. I've applied...I'm trying to get my liquor license right now,
and I know by law you cannot serve liquor after 2:00 P.M. They already broke
another law. Whew...excuse me. This is my first time actually speaking up, and
I'm going to be speaking up the right way. Thanks courtesy of you guys, the
Council, and I can speak up the right way and... and let you guys know what's
really going on. They serve liquor after 2:00 P.M. They let ladies in free every
time Ken throw an event. Every time. They, uh, they disrespectful.
They...pretty much those are the facts. Are there other stuff I have to say about
'em, it's just my personal opinion. But the facts are, she knew the law. She tried
to get me in trouble. She tried to get me arrested by sending my flyer into the
City instead of giving me a courtesy call, even if, uh, I gave them $200 worth of
tickets to a fashion show that I had at the Sheraton Hotel. I gave 'em tickets to a,
uh, Twist event to, uh, get...I gave this to them, for...to help build their business.
I said do what you want to do. Give'em away. Do raffles, whatever, just give
'em away, cause my people is your people. I said, give it away, and they
capitalized on the tickets to the Twisted concert. They charged more at the door
to get in. That's the truth. That's what it is...and I say in return, I said when I
throw a party, or event, or promote a different club, I'll send everybody over to
your club after 2:00 P.M., since you guys stay open after 2:00 P.M. But instead,
the night of my party...they let all the ladies in free. I don't know if you
guys...you ladies ever go out, but you don't go to a club there's no crowd at. As a
man, I don't go to a club with no ladies there. So you let the ladies in free, the
guys gonna come. That's it. That's all...that's all I have to say. I feel, like I said,
I feel as though they don't deserve, cause I mean...for the reference, Vito's, uh,
they use (mumbled) the management or owner at Vito's. I seen them get shut
down for three months for selling liquor to underage or too many calls. I believe
that they exceeded the amount of calls that any club would give....all the clubs
downtown, I know...I know all these clubs. I know the guys at the Union. I
know the guys at etc. I know pretty much I know all these business owners. And
pretty much they...they really don't, they really don't care for the fact but they
do...they are hurting cause if they would...if that would happen to them, they
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would have fines up the wassu. Their doors'd been closed a long time ago. I don't
think at all that they deserve a second chance. They had chances. Period. If my
opinion reaches out to you guys and it's up to you guys to determine whether or
not that you're going to give them six months again, that's your decision, but I
guarantee you that they don't have respect over there. People, wasn't my people,
they still disrespect them and there's still going to be fights, still going to be this,
still going to be that, and they still might even serve kids under the age of 21, and
I don't know (mumbled) but I don't know the facts but I heard that it was an
accident...
Bailey: Mr. Elders, can you wrap up...
Elders: Yeah, not a problem. That's all I gotta say.
Bailey: Okay. Thank you.
Elders: Not a problem.
Bailey: Thank you for speaking out.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Wilburn: So moved.
O'Donnell: So moved.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor say aye. Opposed
same thing.
Dilkes: Can I make...
Bailey: Eleanor, go ahead.
Dilkes: ...I just have...
Bailey: If there are other comments, please approach the podium, state your name for the
record, and limit your comments to five minutes or less. Yes?
Dilkes: A couple comments, um, partially I think that this...the more intensive review
that this has gotten is a...is a product of the procedure that you all put in place a
few months ago with, and I think we're seeing more regularity in the review
process, and then secondly, it's important to remember that when you deny a
renewal, t he business stays open through the entire appeal process. So there is an
additional benefit to doing asix-month situation to get the attention of...of the
establishment and try and get that situation corrected, rather than simply denying
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the renewal and having them continue to operate in this fashion until the appeals
are exhausted.
Wilburn: And for the benefit of the public, the appeal would be to the State (both talking)
Dilkes: To the State and then to the court after that. (unable to hear person in audience)
Bailey: We can just pass them down if you (mumbled)
German: ...and then here's copies of these, um, that will (mumbled). I'll touch very briefly
on a couple things that were said. Um, my name (both talking)
Bailey: Would you please...thank you.
German: My name is Heather German, I'm the President of Los Cocos Inc. Um, and I just
want to speak pretty briefly on what Ken had to say, uh, as you see in front of you
is the flyer that I found on the Internet today, where the sole purpose was to try to
shut down our bar, um, in order to help with personal gains as he's been over the
last couple of years having these parties where he'll go to different bars, which
that's correct, throw a party and then he'll make the money off of the door and of
course, uh, since we have opened and more people come to us very regularly, less
people have gone to him. So this is really more of a personal benefit to him if
we're no longer existent, um, but I think you know, as Chief said, we've worked
very closely with them. Things have gotten much better, um, I totally disagree
with the remarks of the misrespect by any of our patrons, um, I think the Chief
can tell you very well, um, things have gotten much better over time and we've
made, um, multiple changes (mumbled). If you have any questions I'd be happy
to answer, um, but you know if you would notice, most of our problems
were...were quite a ways back and have already gotten better and we're only
improving, uh, with those so I would hope that you don't simply take what a
competitor has to say, um, you know, the cops sit outside pretty much the whole
after-hours parties that we've had. There is no way to sell alcohol with them
watching us. Um, I mean, they're there generally from, when our after-hours
starts until we close so I mean that argument really is, um, really is an unfair with
no fact to it. Um, if you would look at our license, we have no violations, um, our
PAULA violations are almost non-existent. I think we've had four, maybe five
the entire 11 months, um, I just wanted to make sure you're looking at facts and
not a competitor's opinion. If you have any questions, please ask me.
Bailey: Thank you.
German: Thank you.
Bailey: Others wishing to make comment?
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Fidelis: I'm Libris Fidelis. I just want to make one comment as a member of the public,
uh, first of all, I'm anon-drinker. Having been a locomotive engineer and a, uh,
semi-truck driver and a transit bus operator, uh, alcohol's completely out of my
area of, uh, influence. However, if you listen to, uh, Police Chief Hagardy's
statements in support of the, uh, bar, and if you, uh consider the, yeah, there's a lot
of incidents coming up and so forth, um, maybe City Council needs to consider
this in further evaluation, but whatever, I know that when Sergeant Kelsay came
up here on many, many occasions and presented his anti-alcohol, uh, programs,
it's obvious the Iowa City Police Department is very much against, um, improper
behavior around the bars, and public drunkenness and serving, uh, minors, and I
feel that the Iowa City Police Department has very stringently enforced the laws
as much as they can. It sounds like they've been pretty fair in the way that they
have done it, so if there is this conflict between the high number of incidents and
the Police Chief s support of the management, maybe there's more consideration
that needs to be done, uh, I think from what I hear, uh, six months is valid. And,
uh, I think it should be approved as a contingency that they will work to improve
the situation.
Bailey: Thank you. Any further comments? Any further discussion by Council?
Wilburn: The only thing I would, uh, Eleanor brought up, uh, excellent point that, um, a
decision, a denial, by use is, uh, appealable to..., uh, to the State and to the courts,
and uh, so the process that we set up as part of helping to, um, make the case, uh,
should (mumbled) proceed to a situation where the State might even consider, um,
denying a license so...
Wright: It's certainly not an auspicious beginning for business to have this level of
violations over the course of 11 months, um...a certain amount of skepticism that
I'm going to go along with the Chiefs recommendation. I'd like to have the bar
prove me wrong. I'd love to see some improvement. Prove me wrong, please, but
I'm very skeptical.
Bailey: Any further comments? All those in favor of the motion granting asix-month
liquor license say aye. Those opposed say nay. Motion carries.
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ITEM 5. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
Bailey: This is a time for people to speak to the Council concerning issues that are not on
tonight's agenda. If you wish to make a comment to the Council, please approach
the podium, state your name for the record, and limit your comments to five
minutes or less.
