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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-03 Bd Comm minutesIOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION APPROVED APPROVED MINUTES January 25, 2005 MEMBERS PRESENT: Lisa Beckmann, David Shorr, Paul Retish, Jim McCue; Geoff Wilming; Bev Witwer; Billie Townsend; Scott King; Sara Baird GUESTS: Matthew Hayek, Chairperson of the Scattered Site Housing Taskforce; Charles Eastham, member of the Scattered Site Housing Taskforce and employee of the Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship; Valerie Garr, U of I Admissions Director STAFF MEMBERS: Heather L. Shank 1. CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 7:02p.m. 2. INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSIONERS: Bev Witwer, Tea'cher for thirty years in the Iowa City Community School District. She came out of a social studies teacher background. Witwer has also worked with the U of I Child Labor Project. Witwer expressed her interest in human rights; Geoff Wilming is the Director of Internal Operations at Quality Care, the Nature Care Company. His area of interest is in supported employment, hiring persons with disabilities. He believes that employment in general is an equalizing factor in American society; Jim McCue is a retired Professor and he is interested in a number of human rights issues; Paul Retish is on the faculty of the College of Education, his field is in the area of special education and he is interested in helping persons with disabilities to become functional citizens in society and he does a lot of work internationally in the area of education and human rights; Billie Townsend works in the College if Liberal Arts and Sciences at the U of I and she is interested in diversity, in general; Lisa Beckmann is an employee at the U of I Hospitals and Clinics in database development in the administration. Beckmann's main interests are youth interests. She and her partner adopted three of the many foster children they cared for over the years; Sara Baird works in Governmental Publications in the University's main library. She has a secondary education English degree and certification and she has worked a great deal with GLBT issues. She was a co-monitor at the U of I Union while she was in school. She has also done a number of speaker's bureaus. Then she has worked at Upward Bound when she was in college. Scott King moved to Iowa City a little over two years ago to take over the position of Director of the International Student office at the U of I. King is interested in immigration issues, anti Muslim and anti-Middle East backlash has been a big part of his life for the last couple of years. King has also been involved in GLBT issues. He sings in the Quire and is interested in establishing a GLBT community center in Iowa City; David Shorr is beginning his third year as a Commissioner. He commutes to Muscatine where he works at the Stanley Foundation and works on International issues. He has lived in Iowa City for four and a half years. GUEST: Valerie Garr, a former Commissioner returned and introduced herself to the new Commissioners. Her interest has been diversity in the community and her work in the U of I Admissions Department, which has resulted in her traveling a great deal. 3. GUEST: Beckmann: "Matt Hayek is here. He is the Chair of the Scattered Site Task Force and want to take a minute before he talks to us to give our new members some information on this topic and to give our other members an update on what has been going on since we last met. If you all remember, in the August - September time frame, some of our Commissioners raised some issues on the Council's public stance regarding scattered site and the seeming disconnect between that stance and grouping of Iow income housing and services on the Southeast side of Iowa City. The Commission decided that I would write a letter to the Mayor asking that question. I did write that letter at the end of September and Shank forwarded that letter to the Assistant City Manager for inclusion in the City Council packet. Shortly after that, I spoke with Dale, who recommended that because the City Council had created the Scattered Sites Taskforce, unbeknownst to any of us, we weren't aware of this, he suggested that we wait until after the group gave their recommendations to send our letter to the City Council. Because he pointed out that one of the questions is our letter, and our letter is in the packet, was '[D]oes the City Council have any resources or plans to address this issue?' Obviously the answer is yes since they appointed this task force so hold on until you see the recommendations. So we decided to do that. In December, a City Councilor, after reading the Commission's minutes contacted Heather and volunteered to meet with the Commission along with another City Councilor to discuss issues related to the Scattered Sites Taskforce or scattered sites issue. We had not set up a meeting with the Council members and in the meantime we invited Mr. Hayek to speak to the Commission in December but we did not have a December meeting due to the lack of a quorum. Since we had two City Council members and the Chairperson of the Scattered Cite Taskforce were willing to meet with us, we determined that it would make sense to send the letter to the City Council to make sure everyone knew where we were at in our process. Heather drafted the cover letter that we put on top of the original letter and both went into the packet at the end of December. At that point a number of City employees read the letter as part of the City Council packet. It is fair to say that some of them got pretty upset about the questions we were asking and, I suppose you might say, how we were asking them. The letter, the cover letter and the Mayor's reply is in your packet. I also want to point out that members of the City staff have drawn conclusions regarding the Commission's intent from that letter that is far beyond the scope of the letter. I think that is fair to say. They have taken our letter and kind of run with it. I guess what we are dealing with are two separate issues: (1) One is our original questions that we had for the City Council about scattered sites that we can talk to Mr. Hayek about; (2) The second one is, for a lack of a better way to say it, the fallout from the Commission's letter that can be addressed later. First let's first focus on our original questions that we had and see if we can go with that and then the Commission can discuss what has happened as a result of the letter. The one thing that I do want to point out before I pass this over is that the Scattered Sites Housing Taskforce has not come up with their recommendations or if they have the recommendations have not been published yet so I am not sure that it is appropriate for the Commission to delve into that part of it too much. You (to Matt) probably do not have any recommendations yet so the Commission should keep that in mind. Do any of you have any questions before I turn this over? Shank indicated that she believes Bob Elliot actually contacted Shank in November. Beckmann: O.K. Matt, take over, please have a seat. Matt: Thank you for having me. I enjoyed listening to the introductions. I am the Chair of the HCDC which is the Housing and Community Development Commission, also a City Council appointed Board. That is the group that recommends how Iowa City spends the 1.5 to 2 million dollars that comes in every year through HUD for housing, public services, public facilities, things of that nature. I have been on that board for three years now. I am also the Chair of the Scattered Site Housing Taskforce, which has been in existence since April of 2004. It might help for me to give you a little background about why this group was created. I think it dove tails with the discussion you folks have had. Basically in 2003, there was increasing discussion at the city level and at the school district level about issues raised in your letter to Mayor Lehman. In November of 2003, the school board sent a letter to the City Council requesting that the City Council look into assisted housing trends throughout the community and the school board expressed its perception that assisted housing is concentrated in certain parts of town and the impact, especially on the school system from their perspective, is adverse to the community. That letter asked the City to take some steps to look into this issue. In response, the City created the Scattered Sites Housing Taskforce and placed on it, eight people from around the community: (1) the Chair of the Planning & Zoning Commission, (2) a representative from the Neighborhood Association, (3) Executive from United Way, (4) a member of the Board of Supervisors, (5) a specialist on "At Risk Children" from the ICCSD, (6) a member of the school board and two people from the HCDC, Hayek and a Professor of Urban Planning and Regional Studies at the University. We were asked to look at assisted housing in Iowa City. By assisted basically that means any housing that is built or acquired or maintained with public dollars. I really kind of oversimplified it but that is essentially what it is. We were asked to look at the state of assisted housing and trends in assisted housing throughout the city with an eye towards whether there might be concentrations of that in certain parts of town. That's what we have been doing. The City Council also wants to know - if the taskforce finds concentrations and it finds that there are problems associated with the concentration, what might be some steps the City can take to correct things going forward. We have been meeting every two weeks for the last nine months. We have heard from a number of groups throughout the community, non-profits, for-profit, government, individuals concerning their perspectives about this issue. We have held one public hearing and will probably hold another one probably in another month or so. We have collected a ton of information, data from all corners of the earth, it seems. When you try to sift through that and you look at this issue, it is probably, in my experience, the most complex issue I've ever dealt with. I think it is safe to say that is for others as well. Anyway, we have been waiting for eight or nine months. We are pretty close to wrapping things up or at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We hope to hold another hearing, a public hearing, floating our initial findings and suggestions and ultimately go back to the City Council most likely in March with suggestions. It is true that we have not yet made final decisions and we do not have a set of recommendations. I think I can represent to you that here is the general consensus based on three points so far. The first is that members of the task force share the concern that this community should avoid concentrations of poverty, second, we need to continue to develop affordable housing in the community. This is an affluent community and housing is expensive but we should avoid concentrating that type of housing. Those three things, I know the taskforce has reached some consensus on and I think they will underlie where we go from here. So, where the rubber hits the road, we still need to get all of this identified in a reasonable, logical manner - where there is concentration if in fact we find it, and I believe we will. So we are coming up with some measures that have to do with the census data and things of that nature, at the census tract or block group level that help us show ourselves and others where in Iowa City there are concentrations at least relative to the rest of the community. So we are in the process of doing that and assuming that then we find that there are concentrations, and I think that is a safe assumption, we will be making some suggestions to the City about what can be done in the future to correct this. In that respect, we will come up with a list of things that the City should look at. I don't think we will be in the position to say '[T]his is what the City should do.' I think that is beyond our expertise and that is really the subject of consultants and things of that nature. I do sense an interest in looking at ways to incent assisted housing to go into basically under-represented areas throughout the community, so it is more scattered throughout the community. We have gone through an exhaustive process of whether scattering housing is, in fact, a good public policy goal. There are differences of opinion on everything. That's where we are and I would be'happy to answer any questions that you have. It has been a tough process and the backlash, the fallout to your letter is something we have faced throughout the process and these are very difficult issues to talk about. I appreciate the situation you are in. Beckmann: So, what questions do we have? McCue: Well, I would like to express where my concern comes from...it comes from two places. My wife is on the Board of the Iowa City Housing Fellowship and my other concern has to do with scattered site policies - that is, Iowa City seems to be in the process of creating or allowing to be developed really its own little ghetto with lots of Iow income African Americans and it just seems to me that the development of such a thing in Iowa City is just a breeding ground for all sods of human rights violations and human rights issues. A couple of weeks ago, I was involved in a conversation over at the homeless shelter. A woman with two small children, African American, recently from Chicago, was reviewing places she might move to. She had only been in town for a couple of months but she did not want to move to Broadway St. or Taylor Street. She did not want to move down there, "that's what I moved to get away from." And if Iow-income African Americans are saying that, I suspect there are a lot of non-low income, non-African Americans that are saying comparable things. This is not part of the community anymore. It is a place where only very poor people lease property. Hayek: Well it is interesting because Charlie's (Eastham) group, which has been very involved in this process all along goes to great lengths to better the state of affordable housing in this community. It is tough because I think really housing goes - it follows the path of least resistance (affordable housing). It is generally governed by where land is available and affordable and how much resistance there is from neighborhoods. The path of least resistance in my experience and from what I have seen, is that part of town. It takes great will power, political and otherwise to get it elsewhere and it costs more. But the data from the school district - which is the best data that we have because the district tends to keep information - keep statistics, is remarkable in terms of elementary schools in terms of how they stack up against each other. At my alma mater, Shimek Elementary, the % of children on free & reduced lunch is about 1 or 2 %. At Twain, it is over 60% and it is pushing 70% if you include their pre-school populations. Retish: This is one of the most segregated communities, by economics. And I do not want to be too cynical but you need to get in your car and drive around Iowa City and you will see sites where there are only Black people living in that neighborhood. The Human Rights Commission had a program entitled, "Music on Broadway" and I did not know there were that many police in Iowa City. I stood there and every five minutes a police car came by. They have recognized a neighborhood that they think, like it or not, that they need to patrol. Our concern and I was one of the persons that raised it, was why is this happening. Why are we as a community, allowing this to happen? What can be done to break the cycle? One of the questions I would like answered is, do we have redlining in Iowa City? Are realtors guiding people to the Southeast side of Iowa City? Has that been looked at? Looked at, not be interviewing realtors but getting below it and trying to find by behavior is that- what is going on? Do we have people who own lots of land in Iowa City that say they are not going to sell their property to certain groups of people. Those areall illegal acts as far as I can tell but you just have to prove there. To me, that is why we raised the questions because from my point of view and from living in Iowa City for the last 38 years I have seen changes in this community by economics and by persons of color. I have serious concerns and you see this in doWntown Iowa City. You see business people that are scared to death by what is happening in downtown Iowa City. It is very similarly related to the issues that we raised and I think that is where I was coming from and that is where I would like to see, what are we going to try and do about what I think is the obvious. The obvious is that we have schools in Iowa City in which 75% of the population are persons of color or 75% of the kids are on free or reduced lunch and then we have Shimek and the new schools that we built where there is 1% or less. It is pretty obvious that we have a skewed system. What are we going to do about it? I don't want to study it any more because I think the study is evident. I am being somewhat cynical about studying for nine months because I think it is a fairly obvious problem - to me, I am not speaking for the Commission. Hayek: In some respects it is an obvious problem but we were very careful to leave no stone unturned. We want to be in a position to make recommendations based on some real research. The very first thing we did after we formed the group was take a tour of Iowa City and that was eye opening for some people. Redlining by realtors - I don't know. It is interesting; there is a piece in today's Press Citizen on some diversity efforts that the realtors are undertaking. I also hear anecdotally that you move to town and they tell you where not to move to, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Garr: (Recently ended term on Human Rights Commission) I live on the Southeast side of Iowa City and I have to say that your question about, do realtors redline, my answer to this would be yes because it is one of the reasons I joined this Commission, because it happened to me. The realtor did not want me to buy the house that I did end up buying and I integrated my subdivision, not just my neighborhood but the whole subdivision. It was an issue. Whether it was intentional by the entire real estate company or just this one realtor - eventually he was no longer allowed to work for the sellers of the home, but I couldn't believe it was happening and it did happen. So, I think that it was a very valid question and it is something that happens to people and I am not Iow income and 1 am educated and meet all of the isms that people believe would prevent this from happening but it did happen to me. Townsend: When you talk about Iow income housing, there are only so many places people can go. Not all of the realtors have Iow-income housing. It is not the people coming into town; it is the people that have that Iow-income segment established, i.e. Lakeside, Broadway. Those are places they can get the help from the Government - vouchers. McCue: HACAP Transitional Housing is in the same block. Hayek: The Section 8 vouchers - that is a slightly different issue because actually Section 8 can go anywhere and for the most part it is a private market, not exclusively, but mostly. There is not much you can do in terms of affecting where it goes. But the new units that are built, specifically for affordable housing, those also receive government dollars and those you can, you can potentially have some impact in terms of where they go. But the providers of affordable housing face a tough situation because there are only so many places to build and certainly the new subdivisions, in their bylaws and covenants and what not, have a lot of ways to keep that sort of stuff out. It is such a difficult issue to talk about and seemingly progressive folks in this community don't want it in their back yard. It is shameful. I think it is actually more defensible for someone to say I do not want any more affordable housing whether it is in my backyard or on the South side of town. I wouldn't agree with them but it is more defensible to say that than yes, let's bring more in but just not in my back yard. Wilming: Do historic districts preclude development of affordable housing in your view or the Commission's view? Hayek: I do not know. I think there is a fair amount of it in the Northside area so ...but I think in terms of their particular zoning or code, I don't think so. Now there are issues associated with lead based paint in historic districts that make it harder to provide affordable housing. You have a lot of environmental issues to comply with and it is very expensive to abate lead. Shorr: And what was it that the neighbors of the Shelter kicked in towards there relocation? Wasn't there some sizable contribution? Hayek: I thought that the neighbors in the area they were proposing to go into... Shorr: And then there's that. I am more familiar with the stories before it even got to that and there was help via private donations. Hayek: We'll see. In terms of whether there is political will I mean, and this goes to Council, we will find out because this is there decision. We are just reporting facts and making some suggestions. McCue: I do not think that any of us suppose that the solution to the problem lies entirely in the recommendations but whatever is possible is going to have to include the issues that the taskforce is directly involved in. Shank: Do you think there will be a discussion like the one we are having about these particular issues or do you believe that people are so frightened to talk about it in any detail that they will try to skip around it? Hayek: I think there will be discussion and I will be so angry if there is not after all we have done that I will rattle the cages. I think there will be a discussion. Shorr: How much did you look at examples of other communities that have faced these issues and what have they done. Hayek: Well, issues that are...communities that are larger in some respects have bigger problems... Shorr: In the real estate business, it would be finding a comparable. Hayek: We have looked at studies of solutions in a general sense - has a community tried scattered site. In those instances we, I think a lot of us, maybe all of us on