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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-08-31 Transcription #2a Page 1 ITEM 2 PROCLAMATION a. Throwback Game Day - September 4, 2004 Lehman: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is University of Iowa Athletic Director, Bob Bowlsby. (applause) Bowlsby: Mayor Lehman, members ofthe Council, distinguished members of the City staff, thank you very much for this. I would be remiss ifI didn't recognize the efforts of Josh Schamberger and Rick Clatt, on my staff, for their efforts in the Herky on Parade activities that have been going on over the summer. There are also an awful lot of people that have their hands on the oars, in terms of the Kinnick Stadium project. It is a "Herculean" undertaking, without question. One that has required the cooperation of many in City government, and Johnson County government, and Coralville government. The addition of the train is something that's kept us very busy as well, and I want to thank all of you for your cooperation, and thank others in the City of Iowa City, as well as the Convention and Visitors Bureau for all the support ofthe initiatives we had this summer. People have asked me how things are going, and I tell them we have mostly problems of prosperity. Weare very grateful for that, and I will share this proclamation with great pride with our staff, and with our many Hawkeye fans in this area, and across the state and the nation. (applause) Lehman: It's probably appropriate to take hats off to the Hawkeyes. Elliott: Mr. Mayor, I suspect I'm the only one in this room who attended both Monmouth College and the University ofIowa. However, I was not there in 1929. (laughter) Lehman: Just for the Council information, and for the public, there are fifteen more Herkys that will be unveiled Friday for the Herky on Parade business. There was such a demand that there have been fifteen more. They'll be at the University ofIowa Men's baseball pavilion. The first Herky.. . Officer Herky, will honor and pay tribute to law enforcement. It will also honor the late Captain Richard Lee. Captain Widmer will join Dick Lee's family for the official unveiling on Friday, and Bob, you guys got a world-class program. Weare so proud ofthe Hawks, and I think the whole state of Iowa is. First, first class. I did mention that to the Mayor of Ames yesterday. I reminded him that I had been waiting for his call, and he kind of indicated that had I not called him, I might not have visited with him. He indicated that because they were making a long trip, that perhaps I should give him some points, and I told him we made a long trip last year and he didn't give us any points. So, we do have a bet. If Iowa is successful, I should say when Iowa is successful, the Mayor will come to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004. #2a Page 2 Iowa City with a ham, for the Mayor ofIowa City, and if that doesn't happen, I will take them a turkey. (laughter) Anyway, really looking forward to Saturday's game. It should be a lot of fun. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004. #2b Page 3 ITEM 2 PROCLAMATION b. Suicide Prevention Week - September 5-11, 2004 Lehman: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Director of the Crisis Center, Ross Wilburn. (applause) Wilburn: I want to thank you, Mayor Lehman, and the Council for this proclamation, as part of national Suicide Prevention Week, and recognizing here at the local level that suicide is a public health problem, and it is important to do what we can to make the public aware of some of the indicators, signs, issues associated with suicide. At the Crisis Center, of the 7,000 or so contacts we had on the Crisis Intervention Line, we had some 180 suicide-related calls last year. We had around 128 related to stress, 322 associated with depression, and 152 related to some psychiatric situation. On a different note, when I talk to groups I usually talk about how suicide touches all of us. It's not too far in the past where suicide was real secretive, and more and more in the papers you see when someone does choose to end their life with suicide, you will see in the paper an acknowledgment that they choose to end their life, and so you see more and more of that. Recently, I was at one ofthe service clubs in town, and there were roughly 150, maybe 200 people at that luncheon, and as part of the conversation with them I asked how many of them in the audience knew someone, a business associate, relative, or friend, who had committed suicide, and maybe three-quarters of the hands went up in the air. So, it is an important public health issue that we look forward to working with the public on, doing the education. As part of that week, on September ih, the Crisis Center will be sponsoring a workshop at the Iowa City Public Library, and as part of that we will be educating people about recognizing the risk factors and what you can do to try and assist someone in a suicidal situation. On September 9th, the Suicide Survivor's Group, that we sponsor at the Crisis Center - these are relatives, friends of someone who has committed suicide. They meet monthly on the second Thursday at the Crisis Center, and representative Vicki Lensing from Lensing Funeral Cremation will be talking to them about grieving issues related to suicide, as opposed to a loss by natural cause or some other issues. So, again, thank you for recognizing and declaring Suicide Prevention Week. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31,2004. #6 Page 4 ITEM 6 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT AGREEMENT FOR PRESERVATION OF THE ENGLERT CIVIC THEATER a) Public Hearing Lehman: Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. We have a motion? b) Consider a Resolution Bailey: Move the resolution. Vanderhoef: Second. Lehman: Moved by Bailey; seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? IfI'm not mistaken, this is merely insuring the fact that this building will stay historic if the present operators and owners of the Englert were to be unable to pay it. Weare a mortgagor and we would guarantee that it would remain historic. Is that.. . Atkins: Not so sure that we guarantee it, Ernie. I thought... Dilkes: It places a restriction on the property that runs with it, that it will be maintained and reconstructed, etc., in accordance with the Secretary of Interior standards. Lehman: And the City guarantees that? Dilkes: And the, well the City doesn't guarantee that. What the City does is agree that if we take the property back, because we're the contract seller, that we'll be bound by that as well. Lehman: Kind of what I said. Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004. #9 Page 5 ITEM 9 AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO THE lOW A DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS FOR CERTIFICATION OF THE IOWA CITY CULTURAL DISTRICT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS a) Public Hearing Lehman: Public hearing is open. Schamberger: Good evening, Council; Josh Schamberger, the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitor Bureau. And I just want to make a couple comments and let you know how pleased and honored we are to be in a position to nominate the City ofIowa City, and the Iowa City Cultural District, as one of the first recognized cultural and entertainment districts in the State of Iowa. I really cannot think of one more square mile in the State ofIowa that is as rich in theatre, dining, shopping, arts, public parks and recreation - this one square mile that we are nominating to the Department of Cultural Affairs, as the Iowa City Cultural District. With your approval we are confident that on October 20t\ Iowa City will be one ofthe first designated districts in the State ofIowa, and lastly I just want to thank, send a special thanks out to Karin Franklin with the City of Iowa City, Steve Nasby and Regenia Bailey for all of their hard work in this application. It's been a great team effort, and really just a terrific, terrific partnership between the City ofIowa City, the University ofIowa, and the CVB, that's really created this opportunity. So, thank you. Lehman: Thank you, Josh. Public hearing is closed. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Vanderhoef: So moved. Wilburn: Second. Lehman: Motion and a second to accept correspondence. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Do we have a motion? b) Consider a Resolution Bailey: Move the resolution. O'Donnell: Second. Lehman: Moved by Bailey; seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004. #10 Page 6 ITEM 10 CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE TITLE 10, "PUBLIC WAYS", CHAPTER 3, "COMMERCIAL USE OF SIDEWALKS", SECTION 3b-1, TO PERMIT THE UNOBSTRUCTED 8 FOOT PEDESTRIAN WAY REQUIRED FOR SIDEWALK CAFES TO BE IN ZONE 3 OF CITY PLAZA (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Champion: Move first consideration. Vanderhoef: Second. Lehman: Moved by Champion; seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Bailey: As I understand it, this is just an addition of zone 3 in the ordinance, correct, Eleanor? Dilkes: It allows zone 3 to be used to establish the walkway, and since everybody walks in there.. . .. Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004. #11 Page 7 ITEM 11 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 04-192 AND AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE lOW A DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR AN INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AT THE INTER- SECTION OF GILBERT STREET AND PRENTISS STREET AND BOWERY STREET Champion: Move the resolution. Vanderhoef: Seconded. Lehman: Moved by Champion; seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Champion: My understanding is we can get more money because the cost is going to be more, is that what this is all about? Lehman: Grant funds request from $420,000 to $500,000. Vanderhoef: Well, this is a special grant that is different than our normal allocation, which is wonderful. Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004. #14 Page 8 ITEM 14 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION Elliott: I feel badly about the long and bitter debate we've had tonight, but that's okay. (laughter) My friend Ken Donnelly had a tour ofthe business district for historical purposes, and I wasn't able to get there, but he shared with the folks some infonnation from the Press Citizen from 1954, 50 years ago. Two of the items were the fact that the Council was going to be meeting with bartenders to consider a 21 and over law. Also, they were meeting with utility people to consider an extension of the franchise agreement. So the more things change, the more things stay the same. (laughter) I just wanted to recognize a few students, who are glutens for punishment, they came back again tonight. Lehman: Connie? Mike? O'Donnell: Nothing tonight. Lehman: Dee? Vanderhoef: I would just like to acknowledge the neighborhood-to-neighborhood program that has been put together jointly with the University, and welcoming the students back to Iowa City, and into the neighborhoods, and hoping to have them become part of that neighborhood and participate with the year-round