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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-17 Transcription Page 1 Council Present: Alter, Bergus, Dunn, Harmsen, Moe, Salih, Teague Staff Present: Fruin, Dulek, Goers, Grace, Knoche, Havel, Ralston, Nagle Gamm, Rummel Others Present: Monsivais, USG, Martinez, Alternate 1. Roll Call Teague: It is now 6 PM on September 17, 2024 and I'm going to call the City of Iowa City formal meeting to order. [Roll Call] Here. Well, welcome to your City Hall to everybody that's here in this room with us, and virtually, hello. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 2 2. Proclamations 2.a National Hispanic Heritage Month Teague: We're going to move on to item number 2, which is Proclamations, 2.a as National Hispanic Heritage Month. (Read Proclamation) And to receive this proclamation is Manny Galvez, Iowa City, Latino Fest founder and director, accepting this proclamation. Galvez: I can assist. Also, I want to mention La. Senora Trini is with us today. She's one also- for us, and Iowa City, the most important to mention and say, Oh, how you can do this is because he's many women so powerful like hers, is not the only one,but he's one of these several ones here in town for more than ten years building and making a difference in our community. Galvez: Yeah, I will translate. Trini (via translator): First, I want to say, thank you, everybody. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you to my family. And thank you for Many because always he trust what I want to do and never I mean, like ah- ah ask what I going to do, and he just trust, and that made me feel so good because the trust. Trini (via translator): Well, first, I want to say, like, I want to send a message to all the parents. If you have a children and maybe they are know good with in math,maybe they can have an opportunities. Uh for me, it's good to see how-when I am doing this kind of activities in our community. And also, I didn't go- I didn't have the opportunity to go to the school. However, to see what is happening, and sometimes maybe receive a payment, is so like uh grateful in- in to me in my life. Trini (via translator): And I mean,when Many told me about this, I was, Oh, my God, this is, I mean for us and say, Okay, thank you so much to you guys. Galvez: And just for me,just to close this moment. I mean, as always I had this opportunity and in public I would say thank you to everybody. The most important thank you to uh the community in Iowa City. Thank you, obviously to the city because uh we know what is the situation like ah we are right now,just know in Iowa,but in the country. Latinos, Latinas, Latinix community have been in Iowa for more than 100 years. What was happening in this month is just to remember how important is diversity. How important is remember like this nation was based in immigrants. So no matter what happened.No matter what some people can say sometimes,we need to keep working so hard. To tell them like always, I said this, love- love, always is going to win against hate. And I am sure we are so proud, and everything we do in this community is not because we want to highlight how different we are. It's because we want to show how amazing is diversity. This is the main goal of the,just not the festival, but all the-the Latino and the Latinas groups in the city. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 3 Teague: Thank you both. All right. And thanks to your family for being here as well. Galvez: Yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 4 8.a Establishment of"No Parking Any Time"parking prohibition on the cule- de-sac on Buena Drive Kirth: For item number 8. Teague: Yes. Welcome. Please give your name and city you are from? Kirth: My name is Jeremiah Kirth. Teague: And you'll receive 3 minutes. Welcome. Kirth: For item number 8, I would like to propose that it be limited to just certain days rather than at any time. We have neighbors that regularly have guests on the weekend, and uh it would make parking very difficult if it was only on the street portion of the cul de sac and not, and-not allowed to park around the circle. Also, we've never received flyers in the two years that we've lived there. So saying that the flyers have been ineffective when they haven't actually existed is kind of questionable. And that's all I have to say. Teague: Thank you. And that, anyone else like to address the topic? All right. Seeing no one in person or online, Council discussion. Moe: I would like to talk about item 6.d, the Burlington Street Bridge project briefly. I'm incredibly excited about this project, and maybe that-that doesn't seem exciting that we're talking about a consultant agreement because we're not even ready to see the bridge yet. But the reason I wanted to highlight this is because um this bridge or the actual two bridges that would be replaced in the- in the future in a long time in the future