HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-06-01 Transcription
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ITEM 2 MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION
a. Pride Month
Lehman: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Charles Howes, who is Director of
PRIDE. (applause)
Howes: On behalf of the PRIDE community, 1 just wanted to thank you for the
recognition and remind everyone that the events this month are for
everyone, so feel free to attend. June 12th is our kick -off event, parade at
noon, and the actual celebration is in the parade after at 1 :00 pm. Thank
you.
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Council meeting of June 1, 2004.
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ITEM 2 MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION
b. Homeownership Month
Lehman: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Bruce Ray for the Des Moines HUD
office. (applause)
Ray: Thank you, Mayor, members of the Council. 1 certainly do want to thank
Karin Franklin and her staff for everything they do regarding our HUD
program, not just for home ownership, but for their hard work in the
Community Development Block Grant Program, and in home, so I did
want to thank Karin. I did want to mention just briefly too that home
ownership is really more than just a symbol of the American dream. It's
the backbone of our way of life. In America, every citizen, as the Mayor
said, regardless ofrace, creed, color, or place of birth, has the opportunity
to become a homeowner. We at HUD feel that home ownership
encourages personal responsibility, and represents the pathway to
prosperity for many families and individuals. The housing market in
America remains strong, and thanks to low interest rates, there has not
been a better time to refinance or to buy a home. I do know that the City
of Iowa City is currently reworking its consolidated plan, so really what
better time is there to include in your plan a renewed emphasis on
homeownership. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
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Council meeting of June 1, 2004.
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ITEM 2 MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION
c. CHILD
Lehman: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here representing Lucas Elementary are the students. (applause)
Eivins: Nathan Zehr, Clair Barrett, I am Ashley Eivens, we are here on the behalf
of CHILD to bring awareness of child labor to our community.
Champion: Well we are proud of you kids.
Lehman: Very.
O'Donnell: Extremely.
Elliott: Thank you.
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ITEM 4 COMMUNITY COMMENT
Lehman: This is the time reserved on the agenda for folks to address the Council on
items which do not otherwise appear on the agenda. If you wish to
address the Council, please sign in, give your name, and limit your
comments to 5 minutes or less.
Kammermeyer: I guess I get to put a sticky note here. John Kammermeyer, Allergist.
I'm listing here 404 E. Bloomington which is my office address. I wish to
read a statement to the Council concerning a problem for I and my fellow
commercial property owners along North Gilbert, and I have copies here,
8 copies here, to hand out. On Friday, May 7'\ 2004, and this is involves
6 other property owners as well as myself. We all received a letter from
the State Historical Society of Iowa, notifying us that our properties had
been nominated to be placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
This was done without our knowledge or permission, and against our
wishes. More over, a public hearing is being held in Des Moines, not
Iowa City, on June 11,2004, concerning this matter. Approximately 2
years ago the City Council authorized grant money to be used by the
Historic Preservation Commission to gather data concerning possible areas
for historic preservation on the north side. We naively thought that no
action would be taken concerning historic preservation issues until local
public hearings were held, and votes taken by appropriate commissions
and the City Council. However, we were wrong. Apparently on their
own, City Planning staff and or the Commission, nominated our properties
for placement on the National Registry of Historic Places. We believe this
action to be undemocratic and inappropriate. More over, this violates our
property rights and seriously adversely affects our commercial properties.
Historically placing local properties in the National Registry has been used
as a precursor to justifying including them in Historic Preservation
Districts. The obvious intent is to use the national listing as a basis for
designation of the local historic district, which then allows total review,
design review, of the already over property alterations, demolitions, and
new construction by the local government. It therefore appears to us that
the nomination of our commercial properties by City Planning staff may
be an attempt to give added pressure and incentive to include our
commercial properties in the proposed Gilbert-Linn Historic Preservation
District. An additional aspect of our concern is that the State Historic
Society personnel appear to believe that the Gilbert-Linn Historic District
is already established, or in effect. Whether or not it was intentional, this
is the impression apparently given to them, the way our properties were
nominated. An important aspect is that our properties are in a commercial
and commercial office zones, established around Mercy Hospital many
years ago, over 20 years ago. This was done to encourage medically
related office development around Mercy, as a healthcare core area, and
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Council meeting of June 1, 2004.
