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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-31 TranscriptionJanuary 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 1 of 22 January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session 7:20 PM Council: Bailey, Champion, Elliott, Lehman, O'Donnell, Vanderhoef, Wilburn Staff: Atkins, Davidson, Dilkes, Franklin, Helling, Karr, O'Malley TAPES: 05-13 (Side One & Side Two) AIRPORT COMMISSION Lehman: Okay, we're going to talk about flying. Mr. Hartwig, you have shrunk. Clay: And I'm not nearly as good-looking any more, am I? Lehman: Yeah, but you've got more hair. Clay: I want to thank you for the opportunity to talk to you a little bit about the airport. I have about 30 minutes of stuff to cover and then I'm going to propose a 10% cost of living increase for the airport commission, but thankfully 10% of nothing isn't going to hurt the budget any. (Laughter) Lehman: Actually, you don't have the allies in the Board of Supervisors and the School District and you play by our rules. Clay: If we worked for the County we'd be in business. (Laughter) Well, I'm pleased to report to you that the Commission, as you probably have seen has been making very good progress. We've remained committed to the goals that we talked about at the last council meeting we came to. What you have in your packet is a copy of a strategic plan that we have developed over the last several months, with the help of Jeff Davidson with the City Planning Office. You have that and have read it and have had time to look it, so I'm not going to go through it, but there's a couple of things that I think are really important to highlight that demonstrate that the plan itself has already begun to be implemented and we've made some really important steps - particularly in regard to the first two goals. Clearly, the number one thing that we have to do and we've had has a priority when we started this process was to get the fiscal house back in order. Right away we cut the budget and we increased the revenue at the airport. So, in a very short period of time we managed to reverse (and hopefully permanently) but at least for now we've reversed the trend of an increased subsidy by the City each year. That was our very first goal and we've accomplished that so far. The second thing that ! think is really important is that the Commission and the City Council and the City staff got on the same page. That's why it is the first goal in the strategic plan. I'm really pleased to report that not only have we gotten on the same page, but I've been amazed at the amount of cooperation and help that we've This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 2 of 22 gotten from all the City offices and personnel in those offices that have helped us to more forward in many ways with the airport. Some of which are really important and very obviously and some of which are very subtle and not to obvious. A few examples of that: Steve Atkins, the City Manager, has met with us whenever we've asked, has gone out of his way to be supportive of and provide very sound advice for our Commission regarding many issues at the airport. The cooperation that we've gotten from Mr. Atkins... I have to tell you has gone far above what I expected and far above really what could be expected, so I've appreciated all the help that he has been. I think that is representative of several other people including Jeff Davidson, who helped us ~vith the strategic plan from the Planning Office, Marian Karr has been down to the Airport Managers office with us and has gone through records and really helped us reconceptualize how that office is to be set up, how data is to be stored, retrieved, and managed, and how paperwork is to be managed, and to make it much more efficient and contemporary and interface much better with the City offices. We've met with people in the billing office and managed to streamline the process for billing for hangar leases and receipt of funds. The Streets Departments has helped us ~vith moving snow, fixing things on the runways and taxiways that needed immediate fixing. So, we've gotten excellent cooperation from everyone in the City that we've asked for help. They've really gone out of their way to be helpful to us in developing and beginning to implement the strategic plan, so those are two very important things. A couple of other things, briefly, that I think are worth mentioning. One, we managed to get the FAA to agree to give us a substantial amount of money to fix up some of the infrastructure at the airport including ramps and taxiways that we would not ordinarily be eligible for. This money is allotted to airports to fix up that kind of stuff but typically when the FAA gives a big chunk of money for something like a runway extension, you are not eligible to receive that additional money because they consider that big chunk of money as part of that allotment, but through the very careful and articulate work of the consultants that we hired to help us with management, they made a case to the FAA of why it's important that we have that extra money and they've agreed to give us that extra money which is above and beyond what we got for the runway extension. Now, they've approved the request but whether the money actually comes through is yet to be seen, but so far we are very optimistic about that happening. I don't think there is a precedent for that in the State of Iowa, so I'm really happy to report that the management situation that we have right now has really been very efficient and I think the City offices and Bill Flannery, from Snyder and Associates, have done a good job of problem-solving some of the stuff regarding the land-use issues with the property that is for sale, and so forth. What we are doing right now is that we're implementing several parts of the strategic plan. Our focus is shifting on identifying a management structure that helps us to implement this strategic plan in