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Home My WebLink About2025-12-09 TranscriptionIowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:00:30] Alright, mics are on. [00:00:34] All right. I am- I'm going to call this meeting to order for the city of Iowa City on December 9th, 2025. It is 6:00 PM. Roll call, please. [00:00:46] Alter. [00:00:51] Here. [00:00:52] Bergus. [00:00:53] Here. [00:00:54] Harmsen. [00:00:55] Here. [00:00:55] Moe. [00:00:56] Here. [00:00:56] Salih. [00:00:57] Here. [00:00:58] Teague. [00:00:59] Here. Page 1 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:00:59] Weilein. [00:01:00] Here. [00:01:01] All right, I want to welcome everyone here today to your City Hall. We have two joining us virtually. As you heard Mayor Pro Tern, SaIih is joining virtually as well as Counselor Alter. And we're going to move on in the agenda with Item number 2, which is proclamations, International Human Rights Day. Whereas December 10 marks International Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a landmark document affirming the inherent dignity and equal rights of all members of the human family. And whereas the 2025 global theme, human rights are everyday essentials, reminds us that human rights are not abstract ideas, but the foundation of daily life. Shaping the ways we learn, work, speak, gather, worship, and live with safety, dignity, and opportunity. And whereas this year also marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations created in 1945, and the aftermath of the atrocities of World War 11 and the Holocaust, with the mission to prevent future conflict and protect human dignity for all people. And whereas the United Nations Association emphasizes that economic, social, civic and political rights are interconnected and universal, and that the security, well-being, and freedom of each person strengthens the well-being of every community. And whereas Iowa City affirms its commitment to fostering a beloved community, grounded in equality, inclusion, justice, and respect, and recognizes that human rights work happens not only internationally, but locally through civic participation, education, community support, and standing against all forms of bias and discrimination. And whereas the UNA encourages communities to take action by uplifting human rights in daily life, sharing stories of what human rights means to them using hashtag, Our Everyday Rights, making personal commitments to uphold the principles of the UDHR, and participating in programs that advance dignity for all. Now, therefore, I Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim December 10, 2025 to be International Human Rights Day, and Iowa City and I encourage all residents to join, upholding the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as we work together to build a just, peaceful, and inclusive community for present and future generations. And we have none other than Biju who is with the Johnson County UNA Association, accepting this proclamation. [APPLAUSE] [00:04:27] Hi, my name is Lucy Moroca, and I'm here with Biju with- the board member of UN, uh, JC-UNA-US. Thank you for having us. [00:04:36] Yes. [00:04:38] Hello. Page 2 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 202S (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:04:39] Hello. [00:04:41] Mayor Teague and member of the Iowa City City Council. Thank you for this pro- meaningful proclamation, recognizing December 10 as International Human Day. I'm truly and deeply honored to receive it on behalf of the Johnson County chapter of the UNA-USA. Human rights begin with something profoundly simple, recognizing humanity in one another. And in a world that often feels heavy with worry, with uncertainty, with grief and fear, this recognition become an act of courage and an act of hope. What this proclamation present- represent is a reminder that our commitment to human rights cannot be passive. It must be lived. It must be practiced. It must show up in the- the choice we make, in how we treat one another, and in how we respond to injustice. Whether it touches someone across the globe or someone across the street, proclamation like this remind us that dignity is not something given to a few. It is the birthright of all. And each time a community chooses to honor that truth, its lights are small, but powerful beacon in the world. Human rights are not abstract principle for diplomat and international bodies alone. They are the everyday foundation of a society where people can thrive, where children feel safe at school, where people have the chance to dream, the right to belong, the freedom to live without fear, where a neighbor trust one another, whether different, um, differences are met with curiosity rather than fear, and whether every person's lives has equal worth. These are not political ideas. They are human needs. They are the threats that connect a family in Iowa City to a family across the ocean. And in a time when many feel discouraged or divided, the act of publicly affirming this value matter more than ever. The work of human right is carried out in the quiet choice we make every day, how we listen, how we care, how we protect one another, how we refuse to give up on compassion, even when the world give us a reason to. Peace is not just an absence of conflict. It is the presence of understanding, of kindness, and of belief that every person's life has meaning. While great progress has been made, our work is far from finished. Victory is not completed until peace is established. And to every individual, regardless of background, nationality, or circumstances, can live free from fear, fear from discrimination, and free to pursue their fullest potential. Thank you again for this proclamation and for your leadership. Thank you for standing with us in this vision- in this vital mission, and for helping ensure that Iowa City continue to be a place where the promise of human right is not only spoken, but pursued. Together we continue building a world and a community where justice, peace, and humanity flourish for today and for generations to come. Thank you. [00:08:33] Thank you. [APPLAUSE] And thank you both for coming. All right, we're going to move on in our agenda. We have Item number 3, which is a special presentation. This is always exciting to have this. And this is a presentation by the quality pre -apprenticeship program graduates, and we're going to invite all of the graduates up along with Robin Clark -Bennett with the UI Labor Center. [APPLAUSE] Thank you. [00:09:10] Good evening. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here to give you an update, um, on the exciting progress of the Iowa City construction pre -apprenticeship program, and to thank you for the city's support. So as, uh, a reminder, this program is led by the University of Iowa Labor Center in Page 3 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. partnership with the city of Iowa City, Dreams City, New Creations International Church, the Cedar Rapids Iowa City Building and Construction Trades Council and local high schools. Our region is really lucky to be a hub for state of the art registered apprenticeship training centers that provide multiyear tuition free education to become credentialed journey workers in over a dozen skilled construction trades. Um, these are earn as you learn programs that combine supervised mentorship on the job with training center instruction so that people become well rounded carpenters, electricians, sheet metal workers, ironworkers, laborers, and more. Um, these are programs that develop the workforce for hundreds of area contractors who partner with unions to provide family supporting wages, excellent health and retirement benefits, and a strong emphasis on safety. But today, with historic levels of new construction in our area and baby boomer retirements, these programs urgently need to find and train the next generation of skilled craftspeople. But meanwhile, too many talented workers in our community are struggling to find good rewarding jobs. You know, my husband, um, had training to be a union carpenter, as did his dad and his uncle and his grandfather, and that is historically how the program worked, right, how the pipeline worked. But today's building trades leaders are really working to change that history. Um, but still, many talented workers from groups that are historically underrepresented in the trade still face barriers to entry. They may not be aware of trades like iron workers, glazers, insulators, you know, jobs that have a lower profile. They may not know where to begin or how to increase their chances of admission, and they may just need connections, advocates and- or starter tools. So that is what our program does. We work to take down those barriers and create new equitable pathways into skilled construction trades careers. Um, we work closely with local schools and community partners to identify people who have serious interest and capacity to enter the skill trades, and we conduct a five -week, um, course each year that meets Tuesday and Thursday evening and all day Saturday. For five weeks, it's a serious out of school and out of work commitment. Um, but provides certifications like OSHA 10, CPR First Aid, um, and classes alongside, um, Labor Center and guest speaker instructors, um, on blueprint reading, tools awareness, interview skills, green construction strategies, construction math and more. Um, really, ah, a highlight of the program that we enjoy and so do our graduates is tours with hands-on projects and at least six, um, apprenticeship training centers. And then following graduation, we are constantly in communication with our graduates and leaders of area trades to pair people with opportunities, um, as they arise to really help ensure our graduates have everything they need to get started and succeed in the trade of their choice. Um, so as just quick, um, numbers, we're proud to say that 67 Iowa residents to date have graduated from our program, 100% have been from communities underrepresented according to DOL, um, US DOL standards. And the graduation rate from our, um, last session was 86%, an outstanding rate for a lot of hours for five weeks, outside of school and outside of work, unpaid work, um, when they really, um, you know, got serious about finding the trade that was right for them. Um, we've placed people as carpenters, insulator, sheet metal workers, labors, iron workers, electricians, plumbers, and more. Um, and just as exciting, several of our graduates have become rising leaders in the trades and have gone to refer- gone on to refer other friends, um, into the trades, creating new pipelines. So we have an upcoming five -week cohort beginning in February, and of 30 slots we were targeting to fill, we have 31 enrolled, others who've been offered admission, and more applications coming in, so it's clear that the demand is strong. But rather than talk about our graduates, it is my great pleasure to introduce you to some of the really incredible talented people we have the pleasure to work with. Page 4 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:13:26] Nice. [00:13:26] Um, so I guess you were taped to starting out. Justin Wanjalulu was one of our early graduates, and we'll tell you a little bit about his math. [00:13:37] Great. Welcome. [00:13:38] Hello, guys. [00:13:39] Hello. [00:13:40] Ah, my name is Justin Wanjalulu. I came from Africa, DRC Congo, especially. Um, all I would say is, ah, I'm really thankful for you, Robin, for this organization, actually. Um, they really helped me, especially, uh, for- for a path, you know, for funding, I'm going to say, you know, I'm very- I'm very excited too, you know, you're actually helping the next generation, actually, with this path. Ah, without them, I wouldn't be here. Without this actually organization, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be, you know, actually, uh, [inaudible 00:14:15] standing here talking to you about this organization. You know, that's- that's a fact. Um, I really want the next generation to really go through this, and it really, uh, help you, especially mentally, physically, when you come to work, you know. Yeah, thank you. [00:14:37] Thank you. [APPLAUSE] [00:14:38] You just graduated from here. [00:14:40] Yeah, I just graduated from a carpenter, uh, as a, you know, it was Friday- Friday, last Friday as a four gentleman, yeah. [00:14:51] Cool. Awesome. Congratulations. [APPLAUSE] Welcome. [00:14:58] Hey, ah, my name's Herbert Whaley. Ah, I graduated in 2025. 1 started work when I was in November. No, wait, August. Sorry. Ah, I started as an iron worker. This pre -apprenticeship class really helped me. Uh, I really didn't know what I was going to be doing with my life. So, you know, I really wanted to Page 5 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. expand my elements, you know, like- like, work on stuff, build stuff, everything, you know. So now I'm working at Dyersville. I'm doing- I've been there for five weeks, uh, just doing beams and decking and building and everything, you know? So I'm very, very grateful for being in this pre -apprenticeship class, and I'm really hoping more and more people really do it because it will help you. [00:15:56] Great. [APPLAUSE] Congratulations. [00:16:02] Hello. My name is Sofia Reza. Um, I've been working as a construct environment like five months ago, and the problem- the program really helps a lot, guys, it helps you to get know people about the trade and to help with the application. Yeah, it helps. Thank you. [00:16:26] Lovely. Congratulations. [APPLAUSE] [00:16:33] My name is Alexa Ramirez. I graduated high school of this year in May. I took the pre apprenticeship because I already knew I wanted to go into trade. I was already looking forward the electrician trade. During the program, it showed me multiple trades. So I was able to really kind of see what I really wanted during that time. I ended up choosing the electrician trade. It helped me a lot with finding the construction wireman position, which will eventually help me get into the union apprenticeship to um, later become a journeyman. It helped me guarantee a- get a guaranteed interview with the union. So that was really helpful. I didn't have to worry about getting an OSHA 10 card on my own or even paying for it. So that was extremely helpful. Same with the first aid. Um, yeah, and it also helped me find a community with the electrician trade, which is the union. So very helpful and grateful for this program. Thank you. [00:17:47] Thank you, and congrats to you and congrats to all of you. [APPLAUSE] [00:17:52] Pass it over last to my new colleague, Samantha Gork, who's also executive director of the Central Iowa Building Construction Trades, but is now working with us on this program because of a grant that we were able to leverage from the work that we're doing currently. So yeah. [00:18:07] Welcome. [00:18:08] This is my first time at Iowa City City Council meeting. It's nice to see all of you. As Robin mentioned, I work with the Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council. Primarily, I work with building trade unions there as well as employers and apprenticeship programs, and I really insisted on Robin Page 6 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 202S (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. letting me speak here before you because I really want you all to understand the national profile that the Labor Center and the University of Iowa and this quality pre apprenticeship program has earned over the years. In my neck of the woods in Des Moines, it's been a model for investment that Polk County has followed. The ARPA funding Polk County followed the lead on Iowa City to invest in a similar program. There's also a similar program kicking off soon with the Polk County Housing Trust Fund, and all of it traces back to looking at the model