HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-15 Transcription#2a Page 1
ITEM 2a MAYOR'S PROCLAMATIONS.
a. Persons with Disabilities Day: July 26
Lehman: Item 2 are proclamations. (Reads proclamation).
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Keith Ruff, PA Peer Coordinator.
Ruff: Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Ruff: On behalf of the Conner Center staff and all Iowans with disabilities
we consistently set the Iowa City Council (can't hear) with the
cooperative effort over the years. And may it continue into all Iowans
with disabilities (can't hear) to every other citizen in Iowa. Thank
you.
Lehman: Thank you.
O'Donnell: Thanks, Keith.
Lehman: And Saturday the 26th of July at the Ped Mall at 11:00 we're going to
have a little ceremony - that would be an ADA celebration and we
will commemorate the 13th anniversary of ADA. And certainly the
public is welcome to attend.
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ITEM 2b MAYOR'S PROCLAMATIONS.
b. The Salvation Army Soup Kitchen Week: July 20-26
Lehman: (Reads proclamation).
Kan': Here to accept the proclamation is Captain Terry Smith and Wilson
Miller.
Smith: I would just like to take a moment and say thank you to the City
Council and the City administration and the Mayor for their kind,
generous effort of recognizing 10 years of service to this community
14 years all together that the Salvation Army has been here. I do want
to thank Bill Miller who's with me tonight as well as Kitty Davis who
couldn't be with us due to some weather in Texas - she's heading
back. But we're going to have a wonderful celebration on Sunday
from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. we're going to be recognizing Kitty and Bill as
well as other volunteers. The Mayor is going to be there as well as I
hope some City Council members and some other people can attend.
We invite the community. We'll be serving a dinner and you can also
see the wonderful facility that we have just recently renovated. And
give an opportunity for you to interact with the Salvation Army.
Again that's July 20th from 4:00 to 6:00. That's on Sunday.
Pfab: I don't...I haven't had a chance to welcome you to Iowa City. I know
you are a very recent arrival. You came when?
Smith: Yes. We just...we got in just a couple weeks ago and took over for
Captains Deon and Michelle Oliver. Terry and Jennifer Smith -
Jennifer is my wife and we have two children. And we're just very
excited to be here in this community. We've served in large college
communities before and so we're excited about the possibilities of
students as well as just serving the community for God here in the
great state of Iowa and the City of Iowa City. So thank you.
Pfab: We welcome you and hope you have a gn'eat stay here.
Smith: Thank you so much.
Lehman: Thank you.
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ITEM 2c MAYOR'S PROCLAMATIONS.
c. Irving B. Weber Day: August 9
Lehman: (Reads proclamation).
Kan': Here to accept the proclamation is Darold Albright, Iowa City Noon
Lions Club.
Albright: Thank you Mr. Mayor, Council members. I'm pleased to accept this
proclamation on behalf of thc Iowa City Noon Lions Club and the many
Iowa Citians who have fond memories of Irvin Weber. It will become
part of the materials which will be included within the statue as a quasi
time capsule. I would remind the Council and all persons present and
watching that the Noon Lions and the Public Art Advisory Committee
will be hosting a public unveiling o£the Irvin Weber statue on 4:00 p.m.
on Saturday, August 9th. This will include selections played by the Old
Postal Brass fi.om the Senior Center, a role for students from Weber
Elementary School and short talks from those who had a role in raising
the funds for the statue. This will be followed as usual with an ice-
cream social at College Green Park. And that will take place at 5:30.
The community band will be playing. And everyone is invited - the
more the merrier. And as usual again everybody's urged to bring their
own chairs. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you. That is a really fun event. And this is...what is this the
fourth year? Is it 6th? All I know is it's been a really fun thing. I'm not
going to be here. And this is going to be the biggest and best yet.
Because I was down at the foundry that's casting the likeness and it's
incredible. It's absolutely beautiful. So it's going to be a great addition
to Iowa City.
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ITEM 3. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Champion: Move adoption.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Kanner: Yeah. A few things in regards to this. Number b on Board and
Commission minutes in regards to Parks and Rec minutes of6/11,
page 58 in our packet. They said that it was asked about snow
removal for 8 feet sidewalks. And they said it was understood that it
would be uniformly enforced. We had asked that I thought that we
look at possibly amending the ordinance or looking at other ways
perhaps to not have to shovel the whole 8 foot. So I was wondering
what the status is of that.
Atkins: It's due back for a work session. And you're correct.
Kanner: Okay. (Can't hear).
Atkins: Express their opinion. They prefer the...
Kanner: Well actually it was Terry who said that...
Atkins: I think Terry prefers that also.
Kanner: Terry prefers just to have to shovel everything. It's still coming back
for discussion?
Atkins: It's coming back to you. That's an upcoming work session item.
Kanner: Could you let the Parks and Rec know that?
Atkins: Sure.
Kanner: Thank you. Then a couple other things. And this is number 11 in that
same section on minutes - Senior Center. What is the status of the
County appointee to the Senior Conunission? As of July 1st we no
longer have a 28e agreement. It was stated that the resolution to
appoint someone from the county came not from that agreement, but
from Council resolution. Is that correct?
Atkins: That's what I understand. I met with Linda and Jay Honahan Chair
and apparently they're formulating a recommendation with respect to
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those appointments and I think they lacked a quorum at their last
meeting. So I suspect you won't see that much before August. But
they are preparing a new recommendation on what the makeup should
be of the commission. I encouraged them to do that. Then you all can
react to their proposals.
Kanner: So current resolution is that the county appoints three...
Atkins: Yes. That's the correct.
Kanner: ...commissioners and we'll stay with that until the resolution changes.
Atkins: I would hope they would have something to you August, September so
you can decide what you wish to do with those minutes...with those
by-laws and with those appointments.
Kanner: Okay and not in minutes, but in correspondence we had concern about
use of the name for the Senior Center. And I wanted to check on that.
They sort of saying...one of the correspondents said that there was a
defacto change of the name even though it had not been authorized
yet. And have some concern about that along with the person that was
corresponding that. It still remains the Senior Center until Council
formally accepts a new name.
Atkins: As I understand it. I read the letter and I really wasn't quite sure what
the complaint was. And I did mention it to Jay and Linda. And I
suspect that they'll be dealing with that also at the upcoming Senior
Commission. I really don't know anything more than that Steven.
