HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-02-27 AgendaIOWA CITY CiTY COUNCIL
AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 1996
7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CIVIC CENTER
410 EAST WASHINGTON
Subject to change as finalized by the City Clerk. For a final official copy, contact the City
Clerk's Office, 356-5040.
AGENDA ~_.~~
IOWA CITY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - FEBRUARY 27, 1996
7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS ~/~~
ITEM NO. 1 - CALL TO ORDER.
ROLL CALL.
ITEM NO. 2 -
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
a. Presentation of Citizenship Awards to students of Horace Mann Elemen-
tary School.
Derek Dreier
Sonya Erickson
(3) Aldino Frassinelli
Kevin Hansen
Mary Hicks
(6) Nell Smith
ITEN1 NO. 3 - MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION.
~..a'. Iowa City Community Theatre Week - March 24-30, 1996
C.b. American Red Cross Month - March, 1996
ITE~N ' ~z'J3/" Designation of Iowa City as a "Bicycle Friendly Community~.. . ~ .,~-..
O. 4- C"ONSII~IER ADOPTION OF TRE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR
AMENDED.
Approval of Official Council actions of the regular meeting of February
13, 1996, as published, subject to corrections, as recommended by the
City Clerk.
b. Minutes of Boards and Commissions.
(1)
Riverfront and Natural Areas Commission meeting of December
20, 1995.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Riverfront and Natural Areas Commission meeting of January 17,
1996.
Parks and Recreation Commission meeting of January 1 O, 1996.
Iowa City Airport Commission meeting of January 11, 1996.
Iowa City Public Library Board of Trustees meeting of January
25, 1996.
(6) Rules Committee meeting of February 9, 1996.
#3a
Nov/
Greg
page 1
NO. 3a - MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION.
a. Designation of Iowa City as a "Bicycle Friendly Community".
(Reads proclamation) This is Greg Kovaciny and Terry Dahms and
Charlie Denhey who are accepting this proclamation and if they
would like to say something, they should at this microphone.
Kovaciny/ My name is Greg Kovaciny and as a 20 plus year
member of the League of American Bicyclists, sponsors of the
Bicycle Friendly Community Program, I am both honored and
gratified to receive this award along with Terry Dahms and
Charlie Denhey for the City of Iowa City. This award is a mile
stone. It recognizes that Iowa City cares about bicycling and
that it is working to improve conditions for bicyclists. Many
positive things have happened in recent years through the
efforts of JCCOG staff, particularly the dedicated work of
Assistant Transportation Planner Charlie Denhey, the Regional
Trails and Bicycling Committee, city council actions and
private non-profit organizations such as FIRST, BBOPS,
Bicyclists of Iowa City and others. Some of these efforts
include the formation of the Regional Trails and Bicycling
Committee, bicycle mounted police, more and higher security
bicycle parking in the d.t. area, Bicycle Parking Ordinance
for multi-family dwellings, consideration of bicycles in the
planning stage of new roadway construction, preparations for
a system and map of designated bicycle routes, development of
an area wide trail system including the Iowa River Scenic
Trail, Bike To Work Week sponsored by BBOPS and Bicyclists of
Iowa City, and more. Many things remain to be done. Motorists
and bicyclists alike need to be more fully understanding that
they are all equal users of our roadways and that we all need
to share the road. Bicycle educational efforts for all ages
that concentrate on vehicular style bicycling in traffic can
increase safety and vehicle law compliance. Consistent
enforcement of bicycle traffic regulations sends the word that
bicyclists are part of the traffic system and should act
accordingly. This award is not a recognition that we have
reached the peak but that we are beginning to climb in earnest
and that we as a city have done well in our preparation for
the hills ahead. This award recognizes our accomplishments but
also states that we mush continue our efforts to improve
bicycling in Iowa City to be able to retain the nationally
recognized title of Bicycle Friendly Community. Iowa City
commitment is strong. I am sure we will continue forward. I
would like to stand here in 5-10 years accepting an award
recognizing Iowa City as one of the ten best cities in America
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F022796
#3a page 2
in which to ride a bicycle. Our unique character in this
community gives us that potential. Time and hard work will
tell if Iowa City peddles to the top or takes the sag wagon
home early. I am sure I will be peddling to the top. Thank you
all.
Kubby/ Charlie, will you hold that sign up in the back once. I
didn't get- Where will that large sign go?
Charlie Denney/ (Can,t hear).
Kubby/ So it will be decided later where they will go.
Terry Dahms/ My name is Terry Dahms with FIRST and the Iowa Scenic
Trail. I will keep my comments a lot shorter, especially if
you don't ask any questions. I simply want to say that I think
this placque and this award is testimony to what a number of
diverse groups can accomplish once they start working
together. We certainly are doing that now. Thank you.
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F022796
#3b page 1
ITF~[ NO. 3b - Fu~YOR~8 PROeLaTION.
b. Iowa City Community Theater Week - March 24-30, 1996
Nov/ (Reads proclamation).
Diane Thayer/ I am president of the Iowa City Community Theater. In
the live of a community theater, 40 years is a very long time
and I feel that we are very fortunate to be in a community
that has supported us so strongly in our first 40 years. We
look forward to many wonderful things in the next 40 or
however many years. And so in behalf of myself, the board of
directors and the entire Iowa City Community Theater
membership, I wish to say a very sincere thank you.
Nov/ We thank you for all the good work that you have done for this
community.
Thayer/ Thank you.
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F022796
#3c page
ITEM NO. 9o - MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION.
c. American Red Cross Month - March, 1996
Nov/
Do we have somebody here to accept it? Okay, I was told there
wasn't somebody. Do you have a fancy copy? Okay. Sorry, we
cross the wires once in a while, nothing serious. (Reads
proclamation).
Betsy Tatro/ We would just like to thank the citizens of Iowa City
for supporting the Red Cross. I just was thinking about it and
next year, in '97, we will be in the Johnson County Community
for 80 years. So, we really could not do it without the
support of the community and we thank the mayor and the
council for proclaiming March as Red Cross Month and we are
here. We are here to help and just as it says, our volunteers
are out there 365 days a year responding to local disasters
whether it is a s.f. fire, a fraternity house burning or the
floods of '93. We are here and we are prepared. Thank you.
Nov/
Okay. Proclamations are finished. I want to tell everybody
that Iowa City requires that the Mayor present a State of the
City message once a year in February and I have copies of this
available in print. I am not going to read it. Those who want
to hear it, I have recorded it on video tape and it will be
broadcast when the tape of this particular meeting is
broadcast. So it will be available on video for those who want
it that way and print copies are available from the City
Clerk.
Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meeting of Febma~ 27,1996.
F022796
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 27, 1996
Page 2
c. Permit Motions and Resolutions as Recommended by the City Clerk.
{1)
Consider a motion approving a Class "E" Liquor License for H¥-
Vee Food Stores, Inc., dba Drugtown//1,521 Hollywood Blvd.
(Renewal)
Consider a motion approving a Class "E" Beer Permit for Hy-Vee
Food Stores, Inc., dba Drugtown #1,521 Hollywood Blvd. (Re-
Setting Public Hearings.
(1)
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARING FOR
MARCH 5, 1996, ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CON-
TRACT AND ESTIMATED COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE
HIGHWAY l/GILBERT STREET INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT.
Comment: This project consists of adding protected left turn lanes
to the north, south, and east legs of the Gilbert Street and Burlington
Street intersection. This project was postponed last year in an effort
to coordinate the construction schedules of this intersection project
with the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Highway 1
Ralston Creek Bridge Replacement Project and to coordinate design
with the Near Southside Redevelopment Plan. The City's intersec-
tion project will proceed this year although the IDOT has indefinitely
suspended their bridge replacement project.
This project has been reviewed by the Design Review Committee and
elements of the Near Southside Redevelopment Plan including brick
crosswalks, brick parkways and curb ramps, and electrical conduit
for future pedestrian lighting have been added as alternate bid items
to this project.
The estimated construction cost for the base bid is $529,000. The
estimated construction cost for the alternate bid items is $100,000.
Funding for this project will come from road use taxes, bond pro-
ceeds, and a maximum of t~200,000 from Iowa DOT USTEP monies.
The alternate bid items are not eligible for USTEP funding.
Motions,
(1)
CONSIDER A MOTION TO APPROVE DISBURSEMENTS IN THE
AMOUNT Of $7,289,582.02 FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1
THROUGH JANUARY 31,1996, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE FI-
NANCE DIRECTOR SUBJECT TO AUDIT. DISBURSEMENTS ARE
PUBLISHED AND PERMANENTLY RETAINED IN THE CITY
CLERK'S OFFICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE CODE.
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
To:
Mayor, City Council and General Public
From: City Clerk
Date:
February 27, 1996
Re:
Additions to the Consent Calendar
No.4c(3) nsider a motion approving a Class "B" Beer Permit for Sam Ko
'~ Corp. dba Ko's Kitchen, 18 S. Clinton St. (New)
Item No.4f(6)
Petition from Regina PTO requesting an all-pedestrian phase
button operation at the intersection of First Ave. & Rochester
Ave.
Item No.4f(7)
Letter from Craig & Nancy Willis, Security Abstract Company,
regarding the City Assessor position.
item No.4f(8)
Memo from City Manager regarding appointment of Fire Chief.
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
To:
From;
Date:
Re:
Mayor, City Council and General Public
City Clerk
February 27, 1996
Additions to the Consent Calendar
Item No.4c(3) Consider a motion approving a Class "B" Beer Permit for Sam Ko
Corp. dba Ko's Kitchen, 18 S. Clinton St. (New)
No.4f(6)"~ Petition from Regina PTO requesting an all-pedestrian phase
~b, utton operation at the intersection of First Ave. & Rochester
vAve.
Item No.4f(7) _etter from Craig & Nancy Willis, Security Abstract Company,
egarding the City Assessor position.
Ite~ Memo from City Manager regarding appointment of Fire Chief.
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 27, 1996
Page 3
ITEM NO. 5.-
f. Correspondence.
