HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-09-09 TranscriptionSeptember 9, 1996 Council Work Session9:50 PM
Council: Nov, Baker, Kubby, Lehman, Norton, Thomberry, Vanderhoe£
Staff: Arkins, Helling, Mitchell, Karr, Franklin.
Tapes: 96-100, all; 96-102, Side 1.
Economic Development Opportunity List and Financial 96-100 SI
Franklin/Economic Development Opportunity List and Financial Assistance Eligibility
Guidelines.
Nov/Do we really need to do that one tonight?...
Franklin/Yes because Derek and Bob Elliott are here.
Nov/Okay.
Franklin/(Set up) Shall we just start. The Industries/Technologies Opportunity List and
the Financial Assistance Eligibility Guidelines were put together.... after the
previous council adopted the economic development policies. One of the directives
in here was to look at those industries which we should target as a community in
terms of putting our efforts into either expending those industries or attracting
them to the city. That was one directire. The other was to put together some
criteria that could be used whenever anyone was coming before the city for
financial assistance. The question now is ..... what those things should be. What the
targeted industries should be, what the guidelines should be and that is what has
been presented to you by the committee which you, the council, lhe previous
council, commission to come together... for you to make a recommendation. Bob
Elliott gave you a report a month ago ....... We need something back from the
council. Are these acceptable to you? Do you have questions about them?...
Kubby/I have a couple of questions about the list ..... Some of these things seem like they
will be larger businesses ..... 1 guess I would like to see a greater variety.... In the
report there is a real emphasis on having diversity ...... tag... the more professional
higher wage job but also that diversity of blue color jobs .....
Franklin/There was a lot of discussion about light manufacturing ..... as to whether to have
it as a targeted industry. One ofthe reasons for leaving it in was to get some of
those blue color jobs.... i~nprinting and publishing... computer software
development or actual production....electronics.... pharmaceuticals.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 2
Thomberry/Light manufacturing covers a real broad spectrum.
Kubby/I think it is an important thing to outline ....
Bob Elliott/I think on the things that I felt is important... examples are given in the list are
not meant to be exclusive.... they are used as examples. Please look at things such
as the narrative which says employment opportunities for the entire labor force .....
We agree that there is a need for both ..... We did emphasize the fact of
diversity ...... We understand there are problems and difficult situations ..... minority
originated businesses and small businesses... should be exceptions made for those.
They may not be held to the same standards that perhaps larger firms might be held
tO.
Kubby/... exceptions may be made in guidelines... for smaller or disadvantaged business
owners ....
Elliott/There was a great deal of discussion. But as you stm attempting to zero in, there
are so many firings that can change. That to get too specific on too many things
means that you become exclusive .....We have standards to uphold and needs that
are special to Iowa City.
Nov/...felt that the generic list of industry and technology might be better off with a few
examples under some of these for people who really don't understand what is
biocatalysis .....might get some help from an ICAD subcommittee or something
like that.
Vanderhoeff I would be concerned... possibility that people will see that this is an all
inclusive and start excluding anything that isn't on the list. We have to be careful...
Norton/Who is reading this.... They will be able to fill in the blanks.
Kubby/There is the public, too .....There are people who are interested in this stuff...
Nov/
Schoon/The committee at one point had definitions for each of these and there was great
discussion about what was being excluded ..... A lot of the discussion focused more
on excluding.... concern regarding doing that. The committee then eliminated the
definitions as part of this document.
Nov/This comment... was for example and give an example of a current indust~.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 3
Schoon/These categories are very broad in terms of the possibilities .....
Thomberry/I thought this list was just examples .....
Franklin/This also is going to be used primarily by yourselves, the city council, the staff,
ICAD, the Chamber, people who are involved in economic development .....The
primary users are going to be those people it is directed at. It is to guide our
assertive efforts in the area of economic development.
Nov/It is an addendum to this document. It is not in and ofitsel£
Vanderhoeff There is one thing... when you read the word industry and technology ....
when I thi~hk of economic development I can think of startup companies that may
be starting up with 15-20 employees or less .....I am not real sure if this is spelled
OUt .....
Franklin/In both the introductory paragraphs for the opportunity list... second paragraph
of the guidelines, there is specific reference made to the startup firms because this
was a concern of the committee.... recognized that a lot ofsuccessful businesses
are in the small businesses and that we ought to be fostering startup businesses and
there was much discussion of incubator type of arrangement.
Vanderhoef/... be sure that this doesn't read to someone that we are not going to start
looking at you for any development...
