HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-06-18 Transcription Page 1
Council Present: Alter,Bergus,Dunn (zoom),Harmsen,Moe, Salih, Teague
Council Absent: None
Staff Present: From,Jones,Lehmann, Craig, Grace, Seydell Johnson,Kubly,Jordan,
Knoche,Havel, Sovers
Others Present: Monsivais USG Liaison
1. Call to Order
Teague: It is 6:00 PM on Ju-June 18,2024. And I'm going to call the City of Iowa City meeting to order.
Roll call,please. [Roll Call]Alright. Well,welcome everyone to your City Hall.And if you're
joining us virtually,welcome as well.We're going to jump right into this.
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2. Proclamation
2.a Parks and Recreation Month
Teague: We have proclamations. 2.a is going to be Parks and Recreation month,and this is going to be
read by Councilor Megan Alter.
Alter: What'a her name?(reads proclamation)
Teague: And to receive this is Julie Seydel Johnson. Great.
Seydel Johnson: Julie Seydel-Johnson,director of Parks and Recreation, So Mayor and Council,just
thank you for your support. As parks and recreation director,I think of how varied my job is
every day. And you just heard the list of all the different things that are happening. Summer is
such a busy season here,we support the big events that are happening. Job training.If you saw all
the young people that came through our Rec center training for the new jobs for this summer,it is
a fixe time for us.Um,and that with all the parks and the renovations and City Park pool and the
skate park coming up,it's just a really exciting time to be here and be a part of Parks and Rees. So
thank you very much.
Teague: Thank you.
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2.b Waste and Recycling Workers Week
Teague: 2.b is Waste and Recycling Workers Week,and this will be read by Councilor Moe.
Moe: (reads proclamation)Receiving the award,uh,on behalf of the city is Jen Jordan.
Teague: Welcome.
Jordan: Good evening. Thank you. Julie said it really well. And they probably seem like they have a lot
more fixe in parks,but we have a lot of fun in refuse and solid waste management too. So our
division's,uh,resource management does represent 35 public employees, and there are probably
about that many more in the private sector in Johnson County. We pickup all the trash recycling
organics from across the county and deal with most of that material at the Iowa City Landfill. So,
as some of you know,we're always happy to give tours.If you're interested,reach out. Thank
you.
Teague: Thank you And I'm not exactly sure if the mic is on here.Uh,your staff can check that,please.
Okay.Alright. Great.
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2.c Juneteenth National Freedom Day
Teague: We're going to move on to Proclamation 2.c This is Juneteenth National Freedom Day. (reads
proclamation)And we have quite a few people here to receive this, so we thank everybody for
coming. I'm going to ask that Mayor Pro Tem just read off the individuals that are-come to
receive this,and then I'll call up the individuals that will speak and the order that they'll speak
Salih: Okay.First,I would like to mention all the organization that have represented people here on the
room. So African Community Network,Black Voices Project,NAACP,Immigrant Welcome
Network of Johnson County,Iowa City Human Rights Commission,Black Professional of Iowa,
TRC,and MDC,the multicultural. So we have the people here. They're going to accept do I need
to call them or?
Teague: Yeah. So the individuals that are going to be speaking um, in- in this order will be-.
Salih: Of course,Mama Teague The first one.
Mary Teague: You call me first.
Salih: Yeah. I just
Teague: Yes.
Mary Teague: Okay.
Teague: And actually,it'll be followed by we'll just go ahead and name them in the order.
Salih: Yeah. It will be followed by Anne Kitche,Norsade,Roger Lusala and Mr. Townsend.
Teague: Yeah. And I'll just lay these all there for when you come up. So let's give them all a round of
applause.
Mama Teague: Okay,I'm going to try to be quick. So,uh,Number 1,uh,I was bom and we were born in
Mississippi.And uh,this all taking place in 1954,and'S5.I have here a deed and stuff. You
know,may da-my father had a deed,where we had-I look at it every year at one time. And this
is the deed we had to our house.We had house. We had-just got a new house with a bathroom
made in,but we hadn't got the bathroom. You know,we were moving on up,right? So -so-uh,
but make a long story short,my dad was a minister. And he was -he and three more mens was
trying to get the people to vote.You know what I'm saying? So they would go to a hiding place,
you know,talking. So they kill-they killed Revend Lee. And then they-the other guy,he was -
they-they shot him,but he didn't die. They pretend he was dead and took him to Memphis. So
my dad was left,right?My dad had 11 girls and no boy. So prior to this time, so one of the Klu
Klux Klans men came to my house in the day. He said,Reverend,don't go to your church tonight.
