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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-19 Transcription #2 Page 1 ITEM 2 PROCLAMATION a. Founder's Day - October 22, 2004 Lehman: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is JeffChristiaansen, Governor for the Toastmaster Area #36. (applause) Christiaansen: Mr. Mayor, City Council members, and honored guests, on behalf of District 19 Toastmasters, as well as the Affirmationists, Crossroads Story Tellers, Old Capitol, and River City Toastmasters clubs, I thank you for your support in this proclamation. This is the 80th year of Toastmasters on the 22n , and we are very happy to be a part of your ceremony here today. We offer our services to anybody who is interested. Please go to www.toastmasters.org. Anybody is welcome. Thank you. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #2 Page 2 ITEM 2 PROCLAMATION b. United Nations Day - October 24, 2004 Lehman: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Wayne Osborn, President of Johnson County United Nations Association. (applause) Osborn: I want to present each of you with a Unicefbox. Lehman: Okay, thank you. Osborn: I want to introduce myself. I'm Wayne Osborn. I'm President of the Johnson County United Nations Association, and this year, Dorsey Phelps is our UNA Honorary Chair. She began working with Unicef when she was a child in Oelwein, Iowa, and the fascinating thing about it is she has passed it on to her grandson, who each year for the past several years, has had a fund raiser in the summer, consisting of an art project, in which students or the children in his neighborhood do artworks, and then they auction them off, and they send the money to Unicef. So, we have a multi-generational group here. The young people are the United Nations Club rrom the University ofIowa, and they're model UN'ers. They go to Chicago in a few weeks. I want to thank you for reading the proclamation. We're not quite as old as Toastmasters. We're 60 years, coming next year. So we have a few years to go, but we're pleased to show you our concerns and our interests, and we hope all of you will consider joining in our organization. We're always looking for new members. Thank you. (applause) Lehman: Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #2 Page 3 ITEM 2 PROCLAMATION c. Disability Employment Awareness Month - October 2004 Lehman: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Orville Townsend, Supervisor ofthe local Voc Rehab office. (applause) Townsend: Mr. Mayor, members of the City Council, and residents of the City of Iowa City, I would like to thank you for this proclamation. I'd also like to encourage each of you to think in terms ofthe future, and get away rrom the past, where we looked upon disability as a negative. I'd like for us to look at the present, and look to the future, and think in terms of ability and qualified individuals. I encourage you to think of them in terms of employment because if you employ a person with a disability, you are getting an individual that will give you 100 plus percent when you look at their attitude and the passion that they bring to the work force. Thank you. (applause) Lehman: Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #3 Page 4 ITEM 3 OUTSTANDING STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARD . Weber Elementary Lehman: Tonight we have some young folks from Weber Elementary. This is, boy it's been for me ever since I've been mayor and for a lot of folks they think that's too long, but this is really the highlight of the evening. These awards, I think, are taken very, very seriously by the students, as well they should be, and the students need to know they're taken very, very seriously by the Council as well, but nobody takes them quite as seriously as their grandparents do. So, if those students would come forward please. If you'd like to give your name and why you were nominated. Ascoli: My name is Peter Ascoli. Thank you for presenting me with this award. I would also like to thank my teacher, Ms. Taylor, for nominating me. I was very excited when I heard that I received this award. I was told that the Citizenship Award is for students who show leadership in their community, and respect the core virtues. At my school, the core virtues are honesty, responsibility, respect, giving, compassion, perseverance, and self-discipline. As a leader in my community, I am a safety patrol captain at Weber. As a safety patrol captain I have to make sure that the students are safe and that they are getting on the right buses. I also help out in Ms. Brown's special need's classroom. I enjoy working with the kids with special needs and helping them, and I don't mind missing class time to do that, but I always make sure that I complete the work that was done in that block of time. I show responsibility by turning in schoolwork on time. I respect others, and help them with homework when I'm done with my work. As I mentioned earlier, I use the virtues of giving and compassion by helping Ms. Brown's special needs students. I'm also on student council where I participate in making decisions for my class in school. Before I end this speech, I want to thank everyone once again for giving me this award. Thank you. (applause) Manhica: My name's Nicoll Manhica and I'm really pleased that I'm being presented this award. I always try and do my finest work in school. I also try and be a leader, and set a good example for other students. I love to help those who need it and be considerate to everyone. One contribution I've given to the school is my dedication to student council. Student council plays an important role in creating school spirit. I also volunteer in the school library and school store. I demonstrate the core virtues in different ways. For instance, being respectful to everyone, being a responsible student, and being optimistic instead of giving up, and to always follow the Golden Rule: treat others how you would like to be treated. I want to thank my teachers and family for this opportunity to receive such a magnificent award. Thank you. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #3 Page 5 Beckmann: My name is Dakota Beckmann and I am a 6th grader at Weber Elementary School. I am very honored and excited to get this award. I participate in many activities, including student council, student conflict managers, media helpers, school store, and helping in special ed classrooms. I also play basketball, softball, and the clarinet. Last year I was in safety patrol, and this year I was chosen to be a safety patrol captain. I was excited to be captain because it was a great opportunity to help my school. I enjoy being active, and I enjoy helping my school, and I am very honored to get this award. Thank you. (applause) Lehman: I'm going to read one ofthese, they all read the same (reads Citizenship Award). (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #5 Page 6 ITEM 5 COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA) Lehman: This is the time reserved on the agenda for folks to address the Council on items that do not otherwise appear on the agenda. If you wish to address the Council, please sign in, give your name, and limit your comments to five minutes or less. Sanders: Hi, my name is Gary Sanders. I'm here tonight to talk about an item that's not on the agenda, but has been discussed, and it's about drinking, of course. I have a little different view than many of my middle-aged peers. I don't really care about binge drinking. I don't care if these kids drink themselves silly. I don't care if they get drunk. I don't care if they puke on each other. I don't care ifthey puke all over. I don't care even if they wind up in the emergency room ofthe hospital. I really don't care. I don't care if they shoot heroin, or snort it. I really don't care, quite honestly. And you know why? Because my friends and I did all that stuff, and I'm not kidding. It was 1965 and 66 and 67, but we did all that, and you know what, we took responsibility for our actions if we got in trouble. We didn't ask the city or the university where we were attending to change any rules. We took responsibility. And if any of us got in trouble, our parents would say, "You moron, what are you doing?" They didn't come and, you know, try to baby us out of it. That's ridiculous. And, I'll tell ya, these kids today, I don't get it because we certainly didn't think we had the God-given right to go to bars. I mean, where does that come from? The law was twenty-one back then. I was there. I know that. We didn't march on City Hall so we could get twenty-one in bars. That was the law. We had more important things to protest. There was an immoral war going on back then too. And this business about, "Well if you're old enough to serve, you're old enough, in the military, you're old enough to go to a bar?" Well, if that's true, then here's my suggestion to this Council, anybody who's under twenty-one that has a military I.D. could get into a bar, and anybody else under twenty-one, is not allowed in. And these kids who forge I.D. 's, they would find out that counterfeiting military I.D.'s is going to bring them a little stiffer punishment than forging a little driver's license, I'll tell ya that. So, I don't buy this business about old enough to serve in the military, and you know, what really kills me about this so-called compromise, or this study group, or whatever you want to call it. It's sort of like the fox guarding the hen house. You know, we all know that. Come on. This is about money, pure and simple. And with all due respect, and I'll only ask this rhetorically, I don't want to put anybody on the spot, but let's say all these young women flocked into Connie's dress shop and somehow the law was that only if you were twenty-one you could buy one, okay? But she would allow anybody to come in to look, because after all it's fun. I know that. You know, women have fun shopping. That's obvious, right? Now, do you think that they would be able to come in and shop and look at all these This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #5 Page 7 pretty things. It's a beautiful store. Many of my fuends shop there, but what if they said you could come in, but just to socialize. You can't buy anything. I mean, come on. That wouldn't fly. You know that, and I know that. They'd want to buy things. Because their friends were buying things. And it's more fun to buy things. So, the idea that these kids are going to come into the bars, and sit with their fTiends, and "socialize" without drinking, folks, if you believe that... ..I've got some ocean property in Arizona to sell you. Because that ain't going to be the way it happens. And you know it, and I know it. There's so much money to be made down there, and part of this, of course, is the University's fault. When they kicked the drinking out of the fraternities, because one kid died, you know. That was ridiculous. Fraternities have always been for drinking. I mean, that's, you know, with all due respect to them and the good works that they do once in a while, they've always been known as that. That's a place to drink and party, and I say great. That's what they should be for. I got no problem with that, you know, but when they unleashed the forces of the drinkers out of the fraternities into downtown, look what happened. Look at the amount of bars that came into existence before, you