HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-03-26 AgendaIOWA CiTY CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 26, '1996
7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CiViC CENTER
4'10 EAST WASHINGTON
Subject to change as finalized by the City Clark.
Clerk's Office, 356-5040.
ITEM NO. I -
ITEM NO. 2 -
For a final official copy, contact the City
AGENDA
IOWA CITY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - MARCH 26, 1996
7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER.
ROLL CALL.
MAYOR'S PROCLAMATIONS.
a. Professional Social Work Month - March 1996.
b. Free Medical Clinic Day - March 30, 1996.
c. Sexual Assault Awareness Month - April 1996.
d. National Public Health Week - April 1-7, 1996.
ITEM NO. 3 - SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
a. Presentation by Big Brother/Big Sister Program Representative.
b. Johnson County SAFE KIDS Coalition.
(1) Lieutenant Roger Jensen
Design Review Committee's Awards for Design Excellence.
(1) Exterior Preservation of an Existing Building to Maintain its
Architectural Features
(a) The President's Home, The University of Iowa,
(21
Exterior Renovation of an Existing Building
{a) Bread Garden Bakery & Cafe
{b) Prairie Lights
(3) New Building Construction
(a) Guitar Foundation
New Signs, Canopies, or Awnings
(a) UIHC Child Care Center
New or Refurbished Streetscapes or Exterior Spacss
(a) First National Bank
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ITEM NO. 2 b. Free Medical Clinic Day - March 30, 1996.
Nov/ (Reads proclamation).
Mary
Dole-Ritter/ I would just like to briefly thank the city
council and Iowa City community for the continued support you
have given us over the last 25 years. I would also -I just
wanted to tell you that because of the support the clinic has
been able to expand our services over the last couple of years
to include free eye, dental, specialty care and prenatal care.
Since this is our 25th anniversary year we hope to make some
renovations during the year to better facilitate the quality
healthcare that we do provide. I would like to extend an
invitation to the city council to stop by the Free Medical
Clinic at some point. The best time to visit is during an
actual clinic to see the place in action. Those clinics are
Monday and Thursday evenings after 6:30 PM and Tuesday from
8:30 to 4:00. Once again, thank you very much.
Kubby/ Thanks.
Nov/ Thank you.
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ITEM NO. 2c. Sexual Assault Awareness Month - April 1996.
Nov/ (Reads proclamation).
Nicole Cook/ I would also like to thank the city council and the
City of Iowa City for their continued support as well. I would
also like to encourage everyone to and invite everyone to
attend two special events, that I will point out, during the
month. We have a month of programming planned. The first event
is a special performance that illustrates the history of
sexual assault of black women in the United States and it is
a performance by Renee McNeil. We are very honored to be able
to have her come and perform. It is April 11, 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
It is free and it is at Shambaugh Auditorium. The second event
that is going on is a public display of the clotheslines
project. It will be Saturday, April 27, at the pedestrian mall
and it is all day. Thank you.
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ITEM NO. 2 d. National Public Health Week - April 1-7, 1996.
Nov/ (Reads proclamation).
Graham Dameron/ I want to thank members of the council for
authorizing this proclamation and to kick off National Public
Health Week we are having an open house from 10:30 AM to 12:30
PM on April 1 and that is no April fool. Please come down and
have a cup of coffee and we will give you a tour if you have
time. Thank you very much.
Kubby/ Thanks, Graham.
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ITEM NO. 3a. Presentation by Big Brother/Big Sister Program
Representative.
Nov/ Next we have some special presentations. The first one is Big
Brothers/Big Sisters.
Barbara Curtin/ I am the director of Big Brother/Big Sisters here
in Johnson County and it is my pleasure tonight to present to
the city council and the City of Iowa City a copy of our 20th
anniversary poster. 1996 marks 20 years of service to this
community and the City of Iowa City was the first group to
fund our program with a $7,000 grant in 1976. So, on behalf of
all of the children that we have served, I would like to say
thank you and to present this poster to the city council.
Nov/ Thank you.
Curtin/ I am not sure where you will decide to hang it.
Kubb¥/ Naomi and I are working on art for this room.
Nov/ We will put it on camera for just a minute and we will hide it
underneath. Thank you very much. It is delightful.
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ITEM NO. 3
Exce 1 lence.
(1) Exterior
Architectural Features
(a)The President's Home,
(2)
(a)
(b)
(3)
(a)
(4)
(a)
(5)
(a)
c. Design Review Committee's Awards for Design
Preservation of an Existing Building to Maintain its
The University of Iowa.
Exterior Renovation of an Existing Building
Bread Garden Bakery & Cafe
Prairie Lights
New Building Construction
Guitar Foundation
New Signs, Canopies, or Awnings
UIHC Child Care Center
New or Refurbished Streetscapes or Exterior
First National Bank
Spaces
Nov/ We have the Design Review Committee awards. The Safe Kid's
Coalition has been deferred.
Gary
Nagle/ Mayor Novick and city councilors, Iowa City Design
Review Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the
first annual awards for design excellence. The committee first
though would like to thank the council for providing this
opportunity to present these awards during your council
meeting. The DR Committee established these awards for design
excellence to encourage the preservation and enhancement of
the architectural and urban quality of Iowa City. The awards
recognize individuals and organizations who have maintained,
refurbished, or constructed new buildings, facades or exterior
spaces that compliment and contribute the architectural
character and the streetscape of Iowa City. Before I present
the awards, I would like to thank the following individuals
who- (can't hear). How is that? Before I present these awards,
I would like to thank the following individuals who served as
jurors this year. They include Rod Cruise, of Herbert, Lewis,
Cruise and Blank. Rod is an architect with this firm and has
recently been voted to fellow status in theAmerican Institute
of Architects which is a very prestigious level within the
AIA. Lori Pitts Winegarden, a landscape architect with Pitts,
Winegarden of Bondurant and Bob Segrest, the head of
Department of Architecture at Iowa State University. These
individuals volunteered their time and expense to come to Iowa
City to judge these nominations and we really do thank them.
Like now to make the presentations to the recipients of the
1996 awards for design excellence. First category we have and
I will try to make this not sound like the Academy Awards here
but the first category is for exterior preservation of
existing building to maintain its architectural features. The
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nominees for this category were the Senior Center, Brewery
Square, and the President's Residence. The President's
Residence is the recipient of this first category and
accepting this award would be Dick Gibson, the director of
Planning and Administrative Services at the University of
Iowa.
Nov/
Dick, if you want to say something, you may. Okay. We will
make a blanket announcement. Any award winner who would like
to step to the microphone and say something, may do so.
Nagle/ Just a little brief history of that, this project consisted
of the restoration of all exterior wood with paint and all
elevations of the residence and some extensive work to the
portico of the building and the replacement of a baluster at
back to its historical character that it was when it was first
constructed°
The next category we have is for exterior renovation of an
existing building and the nominees for this category were G.A.
Malones, Prairie Lights, and Bread Garden and Bakery Care and
like the Academy Awards, we had a tie. So we have two winners
for this category and Prairie Lights is the first recipient
and Bill Nusser Jr., I believe, will be accepting this award
on behalf of Prairie Lights. Prairie Lights consisted of an
interior renovation and completely replacing the building's
facade. The second recipient for this category would be Bread
Garden Bakery and care. Is there anybody here to accept the
award for the Bread Garden. This project consisted of an
interior renovation, building addition, and completely
replacing the building's facade.
The next category was new building construction. and the
nominees we had for this category were the Guitar Foundation
and the Town Center. And the recipient of this award is the
Guitar Foundation. This project consisted of a demolition of
two story insect infested residential structure and the
construction of a two story red brick building.
Brian Mackin/ This is very nice. In fact, it is well deserved, I
think, because of what-the all hoops we had to jump through to
accomplish this. So I really do appreciate it and I would like
to say a quick word of thanks to Kevin Hanick, John Rothman,
the contractor, and most especially Sue Licht, the architect.
Nagle/ Our next category was new signs, canopies, or awnings. The
nominations were for the Artifacts sign, and University of
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Iowa Hospital and Clinics Childcare Center canopy and sign.
And the recipient for this category is the University
Hospitals and Clinics refurbished sign and we don't have
anybody here that was able to make it tonight for this
category. They consisted of exterior signage and entry canopy
as you see on the slide.
Next category we have is for new or refurbished streetscapes
or exterior spaces. The nominees were First National Bank
streetscape, Maiden Lane Bridge, and the College Green Park
and the recipient for this is the First National Bank
streetscape and Helen Daily of the First National Bank will
accept the award. This project refurbished the public
streetscape as part of a building renovation project.
On behalf of the DR Committee I would just like to thank all
of those individuals involved and with all of the nominated
projects- I am sorry, did you want to say something. Go ahead.
Helen Daily/ I just wanted to say on behalf of First National Bank,
thank you very much. We were surprised to receive it and it is
very much appreciated.
Nagle/ I get ahead of myself here. Okay. The investment we feel in
our property is greatly appreciated and we do encourage
continued commitment to design excellence and all of the
projects are welcomed additions to the architectural character
and the streetscape of Iowa City. Thank you.
Nov/ Thank you.
Kubby/ It was nice to see our new media center. This is the first
time in a city council meeting it has been used and it was
nice to see a clear picture and hope that came off on the
video.
Nov/ Well, we will have to go home and look at the video and see
how it works.
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Agenda
Iowa City CiW Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 2
ITEM NO, 4 -
CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR
AMENDED.
Approval of Official Council Actions of the regular meeting of
February 27, 1996, and the special meetings of February 26, 1996,
March 4, 1996, and March 5, 1996, as published, subject to
corrections, as recommended by the City Clerk.
b, Minutes of Boards and Commissions
(1) Iowa City Airport Commission meeting of February 8, 1996.
(2) Board of Appeals meeting of February 5, 1996.
(3) Parks and Recreation Commission meeting of February 14, 1996.
(4) Broadband Telecommunications Commission meeting of February
26, 1996.
(5) Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of March 7, 1996.
c. Permit Motions and Resolutions as Recommended by the City Clerk.
(1) Consider a motion approving a Class "C" Liquor License for
Ranger Enterprises, Inc., dba The Deadwood, 6 S. Dubuque St.
(Renewal)
{2) Consider a motion approving a Class "C" Liquor License for First
Avenue Club, Inc., dba First Avenue 'Club, 1550 First Ave.
(Renewal)
{3) Consider a motion approving a Class "C" Liquor License for
Gringo's of Iowa City dba Gringo's, 115 E. College St. (Renewal)
(4) Consider a motion approving a Class "C" Liquor License for Sports
Column Corp., dba Sports Column, 12 S. Dubuque St. (Renewal)
Consider a motion approving a Class "B" Beer Permit for M & T
Investments, Inc., dba Happy Joes Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor. 225
S. Gilbert St. (Renewal)
(6) Consider a resolution to issue a Cigarette Permit to College Street
News, 116 E. College St.
Consider a resolution to issue a Dancing Permit to First Avenue
Club, 1550 First Avenue.
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 3
d. Setting Public Hearings.
(1)
CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
APRIL 9, 1996, TO DISCUSS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) AND HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIPS (HOME) FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
FY97.
Comment: At its Msmh 14, 1996, meeting, the Housing and
Community Development Commission (HCDC) made
recommendations on the allocation of expected CDBG and HOME
funds for FY97. This funding, and the proposed activities to be
undertaken, is a portion of the Annual Action Plan the City is
required to submit to HUD as a part of the CiTY STEPS Plan. A
30-day public comment period regarding CDBG and HOME FY97
funding recommendations began on March 23, 1996. The public
hearing will be held on April 9 to provide opportunities for public
comments to be made directIv to the Council.
(2)
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARING FOR
APRIL 9, 1996, ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM'OF
CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR CONTRACT 2 -
NORTH NAPOLEON PARK PUMPING STATION AND NORTH
PLANT IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, DIRECTING THE CITY
CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID HEARING, AND
DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER TO PLACE SAID PLANS ON
FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.
Comment: This work involves the construction of the Napoleon
Park Pump Station, minor improvements at the North Wastewater
Treatment Plant, new bar screens at the North and South Plant
Pump Stations and a fiber optics line between the two wastewater
treatment plants. The estimated cost of this work is $5,548,000.
Funding for this project will be provided by sewer revenue bond
proceeds.
Agenda
Iowa Ciw Ciw Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 4
(3)
(4)
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARING FOR
APRIL 9, 1996, ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF
CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE MELROSE AVENUE WEST
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT, STP-U-37'I 8(6)--70-52,
DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID
HEARING, AND DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER TO PLACE
SAID PLANS ON FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.
Comment: The Melrose Avenue West Reconstruction Project
consists of extending the four lane boulevard urban section of
Melrose Avenue from West High School, west to Hwy 218. The
total estimated construction cost is $2,081,600, of which up to
$1,720,000 will be reimbursed by Federal Surface Transportation
Program funds. The remainder will be funded by General
Obligation Bonds and Road Use Taxes.
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARING FOR
APRIL 9, 1996, ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF
CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PINE STREET PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL
PROJECT, DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE
OF SAID HEARING, AND DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER TO
PLACE SAID PLANS ON FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.
Comment: The Pine Street Pedestrian Tunnel Project is part of a
larger project to construct a pedestrian link between the south end
of Rundell Street and the north end of Pine Street. This component
of the project will provide a tunnel under the Iowa Interstate
Railroad at an estimated cost of 132.000. This project will be
funded by Road Use Taxes. The tunnel is being bid at this time in
hopes of favorable bids because of other tunnel projects being
constructed locally this spring.
eo
Motions
(1)
Consider a motion and authorizing City Engineer to sign the
application approving a request from Iowa City Landscaping of
their "application to Adopt-a-Highway."
Comment: Iowa City Landscaping proposes to adopt Highway 1
West from its place of business to Highway 218.
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 5
f. Resolutions.
c//=_ G..5 (1)
~'~ -~G (2)
~G_ ~ (3)
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN
AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE RELEASE OF A LIEN
REGARDING A PROMISSORY NOTE AND A MORTGAGE AND
FINANCING STATEMENTS (A UCC2 AND A UCC4) FOR
REHABILITATION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 803 CHURCH
STREET, IOWA CITY, IOWA.
Comment: The owner of the property located at 803 Church
Street received financing through the City's Housing Rehabilitation
Program on July 12, 1994. The financing was in the form of a
Ten-Year Low-Interest Loan for the amount of $7,294, and the
security interests for the purchase of appliances. The loan was
paid off on February 28, 1996; thus, the liens can now be
released.
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN
AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A SUBORDINATION
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1311 FIRST AVENUE, IOWA CITY,
IOWA.
Comment: The City's Community Development Staff was
contacted by the University of Iowa Credit Union requesting that
the City approve a Subordination Agreement for the owner at
1311 First Avenue. On August 5, 1991, the owner of the
property received $13,000 in the form of a'Promissor¥ Note and a
Mortgage through the City's Sycamore View Home Ownership
Program. The University of Iowa Community Credit Union is
about to refinance the first mortgage of $62,000. The appraised
value is $81,320, which provides enough equity to cover the
City's second lien position, which was the City's original position.
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING IOWA CITY'S FY97,
98, 99, 2000, AND 2001 OFFICIAL REPORT OF MUNICIPALITIES
FOR THE STREET CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FROM JULY t,
1996 TO JUNE 30, 2001.
Comment: The Iowa State Code requires that cities receiving
allotments of Road Use Tax Funds submit a five (5) year program
of proposed street construction and reconstruction to the Iowa
Department of Transportation for their review. This report must be
submitted to the IDOT by May 1 of each year. The rep6rt in no way
binds the City to these projects or the timing. and modifications can
be made. A copy of the report is attached.
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 6
~_ ~ (5)
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE WORK FOR THE
SANITARY SEWER AND STORM SEWER PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENT8 FOR FIRST & ROCHESTER COMMERCIAL
SUBDIVISION, PART ONE,
Comment: See Engineer's Report.
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING MINIMUM MONTHLY
RENT (TOTAL TENANT PAYMENT) OF $25.00 FOR FAMILIES
PARTICIPATING IN THE SECTION 8 CERTIFICATE AND
VOUCHER PROGRAMS.
Comment: On January 26, 1996, Congress enacted new
statutory requirements for the Section 8 certificate and voucher
programs establishing minimum monthly rents of $25.00. The
$25.00 minimum monthly rent is mandatory and must be
implemented by the local housing authoriW by April 1,1996. The
law provides the local housing authority discretion to increase the
minimum monthly rent up to $50.00. The staff and the Housing
and Community Development Commission recommend
establishing the minimum monthly rent at $25.00 (a memo is
included in your packet explaining this item).
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING MINIMUM MONTHLY
RENT (TOTAL TENANT PAYMENT) OF $25.00 FOR FAMILIES
PARTICIPATING IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM.
Comment: See comment above, The $25.00 minimum monthly
rent is mandatory and must be implemented by the local housing
authority by April 1, 1996. The staff recommends the minimum
monthly rent of $50.00 for public housing tenants. The Housing
Commission disagreed with staff and unanimously recommended
the minimum monthly rent not exceed the statutory requirement
of $25.00. If the Council wishes to proceed with the staff's
recommendation of a minimum rent of $50.00, it will be
necessary to set a public hearing.
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 7 ·
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN
AND THE CITY CLERK TO A'FfEST THE RELEASE OF A WATER
MAIN EASEMENT LOCATED ON LOTS 3 AND 4, D & L
SUBDIVISION, IOWA CITY, IOWA.
Comment: The City currently possesses a 20' water main
easement across lots 3 and 4 of D & L Subdivision, Iowa City,
Iowa. Plans for development of the site call for one large building
to be developed on the two lots. Under Iowa City Code, a water
main which serves only one building is considered a private
service line rather than an actual water main. Public Works has
recommended releasing the existing easement, as the line will not
be accepted by the City as an improvement. This resolution
authorizes the execution of a release of the existing water main
easement on the two lots.
g. Cormspondence.
(1)
Letter from Kathy Folk regarding enforcement of parking meters
on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. (Response from City Manager
attached;)
(2) Letter from Thomas J. Barna regarding traffic along Prairie Du
Chien Road.
(3) Letter from Mary and Dale Reiman regarding Galway Hills Parts
Three and Four.
{4) Letter from the Melrose Avenue Neighborhood Association
regarding Melrose reconstruction project.
Letter from Norwood (Bud) Louis representing veterans groups
regarding removal of F86 Sabre jet aircraft from Iowa City Airport,
(6) Correspondence regarding back-billing from:
(7)
(a) Harvey D. Miller
(b) Pt)il Phillips
Letter from Shirley Wyrick, President of Arts Iowa City regarding
mailings.
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 8
(8) Correspondence regarding transit operations from:
{a) Rose Keese
(b) Dee Capps
{c) Leanne Mayhew
(d) Robyn Wheeler
(e) "Iowa City Citizens" (303 signatures attached)
(9)
Letter from John Gross, Chair of the Downtown Association
Parking and Transit Committee regarding free bus rides for young
people who show an Iowa City Library book on Saturday of
National Library Week in April.
(10) Letter from Suzanne Gurnett Streitz, President of the Dowtown
Association regarding Center Space.
(11)
Letter from Gillian Fox, Executive Director of Life Skills, Inc.,
regarding request for parking. This matter will be discussed at
Council's Work Session.
(1 2) Memoranda from the Civil Service Commission submitting certified
lists of applicants for the following positions:
Construction Inspector I
Fire Chief
Special Projects Inspector
Treasury Cashier
{13) Memoranda from the Traffic Engineer regarding:
(a) Modification of On-Street Parking Meter Zone on the West
Side of 100 Block of North Clinton Street
{b) Temporary Alteration of the Parking Prohibitions in the 500
Block of South Linn Street
Applications for Use of City Plaza.~°~e~ ~ n~pOl~n~. v ~
Scott Steele for recognition of the National Day of Prayer on
May 2, 1996. (approved)
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 9
i. Applications for Use of Streets and Public Grounds.
(1)
Reverend Kenneth Kuntz from St Mary's Church to conduct Palm
Sunday Procession on Jefferson Street between Dubuque and
Linn on March 31, 1996. (approved)
ITENI NO. 5 - PUBLIC DISCUSSION (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
#4 page
ITEM NO. 4 -CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED
OR AMENDED.
Nov/ Moved by Lehman, seconded by Thornberry. Any discussion?
Kubby/ Marian, were there additions of things we received last
night.
Karr/ Two correspondence. There were two correspondence.
Kubb¥/ That is included?
Karr/ Yes.
Nov/ Did you have any discussion on that correspondence?
Kubby/ Not on the correspondence but on something else really
quick. In the consent Calendar is a streets- a five year
program for our street construction and I know that last year
someone came to our public discussion about our budget saying
we are not putting enough money into bike trails. So I just
want to outline that there are four different projects
totalling $682,000 just for this next FY starting July 1 for
inner city and Iowa River Corridor Trail bik~ trails. So I
think that we are trying very hard to fulfill our commitment
to bike trails with dollars.
Nov/
I ought to announce also that we have a few p.h.s in the
Consent Calendar (reviews p.h.s). There is somebody waving at
the back. You will need to come up to the microphone.
Kathy Folk/ I wondered if there was a chance to
business that isn't on this at the beginning.
I am sorry.
introduce new
The next item,
Nov/
We can put this under public discussion of items not on the
agenda. Just one more item, okay. Is there any other
discussion? Roll call- (yes)° The Consent Calendar has been
adopted.
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#5 page
ITEM NO. 5 -PUBLIC DISCUSSION (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
Nov/
Public discussion for items not on the agenda. This is the
time to do it. We are asking people to sign in or use an
address label and then state your name and address and tell us
why you are here.
Rene
Paine/ Tonight I am representing Public Access Television. I
am the director there and I just wanted to make a quick
announcement that we have program guides available now to the
public. I wanted to mention where those are going to be
available. We have those out at TCI, at the Iowa City Public
Library, at the Iowa Memorial Union, Senior Center, the
Convention and Visitor's Bureau. If you can think of any other
places where we could put some of these, let us know. They
give a listing of our serious programs, the times that they're
on, and a brief description of what those programs are. This
is an effort to try and help educate viewers as to what they
might be seeing on the access channel. And I brought one for
each of you tonight.
