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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-06-29 Transcription#3a Page 1 ITEM NO. 3a. PROPOSED ROUTE CHANGES FOR IOWA CITY TRANSIT. Lehman/Again tonight we're taking things slightly out of order prior to public discussion will be the continuation of a public heating for proposed changes for the Iowa City Transit. Actually this is a public hearing that we are conducting at our volition because it is not a required hearing. I'm going to open the public hearing and ask Joe to bring us up to speed as to where we are and what your recommendations are and we'll proceed from there. Joe Fowler/I'm not going to go over every change that we've discussed previously unless somebody has a question. I'd be glad to address that but just to keep it brief. One of the issues that we had raised during this was to reduce Saturday service by one hour, start transit service one hour later. We've done a survey the last two weeks and last Saturday in particular there were 20 people who rode the first round of buses on Saturday morning. And what we found were that these were people were using the bus to get to work and had no alternative. We feel that that would be a great imposition to drop that hour of service to the community and so we would recommend that we continue that hour of service but that we also increase our operating costs by a little bit over $6,000 so that we can do the west side shuttle. That would be the cost to add the one hour service in the morning. The hour service in the aflernoon would come from a decrease in the mall route. So what we're proposing would be to continue Saturday service as it is, the changes that we've outlined over the last several meetings to the current route and what this ~vill gain us will be increased service to NCS, the Hilltop Trailer Court, MECCA, First Avenue HyVee, and West High School. We think that these changes are being made with a minimum of inconvenience to the rest of the system and that there an overall benefit to the city. Lehman/Joe would you say the biggest change that your making is the addition of the west side routes? Fowler/Yes. Lehman/Well basically that is the real change in the present system. Fowler/There are some minor changes in the other routes, some people will only have an option at one time rather than at two times as they currently do but overall the biggest change is adding west side service. Lehman/Thank you. Champion/Steve. Go ahead. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #3a Page 2 Norton/I just wanted to add that I think Joe and the other people in the Transit division have done a terrific job of putting together a slightly revised plan that meets all the requirements that we laid on without extending a lot of extra money and serves new areas and doesn't lose anybody I think it's almost with mirrors but I mean the present system was pretty good you just had to tweak it some but I think you've done a good job. Thanks. Fowler/Thank you. Lehman/Well Joe I think what you've really done you've been very responsive to the needs of the people who ride the bus and I think that's what the bus system is all about. Fowler/Thank you. Champion/And where do we get the $6,000? Fowler/I think that we will be able to excuse me, that we will be able to save that out of our other operating expenses. Atkins/That' s what I was going to say. Fowler/Sorry Steve I think that we can cut some other costs. Champion/OK. Atkins/I think to put into proportion Connie it's 1/5 of one percent of the overall operating budget. Champion/I'm not objecting to it I'm just wondering where we're going to get it. Atkins/And remember one of the things with this route change or these route changes is that if we increase the nose count number of people that means more federal aid, that in itself may help offset some of those increases. Champion/Well I think changing the morning bus schedule is going to increase that ridership and the west side apparently is going to increase. Vanderhoef/And the extension of the North Dodge one on a more regular route is a real offer to this community for getting to work via the bus. Norton/There's also some changes at least contemplated in departure and arrival times downtown to make them work better with with work schedules and I think any of those things that can enhance ridership that's one place where our fares are This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #3a Page 3 carrying 16 percent of the cost of our transit operation. If we could up that a little bit we would have no problem meeting the kind of needs we have. I that' s what we really need is to enhance or increase ridership it's gone down the last couple of years, we need to get it back. Lehman/Are there comments from the public? Irene E. Murphy/My name is Irene Murphy I've been here before as you know, you should know me. Friends, council persons and transit personnel, I've come to praise you to not to criticize you. All I have to say tonight is thank you for listening to the users of the bus system. I especially appreciate that the Manville route will continue to operate as we riders have grown accustomed to. I hope that what changes are implemented will work out satisfactorily and everybody will be happy that we still have a good bus service to be proud of. I repeat thank you. Lehman/Thank you. Other public comments. Public hearing is closed. Is there council? First we need I guess a motion approving the changes. Kubby/So moved. O'Dmmell/Second. Lehman/Moved by Karen. Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion on the part of council. Kubby/I have another route question for Joe and that is on the North Dodge route I'm really glad that we're going to keep that loop but I know it makes that route very tight in order to add NCS on a regular basis so what especially at peak times it's very important to be on time so people can depend on that particularly. It's important that all times of the day to keep on times but that one seems like it's the most challenging route for drivers to meet that head time. So what is the plan if that ends up not working so well say if we have a couple passengers that need they have their wheel chairs secured on a regular basis. At peak time that might make it very tight and what do we do? Fowler/If we have a problem with keeping that bus on schedule we'll report back to you and request permission to go ahead and eliminate the loop and just travel on Dodge Street. Kubby/What do we do now when a route, cause I know that one' s kind of tight now, what do we do now in that kind of time span? Fowler/Right now we send another bus out to pick that route up and it's either driven by an on-call driver or supervisor they go out and run a leg of that route so that bus can get back on schedule. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #3a Page 4 Kubby/And would that be an option if we needed it once in a while for the new configuration? Fowler/We would do that during the entire time we were monitoring it, we wouldn't let passengers you know the bus get down we would continue to do that and then report back to you saying you could give us the option of whether to change the route or continue to operate that one. Kubby/OK. Fowler/It might be probably maybe one round in the afternoon. A lot depends on the trains because the other side of that goes to the south end of train where they often have conflict with trains. Kubby/Right, well hopefully that will be decreasing soon. Fowler/Yes. Kubby/OK. The other question I had for council is because there's going to be new times or people need to catch the bus this is the opportunity to do BIG transit promotion. You know we tweaked the system, it's serving more places, come ride the bus and so I'm interested in what kind of promotional budget that we're willing to give or to direct staff to you know tell us what their plans are, give us suggestions for the plan for some kind of extra promotion. But I think this is the time to do it. Lehman/Well you have a promotional budget do you not? Fowler/We have a promotional budget and part of the money was not spent this year because we we're waiting to see if this was going to be approved by (can't hear) year. Lehman/Your ready budget. Fowler/We're going to request to carry that money over into the new budget and then expend that money and our budgeted money to really promote this change. Lehman/OK very good. Kubby/OK so do you have money in the budget in anticipation of needing new maps at each of the stops and new route pamphlets for the new system? Fowler/We have money, I'm not sure we have enough to do everything we want to but. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #3a Page 5 Kubby/OK cause that would be kind of a one-time expense that would be appropriate for us to think about. Vanderhoef/And that's above and beyond what we will continue to do with this entire plan. Kubby/Right. Because we do a big runs of that so I just want to make sure. I just want to because I think our promotion campaign has is is consistently good and that this is an opportunity to kind of a do a big splash. Because our goal is to increase ridership so. Fowler/Right. We've Ron and I have talked about it and we want to get the maps out and follow through on your idea on the times on the big maps, continue with the small maps, get the postings out to replace the ones that are going to be incorrect and then do some advertising. Kubby/I guess the last point I want to make is a pitch to council is this has been brought up over the years and someone mentioned it at the public hearing again is the potential benefits of having a transit commission or even a transportation commission. We have boards and commissions for a lot of different major areas of city services and transit and transportation is a huge part of our budget but we don't have any citizen advisors. On trails we do for Parks and Rec. but in other aspects we really don't, especially in transit, I would promote a narrower commission on transit issues but I think it's something we should talk about at some point. Norton/Yea. Would we include the SEATS advisory kind of thing or you know that? Kubby/Right, it could. Norton/Certainly we would have to include paratransit and transit right? Kubby/And I think public transportation is kind of more and more threatened when budget time comes and the community as we grow it's going to be a more challenging issue for us and to have a group of people who kind of focus on these issues and can do research and develop some expertise could be really helpful to us in making good policy decisions. So I'd like us to put it on a formal sometime. Vanderhoef/Another part of the plan to advertise, to promote this whole system is I would like to see us move forward in working with our industry and finding out what the needs are at the industry and how we can help meet the needs to encourage ridership from work to home again and there could possibly be some This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #3a Page 6 partnering projects we could do so I'd like to investigate it a little bit more at a later date but let' s get off the ground with what we have right now first. Norton/The one or last or perhaps the last question the additional question Ernie, and I should direct this to Joe, did you in making this plan or have you reviewed this final plan with the University and the Coralville? Is there anything in this plan that changes our interface with those other systems? Fowler/No we haven't discussed it with either one of those systems I'm not really sure what changes that they've made. I know Coralville's made some changes in their routes but I I'm not really sure what they are. Norton/But you has parts but it would be wise I suppose to touch base but as far as you can see there won't be any difference in how we work them? Fowler/No. Vanderhoef/And it might be something as long as we're taking that half an hour break there in the midday before we start the 3:00 on kind of thing to coordinate action if it needs to be with the Coralville buses? Fowler/Yes. Lehman/Any other discussion? Norton/When the interchange comes will they use the interchange in the downtown the interchange? Fowler/No, the Coralville buses would still continue to use the area across the street from the Airliner. Norton/We could always rent some to them. Lehman/Roll call. Marjan Karr/Motion. Lehman/We have a motion. Karr/Would you like a voice vote? Lehman/Oh I'm sorry, motion, voice vote. All in favor. Motion carries unanimously. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. g4 Page 7 ITEM NO. 4. PUBLIC DISCUSSION (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). Lehman/This is a time that's reserved for comments on items that do not appear on our agenda. If you wish to address council we would ask that you approach the podium, sign in, give us your name and restrict your comments to five minutes or less. Jay Honohan/I'll try to be less than that Mr. Mayor. Members of the Mayor and members of the council, Mr. Mayor I'm here again for the Senior Center Commission to make a short report to you, let you know what we're doing. We're proceeding on the furniture and the redecoration of the many areas of the Senior Center at this time. This will include new furniture which Linda told me the politically correct phrase for it but I can't remember but it will be a lot more comfortable for people my age and we're redecorating and it will be lighter and much more pleasant for the people that use the Center. And we're also going to try to have little areas sort of set aside for little group areas in the Center which we think will work very well. As the Council particularly two members know the members of our Commission are meeting on the 28(E) agreement and we're continuing to work on that. Later in the agenda you know we have our new sprinkler system proposal in the bids that you will be acting on and Linda will tell you all about that. And finally I'd like to just tell you that 150 band members including our New Horizons band performed last Saturday. Bands, other members from Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls and I think everybody was there had a good time. Thank you. Lehman/Thank you Jay. Jim Barker/Well I'm Jim Barker and I'm having that fence built in front of my house. The contractor called the inspection department and was told it should be two feet from the sidewalk so he started building it, it's partly complete and then the inspector came by and said it needed to be farther back. Now he's doing some research to see exactly where the lot line is but the posts are set in cement and we'd rather not move it at this point. And he mentioned that it is possible to have an exception from the Council, and I understand that's been done in similar situations before. Kubby/That is possible but you have to go to the Board of Adjustment to get a special exception and that's separate from this body. Lehman/I think you need to talk to Housing Inspection Services and they will know, describe the difficulty and where you are and where you'd like to be and I think they can probably tell you. Barker/OK. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #4 Page 8 Lehman/Staff would be I'm sure more than happy to work with you. Barker/All right and that's something that's likely to be done? Lehman/Well you'll have to talk to them but I I really would have no problem whatsoever with you and I think you should feel flee to go down and talk to those folks and explain what you'd like to do and what you are doing and they can tell you what your options are. Barker/OK. Lehman/OK. Champion/Can we give him a name? Kubby/Karin will. Karin Franklin will give you a name of someone to contact. Barker/OK. Thanks a lot. Ruth Baker/My name' s Ruth Baker and I just want to make some general comments about not specific to the bus question that has just been presented. But it's brought up some things that I think the Council needs to be looking at and thinking about for future. And I've been encourage when I've attended some work sessions and listened to what the Council has to say and the City Transit staff seemed to be very concerned with those people who were relying on this bus system and were fearful of losing their transportation. But I am discouraged because I do see some extremely short sided thinking when it comes to our city transit system. And I think rather than changing bus routes in an attempt to increase ridership I think the only way the city is going to see a significant increase in bus transportation or bus participants is to expand on the current routes, make them convenient, accommodate citizens needs. I for one would love to take the bus and there's several reasons. It's convenient, it comes within a half a block from my house which sounds great and I did try to when I worked at the city the Civic Center. I wanted to take the bus because it saves wear and tear on your car. Most insurance companies if not all reduce your insurance rates if you don't drive your vehicle to work. I didn't have to worry about scraping off windows, various reasons but in order to get to work at 8:00 in the morning I'd have to catch that bus which was like I said half a block from my house on Benton Street at 6:50 in the morning. That bus would then go to Walmart, down past the airport, sat at Baculus Trailer Court, make up a few minutes there, and then go down Riverside Drive and then down to the Old Capitol corner at Washington and Clinton. From there I'd walk 3 ½ blocks to the Civic Center. And I could have sat on the bus and waited for the transfer and sometimes I did if it was winter time. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. Page 9 But it's just not handy and I know I'm not the only one in that position. I think this is a community that would definitely use a bus system if it were accommodating. I think we're doing piece meal things by, for instance the last week's council work session there was discussion about angle parking on Clinton Street. And the only thing that I heard that would be gained by doing that is somewhere between 16 and 19 additional parking spaces. That negligible amount of parking added is not going to entice more people to come downtown. I think we have to look at long range planning and I would like to submit much more information that I've written up and I would like to submit that to council along with some attachments of articles that I've done some highlighting in that I would hope that you will read. One of the articles in fact is from the Nation's Cities Weekly which is a publication I'm assuming our City Planning Staff is very familiar with. Kubby/We all get that too. Lehman/We all get that. Norton/We all get that. Baker/Do they, and you do to? Lehman/Right. Baker/All right and I will get a copy for each of you on these so you can see the highlighting you can really start looking at this I think we've got a long way to go. We've got to do some more forward thinking instead of just piece meal everything we do. We get caught up in our daily decision making like whether to change a route but I think there's much more that can be done. Thank you. Lehman/Thank you. Other public discussion. Rita Maniodus/Hi, my name is Rita Maniodus and I concur with the woman who just spoke and that it encouraged me to get up and say too that I've lived in the San Francisco Bay area and most recently moved from Boston and in both places I didn't have to have a car and I know the population is lower here but you have four significant populations that could support the bus system. The university students, the elderly who are a growing population here, the elderly and disabled and the teenagers who don't have cars yet and I'll have to look for my fourth, but anyway the and the University workers and all the other industries in this area. But I can't take the bus very easily myself here. It's easier for me to ride my bike or walk, I can get there faster from where we live but we always pick a place that's close to a bus stop because we just feel it's important to have a transit system and because we refuse to have two cars. But we've come to the point This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #4 Page 10 where we may have to have two cars if we cannot find more convenient transportation. When my husband leaves town I often have to take the bus but there's no transportation on Sundays and little in the evening. You can't come to entertainment downtown that you, you know it only comes every hour. It really drops off, it's really meant for a 9 to 5 worker or an 8 to 5 worker. So I would encourage less ramp building and less street widening and more transportation for buses because I think it it's just going to improve the city, preserve it's character and it's going to keep the streets safe, less vehicles on the road. Thank you. Lehman/Thank you. Any other public discussion? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5d Page 11 ITEM NO. 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. d. CONDITIONALLY CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 7.46 ACRES FROM MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE- FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-8) TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT HOUSING OVERLAY (OPDH-8) AND THE APPROVAL OF A PRELIMINARY OPDH PLAN FOR 72 RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS WITHIN THE WINDSOR RIDGE SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT THE EAST TERMINUS OF COURT STREET. (REZ99-0006) Lehman/Public hearing is continued from June 15. Karin Franklin/We have a letter from the developer that is requesting indefinite deferral of this item. Lehman/Oh. Do we have a motion to. Norton/I move. Thornberry/Second. Lehman/To indefinitely defer. Moved by Norton, seconded by Thornberry to indefinitely defer the public hearing. All in favor. It's been deferred. I'm sorry. Karr/We're continuing aren't we? Lehman/Right. To continue indefinitely that's what the that's what the motion was. Holecek/Your deferring the item but you are actually continuing the public hearing. Norton/Yes. Lehman/Indefinitely. Thornberry/OK. Norton/When the item comes back up we'll resume the hearing is that correct? Kubby/Yes (can't hear). Will it be a substantially changed? Franklin/I guess I would suggest and I should have said this but you close the public hearing. This is going to have to go back to the Planning and Zoning Commission because the developer is doing significant enough redesign that it will have to go back to the Commission. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5d Page 12 Kubby/And we know that at this point? Franklin/So close the public hearing. Yes. Kubby/OK. Lehman/OK. Franklin/Close the public heating and defer indefinitely the first consideration. Sorry. Letunan/Eliminate the last motion, the public heating is closed. Do we have a motion to defer the first consideration? Norton/Moved. Thornberry/Seconded. Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by Thornberry to defer indefinitely. All ayes. OK passes. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5e Page 13 ITEM NO. 5e. ADOPTING AND INCORPORATING THE NORTHEAST DISTRICT PLAN INTO THE IOWA CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. (CONTINUED FROM MARCH 30, APRIL 6, APRIL 20, MAY 18, AND JUNE 15) Lehman/Public hearing is open. Kubby/Because there's been so much community process on this and the changes we're making are fairly short. It makes sense to have them be outlined by Karin if no one minds that. Lehman/Go ahead Karin, the changes are rather minor. Franklin/Yea the first change is on the very first page which incorporates the sentence "The neighborhood development principles set forth in this plan will be implemented in compliance with city codes." That was at the request of the council. We then included a definition or a section which explains conventional subdivision design. This is in the section that also describes traditional neighborhood design and conservation design. The new section reads "The dominant form of residential development in Iowa City in recent times has been conventional subdivision design. This type of development typically involves the creation of building lots that are designated for single family housing and offer exceed the minimum lot size requirement. Usually most of the property within a conventional development is incorporated into private individual lot ownership although public open space is not a key element in conventional subdivision design. Open space is ensured for new developments in Iowa City through the requirements of the neighborhood open space ordinance. The street network may include connecting streets but often makes extensive use of the cul de sac street design." Then we added a sentence at the end of this explanation of these three different types of subdivision design which states the preference of this plan. That sentence reads or sentences read "The design concepts used to implement traditional neighborhood planning or conservation neighborhood design are preferred in the Northeast District. However, conventional subdivision design that meets the planning principles set forth in this plan will be considered acceptable and those planning principles are the principles that are stated on pages 8-10 of the plan". The last change then addresses the issue of alley's in which the references to alley's instead of saying alley's will adequate access it states "alley's may be used to provide adequate access." And following that "Instead of alley's need to be used, need not be used in cases where marked topographical changes exist" that changes to "alley's are less useful where marked topographical changes exist". And that is the extent of the changes. Thank you. Lehman/Thank you Karin. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5e Page 14 Norton/Do we need a motion to incorporate those changes then? Norton/Have the public hearing first. Lehman/Probably but I think, is there further, I don't know but we, is there further discussion from the public? I'm going to close the public hearing and we will entertain a motion to approve the plan and then we can talk about (can't hear). Karr/Mr. Mayor, the resolution before you would include what is just read into the record so what you have before you is consideration of the plan as presented. Lehman/As soon as we get (can't hear). Norton/I move adoption of the resolution. Lehman/Moved by Norton. Kubby/Second. Lehman/Seconded by Kubby. Discussion from council. Norton/Well I just want to say that I others may add to this certainly but I just want to remind everybody listening that there's been a great deal of public involvement in developing this particular district plan and it of course in compliance with the general comprehensive plan. It does incorporate some changes that I think speak to the issue of trying to protect ourselves from sprawl by increasing density slightly in the neighborhoods by incorporating neighborhood centers and neighborhood commercial areas and some of those areas so that we don't invite everybody to come downtown or long distance trips for every little activity. And also encourage variety of housing types, not all necessarily single family with some multifamily which are very popular units at this point particularly along arterioles and close to the neighborhood commercial centers. And I think those principles are very well articulated in the comp. plan and are manifest in more detail in the Northeast Plan I think it's really an outstanding excellent document. Kubby/Thank you. Lehman/Other discussion. Vanderhoef/Yes. I've spent a lot of hours looking at this plan and looking at the original comprehensive plan that was adopted by this council in 1997. It had a starting back in 1994 with multiple committees of citizens from all over this city who put forth the planning principles for their city. Not by district but by for the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5e Page 15 entire city. As I kept going through the district plan it appeared to me that we were reinventing the wheel on much of the material that's in this plan. And this plan is only a supplement of the overwriting plan is the comprehensive plan. I will support this plan, however, in the future my request is going to be that we stick to the unique ideas that work in that district and not duplicate all of the time and effort of the original comprehensive plan. I think we've spent a lot of time on it and I appreciate the time that citizens spent on it, however, if they had terribly familiar with comprehensive plans to begin with I think we would have had this plan completed in a much shorter version and a much shorter time and our planners could have had the opportunity to work on other projects for the city. Thornberry/I appreciate the effort that's gone into this Northeast District Plan all the time spent by many many different people. But I think that we're getting to the point where it's it's too tight, too restrictive. I would rather see the comprehensive plan narrowed to a district like the Northeast District but not in such detail that shows pictures of what of houses that are preferred and pictures of houses that are not preferred. I've got a good friend in Iowa City that lives in their house that they love and it's a they live in a picture of a house that is not preferred for this area. And they say what's wrong my house? Why doesn't staff like my house? And I don't think that we need to go that far especially since this is being done by private enterprise by private money. If it were public funds, building a peninsula area maybe we could be a little more specific but when this is being done with private funds by private developers I don't think it needs to be nearly as tight and restrictive as this is and I surely don't want to see it get more more restrictive than the South District Plan has been and this is. And the more restrictive it becomes the less choices we have. Kubby/I guess I want to echo Dee Norton's comments I couldn't say those things any better so I'll just dido to those. But I wanted to make a comment on the different sort in that one of I'm definitely supporting this plan. Very much appreciated the process and the finished product and I think our product is good because of the process that we went through. I think there's a lot of community ownership to this plan because of the process. I have whatever the issue of First Avenue being extended has come up over the years I've always been opposed to it and I continue to be opposed to it and so I guess I just want for the record to say that. I like the plan except for that little line that extends First Avenue. Especially in light of the citizen referendum in 1997 saying not to extend First Avenue. And then we before we adopt this plan we put First Avenue on our Capitol Improvements program. So I think the order in which we've done things has not helped keep the integrity of that community process. I would prefer to have not had First Avenue in our Capitol Improvements project which is one reason out of a couple that I voted no on that whole document but to wait till this plan was adopted before we added that to our capital improvement program. I will vote for the defer the plan. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5e Page 16 Champion/I'd just like to comment that I think it's an excellent plan and I think it's rather a forward move the city that we involve a tremendous amount of citizens on how the district's going to develop in the future. We are shaping the future, this probably not as important in the next couple of years as it might be in 15 or 20 years so I do I like the specifics of the plan and I think it's going to be a tremendous asset for the city. O'Donnell/Well I'm going to support the plan also but I think some questions have been answered specifically to the builders. The first, and I agree with Dean our first reading of this document I thought it was very detailed and very specific. I will support it because I believe a lot of the builders questions have been addressed and answered to their satisfaction so I will support it. Lehman/That leaves me doesn't it. I'll support the plan as well. I think that we made it very very clear from the outset and staff has certainly reinforced this but this is a concept plan in fact at the very beginning of the plan it lists the sort of things and it said these sort of things will be encouraged to develop within the district. Obviously all of the deliberations have taken place between the staff and the home builders and the developers are a matter of public record relative to this plan. All of those discussions have indicated that these are ideas, these are things we would like to see occur, nothing is cast in stone. And many of the things that we find in this plan and some of those mentioned by you Mr. Norton are already embraced by this council and the previous council. Those things such as mixed types of housing, mixed density, neighborhood commercial, those sorts of things we've done in other parts of the city. There probably isn't as raticly different as it might appear to be. I think the important thing is it is it is intended to be a flexible plan but certainly something that we should strive to achieve so I too will support it. Roll call. I'm sorry. Thornberry/One other thing Ernie. Yes it is it's flexible to a degree and it's become more flexible than when it first came out. But it's still very specific and detailed. And I don't know if I don't want to get into the realm of having big big government or government at any level tell the private sector what and how and when and where to build. I just I just have trouble with that. I like guidelines, there needs to be guidelines for an orderly house, for an orderly community. But when you get too specific and big government is telling developers when and how and what I don't want to get into the I don't want the government to start telling the developers what color or what materials to use in construction and I it's headed that way and I don't want that to happen. And I want these discussions to be made of the record so that when a developer comes with a plan for this Noaheast District and and for one reason or another it is not permitted under what they want to do. I want the record to be able to be looked at and say there was a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5e Page 17 lot of discussion about this and we don't necessarily mean for it to be as tight as it is so I hope that is the case. Norton/Well I don't want to leave the impression that it's as specific as Dean suggests, nobody said anything about color. Thornberry/No, I'm saying that it's working that way. Norton/I understand but (can't hear). Thornberry/I did not say that. Norton/Throws out the image that it's going in that direction. Thornberry/It is going that direction. Norton/It's totally open and there's no guidance to anybody. It has to have some reasonably detailed guidance or it everybody can interpret it anyway they want. And it's not the government telling anybody anything it's the citizens saying this is the way we'd like our town to develop and evolve. And I presume developers will listen to that. Thornberry/Well this is going to be an ordinance that as a government ordinance that they that the planning department can point to and say this is what the council meant and what they wanted and this is what they passed. I did not say that this plan made it that you had to paint a house a certain color, I did not say that all. And I said that you do need some order in a construction of a development so you know I didn't say anything that this ordinance doesn't do, but it's going that way, it's getting, it's getting more restrictive every time we do one and I don't want to get any more restrictive than this one is. Kubby/Because I think some of the comments we heard from citizens about transit are really related to this plan and the reason the community is wanting this kind of more a little more compact a little higher denser development and that as we grow geographically it's harder for us to afford transit service out to those new neighborhoods. It's harder for people to be able to choose to walk when the neighborhoods are mostly cul de sac's because you have to walk way around a neighborhood whereas by the crow fly's it's a lot shorter but there's no facility there's no sidewalks. This plan accommodates those kinds of needs where there are streets that go through that a transit service could go through and create opportunities for people to get around town. Where people can walk from one part of the neighborhood to another without infringing on someone' s else's private property in a very efficient way and so I think these discussions are very This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5e Page 18 connected and that we're trying to be a little big picture oriented by passing this plan. O'Donnell/Well I think it is a part of it but in the original plan it said that alley' s will provide access to utilities. That pretty much states that your going to have alley's. Norton/(Can't hear). O'Donnell/When it says alley's will I think it's much clearer and not as set in concrete it should say alley's could alley's may provide access and that's what we changed I think it was very reasonable and I'm ready to vote on the plan. Champion/Let's vote. Lehman/Roll call. Motion's carried. Dean I think we all have some concerns or share some of the concerns that you have. I do believe that this is a very workable flexible living sort of plan and will work and I think we all appreciate your support of that. Thomberry/(can't hear). Lehman/OK. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5j Page 19 ITEM NO. 5j. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FINAL PLAT OF COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES FIRST ADDITION, A 10.4 ACRE, 20-LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT THE WEST TERMINUS OF PHOENIX DRIVE. (SUB98-0027) Norton/Move adoption of the resolution. Thornberry/Second. Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by Thornberry. Discussion. This has been approved by since March 4 by Planning & Zoning Commission so this has been around for a while. Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #5k Page 20 ITEM 5k. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PRELIMINARY PLAT OF CRESTVIEW THIRD ADDITION, A 22.69-ACRE, THREE LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WITH ONE OUTLOT LOCATED AT LANDON AVENUE SW, NORTH OF HIGHWAY 1. (SUB99-0009) Thornberry/Move first consideration. Vanderhoef/Second. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion. Norton/Now this is to rural standards is that's what's happened on this? Rural standards apply right? Franklin/That's correct. Norton/Because it's not in our (can't hear) right? Lehman/Roll call. Oh, I'm sorry. Kubby/There was a question. Lehman/Karin. Norton/Rural standards. Franklin/City role designs standards yes. Norton/But we review? Are the standards rural standards or city? Franklin/Their rural standards. Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #Sm Page 21 ITEM 5m. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF SILVERCREST, A 20.87 ACRE, 5-LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT OF SCOTT BOULEVARD AND AMERICAN LEGION ROAD. Norton/Move adoption of the resolution. Lehman/Moved by Norton. Thomberry/Second. Lehman/Seconded by Thornberry. Discussion. Kubby/This would be a great place to try to get transit out to in the future because it's going to be higher density, it's going to be on some major streets and it's housing for seniors. Champion/(can't hear). Norton/Well there's going to have to be a bus down Scott you mean (can't hear). Kubby/Yes. Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 22 ITEM NO. 6a. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WILLOW CREEK TRAIL PHASE II IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Lehman/This is a public hearing was continued from June 15. The public hearing is open. Tom Muller/Good evening my name is Tom Muller and I live at 1350 Burry Drive. And I'm here this evening with my friend Fred Dunner who was at your last meeting to discuss our concerns about this lovely little meandering trail that goes between our house. I do want to comment that I was surprised that Fred inadvertently mentioned the Rogue elephant that he keeps in his basement. Kubby/He needs no comment for that also. Muller/At any rate Fred and I probably know that walk better than anyone in this community we continuously have access to the people who walk through there and visit with them. And first of all I'd like to tell you that in the course of conversations that I've had with the people who use it I've asked them if they wanted to have changes made in it and I didn't get anyone that wanted to have changes. Now that's not to say that perhaps there aren't some, but the people that I talked to and I'm closer to it than anyone else I know that. So basically we want to reiterate what Fred said that we hate to miss an opportunity to save this lovely little walk and this park area by doing this now when we don't even know what the dynamics of the changes are going to be when the bike path is put in just across the creek. And so really we'd like to ask you to just delay this for a year, see how it plays out and if at that point you get significant response from a significant number of people Fred and I will be down here helping you do it as fast as we can so that's pretty much what we would like you to ask you to do is just delay that. Lehman/Your asking, your speaking about only the walkway between your houses. Muller/Just the Willow Creek, that lovely little meandering path that people really enjoy when they go down there, you know, it's not a fast place, it's a relaxed place for old folks like me to walk through and enjoy, also children and the bike path which is just across the creek where the as I call I've called it the Interstate will accommodate those people that are in a hurry but we will miss an opportunity to keep this is the state it's in if we just go ahead now. And I'd just hate to see that opportunity missed. Champion/But your talking about the path by the houses the path that goes down by the woods. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 23 Thornberry/Yea. Muller/It's the path that comes between Fred's house and my house. Champion/OK. OK. Muller/And goes down meander's along the creek on the west side of the creek whereas the new bike path will be a straight line on the east side of the creek. Champion/Right, right. Muller/Not very far apart by the way. Norton/Fred can I ask you a question, what, the parts of the trail you referred to after you pass your property and go down the slope and veer left and you get into some pretty sloppy (can't hear) pretty sloppy areas. Muller/Sloppy. Oh. Norton/Pretty low areas, often wet, muddy and that can't stay that way long can it? Muller/Well that heavy rain we had what was it two or three weeks ago and that water that water came over that creek, it also went all the way through Kiwanis Park so you know we're not, we're just dealing with a 100 year thing there and then we move on. Norton/But isn't the idea that the proposal as I understand it would after it passes your property it would veer left and (can't hear) go along the shoulder of that property and be raised considerably from what it is now. Muller/You mean as you go north? Norton/Yes. Muller/Well I have understand that there's a proposal to cut through that area that's that the animals have set aside for themselves and that the path is suppose to go right through that, cause I was sure asked. Norton/And it would continue along on the higher ground would it not and avoid some of the low? Dunner/It would come back down again as I understand it, unless your going to start cutting trees randomly This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 24 Norton/(can't hear). Muller/And I hope you don't. Muller/We'll have to hear. Dunner/I'd just say that. Kubby/Maybe Terry could clarify this so it's not. Norton/Should Terry clarify exactly what's going to happen here? Terry Treeblood/(Can't hear). I think there's little confusion on the area that your talking about which is what Tom is talking about. The area your talking about is a little further to the north. After it comes down lower and heads out toward the soccer field area. Norton/OK. Trueblood/Right in that area is what is often sloppy under water, that's way you'll see that people have cut a path through closer to the path which is just a dirt path. It's probably 3-400 feet north of Tom' s property. Norton/But isn't your proposed change isn't the proposed development down there still going to cut left near the boundary of his property and go over toward that other higher ground? Treeblood/That's correct. Norton/Yea. Lehman/Will it then go back down and cross the creek or does it stay on the west side? Muller/It stays on the west side. Trueblood/Well it stays on the west side until it gets over toward the park shelter then it cuts across the creek and heads up to Teg. Lehman/Where it cuts across the creek is that subject to flooding as well? Trueblood/Well anything close to the creek is subsequently. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 25 Lehman/Well no I guess what I'm really saying is that whether or not it floods in the area where it crosses the creek or farther down the creek the whole area is subject to flooding? Trueblood/Well yes but the biggest problem is the area that I described before kind of in a southwesterly direction from the bridge and there's a little spot in there and that's why the proposed new trail swings further to the west than the old trail to keep above that swampy area if you will. Kubby/But we're going to allow that foot path to stay there we're not going to grade it or. Trueblood/The current one will stay there that's correct. Those people who would like to walk through the water. Kubby/People who like sloppy (can't hear) Dee and the meandering part. Muller/You don't get wet until the bound, the flow of stream is changing. I used to run along the path and then the city straightened it out and then in the Fall there's a drain down in the creek so it muddy the water there. Kubby/So Terry the. Lehman/So to speak. Kubby/The path that's in between the two private properties. In your estimation does that need some rehab.? I mean is that functioning OK. Trueblood/If we were to look at that in the strictest engineering sense there would probably be a few of those squares that might need to be replaced because they might have quarter inch or half inch toe stubbers as I call them. Basically overall as far as the surface itself it's in pretty good shape. Champion/Well why don't we leave it till it needs repair? Trueblood/It goes back to the question as we discussed last night. That if we proceed to reconstruct the whole trail going from Teg Drive over to Burry then it becomes a matter of obligation to make it accessible through the American Disabilities Act and to do that for two way traffic it needs to be a minimum of five feet wide and it's currently four wide. Kubby/Well as we want to make sure that the entrance onto Burry is a little more visible and so whether or not a lot of people say that there going to need it and I don't know Tom what you mean by significant numbers of people but we do have an This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 26 obligation under the law that when we're going to rehab. a section of something that we need to follow the law and I think it's good for everyone to have us do that. It means that we have greater interaction with the broader spectrum of people in the park. It means that when people meander off that larger trail when their skateboarding or in-line skating or biking with pedestrians that there' s more maneuverability and it becomes a safer place especially when it's close to the street to have some more space. So I'd be inclined to keep our plans to follow our obligation and to do it now on the front end instead of going back in there later and then making sure that the two neighbors on either side have encroached onto the public property to make sure that we have all the paper work straightened out where you have easements with us and figure that out. Muller/Oh I'll be glad to cut my I have a little bit of my driveway over there in which (can't hear) so I'll be glad to cut that off it's no big deal. Kubby/Yea I don't think that's necessary. I think just doing the easement thing is. Muller/I don't think that's part of the issue here and I hope that that isn't going to become part of the issue. Norton/No, no, no. Kubby/No. Muller/All I'm saying is that this is something that's served these people in that neighborhood. It's really a neighborhood access it's not something for the people that go to Hickory Hill Park and we're going to miss a chance to save that and if you go in there and rip it out and just delay it a year until we see what the dynamics are involved with this new beautiful trail which I myself will use I look forward to it. But I also use the other one so I'm asking Fred and I are asking that you consider that. Norton/Can I ask? Vanderhoef/Well Tom you keep saying before you rip it out of there, we're not ripping out. Muller/I know what your doing no I've seen the plans and very familiar with it. Vanderhoef/So I want that to be real clear. Muller/Yea no, I certainly understand that. Vanderhoef/And I agree with Karen about the law and. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 27 Muller/Well but if we don't touch it the law doesn't prevail as I understand it and I've been told by. Vanderhoef/OK. But my concern is Tom is that this is an entrance to the entire park, this is the connection that gets you to the bridge. Muller/For the neighborhood right. Vanderhoef/To get over the bridge into the main body of the park. Muller/And see we're going to have a. Vanderhoef/And if I have young children or if I have my stroller with my baby in it and I want to take my young children with me and go to the soccer fields I don't feel inclined to go down Abbey Lane or Bun'y out to Mormon Trek and over to Benton Street and then come back in ifI can not physically get through there. Muller/You can get through there. Vanderhoef/So I think we can have the best of both worlds if we leave in what you have right now but won't ever be improved but we put the high ground trail in at a six foot width which is an alternative to what the city standards for trails is eight feet and I think six feet is perfectly fine for this connection and it meets our ADA requirements and still allows you your privacy and your little trail. Muller/I don't care about my privacy I love having that walk there. I spend a lot of time standing out there visiting with people. Vanderhoef/Yea I know you do and you and I had a wonderful walk out there and I wished I lived that close to it too. Norton/Can I, what kind of evidence, you say leave it for a year Tom and I and Terry your involved in this. What kind of evidence is going to come about in a year that would convince us to do at that time what is proposed now? Or not what's the basis? Muller/You mean like from the public, a response from the public? Because I would assume you would respond to public. Norton/Yea, but what I'm trying to think is what kind of evidence of traffic activity would you have to see in order to justify? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 28 Muller/Well I think you'll honestly I feel see less traffic there because the interstate is going to take the traffic for the people that are just on their way through and that gives us a chance for people that just enjoy the naturalist of the area. Norton/By the interstate do you mean Teg Drive side? Muller/No no I mean well I the one over by. Kubby/The major trail. Lehman/Bike. Norton/OK I understand. Muller/Because that will be I mean the bikes, the bikes and the bicyclists and the skate boarders and the whatever will be over there. Norton/You think that activity will be over there that will not be any increase in the activity through your place. Muller/My opinion is it will be a reduction because people I know that bike to the University to work are going to go right down Abbey Lane across the old bridge and Kiwanis Park to Teg to Sunset and boom. Norton/But at that time won't there be more holes in that old asphalt? Muller/I'll run out there with a bucket and fix them. I guarantee I will. Champion/Great. Muller/I guarantee you I will. O'Donnell/I don't have any problem delaying this when and if we get around to doing it we have to meet ADA requirements and that's five feet. But we are put in as you call it the interstate through the park and this is this path right now is character of the neighborhood. This is neighborhood entrance and I don't have any trouble delaying it. Champion/I view it as a neighborhood pathway and not as part of the major trail system (can't hear). Lehman/Are there other people from the public who would like to address council? Yes. Please. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 29 Terry Dahms/I wasn't sure what the protocol was. Norton/Yes, very good. Dahrns/My name is Terry Dahrns I'm with FIRST, Friends of the Iowa River Scenic Trail so I'm sure there's no doubt as to where I stand as far as this Willow Creek Trail of course we're in favor of that. But the issue seems to be this connection to the trail. Last time I stood before you it had to do with the Coralville Power and Light Dam and it was the same old issue. Use that was several months ago I'm not sure what I said and I'm sure she don't remember either but one point I did make was that the next issue that we're going to have to address is an activity and it seems to me this Willow Creek connection is exactly that. This came up I understand well the 15th I guess and discussed this there was confusion as to exactly what was between these two homes and I think it's clear now it's not an easement at all, it's actually public property and it's actually 20 feet wide. What goes through there now is an old three foot asphalt trail and it basically goes straight between those two houses and then as it goes down the slope it does curve around and there is a very swampy area down there but last time I was through there it was under water and it was difficult to even get through there even going anywhere. What appears to have happened even though you know this has been public property for 10 years that as one property owner admitted he has encroached on one side with parking and the neighborhood on the other side has planted a hedge also on public property. And I think as it was said standards would be that if this was upgraded to a trail standard then it would be eight foot wide. To put an eight foot wide sidewalk through there I guess and not require removal of some of that hedge or the driveway probably wouldn't work. So staff suggested a six foot wide sidewalk which is a compromise. That doesn't mean (can't hear) standards which of course is the eight foot. The six foot does meet ADA standards and by being paved then it would go straight down to the trail and connect into the Willow Creek trail so I think this is the first time probably this connectivity issue is before the council. We're starting actually this summer as you know because your funding it the lowa River Corridor Trail will be complete so we essentially have this back bone. And you know there's a lot of work going on in Coralville and the next issue is connectivity and now I think is the time to do it. I mean constructing that your going to have you know the workman in there just to put that in so I don't think there's any question about you know who that property belongs to. Your well within your rights to put in a six foot sidewalk and I urge to go ahead. Are there any questions? Norton/Well I just want to say I don't think it's a matter of putting in the six foot sidewalk and then expanding I guess to an eight foot trail once you get back in there. My question about connectivity is this is not the kind of trail that people are taking big tours on I wouldn't think. This strikes me as a neighborhood access issue as instinct to a through trail process. I cannot imagine people gyrating This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 30 around through all of those neighborhood streets and finding this entrance. I think it's for the kids in the neighborhood and other folks in the neighborhood who use it and that that's why I'm not quite so sold by the connectivity argument in this case. Vanderhoef/Well however. Kubby/But co~mectivity connects the neighborhood to the major trail. Vanderhoef/That and that's the way they get from there to the trail. Norton/But I think they can also do that by going down doing something with Abbey Lane and connecting it from through Kiwanis Park over to the main through the back there. Vanderhoef/They can't get across the creek. Norton/Well maybe it'll come down and connect the same way but start at Abbey. Vanderhoef/If you want to go north. Norton/No start at Abbey and go down and relift. Let the public go ahead I don't know. Dahms/I guess what I'm thinking I'm suggesting is that when this neighborhood was laid out some 10 years ago this 20 foot public property right of way was put in there for precisely the reason that it's there. OK. And now finally 10 years later we're coming around we're putting in Willow Creek trail and so now it's time to upgrade that three foot asphalt which is pretty rough to something that's ADA acceptable. And this isn't the first you know connectivity issue I think that we're all going to face OK as the trails go in but there are going to be other neighborhoods and it's the same reason that there are appeasement's or public right of ways there are still a lot of that connectivity and I think now' s the time to do it. I would urge you to go ahead with the whole project that's what was originally laid out. Lehman/Thank you. Any other public comments? Muller/(can't hear). Lehman/You do it before I drop this or we. Muller/First of all that's been there that development has been there over 20 years not 10 years and I talked to the developer Thomas and asked him what's his intention, a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 31 neighborhood access that's the way it was dedicated to the city so I just wanted to put that forward. Kubby/I guess I'd like to hear if any public has comment to this question about actually maybe it's a legal question actually. What difference does it make if it's the major artery of the trial or the connecting trail for the neighborhood as to whether or not we have an obligation to make it accessible? There may not be people who need the ADA now but there may be people who want to visit or use that trail or who will move in or will become disabled who need those standards and those standards not just help people with disabilities but they help all of us be safer when there's multi-uses of a trail which we're publicly promoting. I guess I'd like if there' s any comments from people about that issue. Champion/Well I think also though Karen are even beginning to think about doing a trail or a path that's not ADA acceptable. That's not our question, our question is should we do it now or delay it, that's the question. Lehman/Well it. Kubby/And when you, and so then the issue is efficiency I think Terry spoke to that. Lehman/Is there. Is there further comment from the public? Karr/Motion to accept correspondence. Kubby/So moved. Vanderhoef/Second. Lehman/Moved by Kubby, seconded by Vanderhoef. All in favor. Motion carries. Public hearing is closed is there a motion? Thornberry/OK wait I've I've saved my comments until after the public hearing was over. And I do have some. First of all I think that they said that the entrance trail was four feet wide the gentleman said it was three. We were told last night it was four, and four feet meets ADA requirements for a one-way path and people are only are going one way at a time. But that's neither here nor there. If we're going to expand it we only need to expand it to five feet to meet ADA two-way traffic but I would and your going off of a four foot sidewalk anyway to get into this into this thing. But I would like to make a motion to defer the widening of this entrance for one year or until repairs are necessary for this entrance. Lehman/I think. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 32 Kubby/You need something on the motion too. Lehman/I think we need a motion. Thornberry/We need to approve this and then to amend it. Lehman/We need to approve this and then to amend it if we wish to change it. Thornberry/All right I will move to. Lehman/To approve. Thornberry/To approve. Lehman/OK. Kubby/Second. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by Kubby now discussion. Thornberry/Now I would like to make a motion to defer the entrance widening for one year or until the repairs are necessary to enter this. That would give that. All fight that's my motion. O'Donnell/Second. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by O'Donnell that the section of trail that we're talking about between Mr. Muller's house and his neighbor which is a four foot drive and extends down to a three foot asphalt trail at that section of the project be removed from the contract and deferred until for at least a year. Is that your? Thornberry/That' s my motion. Lehman/That's the amendment. All right discussion. Norton/Mr. Mayor I don't, I guess I don't understand precisely the point there. Does this motion stop at the back at the end of the cement and only where the asphalt or how far down does it continue how far down does it go? Thornberry/Well to do the other trail, to do the interior trails the main entrance trail up there on Teg. Lehman/Do that. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 33 Thornberry/Do that first. Norton/I understand that but it's starting at Fred's place or on Burry and you start through on the sidewalk and then you go down the hill and around the comer to the left and then all the way around to the bridge. Is that all going to be deferred in your motion? Thornberry/That's correct. Start with Teg Drive thing first. Norton/I understand that. Thornberry/And then go down through there. Make the one they've already got the other one there they can use it if they need to. They've been using it for years. Vanderhoef/Have you walked it? Thornberry/No I have not. Vanderhoef/Oh it's in very very sad shape, there's no way you can take a stroller and you would be taking your life in your hands trying to ride a bicycle down it. Thomberry/I know life in my hands. Vanderhoef/If you, yea I do understand, maybe the wrong analysis there. However, that is very dangerous for any bicycle that goes in there because it is so rough and so full of pot holes and. Thornberry/I understand it's so bad you take your life in your hands, how long has it been that way? 20 years. Vanderhoef/Well it's time to upgrade it if it's city property. Thomberry/How many lives have been lost though (can't hear)? Kubby/Well we could say the same thing about the fountain downtown but we that we were concerned about safety even though we've never had a claim against us for any falling on the old fountain downtown so and you were for removing that for safety reasons. Norton/A couple of points (can't hear) I'd like to hear from Terry again A. I want to review quickly the view of the Parks and Rec. Commission about this Terry. Second I'd like to understand precisely what cost saving or costs factors might be involved in delaying this rather than doing any connection with other work that' s This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 34 planned and what the possibility of entering at Abbey and connecting that somehow rather than enhancing this particular entrance. There' s three questions there. Trueblood/I can only remember one at a time. Norton/OK. I'll do the first one. What's the view of the Parks and Rec. Commission? Trueblood/The commission is supportive of this project as it's proposed which means that you know the 10 foot trail Willow Creek trail going along basically east side yea the east side of the creek as well as the eight foot trail coming up through the from Teg to Burry (can't hear). I will tell you that through the process of negotiation if you will I never specifically took to the commission the compromise of narrowing that part down between the Muller and Dunner residence as from 8 feet to six feet. Norton/You were talking eight all the way. Trueblood/Yes. Norton/But that's probably not highly controversially. What about the cost factor? Trueblood/Question of cost. Norton/Are you going to save a lot by incorporating of this work in with work that' s being done on the other side? Trueblood/I can't give you an exact dollar amount but it only makes good economic sense that if we're going to do the project to do them together, bid them all out at once for a larger project rather than bidding one now and then a smaller one later. I can't tell you what the dollar savings might be. Kubby/I would speak against the motion very strongly because of some of those economic efficiencies and because part of our plan is to finish the spine of the trail and then to work on these neighborhood connections to the main body of the trail and it doesn't make sense to me to avoid this issue for a year and allow that trail to be in such bad condition. When we're going to have crews out there doing the work and that we know we eventually want to do this and so why not do this now, the Parks and Rec. Commission are in support of it. It's been part of our plan in the Willow Creek Trail for quite a long time and we need to get moving on this connectivity issue. I strongly speak against the motion and support the original plan. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 35 Lehman/Terry let me ask a question though. If we choose to to delay this section or in fact perhaps never do it if there isn't a demand to do it the existing trail will be maintained is that not correct? Trueblood/(can't hear). Lehman/I mean we're not going to let this disappear into the sunset if we don't widen it is that correct? Trueblood/It's approaching the sunset now but we'll try to maintain. Lehman/No what I'm asking is this and I think this is very important as far as I'm concerned. If we agree to do what the amendment has suggested that his portion of the trail not be included in this project, in other words be left as is, will it be maintained in a reasonable condition on down the trail, wrong word, in the future would it be maintained so it's not so rough your afraid to ride your bicycle and get killed. Trueblood/To the extent that we can. Lehman/OK. Trueblood/But some of the areas are in need of some fairly major renovation as opposed to just maintenance. Champion/Well I have problems with this whole thing I'd like to keep people happy and I don't mind deferring it but my economics in my head (can't hear) that's not a good idea, it's going to cost a heck of a lot of money when we do it but I would support the plan as it is but making the path that's in-between those two houses only five feet, is that crazy? Kubby/We can vote down that motion and have another one. Norton/Without a lot of virtue I'd say it's crazy. O'Donnell/I don't think that this was ever intended to be part of the trail system and when we have a sidewalk going between two houses I can't think of anything more disturbing than have six skateboards going down there at 2:00 in the morning. I just this is a neighborhood entrance to the park and I could support five feet to and I'm and we've got a motion. Champion/But ifit's a ifI view it as a neighborhood entrance to the park and to the trail system so I don't find a patch of a sidewalk that's entering those two houses because that's (can't hear) gets them where they want to go. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 36 Thornberry/It's a neighborhood entrance now. Champion/Right it is a neighborhood entrance now but if it's not in good, if we're going to have to replace it soon then it doesn't seem economically feasible. Thornberry/Well I said in my motion to defer for a year or until repairs are necessary to the point where it if it is your going to die by pushing a stroller through there. Kubby/Right. Champion/Your not go die you may have a broken ankle. Thornberry/And they said they would keep it up I mean if it's been like for 20 years if it's in real bad condition and the extent of repairs that are necessary to keep it safe are needed to be done by the Parks and Rec. then it would be done to ADA specifications. Kubby/It sounds like we're there. Thornberry/Excuse me I'm sorry. Kubby/I'm sorry (can't hear). Thornberry/But until that point I think it should be left the way it is. Kubby/So Terry what is the state of the trail in your opinion? Is it worth doing any repairs on? Trueblood/Worth is relative I guess. Kubby/I mean cause I know when we when Rick Fosse talks to us about how many overlays of the streets do we do. OK remember this is a transportation system used for multi-purposes, both transportation and recreation. And when we do streets there's a certain point beyond which we don't repair the street anymore it's not feasible, it's not economically prudent. Trueblood/That's correct. Kubby/To keep repairing. Trueblood/That's correct. Kubby/That we reconstruct the street and I think it feels like we're at that point. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 37 Lehman/I think that. Norton/(can't hear). Pardon me Emie go ahead. Lehman/I generally would agree with that with that thinking that if your going to do it do it all at the same time to save money doing it. On the other hand I have a real problem with this because this is a neighborhood sort of entrance to that park. If that entrance is expanded and enhanced to where we are encouraging a lot of folks to use it, we're going to have a parking problem out there, there is no place to park to use that trail. I mean that is strictly a neighborhood use if it were one for extensive public use I would say put an eight foot wide in a heart beat. I don't believe that's the case, I believe it's used only by the neighbors. There is not the possibility really of folks coming from across town and using that because there' s not place to park their vehicles. And because of that I guess that I can support not doing it. Vanderhoef/OK can I just interject in here that this is the neighborhood you've talked about enhancing the park with this motion and this plan that we have fight here we are enhancing the park. We are enhancing it with a major bike trail on the east side. Trueblood/Correct. Vanderhoef/This is the only entrance for anyone in that neighborhood to take their bicycle and access the new trail. Thornberry/Dee if you can use a bicycle there' s another major entrance. Lehman/Teg Drive. Thornberry/Four houses down. Vanderhoef/No you can't get to it from there. Norton/No not. Vanderhoef/There's no trail in between that's a full. Thornberry/There's a sidewalk. Norton/No. Vanderhoef/No there is not. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 38 Thornberry/But your on your bike you can't ride in on the sidewalk's anyway you've got to be on the street right? Kubby/You'd get in an accident. Vanderhoef/Well you would have to. Lehman/Residential. Norton/A residential. Vanderhoef/To use the Abbey Lane and make a trail behind these houses we have to buy land from each one of the property owners in behind their house to make a trail there and we already own land that gets us there so I want to be sure that we have a transportation system that allows ifI buy (excuse me) ifI buy Tom's house and I want to go to south Iowa City on the bike trail and I can't go down the Burry Street entrance I'm going to have to go west from Mormon Trek, go noah to Benton Street, and south on Teg Drive and then come across the park to get onto the trail. Thornberry/You'd need a (can't hear). Hey you don't need to be (can't hear). Vanderhoef/Well this is a great shot. Lehman/I think. Thornberry/They've got streets that go downtown. Norton/This must be. Vanderhoef/I've got to get my neighborhood kids on their bicycles and be able to access the entire Willow Creek Park and the Kiwanis Park without going out to Mormon Trek. Lehman/Are bicycles not using that trail now? Trueblood/The trail within Willow Creek Park. Lehman/Yea the trail we're talking about are bicycles currently using that? Trueblood/Yes. Lehman/They are so what your saying Dee is not true they are using it now. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 39 Vanderhoef/But I think they are using it now and it's not safe. Lehman/But it can be made safe go a head. Vanderhoef/We can make it safe by upgrading the trail. Norton/I'm this is I'm sure that people listening are beginning to be bored stiff by this the conversation but I need to get clear from somebody Terry I don't know who cause I think of this as a neighborhood entrance and I don't want to attract people trying to use that as a trail yet parking in the street there on Burry I think that is not worse. But I keep thinking about Abbey Lane which runs fight into Kiwanis Park is it true that that Abbey Lane could a trail could be connected from Abbey Lane down and left along the west side of the creek and then pick up down below Fred' s house is that connection not possible? Trueblood/Well it's not possible if you put it below Fred' s house but it is below Tom's. Norton/OK. I mean below Tom's house yes. Muller/May I ask one, there was a question here about Abbey Lane and then being able to access to new creek, a new trail on the east side. Norton/Yes. Vanderhoef/Because you've got to come across with the bridge. Muller/Well can't you come across the Kiwanis Park to Teg and there you are at the bike path fight there. Lehman/Yea. Thornberry/Yea. Lehman/There is. Muller/I mean that's. Vanderhoef/But you've got to have the access with the bridge if your going to go the other direction. Norton/When you go left. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 40 Muller/No when you go down Abbey and cross Kiwanis Park you go across the old bridge and fight there is the main path, the interstate, go either way you want to go. Trueblood/That's correct. When Kiwanis Park is complete. Vanderhoef/When it' s complete. Trueblood/That can happen (can't hear). NortoW But when's that? Trueblood/That will be complete this fall. Norton/But now this begins to for me to be more compelling the argument that Tom's presenting let's get that connection the more natural connection from Abbey Lane to the main trail and which seems to me a much more logical trail head. Get that one in while this one hangs in abeyance and if if things change in the year then we'll go back and fix this one better. Muller/It's going to change the dynamics of the use down there when that connection between Abbey Lane and Teg takes place. Norton/And anybody on a bike want to get to that far trail isn't going to have to just go a block from where Burry is down to Abbey Lane and zip across to the same trail I don't see why they should gyrate through that old trail necessarily. Trueblood/Dee that's why we're suggesting as far as the Burry connection just a six, five or six foot wide entry way into that into an eight foot wide trail. Norton/Yea. Trueblood/And the eight foot wide meaning the minimum national standards but 10 feet and in some case even 12 feet is what's recommended. But that's why you know with the main Willow Creek trail it's going to be 10 feet wide and then the current trail will be replaced going from Teg to Burry is recommended for eight feet wide and that's why that's the case. Norton/Then what about? Trueblood/Eight feet still makes it a lot better for multipurpose, bicycles, strollers, joggers, skaters, wheel chairs, whatever. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 41 NortoW I agree but why won't that be true for Abbey over to the bridge? Why can't that be done through Kiwanis? Thornberry/It can be. Trueblood/It can be done. Norton/Is that in the plans? Trueblood/Yes. Norton/Then why not let us do that and then see what needs to be done with this back trail? Kubby/Well that's the motion that's on the floor. Lehman/That's the amendment that's on the floor. Norton/That's the amendment that's right I'1l I'm but I got to be sure there was another option. Thornberry/Right. Lehman/Right. Norton/Over at Abbey is that it gets to make sense to me to try that one than get a straight shot across there before we go through this gyration. Vanderhoef/How are you getting across the creek? Thornberry/There's by a bridge. Norton/Bridge there. Vanderhoef/Well but the bridge is at the other end. Lehman/No it's not there'll be a bridge there to. Norton/There's a bridge right out there so somebody can see it from Teg from Abbey. Trueblood/(can't hear) to Kiwanis Park. Vanderhoef/There's one at the end of Burry, the Burry trail that goes up and goes all the way over to Teg. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 42 Trueblood/Right, and there's another bridge down at Kiwanis Park. Lehman/Mother bridge at Kiwanis Park. Vanderhoef/How far's that one? Trueblood/Oh it's about the middle of the park on that east side. Thornberry/Move the question. Kubby/So one of the questions that hasn't been answered that I asked is how does because this is a neighborhood entrance how does that negate the need to have a wider safer entrance for accessibility purposes? Why is our obligation in people's mind who are arguing that that because it's a neighborhood park that we shouldn't meet our ADA obligations just because whether it's a main entrance or a connectivity entrance our obligations are no different morally or under the law. And if someone would please explain their perspective so I can understand it that would be helpful. Norton/Yea. Lehman/Karen I think the. Norton/The connectivity is answered by the Abbey Lane Teg connection. That answers the major connectivity. The other one is still represented the other one will need to be upgraded and I wouldn't be at all surprised it might need it in a year but it seems to me it might be wise to see how things how things are flowing at that time. Kubby/But that doesn't make sense to me because of the efficiency issue. That we know that it's in bad shape, it may not be in the worst shape possible but we know that it's in bad shape we know that many times out of the year when it's wet that it's harder to pass than not. And so now is the time to do this instead of waiting a year and then getting crews back in there and it's going to be a very expensive project and we have problems on this council sometimes approving those projects especially when their small and their going to be real expensive so now if your going to do it in the next two or three years why would you do it separately that makes no economic public policy sense to me. Norton/Unless it was all the traffic was over there and there was no increase in traffic on that one at all. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 43 Kubby/But we still need to do something about the trail itself aside from the issue in between the two houses on Burry. We need to do something with that because it's not in good condition. And it's part of the city infrastructure that's going to need improvement in the foreseeable future in my in front of my nose in two or three years OK. So ifthat's the case we just read your budgets we try to look forward, we try to be efficient, all you you know tell me why the economic argument doesn't work in here. We want to save the public money. Norton/Spend it now or spend it later you mean. Kubby/This is public money. Thornberry/Because we may not have to spend it later. Vanderhoef/We will have to do it (can't hear). Norton/Is there any suggestion that we won't have to spend it later? Karen's saying we almost certainly will have to spend it later therefore better do it now it's cheaper. Thornberry/There may not be a need to do it. Lehman/I think that the trail will have to be maintained. Dahms/(can't hear). Lehman/You'll have to speak at the microphone if your going to speak. Thornberry/We had maps last night so we're familiar with it already. Dahms/I happen to have the first map and from here you can see Abbey Lane and you can. (End of 99-73 Side 1). Dahms/There's Abbey Lane and there's Burry. Thornberry/Might as well (can't hear). Norton/All fight take it, we take five. Lehman/All fight good idea, we're going to take five minutes, no no, we're going to take a five minute break, we're going to take a five minute break. (Break) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 44 Lehman/To add to the discussion relative to the amendment. Kubby/I wanted to ask Terry Trueblood to clarify something. I thought I heard you said that the current trail is near it's sunset. Trueblood/That was putting it mildly yes. Kubby/Will you ex, I don't know that we really heard that, does that mean that it's useful life has been lived out? Trueblood/In my in my opinion, yes it has been. Kubby/All right so to me. I'm sorry. Trueblood/It's you know I mean we can go in and we can make patchwork repairs but I think to use an old clich6 it's just throwing good money after bath. And I think it's due for a rebuilt. Kubby/Thank you. I think there you go. Norton/May I ask while your there. Suppose that were the if what you say is true and but we put in the cross connection from Abbey across and waited and the other one was getting so bad you just couldn't do anything it was really deteriorating so heavily you couldn't. Could you abandon it? Trueblood/Well it could be abandoned yea. But I think to do so. Norton/You would still have connectivity to the park. Trueblood/To do so we'd have to I think we'd have to. Kubby/Remove it. Trueblood/I think we'd have to go in and tear it out rather than leave a trail that's not in good condition I think. Norton/Yea but that wouldn't be a major enterprise. Kubby/But it would also be a burden on the neighborhood because they wouldn't have a path. I mean it's for the neighborhood. Norton/So they'd have to go a block down to Abbey to go across. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 45 Trueblood/PersonallyI don'tthinkthat would bethe right thingto do butitcould be done. Vanderhoef/Well I'm really concerned with the safety and the liability that we have as a city for this path that is not up to standards at all. I mean it's dangerous, I've walked it all, it's definitely in my opinion at the end of it's life and we need to move forward on this now not a year from now. Kubby/Isn't trail connectivity part of our comprehensive plan? Neighborhood connectivity. Vanderhoef/And it's part of a neighborhood open space plan to continue the connectivity of all of our parks to connect them with our neighborhoods and with our major commercial areas and with our schools. Kubby/So this motion it seems has us losing an opportunity to follow our comprehensive plan to do this in an efficient way, make all of our infrastructure ADA accessible and gives us an opportunity to upgrade the connectivity of the neighborhoods so it doesn't make much sense to me at all and especially this economic argument that we know it's in such bad condition that it really needs an overhaul and it seems very imprudent to do a small segment of trail in a year or two or three. Lehman/Further discussion. We hadn't voted on the amendment that's just a voice vote is that correct? All those in favor of the amendment say Aye. Opposed. Thomberry/Wait a minute. Kubby/I. Vanderhoef/I. Norton/Wait a minute if I oppose cause I, I oppose the amendment. Karr/No, I'm sorry. Norton/Have you got it right? Karr/Could you please do it again or else a show of hands. Norton/Do it by a show of hands. Lehman/All right those in favor of the amendment raise your hands. Those oppose. The amendment carries. They'll be discuss the motion as amended. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #6a Page 46 Thornberry/Move the motion as amended. Lehman/We've already done that. Thornberry/No as amended. Lehman/It's already amended. Karr/You don't need to cause the resolution's on the floor isn't it. Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #7 Page 47 ITEM NO. 7. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA CITY SENIOR CENTER FIRE SPRINKLER INSTALLATION AND CEILING REPLACEMENT PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. Lehman/Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. May I have a? Thornberry/Move adoption of the resolution. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry. Norton/Second. Lehman/Seconded by Norton. Discussion. Kubby/Do we have any sense of how much how many internal loans the senior center has or what I don't know how to ask this question. I know there's been some other internal loans for the senior center for other improvements and so does this create a burden on the senior center budget or a need to ask as for a larger budget to repay an additional loan or is it all figured out? Linda Kopping/As far as I know I've talked with Don Yucuis about it and it has been you know he's fairly he's very comfortable with it and that's not a problem. And as the exact number of internal loans I think perhaps we have two at the moment. Kubby/OK. So that will there need to be an increase asking from the senior center to council for increase operating because of this extra loan? Kopping/I don't believe so because. Kubby/Some will be. Kopping/Some of it will dissipate of course but I think that this is a one-time project we're not going to be putting in fire sprinklers system again and the other projects have been one that are long-termed projects the HBAC renovation for instance. This is something we're not going to be doing every year so actually I would think our budget would go down. Kubby/OK. I understand it's a one shot deal but it will take years to pay it off which will be part of your operating expense. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #7 Page 48 Kopping/That's correct. Kubby/OK. Thank you Linda. Lehman/Any other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #8 Page 49 ITEM NO. 8. CONSIDER A ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14 ENTITLED "UNIFORM DEVELOPMENT CODE," CHAPTER 1 ENTITLED "STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY GENERALLY," ARTICLE E ENTITLED "SIGNS IN PUBLIC PLACES," SECTION 4 ENTITLED "EXCEPTIONS" OF THE CITY CODE TO AMEND SIGNS IN PUBLIC PLACES. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Lehman/That request is expedite consideration of the signing. Vanderhoef/This time I hope it gets the right one. I move that the rule requiring the ordinances must be considered and voted on for passage at two council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended and that the second consideration on both be waived and that the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time. Thornberry/Second. Lehman/Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Thornberry. Discussion. Kubby/Are we doing this because the old agreement is expiring before three readings can take place, does anyone know, why are we expediting it7 Atkins/I don't know. Karr/I do happen to know because I did ask staff and the response was that they had requested this for some time and it did lapse before we realized that the ordinance had to be amended. Kubby/OK. So we're in limbo right now. Karr/That's correct. Kubby/OK. Thank you. I always need a rationale. Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries. Vanderhoef/I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time. Thornberry/Second. Lehman/Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Thornberry. Discussion. Roll Call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #10 Page 50 ITEM NO. 10. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND ECUMENICAL HOUSING CORPORATION CONCERNING ACQUISITION OF ECUMENICAL TOWERS' PARKING AREA NEEDED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA AVENUE MULTI-USE PARKING FACILITY AND PROVISION OF REPLACEMENT PARKING, ON BOTH A TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT BASIS TO ECUMENICAL TOWERS. Norton/Move adoption of the resolution. O'Donnell/Second. Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by O'Donnell. Champion/(can't hear) Didn't we have all those signs? Lehman/Discussion. So are we? Holecek/Yes, the letter of understanding has been fully executed with all the exhibits attached. Champion/Thank you. Good. Lehman/OK. Kubby/I'm going to be voting no on this because I feel so strongly that the multi-use parking facility isn't a good idea that I can't support any of the components in making this vehicle. O'Donnell/And I will be supporting this because I think this downtown parking facility is absolutely essential to the vital to the revitalization of downtown so I will be supporting this vote. Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries Kubby voting no. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #11 Page 51 ITEM NO. 11. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING MAYOR TO SIGN AND CITY CLERK TO ATTEST CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA AVENUE MULTI-USE PARKING FACILITY PROJECT. Lehman/Engineer's estimate of this project was $10,775,645. The low bid was from McComas-Lacina of a $11,469,000 or approximately that. It's been recommended that we accept the bid. Discussion. Norton/Move adoption of the resolution. O'Donnell/Second. Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion. Norton/Well you always hate to see a bid high but we've found architects estimate are sometimes low and we've had some that have been rather more than this which is less than 10 percent. And it's a very complicated project so and I think for the variety of reasons that the parking facility not only frees Iowa Avenue parking it's very important to some of the downtown churches, it's very important to the Senior Center, ecumenical towers, the Library, the other aspects of downtown that I think overall we should proceed with this project. I think it will bring a great deal of vitality to downtown. Champion/I do I'm going to totally support it by also glad to know that we might be able to reduce the cost by looking at the materials that are being used but not the substitive part of the parking structure. Lehman/Other discussion. Steve Atkins/Ernie I do want to point out that our recommendation is the base bid plus the alternates. Lehman/I'm sorry that's correct. And that total is $11,648,000. Atkins/Yes. Lehman/Not $469,000. Kubby/And if we at some point in the future decide to add a ramp to the Senior Center is that still estimated about $250,0007 Atkins/Best of my knowledge that number did not change. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #11 Page 52 Kubby/So that's not included in the alternates or in this project that will be voted on? Atkins/That's correct. That's right. Kubby/So that would be an additional quarter of a million dollars? Atkins/Yes. Thornberry/Plus or minus 10 percent. Champion/The walkway. Kubby/The walkway. What did I say? Thornberry/The ramp. Kubby/Oh I'm sorry. If it were only that much. Norton/May I ask where do we? Pardon me Emie go ahead. Lehman/I concur with what your comments Dee I believe this was a this has been part of a three year project that included the condemnation of property removing of people out of their of their businesses and their apartments. There's been so much involved in this. So many commitments made by the city, so much inconvenience to those folks that we've had to work with that it would almost a travesty not to proceed with this so I absolutely will support this 100 percent. Champion/Well also the things we're going to do in the future are depending on this. Lehman/Oh absolutely, it's dependent on this being built. Kubby/Well not out of any kind of legal construct but the plans that we that we have created. Norton/We did, we made the decision. Lehman/Well I, yea but I think it's kind of an incredibility. Thornberry/You know I guess I don't know why why we couldn't have had the bid prior to moving anybody out of the business or getting an estimate of what it's going to cost to do that before we before we even moved them out. I don't understand we're sort of locked into this, no matter what the bid came by. If your going to take those businesses and. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #11 Page 53 Lehman/Dean I think your right except that even if you had the bid before you wouldn't have known what the condemnation would have been, we wouldn't have known the cost of moving the people, there are so many unknowns and no matter how we did it there's always going to be a certain number of unknowns and. Kubby/Except this is the biggest dollar amount and that's the part that we left to the end. Norton/(can't hear). Champion/Your right but that have, it obviously came back to us like a million and a half over the estimate we would have to say let' s go back to the drawing board and reconfigure this ramp and get a million or two out of it. But this like Dean (can't hear) this is less than 8 percent and we've had a lot of bids especially those water sewer bids that have been well above that percentage over estimate. Lehman/Not very many on water and sewer. Champion/Well on some of them. (Alltalking). Champion/I'm just going to pick them all up (can't hear). Thornberry/We've had yea your picking on water and sewer. Norton/Ernie I think in fairness we ought to mention that as City Manager reminded us last night this may make things pretty tight with respect to parking fees in ways we had not anticipated, we'll be as cautious as we can but I think I think the financing is going to be tight under the circumstances. And how we get some kind of connection through the Senior Center which I personally think is (can't hear). How we're going to get that in I haven't figured out yet. I don't think we can do with mirrors but I don't I think we ought to have a plan to. Do we have physical plans for that connection? Atkins/We have some preliminary sketches but we've not gone the full architectural design route. Lehman/Well we also have time on this one I think that if we were to be asked to make that decision right now in view of the cost it would be kind of difficult. A year from now it might be a lot simpler decision. Norton/Yea, well I'm just expressing my wish list. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #11 Page 54 Champion/I think we all (can't hear) that. Vanderhoef/And I wish that also that as we plan it that we get some community partnering in this because it's more than a city project, it is for everyone who uses the Senior Center. Atkins/Just a reminder late this Summer, early Fall you'll see (can't hear) review again like we did last year so as you think about those things you let us know. Kubby/Steve is it possible when we do kind of the fiscal analysis once we get the materials issued settled? Atkins/Yes. Kubby/That we don't increase our plans for obligation bond contributions with this? But that we, so that the general tax payer doesn't have to pay this if there is an increase cost but the users, the parking fees have to do that versus the general tax payer. Atkins/That's correct. That's the overriding policy. (All talking). Kubby/Well it wouldn't have to be done that way it needs to be a policy decision and if that's the road you were going to go down. Atkins/I've never understood it otherwise and part of the council that parking revenue bond and as well as parking revenues is far away. Kubby/It paid back even the GO bonds. Norton/Well we've had that general notion that by in large the parking should support itself. Vanderhoef/Absolutely. Norton/And therefore that may be the facts of life. Kubby/But I guess the thing I'm confused about is will we be using parking revenue bonds to pay for the commercial part? Champion/No. Vanderhoef/No. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #11 Page 55 Atkins/We would likely use a general obligation note something on a short term basis because your policy position is it's to be sold therefore we wouldn't want to put permanent financing in place like we might on the capitol structure. Yea. Kubby/Right. But the increase cost from the estimate is not just about the parking structure part of it it's about the whole thing. Atkins/Absolutely. Kubby/And so that's where my question came from to make sure that the increased costs is born by the users of this facility and not by the general public. Atkins/Pan of our financing plan is to take the project apart in it's pieces and apply parking revenue debt to the. And there's also potential for taxable parking revenue debt we could use that for the commercial component. I have not put those details together but I I think I certainly understand what your policy position historically has been. Norton/Is it also true that this may well delay any however a long term thoughts about any additional parking? Atkins/Well I think that there's certainly a risk that the parking fund can only absorb so much debt. One of the plans we have in our debt plan is that (can't hear) but I think it's the year 2004 we have a substantial amount of parking debt that goes off. Thereby it opens a margin within but you also have to imply the effects, apply the affects of inflation operationally on the thing. What we might do the first couple of years of debt is a interest only. That's not an uncommon concept of putting things together. Champion/I think you'd be better off if you paid principle only. Lehman/You'll never be a banker. OK. Roll call. Motion carries, Kubby voting no. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #12 Page 56 ITEM NO. 12. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING, AUTHORIZING, AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND NEUMANN MONSON PC OF IOWA CITY, IOWA TO PROVIDE ON-SITE OBSERVATION SERVICES DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA AVENUE MULTI-USE PARKING FACILITY PROJECT. Thornberry/Move adoption. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry. Vanderhoef/Second. Lehman/Seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion. This is an estimated cost not to exceed $246,000. Atkins/This is a contract service to provide inspection which we have in the past done our best to do it in-house. I will reiterate to you our continuing problem we simply cannot get inspectors. We estimated our in-house cost to be about half of this. It has to be inspected we really don't have another alternative. Kubby/Can we, is there like a professional inspectors association bulletin that we could advertise in because we could save a lot of money. Atkins/(can't hear). Kubby/If we could hire import somebody for the job. Atkins/Yes, well I've encouraged Chuck to do anything and everything to try to find these folks. We've talked about paying premiums, we do have to realize that within our collective bargaining pay plan, there' s just there's a whole variety of pressures. We just don't have much choice though because we've just got to do it. It has been budgeted and so we're hoping to save some money but we simply don't have it. Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries Kubby voting no. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #13 Page 57 ITEM NO. 13. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSULTANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND NEUMANN MONSON PC OF IOWA CITY, IOWA ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE IOWA AVENUE MULTI-USE PARKING FACILITY. Lehman/This is for demolition drawings for a fee not to exceed $37,700. Thornberry/Move adoption of the resolution. Lehman/Moved by Thomberry. Norton/Second. Lehman/Seconded by Norton. Discussion. Thornberry/Why do you need drawings to demolish something? Lehman/I have a problem with that too. Atkins/Well I don't think you have much choice but I understand your dilemma's. I mean we're going to design it so we can tear it down. That's pretty much what your going to have to do. Kubby/Your well you could take it down safely. Atkins/You take it down safely. (All talking) Atkins/You have a whole variety of obligations that you have to fulfill and it requires. I think it requires an architect, Tim, to approve the plans? Tim's nodding yes. Norton/They get up there with a big wrecking ball or put a bunch of dynamite. Lehman/$38,000 to wreck. Champion/Get a bunch ofteenagers out there. Atkins/That's why we're going to have somebody do it who doesn't put dynamite in it. Norton/I see them (can't hear). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #13 Page 58 Thornberry/Are they going to yea, are they going to use dynamite to explode this thing or? Atkins/I. Lehman/We don't know. Norton/It's kind of a party, let it collapse. Atkins/OK. Lehman/For $37,700. Kubby/I don't think we should have a party when we're destroying two historic buildings. Thornberry/$37,000 party I don't you know. Norton/This is, I don't think East lawn rates that. Thornberry/Give it over to the Greeks. Lehman/OK I think that were going to have to vote on this. Roll call. Atkins/Yes. Lehman/Motion carries Kubby voting no. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #15 Page 59 ITEM NO. 15. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING MAYOR TO SIGN AND CITY CLERK TO ATTEST CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA CITY TRANSIT FACILITY METHANE ABATEMENT PROJECT, PHASE I. Lehman/Estimate is $225,000, they have recommended that we reject this so I would entertain a motion to approve it and we can then vote it down. Thornberry/Move adoption of the resolution. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry. Vanderhoef/Second. Lehman/Seconded by Vanderhoef. My understanding is this is dramatically over what the anticipated and this is the reason that we are. Atkins/Double. Lehman/Double so. Roll call. Motion is defeated unanimously. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #16 Page 60 ITEM NO. 16. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH MICHAEL S., CHRISTINE M., MONICA B., AND MARC B. MOEN FOR TEMPORARY USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR A PORTION OF CLINTON STREET IN IOWA CITY, IOWA. Lehman/This is regarding the reconstruction of the Whiteway property that burned. Thomberry/Move adoption of the resolution. O'Donnell/Second. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion. Kubby/I know we had talked a little bit about if it was really necessary to have the alley closed the whole 18 months. I realize that when their constructing the side of the building and needing to get materials in and out that it would need to be closed. And we got a letter from Mr. Donahue that it really would be best. I want to make ensure that other businesses who use that alley regularly have a lot of advanced notice that if there are a few days where the alley could be open that they be notified if it's possible in advance if that could happen just to relieve the hardship on the Miller or The Mill property where tracks will not have to go through there which is you know pretty tight ifit's full of cars so I'm hesitant to do this, I understand the safety issue so I'm going to support it but any way we could accommodate even a day here and a day there would be very appreciated I think by those businesses and by the track drivers who have to make that comer. Atkins/We can do that. Lehman/Roll call. Motion catTies. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #17 Page 61 ITEM NO. 17. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH RINELLA BUILDING PARTNERSHIP FOR TEMPORARY USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR A PORTION OF DUBUQUE STREET IN IOWA CITY, IOWA. Thornberry/Move adoption of the resolution. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry. Norton/Second. Lehman/Seconded by Norton. Discussion. Champion/Mr. Mayor I will be abstaining from this because is the building which houses my business. Lehman/And this is for remodeling on the property is that correct? Champion/Yea. Lehman/OK. Roll call. Motion carries 6 to 1 abstention by Conhie. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #18 Page 62 ITEM NO. 18. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND WORLDWIDE FIBER NETWORKS, INC. TO USE PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR THE INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A FIBER OPTIC NETWORK. Thornberry/Move adoption of the resolution. Vanderhoef/Second. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion. Norton/Does this does it only involves a few crossings not. Lehman/Yea it basically applies to the railroad fight of way and crosses public streets which is why they're asking. Norton/Some of those are on the Crandic and some are on the Interstate fight? Lehman/I that's correct. Norton/If I remember correctly. Vanderhoef/Yes. Norton/West of the river on Crandic and east of the river on. Oh boy. You know my hope. Lehman/Yes. O'Dormell/Very well. Lehman/Please step to the microphone and if you'd give us your name please. Brad Craybel/My name is Brad Craybel I work with a Construction Resources and we represent WorldWide Fiber so I'm here to answer any questions that the council may have regarding the project. Kubby/Great. I have a. Do you know at this point if there will ever have to be complete street closed for the work that you'll be doing? Is that not? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #18 Page 63 Craybel/That is not been determined as a matter of fact and discussions with Mr. Fosse and with the engineering department we have determined that we're going to submit for the concept of the actual construction of our project. And the actual cutting of the city streets will be set will be permanent separately and will involve a lot more detail and what not. The only time we ever cut city streets or close lanes is for safety of course to locate the existing utilities underneath the roadway. So it's not to disrupt public service or endanger anyone if it happened to be a gas line. Lehman/Well this cable go immediately adjacent to the tracks? I mean how far are you going to be away from the tracks in putting the cable? Craybel/At the roadway crossings we're going to be approximately 15 feet off the rail, off the more south side rail. Lehman/So your not going to disturb the crossing so much that we get you to rebuild it for us? Craybel/No sir. (All talking). Lehman/It was worth a try. Do you (can't hear). Vanderhoef/Are you going to bore??? under? Craybel/Yes mare. Lehman/Your going to bore under. Craybel/Most of the most of the, all of the crossings within Iowa City will be directionally bored. However we do have a couple crossings that we will actually rail plow underneath the crossing because it is a road bridge. And as well as we have a railroad bridge crossing of a road in which we'll actually install in the (can't hear) of the railroad bridge. Norton/(can't hear). Atkins/Excuse me what was rail plow? Craybel/I'm sorry sir that's a technical term I didn't quite qualify. Basically it's a rail mounted device used to just like plow in a field plow the. Atkins/Like plowing. No. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #18 Page 64 Craybel/Yes. The total concept is plowing is the same concept is used (can't hear). Atkins/Oh, no Mike new that. Thornberry/Goes down there, goes down the railroad track and plows to the side. Atkins/You all knew that. Lehman/Plows out the ties. Atkins/Thank you very much. Norton/Is there only one network in this? I mean of building all this work is there just one fiber? I mean whose it service, how many different, once your making the holes why not put bundles of fibers in there. Craybel/We are putting in a complete network sir. But we're only putting in one cable at this time. Once that network is in we would of course be able to put in multiple cables and would of course permit (can't hear). Norton/Oh I see you can add additional cables too I see OK. Craybel/Yes. Just one construction. Lehman/Very good. Norton/The other users can do that too or does it is it primary only your users I mean. Kubby/If they pay. Norton/Is this cable open to others? Lehman/Well he owns it. Craybel/Well sir the institution I'm with doesn't actually control the facilities however, I'm sure that ifND would like to talk to World Wide Fiber about purchasing leasing the available duct space or buying some fiber they would be more than happy to discuss that with you. Norton/Well I was thinking it's kind of like the towers you know for personal communication system. There are people who are suppose to collocate and. Craybel/Right. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #18 Page 65 Norton/So we're not digging holes all the time. Craybel/That's correct sir and that is possible. Of course that's negotiations between the two entities involved for that. Lehman/Thank you Brad. Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #20 Page 66 ITEM NO. 20. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE EASEMENT AGREEMENT FOR TEMPORARY USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, AND THE COTTAGE FOR A SIDEWALK CAFE. (NEW) Lehman/This also is new. Thornberry/Move adoption of resolution. Vanderhoef/Second. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion. Champion/Well the only discussion I have is and it's a legal one. Why can't we put this sidewalk cafe's that are not really handled by us under consent items? Karr/All renewals are, the original one is a resolution for separate consideration. Champion/I'll leam everything (can't hear). Lehman/Your right on top of that one Marian. Vanderhoef/We made that request. Thornberry/Didn't even need a legal opinion, that was legal. Lehman/All right. Holecek/You got an eyebrow on that that (can't hear). Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 67 ITEM NO. 24. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION Norton/I'll go. Thornberry/Go ahead. Norton/I'll start I wanted to make just a few comments. First I was quite pleased to see the note from the Chief of Police in our information packet about looking into the issue of racial profiling and how he might. Atkins/OK. Norton/Respond to that issue and I think it's extremely important and I was very impressed by the tone of his letter and look forward to hearing his detailed plans which I hear will be coming before too long. Atkins/Yes. Norton/I think that's excellent. I wanted to mention the senior band I suppose other's of you, Dean and others were there. The Seniors band concert downtown with our band and some from folks from Cedar Falls and some from Cedar Falls and it certainly the whole band from Quad Cities was very impressive evening, a lovely evening. The other thing I wanted to mention is a concern I've this is a more substitive concem (can't hear) about city public relations and I'll and I'm trying to develop some proposals for your consideration. There's several things about cities activities that are noted and the thing that comes out with the water bill "City News" with but this goes out at different time because of the billing cycle so it's hard to be very timely with it. And yet there are other issues like somebody thought what in the world is going on on Foster Road. Now no matter how many times you have a council meeting they don't always get out and some people are want to know the status of certain police investigation and things of this nature. And I'm kind of wondering whether we need to think of some more elaborate mechanism for more regular session. Atkins/We do have something that's going to be in shortly in the Community News. Lisa's putting it together we're calling it "Insights" and we're going to try to write fairly current stories and beyond the only thing I can encourage folks to call in and we'll try to try to track them down as best we can. Norton/I was thinking if you had a press conference occasionally, let's say every three weeks or whatever and at one of them it might be Andy reporting about the fire and some of the implications of the fire downtown. In other words, for sprinklers and other thing. Another time it might be the Chief of Police, another time it This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 68 might be Rick Fosse or something or Chuck Schmadeke about one of the projects. I don't know I just think we need to be. It's hard to get people informed and then their surprised by substantial activities right in front of them. So whatever we can do with that regard I'd like to see some new thinking about. OK. Lehman/Dee. Vanderhoef/Sure. Just a reminder it was in the newsletter but the yard waste stickers are now available starting for July 1 you may either stop here at the Civic Center and buy a one year sticker for $20.00 or you may mail in for that sticker and you add an additional 50 cents for the mailing and handling of that. Then the only other thing I have is to report that I will be attending a week from Thursday the State Legislative Meeting of the Iowa League of Cities. And I would be happy to have any ideas and comments from this council that would like to take for the legislative committee to consider. You may e-mail me. Lehman/Maybe. Vanderhoef/Maybe. Otherwise you can pick up the phone. Lehman/Actually in another meeting we're being asked to all of us leave our computers here this evening so they can be speeded up and made more user friendly whatever and we can pick them up next Tuesday but go ahead I like that Thornberry. Thornberry/I like that emphasis on user friendly. Steve there's still no turn lanes from Riverside Drive onto Highway 6. Norton/You mean the stripes. Thornberry/The strips, there's no there's no stripe turn lanes. It's a double turn lane from Riverside Drive onto Highway 6 going east and there's still people being run off the road to the right when they go from the left lane to the left. Atkins/I'll make contact with them. Thornberry/I know it's a state highway but maybe we could put a bug in there ear here. Atkins/I will. Thornberry/OK. Last Sunday several of us had a nice wet golf outing and all the city employees were out and we had a real good wet time. It really got wet but Dee Norton, Dee Vanderhoef, Mike O'Donnell did sort of OK. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 69 Vanderhoef/We were shooting par what do you mean we were doing OK? Thornberry/Well par was best ball isn't great. Vanderhoef/It doesn't win much. Thornberry/But Mike had some real nice puts and everybody everybody helped out so that was real fun. Vanderhoef/It was. Thornberry/And it was not. All the city employees that wanted to do that did it and we all got wet and but it was a real good time. Yes I was really glad to introduce the big senior band, the new horizon band on Saturday night. I really enjoyed that and they are a good group. They have a lot of fun and their pretty good. If you get a chance to hear them go out of your way to listen. I also road the bus for the 50th class reunion at City High. The class of 1949 and those people knew a lot of about Iowa City and some of them hadn't been here since 1949 and I learned a lot about the city as it was then and it has changed considerably and they all think it's for the better. So happy 50th reunion and thank you for the little the little the City High School Little Hawk Club. The school that leads. What is the tag line for West High? Do you know? Anybody know the tag line for West High? Norton/Must have one. Thornberry/Oh oh. Lehman/Your going to get chastised. Thornberry/We'll probably know that by next meeting. Lehman/You can assured of that. Champion/I don't think they have one. Thornberry/I had an incident last week I crashed my airplane. And I really would like to thank members of the city council. Everybody called and asked how I was doing and everything. The emergency room personnel, the Johnson County Ambulance people, the rescue people, the Sheriff's department, the Iowa City Police Department. The emergency room people at the University were really really good and the 7th floor trauma people fantastic and thank you Dean Borg for you, and over 100 people who have sent me cards and letters and phone calls and e- mail's and one plant. I got a plant. I'm glad it wasn't flowers but the plant is nice. And I'm fine and I made a lot of contacts at the University. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 70 Norton/You were going to say with the ground. Lehman/Mike. O'Donnell/Well it hasn't been mentioned yet but the chicanes are going. I think this was a very good attempt by the city for traffic calming. Your never going to know if it's successful unless you try it and this simply did not work. We do recognize we made a mistake and we're going to take them out. Big things happened tonight, the parking ramp, a huge item and I just want to say one of the reasons, there are many reasons to support this parking ramp one of mine has always been moving the seniors off the front steps of Ecumenical Towers out of the icy alley's into walkway so I will be supporting that. We also passed the Noaheast District Plan. I believe it will be a good plan, I believe it was too detailed and I think we have modified it and I think it should be pointed out this is a recommendation, it's a guide, it's not set in concrete. And we should be watching this. I was going to comment on golf but that's already happened and I enjoyed playing with you. And also my final thing I hope everybody voted today, it was very important. Champion/Well I wanted to let this council know that I did go to a Downtown Association Meeting and got their blessing for starting a little committee about downtown cleanup. We're going to have a little brainstorming, a group of four of us, (can't hear) have a small group to present some ideas we're hoping to involve the student senate and also the downtown merchants and what we can do to help keep the downtown clean and free of litter which is a terrible problem. The other thing is that the new playground equipment in the pedestrian mall is open. There must have been 100 kids playing on it this morning. It's beautiful and make sure you walk across the padding because it's I'd like to have that in my house it's really really comfortable. O'Donnell/Shows up missing we'll know where to look. Champion/I am thinking about redoing my third floor. And I want to comment congratulations to who was ever responsible but the trucks are not staying on Dubuque Street I think their being ticketed, I think their, I see them running out and make deliveries and a lots of complaint on them but no complaints on anybody out it and so I appreciate that that getting done. I think the good things are happening downtown with the ramp, my building, that whole Catherine's is going to be restored back to it's original configuration which is going to be very beautiful and much nicer than it is now. It kind of got one of those 50 updates for the kind of (cant hear) by putting all those terrible windows in. So although it's going to be a tremendous inconvenience for my business I think it's going to be a tremendous asset when it's done I'm really happy their doing it. And I think the Moen's building on the where there building burned down is another positive This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 71 thing downtown and I'm just really excited about the renovation it's going well. But thanks for getting the trucks off Dubuque Street. Kubby/I want to make just a brief comment about Moen's building too because I'm sorry I cant' remember which paper but it stated that there (can't hear) like I thought it was worded in that it's really important for people to know that the issue that we're interested in exploring is looking at a phase in over five years of the increased value of the new building so we won't risk any current tax revenues that we received. So I think that it's a if someone whose not traditionally in favor of tax abatement I think that because there is no risk and it's a very short term thing, some of the tax abatements we do are 10 or longer years and this is a very short term one. With a 20 year or with a 20 percent increase each of those five years to get up to the 100 percent of the tax revenue is a very good tradeoff for the community. I just want to make that clear. There was one thing in our packet from Planning and Zoning about the pending list. Norton/Yes. Kubby/And the issue about the communication towers feeling that issue is kind of resolved. And I'm not sure that I agree with that because one of the things we talked about resolving either through some kind of cooperative agreements with (can't hear) ordinance to save that how people putting up towers or putting up dishes or I don't know ifthat's what their called for cell towers that they have to cooperate so that we don't have a proliferation of cell towers either on public or private property so that we reduce the numbers and so I couldn't bring this up because it was something we might deliberate on and so I'd like to have that come back to us at another formal talk about it again. Norton/I definitely think the what I see in the class of ordinances is certainly require that collocation so you don't get a proliferation of towers and I. Kubby/I don't want that issue to drop. Norton/I don't think it should drop away. Kubby/And that' s how it seemed in that planning and zoning memo and so I want to disagree on that one point have some further discussion at informal. Atkins/Is that, which item I'll bring out and Karin be prepared to discuss it with you at a informal work session. Kubby/Are there people interested? Lehman/Well I think we need at least clarification absolutely. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 72 Atkins/OK. We'll take care of that. Norton/Before that goes away. Kubby/Right. A couple things that are happening soon. A new group is forming called Friends of Hickory Hill and their going to meet tomorrow Wednesday July 1 is that the right date? Tomorrow's July 1. Champion/No Friday is. Lehman/Thursday is. Norton/Thursday the 1st, tomorrow's the 30th. Kubby/Thursday. Champion/Thursday' s July 1 st? Lehman/Right. Thornberry/Is it Thursday. Kubby/So call I'm not sure ifit's Wednesday or ifit's July 1st so I apologize for that. (End of 99-73 Side 2) Kubby/Because (can't hear). Another very interesting event happening is some people are getting together to talk about having political on-line discussions across the state of Iowa about common issues. It could be seen as kind of an Iowa Caucus on-line that isn't necessarily based on party affiliation and this has been happening in Minnesota with some great success for political (cant hear) and this is going to be happening Monday July 12 at the Iowa City Public Library from 7:30 to 9:00 PM with a man named Steven Cliff who was kind of the pioneer of the Minnesota program, that might be interesting for folks. For more information you can call Rusty Martin at 354-7220 and Rusty was someone who had a local on-line political discussion called RM news and it claimed to have evolved into JC or Johnson County news and if people are interested in getting involved in that you can call me and I'll give you instructions on how to get on that list. July 241h the, well many groups are cosponsoring this but it is a celebration of the American Disabilities Act. And there will be a parade and city council will have an entry in it. And the parade that begins at 10:00 at the Civic Center parking lot so if your interested in joining that parade as an organization you can call the Everett Connor Center at 338-3870. We hope that people will come and view the parade This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 73 because there are lots of entries. There are at least 25 entries and I'm sure we'll have some more. Norton/Have we plans for a sign Karen? Kubby/I don't know. Norton/We need to think about that we had kind of a jury rigs kind last year if I remember. Champion/Right. Kubby/If someone else wants to do (can't hear). Thornberry/Yea we made that at the last minute there. Norton/Something gaudy right yea. Vanderhoef/(can't hear). Kubby/Yea and we can print that out that's a great idea. Thornberry/That's a (can't hear) gaudy. Kubby/Yea and that's a great idea. And I hope to be able to join the council I'm helping do some things in the moming and so I will try my best do my job and then mn up and catch up with you so I'm not being disrespectful or rude I'm just trying to fulfill my commitments to the organizations. And then at 11:00 there's going to be a celebration at College Green Park. It's a real family oriented day with speakers, clowns, face painting, arts and crafts, games (can't hear). Please come. Let's see I know I had a couple of things. Oh the Jazz Fest is coming up. Very important downtown event we're closing public streets so people can dance in the street. It's one of my favorite times of year so please make sure that on the evening of July 3rd and all day July 4th you come and party downtown with the Jazz Fest. Norton/Absolutely. Kubby/One last thing. And that is Professor Bums Weston who has had considerable connection with people in Kosovo over the years has suggested that one of the ways Iowa City could become involved in reconstruction of that area of the world for the City of Iowa City to have a Sister City program with a place in Kosovo and the possibility of engineers help the city organizing health care professionals or trade people plumbers, electricians etc. to go to help rebuild from the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 74 devastation that we caused and we're a big part of causing it the United States and it's a very interesting idea to me I'm not sure how to go about exploring that we've talked about Sister Cities in the past and have kind of declined. This seems kind of like a big project if we wanted to do and I'm not sure where to go with it but anyone's interested with some ideas please get a hold of me. If council members are interested get a hold of me or get a hold of the mayor to put it on (can't hear). Norton/Or any of us I guess yea. Thomberry/(can't hear). Kubby/That's all I have. Thank you. Lehman/First Karen I want to apologize Karen reminded me at about 8:00 to remind folks they still had an hour to vote and I just came to that paper and I'm sorry I mean obviously at that point there was time enough to vote. Incidentally we have the results. Supervisor Thompson was reelected by a 61 percent margin. The amendment to the constitution was defeated in Johnson County by a 63 percent margin. That's only Johnson County votes though. (All talking). Champion/Amendment? Lehman/Yes. I have two things there is a a call in line the city has for comments relative to the difficulties we're experiencing with the deer. It's called the Deer Line 356- 5015 and if you would care to call that number and express your opinion's as to what we should do with the deer I'm sure that we will we will monitor all the calls that are received. Today I was a meeting of mayors of the major cities in Cedar Rapids. Very interesting meeting we had mayors from actually all across the state, League of Cities was there along the Chamber of commerce and I think that the cities are looking at a little bit about the items that will be discussed next week in Des Moines with you Dee. Interesting League of Cities have been reasonably unsuccessful in my opinion in promoting the agenda's of cities primarily because cities all go indifferent direction but I. We had a very good meeting I thought that maybe we'll see some activity that maybe we can all get behind before the state legislature convenes in January. Kubby/I think Ernie you should go and speak more often because when you spoke they did what you asked and so I think your pretty effective. Lehman/Well. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 75 Kubby/Mayors group can be a powerful group. Lehman/I related that but not that we are that I've say we have gone. But I did relate that I really believe that elected officials need to go to Des Moines whether their hiring lobbyists. And that was disagreed with by a couple of lobbyists and a couple of mayors but there were a couple three state legislatures who were there who said that' s that really is true that elected folks not going down in mass and overwhelming them but going down on particular issues for example legislative days were considered to be an absolute waste of time by legislatures. You inundate them and they all expect you to come in and hammer on them. And the other thing obviously you can convince your own legislatures to support your position and it was rather ironic because of all the mayors in that room today had convinced their legislatures to support their positions they'd lose every single one because there are not enough legis. We represented today about 85 percent of all the people in the state of Iowa. Those 85 those cities if they convinced all the legislatures to support their positions and the rest of them did not would lose substantially in the State of Iowa because those cities represented do not represent anywhere near the majority in the senate of the State of Iowa. Anyway we're going to meet again next month I think it's going to be an active group. I look for us to maybe come up with some things that will be fun and if works we may be asking council members to go to Des Moines next Spring. Norton/Fine. Kubby/I think it's a good idea. Norton/Ernie one question before we leave? Can you what is the status of Fourth of July celebration park (can't hear). Lehman/On Sunday. Norton/Which is crucial but I mean and where. O'Donnell/(can't hear). Lehman/Coralville is having a parade on Sunday, the exact time I. Kubby/At noon, Lehman/At noon. Kubby/At noon. Lehman/OK. I think we have two council. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 76 Kubby/(can't hear) parking lot. Lehman/Yea and I think Karen you and Com~ie would be attending that from the council I don't know if. I will be out of town. Norton/I'm out of town. Lehman/I think the rest of us probably will not be able to. But that's a big event so. Norton/So what about the fireworks? Lehman/Well I can't tell you about the fireworks. Jaycees I understand are providing fireworks. Atkins/City park as far as I know. Lehman/Yea OK. Norton/OK I just haven't heard the word then. Lehman/I haven't either so. Atkins/Oh. Nothing's changed that I know of. Kubby/Steve let me know (can't hear). I have bikes I'll take (can't hear). Thornberry/He needs three-wheeler. Lehman/Buy a skateboard. Kubby/I might not have (can't hear). Norton/I'm going to celebrate my birthday with my son. Thornberry/You got a three-wheel bike? Lehman/Steve. Atkins/Nothing sir. Lehman/Anything from how about Sarah? Do we have a motion to adjoum? Norton/So moved. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999. #24 Page 77 O'Donnell/Second. Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by O'Donnell. All in favor. Meeting is adjoumed. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 29, 1999.