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this development is gradually occurring. None of our commercial
properties should be placed in the National Registry of Historic Places
against a will, and we feel no historic preservation district should be
extended into our commercial area. If historic preservation is extended
into the commercial area, it will have a chilling affect on development,
lower our property values, and this would go against the long-range
zoning plan for our area. We consider the City to be responsible for what
has happened to us, and we are requesting the City Council do two things:
1) we are requesting the City Council notify the State Historic Society
that the Gilbert-Linn Street Historic District is non-existent at the present
time, and ask the State Historic Society to withdraw the nominations of
our commercial properties from consideration for placement on the
National Registry; 2) we also request the City Council go on record
stating that no historic preservation district will be extended into the CB- 2
or CO commercial zones on the north side around Mercy Hospital. And
this is signed by 7 property owners, including myself. There is a
supplemental statement that I wish to add on because we have learned
within the last week since this was composed and signed, a few more
things and had a few more thoughts. Supplement - we feel that something
is terribly wrong when the City can impose on us and our properties being
nominated to the National Registry, or try to include them in a historic
preservation district against our will, and then we the property owners
have an uphill battle to try and prevent this from occurring. This sort of
designation should be initiated by property owners if they desire it. In this
case the City nominated our properties, again, without our knowledge and
against our will. Reference is made in the April sth minutes of the Historic
Preservation Commission that City staff had earlier sent out a letter to all
property owners in the proposed Historic Preservation Districts, notifying
them ofthe plan to nominate their property for placement on the National
Registry. And offering the property owners the chance to protest. It was
also reported that no, I underline no, protests were received back.
However, none of us in the commercial area along North Gilbert received
any such letter, and I have checked with two owners ofresidential
properties further north along North Gilbert, and they don't recall ever
receiving such a letter. It is our belief that no such letter ever got sent out.
If it had been, there certainly would have been a number of protests. More
over, based on emails and letters some of us have received back from the
State Historic Society, it is obvious that the impression was conveyed to
them that the proposed Gilbert-Linn Street District is already in existence,
which of course it is not. Because of this, the State Historic Society looks
at we commercial property owners as a small part of the entire Gilbert-
Linn Historic District. Therefore we are being told that the 50+ 1 rule
applies. This means that owners of 50% plus 1 properties in the proposed
Gilbert-Linn Historic Preservation District would have to submit notarized
letters in order for we property owners, commercial property owners, to
have our letters requesting withdrawal of our properties from
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consideration be honored. Let's look at the numbers: in the proposed
Gilbert-Linn Historic District there are 103 properties. So that owners of
52 properties would have to request withdrawal oftheir nomination of the
property in order for we protesting commercial property owners to have
our properties withdrawn. In the commercial area along North Gilbert,
west and northwest of Mercy, there are 10 owners with 15 properties that
have been nominated. Eight of 10 owners who own 13 of the 15
properties, that is 87% of the properties, have asked for their properties to
be withdrawn from consideration by submitting letters. We urgently need
the help and support from the Council to prevent these nominations of our
commercial properties to the National Registry from being imposed on us.
Again, please notify the State Historic Society that this District is
presently non-existent, ask them to withdraw the nominations of our
commercial properties. Also, please look at the commercially zoned areas
along North Gilbert near Mercy as a separate issue from the residential
zones, and remove us from inclusion in any proposed Gilbert-Linn
Historic District. Please state that no historic preservation district will be
extended into our small commercial area. And my final point is the time
is urgent here as the State Historic Society public hearing in this matter in
Des Moines is Friday, June 11 th, and we are asking you to take some
action on our request tonight. Thank you.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Wilburn: So moved.
Elliott: Second.
Lehman: Motion and a second to accept correspondence. All in favor? Opposed?
Motion carries.
Vanderhoef: I think we probably have a little mix-up in the timing here, and I would
request that we put this on hold at the State level until we have a chance to
sort it out.
Lehman: Can we do that? Is there a way we can do that?
Dilkes: I don't know. I'm not familiar with the registry process and the status of
that so it sounds to me like there needs to be some, you know, Steve and
his staff will have to tell you what's happening with that before you can
really go any further.
Vanderhoef: Just the letter to the State, at this point to put it on hold until we can figure
out exactly what did happen or didn't happen.
Elliott: And prior to the June 11 th meeting.
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Vanderhoef: And prior to the June 11 th, yes.
Lehman: Steve? Can we look into this? It sounds as if time could be of the
essence, so...
Atkins: I think it would be easier, the first thing I'll do is make a phone call
tomorrow and then follow up.
Lehman: Okay. I think I hear Council saying...
Atkins: You're putting this, time out.
Lehman: Time out, yeah. Okay. All right. Thank you, John.
