HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-20 Council minutes r
^� CITY OF IOWA CITY
M E M O RA N D U M
Date: August 27, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kellie Grace, City Clerk
Re: Council Work Session, August 20, 2024 —4:00 p.m. at City Hall in Emma J Harvat Hall
Council: Alter, Bergus (via Zoom), Dunn (via Zoom), Harmsen, Moe, Salih,
Teague (via Zoom)
Staff: Fruin, Dulek, Goers (via Zoom), Grace, Knoche, Havel, Sovers, Nagle Gamm,
Rummel, Hightshoe, Kilburg Varley
USG: Monsivais, Martinez
(A transcription is available in the City Clerk's Office and the City website.)
1. Clarification of Agenda Items
Councilor Alter requested Item 6.c, Traffic Control on Russell Drive, be pulled from the
consent calendar for separate consideration.
2. Information Packet Discussion [August 8, August 151
August 8
1. (IP1 — Council Tentative Meeting Schedule) Councilor Moe asked when the schedule
for the budget work session would be revisited. City Clerk Grace stated there would
be a memo in an early November information packet.
August 15
1. (IP5 — Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County: FY24 Year-End Report) Mayor Pro
Tern Salih noted the additional funding committed to Iowa City for Affordable
Housing in FY24 beyond the City allocation and announced the 201" Anniversary
celebration being held on August 281n
3. University of Iowa Student Government (USG) Updates.
Matthew Monsivais, USG Liaison and Ava Martinez, USG Alternate Liaison presented
updates.
4. Evaluate one-year progress of fare free transit
Transportation Director Nagle Gamm, presented a PowerPoint on the following:
• Performance Management
- Problem Statement
- Ridership Goal
- SMARTIE metrics
- Interventions/Solutions
• Fare Free Iowa City
- First year impacts
August 20, 2024
Page 2
- Funding
• Next Steps / Council Direction
Individual Council members asked questions and expressed their views. City Manager Fruin
provided additional information.
Action: Staff will continue forward under the assumption that the City Council intends to make
fare free transit service permanent. Final funding discussions will occur with the FY 26 budget.
5. Downtown parking discussion
Transportation Associate Director Rummel provided information on the following:
• Parking ramp capacities
• Off street surface parking
• On street parking
• PowerPoint showing Downtown parking locations and meter rates
Individual Council members asked questions and expressed their views. City Manager Fruin
provided additional information.
(Recessed to Formal meeting at 5:53 p.m. — Returned to Work Session at 7:08 p.m.)
Discussion continued regarding Downtown parking.
Action: Staff will prepare an ordinance that introduces an evening /weekend parking permit and
lowers the core meter cost from $3.00 per hour to $2.25 per hour.
6. Tobacco Moratorium discussion [continued from August 61
City Attorney Goers guided Councilors through the identified issues provided in the memo (IP3
Memo from City Attorney: Tobacco permit ordinance amendment questions) which was included
in the August 15 Information Packet. Councilors considered the option of a permit cap, zoning
options which included a 500' separation distance between applicants and both other retailers
and school property, a suggested 60-day grandfather rights retention period, and the option to
ban outright or regulate the sale of Kratom. Individual Council members asked questions and
expressed their views. City Manager Fruin, City Attorney Goers, City Clerk Grace and Becky
Connelly, Community and Family Resources, provided additional information.
Action: Staff will craft an ordinance that creates 500ft distance separation requirements between
tobacco retailers and around K-12 and higher education institution properties. The ordinance
will include the loss of grandfather rights upon a tobacco use ceasing for 90 days or upon a loss
of permit for 60 days. Simultaneously, actions will be drafted to ban the sale of Kratom and lift
the current tobacco permit moratorium.
8. Council updates on assigned boards, commissions, and committees
Council members reported on various assigned boards, commissions, and committees.
Adjourn 8:11 p.m.