Nov/
Rene, I'll give you this while you're walking, will give you
one more idea if you haven't put any in the Coralville Public
Library, they might like to have some.
Paine/ (Can't hear)
Council/ (Thank you's)
Thornberry/ I've got one question on the PATV, one question. And I
don't mean the is to be derogatory at all. But are any of
these things that are on Naughty Poe Pie, etc, do they have a
rating system for any of these things?
Paine/ We really, we don't have any kind of a rating system for the
programs currently. You mean like a PG or G or R, that kind of
thing?
Thornberry/ Like an R or an X.
Paine/ We don't do that at this time. Are there any other
questions? Thank you.
Nov/ Thank you.
Kathy Folk/ 1241 Oakes Dr. I've been a resident of Iowa City for
approximately 17 years, and I'd like to address the council a
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F032696
#5 page 2
letter I wrote about the observation of Martin Luther King,
Jr., Day. In February, I wrote a letter to the city council.
The point of my letter was to ask why Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Day was not observed similarly to other government holidays.
Specifically, I refer to the parking meters being enforced. I
discovered that Veteran's Day receives the same different
treatment than all other government holidays. I asked that my
letter be distributed to all city council members. In a letter
of March 13, Mr. Atkins assured me that this had been done.
Thank you Mr. Atkins, thanks for doing that. In Mr. Atkins'
letter of March 14 to me, he explained that quote the city
bases the decision to operate a service on the level of
business activity expected. When a majority of businesses
remain open, services such as parking, transit, and d.t.
continue to operate end of quote. I do not find this
explanation to be adequate. What I am asking is that these two
governmental holidays be treated with the same level of
respect and reverence that all other government holidays are
treated with. I ask city council to reconsider this policy.
Please think of the message you're sending to the community
about the importance of these Americans we officially
commemorate. Yes it is a symbol, but symbols are powerful and
important. Incidentally the University of Iowa observes these
holidays and does not ticket cars. Are there any comments,
questions?
Norton/ They don't cancel classes either, do they?
Folk/ Classes at the University? I don't know. They cancel classes
at the Iowa City Public Schools, but they do not call it
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. They call it teacher inservice
day, and they talk about Martin Luther King, Jr. the day
before his day. I do not understand that either. This is an
official holiday.
Nov/
There are other official holidays where such as mail is not
delivered but businesses are still operating. Classes are
still being held and parking meters are still in force.
Folk/ I think the one you're talking about is Veteran's Day and I
feel strongly about that too.
Nov/ Now I'm talking about President's Day and there are others
that you haven't mentioned. That's what I'm saying.
Folk/ I went to the city office and I didn't see that. I didn't
realize that to be true. I thought these were the only two
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official governmental holidays that were being treated
differently. Are you sure?
Nov/ I know the mail isn't delivered.
Kubby/ I guess the big point is, do we want to take some time in
the informal to talk about it, if we want to keep our current
policy or change it?
Baker/ I would be glad to talk about it. It's probably going to be
a short conversation.
Norton/ Sometime.
Kubby/ Well if you know what your answer is, there's no sense in
having a conversation.
Baker/ But Karen, very often you have said, you have conversations
to hear what other people have to say.
Kubby/ I said that last night, didn't I?
Baker/ Are you interested in hearing what other people have to say?
Kubby/ Can we schedule it then, Naomi?
Nov/ Are there four people here who want to carry this discussion
into another meeting?
Thornberry/ We could discuss it.
Nov/ Okay. We can put it on the agenda for an informal meeting. We
can decide.
Atkins/ I'll schedule it.
Folk/ Can I come to the meeting?
Nov/ Yes. All meetings are open to the public.
Folk/ And how do I find out about it?
Kubby/ Steve, can we ask you to call Kathy?
Arkins/ I'll call you.
Folk/ Thank you. Thank you. I don't need to make any further
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arguments at this point then?
Nov/
All you have asked for is further discussion and we have
agreed to further discussion and I have to say we are not
guaranteeing that we will come down on your side.
Folk/ Ah, believe me, I understand that. I have some very good
arguments.
Atkins/ I may want to make a suggestion to, and I'd suggest this to
council as well as Kathy, I would consult the D.T.
Association.
Folk/ Why?
Atkins/ Because they operate businesses during these holidays. They
have an expectation of certain public services, so I just
want.
Folk/ Could I just say to that, that that seems like circular
logical to me.
Atkins/ No, ma'am. It's not circular logical, Kathy. I think it
makes a great deal of sense if you're going to be open for
business, they'd like to know that there are going to be
customers in the d.t. area and if classes are held and parking
becomes more of a premium than it is, that there isn't any bus
service, I mean a variety of activities have a great deal to
do with the economy of d.t. I'm not showing any disrespect to
the issue of your position on the holiday, but there are other
factors that you have to weigh and I just think you need to
talk to them as well as these folks.
Folk/ I understand.
Thornberry/ Should the buses run, you know we can talk about that
later.
No¥/ We'll talk about it. We won't carry on any further discussion
tonight and we'll get to it and we'll put it on the agenda for
another day.
Kubby/ Although it should be clear to Kathy that when we talk about
this, it's at an informal meeting where the public is welcome
to attend but it's a work session for us to talk to each other
and the staff, not for the public to talk to us, so if you
have other things you want to say, you should contact
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individual council members ahead of time.
Folk/ Oh. That would be the way to do it.
Nov/ Or you may.
Vanderhoef/ Do it now.
Nov/ Do it in writing.
Folk/ I can put, I already have it in my little speech, but I won't
give it tonight.
Nov/ But you may turn your comments, your written speech, in to the
city clerk and copies will be provided for all the city
council.
Folk/ Thank you.
Bud Louis/ I thought there was a gentleman who wanted to talk about
Napoleon before I got up. Did you want to go ahead of me?
Kubby/ I thought we could segue the Vet's Day conversation.
Richard Fishel/ 1316 Muscatine Avenue. I have some concerns about
the sewer plant and park going through Napoleon Park. I have
written down my co~u~ents which I'll read and I do have copies
for the council members who would like it, too. (Reads letter)
Thank you.
Nov/ Thank you.
Kubby\...I think important, before Bud goes on I know I had asked
yesterday Steve would talk a little bit about whatDs the
city's point of views, what has gone on and how can we do
better when we know that on the water plant site we know that
there's some archeological sites there. We have no idea how
significant they are, but how to make sure that we're doing
things way up front of the process to prevent a similar kind
of situation.
Atklns/ Well, I think you have, there's two sets of questions and
I've apologized to council now that this can't go
unchallenged. Protests from the State Archeologist. That's not
true. We worked directly with the State Archeologist. Protests
from the State Historic Preservation Commission. That's not
true. Chose to ignore the Sensitive Areas Ordinance. Show me
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chapter and verse. Ample opportunity. Folks, I can go on for
some time and I don't want to end up in a debate with Mr.
Fishel publicly, but many of those accusations simply are not
true. Now to the second question. We have contacted all the
appropriate agencies to the best of our knowledge with respect
to the water project, and in fact this week, we'll be meeting
with representatives in Des Moines to discuss this element,
Historic Cultural Preservation cmmponent, as well as a number
of other elements with respect to the project planning for the
water treatment plant. I want to remind you that in December,
we received a letter from the State Historic Preservation
office issuing a number of challenges not unlike this. We
responded in about two weeks. That was about three months ago.
We've not heard a word.
Kubby/ In terms of the water plant.
Atkins/ Yes. I think we have done what we were required to do. I'm
disappointed in this. I don't want to perpetuate a lengthy
debate over the think, but some of the accusations are simply
not true.
Kubby/ But Steve, at the water plant site, knowing that there's
some archeological sites and we passed the ordinance now. What
ordinance would kick in for the Napoleon Park site and that we
may, we want to believe is that we maybe would've done things
a little earlier if the Sensitive Areas Ordinance had been in
effect at the time that we started on Napoleon Park.
Arkins/ I don't think the Sensitive Areas Ordinance even's really
pertinent to this. I believe we notified people in a timely
fashion. The representatives that we hired notified people in
a timely fashion. All I know, Karen, is that we filed letters
supporting the work for the State Archeologist to sign. So
you're well aware of those things. We designed the
construction technique at the site to allow the archeologist
to do his work. We supported a grant application by the
archeologist to give money to the. The archeologist did work
in '78 and '88 on that site. That information was given to the
Corps of Engineers° Why they chose to do what they chose to
do, is difficult for me to answer for you. All I know is that
we are to the best of my knowledge, complying with the law to
the fullest extent possible and that's both historic and
cultural policy as well as the environmental policy of the
state. Let's not forget the reason we're building the sewer
project is to clean up the river.
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Kubby/ I guess, because I'm not really interested in going over the
details of what happened in this past situation because we
don't know what's been lost. ! guess what my hope is is that
we can with future projects do the prep work in as far advance
as possible so we know as far advance as possible if
archeological sites are significant or not and what does that
mean. Does it mean we document them as we're digging up? Does
it mean that we need to protect them and build around them?
What does it mean and the more up front time we have the more
we have time to react in an appropriate way to preserve our
cultural resources. And that's my interest in this issue.
Atkins/ And I think we share that interest. I don't think there's
any doubt that we share that interest. And that the hullabaloo
that was created appears to be, I promised myself that (can't
hear), the State Historic Preservation folks that have picked
up the phone. This is the second time we've been through that
with these people. They write letters. They challenge. We
answer. We hear nothing. The eleventh hour. And it's worrisome
because we then don't have the full ability to do even what we
think is right if we're not receiving advise. The State
Archeologist's office, Mr. Green in particular, I don't know
any of the other fellows in that office, has been fine. Very
easy to work with.
Kubby/ If we know that is acting in that way and not co~Lmunicating
with us, how we can prevent problems is that we communicate
with them as thoroughly as we can and that's all that we have.
Atkins/ As we did in December of '95, wrote them a detailed letter
on the water treatment plant site. And did not receive a
response.
Norton/ I want to get a word in before Bud starts. I understand the
staff is going to start taking another look at some
refinements in the Sensitive Areas Ordinance. As I look at
section M of that ordinance, it does look to me like it bears
on this issues deal. And it may need to bear more heavily on
this issue. That seems to me we need to give it a real tough
look so we do make the early assessments of where there's
likely to be some activity. I don't think we did as great of
a job as we might've. I think we might as well face that. I
don't, my personal view is we might of avoided some of these
by a harder look early.
Atkins/ And I think that you're probably right, but when you
receive a permit from the Corps and you receive certain
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direction, and you're never going to find out who said what to
whom, we all know that. And I believe we fully complied. If
the issue was as critical as it is, I find it shocking that a
sand and gravel operation which you can hit with a rock from
this site, is allowed to continue, dig it up, move it on the
other side of the road, and no one has said a word. I don't
understand that. Now could that have been the site of a part
of the Napoleon town site? I'm not in a position to argue it,
but it's been long gone. And I just think that as I told Mr.
Green, if we can find something that you tr~lly believe is of
some consequence, and you wish this site to have some
designation, you will find us very cooperative. But at the
same time, you also ask us to conduct the girl's softball
program and a variety of other activities on that site.
Kubby/ They may not be not be in conflict.
Atkins/ Absolutely. And I think it's very important but I think
that we can conduct all of these activities, that if you want
a policy independent of everything else, that's when you have
these types of debate.
Norton/ I'm just saying I think they need to be considered. That
doesn't mean you can't proceed, but I think it takes a good
deal more looking before we have it all figured out how we
might proceed, but I'm sure everybody's sensitive to the
issues.
Arkins/ Sensitivities are certainly there. There's no doubt about
that.
Bud Louis/ By the way, if you do do something down there and you're
interested in owning the stones that were the foundation of
that, I hauled them home 35 years ago. I read in Benjamin
Shambaugh's book, Old Capitol Remembers, about the town of
Napoleon so I asked Charlie Showers where that place was one
day and he pointed and said his grandmother watched the
building burn when she was a little girl and I said well I
wonder where exactly it was and he said well Howard Fountain
ran into the stones last week and we're digging them out. And
I said what are you going to do with them. And he said that we
put them over by the river so I had Keith Noel bring them on
home. So if you need them to make a monument or something.
Atkins/ The foundation for that house is now at your house.
Louis/ Five or six of the big stones. There's one little stone down
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there by the sign that says Napoleon Park.
Atkins/ We don't have a sewer project planned near you, Bud, do we?
Louis/ I'm giving them to you. It's bribery.
Atkins/ Okay. Thank you.
Louis/ How are you fixed for medicine? I deliver fleece. The baby
ones are coming on. You should drive out there and see.
There's a whole bunch of little ones. Actually that's not
really why I'm here tonight. I wrote you a letter about the
Saber jet at the airport and do you have that yet? Okay,
you're busy tonight, so let's not take up too much time on
that. 50% of that problem has been taken care of. The Green
Castle Airport has decided since there were veteran's
organizations
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-40 SIDE 1
Louis/ Jet will remain a permanent memorial or dedication to the
veterans of Johnson County. Now there is one other memorial
clear up about three feet from the north edge of Johnson
County in the Shueyville Cemetery, a beautiful monument up
there, but this is actually the only memorial there is to the
veterans and the inscription underneath it says, well I'll
read just that part. It says, this F-86 Saber Jet rededicated
on the Fourth of July, 1980, to the memory of American
veterans of all wars for more than 200 years served and
sacrificed in the cause of freedom. They shall not be
forgotten. Now 15 years ago, Greenpeace, Green Acres, what was
it, took it apart and wanted it out of there. We put it back
together and later a man sprayed it with red paint. What I'd
like is if the council could see their way clear to make a
proclamation that this remains a permanent, now when I say
permanent, it can be moved at the airport. I know you have to
move it a little ways now from there. But try to keep it on
the airport property since it is an airplane. And if you had
to we could at least have it in a city park. We don't like
that very well but if you could make that a so that people
aren't going to, we don't have to go through this every 15
years and save the thing. And there is a motion I mean a
group, in fact these gentlemen here have a program for
restoring it every so often. I've talked now with three Legion
groups, the Military Affairs Co~ittee, the VFW (the Veterans
of Foreign Wars), the 8th Air Force Association, and the Navy
Reserve, down here and they all agree that they'd like that to
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be a memorial.
Atkins/ May I ask Bud a question please? One of the a call I've
gotten about it, Bud, is not so much about moving it was how
some regularly scheduled maintenance activity on the plane can
be performed, whereby we're all comfortable that it's being
maintained properly. Honestly or frankly, I don't have anybody
on staff who has knowledge of that. It's something I like but
I think about is that if you wish to preserve the site, and
that's certainly the decision about city council, I think the
most important thing that I think is that I don't want to see
it slip into disrepair.
Louis/ Like the fire truck out at the airport or City Park.
Atkins/ We don't want to, let's not have it slip into disrepair. So
I figure some things that we have to do then, we have to get
about thinking about how to go about thinking about that. It's
also a lot easier to preserve when it's it's really spiffy
looking than it is when it gets a little ragged.
John
Hartnet/ I'm a past resident of Iowa City and I'm also a
veteran. In reference to your question Mr. Atkins, when Old
Jet first met her demise back in the 70's, we formed what we
call the Johnson County Veterans' Group. That was headed up by
Kenny Kenyon who's since passed away from 3949, Medal of Honor
winner, ex-POW; Ralph Neppel who's now passed away; and past
coramander and district commander of the VFW, Louie Cox. They
turned the thing, the operation over to Dale Roberts who heads
up Roberts' Construction here in Iowa City. Once a year Mr.
Roberts contacts all the veterans' organizations in the county
asking for assistance to go down and clean up Old Jet. And we
muster what individuals we can from our posts and we go down
there and we make a day of it, cleaning up Old Jet and if she
needs spot painting, we spot paint. And we try to clean the
canopy up a little to look good but now that's plastic. It's
a little rough so she may be a little yellow, but in her age
and what she represents, a lot of us veterans are a little
yellow. So we do have a clean up plan and as a matter of fact,
Dale Roberts asked at our Johnson County meeting last night
for volunteers, hopefully for April 13 to do some work on her
depending on the weather. We do have a plan of action.
Atkins/ Now I see Bud frequently enough that we'll have a chance to
visit about it. I just think that it's important if you're
going to preserve it, let's do a first class job of it.
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Louis/ Any more questions about, I notice it's coming up on the
agenda. We do have a bunch of veterans here. They go back.
Iowa City furnished four regiments in the Civil War. Very
famous and on through all the wars, so I think it'd be
appropriate. Thank you very much.
Nov/ Thank you. I'm glad to hear that there are some younger
veterans who are going to keep up this nice tradition of
preservation of the airplane.
Louis/ Yeah, thank you.
Norton/ Put those kids to work.
Philip Zell/ New Senior Center representative. I just want to speak
very briefly to you about the latest activities at the center.
Bette told me that one of the members of the council had
questioned what was being done at the center about fees for
activities. So she suggested that I bring the Senior Center
Post over. It's the periodical put out by the center. There's
a good deal of information in that about the kinds of
activities that are offered at the Center and I say this also
for the folks that are watching on Public Access. There's a
full schedule in there. Many of the activities that are being
offered are for fee, and the fees are usually published in the
Center Post when the activities are advertised. We maintain a
mix of free and fee based activities. For example, in honor of
Women's History Month, Mary Sue Coleman, President of the
University of Iowa, spoke. It was very well attended. The
staff did a wonderful job of organizing that and Hills Bank
very generously supported refreshments and advertising for
that. A day later a panel, Women in Broadcasting, was also
organized by the staff. And again Hills Bank sponsored
refreshments and advertising. A couple of emeritus professors
from the University of Iowa have given classes there. There
was a charge for materials that were reproduced but otherwise
the classes were free. The other classes are being offered six
weeks for $21. There's a weight training class over there. So
there is a mix of free and for fee activities. We are
considering if the fee basis over there, we're going to work
on it. Thanks.
Kubby/ Thanks for waiting.
Bethanne Alber/ 400 First Avenue. I'm here to talk once again about
water. At this time it seems to be a necessity to reevaluate
the new water treatment facility plan. Once reason this seems
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to be necessary is that money is being spent daily on a plan
with no bottom price. As different issue are brought up around
the water treatment facility, we're finding more money's being
spent than what is expected. For example, land that's been
purchased went over budget and now we're spending money on
litigation because some of the people who the city bought the
land from don't want to give it up, so we're spending money on
a daily basis on land that people don't want to give up which
was already too much. And one of the things that was found
when wells were drilled in some areas of land that was
purchased is that the water, as a source of water, the wells
that were unusable. I'm not sure if you received that Water
Treatment Cost Evaluation document written by Rodney Alber. We
were hoping that would get in the packet this evening. There's
a few things to consider as well with the new water treatment
facility. One is the placement of the new plant. We find that
at the site where it is placed, there are no existing pipes
within approximately a half mile of the proposed site which is
costing the city quite a bit of money to pipe water into where
they need it because the facility is so far away the actual
customer base. Finally it seems there's no reason for all this
money to be wasted or put towards a memorandum that we don't
know how much we're really spending on anyway. At this time,
I feel and as do other people, that we should possibly cease
activities on what we're doing right now to take a short
period of time to reevaluate the entire plan because I
understand a lot of people have put a lot of hard work into
getting the plan where it's at now, but it seems that
somewhere along the line, somebody got backtracked or step got
skipped and we don't have the best plan for what the city
should have. I mean if we're getting a new water treatment
facility it should be as though in 20 years from now and right
now what we're building doesn't look as though that's going to
be happening. At this time, I would ask the city council
members to take a minute to think about how they feel about
water project and what they're thoughts might be on continuing
the present effort or possibly put a slight halt to it or
slowing it down a little bit just so we can reevaluate what we
have, because it may not be what's best.
Nov/ Thank you. We will read all these papers you've given us.
Alber/ Okay. Thank you. And also is there any way we can put this
on an agenda for a p.h. again?
Nov/ Probably not.
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Alber/ Okay.
Nov/ We'll think about the papers. We'll read what you've given us
and think about it.
Baker/ The public at any time can use the forum you're using, the
public discussion forum, to come down and talk about it.
Alber/ Well I understand that what seems to have happened to us as
well as the people who're tried before us is the city
council'e not got rolling on spending money buying the land
and on digging the wells and even though the wells don't have,
that haven't found water in some places, not all of them, but
the money's still being spent so people come up and they ask
if we can reconsider or if we can do something different and
people say well we can't now because we're too far along.
We've already spent money for these things and that's why I'm
asking that it be a special consideration because it seems
like the project, it's rolling now. And it's something that,
there's not that much time that we can actually go hold on a
second, we may have made a mistake somewhere along the line,
let's try to fix it now because after while, too much money's
going to have been spent. And I don't think we, we're at that
point yet.
Kubby/ Although I get so confused with dates, I should keep a diary
or something, but there was a time when we were asked to make
what I thought was kind of a quick decision for a very large
and expensive endeavor which was going to be a multi-
generational, it was a 100 year decision. And the council did
decide to take three months to slow down, to talk to the
public about this is our plans. What are your feedback. This
is our timeframe. We knew there were going to be lawsuits.
Because there are when you condemn land for that kind of
purpose with the individuals that we're dealing with and that
I was very grateful for that three month slowdown so that we
could talk to the public. I could take a couple of breaths as
an individual council member to digest that and read all the
stuff and I feel in general, we're going on path towards clean
water for people. And we knew that the water plant was not as
close to the residential areas, but there were things that
compensated for that because of the area where the water was,
the alluvial water source that was there. So I'm not
interested in slowing this down to look at the whole thing
again. I certainly don't mind looking at the portions of it in
our plans to make sure that we're dealing with things in an
environmentally sensitive way like archeological sites, to
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make sure that you know when you said that the well, there's
no useable water, I don't believe that to be true. That the
water amount wasn't as much as we expected and we're doing
some things to adjust that with our wells to get the quantity
that we expected because of the fissures in the rocks in that
particular area, so I'm not interested in opening this whole
thing up. I wouldn't mind looking at different sections.