He said they're going to kill you. And he said,I don't know what I'm saying. He said,because if
they find me here,they're going to kill me. He said,but I don't know why I'm doing. You all
know there were nothing but God.But anyway,my-and so,uh,the man -we had one store. Paul
McDonald was the storekeeper.And he lived-his farm was right next to our.We real good
friend.My daddy you know how you take up stuff all the year at the store and you pay when you
get your crop done,right? So my daddy didn't have a lot of money. So the man said,please,they
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going to kill you,because they already had killed Reverand Lee. So my dad said, "I can't leave
my family. We just got our new house. You know,I can't do that."And so my mom, she said,
"James. They don't want us.You got to go." They already in kill Reverland Lee,you know. So
my mama said,uh,it was there so he-uh it was at home was five. So Irene,Maxine and me. And
then the two youngest,Paul had enough money to send my dad and the two youngest,you know,
get-hide him out at night and took him to,you know,get away. And everybody said,put
Reverands house,you just go. So my mama said,I do it.Mama-you know,women didn't take
care of business and men so.We had faun,we had cow,we had everything. So we had tractor of
my dad used to hire people,and the man said,they're not going to let you live.He said, "You're
too smart of a nigger. You know,you can't do it." So- so mama said, "James,just go." They took
dad. So that night,when the night came,the-like he said,they came up to-you know,when you
got a lot of cattles and stuff,they come up to the thing at night.Ain't right?You know,they'd-
they'd be scattered all night,but they come up to the,you know. So they came and they turned
their lights all long night The bright lights,you couldn't see.And so,mama-mama told her. She
said- she said, "You-all get on your knee."It was me,Maxine and Irene. She said, "Get on your
knees and pray."My mama got a gun-shotgun,and the people had the light,and you know it was
God,because my mama had never did no stuff like that.But she walked to the porch. And this
one white man came up,they had the truck,you know,with the little thing said,we-we go-you
know,I give you this for a cow.Mama said,I ain't say that I was set nothing,you know.But
anyway,make a long story so short. So mama said,you pray. So me I re-mentioned,we were
down on our knees. And we-yeah.I can't. Oh,God.I ain't want to cry. Just-we was on our
knees. And we said,please,don't let her kill our mom. And then mama said,I wont. She would
walk through the porch. She walked through the porch and she said,I knew it,but God. She said,
"Anybody walk up this way,I going to kill you."You know, she just said. She said,"I don't even
know why I said it."But anyway,do you all know the man who was in charge?He said-he
raised his hand up. He said,"We were just saying,"Please Jesus,don't let kill our mama. God,
come help us Jesus. Don't let him kill our mama."And that man told the college,"Holdit-Holdit
everybody,get back in your car- get back in your car."He said, "This nigga is crazy.Let's go-
let's go." They all left you-all. They didn't do nothing else.We haven't seen them no more,no
more since.You know what I'm saying?No more since they didn't bother us anymore.We gave
our stuff away. So my daddy got to Chicago,you know,we was all in the newspaper. Ain't-
NAACP helping us. They were Bread Basket at that time. So we had our house,701 acre paid for
and everything. And so they had paid the taxes. So they said that we didn't pay the tax. We had
the receipt because we were like paid out like a bonus.We didn't had no checks then.We didn't.
So we had the receipt. Send the Bread Basket down there. They're going to pay.But we make a
long story short,my daddy said, "We didn't work nobody down."He said,"We can get another
house.We can get other land. I don't want nobody else going out there getting killed. "And he
said-he said, "This-this I will lend this house." They told us where they were moving it to.We
still,right now we can go to it,everybody because they know they [inaudible].But anyway,look,
uh.Man,I ain't want to cry.But anyway,I want-I want to tell you this.And my daddy to sit
down when we got to Chicago,everybody was all on TV and everywhere. And then they said,the
man ran down,you know,Mississippi with the little kids and his blah,blah,blah.But brother
look,they came to meet they had so many people.We had no place to stay. So this one minister,
he stood up.He said, "You got a place to stay. I got it."In his right two or three doors from where
Obama stayed at. I wanted the best neighborhood in Chicago.He gave us this apartment.We
didn't had to pay nothing.For-you know what I'm saying?For the - for long,he had a big night.
It was so nice,you know,because we were used to carpet and all that stuff. It was so nice. And so
I said,but listen to me. One thing my daddy went because he sit down and talk around the table. I
want all to know that.He said, "Out of all of this-out of all of this,I don't want you to hate white
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people."He said,"Because that is not of God."He said, "God love us all."He said, "I don't want
you all to grow up. This is a hard thing."He said,"But you'll get back You're living,you can
make,and I want to tell you all,I-we never suffer anymore. We always had. We used to sneak
with white kids. You know,they used to sneak and play with us. We always had white friends
and no different no fami-.You know,we didn't have no division.We love white people. And the
little kids used to-at the store,we used to hide. They hide from their mama to play with us.But I
want to tell you this,we have love today. And that we-we came out 100%.We got everything
more-way more than,you know,what we ever had. So I want to let you know this,that we-put
this song in my heart. It says that,(singing) "Though trials come on every hand.But let me tell
you this. I feel like go.I'm going on."I want you to know. I don't care what come your way,we
have to love like Jesus said. And this is what I had today. He did this,but don't have no. I'm so
happy today.I have a home all of ya got,most of you got,your home, and I tell you,and look
what God done. For my been to sell him- sell him on a bridge. I've been look at got my son, little
black-little black.Do you see that little black boy?Do you all see that?
Salih: Yes.
Mama Teague: So,show me what God can't do.All of this. And my son in a white town is the man. I tell
you. I feel-I feel like going on.
Teague: Leave it to my mother.
Salih: Yeah.
Teague: I was-I was supposed to tell her to talk to the council,but you can't do that to your mother.
Salih: Yeah. You cannot say that to your mother, so. Okay. Anne. Anne Kitche.Please.
Kitche: Yes.I don't think-
Teague: Welcome.
Kitche: I don't think I can top that. Yes. So,I'm just going to say a few words.My name is Anne Kitche,
I'm from African Community Network The purpose of our organization is to bring people
together,bring the Africans together,and make a difference in the environment in which we live.
I hope we can all work together to bring unity in our community. Thank you.
Teague: Great. And please take our proclamation.
Salih:Noor Saad.
Norsade: Hello.
Teague: Welcome.
