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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-01-23 TranscriptionJanuary 23, 1996 Council Work Session 6:45 PM Council: Nov, Baker, Kubby, Lehman, Norton, Thornberry, Vanderhoef. Staff: Atkins, Helling, Karr, Fosse, Milkman, Shank, O'Neil, Meisel, Yucuis, Shaffer, Craig. Tapes: 96-12, side 2; 96-14, all; 96-15, all. Woito/ Naomi, before I leave may I clarify the voting of the Conference Board ..... State Code provides that each unit of the voting for the Conference Board which is made up of the county, city and school board. There are only three votes and each unit has one vote. The majority of the members of the members of the particular unit present constitutes the vote of the unit. Nov/ For example, if we had five members present, three votes would be considered a unit. Woito/ Of the council, got to be two out all I have. correct. And then to pass anything, it has of three of the units to pass it. That is Reports from Boards and Commissions 96-12 S2 AIRPORT COMMISSION 96-12 S2 Howard Horan/ Good evening.. Howard Horan from the Airport Commission .... We are off to what we think is a really great Master Plan .... appreciate your support. Just to let you know about some IDOT grants that we have. We are working on a fencing project to entirely enclose the airport... six foot security fence that will be funded 70% by the state and 30% by us ..... And state also will help with a lighted wind-t and wind sock... Airport terminal renovation... ADA is what is motivating us .... Look forward to making it a more public use building .... We are moving ahead on the new hangar building.. corporate hangar .... modest sized two engine corporate propeller driven aircraft .... very very powerful .... We are moving ahead on that on the understanding that it has to pay for at least principle and interest .... Next couple of years we have to look forward to renovating the shop building, the FBO space .... cinder block building .... probably next 2-3 years we will be looking for ways to put some capital improvements in that building. We may be asking for some help there. Kubby/ ...not be part of the Master Plan? Horan/ No. The Master Plan, I think everybody is current with that. Thisrepresents only areasonably accurate transcription of thelowa City council meeting of January 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 2 We are looking forward ..... next public meeting is at 7:00 ..... I believe that McClure wants to have a preliminary report ...... FAA approval .... Nov/ So, do you expect FAA approval by the April 17 Horan/ I am not sure we will have it entirely by 1st of April. think that was their original target date .... Thornberry/ They have been working with FAA on an ongoing basis, right? Horan/ ...yeah. Thornberry/ Shouldn't be any big changes when the FAA sees the final plan? Horan/ Barely a ripple. Norton/ What do we get from the FBO? Revenue? Horan/ Yes. He rents space in the terminal building .... and we get a piece of the fuel... nickel a gallon. Kubby/ So once this space, the FBO space is improved,... contract allow for that rent to be increased based on higher quality space? Horan/ He has one more f~ve year extension. We will negotiate that a year from now ..... Thornberry/ (Can't hear). Horan/ I think there will discussion about that. Lehman/ Might be nice to have that discussion prior to renovating- Horan/ .... feel like it is our responsibility. Is there a way to build the FBO a different building, a little bit better organized for his purposes, keeping the rents where they ought to be... and making the terminal a much more public use building .... What exactly is the best public use of it is undefined for me at this point. Norton/ Would it be to his economic advantage to improve that facility now? ...paint it, fix the walls. This represents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowe City council meetlngofJanua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 3 Horan/ ...That is not the way our current tenant feels. Thornberry/ The current tenant rents space from the city? The entire building that the FBO is in is a city municipal building and he rents some of that space? ..... Horan/ A vast majority of it ..... Norton/ So it would be to his advantage to have a nice pilot's lounge and so on ..... Thornberry/... It is still a municipal building. Nov/ Sounds as if before you start renovating the building, you could negotiate the contract earlier. There is nothing to prevent that, is there? Horan/ No, I guess not .... negotiations.. difficult .... Nov/ Lehman/ If we are going to spend money on the building, I think we should find... increased rents .... Thornberry/ At the end of this year before the five year option, is there any language that can be changed that after the first year, before the next five years or is it just sort of take it as it is for another five years. Horan/ I don't know the answer. O'Neil/ It is pretty much fixed. Kubby/ We were whispering about the Airport Levy. I would personally like response from the Commission..° Nov/ We would have you do a little research on that one before it gets to any discussion. It is certainly a valid thing to discuss. We ought to think about it. Horan/ That pretty much is all I have to share with you. Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meeting of January 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 4 HUMAN RIGHTS COM~4ISSION 96-12 S2 Alison Ames Galstad/ I am chair of the HR Commission. I am here to night to review the staffing needs that the HR Commission has identified ..... Two other Commission members are also here tonight°.. also Heather Shank .... As is outlined in our proposal we have requested a full time investigator and a full time clerical staff person to fulfill the responsibilities .... I think Dale Helling has clearly addressed the increasing work load... Almost all of the Coordinator's professional time is devoted to processing formal complaints with very little time left over for the myriad other responsibilities of the office which included discussions with potential complainants, community outreach efforts, public inquiries and educational programs .... Consequence is that our current coordinator is stretched .... 2-We are handling discrimination on a case by case basis and doing very little community wide to improve the situation .... The efficacious way to deal with discrimination in a community is balancing education and prevention efforts .... we are not achieving anything even close to that sort of balance .... To combat employment discrimination we need to provide education and information to the local businesses on the Fair Employment Act... need to provide an efficient complaint process .... To fight housing discrimination we need to educate landlords and tenants alike .... educational efforts must be ongoing ..... This also requires that we stay on top of trends on housing discrimination. Share one example of how the current lack of resources impacts our ability to handle housing .... 1991... need for survey of housing discrimination... clear it was time to take another objective look at discrimination in housing. It is now 1996 and over ten years since the last housing discrimination survey. We simply don't have the time and the resources .... Currently have a very competent and efficient professional staff... Heather Shank. The current Commission is enthusiastic.. dedicated .... We have simply analyzed our situation and laid out our resources needed... We are earnest about our work in human rights in Iowa City .... Diane Martin/ I am one of the HR Commissioners. We have provided you ... facts, figures... Racial discrimination.. 1989 29% of the complaints filed to the HR Commission were about racial discrimination. In FY95 that is up to 40% ..... The State's Civil Rights Commission has as a mandate that each community create a community diversity appreciation team. We have no such team in our area .... It is just in the beginning discussion stages. Goal for that team would be primarily education... also serve as a rapid response group in the case This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WSO 12396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 5 of a hate crime ..... We ask that you give great consideration to the request .... Osha Gray Davidson/ Commission member... sum up a couple things... Part of our task ... is to do community outreach. There are a number of project that we would like to do... haven't been able to do. Martin Luther King Day .... The Chamber of Commerce has expressed interest in helping business people understand what they can and can't do in complying with the HR Ordinance .... We need the resources... and also the time .... One thing that is lost often in discussion of HR is the effect of delaying justice ..... ramifications ..... businesses aren't able to accept certain kinds of grants as long as a case i spending. so we are hurting everybody in this process. A few years ago, another city council here, asked the HR Commission if we would put together an education program on the ADA and take it out to the community...had to tell them no... don't have time .... First priority.. adjudicating cases .... backlog has grown. We are trying to initiate other programs... Bridges ..... tentatively getting started .... Neighborhood associations .... about what the ordinance means .... HR Commission is not just a voice but an ear .... We are asking for two positions. I want to make it clear that although we need both of them, it is imperative that we have legal assistance .... lacking to the worse degree at this point is legal assistance to work on these cases .... then we also do need clerical work ..... not a function that should fall to commissions .... I don't think it is an exaggeration to say we are in a crisis situation with the HR Commission at this point. We have a backlog of some 50 cases. We just cleared up cases from 1992 and 1993 ..... Sending a very poor message to people of Iowa City... We need to send a better message. One that says we do take human rights seriously .... Justice may not be cheap. But the price of allowing discrimination to grow in this community... it is... Price of allowing that to grow is far costlier... need some help. Nov/ Do we have any questions for the Commission? Kubby/ ...priority .... $6,000 in preparation which would free position .... investigator .... additional funding for minute up some other time°.. 