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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-14 Transcription #2 Page 1 ITEM 2 PROCLAMATION b. Constitution Week - September 17-23, 2004 Lehman: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept is Sabrina Alberhasky, representing the Pilgrim Chapter of D.A.R. (applause) Alberhasky: We would like to thank the Council and Mr. Mayor for proclaiming Constitution Week once again this year. Your ongoing support of Constitution Week and the awareness of the Constitution has been wonderful over the past many years. Pilgrim Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, would like to invite everyone to learn more about patriotism, the Constitution, and historic preservation. Weare online at www.dar.org and we also have a younger group called the Children of the American Revolution, of which she is a member. Thank you very much. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #2 Page 2 ITEM 2 PROCLAMATION c. National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month- September 2004 Lehman: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Anne Helena Skinstad, Department of Community and Behavioral Health. (applause) Skinstad: Thank you very much. I would like to receive this proclamation in honor of Caroline Cavit, who passed away and was buried today. Her brave battle with cancer, and also for the 21-year ordinance in Iowa City is very admirable, and as our Mayor said, alcohol and drug use is prevalent in every state, but there is hope and problems can be lessened with treatment. We know that alcohol and drug abuse is as curable as diabetes, and heart disease, and recovery from drug and alcohol is also possible, and people who recover can do so and become very gainfully employed, own homes, and rejoice with their families. Approximately one in five residents of Iowa City and Coralville, suffer rrom alcohol or substance use problems at one time in their life. And there are two, three very good treatment centers to help them. The Prairieland Addiction Technology Transfer Center in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health are very much focused on disseminating empirically supported treatment for drug and alcohol use, and we actually serve five states in our region, and Iowa is one of the states. During this month, we have a number of proclamations taking place across the state, but we have also two events in the Iowa City area that we would like to highlight. First of all, we will be part ofthe Talk of Iowa on September 21 S\ but on the 220d of September, we have a big presentation in collaboration with the Attorney General ofthe Sixth Judicial District, and the focus is methamphetamine, club drugs, and more. So, you will see more of that information in our Department of Community and Behavioral Health web page. Thank you. Lehman: Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #2 Page 3 ITEM 2 PROCLAMATION d. Life Insurance Awareness Month - September 2004 Lehman: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation, representing State Farm, is Nancy Kohl. (applause) Kohl: I'd just like to thank you for proclaiming this Life Insurance Awareness Month, and remind everyone here and those maybe viewing this at a later date, how important it is for your family, and I brought my kids here, just to show that life insurance.....I think we forget sometimes, you think "well I don't really need it." Well, it's really not for you. It's for your family and the people that are left, and I am dealing with a family right now that lost a father suddenly, and the life insurance they had with us is all they had, and he was self-employed so he didn't have any work insurance, which a lot of people think is going to be enough, so it's, you know, making some hard decisions of "okay what are we going to do now, and how are we going to plan for things?" So, just remind everybody to take a look at that, and make sure they have their life insurance needs taken care of for their loved ones. Thank you very much. Lehman: Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #3 Page 4 ITEM 3 SPECIAL PRESENTATION Seatbelt Award - Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau, Luanne Simpson Lehman: If Luanne Simpson and Captain Widmer would come forward. I think we need to do that at a microphone, because if we don't, nobody at home will hear you. In fact, half the people here won't hear you. Simpson: My kids wouldn't agree with that. The Traffic Safety Bureau has allowed me the pleasure of coming here and thanking you, the City Council of Iowa City, for your support of the Iowa City Police Department in their enforcement and education efforts in traffic safety. And due to the efforts of the Police Department, as well as the awareness of the citizens ofIowa City, we are pleased to be able to give you and them the Safety Belt Honor Roll Award. The Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, presents this award to the citizens ofIowa City for achieving a 90% safety belt usage rate, and I want to tell you that's a very, very great honor for you right now because the State of Iowa has a use rate currently of 87%, so you and your citizens are leading the way in this effort, and you're pulling the rest of us up with you. Thank you. Lehman: Thank you too. Widmer: I would just like to say, that while the Police Department may be the catalyst to bring this about, it's the citizens ofIowa City that have taken the responsibility to wear seatbelts and to make this award possible, so this award is to the City ofIowa City, and the people that make that up. So, thank you. Champion: Thank you. (applause) Elliott: Mr. Mayor, I was made painfully aware that the City ofIowa City does enforce that regulation. (laughter) I now wear a seatbelt and my pocketbook is a little