HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-17 Transcription Page 1
Council Present: Alter, Bergus, Dunn, Harmsen, Moe, Salih, Teague
Staff Present: Fruin, Lehmann, Goers, Grace, Kilburg, Knoche, Havel, Sovers,Nagle
Gamm, Bowers, Davies, Ogden, Hightshoe, Kubly, Thul, Gardner
Others Present: Monsivais, USG, Martinez, Alternate
Teague: It is 4:00 PM September 20th- September 17th, 2024.And I'm going to call the City of Iowa City
work session to order. Welcome to my colleagues and to all the staff that is present.Um,we're
going to start by NWC John Kenyon here as well,as well as USG. We're going to start with item
number 1,which is clarification of agenda items.
Moe: This is where I'd like to pull out item, 71)Riverside Drive pedestrian bridge,um sorry,got it-61)
Burlington Street Highway one Bridge.Further discussion on the consent agenda.
Teague: Okay,um,just for clarification, I-I know that some individuals have been pulling out consent
agenda items only because they want to make comment on it so um,I don't know if that's what
you're wanting to do just having it.
Moe: Yes,absolutely.
Teague: Consider it separately. Are you wanting to consider separately or you're just wanting to comment
on it?
Moe: ust a comment.
Teague: So it can remain at the consent agenda and you can comment on it.
Moe: Sure. Okay. Okay. We will change from what we've done earlier this year.
Teague: No, it's been happening a lot and- and it doesn't have to be a separate-.
Moe: I appreciate.
Teague: Agenda item. So you can still make comment on it. Anything else from either the-the formal
agenda?
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2. Information Packet [ September 5, September 121
Teague: We're going to move on to item number 2 Information packets. We have this September 5th.
Harmsen: Just a couple of things on there,mayor, and maybe this is um,just kind of maybe having city
staff um,just give us a quick kind of notification for the public on two items. The first one on
whatever the item number is for the Charter Review Commission. Two, so maybe starting with
that. Is that IP two? So just kind of what that is and how people,the public can participate in that.
Goers: Well the Charter Review Commission is holding two public input forums.Uh,the first of which
was um,last Wednesday. I'm looking at-
Harmsen: Tuesday.
Goers: Tuesday. Last Tuesday at the library. The next one is coming up on Saturday,the 28th, I believe.
Yeah, Saturday the 28th and those are sessions where the Charter Review Commission just wants
to,you know,hear from the public. Quite frankly,it's-you're not expecting to have a lot of
debate. There won't be any um,deliberation or discussion by the Commission at those meetings,
but I know I can speak for the Commission and saying they would welcome and would love
greater public input.
Harmsen: Okay. Thank you.And the other one is just on the building stats 2024, and I know that we had
our discussion on some budget issues. I think at our last meeting.But I don't know if there's
anybody on staff,who will give us,like the 10,000 few quick summary of what's on that status
report.
Fruin: Yes, so if you look at page eight,which is the monthly summary of the building statistics. Um,
what you see on the left hand column are the categories of permits. So there's different
residential, different commercial, industrial,etc. I usually would draw your attention to the far
right,the total um,line and if you start at the bottom,you'll see that through August,we're at 86
million,almost$87 million in-in permits. Um, I think last year,we were maybe at 275 million
for the entire year,uh,wouldn't be uncommon for us to be anywhere from 150-250 so we're defi-
definitely well below where we would be in an average year. Um,however, I would note that
both July and August,were-were fairly strong.Um, so if again,you look at that bottom row that
has the total value per month,you'll see that the last two months have been pretty good. Um,from
a residential standpoint,up at the top,you can see the first, er few rows are the single family and
then duplex and then multifamily. Single family,we're sitting at 54 permits through August,er,
which is the exact number we finished with last year and er,typically,over the last 10-15 years,
we've averaged about 110. So we'll be well below average and we have not had any multiple
family,um permits for the first time this year,which would be a very um,big difference
compared to previous years. So,um not-not a great outlook,but the last two months have been
more encouraging than the-than the first six.
Harmsen: Thank you.
Teague: Hearing nothing else,we're gonna go on to information packet, September 12th.
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Alter: Um,I would like to pull out IP 2 to talk about work session agenda. Um, I would like to ask
counsel if there is an appetite to evaluate public hunting areas in the vicinity of Manville Heights
to help for Deer.
Dunn: Yes.
Alter: There's two. There's three.
Moe: Yes.
Alter: Yeah,thank you. Um,the other one is a little bit more open ended um,but I would very much like
for us to be able to have,um sometime at a future work session um,to be able to continue talking
about the budget and our priorities.Um,City Manager has also offered er, for staff,perhaps to do
kind of a rundown of our,um affordable housing finance where the monies are um, so maybe
those two could get tied together,but I would like there to be an opportunity for us to talk about
the budget,um without necessarily making a lot of work for staff so that we can continue to-to
talk about our priorities and- and what we're facing. So if there's agreement for that,also um, so
that it could be,you know,in advance enough that this might be able to be useful for staff to hear.
Harmsen: Sure kind of the before January?
Alter: Correct- correct. Thank you.
Teague: All right. Anything else?
Fruin: Can I just ask for a quick clarification on the first one?Um,the-the hunting season is underway
already or are we getting close?
Alter: It started,right?
Lehmann: It's been announced it started 21 st.
Fruin: Okay, so pretty um,pretty close. So,uh if okay with you,we'll prioritize that because if you want
to make changes to this hunting season,we need to get a move on that. So we'll bring that back at
your next meeting. Is that okay?
Alter: Thank you. Yes.
Teague: All right.
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3. University of Iowa Student Government(USG)Updates
Teague: We're going to move on to Item Number 3,which is the University of Iowa Student Government,
USG Updates. Welcome.
Monsivais: Hi, everyone. I hope you're all doing well.We're gonna keep it super short and sweet for you
guys tonight. Um tonight, all of our new fall Senators have their first session, so we are more than
excited to connect them to local government in Iowa City over the course of the following year.
Um, following up on last week,governmental relations elected Senator Delaney Benning as our
chair, and we will soon be adding a co-chair, and if you would like to take here.
Martinez: Yes, so she has also recently just re-upped our Uber voucher program to help university
students get safe rides home. Um,we also just pitched the lease CAP program to our parent and
family council. So hopefully,through that,we'll get this more funding, so we can move the
program to Downtown Iowa City. We're hoping to move it to the graduate for next year.
Teague: Great.
Martinez: Thank you.
Monsivais: That's all we have.
Alter: Can I ask a question, and it's- if you don't know,that's fine.Um,I had just read that Whooping
Cough is actually sort of starting to spread through the University of Iowa. Is there any
information that you've heard of or know anything about it um,in terms of whether,um I don't
know, staff, and/or the government-the student government is talking about it,trying to.
Monsivais: We have not heard anything, and I don't believe we received any emails or any
announcements from the University, any kind of hock alert,um and actually,this is the first time
that it's being brought to my awareness as well. Um but,yeah.
Martinez: We can ask our Health and Safety Committee if they have anything.
Alter: Yes,that would be wonderful. I so- It happened I read an article in the DI. I don't know the-like it
was vague enough that they didn't have numbers and whatnot. So,you know,it might be more of
just a heads up that's happening,but if there's any information that you could find out,I would
love to know more. Thank you.
Monsivais: Okay,absolutely,we'll follow up-follow up with you about that.
Teague: Great. Thank you both.
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4. UNESCO City of Literature Update
Teague: All right,we're on to Item Number 4, UNESCO City of Literature Update. Welcome,welcome.
Kenyon: Thank you very much. Get my clock here, so I don't go too long.All right. Well,thank you very
much for the time to speak with you today. I'm John Kenyon. I'm the executive director of the
Iowa City UNESCO City of literature Organization. Uh, I know many of you,but not all, so I
appreciate the chance to get in front of you today and appreciate the invitation from Mayor
Teague,to just give you an update about who we are,what we do, and kind of where things are
going. So I want to give you a little bit of context about the designation and what it means for
Iowa City to have it. Talk a little bit about what we have been up to as an organization and where
things are headed. So first,I would point out that first date on the screen up there, 2008. That was
when we were designated as the third city of literature in the world,um, and one of the first dozen
or so members of the creative Cities network. So UNESCO created this network of cities that
were designed to,uh recognize cities that had exemplary culture, exemplary heritage, great things
going on, and the great opportunity to leverage those things to do better things down the road.
And so,again,we were one of the first members of that overall network and um,we were
designated by UNESCO as I said. So United Nations educational scientific and cultural
organization. I could give you a whole lot of history about UNESCO but I won't bog it down
here,but I did want to make sure because I do get asked that,yes,the US is a member of
UNESCO once again. We withdrew as a country in 2018. So we were out of UNESCO for about
five years,that didn't have any impact on our designation. We still had the same um, standing,the
same relationships.But obviously being back in UNESCO has been a wonderful thing,I think for
the country and certainly for Iowa City.Um, and it's been a great thing for UNESCO,too, as you
can see, from the part of that slide that shows that we contribute $75 million as a country to
UNESCO's bottom line. That's the dues that we pay. That makes up 22%of UNESCO's budget.