that's been really mastered here. So really congratulations, Iowa City and your leadership on an important workforce development strategy. I work with unions across the country on this kind of programming, and I can tell you I get calls about Iowa City's program and how you all have been able to do it and keep it strong. So I'm not bluffing with that that's real and so thank you for your leadership. It doesn't go unnoticed even outside of the Iowa City boundaries. The second is another thing I've noticed even outside of Iowa City is the caliber of folks coming out of this program. Not only do people become tradespeople, but they also become leaders in their communities and in their trades. You have young people coming to city council meetings to speak, which I know can be scary and a little bit intimidating. Women in particular who have gone through this have become our critical resource in helping recruit more young women and women, you know, from all walks of life to feel comfortable and welcome in the trades. And so now, you can't put a value on what that means to our industry. And I just learned the other week, actually, or a couple of weeks ago that one of the recent graduates who now lives in Des Moines was actually named Apprentice of the Year. At one of the larger apprenticeship programs in the state, the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 in Des Moines, they have over 400 apprentices in their program, and he was a graduate of the QPP and was named apprentice of the Year. So lots of really great things coming out of this program so thank you for your support. Justin, who I recognize because I followed these things like a nerd was featured in a national NPR article a couple of years ago, and I recognized his name and him because I remember that article that featured Iowa City in the Labor Center and Paul Iverson, who works with Robin. So again, y'all are famous for making this thing happen. So thank you for your support. My final comments are just to echo what Robin said. We are seeing an explosion of work in Eastern Iowa, in particular, the Cedar Rapids Metro. And here, we need hundreds if not thousands of more tradespeople. There are folks that drive in from Des Moines and other parts of the state every day to work in this area, and folks come in from out of state. What you all are doing to invest and making sure local folks have access to these high quality jobs with good pay and benefits, that is a winning workforce development strategy, so I hope that you continue to do so. And I hope that this new work can create better opportunities for working families right here in Iowa City. So thank you for all that you do. Congrats. Big fan from Polk County. Thank you. [00:21:47] And thank you all. [APPLAUSE] What a great presentation for our last meeting of the year. [LAUGHTER] And again, congrats to each one of you. All right. We're gonna move on to our consent agenda, which is items 4-9. Can I get a motion to approve it, please? [00:22:11] 1 would like to pull numbers Item 7D for further consideration. [00:22:18] Page 7 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. All right. So let's do- we'll do a separate consideration for item 7D. So this could I get a motion to do consent agenda for items 4-9 with a separate consideration for 7D? [00:22:39] So moved, Shawn. [00:22:43] Second, Weilein. [00:22:45] Moved by Harm second by Weilein. Anyone from the public like to address the topics minus 7D? If you're online, please raise your virtual hand. If you're present, please come forth. Seeing no one online or in person. Council, discussion. Roll call, please. [00:23:10] Alter? [00:23:13] Yes. [00:23:13] Bergus? [00:23:14] Yes. [00:23:14] Harmsen? [00:23:15] Yes. [00:23:16] M oe? [00:23:16] Yes. [00:23:17] Salih? [00:23:18] Yes. Page 8 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:23:18] Teague? [00:23:19] Yes. [00:23:19] Weilein. [00:23:20] Yes. [00:23:21] Motion passes 7-0. We are- can I get a motion to approve item number 7D that we set aside for a separate consideration? [00:23:31] So moved Weilein. [00:23:32] Second, Alter. [00:23:35] Okay. I'm gonna give it to Alter, because it could have been delayed. Moved by Weilein. Second by Alter. Let her get one in. All right. So, council discussion. Well, anyone from the public like to discuss this topic? If you're present, please come forth. If you're online, please raise your virtual hand. Seeing no one. All right. Council discussion. [00:23:59] Um, so this subject, I was trying to figure out why I couldn't, like, not think about it. And I think it's because, uh, us as council people, while I kind of, you know, like to consider ourselves just city staff, we do come with privileges and benefits, one being that I can show up dressed, however crazy I want to, no one's gonna say anything to me about it because I'm a council person. But I was excited to see that, like, the dress code for our city staff has been relaxed. The goal is to relax it a little bit, which I think is great. And so I reached out to some I talked with one city staff about it and I was like, Hey, isn't this cool? We're going to relax this. You're gonna be able to wear jeans all week. Um and they said, Yeah, but I'm a little bit concerned about that's cool, but it also includes there that, like, I can't wear a sweatshirt and it gets really cold in there. And then I was like, Oh, okay, so I decided to talk to more folks, and everybody that I talked to, which is quite a few city staff said something along the lines of, like, that's cool. But so and I was considering just kind of going through, taking all of their concerns and being like, Let's change this, this, this. I don't think doing that right here would be the coolest thing. So I think, all I would say is maybe look to see if we can have kind of like a more in depth holistic conversation between city staff Page 9 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 202S (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. and maybe even ASM Union reps or whatever we think could be kind of, like, the best vehicle for that conversation because some folks are bringing up concerns like, you know, it says no shorts because it's air conditioned, but I have to ride my bike or walk and some of these hot days really bad, just like little things like that here and there. So I guess I think that that would be my only a point on this is just kind of like, make that a conversation about maybe a little bit more in depth of, you know, I feel comfortable walking in to these situations- situations to these council meetings because 1, you know, I'm not worried about how I'm dressed and I feel like that creates like a good environment where people feel like they have the ability to within reason, express themselves. Um, I like number five, where employees must refrain from displaying materials or items in personal or shared workspaces that depict images or text that is not appropriate for the workplace, including but not limited to images of guns or other weapons, political messaging. That's cool. But I just think that maybe if it would be appropriate for right now to just have staff maybe work to engage in, like, a more holistic conversation about it, if that would be agreeable to folks. [00:27:13] Are you suggesting we approve this but then give direction to staff to engage with Mike you suggested asks me? [00:27:20] Yeah. [00:27:20] To discuss further? [00:27:22] That's I don't see a problem with that. [00:27:26] Kind of if we're okay if they're open to it. I think maybe we should think about something, too, when city employees travel like air travel, we should require pajamas. [00:27:33] Yeah. [LAUGHTER] [00:27:36] If you know, you know. Not really. That was a joke. [00:27:39] Yeah, so, I mean, I'm not opposed to, you know, like I said, I think this is great that the idea here is to make it more relax and make people feel more comfortable, which I thought was a cool win. But then I was just kind of struck by, it's like, every person I talked to about it was just like, cool, but. So that's why I think it just due diligence and maybe having a conversation about it. Page 10 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:28:01] Sure. [00:28:01] But if we approve it, is that means, how are we gonna change it if we approve it as it is? Can we just postpone it? [00:28:10] It will come back as an addendum. [00:28:12] Yeah, we could bring it back as an addendum. I don't want to deprive people in the meantime of their ability to wear jeans. So. [00:28:20] O kay? [00:28:22] This is Megan Alter. I would just also say that we I think that that makes sense to have further conversation with staff and well, from staff to staff. But I also want to caution us as council getting overly involved in day to day operations. I work at a place where there's a dress code, and then it also has been lax and all of that. So I- I totally get the sort of, like, um, the desire to make it as comfortable as possible, there's always a balance as well about, you know, sometimes not wearing shorts has to do with safety concerns. Sometimes it's about whether you're front facing with customers or, you know, the public. So I think we just so long as we give some latitude for staff for the city manager's office while they're engaging with staff, that those conversations can continue. I'm in favor of that, for sure. But just, you know, I think everybody who works both at the city, as well as, you know, what their individual positions are and what their work needs are, you know, kind of understand that balance. I just want us as council to know that that's also like, probably the number 1 driver in these conversations for staff at all levels. So at a certain point, we should be okay to say, it ain't perfect. We're not at home, but these new accommodations or new um, relaxations in- in former rules make sense, but they might not go as far as everyone wants. And I think that as council, we should be accepting of that, as well as long as the conversation happens. [00:30:14] Yeah, I really appreciate that. And I think that thinking of not wanting to micromanage internal policy was why instead of me going through, like, I originally was marking it up, like, well, let's change this, take this out. But then I was like, I think it should just be a conversation between staff and, uh, city staff and more rank and file employees, or even union reps if they consider that a good use of their time. But, yeah, I agree. [00:30:43] Page 11 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Yeah. I mean, I certainly appreciate, you know, highlighting the change to relax the attire that is allowed here at the city. But it is a hard balancing act, I think, when you're talking about encouraging and setting some expectations and some parameters that would be appropriate for city staff to, you know, wear while they're representing, you know, our city. So well, I can appreciate, you know, shedding light on this. I don't want to underestimate the challenges that could come up with, you know, the variety of different desires that people have. And you have to have something or else you'll get almost anything that you certainly will get comments from the public about. So um, certainly, I think, you know, it's highlighted now for city staff and for, you know, employers to employees to discuss this. But certainly, I don't want to walk away with anyone thinking that this is going to be an easy, you know, task for anyone because it is a delicate dance when you're talking about these type, sensitive items. So yeah. [00:32:17] 1 just had a procedural question. I think the policies come before us every year, this policy manual or how frequently is what is the normal process for reviewing and updating and who's included in that my question. [00:32:31] So the process is regularly, is what I would say. It's probably about every year, but sometimes it's a few years, sometimes it's less than that, if things come up. A lot of it is just us reflecting, uh, about the questions that we're getting from personnel, about issues that arise about requests from employees. [00:32:56] Um, and we try to encapsulate all that in- in our regular updates. So I couldn't say every year, it does involve, management staff, and a lot of what management staff hears from employees, for example, or questions that HR is getting a lot of its HR directed, since they're the ones who answer a lot of these questions. in the case of the clothing policy, this isn't something where we've had issues with. We really don't foresee issues, but it's something that we've recognized, that, you know, there is some flexibility here and what's interpreted as business casual. Business casual is what's generally expected of office workers, and jeans can be appropriate for that within parameters. and so, really, this was, intended to be increasing flexibility in response to some of the comments or questions that we get from staff. But, yeah, procedurally, it's regularly. [00:33:58] And the only reason I ask to highlight that is I agree that it's somewhat of a slippery slope to kind of open this up, as well as the question of, you know, what's our role in not wanting to micromanage. I do like the idea of ensuring that staff who probably look at this once when they're hired and then delete the email when they get it when it's updated, that there, you know, just make sure we have the forums for people to be coming forward and providing input, um, because I think when it's- when it's complaint and issue based, right, that can kind of skew what the issues might be. [00:34:34] True. Page 12 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:34:35] Yeah. [00:34:35] True. [00:34:36] Yeah. [00:34:37] And the one thing I will say is that the city manager's office still have the floor is yours on an annual basis. And so they hear from the staff, which is, open-door, and they get a lot of great information because they're going to various departments and talking to the staff there. So I think, you know, I wouldn't put a timeline on if this should come back to us, and we may not see it for addendum, but I have confidence that, our city employees are being heard, as well as certainly there will be some things that we may need to attend to in the future, so. Anything else about this item? Alright. Roll call. [OVERLAPPING] [00:35:22] Oh, I'm sorry, just to interrupt. Just so I'm clear. Is there a consensus that the city manager's office should speak with staff to kind of work through this a little further, or I wasn't sure I heard a majority of folks who [OVERLAPPING]. [00:35:34] See that done. [00:35:35] so everybody, understand the question. [00:35:38] Yeah. [00:35:39] 1 think so. I think where I'm coming down on it is that they should feel if they feel like there's something more to be done here, they should feel that that's something we're open to. More so than any specific, you must do this, or if they feel like there's more wiggle room there, that's something that. [00:35:56] 1 guess for me, I don't [OVERLAPPING]. [00:35:58] Trust their judgment on it? Page 13 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:36:00] Yeah, I don't feel like giving direction towards looking into this because I think that we do, surveys with employers, with employees, and so I think we can add something related to this, that is in the routine, you know, questionnaire for employers, for our employees. you know, the floor is yours. It happens annually, I want to say in July-ish, somewhere in there. And so I think there will be ample opportunities for this to be, kind of talked through. And so, personally, I don't feel I want to give direction for the city manager office to do anything immediate on this, but certainly adding, you know, a questionnaire relating to this, um, you know, dress code, any concerns, whatever that might look like, that will allow for some feedback. And I don't know what my colleagues think. [00:37:02] That