HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-21 Info Packet CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET
CiTY OF IOWA CITY October 2!, 2004
www.icgov.org
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
IP1 Tentative City Council Meetings and Work Session Agendas
IP2 Letter from Mark Patton: Habitat for Humanity Re-STORE Proposal
IP3 Article {Johns Hopkins University}: The Health Benefits Squeeze: Implications for
Nonprofit Organizations ant Those They Serve [From Mayor Pro tern Wilburn]
IP4 E-mail from James Meader to the Police Chief and City Manager: Traffic Control
IP5 Memorandum from the Administrator of the Iowa City Housing Authority: Recent News
Articles
IP6 Invitation from the North Liberty Commerce Committee of the Iowa City Area Chamber of
Commerce: North Liberty Business Banquet
IP7 Hou~sing and Building Inspection Customer Survey - October 2004
IP8 Minutes: Economic Development Committee: September 2, 2004
IP9 Minutes: Scattered Site Housing Taskforce: September 20, 2004
PRELIMINARY DRAFT/MINUTES
IP10 Charter Review Commission: October 11, 2004
IPll Charter Review Commission: October 12, 2004
IP12 Charter Review Commission: October 13, 2004
IP13 Telecommunications Commission: September 27, 2004
IP14 Housing and Community Development Commission: September 29, 2004
~ City Council Meeting Schedule and
----'~ Work Session Agendas
CITY OF IOWA CITY
www. icgov,org
I i TENTATIVE UTU" I
· MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Emma J. Harvat Hall
6:30p Council Work Session
· TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00P Formal Council Meeting
· THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Emma J. Harvat Hall
Veterans' Day Holiday- City Offices Closed
· MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Emma J. Harvat Hall
6:30p Council Work Session
· TUESDAYi NOVEMBER 16 Emma J. HarvatHall
7:00iP Formal Council Meeting
· MONDAY, DECEMBER 6 Emma J. Harvat Hall
6:30p Council Work Session
· TUESDAY~ DECEMBER 7 Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00P Formal Council Meeting
· MONDAY, IDECEMBER 20 Emma J. Ha/vat Hall
6:30p Council Work Session Cancelled
· TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21 Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00p Formal Council Meeting Cancelled
Meeting dates/times/topics subject to change
FUTURE WORK SESSION ITEMS
Regulation of Downtown Dumpsters
IP2
lowa Valley Habitat for Humanity
August 19, 2004 /Si
Steve Atkins ~/'~,~
City Manager
410 E. Washington
Iowa City, IA
Dear: Steve:
It was a pleasure for Brad Langguth and me to visit with you recently regarding our
efforts in building affordable homes in Iowa City. I want to take a moment of your time
to explain a new program we hope to launch soon and its positive impact on the area.
Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity is celebrating its 10th year of constructing quality
homes for those earning less than 50% of the area median income. The 31 homes we
have constructed during our first decade pay full property taxes and contribute to the
stabilization of the neighborhoods where they are located. Families pay back their
mortgage to us over 20 years and we use that money to build more homes. In our first 10
years~ local churches, foundations, service clubs and individuals to build homes have
donated more than $1.8 million for Habitat home construction. In addition, thousands of
hours of volunteer "equity" (including the families who become the owners) have been
donated to help keep the cost down.
Prices keep soaring on land as well as building materials and we have been forced to
consider a new venture to generate money to allow us to continue to build homes. We
are Proposing opening a Re-STORE: a center for the donation of used or excess building
materials and appliances for resale to the public. The Re-STORE concept has been
successfully instituted in more than 100 communities around the nation by local Habitat
affiliates with astounding results.
How does a Re-STORE work? Builders, lumberyards, and home owners find they have
decerit building materials left over at the completion of a construction job. In many
caseslthis material gets thrown into a dumpster and carted to the landfill. What ifa
sensible alternative existed? What if they could call a local number and have their
kitchen cabinets, bathroom sinks, or excess lumber taken away without costing them
anything? And what if they could write it all off their taxes at the same time? The Re-
STORE, in the same vain as a thrift store, takes in the "excess" items, displays them for
the public to buy, and sells the items to generate funding to continue their work.
The nearest Habitat Re-STORE is located in Davenport, which opened its doors for
· operation about two years ago. They documented more than 300,000 pounds of donated
items lin their first year of operation, items which would have otherwise been carted to the
landfill. You can begin to see how we all win with a Re-STORE: less material filling the
landfill, more material being used by those in need, and more local resources being
reused in local construction. So the local government wins, the environment wins, the
consumer wins, and Habitat wins.
We have some temporary space donated to us in Coralville at this time to begin to
organize a Re-STORE, on a limited basis, this fall We will be operating out of a
building where the proposed Rain Forest project is to be built. We have use of the space
only iuntil next summer.
We ~eed the city's help with a number of facets in the start-up. First, we will need help
in identifying a retail spot in Iowa City which is large enough to store bulky build items,
cheap enough to buy or rent, and visible enough so that the general the public finds it
easily.
Second, we need assistance in identifying resources for the start-up costs: trucks for
hauling donated items, racks for storing donating items, and the proper equipment to
handlle large donations.
Lastly, we need widespread advertising to educate donors and buyers of the benefits of
supPprting a Re-STORE. The need for this advertising would be greatest the first six
months of the project; after that time the Re-STORE should be able to sustain itself and
generate its own advertising.
PleaSe find attached some articles detailing the work of the Re-STORE in Madison,
Wis{onsin. They have diverted more than 750 tons of material from landfills there in the
first~hree years of their existence. In addition, they have been very helpful in sorting
demglition materials when the University takes down buildings.
I would enjoy speaking to you further about what is possible in Iowa City. Is there a time
this fall when you and Council members would like to hear more about a Re-STORE for
iowa city?
Thaflk you for your interest in this win/win idea. I look forward to hearing from you
sooni.
Peace .... .
Mark Patton
Exeautive Director ~ffft'//~ ~t'L~~
The-Habitat ReStore - Used and Surplus Building Materials nttp://www.restoreaane.org/aoou~.crrn
i L~ Habitat for Humanity of Dane County
ReStore
What is the Habitat ReStore?
Home
The Habitat ReStore is one of the few building materials reuse centers in Wisconsin.
About Us 4 Here's how it works: Habi[at for Humanity accepts donations of new and saleable,
used building materials such as cabinets, tlghtlng and plumbing ~lxtures, doors,
Inventory lumber, flooring, and windows. Some materials
will be used to build Habitat houses. The rest
Donations will be sold to the public at 50-75% Off the
retail price. There are over tOO ReStores In the
U.S and Canada.
Deconstructlon
The Habitat ReStore is located Just off Hwy 5~.
Volunteers on Madison's East S~de at 208 Cottage Grove
Road at the site of the former 3ung's Garden
Maps/Hours Center.
News The Habitat ReStore:
· Hakes home Improvements more affordable.
Photo Album · Helps Habitat build more homes. In an average year, the ReStore will allow
Habitat to build two additional homes in Dane County.
FAQ · Prevents useable building materials from going to a landfill. The Habitat
ReStore has the potential to keep 1.000 tons of building materials out of
Links Dane County's landfills.
How you can help:
The ReStore is an ambitious project, and we need
the help of a lot of people in many different ways to
~don_a_tLn_.g good used building materials, or simply by
shoppinq at the Habitat ReStore.
All donations to the Habitat ReStore are tax
deductible.
home I about us I inventory donations I volunteers I map & hours I newts I photo album I facl I
!j n~k..s_
W.e..b_...~_e~.e...n.~.._by..~..~ ! ~ ..~ ~_d..~.,. [. ~..
I of 1 8/18/2004 5:57 PM
The:Habitat ReStore - Used and Surplus Building Materials nttp://www.restoreaane.org/aonat~ons.cnn
I L,~ Habitat for Humanity of Dane County
ReStore
Donating materials to the Habitat ReStore
Home
The Habitat ReStore accepts new and used building-related materials from
About Us contractors, suppliers, individuals, remodelers and property managers. Some
materials are used directly in the construction of Habitat homes, but most are
Inventory offered to the general public to purchase at reduced prices. !i!~ff !~ a li~l~in§ of
some of the generous companies and individuals who have donated materials so
Donations ~ far.
Deconstruction Step 1
Volunteers When you have good, reusable or new materials,
give us a call at (608) 66~.-2813. You will be
Maps/Hours asked for a description of the materials as well as
your contact Information. We prefer that
donors include delivery of the materials to
News the store as part of their donaUon, so please
Indicate if you are able to deliver your donation
Photo Album to the Habitat ReStore when you caU.
FAQ Step 2
Links Your call will be returned to determine if we are able to use your donation and to
schedule a drop off time or coUection time, if necessary,
Step 3
~r the ReStore is pickln~ up donated items,
we will call the day before to confirm the
pick-up, For the safest, most efficient pick-ups,
please fo/Iow these guidelines:
· Have all materials stacked and easily
accessible
· Please mark all items "ReStore"
· Absolutely no hazardous materials
· We are unable to haul away trash
AS we are only able to accept reusable materials, our staff may have
to decline some materials at the time of pickup.
Wanted -- Used and surplus materials, fixtures, tools and
supplies:
· Cabinets, up-to-date and not damaged
· Plumbing, usable fixtures, parts and supplies
· Electrical, useable fixtures, parts and supplies
· Windows, insulated glass, no broken glass, no sashes accepted
· Hardware, knobs, hinges, locks, nails, cabinet pulls, nuts, bolts, screws
· Lumber, at least 6' in length
· Doors with jambs No broken glass
· Roofing, no scrap materials please!
· Carpet, no used carpet, no stains or odors
· Tools, hand, garden, working power
· Flooring, wood, ceramic tile, vinyl
· MIIIwork/trim, wood casing and base, vinyl base, ceramic
· Miscellaneous, masonry, sheathing, siding, drywall supplies
[tems the Habitat ReStore cannot accept:
1 of 2 8/18/2004 5:57 PM
The,Habitat ReStore - Used and Surplus Building Materials I~ttp://www.restoreoane.org/aonanons.crm
· lead-based materials a carpet pad
· appliances · fireplaces
· used toilets · shutters
· tub surrounds · aluminum or vinyl siding
· paint, stain, or varnish · window parts or pieces
· toxic materials · storm windows
· bunds · pieces under 6' long of materials,
· wallpaper such as lumber, drywall,
· furniture styrofoam, etc.
· items that are broken, are parts of
larger Items, or that would take a
great amount of labor to fix
Please note: this list is subject to change -- please call and check before
bringing items for donation,
Thank you for your support. Your donations are tax deductlblel
home J about us I inventory I donations J volunteers J rnap& hours J news I photo album J ~ J
IJ~nk~s
Web Presence by_
2 of 2 8/18/2004 5:57 PM
The Habitat ReStore - Used and Surplus Building Materials http://www.restoredane.org/news.clm#30
ReStore
~ Habitat for Humanity of Dane County
Habitat ReStore Zs Three Years Oldl
Home .1 uly, 2004
in the past three years, the ReStore has diverted more than 750 tons from area
About Us landfltls and helped fund eight H~!bitat h)r H~,l~ar~ity homes in Dane County, WI.
h~ventory The public Is invited to our Third Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, September
[8, 2004 from Noon to 4:00pm at the Habitat ReStore, 208 Cottage Grove Rd.,
Donations Madison, Wi. Activities include a silent auction, live bluegrass music, great food,
and children's painting. All activities, refreshments and parking are free. Bring the
Volunteers
You Are [nvited to Celebrate!
Maps/Hours .luly 2004
Come and celebrate Habitat ReStore's Third Anniversary on Saturday, September
News ~ [8, 2004 from Noon to 4:00pm at 208 Cottage Grove Rd, Madison, WL
Browse through the well-stocked store aisles, or make a bid at the Silent Auction.
Photo Album There will be fun activities for children, and great food. Bluegrass band
8end will play from 2:00pm-4:00pm. The celebration is o0en to the public and
FAQ parking is free.
Links For more information, contact Habitat ReStore Director,
Retired UW Professors Help Deconstruct Bacteriology
Building
May 2004
college professors never really leave campus? You might not guess what three
University of WIsconsin-Hadlson emeritus professors were doing on campus these
days. Their combined curriculum vitae are impressive. Their careers span decades.
They, each in their own unique ways, left their mark at the university. Peter
Scholar, Emeritus Professor of French, Fred M. Newmann, Emeritus Professor of
Curriculum and Instruction and Charles Bunge, Emeritus Professor of the School of
Library and [nformation Studies, returned to campus this May. Not as guest
speakers, but as dedicated volunteers for the Habitat ReStore deconstruction team.
Through donations and the deconstruction process, the Habitat ReStore sells
reusable building items to the general public with all proceeds going to build
affordable housing for Iow-income famUles through Habitat fo~' Humanity.
Homeowners, developers and businesses are able to have various items salvaged
and not simply put to the curb. Currently in Dane County construction debris
accounts for over 40% of the landfills.
The retired professors joined over a dozen other volunteers to work on
deconstructing E. B. Fred Hall, the bacteriology building built in ~.953 and named
after a former bacteriology professor and president of the University ($.945-1958).
Fred Hall gave way to a new building for the ever changing landscape of the
campus. The project managers, .leff Teagarden, vice president of Dore & Associates
Contracting [nc., and Pete Heaslett, Engineering Supervisor at the University's
Facilities Planning and Management office, collaborated on the project and realized
materials could be salvaged. ~t culminated in contacting Frank Byrne,
Deconstruction Team Leader of the Habitat ReStore.
"It's great how the Habitat ReStore was able to salvage and reuse so much of Fred
Hall's contents -- things even our Physical Plant and Surplus With A Purpose
(SWAP) program were unable to economically remove and use," said Pete Heaslett.