So think of that budget without that 22% and they were certainly compromised in what they could
do. A lot of the liaison work back and forth between our creative cities network and UNESCO
was compromised during that time.Uh, and so it is wonderful to be um,back.And I can say that
us being back in UNESCO as a country has been good for the standing of Iowa City and our other
members of the Creative Cities network. Uh, as Mayor Tig can attest from having met with some
of these folks,we have a better relationship with the U.S State Department and with the higher
ups at UNESCO than we have had in the 12 years I've been doing this job. People are taking this
seriously in a way they hadn't in a very long time,uh and that means when we talk with them
about things that we think the Creative Cities network should be doing,things that UNESCO
should be doing um,we are being heard, and that's been a very positive development out of this
change. And real quickly, a lot of folks don't know about the footprint that UNESCO has in the
U.S. Um, a lot of times I have to explain what UNESCO even is to people. It just doesn't have the
same,uh level of prestige or awareness in the US that it has elsewhere,but there's a lot going on
with UNESCO in the US. There are,um excuse me, 25 world heritage sites, 28 biosphere
reserves, 22 university chairs and then of course,nine members of the Creative cities network in
the US. So again, quite a strong footprint er, and to contextualize that for you,um,we are in the
Creative cities network with eight other US cities. Um, Santa Fe New Mexico and Paducah,
Kentucky, are cities of Crafts and Folk art. Seattle is another city of literature. Austin, Texas is a
city of Media arts,Detroit a city of Design,Tucson and San Antonio are cities of gastronomy, and
Kansas City is the most recent member to join as a city of music.
Teague: Will you explain what gastronomy is?
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Kenyon: Food,dining,eating,cooking, all of that fun stuff. They just use a fancy name. It's kind of like
literature. I wish it was storytelling or books or words,but we are saddled with um,the terms that
UNESCO gives us. And all of those cities then are part of a 350 member creative cities network
now. So recall that I told you there were about a dozen when we joined, and over those
intervening 16 years, it has grown significantly to 350 cities which means there are 349 other
cities that can teach us about ways to use culture and creativity to improve what's going on here
in our community.More specifically,there are 53 cities of literature. Again,we were the third in
the world. So 50 cities have joined us now. As you can see,that's a very eurocentric network still.
The blue dots there on that map are cities that were named in the last two calls. They solicit er,
applications every two years. So in the last four years,we've seen a little bit more diversity.Um,
it's something we continue to work with UNESCO on. We would love to see more cultural
diversity,more language diversity, and certainly more geographic diversity in our sub-network
and the network overall. That was something that I worked on in the two years that I was the
coordinator for the Cities of literature from '21 to'23,uh, and my successor and the rest of the
cities continue to work uh, in that way. So when a city is designated,they are pretty much left to
their own devices by UNESCO. Obviously,we have guidelines and benchmarks that we need to
hit.But in terms of how we organize,how we operate,those are largely left to the cities to
determine. And in Iowa City at the time,the only model we had was Edinburgh,which was the
only other city of literature with a functioning office when we were designated,uh, and they had
an independent trust that managed their designation. Uh, and that model seemed to make a lot of
sense here in Iowa City, and it's what we've continued through with today,uh, as this independent
501 C3 that I manage, and that manages the designation on behalf of the city.And a big driver for
doing that was because we wanted to enlist the participation and the resources of other entities
that helped to make this literary culture what it is. Primarily,the University of Iowa,which is
kind of on equal footing with the city in terms of contributions, in terms of board,uh,
membership, and the like.Uh,but we also have support and board representation and do
programming in Coralville in North Liberty, and in Johnson County as a whole. So we very much
see it as Iowa City's designation that can be leveraged on a slightly more regional basis,uh,to,
you know, do bigger and better things. So with that,uh,nonprofit organization,you can see our
mission,vision,values, and our DEI statement there. Our mission is to build and support diverse
communities of writers and audiences through the transformative power of story. And that's
something that drives us and all the things that we do, and we'll talk a little bit more about those
things here coming up. One of the big things that we do,uh,is produce annual festivals.And so,
uh,we have the Iowa City Book Festival coming up in October, it's the biggest event we do every
year, and I'll talk a little bit more in detail about this year's festival in a moment.Uh,we do the
One Book Two Book Children's Literature Festival every February, and music I see,which is,uh,
Chamber Music and Literature festival that happens in late spring. We also do a lot of
collaborations,uh,both with other organizations and with the city. Uh,we have been involved
with the X Marks,the Arts marketing campaign for the Downtown, cultural and entertainment
district.Uh,I sit as a co chair on the group that oversees that for the downtown district right now,
and our organization has been instrumental in trying to get this off the ground and let people
know about the wonderful things happening downtown. Uh,we took over the poetry and public
program from the City of Iowa City a couple of years ago and have expanded that to be a county
wide program now. So we're getting,uh,poems from area writers and getting them onto placards
and hanging them up throughout,uh,public spaces in,uh,the county. And we do a lot of
programming with other organizations.And this is just one example,uh,public reading of all of
Shakespeare's sonnets that we do in partnership with the Riverside Theater every spring,uh, on
the weather dance stage,uh,weather permitting,or sometimes not.Uh, and we partner with a lot
of organizations,uh,in town doing similar types of programs. We also collaborate a lot
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internationally with the other cities of literature,uh,with there being 52 other cities of literature
as well as with the broader creative cities network. There's a lot of opportunity for us to
collaborate. We sometimes have to pick and choose because of,you know,bandwidth and
resources. But we do a lot of things like celebrating world Poetry day with the other cities of
literature on every March 21.Uh,the Slam-O-Vision is probably one of my favorite events, and I
shared it because,uh,there's an event coming up on Sunday related to this. It is an international
slam poetry competition.Uh,each of the participating cities,I believe we have 14 this year,holds
a qualifying event locally, and then the winners of those go on to compete,uh,virtually and
internationally, so we name an international slam poetry winner. Uh,we haven't gotten one from
Iowa City yet,but our fingers are always crossed.Uh, and if you could come out on Sunday to the
Close House and help us to pick,uh,this year's Iowa City qualifier and see where they go. Uh,
like almost everything we do,that's free and open to the public.Uh, and more seriously,we also
do a lot of work around,uh,the UN's 2030,uh, sustainable development goals,uh,the 17 goals
that help to show cities and communities and- and countries about ways that they can have more
sustainable practices. Uh,the idea being that by 2030,we can make inroads and some of the
challenges that,uh,have plagued the world.And we work with UNESCO to promote those and
work locally through our own communications and our own programs to try to make people more
aware of those goals, and some of the ways that they can address things in their own lives.Now,
with the overall Creative Cities network,we have,uh,the opportunity every now and again to get
together. Uh, and in July,we had the annual meeting for the Creative Cities network. It was in
Braga Portugal.Uh,representatives of about 250 of the 350 member cities were there to,uh,
participate. And I was so pleased that Martige was able to join me for this this year. Uh, and I
know, as I did,he heard a lot of,uh,wonderful information about collaborative projects that we
could participate in best practices that other cities are doing,uh,just making connections and
forming relationships with people. Uh,he even got to do that at a higher level with special
mayors forums that they don't let me attend. But a lot of the,uh,elected officials, obviously have
a chance to get together and talk about those higher-level issues. Uh,while he was there,there
was the opportunity to sign on to what's called the Braga Manifesto,which is a document that
was really created by the Creative Cities network with the idea of asking that culture be integrated
into any post 2030,uh,international development agendas. And so to put that in English,there's
the 2030 sustainable development goals,the 17 that I mentioned before that doesn't include
culture. And so the idea is that culture is such an important driver to accomplishing things in our
world that it ought to have its own place in whatever happens post 2030. Uh, and so Mayor Tig,
representing all of you in the city was able to put his name to that and say that we will help to
work toward those ends as well. So what do we have coming up as we look to,uh,the next few
months programmatically. The next big event for us is the Iowa City Book Festival. That will be
October 13th through the 20th. There will be 45 events,uh,over those eight days.And by my
count, only one of those is not free. There's a workshop that we're doing in partnership with
another organization. Otherwise,all of the author readings,panel discussions,the Book Fair and
author fare, different performances,uh, all will be free and open to the public.And are done with
again,by my count 14 different partner organizations that we are working with to,uh,make all of
this happen. It's,uh, certainly the most collaborative of our many collaborative,uh, events that we
do each year. Uh,after that,we will be awarding our Paul Engle Prize,which is a literary prize
that we give to,uh, a writer in the country whose impact on his or her community in the world at
large,through the efforts beyond the page,uh, seek to improve the world. And this year,we are
giving that prize to the poet and essay Camille Dungy.It might be a familiar name. Camille
actually graduated from West High here. She teaches,uh, at Colorado State University and has
done some amazing writing about gardening, and ecology, and motherhood. And,uh,we are just
very pleased to be able to bring her back to Iowa City,uh, or more specifically Coralville, in this
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instance on November 14th for that,uh, award ceremony. And then the last thing that I'll share
with you from a programmatic standpoint is our One book Two book at Children's Literature
Festival,which will happen February 22nd and 23rd. Uh,that's our annual event where we are
doing events or doing programming rather that's,uh,bring storytelling and the written word to
families through a lot of entertaining events,uh,trying to educate, as well as entertain and give
families a chance to get out,uh,during some cold weather and do so,in maybe a little bit more
enlightening way than,uh, some other things that we all have taken our kids to do when we are
feeling cabin fever. Um,I don't want to throw anybody under the bus there. We all know. So,um,
but there's also a student writing component to this that,uh,makes this,again,one of my favorite
events. I don't think I've said that about too many things to make you doubt me,but,uh,we solicit
writing from students in grades one through eight,uh,throughout Iowa City-throughout the
Johnson County, Lynn County Corridor, actually. Uh,they can be public school students,private
school students,home school students. It doesn't matter. Uh, and we recognize the best. We work
with evaluators at ACT,uh,on those,um,pieces.And we are really looking to give kids the
opportunity to say,yes,you're a good writer. You should be pursuing this. This is something that
we as a community value, and we want to make sure that we let you know about it. So,uh,that's
a great event. That's every,uh, Sunday afternoon of that festival at McBride Auditorium, and it's
another thing that I would encourage you at some point to come out and see. I know there's some
council members who've been on our board who have been to that before. Uh,it's I don't know,
just gives you a warm feeling in the heart, see those kids up there reading their work and being
recognized for it. So hopefully,you would agree with me that that's a lot for our organization to
be doing,particularly given,uh,the fact that we do so with a very lean staff. We have three
people on staff. I am the only full time member. We have two part time folks who do all of this.
