HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-17 TranscriptionMarch 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 1
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session 7:10 PM
Council: Nov, Baker, Kubby, Norton, Thornberry, Vanderhoef. Absent: Lehman.
Staff: Atkins, Helling, Woito, Karr, Franklin, Winklehake, Goodman, Widmer, Schoon,
Schoenfelder, Davidson, Trueblood, Craig.
Tapes: 97-48, all; 97-49, all; 97-50, Side 1.
Karr/I just wanted to note for the record that we are adding 1 la to the agenda. You will
get the supporting material tomorrow night. It is a motion to accept the disclosure
certificate for the GO bonds .... It is a motion. You will get the paperwork
tomorrow night on it. It will be #1 la.
Review Zoning Matters 97-48 S1
a.
Franklin/Consider setting p.h. for April 8 on a rezoning... Oral B from CC-2 to I-1. It is
the property on Mall Drive... they would like it to go back to Industrial.
Franklin/Setting a p.h for April 8 on amendments to the parking requirements to allow
fraternities and sororities to be converted to rooming houses .....go into it next
time.
Norton/I had a person who lives up on Linn Street overlooking .... concerned... parking
density on Linn Street ..... I hope people will go and take a look at that situation
out there during the next week ....
Nov/There is a specific location that is asking to be converted?
Franklin/Yeah, there is a specific location. It is on Dubuque and Brown ....It is the brick
one ....
Kubby/... if the fraternities leave, then the only choice for redevelopment... demolition...
or commercial...
Norton/This way there will be more parking, will there not? .....It will imply more street
parking? ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 2
Franklin/Potentially. The question is whether you are going to have more spill over
parking with fraternity or sorority or more with a rooming house. Now we don't
know ...... Our sense is there is going to be less parking required with the rooming
house, spill over parking, that with fraternity or sorority.
Nov/I would make it... same number of bedrooms, there is going to be the same number
of cars.
Franklin/With a rooming house, you may not have people with the same affluence .....
Norton/Other aspect... where Cambus operators park their car during the car while they
are on duty... that contribute to the Linn Street problem ....noise and lights .....It is
a pretty dense area.
Franklin/P. h. on an ordinance to vacate an alley located on Lot 2 in the Strohm Addition.
This is the alley. A property owner along Bowery Street kind of started this
request before the city council, Mr. Gaffey ..... the owner of Lot 2, 3, and 4 has
requested that the alley be left open south of Lot 2. Right now the development...
duplex... Lot 2... and it would be future development on Lot 3 and 4 that the
property owner would desire to have access to the alley. This part of the alley is
basically closed. This is a very narrow alley. It has not been maintained aver time
and it is grassed over. What the recommendation is from the P/Z Commission and
staff... this part of the alley remain open but then we close it from this point south
to Governor and retain ownership of the alley.
Kubby/Lots 3 and 4 do have access onto Lucas?
Franklin/Yes, all of these lots have access onto other streets .... Lot 2 has been
developed... access to the alley. We thought an appropriate compromise was to
close it at this point to allow that continued access from Lot 2... and this be
vacated to the south.
Nov/I assume there are no building permits for 3 and 4 at this point?
Franklin/No, I don't think that there are, not that includes a garage to the alley ....
Norton/...more traffic down the alley if those were further developed ....
Franklin/There is some rock down in back of lot 3 which has been put there fairly
recently.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 3
Norton/Trying to make sure the neighbors... know what is to be done, who can put fences
where and who mows the alley and so on because it is pretty tacky looking if you
are not careful.
Franklin/Are you familiar with William White Blvd. off of College? That is vacated
r.o.w ..... abutting property owners mow it ..... We are going to let them know ....
Norton/I suggested... mini-neighborhood association... agree how to handle that .... It
could be a mess ..... Could take care of it themselves ....
Franklin/We would send something out when the decision was made by the city council ....
also letting them know what their rights and responsibilities are.
Thornberry/Alley between Governor and Summit, is that still open?
Franklin/Yes.
Thornberry/... Is there anybody here from lot 3 and 4 from Lucas Street? No .... What is
the big deal in extending it to #4? ....
Franklin/There is an opportunity for access to Lucas, just from the property. I mean you
can come from it with a driveway offof Lucas and the concern has been .... that
there would be additional traffic on that alley and desire not to have that ....
Norton/It is really worth visiting ....
Vanderhoef/Had the letter for request to keep it open through 5.
Franklin/From the Sweetings.
Vanderhoef/
Franklin/They are the folks that have purchased the properties here and put in the
duplexes.
Vanderhoef/
Franklin/...They definitely own 2 through 5.
d.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 4
Franklin/P.h on an ordinance amendment to change required number of off-street parking
spaces for commercial uses in CB-5 zone. This is in direct response to the
council's direction to eliminate the Commercial Parking Impact Fee which is the
next item and also in conjunction with that, eliminate the parking requirement ....
puts a maximum on the parking that can be provided on site to one space per 500
square feet .....
Vanderhoeff I have one hang-up... grocery store and in our DT Strategy thing... they are
requesting a grocery store .... I don't know how to handle it ....
Nov/Could a grocery store go to the Board of Adjustment and have that altered?
Kubby/Not unless the ordinance allows that.
Franklin/No, not to get more parking. you would have to have a provision in there that
would allow that which is within the realm of possibility. We do have a provision
in the Code that you can reduce parking required by going to the Board. The issue
of the grocery store is a very difficult one because the grocery stores want to have
surface parking ..... and surface parking d.t. is expensive... to the community ....
That is a real tricky issue for you to decide .....Do you want the grocery store bad
enough in the central part of d.t? .....
Kubby/
Norton/Only option I see is adjacent to Chauncey Swan .....
Vanderhoef/
Norton/Adjacent to Chauncey Swan .....
Thornberry/Whiteway ....
Franklin/Different era ....
Council/(All talking).
Nov/I am not sure it is viable ....a grocery d.t ....
Vanderhoef/South of Burlington ....
Franklin/Another option .....CB-2 ....that area there in that block ....another option .....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 5
Norton/CB-5 only goes to Court Street ..... This restriction is only that first block.
Franklin/This restriction is just... Clinton, along Burlington, between Burlington and
Court, to Gilbert and down Gilbert to Prentiss, backing up on Maiden Lane. So it
is just kind of a L shaped .... Do you think that is the spot where we would have a
grocery store? .... There is a grocery store on Gilbert... Chinese grocery .... A & P.
Norton/We are just having the hearing.
f. &. g.
Franklin/I am going to skip over... talk about those later.
Franklin/Which is related to the annexation of the industrial park and then the extension
of the two mile extra-territorial jurisdiction .... We agreed that we would look at
the extension of the two mile area on a case by case basis, consult with the Board
of Supervisors on that extension and then make a decision. (Refers to overhead
Projector-map). The two mile area is right here...this area would be the
consequence of extending the two mile fringe .... In this case...we not extend the
two mile fringe for a couple of reasons .... 1- its extension is not significant .... 2-act
of good faith... We do reserve the right to extend it in the future if we choose to ....