Fidelis: This'll be brief and it's, uh, redirection of what I've said in previous Council
meetings. Um, it's a matter of two incidents, uh, one that, uh, involves a parking
structure, uh, between South Linn Street and South Dubuque Street, along
Burlington Street, where pedestrians are trying to cross the, uh, the crosswalk in
front of the exit of the, uh, parking structure. And, most pedestrians generally
don't have too much of a problem, but there are far too many in the minority,
drivers, who feel that once that gate goes up at the pay booth, that that's a green
light to cross the, uh, pedestrian walkway or the sidewalk and sometimes even,
they don't even look to see if there's other traffic coming, and they just speed out
there. I've almost been hit again for the last month twice. So I would like to see,
uh, speed bumps exiting the parking ramp and I would like to see bold lettering on
the gate that says yield to pedestrians. Um...the, the main thing that I want to talk
about with the, um, parking, uh, the way the parking structures are set up is that,
um, most of the parking structures seem to be open. This one particular parking
structure is not. LTh, you have the edge of the, uh, elevators and you have the
hotel on the right, departing it, and on the left is wide open and you can see the
people are mostly looking to the left because it's so...it's a dead-end street, it's a
loop. You come in to the hotel and loop around and come back, and so people are
not really paying attention. Thank you.
Bailey: Thank you. Others wishing to, um, address the Council this evening? Okay.
Hayek: We had some correspondence from the Los Cocos discussion. I'm not sure if it's
been... (mumbled)
Bailey: Additional correspondence?
Karr: You can accept it. I was going to combine it, but you certainly can. The two
pieces. Go right ahead.
Bailey: Is that a motion?
Hayek: Yes.
Wilburn: Second.
Bailey: Okay, moved by Hayek, seconded by Wilburn. All those in favor say aye. Okay.
Correspondence is accepted.
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ITEM 9. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PLANS AND BUDGET
FORA 50/50 COST-SHARE PROJECT WITH DAVIDSON HOTELS TO
IMPROVE AND ENHANCE THE PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT FOR
THE EXTERIOR WALKWAY CONNECTING THE CITY PLAZA TO
DUBUQUE STREET AT THE SHERATON HOTEL.
O'Donnell: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell.
Hayek: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Hayek. And I just want to point out to the public because I have
received some emails about this item that, um, we've already moved into an
agreement with Davidson. This is about the design, not about the configuration of
the easement. So...Wendy?
Ford: Hi, I'm Wendy Ford. I'm Economic Development Coordinator. We've been
working with the Sheraton since last year on a 50/50 cost share project, uh, that
would allow the hotel to accomplish some of the things that they've been looking
for in what is an $11 million renovation. They're making an $11 million
investment in the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Iowa City, and one of the things
that they wanted to do with that renovation was to expand their lobby, and uh,
into the space that, um, is a public access and that we all knew as the walkway
through, uh, the interior section of the...of the hotel. LJh, in exchange for, um,
allowing them to, uh, reduce the public access easement to a distance of 12-feet,
uh, we have asked them to participate in this cost-share project which would then
enhance the exterior easement, uh, and the, which is better known as the Dubuque
Street walkway, which runs along the west side of the hotel and along
the...Martini's, uh, bar building, as well. There were, um, there was one other
point in this. The hotel also desired, uh, to be able to lock off, or I shouldn't use
the word lock off, but restrict access because it's, uh, available to the hotel guests,
obviously, 24-7, uh, but they wanted to be able to control the access to those
guests during the nighttime hours between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. So I
wanted to, um, show you the parameters of the project, and you can see on this
slide here where I'm waving this little hand up in the upper left is the ped mall
side of the, uh, project. But the project actually begins, uh, here at the north end
of the, uh, exterior walkway, continues through this tan area. This is all the
sidewalk, along here to the alley, um, t his alley of which is right next to, uh, the
West Bank building on the corner, of Burlington and...and Dubuque. Another
key element of the project is this diagonal pedestrian walkway here that goes
between the walkway and the parking garage so that it gives people a visual club
and it gives audi...auto, excuse me, a visual clue of the pedestrian, uh, path as
well. So that was a parameter of the project. Our main goals were to enhance the
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aesthetics of that area and to improve the safety of that area since that had been a
concern for some time. Tonight's vote is over the design of the project. As you
know, we approved this project...this project back in October. Since Apri123rd
when the hotel first presented these walkway designs to us, the staff design review
committee, uh, has looked at, reviewed, requested revisions, and the hotel owners
have complied with the revisions requested, and staff design review has given
their stamp of approval and forwarded it on to the Economic Development
Committee, uh, for their approval. Uh, the Economic Development Committee
met on May 27th, approved the design with one notation, that an ATM located
outside of the project parameters, uh, would not be included in the design. So,
um, I'd like to go through the key elements of the design with you now and show
you, um, how the hotel, uh, proposes to enhance this walkway and what the 50/50
cost-share estimated to be at approximately...the total approximately $250,000.
They have prepared a number of slides here with some before and, uh, proposed
views of the project. You'll see on the left the existing, uh, area and on the right,
this is a perspective that, uh, while I wish it were a little clearer, shows, um, the
pathway between the, uh, south exit of the walkway, diagonally across the
driveway or the loop that Libris mentioned a little bit ago, .and the separation right
here of pedestrians from vehicular traffic with shrubbery and uh, the flag pole
display that they have. I think you'll see more on these next pages, however. On
this page I wanted to point out to you, um, a that there will be brand new poured
concrete all along this surface from the ped mall on the north side, through the
walkway, diagonally along the side of the hotel here, and then, uh, south to the
alley side, as well as right up to the existing, uh, sidewalk that follows underneath
what they call the port (mumbled) and then there'll be new, uh, colored, stamped
concrete indicating that, uh, pedestrian walkway that I mentioned before. Key
elements here to note, uh, this red line indicates where the existing sidewalk is
right now, and we've got a view in another slide or so that, uh, shows you...that
will show you a comparison of how much wider and more open that, uh, walkway
space is in the new design, as compared to the way it is currently.
Another...another key element of this design is the, uh, extending of the, uh,
canopy that goes over that walkway. Currently, and you'll see this in another
slide too, the canopy is tucked back behind the plain of the building so that if
you're anywhere but right in front of it pretty much, you won't see but yes, this is
City Plaza. This is how I get to the, what we know as the ped mall. You'll notice
also here, I have, uh, or the hotel has placed ten new lighted bollards, and bollards
are the, uh, waist-high, uh, downcast lighting that really illuminates the pedestrian
walkway, uh, but protects against any glare into pedestrian's eyes, or into
motorist's eyes who maybe driving around that loop as well. This is a lighted, or
a night view of the same area as it's, uh, as it's lit at night. These are hard
renderings to show accurately, but it gives you a sense there are ten of these
bollards in the design, uh, as the, uh, lead in to the City Plaza. This retaining
wall, actually there is a retaining wall that exists right now on this little lawn area,
but that is, um, those crumbling, backyard blocks and bricks that are there. So
this will be poured concrete and have a much more substantial, the kind of design
that you would expect a municipality to install for the public. This was the view
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that I wanted to show you that really compares the width of the existing, uh, the
existing sidewalk, the little diagonal piece, with the new sidewalk. One of the
things that makes widening that so easy is we've taken out this planter, or they've
taken out this planter here and the shrubbery that sort of struggles to grow there,
as well, and replaced that with the lighted bollards, as well. This is a good
example too in this view of the, uh, City Plaza sign and the extension of the, uh,
of that canopy overhead. So that a person from over at the parking garage will
easily, um, be...it'll easily be confirmed that the way through, um, the walkway,
especially at night. This next view gives you, um, an idea of the difference in
lighting, um, although it's hard to see in the daytime, I think what I'll point out
here, uh, in...in the daytime you can see in the shot on the left these really hot,
white lights. There are four of them in, uh, in the walkway right now, and the
improvement is going to be instead of four hot, white lights there will be 161ights
that are much easier on the eyes, fully downcast, and do not, uh, create any glare
for the pedestrians as they come into, uh, into the walkway. You'll also note this
retaining wall here, this is a remnant from the building that used to sit right next
store to the Martini's building. In one of the alternates in the construction package
that you'll also be considering as we move forward here, the best alternative is to
actually remove, uh, the remnants of that footing and have this sidewalk continue
straight over to the side of the Martini's building. It's not...we don't know for sure
whether or not that is possible. We have to go further into the exploration of the
structural elements included there under. What we wanted to show you, uh, or let
you know that if it is at all possible, that um, that alternative option will be
constructed. This, um, retaining wall here that covers the former um, railroad tie
base and concrete here will, um, actually only be about eight inches tall here at
the south end, and even shorter than that, um, so that it won't feel as comfortable a
place to, uh, sit. It's just too low for people to comfortably find as a...as a resting
place. Additionally there will be the skateboard stops on it so that there won't be,
so that skateboarders won't have the ability to grind along the edge of that. Okay,
and then a night shot of the same. This gives you a little better view. Same view
on the left, but a little better rendering of how the lighting will work throughout
the....the walkway. These, uh, 18 or 19, uh, downcast lights are mounted at the
cantilevers that you see here, holding up the, uh, steel and glass canopy on both
sides, casting the light straight down, so they'll be a much, uh, better quality of
light. And here is a night view of...or sorry, a daytime view of the north side or
the entrance from the ped mall side, into the walkway itself, as well, and again,
the signage has been continued, um, this is interior lit signage so that you can see
that easily daytime and nighttime, and again, the architects have basically pulled
the canopy out from behind the plain of these buildings to extend into the ped
mall, thus giving that confirmation that this is indeed the way to the
Dubuque...through Dubuque Street. And this is a night rendering of the same
thing. That maybe the last of our slides. So...um, do you have any questions on
the design plans so far - if you do I can answer those, um, we also I know have
some representatives from the hotel here tonight.