Kanner: Okay. They said on publications it was known as the Center. Because
that's the argument is whether it should be called Senior Center or not
and they were afraid that they were moving ahead without any
authorization.
Atkins: I think they're using on certain letterhead the term "The Center," but
underneath it as part as the logo is the Iowa City Area Senior Citizens'
Center. And I just think they're using an abbreviated version of the
thing. Again folks that's really all I know right now.
Kanner: Two other things. I did want to point out that in our consent calendar
in 3e(14) is a resolution petitioning our Iowa Congressional
Delegations to support the National Housing Trust Fund Act of 2003 -
House bill there 1102 - that would create rehabilitate and preserve 1.5
million units of affordable housing in the United States over the next
10 years. If people look at the resolution that we're supporting it talks
about how the demand for affordable housing far exceeds the supply.
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In fact Iowa City school districts identify 223 homeless students. A
lack of affordable housing is considered one of the contributing factors
to homelessness. And various other issues that some will be solved in
part by a national trust fund. And my understanding is the state of
Iowa has passed a resolution ready to accept money if this gets passed
by the Feds. And our little bit I think will help that move along. So
I'm proud that we're signing off on this and thanks to the Housing and
Community Development Commission for keeping us abreast and
recommending this. And then the final thing on page 130 under
correspondence I did want to point out to the Council and to the public
that someone had concern about the high price of cable T.V. in our
community. And there was a reply from Drew Shaffer numerating a
few points of why that might be and that it is a concern in Iowa City.
The correspondent wanted to know why there wasn't more
competition. The City has tried to get competition. And then the point
I especially wanted to point out that another possible solution is
municipal ownership. In previous studies the City has conducted it has
been determined that in nearly all identified successfully municipally
owned cable T.V. system the city also owned electrical utility that was
used to capitalize the cable T.V. system. And I would concur with that
thought. I've read the same thing. Such is not the case in Iowa City
Drew concludes. So another reason when it gets back to us to think
about municipal electric to save us money down the road on cable T.V.
costs. Thank you.
Lehman: Any other discussion? Excuse me. Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM 4 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Lehman: Item 4 is public discussion. This is the time reserved on the agenda for
folks who would like to address the Council on issues that do not
otherwise appear on the agenda. If you wish to speak with the Council
please sign in, give your name, address and limit your comments to
five minutes or less.
Sandra Thomas: Good evening. I'm Sandra Thomas. I'm the wife of James Thomas
and here in the past you have seen me in the building, but I have never
taken the opportunity to speak.
Lehman: Are you speaking to the parking issue?
Thomas: Yes I am.
Lehman: That will come up later in the evening.
Thomas: Okay.
Lehman: And you certainly may speak at that point.
Thomas: Thank you.
Lehman: Sure. Thank you. Anyone else like to address the Council?
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ITEM 5a PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE
CONDITIONALLY REZONING 5.69 ACRES FROM LOW-
DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-5) TO
LOW-DENSITY MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RM-12)
LOCATED AT 1715 MORMON TREK BOULEVARD.
(REZ03-00018)
[ After item 5e ]
Wilbum: Emie can I interrupt for a minute?
Lehman: Yes.
Wilburn: I'm wondering if there might have been a little confusion. Are there
folks here from the All Nations Baptist Chumh who wanted to speak to
at the public hearing? Okay. Is it possible for us to reopen the
hearing? There was confusion.
Lehman: Please. Please. I'm sorry. This we are speaking to...
Wilburn: Item 5a.
Lehman: ...item 5a which was the public hearing on the rezoning to RM-12
from RM-5 on Mormon Trek. First item under Planning and Zoning.
Jong Koo Lee: I'm Jong Koo Lee, senior pastor of All Nations Baptist Chumh, an
international community of Christian believers ministering to people
from 15 to 16 different countries including the United States. And our
church in addition to meeting the spiritual needs of the community has
also tried to make contributions to the community allowing the City to
hold neighborhood meetings and also offering our church facilities as
polling places and for other public purposes. And the immediate
purpose for our request for the rezoning is to have a bigger sign. We
met the current city sign codes and we are using just one side. And if
you are kind enough to allow us or grant us our petition we can have
both sides and we can make the sign stand like this so that passersby
and drivers can easily see our signs. And well the long-term purpose
for our petition is to clear the way for us to build future buildings
subject to our continued growth. Right now our (can't hear) are RS-5
single family, low-density, single family housing area. That means all
the buildings should be connected. So if you are kind enough to grant
us our petition in the future we'll have separate buildings pending well
further growth of our church. And I do not think well the rezoning
will be detrimental to the community at all or to the neighborhood or
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will be detrimental to the environment at all. And it will help us to get
more exposed to the public. And we will have greater efficiency in
ministering to people who live in Iowa City and Coralville. So I'd like
to ask you to grant us our petition.
Lehman: Thank you.
Champion: Thank you.
Lehman: This was recommended 6-0 by the Planning and Zoning Commission
and also approved by the City Staff and recornmended approval and to
my knowledge I've not heard any comment to the contrary. Now
we're just doing the public hearing tonight. The first reading of the
ordinance will be on August 19th.
Kanner: Sir can I ask you a question?
Koo Lee: Yes.
Kanner: Did you build the building there?
Koo Lee: We built our original building about 11 years ago and with a special
exception granted two years ago we made an addition. And it is
connected to the main building. And for the next couple of years we
do not have immediate plans to build more buildings, but we do not
(can't hear) the possibility that we'll build more buildings if the church
continues to grow. And as recommended by the Planning Department
we will plant sheltering buffer...
Lehman: 70-foot buffer.
Koo Lee: Right. 70-foot buffer.
Lehman: We know about that.
Koo Lee: Yeah.
Kanner: So you were aware of the zoning when you bought it at the RS-5.
Koo Lee: Yes Sir.
Kanner: And the restrictions that applied at that time.
Koo Lee: So we obtained a special exception at that time.
Lehman: And churches are allowed in any zone by special exception.
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Koo Lee: Right.
Kanner: No, no I'm talking about the restrictions of RS-5.
Koo Lee: Yeah RS-5. RS-5 is low-density, single-family area but with a special
exception are granted by the City Council we built our original
building and with another special exception we built a second building
connected to the main building. But if you are kind enough to grant us
this petition we will be able to build separate buildings which will be
more efficient. And which will be good for the future.
O' Donnell: That sounds good.