Obviously,we are joined by 20 board members. I have 20 different bosses. One of them is
currently,uh,Councilor Harmsen.Uh,but thanks to Councilor Alter and Councilor Bergus for
serving in past years on our board.And a lot of volunteers in the community.But with all of those
folks, I think we accomplish a great deal, and I will say that we have done so with fairly static
institutional funding over the last 14 years,uh,the amount of money that we received from the
city and from the university from North Liberty and Coralville is exactly the same as it has been
since 2010. Obviously,our costs have gone up considerably in that time,as they have gone up for
everyone. And we are getting to the point that even though we pursue grants and individual
contributions, and corporate contributions, and look for ways that we can raise money from our
events,uh,we're getting to the point where we're starting to make decisions about what we can
offer and what we can do that,uh,are tending toward being more limiting rather than,uh,tapping
the full potential of the designation. So I'm not here today to make any sort of a formal request for
more funds. There's a process for that, and I will be talking with Rachel about that very shortly.
But I do want when you are thinking about the FY 26 budget beyond for you to maybe have this
context and just think about that a little bit,what we do for this community, and how we're
resourced to do all of that. I will say that whatever funding you give to us,we greatly appreciate
it. We couldn't do it without that funding and without the support of the council collectively and
individually, as well as staff who are always there to help us out with what we need to do.And
whatever support you're giving,you're doing so with an organization that is working very hard to
strengthen itself and to make itself more sustainable.Uh,we just started a new strategic plan,uh,
1 st of July. Uh,we always have a strategic plan in place, and this brand new one deals with,uh,
things related to our brand identity and our own sustainability to try to strengthen things from
within.And we're also looking for things,uh,as you can see here related to kind of a sense of
place,uh,looking at issues,uh,with,you know,related to literary tourism or what we can do to
improve way finding in the community,related to,uh,literary assets or activating spaces in the
community. I know those are things that you talk about. I know those are things that city staff and
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others are working on, and we want to be a part of that and make sure that the work that we do
aligns with your goals and your priorities. We've also taken steps to improve through creation of
new policies,new financial controls,new governance policies,things to again,make us stronger
and more efficient as an organization so that when we do tackle some of these challenges,
whatever resources we have,we do the best that we can with what we have on that. So with that,I
will say thank you,uh, for your time today and the opportunity to give you an update, and I
would be happy to elaborate on anything or answer any other questions you might have.
Teague: First I want to say,thank you for coming today and sharing all of this information,we have three
councilors that served on the board, so I know that you all are fully inundated.Um,but I got the
opportunity to go to Brock,uh,Portugal, and of course,I always knew that UNESCO was a
designation for-on Iowa City that was well known throughout my travels in the US,um,
especially when they would attach their comments related to the Iowa's work writer's workshop.
But going over there and being with,you know, over 200 and different-230 something different
cities,um,it was a unique feeling to be not just amongst-I-I've always been in,um,when I go to,
uh, conferences,there's always full of US folks,which is great. Um,but that was a different
feeling,uh,to be amongst world leaders and world,um, elected officials,because the day when
we signed the manifesto,there was over 130 mayors and,um,city elected officials that was there.
And it was-it was-it was a different feeling that I've never felt before,um,because there was so
much,uh,differences,but yet,um,when we began to talk,um,we have so much in common.Um
and so I just wanted to at least say,thanks for the work that you're doing. And I was at the board
meeting this,uh,past week and got to see all of the different,uh,folks that are sitting around the
table. And I know that it is a place where you all are always trying to make,um,Iowa City,um,
more,um,visible,uh,to the world, and people do know about the UNESCO,uh,designation that
we have here. So thanks for all that you're doing.
Kenyon: Glad. Thank you.
Harmsen: And just I'd say,you know,only been on for six months,uh,really have come to rapidly know
a lot more and appreciate the work that's being done.And thanks to my fellow council members
for,uh,allowing me to be a part of that, going back to when we divvied up all the different
committees and commissions back in January. So.
Alter: I just have to chime in and say as well that One Book Two book is absolutely. It takes your breath
away. It's wonderful.And,um, I was fortunate enough that way before I was on City Council. I
was actually part of the adjudicating committee for one,two of the years for- one Book two book,
and you read all of the essays through the grades, and,um,for all the kids that don't necessarily
get that award,just to have that exposure as an adult to what the kids are doing is amazing.And
so,yeah,I-I heartily second it that it is well worth coming out in February for an afternoon to
hear these-these,kids read their work, and they'll blow your mind.
Kenyon: Great. I definitely concur. Thank you-thank you. All right.
Teague: Well,thank you so much for coming today.
Kenyon: Yeah,thank you again for the time. I appreciate it.
Teague: Yes. All right.
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5. Sister City Organization Structure Discussion
Teague: We're going to move on to item Number 5,which is Sister City Organizational Structure
discussion. And I'm gonna I know that in our work session.Um,I'm sorry, in our information
packet. There was, er,a memo from ours. City attorney Eric. And so I will maybe just start this
discussion. Um,it was relatively self-explanatory. So one, as we all know,the city joined the
Sister City International.Um, I want to say that was around March or April. And since that
designation,we have just been in,um,what I would call limbo conversations,um,whether it's
amongst ourselves or with community members about what the next steps are. And Tony,um,
Joseph, as many of you might have heard about. He is the one that lives in Iowa City now,but he
was a part of the Sister Cities,um, and,um.
Goers: Muscatine?
Teague: Muscatine-muscatine.Yes. He was a part there. And so now,um,he's been kind of the-um,he's
been the one presenting this opportunity to the city and saying,hey,you know,there is great
opportunity,um,but now we are at the place where we need to figure out how are we going to
move forward with the Sister City?Are we going to make this a commission,or is this going to
be a separate entity from the city?Um,as you'll see,um, Eric has outlined different cities that
have sister cities. So we see Des Moine. For an example,they do have a separate nonprofit
organization. Um, and there is,um,you know,partnerships,um,but really it is the nonprofit that
you know,runs the program. So wondering what council thoughts are for how we would create
our Sister City governing body. Is that something we want as a commission or is that something
we want as a separate entity?Um, and I guess that would be maybe start one from there.
Moe: I-I was curious if it was just coincidental or strategic that the UNESCO literature presented.
Unfortunately,Mr. Kenyon has gone, and I see Dubuque as the Conventioners in Visitors Bureau.
Think Iowa City or UNESCO City of literature I you discussed this with either of those two
organizations, if they're interested in being a partner, it seems like we,um, support those
organizations. We trust those organizations. Um,is that- is that a conversation that you've had?
Teague: Um, I will, I at least for me,I've had conversations about it.Um,I think they were more
concerned with who we would partner with. As for example,we are UNESCO City of literature.
And so one of their thoughts was,who would be the cities that we,um,become sister cities with.
That was the extent of I-I guess the conversations that I-I would feel comfortable sharing here.
And they were actually in several different,uh,meetings where there was delegation from
Chinese from China that came.And so there was a lot of conversations surrounding that.But one
of my walkaways was,um,when-whenever that selection comes forth,you know,maybe it
needs to be a little more strategic about who will we go into,um, Sister City with?
Alter: I would just,um,yeah,kinda echo that. I just wrote down that I think that,um,if we were to put
this forward as a,um, a partnership among other non profits or with, is that there needs to be an
alignment of the purpose and the activities?Um,be-because otherwise, I think that the-the
strength of both the Sister City entity as well as whatever the other partner would be could
become diffused and diluted.Um, so that's-that's just one thing for,um,probably further
conversations. Um,the other thing is, I-I feel having gone through the packet,the-the item,as
well as thinking about it. Right now in relation to budget I-I feel pretty strong,I guess,um,that
pursuing it as a separate entity as a nonprofit makes sense. Um,not that we wouldn't be
supporting it,because we do that anyway,but I'm thinking of capacity of staff. I just don't think
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that there's if we want this to be successful,there has to be some all in on it, and we are already
spread tooth. So that's my logic for-for suggesting that that might be a better path to pursue.
Harmsen: I would the greater Des Mome.
Dunn: I would concur with that.And I think kind of something that you're suggesting is that,you know,
we kind of have some sort of say in the cities that we,um, are partnering with. So the-the way
that I think about it is,like, a sort of hybrid approach that-that is detailed in the IP,uh,where we
have,you know, some certain say,whether that's in a bo-board appointees and a say in the
actual,you know,cities that we our sister cities with. I think if we're able to achieve that,um,I
think and- and a third party nonprofit makes the most sense for us. I would otherwise completely
agree with what Councilor Alter said.
Bergus: I think for me,it's a question of,kind of,who is the champion of it and what are we trying to
accomplish?Um,it feels a little bit maybe backwards or reverse from what I might expect to not
have a particular community identified that we would want to establish this relationship with. I
appreciate the-the concept of,you know, initiating these-these kinds of connections across the
world,but I don't know,it feels to me,as someone,you know, serving on council. It feels like this
idea has come forward a few different times from a few different angles and doesn't necessarily
have any of us, like,really excited about it. Um, so it is- I- I hesitate to commit our resources to it
if we're not going to be actively pushing it forward. And I'm- and I'm not saying anyone up here
is saying they wouldn't. I just for something like creating a commission, I think we need to have,
like, a lot of interest and capacity to push it forward. I agree that if it is something that Iowa City
wants to undertake,that having a nonprofit that develops it and heads it up makes a lot of sense.