(1) Letters regarding Iowa City Human Rights Commission funding:
a. Rabbi Jeff Portman
b. Reverend Rick Yramategui
(2) Letters regarding public transit:.
a. Edwin L. Clopton
b. Bonnie Love
c. Rockne L. and Deborah A. Foreman
Letter from the Melrose Avenue Neighborhood Association re-
garding Melrose Avenue reconstruction project.
(4)
Letter from the Chair of the Penny Bryn Neighborhood Associa-
tion requesting funding for traffic calming.
Memorandum from the Iowa City Civil Service Commission sub-
reitting a certified list of applicants for the position of Construc-
g. Applications for Use of Streets and Public Grounds.
(1)
Application from the RiverRun/RiverFest Commission to hold
RiverRun 1996 on April 28. 1996. (approved)
(2)
Application from Mark Ginsberg to hold Jazz Fest on July 3 and
4, 1996. (approved)
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION {ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
#4 page
ITEM NO. 4 - CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR A8 PRE-
SENTED OR AMENDED.
Nov/ Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Norton. Okay. Is there any
discussion?
Atkins/ Yes, ma'am. I would like to note one item that has been
added to your Consent Calendar and that is a memorandum of
appointments for Andy Rocca who I will be appointing effective
immediately as our new Fire Chief. Andy has served the city
for 18 years in various capacities within the department.
Following our nationwide recruitment, we have selected Andy as
the new chief.
Kubby/ I am very happy with your decision.
Atkins/ So am I.
Kubby/ And he has accepted I assume?
Atkins/ Yes. It is all done.
Kubby/ I had a question about on page 3, f(4) A letter about
traffic calming. I can't remember, it has been a while since
I have looked at this, CIP. Is there a line item for traffic
calming in our budget?
Atkins/ I don't recall specifically but I do recall we have a line
item, a lump sum of money. I just don't recall what it was. We
did have something in there, yes.
Nov./ There is a letter in here from Bonnie Love about the need for
buses at Eastdale and I wish we could answer that.
Atkins/ Prepare a response? Certainly.
Nov/ Also in this agenda we are setting a p.h. for March 5 on plans
for the reconstruction of the Gilbert Street/Hwy
intersection. It is Gilbert Street and Burlington. Anything
else? Okay, roll call- (yes).
Thisrepresents only areasonably accurate transcription ofthelowa City council meeting of Februery 27,1996.
F022796
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meet!ng
February 27, 1996
Page 4
ITEM NO,
6 - PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS,
Consider setting a public hearing for March 26 on an amendment to the
Comprehensive Plan to incorporate an amendment to the JCCOG Arterial
Street Plan which includes Oakdale Boulevard.
Comment: At its February 15 meeting, by a vote of 5-1, with Scott
voting no, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval
of an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to incorporate an amend-
ment to the JCCOG Arterial Street Plan adding Oakdale Boulevard be-
tween First Avenue in Coralville and County Road W66, Dubuque Street.
b. Consider setting a public hearing for March 26 on an ordinance amend-
ing the Zoning Chapter by changing the use regulations of an approxi-
mate ,14 acre parcel located at 24 N. Van Buren Street from RM-44,
High Density M~lti~.~y Residential, to R/O, Residential/Office,
{REZ95-0016)
Comment: At its February 15 meeting, by a vote of 6-0, the Planning
and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the requested rezon-
ing, The Commissions' recommendation is consistent with the staff
recommendation contained in the staff memorandum dated February 9.
Public hearing on an ordinance amending Title 14, Chapter 6, "Zoning,"
Article H, "Industrial Zones," to allow the outdoor storage of recyclable
materials in the I-1 zone as an accessory use to a recycling processing
facility by special exception.
Comment: At its February 1 meeting, by a vote of 4-0, the Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended approval of the proposed amendment
concerning outdoor storage of recyclable materials. The Commission's
recommendation is consistent with the staff recommendation contained
in the staff memorandum dated February 1.
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 27, 1996
Page 5
Public hearing on an ordinance amending Title 14, Chapter 6, "Zoning,"
to allow temporary real estate sales centers in residential zones.
Comment: At its February 1 meeting, by a vote of 4-0, the Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended approval of the proposed amendment
concerning real estate sales centers in residential zones. The
Commission's recommendation is consistent with the staff recommenda-
tion contained in the staff memorandum dated February 1.
Action: ~'[_O ~-~ ~
Public hearing on an ordinance amending the Conditional Zoning Agree-
ment for the D&L Subdivision, located southeast of the intersection of
Highway 1 and Sunset Street, to eliminate the requi.r,e_~pnt to provide
access to property to the south. (REZ96-000:~)
Comment: At its February 1 meeting, by a vote of 4-0, the Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended approval of the proposed amendment
of the Conditional Zoning Agreement for the D&L Subdivision. The Com-
mission's recommendation is consistent with the staff recommendation
contained in the staff memorandum dated January 18. In a letter dated
February 20, 1996, the applicant is requesting expedited consideration
of this item.
Public hearing on an ordinance amending Title 14, Chapter 6, entitled
"Zoning," Article K, entitled "Environmental Regulations," Section 1,
entitled "Sensitive Areas Ordinance," Subsection I, entitled "Steep
Slopes," to allow consideration of development activities within areas
containing previously altered slopes.
Comment: At its February 1 meeting, by a vote of 4-0, the Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended approval of an amendment to the
steep slopes section of the Sensitive Areas Ordinance. The
Commission's recommendation is consistent with the staff recommen-
dation contained in the staff memorandum dated January 18. Public
comments were received at the February 13 public hearing on this item.
Action:
#6d page
ITEM NO. 6d.
Public hearing on an ordinance amending Title 14,
Chapter 6, "Zoning," to allow temporary real estate
sales centers in residential zones.
Nov/ P.h. is open. Okay. P.h. is closed.
Thornberry/ I had a question. The question being- I had a question
on a letter that was submitted on L1- What was the - It had to
do with the number of units left unsold before the unit had to
go away.
Bob Miklo/ As the ordinance was originally drafted after 90% of the
units were sold or 10% remaining, the ordinance required that
the model dwellings unit real estate sale center be closed.
There was a letter submitted by the Homebuilders Association
asking that that particular provision be removed. That the
model home real estate sales center be allowed to continue
until the last home was sold. P/Z Commission considered that
and they changed the ordinance to allow up to five homes left
before the model sales center real estate center had to be
closed. The justification being concerns about traffic in the
neighborhood and that the real estate center might end up
being an office for other developments. In response to the
letter, the commission did change the ordinance slightly,
changing it from 10% to five remaining units.
Lehman/ Which is what we have tonight?
Miklo/ Right.
Norton/ Or 10%, whichever is less?
Miklo/ Right.
Thornberry/ What did the- Did the Homebuilders, did that satisfy
the Homebuilders? Did you respond to their letter?
Miklo/ Only in the extent that at the p.h. of the P/Z Commission
they made the change. There was no one present from the
Homebuilders.
Kubby/ So will a letter be sent to them saying what action was
taken on the part of the P/Z?
Miklo/ We can certainly inform them.
Kubby/ That would be good since they took the time to respond to
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F022796
#6d page 2
us.
Thornberry/ Thank you.
Nov/ Any other discussion?
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F022796
#6f page 1
ITEM NO. 6f.
Public hearing on an ordinance amending Title 14,
Chapter 6, entitled "Zoning," Article K, entitled
"Environmental Regulations," Section 1, entitled
"Sensitive Areas Ordinance," Subsection I, entitled
"Steep Slopes," to allow consideration of
development activities within areas containing
previously altered slopes.
Nov/ Public hearing is open. Is there anyone who wants to talk
about this item?
Richard Rhodes/ I live at 2014 Rochester Avenue and I spoke to you
last time about this matter. One of the things that was
implied by another speaker during the last p.h. was that our
Sensitive Areas Ordinance is highly experimental. I do not
believe this to be true. While serving on the committee that
developed this ordinance, city staff gave us examples or
summaries of ordinances from at least 37 other communities in
17 states. I really commend staff for being so, what do I want
to say here, so good in finding examples all over the place
for us to look at. Many of these examples seem to regulate
only individual types of sensitive areas. For our Sensitive
Areas ordinance, it is far more comprehensive. None the less,
most aspects of the Sensitive Areas Ordinance had been tested
in other communities. Some starting as long ago as 1978. For
instance, this would be West Bloomfield, Michigan which has
been regulating wetlands since that time. I again urge you to
allow our ordinance to stand unamended until we have truly
tested its local impact. Thank you.
Nov/ Is there anyone else? Public hearing is closed. Is there any
discussion among the council?
Thornberry/ Oh, there is.
Norton/ I have one comment. It will presumably come up on this item
or the next one. I begin to worry, will this modification to
allow some work on altered slopes of over 40 degrees have to
be adopted also in some form to apply to critical slopes and
steep slopes, that is 25 degree slopes and so on? Will we have
to have a separate ordinance for each degree of slope?
Bob Miklo/ The ordinance in place currently allows alteration of
those other two slopes. Those of 18% or greater and those 25%
up to 40%. So there is some flexibility already built in.
Norton/ Enough, okay.
Thlsrepresents only areasonably accurate transcrlptiun ofthelowa City council meeting of February 27.1996.
F022796
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 27, 1996
Page 6
Consider an ordinance amending Title 14, Chapter 6, entitled "Zoning,"
Article K, entitled "Environmental Regulations," Section 1, entitled
"Sensitive Areas Ordinance," Subsection I, entitled "Steep Slopes," to
allow consideration of development activities within areas containing
previously altered slopes. (First consideration)
Comment: See Item f.
Public hearing on an ordinance amending the Zoning Chapter by approv-
ing a Sensitive Areas Development Plan and changing the use regula-
tions from PRM, Planned High Density Multi-Family Residential Zone, to
PRM-OSA, Planned High Density Multi-family Residential - Sensitive
Areas Overlay Zone for a 0.32 acre property located at 517 S. Linn
Street.