Champion: Sounds good.
Koo Lee: Thanks.
Kanner: Can I ask Karin a question about the conditional agreement? What is
the control the City has with the OPDH?
Franklin: OPDH. That is in the event this property should redevelop as
residential property. The conditions on this zoning have to do with
redevelopment in the future as residential development. The church
has indicated evidently that they agree to put in this evergreen buffer
regardless. But the conditions that are in the conditional zoning
agreement that are part of the request before you are those which
would come into play at such time in the future if ever it was to
redevelop for residential use.
Kanner: Well two questions. One what is the...what right does Council and the
Commission - P&Z Commission - have in saying yes or no to
residential development? What are the limits?
Franklin: You would not be saying yes or no to residential development per say.
By this rezoning you are indicating that RM-12 is an appropriate zone.
What you would be looking at would be the layout, the design of the
buildings, how they're buffered, the traffic circulation patterns on site,
the access to Mormon Trek Boulevard.
Kanner: So it would give us a little more leverage in working with
development. And then the other question is what commercial
development can take place there without any conditional agreement?
Franklin: None.
Kanner: So no commercial ventures can take place there?
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Franklin: No.
Kanner: Thank you.
Lehman: Okay.
O'Donnell: Thank you.
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ITEM 6(2) AMENDING TITLE 3, "CITY FINANCES, TAXATION, AND
FEES," CHAPTER 4, "SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES,
CHARGES, BONDS FINES AND PENALTIES" BY AMENDING
SECTION 6, "PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION," AND
ESTABLISHING UNDER "SPECIAL FARES" A FARE OF 25
CENTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE BUS.
2) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
O'Donnell: Move first consideration.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Pfab: I have a question. Will a bus pass waive the 25 cent cost?
Lehman: That's a question for...
Champion: Good question.
Lehman: ... Transportation.
Fowler: I couldn't hear the whole question.
Lehman: Will a bus pass enable folks to ride...if you have a monthly bus pass
can you ride the shuttle without charge?
Fowler: Yes.
Lehman: Okay so that to answer your question there will be no fee for a pass
holder.
O'Donnell: That applies to any bus.
Lehman: Any bus.
Fowler: Correct.
Pfab: It also applies to...
Fowler: It would also apply. It was one of the questions that we wondered
about as we talked about the shuttle and a monthly pass and that is do
we want to establish an addition to this another special pass that would
apply to the shuttle bus.
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Champion: I think that's a really good idea. Or a year pass.
Fowler: Just to kind of roughen it out it looked like if you road down and back
once a day for the five days that it runs it would be approximately $40
a semester for a person to take the bus if they paid 25 cents each time
they road.
Pfab: That's one time a day?
Fowler: Right. Twice a day. Each day.
Pfab: I have a feeling there's a number of those are more than multiple trips.
O'Dormell: We don't know that.
Kanner: Joe, will you refresh my memory. What's the projected savings or
revenue enhancement with this after you subtract money we lose from
not getting funds for riders and then the addition with the fee.
Fowler: Okay. Right now in the last year there were a total of 196,627 fides on
the shuttle bus which is 14% of the people that road Iowa City transit.
1,191,411 were on the south loop which is basically from Washington
Street over to Bowery. And then only 5,216 riders were on the north
loop which goes up by Mercy Hospital and back in. So under this with
a fee what we would need to do would be make three south routes and
no longer be able to serve the north side because we wouldn't have the
extra time it would take people to board the bus and pay the fare. So
that's not a significant number of riders on that north end - that 5,216.
Also there's Cambus within a few blocks and there's also the North
Dodge bus up in that area. The reduction would probably be anywhere
between 25 to 50 percent reduction in ridership. But that would
generate between $24,000 and $30 - $35,000 a year in additional
revenue. There would be some drop off in our funding. But not a
major amount. We haven't calculated that. We've calculated it in the
past and it didn't have a major impact in our state and federal funding.
Champion: Joe can you remind me of the cost of the shuttle - the yearly cost.
Fowler: I think it's approximately $90,000 a year.
Champion: For each one or for both of them?
Fowler: For the whole service for the year.
Kanner: How many...you said there were 197,000 fides last year?
Champion: 196,000.
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Fowler: Yes.
Kanner: And projection is 50% less rides this year.
Fowler: Between 25 and 50 percent reduction in there somewhere. It's hard to
say.
Kanner: And what's the...20% of that would be projected to be taking cars? Is
that how you figure it?
Fowler: Well we did a poll shortly after we started the shuttle. We haven't
done one recently. Twenty-five percent of the people that were riding
the shuttle said if the shuttle was not available they would drive
downtown.
Champion: But the shuttle will still be available.
Fowler: Right. It will still be available.
Champion: And it will be cheaper than parking.
Fowler: Correct.
Lehman: Right.
Pfab: What government subsidy do we get per rider that has taken the bus?
Fowler: I don't know how much we get per rider. Do you have any idea?
Logsden: It's convoluted.
Lehman: You'll need to speak in the mic.
Fowler: Yeah because you've got...you take how much fare you get in. You
can take how many people...
Pfab: No, no I mean just on a per number of people that come in that use it
where does that figure into the equation of federal subsidy?
Fowler: It's one of the numbers. You take your number of riders, you take
your operating cost, you take how much money come into your fare
box. It's a JCOG formula where we split up the local money.
Pfab: So there's no way to isolate that?
Fowler: We could lower that number a little bit...
Pfab: No, I'm just asking is there a way to isolate the number?
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Fowler: I can't.
Logsden: If we lose ridership it affects the formula every other transit system in
the state it depends on how many riders they have and it all goes into
one formula so it's real convoluted. Estimate about $3,000 to $4,000
maybe is what we'd be losing. It's a rough estimate, but not a lot.
Pfab: Okay. So versus what are we getting now from it? What does that
generate because of that number of riders?
Lehman: $3,000 to $4,000.
Fowler: Just the three to four thousand.
Pfab: Okay. Okay.
Lehman: Any other questions for Joe? Council discussion.
O'Donnell: Thanks Joe.
Lehman: Yeah thank you Joe.
Champion: Well I'm concerned about this. I think it's going to cut ridership by a
lot and the shuttle has been incredibly successful. My other fear is that
it's going to slow the shuttle down and that's going to decrease
ridership. Because it's so convenient now it runs so frequently I think
that's another reason that it's so popular. You don't have to have a
time card. You just go and it comes before you think of it. I know we
are going to look at this closely after...didn't we agree we'd look at it
after the first semester or did we say after the first year? What did we
decide?