lighter. O'Donnell: We could have had a 100%. (laughter) Karr: Mr. Mayor, would you like to accept? Lehman: Yes I would. I might add, we're pretty proud of this. Thank you. I want to pass this down. Would you read that as it goes by, Bob? (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #4 Page 5 ITEM 4 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED Champion: Move adoption. Bailey: Second. Lehman: Moved by Champion; seconded by Bailey. Discussion? I want to point out, under correspondence, a letter from William Talman, we didn't mention this last night at the work session, but it was in our packet. Mr. Talman was very, very instrumental in securing a new scoreboard for the Mercer Park Aquatic Center, and he is very, very, very complimentary of Mike Moran and Terry Robinson, from Parks and Recreation, for working with him, and I certainly would like to take note of that letter and Steve, if you would make sure those folks, if they haven't already seen this.. .they've done a great job and we appreciate it. Atkins: Yes I will. Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carried. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #5 Page 6 ITEM 5 COMMUNITY COMMENT Lehman: This is an opportunity for people to address the Council on issues that 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 five minutes or less. Honohan: Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, Jay Honohan, 1510 Somerset Lane, Iowa City. I'm a member of the Senior Center Commission, and I'm here to give a very short, brief report about the Senior Center. You may have heard that a gentleman fixing the sprinkler system decided we needed a swimming pool at the Senior Center. He provided the water but we didn't have any place to put it. We've had to do a little bit of adjustment of some of the activities because of that, but the staffs done an excellent job of that and we haven't missed a beat. One of the fine things that we have, Zio Johno's and the US Bank treated a 120 plus seniors to a spaghetti dinner on the 9th of September, and we all enjoyed that. I kept most of the spaghetti off my shirt, and had a good time. I would like to invite you to a Celebration of the Centuries, which occurs on September 24th in the Assembly Room, from 2:30 to 4:30 PM. We are encouraging all businesses, and farmers, anybody that has a hundred year history is going to be part of that celebration, and we think.. .this is also a part of our 100- year celebration of the Senior Center, as you all know. In addition to that, we're having an exhibit. I'm not sure what this has to do with the century, because it is 1800 to 2001 pictures in the mezzanine of things that have occurred in this community, over that time period. Just for your information, as a periodic thing, we are now doing a review of the space used at the Center. We do this periodically, and we hope that it will help us use the Center better, and we're trying to look at expanding the hours, and of course you are all invited any time, and those of you who are eligible, and I see a few of you, are eligible for memberships, we'd like you to join. Champion: You only have to be 21, isn't that true? Honohan: That's correct, that's correct. Everybody.. ..AARP, that AARP thing. (laughter) Thank you. Lehman: Thank you, Jay. Hartwig: Randy Hartwig, representing the Airport Commission. It's been a busy summer, but I thought I'd just give you a recap on the last month or so. The.. .as most of you know, the Sertoma breakfast occurred a couple weeks ago, and I think it was very successful. It was a nice day, and I think a pretty good turnout. I would like to say, on behalf of the Commission, I think that in the upcoming ones we plan to give them a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #5 Page 7 little more support than may have occurred in the past. So, the other thing, last week David Hughes, who represents Earthtech which is the company that will be handling the 725 runway extension was in town, and met with Rick Fosse and I believe Ross Spitz from the City here, give them sort of an overview and a general time rrame of how things will be progressing on that over the next few years, and which I thought was helpful for both parties. The other item, which...I was going to say that we're working on, but actually it's been mostly Dan Clay's putting together some plan for developing a park at the Airport, which I know we've talked about in the past, and I think it would be a great use to, you know, entice other citizens who don't maybe have an aviation connection, but could share in the area down in that part of the City, so we met with the two Terry's, Terry Trueblood and Terry Robinson from the City, Parks and Rec, and they were very helpful. Certainly, eliminating some things we need to be aware of, and I think we'll be using their talents in the future, and hopefully we'll have a little more information shortly to prevent to you. The Strategic Plan is also moving ahead. I think it probably got slowed down a little, but I think we're still shooting for the time line we gave you originally, and Jeff Davidson rrom the City has been very helpful in keeping that moving along, and also with.. .also really with information that we need to be aware of and make use of, so that's been very helpful. Somewhat along the same lines, the agreements with both the FBO and also our contactor, will soon be contracting with Snyder and Associates, which will help oversee the other grant applications that we have out there, and make sure everything is falling into line there. In short, with the FBO and them, and you know the efforts of some of the other Commission members, I think we have all the bases covered there. I'm sure there's been a few hiccups here in the past month, and there'll probably be a few more, but I think all in all we're in good shape there. And really, related to that, I guess I wanted to take the opportunity to personally thank, and I can't name everybody, but starting really with the City Manager and.. .met a lot of people I guess in Finance, Accounting. I really appreciate, and I think I speak for everybody on the Commission, the help and patience. Patience I guess. And I do want to mention Sue Dulek who's obviously worked with the Commission as long as I've been there, but she's certainly been a big help and I want to make sure they all know that. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer any. In that case, thank you. Lehman: Thank you. Any other public comments? We'll move to Planning and Zoning matters. I'm sorry. Schweer: Ijust wanted to address the Council briefly. Lehman: Would you give us your name? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #5 Page 8 Schweer: Oh, I'm sorry. Dan Schweer. I live on Spruce Street. I just, I've talked to Karin Franklin about this and I just, and she said Council was aware of this, and Ijust wanted to bring it, reemphasize this for the Council. One of Iowa City's favorite topics, parking. We live a few blocks from Kirkwood, and if! lived on Sycamore I'd be more ftustrated, or on Highland, but I invite Council to try driving out near Kirkwood at class change time, and see what a mess it is, and I've told other people, and I've told Karin, that I'm pointing fingers at two people, two organizations, Kirkwood and the City, for approving building out there. You know, that's fine to have a community college, but without inrrastructure, it's just.. .problems are mounting. It's gotten worse this fall, and I don't feel it's fair that the neighborhood is becoming Kirkwood's parking lot. I feel the neighborhood was there first, and I've asked Karin and I've talked to the Dean at Kirkwood. I basically got a political answer from him. That's fine. I'm just asking for the Council's attention to the matter. Council mayor may not know from Karin that it's been discussed with Oral-B and Hinton's Gillette about getting a second access road out of there, and if the City can help with that. I believe I've been told that Kirkwood can't condemn. They've supposedly been in negotiations. I'm just saying it's just not well planned out, it's just terrible, and if you keep adding people, adding enrollment, it doesn't get any better, and my other safety concern is, besides traffic and pedestrian, it is a major emergency vehicle route for the fire station out there, and Ijust wanted to bring this to Council's attention, if you didn't know about it, and I'm not asking for immediate results, but on the other hand, the City did approve a new building out there, and driveway don't match up. It's just a mess for pedestrians, for traffic, for turning, like I said, it's only going to get worse, and like I said, I'm not a spokesman for the neighborhood or anything. I'm just saying that, like I've told people before, as a resident there, I've lived there all my life. I don't have a right to complain about train noise because the train was there first. However, I do have a right to complain about this. I was there first, and the community college moved in after me. So, that's all I'm asking is that you be aware of it, and if you can help Kirkwood along to improve traffic flow and safety, I'd appreciate it. Lehman: Have you talked to Jeff Davidson? He's the transportation.. ..Jeffreally, you really need to sit down and visit with Jeff. Schweer: No, I haven't. I'll give him a call. Lehman: I think that would be a good. . . . . . . Atkins: Ernie, there are several things that are underway that they may not be aware of. I assume you'll leave your name and address, and I will get back with you on some things, because I've had conversations with Oral-B and Kirkwood.. ...that was the topic. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #5 Page 9 Schweer: That's fine. Ijust wanted everybody to be aware of it. Champion: .. .the other day, and you're right, it is a safety hazard. People are darting out in rront of you to get into traffic, and people are driving fast not to let somebody in, and.. .but we don't really control where they build. That's.. .but you're right, it is growing and the traffic is horrendous. It really is. Schweer: That's right, and I appreciate any information you can get me, Steve. Thank you. Lehman: Thank you. O'Donnell: Thank you. Karacay: Hi, my name is Kate Karacay. I live at 1522 Dickinson Lane. I came here, and some other people have come with me for the same reason. We're getting pretty concerned about the level of violence going on downtown on weekends, football game days, especially recent violence that's been happening against people, minorities, women, and gays and lesbians. The Press-Citizen and the (can't hear) both featured articles that have illuminated these problems, and I personally witnessed one of these things first hand a couple weekends ago when I was downtown before a show, with some friends, and I know some other people who came with me this evening also have anecdotal direct evidence of some of the violence that's been going on downtown. I think a lot ofthis has to do, from my point of view, with the massive increase in the amount of bars that are downtown. When I was a student in the early 90's at the University ofIowa, there were approximately fifteen bars downtown. Now I think there's about thirty, and for a town this size, I really don't see why we need to have this many establishments, strictly for drinking, downtown. I think it's just a little excessive at this point. We've had a lot of really neat stores and shops and restaurants that have just left downtown in droves, and in place we have just a big ghetto of bars that are left there, and I for one have witnessed things where I