Alber/ As far as wells go, if you know, that may be a good section
to start with. One possible water source that was never
considered in the present plan is what's called the Jordan
aquifer, and it's a large body of water that runs under any
other well you're going to have. And maybe that should be
taken into consideration.
Nov/ We do have Jordan wells in the plan.
Norton/ They have one now and there's room in that plan. But we do
intend to go down and take a look and check up on the progress
of the project. That'll happen.
Alber/ Okay. Thank you.
Thornberry/ I'll say one thing about the water plant report and
then probably be the last. Very few things, this is March and
I've been on the council for three months. It seems a lot
longer. But very few things have, Karen Kubby and I, agreed
on, but this is one of them. And before I became elected, I
was very apprehensive of the water plant. Very apprehensive of
the same questions you have brought up and others since I've
been here. I'm not an expert in water. The only thing I'm an
expert in is hamburgers so I'm learning a lot since I've been
here, but I have talked to experts, not just the city but
other experts and I gotta tell you, I've changed my mind
regarding this water plant, because I think it's probably the
best situation, the best location, situation for all of the
citizens of Iowa City and I concur with what Karen said almost
completely.
Alber/ In that packet that you did receive this evening put
together by Rodney Alber, there's an alternative site
location. If you'd take a look at that. And if anybody has any
questions on that packet, we would really appreciate if
anybody could give us a call. Our number is 358-0152 and any
questions we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank
you very much.
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Anna
Buss/ 525 W. Benton. I've had a few phone calls since I was
here the last time about some other persons who've had some
concerns about the back billing issue that the city has with
the water and sewer and the trash problem and I was at the
last meeting it was indicated that you might possibly be
talking about it and I came to ask you if in fact you have
time to talk about it and if you have come to any resolve
about what is going to happen to us with our back sewer bill
or our back trash bills.
Kubby/ We haven't talked yet, but we agreed last night to talk.
Nov/ We will be putting it on the agenda and we can notify you when
it will be on the agenda.
Buss/ Okay. So are we to presume that since it's on hold, we won't
be disconnected because we have not paid these bills as of
yet?
Nov/ I don't think we could disconnect for not paying refuse bills,
could we?
Arkins/ Water (can't hear).
Buss/ Yeah, but this are refuse.
Nov/ But it's not talking about water and sewage. It's talking
about refuse.
Buss/ But it's all on one bill.
Norton/ Yeah, it's all on one bill.
Woito/ That's your call. You have discretion. Staff doesn't.
Kubby/ I don't have a problem with not disconnecting. I think that
would be unfair.
Woito/ I don't either. Staff is working on it. We st~11 have some
more work to do. It's not an easy task. And then we'll make a
recommendation to you and you can discuss it.
Nov/ And we will wait until we have the staff recommendation. When
they finish the research and we'll put it on the agenda and
let you know.
Buss/ Do you have any main timeframes so I can kind of be watching
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for that?
Nov/ Linda, what do you guess?
Woito/ Within the next month or so.
Buss/ Okay. All right. I would like to be notified as this is a
real busy time of the year and since I think everybody has my
phone number, you could just sort of leave me a message. I
also have one other thing that I would like to take just a few
minutes of your time for. This evening later in the council
session, you're going to probably passing on some of the
uniform building codes in the various areas, plumbing,
electrical, things like that. As a property manager and a
person who is really affected by a lot of these codes, I would
like to please take a moment to think about the fact that I
know you reviewed all of them. Iowa City does have a lot of
codes in place that are being enforced via the inspections.
It's not only the water and the sewer bills that have been
piled onto our tenants in the last few years. Keep in mind
that I do not want any of my tenants to be less safe. I have
repeatedly stated that on this forum, but I do think that some
times through the inspection process, there are some things
that aren't as necessarily health and safety issues that are
inspected for. We are currently the Iowa City Landlords
Association has had a forum with the City Inspection
Department that has gone rather well. I haven't gotten through
all the material that they've accomplished since I just got it
on Friday, but I would urge you to keep in mind that a lot of
us out here are getting the brunt of what you do as a whole
body and what the city does. And I'd like to have you consider
that fact that there are a lot of, in the paper last night I'm
sure most of you read that there are some tenants that have
come forth and they have had student meetings about the high
rent. And I know a lot of the students, I don't know too many
landlords at this point in time that are what I would call
gouging the students. I know we really airtighted our budget
but the rental property industry is up for profit. If you are
not making a profit, it doesn't do you any good to keep the
doors open. And I don't any of the d.t. merchants that would
be asked to curb their profit level because of the costs that
were being piled on. I would also like for the students who do
watch the city council meetings to understand that because of
when the bills are implemented, they are in the middle or
ahead of our lease period, so we are planning into our next
budgeting time. So that is another consideration. As
landlords, most of us are trying very hard to keep those
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F032696
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budgets as tight as possible. So I thank you for your time.
Kubby/ Anna, the uniform building code is for new construction and
may in the future have some effect on what is looked at in
already constructed. I mean, you are on the Board of Appeals,
right, that looked at these?
Buss/ Yes.
Kubby/ And you voted for them.
Buss/ Not all of them.
Kubby/ But in total, didn't you have a vote?
Buss/ But I haven't voted for all of them.
Kubby/ Later on tonight, Ron Boose, our building inspector's going
to be here and I've asked him to kind of, because one of my
first questions is that what are the things that are in here
that add cost to the price of new construction that ends up
being in the selling price of buildings.
Buss/ Everything.
Kubby/ Not everything in here.
Buss/ It's more expensive to build here than anywhere else.
Kubby/ Some of the things in here are clarification. Some of the
changes that we are going to be voting on are clarification to
make things more clear to people. Some things add cost and
there's at least one thing in here that decreases cost.
Anyway, Ron's going to be here to outline some of those things
if you want to tune into a replay, or hang out, or go home and
turn on live.
Buss/ The problem is that when the city habitually passes things
for new construction, eventually it has what I call a dribble
back effect and things that at one time were grandfathered are
no longer grandfathered. I have had this experience. I've been
here since 1968 and I've been through the redoing and the
redoing and the redoing for new construction. And I think if
you look back that it won't take you long to figure out a lot
of that stuff goes back on. Eventually it gets revised and
maybe shouldn't we bring this property or these properties up
to the standard. And on some of these older buildings, it is
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F032696
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a very difficult to bring them into compliance with some of
the things that are newer. It's just not possible.
Kubby/ You've read this more carefully and talked about it issue by
issue. Can you name a couple of things that you think we
shouldn't pass in this?
Buss/ A lot of times when we're voting on things, we are voting on
things that are do you want to totally go back and revamp and
change the code. We aren't voting at necessarily on what the
issue is at hand. It's, do you want to change the code? No the
code doesn't get changed. So therefore this has to be brought
up to that code. I mean I would have to tell you I've been
gone and haven't had time to sit and go back over everything.
I was just asking that you please consider what you're doing.
Okay.
Kubby/ It's hard for us to react when there's not a like
section 107.02.
Buss/ I'll tell you, if you want to sit down, I will take a couple
of days off work. I'll read the whole thing and then I'll go
over it with you, but if all you have to do is look at the
fact that it is so expensive to build here. Our rents are so
high. And our rents are higher than anyplace, well almost
anyplace else in Iowa. And when I have people that come here
from other cities, Kansas City, New York, Boston, and they
say, my God your rents are high compared for what we're
getting. Well, there's got to be a reason.
Thornberry/ Try Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Norton/ If you look at some of the fallback. You look at some of
the things that come before your group, the Board of Appeals.
It looks to me like some of disasters should have been cleared
up long since.
Buss/ But long before they got to us. And that's.
Norton/ And so if there's some fall back of these new requirements
on to older property, does that mean generally to the good.
Nov/
Anna, we cannot discuss the rents. That isn't part of what we
do here, but I was very pleased to find that the construction
people were involved. They were consulted before these things
were written. I think that helped.
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Holly Berkowitz/ 612 Granada Ct. Now let's take some time in memory
of Christopher Lillig who is one of the best bicyclists in
this area. And Casey Cook said that if anybody could ride on
that road it was Christopher. Having been a very avid
bicyclist myself in the past, down mountain slopes, I don't
like riding in this area, except on the bike path between our
house and the city, Iowa city. And I hope that we can look
past our own personal boundaries to our community to make it
a nurturing and healthy community so these kind of things
wouldn't have to happen because these are very expensive kinds
of things to happen beyond money. I don't think you can count
this as just a loss in money. I think a lot of things in life
are quality. Those are things that make life worth living. The
standard of living is sort of deceptive. It doesn't really
always reflect what we're getting out of life. Thank you very
much as public officials for spending so much time for us. You
are giving your lives for us, and I appreciate that. Thank
you. That's what the democracy takes and if you were looking
out for private interests only, you would be called private
officials. But you're not. For our nation to work, the private
sector has to be in balance with the public sector. It has to
be in balance. And we have, we as private people have to help
you out by giving you ideas and giving you time and giving you
money and (can't hear). some people like it. And we have to
give you our priorities. Now when we're talking about
something as critical as water, a person can't live more than
one day without water. And how long can a person live with
contaminated water? Probably not too long either. When you're
talking about something so critical usually you have to pay a
lot of money for critical items, for medical care, for health
care, for accident insurance, emergency service. What happened
to water? How come we expect to pay nothing for water? How
come we expect to pay nothing for air? Why doesn't the
American public say thank you for building us a Water
Treatment Plant? I just attended a meeting with Jeff Davidson,
and he said that Coralville is planning on putting an
extension for 965 down to Melrose Blvd and beyond which will
dump a lot of traffic into University Heights and those people
are fighting it. It all comes down to boundaries. Which
boundaries we're confined by as private? Some people walk
around with a boundary just around themselves. Other people
walk around with a boundary around their family. They protect
their family. Some people, not very many people, care about
their community and their neighborhoods and what they're going
to be like 50 years or their kids kids kids that we can't
protect except by investing in our community. In the November,
'96 election, I want the American people to say, in order to
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F032696
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keep our democracy going, we all have to work together as a
team. Thank you.
Nov/ Holly, that's a terrific thought. And we have to move on.
Norton/ Thank you.
David Bloesch/ 57 Amber Lane. I've come tonight to express my
appreciation to the city council for the Iowa City transit
system and also my grave concern over some of the changes,
some of the impending potential changes to the transit system.
In so doing, I also represent my brother Peter who couldn't be
present tonight and my mother Ethel, both of whom ride the bus
daily to work. The Iowa City transit system is really an
integral part of Iowa City's high quality of life. With
increasing traffic and parking problems, the bus system is
especially critical to Iowa City's future. Excessive
automobile traffic is becoming a problem of enormous
magnitude. It is a problem in traffic congestion, noise,
parking, safety hazards to pedestrians and bicyclists, visual
pollution, and air pollution. The importance therefore of the
bus system as an alternate mode of transportation cannot be
overemphasized. While I recognize that the transit system is
currently underutilized, I would urge the council and any
other planning agencies involved not to respond reactively by
cutting services and increasing fares, but rather to act
proactively by promoting the system through advertising and
other means. Now as an Iowa City resident I am personally not
aware of any current, any such current activities. I would
hope therefore that the creative resources of this city could
be brought to bear on this issue and that we could avoid
gutting this valuable and critical resource to Iowa City.
thank you very much for you consideration on this issue and so
many others.
Nov/
We are going to have a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss
transit issues only. And if you're available at 9:00 in the
morning, you're welcome to come and listen.
Bloesch/ I regret I'm not. Thank you.
Jim Walters/ Is this the appropriate time to talk about 965 or is
it an agenda item as well?
Kubb¥/ It is, but it's just an acknowledgement.
Nov/ It's just to acknowledge the recommendation. We're not
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F032696
#5 page 21
actually going to make any decision, but if you want to talk
about it please.
Walter/ I want to make just a few short comments. I'll try to keep
it short. It's hard for me. 2511 Hwy 1 SW, Johnson County. I
came to the work session last night and listened to your
discussion about 965 and I have a couple of concerns. I
would've taken the time to write but I felt that if you were
going to be making decisions tonight that I wouldn't have the
time to get that written information to you so I thought I'd
come down and just express a couple of concerns. I want to
apologize that I'm not really up to speed on this issue, and
I have to confess that I was kind of blind sided by the news
story here about two months ago about the construction of this
highway. I'm not an active follower of the JCCOG or the City
Council on highway construction matters and so when I saw this
news story it was news to me. But I realize that the planning
staff and you've been involved in this for some time and I
think that the thing's important to me is that I think you
need to recognize that I think this decision and I think you
do that, do recognize this decision has a lot of long term
effects on both the city and county and coralville. I'd like
to talk just briefly about those. I was a little bit concerned
last night that I felt the city council of Iowa City is being
somewhat reactive to initiatives by coralville regarding this
highway situation, and I don't think that's altogether bad. I
think it's an unfortunate situation that we live in a county
that has so many overlapping governments and jurisdictions
now. It's creating all kinds of problems for all the
communities. One can only hope that some time in the future
we'll resolve all of that in favor of maybe one eliminating
University Heights and Iowa City and Coralville and having one
municipality. That's obviously in the future somewhere. In the
short run, I think that it's important that Iowa City be
concerned be concerned with it's own policies. And we are
different from Coralville. I shouldn't say we, because I'm in
the county. But Iowa City is different from Coralville. We
have some ordinances and we have some concerns that are not
currently shared by Coralville. In particular, the council
just passed a Sensitive Areas Ordinance and we also have some
open space ordinances that are different from Coralville. If
you'll look at the area on your map, the Sensitive Areas map
over here, a vast amount of the area that we're talking about
relative to 965 is going to be impacted by this highway
development on the west side. I was concerned last night by
comments, two comments that were made by city staff. First the
comment that Karin Franklin made that there may be some
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F032696
#5
page 22
jurisdictional changes out in this area that may even see some
of that land revert to Coralville from Iowa City. There may be
some trade-offs there in actual ownership of that land between
the two communities and it seems to me that if that does take
place, you're effectively negating your Sensitive Areas
Ordinance by giving sensitive areas if that happens to a
COlmmunity that doesn't share your concerns at this point. That
may change. Jeff Davidson made the comment that on the west
side of Deer Creek Road, Coralville has considerable
development plans. That they have a lot of plans for that
area. And I would note that that also is Clear Creek
floodplaino It's also, if you follow those Sensitive Areas
color indicators that you've
extend right into the next
sensitive areas as well which
plans for that you may or may
need to resolve those kinds of
have recommendation but I do
got in your boundaries, those
quadrant and that represents
Coralville has apparently some
not know about. And I think we
issues. So I guess what I don't
urge a considerable amount of
caution here because planning staff is thinking long term for
you. They're trying to think down the road 20 or 30 years. I
would like to encourage the council to also think a little bit
further than that. Iowa City, we have a grand opportunity in
the Clear Creek watershed between these two communities, to
protect some very vital and important open space. And in every
urban setting, these things become very very important as Iowa
City grows. If we lose opportunities like this, we can never
regain them. And this area is really an important one. If you
look at Iowa City, it's one of the few that we have that
represents some really potentially grand open space and park
land. We've got some areas on the southeast that you're aware
of and dealing with and we've got this area. Other than that
we're pretty bereft of areas that represent something
comparable to Hickory Hill on the west side of our urban
setting. And so I'll try to think this out more. I'll try and
get more information and communicate more of my ideas in
writing. But I would urge the council to exercise some caution
and restraint inrushing ahead on this. And to not be, not feel
compelled to respond to Coralville's initiative on this.
think it's very important to work with Coralville. I mean I
consider Coralville my community too. I virtually work in
Coralville. But if Iowa City and Coralville can work together
on transit and on industrial development and on streets and
roads, then certainly we should be able to work together on
issues like parks and open space. We should be working with
them on these issues too. And I hope that we'll do that. Thank
you.
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F032696
#5 page 23
Nov/ Thank you.
Larry Waters/ I don't think there's any room on the sheet. 1538
Rochester Avenue.
Nov/ Is there another sheet under there?
Waters/ Turn it over?
Nov/ Okay. Thank you.
Waters/ I don't know whether I'm speaking at the right time or not.
There's an issue on the agenda tonight. I think it's item 21.
It's about closing, rerouting the road. First I have a
question.
Nov/ Is there any chance that you can stay until that item is
discussed?
Waters/ Sure. Sure.
Nov/ Because this is really time for things not on the agenda.
Waters/ I wasn't sure if this was the proper time or that time.
Kubby/ It could be a while though.
Lehman/ Probably you could take it out of order.
Nov/ Should we move the order on it?
Woito/ Yes.
Nov/ Put it right after P/Z?
Woito/ Yes.
Nov/ Okay. Let's do it that way.
Thornebrry/ We'll move it up and (can't hear).
Nov/ Is there anyone else who wants to talk about something that's
not on the agenda? Okay the next is item 6, P/Z matters. Did
you have something else?
Berkowitz/ I'd like Iowa City to take a leading role in working for
real economic value of some of the resources I talked about
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F032696
#5 page 24
earlier here, including parks, recognizing that they have
water filtering functions and the effects are exponential if
we don't give these things proper economic value.
Nov/ Thank you.
Berkowitz/ You're welcome.
Nov/ We've had a request for a break. We're
three minutes. We'll be right back.
going to take about
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F032696
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 10
ITEM NO. 6 - PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
Consider setting a public hearing for April 9, 1996, on Amendments to
City Code Title 14, Chapter 6, "Zoning," Article J, "Overlay Zones," by
creating a new overlay zoning district entitled "Design Review Overlay
Zone."
Comment: At its March 7, 1996, by a vote of 5-2 (Scott and Gibson
voting in the negative), the Planning and Zoning Commission
recommended denial of amendments to the City Code Zoning Chapter
creating a new overlay zoning district entitled "Design Review Overlay
Zone." The Commission further recommended a suggestion, by a vote
of 7-0, that if the Design Review Overlay Zone Ordinance is adopted,
that: a) an alternative appeal process be considered having the City
Council as the final arbiter; b) a preset time limit be established in which
the City must act on an appeal; and c) that the City adopt a resolution
to abide by the Design Review Overlay Zone Ordinance. At its June
1-2, 1995, meeting, the Design Review Committee, by a vote of 7-0,
recommended adoption of the Design Review Overlay Zone Ordinance.
Subsequently, at its March 18, 1996, meeting, by a vote of 5-2
(Reisetter and Rohovit voting no), the Committee recommended that
the proposed ordinance be amended so that the City Council acts as the
final arbiter in the appeal process.
Action:
Consider setting a public hearing for April 9 on an ordinance amending
the Zoning Chapter to change the use regulations of a 1.88 acre tract
from RR-1, Rural Residential, to RS-5, Low Density Single-Family
Residential for property located at.3263 Rohret Road. (REZ96-0003)
Comment: At its March 7 meeting, by a vote of 6-0, the Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended approval of the requested rezoning.
The Commission's recommendation is consistent with the staff
recommendation.
Act,on;
Agenda
Iowa City Ciw Council
Regular Council Meeting
Mamh 26, 1996
Page 11
Public hearing on a resolution to amend 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
amendment to the JCCOG Arterial Street Plan adding Oakdale
Boulevard between First Avenue in Coralville and County Road W.66,
Dubuque Street.
Public hearing on an ordinance amending the Zoning Chapter by
changing the use regulations of an approximate .14 acre parcel located
at 24 N. Van Buren Street from RM-44, High Density Multi-Family
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
rezoning. The Commission's recommendation is consistent with the
staff recommendation contained in the staff memorandum dated
February 9.
Action: '~ ~'~--~'~-
Consider 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. (Second consideration)
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 January 26.
No comments were received at the February 26 public hearing on this
item.
#6C page 1
ITEM NO. 6c. Public hearing on a resolution to amend the
Comprehensive Plan to incorporate an amendment to the JCCOG
Arterial Street Plan which includes Oakdale Boulevard.
Nov/ I declare the p.h. open. Anyone who wants to talk about this
item may do so now. Please sign in. Okay.
Holly Berkowitz/ In response to the previous Larry Walters who
testified regarding Iowa City or I am not sure I have this-
Nov/ You are talking about Jim Walters and he was talking about a
different street. We are talking now about Oakdale.
Berkowitz/ Yeah, I am talking about the goal difference between
Iowa City and Coralville. I perceived that Iowa City is a
little more cognizant of the importance of planning for 50
years in the future and having lived in Coralville for three
years, we lived right by the freeway, and most of the people
did not live in their apartments for more than three years. It
was a very transient neighborhood and I feel very lucky to
have moved to a neighborhood that is quiet, green, with fresh
air, even though it is near d.t. and I don't have to worry
about the traffic. I hope that Coralville will start looking
more at long range goals and recognize that it is important to
plan-
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-40 SIDE 2
Berkowitz/ -for other kinds of transportation besides the
automobile and to attempt to use the other kinds of
transportation before going ahead and building roads right to
the east and to the south and Oakdale Blvd. because if you
build the roads, the people will drive. They will use the oil.
If you encourage-You are the leaders as public servants. You
are the leaders of where we are going. You are driving the
ship but also everyone in this audience is driving the ship
also by demanding that we put in by telling our officials that
we want these corridors to- So that we can drive our car and
invade other people's neighborhoods. And I think that we have
the process all backwards. People, we, as the people who are
driving, need to go to you and say we really need to start
cutting down on our consumption because we don't want to go to
war because we want to drive. I don't want to send my son into
war because all my neighbors want to drive and build streets
and the cycle goes on and on.
Nov/ Holly, I do understand your points and you have made it very
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F032696
#6c page
well. However, we have to discuss only 0akdale Blvd.
Berkowitz/ Well, I encourage Oakdale to build an Oakdale and save
the sensitive areas for water filtering and air treatment and
soil conservation. Okay.
Nov/ We understand.