Comment: At its February 1 meeting, by a vote of 4-0, the Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended approval of a Sensitive Areas Devel-
opment Plan and Sensitive Areas Overlay rezoning of the 517 S. Linn
Street property, subject to approval of amendments to the Sensitive
Areas Ordinance pertaining to previously altered slopes. The Commis-
sion's recommendation is consistent with the staff recommendation
contained in the staff report dated January 18. No public comments
were received at the February 13 public hearing on this item.
Action:
Consider an ordinance amending the Zoning Chapter by approving a
Sensitive Areas Development Plan and changing the use regulations from
PRM, Planned High Density Multi-Family Residential Zone, to PRM-OSA,
Planned High Density Multi-family Residential - Sensitive Areas Overlay
Zone for a 0.32 acre property located at 517 S. Linn Street. (REZ96-
0001) (First consideration)
Comment: See Item h. In a letter dated February 21, 1996, the appli-
cant has requested expedited consideration of this item.
·
.
#6g page 1
ITEM NO. 6g.
Consider an ordinance amending Title 14, Chapter 6,
entitled "Zoning," Article K, entitled
"Environmental Regulations," Section 1, entitled
"Sensitive Areas Ordinance," Subsection I, entitled
"Steep Slopes," to allow consideration of
development activities within areas containing
previously altered slopes. (First consideration)
Nov/ Moved by Lehman, seconded by Thornberry. Discussion.
Thornberry/ I was going to say via this last item and its-the last
one and this one, altered slopes- I think it kind of depends
and I don't know if the regulation addresses this particular
thing. But I mentioned last night that if I were to dig a hole
and put the dirt beside the hole and left it for awhile, grass
started growing on the little mound of dirt that I took out of
the hole, is that a slope? And last night, Karen thought it
was a slope that should be protected. If there were varmints
growing, living on the-in the grass on the slope, little trees
started growing on the little mound, is that a- We can go
overboard on this thing and I still say it is an ordinance but
I think it has got to be a guideline. We have got to look at
it realistically.
Norton/ I thought that was the case. I thought it was fairly
flexible within reason.
Kubby/ Why don't we let Bob answer the question about whether a
pile of dirt that Dean creates is a slope.
Miklo/ A slope has to have a rise of ten feet. So it would have to
be four feet tall.
Thornberry/ A big hole.
Nov/ Well, we did have one of those big holes.
Lehman/ Naomi, I think when we pass this and I guess one of the
reasons that I supported this one was the indication on the
part of city staff that indicates they would be as flexible as
they could in trying to make this ordinance work. And I think
it is very very important. The thing I guess that would
encourage me to support this is that city staff and P/Z
Commission both have unanimously approved this proposed
amendment. Now, I really think, I speak only for myself, I
guess I would doubt that very many folks on council know as
much about this as city staff and P/Z do. And I guess I am
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F022796
~6g page 2
willing to accept their recommendation at this point. Let's go
on with it. Let's see if this flexibility can be built in and
if we could do what we intend to do. I think the intent of the
ordinance is what we are looking at. The intent to protect
sensitive areas and the ordinance must do that. But I think we
have to depend on the expertise of staff and P/Z in making
recommendations to us. For that reason I will support this.
Vanderhoef/ And I think this amendment is coming back in a way that
is saying that we weren't perfect and we realize it and we are
going to give that flexibility into the program right now
which I support.
Kubby/ One of the problems I have with, as a council, are mode of
operation being we are not experts, therefore, we should do
what our citizen committees and our staff says. That means we
would make no independent or make any changes about transit,
engineering, solid waste, human rights, because none of us are
experts in those kind of areas. Therefore, what is our job?
So, I follow the logic to a certain degree but ultimately it
is our decision to think that what we put our names on is good
for the community. So, I don't behave in that way and hope
that we don't as a group. Dean, when you say this should be
guidelines, this is a law and this particular ordinance has
flexibility, has choices for people. But it is not a guideline
and it may be that the majority feels that this should be
changed. At this point, I am not interested in changing this
area of the Sensitive Areas Ordinance even with looking at
this on a case by case basis. That adds a little more
protection. Even with there being a public process versus an
administrative process which provides for more protection for
certain kinds of slopes. And even if the desire to cut into an
altered slope follows the intent of the ordinance, I am not
ready to do this and one of the reasons is that in the
ordinance it kind of implies that altered slopes can be
protectedby certain kinds of engineering and geologic studies
and knowing how to construct the buildings correctly.
Thornberry/ What does kind of implies?
Kubby/ It says that development activities within previously
altered or man-made which we should amend tonight-
Woito/ I agree, it should be in there. Well, it should be in the
definition as human activity. Anyway, go ahead.
Kubby/ Okay. That these altered protected slopes can be designed to
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F022796
#6g p~ge 3
protect the public from injury, property damage while
preserving the scenic character and environmental benefits of
such slope. That statement is true of natural slopes as well.
But you can cut into a natural slope of a 40% grade or greater
and not have it fall down or erode any faster or differently
because of the way it is done properly. But we have made a
conscious decision that we don't want to do that for natural
slopes. So I am at a loss to understand why an altered slope
would be treated any differently. And so I won't support this
at this time and I know that this was brought to our attention
by a specific developer and I guess when someone has a
development and what they want they do doesn't fit into our
ordinances, instead of us changing the ordinances, I would
rather have the development be reconfigured to fit into our
values of wanting to protect critical slopes of 40% or
greater.
Baker/ Could I ask a question for clarification? Something that
Karen, you brought up. I am looking at the second page of the
ordinance here where under protected slopes is says any area
designated as a natural protected slop, 40% plus, shall not be
graded unless remain in its existing state, except that
natural vegetation may be supplemented by other plant
materials. Any said property shall be required to submit a
sensitive areas development plan and a grading unless said
property qualifies for exemption within this section. Now,
this is not a question for Karen but somebody. Is that saying
that indeed we do allow development on a 40% slope, natural or
other wise?
Nov/ That would be a Bob Miklo question.
Miklo/ The exemptions would be for one s.f. home or duplex, a
public facility such as a water or gas line or sanitary sewer
line. So it is very limited in terms of what would be allowed
in situations such as these. There are exemptions.
Baker/ So, I think Karen raises a logical question. I am not saying
I agree with here but the logical question was not clear in my
mind. If indeed we restrict it so severely on 40% or 40 degree
natural slope. What is the distinction on a man-made or human
made slope of 40%?
Miklo/ A distinction is that in a natural setting these slopes are
most likely going to be associated with other environmental
features such as woodlands, streams. Whereas the cases we have
come across so far where they have been created by human
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F022796
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activity they have been-those environmental features aren't
there necessarily. A good example would be the Towncrest site.
That was filled over time and as a result of the bringing in
of rubble and other fill, there are slopes of 40% but
vegetation is rather recent. It isn't forested. It isn't cut
into by a stream. So, we feel, the P/Z Commission felt that
there should be more flexibility in altered slopes such as
that.
Baker/ Okay.
Kubby/ Although you could say that those slopes are part of the
urban landscape now and- They are part of the urban landscape
and they still have some environmental benefits even if they
aren't associated with other sensitive features.
Baker/ Let me ask for clarification on the second part of this
Section C as well that is highlighted in bold face.
Development activities may be allowed within areas containing
altered protected slopes if a geologists or profession
engineer can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the city that
a development activity will not undermine the stability of the
slope and the city determines that the development activities
are consistent with the intent of the Sensitive Areas
ordinance and that determination is made through a public
review process going through this body. Right? Okay. Now, you
mentioned the limitations on a natural slope development. What
are the limitations on an altered slope development? How much
more permissive are we in an altered slope development?
Miklo/ We would determine that on a case by case basis. There may
be things that are proposed in an altered slope that the P/Z
Commission, staff and in the end, council decides are not
appropriate because they may result in things which are de-
stabilization of the slope of they are not consistent with the
intent of the ordinance.
Baker/ But surely there are some expectations in print somewhere,
guidelines somewhere, about what P/Z or staff will allow.
Miklo/ It refers back to the intent of the ordinance which is to
protect scenic areas, natural areas, streams, etc. So an
example might be the limestone bluffs on the west side of
Riverside Drive. Some of those are manmade slopes, human made
slopes, that were created when the area was quarried or rocks
were removed for the building of the roadway. Those are areas
where someone could propose further development. We would
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F022796
#6g page 5
probably as staff recommend against that and I would imagine
P/Z would follow that recommendation. So that is where the
case by case review comes in and even though those are created
slopes or altered slopes, there are environmental features
about those that make them important to preserve and they are
also scenic features that make them worth preserving. It is
more difficult to stabilize those if they are furthered
altered.
Baker/ Sandy pointed out the extensive research staff did on this,
37 cities or whatever. Had this issue ever arisen somewhere
else? Never been anticipated somewhere else?
Miklo/ I would have to go back and review.
Baker/ Okay, so we are doing this in response to a particular
proposal that under the ordinance that was passed previously,
would not be allowed?
Miklo/ I wouldn't say we are doing this based on a particular
proposal. This came to our attention when the HyVee site plan
was submitted for Towncrest site. That site plan was submitted
before the ordinance was adopted and went into effect. So we
saw that and said, well, in this case, if the ordinance was in
effect, HyVee couldn't be built as proposed because there is
a slope of 40% that would be altered. Subsequently, the
Kidwell project which is the next one on your agenda was
submitted and the same situation applied then and there will
probably be others.
Baker/ So it wasn't necessarily the Kidwell project that prompted
the revision?
Mik10/ It was already an area that we had identified for possible
amendment.
Baker/ I don't think I am jumping too far ahead here but on the
Kidwell project, would you very briefly tell us what kind of
project that is. It is apartment dwellings? How many units?
Miklo/ Correct. I believe it is a 16 unit multi-family.
Baker/ For the public's information. Thank you.
Norton/ Bob, jumping ahead again a little. For example, that
Kidwell project were it turned the other way, it wouldn't jam
into the hill as much, right? But you would have to have a
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F022796
#6g page 6
smaller structure on the land that is available?
