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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-17 TranscriptionAugust 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 1 August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session 6:30 P.M. Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Correia, Hayek, O'Donnell, Wilburn, Wright Staff: Helling, Dilkes, Karr, Davidson, Rackis, Bollinger, Fosse, Elias, Jordan, Hargadine Others Present: Shipley (UISG) Planning and Zoning Items: Bailey/ Get started...our first, um, work session agenda item, Planning and Zoning Items. (mumbled) ITEM 4. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. a) PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 4.29 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON WALDEN ROAD, WEST OF MORMON TREK BOULEVARD FROM MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-8) ZONE TO HIGH DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-12) ZONE. (REZ09-00003) b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF THE PRELIMINARY PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND SENSITIVE AREAS DEVELOPMENT PLAN (REZ06- 00026) FOR APPROXIMATELY 34.88 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED SOUTH AND WEST OF WHISPERING MEADOWS DRIVE TO COINCIDE WITH APPROVAL OF A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF THE PRELIMINARY PLAT OF WHISPERING MEADOWS SUBDIVISION, PART 4. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) c) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF THE PRELIMINARY PLAT OF WHISPERING MEADOWS SUBDIVISION, PART 4, IOWA CITY, IOWA. d) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES, THIRD ADDITION, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB09-00003) e) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF STONE BRIDGE ESTATES, PART SIX, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB09- 00005) Davidson/ Uh, thank you, Madame Mayor. Good evening, Members of Council. Uh, even though we're not here this evening to discuss Item a, I just wanted to mention that we will be asking for deferral of Item a, uh, which is a rezoning item that we normally would discuss tomorrow night, but we'll be asking for rezoning of that. That has not made it out This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 2 of P&Z yet. There's a storm water drainage issue yet to be resolved. Item b then (both talking) Excuse me, Mike? O'Donnell/ First and the fifteenth (mumbled) Davidson/ Uh, is that the next meeting, Marian? Bailey/ It says the 29th. In the notes. Davidson/ Oh, that is correct! Good, uh, good catch, Madame Mayor. September 29 is when we've asked for deferral. I assume that's related, Mike, to how long they anticipate needing to resolve. Bailey/ Can't talk about it anymore! Davidson/ Moving on then! (laughter) Uh, item b is second consideration of the...of the second, excuse me, second consideration of the two year extension of the planned development plan and sensitive areas development plan for Whispering Meadows part four. Any...that's second consideration. Any questions? Okay. Uh, item c then is the plat. Um, we will be asking for expedited consideration, uh, that's in order to get the plat in within the two year, uh, before it expires, basically, to extend it before it expires. Uh, this is the plat, uh, just to refamiliarize yourselves. You'll remember this got extensive discussion, uh, when it was approved by you. You can see where it, uh, ties in, uh, to the existing streets in the area. Here's the location diagram. You can see it's just south of the, uh, Lakeside Drive, Regal Lane area. iJh, and it's, as you can see, a mix of housing types, uh, that I think very skillfully, uh, preserves the environmental features. I think quite frankly, and this is the opinion of our wetland's specialist, even improves some of the wetland features from what are there currently. They're rather low quality, and they will be improved in quality, under this plan. LTh, a mix of lot sizes, and you see the townhouse type lots, as well as, uh, single-family, um...any questions about this? Again, this is a two year extension of an already approved preliminary plat. Item d then is, uh, the final plat of Country Club Estates, uh, part three. Uh, this is a 38-lot detached single- family subdivision. There are two outlots which I'll outline for you in a second. Uh, it's just north of Rohret Road, and includes an extension of Lakeshore Drive from Rohret Road, up to where Lakeshore Drive currently, um, oh we might as well just move on, and I can actually show you these things (laughter). Uh, the two outlots, as you can see, outlot A and outlot C, uh, these are storm water management areas that will be in private ownership. Uh, this is Lakeside Drive that I was just referring to. Here's where it currently terminates and the existing subdivision. Here is Rohret Road, down here. Uh, there is a small piece. Right here is where the improved portion of Rohret Road currently terminates, so the...the subdivider, as part of this, uh, subdivision, as part of...part, um, whatever part I said this was...uh, third addition, excuse me, thank you, uh, will be required to extend Lakeside Drive, uh, in order to provide... Bailey/ Shore. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 3 Champion/ Yeah, Lakeshore. Davidson/ Shore...Drive, thank you. We were just talking about Lakeside Drive. Okay. Lakeshore Drive will be extended from Rohret Road up to where it currently extends. This will allow the larger part of the subdivision up here to not all have to use Phoenix Drive for access back down to Rohret, will, uh, more gracefully circulate traffic throughout the entire subdivision. Uh, the current zoning, uh, is agricultural and it's approximately 28 acres in size. Uh, you'll recall I'm sure the preliminary plat and OPD plan were approved in May after substantial discussion. LJh, this...the overall OPD plan, the planned development, allows for development of 107 detached single-family lots, and as I mentioned, this is 38 in the third addition. Um...the outlots are 14 acres in size, in case you're interested in that. Um, the final plat is in general conformance with approved preliminary plat, and subdivision regulations. Uh, I have not been told the construction plans and legal papers are still outstanding... Dilkes/ I think we have a few issues to resolve in the legal papers, so we'll have to let you know tomorrow. Davidson/ Let you know tomorrow then. Uh, quickly then, the open space requirement, uh, will be...has been identified in the preliminary plat. There's 4.6 acres that will be dedicated during the fifth edition, um...of the subdivision. Uh, as I mentioned, outlots A and C are private open space for storm water management, uh, talked about Lakeshore Drive already. Uh, there are substantial environmentally sensitive areas, including stream corridor, critical slopes, and regulated wetlands. Uh, level 2 sensitive areas review has been approved, and the Corps of Engineers has approved the wetland mitigation plan. Uh, staff recommendation is for approval. Any questions? Wright/ (mumbled) Bailey/ Is your microphone on, Mike? Wright/ Oops, no it's not! (noise on mic) Sorry about that. I have a question back on the Whispering Meadows subdivision. Somebody asked me the other day if any of that housing could be subsidized. Do you know about that? Davidson/ Um, there's nothing that we know of at this time. As far as we know, the subdivision's for sale. Uh, and there's been no development of it yet. Wright/ Thank you. Davidson/ Uh, if there's no further questions about Whispering Meadows, let's move on then to Stone Bridge Estates, part six. Again, this is a final plat, uh, and again, the overall planned development plan, uh, you have discussed fairly recently. Um...let's see, the preliminary plat for parts six through nine were approved recently, and this is for, uh, part six, uh, the final plat for part six, which is 28 lots, approximately 8 acres. Uh, the preliminary plat, um...includes an outlot. Outlot, a portion of outlot... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 4 Champion/ Jeff, I'm sorry. I'm having trouble placing this. Where is this? Davidson/ Yeah. Bailey/ East side. Davidson/ Uh, here's Court Street. Champion/ Oh, okay, okay. I didn't see that. Davidson/ Windsor Ridge, right in here's where the townhouses are along Court Street, so this is an extension of Arlington Drive, uh, right there, and this is Colchester Drive, uh, and here's Taft Avenue, over here. Um, yeah, you'll recall that there is an outlot, outlot E, of which a portion here is in part six. Uh, that is a private open space, which will be maintained by the homeowner's association, but will include a trail that has a public access easement over it, so there will be public access to outlot E, even though it will not be part of the, uh, City's park system. There will be a public access easement over it, and it basically follows the stream corridor. Uh, the final plat's in general conformance with the approved preliminary plat, uh, Eleanor, legal papers? Dilkes/ Are done. Davidson/ Are done. Great. Um, there will be temporary, uh, turnarounds required for the fire department, uh, on Colchester Drive and Arlington Drive, uh, just to ensure that until the additional portions are platted that we have adequate emergency vehicle turnaround. Uh. they are using the, uh, Scott Park storm water detention facility, so there's no on-site storm water detention. Uh, there is a, uh, an impact fee for Lower West Branch Road, which will be required to be paid, uh, at part seven, uh, $133,564, which will reimburse the City for expenses, uh, for Lower West Branch Road, and there will also be a, uh, impact fee for water main of $3,270. Staff recommends approval. Bailey/ Questions? Thank you. Davidson/ Thank you. Council Appointments: Bailey/ All right. Next item, Council appointments. Housing and Community Development Commission, three vacancies, three applicants. Hayek/ Put a pitch in for, uh, Andy Chappell. Champion/ So do I! So do I! Correia/ Yep! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 5 Hayek/ I think most of us, maybe all of us, know him. He's a colleague of mine, but...but I've worked with him in various capacities and he's sharp as a tack and very dedicated and extremely, uh, objective and (several talking) Bailey/ Eleanor, do we anticipate many conflicts of interest with Andy sitting on this, I mean, we know he's County Attorney's office but... Dilkes/ I...I don't think so. There could be some specific conflicts that would arise...that he might have to recuse himself on but.. . Bailey/ But you don't have any concerns...okay. Wright/ Andy's the only one of those three applicants that I know, uh, personally but...and I think he'd be excellent. Bailey/ Okay (several talking) Champion/ I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you. Wright/ I have to project more. It's allergy season. Champion/ Thank you! That's very good! Wright/ I just said, Andy is the only one of the applicants that I know personally. Champion/ He's the only one I know too. Bailey/ All right. Correia/ Well, and I wonder, this, um, we have some gender imbalance on that...if we would approve all three of these male applicants, and I'm wondering, um, about the possibility of appointing Andy and opening up the two for additional applicants. Bailey/ Thoughts? Wilburn/ That gives us... Hayek/ Oh, I see! Filling just one spot? Correial Just one spot, and we need to try and field additional possibilities (several talking). Bailey/ Women applicants so we have at least a choice. Correia/ Right, right! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Bailey/ Some options. To get some gender balance. Wright/ I'd be fine with that. Champion/ I'm fine with it. Wilburn/ ...one more cycle. One more advertising cycle. Bailey/ Right, right. Wright/ And these folks are welcome to reapply, of course. Bailey/ Absolutely! Matt? Hayek/ That's fine. Bailey/ Okay. All right. Karr/ They don't have to reapply. We keep the application 90 days (several talking) Page 6 Bailey/ All right. Okay. So we'll do one appointment tomorrow and um, readvertise. All right. Police Citizens Review Board. Quite a few applicants...let's see. Two openings, one for peace officer and another...so... Champion/ I really like Joseph Treloar. I think he's got a lot of experience. He's a probation/parole officer for the 6th District and I think it provides some diversity on that. Wright/ I agree with you, Connie. I think he'd be excellent. O'Donnell/ Good (several talking) Bailey/ Nicely done! Correia/ I'm interested in Dr. Young. Champion/ Oh, everybody is! O'DonnelU Yes! (laughter) Wright/ Oh, for the other position? I'm actually very interested in (mumbled). I know him and uh, I think he's a very high energy individual and a very quick study. Bailey/ So I'm assuming we have...how many for, um, Vershawn Young? One, two, three, four. Looks like it's Mr.....Dr. Young. Champion/ Good applicants! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 7 Bailey/ It was really good to see all the applications. I wish we would see that more (several talking) Hayek/ Let me point something out though, and I am not making a pitch for the so-called incumbent, but it's typically our practice to give some deference to somebody re-upping after a first term. Again, I'm not...I just want to point that out. Again, it's not an endorsement of that person. Bailey/ (mumbled) policy, so... Champion/ We don't have a policy, and I...I mean, I think I have some reasons to not appoint him. It doesn't mean...that I don't like him or that he hasn't done a good job, but I think his...his public output has been very preferential to the police and I think that could be detrimental on this board. Bailey/ Okay. All right. I don't think we have any other appointments to be made. All right, agenda items. Agenda Items: ITEM 11. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING FUNDING FOR CORRIDOR DRYWALL LLC FROM IOWA CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACT AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND SUBMIT ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. Correia/ I, um (mumbled) Bailey/ Do we have any or...we're looking (several talking) okay. (laughter) (several talking) Correia/ Sorry! Bailey/ That's okay. I just want to make sure... Correia/ Oh, on item number 11, the uh, CDBG. I just wondered about...I've, um, I support this, um, application and resolution, um, I was just...I didn't see in the minutes the...reasoning for the 1 %. Um, I think we all know in previous votes on, um, on applicants, I have supported the lower percentage, um, I think the last few applicants had higher percentages - 3.5% - um, and I just wondered about the consistency in that, and the fact that I think, just a few months ago, um, the business owner who does the gluten free bread had come in and asked for a lower percentage rate. I think she was...I can't recall what she was at - 3.5% or 4% -something like that, and that was turned down and so I This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 8 guess if we're willing to go to 1% now for whatever reason, and...on an unsecured loan, I would, um, like to see consideration of some of our current, um...loan (several talking) Champion/ We do... Bailey/ Did you want to speak to that? Davidson/ I think I'd rather have Tracy speak to it tomorrow night, if possible. (both talking) Bailey/ ...staff recommendation, and I think that these are done on a case-by-case, um... Davidson/ Yeah, they are done on a case-by-case, and I think it has something to do with market conditions, but I'll have Tracy explain it more thoroughly tomorrow night. Champion/ I think also too, Amy, that if somebody gets in trouble, we do reduce their interest. Economic Development group does have, um, the ability to decrease (mumbled) decrease payments. Davidson/ Yeah, that occurs with some frequency. Correia/ (both talking) and so.... Hayek/ Could, frankly the interest rate was not the subject of the conversation, but (several talking) Tracy about why...why that was recommended. Bailey/ Okay. Correia/ And then, L ..just to go back, I mean, I do think when it's...done more on a case-by-case than having some sort of...objective reasons one way or the other that can be explained, it does then feel like I would have a question of why this applicant over a different applicant, and since we don't get the full packet anymore, um, for Economic Development, the minutes didn't reflect any of that reasoning, and so you know, I've really been...an advocate of decreasing those percentage rates because our federal funds...it doesn't cost us anything, um, and...and I think that some of our other minority women owned businesses that are struggling, and could benefit from lower interest rates. Bailey/ Tracy is working with a lot of our, I mean, as Connie said, there's a lot of flexibility, and I think part of it has to do with working with the bank and some recommendations that she gets. So...but we didn't, as Matt said, that wasn't the focus of our discussion. Do you have other agenda items? Correia/ I think I do, but others (mumbled) Bailey/ (cell phone ringing and several talking) Wright/ I'm sorry! That was me... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 9 Bailey/ Am I going to have to say silent or vibrate before these meetings? (laughing) Wright/ I forgot! (laughter) ITEM 8. APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PHASE ONE-TRAIL DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRY TRUEBLOOD RECREATION AREA 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. Hayek/ Uh, item 8 is the...is the plans and specs for the, um, phase one trail development, Trueblood Park. How does that...my question is simply, um, to what extent are we developing that at this time, given the decisions we made (both talking) Bailey/ That was my question as well. Hayek/ ...about...about holding off on full-scale development. Davidson/ Yeah, I think I can answer that, unless anybody else is here. Um, there is a plan in the budget, which was apared-back plan that does bite off a...a few smaller projects and implements them, uh, but does not do the full-scale...you remember we pulled back the...the grant application that we'd applied for. Um, because we just didn't think we could afford to staff the full-blown park at this time and...and that...that remains, uh, but we are trying to pick off little pieces. I think the trail is a good example of, you know, just move the trail head slightly down a little bit further to the south. Wouldn't require additional staffing from the Parks' department, uh, but clearly that's a question you're going to have to address with the full-blown development of the park. Hayek/ Right. Bailey/ And so we're paving a parking area and that's essentially this project. An access point and a parking area. Helling/ I think...here's the man. Fosse/ It actually includes, uh, trail construction, as well, in that. Bailey/ Okay, tell me more. What kind of trail? Champion/ What kind of access will this give people who are using the trail? Fosse/ I'm sorry... L . . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 10 Champion/ What kind of access to the park will this trail provide? To an undeveloped park. Fosse/ Oh, it'll allow you to walk around the pond, on the trail, and uh, right now we have a fair amount of people just walking around and enjoying the space down there now. You'll be able to do it on the trail after this is (noise on mic) Bailey/ Asphalt, 8-foot trail, is that what we're talking? Fosse/ Yes. Bailey/ Okay. Davidson/ But it doesn't include any of the pavilions or...or the...the docks or (both talking) Champion/ I'm sure you have compared the price of concrete and asphalt? Cause right now asphalt's pretty expensive. Fosse/ Yes. I'll check with Parks tomorrow. They've been handling this one primarily, and we'll confirm that, and follow up with you. Bailey/ Okay. Any other questions about item 8? Yeah, I think, as I recall we budgeted about $500,000? Okay, so this is the portion that we budgeted. (several talking) Wright/ Where does that...G.O. bonds? (several responding) Okay. Bailey/ Okay. Other agenda items? ITEM 13. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE BURLINGTON / US HWY 6 BRIDGES FLOOD REPAIR PROJECT [ER-3715(641)--8R-52 & ER-3715(642)--8R-52]. ITEM 14. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE 404 HAZARD MITIGATION PROPERTY ACQUISITION DEMOLITIONS PROJECT. Wright/ (mumbled) (noise on mic) um, I just had a, well, maybe kind of a silly question or...or at least something that I missed something obvious, but on number 13 and number 14, item 13 and 14...they're blank! Bailey/ Huh? What did you say? Wright/ LTh, items 13 and 14 in the agenda. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Bailey/ iIh-huh. Wright/ And I'm just...maybe I'm being dense and... Bailey/ There's blanks? Wright/ ...missing something. Bailey/ Yeah. We don't have the numbers. Wright/ We don't have the numbers? Champion/ They're saying we'll have it tomorrow. Page 11 Karr/ We just opened the bids. We did not have the bid numbers to give to you until after it went to print. Wright/ Okay (both talking) week and I thought, well, I'm not thinking I want to approve it until I know what the figures are. Karr/ And we couldn't give you the figures until we opened bids. Wright/ Okay, that was today? Karr/ Today, and one of them is tomorrow morning. Wright/ Okay. Bailey/ Rick, since you're there, item 12, or whoever knows, item 12, when will this go into effect? Even/odd parking, and what are we doing to notify people, since we missed the start of the school year? ITEM 12. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CHANGE FROM CALENDAR PARKING TO ODD/EVEN DATE PARKING FOR STREETS WHICH CURRENTLY HAVE CALENDAR PARKING. Fosse/ We've already worked through the Neighborhood Associations, getting the word out and then we also put, uh, one sign up per block face, uh (several talking) Wright/ Sometimes two! Fosse/ Sometimes two, yes. Just...just to get the word out that this is being contemplated. Uh, if it's approved tomorrow night, then we'll follow up through the Neighborhood Association, order the signs, and then as soon as we can get those installed is when we'll begin.. . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 12 Bailey/ So do we have a target date? September 15th? September 30th? Fosse/ It'll all depend on the turnaround time for the signs. So I...I don't want to shot from the hip on that, but I can get that to you tomorrow. Bailey/ Okay. Hayek/ Do you roll that out at once, or as...or do you do it on astreet-by-street basis so you've got some period of time during which some is still on a...on calendar and some are odd/even. Bailey/ Any warnings? Fosse/ It's unlikely that they'll get all the sides switched in one day. Hayek/ Yeah! Fosse/ So, you know, they'll get as many as they can get done per day, and then we'll work with (mumbled) initial period there. Champion/ And hope that you won't have any snow until January. Fosse/ Or at all (several commenting). Wright/ At least not until December! Bailey/ Okay. Dilkes/ (several talking) the resolution... Wright/ I'm sorry. Go ahead, Eleanor. Dilkes/ The resolution says that the parking restrictions will take effect when the signs are posted. Bailey/ Right, but... Hayek/ ...questions about... Bailey/ People are going to ask when that is, and if, I mean, you know, and if you have to park two blocks away, if the sign's not there it's going to be confusing, cause once school starts. (several talking) Correial ...the same day. You're not going to have no sign and... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 13 Bailey/ No, no, no, no, what I'm saying is your block that you're used to parking on could switch, but the block that you have to park on because of...of school starting six blocks away or four blocks away might not switch, so...you just pay attention to the signs I guess. (several talking) Wright/ ...rolled out the ordinance, did we do some leafleting of windshields? Never? Fosse/ Yes we did. Wright/ Wonder if maybe we should consider doing that again. Fosse/ One of the things that we discussed earlier today is a little informational leaflet that would be used in lieu of the warning. Wright/ Okay. Fosse/ ...to educate folks. Wright/ Okay. That...answered that concern. Bailey/ Other agenda items? ITEM 16. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION CONCERNING MEDIACOM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION'S 2009 UPDATING OF RATES FOR BASIC CABLE SERVICES. Wilburn/ Item 16, Dale, that, uh, cable rate -that's still (mumbled) just not as large an increase as the last time, is that correct? Am I reading that right? Helling/ Actually it's a decrease this time. It kind of fluctuates, but it remains in that $10, $11 range usually, and that's an annual adjustment. Wilburn/ Okay. Helling/ Uh, based on the formulas, so it will go up and down. Wilburn/ Okay. Correia/ But we don't get the TV Guide channel back? Helling/ I'm sorry? Correia/ I said, but we don't get the TV Guide channel back. Helling/ LJh, not by this resolution. (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Correia/ Can we add it? Helling/ Uh, we're working on that (several talking and laughing) Bailey/ Just read the Guide. Wright/ As much as our cable's been working lately it doesn't matter. (laughter) Helling/ My understanding is Bob's working on something, but I (both talking) Correia/ Oh, really? Okay. Page 14 Wright/ On this same, uh, item, Dale, uh, does this apply only to people who subscribe to the, to the basic level cable, or is that built into each subscription, because of the way they package.. . Helling/ Only the...the basic rate, the...20 channels or whatever it is, um, and that's because by federal statute that's all we can regulate. Wright/ Okay. Thank you. Bailey/ Any other agenda items? Pretty much done it. Okay. Do you have any? Then we're going to move along to review of STP and Transportation Enhancement Grant apps, Il'2. Review of STP & Transportation Enhancement Grant Applications (IP2): Davidson/ The last few times that JCCOG has a portion, uh, STP and Transportation Enhancement funds we've taken the opportunity, excuse me, to discuss projects with you ahead of time and just make sure that there's, uh, general buy-in from the City Council. Uh, we've also gone through the exercise of having you formally approve the projects to be applied for, uh, for the purposes then of you acting as a group, being in concert at the JCCOG meetings, uh, and if you'd like...if you want to direct us to do that, we're happy to do that again. Uh, Rick and, uh, Ron Knoche, City Engineer, and uh, Transportation Director, uh, Chris, um... Wright/ O'Brien? Davidson/ O'Brien, excuse me (laughter) um, we got together and sat down with the budget and tried to select some, uh, good candidate projects from, uh, your existing approved budget, uh, you'll recall that with the STP and the enhancement funds, they must be on a federal aid eligible route. You can't generally do something on a local or a collector street because that's not part of the federal aid system. The federal government wants to see the funds, uh, spent on the...the major transportation routes, uh, and uh, and that's reflected in the projects that you see here. Uh, the...the project, the funds can also be used for transit purposes, and we did discuss that with Chris, uh, because of some of the stimulus This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 15 funds that have become available, he's in pretty good shape in terms of purchasing buses and that, so that's why you don't see any transit projects, uh, reflected here. So, if you'd like we'll just step through these real quickly and hopefully between Rick and myself, uh, we can answer any questions that you might have and, uh, then...we'd just like you to go project by project and indicate if you concur or not with the application being made. Um, you can see the funds that are available, about $4 million in STP and a little over half a million in enhancement funds, um, and...and we are suggesting applying for as many projects, all seven if you'd like, that you see here, even though that's obviously substantially more than the funds are available, but that allows JCCOG to have discussion of all the candidates projects, in addition to using the point scoring system, simply see if, as a board, as a regional transportation planning policy board, um, you know, you might have a project that the group likes or that you can bring in one or the other member agencies and...and uh, take action accordingly. The first project's the old Rock Island railroad depot. Uh, the, and the funds would be used to purchase the depot. Um, you see $700 reflected there. Obviously we hope to conduct an arm's length transaction with the property owner. The property owner is cooperating with us, has been very cooperative with all the events that have been planned and that sort of thing, uh, we would likely have a lease back arrangement with the law offices for, uh, a period of time and that's fine because we don't' need the whole...the whole depot for the Amtrak service. Uh, there likely will be funds also required for renovation...well, not likely, we will need funds to renovate the depot, make it handicap accessible and that sort of thing. Uh, so we're suggesting that the funds be used for purchase and/or renovation, uh, we do have feelers out for additional grant funds. We formally requested for the high priority, uh, project process, with the earmarking process, at the federal legislation, uh, Congressman Loebsack's very excited about supporting this particular project, but speculative at this time so we thought here's...here's alittle bit more of a sure thing, uh, in terms of going after some funds. Bailey/ You want to go through all of them and then take questions, or one by one? Davidson/ ...Madame Mayor. Bailey/ What do you guys want to do? One by one? Champion/ We'll just ask questions if we have questions, as we go. Bailey/ My question about this one is, does this, um, does this position us better for any of the discussion on the federal level about getting additional, the Amtrak funding? Davidson/ The...the important thing is the action that JCCOG's already taken. Um, declaring that this area will be where the depot is located. I mean, we've left out...it wouldn't have to technically by the depot. We believe it will be the depot. It could be property in the vicinity of the depot, uh, depending on what eventually gets worked out. That...that was the important action for the purposes of the State's, uh, federal grant applications that they've gone after with the State of Illinois. Um, this action just cements that a little bit further, but isn't...isn't something that's mandatory or necessary. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 16 Bailey/ Okay. Thanks. Any other questions about this project? Champion/ Um, how soon do we speculate that the possibility of the railroad will actually be there? Davidson/ Uh, well the railroad is there, of course (both talking) in terms of the Amtrak service, um, likely three to five years. Three years would be if absolutely everything ran. The acquisition of the rolling stock, the upgrade of the, um, the rail, those are the big projects, and that's likely to take at least three years. ilh, if it takes longer than that, three to five years I think is realistic. Champion/ Well I'm totally in favor of it, but I'm wondering if $700,000 and we really...what if they decide not to do the railroad? The route? Then we have $700,000 sunk in something that we can't really use for what our purpose is. Correia/ We could use it for something else. Wright/ I think that particular facility would lend itself to other uses besides just being a railroad depot. But...fairly good chance of being able to use it for its intended purpose. Davidson/ Yeah, we would likely continue to lease it, uh, it's currently rented. I mean, we would continue to lease it, um, the one other factor that you probably should be apprised of is that it's basically for sale. The existing owner would like to sell it and...and receive the cash from it and so essentially we're going to be negotiating with someone else in two or three years. I do believe we'll end up with it and that there's not a problem with it having a new owner, but this would simply eliminate that additional step. Champion/ Yeah, that's fine. Okay. Wilburn/ Also remember that Amtrak was hoping that there would be more of a signal from the State, in terms of supporting the railroad, and so since that is happening, has happened, that'll be a further, uh, indication, uh, to the federal government that there's support, both local and statewide support for the railroad. Bailey/ I really believe this is going to happen. Champion/ Well, I want to believe it's going to happen. Bailey/ Gotta believe in something, Connie! Champion/ I'm a little pessimistic about anything to do with the railroads! (laughter) Hayek/ Let me ask sort of a... Champion/ They forgot they were in the passenger business. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 17 Hayek/ ...broader question. The memo indicates $3.9 million available, and that is to all the constituents of JCCOG? Davidson/ The total available to JCCOG, plus the enhancement amount. Hayek/ Okay. So, yeah, it's maybe $4.6 million or thereabouts. Um, is there any chance that that number will increase? Davidson/ It's certainly subject to fluctuation, depending on what happens at the federal level, uh, and at the state level, in terms of existing projects that have been funded, if they don't end up using up all their money. Sometimes that can occasionally come back for reallocation. I don't think, Matt, it will...it will not fluctuate substantially. Hayek/ Well, and that...and I'm sort of jumping into the next item, which is a $6.2 million project which more than exceeds the available funds, and given Iowa City's clout as a voting body on JCCOG, uh, could...could permit us essentially to run the table, if push came to shove, which is what caused friction between some local governments a few months ago. Um, so this isn't a particular question as to a particular, uh, proposed project, but something we need to be thinking about if we go through with this, which I think makes a smaller ticket items a little more appealing in terms of playing fair with our neighbors and being realistic. Just a (both talking) Davidson/ To clarify, Matt, just on...on the second project, the railroad grade separation, you have $1.7 million budgeted from federal grants for that project, so chances are that's the amount you'd go after on that particular project. We should have clarified that, and I apologize for not doing that. Bailey/ ...we wouldn't go after the whole thing. Davidson/ The remainder of that project, which would be...$4.5 million is budgeted over a four year period from G.O. bonds. Wilburn/ It's also a project that the other entities had been aware of and supported on our last, uh (several talking) yeah, last three years on the federal issues projects, so it's not, uh, it would not be a surprise to them to see that. Hayek/ Well, and I, from my perspective, I mean, I could make the argument that that's probably our highest priority right now, is that grade separation. It's been something we've been talking about for a long time and it's a safety issue. But I think the... Correia/ First Avenue and then number seven, the sidewalks. Bailey/ Do we want to keep just going through these? Let's...yeah, let's... Davidson/ Whatever you'd like. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 18 Hayek/ I guess what I'm trying to do is establish a little bit of context here as we get into this. We've got the merits of each individual project, but we've got the impact to the voting process that we need to worry about, because it caused some friction... Correia/ Well, I'd like to talk about the voting process (several talking) Bailey/ I'd like to put all of us in...prioritize and be really clear with the body what our priorities are and then discuss it among the group. And I would say, as others have said, First Avenue railroad grade separation is our first priority. But, I would prefer to just put them all in. Champion/ Is there any possibility.. . Correia/ When you put them all in, then they're all.. . Fosse/ One thing to keep in mind on this is that there's...there's ascoring process for each of the applications, and the...the outcome of that scoring process may not align with your priorities. Correia/ That's what I'm concerned about. Fosse/ Yes. So, what we really want to do tonight is to weed out any projects here that if supported by...by JCCOG as a funded project that you might not support as an elected body. Um, if there's anything here that you see that you...you think has a chance of not moving forward, then we need to weed that out at this time. Correia/ Well, I'm wondering about number four. Bailey/ Is there business support for this yet? Davidson/ Um, that's a difficult question...that's adifficult question to answer. The...the, at least some of the businesses down there remain very dissatisfied with the way traffic functions down there currently. Um...there have been some...modification, you know, the...the four corners were of course the properties that were most greatly impacted, and there have been some...gentlemanfust passed away a week ago who owned one of the corners. Um, it's been kind of interesting, the...the, for example, the, uh, the Pleasant Valley corner...it...it has had people...people who have been speculating on possibly purchasing that property have contacted us, wanting to know what we're going to do with the intersection, because they're clearly being told that something's going to be done to the intersection, and so they're wanting additional information before they continue their negotiations, so there's this sort of murmuring and mumbling of knowing something's going to happen down there, but of course we have absolutely nothing programmed at this time, and you're...you're taking action, um, to...to basically go after funding again for this project would be your acknowledge as a policy body that you felt it was again under consideration. And if you don't feel that, then I think you'll want to keep this out. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 19 Bailey/ I crossed it off. Champion/ I'd (several talking) O'Donnell/ ...problem with the length of the median, Jeff? When we discussed it several years back, and I still do. Champion/ And L..I can...I really cannot...see spending $4.2 million for 15 minutes a day. (mumbled) in the morning, 15 minutes (several talking) thank you. (laughter) Correia/ Let's not even spend 15 minutes on it now! Davidson/ Did we, uh, did you have any additional questions about number one or two? O'Donnell/ No. Bailey/ No. How 'bout...overview three? Correia/ Well, I guess (mumbled) questions, so we'll have more chance to discuss, after we're done with questions? Davidson/ Sure, yeah. Correia/ Okay. Davidson/ Uh, project number three is Foster Road between Dubuque Street and Prairie du Chien Road. Rick, you want to... Fosee/ That's a unique project in that the right-of--way exists, uh, the grading is complete for this project. It's just a matter of paving it and installing the storm sewer, um, those...those previous improvements were done as a part of our water improvements some years ago, uh, it would make for a handy detour out during the Dubuque Street project, although it'd be a tight schedule to get it constructed prior to that, uh, but that's one...one to consider. Davidson/ This action would be a change in policy for you, in that we have been treating this project as it being driven by private development. There's two principal property owners, one on the Prairie du Chien side, one on the Dubuque Street side. It almost splits it exactly in half. Uh, and we've been waiting for them to come in, and there've been...we...we've discussed concepts with...with them, especially on the Prairie de Chien side but we haven't seen a specific development plan. Basically what would happen is that they would be required to build the local street equivalent of this street and then we would pay for the overwidth, and we've just been waiting and haven't been in a great hurry. This would accelerate that by making it entirely a City project. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 20 Champion/ Oh. Um, when we do Dubuque Street, will...one side will be open and the other one will be closed or how do you...how's that going to work? You're not going to close both, four lanes. Fosse/ There'll be periods when that'll be necessary, but to the extent that we can, we'll keep traffic on one side, while we're working on the other side. And vice versa. Champion/ You don't think that's going to be done all the time? Fosse/ No, because that...that stretch where it narrows down, where it's not bifurcated, just north of...of Park Road, that's a spot where that'll be really difficult to pull off. And also at the other end by...by Foster Road. Similar situation. As we get into the design, those things will...will be focused on. Davidson/ Any further questions about project number three? Champion/ Um, yeah, I'm sorry. About how long would four lanes be closed? (both talking) I know. Off the wall. How long? A year, a month... Bailey/ He hates estimating! (laughter) Davidson/ Not a year. Correia/ Probably not a year. Fosse/ No, not a year. (laughter) It's atwo-construction season project, and...and there'll be portions of each year that will...we'll see complete closures, and what we'll try and do is phase those at times when they'll have minimum impact on the community. O'Donnell/ Did I hear you say, Jeff, we would do the regular width and the developers would... Bailey/ Switch it. They would do the regular street (both talking) and we would do the over (several talking) Correial ...for development. Davidson/ Yeah, if we wait for development, Mike, they'll be required to put in, I believe it's 28 feet paving and we would put in.. . O'Donnell/ Is that platted now? Any, none of it is? Correia/ What's the costs...to the City... Bailey/ With the...doing it the other way? Correia/ Yes. So you're saying it's a million dollars.. . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 21 Davidson/ Well, substantially less. Correia/ Well, yeah! But like how... Davidson/ Um, it would probably be a $200,000 or $300,000 project maybe (mumbled) maybe $200,000, $175,000, something like that. Correia/ Yeah. Champion/ And so if they decide to develop it, after we put the road in, there's no. Bailey/ They benefit from all the (both talking) Davidson/ They benefit from it being there, and in fact, you would probably be hastening the development of it, because the access would be there and that cost component is taken out for the developer. Champion/ I say cross it off. Wright/ It seems to me if we need, um, some, a detour, well, you can do what we did when Dubuque Street was closed during the flood, and that's push the traffic temporarily over to Dodge Street when Dubuque has to be closed entirely. Bailey/ Others? Wilburn/ When you say construction detour, you mean for all traffic to be routed, not just construction related equipment (both talking) Fosse/ That's correct. Wilburn/ So all...all traffic wouldbe...okay. Wright/ And you're talking...as you can judge it right now, relatively short periods of time, that the entirety of Dubuque would be closed. Fosse/ We sure hope so. Wright/ Yeah. O'Donnell/ Great answer! Bailey/ Do others want to... Champion/ The diplomat! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 22 Bailey/ Do we take...do others want to take this off the list...I think I saw two. O'Donnell/ I really think there's a need for that...for that road. Um... Bailey/ Do we want to do it, is the question. O'Donnell/ I don't want to do it alone. Have we been in contact with the...with the property owners? Davidson/ There's no push by the property owners, Mike. Correia/ Yeah, they're not interested right now. Bailey/ Well, the market... Davidson/ About a year, year and a half ago, we had some interest from an out of town developer who was looking at, uh, the Alberhasky property, but it sort of went away. Hayek/ Has some thought been given to the impact up and down Prairie du Chien? I mean, Hilltop Tavern and... Davidson/ We've got the...the problem there was the signalized intersection at Dodge, and we've got that working very well. I mean, compared to what it used to do, and that used to be a huge traffic snafu in the afternoon, peak period especially, so uh...beyond that, I mean, Prairie du Chien is designated an arterial street. So... Fosse/ This would probably reduce traffic on that stretch of Prairie du Chien, as well as Kimball Road. Kimball Road are private property owners that really advocate (both talking) Davidson/ Kimball Road will definitely benefit from this project. Bailey/ Still want to ax this? Hayek/ Yeah, disclosure, I grew up on Kimball! (laughter) Bailey/ Parents still live there. Hayek/ So, I don't know, um...I don't feel real strongly one way or the other. I guess I don't understand as much of the traffic implications as I'd like to. Davidson/ well, with this project...would achieve, it would build a portion of the arterial street system that's on the arterial street plan. It would provide a construction detour to the not yet totally defined, uh, amount of need that there is for that, and it would foster the redevelopment of this area, as well. Bailey/ And that's zoned residential, right? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 23 Davidson/ Um, the Comp Plan shows it being predominantly residential, likely, because of the sensitive features in the area, clustered type development. Bailey/ I'm willing to take it off, um... Champion/ I'm willing to take it off. Wright/ Take it off. Bailey/ Yeah, we've got four. O'Donnell/ Fine. Davidson/ Uh, we've already discussed item four. O'Donnell/ There's nothing pushing it. Davidson/ Uh, item five then, in fact the remainder of these are sidewalk and trail projects. Um, project five is one that has been facilitated, uh, it...by the action recently taken to negotiate with the Elks Club, uh, and in fact the Elks Club Trustees are discussing it again tonight. I met with them a month ago, and they're discussing it again this evening. LTh, us purchasing the property that they own between Taft Speedway and the Peninsula well field. Uh, this would enable the Iowa River Corridor Trail to, you know, right now for those of us who...who do use the Iowa River Corridor Trail, uh, Rick'll point out on the map here, you have to go up No Name Street and then up the big hill on Foster Road. I think we did that on the Mayor's Bike Ride a few years ago, and...last (several talking) few years ago, didn't we do that? And uh, this would...this would eliminate the...the need to go up the hill and then back down along the Dog Park, basically would keep the trail along the river. It is part of the JCCOG trail's plan. Uh, and again, would be something that we could do, uh, by owning the property there, uh, through the Elks Club area. Uh, any questions about that? iJh, project number six then is the Highway 1 sidewalk, uh, if you go to the unfunded years of the CIP, there are a number of really good sidewalk projects, uh, along the major highways, uh, you'll recall that a few years ago we did the sidewalk between Gilbert Street, uh, and uh, well, Broadway or generally that area, um, it included the storm sewer and a rather expensive project, but a good project, very needed project, because the State highway, unfortunately, didn't have good sidewalk system. You can see here from the label, project six there would extend the sidewalk along the north side, uh, of Highway 1, would enable much better pedestrian access to the businesses there, the Lodge apartment building, would extend it between Riverside Drive, uh, and Mormon Trek, uh, would be a...probably a 10-foot sidewalk, at least 8, uh, to allow two-way mix of bicycles and pedestrians. Bailey/ Nice! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 24 Davidson/ The final project then is, uh, along old Highway 218, also sidewalk project. This would extend a 10-foot wide trail, uh, between Riverside Drive, again, and uh, the...the basically the Baculis/Thatcher area, down where the new street comes through. Correia/ I think this...this is a priority, for me, I mean, this has been along-time coming, I mean, you see the walking path that's created on that for years and years and years, um, I think for me my priorities would be this sidewalk and then the First Avenue railroad grade separation. Champion/ Well, I think you're right, Amy, I think... Correia/ This is a long time coming. Champion/ President Truman always thought you should put sidewalks so people walk. Correia) Yeah, I mean (laughter) and I think that, I would want to see this one before number six. I mean, I think number six needs to happen as well, but um...you know, the Lodge has a bus system that takes their tenants where they need to go. Baculis/Thatcher does not. Champion/ (both talking) the other way anyway if they were riding their bike. Correia/ And so I think this is an important project. Wright/ I would agree with that (several responding) Correia/ ...really important project (several talking) number one. Hayek/ Do you want to dump number six? Correia/ Well, I don't know if I want to dump it, but I want to, I mean.. . Bailey/ Just talking about priorities. Correia/ Yeah, I'm just talking about priorities, so... Davidson/ I heard a majority say that seven was a higher priority than six...of the three (several talking) what about project, uh, five? Bailey/ I like project five. Correia/ I like it...is there, are there other...other trails' dollars that we could go after for this project? Davidson/ LJh, there are. Uh, we haven't been particularly successful in accessing the discretionary programs at the State level, but they are, you know, and especially for a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 25 project like this, with this little link completed, it really makes a nice continuous system through there with the well field trails. Um, we...we could attempt to access those, Amy. Hayek/ I guess I don't fully understand the other considerations, whether it's scoring or just context overall. I mean, I think especially when there's an existing route that requires a little more caloric output to get up and down the hill, um, you know, versus uh, a grade separation, which is clearly a safety issue. Bailey/ Well, some are (both talking) Hayek/ I don't know how to... Davidson/ The safety issues get additional points in the JCCOG.. . Correia/ Say it again. Davidson/ The...the safety, traffic safety issues do get additional points in the JCCOG grading system, but remember you'll recall, the rating system, once you get to the JCCOG level and all of you except one are members of JCCOG, uh, the rating system's just a tool for you to use, and basically.. . Fosse/ It becomes a free for all. Davidson/ ...that's one way of putting it (laughter). Bailey/ I think that cut right to it! (laughter) Davidson/ Well, but...but you know, it does allow the political process to work, and it allows you to work with the other member agencies and I personally think that's a good process. Correia/ Well, it only allows you to work with the other member agencies if you hadn't already voted on what your own body is prioritizing, and that's (both talking) Bailey/ But it is good to go in with priorities, and I think that that's...that's part of the voting process of...of putting the stamp of appro...the Council's approval. Correia/ No, I think (both talking) Bailey/ ...of understanding the voting. Correia/ Our voting, I think our having a conversation, and identifying what our priorities are is one thing and important. I think... Bailey/ Some prefer consensus, some prefer voting. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 26 Correia/ Voting ties your hands so that you cannot have a back and forth with the other...other...bodies and (both talking) Bailey/ ...most people are interested in doing that approach, so...the prioritization, having the conversation and not doing the voting. Is that what I've heard? Wright/ That's what I'd be in favor of, I mean, that was where a lot of our friction came the last time. Davidson/ Do you want us to submit project six? Or do you want to leave just the other two as your sidewalk, trail priorities? I mean, again, it's just for your flexibility at the board level. Correia/ Well, I guess if I'm going to...if I'm looking at sidewalks and trails, I mean, I would put six over five because, I mean, number five is a wonderful project. It's a wonderful recreational trail, but number six is more...gets people to and from work, commerce, home, that servicing, and so...that's what I would... Bailey/ I'd put them all, I mean, I said that I would put all the projects we were interested in with clear priorities, and then, I mean, Rick expressed some concern about the scoring process, but as long as we're clear about... Davidson/ We'll keep six in too. Okay? Hayek/ So if we submit this list, absent one or two or three items.. . Davidson/ We're not...we're not going to submit three and four. Hayek/ Okay. With...without a vote on them, and they go to JCCOG, how does that play out at that level in terms of.. . Davidson/ I believe if there is not a formal resolution adopted by you all, then it is not considered formal action and...and you would not all be required to vote in...so, but...but I guess, I mean, why don't you weigh in on that right now. Do you want us to prepare a resolution saying these five projects will be submitted and that all Members of Council will support them at JCCOG? That's...we'll do that if you'd like us to. Wright/ I would not be in favor of that. Bailey/ I always like that, but... Champion/ I'm very much in favor of it. Bailey/ ...clarity of purpose. Wright/ I think we know what our purpose is going m. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 27 Hayek/ The purpose of the meeting with...with the other... Bailey/ ...the purpose of the meeting is to...to advocate for funding projects. It's very clear what projects we're advocating for. Correia/ But it's to... Hayek/ We walk in there with enough clout to get what we want done, and...and... Correia/ For multi jurisdictional planning, so that you can look... Bailey/ Well, it doesn't necessarily, I mean, we could write the resolution in a way that...these are clearly, we've supported our priorities in that, um, if we're talking about partial funding. We still...you would still have to support the priority project for...for the partial funding that the group might agree to, over another project. Correia/ Right. Well, for me, I would say my priorities would be seven and two, and you know...(laughter) Iwouldn't necessarily support them if other projects... Davidson/ And to be clear, Amy, what it would require you to do is if...is if another project...ended up being recommended at the JCCOG level, you'd be required to vote for it if it was one that the City Council had endorsed. So, I mean, that's clearly the distinction here. Correial Endorsed or voted on. Champion/ And I like it! (several talking) Correia/ ...just work in a work session. Right. Wright/ That's what happened the last time, and I think some of the other members felt like we trampled them. Correia/ Yeah! I think that was... Champion/ We didn't trample them! Correia/ Yes we did! (laughter) Wright/ We stomped 'em flat! Champion/ I never trampled anybody! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 28 Bailey/ It's varying degree of comfort level with...that. Ross, what's your preference? (several talking) There's three and there's three, and there's you. You! (laughter and several talking) Wilburn/ And I'm the one who always has the conflict and can't make the JCCOG meetings so... Bailey/ It'll probably end up being me! So... Wilburn/ LTh... Bailey/ And remember what I like! (laughter) Wilburn/ Um...so you're just asking whether to have it by resolution or not, right? Is that... Davidson/ By general consensus, that we have right now. Wilburn/ Um, I think the consensus is fine. Bailey/ Good! Wilburn/ For this...for this particular... Champion/ Resolution? Bailey/ No, he's...he wants consensus. Champion/ Oh! Hayek/ I don't want us to go in there having decided what we're going to vote on and how, and then when it comes up and somebody else says is there any give and take from Iowa City, we say, 'Sorry, no, we've already voted on it. We're all bound.' That happened last time, and it was not (several talking) Correia/ ...wouldn't even need to be there because this had, you know.. . Bailey/ Well, yes we would, to vote. Correia/ well, I'm just saying. Bailey/ We still need the vote. Wilburn/ The reason that I said...the reason I said consensus in this situation is that it appears in general there is support for the projects. There've been times in the past where there's been a significant major project, not multiple, that, um, clearly was going to be a benefit for, um, Iowa City and in our opinion, uh, was going to benefit some of the other This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 29 jurisdictions, but there was a Council Member or two that did not...and we did not end up getting the funding for (both talking) Champion/ And we lost a half million dollars. Wilburn/ Yeah, so... Champion/ That's why I like the resolution. Wilburn/ And, I'm just saying that it appears that in general there's support for...for most of these, and I... Davidson/ So no resolution then? Bailey/ No resolution. Davidson/ Okay. Bailey/ Okay. Any other items for that agenda piece? Okay. Pending grant application status, item 3. Pending Grant Application Status (IP3 of 8/13): Davidson/ Uh, this can be as brief as you'd like. LJh, we felt this...because of an order of magnitude here that we should kind of keep this in front of you until the decision making process has been completed, uh, by the State board that'll be reviewing the I-Jobs applications. Uh, the I-Jobs applications will go in front...there were 333 received statewide. We submitted three for a total $12.2 million. Um, there were 333 submitted, um, no, excuse me. Excuse me. Fewer applications (mumbled) for a total of $333 million, uh, for $118 million that are available, so not quite triple the...the requests for the funds that are available. Um, we just wanted to summarize for you that all the projects, uh, were submitted, um, and if any of you, well, I think most everybody could not read (laughter and several talking) Wright/ ...the larger print! Correia/ iJh-huh! Davidson/ So I have it. Rick's got...Rick and I both brought colored copies tonight, um, we do occasionally speak to each other prior to the meetings, but that did not happen today, so we both came (several talking) with color copies, or if anyone in the audience would like colored copies of the summary pages. Actually a very handy tool to keep track of the, all the applications that are out there right now. Um, the I-Jobs applications will go before a review board, which consists of five members of the I-Jobs board. That will be in Des Moines on the 26th of, uh, August. They will then go before the full I-Jobs board at a meeting in Waterloo on the 31st of August. LTh, there's some speculation as to whether or This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 30 not the board is going to, uh, allocate the entire amount available in one go-around or if they will take, uh, multiple go-grounds to do that. LTh, clearly the recommendations that will come to the Iowa Finance Authority, which is the State...the State department that is right now combing through all of the applications and will basically present a recommendation, uh, that's going to be critically, critically important because clearly with that, with the number of applications they received, and the fact that they intend to have a one-day meeting on this. They're just not going to be able to give that much scrutiny to each...application. LTh, we've...we've done, you know, a modest amount, but hopefully an effective amount of lobbying. Some important folks in Des Moines (mumbled) a little bit of that, but we're not, you know, we're not trying to clobber the review board members or anything like that, uh, but just make sure they have all the information they need about our projects, so, uh, any questions about the process there? LJh, CDBG public infrastructure, which is also very significant for us, in particular with the Dubuque Street, Park Road bridge, uh, reconstruction and elevation, uh, project. Uh, we expect to hear by the end of September, hopefully, uh, on those. Uh, that will again be, uh, um...the...the Iowa Department of Economic Development is the, uh, State department that will be reviewing those applications, uh, and then...we also...we expect the Governor's office to have some influence over (mumbled) jobs and the CDBG public infrastructure applications. LTh, Rick and I also wanted to mention that we did have the opportunity to, uh, take a tour with one of Senator Grassley's major aides, Shelly Koontz, and we took her around the projects that we've identified...identified as our highest priority projects, and just make sure Sherry was very familiar with those, um, those projects and uh, hopefully we answered all of her questions. And she of course toured projects throughout the community. So, uh, we are currently preparing the applications from the TIGER program, uh, that's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, uh, has nothing to do with actual tigers, uh (laughter) and that's a proj ect that we're hoping to get some funds for Dubuque Street and Park Road bridge, and also for we...we neglected to put in, uh, the grade separation project for First Avenue, the railroad, that will also, uh, get an application for TIGER funds, as well. Those are being prepared by JCCOG right now, and will go out...I think it's September 15 is the deadline on those. LTh, Senator Grassley's office has indicated they'll send letters of support for those projects, and also for our federal stimulus projects, uh, which include Fire Station 4, as well, so...any questions? Correia/ This is an incredible amount of work. (several talking) Fosse/ Quarter billion. Correia/ $7 million applied for in a very short amount of time by staff (mumbled) JCCOG (both talking) Davidson/ And Rick and I would both brag on our staffs, that we've really got some skilled people doing some good work, uh, on these. Fosse/ We've never seen this magnitude of opportunity out there, so we're really doing our best to capitalize on 'em, and the different funding sources are listed across the top of the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 31 page, and each one has different...different rules, different application forms, different deadlines, and it's really...really kept everybody hopping. Davidson/ The City Attorney's office has also been very helpful. Champion/ Well, ifd be great if we could get that waste water treatment plant moved. Get Dubuque Street raised. Get the Park bridge done and also...what's the other thing we wanted? Oh, the... Bailey/ We want a train...we want a railroad grade separation; we want a fire station; we want some trails. Champion/ Only about $150 million, isn't it? Correia/ Thank you! Champion/ Thank you very much. Bailey/ Thanks. Wright/ Also, thank you very much for the large print version. (laughter) Champion/ This is large print? (laughter) Davidson/ These get updated periodically and we'll try and make sure you always have the current version. Bailey/ And would you pass on your appreciation to your staff, um, this goes for Legal as well. mean, a lot of people, they've been working hard since the flood so...and it's great work coming out of all those departments, so thank you. Okay, should we jump right in or do we need a break? (several talking) Okay. All right, southeast Iowa City public safety issues. Dale? Southeast Iowa City Public Safety Issues: Helling/ Yeah, before, uh, you start your discussion, I wanted to mention a couple things. You're aware that there was a meeting in the neighborhood on Saturday morning, a number of us were there. Um, there were...couple broad, um, sort of target issues that I think...sort of rose to the top in terms of the neighbors concerns. One was some sort of, um, curfew ordinance or a...there was also some discussion about the...what Chief Hargadine had proposed a while back, which is a delinquent behavior ordinance, and there are some differences in those and some similarities, depending on how they're put together. A delinquent behavior ordinance generally defines a certain type of behavior that is delinquent, and then, uh...puts that