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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-07-05 TranscriptionJuly 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 1 of 26 June 20, 2005 City Council Work Session 6:30 PM Council: Bailey, Champion, Elliott, Lehman, O'Donnell, Vanderhoef, Wilburn UISG Liaison: Schreiber Staff: Atkins, Davidson, Dilkes, Franklin, Helling, Karr, Williams Tape: 05-40 (Side 1 & 2) Planning & Zonin2 Lehman: Okay, Karin, you're up. ITEM 5(A) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY 19 ON A RESOLUTION VACATING AND AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY IN PENINSULA NEIGHBORHOOD SECOND ADDITION (VAC05-00004) Franklin: First item, you've got a memorandum from the City Clerk and that item and comment supersedes 5A shown on your printed agenda ... If you have a printed agenda. At any rate, the item is to set a public hearing on July 19 on a resolution vacating and conveying alley right-of-way in the Peninsula Neighborhood Second Addition. It's just setting apublic hearing. ITEM 5(B) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY 19 ON A RESOLUTION VACATING UNIMPROVED OLDE OAK LANE, EAST OF KITTY LEE ROAD Franklin: Next item is setting a public hearing for July 19 on a resolution vacating the unimproved Olde Oak Lane, East of Kitty Lee Road. This is something we'll need to do before we finish the final plat in that area. Elliott: Any concern from owners on that at all? Franklin: No. Elliott: Okay, good. ITEM 5 (C) CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 29.7 ACRES OF PROPERTY, LOCATED NORTH EAST OF HIGHWAY 218 AND DEER CREEK ROAD, FROM COUNTY RESIDENTIAL TO INTERIM DEVELOPMENT - OFFICE RESEARCH PARK (REZ05-00006) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 2 of 26 Franklin: Item C is a public hearing changing the zoning designation of about twenty-nine acres that's in a triangle defined by Highway 218 and the Clear Creek property that is owned by Southgate and the area that we .... er, the area that Coralville just annexed between our western corporate limits and Highway 218. You got it? Bailey: Because I have map (can't hear) Franklin: You annexed that on June 7`h, that triangle area and this is to rezone it to ID - ORP, which is just the zoning that is consistent to the east of it. I would ask you to flip Items D and E. Lehman: Do them both in reverse order? Franklin: Yes, please. ITEM 5 (E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION FROM COUNTY Al TO CC -2, COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (APPROXIMATELY 16.05 ACRES), C1-1, INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (APPROXIMATELY 20.22 ACRES), CO -1, OFFICE COMMERCIAL (APPROXIMATELY 10.92 ACRES) AND RR -1, RURAL RESIDENTIAL (APPROXIMATELY 2.83 ACRES), FOR PROPERTY LOCATED NORTH OF HIGHWAY 1, WEST OF HIGHWAY 218 AND EAST OF KITTY LEE ROAD (REZ04-00030) (DEFERRED FROM 3/229 4/5,6/7) (PASS AND ADOPT) Franklin: Item E will rezone the property, which is the Davis addition that includes the Menards project. Okay? ITEM 5 (D) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A SENSITIVE AREAS OVERLAY ZONE AND A SENSITIVE AREAS DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR MWD DAVIS ADDITION (REZ05-00001) (PASS AND ADOPT) Franklin: Item D is approving a sensitive areas overlay zone and a sensitive areas develop plan on that property. Lehman: Great. Franklin: The annexation is complete on that now so we can go forward with a pass and adopt on those two items. ITEM 5 (F) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING APPROXIMATELY 25.67 ACRES BY AMENDING A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT HOUSING OVERLAY - LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (OPDH- 5) PLAN IN ORDER TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL ZERO LOT LINE DWELLINGS FOR PROPERTY LOCATED ON WINTERGREEN DRIVE (REZ04-00017/SUB04-00017) (PASS AND ADOPT) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 3 of 26 Franklin: Item F is pass and adopt on Village Green South, the Wintergreen Drive zero -lot - line and single family development there. ITEM 5 (G) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 54 ACRES FROM PUBLIC/INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (P/CI-1) ZONE TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC -2) ZONE FOR AVIATION COMMERCE PARK. (REZ05-00004) (PASS AND ADOPT) Franklin: Item G is your pass and adopt on Aviation Commerce Park. I just want to make a comment on this. We've been doing some traffic analysis work in conjunction with this ... looking at Aviation Commerce Park and it's redevelopment as retail... projecting volumes out to 2015... we've also looked it in the context of, although not using the numbers for, redevelopment along Highway 1. As that property becomes more attractive there, that is likely to redevelop into retail, like Hames Mobile Home site. (Cough) Excuse me, I have a frog tonight. As we've looked at those traffic issues is what we're looking at is improvements at the intersection of Iowa 1 — Highway 1 and Rupert Road, which would include turning movements, left -turn movements into Rupert Road — more extensive lane than is there now, two north -bound left -turn movements on Rupert Road to Highway l ...this is all based on the projected traffic volumes that we would see with total build -out at around 2015. Of course, this is all just estimating. I'm bringing this up now because there will be capital projects that will be part of this and I just want you to be aware of it at this time. Vanderhoef: That intersection, I thought, was being paid for by the developer? Franklin: What they have agreed to provide is one left -turn lane on Rupert Road and I need to point out that of all of this trip generation that we're using to do this traffic analysis, one-third of it is Walmart. Two-thirds of it is everything else that is going to be happening there and does not count redevelopment of that property between relocated Rupert Road and Highway 1. So, there's some other things that are likely to happen there as a consequence of change that is going to mean more traffic in the area ... that we will need to make this investment in the traffic circulation mechanisms so it all works. Champion: Are you talking about