Saad:My name is Noor Saad.I'm a team member in the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson
County. Our work is basically equality. We try to build equality for our people for new
immigrants who come in. So which is,again,Juneteenth happened and equality. This day is
important as it marks the end of slavery and celebrates freedom inequality for all our Black
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people and everybody in general. Juneteenth reminds us of the struggles and the victories of all
the Black community,the African-American community.It's a day to honor the past and look
forward to our future.Um,I'm grateful to accept this proclamation for my team and the
Immigrant Welcome Network.And let's use the day to learn and celebrate and continue working
towards justice and eq- equality for all. Thank you so much.
Teague: Thank you.
Salih: All right,Commissioner Roger Lusala.
Lusala:My name is Roger Lusala.I'm representing the Human Rights Commission. And,uh,thinking
about Juneteenth,if you were downtown Friday night,and you saw how we all just celebrated,
uh,what we call Freedom Day.
Teague: Yes.
Lusala: So the-the amount of people that came out to last year and the year before,and we hope we can
just keep moving forward. Um,you know,on Saturday,we celebrated pride.You know,Friday at
meeting number was 21,000 people. So,oh,that's the goal for Juneteenth.
Teague: Yes.
Lusala: So we're gonna keep pushing that forward so we can all get together and celebrate Freedom Day.
So thank you for recognizing Juneteenth,uh,and thank you for all you guys do,uh,to make this
city a better place for not only us,not only the immigrant that were coming to live in this town,
but for mostly our kids. So thank you.
Salih: Well-
Teague: Thank you. Will you take one for Mama Teague as well?
Lusala: I will.
Salih: We have now Orville Townsend,please.
Townsend: Good evening.
Teague: Good evening.
Townsend:Uh,Juneteenth is-it is unique. Ask ourselves,how can you be free after being enslaved for so
long?How can you be free and go for such a period of time and not be aware of it?But I think
that goes tell us,just tells us perhaps,but the human spirit. It tells us that we can be oppressed,
but we have that spirit that keeps us going.We don't think about Juneteenth. We don't think about
freedom. We think about day to day. Today has its challenges. Can I survive it so that I can begin
working on tomorrow?I look around me,I came to Iowa City in 1962 on a football scholarship. I
remember that I like the fall because the breeze and it's not hot. I used to like to walk. I could
walk around this city and almost cover the whole city,and I haven't seen too many people that
look like me. And when I did see somebody that-that didn't look like me,a lot of time,there was
a lot of hostility. That was a safety factor but,you know,the Lord works in mysterious ways and I
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think about the way it was in 1962. And then I look-I think about where we are today. And the
Lord does work in mysterious ways.We have come a long ways and I think having Juneteenth to
celebrate for African-Americans that the city chose to do that shows us that it's not like it used to
be. And that's because of people like you,you,you people like us. I'm glad to be in Iowa City,
and I thank you very much for acknowledging Juneteenth and giving it the value that you've
given it.
Teague: Thank you. And take the proclamation there,please.Yes. Thanks to all the speakers that came
out.And I just want you all just to stand that came out for this proclamation so that we can
acknowledge each one of you.And thank you so much. Thank you all.And you can feel free to
exit at any point,but you're welcome to stay as well.
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8. Community Comment
Teague: We are onto our- onto items that are not on our regular agenda,which is item number 8. This is a
time for community comment. The council welcomes anyone to come up that-and- and speak to
the council.Just know that we cannot respond because we haven't noticed any item that you're
talking about. So we welcome you at this time,and we'll give each individual up to three minutes.
And we'll ask that you state your name and city you're from and there is a sign and sheet here.
Welcome.
Ross: Hey,just trying to get unemotional from your mom and those people speaking about things I'm
telling you.Me and your mom and mine would have had a good conversation. I grew up in
Boston working class.And my uncle,Frank,the tank,we called him. He was the arm wrestling
champion in the city. He was arguing about people he couldn't get along with. He was arguing
about Black people that my parents-my father was in the union,and so was Frank And one day,
when I was nine years old,the apartment was full of smoke,and everybody was arguing,that's
what we were. You could probably gather that just from knowing me and my father said,Listen,
listen.He said,Frank,look,there are two kinds of people,right? Those with common interests,
and then the assholes. He said,not all colords or assholes.And that was his way of saying, look,
that's not going to get us anywhere. I was nine years old. I heard it. I don't understand it,but I
heard it. Anyway,I think of Dr.King on this day who said that the other two sides of the coin
capitalism and racism. And he said that the wellspring of capitalism was imperialism. And Dr.
King said that the United States was the most violent country in the world. And he was speaking
at a time when we were in Vietnam. And Dr. King was a peace activist,as well as a civil rights
activist. He was a brilliant man.And well,we know what happened to him.He was speaking
against the US military-industrial complex.And today,Dr.King,I'm sure,would have an
opinion,because when we look around today,we see violent men in our state department,who
are arming Syrian Rebels against the government,who are arming an apartheid state of Israel
against Palestinians,people of color.Who were arming Kyiv against the Eastern Ukrainians and
Russians and arming Taiwan against the Mainland,though most of the world considers Taiwan
part of China?And I think it's a terrible state of affairs that we are on the brink of World War III
at this moment,because the US State Department tells NATO countries to give weapons to Kyiv,
and now Kyiv can now send weapons into Moscow and to other parts of Russia.We think of
Russians here in the United States or the State Department does,just like they're just not human
beings. And that's the same with Palestinians and people in Africa who are starving to death
because of global warming.And we need to think differently,and we need to contact our leaders
and tell them we need to think differently. I thank this Council,and I thank the people who spoke
before me,and peace to you.
