HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-20 TranscriptionIowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
(audio and video recordings can be found at https,//citychanne]4.com/city-council.html)
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[00:00:21]
[MUSIC] Good evening, everyone. It is
[00:00:23]
Iowa City City Council Formal Agenda And Regular Formal Meetings. It is May 2025 at 6:05. We're going
to start the meeting and call the meeting on order.
(00:00:411
We need a roll call the source.
[00:00:421
Roll call. Sorry. Alter. Bergus.
[00:00:481
Here.
100:00:49]
Harmsen.
[00:00:50]
Here.
[00:00:50]
Moe.
(00:00:51]
Here.
[00:00:52]
Salih.
[00:00:53]
Here.
[00:00:531
Teague. He's online. Weilein?
[00:01:00]
Here.
[00:01:03]
Normally, we're looking for a verbal response from folks who are online. Mayor, can you hear us?
Page 1
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based
Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting
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[00:01:09]
You are muted, Mayor. He's still muted. Now is unmute.
[00:01:28]
Mayor.
[00:01:28]
You -you hear us, Mayor?
[00:01:35]
1 don't think he can hear.
[00:01:371
Okay.
[00:01:37]
I'll text him.
[00:01:42]
Are there rules preventing us to start without them.
[00:01:461
We have a quorum, but we just want to make sure.
100:01:51]
Sure. We can do either. We could move forward with the proclamations, so those aren't votes, of
course, or we can wait for the mayor to make sure we get him on whatever the presiding officers
preferences. That's Mayor Pro Tem.
[00:02:03]
Okay, sure. I think we can.
[00:02:061
Hello. Can you all hear me, wait?
[00:02:08]
Yes, we can now.
[00:02:10)
1 can't hear you?
Page 2
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based
Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting
recordings.
[00:02:121
Yes. We're doing roll call.
[00:02:141
I'm sorry, Mayor, did you just say you cannot hear us?
[00:02:171
Now, Ican.
(00:02:191
Oh, great.
[00:02:20]
Okay. Thank you.
[00:02:21]
Yeah. Okay. Second item is Proclamations. And this is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Whereas
every day, 125 people in United States are killed by gun violence and more than 260 are shot and
wounded, with an average of more than 19,000 gun homicide every year. And whereas, Iowa has an
average of 343 gun deaths every year with a rate of 10.7 deaths bear 100,000 people. A crisis that costs
the state 4.2 billion each year, of which, 53 million is paid by taxpayer. Iowa has the 42nd highest rate of
gun deaths in the US. And whereas support for second amendment right of law abiding resident goes
hand in hand with keeping gun away from those who are dangers to themselves or other. And whereas
elected official and law enforcement officer in partnership with local variance, intervention, activit-
activists, and resources, know their committee- their communities best, and the most- and the most
familiar with local crime- criminal activity, and how to address it. And our best position to understand
how to keep their community members safe. And Whereas gun violence prevention is more important
than ever as we see gun violence continue to impact communities across the country. And whereas in
January 2013, Hadia Bandalton was tragedically shot and killed at age 15, and on June 6, 2025 to
recognize the 28th birthday of Hadia born June 2nd 1997. People across the United States would
recognize national gun violence Awareness Day and wear orange in trouble to Hadia and other victims
of gun voiolence and the loved ones of those victims. And whereas, we renew our commitment to
reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearm out of the hand of people who should
not have access to them and encourage responsible gun own ownership to help keep our families and
communities safe. Now, there four, I'm Mazahir Salih, the Mayor Pro Tern in behalf of Bruce Teague
Mayor of Iowa City, do here by Brookle first Friday in June, which is June 6, 2025, to be National Gun
Violence Awareness Day in Iowa City, and encourage all residents to support their local communities
offered to prevent the tragic effect of gun violence and honor a value human right- Iowa human lives.
Thank you. Here to present- to accept his current greens. [APPLAUSE] Okay. Thank you so much.
(00:06:061
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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Uh, thank you so much. I'm proud to accept this proclamation from you. Um, and just to reiterate that
Friday June 6 is officially Gun Violence Awareness Day, and it's celebrated through the weekend. And
that day and the weekend are dedicated to raising awareness about gun violence. And this weekend
also honors the countless lives taken by gun violence. Firearms are the leading cause of death for
American children and teens. We undo better to prevent senseless acts of gun violence by promoting
common sense gun safety. Thank you so much.
[00:06:561
Thank you.
[00:06:57]
Thank you. [APPLAUSE]
[00:07:02)
Hi, I'm less Lang with Johnson County, CVI. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your
continued support and partnership. And, um, also wanted to thank you also for the resources that the
Iowa City Police Department is continually providing the CVI program. We've had a very busy couple of
years, and we're getting ready to head into our third year, um, with quite a bit of success in
organization. So thank you very much.
[00:07:28]
Thank you. [APPLAUSE]
(00:07:34]
Item three is Consent Agenda. May I have a motion to approve Consent Agenda Item 3-7, please.
[00:07:41]
So move moved, Moe.
[00:07:42]
Second Harmsen.
[00:07:43]
Moved by Moe second by Harmsen. Public discussion. Is anyone in the public who would like to discuss
anything on the consent agenda? If not, council discussion. Okay. Roll call, please?
[00:08:04]
Bergus?
[00:08:04]
Yes.
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[00:08:051
Harmsen?
[00:08:06]
Yes.
100:08:06]
Moe?
100:08:06]
Yes.
[00:08:07)
Salih?
[00:08:071
Yes.
[00:08:08]
Teague?
[00:08:091
Yes.
[00:08:10]
Weilein? yes
[00:08:12]
Okay, motion passes six to zero. Now we're gonna go to Item Number 8 is community common. Only in -
person comment will be allowed for community comment. Public comment for a specific agenda item,
which must be directly related to the agenda item may be made in -person or remotely. Any public
comment?
[00:08:471
Good evening. My name is Martha Norbeck. Some of you may know me as the green architect who
comes talks to you a lot. Um, I would like to talk to you this evening about 21 South Lynn. Um, I was, um,
surprised, as maybe many of you were to go 3-1 proposal in a pretty short order. Um, I am very excited
about the Graham rail proposal. I think it has a lot of really good, um, components to it, um, committing
to full building electrification, affordable housing, the mixed use, um, solar panels proposed for the roof.
I mean, there's a lot of good things about this proposal. I am concerned, however, this process kind of
aftervery methodically going through, um, public connection, um, now we've done multiple work
sessions, and now we're here. And in the last work section, it was sort of like, Hey, tell us, you know,
Page 5
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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what do you want to make sure is in this contract, and we're just going to proceed with the contract.
And it just felt like, we got this little hiccup. Like, we didn't get a public engagement to the actual
proposals. And I think there is a lot- as I said, there's a lot of really good things to talk about. And I'm
thrilled they're not asking for TIF. But at the same time, they are asking for a million -and -a -half dollar
discount on the property, which is not insignificant. And I think there is some room for accountability of
talking about with the city values. Despite all the assertions of the things that are going to be done from
a sustainability standpoint, there is no language in the proposal that says, we are gonna hold ourselves
accountable to our goals in these ways. There's nothing that says, we're gonna do an energy model to
demonstrate we've exceeded the energy code by 25%. There's no target of we're gonna reduce our
embodied carbon by 10-15%. There's no commitment to we're actually gonna calculate our water use
reduction. Um, so these are things that are important to the sustainability that were baked into that
conversation we had last summer about the TIF proposal. And I understand they're not asking for TIF, so
your leverage is different, but it's still a million -and -a -half dollars. And so I would love to see a league
commitment. And I realize that as a league consultant, it sounds like I have a vested interest in this, but I
can tell you that OPM definitely won't hire me to do the league consulting on this project. They are
perfectly capable of doing this themselves. And the reason the lead is important is because it's a third
party checking these things. And I- I am able to use that leverage as a league consultant to communicate
with the client. You can change this way, and this way and tug and tug and pull and pull. And these were
the goals you said when things were glorious three months ago, and now it's hard, but how do we still
get the goal you set three months ago? So I urge you to evaluate that and hopefully open up for public
comment. Thank you.
[00:11:56]
Thank you. Anyone else?
(00:12:021
Hi, Sharon Degras. I have a small request that I think can add up to be meaningful, which is in a
discussion on last Friday about affordable housing. One person asked if the money that there's money in
an account for affordable and low income housing that the city has set aside. When that money accrues
interest, where does that interest money go? I believe it should go back into the account and be applied
for low income and affordable housing projects, rather than be allocated for something else that the city
might like to do. So I guess my request is, would there be five council members that would approve or
initiate the process to talk about that and get that going? That's it. Thank you.
[00:12:53]
Anyone else?
[00:13:09]
1 hope I'm not speaking out of turn. This is for what's not on the agenda, right?
[00:13:13]
What's not on the agenda, yeah
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[00:13:15]
Okay. Well, my thing- my name is Mary Grable. And I'm here for my neighbors. In order to punish the
tenement, our landlord is taking away our laundry and he sent us two emails. The first email stated that
the tenants which Keystone had evicted the prior week had come back and robbed the laundry over
there, there washing the dryer. And they told us as the tenants in the next building to look out for him.
The second email stated that our former neighbor had come back, robbed and vandalized our washers
and driers. And- and as a result of this, he was going to remove our appliances our washer and drier and
close the laundry down. And we'll be without laundry service. And the robberies would not occur if he
had used electronic tokens or a swipe card. And we complained about this. And the emails also stated
how these robberies had been occurring. He said the email said. I don't know- I know who wrote it, but
I'm saying the email said from Keystone that attendants had been propping open the door with stones.