Um, I just haven't-I personally haven't really been sold on why this program for our community
at this time,like,what we sort of what our involvement should be?And I don't mean to,you
know,poo-poo the people who are interested in pushing that forward just for this body. That's-
that's how I feel.
Salih: For me,I'm really interesting of, like,designating IOCTs like to have City Sister City programs.
I've been pushing this for my first term. I think a lot of people did not buy it at that time, and I'm
still,you know, going to do it.And as-as Councilor Bergus said,not because of a specific people
who came and ask right now,but this is really a program we want to have it.Yeah, I know,like,
some like, at least the Chinese delegation came, and,you know,they are interested in that.But
right now it's not like about the Chinese delegation or any country. I think it's about just creating
the programs.And after that, open it to anyone, and we are the one who going to set the rules,
who like what our expectation is for this. This is going to be really,you know,I think it's
amazing. We are,you know,Iowa itself is really-we teaching the world many things, even
though we are a small,you know, state out in the Midwest and all this.But we really did a lot.
Like, for example,University of Iowa wrote the Constitution for the South Africa. So and those
kind of thing. I think many countries will benefit out of it. And I-I was really things like
countries that need to like develop. Maybe they can be sister to come here to see how we do thing
here and just take the same thing,you know, and implement it there. And this is,you know,we-
we might not get a lot of exchange like maybe people will learn from us more than we'll learn
from them,but we'll learn from them,the cultures,you know,we exchange a lot of kind of things
together and we bring like new thing to our community, and also they will learn a lot from us. I-
I-I really- am passionate about it, and I would love if we can do it and also do it as a number of
organization will be the best way to do.Ano- another thing is,I really don't want it to be add on
to another number of the organization. I-I want the new number of organization to be created
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only for this, and they can be only specialized on this one. Like earlier,we talked about like ski
you know, I just-I just want it to be it his own entity, and they are focused on specialized for this
only.
Harmsen: Yeah, I think that- I agree with that. I think that makes sense.You know,I was looking through
this stuff and thank you to the city attorney for- for getting us about some other cities,how they
do it. Um,I think out of all of those,they all seemed like they were workable ideas,but the
greater Des Moine one, I thought was,to me,the most intriguing, and that's one of the ones that
has a separate nonprofit organization,um,with,you know,there's a commission,but it's sort of
run through this. So it's sort of a combination. There's commissioners appointed by the city
council there,um,you know,would be so there'd be kind of a hybrid,it seems like. There'd be
some city-direct city commission involvement,but the actual, like, day to day operation of it
would be,um,through a non profit. So I guess my first question is,we want-do we want to get a
hybrid like that or just sort of have a nonprofit come forward or you know what I mean? I'm not
sure where.
Alter: Do the nonprofits know to come forward?
Harmsen: Well, carthorse,I'm not sure how that would work. I mean,I think this is I agree with the
Mayor Protein. I think this had lots of potential to be a really cool program, and lots of other
cities have done it and have had really nice international exchanges, and it fits so well for us with
the university here and,you know,just all of our international connections. Um,if we get to the
point where we're talking about cities,I- I think I would throw an idea out there that we should
take a look at our list of our UNESCO cities and maybe form a stronger partnership with one of
those just as a group of cities that's already into this kind of thing.But that's-that's the cart way
ahead of the horse.But I don't know if anybody has any input,either from the staff side or
counsel side on sort of what this will look like like next steps would look like.
Dunn: I agree wholeheartedly with,like,looking at this as kind of like a hybrid model. I don't know if that
means that,you know,our most supporting members of council,like, one or two of them get
together with other people in the community and then form the nonprofit in- in,like,that
independent way,um, and,you know,make sure that there's ways for the city to weigh in and
kind of have some decision making authority by either,like,by-laws or,you know,whatever.
Um,but I-I agree with that-that general,um, concept,and I think the next step would probably
be to make the nonprofit.
Harmsen: But we would be making it. So this is kind of I'm wondering if we're just not I mean,is part of
what we're accomplishing here is just sort of saying publicly that,hey,is there a group of people
who are involved with some of the tourism efforts that something like,you know,along those
lines that would like to have further conversations with the city about what this might look like. I
mean,because we don't really have anybody that's-we've had people tell us they were interested,
but saying you're interested in the city doing this, and I'm interested in starting a nonprofit and
overseeing that are two different things, although there might very well be somebody who's down
to do that.
Dunn: So a potential avenue would be,you know,we designate again, one or two people to kind of
contact the interested stakeholders in the community,whether that's like JCUNA or other non
profits and other just interested parties and try to start,like, getting the ideas for that structure
down,um,put together the non profit as its own independent thing,because I also agree that
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that's an important aspect,but I feel like there's no way that we avoid,uh,intersecting interests.
And I think there's a lot of value that can be had in the collaboration of different stakeholders.But
I do think that we have to have if we want to have the kind of,like, oversight that it seems like
we're all talking about.Um,I do think that we have to have,the onus on us to be like,we're going
to do this. Let's get everyone in the room.Again,I don't think it's like a whole council thing. I
think we'd have to designate someone to be like,okay,can you take the lead on this project
because, like,if you're kind of doing it as independent people. We're not doing it as the
government, and then we're setting it so that we have certain authorities as a government body. If
that makes sense?
Harmsen: A little bit. I mean,that's a sorry. Go ahead.
Goers: Well, I just there's any number of ways to fry this egg, so to speak,but I just wanted to offer one
clarification about the way Des Moine is set up. There are two bodies. One is well, it's about to
say traditional,but it's not traditional,you know,city board and Commission. They have that. It's
unusual in that they appoint folks that are nominated from surrounding cities. That's why it's the
greater Des Moine entity Sister Cities Commission,but it is a governmental,you know,
commission of the city of Des Moines. Separately,they have the nonprofit friends of greater Des
Moines Sister Cities that doing fundraising.But I assume that in terms of day to day operations,if
there are day to day operations of such a thing,that that would actually be done by city staff and
the city board or commission,not by the nonprofit that I assume focuses on fund raising.
Moe: For those who feel that it ought to be a completely separate not for profit,would it be problematic if
if an existing not for profit said we would like to take this on and have this as something that we
do? Is that-is that just a non starter for those who feel like it needs to be separate,not for profit?
I'm specifically thinking about UNESCO City of Literature,the kind of mention visitor Bureau,
you know, JCUNA if they wanted to do that,would that be a problem?
Salih: I really think this is something it should be by the committee that they're going to create. I think
Tony's idea is creating a committee and start discussing the way-the good way to do it so and
have, like a board of director or something like that. Those people my-my thing is,it's already
they have their own board members right now. They have all this,but I don't think the board
members are diversity as I want it to be for this kind of group. We want like people on the
community who to participate on those. We want,like,that's what my guests hold on,but they are
doing great work. They can do this,too. So I'm nothing against them. I'm just,like, feel I want to
see, like a diverse group doing that.
Teague: I heard counselor Dunn you know,kind of suggest maybe one way forward would be-um some
type of discussion or one,maybe a point and two council individuals. Is that what I think I heard
you say?
Dunn: One or two.
Teague: One or two council individuals and connect with community folks,there will be some that will
create a list and contact and maybe the way forward would be a community discussion on this
topic with those that we identify to be sitting around the table, some of the names I've already
heard,but certainly we can bring in,um you know,different many more people on the list,just to
have the discussion about if this was to be set up as a separate entity, a not for profit,you know,
where's the interest there and then if someone has a existing not for profit,you know,maybe they
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can make,you know,the-the case for having this under their umbrella, and then we can bring
that back to council as,like,this is,um,you know,reporting from that meeting. If that is what the
council would agree to,then as many people know,Mayor Pro Tem in 2018,the first time I heard
about a sister city,um,I believe it was in 2019 when she brought this to the council and my
understanding at the time,well we didn't-you know,the council didn't move forward with it,but
I um,I think now we are a sister city. We're part of the Sister City International and one of the
things Councilor Bergus has talked about as having a champion,um for this and when I-when I've
talked to various people about sister cities,we do know that even some of our surrounding um,
municipalities have sister city agreements,but they're not really active um, and a lot of that is
because that champion,which is typically one person isn't,you know,rowing everyone together,
or that person,their life has changed, or you know,they're no longer in the community,um, and
so no matter what we,you know, discuss with community um,folks. We're also going to be
trying to figure out who is that champion,um that would be able to run this program and would
be dedicated. Um, so I know that Mayor Pro Tem has been very active um,you know with this, I
don't know if you're willing to be one of the two.
Salih: I would love to be one of the two.
Teague: Okay and I would love to be one of the two,but I also recognize there might be others that might
be interested. I think what we'll do is we'll connect with staff and try to figure out a community
discussion on this,we'll host it somewhere. We'll create a list. I know that one of our meetings,
we started to talk about,you know,possible folks that might be interested in having the
conversation,we'll continue to build upon that list and send out something and report back to the
council and that is acceptable.
Dunn: Thank you,guys.
Alter: Thank you.
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6. Review of City Grant Programs(Social Justic Racial Equity, Climate Action,Public Art
and Aid to Agencies)
Teague: Great. If no other comments on that,we're going to move on to item number 6,which is the
review of city grant programs. Um,it was a lot-a lot to that. We did have that in our information
packet. Maybe I'll just throw it over to our City Manager Jeff just to get us started on the
conversation.