now or later? Franklin: Some of it later, some of it now. We're going to need to start working on the intersection of Highway 1 and Rupert Road right away. We're doing estimates now of what that is going to likely cost. Now, remember that we got $100,000 from, if the whole thing goes through, we've got $100,000 from Walmart for a share, their fair share of changes here. I can't give you a number of the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 4 of 26 remainder, on the whole thing... we're working on that now in engineering so we'll have that for you shortly. Champion: I have a feeling that $100,000 isn't going to cover much. Franklin: No, it's not. Vanderhoef: To my recollection then, this is not on our transportation plan. Franklin: It's not on our capital improvements program now. We have a capital improvements program meeting tomorrow. We meet every other Wednesday and we're going to talk about it. What we would bring to you would be a proposal of how we would address this. Vanderhoef: So you're just doing it with capital improvement... but if it isn't on the regional transportation plan then... Franklin: No, it doesn't have to be on the regional transportation plan. Vanderhoef: To be eligible for the federal dollars? Davidson: Yes, this intersection is on the federal aid system. It is in the JCCOG arterial street plan so it would be eligible, for example, the $4.5 million that JCCOG is going to be split up this fall. This would be an eligible intersection. Vanderhoef: Okay, that's what I wanted to know. Thank you. Lehman: Okay, thank you. Council Appointments Lehman: Okay, Council Appointments. The Airport Commission we have one vacancy, one applicant... Greg Farris, is that acceptable? Bailey: Yes. O'Donnell: Sounds good. Lehman: Okay. Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment had no applications. Historic Preservation Commission there were two applications. Champion: I'd like to nominate Michael Maharry. Vanderhoef: I would to. Bailey: Yes. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 Wilburn: Yes. Lehman: Champion: City Council Work Session Page 5 of 26 I can't support Mike Maharry. Mike resigned at a meeting so he could speak against something for which he felt he had a conflict of interest. :iS Lehman: I think it is inappropriate to resign and then reapply for the same position. I think as a chairperson there is a certain amount of influence that you have over that board and you can not speak to the board as a regular citizen when you ... to me I just don't ... I mean, I think he was a great ... he did a great job, don't understand me at all, I think he did a great job. Champion: He doesn't need your support. Lehman: No, he obviously doesn't. We have four for Mike? Bailey: Yes. Lehman: Okay. Thank you. Elliott: Tell it like it is. Bailey: Nothing like bottom -lining it, Connie. (Laughter) Lehman: Well, I just don't think that was appropriate. Bailey: Are we clear on conflict of interest issues on that commission? Lehman: Obviously the Council must not be. Dilkes: We're clear on that one... Bailey: That seemed to be part of the problem. Dilkes: Yeah, I think he was operating under a misunderstanding as to whether he had to resign or not. Champion: Right, and that's another reason why I think he should be reappointed. Lehman: No, I don't disagree with you, but I don't think he should have spoken. Champion: But he could have. Lehman: Only if he resigned. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 6 of 26 Champion: No. Lehman: In any case, that's over with. The next item is ... proposed traffic calming for the 300 block of 4th Avenue. June 30 IP2 Proposed traffic calmine for the 300 block of the 4th Avenue. Davidson: Good evening, we are here to discuss, if you wish, to proceed with the traffic calming project that we are in the middle of. I think all of you are aware, we have an adopted program that you created — I guess we created — several years ago. We've tweaked it a couple of times since then. Just for your information, real quickly, this has actually gotten a lot of notoriety for Iowa City because we were one of the first ... when there was a lot of talk and a lot of buzz about traffic calming, we were one of the first communities to develop a specific program. I have spoken to state-wide meetings about this, handed out hundreds of these ... and other communities have adopted similar or absolutely the same thing, so it is something that we have gotten quite a bit of notoriety about. There are a series of steps, as I think you know. We have been proceeding through these with the 300 block of 4th Avenue. This is the block between Court Street and City High's south parking lot. The neighbors requested this due to their perception of speeding traffic. We did a traffic study and did find that it qualified for the program based on the type of street it was and .... was it speeds or volume? Okay, volume. It wasn't actually speeds but based on the volume criteria they did qualify. Anissa and Marcia Klingaman, the Neighborhood Services Coordinator, I think you all know Anissa Williams, the JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner. She and Marcia met with the neighborhood. They determined that the same strategy, as is directly to the south on the next block south of 4th Avenue ... and also then the block to the east of A Street. There are a total of four speed humps. They wish to have the same strategy there. We went to a vote in the neighborhood and there were eight in favor and two opposed, so 80% of the neighborhood was in favor. City High School also received a ballot and did take part in the voting. City High, of course, has speed bumps in their parking lot, so we were under the impression that they wouldn't have a problem with this. These are not speed bumps. These are speed humps that are designed to be gone over at the posted speed limit — not five mile -an -hour like you have to in parking lot of some of the commercial establishments that have these but at the posted speed limit. The next step is to see if you wish to go forward with a resolution of approval. It would be on the agenda of the next City Council meeting. In the mean time, and this is all part of the adoptive process, we would post signs in the area so that