HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-06-16 Transcription#1 page 1
ITEM NO. 1 Special Proclamation
Lehman/ We have an addition to the agenda tonight, which I will read at this point.
"Whereas members of the Iowa City Cotmcil agreed to participate in the Ronald
McDonald House Standing Room Only Production Two, and said members
diligently prepared for their debut on the Hancher stage, May 13th and 14th, and
presented themselves with dignity, enthusiasm and humor, as befitting their
station as community leaders, we congratulate said members and offer sincere
appreciation for their efforts which won the hearts, while perhaps offending the
ears of the cast, crew, and audience. Signed, this 16th day of May, 1998, by June
Braverman and Ed Zastrow." Congratulations, Council.
Champion/ Thank you.
Lehman/ And I would take just a moment. I have to applaud June Braverman and her
folks. It was an incredible job. I think there were between 200 and 300
volunteers who all volunteered to help raise money for the Ronald McDonald
House. And I know that I speak for the rest of the Council. It was a very, very
enjoyable event.
O'Donnell/It was.
Lehman/ And I've heard talk of doing it every year, but I don't know if they want us.
Vanderhoef/ That might be too much practice.
Champion/ We did try to get the men to wear tutus, but they wouldn't do it.
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ITEM NO. 2a Special Presentations -- Iowa City Kickers
Lehman/ Item #2, Special Presentation -- Iowa City Kickers.
Pete Carrillo/ Good evening, Council. My name is Pete Camllo. I'm currently the
President of the Kickers Board of Directors. I'm here with Doug Ginsberg who's
our President Elect. We're parents who've been involved with Kickers for a
number of years with our kids. And I'm pleased to be able to be here this evening
to present the City a check for $60,000, which is the last of the amount that we
had pledged from our end to help build this nice facility for our children to be able
to play recreational soccer. Last year, when the fields were dedicated, we were
honored by Mr. Norton and Mrs. Vanderhoef, who were there the day we
dedicated the fields. And I just wanted to give you some money and say thanks
for all you did to help get it.
Kubby/ Thank you.
Lehman/ Could you tell the public how much you've given us, totally, with this check?
Carrillo/ I believe it's $200,000.
Lehman/ I think that's correct. $200,000.
Kubby/ Congratulations.
Lehman/ Yes.
Carrillo/ Who wants this?
Doug Ginsberg/ Just to keep it brief, I just want to add that we look forward to continued
support in working with you in the future phases of the soccer complex.
Thomberry/Thank you very, very much.
Kubby/ Keep kicking.
Thomberry/ Big job.
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ITEM NO. 5 PUBLIC DISCUSSION (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
Lehman/ At this time we have Public Discussion. This is limited to items that are not on
the agenda. Will those folks who wish to speak go to the podium, sign in, and
limit your comments to five minutes or less.
Chris Randall/ Hi. I'm Chris Randall, and I've lived in Iowa City for a long time. And
I'm currently the chairperson for the Board of Directors at Public Access
Television. There's been a lot of discussion in the community about PATV lately,
and in view of this, Public Access has invited you all to come to a guidelines
workshop. And I'm really happy to hear that you've accepted our invitation. And
that's going to be happening on July 15th, that's a Wednesday, at 7:00, and it's
going to be in the Senior Center, in the Assembly Room. The workshop is open
to the public, as all of our workshops are. The second invitation we have to you is
a community discussion. And that will take place next Thursday, the 25th of
June, from 6:00 to 9:00. It's in the Library, in Room A. It will be cablecast live,
on the Public, on the Library Channel, Channel 10, and then taped for rebroadcast.
There will be a panel, and the people on the panel will be Dee Norton from the
Council, and we thank you for taking that responsibility. Arlene Heck (??) will be
there from TCI. Patrick White will be there as the County Attorney. Nicholas
Johnson who was a former FCC member, and myself, representing the PATV
Board of Directors. This is going to be an open discussion where anyone in the
community is invited to come, voice their opinions and their views about Public
Access, and have an open dialogue. So, I look forward to seeing all of you there.
Champion/ When was that meeting in July?
Randall/ The 15th.
O'Donnell/ What time was that?
Randall/ 7:00.
Lehman/ And my understanding was that that was the meeting between the PATV Board
and the Council.
Randall/ I thought it was a guidelines workshop. So, maybe we'd better get this sorted
out.
Lehman/ Well, I think we need to. Because I think the way we talked about it last night,
when we selected the date and time for the meeting, at least the discussion was, it
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was between the PATV Board and the Council.
Norton/ That was my understanding last night.
Lehman/ That was our understanding.
Randall/ Oh, well, all right.
Norton/ Maybe there's three events. I don't know.
Randall/ Maybe.
Lehman/ Well, we'll straighten that out later.
Randall/ All right.
Lehman/ But at least the understanding is that --
Randall/ But the 15th would be the date for that meeting, whatever that meeting is.
Lehman/ But I think that from our perspective, it's important that the Council meet with
the Board.
Randall/ Okay. We're having a Board meeting tomorrow night. So, if we could have
more information before then, so we can discuss this issue.
O'Donnell/ When would the next one be?
Randall/ The next one would be the 16th of July.
Lehman/ Well, let me just ask the rest of the Council if that was, was it our
understanding that this was to be a meeting between the PATV Board and the
Council?
Champion/ Yes.
Lehman/That was our understanding. Would you discuss it tomorrow night and see if
that is a possibility?
Randall/ We will, definitely.
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Kubby/ But that was because that's how it was presented to us by you.
Lehman/ That's what I understood.
Vanderhoef/ In the invitation.
Norton/ When this whole issue came up --
Vanderhoef/ From Rene Paine.
Norton/ Yeah. When this whole issue came up, it seemed to me just sensible for the
Council to sit down with the Board and make sure we understand each other, not
necessarily that everybody's going to agree with everything, but at least we
understand where, you know, the facts of the matter, and what are the
possibilities, and what are the implications. And I thought that was why we were
going to have a meeting with them. Now, whether or not there's a workshop
separate to that, I don't know. But, Chris, you certainly don't want a giant public
meeting there. I think that would be --
Kubby/ Well, maybe we could --?
Lehman/ Talk about it at your Board meeting and see if that's acceptable to the PATV
Board.
Randall/ All right.
Kubby/ But maybe some of the guideline issues that are talked about in the guidelines
workshop are necessary for our discussion, so we understand when someone
comes in and wants to produce something, or wants to put a tape on that someone
else has produced. If we understand the process, maybe we could condense the
two things.
Norton/Good.
Kubby/ Everybody's schedule's really tight, and to have the panel a workshop and a
meeting seems like a lot.
Norton/ Yeah, a real possibility.
Kubby/ And if there's a way to condense the guideline workshop and the free-flow
discussion, that would be my preference, my personal preference.
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O'Donnell/ Well, I think we can all get a copy of the guidelines and be prepared for the
meeting.
Norton/ We may need --
Randall/ But there is, or we could --
Norton/ (Can't hear)
Randall/ Yeah, some of each made. We can work this before the 15th.
Champion/ We can work it out.
Randall/ We do have the date.
Lehman/ Get back to me, okay?
Champion/ We have the date, we have the time. That's the crucial thing.
And the second date is next Thursday.
Randall/ All fight.
Lehman/ Right.
Randall/
Lehman/
All right. Thanks.
And we do thank you, Dee, for agreeing to represent the Council.
Norton/ We'd better hang onto both the 15th and the 16th at the moment, while we're on
these other matters.
Lehman/ Oh, yes.
Norton/Yeah, okay.
Kubby/ I'm sorry, what's the 16th?
Norton/ Well, I don't know. She said their Board meeting's on the 16th. If we don't
combine them in the workshops -o
Randall/ The month, in July, the Board meeting is on the 16th.
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Champion/ Which would be too late.
O'Donnell/ Oh, I thought our meeting was on the 15th.
Champion/ It is.
O'Donnell/ 7:00 p.m.
Champion/ It is.
Randal1/ Right. It's a separate meeting.
Norton/ Figure it out.
Lehman/ Okay.
Julie Spencer/ Hello. My name is Julie Spencer. I'm a long-time business owner in
Iowa City, and a member of the Board of Directors of Public Access Television.
And I've come before you this evening, I normally don't get too political, but I
was, want to address an issue that's very close to my heart concerning the type of
programming which is produced at Public Access. Several other Board members
and producers will also be speaking, so I'll keep this brief. I wanted just to
address one specific issue. It was reported that Councilman O'Donnell had said
that all of the programming at Public Access was trash. And I want to take note
of this and talk a little bit about the programming at Public Access, which I think
O'Donnell/ I need to correct you on that, by the way.
Spencer/ Okay.
O'Donnell/ I said the item I watched was trash.
Spencer/ Okay. Well, the paper reported, okay. All right. I understand now. You did
not say that all of the programming was trash, then. You said that --
O'Donnell/ No, I said what I watched was trash. And I'm going to stand firmly by that.
Spencer/ Okay, all right. Well, the thing about Public Access is there's all kinds of
diverse programming. We always don't agree with what is on there. We are free
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to switch the channel. But I think the main thing is, we need to retain the rights to
have access. Otherwise, community members have no voice. And I think it's
very important that we have this. Also, I think there's what you considered trash,
I see a lot of other programming that TCI puts out that I consider far worse than
anything I've seen on Public Access. But that's not really what I want to talk
about. I want to talk about, I think a lot of the people of Iowa City don't know
exactly what Public Access does, a lot of the programming that we do. And I'd
like to talk a little bit about that. Some of, I'd like to talk about some of the series
that are produced there first by other people. "Hawkeye News" is an ongoing
series. It started last year through the University of Iowa. And this is very
positive programming. Journalism students put this together, where they go out
into the community and produce news spots which are either produced upon, you
know, University-related type of things, or within the community. We've had
spots done on like Goodwill Industries, exactly what they're doing. This person
went into the Goodwill store and talked about the services they provide, you
know, for low-income people that need their basic needs, which I think is great.
Goodwill Industries is great to have here. I did news spots. These were
University-related, such as on the diving teams, the swimming teams, gymnastic
teams. Every year, I film the parade downtown which I think is great. I think it
should all be documented and shown to the people. Other series, I think that are
very good, include "Video Voices" which was, which is produced by community
activist Marjorie Straight. Now, she puts a lot of work into this and this brings
together developmentally disadvantaged people to bring a forum. They do the
program in the studios talking about the challenges they face in everyday life. So
people can understand a little bit better the type of things that they go through.
There's an international writing program that's produced by Lynn Torevilles.
This program features an inside look at writers from around the world. I think
that is wonderful to be able to have that type of programming. "Senior Center
TV" also has a program, and this is produced by all of the Senior Center
volunteers. They all volunteer their time to put this together. And this series is
about the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, and it focuses on the issues
and entertainment by the senior citizens of the Iowa City community.
"Community Insights" is another series. This is produced by Andre Perry. He's
another member of the Board of Directors. This series focuses on activities that
are good for our community. This is very positive programming. And "Voices of
Iowa City", which is produced by Doug Allaire, who is one the faculty of the
School of Journalism at the University. And I know this programming is very
good, if he's producing it. And now, I'd like to talk to you about why I took this
very personally. I understand now that you said you didn't call all the
programming trash. I thought that's what had happened. I'm sorry the reportage
was not true. But I'd like to talk about some of the programming I've done that
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are all community-based.