sounds good. [00:37:03] Yeah. [00:37:03] Yeah. That sounds good to me. In terms of, like, formal direction, I don't think that's necessary. I just thought of bringing this up because I just kept reaching out to people, and they kept it, you know. So that's why I thought it was big enough of an issue to bring up. and I think sometimes, the floor has ears is great, and I think our city staff does a really good job of listening to folks, but then there come times when people are not comfortable in certain settings to say what they want to say sometimes. So I don't know. I thought maybe that. [00:37:32] And that's where we have various types of opportunities for our employees to respond. And we also have HR. Mm hmm. Which is great. So Alright. Any other clarification you all need? [00:37:46] Not from me. Thank you. [00:37:47] All right, great. Roll call, please. [00:37:49] Bergus? [00:37:50] Yes. [00:37:50] Harmsen? Page 14 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:37:51] Yes. [00:37:52] Moe? [00:37:52] Yes. [00:37:53] Salih? [00:37:55] Yes. [00:37:55] Teague? [00:37:56] Yes. [00:37:57] Weilein? [00:37:57] Yes. [00:37:58] Alter. [00:37:59] Yes. [00:38:00] Motion passes seven to zero. We're on to item number ten, which is community comment, and wanted to see the hands of anyone that would like to speak during this time. If you're line, raise your hand. Your virtual hand. Seeing no one in person or online, we're going to close the community comment. We're gonna move on to item number eleven, which is planning and zoning matters, eleven as rezoning west of Ava Circle and south of Kennedy Parkway. Ordinance rezoning approximately 13.60 acres of property from interim development, Research Park to medium -density single-family residential for 4.75 acres and rural residential for 8.85 acres for property located at west of Ava Circle and south of Kennedy Parkway. I'm going to open up the public hearing, and welcome, Daniel. Page 15 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:39:01] Thank you, Mayor Daniel Sussman, Neighborhood Development Services. As you introduced, this is the - the next phase of the overall Cardinal Point West development. This development has been slowly occurring since 2015. There are approximately seventy -plus acres of surrounding land that have been rezoned and subdivided as part of Cardinal Point West. This is the applicant's request to rezone the subject property here in the white bounded dash line to a combination of zoning districts to allow for, medium density single family, essentially 19 single family dwellings, and leave the remainder of the land, move it into a rural residential designation RR one. The rezoning is needed to essentially allow that development and to eliminate the uses that it would no longer be appropriate for this land. So this shows you the zoning designations, and this shows you the area in green and yellow for development. This is just a basic rezoning. We use two basic criteria, consistency with the comprehensive plan and compatibility with existing neighborhoods. As far as consistency with the comprehensive plan, the subject area shown here is designated for conservation residential design, which aligns with the requested rezoning. And Comprehensive Plan also has a set of goals and strategies, and the rezoning aligns with those as well. The proposed rezoning will result in the development of single family homes in a neighborhood containing a diversity of housing types, which aligns with this policy vision and the comprehensive plan. By proposing the development areas on the most buildable portions of the property, it therefore preserves the sensitive areas, which is essentially what conservation sub design means. This area is also part of the Clear Creek Master Plan, and again, that highlights the intent to, promote conservation design and lining along those goals as well. The second criteria is compatibility with the existing neighborhoods. There are a variety of housing types already in this neighborhood, including single-family dwellings, townhomes, and multifamily housing. And the proposed rezoning locates the proposed single-family housing in less sensitive areas and allows the remainder of the land to remain undeveloped. As I said, this is the next phase of development for Cardinal Point West. This slide shows you the past development, starting with annexation in the early'70s, going through multiple rezoning and preliminary plats, as each phase is developed. We're on to the next phase eventually here for subdividing, but at this point, we're just simply talking about the rezoning. And it's November fifth meeting, this Planning and Zoning Commission concurred with staff's recommendation of approval with no conditions, and a good neighbor meeting was held in October. The applicant is here this evening, if you have any questions for them. That concludes my staff report. Happy to answer questions. [00:41:50] 1 don't know if I've been part of a zoning before that's next to a four -lane road. If residents want fences that either block sound and light, 'cause that's 218 in the backyard, basically, is that individual responsibility of the developer or property? It's not a city responsibility or a DOT responsibility? [00:42:10] Right. We prohibit residential development or structures within a certain distance of Highway 218 because of noise, but once they're out of that area, they can develop however they wish. [00:42:20] Okay. Thank you. Page 16 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:42:24] No more questions for you. Wanted to know if the applicant wanted to make any comments or have any, welcome. [00:42:32] Hello, Gina Landau from Navigate Homes. Do you need me to check in, probably? [00:42:38] And you're fine. But go right ahead. [00:42:42] Alright. So yes, I'm from Navigate Homes. Originally, this development was started with South Gate, and we've partitioned off, I guess, I should say. And so now I'm with Navigate. As you can see that there's almost 17 acres. I can't remember exactly that are left for trees. So this is a true conservation development. So we will have 19 single-family homes, but there will be lots of trees left. I will address the [00:43:10] discussion about being so close to Highway 218. [00:43:15] Interstate 318, however you want to say that. There is a 300-foot buffer, and some of the original concepts that I had done did have some homes in that buffer. We decided that we just didn't want to have to worry about sound barriers, or as you were talking about, walls or berms or anything like that. So we're pretty confident that we're far enough away from 218 that there won't be a problem with these homes. [00:43:45] Okay. Any questions? [00:43:47] 1 was just curious about, [00:43:50] the zoning type, the selection of the zoning type. If we were to have a zoning like RM 20 or something like that, in something more up -zoned, would that prevent single-family homes from being built? or would that just allow us to, in the future, if plans change to upzone, or could that potentially add an extra step if the area gets up zoned? I was just curious about [LAUGHTER] that thought process. [00:44:23] I'll answer that question, so this is kind of more of a general question. Generally, single-family homes are allowed in most zones. They are the least dense development. So if you get approved for a higher density, yes, generally, single-family homes are still allowed in those zones. Page 17 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:44:36] So I was just saying down the line, if plans change or if it gets redeveloped into something else, we would just have to come or something that would we would desire higher density. I would just have to come back and get rezoned again. [00:44:50] Correct. If you intensify the density, you're generally looking at a rezoning to allow that. [00:44:55] Okay. Thank you. [00:44:58] Great. All right. Anyone for from the public like to address this topic? If you're online, please raise your virtual hand. If you're present, please come forth. Seeing no one? I'm going to, before I close the public hearing, just want to see if folks that are present [00:45:18] are inclined to [00:45:21] vote in accordance with P&Z recommendations. Alright, so I have a majority that are present, and I'm gonna close the public hearing. Can I get a motion to give first consideration? [00:45:32] So move Moe. [00:45:34] Second, Salih. [00:45:35] Move by Moe, seconded by Salih. And council discussion. Oh. Seemed like a great opportunity. [00:45:46] Need housing of all kinds. [00:45:47] Absolutely. Roll call please. [00:45:51] Harmsen? [00:45:52] Page 18 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Yes. [00:45:52] Moe? [00:45:53] Yes. [00:45:53] Salih? [00:45:54] Yes. [00:45:55] Teague? [00:45:55] Yes. [00:45:56] Weilein? [00:45:57] Yes. [00:45:57] Alter? [00:45:58] Yes. [00:45:59] Bergus. [00:45:59] Yes. [00:46:00] Motion passes seven is zero. [00:46:02] Page 19 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. We're moving into which is our regular formal agenda, 12A Taft Avenue Re- Re -Construction Project, resolution authorizing the acquisition of property interest necessary for construction of the Taft Avenue Reconstruction project. I'm going to open up the public hearing, and welcome, John. [00:46:24] Thank you, Mayor Teague, my name is John Ressler. I'm with the Engineering Division. Tonight, we are having a public hearing to obtain authorization to acquire property for our Taft Avenue PCC pavement grade and replace project. I would just like to add that this public hearing is part of a process that's outlined in the Iowa code that we are not required to follow, but we're choosing to follow for the purposes of transparency. So in that Iowa code is, more in relation to acquiring agricultural land, but we want to be transparent in this process. So we have chosen to hold this public hearing and follow this particular process. So with that, just briefly, a little bit about the project, Woops I think I just locked this up. There we go. So project location, just so everybody's aware, Taft Avenue is on the very east side of the community. The project will be between American Legion Road and Lower West Branch Road. It's shown in the red there upon your slide. So the grade and replace project includes about 1.3 miles of pavement replacement with on street bike lanes and a wide sidewalk on the west side of Taft Avenue. It is currently what we would refer to as a rural section where it is kind of a chip -sealed surface that's been chip -sealed over time. So it is a paved surface, but it is a rural section, so it has ditches, and the drainage from the roadway drains off into the ditches. This would be changed to a section with curb and gutter and storm sewer, so it would be more of an urban section, feel. So it would be updated with storm sewer and storm sewer intakes. Also, there would be some sanitary sewer extensions underneath the roadway while it's under construction, and also new water main would be added along the length of the project on the east side to accommodate future development. associated improvements with the project [00:48:42] would be intersection lighting, [00:48:44] some retaining walls, pavement markings, traffic signage, and surface restoration. And then also included would be the expansion of the city fiber optic network. Just a little bit about the [00:48:58] agricultural property acquisition. [00:49:01] So why do we need to acquire both permanent and temporary agricultural property? Well, we need room to install and maintain infrastructure, particularly the storm sewer and the sanitary sewer. Then as far as temporary easements, we are changing the profile of the roadway. It does get raised in a lot of areas and other areas. I think it may be depressed a little bit. So when you do that, you need to grade out your slopes until you meet the existing ground. So we need those temporary easements so we can be on that property to make those improvements, and then it is turned back over to the, individual property owners. Just to give you an idea of schedule, as well, utility relocations would likely start in Page 20 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. 2026. Bid opening would be in the fall of 2026. Construction would be a two year construction process with the start of construction in the spring of 2027, and that would be from American Legion Road to just south of Court Street. And stage two would be in 2028, where we would begin again, where we left off south of Court Street, and go to Lower West Branch Road. Construction completion is scheduled for the fall of 2028. Currently, we've already had two public information meetings, and there will be two additional. So we are keeping the property owners and the public informed as far as what is going on. We are currently in the design process, and we are currently reviewing plans that are approximately 60% complete. And with that, I would be happy to take questions. [00:50:45] When you mentioned city fiber optic, are you doing a similar process for Taft Reconstruction as the city is doing on Code Avenue, where there's utility conduit, shared conduit for fiber optics, or is this everybody do- does their own fiber optic? [00:51:01] 1 believe we're doing a joint utility trench. It's- oh, no, we're not. I'm sorry. I misspoke. I know we have some private utilities. We have a private utility easement on the east side. [00:51:10] O kay. [00:51:11] Uh, excuse me. On the west side. On the east side, is where we plan to put this- the water main, and is the City Fiber Optic on the west side? [00:51:20] I'm going to work. [00:51:21] Maybe I'll- I'll let you step up over here. [LAUGHTER] Explain that. [00:51:24] Scott Sovers, Assistant City Engineer. So, um, on that west side of Taft Avenue, a lot of that property is already developed. And so we've already got, uh, I think, a 15-foot utility easement for most of that section on the west side. So we're asking all utility companies to relocate their utilities that would be in current, uh, right away into that public utility easement and that private utilities [OVERLAPPING] [00:51:47] And there's- there's space. There's that 15-foot easement. That's a better process than forcing them into the conduit [OVERLAPPING]. [00:51:52] Correct. Page 21 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:51:52] Okay. That's correct. Thank you. [00:51:54] Yeah. All right. Here are no other questions for you. Thank you. [00:52:02] Thank you. [00:52:03] Thank you. [00:52:03] Thank you. [00:52:04] All right. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? If you're present, please come forth. Seeing no one online virtually or present, I'm gonna close the public hearing. Can I get a motion to approve, please? [00:52:22] So moved. [00:52:23] Second Weilein. Counsel discussion. [00:52:28] Sounds good. [00:52:29] Yep. Roll call, please. [00:52:31] Moe. [00:52:32] Yes. [00:52:32] Salih. [00:52:34] Page 22 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Yes. [00:52:34] Teague. [00:52:35] Yes. [00:52:35] Weilein. [00:52:36] Yes. [00:52:36] Alter. [00:52:38] Yes. [00:52:38] Bergus. [00:52:39] Yes. [00:52:39] Harmsen. [00:52:40] Yes. [00:52:41] Motion passed 7-0. 