Franklin/Startup businesses are mentioned specifically in both of those introductory
paragraphs to give that guidance.
Lehman/To me, the real strength of this document is its flexibility .....
Kubby/
Norton/If it gets too flexible you don't have any guidance. I was curious about under
quality of jobs ......under provision of ftinge benefits, did you explicitly leave out
childcare? .....
Kubby/I asked that question when we met before... response... wasn't meant to be
exclusive.
Norton/Then it ought to be e.g. then?
Nov/
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page4
Franklin/
Norton/E.g. vacation, sick leave, retirement plan. Then you do not exclude anything.
Franklin/All right .....Okay.
Kubby/Are we talking about guidelines now?
Norton/l moved to that.
Kubby/... I am looking at page 4 under general requirements, first paragraph... under
rationale, in general, about the 90%. That it is okay to have 10% with below
poverty level?
Franklin/No. The focus there was not on that 10% but on the 90%. It was a concern that
we assure that just the hourly wages that are referenced ..... that one could not then
take a business and because you are using an average, have a business that was
highly weighted on the low end of the wage scale but there were enough very high
paying jobs that the average came out okay for the industry ...... to insure that the
wages that were paid were above that federal poverty wage rate.
Kubby/I want to be sure that the sentence actually says that ..... That is what the
committee wants to convey to us what the guidelines should be ..... That every
applicant should provide average hourly wages for all existing jobs which meet or
exceed the average county wage rate by industry. 90% ofthe project positions
should have a wage greater than the federal poverty wage rate however that be .....
If an industry wage is lower than the poverty level, 30% of median income, that's
okay... Intent of the committee was to say that $7.13 an hour was the minimum.
That is the guideline ..... make that intent more clear.
Elliott/One of the concerns we had when we discussed this.... is trying to get so
specific .....
Kubby/
Elliott/I am trying to point out that it is a very difficult thing to nail down wages when
you have differing wages, different times, different number of people.
Kubby/Because there is this total flexibility, council can disregard these guidelines due to
circumstances, what I am trying to get at is what you are trying to convey to us .....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 5
Is the committee's intent that *.he guideline you want... that the minimum wage will
be $7.137
Thronberry/More or less.
Franklin/Or more.
Elliott/I have problems with that because I wish you would focus more on you want
businesses that provide good jobs, livable wages, good practices and are
environmental sound, are good citizens.
Kubby/Do we want companies that we give public subsidies to at least get people to the
poverty level? ..... Whatever that poverty level is at the moment. That is the value
that I am trying to get at... that you want jobs that 90% of them have to be at the
pore .rp] level.
Thomberry/
Kubby/
Thomberry/He is saying look at the big picture.
Kubby/The guidelines are 90%... I am asking what the intent of the committee is7 To
make sure that 90% of the people employed in any business receiving public
subsidy is at least at the poverty level or is it acceptable to go below that. Because
they are flexible, you can look at seasonal work. They have given you that out .....I
am asking about the generalized goal here .....
Thomberry/
Vanderhoe17 The way it is written it gives us that flexibility. I get it just fine ....
Kubby/Do you get that the minimum wage is $6.23 or $7.13? That makes a big difference
to somebody.
Thomberry/...what about seasonal... Do they have to stay at that level all of the time?
Kubby/For the generalized value here.
Schoon/The generalized idea was that there should be a minimum wage paid. Not the
minimum wage but there should be a floor of some sort. There was a lot of
discussion from the committee about that.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
p~e6
Kubby/ ....the floor was the poverty rate or the lowest figure on the chart of the wage rate
by sector?
Schoon/The retail sector is $6.23 an hour.... that for retail to receive direct financial
assistance, 90% of their jobs should pay 30% of the median family income, the
poverty wage.
Kubby/And really or higher would be the more clear message .....
Norton/You could say all of the positions ....
Franklin/I think the outcome is going to be the same, Karen. There has been- This was the
most difficult to get through with the committee. And these two sentences
represent the compromise that we came to going through those discussions. And
then with the flexibility that we have under special circumstances to make some
variations in that.... leaves it to you all and your successors to make those
decisions ....
Thomberry/It would still be up to council to give them assistance or not at that point .....
Franklin/
Kubby/As long as people feel that that is clear. That is important to me to be able to say
our desire is that 90% of the people receiving jobs from companies who are
subsidized are going to be at the poverty level. I think we should be willing to fight
for that.
Franklin/When you look at that different categories, retail is the only one that falls below
that in terms of the county average wage rate .....It is very rare that we give
assistance to retail operations.