Miklo/ In order to avoid moving into the hillside of the slope, the
building would need to be made smaller.
Norton/ Okay. Now, had that been a natural slope behind it, it
would have had to been turned, right?
Miklo/ That is correct. A natural slope of 40% under the current
ordinance and this proposed amendment could not be altered.
Norton/ So there is kind of an operational distinction between
times when you couldn't proceed with a natural slope there but
you can with an altered slope there because we treasure them
somehow less, I think, basically.
Baker/ You are also assuming a different surrounding environment
for a manmade slope, human made slope, than a-
Norton/ You can imagine an altered slope that is as beautiful as a
natural one. And I presume we would favor the natural
interpretation. We will have to hope that P/Z does.
Nov/ Well, I think he gave an excellent example of a slope of 40%
or greater that was created, that was altered and it would
certainly not be allowed to be reconstructed. There are those
kinds of things.
Kubby/ Although there was some talk last night about the
possibility of us being presented tonight with some
administrative approval of alterations in a human made or
altered slope. Is that not forthcoming?
Miklo/ Staff is not going to propose administrative proposal. We
are aware of another project and there was some question as to
whether it could be approved administratively and it can't.
Kubby/ I am glad there is no proposal to do. It is another safe
guard to, if this if going to pass, to make it (can't hear)
about the intent of the ordinance more thoroughly by having
more public scrutiny.
Baker/ Which is one of those safe guards that makes the whole
ordinance more palpable to me. The fact that we do have some
sort of review at this level as well.
Nov/ That is my reason for voting for it all because it does
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require a case by case review and it requires that review to
go through all the steps. We can turn it down at a later date.
Karen, do you want to move the amendment? Is there a
definition?
Kubby/ What we have in our packet, Linda, says manmade.
Woito/ I know.
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-34 SIDE 1
Kubby/ Made, via human activity.
Woito/ I would suggest that we insert into the definition any slope
of 40% or steeper created by human activity of cutting or
filling, period, prior to December 13.
Nov/ That is fine for the definition but Karen was amending in the
whereas in the beginning. How could we re-word that one?
Kubby/ Can we say human made there? Because there are women
contractors out there doing work.
Norton/ Created or altered by human activity.
Kubby/ Language to create (can't hear).
Woito/ Right, we will fix it.
Kubby/ I move those two amendments.
Nov/ Moved by Kubby, seconded by Lehman and any further discussion
on the amendments to become, how should we say, gender
neutral.
Woito/ We will clean it up.
Nov/ We will clean it up. We will trust our city attorney to do it
right.
Woito/ Thank you.
Nov/ Any further discussion? All in favor please say aye- (ayes).
Opposed same sign- (no: Thornberry). Okay, 6-0. 6-1, excuse
me. Now, if I can go back to the original. The amendment
carried. So we are on item g. to amend the Sensitive Areas
Ordinance including the amendment of the definition of slopes
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F022796
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and we have to have a roll call- (6-1, Kubby- no). Okay. The
amendment passed and first consideration of the ordinance
passed.
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F022796
#6i page 1
ITEM
Consider an ordinance amending the Zoning Chapter
by approving a Sensitive Areas Development Plan and
changing the use regulations from PRM, Planned High
Density Multi-Family Residential Zone, to PRM-OSA,
Planned High Density Multi-family Residential -
Sensitive Areas Overlay Zone for a 0.32 acre
property located at 517 S. Linn Street. (REZ96-
0001) (First consideration)
Nov/ Moved by Thornberry, seconded by Vanderhoef.
Kubby/ That motion cannot be made. We cannot the ordinance in one
fail swoop.
Nov/ No, first consideration. He didn't quite say first
consideration but we assume that is what he meant.
Baker/ Dean was just trying to expedite it.
Kubby/ Well, that is what I thought.
Thornberry/ I was just doing what it said, first consideration.
Nov/ Okay. If we expedite, we do not do it at first consideration.
You may choose to do it next time. We are not even going to
consider it today.
Kubby/ And we would need to expedite the item above to do the
ordinance. Out of protest because I feel strongly about this
issue, I will be voting no until the majority of council has
passed the amendment to the amendment to the ordinance. So on
the third consideration I will vote for this amendment because
it makes sense if the ordinance is- It is acceptable to me if
the ordinance and when it passes but not until.
Thornberry/ If h. doesn't pass, then i. is a moot point.
Kubby/ But I don't want to put my name on it until then.
Thornberry/ I am not in favor of expediting anyway. I don't see any
reason to expedite.
Nov/ That is another day. Another day.
Kubby/ Maybe we could get the reason for the request. That is
always very helpful in determining.
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F022796
#6i page 2
Norton/ It is in his letter.
Kubby/ Construction season should be open for all-
Lehman/ It would be appropriate for you to address the council at
this point. I think it would be appropriate for you to address
us and tell us why you would like this expedited.
Kevin Kidwell/ And I have been working real close with the staff
since about October 1 and if it is not collapsed on next
week's meeting it will be the 27th of March before. And if I
am not mistaken, it will be another week before it is
published and that leaves me about 100 days to finish a
building. It is real important to collapse.
Baker/ Mr. Kidwell, while you are up here. 16 unit, how many
bedrooms in each unit?
Kidwell/ There are 12 four bedrooms and 4 three bedrooms.
Baker/ And how much parking are you going to have?
Kidwell/ There are 16 spaces.
Lehman/ Larry, what does that have to do with what we are talking
about?
Baker/ I just wanted to get a sense of what the project was.
Lehman/ Oh, okay.
Nov/ Thank you. Any further discussion?
Karr/ I am sorry, who seconded?
Nov/ Vanderhoef seconded. No further discussion. Roll call- (6-1,
Kubby-no).
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F022796
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 27, 1996
Page 7
ITEM NO. 7 -
ITEM NO. 8 -
Consider an ordinance amending the Zoning Chapter by changing the use
regulations for a .5 acre property located at 840 Cross Park Avenue
from C0-1, Commercial Office, to CC-2, Community Commercial. (Pass
and adopt)~.~.~F_.~
Comment: At its December 7 meeting, by a vote of 5-1, with Supple
voting no, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of
the requested rezoning, The Commission's recommendation is consis-
tent with the staff recommendation contained in the November 16 staff
report. Comments were received at the January 16 public hearing on
this item,
',
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 1997 OPERATING
BUDGET, FISCAL YEARS 1997 THROUGH 1999 THREE-YEAR FINANCIAL
PLAN AND THE SEVEN YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
(FY1996 THROUGH FY2002).
Comment: City Council has reviewed the fiscal year (FY)1997 Operating Bud-
get, the FY1997 through 1999 three-year F/inancial P~._n, and the seven-year
Capital Impr, ovements Program (ClP).
PUBLIC HEARING ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND
ESTIMATED COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE 1996 CURB RAMP PRO-
JECT.
This project consists of the construction and reconstruction of sidewalk curb
ramps to A,D.A, standards along routes prioritized by JCCOG and citizen
requests. The estimated construction cost is approximately $103,000. This
project will be funded by road use taxes and 1995 bond proceeds.
Action: ~'~ ~'~' ~
ITEM NO. 9 -
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM
OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE
1996 CURB RAMPS PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY
TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVER-
TISEMENT FOR BIDS AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS
AT 10:30 A.M. MARCH 19, 1996.
Comment: See comment above.
#6j page 1
NO. 6j.
Consider an ordinance amending the Zoning Chapter
by changing the use regulations for a .5 acre
property located at 840 Cross Park Avenue from CO-
1, Commercial Office, to CC-2, Community
Commercial. (Pass and adopt)
Nov/ Moved by Thornberry, seconded by Vanderhoef.
Kubby/ I am giggling over here because of Ernie's comments about
staff and P/Z's recommendation and they have recommended to
deny this but he has voted consistently for this item.
Thornberry/ What is right is right.
Norton/ (Can't hear).
Kubby/ I did but I don't say I
P/Z. I don't claim that.
kind of giggled.
need to be consistent with staff and
An inconsistency is fine but I just
council/ (All talking).
Nov/ Roll call- (6-1, Norton-no). Okay, the ordinance was passed,
6-1.
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F022796
#7 page 1
ITEM NO. ? ~ PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 1997
O~ERATIN~ BUDGET~ FISCAL YEARS 1997 THROUGH 1999 THREE-YEAR
FINANCIAL PLAN AND THE SEVEN YEaR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
(FY1996 THROUGH FY2002}.
Nov/ Public Hearing is open. Please sign in, state your name, and
tell us what you think about our financial plans.
Leanne Mayhew/ (Can't hear)
Nov/ Yes. Right now.
Mayhew/ Taylor Drive. I don't think you guys should cut
Nov/
Lori
the buses
and night service. A lot of us use the buses at night to get
home. How are we supposed to get home after work and stuff?
Thank you.
Bears/ 369 Bon Aire. I would like to tell you that I've been
riding the bus for a very very long time and I don't want bus
service at night to be curtailed to three buses. We want five
buses, and I saw some of the comments in the paper. And keep
it until 10:30 because I like to go out on Friday nights to
the nice Friday Night Concert Series the city puts on. Thank
you very much.
Nov/ All right.
Kubby/ Actually the DTA enjoy it anyway.
Nov/ Well we even put some money in it.
Norton/ We helped. We throw a little in the pot.
Kubby/ Where are everyone getting these wonderful
Karr/ We started that at the suggestion of
Vanderhoef.
Kubby/ Were people contacted before the meeting?
Karr/ They're in the back.
that puts it on but we'll still go and
little stickers?
Council Member
Kubby/ There are stickers in the back where you can write your name
and address on there and stick it on there.
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F022796
#7 page 2
Nov/ It's convenient.
Kubby/ Something new and exciting at the council chamber.
Nov/ It's for those who don't have rubber stamps.