Fruin: Thank you,Mayor. You're right. There's a lot of information in there.Um,uh,probably too much
for you to have reviewed in a short period of time,but a lot of it was supplemental material aided
to kind of help discussions that may go down certain paths so um,what staff put together here
was,uh, a brief,um,kind of synopsis of each of the four recurring grant programs that we offer
so we didn't include one time grant programs,like our ARPA offerings and things like that. These
are annual programs that we um,coordinate through-through different staff teams.Um,you have
the Public Art matching fund program,the climate action grant program,the Aid to Agencies
grant program, and the racial equity and social justice grant program. All of those are detailed.
What tri-what we tried to do here is just provide a very high-level overview of how those are
administered,what the involvement of the various commissions are, and what your involvement
may or may not be as a counselor,uh,as a counsel, excuse me. We provided a couple years
history of funding awards, so you could look at uh, at those um, and then again,there's just a lot
of supplemental material. The staff that administer these programs are in the audience today and
can answer any questions you have.Um,but I think this is really an opportunity for you all to-to
discuss whether there's any changes to these programs that you would um,like to explore.
Teague: One, I want to say,thanks to the staff. It was actually very nice to see all this in one place so
thanks for bringing this to us. I-to get us,you know, started on this conversation, I've thought
about,you know,where do we go with this?Because we can get ourselves in a rabbit hole so my
thought is,if we can start with um, some of the conc-well,we can always start with praise,but
with some of the concerns that we've heard in the past and I think some of that is uh,there could
be various people getting multiple grants through other programs. Um, so they could get one
grant in the Aid to agencies, and they also get another grant through um,the social justice rat-
ratio equity grant. Um, so folks getting multiple grants is one thing that was identified. Then over
the years,people getting-we hear this a lot,um,where it's the same people getting funded. Um,
and so if-if there are other concerns that we need to just lay out there,maybe now will be the
time to lay that out so that when we start in the discussion,we're just not um,we're trying to lay
some groundwork as to how to,you know,frame this.
Alter: I think uh,to piggyback on that um, sort of at a high level,I think um, one of the things um,that's
important as well to-to make sure it's del-made explicit is also that the nature of the grants are
different. HCDC is for operations. It is a large amount of money,um, and for the legacy,uh
institute- agency, sorry. That is meant to be a stable source for them over time,whereas the others
are um,more special projects and whatnot and it's-it's,I don't-assess a value judgment on it at all.
I'm just saying I think that that's an important thing to look at as well,um, and may well tie into
some of the considerations that-that the issues. Um,the other thing that,um,I just want to raise
is something that I think,um we can look to as maybe a way to get through a lot of information
and a lot of potential back and forth thing is-is to look at sort of root cause of-of where there's
been gaps or-or concerns is a lot of it has to do with communications. I think that maybe if we
can tackle it at a higher level rather than what is the exact thing that we should change, do this,
this, and this,because we want our commissions to continue to have the independent thinking and
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the,um discussions that they have per individual applications as they come up in the cycle. But I
think that if we can think of it at a council level of how best can we make it so that some of these
concerns, at the very least,they're not ones that come out after the fact,which is something that
has happened. I remember even from when I was on HCDC,that it was um,the-the grant awards
came out at somewhat different times,which is fine.Um,but none of us had history of even what
we have in this packet of saying,here's what the awards have been over the past several years,um
from each of these awarding groups so that might be a place where we can just think about
communications becoming better, so that um,that might help in the long run.Anyway,I just
wanted to so- sort of throw my thoughts out there and we can go from there.
Salih: I agree-I agree with everything you said.But also another issue I want to raise is what do you-I
don't know what word they used to do that without like making nobody mad. You know like what
the grant design for?Like for example,racial equity, social justice and racial equity grant or
racial equity social justice grant. What-I remember this is by-happened by [inaudible]. What's the
philosophy?Why we come up with that grant and the people who apply for it, are they really
meeting the criteria for that?Or you know diff- and again, for example, emerging to Art,uh,Art
emerging agency or som-I hope I'm saying it right. But I saw, like emerging means like
somebody new,just coming in and stepping in and- and I understand that,especially new
organizations who are emerging,they need this kind of help because if our city is not who's
seeing the-the work on the ground are not you know,like,recognize their work can give them
like grant to start. Who else like foundation or outside the state or who else will start giving
them?That's why I think it is very important if we believe on the work that an emerging
organization doing it,uh,we should like really write up them because we know that when you
go-the fund outside the state or outside the county,they look at who fund you first. If they see
that,like your own city for you that means you are doing good work on the ground. Somebody,
like, for example,you're applying for a grant in Washington DC a foundation or like California
who fund everywhere the whole United State. The first thing they ask you,who fund you? Like
what is the list of the people who found you before us?This is emerging to Art agency, it have-
like being seeing it's being giving to organization who've been here for like long time and what
does emerging mean?When is this like five,two years,one year?And how often for the
emergency will give you?They'll you give you one,they'll give you two times as emerging
agency. You know,those kind of things that have to be really clear,uh,because people are really,
just think so.For example, another thing like any-another grant,what it's for. I just want to
remember another grant,but those two come to mind right now,the emerging agency health
social justice and,uh,I don't know. I'm blinking on the names. But. Racial justice, and socially
quickly.And also the emergency grant. What consider emergency?You know,the-the people
before they put,like,their-like,really hard work on that application. It took them a lot of time.
They should know exactly if they are qualified or not before even they put that application
forward and after that,they're just being rejected. So it have explanation about the grant, and if
you are qualified to apply or not,it have to be really clear. And also,like sometime they-when
you explain it,you use those fancy language for nonprofit organization that's on like emerging or
maybe like immigrants,not profit organization,they don't understand this fancy or. Make it clear,
make it simple language clear,uh,who is qualified for that.
Harmsen: Um,yeah it's interesting because I had actually in my notes,uh,to-to get to that what's
considered new for emerging, and like,how-what the pros and cons are of-of how that's defined
and how-how maybe how-how much of a definition we want to put on there? Like,is it from
years since a 5016 was created. Just-just as a definition, and I know right now there were some
proposed language, and I'm looking for the right page.By the way,thank you to staff for all of
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this. It was a lot of reading,but I actually really appreciated it.And so,uh, -so yeah, it definitely
got that,you know,it has been read. I'm sure by many people,but yeah,um,now,where is it?It
was in the definitions. It was with this-the definitions between emerging and legacy agencies.
There was, like,the existing, and then there were some suggestions for tightening up lang-or
changing language,tweaking it a little bit.
Fruin: Um,I'm sorry. Let me get the exact page. It's,uh, sorry I've been looking.
Harmsen: I should have written down when I was looking at it. Oh,wait say it?Nope,that's not it.For
those at home that are wondering why this packet is like 101 pages long,which is-which is fine.
It's just that's why it's taking us a moment.
Alter: Well,as you,uh,you look for that. Look for it.Um, another big wrinkle, and this isn't across all of
the,um,different grants,but it does have to do very specifically with HCDC, and- and kind of the
foundational definition of a legacy agency,which does allow you then to have operational funds,
and you can sort of grow your footprint,um,better with more money, obviously,uh,on the big
wrinkle there, of course,is that this is a Pi. There is only so much money,uh,for all of the
agencies. And so when you get more legacy agency,when you-when you-when-when HCDC
approves people moving from emerging into legacy,that Pi gets smaller. So, again,that is not a
criticism. It's just an unfortunate reality. Um, and so that might be something that we can try to
problem solve as well,right?
Harmsen: Right,as long as we have these two designations.
Salih: Can you say that again, I'm sorry.
Alter: So,uh,we have the amount of money, and I know that there is sort of-there's built in increases to
the budget,but it's also contingent on what the federal government with CDBG and home funds
is,uh,that when one agency moves into a legacy era, it doesn't mean that we get to put more
money into that pot for the legacy agencies. So they're competing for less funds,which is and
again, I think there are so many agencies that are doing great work and that there should be the
opportunity for agencies to move into legacy. I think to artificially say no,that we have as many
as we have,you know,that's putting a cap on it in a way that is not fruitful or productive,but it's
just-but it's one of those things of just recognizing that that is also a consideration. Sorry. I'm
getting actually. I just realized this has nothing to do with the grant program. I apologize. But I
just wanted to say,there's so many wrinkles to this.But anyway.
Moe: I think it's fair to say that if we would look at,uh,one of the programs that I think is lesser
controversial,be climate action grants.And I- I think that-I'm guessing at the reason that it's
clearer is because the application says, look at this action plan.You need to appeal to this action
plan that's very explicit about what else we want to achieve. And so to me, any kinds of
modifications would just be being more and more and more clear on the applications of exactly
what we're doing,which I think was what HCDC has done recently and- and sort of- sort of
retooling a little bit. I see in August,they redid a scoring matrix. Is that- did I understand that
correctly?
Fruin: Yeah, and the-the Aid agencies program is rooted in the consolidated plan, as well.
Moe: The joint application.
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Fruin: So there is still a-not the joint application. That's the tool in which you apply. But the consolidated
plan is the federal mandated plan for how we spend our,um,federal dollars,like CDBG and
home.But we use that plan to be kind of the foundation for the Aid agency's process. So through
that consolidated planning process, and that's what we're going through right now,we really
identify what those community goals and objectives are, and that helps us define who is eligible
for these grants.
Moe: Right.
Fruin: Uh, and just real quick to circle back to close the loop,you'd want to look at page 39 of your
packet. That has a resolution,um,uh, I hope,that's the 2018 resolution.
Harmsen: I think you're look at 46,47,maybe.
Fruin: Yeah. I just pick the old resolution.
Harmsen: I just found intinuation.