Berkowitz/ Okay. Thank you.
Kubby/ And we will be talking about this again at the JCCOG
tomorrow at 4:00 PM at the Civic Center if anybody wants to
join for that conversation.
Nov/ It has been moved and seconded, Kubby and Thornberry. I heard
somebody in this side of the room. Everybody. Okay. We have a
motion to accept correspondence. All those in favor please say
aye- (ayes). Okay° Now we declare the p.h. closed. We move to
Item D.
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F032696
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Maeting
March 26, 1996
Page 12
Consider an ordinance amending Title 14, Chapter 6, "Zoning," to allow
temporary real estate sales centers in residential zones. (Second
consideration)
Comment: At {ts February 1 meeting, by a vote of 4-0, the Planning
and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the proposed
amendment concerning real estate centers in residential zones. The
Commission's recommendation is consistent with the staff
recommendation contained in the staff memorandum dated February 1.
No comments were received at the February 26 public hearing on this
item.
Action:
Consider an ordinance amending the Conditional Zoning Agreement for
the D&L Subdivision, located southeast of the intersection of Highway
1 and Sunset Street, to eliminate the requirement to provide access to
property to the south. (REZ96-0002) {Second consideration)
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 Commission's recommendation is consistent with the
staff recommendation contained in the staff memorandum dated
January 18. No comments were received at the February 26 public
hearing on this item. In a letter dated February 20, the applicant
requested e.~d consideration.
Agenda
Iowa CiW City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 13
Consider a resolution approving a preliminary plat for Newport Ridge
Subdivision, a 12-1ot, 25.5 acre residential subdivision located on
Newport Road, 1/4 mile east of its intersection with Prairie du Chien
Road. (SUB96-0001)
Comment: At its February 1 meeting, by ~ vote of 4-0, the Planning
and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the preliminary plat
for Newport Ridge Subdivision, subject to approval of the grading plan
by the Public Works Department prior tQ Council consideration of the
preliminary plat. The Commission's recommendation is consistent with
the staff recommendation contained in the February 1 staff report. The
Grading Plan has been approved.
Action: ~"~.~.// ?'~/~_~~.~.~..~ ~-~J /~
Consider a recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission
approving the proposed east alignment for the extension of Highway.
965.'
Comment: At its February 15 meeting, by a vote of 6-0, the Planning
and Zoning Commission recommended that the proposed easterly
alignment for Highway 965 be chosen rather than the proposed
westerly alignment. Correspondence on this item is included in Council
packet. Ng,forma, I counc)l.~a~tion i~ req~red at t~is, time: '.
.,~. ITEM NO. 7 PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FILING OF NSO SIT
~z/~~ FUNDING APPLICATION WITH THE IOWA DEPARTI~ENT OF
~/~/ TRANSPORTATION FOR FY97 IOWA DOT STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE
AND FEDERAL TRANSIT ADNIINISTRATION FUNDING.
Comment: JCCOG will be filing an application on behalf of Iowa City
Transit with Iowa DOT for State Transit Assistance and Federal Transit
Administration Funding. The projects to be requested were included in a
memo to Council dated February 29, 1996. The total capital requests for
FY97 are $6,322,900 [federal share $3,845,100; local share
$2,477,800].
Action:
#6h page 1
ITEM NO. 6h. Consider a resolution approving a preliminary plat for
Newport Ridge Subdivision, a 12-lot, 25.5 acre residential
subdivision located on Newport Road, 1/4 mile east of its
intersection with Prairie du Chien Road. (SUB96-0001)
Nov/ Moved by Kubby, seconded by Thornberry. Discussion.
Kubby/ I am usually kind of hesitant to approve things in this area
mostly because the moist soil, the steep slopes, the trees are
not really taken into consideration with the design of the
plat. Our Sensitive Areas Ordinance does not kick in in the
Fringe Area, in this area right outside of Iowa City. But the
way that this is configured, that the roads are on the ridges,
the woodlands, the steep slopes and the wetlands are avoided.
So it really follows the intent of our Sensitive Areas
Ordinance. I am real glad to see- This is a good example in
the county if things that are going on. There are some bad
examples going on and this, I think, is going to be a good
one.
Thornberry/ I think Mr. Van Orden should be commended for his
example of a new subdivision given the hills, the slopes, and
the water in that area.
Nov/ And they did cluster, didn't they?
Thornberry/ Yes they did. It was a small cluster.
Kubby/ God, Dean, we are agreeing more. Wow.
Norton/ Our work on earth is done.
Nov/ Okay. Roll call- (yes).
Kubby/ Start kissing that toad, Dean.
Nov/ The resolution has been approved.
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F032696
#7 page
ITEM NO. 7 -PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FILING OF THE CONSOLIDATED
TRANSIT FUNDING APPLICATION WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR FY97 IOWA DOT STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE AND
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FUNDING.
Nov/
The p.h. is now open. If you would like to talk to us about
this topic, please sign in, limit your discussion to five
minutes. Holly, are you planning to talk about this one? Okay.
Holly Berkowitz/ Could you tell me what status the application is
in? Are you raising the transit fare rates and are you cutting
night service?
Nov/
This has nothing to do with that. This is purchase of
equipment and we are being asked to submit our request for
funding for this equipment and that is all we are doing right
now.
Kubby/ Although the answer is yes, we are raising rates
don't know if we are cutting night service. We are
9:00 AM tomorrow morning.
and we
talking
Berkowitz/ Please maintain night service.
Thornberry/ 9:00 AM tomorrow morning we will be discussing it.
Nov/
The topic now is just this one p.h. Is there anyone else who
wants to talk about the project that we are requesting
funding? Please come forward and sign in. Okay. P.h. is now
closed.
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F032696
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 14
ITEIV] NO. 8 -
ITEM NO. 9 -
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN
APPLICATION WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR
FY97 IOWA DOT STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE AND FEDERAL TRANSIT
ADNilNISTRATION FUNDING.
Comment: See preceding item.
PUBLIC HEARING ON. A RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION
NO. 92-75 ESTABLISHING THE NORTHGATE CORPORATE PARK URBAN
RENEWAL PLAN.
Comment: In July of 1992, the City Council adopted a resolution
establishing the Northgate Corporate Park Urban Renewal Plan and an
ordinance establishing a tax increment financing mechanism to assist
National Computer Systems (NCS) with the construction of a new facility.
Since then, NCS has expanded its facility at its existing location and other
development activity has taken place within the Northgate Corporate Park
Urban Renewal Area. The proposed resolution would rescind the adoption
of the Urban Renewal Plan.
Action:
ITEM NO. 10 -
PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO, 92-
3530 ESTABLISHING A TAX FINANCING INCREMENT IVIECHANISIVI FOR
THE NORTHGATE CORPORATE PARK URBAN RENEWAL AREA.
Comment: See previous item. The proposed ordinance would repeal the
ordinance establishing the tax financing increment mechanism for the
Northgate Corporate Park Urban Renewal Area.
Action:
#8 page 1
ITE1H NO. 8 -CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN
APPLICATION WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR F¥97
IOWA DOT STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE AND FEDERAL TRANSIT
ADMINISTRATION FUNDING.
Nov/ Moved by Kubby, seconded by Venderhoer. Is there any
discussion?
Kubby/ Yes. I am a little uncomfortable having such a- There has
been no discussion on council about any of these issues. They
are big ticket items. We are not committed if we get funding,
are we?
Davidson/ You are not committed.
Nov/ All right, would you read the list? Do you have the list with
you so you can read it in here.
Davidson/ The first item is the purchase of five replacement buses
according to the regular bus replacement schedule that Iowa
City Transit has. Second item is-
Norton/ Pardon me Jeff, will those buses be fitted? They will come
with the ramp lift? And that was part of the long run plan,
right?
Davidson/ They will come- That was correct. With the second item
which is to retrofit the remaining buses with the lifts, 100%
of the fleet would be lift equipped. Replace 18 fare boxes.
There has been some major technology changes. The fare boxes,
that would be upgrading. Upgrading the computer system will
allow the Transit Building to be tied in with the Civic
Center. It presently is not. The information center at Old
Capitol Mall is once again just scheduled for replacement. We
do hope to get a machine that is better for sight impaired
people. That is the comment we have had about the machine.
Resurfacing the parking lot, regularly scheduled maintenance
down there. Redesigning and reconstructing the Transit
interchange. What we intend to do is reconstruct the center
island with a restroom facilities for Transit personnel and
office which would allow us to do pass sales from that
location and better waiting area, possibly heated, we don't
know. But it is a possibility.
Nov/ Is there room for all of this?
Davidson/ My understanding is there is room.
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F032696
#8 page 2
Kubb¥/ There is room for a room.
Davidson/ Yep. That will hopefully improve the existing-
Norton/ That will all still be in the middle of the street there?
Davidson/ That is correct.
Nov/ I can understand that there is room for a porta potty because
that is already sitting there. But an office?
Davidson/ We have had the city architect take a look at it and my
understanding is it is doable.
Thornberry/ A real narrow office.
Nov/ Very, yes.
Davidson/ Office might have been a little bit elaborate term here.
It will be a cubicle, yes. Bus shop shelter repairs is the
regular replacement of bus shelters. Fitness equipment for the
training room is something that the Federal Transit
Administration has suggested and we picked up on their
suggestion and would propose procuring equipment for that. The
next item there is just regular maintenance, item that they
allow us to get capital money for. The final item is the FTA
Livable Communities grant and this is some proposed funding
for the multi-purpose parking facility that has been proposed
for the Near South Side area. I think we went through a
proposal some months ago with you on that. And as I prefaced
my comments with that is still something you have all the
discretion in the world of actually proceed with it or not.
Norton/ One thing that gets me a little concerned, Jeff, did we get
it wrong with the previous Transit interchange in some
substantial way?
Davidson/ The Transit interchange was built in 1979. I think it was
open in '80 and I think it is just a matter of doing an
upgrade now. We are 16 years later. It served us very well. In
fact, it was on a design program awards list that the feds had
several years ago. I think it has served us very well. It is
just time to upgrade it and the three systems that use it have
changed a little bit in that time. It is just an upgrading in
conjunction with that.
Norton/ Same with the information in the Mall?
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F032598
#8 page 3
Davidson/ Yeah, the information center isn't quite that old. That
was about in '85 and '86 then. The same way that computer
technology has changed tremendously, that is the basis for
this machine and we will just be upgrading that.
Kubby/ A new machine will be helpful to people with disabilities to
make it functional.
Norton/ We certainly need a new one. I understand that. I just
wonder how wrong we got it last time, that is all.
Davidson/ That was a prototype machine at the time and one of the
first ones that was ever put in any transit system.
Nov/ And it is still being used?
Davidson/ Pretty much.
Kubby/ Thank you.
Nov/ Any further discussion? Roll call- (yes). Okay, the resolution
bas been authorized.
Kubby/ Thanks for the wait, Jeff.
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F032696
Agenda
Iowa Ciw City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 15
ITEM NO. 11 -
PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND ADOPTING
THE 1994 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM BUILDING CODE. SAID CODE TO BE
KNOWN AS THE IOWA CITY BUILDING CODE.
Comment: A public hearing is not required; however, a notice of public
discussion of this item was published in the newspaper. A public meeting
was held in March of 1995 to secure input from contractors at the very
beginning of the code review process and members of the Iowa City
Homebuilders Association have been kept informed of all items discussed by
the Board of Appeals during development of the local amendments.
Representatives of the Homebuilders were present at" several Board
meetings and provided valuable input to the ordinance.
ITEM NO. 12 -
ITEM NO. 13 -
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 1994 EDITION OF THE
UNIFORM BUILDING CODE AS AMENDED. SAID ORDINANCE TO BE
KNOWN AS THE IOWA CITY BUILDING CODE. {FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Comment: The Board of Appeals has reviewed the 1994 Code, received
input from the construction community, and recommended several
amendments to accommodate local conditions and practices. Staff
recommends expedited action to allow passage and publication by May 1.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND ADOPTING
THE 1994 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM FIRE CODE. SAID CODE TO BE
KNOWN AS THE IOWA CITY FIRE CODE.
Comment: See comment for Item No. 11.
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 1
ITEM NO. 11 -PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND
ADOPTING THE 1994 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM BUILDING CODE. SAID CODE
TO BE KNOWN AS THE IOWA CITY BUILDING CODE.
ITEM NO. 13
ADOPTING THE
KNOWN AS THE
-PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND
1994 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM FIRE CODE. SAID CODE TO BE
IOWA CITY FIRE CODE.
IT~ NO. 15 -PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND
ADOPTING THE 1994 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE. SAID CODE
TO BE KNOWN AS THE IOWA CITY PLUMBING CODE.
ITEM NO. 17 -PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND
ADOPTING THE 1994 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS. SAID CODE TO BE KNOWN AS THE IOWA CITY
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS CODE.
Nov/ (Reads agenda).
Woito/ Madam Mayor, I suggest you combine all the public
discussions and then you can vote on the ordinances
separately.
Nov/ Sounds like a good idea. Do we need a motion?
Woito/ Yes.
Nov/ Moved by Kubby that we combine the public discussions,
seconded by Norton. All in favor please say aye- (ayes).
Thornberry/ A clarification. We are talking 11, 13, 15, 17. Okay.
Nov/
Right, that is what we are talking about and I guess we have
ordinances on each of these items, 11, 13, 15, and 17. I am
going to say that I will read quickly through the descriptions
of each of those and then anyone who wants to comment on all
of them or any piece may do so. Item 13 is the discussion of
the ordinance for the UFC; item 15 is the Iowa City Plumbing
Code; item 17 is the dangerous buildings abatement. Now p.h.s
combined are all open and I see we have some people who might
like to talk to us. Ron, do you want to start?
Ron Boose/ Senior Building Inspector. Karen asked to prepare some
comments concerning costs concerns with any of the changes in
the code either on the national level or what we have done
locally and I went through and I guess I will go through a
couple of the items that I guess we would anticipate would
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 2
have the largest affect as far as the cost of increase. The
first one being we have lowered the threshold at which fire
sprinklers would be required in apartment buildings. This is
an item that was discussed three years ago. Some of the
council members are the same. Last time we adopted the new
ordinances something that the Fire Dept. was pushing. Before
adoption of this ordinance you would have to sprinkler an
apartment building is it were three stories or more than 15
units. If this ordinance is adopted, afterwards you would have
to sprinkler if it is three floor levels or more than 8 units.
And there is kind of a technical difference between what
constitutes a story and a floor level. We feel that the intent
of the code is circumvented by developers in town. Most of the
12 plexes you see are technically a two story building with a
basement because of the way they grade around it and therefore
it doesn't have to be sprinklered. We feel that this is just
closing a loophole and with this wording that would have to be
sprinklered. The costs, contractors have told us about $1.00
per square foot to sprinkle a building. A typical 12 plex, a
similar type of building around, is about 11,000 square feet.
So that is about $11,000 to sprinkle that building which is
about (can't hear). I just looked at some recently and the
cost of that building is around $350,000.
Norton/ Ron, why is there an exception? You leave them out of
townhouse style buildings containing less than nine dwelling
units. I believe sprinklers are not required there.
Boose/ Because townhouses don't present quite the same degree of
fire hazard. You have a solid wall between each unit. You
don't have common corridors. So, the spread of smoke and fire,
that risk is reduced and it is just a- You have, generally
with townhouses, more of a family oriented type of development
and the fire risk is felt even less.
Nov/ Do those have brick walls in between units or some other fire
retardant wall?
B0ose/ Yeah, all apartments would have at least a one hour fire
rated wall (can't hear).
Nov/ And the townhouse style does not have a different kind of
wall. It is the same thing as the apartments buildings would
have had.
Boose/ Right, it is just it would be solid versus apartments. You
have a corridor kind of frame then.
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 3
Thornberry/ I see the Fire Chief here and I would like to know in
the last year or two or five how many fires we have had that
this would have helped, this ordinance would have helped?
Andy
Rocca/ Fire Chief. I can tell you that some of the history. If
you think back to the Oakcrest fire we had a few years ago. It
was a major fire in one of our apartment buildings. Seville.
Another one down in Ernest Street was a rooming house. So
within the last few years we have had three fairly major fires
in three level apartment building, rooming houses if you will.
Kubby/ That did not have sprinklers.
Rocca/ Correct.
Lehman/ But this wouldn't apply to rooming houses. Is that correct?
Rocca/ No, it would.
Lehman/ It would, okay.
Nov/ And it would apply to fraternities because we had this kind of
a fire too.
Rocca/ Right, depending upon the number of units in the building.
Thornberry/ If it is more than three floors as opposed to three
story.
Rocca/ Well, three habitable levels.
Norton/ Three floors of occupancy.
Thornberry/ And this would be new construction.
Rocca/ That is correct, not existing. New construction.
Thornberry/ Now the purpose of a sprinkler system, as I understand
it, is not to put out the fire but to allow the people to get
out of the fire. Is that correct?
Rocca/ Well, I think you have got the best of both worlds here. You
will have the smoke detection which is early warning and
notification. A sprinkler system actually is for fire
suppression. So it will hold the fire in check and allow
occupants to get out of the building.
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 4
Thornberry/ The fraternity house up there didn't have a sprinkler
system?
Rocca/ Not many of them do. Some of those that have been remodeled
have been retrofitted or remodeled with new construction.
Thornberry/ Now if they are remodeled, will they have to add that?
Rocca/ Depends on the extent of remodeling.
Norton/ This is what Anna was talking about.
Rocca/ But this isn't something that we could go out right now or
tomorrow and work on existing buildings. That would have to be
done through the Housing Code and State Fire Code. That is not
at all what we are after.
Boose/ We have one other item in here that we think will add some
cost to new construction and that is a new standard for
placement of reinforcement steel in walkout basement walls and
that is a reaction to- We had a request from a local special
engineer who said he was tired of investigating failures of
houses that weren't that old where cracks were showing. The
old method just wasn't sufficient. He worked with the Board,
volunteered some time, came up with a new standard. I don't
have any kind of cost estimate. I don't think it is going to
be anywhere- It is not going to be anywhere in the area of
$1.00 per square foot to put the steel in that wall and the
cost of the steel is not the expense. It is the labor. But it
will cost-it will add a little cost to homes. We are only
talking about strictly homes with walkout basements. we are
not talking about a typical what I would consider an
affordable home anyway. It is going to be higher end housing
and I don't think the additional cost will be that
substantial. We have three points that we worked on that we
think will actually decrease the cost of housing. One is a
footing method that is being experimented with. It is actually
being used in the Scandinavian countries for about 30 years.
It has been used in northern Iowa for over ten years. It is a
shallow frost protected footing. It is a method of instead of
digging down below frost line, you go down a lot shallower and
just protect the fitting with styrofoam and it traps the heat
and still protects the building from frost. The National Home
Builders Association has published manuals on it. They have
done extensive research. The Board looked at it. There was
quite a bit of research before encompassing it in our local
ordinance to allow it to be used. It is really only applicable
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 5
for like slap houses. I don't anticipate we seeing a lot of
use. I think one of the best applications will be additions.
If you want to put on a family room or what not, it would be
a lot less intrusive on an established yard, a lot less
excavation. Another area, there was a couple of areas where
the national code changed. We looked at it locally in trying
to roll back what we thought was going to be kind of a
dramatic cost. The UBC in reaction to some of the building
damage they had in California with the earthquake and in
Florida with the high winds, structural engineer's
organizations across the country recommended some changes for
stringent bracing of wall, cross bracing of wall. Over the
years houses have taken on some weird shapes. The old style
the pretty rectangular and nowadays we have found quite an
array of shapes and they are finding out they aren't quite as
substantial with strong winds. So there were some new
requirements put in for bracing of wall. In our original
meeting last March with the contractors there was quite a bit
of apprehension about the cost that that was going to add.
Once again we worked- The Homebuilders actually hired a
structural engineer to work with the Board. He came in and
worked on some alternatives that if those alternatives are
met, they won't have to comply with the whole aspect of the
new code and the engineer felt that if these alternatives are
met, it will still meet the same protection from the wind. So,
I think we possibly save a little money there. The other one
deals with the plumbing code and the UPC. There was a new
provision requiring pressure balance shower valves in all
showers, commonly referred to as an anti-scald value. They
have always been required in group showers or gang showers
such as a health club, the field house, places like that where
there are a number of shower heads using the same water
heater. This extended that to every shower. Once again, Board
members felt that was a little restrictive. Andy helped us
out, got some research from the University Hospital, how many
scald incidents we have had locally and there was no way to
determine how many of those were accidental. I think it was
the Boards feelings that a lot of those were probably cases of
child abuse and anti-scald valves are not going to help you
with that. It would have added anywhere between $50-100 to the
cost of each shower valve in each house so we amended that out
locally so that s.f. and actually if the apartment has its own
water heater, it does not have to install it. If the apartment
building with a central water heater, very seldom seen anymore
because the increase cost of water. Of course, people are
metering separately and you don't see that anymore. But if
that were to happen then you would have to have a number of
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 6
people drawing from that separate water heater. Those are the
items that came to my mind.
Nov/ Ron, while you are on that topic, what happens if you have a
duplex with a single water heater? Does this require that?
Boose/ No, s.f. duplex wouldn't be required and it is also very
unlikely that we would see that in new construction. And once
again, these codes only apply to new construction.
Nov/ Anybody else have questions on this?
Kubby/ Thanks for the outline.
Lehman/ I just have a comment. Apparently you did meet with the
Homebuilders or whatever. So this is something that has been
discussed with the Homebuilders and they are aware of the
changes that are being made? I don't see any of them here.
Boose/ I was at the last Homebuilders monthly meeting and stood up
and announced that this meeting was taking place and welcomed
them all to come.
Kubby/ Has anyone here heard from anyone informally or through
letters about specifics versus just charges that this is going
to make expensive? That doesn't help me.
Thornberry/ I gave the ordinance to a homebuilder who took it to
other homebuilders and his comment back to me was we can live
with it. However, I am not an expert in these things. These
are just p.h.s now. We are not going to be voting on anything?