And in the case of my building using the loose door mats for this purpose, and thousands of dollars were
spent on locks. In case of my building, which is a twin to the the neighboring building, first, the
installation of locks, they put two- we have three entrances. They put two locks on three entrances, so
that when I asked them and told them this was not enough, they told me they didn't have enough
money for the third lock, and the tenants had to wait. And in the meantime, despite the warnings
posted by Keystone, the land- some of the tenants and their guests still coming to the our building, using
the mats to prop the doors open. And, uh, and I have all the tenants- older tenants, so we have
complained about this, and Keystone won't pay us any attention. So there's people that come and run
through the building, loud people, people smoking marijuana. We complain, nothing is done. And even
the tenants are afraid to call the police. They said the police won't pay them any attention. But as a
result of all of Keystone's inaction, we're going to lose our laundry. And we need our laundry, because
we live on the east side, there's no public laundry there except in other apartment buildings. And so I
think something should be done. We shouldn't be punished? We're paying our rent, and we're doing
everything that tenants should do. And this is why I complained to Keystone. And like I said, the tenants
are afraid to call the police, people running through the building. And it took me a long time to get the
locks on the doors. But with the matt still there, they just prop the door open, walk in, walk out, they
don't pay rent. Why should we have to subsidize people who are criminals coming in and, you know, just
coming in, causing trouble for us. Thank you.
[00:16:57]
Anyone else? Okay
[00:17:041
We're going to go to item. Do we close a public comment?
[00:17:08]
No, you're ready to go to 9.a. Yes.
[00:17:09]
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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I was just lowering my microphone because it's my understanding that Councilor Alter has joined the
meeting electronically. I'm just looking for verbal confirmation from her for that.
(00:17:211
Council Alter, are you there?
[00:17:27]
Sorry. Can you hear me?
[00:17:29]
Now we can. Yeah.
[00:17:301
Thank you. It took me a moment to unmute. No. Thank you.
[00:17:33]
No problem. Okay. I think were going to go to Item number 10.a. 9.a.
[00:17:40]
9.a. I'm sorry. I'm skipping. Okay. Rising of North Governor Street. An ordinance conditionally rezoning
approximately five b f nine acres of property located between North Dutch and North Governor Street
for medium -density single-family residential zone, high -density single-family residential zone, medium -
density multi -family residential zone, and multi -family residential zone to high -density single-family
residential zone, with a planning development overlay for approximately 0.17 acres, and to medium
density, multifamily residential zone, with a planned develo- development overlay for approximately 5.2
acres. And this is our second consideration. May I have a motion to give second consideration?
[00:18:40]
So moved Moore.
[00:18:42]
Moved by Moore.
[00:18:42)
Second Bergus.
[00:18:44]
Second by Bergus Public discussion. Anyone in the public would like to address this?
[00:18:58]
Good evening, Councilor. So I'm Audrey Barrick from Iowa City. I want to acknowledge that the City
Council has been working hard on a difficult rezoning application, yet there are problematic aspects of
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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the process so far. Um, council is moving forward toward approval without having acknowledged let
alone discussed several major issues brought by the neighborhood, detailed in both correspondence and
in public presentations. Lest you believe the neighborhood consists of myself and only a few neighbors,
as stated by planning and zoning, it should be noted the neighborhood has overwhelmingly signed
protest petitions and entrusted myself and Sharon Degras to be representing them. They are attending
to the- their jobs and lives, but if angry villagers wielding pitchforks is what is needed here, and that's a
metaphor, not a threat, we can make that happen. City Council has stated the applicant should
reasonably expect the road to approval to be smooth and nearly automatic when PNZ have approved.
They state it would be inappropriate not to approve if an applicant has checked all the boxes, but P&Z
misrepresented and minimized our concerns in the consultation with Council and in stating the approval
process. And in stating the approval process should be nearly automatic. Council has overlooked that
there may be protest petitions coming in in the meantime leaving no room for the protest petitions to
matter. These petitions should influence your decision -making heavily. Do you we what has happened?
If PNZ has not listened accurately to the community, but Council should approve smoothly, if they
approve, who is responsible for answering to the community? The process is circular. The city received
26 petitions specifically protesting the loss of transitional zoning by the inclusion of 900 North Dodge
Street, Whether these separate petitions have legal standing or not, the neighborhood has chosen to
underscore their high level of concern by speaking out in this way, and the neighborhood deserves to be
heard. Citizens should be able to trust in the comprehensive plan and the zoning code, such that when
they buy a single-family home insulated on both sides, by single-family zoning, a large apartment
complex cannot be built immediately next door at the whim of a developer. Though so far has been no
acknowledgment of the loss of transitional zoning due to the inclusion of 900 North Dodge in the OPD.
In fact, the opposite is true, in my correspondence with the City Attorney and with senior planner, both
have denied the reality of the loss of transitional zoning. What is it that we're not understanding about
up -zoning to RM20? And the building rights now and in the future that come with that designation, and
Sharon Degras will continue.
[00:22:16]
All right. The letters from Audrey, I'm continuing it, and I've put my name in the basket. Given the city as
co -applicant, transparency in your process should be a high priority. It should be exemplary. yet the staff
report obfuscates the purpose of including 900 North Dodge, which is solely to create unused density,
which can be transferred to 84 units on the 911 property a block away. The report only hints that this is
so, in stating that as a condition of the zoning to the RM 20, it will be converted to a single unit to
comply with density requirements. Rezoning 900 North Dodge Street sets a bad precedent. Undermines
public trust and should be removed from the OPD. With the City as co -applicant, planning, and zoning
would have been under pressure to approve and did so. Planning and zoning appeared to have
approved the rezoning without having digested the major concerns raised by the community. In the May
6 City Council consultation, planning and zoning inaccurately reported a chief concern of the
neighborhood as being traffic, and then dismissed that this with development brings increased traffic.
The actual neighborhood concern here is safety. For both drivers and pedestrians and the lack of
infrastructure to support safety. Bringing such a large development to this land island, situated between
north and south one-way streets with aggressive double lane traffic, no crosswalks, and no safe
Page 9
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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pedestrian route, out- out is to entrench and exacerbate already unsafe conditions for 100 plus new
residents. A concern of the neighborhood clearly articulated in correspondence and oral presentations is
lack of pedestrian safety and lack of infrastructure to support the increased density. Access to public
transportation or to High V from the development requires walking across the two lanes of aggressive
Highway 1 traffic at a point of low visibility for drivers. Access to man, school requires the same or
cutting through the woods without a designated path. It is inappropriate to press forward with
development without addressing these inadequacies that likely rise to the level of illegalities. I believe
ADA requires new development to provide access to the public transportation and zoning code
specification- specifics, cops! Development occur where there is infrastructure to support it. I can we
that I have 10 seconds. I urge the Council not to move forward with approval. You could improve the
process with accuracy, systematically reflecting hearing, community concerns with collaboration with an
urban planner and address the complexities of safety, infrastructure, and density.
[00:25:24]
Thank you.
100:25:251
Thank you.
[00:25:271
Anyone else you'd like to address? Yeah, go ahead.
(00:25:301
Before we listen, anybody, I'm so sorry. We're getting weird feedback from the Pad here, and it's really
hard to like I'm trying to mute it myself, but it keeps unmuting itself. I'm not sure. I can hear everything
twice from the- okay. I'm not the only one. I'm not crazy.
[00:25:45]
I'm hearing it too.
[00:25:46]
Yeah, no, no.
[00:25:48]
Normally we go and make it like, but it give us this option. I don't know why. We should just do this and
I'd like to do that. That's good.
[00:26:15]
Thank you.
[00:26:191
1 think we just need to talk so we can hear if it's working or not.
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[0026:23]
They're talking there.
[00:26:26]
It sounds like maybe that's better.
[00:26:28]
That's better.
(00:26:29]
1 just want to make sure Za Mayer is hearing us, and also counsel.
[00:26:34]
1 can hear you. It does show that the host is Mike is on the Iowa City Host.
[00:26:431
Yeah, that's what I was trying to turn off, but then it would just turn itself back on.
[00:26:51]
When is muted, we can't hear you. When the host, Mike is muted, we can't hear you. Ah.
[00:26:56]
Thank you.
[00:27:01]
But now it's a problem.
[00:27:04)
Can you hear us now, Mayor?
[00:27:05]
Yes.
[00:27:061
Okay.
[00:27:061
Okay.
[00:27:07]
Okay, I think we can- we can learn at that.
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[00:27:101
And Megan- you can hear us, Megan.
[00:27:151
Yes, I can.
[00:27:15]
Alright. Great.
[00:27:17]
Thanks for.
100:27:18)
Alright. Yeah. Welcome.
[00:27:24)
Hi. My name is Mark Rookie, and my family brought the property on 1018 North Governor Street way
back in 1974 when I was 6-years-old. So I've lived on the north side of Iowa City for well over half a
century now for most of my life. Governor Street used to be pretty calm back in the'70s and'80s, but
the traffic is only immensely increased. I think it'd be an epic failure for traffic and for public safety to
put 80 plus more units there in that property. What I don't quite understand is we went through this
process. I want to say about eight or nine years ago. And we denied the zoning, for I think it was 224 unit
spaces day. Now the property owner has come back seven, eight years later and has doubled the size of
the space he wants to put in. If it wasn't safe then, why would we approve it now? I don't know how
familiar you guys are with North Governor Street. On the east side, there is a sidewalk. On the west side,
there is no sidewalk. They would have to then for safety, add sidewalks all the way up the west side, all
the way to the top of the hill there, which would be very, very impractical. I just don't see how at all
would be pedestrians safe to add that many more people to that neighborhood. I mean, I realize the
community is growing But I don't understand the justification for those large buildings there when we
already have North Dubuque Street new buildings going and across from the Dairy Queen, new spaces
going and I don't understand the drive for that much need. And we already once decided not to rezone
that property about ten years ago. So I don't understand why we'd go back on that rezoning and try to
actually increase the size of it. You know, take away the community sense that has been in that
neighborhood for 50 years. And many of these neighbors, I know, couldn't make it down tonight I
actually don't even know these individuals here, but it just It just seems like a huge step backwards. I
mean, I think we all would have gladly accepted a couple of eight complex units there, which was
initially proposed ten years ago, which would have been a third the size. I just you know, I think it would
infringe on the park. I mean, directly below me, the next two properties, or habitat for humanity homes
that have about eight to ten children that live there, increasing that The traffic on that bend that comes
up and down is just dangerous. I mean, there's accidents there every two or three weeks, it seems like
when people are come screaming down that hill, because they do scream down that hill. And it just
Page 12
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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makes no sense. I would hope we have more common sense amongst our elected officials. Thank you
very much.