Lehman/ Julie, you're going to have to kind of wrap it up.
Spencer/ Okay. All right. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to run over. I did a history of the
Iowa City Fire Department. I've covered the Parades, Flowering Gardens,
Cultural Diversity Days. I did a thing on the Animal Shelter and produced a
series about the pets that are adaptable in Iowa City. I went out there and filmed
to bring them into the living rooms of people's homes. And I think that is a great
community service. And I just want people to know that there is really good
programming on Public Access, and we need to retain this. It's very, very
important. And, thank you for your time.
Lehman/ Thank you, Julie.
Kubby/ Thank you, Julie.
Jerry McKune/ Hello.
Kubby/ Hi.
McKune/ My name's Jerry McKune. I've also been a producer at PATV. I've got to say,
you all look better in real life than you do on TV. I guess that's the hazards of
TV.
Norton/ I'll take that.
McKune/ And I'd like to thank you, Mike, for clearing up that issue about all
programming on PATV and trash. It's what really got my dandruff up. It's what
got me down here.
O'Donnell/I'm glad you came, Jerry.
McKune/ Pardon?
O'Donnell/ I'm glad you came.
McKune/Yes. And I'd also like to see if we could clear up another issue. Do you feel
you should pull the plug on PATV, or just on that particular type of
programming?
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O'Donnell/ You know, Jerry, in the last, when Julie was talking, there's not been one
complaint on any of the programming that she has mentioned. The stuff that we,
that I saw, and all the calls I've received, I feel is inappropriate for Public Access.
Something that I --
McKune/ I couldn't agree with you more.
O'Donnell/ What's that?
McKune/ I couldn't agree with you more. We don't need that kind of--
O'Donnell/ So we can talk about all the wonderful kinds of programs on the station.
That's not what I'm talking about.
McKune/Right.
O'Donnell/ Yeah.
McKune/ Need to form a guideline to keep this kind of smut off our channels is what we
need. And sometimes you think about if a producer could be responsible for his
show by putting a rating on it. You know, that's been my train of thought. You
know, not only just a disclaimer, but say this show contains certain conducts and
stuff of that nature, see what I'm saying?
Lehman/ Jerry, let me just say this.
McKune/Yes?
Lehman/ I think that the meeting that we have planned on the 15th probably is going to
be a pretty important meeting, both for the Council, and for PATV.
McKune/ I believe so.
Lehman/ I mean, I think that we're aware of PATV, obviously. But I don't know that
we're really aware of the regulations and the rules and whatever that they operate
under.
McKune/ Right.
Lehman/ Nor do I think they necessarily understand some of the calls that we get. And
until we have that meeting, I don't think there's any point in a dialogue between
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the Council and the public. We need to know more what we're talking about.
They need to know more about what the information we're getting from the
public. And ! look forward to that meeting. I think the whole Council does.
McKune/ Right. And I see what you're saying there. But I feel that the mechanics of it,
sometimes you take, we think we got ourselves protected in society and
everything by ratings and everything. And I rented a film that was rated R, had
Burt Reynolds in it, it's called Boogie Nights, and I really got blindsided. And
here is, as far as I'm concerned, an overglorified porno film that won an Oscar.
So, sometimes, we have to accept responsibility of our own actions, but I was just
a little bit frightened that I was going to lose a facility to me that affords me the
chance to voice my opinion, exercise my freedom of speech, and also to give me a
choice. You know, I can turn the channel, but that's not what I'm all about. So, I
understand what you're saying.
O'Donnell/ And Jerry, that's my point, too. I can turn the channel, too. But I'm still
paying for it. And that's what I --
McKune/ Well, I'm paying for it, too, Mike.
O'Donnell/ That's right. But you don't find it offensive. I do. And if I'm paying for it -
McKune/ Oh, I didn't say I didn't find it offensive.
O'Donnell/ We agree.
Lehman/ And I think the discussion regarding this is going to be far more appropriate
after we've had our meeting. I mean, I think, first of all, I can't speak for the rest
of the Council, I don't think there's any danger of the plug being pulled on PATV.
I think there's a need for --
McKune/ That was my biggest concern there.
Lehman/ I dbn't think, and I can't speak for the rest of Council, but I can't believe that
that's in the cards. I do think that it's necessary that we have a better
understanding of each other.
McKune/ Right.
Lehman/ And hopefully that will occur.
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McKune/ Yeah. Because I've not only enjoyed doing shows down there and everything.
But I've enjoyed taking a little break from it. I'd done it for like six years, backed
off a little bit, and I'm enjoying a lot of these producers that are coming up.
There's a lot of talent right here in Iowa City. And there needs to be a means for
them to voice that talent, you know.
Lehman/ And I think these are the kind of comments that will probably be more, be
better received after we've had our meeting.
McKune/ Right.
Lehman/ At least we'll know a little more about --
McKune/ A little better insight into what's going on down there.
Lehman/ Yeah. I think so, at least that's my opinion.
Champion/ Thank you.
Doug Allaire/ Hi. My name's Doug Allaire. And I live at 233 Highland. Are we still
supposed to say that?
Lehman/ Yeah, I think you are.
Allaire/ I don't know. The whole room's changed since the last time I'd been here. I
used to be on the PATV Board of Directors. I've been involved in PATV, or
Public Access off and on since cable came to Iowa City about 18 years ago. And,
as you say, we're not going to talk about now what we're going to talk about in a
few weeks. But, Mr. O'Donnell, you were quoted in the paper as saying
everything in trash, and you didn't say that. And that kind of mistake, or
whatever it is, by the press and by the media, is really why we need PATV, why
we need Public Access. So we can not filter things through commercial media.
And I guess, you know, since we're cutting things short, that's about all I'll say.
O'Donnell/ Thank you.
Lehman/ Thankyou.
Eileen Fisher/ My name is Eileen Fisher. I live at 3722 Hummingbird Lane SE. I'm
here representing the Johnson County Citizens for Tobacco Free Youth. And I
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have a letter that I'd like to read to you from that organization. (Reads letter).
There are three points that I would like to emphasize. You're going to have
telephone calls and letters and people writing letters to the editor, and they'll say
"Our police have more important things to do". But I want to remind you that
about 5,000 Iowans lose their lives every year because of tobacco-related disease.
And 43 Iowa children, every single day, start smoking. I've heard the comment
that our police have all they can handle over on Broadway Street and Hollywood
Avenue, dealing with gangs and driveby shootings, and drug use. But what I've
learned over the last 18 months as I've been meeting with this group of
individuals is that tobacco is a gateway drug. And that young smokers are three
times more likely to use alcohol, eight times more likely to use marijuana, and
twenty-two times more likely to use cocaine. So, tobacco smoking isn't a minor
infraction that our community should overlook. If we really care about our kids,
we shouldn't allow them to smoke, and we shouldn't allow retailers to sell
cigarettes to them. The other issue that our group struggled with was the
compliance checks. How often, who has to do them, how often do they need to be
done, and how are we going to pay for this? Other communities have found that
in order to keep the access of tobacco away from youth, that they needed to do
quarterly compliance checks on every single retailer. Well, last year, Iowa City
has about 90 to 100 permits for selling tobacco. So, if we were going to do all of
those quarterly, that would be 400 compliance checks. It takes two officers about
2 1/2 hours to do fifteen of those checks, in an evening. If you work out the
numbers with the average salary for a police officer, all of these checks could be
done for about $5,000. There's some disagreement on how often we need to do
them. We're just asking that they're done as often as is necessary to keep tobacco
products away from our youth. Thank you.
Lehman/ Thank you, Eileen. Steve, would you refer this to R.J.? And he can probably
give us a response to it, as to how, what he feels we can do. As there is interest, I
suspect, on the part of the Council, to at least looking into this. But let's get a
response from R.J..
Jean Shoots/ Good evening, Council members. My name is Jean Shoots. Mr.
O'Donnell, once again, I'm here because of what I thought that you said. I have a
show on PATV. It's called "Letters to My Sister". Some of you might have
heard from me, because I was calling around and asking everybody to please
watch my show, so that I could hear someone else say that it wasn't.
Kubby/ You know, my cable was out that night that you called my house.
Shoots/Beg pardon?
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Kubby/ My cable was out that night.
Shoots/ Oh, I see.
Kubby/ So I didn't get to see it.
Shoots/ Well, anyway, I have a show there. And I feel so proud that I have a place where
I can voice my opinions about a million things. And I'm sure that there's
somebody listening. Here I am, a colored woman, in the autumn of my years,
who suddenly was able to stand up and be able to find a place where I could say
what I felt like saying over TV. I hope that it's not going to take PATV away.
And I have a mentor, Professor Jan Yates' granddaughter. She was unable to
come because she doesn't really travel at night. So she wants me to let you
people know that she loves PATV. And the shows that she watches are, that she
really enjoys, are: "Letters to My Sister", of course, "Senior Spectrum",
Methodist Church shows, Catholic Church shows, the Senior Center activities,
and "Tom's Guitar Show", and let's not forget Friday and that open channel,
where everybody has a chance to come in and do their do. She wants you all to
know that there is a place for people to come and express themselves. Thank you
for listening to my sentences, and I hope I'm going to be on there next week.
O'Donnell/ Thank you.
Champion/ Thank you.
Rhys Jones/ I'm Rhys Jones. I'm a resident at 708 McLean Street. Actually, just moved
to Iowa City from University Heights a week ago, so I feel more comfortable. So,
I am speaking on behalf of the Johnson County Citizens for Tobacco Free Youth,
too, to second some of the things that Eileen has talked to you about. I would
also like to commend Eileen Fisher for doing a tremendous amount of work on
the issues of tobacco in Johnson County. I work nationally in the State level with
a lot of tobacco issues, as a health professional, as a consultant for the National
Cancer Institute, and in the Surgeon General's Year 2000 Committee for Tobacco
Objectives, tobacco-related health objectives. And youth use of tobacco is a very
serious problem, becoming worse by the day and by the month, as rates go up for
the first time, really, in recent history, with youth experimenting and using
tobacco. And what Eileen talked about, the gateway drug, and tobacco
enforcement and interventions at an early age is so important. The City of Omaha
was a leader in looking at how to impact tobacco, and actually used drug
enforcement money to put towards tobacco interventions. And looking at the
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youngest children, the twelve, thirteen year olds, where tobacco experimentation
begins, and putting interventions towards tobacco, using drug enforcement
money, and was very successful at an early age, because those kids that are at risk
to use tobacco, then, are at risk for marijuana, cocaine, and that's what is meant
by the gateway drug. It opens the gates to other drugs of abuse. And certainly
tobacco and nicotine addiction should be viewed as a very powerful drug of
abuse, and an illegal drug of abuse for youth in Iowa and other states around the
country. Anyway, they had a very successful campaign, and we need to learn
from those other cities. Woodridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, that reduced the
incidence of merchant sales to minors by compliance checks, and by education
with the merchants, reduced it from 70% to 5% in just a year and a half, by
conducting quarterly compliance checks. So, there have been some tremendous
progress with a coalition such as we have with the Tobacco Free Youth group,
and councils and police departments. Communities working together to try to
impact the tobacco problem. And I know, when I go through the ped mall
downtown, or see youth outside the mall downtown, it is a serious problem in
Iowa City. I am a pretty good gauge of youth, I believe, in the fact that I treat an
number of children and adolescents all the time. And I can go through the ped
mall at 9:00 or 10:00 at night on many summer evenings, and I'm sure that I can
see thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen year-olds using tobacco. I've talked to the
Police downtown, the foot patrol people. They say that they're trying to make an
impact, but I think a lot more can be done in enforcement. There's examples of
schools, when I was in Wisconsin, we had a national, or a state school program on
tobacco in schools, and talking about how they enforce tobacco. And that they
don't allow smoking, tobacco use in schools. If a kid goes off school property
and smokes across the street, they are, the student body is aware that they
immediately call the police. And the police is very responsive in responding. So
the enforcement is something else that the schools and the Police Department, the
Council, and our group can work together. So, I hope that this is a good start to
bringing this coalition together, and seeking out new ways to impact really a
terrible problem. Thank you.