Lehman: Well one or the other I'm sure.
Champion: So because I know that we're talking about a tremendous amount of
budget cuts in the City and this is a way of increasing revenue. I'm
going to reluctantly support it. But I do want us to watch it closely. If
it really starts to effect the ridership then I think it's detrimental to us
not to go back to it being free.
Lehman: You know one of the things that concerns me is obviously there are
always folks who don't think we should give them (can't hear) and
obviously I don't agree with those folks. But in the list of I forget the
list you gave us Steve with our budget concerns if this was an option
or whatever.
Atkins: Yes.
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Lehman: The shuttle is a $90,000 expense to the City.
Atkins: Very close to that yes.
Lehman: My concern is that without generating any revenue if that is strictly a
$90,000 cost at some point in time I fear that a Council is going to
look at that and say enough is enough and just stop the whole thing.
Now if it generates some revenue which I think a quarter will and I
think it's a reasonable fare I think that really gives the shuttle a lot
longer life than continuing to run it with no revenue at all. I just think
it helps to pay for itself and we probably aren't going to be beating on
it nearly as much as if it's strictly an expense of $90,000 a year.
Karmer: I think we...there are benefits that we're getting not only the three to
four thousand dollars, but also environmental benefits. We talked
about our storm water management and the streets. I think Connie you
were talking about this. This is one way to deal with it in a
progressive long-term management. We get cars off the street and
make it less congestion, make it easier for the people that have to be in
cars to take the cars and encourage other people for the shorter
distances to take this. I think there was one study that showed that the
whole system could be made free for I think a half a million dollars.
This was a few years ago. I think JCOGS did a study on thls. And
somewhere around that number. And I think it's something that we
have to explore.
Lehman: The system costs us about three million a year.
Kanner: What?
Lehman: The bus system costs us in the neighborhood of three million a year is
it not?
Kanner: No an additional half million dollars to take away the 75 cent.
Lehman: Oh, then it would cost us three and a half million.
Kanner: Yeah.
Lehman: That's not free. It's three and a half million.
Kanner: No. I never said it was free.
Lehman: I'm sorry. I misunderstood.
Kanner: An additional half a million dollars would make it free for everyone
and encourage even more use of it. And I think one of the other
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benefits it's an economic development benefit. I think (can't hear) we
have a good transportation center, make it even better. It benefits the
City. It brings in businesses. It's good for businesses and their
employees for transportation. That's a concern for people that take
buses in the night especially and on weekends. So even though I think
in certain cases it might be alright to charge. Reluctantly I am going to
vote against it. I think this is not the thing to do. I think we need to
look at the airport first. That should be our priority in cutting and the
Council doesn't wish to do that. So I'll vote against.
Champion: Steven you might...I just...isn't the money, all the profits from the
new transit center going to go to public transportation?
Atkins: Yes.
Lehman: Revenue.
Champion: So maybe our buses will be free.
Lehman: Okay. Other discussion? Mike?
O'Donnell: No, I'm going to support 25 cents and I could spare. I don't believe it
will deter ridership. It's cheaper than a parking meter and a lot
cheaper than a parking ticket. So I think it's still a very good deal.
Notice I got the parking ticket in there.
Lehman: That a boy.
Wilburn: I guess I...the same reason you gave Connie except I fall on the other
side of it and that's why when at budget time I proposed a couple other
alternative...out of the list there were a couple options that I wanted to
support, but didn't go through. But I won't be supporting this.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. The motion fails 3-3, Kanner, Pfab and
Wilburn voting in the negative.
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ITEM 7. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE COURT STREET TRANSPORTATION CENTER
PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO
ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO
PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, AND FIXING TIME
AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS
Lehman: (Reads item). Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed.
O'Donnell: So moved.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Kanner: Yeah I wonder Joe if you could explain the alternative bids here and
where we're at and also in regards to number 8 too them amendment
for the architectural design services. I didn't quite follow all of that.
Fowler: Okay. Kind of go back to a memo to the Council March 25th from Jeff
and I and it just kind of summarizes how we got to where we are right
now. We had received six million dollars this year which brought us
to a total of 8.66 million dollars for the project which was 2 million
dollars less than the full amount which was requested. And that left us
with an option at this point to proceed with the building and hope to
get the additional funding in the next fimding round from the federal
government and if that wasn't available we could go ahead and
complete the project on a smaller scale and then expand it at a later
time. And in that memo we talked about going back and having to
redesign because of changes. We had originally planned a five story
maximum building. There were scenarios that came up that might
require a sixth floor either now or in the future. And because of that
we had to go back and basically redesign everything from the ground
down - all the supports that had been designed up to that point were
maximized at a five story building. So we had to go back and redesign
everything. And that's where the additional design fees came from
that are included in this. So with the funding that we have available
we decided that we would bid this with a base bid of three and then
continue to add floors to see how far we could get with the money that
we had. And in addition to that then if we receive additional approval
for the additional federal funding during this budgeting cycle we
would have the bid numbers that we could go ahead and complete the
fifth floor. The sixth floor I think basically is out there in the event
that there's additional development in the area and that requires
additional parking. I haven't been privy to any discussions that have
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involved that, but that's the plan that we could expand it further in the
future.
Kanner: Now did I read this right that in number 8 the amended price is
$150,000...
Fowler: Correct.
Kanner: ...refundable 80% through the federal grant.
Fowler: Yes.
Kanner: Okay. That's the maximum?
Fowler: Yes it is.
Kanner: So to design that sixth floor our cost would possibly be $30,000
addition?
Fowler: Yes.
Kanner: Okay.
Lehman: Any other questions for Joe?
Champion: That $30,000 comes out of parking revenue? Our share comes out of
what, what fund?
Atkins: I'm not real sure right now. I'm assuming it would be parking
revenue.
Fowler: That or just a debt service.
Atkins: Or just our debt service account. Yeah. It's a small enough amount.
The reason we authorized it was primarily because we get 80%
funding for the thing. And when I approved it the 6th floor and all the
(can't hear) that go with it expensive in the sense of the architectural
aspects, but when you look at it it's a quarter of one percent of the total
value of the project. It just seemed to give us options that we didn't
have in the past.
Champion: I'm not questioning doing it.