"The commendable efforts of the Habitat ReStore and Dore & Associates bring us
closer to University's goal of diverting 75% of this project's demolition materials
from direct landfill disposal."
"[ was extremely pleased to be able to work on this project with the University,"
said Frank Byrne. "We were able to retrieve five truck loads of quality, solid wood
furniture from E. B. Fred Hall with a volunteer crew of ~.6. Unique vintage maple lab
cabinets and shelves were recovered and will soon be for resale at the Habitat
ReStore. You can imagine all the discoveries and the hypotheses imagined and
devetoped on the desks and reference materials lining the shelves."
Having three former professors on site made for interesting stories, in fact, Pete
Scholar knew the bullding's namesake, E. B. Fred,
"I remember E. B. as a colorful character," said Schofer. "He had an office in Van
Hlse hall and would fill the hallways with his presence as he visited even though he
was in his eighties. I only came to learn later this colorful character was a major
force in science."
Fred M. Newmann offered his insights about working on dismantling a part of
I of 2 8/18/2004 5:56 PM
The. Habitat ReStore - Used and Surplus Building Materials nttp://www.restoreaane.orgmews.clm~av
campus. *It was a terHf~: I'e~g belng able to capture well-made shelving units
that can be put to good use I~ homes or businesses. ! hope people come to the
Habitat ReStore to take advantage of these bargains," said Newmann,
Deconstructlon projects like Fred Hall complete the circle of deconstructton Into
construction. The Fred Hall project salvaged tS0 cubic yards. In one year the
Habitat ReStore deconstructlon crew saved over ~.00 tons from landfills.
If you have good, reusable or new materials for deconstruction please call Frank
Byrne at (608) 66~.-28~.3 or cell number (608) 712-0737 or emall at:
If you are interested in having a piece of Fred Hall, the Habitat ReStore is located
at 208 Cottage Grove Rd, Madison, Wl 53716, It is open to the public from 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. You can reach the Habitat ReStore at
608-661-2813 or get more information at www.restoredane.org.
ReStore a Successful Model (published in Hearthstone)
March, 2004
The Habitat ReStore is now into its third year and still operating smoothly thanks to
the efforts of over one hundred volunteers. People from all walks of fife contribute
their time and energy as warehouse workers, truck drivers, and cashiers.
Volunteers also assist with office and administrative tasks, deconstructlon jobs, and
special projects as they come up.
Even well into the co~der months typlcalty considered to be slower in the
construction field, the Habitat ReStore has enjoyed strong support from the
community in the form of sales and donations. This is due in large part to the hard
work of Habitat's Deconstruction Manager, Frank Byrne, and to LInda Welch, who is
in charge of marketing and solicitation. Keep up the good work, folks.
Dane County's Habitat ReStore is the first in Wisconsin, and its success is proving
to be contagious. Since opening In September of 2001, our ReStore has served as
the model for other stores tn Davenport, Iowa, Winona, MN, and Sheboygan, WI.
We have had inquisitive visitors from Waukegan, IL, LaCrosse and Green Bay, WI
who would like to open Habitat ReStores in their own communities. Director, .lan
Voichick and store manager, Woody Osborne travelled to Wtnona, MN on .lanuary
16 to make a presentation on how to start and manage a ReStore.
The Habitat Restore continues to provide direct funding for Habitat homes and
conserve valuable resources. Beginning in March of 2004, there will be an
additional 4000 square feet of warehouse space added to our location at 208
Cottage Grove Road in Madison. It will be used to store even more donated
mataHals for our store and Habitat for Humanity. We're getting bigger and better
than ever. Thank you to everyone who makes the Habitat ReStore a smashing
success. Make t another great yeaO
State Steres Fill Need With Places for Low-Cost Building
Materials
May 11t 2003
Madison's ReStore and Milwaukee's HomeSource were featured in the Hilwaukee
.lournal Sentinal on May 11, 2003. ~Lad ~.[~ f~i! ~! ! ~ on Wisconsin's successful
"construction material thrift stores."
Rehab Wonders of the World
April, 2003
The ReStore inspires a spate of creative projects. Three thrifters share their
scavenged successes..R_~.~h~ ~!j~!! ~!.r[..f~.~, pub shed n The Isthmus, and
reproduced here with permission.
2 of 2 8/18/2004 5:56 PM
Table 1: Impact of High Health Insurance Cost Escalation on Nonprofit Organizptions
(Percent of Orgtlnizations)
Action All No Change or Decreased >= 11% Increase
Costs
Increased cost to employees 63% 41% 67%
Reduced or eliminated raises, bonuses, non-health benefits 33% 19% 39%
Cut services, raised fees 33% 9% 43%
Reduced hiring, shifted to part-time/contract work 32% 28% 36%
Decreased healthcare benefits 31% 18% 38%
Changed plans 18% 24% ; 20%
SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Listening Post Project
healthcare costs are thus contributing to an emerging non- bers expect to have to freeze hiring, cut or eliminate
profit employment crisis, potentially undermining one of pay raises, and reduce or eliminate non-health bene-
the nonprofit sector's most important attractions as a place fits;
of employment--its generally supportive human resource
policies. Beyond this, however, there is evidence that * About a third of the organizations expect continued
continued health insurance cost increases are taking a toll health insurance cost e~calation to cause delays in
as well on those the sector serves, by reducing the services purchasing needed equ!pment or making needed
they have available or increasing the costs, changes in their facilities;
Future Prospects · A substantial 31 percent 9fthe organizations consider
If health insurance rates continue to increase by 11 percent it highly likely that continued health benefit increases
or more per year over the next three years, as they have will lead them to raise orl introduce fees;
over the past three years, nonprofit executives expect
additional significant impacts on their employees, their ° Only 25 percent of the iorganizations considered it
operations, and ultimately those they serve. In particular, highly likely that they Would have to make further
as shown in Table 2: reductions in their healthl benefits and only 6 percent
thought it highly likely they would have to cut pro-
* Two out of three (68 percent) of the organizations grams or services. However, about two out of five of
consider it highly likely that further health benefit the organizations indicate~d that these more draconian
cost increases will lead them to shift more health measures, while less likely, were still quite possible if
insurance costs to their employees through higher pre- health insurance rates cofltinue to climb at their cur-
miums, co-pays, and deductibles, and sizable num- rent rate.
Table 2: Projected Responses to Continued Health Benefit Cost Increases
Response Percent of Organizations Citing Response as
Highly Likely L~ss Likely but Possible
Shift costs to employees through higher premiums, co-pays,
deductibles 68% 20%
Freeze hiring or reduce staff 29% 26%
Cut or eliminate wage increases or bonuses 24% 33%
Reduce or eliminate non-healthcare benefits 20% 34%
Delay improvements to office space 34% 25%
Delay equipment and other purchases 30% 20%
Raise/introduce fees 31% 26%
Reduce or eliminate health insurance benefits 25% 41%
Cut program~ or services 6% 39%
SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Listerling Post Project i
Table 3: What Worked?
Share of Organizations Reporting
Coping Action No Change or
Decreased Co,ts >= 11% Increase
All Reepondents '10% 63%
Respondents that:
Outsourced benef'~s management 20% 50%
Adopted strategy of reducing eligibility 17% 67%
Adopted strategy of reducing benerrts 15% 58%
Changed plans 13% 72%
Adopted strategy of reducing savings elsewhere 9% 55%
Reduced benef'~s 6% 77%
Shifted costs to employees 6% 70%
SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Listening Post Project
What Worked? insurance cost increases, and were also less likely to
have increases of 11 percent or more;
While the overwhelming majority of Listening Post orga-
nizations experienced double-digit increases in their · They sought savings elsewhere in their organizations.
health insurance costs and had to find ways to absorb Organizations that responded to growing healthcare
them, a sizable minority experienced smaller increases or costs by searching for savings elsewhere in their orga-
actual declines. Several intriguing clues about how to nizations also tended to be less likely to experience
reduce the impact of escalating health insurance costs high health insurance cost increases. Conceivably,
emerge from an examination of this special subgroup of the general cost saving strategy may have carried over
agencies, to facets of organizational operations that affected
In particular, as shown in Table 3, the agencies with healthcare costs.
lower healthcare cost increases tended to have the follow-
ing characteristics: In practice, however, many organizations ended up
reducing eligibility or reducing benefits even though they
. They were more likely to have an assigned benefits did not have an explicit strategy of doing so, and these
manager. Those that outsourced benefits manage- organizations did not managelto reduce their health insur-
ment did best, but assigning the benefits management ance cost increases. To the contrary, as Table 3 also
function internally also seemed to have a positive shows:
effect. By contrast, the organizations that did not
make benefits management an assigned function had * Organizations that actuall3, reduced benefits or shifted
the highest health benefit insurance cost increases, costs to employees were more likely than all agencies
This shows how complex the health benefits insur- to have high health insurance cost increases;
ance system has become.
· Changing health plans also did not reduce healthcare
· They pursued a strategy of reducing eligibility for cost increases. To the contrary, the organizations that
health benefits. Organizations that pursued a strategy changed plans during the past year were more likely
of reducing eligibility for healthcare benefits were to experience high health insurance cost increases
significantly more likely than other agencies to avoid than other agencies.
health insurance cost increases, though they were also
more likely to experience high health insurance cost · These findings suggest that for many agencies the
increases; causal relationship between making these changes
and health benefit cost increases runs in the opposite
a They pursued a conscious strategy of reducing the direction: the changes are not a solution to the prob-
range of healthcare benefits offered. Those who lem of health insurance cost escalation but a result of
reported reducing health benefits were 50 percent it. Agencies are not finding it possible to avoid the
more likely than all organizations to avoid health increases; they are simply having to cope with them.
Table 4: Impact of Health Benefit Cost Increases by Field
Community and
Feature Children and Elderly Housing Economic
Family Services and Services Development Museums Theaters All
Health benefit costs rose >= 11% 62% 69% 79% 49% 63% 63%
Shifted cost to employees 69% 64% 54% 58% 43% 58%
Raised fees, cut services 42% 45% 22% 31% 28% 36%
Reduced raises/benefits 53% 11% 33% 41% 38% 36%
Reduced hiring, shifted to part-time 40% 9% 61% 34% 40% 34%
Reduced health benefits 35% 24% 29% 31% 30% 30%
Fee-for-service, most common plan 10% 9% 38% 20% 11% 14%
SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Listening Post Project
Variations by Type of Organization
· Community and economic development organizations
While health insurance costs are increasing throughout the reported perhaps the most draconian consequences of
nonprofit sector and having similar impacts in different health insurance cost escalation. More than 60 per-
fields, some intriguing variations are also evident both in cent of these organizations--nearly twice as many as
the extent of the impact and the way agencies have among all organizations--reported reducing hiring or
responded. Thus, as shown in Table 4: shifting from full-time to part-time employees.
Despite these cuts in staffing, however, these organi-
· Large increases in health benefit costs were especial- zations, which tend to operate in Iow-income commu-
ly prevalent among community and economic devel- nities, were the least likely to increase client fees or
opment and elderly housing and services organiza- cut services.
tions, and least prevalent among museums. One rea-
son for this may be that the community and econom- · zlmong elderly housing and services agencies, a dis-
ic development organizations tend to be small, and tinctivepattern of response to rising health insurance
smaller organizations tended to fare worse than larger costs was also evident. These organizations seem to
ones in the face of escalating healthcare costs. In have focused on two primary responses: shifting costs
addition, the community and economic development to employees (64 percent of the organizations), and
organizations tended to rely more heavily on tradi- passing costs on to clients in the form of raised fees or
tional fee-for-service plans, which are generally more cuts in service (45 percent of the organizations).
expensive than managed care plans, though this rela-
tionship fails to receive consistent support in our data. · Museums and theaters pursued perhaps the most bal-
anced approach to health insurance cost escalation.
· Children and family services agencies appear to have Substantial, but not overwhelming, proportions of
been impacted unusually heavily by escalating health these organizations adopted each of the major
insurance costs, perhaps because they had fewer responses to health insurance cost increases. These
options for absorbing the costs. Thus, these organiza- organizations made special efforts to shield their
tions were consistently most likely to be forced into a staffs from the effects of health cost escalation, but
range of restrictive actions to offset rising health ben- also sought to limit the impact on their services and
efit costs. This included shifting costs to employees operations.
(69 percent of children and family agencies took this
action vs. 58 percent of all organizations), reducing or Variations by Size of Organization
eliminating raises and other benefits (53 percent of Interesting variations are also evident in how health insur-
children and family agencies vs. 36 percent of all ance cost escalation is affecting agencies of different
organizations), raising fees and/or cutting services (42 sizes. Thus, as shown in Table 5:
percent of children and family agencies vs. 36 percent
of all organizations), and reducing employee health . Relatively small organizations (those with 10-19
benefits (35 percent of children and family organiza- employees) tended to be especially hard hit by esca-
tions vs. 30 percent of all organizations), lating health insurance costs. This may be because
Table 5: Impact of Health Benefit Cost Increases by Size of Organization
Impact Percent of Organizations with
<10 FTEs t0-19 FTEs 20-49 F-rEs 50-99 FTEs 100+ FTEs All
Health benet'~ costs rose >= 11% 63% 77% 65% 67% 67% 67%
Shifted costs to employees 47% 44% 59% 63% 68% 59%
Raised fees, cut services 26% 65% 32% 32% 38% 36%
Reduced/eliminated raises, bonuses 28% 71% 32% 32% 35% 36%
Strategy of seeking savings elsewhere 31% 30% 31% 48% 37% 35%
Reduced hiring, shifted to part-time 46% 47% 37% 32% 24% 34%
Decreased health benefits 18% 36% 32% 41% 32% 31%
SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Listening Post Project
this is the size range at which the provision of health costs in check in an increasingly complex healthcare mar-
insurance becomes especially important but at which ket.
the resources for researching the best plans are least To date, nonprofit managers have succeeded in shield-
available, lng those they serve from the impact of escalating health-
care costs except for a growing need to introduce or
* One of the more promising strategies for coping with increase service fees. To do so, however, nonprofit man-
health insurance cost increases--i.e., finding savings agers have had to shift the costs on to their employees--
elsewhere in the organization--appears to be less through increased premiums, co-pays, and cost-sharing or
available for smaller organizations than for larger through reduced raises or other benefits. In the process,
ones. This makes some sense since smaller organiza- however, they may be undermining one of the few con-
tions have fewer places to mm to f'md meaningful crete advantages of nonprofit employment--the generally
savings. Thus fewer of the smaller organizations than benign human resource policies that nonprofits tend to
the larger ones reported pursuing this strategy, provide.