Teague: Thank you. Thank you. All right.Welcome. Yes.Welcome. Yeah.Please state your name and
city you're from.
Ali:Hello. Can you hear me?
Teague: Yes.
Ali: Okay.My name is Asma Ali. I am from Sudan originally. I immigrated to the United States in 2001
with my family,the small family,my son,my husband. In 2001,we arrived actually in North
Carolina,Greensboro,and from there we moved to California, San Jose from California to
Waterloo. And in Waterloo,we stayed about three years for my husband at that time to finish his
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residency at Covenant Hospital. And we've been there in that city. We think we are the only black
family in the city but after residency,we moved to Olewein. If you heard about or you hear about
Olewein. Olewein truly we were the only black family in the entire city.But the beauty of Iowa
when they meet us at Fareway or somewhere-somewhere,they will recognize us. They will think
that,oh,this is Dr.Dallas family and son. Today,I'm so happy to be in Iowa City.We came here
since 2006,actually. When I started my first master's degree at the University of Iowa. That was
in 2010,and we moved on. So,I'm here today to thank everyone in the City of Iowa City for
every services that they are doing to us as immigrants and for to you too to apologize of
everything that's you started it,and we did not participate with you. We did not come.We did not
do anything.We just staying home,doing our own things. From that moment,I just remember I
have to get out and to do something.Last election,I participated in the pre-election, and then the-
the second election,primary election,and then I am waiting for the upcoming election. That will
be the primary,true?
Teague: Yes.
Ali:Yes. During this time,I worked as Arabic language teacher,actually,I teach Arabic for about a
decade at George Washington High School since 2000 or from 2011-2020. During the pandemic,
I moved here to Iowa City, from Cedar Rapids. And from that time until now,I worked as
substitute teacher at the school district.Now I find this is chance for me to ask all of you to have a
second language to communicate or to use.Uh,oh my God.
Teague: Thank you. Yes,thank you.
Ali:I think you got my point.
Teague: Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else like to speak during this time on any agenda item the-on
any item that is not on our agenda,please welcome.
Metzler: Hello,everybody.
Teague: Hello,please state your name and city you're from.
Metzler: Dave Metzler.Dave Metzler,Iowa City.I'm with Big Ten Taxi cab company. Put my name in
here,right?
Teague: Yes,please.
Metzler: Okay.Just-it's a little thing,but kind of a big thing. It's about taxicab paint color. So,you know,
10 years ago or something,there were seven cab companies in town,and it was the main sort of
transportation. And each cab company was asked to have a dedicated color,coarse yellow,cabs
yellow,um,or the blue color.Marcos Cab was green and gold,Pink's cab was obviously pink.
Iowa City cab was yellow,or,you know,anyhow.Now we come to a time where there's all Uber
and Lyft cars all over the place. There's 200 vehicles that could be green,white,purple,whatever
color you pick,different styles of,uh,vehicles. Um,every year,we have to reinspect with the city
of Iowa City,get the proper permits,do the inspections,pay the insurance that went up huge. I
don't think the Uber and Lyft cars have to do that anymore. So now I wanna get a-a updated
vehicle,a new van,but it costs like$2,000 to paint a vehicle,and there's only one company left,
and that's us. There's two of us.Um,Yellow Cab now basically does hospital runs. So I just
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would like to have you folks consider,you know,not having to paint the vehicle. Two thousand
bucks can go a long way with other things.Um,it's just a,ah,you know,when people get inside
your vehicle,wanna ride somewhere,what difference does the color of the outside of the van
make anyway?But,uh,and once again,Uber and Lyft,they have their cars all over the place,
jeeps,trucks, four-door sedans,and all different colors. And they don't have to do anything with
the City of Iowa City as far as being,uh, considered to be of that sort of thing. So anyway,could
you please take that little portion out of the amendments for cab companies that it doesn't have to
be the dedicated color for your company. Would appreciate that. And,uh,wait for your answer.
Teague: Okay. Thankyou.
Metzler: Thanks for your time.
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9. Regular Formal Agenda
9.a Vacating Easement on Barker's Second Subdivision -Resolution to vacate a sewer
easement in Barker's Second Subdivision.
Teague: Yes. Anyone else like to address any item that is not on our agenda? Seeing and hearing no one
in-person or online,we're gonna move on to our regular formal Agenda 9a,is gonna be vacate an
easement on Barker's second subdivision.And this is a resolution to vacate a sewer easement and
Barker's second subdivision. I'm gonna open the public hearing. And welcome our City Manager,
Geoff Froin.
1. Public Hearing
Fruin: Okay.Mayor and Council,um,this,uh,sewer easement dates back to 1965 in which it was
originally recorded. Um,however, since about 2000,the city has considered this easement to be
abandoned,uh,meaning we no longer utilize this sewer easement and foresee no future need for
this easement. It currently stands in the way of some,uh,private redevelopment,uh,uh-uh,in
this,uh,part of town,and,uh, in order to facilitate that redevelopment,we are recommending
vacation of the easement.
Teague: Okay.Any questions for Geoff?
Moe: Is there anything that was actually ever installed in the easement area?
Fruin:I'd ask Ron to verify that.
Knoche: So this was original align-alignment for a sewer.Um,and with uh, some upgrades and some
trunk sewers,thi-this area was abandoned, so no longer needed.
Teague: Great. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? Seeing no one in-person or online,I'm
gonna close the Public Hearing.
2. Consider a Resolution
Teague: Can I get a motion to approve,please?