Atkins: Oh, okay. Doing it.
Champion: I'm just curious where the...
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Atkins: It will either be the parking fund or from our debt service fund where
we've already applied debt.
Champion: And you can't use the revenue from that transportation center to pay
off that bond? Am I correct?
Atkins: No. Revenue from the transportation...this is a transit...I mean it's
difficult for folks to understand, but as a parking ramp it is a transit
asset.
Champion: Right.
Atkins: And that after all the bills are paid any income that's generated is an
asset to the transit system and allows you to either reduce the transit
levy, expand service, have all those choices. But it is a transit asset.
Champion: Thanks.
Lehman: Okay? Roll call. Motion carries 5-1, Kanner voting the negative.
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ITEM 9. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 6,
CHAPTER 1 (NUISANCES) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY BY ADDING STANDARDS
AND PROCEDURES TO CONTROL THE NUMBER OF
VEHICLES PARKED, STORED, PLACED, OR KEPT
OUTSIDE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
Lehman: (Reads item).
O'Donnell: I understand that we want to defer this until the 19th.
Kanner: I'll second that.
Lehman: We have a motion and a second to defer. All in favor?
Atkins: I believe...
Lehman: We will take...
Atkins: Yeah I believe you want to defer it to the 18th which is your work
session. You said you wanted to talk about it...
Dilkes: No, we don't defer the formal item to the 18th. We defer it to the 19th
and put it on the 18th work session.
Atkins: With the understanding it is on your work session.
Lehman: Right. All in favor of deferral.
Kanner: Wait before can we give them a chance?
Lehman: We'll listen to a few folks. All in favor of deferral?
Kanner: Well can we hear what they have to say?
Lehman: Well we can do that too. Sure. It don't make any difference.
Kanner: If you still wanted to talk knowing what we're planning to do.
Sandra Thomas: Hello again.
Lehman: Hi.
Sandra Thomas: And as I said earlier my name is Sandra Thomas and my husband is
James Thomas. In the past when my husband had presented himself
before the City Council in speaking to the ordinance...
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(End of Side 1, Tape #03-61, Beginning of Side 2)
Sandra Thomas: ...I have either been in the building or at home watching his
comments. I have also been silent on this issue. My silence though
does not indicate that I am any way supportive of this ordinance. He's
the more verbal one. I'm the introspective one. So I'm very nervous,
but I wish to express myself tonight. The foundation for this
ordinance is in my opinion very flawed. It seems to me an anonymous
person or anonymous persons have viewed the cars in our yard and
decided they didn't like it for whatever reason and registered
complaints. The complaints in whatever form had lead to the
formation of this ordinance. I totally disagree with it. I'm vehemently
opposed to it. What I would like you to understand is what the cars
represent. This is a combination of collections over the last 27 almost
28 years. And each vehicle has a story. Each vehicle has a memory.
My husband and I grew up in an era where big engines, fast cars,
cheap gas were to norm. My husband also spent summers working on
assembly lines in Michigan building the cars you see sitting in our
front yard. He was one of the people that would drive the cars offthe
assembly line. I'm telling you this from what he told me. He can tell
you how it felt to get behind the wheel of those cars and to whip it off
of the line. These cars...they're old cars. They don't make a whole
lot of noise. On the occasions that we get in one of them and drive
around town we get a lot of positive comments. We get a lot of waves.
We get from young people and old comments such as "sweet car,"
"nice car," "where did you get that?" These are memories that cannot
be replaced once they're gone. My husband and I also enjoy working
on the cars. Now I don't like to get dirty. I don't like to get up under
the hood. But when he needs my assistance to get into those little
areas where his hands can't reach I don't have a problem with that.
You're looking at a man that rebuilt a carburetor on my dining room
table in 1978 - gas parts, the whole nine yards. What I'm saying to
you ladies and gentlemen of the Council is the foundation of this
ordinance has basically tainted what I considered to be someone's
enjoyment. It's something that he enjoys. The cars are not smoking.
They're not sitting up on blocks. They're not falling apart. They're
cars from an era that we will never see again. I am also a collector. I
collect angels. I collect porcelain dolls. I collect crochet hooks. I do a
lot of crochet. I don't know how many of either I have. If these items
were visible and someone decided that I had too many, they didn't like
the way that they looked would they complain and would there be an
ordinance? I don't know. Again what you're doing with this
ordinance is basically tainting quiet enjoyment. We don't have the
same enjoyment that we used to have with the cars behind this. So I
would ask you to reconsider and to put yourself in our places. We're
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law abiding citizens of Iowa City. You don't hear about us until this
comes up. We believe in everyone having the right to do what they
want to do within the law and to keep themselves happy. The cars
make us happy. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Pfab: I...
Lehman: We have Mr. Thomas is speaking.
Pfab: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you.
James Thomas: Okay. Sorry.
Champion: He's hard to miss.
James Thomas: That's the problem. I've been before this body a number of times and
one of things that I've always attempted to do is esteem public
servants. Whenever I've come no one can say that I stood up here and
took a shoe off and beat the podium, although I'm tempted to do that
tonight. My message is not as loving and as warm as my wife because
I'm basically fed up with the pretense involved from the standpoint of
this ordinance being one that's for the general welfare safety and
public interest. It's not. You may as well call it the James Thomas
Ordinance. A matter of fact when this case went to court it was not
summary dismissed. The City had an opportunity to put on its case
and chief. And what it presented was four exhibits - four photos. And
basically it was procedural aspects that the judge decided to focus on.
Well I came in the court with a brief- and this is it and I'm taking it
apart now because I'm reworking it for another purpose - because I
understand when municipal authorities exceed their jurisdiction by
creating laws that contravene my federal rights. I'm not going to sit
back on it. I've watched for years how this thing has developed. It
started in 1990. Everyone has tried to give it a different kind of spin
and no one is willing to call it what it is. I want to share something
with you. It won't take but a couple more minutes. I got an e-mail
from a very influential lawyer in the state and he knew about the car
situation in Iowa City. And he's also white. And he said he didn't
really understand what was going on until these articles came in. West
Des Moines neighborhood actions are shameful. The article exposed
hostile white supremacy toward Jullo Yanqui's Ecuadorian family in
West Des Moines demonstrates the day to day racism people of color
experience across Iowa in this nation. It's not coming from
uneducated, poor and uncultured white folks who are most commonly
blamed for white supremacy. The perpetrators are white folks who
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thought they bought their safety by moving far away from people of
color. More disturbing is the neighborhood's tactic of pitting the City
of West Des Moines that exists to serve and protect all residents
against this innocent family. Mayor Eugene Meyer's called for mutual
tolerance misses the point. The Yanqui family has tolerated months of
Jim Crow harassment from their local government and neighbors.