1/2 time Nov/ The Commission has clarified that they would prefer an investigator to clerical help. Kubby/ In Dale's memo to us... funding for mediation ..... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 6 Helling/ At this point it is funded out of the operating budget. If we continue to pursue that... very successful... may have to do another amendment to cover costs .... it is cost effective .... Kubby/ The operating budget that appears in the proposed budget includes that money for mediation? Helling/ Right ..... Nov/ Any other questions? Thornberry/ I have one or two. 40% of the complaints most recently have been of a racial nature. What percentage of those complaints have been adjudicated at this point? Galstad/ Most of the investigations are not done ..... Thornberry/ People come to you when they perceive a problem. After six months.. disappointed... where do they go from there... alternative .... Galstad/ Once they have started the process .... (can't hear). Thornberry/ What is a right to sue letter? Galstad/ Heather Shank/ Mandated under law that if they are going to being a discrimination complaint to go through a civil rights agency of some kind whether local or state or federal .... If in that certain amount of time it still hasn't been investigated, which is generally the case, they can go and request of the agency that they get a right to sue letter meaning that can take that case out of the agency and go to district court .... Generally attorneys, especially in Iowa City I have found, don't do it. They wait for our investigation to be done first Kubby/ Shank/ All they do, if the certain amount of time has passed, all they have to do is send a letter and say we would like a right to sue letter .... Norton/ You do that without any particular investigation? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WS01 2396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 7 Shank/ That is correct. I have only had one request ..... Thornberry/ So it would be far better, less expensive, simpler, and quicker to mediate these problems? Shank/ Yes... we have been incredibly successful... 7 out of 7 .... they appear to be quite content... Carried out by outside (can't hear). Lehman/ ..... I think this community really does care .... Shank/ .... I would prefer an investigator ..... Thornberry/ Is the HR Commission mandated by any state or federal regulations to be in a city of this size of greater? .... Shank/ When the law came down to affect local area .... 25,000- Helling/ It was higher than that, 29- or 30 something. Clearly it includes us. That was about five years ago. Any existing Con%mission in a city that size had to remain in existence and that is still if affect. Nov/ Okay, ready to move on. Thlsrepresents only a~easonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meeting of Januau 23,1996. W$012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 8 SENIOR CENTER COMMISSION 96-12 S2 Nov/ Senior Center Commission is next. Mary Kathryn Wallace/ I am a commissioner with the Senior Center Commission. First of all I want to congratulate the newly elected and reelected members of the Commission and we look forward to a positive working relationship with you... I am impressed already with the dedication of Commissioners who have been appointed... doing our charge and being the eyes and ears of where you have sent us. I am here with another commissioner, Terri Miller, who is Chairman of the Finance Committee and I am also a member of the Fiance Committee. I will be briefly talking to you about past at the Senior Center and Terri will talk to you about the future that we hope to have. Nov/ We are here today moving into that. acceptable? to talk about the future... interested in Can we not review the past? Will that be Wallace/ I would like...two minutes. Kubb¥/ It think it helps us understand a trend... Wallace/ I will be brief. There is a graying of America... one of the largest population growths is occurring in the aging population. So there is a need in the U.S. for Senior Centers and the need is changing .... more and more people are growing older... more individualistic... need to meet the needs of an aging population... need diversity in programs that are offered .... All old people are not alike... We are wanting to share with you the growth that has happened at the Senior Center .... Nov/ I am asking you not to reiterate because we have read everything you have given us. Wallace/ .... May I just highlight... staff has increased by one since our beginning in 1981. Number of volunteers has increased from 178 to 600, giving 8400 hours of service in the beginning to over 59,000 hours now. We are trying to meet the charge that has been given to us .... Before people retire, their greatest concern is will I have enough money .... people make adjustments to that. After people retire, their greatest concern is their meaningful use of time and time in retirement... can be 20, 30, or 40 years. We are trying to get to the meaningful use of time and highlighting the growth that Thisrepresents only areasonably accurate transcription ofthelowa City council meeting of January 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 9 we have had. Terri Miller/ I am also on the Commission .... last year... asking for additional staff person.. asking again .... You are not able to fund everything that you would like to fund. Still feel the need to put in an additional staff person in the Senior center .... franchise money, hoping to get some help with out video from that. So we haven't asked for that staff person. We re still asking for the communications specialist .... to help deal with our marketing... communicating what we have to offer .... looked at options in our progra~muing. o. We feel that with the aging population ... different generations coming into the center with different interests .... Staff... stretched very thin... We also had some requests in our budget for some building improvements... flooring improvements... Architectural fees... help give us more space. We appreciate the fact that you have funded a lot of our building requests in the past .... Thank you. Nov/ Tell us.. more about what new space needs you are thinking about. Miller/ ...the mezzanine .... if that floor were extended through the assembly room .... if a floor were put in...second floor... That is what we would like to take a look at the feasibility of that .... Assembly room which is used for the senior dining... additional space... We also find the heating in that room... difficulty .... Kubby/ Last year there was a proposal to have a 1/4 time communications specialist ..... for the Post. There was not support to do that .... small amount, is that the direction to go? .... volunteers are spending a lot of time. Miller/ We have had a large increase in volunteers over the years... allowing those volunteers to use their talent .... By having additional staff that can work with those volunteers .... Thornberry/ Do you have anybody, a senior, at the Senior Center that could fulfill this position? Miller/ We have... 600 volunteers at the Senior Center... help produce the Post. The problem with using volunteers .... if they have an opportunity to go to Hawaii... they are going to take that opportunity. A paid staff person will be there .... volunteer... the turnover is a lot greater... person is not This represents only e reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 10 there consistently... Thornberry/ Even a 1/4 time person... If this were funded... person from another job? .... Kubby/ ...may or may not have another position ..... Nov/ Norton/ ...The Center doesn't sound like it needs to be marketed .... Miller/ The Senior Center if very successful... kind of marketing things that I was talking about... homebound... SCTV... bring some of our programming into our home ..... Kubby/ ... hard place where we are in where residential development doesn't pay for the services... increased demand... federal cut backs .... Miller/ Baby boomers coming to retirement age... increased demand .... 