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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-15 TranscriptionJune 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 1 June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session 6:30 P.M. Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Correia (arrived at 6:40 P.M.), Hayek, O'Donnell, Wilburn, Wright Staff: Helling, Dilkes, Karr, Davidson, Yapp, Ford, Elias, Ackerson, Bollinger Others Present: Shipley (UISG) Planning and Zoning Items: ITEM 6. AMENDING TITLE 14, ZONING, ADDING A BUSINESS SERVICES LAND USE CATEGORY, MODIFYING THE STREET WIDTH STANDARDS FOR INSTITUTIONAL USES IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES, AND CLARIFYING APPLICABLE REGULATIONS TO AND ALLOW MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IN THE PUBLIC ZONE. Bailey/ All right. (noise on mic, unable to hear) Sorry! Davidson/ Thank you, Madame Mayor. Council. Uh, the first item on your agenda this evening is the, uh, (noise on mic) Planning and Zoning item (mumbled) consideration...tomorrow night (noise on mic) and it is amending Title 14, Zoning, adding business services land use category, modifying the street width standards for institutional uses in residential zones, and clarifying applicable regulations to allow minor modifications to site development standards in the public zone. And what that mouthful is essentially are three...minor clean-up type amendments, um, that since we adopted the, uh, zoning code a couple of years ago, we've discovered these things. Maybe we...in spite of our best intentions have discovered they aren't working exactly as we intended them to. They...need a little more flexibility, um, I think probably some members of the development community would, uh; characterize these as commonsense amendments, um, I'm going to very quickly kind of summarize for you, and... and by the way, as...what we're doing is as these come up, rather than bringing them to you individually, we're saving them until we have three or four, and then we'll bring them to you all at once, so expect a few more of these in the future. Um...the, uh, the...the first one pertains to language that when considering, when we...when we have a project that isn't (noise on mic) use in a residential zone it requires action by the Board of Adjustment, and um, these...these are things like, uh, childcare centers, schools, and churches. The one we most recently had above the Mennonite Church on Greenwood Drive. The way the... the way the old zoning ordinance read for these institutional uses is they were required to be on a collector or arterial street, greater in width...28-feet in width or greater. And when we revised the zoning ordinance, we drop...we decided, well, to make it simpler we would drop off the collector and arterial street part and just have it be a street of greater than or equal to 28-feet width, but what we discovered in the case of the Mennonite Church is it's located on a 25-foot wide collector street. Okay? So what we're proposing to do is revise the language so that it reads, and you know, obviously a church This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 2 like the Mennonite Church, it's existing just fine on this 25-foot wide collector street. Frequently a 25-foot wide collector street has a narrower, or...excuse me, has a wider effective travel width than a 28-foot wide street that has parking on one side of it. So what we're proposing to do is change the language to the...a collector and arterial street, or a street at least 28-feet in width. So that's the first one. The second clarification, um, came up during...when PIP Printing was trying to locate in their, uh, their new location there off of Mormon Trek Boulevard extended. Um, and basically what we're proposing to do is clarify that business service uses are included in the general office use category, and should be regulated in the same fashion. If you would like more detail on that, uh, it...it came out of the PIP Printing issue and it's simply something that we feel will get the zoning ordinance acting the way we want it (mumbled). Any questions about that? The final one then pertains to the public zone. You'll recall there are two public zones - the P 1 zone and the P2 zone, um (mumbled) aiming to, uh, local uses such as the City, the School District, the County, and P2 zone, pertaining to state and federal, which we really don't have any regulatory authority over. We do have some regulatory authority over the local governmental uses. What we want to be able to do, and this actually came up over a project that we had, where we had hired a site designer to draw up some plans and specifications, and they...they said, well, what standards are we supposed to use, and we had assumed that the standards of a, uh, comparable, adjacent zone would apply, but they don't actually. So what we are proposing to do is to require the same site development standards in the public zones required of the private sector, and this would pertain to parking, screening, tree regulations, those sorts of things...unless there is a greater public safety, uh, issue to be...to be had by, um, providing some flexibility in those standards, and to do that then we are proposing to allow minor modifications to site development standards in the P zone to provide flexibility for unusual circumstances. So basically it's adding site development standards and then adding minor modification provision so that we have flexibility in considering those. An example might be, in designing the location for Fire Station #4, the access points are too close to the intersection; however, this is an emergency response situation where basically everybody at that intersection will be frozen while the fire trucks get in and out. They're on an emergency call. So there's, you know, the need...that's a perfect example how we would use the flexibility because we...the reason for the provision of having a certain distance from the intersection before you have a driveway isn't needed in that particular case. So...uh, those are the three...three proposals, the three examples, uh, of each. Are there any questions? You'll be considering these all at once tomorrow night. Hayek/ As long as these would be considered non-issues or sensical solutions by those affected by them, I...I don't. Davidson/ That is correct, Matt, and they're recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council Appointments: Bailey/ Okay. (mumbled) All right, the next item is Council appointments, um, Board of Adjustment, I think we have one applicant -Will Jennings. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Wright/ Actually I think Will would be a very good person (several talking) Board of Adjustment, so I'm glad he applied. Bailey/ Yeah, me too. Champion/ Yeah, fine with me. Bailey/ Okay. All right, let's move on to agenda items. Any agenda items? Agenda Items: Page 3 ITEM 4c. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED. 1. Class C Liquor License for Los Cocos, Inc., dba Los Cocos, 1921 Keokuk Street (6 month) Wright/ I had a question on the renewal for the, for Los Cocos, in the Consent Calendar. Bailey/ Okay. Wright/ Um...given the media that that has had (mumbled) I wonder if we could, should pull that out of the Consent Calendar for...just for a brief recap and discussion, for the public's sake. Bailey/ You mean consider it separately? Wright/ Yeah. Bailey/ What do you think? Champion/ I think anybody can pull anything out they want. Bailey/ Okay. All right, and...(mumbled) Wright/ No, I don't have any particular concerns about it, but I think it would be nice if...if tomorrow night Sam could be there just to address the reasoning, or Dale. Helling/ Yeah, I can have Sam come if you have particular questions. As far as (both talking) Wright/ I don't have a question. I think it would...I just think, as I said, I was thinking it would be good given the recent attention (mumbled) that there be some public comment on it. Bailey/ All right. So you'll make the motion...to pull it out? Wright/ Yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 4 Bailey/ Okay. Thank you, and Sam will be here tomorrow night? Wright/ Sorry Sam! Bailey/ (mumbled) heads up that it would be possible. Other agenda items? ITEM 4. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED. d. Public Hearings. 1. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 30, 2009 TO CONSIDER A PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOR LOT 1 OF THE NORTH AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT SUBDIVISION PART TWO AND TO CONSIDER A PROPOSAL TO CONVEY SAID PROPERTY. Hayek/ Um...on the, uh, Consent Calendar, uh, on 4.d.1. is the...proposed purchase agreement between the University of Iowa and the City to purchase a parcel in the Aviation North. Bailey/ Uh-huh. Hayek/ Um, I...I had some concerns (mumbled) overwhelmed with happiness about this proposal, only because it keeps that parcel off the tax rolls, uh, it's not on the tax rolls now, which is one reason we developed that area, um, and it's going to go to the University, which will not pay taxes on it. Um, on the other hand, it is, uh, greatly welcomed by the Airport Commission, we spoke with earlier today at our Economic Development Committee meeting, because of the unique services provide by the Aircare system and some of the spinoff, um, they're hoping to get from that. I think they call them "through the fence" businesses that actually be businesses adjacent to the Airport that would have something to do with the Airport. So, I just want to flag that and put...in case there're any questions. Not thrilled, but I...it does make sense. I do think we need to keep in mind, however, the...deep goal of development in that area, which is expansion of the commercial/industrial base. Bailey/ I also think that that particular parcel was a particular difficult challenging one to sell. It's (both talking) Hayek/ It's a small... Helling/ ...but it's a small parcel and irregular shape, it's about 1.38 acres I believe it is. Hayek/ Yeah. Helling/ Um, and...and I would agree, and we talked about that in terms of taking off the tax rolls, and that's not been your policy, but given the...the use and the fact it's an aviation This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 5 use and also because it's Aircare, and the offer that the University made, afull-price offer, (mumbled) so that's...the basis on which we signed the agreement, but clearly, it's up to Council to (mumbled) Hayek/ And I think we should so... Bailey/ Okay. Other agenda items? ITEM 26. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE BUDGETED POSITIONS IN THE CABLE TELEVISION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES DEPARTMENT BY INCREASING THE POSITION OF CABLE TV ADMINISTRATOR FROM .75 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) TO ONE (1) FTE. Wright/ Um...I just wanted to ask on Item 26, where the three-quarter time position in, uh, Cable TV office. How long has that been three-quarter time? Helling/ A long time. Uh, it was...it started out afull-time position and...and the person in that position, uh, asked for that accommodation some years back, and uh, I'm thinking probably 15 or more. (both talking) ....and we were willing to do that under the circumstances, but now that it's coming vacant, uh, it'd be very difficult to fill athree- quarter time, and I think it needs to be a full-time position. That...we'll be looking at, you know, how we might make some other adjustments to...to balance that out, because I don't know for sure what we'll come up with, but that's (mumbled) Wright/ Yeah, I was just curious about that, because I knew it had been (mumbled) three-quarter time and I wondered do we actually need to put it to full time. Correia/ That was my question too. Bailey/ I'd already asked that, yeah. Helling/ My feeling is it should be. Um, we were willing to make that accommodation, um, I'm not sure I would do it again. Just because of what's needed over there in terms of the operation and somebody overseeing, um...so it's, and...and quite frankly, the person who was in there was, uh, here three-quarter time so was always available and probably spent more, or close to the full time than three-quarter time. Wright/ (mumbled) what...what, um, adjustment (mumbled) Helling/ I'm sorry? Wright/ The adjustments you're talking about (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 6 Helling/ Well, not necessarily. It...it could be, I'm not sure what we'll come up with. It just...kicked around some ideas. It could be more, you know, make up for more than that, or a little less. I don't know at this point. But we'll certainly be looking at that. Bailey/ Okay. Other agenda items? ITEM 14. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 3, FINANCES TAXATION AND FEES, CHAPTER 4, SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES, CHARGES, BONDS, FINES, AND PENALTIES, SECTION 8, PARKING VIOLATIONS, TO AMEND PARKING FEES, RATES, AND FINES. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) 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: DETERMINATION OF TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT, TO COUNT RAMP CHARGES AND VEHICLE UNLOCK FEES TOWARD THE $50 "TOW THRESHOLD AMOUNT", AND TO ELIMINATE THE REFERENCE TO AT LEAST FIVE (5) PARKING TICKETS; AND TITLE 9, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, CHAPTER 1: DEFINITIONS, ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC PROVISIONS, SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS, TO INCLUDE DEFINITIONS OF "RAMP CHARGES" AND "VEHICLE UNLOCK FEE." (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 FEET (5') 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; This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 7 NOTICES, SUBSECTION A, TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT AUTHORIZED:, TO AMEND THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT FROM SEVENTY-TWO (72) HOURS TO TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS BEFORE TOWING VEHICLES FROM CITY-OWNED PARKING RAMPS. (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 PARKING VIOLATIONS:, SUBSECTION B, NOTICE OF TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT; HEARING:, TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE VEHICLE BE IN VIOLATION OF PARKING REGULATIONS AT THE TIME OF TOWING OR IMPOUNDMENT AND STREAMLINE NOTICE PROVISIONS. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Correia/ (mumbled) talked about the parking? Bailey/ We haven't, and I was going to bring up the parking items, and...um, suggest that perhaps we combine them. Um...if people are amenable to that. Um...probably.. . Hayek/ ...combine the various agenda items? Bailey/ Combine 15 through 20, uh, consider 14 separately. I don't know. Expedite and combine. The 15 through 20, we had very little discussion on and.. . Wright/ I'd be fine (several talking) Bailey/ An efficiency sort of thing. If we want to do them separately, I'm also (mumbled) with that. Hayek/ I don't mind doing them, uh, in combined fashion. I...I think I'd prefer not to expedite them, um, I mean there's a purpose for the three separate.. . Karr/ We'd like to, I believe the fines...the changes would go into effect July 1 and we have to have them published. Hayek/ Oh, so there is a reason other than just.. . Karr/ That's correct. Hayek/ ...not having to spend three minutes on it...two weeks hence. Karr/ I mean... Bailey/ I think it was to get it...in by the fiscal year. Right? Karr/ That's correct. To make them effective July 1st, then the ordinance must be passed and then published. And you're next meeting isn't until the 30th, so we couldn't... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 8 Hayek/ Okay. That...that's fine. I don't...I don't have a problem with that. Bailey/ Okay. So, and I was suggesting that we don't...that we consider Item 14 separately, and...and expedite, and then combine 15 through 20 and so...we'll need a motion to that effect tomorrow night, so...but, I assume you had another question about those, Amy? Correia/ Well, we had correspondence on Item 14, related to signage, better signs. Wright/ Yeah, I was going to bring that up. Correial ...for parking, and so, I mean, L ..I think that, you know, best case scenario is we have very big signs like we have at Tower Place, but I wonder if...if in the intermediate if we do flags on the light poles, just other signs. There really is, when you come in Dubuque Street, one sign turn this way for parking, but I mean, I do think that we could do better to direct people as they're driving (several talking) our parking garages. Bailey/ We looked at signs similar to the University or similar to what Des Moines does. Helling/ We...a couple of things. Number one, um, we have money budgeted in FY10 for additional signage and uh, obviously that's coming up in a couple of weeks so, uh, the money will be there, and Chris has mentioned the, uh, the sign on, uh, Tower Place as being...following that sort of design, and also, uh, we're still working with the University on the way-finding, uh, I don't...I'm not sure where that is at this point. Bailey/ We've been doing that for like (both talking) Correia/ Two or three years (laughter) and I understand having the sign once you get there (mumbled) but I see more...wayfinding signs, how to get there, as well as the big arrow or whatever that is that is very retro and I like it, but...doesn't tell you where to get there if you're, you know, four blocks (mumbled) Yapp/ I can speak to the University wayfinding sign, uh, group that we have been a part of since the flood of 2008 that has been on hiatus for the University. It's just not been a priority, uh, for either organization, but uh, in talking with Larry Wilson, the University will soon be ready to start getting back into that. Correia/ Is there anything we can do at least on a temporary basis to have signs (mumbled) Helling/ We can look at it, sure. Correia/ (mumbled) the Downtown Association... Bailey/ I asked one of the downtown business owners too, is it on our web...parking maps, are they on our web site? And...and, is Downtown Association connecting to those? Do we have a map of the park... available parking in downtown Iowa City on our web site? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 9 Yapp/ I don't know the answer to that. Bailey/ Because if I were coming to downtown Iowa City for the first time, I would probably look for that. If I had a meeting in downtown, I would look for where the parking was or...or call the meeting organizer to find out. So... Davidson/ A few years ago, when Joe Fowler was the Parking Superintendent, he and I undertook a proj ect at that time where every intersection in the downtown CB-10 area, and I think we went one block further out, entirely around that every approach and every intersection had one of the P green and white P parking signs, with an arrow, so that every single approach at every single intersection, any motorist would know which direction to go to find parking. LTh, and I assume those signs are still up... Champion/ They're still there! Davidson/ And like any...any regulatory sign or, I guess they're a guide sign, but you know, you quit seeing them after a while, and...but anyone who is alert enough to note those should be directed to parking. Karr/ Madame Mayor, I...I am also aware that the park...our web site does have that information on it. Bailey/ It does, okay. It has maps? Not just... Karr/ Visual...yeah. Bailey/ Okay. Thanks. So...we'll be looking at this the next fiscal year. We have funds... Helling/ Yes. Bailey/ Okay. Helling/ And what we'll take a look at, make sure those signs are in place, where they're supposed to be. Bailey/ Okay. Other agenda items? ITEM 4e(4). Lily Doershuk: Parking fees for lifeguards at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center Correia/ Well, I just...there was a correspondence from Lily Doershuk about parking for life guards at...should we talk about that? Bailey/ No. I mentioned that to Dale this afternoon. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Helling/ I'll follow up (mumbled) Correia/ Okay. ITEM 23. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE ARTIST FOR DISPLAY OF A SCULPTURE ON THE PENINSULA PARK SCULPTOR'S SHOWCASE. Page 10 Davidson/ One item, Madame Mayor, um, neither Marcia Klingaman nor I, excuse me, Marcia Bollinger or I will be able to attend the Council meeting tomorrow night. Are there any questions about Item 23, regarding the Peninsula sculpture showcase? Correia/ I like it. Bailey/ I don't have any questions. Ross? Mike? Connie? Matt? Hayek/ No. Not enough zeros to attract scrutiny. (several talking) Bailey/ But it's art (mumbled). Okay. Any other agenda items? ITEM 4e(1). Barb Stellmach: Panhandlers Hayek/ Um, there....there's just a couple pieces of correspondence I just want to make sure we get responses to. 4.e.1. is the inquiry about panhandling. I get the impression this person's not aware of the recent action we took on that. Helling/ Yeah, I flagged that for... Hayek/ Okay. Dilkes/ Well, although I read that correspondence specifically related to people on the corners and the Council declined to regulate that, so... Champion/ The street corners you mean? Dilkes/ Right. Hayek/ I (several talking) I think we did discuss that kind of scenario when we took it up, but (both talking) Helling/ We can respond...a short response informing that was the Council's decision in the past. Bailey/ Uh-huh. ITEM 4e(3). Alcohol: Allison Gieswein, Philip Riley This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Hayek/ And then, uh, 4.e.3. Wright/ The high school? Hayek/ Yeah! Wright/ Yeah, I was (both talking) Page 11 Hayek/ Anyway, I think it'd be nice for those...for that student to...to hear back (several talking) Helling/ 4.e.3? Hayek/ ...Mr. Riley. Wright/ Are there three...four students? Bailey/ The (mumbled) Allison and Phillip. Correia/ ...have students that correspond (mumbled). Students corresponded on the Animal Shelter. Bailey/ Okay. Anything else? Okay. City Plaza. City Plaza - S Dubupue St Exterior Walkway Renovation: 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. ITEM 10. APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA CITY/SHERATON HOTEL PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. Davidson/ You have two items on your agenda tomorrow evening, while Wendy comes up and gets the slideshow ready here. Uh, two items on your agenda tomorrow evening pertaining to the Sheraton Hotel and our agreement with them. Last October we entered into an agreement with the Sheraton, uh...it pertains to their overall, uh, improvement project for the hotel, but specifically our agreement, uh, allowed them to remodel and enlarge their lobby, and restrict the size of the public access easement in the interior This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 12 passageway. Um, in exchange for the restriction in size, perhaps more significantly their ability to close off the interior easement between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. LIh, the City and the Sheraton entered into an agreement that we would mutually, uh, come to, uh, agreement on improvement project for the exterior walkway, uh, and that we would agree to a 50/50 cost share for that project. So, um, what you're going to have presented this evening is, uh, basically what the two sides have agreed to, uh, this has been through the Economic Development Committee so Connie, Regenia, or Matt (mumbled) occurred there, but uh, Wendy is going to take you, um, through the project. The hotel representatives are here this evening, uh, to hear your comments, uh, and they will be present tomorrow night to engage in any conversation with you, uh, that you would like about the project. Um, and then as I say, you have the two items on your agenda tomorrow night, which basically approve the concept for the project and approve the, uh, plans and specs and allow it to, uh, be bid as a public project. Um (coughing, unable to hear) goal is to have the, uh, interior easement, uh, restricted and the exterior easement enhanced by, uh, fall so that it, uh, can be open along with the other improvements being made, and...and the hotel representatives can elaborate on any of those other improvements tomorrow, uh, evening if you're interested (mumbled) Ford/ Okay, it looks like we're waiting for the machine to warm up here. Okay, good. Uh, well, this is a simple floor plan of the Sheraton project, and you can see by the tan area here, uh, this represents the walking surfaces, if you will, this is the north side of the, uh, of the walkway in the Ped Mall, and then coming through the walkway and the existing, uh, walkway here along the side, and then clear down to the alley where, uh, you walk across and then there's the West Bank, I think it is, right across the street from there. You'll also note this diagonal pedestrian walkway, uh, here, which is the new element added to the, uh, walkway features in the...in the project itself. Let me start by talking about the, uh, concrete walkway, uh, the project will completely replace all of the existing, uh, sidewalk from the north end of the, um, of the walkway all the way down to the south end, and then this will also be new concrete and it will be textured and colorized to indicate, uh, the safe passage from...or, a safe passageway, from the south end of the walkway here over to, uh, parking on this side. A couple of details to point out to you. This pedestrian walkway, uh, that will be called out, again, by color and texture will be separated from the vehicular traffic here by, uh, some flag poles and shrubbery that you'll see, um, in the slides to come here. I also want to point out on the sidewalk, the diagonal piece of sidewalk that comes, um, right out from the walkway and extending southward has been widened. Right now it's really only about one of those, or maybe a little bit more than one of those widths of sidewalk squares that you see there, and now it's double, and also so is this sidewalk here, so we're gaining, um, more space and less constricted feeling for people to...to traverse. Okay. Um, we have some existing and uh, new shots to show you. Uh, this one just shows the side of the hotel there where the, uh, where the new walk will cross in front of the driveway. Of course people can still walk around underneath the covered area here, but there will be the new walk here and you can't see it so well on these slides, but these are the...these are the flag poles here and the shrubbery, which will protect those pedestrians from the vehicular traffic. This slide does a great job of showing a couple of things. One, note this red line here. This is, um, the, uh, extent of the existing sidewalk right now. So, uh, the new sidewalk will come out even further, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 13 um, allowing a better line of sight to the, um, to the, uh, passageway itself. These, uh, this wall, retaining wall, right here is textured, colored concrete that will go with the same, uh, it will go...it will be colored similar to the limestone that's within the Ped Mall, so you'll see that continuity in design, um, through the walkway and then out into this space. Um, these are new lighted bollards of which there are ten, I