Bailey: Questions for Wendy?
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Champion
Ford:
Correia:
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Was the...the ATM machine's not on these pictures anymore.
The ATM is not part of the project. That's why it has been eliminated from the
design that the hotel is presenting to you for your consideration.
It's not part of the project, but could it end up being there?
Champion: Yes it will be there. That's what they're telling you, that we don't have any
decision on that. I, however, think we do. I mean, if four of us vote against it, it's
done, unless the ATM is gone. So I guess...
Correia: I mean, can we.. .
Champion: I don't like the idea that the ATM was removed cause I really wanted the Council
to see how close it was to the walkway. I think it's really underhanded.
Ford: It had been right here in this spot.
Correia: It's in our packet.
Bailey: It's in our packet, Connie. We still have it.
Champion: I know, but we're presenting this to the public now.
Hayek: I wouldn't call it underhanded. I'd call it a mistake, because uh, they...the ATM
in the packet you've seen, Connie, both in our Economic Development meeting
and...and last night, showed the ATM, which is outside the scope of the project
and therefore beyond what the City can dictate, um, and it didn't need to be
depicted on those things. I think it mistakenly was, which clued you and others in
that that's what they were planning. Um, so they probably would have avoided
this had they just not included it and used that image from the dead-go, but they
did and that's why we're talking about this.
Correia: Well, and I think that...I mean, I voted against the...I think this is fabulous. I
think that we need something like this. I voted against the project because I don't
agree with closing off the walkway. There...I think that...there should be this
cost-sharing because we did give up public right-of--way so that they could expand
their lobby, and I...it's wonderful that they're making the investment in downtown
Iowa City and...and I think that that is wonderful. Um, and will be a great benefit
to Iowa City, however, when we originally...and Iwas not around then, entered
into the agreement with the original hotel, there was an understanding in the City
and the public that this would maintain a...maintain being a public right-of--way.
I...I could be okay with shrinking the public right-of--way size, if it maintained 24
hour operation. And I don't know if the Sheraton believes that this is such a
lucrative ATM between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. that that's why they want to
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keep it there, because they will reap the benefits of that usage, then they should
participate in having the walkway be accessible to the public, because that was the
intention when we created...when the previous Council created that public
walkway. So...unless there, unless this agreement could ensure...include
assurances that an ATM would not be...would not be outside near this walkway,
because of the safety concerns and garbage concerns and all of those things, I will
not support this.
Champion: I'd just like the public to know that my objection is not to the ATM. It's the
location of it. It's very close to the walkway, uh, I imagine somebody, mainly a
young woman, uh, walking home at night and maybe several men, um,
congregating around that ATM who maybe are getting more money to continue
going to the bars and probably have had too much to drink already, and this girl or
woman going home early, having to walk by this situation. It created a terrible
problem for the hotel in the first place, inside, and it's going to create the same
problem outside for pedestrians accessing this tunnel late at night. I totally
support the Sheraton's expansion. I support them wanting to close things off at
11:00. I think the walkway looks great. I support that totally. My objection is
the ATM, and until I'm assured the ATM will not be in that location, I cannot
support this project. And I'm encouraging the Council to agree with me for safety
reasons and they will move it. They're not going to throw the baby out with the
water. They will move the ATM.
Bailey: The thing that I don't know for sure, Connie, and I understand your concerns, but
this is a completely different approach to their ATM and granted the one inside
was very crowded. ATMs that are inside tend to be more crowded. They're more
comfortable to use, than the outside ones. There's one across the pedestrian plaza,
um, available, lit with a camera. I don't know if this will be the ATM for
gathering choice, so I can't predict, you know, traffic patterns around this ATM.
So that's my...that's why I'm not that uncomfortable with it, because I think that
they will find that it won't be as lucrative as the indoor one was.
O'Donnell: And I'm not...(mumbled)
Bailey: No, go ahead.
O'Donnell: I'm not as concerned with the ATM because there's one every 30 feet downtown,
it seems like, um, I think it's a wonderful project. I supported it originally. I
understand fully why they want to close off the access at 11:00. I think this really
will enhance downtown, um, the ATM, I...I assume there will be a camera on it.
But, I don't share the same concern. I...I really appreciate the, uh, Sheraton, um,
putting $11 million into the city and um, I...I will gladly support this.
Bailey: And, the fact of the matter is, we're looking at the design, I assume, that this is
really out of our scope. You can vote on it based upon anything you choose of
course, but I think the design focus is really...this is the point. Mr. Fidelis?
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Fidelis: Uh, yeah, Libris Fidelis again. Um, you know, this is really been under the radar
for the public. Uh, from the very start. Now I know it's been in City Council
meetings, and I know it's been in commission meetings and so forth, but the
public really is unaware of what has been going on, and I wasn't aware until they
put the glass barrier up to extend the, um, lobby into the pedestrian access way,
and uh, I feel that this really is not being presented to the public. It was originally
agreed to that when they built the hotel that, um, this would be a public access
way from the area of, uh, Burlington and south Dubuque, into the former, um,
streets that became the ped mall, and the whole intent was that this would be a
conduit for people and it has been a conduit. Every time they have the, uh,
summer festival of the arts or whatever, you know, there's all kinds of things that
goes on in the ped mall. There's a whole bunch of, uh, very community oriented
events that go on there, and that hotel was intended to be a part of the community.
Now if we're going to approve this 50/50 thing, first of all, I'd like to see them
take the doors off, widen it back out the way it was, and put bricks through the
walkway to let everybody know that that is an access way, a public access way.
All six doors wide as it originally was. But for the 50/50 proposition, what we're
doing is we're subsidizing the elimination of public access, and I know it's
sounding kind of facetious that I'm saying, well, they're going to have, uh, one-
third taken away so what's the problem. They want to keep two-thirds. Well,
what happens five years or ten years from now? Are they going to take the whole
thing away? I...I wouldn't be surprised. I really wouldn't. They wouldn't want to
say, well, the new diversion into the Dubuque walkway has been settled. There's
people using that more now. We've influenced people to think they really don't
belong there, so let's just go ahead and make this a private area and just have it all
hotel, all the way across, what used to be south Dubuque. That's my problem
with it. I don't want to see the City subsidize this at all. I'd like to make also a
comment about an ATM. There's a University of Iowa Community Credit Union
ATM probably 50 feet away from that, uh, north exit of south Dubuque. Now it's
kind of obscure. It's outside. It's on one of the, uh, the bars there, so if people
want to go there, that should be more lit up and it should be more obvious, maybe
put a...a sign that shows University of Iowa Community Credit Union, uh, ATM
that people could see, cause there's already one there, about 50 feet away. But,
personally, I think that this whole thing has, the public is unaware of what is
going on about taking away part of the pedestrian access, and I think it's wrong.