Kubby/...develop a way to facilitate smaller businesses starting that is really where your
long term stable long term employment comes from ....
Franklin/In talking about those startups, that is where a lot ofthe wage discussion came
ill, tOO .....
Kubby/It may mean that we value them so much that we give them a different and bigger
kind of subsidy.
Franklin/... that is right.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 7
Norton/Regarding the general requirements... applicant must demonstrate the following,
it lists four conditions. How do ..... you know that the project would not occur
without... except when somebody says that?
Schoon/That is always a hard one to make the call. The intent is that public funds should
be your last resort .....
Kubby/Could be read as we are only going to take people who are too big of a risk for
the private sector .....
Franklin/This is a question we ask for CDBG money... PIN grants.... Would this project
happen without it and it makes the applicant stop and think about it... Have they
pursued other funding mechanisms? .....
Kubby/Another question about the wage rate ..... Someone asked me ift thought that by
going with the current average industry wage, does that perpetuate gender bias in
pay7 ....
Thomberry/There was an incident that happened .....
Schoon/1 hadn't thought of that issue, Karen, in terms of the wage issue .....
Kubyy/It is an interesting question that I ask people to think about.
Nov/I have one minor comment. I would like to chance a word on the Financial
Assistance Eligibility Guidelines. The first one says higher points will be awarded
for. And the second item is a quicker payback period. Can we say a shorter
payback period? I am on page 2.
Council/(All talking).
Nov/I am on the Financial Assistance Eligibility Guidelines. It says higher points will be
awarded for a quicker payback period and I would prefer to say a shorter payback
period.
Vanderhoef/On the Industries/Technologies, the last two sentences, I do read them and
all at once the city will not proactively pursue and then in the next sentence its the
focus the city's proactive activities. And I am a little confused.
Schoon/The second to the last sentence follows the second sentence of the paragraph.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 8
Vanderhoef/... Which are we talking about. l can't make sense of it ....
Franklin/You have to put it with the sentence before. Those businesses allowed under the
present Zoning Ordinance will be welcomed to the community and will be offered
assistance whenever possible. However, the city will not proactively pursue the
development, expansion or attraction of these industries. We will focus on those
industries that are on the opportunity list which may be included in those zoning
categories. The whole idea was we are not saying because an industry is not on
this list, that you can't come to Iowa City. It is just a matter of where our efforts-
If that is confusing, we should change it.
Vanderhoef/The sentence where one says proactive and the other one says-
Norton/It is an antecedent problem.
Kubby/
Norton/We are welcoming them all but we are focusing on these.
Nov/We could take proactively out of the third sentence. The city will not pursue the
development or expansion of these industries. We will proactively pursue the other
list ofindustrles. We don't need to say proactive twice.
Kubby/...ask staff to fix it.
Franklin/Okay, will do.
Vanderhoef/I agree with your thought. It is just how it is stated.
Kubby/Was there any discussion about staff might answer some of these questions ....
labor safety acts or environmental standards or whatever ..... Was that talked
about ..... How do we implement? ....
Franklin / It is something that we thought about. There will have to be some mechanism
whereby we can access that information.
Kubby/I don't know if the Labor Center has a connection or not .....
Nov/What would you do with that?
Kubby/That is where you would find out the records for compliance with environmental
laws or labor laws ...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 9
Norton/Check the background of a particular outfit .....
Kubby/
Franklin/
Kubby/I watched the last formal meeting. There is public discussion tomorrow night. Will
this appear on our agenda in two weeks as a resolution as an addendum to the blue
book7
Franklin/That I entirely up to you .....probably would be appropriate to go ahead xvith
some kind of resolution.
Nov/It is not absolutely necessary. We can just use this as a guideline. We direct staffto
do this ..... It is not absolutely necessary.
Kubby/I guess I am just thinking that with the blue book... public input and accountability
as part of the values behind the strategies. Having a vote just helps us be more
accountable ....
Norton/...We ought to adopt this addendum by resolution, I would think.
Schoon/Everything we do in this we won't be adopting by resolution .....
Kubby/
Franklin/
Nov/What does everybody think? Do we want a resolution next time?
Norton/Does it hurt to have a resolution?
Nov/No ..... These are not as firm as bylaws. They are just guidelines... resolution is not
absolutely necessary.
Franklin/Could I just summarize. We have got three changes. One is to revise that
introductory paragraph on the opportunity list to address Dee's issue,, change
quicker to shorter in the guidelines on the pay back period and include e.g. under
provision of fringe benefits. All fight, you have made your mark. We will do it.