12 B, Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance. Ordinance amending Title 16 entitled Public Works, Chapter 3, City Utilities, Article C, potable water use and service. And can I get a motion- can I get a motion to C I get a motion to give first consideration? [00:53:01] So move, Bergus. [00:53:02] Second Moe. Page 23 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:53:03] Alright, and welcome. [00:53:05] Hi, John with Iowa City Water. So this one's hopefully kind of easy. The name describes the ordinance. It's an emergency water conservation ordinance. So if we find ourselves in a position where demand outpaces our ability to produce, uh, we have options to be flexible in how we reduce that demand. Um, where this comes from is the state is experiencing a change in its climate. So there's been quite a bit of drought, especially in the western regions. That's pushed our regulators to ask for especially larger utilities to put in place some sort of mechanism should we find ourselves in a situation like that to be able to curtail demand. Uh, we saw a situation like that this year in Des Moines when they had a large amount of nitrate. They were asking people to curtail their irrigation demand. Uh, there wasn't any need for them to enact any sort of penalty. Most of that just came down to talking to people and getting things done. And that's how Iowa City has done it in the past. Uh, the most recent incident where we had any amount of curtailment was in 2012 when there was a drought. Uh, in that instance, most people just understood that it's in the public benefit to not irrigate your lawn when it's a drought. Uh, even most of our restaurants curtailed their usage by asking their patrons to ask for water instead of just providing it upfront. So with that said, uh, the ordinance, uh, kind of mimics our existing emergency snow removal policy in the code. Uh, it allows for us to enact an emergency water conservation state, uh, that kind of moves up through things as that emergency conservation event prolongs itself and we continue to degrade our ability to produce water. Uh, so the ins and outs of that are all what ifs, uh, but at least we have something here, should we find ourselves in that situation. [00:55:07] The agreements that we have with our neighboring cities to provide water, how does that play with this? Is that not really come into play until there's selective shutdowns? [00:55:18] Yeah, there's no formal agreements with our neighboring communities or water systems as far as, uh, providing water. Like, there's no 28E. Uh, most of the time we have our interconnections and we call each other and we tell what we need and how it's going to work, and then we handshake and make it happen. Uh, the issue being that, you know, our average day demand is six million gallons a day. The university at most can produce four million gallons per day, and I forget what the match- the max capacity of Coralville is, but they wouldn't be able to meet our demand, either. So, uh, we're the larger of the utilities in the area as far as ability to produce. Uh, and also, that means we're the harder one to feed. Uh, and then you can find yourself again in these what if scenarios. So if this production loss is because of some sort of contaminant in the river, well, that kind of takes the university off the board as well as us. So then the groundwater systems are the only available to us, and that would be Coralville, Taft, North Liberty, so. [00:56:19] Then nothing formal. Just be good to your neighbors. Page 24 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [00:56:22] That's how we operate. [00:56:23] Okay. [00:56:28] All right. Here are no other questions. Thank you. [00:56:31] Thank you. [00:56:31] Anyone from the public like to address this topic? Seeing no one online or in person, counsel discussion? [00:56:43] You know, this is one of those, uh, we talk about climate resiliency, and there's other parts of that puzzle, which are, I don't want to say more fun, but more feel more positive. And this is one of those that's, like, a harsh reality that we have to be prepared for, and I don't know about anybody else up here, but I personally get very frustrated with the people that make the policies that would- that would cause problems like high nitrates in our water. And so just want- just want to voice that this is a necessary thing, but not- but no a happy thing, but we need to do it. Be prepared. [00:57:19] Uh, I- I feel like I'm out- this- out of my ballpark here, but it- it does kind of, like, and I don't know if I'm wrong in feeling this way, but the question you asked, uh, Counselor Moe, about, is there a formal agreement or if a situation like this happens, are we gonna get screwed or if that's something worth, should- should we have one? Um, I- I know that gave me a little bit of pause. I don't- I don't know, but. [00:57:46] 1 agree. I think it would be helpful to at least understand maybe the parameters of the- sorry, where's John? The parameters of the handshake a little bit better if you- if you have them, and if not, that's maybe something we could- um. [00:58:00] And if there's more than a handshake, the 20E agreement, who was the enforcer? [00:58:06] Right. So on various occasions, we've kind of started these conversations, and then they've stalled out for various reasons. One of which was, uh, last time we were really in earnest gaining some steam here, but then they move towards the NG model, uh, of selling off the operational rights to their systems. Uh, so it's there. It's something that we're still working on and towards. One of the issues is we got to spend some money because we have interconnections. Uh, so our system has seven interconnections with the Page 25 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. university system. We don't need seven. We only need about three or four. Uh, but we need to upgrade those because right now it's sort of hydrant- well, valve, hydrant, valve, hydrant, valve. And so that doesn't really lend itself to any sort of real control or metering or understanding of where it's going. And, uh, largely we're the higher pressure system, so we can push where we need to go. The other issue here is, uh, with water quality parameters, we can't supply Coralville with our water because then you end up in a situation similar to what happened in Flint Michigan where our water is incompatible with the chemistry that's been established in their system. So in order to share water with Coralville, we have to have a blending system. And again, you need to put some capital dollars into that to allow for that flow. Uh, And again, if they're going to PROVIDE to us, either we need to reduce our pressure so they can push into us or again, we need to set up a system where we can have pumps boost their pressure to bring it into our system. So it's a little bit more difficult than just creating the agreement. You also have to create the infrastructure. Now, in the past, when we have, uh, used our interconnections, it's largely been well, it's only been us supplying the university. So their system isn't set up as we would set up our system and having a lot of redundancy and loops and things, there's kind of kind of meanders. So there's been, uh, situations where they need to isolate a section of their system to do work, and we happen to have interconnections in the area, so we can cut off the flows from their system and then just supply that section of their system with ours. At that time, you know, we get together, we figure out how we're going to do it, when we're going to do it, and then any compensation necessary for that sharing over that period of time. So, um, you know, flippantly, say a handshake, but at the end of the day, it's- we work through it, uh, as quickly and, uh, reasonably as we can. [01:00:38] 1 think for a more regional conversation, it would be really helpful to know from experts like you, not tonight, John, but, like, you know, how big of a concern might this be, you know, just in terms of what could we foresee? Because if you need some political will to push a regional effort on the capital that is for the purpose of better interconnection, that's something we would need to know and hopefully could help with, but not something you in your role need to be necessarily, you know, going out and trying to create those agreements and relations. [01:01:14] Already doing it. [01:01:15] It does sound like you're doing it successfully, so thank you for that. [01:01:18] There's a number of individuals who have the same thing, same ideas, and, you know, over time, we try to build that consensus to get where we need to be. So I think at this point, it's like 2028 is where we're looking at really improving an interconnection down by the Catlett dorm. [01:01:35] Okay. Page 26 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:01:36] Because that's a higher pressure area, and there's a tank down there that we can use as a blending situation, so. [01:01:42] And at that point, the compensation could be metered. Sorry, the- the compensation that's figured could be based on actual measured. [01:01:49] Correct. So we could do metering and wholesale, uh, agreements and things like that. [01:01:58] 1 agree with Councilor Bergus. Maybe more conversation in the future, but not for this item would be really helpful to understand because I actually do see benefits of having three big city or the University, us and Coralville having very different sources of water, systems of water actually being an asset to us if there's a bad thing, or at least water purification. That's actually some redundancy regionally, but if there's no reason or ability to share, it doesn't seem like it's as valuable. [01:02:23] I'm the choir and you're preaching. Sounds great. [01:02:26] Alright. Alright. [01:02:26] Thank you. [01:02:28] Alright, thank you. Okay. Roll call, please. [01:02:33] Salih. [01:02:35] Yes. [01:02:35] Teague. [01:02:36] Yes. [01:02:36] Page 27 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 202S (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Weilein. [01:02:37] Yes. [01:02:37] Alter. [01:02:38] Yes. [01:02:39] Bergus. [01:02:40] Yes. [01:02:40] Harmsen. [01:02:41] Yes. [01:02:41] Moe. [01:02:42] Yes. [01:02:42] Motion passes 7-0. Item 12 C, trash removal in Downtown Alleys, ordinance amending Title 16 entitled Public Works, Chapter 3, Entitled City Util- Utilities, Article H entitled Solid Waste, Section 7 entitled storage of solid waste to require property and business owners with the downtown area, subject to the solid waste container permit system to contract with a commercial waste hauler. And this is first consideration. Could I get a motion, please? [01:03:14] So moved Harmsen. [01:03:16] Second Moe. [01:03:18] Page 28 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. All right, moved by Harmsen, second by Moe, and we're going to turn it over to our city attorney. [01:03:22] Thank you, Mayor. Uh, so, about 10 years ago, there was a bit of a free for all downtown, insofar as garbage pickup was concerned, and the folks downtown came to the city and asked for some assistance in trying to streamline that process and clean it up a bit, no pun intended. And, uh, that resulted in an RFP process to pick a single provider who could be servicing all of the folks downtown who wish to avail themselves of that. So there was an ordinance passed in at the very end of 2016, uh, doing that and requiring that any dumpster or other container that, uh, was going to be downtown, or I'm sorry, on public right of way would need to be, uh, by a- a trash outfit that had a permit from the city. Uh, and so that has worked well since that time. However, recently, we've had some-, uh, a couple of businesses open downtown that have not availed themselves of any trash pickup. And have instead just been dumping all their trash in other people's dumpsters, which have not only resulted in those dumpsters being overflowed, uh, to the detriment of the person actually paying for those dumpsters, but also it being piled on the- on the ground, which has resulted in our ambassadors having to swing by and pick it up and those businesses who actually are contracting with Republic, uh, paying extra. So, um, previously, we've been able to require a contract with a commercial trash pickup. Company with businesses that are- that have sidewalk cafes, because we just require it, but the two businesses in question do not have sidewalk cafes, and so that has not served as a tool to enforce. So what this ordinance does is just requires that everyone downtown needs to have a contract for commercial trash pickup. [01:05:18] And the municipal infraction punishment, what is that? And how often can it be assessed? [01:05:24] Well, like most municipal infractions, it can be assessed daily, uh, and I think the first offense would be $250, but more importantly, it would include an order or at least we would request the court to issue an order for the business to secure a commercial contract with a waste hauler. [01:05:43] 1 have a question. Um, for a smaller, are there any opportunities or current small businesses that probably wouldn't even need that downtown? [01:05:56] There's sharing, uh, already present. That is all the city is concerned is that, you know, you've got a plan, so to speak, and, you know, there are businesses downtown that are very small producers of trash and they share, uh, a contract with Republic between them and split the costs as is appropriate. Uh, the other thing is the ordinance contains, uh, an escape hatch clause that if you really had a business that basically produces no trash whatsoever, then I believe it's a city engineer, I'd have to go back and look, uh, but you can get city staff permission to, uh, relieve yourself of that requirement. For what it's worth, the two businesses in question are large producers of trash. Yeah. Page 29 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:06:38] Sure, sure. [01:06:39] Yeah, I had the same question. I was thinking of, like, how much trash could, like, a jewelry store or a bookstore produce? I mean, maybe a lot. I don't know, but that's just what I was thinking. [01:06:49] Just to piggyback on that, the proof that we would need to see as far as within three days providing a copy of the contract of a hauler would like, for those who share, you just need to say, well, yeah, this is actually, you know, under the name of this operator, but we have an agreement with them. Like, is there going to be a proof problem with getting that- that documentation? [01:07:13] Uh, I doubt it. I mean, we would probably- let's just say that it's Business A that has the contract with Republican. Business B says, no, really, we're sharing with company A. Well, we'd just probably call company A and- and confirm. And if assuming they're acting in good faith and they've got it, great, we're satisfied. [01:07:30] Okay. Thank you. [01:07:33] And I think it's the Public Works director who gets to uh, [OVERLAPPING]. [01:07:36] That sounds right, since we're talking about public right of way. [01:07:41] Alright. Hearing nothing else. Counsel roll call, please. [01:07:46] Teague. [01:07:47] 1 have one question. We need to back up. Did I ask [OVERLAPPING]. [01:07:52] 1 can't recall if you asked for public [OVERLAPPING]. [01:07:54] Public discussion on this? Were we-. Page 30 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:07:56] 1 don't think you did. [01:07:57] 1 don't think we did. [01:07:58] Sorry. [01:07:58] We're doing deliberations, doing questions. [01:08:03] [LAUGHTER] We haven't even council discussion yet. [01:08:06] Yeah, I know. Alright. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? All right. Welcome, please take [OVERLAPPING] [01:08:13] Hi, I'm Betsy Potter with Iowa City Downtown District, and just a few things to add. One, just to answer your question about businesses that don't produce a lot, there are- there is a ton of sharing that happens downtown. But this kind of cleans up operations. So when new businesses come in, a lot of times property owners don't inform them what they need to do for garbage hauling. So the garbages are being used without the businesses knowing. Sometimes, or the businesses do know and they're not paying for trash collection. So really, from our organization, this kind of cleans up some operations when you enter downtown as a business, or you're operating so that everyone's paying for the services in downtown. And it is not a rampid issue, I don't think, but just making sure that everyone knows they need to pay for trash collection. Some people didn't know that. So it's a helpful thing that they are now informed that they will have to pay for. [01:09:04] Alright. I invite you to sign in right there, please. [01:09:07] 1 will. [01:09:08] Anyone else from the public like to address this topic? Seeing no one in person or online, Council, discussion? I think we already had it. [LAUGHTER] Roll call, please. [01:09:22] Teague? Page 31 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:09:22] Yes. [01:09:23] Weilein? [01:09:24] Yes. [01:09:24] Alter? [01:09:26] Yes. [01:09:26] Bergers? [01:09:27] Yes. [01:09:27] Harmsen? [01:09:28] Yes. [01:09:28] Moe? [01:09:29] Yes. [01:09:29] Salih. [01:09:30] Yes. [01:09:31] Motion passes seven to zero. And to be clear, I did ask a question. No. Alright. [LAUGHTER] 12D. Downtown SMID renewal Ordinance amending Title three, finance, taxation, and fees of the city code to Page 32 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. reestablish the Iowa City Downtown self -supported Municipal Im- Improvement District, pursuant to the provision of Chapter 386, Code of Iowa, and providing for the establishment of an operation fund and the levy of an annual tax in connection therewith. This is the second consideration. Can I get a motion, please? [01:10:08] So moved. Moe. [01:10:10] Second Bergus. [01:10:11] All right. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? Seeing no one in person or online, Council discussion. [OVERLAPPING] [01:10:21] Roll call. [01:10:24] Weilein? [01:10:25] Yes. [01:10:26] Alter? [01:10:27] Yes. [01:10:27] Bergus? [01:10:28] Yes. [01:10:28] Harmsen? [01:10:29] Yes. [01:10:29] Page 33 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. M oe? [01:10:30] Yes. [01:10:30] Salih? [01:10:31] Yes. [01:10:32] Teague. [01:10:32] Yes. Motion passes 7 to 12 E, Burlington Street Bridge replacement project. Resolution establishing the design concept as necessary to begin engineering design documents for the Burlington Street Bridge replacement project. Can I get a motion to approve, please? [01:10:53] Move, Salih. [01:10:55] Second Bergus. [01:10:57] Alright, and welcome. [01:10:59] Justin Harland, senior engineer for the city. Uh, so it's been a busy year for us with the Burlington Street Bridge replacement project. We've had two public meetings. We've had multiple stakeholder meetings, and we've had multiple TAC advisory committee meetings. Earlier this year, we hired HDR consultants to kind of help us through this journey in our study phase. We've come up with a preferred concept, just kind of to preface this presentation. It is a concept, and this is a very generic like, concept that we're asking you to, you know, accept and approve. With that, I have Mike Kuruk here. Mike is a project manager with HDR, and I'll let him share what we have been working on this year. Thank you. [01:11:47] You're making me nervous. [LAUGHTER]. [01:11:51] No, exciting thing. Page 34 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:11:52] Welcome. [01:11:53] Thank you. Thank you. So yeah, as Justin said, I'm Mike Kuruk with HDR Engineering, um, the project manager for HDR and the consulting team, and the city hired us to complete that planning study. So this is just kind of a summary of the planning study and just a final presentation with that planning study before we get on to the next phase. So the agenda will be a little bit of a repeat from about a month ago when I provided an update. But we'll go through the purpose and need here, talk about the needs and wants that were identified during the planning study. Talk about the alternatives that were considered on the table and which ones were advanced. Talk about some aesthetic considerations for next phase, and then talk and present the preferred alternative that came out of this planning study, and then just a brief update about next steps and what to expect. So a little bit about that purpose and need. Um, this project really stems from that eastbound bridge owned by the city that was built over 100 years ago. It's nearing the end of its useful design life, so it's time to address it. So looking at that bridge, this study also looked at replacement and combination of the eastbound and westbound bridge with a single bridge, as long as we were in the area evaluating what we could do with the Burlington Street dam, looking at intersection improvements for safety geometry, looking at the non ADA compliant pedestrian round that was there, the other pedestrian structures as well. And then the overall function, geometry of Melrose, Burlington, and Grand, how that whole area interfaced with one another. So the project purpose, yes, the project purpose led us to have multiple interactions with the public, different stakeholder groups. And what surfaced to the top was a list of needs and wants that was presented to our advisory committee. That advisory committee was made up of the MPO JC, the city, the university, and the DOT. So everybody had a seat at the table that was a major stakeholder driving these decisions. So the needs that came from the planning study, was starting with the bicycle and pedestrian need here is just creating a lower stress, ADA compliant and dedicated space to bike and walk, creating and designing safer roads and intersections that function for all modes, creating and enabling safe, reliable, and convenient transit service and stops, prioritizing emergency vehicle access to the medical center before, during and after construction. Developing a sense of place that is safe and attractive, minimizing construction impacts and disruptions to traffic, properties, and businesses, and then, uh, addressing the safety with the Burlington Street dam. The other wants that were identified was ownership transfers and then use of specific maintenance equipment, uh, to make things easier, signal preemption, campus considerations during game day, how that bridge should be stage or how long it should be serviceable during construction, and then the recreation component with the Burlington Street dam itself. So those are needs and wants were weighed against the project constraints.So cost, um, staged or closed construction, constructibility. Can we actually build this concept? All the environmental, utility, property owner, and business impacts were also weighed against the alternatives considered. So this is kind of a key area map. We looked at four key areas here. That just allowed us to take a little deeper dive into each one of these different areas. They function very differently from one another. So we wanted to consider specific alternatives for these areas. So I'll just walk through each area here, talk about the alternatives considered, and which ones were advanced. Alright, so the first one is Burlington Street Bridge.We considered everything from a complete signature structure to separate pedestrian structure to a separate multimodal structure, kind of everything in between what the committee advanced and Page 35 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. thought the best alternative was- was a steel or concrete beam bridge. It was the most cost -economical option there. It was contextual for the area. It allows the bridge to be staged. It improves the bicycle and pedestrian comfort and connectivity, enhances that river recovery, and maintains the current viewscape. For the Burlington Street dam alternatives, we evaluated everything from the do nothing option all the way to complete removal, and our advisory committee advanced a modification for safety to meet that safety need. And then if cost constraints allow would add a passage or recreation element to it. Um, this alternative being advanced, again, is cost -economical, increases dam safety. Um, this is kind of a large driver here, but maintains the pool elevation and would not negatively impact the city water supply or the function of those alluvial wells, um, as John presented on, um, Iowa rowing team operations would not affect the Iowa power plant or water plant intakes that rely on that river, would not, uh, negatively impact the eligible historic district or would not negatively impact the hundred year 500 year floodplain. The option here also allows access to the river's edge and allows for a grade - separated crossing while improving operations and functions to the hydraulics building. Now to the intersection of Burlington and Riverside. So we considered everything from everything being an at -grade crossing to everything being an underpass, everything being an overpass on each one of those quadrants, and, uh, ultimately advanced a grade -separated crossing when crossing Burlington and then a grade -separated crossing over Riverside. Um, this alternative increases that bicycle pedestrian and safety. It increases the ability for river recovery, allows more roadway space to focus on capacity through this intersection. It's least impactful to the hydraulic building and operations there, allows access to the river's edge, and increases transit reliability. And then the last key area, uh, we call West Campus. It's reallyjust everything west of the Burlington and Riverside intersection. Uh, we looked here everything, um, starting with kind of two way grand as it functions today all the way to one ways, but ultimately advanced a dedicated pedestrian space and dedicated transit area, uh, removing the Burling. I'm sorry, removing the Burlington and Grand intersection prioritizes that EMS and traffic flow through the intersection and area. This increases bicycle pedestrian comfort and safety. It provides a centralized bus hub to create that dedicated sense of place, promotes that more intuitive wayfinding through the area, and then by removing the intersection and the improvements through here, reduce those pedestrian and vehicle conflict points, making it safer. So a little bit of context here before we get into some of the opportunities is the existing Burlington Street Bridge. So just to highlight a couple of photos here, uh, the bridges here are on slightly different alignments, leads to some challenges through the existing intersection. The bike lanes are kind of shared with the road users with just paint lines. And then the sidewalk is bottom right-hand side, shared with micromobility users, and is narrow. The top or right photo shows that non-ADA-compliant ramp, and then just that long at -grade crossing without not much breaking that crossing distance up. So then before we get into these proposed opportunities here, again, it's just a planning study. Um, things can change quite a bit here, but at least the, uh, vision moving forward for the function and aesthetics for the bridge is to build smart, spend wisely. So just kind of prioritizing cost-effective construction methods and materials. Um, designing this as a connector, we heard a lot to emphasize flow, but yet provide that space to stop and pause. Primary focus is to get kind of people through the area. It's a large volume intersection with a lot of people, vehicles, and bicycles through the area. So context matters just making sure that we're designing something that's appropriate for the area, and really focusing on this simple done right, there's a lot that you can do with these, um, maybe more simplistic construction materials and methods that can be implemented here. So designing for a human centered experience, just trying to reduce that highway feel if you're on that bridge. Safety Page 36 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. first. Um, lots of different safety concerns to come up with this project, but just making sure we're forward -thinking about that, and then starting design from that low -maintenance whole -life -cycle thinking from the start. So by implementing that from day one, um, you consider those long-term performances and can actually incorporate that into design. So as I mentioned, that beam bridge that was advanced through the alternatives, I'm looking at different aesthetic options that would be on the table for this type of bridge is, like, focusing on the pier as a landmark, um, creating deck edge treatments, so you can conceal that beam so it doesn't look like a traditional beam bridge. Um, providing different types of deck treatments for character, and then lastly, just color and lighting. So I'm going to show just a handful of different precedent images. This is just a few of the very many options that we have on the table, but just to give you some idea of what can be done with this type in style of bridge. So we talked about different peer options that can be done. We can focus on things having to do with the beams itself, such as the top left photo, or you can get a little more detailed with a bottom left photo just a different type of peer style. Top right, you can add things like monuments and just keep a more simplistic peer, or you can change the geometry, such as the bottom right or the middle, um, peer options as well. Then the different type of deck edge treatment. So something, again, that could conceal that exterior beam. You can have, you know, kind of wave patterns such as the top right. You can have different materials, uh, kind of sticking out and concealing that exterior beam, or I guess the top left is kind of an aesthetic way to connect the deck to the beam itself. Then different deck aesthetics, so stuff that you can add onto the deck itself to kind of change that experience and character of it. Um, just different furniture, some bump outs, different landscaping, options, monuments, kind of how we place some of the seating, and different shade structure. And then lastly, just different things that we can do with lighting. Um, all these options are kind of lower -maintenance lighting options. We have a couple grade separated crossings here, so just like our proposed project for the alternative that would be advanced, just making sure safety lighting and not just aesthetic lighting is included in it. Um, so now moving on to the pedestrian ramp, so right by the bridge itself, very similar thing. So lots of, um, options to still be considered as we advance into design, but at least the current function and aesthetic going forward, again, is just cost-conscious choices, direct routes, making sure we're not causing any, uh, extra detour travel to try and incentivize pedestrians to take the safer route, focusing on the simplicity over access. So nothing too out of context for the area, nothing too complex, that would lead to very complex construction methods. So, built-in safety everywhere we go, low -maintenance systems. So lighting, any technology that's used, snow removal, um, all these things need to be considered with the ramp function, and then that whole life design style thinking. So again, starting from day one with how do we address maintenance, safety, all of these things. The different ramp options being carried forward are - are the straight ramp here in the top left, to your more standard switchback to an elongated spiral, and then an offset spiral. So none of these options really changed the preferred alternative. Um, all of these would be on the table to move forward. And then just some precedent images, again, a handful of the very many different options that can be carried forward with the pedestrian ramp. So, um, a couple of different options there. [01:25:50] So o nto some of the exciting things just to show you what we've been up to for the last year or so. [01:25:55] Page 37 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. I do have one question about- [01:25:57] Yeah. -the ramps. [01:25:57] Yeah. [01:25:58] So is it only gonna be kinda where it currently is, it's not gonna be extended? [01:26:06] Extended. [01:26:06] So if we're talking about going from Riverside to the um, Riverside, Burlington, if you're on the, uh, east northern part, trying to get over to the, um, southern- [LAUGHTER] my directions are a little- so the southern eastern part? [01:26:30] Yes. [01:26:31] Um, so there's no -'cause at some point, I thought there was some conversations about potentially looking at that. [01:26:39] Yeah, we, we evaluated an overpass on all four quadrants. And then what was determined is basically how it functions today, just an overpass across Riverside from that northeast corner to the northwest corner. [01:26:53] So you can just roll it off your tongue. Okay. So I just wanted to- [01:26:56] I've been looking- [01:26:56] -Just want to make sure that- [01:26:56] -at this for the past year. [LAUGHTER]. Page 38 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:26:58] -there was no other diagram that, uh, was, uh, possible for consideration at this point. [01:27:04] Yeah. Yeah. [01:27:07] Do all of these different designs, uh, functionally work are functionally equal in terms of, uh, ADA- [01:27:15] Yes. [01:27:15] -accessibility and for, for, uh, wheelchairs and other mobility devices? [01:27:19] Correct. All of these ramp options are ADA-compliant. Um, the top right and the bottom two, um, have a shortened distance. It's a little more, uh, expensive from a construction method from that straight ramp, uh, but you do cut your travel distance in half with those three options compared to the top left. But the top left is the most economical way to do that. [01:27:45] 1 think one of your words, uh, in asking the question is, does these work, and my thought went straight to the lights. Will the lights on the bridge be working? But you may not know anything about that, but it is a pain point that we suffer here. [01:28:00] 1 was literally gonna say, you're aware of Park Road Bridge and its issues- [01:28:04] I've written stories, yes. Yes. Okay. [LAUGHTER] [01:28:06] We're talking about- [01:28:07] And that's, um- [01:28:07] And the lights. [01:28:09] Okay. Page 39 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:28:10] But it is a question. [01:28:11] Yes. Yes. That was part of, uh, the considerations for functions and aesthetics moving forward, not designing some sort of complex lighting system. And if it does go out, it's very easily accessible. You don't need special equipment to get to it. Um, that low maintenance system in mind. So that's, that's gonna be at the forefront of our design. [01:28:32] Like it. [01:28:38] Any more questions? [01:28:39] I, 1 wasn't gonna wait till the end, but I kinda [LAUGHTER] don't know what to do now. [01:28:43] Before I get into any- any, uh- [01:28:45] Well, I'll just- I'll constrain my question about just the pedestrian bridge. With pedestrian bridge that we have right now, it's sort of nice and open and stuff like that. In, in modern scenarios, are they always as open or sometimes they get really tall for safety reasons that- [01:29:01] they can. I think all the things need to be considered. [01:29:04] Because all the pictures shown [01:29:04] elaborate but I can imagine that there would be a moment where we'd say, no, that has to be caged around or- and that becomes a very different kind of thing. [01:29:15] Yeah, the aesthetic considerations will obviously come, come to the public for that, have, you know, electronic survey, just get the public's opinion on that and I guess, have a chance to present to everybody here- [01:29:28] Page 40 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Okay. [01:29:28] -before, uh, before, uh, aesthetic- [01:29:31] And then a decision like that would be- [01:29:32] -generally, when you were going through sort of the support aesthetics, the deck edge aesthetics, I, 1 assume that Council should not be giving direction on all of the aesthetic choices. Is that the tack will kinda make those decisions or how- what's the- [01:29:48] Yeah, the, the process will be something similar. Again, we're just kind of showing [01:29:52] the range of things that could be possible. [01:29:55] O kay. [01:29:55] These six that we showed for kind of all precedent images here, those are just six of probably hundreds of different- [01:30:04] << Sure. [01:30:04] -options that we have. Um, but just like we advanced the alternatives that'll be brought forward to the city and our advisory committee for what's really best for the context of this area, the function, and kind of narrow it down from there. [01:30:19] And then just can you go back to the axons? I'm curious about the like- [01:30:24] I'm sorry, back to the- [01:30:25] These pictures. Page 41 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:30:26] Oh. [01:30:26] Um, no, no, the, the proposed switchbacks. [01:30:30] Yes. [01:30:31] Is it offset spiral? Is that showing that it goes down to the river? So the- [01:30:36] Am I reading that correctly? [01:30:37] Yeah, the offset spiral, um, I'll have a couple images here. Uh, but with the alternative that was advanced through this intersection, there will be an at -grade- or sorry, at -grade separated crossing with an at -grade crossing- crossing Burlington. So all of these ramps will go down kind of to the river level, if you- [01:30:55] -will. And then this offset spiral kinda levers a little bit over the Iowa River. [01:31:01] Oh, that would be so wonderful. But you would- you would go under the Burlington Street Bridge if you were going north- south across Burlington on the east side? [01:31:09] As one of the two options. [01:31:10] One of the two options. [01:31:10] So you can cross at -grade or, or under. [01:31:13] Got it. [01:31:13] Does that increase flooding risk? Page 42 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:31:16] So we did look at where the 100-year 500-year comes into it. Um, this grade separated option, uh, without getting into too many details would require that intersection to be raised about four or five feet. And then, uh, with that river wall, we can kind of control just how much risk or how often that trail would be inundated by water. And then that grade -separated- I'm sorry, the at -grade crossing would provide relief if that grade -separated crossing was ever underwater. [01:31:47] Uh, because of the flood, um, you know, that area, it was hard to keep it open. You know, they were draining water out. So is that a consideration to raise it despite or to raise, uh, Burlington Street anyway? [01:32:07] Um, that was one of the few different criteria that we looked at. Um, some of it had to do with catching the grade up on grand. It's kind of a steep grade going up from that intersection, and then also looking at just where that water profile hits on the Iowa River for where we would need to be under and still kinda maintain that head clearance if you were crossing under the bridge. [01:32:29] 1 mean, um, because of the success that we saw on Dubuque Street, you know, kinda doing the flood mitigation there, my assumption is, if [LAUGHTER] we were to really think about long-term and, you know, what has happened in the past, that that might be something that maybe we can, um, talk about, um- [01:32:52] Yes. [01:32:52] -as far as, like, a requirement in this process because we don't have a lot of entries into the city, as you know- [01:33:00] Yes. [01:33:02] -when there's flooding. [01:33:04] Yeah, and that, that will be part of the design decision. Right now, that profile can move up and down, and we can either, you know, make it a little more resilient or less resilient. Just depends how much, um, profile you wanna inundate. [01:33:20] Page 43 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. And are there presumptions about all of these bridges- all of these pedestrian bridges through the same width? [01:33:25] Yes. [01:33:25] Okay. [01:33:26] Yeah. [01:33:26] So there's not one that's superior for bikes and people sharing. It's- they're all equal. [01:33:31] Correct. [01:33:31] They're just different kinds of things? Okay. [01:33:33] Correct. Yeah, we looked at, um, pedestrian counts through the area and making sure that it's wide enough to accommodate the pedestrian flow that we'd be seeing. [01:33:44] Cool. [01:33:49] Okay. Onto, uh, some of the exciting things to see here, uh, just to show you, um, all those different four areas that you saw, those key areas. This is kind of our first take at everything being stitched together. So again, general concept, it's likely going to change. Um, but these are just a concept to highlight some of the key elements here. So from end to end of the project, starting at the top left, that would be our centralized transit hub. We have the dedicated roadway to the hospital, so that transit hub is really offset for the main roadway. Um, Cambus, Iowa City bus, uh, wouldn't be in the main roadway space. They'd have their own pull off. You'd have students being able to get to and from those buses without having to cross over the main roadway. Um, moving along is the realigned intersection, so better geometry through that intersection and lines up, um, much better with the existing or with the, uh, proposed roadways here on all four quadrants. Uh, addressing that ADA-compliant ramp, we have wider and separate modes of transportation through the bridge and the rest of the project corridor. Byington, Melrose, and Grand has that two-way roadway through that West Campus area. And then with the dam itself, uh, we have the dam safing steps, and we're showing the passage option there, too, and then we have access to the water's edge. A few other features to highlight is that dedicated pedestrian area. Um, Page 44 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. so pedestrian focus through there with limited vehicle access, um, improving a more intuitive way finding through that area by two-waying that roadway with a potential bike and pedestrian underpass crossing by the law building, a dedicated bike lane and connector, uh, both through that intersection and then connecting to the existing bike facilities, and then highlighting that grade -separated and the at - grade crossing. Um, so then moving into the next slides, we'll have 3D renderings. So I'll just kinda stop talking and let everybodyjust take a look. But keep in mind some of those features that I highlighted here in that 2D space. So just a rendering of what this, um, whole space would look like in three dimensions. [01:36:27] Can you walk- so there's pedestrian capacity on both the north and south of Burlington Street or eastbound and westbound. They're both sides. One is maybe wider. [01:36:38] Correct. The predominant flow through this intersection is on the north side and the east- west movement for pedestrians and bikes. So that width is wider, but we are providing a sidewalk on the south side of the bridge. [01:36:52] That's right. And then help me understand the- where- the underpass component, how that all works. [01:36:58] Yes. So um, you'd have the Iowa River trail that would, um, start here to go down. You would actually have sidewalk access here. So this would be a decision point whether you wanted to go to the riverside or sidewalk side, would follow on the back side of the hydraulics lab, and then you'd have an access point and a decision point to get back up onto the surface here before you actually went underneath the bridge if you had to or wanted to. Um, you'd cross underneath the bridge itself, and then you would take this ADA-compliant ramp, um, up one spiral to get back to the main level or two to hit your grade - separated overpass. [01:37:39] 1 love it. It's great. [01:37:40] So for clarity, there is under- you can, uh, cross underground, underground. [01:37:47] Correct. [01:37:48] Got it. [01:37:48] Page 45 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Yeah. [01:37:48] So I have one more rendering that would show that maybe a little bit better. [01:37:53] Yeah. [01:37:54] So you would see, um, movement underneath the bridge. You can start to see this ramp climb up, and then you can get back to the main elevation here with just one revolution. [01:38:09] And this is probably not the spot where you provide, like, something into the river. [01:38:17] Um, correct. Our kind of planned river interaction is- [01:38:22] Over there. Okay. [01:38:23] -all over here on that south side of the bridge. We're just a little more constrained on the north side. [01:38:30] Sure. [01:38:31] Mike, it looks like from these renderings that the, the grade of grand comes down quite a bit. Like, it looks a lot less steep than it does now, is that right? Like it's- it- [01:38:41] It's similar. We have a little more grade to play with, since we're not going kind of straight up, but we kind of take a meandering escort- [01:38:50] Okay, I see. [01:38:51] -through there. So it's- it still has that incline to it. It's just maybe a couple of degrees less than what it ise today. Did you see- [01:38:57] Page 46 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. When -sorry. [01:38:58] -did you- Sorry [01:38:58] . Would the pedestrian, um, area that would go- that would allow for travel continuing west there, uh, include like bicycles and micromobility? [01:39:09] Yes. [01:39:10] O kay. [01:39:10] Yeah. So what we're planning, um, is just this- we're calling it a cycle track, but more dedicated bike and maybe micromobility space that would, um, follow along the roadway, and then it would have an entry point into this pedestrian plaza, or you could have a more, uh, dedicated space to get through the area if you had to. So you can either dump off into the terrace pedestrian area or bypass all- [01:39:37] -the way through. [01:39:38] Okay. [01:39:41] So I did have questions about the, uh, central hub transit. Because right now downtown, we have Clinton and Washington Street on both sides with transit, you know, buses right there. So how much space will there be to hold if all of the buses are coming there now? [01:40:06] Yes. So uh, we received, I guess, transit and ridership data from Cambus in Iowa City Transit and, um, an express need, I guess, from Cambus as well that they kind of use this as a, a changing spot for buses, vehicles. So uh, right now that would accommodate five buses, is what we're planning. And at [01:40:28] any given time when we ran our simulation, there'd be three buses there, but there's kind of an overflow, um, if they stop- stall- [01:40:35] Got it. Page 47 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:40:36] -interchange or. [01:40:37] All right. So this isn't replacing what we have downtown, although there's been conversations about that at some point- at some point, looking at consideration for that, that makes sense. [01:40:48] Yeah. This, this would be separate just to address the current routes [01:40:51] that are running through the area. [01:40:51] Okay. Thank you. [01:40:53] Ye p. [01:40:53] And, and even though that area that says pedestrian is dotted green, there are- you're saying that there is bus traffic running through that? Like where the current Grand Avenue is, East West on Grand Avenue currently. Is, is that- how would buses get to where your cursor is? Would they, they- everyone follows that. [01:41:13] Yeah, the red route and yellow route for Cambus would come around [01:41:18] this way and then pull off into here, and then the blue route that's coming east would just make a left and then loop around and then come out that way. Any other questions while, while we're on the renderings? [01:41:40] Are you gonna talk about costs and these- [01:41:42] Yeah. [01:41:43] -1 mean, I was curious to know about that large hub of - Page 48 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:41:47] Sure. [01:41:48] -pedestrian space and Cambus interchange, how much of that is a project for the city of Iowa City and how much of that is a project for the university? [01:41:56] Yeah, the, the agreements between the different stakeholders are obviously still ongoing and just really dividing up what is which stakeholder's responsibility. Um, there's some agreements in place already for the bridge and the pedestrian bridge and ramp. Um, but the overall cost for the project, again, it's at a 5% level. We estimated it at about 70 