It should be completely opened up the way it was, and I think that the Sheraton
Hotel should be proud to be part of our community, and not become an island that
blocks off public access and makes us go around the hotel like we are back entry
servants. You know, come to work, but don't come to the front door. You have
to come around to the back door. That's what it looks like to me. Now, Sheraton
has done a beautiful job improving their lobby. I mean, it is immensely nicer
looking, but this project looks nice, but I don't think the City should subsidize
taking away one-third of our public access way.
Bailey: Thank you.
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Shipley: Jeff Shipley, I'm a student at the University of Iowa. I just had a quick comment
about the ATM, uh, I know it may not be within the scope of this project, but
when I got the design (mumbled) ATM within one foot or so of the entrance, um,
and so I just kind of agree with Miss Champion's concerns. I think it's very
perceptive what she's saying, um, but I do still think that outside the hotel's a great
ATM location, um, so if it's not in the Council's jurisdiction, I would just simply
encourage the hotel folks, um, I think it'd be better off maybe ten yards down and
(mumbled) that's all I have to say. Thank you.
Bailey: Thank you. Others wishing to comment? Further discussion among Council
Members?
Young: My name is Louise Young. I live at Capitol House Apartments on the corner of
Dubuque Street and Court Street. LJh, there are a lot of us that go back and forth
in that area. I think that the...to just give us the area where the remains of the
Strand Theater still are as our access from the ped mall is really giving us short
shrift. Also, there are some other advantages to us having more than that access
through the hotel. Uh, I had one experience when I was coming from choir
practice when I noticed that there was a domestic abuse situation going on right in
the ped mall where I was able to go to the hotel desk and make the call for police
to check on it. iJh, you know, things like this do happen sometimes, and it's good
to be able to get quickly to a place. Also, remember during the tornado that
having those accesses made it possible for us to get to shelter when we were in the
ped mall area when those sirens went off. Things like that need to be considered.
Uh, the whole public benefits from that hotel, not just the guests, and it should be
recognized. The design looks very nice, but I think you need to consider the
public access, not just the aisle there, although that's a nice improvement, but it
can be too narrow under certain circumstances, especially during the festivals
when the bands are doing the concerts and so forth. During the, uh, summer
months, and there are times when you might need to have quick access to the
hotel itself to use the phone to make a report.
Bailey: Thank you. And just to clarify for the public, the closing off of the, um, for hotel
guests only for their safety is between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M.
Other comments?
Champion: Well, maybe the Sheraton representatives would like to explain to us, um, why
they're so, um, firm about this ATM.
Miller: Thank you, Council. This is Phil Miller, from Davidson...representing Davidson
Hotel Company and the Sheraton. Um, right now, you know, we're really excited
to be joining into this project with you. We're excited about our investment into
Iowa City. We think we've partnered up, and then made some really great designs
with the, uh, City Council's Economic Development Committee. We've taken the
ATM off of these renderings, because right now we don't even...we're not solid
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on the location. This is a business matter that's still being discussed between our
partner, Liberty Bank, and...and the hotel, and at this point we really...we really
don't have a firm location even to discuss.
Champion: Thank you.
Bailey: Do you have any questions, Connie?
Champion: No, I don't think (mumbled)
Wright: The only thing that I...I'd, this is a very attractive design.
Champion: It is! It's great!
Wright: It's, uh, to a certain extent we're still working to make a silk purse out of a sow's
ear. Let's be frank about it. It's not a good situation with that walkway. It's not a
good situation with...
Bailey: That's one interpretation, but we'll (mumbled)
Wright: Um, one thing I don't see in this design is, uh, simple two or three monitored
security cameras in that walkway. One of my primary concerns about moving
this walkway, closing that access between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. has been
safety, security, and a (mumbled) you have a great deal more safety than you do
in that narrow confine, no matter how well lit it is. And, I still don't see anything
addressing security to that level of monitored series of security cameras to
(mumbled)
Bailey: Is that discussed?
Ford: The hotel has a staff person who does, uh, the walk around the exterior and
through the hotel, and they have said, uh, to me in our meetings that they would
be happy to put cameras, uh, in if the...if the feed from those cameras would go
into the Police Department. Um, they would need to respond to any incident in
there, as well, so they do have the staff person and they said they'd be welcome to
participate in a video camera program that would feed into the Police Department.
Ford: The security of the walkway is our first, our main concern. We had three
objectives to meet when we designed this walkway. That was a safe, clean, and
inviting environment to do...to provide the pedestrians. And we feel like we have
accomplished all that with the help of...of the City's design committee.
Bailey: Other comments?
Wilburn: You want the comments before the public hearing's closed or.. .
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Bailey: We aren't in a public hearing. This is just...on the floor.
Wilburn: Okay.
Fidelis: Can I make one more comment? You know, the problem with security cameras,
and this has been true all along, is monitoring them. Um, they've had many cases
across the country, around the world, where, uh, the only record of what had
happened was a video, uh, recording, because the monitors were unable or were
too busy to adequately monitor the cameras. Um, I don't know what kind of a
system they plan on, uh, assessing, uh, presuming that they can actually monitor
these cameras. Um, but from what I understand, and I know that uh hotel staff, I
used to be a taxi driver for a short time. I know that hotel staff work very hard.
It's not an easy job, and they often times, uh, capitalize on using as much of their,
uh, resources, I hate to use the word human resources. It sounds kind of
communist, but uh, as much of their employment resources as they possibly can
in many different ways, uh, and one of those things is that they're not going to
have a person who just watches the, uh, monitors and indeed when these incidents
do happen, they don't happen very often. They do happen maybe on a frequency,
but they don't happen at a time when you can say, well, it's close to 10:00.
There's probably going to be something happening. It doesn't happen like that.
And, uh, staff gets tired. They get sleepy. Uh, they get overburdened with certain
incidental things that come up that takes most of their time, that a certain
incidental time. Uh, there's any kind of things that can happen, and these
monitors will fail, not because they aren't doing their job, but because the people
themselves are unable to effectively monitor what's going on. So I question
whether a camera would actually work, and I think, like I said before, it would be
nice if the Sheraton Hotel wants to be a part of our community, allow the people
to go through as it was before in the full width of the, uh, of the pedestrian access
way, uh, more people...bring more people of interest to the hotel, um, it brings
more of a inclusion of the hotel in the public events that goes on, um, and I think
it's the public right that it should be maintained that way.
Bailey: Thank you.
Wilburn: I think that, uh, in terms of the public access, again, (mumbled) pointed out that,
um, it's the...it's the late-night hours that that would be, uh, that would be
restricted, closed, and so in terms of the, uh, public access during the daytime, uh,
early and mid-evening hours when the festivals are in effect, then there is that
access, um...the dangers that are being, and caution, concern I'm trying to honor
and respect that, but I think that the improvements, um, make a current situation
better. Uh, in terms of the...just the nature of that walkway. Um...I'm also trying
to, um, acknowledge, appreciate concerns related to, uh, even though it's beyond
the scope of the design, where the ATM machine is located, but the Council
doesn't um, regulate placement of ATMs. It's already been pointed out there are
several in the downtown area. I've had people today, after seeing it in the paper,
um, say that, um, they had more concerns at some of the drive-up locations at
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night where it's dark and someone could easily be standing out and waiting there
so...um, I don't, in my opinion, I don't see where that's placed there, uh, as a
greater risk than what currently exists, not only the pedestrian mall, but at various
locations that are drive-ups in the downtown area. Some of the concerns about,
uh, isolation during the late-night hours, my experience is between 11:00 P.M.
and 2:00 A.M. is that this area is jam packed with people and if there's concern
about, you know, someone being, uh, isolated or their money being grabbed while
they're getting something out of the ATM machine, I don't know. There's a
couple where...two of the other ATMs that are downtown, the lines are so long
and there's so many people that, in my opinion, there's probably a greater risk of
somebody grabbing, you know, grabbing your money from your transaction at
one of the other locations, so I don't see that as a greater, uh, risk in my opinion.