Baker/
Franklin/
Baker/But if something were to start to happen there, wouldn't it be too late to start
extending the two mile?
Franklin/Yes, if it were going to happen .... Thinking.. as we develop in the area .... as time
goes on, is there a need to start looking at this area. Our growth boundary is right
here.
Vanderhoef/Watershed division there?
Franklin/Right. Depending on what happens with this annexation and what goes on
further, there may be a point at which we want to extend this ....
Norton/
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 6
Franklin/(Refers to map).
Norton/I understand that desire to live by the spirit of that agreement... suppose
something were to happen out there... Could we at that point jump in and extend
our fringe?
Franklin/...That was one of the other things we talked about... concerned about the
environmental. The County is in the process right now of doing a comprehensive
plan .... Let them go through that process .....
Norton/
Franklin/You may extend the two mile at any time. You don't have to do it now.
Nov/This letter reserves the right to do that.
Baker/
Franklin/It has to do with the size of this piece, how much more influence we are going to
have and whether it is critical at this point in time to do that .... The spirit in which
the agreement was passed, was that we would consider this on a case by case
basis .... there would be times in which we would not.
Baker/
Franklin/
Kubby/Where is the growth area again?
Franklin/(refers to map). The growth area is this dotted line.
Kubby/I was thinking that watershed drained into the Snyder Creek bottoms.
Franklin/It does eventually... this doesn't. (Refers to map).
Kubby/... we made an agreement when we accepted federal money for that interceptor,
that we would protect the Snyder Creek Bottoms ....
Franklin/It is below, clearly. The line is over here ....
Norton/If'they start doing something weird, then we can extend.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 7
Baker/What is the quickest process?
Franklin/I think it is a resolution. I will have to check on that. One meeting ....I think it
should go to the P/Z Commission... to the County for comments ....
Nov/
i.&j
Franklin/Next two items are the historic districts, pass and adopt on both of them.
Franklin/Ordinance vacating Gable Street. That is also pass and adopt.
Kubby/In the resolution for that, I think it says to vacate Gable Street, located south of
Riverside Drive .... geographical ....
Karr/
Franklin/
Kubby/I am looking at the resolution on intent to convey.
Franklin/The resolution of intent to convey is in the Consent Calendar. Do you want to
take care of that, Linda? (Change Consent Calendar 3d(7)) .... It should be
corrected.
Franklin/Resolution approving the preliminary and final plat of Mt. Prospect Addition,
Part 8. This is the subdivision that hinges upon... vacation of Gable Street. Fairly
straight forward subdivision. (Refers to map) .....Subject to council approval of
vacation and disposition of Gable Street.
Kubby/These maps with outlines and colors are very helpful. Thank you.
Norton/What is the status of cross hatching (refers to map)?
Franklin/...It has been presented to the council .....talking to property owners ....going to
take a little bit of time ........
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 8
Franklin/To consider a resolution approving a revised manufactured housing site plan for
Saddlebrook and the basic changes here are to change froin single wide lots to
double wide lots. There is also some change in the open space ....
Kubby/Decrease in open space... it is not in some big open space.
Franklin/This is an overlay of the two (refers to overhead projector overlay) ....It is less
but in our judgment it wasn't substantial to start all over again.
Kubby/Market forces-
Franklin/That is going to the double wide, yes.
Vanderhoeff What does that do to the cost per unit?
Franklin/I don't know... a double wide is always going to be more expensive than a single
wide .... from our experience .... double wide could run you around $45,000 ....
Vanderhoef/This was approved as manufactured housing .... possibility... looking at intent
of low income housing.
Franklin/I think there is some terminology here that should be cleared up. I don't think
there was ever an intent that the housing that was going to be provided here was
low income housing. Affordable housing was thrown out there .... This will be
housing that is more affordable than.. stick built housing .... in terms ofa s.f.
detached unit .... It is not going to be low income housing ....
Kubby/
Vanderhoef/Wasn't certain what the intent was in the original proposal?
Nov/Are there no more single lots at all?
Franklin/That is correct.
Norton/That is tough ....
Nov/
Norton/(Refers to map).
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 9
Thornberry/
Franklin/Previously of the 222 lots, 48 were singles and 174 were doubles .... These are all
suppose to be large enough ....
Kubby/
Franklin/Same number of lots .... Question is whether you believe this is substantial
enough change that it should go back to P/Z Commission for review?
Kubby/No.
Nov/No.
Norton/Blvd. entrance.
Franklin/We have it to the park itself....
Thornberry/I wonder what the number of singles sold to doubles is as far as mobile
homes ....
Franklin/I don't know .....
:ubby/
Thomberry/I wouldn't think there would be too many singles sold .....
Norton/
Kubby/The revised one is zero.
Thornberry/That is for the lot size ....
Franklin/...covenants are going to say... I will have to check to see if they are going to
have covenants that require it to be a double ....
Council/
Nov/How much have they actually started doing here?...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 10
Franklin/They are still working on the infrastructure. I don't know how far they have
gotten ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 11
Animal Shelter Renovation 97-48 S1
Atkins/We are going to try something a little different with you tonight... putting together
videos of our capital projects... to explain the project... and if you like this... put it
out over our cable network .... Animal Shelter Renovation Project, Phase II.
[Animal Shelter Renovation Project, Phase II Video]
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 97-48 SIDE 2
Kubby/Where do you put the animals while you are renovating?
Goodman/We use the place that we currently use .... There has been thought about that ....
We do have out outside temporary kennels .... We can cover those with tarps...
dogs temporarily... We are willing to deal with it ....
Thornberry/...crying puppies in the background.
Kubby/I am assuming the flooring is just a matter of specs and that maybe we just need to
change our specs a little bit ....
Goodman/ ..... Jim doesn't build animal shelters everyday and he had no idea... how much
water and chemical was going to go on those floors and it eats away .... proposing
a sealant .... similar to what you see in the Rec Center locker rooms.
Nov/Will you use that for the entire building?
Goodman/Yeah... any place that currently has linoleum and new renovation portion also.
Atkins/Unless we hear differently, we will have a p.h. on April 8. Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 12
Downtown Stratel~v Committee Reoort 9%48 S2
Nov/Okay. We are on DT Strategy.
Franklin/The DT Strategy Committee is here began their work on October 24 ... come up
with the strategy that you got in your packets today. Dick Summerwill has been
chosen by the group to represent them tonight and present the strategies to the
council.
Dick Summerwill/... I am a member of the DT Strategy Committee... introduce the
committee, members that are present... diverse...lots of points of view.. strong
consensus on this committee about this document. John Gross, Gary Lundquist,
Nancy Burhans, Joanne Fritz, Stephen Greenleaf, Bruce Sorrell, Suzanne Gleeson,
Mark Beltrame, Marty Haynes, Shirley Wyrick. Three of our committee could not
here .... Karin and David were outstanding to work with ....