million, just kind of +/-30% or so. [01:42:25] And that's inclusive of the pedestrian every [01:42:28] -Cambus interchange, the dam, everything that's there? [01:42:31] Yep, everything that's, uh, colored in this rendering. [01:42:35] Remind us, uh, the DOT, have they made a position on if they're gonna maintain the ownership of- [01:42:44] The plan is for the DOT to take ownership of this singular bridge. [01:42:48] Got it. [01:42:48] Yes. [01:42:51] So- sorry, I'm just gonna keep asking questions, but it's very exciting, and I'm very happy to see this. Um, the Melrose, what was Byington Road, um, it appears that the eastbound traffic is constrained. Is it just one lane of traffic traveling east on Melrose? [01:43:08] Yeah, right now, we just have one lane. Um, still have many considerations as we go through design. Uh, what we identified is at a minimum, two lanes in the westbound direction. One of them- Oh, if I can get this cursor back. One of them is a dedicated right-hand turn when you get to this intersection to feed - Page 49 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:43:29] -into the, uh, campus area and then all of the parking ramps there. And then one of them is that through route, and then with one lane coming from the west, it just maintains that one lane continuing to the east, coming from the west. [01:43:57] And happy to answer any other questions. [01:44:06] How concerned are we with having nice things on this bridge? Because it is the- that's where one Bjllian people walk to the Kinnick games and then come back when they're happy or sad and a little drunk. I just don't- I've thought about that all the time. Like, because I was thinking, Oh, the cool art that we could have here, but I don't know. It's just kind of it's been in my head, thinking about this bridge. Like the mass amount of pedestrian traffic that goes through it in that time of year. [01:44:38] Yeah. [01:44:39] Durability would be key, I agree. [01:44:40] Yeah, yeah. [01:44:41] Yes. [01:44:42] Maybe those pillars could be like Herkis sort of like, Herki statues holding up the bridge. They do respect the Herkis. [01:44:49] They do, yeah. [01:44:50] If they don't take them. No. All right. Anything else? All right. Yes. [01:44:56] Perfect. [01:44:57] Page 50 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Yes. All right. So then just to talk about next steps here, just to keep you in the loop. So this is kind of the final presentation capping off that planning study. The only last remaining element of this planning study is we did submit for environmental clearance already, which we're anticipating in April, that'll conclude the planning study, and then we'll move right into design using this preferred concept. So preliminary design would start yet this winter, and we would anticipate a spring 2029 construction start. Um, but that is being closely coordinated with Iowa DOT. They have a Benton Street bridge replacement project, and we don't want both bridges out at the same time. [01:45:39] Benton Street or Highway 6? [01:45:41] I'm sorry. Highway six. Says it right there on the slide. Thank you. [01:45:45] Thank you. Sorry. [01:45:49] All right. Any other questions? Thank you. [01:45:54] Perfect. [01:45:54] Thank you. Right. [01:45:57] All right. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? [01:46:03] Yes. Thank you. Nick Pfeiffer. I'm with Think Iowa City. I'm also the leader of Pillar 1 of the Better Together 2030 Vision. Pillar 1 emphasizes the need to embrace and utilize the Iowa River. The kingpin to all future development on the Iowa River has always been the Burlington Street Dam. And as you approve this resolution and continue to work for work towards the final completion of the designs and consideration, I hope you really think about the importance of modifying the dam to include fish passage, small boat passage, and adding recreational elements. The last sentence of the Council action report that you received says the Burlington Street dam is anticipated to be modified for safety and to address drowning hazards and options for further dam modifications may include fish passage and or recreation element. Please don't let this to continue to be may, and let's make it be will include. This is the opportunity we've all been waiting for- for decades. Please don't let this pass by as the preliminary design continues to take place over the next year, please convey that the dam modifications for recreation purposes a priority and not a maybe. Uh, having been part of the process here over the last Page 51 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. six months, it was very exciting to see those 3D renderings. Yeah, I hope you enjoy those, and thank you for including those. Thank you. [01:47:32] Thank you. And I'm just going to ask you to sign in right there, and also state what city you're from? [01:47:38] 1 live in Tiffin Iowa. [01:47:40] Awesome. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else want to address this topic? If you're online, please raise your virtual hand. Seeing no one in person and no one else and no one online. Council discussion? [01:48:01] I'm clearly excited about this. So sorry. Thank you for allowing me to ask lots of questions. I do think that I'm glad to see that I think that the attachment that we had listed damn alternates, and I read that I mean we are definitely doing something with a dandle, but exactly what we're doing is up in the air. I think we should continue to keep that as part of the project and make it as safe as possible. As we're thinking about how awesome this could be, I think we shortcut that one piece, and suddenly, we think about taller guardrails and different safety features and all kinds of other elements. So I would. Good point. Hopefully, we can make this not only something that looks good, but something people actually use. I'm really excited. [01:48:48] So I'm really grateful for the amount of transparency that we're having with these updates and, you know, understanding there's the whole committee that's been working, and it's just so reassuring to hear, like, the difference from even a month ago to tonight. And yes, the DOT intends to take ownership of the bridge, for example. So I really appreciate the amount of communication as the project proceeds. [01:49:14] 1 do think it's important to raise the level of the bridge. So I came in November of'93. And so the flood had already happened, but you can see all the evidence of the Iowa City flooding. And so I've lived through all the other floods on some level. Oh, no, all of them, because I was here. And so, with it being so very limited, you know, access points, it might be, you know, really important, honestly, to raise that. We saw how, again, impactful that has been on Dubuque Street. So I really think that that should be a part of the plan. All right, hearing no other comments? Roll call, please? [01:50:06] Alter? [01:50:10] Yes. Page 52 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:50:10] Bergus? [01:50:11] Yes. [01:50:11] Harmsen? [01:50:12] Yes. [01:50:13] Moe? [01:50:13] Yes. [01:50:13] Salih? [01:50:14] Yes. [01:50:15] Teague? [01:50:16] Yes. Weilein. [01:50:17] Yes. Motion passes to 7-0. 12F, Iowa City 2026, State Legislative priorities. Resolution establishing the City of Iowa City's 2026 state legislative priorities. And can I get a motion to approve, please? [01:50:35] So move to Moe. [01:50:37] Second, Weilein. [01:50:38] Move by Moe Second by Weilein. And are we going to you? All right. Page 53 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:50:44] Welcome, Kirk. [01:50:45] Thanks, Mayor. So every year, obviously, the state legislature goes into session, and this year's no different. So we expect them to start their session or they're planning to start their session on January 12 of 2026. In the past, city council has typically adopted a stated position on issues that do affect the legislature. So for this year, it is the second session of the 91st legislature or excuse me, 91st assembly. Um, and we are essentially bringing you back something very similar to what was passed last year. What's some minor updates that generally reflects things that are still relevant or that may not be relevant any longer. Now, how do we use your priorities that you put together? Well, first and foremost, we use that to communicate directly with our delegation at the state house, and we like to sit down with them and say, you know, these are some of the priorities of council. We very generally about that. But this is just one of those pieces that we use as we're looking at priorities at the state House. So obviously, this doesn't encapsulate every issue that's going to come at the state House, especially with the legislature being, producing more and more legislation each year, it appears with last year being a record. So we also look at things like your strategic plan. We look at other resolutions that you've passed. But this is really the succinct location where you can state your position on various issues. So it is really yours to make your own changes you see fit if there are changes that you've seen since the last session. Um, and I would also just like to highlight that we work very closely with many other partners as we work with our lobbyist, which is Carney and Applebee at the State House. But we also work through the League of cities, the Metro Coalition, which are other allied groups that represent us. And then we also like to elevate the voices of the University of Iowa and USG specifically, as the student body is obviously a large portion of our population at the city. So with that, that's all I have. I'm happy to answer any questions you have about the resolution as it's presented, or any questions you have about this year's legislative process. Can we ask them to not do it this year? You know. [01:53:29] Just don't convene. [01:53:30] Yeah, they can escape certainly try. Okay. [01:53:33] Get back all home rule. Yeah. [01:53:36] Yeah. Home rules on there. [01:53:38] Just like city states. Let's do that in Iowa. [01:53:41] Page 54 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Do you feel like this is the appropriate quantity of items to have on a priorities list? [01:53:50] 1 would say that is really up to you to decide. Well- [01:53:53] That's a non answer. [01:53:54] It's a non answer, but here's what I would say. You want it to be succinct enough that you have confidence that your delegation is reading it, but you want to make sure that it highlights the issues that are important to you, too. So I would say every year, we go through a process where we might add some, we might take some away. I feel comfortable that this isn't too much. But it's really up to you to make that determination. There is no right answer when it comes to how long should it be? [01:54:31] We also have a lobbyist, legislative lobbyist for the city. [01:54:37] We do, and we regularly bring you things if they come up mid session that aren't anticipated. And we regularly comment on things that we believe are consistent, like I said, with, you know, the adopted positions of council. So the example that I'll give is you know, there's lots of library legislation that comes through. That's not really clearly stated on here, but a lot of the, you know, First Amendment issues, as they relate to our strategic plan and ensuring equity and human rights in the city. You know, we're pretty comfortable weighing in on this is something that the city supports or this is something that it doesn't where we don't know, you know, we'll ask you as our elected representatives to make those calls, too. [01:55:22] Yeah, so I'm going to ask counsel to ask any questions to Kirk at this time. [01:55:30] Kirks, this the time to make suggestions for potentially taking things off? [01:55:36] We'll have deliberation for that. [01:55:39] Well, Oh, okay. Yeah, no, I was just asking, is this I didn't mean this exact moment, but I meant this item. Once we get to deliberations, this would be that we have the opportunity to do that. That's my question. [01:55:51] Page SS Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Yeah, I mean, if you have a question for Kirk, absolutely relating to something that you're thinking to remove, and you can either do it now, direct question or you can do it during your deliberation if it's going to be really a drawn out back and forth, which you sound like it is. Oh, I don't think so. [01:56:09] No, I was just wondering if, in fact, during our discussion, whether we had the opportunity. My question was, do we have the opportunity to remove items? [01:56:21] You certainly have the opportunity to remove items as part of this. One thing and to add items as well or change things. One thing that I would recommend is that if you're moving items, that's pretty clean, pretty simple to do. If you're going to add items, it might be easier if you provide direction to staff, and we come back at our next session with a cleaned up version that might allow you know, a more meaningful deliberation on it rather than trying to word Smith up here. I know that the session does start January 12, with the next meeting being January 9, but realistically, it takes at least a month or so before January 6 January 6, excuse me. Sorry. It's take a week. It does take a bit of time for things to heat up at the state house. So we would still provide it to our delegation in advance, but there's an opportunity to provide additional changes at your next meeting. [01:57:19] Okay, thank you. [01:57:22] Any other questions for Kirk Anyone from the public like to address this topic? Seeing anyone in person or line? Council discussion. [01:57:35] One thing I always happy to see, you know, the manufactured housing pieces in there. One thing I was thinking about as I was reading through this over this weekend, would it be worthwhile to put something in there, and maybe I'm missing it, and I'm reading through again to make sure I haven't missed it, but something about wanting, you know, whatever they do with property taxes to not penalize cities for their successful growth, which is something which they've been doing to us for a couple of years now. Um, you guys follow kind of what I'm saying. And again, your suggestion is well taken about shooting you guys a thought and then not trying to wordsmith it, but something related to property taxes in here, because there's certainly already been some discussion from the governor about some proposals. And so, you know, something about the restoration of fair property taxes, not penalizing communities for successfully growing like we've been doing. And, you know, that would certainly then, of course, touch on several of our initiatives and services. So I don't know if the rest of the council would be amenable to. [01:58:47] 1 like that, especially if property tax is going to happen, which it sounds like they're committed to it, if we can shape it in any way. I like what you're talking about. We shouldn't be penalized for being successful. Page 56 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [01:58:59] And I think we could probably just include that in the section that's currently on page 4 that talks about some of our concerns about property tax changes. I like that, too, though, Sean. [01:59:13] 1 like that. I also It's just kind of This is my first time doing this and reading this, so it's just kind of jarring to see, you know, things such as, like, the great stuff about manufactured, mobile homes, the housing affordability crisis, climate action, and then kratom. Yeah. So I was wondering, um Councilor Alter, if that's what you were going to be referring to. But 1. Yeah. I mean, I would totally be in agreement with not to say that we don't agree- necessarily agree, but in terms of what are the priorities right now of the city. I don't know if I speak for myself, but if this is up there in our current moment in time. And the