How long this process can continue before serious
· Larger agencies were also better able to shift health- problems of employee turnover and burnout surface is
care costs to their employees. This may be because anyone's guess. What is more, the pressures of continued
they have more employees and also because their health insurance cost escalation are likely to accelerate the
employees may be better paid to begin with. trend toward increased nonprofit fees and charges, under-
mining the sector's ability to fulfill its mission of service
· Smaller agencies were thus forced more often to to those in greatest need and its broader advocacy role.
reduce staff, shift to part-time workers, and cut ser- The "silent tax" represented by continued rapid increases
vices, in health insurance costs thus has particularly profound
implications for the nation's nonprofit sector, implications
Conclusion: The Silent Tax that have been largely overlooked until now. Hopefully,
Escalating health insurance premiums have emerged as a the data reported here will help focus new attention on the
silent tax on the American workforce, offsetting by a sub- health insurance crisis facing nonprofit employers as well.
stantial margin whatever advantage workers received as a
consequence of recent federal tax cuts and contributing to
the reluctance of employers to add new workers to their
rolls. ~ The Listening Post Project is a collaborative undertaking of the
For the most part, attention to the impact of these ris- Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies and seven partner
organizations--the Alliance for Children and Families, the Alliance
lng healthcare costs has focused on the business sector, for Nonprofit Management, the American Association of Homes
But as the research reported here makes clear, nonprofit and Services for the Aging, the American Association of Museums,
organizations have not been immune to these pressures, the National Congress for Community Economic Development, the
To the contrary, there is evidence that they have been par- National Council of Nonprofit Associations, and the Theatre
Communications Group. Working through the partner organiza-
ticularly hard hit, perhaps because they are generally
tions, the project has identified a national sample of over 500 non-
smaller in scale or lack access to the benefit management profit organizations in five fields-~children and family services,
specialists that seem so important in keeping healthcare elderly housing and services, community and economic develop-
merit, theaters, and museums (includes art galleries, botanical gar- smaller the organization. Employer Health Benefits Survey, 2004.
dens, zoos~ and science centers). These organizations have agreed to The Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Education
respond to a series of web-based surveys about key trends affecting Trust, September 2004.
them and major coping strategies they have adopted. Support for thc
project has been provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New 4 Data generated by the Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Employment Data
York, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Rockefeller Project demonstrate that average nonprofit wages lag l0 percent
Brothers Fund, and the Surdna Foundation. For further information behind those of the private business sector, and 18 percent behind
on the Listening Post Project, visit the project web site at: those of state government employees nationwide. See: Lestcr M.
www.jhu.edu/listeningpost. Salamon and Wojciech Sokolowski, "Nonprofit Employment: The
Perspective from the ES-202 Data System," Monthly Labor Review,
The Health Benefits Sounding was distributed via the lnternet to forthcoming 2004.
senior executives at the 458 organizations in our sample on June 24,
2004, and the Sounding closed on July 23, 2004. Altogether, 253 5 Among thc random sample of nonprofit organizations not affiliat-
organizations, or 55 percent of those that received the Sounding, ed with national umbrella organizations, a considerably smaller 70
responded. The Sounding was also distributed to a random sample percent reported offering health insurance benefits to their employ-
of 186 nonprofit organizations in these five fields drawn from ces. However, these tended to be smaller organizations. This sug-
national databases independent of the umbrella organizations. This gests that the Listening Post organizations affiliated with national
Sounding was completed on August 20, 2004. The response rate for umbrella groups may be among the larger and better-off organiza-
this random sample was 22 percent. While such a small sample tions in their fields. This makes the findings reported here about the
does not allow interpretation by field, we found the strategies burden of health insurance cost increases on them all the more sig-
employed similar to those for the larger sample discussed in the nificant. We would expect that the less well-off agencies are faring
Communiqu6, though fewer oftbese random sample organizations even worse.
reported providing health insurance, as discussed more fully in foot-
note 5 below. 6 An Employee Benefit Research Institute study in 2002, for exam-
ple, found that only 30 percent of firms increased employees' share
2 Employer Health Benefits Survey, 2004. The Kaiser Family of premiums. Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, Employee
Foundation and Health Research and Education Trust, September Benefit Research Institute, 2002 Small Employer Health Insurance
2004. Survey, 2002.
3 The rate of insurance coverage among all finns lags behind that
among nonprofits in every size class, but the disparity widens the
For More Information
A copy of this report is available online at www.jhu.edu/listeningpostYnews. For further information on the
Listening Post Project, contact the Center for Civil Society Studies, Institute for Policy Studies, Johns Hopkins
University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218; listeningpostproject~jhu.edu.
Suggested Citation
Lester M. Salamon and Richard O'Sullivan, "The Health Benefits Squeeze: Implications for Nonprofit
Organizations and Those They Serve." Communiqu~ No. 3. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society
Studies, October 2004.
Message I~
Marian Karr
From: James Meader [jamesmeader@mcleodusa.net]
Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 8:03 PM
To.' rj-win kelhake@iowa-city.org; steve-atkins@iowa-city.org
Cc: cou ncil@iowa-city.org
Subject: Traffic Control
While visiting the City of Iowa City this evening (Saturday October 16th) I was extremely disappointed in the services
provided. After the conclusion of an Iowa football game the traffic was being directed from the football field toward the
interstate 380. This is good to see and overall, I respect the officers and other individuals for their overall efforts. The
disappointment lies with the fact that my wife works at the Universities Hospitals and Clinics and I was not allowed to take
her to this place. The officers were cutting off access to the Hospitals without offering alternate routes. I tried to ask for
help but the officer only yelled out "Lane Closed". I was then forced to drop off my wife forcing her to walk almost a mile
to work. I was then redirected out of town.
This event presents several questions. Instead of taking my wife to work, what if she would have been having a heart
attack or giving birth? The cooperation expressed by the officer was an unwillingness to help or even listen to the need
at hand. We were trying to reach the hospital !!!!! Would you have been happy if I was that officer and you were the
person seeking medical assistance and all that happened is that you were directed away from the hospitals? All of this
for the sake of a football game! The officer could have at least directed us to an alternative route.
Perhaps next time, when my wife is injured instead of going to work to help the sick and injured, I'll be sure to gather
the police officers name or at least the badge id. This will allow me to pursue a law suit against Iowa City and place a
dollar value on a loved one. Heaven knows with the inhospitable treatment by this officer Iowa City is treating my family
members in the same fashion. I feel that the city of Iowa City owes both my wife and I an apology for the unacceptable
attitude of the police officer. Second, Iowa City should work on a mean of directing access to the hospitals during busy
times.
Please keep these thoughts in mind the next time you hear "Touch Down?'. Are you thinking of football game or a
helicopter setting down at the hospitals because the roadways were blocking paths for an ambulance.
James Meade~r
2604 Falbrook Dr. NE
Cedar Rapids; IA 52402
(319) 743-7876
10/18/2004
Date: October 20, 2004
To: City Council
From: Steven J. Rackis, Administrator, Iowa City Housing Authority
Re: Recent News Articles
Attached are 2 articles of interest recently published in the Daily Iowan. The article titled,
"FACES of public housing"focuses on the Public Housing program operated by the City of Iowa
City.
http://www.dailyiowan.com - Daily Iowan Page 1 of ~Z
Daily Iowan -, Nletro
Issue: 9/22/04
Faces of public housing
By Arna Wilkilgson - The Daily Iowan
Click here to view the accompanying photo essay
A great-grandmother. A college student. A family of six.
Those who seek security in Iowa City public housing represent a diverse slice of the population - a
collection of UI students, single mothers, and urbanites seeking Iowa's quiet, small-town locale and
looking to start anew. The need for such shelter has surged dramatically in recent years as more
people perceive Iowa City as a prosperous place with a strong education system, said Steven
Rackis, the director of the Iowa City Housing Authority.
The waiting list for Housing Authority programs, which include public housing and federal rental-
assistance vouchers, jumped from zero in 1999 to 1,880 people in 2003. There are now 317 public-
housing tenants in Iowa City.
Their stories aren't exactly what you'd expect.
"One stereotype is the majority of people in public housing are African Americans from inner-city
areas in Chicago, spreading crime," Rackis said.
But such images are seldom true in Iowa City, said housing officials, who would like to dispel myths
about the city- and federally funded projects. The Iowa City Scattered Site Task Force, a City
Council-appointed panel, is evaluating the location of the city's 91 units along with other federally
funded housing to determine if there is a concentration in certain school neighborhoods affecting
the academic performance of students.
These are the faces of public housing - snapshots of lives and dreams held safe within the walls of
small homes and duplexes nestled among neighborhoods throughout Iowa City.
Starting over
Take U! graduate student T.3. Cassidy (not in directory), a quadriplegic who has relied on public
housing on Muscatine Avenue for almost six years. The Charles City, Iowa, native is one of 93
Housing Authority tenants receiving non-wage income in the form of UI financial aid.
The 29-year-old is also part of the 43 percent of Housing Authority participating heads of
households deemed to be disabled. At age 18, he was accidentally shot by a friend with a .22
caliber handgun. After living in Burge Residence Hall during his undergraduate studies, Cassidy
said, it was impossible to find an affordable place to live in Iowa City that could meet his needs.
The social-work graduate student found the public-housing apartment building designed for those
with disabilities when Iowa City's public-housing coordinator contacted the Evert Conner Rights and
Resources Center for Independent Living looking for tenants. Cassidy pays rent with Social Security
disability income while living with his younger sister, one of his caregivers. Between twice-a-day
home health-care visits, he researches his project on adult psychiatric patients.
If not for the "godsend" of public housing, he said, he doesn't know what he would have done.
No place like home
http://www.dailyiowan.com/global_user_elements/printpage,cfm?storyid=726404 10/19/2004
http://www.dailyiowan.com - Daily Iowan Page 2 of ;2.
The same goes for 72-year-old Glenda Derry, who has lived in Iowa City public housing for nine
years. Nine percent of Housing Authority heads of households are categorized as elderly.
Diagnosed with terminal cancer th'tee years ago, Derry was as tough as the tigers in the
photographs hanging above her couch.
The retired nurse's aide from Galesburg, Ill., moved to Iowa City in 1987 to be closer to one of her
three daughters. After sharing a residence for awhile, Derry wanted her own space in order to feel
comfortable.
"I needed it bad," she said, adding that she was "tickled" when she found an available public-
housing apartment.
She spends her most of her time' now resting in her armchair, weakened by the chemotherapy
treatments that make it difficult for her to remember things; Her relatives bring groceries and clean
the apartment. She watches television and does crossword puzzles, surrounded by family portraits
and her favorite knickknacks of birds and horses,
A doormat outside her front door reads, "There is no place like home."
A steppingstone
While Derry may have settled into her apartment, Housing Authority self-sufficiency coordinator
Mary Copper visits with participants who are only in assisted housing temporarily while they work
to own homes and improve their careers. Seventy-four percent of Housing Authority heads of
households, excluding the elderly and disabled, have income from work.
"People can't do anything or go to work if they do not have the stable force of a house," Copper
said. "Changing the environment people live in is crucial. Housing is the first step. The second step
is employment."
The Evans family is among Copper's clients who have completed the program. Tucked back on a
circle drive in Tiffin, their white house with burgundy shutters does not stand out from the rest of
the neighborhood. But to the Evans family, it represents part of their dream to own a home and
provide shelter for their four children.
After spending more than two years receiving federal rental assistance known as a housing-choice
voucher, they recently built a new home by investing in a high-interest earning account, receiving
a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and attending self-sufficiency program workshops.
They paid for everything in their new house from new appliances to the grass on their lawn.
"All this would not have been possible at this point in our lives without the Housing Authority,"
Mitzy Evans said, adding that they wanted a place where their children could play freely without
being confined by a tiny apartment.
"When you have kids, you want them to be comfortable," Floyd Evans Sr. said.
Now, little Floyd and his twin sisters run and laugh through the sun-splashed living room of their
house.
Mitzy and Floyd Evans Sr., agree that the path to home ownership can be intimidating, but while
building their house, they said everyone from the Housing Authority to the builders was supportive.
"So many people make it seem impossible to own a home," Mitzy said. "They say you'll never be
able to own a home, it's too much work, or you'll never be able to finish school, you have five kids.
But I always use it as a steppingstone to prove them wrong."
http://www.dailyiowan.com/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=726404 10/19/2004
http://www.dailyiowan.com - Daily Iowan Page 1 of 3
Daily Iowan - Metro
Issue: 9/21/04
Finding a home in HACAP
By Ama Wilkinson - The Daily lowan
Click here to view the accompanying photo essay
At age 7, Carol Turner's only son found a dead body while walking in his neighborhood in Gary,
Ind. Nine years later, she leans out the back door of Iowa City's Hawkeye Area Community Action
Program emergency housing on Broadway, showing off the apple trees growing nearby.