Intesar Duncan/ 1229 Burns Avenue. My daughter was here earlier but
she had to leave. She really wanted to tell everyone that when
I went home last, when I was at the meeting last time and I
went home and expressed to her how you guys were talking so
much about some people were mentioning that the people who
ride the buses don't bring, is not the one who is bringing the
business and the money to downtown and Old Capitol and all
that stuff, she got really upset about that and she said you
know all these, so many of these stores at the Old Capitol,
they are geared up for so many fun things, Thingsville and all
that stuff for kids and junior high and she said we do bring
a lot of business and money into the Old Capitol. She had to
leave, but she- I promised her that I would let you know how
she felt about you cutting the service in the evening and she
also thinks that she uses the buses quite a bit in the evening
going to the library, to University Library to use the
computers down there. And I think of, I was noticing that you
were suggesting, you did talk about increasing the bus passes
to 75 cents and that sounds reasonable but there was another
issue that was mentioned about combining some of the routes or
going on the two hours or I think that is unreasonable because
what-if you combine or you making it every two hours, who is
going to- I know I am not going to be waiting for two hours
for a ride in the evening. I mean if it is going to happen you
are going to have to find other ways. I mean you are going to
kill the service. I mean we are not going to be riding the
buses and then you are going to say there isn't that much of
a ridership. I mean you are going to make it so inconvenient
that you are going to make it impossible for us and what the
other issue I was going to talk about it is going to- We need
to consider here the safety of- I mean I know I don't like the
weather in Iowa but the reason I am living in Iowa City is
because the transit system is so wonderful for me to get
around and by and also for my family and my children. I think
if I have to wait at night for two hours or the route to go
far or whatever I might have to hitchhike or walk and maybe
get hit. I mean I don't know what you guys going to wait for
someone. I don't know if I mentioned before that I work for
System Unlimited and I also represent some of the
developmental disabled people. So it is kind of like myself
and the people I work for and I don't know if you are going to
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F022796
~7 page 3
wait for somebody in a wheelchair while on the highway trying
to walk home, get hit because there are no buses. You know you
have invested so much of these buses with lifts and all of
that and now you are also cutting the SEATS and it is so
impossible for us. So I would really wish you reconsider.
Thank you.
Nov/ Thank you.
Kubby/ Just for your information, Intesar, in talking about
combining routes, I don't think that doing routes as they are
every two hours has been seriously considered by this body
although it doesn't mean it is out of the question and that it
hasn't been brought up by one of us to each other. But at this
point we haven't talked about that strategy.
Nov/ We have talked about possibly eliminating some areas that
don't get ridership but we never talked about two hours.
Verne Nelson/ I didn't find the stickys, so I am going to have to
do the long hand.
Nov/ That is okay. Just say your name and address, you will be
fine.
Verne Nelson/ 3414 East Court and I am here tonight representing
the Iowa City Coralville CVB. I want to thank you for having
the p.h so that we can speak to the budget and some of the
items on that. I believe that Wendy Ford, the CVB Executive
Director, was here towards the end of January. A couple of
days ago I think you received a letter from Laurie Lacina who
is the CVB president and providing you some information
concerning the CVB activities and a grant program that we
would like to adopt. Both of those people are here this
evening and some other board members. So if you got questions
that I am not able to answer which would be very easy for that
to be the case, they could help me with their responses. Our
request this evening is for you to consider allocating the
full budget to the CVB for this next year. Prior to this past
year we were receiving 25% of the collected hotel motel tax.
In this past year $10,000 was allocated to their events as
opposed to being allocated to the CVBo We would like to
reinstitute that through the CVB budget so that we can re-
adopt the grant program that we have had in the past and add
to that so that it can help to bring events into Iowa City and
promote the Iowa City area. The mission of the CVB is to
advance the economic welfare of the Iowa City Coralville
This represents only a reasonebly accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of February 27, 1996.
FO22796
#7 page 4
communities through the promotion of the communities as a
tourist attraction, convention site and location for special
events. We certainly are not a convention center. We don't
have a facility for large conventions and that is not our
mission given our facilities. but we are a site for what we
would think of as mini-conventions. Many groups come here. You
know that and so do we. They help the economic vitality of
Iowa City and Coralville and all of Johnson County and we
believe that that is important for the area. The more money
that goes into the CVB budget, we believe that we can turn
that money around and promote organizations to come to the
area, stay in the hotels and motels. More tax dollars will be
collected by those organizations and that will provide more
funds of the CVB and of course to the City of Iowa City who
shares handsomely in those proceeds. So we think it is part of
our-I mean, we are primarily a marketing organization and we
think through additional marketing and advertising and so on
that we can help you and us to have additional funds. We've,
as part of your packet, we have provided you a summary of some
of the items that we would like to include in the grant
program. If you have any questions concerning that or parts of
that that you would like to ask about, we would try to respond
to any questions that you might have. We also think that like
Iowa City itself and many of the attractions that we have here
that we are sort of a secret. CVB had a nice office
facilities. We would invite you to come to the building on
First Avenue in Coralville sometime to see those, not just as
a council person or as a city staff but as a visitor. if you
walk in you will find that it is a visitor center. You can get
a lot of good information there. It is amazing the type of
brochures and pamphlets that are available. Not that are just
created by us but that we are the recipient of and the
distributor to visitors. One of the brochures, the Visitors
Guide, that we have published this last year and have
available and have printed over 100,000 of these this past
year and send those I am sure around the world, At least
around the country to people who inquire and have them
available to groups who want to know what is going on in the
area. So, we would request your support for this budget item
for the CVB. Any questions concerning information that we have
provided you or other data that you have received from us?
Kubby/ The CVB is wonderfully clear in your written information. It
is very good.
Nelson/ Okay. Thank you.
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F022796
#7 page 5
Thornberry/ And you would be reinstituting your grant to the
different agencies. Would you give them all of the money that
you requested? Would you then indeed be funding the Arts Fest
and the Jazz Fest?
Nelson/ Well, I don't know that. What we would do is publish in
affect the fact that the grant money is available and
certainly per requests from those organizations and any other
organizations that we can in affect publish to make
application to the CVB for grant support. And we would
certainly consider them as we would any other organization.
Thornberry/ I would rather these agencies go to you for the money
and you disburse it as opposed to them coming to the council
and doing it through the city council. I don't want all of the
different agencies that need money to do things throughout the
community to come to the city council in funding money. Go to
one place like the CVB which is that is your job. You know
what brings people into town and where they spend their money
and so on and that is the charge you have been given and
giving you the funds and let you disburse it the way you see
fit which helps both the Iowa City and Coralville markets.
Seems to me to make sense.
Norton/ Is it true that CVB tends to focus on visitors who stay
overnight?
Nelson/ Yes, that is right.
Norton/ Which is not necessarily a fact of some of the festivals we
are talking about. I think it is just a point that their
mission is somewhat slightly different than the festivals we
are largely bringing in, locals and people from the region I
think. But I don't know that it is all- It is not
incompatible. I just say they have a slightly different focus.
Isn't that-
Nelson/ That is right. Our focus is to bring people
that aren't otherwise here because those that
here are already here. So we are-
into the area
are otherwise
Nelson/ Festivals bring others, too, though but they just don't
often stay overnight maybe.
Nelson/ That is right.
Thornberry/ It is the Convention and Visitors Bureau. They are
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F022796
#7 page 6
visitors whether they come here and take their day trips to
Amana or whatever and come back here and make this their area
of operation. Come from here to the different areas but come
back here at night would be nice.
Norton/ I think they should have their allocation as you well know.
Baker/ Verne, can I ask you? This may be an overly simplistic
description but tell me if it is accurate or not. You are like
an advertising agency. You don't create the product, you just
sell the product.
Nelson/ That would be true.
Thornberry/ Market it.
Nov/ Thank you.
Delores Capps/ Better known as Dee at the University ad I have got
a couple of things to add to this gentleman who just left us.
Quite a few years ago, not too many years ago really, we had
two nice events here in Iowa City. The AAU Junior Olympics, 13
and under, and the other one was a 19 and under and both of
them were good things for Iowa City. We got a lot of nice
compliments on it and our dear Iowa City bus system, came
through for us because we furnished the transportation for
them. Okay. That is enough of that. As you people know I bark
and squeal and holler for the Iowa City Transit system and I
hope and Mr. Ernie Lehman told me tonight, it would not cut
service on Saturday morning. We do a lot of transplanting.
This week has been very busy at the hospital and I won't say
because I am not allowed to say how many we did but we did a
lot of it and if you cut it on Saturday, our staff in my
department alone goes from 55 down to 9 people which really
cuts it down and worked on a budget basis budgeting over there
at the hospital now. But if you count that service out, that
puts about six of us in time conditions that we can't get to
work at 6:00 which we are suppose to be, between 6:00 and
7:00. And to cut that service out completely on a Saturday. It
would really be detrimental to the hospital and also I talked
with Mrs. P~odes, Miss Rhodes tonight, to get across to mrs.
Coleman who is out of town currently, as to how much cutting
the night service and cutting the Saturday service would mean
to students and staff at the University. There are a lot of
people in my department that are working their way through
school that have night classes and this really means a lot to
those people. A lot of them are on nights on staff
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F022796
#7 page 7
scholarships. A lot of them aren't. A lot of them work their
way through and believe me that means a lot to those people
because they are forming their own professions and I hope you
give this some idea as well as the special people that have
developments to the disabled people. They have a lot of their
meetings at night. To me, my second love is Children's Miracle
Network and in the month of May I work the phone-a-thon which
means I don't get out of there before 8:30 or 8:45 a lot of
times. Tonight I am already confirmed I won't get home until
almost 10:00 because I just missed the 8:45 bus that goes out
my way in Bon Aire. So this means a lot to a lot of us people.
Kindly give it a thought not to cut that service as severely
as you want to. Thank you.
Lehman/ Dee, I can only speak for myself.
Capps/ I know, Ernie, and I really appreciate it.