Smith: Good evening. I'm Terry Smith, 2220 Balsam Court. I'm here tonight on
behalf of Mid-American Energy and my position there as Operations
Manager. Mid-American Energy appears before you tonight to formally
request pursuant to Iowa Code Section 364.2, that the City Council
authorize and allow a special election for the purpose of allowing the
citizens ofIowa City to vote and approve an electric franchise ordinance.
The provisions of such franchise ordinance would be agreed to between
the City and Mid-American Energy, and the complete text of the
ordinance would be available for the citizens when casting their votes.
Mid-American is aware that the same section, 364.2, provides that the
entity requesting the special election shall be responsible for paying all
costs associated with the election, including the cost of the notice. Mid-
American's been pursuing this action based on the feedback of its
customers. As you know, Mid-American has been soliciting and
circulating petitions seeking community support for a franchise renewal.
Mid-American has more than the minimum number of signatures to
submit such a petition. As a demonstration of Mid-American's desire to
work cooperatively with Council, though, we do not choose to submit
those petitions at this time. Rather, under Iowa Code 364.2, we would
respectfully request that the parties seeking a franchise, that the City set a
date for a special franchise election to be held within the next 6 months.
There are several good and valid reasons to provide residents with an
opportunity to express their will on this issue, which has been before the
Council and citizens for nearly 3 years. The City has conducted and
received a preliminary feasibility study, and had ample time to provide alJ
parties with analysis. Additional funds have not been allocated by the
City for additional study. I would ask what new or different information is
anyone going to learn from what is already known today. Having a
special election sooner rather than later will help the City come to a
decision on this issue, and not detract from other pressing issues such as
Planning and Zoning matters, or complex construction projects currently
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underway. Whatever the date the Council should set, whether it's this
summer or 6 months from now, all interested parties will have the same
amount of time to organize voter education and efforts. Holding a
franchise election this year will have many benefits. The benefit of
renewing an electric franchise agreement is to protect the City and its
citizens from lawsuits against the City related to accidents or injuries
involving electric or natural gas services. On behalf of Mid-American
Energy Company, I formally submit this request to the Mayor, Council,
and staff, and would be glad to answer any questions you might have at
this time.
Lehman: Steve, this needs to go on a work session.
Atkins: I would think so, yeah.
Vanderhoef: Move to accept correspondence.
Elliott: Second.
Lehman: Motion and a second to accept correspondence. All in favor? Opposed?
Motion carries.
Atkins: Is there.. . Eleanor, is there a time-constraint issue since the next work
session is the 14th? Is that...
Dilkes: No, just to give you a couple heads-up. The, as you know we've got a
proposal to establish muni-electric, which is on the ballot for November of
2005, and must remain on the ballot for 2005. Mid-Am is asking for a
special election under a separate provision of the code, which allows the
party who seeks a franchise to require that that issue be submitted to the
voters. That provision provides that it can be held at a special election or
the next regular City election, in the Council's discretion, and then finally,
the outcome of both those votes - both on the proposal to establish muni-
electric and a proposal to enter into a franchise are not binding on the
Council. They authorize the Council to proceed, so those are really the
key issues. In terms of whether there's something critical, I don't see that
there is. Mid-Am may, but if they're requesting that a special election be
held sooner rather than later, but in terms of the Council's options, I think
June 15th is just fine.
Lehman: All right. So we'll have to get...
Atkins: We'll have to talk about that because you have a jam-packed 14th agenda.
Airport Commission, presentations by human services groups, but we will
have to set some things aside, just so you're aware of that.
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Lehman: Okay. All right. Anyone else from the public?
Honohan: Jay Honohan, Mr. Mayor, and members ofthe Council. I'm not asking for
anything from you tonight. (laughter)
Lehman: Thank you. We grant your request. (laughter)
Honohan: I'm here just to make a short report on the Community Foundation, and
then invite you to a fun thing on behalf of the Senior Center Commission.
We have filed the articles ofIowa City Senior Center funding. The
Commission has elected to place $100,000 in the endowment portion that
we discussed at your last meeting, and the balance of approximately
$50,000 in the Charitable Giving Fund, and then the fun part is that there
will be a pancake breakfast at 7:30 to 8:30 on the 17'h of June at the Senior
Center, and it's going to be put on by the Community Foundation but
we're all welcome to come, and we invite all of you, and that same day, as
a part ofthe 100 year celebration, we have a cowboy day at the Senior
Center.
Champion: I wonder who arranged that?