something that I thought was kind of front and center to potentially add or that I think is I think we should very strongly think we should add is. One of the craziest things that the legislator did last year was, you know, take civil rights protections away from a certain group of people, a large trans people who Iowa City has a large trans population, and we just passed that resolution. I feel like that would be totally in line with us as a council, just something along the lines of not only advocating for protections for trans folks, but reinstating gender identity into civil rights protection. [02:00:55] Yeah. [02:00:56] Sort of a support for the restoration of civil rights as they were in Iowa two years ago and opposition to any further erosion, something along those lines? [02:01:06] Yeah, I like that. That's good. [02:01:08] 1 also agree with taking credum off of the priority list. [02:01:12] I'm okay. There's nothing in there that's, I think, incorrect or wrong. It's just of the. [02:01:16] No, it's just not a priority. [02:01:18] It's not our most important thing that we hear about every day. I agree. [02:01:22] Same. Page 57 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 202S (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [02:01:24] What about advocating for immigration? An immigrant. You want to act still like that, because I think the state is being. [02:01:36] complict. [02:01:37] Batting a lot of bills against immigrant. [02:01:42] Yeah. [02:01:44] Yeah, and I think that could be included in the item in, like, preventing or, you know, advocating against any erosions of rights and making sure that, um, protected identities remain protected. I don't know how- I don't know how to address what you're more specifically saying, Mayor pro tern of, like, you know, that immigrants are being targeted currently. [02:02:16] Yeah. I don't know, either, but I'm just thinking if somebody have like an idea. But that's something really important, we have a lot of immigrants out. [02:02:26] And I think the beautiful thing is that as we were talking about some topics, staff will have opportunities to do some presentations and maybe seek some clarifications amongst us during this process. [02:02:43] Because the audience for this advocacy is our state government and knowing their composition, does it make sense to advocate for not wasting state money on enforcing federal laws? [02:03:02] That's great. [02:03:06] Yeah, maybe that it. [02:03:11] Beyond the removal of credum, is there any other item to remove? That folks are wanting to add or remove, I guess, in that moment. I was just thinking about that. [02:03:28] Page S8 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. For me it's only the inmigration? [02:03:34] Anything else for legislative priorities at this time? [02:03:40] Does it include I'm sorry. Does it include in under support reform measures to reduce racial disparity in the criminal justice system? Do you have any language in there talking about, reinstating our ability to have civilian oversight? Oh. [02:03:59] Oh, sure. I think that would be a good addition, you know, asking to bring. Give us back the ability to have CPRBs. I agree. [02:04:17] All right. Hearing nothing else? Will come back to us on January 6. [02:04:24] Yes. And if I can just take a moment to say what I've heard and make sure that this is the direction that we're receiving. So in the tax section, mentioned that we want to make sure that we're not penalized for growth in addition to our other, you know, discussion in- on page four, to remove the item related to credum to add in an item that's tied to the protection of civil rights ENI with cities specifically as it relates to gender identity and immigration, reinstating civil rights where civil rights used to exist and opposing further erosion of civil rights for those populations. And then finally, within the reform measures to reduce racial disparity in the criminal justice system, to reinstate the ability to have a meaningful CPRB that can oversee police. Is that an accurate summation? [02:05:23] 1 think there was also something about how federal funds are allocated. [02:05:27] Yeah, I was me searching for some way to address Counselor Sovers. [02:05:33] Hmm. So that would be a separate item. I guess I was interpreting that as part of civil rights, the immigration piece of the civil rights. [02:05:44] 1 trust you guys to listen to this recording over and over and over again and make it all perfect. [LAUGHTER] But yes, there's an immigration component, and maybe that's too specific- what I said was too specific about the solution, as opposed to just advocating for that. But thinking about it. [02:06:01] Page 59 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Making it, like, really separate item will be strong. [02:06:06] Okay. There is one other thing that I think, um, I was talking with Counselor Moe about earlier about under our address the housing affordability crisis. I don't know if this could be incorporated in there, but due to the fact that the federal funding for supportive housing is kind of in limbo right now, something in there to encourage the state to fund such things in lieu of the federal government, because I know that's something that, um, is heavily on the mind of people in Iowa City who do that work right now. Yeah. [02:06:55] 1 think that's the last sentence of the expanded state support for efforts to address affordable housing crisis, but sort of be more specific about the state's responsibility when the federal government fails. Yeah, I think, yeah, Fitz Ray would fit right in that. [02:07:11] You literally read my mind because I was- I was going to ask if we could put something in there because of what's happening at a federal level with permanent supportive housing. Thank you for raising it. [02:07:22] Yeah, and something like, it's not just carrying forward federal programs. It's like, back filling when they're cut. [02:07:29] Oh, yeah. [02:07:30] Exactly. Something to bolster permanent supportive housing or housing first or whatever. [02:07:37] And I do just want to speak briefly to the fact that we know that many of these items are not going to be taken seriously by our legislature, and I think it's very important that we continue to stand in our values and to make the record so that people know that Iowa City still believes in these things and that we're not going to try to, you know, imagine a world in which they couldn't pass laws that would do all these things cause they sure can. [02:08:06] Adding on to that, just to point out most of our I totally agree, but our local legislators do tend to support very strongly those things. [02:08:14] It's an important distinction. Where credit is due. Page 60 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [02:08:16] Yes. [02:08:17] For those folks and others like them around the state. So we do have allies. They're just outnumbered currently. [02:08:23] Very good point. Thank you. [02:08:27] All right. Anything else? Roll call, please? [02:08:32] If I may, Mayor, what I would suggest at this point, given that there are a lot of changes here, I would suggest that council just defeat this tonight, and then we come back with a brand new because otherwise, we're looking at a significant amendment. We don't want a wordsmith tonight. Sure. So to be clear, I mean, we'll be coming back with a revised version. [02:08:52] All right. So just vote no. [02:08:54] 1 would encourage counsel to vote no this evening on this resolution, and we'll come back with a fresh one on January 6. [02:09:01] Okay. Roll call, please? [02:09:03] Bergus? [02:09:04] No. [02:09:05] Harmsen? [02:09:05] No. [02:09:06] M oe? Page 61 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [02:09:06] No. [02:09:07] Salih? [02:09:08] No. [02:09:09] Teague? [02:09:09] No. [02:09:10] Weilein? [02:09:11] No. [02:09:11] Alter. [02:09:12] No. [02:09:13] Motion passes seven. Motion fails 0-7. All right. We're item number 13, Council appointments 13 A, Board of Adjustment. Board of Adjustment, one vacancy to fill a five year term January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2030. Uh, council discussion at this time. Can I get a well, we'll just go ahead and have discussion. There is only one applicant for this. I wanted to have discussions on that. [02:09:47] Um, this is. Deborah Vandergast, the public health nurse who has experience, looks like a great candidate to me. [02:09:52] Yeah, I think she'd be good. [02:09:55] All right. [OVERLAPPING] Page 62 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [02:09:57] 1 nominate her? [02:09:59] Yeah. Sure. All right. [02:10:01] Yeah. [02:10:01] All right. Can I get a motion to appoint Deborah Vandergast? [02:10:05] 1 would move to appoint Deborah Vandergast to the Board of Adjustments, for a one for a vacancy to fill a five year term. [02:10:15] I'll second it. [02:10:16] Yeah. Move by Moe seconded by Salih. All in favor say aye. [02:10:21] Aye. [02:10:22] Any opposed? Motion passes 7-0. Item 13B, Planning and Zoning Commission. One vacancy to fill unexpired term upon appointment through June 30, 2026. Council discussion. [02:10:36] 1 would nominate Collette Atkins. [02:10:43] I'm okay with that. [02:10:43] So good candidates. [02:10:45] Yeah, we had really good candidates. I thought it was a short list, it'd be easier. [02:10:48] Page 63 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Yeah, I would agree. [02:10:51] And I can support Colette. [02:10:54] Yeah, I've had the opportunity to talk with her several times since she moved here a couple of years ago. And she's just incredibly engaged and very smart. And I think she would be an excellent choice. Not that as always, we have really good candidates, but. [02:11:11] Yeah. I would just like to bring up. I'm totally on board because, you know, all of these candidates are really good. We're in that situation all the time. Mattie Bagir I hope I'm pronouncing his last name correctly. Just gotten to know through neighborhood things and would also be a great a great candidate for this, too. But, yeah, I mean, I don't think we can go wrong with this group of people, so I'm okay with y'all's nomination, too. [02:11:50] Any other nominations. I want to at least get I guess everyone is being nominated at this point. But it's want to just say if there's a majority of at least a majority for Collat. Okay. All right. So, if I can get a nomination, a motion to appoint. [02:12:11] So moved, Alter. [02:12:13] So a motion to appoint Collette Atkins by Alter. [02:12:18] Second, Weilein. [02:12:19] Seconded by Weilein. All in favor say Aye. [02:12:23] Aye. [02:12:23] Any opposed? Motion passes, 7-0. We're at item number 14, announcements of vacancies new. 14A, we have the Public Art Advisory Committee. One vacancy for an at large representative to fill an unexpired term upon appointment through December 31, 2027. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM. Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Can I get a motion to accept correspondence? Page 64 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. [02:12:52] So moved Weilein. [02:12:54] Second, Harmsen. [02:12:55] All in favor say aye. [02:12:57] Aye. [02:12:58] Any opposed? Motion passes 7-0. Item 15 is announcements of vacancies previous we have Climate Action Commission, one vacancy to fill unexpired term. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM. Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment, one Vacciy to fill a five year term, Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment, one Vacciy to fill a five year term, Board of Appeals, one vacity for a licensed electrician to fill a five year term, Board of Appeals, one vacancy for HVAC professional to fill unexpired term. Historic Preservation Commission, one vacancy for a Brown Street representative to fill a three year term. Historic Preservation Commission one vacancy for Jefferson Street representative to fill a three year term, Historic Preservation Commission one vacancy for Woodlawn Avenue representative to fill a three year term. Vacancies will remain open until filled. We're at item number 16, which is City Council information. [02:14:01] Just a quick thank you to the Public Works Department. I know they had the week of Thanksgiving where we were enjoying our leftover turkey and stuffing. They were busy switching out the trucks from the leaf pickup to quick, get the snow plows on because we had the incoming storm. And, you know, I know that, you know, my neighborhood, they did a nice job cleaning up pretty quickly after that, but I'm willing to bet behind the scenes, there were a lot of overtime and a lot of people that had to cut short family gatherings in order to do that for the city. So I just want to acknowledge that work and thank them and wish them luck on hopefully a quieter winter season. But We'll see. [02:14:41] 1 would just like to say that this week, tomorrow and then probably again, next week Monday through Wednesday from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The workers at our downtown Iowa City Starbucks are still on strike because, you know, it's been four years and they haven't got a contract. Then, in particular, it's been about a year and a half since they've unanimously voted to unionize and they still don't have a contract. So the help on the picket line totally works, and also I would encourage people not to shop at Starbucks, in the meantime. [02:15:21] Page 65 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Just a reminder that our next council meeting will be January 6 at 8:00 AM for our organizational meeting. And then we will be having our work session and our formal meeting 4:00 PM work session, 6:00 PM formal meeting. So we'll be having a little break. [02:15:42] Are you there again Mayor? I couldn't hear you. [02:15:45] Just referring to our next meetings so the public is aware that we'll be meeting on January 6. [02:15:51] Okay, yeah. All right. [02:15:53] Great. All right, we're gonna move on to item number 17. Report on items from city staff, city manager's office. [02:16:04] Yeah, I just wanted to give a brief follow up on the city led food drive that our staff put on. Again, I know I've said this I know Jeff has said this, but huge shout out to our communications team to our volunteers, to all the support we got from city employees to make that really successful with the city facility drop off locations, with drop off or the pop up events in the parks and the three grocery stores. It really was a huge success. At the end of the day, we were able to donate 3,000 pounds of food and as well, collect financial contributions that we didn't know would be collected, but about $1,200 in financial contributions as well. So true outpouring of support from the community, from our volunteers, from city staff, and again, shout out for just putting that on quickly. So always good to highlight those wins. [02:16:54] Yeah. [02:16:55] Good. [02:16:56] City attorney's office? [02:16:57] Nothing for me. Thank you. [02:16:58] City Clerk? [02:16:59] Page 66 Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of December 9, 2025 (audio and video recordings can be found at https:,[/citychannel4.com/city-council.html) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription through Verbit: AI -Based Transcription & Captioning Services. For greater detail please refer to the meeting recordings. Nothing for me. [02:17:00] All right. We're at item number 18. Can I get a motion to adjourn? [02:17:04] So moved Weilein. [02:17:07] Second Bergus. [02:17:08] All right. All in favor, say Aye. [02:17:10] Aye. [02:17:10] Any opposed? Motion passes 7-0. All right. Enjoy the long winter break. [02:17:19] End of the year. [02:17:20] Thank you very much. [02:17:21] Happy New Year. [02:17:28] Thank you. It's 4:00 in the morning. Thank you. [02:17:31] Okay. Thank you very much. [02:17:32] [MUSIC] Page 67