Lehman/ Thank you.
Kubby/ Excuse me, could we do something about the temperature in here? I'm freezing.
I'm really cold. Is anyone else cold out there?
Chan~pion/ It's cool.
Kubby/ A couple people. But I'm uncomfortable.
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Thornberry/ It's cool.
Kubby/ Thanks.
Jeff Showalter/ Good evening, Council members. My name's Jeff Showalter. I live at
1225 South Riverside Drive, here in Iowa City. I, too, am a producer here at
Public Access, and I have a short statement. When cable television first invaded
our cities around 20 years ago, the various city governments made an agreement.
In exchange for the right to install the cable television systems, provisions for the
citizens of their communities to have access to the television studio, training, and
equipment, was made by the cable company, so that the people of the city could
express their Fifth Amendment right of free speech on the air if they so chose to.
A channel would be set aside on cable's, on the cable company's basic cable for
these programs to be seen locally. Currently, I produce a television program
known as "Karaoke Showcase". And we uphold the highest standards of
television. If any foul language is used, it's immediately deleted. We have
Christian statements at the beginning and end of our shows. And we've found
that it's been a wonderful medium. We've influenced a lot of people, including a
lot of the area youth, which seem to follow our show now. And I'm just here to
put my two cents in here, saying Public Access should live. And I've got a
closing statement. Public Access Television is a resource dedicated to the
diversity of community communications. Public Access provides opportunities
for local citizens to make use of the current tecbmology to exchange information
and ideas, and to participate in the democratic process. In this day and age, when
television has such a profound effect upon this culture, it is important to
understand why and how it works. Public Access is an incredible resource where
anyone can explore the medium of television, not simply by watching it, but by
making it. Thank you.
Champion/ Thank you.
Michael Mallie/ Good evening. My name's Michael Mallie. I live at 1209 Diana Street.
Mike O'Donnell, you've caught a lot of heat for this. But concerning the
programming that you found offensive, I just want to thank and commend you for
exercising your free speech in the defense of moral standards. A lot of us
appreciate it. Thank you.
O'Donnell/ Thank you.
Terri Miller/ Good evening. I'm Terri Miller. I'm from the Senior Center Commission.
And I just wanted to bring a few items to your attention tonight. About a month
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ago, the Board of Supervisors requested a joint meeting with the Senior Center
Commission to discuss some issues that they were concerned about. And one of
those issues was the use of space at the Senior Center. They currently need more
room for expansion of their program and storage area. They also wish to talk to
us about Mike Foster who runs a senior dining program, and about putting him on
as an adjunct staff member of the Senior Center. The third issue that they brought
up had to do with parking at, for their volunteers for senior dining. As the
Commission looked into their concerns, we came up with some other issues of our
own in regards to the equity of the use of space. We did some calculations to kind
of determine if it was equitable, if the 20/80 agreement was still applicable, and if
we were still following those guidelines. We realized that parking was not
addressed in that particular agreement, and so that the request for parking for the
Senior Dining Program was maybe one that we didn't need to address. And we
started to look into some other issues just around the 20/80 agreement, and the use
of space, and how we shared the costs over the programming. So, the
Commission intends to respond back to the Board of Supervisors about these
issues in the next month or two. And as we look into these various issues, we'll
be reporting back to you, also, so that you know what we are recommending, and
what our concerns are. The second item I wanted to bring up was the multiuse
parking facility. We have sent a letter to all of you with recommendations.
Several of us attended the design meetings. That was an excellent process and we
were very appreciate to be able to be a part of that. If there are any questions that
you have around any of the requests that we made or the recommendations, we'd
be glad to take a look at those, or to address any of those issues at any time. I'm
sure that the one item that maybe drew some interest or some concerns might have
been the request for the room, a 5,000 square foot room in the ramp. We felt that
at this time, that maybe an opportunity exists for us to be able to expand our
programming a little bit, to be able to satisfy some of the needs of Senior Dining
Program with that space. And that it is possible that that kind of an opportunity
won't come up again. So, we wanted to look toward the future with that. The
Commission is addressing the issue of the fees for that parking facility for the
Senior Center participants. And we're looking at a lot of different options. And
we've requested help from the Council of Elders, who are talking to a lot of the
participants, trying to do some research for us, so that we can come back to you
with some kind of a recommendation as to how we would like to address the fees
for the Senior Center participants in that ramp. So, that's just another item that
we're looking at, and we'll probably bring back to you in the next month or so,
probably. If there are any questions that you have, I would like to address them.
Otherwise, thank you.
Kubby/ Thanks, Terri.
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Lehman/Thank you, Terri.
Mark McCusker/ Hey, everybody. My name's Mark McCusker, and I've been in Iowa
City for about 20 years. And I've been producing videos for Public Access
Television for about twelve years. And I wanted to thank the Council and thank
Public Access for the great discussion they're having lately. I think you're really
working out a very difficult issue. I think the opinions have been very strong. I
think the Public Access staff does a really great job. They don't have the most
expensive things, or the most amount of space, and they do a really good job with
the constraints that they're working under. And I thank Iowa City for providing
us with this great resource. I personally honor the concept of free speech very
much, and I'm very happy that we have this for us. My works have sometimes
been considered offensive by some people, and it is great that those people can
call me or write to me, or they can call the Police, or they can call a Council
member, they can call the County Attorney. I think that is a great way for us to
dialogue. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm also a little confused, though,
about the notion of who is paying for it. It is my understanding that the City
requires the cable company to provide access to us and that they do that --
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 98-77, SIDE A
O'Donnell/ Never said it was tax.
McCusker/Okay, I know. But, but in some ways, it's not quite our money, it's their
money.
Thornberry/ It's (can't understand) money.
O'Donnell/ It's a described that TCI are paying. The City acts as the, they go through,
they refund the money. We give it to Public Access. But, in as sense, taxpayers
are paying a portion of this, because Public Access is housed in a City building at
no rent. So there's a double payment there.
McCusker/ I'm sorry?
O'Donnell/ So we are paying for this. And I really feel, it's, you know, it's my
responsibility. And I hear from my constituents, when they find something
offensive, that I bring it to the attention of somebody. And I'm very
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uncomfortable when I'm told there's nothing that can be done about it. And the
exploitation of children --
Lehman/ Mike, we're going to discuss this.
O'Donnell/ I'm going to speak out on every time. And that's how I feel. Yeah, that's
how I feel.
McCusker/ Thanks. I, I thank you all again for the great resource you've provided to me.
It's been a very positive thing in my life. Thank you.
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ITEM NO. 6e Public hearing on an ordinance vacating Second Avenue Court, located
between First Avenue and Second Avenue, north of Muscatine Avenue. (VAC98-
0003)
Lehman/ (Reads agenda Item #6e). P.h. is open. Is there anyone who would like to
speak to this matter?
Kubby/ Instead of closing the p.h., because there's an item on here, I would like to
propose that we change. I'd like to ask that we continue the p.h. so that Council
members can continue to think about the lighting standard, and to have the p.h.
and the item on a vote for the next meeting. So, I would move that we continue
the p.h. to July 7th.
Champion/ I'll second that.
Norton/ That won't delay the process any, then?
Kubby/ No. It will just give us a chance to make some adjustments if we so choose.
Lehman/ Please, go ahead.
David Darr/ Hi, Mr. Mayor, Councilors. I'm David Darr. I'm with Place Commercial
Real Estate, at 2819 Woodcliff, in San Antonio, Texas. I have some things with
me tonight that we can specifically talk about if it would help, that deals with the
foot-candles at the property line, that specifically addresses the memo from John
Yapp, on May 26, relative to the conditions that really require the approval of this
particular development. So, I know there are concerns, and I can specifically
answer those tonight if that would help.
Kubby/ Yeah, that'd be good for discussion, so people can see it and give us feedback,
too.
Norton/ Yeah. So what's the deal on it?
Darr/ We also have some overhead projections that we can incorporate, or I can just tell
you what the site plan is doing at this point.
Lehman/ Why don't we try with you telling us, first.
Kubby/I think visual.
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Darr/
Okay. We are meeting all the night conditions from Mr. Yapp's memo, relative to
the approval of this site plan. We ka~ow lighting is an issue. We've studied this
issue over the last three weeks, from talking to the neighborhoods, as well as
through P/Z. And what we've created is a plan today that is less than one foot-
candle at the property line along Second Avenue, and I can show you on the site
plan, to a certain point, that's registered today along the north wall, which would
be the wall parallel to F Street. And then, what you will see is a substantive
amount less than one foot-candle.
Kubby/ Is that with or without maple leaves on the trees?
Darr/ That is assuming there is, there are no projections that would limit the one foot-
candle. That is an engineering --
Kubby/ So that's as if the trees weren't there.
Norton/ Clear field.
Darr/ Exactly.
Kubby/ Okay, good.
Darr/
Two other things. We had talked, and there had been questions relative to other
meetings about what are the height of the poles, and we had talked about at that
time, 32 feet. What we have today is a plan in the parking lot itself, that the tops
of the lights are 25 feet. As we go around the building, and the drive-thru as well
as in the service area, what we've incorporated is these lights will be connected to
the building at fourteen feet. There is a lens that is being used by the Walgreen's
Company to downlight the projection of the light to be more direct, you know, to
the pavement, if you will. So you don't have this disbursement. It is fourteen feet
above the surface of the parking lot, but that is in a standard of what is a typical
lighting, you know, that is some eleven feet below what is generally done. And
that is where the lowest foot-candle is projected on the entire property, along this
Second Avenue and along F Street. So, we're sensitive to the issues, and we want
to direct those specifically and not through anything beyond engineering
standards, so that someone can look at these foot-candles and they can ascertain
that we are in fact meeting, and in our minds, exceeding, what the requirements
are. And that's really been our intent, is to take the concerns, be it landscaping, be
it lighting, whatever it may be, and trying to exceed the requirements, and to put
the best foot forward to try to move this process along, so that, and again, we're
certainly open for any suggestions and comments, but we have that information
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with us.
it.