Honohan: I didn't have anything to do with it. (laughter) But you can hear cowboy
songs by the Voices of Experience at 3:00. You can see a Roy Rogers
movie at 3:30 and popcorn is a dime, and this is one of the movies when I
was young for ten cents we used to go to a double feature at the Westend
Theatre in Chicago, and then we had a dime to spend for candy. But I
think you'll enjoy that. We have a horse show on Linn Street, opposite the
Senior Center, which will go on from 4:30 to 7:00. We have a chuck
wagon dinner: pork roast, buffalo wings, cowboy beans. I don't know
what cowboy beans are but we're gonna have em, and we'll have a fee for
participants of $4 and nonparticipants $8 for the dinner, and during the
dinner we're going to have music and they're going to sing Tumbling
Tumbleweeds and things like that for you folks, and at 7:00 we have
Marty Kelly who is a national cowboy expert, who is going to present
cowboy selections from the cowboys of the silver screen, and you're all
invited. It's a fun thing, and I think you'll all enjoy it. And that's all I
have to say, Mr. Mayor, you don't have to do anything.
Elliott: What's the date again?
Lehman: We can bring our horses.
Honohan: The 17th ofJune.
Lehman: Bring your own horse.
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Honohan: You don't have to. We'll have horses for ya if you want to ride the horses.
Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you. Any other public comment?
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ITEM 5 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
b. CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
JUNE 15 ON AN ORDINANCE REZONING 10 ACRES FROM
INTERIM DEVELOPMENT MULTIFAMILYIHISTORlC
PRESERVATION OVERLAY (ID-RM/OHP) ZONE TO
INTERIM DEVELOPMENT SINGLE FAMILY/HISTORIC
PRESERVATION OVERLAY (ID-RS/OHP) ZONE FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2460 S. GILBERT STREET.
Wilburn: Move to set the public hearing.
Bailey: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Wilburn; seconded by Bailey.
Elliott: I wish we had had the minutes of this May 20th meeting. The one person
who voted against this, I talked with him and I thought his basis for the
vote against it were very valid, but it's 6/1 so I'm certainly going to have
to go along with the majority.
Lehman: Well we're setting a public hearing so we'll talk about it on the 15th. All
in favor? Opposed? Motion carries.
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ITEM 5 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
d. REZONING APPROXIMATELY 8.07 ACRES FROM MEDIUM
DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-8) TO
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT HOUSING OVERLAY-MEDIUM
DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (OPDH-8) AND
APPROVING A PRELIMINARY OPDH PLAN FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED SOUTH OF WHISPERING
MEADOWS AND WEST OF SADDLEBROOK (REZ04-00008)
Lehman: Public hearing is open.
Gordon: Good evening. I'm Steve Gordon. I work with AM Management and we
are managing the project for the owners and developers Saddlebrook
Meadows LLC. Thanks for allowing me to speak tonight about our
project. Our goal with Saddlebrook Development has always been to
provide affordable housing to a diverse clientele, all brought together
around true community amenities in a true community atmosphere. We
feel the project before you tonight, Saddlebrook Meadows Part One,
continues the tradition we have established. Saddlebrook Meadows Part
One is designed with several varying housing types to meet the needs of a
diverse market. The streets are pedestrian friendly to allow residents easy
access to the many amenities in the Saddlebrook Development, including
an extensive trail system, playgrounds, picnic areas, a fishing pond, and a
clubhouse. An open space is also included in the interior of this site plan
for easy enjoyment of these residents. Ranch style units are designed for
the outside of Blazing Star Drive. They offer complete one-level living,
and are senior friendly and handicap adaptable. They will vary in size
from about 1,100 square feet up to 1,400 square feet. Three duplex units
are placed on the interior corner lots. These duplex units are designed to
look like a single-family home, and will offer a high-quality living
environment at a very affordable price. The 2-story homes will be perfect
for the young and growing family, and are designed with the traditional
curb appeal that features a front porch and a rear-entry garage that will
promote neighborhood unity. The homes are placed on one side of the lot
lines thus giving each home a large usable side yard instead of two small
unusable side yards. In addition, the open space will be easily accessible
from any ofthese homes. With the help and guidance of City staff, we
feel that we have designed a neighborhood that will continue to enhance
the Saddlebrook community, and meets the goal and the spirit of the
current zoning and comprehensive plan. I thank you for your support, and
if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.
Lehman: Thank you. Anyone else like to speak to this issue? Public hearing is
closed. Do we have a motion?