[00:30:10]
Thank you. Anyone else? Would like to address this matter? Okay, guess, come forward to the podium
Yes.
100:30:21]
Hello. I'm Sandy Berto. And I live and own 911 North Dodge and 913 North Dodge. Part of the reason we
bought our home in the North Side neighborhood was for the uniqueness, the character of the older
homes. I wish we could have had a house on Brown Street because I love those big, beloved homes with
the big trees. But at 9:11 North Dodge, we're doing all we can to make the neighborhood more
beautiful. And welcoming to the people who A lot of times scream down North Dodge. I'm really
concerned about the safety of the pedestrians that go down Dodge, and then if they're crossing across
the park area to get to North Dodge, then they still have to cross that. What's it going to take?
Somebody to be seriously hurt or worse? I'd also like to say, we wholeheartedly agree with the letter
that was just presented by Audrey and Sharon. They have been our voice when we couldn't have
attended. And I think if you look at the 26 petitions that have been offered that there are more than just
Audrey and Sharon who have come to be our voice. I really like to have you consider again, the zoning
on on this property because it's going to affect the North Dodge and North neighborhood neighborhood
for years to come. Thank you.
[00:31:57]
Thank you. Next, welcome.
(00:32:03)
Hello. My name is Anna Bladel, and I will sign in. I confess that I feel fairly inadequately prepared to
speak to a. But I am living in the house on Brown and Lucas that my great grandfather, a Czech
immigrant here built. He was one of the bricklayers, who was part of Bricking Brown Street. And I am
only able to afford to live in that neighborhood in all honesty because of the family house there. I am a
strong proponent of building affordable housing. I am a strong proponent of various kinds of mixed
neighborhoods. I moved back from Brooklyn, New York to Iowa City because of a desire for a sense of
local community. And I am not interested in living in a neighborhood that continues to be unaffordable
for a lot of people in this community. And I'm really concerned about the safety in the particular process
of this zoning. My sister was almost hit three different times while pregnant crossing Brown Street right
there at North Dodge. I walk for all of my transportation, walk or bike by choice, and it's part of why I
love living in that neighborhood and working downtown that I'm able to commute by foot. And I, too,
have at least five times, like, narrowly avoided being hit there. I have chosen to walk some of the kids
across the street there to help them get safely there. I'm really concerned about some of the processes
that haven't been followed here for the rezoning, and my concern is not with increased affordable
housing, but my concern is with making sure that there are sidewalks for Kids, for those of us who live in
the neighborhood, and especially in terms of folks needing access to the sidewalks for disability, it's
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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becoming increasingly hard to do so because of some of the traffic issues there that I think haven't been
addressed and could be addressed in order to make, ah, make a good proposal for affordable housing
there.
[00:34:24]
Thank you.
[00:34:25]
Yeah. Okay. I want to make sure you're going to sign in. Thank you.
[00:34:28]
Yeah, anyone else would like to address this matter. And also the developer, if you would like,
representative the developer, if you'd like to say something you can.
[00:34:40]
It seemed like none here and online, so is counsel discussion.
[00:34:50]
1 can start.
[00:34:51]
Yes.
(00:34:541
1 think that the reason to speak directly why we're back here is because the denied application from
2018 that I personally very much liked went to the Supreme Court of the State of Iowa, and they said,
no, no, no, Iowa City, you can't do that. You can't deny somebody's development rights based on a long
history. So that's why we're back here. And, um, because of that Supreme Court case, there are
buildings lots that are zoned R-3B zoning. And those are a 1970s ARO zoning that I really think we need
to make them sunset and go away as quickly as possible because we don't have any controls. I shouldn't
say no controls, but very limited control on what we can permit or not permit on those sites. And I think
that the things that could be developed there would be very, very bad and completely contradictory to
our comprehensive plan. And as I understand it, we wouldn't have to follow any of the rules or a
comprehensive plan because of the Supreme Court case. So that's why there's an effort to sort of
combine these really weird R-38 zones with the existing plan. And then we have to somehow mash that
up with a comprehensive plan that isn't perfectly compatible with that. And the- the- the sort of central
district plan, page 60, does identify low to medium density, multifamily housing in that area. There is an
additional lot that was not identified as that, so that is- that is a change, but that is listed as being 8-24
units per acre. So that's how they got there. I- I'm not going to comment on the- the look of the building
or anything. I know in the ensuing week from the last time we talked about this, I've talked to a lot of
people, including people who came to listing post. There's a lot of people who don't necessarily love this
proposal, um, but- and they were kind of curious about the comments that I was making about
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sidewalks. I was kind of obsessive about sidewalks last week. And that's because our comprehensive
plan does talk about sidewalks over and over and over again. It shows up 36 times in our comprehensive
plan. The site that's before us has a sidewalk on it. And, uh, the memo that's in the city Council packet
that was written by the assistant city manager indicates it's really our city responsibility to direct staff to
say, put in the connecting sidewalks and study the crossing across the street, which I would like to ask
my fellow councilors to say, let's direct our staff to do that. Um, but that's- that's where we're at where
we're at. And I do want to get rid of the R-313 zoning. I do think that the density is, um, when you merge
it with this R-3B zoning and our comprehensive plan, it- it makes enough sense. Um, so I will vote yes,
but I also would like Council support to do some city investigation into how we can improve pedestrian
access and safety at that new site. Additionally, point to the memo that was provided by staff that
indicates that the way that you enter and exit the traffic safety component is something that can be
done that's non substantive during the OPD development process. I would ask that they work on that to
improve that, um, but, um, at this point, the- um, it seems as though those- those traffic safety issues as
far as people turning the wrong way down a one way can be resolved, um, in the next phase of the
process with the professional city staff. And the sidewalk is a thing that we can just- we as council, can
just say, we are doing this. We're going to put in a sidewalk if the rest of the Council agrees with that.
[00:38:33]
1 think that's a logical extension from our discussions and the memo to, you know, should this move
forward, that also. And I think we kind of do that with our sidewalk infill, anyway, I think that's- that's
not unusual, so I agree with that. But that would be -you know, should this move forward, that should
be the next thing we look at, but if obviously, we have to wait for the actual plans and stuff, like that's -
you know, these pieces can move together, but that's not going to be, you know, a next meeting kind of
a thing. Excuse me, kind of a thing.
[00:39:061
1 was going to raise a lot of the same points that you did Josh relating to this specific site and what has
happened in the last decade. Well, really since 2018, when the Iowa Supreme Court said, we have to
allow that R-3B zoning if that's what the owner wants. And so just some differences between what's
proposed and that the buildings could have been 10 feet taller in the R-3B zone. That zoning requires a
lot more parking, and therefore, just more concrete on the site. Um, we wouldn't have standards
relating to the, um, kind of the massing of the buildings and the building materials. We couldn't impose
those. So there are certainly trade offs that we're making, and I think we're all trying to acknowledge
that. And I just want to say to the residents, um, we are truly hearing you, appreciate the concerns
about connectivity, about safety, about density. And taking all of that into account for myself personally,
I'm still going to continue to support this -this rezoning. So I want you to know it's not discounting your
comments, it's not saying that, um, you know, a particular thing that was brought forward by a planning
and zoning commissioner, you know, carries the day or is dispositive. It really is a complicated balancing
act, and, um, we know that- that you don't agree with that particular decision, but 1 just want to make
sure you know that it does matter that you're here. It does matter that you're- you're speaking to us,
and it does matter that there were numerous signatures on that protest petition, and that's reflected
not only in our consideration of the comments here, the correspondence that's been provided, the
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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meetings and phone calls that I know all of us have had with a variety of people. But also in the
procedural, uh, aspects of requiring the supermajority. So I know it's unsatisfactory and very frustrating,
but I just want to make sure to say affirmatively that -that I am listening, and I know we aren't agreeing
on this particular issue, but please continue to engage your local government.
[00:41:21]
So we still have the Mayor online and Megan, if you would like, just jump in, please.
[00:41:29]
Sure.
[00:41:30]
Go ahead, Mayor.
[00:41:32]
All right. I'll just jump in and I'll- I'll just say the comments that have already went before us- before us,
yes, I do support, um, and say yay to all of that. And I'll just highlight really that the individuals that are
coming to the meetings and all the ones that we've met with, either personally or through
communication through a mail, I really appreciate all those voices there, and 1 don't want you to feel
that it's being discounted. Um, I think, you know, it's been said that this is a little con- convoluted and
complicated. And I- and I will be supporting this, but I just did not want you to feel like your voices have
not been heard.
[00:42:211
Councilor Alter.