Salih:Move.
Alter: Second.
Salih:Move by Salih, seconded by Alter. Council discussion.Roll call,please. [Roll Call]Motion passes
7 -0.
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9.b Approval of the FY25 Annual Action Plan -Resolution adopting Iowa City's FY25
Annual Action Plan which is a subpart of Iowa City's 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan (City
Steps 2025)
Teague: 9.b is approval of fiscal year 2025 annual action plan.Resolution adopting Iowa City's fiscal'25
annual action plan which is a sub part of Iowa City's 2021 through 2025 consolidated plan. Could
I get a motion to approve,please?
Moe: So moved.
Bergus: Second.
Teague:Moved by Moe, seconded by Bergus. And welcome,Er-Erika.
Kubly: Hello,Erika Kubly with Neighborhood Services. So our annual action plan outlines how we're
going to spend our federal CDBG and HOME funds for the 2025 fiscal year. The action plan is a
sub part of our five-year consolidated plan called City Steps 2025. We are in the fifth year of our
five-year plan. Iowa City is an entitlement community,which means that we receive CDBG and
HOME funds annually. Here are our allocations for FY25,um,highlighted in the yellow. Our
overall federal budget for HOME was cut this year,which resulted in a decrease of about 25%for
Iowa City. Um, so with both programs,we have about a$150,000 less to work with,um,next
year compared to this year.And this table shows our historic funding over the past 30 years. Um,
this is unadjusted real dollars. Um,we are not at our lowest funding level,but we are getting less
than we received 30 years ago in 1994.
Teague: Wow.
Kubly: Um,I also wanna point out the yellow line which is our admin funds,which is a percentage of
each grant that we can use for staff costs and overhead. Uh,that is just decreasing overtime. Uh,
and then this is the same information just adjusted for inflation.Do you see the,um, comparison
of 1994 dollars and 2024 dollars. And so this is Appendix B of the action plan. Um, it shows our
funding allocations for next year. This includes,um,our new allocation, as well as program
income,such as loan payments receive and any unused funds from prior years. So just to run
through our projects,um,the public service funds,um,go to DVIP, and neighborhood centers.
The awards came through the aid agencies process,but are funded with CDBG funds.
Neighborhood Centers was also funded,um,to improve their Pheasant Ridge Facility.
Neighborhood improvement funds are a set aside. Uh,they'll go to a low income area of the
community.Um,we don't have a project finalized,but in the past,we've done curb ramps to
improve accessibility and park improvements,and we will partner with our parks and engineering
departments to complete this project. Um,our ongoing owner occupied housing rehab program
receives an annual set aside for both CDBG and HOME funds each year,so you see that.And
then this next section,the other housing activities is our competitive allocations.We have
300,000 for tenant-based rent assistance or TBRA,which will be administered internally by the
Housing Authority.We know there's a high need for rent assistance in our community. The
waitlist at the housing authority is so long that HUD advised us to close it as we work through the
current applications. Um,we don't control how many vouchers we get from HUD,so this is an
effort to more quickly assist those on the waitlist. TB-TBRA is a complex program to administer
under HOME.It has regulatory elements of the HOME program,as well as some similarities to
the housing choice voucher program,um,and the tenants would pay 30%of their income towards
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rent,and then TBRA would subsidize the rest of it.Um,because it's HOME fimding,um,through
the city, TBRA can only be used in Iowa City rather than the full housing authority jurisdiction.
And the preference,um, for this project will be elderly and disabled households on the current
housing choice voucher waitlist. So,um,likely under 30%of the area mean income. The next
recommendation is rental rehab at Cross Park Place with Shelter House.Um,this is a project that
HCDC recommended,but staff is not recommending funding.Um,the project scored high on our
staff risk analysis because of the number of large projects with federal fimding currently under
way through Shelter House. We have specific timeliness deadlines through HUD,and when we
have large amounts of fimds tied up,um,we-it puts us at risk of not meeting our timeliness,um,
checkpoints,which can put us out of compliance with HUD.We also have concerns with-with
the overall eligibility of the project as proposed. Um,we've run scenarios with both CDBG and
HOME fimding to see if one set of rules would work better with the project,um,but there are
eligibility issues with both. Some of the concerns are related to the eligible costs. For example,a
large portion of the request is for replacement of carpeting. And we got some additional guidance
and determined that,that is not an eligible expense for rental rehab,because it's considered a
maintenance cost rather than a rehab cost. Um,common area expenses,as opposed to work in
individual units are also ineligible, and then lastly,the project would have to meet our
underwriting standards as submitted,and it does not. Um,what we recommend is that shelter
House apply again in our next funding round and work with staff to figure out the best way for
the funding to work with their needs. We also recommended that 85,000 that is allocated to
Shelter House by HCDC go to the next,um,highest scoring applicant,which was the Housing
Fellowship. They are proposing re-um,to purchase two homes for larger-sized households and
requested$420,000 total.And then,um,we also-have working down the list,we also have set
asides for our Economic Development Program,where we provide,um,technical assistance for
small businesses, and then,um,the administrative costs for both programs. So we are just ending
our 30-day public comment period today at this meeting. HCDC,uh,made their recommendation
at their June 13 meeting to approve the action plan,um, and then it's due to HUD on July 6th.