Lehman/ I was very sincere when I said I don't think we are going
to stop-
Capps/ I wish they really would think of it. In fact is if you knew
only how much it means to me, not only because I am an
employee, I would be glad to take anyone of you through there
and show you what it means to a lot of people. If you only
knew, work that telethon sometime like I did last year and
gave $34,000 check just from the phone-a-thon. But I worked it
and presented it with the people that were known as parents
connections and mainly because these ladies and gentlemen all
have children that were born under the four pound mark. So
that is something you might think about there. Thank you.
Holly Berkowitz/ I wanted to applaud as I listened to them. I think
about how important the efficiency of movement of
transportation is in the city for the city to work and make
money. What happens if you throw chaos and inefficiency into
a city like Iowa City or Coralville or Johnson County. I
encourage you to sit down and develop a transportation plan to
increase your transportation efficiency, not decrease. The
automobile and the helicopter are some of the most inefficient
forms of transportation there are. The train and the bus are
the most efficient. That is if they are loaded. Now if you
plan it appropriately you can adjust your schedules for
maximum ridership. But you owe it to the people who come to
the many many thousands of people that come to Iowa city for
the hospital and as visitors to provide adequate service to
the other attractions that you want them top go to in Iowa
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City° You don't want them to be stranded on one side of town
by the inability to move from one side of town to the other
and not everybody that can afford it has an automobile.
Sometimes people come here by airplane and it is a statement
about sophistication of a community, about their civil life,
how civilized they are and how they welcome the newcomers and
their visitors and the people who cannot afford an automobile.
It is a statement of that you value people's worth and their
ability to contribute their internal riches to the community
and that is what Iowa City is. It is a city of very- people
with lots of internal riches, lots of economic potential and
you don't want to stunt their growth by cutting evening
service which you could very easily do, ruin a lot of people's
lives. Um, Sunday night a global exponential population
growth, an exponential growth of demand for resources,
exponential growth of waste production are in a collision
course with shrinking liveable and agricultural land areas and
with shrinking supplies of critical resources for basic human
needs. We look 40-50 years down the road we want to make sure
that what we are doing, the planning that we are doing, sets
us on a course. Once we get started on a course we build
freeways around Iowa City we are going to be stuck with that
decision. We are not going to be able to change our course.
What our investments are not linear. They are exponential and
they grow and they keep going exponentially both in direction
and in rate. They go faster and faster as time goes on because
if you calculate all of the people that are growing and
demands of the resources, the earth is shrinking at a great
rate and we have a responsibility to our children, your
children, my children. You owe it to my children who want to
grow up in Iowa City.
Nov/ Okay.
Berkowitz/ Thank you very much.
Kubby/ Thanks, Holly.
Berkowitz/ One note of practicality, please recognize that the mass
transit bus schedule in this budget needs increasing with a
thorough analysis of a transportation plan that includes all
alternative forms.
Nov/ We are going to do that.
Berkowitz/ Okay, the landfill budget is more than the mass transit
budget and I am going to give you a paper that I have (can't
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F022796
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hear) called Market Maker and the cause that is behind it is
this. That the local, state, national and global budgets,
especially in the United States, are very wasteful and our
national debt does not have to be so high if we captured the
waste, the dollars that we are throwing into the landfill and
funneled them back into our market place instead of in this
expensive landfill. It costs us money to fill the landfill. If
we funnel it back into the market place with the innovation
and creativity that we have in this city and in our country,
we could pull ourselves out of debt and put ourselves in the
black and I encourage you to look beyond the immediate and
look beyond checkerboard accounting which focuses on only the
things that are going to profit in private individuals but
look more toward a community that will nurture children, its
people, so that they don't have to have a standard of living
beyond their means to afford their basic human needs. Thank
you.
Nov/ Thank you, Holly.
Joe Daringer/ 2419 Lakeside Manor. I approve of the increase in the
fare on buses. I'm not in favor of cutting the service. I go
to a support group every night and one of the alternatives
that I have been coming up with in case of they would shut the
service down to like at 9:00 at night or even at 7:00, there's
been, I've brought this up in several of my groups about
changing the hours. I'm not the only one that relies on the
bus and there isn't a day that when I'm not riding that bus,
I'm thinking of different alternatives that you can maybe
think of, you know. And I really haven't came up with any one
good reason, you know° When I was here at the other meeting,
I brought up the idea of having a metro bus system, you know,
metropolitan. Since then, I've thought about that too and I'm
not really sure if that's really the alternative, you know.
But I'm sure that one thing, it's out of my hands and it's in
your hands. And once the service is done away with, it's
always hard to bring it back. Thank you.
Kubby/ Joe, remember, we work for you.
Darringer/ Pardon me?
Kubby/ We work for you.
Darringer/ Thank you.
Colin Gordon/ 225 Church. I'd like to speak briefly to two line
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items in the budget. The first of these is the transit issue.
I share the sentiments of those who have spoken before me that
I think this is perhaps the most vital public service that the
city offers. I also want to applaud the council and city staff
for the work that they've done in trying to solve this
problem. I think that you've done an impressive amount of
public education in making the public consider choices and
constraints that you're operating under. I understand that in
the short term, some sort of combination of rate and service
cuts are somewhat inevitable. What I would urge that council
not allow the short term to, not to concede on the short term
and allow it to become a long term solution and strangle the
service. I think it's very important that in situations like
this that the council make it very clear exactly what
constraints it is operating on, under, in this case the
evaporation of federal operating assistance and the caps the
state government puts on the amount of property taxes that can
go to transit. And I think that it's one of the faults of non-
partisan local government that it's often unwilling to
publicly make those connections. we're after all citizens of
those levels of government as well and on an issue like this,
it is just as appropriate to speak at that level. The second
item that I want to speak to and not being an accountant I
couldn't quite sort it out of the citizen's summary, where it
is, but it's the money going to economic development,
particularly the appropriation for ICAD, the Iowa City Area
Development Corporation. This is an important service that the
city in effect contracts out to ICAD, and I think that the
ICAD appropriation is increasingly or in a sense, incompatible
with the economic development policies that were passed by the
city, passed by this council last year. Those policies called
explicitly for input from labor, consumer, and citizen groups
on economic development. Something which ICAD, as presently
constituted, doesn't facilitate. Both because it's not a fully
public body and because it's not willing to fully disclose how
it spends all its money. I understand that council's unlikely
to do anything with the ICAD appropriation for this year, but
I would urge that in the longer term planning, they think
seriously at least about demanding full disclosure from ICAD
in terms of how and where they spend their money, and in the
long term in keeping with the economic development policies
which you passed last year, thinking about other ways, more
fully public ways, in which that money might be spent.
Kubby/ Thank you Colin.
Nov/ Is there anyone else who would like to talk to us about the
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budget? Okay. The public hearing is closed.
Karr/ Can we have a motion to accept correspondence?
Nov/ Moved by Kubby, seconded by Lehman, to accept correspondence
on the budget.
Kubby/ And if you would note a couple page that you got just before
the meeting from David Couchman, a transit driver that has
some very specific suggestions. And it would be nice to have
some staff response to this. I think that there's a trend in
the suggestions. At our transit meeting or before the transit
meeting on March 27.
Nov/ This includes the correspondence from CVB. Any further
discussion? All in favor say aye.
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F022796
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 27, 1996
Page 8
ITEM NO, 10-
ITEM NO. 11-
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14, CHAPTER 3, "CITY
UTILITIES," ARTICLE E, "WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS INDIRECT
DISCHARGE" FOR THE CITY CODE BY ADDING PROVISIONS TO REGULATE
HOLDING TANK WASTE TRANSPORTERS (LIQUID WASTE HAULERS).
(SECOND CONSIDERATION)
The City of Iowa City Wastewater Treatment Plants, known as Publicly
Owned Treatment Works (POTW) under federal law, has been requested by
the IDNR and the EPA to adopt regulations concerning holding tank waste
transporters or haulers of liquid waste ("honey wagons"). Federal law re-
quires that final consideration cannot be given this ordinance until a 45-day
comment period has pa~jsed, which will start on the date notice is published
and posted (February 2~, 1996). Staff therefore requests second consider-
ation be given to the ordinance amendments, and that third consideration be
given at the first scheduled City Council meeting .following expiration of the
4B-day comment period,(~,, ~ ~--~
ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES.
a. Current vacancies.
(1)
Senior Center Commission - One vacancy to fill an unexpired
term ending December 31,1997. (Walter Shelton resigned.) (5
females and 3 males currently serve on the Commission.)
This appointment will be made at the March 26, 1996, meeting of the
City Council.
(2)
Housing and Community Development Commission - One vacan-
cy to fill an unexpired term ending September 1, 1998. (John
Falb moved out of state.) (5 females and 3 males currently
serve on the Commission.
This appointment will be made at the April 9, 1996, meeting of the City
Council,
b. Previously announced vacancies.
(1)
Planning and Zoning Commission - One vacancy for a five-year
term ending May 1, 2001. (Richard Gibson's term ends.) (3
females and 2 males currently serving on this Commission,)
This appointment will be mede at March 26, 1996, meeting of the City
Council.
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 27, 1996
Page 9
ITEM NO, 12 - CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.
(1) Civil Service Commission - One vacancy for a six-year term ending April
1, 2002. (Lyra Dickerson's term ends.) (1 female and 1 male currently
serving on the Commission).
(2) Planning and Zoning Commission - One vacancy to fill an unexpired term
ending May 1, 2001. (Eric Engh moved out of state,) (3 females and 3
males currently serving on the Commission.)
Action: ~~ ~
(3) Riverfront and Natural Areas Commission ~ One vacancy for an unex-
pired term ending December 1, 1998. (Jessica Neary resigned.) (4
females and 6 males currently serving on the Commission,)
Action: dh~_..2 ~
ITEM NO. 13 - CiTY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
ITEM NO. 14 - REPORT ON ITEMS FROM THE CITY NIANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY.
a. City Manager.
#13 page i
ITEM NO. 13 = CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Nov/ City Council Information. Let's start at this end. Dee Norton.