[00:42:23)
Thank you. I echo what my fellow councilors have said, and in particular, I do want to thank the north
side neighbors who have worked incredibly hard to make your voices heard. And I do echo what
Councilor Bergus said in particular that we are disagreeing in this particular, but it is by no means
because of, um, simply discounting your voices. Um, additionally, I want to heartily support what
Councilor Moe said in terms of saying, as Council, when we are through with rezoning, then we can work
on connectivity and safer sidewalk, getting a sidewalk and- and look into more robust public safety
measures. I am 100%for that. I am supporting this. Um, someone did say that, you know, this decision
will impact the North Side for years to come. And I do say this without irony and all sincerity, I hope that
it does. I hope that many more families and people will be able to call the North Side neighborhood their
home as well in years to come. And I just want to say that that's something that I am- um, it's a
beautiful, beautiful neighborhood, and I think that more people deserve to be able to, um, enjoy it and,
um- and to enjoy it safely. So I'm voting yes for this, and I am heartily supporting that we look into
measures to get connectivity for pedestrians,um, and safety for all. Thank you.
[00:44:071
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Okay. Thank you. I think that's well said, and I don't want to like stretch things out by repeating all the
things that have been said, but things are good comments. I mentioned earlier the sidewalks, but thank
you, Councilor Alter for bringing up the public safety, because I think that isn't- that is something we
talked about a little bit last time, if there are issues with the excessive speed. And again, you know, we
can find that on many stretches in Iowa City, because let's just face it, not every driver is cut from the
same cloth. But, you know, certainly whatever those public safety measures look like, if it means some
increased traffic enforcement and a few more tickets to remind people they need to slow down there,
so be it, if I know we do have that flashing sign that's coming down the hill there, reminding people of
what their speed is. I don't want to second guess what the solution is, but I think paying close attention
to that as we do these different modifications and look at the pedestrian traffic are going to be really
important. So because, you know, we do want this to be a pedestrian and bike friendly community.
[00:45:061
Councilor Weilein.
[00:45:08]
So, you know, I will say that, um, this- as I expressed in the last time I- or last City Council meeting during
the first consideration, that this has been extremely frustrating for me. I'm pretty sure the rest of the
councilors, and I'm pretty sure for the staff. But I feel like for me, it's just been kind of like banging your
head against a wall, trying to figure out how to- um, I- wholeheartedly agree that I think that the city
should be able to or the community should be able to tell anybody, um, that what we need is affordable
housing in a certain area. I think that- well, let's just boil it down to very basics, I don't think housing
should be a commodity. I think housing should not be something that's viewed anyways, just to bring it
back to rea- to more current matters now. But, um, it is- we do not know what will be built here, even if
the zoning goes through. The worst case scenario for a lot of people, if the zoning goes through, is that
exactly what is in the OPD will be- will be put there. And that is 84 units ofjust market rate housing,
whatever the developer wants to put there. I still find that preferable to not building any more housing.
And that comes from somebody who is very skeptical and thinks that a lot of times when talking about
affordable housing, people put too much, um, emphasis on supply and not enough emphasis on, um,
affordable aspects and other ways that we can keep rents reasonable, but it is part of the puzzle, even if
I think it's overstated sometimes. And so the worst case scenario is exactly what goes here. And the best
case scenario could be, again, we don't know who is going to end up developing this space. We don't
know who is going to buy it. We don't know, uh, what their mission will be or anything like that. Um, so
my advice to people within the neighborhood would be to try to come up with solutions yourselves and
have some agency about, um, reach out to folks, you know. Land is for sale and something can be built
there. And, u
[00:47:251
m, you don't necessarily have to wait for
[00:47:28]
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a government body to say what goes there or for a developer to go there. You know, you can come
together and get creative with it. And I will say my main concerns safety wise, I'm fully in supportive of -
fully supportive of directing staff to prioritize, like it says in the me- memo, prioritize a project for the
design of the sidewalk on the east side of Happy Hollow, that provides people access to the park. It
connects people to the rest of the sidewalk infrastructure that can lead downtown. I also really want to
we something go there because when you view, I really hear the concerns about the craziness of the
traffic in that area. It's real, even if you might not see it on paper. Um, I have a friend who lives over
there and I visit them, and I'm always scared backing out because people can be flying down that hill. So
my major concern though is with like, pedestrian crossing because people will probably want to be
walking to Hy-Vee and stuff like that to go to the grocery store. And that's one of the main reasons why I
think housing is so -this is such a prime location for housing because it is infill. It is in direct walking
distance from, like, five grocery stores in elementary school. And all the data shows us that families that
grow up in these types of neighborhoods have- especially the children have better life outcomes. So,
um, as a northsider myself, I- you know, I want to share in the greatness that is the North side, you
know, and I love it, and I don't want to see it be like a gated community. And I'm not saying that that is
what is being- [LAUGHTER] I'm not saying that is what is being said. And because I know that there are
concerns that are not nimbyism, but it is- yeah. Um, I think that's all I have to say. So for the second
consideration, yes, um, I will be supporting it for the second consideration. Yes.
[00:49:35]
Okay. My two nice things. Okay. I really love to see this society to be developed and because it's been
sitting there for a long time. So we need to we something happening there. I also understand the need
of more housing because that could- could drive, you know, the- the market of the affordable housing
down. Maybe when we have more housing, maybe the rent will be less. That some people believe that,
and maybe I don't understand that. But I also understand that the problem with the court and the
Supreme Court and everything, F I got that. But I really believe every neighborhood have- should decide
about what they want to see in their neighborhood. Not the government, not the elected official. If I see
a lot of people came with the politicians, and they have concern, that's really concern me because I've
been elected by those people. And I should listen to you. That's why anything come from the people and
the people reject it, I believe I should reject it too. Because I want to see every neighborhood in Iowa
City decide about what they want to we in their neighborhood. They are supposed to be the people
who make decision about what should go in their neighborhood. That's why I- while I'm going to vote no
for this, I encourage the council to still connect with the staff and try to give the stuff direction, at least
to do some of the doable request by the residents of this neighborhood. I'm going to be voting no.
Anyone else or- I think roll call.
[00:51:33]
Harmsen?
(00:51:34]
Yes.
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(00:51:35)
Moe?
[00:51:361
Yes.
[00:51:36]
Salih?
[00:51:37]
No.
[00:51:371
Teague?
[00:51:38]
Yes.
[00:51:39]
Weilem?
100:51:401
Yes.
[00:51:40]
Alter.
[00:51:42]
Yes?
[00:51:431
Bergus?
[00:51:43]
Yes.
[00:51:451
Okay. Motion passes 6-1. May I have motion to accept correspondence, please.
[00:51:531
So moved, Bergus.
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[00:51:54]
Moved by Bergus.
[00:51:55]
Second Moe.
[00:51:56]
Second by Moe. And all in favor say aye.
[00:52:00]
Aye.
[00:52:00]
Aye.
[00:52:01]
Aye.
[00:52:011
[inaudible 00:52:01] Motion passes 7-0. Okay. We're now in the regular formal agenda, 30a FY26 utility
rates public hearing, an order amending Title 3, in title finance, taxation and fee. Chapter 4, entitled
schedule of fee, rate, charge, bond, fines, and penalties, and this motion to pass and adopt. May I have a
motion to pass and adopt.
[00:52:401
So moved, Bergus.
(00:52:411
Moved by Bergus. Second, Moe.
100:52:42]
Second by Moe. Public discussion. Council discussion. Roll call, please.
[00:52:55]
Mo?
[00:52:551
Yes.
[00:52:56]
Salih?
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[00:52:56]
Yes.
[00:52:57]
Teague?
[00:52:58]
Yes.
[00:52:59]
Weilein?
[00:53:00]
Yes.
[00:53:00]
Alter? I believe Councilor Alter indicated she would be logging out after the last item. Burges?
[00:53:08]
Yes.
[00:53:08]
Harmsen.
[00:53:09]
Yes.
[00:53:10]
Motion passes 6-0. Now 10b, State CDBDG-CV funding. Resolution approving an application to the Iowa
Economic Development Authority for state CDBG-CV funds. May I have a motion to approve?
[00:53:31]
So moved, Moe.
[00:53:33]
Moved by Moe.
[00:53:34]
Second Harmsen.
[00:53:35]
Second by Harmsen. And we have the staff, uh, okay, yeah, yeah, from the NDC.
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[00:53:47]
Hey, Erika Kubly with Neighborhood Services. This is a public meeting for the city's application to the
Iowa Economic Development Authority for C- CDBG-CV funds in partnership with Shelter House for
shelter operations. CDBG funds were originated through the 2020 CARES Act. Funds must be used to
prevent, prepare for, and/or respond to the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic. Um, since we're in 2025,
we're really in the response, um, portion of that requirement. The city has received funds- four
allocations of funds in the past since 2020, either directly from HUD, or through the Iowa Economic -
Economic Development Authority. Um, over two million dollars in total. We've used those for
emergency housing assistance. So for rent, for people who are impacted by the pandemic, eight non-
profits who are serving people impacted by the pandemic, um, a business assistance program, and
emergency shelter improvements most recently. So I'm going to go through some of the requirements
for the application, um, to the state. So the description of the project, the CDBG-CV funding will be used
for emergency shelter operations. This would be things like staff costs, utilities, maintenance, insurance.