Um...so I'll be supporting this in light of...the improvements of an existing
condition in that walkway, uh, because some of the concerns in terms of, uh,
restricting access from the public, uh, during those late-night hours was partially
in response to some existing concerns that are...of people congregating in the
lobby...lobby area there, um, and acknowledging that it is a, um, a significant
investment in the downtown area, uh, while still maintaining, um, access
(mumbled) condition.
Hayek: Um, it's important for us to remember what it is that's on our agenda, as it relates
to this project, and that is review and approval of a design for that walkway, and
the reduction of the interior walkway through the hotel, um, both in terms of
narrowing its width and...and reducing the number of hours it's open, uh, was
discussed at great length, uh, months ago, um, both on the Economic
Development Committee level, uh, and on...on, at this level. There was
considerable press coverage, quite a lot of input from the public, and...and the
Council reached a decision which was to support that, um, and in fact, modified
the hotel's original request in ways that we thought served the City and the public.
That was decided, and the quid pro quo was that the Sheraton would enter into a
50/50 cost-share agreement with the City to improve this exterior walkway, and
that's what we're deciding tonight, um, whether and, uh, where an ATM is located
on the Sheraton's property is outside of the scope of the agreement that we inked
months ago. And, you are free to vote against this because you don't like the
potential location of an ATM, um, but it's not part of what we have agreed to
work on together, um, it is on private property. As Ross pointed out, we don't
have a history of regulating where ATMs are located throughout our community,
uh, and I'm not willing to link that issue with the agreement that we signed with
the Sheraton months ago. So I'll support this.
Correia: Well, I won't be supporting this, um, for the primary reason that it confirms
that...that we will be allowing the Sheraton to restrict access to public property
from 11:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. So while I agree with you that we don't have
control over private property, to some extent, although we have sign ordinances
and other types of things in place, that we are allowing a private business to
restrict access to public walkway, between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. when there
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are lots of other public access, and I would imagine other businesses, um, in the
downtown that would appreciate specific activity that may happen between 11:00
P.M. and 6:00 A.M. as a product of...of, um, the culture in the downtown, but
that's part of doing business in the downtown. And, um, I will not be supporting
this because it confirms closing, um, that walkway from 11:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M.
Bailey: Part of doing business in the downtown doesn't involve putting your, I mean, one
of the things we haven't talked about, I mean, we've missed a lot of points here.
Um, hotel guests' safety, downtown Iowa City has been in need of a...of a hotel
worthy of our community for quite some time. This has become quite a rundown
property. It's, uh, it's not competitive on the market. This is a wonderful
opportunity for us. I think that we saw that last fall when we agree to...to move
ahead with this project, and to appreciate what the Sheraton is doing here, and the
investment. Um, I...I think if I ran a hotel or had any other kind of business
where I could...where I could, um, restrict access to some of the things that go on
downtown, I...I would try to do so, because there's a safety factor to hotel guests,
and we've heard about that for many, um, we've heard about that from vetro as
well as the Sheraton, and so I...I understand the need to do this. This is a much
improved walkway. It's much safer. It's much better lit. It's, uh, a great addition
to downtown and I'm going to continue to support this project because finally
we're going to get a hotel that should be in our downtown area, and it will be nice
to have guests here and show off our downtown and a hotel that's worthy of our
city.
Champion: Well, I agree with everything you said. I love the idea of the new, of the Sheraton
remodeling. I think it's looking terrific. I think the lobby's going to be beautiful.
I think the walkway is fine. But I am going to do a reluctant for the reasons I
stated.
O'Donnell: Well, and I will support it for the reason that, um, Matt and Regenia have just
offered, uh, we're here tonight to look at design, um, I believe what they have
done has improved safety downtown. It's better lit. Um, they provided access till
11:00 at night, um, so I...I will support this, because it is...it's a design issue.
That's what we're here to vote tonight.
Wright: I won't be supporting this. You don't look surprised at all, Regenia.
Bailey: I just wanted to know if you wanted any other comments (mumbled). All right.
Wright: Um, the...the advantages, this is certainly a much more pleasing, a much more
aesthetic, uh, passageway, um, I don't see any safety improvements in that.
It's...it's a more, it's a much more pleasing psychological sense. It's a better lit
solution, but it's still...it is not a secure solution, I don't (mumbled) any safety
advantage over the (mumbled) passageway. And certainly not as much as the...as
the public right-of--way through the hotel.
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O'Donnell: I respect your opinion, Michael, but I disagree.
Wright: (mumbled)
Bailey: I think that those (mumbled). Roll call.
Dilkes: I...can, before we do roll call I just want to clarify one thing because I think it
was a little unclear last night. The...the Martini's building wall is not a part of
this project. It is owned by Martini's and it will remain the same.
Bailey: Right. I think we understood that last night. Okay. Roll call. Item carves 4-3,
Wright, Champion, and Correia voting in the negative.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Wilburn: So moved.
Wright: So moved.
Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by Wilburn. Um, all those in favor say aye. Okay.
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ITEM 12. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, CHAPTER 9,
SECTION 3, ENTITLED "ELECTION PRECINCTS" OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF IOWA CITY, IOWA BY AMENDING THE
BOUNDARY OF VOTING PRECINCT 12 TO REFLECT A BOUNDARY
CHANGE TO THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF IOWA CITY. (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
Wright: Move first consideration.
Bailey: Moved by Wright.
Hayek: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Hayek. Discussion? Just for the public's information, this is
because we annexed some land on the east side of Iowa City. It's undeveloped
farm land so there won't be any residents affected, um, in precinct 12. Roll call.
Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 15. 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;
CHARGES AND VEHICLES 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." (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
ITEM 16. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, MOTOR
VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 4, PARKING REGULATIONS,
SECTION 6, PARKING IN ALLEYS; SUBSECTION B, ALLEYS IN
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS; PARAGRAPH 2, TO LIMIT PARKING IN
AN ALLEY TO TEN (10) MINUTES. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
ITEM 17. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, MOTOR
VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 4, PARKING 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 PARKING
RESTRICTION FROM WITHIN FIVE (5') FEET OF A FIRE HYDRANT
TO THE FIVE FEET (5') OF CURB SPACE IN FRONT OF THE FIRE
HYDRANT. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
ITEM 18. 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 FOR
THE RECOUPMENT OF FINANCIAL PENALTIES AND
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS UPON THE RETURN OF ANY CHECK OR
AUTOMATIC BANK DEBIT. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
ITEM 19. 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)
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HOURS TO TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS BEFORE TOWING
VEHICLES FROM CITY-OWNED PARHING RAMPS. (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
ITEM 20. 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. (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
Bailey: Yes I would entertain that motion.
O'Donnell: Madame Mayor, I would like to combine 15 through 20.
Bailey: Okay, we have a motion and a second to combine items 15 through 20. Any
discussion on that? All those in favor say aye. Okay. I will read items 15 t
through 20. (reads items 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20) Staff has recommended
expedited action for all of these items.
Wilburn: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be voted, uh, and considered
and voted for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is
to be finally passed be suspended, that second consideration and vote be waived,
and the ordinance be voted for final passage at this time.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn to expedite 15 through 20.
O'Donnell: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by O'Donnell. Any discussion? Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
Wilburn: Move final adoption.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn.