31% of our population is in that age group. Norton/ Strikes me we need to get serious about Channel 2, 4, and 8 or 2, 4, and 10 .... Miller/ Large group of seniors who work on SCTV .... Lehman/ What kind of revenues .... fees? Miller/ That is a tough question .... Kubby/ Maybe there is somebody from staff who can answer. Meisel/ The fees that we generate are only for teachers who expect to be paid. Whenever we can use volunteers, we use volunteers. So what we use the fees for are to pay for either the teachers or pay for he extras that go along with the class or activities... We take a little bit extra we get from a class...pays for the xeroxing or whatever... Kind of a wash. It doesn't bring anything into the Center to pay for a staff person .... Depends on your philosophy... charging for anything. Lehman/ .... to what point do we offer service... beyond a certain point I really think it should be self generating and self supporting .... We can't be everything to everybody. Thlsrepresen~ only aressonably accumtetronscrl~ion ofthelowa City council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page Miller/ Some of the activities are self sufficient... they do charge fees within the group .... quilters do bring money into- CHi~NGE TAPE TO REEL 96-14 SIDE 1 Miller/ Money that comes in and really doesn't go back out again. Bette Meisel/ Band members are willing to pay $60 which goes to their instructor, music or whatever but the Center doesn't get a penney of it. But we are the ones that have to do most of the scheduling .... It is something that we need to talk about Nov/ We all understand that you are not going to raise the budget through fees .... Nov/ We also understand that some volunteer services organization add 10% administrative fee to whatever they are charging... not an unheard of system ..... Kubby/ In the budget there is a line under Receipts for charges for services, is that- Arkins/ There are three receipts, Bette. Property tax being the largest one, Charges For Services and then the Johnson County contract .... Johnson County, by contract, pays 20% of the operating budget for the Senior Center. Meisel/ There is nothing under there that is coming from our people. That money that they bring in just goes right back into the programs. Atkins/ They have numbers accounts where they are basically a wash ...... We provide people, space and staff coordination. There is really no other subsidy. Nov/ Materials .... at expense of participants... Meisel/ ..... put it towards new exercise equipment .... Norton/ Do we have figures on the county usage. Are the numbers right, 20%? Meisel/ (Can't hear). Kubby/ Thisrepresents 0nly a reasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meeting of January 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 12 Meisel/ Our problem is because it is a voluntary sign in .... have a door counter .... But we have all kinds of people who don't consider themselves as being the the Senior Center... refuse to sign in .... Those who forget to sign in .... We could give you something. How accurate it would be, I don't know ..... Miller/ Another source of funds we get is from bequests ...... spend on equipment for the Center .... gift fund..° piano, exercise equipment, computers .... Nov/ Any further questions? Thank you. Thisrepresents only areasonably accur~etranscrlptlon ofthelowa City council meeting of January 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 13 LIBRARY BOARD 96-14 Sl Charles Trau/ President of the Library Board of Trustees. I would like to thank you... opportunity talk tonight about the proposed budget .... This is a basic budget necessary to meet the ongoing services that we provide to the community. The principle areas of increase are technological, technical information services. Also in material collections, increased costs that are projected to actually meet the present services we provide as well as repairing and updating equipment .... In addition there is an item , an increase for overtime pay .... open... Sunday to coordinate... public school calendar and also with regard to certain holiday Sundays which we have a great significant number of users that we requested we open... The Library Board°.. regrets that our request for certain staff positions have not been proposed .... Fortunately we are blessed with hardworking and dedicated staff and volunteers .... Kubby/ What is the amount on the overtime? Trau/ Susan Craig/ I can't remember off the top of my head. I think .... it costs about $500 to be open on a Sunday and so that includes overtime pay for the permanent staff plus additional hourly paid staff who comes in .... About $2500 for five more Sundays. Thornberry/ These openings on Sunday is your option, however? Craig/ It was put into the budget request and manager included in his budget proposals to you. Craig/ ...open...Labor Day... and stay open on Sundays through mid- June to help coincide with the public schools. Nov/ Baker/ Clarification (can't hear). It says transfer from the Computer Replacement Reserve. Where is the transfer coming from? Craig/ As I understand it, it comes from the city's operating budget. It is transferred into a replacement fund to eventually replace computers at the Library .... The distinction is you don't have to have it spent at the end of the year...carry it over .... Our main computer system, when we Thisrepresents only ereasonably accurate ~anscdptlon ofthelowa City council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 14 need to replace it ...cost several hundred thousand dollars. So we need to accumulate over time that money. Baker/ Atkins/ If you look under expenditures, it says Transfers Out. That number will jive with the one down below... avoid those big spikes in expenditures and particularly when it comes to computer equipment where we have five years technologies .... Kubby/ Atkins/ I would not recommend borrowing money for anything that doesn't have a useful life of ten years or more. Computers are about five years. That is why we do it with cash as opposed to borrowing. Baker/ Do you...have any other reserve funds? Craig/ The other fund that is listed there, the Cable Channel Replacement Fund, is a fund that we get some money from franchise fee that is also put into a Equipment Replacement Fund for the equipment related to our cable channel. Baker/ (Can't hear). Atkins/ Larry, if you are asking are there other library funds that is not budgeted, the answer is yes. Baker/ (Can't hear). Atkins/ They get other funds... all specifically earmarked for a very specific purpose .... Baker/ (Can't hear). Atkins/ The library has an independence because of under the law. We do not treat it as a separate as we would an Enterprise Fund and thereby budget a contingency. Baker/ (Can't hear). Atkins/ They could take the moneys that are ultimately appropriated to them .... and set aside .... Baker/ Thisrepresentsonlyareasonablyaccuratetranscrlptlon ofthelowa CltycouncilmeetingofJanuary23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 15 Craig/ We don't call them reserve funds but as Steve said we do have income that comes from a contract...from State of Iowa... brings in between $40,000 and $50,000 a year and the Library Board budgets that and prepares a budget. In the past it was used for computer support... Development Office .... Baker/ Craig/ Last year when we had to do the roof very suddenly, we had to come and get permission to spend $24,000. Arkins/ It came out of a contingency account. Baker/ (Can't hear). Kubby/ The reserve fund from bequests... Craig/ Most of the requests the we receive go for the Development Office and are probably .... most of them are usually earmarked items... or to put into the endowment .... The materials budget that we spend is augmented by $50,000 a year that comes from the Library's endowment ..... Thank you. Nov/ Thisrepresents only oroasonably accurate ~anscription ofthelowe Ci~ council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 16 HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 96-14 S1 Linda Murray/ Chair of HCD Commission. For several years now... local level that supportive services are a vital part of any housing plan ..... As people work for becoming independent... supportive service... means the difference... many forms... Any kind of service that enables a person who is temporarily receiving some kind of (can't hear) .... As the realization of importance of supportive services grows on the local level...funding on federal and state level is being cut .... Financially responsibility for these kinds of services falls more and more on shoulders of local agencies .... Ongoing supportive services can only be paid out of CDBG Funds and not out of the HOME Funds ..... It is estimated that there will be a $50,000 available for allocation .... that is the maximum amount ..... So far six groups have submitted applications for these fund°.. total of about $100,000 .... Life Skills, EHP, Mayor's Youth, JTPA, Kiddie Cab ..... and the Furniture Project and all of those provide supportive services of some kind or another. HCD requests that you consider allocating up to $50,000 of GF for supportive services ..... Can't fund everything that you would like to .... we hope people will be your priority .... Kubby/ So the total amount of 15% CDBG moneys is $50,000? That must be after the Aid to Agencies. Murray/ That must be after the Aid to Agencies. Kubby/ So the committee has earmarked a certain amount of that 15% for the categories supportive services (can't hear). Murray/ That is the maximum amount of money that can is left over after the Aid to Agencies. All of that I mentioned fall into that category .... be spent that those groups Kubby/ In the past... almost all of that 15% is for Aid to Agencies? Marianne Milkman/ Sometime yes and sometimes no... the 15% fluctuates .... three years ago we decided... We never know what our budget is going to be before you have to make your budget .... We decided we would take a good average figure, $105,000, and that is what we would plug in every year ..... This year... who knows what can happen in Washington ..... Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meeting of January 23.1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 17 BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS 96-14 S1 Steven Hoch/ I am a member of the BTC .... keep my comments to three minutes .... As you may know the new franchise agreement allows the city to collect up to $.50 per subscriber per month to support local programming facilities .... last night... the Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the council that we begin collecting that fee. Let me tell you a couple of things about the fee. First, in our negotiations with TCI, the city has undertaken a needs assessment... the needs assessment considerably exceeded the revenue that we will collect on this fee .... If we begin this process of assessing the $.50 per subscriber per month this can be changed at any point in time by the council over the life of the agreement .... If the BTC and council decide if these funds aren't being used sufficiently... Thirdly, I would like to remind you that what we are talking about is $6.00 per year per subscriber. It is not an awful lot of money and the final point... is that for those of you who are cable subscribers, you have probably have noted that TCI on a quarterly basis often changes its fees which it is allowed to do under federal regulations. TCI very carefully calculates how much you can charge subscribers versus when it is going to start losing subscribers and comes up with a very elaborate formula. They.. have told us that ...if we don't collect that $.50 ... what they are going to do is raise their fee by $.50 per subscriber per month .... TCI is going to take out approximately $67 million out of Iowa City. So we are asking them to return... a very small portion of that fund for community programming .... Kubby/ .... nine years... $.50 per subscriber per month, what that number is that we could get versus TCI. Hoch/ There are 16,000 subscribers .... $96,000 per year. Norton/ Kubby/ At some point they will lose subscribers. Hoch/ Remember they are subject to federal limitations as to what they can charge... Norton/ But when we add the $.50 .... Hoch/ If we zeroed out what happens ...what the feds allow TCI to be doing ...... Thornberry/ ~hlsrepresents only areasonably accurate transcription ofthelowa CIW council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 18 Hoch/ It comes to the city .... Atkins/ We would receive in the $.50... approximately $96,000 a year... We have spoken with the folks at TCI. They are fully prepared to do this now .... takes a nod of the heads. They are prepared to go. They will put it on unless you tell them otherwise. Nov/ I see no reason not to. Atkins/ My recommendation to you is take the $.50, run with it now. The money will accumulate. As a matter of policy, how you choose to appropriate it is yet to be decide. We will be keeping tabs on it .... Hoch/ At any point we can zero it out ..... Kubby/ In our documents... talked about it in terms of this is $.50 for community programming kind of activities ..... Atkins/ I guess the thing you need to go on record... Tell TCI, collect the $.50 ..... Your policy... cable revenues are used for cable related activity .... Hoch/ .... just beginning the process of figuring out .... lots of work for us to do in that area. This will just give us some money .... Atkins/ It cannot be spent without your approval. Nov/ But it will be rolling into city coffers at the rate of once a month? Atkins/ ...monthly. Nov/ Atkins/ It could accumulate forever ..... Hoch/ Atkins/ The $.50... important point of taking advantage as soon as you can. I am sure they calculated that into their negotiating position .... They are going to move that rate up to that point. Helling/ It is a pass through. It is specified that it will be used This represents only e reasonably accurate trenscriptlon of the Iowa City council meetl~tg of January 23, 1996. WSO 12396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 19 for local access. That is what TCI will be indicating in their notice to subscribers .... there are a broad range of options .... Nov/ We did talk about this once before. We seem to be in agreement-shall we say go ahead and do it?... Kubby/ .... I have heard from people feelings ..... point we should choosing not to have a p.h .... in both directions... mixed conscientiously say we are Hoch/ If council wants to have a series of hearings, One of the problems .... we can't collect retroactively .... that is fine. this money Nov/ Karen, we can have public input on how the money can be spent before we spend it ..... Baker/ Norton/ Thornberry/ Baker/ If the public comes down here in droves and says don't collect it .... we can always then say no. Kubby/ .... majority doesn't want it. Baker/ ..... If this council decides we don't want the money, we will give it back to TCI. Council/ (All talking). Nov/ I really believe that we do need public input and I think we will get it when it comes time to say how we will allocate the money. Baker/ ...schedule a p.h. as soon as possible on the issues. Atkins/ Cordell Jeppsen/ I am Chair of that Committee. We have had two meetings so far... dealing with exactly this question of what to do with those funds .... My understanding .... desirability for additional public input .... Might be better... let us formulate a recommendation for you so the public has something This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 20 to digest ..... If you don't want the $.50 in 2-3 months, you can tell them to turn it off .... Baker/ Kubby/ ...getting input before we do it .... I think it is important for us to talk about that possibility... combine it with the fee itself ..... Norton/ An increase... benefit the users .... seems to me we are not exactly taking it away from them .... Hoch/ ...needs assessment surveys. Our needs are far greater than what we could ever accommodate .... There is a great deal of interest .... Thornberry/ If we say we would like have that $.50, it doesn't got to TCI. If we say we don't want $.50, TCI gets it. Cordell/ They have a certain latitude by which they could set their rates by the federal government .... they chose the highest possible rates the fed allows them .... they balance that very clearly ...cable subscriber... Kubby/ ...they may have to go down... Jeppsen/ It would be only good business sense to recoup as much as the fed would allow them. Nov/ Hoch/ They were pretty sensitive... on the bill... Norton/ Jeppsen/ I think we can make an argument to the public .... why we ought to collect it. Nov/ They have already put a lie in for the franchise fee .... Thornberry/ Jeppsen/ ... New agreement hasn't even gone into affect yet... We are just figuring out how much money we have got ..... Going to be a long series of discussions. Helling/ In all of our discussions I think we all agree that Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa CiW council meeting of January 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 21 pursuing this pass through idea that we took approach .... We will collect this money if you say so and I think the product that we deliver to the community is going of determine whether or not the community is going to be willing to continue to pay that. We understand that .... talking about enhanced services Nov/ Thank you. Next item is Heritage Trees. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 22 HERITAGE TREES 96-14 S1 Cecile Kuenzli/ I am the member of the steering committee of Heritage Trees and this is Kate Klaus... Some of you are familiar with Heritage Trees .... briefly outline who we are and what we have done. Organization of citizen volunteers... worked to promote, preserve and replenish Iowa City's urban forest. This is a public private cooperative venture for the benefit of everyone... Up to date... 1994 volunteers inventoried three oldest neighborhoods in Iowa City: Northside, Goosetown and Longfellow Neighborhood. And also Plum Grove area and Oakland Cemetery. They identified... measures... mapped...assessed condition of trees. Neighborhood associations and Friends of Historic Preservation all contributed to the project financially as did the city council... Neighborhood Services Coordinator assisted in printing of maps and survey forms... classic example of public private venture .... Produced four tree walk brochures .... Also sponsored a tree pruning discussion- Nov/ We have them. Kuenzli/ Also sponsored a tree pruning workshop by Iowa State Extension .... tree walk tour... What do we want. What are we doing here tonight. We would like to extend the survey to the other side of the river and do a tree inventory in the areas of Manville Hts., Chautauqua Hts., Normandy Drive area, City Park and crandic Park .... estimate this is going to cost $10,000 ..... services of professional arborists..o purchase and production of survey materials and to conduct volunteer training .... Return... city will receive approximately $35,000 worth of volunteer time and labor and skills. I would like to stress you are the only source of funding for this survey. The City Forester... conference .... they will be no federal grant moneys available for such projects .... responsibility for caring for our local environment falls directly on volunteers, local and state governments. We would also like you urge you to continue support City Forester Terry Robinson's budget requests .... His budget is still inadequate .... As Iowa city continues to expand.. need for tree planting... Thank you. Kubby/ What were the requests of the City Forester that were not funded? Atkins/ $600 in some misc. expense and $3,000 computer ..... Kubby/ If we wanted to fund this...Forester Budget? .... Thisrepresents only ereasonably accuratetranscr}pt{on ofthelowa CIW council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 23 Atkins/ I suspect...Forestr¥ .... Kuenzli/ .... $10,000. Kate Klaus/ We have our own account with the city .... Atkins/ It has to show up in the GF and transferred into that... Kubby/ And you did not recommend one way or another on- Atkins/ I don't recall discussing this .... Kuenzli/ ... Thornberry/ How long will this project take that you are proposing for the west side? .... Klaus/ We are planning to organize it and train people ..... this year and the actual survey will take place in summer of '97 and that is when the volunteers will out. But it takes a fair amount of time to get organized ..... get funding this year and get everything in place .... next summer we can go... be done by the end of the summer. Thornberry/ $8,000 arborist, how long is he working for this $8,000? Klaus/ He works as long as he has to .... he recorded here that he put in 89.25 hours at $40 an hour... he put in a great deal more time .... He will do his work the summer that we inventory. Thornberry/ Klaus/ He goes out and he walks the street and assesses every tree that the volunteers have already mapped .... proper identification, age, height, and what kind of care program that tree is going to need .... aging urban forest here .... He looks very much at the health of trees ..... Norton/ How does your group relate to Terry? ..... Klaus/ All entered on data banks in the city so that this information which he does have the time or manpower or money... will be there so he can work out block by block a long term maintenance program .... especially on public land .... Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa CiW council meetlngofJanua~ 23,1996. WS0~2396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 24 Norton/ ...You become an advisory commission to the Forester. Klaus/ Yes, it is a coordinated effort .... Get funding to bring people in once every 3-5 year as to do maintenance on old canopy trees .... Kuenzli/ .... volunteers.. put welcomes out input. Norton/ Solid data base .... Kubby/ ..... Kuenzli/ Neighborhood association... time .... Kubby/ Chamber ..... in roughly 1,640 hours .... he $500 each contributed last CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-14 SIDE 2 Kubby/ ... Klaus/ We talked .... Norton/ Heritage Tree Endowment Fund. Nov/ There is a Natural Heritage Trust of some sort... Kubby/ (Can't hear). Norton/ Klaus/ There is an organization in Marion, Iowa .... Trees Forever and I can contact them about what funding may be left ..... Kuenzli/ Trees Forever in Marion only grants one grant to a community and last year it was Paul Davis .... City Park received some of the benefit of those funds .... We can apply for it this year .... Nov/ Is the council interested in a short break? I am seriously considering moving the Johnson County Museum up .... agreeable with everyone .... Kubby/ Nov/ The order .... Thlarapresents only araasonably accuratatranscriptlon ofthalowa City council maatlng of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 25 JOHNSON COUNTY MUSEUM 96-14 S2 Laurie Robinson/ Executive Director of Johnson County Historical Society... private non-profit organization... operates Heritage Museum .... our mission is simple, to collect and preserve and teach local history. We serve all the people of the county .... Our programs are diverse... collections.. publications... museum.. Irving Weber Award... lunch series... School visits .... Traveling Chest... History Day Camp ..... Last several years .... more than 12,000 in 1994 .... 1195... street undergoing a three week paving project... almost 70% of our members and program participants are Iowa City residents .... sense of history that makes a community seem like home .... Past two years City of Iowa City has supported 3% of our annual operating budget .... We expect our operating expense to top $120,000. Please consider increasing this year's level of support to $5,000, an increase of $2,000 ..... help cushion impact of decreasing federal support for museums... By increasing our support... $5,000 would represent a cost of only $.07 to each resident of Iowa City .... local history is the way we tell our own story and create our own roots .... Thank you. Baker/ .... Robinson/ Plum Grove is an estate that is owned by the people of the State of Iowa...administered by the State Historical Society of Iowa and is locally managed by the Johnson County Historical Society ..... 28E agreement .... Lehman/ Robinson/ A few years ago I tried to talk to the City of Iowa City about having some kind of in kind reciprocal relationship... we have a very small amount of money to manage Plum Grove with .... In Coralville .... plows...mows...in kind stuff for us which frees up the money we would have to spend doing that... If we had some assistance for Plum Grove, caring for the grounds...then the money that we are now spending on mowing, which is substantial, could be freed up for extending hours or having it open more .... Baker/ (Can't hear) .... open space .... Robinson/ There are a lot of different individuals in charge now and a lot of things have changed .... encourage you to bring it up... continuing problem and that is the security of the house .... Also there are ongoing archaeologists at Plum Thisrepresents only areasonably accurate transcription ofthelowa City council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 26 Grove .... Summer '93 .... opened up in back of Plum Grove and it is sinking ..... old cistern .... Nov/ Robinson/ Baker/ (Can't hear). Robinson/ Vanderhoef/ Open space... archaeologists .... Nov/ Last group: CVB, Iowa Arts Fest and Jazz Fest .... funded last years from Hotel Motel Tax revenues .... continue with what we have on the list. Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowe Ci~ council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 27 JAZZ FESTIVAL 96-14 S2 Nov/ Jazz Fest .... five minutes. Mark Ginsberg/ I am a human being here in Iowa City. I have a wife, three kids, house and a business .... I also have a passion for the community... seeing this community continue to thrive both economically and culturally .... as a businessman... how operating expenses relate to how much money the business is making ...... make investment in not just my program but in the CVB and Iowa Arts Festival and Friday Night Concert Series .... cultural and economic inventory of this community. I think any business that stops buying inventory dies .... We have to continue to invest in the inventory of our community... people .... Iowa City Jazz Festival is a completely volunteer effort. We raise money to pay for artists fees only .... marketing, advertising, insurance .... in kind... artists fees are recruited by private funding. We need support from the community... not only ongoing support .... closing down streets... Fire..Police Department.. also like to see a line item on the Hotel Motel Tax, that or a $.25 hour raise in parking fees ..... see if who is listening... I think a line item specifically for programs that benefit the community. Every dollar that is spent in the Jazz Festival... we see a 50:1 return .... 15,000 people... over a two day period .... It is a free event .... All of the food tents sold out of their food... businesses that were open did benefit .... open to do business... What is philanthropic is that we get involved in the community .... asking for support here... give us a line item .... on Hotel Motel Tax that may be separate from the CVB so that while they are trying to do what they are trying to do .... we can concentrate on improving our event without taking anything away .... I would like consideration of a separate line item... 20-25% range. Nov/ Mark, do you have a complete line item budget for this event? Ginsberg/ Yes, I do. Nov/ Can we see that. We saw a list of what is happening .... Ginsberg/ I can break it down. We are spending $34,500 in artists fees this year. I don't have a line item break down of the bands with me .... Nov/ Can we get a break down of so much money came it from individual contributors .... renting tents .... this that and the other plus where it went? Thisrepresents only areasonably accuretetranscriptlonofthelowa CIw counciimeetingofJanuary23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 28 Ginsberg/ We are not that organized .... we lump in general revenues and general expenses... there is a break down that we put together and I can break it down that way .... Before I do that I want you to know that success shouldn't stop you from continuing to fund programs like this. Because of the efforts we make in going out and recruiting funding, I don't want that to be a disincentive to continue to give to a program because our program will die without public support. Nov/ We are just saying that when we have given to other groups, we have received a completed budget and so would you please send us something .... Ginsberg/ I can do that .... Nov/ ... whatever you have in the way of breaking down .... You would certainly know you had X food tents and each one brought in so much money and you could then give us a total. Ginsberg/ ...I don't have it broken down that way... lumped into a general revenue line item. Nov/ You don't know how many food tents you had? Ginsberg/ I can go back and look at the checks .... It is in a spread sheet that has general revenue. The predominant funding... coming from private contributors .... Kubby/ .... We don't always ask for that .... It has not been a policy .... Ginsberg/ Nov/ If you can do one year. Ginsberg/... I can break it down... business contributions... concessions... Another thing .... WBGO out of New Jersey picked us up .... Jazz Set .... audio .... This was rebroadcast four times in '93 and '94 .... stations across the country... 3 1/2 million people Council/ (All talking) ..... Ginsberg/ We paid them $1,000 to bring in a it .... We had to pay extra to the bands... an engineer to come .... technician to mix We had to pay for This represente only e reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WSO 12396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 29 Nov/ Do we have questions for Mark? Kubby/ Consider .... portion of budget was artists fees. Was that above and beyond the $5,000? Ginsberg/ I would like you to consider as much as you can possibly give. You are asking me to define a fee... I would like to increase it but at least...same level as last year ..... This year's festival is absolutely phenomenal. Kubby/ Concerned about .... trend is to grow and grow and grow. At some point it becomes a different atmosphere then your original intent ..... Ginsberg/ (Plays radio station recording) .... I am not ... interested in growing it beyond the two day event. Our focus is very intense... we like to keep it that way... also going to go out and try to reach for more expensive talent .... providing a public service as well as providing an economic benefit for the community .... Nov/ Send it to Marian Karr and we will all get copies from her. Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa CIW council meeting of Januaw 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 30 1 OWA Liz ARTS FEST 96-14 S2 Dueland/ Director for Iowa Arts Festival .... sent you information and I will be very brief... As I outlined, this next Iowa Arts Festival will take place the last two weekends of June .... It started eight years ago... It now is a separate non-profit .... Originally started to be a promotional vehicle for all of the community ..... We are taking a much more active role this year .... many changes this year... putting together an Iowa Arts Festival Orchestra.. radio variety show... grand stand .... In the format going to three weekends what we are doing is increasing our programming by about 25 hours .... Increasing last years artists fees...to about $20,000 this year ..... Our Board of Directors .... undergoing... long range plan... make sure we are very community based .... local involvement.. all segments... partnerships ...... We have just a wealth of talent .... actors, artists .... working closely with the University ..... I could go on and on and on .... I am very excited about the festival. We will continue to build up partnerships .... Bring in an Iowa alumni who has gone nationally .... that is from Iowa .... I have a desire... all arts... encourage year around participation arts .... Idea .... To come up with banner that say Celebrate Summer Arts .... working together with other art organizations .... promote the cultural diversity .... As you can seefromthe budget that I submitted $60,000 is operating budget money .... work.. on building up a reserve which was depleted due to some staff changes over the past year ...... We really watch our pennies and $5,000 is a significant portion of our budget. Norton/ Dueland/ .... feature Latin bands .... culinary area... Working with Office of International Services ........ We are working to include that ..... Nov/ Dueland/ ...we want to position ourselves as a regional... benefits our business community... arts .... We feel that right now with the amount of money that we have to spend .... We really have a wealth of resources .... It is my passion to have this festival remain true to its name, Iowa Arts Festival .... Nov/ Could you tell us why you are increasing your cash balance .... ? Dueland/ We ended in '94 (can't hear). When the Festival ends in June we pay all of our events services, insurance fees... Thlsrepresentsonly areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 31 artists fees... We have to be able to (can't hear) .... Nov/ Dueland/ o.. Grant... Department of Cultural Affairs... Kubby/ Dueland/ ... We do the best we can to pay .... Baker/ (Can't hear). Dueland/ ...ICPL, they actually donated the (can't hear) .... benefit. We don't compensate them either .... We don't pay everyone .... Baker/ Dueland/ Norton/ Aren't the artists exhibiting as well? ..... Dueland/ ..... like on the bank .... jury show... Nov/ they IC Chamber ..... means to show their work .... We have performers in so many different levels .......... professional ...... high school orchestra .... We have many different situations with artists. I am excited that the festival really is diverse enough ....... Thlsrepresentsonlyareasonablyaccuratetransmtpfionofthelowa Citycouncil meetlngofJanuary23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 32 CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 96-14 S2 Wendy Ford/ (Handout) First of all... Director of the Iowa City/Coralville CVB. I will start right off, I just came from a four hour planning session at our Board of Directors .... Thank you to Naomi and her support as a member of the Bureau Board of Directors... we have enjoyed working... CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-15 SIDE 1 Wendy Ford/ Look forward to sharing with you about the CVB and It's growth as well. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I am here .... to encourage your continued support of marketing tourism for the Iowa City area. The CVB has been funded by the Hotel Motel Tax collections of Iowa City and Coralville since its inception in 1982. Until the last FY the city's formula had been to fund the bureau at 25% of the collection for the year ...... I will ask you to take a look at your handouts (Iowa City/Coralville Convention & Visitors Bureau Statistics; Iowa City Hotel Motel Tax FY 94, 95, 96.) First one shows some brand new statistics that we have put together rightfromour own office ..... number of walk in visitors that we have been assisting... Just since we have been in... substantial growth in numbers of people .... This last year showed a 277% increase in those numbers... July in this year... over 1,000 visitors in one month. I am proud to say that even in slow travel months... over 450 visitors... for visitors information .... easy accessibility. Next page are statistics from U.S. Travel Data Center Study ..... bold column. Shows that travel generated expenditures topped $112 million for 1994. We are talking about Iowa's third largest industry .... People employed by tourism in Johnson County ... topped over 2,000 ..... I will let you just peruse at your leisure the Iowa Welcome Center Survey Results .... Lastly, on the back sheet, I have a little table of Iowa City Hotel Motel Tax for three of the last FYs ..... At this point in the year we are running a little bit flat ..... 0.3% increase over last year ..... CVB because of the $10,000 earmark by the council last year is running at 7°8% deficit from their funding at the same point. We are running a little bit behind, we are doing more, and we expected to do even more .... Call me .... After last year's budgeting session was complete there were several comments by council members .... I would like you to think about that process again. The CVB walks a very thin line. Please understand that our Board of Directors feels that funding festivals is merited ..... hopes for their continued funding ... but not at the expense of marketing the area to those This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 33 visitors .... Our Board also would like to reinstate the CVB's own funding program... we had our own funding program .... for local organizations as well... Over the last 10 years over $49,000 were awarded to various organizations, large and small .... One of our recipients...JoAnne Higgins, race director for Old Capital Criterium, was one of the recipients... one that really facilitated that kind of event ..... draws a lot of people .... We also promoted especially the use of our funding program to as seed money for small conventions... 100 people spending three days draws a minimum of $30,000 into the community and that is before the economic 2.5 factor or whatever it is that trickles down .... We focus on those local groups in encouraging them to hold their state and regional conventions in Iowa .... Hancher visitors coming for one event .... and coming back for another .... show them what a great place we do have. Every visitor that comes in for a convention .... is free to use our publications which promote all those yearly events... We also produce a calendar of events .... Funding festivals is great but funding them from an established well working promotional agency for the community somewhat undermines the mission of CVB .... Hotel Motel Tax dollars are very good dollars for growing the tourism product in the area because those dollars come in in the pockets of our visitors. Unless we continue the flow so visitors, we risk losing the potential income that Hotel Tax dollars have for us. That is very important that we use Hotel Tax Dollars to promote over night visitor stays because the over night stays, that is usually the people traveling from at least an hour away are the only ones that will generate that Hotel Motel Tax ...... Just a couple of more points...I have used the analogy of a farmer eating his seed corn .... clearly illustrates how using up too much of a fund like Hotel Motel Tax dollars without using a portion of it to re-seed or seed new Hotel Motel Tax dollars put you at risk for losing ground .... What the CVB is asking for is simply a reinstatement of the full 25% with no council earmarking of the Hotel Tax so that we can maintain a competitive edge in marketing the community .... Secondly a long range commitment to the CVB and the 2100 employees of the Johnson County tourism industry. Kubby/ Is the Bureau planning to reinstate the local festival grants? Ford/ Meaning our own community promotional funding program? ..... Yes we are and we realize that some of the criteria ..... may not have been to your liking. We are very willing to work with the council to come up with criteria that would satisfy you as Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscriptlon ofthe]owa Citycouncil meetlngofJanuary 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 34 well. Obviously our chief mission is to grow tourism so that we can grow Hotel Motel Tax dollars and one of the ways that we felt having a program most worthwhile for everybody was to insure that the dollars were used for promoting ..... Kubby/ And it was really to promote outside a certain radius outside of Iowa City .... Ford/ That might have been a stumbling block. One which is very negotiable .... be happy to sit down and work out some details. Nov/ I seem to remember there was a subcommittee that was going to work on grant program. Do you remember what amounts they were suppose to work with? Ford/ The proposal last year was an amount equal to the greatest amount the Bureau had ever awarded and that was $7,500. I know in the year that we budgeted the $7,500 grant .... we had budgeted for $10,000 ..... Any play between there is definitely worthy of consideration. Kubby/ Money was distributed among many different festivals ..... Ford/ Per year over ten years .... value of being a recipient of one of those smaller amounts ...... Nov/ ...Thank you. I am assuming we are not going to make all of these decisions today .... We should go home and restudy the material and re-think and come back and make a decision. Thlsrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscrlptlon ofthelowa City council meeting of January 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 35 Council Time 96-14 S2 1. Kubby/ There are two things I am interested in getting some more information... 