As a matter of fact, that plan was dropped off at P/Z today, so they have
Kubby/ So, now, do you have any objections to having that lower foot-candle be part of
the agreement, so in future years if things change about how the lighting is done,
that the neighborhood has recourse to have it be back to what was agreed upon?
Darr/ I'm comfortable that if the foot-candles that are approved on the plan today have to
be maintained throughout the property, I think if that's answering your question --
?
Kubby/ What's the figure? If it's not one foot-candle at the property line, what is it?
Darr/Well, the average is -- .06?
Doug Brown/ The average is --
Kubby/ You have to come to the mic.
Lehman/ Speak into the mic.
Darr/ I'm sorry, this is Doug Brown. Doug is my partner on this project.
Brown/ The, on the property line, adjacent to the residential areas, the average is .06 of a
foot-candle. The maximum is .2 of a foot-candle. So, we're far below the one
foot-candle level.
Kubby/ But you're willing, are you willing to change the agreement, the legal
documentation of our ordinance vacating the alley to reflect some of those
figures?
Darr/ Yes. And those figures do range. We can, if there's an average that you'd like to
incorporate, we can do that.
Kubby/ I'll let Legal, or Planning decide what the appropriate range would be, but --
Darr/ May I show you this, may I pass this exhibit?
Lehman/ Sure. Karin, have you reviewed the information that he's referring to? You
can see how they vary.
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Karin Franklin/ Yes, I believe I have the same document that he has. Though he's got it
with him, so I'm not sure exactly what it is. But the foot-candles at the property
line are way, way lower than any of our standards.
Lehman/ Do you have any problems with what he is presenting?
Franklin/ Not at all.
Lehman/ They're acceptable as far as the staff is concerned?
Franklin/ Yes, yes.
Norton/ Good.
Thomberry/ I have no problem.
Lehman/ I see no point in delaying this.
Thornberry/ I don't, either.
O'Donnell/Well, let's move forward.
Norton/ Can ! ask, --
Kubby/ I'm not suggesting that we delay anything.
Norton/ Are the fourteen foot, the lights are fourteen foot, the ones that are mounted on
the building?
Dan'/ Yes, sir.
Norton/ Now, what about, are there light poles along the edges?
Thomberry/ Sure.
Vanderhoef/ Twenty-five.
Norton/ How tall?
Darr/ Not along the Second Avenue.
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Norton/ Okay.
Darr/ And to the point of the building where the drive-thru is, that is, along the wall
along F Street.
Norton/ Okay.
Darr/ And I have another lighting plan that I'll pass here that shows what they're
projecting as far as the placement of the poles within the parking lot, in and of
itself. And I can do that as well.
Norton/ Okay.
Kubby/ Great. And I must say, you know, these folks have been really responsive at the
neighborhood meeting. There was some concern about, there was a little gap in
the landscaping that happened to be right out the front door of a neighbor. And
they said they'd fill it in on the next site plan. And indeed, they did what they
committed to do. So, it's like they're following our, I forget what we were calling
it, our good neighbor policy, although I don't think you read our good neighbor
policy. But, this is how we want things to be. This kind of responsiveness.
Lehman/ We do appreciate it.
Thornberry/Thank you very much.
Vanderhoef/ Thank you.
Lehman/ We have a motion on the floor to continue the p.h. till the 14th?
Kubby/ July 7th.
Lehman/ July 7.
Kubby/ It's our next meeting. So we don't --
Lehman/ Any discussion on that.'?
Kubby/ And in order to change the language, the resolution we have in front of us has
the one foot-candle. So if we want to change it, we do need to continue.
Thornberry/ I don't think that, with the presentation that we got today, that the discussion
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is necessary to be carried over.
Norton/ Does the language have to be changed, or --
O'Donnell/ I have a question.
Thornberry/ Karin's already, they've already submitted it.
Kubby/ Well, in the ordinance it says one foot-candle. If we want the neighborhood to
have any recourse later --
Franklin/ We have an ordinance that has a certain foot-candle of one foot-candle at the
property line. If the agreement between the developers and the Council is that
you want to change that to something lower, we need to amend that ordinance.
Norton/ We should do that.
Franklin/ I don't think we have a number on the floor right now. What I heard was that
we should work this out with the developer to something that is agreeable to P/Z
and to the developer. And so, since we won't lose any time on this, I guess I
would feel more comfortable if you did continue the p.h. and we have first
consideration on the 7th.
Norton/ Okay, good.
Franklin/ Just so we're all legal.
Champion/ It doesn't affect when they can start their project?
Franklin/ No, it does not.
Norton/ It won't slow anything down, no.
Franklin/ It does not affect, because you would not be voting first consideration tonight,
anyway.
Champion/ Okay.
Lehman/ Okay? Thank you, Karin. In view of Karin's comments, how many are in
favor of delaying until the next meeting, say aye- (ayes); opposed - (none). This
will be deferred until the July 7th meeting.
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Marian Karr/ Can we have a motion to accept correspondence?
Vanderhoef/ So moved.
Kubby/ Second.
Lehman/ Moved by our birthday girl, thanks, Karen. All in favor- (ayes); opposed-
(none). Correspondence received. I should, this is a good time to point it out.
Dee Vanderhoefhad a birthday yesterday, so we can all say Happy Birthday, Dee.
Council/ Happy Birthday, Dee.
Vanderhoef/ Thank you.
Thomberry/ 49 again?
Vanderhoef/ You got it.
Norton/ 39.
Vanderhoef/ 39's even better.
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ITEM NO. 6f Public heating on an ordinance vacating the northern 200 feet of the alley
between Lafayette Street and Benton Street, west of Dubuque Street, Iowa City,
Iowa. (VAC98-0002)
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item #6f). This is an area that is currently being used by
Hawkeye Lumber Company. It is, we want to vacate the property and give them
an easement over the property, if I'm not mistaken.
Norton/ Or a lease?
Lehman/ P.h. is open.
Ralph Neuzil/ Members of the Council, I'm Ralph Neuzil. I'm here representing
Hawkeye Lumber. I have been working with the City Attorney's office. We will
be discussion entering into a lease with the City for the property that is proposed
to be vacated. For all practical purposes, Hawkeye have been using the alley for
some period of time since the north end of that alley was sort of barricaded
because of the railroad tracks no longer wanting us, or the public to cross them. I
am in hopes that the Council will go along with the recommendation of the P/Z
people, and the staff that worked on this, and whatever can be done to expedite
this will be appreciated. I'm here to answer any questions. I also have a
representative from Hawkeye lumber.
Vanderhoef/ I heard you say something about vacating, and my understanding was that
we were just going to lease a right-of-way.
Eleanor Dilkes/ We vacate it, and then we will lease. So it would be our intention to
have the lease in place prior to the final reading on the vacation.
Vanderhoef/ Okay.
Lehman/ Any other discussion or questions?
Champion/ No.
Lehman/ P.h. is closed.
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ITEM NO. 6i Consider a resolution approving a preliminary and final plat of a
Resubdivision of Lot 7, WB Development, a 1.78 acre, 3-lot commercial
subdivision located at Naples Avenue and Escort Lane (SUB98-0010)
Lehman/ (Reads agenda Item #6i). Are the legal papers in order? Everything is --?
Dilkes/ Yes.
Thornberry/ Move adoption of the resolution.
Lehman/ Moved by Thornberry.
Vanderhoef/ Second.
Lehman/ Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Roll call- (yes).
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ITEM NO. 7 PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE
OF COST FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN
STREETSCAPE, PHASE 1 IMPROVEMENTS, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT
OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY
CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND
PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item #7). This is the section of downtown between Washington
and Dubuque Streets, Washington and Iowa Avenue, along Dubuque Street,
extending one-half block south to the alley down the middle of that block. We
discussed this last night. It has received the approval of our Downtown
Committee who helped put it together. They worked with the architects. But
tonight is the p.h., and the p.h. is now open.
Shirley Wyrick/ I am a member, I'm Shirley Wyrick, 132 Potomac Drive. I must say
that I haven't been doing my homework. I haven't been able to attend the
meetings on the downtown streetscape, and I have a minor question for you. And
that involves the two sculpture pads, which I'm only vaguely familiar with, that
were to be installed in the City, in Blackhawk Minipark. I talked with some
members of the Public Arts Committee, and there was some question as to their
placement, and I do not know what that placement was, and I would like to have
information on that, and possibly some consideration before they're placed. I
think that it's a very good idea to have them, but I, when I was shown the
placement, I was somewhat in disagreement with where they are going to be
placed. The kind of situation, and I'm sorry that I haven't been able to meet with
this Committee.
Vanderhoef/ What was your concern with the placement, Shirley?
Wyrick/ The concern is that, from what I, I don't know where they are, so I'm in the
dark.
Vanderhoef/Okay.
Wyrick/ But the place I was shown, they would be creating, recreating the room closure
that you're taking off when you are taking out those planters in the Blackhawk
Minipark. I could see that placed in a different position, they might be better. I
was the design artist, or I was the Artist Consultant for Cedar Rapids and we
created, and I was actually the one who designed the Second Street, this may be
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all fight, I just would like to go ahead, I think that I would like to see your
approval of this, but I would like just a little time to study this myself and have
some input on it, if you don't mind.
Kubby/ Shirley, the paper that was just handed to you is where the Minipark is, and I'm
really grateful people still call it Blackhawk Minipark, even though that's not its
name anymore.
Wyrick/ Oh, all fight.
Kubby/ But it's circled in black pen, so it's --
Wyrick/ City Plaza Minipark.
Kubby/ So its' kind of hard to see, but those are the two sculpture pads.
Wyrick/ And was that the general approval of the Public Arts Committee?
Kubby/ Yeah.
Champion/ Yeah.
Wyrick/ As well. All fight.
Lehman/Shirley, I would think, we're going to have the p.h., and I think we're probably
going to, unless there's some real objection, we're going to pass this resolution so
we can get it out for a bid and get the work started this summer. I don't believe, I
mean, if you think there's a serious problem in the location of those sculpture
pads, that it probably is never too late to at least discuss that with David and the
group of folks who are working on that.
Wyrick/ That's fine. It may be very well.
Lehman/ I mean, it could be a very small change, or whatever. I would hate to see
anything delay the project.
Wyrick/ No, I would, too.
Lehman/ Yeah.
Wyrick/ I think the entire project is wonderful.
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Lehman/Right.
Thornberry/ You surely have some problem with what, with knowing ahead of time with
knowing where these are going to be, and I think that the placement is fairly good.
But what kind of sculpture is going to go in there, I would like to see prior to its
being installed, also, given the fact that we were shown, at one time or another,
from the University, a sculptured walkway across the street that many of us had a
little problem with. And if they're going to have that type of sculpture that
people, the majority of people would object to, I think they should know ahead of
time, before it's actually installed, so that, I don't know how that's going to
happen with the Arts Committee --
Kubby/The public
Thornberry/ I just think that, that somebody ought to be able to look at it before, other
than the Arts Committee before it's there.
Kubby/ We approve any public art purchasing and acquiring in the ordinance, Dean. We
make those decisions.
Wyrick/ My suggestion would be to have changeable art, personally.
Norton/ Well, I think that's the idea. That there'll be a (can't understand).