Now I can substitute years. The City and folks on Brookview Drive
need to not only tolerate their neighbors, but realize their actions are
shameful and have no place in a nation that claims to be the beacon of
light for those who seek freedom. There are four or five articles here.
And I would like to give them to you so they can be placed in public
record. Again West Des Moines didn't succeed in getting this
ordinance. This one didn't stand up in court. Now do what you may.
Do what you like. But because of the fundamental unfairness involved
in this it won't stop with the amendment. Because the very nature of
the ordinance itself is flawed. Thank you.
Champion: Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you. James you're going to give us that?
James Thomas: Oh yeah.
Lehman: Okay.
James Thomas: I have some other things that you'll get, but not tonight.
Lehman: Okay.
Champion: Thank you.
Lehman: Do we have a motion? Well I guess we have a motion to defer.
Karr: Can we have a motion to accept correspondence.
Lehman: Can we have that with another motion on the floor?
Karr: Sure.
Lehman: Do we have a motion to accept correspondence?
Pfab: So moved.
Wilburn: Second.
Lehman: All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries.
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Pfab: The point I wanted to make is this. I have spoken to...I know last
night we brought it up and we were thinking about postponing this or
moving it down the road - kicking the ball down the road is my way of
saying it. I believe that we ought to rescind. We tried it. It didn't
work. I sat there in the court and watched the court proceedings. !
was appalled at what I saw the - and this is my interpretation - the
judge had no interest in this. I watched the City Attorney basically
almost walk out of there ashamed. I can't see where the City does
itself any good. I think it castes an extremely bad light on us. And I
have spoken to a number of the members of the Council. I can't find
anybody who is enthusiastic about keeping it. We're all kind of
ducking back and forth and saying let's look at it again. I would
suggest that we either vote it up or down. I have no interest in...I have
changed my position of wanting to move it along. I'm saying let's
move it, get it over with, be done with it.
Lehman: Okay. All in favor of the motion to defer indicate by raising their right
hand. All opposed? How are you voting Irvin?
Pfab: No.
Lehman: Okay. The vote is 5-1, Irvin voting in the negative. We will take this
up at the work session on the 18th and it will on agenda for the 19th. I
think it does deserve some discussion.
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ITEM 10. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY
CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION
OF THE CIVIC CENTER NORTH COURT TRANE HVAC
PROJECT.
Lehman: (Reads item).
Champion: Move the resolution.
Lehman: Well just a minute. I'm not quite...
Champion: It's here. We got it.
Lehman: Yeah it is. Public Works is recommending Climate Engineer's of
Cedar Rapids a bid of $46,366.00 which was one of two bids. And the
Engineer's estimate was $47,765.00. We have a motion by Champion.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Seconded by O'Donnell to approve. Discussion? Roll call. Motion
carries.
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ITEM 11. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN ASSESSMENT
SCHEDULE OF UNPAID MOWING, CLEAN-UP OF
PROPERTY, SNOW REMOVAL, SIDEWALK REPAIR, AND
STOP BOX REPAIR CHARGES AND DIRECTING THE
CLERK TO CERTIFY THE SAME TO THE JOHNSON
COUNTY TREASURER FOR COLLECTION IN THE SAME
MANNER AS PROPERTY TAXES.
Lehman: (Reads item).
Champion: Move the resolution.
O'Dormell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Kanner: What is Christian...is Christian Retirement Services Oaknoll?
Lehman: I...it could very be. I cannot tell you for sure.
Karmer: You might have to excuse yourself on this.
Lehman: I'm not associated with Oaknoll.
Kanner: Not anymore?
Lehman: No.
Kanner: Okay. And what was changed in the revised copy?
Kart: Two individuals have paid so the revised copy were two properties
short of the initial one.
Kanner: Okay.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM 12. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ON UNCLASSIFIED SALARY
COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004 FOR THE CITY
MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, AND CITY CLERIC
Lehman: (Reads item).
O'Donnell: So moved.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Kanner: I'd like to offer an amendment especially in the tougher economic times
that we're in that the raises be based on the average of the absolute
raises of the bargaining raises in AFSCME Unit 1 here. So it would be
a dollar amount raise equivalent to the average dollar amount raise of all
136.2 full-time equivalent employees in bargain unit 1.
Lehman: Do we have a second to that amendment? The amendment fails for lack
of second. Other discussion?
Pfab: I'm not going to be able to support it. I believe the competition contract
with the City is very adequate. And I think (can't hear) unused vacation
time is something we should not...as responsible Council people we
should not be authorized.
Kanner: And I would agree that if we held the line I think on employees in
general making over $70,000 it would put quite a dent in our budget
shortfall. And there are cities all over the country that are asking their
top employees, especially the well compensated ones, to hold off on
raises for this year. I think that they're adequately compensated and
they can hold off for another year. And if employees are not taking
vacation time I think we need to look at the policy instead of every year
offering a buyout. I don't think that's a good route to go down.
Lehman: Other discussion?
Champion: Well I think we're lucky that we're not at the point where we have to
ask people not to take pay raises. And I think that's...part of the reason
for that is because our City Manager is so good at handling city
finances. We're not having to lay anybody off. Not having any of the
big problems that other areas are having. And it always bothers me that
people do not support public employees', who are chief administrators,
salaries. It doesn't make a difference if you're a school superintendent
or if you're a city manager of if you're the president of the university
there's always a lot of objection to whatever their salary is. So I find it
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difficult...I'm not sure what salary would make everybody happy. But
I'm very happy with the pay raises that we're able to give our three
employees. And they deserve it. They work very hard. And I do not
think they're overcompensated.
Pfab: Can I respond?
Lehman: Well does anybody else care to speak to this first? Any comments
Mike?
O'Donnell: Well I agree totally with Connie. We have a very good City Staff. We
rely on them. We're well advised. And not many mistakes are made in
this City and that's not by accident. So I fully support this.
Lehman: Well too am supportive. We've got an extremely diverse community.