A tall $3-year-old with wisps of gray in her braided hair, Turner's shadow-rimmed eyes are direct
and focused as she sits on the first floor of her row house. The smell of cornbread wafts in from the
kitchen. Her nieces and her 11-year-old daughter slam the front door as they run in and out,
joining others playing around the uniform row of 18 HACAP residences.
"Granted, this isn't Eden, but I don't have any problems letting my daughter go to the park," she
said.
Turner's haven, however, is under scrutiny. The location of HACAP housing, along with all other
housing maintained by federal, state, county, or city funding in Iowa City, is being evaluated by the
Scattered Site Task Force - an eight-member panel appointed by the City Council in April after the
Iowa City School Board questioned the concentration of assisted housing in southeastern Iowa City.
The School District is worried that the locations of assisted housing could affect several school's
academic performances, specifically Twain, 1355 De Forest Ave., and Wood, 1930 Lakeside Drive,
Elementary Schools, said Superintendent Lane Plugge.
A scattered-site policy, if adopted by the city, would mean assisted housing would be more evenly
distributed in the city.
Twain had the highest percentage of students enrolled in the free- or reduced-lunch program in
2003 at 58 percent, along with the lowest reading-proficiency percentage among the district's
elementary schools.
"We were concerned that when you have a concentration of affordable housing, you get a
concentration of high-needs students," Plugge said.
But not everyone agrees with this assessment.
"The number of kids who qualify for free- and reduced-lunch at Mark Twain Elementary School and
Grant Wood Elementary School is greater than the number of assisted-housing units with families
having elementary-school age children in them in that area," said Charles Eastham, the president
of the Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship, a nonprofit organization providing affordable housing.
Turner, whose youngest daughter attends Twain, said the School Board's concern about the
relationship between assisted housing and students' academic performance was based on
stereotypes.
"If they want to pigeonhole people who are living in Iow-income housing, that is not fair," she said.
"As far as my daughter goes, she is doing very well in school, and the students that I know through
my daughter are very bright kids."
For Turner, HACAP housing has laid a foundation for her goals, especially providing the best
http://www.dailyiowan.com/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=7252 42 10/19/2004
http://www.dailyiowan.eom - Daily Iowan Page 2 of 3
education for her family. In April 2003, Turner drove to Iowa City from Gary in her 1986 Mercury
Marquis with her three children, her grandson, and some clothes. She spent her first months at the
Shelter House, 331 N. Gilbert St. It was cramped In one room, she said. She was placed in HACAP
housing in September 2003 with help from shelter employees and the Crisis Center, 1121 Gilbert
Court.
"! wanted to make going to college easier for my kids, so I moved back to Iowa City," she said.
wanted them to see that there were other things out there, better things."
Born in Keokuk, Iowa and raised in Fort Madison, Turner had memories of visiting Gary when she
was younger and thinking that it may have potential for growth. In reality, she rarely slept well at
night worrying about her children with drug dealers, stray bullets, and corpses.
"Those kids [in Gary] are old before their time,n she said. "I did not want [my children] to be
another statistic."
The move has been difficult. When she first came to HACAP housing, she and her children slept on
the floor because they did not have beds.
"It's not easy here, either," she said. "But I am a patient woman."
There are many things that Turner is getting together to make a new life. She has living room
furniture, donated by the Iowa City Furniture ProJect, a city-run program that provides used
furniture to the community. Her family has beds to sleep on, donated by HACAP. Pictures of her
children hang on the wall next to the front door.
Her 17-year-old daughter, Edwena, has large, dark eyes and her mother's stature. She is getting
her GED at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa City, while taking care of her 2-year-old son,
Eugene. Her mother, she said, has been there for her since day one, looking after Eugene during
the day while she is at school.
Edwena found support in the many programs for teenage mothers In Iowa City. Fiercely
independent, she wants to provide for her son with a job in nursing.
"I am much more grown up now," she said. "I know I need to finish school,n
Her 16-year-old brother, Wesley, a City High junior, is also adjusting to his new home. In a soft-
spoken voice, he said he misses his Gary friends but not the "wild fights breaking out almost every
day" at his former high school.
In addition to the stability of their new home, his mother found a steady job in Coralville after
initially working at the Crisis Center.
"I don't plan on staying at [HACAP Housing]," Turner said. "It Is not my life's ambition to stay on
welfare."
She hopes to move into a house of her own for her family. She has been placed on the two-year
waiting list for federal rental assistance, known as a housing-choice voucher.
While she is waiting, the degree and quality of an assisted-housing concentration is still being
evaluated, focusing on poverty rates, crime data, and property values, said task-force member
Matt Hayek. The panel will hold open public forums and present its findings to the City Council by
January 2005.
Still trying to save money to move, Turner gets tired and frustrated, but she is no longer afraid for
her children's safety, and she is proud of their progress.
http://www.dailyiowan.com/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=725242 ! 0/19/2004
http://www.dailyiowan, com- Daily Iowan Page 3 of 3
"It's all about leaving what you had behind and looking at what you got now," she said,
E-mail DI reporter Arna Wilkinson at:
arna-wilkinson@uiowa.edu
http://www.dailyiowan.com/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=725242 10/I 9/2004
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Iowa City Housing and Inspection Services ~ IP7 !
Customer Service Survey ~ October 2004 -
I. IOW DOINGP
Thank you very much for all your help. We have common goals and our cooperation makes
them easier to achieve. We find your whole department easy to get along with and very
professional. Thanks!
On time. On task. On target. Good job!
Norm came to inspect my property at 1601 Center. He was very pleasant and very helpful giving
me great advice on the maintenance of my house. I look forward to my inspection because the
inspectors are always helpful - I even call during the year for maintenance advice. I give them 5
stars.
Pleasant experience. Inspectors are courteous and respectful and easy to work with.
The inspection went very well. The repairs were done at once and the tenants are happy. Kristy
Bell says "hi" to you, Art. You were her boss one summer here.
The inspection went ok. Repairs were done as requested.
Excellent. The deficiencies were fairly explained and make it easy to fix. Your staff and Mr. Cate
were very courteous and helpful. Thanks.
Good. On time, pleasant, explained things well and completely, answered questions.
I liked Art Anderson (of course) because he noticed the improvements I made since the
previous owner of my rental property. His suggestions were very helpful.
Doing a good job.
hisad rn/comments-oct04.doc 1
Iowa City Housing and Inspection Services
Customer Service Survey - October 04
Page 2
We really appreciate the promptness of receiving the rental permit back for our rental at 112
North Johnson. Bob Shaver completed the process very efficiently. Thanks!
Very nice group of people - are informative when I have questions, since I'm still learning some
of this stuff.
Good job!
Very kind and very patient. I am a rookie landlord and need all the help I can get. Thank you!
Very polite and professional. Was extremely helpful on other questions I had concerning rental
unit and regulations.
Good job.
The repair job has been fixed. Mr. Cate was very nice; could not have been better. Thank you.
Art Anderson performed our inspection at 946 Iowa Avenue in a professional and efficient
manner.
Bob Shaver was our housing inspector and he is very nice to work with. He is very exact and
explains what he wants. Once again, the City has a good employee.
Art Anderson did a fine job on our 1030 E. Jefferson Street inspection. I'm glad that follow-ups
are scheduled only for safety-related items noted.
I suppose because she is a woman she had to find something. She made me change things
that others had passed for 10 years! You people love to pick on those of us who keep our
properties up and ignore the slumlords like Brown's Village.
Hisad m/comments-oct04.doc 2
Iowa City Housing and Inspection Services
Customer Service Survey - October 04
Page 3
Norm was very professional and helpful with this process.
Norm Cate was professional and prompt. I received via mail the items that needed attention.
The final inspection was again quick and to the point. I appreciate his professionalism.
Bob was very helpful. He was able to offer helpful suggestions in correcting our violations. It
was also helpful to have him point out/notice the things we were doing correctly. I was nervous
going through my first inspection, but he made it seem not so overwhelming. He was helpful and
very professional.
You are doing a great job. Art Anderson was especially flexible, knowledgeable, and helpful.
Thanks again, HIS.
Art Anderson is a good inspector: one can talk to him; he is reasonable.
Bob Shaver inspected my apartments. He was prompt and efficient - didn't waste a lot of my
time - I appreciate that!
Bob was very prompt and professional.
Bob does an outstanding job for the City of Iowa City. A great P.R. person, so motivated and
polite. He has good eye contact and an expressive tone of warmth and understanding of the
homeowner's responsibilities. We appreciate how difficult each inspector's job is. Many thanks!
OK/Fine
Norm was excellent to work with. He was straightforward and personable. I also appreciated his
flexibility in scheduling both inspections.
Hisad m/comment s-oct04.d oc 3
Iowa City Housing and Inspection Services
Customer Service Survey - October 04
Page 4
Bob Shaver was our inspector and was very courteous and kind. Went through the house and
gave suggestions to make improvements better. We appreciate the kindness of all City
employees.
Norm Cate recently inspected a rental that I own. I think he did a thorough job of inspecting,
recommending and follow-up. A very professional approach. He enabled me to make it safer for
my tenants. Thank you.
Hisadm/comments-oct04.doc 4
MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2004 - 5:30PM
CITY HALL, LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM
Members Present: Ernie Lehman, Bob Elliott, Regenia Bailey
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Steve Nasby
Others Present: Bob Rolfe, John Spitzer, David Hensley, Jim Peterson, Dick
Schwab, Gerry Fall, Joe Raso, Andy Axel
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Ernie Lehman called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES- JULY 1,2004
The committee approved the minutes from July 1, 2004.
UPDATE- UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING CENTER
Hensley gave an update to the committee regarding the University of Iowa's Entrepreneurial
Learning Center. Hensley said that the official name is Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning
Laboratory, and that the formal opening will be on Friday, September 10, at 11:00 a.m. He
mentioned that the goal of the center is to provide resources for students to transform their
ideas into business plans. Hensley said that the Entrepreneurial Learning Center is open to
University of Iowa students. Hensley noted that the Entrepreneurial Learning Center has the
capacity to accommodate up to 17 teams (34 persons) at any one time, and that currently there
are seven teams of students.
In response to a question, Hensley said that the focus of the Entrepreneurial Learning Center is
high tech and as such there could be a potential for high growth and jobs in the Iowa City -
Coralville area. He stated that some of the students that use the Entrepreneurial Learning
Center would stay in Iowa City, and start companies while others will likely want to locate closer
to their hometowns or metro areas.
Bailey asked if the Entrepreneurial Learning Center is available only to students that pursue a
degree in Entrepreneurial Science or are enrolled in the College of Business. Hensley answered
that the Entrepreneurial Learning Center is meant to provide help for any student interested in
creating a business. He added that there are students from several different majors or fields of
interest that work in the Center. As an example, he mentioned that there are some students
pursuing majors in music who want to start a business in music therapy. He also said that they
have also had interest from other Liberal Arts or culturally oriented students (e.g. Art) and the
College of Engineering.
The Entrepreneurial Learning Center, he said, gives students a head start on learning how the
business world works, giving them an advantage when entering the labor market. However, he
Economic Development Committee Minutes
September 2, 2004
Page 2
said that entrepreneurial activities not only apply to starting businesses, but expanding the
business as well.
Hensley said that the John Pappajohn School of Business provides a number of other
entrepreneurial activities for persons other than University of Iowa students. These included an
entrepreneurial summer camp for school-aged children and the Fasttrac classes for persons
wanting to start or expand small businesses.
PRESENTATION- ANGEL INVESTMENT GROUP SCREENING COMMITTEE
Schwab said that the focal point of the group is capitalism. They want to invest in companies to
make them successful, and help entrepreneurs start jobs in the Iowa City -Coralville region. He
mentioned that they are looking for prospect businesses that are relatively close (within 2 hours
driving time). Rolfe said that they are very disappointed in the fact that they have no
investments in Iowa City. He added that most of their investments run into the Cedar Rapids
area. He said that the group wants to help companies in the Iowa City -Coralville area, but they
did not have the opportunity yet.
Lehman asked the investors, how entrepreneurs find out about the Angel Investment Group.
Peterson said that Angel Investors represent a growing concept in Iowa City region. He said that
entrepreneurs are looking for money to start their business and that in their search, they easily
find out about the Angel Investors.
Lehman asked how the group evaluates the prospect applicants. Fall said that their committee
looks at the new business plan and asks the most basic question, "Does this make sense?". He
added that most of the projects fall at this first stage, because the prospective businesses have
unrealistic ideas that will not survive in the business world. Other times the business plans are
not completely developed, in this case the group explains the areas in which the project is
lacking, and might ask the Angel Investor who is taking the lead on this proposal to review the
application. He also mentioned that there were a couple of instances when the proposed
business plan was lacking in many things and that the project, following a review and assistance
from the Angel Investor proponent was very good, and it received an investment from the Angel
Investors group.
Schwab said that in many cases, there are a couple of investors that are actually specialized in
specific areas, who find a project interesting, surround the project, dig in, and then support it in
front of the group.
Rolfe said that the group is not just looking for an idea. He said that the entrepreneur must
come with completed plans, and present the plan for future growth. In response to a question on
how the group decides to invest. Rolfe said that in this review process they get to know people,
and can feel if one is a winner, and can survive in the business world.
ADJOURNMENT
Elliott moved to adjourn; Bailey seconded. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.
Council Economic Development Committee
Attendance Record
2004
Term
Name Expires 01/26 03/30 07/01 09/02 10/12 00/00 00/00
Regenia Bailey 01/02/08 X X X X X
Bob Elliott 01/02/08 X X X X X
Ernest Lehman 01/02/06 X X X X X
Key:
X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = No Meeting
..... Not a Member
MINUTES
SCATTERED SITE HOUSING TASKFORCE
SEPTEMBER 20, 2004
CITY HALL, LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jerry Anthony, Darlene Clausen, Matthew Hayek, Jan Peterson, Sally
Stutsman, Joan Vandenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT: Don Anciaux, Jan Left,
STAFF PRESENT: Steve Nasby, Steve Rackis
OTHERS PRESENT: Gary Klein, Marcia Klingaman (Iowa City Neighborhood Council)
Maryann Dennis, Charles Eastham, Patti Santangelo
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Hayek called the meeting to order at 5:05 pm.