Nov/Thank you for the good work ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996 Council Work Session
Review Zoning Matters 96-100 Sl
page I0
A. Amending the Zoning Chapter by ranending the Conditional Zoning Agreement for
Westport Plaza to eliminate the requirement for a "cohesive, integrated
development," and to remove the requirement for the facades of the buildings to
provide "horizontal continuity," for property located in the CC-2, Community
Commercial zone at 855 Highway I West.
Franklin/The first item is Staples. The fellow who was here from Shire Hattery, I told him
he could leave ..... we expect to get the signed CZA Fed Ex's to us by tomorrow ....
Council/(All talking).
Franklin/If we have a CZA tomorrow night, you can then close the p.h. and you can vote
on it .....
Council/(All talking).
Norton/How can you keep a CZA from being subjected to the indignities of a restrictive
covenant in principle7 .....
Franklin/Maybe we can put some clause in these that will say that .....
Norton/I think it is really crucial.
Franklin/We will have to discuss it with the City Attorney's Office.
Thomberry/
Vanderhoef/
B. Public heating on an ordinance vacating the portion of St. Mattbias' Street (formerly
known as St. Mattbias' Alley), right-of-way located north of Dodge St. And St.
John's Alley, located between St. Clement's Street and St. Matthias' St. (VAC94-
0004)
Franklin/P.h. on an ordinance .....St. Mattbias... and St. John's Alley.... Robert's
Hometown Dairy area.
Kubby/Will we be getting an assessment?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 11
Franklin/...yes you will.... Doing an appraisal of the two alleys plus the seven of r.o.w.
along Dodge Street to see what the swap possibilities are ..... key to the
conveyance of the alleys to Robert's Dairy. What we intend to do ..... second
consideration... last reading we want to hold until we have the disposition tied
down.... That is agreeing on a number of things that are related to this whole
property.
Norton/Including the locking out of those four Iols, for example ....
Franklin/Right... They are content. Happy is a hard one.
Norton/
C. Consider an ordinance vacating a portion of Lee Street, an undeveloped right-of-way
located between River Street and Otto Street.
(VAC96-0001) (First consideration)
Franklin/First consideration on the vacation of Lee Street. There are easements over the
entire because of the utilities.
D. Consider an ordinance amending Title 14, Chapter 6, entitled "Zoning," Article H,
entitled "Industrial Zones," Section 1, entitled "General Industrial Zone (I-l)" to
add a special exception to allow limited retail sales in the I-1 zone. (First
consideration)
Franklin/First consideration on the amendment to the Industrial to allow limited retail
sales in the I-1 Zone.
Kubby/Anyone have any problems with that?
Baker/I agree with Tom, if we weren't dealing with a particular business with a particular
problem, I don't think we would be making this amend~nent.
Norton/As a general issue you mean.
Kubby/As the economy changes, sometimes I think we need to change with it and that
these firms that manufacture things and put things togetber, part of the way that
makes or breaks their way to stay in business sometimes is small amounts of retail
and I want to evolve with the situation. And that is why I feel okay about this.
Baker/
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 12
Nov/.. I think this is something that has been going on for years.
Norton/,.. At least it is under special exception so it is under some control.
Franklin/Yes and it is just 1,000 square feet .....
Baker/
Thornberry/
E. Consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 14, Chapter 6, entitled "Zoning,"
Article K, entitled "Environmental Regulations," Section 1, entitled "Sensitive
Areas Ordinance." (Pass and adopt)
Franklin/Pass and adopt on the amendments to the Sensitive Areas Ordinance.
F. Consider an ordinance amending the Zoning Chapter by designating 36 properties as
Iowa City historic landmarks. (Pass and adopt)
Franklin/Pass and adopt on the designation of Historic Landmarks.
G. Consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 14, Chapter 6, "Zoning," Article J,
"Overlay Zones," by creating a new overlay zoning district entitled "Design
Review Overlay Zone." (Pass and adopt)
Franklin/Pass and adopt on Design Review. Design Review you have a proposed
amendments which needs to be offered from the floor tomorrow night because
what you have voted on so far does not include that and that is the extraordinary
majority vote to deny a plan that Dee Vanderhoef put forward and you have in
your packets a memo from the DR Committee .....
Kubby/Save discussion for tomorrow.
Nov/I think we understand what they said.
Franklin/Okay.