would not feel comfortable taking my kids downtown. I was with my family a couple weekends ago, and witnessed a man discretely vomiting off to the side as he was walking down the street, and this was at four in the afternoon. I've also seen people urinating, defecating, destroying property, fighting. I was downtown on Friday, September 2nd, and witnessed a fight between three black men and four white men. I'm pretty sure it was racially motivated, seeing as I was standing there next to the black men, and out of the blue, these four white men came up and just started throwing punches. This resulted in four police officers and an ambulance. One of the men was hurt pretty seriously, and I just am wondering if this is the best way we This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #5 Page 10 could use our police resources, to be policing downtown with 500, or I don't know how many, 5,000 binge drinkers there on the weekend. So that was my concern, the amount of bars that we have downtown, and also I really don't understand why we are keeping a lot of these bars at under twenty-one. I know that a lot of places downtown cater to the music and stuff, and a lot of people have raised that concern, being able to have access to music, but the amount of (can't hear) that have been issued over the weekends, the past several months, is kind of indicating that this under-21 policy is being abused severely, and so, we're not really here as "party poopers" or "prohibitionists", but I've been a resident of this city for fourteen years, and I've noticed a marked change in what's going on downtown. It's violent, it's dark, it's scary. I've talked to people who've been attached. I've talked to people who have witnessed attacks. Women walking alone being attacked. Minorities being attacked. Gays and lesbians being attacked, and I think a lot of this has to do with the excessive binge drinking that we're having downtown, and Ijust, I'm kind of asking why you are considering letting liquor licenses made downtown, and if you're going to keep doing that, and also if the drinking, not drinking age but the age to get in bars or drinking establishments could possibly be relooked at again to be lowered. I know Connie Champion was one that was kind of against having an under-2l to start with, so I'm.. . anyway, that's kind of what we're coming here to bring to your concern. We're very concerned about this. I want to be able to take my kids downtown on a football Saturday, and not have them see people fighting, hurting or destroying property, yelling obscenities, vomiting, urinating on the street, and the likes of that. So, it's a problem. It's a big problem, and that's what we're here for, to kind of bring this up to you guys and see if you have any input on it. Champion: We're going to be discussing this on September 28th... Karacay: Oh, well I should have come that night. So, I guess I will, and I have some other people who kind of wanted to address the same issue in a different angle. Dolgos: My name is Kris Dolgos, and my residence is at 200 S. Summit Street, and I'm here to talk about the same problem as Kate, but rrom a slightly different angle. Kate spoke about a beating that she witnessed. She was having a conversation with three black men, and four white students came out of nowhere, attacked these men, beat one of them badly enough that he had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital, and although the police showed up to investigate the crime, no arrests were made, even though there was a witness. Kate was there the entire time. In fact, in the middle of the rray, got injured, and splattered with blood. So, my comments are related to this story, and other stories that I have heard from people that have been involved in violence in Iowa City, where there seems to be This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #5 Page 11 some police bias happening, that if the perpetrators of a crime have a different story than the victim of a crime, and the perpetrators of the crime look a little more like the police than the victims of the crime, that they tend to be more believed by the police, and I personally, because I don't look like any ofthe cops here, probably don't have a lot in common with them socially, don't feel like maybe my best interests are going to be upheld by the law enforcement here, and it's a great concern of mine. I've heard various stories from people who are homosexuals, people of color, who say "yeah, ifI complain to the cops, they don't believe me." So, I don't know why no arrests were made that night. Kate did file a complaint against the police officers who investigated, and they said "well if you want something to be done about it, you should take it to the City Council" so here we are. Where I would personally like to see some dialogue happening between law makers and law enforcement, and the citizens here who feel like protection is needed, and I don't mean protection of the people of privilege. I don't mean protection of the people who are executing violence. It's a really serious problem. This weekend was really just a horrible time. People were wondering around the streets, laying down in the street. I was trying to drive home from a late-night event in Cedar Rapids, and had to stop several times because people were just running out into the street. One person laid down in front of my car and I was really afraid that I was going to hurt someone inadvertently. I saw a car that was picked up and moved into the street, it was parked on the side of the street, and someone just picked it up and moved it, and of course I shouldn't have to tell you about the amount of beer cans and litter and garbage that's all over the streets after a game. It's a really, really horrible thing, and I feel like our city doesn't deserve