Kubby/ Yes, we are.
Nov/ We are going to vote.
Thornberry/ Other than #12, 16, and 14.
Nov/ Yes, 12, 14, and 16-
Thornberry/ What we are talking about now is 9, 10, ll, 13, and 177
Is that correct?
Nov/ We are talking about the public discussion, following we will
vote on everything that has been discussed. Okay.
Thornberry/ Right and I will be voting on these things just because
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 7
I want input. First of all, Andy, is the Iowa City Fire Code
more stringent than the state code?
Rocca/ In terms of what we are doing with the amendment and
strictly speaking about sprinkler systems, yes, it is.
Thornberry/ I am having trouble voting on a lot of the things that
is going to increase the cost of housing in Iowa City. I would
like to see everything to be no more stringent than state
code.
Kubby/ Could you tell us the rationalization for being more
restrictive than the state?
Rocca/ I think, looking at the history of multi-family dwellings
structure first that we have experienced, ties up the fire
equipment, the losses are devastating. You displace a number
of people and the rationalization simply is that if we can get
a sprinkler system installed in some of these multi-family
dwellings, fires should be smaller and consequence contained
to one dwelling unit, easily repaired and fire equipment back
in service quicker, fewer people displaced. It certainly is
much safer as I indicated earlier. With smoke detectors and
the progression they have had in fire codes over the years. I
think this is the next natural logical progression, sprinkler
systems. You are going to see them ultimately start come into
multi-family dwellings as a threshold for triggering them will
become lower and lower. Probably, ultimately, 20-30 years down
the road, will be in s.f. dwellings.
Kubby/ Because of the positive affects it has on getting people out
safely and containing the fire, we have less property damage.
Rocca/ That is exactly right. Early warning and notification and
fire suppression capability built in place. Ones that don't
have that 4-6 minute response time from the Fire Department,
you have fire suppression right there.
Kubby/ Are there any national statistics about decrease in fatality
in places with sprinklers and those without?
Rocca/ I am not aware of any fatality that has incurred in a
residential occupancy that had a sprinkler system in place.
Norton/ What did the Homebuilders say about this proposal which
manifestly raises prices. Did they discuss this?
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 8
Rocca/ They have been involved all along with me with some of the
discussions through the amendment Frocess when we discussed
this. I think they initially looked at tradeoffs perhaps,
maybe the insurance industry offering some kind of incentive.
There was talk about the city perhaps offering some sort of a
tax break. So there are-there has been some discussions and
options talked about. But I think with the input from the
Homebuilders and their involvement in this process all along,
I guess I would have thought it there would have been strong
opposition to this, we would have heard about it long before
now.
Norton/ Why it wouldn't be possible to formally consider some
breaks of that kind at some point.
Thornberry/ The Homebuilders, if the ordinance is here in Iowa
City, everybody is going to have the same building costs, so
it is going to be a level playing field for all of the
Homebuilders. It is just that the people buying the houses,
coming into Iowa City, it is going to be more expensive to buy
a house in Iowa City because of all of these-
Kubby/ No, it will cost more to rent a unit in a multi-family
dwelling.
Thornberry/ With the houses, too.
Rocca/ This is strictly multi-
Council/ (All talking).
Kubby/ You have to look at the tradeoffs. With sprinklers, I am
saying an increase in safety and decrease in property damage
as a result, as a tradeoff for the increase in up front costs
of construction.
Thornberry/ If we are voting on this as a whole for the houses, for
building, for apartments and everything else, which we are,
right? It is going to raise the price of housing in Iowa City.
Nov/ It is also going to increase the safety of housing in Iowa
City and if you were-
Thornberry/ You can get so safe. Naomi, if you want to be as safe
as you can be, live in a shower if you are afraid of fires.
You can sprinkle every- We can mandate that you sprinkle every
single house in Iowa City and-
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 9
Kubby/ But you are not acknowledging the cost savings, through the
Board of Appeals, and talking with local people that have been
incorporated into this as well. I mean, you could make an
amendment to delete something and see what happens instead of
just saying I am going to vote no on the whole thing because-
Thornberry/ Well, that is what I asked and then you said no, we are
voting on the whole thing.
Norton/ Three different ordinances. But what about the possibility
of cost of handling fires that might be entailed here.
Presumable the city saves something in that area.
Thornberry/ Dee, I have less of a problem with the sprinklers than
I do with some of the other things. All right, I will give you
a for example, Karen. I went down to the Building Department
today and spent some time down there and in wiring, for
example, correct me if I am wrong, Iowa City requires wiring
in commercial buildings and apartments to be in conduit.
Boose/ That is not incorporated in any of these codes.
Thornberry/ I am just saying, is that accurate?
Boose/ That is accurate.
Thornberry/ Do they have to put it in conduit in Coralville?
Boose/ No they don't.
Thornberry/ That is one thing that is making building more
expensive in Iowa City than it is in Coralville.
Kubby/ That is not on the table tonight. So give me an example of
something that is on the table that we are going to vote on.
Boose/ The Electrical Code will be before you in 2-3 months. It is
out now. It is on a different publication schedule because it
is published by a different group. We should start reviewing
it at the Board of Appeals in May meetings the first time and
depending upon how many meetings they need to discuss it, you
will be seeing it hopefully within the next six months it will
be at council.
Thornberry/ I don't have the codes for the state and I don't have
the codes for Coralville and I am not an expert in the area
but I will be before I vote on it or I will contact experts to
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 10
tell me why it costs more to build a house more in Iowa City
than it does in Coralville, excluding land. Why?
Kubby/ Well, I mean, when I hear people talk, sometimes when I hear
developers talk, they say one of the things is the cost of
permits. Well, we did a little study and we found that the
cost of permits in Iowa City is less than in Coralville. So,
when I hear people say this is going to make housing expensive
I want you to tell me-If you are going to say that is your
rationalization for voting no, I want you to tell me where in
here specifically is it. How can I respond with any kind of
positive reaction if I don't know what you are talking about.
Thornberry/ Karen, let me ask you this question which I ask this
afternoon. Does this ordinance increase or decrease or remain
the same construction in Iowa City?
Kubby/ It matters what you are constructing.
Thornberry/ Yes it does. So you can break it down into four things.
A house. Does it make a house more expensiYe or less
expensive, a s.f. residence?
Boose/ Unless it has a walkout, there would be a slight increase in
cost of walkout basements. There should be no difference in
anything else.
Kubby/ And a decreased cost on a slab house.
Boose/ If you used the new footing type on a slab house, you could
actually decrease costs.
Kubby/ But you also have to ask the correlating question for that
increased cost what do you get? Do you get a house that lasts
longer and you don't have to do major repairs on your walkout
basement? For a 1% increase cost up front, you save 15% three
years down the road°
Thornberry/ Maybe, maybe not, you don't know that. Well, I am not
going to argue with you. I am just saying-
Nov/ Let's not get into this.
Kubb¥/ That is what these issues are about.
Thornberry/ She is asking, I am trying to answer.
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F032696
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Kubby/ These are fundamental questions.
Nov/ Karen, you cannot prove how much you are going to save and he
cannot proue how much you are going to spend. So, it is
basically a philosophical argument and it is getting late.
Thornberry/ I went down to the Building Dept. today and he said it
is going to increase the price of a walkout s.f. dwelling and
the other will remain the same. Well, on a multi-family, on a
duplex for example, it will raise or remain the same.
Norton/ If they are going to do this this way, Dean, and I
appreciate some of your points and not others. But if they are
going to do it this way, we ought to ask them to come with a-
These things are so difficult and so complicated that we ought
to ask them then to come with these what it costs them. I
mean, give us these figures right in parenthesis so we are
looking at kind of a cost benefit that business all of the
time. In other words, the figures that we are putting together
we have them here and there but we don't have them on each
paragraph. And maybe we should inquire, I don't know how
difficult it is for people to bring us a code revision that
has a cost benefit paragraph.
Nov/ I see people shaking heads. Larry, go ahead.
Baker/ I think it is appropriate that we talk about this, even as
late as it is. I have a couple of questions just for
clarification. The issue was raised about us and the state
codes and how parallel we are with them. Without being
specific but off the top of your head, are there other areas
where Iowa City codes, there are parallel state codes but ours
are more restrictive.
Boose/ Yes.
Baker/ Because if we accept your premise, Dean, that you don't want
to go past the state code, then you ought to be advocating
that we roll back some of our current regulations.
Thornberry/ I am.
Baker/ Okay. I just want to get that on record.
back some of those building codes and roll
state level.
We want to roll
them back to the
Thornberry/ Correct.
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 12
Baker/ So it is a philosophical question but it has very practical
consequences and when you say that- You, yourself said you
have talked to people in the Homebuilders and they can live
with it but you are going to vote against it. The Homebuilders
are not down here.
Thornberry/ Well, it is also twenty minutes to 11:00.
Baker/ Doesn't make any difference. They can be down here. We have
had people down here at midnight before on issues. I am a
little bit astonished at the logic that says we are going to
roll back costs in Iowa City simply by sticking to the state
codes and not take into account that there are perfectly valid
reasons that the regulations in Iowa City are as they are.
That they do have practical benefits. Safety, health, welfare
and in some cases, money savings in the long run.
Thornberry/ As Karen would say, give me specifics. I don't want to
get into this that deeply. I am just saying that if the idea
is to reduce costs for housing in Iowa City which several
people on the council have said that they would like to do,
you don't do it by increasing the cost of housing.
Norton/ But then we have to sit here and battle it out, Dean,
because we can't have it that the majority of us vote these
things in and you go out as being a champion of reduced rates
while the rest of us are raising them. Let's get together
here.
Thornberry/ I will move.
Lehman/ I think what you are getting at Dean and I don't totally
disagree at all. I think if you were to take and build the
exact same structure in Iowa City and build the same one in
Coralville, which would cost the most?
Boose/ I don't know.
Council/ (All talking).
Baker/ Yeah, but the question is on those things that we can
control as a city government, I think that is a valid
question. And then you ask, well, why do you have that?
Kubby/ What are the tradeoffs?
Lehman/ I think the trend and we heard a lot of complaints. Most of
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F032696
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which, for example your explanation about why we are different
than the state code on sprinklers, makes a lot of sense. We
are in a town full of apartment buildings. Obviously we are
under a different rules.
Norton/ So is Coralville.
Baker/ I predict that Coralville is going to catch up with us and
the state is going to catch up with us.
Norton/ After they have had a few fires if they don't do it sooner,
yeah.
Lehman/ I guess the only concern that I hear and I am not hearing
it about these particular things, are some things that we may
be enforcing that may or may not really improve the quality of
life or safety of welfare. I don't know what those things are.
And I don't even know if we have them. You enforce it. You
know is there are things that you really have problems
enforcing, trying to explain to a contractor or whatever how
can this make sense. I don't know if we have those things or
not. If we do, we probably shouldn't have. But this is what
you hear and most of the time what you hear are people just
complaining and I don't think in most cases they know exactly
what they are complaining about.
Kubby/ We have a member of the Board of Appeals here who is a
property manager who couldn't give us any specific examples of
what she thought was costing more money.
Thornberry/ She also said she didn't read it, Karen, and it is
tough to do it off of the top. Larry, the thing about the
Homebuilders saying they can live with it and wholeheartedly
supporting it are two different things.
Baker/ The very nature of what we do requires that we interfere
with people's pursuit of life, liberty, and business. It is
what we do. And they-
Council/ (All talking).
Nov/ This is a public safety issue and you cannot argue with public
safety issues being too expensive. I just don't see that
argument ever.
Thornberry/ OSHA has a little problem and they are in the business
of being safe. When you are two feet off of the ground and you
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 14
have to have a strap on so that you don't fall and break your
ankle, that's excessive. It can be excessive.
Norton/ There are places I think we ought to be careful about that.
Kubby/ I agree and that is why you have to look at what are the
costs and what are the benefits and then each person here
makes a judgement.
Baker/ I promise this is my last on this particular issue because
I have a lot at council time. I remember in 1986 a certain
council member said to the Building Association, the Apartment
Owners Association, anytime you think we have an unreasonable
regulation that is either unreasonable philosophically or just
onerous or just technologically is out of date and therefore
is costing money, you come tell us and we will reconsider that
ordinance and to this date that has never happened.
Nov/ Was that you?
Baker/ It was a former council member. That invitation is always
open. If you come and tell us the technology has changed,
there is a better way to do it, change the code, we can do it.
Or if this doesn't work for Iowa City, tell us specifically
and let us debate it. That invitation is always open.
Norton/ I see others here. Being Dean's point is that the cost
benefit ought to be looked at each one, I noticed one on
egress from a basement, for example, and I have heard people
argue that my, there are too many restrictions on what you got
to be able to get out of the basement. Now that is another one
that may be tougher than the state code. Is that correct,
possibly? A requirement?
Boose/ Yeah, that is in the national code, state amended it out. I
think it was back ~n and back out. I think the current one is
out. I am not sure. That ordinance is enforced in Coralville
though. There is not a difference there. That it is in the UC
that we adopt. The state building code is only applicable-
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-41 SIDE 2
Boose/ I don't know how many cities.
Norton/ Well, we are sitting down with them and Rick is back there
trying to develop uniform standards for a good many different
items in streets and plumbing and so forth. Is there any
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 15
chance that we can have uniform standards in this ballpark so
that we do have common ground in terms of development costs?
Boose/ That is what we adopt. It is a uniform code to make-
Norton/ This isn't going to bind them.
Boose/ We make a very small number of local amendments to deal with
some of the local peculiarities and as Andy pointed out, most
of them have to do with apartment buildings because in Iowa
City we have more apartment buildings than a lot of cities as
far as ratio and some of the other things and one of the
things that came into the discussion about sprinklers is one
of these huge towns where you find apartment buildings built
with 4-5 bedroom apartments and that also pushes that fire
risk up higher. So there are some peculiarities to Iowa city
that we try and deal with the amendments. but if you look at
the body of the code, a very minute portion-
Norton/ How does that conduit question differ? That is a pretty
substantial difference.
Boose/ Yes, that has been an Iowa City amendment as long as we are
aware. The current electrical inspector that we have has been
with us for 20 years and it has been in place ever since he
has been here. Why it was put in originally, I can't tell you.
I wasn't here then. It has been brought up. It will certainly
be on the table for discussion when we bring up the Electrical
Code. Electricians will have an opportunity for input.
Norton/ We are trying to get at the principle, Dean.
Thornberry/ I know but we have been having expensive housing. Just
because it has been there a long time doesn't mean it is
right.
Boose/ And I agree and we will say, as I say, will be brought up
and discussed and we will get some of the arguments, the pros
and cons will be brought to you when that ordinance is brought
forth.
Thornberry/ And I said I didn't have any problems with the
sprinkler one. But if we are doing it all together.
Kubby/ Well, we are doing the UBC and we are doing the Plumbing
Code and the Fire Code all separately.
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F032696
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Norton/ There are three of them.
Kubb¥/ A minute ago Dee Norton was suggesting some dollar amounts
and I saw head shaking from Bob Carlson. Could you explain
what your shaking head was about? Why that wouldn't be a good
idea? Not just the costs but the benefits received.
Bob
Carlson/ Chair of the Board. I don't think you could do-You
would have to pick a house, you would have to pick some style
and you could develop a number for that particular one and a
different plan would have a different effect and I think the
variation could just be a wild-
Kubby/ Although we did it for the sprinklers. we got a dollar per
square foot, 3% figure.
Carlson/ Yeah but most of the rest of the items- You can do egress
window, you know, how much an egress window is? We can do
that. We can like guess as to what that is. Now that is part
of the UC. The only thing we did was there has been some
questions about where it belongs in the basement. We have
decided in the arguments about it is we will put an
explanation in the code is where we want the egress window to
be.
Kubby/ So it is a clarification change in that particular code?
Carlson/ Sometimes you will end up with the egress window right at
the foot of the basement stairs. Well, if you are already at
the foot of the basement stairs and you don't need the egress
window. The idea of an egress window is for somebody who can't
get to the stairs, they can still get out of the basement. So
what we are trying
understand why it is
to put it away- That
the cost. Now it has
current state code
basements, actually
to do is make sure some people don't
there. So we have put that explanation as
is not a cost issue. We are not adding to
made it different from what we think the
is. On the reinforcing at the walkout
what we have done is there has been a
standard practice in the city of how to reinforce basement
walls. That standard practice is lower than the threshold that
is in the code. It has just been the way they have worked.
Now, it turned out that we are building bigger jobs on the
basement wall than what we used to and not we are getting
cracks and failure. so instead of going back and telling the
Homebuilders you all have to go hire a structural engineer to
design your basement walls per the Building Code, what we have
done is the Homebuilders hired an engineer that designed a
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 17
system that will work for everybody. It is actually a cost
savings because otherwise what the code requires is that
basement get engineered by a structural engineer and that for
every house that would have that kind of job.
Thornberry/ What city has a structural engineer for every house
that is built right now?
Carlson/ I know cities in California that do.
Thornberry/ Perhaps California. How about the Midwest?
Carlson/ Midwest, no. What most of the cities do is adopt this is
the way we do basements. The way this city has been doing
basements has been starting to fail so I think that is why we
decided we need to do- It was the Homebuilders who went along
with the idea. Tell us how to do it so it would quit failing.
right now they are having cracks in basement walls that they
don't want that to happen. So they said adopt a standard that
shows us how to do this.
Thornberry/ Okay, you guys are the experts and you are telling me
that these things are needed to be done to have a safe life in
Iowa City no matter what the costs? Is that the-
Kubby/ I think that is a curt way of-
Norton/ That is a simplistic way of saying it.
Thornberry/ I get a yes or a no. I don't get a sort of. I either
have to say yes or no.
Carlson/ The only thing that we have done that we know of through
the UBC that added to the cost of housing in Iowa City is
sprinkler system. That is a simply thing. If you don't want
the sprinkler system, then vote no on sprinkler system and
pass the rest of the code. If you want the sprinkler system
that is an increase in cost. Everything else we have done has
either stayed the same cost of what the UC is or decreased the
cost.
Thornberry/ That isn't what I got this afternoon.
Carlson/ I think that is just what we stood up here and said.
Thornberry/ Well, it is opposite of what I got this afternoon,
right? You told me that there was, on a total price of a house
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 18
or an apartment building, either it stayed the same or went
up. There were some costs savings on some items. But as a
general product it either stayed the same or went up in costs
on every project in Iowa City.
Boose/ No, that isn't- I guess I don't think I said that
categorically. I said walkout basement, as Bob explained, yes,
there would be a slight increase in costs from the way it is
being done now. But the way it is being done now doesn't work
and doesn't meet code. If we went to the strict letter of the
code, it would be more expensive and the reason this was all
brought up is because of a local structural engineer came to
us and said I am tired of investigating failures. These people
have paid $200,000-300,000 for their house and five years
later they have to go in and spend several thousand dollars to
fix a wall. It is a problem, we had to fix it. Every wall is
not breaking. Every wall is not breaking.
Thornberry/ Are we changing anything on plumbing or electrical?
Boose/ On plumbing we have virtually changed nothing from last
year. We did the amendment to amend out the pressure balance
valves in s.f. dwellings. The volume of amendments you see are
just carry over, local carry overs mainly dealing with
licensing requirements, backflow regulations that are passed
down from the state. We went through that three years ago. We
have no -there is no option there. That is mandated by the
state. We have to enforce that law but we have to incorporate
in our own ordinance to have procedures to enforce it. The
Fire Code, once again, the only real change in that is the
sprinkler and it is the same language. Fire Code and Building
Code mirror each other in several areas. This is one of them
so we had to change them both. The other changes in the Fire
Code, you are seeing things reflect the local open burning ban
and the Fire Code allows open burning so we had to amend it to
reflect that.
Nov/ That has all been in there for awhile.
Thornberry/ And I didn't ask about the Fire Code. I asked about
plumbing and electrical.
Woito/ Electrical is not in front of you tonight.
Norton/ Plumbing Code is.
Woito/ Dangerous buildings-
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of tim Iowa City council meeting of March 26, 1996.
F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 19
Boose/ Dangerous buildings there are no changes. Same code we
adopt, it is just a new addition so we keep up to date with
the latest addition. No changes in the amendments from the
last several cycles. That is not one we do much to.
Kubby/ I think it helps clarify to hear Bob say very explicitly
changes are clarifications. There are a few decreases in cost
and the one increase in cost is the sprinkler system. I guess
that helps me a lot.
Norton/ I have another one. We had an issue somewhere with Board of
Appeals about a habitable space. Is that now clear in here?
What is a habitable space? I found that a pretty weird case.
Boose/ We have put some language in to try and clarify it. I don't
know if it will accomplish it or not. It is still a gray issue
to what degree of finish goes into a basement before it is
considered habitable and has to meet all the requirements of
a habitable space with natural light, ventilation and when is
it unfinished and people are always trying to push that point?
Norton/ I wanted you to include playroom in the basement as not
make- you left only mechanical and I don't know what else. A
washroom or something. Laundry or mechanical. I said what
about you know, where your ping pong table is. Is that
habitable?
Boose/ If the walls weren't finished and the floor was just
concrete, no, we wouldn't declare that habitable.
Norton/ Okay.
Council/ (All talking).
Boose/ If it becomes a family room, it is habitable and then it
needs to meet those requirements.
Norton/ If you put carpet on the floor it is habitable?
Boose/ It is a gray area. It is a subjective call in every case and
yeah, it is tough and I don't think the Board is done dealing
with it. I know that that discussion was left open ended. I
expect more debate to go on.
Norton/ Can you tell now what a dwelling unit is? Seemed to me we
have had some trouble deciding whether they are three rooming
units, two dwelling units. Is that not clarified in here?
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 20
Boose/ We don't- Actually this just deals with new construction and
that isn't much of an issue in new construction. When you are
building a building new, it is pretty distinct. In some of the
older buildings that have been converted, that is when it gets
mush as to when it is a dwelling unit versus three rooms. You
don't see that type of construction in new construction at
all. It is real distinct which one is separate.