the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 3 of 22 most cost-effective and efficient manner and we're keeping all options on the table while we have this discussion. There are lots of different models for managements, some which include a full-time manager - like we used to have, some involve the use of FBO's and consultants in consulting arrangements - much like the interim one that we have now that seems to be working, and there are variations between there. We're entertaining all possible options to determine how best to implement the plan, what management strategy is going to help us to do that effectively and also cost-efficiently. That's our focus the next couple of months. That's where we're going with the management and I know that's a question and rightfully so. Another thing I want to add about management is that Randy and I flew up to the University of Dubuque and met with some of the faculty there in their Aviation Management program and we worked out an arrangement for students who are recent graduates of their Airport Management Degree to do internships with us. I'm happy to report that we have two new interns who will be starting tomorrow morning at 9:00am. They're both recent graduates of the University of Dubuque. They both have customer relations and business backgrounds and they both received their degrees in Airport Management. Michael Tharp is one and Elizabeth Freiburger is another, so we're really happy to have them on board. Vanderhoef: Excuse me, is that a four-year program? Clay: Yes, their degree program is. What we've done on a trial basis is said, ~Let's do this from now until July 1st and let's see how it works.' Frankly, I think it's really important that their experience is one that benefits them professionally so the consultants, Randy, and I will be working with them so they can get some experience writing grants to the State DOT and to the FAA. They understand how to manage grants from the FAA. One of the key projects that we have for one or both of them is the development of a public relations campaign and to have that as a separate unit. Underneath the public relations to develop several strategies and outcomes measures for how we can determine at the end of the year whether we've met our objectives for public relations. One thing I should tell you...as part of that first goal you'll see that we put in there a report to the City Council every year. What I think is really important is that at the end of every year we have something to show you that says, 'This is our strategic plan, these were our goals, and here is the data that tells us how far we've gotten on those goals.' Until now I know that hasn't existed and that's a real priority for us. The interns will be involved in that too because they've had some experience with that as well. Ernie? Lehman: Let me just say, first of all, the help that you've gotten from the staff folks here, has always been there. They have always been willing and anxious to help the Airport Commission. Your working with them is going to go a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 4 of 22 long ways as far as the relationship between the City and Airport Commission. These folks working with you know what you're doing, you know what we're doing, and I think it's a great relationship and we're very pleased that you're taking advantage of that. Clay: Well, good. I think it's clearly mutually beneficial. Are there any questions about anything that we're doing at the airport? Anything we're doing at the airport is encapsulated in the strategic plan because this is the focus of where our expenditures are going to be in the next few budget years. Elliott: Dan, you just mentioned expenditures and certainly finances for the airport is a visible concern. When we talked, you mentioned that there is a time after which we are now making payments on improvements that have been made.., substantial payments, I believe.., and there...when is that time when those payments will be paid in full? Clay: Some of them are a few years out yet. The nexver buildings are...Randy? Atkins: Let me help you out...Bob, we'll be preparing, in the not to distant future, a schedule of the payments that the airport has and we're going to try to show you at what period of time it would be out of debt and some other things. We just simply haven't got those prepared for you right now. We have a schedule. Hangar A still has three more years to go. Hangar B is paid for, etc. We keep that information. Elliott: I'd like to have that. So we're talking five years out, ten years out, etc. Clay: We're talking five and ten years on the current payment plan...but as you know, the sale of the property down there is a key part of paying off some of the infrastructure, paying off some of the debt so that we don't require so much of our annual budget to be used to pay expenses that can be paid offby money generated from the sale of property. Elliott: Good. Lehman: I'm also real pleased that you indicate that the airport could come closer to self-sufficiency but you don't make any promises that the airport will be self-sufficient. Airports rarely are and I think we need to understand that. Vanderhoef: Under your number four goals and strategies .... you talk about 'allow for privately funded hangar construction'....ah .... I'm presuming, but ! don't know that this is true, that that would be on long-term lease? Clay: Right. The way those things typically work is those are usually corporate hangars and when the runway extension is completed we expect that...the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 5 of 22 runway itself will be open to a larger category of aircraft so there will be more interest in basing aircraft here for industrial or corporate purposes. They typically will build a hangar, they'll pay for the hangar - let's say it's a twenty-year lease and at the end of the lease the hangar then becomes the property of the airport. The reason they do that is because by having their own hangar they