The committee's approach... visionary and practical suggestions... open
environment... ended up with a community project .... Start with the vision .... I will
read you the vision right out of the book, "Downtown is the heart of the Iowa City
community..." Also reminded me .... it is a unique and lively mix .... fun, unique,
different ....We talk about commercial next... hotel, banks ....Cultural center...
education ....entertainment and recreation... government center ....That is what we
are talking about
We also talked about the boundaries .... core. It is where the majority of the activity
goes on. The DT extended, as you can see on this map, includes element essential
to making the DT the heart, i.e. UI, city offices, residences and other businesses
(refers to map) .... In our group, we focused mainly on the core area
Our goals. I know you have them before you... go over them very briefly and give
you a little insight. Goals are listed in order of what we think are very important.
"Provide critical mass of destination points..." A little history... cities have always
had destination points to the DT .... over time... dispersed... It is imperative... to
keep that critical mass of destination points DT and that is why we put this first.
This council must decide what it is that will keep people coming DT and then
support those particular destination points in every way possible ....We have told
you what we think those critical points that need your support are ....the proposed
library/cultural center and potential private development on Lot 64-1A. That is a
major. 2- A new hotel conference center facilities which keep bringing people DT.
3- Office space .... 4- Grocery store to support the expanding residential
population .... We did not include bars and restaurants or individual shops or even
banks .... We also believe you must support the extension of DT and Near
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 13
Southside ....ought to be thinking about reserving Block 102 ....for high profile
destination points such as hotel conference and office space ....This block is the
only remaining low density link between the core and the Near Southside .... The
city should also concern itself with events and activities and support them
strongly ....
Second goal... "Create a positive climate that focuses on the retention and
recruitment of businesses." We have to give individuals a reason to want to open a
business... event or activity to DT... assist them .... Strategy highlights to bring that
about are to create a marketing and assistance program to promote business
retention and development, to review municipal regulations and practices ....
The third goal is, "To maintain a clean and attractive physical environment in the
DT." ...people... we want them to have a pleasant visual experience... leave with a
pleasant image of DT and that image should draw them back DT...includes design
of DT elements and maintenance of those elements. Strategy highlights include
development of comprehensive streetscape plan... public art program... expansion
of city maintenance responsibilities... development of regular maintenance
schedules ....
Fourth goal is to "Provide a safe and inviting DT for residents and visitors." When
people come DT, we want them to feel safe and comfortable... and at ease when
they are getting around. Strategy highlights include insurance of adequate police
presence ....retention and expansion of bike patrols... provision ... signage ....
maps ....
Fifth goal... "Insure that DT is accessible by all modes of transportation".... easy
and convenient .... foot, bus, car, bicycle .... #1 concern... DT parking/Parking
issues must be addresses .... cooperative effort .... creating additional spaces but
freeing up spaces by making other modes of transportation attractive to use.
Strategy highlights include educating public and DT employers and employees
regarding a variety of parking issues .... availability and convenience of parking..
saving... for shoppers .... creating additional parking spaces by using private
parking lots during non-business hours for the general public... on-street angle
parking ..... encouraging the use of transit .... insure that pedestrians .... move around
in the DT. We also addressed the accessibility issues for persons with disabilities
...... adequate number of handicapped parking spaces.
In summary, the DT area has incredible forces working on its behalf.... proximity
to the UI campus. Your job.. recognize and take action on the five goals
presented .....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 14
What the committee proposes to the council is a call for re-investment to the DT.
This investment in time and money must come primarily from city government...
include all those who have an interest in health and vitality of the DT. The
committee not only asks for council's committee to this strategy, we ask that you
establish a time line of 4 to 6 weeks to determine how each of the strategies will be
carried out. Our committee thanks you ....
Baker/Could you elaborate on Page 4 ((Downtown Strategy - Iowa City's Vision of
Downtown) on market studies necessary? ....
Summerwill/Yes, I can .... John Gross ....
John Gross/I am sure that we could put together another committee .... Seriously... many
of us felt that it might be best to go outside of the forest and find some
professional to make proposals .... get some ideas from them .... find someone with
a broader perspective ..... We are hoping to find someone with a national
perspective with retail scene... community development scene... could make some
recommendations and give us some direction in starting a strategic marketing
plan ....
Norton/The DTA sponsored that workshop six months ago. Wasn't there a substantial
study? .....
Gross/It was a very amazing study. Professor from St. John's... fine job .... internet ....
That is the type of person I was hoping we would take proposals from.
Norton/
Baker/I am wondering... assumption that DT Iowa City is just like another DT and
therefore...national consultant .... relate it to our situation ....
Gross/
I think we would be hard pressed to find more than 2 -3 other communities that are
similar to ours... Boulder, Colorado... Madison .... We could look at what is
happening ....pedestrian malls .....There are 3-4 communities where it has been
successful and is still successful ....I don't think there is a generic pattern... A
consultant who has worked in a lot of different environments .....
Thornberry/Bottom of page 3 .... "Support establishment of daycare for children .... "Does
that mean that you would want the city to pay for this? What are the parenthesis
after the suggestion?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 15
Gross/The city would be the body that would lead the activity, not necessarily pay for
it .... planning unit .... City could certainly take some leadership in studying the
feasibility .... to find out what that adds to the value of the community ....
Council/
Gross/Parking structure ....
Thornberry/Parking was brought up ..... It is very inconvenient to come DT for short
periods of time .... I do agree .... The big thing .... has been the library expansion ....
most of the businesses .... branches .... I would think the library could learn a thing
or two... interest out there in the public for this .... I am not giving this up on a
branch library .... even though the main library should be DT ....
Gross/
Making the most effective use of the dollars that you are given .... couldn't afford
to have two inventories ....double inventory of books ....it would just be cost
prohibitive ....
Thornberry/Parking is a big consideration in doing business in any establishment ....
parking issue...
Gross/I am strongly supportive of putting... more parking on 102 ....
Summerwill/If we had one bank DT and it could service all of our customers, it would be
much much more efficient and cost effective for us.. staffing ....brick and mortar...
communications back and forth ....
Thornberry/I am not saying they should move out of DT .....
Summerwill/You are talking about branches .... It was a decision that we made... library
has a luxury of being ...non-competitive functions ....
Kubby/It is a high profile destination point ....
Nov/Is your DT parking lot available to the public after hours?
Summerwill/Yes ....
Nov/I would like also to hear... tell us about their opinion of parking meters costing $1.00
per hour ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 16
Gary Lundquist/We had a public forum ..... several things that the public wanted ....
Parking Study .... things that came out of that, too .... If you want to drop your film
offDT .... it is hard to do sometimes .... It is very difficult for small business on the
pedestrian mall and on city streets to have enough parking places for them to be
successful ..... Another concern would be not to lose a lot of sidewalk space ....
Also the maintenance of those flower beds has always been a problem .... Your city
forestry staff.... she said they would just as soon not have those planters that aren't
in the pedestrian mall ....
Nov/If parking meters .... cost you $1.00 an hour. Would it free up short term parking for
businesses DT?
Lundquist/ .... I think what you will find is raising the parking ... increases the turnover but
also makes a whole bunch of people not want to come to DT Iowa City... difficult
tradeoff.... I think it would solve a problem but it would also create another one ....