in effect, a curfew (mumbled) curfew that you hear about is simply a certain age you have to be in by a certain hour, or different ages, different hours (mumbled). Um, and the second thing is, that relates to police presence This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 32 and response to calls for service in the area, uh, patrolling, uh, there are some questions about foot patrol, and even a suggestion that perhaps neighbors, or neighborhood individuals could walk with...with police officers, just those kinds of things were discussed but there's certainly a concern about police presence in the neighborhood, uh, on an ongoing basis and the ability of police to respond to, uh, calls for service when they occur. Um, generally, just to kind of recap some of the things you already know about, um, what we are doing, and some of it even before the shooting incident, but certainly since then, as well. Um, the investigation is continuing. There's not a lot of detail that...that we can give you, um, and there's not a lot of detail that Sam can give me, but the investigation is ongoing and uh, and uh, with some progress being made. Um, neighborhood activities appear to be getting more like normal, although um, there's still...there's still a high level of...of concern, uh, calls for service and problems encountered by the police in the neighborhood (mumbled) in the range with normal...what they normally experience down there, and that's a product of the short- term response with the concentrated patrol and (mumbled). The Police are working with the Department of Corrections, uh, as they...as they have been doing down there, in there and in some other neighborhoods for a number of years. Um, and I think that there's progress made. A lot of sharing of information, which is very good, because they deal with a lot of the same people. Um, other law enforcement agencies are available as needed for assistance if we need them. And that continues. Um, one new thing today was, uh, the first day of, uh, Officer Jorey Bailey's new assignment, which is the Crime Prevention Officer and if you will recall, this was a position that we had a number of years ago when the budget was...was, uh, became tight and we reduced the...the (mumbled) police officers by I believe two at that time. Um, one of the things that was removed was the crime prevention program. When you agreed to add officers, a couple officers, last year (mumbled) budget, um, we indicated as...as your wishes were, that we reinstate the crime prevention program and so Officer Bailey will now be fulfilling that role. He will be working with the neighborhoods, uh, in the crime prevention area, uh, for example, and I don't know if that's something that would work, or if the neighbors would want it, but the neighborhood watch program was part of that...part of that program back when it was in place. So, um, as I said, he'll be working with the neighborhoods and to explore ways to...to, uh, pursue crime prevention techniques and...and strategies in those areas. Um, from the Assisted Housing Division, uh, thus far I'm told that there are no...been no identification of any people involved in the latest incident that are, uh, clients in Section 8 or the Assisted Housing program; however, again as I indicated (mumbled) investigation and ongoing and a lot of folks haven't been identified. Um, there, uh, Steve indicated to me that he did send a, uh, a notice to the public housing residents, um, asking them, number one, know where their children are, and number two, to leave their lights on...later in the evening. Uh, and those...those are public housing units that are generally owned by the City and are rented out. So, uh, we're also looking at ways to, I think, if you want more details, Steve can provide it, but generally ways to install additional lighting on those...those particular residences to make sure that the lighting is directed where it would do the most good without causing a lot of (mumbled) in the neighborhood as well. LJh, one other thing that...again, much like the Police working with the Department of Corrections, uh, Assisted Housing Program, any information that filters in from the clients to administration is being shared This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 33 with the Police department and uh, in some cases that's found to be helpful. Um, Neighborhood Services office, and Marcia certainly can help, and these are some things that occurred after the incident earlier in the spring too with the, uh, the fight that occurred down there between two factions, um, they can help pull together available community resources (mumbled) of the things that they do and do best, uh, work with the neighborhoods and uh, try and make sure that the resources are available in the community, are utilized, and...and coordinated. Um, working with the neighborhood leaders and trying to facilitate that as well to sort out, you know, the leadership that's needed to make the programs work, uh, and sometimes those are multiple efforts in different areas that occur. Um, assist the neighborhood associations in communications, planning events, uh, organizing activities and programs and so forth. Uh, right now the summer programs are coming to an end, but as you get into the school year there's...there are other programs that take place, and I know there are some things planned and neighborhood activities, as well, clean-up and so forth that are going to happen this fall. Um, again, in that context, we can...we can look at lighting, uh, as a...as a possible project for...to work with neighbors there, to keep their porch lights on and so forth. Um, so those are...those are just, it's a brief kind of a outline, some of the things that we are doing or we can do, and the resources that we have and I think the City does have resources. We can pool those, work with the neighborhood, and...working together I think we can make...make headway. Um, there are a lot of resources outside the City, in the community, that can also be pulled in, and the neighborhood itself has some resources too, so, uh, and one other thing I'm...I'm in the process of trying to arrange a meeting with, uh, perhaps Superintendent Plugge or some folks from the School District to talk about some of these things and how the City and the School District might be able to...to, uh, partner on some of these things too. So...uh, there are a number of issues that are going on. These are the things that don't happen overnight, but I think if we continue to pursue them (mumbled) some improvement. Bailey/ Thanks for that overview. Um, I heard from many of you about this...the talking about a curfew or um, some other discussions we've had about the juvenile delinquency ordinance, and I think the Chief is prepared to talk about that, if we want to start with that. I think that would be the (both talking) Champion/ ...place to start. Hargadine/ The, uh, one of the things Dale mentioned was increased, uh, communication with our other departments. One of the things I'd also like to add is the juvenile office. They've not been part of the discussions, uh, until last week.. Amy set up a meeting, actually, and they sat down and one of the things that we agreed upon was that we need to improve our communication a little better. And, um, they certainly are a player in this, as well. Many of the juveniles that we are having trouble with are probably some of the clients, so they are, uh, they were very, uh, receptive to the meeting last week, and uh, are very interested in, um, actions that the Council might take. Um, curfew. I think that would probably be the easiest, um, quickest route is to legislating some type of social change, um, but I think there are some inherent problems with it. Um, but it would be the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 34 quickest. Um, there has been a curfew, I...it was pointed out by Mrs. Bailey, um...your mother. Bailey/ ...must be very distinct about that. Hargadine/ She reminded me that there was one that kept you in, uh, when you were (laughter and several talking) Bailey/ Once again! Champion/ Well, it didn't keep me in line. Hargadine/ That, uh, I think went away in the 60s (several talking) so Iowa City's had one before. It is, uh, in a sense, uh, you're putting every law abiding young person under house arrest, um...you have...you're telling them they have to be inside at a certain time. Um, it can be done. There's other jurisdictions that do it successfully. Um...do you want to discuss curfews or do you want to... Champion/ I want to hear about your delinquency behavior ordinance. Hargadine/ It would work somewhat like in the adult side, um...disorderly conduct, where the legislative body defines what disorderly conduct is. Likewise you could do that with delinquent behavior. Um, and it can be, you can address, um, time, you know, the people being out and about after certain hours. Address chronic truancy. Um, being disruptive at a school, uh, congregating in numbers, uh, for the purpose of intimidating passers-by. Uh, or causing traffic disruptions, either pedestrian or vehicle. These are elements that you could add in to a delinquent behavioral ordinance, um, and you're just, you know, if it were enacted, you're saying, 'This type of behavior is unlawful.' Um, you can add to it over a period of time. If there were, uh, problems that we can't foresee this year, but two years down the road there's an additional problem, you can create that as a subsection of the delinquent behavior ordinance. Um, one of the nuances with a curfew is, it's treated like, by state statute, it's treated like traffic offense, um, a, uh, tobacco offense, um, and a curfew, those three things are automatically sent to the Magistrate Court level and typically there's a fine involved. If someone is picked up on a curfew, it's handled by adult court, typically by a fine. So that's what you're doing to young people that are being picked up, they're just going to be fined. In the past, um, one of the issues we addressed last week, generally the juvenile officers have not been within that loop because it's adjudicated in the adult court. A lot of these kids are their clients on some type of probation, and the juvenile office is not, um, not been made aware of those, or if they have it's been after the fact. LJh, the ordinance I'm proposing would put the juvenile office as the, um, the adjudicating body. Um, this would be...a case would be referred directly to the juvenile office, uh, for a delinquent behavior act. O'Donnell/ What is...what are the consequences, Chief, I mean... Hargadine/ That would be the discretion of the juvenile office. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 35 O'Donnell/Based on the degree of the...you know, I really...I don't know that we've...have we had enough time to look at the options. Um, I've gotten calls from people that are ready to walk away from their mortgage, ready to walk away from their home, I get calls from people that are sleeping in the basement, um, other calls of people that have had their cars vandalized, and people are even afraid to go out and walk in their own neighborhood. And, I guess...I guess what I'm after is...is the options that address this, with the most severe penalty. Hargadine/ A curfew would get it to Magistrate's Court pretty quick. I mean, by define... as defined by state law. O'Donnell/ But like you said, a curfew is like a blanket, it covers everybody. It... Correia/ (mumbled) Champion/ Let me ask you something (several talking) I'm sorry. Bailey/ No, go ahead, Connie, and then Ross. Champion/ Um...I mean, I like the idea of the delinquent behavior curfew, whatever you want to call it, but how long would it take to enact that. I mean, I think we need to do something pretty quickly. Um, I like the idea that it goes to the juvenile court system or probation officers or, I'm not sure what you call people who deal with this problem, but what about the people that are causing trouble that are over 17? Hargadine/ That would...for instance, what Mike just said, with the vandalism. There are a...there are criminal laws already on the books. The shooting incident, everything about that incident, there's already criminal laws on the books for that. But what the neighborhood want...wants, um, it's not...it's in addition to what's already on the criminal books, um, it's the nuisance type things that's affecting their quality of life in their neighborhood. Champion/ And...how long would it take to enact a delinquent behavior ordinance? Bailey/ It's three readings, right? Dilkes/ Yeah, same as a curfew ordinance. But...I'd like to at some point address the curfew versus the behavior ordinance. Bailey/ Let's let Ross talk a bit, if you want to jump in. Go ahead, Ross. Wilburn/ There's a couple different areas that, um, I want to address as we talk about this, and I think (mumbled) Council we fully appreciate the neighborhood getting together and talking, uh, about this and...and I think I had told a couple folks through email, uh, not at the event of course, because we couldn't speak there cause there was a majority of us, but This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City c:ouncii regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 36 um, you know, we don't want criminal behavior happening anywhere in town, and...and certainly folks that have lived on the southeast side for, whether it's, you know, just a few years or decades, that uh, it's...it's a very neat community, there's some very special folks down there, and people should be scared and they should be angry about it, and I a1so...I had shared this with, uh, with um, all Council Members, but I did share it at, uh, you know, this is not cone-time incident that I recall ballpark, um, ten years ago? There was a drive-by shooting, uh, I live on the southeast side and it was right next door to me, and people got upset and neighbors started gathering together. In fact, Jerry Hansen, um, did a great job of organizing the neighborhood. That's when some of the current existing, um, neighborhood associations started down there, uh, people got a little bit more comfortable with calling in and letting law enforcement know. It took time for law enforcement to make some arrests, and arrests were made, and that helped things quiet down and...and people started feeling safe again, and that's what we want to have happen. Uh, but all of that, thinking back...you know, that type of activity, uh, was effective then. I think it can be effective now, and...and the neighbors certainly made a strong statement by...by being there and um, a nice symbol that uh, that we want to continue to have safety there. The...focus of that activity, uh, back then and now, it seems to me is behavior. It's...it's criminal behavior that...that we're talking about or...or delinquent behavior, so that actually is more appealing to me for several reasons. Wright/ Excuse me, Ross, which is more appealing to you? Wilburn/ A delinquency, as opposed to a curfew, um, the, uh, Chief had already pointed out that there's a penalty for young people that, uh, that are out at certain hours, and I think there's some logistical things that could be problematic with a curfew, um, you know, if the, uh, if...if it's a 10:00 or 11:00 curfew, uh, what about the weekend when the City-West High football game goes into overtime, and people coming back from, uh, you know, softball tournaments in, uh, northeastern Iowa and they're getting back at 11:00 to midnight. Um...so there's...then it gets into, well, who does it apply to, and I think there's some logistical concerns there. Also, um, I think by tying it to behavior we're sending a message that it's the criminal behavior that's problematic...it's intimidating behavior if you're, you know, acting a certain way or threatening to, uh, not just adults, but anyone that I think is what needs to be addressed, and not, uh, you know, and, um, you know, the Chief probably has some stats, but I do know, and uh, some people may feel it's work, but uh, you know, if I'm not mistaken Cedar Rapids and Waterloo have curfews, and they still have shootings and stabbings, and um, I think Muscatine, uh, since 2000, um, the number of curfew violations, not criminal violations but curfew violations, I think doubled between 2000 and 2007 or 2008, and so what you end up is, um, putting another statutory offense in that's staying out past a certain hour, as opposed to criminal and problematic and threatening, intimidating behavior. Um, I think the, um, there's also an expectation, there's a certain expectation with a curfew that that's somehow going to hold parents accountable. Well, there's a parallel in, um, in the school district's system that happened a few years ago in terms of making parents accountable if your child is truant. And while it's true that there's...there's an allowance now for, uh, a consequence, a judge can give a parent a consequence for extreme truancy cases, but it doesn't happen overnight, and these...these, there's an expectation something is going to happen quicker This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 37 than it actually does, and it takes...it takes some time for that process to happen and not always effective. Um, and there...and unfortunately there's uh, there's some kids that are out, uh, roaming around, some getting into trouble, some not, but sometimes home is not a safe place to be, and there's some kids that aren't, you know, they're delaying going home or being around home because, uh, they're getting beaten up or in some cases, uh, you know, other types of abuse. So, I personally, whatever, uh, Council decides to do, would lean towards, uh, addressing behavior, as opposed to the...the notion of setting a specific time, and if...if Council does decide to go with a curfew, then what time do you set it, and then I also think there's an expectation, um, you know, I think we need to continue to work and try and look at resources and prioritizing like we've been doing and to continue going down that route in terms of the numbers of officers, because if something happens, uh, if a...if a criminal behavior happens by a juvenile at 9:00 and curfew's at 10:00, uh, and the criminal...versus something that happens after curfew, uh, then I think there's an expect...well, curfews here so something different's going to happen. Well, it may not if we don't have adjustments in the number of, uh, officers and routes and...and uh, so I...I think...I think curfew will get us away from some of the behaviors and I think there's, uh, there's some flexibility I think and some judgment with the juvenile delinquency ordinance that would empower officers to perhaps respond to some specific behaviors, in my opinion, um...so I'll stop there. I think Eleanor has something to add. Bailey/ Okay. Eleanor, did you want to weigh in now, before we... Dilkes/ Yeah, I just want to...address couple things that haven't been covered, and also my perspective on curfew versus the behavior ordinance. I...I understand the, um, desire to focus on behavior, but you can't do that unless you talk about defining what behaviors you're talking about. And, often when I ask what behaviors you're talking about, the first behavior I get is a curfew. Can't be on the streets between 6:30 and 10:30. We're not going to create...if it's a curfew, it's going to be a curfew. I also hear behaviors that are already criminal. We have assaults. We have disorderly conduct, etc. Then I hear some...some loitering behaviors, and we have...if this is going to be a criminal statute, and it will be a criminal statute because the only authority Iowa City has is to create simple misdemeanors. And, if it's a criminal statute, it has to be very clearly defined, um, and there are, if...when we get to loitering, there's some constitutional issues that we have to consider, about the right to assemble, etc., etc. So, in order to do a delinquency behavior ordinance, I'm going to need a very specific list of behaviors and I've asked the Chief for that, and I've asked the Neighborhood Coordinator for that, and we're going to have to take a very close look at those, both in terms of what behavior's already criminal. If you're talking about a curfew, it's going to have to be a...called a curfew. Um, and...so that's the first thing. Um, also, with respect to, um, well, I want to back up and talk about how...how the different charges would be handled. Both would be a simple misdemeanor. A curfew charge would be a simple misdemeanor, and a delinquent behavior charge would be a simple misdemeanor. The difference is in how they would be initially referred. All charges against juveniles, except for traffic and curfew charges, are within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Therefore, they...all disposition and all control is with the juvenile court. That doesn't mean that the juvenile court, who is aware This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 38 of a child who is charged with curfew, can't take action with respect to that child. In fact, we talked to the County Attorney's office today. We could easily set up a mechanism whereby the juvenile court office was notified when there was a curfew charge, and in fact, they told us that a lot of...the juveniles that they're having, that have been...have been difficult are already what they call on paper, meaning they have an informal or formal adjustment, and one of those...rules is a curfew. Um, so I...I don't think we should get hung up on the notion that if it's called a curfew...we can't involve the juvenile court office, because I don't think that's the case. Um, also, curfew ordinances are not...you don't have...if you, if you take a look at, for instance, Coralville has a curfew, and the County Attorney's office thinks it's a fairly good curfew ordinance. Um, and it's...it's very detailed. It's very specific, and it needs to be. It sets different curfews for different ages. It sets different curfews for summer and...and school. It has a lot of exemptions for...school activities, uh, work, religious activities, etc., etc. Um, so...so I think you can do some tailoring with a curfew ordinance. It just doesn't have to be one age and one time. Um, if you don't want to go with that, that's fine, but we're not...I will not be comfortable including a curfew in a juvenile delinquency ordinance because that...it's just a curfew and it's going to go to Magistrate's Court by state law. Um, if there are specific behaviors that you think are not addressed from a criminal perspective already, that you want to address in a delinquency behavior ordinance, then we need to take a look at those. You need to define those behaviors, and we need to take a look at those behaviors. Wilburn/ ...is a possible, as part of that, uh, further exchange, communication with the juvenile court office that, uh, somehow that, uh, or some of the young people that, uh, as part of their juvenile adjudication are...already have a curfew to meet their...to, on the street, have the officer be...patrol officer be aware of that, um, as part of that or.. . Hargadine/ We talked about that, and as...in regard to future technology, but that's not occurring today. Wilburn/ Okay, all right. Bailey/ What's the barrier? Hargadine/ Um...just the communication. Bailey/ Okay. But there's no other huge challenges. Hargadine/ There would have to be some type of computer entry done on that, uh, individual, that this person is on probation. And so when...just like they're run frequently to determine whether or not they're a runaway, um, they may or may not have a driver's license, but uh, if they're a runaway, they'll be entered in the system. Likewise, if they're on probation, they probably should be entered into the system so that we'll know about it, otherwise we're not going to know, to let a probation officer know that we came in contact with somebody. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 39 Champion/ Or the probation officers could put in the names of juveniles that are on probation? I mean, if I get stopped for a traffic ticket, they've got...they know a lot about me. Well, they know my age and color of my hair, that week, but I, you know, I just don't think that could be that difficult. They're willing to put it in. Correia/ This is something that we talked about, and I think the juvenile court office is interested in having that level of communication, so it's...it is then the getting the computer system, having it talk to the police department's computer systems, and.. . Hargadine/ Those things are doable. They just, we haven't done it. Helling/ And I think that the conveyance of the information to the juvenile court system for people who are charged initially would be much simpler, more manually done. We would send the, send copies of the docket, and then they could peruse that and see if their clients are on there or not, and that's the way it would probably happen initially. Correia/ But I think what happens...what can happen is, if a juvenile's on probation and they're violating their curfew and then they get in trouble, then the juvenile court officer knows. They know they violated (mumbled) and they got into trouble, but if they're just out, and an officer runs into them, but they're not necessarily behaving in a way that they're going to get a charge, then there's no communication back to know, oh, well, they really shouldn't (both talking) Bailey/ Shouldn't have been out. Correia/ And then there would be a consequence, I mean and I think that those are ways to strengthen the teeth of the juvenile court office, and I think that's what, one of the reasons additionally they're interested in that, so that they have increased teeth in their case loads, um... Wright/ Eleanor, I want to make sure I understood what you were saying correctly. So...if the Council were interested in a, in some sort of delinquent behavior ordinance, did you say that that would not be able to contain a curfew as one of its elements? Dilkes/ I think if you have...a curfew, it has to go to Magistrate's Court. It...it can't...I think the Chief is advocating for a delinquency behavior ordinance that...that, there's no...it immediately goes within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system. A curfew, bylaw, can't do that. It's a...it's a, it's like a traffic charge, that is, um, there's a charge and it...and it proceeds to Magistrate's Court and there's a guilty plea or a...a not guilty plea, and there's a trial or not a trial. Um, all I was saying is that...that we can't have a, we can't have a delinquency behavior masquerade...a curfew masquerading as a delinquency behavior, in order to avoid Magistrate's Court. Bailey/ Right, if you said, for example, a delinquent behavior is to be out after X time on a school night, in a delinquent behavior ordinance, that wouldn't work is what you're saying. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Dilkes/ Right. Bailey/ That's a curfew basically. Dilkes/ That's a curfew. Bailey/ Okay. Correia/ State law (both talking) Bailey/ Right, and...okay. Matt, do you have... Page 40 Hayek/ Well, I'm...I'm just getting a...trying to get a sense of...of where staff is right now, and it may be too early to get your opinions. Chief, you're clearly more in favor of a delinquency ordinance than a curfew, for the reasons you stated. Eleanor, I'm not sure where you stand on this, and maybe you don't take a stance. You're just giving out some warnings. Dilkes/ I just...I just want you to have information. That, you know, L..I...I don't think we should have a behavior ordinance that is really a curfew, or has an element that's a curfew. If we're going to have a curfew, we should have a curfew and...and it should be treated as State law requires it to be treated. On top of that, if you do want...and I'm not advocating for a curfew or...I'm not advocating for any of this. I just want you to have good information. Um, I don't think you should make a decision to do...a behavior ordinance instead of a curfew, because you're concerned that the juvenile court office will not be involved if it's called a curfew, because I think there are mechanisms to...to establish that communication, um, I mean, my office can look at who was charged with the curfew and give it to the juvenile court office and they can check against their case load and, you know, that...so I don't think that should be your decision with respect to do a curfew or to do a delinquency behavior ordinance. Then finally...I need to know what specific behaviors you are talking about, um, I've gotten some of those from the Chief, and I've gotten some of those from Marcia, and...and some of those I can tell you are already criminal, some of'em are not going to be made...we're not going to be able to make criminal, and so we're just going to have to wade through that list and that's going to take a little bit of time. Bailey/ That's my question. What behaviors are we seeing now that aren't already criminal, because I do want to identify behaviors. I agree with Ross. Hargadine/ Walking down the middle of the street, intimidating traffic, would be one of the things I hear about the most. Bailey/ ...that, is that not against some law, impeding traff...flow of traffic? I mean, it certainly is if you have a sign and you're begging. We've already established that. I...I don't... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 41 Champion/ We didn't establish that. Bailey/ No! We talked about if you are in the flow of traffic, impeding traffic, that is already a violation. Isn't...so am I...is that... Dilkes/ It's connected specifically to the begging statute, or to the pandering statute. Bailey/ But, if you're impeding the flow of traffic (both talking) Dilkes/ We currently do not have an ordinance that prohibits you from being in the street. Bailey/ Okay. But... Dilkes/ In the middle of the street. O'Donnell/ We talked of one but we didn't do it. Bailey/ So I could go out and stop traffic... Dilkes/ We do not have an ordinance that says that (both talking) we certainly could create one. Bailey/ Okay. What else? What other behaviors? Hargadine/ Well, associated with that is just congregating in...in groups and...and there's intimidating behavior that...that comes from that, in the neighborhoods. Bailey/ So congregating in groups on public property? Private property? Private property is trespass, right? Hargadine/ Both. Potentially. Bailey/ Okay. Correia/ You don't have permission to be there. Hargadine/ Pardon me? (both talking) Well, there is an unlawful assembly state statute, but that's tied to, uh, committing a criminal act. Bailey/ Okay. Hargadine/ These...these young people may not have made it to that point yet. Wright/ So this would be a group that's come together...yelling at passers-by or just generally being a nuisance, where the general intent is intimidation, as opposed to a group that is just gathered and they're talking. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 42 Hargadine/ Correct. We don't get the calls on the group that's just talking. O'Donnell/ Chief, do we have, in this juvenile ordinance, do we have enough, um, officers to enforce this effectively? Hargadine/ Um...that's a tough one. I mean, we would have, you know, we have enough to, I mean, there's all kinds of criminal laws on. We don't have enough to...to make every OWI arrest that we need to make, but we...we arrest those that we catch. Bailey/ I want to go back to the behavior. So we've got two. Is there anything else? Hargadine/ Uh, you could include chronic truancy. I mean, there's a list of things -yes. Bailey/ Well that's what I'm interested in hearing. Hargadine/ Uh, chronic truancy, uh, causing disturbances at a school, repeated disturbances. Champion/ Why couldn't we do both? Wright/ That's...I was just thinking the same thing, why couldn't we do both. Champion/ I mean, I didn't...I never knew Coralville had a curfew. So it must not be a problem. Kids are still going to basketball games and football games and... Correia/ ...has a curfew too. Hargadine/ Yeah, most everything, including the ordinance that was in place back in the 60s had exceptions for work, had exceptions for school activities. Bailey/ Who else has a...a juvenile behavior ordinance? Where... Hargadine/ Entire state of Missouri. Champion/ They need it! Why couldn't we combine it? (laughter) Bailey/ Let's keep our biases! (several talking and laughing) You could have a curfew ordinance, and juvenile...I mean, you could have two, but you can't have one very, you know, masquerading, yeah (several talking) that's what she said. Wright/ A stealth curfew, in other words, yeah. Wilburn/ You know, this ordinance, or potential ordinance aside, I mean, one of the things that I would be interested in is having the neighborhood watch program kind of revamped, to help with the communication with the neighborhoods, because you know, you talk about the behavior, I mean, it can be intimidating for some folks when there's a group of young people, um... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 43 Bailey/ Happens in our neighborhood all the time. Wilburn/ And it's, I mean, uh...being disrespectful, name calling, swearing, pushing, shoving, threatening, you know, I'll get ya, I got ya later, don't, you know, I mean, that all can be, um, it's a scare tactic, and it works. And, part of, uh, the neighborhood feeing more empowered to make calls because that's, whether there's a curfew or not, uh, whether there, uh, is a neighborhood or a juvenile, uh, an officer's not going to be positioned on every block, and so...it, the potential for a quicker response for someone to make the call, which is again can be difficult if you're feeling alone and isolated, and it's you and the kids know that you are the one that makes the call, but if a neighborhood is working together it may...you know, the call may not come directly from the yard that they are spilling over into and threatening, and L ..I think, um, so I don't want to belittle that, you know, uh, as a potential, if that's where Council wants to go, thing for people to...to contact, um, or to be in that type of ordinance, see if that's a direction Council wants to go, but I think we also need to beef up that ways to support the neighborhoods supporting themselves so that there's a reciprocal, let's all direct our anger at the behaviors that are going on, as opposed to anger at each other, uh, whether that's neighbors to neighbors, or neighbors to Council or Council versus Council, that type of thing. Bailey/ That's yet to come. Council versus...nothing. Go ahead. Shipley/ It seems wise to me that the Council should enact, you know, both the delinquent behavior outlining the specific behaviors, and then a Coralville-like type, uh, curfew ordinance, and I was very interested in discussing this. I wasn't able to attend, uh, the meeting on Saturday, but what existing structures and organizations are there on the .southeast side and the Lakeside and Broadway neighborhoods? I mean, because (several talking) Bailey/ Let's focus first on what direction we want to give to staff, based upon these ordinances, and then let's talk about some other neighborhood things that we'd like to see, because this...you're right. This is only a piece of it. So, it was suggested that we go with both. Couple of people...that's possible, correct? Curfew.. . Hargadine/ Get you drafts of both, sure. Bailey/ Right. Hayek/ I think we need to look at both, I mean, we (both talking) Bailey/ I would like to see drafts of both. I (both talking) Hayek/ We're not in a position to decide that tonight, uh.. . Bailey/ But we need to give some direction so we can begin the process. That's what the neighborhood wants. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 44 Hayek/ Absolutely! And so I think they're both on the table. Wright/ That's going to allow us to be enacting out some possible strategies. Bailey/ Right. So, I think we'd like to see drafts of both, and how those would...and then we can talk a little bit more with the questions of how that would work and how that would be applied. Correia/ And I think it's important to include the School District if you're, cause I'm not sure I've heard from the School District that there's, if you're getting into issues of truancy, that they're not dealing with being able to deal with with the School Attendance Task Force. know they've been responding to issues related to disturbances at school successfully over the last, you know, year or so, so I would want to make sure we're (both talking) Hargadine/ That's made up of law enforcement committee and others, as well. Champion/ And see, I like the idea of the, I agree with Ross that it's the behaviors we're really after, uh, and if we have (both talking) Bailey/ But, any time of day is my concern. Champion/ Any time of day, right. (both talking) so, uh, but the idea of the curfew also gives the police officers the reason to stop someone also, um, and find out what, where they're going and what they're doing, but I...I really would look forward to a combination of the two, because these behaviors can occur any time within a 24-hour period. Bailey/ And that's what we're seeing. Champion/ And you know, we're really...we've got to move quickly on this. This is a beautiful neighborhood that is literally being destroyed by the crime that's taking place there, the dreams of more crimes taking place there, and it gets exaggerated and it boomerangs and the broken window thing that somebody brought up on Saturday, one broken window creates two broken windows, and um, and this is not a matter of just juveniles. This is not just juveniles creating problems over there. Some of these people are adults creating problems, and I mean, I know how they feel. I know they don't think I do, but my house went through several stages of robberies and somebody tried to break into my house one night while I was still awake. And that is really scary. I understand what you're going through. I, however, could afford to put a, cost me $1,800 to put in a security system with cameras that record now 24 hours a day, and my house has not been entered since, but that's an expensive proposition for a lot of households. But I...I know the fear you have. I mean, I was terrified. I'm still up and somebody's trying to break in to my house. So, and that was the night the cameras were put in, but they weren't working yet. (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 45 Wilburn/ Just for (several talking) I just wanted to reiterate, you know, I'm...because I'm focused on behaviors, uh, the curfew portion is not an interest in mine, but I understand if there's a majority of Council that wants to look at that, but just another, because I think this kind of gets to the heart of what several people were trying to say. Uh, within a week's time about a month ago, maybe two months ago, when Housing was very involved with, uh, Police department in terms of responding to that situation and that got calmed down, before that there was a situation where there was a gathering of young people and then, um...um, without a curfew or anything, law enforcement saw something was going on, they stopped to see what's going on. Some adults came down. That escalated. A week after all this went on, uh, I was out, uh, I heard something going on. There were a few kids starting to congregate. I was getting ready to ride my bike, uh, a police officer stopped by, again, uh, no curfew, etc., going on. Started asking them some questions, some adults came down, uh, it was a big group. Lasted two minutes. Everybody went their separate ways. Twenty minutes later, um, there were, uh, there were three of the kids back out there, and I saw a fourth coming down the street and I heard the adult yell, 'No, you get back here because you can't stay out of trouble.' The kid turned around, those are the kids, and that was the difference, but uh, you know, so the...the idea that police have nothing they can do if they see something going on doesn't...isn't always the case is the reason I bring that up. Bailey/ Thanks. Eleanor, you had a comment. Okay. Um, so it looks like we're interested in seeing both. Given also an expressed interest in moving this along, I'm going to ask Marian to, um, get your schedules and perhaps schedule some special meetings so we can get this moving. Our next meeting isn't scheduled until the 14th. Um, do you agree on wanting to move that faster than.. . Wright/ What was the day of the next meeting? Bailey/ September 14. I don't know how long it will take you to get something together. Dilkes/ I can...I can do a draft of a curfew ordinance very easily, but it's going to take me a little time to do the behavior one, because we're going to have to do the research, and I think what is...what we really, I don't think want to do is...is do something quickly and create an expectation that...that it's going to...it's going to help. We're writing criminal statutes. They have to be very clear, or we are not going to be able to enforce them. Bailey/ Right. Dilkes/ So, and that's going to take a little time with respect to the criminal behavior. Wilburn/ But in the meantime, the neighbors can continue to get to, uh, either through us or to the department, uh, what a specific behavior might be. Bailey/ Sure. Wilburn/ Um... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 46 Bailey/ I just feel like that's not moving...I just feel like that schedule, our schedule, doesn't accommodate moving quickly, at this point. Wright/ I think you're right. We probably need to look at something. Wilburn/ I'm just indicating that it's...there are things going on. It's not that nothing is going on. We've already heard that Housing has been trying to look. We still need folks to call in if they see something, so that if any of them happen to be in some of the City housing, then there can be a follow up there, um... Bailey/ I'm just trying to be responsive to what we've heard. Wilburn/ I..and I (both talking) Bailey/ I think that...staff can work together and see what that schedule can look like, and if we can move it up, I think we should try. Okay? Is there agreement with that? Champion/ Yes. Karr/ Maybe also, just so I have your updated schedules, just let me know if there's times you can't meet, so as we talk about it, when it falls together, we see what a reasonable time is for the majority of you. Champion/ And we could always meet early in the morning before anybody goes to work. Bailey/ If people are in town. That's the challenge with this group. A lot of people travel. Champion/ Um...yeah, I like the idea. I agree with you, Regenia. We need to move, we really do need to move quickly on this. Bailey/ Matt, you had a comment? Hayek/ Well, I mean, I...I'm in agreement to meet again, specially, sooner than September 14th. I... as an attorney, I want the right steps to be followed, I mean, that's the delicate part of this, and I think there are things we can do on a resource level immediately. Bailey/ Right. Hayek/ That will (both talking) I know we have, and...and maybe we talk about doing more. I...I guess„ u, I...I look at our options and put them in two categories. One are the short- term options, which is what we've started talking about tonight, whether it's a curfew, whether it's delinquency ordinance, whether it's some other...an increase in police resources or something else that falls under the rubric of the broken windows approach to just not tolerating this. Um, in any way, shape or form. Uh, there or anywhere else. Um, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 47 but there's also a...a longer-term set of issues that the City, that this group, I think, needs to talk about. Champion/ I agree. Hayek/ And...and that has to do with, uh, the balance ofowner-occupied housing versus rental in that neighborhood. We just talked about it on the north side and it was one of the reasons we took some action there. Um, I think we need to look at our housing policies. Champion/ I agree. Hayek/ And...and...and this occurred four or five years ago, um, and a heck of a lot of time went into that, uh, um...so I've been down that road personally and...and some people in this room have, as well. Um, I think, uh, balance...balancebettyeen housing and social services is an issue. I think neighborhood stabilization. I think economic development. There's a whole panaplea of issues that are very difficult to talk about, that uh, many people in the neighborhood and elsewhere are...are impeding progress. Um, that we can't deal with on September 14th, let alone August 28th, but I don't want to lose sight of those either. Bailey/ Well, and I think we should start getting a sense of, do we have a sense of the balance of rental, owner-occupied or I mean, I would like...are others interested in looking at that (several responding) Correia/ ...in talking more, again, about an inclusionary housing (several talking) Bailey/ I think that'll (several talking) Champion/ I'm interested in talking about this neighborhood, and the amount of Section 8 housing we have there. The amount oflow-income we have. We discussed this seven or eight years ago. We made a policy wouldn't allow any more low-income housing unless it was owner-occupied, and it seems that has fallen by the wayside, um, it's...I'm going to put it right out front. When you get a lot...you build a ghetto of poverty people who are not educated, you have problems. I'm putting it right out there! Bailey/ Well and I... Correia/ ...in any, within any social problem there's a small percentage of folks who are causing problems. Champion/ Of course! Correia/ You look at the University population. There's a small percentage of students who are reeking havoc on our downtown. Are we saying we need to get rid of all of the students? Champion/Well, they're not all students. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 48 Correial But I'm saying that... Bailey/ I don't think we're really going to be able to fully explore housing policy or these things tonight, but (several talking) Champion/ ...something we need to discuss. Bailey/ Well, and I would like to first, I mean, one of the things is we looked at this balance between rental and owner-occupied in all of our neighborhoods. That's not, and I think that that would be a good thing to look at in this neighborhood, and so if we can gather that data, I think that would be a good thing. Um...there are other source...resources that we have that Ross mentioned, and I know that Neighborhood Services has been active. One of the things that I heard a lot on Saturday, and I think the rest of you did as well, is that there are rental units, um, not owned by...they're owned by landlords, just like in any other area of our community. Privately owned, thank you. I knew there was a term, um, that really are in disrepair, and because the neighborhood has been predominantly focused on what they would consider larger issues, they're not calling in complaints about these. We have a nuisance ordinance. We have other things in place, but I think we need to be more proactive about enforcing our codes. If there's a...if there's a disabled car in a yard, and a City worker sees it, I think that we don't have to wait for a complaint for this to be addressed, and I would like...that's a step that I would like taken, not only in this neighborhood but first and foremost in this neighborhood, but throughout our entire community, because it...it goes to that sort...whole broken window. If it looks like, you know, if it doesn't look good, we don't treat it very well, and so is that something that we could put in place rather quickly, Dale? To just give more direction that these do not have to be complaint based. Helling/ We...we certainly have City employees out and about in the community who could, uh, be... Bailey/ I think that that...that would be... Helling/ ...doing that, uh the enforcement effort itself does require inspections and so forth, and it's a matter of staffing and how quickly we could get at those, and still do all the other inspections and... Bailey/ But there's also, you know, a disabled car versus somebody didn't get to their mowing this week, I mean, I think that we can make those kinds of distinctions, but there seem to be some obvious challenges, at least from the neighbors I've talked to. Champion/ And I think also, when you...the Housing Inspection people know who the good landlords are, so they put their inspection off three months. What difference...they haven't had a violation...they know... Bailey/ ...tell them how to do their work. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 49 Champion/ I mean, they gotta use some common sense if we want these inspections happening. Bailey/ And then you mentioned lighting, um, keeping house lights on, but I also heard some concerns about general, um, street... street lighting. And I don't know if we've looked at that or if that's just a perception. Wilburn/ There's some parts that are pretty dark. Helling/ Yeah...you, uh, budgeted some money this year for...for lighting and looking at a lighting policy. In fact, uh... Bailey/ Well, I'm talking about are there...are there actual street light concerns. I don't know what the concerns that are lighting was the broad...I don't know if it's pedestrian-scale or streets or parks or parks shouldn't be lit. They're closed after dark, right? Wilburn/ I think Dale hinted at this earlier, I mean, if you...I'll just pick a street. If you walk down, walk around the Regal Lane loop, I mean, there's some parts that are pretty dark, but then maybe that's a place where, uh, the neighborhood association, and perhaps through Marcia, can work with the City to come to...for them to work with folks in the neighborhood as to what's an acceptable level of lighting, because we could authorize Dale to put a street light up somewhere and then we get five complaints about the light showing and... Bailey/ I know how that works. Wilburn/ ... so if there can be some, I mean, that's another tangible thing that the neighborhood...could work with neighborhood (both talking) Bailey/ Well, and I know that that neighborhood association is looking for some leadership because...I saw that in the newsletter today, but I...I think that would be another thing that we could do, like in the mid-range sort of planning. Hayek/ What can we...people are anxious, and...and...and understandably so, and the fact is that...if even a fraction of this had occurred in a more affluent and better organized neighborhood, this would have been dealt with sooner. Um, and it's not fair, and...and so they deserve a prompt response, and I think...as we've talked about already, there are things we can do immediately, and there are things we're going to have to talk about going forward, because the solutions are more complex, but you know over the next several weeks, what can we do, um, whether it's broadcasting the increase in resources we've brought to bear to these, for these problems, or...or continuing the increase of resources or drawing from elsewhere, over the next several weeks to...to not only give the perception of clamping down, but actually clamping down. O'Donnell/ Are you talking more police presence, or what are you talking? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 50 Hayek/ I don't know. That would certainly be part of it, but...but I mean, we've got to do something and... Hargadine/ The neighbors are also aware that there's 35,000 students gonna hit here pretty soon, and they know that. Bailey/ I'm assuming that we're going to continue though the cooperation with the University Police with active downtown sorts of approaches. Hargadine/ Correct. Bailey/ Okay. So that will...help. Hargadine/ Some. Bailey/ Right. What else can we do? Helling/ You know, one of the things we have to do, not only with policing but all our resources, we have to, you know, the needs shift and we have to...we have to respond to that. Um, but certainly I think the focus, uh, on neighborhood is...is something that we will continue to do, uh, much the same as we do on any other area of town, certain times of the day or night. LJh, in the long term, increasing our resources would probably be helpful, um, I think there...we can start working with the neighbors, not only to determine whether the things the City can do, but also to help them determine what they can do in cooperation, and uh, I think that has to be our long...bur long-term goal. Champion/ Well I (both talking) Bailey/ Sam made a really good point on Saturday. What did you say, the first step of a neighborhood problem was... Hargadine/ Getting to know one another. Bailey/ Yeah, I mean, just addressing that sort of... Hargadine/ When you become disassociated with each other, that's the first sign of decay. Correia/ So with, um, Officer Jorey Bailey becoming a new crime prevention officer, are we prepared to begin organizing neighborhood watch in this neighborhood, if that's...if that's something that...that the neighbors want, are we...prepared to (both talking) Bailey/ Will he work with Marcia in the neighborhood association to... Hargadine/ Marcia was involved in his selection. Bailey/ Okay. This represents only. a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Wright/ Good! Bailey/ That's great. Dilkes/ Amy, it's Jorey. Correia/ I'm sorry! Dilkes/ J-o-r-e-y, I believe. Correia/ Okay. Champion/ The other (several talking and laughing) Page 51 Wilburn/ In, uh...has anyone or could anyone contact, uh, in terms of neighbors turning on their lights, um, is there any way to contact MidAmerican, I know they have different efficiency programs, about possibly getting outdoor, you know, efficient lights to...to donate or...or one of their grants for (several responding) cause if you're going to be leaving...the external light on, just to help save some of the costs but...I don't know if that's.. . Champion/ I think the other thing that we need to talk about immediately is some possibly some more police, and where we're going to get that money. Bailey/ Well, I think that's...part of our (both talking) Helling/ Possibly some what? Champion/ More police. Helling/ Oh! O'Donnell/ Maybe a substation down there. Champion/ Uh, well, I don't know if you need a substation, cause I think that makes a neighborhood look more intimidating, but I'd like to see more police presence down there. Did we try a substation at one time? O'Donnell/ We tried to get one. And we couldn't do it. Correia/ (several talking) oh, sorry! Talked about a juvenile officer. A specialized officer that... Bailey/ Part of our... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 52 Hargadine/ Well, a detective that specializes in juvenile type crimes...that would work with the schools, with the juvenile office, and be a liaison for juvenile.. . Champion/ When are we going to talk about the utility franchise? That might be a place we can get some money to get some more police, also. When are we going to talk about that? Helling/ September 14th. Champion/ Well, you know, I...I'm willing to put myself on the line and say let's hire a couple more policemen and plan on paying for them with that, because I'm going to vote for that. I think we've got to get more police, or...the town has grown, uh, we've got some pockets of problems and they're going to breed new pockets of problems, and we need to get this neighborhood back! And we can, but we can't just ride it through and say it's going to get better. Um, I think we've got some big problems there. We got some big city problems in our little town. And I...I think we need more policemen immediately. At least one more that could just devote his time down there. Wilburn/ Uh, just...also I note there's some neighbors present, but just, uh, because it did come up, uh, some people, and we...again, we couldn't respond, uh, but some folks were asking why, uh, a 1% sales tax money couldn't go to pay for police officers and...and it cannot because of the, uh, legally it cannot... Helling/ It was very clear on the ballot what that was to be used for. Wilburn/ Flood related. Helling/ Right, and that was in response to the window that the State legislature created for us. Wilburn/ Right. I just...I was just, I mean, the question came up. I just wanted to make sure it was answered and people weren't wondering. Hargadine/ But should it be renewed, it could possibly go for public.. . Champion/ That's going to be four years from now. Wright/ That's a few years down the road! (laughter) Hargadine/ Just planting the seed! Bailey/ I think...I think you'll have a different bunch in front of you! (laughter) Wilburn/ Well, actually a few years ago as part of the, uh, proposal for paying for the Library there was a component for, of that penny was to go to the Library; another portion was to go to, uh, police and fire, and another portion to help human services, but that failed, so...I'm not trying to burst your bubble, but just letting you know. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 53 Champion/ But seriously... Bailey/ I'm going to ask the other question, I mean, there are certain things that the City does. We've talked about what the neighborhood does, I mean, but this is a community issue, and just as it's...it's an issue of the southeast side. It's not always going to be on the southeast side. These things move around. Who in your experience who else do we need to get around the table? We've talked about the schools. I know there was a United Way person there on...on Saturday. Are there other people, I've talked to people from churches, are there other people who are...who need to be around this table to be addressing this broader issue, because we...we all play a role, but we don't play every role, and...and I would hate to see the community look to us to play every role. Nobody wants a community like that, where government does everything. So... Hargadine/ I can't think of any groups off the top of my head that we haven't thought of already. I know one of the things we've talked about in the, with the, uh, juvenile office is...is, uh, diversion, uh, especially those families that need some type of parenting skill or training, and uh, that was sort of the intent of my juvenile delinquency behavior ordinance, that if that were the case, if...if there was somebody in Hy-Vee at 3:00 in the morning on a school night, it may not be because he's out running away. It may be because he doesn't want to go home, but that's how you get that person in the system to get the type of help that, um, that particular person needs, uh, and it may be because mom and dad are fighting or whatever the reason is, but, um, it doesn't have to have necessarily a criminal fine connotation to it. Bailey/ Okay. So, um, I think we've kind of gone through the things that we can do tonight. As other people think of ideas, and other groups that need to be around the table, I think we need to be thinking about that, as well. Um, I think that's important. Hayek/ Can...can the public assume that presently we are bringing additional resources to bear on these issues? Bailey/ Since May. Helling/ We have been. Hayek/ Okay. Helling/ Even...even prior to the shooting, there's been (mumbled) Hayek/ Cause I think quantifying or describing that will help allay a little concern, um, and...and uh, and then we... and then we take up some of these more short-term things over the next few weeks and couple of months, um, and then go from there, but there's got to be an immediate response. Um, and I know there has been. I mean... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 54 Bailey/ Well, and I think the neighborhood acknowledged that on Saturday, and...and I think they expressed appreciation for that. It's just when you're in the situation like Connie said it's, you know, you want to see more because it's scary. So... Hayek/ It is, and...and it takes on this sort of slow-burning flame that occasionally flares up. Well, that slow burning flame wouldn't be tolerated elsewhere, and...and the community becomes...not immune, but somewhat numb to news from these neighborhoods. Cause you get used to it, and...and that I think feeds into this unfairness from my perspective. This would not be tolerated elsewhere. Bailey/ I'm not sure I agree with you on that, but let's just close this discussion now. Hayek/ Fair enough. Champion/ Just cause you don't agree you want to close the discussion? Bailey/ No. Because I want to take a break (laughter) and I think we've reached...we've given direction to staff and I think Marian's going to look...give some dates that we can meet early and, um, we can just go from there and schedule other discussions as things come up, or as these things become available to us. Okay, we're going to take aten-minute. (BREAD Site Selection of Justice Center (IP4): Bailey/ Um, site selection of Justice Center. There was an update in the Info Packet. Any discussion? Champion/ I was out of town when they presented that to the Board of Supervisors, so I don't know any more than you do. Wright/ No, I didn't see anything, especially newsworthy in this latest update. It was interesting reading, but... Hayek/ I couldn't really figure out what they did at the end of that meeting. (several talking) Did they vote to poll their membership or was that a poll of their membership...in that meeting? Champion/ It was supposed to be the whole membership but actually what they did was put off making a decision, which they've been doing for eight years. Helling/ I think the next thing you're looking for is to kind of key us to when we want to put it back on your work session. If they get some sort of financial analysis of the, uh, split concept versus one facility. We'll watch for that. Bailey/ Okay, well, and Connie's on the committee, so she'll also be aware of that, right? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 55 Champion/ Oh, yeah. I know about that. Helling/ There is a delay in the minutes, so if you, you know, if you know that something's been done and we (mumbled) Champion/ When they presented the perspectives that we asked them to present to the Board of Supervisors, that was my camping trip - I was out of town. We asked them to present that our first priority was a single unit downtown. But that there were people on the committee who thought they should hire a consultant and look at the two splits. The other thing that I mentioned to them is, I'm not so sure that as a City Council person I'm willing to zone that land public. It's very valuable land. Take it off the tax rolls (mumbled) and not ever developed. It's very expensive land! So, that's another thing they're going to have to think about. Dilkes/ I think just one reminder. Um, you want to...you can certainly.express your concerns about that rezoning, but that process needs to (both talking) before we go through any rezoning process. Bailey/ Okay. Any other discussion about that, uh, info packet? Okay. Uh, greenhouse gas assessment update and curbside recycling contract update. Let's start with the greenhouse gas update, Dave. Greenhouse Gas Assessment Update (IPS): Elias/ So I'm Dave Elias, the Landfill and Waste Water Superintendent, and I'd like to introduce Brenda Nations. She's our newest permanent employee in our division. She's our Environmental Coordinator, but Brenda has been working with us for nine months or so now, producing this greenhouse gas inventory. Brenda has a...a good background as a scientist and also as a...an instructor, a teacher, and she has a deep interest in environmental issues and the...the complicated details that she's been going through. So Brenda wants to...to give you this update on...on just where we stand, and then um, we have some... some actions that we want to get your... your support on going forward as we do this. So, Brenda. Nations/ Okay, um, Iowa City last year joined ICLEI, which is the local governments sustainability and joined their campaign for the Cities for Climate Protection and in doing so recognized that climate change is a increasing concern, um, not just for this country, but worldwide, and that the U.S. I think most people know is one of the largest, um, has one of the largest carbon emissions in the world, and um, the average is about 22 metric tons per person. LTh, the worldwide average is 4 metric tons per person, and it is thought that the sustainable limits are about 2 metric tons per person. Okay, so um...excuse me, um, one concern is, uh, for our country is that we have a rising energy consumption, and also that energy costs are rising. And um, with energy consumption there's more greenhouse gases emitted from, um, from natural gas in our homes, from the, uh, any electrical use, from fuels, from our...in transportation, and also from waste...decomposition, uh, both from our landfills and the waste water processes. So, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 56 um, we are the first city in Iowa that has completed our greenhouse gas inventory, so we just are finishing it, and hope to submit it this week. So, with ICLEI, signing up for ICLEI, um, is a...part of the...the climate campaign are these five milestones that they recommend. So the first milestone is complete the baseline emissions inventory and forecast, which we have now done. So, um, the next steps will be to, uh, develop a reduction, a plan to develop a reduction target and find a...a percentage reduction target, and then implement that plan, and then monitor it on a ongoing basis. Okay, so for the calculations, basically there was two different calculations, and there was two parts. One is the... for the community, which is everything that's generated within our city limits. So not Coralville or anything else, but within our city limits, and it includes all the emissions from residential, commercial, industrial, um, transportation, including the freeway, all of our streets within the city limits, um, waste from t he landfill, and waste water treatment plant, and also the University of Iowa power plant. And in these emissions, um, that are produced within the city, there's um, emissions that are (noise on mic) emitted right, sort of if there's a bubble above the city that's produced in our city limits, but also with electricity that's uh, produced...the emissions are produced elsewhere, even though we use it in Iowa City. So we include our emissions from electricity, within our, um, carbon footprint. So, um, we chose 2000 as the baseline year and the...the, excuse me, the total, um, CO2e, which is all the greenhouse gas emissions that would include, um, methane and carbon dioxide. It's CO2 equivalent that combines all the different greenhouse gases for 2000 is 1.3 um, million metric tons. So per capita, it's about 21.4 metric tons. So it's roughly about average for the U.S. a little bit less. Um, for 2008 we wanted to do, uh, a more recent year to get an idea of what...where we are now, and it's 1.39 million and our emissions per capita have reduced slightly, and if you've looked at the chart, um, mostly that is from waste there...is from, that's landfill methane emissions, and that's from...we're now capturing and flaring the methane from the landfill there, and also the U of I power plant has reduced because of burning, um, oat hulls over that time period. (coughing) Um, also, for 2008 was, uh, as you I'm sure remember was that...our flood year, and so the University of Iowa power plant was partially off line, but they have, um, been members of the Chicago Climate Exchange and have been reducing their emissions from the power plant. So, they purchased electricity that....so some of that maybe under industrial, but for the most part, they have reduced...been reducing emissions which have helped, um, our per capita emissions decrease, as well as the emissions decreasing from our landfill. So, um, the other part of the study has, um, a section for just the city government, so it's a subset of the community emissions for the most part. So everything that the city government owns and operates, all of our buildings, all of our facilities, all of our fleet, um, and um, all of these factors here. Everything that we own and operate. Um, I probably should point out -the one thing that's kind of unique about Iowa City is, since we own and operate the landfill, um, we service the whole county, so we get the emissions for the whole county under city government, whereas the city section only gets for the population that's just the city. So actually city government gets a larger portion of the, um, landfill methane than actually the community does, which is sort of unusual. Okay, so for the government, uh, the government part of the inventory, um, shows that this is the most recent year that we're looking at here, and all of the calculations have been done in calendar year, uh, because the software that was provided to us, um, is to make, um, general calculations so we compared to other cities, um, across the United This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 57 States, so to be standard, we calculate in, um, in a calendar year. So you can see, um, even after the reductions with the capture and flaring of the methane, our landfill, within the city government, is our largest, um, source of emissions, and next to that would be, um, if you combined the water delivery from the water plant and also the treatment of that water from waste water, um, pumping water through the town is probably our biggest energy use and um, also source of emissions. And next to that, the fourth biggest would be our buildings, all of the city-owned buildings. Oh, I should also point out that of the community total, um, that in 2000 it was 7% of our whole community, and in 2008, uh, 4%. So what the city owns and operates is a small portion of the whole community emissions. So that's a portion that we have control over. An interesting thing, um, from doing this, um, is that our total energy costs the last eight years has almost doubled. So in 2000 it was almost $2 million that we spent on all of our energy, and in 2008 is almost $4 million, and every single...you can see it in every single, um, department, um, that we looked at, every single group, we've seen some major rises, and this is from both increased energy use, and also in some factors like with the fleet, um, those costs, energy costs, um, tripled over that time period. So even though there wasn't a real increase in use, there was a real increase in the price of, uh, especially diesel fuel. But, um, the one area that we've really made strides with, if you can see and compare the street lights and traffic signals, with uh, over that time period the traffic signals were changed to LED and that made significant...because we were looking into those measures, that has not, um, grown significantly over that time. But, I found also, um, remember that over the last eight years we have, um, more new, bigger waste water plant, water plant, uh, extended Library, two parking ramps, and so we have...we've had improved services and improved water quality and water treatment over that time. Okay. So, um, the good news is that, uh, being the first city in Iowa to calculate our emissions, um, is really, is a really wonderful first step which I can credit you guys cause you've signed the, uh, the resolution to start this process and so that's one of the best first things that we can use to understand where we are so we know where to go, uh, from here. So, um, we can also, um, use this as, um, to demonstrate our progress community wide, since we know what number we are at, and also we can use, um, this within our city government to, uh, save money, uh, monitor energy use, and use energy efficiency improvements to, uh, lower our costs. Um, the city has done many things to improve on the, uh, our energy efficiency. The LED street lights is one, recycling is, and uh, everything that we're doing at the Landfill to reduce emissions, from methane, um, is important, um, a lot of our new buildings are more energy efficient, even though they may use, even they may be bigger and use more energy, um, there's many things the city, um, has done and is in the middle of doing, and has, um, plans on doing, like we're doing...we've been doing energy audits on City Hall, and we have eight buildings lined up, and um, we've also been...we've also been awarded this grant, the energy efficiency and conservation block grant, um, that is, um, specifically for reducing greenhouse emissions and energy efficiency. Um, this is a pretty scary chart. Um (laughter) our big challenge is going to be that, um, the federal government, the state government, and ICLEI, the organization that's been assisting us in this all, um, propose 80% reductions by, uh, 2050, which seems, um, pretty insurmountable, but um, this chart is projected to forecast...if business goes as usual and we make no changes whatsoever that, um, we will increase our emissions by about 70% if we make no changes. So, um, this projection is, which is growing population, and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 58 no...no measures taken. So, the line is the projected 80% reduction, which if calculated by year is actually a little more reasonable, and is only 3 or 4% a year, which, um, is...would behoove us to start working on this now, because 3 or 4% a year, you still need to, uh, you still need to, uh, do that. Champion/ Wow! Nations/ So, um, so the next step in the process of the ICLEI program is, um, the things that we proposed - we need to form a community based climate action committee. As you remember, we're only a small percentage of our total, uh, responsible for our total emissions, so we need to have representatives in, um, all these focus groups, um, including businesses, uh, industry, residents, um, institutional, um, all...all groups across the board. So in the next few weeks we're going to be determining, um, what sort of backgrounds and um, how many people we need on these groups, and how we can, um, get people together to start working on this. So, um, with ICLEI, um, they, um, they request that you have a reduction target, a certain percentage that your community decides to reduce. Um, and to do that, you really need people in all these groups to...to decide what's reasonable, and what's doable, and then you can...then from there you can figure out what your, um, target reduction can be, what percentage. So, and then all those actions are included in your action plan, and um, your deadlines on when you plan to do that. So, that's it! Are there any questions? Wilburn/ Do they recommend, uh, just a overall community reduction target rate, or by sector, or both? Nations/ You can either do overall or you can do like the community can be a different total than the government section. Some cities have done it that way. One can be more and one can be less, or it could be just one number for both. Shipley/ The emissions from the solid waste, that's just the decomposition of garbage creating that? So, I mean, what possible ways could you circumvent that? Correia/ Recycle more. Nations/ Recycling, composting, uh, just reducing from the source. (unable to hear person away from mic) Okay, and the thing about methane is, the global warming potential is 21 times what carbon dioxide is, so anything that's...that, methane is more potent of...of the greenhouse gas, and so um, with the...what had happened before was that the greenhouse...the methane was just, um, not captured and flared, and now there's...there's, um, we're capturing and flaring it and burning off, which converts it to CO2, but they still further... further methods we can take to, uh, reduce that even in the city's (several talking) right, and there's...you can still be more efficient yet, and the city's looking into several possibilities to...to, um, reduce that still. Hayek/ Can you assume that the University's share of the community wide product...output so to speak is tied to the power plant? Or.. . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 59 Nations/ Well, Ferman Milster is here from the University, and provided me with much of this information. Do you want to answer that, Ferman? Bailey/ (several talking) you'll have to come up here. Hayek/ If you want to! (laughter) Karr/ There's an extra microphone, as well, right there, or one over by Mr. Wright too. Milster/ I think you'll see the University stay committed to very aggressive reduction targets. The biomass fuel project that started, uh, back in 2003 when it went commercial has been a big success and a good foundation to build on. And we're actively pursuing things, to increase the amount of fossil fuel that we replace with biomass. Now that's primarily coal, um, we're probably going to announce some test burns over the next six to eight months, where we're testing biomass fuels, additional biomass fuels, in our other coal-fire boiler - we have two. LTh, we're building a new district energy system at the Oakdale Campus. It's located north of I-80, north of the Coral Ridge Mall. That's included in the University's greenhouse gas footprint. We're considered one source, both the Iowa City campus and the Coralville campus, and that district energy system that's going in there will be capable of doing 100% renewable energy for that entire campus, and there's a combination of sources of renewable fuels we're looking there. So, however, uh, it showed, uh, little less than 200,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the power plant. We still have almost 250,000 tons of CO2 emissions attributed to our purchased electric power. LJh, we only, uh, co-generate about 15% of the electric power used on the Iowa City campus. The rest is purchased from MidAmerican, and all that...almost all that, is based on central station coal fired power plants. So, if we're going to make a dent in that, we really need to change our strategy for how we acquire and use purchased power, uh, one of the things the flood taught us was that we...we need a facility on the west campus to generate steam and electric power. We'll be looking to do that with a system that is much more efficient than a coal fired central power plant, and can probably be operated, uh, substantially more, produce more of our own power, uh, with our resources. It will reduce the global effect. I mean, when you add the central power plant and compare that to how efficient we're generating it, the net will be to reduce it, and that's what that greenhouse gas inventory does. It accounts for the higher carbon footprint associated with purchased power, off the grid. Bailey/ And you said you had aggressive sort of reduction standards. What are those, I mean, just give us a ballpark of what aggressive looks like, I mean, you're talking percentage reductions or... Milster/ Well, President Mason has some goals, and you know what? It just failed a pop quiz. Bailey/ Oh, sorry! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 60 Milster/ Those are out there. They're on the web site. Um, what those reduction targets are. I think it's 15%, um...maybe 10% energy reduction by 2013...I'm going to get it confused, but there are some immediate goals. Bailey/ We're talking double digit percentage reduction. Milster/ Yes, yes, yes! Bailey/ Four or five years. Milster/ Uh, sooner than that. Nations/ So anything that the University does would count within our community emissions, so as they work towards the same goals as we do. I know they're doing a lot of things with their buildings and their energy efficiencies so that will count within our goals too. Bailey/ Other questions for Brenda or Dave or.. . Elias/ You can see that it's very complicated, because there are so many different players and the...frightening graph that shows that (noise on mic) decline, you know, we have to look at that and say, well, you know, maybe some of the answers that we'll be looking at in the next 40 years haven't been created yet. But, when we can look back in the last 40 years and we can see, well, there's been some good progress and there has been some dramatic lack of progress, as well, so these...these are really big steps. They're complicated questions, so we...we intend for the...these, uh, working groups to help us out in the different sectors of the community to...to try to just pin down what would be realistic for us to even address, and...and the good news is, well, it's tied to our energy use and that's tied to money, so any steps that we do, um, capitalize on will...will hopefully reduce our operating costs in the meantime. Correia/ So, are you moving ahead on creating those committees? Elias/ Right, yes. Brenda's just starting to put together the...the process where we can appoint those committees, get 'em started. When we have a, uh, a draft climate action plan, we would like to bring it back to...to you, and to get your, uh, not only your understanding, but your approval and your leadership and support to going forward with it. Bailey/ Okay. Nations/ And, I'd just like to say, we should be really proud to be the first, cause there's many other cities in Iowa that are working on it, that I've been in contact with, so it's just, uh, great that we're... Bailey/ ...doing some kind of announcement about that, right, a press release or something? It seems like a really good (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 61 Nations/ It's been in the paper a couple times. Bailey/ Okay, good. All right. Thank you. Champion/ You have a great name to do it! (several talking) Perfect name for this job! Bailey/ It's amazing...amazing compilation of information. It was great! Thanks! Okay, let's move on to recycling, and the recycling contract. Curbside Recycling Contract (IP6): Elias/ So, Jennifer's been working on a...on another complicated issue in our...our division, and so she's going to handle the.. . Jordan/ And thanks for the lead-in on recycling, Brenda. Well, good evening, Council. I will keep this as brief as I can. Um, just a reminder, back in November we talked about single-stream recycling, and the potential options moving that direction for the city, with the assumption that it would preserve landfill space, save the refuse department in disposal fees, allow for an easier expansion to more multi-family recycling, and we also knew that it was going to cost more to transport and process materials. At that time, staff recommended, um, requests for proposals moving to asingle-stream system. We did put out the RFP earlier this year with the options for the current system, which is sorted by...by the citizens, and asingle-stream option in order to best compare costs instead of just estimating. We had one response from our current contractor, City Carton Company. Most of us know that as City Carton Recycling. LTh, based on the RFP response, it was actually going to be significantly more expensive than we'd estimated. Um, we had estimated, I believe, 30 to 50-cents per month per customer, so we're looking at more than double that, um, roughly $100,000 annually to cover the costs of just the processing and the transportations they have down there. City Carton, uh, would transport it to Cedar Rapids to their materials recovery facility there, or MURF, so there's transportation fee associated with that, and a processing fee once they get it there to sort it in the streams. So it was determined that single-stream is not financially feasible at this time, simply based on looking at changing the processing structure, and I'll explain that in a little bit here. Um, right now in fact. We initially really just looked at changing the processing structure, so taking it from the hands of the citizens to sorting it by a machine, and having to transport to do that. So it really only considers the immediate cost of the new service but not of the potential long-term savings. Um, in fact we were looking at the equipment changes...the equipment changeover taking about six years, the labor force impacts would probably be significantly longer than that before we would start seeing potential savings, um, those could be eventually met by attrition, new program needs to...for current staffing to fill those, and duty (mumbled) and etc. There's also potential for savings in the fuel times because the route tends to be much shorter, instead of spending 30 seconds to 45 seconds per house, if you've seen the tipper carts dump with the automatic trucks, it's much quicker than that. They literally stop, arm goes out, pick it up, dump it, set it back down, and move on. It's maybe 10 to 15 seconds per household, so it's much quicker. Asingle-stream system to most effectively utilize the efficiency This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 62 would have to take that into the same system, use the same system. We didn't consider that because we were looking at saving initially on the...those, the costs of those new trucks and of course the tipper carts themselves. Wright/ Um, question on that. In terms of the fuel usage, even if we were able to use less fuel in town, would that be offset by running all of the, uh, materials up to Cedar Rapids for a sort? Jordan/ That's a good question. Um, we could get a lot more material per truck, um, both in the packer trucks that we would be using at the curb, and they would probably...what would probably happen, what would happen, is we would dump it at City Carton and they would transport by semi. So, I don't have a good feel for that, but I wouldn't think it would be too far off from what we're doing now. Plus the...the efficiency of the trucks is all really bad and this is something that Brenda's given you lots of really scary information on. The miles per gallon on both the recycling and the garbage trucks, the two different kinds of garbage trucks, they're all under 10-miles-per-gallon and some of them are under 5-miles-per-gallon. So it's...it's really scary when you start thinking about how much diesel fuel the city uses for recycling and garbage pickup. Okay, so the next steps, to make single-stream financially feasible, uh, processing and equipment changes have to be implemented simultaneously. In fact, this is what many other communities who've changed to single-stream have found, Des Moines being the most recent one, they've seen, and I mentioned this at the last presentation, but they have actually seen close to 50% increase in recycling in the last year. So, um, but they also laid out that money in the beginning to buy the most efficient equipment and to do it right. So...um, it's...I think it's going to be important to really evaluate the recycling programs, and not just necessarily curbside, but