Thornberry/ Well, I think the art put up in the walking plaza is going to be changeable
anyway.
Wyrick/ And, if that's possible, that is preferable, because people don't ignore it.
Thomberry/ Yeah.
Wyrick/ Although I have two fixed pieces myselfi
Champion/ When we have to, when we have to agree on what we call art --
Lehman/ All we need to agree on now is whether or not we would like to approve this.
Is there any further public discussion? P.h. is closed.
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING
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Lehman/ Any further Council discussion?
Thornberry/ Move adoption of the resolution.
Norton/ Second.
Lehman/Moved by Thomberry, seconded by Norton. Roll call- (yes).
Kubby/ I guess I had one quick comment. And that is, because it appeared in the DI
several times that what we're doing is taking out all the bricks and putting
concrete down, I want to make it clear that that is not what we are doing. We are
re-habbing the brick, replacing worn brick and brick that's in disrepair. For the
record.
Norton/ I'd also add that if anybody wants to see the plans, I think they're available at
the Planning Department, if any of the public want to take a look at what is in fact
contemplated, albeit there might be some small changes in that as we proceed. But
I think the general concept is wonderful.
Thomberry/Yeah.
Lehman/ Well, Dee, I think it is probably a little more than contemplated. We just
passed it.
Norton/ Right.
Lehman/Now, maybe there are some changes --
Norton/ No, I mean the details of where things are in that park, for example, might
change, I take it.
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ITEM NO. 8 CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE TITLE
5, CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "VEHICLES FOR HIRE" BY DELETING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR A DRIVING RECORD. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Lehman/ (Reads agenda Item #8). This apparently is a requirement that we have that
duplicates a requirement from the State.
Thomberry/ Move adoption of the ordinance.
Lehman/ Moved by Thomberry.
O'Donnell/Second.
Lehman/ Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Roll call- (yes). Motion carded.
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ITEM NO. 9 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING, AUTHORIZING, AND
DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A
DONATION AGREEMENT WITH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE
ARCHEOLOGIST TO PROVIDE CURATION SERVICES FOR
ARCHEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS FROM THE NAPOLEON PARK SITE.
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item #9) And these apparently are artifacts that were uncovered
and collected during the construction of the pipe from the north plant to he south
plant.
Kubby/ Move adoption.
Vanderhoef/ Second.
Lehman/ Moved by Kubby, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion?
Kubby/I'm really glad that this is happening. One of the things that was found there are
pottery shards, where the design motif on them is only found in, I think it's either
six or eight different sites in this area. And this is the southernmost site, so I hope
some of those make it into this collection. I'm sure they will.
Lehman/ Roll call- (yes).
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ITEM NO. 10 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO
SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN
SHIVE-HATTERY, INC. OF IOWA CITY, IOWA, AND THE CITY OF IOWA
CITY TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION STAKING, INSPECTION AND
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES DURING CONSTRUCTION
OF THE IOWA RIVER CORRIDOR TRAIL -- BURLINGTON STREET TO
NAPOLEON PARK.
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item #10). This is an agreement that will cost in the
neighborhood of $121,000 to $145,000, and will be funded by local road use tax.
Vanderhoef/ Move adoption of the resolution.
Norton/ Second.
Lehman/ Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Norton. Discussion?
Thornberry/ Yes, I've got something to say. I am now, and will continue to be opposed
to the City's taking or condemning of private property for non-essential use.
Putting this in perspective, consider the City determining that a trail is needed to
go through your back yard. With four votes of the City Council, your property
could be confiscated, condemned, if you will, and there's nothing you could do
about it. Oh yes, you could be compensated monetarily, but when all is said and
done, you'd be without your land. I oppose the location of this trail for this
reason, and for the fact that there is an eight-foot sidewalk, eight-foot wide
sidewalk on the east side of the two properties that are being condemned for this
trail. An eight-foot sidewalk is deemed appropriate as a trail.
Lehman/ Any further discussion?
Kubby/Just a question for Dean. Dean, once in a while, we condemn property that's
deemed a friendly condemnation, that for some --
Thornberry/ That's correct.
Kubby/ I don't know if it's for tax purposes or whatever, so would your feelings be the
same if it were that kind of condemnation?
Thomberry/ My feelings would not be the same there. There are reasons for
condemnation for non-essential uses, when it's a friendly condemnation. The
people in these two properties really don't want their property taken.
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Kubby/ No, you answered my question.
Thornberry/ But yes, if it's a friendly condemnation, it's a tax, not a loophole, but a tax
consideration, when property is --
Kubby/ (Can't understand).
Thornberry/ A small loop. But it's a consideration when there are taxes involved. But
this is not a friendly condemnation, and I oppose it for a non-essential use.
Kubby/ Thank you, Dean.
Lehman/ Well, the question is whether or not we should spend $120,000 to $145,000 for
engineering, not whether we should condemn the property. Is there any further
discussion? Roll call- (yes; Thornberry, no). Item carried.
Thornberry/ Mr. Mayor?
Lehman/ Yes?
Thornberry/ Before we go on to number eleven, I would like a short recess to get some
things clarified on number eleven for me.
Lehman/ Okay, five minutes.
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ITEM NO. 11 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING ARCHITECTURAL
CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING MAYOR TO SIGN AND CITY CLERK
TO ATTEST CONTRACT FOR COMPLETING ARCHITECTURAL
SERVICES FOR THE CIVIC CENTER THIRD FLOOR AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT SECOND FLOOR EXPANSION.
Lehman/ Okay, let's get started again. We have a gentleman who missed Public
Discussion. I've agreed to give him a couple minutes. If you'd like to address the
council, Sir, you may do so at this time.
Terry Hale/ Hello. My name's Terry Hale. I live at 230 N. Gilbert Street. I was here
awhile back asking the City to make the 200 block of North Gilbert Street a
Historic Preservation District. I have some petitions here I'd like to turn in. I
have a lot more, I wasn't able to collect in time to bring them down here. I guess
I'll bring them by the City Clerk. I'm living, or have been living in one of the
houses that Mercy bought, 230 North Gilbert Street, for 24 years I've lived there.
I would personally like to know what's going on other than I know I'm supposed
to be leaving. Mercy has so far made no comments, said they don't know what is
going on. Although I and others heard from a very reliable source that they want
to tear down the whole row of houses on 200 North Gilbert Street on the east side.
I'm very concerned and stressed out trying to move out of my home of 24 years.
Iowa City is going to be losing a lot more than they're gaining by a parking ramp
there if these places are destroyed. There's more than houses, there's a very
concentrated greenspace there that will be changed into a concentrated area of
exhaust fumes and pollution. There wasn't much comment when I was here
before asking about this. I know the City has been meeting with Mercy a little bit,
and some things have been going on. But officially and publicly, Mercy's still
saying they don't know what they're doing, or they don't have any comments.
And I think this is a really public issue. I remember when Mercy wanted their
helipad landing area, people were down here, packed in here. I think this is
probably more important than that in a way. It's going to change the whole
character of that whole northside area there. And I'd like to see some activity. I
know it's a business deal, it's s done deal, and they can do what they want. But
I'd like to think some of the democratic actions in this wise, progressive town of
ours, and that these places aren't destroyed, but something more creative happens
with them. Thank you.
Kubby/ I'm sorry, but the petition, what does the petition say?
Hale/ It just says "We the undersigned petition the City of Iowa City to make the 200
block of North Gilbert Street a Historic Preservation District. We ask that these
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beautiful buildings be not destroyed. Preserve our homes."
Champion/ There is a group of citizens interested in Historic Preservation that are
Hale/
meeting with Mercy Hospital and discussing possibilities about this property. So,
I'll take your name and address and make sure you're kept informed of that.
Well, I've heard these rumors, and I tried to contact Mercy directly, and they just
kind of lied to me. I would call it lying. Said they would get a hold of me and let
me know what was going on. Instead, they just sent me a notice to vacate the
premises. And as of yesterday, there was an article on the front page of the DI,
with my picture on it, talking about this issue, where once again, Mercy was able
to say they have no comment, and they don't know what they're doing. I think
that's very unfair to the whole City here. I know they're a big employer and a big
concern in this town, but I'd like to see a more democratic handling of this whole
issue.
Lehman/ Thank you, Terry.
Thomberry/ So moved.
Lehman/ Moved by Thomberry.
Kubby/ Second.
Lehman/ Seconded by Kubby.
Kubby/So Connie, will you do that?
Champion/ Yes.
Kubby/ Okay.
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item # 11).
Do we have a motion to accept correspondence?
All in favor-(aye). Motion carried.
This is an item that we approved earlier with a
different firm. We have a bid at this point of $94,900, which I understand
includes $35,000 for inspection services during the construction project.
Steve Atkins/ Yes.
Lehman/ So, basically, it's $59,000 odd dollars. Discussion?
Thornberry/ Move adoption of the resolution.
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O'Donnell/ Second.
Lehman/ Moved by Thomberry, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Vanderhoef/ Okay. I'm not ready to move forward with this project, and I'm not
interested in having the plans sit on the shelf at this point, so I'll be voting "no"
on this.
Lehman/ Well, Steve, I suspect that this is from your office, this Attachment A, which is
a schedule?
Atkins/ Jim, the Architect prepared that.
Vanderhoeff I haven't seen that. What is it?
Lehman/ This is a schedule listing a calendar for the times of design, construction
documents, reflection, and this of course covers the time period 1997 through late
1999. And I guess what we talked about the first time we did this was having the
construction drawings done so that at whatever time we decided that we were
going to move forward with the project, they would be available and ready for our
use. Is there any inclination on the part of the Council to indicate when we would
move forward with this project? IfI recall, this is on the CIP for this year.
Atkins/ Yes it is.
Lehman/Is that correct?
Atkins/ Yes.
Lehman/ So, it is something that is in our CIP.
Atkins/Yes.
Lehman/ And I don't, I guess I personally feel, if we're going to move forward with the,
this contract for the design, it might not be a bad idea to get some indication from
the Council as to how we feel about the timing of the construction.
Thornberry/ Well, I think perhaps not this year, Ernie, but for $54,000, to do the
drawings and the rest be for monitoring the construction, I think, I would be
willing to delay this for a year. It would still be money well-spent now. And then
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the monitoring of the construction, not this fall, but a year from this fall, would be
more appropriate.
Lehman/ Are you indicating that you would like to see the project move forward next
fall?
Thomberry/ Moved back.
Lehman/ A year from this fall, fall of '99.
Thornberry/ Yes, that's correct.
Lehman/ Do we have others?
Norton/ Well, I, I kind of, well we need to talk to the staff again about the problems that
they're now facing and the nature of the lease that they now having for the
Housing office and so forth. I don't know how difficult circumstances are
becoming. I think, first of all, we ought to get these plans together. And I'm not
worried that putting them on the shelf, it won't cost us a bundle to not take them
off the shelf. I just can't see that that would happen. I don't think there's
anything, so I'm going to be in favor of this particular motion. The question of
when we should proceed, I'm not quite ready to make until we hear one more go-
around about what kind of difficulties are we facing if we don't proceed more
promptly. I'm inclined to think about a year, like Dean, but I want to be sure the
staff can handle that.