Approval of Auqust 16, 2004 and August 30, 2004 Minutes:
MOTION: A motion was made by Anthony and seconded by Vandenberg to approve the August 16
Minutes with no revisions. Motion carried unanimously by those present.
MOTION: A motion was made by Peterson and seconded by Anthony to approve the August 30 Minutes
with typographical errors corrected. Motion carried unanimously by those present.
Presentation by Iowa City Association of Realtors
Nasby reported that he had contacted the Association of Realtors to confirm their presentation and was
informed that the Iowa City Association of Realtors did not designate representatives to present to the
Taskforce. Aisc, Nasby said that no additional information or handouts from the Iowa City Association of
Realtors had been received.
Hayek said that the Taskforce would proceed to the presentation by the Neighborhood Council.
Anthony inquired about information from the Homebuilders Association, as discussed in the September 2
meeting. Hayek noted that he would follow up on obtaining that information.
Presentation by Iowa City Neighborhood Council
Klein began by briefly summarizing the function of the Neighborhood Council. There are 28 Neighborhood
Associations that meet on a monthly basis to discuss issues they have in common. Klein said that the
Neighborhood Council .is informal and intended to allow discussion of issues affecting several
neighborhoods, and that the Neighborhood Council is composed of representatives elected by the
individual Associations.
Klein noted that the presentation he is giving to the Taskforce is representative of the active voices in the
Neighborhood Associations, rather than being the viewpoint of all Neighborhood Association members.
Both Klein and Klingaman said that the Neighborhood Association Representatives were sent information
and given opportunity to provide feedback. Most participation tends to come from the Downtown and
University area Neighborhood Associations.
Some points from responses included: · Concentrating assisted housing units is not desirable.
· Designing units to blend into existing neighborhoods in architectural detail and density is
preferred.
· Designing units to conform to historic district design requirements is encouraged.
· Maintenance and management of units is a major determinant on the level of impact on the
neighborhood. Oversight of rental units and tenant activities - both in assisted living and
otherwise - is necessary.
· All neighborhoods need to do "fair share" of assisted housing.
Scattered Site Housing Taskforce Minutes
September 20, 2004
Page 2
Klein said that a concern that was expressed focused on the area south of Highway 6, as it is perceived
to currently support greatest number of the higher-density and assisted housing units. Grant Wood and
Mark Twain elementary schools feel the impact of serving the needs of increased numbers of lower
income children in these areas, and the police department spends more time in the area. This area has
the most affordable land in Iowa City, which supports the continued development of affordable housing.
As long as the cost of building remains Iow in these areas, Iow-cost housing will continue to be built. At
one time, it was understood that the City Council would informally discourage the development of
assisted housing south of Highway 6, which appeared to slow development for a number of years. That
direction has since changed as some projects have built in that area.
Klein said that the "fair share" policy is a general concern for a number of neighborhoods. One
recommendation is introduction of a formal policy to place a moratorium on development of publicly
assisted housing south of Highway 6, with exception to projects already approved prior to the effect of the
moratorium. This would create scattered site opportunities in other areas de facto, and would not require
a formal city policy. He suggested this would also prod the city to investigate use of CDBG funds for
inclusionary zoning. Klein said that they understand the possible need for incentives and are generally
supportive of incentives to help developers create affording housing.
Klein distributed a formal letter addressed to the Taskforce from the Neighborhood Council fully stating
the views he summarized for the Taskforce, as well as an inclusionary zoning brief for review and
consideration. In summary, there are a number of developers and organizations in Iowa City that are
working to create affordable housing opportunities. There is interest from a neighborhood perspective to
see what the future looks like, and how it will be determined. Neighborhoods do not wish to have negative
impacts on their areas, but the group recognizes the need for assisted housing and the diversity that
arises from having these opportunities throughout the city.
Hayek: please give details about the process involved in gathering this information from the
neighborhoods, and the participation. Klein reported that Klingaman sent email messages that included
the letter from the Taskforce to the heads of the Neighborhood Associations, requesting comments. In the
Creekside Neighborhood, email messages went to a neighborhood list, consisting of perhaps a third of
the actual residents. This included the three questions, and summarized issues and concerns from a
neighborhood perspective, and the need for feedback.
Very Iow response rate overall. Clausen reported that this process was also used in the Northside
neighborhood. Klein reported that Longfellow had highest response rate with approximately five
responses. Klingaman suggested that this is a very complex issue and it can be difficult to grasp the full
ramifications. Klein concurred, adding that it is not an issue that people feel too strongly about in a
theoretical sense. It will become a more "real" situation once a practical solution is offered that impacts a
particular place. Only six or seven neighborhoods responded with several responses from areas already
impacted by the issue at hand.
Hayek: was there a clear consensus for suggestions in the letter? Klein reported that there was a
consensus. Klingaman added that the letter was emailed to neighborhood participants for their review and
comments, and that lack of response would be assumed to be approval. Only one response to the letter,
saying it was good. Perhaps two thirds of the Associations have had some activity or conversations within
a year apart from this. Associations become more active when issues of concern are at hand.
Vandenberg: is Longfellow typically more active, or is this an issue of concern for that area? Klingaman
replied that the area is usually more active, and the comments from that neighborhood implied that the
area already had assisted housing and had "done their share."
Hayek: was there discussion of the impact of a moratorium, that it could result in less housing overall
going forward? Klein replied that no, that idea did not come through. The suggestion came from the
Wetherby area, which has several projects and organizations already. Other factors, such as market
values, have not operated as restrictions in the community, so perhaps other things need to be put in
place. Perhaps this sort of action would be good for a particular area, but must also consider what is good
for the city and the developers as well, and try to balance everyone's needs.
Scattered Site Housing Taskforce Minutes
September 20, 2004
Page 3
Hayek: was the moratorium suggested for strictly south of Highway 6? Klein answered that no other area
was identified as problematic. The area south of the highway and east of the river, was noted to be an
issue by neighborhoods other than those in that region. Klein noted that the issue depends also on
property management issues. Change comes from neglect, and there are concerns what will happen with
properties long term. Klingaman added that a lot of energy may be required on the part of the
neighborhood to convince the city or owner to continue maintenance. Klein noted also that neighborhood
associations usually involve a small percentage of active individuals. As such, a few people can influence
the opinions of the individual neighborhood associations.
Hayek: what would the vote in neighborhoods be on this issue right now? Klein replied that could be
asked at the public hearing. Klingaman suggested that the vote would be split. Peterson agreed with
Klingaman, adding that there would be differing ideas on what would be "fair." Klein noted that the opinion
might be that scattered affordable housing is a good idea, in everyone else's neighborhoods.
Hayek: regarding inclusionary zoning brief, are there any particulars to be noted? Klein answered that
"inclusionary zoning" is quite variable, and this particular brief asks good questions, especially about
issues over which there may be disagreement. Among these are whether the program is mandatory or
voluntary, what does "voluntary" mean, what sorts of developments/buildings are included, etc. It also
explores the leverage a city policy may allow.
Hayek: was the question of types of housing addressed? Klein reported that the comments were not that
specific.
Rackis: how was "concentration" defined in the inquiries? Klein and Klingaman agreed that it was based
on the individual perception of the respondents. Eastham noted that the question of whose perception is
important in the answer, and inquired about degree of response from renters and individuals living in
assisted housing. Klein and Klingaman replied that in most Associations, participation from these groups
is Iow. Perhaps because of itinerant nature of rental residents, investment in the community tends to be
lower among this group. Vandenberg agreed that there is an issue with people moving a lot in certain
areas, and that Neighborhood Associations in these areas need to work hard to maintain participation by
recruiting new members.
Rackis: what distinctions were made in regards to the moratorium suggestion, single versus multi-family
housing? Klein replied that he did not have exact details, but understood the suggestion to include all
assisted housing. Klingaman noted that the density at Broadway is considered the current issue, though
Grant Wood was also of concern a few years ago. The density in the Grant Wood area is lower because
of duplexes and single-family homes. Vandenberg inquired about issues in GW raised at the time, and
Klingaman explained that most appeared to be centered on children's activities during school breaks,
rather than property upkeep or others.
Dennis: have any publicly funded developments been welcomed in this community? Klingaman replied
that it is difficult to assess what is welcomed versus what is simply accepted as allowable by zoning laws.
There is no public process to gather information unless there is an attempt to rezone. Klein added that the
question of how to address the issues surrounding assisted housing is recurring. Now we have to
consider what sort of incentives may be needed, which is dependent on what sort of values society
wishes to promote and what sort of future we are looking for.
Hayek: have there been any instances in which the city has discussed changing the zoning for a
particular place that was not powered by a project from a particular group waiting to begin? Eastham
replied that the Peninsula might fall into that category, though it was a policy change rather than zoning.
Klingaman noted that district planning involves looking at undeveloped properties and determining the
best future use of those properties. Ideally, the process would involve planning ahead and taking care of
the zoning ahead of time, rather than reactively putting out fires.
Update on October 4, 2004 Public Hearin.q
Hayek reported Taskforce is at the end of hearing presentations. A public hearing is scheduled for
October 4 at Mark Twain School in the Media Center. Meeting begins at 6:30 pm.
Anthony: will any information come from the police department? Hayek replied that the information is
difficult to summarize. Nasby noted that there are numerous codes that designate different service calls
Scattered Site Housing Taskforce Minutes
September 20, 2004
Page 4
from the police, and there are 70,000 calls per year in Iowa City. He said that decisions needed to be
made on what information the Taskforce wanted. Also, some problems with information comparison arise
because of differing store policies. Some stores such as K-Mart and Cub Foods may have more calls
simply because it is their policy to report everything to the police, while other stores like Wal-Mart and
Menard's may not have that policy. Nasby said that he and Hayek had reviewed the codes for citations
and arrests only, which is still cumbersome. Nasby said that about 90 crime codes have to be reported to
the State of Iowa. As such, this could be a starting point and then tie that to a designated period of time.
Once that was complete all police service call codes could be plotted onto a map. Hayek said that more
information could be gathered as needed.
Stutsman: what about juvenile court? Vandenberg replied that information could be tracked. Her group
did a similar analysis, focusing on assault, juvenile cases, and domestic violence. Nasby noted that there
are four police watch areas in Iowa City: downtown, southeast, northwest, and west. Hayek added that it
is difficult to divide the city up into four discrete areas. Clausen concurred, suggesting that an overview of
the city would be more helpful in making comparisons. Vandenberg pointed out that her previous
information indicated much more activity in the southeast area. Nasby added that the police could supply
any combination of information; it's just a matter of deciding what is wanted. In response to a question
"what is a watch area?" Nasby replied that a watch area is a section of the city defined by the police.
Rackis: would rental permit violations such as a disorderly house be reportable to the State? Nasby
answered that he would have to look at the list, but probably not since it is a local code violation. Clausen
noted that the Taskforce needs to decide what information they want, and weigh how the data might be
skewed by other factors.
Hayek: what data does the Taskforce want? Vandenberg replied that less is more, and key indicators
should be chosen. Peterson noted that even only 90 codes seem like a lot. Nasby confirmed that those
90 codes could be plotted, and any types of criminal activity that the Taskforce don't want can then be
removed.
Eastham cautioned the Taskforce against the difficulties and ambiguities of this data. He said that blanket
numbers would not distinguish between homeowners and renters. There are a relatively Iow number of
families living in assisted housing, and crime numbers are likely to be unfairly heaped onto those few.
Stutsman replied that the Taskforce should decide what data and information it would like to have, and
how it will figure into deliberations. Vandenberg agreed, noting that she would like to review the impact of
the concentration, and correlation of crime and concentration of poverty, not necessarily that people in
assisted housing are committing crimes.
Rackis agreed that there should be caution in looking at crime data, because it does not distinguish
between the owner and renter. Also, he thought that information was not given on multiple calls to the
same address.
Hayek added that an inference might be drawn that areas with higher crime rates may have higher
numbers of people living in assisted housing, and it is up to the Taskforce to decide if this is the case. The
information from the police is important and necessary. All data the Taskforce is reviewing has the
potential for complications, and the police data is an important piece to the issue at hand. Additional
concerns about how the data is ultimately used by the Taskforce can be addressed at a public hearing.
Vandenberg pointed out that depending on the viewpoint on the data, it could be used against the
Taskforce's recommendation. Stutsman agreed, saying that all available data should be reviewed in order
to make recommendations.
Vandenberg remarked that there are different ways data can be tracked in the juvenile cour[: where the
subject lives, and where the crime was committed. What does the Taskforce want? General agreement
that information wanted on where the subject lives. Vandenberg will work on gathering this data.
Other Business
Hayek noted that more statistics from the city are still coming on rental values, vacancy rates, etc. Also,
Vandenberg offered a summary from the Broadway Revitalization Project survey, in conjunction with the
National Resource Center for Family-centered Practice.
Scattered Site Housing Taskforce Minutes
September 20, 2004
Page 5
At the next meeting, based on public participation, the Taskforce could potentially begin deliberation after
the public hearing. Otherwise, can plan to begin deliberation at October 18 meeting. Clausen replied that
usually deliberations take place later, to give members time to consider the information.