Norton/ I just have a couple of quick ones. I just want to remind
the viewing public, I suppose primarily, that the Johnson
County Emergency Management System is going to test their
sirens tomorrow. Not all at one time. I should say at 9:00.
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-34 SIDE 2
Norton/ 9:00.
Nov/ That is the wrong Monday, isn't it.
Norton/ This is a special deal and they are doing them serially,
not all at once time. It will only be one or two seconds in
each or any one vicinity. But don't be surprised and pay no
attention. There will be notices in the paper, I am sure, as
well.
The other and I just want to express a little bit of concern
because there were a couple of items tonight where we were
dealing with matters coming from P/Z and we haven't yet seen
the minutes. I don't know quite what the difficulty might be
but they were February 1 meeting and we hadn't seem their-the
nature of their minutes so you get a feeling for the thinking
beyond their positions. I know it is tough to ask people to
get those out but sometimes I think-
Kubby/ We didn't vote on anything that we hadn't seen minutes for.
We might have set p.h.s.
Nov/ I think we just set p.h.s.
Norton/ Just hearings? I thought there were more. Well, maybe not.
I also want to remind people to pay attention. I just hope we
can get some more applications. We are a little thin on
applications for some of these important positions on the city
boards and commissions and I just am hoping that people will
pay attention to the announcement made here that are on t.v.
and are posted on the bulletin board. We need good candidates
from which to select.
Kubby/ Last night we received a petition about a request from the
PT0 for a pedestrian phase button at First Avenue and
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F022796
#13 page 2
Rochester and I guess I would like us to forward that to Jim
Brachtel to see if- I don't know if there are certain warrants
that have to be met for a pedestrian activated button or not.
But ask us to forward that for some response so we can respond
to these folks to say yea or nay.
And this Thursday, February 29, at 7:00 PM in the Iowa City
Public Library, Room A, a group called progressive Johnson
County will be holding a second meeting and the purpose of
this group gathering is to kind of being an umbrella group for
a lot of different organizations in town who do issue work on
housing, on transit, on economic development issues. To come
together to try to connect the dots between those kinds of
issues and the form of the meeting is going to be where we
kind of talk about a statement of principles that has been
worked up and it is a very democratic organization. So it may
get all turned upside down from what was presented to the
group and then there is going to be three very short
presentations, ten minutes or under. One on transit, one on
economic development and one on housing. And then it is going
to be open to whoever shows up to talk about where does the
group go next on those subject matters or one of those subject
matters. So I invite the public to come and participate in a
new group in town, not trying to supplant any other group but
kind of to bring groups together when it is appropriate for
people to try to meld issues and integrate philosophies.
Thanks.
Lehman/ I have got two things, perhaps of a little lighter nature.
I guess if I could have had a proclamation tonight for myself,
I really would have appreciated one for Angie Lee, the women's
coach for the University of Iowa basketball. She has done an
absolutely incredible job. I have got nothing but respect for
her. I think the entire community supports her 100%. I just-
I think we need to be very very proud of this lady and her
team.
And the other group of a lesser nature but probably just as
important to this neighborhood or this community. The Regina
girl's basketball team is going to state. The first team from
Iowa City, the first girl's team that has ever gone to a state
tournament. I think this community needs to support those
kids. They have done very very well. We need to be proud of
them and show our support. Thank you.
Thornberry/ That was very nice, Ernie. That was good. I like that.
Mine is going to be a little less light. I would like to take
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F022796
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just a couple of minutes to explain the City Auditor problem
that we had last night that was published in both the Gazette
and the Press Citizen. Then I will leave it alone until the
next time. The assessor. The City Assessor. What did I say-
auditor? City Assessor. Mr. Baker originally proposed taking
a look at the City Auditor's office- Assessor, I am sorry.
Assessor. There is a difference. The Assessor's Office. To see
if it couldn't be combined with the- The City Assessor
combined with the county for a number of reasons that he gave
to me and I thought, gee, that sounds like a pretty good idea.
It could be some cost savings there. As Larry explained to me,
there were three administrators working with three clerks and
that they were doing a fairly good job but they weren't
working too many hours and well, at least not 40 hours. They
weren't working a 40 hour work week. And if they were combined
with the county they could share computers, they could share
office space, they could share administrators, and so on and
it sounded real good and I think Larry, isn't that fairly
accurate? Fairly accurate, that is good, okay. And it sounded
good and it, to me, sounded like a good idea. I have been on
the council, what? Two months, a little over two months. I
should have done my homework, folks, and I apologize. I didn't
do my homework. I took Larry at his word for it which it
sounded real good and if that is the way it would work out it
would probably be a good idea. But along with that perhaps we
should freeze their wages? Well, maybe we don't have to freeze
their wages. You know, it was back and fourth. But in my
independent study after I got started in this thing, I really
looked at it closely, talked to a lot of people and found, in
my study, that the City Assessor's Office was indeed not only
doing a real good job but doing a fantastic job. They are the
second best in the state when they assess property in Iowa
City as to what that property sells for. That that is an
indication of how good their assessment is of that property
and our Assessor is the second best in the state, second only
to Ames and Ames Assessor is a lot more expensive. A lot more
expensive than the City Assessor here. So the Iowa City tax
payers are paying less and getting more. Even those in
Coralville are paying more for their City Assessor than we are
in Iowa City by about 2%. So I didn't do my homework and I
apologize. I will try not to let it happen again. Larry has
got some good ideas. I remember one fantastic idea and that
was the straw poll. You know, it wasn't a bad idea, it is just
people didn't waffle at the end of that thing. They just
changed their mind and thought gee, maybe that wasn't the
right idea and that is basically what I did. I looked at it
and at first blush it looked real good. Second blush I did
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F022796
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blush because it didn't look quite so good because I think the
City Assessor, I think we are getting more than our money's
worth. I don't always agree with my tax assessment and I have
complained about my assessment but he is doing a good job. I
hope my property is worth what it is assessed at. If all of
the Iowa city departments, and this not being an Iowa city
department, were running as accurately and as effectively as
the City Assessor's Office, I will be more than pleased and we
will be looking at them, Larry and I together will look at all
of these departments to see what we can do and see what Steve
can do to bring all of these departments up to the Assessor's
standards and we will be in great shape. I would be remiss in
not changing my mind on a topic if I find that my first
assessment is inaccurate and that is basically what I did.
Kubby/ I think this is a really- Oh, I am sorry. Go ahead.
Thornberry/ And my reason for being on the council is fiscal
responsibility. I want my money's worth as a tax payer and I
am sure the rest of the people do. I want also neighborhood
integrity. Fiscal responsibility I think is very very
important. And that is all I have got to say on that subject
at this time.
Nov/ Okay. Good speech. Do you have anything else to say?
Thornberry/ Oh, wait. An other thing that I would like is for Steve
to take a look at the new soccer field area south of town to
see if there is a potential water runoff problem over Pleasant
Valley Golf Course. I looked at it along with Dee Norton last
fall and saw quite a runoff problem across that golf course
that Mr. Kroeze swears up and down wasn't there before. We, as
councilors and P/Z people- one of the first questions we ask
on the new project is where is the water going to go. Is it
going to run on to somebody's else's property? Is it going to
affect somebody else? And since this is our soccer field, I
sure don't want to be remiss if that is the case. If it is
not-
Lehman/ There was an answer in our-
Norton/ I thought there was a reply.
Thornberry/ I know there was and the answer was we are not letting
any water run off across the golf course. But I would like to
take another look at it.
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~13 page 5
Norton/ How.is that to be done? I wasn't quite clear. Steve, how is
that to be done more independently, for example, is I guess
what Dean is asking for?
Thornberry/ I don't know. You looked at it, too.
Norton/ I was concerned but I am not an engineer or surveyor. But
the city had said they had taken a look and didn't think there
was a problem. Now maybe there is something more to be done.
Thornberry/ Just go out and look at it.
Atkins/ I have been there.
Thornberry/ The big hole that we dug to apparently dissipate the
water is filling up and the water is coming out of that hole
that we dug and going across the golf course at that point.
Now, if that is not our water, why- If it has always done that
then why is grass growing underneath where it is-? I don't
know. If you will just take a look at it, that will make me
happy.
Norton/ It is always done that to some extent, Dean. That is for
sure because I have stuck in there when I play golf.
Thornberry/ Thank you.
Vanderhoef/ I can't follow that act at all. So I will pass for this
evening, thank you.
Baker/ I can follow that act. I had a few other things to talk
about on my list and Karen brought up one of them which is
about the First and Rochester crossing. I want to make sure
that that did get a follow up and serious consideration and
let us know how that-what the staff's appraisal is of that.
I wanted also to thank whoever took this picture of the
council. Who was that?
Karr/ Jerry Nixon from Government Cable.
Baker/ Jerry Nixon. The cameras are not good at really focusing in.
It is a group shot taken a few weeks after we got organized.
I was surprised to discover how tall I was.
Vanderhoef/ Don't stand next to me then.
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#13 page 6
Baker/ But copies, I am sure, will be available to the public-
Council/ (All talking).
Baker/ I would like to, for a few seconds, express my good wishes,
best wishes for the North Liberty city council tonight. As
many of you may know, they are probably in front of a packed
auditorium at the Fire Station up there talking about their
rezoning which would allow a large multi-family development
and there seems to be a lot of local opposition to any more
apartments in North Liberty. So, I understand the people up
there will be debating many of the same issues that we debate
here. So I wish them well.
A question, a clarification from Naomi about the State of the
City Address. You said that you had taped it and it will be
played in front of the rebroadcast of this meeting?
Nov/ It will be at the end of the rebroadcast. It is on tape and
there is a written copy in front of you.
Baker/ Yeah. But I just want for the public that it will be shown
at the end of this particular meeting's replay every time it
comes up whatever that schedule is.
Nov/ Whatever that schedule is, it is part of the schedule.
Baker/ And I was going to congratulate you on the job that you are
doing as mayor because I noticed the agendas are getting
shorter on these meetings.
Nov/ I would like to take credit for that one.