1-Transit. Possibility of having family bus passed similar to a swim pass idea and it sounded kind of intriguing. How could that work... school age people... 2. Kubby/ The other one. The Police Department has requested that you recommend that we go with $410,000 for computers? Atkins/ Computer upgrade .... that is why we carved it up into three years. Kubby/ I would like to understand what that system is about because part of me wants to say maybe they should have $380,000 computer and that other money can be put into our reserve or spent on some other items that we have been talking about. Atkins/ I will get you the details on that. We did split it into three years .... I will get you a memo on that. 3. Kubby/ Last night in our Transit discussion... two items we were going to get back to. It seems now is the time... put things out to the public... that was the spread of options on the monthly pass and the other one was the... amount of service at night. Do you have time scheduled at our informal to talk about it .... Norton/ Concerned about is exactly the form that that is going to be presented in the p.h ..... considering options .... Atkins/ Let me understand what I heard you say last night when we talked about the amount of service and the spread of the options. We were to take the $20- & $22-, calculate those numbers accurately... then there was a request for what does partial night time service reduction mean and we were to prepare something that gave you at least some kind of an option to work on. That is what I understood you wanted from us. We haven't finished it. Kubby/ I thought we had only looked at that $75,000 figure. Atkins/ I am using that as a target but I am assuming that it is not a hard and fast target .... you indicated the possibility of two loops or something similar to that. Norton/ ...see $75- and $100- level .... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 36 Atkins/ When you gave me that number it wasn't hard and fast .... we will prepare those in a fashion and let you react to them. Nov/ And you are going to prepare something in writing about all the things we talked about yesterday. But would you review the Transit pass costs that we talked about. I don't remember hearing that many. Atkins/ The Transit pass. The budget proposal calls for $.75 and $25. For each dollar reduction in the pass .... is a $12,000 loss in revenue .... Nov/ Atkins/ My impression... as a council policy option was a reduction in that pass that you had not settled on it. I showed $22 on the chart but it was still subject to debate .... It is a $25 proposal... I can outline those real quickly. Kubby/ Hard to educate the public .... Atkins/ We can prepare a range of numbers .... Kubby/ If we give some specifics in helps... Atkins/ Maybe we can put together some sort of a range... handout ...... The in what everybody said without committing you because the p,h. purpose .... heard you say to me we want to hear what the folks have to say. Kubby/ Range we talked about last night was $20 to $24. Lehman/ Norton/ Why do they have to know the $25 proposal? Atkins/ It is in the proposed budget... Norton/ Arkins/ Lehman/ I talked to Kelly Hayworth and Mayor of Coralville and they would really like $24. Atkins/ That is something to keep in mind. Thisrepresents only areasonebly accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meeting of Janun~ 23,1996, WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 37 Lehman/ Atkins/ They haven't had their hearing yet either. Thornberry/ How did that meeting go today? Baker/ Could we save that. Vanderhoef/ What I would like to offer here on that pass price if the public hears the $12,000 for each dollar difference in the pass price .... makes some difference on what we can do for night service, they may well be willing to say $24 works for Kubby/ Assuming.. only way that relationship can be .... are options. Thornberry/ Who is going to say I would like a higher rate ..... Kubby/ There are people who look at the whole picture. Nov/ ...cannot get along without the bus at 8:00 at night. Thornberry/ Kubby/ Other thing that I have heard... four different people say I can't afford $25. I think $18 is too low...if I had night service. I would be willing to pay whatever amount .... There are people who understand... Thornberry/ Someone from Madison, Wisconsin... said $.50... too cheap. They were paying $1.00 ..... Norton/ We are not going to have a chance to see what is going to be discussed on Tuesday night before hand .... Are we together Monday? Atkins/ I am going to get this prepared and out to you in a couple of days. I want you to have something in hand. Norton/ Lehman/ The options I think are ours ..... we explain the cost of reducing that... Arkins/ I think what Ernie is saying is... have to impress upon the public. Here is the proposal: $.75, $25, no night time This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23. 1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 38 service. Now that we understand that and that we are reviewing options... for example .... At least they can understand your perspective .... Kubby/ We are going to create some options to get out to the public to give us feedback about it ...... Norton/ Kubby/ Tone down what our parameters are so we can get more viable feedback. Lehman/ That is what our job is after the p.h ..... Has to be our call. Norton/ Hearing is on City Manager's proposed budget. Atkins/ That is your target .... My job is to make proposals, create a target. If you choose to move that target around, that is your call. I need to advise you the financial consequences of that. Nov/ What about trying to give a survey? .... some point that a specific late night route is more important because of the people who need it. Is there we are going to get that survey done° Atkins/ We are going to try to get you a survey .... Norton/ I will go down there in the morning ..... Atkins/ We are going to try to get something. We talked about it late this afternoon. Kubby/ Important to me that the public have information about what we are thinking about and what the consequences are of different kinds of decisions that we might make .... I am wondering- I want us to be as specific as we possibly can in terms of information that we put out to people ..... Atkins/ I think generally speaking we have to assume the public has an appreciation... people that appeared before you here tonight say I want my thing .... Kubby/... I would like to see us do is have at least four people say we would like to see two different options of two different levels of night service based roughly around figures Thtsrepresentsonlyareasonablyaccuratetranscriptton ofthelowaCIW councllmeetlngofJanuary 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 39 of $75,000 and $100,000. Atkins/ And that is what I heard you say. That is what I will try to prepare for you. Kubby/ About ten minutes ago I heard you say you are going to give us one option. Atkins/ No. $75,000 was the target. Shape something around that .... Can you prepare a night time service in and around that one route, two route, five routes. I will do as many as we can reasonably put together for you. We will get you something. Thornberry/ .... Do you have a letter out on the internet? Kubby/ Yeah. Thornberry/ Can I have a copy of that? Kubby/ Marian, can you give him a copy of that? It just reflects what it said last night. Thornberry/ I would like to see what we said. Kubby/ I guess I want to complete this. Baker/ Atkins/ You want night time service options. Baker/ ..... How it is presented to the public before the p.h. is that right? Kubby/ There is a couple of issues... One is I keep hearing Steve say that we will get you an option for night service that- Atkins/ You said you want to restore night time service. Nov/ Not the entire night time service. Atkins/ That is enough direction that I am assuming that okay, Steve, what kind of options are valuable within that very broad parameters of returning night time service in some fashion. You added to that... willing to spend $75,000. Those are targets. Norton/ This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WS012356 January 23, 1996 council Work Session Page 40 Arkins/ I think we are okay. I think we are going to do what you want me to do. Lehman/ I heard four council people say discontinuing all night time service without a viable options. I don't think any of us have concretely decided that the fees are where they should be. We had decided that we do need some night time service... we do need an option. Norton/ What we want to look at is a couple of alternative ways of defining replacing partial night time service .... Karen wants to be sure that we see not just one night time restoration option. Kubby/ .... If that is what everyone is understanding and agreeing to that is all I am getting. Vanderhoef... I asked for last night that I would like figures because I keep hearing all of you say night time service which I hear you saying... 