I would be greatly in favor of looking at ideas of increasing street parking...
Businesses would benefit ....
Norton/Think about angle parking and I notice nowhere in the report you talk about beer
trucks in the middle of the street ....delivery problem ....How do you handle the
delivery issue?
Lundquist/I haven't the foggiest idea ....that bugs me, too ....
Thornberry/
Lundquist/One other point .... people with disabilities... concern.. about length of time of a
stop light... Also Bob Finch .... really was concerned that we don't paint white
stripes across there.. all the difference in the world if those pedestrian crosswalks
are marked for him to get across streets ....
Nov/That is true of everyone ....
Lundquist/
Norton/I want to direct a question to John... problems I have is DT is not a monolithic
entity. It is a bunch of people. You have got a Monday Forum, DTA, Chamber ....
people not in any of those ..... How is that to be implemented?...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 17
Gross/
With a marketing study... any number of entities might be formed to do the actual
marketing... City could certainly set up another ad hoc committee with some
expertise... Might be something that ICAD could do... marketing... accustomed to
the way that type of marketing is done .... Getting the actually support and financial
support that is available from the other bodies ....Merchants outside of the ped
mall ....I think a lot of energies could assist ....ICAD might have to be funded to do
a marketing plan or efforts.
Norton/I noticed Waterloo... put some of those groups together .... everybody was kind of
together. I don't know whether that is a possibility or not.
Gross/I would certainly like to see that. I wasn't excited to see a lot of other smaller
groups formed to deal with it .... impossible to come to any kind of consensus ....
Nov/
Gross/... I will be speaking for the DTA ....I need to talk to Joe Fowler ....
Baker/How does the idea of marketing study fit into .....local people ....can't afford to get
into DT...?
Gross/I doubt that we will be seeing a marketing study indicating that we should go after
more generic or franchise stores .... room for more restaurants... women's clothing
for women who are not size 6 and 18 years old ....
Baker/ ....want somebody to give us ideas? .....
Gross/We want somebody who sees what different populations will support successfully.
Lundquist/..all amazed at... quick study .... hard for local people .... to see froin an
outsiders perspective .... Coralville Mall might change perspective .... All these
businesses who want to move to Coralville might soften the rent situation .....
soften the whole rent picture up which might help small retailers find a way to
come to DT Iowa City.
Kubby/
Lundquist/...they may not go up as fast .....
Thornberry/It is going to be expensive to be in the new mall.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 18
Lundquist/I know that real well.
Vanderhoef/I don't know whether the committee talked about it .... I would still like to
consider looking at the meter feeding ....We will have to pay for more
enforcement .....
Lundquist/...99% of the people in Iowa City don't think there is any problem with
plugging a meter all day long ....
Vanderhoef/I want feedback from the committee ....
Gross/Make that problem a challenge of the DTA. We need to educate the store
managers.
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 97-49 SIDE 1
Gross/I think it is better solved by educating the people who are plugging the meters ....
Shirley Wyrick/I would like to address these questions that you have had in a little
different matter .... A parking study that showed us there is absolutely no problem
because we have parking spaces in the DT... Our first strategy was an aggressive
promotional campaign demonstrating that there is parking in the DT .... One way ...
you could market it .... distance you travel... not as great as if you would got to a
discount store. It just takes somebody to point that out... marketing promotional
campaign .... The perception is what we have and that is what needs to be dispelled.
Nov/There are people who just refuse to go into a parking structure.
Wyrick/We have also suggested a 15 grace period for no charge when you go in .... talk
about how you can make it more friendly to the individuals.
Nov/So the increase in fees would be just on the street ....
Suzanne Gleeson/Shirley said it all and that was this problem of perception... people who
move to Iowa City from big cities think that it is just fine .... mostly we have to get
people to think about ordering their errand running in a slightly different manner. If
you do increase the parking on the street... you might consider actually lowering it
in the ramps in a way to offset an even further increase ....palpability of the parking
structure ....
Kubby/Maybe some special Saturdays where you don't pay to park in the ramp ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate trauscription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 19
Gleeson/Recommended... more signage and indication out on the street... where it is to
go to park DT... funneled right into the parking structures ....
Norton/Some of the ideas about marketing it .... attractiveness of the parking structures ....
paint... visibility .... lighting...
Wyrick/Several things on this report are things that you have started .... I wonder what
your perception is of our sister city marketing and how they do it. They have been
very effective in the last 2-3 years. I wonder if you know where they are getting
their marketing?
Thornberry/They have some neat slogans.
Wyrick/I believe it is froin a woman named Gwen Sheeley who is in their Recreation
Department .....That is a city office who is running their marketing and with a very
creative person.
Atkins/I just would like to say something .... I think we have an excellent working
document here. I can tell you as a staff we are anxious to get at this document to
actually put some operational meat on these particular goals .... I want to make
sure we don't lose the vision that parking is one element of something far grander
that these folks have done for us .... Suggestion... process... I would like to take the
five major goals, take them back to the staff, let us put some meat on them and
bring them back to you one at a time... Tell you what it means to reserve block
102 .... We need to put some meat on that issue for you .... depressing... get backs
to parking... There are so many things .... Dick said 4 to 6 weeks. I prefer 6
because the next two are shot with staff being gone. I am prepared to commit the
staff to get these issues back in front of you.
Kubby/When we get things back one at a time... think about how to present those
things ....
Atkins/I have an idea on how to present that ..... This was a DT Strategy Committee that
came up with ... five very good goals and identified very clearly how to implement
them... Sooner we can get at them, the better off we will be.
Baker/Almost every parenthesis has the city in it.
Atkins/That does not necessarily mean expense .... that is the way I read those job
assignments.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 20
Baker/...you are going to have to start quantifying our financial commitments if you want
to implement these things.
Atkins/We don't know that until we get at it... I happen to find this a very easy workable
document that identifies clearly ....these are the kind of things they want to see
done.
Baker/We are told over and over the DT doesn't want a self taxing district .....city's
responsibility.
Atkins/...I can tell you, this is our upper limit... here are the programs ....
Kubby/...so that it is not so much of a burden on the public sector ....
Atkins/ ....Enforcement is not all that difficult.. I just want to get at this thing ....Unless
there are major elements in here that you disagree with ....
Lundquist/...one of the big concerns we had as a committee is that we would do what we
started to do... without ....looking at the vision ....I was excited because I thought
we had a lot of visionary people on the committee ....You guys should look at it...
see what can come out of it .....
Kubby/Thank you to the committee ....
Summerwill/A lot of diverse people ..... We figure if a committee as diverse as ours can
accomplish something and set it down on writing, that a committee as diverse as
yours can carry it to fruition.
Nov/I think the council has certainly said go ahead and do something.
Atkins/That is what I am hearing you tell us to do.
Nov/I would liketo subtract parking. We just had a nice parking study. Let's not even
talk about it, okay.
Atkins/ ....We will deal with it. It will be in there.