You'll note that our fiscal year begins on the first, so our projects will be a little bit delayed as
HUD approves the plan,but once that is approved,we can begin our projects. And then I just
wanted to mention a couple other CDBG and HOME Program updates. So we-as I mentioned,
this is the fifth year action plans,which means we're starting our next five-year consolidated plan
city steps 2030.We are also updating our 2019 fair housing study. Um,both of those will require
public input. Um,those are planned to take place the week of July 30th,31st, and August 1st.
Um,we'll send out flyers when that's scheduled.Um,we're also dealing with a lot of HUD
regulatory changes. HOTMA is Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act that deals
with how we verify incomes of all of our applicants.Um,inspire deals with the inspections. Um,
the entire HOME Program has a new final rule,which is 238 pages of new regulations for us to
go through.Environmental reviews,um,are changing a little bit. They've added radon
requirements. So now in our owner occupied rehab program,we have to test and mitigate for
radon. Um,Davis-Bacon and Section 3 deal with labor standards and Build America Buy
America deals with sourcing materials for construction projects locally within the US. So a lot of
staff time is being,um,spent right now on leaming the new regulations,interpreting them,um,
putting them into our policies,and then helping our subrecipients learn them as well. And then,
um,a little more positive,it's the 50th anniversary of CDBG this year in 2024. We've prepared a
letter to send out to our congressional representatives about,um,wha-what the money means for
Iowa City,how we could use more money and that type of thing, so that will go out in August.
That's all I have. Thank you.
Teague: Great. Thank you. Any questions for Erika?
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Bergus:Erika,you mentioned um,that one Shelter House project that HCDC recommended approval of,
but staff did not,and you explained why. And I think you said,um,it-that ultimately we could be
out of compliance with HUD guidelines-HUD regulations.What happens if we're out of
compliance?
Kubly: Um,if we miss the timeliness tests on the first-the first year,um,it's just-its like a written report
that we provide,um,but as-as you go longer,it changes a little bit. So it's like more reporting
you have to do to HUD.It puts us at risk for more monitoring visits from HUD,and then
ultimately,you could get your fimding sanctioned if it's a long period of time.
Alter: Okay.And you said part of this,just piggybacking off of-excuse me.Um,you said there are
already several or a few proje-higher dollar federal projects that,that Shelter House was having
funded. Do you have the-the number of projects?
Kubly: Um,they just-they just are closing out an FY22 HVAC project at the emergency shelter. So that
was like$225,000. They're-they're finishing that one out.We've also,um,allocated about
$600,000 for other improvements at the emergency shelter through state CDBG-CV finds,
which the City,um,is administering. Um,those are the big construction ones. They have some
supportive service projects going on as well through ARPA and HOME-ARP.
Alter: Okay.And then if it's okay,I just have one more question. Um,and I think you explained this well.
I just wanna make sure that I understand. With the dollars that are going to the tenant-based rental
assistance,through the housing authority,there's no crossed wires,um,because of that program
currently. These-these-as you explained it,these are for the folks who are on the waitlist right
now,even though there are no vouchers,the-the program has been shut to kinda try to help
people catch up-who-the program catch up,is that correct?
Kubly:Right.
Alter: There's no conflict,essentially?
Kubly:No,um,the-the regulations for that program are really similar to the voucher program.It doesn't
have all the benefits of the voucher program,but our intention is to pull people off the waitlist,
uh, fund them with TBRA,and then eventually they get a voucher. So it kind of just provides that
assistance.
Alter: Okay. Okay. So they're not-okay. Thank you.
Teague: So as a point of clarification,are you wanting us to uh, consider uh,moving the Shelter House
dollars over to Housing Fellowship?
Kubly: Correct.Yeah.
Teague: And then we would do that. Um,I didn't actually look at the- at the-
Salih: Let's accept the-
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Teague: As the uh,Appendix B to C if it's actually,um,still with a 85K for Shelter House,but we would
have to do an amendment,Is that?
Salih: I-I think so you mean if we accept the-a staff recommendation,that's it. They would deal with it,
right? The vote here just to accept the-if we wanna move this,that means we accept the staff
recommendation?
Fruin:No. The recommendation is framed with the HCDC,um,recommendation. So a yes vote as stands
right now,would support exactly what you see on the screen,which includes the 85,000 for the
rental rehab for Shelter House.If you're inclined to move,uh,that,um,back to the staff
recommendation would be to shift those funds downward to the rental acquisition line for the
housing fellowship. You would need to amend,um-um,to basically articulate that and-uh-
articulate that change with Appendix B. So,you would move to shift the 85,000 to where-where
you'd ever like to see that go.
Salih: Can you also talk about the 19,000 here for the HOME award?What's the difference between the
HCDC operation?Like,is this for the-it's not for the Shelter House,though,right?
Fruin: CHDO?
Salih: The 19-
Alter: Oh,that's where there's like,only two specific agencies.
Fruin:Yeah.
Kubly:Right,that are for CHDO?Right. The CHDO operating will go to housing fellowship. They are
active CHDO.
Salih: Okay.
Kubly: It's a Community Housing Development Organization. They have specific setup that allows-
makes them eligible for those funds,and then they have to do projects along with it. So they have
their acquisition project,and then they'll get 19,000 in operational funds,too.
Salih: An operational fund.And you-you mentioned something like this is for,like, certain things,but
maybe the Shelter House was talking-I didn't get that. They was proposing some kind of,like,
kind of thinking or something like- can you just, like,talk more about that?
Kubly:Right. So the-the proposal is,um,a rental rehab project for Cross Park Place. Um, some of the
costs are unel- ineligible in both funding sources. Um, for example,under HOME,the common
areas are not eligible. You can only do rental rehab in the units. Um, so some of the things they
wanted to do are like the front desk area,and then also the-under CDBG,the carpet replacement
that they wanna do would be considered maintenance,and it's not an eligible cost under rental
rehab.