know, I mean after the University changed its rules. That's what it's about. They're making so much money it's unbelievable. You know, just to buy the name ofa bar, you're looking at a half million to a million dollars, of a really good one. And if these people have this money cut off from underage people, you know, maybe a few ofthem would go out of business. Maybe even half of them. And then what would happen? I'm enough of a believer in the free market to think that you know, we'd have some empty retail spaces down there, and we'd get back to having a mix of businesses down there, instead of having it bar city. Or Budweiser Boulevard. Or whatever you want to call it. Lehman: You need to wrap it up. Sanders: Okay, all right, I'm wrapping it up. The other possibility is that the University cut its emollment by 20%, and eliminate all the kids who come here to party. And if you don't believe that's happening, I'm going to hand out one of the emails that was sent to you, if you don't mind, all right? In case you didn't notice it, and I swear to you, I'm not making this one up. I'm going to read it. It was one ofthe emails that was sent to you, to Marian Karr's email address. I'm just going to read this; it's very short. And it's filled with mistakes, and I used to teach English, so I've made some corrections on here. I corrected her misspellings and some of her other grammatical mistakes, and I'm sure this is a very sweet, young woman. I'm not denying that. But I'd like to red it, ifI could. "I truly hope that the 21-ordinance does not get passed because I will have nothing to do. That is one of the reasons I left my hometown to come to college because there was nothing to do because the bars didn't allow minors in late at night and they were all full of adults. The easy access to alcohol This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #5 Page 8 should not be the problem because whether you are allowed in the bar or not there will always be a way to drink. Some of the citizens believe this is a safety issue due to drinking and driving. Anyone over 21 can drink and drive. Are they just going to keep raising the age? Being in the bars is better than walking down the street and getting kidnapped or raped. Why don't the citizens ofIowa City just let us have some fun because after a long week at school that is what everyone wants." I'm ashamed. I am ashamed, my fuends. I truly am. These are the folks who are coming to school here. Okay, Ernie, another sixty seconds. This is what's going on. Lehman: Listen, you've gone for almost nine minutes, and you're supposed to have five. I'm trying to be very patient. Sanders: Okay, all right, all right. I'm just going to warn you guys, November 20, Wisconsin comes here. They're tied for the lead in the Big 10. Final score 26-24, one team wins in the final seconds, watch out for the riot downtown afterwards. Thank you. Lehman: Thank you, sir. Neff: Hi, I'm John Neff, and I'm from Iowa City, and I attended the work session last night and I came away wondering what was that all about, the bar owners said they were going to make things better, but how will we know what they're making better, and whether they've succeeded? In all of the people who have been talking to you about alcohol issues say the most serious problem is the result of over consumption. And some of those problems occur in bars. Let's talk about two examples. A bar owner, or employee, or another patron, finds somebody on the floor. They're either unconscious or they're vomiting. An ambulance is called, the police and fire department also come. Is that the sort of thing that we can look forward as to seeing a reduction in the rate? We know what the rate is. The ambulance and the police keep records. So, can we expect to see a significant reduction in the rate of that type of incident? Did you ask for that? No. The other type of incident is fighting. Somebody gets assaulted. Either a bar employee or some other patron. We know how many of those there are. Police have records on that. Can we expect, again, to see a significant reduction? You didn't ask them to do anything. Lehman: John, just. . . we are sending a letter, either today or tomorrow, to that organization, specifically indicating to them what they expect to do, and asking them to come back and evaluate that when we have our meeting in May, so we are asking them for specific... Neff: What kind of rates of reduction are you asking for? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #5 Page 9 Lehman: The ball is in their court. Neff: I would suggest 25%. Lehman: Okay. Thank you. Atkins: Mr. Mayor, that letter won't go out today. Lehman: Well today isn't.. . right. Tomorrow. Laney: Yeah, we have a problem with uniforms. Lehman: What's your name, please? Laney: Daniel Laney. Yeah, uh, it's not just in Iowa City or in the state of Iowa, or nationally. It is a national problem across the United States, and in Iowa City, with the Iowa City police department, the postal carriers, truck drivers, and fire fighters. Why are they not wearing their uniforms properly? There needs to be some type of disciplinary action on high ranking positions that don't want to wear their uniforms properly. Uh, they need disciplinary action, just like if a soldier in the armed forces breaks the discipline of the army, formations, not wearing uniforms properly. They're going to be court marshaled by you as military police. It's just like how are you going to court marshal (can't understand) city or state officer for not wearing their uniform properly? Or not following orders by chief of police, team leaders, lieutenants, and commanders. There needs to be some disciplinary action on (can't understand) driving