is a really a key once in a lifetime opportunity to make good on both our strategic plan to sort of engage the Iowa River as well as the better together 2030 plan. And that's because there's a big, dam underneath that bridge, which prevents us from really utilizing the river. And um I think that this is a potential opportunity to study what it would mean to get rid of that dam, and I think would benefit our city as well as the University and our waterfront. I know public works is that put a lot of work into this consult agreement. It's voluminous if you guys saw the over 100 pages of it. I don't know if there's any kind of time frame or process where we'll get updates that you guys um can tell us about? Havel: Good evening, Jason Havel, City engineer. So that's still yet to be determined. I think we'll as we kind of start the process, start those conversations, figure out what-what time it makes sense to have a conversation with you on some of those pieces, but that's certainly part of the scope. We just don't know what that schedule is going to be at this time. Moe: And- and when is design anticipated to be complete? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 5 Havel: So this first phase is kind of the study phase and some of the environmental work. That's anticipated to last through the end of next year. So I would say once we get past that point, then we would start the actual design. Moe: Great. I'm very excited about it. So as excited as. Salih: It will be closed completely, right. Havel: Say that again. Salih: It will be the-the street will be closed during the construction completely. Havel: During construction? Salih: Uh. Havel: So that's part of what we'll look at. You know, we would like to keep it open as much as possible. You know, with there being two bridges,there may be some opportunity to keep some kind of activity through construction, but again, those are details we'll really have to flush out as we work through the design. Moe: Anyway, thanks I'm very excited about it. Salih: And I'm pretty excited about it. Thank you go to make us excited. Teageu: Any other discussion by Council? [Roll Call] Motion pass a 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 6 9. Community Comment Teague: We are onto item number 9, which is a community comment time. And I see. Is there anyone else that want to speak during this time? All right?Yep. So please state your name and City you're from. There is a sign in at the desk. Unless you have a sticker,you can throw it in the basket. Welcome.Up to 3 Minutes. Ross: Mayor, Council. Hope that bridge that Burlington Bridge is not the bridge to nowhere. How about a bridge on Highway 6? It's really difficult to cross that. It would bring the south side closer to downtown. That would make it easier. I don't like to cross it. I bike and everything's really hard. I'd like to bring up something about Dr. Martin Luther King. By 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King had come a long way from the crowds who cheered him on at the 1963 March on Washington when he was introduced as the moral leader of our nation. By pursuing issues beyond simply that of segregation, he had lost much public support and was increasingly considered a pariah. He took on issues of poverty and militarism, because he considered them vital to make equality something real and not just a racial brotherhood, but equality, in fact. Dr. King followed the axiom of equality, well beyond the single topic of racial segregation. He was campaigning on an anti- poverty anti-war issue at the time of his death. He had spoken out against the Vietnam War. And when he was killed in Memphis in April of 1968, he was there in support of striking sanitation workers. As Melissa Harris Lacewell put it. Following doctor King meant following the unpopular road and not the popular one. And today, as we look around at our own nation, I think doctor King would have something to say about the very same issues that put him in the cross hairs of our establishment, which assassinated him. He would see that we have $1,000,000,000,000 military, much bigger than that when he was alive, much bigger,bigger than the next ten countries combined. He would see that we have 850 plus military bases across the globe. To put that into perspective, Russia, who we seem to be very afraid of only has about 20. China, who we seem to have problems with only has five maybe six. We only have 4% of the world's population. The other 96% are probably not very happy that we're occupying their land. In the spirit of Dr. King, please support peace. Please support equality. Please tell our government, let's get out of places like Israel, Ukraine, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and others. Thank you so much. Teague: Thank you. Welcome. Yeah. Please state your name and city you're from. Coney: Hello. My name is Fenek, and I'm from Coralville, but I work here in Iowa City. For the