Salih: Sure.
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Teague: Have you communicated the concerns to Shelter House?And,um,was there kind of a response
that you could share with us?
Kubly:We haven't-we haven't gone in depth about the- some of the eligibility. Some of the things early
on were-were communicated to them,like the pro forma,um. But the eligibility costs were kind
of recent guidance that we got.
Salih: And also,I believe,like the staff have experience.And sometimes commissioner don't, like,
necessarily know the details. Like,have you highlight this to the commissioner that, oh,their
application have only this starting part is not reliable at all. So because this is really the
organization might not also understand the Commissioner,but the staff do.Have you done that?
Have you communicate?
Kubly: Yeah,we do a staff report for all the applications for the Commission.Not all the information was
available at the time we did our allocation in March,um but we do staff reports for all of them
um,ah,in hindsight,we probably would have removed this application from eligibility and not
given it to the Commission,had we known all the-all the information that we have now.
Salih: I see.
Teague: And just to clarify,I think what you're getting at is a little bit of the timing because July-we have
to approve this before July 1.
Salih: mmh.
Teague: Is that correct?
Kubly: It's due July 6.
Teague: July 6.
Salih: Yeah.
Teague: And we won't meet again until July 19 or 16th?
Salih: Yes.
Teague: Yes So. All right.Any other questions?We'll have time for discussion,but yeah. Any other
questions?All right,great. Uh we're going to move on to counsel,anyone from the public like to
address this topic.If you're online,please raise your hand. See no one in person or online counsel
discussion.
Moe: Seems as if the commission had had the information,they-they would have acted differently,and
there's a timeliness constraint here. So I think the order of operations that I'm comfortable with is,
let's make an amendment and move forward.
Alter: As am I.
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Salih: I agree too because, like,complying is really important. So we want to keep receiving those kind of
funds to the city so yea. I agree. We can amendment.
Teague: Did I hear a motion for amendment?
Moe: I would move that we amend what we're looking at here moving the$85,327 from rental rehab at
shelter House to.
Salih: I would second that.
Teague: To the Housing Trust Housing trust fund.Yeah. I mean,the house fellowship.
[OVERLAPPING]
Salih: Housing fellowship
Teague: Housing fellowship?Yes.
Alter: Okay.I'm sorry.Housing fellowship or Housing Authority.No.
Salih:No. Housing -and when you was talking about the voucher,you confused me,and I said Yes.
Alter: I apologize.
Teague: So move by Moe.
Salih: Second.
Teague: Second by Salih.
Teague: Yeah. All right. Continue discussion by Council.
Salih: I think this is really good opportunity. I understand that like also,rental rehab is really important.
Unfortunately,at this time,it is some non comply on it.But also like moving this to the housing
fellowship and get,like permanent affordability ol� like,housing,that's kind of thing that we want
to do.Yes,we can help people pay rent and for a certain time.But when we have stable housing
forever,that is the goal of the city.Yeah,I will be voting yes for this.
Teague: Any other discussion?Roll call,please? [Roll Call] Oh wait a minute. Hilarious. All right. It was
Dunn,that said,yes, and not me. All right.Motion passes 7-0. So that was for the amendment.
Salih: Okay.
Teague: So now we're going to take roll call for the entire with the Amendment.
Salih: Oh,yeah. Sometime confused you.
Teague: Correct?Yes.Roll call,please. [Roll Call]Motion passes 7-0,and Teague did not respond for
Dunn.I don't know why I did that. All right.
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Dunn:Much appreciate,Man.
Teague:Motion passes 7-0.All right.
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9.c FY25 Aid to Agencies—Resolution allocating human services Aid to Agencies
funding for Fiscal Year 2025,July 1,2024—June 30,2025,
Teague: We are on to 9.c fiscal year 25 A to Agencies.Resolution allocating Human Services,A to
agencies funding for fiscal year 2025,July 1,2024 through June 30,2025.And we do have
Mayor Pro Tem recuising herself and can I get a motion to approve,please?
Alter: So moved,Alter.
Bergus: Second.
Teague: Second.Burges. All right.And welcome again.
Kubly: Hello. So this is for eight agency funding. It's ongoing operational funding for local nonprofit
agencies.We have two different finding groups. Our legacy agency is the bulk of the finding.
You're seeing our allocations here.It's Year 5 of a two year funding cycle,so we didn't go
through our whole application process this year. This is based on the Council approved budget for
FY25,and we pro rated all of the FY24 awards for FY25.Everyone got a slight increase of this
group. That's all I have for that one. I did want to talk a little bit about our aid to agency
subcommittee through HCDC. Um members were appointed by the Commission in January 2023
and met throughout the rest of 2023. They worked closely with representation from the Agencies
Impact,which is a group of agency representatives um,that receive finding from the city. Um
they really focused their work on the application process and then presented their
recommendations at our April meeting through HCDC.Um so right now our next steps,we're
working with the United Way group it's City of Iowa City,City of Coralville,Johnson County,
and United Way,and potentially North Liberty um,to work those recommendations into the joint
funding application where we take our legacy applications and so we're hoping that we'll be ready
for the application that opens September 1st,which would be FY26 awards. So just a little update
on that,you may hear more about it.And then this is our Emerging Aid to Agency allocation that
we're recommended by HCDC.We had-we had nine applications,applications from nine
agencies requesting$124,500. HDDC allocated$37,000 to six agencies as you see here,the
funding for this one is $5,000 to$15,000. Um discussion from the commission surrounded what
services to prioritize,whether the agencies are brand new or have been established,past finding
to these agencies and other finding revenues that the agencies received.