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O'Donnell: Move first consideration.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Lehman: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Roll call.
Champion: I like this plan. I think it has a lot of positive things going for it, and it is a
great need for affordable housing, especially in a mixed community like
this in this town. I like it. Thanks. Looks good.
Lehman: Good. Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM 5 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
e. REZONING APPROXIMATELY 35.05 ACRES OF PROPERTY
FROM RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PARK ZONE, RDP, TO
OFFICE COMMERCIAL ZONE, CO-I, SUBJECT TO
CONDITIONS, FOR PROPERTY ALONG THE EASTERN
PORTION OF NORTH GATE DRIVE IN NORTH GATE
CORPORATE PARK (REZ04-00007)
(1) Public hearing
Lehman: We're going to continue the public hearing from 5/18, and I should like a
motion to defer. .. .
Dilkes: Wait a minute. Let's open the public hearing, continue the public hearing,
close the public hearing...
Lehman: Ijust opened it.
Dilkes: Someone's got to move to continue.
Champion: Move to continue the public hearing.
Elliott: Second.
Lehman: We have a motion and a second to continue. All in favor ofthe motion?
Opposed? Motion carries.
(2) Consider an ordinance (Deferred from 5/18 meeting) (First
Consideration)
Vanderhoef: I'll move to defer until June 15th
O'Dounell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef; seconded by O'Donnell.
Franklin: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor, weren't you to give us some direction?
Lehman: Sorry, oh, yes, at this point in time, we should like very much for staffto
look at the conditional zoning agreement that has been prepared, and
perhaps redesign that agreement to eliminate the one lot that perhaps does
not have any need for the conditional zoning agreement. If you could
have that for us on the 15th We will not only conclude the public hearing,
but we will entertain first consideration. Thank you so much.
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Elliott: It's been truly an adventure.
Lehman: All in favor of the motion to defer. Okay. Motion carries.
Champion: Excuse me, what you just said, was that in the form of a motion?
Lehman: No, we just direct staff to do a.. . okay.
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ITEM 6 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ACQUISITION
OF PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY EASEMENTS FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CLEAR CREEK TRAIL PROJECT, AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO
ATTEST DOCUMENTATION OF THE SAME.
Vanderhoef: Move the resolution.
Bailey: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef; seconded by Bailey. Discussion?
Vanderhoef: This is just one more missing link to getting that all hooked up on the west
side, and I do want to acknowledge the University for their cooperation in
this whole project.
Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM 9 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CALL TO
ARTISTS FOR THE ART COMPONENT OF THE BENTON HILL PARK
PROJECT
Bailey: Move the resolution.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Bailey; seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Elliott: Like the park, don't like the expenditure to the entrance.
Champion: I'd like to just point out to the public as it is expensive, that the money
was allocated in a long process and that $30,000 of it, the total cost is
$30,000. $10,000 is from park improvement budget, and $20,000 from
already allocated public art funds, but this was not just a sign. It's an
enhancement.
Bailey: Well I appreciate that we're going to have public art on that site, and I
think it will really enhance that corner. (can't hear) entrance to that park,
that that neighborhood has waited for for so long.
Lehman: And that so long is literally well over 20 years, the folks that wanted that
park, so I'm really delighted to see it happen. Roll call. The motion
carries 6 to 1, Elliott voting no.
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ITEM 11 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS FOR VARIOUS PURCHASES
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET,
CONTRACTS FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS INVOLVING THE
CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT OR REPAIR
OR MAINTENANCE OF A HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR CULVERT WHEN
THE ESTIMATED TOTAL COST TO THE CITY DOES NOT EXCEED
$50,000, CONTRACTS FOR OTHER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS WHEN
THE ESTIMATED TOTAL COST TO THE CITY DOES NOT EXCEED
$25,000, AND CONTRACTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WHEN
THE ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF SUCH SERVICES DOES NOT
EXCEED $50,000.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion; seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion?
Elliott: Does this simply break down to more specificity regarding the...
Atkins: Yes.
Elliott; Okay.
Dilkes: Actually what it does is, it only makes one change in the previous
resolution, because of State law which increased the public bidding
requirement to $50,000 for highways, bridges, and culverts.
Vanderhoef: And this was certainly a high priority for many cities across the state this
year.
Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM 12 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2004 PCC PAVEMENT REHABILITATION
PROJECT - DODGE STREET
Lehman: We received looks like 6 or 7 bids. Estimate was $118,500. The low bid
was All American Concrete from West Liberty with a bid of $113,881.51.