last 4.5 years, I have worked in a pipe shop that also sells Kratom. And my co-workers, myself, and more importantly,my customers are very worried about what happens if return is banned. I understand that there can be concerns about Kratom or other products similar to it, especially when catchy names, like, what is it gas station heroin get thrown around for any number of supplements. But the truth of the matter is, there is a number of people in our community who have found an improved quality of life because they have access to a reliable, self manageable product that can help address their pain, that can help them fight addictions and helps them actually be able to participate in the things they This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 7 need to and want to. I have people who work in all industries who come and use it because they work long hours, and they don't have the time to let their bodies rest before they have to start again. So they need something to help with the pain and something that'll do so without making them too exhausted to function. I have people who come who have been dealing with chronic pain for years. Who not only can't find work,but can barely have the energy and the gaps between that pain to do things like chores, grocery shopping, or even being with friends and family. But because they found something that they could get the same type of, know the variety,where it's coming from with lot numbers and clear tracks of distribution. They have something that they can self administer that allows them to function again. And there are a number of people here that are using Kratom to help with addiction. Prescription painkillers and heroin are, of course, notable. Not only are they dangerous on their own,but also the fact that fentanyl now can be on anything that you're getting from who knows what source, but also people who are fighting alcoholism. Just banning a product in a city does not address the reasons why people are using that product, and it does not help them when they need to find a different solution because the one they finally found is no longer adequately available. Some people can go to other cities,maybe out of their way, but they'll make it work. Others will go to websites, which sometimes can be a bargain, and sometimes we'll send you mystery shit. And there are those who may end up turning back to the addictions they've been fighting so hard to get away from. If you are worried about Kratom and its effects on our community,then please first address the reason why Kratom is so prevalent and why people need it and help them first. Don't let them be the cost for an easy ban. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 8 10. Regular Formal Agenda 10.a FY25 Budget Amendment Public Hearing-Resolution amending the current budget for fiscal year ending June 2025. Teague: Thank you. Anyone else like to address a topic that is not on our agenda? See and no one. We're going to move on to the next agenda item, which is number 10. Our regular formal Agenda 10.a is fiscal year 2025, budget amendment public hearing. Resolution amending the current budget for fiscal year ending June 20, 2025, June 2025. I'm going to open the public hearing, and welcome. We don't get to see you very often here. Ogden: We do. This is my first time so Angie Ogden, Budget Management Analyst. I have the FY 25 budget amendment. So FY25 budget was originally approved on April 16th, 2024. It runs from July Ist through June 30th. Our city policy allows for amendments in the following situations. Those are listed there for you. We can amend anytime other than the last 30 days of the fiscal year. And Iowa City usually averages two amendments per fiscal year, one now and one again late spring when we do next year's budget. The carry forwards requests are from the FY24 budget. They're submitted by the department and reviewed by the City Manager's Office and Finance Department. The budget policy that carry forward must be $5,000 or 1% of division budget or has already been on order. Capital improvement projects, budget carry forwards, and CIP usually aligns more with the calendar year versus the fiscal year and our multi year projects. And lastly, there are other miscellaneous amendment items. So for this year, the revenues, intergovernmental revenue is 9.9 million. That's generally your state and fenera- federal grants on CIP carry forwards, 32.2 million on other financing resources, which is the wa-wastewater CIP revenue bonds. And then lastly, we got miscellaneous CIP reimbursements of 1.87 million or 1.8 million, sorry. The expenditure side,we have Governmental Capital Projects at 38 million. The major CIP projects, and this is going to be your Dubuque Street Ramp Reconstruction, your Gilbert Street Bridge Replacement and the Terrell Mill Skate Park. At 63.7,we have business type enterprises. The major CIP is there are your Wastewater Digester Gas Improvement