Um, they cannot use the funds for rehab or construction activities. Um, funding was made available to
Iowa shelters selected by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. So locally, it's a Shelter House
Emergency Shelter. We are anticipating an award of $301,500 with 300,000 going to Shelter House for
their operations, and then $1,500 of administrative or activity delivery funds to the city. We also
anticipate trying to shift some of our existing admin funds from prior projects to this one just to cover
the full staff costs of this project. We expect all funds to serve low to moderate income activities. This is
CDBG rules. Um, so everything has to be under 80%of the area median income. However, we expect,
um, that all those served by this project will be extremely low income, under 30%of the area median
income. Shelter House is projecting 400 individuals will be assisted by this project. All their clients are
referred through the local coordinated entry process. Location of the project activities is 429 Southgate
Avenue in Iowa City. Um, it's a 70 bed emergency shelter, and no relocation or displacement will take
place as a result of this project. So, um, we're discussing the need for the project and also tying it to
COVID to relate it to the funds. Um, we know that housing is a leading social determinant of health. This
was highlighted, especially during the pandemic. Emergency Shelter provides a safe temporary living
environment where clients can get their daily needs met as they pursue stable housing. Um, we also
know that economic hardship and housing insecurity has, um, increased since the pandemic. Housing
cross- housing costs have increased, and the Shelter House also reports a deficit of $723,407 for their
emergency shelter operating budget for this year. That's an updated dollar amount from the agency,
um, from your packet. So the CDBG-CV funds will allow the agency to continue provision of services in
our community. Um, so again, this is a public meeting. It's an opportunity for members of the public to
provide input on the activity and the community need, if they desire. Some of the questions on our
application, what are the needs of low to moderate income persons in Iowa City, um, related to this
project, access to safe affordable housing, and access to services, including shelter and other basic
needs. And then what are the planned or potential activities to address these specific needs? Our
planned shelter operations project will address the need for shelter and related housing services for
individuals in our community experiencing homelessness. It's a low barrier shelter, prioritizing those
with the highest needs, and then funding will continue the operations. So other community
development and housing needs in Iowa City. This is another question on the application. Um, I've listed
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here our top priorities in our City Steps 2030 consolidated plan that was approved by council in January,
expansion and preservation of affordable housing, provision of public services and public facility
improvements. And so I listed down below some planned activities, or ongoing activities that address
these needs. This isn't a comprehensive list, but just a few to answer the question. So our federally
funded activities, we have a ARPA Housing Stability pilot project. We have CDBG funding rounds. Um,
Home Art- Home ARP activities, we're working with Iowa Legal Aid for eviction prevention. We're doing
supportive services, and we've funded the DVIP new construction at their shelter. We also have our
housing choice voucher and public housing ongoing programs. And then we've recently started a home
tenant based rent assistance program. Locally funded, we have our Aid to Agencies program. City's
providing funding for street outreach and the Winter Shelter. We have our security deposit assistance
program, and then also a landlord risk mitigation program. Next steps for our application. Um, so we did
a public notice for the application in the Press Citizen on May 13th in compliance with the application
rules. Our full application is due to the state on June 1st, and then funds would be available once we're
awarded and must be expended by May 2026. So this is a pretty short term project, um, so all the funds
will be expended within a year. Um, and then if there's any, um, questions or a communication
regarding the project, my contact information is listed here. Thank you.
[00:59:26]
Thank you. Any question to our staff by the council? Okay. Now I'm going to open the public discussion.
Anyone like to address this matter? I see the shelter house here. Do you want to say something? Yeah,
come over.
[00:59:45]
Thank you. I'm Crissy Canganelli, Executive Director of Shelter House, and I hope that you will
unanimously vote to, uh, approve this request. Um, this funding will be, uh, very impactful and, um,
extremely helpful at this time. As city staff have shared we have a deficit of over $700,000 in our
emergency shelter operations that is exclusively shelter operations and the direct costs of operating
emergency shelter. Uh, last year we did implement a new staffing structure to ensure, um, that our
spaces are, uh, better supported. Our staff are better supported. Our clients are better supported. Um,
we have shift supervisors on second and third shift now, um, with two people per shift in emergency
shelter. We did not have these staff ratios in the past, especially with the on site shift supervisors. These
were adjustments that were necessary and should have happened probably going back to 2018 when
we implemented a low barrier approach to emergency shelter. Um, so, um, these increased casts, uh,
will be ongoing for us. We do think that they are essential to being able to provide safe shelter for the
very complex, uh, needs of our clientele. I think that there was an additional, um, er, laid handout that
was shared that indicates the highly complex nature of the population. High incidence of chronic
homelessness in Johnson County were second, er, out of the most populous counties in the state of
Iowa for the occurrence of chronic homelessness. Um, so we have a very vulnerable population that
we're working with. So thank you very much for your consideration.
[01:01:25]
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Thank you. Thank you. Okay, council discussion. I guess seeing- seeing the need is really great. And
losing 700K, oh my God. That's a lot money to not to have. And I think the need is really great, and we
need to keep what we have operating, if we can.
[01:01:47]
Yes. Thank you. Thank you also for doing all the work to get this grant all lined up. [inaudible 01:01:501
[01:01:55]
I'm happy to sign a piece of paper and to give homeless services $300,000 so [LAUGHTER] I'd also like to
take this time to- for the second time this evening, call out the City of Coralville for only giving- um, only
giving Shelter House 30K, and Iowa City gives an extremely larger amount. Same thing with North
Liberty. I would like to take this opportunity to say the reason that you don't see as many homeless
people in the City of Coralville or North Liberty is because they come to Iowa City. It's because y'all's
police, I don't know where the camera is. [LAUGHTER] y'all's police drops them off at Shelter House. It
does not mean it's not your problem. So this is a problem for the entire county, and people should pitch
in equally, proportionately. 10K is not proportionate, right? We see an increasing homelessness in our
communities all across the country, but in Johnson County, too. So I would just like to please say, there's
levies that you can use that you haven't used. So, anyways, um, I'll leave it at that. Thank you.
[01:03:011
Any another comment?
[01:03:04]
Uh-uh Okay, roll call, please
[01:03:05]
Salih?
[01:03:06]
Yes.
[01:03:07]
Teague?
[01:03:08]
Yes.
[01:03:08)
Weilein?
[01:03:09]
Yes.
Page 24
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:03:101
Bergus?
[01:03:11]
Yes.
[01:03:11]
Harmsen?
[01:03:12]
Yes.
(01:03:12)
Moe.
[01:03:13]
Yes.
[01:03:13]
Motion passes 6-0. All right. Item number 30c, tobacco civil penalty and permit suspension. Casey's
General Store Number 2761. Okay. Resolution assisting, uh, 15-1- 5-1,500 civil penalty, and 30 days
retail cigarette permit suspension against Casey's General Store Number 2761. Now we can go with a
staff comment please.
[01:03:52]
Thank you, Mayor. If I can begin before Sergeant Matt Ties, and I'll invite you to come to the podium, if
you would, for a moment, so you can talk a little bit about the compliance checks and how they work,
and the individual circumstances of each of these cases. I say each of these cases because, as council is
aware, there are a number of these, uh, items, uh, following this one on your agenda. So Council's role
tonight is to decide whether or not a violation has taken place. I believe Sergeant Ties will be explaining
that, that the employees in each of these instances have pled guilty to the criminal charge, uh, and we
have considered that sufficient in the past. And then, um, to impose the penalty. The penalty, I would
note, is, uh, set by state code, so it is not to something that Council can alter one way or another. And
the language from the state- state code says "shall assess". And so if you feel that a violation has taken
place, but you would really like to not impose a penalty for whatever reason, unfortunately, under the
state code, that is not something that's available to you. With that, I'll turn it over to Sergeant Ties.
[01:05:001
Good evening. My name is Matt Ties. I'm a sergeant with the Iowa City Police Department, and I oversee
the tobacco compliance checks. A little background. The city has a 28e agreement with the Iowa
Department of Revenue to perform the tobacco compliance checks. These checks are done once a year
Page 25
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 202S
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on businesses that have the tobacco permits. If a business fails, there is a recheck done on those
businesses. Uh, how the actual compliance check works is that we use a helper who is under the age of
21. Um, they work with the police department to conduct these checks. Um, the underage person,
they're only allowed to take their real ID and whatever money we give them. There is no deceit, um,
involved in this, so if they are asked how old they are, they will tell them, you know, exactly how old
they are. If they're asked for their ID, they will give them their ID. If they are asked if they are old enough
to purchase this, they are to answer truthfully that they are not. There is absolutely no deceit, um, in
this at all. Um, when these checks are being done, the helper is sent into a business, and they will
attempt to purchase any tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products, um, and this is audio and video, uh,
recorded and monitored by police. If, um, a business sells to this minor, um, the minor will purchase it,
come out to the police, um, we will speak with them, and then the police will go in and talk with the
employee, um, and issue a citation, uh, for an employee providing tobacco products, vapor, cigarettes,
to a person under the age of 21. Um, and then, in this instance, uh, these businesses, um, that are on
here that had failed, um, all the employees have already pled guilty to those citations.
[01:06:59]
Any question?
(01:07:03]
If I remember correctly from our kratom discussions, the state actually sponsors the costs of doing
these. Is that- is that how that works financially? Like, there's some- do you remember-
[01:07:14]
You are asking if they're reimbursed for doing the checks, essentially?
[01:07:17]
Alcohol and tobacco.
[01:07:181
Yeah. Are you aware, is- is this reimbursed through the state?
[01:07:22]
Yeah, it's part of that agreement, so-
[01:07:23]
Part of the 2080 agreement. So the overtime cost if- if an officer incurs overtime and then the payment
to the helper is covered?
[01:07:331
Yeah, I can't remember the exact amount, but it's per check that you get reimbursed.
[01:07:35]
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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Per check. Okay. Soper compliance check is-
[01:07:381
And so you- we just do as many of these as we have the funding to do them? Is that kind of the way it
works, or is it required to go to every single place once a year?
[01:07:45]
For tobacco, it is every single place that has a permit to sell those.
[01:07:49]
Once- once a year?
[01:07:50]
And so- yes, once a year, but part of that is if they do fail, then we have to do a recheck on those
businesses, but-
[01:07:55]
Okay. Thanks.
[01:07:581
Any another question?
[01:08:00]
Did you say that it is, uh, whoever is the one to, uh, sell the part, like, the employee, those are the ones
that are charged criminally?
[01:08:101
Yeah. So they will receive the citation, the employee that actually sells it to a minor.