Baker/ I did have something for Dean tonight, not about the City
Assessor's Office. I was going to ask for Dean's support on a
proposal. I picked up a copy of the City High School newspaper
and again, I know that cameras cannot pick this up but I was
impressed. It is an outstanding student newspaper and it has
won awards across the state and they did an article on the
committee that was formed to determine the new principle for
City High and they broke it down: faculty teams, student
interview teams, parent team, and much like we do here on the
council, they identified the gender make up of each committee.
But beyond what we do, they also had drawings or sketches that
listed the numbers but identified them by various designs of
men in hats, women who had longer hair. It seemed like sort of
a visual schematic that may be a policy we ought to adopt on
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#13 page 7
the council when we advertise our boards and commissions. I
knew Dean would be supporting that because he is not afraid to
step out there and take those hard positions.
Thornberry/ I will take that advice.
Baker/ Take it under advisement.
of the newspaper. It is a
information there.
I do urge people to pick up a copy
good newspaper and a lot of good
I was also pleased that Ernie brought up about Regina
basketball. Dear to my heart. I think the whole community has
a right to be proud of them and for us to support them. And
that was all I had originally planned for council time tonight
because you move on with your life. You win some and you lose
some.
But since the subject was brought up and we have never
discussed it on camera before. I appreciate Dean raising the
issue about the possible coordination, consolidation of the
City Assessor's Office with the County Assessor's office. And
I appreciate his initial interest and I understand that when
anybody changes their mind because I have done that myself on
issues through the years and you never do it lightly. If you
think you have made a mistake the first time you certainly
have every, not only right, but an obligation to change your
mind. And so- And so the particular verb that was used in the
discussion last night outside was meant in jest and I don't
think that showed up in the newspapers because the sort of
tone of our conversation when we were joking around after the
meeting. So if there was any misunderstanding, personal
misunderstanding, Dean, I didn't want you to think that that
was meant to be literal as so much as ironic which seems to
be- I was asking about Aunt Jemima versus Kayro syrup or
something like that. But I am glad you brought the issue up
because I just want to take a couple of minutes to explain why
indeed I raised the issue in the first place and I have been
thinking about that since last year when at the Conference
Board meeting I was surprised to find out that the City
Assessor's Office did not work a 40 hour week. Whereas all
other city offices did. Now since that time, one of the things
that has come out of this discussion that is very important is
that we have got a lot of more information about the status of
that office. And I appreciate Linda's work. It cleared up a
lot of not misinformation so much as confusing information
that we were operating on. So I appreciate that very much. And
it is not technically a city office. I understand that. But
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$13 page 8
here is the approach I took and the direction in which I came
to the issue before this council. I looked at two offices,
literally side by side in the same building with a combined
staff of 13 people. Two offices doing not duplicative work but
the same work. There is a distinction there. I don't mean they
were doing each other's work but it is the same sort of work.
Both offices doing a very good job. Now, one of the things
that I came to understand is that the reason that those
statistical evaluations looked so good, many of them have to
do with factors extraneous to the assessor's office itself.
Now, Jerry and Dan-Jerry Nusser, the County Assessor, and Dan
do additional work in a process to evaluate information that
is presented to them. When I looked at those two offices as
sort of a micro causal of where efficiencies could be had and
just in the simple approach that what if you wanted the same
level of performance with a combined office. Would that be
possible. That is the question that I would like to have
gotten answered and the reason that we approached the
Conference Board, this council and the conference Board, to
ask them if we could get an outside objective review of the
office. I initiated it in terms of consolidation. Karen raised
the issue of just maybe efficiencies between the two offices
whether they both maintain their autonomy. I thought that was
a fair approach also. So I was hoping that we would have
gotten some sort of outside objective analysis of the two
offices because I do believe, did believe, do believe and
continue to believe that if you look at those two offices that
the same work, the same level of performance can be done at a
savings to the residents of the city and the county, a
substantial savings. But that question could have only been
answered by an outside analysis. Council and Conference Board
chose not to pursue it. Fine. As I say, life goes on. But I
didn't approach it casually. I didn't approach it to get my
name in the newspaper. But I do think that there were
potentially significant savings and I still believe
significant savings could be had by some sort of coordination
between those offices. So that is where I came from and I
appreciate you all listening to me for the past few weeks and
like I say, life goes on. Let's go on to some other issues.
Kubby/ Although I think it is important to note the newspaper kind
of made it seem you were the only one who wanted to look at
that and there were two other council members, myself and Dee
Norton, who were interested in looking at the possibilities of
coordination or merging by having someone look at it. We may
or may not have supported it. The findings of it that we
wanted to explore.
Thisrepresents onlyareasonably accuratetranscription ofthelowa City council meeting of February 27,1996.
F022796
#13 page 9
Baker/ We were not voting last night to combine the offices. We
were trying to discuss or settle whether we wanted to pursue
that investigation of it.
Norton/ I would like to add just one point that has been brought up
both last night and tonight. I certainly a thought a look
which was not going to cost a lot of money would be worth
while for the reasons you have mentioned Larry and also
because I am not altogether satisfied that the criteria that
they are giving us for goodness in the assessment is it
necessarily an appropriate one. I want to be convinced that
that is the case. That is this so called CO-Coefficient of
Dispersion. It seems to me has some artificial aspects of it.
It seems to me that we need to take a look at that. But I
didn't have any huge reasons but I certainly thought it was
worth a relatively short time to take an outside look.
Baker/ Again, I think the emphasis was on outside objective look at
the pros and cons and we may have come to the conclusion that
possible savings would not justify major changes, so be it.
But as of now, I think the question is still, in a sense,
unresolved.
Kubby/ The big thing that Dean brought up is I think it is a really
good re-learning of a lesson for all of us that sometimes as
politicians, even local people making policy decisions, we are
criticized for changing our minds. It is seen as a weak and
really I think it is a strength that whether or not I disagree
with the content of what Dean said in terms of his final
decision. That he re-thought it and I think it is really
important that when you do change your mind about something
that is semi-controversial or has had some press especially so
people are reading about it, that you talk about why you
changed your mind. So I think that- I really appreciate Dean
being willing to say that. And I know in the recent council
election that my friend Bruno Pigott was criticized for
changing his mind, sometimes by Dean, and so it is a lesson
for me to re-learn and re-learn that it is a strength, not a
weakness to change your mind and to explain yourself.
Thornberry/ Do I get your vote next time?
Baker/ You all work together all the time.
Kubby/ Dean and I do.
Thornberry/ We are going to the thing. Are you going to say
This represents only s reasonably accurate transcription of the lows City council meeting of February 27, 1996.
F022796
#13
page 10
anything about that?
Kubby/ Not yet.
Nov/ I have just one item. Request for a spring leaf sweeper
pickup.
Kubby/ Money, money. money.
Nov/ I was asked why is this such a big deal and we did not pick up
the final leaves in some neighborhoods last fall and couldn't
we sort of just this once come around in the spring and I felt
we had to ask.
Atkins/ It is a big deal. A very big deal. Not the cost. The same
crew that does the street sweeping to remove all of the are
the same people that do leaves. It is the same truck but the
bodies all have to be changed. If you want leaves, then we
don't do streets. We do leaves first and do streets later on.
Thornberry/ Let's do sand. Let's do streets.
Atkins/ You know, we went over this trying to see if we could even
put together a program for you. I don't see how it can be done
and be done effectively unless you are willing to give up the
street sweeping.
Thornberry/ We could have a leaf burning day.
Kubby/ We have to rake them to Coralville on certain weekends.
Norton/ Don Klotz reminded us to recycle them.
Kubby/ That is right and that is a really good use of leaves.
Nov/ Well. it is difficult for some people to bend over and bag the
leaves and the compost pile is already so big that it gets to
be a hazard and so I am getting these requests.
Kubby/ You can actually leave them be and-
Thornberry/ Where do you sell compost?
Kubby/ You don't sell compost.
Thornberry/ Yeah, I know. But if you have enough leaves to put in
a big pile. I could go into business.
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F022796
#13 page 11
Council/ (All talking).
Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthalowa City council meeting of February 27,1996.
F022796
#14a page
ITEM NO. 14a. o REPORT ON ITEMS FROM THE CITY }fiqNAGERANDCITY
ATTORNEY.
a. City Manager.
Nov/ Any business from the city manager?
Atkins/ One item. I would like to make another announcement... a
recent appointment. The Director of Housing and Inspection
Services has appointed a Robert Hagarty. Bob is the
administrator currently of the Charles City Housing Authority
and will be our new Housing Administrator. Bob has about 16
years of experience with Charles City. We are real pleased to
be able to recruit this individual and he should be on board
in a couple of weeks. That is all I have.
Thlsrepresent$ only areasonebly accuratetranscription oftholowa City council meeting of Februe~ 27,1996.
F022796
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 27, 1996
Page 10
b. City Attorney.
ITEM N0.15-
ADJOURNMENT.
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
Februarv 26, 1996
6:30 p.m.
7;00 p.m.
7:45 p.m. -
Februarv 27, 1996
7:30 p.m. -
Maroh 4, 1996
February 23, 1996
City Council
City Managog'
Work Session Agendas and Meeting Schedule
City Conference Board Meeting - Council Chambers
Separate agenda posted
City Council Work Session - Council Chambers
7:00 p.m. - Review Zoning Matters
7:30 p.m. - Council Agenda, Council Time,
Committee Reports
Special Council Meeting - Council Chambers
Executive Session - Pending Litigation
Regular City Council Meeting - Council Chambers
6:30 p.m. -
March 5, 1996
7:30 p.m. -
March 11, 1996
NO City Council Work Session
March 12, 1996
NO Regular City Council Meeting
March 25, 1996
6:30 p,m. -
March 26, 1996
7:30 p.m. -
Special City Council Work Session - Council Chambers
Special City Council Meeting - Council Chambers
City Council Work Session - Council Chambers
City Council Meeting - Council Chambers
Monday
Council
Tuesday
Mondav
Tueedav
Mondav
Tuesdav
Mondav
Tuesday
b~n~s