maybe our drop-off sites too, to determine the best approach to be able to implement all these changes, not only simultaneously, but in the most cost-effective manner. So the next step, and this is what I bring tonight, is that we do need to sign the contract, uh, by resolution at the next meeting with City Carton for athree-year contract, using the current curbside system. This contract does have an option to move to single-stream within it. I would like to think that within three years we could pull plans together to be able to implement a...an efficient cost-effective single-stream program, um, but in the meantime I think our best solution is to sign the current contract that we have on the table with City Carton, and to continue exploring our options. Correia/ So...why, I was looking at...after I read the memo, and then I was looking, I was reading Dale's budget memo, that...so the increased cost is $100,000. Jordan/ Just for the processing, right. Correial Right, for the processing fees. Um, but the landfill had significantly increased revenue last year from what we estimated, so could we subsidize that $100,000 for, I mean, because we want to...I mean, there's benefits to the landfill...if we have an increase in people using recycling, I mean, if we can start to get more multi-family housing on line, we've been talking about this for four year, well, I've been talking about it (several This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 63 talking) I mean, I've been talking about it, so I mean $100,000, I mean, I don't want to see a $1.00 increase right now to our customer for...whatever, consumers, but I mean, but in the scheme of the landfill budget $100,000 to...to divert material from the landfill and try and keep our, all the other benefits that we would have there. Why wouldn't we want to do that? Helling/ Well, I'm not sure. I don't know, we'd have to talk about...what the savings was on $100,000. iJh, if it's a savings of...that's likely not to occur in future years, maybe because of fuel costs went down or something, but at any rate, to sustain that we'd have to build in...and may not be a dollar amount the first year, but going out over the long term, I suspect it would be (mumbled) um, so it's...and what we're talking about here is talking about the costs versus the...the uh, well, Rick and I talked about it a little bit, um, and we talked about the, uh, the price we get right now for recyclables, and so if you increase recycling, that's a good thing, but our costs go up because now I think we're actually paid for some, to take some recyclables away. Is that not correct? Fosse/ For some of them, and then for others we're not getting as much revenue. Helling/ Right. Right. Do you know what the $100,000 or the, you know, the short fall expenditures or, I'm sorry, the revenues? Do you know... Fosse/ You talking at the Landfill? Helling/ Yeah. Fosse/ Um, not off the top of my head, but...but one of the things you need to think about if...if you're using the landfill revenues to...to in a sense subsidize a program for recycling in Iowa City is that the revenues...the revenue stream comes from all the residents in Johnson County, plus Riverside and Kalona. And then you need to look at the fairness things, is it right for somebody in Lone Tree to be subsidizing single-stream recycling within Iowa City? And that's a decision that we would need to make, to go down that path. Correia/ But it's our business, right? I mean, it's a business. Fosse/ It is an enterprise fund. Correia/ Right. So I mean, businesses certainly use their revenues, I mean, there is a benefit to the Landfill and to the whole county to increase recycling from Iowa City because 60,000 residents, then if we could increase the multi-family, I mean, so there are environmental benefits, and our costs at the landfill haven't increased. I mean, we haven't...have we increased... Fosse/ No, we haven't increased fees in a long time. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 64 Correia/ Right, so I mean, when (both talking) right. So it's not like we're saying we were going to increase the landfill fees to subsidize. Champion/ But you might have to eventually. I mean...you might be cutting things down in the landfill, but when you're using...well...never mind. Bailey/ Well, just think about how much it costs to open a new cell, I mean, that's (several talking) we're trying to slow that opening down, right? Champion/ Isn't it $20 million to open one? Correia/ (several talking) yeah, the more Iowa City plays the largest consumer in the landfill (mumbled) I don't know. Jordan/ that's fair. Correia/ That we reduce, that's better for everybody. And I mean, and I guess then I'm thinking that it would be a short-term subsidy as we're getting other things in place with the...better trucks and then the reduced fuel costs and the reduced labor over time that then, and that then if we built in a very small fee, you know, increase to the curb, um, and somehow capture from multi-family users, who you know as we bring them online. I guess I would really like, I mean, I think that this is a idea whose time has come and people are hungry in multi-family. I think that we could significantly increase the, just our single-family curbside and it's really not a...a huge subsidy to the landfill, that with a justification. Fosse/ One of the things that Jenn has pointed out is that the going to single-stream recycling for our municipal customers is...would probably be the catalyst that would help get multi- family recycling going, because their obstacle is space and once you go single-stream, then you can have one container there. Yeah, and that's certainly a benefit to the entire community. Bailey/ Absolutely! Jordan/ I think it's also a catalyst in that if the city moves to single-stream, we'll probably see many other small communities in Johnson County, possibly Coralville as well, moving to that. It also makes business recycling programs much easier. So, I think there's an overall social... Correia/ The snowball effect. To benefit the landfill and all those customers. I don't know. Bailey/ I would like...we've talked about this so many years, it would be...I think it would be great to move forward on it. If there's a feasible way of doing so, I mean, I think you're right. I think it would open up opportunities for other, the multi-family, the businesses, everything you just said. I think it makes a lot of sense, if it's financially feasible from our current landfill balance, which is hefty. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 65 Jordan/ (several talking) comes down to. I really just need to take a better look at the savings end of it. We really, on the front end for this, really looked at the costs and said, wow, this is really a lot of (both talking) Bailey/ And that's my question, you know, when you look at all of these, um, what is the potential savings over the three years that we would be waiting. What are we foregoing on that, and...and I think we need more information to do an adequate cost benefit analysis. Correia/ But one of the things that I'm just thinking about is, in the last few months we've put $100,000... a new $100,000 into arts and culture programming for economic development, without any idea of what the dollar benefit might...I mean, really for the Englert and the...the UNESCO, and...and here is something that we really, I mean, I'm sure we could get (mumbled) estimate of what could bring down our landfill use, blah, blah, blah, I mean, you know, Des Moines went 50% up in curbside recycling, I mean, I think Iowa City could easily match that, with the type of community that we have, and with having environmental coordinator and a recycling coordinator and ways to do a lot of education and push for that, it just seems like...you know, a no-brainer to me to say let's put $100,000 for the next three years, which is what we've told the Englert and UNESCO that we're putting a total of $100,000 for the next three years, um, I mean, I just think it sends the right message on this issue. Elias/ We have all those numbers. Jenn...Jenn in her development of this has...has gone through and we just didn't include them in this report, because we were looking at the processing costs and the delay in the...in the shift in our collection systems around town. So we have...we have six recycling trucks, is that...so we wouldn't...we'd need to switch over six recycling trucks, reroute, and then, you know, then the complexities of it come when we...when we tried to push it out further into the community, into the multi-family arena. Then we, you know, then we have these other issues that come up that we...we could see it was not going to be a...amll-it-over-sign-a-new-contract on, you know, the first of July or the first of September, and...and make it successful. We know that if we spend time moving towards that in the next few years, if we have, you know, solid, somebody tells us go do it, you know, we can make it happen. It's just that, you know, there are those...those costs that...that have to go back and forth one way or the other. Bailey/ Could we see what it would take to enter into this three-year contract and mid-way through the contract be ready to convert? Champion/ Well, you can do that. It's an (both talking) Bailey/ Right, no, but see what it would take, insofar as everything that he just outlined. Champion/ We need trucks. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 66 Elias/ Not, I believe we basically have those numbers. We can...we can summarize them for you for the next meeting. Bailey/ I think we'd like to see that (several talking) and then we, I think what we would be...I think I'm hearing interest and potentially committing to a plan to move forward more quickly than three years. I mean, is that...is that, I'm seeing some nods. (several responding) So, I think that's what we would like to see, with the realization that we'll probably go ahead and sign this contract on the 15th, with the, um, you know, we still do it ourselves, and then we could get into it in 18 months. I think that that would feel good for most of us. Wright/ That would be excellent! Bailey/ Okay. Elias/ Okay. Very good. Shipley/ One last question I have though, uh, there are quite a few students who want to see, uh recycling extended to the dormitories. Jordan/ It's the number one question that I actually (several talking) this wouldn't cover the dorms because that's University property, but the number one question that I get is why don't I have recycling in my apartment. So, and most of those come from students. Shipley/ Um, well, cause I know it's a very hot topic at the student leadership is to...in August, um, and I think a couple students quoted like a $300,000 figure. I mean, where does that come from, what's that entail? Champion/ They have private collection for one thing. Jordan/ Yeah, I know the University is looking at expanding into more dorms, but yeah, there's the discussion - if it's private, if they're using current staff, if they have to hire more staff internally, the processing fees, if they're...if students are sorting it or like we are now, or if they're having someone else sort it, transportation costs (several talking) it's very parallel to what we're talking about here. Bailey/ Okay. Thanks. Champion/ I don't see how us going to asingle-stream recycling would make it any easier for the commercial, residential to go single-stream, because those are all private haulers. Jordan/ Right now they would have to take it to Cedar Rapids, if...City Carton puts in a facility to transport in Iowa City, I think it would make it much, much more (both talking) Champion/ Oh, right, I can see that. Right, but not if they have to drive it to Cedar Rapids. Those private haulers aren't going to do it. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Jordan/ Right. Wright/ No, but they could dump it off at City Carton someplace. Champion/ That'd be different. Jordan/ Yeah, if they can dump it here in town (mumbled) I think it would be much more attractive to businesses. And local haulers. Page 67 Elias/ And City Carton basically has the...the uh, excess capacity to process in...in Cedar Rapids, so they do have their own vested interest in...in wanting to see it happen, as well. So we're...we're hoping that...that uh, they'll...they'll work along with us and kind of help push the issue too. Champion/ Yeah, they're not going to build a new facility down here, as long as that one's not being fully used. Jordan/ Right, that's not their plan at all. They definitely want to transport, and I think they're...last time I talked to them I think they were at 35% capacity. (several talking) They have...there's no reason for them to build amulti-million dollar facility here when they can truck it much cheaper, you know, 25 miles. Twenty miles. Bailey/ Thank you. Thanks for your work on that. (several responding) All right, um, Information Packet discussion...from, uh, July 30th and August 13th. Any items that you would like to discuss? Information Packet Discussion: Hayek/ I, you know, I love Kevin O'Malley's... Bailey/ I thought that was great! Hayek/ ...with the flood impact, the budget...the flood budgetary impact is so hard to understand what's going up and what's going down, and where we are, relative to where we thought we'd be, etc. Bailey/ But that's...that was a really clear report, um, and I thought it was very readable and easily understandable, insofar as the information that was presented. So, I.. . Helling/ In some areas he tried to break it down and give you the...the, uh, relevant figures, to give you an idea, but it is...it is very difficult because, and it's not going to be...it's probably going to be more complex in FY10. Bailey/ Well, there's always something in this city, I mean, there's this or that or the other. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 68 Helling/ But generally not of the magnitude that we're talking about. This influx in cash is going to make a lot of difference in a lot of ways, in terms of the budget, uh, and we'll have to figure out a way to break it down so that you...you can get the nuts and bolts without, have a basis for comparison, without looking at the extraneous, kind of larger issues that, the one-time thing. Bailey/ But insofar as sort of a dashboard that we've been asking for, I thought this was a...a really useful report. Helling/ Yeah! Hayek/ The Dickens' quote was nice too! (several talking and laughing) Helling/ I remember that from the State of the City message about 25 years ago! (laughter) Bailey/ Anything else from the Info Packets? Okay. We'll move on to Council time. Council Time: Bailey/ Items? I...I do have one item, and then I would like to see if any other people are interested in doing. I recognize that Los Cocos has voluntarily closed, but I think it would be, um, a good indicator of, if we could ask them to voluntarily surrender their liquor license. Have they done so? Karr/ We've talked to 'em a couple of times. We haven't contacted them; they've contacted us. Bailey/ Okay, but they have not surrendered their liquor license. Karr/ Not to date. Bailey/ Okay. Can we ask them to voluntarily do that? Karr/ They are well aware they can voluntarily do that. Bailey/ Okay. Thanks. Any other Council time items? Um, joint meeting items, agenda items. Joint Meeting Agenda Items: Bailey/ This was in the Info Packet, item 7. Items for that agenda. Remember, it's always better if we have things to discuss. Otherwise those meetings get cancelled and then we wonder where they went. I mean, we could ask for an update from the Supervisors on the Justice Center, uh, process, if there is an update by then. I don't know...is there a meeting between now and then, Connie? Champion/ Um, I'm not sure. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 69 Bailey/ Okay. Champion/ I haven't been notified of one. Karr/ Do you want to put it on anyway, just in the event? Bailey/ Uh-huh. Champion/ Well, I think another thing that might be, uh, asking the School District for a report on violence in the schools since we're dealing with the crimes in...oh, you already have that down? Bailey/ No, I had that, so yeah, that's a good idea! (several responding) Karr/ What was the item? School... Champion/ School violence, and association. I bet it's increasing, just like the city crime rate is. Correia/ (mumbled) Bailey/ Um, I was approached by some of the flood planning staff, um, to put an item, the property tax exemption, you have that one, for FEMA? Um, for properties under FEMA contract for buyout? Any other items for that joint meeting? What's our deadline for getting those? Tonight? Karr/ Our deadline is this meeting because they'd like to get it in the packet for your next one. We still have another week if you'd like to call. If you'd like to call or send it to me a week ahead and then we'll run it past the Mayor, and then we could submit it, but I'd like to get it sent next week. Bailey/ Okay. Um, any budget priority items? Champion/ I might like to ask Coralville, um, a report on how their curfew works. Bailey/ Oh! Karr/ Do you want that on the joint meeting or where, I'm sorry, what is that under? Is that under budget priorities? Bailey/ I think it was a joint meeting. O'Donnell/ Joint meeting. Karr/ Joint meeting? Coralville curfew. Correia/ North Liberty also has a curfew. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 70 Bailey/ Well, yeah, let's, I mean, there was a letter from Rod Sullivan talking about coordination of...of concerns with (several talking) that's a good idea. Wright/ And Amy said let's add North Liberty, and I'd go along with that. Bailey/ Yeah, well, or we could just talk about effectiveness of curfew that...cities that have it. Okay, budget priorities, nothing? Schedule of pending discussion items? Schedule of Pending Discussion Items: Bailey/ Any highlights, Dale, that you want to draw to our attention? Correia/ We were going to talk about the urban chickens at the next, at the September meeting. I thought we... Helling/ That's the plan. Correia/ Excellent! Bailey/ What's...now that was the plan to talk about it tonight...what are we waiting on? Helling/ The, um, joint staff received that, uh, I think last week when they met and they just didn't have time. They wanted to talk about it a little more (mumbled) and get their recommendation together. So... Bailey/ (several talking) Okay. Any upcoming community events? Community Events: Bailey/ I know that there's the ACT reception this Friday. Taste of Iowa City. Champion/ When is that Taste of Iowa City? Bailey/ 26th. In the afternoon. And then United Way Campaign kickoff, when is...(several talking) Correia/ Landlocked Film Festival. Bailey/ Yeah. And I think we've all received invitations to all of those. Helling/ I do have one question before you get into your meeting schedule, and you...you received a, uh, a summary memo on use of force from the Police department. Uh, we used to send you a...a more detailed event by event, uh, this is a summary...I...would like to just do the summary if that meets what you need in terms of information, uh, they can prepare the detailed report if that's what you'd like, like you used to get, uh, but when This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 71 I read this I thought I did a pretty good job of...of telling you, you know, in terms of the use of force that...that the reasons and the number of.. . O'Donnell/ I thought it was very good, Dale. Wright/ Yeah, I think this summary's fine. Bailey/ I think this is fine. I got used to (both talking) Helling/ ...every two months you should get one. Karr/ So you're no longer interested in getting the line-by-line, month breakdown? Bailey/ I liked looking at it, but this is fine. I got used to looking at it, but (several talking) Wright/ Nobody liked looking at it! Bailey/ Right, right, but you get used to seeing what you see. Wright/ You see that level of detail, yeah. Bailey/ I could get used to this memo! Anything else? Wilburn/ Um, back to the, uh, Council's going to request an opinion about, um, from Coralville and North Liberty about their curfew. If they have...if they have juvenile crime stats available, uh, if...if, that would be helpful as opposed to whether they feel it is working. So that we get an idea on (several talking) what's that? Bailey/ Apples-apples. Wilburn/ Yeah. Bailey/ I mean, yeah. That's a good idea. Karr/ I just wanted to clarify, if this is going on the joint meeting, that'll be...the middle to latter part of September. So this would be potentially after your discussion of the curfew here. Champion/ Oh! Bailey/ Yeah. Wright/ Oh, yeah! (several talking and laughing) Karr/ I mean, now it may not be. I'm just saying your interest earlier expressed was to move it quicker than that, but... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009. August 17, 2009 City Council Work Session Page 72 Champion/ Well, I think I'd still like to hear what... Bailey/ I think I would too. Karr/ So to leave it on, and bear in mind, but then you wont' have this information then, as you're discussing it potentially here. Bailey/ Well, and I assume that...um, staff will have the... Karr/ Right, we can get that, okay. Helling/ Yeah, we've got to get something from them before that (several talking) Bailey/ Yeah...narratives. Helling/ They may not have the...comparable stats, but these are a fraction of how it works. Bailey/ Um, discussion of meeting schedules? Shall we go home? (several talking) See you tomorrow at 7:00. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular work session meeting of August 17, 2009.