don't have to pay the fuel-flowage fees and it's actually cheaper for them to build a hangar, not pay the rent - but lease the property, build a hangar, and not pay fuel-flowage fees, and at the end of twenty years they come out ahead and we have a hangar building. So, that's something that we want to keep open to and I know there have been a couple of interested parties already talking to Ron Duffy, the FBO head and interim manager, about any opportunities for doing that. Vanderhoef: So how, when you say it changes the fuel-flow income...is that not from the FBO or is that... - Clay: They typically have storage tanks there because they use an enormous amount of fuel for the corporate aircraft. When they have their own fuel tanks there they are not required to pay fuel-flowage fees. Hartwig: I think they still might pay the flo~vage-fee but the fact that they would be buying large quantities means they're buying it wholesale, so it means that have some savings. Clay: It's still cheaper to build a hangar - Vanderhoef: For them. I'm just fine with it. I haven't looked at the total plan...the total airport upgrade plan...but are you envisioning using some of that land that is going to be opened up by Mormon Trek down at the South- East comer? Clay: We've discussed some potential uses. There's a good chunk of that land that could be available for this type of construction. There's also part of that property that is going to have frontage to Mormon Trek Road, so that property might have more value used for something other than a hangar. There is a big piece of property down there, in that approach zone to the runway, that's now empty and since that runway won't be there, vertical infrastructure can now be placed in that area, so there is a significant area where there is the potential for generating income with that property without having to sell it. I think at this point what we want to do is get back on track financially right now and then be looking five, ten, fifteen, twenty years down the road at situations where the airport can develop income from the use of those properties without having to actually sell the properties. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 6 of 22 Atkins: Dan? Excuse me, Dan. Dan - this is a little spooky, but I just sent a memo to the Airport Commission suggesting...Randy and I just talked, what, two days ago, to do just what you said...that we need to put a plan together because the airport commerce park will start to sell off and you have that seventeen and a half acre parcel there, so you'll be seeing that in your packet shortly. Clay: The good news is that there is enormous potential there. It's secondary to solving the financial issue right now. We need to get some properties sold and deal with the pressing issues of the budget. The good news is that the long-term prospect for the subsidy provided by the City is much more favorable than we've seen in the last few years. Elliott: Dan, either you or Steve - for any property that might be sold in that area, there are air rights involved regarding the height of any structures.., and... Clay: Right. The sale of that property is subject to FAA approval so the airspace restrictions, and there are some use restrictions to that land and that has been a part of negotiations for any kind of interest in the properties. Lehman: That's true of any property surrounding the airport whether the airport owns it or not. Any questions? Great job. Clay: I guess the ten percent is off the table then? (Laughter) Lehman: All right. Planning and Zoning. PLANNING & ZONING A) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR FEBRUARY 15 ON AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY 25.67-ACRES BY AMENDING A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT HOUSING OVERLAY - LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (OPDH- 5) PLAN IN ORDER TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL ZERO-LOT LINE DWELLINGS FOR PROPERTY LOCATED ON WINTERGREEN DRIVE (REZ04-00017/SUB04-00017). Franklin: The first item is setting a public hearing for February 15 on an ordinance to rezone property in the Village Green South area. It's essentially the southwest comer of Village Green South area off of Sterling Drive extended. B) AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE BY CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION FROM MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-8) TO SENSITIVE AREAS OVERLAY/MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLEFAMILY RESIDENTIAL (SAO/RS-8) ZONE AND A This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 7 of 22 PRELIMINARY SENSITIVE AREAS DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR OLDE TOWNE VILLAGE. (REZ04-00005) Franklin: Item B is a continuation of a public hearing from the last meeting and this is on the Sensitive Areas Development Plan PDH for Olde Town Village at the comer of Scott and Rochester and we talked about that before. C) AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REVISE THE LAND USE MAP FOR THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PLAN. Franklin: Okay. C is a public hearing on amending the Comprehensive Plan to revise the Land Use Map for the Southwest District Plan. You can look at the picture now. Isn't it pretty? In the 1997 Comprehensive Plan, because we hadn't done the District Plans yet, generally speaking in this area that we're concerned with, which is this red area here, there were general statements about what would happen at the interchange of 218 and Highway 1 and it recognized, as the 1983 plan had, that we were going to concentrate any commercial development at the intersection of 218 with Highway 1 rather than the intersection of 218 with Melrose Avenue. So that kind of carried through from 1983 to 1997. In 2002, we embarked on the Southwest District Plan and it was adopted in 2002 and that's when we looked more closely at this whole area that is outlined in blue. In that Southwest District Plan