[Council Break 8:55 PM]
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 21
Scott-Six Industrial Park and Financial Assistance 97-49 S1
Franklin/We have made some revisions to the CZA. There are a couple more items that I
think I can just articulate here and we will have a revised one hopefully signed by
tomorrow night. The first change relates to #4 on page 4 ..... It has to do with the
review of the commercial lots and the concern that this is a time impediment,
Within our current code under the Site Plan Review Ordinance, we have a 21 day
time period within which we must review the plan and make some determination.
What we will do is insert that same time period into the CZA for the review by
myself or ..... or successor .... We will do it in less than that in most cases .... The
other thing is to insert some language regarding private covenants. That there
would not be any private covenants which would essentially fly in the face of the
CZA.
Norton/We shall not get burned twice.
Franklin/...it will go toward the end somewhere.
Woito/Yes, you will have that tomorrow.
Franklin/So tomorrow is p.h. on the annexation and rezoning. You will also have on the
resolution for annexation and first consideration of the rezoning. Those are the
issues before you tomorrow .....much larger project ....a partnership between the
city and the Strebs to develop this industrial park ....It is a two pronged approach.
That is we are working on facilitation of development of an industrial park... other
part... financial assistance that would'conceivably be available to businesses to
locate in the park .... TIF... takes about 14 weeks .... I would like to get tonight
some indication if there is support for that that we can begin that process .....
development of an urban renewal plan which goes through the P/Z Commission...
actual adoption of a TIF ordinance.
Kubby/Does the Strebs decision to sign the CZA and go through with these votes on
annexation and rezoning hinge on the presence of a TIF?
Norton/It would make it more attractive to him, won't it?
Franklin/They would like it... another way in which to get businesses to locate in the
park... enticement ....
Kubby/...I am asking how connected those things are ....
Franklin/
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 22
Baker/Have the council address that question ....
Franklin/It cannot be a condition of rezoning.
Baker/I have no problems saying it is something we ought to pursue.
Franklin/The goal here is to create land for industrial development and to encourage the
location within this industrial park of businesses ....
Baker/Does the city ....we still have the ability ... to say if this company qualifies or not?
Franklin/Absolutely. With the TIF .... any company who wish to benefit from TIF would
be reviewed under the Financial Assistance Guidelines.
Norton/The fact that this land is not city ....It is private property ....
Franklin/...We have never owned an industrial park.
Norton/ ....TIF would help facilitate recruiting of companies ....
Baker/..that would fall within those guidelines.
Norton/You got to get some people in there ....
Franklin/BDI Industrial Park... 30 years... developed by a group of people... pooled their
resources .... They also pooled the risk .... An individual... is going to develop the
land ....industrial development, because it takes so much longer, that risk is
greater ....For an individual to do it is a little bit more difficult .....other option... is
the city purchase land and develop it ..... and takes on the entire risk.
Nov/Another important part of sharing is to keep the land costs affordable.
Vanderhoef/
Franklin/
Thornberry/ ....It is a benefit to the city, too.
Kubby/One of the issues .... CZA... talked about warehousing... creation of jobs ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 23
Franklin/You never know ....
Kubby/...value that we are getting out of the partnership and the number of jobs ....I
would like to figure out a way to incorporate that value into the CZA.
Robert Downeft I just want to mention in connection with warehousing .... they are talking
about 100 employees in 17,000 square feet and that is a pretty significant
employment for that size of facility .... We are certainly interested... in doing what
we can to maximize the number of quality jobs that will be created in that
location ..... good deal of creative thought .... For most part, facilities that you are
going to see in that location are going to create significant numbers of jobs ....
These are more likely to be actively involved ....
Kubby/
Downeft I am reluctant... to try to tie down these regulations to tightly .... If we are really
serious about job creation, there needs to be flexibility in that process .... BDI ....
reward that was reaped... after 30 years... essentially it was broke .... cost of
holding the land .... they lost their capital .... Those are the kinds of risk that I think
are being taken by the developer ....
Kubby/Can this issue be dealt with ... in the urban renewal documents?
Franklin/Yes... issues that we are talking about right now should not be in the CZA. If
you don't think the zoning that we are contemplating putting in place here is
correct in and of itself, then you ought not be zoning it that.
Kubby/
Franklin/That is where you use your financial incentives to encourage the kind of
businesses you want.
Baker/...say in our TIF ....
Franklin/You are there already because in our Financial Assistance Guidelines, jobs and
quality of jobs is in there.
Kubby/How is it worded for number of jobs?
Norton/I don't think it gets to that.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 24
Franklin/...you want to be careful not to be too restrictive ..... values... jobs... tax base...
got to have that balance there ....appropriate in the TIF ....I think you want to be
careful with that.
Nov/I am not comfortable putting number of jobs even in the TIF .....
Kubby/
Franklin/A TIF is not absolute either in terms of amount ....
Kubby/Who makes that case by case?
Franklin/You do .... council.
Vanderhoef/Number of jobs doesn't always indicate salaries ....
Franklin/You are going to evaluate those that come for financial assistance .....case by
case basis by the city council ....
Nov/
Thornberry/
Kubby/
Franklin/One of the focal points of the committee of the Financial Assistance Guidelines
was start-up businesses ....
Norton/If you establish a TIF for this area... that is one form of assistance to companies
coming in? ....
Franklin/It depends on how you frame what the TIF is for. If it is framed for grants and
loans and infrastructure for the businesses, that is assistance for the businesses
directly .... If the TIF is used to reimburse the city for public improvements ..... then
that is assistance, I would recommend, for formation of the park as opposed to
assistance for a particular business .....
Thornberry/Oklahoma City... TIF for General Motors ....
Kubby/...issues of annexation .... After the stormwater management area is re-done, I
guess I am concerned about our ability to maintain it appropriately ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 25
Franklin/If we take over ownership, we have a plan that has been submitted. We are
hiring Lon Drake to review it for its appropriateness for stormwater quantity and
quality .... We are trying to look at a fair low maintenance kind of structure .....
Kubby/By voting for the zoning, we are taking responsibility to do that within the plat,
aren't we.
Nov/ ....for maintenance but not for construction.
Franklin/ ..... No, it is not addressed in the CZA. The CZA says is that this is dependent
upon a plan which address water quality and re-establishment of habitat. That
actual ownership of that, what we are suggesting, is that we have three years of
operation of this facility before the city takes it over. That is would be constructed
and operating ....we ten take it over, it is our ownership and we will then maintain
it.
Kubby/Who is paying for Lon and the planning and designing of it?
Franklin/The planning and designing is being paid for by the applicant. The city is paying
for Lon's review.
Kubby/Thank you ....
Franklin/
Norton/
Franklin/Linda and I were talking today about the legal documents that are going to go
with all of this. We have the CZA .... The next step is the plat in which we will have
subdivider's agreement .... the deferral of the installation of fire hydrants and the
agreement that that will be paid at a later date .... language regarding the
stormwater detention facility ..... in the subdivider's agreement... the sidewalks are
required in the CZA .... In terms of the city putting in sidewalks in the industrial
area later, if need be... another global agreement... make clear exactly who is doing
what and when. We will also have the papers that go with the urban renewal plan
and the TIF ordinance... It is still evolving.