Teague: Okay.Any questions?All right. Thank you. Anyone from the public like to address this topic?
Yes,please come up,state your name and the city you're from. You don't have to sign in again
and you have up to three minutes.
Ali: Okay.My name is Asma Ali.My question is,how do I apply for getting a find for opening an
Arabic Languague Institute in-in Iowa City?Because I applied last time and I-I-I got nothing.Is
there a certain way that I can follow to get the find or early as I can or by time I need more
details about this please.
Teague: Yeah. And what we'll do is connect staff with you?Mm hmm.
Ali:Ah.
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Teague: Yep-yep. Thank you.All right. Anyone else like to address this topic? Say no one in person or
online. Council discussion.
Moe: One item in our penstorry, it cross streams here,but our pending work session topics is review of
City Grant Program, specifically aid agency, and I'm curious the timing of how that aligns with
this discussion.I don't want to dive into that work session discussion now. Um.But
Teague: I-I guess the next funding,you know,we would-I think we're going to have that discussion prior
to the next funding round?
Alter:Right. We can't do it.
Moe: Yeah-yeah,I'm sorry. I'm not against this recommendation. I'm just sort of aligning timing of when
the appropriate time to have conversations about this because this has already been through the
appropriate process out of no belief that there's been anything wrong happening here.
Teague: Yes-yes. So we will have that discussion.
Moe: Yeah.
Teague: Yes,any other discussion by council?Roll call,please? [Roll Call] Motion passes six to zero.
And well, someone.
Alter: Is it possible just to make comment in terms of timing that Erika,is it?
Teague: We probably shouldn't.
Alter: Okay.Never mind,I was just going to say wasn't isn't?
Teague: We're done with that one.
Alter: We're done. We're totally done. Okay. I just wanted to ask the timing question when it got
Teague: Yes. So if someone could get Mayor Pro Tem,but yeah.
Alter: Okay.
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10. Council Appointments
10.a Historic Preservation Commission (College Green)- - One vacancy to fill a three-
year term,July 1,2024-June 30,2027. (Term expires for Noah Stork)
Teague: All right. We're on to item number 10,which is Council Appointments 10A is Historic
Preservation Comis-Commission College Street. One vacancy to fill a three year term. July 1,
2024 through June 30th,2027. There is one mail requirement for this one,and there are two
applicants.
Moe: College Street,I'd like to recommend Kevin Burford.
Dunn: I'd support that.
Bergus: Yep.
Salih: I'm in support.
Teague: Yep. So I hear majority for Kevin Burford. Could I get a motion for Kevin to be appointed to the
Historic Preservation Commission,College Street.
Moe: So moved,Moe.
Harmsen: Second,Harmsen.
Teague: Okay.All in favor,say Aye. (Voice Vote)Aye. Any opposed?Motion passes 7—0.
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10.b Historic Preservation Commission (E.College St) -One vacancy to fill an unexpired
term plus a three-year term,upon appointment-June 30,2027. (formerly advertised as
unexpired term - Cole Eckhardt Resigned).
Teague: 10.b Historic Preservation Commission East College Street. One vacancy to fill an unexpired
term plus a three year term upon appointment through June 30,2027 and there is only-there is a
male-there's a gender requirement,there is one male applicant and I can support him. I don't
know what people think?
Salih: Yeah.Ryan Russell.
Teague: All right. So,can I get a motion to approve Ryan Russell to the Historic Preservation East
College Street?
Salih: So move.
Bergus: Second.
Teague:Moved by Salih,second by Burgess. And all in favor say Aye. (Voice Vote) Aye.Any opposed
motion passes 7-0.
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13. City Council Information
Teague: and we are at item Number 13 City Council information.
Moe: The Paratransit Advisory Committee met-sorry,previous meeting to this one,um so it was 28 May.
They have the electric bus we got to look at it for seats. And DOT Tom Bras has retired,and Don
Alum is the new transportation fleet director.
Teague: Well,I want to say that this past weekend was power packed with a lot of stuff.
Bergus: Yes.
Teague: So we had Juneteenth celebration on Friday. We had Pride celebration on Sunday. And then there
was the-on Saturday and then I'm jumping over to Sunday with the dream city and the South
District had a wonderful event. Um, all day Sunday so that was great to see. There are still some
Juneteenth events happening,as was mentioned earlier, so invite you all to go to the website to
see that this upcoming weekend,it has been a hit in Iowa City,and that is the block party, so
encourage people to come out and enjoy that.
Alter: I just want to also say,I mean,it was tremendous and thank you to everyone who either
volunteered or staffed up during it. It took a lot of people to make it nun smoothly,and it was it
did much appreciated.
Bergus: Yeah.
Teague: Yes. Absolutely.
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14. Reports on Items from City Staff
Teague: All right. We're going to move on to item number 14.Reports on items from city staff. City
manager's office?
Fruin:Nothing tonight.
Teague: Thank you. All right,our City attorney's office?
Craig:Nothing to report.
Teague: Thank you. All right.And welcome again to the council meeting. And you came on a good night.
Yeah.Right. At our City clerk's office?
Grace:Nothing from me.
Teague: We used to have Ashley come to keep our nights closing earlier but.
Grace: Seemed to work Yeah.
Teague: Yeah-yeah-yeah.All right.
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