this kind of mess. So, thank you for listening to me. I am a member of the Iowa City Anti-Violence Project and would love to be involved in some kind of dialogue about how people, minorities in this town can feel safer, and can feel like the police are on our side, and that's it. Thank you. Lehman: Thank you. Berkowitz: I'm Holly Berkowitz, 612 Grenada Court, and I too am concerned about the culture of violence that I've seen come to the United States since 200l. And I think that has something to do with the violence that we're seeing downtown. If you look at a document rrom September of 2000, a year before 9/11, called the Project for the New American Century, it happens to be the blueprint for the Bush administration, that was signed by Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfield, it states, "The American people would not accept a military transformation, in those words, for military supremacy." Again, supremacy. "Without a new Pearl Harbor." 9/11 was our new Pearl Harbor. Let me read that again: George W. Bush's Paul Wolkawitz wrote the PNAC, or Project for the New American Century, in September that was published in September of 2000. A year before 9/11, our new This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #5 Page 12 Pearl Harbor. It states, "The American people would not accept a military transformation or privatization of the military for profit for global military supremacy, as Hitler wanted to invade his neighbors and achieve military supremacy also, without a new Pearl Harbor." Does anyone want to question me that 9/11 was not our new Pearl Harbor, it was used wisely, to describe that, and it adds, "To crush other nations that challenge that supremacy." I don't know about you, but I don't know why that document has not surfaced before, and I don't know why there is no outrage about that. I don't know why the media, which played cheerleader for the invasion ofIraq, when 9/11 was the excuse for the invasion of both Afghanistan and Iraq. I want some questions answered now, and let's begin here. Paul W olfawitz admitted that at an Asia Summit in 2003 that was reported by the Guardian in the Global Policy Forum, that the invasion ofIraq was about oil, and that the word WMD, or weapons of mass destruction, was a bureaucratic excuse for this administration to invade. I want this on the public record. I don't want it censored. And I want action. This is too serious. Too many lives are at stake. We've spent 1,000 lives in Iraq, and the Patriot Act, which is unconstitutional, several parts of the Patriot Act are unconstitutional, that you refuse to uphold a form of document, stating we will not protect our citizens from this. Let's have some action. Thank you. Lehman: Thank you, Holly. Dillon: Hi, I'm Steve Dillon rrom 935 E. College, and I'm also here with the Iowa City Anti-Violence Project, and I'd just like to express that I don't want folks rrom Chicago, and I don't want queer folks in Iowa City, people of color in Iowa City, and don't want people in Iowa City to feel afraid of going out at night, and I'd also like to express my disgust at the actions of the police. There's a witness there. The perpetrators were still there, and the police said there was conflicting stories, and I'd just like to bring that to your attention. Thanks. Lehman: Thank you. Elschlager: My name is Rian Elschlager. I live at 200 S. Sumit, and I actually was there the night that these folks are talking about, as well. At the end of June I witnessed another occasion where a young black man was walking downtown, in front of, what was it. . .Pizza on Dubuque, and six black men, or white men, started yelling at him, and calling him names, and then they pushed him in between two parked cars and proceeded kicking him on the ground, and I feel like this kind of stuff is just, it's just insane. I don't know why everyone is hurting each other, you know. We're here to take care of each other. We're here to live and build communities, and I don't know, foster some kind of kindness towards one another, and it's pretty disturbing. Especially, I don't dress like everyone else, and I feel This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #5 Page 13 like a lot of that, and my hair is not like everyone else's. I feel like a lot of that brings violence on and triggers something in these people, and these people that are using alcohol to get away from whatever they're needing to get away from or to, feel a little less inhibited about what they want to do to someone, or having sex or whatever. I think it's pretty pointless to have so many bars as well, and I also feel like maybe it would help to have a policeman, or policewoman, downtown in places where, you know, things like this are happening. Just have someone on like, staying there, so things like these don't happen as often. I think that it's not heavily monitored enough, as much.. ... I mean, everyone knows that you loose control whenever you start drinking heavily. You know, your body looses control; your mind looses control; and then you go and get sick. So I think it would really help to have a little bit of control around people that are not in control of themselves. That's all I have to say because I'm a little nervous. Thank you. Champion: Your name was Rian? Osliger: Rian, yes. Berkowitz: I would also like, I'll sign this again. I would also like to warn us that I feel that the motives of the Bush administration were to cause war, to cause profits for the war profiteers, the oil barons and the no-bid contractors that put George Bush into the White House in 2000, illegitimately. Ifthat was the case, then I believe that this administration might try to cause another terrorist attack. To cause, to blame the Democrats, to cancel the election of 2002, and to suppress political dissent. Those are extreme words, folks, but rrom the, I look at the big picture, and if you stand back and you look at the big picture of all the things, including Abu Grabe, where the authorization came rrom the White House in January of 2002, the motive is there, and I want everybody in their best ability to prevent any act, any terrorist attack that might come from within our population. To protect our people, you know, that's what our government is supposed to be doing. Thank you. Lehman: Okay, folks, we'll move on to Planning and Zoning. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #7 Page 14 ITEM 7 CONSIDER A MOTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE CLG NATIONAL REGISTER REVIEW FORM NOMINAT- ING THE REVISED GILBERT-LINN HISTORIC DISTRICT FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR PLACEMENT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Champion: Move the resolution. Lehman: Moved by Champion. Bailey: Second. Lehman: Seconded by Bailey. Discussion? Champion: I'm glad to see this going forward now. A lot of neighborhood support for it. O'Donnell: Well, we questioned this last night, and once again I want to make sure that everybody in this district was notified that to file an appeal you had to go to the state, and I'm confident that that's happened so I'll support it. Lehman: Other discussion? Elliott: I appreciate the flexibility of the Commission on this. They responded to the public. Lehman: Yeah, I think that there were some big issues that seemed to be handled really, really well, and I too will support this. Vanderhoef: I think maybe we should just tell the public that a couple blocks of what was in the original application have been removed, and will be reconsidered with commercial designation, when they do surveys of the downtown area. Bailey: And I know some property owners in the area that are very interested in that designation as well as property owners who aren't, so I'm looking forward to that, moving forward. Lehman: Roll call. Oh, all in favor? Opposed? (TAPE ENDS) Motion carries. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. O'Donnell: Moved to accept correspondence. Wilburn: Second. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #7 Page 15 Lehman: Motion and a second to accept correspondence. All in favor? Opposed? The motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #9 Page 16 ITEM 9 AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF 925 E. WASHINGTON STREET TO FRIENDS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION a) Public Hearing Lehman: Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. b) Consider a resolution O'Donnell: Move the resolution. Bailey: Second. Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell; seconded by Bailey. Discussion? Champion: Well, I would just like to say that I think Iowa City is really fortunate to have things like the Friends of Historic Preservation, which are an independent group of citizens in town who are willing to, not only put forth their own effort and work, but to preserve some of our older buildings in town that might not otherwise get preserved at all. Lehman: And, Connie, in addition to that, which is absolutely true, this is a building that was condemned. This building is going to be restored, which I think is really tremendous. Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #10 Page 17 ITEM 10 APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, SPECIAL PROVISIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTH DODGE STREET PROJECT STP-I-5(69)-2C-52, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS a) Public Hearing Lehman: Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. b) Consider a resolution Wilburn: Move adoption of the resolution. Vanderhoef: Second. Lehman: Moved by Wilburn; seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? This is a really big project. The total cost of this is estimated at over $7.5 million, of which the City will be contributing over $2 million, but this will be a major improvement to Highway 1, from Dodge Street to Interstate 80, as I remember. So, big issue for the City. Elliott: As we discussed last night, the City is also going to look into possibilities of alleviating the traffic congestion caused by this project. What we talked about at Kirkwood is certainly a traffic problem of which many of us are aware. This will be kind of a long-term problem to be addressed. Vanderhoef: And this is a project that we recently got our reports on. The traffic counts on the new Scott Boulevard section and the First A venue, and it was in the long-range plan to have that completed prior to the upgrade of Dodge Street, and the numbers now say that traffic has decreased on Dodge Street, so we are diverting a lot of the traffic over onto Scott, and that will make it easier for the construction at this point in time, and they are planning to keep it open, at least one lane, throughout the construction period, which will be two construction seasons, I believe. Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #12 Page 18 ITEM 12 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLA- TION OF SPEED HUMPS IN THE 2000 BLOCK OF A STREET AND THE 400 BLOCK OF 4TH AVENUE Champion: Move the resolution. Wilburn: Second. Lehman: Moved by Champion; seconded by Wilburn. Discussion? Wilburn: Speed humps, not speed bumps. Lehman: Right, and they work. Roll call. Motion carries. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. O'Donnell: So moved. Wilburn: Second. Lehman: Motion and a second to accept correspondence. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #16 Page 19 ITEM 16 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE AND COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR THE RESALE OF PROPERTY ASSISTED WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) OR HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (HOME) FUNDS THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Champion: Move the resolution. Bailey: Second. Lehman: Moved by Champion; seconded by Bailey. Discussion? Wilburn: I will be abstaining due to a conflict of interest because I work for an organization that receives Community Development Block Grant funds. Lehman: Thank you. Discussion? Vanderhoef: Just for information, these homes can be sold to the families, but they don't own the land, but through the contract that we have with them, this allows us when the house is resold, to sell it to another low-income family. Also, these programs are set up so that it is not an immediate windfall for someone after they purchase the house. It is done on a scale for the number of years they have lived in, so that they may recoup appreciation for the number of years that it was in their possession, but certainly not take that house back up to market value and recoup all of that appreciation. Dilkes: Just to clarify, this isn't necessarily a situation where the ownership of the land and the house are separate. This is, specifically in this particular situation, arose in the case of a rehab home that will be sold and then potentially resold. Lehman: Roll call. The motion is 6 in favor, with Wilburn abstaining. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #17 Page 20 ITEM 17 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE . CITY OF IOWA CITY AND SHIVE-HATTERY, INC. TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE U.S. HIGHWAY 6 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - LAKESIDE DRIVE TO 420TH STREET Wilburn: Move adoption of the resolution. Bailey: Second. Lehman: Moved by Wilburn; seconded by Bailey. Discussion? Lots and lots of folks have been looking for this project for a long time, so this is the first step. Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #21 Page 21 ITEM 21 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION Elliott: Well, I was going to conduct a discourse on the relationship between the Constitution and English law, but Connie threatened my life, so I will simply say I'm going to St. Louis. I will watch the Cardinals win, and I will report back next meeting. Champion: Maybe the hurricane will stop them from playing. Elliott: Forget it. Champion: You know, when I was hearing about the parking problems and traffic problems around Kirkwood, I mean, this is not a new problem. We have it around Kirkwood. We had it around City High, although City High has added parking space, and in the neighborhoods around the University. And some of those neighborhoods, there's no parking on the street allowed at all (can't hear) because the street isn't wide enough, and then we talked one time about neighborhood parking stickers. Did we. ..1 mean, I think maybe it's something we need to look at again seriously, because the town is so interconnected with educational institutions, and everybody has cars now, and I think it's becoming a real problem in neighborhoods. I really do. And maybe until then we should talk about it, if anybody else wants to talk about it. Elliott: I think it's a point to be discussed because I think there are some also some negative aspects to that too, but I think it's well worth discussing. Bailey: And I think we should talk to the neighborhood council and see, you know, once again, if they want us to revisit the issue. Champion: That's a good idea. Lehman: And, Connie, I think there are some things in the process of being addressed out there, around Kirkwood. Champion: As far as traffic, yes. Lehman: I mean we're dealing with that. Champion: The traffic, but not the parking problems. Vanderhoef: Well, it can be both. Atkins: Yeah, it can be. The bottom line is the student enrollment is. . .. O'Donnell: How much on-site parking do they have? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #21 Page 22 Atkins: They don't do too bad. They've got a deal with Mid-American for one of their lot, but it's clear they don't have enough. I mean, they just don't have enough. Champion: And now that the Sycamore Mall is successful. Lehman: The price of progress. Champion: The traffic is theirs too. Lehman: Okay. Anything else, Connie? Mike? O'Donnell: Well, on traffic, I have several calls about the amount of cars on the street this weekend, and the Hawkeyes thrashing ofIowa State (laughter), and any time you have a game with both schools in the state ofIowa, and people drive rather than come the night before and stay in the hotels, that's going to happen, and I really don't know how you address successfully that huge influx of cars. Also, Steve, down on Riverside Drive as you go back Moore Business Forms and Riverside Drive.. .I've noticed cars, and I've had several calls about cars parking on that street, and I think we should take a look at that. Maybe we can put that on a work session. Yeah, it goes in (several talking at once). Atkins: I had a couple calls myself, and I know Jeff went out and we weren't able to establish exactly what the problem was. O'Donnell: Okay, well we have school buses, and city buses, and traffic, and we really should take a look at that one. Atkins: Oh, I'll report back to Council on that. O'Donnell: And, Ernie, I understand that you're going to share ham with the Council, is that right? (laughter) Lehman: I'll let you know ifI collect. I will collect. Dee? Vanderhoef; I will be headed to State League of Cities convention next week, being held in Sioux City. So, I look forward to seeing friends there and learning some more about happenings within our state, and to work on the legislation for cities to be addressed in the State Legislature this coming session, and I'll take any word to anyone, if you have something you want me to check on