I would like tonight to be able to get some level of comfort if the majority of
council with the page 2 commitments on the part of the city in my memo.
Remember, these are all estimates at this point .... #4 & 5 are good numbers... #2 &
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 26
3 are closer to estimates .... #3 is a CIP project .... beyond 2003 .... There is no
county cost on that. That goes to... end of Streb property ....Maintenance of outlot
A & B is unknown at this point... annual kind of cost.
Kubby/ ....420th Street... Will it be to normal arterial standards just for that mile?
Franklin/It will be a two lane road. We will control the access on it .... It will not get as
much traffic as Scott Blvd .....in an industrial park... there will be weighty traffic on
it.
Kubby/In looking at #4 .... I consider.. extra financial assistance .... I would want any
acreage's that don't have to pay those normal fees to have to go through the
guidelines ....
Franklin/These are fees that are paid by the developers when the property is subdivided ....
part of creation of industrial park because they are not paid by the lot on a lot by
lot basis .... And we haven't done an industrial annexation and zoning before ....
Kubby/I feel challenged by that because these are fees that people normally pay lot by lot.
Franklin/
Kubby/
Thornberry/
Franklin/The developer would normally pay these sewer and water tap on fees. And this is
part of our partnership.
Norton/Part of our contribution.
Thornberry/
Norton/People who come into the park... will come under our financial guidelines
because... TIF funds ....
Thornberry/They may or may not ....
Nov/ ....we can use that TIF to pay for that water and sewer installation ....
Kubby/
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 27
Franklin/Whatever we put in as the city's share, the public is absorbing the cost.
Nov/
Franklin/As taxpayers ....
Nov/
Thornberry/
Nov/
Franklin/Tomorrow night is a vote on annexation, first consideration on the rezoning,
assuming we have a signed CZA and then am I interpreting correctly that we
should begin the process for TIF?
Vanderhoef/Yes.
Nov/Yes.
Thornberry/Yes.
Nov/Did I hear four yeses? Okay, we hear four yeses.
Franklin/Yes.
Kubby/In the staff report you discussed with the Strebs the concept of agreeing to a cap
on the sale price ....
Franklin/We are trying to- They are doing some work on some construction plans so they
have a good idea on what the total cost is for the infrastructure .... That cap needs
to include land costs, infrastructure... We need to work through that. The idea is to
have a cost per acre... that is salable in the market place and is competitive ....
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 97-49 SIDE 2
Nov/Other places in Johnson County are increasing also.
Franklin/Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 28
DARE Pro,ram 97-49 S2
Nov/There has been a request to remove the DARE Program review and put it two
weeks later.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 29
Deer Management Committee 97-49 S2
Nov/We are on deer management ..... I have a couple of people who have responded to
Lisa's phone calls .... John Kelton and Steve Hendrix who have said they would be
willing to be on this committee .....
Thornberry/Who has been here?
Council/(All talking).
Atkins/Bud Louis.
Thornberry/...he even volunteered the day we were talking about it ....
Norton/I mentioned him.
Thornberry/Bud Louis is very interested... he called me today... He was one of the first
ones to put in his name ....
Kubby/Naomi, Kat Moore... she said yes. She was unable to be contacted... Animal
Rights Organization .....
Nov/On the second page, list of people unable to be contacted.
Kubby/She said she would like to be considered.
Norton/
Nov/
Council/
Goodman/Folks, you already have two Humane Society members on the list.
Norton/We are just considering .....
Nov/And Rhodes and Forkenbrock in what category?
Norton/Iowa City residents .... heavily populated .... Bud Louis... Sorry, too many people
talking .... Science/Biiology/Nature... we have two more people .....
Vanderhoef/Pelton is also a bow hunter ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS051797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 30
Council/
Nov/There are others who are not noted in the memo... Joan Jehle, Susan Jehle and Chris
Dautremount .... also Amy Wilcox Spencer ....
Council/
Kubby/Before we decide on members, in terms of the Iowa Wildlife Federation, does Joe
Wilkerson work for the DNR?
Goodman/I don't believe so ....
Nov/He works at the University.
Kubby/Should he be a member of the committee... but to be a voting member?
Nov/I don't know .... Loren Forbes has been active in Iowa Wildlife Federation ..... Doug
Jones... Sierra Club .....
Council/
Vanderhoef/Emily Rubright... Project Green.
Goodman/You have some people who are crossing over into some of these different
categories ..... Jim Walters... Patricia Farrant .... Humane Society member .... So you
have four actual Humane Society folks on here ....
Council/
Nov/Do we want people who are residents? City of Coralville told me they will appoint a
couple of people ....
Kubby/Can we say yes to Lisa, Misha, Ron Fort?...
Nov/Nancy Seiberling .... Emily Rubright ....
Kubby/
Norton/Go with Nancy ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session
Council/
Nov/Residents in heavy populated ....
Council/
Nov/Judy Rhodes .....
Council/
Norton/I would think you would get different perspectives with Judy and Bud both .....
Thornberry/Bud has been here a lot of times .....
Council/
Nov/Patricia Farrant .....find out more information when you get the phone book. Animal
Rights ....
Atkins/Judy Rhodes, 708 Whiting.
Nov/ ....Judy and Bud sounds fine .....If we take Jim Walters out...preference between Jan
Ashman and Kat Moore.
Atkins/Farrant is on Woodlawn.
Goodman/Ashman lives on F Street.
Kubby/
Vanderhoef/
Kubby/Jan is Humane Society and Kat is Animal Rights Coalition.
Council/
Vanderhoeff If we have one for Humane Society... then category Animal Rights... should
just be one .....
Norton/Kat Moore.
page 31
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 32
Nov/Patricia Farrant and Kat Moore ....
Council/
Nov/Does staff have a preference for somebody who is already on animal control?
Goodman/No.
Nov/So Patricia and Kat, Okay.
Kubby/Kat .... works... needs advance notice ....
Nov/Take out the fringe area...
Norton/I like Pelton.
Nov/I also like Doug Jones .... good perspective ....
Kubby/I like Steve Hendrix ....
Norton/Hendrix and Pelton .....
Vanderhoef/John has been on P/R....Natural Areas ..... he has done presentations on this
issue .... to local civic organizations .... Doug Jones and John Pelton ....
Kubby/I feel like John is very predisposed to bow hunting ....
Vanderhoef/He could offer another insight ....
Nov/Ron Fort is a bow hunter ....
Council/
Nov/Jones and Hendrix, I think that is what I am hearing.
Thornberry/Iowa Wildlife ..... Wilkinson shouldn't just on it?
Kubby/I don't know what his position is ....if he did work for the DNR maybe he could be
an information person
Goodman/... I know that he was part of the count.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 33
Kubby/
Nov/Loren Forbes is a good person .... okay. Coralville should send us two people .... We
have not heard from the County Board of Supervisors.
Kubby/Lisa, Misha, Ron, Nancy, Judy, Bud, Patricia, Kat, Doug, Steve, Loren ....
Goodman/I didn't see included... Kent Park... needed a representative from local business
community nurseries ....