Thornberry/ Yeah, we'll be discussing that at our next CIP discussion. And if we can't
do it, or if there are other things that are more, that we need to do right away, I can
see this being delayed for a year.
Norton/ But that comes up in August, doesn't it, our discussion of the CIP?
Atkins/ We're targeting August/September, because you wanted it earlier this year. And
we still intend to do that.
Norton/ And that would be soon enough to make a decision about this, among other
things.
Thomberry/ Right. And that's why I'm saying I'm okay with this number, because it's
actually, Steve, two pieces of legislation really. It's $54,000 for to get the plans
together.
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Atkins/ $59,000 and $35,000.
Thomberry/ $59,000, okay.
Vanderhoef/Okay. And part of my discomfort with all of this is that, as I recall, this was
approved in a CIP when we were doing budget, and we hadn't gotten any
information on it, on the project yet, and it was supposed to come back to us and
come back to us. And so we went ahead and approved the budget. And then,
after the fact, we were getting more information about the project, and you know,
I'm not clear that this is the best place to put it, number one. And that there may
be some other options out there. So, I'm not ready to have these drawn. And we
just talked about recently a couple of other things that might come up. And to
have a set of plans on the shelf, I'm not --
Thornberry/ I think putting all of the City offices together in one space and going up is a
whole lot cheaper than going out somewhere else, building a different building, or
putting these services somewhere else. So that's why I'm saying --
Atkins/ I would really like a chance to make a case with you all about putting it in. I
mean, I really believe the Civic Center should be the Civic Center.
Thornberry/ That's correct. I do, too.
Atkins/ And if you're going to choose to go to remote locations for certain offices, that's
operationally that changes things. I strongly encourage you to approve the
contract for the design, roll it up, and put it on the shelf. And we can debate it
later on.
Lehman/ I think you've made that case for us, Steve.
Atkins/ Apparently I didn't convince everybody.
Kubby/ I'm with Dee Vanderhoef, but maybe one step further down the road. And this
is one of the things I'm willing to give up for the next longer than year. Maybe
three to five years. Just because we have so many needs right now, and we need
to prioritize. And understanding the space crunch for our employees, but also
understanding all the other community needs that we have as a local government,
this is just one of those that would end up in comparison to all the other things as
a lower priority. So, I'm willing to delay this far enough into the future that these
plans probably would need to be revisited. So I'll be voting "no" as well.
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Thornberry/ I think the plans are pretty well set. I mean, we've got the structure here,
and we can't change what we've got here. And it's just an addition onto this.
And this is just $59,000 to do the plans for the expansion. When we do it, it's still
up to us when we do our CIP.
Kubby/ Hey, we revisit stop signs yearly. We revisit all sorts of things over and over
again and change our ideas and maybe a new Council will --
Thornberry/But we don't change the design of the stop sign.
Champion/ We could try.
Norton/ Well, let me ask a question, Steve. Are the designs sufficiently flexible that if a
decision were made about a different arrangement of where organizations or
pieces of the City offices went, that it would still be flexible enough to
accommodate some considerable changes within the present --?
Atkins/ The Civic Center project is pretty much two pieces. One of which is the Police
Department, and everything else. Now, if you would choose not to do the Police
Department and do the other, that can certainly be accomplished. And we can
carve that out, I imagine, in a rather straightforward fashion. If you would choose
to do Police and not the other, my concern is that, you know, in trying to
incorporate all of the folks into this one building, we will have leases eventually
pending for our assisted housing folks and rental, you know, again, we're just
trying to get everything into one spot. I don't think you'd lose flexibility. In fact,
I think you'd probably gain some, because it was my understanding from the
architects that they can modify it at the time in a rather straightforward fashion.
Thornberry/ Well, then again, Dee, the Police Department has to go outside the City to
do some of its training that they could do in-house if they had the facilities
available. Now, once they do the training outside the City Limits of Iowa City,
they've got to pay, furnish lunches and do all of these other things, plus pay the
County for the facilities which they're using, which they could be doing in house
and not having to pay lunches, and another entity and so on and so forth.
Kubby/They can just go to the ICN room at the library.
Norton/ Well, I'm with you, Dean. I don't see any point in --
Kubby/ (Can't understand).
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Norton/ I don't think we're committing ourselves to particular, to exactly particular
arrangements of where the housing authority might go, or where the --
Thomberry/ No. Or when.
Norton/ (Can't understand) services might go, or so forth.
Lehman/ Well, I will support this, I think, for the reasons frankly, that I think this says
we are committed to putting our facilities under one roofi It doesn't say when
we're going to do it. But it says conceptually it's something we agree with.
Atkins/ That had been our understanding as of last time it was under discussion.
Thomberry/ That's something that I wanted to get clarified.
Lehman/ Further discussion? Roll call- (yes; Vanderhoef and Kubby "no"). Motion
carded.
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ITEM NO. 12 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN
AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE FY99 AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
FOR THE PROVISION OF TRANSIT SERVICE WITHIN THE CORPORATE
LIMITS OF UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS.
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item #12). The contract is for $27,500, and represents a 2%
increase fi'om the FY98 amount.
Thornberry/ Move adoption of the resolution.
Lehman/ Moved by Thornberry.
Vanderhoef/ Second.
Lehman/ Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion?
Norton/ Well, given that our, I thought our municipal employees got, I think, a 3% pay
raise --
Atkins/ I knew you'd ask that. That's why he's in the audience. He's here to tell you
why.
Norton/ Giving him a break out there.
Joe Fowler/ One of the routes that serves trough University Heights was altered, and so
the one route ended up basically with a 25% reduction in the amount of service
that is being delivered to University Heights.
Lehman/ Was there an alteration fee?
Fowler/ No.
Kubby/ There should be one every day, I'll tell you.
Thornberry/ Got a deal.
Fowler/ So what we did was we moved on bus over several blocks and increased the
service in Iowa City and decreased the service in University Heights.
Kubby/ That's a good deal.
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Lehman/ Not a good deal, but it's the best deal.
Norton/ Thank you for the rationale, thank you.
Lehman/Further discussion? Roll call- (yes).
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ITEM NO. 13 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, AND THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES
FOR AID-TO-AGENCY FUNDING BY THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA,
AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE SAME: BIG BROTHERS AND
BIG SISTERS ($36,000); CRISIS CENTER ($37,354); DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION PROGRAM ($50,000); EMERGENCY HOUSING PROJECT
($9,000); FREE MEDICAL CLINIC ($5,700); HAWKEYE AREA
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM ($7,626); IOWA CENTER FOR AIDS
RESOURCES AND EDUCATION ($10,000); MAYOR'S YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT ($38,000); NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS OF JOHNSON
COUNTY ($54,844); RAPE VICTIM ADVOCACY PROGRAM ($13,000);
AMERICAN RED CROSS ($4,977); AND UNITED ACTION FOR YOUTH
($38,300).
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item #13).
Thornberry/ Move adoption of the resolution.
Norton/ Second.
Lehman/ Moved by Thomberry, seconded by Norton. Discussion?
Kubby/ Dean, how come we didn't give Red Cross just a flat $5,000?
Thornberry/ Karen, we worked on this. You folks have got to understand, Karen Kubby
and I have been on this --
Norton/ Subcommittee.
Thomberry/ This subcommittee, for several years now, and this was as fine and as close,
we both did our own computations, and came very, very, very close on each one
of the agencies.
Kubby/ Yeah, Dean's come a long way.
Thomberry/ She says I've come a long way and I have.
Kubby/You have.
Thomberry/ I've learned a lot.
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Kubby/I say that as a compliment.
Thornberry/ And I've learned a lot from her and from these agencies who do a
magnificent job. And I wish we could give them more. They do a good job. And
I've learned, Karen, thank you, I've learned a lot.
Lehman/Further discussion? Roll call- (yes).
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ITEM NO. 15 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR THE
AIRPORT COMMISSION TO PROCEED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PLANS, SPECIFICATION, AND FORM ON CONTRACT FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF A 120' x 120' AIRCRAFT HANGAR BUILDING AT
THE IOWA CITY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item #15). This basically is a loan, or would be a loan from the
City of Iowa City to the Airport Commission that would be repaid by rent from
the hangar.
Thornberry/ Move adoption of the resolution.
Lehman/ Moved by Thornberry.
O'Donnell/ Second.
Lehman/Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Norton/ When we say 120' x 120' building, we were talking last night, this is, that
includes everything, both the hangar, and the maintenance facility, right? Is that
right, Ron? Everything's in that 120' x 120' or roughly that?
Thornberry/ That little lean-to building you're talking about?
Norton/ Well, that's right. Is everything in there?
Ron O'Neil/ That has yet to be designed. The office space, as you brought up, may go
within that space, and it might be a little bit bigger then. We have a limited area
that we can put this building, so we're really, we're going to fit in what we can in
this.
Norton/ But it might be bigger than 120' x 120' then, actually?
O'Neil/ It might be a little longer, but then again, it might be narrower. Because we do
have a, we originally in our master plan were going to put 100' x 100' in this spot.
We're, when we get the site plan done, I'll know a little bit better.
Thornberry/ But to reiterate, it is a loan, interagency loan.
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 98-77, SIDE B
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Thomberry/ Paid through rems.
Atkins/ That's correct. We will not offer this contract unless we have lease in hand to
take care of that.
Thomberry/ All right. Thank you.
Atkins/ That'll be it.
Norton/ Steve, the schedule for that process, too.
Atkins/ You most certainly will.
Thomberry/ Thanks, Ron.
Lehman/Further discussion?
Vanderhoef/ Is there any problem if they change the size of it, as long as the square feet?
Lehman/ No.
Dilkes/ No. I think the record is clear about what we're talking about.
Lehman/ Roll call- (yes; Kubby voting "no"). Motion carded.
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ITEM NO. 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 THE DUNBAR/JONES PARTNERSHIP, TO PROVIDE CONSULTANT
SERVICES FOR THE EXPANSION OF OAKLAND CEMETERY.
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item #17).
Norton/Move adoption of the resolution.
O'Donnell/ Second.
Lehman/ Moved by Norton, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Kubby/ You know, I have really, really mixed feelings about this. Because I, as many
people, very much cherish Hickory Hill Park and the wild nature of the park. And
it does pain me to take, even though it's kind of second, third, fourth growth that
we're taking out, and there are some roly-poly places, I also very much treasure
the history of Oakland Cemetery and want current generations to be able to be
part of that history. And I didn't' realize how strongly I would feel about that
second part until when we were talking about cemetery expansion a couple years
ago, went out there and just spent some time and was surprised how emotional I
got out at the cemetery just saying this is part of our community's history. And
so, part of the compensation on my part for the community is I've made a
commitment that I want to help motivate and spend a little more activist time on
Council for a Hickory Hill West, on the west side of town, in some other
wonderful roly-poly area, to have another wild park that is not an active open
space that has woods, that has open space, that has some water maybe in it. Kind
of as my trade-off for the 3 1/2 acres we're agreeing for grading and development
for cemetery expansion.
Norton/ Along those same lines, I have less trouble with this particular expansion, which
is relatively minor. In our original discussions with the Parks Commission, I was
on the side of restricting it to Park. But given all the considerations with the heirs
to this property and the terms under which it came to the City, you know, we're, I
feel we're obliged. And this particular expansion is a relatively small incursion
into the Park the present so-called "Park area". The next ones are going to be
tougher.