people in the area, people who happen to travel the street — of course it doesn't have the volume this time of year that it would otherwise — but we'll at least make it known that you're going to have this on the agenda if you wish to have it on the agenda at the next meeting and then you would vote to approve or not approve it at that time. We would then, if you did approve it, we would have This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 7 of 26 City crews build these. We have the budget for it and the Capital Improvements Program. We would build these before the school starts this fall. Vanderhoef: Two questions. First, you say it did not qualify on speed. Davidson: That's correct. That's not totally unheard of when we've gone through this process. There was a lot of discussion at the time that we set the program up ... did you want to have it have to meet both the volume and the speed thresholds and the decision was no, if it met one or the other that you would allow a proposal to go forward. It's not unheard of, when we've looked at these in the past that if the initial cause for concern is speeding traffic that it's largely a perception issue. Typically what we find is it's that ... you've heard us talk about it ... that ten or fifteen percent at the top of the scale that are the reckless drivers... those are the ones that cause all the concern in the neighborhood ... the fact is that a majority of the motorists are not speeding and it looks like that's what we've found here ... but it does meet the volume criteria. O'Donnell: What is the volume? Davidson: Over 500 vehicles a day. Vanderhoef: And you would expect how many? What would be the expectation for that street? Davidson: Well, the expectation would be is that if it's that top ten or fifteen percent that are the speeding vehicles that are causing all the concern then they will be slowed down by the speed humps. Vanderhoef: I didn't state my question well. So, 400 is your count of the number of vehicles on that street. Davidson: Actually, it was over that. Do you recall what the exact number was? Bailey: Your memo says in excess of 500. Williams: The ADT on this block, the average daily traffic on this block was 1977 vehicles and the average speed, the 85th percentile speed, was between 27-28 miles per hour. Davidson: It would have had to have been over 30 to meet the official criteria. Champion: That's a lot of cars. Vanderhoef: Have the neighbors on A Street been asking for a speed hump also? Davidson: Now A Street, remember, and the block of 4th Avenue to the south, those are the ones that already have speed humps and we will be reevaluating them this fall to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 8 of 26 see... remember, after a year goes by then we survey the neighborhood again to see if they want to keep them. I don't think we've had comments one way or another from that neighborhood. Vanderhoef. Okay. Davidson: Mike, did you have something? O'Donnell: No. Elliott: I think ... you said that the decision, at least to bring this to the Council, was not based on speed but it was based on volume but would it be safe to say the reason really is speed? Davidson: I think the — Elliott: Because I don't think just because the street has volume that there's any needs for speed humps or bumps or whatever. Davidson: It's probably a combination but I think typically its speeding vehicles, vehicles that the neighbors are under the impression are being operated recklessly. That's typically the concern that initially raises it. Now, remember, this is a program that we don't initiate. It's initiated by the neighborhoods, either through a formal neighborhood association or a petition. That's the idea, not to impose these on an unwilling neighborhood but to have the neighborhood come forth and decide they want them. Champion: I don't have any problems with it. Lehman: I don't have a problem with it. Elliott: I would just have a problem thinking that volume of traffic would necessitate or allow speed humps. Davidson: Say that again, Bob? Elliott: I would like not to think that volume of traffic would either necessitate or allow speed humps. Davidson: There are certainly instances where the volume of traffic is the concern or is a concern. The people feel ... you know the notion is the 500 vehicles a day, that being the threshold, is that that's a typical volume for a local residential street. Now, as we know this block that we're considering here is a not a typical block because it leads to City High's south parking lot and so we would expect it to have more volume. Quite frankly, I think the 1900 vehicles a day is probably typical to what we might expect. If this was just a regular neighborhood street in This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 9 of 26 a neighborhood where you live or I live, that would be an extraordinarily high volume and we would expect that there was a cut -through traffic situation. That then might be a rationale for the speed humps, the fact that there's cut -through traffic. Now, when we evaluate that though, we don't assume that the traffic disappears. We assume it goes somewhere so we have to look at the parallel streets and make sure that we don't just send the traffic on to parallel streets. Elliott: I guess I would probably approve this because it seems the situation, if there's 15% that are driving what some may say inappropriately then I think this is appropriate, but I do have a concern about neighborhoods thinking that the streets belong to them because they do not. They belong to the City. I should have a say, living on Dover Street, should have a say about any other street in town. It doesn't, it should just be up to the people who live on that street. Davidson: And, Bob, that was exactly the reason why Council, after we kind of experimented with the program for a couple of years ... you know, it used to be, this is when you would have told us whether or not to go ahead ... and we instituted this two-week lag so that if you're someone from Dover Street who uses this street, we're going to put signs up so that you know that we're considering doing this and you can then give your input to the City Council before they adopt the resolution. That's the idea behind doing this. Four votes to go ahead? Okay, the resolution will be to approve then on the next meeting. Thank you. Lehman: Great. O'Donnell: I wish Oakcrest were as easy. (Laughter) Lehman: Okay, PCRB. June 30 IP3 Review of the Public Citizens Review Board. Karr: Mr. Mayor, you've got the annual review in front of you and there is no formal presentation. If you have any questions, we have a board member, Greg Roth, here. This is required by ordinance. Lehman: I was going to say, every two years we, what, reevaluate, say yes, no, good job, bad job, suggestions or whatever? Karr: The ordinance allows for review in two years, whatever you do at that point... Lehman: We are now in the process of reviewing the PCRB ordinance. Are there questions? O'Donnell: I think it's served its purpose and I think you're doing a great job. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 10 of 26 Lehman: I do think it's working very well which I also think is indicative of the type of folks that have served on that PCRB board. I think we have been very fortunate at having good, good folks to serve. Elliott: Is there anyone else? I would like to see that the Review Board replaced by an Ombudsperson Review so that there is an office or a group that could receive concerns, recommendations, complaints, regarding the City in general as opposed to just the Police force. Wilburn: If I could respond to that, Bob. It's been very helpful for me for people who do express a concern about them or someone who has had a negative experience with law enforcement to say that there is a body of citizens who will review your complaint. My concern is that if there is an ombudsperson that that may be perceived as `that's part of the city'. I always say, you can go to the police, you can approach the individual officer, you can approach one of the captains, you can talk to the Chief, if you do not feel ... if you feel that that is too close to law enforcement itself there's a body of your peers, your citizens... that's still intimidating for some folks but there is enough separation that my concern would be that it may take away from that peer review... Elliott: I agree with you, but why do you feel that there is appropriate separation there but it would not be for an Ombudsperson? Champion: Because they would be working for the City. Lehman: Right. Wilburn: What they said. Champion: The Police Citizens Review Board members are not paid. Elliott: You could have the same type of panel of volunteers... Champion: But why bother? Elliott: Because I think there are people who have concerns about the City who have no place to go. They perceive it as no place to go. Now, they do. They can go to the City Manager's office, they can go to any one of us ... but I agree with everything you say, Ross, and I also anticipated that I would be a voice in the wilderness. Champion: It's a valid thing, what you're asking for is not bad. Elliott: I do think that there is some point in time when we need some sort of Ombudsperson. Champion: After the fire station. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 11 of 26 Elliott: Now that would be great. Vanderhoef: What was that? Lehman: After the fire station comes then the ombudsperson comes. Wilburn: Any recommendations from the review board in terms of any changes in policy, procedure that you'd like the Council to consider or take a look at? Roth: Not that I'm aware of. All the concerns that we've discussed have either been a legal issue that was answered in the wording of the code ... we've had concerns, similar to what you're saying, about non -sworn personnel. Sworn personnel are not the only ones in the Police Department that people have contact with but that was an easily resolved question and that the code specifically says sworn personnel. That's all that I can think of right now. I haven't been there for all that long but it is very well operated in my opinion. It's very smooth. Vanderhoef: The summarily dismissed. Were those ... my recollection were because of the timing of when they were... Roth: At least one of them was, I'm not sure about the other one. But yeah, at least one of them was about late... Vanderhoef: Was there any reason given as to why the late complaint came in so late? Roth: No, not a satisfactory one. There had been quite a bit of time that had gone by. There wasn't any reason that we saw for that at all. Vanderhoef: They could have come forward a lot sooner if they had chosen to. Roth: In fact, they had to the Police Department and maybe to an individual like a captain long before and then came to us much later. Vanderhoef. So it was dealt with by the Police Department? Roth: I'm not sure. Lehman: Well, I think in this case it was not a complaint filed in a timely fashion so there really wasn't... Roth: There again, gets down to what we can and can't to and it was clearly something we could not address. Vanderhoef: So what we're really talking about are two that were reviewed by... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 12 of 26 Roth: Right, two cases with three complaints. Vanderhoef: Yes. I think that speaks well for our City that they are not willing to .... either they're not willing or it can be recognized that our Police Department is doing a very good job. Elliott: Piggy -backing on what Dee said, I think two things come to mind. One is that the review board is to be commended because they are respected. I think, if the review board were suspected — we're not respected — it could not be effective and it is effective. Secondly, because people in Iowa City are not averse to complaining, I think that the Police Department has to be commended at the low level of complains that you have received. So, I think two things ... that I am very pleased at the way the board has conducted itself to gain — earn — that respect and the Police Department, because it is functioning, I think, as it should be. Roth: Thank you. Lehman: Other comments or questions? Champion: Thank you very much. Vanderhoef. And please send the thanks to the rest of the commission. Roth: I will, thank you. Lehman: Okay, that will come up in two years again. COUNCIL TIME June 30 IP16 Snorts Marketine Presentation on 7/7/05 Vanderhoef: There is a CVB public meeting with the sports information group on Thursday and I'm interested in attending — Elliott: Here? Vanderhoef: No... Lehman: Coralville City Hall. Elliott: Oh. Karr: It's in your packet, IP 16. Elliott: I was thinking that was here so I'm glad you said something, Dee. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 13 of 26 Lehman: Well, everybody can go if we don't participate. Karr: Well, that seems to be the question. Bailey: It's my understanding that the CVB will be approaching the Council for some funding for this sports marketing initiative at some point. So, there is a decision that will be made around the sports marketing concept. Additionally, the presentation has to do with sports facilities, so that might also come up in other budgetary considerations if we'd want to add, build, put lights on something, etc. So, here are budgetary considerations that this has implications for, that's my understanding. I've seen the presentation so I don't need to go, but I think it would be great if all of you could see it. I think it's a great idea. Lehman: It's well to go, but if there are more than three, then we can't participate. Champion: This isn't the one with the United Action for Youth, is it? Lehman: No, no. Anytime there is a meeting with more than three of us, we are not permitted to participate. Elliott: That's at the same time, isn't it, Ross? Wilburn: Yes. Bailey: I was going to go to that one. Champion: Well, I want to go to that one, too. Elliott: I want to go to Coralville. Wilburn: I was asked to go to the UAY thing. Vanderhoef: Now, I don't even know what the UAY thing. ITEM 3 (E6) Proposal for Youth Input on City Council Wilburn: It's a request to ... there's a staff member from MECCA that's working with a group of young people in trying engage them in community stuff. Part of... Vanderhoef: Volunteer or something? Wilburn: No, not necessarily. Part ... it's more in helping guide community leaders in addressing issues that are or would be of concern or interest to young people. So, they were asking for some of us to come down and talk to them about how at least the City Council and public input and all that stuff works. They eventually may be looking at trying to talk or forming some type of youth council type of thing. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 14 of 26 Vanderhoef: Oh, that's the youth council. Wilburn: That's part but they were looking at other ways that young people can have input. It's a letter of correspondence 3 (E6). Elliott: Ross, Kelly said that you'll be going and Regenia, you'll be going also? Bailey: Yes, I was interested in going to that. Elliott: I just think that's a really nifty project. Champion: And I'd like to go to. Elliott: I'm going to want to go to the sports information thing in Coralville. Wilburn: They specifically asked me to come so... Dilkes: So, where are we at then? We have just three going to the CVB? Vanderhoef: There's two, I think. Lehman: I may go to that one. Are you going to either of them? O'Donnell: Not if there's three already. Lehman: So there won't be more than three at either of them. Okay. Anything else? Vanderhoef: For Council Time? Uhhmm... Elliott: I have a question. When will we be getting the proposed zoning changes? Atkins: I don't think I can tell you, Bob. P&Z has been very deliberate about this whole process. It's their move. They had another hearing on the 27`h, I recall. Elliott: I'd be interested to know what their ... at least their tentative timetable or schedule would be. Atkins: We can ask them but I understood that they were being very deliberate and taking their time. Lehman: It would be a good to get an idea of what their time frame is. Atkins: When Karin comes back later on this evening... Lehman: Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 15 of 26 Vanderhoef: I just wanted to ask ... I certainly support the Pita Pit request for the sidewalk cafe but I wondered if — Champion: We're not on Agenda Items, are we? Vanderhoef: Whoops, I'll catch that... Lehman: Anything else for Council Time? June 30 IP13 Bus Service to The Lodee. Bailey: I have a question about this bus service to The Lodge ... the letter that we had in our info pack. What options did we give them? It essentially says `No, we can't do this.' Did we give some other options? I'm really disappointed in this response. O'Donnell: They wanted half-hour service. Atkins: They wanted half-hour service, Regenia, and that's been a standard response for probably two or three years. We simply do not have the resources to expand the transit system. Schreiber: I was out there the other talking to the assistant manager over there. Did they ask for anything such as late night, Thursday, Friday, Saturday type service? She had said that they would probably end up privately contracting out to do something like that if they couldn't get any support from the City and that's pretty useful considering the number of young people coming from far away to come downtown. I'd much rather see them on buses rather than trying to drive their cars. Bailey: I agree. There is inadequate cab service. Lehman: When that project came up, it seemed to me that part of their proposal was including a bus of their own. Vanderhoef: That was other proposal that we turned down on South Gilbert. They were going to run their own shuttle service everything thirty minutes. Elliott: I'd like to see the City at least talk with them. Bailey: I'd like to explore some options. I mean, I understand the limitations... but there are lots of people who live out there and actually that would be driving. Those are the options that these residents have. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 16 of 26 Atkins: My concern is that we have explored this and told them no. I know the neighborhood of Rohret Road and Hunters Run has been wanting service for a long time and we keep telling them no, that we can't generate enough activity to pay for it ... clearly ... if you want us to talk to The Lodge folks, that's fine, but there are other neighborhoods that you're entitled to hear that... Bailey: I would rather increase transit than build more parking garages, bottom line for me. A lot of these residents are coming downtown to the University. I don't have any problem with University students using our parking facilities, whatsoever, but if there is something we can do ... have we explored cost-sharing? That was my question. Elliott: That was my suggestion, too, to at least explore some cost sharing. Steve, I agree, I think also ... how often do we talk about completely revising the whole concept of bussing in Iowa City as opposed to coming into a hub and going north, south, east, west with transfers. Atkins: Ernie can speak to you about this. We did a comprehensive study about four -to - five years ago and ended up making... Elliott: No changes. Atkins: We filled the house with those opposing changes and ended up doing very little. Bailey: As long as we keep growing out and annexing more land we're going to have to address the transit issue in some way and it's not by saying `No, we can't afford it.' We're going to have to find some creative solutions... so I guess what I'm asking for is some creative, maybe, instead of a definite no. Champion: I agree with you, Regenia, but the problem is that not enough people use the busses to give us the flexibility. Bailey: Well, not enough people use the busses because the busses are not convenient to use. I've tried to use the busses myself and it's difficult, especially if you don't have half-hour service so we've got this chicken -egg thing going. I think we're going to have to get a lot more creative about this, especially if we keep growing out. If we're committed to only doing in -field development and not growing much more, then that's okay. But, if that's the direction we're going, we need some creative solutions. Elliott: I also see the financial side of this and it's my understanding that we're in a neighborhood of a three -million dollar subsidy each year. O'Donnell: Which the money comes where? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 17 of 26 Elliott: I don't see how we can afford to do it and I don't see how we can not afford to do it. It's one of those things. O'Donnell: I think when you start talking about shared costs, you're going to start talking about a slope down because you're going to be looking at other neighborhoods who want us to expand there too. The parking garages subsidize a lot of this transit system. Bailey: I understand that, but we don't want a downtown that's parking garages and no where to go, either. Vanderhoef: Okay. Bailey: I just think .... I'm new to this. I've not had these discussions but I think we're going to have to come up with something creative if we're going to continue to grow outward. Vanderhoef. Tell me, does Cambus run on Benton Street? Lehman: I don't think Benton Street at all. Schreiber: It definitely doesn't touch Benton. Bailey: I'm pretty sure it doesn't. Lehman: It might be more appropriate that those folks be approaching Cambus rather than the City. Bailey: I agree and maybe that's something we can broker is that discussion. O'Donnell: We have JCCOG with Dave Ricketts there. Bailey: Once again, this is more creative than just saying, `No.' I agree with you. We need to get this out. Lehman: Karin mentioned that that area around Aviation Park, when that develops — if it develops to the level that we think it may, there may be the kind of traffic there that would justify the changes in bus service which I think we would naturally look at. My concern about The Lodge is should we try to work something out with them, we would be ... folks along Scott Boulevard a lot of other places are going to come in a say, `Look, you know, you worked something out with them now work something out with us.' I think we need to be very careful. I wouldn't have any problem with trying to discuss it with Dave Ricketts and Cambus. They represent themselves as being student housing. Cambus is student transportation. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 18 of 26 Atkins: The Cambus I have no trouble with. I'll pursue that immediately. This is worthwhile. I think this is worth a work session discussion to take the time to get Joe in here, take this thing apart, etc. Bailey: How long ago did you fully discuss routes? Champion: Several years. O'Donnell: It's been several years. Atkins: It's been about four or five years. Vanderhoef: Probably four. Atkins: Well, I remember that Dee Norton came in to the see me the other day and was still grousing about it. O'Donnell: You know, Cambus is very good ... they participate with us in the Para -Transit and I imagine they would be very receptive to this. We have to remember this at JCCOG. I don't know when the next meeting is. Bailey: Tomorrow. O'Donnell: Is it tomorrow? Atkins: Let me drag out the record on this, some old memos and such. Bailey: That would be helpful for me to get some perspective because I think we really have to look at transit. Elliott: I think... Ernie, you talked about setting almost a precedent. I would not be adverse to talking about a few things when there are specific entities, whether they're businesses or whatever, near the outskirts of town... say, maybe it's time we talked with ACT and NCS. The bus system is very important to their employment situation and maybe they need to look at what their contribution is to it. Champion: The other problem is ... I can't remember exactly when we did it ... but I remember talking about all these routes and shifting them and it was suggested by staff that get rid of a couple of routes. Atkins: You're right, because nobody rides them. Champion: Yeah, only two people ride them a day but they came and begged us to keep them, so what do you do ... it's just a real tough decision because it becomes so personal? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 19 of 26 Lehman: We have routes that make no economic sense whatsoever, but we run them. Vanderhoef: We might pick up a lot more in Hunters Run and in that area than in the two that are going ... than the two that ride right now. Champion: I think we could provide cab service for some of these people. Bailey: That's another thing, maybe we can have Economic Development come up with a cab service. (Laughter) Lehman: Mike has a really good idea, Steve. Let's see if we can work this into a work session some time. Champion: You try to eliminate a route that someone is begging you to keep that they've had for three years. Vanderhoef: One more thing to check on. Has the trail been identified from The Lodge up to Benton Street? Lehman: There isn't any. Vanderhoef: I thought there was supposed to be? Schreiber: No, the Benton Street folks fenced it. Bailey: That's probably part of the challenge because you could get to a route over on Benton Street, I think. O'Donnell: It's a secondary entrance if you take the fence down. Bailey: That's more a mediation between private entities, right? Lehman: We're not getting involved in that. Atkins: Yes, the trail is there but there is a fence in the way. O'Donnell: That's right. Lehman: The trail does not run under the fence. Atkins: No, it does not. Vanderhoef: Can I dig a tunnel? Lehman: If you think you want to go through that. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 20 of 26 Vanderhoef: That's just ridiculous. Bailey: I have one more item. Where are we with this Dog Park fundraising plan? Atkins: I don't know about the fundraising plan... Bailey: We asked for a fundraising plan from them. Have they gotten a loan yet? Atkins: No. Bailey: It's contingent upon them — okay. Atkins: They have not ... they are meeting with our staff, engineers, planners, all that study stuff that's going on. I'll check on the funding status. ITEM 3e(I) Vacant Residence on Westminster Street in Iowa City O'Donnell: I have one thing. We have a letter in the packet of a home that evidently had been foreclosed on. I went over and drove by it. It is really an eyesore. It's allowed to fall into disrepair... Lehman: That's Westminster? O'Donnell: And we have gutters falling off and I guess the yard was three feet tall... Champion: The yard had been mowed when I drove by. O'Donnell: It had been two days earlier. Elliott: Does that belong to the bank? O'Donnell: It belongs to the bank - thanks, Steve, for your quick response on that — in Delaware. Regardless of that, there has to be some accountability because that is definitely affecting the quality of life and property values of the people around it. Champion: I'd be afraid of vandals getting in. Atkins: We're going to have an inspection done. There is apparently a process when these homes are foreclosed and effectively abandoned, there is some registry or something... Dilkes: We have an ordinance that requires that vacant home be registered. Atkins: This home has been registered but there is still no investment. Water lines have broken and it's just a real mess. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 21 of 26 Lehman: Oh my. O'Donnell: That's a shame too, because it looked like it was a nice house. Bailey: We're going to have a Washington Street. Lehman: We're checking it, right? Atkins: Oh yeah. Elliott: We could tear it down and put a speed bump there? O'Donnell: As long as you don't talk about (unclear) house. Lehman: Any other things for Council Time? Schreiber: Just real quick, I talked to the people from UI Student Government and they're all in on the park adoption thing. I've got the form all ready. Champion: Great. Schreiber: Everybody is ready to get their hands dirty. A few are ready to do some heavy lifting — so they're bulking up for it. Vanderhoef: This was something that came up two weeks ago, I take it? Schreiber: Unless anyone objects, I'm going to turn this form in... Bailey: They're adopting a park. Lehman: Across the street — Chauncey Swan. Vanderhoef. And Chauncey Swan is ours? Schreiber: With student government. Vanderhoef. That's great. I can do that. Lehman: To have and to hold from this day forward. O'Donnell: I think we're going to have to give hours for slots and days and so forth. I want to make sure that Elliott does his share. (Laughter) Elliott: I think people who are seventy and over should be excused. Lehman: On the other hand, they've got a lot of time. Okay, agenda items? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 22 of 26 Agenda Items Item 10. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR TEMPORARY USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, LANDOWNER, DLSIC L.C., AND TENANT YATES, INC. d/b/a PITA PIT, FOR A SIDEWALK CAFE AT 113 IOWA AVENUE. Vanderhoe£ Okay, now go back to the Pita Pit and outdoor restaurant? Do I have any conflict because of it being next door to the store? I have no objection to it at all. O'Donnell: I don't either. Dilkes: Do you feel that you have a conflict? I mean, it's pretty statutory. Vanderhoef: No. Okay. Item 11. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR TEMPORARY USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, LANDOWNER, MAUREEN A. MONDANARO, AND TENANT GIVANNI'S OF IOWA CITY, INC. d/b/a GIVANNI'S, FOR A SIDEWALK CAFE AT 109 E. COLLEGE STREET Champion: I want to bring up one thing about the Mondonaro's Cafe. Now, we're allowing them to do this caf6, which I think is great, I have no problems with it, I love them, but now there is a note here that staff may recommend changes. Now, we're going to allow Mondanaro to allow ... this is not cheap to put in a sidewalk caf6. You have to hire an architect, they have to do a drawing, you have to pay a fee, they are to ordering fencing. I mean, are we ... what changes are they talking about? I don't want any changes. Bailey: This will go into what area? Dilkes: I think the issue was this is the first sidewalk caf6 to extend into Zone 2 beyond that ten foot. It's allowed under the current ordinance. The reason, or one of the big reasons, why it hasn't happened in the past is there is a lot of what we call in the code `amenities' like benches or trash cans and those kinds of things in that area that they're not allowed to encompass. This encompasses a tree and it's my opinion that the wording of the ordinance and a tree, it's my opinion that the wording of the ordinance a tree is not an amenity as the word is used in the ordinance. Anyway ... we can go into that ... but at any event it's allowable under the current ordinance but the staff, the sidewalk caf6 committee has had a lot of discussion about the various interests involved that include retail establishments who like to see ... who don't like to see people walking along next to the building and not going so far out into the center and we decided it was important not to try This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 23 of 26 and make