there's not a lot of mention of this particular area that we're looking at tonight. Much of that plan focused on this Carson Lake area and then other parts of the Southwest District which was like the Harlocke-Weeber area where the Lodge is. The only reference in the Southwest District Plan to this area is the Land Use Map and it showed a low-density residential development and then landscape buffering along Highway 1 and 218. There is some general statements in the plan about areas in which there is not infrastructure and having low-density residential development, the fact that you need to buffer residential development from commercial development. We're at a point now where there is sewer that is available to this area, albeit on a lift station. We extended sewer from - well, it's down here off of the map - by the airport and Willow Creek west underneath 218 to the Naples Avenue area last year. That sewer has capacity to serve this area if this area has a lift station put in and part of development of this area a lift station would be required. It would be sized to serve the entire watershed for the area and then have the capacity to be upgraded through the addition of impellers to actually serve the entire area. Vanderhoef: How big of an area, beyond what we're talking now? Franklin: Kind of this in here...because there is a ridge that runs along here so this is probably going to flow this way, down to a lift that would then bring it up into here. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 8 of 22 Vanderhoef: The school district was interested when I was talking to Lane Plugge today and telling him about this development and a lift station was going in and he said 'How big is it?' and I said I would find out tonight. Presently, I assume all the small boxes there just outside the area are present homes? Franklin: Right here? Vanderhoef: Yes. Franklin: Yes, this is Kitty Lee Road and these are the homes that are along Kitty Lee Road in the county. Vanderhoef: And those are the ones on septics because we haven't yet? Franklin: Yes, and they will stay on septics until they come in to the City, which we don't anticipate any time soon. I mean it's up to the individual property owners. The issue for tonight is 'why change to this commercial designation here.' We had an application from Jim Davis representing all the people who own this, which is basically Jim and his siblings, requesting that this area be annexed, rezoned, and in looking at that, we realized that we needed to change the Comprehensive Plan in order to get to that point of zoning it for commercial development. The arguments that are outlined in the staff report have to do with what's going on around this interchange, what had been talked about in this area previously, and the fact that we had made this distinction between the Highway 1/Melrose Avenue interchange. So, the recommendation of Planning and Zoning Commission, on a vote of six to zero, is to recommend approval of this change of the Comprehensive Plan to enable commercial development in this area. As this goes through the annexation and zoning process it will be subject to a conditional zoning which will ad&ess the buffer issues between the residential and the commercial. As you note here on the Comp Plan change, this light pink is office/commercial whereas this darker color is a general commercial. The intent is that this area that would butt up against the residential would be zoned office/commercial which is our lowest intensity commercial. There also is right in this area a pond, which will be slightly reconfigured and this will be the storm water detention area and will retain a wet-bottom basin there. So, between this more general commercial and the residential, there will be this open space with a pond and then office/commercial would be developing in this area. Bailey: What's the access to this? The drive access? Franklin: The access will be across from Naples. There will be a road that goes into this area that will have sufficient distance from 218 ramps and right of way to enable commercial lots along that area. There also will be an This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 3 l, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 9 of 22 access point here, which will essentially serve as a service to a larger lot in here, but would come back over in this direction and hook up with this road. We're having a traffic analysis done by the developer on both of these intersections. Bailey: Because of the ramp...the sight-lines...that's a really messy place traffic wise. Franklin: Well, the issues that you see now are, I think, right at this ramp. Bailey: Yes, they are. And if you had another additional traffic trying to get on to Highway 1, my concern would be that the sight-lines aren't very good. Franklin: That's part of the traffic analysis that will be looked at and we're speculating that this would be the point, I believe, at which a signal might be required. I'm looking at Jeff intently to see if he is nodding. (Laughter) Not sleeping, but saying Yes. Davidson: Actually, I'm reading through the traffic study. We'll look at all three intersections. The southbound ramps and the intersections of Naples and Kitty Lee. We'll look at all three for a signal and turn lane. At least they were supposed to have done. We'll be looking through it. Bailey: So, how quickly do we expect this to commercial develop? Should this be something that's on our... Davidson: I think the traffic study reflects full build-out of the subdivision in five years. Franklin: That doesn't surprise me. Lehman: Regenia, I think the traffic signal and perhaps the turn lane, many, many times if there is a large development, the developer will be required to front that. Franklin: That is one reason why we required it ahead of going through with the zoning so that it is a way to allocate the costs of that. Vanderhoef: The pink area, the office/commercial. Will there be another access further up on Kitty Lane? Franklin: No. Vanderhoef: So everything will be internal? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 10 of 22 Franklin: Right here, yeah. I can't remember exactly the number the lots, it's probably on the illustrations in your packet. We'll be working through that as this proceeds...but I'm thinking that there's maybe ten lots in here. Vanderhoef: In the intense commercial? Franklin: No, along the interstate and back into the commercial office and the commercial office may be four. Vanderhoef: Oh, I found it. One, two, three, four, five. I see five office commercial lots that are right next to the housing and then there's an area I'm not real sure about. Franklin: Now remember, you're going to see this as an annexation, you're going to see it as a rezoning, and you're going to see it as a subdivision. What this is about right now, is whether to change from the Land Use Designation of rural/residential to a commercial designation and given the fact that it now has City utilities, the staff and the commission agreed that it seemed like...it was not an urban use of land to have that be rural/residential once we had those services in place. Vanderhoef: And it meets our guideline of building the tax base. Franklin: Yes, that too. Bailey: This would extend our fringe area, right? Franklin: No. As we looked at that and that again will come before you as we do the annexation. When you look at it relative to the two-mile fringe, this piece, which is just this part remember that would be annexed, because of the shape of what we already are, doesn't really do anything. Vanderhoef: Regenia, there is a map...this one...that shows just that little tiny piece is all that extends the two-mile... Bailey: There was some discussion to that, right? Franklin: We always look at that when we have an annexation. Elliott: Karin, if this were a much larger area involved, does the fringe area just automatically get extended two miles or does that have to take an action to do that? Franklin: No. We have an agreement with the County that with every annexation, we will look at the wisdom of extending that two-mile area and whether This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 11 of 22 the City desires to do that or not. We will consult with the County on it, but then it's your decision to extend it or not. Elliott: But it would be at least with consultation with the County? Franklin: Yes. Okay. D) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION FROM MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-8) NEIGItBORItOOD CONSERVATION RESIDENTIAL (RNC-12), TO MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL/HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY (RS-8/OHP) AND NEIGItBORItOOD CONSERVATION RESIDENTIAL/HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY (RNC-12/OHP) DESIGNATE THE GILBERT-LINN STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT. (DEFERRED FROM 12/7/04 AND 1/4/05) (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Franklin: The next item is the Gilbert-Linn Historic District. There is nothing more to say on that. E) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING FINAL PLAT OF SADDLEBROOK MEADOWS PART 1, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB04- 00031) Franklin: Item E is a resolution approving the final plat of Saddlebrook Meadows Part 1. This we've looked at in the preliminary state and with the OPDH, so there is nothing new here. There is some off-site easement plats that engineering is looking at. The engineer that was looking at that was not in today, he was at home with a sick child, so I'll make sure that I check on that tomorrow before your meeting but everything looks like it's in order, so we are recommending approval. I'm done. Lehman: Thank you. Franklin: Oh, no I'm not done. DESIGN REVIEW Lehman: Design Review. Franklin: That's me, too. Lehman: That's you, too. Franklin: Okay, at your last meeting Kevin Digmann came and asked if there could be some change in the Design Review Process. I've gone through a little This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 12 of 22 history of it for you in a memorandum, so I don't need to repeat that, I guess what I need is just direction from you as to ~vhether you want us to incorporate this change in the new code. In the new code we have two levels of review for Design Review. A Level I and a Level II. Level I merely means it's administrative and Level II requires City Council approval. What we would do is right now any urban renewal R-14 require Council approval. What I'm suggesting is that we modify it such that it the Council would look at the overall plans for any of those projects, such as Old Capital Mall - Plaza Towers was certainly one - I can't envision right now where another one would be but for instance if Design Review were required on the remainder of Block 102 because of them taking advantage of Tax Increment Financing or Tax Abatement, that you look at the overall plan for one of these large projects, but that if there are minor exterior alterations - like a sign moves or the windows change slight configuration, something like that - that that goes through the staff administrative approval. This is what Kevin is asking. On Old Capitol Mall they have come back with signs for the various businesses that have gone in, changes in the windows, moving the Osco sign from one comer of the building to the other side of the building, and those are the things that are not necessarily anticipated at the very beginning of the project. So, ! don't have the exact language for you right now, but asking if that is what you want us to work on. Elliott: That would be a Level I? Franklin: The exterior alterations, the minor, would become a Level I administrative approval. Elliott: Even when staff approval is all that's required...do any conflicts/conflict resolutions then come to the council? Franklin: Yes. Elliott: So let's say someone wants to do something, staff says no or staff says yes and Kevin says