H. Consider a resolution approving a final plat of Galway Hills, Part Three, a 21.29 acre,
53-1ot residential subdivision located south of Galway Drive and east of Highway
218, Iowa City, Iowa. (SUB96-0014)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 13
Franklin/The last item is the resolution for Galway Hills final plat that appears to be finally
ready.
Kubby/What was missing last time.
Franklin/..I can't answer it. Linda would know. There was some issue. Do you know,
Dennis? My brain just isn't working. It was some easement or something.
Nov/...technicalities that should have been taken care of earlier.
Franklin/I am done.
Nov/Thank you.
Franklin/You are welcome.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996 Council Work Session page 14
Sidewalk Cafes 96-100 SI
Nov/Do we have an additional review we want for sidewalk cafes? There is a memo in
the info packet. Marian said that we asked staff to look at the current regulations
and specific areas mentioned were different types and categories and fences .....
Norton/Responsibility for cleaning up spills.
Kubby/That is kind of in there.
Norton/I stopped and made inquiry today after stepping over-
Nov/It is in there. We talked about the fact that a particular outdoor service area had this
restriction had this restriction, any other outdoor service area had that restriction.
Karr/That ~vill be taken care of in the types and categories-
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-102 SIDE 1
Nov/...we had kind of a review clause in the ordinance ....
Kubby/ .....it can be administratively approved.
Nov/No, there was a potential discussion of should we or should not have outdoor
service areas. Have they worked happily? Have they caused problems?
Karr/Sidewalk cafes, we had that discussion and put a sunset clause on it which will
expire next year but not outdoor service areas.
Nov/Excuse me. I was thinking of the cafes.
Karr/What we are doing is taking a look at both of those at the same time in light of the
sidewalk cafe sunset clause which is a year from now. So hopefully we will come
in the winter months with a recommendation to you that will be in place by spring
and we will pick up both issues.
Kubby/I thought that we were going to basically try to have two kinds of outdoor service
areas. One that is on public property and one that is on private property.
Karr/That will be the types and classifications.
Thomberry/I thought it was just like zones.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996 Council Work Session page 15
Kubby/The rules might be different if you are using public property.
Norton/But you are looking at that whole question of fairness .....
Karr/Yes. We will always have, I believe, two because of the private public type of
relationship. ~-here is a need to enter into an agreement to lease out sidewalks
rather than a person owning the property and using the space. I think there is
always going to be a need for a minimum of two ....
Thomberry/
Karr/We are talking about private property and it can be beer gardens, restaurants that
serve alcoholic beverages.
Thomberry/
Karr/We are going to take a look at fencing requirements, too. And that is a screening
issue couple with a lot of safety issues.
Thomberry/Yeah.
Kubby/
Thomberry/And you are going to be working on that over the winter7
Karr/My goal is if we could have it to you by the end of the year so that you could be
working at it in early winter because we get a lot of requests in February and
March so people can start in April.
Norton/We trust that if you come across some issue that we haven't identified here, that
you will-
Karr/I will bring it to your attention ....
Norton/...I haven't thought of everything.
Karr/We will do that and get back to you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996 Council Work Session
Landfill Alternative Grant 96-100 S2
page 16
Nov/The next item is Landfill Alternative Grant.
Atkins/Yes or no?
Kubby/Where is the money coming from? Is it an additional thing?
Arkins/No, it is from our current reserves. We figure that the financial position of the
landfill is strong. It is a small enough amount of money. We would like to
encourage folks to begin thinking about the types of projects that can reducing
volume going into the landfill .....We thought it would be something kind of fun to
do.
Norton/Only the public entities?
Arkins/That is the intent right now .....I suspect we may find some neighborhood projects
that might be worthwhile.
Kubby/Does this mean we are making a profit at the landfill?
Arkins/No.... $3 million a year operation and this is 1/10 of 1% ..... Could you reduce
landfill expenses by $30,000 a year and not do this program? The answer is yes
70,000 tons a year.... calculate out to .....
Norton/Trying to think who is eligible?
Arkins/Cities... the University.... This is just an idea.... Intent is I would like to begin
more.. other governments ....
Kubby/
Atkins/I would love to see Johnson County .....
Kubby/...if they get on board with some of these issues.
Norton/
Atkins/I don't think it is original.... this is brand new. Our cash position is sound ......
Norton/Can you use existing committee...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
p~e17
At}fins/We haven't decided that .....you may only have one project a year... We haven't
decided how to promote it.
Nov/I really think we ought to go for the household hazardous thing first.
At}fins/We are not giving that up.