11:00 .... and we don't have any numbers on ridership after 8:00 at night and it may well be that our best use of the dollar may be to continue service until 8:00 and nothing after that ..... Kubby/ And we requested that information last night, right? Atkins/ Restoration of night time service may be ending at 9:00 .... I hear you ..... I don't know. Nov/ Those are the kinds of things we can get from the survey ..... Atkins/ This work will be done before that survey is finished. These are going to be our best guesses for you. We got to get started on this right way. Baker/ Are you saying, Steve, the night of p.h. on Transit, you will actually have route alternatives? Arkins/ It can't be that specific .... I can give you some options... We have a formal meeting again on the 30th .... council time emphasizing the upcoming hearing... Atkins/ ... you have already instructed you want partial restoration. Now figure it out. Baker/ Is there any more questions on Transit because I have a different issue? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. W8012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 41 Norton/ We are missing that Tuesday before that the special hearing? ... February 6 but we together on Monday night, are we? special? When is are not meeting Kubby/ We are going to listen to the public and we might...talk about it. Nov/ We agreed last night to meet on Wednesday morning to talk about a decision making .... 9:30 .... Coming right back to it the next morning. Kubby/ ..... let people know that on February 4 at the Rec Center I am going to be sponsoring a Transit teach in to try to present some information of just stuff that staff has given us in terms of where the money comes from .... what the trends are in federal funding ..... It is important .... not four of us there .... Important for me to let you know that I am doing that... February 4 at the Rec Center. Norton/ Why doesn't the council get behind some fireside chats on t.v.? ..... briefing on Transit and any other topic .... Kubby/ I will also be doing probably a little five minute PATV thing about some trends in ridership .... episode of It's News To Us ..... as an individual... from my perspective ..... collective thing... good .... Norton/ Kubby/ Local issues from my perspective .... Baker/ Transit .... Nov/ Does anybody have any questions on SEATS? ...new information. Thornberry/ Need another time .... Kubby/ Maybe you could write some stuff up? Nov/ ....The county they wanted to get together and staff is prepared to do it but the county wanted somebody who was elected so we sent somebody. Norton/ ...options about getting our own program together along with Coralville... 4. Baker/ Tomorrow .... I have a question .... Wondering if majority Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscriptlon ofthelowa Citycouncil meetingofJanuary 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 42 of council would be willing to ask Steve to prepare a short memo about the budget implications of a 1/2, 3/4 or full time position in Human Rights .... Atkins/ $42,000 for full time. We have $6,000 in the budget. That would make you $34,000 short .... half time-lop it down the middle .... Baker/ Can you put that in a memo? Atkins/ Absolutely. Baker/ Here is what it is going to cost for A, B, and C ..... Atkins/ Have Dale do it. Nov/ 5. Norton/ Vanderhoef/ Baker/ Maybe we can do this... some of these things that Steve has approved. Norton/ I got a whole bundle of them I want to bring up. When? ICAD funding. Kubby/ In the past we have asked people who want to make changes from what is proposed to put them in a memo form. We did add that meeting on the 20th, right? So if everybody puts their stuff in writing to be in a packet .... February 20, added budget meeting. Nov/ That is CIP only because our budget has to be published on the 16th .... that was the 7th. Kubby/ The 7th, not the 20th. Karr/ We are meeting the 20th but no for that. Kubby/ 7th... budget. That is when we can do it. Nov/ We were able to get everybody in town... February 7. Kubby/ .... none of us have been able to talk about specific things that we want to propose. This represents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meetlngofJanua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Nov/ Can we do that in a memo? ..... Kubby/ I am suggesting that we each write on the 7th. Norton/ The morning after our hearing on Transit. Nov/ We really have to finalize .... Baker/ Once we pick a figure, we can't go up, we Kubby/ And we can change things around. Page 43 a memo .... talk about it Wow. can go down. Yucuis/ We will give you as much flexibility as possible which might mean that the numbers that are presented on state form might be higher to allow any flexibility that you want up to including the p.h ..... Baker/ Is the 7th ...personnel decisions. Atkins/ The sooner you get to that the better off... prepared coming in. Understand that what we would do is that from a tax perspective you have got no latitude anyway. That is fixed and you know how much money is coming. Don is suggesting... expenditure... puff that up in order to give you some flexibility .... You can always go down, you can't go up. Kubb¥/ We do need to build in to our budget deliberations time for us to talk and negotiate .... Atkins/ You can do it on 7th... also 20th .... Norton/ .... Haven't had much time for discourse on out own .... Feel like we are locked in a vice. Atkins/ In many respects you are because of the process that we are stuck with. Norton/ Nov/ Kubby/ We need to do as much as we can .... Atkins/ Keep in mind, on the 29th I did put a line under your work session-Budget .... This represents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 44 Vanderhoef/ Request... I am leaving down first thing on Friday morning .... give me as much as possible... Atkins/ ..... fax nearby... call and we could fax you something .... Karr/ The next Friday .... on the 2nd... Vanderhoef/ ...back on 6th .... Thornberry/ I am leaving Wednesday .... Vanderhoef/ I am leaving on morning of the 2nd ..... Thornberry/ Gone from 7th to 13th .... Karr/ Anybody who is leaving, let me know... I will have all of the calendars so you can take a look at them at anytime. I have got them all. Norton/ Leave a phone number where I can call you .... Baker/ You have mine .... Kubby/ Annie Tucker is here and has an interest in having some mediation moneys earmarked in the City Attorney's Office is anybody wants to talk to her before she slips away .... Annie Tucker/ (Can't hear). Nov/ Tell us what you were going to say .... Annie Tucker/ The idea came from the fact that I know.. mediated disputes in this community .... neighborhood disputes .... What is happened is...as a mediator... In these situations I felt like I had to ..... CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-15 SIDE 2 Tucker/ Were interested in being involved .... but often folks are not interested in putting money toward this kind of process ... budget where the city made funds available to folks who were willing to mediate just so the process could happen .... save time .... if folks handled the problem... I called Dee and talked to him .... Put it together really quickly.,. basic idea is a valid one... Linda... she concurs ..... She was willing to have it in her budget. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 23, 1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 45 Nov/ I am not sure that I understand .... isn't it a conflict for the city to pay the mediator .... Tucker/ If it is an independent fund .... Nov/ Still city money .... Thornberry/ ..I would like to see a lot more mediation done ..... Norton/ ...Available to an individual .... issues .... not interested in paying mediation costs in those cases. Nov/ I might be interested... conflict of interest ..... Norton/ .... I found it difficult to understand .... Kubby/ Here is an example .... $4,000 set aside for mediation... Two neighborhood groups want to apply to use those moneys to talk to each other in a more structured way versus going to court .... A way to apply for those funds .... Maybe a community group... Norton/ Did you see the mailing from the Iowa Peace Institute today? I will put it in the hopper .... Dubuque has taken a big contract with iowa Peace Institute .... training city staff in mediation. Tucker/ .... hate to see it not happening for lack of funds or time .... I was just trying to figure out a way for that commitment to work out ..... If there were public moneys available .... Nov/ I have heard from other cities... set up mediation system .... Tucker/ .... I don't see the conflict of interest .... Thornberry/ Norton/ .... aware of the possibility of mediation ...... Nov/ We have talked about it for a number of years .... Tucker/ ...I know that people want to mediate .... Nov/ We did have several cases mediated in the Human Rights Department .... city did pay for that .... Thisrepresents only areasonably accurate transcription ofthelowa City council meeting of January 23,1996. WS012396 January 23, 1996 Council Work Session Page 46 Helling/ We pay for it but the city is not a party to that meeting ...... The city pays for it as a way to resolve these complaints but the city is not a party to the mediation .... Tucker/ These are cases where the city is not involved .... Vanderhoef/ Kubby/ Tucker/ Given the ...number of times people choose mediation .... Just looking for a way to make it happen. Thanks for you time. Nov/ Thank you. Tucker/ Interesting watching you folks work together. Nov/ I had a call today from Don Yarbrough and University Hts. about possibility... Neuzil Property and I ask HIS to check into it. We had Dee Norton volunteering to go to the Emergency Management Committee this time. I am looking for a commitment Council/ (All talking). Adjourned: 10:15 PM. Thisrepresents only areesonably~ccuretetrenscdptlon ofthelowa City council meeting of Janua~ 23,1996. WS012396