projects,the Landfill Equipment Building and the Transit Facility. And then lastly, community and economic- economic development at 15.5 is your carry forwards of CDBG home and the ARPA funds. So to wrap it up. That's our first amendment for FY25. The overall impact is a decrease of 74- 74.7 to the fund balances. This is covered through excess fund balances and bonds and will not affect any property tax levies. Any questions? Bergus: I feel like I need to ask a question, Angie, since you said it was your first time. So thank you very much for the presentation and for what's in our packet. Can you just explain what the carry forward means? So when we see that overall budget impact and looking at the packet, it looks like most of that is the carry forwards. Can you just explain that term? Ogden: So there are things that have already been planned for that they may not have been paid for. We're just going to carry them over for the next year. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 9 Bergus: And the money was sitting there in the prior fiscal year and carries forward. Okay. Thank you. Ogden: Anything else? Teague: No,thank you. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? If you're online, please raise your virtual hand. Kellie, I can't see anyone. Okay. Great. Seeing no one in person or online. I'm going to close the public hearing. Can I get a motion to approve, please? Dunn: So moved. Dunn. Alter: Second Alter. Teague: Council discussion. Moe: We have staff to do this 'cause it's complicated. Teague: It is. [Roll Call]. Motion passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 10 11. Council Appointments I I.a Public Art Advisory Committee (Art or Design Professional) -Public Art Advisory Committee (Art or Design Professional) - One vacancy to fill an unexpired term, upon appointment-December 31,2026 Teague: We are at Item number 11. Council Appointments I La is Public Art Advisory Committee. We only have um,this appointment tonight, and that is for Art or Design Professional. And we had four or five applicants. Goers: And just for the record,Your Honor, Counselor Moe is recusing himself for a conflict with some of the applicants. Teague: Great. Thank you. All right. Council discussion. Dunn: Um, Hadenfelt, Donta and Davies all stood out to me. Alter: Donta. Bergus; I like Donta. Harmsen: Lots of good good candidates. Teague: Yeah, there were a lot of good people. And um, I was amazed at the folks that actually were born here. Bergus: Yeah, few of those. Teague: That's a rarity sometimes. I can, I mean, I-we had a slew of great applicants, so I can support Donta as well, Sophie- Sophie. Salih: Sophie. Teague: Um-huh Salih: Sophie. Harmsen: Sophie Donta. Yeah. Teague: Okay. All right. Can I get a motion to appoint So- So- Sophie Donta to the Public Art Advisory Committee Seconded. Moved by Salih, seconded by who? Dunn: Me. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 11 Teague: Alright. Dunn. Alright. I didn't know where the voice came from. All right. All in favor say Aye. Group: Aye. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 12 13. City Council Information Teague: Vacancies will remain open until filled. We're at Item number 13, which is City Council Information. Salih: Can I ask why the motion was 6-0. Teague: Because he wasn't- Moe: And I recused myself. Teague: He recused himself. And he stepped out of the room. Salih: I didn't even notice that. I'm sorry. Harmsen: No. It's like a Ninja over there. Salih: Yes. Teague: Makes sense. Salih: Yeah. Teague: All right. Dunn: I- I would add. I'm-I'm just going to reiterate the same thing that I said last time that COVID vaccines and flu vaccines are out, and everyone should get one pretty if you can. Harmsen: A quick little plug for Jodie and I went and saw Will and Harper, the new documentary with Will Ferrell and his friend Harper. Harper grew up in Iowa City and was a writer on Saturday Night Live at the same time that Will Ferrell was star- one of the stars of the show. Um, and then sometime around the COVID years, Harper transitioned. And so the documentary is a film of them, basically, it's a road trip movie that starts in New York and ends in- in California, and along the way stops in Iowa City. Um, and so there's some Iowa City places that you might recognize from there, but also, it's an amazingly touching story, and I would highly recommend. I think it might only be at FilmScene for a couple more days. I was trying to look it up, but I haven't found it yet. But it will be on Netflix documentaries. And it's kind of cool seeing this story about an Iowa City kid who grew up,moved away, and has had this really interesting and amazing life and journey. Salih: I also have an announcement of, like,African Festival of Art and Culture. This is the first time going to happen. This is amazing. So on September 28th, Saturday 12:00-9:00 P.M, at the Ped Mall, of course. So please public everyone come and enjoy great food, music, dance, and a lot of good stuff. So please don't forget that. Mark your calendars. This is This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 13 going to be a great event. Thank you for the City of Iowa City for supporting it. And yeah. Moe: I'm sure everyone's well aware, but we are 48 days to an election. So go get registered to vote. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 14 14. Report on Items from City Staff Teague: All right, we're going to move on to Item number 14. Report on items from our city staff, city manager's office. Fruin: Well, it's 6:30. I don't really know what to do with the rest of my night. So indulge me for a minute or two. I'm going to brag on our staff a little bit. Um, uh, so we're really proud of the-the fact that we got the Pro Housing Grant Award. Uh, and I think we told you before there were 175 communities that applied for this award. First time HUD has ever offered it. And we were one of 21 communities to receive that. And this week, as the team was talking to the HUD Rep and navigating the grant agreement process, they let us know that we were one of the top two scoring applications across the entire country. I get zero credit for that because I did no work. But this gentleman sitting over here. Kirk Lehman was the lead as he was an NDS, and he had a lot of support from the awesome NDS team, many of whom were in the audience earlier tonight. Uh, so kudos to Kirk and the team, and I think at your next council meeting, you'll have-you'll be asked to approve a second Pro Housing grant. They're doing a Round 2. They've encouraged recipients from Round I to apply again. So we'll give it our best go, but certainly just celebrating the fact that we received the 3- 3.75 million with the first round. Yes. Alter: Wow. Salih: Yes, good job. Fruin: Now it's 6:35. I feel a little better. Teague: City Attorney. Goers: Well, I have something as well. Stretch meeting out. Just kidding. Lest I be shamed by the City Clerk two meetings in a row. I will point out that the Charter Review Commission is having their public input session on Saturday, September 28th, at 10:30 A.M. That'll be right here in Harvart Hall. The Charter Review Commission would really love to get more public input. They've been craving that throughout this process. And so they'd like to hear what the public has to say. About our charter. We only do this once every 10 years, and so it's a great opportunity for your voices to be heard. Having said all of that, I will not be able to make it myself. I will be at the International Municipal Lawyers Association Conference in Florida. We kind of rotate through our office for who attends. We usually send one person each year, and it has fallen to me this year. So I will be there from the 25th through Saturday,the 28th. I'll be getting back pretty late on Saturday. That's all. Salih: I have a question for that. How appropriate for us to engage and also give recommendation during a meeting? Goers: How what? Sorry? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 15 Salih: Like, is that okay? Goers: Is it okay for council members to engage with the Charter Review Commission? Salih: Yeah, because they open to the public so feedback, right? Goers: Yes. Salih: Can we give feedback or no? Goers: You may. Of course,you will be wearing a member of the public hat and not giving direction to them, of course, as you know, the recommendations that come from the Charter Review Commission and independent body, come to the council eventually for you to either adopt or not. And so but I've informed the Charter Review Commission in response to a question from them on that very topic, and I said, yes, council members may come to your meetings. They may speak, and that's-that's fine. Salih: Sure. Just wanted to make sure. Harmsen: That's 10:00,or 10:30? Goers: 10:30. Yeah 10:30. Alter: And then go Ped mall. Salih: Yes, for the celebration. Yeah. Grace: I will be at the Forum. Teague: Get your one up again. Grace: I want to add to that. If people wanted to make a day of it,they could come to the farmers market, then the Forum, then the African festival. Teague: Oh yeah. Grace: Why not? Teague: Yes, why not? Goers: You did it again. Teague: And with that, thank you, City Clerk. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 16 Salih: Oh, sorry. And all of them is close, I mean,. Dunn: Yeah, yeah. Alter: Yeah. I'm right there. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024 Page 17 15. Adjorn Teague: We are at Item number 15. Salih: I move to again. Dunn: Second, decide. Teague: Did I. Salih: Yes. Teague: Get. Alter: Oh, no. Teauge: A motion. Dunn: Walk out Teague: to adjourn. Salih: I move to adjorn. Yeah. Teague: Alright. So moved by, Salih, seconded by Alter all in favor, say, Aye. Group: Aye. Teague: Any oppose? We are adjourned. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of September 17, 2024