Nov/...ought to show some action.
At}fins/Household hazardous waste is still being planned for the spring.... that is go.
Nov/...I was thinking of facility.
At}fins/Our discussion with Blue Stem... they are thinking more regionally... they are
doing some study work. We haven't been able to economically justify the transfer
facility ..... If this is okay with you, we will put something together for you. It is
going to take a little time. Okay, good, thanks. That is all.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996 Council Work Session page 18
Council Agenda/Time 96-100 S2
1. Baker/ (Agenda #3c(1)-Pet Animal Control).... interested in taking it out and not
setting the p.h. on that thing fight now. Put it back to an informal session to talk
about it before ......
Nov/Would you willing to discuss it at the next session... prior to the p.h.
Vanderhoef/Doesn't give people time to react.
Baker/I have a problem with the proposal ....
Vanderhoef/So do I.
Baker/Let's take it off the p.h. agenda .....
Thomberry/
Vanderhoef/So we won't set it.
Baker/
Arkins/If you really really have strong opinions about it, I think you ought to get those
down... get it back to Animal Advisory Committee ..... This is their work.... If you
have strong reservations... postpone setting the heating, bring it back... list of
major concerns, send it back to the committee... see what they have to say .....
Baker/Informal from two weeks ....
Thornberry/
Atkins/
Vanderhoef/So let's talk about it in two weeks.
Atkins/We can inform the folks that you are going to postpone the hearing, you want to
have an informal discussion and you may be sending it back to them.
Kubby/They might want to be here for the informal discussion .....
Mitchell/..still going to have an informal discussion.... people... pigeon controversy.... has
made plane reservations to be here on the 24th. I will call him ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page19
Atkins/ .....If he comes to the microphone ....
Nov/We could do this at public discussion.
Thornberry/Also let him know...we have quite a problem with this .....
Mitchell/He is a visiting professor somewhere in North Carolina .....
Thomberry/
Kubby/Severe health problems with his wife due to pigeons. It is real important to him.
Thomberry/
Kubby/He is not the one with the pigeons. Is there anyone who has a problem with the
pigeon part of it9.
Nov/I have no problem with it. The idea that you are allowed to have four pigeons and
you are not allowed to have five may not make a difference to somebody with
severe allergies. I don't know.
Norton/We are not ready to discuss it tonight. Let us go on.
Kubby/
Baker/Where is Linda?
Thomberry/She asked if she could go?
Nov/...She didn't leave us without an attorney.
2. Kubby/ .... Video. Last year... talked about doing things in the parking ramps... talked
about doing some murals and I had talked with Hanni, the CEC art teacher ..... He
has a friend who is in from San Francisco who is a professional muralist who is
very excited... community based murals. I wanted to show you in 30 seconds some
of his work ..... This is in San Francisco.. done with two professional muralisis and
bunch of kids... Got this very professional, very nice .... They put this kind of
vanfish on it that it should last 20 years .....He was also very excited... Dubuque
Street ramp that is facing the library .....interim piece of public art .....This one
was actually commissioned by a utility company to show all the different
workers .... These are in San Francisco... murals ..... advertising .... I have his
resume.... level of professionalism... talking to him about possibility.... inside...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 20
outside... panels.... Here are some other colored pictures ..... Quality of work
seemed really high to me.... If anyone wants copies of letter.... proposals...
Mayor's Youth ..... help with the murals...
Norton/Do we have anybody locally?
Kubby/There are two people ..... local connection ..... Hanni.... Carmen Chile ..... She did
one other thing... are some people.... His name is Joshua.... this guy really likes
working with community based projects....and other professional artists.... I bring
this to you as a possibility... ask him to explore some specific proposals .....
interested in getting kids involved.
Nov/I think putting some of these brightly colored things inside the ramps is what we
should do.
Council/(All talking).
Kubby/So what are people interested in? .....
Norton/...We don't have any money in the arts .....
Kubby! Burger King could sponsor this panel.... other businesses ..... He is interested in
soliciting from businesses... kids involved... fundraising skills... Get you some
copies ofthe letter he wrote me... his resume. Is it worth the paper?
Council/(Yes).
Nov/We have set aside some money for painting in the ramps .....
Kubby/Can I report to him that you are interested in seeing the packet that he gave me...?
Thanks for hearing this...
3. Kubby/One more think .... Is anyone interested in rethinking having a monthly pass for
SEATS?.... I have heard from other people.