no, if there is an impasse, does that come to Council for a resolution? Franklin: You know, I'm not sure. That's something we can certainly include. Lehman: I'm not sure we would have made provision for that at this point because at this point it requires Council approval. If we take Council approval out... Elliott: Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I'd like that to happen. That would be my personal preference...that if there is a conflict that it comes to us. The This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 13 of 22 other one, when Council approval is required, I think by code or law or ordinance, can the Council delegate that authority? Franklin: An answer to your first question. Appeals, any person or persons aggrieved by any decision by the Design Review Committee regarding a Level I Design Review application may appeal such decision to the t)oard of Adjustment. So the appeal goes to the Board of Adjustment because it's a zoning item. Now, what was your second? Elliott: The second was, if the Council is required, and I think that was said with the urban renewal...the Council is required to approve that...can that be delegated or does the Council have to? There is no possibility - Franklin: No, you can change the law such that it is delegated. I guess I wouldn't recommend that for large projects. Elliott: But we could. Franklin: Yes. Lehman: I like what you recommended but on the other hand I also would like to see, as part of this change, that people who request approval of a design that we give them a time-frame. In other words, if they make an application, that Design Review be required to act on it within seven days or whatever so that there is a time-frame for those folks as well. A realistic time-frame from staff's perspective. What are there, three people who go through it? But I think we need to have a time in there so they know what they can expect. They like to blame Council for things being slow and we can make it very explicit that that's how long it takes and we don't hear about it any more...because we are slow. Franklin: Okay. Lehman: Thank you. Franklin: Thank you. Lehman: Okay, agenda items. AGENDA ITEMS ITEM 12. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT BY JOHNSON COUNTY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOUTH GILBERT STREET IMPROVEMENTS - NAPOLEON LANE TO CITY LIMITS PROJECT. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 14 of 22 O'Donnell: Number 12. Our share is $182,000. Normally we have an engineer's estimate and cost. Champion: There's one there. O'Donnell: Oh, it's at the bottom. Sorry. Totally missed that. Atkins: These are slightly higher than the estimates than you'll noticed, but we really think we hit the market. Of the top three you can put your thumb on and there is the possibility that the Cedar Valley, who we're recommending, had some estimating issues with regards to the rip-wrap or whatever and that may change it lower than higher. We don't expect it to go higher. ITEM 10. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION DELEGATING RESPONSIBILITY TO PARTICULAR PERSONS HOLDING SPECIFIED POSITIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 22, IOWA'S PUBLIC RECORDS STATUTE, AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 04-160. Elliott: I have a question about Item 10. The final sentence in the descriptive information. It says 'the resolution rescinds the prior resolution that established a policy for the Clerk's Office to assure uniformity'. Does that mean that it was the responsibility of the Clerk's Office to assure uniformity or this change is being made to assure uniformity? The latter? Dilkes: Yes. Lehman: Good. Other agenda items? ITEM 14. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A LISTING AGREEMENT WITH HARRY R. WOLF OF NAI IOWA REALTY COMMERCIAL TO LIST FOR LEASING PURPOSES COMMERCIAL SPACE WITHIN THE COURT STREET TRANSPORTATION CENTER Dilkes: Item 14. We're going to ask you to defer until February 15th. There are some issues we need to work out there. O'Donnell: That's it. ITEM 4F(3). Andrew Brobston: Handlinq of Water Main Breaks [Staff response included] This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 15 of 22 Vanderhoef: Just a quick comment. One of our letters was to the Water Department talking about timely notification of when the water was shut off, which is a sad situation for anybody, but we know they can't call everyone. In budget sessions I was talking about the Reverse 911. This is one of those cases that Reverse 911 could take a block of homes and send out one mass phone call to all the homes in that area, if you programmed it that way. Atkins: I hope you folks understand...we are sensitive to that person's complaint. The idea was to get it fixed right away and... Lehman: When you have a water main spewing water main spewing water in to the street, my suspicion is that it's the last thing we're interested in trying to determine which houses to call. We need to stop the flow. Atkins: We were talking to the fella we were like, 'Sir, there was a water main break and you have no water' and he replied, 'Yeah, I know.' I don't know what we were accomplishing by calling him. Elliott: I'm thinking that I do have sympathy if I'm in the shower and the water goes off....then I'm an unhappy camper. O'Donnell: Usually you can look out the door and see. ITEM 4D(2). CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 15 ON PLANS~ SPECIFICATIONS~ FORM OF CONTRACT~ AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MEADOW STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND DOVER STREET DRAINAGE BASIN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IBROS-3715{626)--8J-52]~ DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID HEARING~ AND DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER TO PLACE SAID PLANS ON FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION Vanderhoef: One other thing that is coming up on this Meadow Street Bridge replacement. There is nothing in the comments about, and I think I'm right that this is where we're trying to get the trail through, and there is just nothing in the comments that tells us that that's part of the project. Atkins: Jeff; can you answer anything on that? It's intending to be. Davidson: It does not build the trail but it accommodates the eventual building of the trail. Vanderhoef: Ontop of the sewer easement? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 16 of 22 Davidson: I don't know exactly how it's configured, Dee, but I know that the design has assumed that that trail, that Court Hill trail that connects Creekside Park, will eventually be built. Vanderhoefi Well, it's been in the planning for long. Davidson: It does not build it as part of the Meadow Street Bridge. Vanderhoef: We need to build it why they're building that. Just finish right up on top of it. Atkins: Is that complicated to get an estimate on that? Please check with an engineer to see what it would be. Lehman: That could be an add-on. Other agenda items? 6d) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION FROM MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-8) AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION RESIDENTIAL (RNC-12), TO MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL/HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY (RS-8/OHP) AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION RESIDENTIAL/HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY (RNC- 12/OHP) TO DESIGNATE THE GILBERT-LINN STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT. (DEFERRED FROM 12/7/04 AND 1/4/05) (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Elliott: Just an information item. Have you decided ~vhat we're going to do regarding discussion of historic preservation district? Champion: That's exactly what my question was going to be. Lehman: Oh. Well, as you all know, I've never refused to allow...although we won't start tomorrow either, however, unless Council feels otherwise, I do not intend to have another public hearing and go on for an hour or a half- hour. I think we need to invite folks if they wish to speak...I have no problem with them speaking...but I do have an issue with trying to hold another public hearing. Bailey: I think that's what the neighborhood would like to be able to report on their activities. Champion: The rumor going around was that you were not going to allow discussion and I said, 'I've never seen Ernie not allow discussion on any agenda item' and I thought 'he certainly isn't going to pick this one.' Well, maybe he would. (Laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 17 of 22 Lehman: I have been known to try to limit discussion but I have never.., somehow it seems immoral to tell people they can't speak. Champion: It didn't seem right to me that that was true because you've never done that. O'Donnell: Especially when we deferred it for a purpose. Elliott: I don't want to hear another hour of it, but I think we need to hear an update on anything that might have taken place. Lehman: That's fine and we will do that. Again, we won't let it drag all night. Council Time Karr: Mr. Mayor, I have one quick thing. A number of you have been receiving hard copy packets and CDs. The CDs have been changed to allow you to use them on any laptop or any computer. I'd like to know if you want to continue getting the hard copy...we're now doing it in three different ways. We have some council people using it on the internet, some council people getting hard copy, and the majority of you getting it both ways. Champion: I haven't tried the disk. Bailey: I don't need the disk any longer, it doesn't help my issue. Karr: So I guess I would be interested in knowing if any of you would like to discontinue one or the other? Champion: I like this. Lehman: Can I load that disc on my computer at home? The same one that goes in my laptop I can put in my big computer where I can actually read it because the screen is big enough? Bailey: It will load a program automatically... Lehman: Off the disk? Bailey: Yes. Lehman: Oh, cool. Kart: That CD has been completely revamped and will work in any, knock-on- wood, it should work on any computer, but what we'd like to do is see if This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 18 of 22 we can...as I said there are four of you getting two different types. I'd just like to know if there is a majority of you who would like to go back to one way or the other so we can discontinue one of them. Champion: I will let you know next week. Lehman: My suspicion is that we're going to have a split vote on this. Karr: We already have a split. I'd love if we could end it at two different kinds rather than three. O'Donnell: I like this. Champion: You can take it with you. Lehman: Is there anything else for the good of the cause? Council time, Regenia. Bailey: Regarding the discussion on Saturday regarding the hotel/motel tax. There still is some level of confusion with the Chambers, but in talking with the CVB today, I would encourage the Council to support a 2% increase regardless of whether it means a regional sort of cultural entity support or whether it comes to us. The chances are that it won't go - but the increase will. Elliott: That was asked of us by the legislators. I don't know that we gave them a definitive answer. Vanderhoef: What I answered was that until I know what they meant by regional and how that gets divided out... Bailey: I didn't have the language before I left. There is language that is being drafted in Cedar Rapids that I was trying to get. Vanderhoef: If you will bring that to us, I would really appreciate that. Bailey: That's where that is. So, whoever is going with the Chamber... Vanderhoef: I am going on Wednesday. Bailey: I would encourage general support. Vanderhoef: Just in general the increase, yes, it's a positive thing, but I want to see the Chamber thing before I... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 3 I, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 19 of 22 Lehman: I would agree but any time that you can get 6 times turn on your dollars, whether they're all spent in Iowa City or they're spent in your region, you gain. Vanderhoef: But on cultural, if it's reserved just for cultural uses, then I don't understand how some of the communities around here, who don't have a CVB, would get their cultural dollars and how they would be used. Lehman: They come to Iowa City and spend it. Vanderhoefi If all of it came to regular CVB's so that it could be used collectively for larger region things, that's one thing, but that's what they couldn't tell us the other day. Bailey: I don't think it's been totally worked out. Like I said, I tried to get the language but Josh didn't have it, it's being drafted in Cedar Rapids, although Des Moines CVB has withdrawn their support for the proposal and they're simply supporting the 2% increase. Vanderhoef: That's what the league is supporting and that one ! definitely can give support and... (Tape Ends) TAPE: 05-13 (Side Two) Vanderhoef: ...however they choose to divide it up and that's the least complicated and meets the regional/local needs since we have a combined CVB. Bailey: I have one other - Vanderhoef: Can I just follow up on Saturday's stuff?. Bailey: Oh, okay. Vanderhoef: Ahh .... after the meeting I stood and visited with some of the legislatures and the final piece of it Mary Mascher asked that the Council invite them back again for another one. She thought it was a very useful session and that sometimes sort of in the middle or just past the middle of the legislature, that we invite them back. So, I thought that was a very positive thing for us. Bailey: The alcohol checks...the alcohol sales checks...we used to get reports from the Police department. Is that still being done? We're not getting regular reports any longer and I would like to see those. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 20 of 22 Atkins: I assumed they were being done. I will sure get them for you. You mean the establishment checks? Bailey: Establishment checks, yes. Lehman: The compliance checks, yes. Bailey: Given that it's going to come up again, I think we should probably be getting them along the way instead of reading through half a year's worth. Atkins: I'll get you caught up on the last couple of months. Bailey: Thanks, Steve. Lehman: Okay. Vanderhoef: I'm still not clear...ahh...and maybe I just missed it at budget meetings...whether we are supporting the fire plan that was proposed to us in the packet. I know that we asked for some more information. Atkins: You sent me back and we are preparing additional information. That's what I understood from you all. Vanderhoefi By setting this public hearing and by setting the budget - Atkins: You are not committing to those. Vanderhoef: We're not committing to that. Okay...and...likewise, ! certainly wasn't in support of using the road-use tax for the benefit levy and I don't recall that we had a nod of heads and Ernie recalls it a different way, so he's probably right, but...were there four people who really supported this? Lehman: We're going to get in trouble if we talk about this much longer but we did decide it. Vanderhoef: It's on the agenda for tomorrow. Lehman: Oh good. O'Donnell: I thought this one we had... Lehman: We did have a majority of Council who agreed the maximum of five percent. Would those folks who supported that care to indicate that again so that we would know? Wilbum: What was that again? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. January 31, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 21 of 22 Lehman: Five percent of the road use tax funds would be used for employee benefits instead of the ten percent that had been proposed. Mr .... Wilburn: Wilbum. (Laughter) Lehman: Mr. Wilburn. Mr. Elliott, how were you? Elliott: I don't recall how... I am not in favor of doing it but I also have qualms about not doing it. Lehman: Now that doesn't tell us anything. Wilbum: No, but he's consistent because that's what he said last time. Elliott: I would, at this point, since it doesn't make any difference, I'll go with no. Lehman: It's a five to two, Dee and it's decided. Elliott: I do want us to take up Rod Sullivan's suggestion and discuss - Bailey: And put that on a work session. Elliott: Yes. Lehman: Steve already has that. Okay, Connie? Champion: We're going approached by the students about possibly having a non- voting chair or intern or - you don't have to call it a member Vanderhoef: Ex officio Champion: - but I was wondering if you as the Mayor could contact a few mayors in college towns and... Lehman: I have not talked to Ted Tedesco and he is going to make a presentation - the students will make a presentation - tomorrow night. They will present their plan to us, it will then go on a work session. Hopefully, by the time we get to the work session I will have had time to visit with Ted and maybe we can find out if any other communities have it. Vanderhoef: I already talked with Ted. They're the only one in the State that has done that. O'Donnell: They're already doing that? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31,2005 Io~va City Council Work Session. January 3 I, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 22 of 22 Elliott: Ames is...and the students want us to delay our decision on that on until early March, is my understanding. Dilkes: I don't know anything about this proposal and it's going to take me some time to figure out... Lehman: You'll get it tomorrow night. Dilkes: To figure whether that's the...there's certainly nothing about it in our charter. We are a Home Rule Charter, Ames is not a Home Rule Charter city so there are some legal issues that we're going to have to take some time to work out. Lehman: You'll get it tomorrow. Other agenda items. We're history. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the January 31, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Scssion.