(01:08:14]
Okay. The employee. And after what, um- is it a- a couple of times, then it will turn into something that
is, um, the store itself has to pay? I'm sorry, Vm-
[01:09:32]
Oh, no. Well, there's two different things. There's the criminal penalty, uh, to which Sergeant Ties, um,
talked about, the criminal charge for the actual employee who provided or sold the tobacco product to
the minor. That's the criminal side of it. What you have before you tonight on all of these is the civil
penalties that are imposed on the permittee, that is the business. Does that answer your question?
[01:08:54]
Yes.
Page 27
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[01:08:541
Okay.
[01:08:55]
That's- that's clarifying. I was also wondering what type of criminal penalty it is.
[01:09:01)
So it's a citation. It's-
[01:09:031
For the employee like.
[01:09:05)
Yeah, I'm sorry. Are you asking for what the fine is?
(01:09:08]
No, what the, like, level of criminal penalty is. Is it like a-
[01:09:11]
It's a simple misdemeanor, if that's what you're asking? Yeah.
[01:09:13]
Simple misdemeanor. Okay.
[01:09:141
Yes.
[01:09:16]
Um, and you say that we don't have the authority to say no; is that correct? That we -or we- we don't
have the authority to say we don't want them to pay the civil penalty, right?
[01:09:261
If you conclude that a violation has taken place, then you are compelled to impose the penalty called for
by state code.
[01:09:34)
But what we have before us, like you said, is the, um, civil penat- penalty on the business and nothing on
the individual?
[01:09:43]
Yes, that's correct. Everything you're talking about tonight is imposed on the business, not on the
employee.
Page 28
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:09:491
Okay. Thank you
[01:09:49]
Sure.
[01:09:52]
1 really want to talk about the employee. Normally, the store will give them clear directions that they
don't have to sell to minor. That's normally happen or- because I don't know if the employees know and
they did it or because since they're going to have, like, simple misdemeanor in their record.
[01:10:11]
One would assume that all of- that that would be a- a very important part of the training for any
employee who is selling tobacco products, much like alcohol products, that they need to be trained, that
you need to identify and make sure that they're at least 21 years of age to purchase.
[01:10:27]
Sure. Any another question? And I don't see the permittee here, so I think we skip that. And I would like
to have a motion to approve this.
[01:10:441
So moved. Moe.
[01:10:461
Okay. Moved by Moe.
[01:10:47]
B. Is this just for the first one or we do- can we do all of them at once?
[01:10:51]
Well, we have to give the per- this is just the first one, sorry. We have to give the permittee a chance,
man. I appreciate that I see no one here, but-
[01:10:581
Got it.
101:10:58]
The [inaudible 01:10:581 ones will be quicker.
[01:11:001
10c only.
Page 29
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[01:11:011
10c. Thank you.
[01:11:02]
Yeah.
[01:11:04]
Do we assume the second?
101:11:05]
I'm sorry, I missed the second.
[01:11:06]
I'm waiting for second.
[01:11:07]
I'll second.
[01:11:08]
Okay. Harmsen- second by Harmsen. Council, discussion? Roll call, please.
[01:11:16)
Teague.
[01:11:17]
Yes.
[01:11:17]
Weilein.
[01:11:181
Yes.
[01:11:19]
Bergus.
101:11:191
Yes.
[01:11:201
Harmsen.
Page 30
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:11:21]
Yes.
[01:11:21]
Moe.
(01:11:221
Yes.
[01:11:22]
Salih.
[01:11:22]
Yes.
[01:11:24]
Motion passes 6-0. Okay. 30d, tobacco civil penalty, Essentials Vape and Smoke Shop. Resolution
assisting $300 civil penalty against essential vape and smoke shop. May I have- no, now we have- do we
have to do the stuff again?
101:11:461
Right. I obviously won't give the procedural aspects again, but I will ask Sergeant, uh, Ties to come forth
to at least confirm that the employee in question has- or either been found guilty or pled guilty-
101:11:58]
Sure.
[01:11:581
- to the criminal charge.
[01:11:59]
Okay.
(01:12:001
So similar, the employee for here has also pled guilty to this
[01:12:041
All right.
[01:12:051
Page 31
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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Sure. Okay. Any question? And the permittee is not here. Now, we consider the resolution. May I have a
motion?
[01:12:14]
So moved. Bergus.
[01:12:15]
Moved by Bergus.
[01:12:16]
Second. Moe.
[01:12:171
Second by Moe. Council, discussion? Roll call, please.
[01:12:22]
Weilein.
[01:12:23]
Yes.
[01:12:24]
Bergus.
[01:12:24]
Yes.
[01:12:251
Harmsen.
[01:12:25]
Yes.
[01:12:26]
Moe.
[01:12:26]
Yes.
[01:12:26]
Salih.
Page 32
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:12:271
Yes.
[01:12:271
Teague.
[01:12:281
Yes.
[01:12:29]
Motion passes 6-0. Item 30e, tobacco civil penalty, Hawkeye Smoke and Liquor. Resolution assisting 300
civil penalty against Hawkeye smoke and liquor. Also, now for the staff.
[01:12:47]
This employee has also pled guilty.
[01:12:50]
Okay. And also the permittee is not here. May I have a motion to consider the resolution, please.
[01:12:57]
So moved. Bergus.
[01:12:581
Second. Moe.
[01:12:58]
Bergus. Second by Moe. Council, discussion? Roll call, please.
[01:13:031
Bergus.
[01:13:04]
Yes.
[01:13:04)
Harmsen.
[01:13:05]
Yes.
[01:13:05]
Moe.
Page 33
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[01:13:06]
Yes.
[01:13:06)
Salih.
[01:13:071
Yes.
(01:13:07]
Teague.
[01:13:08]
Yes.
[01:13:09]
Weilein.
[01:13:09]
Yes.
[01:13:11]
Item- motion passes 6-0. Item 10f, tobacco civil penalty, The Crown Liquor. Resolution assisting 300 civil
penalty again is The Crown Liquor. Also the staff, if you want to-
[01:13:25]
Staff has pled guilty.
(01:13:27]
All right. And the permittee is not here. Consider resolution by- can I have a motion?
[01:13:32]
So moved. M.
(01:13:33]
Move by Moe.
[01:13:341
Second. Harmsen.
[01:13:35]
Page 34
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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Second by Harmsen. Discussion, council? Okay. Roll call, please
[01:13:401
Harmsen.
[01:13:41]
Yes.
101:13:41]
Moe.
[01:13:42]
Yes.
[01:13:42)
Salih.
[01:13:43]
Yes.
[01:13:43]
Teague.
[01:13:441
Yes.
[01:13:45]
Weilein.
[01:13:45)
Yes.
[01:13:461
Rergus.
[01:13:461
Yes.
[01:13:47]
Motions passes 6-0. Item 10g, tobacco civil penalty, The Smoke Outlet Tobacco and Vape Shop.
Resolution [inaudible 01:13:57] 300 civil penalty against The Smoke Outlet Tobacco and Vape Shop. May
I have- [inaudible 01:14:031, you agree?
Page 35
Iowa City City Council Forma] meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:14:051
Yes. The employee has pled guilty.
[01:14:07]
Sure. And the permittee also is not here. Consider resolution. Can I have a motion to approve?
[01:14:15]
So moved. Bergus.
[01:14:16]
Second. Weilein.
101:14:17]
Bergus. Second by Weilein. Discussion. Okay. Roll call, please.
(01:14:221
Moe.
[01:14:23]
Yes.
[01:14:23]
Salih.
[01:14:24]
Yes.
[01:14:24]
Teague.
[01:14:25]
Yes.
[01:14:25]
Weilein.
[01:14:26]
Yes.
[01:14:27]
Bergus.
Page 36
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:14:27]
Yes.
[01:14:271
Harmsen.
[01:14:28]
Yes.
[01:14:29]
Motion passes 6-0. Thank you, to the staff. Yeah, thank you, sir, again. Okay. Now, Item number 11,
council appointment. And we have the airport commission. Airport commission, one vacant to fill a four
year term, July 1st, 2025, to June 30th, 2029. And we have also- do we accept the correspondence right
now or later?
[01:14:53]
Oh, I'm sorry. I missed your question.
[01:14:54]
No, I get it. Thank you. Council discussion. Yeah. Thank you
[01:14:59]
Our applicant has a letter of recommendation.
101:15:01]
1 think we should appoint Chris Lawrence.
[01:15:03]
Yes.
[01:15:03]
1 would second that.
[01:15:04]
1 said something in, like, an email that technically, you're not allowed to- or it's not usually, uh,
permissible to have more than two terms, but is- is that something that we can waive or-
[01:15:191
1 have the rule before me. It's from the council rules, Rule 36. It says, except in unusual circumstances,
an individual should be limited to one reappointment to a full term in order to increase the
Page 37
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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opportunities for new applicants to serve. So except in unusual circumstances. So that's up to council's
dis- uh, discretion.
[01:15:39]
There's one applicant.
[01:15:401
[OVERLAPPING] That's unusual.
[01:15:41]
There's only one.
(01:15:42]
Yeah. No one else is applying.
[01:15:43]
Actually, it's unusual for us.
[01:15:45]
1 think we should move.
[01:15:471
Okay. Yeah.
[01:15:48]
Okay. May I have a motion-
[01:15:50]
Aye.
[01:15:501
- to appoint?
[01:15:521
I'll- I think we did this, but-
[01:15:54]
We did?
[01:15:55]
I think I just said I recommend we do.
Page 38
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[01:15:56]
Okay. Sure.
[01:15:571
Go ahead.
[01:15:571
I'll move- I'll move that Chris Lawrence, uh be, uh, um-
101:16:02]
Reappointed.
[01:16:021
Reappointed, yes, to the airport commission.
[01:16:05]
Move by Moe.
[01:16:061
Second.
[01:16:071
Second by Weilein. All in favor say aye.
[01:16:11]
Aye.
[01:16:12]
Oppose same sign.
[01:16:14]
Move to a sub correspondence.