Peterson: is it appropriate for Taskforce members to encourage attendance, and how can the hearing be
made less intimidating? Hayek replied to the first question, yes, and that the city is plannin9 to do some
marketing to encourage people to come and discuss. Also, regarding the environment, happy to have
more suggestions. Depending on the size of the group, Taskforce can try to make it informal, and having
it at the school may help as well. Peterson noted that she hopes to get some input from residents by
leaving the city building and going into the community.
Stutsman: will the Taskforce be deliberating that night? Hayek agreed that because of additional
information, it might be useful to give Taskforce members time to consider before beginning deliberations.
General agreement expressed that deliberation should begin at October 18 meeting.
Vandenberg: since there is no proposal yet, what will residents are asked to respond to? It was
suggested to ask them the residents the same sorts of questions that have been asked the other groups.
General interest expressed in making the forum non-threatening.
Anthony: will the Taskforce be getting information from the Homebuilders and Realtors Associations, and
can we have them participate? Hayek suggested that formal notice of the hearings could be sent to the
groups that participated so far, including invitation to give additional comments or opinions at that time.
Hayek noted proposed future meeting dates: October 18, November 1, November 15, November 22, and
December 6. These dates were set with the intent for Taskforce to be done by December, and inquiring
whether there should be two or three meetings in November. All will review the dates for next meeting.
Santangelo suggested advertising the public hearing at Music at Broadway. Dennis inquired how long
hearing is planned to last, since it is beginning right at the dinner hour and may cause problems for those
with children. Suggestion to offer childcare services at the site, perhaps in the gym.
Time changed to 6:30 pm, tentatively planned to end at 8:30 pm. Vandenberg will check on availability of
the additional room and the time change. Clausen requested an email confirmation of the time and place,
to announce at a neighborhood meeting.
Hayek inquired about other discussion. Vandenberg reported that Iowa City is participating in a Youth
Development Grant with eight other sites, including a group in Chicago. Noted that she heard at a recent
conference that theoretically people in the Chicago area are coached to move to Iowa. Clausen added
that was discussed in the research readings, that one of the services offered was assistance with
relocation. Vandenberg continued by explaining that a trip is planned to Chicago to talk about this with
that group. The Chicago group may have a more political interest in the question of where people are
going when they leave that area, in relation to the gentrification of urban Chicago. Dennis pointed out that
many people have been displaced in the Chicago area because a high number of units have been torn
down.
Hayek added final note to the group to plan to be flexible on how long deliberations will take to reach a
consensus and produce initial document. Still planning to reach a consensus, then nominate a subgroup
to write up a summary, disseminate it to the public, then hold a second public hearing, tweak the
proposal, and submit it to the City.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the taskforce, Vandenberg moved to adjourn. Peterson
seconded, and the motion passed uncontested. Meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm.
s:lpcd/minutes/ScatteredSiteHousingTaskforcelO9-20-O4ssht.doc
Scattered Site Housing Taskforce
Attendance Record
2004
04/29 05/12 05/17 06/07 06/21 07/12 07/19 08/02 08/16 08/30 09/20 10/04 10/18 11/01 11/15 12/06 12/20
D. Anciaux X X X X X O/E O/E X X X O/E X
J. Anthony X O/E X X X X O/E X X X X X
D. Clausen X X X X X X X X O/E X X X
M. Hayek X X X X X X X X X X X
J. Left X X X X X X X X X X X X
J. Peterson X X X X O/E X X O/E X X X X
S. Stutsman O/E X X X X O/E X O/E O/E X O/E X
VandenBerg X X X X X X X X X O/E X X
Key:
X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = No Meeting
..... Not a Member
MINUTES DRAFT
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2004 - 7:00 AM
HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL
Members Present: Andy Chappell, Penny Davidsen, Karen Kubby, Naomi Novick (left
at 9:25 AM), Kevin Wemer, Nate Green (left at 8:50 AM), Lynn Rowat, William
Sueppel, Chair
Members Absent: Vicki Lensing
Staff Present: Marian Karr, Eleanor Dilkes
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Sueppel called the meeting to order at 7:05 AM.
APPROVE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 27 and SEPTEMBER 29, 2004
Chairperson Sueppel asked if the members had any corrections or comments for the
minutes. Davidsen said she had comments for the September 29 minutes; she then
moved to approve the September 27, 2004, minutes.
MOTION: Davidsen moved to accept the September 27, 2004, minutes as written;
seconded by Chappell. Motion carried 8-0.
Davidsen stated that she wanted it made clear that the representatives that spoke from the
League of Women Voters were there on their own, and speaking for the League. She
stated that the second sentence, under Public Comment, "The League spoke with twenty-
five some different individuals, and have come up with specific observations and points
that they want the Charter Review Committee to be aware of." Davidsen would like it
made clearer that these people were speaking as individuals, and not as the League of
Women Voters. Sueppel stated that he understood it to be the reports of others'
comments. Novick stated that the League has a study committee that has done some
interviews, and these comments were from that study group, and not from the League
itself. She suggested that they mention the Regional Government Committee. Karr said
she would add the Regional Govermnent Committee to the second line, and members
agreed.
Sueppel stated that he has not noticed mention of Kubby's report on voting returns. Kart
said it was distributed at the meeting on the 29th, but that it was not formally accepted.
Sueppel asked that some mention be made of this report.
MOTION: Chappell moved to accept the September 29, 2004, minutes as amended;
seconded by Rowat. Motion carried 8-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Charter Review Commission
October 11, 2004
Page 2
REVIEW CHARTER
Chappell discussed Dilkes' memo of July 26, 2001, in regards to Proposed Amendments
to the Home Rule Charter. Three amendments were proposed at that time for: 1) to
provide for Council appointment of both the City Manager and the Chief of Police, and to
have each subject to a retention vote; 2) to make permanent the Police Citizens Review
Board; 3) create a new article directing the police to use citation in lieu of arrest for non-
violent misdemeanor offenses to limit the use of certain police procedures, and giving
non-violent offenders the opportunity to show up voluntarily instead of arresting them.
After giving some history on the decisions at that time, Chappell asked if anyone felt that
these issues should be part of the Charter amendments, and if so, which do people want to
pursue further. Members showed an interest in discussing the City Manager and Police
Chief positions, and how the appointments are made. At the request of the Commission,
Karr explained her involvement in the process used in the past, where a staff team gave
their recommendations to the City Manager for the current Police Chief position. Rowat
talked about the accountability of these positions, and the part the Council plays in this.
The members discussed how the Police Chief position is different from other department
heads within the City, and also how policy is made within the City and its various
departments. Dilkes stated that it has always been interpreted that the City Manager
would have the City Council approve his selection for Police Chief. Green asked if
everyone would give their opinion on the issue of having the Police Chief appointed by
the Council. Kubby stated she would be in favor. Chappell said he would be in favor of
looking into the issue further. Novick stated she would not be in favor. Green stated he
would be in favor. Sueppel and Wemer both stated they would not be. (TAPE ENDS)
Davidsen stated she would be interested in a Police Citizen Review Board, and encourage
an ordinance to the effect of that. Karr stated that there is such a board now. Davidsen
stated that having this board more in the forefront would be her thought, but she wanted
to think it over more. Rowat stated he would be opposed to the issue. It was decided that
this issue would be revisited at a later date. The suggestion was also made to have the
City Manager and/or the City Council members meet with the members, and have a
discussion on whatever issues they feel need addressed. (BREAK)
REVIEW OF PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS
Rowat asked if they could review tomorrow's public heating process, before they start
the review process of the Charter. The members agreed with Sueppel that they were
happy with the announcement of the hearing. Karr asked the members if they wanted to
tentatively set a second public hearing date. It was decided to look at Wednesday,
December 1st, at the library, 5:30 PM. Since Davidsen will not be available on December
1st, Karr will get a tape of that hearing to her.
REVIEW CHARTER (cont.)
Dilkes stated that there were a number of questions posed to her by members as they
carried out their review process the first time through. She is planning on having a memo
for the members, with her opinions and any answers to questions posed, by the end of the
month.
Charter Review Commission
October 11, 2004
Page 3
The Commission began the re-review of the Charter, beginning with the Preamble.
There were no changes or additions voiced.
MOTION: Davidsen moved to TA (temporarily approve) the Preamble of the
Charter; seconded by Green. Motion carried 8-0.
Definitions - Davidsen questioned items 11 and 12, and Dilkes noted the change made
with the use of"measure." The issue of a directly elected mayor was discussed, and it
was noted that this section would have to change if that process were to change.
MOTION: Green moved to TA the Definitions section of the Charter; Rowat
seconded. Motion carried 8-0.
Article I Powers of the City - Sueppel asked if there were any comments or questions.
MOTION: Knbby moved to TA all of Article I; seconded by Novick. Motion
carried 8-0.
Article II City Council - Davidsen asked about "eligible electors" and what the
rationale is in not having "qualified electors." Karr stated that this is State code. Sueppel
stated they would first look at Section 2.01. Composition. Novick stated that she has
questions regarding the districts only, but not the seven-member council.
MOTION: Rowat moved to TA Section 2.01 Composition as is in the Charter;
seconded by Davidsen. Motion carried 8-0.
Sueppel asked if anyone was interested in charging the number of Council members, as
far as at-large versus district. Kubby asked that they put this in the "discussion hopper,"
as it is something she wants to revisit, once they get through some other topics. Chappell
noted that his suggestion initially was to have the mayor position be an at-large position,
and not be a monumental change, as some have suggested. Discussion continued with
members reviewing the issue of having the mayor be in an at-large seat, along with three
other at-large members, and the remaining three members would be from specific
districts. Karr questioned how often the mayoral position would be elected, and it was
stated that it would be every four years, like other Council seats. The members agreed
that this issue would need to be addressed further. (Green left meeting at 8:50 AM)
(TAPE ENDS)
The discussion continued on the topic of how many Council members to have, and
whether they should be at-large or district seats, and also how the mayoral position would
fit in with this. Rowat stated that he is not uncomfortable with having the mayor elected,
but that it seems more ceremonial than substantive in nature. Davidsen stated that she
feels there are two different questions here, one being representation of the people by
district. She feels this is totally separate than the mayoral issue. Sueppel stated that he
does not see any advantage of having an elected mayor, and that it would throw a wrench
Charter Review Commission
October 11, 2004
Page 4
into the current process of government in Iowa City. He feels the members need to
review this further, to see if a change such as this would be a benefit. He would like to
hear from previous Council members on this issue too. The issue of leaders was briefly
discussed, with the issue of "strong leaders" being tossed around. Members also
discussed the powers that a mayor should or should not have, as well as political
platforms and how these issues effect the position. (Novick left meeting at 9:25 AM).
The members decided they will revisit this topic again at another meeting, as they have
several issues to decide before they can further TA the Charter.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Chappell moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 AM; seconded by
Rowat. Motion carried 6-0 (Green and Novick left meeting early).
MINUTES DRAFT
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION - PUBLIC HEARING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2004 - 7:00 PM
HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL
Members Present: Andy Chappell, Penny Davidsen, Karen Kubby, Naomi Novick,
William Sueppel, Chair; Kevin Werner, Nate Green, Lynn Rowat, Vicki Lensing
Staff Present: Marian Karr, Eleanor Dilkes
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Sueppel called the public hearing to order at 7:00 PM. He briefly reviewed
the steps that the Commission has taken to date including 9 meetings and 17 hours of
discussion. He emphasized to the public that the task of the Commission is to review the
Charter, and to make any appropriate amendments to the City Council. The City
Council's role is to submit these amendments to the people for a vote. He encouraged
input from the public.
PUBLIC iNPUT
Garry Klein spoke to the Commission, giving three general statements regarding the
Charter. He feels the Preamble sets the tone of what the Charter ought to be. He touched
on open meetings, and the chance for the public to take part. He suggested an appendix
to the Charter, where ordinances and laws were referenced, and more explanation of
terms. In looking at Article II, he said that it is clear that with growth they also need to
change the districts. Klein went on to say that he feels the mayoral position should be an
elected one. In regards to 2.08, City hiring, he noted that the Police and Fire Chief are
hired by the City Manager. Klein feels the City Council should be part of this process.
Section 2.09 - Klein stated that the wording "may make its own rules" caught his
attention in this section. Under Section 2.10, he asked what the state law is in regards to
this, and said having that state law would help the average citizen understand the Charter
better.
Bob Elliott, current Council Member, spoke on the issue of the number of council
members and districts. He stated that the at-large seats are very important, and he feels
they should continue to form the majority of the representation. He thanked the Charter
Revi'ew Commission for the fine job they are doing thus far.
Klein returned to the podium to speak. He spoke next about Section 4.02 - Conflict of
Interest - stating that there is nothing in the Charter about there being no compensation
other than that provided by the City. Section 4.04 B.2. - he feels this should be made
clearer. Next he discussed 5.01, which deals with the formation of commissions, task
forces, workgroups, etc., and stated that he feels there should be a better than majority
reason to disband a group. He suggests adding "with 2/3rds of the Council's approval
(5/7) to change or disband ....... ," stating that they should enlarge the definition to
encompass all of these various groups.
Klein went on to mentioned Section 7.01 A.1, stating that as a point of clarity, the
wording should be changed, but he did not have a good replacement. 7.01. B. 1. g. - he
asked to add the words "except City Council, Mayor, City Manager, and other elected
officials"; as this section has to do with salaries. He stated that he feels at the city level
there should be more control over this, and the voters should have a say as to elected
officials getting raises. Under section 7.01 B. 1. j, he suggests the wording, "except for
in the case of things that would be protected by state or federal law." 7.03 A - he stated
he has some trouble with this one due to the requirement of being a qualified voter. He
states it should say "eligible voters" as they should still be able to partake in the petition
process. 7.05 A - "similar in substance" - Klein asked what this means exactly. Under
7.06 A, Klein said this section is unclear, and he used the municipal electric issue as an
example. Dilkes explained to him that this referendum type is not the referendum under
the Charter but is a franchise issue covered by state law. Lastly, section 8.02 - formation
of commissions - Klein asked how commissions are selected, using the Charter Review
Commission as an example. Sueppel explained the reverse referendum process to Klein.