Nov/We should call someone like Iowa City Landscaping or whoever .... Pleasant
Valley ....
Atkins/Landscapers probably love it ....
Norton/We need more people that have the pressure ....
Atkins/What about Amy?
Norton/Amy would dis-balance it to my judgment.
Nov/Joan Jehle .....
Atkins/
Goodman/Amy... has been really neutral ..... She doesn't want them to suffer ....
Kubby/Do we want to add another person?
Council/
Nov/Why did they want somebody who ran a nursery?
Goodman/...people spend a lot o£money on plants .... landscapers get complaints that they
spent a lot of'money and now they are gone .... issue that came up ....
Thornberry/
Goodman/It wasn't an issue of suffering. It was an issue of eating their plants.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 34
Council/
Vanderhoef/Let's stop where we are at .....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 35
Butterfly Garden 97-49 S2
Atkins/Any questions about it?
Baker/Yes, displacement of parking meters. What are we doing there?
Atkins/We are displacing them ..... We are going to try to minimize the number of parking
spaces ..... Do you know how many we are going to lose, David?
Schoon/Eight.
Atkins/Eight.
Baker/Why does it have to be in that location? ....
Schoon/Issues in terms of children running through the parking lot .....close to the plaza
and playground equipment.
Vanderhoef/
Schoon/To lose the fewest spaces and least interference with circulation... parallel with
the plaza ....
Thornberry/Walk through ....
Baker/
Vanderhoef/What about liability?
Atkins/They have to provide all the appropriate coverage. We are all set.
Kubby/Thank you.
Norton/Didn't we get a letter protesting it? ....
Kubby/Contact that person ..... get high profile destination points.
Atkins/Okay, we will prepare something.
Thornberry/What makes you think butterflies are going to go in that thing, anyway?
Atkins/Jim Larew ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 36
Jim Larew/We will bring the butterflies ....banners...sign ....natural cycles .....2400 square
feet .....
Kubby/You can go every month to see different things ....
Council/
Nov/
Larew/Most of these will live out there natural cycle within the enclosure ..... we will
harvest what we can... building... part of the property of the Science Center ....
summer activity .... zoos as well.
Schoon/Tomorrow night you have an item on your agenda approving the design of the
temporary structure as required by the City Plaza Ordinance .... DR Committee
recommended approval... subject to committee reviewing and approving... signs ....
Thornberry/A charge to get in?
Larew/There will be a modest charge .... budget $70,000 ..... it will be as modest as we can
make it ....consideration... target some of the lower income areas... free courses ....
keep costs ....re-coup costs...
Kubby/Another fee to rent space after hours ....
Nov/I walked through the mall .... reptile exhibit ....
Larew/ .....non-venous vetmice pythons ....
Council/
Vanderhoeff Request of staff.... safety issue ....structure inspected ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 37
CouncilA~enda/Time 97-49 S2
1. Baker/Two quick things... reading a lot of material about IMAX theaters.
Atkins/He is working on that.
Baker/
Council/
Jim Larew/ .... In the February meeting of the Airport Commission, we met, they have
committed themselves in principle to a site of about 7 acres ....airport ....
northeasterly corner ....we still have a few details to work out ....dynamics ....
IMAX ..... package that is aimed at communities our size .... What they were
coming out ....new project ....concept aimed at smaller markets ....design ....
construct .....help finance a moderate size IMAX theater ....They will locate one
IMAX theater in Eastern Iowa .... investors .... things are in a little bit of limbo ....
timing is of the essence .... The problem... out group ...looking for a place d.t .....
Thornberry/I thought there were two locations ....
Larew/We don't have a sight d.t ..... We can't find a site d.t .... Airport Commission ....
folks that we met with a year ago... Peter Anderson... how to build science
centers ....You need about seven acres ....people do approach us on a regular
basis ....d.t. cost becomes very high ....Iowa... doesn't have strong state support
for science and technology centers .... We have to be realistic .... Thank you.
2. Baker/Possibility of hotel development downtown, can this council direct staff to
officially ask about Holiday Inn? Do you have plans, will you work with us to
expand .... yes or no within X days... get them on the record shortly .... start
working on that option ....
Norton/
Kubby/Are you talking about over to the cultural/library? ....
Thornberry/Kahills? .....
Baker/Process for pursing hotel development somewhere .... get them on record ....
Norton/I just don't understand what direction you are talking about expanding.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 38
Baker/I don't care ......64-1A would be a consideration .....start working on that now.
Thornberry/We can ask.
Baker/...tell them in 60 days ....
Norton/I thought...question... conference center ..... would be too congested in that
context.
Baker/Can we direct staff to start pursuing any possible hotel development... any
company .... start getting ideas .... for d.t.?
Nov/It is part of the proposal.
Council/(All talking).
Kubby/What we did tonight was direct staff'to put more substance to these things that we
will then say yea or nay to.
Atkins/That is what I heard you say.
Baker/I am saying we ought to be saying yea today to a hotel d.t. and have the staff start
working on that project ....
Kubby/Hotel space on 64-1A will not work in isolation of the Holiday Inn ....
Vanderhoeff
Kubby/Larry's question is broader ....
Atkins/May come out of our staff report.
Kubby/I have no problem asking Holiday Inn about expansion over to 64-1A.
Council/
Nov/Let's worry about 64-1A .... Can we move into something else?
Thornberry/
Baker/Direct the staff to start doing serious work on getting a hotel project d.t.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 39
Thornberry/Okay.
Kubby/No .... if you are talking about other than 64-1A at this time.
Baker/I am.
Thornberry/I am.
Vanderhoef/I would like to hear Holiday Inn answer.
Kubby/For 64-1A. There are four votes for that particular question.
Atkins/The answer may come back no... yes.
Council/(All talking).
Baker/Point is 30 -60 days ....
Nov/
Atkins/
Baker/I retract the question, I retract the request, I retract.
Kubby/There were four people to ask the one specific question: to ask Holiday Inn if they
are interested in expanding on 64-1A.
Baker/Who are the four?
Kubby/One, two, three four.
Nov/Okay, we are asking.
Council/(All talking).
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 97-50 SIDE 1
3. Kubby/(Agenda #7- IDOT FY98 IOWA DOT STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE
AND FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FUNDING.) On-board video
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 40
system for passenger safety... vandalism .... swearing. I am not sure those problems
warrant having video cameras on every bus for $80,000.
Nov/How is this passenger safety? ....
Kubby/Because if someone beats somebody up or vandalism or abusive language .... can
go back to the video and try to identify them,
Atkins/I will find out more for you.
Kubby/I talked to Ron about it ..... increase in vandalism .... big emphasis by federal
government is safety on mass transit .... really for larger urban areas. I am just not
convinced there is a need to spend $80,000 on this program ....
Norton/We should have that information ....
Thornberry/Is it a specific time of day or night, on certain routes?
Kubby/Yeah ....
Thornberry/More prevalent at certain times of days?
Kubby/ ....more geographic.