Kubby/ I guess the only other comment that I have is really- I am
not sure it is for the City Attorney or not, and that is at
some point when we look at definition of family, to make
things consistent among all of our policies and codes. Just to
make note that we need to go into our building, plumbing,
electrical, wherever there is a definition of family, once we
figure out what we want it to be to have it, be consistent as
legally possible through all of our codes. I really think that
this definition of family is being changed here so it is
consistent with our zoning Code, correct?
Boose/ It is being amended out of the Building Code. This is not a
change from what the local Building Code from last year. It is
just that the UBC has a different definition. We have to amend
it every year for consistency to the Zoning Ordinance and
Building Code.
Kubby/ I personally think it still has some things to be desired,
but it is more progressive than what the UBC is.
Nov/ Anyone here want to make any more comments on these items?
Kubby/ Thank you very much for coming.
Nov/ Thank you for all the work you have put in on this. We know it
is many hours worth.
Thornberry/ You know, I have got no problem. If the Homebuilders
can live with this, I can live with it. I am not the expert.
The Homebuilders are. But the consumer, the customer, the home
buyer is the person that is being left out of this equation I
feel. And I will be talking with homebuilders, home buyers,
and anybody else that would like to talk to be about this
issue in getting the price of housing down in specific areas
of the ordinances about when you move a stove or refrigerator
three feet, do you have to re-plumb the whole- I mean, Ernie
had that little. There is no reason for it but it is under
code, so you have got to do it. And Ernie is going to follow
the code. He followed the code and it cost him $2100. But
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F032696
#11, 13, 15, 17 page 21
there is no reason for it but it had to be done. It met code.
Now if the code is wrong, let's change the code. I want to see
the housing more affordable in Iowa City and maybe it is the
code. Maybe it is things in the code.
Kubby/ I think everybody agrees with that. The frustration is when
we call people together to say tell us, show us on the paper
which code, no one says anything. So if you can make that
shift from people complaining and talking about it to being
really specific- Make it happen.
Norton/ Dean, remember when we were at the League of Cities,
Fairfield has to deal with straw houses?
Thornberry/ Oh yes, straw houses in Fairfield.
Norton/ Andy would have a fit.
Thornberry/ But they can levitate. Whole other story. I will
support this if you give me the opportunity of changing things
that are currently in the ordinance that maybe shouldn't be.
Norton/ We will be right there.
Lehman/ You always have the opportunity.
Norton/ Just so it is cost beneficial.
Baker/ So, you are going to vote for this then?
Thornberry/ Larry, I would be glad to.
Baker/ So you are changing your mind.
Thornberry/ Larry-
Nov/ Okay, now let's- Okay, Larry, you did it again. We are on to
Item No.12. No more discussion.
Thisrepresents only areasonably accuratetranscription ofthe Iowa Ct~ council meeting of March 26,1996.
F032696
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 16
ITEM NO. 14 -
ITEM NO. 15-
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 1994 EDITION OF THE
UNIFORM FIRE CODE, AS AMENDED. SAID CODE TO BE KNOWN AS THE
iOWA CITY FIRE CODE. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Comment: See comment for Item No. 12.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND ADOPTING
· THE 1994 EDITION OF THE UNIFORIVI PLUMBING CODE. SAID CODE TO
BE KNOWN AS THE IOWA CITY PLUMBING CODE.
Comment: See comment for Item No. 11.
Action: (~ /x://~ /.~ ~ /?)
ITEM NO. 16 -
ITEM NO. 17-
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 1994 EDITION OF THE
UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE, AS AMENDED. SAID CODE TO BE KNOWN
AS THE IOWA CITY PLUMBING CODE. {FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Comment: See comment for Item No. 12.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND ADOPTING
THE 1994 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS. SAID CODE TO BE KNOWN AS THE IOWA CITY
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS CODE.
Comment: See comment for Item No. 11.
Action: (~'P~.~.~ ~z)//,// /*.~ '¢ /-5'~
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
· March 26, 1996
Page 17
ITEM NO. 18-
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 1994 EDITION OF THE
UNIFORIVt CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, AS
AMENDED. SAID CODE TO BE KNOWN AS THE IOWA CITY DANGEROUS
BUILDINGS CODE. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Comment: See comment for Item No. 12.
EM NO. '19- CONSIDER A
RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE 1996 CURB RAMPS PROJECT.
Comment: The bid opening for this project was held on March 19, 1996 and
the following bids were received:
Borwig Building Service, Waterloo, IA
Streb Construction Co., Inc., iowa City, IA
$ 96,768.40
$103,368.50
Engineers Estimate
$103,400.00
Public Works and Engineering recommend award of the contract to Borwig
Building Service of Waterloo, Iowa. Funding for this project will be provided
by road use taxes & 1995 bond proceeds.
Action:
#19 page 1
ITEM NO. 19 -CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A
CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE 1996 CURB RAMPS PROJECT.
Nov/ Moved by Kubby, seconded by Lehman that we adopt this
resolution. Is there any discussion?
Thornberry/ Was Borwlg consulted on this project for Burlington
Street and Gilbert? No? Were they asked for a bid?
McClure/ They were aware that we were accepting bids. Our plans go
out to all plan houses in this state and other states and that
is how Borwig heard of our project and also at that plan house
is the Burlington and Gilbert Street Intersection Project.
They just chose not to bid on it. I think that their operation
is not big enough to handle a project like Burlington and
Gilbert.
Thornberry/ The answer is yes, then, huh? Okay.
Nov/ Is there any other discussion? Roll call- (yes).
Kubby/ Good job, Jeff.
Vanderhoef/ Thanks, Jeff.
Nov/ Jeff may go home. Rick may go home.
Thisrepresents only area$onab]y accurate transcription ofthelown Ctty council meeting of March 26,1996.
F032696
Agenda
Iowa CiW City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 18
ITEM NO. 20 -
ITEIV1 NO. 21 -
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE REVISED DESIGN
STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC WORKS IMPROVEMENTS EXCLUDING ALL
OF PART 4, SECTIONS 5.04, 5.05 AND 5.tt OF PART 5 AND SECTION
9.t3 OF PART 9 AS CODIFIED IN TITLE t4, CHAPTER 10, SECTION 14-
t0-1.
Comment: This represents the first comprehensive revision to the Public
Works Design Standards since originally adopted in over 20 years.ago. The
revised standards were developed in conjunction with surrounding
communities in an attempt to unify the standards to the extent possible. The
portions excluded from this resolution have been deferred for further
discussion by the Planning and Zoning Commission. These sections include
alleys, local street right-of-way and pavement widths, curve radii and storm
water management.
Action:
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE IOWA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR USE OF CITY STREETS AS
A DETOUR AS PART OF THE HIGHWAY 1/GILBERT STREET
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
Comment: The City is investigating complete closure of the intersection of
State Highway 1 and Gilbert Street during a portion of the Highway 1/Gilbert
Street Intersection Improvement Project to reduce the cost and duration of the
project. The City intends to use the following detour routes around the closed
intersection: westbound and eastbound Burlington Street traffic will use Linn
Street, College Street, and Johnson Street; northbound and southbound
Gilbert Street traffic will use Court Street, Linn Street, and College Street.
The Highway 1 and Burlington Street detour period is estimated at
approximately maximum of three weeks weather permitting; the Gilbert Street
detour period is estimated to last the entire duration of the project
(approximately 12 weeks). These detours will begin approximately April 15,
1996. This council action is required prior to IDOT review of the detour plan.
Action:
#20 page 1
ITEM NO. 20 -CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE REVISED DESIGN
STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC WORKS IMPROVEMENTS EXCLUDING ALL OF PART 4,
SECTIONS 5.04, 5.05 AND 5.11 OF PART 5 AND SECTION 9.13 OF PART 9
AS CODIFIED IN TITLE 14, CHAPTER 10, SECTION 14-10-1.
Nov/ Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Kubby. Discussion. Rick,
would you like to say something?
Rick
Fosse/ I would just like to say this has been kind of a long
process for us. We are nearing the end and we still have a lot
of discussion with P/Z on the remaining items and ultimately
with the city council on it. It has been over 20 years. The
developers are anxious for the revisions so that we get all of
our standards back in one place again instead of scattered
around like they are now.
Thornberry/ Rick, will this potentially save money?
Fosse/ Yes, there is and where this is different from the UBC that
we just looked at is this is a design standard for
infrastructure and the maintenance for infrastructure is a
public obligation. So the real measure to use here is a life
cycle cost although up front cost is important. Life cycle
costs are really the measure and so our goal was to maintain
or lower the life cycle costs. That means in some cases'the up
front costs can become expensive because to construct a road
on hydric soil or on steep slopes it is going to cost more but
in the long run the life cycle cost are going to be much less
on that facility with the new standards. Other areas we do
have opportunities for cost savings is use of pvc for water
mains, a certain diameter. The cost of our stormwater
management requirements will probably go down as we get on the
same phase as the rest of the state. A couple of examples
there.
Nov/ Thank you.
Woito/ The Design Standards have to be part of the resolution. Are
they on file in the City Clerk's Office?
Fosse/ No they are not.
Kubby/ Does that mean we have to defer this?
Woito/ No.
Nov/ We had a pink book a couple of weeks ago. Is that what we are
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voting on?
woito/ Yes, the pink book ought to be attached to these.
Fosse/ I will give it to Marian.
Nov/ We can attach it. I am sure we have more copies that can be
attached.
Kubby/ And I think what will be important on other issues like
alleys, local street r.o.w.s, pave widths, etc. is that when
we get a recommendation from staff and P/Z that we really
understand probably in a written for ahead of time why these
recommendations are different than maybe what other
communities in the surrounding area will have. So that if we
are going to depart from uniform standards for infrastructure,
what is the rationalization. What is the benefit and what is
the reason for doing it? I think that will be helpful in other
discussion and what we just learned from our last discussion.
Fosse/ I will get you some up front information in a memo.
Norton/ But we can see North Liberty and Coralville to some extent
adopting standards that are different in certain places where
presumably that will reduce their infrastructure cost. Is that
correct?
Fosse/ Right now so far the areas where we are deviating from
Coralville, for instance, we have adopted things that are a
lower initial cost because we think that it may not justify-
The life cycle savings may not justify that higher initial
cost. There are some changes but this unified standard has
gone a long ways to level that playing field between all the
communities in this area. It is not completely level yet but
it is a lot closer than it was from the infrastructure
perspective.
Nov/ Roll call- (yes). Resolution has been adopted.
Norton/ You should know that I came in and spent an hour or so with
my thought. So he got all of my little random thoughts. You
don't have to hear me in.
Baker/ Dee, if you would put them down on paper, I would like to
read them°
Norton/ I will give you a memo on e-mail.
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F032696
#21 page 1
ITEM NO. 21 -CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR USE OF CITY STREETS AS A DETOUR AS PART OF THE
HIGHWAY 1/GILBERT STREET INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
Nov/ Okay, now we need a motion. Moved by Norton, seconded by
Vanderhoef. Now, Mr. Waters.
Larry Waters/ I live at 1538 Rochester Avenue. I first have a
question for the council. When the decisions like this do
affect businesses are made, is there any rules on
notification? I mean is it- Let me tell you my situation. I
found out yesterday that this was taking place and I find it
very difficult for me to come here and intelligently discuss
whether it is good or bad with a 36 hour notification. I just
can't believe that that should be standard policy for decision
making.
Woito/ It was my understanding that Jeff McClure, the engineer, had
talked with all the property owners and businesses in the
area.
Waters/ He did not talk to me. Yesterday-
Woito/ Which business is yours?
Waters/ L&M Mighty Shop and Hoffman Waters Realtors. The both of
them. I was not talked to until yesterday. Sometime after
9:00, 10:00, 11:00 was my first notification.
Kubby/ Maybe we can ask Jeff if he talked to anybody at your
business at all.
Jeff
McClure/ I have been in contact with all the property owners
that are in the construction area. They have been included in
all of the discussions for sometime. Because Mr. Waters is
outside of the construction period and because we had
initially intended to keep traffic open at all times, we did
not feel- I mean, I have talked to it was either Mr. Waters,
it was somebody at L&M Mighty Shop. I talked to them at least
a year ago. They knew about this project. They were not
unaware of it. They knew what was going to go on. There was
access to them at all times. The traffic was coming at all
times. That is why they were not- that Mr. Waters probably
does not feel that he was kept up to speed. He was never a- I
shouldn't say he was never a player but as far as all the
other businesses were on, they were more of a key players.
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They were more directly affected under the existing traffic
control plan that is set up right now. Only until recently
have we decided that there are benefits to closing the road.
That has come to light to us you know in the last few weeks.
Thursday and Friday of last week and yesterday all the
property owners on this stretch were contacted about closure.
No one, none of the other property owners knew about this
before last Thursday, Friday, or yesterday. Some as far as
anybody knowing about the possible closure, what we were up
to, what we would like to proceed with, nobody knew about it
before anybody else. They were all contacted within the last
four days.
Arkins/ Make sure we clarify, Jeff, this resolution is not what we
talked about last night about the complete closure. This
resolution is maintaining a traffic flow here? (Refers to
map) .
Woito/ No, this is for the detour if we close.
Atkins/ This is for the detour. Now, last night we talked about
another option. What is this? I want to make sure you
understand what you are voting on if you decide to vote on
this thing.
McClure/ It is the same. The detour is the same. What this
resolution-
Atkins/ Hold your thought. The detours are the same regardless of
whether you make the choice of closing the intersection for
that four week-
Woito/ No, you only need the detour if you close.
Arkins/ Okay.
Kubby/ But it doesn't mean that we decided to close. It means that
we will have that option.
Atkins/ I understand that. I just want to make sure that Larry
understands.
Waters/ I understand if what Jeff has said is true. We did know
that there was going to be work done at that intersection and
all along we were told that it was-you were not going to close
Burlington Street. Now it seems to me that that decision to
close that Burlington Street shouldn't have been a last minute
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decision and most certainly it seems to me that we should have
been notified more than 36 hours before you come here to vote
on it. I don't think that is fair. I think it ought to be
deferred and let us- I most certainly can't tell you how I
feel definitely on this. I know that it is going to hurt my
business but I know that the other way is going to hurt my
business° I don't know whether- I don't have any information
to make me be able to come here and say do it or don't do it.
And I don't think 36 hours is fair. I just don't think that is
the way government ought to be run. I think it is objections
that many of us have to the Iowa City city manager policies of
doing this type of thing. And I am sorry but I feel very
strongly-
Atkins/ Time out. First all I don't want you challenging me for it.
Waters/ I am not challenging you as a person. I am challenging the
city manager form of government.
Atkins/ Well, setting that aside.
Waters/ I am just saying that nobody should have to make a decision
this quickly, to come before this group and say don't close
it, do close it. We ought to have more notification. I am not
trying to make it a complicated argument but when he comes up
and says I did know, I didn't.
Nov/ Well, Mr. Waters, we didn't know either until yesterday.
Waters/ I know you didn't. I know.
Nov/ And we still don't know if your business will be affected more
by closing or less by closing.
Waters/ I don't either.
Nov/ We will never know.
Waters/ I most certainly think that we ought to be given, as
business persons, we ought to be given more notice than 36
hours. I think this ought to be deferred for the next council
meeting so I can come back here and say hey, I think it is
fine or that I don't think it is fine.
Baker/ We are or are not, by this resolution, voting to close the
road?
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F032696
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Nov/ We are voting to consider the option.
Baker/ That is what I want to make sure Larry is-
Waters/ In other words it isn't a done deal?
Kubby/ No, it is forward the information to IDOT so they can review
it and they may accept or reject it and even if they accept
it-
Waters/ Then you still have the right to reject it? Okay. Then I
shouldn't have been here tonight.
Nov/ No.
Lehman/ No, no, no, you should be and I don't disagree with your
concern about notice and I think we probably feel a little bit
the same way. But I think that there was discovered a
possibility saving a substantial amount of money and we are
under certain time constraints.
Waters/ And I understand that. I am not trying to-
Lehman/ This will leave the option open for us to decide, based on
the savings, and based on the amount of time that we can
shorten the project, is it worth it to close it. We can always
say yes or not. So there will be-
Waters/ Then I have not problem with that decision. I just had a
problem with an absolute decision where I didn't have time to
make a-
Kubby/ Understandable.
Lehman/ Understandable.
Kubby/ The other thing you might want to take some time at- In
between when we vote on this tonight and IDOT gets back to us
about if this is an option or not is to get a hold of the
plans that Jeff showed us last night that shows where the
detour is, what streets will remain open and what kind of
signage is going to be available and not just for people on
the exact frontage of where the streets will be closed but
places your place of business as well.
Nov/ There will be signs directing people.
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F032696
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Kubby/ I know that doesn't compensate 100% for the-
Waters/ I understand the real world. I don't have any problem with
that but I have a real problem with this being dumped in my
lap at a time that I didn't really want to be dumped in my lap
because I have more concerns than that at this point.
Nov/ Well, we are hoping that if we do close the street we can do
the construction more quickly and this may be better for local
businesses in that area than keeping the construction going
all summer.
Waters/ It very well may be and I am not- I just didn't have the
time to investigate it, tc look at it.
Baker/ And we are not going to close it until we hear from you.
Nov/
We are just telling the IDOT that we may do these detours.
They have jurisdiction because this is a state highway on
Burlington Street.
Waters/ I may have misunderstood what Jeff said because I thought
he said that this was what they were proposing whether than
the-
Lehman/ Option.
Nov/ We are proposing this.
Norton/ I have a point of clarification. I want to hear what the
time line, the projected time line. I should think Larry would
want to hear that too. What is the projected time line?
Because if we were talking about if this were passed, we want
to get to work on April 15. What is the time line, Jeff?
Kubby/ As well as clarifying that staff is recommending that when
IDOT does respond to us that we do close the road.
Norton/ We need to know as well as he.
McClure/ Okay, what we have done is given the contractor a period
in which he can start the project. It is between April 15 and
April 19. He can start the project anytime he wishes in
between then. What we need to do or what this resolution is
set up to do is it says at a local level, we are willing to
consider closing of Burlington. IDOT will not act, they will
not even consider looking at what we have to offer until it is
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considered at the local level that we are okay with it. It
will go to them. I don't know what their time line is. We have
our own time line. The contractor is going to start. If we
don't have this in place, then we may just have to go through
with the project paving it in halves. It is a card we would
like to have to play, you know, if it becomes possible of
closing it down. The DOT has their own schedule. If they don't
get around to reviewing it, then we are out of luck by the
time we start the project. If they do, then that is great.
Then we have that option.
Kubby/ But we will make them aware of our April 15 time line.
McClure/ They are very aware. They have been aware. We have been
working with them to make it so that we can have this done
before construction starts. Regardless of this resolution,
construction will start between April 15 or the 29th. Let me
add this and that is the way the specifications are set up
now. Let me add this and this is another resolution, you know.
We accepted bids today. We are suggesting award of the
contract. We have met with the contractor and he is willing to
negotiate for the road closure on 14 days, on cost reduction,
and also on a different start date. I know Mr. Waters had
mentioned that if this were to occur after graduation, that he
would be a little more open to this plan. Our contractor is
not totally opposed to that idea. He feels he is open minded
on every single one of them. So at this point we have some
working room with the contractor. I don't know if I elaborate
anymore.
Kubby/ If we extend the time frame to mid-May or after, what does
that do to other projects that we have on our docket that we
need to be inspecting?
McClure/ That is something we need to evaluate. I mean, that is
something we have to sit down and look at our other projects,
when they are going to be bid. we are going to have to look at
our inspector's time. We haven't done that yet.
Thornberry/ My concern last night was what is the timeframe on that
and you know, I mentioned the fact it seems like we are
tearing up roads while school is in session. Either right
before school is out or right before football season and all
summer long all the roads are passable and really nice except
right before school is our and before football season and you
know, it just works out that way and you were going to get
back to us with cost estimates, too. I am really glad to hear
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F032696
#21 page 7
that the contractor might be able to delay this and still give
us a break on the money. Cost effective here but I am also
looking at businesses. That is good.
Waters/ I just have one closing statement and that is that this
just doesn't affect me, it affects the city and when you close
an artery street, as an appraiser, I can tell you you can
affect a lot of people. And to do that, I think it ought to
have a lot of discussion. I just, when you close that off and
re-route that traffic, you create some problems for a lot of
merchants, not just me. Thank you.
Thornberry/ Thanks, Larry.
Nov/ Thank you for waiting.
Woito/ Can I get some clarification on here? Do you plan to bring
this back in two weeks and put it on the agenda for discussion
as to whether you are going to close the intersection?
Kubby/ Don't we need to hear from IDOT before we can even see what
our choices are?
Woito/ You may not have time to, unless you call a special meeting,
to get in here and decide it before the contractor is ready to
go. In terms of-
Atkins/ Let me clarify. What I heard you say last night was that we
would file this resolution with IDOT as required to do.
Woito/ Well, this is an agreement.
Atkins/ An agreement. They have to approve or disapprove. We would
award the contract. I assume you have a recommendation on the
contract tonight. And between now and the meeting of the 8th
and the 9th Jeff and the staff would negotiate with the
contractor to determine 1- the amount of money that can be
saved and 2- the time frame under which a closure would occur
and you make that- It is a judgement call at that time. I am
assuming we negotiate with the contractor, Linda, part of that
negotiation will be that 15th or 29th start day is going to
have to change. I would remind you the further you push it
into May, the more it pops out in September and you still end
up facing this issue anyway of school being out, in or out,
football season beginning or ending. Anyway it shakes out,
that is sort of the merit of compressing the schedule and
having it done in the summer time where you don't affect
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F032696
#21 page 8
either end of it. That is the most desirable goal.
Woito/ We have so many other- If this is changed, we have- I mean,
it is like a stack of cards or monopoly. We have so many other
projects lined up.
Atkins/ I just want to understand. Jeff, is that what you
understand your obligation is to do? Okay. In the same time
you will get Mr. Waters copies of engineering drawings and
other information that he needs. Okay.