the task force believe those have been good experiences. Shank: I showed a video to a few members of the Council several years ago that had to do with scattered site housing, involving a particular community and it was very positive - very positive outcome. I never received a response regarding the video and 1 gave the video back to the law school. I am going to try and borrow it back again so that the taskforce can view it. Beckmann: I do not know what the Commission can offer up to you folks other than our interest in the topic. I do not think we are a group with a lot of "influence" on this topic and I am not sure we necessarily want to be but I think it is fair to say that we all have a genuine interest in it and if we can be of any help in any way I think that as a Commission, we would be willing to do that. I know that I personally when you laid out the 3 points on which the taskforce was in agreement, I sincerely agree with those and I have a sense that everyone else does. Hayek: I certainly appreciate that and I will look for ways in which the Commission can help. Witwer: In all of your searching Matt, as you were looking at this place, did you find some options? I mean, I have watched my neighborhood be integrated. I live in Village Green and all of a sudden there are all sorts of kids walking up and down the walk and we're desegregated! I mean, we were not consciously segregated before but now there are all kinds of kids walking up and down and doing what kids do. I think, that's is kind of what you want to have happen but you have to find those places where that can happen fairly naturally, where there is support systems for the people moving in because they can't just not have a neighborhood center and not have a crisis center and not have any kind of support services to do what they need to do as well. Hayek: And that's another issue that I haven't mentioned, that is, how to manage the balance between services and housing and there are people, especially in the services side of the spectrum that say, it is fine and well to have to provide more such housing but our services have to keep up with that so we are serving them in the community as a whole. There are some that believe there is an imbalance. The answer is more funding but we all know that the pie is only so large. But I am optimistic. I think a community of our size and affluence and with as many people with expertise as we offer here, we should be able to lick these problems or at least reduce their scope. HUD people come to Iowa City and laugh at us because we think we have problems and they are dealing with St. Louis. But I do not think it is fair to compare those two communities and just because we are relatively better does not mean we shouldn't be forward thinking. But, I am, and I do not want to use the schools as the example because I think they are focused on too much in this process, but the data are incredible. It is just an incredible disparity. Baird: I worked on the Equity Committee with Marian Coleman for the school district and I kind of remember them saying that they wanted to make sure the schools were balanced and there was not a disproportionate number of non-white children in each school and I don't know what necessarily happened with that but, I mean, how do they balance that if there is? Hayek: Well, you have raised the issue of busing, which some people believe would be a quicker solution to some of these issues. I think the school district would say that they were...their heritage is based upon a neighborhood and a school reflecting a neighborhood. So kids go to school with kids in their neighborhood. But there are people in the community who believe we should be busing. Now talk about a third rail. Retish: And there is at least one school like Shimek who says that you cannot bus into our school because we cannot get buses in and around our school. It is not designed that way. That is why we do not have any busing. Everyone has a reason why "we protect the gates." McCue: They will all be building little gates. Townsend: Shimek doesn't have a gate. Retish: Well then is to try and get at, how do we break down the resistance to integration. It sounds like this is 1955. That is really what we are taking about is how to integrate people into the larger community. No one has ever come up with any magical answers for that. Hayek: No, No, but you can also talk about what this community will face if we don't. Retish: Oh, absolutely. Hayek: You can send your kid to Shimek for six years and "avoid the problems", and then they go to Southeast and they are all together. Our futures overlap. I do not know how far that gets you. So, you all have a lot and I do not want to take up your evening. Townsend: Thank you for coming. Shank addressing Eastham: Charlie you will have to come and speak at the table so it can be recorded, Eastham: My name is Charlie Eastham, I am the President of the Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship which is a non-profit affordable housing developer in the community which has been working since about 1990 to provide affordable housing, primarily to working families. We have about 111 units in operation now, about half of our families are African American, which is way above the percentage of families that are receiving...that benefit from the Iow [income] assistance programs generally in the community. Way above the % of other families that participate in other programs. We have, as I said 122 units in service or funded for quick development. 20% of those units are in the Southeast side of town. 80% are located in other parts of Iowa City and Coralville. One thing that I think is very important for anyone that is interested or wants to participate, helpfully, in these issues is to understand that there is a huge difference between the number of Iow income families in Iowa City and the number of publicly assisted housing units available for any of those families to occupy. So when you want to think about making more of the community open to people who may have lower incomes, moving housing around is not necessary not an efficient, and it certainly not a short term way of accomplishing that goal. The largest number of affordable housing units that I think could be reasonably built in Iowa City on a year to year basis is around 30-40 because of the limitations of available funding sources. We haven't equaled over the last many years more than half of that number, usually closer to about a third of that number. So again, moving people to different neighborhoods by simply establishing policies about where affordable housing can be located is not an easy thing to do. The other thing to bear in mind is that I think affordable housing providers including us, the housing authority, and other people, have a little different take about where people prefer to live in the community, who occupy our housing. Many people tell us that they prefer to live in the Southeast part of town and we have oral histories that support that and I believe the Housing Authority also has oral histories that support that. I think the theme that we can all embrace is to provide greater housing choice for everyone in the community. I think that choice should include where people want to live, no matter what their income status. If people want to live in the Southeast part of town, the community should provide housing that is available on the Southeast part of town. If people want to live in other school districts, in other neighborhoods, we should provide housing that is available in those areas. This is a great opportunity for us to make some really big mistakes now about adopting housing policies that will have an adverse effect upon our overall ability to provide good housing for people throughout the coming years. Beckmann: Thank you. McCue: Could you identify one or two of the "big mistakes" that you are worried...? Eastham: The big mistake would be to redline the Southeast part of town against further affordable housing development. That in my opinion would be a big time mistake because there is a lot of development in the Southeast part of town. If you look at the actual housing sales as opposed to looking at individual stories about who wanted to buy and who didn't want to buy and was told to do this or not to do this, the actual housing sales in the Southeast part of town, I actually do not see much difference between housing sales and those neighborhoods as opposed to other neighborhoods. Retish: What about apartments? What do you knoTM about apartments? We are not just talking about people who are buying houses. We are talking about people who cannot afford houses but want to rent apartments. What we are really talking about is the ghettoization of Iowa City. These are other issues on top of providing adequate housing but they very much interlace with each other. I think redlining as a policy whether good or bad, as a policy, is bad. I just don't think we should do that. But the issue here is, when you move to Iowa City and you are at a certain level of income, you are pretty much restricted to rent. Eastham: I do not disagree with that point. Retish: So, where then are the apartments being built that is appealing to those people with a certain income? It seems to me from perhaps a naive perspective that there is just a preponderance of them on the Southeast side of town. That interplays with affordable housing and supportive housing. That they all come together and bring together a focal point in the Southeast part. The question is, how do those three issues interface with each other and are we responsible for those and when someone comes to town and asks, how can we not say that where the Black people live in Iowa City. One of my goals is when someone comes to Iowa City we cannot identify where the majority of African Americans live in the community because we truly have affordable housing throughout the community, not just for Blacks but for all people who are of Iow-income. That to me is the essence of what I am trying to look at and deal with. It is the view that when you talk to almost anyone - young kids in Iowa City, they can tell you the Southeast side, they can tell you the schools the kids go to, they can tell you the employment or lack of employment or where "these people work" or "where these people shop". That bodes ill for our community, in my estimation. That is what I would like to see. Can we stop that now? Can we open that whole process up so there is more equal representation in the whole community? Eastham: I would argue that we all support housing choice in the community. Also, probably the majority if not more, the number of folks that are Iow-income are living in lower cost housing are living in privately owned housing units, not publicly assisted housing, whether or not they are receiving Section 8 housing. Again, I think we can facilitate the opportunities for affordable housing providers to go into all areas of the community, all areas of the community where there is a demand for housing, we can slowly work our way out. Townsend: Does anyone have the numbers or the percentage of African Americans vs. other minorities or majorities in Iow-income housing in Iowa City? Is that information available? Eastham: The Housing Authority is the best source of information for that because the rental assistance program assists more people in Iowa City than any other kind of program. Townsend: Can we get that information? Shank: You want to know the percentages of minorities in each area in the City that has Iow- income housing? Beckmann: Rental or home ownership? Townsend: Low-income housing period. Eastham: About 20% or so of the people that participate in the Section 8, Iow-income rental assistance program are minority, I think most of those are African American. Hayek: The Iowa City Housing Authority administers the vouchers and the City owns not quite 100 units, itself. There is good information on that. Townsend: I guess the amazing thing to me is that it appears to be African American when we all know that it is not. I would be interested in knowing what percentage are actually African American and what percentage are other minorities and majorities. Eastham: The majority of people with lower incomes in Iowa City are not African American. Townsend: But that seems to be the topic here. Eastham: For the housing authority, about half the people that rent from us are African American but a lot of them are receiving Section 8 assistance. We're kind of an anomaly in terms of housing providers because of the higher percentage of folks that are African American that have chosen to l0 use us as their home renter provider. We are not representative of affordable housing in Iowa City generally in terms of the percentage of minority folks who decide to rent with us or not. Townsend: And you have a smaller number of units. Eastham: We're actually the second largest single owner of affordable rental housing in the community right now. Shank: You say that you are the second largest and I understand what you are saying about how unusual your situation is, can you provide me with the percentages so I can make sure my report is complete when I put it in the agenda packet? Eastman: We can do that or we can just reflect what the...the Housing Authority has really good numbers on percentages of folks and their minority status who rent from them. They are very representative of the community. Retish: That only gives us a partial clue of whose there because we are only tapping into those people who are using housing that has assistance attached to it. The other big piece, maybe the larger piece, are those people that rent without assistance and where are they renting? How are they getting there? McCue: A place like Lakeside two yearS ago went out of Section 8 as I recall. Beckmann: I want to add and I know we are not into anecdotes, but I want to share one with you, relating to what we are saying. We own some rental property and rented it to a family and found out later after they abandoned the unit that there were fifteen people living in our rental unit. Now we are not Iow-income housing, we are not going to show up in any of your statistics but I can guarantee you that the reason that they had 15 people living in that house was because they needed the 15 adults, that is not including the 8 other children that I was told...I was told that there were 15 adults and 8 children living there in a three bedroom rental unit that I own. They were all living there because they have to share the rent because they cannot afford to live anywhere else. McCue: What we can get numbers on is assisted housing. Beckmann: But what Paul says is that is not reflective... McCue: Right. Beckmann: of really what's happening. Witmer: That (Beckmann's experience) might be very reflective of an aspect that we just don't see. Beckmann: But you can't get your arms around that because there is no way to combine those two statistics. Townsend: In Iowa City, you cannot see homeless people either but we've got plenty. l! Chorus of "Rights" Retish: And the census date won't help us with that? Eastman: Census data helps a lot. Retish: It seems to me that census data... Beckmann: If they are living in a place long enough. Retish: Yeah, yeah right. It is a lease. Townsend: They are probably undercover. Beckmann: And you can bet that when the census people knocked on the door, they didn't tell them that there were 15 adults and 8 children living there. Townsend: Exactly, and if they have been here through a census year. Beckmann: Right, exactly. Do we have any more questions? If not, I am going to suggest that we wrap up. I do not want to end this discussion but I want to move to wrapping up. Retish to Eastham and Hayek: Thank you. Beckmann: Thank you guys. Hayek and Eastham leave. Beckmann: The second half of this discussion, and hopefully it will not be the second half, just the second part. I just want to bring you up to date, on when I mentioned the fallout, what that meant. I am going to try really hard to keep my personal opinion out of this. Heather informed me that after a number of the members of the City staff read our addition to the Council packet, meaning our letter, the cover letter and the Mayor's response, they were pretty upset with us. In fact, we have been called racist. Now, and I am sure that Heather can expand on this for us, but the general gist of it is that I do not think they get what questions we are asking. I do not think they get it. So go ahead and then we can decide what, if anything, we will do about this and ~ am not sure that there needs to be but I want you all to know what is going on. Shank: In the original letter, dated in September, the first paragraph of that letter was of concern to some of the City staff. Shank reading: "The Iowa City Human Rights Commission, at its recent meetings has been discussing the proliferation of Iow-income housing and related services on the south side of Iowa City. [Beckmann: That part of the letter I took directly from the minutes of our previous meetings when we discussed what we wanted to say.] Over time, there seems to have developed a high concentration of Iow-income people, a high concentration of recent arrivals in town, a high concentration of minority populations, and a high concentration of troubled populations of various kinds on the south side of Iowa City." Some people interpreted that paragraph as a comment by the Commission that they wanted all minorities on the Southeast side to move back to where they came from. Shorr: They weren't giving much better credit than that to us? Beckmann: Nor did they leave us with...? Shank: Nor did they read the [Commission's] minutes of any of the meetings. But after consideration by my boss, (he read the letter frequently after the allegations) he couldn't understand it - how that conclusion was reached. But it was reached and it was shared by many people that have a stake in the outcome of this discussion. Beckmann: I have a very strong opinion about those people taking that stance and that is this. I will say this publicly wherever anyone wants to hear it. Retish: Your not going to let us hear your opinion? (laughter) Beckmann: No, this relates to what some of the City staff is doing. If the City of Iowa City wants to have Commissions that are populated by lay people, they have to allow us to ask questions like lay people do ask questions. And if they are not going to allow that because they are going to call us racist or any other name that they can think of next week, I say everyone on every commission should stand up and go home because what it is doing [racist comment] is clouding the issue. It is not allowing a group of citizens that have legitimate concerns to ask the questions and be responded to in a legitimate manner. They are lowering themselves to name-calling, which is unnecessary in my view. I just wanted you all to know what happened and I am not necessarily saying that we need to do anything about it because I do not believe that anyone that sits around the table at the Iowa City Human Rights Commission meetings is a racist person. Shank: In terms of doing anything, I believe that since you have had this discussion with Matt Hayek and you've had a say and it is on tape and it will be transcribed you will have had your say or you [the Commission] can also respond differently, if you would like. I just wanted to make that clear. Beckmann: I do not believe that the reaction of some of the City staff should stop us [Commission] from doing or saying what we think is the right thing to do. King: I would say that reaction is from a group of people that do not want to admit there is a problem. Witwer: And are afraid to say it - what that first paragraph says even though they are concerned about it but they are afraid to bring it out in the open and talk about it because - they are just not going to look at it. McCue: Was this City Council members? Beckmann: No, City staff. Shorr: There probably isn't much ...in other words, how do you respond to grumbling and murmuring? Beckmann: Right - you don't but I wanted to make everyone aware. Shorr: And I think we are creating a record as we speak here that exactly gives a fuller picture of where we are coming from. Shank: The minutes will also be in the packet for the Council. All of the minutes go to the Council. Baird: Some of the hardest things to say help you move forward. And recognizing as a White woman sometimes the way you see the world as a White male or Black female, how you see the world as a lay person and as a citizen of the City, the way we see it, is right there. It is a high concentration of this type of population and this type of population. I don't see that as us saying that we don't want them there or here or in the whole town. Beckmann: Heather told me that some of the folks told her that that is not true, that there really is not a high concentration in that area of town. I guess my response to that is a perception is that it is there and... McCue: I think the school data is compelling. A few years ago Twain had all of the childhood diabetics in town as well as everything else. Shorr: Nor is what we are talking about something that isn't happening in the country as a whole, either. I just used a lot of negatives, I am sorry. It was like a triple or quadruple ... It is true, we have all seen it - it comes up in the popular media. That when academics look at data from today in comparison to 50 years ago segregation is very real and almost all...everywhere. Beckmann: If we are all alright with that, we will move on. Retish: The only thing that I would say is that I hope this Commission and other committees don't spend a lot more time studying the problem. That we become proactive by initially starting at the point of saying we have a problem and let's put the best minds we have in Iowa City together to talk about solving the problem. Let's not form another committee to study the study of the study. Witwer: Part of it is putting a commitment to that with some money behind it, because as Matt said, it is going to cost more but we are looking to a better future, hopefully. McCue: I think that anyone that would propose another Commission should be forced to read the minutes of this Commission. I think that would stop them in their tracks. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Beckmann asked if there were any changes in the November minutes. McCue said he wanted to correct a sentence that he didn't say. He indicated that it was written that he was responsible for coordinating the homeless in the area churches when in fact he just scheduled the homeless in one church, not all. Shorr said that there was a misspelling in that the word was device but it should be devise. MOTION: Shorr made a motion to approve the revised November minutes and Townsend seconded the motion. MOTION: Approved unanimously. 14 4. RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: No NEW BUSINESS: Selection of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for the next calendar year: Nominations for Chairperson - Wilming stated that he just finished his first year on the Commission and he has been very impressed by Beckmann's work and her coordination of the Commission's work and if she was willing to accept it, Wilming wanted to nominate Beckmann to continue in her role as chairperson. Beckmann said that she would do that but she was willing to entertain more nominations. Witwer seconded Wilmings' nomination. No additional nominations were offered. Unanimous vote to approve Beckmann as Chairperson. Vice Chair: Beckmann asked if there were nominations for Vice Chair for the next calendar year: McCue nominated Retish and Townsend nominated Wilming. Shorr seconded Retish and Witwer seconded Wilming. Wilming asked if he could ask Shorr about the role of Vice Chair because he is currently serving in a similar role on another board and it is kind of time consuming and I gladly would accept the nomination but at the same time, I am willing but not eager. Shorr said speaking from his experience in the past year, it has not been onerous at all. Beckmann has taken on most of the burdens. Beckmann added that it would mean that the Vice Chair would lead the meeting if the Chairperson was unable to attend and the one time Beckmann was going to be gone, there wasn't a meeting due to lack of a quorum. Wilming asked Retish is he would like to be Vice Chair and Retish replied that he had been Vice Chair once so if Wilming would like the experience, Retish would gladly hand it off to him. Vote was unanimous in favor of Wilming. Beckmann said that she was really happy with how the Commissioners have been looking for projects in the community and following through with those projects. She added that the Commission has a number of projects that it has been involved in and a number of projects the Commission has supported. Beckmann said that it is commendable that the group has gone beyond just talking about doing things and actually doing things. Cultural Diversity Festival: Sunday, February 20th at the Field House from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Beckmann said that this is a great event and she loves doing it. It can be done with one person but it should be divided from 12:00 to 2:30 and 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. Witwer said that it coincides with Odd Girl Out at Kirkwood. Shank said that she would attend the Kirkwood event. Beckmann asked if she wanted someone to pick up a box of material at her office on Friday so that it can be taken to the festival on Sunday. Shank said yes and Beckmann volunteered for early in the morning and Wilming took the afternoon shift. King volunteered to get the materials from Shank and he would be at the festival for two other events so he would meet Beckmann. White Privilege Conference: Pella - April 27 - April 30. Beckmann said that in the past members of the Commission have gone to this event. People that have attended have reported that it is a wonderful activity. Baird said that she could go for one day and Witwer believes she can also go for a day. OLD BUSINESS: VIDEO SERIES: Beckmann mentioned that Bang Bang You're Dead had to be cancelled and the Commission needed to reschedule it. Retish apologized indicating that it was his mistake thinking the movie could be shown without getting a license but it was the play that was actually free to the public, not the video. Beckmann acknowledged that the film Let's Get Real is playing in February and permission has been granted and White Privilege is being shown on March 8. Beckmann asked if the Commission wanted to show Bang Bang You're Dead in April? Shank reminded Beckmann that the Youth Awards are in April and four public forums are planned for February. Shank asked whether the movie could be rescheduled some time in May. Beckmann indicated that Bang Bang You're Dead would be scheduled for the second Tuesday in May. ARAB HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: Shank attended the Friday event on the genocide in Darfur and the keynote speaker was a wonderful woman from Amnesty International, Elizabeth Hodgkins, whose home is in London although she goes all over the world investigating incidents of genocide. On Saturday there were a number of speakers that talked about a man in Sudan that could be considered the Martin Luther King of that country. This religious leader believed in a more moderate few of Islam where women and men are treated equally. There were musicians and the woman from Amnesty International spoke again only this time she talked about her relationship with Mohamed Taha, the religious leader who was subsequently killed by the government because of his beliefs. Martin Luther King events: Shank said that she went to the Convocation to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday which was quite good but none of the programs she attended were as good as the one organized by Billie Townsend, an Iowa City Human Rights Commissioner in her role as a U of I employee. Beckmann thanked Townsend for inviting the Commissioners. RACHEL SIMMONS AUTHOR OF ODD GIRL OUT: THE HIDDEN CULTURE OF AGGRESSION IN GIRLS - Witwer indicated that she had the brochures for the conference being held at Kirkwood on February 20. It has the logo of the Iowa City Commission on the front. According to Witwer, it turned out to be a bit of a surprise because the conference includes a number of programs other than the author, Rachael Simmons. It is from 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and there are break out sessions starting at 1:00 p.m. From 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Rachel Simmons will be speaking. Witwer spent the morning with Marian Coleman and she said she is going all day. Coleman also said that she could find nine more people to go and Coleman is taking a carload of girls from 1:00 - 2:15 to a session entitled, "Help me, I don't know what to do," which is a talk for girls that are experiencing bullying. This is free and adolescents from the Iowa City School District are going to attend. At the time Witwer got a hold of Coleman was on her way to a junior high in town to deal with female bullying. Coleman thought it ironic that she couldn't meet with Witwer because she needed to deal with a female bullying incident. Bullying is increasingly the kinds of issues that Coleman is hearing about. Witwer lent Coleman Simons's book and gave her the brochures. United Action for Youth will receive two tickets. Witwer has received no response from Regina. Shank indicated that she just wanted one ticket to give to a mother whose daughter has been involved in a bullying incident and Shank lent her a copy of Rachel Simmons's book. Pat Meyer from the Neighborhood Center is taking two tickets and buying two additional tickets. Beckmann indicated that she wanted to read Simmons' book. Shank said that she personally ordered two more books so she would let Beckman know when she has them. YOUTH AWARDS: Beckmann asked the Commissioner's to contact the schools they had agreed to contact. Shank will e-mail the nomination forms to those Commissioners that no longer have the document. The nomination form is also on the City's web site. HOUSING FORUM: The public forum scheduled for Wednesday February 16 is entitled, Tenants & Landlords: Doing the Right Thing and it is scheduled for the Iowa City Public Library in meeting room A from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. The panelists include the Director of Legal Aid, Jan Rutledge; Eric Fisher, Director of Student Legal Services and Heidi Soethout-Ehmsen, Mediator. Heidi is covering the alternative dispute resolution angle. The idea of the forum is to provide information to the public - especially law-based information that will help improve landlord/tenant relationships by giving people the tools to avoid conflicts and resolve conflicts. Beckmann reminded Commissioners that they should really make an effort to try and attend a Commission initiated event. Shorr said that the panelists are looking forward to this forum and they already have a planning meeting in City Hall. BUILDING BLOCKS FOR EMPLOYMENT: Beckmann explained to the new Commission members that this is an event that the Commission participates in with members of the HR Education Committee. Shank added that the Human Rights Education Committee is a group of volunteer community members that have come together to work on Human Rights issues. Specifically, the Human Rights Committee can do things more quickly than the Commission might because they can come together more frequently. The last Building Blocks program was on the Southeast side of town on Broadway. According to Retish, Wilming was the only businessperson in the room. Retish said that the Committee was trying to correct this by having additional businesspersons for the next program. The Committee had a meeting on January 18. Retish indicated that a volunteer group of law students have volunteered to participate in Building Blocks this time. Retish explained that the Education Committee asks people to attend and assist people with the skills required to get a job. In other words, the volunteers assist people to draft resumes & cover letters, understand how to fill out an application as well as acquire interviewing skills. Most of the people that have attended are seeking entry-level positions. More people showed up last time than at the previous programs. Childcare and food was provided and materials that coincided with the purpose of the tables i.e. resume table, were placed in a folder for the attendees to take home. In addition, each person left with a hard copy of a resume and cover letter as well as a computer disk containing their documents. Shank said that she spoke to representatives of Southgate and there are no available buildings of sufficient size in which a project like Building Blocks could be held. Shank is waiting to hear from Sehee, one of the law students, who might know of an alternative location. Retish stated that he had a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce in the following week to talk to persons about volunteering for the Building Blocks project. When he initially made the call, the woman that answered said that the Chamber had been doing similar things for years by allowing persons to use a computer disk that can be used as a teaching tool as it has programs for resumes, etc. Retish explained that the population assisted by Building Blocks does not necessarily have a computer readily available. The woman became very quiet after that but when Retish speaks to the members, he plans to tell them that he would like it if employers would attend the program and let people know what they are looking for in an employee and hand out applications for available jobs. l? Building Blocks for Employment is scheduled for February 22 and he said that the event is wonderful. After consideration, it was recognized that Building Blocks was scheduled for the same night as the Commission meeting. Retish suggested that the entire Commission volunteer for the Building Blocks for Employment program and forgo the February meeting. Shorr suggested it would be like an inservice. Townsend thought it was a really good idea as it would be a working meeting. Shank reminded everyone that they could not discuss Commission business during the event so that they would not be in violation of the open meeting law. In the alternative the Commission meeting could be rescheduled for a different night. Beckmann said that she would not be in favor of asking the Human Rights Education Committee to reschedule so she wondered whether the Commissioners were in favor of participating in Building Blocks as opposed to attending the Commission meeting. Wilming stated that he thought it [Building Blocks] was a very worthy event and he would encourage everyone's' participation. The program is from 5 - 9 p.m. so Beckmann asked the Commissioners to commit to at least an hour or an hour and a half. Shank said that people start coming in the door around 5:15 and many leave to put their children to bed by 7:30 p.m. Motion: Retish moved to forgo the regular monthly meeting in February and during that time period the Commissioners will volunteer to participate in Building Blocks for Employment. Wilming seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. Keynote speaker for Human Rights Breakfast: Issue is deferred until March meeting. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS Bev Witwer - Witwer brought materials from the Southern Poverty Law Center that teachers received for free each month. The Law Center publishes "Teaching Tolerance." She really admires the people that work at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Scott King - King reiterated that he is working with a group that is trying to get a gay & lesbian community center organized here in Iowa City. He thinks that somewhere along the line the topic will be brought to the Commission's attention. Wilming - The other issue near and dear to his heart other than employment issues is the organization the "National Alliance for the Mentally ill" of which his wife is the Director. They will be having their first NAMI walks event - it is a community walk that will take place in early May. It will start in City Park to raise both awareness and money for the NAMI. More information will follow. Garr - Report of ex-Commissioner - Yesterday in the Chronicle of Higher Education there was an article that stated that President Bush in 2006, wants to cut Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search Programs around the entire nation to make more money for the No Child Left Behind program. This will impact over 500,000 underrepresented students largely minority but also first generation students around the nation. Garr finds it incredible that the thought of this could even happen. Many of the U of I students that are underrepresented came through the Upward Bound. It is amazing how many things seemed to be going against the idea of diversity. Garr also wanted to say that she did not renew her application because her job in the Admissions office at the U of I required her to travel too much but she appreciated her time on the Commission and when she can she will participate and volunteer in the future. Commission members thanked Garr for her remarks. Townsend - Barrack Obama was the first African American to be elected as a Senator from Illinois. Townsend would like to bring him here as a lecturer. The African American Council is working on this. Beckmann - On January 10, Beckmann had the privilege of going to the inauguration of the State House of Representatives. Her uncle was inaugurated and Beckmann took her daughter there and she wasn't expecting to be a moved as she was but she was able to look beyond the pomp and saw some very sincere people with good intentions and good hearts. Also, although she did not agree with everything everyone said, she still thought everything would be okay. Beckmann said that she and her daughter got to be on the floor of the House rather than the balcony. Reading Cases - deferred until March meeting. 8. Status of Cases - Shank reported that there is one public hearing in process that the opinion of the ALJ in that case ought to be submitted in late spring or early summer. Another public hearing has been scheduled for June but the ALJ said the date might change. There has also been a recent litigation worthy decision. 9. Adjournment: 9:10 p.m. Board or Commission: Human Rights ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2004 (Meetin: Date) TERM 1/27 2/24 3/23 4/27 5/25 6/22 7/27 8/2~ 9/28 10/26 11/23 12/28 NAME EXP. Lisa 1/1/07 X x X Beckman Paul Retish 1/1/07 X X X Geoff 1/1/07 X X O/E Wiiming Sara Baird 1/1/05 X O/E X David Shorr 1/1/06 X X O/E James 1/1/06 X X X McCue Biilie 1/1/06 X X X Townsend Bev Witwer 1/1/05 X X X Scott King 1/1/05 X X X KEY: X = Present NMNQ - No meeting, no quorum O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting .... Not a Member MINUTES FINAL PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MARCH 9, 2005 MEMBERS PRESENT: Craig Gustaveson, Judith Klink, Margaret Loomer, Ryan O'Leary, Matthew Pacha, Jerry Raaz, Phil Reisetter, Sarah Walz, John Westefeld STAFF PRESENT: Terry Trueblood, Mike Moran, Terry Robinson FORMAL ACTION TAKEN Moved by Pacha~ seconded by Westefeld~ to approve the February 16~ 2005 minutes as written. Unanimous. Moved by Walz~ Seconded by Westefeld that the City purchase the McCollister ProperS, (adjacent to Sand Hill). Unanimous. INTRODUCTIONS Gustaveson welcomed Jerry Raaz to the commission; introductions were made. PUBLIC DISCUSSION No public discussion. DISCUSSION OF BASEBALL FACILITIES; REQUESTS FOR USE OF SAME Trueblood has received two requests for multiple uses of our baseball facilities this summer. The Recreation Division is expecting an increase in requests this year as Coralville has temporarily eliminated their facilities due to the construction of the new hotel. Coralville anticipates having a new softball complex available for use in spring/summer of 2006. Trueblood named several organizations that have priority use of the fields at this time. Parks and Recreation staff will be meeting with Iowa City Boys Baseball and Girls Softball to encourage them to change their scheduling routines which should allow us to accommodate more requests and allow for more efficient use of our ball field maintenance staff. Trueblood reported that an adult baseball team requested use of Mercer Field #1 every Sunday and were informed that we would not be able to accommodate their request as this would then utilize this field seven days a week. The fields need to have at least one day for watering, maintenance and rest. Staff is also concerned that the field is too small to accommodate adult baseball. No action is needed from the Commission at this time. Pacha praised Ball Field Maintenance staff for their continued excellence in maintaining the Iowa City fields. Pacha asked if more staff was needed to accommodate these requests. Robinson announced he and his staff are looking at shuffling hours to efficiently maintain the fields in hopes of lessening the need for overtime. Parks and Recreation Commission March 9, 2005 Page 2 of 5 REVIEW OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Trueblood reminded Commission of memo from City Council asking the Commission to discuss the possibility of some fundraising efforts to help in funding some of the smaller project requests. Trueblood reemphasized his concerns about this approach from the standpoint of staff time. He highlighted a couple of projects that may be candidates for corporate funding. 1) Sand Lake Trail located behind Hills Bank. Perhaps Hills Bank may be interested in becoming involved with this project. 2) Festival Stage improvement--Riverside Theatre may be willing to help find funding for this project. Gustaveson stated that there might be a need for a professional fundraiser as this is beyond our ability. He likes the idea of contacting Hills Bank for their support. He also mentioned that Riverside Theatre has their own fundraising capacity and thought perhaps we could "piggyback" with them. However, Gustaveson did mention that many businesses have been "tapped out" when it comes to funds available for projects. Walz asked if Johnson County has a foundation in existence to assist with fundraising efforts. Trueblood indicated his understanding is that this organization does not raise the funds but serves a holding and disbursement function. Reisetter supported the idea of joining forces with surrounding communities and review the possibilities of hiring a professional fundraiser. Trueblood explained the Parks and Recreation Foundation to new members. Also suggested that it may be necessary for the Foundation to take a more aggressive role in fundraising, but again, raises concerns of the time required by its volunteers. O'Leary suggested that perhaps we contact some of the service organizations in the area. As President of the Optimist Club, he stated that they are often looking for causes to donate money. O'Leary will speak to the group about donating money to a specific project. Raaz asked about grant opportunities. Trueblood stated that there are not many grant opportunities for these types of projects, indicating that the most readily available grants are for trails and protection of natural areas. Trueblood will draft a memo to City Council for the Commission to review at April meeting PURCHASE OF LAND FROM IOWA NATURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION: Trueblood discussed the possible purchase of land from the Iowa Natural Heritage l~'oundation that is located adjacent to Sand Hill (McCollister Property). He asked for a recommendation from the Commission regarding acquisition of this property at a price of $22,000. Klink advised that she enthusiastically supports this purchase. She feels it is a good long-range investment and a great bargain. Moved by Walz, Seconded by Westefeld that the City purchase the McCollister Property (adiacent to Sand Hill). Unanimous. Parks and Recreation Commission March 9, 2005 Page 3 of 5 STATUE IN CITY PARK Gustaveson reviewed a request from Bruce Titus, General Manager of Carlos O'Kelly's. Mr. Titus is requesting that the Commission allow him to erect a statue, at no cost to the City, in one of the Iowa City parks in memory of children who have lost their lives. Trueblood stated that these types of requests are usually handled within the Parks and Recreation Department, however, one of the fundraisers, wanting to avoid any possible controversy, asked the City Attorney if this would be viewed as a religious symbol. It is an angel with an inscription reading "Our little angel." Klink feels that city parks are not the appropriate location for a statue of this nature. She suggested that they donate an item that is more park-related such as a tree or a park bench. Raaz asked commission and staff if there are any guidelines in place for this type of request. Trueblood stated that the Parks and Recreation Department does not have a written policy to cover all possible situations. Reisetter brought up two items of concern regarding this type of request. 