We have a City Manager who has been here...I keep saying 15 years,
but I think that was two year ago. I think it's 17.
Atkins: That's correct.
Lehman: Our City Clerk has been here...I think she was here when they built the
building...no. Marian has been here a long time. We have got probably
a fine a City Staff as there is in any city in the state of Iowa and
probably around the country. This community has been rated in every
survey I have ever seen and they're very top in the country in almost
every classification except crime which we're not very high in. You've
got to work on that Steve. These things didn't happen by accident.
Everybody who works for the City received if they're union employees
or salaried employees they received a cost of living increase this year
plus their merit increases. And it seems unconscionable to me that the
people in charge of creating this sort of an organization are denied even
a cost of living increase. So I wholeheartedly support it. I wish we had
the political courage to do what we ought to do and give them merit
increases as well. Go ahead Irvin.
Pfab: I believe that with the...basically the same raise that is pretty much
across the board. I have no problem with that. I do have a problem with
taking a good contract that the City has with (can't hear) employees and
then adding ontop ofitintimes likethese. Itjust doesn't make sense.
If the vacation time is there it either should be taken or it should be just
like everybody else it expires.
Lehman: If it were like everybody else they'd all have gotten merit increases. We
wouldn't be talking about vacation pay. Roll call. Motion carries 6-2,
Kanner and Pfab in the negative.
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Champion: 5-2.
Lehman: No, 4-2. But Dee Vanderhoefwould have probably supported it.
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ITEM 13B RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING INDEMNIFICATION FOR
PUNITIVE DAMAGES CLAIMED IN LAWSUITS AGAINST
THE CITY EMPLOYEES IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR
INVESTIGATIONS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND
SUBSEQUENT ARRESTS OF INDIVIDUALS.
Lehman: (Reads item).
Champion: So moved.
Lehman: Moved by Champion.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion.
Kanner: Eleanor could you for the public just briefly explain what's happening
with this.
Dilkes: Under the state law the City has an obligation to defend and indemnify
employees that are sued for actions rising out of the course of their
employment. That means we have an obligation to provide them with
a defense - an attorney - and to pay any judgments that are entered
against them with the exception of punitive damages. It is
my...typically both the city and employees are sued. My opinion is
that assuming there is no divergence of interests between the city and
the employee and we agree to cover punitive damages then the City
Attorney's office can represent all parties. If the risk of punitive
damages is remote it makes sense in my view to do that to avoid the
cost of hiring separate counsel for the employees.
Kanner: And for this specifically we're indemnifying three employees.
Dilkes: We indemnifying the employees named in three lawsuits.
Karmer: Okay.
Lehman: Okay? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM 13C RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO CONVEY THE PROPERTY
KNOWN AS THE PENINSULA NEIGHBORHOOD, SECOND
ADDITION, IN IOWA CITY, IOWA, TO TERRY L. STAMPER
HOLDINGS, L.L.C., AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON
SAID CONVEYANCE FOR AUGUST 19, 2003.
Lehman: (Reads item).
Champion: Move the resolution.
Pfab: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion and seconded by Pfab. Discussion? Roll call.
Motion carries.
Champion: Mr. Stamper is here. Maybe he can give the City an update on what's
going on out there.
Lehman: You know what. That's a great idea Terry.
Stamper: Good evening. What do you want to know?
Champion: How are things going?
Lehman: We'd like an update. Where are we?
Stamper: Oh, okay. Well I thought we were here tonight for final plat approval.
Is that later?
Lehman: Pardon?
Stamper: Final plat approval.
Dilkes: Final plat approval was deferred until the 19th when we will vote on
the resolution of conveyance.
Stamper: Why was it deferred?
Dilkes: Sarah communicated with your attorney today the legal papers are not
finished and there's no point in approving the final plat until we
authorize conveyance.
Lehman: But I think that's on the agenda for the same evening as the public
heating. Is that correct?
Stamper: My attorney didn't get you what you needed?
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Dilkes: Mr. Stamper you should communicate with your attorney. We did.
Stamper: Really.
Dilkes: Yes.
Stamper: No, not really that you had communicated with them. But I had
thought all that stuff was done. That's what they told me. They had
all of it done. Don't worry about it. That's what they told me.
Dilkes: I don't think there are any major glitches. The title opinion is not
done. The abstract is in the process of being updated which is part of
the legal papers. But there is no harm done.
Stamper: Well you know every time I don't get things done on time there's
always harm done internally. I mean it's my problem. I'll deal with it.
It's not your problem. But I'm discouraged to hear that. I thought we
were better than that.
Dilkes: I think you should communicate with your attorney.
Stamper: Yeah or my new attorney. Aside from that everything is going fine.
We have about 51 deals I guess out of 81 in Phase one. That means
either a purchase agreement or...
Dilkes: We really should limit this discussion to the item which is resolution
approving the conveyance. I don't think we've given notice of an
update.
Lehman: Actually... then would it be appropriate if we took this under public
discussion which is the next item on the agenda.
Dilkes: I think you have the discretion to do that.
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ITEM 14. PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Lehman: Alright we will take this as public discussion. And you've got five
minutes or less.
Dilkes: He can comment to you as is typically in public discussion. There
should not be a give and take.
Lehman: Right. Address us.
Stamper: Okay. So, so far we have about 51 deals that's either property sold
and closed, property under contract, or property with a reservation
agreement. Reservation agreements are used when we do not have
final prices yet or final architecture or standards so we can't actually
make a deal with somebody. But they get like a first right of refusal.
Today we just have a buyer for our most expensive house in the
peninsula to date - $490,000. And we've also sold houses this
week...or taken reservation agreements on houses in the $130,000. So
the idea of a diverse neighborhood of ages, incomes and life stages or
lifestyles is actually happening out there. The very interesting group
of people that are coming to us. And they come...it's an interesting
phenomenon they actually come and say okay what house can I have,
what house if for me. And that implies that they've actually decided to
live in the neighborhood before they've thought about buying a house.