Lehman/I don't and the reason... a monthly bus pass... you could ride that bus all day,
everyday ..... SEATS pass requires a special trip.... there is a significant difference
between a SEATS pass and a bus pass because of the cost of providing service ....
Baker/1 would like to see how all of these changes are going to shit~ out ....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 21
4. Norton/I want to be assured.... concerned... number of calls about SEATS eligibility
changes ..... I just hope those are now being appropriately resolved.
Nov/Jean Mann called me saying that the forms people are asked to fill out are not easy
to understand. So Jean Mann, Linda Severson and I are working on a revisions to
make it as simply as possible .....
Kubby/And it includes developmental disabilities as well.
Nov/I hope it does.... It is currently sitting in document services in first draft. Linda
Severson is on the Paratransit Committee ..... Jeff Davidson, Ron Logsden, Larry.
It is not a citizens committee... staff committee will review what we have
proposed... It is in process.
Kubby/... didn't we talk about having a citizens committee about SEATS to help with
some of the same kinds ofthings.
Arkins/...never went anywhere.
Kubby/Can we do it for our policies? ... We could do it for Iowa City, couldn't we?
Atkins/...yeah, certainly could.
Norton/
Atkins/
Kubby/Seems like Ron is the point person on all of these issues. I would like to see us...
guide you... educate... have citizens involved with the staff..... I would like a
transportation committee but that got shot down .....
Vanderhoef/I would like to wait until we get through this first go around .....
5. Norton/Did anyone else hear from Julie Furhmeister.... I got two letters from her about
traffic on Westside Drive.
Atkinff I got two letters from her today.
Norton/I should have circulated earlier .....person was killed the day after she wrote a
letter.
Arkins/It wasn't a person. I think it was a dog .....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 22
Norton/She said my best friend ....
Arkins/I have not read the letters in detail. We are preparing an answer for her.
Norton/I got copies here... hand them out now... two letters, September 3 &
September 6 ....
Atkinat We will prepare a response.
Norton/I will call her tomorrow.... information in September 3 .....
6. Norton/I have another ... painful call about RR crossing on South Clinton and
Lafayette... he is really bend out of shape... We got to do something about
Lafayette.
Arkins/Problem is.... can't go in a do it because they have trains going through there all of
the time.... dilemma ..... We are after them ....
Kubby/Is there another option for recourse?
Arkins/1 am looking at Dennis... It really is a bad intersection... If you get a chance...
bumper buster... bike would fly off of it ....
Norton/Clinton and Lafayette.
Arkins/Let us see if there are other options for us .....It is a legitimate complaint.
Norton/
Arkins/Let's see if we can come up with some other options for you.
Norton/
7. Thomberry/Deer, that is going to come up again this fall ....
Nov/Everybody got a copy .....
Thornberry/Are we going to do anything or nothing about the deer? Is it illegal to shoot a
bow and arrow in the city limits?
Arkins/Yes.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 23
Norton/
Thomberry/... Should we still do just nothing.
Nov/I am still getting phone calls.
Lehman/ ....Phone call... harvest a bunch of those ....
Thomberry/
Kubby/Sell or give away the hides for people who would use them .....
Thomberry/You can do a lot of things with wild meat .....
Council/(All talking).
Thomberry/Is there something we can or should do?
Nov/I tried to call Lisa Goodman .....
Kubby/
Thomben-y/So we have got to talk about this deer thing ....
8. Thomberry/I got this JCCOG memo.... Am I correct in assuming that the Iowa City
council has gone with the west7
Lehman/Not until a plan is presented to us .....
Nov/! was still saying C.
Norton/I finally moved west.
Nov/I think there were four people who moved west.
Thomberry/I thought C might be pretty good until I saw all the problems with C.
Norton/Now we are four for west. We have to forrealize that somehow.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996 Council Work Session
Lehman/When it is presented to us by Jeff
Kubby/We need to make sure that he knows he needs to do that.
Lehman/He knows.
Kubby/... I apologize for not arranging .....
9. Vanderhoeft I want someone to fill in for me in October for Convention Bureau
.... 10/15 ......
Norton/What is date of next JCCOG meeting7
Thomberry/9th.
Kubby/Of October.
Thomberry/4:00.
Norton/I need someone to sub for me for that one.
Thomberry/I am already there.
Norton/I will be gone.
Nov/What date for CVB?
Vanderhoeff 15th .....
Nov/1 can do that. I can't do JCCOG. You are going to have to get Larry...
10. Norton/Larry, will you do JCCOG on the 9th?
Baker/Yeah, I will go .....