Thornberry/ I don't thin, this is not an incursion into the park.
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Norton/ No, no.
Thomberry/ The Park was an incursion into the --
Norton/ I mean an incursion into the presently used park, the presently used Park area.
Kubby/ But didn't we, I don't know if we had agreed to this, but we had, maybe it was
Dee Vanderhoefwho suggested that we mark off the total ten acres so people
know now this land that is functioning as parkland will eventually, over the next
330 years, become cemetery land. And at first, I was talking to Steve about this,
that this is really one of the few seventh generation type of decisions that we
make, that is way I the future. I mean, it's even more than our hundred year
bridges or hundred year water plant decisions. This is like a 300 year, I mean, the
full ten acres is a 300 year decision. And that's probably the longest term
thinking that I remember doing on this Council.
Vanderhoef/ And with phase I, it may well be that things will change so much by that
time, that there'll never be a Phase II and Phase III.
Norton/ But we'll all be beamed up by that time.
Lehman/Either that or --
Kubby/ Beamed down.
Thornberry/ Beamed down.
Lehman/ Either that, or we may all be in Phase I.
Kubby/ Well, as cremation becomes a larger part of our culture, for economic reasons,
spiritual reasons, whatever, we don't need as much space for this.
Lehman/The fee for this is $55,200. The estimated cost of the expansion is $560,000.
Atkins/ Ernie, I wanted to point out that we were intended to do what you suggested, the
marking.
Kubby/ The marking?
Atkins/ Yeah, the marking.
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Lehman/ Yes.
Kubby/ And it will be clear on the markers what they're about?
Atkins/ We'll do something.
Lehman/Can we make them last 330 years? This is --
O'Donnell/ Who's going to check 'em?
Thomberry/ Terry'11 be around.
Vanderhoef/ Check and see if the marker's are still there.
Terry Trueblood/ We figured we'd wait awhile on the four markers, the one "Here lies
Dee Norton", and then the other ones, whoever's next.
Kubby/ I want to be the southwest one.
Trueblood/ Yes, that will be done.
Thornberry/ Terry will continue to monitor those. He'll be around forever.
Kubby/ Thanks.
Lehman/And his heirs and assigns.
Thornberry/ Yeah.
Lehman/Roll call- (yes). Item carded.
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ITEM NO. 18 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 PIERCE KING ARCHITECTS, TO PROVIDE ARCHITECTURAL
CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK
MAINTENANCE/OFFICE BUILDING IN NAPOLEON PARK.
Lehman/ (Reads agenda item #18). This is a maintenance facility, or a storage facility
building that will remove trucks from Oakland Cemetery. The estimated cost is in
the neighborhood of $680,000. The engineering fees and site planning is $57,000.
Thomberry/ Move adoption of the resolution.
Lehman/ Moved by Thornberry.
Vanderhoef/ Second.
Lehman/ Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion?
Champion/ You know, I have a little, just a question. $680,000 for a metal building? Is
that going to, is it really going to look terrible?
Lehman/ Oh, no. You saw a picture of it last night.
Champion/ I know. But then when I looked at the price here, I forgot --
Lehman/ That's parking lots, that's --
Kubby/ It's everything.
Champion/ Oh, oh, okay.
Lehman/It's not just the building.
Champion/ Okay.
Thornberry/ Yeah, I had a problem with that, too, with, architecturally speaking, a
$680,000 for a metal building, I thought, whoa.
Lehman/ Engineering.
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Thornberry/Yeah. around.
Champion/ Okay. I just, (can't understand) and I thought oh my god.
Lehman/ Terry said it's going to be pretty. If it isn't pretty, that's Terry's problem.
Norton/ Does it, or does it not include a brick facing? You said that, because surely that
number would be considerably affected by that.
Trueblood/ The $680,000 is not including a brick facing. We're going to bid that as an
alternate.
Norton/ So we may not have seen the last of this.
Trueblood/ And it wouldn't be a total brick facing we're looking at just a partial.
Kubby/Well, when we accept it, we'll accept it with or without the alternate bid, and
maybe we'll get a great bid.
Thornberry/ Yeah.
Champion/ What about, oh never mind. I shouldn't --
Atkins/ There are other treatments. I mean, you may use wood, you may use
landscaping. I mean, there are a number of ways to make the building attractive.
Champion/ Right, right.
Kubby/ Could be a mural.
Champion/ I was just envisioning this big white metal lab.
Atkins/ Oh, no.
Vanderhoef/ And I'm envisioning --
Champion/ And about $680,000.
Vanderhoef/ And I'm envisioning getting rid of some of those really old, decrepit
buildings down in City Park.
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Champion/ Oh, no, I'm not against doing the project. I support it totally.
Treeblood/ This is going to be fairly well screened from the road. It's down.
Norton/ It surely is down quite a bit, yeah.
Lehman/ We're going to build it and not tell anybody about it. Roll call- (yes). Motion
carded.
O'Donnell/ Probably going to last 300 years, isn't it?
Thomberry/ Well, ifTerry's doing it, it's got to be a 300 year building.
O'Donnell/ Its' where he's going to keep those inspectors for the markers and signs.
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ITEM NO. 21 CITY COUNCIL iNFORMATION.
Lehman/ City Council Information. Dee?
Norton/ Well, yeah. A couple. One I wanted, this is a question for you, Steve. We got
some notes about changes in handling of our paper and recycling. I know Brad's
out of town, so this may not be the, but my understanding now is that this is a
done deal, that we're going to put all the paper together?
Atkins/ My understanding --
Norton/ On the curbside?
Atkins/ My understanding of your position was that at the curb, we would do what we're
doing now, and our newspaper would become mixed paper. And that it would be
sorted at the drop-off location at City Carton. That's how I understood your
position.
Norton/ And that is entirely compatible with the present capability of our trucks?
Atkins/ Yes. The paper will become a mixed paper. The problem was that we didn't
have the extra bin. And to require it separated, separating at the curb is always the
best. We couldn't do that.
Norton/ Yeah, we'd like to. Because everybody's so used to doing that with the
newspaper and the other paper. But we can't do, add a new category, in other
words.
Atkins/ That's correct.
Norton/ Too bad.
Vanderhoef/ Yeah.
Norton/ Because I'd like to keep newspapers. Everybody's used to that. I'd hate to
change that.
Vanderhoef/ I do, too.
Norton/ But I'm finding myselfhard-pressed to throw my paper all together. I mean, I'm
so used to separating.
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Atkins/ Well, it's paper and magazines. It's mixed.
Norton/ And magazines, yeah.
Atkins/ It's mixed paper. That was the intent.
Kubby/ We can learn new tricks. But the trick part of learning new tricks is having good
promotional materials and good notification.
Champion/ I think most people would be delighted that we're going to pick up mixed
paper.
Lehman/ I think so, too.
Atkins/ And I think we have weekly pickup, and I think that's a very important element.
It used to be every too weeks. And that can get pretty hefty. But I think since we
have weekly pickup, we're going to be, we're going to do okay.
Lehman/Well, I think the one factor that we probably haven't weighed is the number of
magazines and other paper that currently goes to the landfill from those folks who
do not recycle their magazines at City Carton. So, I think there'll be a dramatic
impact in the amount that doesn't go to the landfill.
Norton/ Yeah, well I think people can understand that's why we're doing it, to reduce
what goes to the landfill. Because, as I understand it from the notes that we got,
there's no market for the junk mail and the office paper and mixed, other than the
newspaper, there's not much market for it, or hardly any. So apparently it's just
to reduce what goes to the landfill. And that's a virtue, of course.
Atkins/ That's a long-term savings. It's kind of difficult to measure, and hopefully as
more folks do it, new industries, new markets get to help it up. Just so you know,
my instructions to Brad were, put this together, get the educational effort up and
running, so you'll be seeing you know, public announcements --
Kubby/ Even a piece of it is on that purchasing end to complete that recycling cycle is
that the City's doing a better job all the time at buying higher recycle-content and
post-consumer content which is the stuff of curbside recycling programs. So, the
more we buy, the more market there is.
Vanderhoef/ And the less expensive it gets as it cycles around, that we see all the time.
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Norton/ The other, oh, pardon me, go ahead. My other, the other item had to do with, I
just wanted to report that Ernie and I went to this, a preliminary meeting with the
Benton Street neighbors about the possibility of some reconstruction on Benton
Street, and it was a very, very, last Wednesday it was, and it was a very
informative meeting rtm by the City staff. Very well ran, I should say, and good
response in the neighborhood, and there'll be another such meeting, I think, on
June 18th, at the Mennonite Church on the comer of Myrtle and Greenwood at
7:00 in the evening, I think. To follow up and bring them the next step. But it's
really an interesting process, and I think we're dealing with the neighborhoods
very effectively in that way. we've been doing that everywhere, but here's
another example. Go ahead.
Vanderhoef/ Okay. Just a couple of announcements. Maybe, because I got calls on them
this week, but a reminder to everyone again, that your dog has to be on a leash in
Hickory Hill Park. It's been real muddy out there. People are real unhappy when
your dog comes over and gets too friendly and wipes mud all over them, or
charges them and it frightens them. So, remember, it is illegal. Another call that I
got that I checked out with staff, and we're about at the time that we will be
purchasing the $20 stickers for your waste, your yard waste can. And those are
not sold in the same places where they sell the trash bags or the $1 stickers.
However, I understand that if you want to mail your check into the City, and
enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope, they will mail out the sticker to you,
so you don't have to come down here during City hours to get that $20 ticket.
Then, one other thing. We've been talking a lot about neighborhood associations
and the City. And I just picked up one of the newsletters and recognized that a
long-time supporter of neighborhood associations, Mary Lewis, has retired from
the Grant Wood Association.
Norton/ Wow.
Vanderhoef/ And Mary has put in countless days and days working for her
neighborhood, and doing projects out there. And I'd just like to recognize her and
say thank you.
Thomberry/ Very nice.
Lehman/ Appropriate.
Vanderhoef/ That's all.
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Thomberry/ Right now, and for the foreseeable future, there is a hiring frenzy among
many, many businesses in Iowa City and Coralville with the Mall coming online.
I've seen ads in the Cedar Rapids paper, in the Davenport paper, in the Iowa City
paper for help, for a lot of the small businesses, and some not so small, some
larger ones. There have also been some unprofessional and unethical hiring
practices being done throughout the City where some companies have gone into
others and have talked to employees that are currently working for another
agency, for another company, and trying to steal those employees. I would
challenge my business colleagues to be ethical and professional in their hiring
practices and offer your best benefits and your best offer to the employees and
make them make the decision, as opposed to actively taking someone else's. I
have heard of several companies doing this, and if I get more information and
accurate information regarding this, I'll start naming the names of the companies
that are being unethical in their hiring practices. But, let's just, give the employee
our best, our best wage, our best benefit package. It'll benefit everybody. And
let's just stay ethical in our hiring practices. Thank you.
Lehman/ Mike?