while I'm there. That's it. Wilburn: I want to congratulate and thank the various groups that have been holding voter registration drives. I've seen them out in the Pedestrian Mall. I've This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #21 Page 23 seen them at Hy-Vee, other grocery stores. I was also asked to announce that this Saturday at the Rack Restaurant, 1911 Broadway Place, or Broadway Street at Pepperwood Place, there will be a "Get out the Vote" rally from 11 :30 to 1 PM this Saturday, September 18th. There will be free burgers, chips, beverages, and information, and voter registration, so I'd like to see some folks out there. Council is certainly welcome to come. (several talking at once) It was also mentioned earlier during the public comment time about Carolyn Cavitt and certainly condolences to her friends and family. I didn't make the ceremony today, but I did make the visitation, and there was a real nice slide show about her life and how she celebrated life, and how she coached others through the death and grieving process, so she will certainly be missed. Bailey: It was a really nice celebration of life. I just wanted to remind all the dogs watching and their humans, that the third annual Paws in the Park is this Sunday, and registration starts at noon in City Park, but you can pre- register through the Animal, Iowa City Animal Center; and this is a volunteer group that helps raise money for the Animal Center. So, it's a really great activity; it's a lot of fun; you get to meet a lot of nice dogs; and a lot of nice people to go along with nice dogs. So, I encourage all of you to come out for it. Lehman: I wish you hadn't said that because my dog Peaches may be watching and she can't go. She's not nice when people are around. Anyway, I have, go ahead.. . Bailey: You're going to have to bring her a treat. Lehman: I'll give her a treat when I get home. Vanderhoef: You just reminded me of something. Friends of Hickory Hill will be hosting a plant sale Friday, Saturday, Sunday, September 24,25,26, and it will be about the 1600 block of East Jefferson. There will be a sign out in front of this home. The sale is in the backyard. So, if you need plants to put in this fall, please support them. Lehman: I have a couple things. First of all, the Human Rights' breakfast, which will be held on Thursday, September 23 at 7:30 at the Union; it will announce the award recipients. Isabella Turner Award is won by Ron Hall; the Business Award by the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors; Individual in a Service Organization, Mary McCue; the Rick Graf Award, Philip Mears; the International Award, Chivy Sok, and I'm not sure I announced that correctly, but for those folks who would like to attend, that's a really, really marvelous breakfast. It is Thursday, September 23rd, 7:30 in the morning, and you can contact Heather Shank at the Civic Center here, 356-5022, for information on those tickets. In our packet this This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #21 Page 24 week, and we probably should have talked about this last night, but we didn't. We received a letter from Jay Honohan asking for two Council people to serve on a committee for negotiating things with the Board of Supervisors, relative to the Senior Center. Do we wish to address that, or make, or announce who we will appoint? Would anyone like to volunteer? Champion: I don't think I should be on it this time. We haven't had very much luck the past two times. (laughter) Lehman: Well, we'll get some new blood, all right. (several talking at once) Vanderhoef: I would do that if you would like me too. Elliott: I was told I volunteered, and I will do so. Bailey: And I'm really interested as well. Bob, you get to be on another committee with me. Lehman: Well, we have two positions and we have three people interested, willing, and able. We have consensus that Mr. Elliott and Ms. Bailey will serve on that. We have a consensus and thank you, folks, very much. And I have one other thing that is absolutely not city related but I really must tell you, I went out to Legacy Point yesterday to do a proclamation for National Assisted Living Week, which I guess does have something to do with the city. I went to the Alzheimer's Unit, some people might say.. ..they did let me out, but this was, that's an incredible experience. Thirty some folks, all in various stages of Alzheimer's. Some people knew where they were; some didn't know who they were, but they had invited Herky to be there. This young man from the University ofIowa came out with his duffle bag, went into the restroom, put on his Herky outfit, and he went in and entertained those 35 or so folks, this was absolutely heart-warming. He batted balloons back and forth with them. It wasn't good enough that the people in the front row got to shake his hand. He walked between the rows and visited with everyone of those folks. Some of those folks knew who he was, and some of those folks had no idea, but what a tremendous, rrom my perspective, you know we think of the University ofIowa athletics and this is the University, this and that, but here's something this young man was doing for the community, and I truly appreciated it, and I'm going to send a letter to the Athletic Department thanking him, but it was very, very.... Elliott: They did the same thing with a Systems Unlimited picnic this summer, and it was, it's really heart-warming when you see that and you realize what the contribution is. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of September 14, 2004. #21 Page 25 Lehman: And you know, he enjoyed doing it. I was just so proud of him. Anyway, anything Steve? Eleanor? Marian? A motion to adjourn? Elliott: You bet. Bailey: Second. 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 September 14, 2004.