license, and if they want to (can't understand) legal for police officers to pull your driver's license. They need to catch you in a violation, and you could get a suspended license one time, when you drive twenty-five miles over the speed limit. Marines went into (can't understand) on April 12, 1975, (can't understand) get out of Czech Republic (can't understand) Thailand. Don't (can't understand) the great nation of the United States of America and become glory, peace, and the skies of heaven, because that's the discipline of the Marine Corps. Right? It is. And uh, be the best you can be, just like the (can't understand) positions like I just named. U.S. postal carriers, police officers, fire fighters, truck drivers. There needs to be disciplinary action. I don't know how you're going to discipline them for not wearing their uniform. (can't understand) you can see (can't understand) east of the Berlin Wall. You can see borders of nations. Well, you can see (can't understand). Not all three men live in Berlin. Not all free men see the light in the crisis. Not all three men see the glory in the coalition. None of the three men see the independence and liberation either. That's the way of discipline in the Marine Corps. In foreign places they wear uniforms. Marines, the armed forces, discipline, (can't understand) How ya going to do that? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #5 Page 10 Lehman: Thank you. Alaniz: Do I have to sign in? Lehman: Yes, and give your name please. Alaniz: My name is Sal Alaniz. There's an email rrom me, and I thought I'd at least take a moment of your time just to at least present a face with a name that appears, I think first, on your correspondence. I'm not here to really say one way or the other in terms of my view in terms of the drinking and the bar scene. I'm sharing this as a parent, and first of all, I would commend the City Council for what it's done, perhaps a year ago, in regard to the housing ordinance that was passed or changed somehow, for the nuisance. I think you're aware of that. As a parent who needed to be involved with her daughter here in this community, quickly in order to provide for her security, as I would view it as a parent, I needed to become very familiar as quickly as I can with how to do that. The easiest part was to, so to speak, spend some money, take her and another girl, and put them in a location that I thought was safe, along with the other parents. That was the kind of easier part. The more difficult part was to proceed beyond that, to find the housing, no matter what the legal repercussions are of that. I'm not certain how that's going to shake out, but I certainly am not going to have my daughter be in a situation that was unsafe within that house. But in this process, I came to understand a little bit better of what may be occurring within this community. In terms of the drinking, in terms of that, that's not new to me. I grew up in an alcoholic environment with a father that was an alcoholic, recovered now. And, I learned a lot from him. His legacy to us as a family was to be able to stop drinking. I think these are decisions that this Council is not going to be able to change that with the individual decisions that are made by youth, whether they be under twenty-one or over twenty-one. The important part here is I would recommend that the Council assist parents that have children going to school, students here, and to be able to better understand, to be able to inform students of, certainly oftheir obligations under lease contracts, but also what to do if they find themselves in an awkward situation. In this situation in which there are things going on, the drinking and other illegal activities, so to speak, and they don't know how to because the pressure may be upon them. If you understand this, the pressure may be on them to be able to come up with the lease or a landlord may be willing to say "look, we'll put you someplace else under our property management; but you still need to sublease." That's an awkward situation to place a student in. It's certainly an awkward situation to place an involved parent in, a participating parent in, so I'll go back, and thank you for that ordinance. If you can figure out a way of somehow providing for that type of information to be made available to students, whether that be part of a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #5 Page 11 lease itself or information that is routinely published and made available to students that are seeking housing through whatever organization exists here, then I think that would be good because I think there probably are a number of students that are just in awkward situations. They find themselves kind of trapped in that, and although they don't want to necessarily live that kind oflifestyle, they do need to get on with their studies to have a balanced life, and unless they find another party that's involved, a parent, a friend, some organization that is willing to share this information, they're going to be kind of trapped until that lease period is done. I hope that makes sense to you, all right? So, the reason for my writing the letter, I hope you'll have an opportunity to read it, to reflect upon it. I commend you for your work. It's a difficult situation. I think in any community, in regard to this. I hope that with this new organization, or this organization that's going to assist in looking at these issues and working with you, that you'll hold them to task, on behalf ofthose students. Okay. Thank you. Lehman: Thank you. Is there any other public comment? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #11 Page 12 ITEM 11 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF lOW A CITY AND THE ARTIST FOR THE NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ART PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE SAME Bailey: Move the resolution. Lehman: Moved by Bailey. Champion: Second. Lehman: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Bailey: We're looking forward to these signs on the Northside. Lehman: They're really cute. They really are. Elliott: My lips are sealed. (laughter) Champion: Right. Bailey: You can drive by them. They're on the streets. O'Donnell: Thank you for that. Lehman: Roll call. Motion carried. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #12 Page 13 ITEM 12 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE OAKLAND CEMETERY SEWER SEPARATION PROJECT Lehman: We received, it appears, five.. .pardon me, four bids. Public Works and Engineering is recommending the award to be to Tschiggfrie Excavating Company of Dubuque for the amount of$53,988.1O. Estimate was $64,000. O'Donnell: Move the resolution. Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell. Champion: Second. Lehman: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Champion: Is this the waster water fund we're collecting now on the water bill? Is that the same fund, the new fund? No, it's not. Atkins: This is a sewer separation project at the cemetery. Bailey: But you were asking about funds that would pay for it, right? That's what you asked about it, funds that would pay for it? Champion: Yeah. Atkins: Wastewater funds will pay for it. I think you're thinking of storm water. Champion: Right, okay, right. Atkins: That's not it. Lehman: Roll call. Motion carried. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #13 Page 14 ITEM 13 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT FOR LIBRARY SERVICES TO RURAL JOHNSON COUNTY Bailey: Move adoption. Lehman: Moved by Bailey. Vanderhoef: Second. Lehman: Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion. Roll call. Motion carried. Elliott: Mr. Mayor, would you repeat again please to let who may be here or watching that these all of been discussed. Ijust think it's helpful for people to know we are not just sitting here rubberstamping everything without a thought. Lehman: That's a good point to do that occasionally but there's nothing on this agenda that hasn't been read and discussed by Council and we are obviously comfortable with these votes or we would be discussing then further. Champion: Very boring meeting. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #17 Page 15 ITEM 17 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION Lehman: Regenia, let's start at the other end. Bailey: Oh thanks. I just wanted to thank the City staff members who helped the Northside Neighborhood Association on their October 9th bulb planting, PIN grant activity. It was great. The beds were all dug and there was a load of sand and dirt that they had provided, so thanks for the help and we look forward to being at the north Market Square Park in the spring. Wilburn: I want to thank the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for beginning their United Way in-house employee campaign drive. They had a nice kickoff the other day, and it sounds like they have some good prizes for people making contributions to the United Way. I also want to thank Proctor and Gamble for providing toothpaste, toothbrushes to several of the United Way member agencies this year. Lehman: Dee? Vanderhoef: And I would just like to note that Saturday there was a successful celebration at our Iowa City Parks and Recreation Center. It's been forty years and it's still going strong. Certainly, I could make a plug for a larger area, but it's very nice to see it there and I can remember when I was a college student, and my mother-in-law was on the Parks and Recreation Board at that time, when they built the Rec Center, and how proud those people were, and I think they all should continue to be proud. Lehman: Very good. Mike? O'Donnell: Steve, we started leaf pickup. How long is that going to last this year? Do we have any idea? Atkins: There's a formal schedule. It runs up close to Thanksgiving, about six weeks. We just, yesterday was the first day. Lehman: Unless we get a blizzard. Atkins: Yeah. Vanderhoef: And then I want the snowplow. Lehman: Leafplow. Connie? Champion: Nothing. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #17 Page 16 Elliott: I think I mentioned something about this the first night I was on the Council in January, but I looked at these young people out here, and thought would those of us, who call ourselves adults, could be more like these three people who stood out here tonight. I was just so impressed. The community should be likewise impressed with these, and those who come up before us almost every meeting. Lehman: You know, I have to say this. You can't believe the number ofthese young folks who stop by, sometimes two or three years after they go that award, just to say hi. It means so much to them, and I think it does to us as well. Just one item, the City ofIowa City and this community lost a really dear fuend (TAPE ENDS) past away, and certainly there's not been a better friend to the City of Iowa City, to the folks in this community, to those folks in the community with disabilities, than Ben Moore was, and we're all going to miss him a great deal. Steve? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004. #18 Page 17 ITEM 18 REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF. Atkins: Nothing, sir. Lehman: Eleanor? Marian? Do we have a motion to adjourn? Elliott: So moved. Wilburn: Second. Lehman: All in favor? We are adjourned. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council meeting of October 19, 2004.