Fruin: Uh,yeah, so then the newer resolution is from 2023, and that'll help-help you guide those
definitional questions.
Harmsen: Yeah, so- so page 47, and again,from 2023,sounds like what we did was we just had the
operational funding intended to help new nonprofit organizations develop. So that's the emerging
agencies category, one of the two choices we have or that exist currently. And then there's legacy
agencies, ongoing operational funding for a core group of service providers intended to be a
stable source of funding. So emerging agencies,um,just kind of just for the public's benefit, if
they're listening to all of this.Not meant to be-it's meant to sort of help somebody get off the
ground,not necessarily designed to provide, and in fact, it's clearly says-don't consider like this
an ongoing source of funding,um,as opposed to the legacy agencies,which the idea is agency
who have been around a little bit longer are more well established,um,more well established in
terms of the services they provide. Um,they still have to go through the application process and
still have to meet certain,you know,criteria. But that's more of a long standing, and operational
funding,of course,is that,um, I guess,the non-glamorous paying for office staff salaries and rent
and things like that, as opposed to the sometimes more one off projects like building solar panels
or something like that,that it's easier to like look at and say,oh,look,we built this,as opposed to
we just help maintain services. So,um, so yeah, so that- I think that's kind of and I think back to
Mayor Pro Tem's point,you know,how exactly are we defining what a new nonprofit is?
Because right now,the current thing just says operational funding intended to help new nonprofit
organizations develop.Um, and we don't- I know maybe there's somebody somewhere else,we
define new. So that was my question.
Fruin: Yeah. And depending on how far you want to go down,you've got-you've got the staff here that
live in this world here, so they could probably walk you through a little bit of the history on how
that's been defined and some of the back and forth that pretty much goes on every year at HCDC
on tweaking some of these rules and definitions,but.
Harmsen: How is that currently defined that new for whoever feels like-like just what's our operational?
How do we move forward with that currently?
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Fruin: Erika Kubly can help me answer that.
Harmsen: Thank you.
Kubly: Hello,Erika Kubly with neighborhood services. So if you're looking at the two definitions,if you
go right below that,we have the definition and eligibility. So we started-we developed emerging
aid-to-agencies for new nonprofits,but it kind of evolved, and now the,uh, eligibility is aiding
nonprofit agency that is not receiving legacy funding in a given fiscal year, and must be a 5016.
So we don't really have specific new definition.
Salih: But why we're having still the word emerging?Maybe I don't understand this very well,but
emerging, I saw this team.
Harmsen: I think that's- I think that.
Salih: It's confusing.
Harmsen: It's a fair thing that we-not you personally.We,because we approve these definitions. So this
is on us,the council,not our staff,that we approve these definitions.
Salih:No. But if they can get, I mean,if we can get,we need to can and then we say,hey,this is open to
any nonprofit organization who's not currently, like,receiving,legacy fund. That's it.But when,
like, a lot people will say,like,emerging,okay,I'm going to wait for the emerging.And
sometimes even the staff themselves,they will say,okay,thinks you will be great for emerging.
I've been hearing that like many times when a number of organization ask say,this will be a great
application for emerging.
Fruin: So, if I can jump in and Erica,you can correct my recollection if it's not- if I'm off,but when this
was created,when the Council created the emerging agencies, and I think it was the 2018
resolution that's in the packet,there was a strict definition,uh, and that said that,uh,have not
existed as a legal entity for at least two years,uh,or have not received aid to agency funding in
the last five years. And my guess is what happens is those that are ineligible,maybe right outside
that window, apply some political pressure,apply,you know,put their best case forward. And we
feel like,boy,you've got a really-you've got a good point, so we're going to continue to expand
this definition. More and more people are,uh, available,um,eligible to apply.And you kind of
create the system we have now where it's no longer really emerging to your point. It's just those
that aren't eligible for legacy. So,um,that's a pretty common thing with a lot of the grant
programs that we've offered,but specifically aid to agency is that there's always going to be
agencies that don't get full funded. There's always going to be other agencies that are left outside.
And there's always going to be political pressure to expand, expand,expand. And as Councilor
Alter said,the money can't expand as fast as we've expanded this program, and it waters it down
for,um,those other entities.
Salih: I think the people who are going to apply at that time for emerging.Not all of them will be guest in,
like, five or two years. Some of them will be like more than that. I understand your point. So,
that's fine. We can fund them too.But if do we give the priority for their emerging,if they receive
fund before from the same part? That's what I'm asking. If we're saying emerging and were
saying five organizations applied,two of them are emerging,but three of them are existing. Do
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we fund those first and after that,especially if those three organization has been funded before as
emerging? That's the thing that I want to talk about because I just feel that's not the case right now
from what I'm seeing.
Teague: I wanted to maybe add and maybe not that same train of thought of though.
Harmsen: Thank you.
Teague: Defining the qualifications,I do think we need to continue that discussion of who's eligible,Um,
but do we ever consider entities entire financial outlook? So if someone applied.
Harmsen: That's a good question.
Teague: Do we ever look at their reserves?
Moe: Yeah.
Alter: HCDC,yeah.
Moe: Part of the joint-it's part of the joint application.
Alter: Yeah.
Teague: Okay.
Harmsen: And you thought you were done. Sorry.
Teague: Yes.
Moe: Yeah,you get the whole financial.
Kubly: Yes, so good question.For the United Way Joy application,we ask for,uh,a budget and financial
statements. The emerging application is less intense, so we might not-we might ask for a budget,
but it won't be as detailed.
Teague: So- so for an entity's overall financial picture,you get that.
Kubly: Yes. For legacy agencies,we do.
Teague; Okay. So you'll see whatever stocks and all that other stuff that they have?
Kubly: Yes.
Teague: Okay.
Salih: And I'm sorry,but how do you see that? I know that in the application,you ask about,did you-the
City fund you before,would tell us all the fund that you have received. But if those,we will have
$100,000 in their saving account,how do you see that?
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Kubly: So we asked for the budget,uh,for a few,I think for three years. And then a lot of times we're
also collecting their audits-their financial audits over time, if that's applicable.
Harmsen: For legacy agencies.
Kubly: Yeah
Salih: But if the agency,like receiving less than $15,000 collected audit.But still,for the application, I
don't think I saw-I fill out that application before, and I don't see there is none of the question
will show you their bank statement. The Budget always doesn't consider that you don't see in the
budget. You will suggest the operation budget for the years,but you don't see if they have
reserved or not.
Kubly: There-there is-I believe it does ask that. There is a copy of the application in your packet. I'd
have to go look.
Salih: Yeah,to know [inaudible]
Fruin: So Page 59, I think, speaks to that. In addition, an audit would absolutely cover what you're talking
about,but Page 59,uh,looks like it asked for operating reserve balance, other reserves,um,
endowment balances. Um, so I-I think there is a,um.
Salih: If the audit is not-you don't have to submit the audit with applications,unless this is something
new.
Fruin: Yeah.
Kubly: We have an internal policy about audits. I can't remember offhand,but if-I think if you-it's a
certain dollar amount threshold that we require audits,um,for agencies.
Salih: Yeah, if the agency receive more than $15,000 required because the audit cost$10,000, and I think
that's also we should talk about that. Like,if we require an agency to provide an audit,the audit
cost$10,000.And if we're giving that organization $10,000 or even $20,000,do we really require
audit?Because this is going to really-they're going to take from the opinion,especially this
general operation money. So they use it for audit and everything. It will be really a burden on the
organization, and we should-
Fruin: That policy has been in front of the council. It's probably been a few years,but I do recall that that
audit policy has been a subject of conversation at this table. I just don't remember how recent that
was.
Teague: Is the audit-why am I thinking it has to be $500,000 or more?
Salih:No.
Teague: The agency has to-
Salih: Make.No, I think they just change it. If you know, I don't know,the staff can help me on that, I
guess. Remember they just change it to 50. If you receive,uh 15-20 maybe less than 25,000,you
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don't need an audit or 15,000. I don't recall it.But not everyone. And I guess even if we have an
audit-requiring an audit for somebody receive 15,because for the ad to agency,the minimum
you can receive is 15,000. That's the minimum.You cannot receive less than 15. So if-if
somebody receive 15,why we require an audit?
Moe: Well,they probably use the audit for multiple applications. I mean,I used to do the joint application
for United Way, and we looked at all of the financials.I think there's two different groups,
though. There's the small groups and the large groups is what I'm hearing,that they reviewed
differently. The large book groups,the legacy agencies, absolutely need to have their financial in
order.
Salih: Of course,the financial,that's not an audit.
Moe: That's the-the smaller ones,um, I think that what I just heard is they have slightly different
requirements. Is that-am I-sorry,if I'm misunderstanding part of this conversation,but there's
two groups of- of how we're looking.Big organizations need to have an audit so that-
Salih: Big organization always have an audit.
Moe: Right and that's-that's
Salih: Because you receive big grant,or receive grant.
Moe: Right.
Salih: If you receive federal grant,you have to have.
Moe: Great.
Salih: But an organization that-who doesn't receive federal grant, are just like a small organization, their
better get this less.
Moe: Sure.
Salih: And they receive around 15,000 or even 25,000 if the-if the City of Iowa City require an audit,that
means there is $10,000 minus$10,000.No CPA can do an audit for less than that.
Moe: Right. Right. I guess I'm still unclear. Do we require the small agencies to have a full audit?
Salih: I- I don't think so,but the staff can.
Kubly: I can't remember the specific thresholds,but the- the larger agencies it's based on their total
budget.
Moe: Right.
Kubly: The larger agencies would be required to provide their audit. The smaller agencies, it would be
more of like a year-end financial statement approved by their board.
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Moe: : Right.
