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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-22 Info Packet City Council I nformation Packet December 22, 2021 IP1.Council Tentative Meeting S chedule Miscellaneous IP2.Memo from Neighborhood & Development Services Director: A ffordable Housing E mergency Grant F unding to the Center for Worker J ustice IP3.Memo from Development Services Coordinator: F lood I nsurance A ssessment IP4.Civil S ervice E xamination: Maintenance Worker I - Transit IP5.Civil S ervice E xamination: Parking E nforcement A ttendant IP6.Civil S ervice E xamination: Operations S upervisor - Transportation Draft Minutes IP7.Ad Hoc Truth & Reconciliation Commission: December 16 December 22, 2021 City of Iowa City Page 1 Item Number: 1. D ecember 22, 2021 Council Ten tative Meeting Sched u l e AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Council Tentative Meeting S chedule City Council Tentative Meeting Schedule Subject to change December 22, 2021 Date Time Meeting Location Tuesday, January 4, 2022 8:00 AM Special Formal (Organizational Meeting)The Center, Assembly Room 28 S. Linn Street Tuesday, January 4, 2022 4:00 PM Work Session The Center, Assembly Room 6:00 PM Formal Meeting 28 S. Linn Street Saturday, January 8, 2022 8:00 AM Budget Work Session The Center, Assembly Room 28 S. Linn Street Wednesday, January 12, 2022 3:00 PM Budget Work Session (CIP)The Center, Assembly Room 28 S. Linn Street Tuesday, January 18, 2022 4:00 PM Work Session The Center, Assembly Room 6:00 PM Formal Meeting 28 S. Linn Street Monday, January 24, 2022 4:30 PM Joint Entities Meeting TBD Hosted by Johnson County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, February 1, 2022 4:00 PM Work Session The Center, Assembly Room 6:00 PM Formal Meeting 28 S. Linn Street Tuesday, February 15, 2022 4:00 PM Work Session The Center, Assembly Room 6:00 PM Formal Meeting 28 S. Linn Street Tuesday, March 1, 2022 4:00 PM Work Session The Center, Assembly Room 6:00 PM Formal Meeting 28 S. Linn Street Tuesday, March 22, 2022 4:00 PM Work Session The Center, Assembly Room 6:00 PM Formal Meeting 28 S. Linn Street Item Number: 2. D ecember 22, 2021 Memo from Neig h b orhood & Devel opmen t Services Director: Afford able Housin g Emergen cy G ran t F u n d ing to th e Center for Worker Ju stice AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Memo from Neighborhood & Development Services Director: A ffordable Housing E mergency Grant F unding to the Center for Worker J ustice Date: December 17, 2021 To: Geoff Fruin, City Manager From: Tracy Hightshoe, Neighborhood Development Services Director Re: Affordable Housing Emergency Grant funding to the Center for Worker Justice Executive Summary The Center for Worker Justice (CWJ), a local non-profit that works with low-income workers and families, submitted a request for Affordable Housing Emergency Funds. In response to increasing needs due to COVID, fewer job opportunities for immigrant households and ineligibility for various state and federal benefits, CWJ has seen an increased need from these families to access emergency housing assistance. The City granted their request for $12,900 for temporary, bilingual staff to provide emergency housing application assistance through March 2022. Background/Analysis Many low-income workers and immigrant households need assistance applying for various housing assistance programs due to the complicated systems for assistance, language barriers and limited computer literacy and internet access. Providing assistance to these households by bilingual (English, French, Lingala, Arabic and Spanish) staff members will enable swift and timely completion of applications to allow these households to stay housed. The request includes a temporary bilingual staff member for 20 hours per week from December 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022 as well as office supplies necessary to provide this assistance. The majority of applicants must live in Iowa City’s corporate limits, be at or below 80% of median income based on household size and be financially impacted by COVID-19. Self-certification of income and financial impact of COVID-19 is allowed. It is estimated that at least 200 households will be assisted. Assisted is defined as CWJ assisting a household complete and apply for emergency housing and/or utility assistance. Beneficiary data does not need to be collected for small consultations where an application is not submitted. Conclusion The City entered an agreement with CWJ on December 8, 2021. The City paid 50% of the total grant upon contract execution. The remaining funds shall be paid on a reimbursement basis for payroll and related expenses per their outlined budget. Item Number: 3. D ecember 22, 2021 Memo from Develop ment Services Coordin ator: F lood Insuran ce Assessment AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Memo from Development Services Coordinator: F lood I nsurance A ssessment Date: December 21, 2021 To: Geoff Fruin, City Manager From: Danielle Sitzman, Development Services Division, City of Iowa City Re: Flood Insurance Assessment The City of Iowa City is a voluntary participant in the Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS) incentive program. The CRS program recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) using a point scoring system. In CRS communities, flood insurance premium rates for the entire community are discounted based on the total number of points scored to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community’s efforts that address the three goals of the program: • Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property • Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program • Foster comprehensive floodplain management Every five years the City undergoes an assessment of its floodplain