Again, Dilkes noted that many of these issues are covered by state code. Klein wrapped
up his presentation asking why the Charter Review is done every ten years, instead of
yearly. He stated that with the growth in Iowa City, a review done more often would be
beneficial. Sueppel explained that the Charter can be amended at any time, and that it is
just the Commission that meets every ten years for a review process.
Sueppel reminded the public that there will be at least five more meetings, starting at 7:00
AM and running through 9:30 AM, and he suggested that the public either attend those
meetings, or send written concerns to the Commission. There will also be another public
hearing in the near future.
Karr asked for a motion to accept correspondence.
MOTION: Kubby moved to accept correspondence from Rod Sullivan; seconded
by Rowat. Motion carried 9-0.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Novick moved to adjourn; Green seconded. Motion carried 9-0.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.
IP12
MINUTES DRAFT
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2004 - 7:00 AM
HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL
Members Present: Andy Chappell, Penny Davidsen, Karen Kubby, Naomi Novick,
Kevin Wemer, Nate Green (left at 8:45 AM), Lynn Rowat, Vicki Lensing,
William Sueppel, Chair
Staff Present: Marian Kan', Eleanor Dilkes
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Sueppel called the meeting to order at 7:03 AM.
APPROVE MINUTES
None.
The Commission members briefly discussed "10 Years of District Elections" spreadsheet
prepared by the City Clerk (at the request of the Chair) to show outcome of district
primaries; and the outcome of district general elections broken down within the district
and citywide.
REVIEW OF PUBLIC INPUT AT OCTOBER 12 PUBLIC HEARING
Sueppel stated that he was somewhat disappointed at the turnout at last night's public
hearing. The "transparency" issue of the Charter was discussed, and Sueppel suggested
that the City Council may wish to direct the City Attorney to prepare an explanation of
the Charter, and where the various sections come from, by referencing State Code, etc.
They could then have this explanation available along with the Charter. The members
discussed various issues, such as an appendix to the Charter, and whether they should
pursue a more annotated version of the Charter. Sueppel suggested there be a "Citizen's
Guide to the Iowa City Charter," where a citizen's group would sit down and prepare a
guide to help the general public understand the City Charter. Dilkes stated that she would
be more comfortable having the City Attorney's office work on this guide, although
citizen input would be very helpful in creating such a guide.
Kubby's handout to the members of"A Community Process" was discussed next.
Sueppel asked how the members wanted to handle this. Karr stated that if the members
plan to make Kubby's proposal part of the next public hearing, then they need to
publicize differently. It was decided that Kubby's proposal would be added to the
October 20th meeting agenda and discussed at that time.
REVIEW CHARTER
Sueppel noted that the members have received Dilkes' red-lined version of the Charter.
The discussion picked up with Section 2.01 Composition. Sueppel stated that since they
Charter Review Commission
October 13, 2004
Page 2
still have issues with the at-large versus district representation, and the issue of how they
are elected, as well as how the mayoral seat is chosen, they would move on to Section
2.02 Division into council districts. Chappell stated that he feels they should wait until
they have the actual language, so as to eliminate any confusion. Section 2.03 Eligibility
had one change, using "an eligible elector" instead of"a domiciliary."
MOTION: Kubby moved to TA 2.03 Eligibility as written; seconded by Lensing.
Motion carried 9-0.
The discussion turned to Section 2.04 Terms. Sueppel asked if anyone felt there should
be any changes to this section. It was noted that if there were any amendments to the
composition of the City Council, then there could also be a change in this section.
However, it was felt that "terms" should be left as is for now.
MOTION: Novick moved to TA 2.04 Terms as written; Lensing seconded. Motion
carried 9-0.
Section 2.05 Compensation - It was noted that this topic was mentioned in a letter the
Commission received from Rod Sullivan. Sueppel asked if anyone was interested in
discussing full-time positions for the Council members, and no one indicated an interest.
Davidsen noted that she would like to see Section 2.05 changed into two separate
sentences, with the first sentence ending with, "...the Mayor and the other Council
members." The word "and" would be removed, and the second sentence would start,
"The Council shall not adopt such..."
MOTION: Davidsen moved to eliminate the "," and remove the word "and",
starting a second sentence as noted above; seconded by Novick. Motion carried 9-0.
MOTION: Chappell moved to TA 2.05 Compensation as amended; seconded by
Rowat. Motion carried 9-0.
Section 2.06 Mayor - discussion turned to the next section, and it was noted that this
section would involve more lengthy discussions. From the public comments received
thus far, it was noted that there is an interest in looking into having a directly elected
mayor. Discussion centered on leadership, and how the members view this position of
leadership; whether or not this position should be elected by the citizens or by the other
Council members; and whether the process of election would change who runs for the
seat. Lensing brought up experience, and stated that if they changed the process, it could
open the door for less experienced people. Kubby stated that she feels the electorate
should have a more direct voice in who becomes mayor. Sueppel stated that in looking at
the history of the City's mayors, most times the person selected was one who tended to
be a leader anyway. Sueppel noted that any changes to this process would encompass
huge changes for the City, and the members need to keep this in mind. Chappell noted
that there is the perception that it is more democratic to have a directly elected mayor.
Charter Review Commission
October 13, 2004
Page 3
Kubby stated that she has heard several in the community discuss a directly elected
mayor, and she would be interested in considering this as well. Davidsen stated that she
sees that it is the activists in the community that are interested in this type of change, not
the masses, and that it's an ever changing discussion. (TAPE ENDS) Rowat stated that
he is concerned about the logistics and experience issue when it comes to a directly
elected mayor. He feels that there needs to be some type of educational or learning curve
that a person would need in order to lead the city. Davidsen stated that she wanted to
reiterate that the current form of government in Iowa City is working, and working well.
She noted that the Council members are directly elected, and she gave some history on
the City's government. Sueppel stated that many positions within the City used to be
elected positions, but that was changed about fifty years ago, as there were inherent
problems with this. He further noted that the City is a Charter form of government, not a
City Manager form of government, but that we do use a mix of both forms. Chappell
noted that if you look back to about thirty years ago, the original Charter Commission
had lengthy discussions about the same issue of whether the mayor should be directly
elected or not. The reasons given back then included that if you had an elected mayor,
that position and the City Manger position would be at odds with each other. Novick
noted that Coralville has an independently elected mayor, and also a professional City
Manager, and she asked the members to think about whether or not this works well.
Sueppel noted that they have a different form of government in Coralville. Novick stated
that she feels they should move on in their discussions, and reconsider this section next
week. Green stated that he feels they should address this issue first, as future decisions
will hinge upon their decision here. Wemer noted that he questions term limits, and
asked if other members were interested in this discussion. Lensing suggested that the
Commission publicize a decision on this issue, as this would cause some reaction in the
public, which would then bring in more public input. Sueppel asked the members to state
if they want to leave 2.06 Mayor as is, or entertain a change to have the mayor elected by
the people. Chappell stated he would be interested in change; Novick stated she prefers
to leave it as is; Lensing stated she would keep it as is, and wants to encourage more
discussion; Green stated he would keep it as is, but that he is open to change; Sueppel
noted he would stay as is; Werner would also keep it as is; Kubby noted she would be
interested in change; Davidsen stated she would keep it as is, but is open to change; and
Rowat also would keep it as is, but is open to change also. The members agreed that
more public input is needed and must be encouraged.
. The discussion turned to term limits, and Kubby asked if anyone wanted to discuss this
issue. It was noted that the current mayor, Ernie Lehman, is. on his fourth term. Karr
recalled two others have had three terms each, in regards to the mayoral seat. No further
interest was shown on this topic, so the Chair opted to move on.
Section 2.07 General Powers and Duties - Sueppel noted that Garry Klein at the public
heating the previous evening had questioned this section. Dilkes noted that the initiative
and referendum section is a good example of why this wording is needed, and Sueppel
agreed.
Charter Review Commission
October 13, 2004
Page 4
MOTION: Kubby moved to TA Section 2.07; seconded by Chappell. Motion
carried 9-0.
Section 2.08 Appointments - Green started the conversation with the topic of the Police
Chief being elected by the Council, stating that this is the section that would go under. It
was also noted that Garry Klein had noted both the Police and Fire Chiefs should be hired
this way. Novick mentioned a public security position, and whether the City should
consider such a position. Sueppel started reading Section 2.08, noting that subsections A,
B, C, and D all seem to be fine as is. He questioned the second section of E, where it
talks about job-related criteria. He feels this should be a subsection of its own. Sueppel
then asked if anyone wanted to discuss the appointment of the Police Chief; and Kubby
stated that she feels they should have a discussion about it. She questions why this
department is different from other city departments that provide a service. Dilkes noted
that these positions are subject to the civil service testing process. Discussion continued
among the members, with several giving their view of whether or not the Police and Fire
Chief positions should be appointed by the Council, or by the City Manager. Karr
reminded the Commission that the City Manager is available to attend one of their
meetings, if they would like to discuss any of these issues with him. (TAPE ENDS)
Kubby asked what kind of effects would take place internally, asking if it would raise
tensions within departments, or cause any problems. In response to Kubby, Kart noted
that a worse case scenario would be that the Chiefs would have two bosses, so to speak.
Chappell asked if it would cause a negative change, or any legal changes. The discussion
ended with members deciding to continue this issue at the next Charter Review meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Sueppel noted that he will not be able to make the October 20th meeting as he will be out
of town. He and Karr discussed setting him up for a telephone conference. Green left the
meeting at 8:45.
MOTION: Davidsen moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 AM; seconded by
Rowat. Motion carried 8-0 (Green left meeting early).
MINUTES DRAF~I~
IOWA CITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 - 5:30 P.M.
CITY CABLE TV OFFICE, 10 S. LINN ST.-TOWER PLACE PARKING FACILITY
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Pusack, Terry Smith, Saul Mekies, Brett Castillo, Kimberly Thrower
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Drew Shaffer, Mike Brau, Bob Hardy, Dale Helling, Andy Matthews
OTHERS PRESENT: Susan Rogusky, Beth Fisher, Randy Brown, Phil Phillips, Erin Pfaff
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
None at this time.
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
Brown reported that the Video on Demand (VOD) is now available and working well. Phillips reported
that PATV's building was painted in August and a better sign installed. A tour was provided to a group
of visitors hosted by CIVIC from Armenia. Fisher reported that all the installation of the new video
equipment at the library should be done by the end of the week. 21 live shoots are scheduled for
October including programs on the Intellectual Freedom Week, Book Talks, the International Writing
Program, Storytimes, and the Legislative Forums. Hardy reported that the City Cable TV Division
recently bought several new computers, which doubled editing capacity. The digital playback system
is working well. Video on Demand service is expected to be up on channel 5 around October 4.
Shaffer reported that the Video Voter Project has sent out 27 invitations to candidates to tape a
statement for replay state-wide by Mediacom and by channels 4 and 5 for the local elections. 11
responses have been received to date. The City is in its budgeting process. Smith asked if the City
will again be taking $100,000 in franchise fee revenue to enhance the general fund. Shaffer said he was
told to plan on that. Castillo reported that the refranchising committee recently met with Mediacom
officials and discussed the issues relating to refranchising. A follow-up meeting will be held October
15. The results of the consumer survey have been received. In regards to the survey, Smith noted
that there seems to be a high awareness of the access channels, but relatively low viewership. Castillo
said that Rice, Williams said that the viewership numbers of access channels in Iowa City are very
good when compared to access channels nation-wide. Smith said that in light of the increasing demand
for basic tier channel space the Commission needs to make sure that maximum use is made of the
access channels.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mekies moved and Castillo seconded a motion to approve meeting minutes of September, 2004. The
motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS
None.
SHORT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
CONSUMER ISSUES
Shaffer referred to the complaint report in the packet and said that the number of complaints was about
normal. Among the complaints over the past two months were 3 about rates being too high, 6 about
billing problems, 4 about cable TV technical problems, 2 about cable modem problems, 1 about the
franchise authority information on the bills being too small, 2 about poor customer service, 3 about
installation problems, 1 requesting that the emergency alert system not us channel 14, 1 that there is
too much sports, 1 about wanting to the Quad City broadcast channels, and one wanting a paper receipt
for electronic payments. Two compliments were also received on Mediacom's service.
MEDIACOM REPORT
Brown reported that the Video on Demand (VOD) is now available in Iowa City and working well.
The Iowa City call center has been taking calls from Florida due to the hurricane damage there.
Construction crews have been sent to Florida to assist with repairing the hurricane damage.
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA REPORT
No representative was present.
PATVREPORT
Phillips reported that PATV's building was painted in August and a better sign installed. Landscaping
work is also being done. PATV hosted a group of children from Kindercapmpus and recorded a talent
show. A tour was provided to a group of visitors hosted by CIVIC from Armenia. A new computer
has been purchased to update the non-linear editing systems. Advanced editing workshops in Final
Cut Pro will be offered this fall.
SENIOR CENTER REPORT
Rogusky distributed the September Senior Center TV program guide. Senior Center Television
continues on a steady pace.
IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT
No representative was present.
LEGAL REPORT
Matthews said he had nothing new to report.
LIBRARY REPORT
Fisher reported that all the installation of the new video equipment should be done by the end of the
week. 21 live shoots are scheduled for October including programs on the Intellectual Freedom Week,
Book Talks, the International Writing Program, Storytimes, and the Legislative Forums.
KIRKWOOD REPORT
No representative was present.