Kubly: So when it will be a full audit that's very expensive.
Salih: Yes,it is not,like, a big audit.
Alter: Is it- Sir,I was going to say, is it fair to say almost,I mean,there are so many complexities to
HCDC that maybe we have another conversation about it or have it has its own. Um,but I was
wondering, and I don't want to cut off what Mayor Pro Tem was talking about,because I mean,
there are a lot of nots in all this.
Salih: I don't think we can. We can continue.
Alter: I just think that it's- it's something that we should give the due weight. One thing that I wanted to
put forward that is separate from that,but is across. I mean, it was one of the things that
engendered us having this conversation was about all the different grants and the possibility or-or
the actuality of the same agencies. Perhaps getting multiple awards,perhaps in the same year or-
and then it becomes a self-not self-fulfilling thing,but,you know,the more that-that an agency-
success,but got success,is what I'm trying to say. In some cases, agencies were- some agencies
are in front of minds,um,or are really good at putting grants through, etc. So one of the things
that might be possible, and I go back to communication is, is it possible?And I-I wrote down,
um,when each of these,um, commissions sort of offers up and their submission times. And it
ranges-it's basically it's kind of late winter into spring. Wondering if it's possible that before it
gets in front of, and it might be HCDC,that's the first,but- or HRC maybe December. At some
point in advance of that,just like there was this printout of,like,you know,just the table of what
awards there were for the past two years across all of the different commissions so that each
commission can see it.Um, and can kind of maybe fill in and say,what was the project?And I
think that that,too. I was like actually looking at HRCs social,um, Equity and Racial Justice
Award, and they are very specific. They say it multiple times about this being your project. It's
not for operational. It's-it's also not saying,we recognize that you do a lot of good. Here's some
money to do good. It really is, like,pinpoint this to a project,which can be kind of persnickety for
an organization that says,we stand up a lot of different projects. Well, I mean,maybe it really is
that we clarify in the language or ask the HRC to clarify in their application to say,we really want
you to-you Meghan's nonprofit to focus on a project that you want to stand up or a series of
projects, and please describe them or what have you,just so that there is that clarity. I go back to
what Mayor Pro Tem said about clarity in the application. And at the same time,that we've got
three orga-three commissions that are very specific public art,which I mean,it's nice that that's
kind of in the title,right?Public art,climate action, and then HRC. And I think if it's just- if
there's a way to both allow communication so that- all the commissions actually do get a
historical sense across- [OVERLAPPING] To see what has been awarded,um,there might be
then sort of a diamond in the rough that they look at and go,you know,why not give a flyer on
that one,right? So I think that that could be useful information for all of the commissions to have.
And hopefully,that wouldn't be all that difficult to pull together and to do it in advance of the
submissions.Might that be one way that we could sort of get at that problem of-of
communication gaps and people not knowing necessarily where monies are going to.
Bergus: Yeah, I actually was going to request the same thing. I think having just that little historical table
of these are the awards that the city has put forward and just what organizations and what dollar
amounts over the last, say,three years. Because I know all of us have received significant
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feedback of people saying,it's the same organizations over and over. It's the same,you know,
whatever, over and over. And- and the awards that we have in our packet,to me,don't bear that
out.And so I think it's really helpful just to have that transparency to be able to show people, and
for the commissioners to also take,you know,provide whatever weight is appropriate to the
feedback that I'm sure they are getting as well of it's the same,you know,kind of thing over and
over. And it may be the,take a chance on something new, or it may be we really like the outcome
of this. You know, and-
Alter: or actually,we didn't.
Bergus: Yeah. So I think that would be really helpful.And then my only other comment or kind of overall
suggestion question for staff is the-I know the joint application is,like, a touchy subject. And,
um,it is one of those things that has just-because it is-it's so comprehensive so that it can be that
entry point for so many different programs. And I just don't know with our-with our much
simpler,more streamlined applications,which are those that aren't the HCDC ones.Um,is there a
possibility to,you know, enable an organization who's already filled out the joint application to
say, all the information of this is,you know,essentially, I'm going to be duplicating it here. I don't
know if that really makes a lot of sense as far as a request,but just from an organizational
standpoint, as they go through,you know,just having to duplicate the same data in a different
format over and over and over again. Just for-.
Alter: I see.
Bergs: Yeah. Yeah. So that's just it.
Harmsen: The Purgatory of grant applications.
Bergus: Yeah. Yeah.
Salih: I agree with that. I just find the-the finance's statement requirement. So for agency provide less
than 100,000,then the city require a year-end financial statement approved by the Agency
Director or Board of Directors.And for agency budget,between 100,000 and 499,000,uh,the
city requires financial statement review by Independent Certified Public Accounting in
accordance with general accepted audit standards annually.But for the agency more than 5,000,
they make-move their budget more than 500,000,uh,they require an annual audit accordance
with the general accept an audit standard. Yeah.
Harmsen: So there are some different standards based on this-
Salih: Exactly by that budget.
Teague: So it sounds like an accounting firm can do between 100 and 100 and- 500,000, um and most
people have to do taxes, so-
Salih: Yes.
Teague: That would be acceptable. I did want to get back to Councilor Bergus,um,mentioning of and
following up to other conversations relating to just having a historical,um,picture for those that
are doing the grant making or a grant review of past awardees in that description. I heard three
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years pass. But I can-but- I wonder if people would have other numbers associated with how far
we would go back.
Dunn: I think five would be a good number.
Salih: What?
Alter: That's a lot.
Dunn: Five. Just five years of-.
Harmsen: I want to just ask.
Salih: And after that like,the BOZ or how?After five year.
Dunn: Just showing-
Harmsen: Just showing last five years. So will be one more to the commission 21.
Salih: Oh,five years. Yeah. I agree.
Harmsen: Just one thing. We're making an assumption they don't get this information now. I just want to
make sure. Would this be a new thing that they have on the-you've been on that process?
Alter: Yeah. I mean, actually, I just want to say, Oh,yeah, current because I'm no longer there. I
apologize.
Teague: Um,my assumption is they do see the-the prior year awardees,because I think I've seen that on-
Harmsen: But maybe only of their own commission. So we're suggesting our own big picture.
Alter: Yeah.
Harmsen: Just as a piece of information they can have as part of their deliberations. And from having
listened-gone back and listened to some of those deliberations, and by the way,you know,thank
you to the commissioners that do that hard work. That is-that is a tough task, and it's always
tough to be. We know because we also make those funding decisions up here, and we know how
tough that is.Um,but,you know, sometimes those conversations are really, like, sort of, like,you
know,really close to a 50150 balance. They're trying to figure out which way to go. This piece of
information might be helpful with that. So I think that's,you know, I think-I- I agree with that.
Salih: But what that means? I really don't understand,like, okay, show us last five years, okay?
Alter: Each commission gets the awards that were like,for the public art, climate action,HCDC and
HRC. That information is in one packet, and it's distributed to each of those commissions, so they
can see if public art gave money to this organization, and it's a course.
Salih: I understand what you're saying.But what that means,um, I saw it occupying. I still as a
commissioner. I want to give those people again.
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Alter: That's possible.
Salih: You know,that's what I mean,like, do you guys-when you say,okay,they have to see it?What the
philosophy?Why you want them to see it now? Do we have a goal of-to send it to them so they
can see it,okay,then?Do you understand where I'm coming from?
Alter: I don't-I don't. I mean, I think that then,I mean,they're going to wear it on its merits of the project,
but there might be a case where they're like,it's a hard decision. And well,this-this entity has not
gotten money,let's give it to them. I'm just saying it's another data point for them.
Salih: Yeah,but if that wasn't the case,I- I guess, like,thinking we recommending to make like five-five
years of budget to every commissioner before they can do that. Okay?Why? Why we as a council
is doing that?
Bergus: I would just say it's for transparency.
Salih: I don't know if you understand where I'm coming from.
Bergus: Yeah. Yeah.But I think it's just for transparency. It's not to say, so because we want them to
continue to give money to the same organizations who have received it, and it's not to say
because we only want new organizations. It is just to say,hey,we want to know as stewards of
public funds who's been receiving them, and in what amount? That's it.
Salih: But that question is already on the applications for-
Bergus: No,no. This is for,like,the staff would give it to the commissioners in there before they start
reviewing applications. So it's like the-the charts that are in our packet.
Harmsen: Page,uh,13.
Bergus: So it's not for the applicants to have to provide? It's for city staff to give historical information of
what has been granted out. So the applicants don't have to do anything additional.
Salih: I'm not talking about the applicant. I'm talking about the city have a question in the application
asking the applicant to provide if they receive funds from-as a source in the city.And they are
listing it. So as a commissioner, I'm seeing that,even if the staff did not give it to me. It said on
the bus,three year or one year,I'm not-I don't remember,but I don't know if you understand,
they already provide that. That's already in the application.
Bergus: And I think why wouldn't we want to give more transparency.
Salih: Fine. Yeah.But it have to have a goal.
Bergus: Yeah.
Salih: As a Counsel,we are doing it.
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Bergus: Yeah. Personally. It's because what people have said to me,which is the same organize- same
few people keep getting the same money over and over and over again. Without these lists, I
wouldn't have known that that was incorrect. So I feel like our commissioners deserve that same
level of information.
Teague: And- and what I will say is that it is in the application, and it's just drawn out at least for that
particular cohort of those grant-grant applicants,is pulling all that out of the written form into,
like, a little chart.But it also shows for the entire city organization, grants that have been funded
through other commissions that they're not sitting on. So- so I guess the question is,it sounds like
is that something that Counsel wants to go ahead and approve?And we also have the description.