management practices by the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) verifying compliance with the national CRS program and reauthorizing the available discount. Flood insurance premium rates in Community Rating System communities are discounted in increments of 5%. A Class 10 community is not participating in the CRS and receives no discount. A Class 9 community receives a 5% discount for all policies in its Special Flood Hazard Areas, a Class 8 community receives a 10% discount, all the way to a Class 1 community, which receives a 45% premium discount. Classifications are based on 19 creditable activities, organized in four categories: ▪ Public Information ▪ Mapping and Regulations ▪ Flood Damage Reduction ▪ Warning and Response The table below shows the credit points earned, classification awarded and premium reductions. CRS Credit Points, Classes and Premium Discounts Credit Points Class Premium Reduction SFHA* Premium Reduction Non-SFHA** 4,500+ 1 45% 10% 4,000 – 4,499 2 40% 10% 3,500 – 3,999 3 35% 10% 3,000 – 3,499 4 30% 10% December 22, 2021 Page 2 Credit Points Class Premium Reduction SFHA* Premium Reduction Non-SFHA** 2,500 – 2,999 5 25% 10% 2,000 – 2,499 6 20% 10% 1,500 – 1,999 7 15% 5% 1,000 – 1,499 8 10% 5% 500 – 999 9 5% 5% 0 – 499 10 0 0 *Special Flood Hazard Area (1% annual chance of flooding) **Preferred Risk Policies are available only in B, C and X Zones for properties that are shown to have a minimal risk of flood damage. Over the years, the City has maintained and improved upon its CRS score. We are currently rated a Class 6 Community, a step up from the previous review period. As of July 2021, 688 communities in Iowa participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. Iowa City is one of only 13 (2%) of these communities that participate in the CRS. Iowa City has the fifth highest number of insurance policies issued in its jurisdiction and the second highest CRS program score in Iowa. The following flood insurance assessment information was collected and analyzed by Development Services staff to evaluate progress on the City’s flood plain mitigation efforts. To determine the level of flood insurance coverage in Iowa City, the most recent Insurance Zone and Insurance Occupancy flood insurance policy data provided by FEMA was used, along with data gathered using the Johnson County GIS. Data was also collected from Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO). The FEMA mapped Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) are shown in light blue. The SFHA is the area where the National Flood Insurance Program's floodplain management regulations must be enforced and the area where the mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies. SFHA are defined as the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 1- percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood. SFHAs are labeled as Zone A, Zone AO, Zone AH, Zones A1-A30, Zone AE, Zone A99, Zone AR, Zone AR/AE, Zone AR/AO, Zone AR/A1-A30, Zone AR/A, Zone V, Zone VE, and Zones V1-V30. The areas most likely to experience flooding are those located in the SFHA zones. They are studied and defined using detailed hydrologic analysis methods and or historical flood information. December 22, 2021 Page 3 Moderate flood hazard areas shown in darker blue, labeled Zone B or Zone X (shaded) are also shown on the FIRM, and are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent- annual-chance (or 500-year) flood. The areas of minimal flood hazard, which are the areas outside the SFHA and higher than the elevation of the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood, are labeled Zone C or Zone X (unshaded). Flood insurance coverage of properties in Iowa City are summarized below. Table 1 – Policies by Occupancy Table 1 Policies In Force Total Premium Total Insurance In Force Average Coverage Single Family 240 $253,564 $49,153,500 $204,806 2-4 Family 135 $69,042 $28,580,500 $211,707 All Other Residential 19 $18,952 $8,119,000 $427,315 Non-Residential 104 $500,163 $59,638,900 $573,450 Total 498 $841,721 $145,491,900 $292,152 Table 2 – Insurance by Zone Table 2 Policies in Force Total Premium Total Insurance in Force Average Coverage A01-30 & AE Zones 223 $510,594 $53,973,100 $242,031 A Zones 1 $20,570 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 AO AH Zones 1 $3,405 $600,000 $600,000 B, C & X Zones -Standard 110 $198,426 $40,662,800 $369,661 -Preferred 163 $108,726 $49,256,000 $302,184 Total 498 $841,721 $145,491,900 $292,152 The current number of buildings within the FEMA mapped 100-year or 500-year flood zones that have a flood insurance policy is 498. That is only approximately 51% of structures in the 100- year zone that are eligible to be covered. However, there are many properties within the less risky 500-year flood zones that do have optional policies. While there were no repetitive loss claims paid on properties in flood hazard areas, there were 157 paid claims in total. Increasing the awareness of the importance of protecting property with flood insurance for properties within all flood zones will continue to be an area of focus for the City’s floodplain management efforts. New outreach projects expanding the awareness of the hazard of flooding and promoting the purchase of flood insurance for property protection can be added to the existing publications already in use. These may include: 1) Video presentation on Community Connection or Iowa City Update about Iowa City’s flood hazard areas. 