Council/(All talking).
11. Vanderhoef/It was brought to us... anyone interested in talking about CB-10 high
density multi family residential parking?
Norton/Didn't we give that to stall? .....
page 24
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 25
Baker/
Arkins/You incorporated that into d.t .......
Karr/...Work session notes that in response to Franklin, council directed staff to
incorporate work relating to CB-10 high density multi family residential and
parking issues into the d.t. discussion.
Nov/That is what I thought.
Vanderhoef/
12. Vanderhoef/The memo about the parking meters on the 300 block of Iowa Avenue. I
know that we had some discussion... making them five hour... note in packet... five
hour meters.. that they can move over there. I wasn't sure that we had truly
approved a five hour length of time on that parking meter ..... I personally
remembered saying some things about two or a maximum of three hours ....1
didn't know ifwe had ever agreed on ....
Nov/I had remembered two hours.
Vanderhoef/... I keep hearing staff bring back five hours.
Thomberry/
Kubby/We can certainly ask staff to go back to the record.
Vanderhoef/I would like it clarified .....
Council/
Norton/... look at the record of what we talked about before.
Arkins/I will check the database.
Nov/The transcript.
Vanderhoeff
13. Vanderhoef/In all of what bas come up with the library that I recognize that there
were probably some contracts involved with an architectural firm and with a
management company and I don't know where those contracts are or how they are
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 26
continuing. It seems to me that we closed the possibilities on a previous project
and I would like to be real clear and legally clean with any action that those two
companies might be- Whether they have expectations of continuing on as we start
in on conversations. I think those should be checked up.
Atkins/I will find out for you. I will check with Susan for you. You understand they write
their contracts independent of. So 1 will check it for you.
Vanderhoef/
Arkins/The status of those contracts, okay.
Kubby/Are we to keep the 1 7th on our calendar?
Atkins/We are about to tell you that.
Nov/We are getting to that.
14. Vanderhoef/And I just wanted to know... watching Johnson County Board of
Supervisors... Detweiler rezoning request, whether that has ever come through or
not. We sent our opinion and I don't know what has happened with that. I am
curious.
Nov/Youwould have to checkwith the P/Z.
Norton/
Vanderhoeff I don't know what action they took.
Nov/Kafin or ....Miklo .....
15. Nov/(agenda # 13-Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program Funds) We have a
resolution.... There is nothing in the resolution that mentions air.... So I would like
to add the fact that this traffic congestion has air pollution caused by the stalled
traffic ..... Give this back to the legal department and Dennis is going to change it
tomorrow so that we have a logical resolution. We will get a new one. 1 want
everybody to know that if we are talking about improvement of our air, we had
better say something about improvement of air ....
16. Karr/Susan did do polling of library Board and the 17th will not work for four key
people on the library board. So it is staffs recommendation.... to keep the 17th
and use it for CIP .....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996
Council Work Session
page 27
Arkins/Tell me to]fight and I will get the CIP packaged .....
Norton/4:00 to 8:00?
Karr/
Nov/Do we ant to start a little later.
Arkins/I want like three hours .....I think you could come a little later ....
Karr/4:00 to 8:00.
Arkins/Okay.... We will bring you a little snack. Tuesday, 17th, 4:00 to 8:00.
Karr/Library.... joint meeting... October 30 .....
Council/
Nov/If we need something .....
Thomberry/What time on 30th?
Karr/...4:00 to 8:00.
Council/
Nov/We are keeping the 17th. The blank days are 9/30, 10/1, 10/2. Do we want one of
those? ..... Do we want to save one of those days and use it to discuss d.t. or any
other issue?
Norton/September 30 .....
Baker/I would like to see it on every meeting until we get rolling .....
Norton/...talking about a committee... selected...
Baker/Going to have a committee .....general goals.... Dee and 1.... putting together a
memo .....
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 96-102 SIDE I
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996
September 9, 1996 Council Work Session page 28
Nov/
Norton/30th?
Nov/Does everybody like September 30? Monday.... evening... 7:00, Monday evening
kind of thing .....
Kubby/All right, so we are keeping the 30th ....
Nov/Let's keep it at 7:00 .......Problem with 23rd is that it would be our 3rd day in a
row.
Thomberry/
Council/(Discuss meeting schedule).
Nov/ ....9/30 and 10/2.... crossing off Tuesday ....
Karr/We save 9/30, 10/2 and 10/30.
Kubby/First two are both at 7:00 PM
Adjourned: 11:30 PM
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 9, 1996
WS090996