Kubby/
4. Nov/May I interject another transit question. It says here that we are going to ask for
special project funding for 50% of the proposed d.t. shuttle service. What is the
proposed d.t. shuttle service?
Vanderhoef/Three new buses that go with that expansion of buses.
Nov/We never even heard of that.
Kubby/Isn't that part of our living grant?
Atkins/I don't know. I will have to look it up for you.
Kubby/Part of the philosophy .... building the new ramp... give people free shuttle service
from your parking structure that is not in the heart ofd.t. but in the extended
area ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 41
Nov/I have been saying for years we can get people to park somewhere else ....
Kubby/...versus the edge of d.t ....not K-Mart... We are talking about in the core area still.
Nov/Depends on whether or not we construct a parking ramp before we think about a
shuttle service.
Thornberry/
Norton/There is some talk about a free fare zone close in, right?
Vanderhoef/...trolley or circulation kind of thing.
Nov/Circuit route bus makes sense .....
Atkins/I just don't know.
Norton/Assumption here that it is going to happen.
Atkins/...It is in the grant... I will have to get more for you.
Nov/I would like some information on that one. I can call Kevin ....
5. Kubby/We got a letter from Bob Wolf about the sewer line and the possibility of-
Atkins/A response is being prepared.
Kubby/I assume we will get a copy of that.
Atkins/Yes, it is a far bigger issue.
6. Kubby/I went to the Graduate Student Senate Panel on Transportation... main issue...
who should serve family housing with bus service? .... Many felt that because it is
UI Housing ....that they should have day time Cambus Service .... recreation fields
in the area ....Three options that were talked about that night. 1-Cambus takes
over the service to Hawkeye Court Area. 2- Iowa City Transit keeps the service,
no difference... 3- Iowa City Transit continues to provide day time service to the
Hawkeye Court and Drive area but that Cambus .... would instead subsidize student
fares on Iowa City Transit .... partnership ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 42
Thornberry/It is a good subject to bring up to JCCOG.
Kubby/I am not sure where this is going to go ....Jeff Davidson... encouraging people to
get involved... get organized ....
Thornberry/How old is Jeff Davidson?
Kubby/I don't know .... providing good service... is important ....IfI hear anything more, I
will follow up .....
7. Norton/I will report tomorrow on the brief visit to West High to watch that film. I
guess the Chief wrote a note in the paper about tomorrow is not a very impressive
evening.
8. Norton/We had a letter about the North Gilbert Parking .... question... road service out
there. I wondered if that could get added to our list?
Atkins/That is a major road reconstruction. Before you press ahead with that-
Norton/Oh, you can't just do a minor job?
Atkins/No, we tried it a number of years ago. The neighbors objected strenuously because
if you improve the road, it also increases the traffic. We were told... leave it alone.
I will go back and check it again .... It is a major reconstruction .....
Norton/
Atkins/
9. Norton/How serious is this proposal for a police survey?
Atkins/This is not a bad idea. We met with those folks and they have some good idea and
it is a very small budget ....
Norton/ ....looked pretty sensible.
Atkins/We have met with the folks... We were going to do one anyway. We think it is a
pretty good idea.
Nov/We are going to pay the cost of printing and postage.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session
Atkins/...about $1,000 expense .... These folks stepped forward.
Thornberry/... are we still going ahead with this certification process?
Atkins/Accreditation? It all works together... setting ourselves up to do that.
Kubby/Maybe we should talk about that again.
Norton/...look at the cost ....
Thornberry/
Nov/
Thornberry/
Kubby/You can actually buy the checklist and go through it yourself.
Atkins/
10. Norton/An old friend of mine from Burlington, Iowa .... He is starting a kite
weekend .... What has happened to the soapbox derbies? Where did they go? I am
looking for community spirit activities.
Atkins/Still in Akron, Ohio.
Council/
Norton/Inter-generational thing ....could have a nice quality.
Council/
Thornberry/First one I was involved in .....
Norton/Smallest kind of thing, modest events of that kind can do an awful lot for a
community.
Kubby/
Norton/Let's think about more ....
p~e43
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session page 44
11. Thornberry/Where are we on the corner of Gilbert/Kirkwood?
Atkins/That is a go. Council approved it.
Norton/We approved it while you were gone, Dean. We gave you due credit.
Atkins/It is primarily painting and the controller changes ....done yet this summer. That is
the plan.
12. Vanderhoef/Rick's request for CDBG funds for sidewalk repairs for very low income
housing. I like the idea... fit together... PIN grants ....
Atkins/I don't know how they fit together. I will check that for you.
Vanderhoeff If it goes into PIN grant ....City is going to pay for these ....
Nov/I can see subsidizing sidewalks for low income ..... not just the fact that the
neighborhood wants a PIN grant ....
Kubby/Through PIN grant, people still have to qualify ....
Vanderhoef/...very low income first...
Norton/
Nov/A city sidewalk can be constructed by the city and put in as a lien ....seems to me it is
a lot easier to do it that way.
Norton/I was concerned...PIN...
Kubby/It was a great program.
Nov/I think the PIN grant ought to be more interesting ....
Kubby/...sidewalks... structure for interconnecting different sections of the
neighborhood... basic thing .... problems... getting the money to do it.
Norton/...If somebody is low income, can they get assistance for sidewalk repair?
Atkins/Yes ....some public safety issue ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session
Kubby/
Vanderhoef/I like this request for the CDBG moneys.
Norton/ ....program .....does it have a low income component?
Atkins/I will find out.
Norton/Out to try to incorporate low income in that general policy of proceeding on
sidewalks.
Atkins/I will check that for you.
Kubby/...CDBG isn't going to cover all the needs.. If a neighborhood... wants to apply
PIN moneys for that purpose, I don't want to preclude the neighborhood from
doing that.
Nov/They can apply...
Kubby/We don't make those decisions...
Atkins/You have to approve it.
Council/
Norton/The city is progressing on a more systematic attack .... very desirable policy and it
ought to have a low income component.
Atkins/I will check that for you.
13. Vanderhoef/Housing Assistance Maintenance Projects... interesting.. total estimate
came in about 1/3 under staff's estimate .... some came in very low. My question is
are there some of those people who are bidding those as a public service and doing
them at near cost?
Norton/Which one?
Atkins/I am pretty sure those are sealed bids ....
Woito/It is a competitive market.
page 45
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797
March 17, 1997 Council Work Session
Atkins/
Council/
Norton/
Atkins/There is a short memo summarizing housing maintenance projects, the bid list ....
Norton/It isn't in mine.
Vanderhoef/IP4.
Nov/You will find it.
Atkins/Just a summary memo.
14. Nov/I spoke to Julie Phye from the Stepping Up Project. She is organizing a task
force, steering committee ..... She will come talk to us about these things.
15. Nov/I went to the National League of Cities. It was a good meeting. I learned some
stuff. I will eventually share some information on that ....I bought the book... they
sent us a free copy... two copies of a nice book .....
16. Karr/If there is anybody with agenda items for the Joint City/County/School Board,
she me afterwards.
Adjourned: 10:50 PM
page 46
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of March 17, 1997
WS031797