2) Messaging on the City’s social media outlets 3) Direct mailings to residents in the vicinity of known choke-points (bridges, culverts); 4) Direct mailings to residents with structures in flood hazard areas. Item Number: 4. D ecember 22, 2021 Civil Service Examin ation : Main ten ance Worker I - Transit AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Civil S ervice E xamination: Maintenance Worker I - Transit Item Number: 5. D ecember 22, 2021 Civil Service Examin ation : Parking Enforcement Attendan t AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Civil S ervice E xamination: Parking E nforcement A ttendant Item Number: 6. D ecember 22, 2021 Civil Service Examin ation : O p erations Supervisor - Tran sp ortation AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Civil S ervice E xamination: Operations S upervisor - Transportation Item Number: 7. D ecember 22, 2021 Ad Hoc Truth & Recon ciliation Commission: December 16 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Ad Hoc Truth & Reconciliation Commission: December 16 December 16, 2021 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes Emma J. Harvat Hall City Hall Commissioners present: Amel Ali, Kevo Rivera, Daphney Daniel (via Zoom), Wangui Gathua, Eric Harris, Clifton Johnson, Sikowis (Christine Nobiss via Zoom), Mohamed Traore. Commissioners not present: Chastity Dillard. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers. Community members who spoke at the meeting: Nicholas Theisen, Noah P, and Annie Tucker. Recommendations to City Council: No. Meeting called to order: 7:01. Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Ali read the Land Acknowledgement. Approval of Minutes from the December 2, 2021: Ali moved, and Rivera seconded. Motion passed 7-0. (Daphney not present). Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: Noah P reported that the City refused to provide shelter to people who are homeless even though City officials knew a storm was coming towards Iowa City. Tucker congratulated the TRC on being granted an extension through June 2023. Presentation by Eduardo Gonzalez: Gonzalez is happy to see that the TRC was granted an extension through June 2023 and he now believes the challenge is to make the best possible use of time by planning thoughtfully. Gonzalez suggests that it is important to go through the TRC Resolution, and highlight the key objectives contained in it and plan those objectives around the time the TRC has left to fulfill its terms. Think of what the TRC can do with the extension that will honor the mission. It is important for the TRC to use its resources wisely. Like most TRC the main function is to listen as people give their statements. TRC are not where Commissioners go to talk but a place where Commissioners come to listen to others and so a space needs to be created that allows for respect, empathy, and safety. Because the TRC is going after “structure” this explains why they have had such a difficult tenure. That is the noise of the “structure” that doesn’t want to go quietly. An human rights lawyer would probably call this violating economic, social, and cultural rights. The TRC should focus on 3 or more big tasks and take the time to discuss and plan on how to conduct those functions. Theisen thanked Gonzalez for his time and expertise. Gonzalez provided the cons of why Commissioners should not partake in live truth-telling. The cons are that TRC are most valuable when the community talks and commissioners listen. Sometimes a commissioner may ask a question, but the mere presence of the commission is where the contribution is made. When planning hearings, the TRC should intentionally have victims and survivors from different eras, times, and genders. Gonzalez ended with wishing the TRC a year of justice and healing. Telling Iowa City’s Story by Daniel Posthumus: Posthumus is a sophomore at William & Mary in Virginia and lived most of his life in Japan. Posthumus has focused most of his research on transitional justice, specifically truth commissions. Currently, Posthumus is working on a long form journalism article in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on the Iowa City Truth Commission. The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement after the murder of George Floyd led to the proliferation of truth commissions across the country but there is still no federal truth commission. The Iowa City Truth Commission is currently the most contentious of the commissions in the US. Truth Commissions are political bodies, and they reflect the political environment. So, what happens when activism comes in? Conflict with institutions? How do we maintain the momentum of the Black Lives Matter Movement and generally, racial progress when it stops being the lead on prime-time news? Posthumus will be in Iowa City from February 18 – 20 to do some in-person interviews and some groundwork. Posthumus would like to do pre-interviews prior to coming in town in February with Commissioners. Commission Announcements: Gathua corrected the record from the December 2, meeting date. What was said was that a group of community members would plan to listen. Staff Announcements: Staff highlighted an email sent out that encouraged any board or commission member who is considering applying for a City grant to reach out to the City Attorney to see if their organization/proposal would be subject to a funding cap based on their current service to the City. Adjourn: 7:51 PM The entire meeting can be viewed at this link https://citychannel4.com/video.html by searching for the meeting date. AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2021 (Meeting Date) NAME TERM EXP. 6/10 6/24 7/8 7/22 8/5 8/19 9/2 9/16 9/30 10/7 10/21 11/4 11/18 12/2 12/16 Ali 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Daniel 6/22 X X O X O X X X X O X X X X X Dillard 6/22 O X X X X X X X X X X X X X O Gathua 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Johnson 6/22 X X X X X X X X X O X X X X X Harris 6/22 X X X X X X O X X X X X X X X Nobiss 6/22 X X X O X X X O X X X X O X X Rivera 6/22 X X X X X O X X X O X X X X X Traore 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X KEY: X = Present O = Absent