believe, and we'll talk a little bit more about lighting as we, uh, go forward. You'll also note that, um, in front of this hotel, uh, window there is no shrubbery or any planting area. That, uh, was...that did exist, or is existing right now, and that'll be taken out in this new design. Again, to sort of facilitate the, uh, the wayfinding and the sweep that a pedestrian can make and the line of sight that they'll have there. I also want you to note that this area here is the canopy that extends, uh, over the entire walkway, but it will have been lengthened, so that it reaches out into, uh, into the sidewalk a little better, and it will have interior lit signage in here that will be clearly visible, day and night, but especially from across the, uh, pedestrian walkway over by where the, uh, parking ramp exit and entrances are. Davidson/ One thing maybe, Wendy, to clarify while we have this slide up is you will note the wall of the Martini's building there and that is something that has received clarification from the City Attorney's office since the Economic Development Committee meet and discussed it. LTh, you see here that that wall is reflected as being repaired and...and painted. That will not be part of this project. We...we'll have the opportunity to do that in the future, but in terms of the timing of this, uh, basically it's been indicated to us that we need to work with the property owner of that building in order to get that accomplished, and uh, and we're prepared to do that, if that's Council's direction. I...I...I think waiting until we get these enhancements in place, in particular the enhanced lighting, um, and think the project through a little bit more, I mean, when I see a blank wall like that, I see something that's all set for graffiti, uh, the wall that's there currently is somewhat graffiti-resistant in that it's rough and textured and that sort of thing. So I think we need to think that through more carefully, but because you see it here in this depiction, we did want to clarify that that will not be part of the project that you're being asked to approve at this time. Ford/ Moving along, here is a...an evening or a night depiction of the same area, and now you can see a little bit better how the...how these bollards, uh, will better light the paved, uh, the pavement and the walking surface below. Um, we've been working quite diligently with the architect on ensuring that it's the type of lighting that will not be blinding too. You can have, uh, well-lit and you can have over-lit areas, and we want to ensure that we won't have anover-lit area or one that will be blinding for either pedestrians or uh, or vehicles. Uh, this...oh, this is a good shot that gives you the, uh, indicators of what...what we have right now and as you can see we have quite an improvement, uh, plan for this area here, which is the planters in front of the...the windows that constricts...further constricts this walkway, um, the old railroad ties being placed...replaced with the, uh, the retaining wall that'll make for a much more pleasing environment. Oh, yeah, um, I noted before that the...that the overhead canopy within the walkway will be, uh, extended in this project, and this is a good illustration of that. You can see here where, uh, the...the one end of the walkway on the south side there, with the signage that says "Dubuque Street Walkway" is tucked past and back in behind the plain This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 14 of the building, so if you're a pedestrian, well, right here, ready to head up that way, you still don't have that visual, uh, confirmation that you're headed in the right direction, whereas, um, with the improved, uh, overhead canopy and signage here, that will be quite visible from even quite a bit further back and around, uh, the front or the south side of the hotel. Thanks for pointing that out. And stop me if you have any questions. Uh, this is a good view of, uh, looking right through, uh, the...the passageway and uh, the improvements that, uh, that we'll see, namely in the, uh, addition of the, uh, poured concrete retaining wall which covers this, uh, footing from the old Martini's building. Um, we're going to have to work with that particular structural feature of this building, and uh, this retaining wall here, which is not seat-height as you might imagine, uh, is about, on, three or four inches off the ground on the...on the north end, and maybe about eight inches or so off the ground lower than anyone would be inclined to sit, at least naturally, uh, on...on that so we're thinking about those things (both talking) Davidson/ ...of the exposed footing that you see there used to support the building that used to be there next to that building. O'Donnell/ How wide is the, uh, sidewalk and the walkway? Ford/ Good question. Uh, I believe it is 12-feet, and with this, you would have the additional foot or so of, you know, air space around you. I can...I can get back (mumbled) Davidson/ That seems about right, but we'll double check on that. Ford/ Here you begin to get a sense of, uh, the new lighting placement with this evening view. Um, the new lighting is planned for either side of these cantilevered, uh, that support that canopy going over the walkway. Either side over here and either side over here, so that you have, uh, at least 16, and I think the spec even calls for 18 or 19, of these lights that will further enhance the lighting there. And this is the north side on the Ped Mall, and again, we have the extended canopy that, uh, comes, uh, out from hiding and now has signage on it that indicates that Dubuque Street continues, um, through this way...here, and um, the ATM machine, uh, which we can talk about further if we need to, uh, located on the north-facing side of the Ped Mall. Um, as many exterior, uh, ATM machines downtown do, this is one similar to that. iJh, the ATM machine, um, as we noted in Sara's memo was not part of the original project, and because it's placement in the new design, the redesign of the lobby and the walkway, um, is outside of the project's boundaries, uh, we have...we're not able to, uh, I guess mandate is the word, where the location of that machine is. Correia/ Do we need to have a machine there? Isn't there a machine right cross the way, right next to... Davidson/ I think in terms of the ATM placement, that would...I think that would be a good question.. . Hayek/ We don't own it. That's private property. (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 15 Bailey/ No, we don't. (several talking) No, it's not ours. Davidson/ City Attorney's office has indicated, Amy, is it's a decision for the hotel to make, um, I think you should direct that question to the hotel representatives tomorrow evening and find out (both talking) Correia/ I don't see any garbage receptacle there. Ford/ One thing we did do was request they get the type of ATM machine that requests whether you want a receipt or not, and doesn't spit one out if you don't reply to that. Correia/ People still get receipts, so they can look at it. (several talking) Champion/ I'm going to...I strongly object to this ATM. I've walked by that, um, spot and I can just see...no, not trash. I'm talking about 11:00 at night, um, when a group of, I'm saying men but it could be women, uh, run out of money to buy more alcohol and they've probably already had too much to drink and I'm some young woman who's parked in the Dubuque Street ramp and I'm going to go through that walkway because my car is parked in the Dubuque Street ramp, and I think this is very problematic and uncomfortable for a lot of people who might be using that after 11:00 at night. I think ATM machines tend to...people tend to congregate and especially if you're out...I think young people tend to go out in groups. They don't go out by themselves. They go out in groups, and I...um, I cannot approve of this, as long as that ATM machine is there. I think it's a hazard. Correia/ Quite a few ATM, I mean, there's an ATM right across the way, right next to Beligoli's, whatever that, on the corner. Isn't there an ATM right diagonal at the Wells Fargo, and there's another ATM at Washington. (mumbled) all the ATM machines are. O'Donnell/ There's ATMs all over downtown. Correia/ Yeah. I don't know that...I don't think we need... Champion/ But, it's not ours. It's not our decision (several talking) but it is my decision to approve this project or not. Correia/ I see what you're saying. Davidson/ I encourage you to ask all the questions regarding the ATM machine of the hotel representatives tomorrow evening. It is not part of the project that you're being asked to approve, but you can certainly ask them for any clarification of their thinking about the ATM machine. Champion/ I don't really care what they're thinking is about it. I'm not going to approve it as long as it's there. I think it's dangerous. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 16 Hayek/ You're not going to approve of the adjacent project as long as that ATM is there. Champion/ That's right. Hayek/ Then that's the distinction. Champion/ That's right. And if this doesn't get approved, they can't close off the thing at 11:00. Isn't that correct? Bailey/ Well, the (several talking) Champion/ That's correct! Bailey/ ...need to bring (mumbled) Wright/ (several talking) some of the safety concerns that we had way last fall, um, in addition to that I think the ATM potentially could make somebody a very nice target walking down there all by themselves late at night if they've just been to the ATM, so.. . Correia/ Yeah. Champion/ It's, uh, I think it's very problematic, uh...and nine-tenths of the time it wouldn't be, but it just takes once incident and since that's going to be the only access to that ramp without walking clear around the block, which most people are not going to do, um, well, I've already said my piece. I just have big problems with that ATM. It's very close to that walkway. Wright/ And I think the safety concerns that Amy and I both spoke about last fall still remain unanswered, as far as that walkway goes. Ford/ And that...those are the end...the end of the slides that we have. Any other questions about the project? Champion/ The hotel lobby looks great...so far. Davidson/ If you have any questions about the hotel project, I'm sure the hotel representatives would be happy to answer those tomorrow evening (mumbled) Wright/ This does look (mumbled) it's very...it seems to be a very attractive plan. Davidson/ Basically, what we wanted to present this evening is what you're being asked to consider approval of tomorrow evening. Correia/ So the other...the other wall that we have, the Martini's wall, and then the Sheraton wall, so...and that's going to be... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 17 Ford/ Oh, I can leave that up if you'd like. Davidson/ I believe that gets painted (mumbled) and part of the entire hotel being repainted, I believe, Amy. Correia/ Okay. So, are they then, if there's defacing of that wall.. . Davidson/ That would be the hotel... Correia/ That would be the hotel...do we have any expec...any expectation for, you know, response to defacing? Davidson/ How do we handle graffiti response right now, Dale. We have a procedure, don't we? Helling/ We do, if it's on private property, or if it's on public property our property we have a removal. Correia/ No, I know. Helling/ If it's on private property we put the owner on notice it needs to be removed and...in a period of time, and then if it's not removed, we can contract to do that, same as we do (mumbled) Correia/ Okay. Bailey/ And it will be, I mean, for what it's worth, and I don't know how well it works, it'll be graffiti-resistant, uh, textured paint or whatever that is, but...I don't know how well that works. Davidson/ ...still have to remove it, it's just easier to remove when (both talking) Bailey/ Yeah. Okay. It's not resistant to the graffiti, it's clean-up...more capable, right? Okay. O'Donnell/ How wide is the footing there, Jeff? Davidson/ I think it's four feet wide, Mike, so there's probably two feet of it roughly that sticks out, because it's a shared footing, we don't want to (mumbled) at all, because we don't want that impact (mumbled) building. That's why it basically has to stay in place. O'Donnell/ Looks to me like that would be a great collecting spot for people to sit. Davidson/ Well, we're hopeful that it's too low. It's only about...is it six inches? Ford/ It's even less than that on the north end, I believe. Davidson/ It's not like it's really a convenient height to sit on. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 18 O'Donnell/ L ..I really like the plan. I think it's...it's lit up well. It's...certainly Ithink better than walking down College Street, because that gets a little bit dark. It's nice looking. There's a lot of thought in it. Davidson/ Well, obviously just to reiterate what you're being asked to approve tomorrow evening is that the enhancements that have been negotiated between staff and the hotel is enhanced enough to allow them to restrict the width and close between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. (mumbled) basically the...the deal, so to speak, that we're trying to work out. Correia/ And so the lighting, who's responsible for making sure the lights are on? Davidson/ The exterior easement is the Sheraton's property. Correia/ Okay. Davidson/ So they are...we have an easement, for public access, but they are responsible for maintaining...the easement. Correial And so then the other question about the graffiti, is that more complaint based versus we're making sure it's cleared, if somebody makes a complaint and...because as I'm thinking about it (mumbled) very long time so...I'm going to make a complaint so we can get that taken care of (laughter) Helling/ If we observe it, and...and we've told our, you know, our employees if they observe it to report it, but also we're not going to find out about some of it until we do get a complaint, somebody who let's us know it's there. Correia/ Well, I guess since we have...we have a downtown business district specific division, I guess, of the Parks and Rec department, if that could be something that they specifically watch for. Helling/ They do now. Correia/ Okay. Great. Bailey/ So tomorrow evening are you going to do this presentation or...you will be available for questions? What do you all...do you guys want the presentation tomorrow night or just Wendy available for questions and hotel representatives available for questions, what's your preference? O'Donnell/ I think just available for questions. Champion/ I don't know. I think the public would like to see this. (several talking) Bailey/ Yeah, you can (several talking) right.. Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 19 Hayek/ Two questions on this, uh, first if we take out the Martini's wall and deal with it later as we're able to communicate with the property owner and there's a cost to doing that that Martini's does not want to incur, do we cost share that or is that on our dime? Davidson/ That would be your decision ultimately. We'd have to work that out. Hayek/ I don't know what that wall could cost, but... Davidson/ Yeah, I mean, there appears that it would at least be a good idea to do an investigation of the structural issues with that wall before you just did something to enhance the aesthetics of it, and that maybe somewhat of a motivation of the property owner (mumbled) something about it, but we...we feel like that can wait until the remaining improvements are done and we can take that up then. Hayek/ But would it be, I mean, is it appropriate for cost sharing? I don't know if it's outside the easement or within the easement. Dilkes/ I think it would be appropriate for cost sharing. I mean, if you wanted to tie it down you could...I mean, it's...given that hold up in the approval of the design, I think you could say we have to work out what's going to happen with that wall and how that cost is going to be shared, before we can approve the design. Hayek/ What does that mean for tomorrow night? Dilkes/ That would mean that we would have to approach the Sheraton and say we'd like to amend the existing agreement or do another agreement that says what we're going to do with that wall, um...when we get that worked out. Um, and you wouldn't want to approve the design of this, cause that's your bargaining chip. Hayek/ Well, I mean, I don't want to hold things up. I...I think it's important to have this ready to go by the fall. It's a $30,000 expense and you know.. . Dilkes/ Yeah, I mean, it's certainly a question to ask. Hayek/ We can ask them tomorrow night. And then, secondly, I...we talked about the, this low ledge on the west side, um, I do predict that it will become, I mean, you see people sitting on...on just sidewalks. Wright/ Like the low planters downtown. Hayek/ Yeah, and so...we may have to address that in the future, whether it's to sort of... Davidson/ That ledge is there currently. Bailey/ yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 20 Davidson/ You see... Hayek/ Right, but it's not as inviting a space to hang out in as it will become. I mean, I hope I'm wrong, but...(several talking) Davidson/ ...make it a more inviting space. Champion/ Put a bunch of (mumbled) (laughter and several talking) doesn't help! (mumbled) Bailey/ I know! Any other questions? So we'll see Wendy tomorrow night. We'll do that, and we'll see the hotel representatives tomorrow night, and um...go from there. Thank you. All right, next up is energy efficient block grant, agenda Item 22. Enemy Efficiency Block Grant: ITEM 22. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DESIGNATING THE CITY LANDFILL SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO SUBMIT THE CITY OF IOWA CITY'S APPLICATION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT FUNDS TO CREATE AN ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM. Yapp/ Uh, good evening. Failed to introduce myself earlier. I'm John Yapp in Planning, and with me tonight is Dave Elias, uh, Superintendent of Landfill. LTh, since we were notified of the energy efficiency block grant proposal several months ago, a team from both Planning and the Public Works department has been meeting to develop a strategy for how to use these funds. Uh, this is a stimulus program through the recent, uh, federal stimulus legislation, and cities of a certain size are receiving these funds directly, and Iowa City is receiving $692,000 in block grant funds to create and implement an energy efficiency strategy. What we are looking for from you, uh, is concurrence with this strategy, and then on your formal agenda is a resolution, uh, that essentially allows staff to start to apply for these funds. Even though we're guaranteed the $692,000, we still have to go through an application process, uh, which the Department of Energy will approve how we are utilizing these funds, and what we want to outline for you tonight is the, what we're calling the four-prong strategy, uh, for how to use these funds that we think meets the intent and the guidance that we've gotten, uh, from the Department of Energy in how to use the funds. Interrupt me at any time with any questions. Uh, the .first element of the strategy is to...uh, develop some public projects that will result in energy efficiency for the City organization, and then publicize those energy savings in an attempt to, uh, encourage other commercial and industrial businesses to also, uh, develop similar projects. On staff we do not have the expertise available to determine which are the most energy efficient projects, so we've been meeting with MidAmerican Energy, uh, who does have staff and consultants available, uh, and they have offered to do free energy audits for City facilities, uh, we've identified the larger City facilities, initially the most energy consuming, which includes City Hall, uh, Mercer Aquatic Center, uh, the wastewater plant are three of the larger ones. Uh, and then to implement these energy This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 21 conservation projects in the public buildings with approximately $345,000, $350,000. Uh, there are a few buildings which we would have to pay for energy audits. Uh, and that would be approximately $5,000 worth. Second part of the strategy is that, you know, we've learned from MidAmerican Energy that they...they have several programs available that often are not as well publicized as...as we might want, and they explain that the reason for that is their operation is statewide, and they need to offer the same level of publicity for their programs to all the communities in the state, but that if we wanted to do more publicity for those initiatives, we're more than happy to. Uh, at the same time, the City has other initiatives in this arena going on, including the Eco Iowa City program, uh, which Jennifer Jordan is helping to lead up, uh, and programs at the Eastside Landfill, uh, and Recycling facility. So a small amount of this program, but we think it could have a lot of impact using approximately $12,000 to publicize both the MidAmerican Energy programs and the other City programs that are already existing. Thirdly, uh, we would create a revolving loan fund, approximately $250,000 and this is the maximum we are allowed to, uh, do for a revolving loan fund out of this grant source. And this would...the MidAmerican Energy programs focus on the residential and commercial, smaller commercial, uh, land uses. What we're proposing to do with the revolving loan fund is focus on more the larger commercial and industrial facilities which are not as well-served by the MidAmerican Energy programs, uh, and this would offer a low interest loan to help offset costs for upgrades to commercial and industrial structures, things like geo-thermal, uh, heating and cooling, heat pumps, uh, more high efficiency motors and equipment, uh, things like that, and we hope to also partner with MidAmerican Energy to leverage these revolving loan funds. Correia/ Are we doing questions at the end or can we... Yapp/ Oh, no, go ahead. Correia/ With this, are there...is there, uh, requirements in the block grant that funds are targeting municipal and um, commercial, industrial? Can... Yapp/ The guidance, much of it is guidance instead of requirements. Correia/ Okay. Yapp/ IJh, the guidances to both to public projects which can serve as a catalyst and can serve as an educational tool, as well as attempt to, uh, get the funds out to the public, so there's a, it's both. Correia/ Well the reason I'm asking is...is, um, I...we have a large non-profit sector in Iowa City and I'm wondering if this...this loan, revolving loan fund could be opened up to non- profit organizations that might want... Yapp/ It certainly...it certainly could be, if a majority of Council was willing to go in that direction. Our intent in targeting the larger commercial and industrial businesses with the revolving loan fund is that the smaller, uh, residential, commercial, and non-profits, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 22 there's already existing programs through MidAmerican Energy which serves those...those, uh, those niches. Elias/ And, John, this is...is just a rough outline of what we do have to ultimately submit, and we have to submit after this initial application is approved, um, a fully developed, detailed strategy and that will open up all of these...these points to a lot more detail. Correial I'd be interested in adding non-profit...the non-profit sector, as potential applicants, since this is not (several talking) flushed out. Bailey/ Are others interested? I...I would be interested in targeting...targeting them more fully under B, if...if they're covered already under the MidAmerican programs (mumbled) Correia/ So I mean, does MidAmerican for example provide loans for non-profits, let's just say shelter programs (mumbled)? Yapp/ That's our understanding, yes. Correia) Really? Okay. Yapp/ Yes, there's a certain square footage that they will serve any, uh, entity up to a certain amount of square feet through their existing programs. Correia/ Do you know what the square feet is? Elias/ Uh, I think it's 25,000, of which...(several talking) and the way the MidAmerican programs typically work is if it's a utility customer of theirs and it falls within either the residential, or they have this energy efficiency partners program, which is targeted towards the commercial building. If it's a commercial account it...it falls under that category. What...what they offer is the audit and then a program that helps to, um, buy down the energy efficiency, or the pay-back period. So they'll buy it down, uh, two or three years, I believe, they'll buy it back down, which becomes sort of the, the incentive to implement the project. Yapp/ Uh, the last part of the strategy, which I'm going to turn it over to Dave now to, uh, discuss this with you is how is all of this going to be coordinated, uh, because this is federal stimulus funding, there's a tremendous amount of tracking and reporting, uh, that we need to do to access these funds and a lot of, uh, different City departments, and MidAmerican Energy to...to coordinate this effort. Dave. Elias/ Okay, so...we have been...and Public Works and then the Landfill, uh, staff in particular has been following through on our...on our directive to...to make a greenhouse gas inventory calculation, and so we have looked at that for City facilities, and the community as a whole, and whenever we find ourselves talking about greenhouse gas generation and what we put out, we...we find that we're specifically in many cases talking about energy consumption, whether it's gasoline and diesel fuel or...or natural gas This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 23 and electric, so a lot of... a lot of the work that we've done has now familiarized us with the...the energy consumption in City facilities, and the community. Our greenhouse gas report is...is probably 99% done. We hope to get you a full report on that in the next few weeks, uh, but...but our staff is now familiar with the details and the complexity of...of sorting this all out, and Brenda Nation's right here has done most of that work for us and has gotten the details lined out. This energy efficiency and conservation block grant comes to us at a particularly good timing with good opportunities for us because it...it can provide us not only the...the final analysis of the energy details around the City, but it can also help us to propose measures that will get us improvements, get us conservation, and actually get us reduction in usage which is reduction in cost and a reduction in emissions. But not only can it propose the measures, it also gives us this opportunity to impact the...the community by funding projects that we can...we can put in place, which was...was not any program or funding that we were headed to before this came out. We were going to do our analysis and then we were going to do an action plan to...to set goals and try to figure out from there what...what we have available. Well, this gives us a great opportunity, um, and advance that for us. We...so we've done a lot of looking at...at energy, for example, in...in the community. These are...are City facilities and...and in this slide, this is looking at...I