1) The Supreme Courts pending rule on weather it is appropriate for governments to erect religious statues, etc., in public places. 2) If the Supreme Court does make such a ruling, that the commission then needs to see a prototype to assure that it is aesthetically pleasing. Loomer asked if it would be possible for them to place such a statue in Oakland Cemetery. Trueblood expressed Titus' wish to place it in a park as it is a celebration of life, feeling that placing it in a cemetery would make give it more of a grave stone appearance. Gustaveson expressed that he feels it is important for families and friends of these victims to have a central location that they may go to memorialize their loved ones. He feels it is somewhat brazen and callous for the Commission to say no to such a request. O'Leary is in agreement with Gustaveson stating that he would not want the Commission to have to say no to such a simple request. He does not see such a statue as being abrasive or offensive to anyone. Reisetter reiterated his desire to have standards set for this type of request. Raaz stated that such a statue is worthy of consideration by the Commission, however, there is a need to create some guidelines. Perhaps include in these guidelines a statement saying that a tree or bench would be no problem but that other requests beyond that would be discussed on a case to case basis. Trueblood will meet with Mr. Titus to see if he would be willing to look at other options. Trueblood will also ask the City Attorney to provide something in writing that he can share at the next Commission meeting. Commission will table this item at this time. COMMISSION TIME Klink expressed her gratification in seeing projects come to fruition, such as the bridge in Willow Creek West, Benton Hill Park, etc. Parks and Recreation Commission March 9, 2005 Page 4 of 5 O'Leary spoke on behalf of John Nolan who wanted him to express his gratitude for the great job that the Forestry Division has done adding trees to the College and Burlington Street areas. Westefeld expressed thanks to Mike Moran regarding the Alliance Soccer Club Tournament that was held at Mercer Park Aquatic Center/Scanlon Gymnasium the previous weekend. There were approximately 92 teams that played in the tournament. Westefeld said that it was a great job done by the Recreation staff. CHAIR'S REPORT No report DIRECTOR'S REPORT Trueblood discussed status of Parks and Recreation Master Plan. He hopes to have a draft or request for proposal by the next meeting to present to the Commission. He talked with the Parks and Recreation Director of Coralville about the possibility of having a consultant come in and do a master plan for both Iowa City and Coralville at the same time, therefore being more economically efficient. Terry will continue speaking with her about this possibility. PIN Grant summary/proposal distributed for review. Trueblood stated he is not looking for official comments from the Commission until the Neighborhood Council meets later this month. Commission just asked to review and call Trueblood with questions. Movement has begun towards looking at pedestrian bridge at the Rocky Shore Peninsula. Four possible locations are being reviewed and preliminary cost estimates being processed. Some progress with Sand Hill. Met with Driftless Land Stewardship, company out of southwestern Wisconsin, who has submitted a proposal for a management plan and also some preliminary cost estimates for removal of the locus trees. The Cemetery is going through a process to computerize all records. The City Clerks Office is also involved. This system will allow people to print maps of grave locations, and will make the record keeping much more streamlined. It is proving to be a very time consuming process. Trneblood announced the addition of two new staff members to the Parks and Recreation Department. Jessica Hamer has replaced Tammy Neumann as the Office Coordinator of the Recreation Division. Jamie Jenn has filled a 5/8 vacancy in the City Hall Maintenance Division. Tmeblood announced that Moran, Robinson and himself will be out of the office March 20-23, 2005 for a conference. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Walz, seconded by Raaz to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Parks and Recreation Commission March 9, 2005 Page 5 of 5 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2005 TERM NAME EXPIRES 1/12 2/16 3/9 4/13 5/11 6/8 7/13 8/10 9/14 10/12 11/19 12/14 Craig Gustaveson 1/1/07 NM X X Judith Klink 1/1/07 NM X X Margaret Loomer 1/1/08 NM X X Ryan O'Leary 1/1/06 NM X X Matt Pacha 1/1/05 NM X X Jerry Raaz 1/1/08 ...... X Phil Reisetter 1/1/09 NM X X Sarah Walz 1/1/07 NM X X John Westefeld 1/1/06 NM X X KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting LQ = No meeting due to lack of quorum .... Not a Member MINUTES FINAL/APPROVED HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MARCH 10, 2005 SENIOR CENTER, LOWER LEVEL CLASSROOM Members Present: Jerry Anthony, Erin Barnes, Lori Bears, Mark Edwards, Matthew Hayek, Rita Marcus, Brian Richman, Jayne Sandier, Members Absent: William Greazel Staff Present: Tracy Hightshoe, Steve Long, Steve Nasby, Steve Rackis Public Present: Mark Patton, Tom Walz, Bob Burns, Mike Townsend, David Wellendorf, Ron Hanson, Karen Kubby, Alan Axeen, Kristie Doser, Alaina Welsh, Mary Donovan, Maryann Dennis CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chairperson Hayek called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 17, 2005 Motion: Anthony moved to approve the February 17, 2005 with corrections on pages 6 and 13 (staff wilt verify if LT&J applied or will be applying for non-profit status). Bears seconded the motion. Motion passed 8-0. PUBLIC COMMENTS OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Burns announced that their FY04 Whispering Garden project received Low Income Housing Tax Credits and state HOME funds in the last funding round. The project consists of 12 units of affordable rental housing. DISCUSSION REGARDING FY06 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM REQUESTS Hightshoe announced that there are additional funds available to allocate. $200,000 in HOME funds were recaptured from the Blooming Garden project and $72,000 in CDBG funds are available as four prior year projects didn't spend all their allocation or had to decline the funds as the project was no longer feasible. This last week, 4C's returned their $32,000 CDBG allocation as the contractor cost was significantly higher than estimated and required additional space than what was planned. DISCUSSION OF RANKINGS River City Housing Collective- Property Acquisition Bears discussed the score she gave this project, a 17. She said she did not like that there was no answer regarding how many persons would be served on page 126 of the application (Funding Request binder). She also added that the house was not physically accessible, especially for persons who use wheel chairs, and only one unit was on the first floor. Long stated there was a two-bedroom unit on the first floor and a common space area by the apartment that would be accessible. Johnson County Permanent Supportive Housing- Supplemental Loan Barnes asked how important the supplemental application would be in order to complete the project. Richman said it appears the primary application would be the most important, and the supplemental would be in case there would be enough funds for an additional allocation. Barnes confirmed that it would be to fund the primary allocation and if funds available fund the second and it is not a fund both or not fund either. Richman stated the primary benefit of the project is that it is a loan. Hayek asked if there was a breakpoint on projects? He stated this could be discussed with each applicant at next week's meeting on the 17th. Sandier asked if the average allocation would work? Richman stated this application has multiple funding sources, leverages additional money, and in his opinion may work with a decrease in the number of units. Burns stated the primary application of $275,000 is critical. He stated he was confident that the project would receive LIHTCs and state HOME funds after the recent funding round that awarded credits to the Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 10, 2005 Page 2 Whispering Garden project. Burns mentioned the possibility of withdrawing the supplemental application as many housing projects were submitted for consideration. He will speak with the applicant. Commission members asked each housing provider present what would be the outcome if full funding wasn't received for their projects. Habitat for Humanity Patton answered Habitat would build fewer units, depending on the level of funding. Hawkeye Area Community Action Program- Transitional Housing Axeen said that HACAP requests to build 4 units. He added that 2 are needed for United Action for Youth (UAY) and 2 for HACAP. Due to UAY's immediate situation, priority would be to acquire the two units for UAY. Iowa City Housing Authority Tenant Based Rental Assistance (ICHA) Rackis said that reduced financial assistance would mean more targeting of households or less households served. The calculation provided was for 60 households (30 households served for a period of two years) times $414 (average rent) times 12 months in a year. City of Iowa City-Down payment Assistance Program Nasby said that if they did not receive full funding, they could chose to either serve fewer clients, or reduce the amount of assistance per household. Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship (Rental and homeownership) Barnes said she found it very difficult to do the volunteer section on the ranking sheet. Richman agreed and stated that changing the format of the application might solve the problem. Dennis answered the question, what would happen to the project is less funding is received, by stating they would do fewer units. Lead based paint is an issue in the areas they want to locate scattered housing sites. Increased costs for rehabilitation and lead-based paint may affect the feasibility of the project, as with HOME, rents are capped. If costs exceed what they can generate in rent, the project does not become feasible. Dennis stated at last month's meeting there were questions about the costs of the Community Land Trust (CLT) program to the buyer. When weighing the costs associated with the CLT, Dennis stated it is still more advantageous to the homeowner as the land is not being purchased. Homes through the program are not eligible for the Homestead Credit, however homeowners do not pay for the cost of a 30-year amortized loan at current interest rates (6%) for the price of the lot (lot price approx. $40,000). This is a monthly saving of $239. Dennis stated that it is still very advantageous to the buyer after reducing the $20/month fee charged by GICHF and not being able to take advantage of the Homestead Credit. Extend the Dream Foundation - Rental Housing Walz stated that if they received less funding, the project remains viable, as they would obtain private financing to fil~ the gap. They will review and discuss what this break-even point would be. Hayek questioned if the rental housing and micro-enterprise center are tied together and dependent on both receiving funds? Walz answered that yes, funding is needed for both projects. Richman asked if partially funded and private dollars were needed, how much could they raise? Walz answered possibly half the acquisition costs. Sandier asked how much was left in the CDBG Economic Development Fund. Nasby stated $59,000. Patton noted that Habitat works with the Section 8 Homeownership program. Richman added they have three single site applications and 6 scalable, multi-site applications. Hayek acknowledged Burns request to speak. Burns stated that due to the high number of applications the Johnson County Supportive Housing LP is withdrawing the Supplemental application. Nasby requested they submit a letter to formally withdraw the Supplemental application. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 10, 2005 Page 3 Rackis noted that their application, TBRA, is a scalable project, targeting households based on need, not time of application. Barnes stated that the volunteer portion of the application is difficult, as it should only include volunteer hours for the actual project. This varies extensively between housing, public facilities, and public service activities. Richman agreed and stated the commission should review this part of the application. Habitat for Humanity ReStore Patton said they plan on buying a warehouse to operate a construction materials restore, and use the money to construct more affordable housing. He stated the Quad City store nets about $40,000/year. He mentioned that if comparable to the success of the Quad City store, even though the local restore might not have the same success, Habitat could build (purchase lot) for one home site a year. Richman noted if they were to fund lot acquisition at $350,000 (the amount requested for the ReStore) that wou~d be equal to around eight homes. Anthony asked if the Quad City Restore is the only one in Iowa. Patton said there are Restores in Des Moines and one in Cedar Rapids in the next 6 months. Sandier asked if the Cedar Rapids store received CDBG funding. Patton said they did not receive CDBG funds. Long asked how the Iowa City store is doing. Patton said they made $9,000 so far, but the Coralville site is only temporary. Hayek said that this project is not just an investment in housing related activities, but there would be some job training involved, building trades, and recycling activities. Patton said the Iowa Department of Natural Resources gave them some seed money. He said that last year, the Quad City ReStore saved 300 tons from going in the landfill. The project also provides temporary storage for donated items. Anthony asked if they discussed this project with the City's solid waste department. Patton said they did discuss and they would like to see them get into a permanent building, most likely to co°locate with different services/activities. Sandier asked if the City would pay for a co-located facility. Nasby stated this has been discussed. The City would pay the City portion, Habitat would pay for their own. Barnes said that she likes the training component of the project, as well as the fact that they recycle materials. She asked if there would be any paid jobs. Patton said there would be Americorp and Vista, about 2.5 FTE paid positions. Free Lunch No discussion. Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVlP) Richman said Free Lunch and DVIP are requesting such small amounts of money, he could see no reason not to fund the projects. Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County- Broadway Building Improvements Hayek said that Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County sent a handout braking down their priorities. He said the first thing was to replace cabinets and countertops, next doors and screen, the tile, and last the parking lot. Richman said that he considered it a good project, fairly manageable in size. Free Lunch Program/Free Medical Clinic Hayek said that it appeared the committee recommended close funding amounts for this project. Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa Hayek said that there was an email received containing a project estimate. The estimate also included other planned work at the site. Barnes said that the average allocation for Goodwill was around $37,000. She questioned if they could complete the project with this amount. Townsend said they have to purchase an entire air conditioning system, so they would try to find other funds, but would appreciate whatever funding they could get, the bigger the better. Barnes asked if they Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 10, 2005 Page 4 would be able to finish the project within a year. Townsend replied they would. Richman asked if they could use funds for other rehabilitation activities. Nasby replied yes, but the request would need to go through the commission. Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa Hayek said there were 22 suppor~ letters received for the project and noted that the applicant provided answers raised during the last meeting. Richman asked if there is a breakdown between paving the parking lot and remodeling the entrance. Hightshoe said that staff will follow up, and include it in the packet if a response is received in time. Sandier asked if there would be an increase in the cost of the lease due to the additional parking? Hightshoe referred to applicant's memo. The memo stated any facility improvements would not result in an increase to the basic lease. Sandier stated the lease expires in 2009, if applicant takes all options the lease would go through 2019. Sandier stated applicant is requesting a 7-year declining balance loan. She noted if funded, there could be a longer declining balance loan. Sandier raised questions about the true cost of the lease. Hightshoe stated staff would request clarification. Hayek asked if funding a leased facility (for profit owner) is something they want to do. Alibefl Hillel Jewish Student Center Accessibility Renovation Long stated Hillel received an award from the Braverman Foundation for the project. Applicant will forward the information to the commission. Sandier stated the information was per HCDC's questions at the last meeting. Old Brick Repointing Project Wellendorf said that Old Brick got the matching grant for the project. He said that the Old Brick would need all new mortar. He said they have 7 non-profit renters that provided direct service to the community at a value of $1.5 millions dollars last year. He said they hope to get more groups to use the facility. They have non-profit Thursdays, which means free space that day for non-profits. They are booked out two months in advance for those days. Barnes questioned if they have the number of LMI persons served. Wellendorf stated they have information for the past year, but do not have information prior to that. He stated it is hard to judge the general public using the building. They are doing surveys now and collecting information from Table to Table and other non-profits that use the facility. Barnes asked if most were LMI persons. Wellendorf replied yes, figures for this past year show that. Their renters serve LMI persons. Sandier asked if any'of the non-profits are involved in financially supporting the project. Wellendorf said that they have been asked and are considering donations. There would be additional fundraising as part of the larger renovation as well. Coulter stated they would meet with the Lutheran bishop next week. Anthony asked about a capital campaign. Wellendorf stated that almost all their projects have been successful due to fundraising and volunteerism. Coulter stated the Kirkwood masonry class would use the site as a teaching tool. Emma Goldman Clinic Kubby said the proiect is an all or nothing thing. She said that in terms of funding, if they do not receive the full amount, they would do more fund raising or take out a loan. Bears questioned the bid date for the project. Kubby responded April. Kubby stated that the volunteer hours reported on the application was for this project only. Hayek questioned if there were any more comments on the public facilities projects. No response. Sandier asked if public service activities could be funded less than $1,000 and if not, what was the rationale. Hightshoe stated staff did discuss setting a $1,000 threshold. The rationale was to be consistent with HOME regulations that do not allow funding of less than $1,000 per housing unit. Also, staff time for a project of $100,000 or under $1,000 is basically the same. Another consideration staff reviewed is if projects that receive less than $1,000 are viable or if it significantly increases the ability of Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 10, 2005 Page 5 the service provider to provide that service. Last, receiving CDBG funds subjects the recipient to all the federal regulations of the CDBG program. Free Medical Clinic Hayek said that everyone funded the project. Shelter House Hayek asked which project would be more critical, the outreach coordinator or the emergency assistance program. Long stated his guess would be the application for the outreach coordinator as it is tied to the STAR program. Hightshoe stated staff would confirm. Compeer Program Richman stated he did not fund this application. He added that they stated they have other sources of funds they could use. Hayek said that he knows their program was shrunk out of necessity. Anthony said they lost the Robert Wood Foundation funds. Sandier added they have a quarter time executive director due to the loss of funds. Hayek said that he likes the Compeer partnership with other organizations, and the strong reliance on volunteers. Emma Goldman Clinic Hayek questioned if the project was scalable. Kubby said that any amount helps provide services and absorb costs. She said they allocate $38 per client, so $1,000 would provide help for approximately 25 clients. Extend the Dream Walz said that they do not have paid staff. He added there are three persons that run eight businesses. He added that they would need the 2 VISTAS for the current activities. Walz stated this was a one-year request. River Run will provide half the cost for the proposed activity. Barnes asked if all the applications from Extend the Dream Foundation were tied together and wanted to know how others view this. Anthony asked if the tenants that would live in the new housing would work downstairs in the new commercial area. Walz said that is their plan, but they are not sure when that would occur because there are renters there now. As units become available, yes eventually this would happen. Hayek asked if there are cuts in VISTA. Walz said there is terrible cutback of about 25%. TTC Housing Program Hayek said that the average funding was pretty Iow for this project. Richman asked if others felt that other agencies meet or address some the needs. Sandier answered yes, she thought so. Family Services - Savvy Seniors Hayek stated the project was essentially money management seminars for seniors. Bears asked if the Senior Center does this type of activity, budgeting and fraud awareness. Hightshoe stated staff would follow up. OMNI Therapies Hayek said that most people did not fund this project. Richman stated that with such limited funds, do for profits really need the funds. Sandier said the challenges they had last year when they made application did not change. Transportation is still an issue. Barnes stated that $6,000 for advertising is a Iow priority use of funds for her. Hayek stated he still would like to encourage new groups to apply for funds. Richman said that unless the for-profit provides an absolute necessity service that would not be available anywhere else in the community, he would be opposed to funding going to for profit companies. Hayek stated that funds go to for-profit housing providers. Richman replied that with only $11,000 for public services, it would be best to fund non-profit providers. Member questions if applicant met with staff. Hayek answered that applicant did meet with staff to address problems from last year. Sandier stated that the applicant took the time to complete the application, but was disappointed that no one was there to discuss. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 10, 2005 Page 6 LT&J Consulting- Iowa City Community Grantwriters Workshop No discussion. Hayek stated there is an extra $200,00 for HOME eligible housing activities and $72,000 in CDBG funds. Hightshoe requested changes in allocations and scores be submitted as soon as possible. Hightshoe stated staff would need the changes no later than Monday. Hayek announced the Scattered Site Housing Task Force will have a public hearing on March 28. The League of Women Voters will have a forum on affordable housing March 23rd. FAIR will have a panel discussion regarding housing issues on March 30th. Adjournment Sandier moved to adjourn. Richman seconded. Motion passed 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM s:lpcdlminuteslHCDCI2OOS/O3-10-OS.doc Housing & Community Development Commission Attendance Record 2005 TelTfl Name Expires 01/20 02/17 03/10 03/17 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 Jerry Anthony 09/01/05 X X X Erin Barnes 09/01/06 X X X Lori Bears 09/01/07 X X X Mark Edwards 09/01/05 X O/E X William Greazel 09/01/06 O/E X O Matthew Hayek 09/01/07 X X X Rita Marcus 09/01/06 O/E X X Brian Richman 09/01/07 X X X Jayne Sandier 09/01/05 O/E X X Key: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No Meeting ..... Not a Member MINUTES FINAL/APPROVED HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MARCH 17, 2005 SENIOR CENTER, LOWER LEVEL CLASSROOM Members Present: Jerry Anthony, Erin Barnes, Lori Bears, William Greazel, Matthew Hayek, Rita Marcus, Jayne Sandier Members Absent: Mark Edwards, Brian Richman Staff Present: Tracy Hightshoe, Steve Long, Steve Nasby, Linda Severson, Steven Rackis Public Present: Mark Patton, Tom Walz, Eugene Spaziani, Karl Dixon, David Wellendorf, Ronald Luhman, Joan Luhman, Karen Kubby, Mary Donovan, Alaina Welsh, Bob Burns, Dave Maeglin, Sandy Pickup, Ron Hanson, Maryann Dennis, Carol Spaziani, Heather Haynus, Gerald Sonkin, Rose Fredrick, Charlie Eastham, Al Axeen, Al Young CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chairperson Hayek called the meeting to order at 6:40 PM. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Hayek asked if there were any public comments regarding non-agenda items. Anthony said that he and Hayek are the HCDC representatives on the Scattered Site Housing Taskforce and that the Taskforce would be holding a public meeting on March 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center for public input on the recommendations being made by the Taskforce to the City Council. Anthony suggested that HCDC also play a role in reviewing the Taskforce recommendations. Hayek said that the recommendations would be available from the City and on their web site tomorrow (March 18). Hightshoe said that in the packet the staff memorandum notes several projects that are not in compliance with the Unsuccessful or Delayed Projects Policy, as they had not spent at least 50% of their funds by March 15. Long said that DVIP had submitted a pay request for all of their funds this week so that was completed. Nasby said that a representative from Old Brick was present if the Commission had questions. Hayek and Hightshoe said the matter would be on the Commission's April agenda. DISCUSSION REGARDING FY06 CDBG AND HOME REQUESTS Hayek gave a brief overview of the funding process and referred the Commission members to the ranking sheets and average allocation information that staff had put together from the Commission's individual ranking sheets. Hightshoe said that the "consensus" ranking sheet with the yellow boxes showed points were the Commission appears to agree on funding. Hayek asked if there were any questions. If not, the Commission could start the allocation process. MOTION: Greazel moved to consider the public service projects. Sandier seconded. Motion Passed 7:0. Compeer Program - Operational Funding MOTION: Greazel made a motion to allocate $1,000 for the Compeer Program project. Sandier seconded the motion. Motion passed 7:0. Free Medical Clinic - Operational Funding MOTION: Marcus made a motion to allocate $2,500 for the Free Medical Clinic project. Sandier seconded the motion. Greazel said that he would like to see at least $5,000 allocated for the project. Motion failed 3:4, with Greazel, Hayek, Sandier, and Marcus opposed. MOTION: Greazel made a motion to allocate $5,000. Barnes seconded the motion. Motion passed 6:1, with Anthony voting opposed. Shelter House - Emergency Assistance Program MOTION: Barnes made a motion to allocate $1,000 for the Shelter House Emergency assistance project. Marcus seconded the motion. Motion passed 7:0. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 17, 2005 Page 2 Shelter House - Operational Funding MOTION: Anthony made a motion to allocate $3,500. Bears seconded the motion. Barnes noted that if this motion passed only $500 would remain in the public service category. Barnes proposed to allocate up to $4,000 total for Shelter House. Anthony withdrew his motion to allocate $3,500 for the Shelter House operational project. MOTION: Barnes made a motion to allocate $4,000 for the Shelter House. Greazel seconded the motion. It was noted that these funds to Shelter House leverage other federal funds (STAR). Sandier said that there is a similar situation in the case of Extend the Dream Foundation, as they need the funds to leverage another resource. Motion passed 4:3, with Hayek, Sandier, and Bears opposed. Anthony mentioned that Extend the Dream Foundation would get money in other categories. Marcus said that she would like money for Family Services. Sandier said that the Senior Center provides about the same services. Marcus said that she was unaware of the potential duplication. Hightshoe said the Senior Center provides a "scam" prevention session. Marcus questioned how much impact one session would have and noted that she is sensitive to this issue as she is helping out a fraud victim. ~xtend the Dream Foundation - Operational Funding Sandier said that the Senior Center would have other resources to do additional sessions. Sandier said that finding funding for Extend the Dream is a concern for her. Sandier added ~that Shelter House has gotten operational funding for many years from CDBG. Hayek noted that the VISTA is a good program and it is important to encourage new applicants. MOTION: Sandier made a motion to reduce the amount allocated for the Shelter House Operational project from $4,000 to $3,000 and allocate $1,000 to the Extend the Dream project. Motion passed 5:2, with Anthony and Marcus opposed. MOTION: Greazel made a motion to consider public facilities and economic development projects next, Barnes seconded. Motion passed 7:0. Free Lunch Program - Facility Rehabilitation MOTION: Sandier made a motion to allocate $1,777 for the Free Lunch Program. Barnes seconded the motion. Motion passed 7:0. Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVlP) - Facility Rehabilitation Anthony asked about the status of the FY05 CDBG funding. Sandier noted the project was done and additional funds were leveraged. MOTION: Marcus made a motion to allocate $3,525 for the DVIP program. Barnes seconded the motion. Motion passed 7:0. Aliber/Hilel Jewish Student Center - Accessibility Renovation The Commission asked if the matching funds Hillel had requested were awarded? The representative from Hillel said that they did get a matching grant of $12,500. Marcus asked if they would do the project if no CDBG funds were awarded. The answer from Hillel was that the accessibility project would not be done. MOTION: Marcus made a motion to allocate $12,500 for Hilel project. Sandier seconded the motion. Motion passed 6:1, with Greazel voting against. Free Lunch Program/Free Medical Clinic - Facility Rehabilitation MOTION: Greazel made a motion to allocate $17,646 to Free Lunch Program/ Free Medical Clinic. Sandier seconded the motion. Motion passed 7:0. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 17, 2005 Page 3 Old Brick Foundation - Repointing Project MOTION: Barnes made a motion to allocate $50,000 for Old Brick Repointing Project. Sandier seconded the motion. Greazel said if funding is so close to the requested amount why not just do it all so that they would not have to do the rest at a later date and incur additional expenses. He noted there was an economy of scale here with the equipment rental. Sandier asked if Old Brick would do the whole project if $50,000 in CDBG were awarded. Wellendorf said that Old Brick has always found a way to make things happen. Anthony had concerns whether they would be able to do both the FY05 and FY06 projects in the same time. Wellendorf said the FY05 project was well underway and it should be complete soon. Anthony said he was inquiring about the capacity. Wellendorf said that the repointing project would be in August or September. Barnes said that the FY05 project relied on many volunteers so it took longer and a paid contractor would do the FY06 project so it could move along faster. Wellendorf said that the stairs caused the delay with the FY05 project. Anthony said he still had concerns. Hayek said he shared Anthony's concerns but was willing to support the proposed project. Motion passed 5:2, with Anthony, and Marcus voting against. Emma Goldman Clinic - Facility Rehabilitation MOTION: Greazel made a motion to allocate $20,000 for Emma Goldman Clinic. Sandier seconded the motion. Barnes asked if these funds would leverage other funding? Hayek said it looked like other funding was from the agency. Kubby said that the matching funds are from Emma Goldman Clinic and volunteers. Sandier asked if there were in-kind contributions? Kubby said that the c[inic had received donations from suppliers but not contractors; however, there is a donation line on the bid form. Motion failed 3:4, with Anthony, Hayek, Marcus, and Barnes voting against. MOTION: Sandier moved that Emma Goldman Clinic be allocated $15,000. Greazel seconded. Motion passed 4:3, with Marcus, Barnes and Anthony voting against. Extend the Dream Foundation - Economic Development MOTION: Sandier made a motion to allocate $88,000 for Extend the Dream project. Greazel seconded the motion. In response to a question, Nasby said that the Economic Development Committee met earlier today to discuss the project and that Walz was present and could answer questions. Nasby said that the Council Economic Development Committee is supporting the project but would wait for the HCDC decision before taking any action on potential funding. Walz said that the Council Economic Development Committee saw the project as more social service oriented than economic development. Sandier asked if the amount of funds left in the FY05 CDBG Economic Development Fund was about $59,000 that Council could allocate to this project? Nasby said that there was $59,000 left in that account, but the Council Economic Development Committee did not discuss any specific amount of funding they would consider for this project. Motion passed 4:3, with Marcus, Barnes, and Anthony opposed. Habitat for Humanity- ReStore Project MOTION: Barnes made a motion to allocate $200,000 for Habitat for Humanity project. Marcus seconded the motion. Anthony asked Greazel what his thoughts were on this project as he had been involved with the organization and had given the project no funding. Greazel said that he had a higher priority for the housing application that was going to meet a more immediate need and the ReStore is a longer-term project. Marcus said that since it is a long-term project would it not provide on-going long-term benefits to the community. Barnes asked if Habitat was indeed having difficulties finding sites for homeownership. Anthony said that Habitat for Humanity is a good group and he supported their efforts. He added the problem they would face is that they would not be able to find sites in Iowa City and meeting the Iow- moderate income thresholds. Anthony said that without a feasibility study on this project the HCDC would Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 17, 2005 Page 4 be in the same role as a venture capitalist. Sandier said that finding a site may not present as large as a problem as some think, but finding one that is affordable to Habitat in the necessary time period is the key. Anthony said that if the site was identified and ready he would be more supportive, but the question of Iowa City being a large enough market was stil~ a concern for him. Bears asked how long the current store could be in Coralville. Patton said that they have essentially been given until fall and after that it is uncertain. Barnes asked Patton if he had any comments to make regarding the discussion that has occurred. Patton said that smaller communities do have ReStores and that Iowa City, with it's high number of renters, makes for a high demand market. He added that the bigger picture with the ReStore is to combine it with other complimentary services like the Furniture Project. Hayek asked about a feasibility study. Patton said that the experience with ReStores nationally is that college communities do the best. Anthony asked if any other cities had used CDBG funds for a ReStore. Sandier asked if any sites have been identified. Patton said that several are being looked at in the $450,000 price range, but he could not disclose the locations at this time. Barnes asked what items are sold at a ReStore? Patton said new construction materials, some furniture, appliances, fixtures such as doors, sinks, etc. Motion failed 2:5, with Bears, Greazel, Anthony, Sandier, Barnes opposed. Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County - Broadway Building Improvements MOTION: Greazel made a motion to allocate $40,000 for Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County- Broadway Building Improvements. Anthony seconded the motion. Greazel said there were some immediate needs that need to be taken care of, and he would be more comfortable funding the more immediate needs. He mentioned the parking lot would be the lowest priority for him. He added that the flooring represents the highest priority, while cabinets and countertops replacement even though needed could be partial. Marcus said that the issue with the parking lot was not that it is a priority, but a safety hazard for children while playing basketball. Anthony asked why the tast year funds were not spent. Hightshoe said they were dealing with a contractor for windows. Greazel asked if HCDC could recommend which of the proposed activities should be funded. Hightshoe answered that they could make that part of a recommendation, but it would ultimately be up to the Council to decide. Hayek said he would prefer to leave the money to Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County discretion. Severson said that the NCJC had been dealing with a serious mold issue in the fall that may have caused the project delay. The Center had to close and send all children to the Pheasant Ridge facility for a period of time. Motion passed 5:2, with Hayek and Marcus opposed. MOTIQN: Barnes made a motion to allocate $50,000 for Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County- Broadway Building Improvements. Sandier seconded the motion. Motion passed 6:1, with Greazel voting against. MOTION: Greazel made a motion to go to the housing category next. Sandier seconded the motion. Motion passed 5:2, with Hayek and Sandier opposed. Hawkeye Area Community Action Program- Transitional Housing MOTION: Greazel made a motion to allocate $300,000 for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program. Anthony seconded the motion. Hayek said he got a call from HACAP mentioning that their per unit cost would be about $78,000, and if they could get funded for example for 2 units, they would be the un[ts associated with United Action for Youth. Greazel said it is a good program and they have a need for more units. Sandier mentioned that last year she thought they had problems identifying the units, but it is significant that they identified four units for the current year. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 17, 2005 Page 5 Barnes said her concern would be about how the rest of the money would be split, as there are a number of projects yet to be considered. Motion passed 4:3, with Hayek, Barnes, and Marcus opposed. Extend the Dream Foundation- Rental Housing Project MOTION: Greazel made a motion to atlocate $98,000 for the Extend the Dream program. Bears seconded the motion. Greazet said it woutd be an interesting project, which would do a lot of good to people in need, and was impressed by the amount of volunteer involvement. Bears suggested that everyone visit Uptown Bill's. Anthony asked if the foundation had any experience managing rental housing. Walz said the foundation has been managing a property for about two years with the Universal Design Home. Sandier asked how many units are in the universal design home? Walz said three bedrooms with tenants. Sandier asked if the purpose of the mixed-use building was a live\work situation? Anthony asked if the tenants would be required to be participants in the training program. Walz said it was the goal to provide live\work as an option, but tenants would not be required to participate with Extend the Dream Foundation. Sandier asked if rent would be charged. Walz said yes. Motion failed 3:4, with Barnes, Marcus, Hayek, and Anthony against. Sandier said that she wanted the project to get some funds to leverage against the economic development funds for the project. Walz said that partial funding was okay and they would make it work. MOTION: Sandier made a motion to allocate $75,000 for the Extend the Dream program. Marcus seconded the motion. Motion passed 5:2 with Barnes and Anthony opposed. Habitat for Humanity- Homeownership MOTION: Sandier made a motion to allocate $100,000 for Habitat for Humanity project. Anthony seconded the motion. Barnes said she would be concerned that they would need to still find sites, and that $100,000 would be a too big an amount. Greazel said that the issue is not so much finding sites but having the funds to buy a site they would have to pay the full amount, or someone else would buy it. Barnes asked how much could one lot cost. Greazel answered that it would be between $40,000 and $45,000 per lot. Sandier added they still have money left from last year so giving this project partial funding this year was why she proposed the $100,000 amount. Hayek said that in the Scattered Site Housing Taskforce's discussions lot costs were an issue and scattering them could raise the costs. He supported more funding for the project. Motion passed 5:2 with Barnes and Hayek opposed. Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship - Homeownership MOTION: Anthony made a motion to allocate $181,200 for Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship project. Bears seconded the motion. Greazel said that it would be a good project that he would support full funding. Sandier said that less money for ownership would mean more money to support rental housing, so she would be against full funding for this project. Hayek said he too supported the project, but at a lower amount. Barnes asked how many units could be done with $150,000. Motion passed 4:3, with Sandier, Marcus, and Hayek opposed. Johnson County Permanent Supportive Housing LP - Rental Housing MOTION: Anthony made a motion to allocate $275,000 for Johnson County Permanent Supportive Housing project. Barnes seconded the motion. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 17, 2005 Page 6 Hayek pointed out that the supplemental application that accompanied this project had been withdrawn. Sandier said that this would be a positive project helping more people with less money and it leveraged other resources. Anthony said he had concerns about getting the tax credits, but due to the comments he heard from Burns he thinks they will get the tax credits. Motion passed 7:0. City of Iowa City - Downpayment Assistance Program MOTION: Greazel made a motion to allocate $100,000 for City of Iowa City-Downpayment Assistance Program. Marcus seconded the motion. Sandier said she is very opposed to the project because not all lenders would be able to participate and that $15,000 per unit would be too much for down payment assistance. Greaze~ withdrew the motion. Iowa City Housing Authority - Tenant Based Rental Assistance (ICHA) MOTION: Bears made a motion to allocate $200,000 for Iowa City Housing Authority Tenant Based Rental Assistance (ICHA) project. Greazel seconded the motion. Bears was pleased with ICHA project and she had contacted Rackis. Sandier said that it is a great project, but the two years waiting list is still way too long. She added that $200,000 would be too much to fund, but would be in favor of funding $150,000. Barnes agreed that the amount could be lower. Motion failed 2:5, with Sandier, Hayek, Greazel, Marcus, and Barnes opposed. MOTION: Sandier made a motion to allocate $150,000 for Iowa City Housing Authority Tenant Based Rental Assistance (ICHA) project. Bears seconded the motion. Motion passed 7:0. Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship - Rental Housing MOTION: Anthony made a motion to allocate $175,000 for Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship rental housing. Sandier seconded the motion. Sandier said she would like to allocate $200,000 and reduce the Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship home ownership by $25,000. Barnes said she would like money spent in homeownership. Greazel agreed with Barnes. Motion passed 5:2, with Sandier, and Hayek opposed. Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa - Facility Rehabilitation MOTION: Sandier made a motion to allocate $10,000 for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa project. Greazel seconded the motion. Greazel said that his concern would be the fact that they do not own the parking lot. Sandier agrees the parking lot wou~d be a concern, but that she would like to support the facility updates. Hayek said there was a letter received clarifying the lease with the landlord and the use of parking area. Sandier said the letter indicates the landlord would have exclusive right to the parking lot as they continue to lease the existing property. Greazel said he would support the entrance issue, but the parking lot would be an issue with the landlord. Greazel added that he does not believe that they would be allowed to just gravel the parking lot. Sandier asked if the landlord could pave the lot, and Planned Parenthood to lease it afterwards. MOTION: Sandier amended the motion to add the money allocated to be used for construction of the new patient entrance, as well as replacing the damaged countertops and fixtures. Greazel seconded the motion. Motion passed 4:3, with Barnes, Anthony, and Hayek opposed. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 17, 2005 Page 7 Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa - Facility Rehabilitation MOTION: Anthony made a motion to allocate $60,000 for Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa project. Bears seconded the motion. Greazel asked if they can do it with partial funding and he remembered it as an all or nothing project. Townsend said that Goodwill wilt do the project, but as much funding from CDBG as possible would be appreciated and it was not an all or nothing project. Barnes said that she would like to see more money left for housing and City of Iowa City-Downpayment Assistance Program. Motion passed 4:3, with Barnes, Sandier, and Marcus opposed. Habitat for Humanity - Homeownership MOTION: Barnes made a motion to allocate $45,000 for Habitat for Humanity Homeownership program. The motion failed because it was not seconded. Emma Goldman Clinic - Facility Rehabilitation MOTION: Greazel made a motion to raise the allocation for Emma Goldman Clinic by $5,000 to $20,000. Bears seconded the motion. The motion failed 1:6, with Sandier, Hayek, Marcus, Bears, Anthony, and Barnes opposed. Alibed Hillel Jewish Student Center - Accessibility Renovation MOTION: Sandier made a motion to reduce the amount allocated for Hilel project from $12,500 to $10,000. Greazel seconded the motion. Sandier said that they could find other funds to match. Hayek said he likes and wou~d like to promote the hosting of other agencies, and would be opposed to the decrease in funding. Motion passed 6:1, with Hayek voting opposed. Habitat for Humanity - Homeownership MOTION: Barnes made a motion to reduce the allocation for Habitat for Humanity from $100,000 to $90,000. Barnes said that she considered if a lot could be purchased at $45,000, $90,000 would be enough to purchase 2 lots. The motion failed because it was not seconded. River City Housing Collective - Property Acquisition MOTION: Anthony made a motion to allocate $25,000 for River City Housing Collective- Property Acquisition. Sandier seconded the motion. Sandier said they already identified location, but it is not purchased yet. Bears asked if the $25,000 would be enough to purchase the building. Greazel said he would support the $25,000 proposed, but not the full funding. Motion passed 6:1, with Barnes opposed. Hayek noted that there was $39,564 left to be allocated to any projects outside of public service. Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship - Rental Housing MOTION: Sandier made a motion to allocate $39,564 for Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship rental program in addition to $175,000 already passed. Greazel seconded the motion. Anthony said he would like to see some money allocated for the City of Iowa City-Downpayment Assistance Program. Housing and Community Development Commission Minutes March 17, 2005 Page 8 The motion failed 2:5, with Bears, Greazel, Barnes, Anthony, and Marcus opposed. Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa - Facility Rehabilitation MOTION: Barnes made a motion to reduce the allocation for Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa project from $60,000 to $50,000. Anthony seconded the motion. Motion failed 2:5, with Bears, Greazel, Marcus, Sandier, and Hayek opposed. City of Iowa City - Downpayment Assistance Program MOTION: Barnes made a motion to allocate $39,564 for the City of Iowa City-Down payment Assistance Program. Anthony seconded the motion. Sandier asked how many households could be helped with $40,000 in downpayment assistance? Nasby said with the reduced amount of funds the per unit threshold would be lower so probably eight households would get $5,000 each. Sandier asked how that compared to the number of households assisted by tenant based rent assistance for the same amount? Rackis said the cost per household was based on the housing assistance payment standard they got from HUD which is about $414 per unit per month. So over one year the amount per household would be approximately $4,900, but the costs could be higher or lower depending on the household. Marcus said that homeownership creates wealth so it is a worthwhile goal. Anthony said he likes both, but the ownership project would repay funds to the HOME program and TBRA funds would be lost. Hayek noted that GICHF's application for rental housing was about $100,000 per unit. As such is there a break point for another unit or two? Dennis said they would look for other funding. Eastham said that two-bedroom units with Iow or no lead based paint costs would lower the project costs. Motion passed 4:3, with Sandier, Greazel and Hayek opposed. All Non-Funded Projects (Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Emma Goldman Clinic Operational Funding, Family Services Operational Funding, LT & J Consulting Operational Funding, OMNI Therapies Operational Funding and TTC Housing Program Operational Funding) MOTION: Sandier made a motion that applicants not funded will get $0. Greazel seconded the motion. Motion passed 6:1, with Hayek opposed. City of Iowa City - Downpayment Assistance Program and Tenant Based Rent Assistance MOTION: Sandier made a motion that $9,564 from City of Iowa City-Down payment Assistance Program to be transferred to Iowa City Housing Authority Tenant Based Rental Assistance (ICHA). Bears seconded the motion. Motion passed 4:3, with Barnes, Marcus, and Hayek opposed. ADOURNMENT Greazel moved to adjourn. Sandier seconded the motion. Motion passed 7:0. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm. s:/pcd/r ninutes/H CDC/2005/03-17-05.doc Housing & Community Development Commission Attendance Record 2005 Ternl Name Expires 01/20 02/17 03/10 03/17 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 00/00 Jerry Anthony 09/01/05 X X X X Erin Barnes 09/01/06 X X X- X Lori Bears 09/01/07 X X X X Mark Edwards 09/01/05 X O/E X O William Greazel 09/01/06 O/E X O X Matthew Hayek 09/01/07 X X X X Rita Marcus 09/01/06 O/E X X X Brian Richman 09/01/07 X X X O/E Jayne Sandier 09/01/05 O/E X X X Key: X = Present O = Absent O/E -- Absent/Excused NM -- No Meeting ..... Not a Member MINUTES APPROVED PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION APRIL 7, 2005 FMMA J. HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Ann Freerks, Beth Koppes, Don Anciaux, Bob Brooks, Dean Shannon MEMBERS ABSENT: Jerry Hansen STAFF PRESENT: Bob Miklo, John Yapp, Sunil Terdalkar, Mitch Behr OTHERS PRESENT: Garry Klein, Randy Hartwig, Gary Saunders, Steve Kohli, Evelyn Fry, Jay Honohan, Ed Peirson, Robert Cronch, Bob Wilson RECOMMENDATIQNS TO CITY COUNCIL: Recommended approval, by a vote of 5-0, REZ05-00002/SUB05-00005, rezoning from Interim Development Single-Family Residential (ID-RS) zone to Low Density Single-Family Residential (RS-5) zone (10.92-acres) and Medium Density Single-Family Residential (RS-8) zone (18.34-acres) subject to 1) A CZA agreement which specifies cost sharing for Sycamore Street improvements 2) Outtot A stormwater management facility being built with Phase 1 3) An easement created to facilitate a sanitary sewer being extended to Sandhill Estates 4) Staff approval of the final landscaping plan to include targe variety of evergreen trees. Legal papers for the final plat specifying that any fencing will be on the inside (west side) of the row of landscaping. and a preliminary plat of Brookwood Pointe, an approximate 29.26-acre, 106-1ot residential subdivision located west of Sycamore Street, south of Wetherby Drive, north of Dickenson Lane. Recommended approval, by a vote of 5-0, SUB05-00001, a final plat of J JR Davis Second Addition, a 14.76-acre four-lot commercial subdivision tocated east of Mormon Trek Boulevard, south of Highway subject to staff approval of legal papers and construction plans prior to Councit consideration. Recommended approval, by a vote of 5-0, SUB05-00002, a final plat of J JR Davis Third Addition, a 5.05- acre, two-lot commercial subdivision subject to staff approval of legal papers and construction plans prior to Council consideration. Recommended approval, by a vote of 5-0, SUB05-00007, a preliminary and final plat of Ashton Place, an approximately 2.62-acre two-lot residential subdivision located at 39 Normandy Drive and 820 West Park Road subject to Staff approval of legal papers prior to Council consideration. CALL TO ORDER: Brooks called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY iTEM NOT ON THE AGENDA: Garry Klein, 628 Second Avenue, requested to make comments on the new zoning code. Anciaux asked Klein if he had attended any of the public workshops on the proposed revisions to the Code to present his commentary. Klein had not. Brooks and Miklo said there woutd be public hearings regarding proposed revisions to the Code scheduled for the end of April and during May at which time commentary specifically on the Code would be received. Behr said at this time the Commission and Staff woutd not be able to respond to any inquiries/commentary. Klein said once he heard a presentation he needed time to think it over before speaking and wished to provide 'food for thought' for the pubic hearings. Klein said in the new Code a lot of thought had gone into residential planning. With respect to the commercial codes there were limitations as to minimum size of land use for retail, but there were no maximums listed. He wondered if that would be of interest to consider. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 2 Brooks said there were forms available for public input and comment on anything in the proposed Code. It was important that all input be documented. He requested that Klein complete a commentary input form and turn it in to the Planning and Community Development office. REZONING/COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ITEM: Consider setting a public hearing for April 21, 2005 on an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to amend the South Central District Plan to change the future land use map designation and plan text to change the Aviation Commerce Park designation from Intensive Commercial to Retail / Community Commercial. Yapp said Staff were requesting the Commission to set a public hearing for 4/21/05. Motion: Anciaux made a motion to set a public hearing for 4/21/05 on an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to amend the South Central District Plan to change the future land use map designation and plan text to change the Aviation Commerce Park designation from Intensive Commercial to Retail / Community Commercial. Koppes seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. REZ05-00004, discussion of an application submitted by the City of Iowa City for a rezoning of approximately 54-acres from Public Intensive Commercial (P/CI-1) zone to Community Commercial (CC- 2) zone for property located on Ruppert Road. (45- day limitation: 4/24/05) Yapp said this property, know as the Aviation Commerce Park, had been zoned to Intensive Commercial and subdivided approximately 5-years ago. The property was subdivided as commercial property in order for lots to be leased with the proceeds to help support airport operations. Since that rezoning and subdivision, none of the lots had been leased or subdivided. The general Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1997, identified this property as general commercial property. The South Central District Plan (SCDP) identified it as intensive commercial property with the intent that lots would be leased for businesses somehow related to airport operations or symbiotic with the airport. Because the SCDP was so specific, it was Staff's recommendation that the SCDP map be amended. With the proposed change to Community Commercial, a more retail oriented zoning designation, the property had the potential to attract more vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The prompting for the rezoning was that a large retailer had proposed to purchase part of the property from the City. The retailer had agreed to realign Ruppert Road at their own cost, to install left turn-lane improvement at the Ruppert Road and Highway 1 intersection which would be signalized and to provide $100,000 for any other off-site improvements such as pedestrian facilities or possible signalization of the Ruppert Road - Riverside Drive intersection. Iowa City Transit provided access to the Highway 1 corridor including Westport Plaza. A transit route with bus-stops currently used the north segment of Ruppert Road. The Transit Manager had indicated that it would be possible to re-route the bus along Ruppert Road if there was significant retail traffic in that area. The SCDP noted that pedestrian walkways were non existent in that area. If the rezoning was approved for retail development, one of the conditions that staff recommended was to add pedestrian signals to the Ruppert Road / Highway 1 intersection as well as pedestrian connections to any and all commercial properties in this property. The SCDP also recommended that landscaping be upgraded as part of any retail development. Because development of Aviation Commerce Park for retail would have an impact on traffic flow and potentially effect redevelopment potential on adjacent properties, Staff recommended that a landscaping plan be submitted with any development plans. With any areas not taken up by building or required parking be landscaped and attention be paid to the landscaping of those properties. The Airport Commission had some control over these properties and had recommended approval of the City selling a portion of this to a retail developer. At the request of the Commission, Randy Hartwig of the Airport Commission was in attendance to answer questions. The City had initiated the rezoning to Community Commerciat in order to facilitate the sale of the land. Because the SCDP map identified this Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 3 property as intensive commercial, Staff recommended that the map be changed. If this property were to be rezoned to Community Commercial, Yapp said Staff recommended: 1) Sidewatks to be installed on Ruppert Road from Hwy 1 south to a sidewalk system in Aviation Commerce Park, including pedestrian crosswalks and pedestrian signals at the Ruppert Road / Highway 1 intersection. 2) Pedestrian walkways be provided between the principal buildings on each lot and the public sidewalk system, to be identified and reviewed as part of the site plan review process for each lot. 3) A landscaping plan be required as part of the site plan review process, showing how parking areas, loading docks, outdoor storage, dumpsters are screened from view, and the landscaping of other areas of the site not taken up by required paving or building areas. 4) The preliminary plat indicating necessary improvements to the Ruppert Road / Hwy 1 intersection and the Ruppert Road / Riverside Drive intersection. Brooks said at the informal Commission work session the question had been raised about how the Airport Commission viewed the change in zoning and any change in development in this area as it related to the future of the airport. He invited the Airport Commission to address this question. Randy Hartwi.q, Airport Commission representative, said they'd discussed this issue at their March meeting. They had all agreed with the idea of rezoning the rest of the Aviation Commerce Park to Community Commercial. The Commission was encouraged by the prospects of additional sales due to the rezoning. Hartwig said, speaking personally, he felt it was an appropriate use of the property as well. Public discussion was opened. Brooks reminded the members of the audience that the Planning and Zoning Commission was discussing the land use, not the land user. They were looking at the appropriateness of the zoning change for this entire tract. Gary Sanders, asked since the related public hearing was scheduled for 4/21/05, did the Commission anticipate voting that evening? Brooks said the Commission could decide to vote. Sanders asked what date would it then go to City Council? Brooks said usually the following week or two. Sanders said if the Council had to set a date for the public hearing for the rezoning and then have two subsequent meetings, it would take three City Council meetings after the 21st of April. On the third one we can anticipate them passing this. Sanders asked if all the discussion from the informal meeting that he had attended on 4/4/05 would be available from the City in written form, if he was interested in going back and looking at the record from the work session. He felt the Commission raised some good questions at that meeting. Miklo said minutes from the informal meetings would be ready in approximately one week. Sanders said if a property were zoned at the moment retail commercial and a retailer wanted to make it Intensive Commercial to allow a certain kind of business, would the City or Commission then be allowed to consider the user. Would it be germane? Yapp said often when a zoning was proposed what users would be located on the property was unknown. There was a lot of commercially zoned land that the property owner tried to rent or sell it for what ever uses that would be allowed in that zone. Miklo said the Commission generally tried to look at the use not the particular user because the property could always be sold to another user. Sanders said if for example a company such as the Lion's Den wished to build a rather large adult book store, it would have to be zoned Intensive Commercial. Was that correct? Yapp said he believed that was the only zone that an adult business would be allowed in. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 4 Sanders said he wished that the Commission would consider the following 'What If" scenario. 'What If' it leaked out that the Lion's Den, the largest purveyor of pornography in the Midwest, had a desire to use a certain property in Iowa City near an interstate to build the largest pornography palace in the Midwest and they simply had to ask the Commission to change the zoning from Community Commercial to Intensive Commercial. Would the Commission then consider it in their preview to consider the user and not just the use? Sanders said he hoped to get an answer on 4/21/05. He felt the user was germane. Sanders asked Behr to verify that it was correct that the Commission was under no legal obligation to not consider the user, just as there was no force of law in what their recommendation to the Council would be. Behr said that was correct. Sanders repeated that there was nothing in law that said they could not consider the user as well as the use. Behr said the City Code set forth the parameters in the area in which the Commission was to make their decisions and their recommendations. Those parameters were land use and not user. Behr said what ever direction this rezoning was going in, he would tell the Commissioners the same thing that he had told them Monday evening, it was the use and not the user. Also, Chairperson Brooks would tell the audience the same thing, no matter which direction the rezoning was going. Freerks said she felt what it came down to often was that they could discuss it but the Commission could not say that it had anything to do with their decision. It really was about the use of the land. Sanders said to think about the Lion's Den. Maybe someday I will invite them here, if that is all we can do. If we can not consider the user. He thanked the Commission for their time and indicated he'd be back on 4/21/05. Garry Klein, 628 Second Avenue, said it was his understanding that Intensive Commercial zoning could be used for warehouse and freight movement and that Community Commercial could not be used for those purposes. He said in this case, he felt they needed to consider the user. One of the main ways of doing business for this particular user was a lot of fleet trucking, day in and day out, many trucks every day, warehousing within their very large structure. Klein said he wondered with this particular case, because of the way the structure would be used, that the user would be germane to think about now and on 4/21/05. Klein said he had previously brought up about minimum and maximum use. He was optimistic that the new Code would go through. In looking at the draft copy of the new Code, the Community Commercial minimum lot requirements were 2700- and 2500- square feet for a building. The proposed building was to be 214,000-square feet. On the 22-acre lot being discussed basically a building the size of 11 regulation sized football fields and the parking that went around it was being discussed. Klein said his question was one of maximum use and what was missing from the picture here was an ability to make a decision that took that into account. Land was becoming a scarcer quantity in Johnson County. If they'd been following any of a number of other discussions such as the affordable housing issues, Klein said he felt this land could have been used for subsidized housing as an example. Klein said those were the items he encouraged the Commission to think about until 4/21/05. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Anciaux made a motion to defer REZ05-00004, an application submitted by the City of Iowa City for a rezoning of approximately 54-acres from Public Intensive Commercial (P/CI-1) zone to Community Commercial (CC-2) zone for property located on Ruppert Road to 4/21/05. Freerks seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. REZONING/SUBDIVISION ITEMS: REZ05-00002/SUB05-00005, discussion of an application submitted by Steve Kohli for a rezoning from Interim Development Single-Family Residential (ID-RS) zone to Low Density Single-Family Residential (RS-5) zone and Medium Density Single-Family Residential (RS-8) zone and a preliminary plat of Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 5 Brookwood Pointe, a 29.2-acre, 106-1ot residential subdivision located west of Sycamore Street, south of Wetherby Drive, and north of Dickenson Lane. (45-day limitation: 4/15/05) Terdalkar said this land was currently zoned as ID-RS Interim Development Residential. In the South District Plan it had been identified as appropriate for Iow to medium density residential development. The requested rezoning was for both RS-5, Low Density Single Family Residential, and for RS-8, Medium Density Single Family residential zoning. The land currently had major access from south Sycamore Street and was also connected by Russell Drive to the neighborhood streets. Improvements to Sycamore Street were funded in FY'09 of the Capital Improvements Plan. The subdivision application was for 106-lots, 39 lots in RS-5 and 67 lots in RS-8 zone. The subdivision would be served apart from the Sycamore Street and Russell Drive by the new streets Ashland Court, Covered Wagon Drive, Vesti Lane and Terrapin Court. A trail way would be developed as part of the subdivision which would connect Wetherby Park and Sycamore Greenway. Issues considered in analyzing the subdivision and re-zoning were double-fronted lots on Sycamore Street; landscaping to create a buffer along Sycamore Street and drainage issues. Terdalkar said Staff recommended approva~ of REZ05-00002/SUB05-00005, as it was in general compliance with the Comprehensive Plan with the three conditions listed in the 4/7/05 staff report and a fourth condition identified at the 4/4/05 informal meeting. [Payment for landscaping along Sycamore Street; at the time of development - landscaping and fencing addressed in the final plat legal papers; any fencing must be on the inside (west) side of the landscaping along Sycamore Street]. Miklo said the Commission had also requested that additional larger species of evergreen trees such as white pines be used in the buffer in the rear yards of those properties. It was Staff's understanding that the applicant was working on that but Staff did not have a revised landscaping plan. If that was a concern to the Commission, they could recommend approval subject to Staff approval of the landscaping plan or they could defer this to the next meeting so that the Commission itself could review the plan. Koppes asked if there would be a direct connection to Wetherby Park. Terdalkar said Covered Wagon Drive would have a trailway going along the south boundary of Wetherby Park. Public discussion was opened. Steve Koh~i, applicant, said Staff had provided a complete report, he had nothing to add. They were ~vorking on the additional trees and would provide what ever was needed. Kohli said these things were outside of ordinances and codes. The ordinances and codes existed to protect both sides. Applicants/developers knew what they were getting into and Staff/Commission knew what they were getting into. In this particular case, Kohli said he really didn't have a problem with planting trees. They'd discussed it with Staff before they'd started. They'd done some other subdivision further to the south and had taken that onto themselves. Kohli said it just started going in the wrong direction to require things outside of Code. That was his only Caveat but their landscape architect was working on it. Miklo said in the Code was a general prohibition against double-fronting lots in the Subdivision Regulations. The Comprehensive Plan discussed that if the Commission was going to approve something that was undesirable because it resulted in backyards without privacy or long fences along the streets, that there shoutd be some type of landscaping or buffering. Although it was not directly spelled out in the Code, it was certainly referred to in the Comprehensive Plan and subdivision code. The other option would be to not approve this particular design that resulted in double fronting lots. Brooks said he didn't think that the Commission had had major concerns with that, just with the size of the plants. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Freerks made a motion to approve REZ05-00002/SUB05-00005, a rezoning from Interim Development Single-Family Residential (ID-RS) zone to Low Density Single-Family Residential (RS-5) zone and Medium Density Single-Family Residential (RS-8) zone and a pretiminary plat of Brookwood Pointe, a 29.2-acre, 106-1ot residential subdivision subject to the four conditions as noted in Staff's presentation and with Staff's approval of the landscaping plan. Shannon seconded the motion. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 6 Freerks said she didn't see a problem with this. She saw the trees as a give and take. The City allowed double fronting lots provided that they are landscaped to provide the future residents with a buffer from the arterial street. In the Code many items were not spelled out specifically which allowed for some give and take. She felt it would be a good development. Brooks said with respect to the landscaping issues, at Monday's informal meeting the Commission had discussed that the plant material needed to be on the east side of any fence that was installed so that the landscaping would be on the public side of the fence. Miklo said that was noted on the plat. If the large evergreens were added, they would need to be on the west side of the fence, but the hedge would be on the east side of any fence to make the public view from Sycamore Street more attractive. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. REZ004-00017/SUB04-00017, discussion of an application submitted by Third Street Partners for a rezoning from Low Density Single-Family Residential (RS-5) zone to Planned Development Housing Overlay - Low Density Single-Family Residential (OPDH-5) zone and a preliminary plat of Village Green, Part XXIII and XXIV, a 76-1ot residential subdivision (38 single-family lots and 38 attached zero-lot line lots) 6n 25.67-acres of property located on Wintergreen Drive. Miklo said this item had been on several previous agendas and reviewed by the Commission. The area had an underlying zone of RS-5 single-family which allowed lots of 8,000-square feet provided that they were 60-feet wide. In 1993 an overlay zone had been approved which allowed the eastern area (of the development) to be developed with zero-lot lines, single family-houses that are joined at the lot line. The applicant had proposed to revise the approved 1993 plan. Miklo indicated on an overhead site plan which lots were proposed to be standard RS-5 single family sized lots instead of zero-lot line lots, a difference from what the Commission had reviewed in January, 2005. They would be 8,000-square feet in area and 60-feet in width. This change would be in conformance with the underlying RS-5 zone. The lots on the western part of the development would also be standard RS-5 lots. Miklo indicated on the site plan where the zero-lot line lots were proposed to be located. They would be approximately 2,500-square feet to approximately 4,000-square feet. The lots would be fairly narrow, approximately 27- to 35-feet in width and served by an alley in the back. Staff felt the alley allowed for some reduction in lot width in that the driveways, concrete and curb-cuts would be in the back of the units allowing for an unpaved front-yard. The applicant was still requesting to reduce the front yard to 7-feet as opposed to the standard 20-feet. Miklo said comparing the proposed plan to the 1993 approved plan, the zero-lot ~ines were removed from the eastern area but additional units added to the center area. There would be 12 more units than approved with the 1993 plan. Miklo said Staff recommended approval of the proposed changes however the conditions that were of concern in the January 2005 application were noted on the plan and remained a concern. Those conditions included that landscaping must be planted prior to any occupancy permits being issued. Freerks asked Miklo to discuss in further detail the 7-foot front yard and the parking width. Miklo indicated on the site map where parking on one side of the street, between the sidewalk and the street would be 12-foot wide, and on the other side of the street it would only be 6-foot wide. Miklo said the Public Works department had not signed off on the drainage plan or the grading plan yet. If the Commission voted to approve the application, it would need to be subject to Staff approval of those plans. Public discussion was opened. Evelyn Frey, 1855 Sterling Court, said if there was not an approved plan for drainage, it was her request that the Commission hold off unti~ they had something that was approved because it was one of the huge issues for this area. When there was a heavy rainfall, their circle drive filled up several feet deep with Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 7 water and became "Lake Sterling." Frey said she's spoken before the Commission previously, the biggest issue with the plan was the center area which still had way too many units planned for that area. Frey said she'd hoped that they would have seen some type of change from the developer. The design had not changed much/any and it was way too many units for that particular area. Jay Honohan, 1510 Somerset Lane, said he was there on behalf of himself as a property owner in the neighborhood. Honohan said it was his understanding that some of his neighbors had submitted e-mails to Miklo regarding this application. He requested that those e-mails become part of the record. Miklo said the e-mails had been received and would be entered into the record. Honohan said several members of the Wellington Condominiums had expressed concern to him. He had just been informed three days ago regarding the issues with this proposed development. His concern was the density, it wa§ more dense than the Comprehensive Plan of 1993 indicated. He felt they should stick with the plan. Honohan said they were quite concerned with the traffic flow from this development. Vehicles would exit onto Village Road, travel down Wayne Avenue and go out on Dover Street. Wayne and Dover Streets were not collector streets. Unfortunately they had become collector streets because of their location. With the proposed 104 units it had the potential to add 150 more vehicle trips per day. The residents along Village Road were very concerned about the traffic. Sooner or later there would be the desire to have a stop-light at Wellington and Village Road. Another concern was the drainage. They didn't know where the drainage would go in this particular area. Honohan said some of the teachers at Lucas School had expressed a concern about what would be added to their particular school district if this application were approved as it stood now. The populations of the schools was something to be concerned about when discussing 104 units of residential Freerks asked Staff to address the density issue raised by Honohan. Miklo said the Comprehensive Plan in this general area called for two to eight dwelling units per acre. The proposed development would be more dense than the planned development housing overlay zone that had been approved in 1993 but that should be distinguished from the Comprehensive Plan. The overall development would be approximately 4 units per acre because it included the large storm-water retention basin and would fall within the density of the Comprehensive Plan. Certain areas might be more dense but overall it stayed within the density of the Comprehensive Plan. Miklo said 76 actual units were proposed not 104. The applicant had not started the numbering of lots at number one. It would be 12 more units than approved in 1993 and six less than the Commission had reviewed in January, 2005. Mikio said Sterling Drive and Wintergreen Drive would be connected so traffic would be more dispersed in that area rather than all the traffic being forced back through Sterling Drive. The 12 additional units would produce anywhere from seven to 10 additional trips per day, at an estimated maximum 120 vehicle trips per day from the proposed additional units compared to the 1993 plan. Staff felt in the scope of a neighborhood of this size, they did not feel that the traffic trips per day would be significant. Anciaux asked if Staff ever foresaw the need for a traffic light in this area. Miklo said Staff had not studied the need for a traffic light at Scott Blvd and/or the streets that enter to Village Green so he could not give an indication one way or the other. Ed Pierson, 2054 Hannah Jo Court, asked if the 12-foot was from the center of the street or the curb line. Miklo said from the curb line. Pierson asked if the two water retention units shown on the proposed site plan which currenUy did not exist, would they be installed? Miklo said that was correct. A trail was planned to go through the southern easement area and connect to the other side of the stormwater facility. Miklo said with respect to stormwater management, Public Works Department had approved conceptual plans. The area would drain toward the existing basin and toward a proposed basin. The concept had been approved but the detailed calculations had not been done or approved yet. Brooks said from earlier public input there had seemed to be a problem with backyard drainage on Sterling Court. He asked if Public Works was confident that that problem would be corrected. Miklo said there would be two drainage easements added as well as drainage over the street and through the stormwater system on the street which would improve the situation. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 8 Robert Crouch, 42 Pond View Court, asked if a tree line was shown on the southern section of the ~development. Miklo said that was correct, they were proposed to be white pines and indicated on the site map where the tree line was to run on the western to eastern boundaries. Crouch asked when the trees would be planted. Miklo said before any certificate of occupancy for any dwelling in this development could be issued, the landscaping would need to be in place. Crouch said he'd spoken before about the large manufacturing building to the south of the proposed sub- division across the railroad tracks which had roof top units and north wall vents that created a lot of noise. He asked Staff if the developer had indicated that he was concerned about the noise and/or had suggested a solution or proposal to deaden the sound in that area. Staff had heard from the developer during discussions that they shared that concern and that was one of the reasons they would plant the evergreens. Staff didn't know if it would solve the problem. Steve Nasby, the City's Economic Development Coordinator had worked with ALPLA on economic development projects and was aware of the issue. He said Nasby had taken some sound measures in the area and found that they did not exceed federal guidelines for a residential area. He'd spoken to some of the neighbors regarding it, Staff had advised that there be a meeting set up with the neighborhood and factory representatives but he didn't know the status of the proposed meeting. Crouch said he'd like to be involved as he'd been in building maintenance for a number of years. A possible solution for the roof top units could be a noise barrier around the units on the south and west part of the roof; buffers could be placed on the side vents that would direct the noise in a different direction. Miklo said Staff had suggested to the neighbors who'd contacted them, to contact Steve Nasby to request that the meeting be set up. The more neighbors involved the more likely they were to get results. Brooks said from the previous plan, he did not remember the note that was on the current plan regarding an 8-foot high berm with 8-foot wood fence and white pines along the south property line. That would be 16-feet high with white pines which could eventually become 40- to 50-feet tall. It looked like the developer was attempting to address some of the visual and sound issues, however sound was a very difficult thing to work with. Brooks said the Commission could make the recommendation as well that the meeting between the manufacturing plant and the neighborhood be set-up. Bob Wilson, 1828 Sterling Court, said he was concerned about the alley, the density and the zero-lot lines in the middle of the development. He was concerned as to how the alley would be maintained and felt it could become a blighted area. Wilson said with respect to the single-family lots around the edge, was there a certain value housing proposed to be built on those lots. Miklo said that was something that the City did not regulate, they regulated lot size. The area would be zoned similar to those on Sterling Court. These lots were the minimum for an RS-5 zoning, it was what the ordinance required and there was no way the City could require a larger lot size. Unidentified speaker, asked how could the stormwater retention area be included in the calculations for units per acre when it wou~d not be usable for homes or housing. She said the berm would have an impact on stormwater flow. When the plan had been put out initially, there had been a berm at the back end which had blocked the flow of water and kept the water in the backyards of persons along Sterling Court. Miklo said 1993 OPDH plan for this property was the first time that stormwater area was allowed to be used for density in an OPDH. Staff had recommended against stormwater area being used or housing being transferred from the stormwater area to the housing development. At that time, the Commission had overruled Staff. It was up to the Commission on a case-by-case basis whether they wished to give credit for an area in a planned development or not. A planned development allowed the clustering of units in a small area but it did not obligate the City to approve the clustering. Miklo said the berm would be along the railroad tracks. The speaker said she was aware of that but currently there was a very fiat ditch along the railroad tracks. Persons could walk down from the tracks right on to a person's property. She felt the berm would create more of a ditch. Brooks asked Staff to direct Public Works to look at the impact the berm would have the drainage problem. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 9 Pierson said he didn't realize that the berm situation and the fence would be a part of this development. He asked if the fence would be the length of the tree line. Miklo said it had been added with the latest plan, the length of the fence was not clear on the plan. Pierson said he'd encourage the Commission to make the length of the fence be the same as the length of the evergreen row that Miklo had indicated earlier. Pierson asked once the fence was installed, whose responsibility would it be to maintain it. Miklo said the individual lot owners would be responsible for the fence that abutted their properties. A homeowner's association woutd be responsible for snow removal and maintenance of the alley. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Koppes made a motion to defer REZ004-00017/SUB04-00017, a rezoning from Low Density Single-Family Residential (RS-5) zone to Planned Development Housing Overlay - Low Density Single- Family Residential (OPDH-5) zone and a preliminary plat of Village Green, Part XXlll and XXIV, a 76-1ot residential subdivision on 25.67-acres of property located on Wintergreen Drive. Shannon seconded the motion. Koppes said she'd prefer to defer until the Commission had more information about the berm, the fence and where the fence would end. Brooks said he'd like to recommend that the homeowner's association be responsible for the fence so that there would be continuity in the maintenance of the fence. The fence would benefit not only the residents of this subdivision but the adjoining areas so it should be the responsibility of the homeowners' association to maintain it. He'd like there to be some assurance that the fence would be properly maintained. Miklo said Staff would discuss that with the applicant. It would be a reasonable conditional requirement of the OPDH, especially for the areas where the fence abutted residential properties. Freerks said there would have to be access to the properties. Sometimes people did things to their properties such as adding another garden. She could see where that type of condition could be problematic. Miklo said hopefully by the time the fence needed repair(s) the evergreens would be grown. Miklo said for CZA or OPDH conditions there needed to be some connection to the zoning at hand. An argument could be made because more housing was being added adjacent to an industrial area that some buffer should be provided for the additional housing. Miklo said at their informal meeting the Commission had discussed the design of the individual zero lot lines. Did they wish to give any direction to the applicant on that issue? Brooks said his feeling was that the Commission had given the applicant/developer direction several different times and they had not heeded it. It would be up to the Commission. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. Motion: Anciaux made a motion to accept correspondence. Freerks seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. SUBDIVISION iTEMS: SUB05-00001, discussion of an application submitted by James Davis for a final plat of J JR Davis Second Addition, a 14.76-acre, four-lot commercial subdivision located east of Mormon Trek Boulevard, south of Highway 1. (45 day limitation: 4/24/05) Yapp said this was a final plat for property on the east side of Mormon Trek Boulevard. It was in conformance with the preliminary plat. This plat included the four western commercial lots. Grace Drive was proposed to partialty extend into the property with a temporary turn-around. Lot 4 would have access from Eagle View Drive. At this time the applicant was not pursuing extending Grace Drive all the way to Dane Road in order explore possible use of public property for extension of that road. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 10 Staff had previously recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration be required to approve the Grace Drive alignment. At this time since Grace Drive would not extend onto airport property, Staff did not feel that FAA approval should be required with this subdivision. Dane Road bordered the east side of this subdivision. Staff recommended that Dane Road not be required to be reconstructed until the property to the east annexed into the City and was also proposed for development. The plat noted that lots 1, 3, and 4 would not be permitted to have direct access to Mormon Trek Boulevard, which was consistent with the City's Access Control policies for arterial streets. Yapp said Staff recommended approval subject to Staff approval of construction plans and legal papers prior to consideration by City Council. Public discussion was opened. There was none. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Freerks made a motion to approve SUB05-00001 subject to Staff approval of legal papers and construction drawings prior to Council consideration. Koppes seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. SUB05-00002, discussion of an application submitted by James Davis for a final plat of J JR Davis Third Addition, a 5.05-acre, two-lot commercial subdivision located on the east side of Mormon Trek Boulevard, north of its intersection with Dane Road. (45-day limitation: 4/24/05) Yapp said the Third Edition was in general conformance with the preliminary plat. On the preliminary plan, lot one had two lots, the applicant had since proposed one larger lot. Eagle View would be reconstructed to city standards. The plat included access restrictions for direct access to Mormon Trek Blvd. Lot two was to access Mormon Trek BIvd at a previously approved access point, opposite the Dane Road / Mormon Trek intersection. Staff recommended approval subject to Staff approval of legal papers and construction plans prior to consideration by Council. Public discussion was opened. There was none. Public discussion was closed. Motion: Shannon made a motion to approve SUB05-00002 subject to Staff approval of legal papers and construction drawings prior to Council consideration. Anciaux seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. SUB05-00007, discussion of an application submitted by Casey Mahon for a preliminary and final plat of Ashton Place, a 2.6-acre, two-lot residential subdivision located at 39 Normandy Drive and 820 West Park Road. (45-day limitation: 5/1/05) Terdalkar said the subdivision would facilitate access to the Iowa River from this property and would not create any new parcels. Because there was no development proposed at this point, Staff felt that the sensitive areas along the river would not be effected by this subdivision. They were in receipt of revised drawings, all deficiencies and discrepancies had been resolved. Staff recommended approval subject to Staff approval of the legal papers prior to Council consideration. Brooks asked what were the 10-foot walking easements noted on the drawing. Miklo said they had been added to the most recent plat, Staff had not had discussions with the applicant regarding them. Yapp said it appeared that they provided access to the river. Motion: Anciaux made a motion to approve SUB05-0000'~, subject to Staff approval of the legal papers prior to Council consideration. Shannon seconded the motion. Shannon said it was his understanding that most of this area was in the flood plain. When you canoed up and down the Iowa River, much of the area was pretty rugged (unkempt). He hoped that the applicant had plans to do something with the land besides letting huge weeds grow up; it would be for the betterment of the community. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 11 OTHER ITEMS: Miklo said City Council had discussed the Davis subdivision. The conditions that they were pursuing were slightly different than those that the Commission had recommended. Staff requested the Commission's direction as to if they wished to meet with the Council to discuss the changes or not. Council was pursuing: · The devetoper not pay any money for Kitty Lee Road north of a commercial driveway · 80%/20% funding for the traffic signal. · Council had asked Staff to come up w/design criteria for the next Council meeting and not leave it open to discretion. · If sidewalks are constructed within the next 10 years, the property owners would be waiving their right to oppose a special assessment. Anciaux said his feeling was that the Commission didn't have a handle on the finances of the City or what was economicalty feasible, the Council was in a better position to determine that. If Council felt it was fair, he would go along with Council's judgment. Freerks said except for Kitty Lee Road, it was somewhat splitting hairs. Koppes said she preferred not to have this come it back before them; it was getting into small details which she preferred the Council to review and decide upon. Shannon said he preferred not to quibble. Yapp inquired if the Commission wished Staff to prepare more information on design criteria for big box retail development based on discussions at Monday's informal meeting. Brooks requested more information on design standards to minimize the big box effect. Freerks said she'd done a review on-line, there was a huge difference in what you saw in terms of big box. In Iowa City, if you asked, things could happen and it didn't have to be a huge expense. She was very interested in discussing this further. Anciaux said the life expectancy of big box stores was approximately 20-25 years. It would be nice if they were constructed in a way so as to lend themselves to future subdivision and were designed in a way that they could easily be divided up into smaller retail space and the facade didn't have to be completely reworked, it would be a benefit. Brooks said he and Staff had discussed having the first public hearing for proposed revisions to the Zoning Code on April 28 at 7:30 pm. CONSIDERATION OF THE MARCH 17, 2005 MEETING MINUTES: Motion: Freerks made a motion to approve the minutes as typed and corrected. Anciaux seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. ADJOURNMENT: Motion: Koppes made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:07 pm. Anciaux seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. Elizabeth Koppes, Secretary Minutes submitted by Candy Barnhill s:lpcdlminutes/p&~2OO5104-O7-Ob.doc Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes April 7, 2005 Page 12 Iowa City Planning & Zoning Commission Attendance Record 2005 FORMAL MEETING Term Name Expires 1/6 1/20 2/3 2/17 3/3 3/17 4/7 4/21 5/5 5/19 6/2 6/16 7/7 7/21 8/4 8/18 9/1 9/15 10/6 10/20 11/3 11/17 12/1 12/15 D. Anciaux 05/06 X X X X X O/E X B. Brooks 05/10 X X X X X X X B. Chait 05/06 X O X X O ....... A. Freerks 05/08 X X X X X X X J, Hansen 05/05 X X X X X X O/E E. Koppes 05/07 O/E X X X X X X W Plahutnik 05/10 ........................ D. Shannon 05/08 X X X O/E O/E X X INFORMAL MEETING Term [ Name Expires 1/3 2/14 2/28 3/14 4/4 4/18 5/2 5/16 5/30 6/13 ?/4 7/18 8/1 8/15 8/29 9/12 10/3 10/17 10/31 11114 11/28 12/12 D. Anciaux 05/06 CW X X O/E X B. Brooks 05/10 CW X X X X B. Chait 05/06 CW X O ........ A. Freerks 05/08 CW X X X O/E J. Hansen 05/05 CW X X O/E X E. Koppes 05/07 CW X X X O/E W Plahutnik 05/10 CW ................ D. Shannon 05/08 CW O/E O/E X X Key: X - Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused N/M= No Meeting .... - Not a Member CW ~ Cancelled due to Weather Approved/Final MINUTES SENIOR CENTER COMMISSION MARCH 15, 2005 ROOM G09/8 - SENIOR CENTER Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 2:00 PM. Members Present: Jo Hensch, Jay Honohan, Sarah Maiers and Charity Rowley and Nancy Wombacher Members absent: Betty Kelly and Lori Benz Staff Present: Michelle Buhman, Linda Kopping, and Julie Seal. Others Present: Lynn Campbell and Betty McKray Recommendations to Council: None. Approval of Minutes: Motion: To approve the minutes from the February 15, 2005 meeting as distributed. Motion carried on a vote of a 5-0. Rowley/Maiers. PUBLIC DISCUSSION None. COMMISSION ASSIGNMENTS Web Article from March - Honohan March Commission Visits Board of Supervisors- Honohan City Council- Wombacher Web Article for April meeting -Hensch REPORT ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN- The Committee has developed a membership survey. A sample of the survey has been distributed and the results are being compiled. Staff is in the process of setting up focus groups. Kopping informed commissioners that she mailed everyone a large bundle of materials to be used during the Strategic Planning process. Kopping asked commissioners to review all the materials prior to the start of the goal setting sessions. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AFTERNOON USE OF THE ASSEMBLY ROOM The committee has not met; no report is available at this time. Approved/Final PARKING ISSUES UPDATE - Honohan Joe Fowler, Manager of the Parking Department, and the parking department staff are currently gathering information related to problems Senior Center members have reported parking in the Tower Place Parking Facility. 28E Update - Honohan The committee has not met; no report is available at this time. SENIOR CENTER UPDATE- Operations- Kopping Craig Buhman, Senior Center Maintenance Worker III, was off the last two weeks for medical leave. He has returned to work but is limited to light duty. During his time on light duty he will be working to update the Emergency Action Plan. Kopping is reviewing the Senior Center budgets and preparing final budget amendments. The budget looks to be on track for this time of year. Kopping reviewed the participation count summary for calendar 2004. This summary gives the Commission a general idea of how often the building is being used and what type of programs are being attended. Due to scheduling conflicts in April and May, commissioners decided to reschedule both meetings. The April meeting will be held on Tuesday April 26, 2005 from 2:00 to 4:00. The May meeting will be held on May 16, 2005 from 2:00 to 4:00. Programs - Seal Seal distributed a summary list of classes and public events scheduled for April. For a complete listing of classes and programs see the Spring Program Guide. Seal highlight the April 4, 2005 event A Municipal Electric System for Iowa City- Yes or No? Volunteers - Rogusky Rogusky reported on the public events planned for the upcoming months. Rogusky is working with four students who are enrolled in the Universities Artists in Community class to provide a variety of programs in April. The New Horizons Band is scheduled to perform at the Englert on April 24th with a reception to follow at the Senior Center. Membership Fundraising Report- Buhman Buhman reported that the Center currently has 882 registered members and has collected $18,653 in membership dues since July 1, 2004. COMMISSION DISCUSSION: None. February meeting reports No report at this time. Motion: To adjourn. Motion carried on a vote of 5-0. Hensch/~Vombacher. Approved/Final Senior Center Commission Attendance Record Year 2005 Name Term 1/24 2/15 3/15 Expires Lori Benz 12/31/05 O/E X O/E Jo Hensch 12/31/06 X X X Jay Honohan 12/31/07 X X X Betty Kelly 12/31/07 X O/E O/E Sarah Maier 12/31/06 X X X Charity Rowle¥ 12/31/05 X X X Nancy Wombacher 12/31/06 X O/E X Key: X = Present O = Absent O/E= Absent/Excused NM-- No meeting -o = Not a member MINUTES FINAL IOWA CITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005 - 5:30 P.M. CITY CABLE TV OFFICE, 10 S. LINN ST.-TOWER PLACE PARKiNG FACILITY MEMBERS PRESENT: Gary Hagen, Saul Mekies, Brett Castillo, Kimberly Thrower MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Drew Shaffer, Mike Brau, Bob Hardy, Dale Helling OTHERS PRESENT: Kevin Hoyland, Susan Rogusky, Mike McBride, Phil Phillips RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL None at this time. SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION McBride said the University of Iowa channel has been very productive and seen a significant increase in the number of programs produced and cablecast during the last quarter. Among the new 75 programs were 32 produced in conjunction with the athletic department, 21 produced in conjunction with KSUI/WSUI, 8 faculty or guest lectures, 9 fine arts programs, and 5 student productions. Mekies said the quality of the local school channel reflects on all the local access channels and that the Commission should contact the school district to reinforce to them the Commission's desire to see improvements. Hardy said he is working on a memo regarding what equipment upgrades or changes are needed to improve the quality of the school board meeting productions. Mekies said that Iowa City has a large number of access channels and if they are to be kept those managing the channels need to ensure they are providing a value to the community. If an access channel is not receiving the attention and commitment from those responsible for them, perhaps those channels are not needed. Hardy said he can expand his report to include general technical improvements for the education channel. Goding distributed PATV's annual report. PATV will host a group of 6th graders as part of the school's job shadowing program. The students will make a tape of their classmates' experiences. A new workshop entitled Raising Media Savvy Kids will be offered by PATV on April 28. Liz Preciado will teach the workshop. Hardy reported that the North Liberty City Council meetings will be cablecast three times a week on channel 4. Shaffer reported that the public hearing on the franchise extension will be publicized using press releases, video spots, ads in the newspaper, a crawl on the weather channel, city web sites, and InfoVision. Sponsorship announcements on WSUI and KSUI cannot be utilized as the stations consider them a call to action, which does not fit their guidelines. The topic for the next Avatar program will be how senior citizens contribute to Iowa City. Following that the programs for future months will be on the Affordable Dream House program, the Neighborhood Associations, and cultural arts in Iowa City. Shaffer reported that copies of the draft franchise and ordinance are available to the public at the City Clerk office and on the Cable TV Division website. Rice, Williams will be attending the public hearing to answer any questions from the public. Jon Koebrick and Randy Brown from Mediacom will also be present. Castillo said that if any substantive issues arise at the hearing that they can be taken up at the next regular Commission meeting. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Thrower moved to elect an interim chair to conduct the March, 2005 meeting and to elect permanent officers at the April meeting when the vacancy on the Commission has been filled. Castillo seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously. Mekies nominated Castillo for interim chair. Thrower seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mekies moved to approve the January 24, 2005 minutes. Thrower seconded and they were passed unanimously. Thrower moved to approve the February 28, 2005 minutes. Mekies seconded and they were passed unanimously. Thrower moved to approve the March 8, 2005 minutes. Mekies seconded and they were passed unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS Hagen introduced himself and said he is looking forward to serve on the Commission. SHORT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS None. CONSUMER ISSUES Shaffer reported receiving 6 complaints, all of which have been resolved. There were 2 complaints regarding technical problems, 2 regarding consumer desires, and 2 regarding programming. UNIVERSITY OF IOWA REPORT McBride distributed a report summarizing the past quarter's activities. McBride said the last quarter has been very productive and seen a significant increase in the number of programs produced and cablecast. Among the new 75 programs were 32 produced in conjunction with the athletic department, 21 produced in conjunction with KSUI/WSUI, 8 faculty or guest lectures, 9 fine arts programs, and 5 student productions. SENIOR CENTER REPORT Rogusky distributed the SCTV program schedule. An upgrade of editing software has been installed. IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT Hoyland reported that their on-air computer was infected with a virus and the SCALA program did not play for the past 2-3 weeks. The problem has been resolved. Mekies asked who the Commission might contact to encourage the school district to make a stronger commitment to improve the technical quality of the channel. Hoyland said Perry Ross is the administrator responsible and that the superintendent and the school board may be the best people to contact. Mekies said the quality of the school channel reflects on all the local access channels and that the Commission should contact the school district to reinforce to them a desire to see improvements. Hardy said he is working on a memo regarding what equipment upgrades or changes are needed to improve the quality of the school board meeting productions. Hardy said the school district, unlike the rest of the access channels, is hampered by not having someone responsible for all the operations of the channel. Mekies said that Iowa City has a large number of access channels and if they are to be kept, those managing the channels need to ensure they are providing a value to the community. If an access channel is not receiving the attention and commitment from those responsible for them, perhaps those channels are not needed. Hardy said he could expand his report to include general technical improvements for the education channel. Hoyland said there are plans to put a studio in the expanded alternative high school and Hoyland has been working to add video production to the curriculum. Castillo suggested waiting until the Commission receives Hardy's memo before taking any further measures. MEDIACOM REPORT No representative was present. PATV REPORT Goding distributed PATV's annual report. PATV will host a group of 6th graders as part of the school's job shadowing program. The students will make a tape of their classmate experiences. A new workshop entitled Raising Media Savvy Kids will be offered by PATV on April 28. Liz Preciado will teach the workshop. LEGAL REPORT No representative was present. Shaffer said the City Attorney's office will be assigning an interim attorney to the Cable TV Division in Matthew's absence. KIRKWOOD REPORT No representative was present. LiBRARY REPORT No representative was present. MEDIA UNIT Hardy reported that the North Liberty City Council meetings will be cablecast three times a week on channel 4. The Community Television Service continues to be quite busy. InfoVision continues to work toward moving to a Macintosh platform. The new platform will provide a better quality signal, offer better video on demand capability, and provide direct access to selected web sites. CABLE TV ADMINISTRATOR REPORT Shaffer reported that the public hearing on the franchise extension will be pUblicized using press releases, video spots, ads in the newspaper, a crawl on the weather channel, city web sites, and InfoVision. Sponsorship announcements on WSUI and KSUI cannot be utilized as the stations consider them a call to action, which does not fit their guidelines. The topic for the next Avatar program will be how senior citizens contribute to Iowa City. Following that the programs in future months will be on the Affordable Dream House program, the Neighborhood Associations, and cultural arts in Iowa City. The City Council will appoint a Commissioner at their April 5 meeting· Shaffer thanked Mediacom for their assistance in getting the City Channel 4 and the Interactive Channel 5 program listings on the digital program guide including descriptions of the programs. REFRANCHIS1NG UPDATE Shaffer reported that copies of the draft franchise and ordinance are available to the public at the City Clerk office and on the Cable TV Division website. Rice, Williams will be attending the public hearing to answer any questions from the public. Jon Koebrick and Randy Brown from Mediacom will also be present. Castillo, as interim Commission chair, will serve as facilitator for the meeting. Thrower suggested that Castillo clarify at the beginning of the hearing that the purpose of the hearing is to gather input on the draft franchise and ordinance and not to deal with consumer complaints. The Commission agreed that speakers should be limited to an initial 5 minutes so anyone wishing to speak will have an opportunity. Helling said the first priority is to hear the public's opinions. Commissions should try and avoid entering into extended dialog with speakers or engage in debates. Rice, Williams will be available to explain any elements or reasoning regarding the draft franchise and ordinance. Castillo said that if any sustentative issues arise at the hearing, they can be taken up at the next regular Commission meeting. ADJOURNMENT Mekies moved and Thrower seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. Adjournment was at 6:21 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Drew Shaffer Cable TV Administrator TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 12 MONTH ATTENDANCE RECORD 01/01/03 to CURRENT Meeting Kimberly Saul Meikes Brett Castillo Terry Smith Jim Pusack Date 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 1 O/25/O4 X X 11/04 Did not meet Did not meet Did not meet Did not Did not meet meet x x _x X x 12/20/04 1/24/05 X X X X X 2/28/O5 X X × X Gary Hagen 3/8/05 X X X X X 3/25/05 X 0 X X X (X) = Present (0) = Absent (O/C) = Absent/Called (Excused)