those changes or propose those changes at this stage but we also thought, given that the committee was discussing it, that it would be good to put a memo out there with a heads up that this is an issue. You all, when that recommendation comes to you, you want to allow those people who can go into Zone 2 to go into Zone 2 then you just won't change the ordinance. Lehman: These people are aware of the potential changes? Dilkes: That's really why the memo. Lehman: Then that's fair. Elliott: It needs to be Jim Mondanaro. Lehman: Right. Vanderhoef: Okay. In Zone 2, and in this case we're talking about the south side ... how much space do we have between the amenities? Dilkes: You know what, I can't begin to tell you how many hours we have talked about sidewalk cafes. There are just a lot of issues.... there are different issues depending on where you are in the plaza ... I think we're going to have to talk about it at the staff level and then you're going to have to talk about it at the Council level. There are people with all sorts of interests. I don't think it's something we should get into tonight. Frankly, I don't think you can deny the application in front of you tonight because... Vanderhoef: Can we defer it? Karr: All of these come due January 1. Everyone one of them downtown. They're only good for one year. Lehman: Is it fair that all the applications tonight meet all of the requirements that we presently have in place for a sidewalk cafe? Dilkes: Yes. Lehman: So it would be inappropriate for us to deny someone who meets all of those requirements. Dilkes: Yes. Lehman: It would also be appropriate that these folks also know that these requirements may in fact be changed next year. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 24 of 26 Dilkes: Yes, which is somewhat stating the obvious because that is always the case. These run on a year-to-year basis. You can not permanently give away rights and your right of way downtown if there are some public interests or interest that requires you as a Council to change the rules for sidewalk cafes and that's something that you need to have the right to do. Lehman: All right. Other agenda items? Okay, the next item is to schedule future pending items. I don't know how far we want to get into that. (TAPE ENDS) Schedule of Future Pendine Items Bailey: I thought we were going to prioritize? Vanderhoef: When I looked at the list and was thinking about prioritization, I looked at the presentations that have not been made like the Gilbert/Highway 6, the Railroad Overpass — those two things, I think, we need to have a review of them before we go into the second one up there called Funding Priorities for next budget. Because how can we prioritize — Atkins: I would agree with you. So, you do know that the railroad overpass is just about wrapped up and should be ready for the next meeting. So you'll have that one. Elliott: That's First Avenue? 5 million? Atkins: Yes, that's a big ticket item. Gilbert and Highway 6 we have been through before it's just a matter of bringing it back to you. Vanderhoef: And some people have not seen it. Atkins: Some have not seen it. Vanderhoef- Those are necessary. Atkins: Barring anything crazy, there is no reason why we wouldn't have those for the your next meeting. The railroad overpass for sure because that one is ready to go. Vanderhoef: Have we heard the final recommendations from the Scattered Site Housing? Atkins: No. They continue to postpone their decision. Vanderhoef: So to have that discussion before we have the... Atkins: That would be nice. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 25 of 26 Bailey: Lehman: That would be nice. The ball is in their court. Vanderhoef: The ball is in their court is correct. So, one of the things that I also looked at as a possibility is that we've got a question mark by goals session and I'd personally would like to do a goal session but I wondered if we could set aside a full day and do goal session in the morning and then take an hour or two in the afternoon to do the funding priorities for budget. Bailey: I thought the goal session would maybe best be moved to January 2006 like we did a couple ... was it two years ago? Elliott: When we first came on. Bailey: That's right. I just thought that that's what we would have. Atkins: I had intended, and what I'd read from you is that we'd do a funding/budget work session in some off Monday night. I'm not sure how to present it to bring it to you. I made the assumption like sometime around September. Sooner rather than later we're going to need to have that so you can give me some ideas of what your priorities are. Transit discussion tonight is a perfect example of a funding question as much as anything. Champion: I think the downtown loading zones are something we can discuss and come to some conclusion pretty quickly if we got it on a work session. I'm a great believer that if we enforced the law, the ordinances, about loading zones we would have a lot less cars parking in the middle of Dubuque for three or four hours a day. A lot of those loading zones are parked with cars merchants who own businesses there who aren't doing anything but having lunch or drinking coffee. It's a real irritation of mine. Elliott: Don't get Connie irritated. Vanderhoef: The other piece is surveying the employees with their ideas before we do goal setting. I think it's important. Bailey: Even if we could do it before September .... I don't know ... there might be something in there. Vanderhoef: That's where I'm headed but I was thinking in terms of— Bailey: That should actually be an ongoing loop that employees have... Vanderhoef: But maybe one big invitation from Council to do this will spur them to really put down the things that they've been thinking about for quite a while. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session. July 5, 2005 City Council Work Session Page 26 of 26 Atkins: It has been long time since we did a survey. Employees pitched in on the idea. Vanderhoef: But that was only on cuts it wasn't on great ideas. Okay. Does that give you enough to keep you busy until the zoning code comes? Atkins: That will keep us very busy. Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the July 5, 2005 Iowa City Council Work Session.