have print-outs if...you'd like to look at 'em. Um, it gives us a look at our City utilities from a cost perspective. The other way to look at it is, is from a BTU perspective, how much energy do we actually consume. We'll talk about just costs briefly. So, from 1980 through 1997, we...we did have a...an energy conservation efficiency program in place, in Public Works, and this bottom, let's see here...where's...okay. This bottom green line right here represents the actual activities. The top line represents what would have been normal utility consumption. So, the...the conservation program actually got us some significant savings. And if we would track that line on out, we would see that...that, uh, we...we would have continued to receive that. In our work with greenhouse gas inventory, our base year to look at things is 2000, and we have looked at where we're at in 2008 and we see that our energy consumption has dramatically increased just in...in those eight years. What...what we're looking at in this data is that about every ten years the City of Iowa City energy consumption is doubling. So from 80 to 90 it...it almost doubled. And then from that to...to, uh, 2000 it doubled again. And then we see this trend continue to go up. Um, although if you can see this faint yellow line, that...that trend gets us currently below what we would have...would have been with...in the last, uh, 30 years we had no conservation program. So I think what it...what it, what the data is telling us is that we're right for continued, uh, energy efficiency and conservation reviews and to...to implement programs that can really help us keep...keep more on this lower line, because we see our...our, uh, energy trending up. If you look at the...the actual BTUs consumed, the trend line is even steeper than the cost. So some of the things that have...have really taken...taken place in the last eight or ten years is an expanded waste water plant and expanded drinking water plant, some big buildings, uh, on City facilities, the Library, uh, parking...parking ramp additions. These have all turned out to be pretty significant energy consumers. So we think with...with the opportunity we have right now, with the staffing that we have scheduled to come into play, uh, through...through Landfill activities this coming year, and then to supplement data collection and analysis with temporary positions, we can really position ourselves to...to not only reap some...some This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 24 reductions in costs and emissions, but also show the community that...that it can be done, and in Brenda's work, she's... she's looked at the community numbers and the community as a whole seems to be mirroring what...what has happened in City facilities. So, just, you know, across the board, Midwest American culture we seem to be increasing our energy consumption and this altogether gives us a real good opportunity to have an impact on it. So, the...the grant comes at a good time. We're...we're, um, hoping that you all agree with it, and we can...can, uh, submit the application. Bailey/ Any questions about this initial submission, I mean, it sounds like the details, the broad strokes need to be submitted, and then we work out the details later. Yapp/ We have 120 days... Bailey/ Okay. Yapp/ ...to work out all of the details. Bailey/ Questions? Correia/ So it's 692,000 that we can spend over three years, is that why the three year? Elias/ Yes. Correia/ Okay. Yapp/ Spend or obligate. Correia/ Well, oh...right, right, but that's sort of the (mumbled) spend it all in one year. (several talking) Okay. Yapp/ I think that gives us a little time to spend it wisely. Correia/ Right. Yapp/ Rather than rush to get it spent. Correia/ The only thing is, I think this looks great, um, I would...I'd like to keep open the opportunity that...have a revolving loan fund for non-profits. See if there's any way...if there's...so, for example, if...if what MidAmerican can offer is buying down the efficiency payback (mumbled) non-profit can't do is the upfront investment of the equipment, that could be...that might be a reason why we don't see non-profits, not only (mumbled) Wilburn/ It might be part of the education, um, program that we would (mumbled) Correia/ Right, but I mean if there are some pieces of it that's.. . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15 2009 City Council Work Session Page 25 Bailey/ (several talking) a majority to include non-profits in this list of revolving loan (several talking) any problem with that. I...I don't, I would like not to see it all non-profits. Nice to see what we can do. (several talking) Any other questions or comments? Shipley/ Please expand on develop and implement a climate action plan. What that entails. Elias/ Okay, um, we've been working on the greenhouse gas inventory report, our base year is 2000, um, we will have to then bring this full report, um, we want to bring it back to the City Council, and...and part of the process is then to set a target for...for what we would like to see our community doing in some future year, and then from...from having a target and a base year, then we...we will, uh, develop acommunity-based set of work groups that will help us realistically look at the industrial sector, look at the educational sector, the...the public sector, and even the residential sector, transportation, and proposed plans that can bring emissions, greenhouse gas emissions down to...to whatever this target level maybe. And that really ties in with this program well because most of the emissions come from a...an energy consumption activity. Shipley/ Um, also I want to thank you for printing out this graph, uh, it's pretty surprising I think that energy you know is doubled in just a few decades, um, and it's pretty expensive too so using these, you know, uh, 700,000 federal dollars, uh, do you think you're going to be able to curb this graph downward? Cause I mean, if you...if you're able to curb it downward, you could pay the federal government back with all the money you're saving, I mean.. . Elias/ (several talking) that's a big question. Yapp/ We can, I'm confident we can slow the growth. Whether we can actually turn it into a...reverse the energy...we don't have enough information to answer that yet. Shipley/ Okay, and then you said, uh, I mean, I...I don't want like a long history here. I've only been in Iowa City for three years, but you briefly mentioned a couple things that you attributed to, you know, the explosive growth, like the water plant and the parking ramps, um, I mean, I just feel like is that all or is there more to it than that or... Elias/ No doubt there is a lot more to it, and you...yeah, you know, unfortunately you can just kind of look around our...you can look around your house, you can look around the community, and you can see this...the sort of activities as society that we have started using more energy on, you know, it's...I know in our own division, the waste water division, in the last 20 years the change in the number of computers that we use is...is dramatic. So that's something. The community has grown so we would naturally expect, you know, additional energy use, but...but what we want to do is look at...at the proportional increase versus growth. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa. City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 26 Wilburn/ If you'd like, I still have a copy of the CD that talks about a lot of the environmental initiatives that the City has done over the past...eight to ten years, just (several talking) what's that? Shipley/ An audio CD? Wilburn/ No, it's essentially a....it's essentially a very long Power Point, but it...just some of the techniques and strategies. For example, it talks about how a lot of the buildings are super-cooled in the evening and, you know, um.. . Yapp/ The University's going through a very similar process (mumbled) currently also. Shipley/ I just think it's very interesting, almost alarming even, I mean, if these trends continue we'll be spending you know $3 million on energy alone in the next decade, so...thank you. Bailey/ Any other questions? Yapp/ Would you like Dave or I here tomorrow night? Bailey/ Would you like to go through this tomorrow night? I'm...I think given that it's this initial application, I think we're fine, but thanks for tonight's presentation. It was very helpful. (several responding) Thank you. Um, what we're going to do now is, um, move into the special formal, recess the special formal, and finish our work session, um, because the special formal was called for 7:30 so we're going to do that and then we'll finish up...um, the few items we have left on the work session. Okay. (recess to Special Formal) Information Packet Discussion (June 4 & 11): Bailey/ We are on information packet discussions. The information packets from June 4th and June 11th. Any items that you would like to discuss? Jump right in. Hayek/ Um, IP3 from...the June 4 packet, is the sandwich board memorandum. (several commenting) Um... Bailey/ The infamous sandwich board memo. Hayek/ It seems like, at least Jack Piper's concerns have been allayed with this resolution involving tying it somehow to your...your fence, um, I don't know if there's a sense from other business owners whether this is...is a workable solution or not. I just want to address this issue with them and not have to revisit it. Bailey/ Have we heard from any other business owners? Helling/ Not to my knowledge. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 27 Bailey/ Have you? Have...nobody's spoken to me. I haven't gotten any calls. Does anybody else... Wilburn/ (mumbled) signs out. Correia/ Saw a sign in the middle of the sidewalk. (several talking and laughing) Wright/ I did hear from one business owner who, uh, uses...has a, actually a...an unpaved, uh, parkway or boulevard (mumbled) shop and is used to putting a small A-framed open sign out there who was told that he can't do that anymore. Bailey/ Right. Wright/ Even though it's not on the sidewalk. Helling/ There were uh, a couple of signs I think that were, uh, we took some action Arts Fest weekend (mumbled) out. Bailey/ So, I'm assuming that when we talk to them about what's not allowed we also talk to them what is possible. Helling/ To the extent we, I mean, the code is there and I don't know how much, uh, contact we have or much contact is initiated with the City, um.. . Correial Do we have any kind of like info sheet.. . Bailey/ ...on what signs are allowed and... Correia/ ...sandwich boards, what's allowed what's not allowed. Is that something they could do in HIS, just cone-page sandwich boards, what you need to know. (both talking) Bailey/ (mumbled) Correia/ That's not allowed, this is what you can do, I mean... Bailey/ I think it's helpful when we're telling people what's not allowed that we give them options for what is possible. Helling/ And what's allowed may not be sandwich board but it maybe (several talking) Correia/ Signage that is allowed. Bailey/ Did you have some specific concerns, Matt or... Hayek/ No, L .. L ..I want us to be flexible on this. I think sandwich boards serve a great purpose. I understand the pedestrian aspect of it, um, seems to me that tying it to a fence or This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 28 attaching it somehow does make sense, and some businesses attach them nicely to the fascia of their building. So...we want to encourage (mumbled) Bailey/ So I think that if...when we are telling people what isn't allowed, telling them what is the possibility is the flexibility that we have, beyond re-examining our sign ordinance. Hayek/ And I know Jack Piper's the guy who initiated, at least the most recent conversation, so you know he's covered. Bailey/ Okay. Correia/ I mean, I think it would be good, I mean I understand the ordinance is there, but those things are hard to find and then you read them and, I mean, it'd be nice to have something that.. . Bailey/ I always think that, yeah, I can't do this but what are my possibilities. Correia/ Right, and so just cone-page info sheet (several talking) simple language, pictures. Bailey/ Yeah! What do we have out there that gives us... Helling/ I'll have to find out. The other question is who gets them and I'm assuming it would be people who inquire 'can I do this' or (mumbled) Bailey/ But I think the idea of putting it through DTA would cover some of the CB-10. Helling/ Yeah. (mumbled) Bailey/ And then...we can go from there, and then if we...if we also have a place to point people what's possible, it's just a list, then we don't have to...I don't want to tell people what's possible, because I want (several talking) I want something that's official. So...is that Hayek/ Yeah, that (mumbled) Bailey/ All right, other info packet items? Hayek/ I have an agenda item that I forgot to address. Bailey/ All right, just jump in. ITEM 24. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR 1807 LOWER MUSCATINE ROAD, IOWA CITY, JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA. Hayek/ Uh, Item 24, which is, uh, the purchase agreement for that house on Lower Muscatine, um, what is the City's intention with this property, uh, once it's acquired? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 29 Hayek/ The intention is to...to own the property, probably lease it out. That's what we're working on. Hayek/ Right. Helling/ Um, do the work on the intersection and so forth, and then in all likelihood we'll put the property back on the market and sell it. Champion/ But we need part of the land (several talking) Helling/ Yeah, the piece of land is that point, to the farthest...it'd be the northwest, uh, and I think there'll still be a very, you know, a very habitable, certainly building and the property itself won't be effected that much. Hayek/ And it just makes more sense to...to acquire it as opposed to (both talking) Helling/ Yes, we think so. Champion/ Well, since it's for sale. Bailey/ Well, and I thought that worked out well. Helling/ Right (several talking) Dilkes/ (mumbled) you could also end up paying what you are paying for this piece for the piece ofright-of--way because of the damage to the remainder issues. I mean, it's just...it makes a lot of sense (mumbled) Hayek/ And my interest is primarily in...in affirming that the house would actually be marketed by the City once the project's done and placed back into the private market. Helling/ That's the intent. Hayek/ Okay, that was all I had. Sorry about that. Council Time: Bailey/ Yeah, let's jump back to info packet. Any other items? Okay, um, let's move on to Council time. I did have one question that we would like to, um, get PIN grants on the agenda for... for our last meeting in June, and we didn't discuss cutting PIN grants, but I wanted to confirm that there weren't any problems or concerns about moving ahead, hearing the presentations from the neighborhoods, and going ahead on PIN grants. I think it's what, Dale, 18,000? Helling/ 15,000. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 30 Bailey/ 15,OOO...so put that on for the last, our last formal meeting in June? Wright/ I think absolutely. We get an awful lot of good out of those PIN grants for a very minor investment. Bailey/ Any concerns, cause I...I mean, we can bring those up, given the specific projects, but any general concerns about moving ahead with PIN grants at this time? Hayek/ I mean, the effect of this is to take that off the table, one of the possible reductions (several talking) Bailey/ ...and I wanted to confirm that it wasn't, I mean, it was on a list, but...we didn't touch it. Hayek/ But this would be FY10 funded PIN grants? Bailey/ It's FY10. Hayek/ Which we believe we've reached the quarter million dollars for FY10. Helling/ It's in, right, PIN grants are in the FY10 budget. Nothing...as you recall you went to A and B lists, so it's still on the B list for the future, but for FY10 this is what we're doing... Hayek/ I mean, I'm comfortable with that. I think it should be on the list for the future, along with everything else, um, but since we've reached our threshold for FY10 (several talking) pulling things out of the...of the budget planning process, if we can avoid it. Bailey/ Well, I just wanted to confirm because it also means having neighborhood representatives, and if we're not going to consider any, there's no point in wasting these people's time. Okay. All right, so we'll just put that on the agenda for the (mumbled) um, budget priorities, any items tonight? Okay. Schedule of pending discussion items. Schedule of Pending Discussion Items (Info Packet 2): Wright/ Weren't we supposed to in June be hearing about plastic bag reduction plans? (several commenting) Bailey/ I don't know! Wright/ I believe that was the agreement we had with Jen Jordan and the former City Manager. Bailey/ We11...Dale, can you check with Jen? Helling/ I will. I don't recall that. Wright/ Amy remembers! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009. June 15, 2009 City Council Work Session Correia/ June or July, but I remember we were (both talking) Wright/ It was (several talking) Correia/ ...also going to be...talking about the potential of having the mixed recycling (mumbled) Bailey/ Single stream, where are we on that? Do we know? Helling/ On the, uh.. . Bailey/ Single stream. Helling/ ...the mixed...um...I thought the last time we talked about that (mumbled) cost effective. Correia/ We were getting two bids. Bailey/ Yeah, I thought we were putting it out for bid (mumbled) Correia/ (both talking) Helling/ Both ways. Correia/ Right. Helling/ Yeah, I don't know (mumbled) Page 31 Bailey/ And then, um...Dave and John mentioned a greenhouse gas inventory that they're...we probably should get this on the list, that they'll be ready to present at some point. Is it...I don't see it immediately. Helling/ Yeah, we can put it back on. Bailey/ Okay. I don't know what the schedule is, but...any other items? Okay, any other...any upcoming community events or Council invitations? People (mumbled). Do we need to discuss any meeting schedules? All set? Okay. So we can just move back into this formal meeting. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of June 15, 2009.