Wright: Second.
Hayek: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Wright. Discussion? Roll call. Items 15 through 20 carry 7-0.
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ITEM 24. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PURCHASE
AGREEMENT FOR 1807 LOWER MUSCATINE ROAD, IOWA CITY,
JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by Champion.
Wright: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Wright. Discussion? Ron, did you want to make any comments
about this project? Okay.
Hayek: Just for the public's knowledge, this is a residential property the City is acquiring
in connection with some road expansion work it's doing. Staff has determined
that it would be more cost-effective, given that we've got to acquire a portion of
the yard to get that donated, purchase the, uh, property, the residence itself, which
is currently listed for sale, hold it till the project's done, and then sell it back to the
private market and we can actually do so in a more cost-effective manner.
Bailey: Roll call. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 25. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE POLICE LABOR RELATIONS
ORGANIZATION OF IOWA CITY TO BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009
THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010.
Wright: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by Wright.
Correia: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Correia. Discussion?
Champion: I'm not going to support this. I think we have got to come to the point we're not
providing pay raises beyond what we can afford and sustain over the next five
years. Even though I...do love the police, I'm not going to support this.
Hayek: Uh, I will join Connie, um, no surprise to this group because we've talked about
this with previous labor contracts, but uh, an increase in salary of this level,
combined with, uh, an increase in health and dental expenses at more than twice
that rate, and an increase in the City's share, uh, of this organization's pension
fund, uh, anywhere between 17% per year and 43 to 45% per year over the next
several years, projected, um, when combined, uh, creates an overall increase in
the compensation package that well exceeds the increase in the City's revenues
over this period of time. Uh, and it's just not a sustainable increase in personnel
expenses. It goes well beyond what we can afford, um, and has nothing to do
with the individuals who are served by these bargaining groups. I have great
respect for them, but I can't support this.
Bailey: Further discussion? Um, I feel compelled for the public's information just a little
bit of understanding about how, uh, bargaining works insofar as getting to this
kind of agreement, um, if we would hold steady, um, and with our concern about
giving this raise, it would go to binding arbitration. Chance are
comparative...comparing these raises across the state, we would end up about at
the same place, so I will be supporting this. I think that, um, it's a difficult thing
to support, and hopefully as we go into negotiating, uh, the next agreement, um,
the comparables will be a little bit more favorable to us. I'm hoping. So...roll
call. Item carries 5-2, Champion and Hayek voting in the negative.
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ITEM 26. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE BUDGETED
POSITIONS IN THE CABLE TELEVISION DIVISION OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES DEPARTMENT BY INCREASING THE
POSITION OF CABLE TV ADMINISTRATOR FORM .75 FULL TIME
EQUIVALENT (FTE) TO ONE (1) FTE.
O'Donnell: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by O'Donnell.
Wilburn: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Wilburn. Discussion?
Correia: I know we had a brief discussion about this last night, but is this increase already
reflected in the...was this in our FY10 budget?
Helling: No, it's not.
Correia: Okay.
Helling: We'll have to, we'll probably have to amend it for that. We can pick it up in some
salary savings that we've had, but um, it was not put in there because it was not
known, the retirement, at that time.
Bailey: Okay, any other discussion? All right, roll call. Item carries 6-1, Correia voting
in the negative.
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ITEM 27. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN ASSESSMENT
SCHEDULE OF UNPAID MOWING, CLEAN-UP OF PROPERTY, SNOW
REMOVAL, SIDEWALK REPAIR, AND STOP BOX REPAIR CHARGES
AND DIRECTING THE CLERK TO CERTIFY THE SAME TO THE
JOHNSON COUNTY TREASURER FOR COLLECTION IN THE SAME
MANNER AS PROPERTY TAXES.
Wright: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Moved by Wright.
Champion: Second.
Bailey: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Roll call.
Karr: There are some...
Bailey: Oh, I'm sorry! I just didn't (laughter) just, please, step up to the podium! My
classroom training has left me. (laughter) Just state your name for the record and
limit your comments to five minutes or less.
Seldon: Certainly. My name is Rachel Seldon and I just wrote this letter. Dear City
Council, this letter is addressing my snow removal charge on January 20, 2009.
Ori January 9, 2009, I received a notice from the City concerned about my snow
removal on Friday, January 9, 2009. Earlier in the week I had been home in Des
Moines, Iowa visiting, um, family. Unfortunately, I did not return home until
January 4, 2009. I did not plan my snow while I was gone. I was forced to come
back to Iowa City from Des Moines on January 9, 2009 to come back to work at
my job at Giovanni's. I'm also a substitute elementary teacher. I discovered the
notice and immediately took action. I called in to my work and asked someone to
cover my shift so that I could stay home and get the sidewalk cleared, before the
City came back 24-hours later, which it said on the notice they were going to do.
My manager wrote a note, that I have with me, verifying the situation, also
enclosed. I then went to Menard's to buy the materials to attack the ice. Several
materials are included on my receipt of the 9th. Um, I've also included in my
paperwork a note from my next door neighbor verifying that I took care of the
issue as soon as I returned, as well as throughout the winter. Please also note that
although my notice stated they would return in 24-hours, they did not come back
until 11 days later. The days in between were the days that the schools closed for
a week because of the cold. There was also eight and a half inches of
precipitation during those 11 days, three inches were on January 20, 2009, when
they came (Weather Channel.com). Um, the day that the City came I was...the
day the City came, January 20, I was home during the timeframe given to me for
my calling of the City and myself and my two dogs did not notice anyone that
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said (mumbled) during that time. I'm sorry to take this bill this far, but I did call
the City Clerk six times trying to explain the situation and I believe this bill is in
error. I'm not one to complain nor even not pay my bills, but I truly believe there
is a mistake in sending me this charge. I am a very responsible young woman
with two jobs and in graduate school. Please note from all this information I
brought. I appreciate your consideration.
Bailey: Thank you.
Seldon: Okay.
Hayek: Is.. .
Champion: You can leave that.
Bailey: If you want to...
Karr: Would you like to leave your statement? As part of the record?
Bailey: Matt, you had a question?
Hayek: Well, do we hear from everybody and then discuss? Okay.
Bailey: All right.
Hughes: My name is Lois Hughes, um, my property in question is, uh, in Parkview
Terrace, Normandy Drive. Throughout the summer after the flood we'd been
placing damaged belongings for pickup on a regular basis at the curb. At one
point, uh, items left on the curb for pickup were passed up last fall. I did not
know at the time, uh, at the time it was, uh, over. Um, I was out of town and upon
return noticed that there would be no more pickup of the flooded items. At that
time, however, there had been cold weather and an early snow, and things were
frozen down. I did not work or...on cleanup over the winter since there was no
water or electricity on the property. It was just beginning to warm up so that that
activity could resume when I received four letters from the City. Two were
mailed to a Hasting Street address where I had been temporarily located after the
flood. They were dated March 18th. Two were, uh, to the Lone Tree address
where I am currently living. Uh, they were postmarked on March 20th. That was
a Friday. They indicated that there had been a neighbor complaint about the
debris in my yard and that I had until March 25th, uh, at 11:30 A.M. to remove
them. These letters, um, mailed on a Friday were then delivered the following
Monday, and I first saw them on a Tuesday, uh, evening when I was going
through mail which accumulated while I was out of town for that weekend. I
came in to Iowa City the next morning, uh, March 25th, uh, to deal with the
situation and found that the items were already gone. It was not yet 11:30 at that
point. I went to the Civic Center, was told by someone there - I think their name
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was Jan - that I would have to go to the office down by the Water Treatment
Plant, south of town. Once there I was told that they didn't handle those matters
and was put in touch by phone with yet another department. I don't remember,
uh, who they were, but I was told that they couldn't do anything about the charge.
They said only the City Council could deal with it, so here I am. LJh, I don't feel
that I was given, uh, adequate notice under the circumstances, and I don't feel the
charge is fair (mumbled) for a waiver of (mumbled)
Bailey: Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address Council?