Which is exactly what we were trying to accomplish - what you guys
set out to do and what we were trying to accomplish is that there is a
phenomenon that happens and I've watched in other projects that I've
done, but I'm always amazed by it and that is that this idea of the
whole-on theory which is the whole which is worth more than the sum
of its parts. And actually what happens is when you get the
architecture right and the planning right and you get that first street up
that something happens beyond just a group of houses. And people
respond incredibly with their emotions instead of... it's very strange
thing. I mean I spend a lot of time in the sale center and in the model
just talking to folks and they are really...it's well beyond the normal
house buyer. I mean they just respond exactly like we thought they
would and what you guys were trying to do. So this is working and
working quite well. And they want to be in a neighborhood. That idea
is real - that folks want to live in a neighborhood. You know some
people have campers and their boats and they need a big yard and
you've got lots of that going on, but there are a substantial number of
the citizens out there that want to live in a neighborhood. So I think
it's going really good. I welcome all of you to come out and see us.
I'm going to be gone for a few days, but I'll be back on Monday. If
you'd like to come out I'll give you a personal tour.
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O'Donnell: Great. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you Terry.
Pfab: Thank you Terry.
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ITEM 17. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Lehman: (Reads item). Irvin? Connie? Mike?
O'Donnell: I'd just encourage everybody to get out and enjoy the Irvin Weber
Day. It's a great celebration, great fun and a great person.
Champion: I'll be camping.
O'Donnell: You'll be camping. Oh, we can talk.
Wilbum: Congratulations to the Arrow Hawks and a very fun, successful event
they're remote...the radio controlled air planes. There were maybe
about 500, 600 folks out at the air show out by the landfill this
weekend. So a lot of fun. They gathered some food for the Crisis
Center as well. I also want to thank Jonathan Narcisse from the State
of Iowa Black Initiative held public hearing in town at the County
Administration Building. So thank the County Supervisors for
allowing him to conduct that hearing to gather information about the
health of African Americans in Iowa.
Lehman: Great. Steven?
Kanner: A few things. One I and I think a lot of people appreciate the
opportunity we have in Iowa...in Iowa City to see presidential
candidates because of our first in the nation caucus. And to me it's
very exciting. And I encourage everyone to be a part of history and to
get out and see those candidates. Nine current democratic candidates
and maybe some more at a later date. They're out there. They're
shaking hands and they're answering questions that you have for them.
And you have the opportunity probably to see all of them at one time
or another in the next six months. Couple events that I want to make
note of that make Iowa City a special place. Among the other things
that were mentioned the Longfellow Garden Tour - some fantastic
gardens there. Appreciated the opportunity to be a part of that. And
the Shakespeare in the Park I got to see that for my first time. I saw
the Midsununer's Night Dream and congratulations to Riverside
Theater and to Iowa City for supporting that. That's a nice venue out
there. It was a beautiful evening last Saturday. Also the Iowa City
softball league, part of the rec league that I'm a part of. And one these
days our team will get a win in that league. It's a long time coming.
Wanted to invite people to come to our City Council's joint meeting.
We have that every few months with a couple of the other larger city
councils and the school board. It's going to happen Wednesday the
16th of this month at 4:00 p.m. at the school admin building. I'm
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Council meeting of July 15, 2003.
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especially excited we got a note from the school board about a subject
that they're going to bring up and put on the agenda for community
wide students at risk discussion. And the plan is to see how we as a
community can address these issues such as the over 200 students that
are homeless in the district. The plan is to have community at risk
conference October l0th. And they've asked City Council members
along with other joint meeting members to bring ideas to that meeting
for the discussion. So I look forward to that and if the community
wants to come to that and observe and see what's going on I would
encourage that. Also another event for the community to get involved
in is a meeting for the organization called FAIR F-A-I-R. They're
meeting Wednesday, July 16th - that's tomorrow - at 7:00 p.m. at the
library. If you're interested in local issues and want to try to make a
difference and work on progressive social change FAIR is the place
for you. Come on by. Newcomers are welcome. It's Wednesday,
July 16th at 2003. And then finally I did want to say I appreciate the
decision of the Army Corp of Engineers regards the Muslim youth
camp. I think they took into consideration environmental concerns
and reduced the size. So I as an Iowa City representative welcome the
coming camp and I believe the boost to the economy will bring with
visitors to the area, people that are coming to the camp. And I hope
that the convention and visitors' bureau which we're a part of will
work with the camp to see how we can look at it as a positive channel.
At the same time I have to speak out. I urge everyone to speak out
when (can't hear) what I would call hate speech. And I think by the
presence of the radio show sponsored by in part by KXIC that came
here recently. I don't think it was a positive experience. And I think
we have to speak out against the bigotry that I hear in the quoted
comments from that and also from the show - the regular occurrence
on that show. And we have to do what we can to stop that kind of
speech. Of course there's free speech rights which everyone has, but
it's our duty to say that in Iowa City we don't like that kind of thing
and we're not going to support it financially. I think we have to ask
our advertisers of those stations to make their presence known. And
people that work at those stations and participate in those stations say
we don't want those kind of things in our City and our country. So
hopefully we'll all speak out against that and continue to do that and
continue to work for Iowa City to make it even a better place.
Lehman: Two things just for Council's information on the work session on
August 18th we will receive the airport's strategic plan from
those...the consultant that came in which is something we authorized a
while back. And congratulations to this community on their successful
completion of the fund drive for the Englert Theater. That was a
project that involved perhaps more people in this community than any
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#17 Page 38
fundraising project that I can remember. Some very substantial
contributions, some very small contributions. But I think a
tremendous success for them. And of course the $800,000 from the
Vision Iowa fund is a tremendous boost for the renovation of that
building which I understand should be ready a year from this fall. So
good job for those folks.
Champion: It's going to be a tremendous asset.
Kanner: Emie?
Lehman: Yeah.
Karmer: In regards to that work session item with the airport, this is a joint
meeting with them?
Lehman: Well I'm sure they will be there, but it will be a regular work session.
Karmer: Will we be able to get that report at least a week ahead of time.
Lehman: I have asked them...I asked the Airport Commission Chair to be sure
that we had the information prior to the meeting because we need it to
have an opportunity to look it over before they present it. So we will
have it ahead of time.
Kanner: I'd like to have it...personally I think not having it at least a week
before which would mean in our packet a week and a half before
would be...
Lehman: I'm not sure it will be that far ahead, but we will have it ahead of time.
I made it a point to tell him that.
Wilburn: I should add Council had asked me to be on the alcohol committee -
the community alcohol committee. I spoke with Nathan from the
Student Senate a few weeks ago and I told him I'd have no problem on
our part if we waited until after his honeymoon to meet. So we will be
getting together. We just haven't met yet.
Lehman: Okay.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of July 15, 2003.