Nov/ We still don't know if IDOT is going to approve this. Don't
they have-
Woito/ It was their idea. I have no reason to believe they will
not.
Norton/ I don't understand. Is this a hypothetical resolution?
Woito/ No, that is why- I want to clarify. What you are doing is
authorizing the mayor to enter into a real agreement. The real
agreement goes to the DOT and we expect them to approve it. I
just want to make sure that you know that you are going to
make the real decision on whether to close it in two weeks.
Lehman/ Right.
Thornberry/ Well, wasn't there a discussion with the contractor
that it could be delayed and why does one project push back
all the others? Can't we do more than one project at a time?
Arkins/ Inspectors are the problem, Dean. That is just getting the
staff in the field.
Woito/ Property acquisition, condemnation.
Kubby/ Everything has got to be timed.
Arkins/ The important thing is if you award the contract tonight,
then the contractor is lined up ready to go. Then Jeff has an
instrument which I have got a contract to negotiate from, some
basis from which to work. Then it allows a number of other
things.
Norton/ I still want to be sure that when the 9th is done and Mr.
Waters and perhaps others are here arguing one way or another,
we are free to make either decision at that point?
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#21 page 9
Woito/ Well, you better have something on the agenda. A formal
agenda item.
Atkins/ The 8th and the 9th. Oh, yes, that is what I understood
because you have to amend the contract. I mean, I am assuming
that the dollar savings is of such consequence that you are
going to want to approve that amendment anyway.
Norton/ I want to make sure that input would be relevant timely at
that point.
Arkins/ We are okay on that. Jeff is okay on that. And the other
property owners that we have spoken with informally, that is
not everybody. Between now and then you will have finished
that anyway.
McClure/ The only thing that could possible affect that is if we
don't have a DOT answer by then. We would have to defer it and
go ahead with construction as it had been bid, keep traffic
open on Burlington.
Atkins/ You do understand that if IDOT doesn't approve that we just
go ahead and close one lane down. You do the hard way.
Kubby/ Say IDOT comes in on the 15th of April and says we approve
this and we all decided that this is the better route, can we
then negotiate any kind of, if the project hasn't gone too
far, to do full closure?
McClure/ Yes. I would imagine so. If they start on the 15th,
they'll have all their equipment mobilized. They won't have
started work. It's something we'll already have negotiated.
Our inspector is Ed McGinnis has put a lot of time into this.
He knows exactly what needs to be done and Streb is very good
and Dave already thought of a lot of things also.
Kubby/ Okay, so we already have that all planned out so we can
switch if we need to.
McClure/ I think so. I think they both realize the benefits to
closing it and have an idea of how to work better in that
length of time.
Kubby/ They've worked on it with staff.
Thornberry/ So the contractor's going to have two contracts. One to
leave it open and one to close it, because they're going to be
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F032696
#21 page
different prices, right.
McClure/ It wouldn't be a contract. It would be a change order. it
would be just like a standard change order we would issue
during a project if there's additional work needed done or
something like that, we just consider it a change order and
that change order we would negotiate a deduct in price in it,
if there is one in deduct in cost, if there is one and a start
date which that would be determined before it.
Nov/ Any further discussion? Roll call- (yes).
Kubby/ I would move that we also discuss item number 22 at this
point because it's the same item and Jeff is here and we are
in a flow.
Nov/ Jeff, can do something else? Okay. Moved by Kubby, seconded by
Norton that we take Item No. 22. Any discussion? All in favor
say aye- (ayes). Okay.
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F032696
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 19
ITEM NO. 22 -
ITEM NO. 23 -
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY 'I/GILBERT STREET
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
Comment: The bid opening for this project~-be~ on March 26, 1996 at
10:30 a.m. The Engineers Esti~..~fer~e project is $ ~29,00o.
Public Work d~F_,,~l'~neer's an [ng will recomm.e. nd award, of the contract after
openi f~J3e~ d '11 b p~esented at the council meeting. Funding for
h' J3r~ 't II c meffom~s ctw] o r, oad us tae xes, bond proceeds, and a maximum of
$2~0 00, 0 from Iowa USTEP monies.
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
REVENUE BONDS.
DIRECTING SALE OF $18,300,000 SEWER
Comment: Sealed bids on the sale of these bonds were received at 12:00
noon on March 26, 1996. Bond proceeds will be used to pay costs of
improvements and extensions to the Municipal Sanitary Sewer Utility.
Project costs include the South River Corridor Interceptor and Relief Sewer,
Special Projects Management, North Plant Improvements, Contingency and
Land Acquisition, North Corridor Trunk Sewer, Abbey Lane Sewer, Design
Phase Engineering, One year debt service reserve and Bond Issuance Costs.
Wastewater revenues will repay the debt service on these bonds. This
resolution ratifies and confirms the actions of the City Clerk and the Finance
Director in the determination of the most favorable bid. A completed
resolution will be presented to the City Council at the formal meeting the
evening of March 26, 1 996.
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO
ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY 1 /
GILBERT STREET INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
COMMENT: The bid opening for this project was held on March 26, 1996, and
the following base bids were received:
Streb Construction, Iowa City, IA
$ 572,232.85
Engineer's Estimate
$ 533,835.80
Public Works and Engineering recommend award of the base bid
contract along with any alternate bid items the City Council
chooses to Streb Construction of Iowa City, IA. Funding for this
project will be provided by road use taxes, bond proceeds, and a
maximum of $200,000 from Iowa USTEP monies. Iowa DOT
concurrence of base bid is necessary for final award of contract.
#22 page
ITEM NO. 22 -CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A
CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY I/GILBERT STREET
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
Nov/ So what do we have here?
Woito/ This is a revised comment.
Nov/
Revised comment. Okay. (Continues reading agenda comment).
Moved by Lehman, seconded by Vanderhoef, that this contract be
given to Streb Construction. Any discussion? Roll call.
Kubby/ Wait, wait, wait. I guess I'm always uncomfortable about
just having one bid.
Council/ (All talking)
Norton/ This is the only option. Wait a minute. This is getting
complicated.
Kubby/ And because it's higher than the engineer's estimates,
guess I'm just making that comment, but I don't want to slow
this project down because I think we really need to do it, but
I will do this being a little uncomfortable about having one
bid that is higher than the estimate. I guess I just want to
say I'm uncomfortable about that. Knowing hopefully that we'll
have some (can't hear).
Atkins/ Jeff, are there any comments you want to make on the fact
we only received one bid?
McClure/ Yeah. I guess I have, this is like the biggest project I
have, so from what I understand is that overrun is within 10%
so that makes it a little more palatable, from what I
understand.
Atkins/ I'm not so sure that's critical, is it? Is there any reason
why you think we only got one bidder?
McClure/ Yeah, I did some calling around. The reason is one, the
major prime contractors in this area, one of them has a lot of
left over work from their last year's contract that they need
to honor and they wouldn't be able to begin this project until
August. The other contractor made a statement which was kind
of something we didn't think of was that the DOT has- today is
their major letting date and they let all of their projects at
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#22 page 2
one time and so they had used all of their resources to come
up with estimates and you know, bids for like $10 million of
DOT projects instead of our half million dollar project. So,
those are the reasons why we only got one bid.
Kubb¥/ So we put that date on our calendar for now on.
Thornberry/ I just feel like Larry Waters did. I think this is
going too quick, too fast for this much money. How much is
that? What was that bid? I don't even have that.
Nov/ I got here in this pile under me. Here.
Kubb¥/ And that is not including alternates.
McClure/ I am glad you brought that up. They were over the
engineer's estimate on the base bid. They were under the
engineer's estimate on the alternate. So if you were to go the
entire alternate package which is the conduit, the brick
parkway and the brick crosswalks, it is pretty much an even
draw. So, if you were to take the base bid, just the
intersection by itself, yeah we are over. If you were to add
in all the alternates it is a wash.
Kubby/ And then if we do go got full closure for a shorter period
of time, that will also save?
McClure/ We hope. That is to be negotiated.
Thornberry/ With only one bidder, how much is he going to drop the
price since he is the only bidder?
Atkins/ There are quantities, that is usually what we work from.
Our folks are talented enough to know that if you close this
up you are going to save X number of days, X number of days is
worth this much money. He not going to come in a lay some
arbitrary number. It still have to be negotiated.
Kubby/ But that negotiation will be there for someone who has the
bid. They still have some negotiating power giving them the
bid. So that negotiation is going to be the same whether there
is one bid or not. We can't break it, our contract with them.
Atkins/ And I might make an observation for the new members of
council. This has been kicking around about two years at
least. Yeah. It does precede you and if there is concern about
not awarding and postponing and altogether rebidding, I think
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#22 page 3
you have lost it for this year. I can't imagine- You got
football season and everything else you know that kind of
piles on top of you.
Thornberry/ Steve, if we have been kicking this around for two
years, why let the bids last week and get only one bid?
Atkins/ That is a function of the market, Dean. I mean I don't know
what else to tell you. I mean we will have sewer bids. We had
11 on that major project and we turn around sometimes and
there is only 3-4 major contractors that will, in town, pick
up a job. Now if this job were $1 million, we would probably
start drawing them from outside the area. I think that has
been our experience. We can name the name of the people that
normally bid on these things and Streb generally bids.
McClure/ Streb, Metro, All American.
Atkins/ Do you recall how many we had on Rohret Road? Okay. I
thought it was only one or two. About three. He is a reputable
contractor.
Thornberry/ I have no problem with the contractor. I just got a
problem with only one.
Atkins/ And you are not wrong on that.
Norton/ We haven't talked about on this yet.
Kubby/ We haven't done that (can't hear) ready to vote.
Woito/ I was going to say you can't vote until you pick the
alternate.
Kubby/ Do we have any information about the engineer's estimate for
all of these options?
McClure/ Yes but I did work it out as nice and neat for you.
Kubby/ I thought you did collectively what all the options would
be.
McClure/ You know, I really wasn't expecting you to move this up so
fast so I kind of just grabbed what was laying on my desk.
Actually it is a fact sheet because I grabbed the right thing.
The engineer's estimate, the way- I will give it to you
simple, as simple as I can give it. Alternate bid #1 was
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#22 page 4
$11,000, my estimate. Alternate bid #2 was about $50,000.
Alternate #3 was about $40,000 and alternate #4 was about
$88,000. There are different scenarios that you can pick and
when you do that you start mixing and matching. I tried to
just give you- I guess I am just asking you to take my word
for it instead of coming up with a spreadsheet I would have to
explain to you. But it came in about half. I mean if you were
to go with the total package of doing all of the things. I
mean the sheet that you have, on the right hand column, shows
you the difference between the base bid and what your
decisions can be.
Kubby/ How much we would save by not doing something?
McClure/ Well, the cost difference, right.
Nov/ If you did the base bid plus the plus the conduit plus the
parkway plus the crosswalk, you are spending an extra $46,000.
Norton/ Yeah, that had all the options.
Nov/ The bottom line is all the options cost you an extra $46,000.
Kubby/ And that is half of what the engineer's estimate was because
that was $88,000. That is what I really want to get to.
Atkins/ That is what he said, right.
Kubby/ So we don't even have to take your word for it. It is on the
paper. Okay. So I guess we need to start discussing which
amenities we want.
Norton/ Well, we all agreed last time we wanted conduit, I thought.
Vanderhoef/ That was my understanding.
Nov/ Yeah, we definitely wanted the conduit and I think most people
wanted the brick crosswalks as well.
Norton/ The brick parkway I wanted. I was more dubious about the
brick crosswalks. That was my only problem.
Thornberry/ I don't think we have discussed this.
Nov/ We did a while back.
Thornberry/ We didn't have any prices on it.
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Norton/ No, no. we didn't have any money. That is what is new.
Kubby/ That is what today is for.
Norton/ That is what is new here. We just talked conceptually,
Dean, the other time.
Kubby/ The parkway makes a lot of sense because the r.o.w is going
to be so narrow that if we don't do parkway it is going to be
dirt. So, I think we have to do the parkway.
Thornberry/ It could be cement.
Norton/ But the accent. In terms of the visual accent of the
streetscape. That has a nice affect. Without that you don't
have much of anything.
Kubby/ And it would help us have a sense of some of our new
arterials. We are doing Melrose Avenue that way most likely.
Lehman/ There is also, really, probably the first step in our South
Side work and I think this is going to be an indication of
what we can expect folks to see in that South Side.
Kubby/ And that it cost half of what we thought.
Lehman/ Especially that.
McClure/ The cost savings are greater if you consider more items.
If you decide to do just the brick parkway, you are going to
pay a lot more. If you decide just to do the crosswalk, you
are going to pay a lot more. If you bundle them together, you
are going to pay a lot less.
Thornberry/ Like a sale, the more you buy, the more you save.
Council/ (All talking).
Norton/ I had a whole list of concerns about the brick crosswalk
because I have been sold on the conduit, I have been sold on
the parkway because I think they really affect the visual
streetscape. The brick crosswalks still me more trouble
because of the tendency to disappear visually. In other words,
you look at the one up by the mall, you can't remember that it
is brick and neither can the motorists. You can't see it.
Thornberry/ You can't see it every time a car drives over it,
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right?
Norton/ They drive right up on it. So that is my only concern. Can
we ask for a brighter red of brick?
Norton/ I don't know whether it is brighter. More contrast?
McClure/ I mean if you consider that- I mean, I imagine you are
talking about conditions outside when there is grime on the
ground and snow and slush. You have a gray concrete. What we
put out there now are white lines. What we are proposing is a
gray concrete as opposed to a contrast of a six foot wide red
brick crosswalk. I believe the contrast is going to be there.
When the ground is dirty it is hard to see stuff. I mean that
is just a fact. Your crosswalk lines get covered up with
grime. So does the brick.
Thornberry/ There is more of a contrast with white lines than there
is with brick.
Nov/ Except they don't last. I, there is concern about this paint
that we are using. We painted last spring and I think by July
you couldn't see it anymore.
McClure/ You guys can still have your crosswalk lines if you want
them. We are not saying you can't have your crosswalk lines.
Norton/ You could paint a white strip along the edge of the brick.
That would be elegant.
McClure/ You can border the brick with your white crosswalk lines.
Nov/ Let's do just nice brick crosswalks.
Kubby/ Do we have to have an amendment to the motion to do the
alternates?
Woito/ No because the resolution says-
Kubby/ It includes those?
Woito/ The contract and the comment says that the engineers
recommend the award of the base bid plus any alternates bids
that you pick and choose.
Kubby/ I would like us to consider #8 that is on the sheet that has
the base bid, the conduit, the brick parkway and the
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F032696
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crosswalk. The whole thing.
Thornberry/ That is the most expensive one on the whole sheet.
Norton/ Yeah, that is right.
Nov/ It is true.
Council/ (All talking).
Kubby/ It is an investment in the south side of Burlington Street.
It is an investment in our plans and I think it is a good
investment.
Woito/ Is that your recommendation, Jeff?
McClure/ Yes.
Thornberry/ If we spend $46,117.04, so we save $17,3897
Kubby/ The reason we are doing this is not to save. The reason we
are doing this is because we are committed to some
redevelopment plans on the south side of Burlington and I
believe this is the city's way of spurring redevelopment. It
is our show of investment and it will really help the
streetscape.
Thornberry/ There we go again, Karen. I don't think brick in the
street is going to help a whip in the South Side Development
Plan.
Norton/ Anywhere, brick anywhere?
Thornberry/ I am just saying a brick-
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-41 SIDE 1
Thornberry/ We have a motion and a second. Can we put that away?
Nov/ Now, are we voting on just the motion to add the amenities or
are we voting on the entire-
Woito/ You are voting on the whole shebang. So you got to pick out
one of these.
Nov/ Well, we have already someone who said let's have #8. We have
had that seconded.
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F032696
#22 page 8
Council/ (All talking).
Kubby/ We don't need to informally nod.
Nov/ That is what I am trying to say.
Woito/ You got four votes or head nods.
Nov/ We got four heads nodding. Larry, what do
Baker/ 8.
Nov/ Okay. We have heard four voices to say that #8 is
Kubby/ It sounds like at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I think
good to have this clarified for the public as to
Nov/ I think we have it.
Burnside/ Please state your motion for the resolution
you want?
acceptable.
it would be
who-
to include-
Nov/ The resolution, as we are voting now, includes all of the
amenities: base bid, conduit, brick parkway and crosswalks and
the base bid on this was $572,232.85. If we add all of that we
adjust the bid by adding $46,117.04. Have I stated it
correctly?
Woito/ Yes.
Nov/ Okay. That is what we are voting on.
Lehman/ I have just one other comment. We have a significant
problem, at least of complaints of folks who use that
intersection right now because of people jaywalking. Anything
we can do to mark those crosswalks more definitively which I
think bricks will certainly help to do may at least help that
problem a little.
did carry on a
Council/ (All talking).
Nov/ That may make a difference but it may not.
Lehman/ It may not but it might help.
Nov/ Roll call- Motion to approve the resolution
vote of 6-1, Thornberry voting no.
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F032696
#22 page 9
Baker/ Dean, you just
you would have
acceptable?
Thornberry/ I would
back and do it.
Norton/ Parkway,
Thornberry/ No,
conduit.
Nov/ Okay.
eliminate the brick crosswalk? Is that what
done? Everything else would have been
have- Well, we have already voted. I can go
I would have wanted the conduit.
surely.
that doesn't jingle
me either. Probably the
Kubby/ Thank you for all the work.
McClure/ Sorry for the confusing spreadsheet.
Thornberry/ It was real quick.
Nov/ We will have our signs in order before we start construction?
You are going to have signs saying this is a detour to
business X. We are going to get all of those in order between
now and the 15th. Right?
McClure/ Yes.
Nov/ Thank you.
Norton/ What if the DOT says no?
Nov/ No, we are going to need that.
McClure/ Signs directing the public to the private businesses will
be in place regardless of whether we close Burlington or not.
There will be some inconvenience and there will be some road
closures.
Thornberry/ That will include the L&M which was not on the original
plan. Right?
McClure/ It will not. If we are going to maintain Burlington Street
traffic, there is no reason to have directional signs to L&M
because they have full traffic from all quadrants.
Thornberry/ But you are going to put it down to the body shop?
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F032696
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McClure/ Yes. They will need to have special access because they
will be on the other side of the closures when we close the
south half of the roadway.
Thornberry/ Well, you know, what is to add one little store on your
signage? I mean, he gets a lot of traffic on Burlington
Street, too, and if it is diverted I think they should note
because the diversion is going to be away from the front of
the L&M Mighty Shop.
McClure/ The reason we have to put up a sign for Hansen is because
his driveway will no longer exist. There won't be any
driveways there. We are going to have to lead them on a
special path to get to his place, to Hansen Autobody. L&M will
still have all of its driveways. There will be no special
route that they have to take to get to his place. They can
access it.
Thornberry/ You are going to have signs on what streets to get to
Hansen Auto Body?
McClure/ We will have signs on Burlington at the corner of Van
Buren, in that area.
Nov/ Okay. My only concern is that we do have the signs ready
before we start because people will be confused and-
Norton/ Madam Mayor, I wonder if the viewing audience wouldn't mind
seeing the picture of the streetscape. They really haven't
gotten any visuals, have they?
McClure/ They did the last council meeting.
Nov/ Not today.
Norton/ Too bad.
McClure/ Just so you guys don't have to prolong your agony of
looking at me, I also have Item No. 19 and if you were to
defer to that right now, I would get out of here.
Kubby/ You mean you have to have a life.
Norton/ Do we need a motion to consider Item No.19?
Nov/ Moved by Norton, seconded by Lehman that we now consider Item
No.19. All in favor please say aye- (ayes).
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F032696
#22 page
Karr/ I am sorry, can we go back half a step? You are going 21, 22,
19 and then back to 7? We have people waiting in the hallway
for No.7.
Kubby/ This will be quick.
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F032696
Agenda
Iowa Ciw Ciw Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 20
ITEiVI NO. 24 -
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION DIRECTING SALE OF $6,100,000 CORPORATE
PURPOSE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS BONDS FOR INiPROVEMENTS AND
EXTENSIONS TO THE MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY.
Comment: Sealed bids on the sale of these bonds were received at 12:00
noon on March 26, 1996. Bond proceeds will be used to pay costs of
improvements and extensions to the Municipal Water Utility and include the
construction of four Silurian and two Jot. dan Wells, ground storage reservoir
renovations, Iowa River' Power Dam renovations, gas pipeline relocation,
pond stabilization work, main replacement, engineering costs for design and
bid specifications and bond issuance costs. Water operating revenues will
repay the debt service on these bonds. This resolution ratifies and confirms
the actions of the City Clerk and the Finance Director in the determination of
the most favorable bid. A completed resolution will be presented to the City
Council at the formal meeting the evening of March 26, 1996.
Action: ~ ~-~
ITEIVl NO. 25 -
ITEM NO. 26 -
ANNOUNCEIV]ENT OF VACANCIES.
a. Previously announced vacancies.
(1)
Housing and Community Development Commission - One vacancy
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.
CITY COUNCIL APPOINTIVIENTS.
Consider an appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a
five-year term ending May 1, 2001. (Richard Gibson's term ends.) (3
females an.d,~ males currently serving on this Commission.)
#23 page 1
ITEM NO. 23 -CONSIDER A RESOLUTION DIRECTING SALE OF $18,300,000
SEWER REVENUE BONDS.
Nov/ Do you want to give us a report on what happened today at
12:00 noon?
Don Yucuis/ Yes, I will. On the $18.3 million bond issue three bids
were received. The low bid was received from Hutchinson
Shockey out of Chicago at a net interest of 5.7075%. A couple
items of note. The rating from Moody's Investor Service, Inc.
on this bond issue was confirmed at a "A" which is what the
rating was prior to the bond issue in last year. The low bid
from Hutchinson Shockey included insurance paid by them and
the bond sold similar to a GO bond issue rated "AA". So they
sold better probably because of the insurance that was
purchased by the buyer of the bond and I want to say that the
City of Iowa City itself. The savings by selling at a "AA"
equates to about a .25% savings between the "A" and the "AA".