O'Donnell/ I've had several calls on traffic calming that we need to get into on Highland
Avenue, and we spoke about that last night. But I'd like to consider this a
priority. They are, there certainly, I went out and sat on their street for, not in the
street, I sat in my car on the street, ~-
Thomberry/ You were lying down.
Vanderhoef/You are a traffic, you were a hump?
Lehman/ You were a speed bump.
Thornberry/ More than a hump, I'll tell you that.
Lehman/ A traffic hazard.
O'Donnell/ The traffic does move very quickly on this street, and they are the recipient
of our traffic calming on Summit and Kirkwood, and we need now to get into this,
I think quickly, and get these people an answer. And I understand the study is
online, Steve?
Atkins/Yes. As I understood from the folks last evening, I think Jeff was talking about
early July, actually having somebody report back to you.
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O'Donnell/ Okay.
Atkins/ For the next meeting we'll give you an update.
O'Donnell/ But we'll take the necessary steps, even in the meantime to slow traffic down
on Highland?
Atkins/ Well, you know, the, I'm not sure what we call the gadget, the speed --
Norton/ The meter?
Kubby/ That digital display?
Atkins/ Yeah. That thing. We'd like to do that early before we actually get into radar to
do enforcement. It's a way of educating folks. And we will continue in those
efforts. Okay?
O'Donnell/ Okay. One other thing. We have a, I believe Dee Norton and I are going to
go to a neighborhood meeting tomorrow night at Weatherby Park. This is part of
the Grant Wood area, and I, we've had problems in that area of town, and this is, I
think, and excellent response by a group of people that are talking about getting
involved in the community and I commend them, and will be there tomorrow
night.
Kubby/ Should we check? Because I've been invited to come to that, too. Do we need
to be concerned about four or something?
Norton/There's only three of us, so far.
Thornberry/ Well, I don't think there's -- we're going to be doing any legislation about
that.
Kubby/Well, I'm just checking in, because we might -
O'Donnell/ I think it's a listening meeting.
Norton/ Well, there's three of us.
O'Donnell/ Three.
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Dilkes/ There's just three.
Norton/ Yeah.
Dilkes/ Then I think that'll be fine.
Thomberry/ What if there were four?
Lehman/ Then there'd be a problem.
Dilkes/ That would be a problem. Unless you were just going to sit there and say
nothing.
Norton/That's hard for me to do.
Dilkes/ And not participate. And I'd be, boy I'd be sad for you.
O'Donnell/I can't imagine that.
Lehman/That'd be front page.
O'Donnell/ Yeah. Again.
Lehman/Okay.
Champion/ Well, I've had mundane phone calls about the stoplight at Kirkwood and
Gilbert. I drove out there the other night, and you have to turn in the left-hand
lane, you have to turn left in the left-hand lane?
Lehman/ We're changing that. It's in the packet.
Norton/ It's all changed.
Atkins/ It's all been fixed. Unless you tell us differently, the memo in the packet was --
Champion/ No, I was out there, and I've just got tons of phone calls. And there were 76
cars in the right-hand lane, and one in the left-hand lane. That's why I --
Norton/ I think it's all going to be repaired.
Atkins/I hope so, yeah.
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Champion/ The other thing is, the other complaint that I've had for years, and I know the
answer. It's about with crosswalks, that aren't marked, because the paint wears
off. And I know the reason we use that paint is because it's environmentally
friendly. But I'd like to see us consider using --
Thornberry/Some unfriendly paint.
Champion/ No. Some expensive whatever.
Lehman/Epoxy.
Champion/ At major crosswalks.
Atkins/ Yes.
Champion/ Especially where street lights don't line up with the sidewalk. Stoplights.
Especially that one downtown. And a few other areas of town, where you really,
cars tend to pull up to the stoplight, and if the stoplight is beyond the crosswalk,
they don't stop.
Kubby/They get in the way of the pedestrian.
Atkins/ Yeah. I, Connie, I would agree with you. In fact, this year, and all the years I've
been here, that was probably the worst year for complaints about the painting. I
mean, I think along around January they were gone on most streets. And it is
dangerous. I remember in my own driving, having to come across Burlington
where the lanes have that little wiggle in it, you find yourself fighting, like where
am I supposed to be. I've asked staff to give some thought to making a bigger
investment. And it is a substantial increase.
Champion/ I know it is.
Atkins/But I think for the safety purposes, I think we're going to have to invest in better
paint, possibly tape, whatever we have to do. Because --
Champion/ At some of the intersections it's really dangerous. Some it doesn't make a lot
of difference.
Atkins/Yeah. So that's underway, and I would hope that next year, we will certainly
reduce the kind of complaints we had this year.
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Lehman/ Steve, I talked to Rick about that earlier this year, and I think at least from my
conversation, he's looking into the possibility, epoxy is quite a bit more
expensive, but it also is something that doesn't need to be done more frequently
than every three or four years.
Atkins/ That's correct.
Lehman/And if we could get the City into quadrants and get it into a program, and he, I
think, is working on that as we speak.
Atkins/ That's the idea. That's the idea.
Norton/I would like to second Connie's, Connie seems to be talking not only about lane
marks, but about crosswalks.
Champion/ Crosswalks, yes.
Norton/ I've had a number of, the problem is I'm reminded, I say, many, many
communities have zebra crossings on the crosswalks. We don't use those. Is
there a reason?
Lehman/ Haven't got any zebras.
Norton/They all received a death threat.
Thomberry/ Very few.
Norton/ How could I have forgotten.
Atkins/ We are behind in the, in crosswalk painting this year, because of weather. Can't
paint when it rains.
Champion/Right.
Atkins/ And whenever, you know, we'll set a crew up to go out, and it rains, you park it.
Can't do it. But you know, I don't know. I'll find out for you. I've seen that
before.
Norton/ Well, you know, a lot of times, when people step into a zebra crossing, the
motorists are trained kind of to observe that as a safe zone. That isn't the case
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here. So maybe we ought tothinkabout whether we wantthose. They maynot
be veryhandsome.
Atkins/ I know they're not particularly attractive.
Lehman/Well, they're certainly more noticeable.
Norton/ Let's talk about it.
Atkins/I'll --
Thomberry/ Green machine just scrapes them right off.
Kubby/ I just had three things. Two of them are announcements about events. One is
this coming Monday, on June 22nd, is part of a national action all over the
country of people coming together to talk about the right to organize. And there'll
be a rally at 6:30 on the Pentacrest that everyone is invited to. In case of rain,
show up at Old Brick. And on June 29th, our Police Citizens Review Board is
stepping out into the community and asking us to come to them and to talk about
what the community thinks about the Police Department's performance, in terms
of our community standards. And I think this is one of the things we envisioned
them doing. And, they're up and running. They've been talking with citizens
who have complaints, and now they want to go when there's not a specific
complaint and just say how, what are our community standards for police
performance? And this is June 29th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Iowa City
Public Library, Room A. And the way it's set up is that the first 90 minutes,
people who speak must sign up ahead of time. And to do so, you may call 356-
5041. And you have up to five minutes per speaker. And you might get questions
from the Board. I don't know if that's on top of your five minutes or not. You
can also show up that night and speak, but it's only for a half hour or 45 minutes,
after the hour and a half of people who have signed up.
Karr/ That's correct. But I think, again, if they have genuine interest there, they're
certainly prepared to stay and listen to folks.
Kubby/Okay. They will also be taking written comments, and if they can get them
before June 22, they'll be forwarded to the Board to have at that meeting. Though
they would certainly receive them after that date as well. So, just so people know
about that important community meeting. We got a letter in our packet that is just
a classic. And I hope that this goes into this person's personnel file. I don't know
if these kinds of letters ever do. But, Julie Tallman, our Environmental Specialist
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Inspector, I'm not sure of her title, but she has gotten a lot of compliments. But
this letter was incredible, from Linda Whittaker. And the kind of irony is, is
Linda wasn't totally satisfied with the outcome, but she really liked the process
and the performance of the City employee in helping deal with some erosion
problems in their neighborhood. And so I just wanted to say kudos to Julie
Tallman. I think she just has a knack for her job, and she does it very artfully.
So, thank you, Julie. And just very quickly, hi to a new friend that I met, Nelson,
who works at Holiday Inn. That's all.
Lehman/ Just one thing. We have a local sorority group who went in with a group in
Cedar Rapids and hosted a State Convention for their group. And as Mayor of
Iowa City, I was asked to welcome them. Now, it's interesting to go to another
Vanderhoef/ Got it?
Lehman/Yeah. I mean, I'm in Cedar Rapids and I'm supposed to welcome on behalf of
Iowa City. It's kind of hard to think of exactly what to say. And I heard the gal
from Cedar Rapids talk about what a wonderful community it was, and all the
shopping, and encouraged everybody to shop, and I thought what am I going to
say? Well, obviously I couldn't encourage them to shop, or at least I didn't. And
I told them about the wonderful University Hospital and University of Iowa, and
all the fine things we have down here, and then I thought, you know, if you have
to describe Iowa City to somebody who can't experience it, which they couldn't,
what're you talking about. And you know, I think the greatest asset Iowa City has
are its people. And we see them here at Council meetings. We see them daily.
They call us or whatever. I was very proud of those gals from Iowa City who
went up there, representing all of us at their State Convention. And I think all of
us should be very, very proud of the people of this community. They are, by far,
the biggest asset that we have. Steve?
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ITEM NO. 22a REPORT ON ITEMS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
Atkins/Two items for you. One is also a memo in your packet. And it's, I'd like to
publicly recognize employees. "Whereby folks in our Community Development
Commission received recognition for a new computer program they designed. It
helps our rehab. Travis Remmert of our Information Services actually did the
design work, but there's actually a number of folks involved. It never ceases to
amaze me how someone who's really good at rehab can turn around and design
software programs and whatever. And secondly, this is some new news, and
apparently it's Julie Tallman's day. I was informed today from EPA that we have
been awarded a grant of $258,000 for a wetland study. Now, the importance of
this grant is one, Julie wrote it. And, it is to be a field study of 3,200 acres of
wetlands in and around the Snyder Creek watershed. It is a field study. We have
relied in the past on aerial photographs. This is, as she described it to me today,
out stomping around in the mud, poking holes in the ground, doing the things that
will really give you firsthand information about the wetland. It's a partnership,
the City of Iowa City's involved, representatives of Johnson County, the Soil and
Water Conservation District, Lon Drake, our friend from the University has been
involved, and MMS Consultants, a local consulting firm. It's again a $250,000
grant for the next three years to study this area. We will be getting some
equipment. We have pledged Julie's time as well as a couple other folks. It's
really a good deal.
Kubby/Congratulations, that's great.
Norton/ Tell us, how did that relate to that big project out there, the waterway, that whole
reclamation project?
Atkins/ It has some beating on it. I asked her that question. I will be candid, she started
an explanation, and I stopped. And I said I'm sure you know and we'll get you
something that ties that south sycamore regional together. But it's a nice grant, I
mean, $250,000. That's all I've got, sir.
Lehman/Eleanor?
Dilkes/ Nothing.
Kubby/ I have one quick request for information. If we could just get a quick memo in
our next packet about Public Housing Authority employees?
Atkins/ Yes.
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Kubby/ And the hiring and the reorganization.
Atkins/Yes.
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