MEDIA UNIT
Hardy reported that the Division recently bought several new computers, which doubled editing
capacity. This was need in order to keep up with editing demands. The digital playback system is
working well. Video on Demand service is expected to be up on channel 5 around October 4. The
number of programs and productions is up slightly, reflecting the large number of programs related to
the election season.
CABLE TV ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Shaffer reported that the Video Voter Project has sent out 27 invitations to candidates to tape a
statement for replay state-wide by Mediacom and by channels 4 and 5 for the local elections. 11
responses have been received to date. The City is in its budgeting process. Smith asked if the City
will again be taking $100,000 in franchise fee revenue to enhance the general fund. Shaffer said he was
told to plan on that.
REFRANCHISING
Castillo reported that the refranchising committee recently met with Mediacom officials and discussed
the issues relating to refranchising. A follow-up meeting will be held October 15. The results of the
consumer survey have been received. In regards to the survey, Smith noted that there seems to be a
high awareness of the access channels, but relatively low viewership. Castillo said that Rice, Williams
said that the viewership numbers of the access channels in Iowa City are very good when compared to
access channels nation-wide. Brown said that Mediacom has received a must-carry request from
KWWF, a new LrPN affiliate. To accommodate that request CNBC will be moved to channel 68
around November 7. Smith said that in light of the increasing demand for basic tier channel space the
Commission needs to make sure that maximum use is made of the access channels. Castillo noted that
the survey revealed some broadcast channel signal problems. Brown said that the problems with the
quality of channel 2 has been improved by installing a direct fiber link to their studio. The WB
channel transmits a poor quality signal and there is no fiber link. Efforts are being made to get a fiber
link. KWWL, channel 7, will have a direct link next year. The problems with WGN, which is a
satellite feed, may be a result of some "skip" interference from channel 3 in the Quad Cities for
individual subscribers on the east side of the city. Pusack noted that the survey revealed that a very
large percentage, 67%, would like to see more local news on the access channels. This may give the
access channels some guidance. It was agreed that in regards to the survey that Commissioners would
forward any questions they may have for the Rice, Williams regarding the interpretation of the survey
to Shaffer and he will compile and forward to Rice, Williams for their responses.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. ANNUAL REPORT
Shaffer said that the annual report included in the meeting packet was forwarded to the City Council.
The Commission did not meet in August and had been unable to review the document. Smith said that
Commissioners should be feel free to contact Councilors directly. Castillo asked if the survey would
be forwarded to the Council. Shaffer said that it would after the Commission has a recommendation to
make on refranchising.
CABLE DIVISION ANNUAL REPORT
Shaffer referred to the Division annual report in the meeting packet and said that it helps analyze what
the Division did well over the past year, where it was weak, and identify plans for the next year.
ADJOURNMENT
Smith moved and Mekies seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously and the
meeting was adjourned at 6:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Drew Shaffer
Cable TV Administrator
TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
12 MONTH ATTENDANCE RECORD
01/01/03 to CURRENT
Meeting Date Kimberly Saul Meikes Brett Castillo Terry Smith Jim Pusack
Thrower
6/2/03 x x x x x
7/28/03 x x x x x
8/25/03 x x x x o/c
9/22/03 x x x x o/c
10/27/03 x x x x o/c
11/24/03 x x o/c x x
12/15/03 o/c o/c x x x
1/2/04 x o/c x x x
1/26/04 x x x x x
2/23/04 x o/c x o/c x
3/22/04 x x x x x
4/26/04 x x x x O/C
5/24/04 x x O/C x x
6/28/04 x x x o/c x
7/26/04 o/c x x x x
8/26/04 did not meet did not meet did not meet did not meet did not meet
9/27/04 x x x x x
(X) = Present
(0) = Absent
(O/C) = Absent/Called (Excused)
MINUTES PRELIMINARY
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 29, 2004
EMMA HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL
Members Present: Jerry Anthony, Erin Barnes, Lori Bears, Mark Edwards, William Greazel, Matthew Hayek, Brian Richman, Jayne Sandier (arrived at 5:17 p.m.)
Members Absent: NONE
Staff Present: Tracy Hightshoe, Tamara Robinson
Public Present: Sandy Pickup
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Chairperson Hayek called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM JULY 15, 2004
Motion: Greazel moved to approve the minutes as written. Anthony seconded. Motion passed 7-0.
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Motion: Greazel moved to approve the nomination and reelection of Jerry Anthony as vice-
chairperson, and of Matthew Hayek as chairperson. Barnes seconded. Motion passed 7-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
NONE
NEW BUSINESS
FY04 Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER)
Hightshoe stated that each year, HUD requires grantees (recipients of CDBG and HOME funds) to
complete a report that outlines the program achievements and project status of all actions/projects
undertaken that fiscal year. The document measures the City's performance in meeting the goals as
identified in our Consolidated Plan (CITY STEPS) and Annual Action Plan. The CAPER is due to HUD
within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year. Hayek added that this document is a review of how the money
was allocated for the City's 2004 fiscal year.
Hayek opened the public hearing.
Comments from public
NONE
Comments from HCDC
Anthony mentioned that on pages 3 and 15 the date of the Housing and Community Development
Commission meeting should be updated from September 16, 2004 to September 29, 2004. Hayek said
that on page 8, in the table, there is $130.00 in parentheses. Asked to verify if this is the correct amount
and what the $130 references.
Barnes said that on page 9, the third paragraph talks about Actions Taken to Overcome Impediments.
However, she mentioned that those Actions should be presented in more detail because she feels that it
confuses the reader.
Hightshoe acknowledged that the revisions would be completed. She added that there are some gaps
because the writing of the document is a collaborative process between different departments. She will
verify the abovementioned items, make the appropriate changes, and either email or mail the corrections
to HCDC members.
Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes
September 29, 2004
Page 2
Members stated they liked the summaries provided on p. 21 & p. 22 (CDBG Project Summary) as they
are very helpful to review what projects were completed and the number of beneficiaries for each project.
Hightshoe stated they would continue reporting in this manner.
Seeing no other discussion, Hayek closed the public hearing on the CAPER.
Motion: Greazel moved to approve the submission of the FY04 Consolidated Annual Performance
and Evaluation Report (CAPER) including the changes mentioned above. Anthony seconded.
Motion passed 8-0.
Public hearing to solicit comments to the 2006-2010 Consolidated Plan (CITY STEPS)
Hightshoe stated that the City is an entitlement City (a City over 50,000), and as such the City receives an
annual allocation of CDBG and HOME funds from HUD. The City does not have to competitively apply
for funds, but is allocated funds based on set formulas that determine how much in federal funds the City
will annually receive. In order to receive this money from year to year, each entitlement City must provide
HUD with a plan that identifies community needs for housing, jobs, and services for Iow-income residents.
The current City plan, identified as CITY STEPS, is coming to an end. The City hired a Consolidated Plan
Specialist to formulate and draft a plan that outlines the steps, strategies, and goals of how the federal
funds will be used for the upcoming five-year period.
Hayek opened the public hearing on the Consolidated Plan.
Robinson said that in writing the plan, there is a need and desire on the part of the City for public input.
She mentioned that the draft is almost complete, but it is very important to identify the needs of the
community for the upcoming five years.
Hightshoe mentioned that this is another opportunity to gather information, identify needs, and to try and
prioritize the needs identified. At the next HCDC meeting, a draft will be ready for review.
Pickup said that she works at the Free Medical Clinic (FMC). She said that Community Development
Block Grant funds have been used for the last couple of years to help people with chronic illness. She
added that since 2000 when the clinic began to receive funds, the number of visits from people being
seen specifically for diabetes and hypertension increased 68%. She said that she could not emphasize
enough how important these funds were for the people in need of medical assistance~ She provided the
commission with some unduplicated count statistics, some duplicated count statistics, as well as some
graphs that show the increase of the number of people with diabetes and hypertension who got helped at
the clinic. Pickup provided some pieces of literature, which emphasize the need for medical services for
persons with chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma. She added that the Free
Medical Clinic is the only place in Johnson County where people who are uninsured can get help. She
mentioned that there are a significant and growing number of people who do not have health insurance
as they do not work, have part-time jobs without access to health insurance, or simply can't afford
insurance at their wage level.
Hayek asked if the 68% increase in visits refers just to the Free Medical Clinic. Pickup said that the
increase refers just to the Free Medical Clinic.
Hayek asked how does the clinic manage to stay on top of the significant increase in visits. Pickup
answered that at this point the clinic does not turn anyone away, but she mentioned that this might not be
the case in the near future. She said that one reason for having to deny services might be the issue of
returning patients, of those who come monthly, or twice monthly to be checked, and get there medicines.
Another reason, as she mentioned is the fact that there are not enough practitioners, to provide medical
assistance.
Hayek asked if there are full time positions or if mostly volunteer positions. Pickup answered that the Free
Medical Clinic is primarily a volunteer organization. FMC hires one Medical Director (physician) for 16
hours a week. There are a total of 5.57 FTE of paid staff, including the Medical Director. The rest of the
staff is made up of volunteers.
Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes
September 29, 2004
Page 3
Bears asked if the staff has received input from the Broadway neighborhood center. Hightshoe mentioned
that staff received input through several meetings that took place in the Broadway neighborhood.
Timeline for the Review of the 2006-2010 Consolidated Plan (CITY STEPS)
Hayek mentioned that the date September 16 should be changed to September 29, because of the
meeting cancellation.
No other changes were made to the Proposed Timeline of Consolidated Plan.
OLD BUSINESS
Update of Prairie Garden LP Project- Hightshoe stated that in the last meeting the Commission had
approved a motion to terminate the agreement for the Garden Prairie LP project, and recapture those
funds and hold a special allocation. She mentioned that Burns and Burns went through two LIHTC
funding rounds and were unsuccessful. The new policy the Commission adopted states that if there are
two unsuccessful funding cycles, the next step is to recapture. The FY03 award was before the policy, but
HCDC has been consistent in the recommendation to recapture after two unsuccessful funding rounds as
they did both with MetroPlains and this project. Hightshoe mentioned that a letter was sent to Garden
Prairie LP; they responded that the Iowa Finance Authority did change the requirements for funding, and
that they wanted to keep the HOME funds for another funding round. Hightshoe said that the City denied
this request and is proceeding with the recapture of the HOME funds. She said the City is still planning on
a reallocation cycle for a total of $301,000 in HOME funds, but the timing is delayed until the funds are
actually recaptured. These funds will need to be spent relatively quickly, as there is a five-year period in
which the money must be spent due to HOME regulations.
Hightshoe said that the last letter sent to Burns & Burns from the City provides Garden Prairie LP until
October 11 to repay the HOME money. She said that if there will be no repayment from Garden Prairie
LP by that time, the City Council would be consulted regarding potential legal actions that could be taken.
Greazel asked if Burns & Burns had answered the last letter sent by the staff. Hightshoe answered that
no answer was received yet.
Discussion regarding the selection of FY05 projects to be monitored
The members proceeded to discuss the FY05 projects to be monitored. There were three projects still
open for selection (in bold). The results of the selection are as follow:
Barnes will monitor: Facility Rehabilitation -Old Brick (December)
Deposit Assistance Program- Shelter House (April)
FY03 Affordable Home Ownership-GICHF (December)
Bears will monitor: Facility Rehabilitation -Hannah's Blessing Child Care (November)
Operational Expenses- Eagles Flight Youth Program (June)
Planning- Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County (October)
Hayek will monitor: Operational Expenses-Compeer (November)
Facility Rehabilitation - Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County (April)
Wood Resource Center- Iowa City Community School District (June)
FY04 Affordable Rental- Whispering Garden (October)
FY04 Land Acquisition- Shelter House (October)
FY04 Small Repair Program- Elder Services Inc. (October)
Sandier will monitor: Operational Expenses- Goodwill Wheels to Work (September) Security Camera-DVIP (December)
Aid to Agencies-MECCA, UAY, ESI (January)
FY03 Longfellow Manor- Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship (November)
Anthony will monitor: Affordable Rental Units- Blooming Garden (December)
FY03 Longfellow Affordable Rentals-GICHF (April)
Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes
September 29, 2004
Page 4
FY02 Affordable Rental Units Peninsula-GICHF (October)
Edwards will monitor: Facility Rehab. - United Action for Youth (May)
Housing Rehab. - City of Iowa City (May)
Economic Development Fund- City of Iowa City (June)
Greazel will monitor: Case Management- Free Medical Clinic (January)
Facility Rehab.-Free Lunch Program (November)
Affordable Home Ownership-Habitat for Humanity (January)
Richman will monitor: Shelter Coordinator- Shelter House (January)
Facility Rehab.- 4Cs Child Care (April)
Transitional Housing- HACAP (May)
ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting will be on October 21. Greazel moved to adjourn. Sandier seconded. Motion
passed 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 PM
Minutes submitted by Bogdana Rus
d/minutes/hcdc/2004/hcdc09-29-04.doc
Housing & Community Development Commission
Attendance Record
2004
TerlTl
Name Expires 01/15 02/18 02/19 03/11 03/18 04/15 05/20 06/17 07/15 08/19 09/29 10/21 11/18 12/16
Jerry Anthony 09/01/05 X X X X X X X O/E X NM X
Erin Barnes 09/01/06 X O X X X X X X X NM X
Lori Bears 09/01/07 X O X X X X X X X NM X
John Deeth 09/01/04 X X X X X O/E O X O NM ....
Mark Edwards 09/01/05 O X X X X O O O/E O NM X
William Greazel 09/01/06 X X X X X X O X O NM X
Matthew Hayek 09/01/07 X X X X X X X X X NM X
Michelle Mackel 09/01/06 X X X X X X X O/E X NM ....
Jayne Sandier 09/01/05 O O X X X O X X X NM X
Brian Richman 09/01/07 ........................................ X
Key:
X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = No Meeting
..... Not a Member