That equates to about a $750,000 interest savings on the bond.
So it is important to note that higher rating based on the
sale made the city savings.
Kubby/ Worth "AA", not "A"?
Yucuis/ We were rated "A" but they sold at a "AA" rating level. The
interest rate that was bid is also slightly lower than what
was presented in February at our first estimate. We had
estimated approximately a 5.782%. So that is also good. The
good news is that the bonds as bid are in line with what we
presented in February. We will factor those- If this bid is
approved by council we will factor those costs into the next
wastewater rates for next March.
Baker/ Can I ask a question, Don? There seems to be a pattern here
in my mind and I want to see if it is true. A few months ago
we had a engineering bid on part of a project that came in
substantially lower than what we projected. This we're setting
lower than what we projected. One of the statements that was
made earlier tonight about the overall cost of the water and
sewer treatment projects was that it kept going up compared to
what we had led the public to believe. It seems to me that it
is usually going down from what we predict because you had
fairly conservative estimates to begin with.
Yucuis/ Conservative estimates on what we thought the interest rate
would be on the bonds but the construction costs-We originally
were talking a $28 million issue and presented a resolution to
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F032696
#23 page 2
council 2-3 months ago to that affect that we would sell
approximately not to exceed $28 million. Then we received a
bid on the park construction which is the laying the pipe
between the north and the south plant. That came in at
approximately $12.8 which is significantly under our
estimates.
Norton/ It was $6 million under.
Kubby/ It was 30% lower.
Yucuis/ So on the wastewater we are doing very well on bids and in
addition to the cost of this bond issue, there were actually
two projects that we added in there, the Abbey Lane sewer
which is at the lower originally approximately $800-. Now it
is $190,000 because we phased that project a little bit and
the North Plant Improvements which were originally included in
the next phase of the project and we added that in at this
time. So the costs have been going down at least on the
wastewater end. The water end we are still in line with the
original estimate. This resolution is- Just one more point on
this resolution, it is dealing with the $18.3 million bond
issue and I am pleased with the bids received and concur with
Evenson Dodge recommendations of awarding the bid to
Hutchinson Shockey.
Thornberry/ So you are saying that maybe our water rates won't have
to go up as much as we thought.
Nov/ We are talking about sewer rates.
Thornberry/ Water and sewer rates are in the same bills.
Yucuis/ I don't think- I can probably say they won't be higher than
what we had proposed. At least on the water and the wastewater
we will be factoring in the savings from this bond issue and
we have one more bid that is going to be coming in in the next
three months on the lift station and that may have a factor on
how much for the amount of bonds we need to sell next year to
pay for that project.
Nov/
I didn't finish reading all of this. I probably should read it
to that we have it all on the record. (Reads agenda comment).
Do we need to have a specific motion about which company was
low bidder? Okay, we just need a general motion to approve
this resolution. Moved by Kubby, seconded by Lehman. Any
further discussion? Roll call- (yes).
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F032696
#24 page
ITEM NO. 24 -CONSIDER A RESOLUTION DIRECTING SALE OF $6,100,000
CORPORATE PURPOSE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS BONDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND
EXTENSIONS TO THE MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY.
Nov/ (Reads agenda). Now, what do these do?
Yucuis/ More bids were received on this bond issue. The low bid was
received from Piper Jaffray out of Minneapolis at a net
interest rate of 5.3411%. Again, Moodys Investors, Inc.
confirmed the City of Iowa City's "AAA" rating on the GO debt
which is a very favorable to the city when they go to sell
bonds. It is the highest rating for GO debt. The interest rate
is approximately .1% higher than what was estimated back in
February. The dollar difference- Just to show the dollar
difference between a "A~", "AA", and an "A", the savings
between those bonds issues of our nAAA" compared to a "AA" is
about $176,000 savings in interest and you would double that
for an "A" rated bond. So there is some significant savings
when you are at a "AAA" rating. Again, I am pleased with the
bids that were received and concur with Evenson Dodge's
recommendation for awarding the bid to Piper Jaffrey.
Nov/ Moved by Lehman, seconded by Thornberry, that we award this
bid. Any discussion?
Thornberry/ I just think it is a real credit to both you, Don and
Steve, for keeping Iowa City as fiscally as responsible as you
have been to get us these ratings. I think it is really great.
Nov/ Don does good work, right. Okay. Roll call- (yes).
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F032696
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
March 26, 1996
Page 21
Consider an appointment to the Senio,' Center Commission to fill an
unexpired term ending December 31, 1997. (Walter Shelton resigned.)
(5 females and 3 males currently serve on the Commission.)
Action:
ITEM NO. 27 - CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
ITEM NO. 28 - REPORT ON ITEMS FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY.
a. City Manager.
b. City Attorney.
ITEM NO. 29 -
#27 page I
ITEM NO. 27 -CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Nov/ We have City Council information. Since Mr. Baker was not here
yesterday, would Mr. Baker like to start?
Baker/ Yes, I would as a matter of fact because I want to make sure
I get this stuff in because some of this stuff is probably on
other people's list as well.
Nov/ Very likely.
Baker/ Three quick things. Two for clarification and for scheduling
purposes. One, two years ago the previous city council had a
joint meeting with the University of Iowa student government.
It went very well and we had talked about doing it on an
annual basis and we didn't do it last year and there has been
one complete cycle of student government that has come and
gone and I certainly don't want to set a date tonight but I
would like for us to talk about it at the next informal
meeting to maybe-
Kubby/ Actually Dee Norton and I are on the student senate
subcommittee and we have just been so busy with council
meetings that we have neglected our duties. And with the new
election we should move ahead.
Baker/ I would like to get this discussion when it is feasible. I
know it is a very tight schedule for everybody. As long as we
didn't miss it like this year like we did last year.
Lehman/ Better hurry.
Baker/ Now, two quick clarifications. One and I wish I brought the
letter with me. I think it was from either Wendy Ford or the
other gentleman from the CVB thanking the council for
reaffirming their budget, agreeing to putting back 100% of our
prior commitment to CVB and that wasn't my understanding. I
think Dee Norton and I talked about funding fully and then
finding money for the other projects from some other source.
But I thought it was the council's decision that we were going
to take that money out of the CVB.
Norton/ Show us this correspondence that you are talking about.
Atkins/ I have never seen this letter.
Kubby/ I don't remember that letter either.
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F032696
#27 page 2
Baker/ Thanking the council, no-
Norton/ Maybe thanking you personally for your expression of views.
Baker/ I am sorry I just assumed it was a letter to the council.
Norton/ Boy, somebody had better check that because that would be
too bad.
Baker/ The letter very clearly said that they appreciate the
council recommitting itself to full funding for CVB.
Atkins/ Oh, no.
Council/ (All talking).
Kubby/ There are three votes to do what you have outlined but-
Thornberry/ You just right her a check.
Kubby/ But I hope there is a fourth.
Norton/ How should we pursue that?
Baker/ I don't know if it is appropriate for me to pursue it or
not.
Atkins/ I was going to say if you show me the letter I will be
happy to call Wendy.
Kubby/ Dee Vanderhoef is our representative.
Atkins/ Dee is our-
Vanderhoef/ They are well aware of it that they are not getting-
Norton/ They have already gotten their check, haven't they?
Council/ (All talking).
Baker/ I assumed the council got a copy of it. I apologize.
Norton/ I will look in my files again when I get home. If there was
a letter it must have been a misunderstanding.
Baker/ It may not have been from Wendy. I forget the man's name
that supported the CVB as well. Anybody remember his name?
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#27 page 3
Nov/ I can't remember but I know there was somebody who was-
Vanderhoef/ Verne Nelson spoke but he was at the last board
meeting.
Baker/ Second thing is I think other people have probably had
conversations with members of CenterSpace Com~mittee. I talked
to Pat Caine this afternoon. It was my understanding that two
months ago we had informally directed the staff to try to
prepare the marketing for that urban renewal parcel with an
emphasis on some sort of combination of use of the facility
and-
Atkins/ We met with them a couple of weeks ago. I think that item
has been bumped to like April from Planning Dept~ to schedule
the thing, the discussion. But we have met with them already.
Baker/ But it was clear that that was our intention to initially
start it that way?
Atkins/ oh yeah. You instructed us to spend some time with them and
we did.
Baker/ But no real letters have gone out or fees have gone out?
Atkins/ No. We are
RFP's so yes,
yet.
going to bring that- We want you to bless the
then we send it out and that has not happened
Baker/ Okay. I would like to- People are ringing your chimes.
like this idea of blessing it.
Norton/ Has CenterSpace asked everybody? I have talked with Shirley
informally but no- Was it a formal meeting that you had with
them.
Kubby/ No, they were talking with people one on one.
Baker/ Again, it was four months ago at an informal session. Now
those are fairly easy to get through. The fourth thing I think
is a very important issue I would like to get some
clarification on. Sales tax. We need to discuss it. Whether or
not it is going to be feasible, to agree how we would like to
structure it if we want to structure it and when we want to
present it to the public if we want to present it to the
public. The reason I bring this up is remember looking at that
letter from Susan Craig about the library issue and it is my
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understanding that they would like to see us consider their
project and get something on the ballot for the fall. I
personally think the more important and pressing issue for the
overall community is a resolution of the sales tax issue and
a fall ballot question for that and I just don't think that
you can do two major ballots issues in the same month of
season and the council has got to decide among itself what it
is going to do about sales tax because it will affect, I
think, how we structure or how we approach the library issue
as well. So, when can we talk about that?
Nov/ We did promise you that we would put it on the agenda some
time after the budget and we sort of just did that. So-
Atkins/ We are ready to go. It is just a matter of packaging some
information together to get the issue-
Baker/ The important issue is the sooner we get that discussion
started before the library discussion begins.
Norton/ Then why not April 8 or 9?
Baker/ That is up to you all.
Kubb¥/ But I think we have to have a clear understanding of what
the library timeframe is to say if we agree or disagree with
that. We need to have information from them as well and fair
warning is only-
Baker/ Oh, absolutely. But I don't want them going one way and us
trying to go another way at the same time and then meeting at
the end and discovering it is impractical.
Nov/ They have made it clear that they really want to have the
issue on the ballot with the November general election.
Woito/ I think they are aiming to try and come and meet with you in
April.
Atkins/ Yes.
Nov/ These are running fairly concurrently.
Baker/ I think it is a mistake to have them end up at the same
place at the same time if we are going to both of them and we
need to talk about-
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#27 page 5
Atkins/ Discussing both items in the same evening is not a problem
unless you prefer-
Kubby/ We had a street meeting last night. Let's have a bond issue
meeting.
Woito/ I don't know if the board will be ready by the 9th.
Norton/ Well, we could go ahead and get our sales tax meeting under
way. But the question of they've got November staked out,
where are you heading?
Lehman/ Nobody has anything staked out.
Baker/ We stake it out.
Norton/ They implied that I think.
Nov/ They said they would like to do that if they can.
Baker/ But for our purposes, before we start discussing our next
city budget, we got to get this other resolved. That is a
major impact on-
Norton/ Next year, yeah.
Baker/ The lack of it or the presence of it. So I want to discuss
it.
Nov/ I am (can't hear) because you have to explain what we have
already decided. I am leaving that one for you.
Lehman/ About a month ago I met the new mayor of Cedar Rapids at a
state GPA meeting and we visited a little bit afterwards.
Lovely lady. We discussed a couple three different things and
I expressed to her an interest in perhaps cooperating with
Cedar Rapids whenever we could on things of mutual interest.
One the things that came up was sales tax. Cedar Rapids is
very very interested in doing sales tax the same time we are
if we do it. Also the mayor of Washington and two or three
other folks at that state GPA meeting expressed an interest.
So I asked the mayor to give us a call to see if we can get
together. A week ago last Friday the mayor, finance
commissioner and one other member were down and met with Naomi
and Dale and I and we had what I thought was a very very
cordial meeting and I think there is- You know, if and when we
can cooperate with Cedar Rapids on literally anything, I think
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#27 page 6
they are ready and we also agreed I think to meet on a every
3-4 month basis just to keep in touch with what is going on.
But an~lay, it was a good meeting and I think it was a good
idea.
Baker/ They want to talk to us about a joint date on sales tax. Is
that what you are saying?
Lehman/ We are talking about possibly something that maybe the
ECCOF area, the six county area perhaps promoting or putting
on the ballots at the same time. I am not sure, that has to be
coordinated.
Baker/ I would be glad to talk about that but our - We have to
determine what our interests are.
Nov/ Yeah, and we will continue the conversation with Cedar Rapids.
The arguments against the sales tax years ago was that we will
send out retail business to Linn County. You heard those. You
were there.
Baker/ And I think I will be glad to debate that argument on that
issue anytime.
Lehman/ Well, this was the sort of thing
and therefore it seemed to make sense
both counties are going to do it.
that had been discussed
to try to coordinate if
Baker/ I agree but I would also hate to see us have to wait an
inordinate amount of time for the other counties when we have
the pressing budget. Every time you get a memo about the
Housing Dept. or the Transit Dept. we are talking about and we
have pressing budget issues that-
Nov/ They are pressing for this fall.
Baker/ That is when I hope that we can do it.
Nov/ I am not sure about the other counties. I just wanted you to
know that we are going that far.
Baker/ That is all I have. Thank you.
Norton/ Did we agree then that that is on the agenda for the next
time?
Nov/ The 8th? Sure sounds like it. I think I heard-
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#27 page 7
Kubby/ Although we need to hear from the library at the same time
because we need to know what the consequences are. We can
start discussion but I would like to have some library people
here even if their board is not firm on what they would like
to see happen°
Baker/ And I don't expect us to resolve anything at the next
meeting but to start because once we do get it resolved, then
we have to go out and sell it and we need to talk about that
process as well. And I have a separate set of questions about
the library but I would like to get this other one resolved
first.
Nov/
We also have to do some information sharing with all of the
communities in Johnson County. We can't just take off on our
own.
Baker/ I think we can lead them.
Nov/ Do you have anything else since I called on you all ready?
Lehman/ The only other thing I guess I will just point out and you
probably saw the letter in your packet. I wrote a thank you
letter to the Governor who apparently- His office was rather
instrumental in helping us get our sewer project back on
track.
Atkins/ You didn't see the letter?
Baker/ I saw the letter. I was just trying to make the leap from
sales tax issue to that.
Nov/
No, it was just the fact that Z had asked Ernie if he wanted
to go next and I thought I would let him finish before I let
somebody else talk. He had two items, that was it. Dee-
Vanderhoef/ I think I will pass tonight. I said my thing last
night. I did a whole page last night.
Nov/ Okay, Dean Thornberry.
Thornberry/ I just have a couple of things. I think that we are
pretty well caught up on recycling now. Is that right, Steve?
Atkins/ Yes.
Thornberry/ Mine was picked up today with my garbage for the first
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#27 page 8
time that both were picked up together.
Atkins/ I think we are okay. I still will ask Floyd. He is going
for a couple of days to check about a getting another truck
and- Right now we don't have any fall back position but we are
not going to rush. We may lease one.
Thornberry/ Is that a one man or two man crew?
Arkins/ One, yeah.
Kubby/ You know, the first couple of weeks, 50% of the houses that
were stopped at that had recycling bins needed to have a pink
tag left because things weren't quite right and so that takes
time and it is part of our education program. When that 50%
gets down to an expected rate of 5-10%, things are going to go
much quicker and I think it gets very premature te start
talking about-
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-42 SIDE 1
Nov/ Time and motion analysis.
Thornberry/ To finish my thought on recycling where did we get
those containers. We didn't invent the wheel?
Atkins/ No, we bid them out.
Thornberry/ There were other cities out there using that same
container?
Atkins/ It was an open bid. We got a wonderful price on it. It
ended up-We had estimated $10-11 and I think we paid $4.00 a
piece for them. We got a super price on the thing.
Thornberry/ I mean other cities are using that same container.
Atkins/ Oh, yeah. It is pretty standard. Right.
Thornberry/ I am finding that when I put the papers in the bottom
it raises the sacks up and then you can't- There is a
possibility of not getting the top on tightly. Then things
blow and you got to kind of stuff down. It is not a big deal
but what do the people who are picking up the recycling do
with the paper sacks that are in the containers?
Kubby/ Put them back in.
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F032696
#27 page 9
Thornberry/ Why do they want them out of my container? My wife
wants to know.
Atkins/ She wants the paper bag back?
council/ (All talking).
Thornberry/ The top was back on and I peeked in there and this time
there were three out of four there but usually there is either
one of two left out of four.
Atkins/ Tear them, the crew could rip things up.
Woito/ They have changed their procedures.
Nov/ Sometimes they get wet, you know.
Nov/ They have changed the procedure?
Woito/ Yeah, they have changed. They used to leave them all there
and now they are all gone.
Atkins/ I will check with Floyd. I just don't know.
Nov/ That was what I was thinking that they have changed because
mine are all gone also.
Thornberry/ The grocery stores would rather give out plastic than
paper. So, she likes her sacks. Back billing for water, trash
pickt~p, etc., we will probably be talking about that later on.
Woito/ Yes, we are working on it.
Thornberry/ The back billing problem. Okay. And I really- And the
only other thing that I was going to talk about which has
already been spoken to at length is the Building Code's
problem. Anna Buss touched on an aspect of the Building Code
and costs and what can we do to reduce the building costs in
Iowa City. That is all I have.
Nov/ Very good. Moving on, Karen.
Kubby/ See you 9:00 AM tomorrow.
Norton/ I will restrain myself except I have one article from the
New York Times on darting wild horses, birth control. But they
are trying it on some deer, too, and it sounds kind of
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#27 page 10
promising.
Kubby/ Glad you are keeping an eye out for that.
Norton/ Well, I wanted to give it to Bud Louis tonight.
Thornberry/ When they dart the horse, what do they do with it?
Norton/ No, they are birth control.
Atkins/ Birth control darts.
Norton/ Birth control darts.
Council/ (All talking).
Norton/ It is not a hormonal process either. It is not destructive.
Well, you, I thought you would be glad to know. Look at you
guys, you are sitting here worrying about deer problems. All
right, see you at 9:00 AM.
Nov/
Okay, may I put some announcements in here because I feel an
obligation- I was sure that Karen was going to announce the
Water Festival.
Kubby/ You know, I am doing 5,000 things. Go ahead.
Nov/
Since Karen did not, I want everybody to know that there is a
Water Festival. It is being sponsored by Northwest Junior
High. It begins with an information speech tomorrow night here
in the council chambers. It continues with city council
members and county people and all kinds of government
officials and various demonstrations at Northwest on the 29th,
which is Friday. And then there are booths and demonstrations
on Saturday at Northwest and those are open to the public. So
please get involved to learn more about water. On April 6th
Life Skills is doing a fundraiser at the Holiday Inn from
11:00 to 3:00. You pay your fee, you get to taste cheesecake.
A huge variety of cheesecake and they need the money.
Kubby/ You know, Naomi, they requested some help in parking fees
for their volunteer staff people to do that event and we
haven't talked about that.
Nov/ However Dale Helling on-
Helling/ As far as I know, that is taken care of.
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F032696
#27 page 11
Kubby/ Thank you.
Nov/ Next on the list there is a Human Relations Conference at the
Holiday Inn, 8:30 AM, Wednesday, April 10. It is called
Positive Leadership Works-Everyone is a Coach. It is free. The
public is invited to attend. However, Hills Banks would like
you to call and let them know that you are coming because they
are counting people. And we have a city celebration of CDBG
which will be April 11 at 4:00 PM and we are planning to do
this at the new Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center and if it
not finished in time, we will move it somewhere else. But come
see the neighborhood center. That is it.
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F032696
#28b page 1
ITEM NO. 28 -REPORT ON ITEMS FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY
ATTORNEY.
b. City Attorney.
Woito/ I do have something to announce. I just heard today that the
city won the entire Hagen Electronics case which was the
airport zoning case. We won on all accounts and I will send
you a copy. For those of you who are not familiar with this
case, the District Court had ruled that the city had- The
Airport Zoning Ordinance had constituted a regulatory taking
of all beneficial uses of the property and also found that we
had violated their constitutional rights by acting arbitrarily
and capriciously. And the Iowa Supreme Court said no, we acted
properly and our finding of shielding was appropriate. So we
have been vindicated.
Kubby/ Congratulations.
Woito/ The Iowa Supreme Court. I am sure that Bill Meardon will be
asking for a re-hearing but I think the likelihood of that
probably is slim. Hopefully we can put it to rest.
Kubby/ David Brown did that case, right?
Woito/ Yes he did. Good work. That is it.
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F032696
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
RE:
March 22, 1996
City Council
Assistant City Manager
Work Session Agendas and Meeting Schedule
March 25, 1996
6:30 p.m. -
Special Council Meeting - Council Chambers
Executive Session - Pending Litigation, Land Acquisition
Monday
7:30 p.m. City Council Work Session - Council Chambers
TIMES ARE ,~iPPROXIMA TE
7:30 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
8:15 p.m,
8:45 p,m.
9:15 p.m.
9:35 p.m.
9:45 p.m.
9:55 p.m.
Review Zoning Matters
Arterial Street Plan - Oakdale Blvd.
High~vay 965 Alignment
Melrose Avenue - Byington to Hawkins: Design Elements
Burlington and Gilbert Intersection Reconstruction
Engineering Design Standards
Council Agenda, Council Time
Consider Appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission (1)
and Senior Center Commission (1)
IMarch 26, 1996
7:30 p.m.
Nlarch 27, 1996
9:00 a.m.
Regular City Council Nleeting - Council Chambers
City Council Work Session - Council Chambers
Discuss Transit Service Options
WednesdayI
LApril 8, 1996
6:30 p.m.
IApril 9, 1996
7:30 p.m.
City Council Work Session - Council Chambers
Regular City Council Meeting - Council Chambers
IVlondayj
TuesdayJ