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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-18 Council minutesI CITY OF IOWA CITY �4 MEMORANDUM Date: November 25, 2025 To: Mayor and City Council From: Kellie Grace, City Clerk Re: Council Work Session, November 18, 2025 — 4:00 p.m. at City Hall in Emma J Harvat Hall Council: Alter, Bergus, Harmsen, Moe, Salih, Teague, Weilein (via Zoom) Staff: Fruin, Lehmann, Goers, Grace, Caro, Hightshoe, Carter, Kubly, Rummel, Knoche, Havel, Sovers, McMahon, Cahill USG: Martinez, Coy (A transcription is available in the City Clerk's Office and the City website.) 1. University of Iowa Student Government (USGI Updates Ave Martinez, USG Liaison, and Eden Coy, USG Alternate Liaison, presented updates. 2. Clarification of Agenda Items No discussion. 3. Information Packet Discussion [November 6, November 131 ➢ November 6 —No discussion. ➢ November 13 1. (IP4 — Memo from City Manager: Sister City Appointment) Mayor Teague asked if the Council wanted to select a representative to serve until the organizational meeting on January 6' . Individual Council members asked questions and expressed their views. Action: Mayor Pro Tom Salih was selected to be the City's Sister City Council Liaison with a formal vote to come at the January 6' organizational meeting. 2. (I136 — Memo from City Clerk: Proposed Meeting Schedule, Jan -Dec 2026 [Direction needed for the Budget Review Work Session date]) Individual Council members expressed their views. City Manager Fruin and City Clerk Grace provided information. Action: Council and Department Directors should mark their calendars for the operational budget presentation on Saturday, January 20, starting at Sam. 4. Update on Housing Authority Plannina Neighborhood and Development Director Hightshoe and the following representatives from Baker Tilly: Caitlin Humrickhouse, Khala Stanfield, and Kaylin Nuss, presented a PowerPoint update on the Housing Authority's strategic planning and operating model. The project, funded through the Pro Housing grant, is evaluating organizational effectiveness, November 18, 2025 Page 2 financial sustainability, and pathways for the Housing Authority to intemally develop and manage affordable housing outside of the traditional public housing program. Baker Tilly outlined their four -phase planning process —stakeholder interviews, operational and financial analysis, strategic planning workshops, and development of final recommendations. From this work, they drafted new vision and mission statements, identified five strategic goals, and created initiatives to support them, including expanding family self-sufficiency programming, using specialty vouchers more effectively, strengthening financial management, improving technology, and exploring rebranding. Individual Council members asked questions. 5. Food discussion Emily Meister, Director of Community Impact and Engagement, United Way of Johnson And Washington counties and Nicki Ross, Executive Director Table to Table, presented information on Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), a coalition of nonprofits, local agencies, and governments that coordinate rapid responses during community emergencies. • Johnson County's COAD began after the 2008 floods, went dormant, and has been rebuilt over the past two years with a new shared leadership structure and specialized subcommittees. • The recent SNAP crisis, affecting 10,000 Johnson County residents and $1.7M in monthly food assistance, triggered a coordinated COAD and Food Access Network response. • The Food Access Network-18 local partners including major pantries and Table to Table —provided unified guidance, shared accurate information, directed donations, and coordinated large-scale food distribution. • During the three-week disruption, food partners saw: 25% more food distributed - 15% more households served • Ongoing impacts include: - Households falling behind on rent and utilities after shifting money to food. Expected long-term increases in pantry use. - Additional strain from new SNAP eligibility changes beginning Nov. 1, especially affecting immigrant and refugee households. • Partners will track data on rent assistance, utility shutoffs, and increased service demand in coming months. Shannon McMahon, Communications Coordinator, reported strong community engagement in the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Drive, created to support local food pantries during the SNAP crisis. • Collection bins were placed at multiple City facilities, including City Hall, libraries, recreation centers, and other public buildings. • Grocery store collection events and park pop-up events significantly boosted participation, allowing residents to donate during routine errands or community activities. • The drive gathered over 3,200 pounds of food, ranging from canned and shelf -stable goods to culturally preferred items requested by local pantries. • An additional $405 in monetary donations was received, enabling food partners to purchase high -demand items and fresh foods that are harder to collect through drives. November 18, 2025 Page 3 Staff highlighted the strong turnout from both residents and City employees, noting that employee participation alone contributed a meaningful portion of the donations. 6. Council updates on assigned boards, commissions, and committees Council members reported on various assigned boards, commissions, and committees. Adjourn 5:45 p.m.