Dombroski: Good evening, um, Dan Dombroski. I live on Kathlin Drive, um, my neighbor's
actually here, as well, but we didn't plan that. Uh, similar situation for the snow
removal. Igo the notice early in January. Uh, I got home that night about 6:00
(mumbled) orange tag on my door. Immediately I went and removed the snow,
and that was by chance, probably just because I showed up (mumbled) and then
from that point I realized that they were monitoring it very closely so I was
(mumbled). I do actually cover the back, probably about 50 yards of Benton
Street and then in front of my house, as well. So, pretty big real estate to cover, as
far as sidewalk goes. Um, the day that I was actually billed was somewhere
between...they said it took two days to do it. I don't know. 27th or 28th of
January, so it was quite a bit of time after I received my original notice. Uh, I was
gone, I was in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, the first night. I was in Waterloo the
second night. I travel for business. Um, actually prior to that was on Sunday...
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday I returned. I actually had to spend $60 on the ice
melt and put sand down as well because there was supposed to be a little bit of a
sleet storm. So, um, not necessarily here just to, you know, say I don't want to
pay the bill. It's hard for me to swallow because I had done a lot to try to stay on
top of that. I understand kids walked, uh, (mumbled) Elementary, and I used to
go to Horn when I was a kid. I don't want to see kids falling on my property,
obviously, but um, the timeframe the one notice is really hard, um, if there's a big
snowstorm and you know there's going to be another one coming in right after it, I
mean, you can get ahead of it for only so much, but going to work, coming home
late at night, and they do just hit you at the right time. It's sporadically placed for
me, and then the fact that my neighbor also got it at the same time, means to me
that I doubt that there'd be more people inhere if they weren't just eyeballing one
particular spot at a time. Wasn't really justified and when I did return home on
that day, because I remember getting home and there had been about 3/1 Oths of an
inch of powder and other than that the sidewalk was relatively clean because of
the ice melt that I had put down the day that they actually invoiced me for it, and I
called in to the number that they left me and there wasn't really an explanation. I
asked if there was any documentation as far as pictures go or you know, and they
said that they only thing that they had provided was a labor bill, but the labor bill
to me, really, I mean, I understand that it probably wasn't for the labor issued, but
if I get home and the sidewalk was clear, I'd like to have some sort of proof that
there was something done in order to remove that while I was gone. So...that's
all I have. Thank you.
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#27
Bailey:
(male):
Bailey:
(male):
Thank you. Others?
Page 35
Good evening, my name is (unable to understand). I'm speaking on behalf of the
tenants of the household in question. A notice was...
Can you give us the address? That would be helpful for us.
I live at 1910 Kathlin Drive.
Bailey: Okay, thank you. All right, thanks.
(male): So a notice was sent to our residence on January the 21st stating that (mumbled)
and that (mumbled). Um, in compliance with this notice, I myself removed snow
from the Benton walk. Um, my mother who had not been in the house at the time
returned from her errands and informed me that she (mumble) the walk herself to
ensure that the job had "been done." Um, following this, she and I ensured that
the snow had been completely removed along the entire length of the sidewalk
(mumbled) to be in compliance with the City demands. The points that I want to
make is that, um, a recent letter from the City, um, I believe the second most
recent one, besides the bill that was sent us, um, states that there was snowfall of
more than one inch between the dates of January 21st and January 26th.
Specifically, um, January 26th (mumbled) and they say that the snow was more
than one inch. According to some research that I have done, um, specifically
from the web site of weather underground states that there was a snowfall of no
more than one inch, specifically .3 inches between those two dates. So, could not
have been one inch equivalent (mumbled) um, and the weather also states that
there was no snow on January 26 or any other precipitation for that matter, um, on
that date. So I do believe that it was sent to my residence in error as I did take
steps to ensure compliance with the City demands. Thank you.
Bailey: Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. (several talking) Go ahead, Eleanor.
Dilkes: I would suggest, well, I guess first I think you need to decide if you want to have
additional information with respect to the properties that have been addressed
tonight. If you do, staff is not in the position to provide that information tonight,
so I think we'd have to defer those or get a response from the Housing and
Inspection Services staff, and then consider those for two weeks from now. Um,
and then you could act on the rest tonight.
O'Donnell: I would like to defer them.
Bailey: Okay, so a motion to defer those four addresses. Do you have them, Marian?
Karr: Yes.
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Bailey: Okay. Is there a second?
Wright: Second.
Bailey: Motion and a second. Motion by O'Donnell, second by, um, Wright. Any
discussion of that?
Wilburn: One of the challenges with these, uh, you know, hearing the information that was
presented, uh, I mean, I presume...what has happened in the past, uh, staff comes
and acknowledges, uh, both the date and um, and uh, the time, day (noise on mic)
Bailey: Sorry.
Wilburn: ...that staff had gone out to do the work, and they also point out, and it might be
helpful to know, uh, most of...most of these historically are complaint driven,
meaning one of your neighbors called. It's not, in most cases it's not the City
looking to see something. In most cases someone has called, uh, and then it's a
balance between the City, uh, we get complaints about, um, why aren't you doing
something about these folks' walk with, you know, avariety ofevery-day reasons
that we don't get to them, so that makes it a challenge for us to balance. Another
uh, a different twist that I've heard tonight was, uh, what the weather forecast may
or may not have been. Uh, a challenge that we...it's not likely that we'd be able to
show, uh, there are times when there is drifting uh, you know, wind blowing,
things like that, where um, where a previous snowfall will end up recovering, uh,
so a sidewalk or that type of thing so I don't know that any proof in terms of that
would be able to be presented by staff, but um, but just in terms of staff, it would
be helpful to know, um, acknowledgement confirmation whether, um, it was in
response to a complaint or not.
Bailey: Okay. Any other...
Correia: Well, I guess I would want to have a response, or have a question for...for staff
about the issue of receiving a notice on a specific day, um, saying you have 24-
hours to remove, with an expectation that then somebody will be back in 24-
hours, not ten days later when there could be a totally new snowfall that there's
within a timeframe...that...so it may be within the timeframe of clearing that. So,
that's a question that I have that I would like a response to...back, um, but I'm
wondering if, you know, somebody doesn't go back out and inspect it within that
timeframe of 24 hours, do we...forfeit the ability.
Dombroski: They only give you one notice.
Correia: I wasn't addressing this, the...first, um, residence issue where she cleared it in 24
hours, but they didn't reinspect until ten days later or whatever it was.
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Dombroski: That was the same situation. I called the number and they had (mumbled) very
beginning of January and I was billed for the 27th when they said they came out
and cleaned it. So, you know, I cleaned it immediately when I saw that message.
Correia: Right, so I...I want to address that. (both talking)
Dombroski: ...only get one notice, and after that (several talking)
Correia: I don't mean the one notice. If it says you need to be cleared in 24-hours. If our
staff don't go out and reinspect in 24-hours but go back ten days later, we have no
idea if they cleared it within that 24-hours from that first snowfall, and then we
have another snowfall that's a different...totally different event.
Bailey: But the ordinance says your walks have to be cleared within 24-hours of a snow
event, so it doesn't matter if they hit the one that they've noticed or if they've hit
another one. (several talking) Right. (several talking)
Champion: It might not have been 24-hours.
Bailey: Right.
Dilkes: I think what you'll find is that there was a reinspection...that they're going to have
records of a reinspection within the 24-hours, but they couldn't get someone out
there to clear it, um, until down the road, but they'll have to respond to that.
Bailey: Other information that you need from staff?
Champion: Well, I...
Bailey: If we chose to defer these.
Champion: Do we actually shovel these walks ourselves or do we...we hire these out,
contract it out.
Helling: Contract it, right.
Champion: Contract it out, so that's another problem with, I think, some of the problems that I
hear is that because they contract this out. We're not actually doing it ourselves
and so we're getting second-hand information when you...third-hand by the time
you get to us. So, um, I think we need to work on the communication on this.