[01:16:161
Motion passes-
[01:16:181
Sorry.
[01:16:18)
6-0. And now, can I have a motion to have sub correspondence?
Page 39
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[01:16:23]
So moved.
[01:16:23]
Second.
[01:16:23)
Second.
[01:16:241
Moved by, uh, Bergus and second by Weilein. All in favor say aye.
[01:16:29]
Aye.
[01:16:30]
Oppose same sign. Motion passes 6-0. Community police review board. Community police review board
two vacants to fill four years term, July 1st, 2025, to June 30th, 2029. Council discussion.
(01:16:51]
Was this Melissa's first or second term that she's finishing up?
[01:16:55]
She been before, I think.
[01:16:581
Melissa Jensen.
(01:16:59]
Melissa Jensen.
[01:16:591
Yeah, I think it's her-
[01:17:001
She has been before. I don't know if she had a gap in between.
101:17:031
Yeah, she have a gap in between. She served with me. She's awesome and amazing. So she served with
me a long time ago when we were in the-
[01:17:10]
Page 40
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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Channeling Bruce
[01:17:11]
Yeah.
[01:17:13]
I'd be okay with with Melissa.
(01:17:18]
If you say she's awesome and amazing, then let's-
[01:17:20]
I'm stealing that from you, Maya.
[01:17:24]
1 love it.
[01:17:26]
So like-
[01:17:271
Sorry. I was going to say I liked Audrey.
[01:17:291
Yelp. That's what I was gonna say Audrey Moeller.
[01:17:351
Okay. Yeah, I guess so.
[01:17:39]
We didn't check that.
[01:17:39]
Attorney.
[01:17:42]
Yeah, but, uh, claims counsel. I know that in the past, we've had some question about defense
attorneys, but this is a- not a criminal practice, so that would not be a concern.
[01:17:51]
No. I- if I understand her position correctly, she works for a title insurance company, so I cannot- real
estate title, sorry.
Page 41
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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(01:18:00)
Right.
[01:18:01]
So I can't imagine any conflicts here.
[01:18:041
Excellent. Yeah. It's fine with me.
[01:18:09]
Do, uh- do we have a formal recommendation for those two, or do we need?
[01:18:13]
1 moved to appoint Melissa Jensen and Audrey Moeller to the community police review board.
[01:18:18]
Second.
[01:18:19]
Second.
[01:18:19]
Moved by Bergus, second by Harmsen. All in favor say aye.
[01:18:23]
Aye.
[01:18:24]
Opposed same sign. Motion passes 6-0.
[01:18:28]
Can I just real quicklyjust, uh-just want to toss out they're possibly throwing the future of what the
CPRB looks like in our city ordinance onto a future work session. Um, I don't have a specific date in mind,
but I think with, uh- and I don't know if the governor has yet signed. She has?
[01:18:45]
She has. Yeah. Signed last night.
101:18:471
Oh, really?
Page 42
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:18:481
Yeah. So if you're talking about [inaudible 01:18:49] 311, yes
[01:18:50]
Unfortunately, yes.
101:18:51]
She signed it last night, which, uh, bans, uh, boards and- uh, local boards and commissions that basically
review, uh, police behavior if you will.
[01:19:001
Is the effective date July 1?
[01:19:01]
Uh, it is not. It's August 16th. It is a rather unusual date. I'm not sure how they came up with that, but
it's August 16th.
[01:19:08)
Yes. So I mean, if we could get that into a work session, uh, at some point, giving us plenty of, you know -
over the summer would be-
[01:19:15]
And I think from my nine years serving on the telecommunications commission, that commission had its
authority to do most of what it was intended to do, stripped in 2018, and then the commission
eventually recommended that it be disbanded after carrying out a few other activities. So I don't know if
we can ask the commissioners to consider, um, sort of what the continuance of the commission should
look like as far as they are concerned, that would be something I'd be interested in hearing.
[01:19:44]
Yeah. You're reading my mind. I had thought about a joint, like, you know- see if any of them want to
come in for that work session. So-
[01:19:50]
Or maybe can invite them to come in one of the work session, yeah. Okay. Item 11c, historic
preservation commission at large. Historic preservation commission at large one vacant to fill a three -
years term, July 1st, 2025, to June 30th,2028. Council discussion.
(01:20:09)
I'll just mention that Seth used to work, um, with me, and he, uh, no longer lives in Iowa city, so
probably shouldn't be considered.
[01:20:18]
Page 43
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Oh
[01:20:181
Thank you for that.
(01:20:201
Okay.
[02:20:20]
Fair enough.
[01:20:26]
It's only one.
[01:20:27]
1 don't have a strong preference here.
[01:20:29]
I- I didn't communicate with either of the remaining two applicants. I think that both of them have
benefits. Um, construction is always helpful. So that would be Austin, but I don't have- I- I didn't do
more than just read the application.
[01:20:511
So it looks like lack is also- I- I liked Jack's application, and F it seems like he is applying for multiple,
including the-
[01:21:03]
CDC?
[01:21:05]
The HCDC, yeah. So, um, it might make sense to appoint Austin so we can consider Jack for housing.
[01:21:23]
I'm good with Austin.
[01:21:24]
Okay.
[01:21:241
Okay. May I have a motion?
[01:21:261
Page 44
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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So moved Austin
101:21:27)
Second.
[01:21:281
Moved by Moe, second by Weilem. Okay. All in favor say aye.
[01:21:32]
Aye.
[01:21:33]
Any opposed same sign. Motion passes 6-0. Item number 11d, historic preservation commission, Brown
Street. It is one vacant to fill a three -years term, July 1st, 2025, the June 30th, 2028. Council discussion.
[01:21:52]
1 think we need to look for another applicant.
[01:22:03]
Does Stephanie direction from us on that?
[01:22:05]
1 wouldn't.
[01:22:06]
No. Okay. Great.
[01:22:09]
Leave it open?
[01:22:101
The- the single applicant doesn't live here, so-
[01:22:11]
Yes, she doesn't live here.
(01:22:12]
- I think we move on. Yeah.
[01:22:13]
We move on? Okay. 11e, housing and commission- development commission- do we do anything when
we move on, or we just move on like that?
Page 45
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:22:221
Uh, I'm sorry. I'm st- struggling to keep up. In lld-
[01:22:271
11d.
[01:22:28]
- you don't want to appoint anyone; is that correct?
[01:22:30]
11d.
[01:22:31]
11d has one applicant who I don't think lives here anymore, so-
[01:22:34]
Okay. Uh, so you just like to re -post? Is that the will of council?
[01:22:371
1 think-
[01:22:38]
Yes.
[01:22:39]
Re -post it, yeah. Do we need to have to do a motion for that or just re -post?
[01:22:431
No.
[01:22:43]
All right.
[01:22:43]
That's enough. Informally is fine. Thank you.
[01:22:46]
And now we are in 11e, housing and community development commission, and I will leave that to our
city attorney to speak about this.
[01:22:541
Page 46
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 202S
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Oh, right. Thank you, mayor pro tem. Sothis one's a little, um, complicated. Uh, so council may recall
that there was a member removed at the last council meeting. There is an appeals process that lasts 30
days. So we don't want to, uh, appoint anyone tonight here in the- I guess, based on the possibility of
that individual coming forth and, uh, appealing successfully, then we would have one too many
members. Um, so we're asking for, um, a deferral to the June 17th meeting. That would be far enough
out to be outside that 30-day appeal period. Also, uh, it would then be, uh, after the June 3rd meeting at
which the, uh, HICK has put forth- or will be putting forth to council a motion to change their bylaws
that will reduce the number of their members from 9-7.
[01:23:53]
Then I would like to have a motion to defer the two vacants to fill unexpected term upon appointment
in June 30th, 2026.
(01:24:02]
1 move.
[01:24:03]
To June 17th, I'm sorry?
[01:24:05]
To June 17th.
(01:24:06]
Thank you.
(01:24:07)
Yes, thank you. June 17th, 2025. May I have a motion?
[01:24:12]
So moved, Moe.
[01:24:13]
Moved by Moe.
[01:24:141
Second, Harmsen.
[01:24:15)
Second by Harmsen. All in favor say Aye.
(01:24:17]
Aye.
Page 47
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:24:18]
Oppose same sign. Motion passes 6-0. Item number 11F Housing and Community Development
Commission. Housing and Community Development Commission two vacants to fill three years term,
July 1st, 2025 to June 30th 2028.
[01:24:39]
Same thing.
[01:24:401
Same condition.
[01:24:41]
Yeah, the last motion, I'm sorry, Mayor Pro Tern referred to both 11E and this item 11F. So I think this
one's already taken care of that.
[01:24:49]
Okay. We don't have to do both of them. Okay.
[01:24:511
Thank you.
[01:24:52]
Then, uh, thank you. Item 11E, Library Board and Trustee. Library Board and Trustees three vacant to fill
six years term, July 1st, 2025, to June 30th, 2031. 1 guess, Council discussion.
[01:25:12]
I'll say that I've, uh, seen firsthand that Kalmea Strong is somebody who already kind of, like, runs a
library type thing in for Public Space One and, um, you know, not even just my shorter time on the
Board of Public Space One, but just throughout the years of- of knowing her and what she does for the
community and like the values that she holds specifically in a time when, like, libraries are unfortunately,
under a microscope and under attack. So I think someone like her, someone I know has that type of
dedication. That's why I really like the application from Kalmea. Yeah.
101:26:041
1 think that-
[01:26:05]
One supporting Kalmea?
[01:26:061
Page 48
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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I think they had- I agree, they had a strong application. Two other applications that jumped out at me,
that one of them, Kelsey Patrick Ferri. And then the other one, Katie Prisky.
[01:26:291
Yeah, I like, Kalmea Strong and Kelsey Patrick Ferri those are on my list.
[01:26:40]
We are seeking three.