residents. I think it's a really good program, and I'm delighted that it got off the ground this year, and I'll be waiting for reports on how it turned out. And then Ijust wanted to acknowledge staff. I mentioned it last night, but about a year ago, we had to do some serious changes in our budget for this year, and we planned an 18-month to bring it back into compliance, and we are now complete. And we can start planning for the 06 budget without having any of this hanging over us, and it's a real credit to our entire staff, who went out and worked hard to find ways to save money for the City. So, in the process, what we thought was going to be 16 loss of staff, there's only going to be 11 Yz, and we've done that all by attrition, so it's not been a hardship of anyone losing their job, which we are very grateful for. Thank you, staff. Wilburn: I believe Thursday of this week is the kickofffor the United Way fund- raising drive, and I want to wish the United Way good luck, and good luck to all those businesses that will be sponsoring United Way drives at their locations. Bailey: I just wanted to remind people that Friday is the deadline for voter registration to vote in the September 14th School Board election. So, if you are not registered, I would encourage you to do so. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004. #14 Page 9 Lehman: Couple three things - Heather Shank asked me to tell you folks, and the public, that the 21 st Annual Human Rights A wards breakfast will be on September 23rd, at the Union. You can nominate folks - great opportunity to nominate people who have been particularly for civil rights. For information, they can contact Heather Shank here at the Civic Center. Also, on September 26th, from 11-3, Music on Broadway, behind Pepperwood Mall. It's a performance sponsored by the Humans Right Commission, Human Rights Education Committee, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, South Gate Development, and Pepperwood Mall, and The Rack. Should be a lot of fun on September 26th. I really should mention, a gentleman by the name of Clarence Haverkamp lent me this vest, this bow tie, and this cap - it isn't something that I got out of my closet (laughter). Anyway, I certainly appreciate that. Our next work session we have scheduled discussion of budget priorities, and that's also the night that we had scheduled discussion of the 19 ordinance, and I would like to suggest that perhaps Council consider setting a special work session for the alcohol issue, and that issue alone, at perhaps a week or two after that work session. I think that's something that's going to require a certain amount oftime, and I would also like to see us schedule say a two hour work session, giving the public an hour to testify to the Council, and give Council an hour to discuss these sort of things, and I think there's going to be a significant amount of input in that, and I really do not believe that it would be fair to try and do that at the same work session as we undertake regular City business, particularly in view of the budget priorities that we would like to be discussing at the next work session. So, what's your pleasure? O'Donnell: I think that's a good idea. Elliott: I think we need the budge priorities first, is that correct? Lehman: Budget priorities will be at the next work session, and I'm requesting that we move the alcohol discussion to a special meeting, at which we will discuss only alcohol issues, and schedule it for two hours, with the first hour being input from the public. Is that.. . something. . .okay.. ..can we select a date? Karr: How about Monday or Tuesday, the 2ih or 28th? Tuesday the 28th, tentatively then? 6:30.... Lehman: And that will be posted as a meeting where the public will have an opportunity to speak for an hour. We'll schedule it from 6:30 to 8:30. We'll be receiving a report from City staff, including, Eleanor, your office, as well as the Police Department, and I think there may be a police officer or two who may want to be here for that meeting, because I think those folks are really involved in it. Anyway, let's figure on that. Labor This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004. #14 Page 10 Day weekend this weekend. Obviously, the first football game of the season, which is, I don't know ifit gets much bigger in Iowa City than when the football.. ..particularly when you have a team like we have this year. So, but it is Labor Day weekend, and I think it's a weekend that, like so many holidays, we view those days as an opportunity to get off work, go out with the family, and we seldom think about what the holidays are really all about, so I think we should all take just a moment and think about what Labor Day really does mean to this entire country. Steve? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004. #15 Page 11 ITEM 15 REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF c) City Manager Atkins: One item for you, it's a point of clarification. Last night you approved the 4th and A Street speed humps, and there was some discussion about sidewalks. We had a couple calls today from folks in that neighborhood. They were under the understanding that you approved the speed humps, but were not requiring the sidewalks. We were to pursue sidewalks to see if it was something they might be interested in, but they were not tied together. I just wanted to make sure. Lehman: No, correct. Eleanor? Marian? We have a motion to adjourn. O'Donnell: So moved. Elliott: Let's do it. Lehman: All in favor? Opposed? We are adjourned. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of August 31, 2004.