Wright: The presence of the snow is verified by City staff.
Champion: Oh, right, exactly! Exactly! I know that.
O'Donnell: You know, I'm willing to listen to the details on...on the three snow removals.
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Bailey: On the four.
O'Donnell: Well, Parkview Terrace is an entirely different story to me. Um, as somebody
who carried hundreds and hundreds of sandbags down there, and still have scars
to prove it from those bugs, just about this time last year, I think special exception
needs to be given down there. Um, not only did you not have water and
electricity, but not even a home at that time. L .. a mailbox, so I would like to see
a special exception given there.
Helling: When...when we respond...staff will be here to answer those questions, and we'll
also provide you with a...you know, information on what the process is for snow
removal and for other things, as well, so I think that's a good time to ask your
questions and uh, and also to get the specific information.
O'Donnell: Good.
Hayek: I think deciding special exception for somebody on Normandy Drive is better
addressed when we hear the full story.
O'Donnell: Well, that's what we decided.
Hayek: Okay, but you were asking, or you were suggesting that we maybe proceed now
with a special exception. All I'm saying is that I think we should wait and hear
the full story, you know, somebody on Normandy Drive called in to complain
about this, as well, so I...I'm open to that, but I think we should...
O'Donnell: That wasn't my intention to do it tonight. It was (both talking) at that point in
time I will bring that up.
Bailey: Okay. Any further discussion on deferring these four, um addresses? All those in
favor of deferring these say aye. Those opposed say nay.
Karr: For two weeks.
Bailey: For two weeks (several talking) the June 30th meeting. Okay. Uh, you need to
approach the podium. I'm sorry, we...it doesn't even exist if you don't speak into
that microphone (laughter).
Sheldon: I'm going to be out of town in two weeks. Is there, am I out then?
Champion: No!
Bailey: No.
Champion: We have your information.
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Sheldon: So I don't need to be here then?
Bailey: You left us written record. If there's any other additional information that you
feel is necessary to provide, please do so and...and we'll have staff present
information.
Sheldon: So I would get it in the mail before it would go on my property taxes and get
interest then?
Bailey: I don't know how the notice works.
Karr: There...the way we'll probably do it is, as soon as I get the information I can send
it to you. At the same time, however, I can't tell you when we're going to get the
information, how long it's going to take, but what I can assure you is that by the
time they act on it again, should your property be on it, you would receive one
more notice indicating that you have 30 days to pay it in full, before being
assessed.
Sheldon: Okay. Thank you.
Karr: Okay.
Hayek: Is it okay for us to hold a hearing to which a constituent is entitled without her
being present. I mean, she provided...I haven't seen it yet, I heard her read it. It's
fairly detailed, but invariably something will come up, uh, that was not included
or contemplated in her letter and...
Champion: We can always postpone hers again.
Hayek: That's my problem with that, I mean, if we're going to give people a fair shake.. .
Dilkes: We can always go to a...go to another date. Um...
Karr: July 6th we have meetings back to back because of your scheduling. Will you be
back in town July 6th? No.
Bailey: Why don't we see what comes up, and then (several talking) address this
particular issue (several talking)
Dilkes: I mean, I do think we...I mean, we're well within our rights to...to schedule it at a
reasonable time and...
O'Donnell: And we do have a written statement. So that's.. .
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Helling: And I think you need to decide, you typically, in a situation where you have
something like this on the agenda and you want more information, that would be
brought up and discussed at your work session.
Bailey: Right.
Helling: Uh, I don't know if you want to do that in this case or if you want to do it at
the...at the formal meeting.
Champion: (mumbled)
Helling: Um, Eleanor (mumbled) I was wondering because this is a public hearing type of
process or whether or not you would need to do it at the regular meeting. That
was my question. Okay.
Bailey: All right. So we've deferred those four. Now, um, we need to discuss the
resolution adopting the rest of.. .
(male): I just have a last minute question. I just wanted to know if you guys (mumbled)
couple of (mumbled)
Bailey: You are certainly welcome to submit anything in writing. Your statement would
be fine.
(male): Okay.
Bailey: Okay. Thank you. All right. The resolution in front of us...adopting the
assessment, um...
Karr: As amended.
Bailey: ...those four, as amended. (several talking) No, it's already on the floor. Is there
any discussion? (laughter)
Wright: I forgot where we were!
Bailey: I...I'm sorry. I was trying to guide you. Any discussion on that? All right, let's
do a roll call then. Item carries 7-0.
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ITEM 29. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.
Bailey: At last night's meeting we, um, informally agreed to appoint Will Jennings to the
Board of Adjustment. Do I have a motion?
Wright: So moved.
O'Donnell: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wright, seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor of that appointment
say aye. Those opposed say nay. Motion carries.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Wilburn: So moved.
O'Donnell: Second.
Bailey: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by O'Donnell. All those in favor say aye. Okay,
motion carries. All right. City Council information.
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ITEM 31. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Bailey: Let's start with Amy tonight.
Correia: I just want to share information about some things going on at the Grant Wood
Gym. This is a collaboration that resulted following the community meeting, and
that was about a month ago, uh, there was a summer bar-b-que to have a positive
kickoff to the summer and (mumbled) a variety of organizations. This is an
extensive collaboration, including Iowa City's Parks and Rec to bring free
activities to the Grant Wood Gym, um, most evenings, through the summer, um,
in speaking with Mike Moran, there is a...a Grant Wood staff, Rec Center staff
person, that is helping to, uh, coordinate this, but there are community volunteers,
um, and VISTA volunteers that will be staffing and other volunteers, um, keep
kids positively occupied throughout the evening.
Bailey: And, are these for all age groups or are they targeted to specific age groups?
Correia: Um...
Bailey: Because I think double-Dutch they're (both talking)
Correia: Yeah, all age groups, um...
Bailey: Okay.
Wright: You and I can join the (mumbled).
Bailey: Not yet! I'm not there yet! Okay. Anything else, Amy?
Correia: Nope.
Bailey: Okay, Matt? Ross?
Wilburn: June 22nd and June 29th from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. at Grant Wood Elementary
School, the City is co-sponsoring, uh, Diversity Circle discussions, opportunity to,
uh, have a dialog, discuss um, background, um, experiences with uh, someone
who is of a different culture than you, and I encourage folks to go and participate,
uh, the more diverse the crowd that shows up, the richer the discussion.
Bailey: Thanks.
O'Donnell: Nothing tonight.
Bailey: Connie? Mike?
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Wright: Nothing.
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Bailey: Um, I just have a few items. Um, I think Monday you were telling me you were
going to be at the lottery for our, um, housing for the flood that we use state
funding for. Can you give a little more detail about that?
O'Donnell: I'm really excited about that, um, the...the incentive was for first-time
homebuyers and flood victims, and um, I believe 53 people turned in applications
(mumbled) which is an opportunity of a life time for homeownership. Um, the
four, uh, people that were, that it was flood related are automatic, and now there
are 36 opportunities, out of 44 people, so there will be 36 lucky people whose
names will be drawn Monday, and I'm very honored to have this opportunity to do
it.
Champion: that sounds great!
Bailey: that sounds fun. That sounds like a nice event. And then Saturday, um, I attended
some, uh, potlucks in the flood affected neighborhoods. I saw Council Member
Wright there, and I just wanted to pass on to City staff there's nothing but
compliments for how all of our offices have worked with the flood affected
residents of those neighborhoods. They were very grateful. There were City staff
members at the potlucks, and I...people were very thankful, so I'm very proud of
the job that the City and the City staff. I know that we still have staff who spend
most of their time working on flood issues. I mean, the flood is a year
away...was a year ago, but um, it continues today. So that was really nice to hear,
and it was good to see those neighborhoods really coming back, um, kind of a
bittersweet potluck in um, Parkview Terrace. People were still getting back into
their homes and it continues, but it was good to see people gathering in the
neighborhood. Such a great neighborhood down there.
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