[01:26:441
They are three. Um, Corey Schwegel Skis.
[01:26:52]
Look at that one again. I'm getting a mixed in my head.
[01:26:56]
Corey.
[01:26:57]
Yeah. That's three.
[01:27:00]
1 just want to make sure that I'm thinking not mixing up applicants here. Um, okay, yes. I did have Corey
up here as a- a favorable. And as well as Kelsey. Okay. Wow.
[01:27:261
We need three right. Okay.
[01:27:31)
So it would be-
[01:27:32]
Kalmea, Corey.
[01:27:33]
Kalmea.
[01:27:341
Kelsey.
[01:27:361
Kelsey not Corey.
Page 49
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:27:38]
Kelsey not Corey.
[01:27:40]
Yeah.
[01:27:40]
Okay. May I have a motion to appoint Kelsi Corey and Kalmea. Three.
[01:27:50]
So moved.
[01:27:51]
Moved by Weilein.
[01:27:531
Second.
[01:27:53]
Second by Bergus. All in favor, say aye.
[01:27:571
Aye.
[01:27:58]
Both same sign. Motion passes six to zero. May I have a motion to accept correspondence.
[01:28:07]
So move, Bergus.
[01:28:081
Move by Bergus.
[01:28:101
1 would also just like to thank all the applicants because I had a good time reading all the applications.
[01:28:15]
Yeah. They're good applications.
[01:28:161
Yeah.
Page 50
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:28:16]
They are.
[01:28:18]
Second.
[01:28:19]
And it was a tough choice in a lot of them, so, yeah.
[01:28:23]
Okay, I'm waiting for a second.
[01:28:24]
Second.
[01:28:251
I'm sorry.
[01:28:25]
Second by Harmsen. I said that is that a second? Okay. All in favor say aye.
[01:28:33]
Aye.
[01:28:35]
Both same sign motion passes 6-0. Item 11H Planning and Zoning Commission.
[01:28:43]
Two vacants to fill five years 10, July 1st, 2025 to June 3 2030. Council discussion.
[01:28:52]
I'd like to put James Davies or David Davies as he's listed here. Forward. He's applied in the past,
communicated about planning and zoning issues, very familiar with the comprehensive plan.
[01:29:06]
Yeah, David or Davies, and also Caleb, who is currently on the HCDC, is that correct?
[01:29:17]
Does he want?
[01:29:17]
Page 51
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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I think he is. I think he rolled off last summer. His application is -this one's about a year old
(01:29:24]
1 believe that's correct. I believe he's no longer on HCV.
[01:29:26]
Yeah.
[01:29:26]
Okay. So someone with that experience, I think would be valuable.
[01:29:39]
No problem with that.
[01:29:42]
Okay. May I have a motion.
[01:29:43]
I'll move lames let's see David Davies and Caleb binding.
[01:29:501
Okay. Moved by Moe. May I have a second?
[01:29:53]
Second Bergus.
[01:29:54]
Second by Bergus. All in favor, say aye.
[01:29:56]
Aye.
[01:29:581
Both same sign. Motion passes 6-0. Announce of vacants hill. 12A Police Review Board want vacants to
fill an unexpired term, I've been appointed June 30th 2027. And do we accept correspondent or no? No.
Okay. Human Right Commission want vacants to fill an unexpired term upon appointed December 315t,
2025. Applicant must receive- application must receive by 5:00 PM to use the July 1st 2025. Motion to
accept correspondence space.
[01:30:39]
So moved?
Page 52
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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[01:30:40]
Moved by Weilein.
[01:30:41]
Second Moe.
[01:30:42]
Second by Moe. All in favor say aye.
[01:30:45]
Aye.
[01:30:46]
Motion passes 6-0. And as of Bacon's previous 13A. Public Art Advisory Committee want vacants to fill
an expired term upon appointed December 31st, 2025. And application must be received by 5:00 PM
Tuesday June 10, 2025. Airport Zoning Board and adjustment want vacants to fill a five year term,
January 1st, 2024 to December 31st, 2028. Airport Zoning Commission want vacants to fill a six year
term, January 1st, 2024 to December 31st, 2029. Board of Appeal HVAC professional, one vacancy to fill
an unexpired term upon appointment, December 31st, 2028. Historic Preservation Commission -
Commission Jefferson Street, want vacants to fill a three years term, July 1st 2022- 2022 to June 30th
2025. Historic Preservation Commission, Jefferson Street, want vacants to fill a three years term, July 1st
2025, to June 30th, 2028. Historic Preservation Commission Somme Street, when vacants to fill a three
years term, July 1st, 2025, to June 30th 2028. Historic Preservation Commission Wouldland venue, want
vacants to fill a three years term, July 1st, 2024, to June 30th 2027. Vacants will remain open until filled.
City Council informations. And now we just- council member, if you would like to report in any briefs
meeting, attending or commission.
[01:32:40]
Councilor Harmsen and I went to the landfill and did a listening post there. It was a wonderful day,
thanks to the public works for throwing a fun event. So I actually don't know what next year would be
for where the next event would be.
[01:32:55]
Next public works.
[01:32:57]
We haven't decided-
[01:32:57]
Okay.
[01:32:58]
Page 53
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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Here's location here
[01:32:581
1 look forward to it every year. So, um, I got meant water treatment as my favorite, but, um, but no, I
will- my intention is to type up the notes that we had and issue them in a memo to council for the next
IP. Some of them included some rather complicated technical questions, so I'm trying to get answers
with the professional staff. So we have answers, not just a list of questions. Um, also, actually, this is a to
do we want to merge this with our work session item of commissions and boards? We didn't get to that.
Seats met today. So just they continue to seek efficiencies, and they are actually seeing some increases
due to some new software of being able to have less time per writer and still provide good service. So
there's some good news there.
[01:33:56]
Um, since you already kind of let off of that. Thank you to all the people that came out and looked at the
new building out at the landfill. It looks nice. Speaking of efficiencies, one of the reasons, uh, why that is
there is because the former building was literally he gaping holes, um, was too small for some of the
equipment, which meant equipment was left out in the weather year round. Couldn't be worked on, in
some cases, had to be shipped to other places in order to have a garage big enough to work on it with
some of the bigger tractors. And things like that, which now will be able to be done on site, which will
have some long term benefits, as well as some much needed upgrades to the spaces for the employees.
So that all looked really good. Other Board and Commission, Unesco City of literature is also looking at
efficiencies, realizing the difficult place of many of our organizations here because of the change of
administration, um, is doing a lot to make up the difference and keep that organization vital and kudos
to John Kenyan and other members of the board, who have put a lot of time and effort into making sure
that that's going to happen.
[01:35:18]
Anyone else about our rule committee?
[01:35:24]
Rules Committee.
[01:35:25]
Yeah. Er, we had a nice short meeting with the rules committee. We touched on it a little bit for the
appointments to the commissions, the rule change, lowering the number of people on the HCDC. And it
was approved, and the logic was sound.
[01:35:441
Sure. Councilor Bergus.
[01:35:471
Page 54
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I don't- I think the only thing I would mention is we do have an MPOJC meeting tomorrow, but I am
intending to miss that to attend the Iowa City downtown Districts annual event, which is at our senior
center from 4:00 to 6:00, 1 believe.
[01:36:04]
Yes.
[01:36:051
And when I looked yesterday, there were still tickets available.
[01:36:08]
Uh, can we have five staff members go instead of us?
[01:36:13]
All right.
[01:36:14]
1 don't know.
[01:36:151
Alternates are available. I will already be attending as one alternate. I- I assume we can, uh, rally up
some troops. We can see what we can do.
[01:36:251
Yes.
[01:36:261
1 didn't really think about this being an option. You let the Genie out of the battle.
101:36:301
Sol-.
[01:36:311
Just never missed the MPO, so I figured I can miss one but-
[01:36:35]
1 missed one in a while.
[01:36:35)
Yeah. Should we write you an email?
[01:36:40]
Page 55
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of May 20, 2025
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Sorry. Saying what?
[01:36:41]
Should we write an email to the city manager saying if alternates are available, or?
[01:36:45]
Yeah. That sounds good. Just if you'd like an alternate, just raise your hand here, how about we do this?
[01:36:52]
1 already one.
[01:36:53]
Okay. We need five alternates.
[01:36:55]
Is it acceptable to have all of us at the city downtown?
[01:36:57]
Mayor are you going- do you need an alternate Mayor- no Mayor is not going sorry.
[01:37:021
It's a lot of trust. That's all I'm saying.
[01:37:061
But also, the mayor, if you want to report in any event or commissions just like.
[01:37:12]
Yeah. Again, it's a graduation season, so congratulate all the graduates from the University of Iowa as
well as to Kirkwood Community College. Have attended some of those graduations. But I was also at the
Public Works Open House. So I of course, saw our counselors there, man on the table with definitely a
lot of community input. So that's always great to see. It was a great event and I agree with all of the
comments about the need, as well as the great work of our public works department. Other than that,
I'll leave it at that. And sorry, as many of you know I wasn't able to be there in person, but Mayor Pro
Tem, you're doing an awesome and amazing job.
[01:37:55]
Thank you- Thank you. We understand. Okay. Now, if no one else, I will move to item number 15, Staff
report, City Manager Office.
[01:38:06]
Nothing tonight. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.
Page 56
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[01:38:08]
City attorney.
[01:38:091
Nothing for me. Thank you.
[01:38:101
Okay, City clerk.
(01:38:111
Nothing.
(01:38:121
All right. We have- I need a motion to adjourn.
[01:38:171
So moved.
[01:38:181
Moved by Bergus.
(01:38:191
Second.
[01:38:201
Second by Weilein. And all in favor say aye.
[01:38:23]
Aye.
[01:38:24]
Same sign. Motion passes 6-0.
Page 57