Like, do we feel that it is critical to have the description?And of course,we would have to for-
yeah, description of what the funds were for. A quick because I heard that as well.
Dunn: Sure.
Teague: A quick description.And are we going to just make that moving forward?Maybe just go to the
past fiscal 25 year grants to have the description, and then just moving forward, ask that be
included over a five year period?
Dunn: I think that sounds great.
Fruin: We can easily add that. That's not on. We can go back five years and add the purpose of the grant.
That's not a problem.
Teague: Okay. Okay.And are we comfortable? Are we wanting to do five years for now? We can always
change our minds in a little bit.
Harmsen: I think that looks for.
Teague: Okay.
Fruin: Five years is fine.
Teague: Okay.
Fruin: And we can grow at it every year. You know,we don't have to drop off a year. We can just keep
six year, seven year, eight years.
Teague: Okay.
Salih: Yeah I think on the application three years,if I'm not mistaken five year will be good.
Teague: Okay.
Fruin: And I just want to clarify,you're only talking about these four grant programs. So if a agency also
received funds for some one time offering that we had or we sponsored some special event that
they held,I mean,we can go down. Well,there's a lot of[OVERLAPPING]
Alter: For simplicity,these are occurring annual event.
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Fruin: That would be a lot easier because we do-we support nonprofits in other ways,too.
Bergus: To me,the distinction is for these are approved by our commissions, and they're looking at the
applications as opposed to the,you know, different criteria. But maybe someday,we do want to
just look at a payee sheet of,you know, every organization and interesting.
Fruin: Yeah.
Salih: Sorry.But I think what you said Jeff, is you mean like yes,the city sometimes it is a project. You're
supporting that organization for that project,but that's not necessarily going to the commissioner,
right?
Fruin: Correct.
Salih: Yeah. Okay,I don't think really,like,because the people who know about this grant,they go to the
website and say,we're talking about that.But if another number of the organization,they want to
do something, and the cities really does will fulfill the goal of the city itself in our strategic plan
or something like that. I think that's another story. We don't have to talk about that.But for the
recurrent grant that we have.
Teague: So,Council,we have about 10 minutes left, and I recognize that this is a huge conversation, and
we may not finish it today,but wondering if we can zone in on maybe a few other concerns or
suggestions that we might make at this time.
Harmsen: One thing,just kind of circling back in my intercommunications,professor and also Mayor Pro
Tem's concern about sort of an accidental confusion we might be causing,just calling some
things emergency agency-emerging agencies. And then that new in there,would it be one
possible path for to fix that very specific problem,just call them non legacy versus legacy
agencies?
Moe: I believe that's-I was thinking that same thing is that there should be a binary. It's legacy and not
legacy. And if you've been around for a while,maybe been dormant,but now have a new great
program you want to offer,why would we not say, if this is really in alignment with a strategic
plan, or if you're brand new?
Dunn: I like that.
Moe: That just cleans it up and because we know that there are organizations that get new boards and new
vigor that all of a sudden do new great things, and I wouldn't want to exclude them, so just.
Harmsen: And that's actually consistent with the new criteria. It's just the title is still is emerging-
emerging, and as to Mayor Pro Tem's point,that is inherently confusing to somebody who's like,
Well,why is this person and not that person? So we could fix that pretty easily. I'd think.
Moe: Yeah.
Harmsen: Does that make sense? That it's just[OVERLAPPING]
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Alter: Legacy?No legacy.
Teague: And just for conversation purposes. So the initial definition for the emergent agency. It had not
funded within five years, and it was not existed.
Alter: Is it five? I thought it was two years.
Teageu: No two years.No. It was not funded for five years. Not funded within five years. Look on page
3.
Harmsen: What I'm looking at? So there's the old ordinance, and there's the new one. The new one's on
page 47.
Teague: Yes. So I was referring to the old.
Harmsen: Okay. I'm sorry.
Teague: So what is the old so that I'm clear?
Salih: And what is the new?
Harmsen: Okay. So just for make sure I maybe have this right. There was the one that was passed back in
2018. And then in just December 12,2023,we actually changed some stuff. And so the one that's
currently in play,the one that currently exists,is the 2023 version, and that's described on page 47
of the packet. So those were-I have that correct, don't I?
Fruin: Yes.
Harmsen: Okay.
Fruin: The old definition is on page 41.
Harmsen: And then the one that we're currently using is on page 47.
Salih: And what's the difference?
Harmsen: I think the definition of eligibility is one of the things that changed between those two,that we
changed.
Salih: Like how many years or it doesn't say?
Harmsen: No. It doesn't say years anymore in the new one.
Moe: Simply says any not for profit agency that is not receiving legacy funding in a given fiscal year.
Like,what we've just described,we would like the categories to be. The definition is already
there. We just have the title at the top making it misleading.
Salih: But I still like the old one to be added even though if we change the names because really, I think
we need to recognize,you know, like the five-years-old organization-under five-years-old
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organizations by like the,because when you apply and you submit your budget,you will see that
there is many question,in many grants,what funding did you apply for?And you say, for
example,this,you know,Johnson County, and how much you got.Also, I apply and zero. And,
you know,this.And if your own community is not supporting you,why another community
foundation should support you,because when they see that you got funded,that means that
people see your work on the ground. So I think we at least we should fund the agency that less
than five years. I like the criteria from the old one to be added. The new one. Like the one that
you just sat here on that.
Teague: Right.
Salih:Notes.
Teague: So one of the questions I have is,or I think what you're getting at is,is there a way for the
Counsel to frame some parameters for commissioners to have a minimum in my mind of there
needs to be at least one or two folks that,you know,haven't existed for two years that must be a
part of this award?Because I don't know that we would want to exclude anyone that's not a new
and existing agency through these funds.
Salih:No,you still.But if they already get it, I said it earlier. Look at,you know, at the people who did
not get funded in the past five years.For example,if not all of them will be,we are not having,
like every organization pop up every year. We don't have a lot of of them.But if there is four
organization applied, and one of them are new, and the other four still lets them four years,but
they get it two times or one times.Yeah. So we can just give,like,the new organizations.
Alter: Well,now that's kind of just-just. I apologize for sounding so blunt. That's like pre judging what
the applications are and what the needs are,right?If we're saying we're going to
[OVERLAPPING]
Salih:No,of course after they meet the needs,you know. Of course after all this,like if all of them meet
the need, all of them have great programs. Of course. This is after you evaluate all this.How do
you differentiate when you come a fund? If both of them applied,both of them have great
program because that's going to be determined by the commissioner. They read the applications,
the staff read the application, and now both of them are good applications. How do we
differentiate?
Alter: Right.
Salih: How we-how we fund,yeah.
Alter: Yeah. I think we were just I mean,my understanding, and it sounds like this is a different
conversation. I was simply about the name of how we were going to designate those, and that it
would be inclusive of both new and of ones who have been less than five years,but have been
given funds,right?I mean,it's a bucket.
Harmsen: So I guess-I guess there's two-I hear two conversations. One is, do we want to keep the things
we just changed it to last December?And I think-I think everybody. Well, actually,no,not. So I
guess that I guess,two of us sitting here now weren't part of that vote,Andrew and Councilor
Moe. So the rest of us voted on that last December,the new standards,the current standards that
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are in place,which broadened beyond just the emerging. So that was,like- so yeah, so I mean
that's, so that's one thing. Do we want to keep a category that is specifically targeting emerging
agencies because they are new? Or do we want to open up that?And so to do you know, so I
think that's a different conversation. I think that's probably one that I'd like to spend some more
time just sort of reflecting upon rather than-than trying to direct staff tonight on something like
that, as opposed to the stuff that we have ready. So I'd be watching the clock too,Mayor.
Teague: Yeah. So what I would suggest is that we put this on a future work session. And we'll come back
to it.Are people okay with that?
Salih: All right,Yes.
Fruin: Can I summarize this real quick so we're clear?You just want to place the HCDC process on the
work session, correct? Or you want it all for grant programs? Okay.
Salih: Are we clear about, for example, did we talk about,like,the criteria,the requirement of the grant,
like the Human Rights Commission Grant, for example?
Fruin: I believe we're clear. I believe the materials are very clear. But that's ultimately you guys have to
decide.
Salih: What do we change in for that?
Teague: Nothing changed on that. I think if we're going to continue this conversation, then we would just
have this memo back in there.
Salih: Yes.
Teague: Or have the same topic.
Fruin: The only thing I would caution is once you start diving deep into particularly the AID agencies, at
some point,you should really think about engaging HCDC. They spend a lot of time diagnosing
this grant program. They've recently had a subcommittee that analyzed it and made some tweaks.
You may benefit from a focused conversation that includes those members, a joint work session,
and allow staff to kind of participate in more of a round table type of discussion. Would be my
suggestion before you go in and you just start making a lot of changes. I think the commissioners
could probably offer some valuable input.
Alter: I think it's a great suggestion. We've done it with P&Z and with TRC and with others. So it makes
sense too have them in.
Teague: All right, so we'll figure out when they can come to a work session.
Fruin: Yeah, I'll work with staff. We'll figure out the right timing. Keep in mind,we've already released
the application for the joint applications been released. So we have some time if we want to focus
on emerging changes this year,but the legacy process is well underway.
Bergus: And we did vote unanimously in December 2023,just to remind ourselves.
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Alter: Yes.
Salih: Yeah.
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7. Council Updates on assigned boards, commissions and committees.
Teague: Great. All right. We'll just hit number 7. Counsel updates on assigned boards,commissions, and
committees.
Harmsen: John Kenyon already stole my thunder.
Teague: All right. Yes,he did. All right. We are adjourned from work session, and we'll be back at 6:00
P.M. For our formal meeting.
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