Public Works Engineering recommend awarding the contract to All
American Concrete. Do we have a motion to that affect?
O'Donnell: So moved.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell; seconded by Champion. Discussion? These bids
were incredibly close.
O'Donnell: They really were.
Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM 15 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Elliott: Couple things I had.. ..were you going to start with me, Mr. Mayor?
Lehman: You are a good choice.
Elliott: The least shall go first. Yesterday morning went to a Memorial Day
program at a little town south of here, Ainsworth, where I went to high
school. It seems to me the more people you get in a metropolitan area, the
more rather impersonal these things get, and when you go to a program or
service like that, in a little town in the heartland, it is very personable. It is
very meaningful, and it was just an excellent program. The older you get
the more important those kinds of things are. The other one is I thought
Dr. Kammermeyer raised some very sound, legitimate concerns and asked
some very reasonable questions tonight, and I look forward to the Council
commenting on that, and discussing it.
Lehman: Okay. Connie?
Champion: I don't have anything. I don't want to talk about the hotel in St. Louis.
(laughter)
O'Donnell: Mr. Mayor, have a great time fishing in Canada, and I suggest you take a
bunch offood with you. (laughter)
Lehman: Thank you, Mike.
Champion: Well I do have one thing. Just to make your vacation seem even more
important, I don't think the difference between 113 and 160 is close.
Lehman: Oh, but the rest of them were close, weren't they?
Champion: Well closer than 113 and 160. (laughter)
Lehman: Yeah, but 113th and 125 were all but one vote. I'm sorry...all right. Dee?
Vanderhoef: Summer is here. Yes, you're on the line tonight for some reason, Ernie.
Two things: one, a special thank you to the City High music department
and their invitation and reception held before their Grammy-award
concert. I was just flabbergasted. It was the most outstanding high school
concert I have ever heard, and certainly probably a lot better than a lot of
small college might have had. These young people are dedicated to their
music program, and certainly excel with their musical ability, and a
special thank you to the staff at City High and to all of the music programs
in the public schools, private schools, and the city because they're
developing these young people to come into the high school and present a
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concert like this. The second one is that just an announcement I was asked
to make from the Melrose Neighborhood. They have brought in a
specialist to do some surveying within their neighborhood, and they will
be doing a presentation at the social hall, at the rec center, at 5:30 pm on
June 9th This is just an information meeting. It is not anything more than
that, but it might be interesting to see how this neighborhood has moved
towards asking the City to create a historic district for the Melrose
Neighborhood. That's it.
Wilburn: Condolences to the family of Tim Shields who passed away this past
week. Those of you who are on Council remember he helped us facilitate
one of our goal-setting sessions, and Tim did a lot of work across the state
ofIowa, helping communities and development oflocal elected officials.
And congratulations to Jacqueline Krain for opening a smoke-free jazz
club downtown. It's good music and I recommend it. Bob, I know you're
a big jazz fan. And also just congratulations to all of our recent high
school grads. Good luck in all your future endeavors and don't forget
Iowa City.
Bailey: Iowa Arts Festival this weekend, one of the beginning summer festivals in
downtown Iowa City. I encourage everybody to attend, and whoever is in
charge of the weather out there, it would be nice if we would have a rain-
free weekend for that.
Elliott: That's the city manager. (laughter)
Lehman: Two things: I'd like to reiterate congratulations to the graduaies. I was
privileged to go to one of the graduations, and I'm sure that most of us
don't really stop to think about this, but the Iowa City public schools, and
I'm sure Regina is in the same category, 2 of the top 10, I believe, high
schools in the United States, and we look at about 800 kids graduating.
We realize that is the top probably looth of 1 % of all the kids in the
country, right here in Iowa City, you know, you've got to be awfully
proud of the school system, and awfully proud of the job that that school
board does, and the teachers, the whole team....
Champion: Don't forget the parents.
Lehman: Everything, but this is so incredible and we take it for granted. I was so
impressed with those kids. The other item is probably of equal
importance, Council members have depended on the City Clerk for years
to take care of us, and some of us affectionately referred to her as Mother
Marian, or Maid Marian. As of 10 days ago she is Grandma Marian, and 1
can tell you, Marian, that's a lot more fun than just being Mother Marian,
so congratulations. First grandchild. A little girl named...
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Karr: Lydia Katherine.
O'Donnell: Move to adjourn.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Lehman: Motion and a second to adjourn. All in favor? Meeting is adjourned.
Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City
Council meeting of June 1, 2004.
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