HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-28 Transcription#2 Page 1
ITEM NO. 2 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
Lehman/Item 2 is Special Presentations and before I do those there is one that isn't on
the agenda that I think we should take note of. Woolf Avenue Bridge was
finished last Fall and has received an Outstanding Civil Engineering Award and it
was presented to Steve Jacobson of NNW Engineering and Rick Fosse on behalf
of the City and there was a little blip in the paper which reads "The Woolf Avenue
Bridge recently received his third award since it's completion on the 1999
Outstanding Civil Engineering Project Achievement Award, the award was
presented September 10 by the Iowa Section of the American Society of Civil
Engineers" which I think is most folks would have seen that think it's a very nice
addition to the community.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#2a Page 2
ITEM 2.a. KEITH LUCAS (CITIZENS COMMENDATION) - TRAIN INCIDENT
Lehman/Our first special presentation is Keith Lucas Citizens Commendation. And I'm
going to read a little bit of why this award' s being given. Mr. Keith Lucas was
working as a conductor on a group of railroad cars on the southeast portion of
Iowa City. The group of cars Mr. Lucas was working on was moving along the
tracks in an easterly direction. The train was moving to the east with the engine's
on the west side of the train. Mr. Lucas saw a young female walking next to the
tracks where she would be struck by the train. He shouted for the young female to
get off the track but his shouting was to no evail. He climbed to the outside
section of the train car putting himself in great risk, he extended his reach and was
able to push the young lady out of the path of the train seconds before the car
reached the point at which the young lady was walking. Without Mr. Lucas and
the unselfish quick action he took the train would have struck and probably killed
the young lady. People go to work everyday with the expectations of doing the
job but sometimes react to situations in heroic ways just as Mr. Lucas did. Mr.
Lucas on behalf of the City Council and all the citizens of Iowa City we want to
present you with the Citizen's Commendation as a very small token of our
appreciation for actions taken to help another citizen of our community, your
actions are indeed commendable and I will read the award. (Reads award) Mr.
Keith Lucas your community is proud of you presented by the Iowa City City
Council September 28, 1999.
Madan Karr/Here to accept is Mr. Lucas and also here to present is Fire Chief Andy
Rocca and Police Chief R. J. Winkelhake.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#2b Page 3
ITEM NO. 2. b. BROWNIE TROOP #1626 - GALLO'S VEST
Lehman/Our second presentation is to Brownie Troop #1626. Earlier this year Officer
Ron Gist was contacted by Brownie Troop #1626 lead by co-leaders Patrice Carol
and Sharon Weiser who wanted to do something for Gallo. Gallo is our newest,
not our newest police officer but our only four legged officer. Gallo had recently
joined the Iowa City Police Department as the department's first K-9 member.
Officer Gist suggested a good project would be a protective vest, the rest is as the
saying goes history. This became indeed a community project, a pet supply
business donated food for a year and law enforcement supply business provided
the vest at cost. The group of Brownie's now Junior Girl Scouts represents the
first of a number of individuals and businesses who contribute to this effort. But I
on behalf of the City, the police department and Gallo want to express
appreciation for your work for Gallo, we're proud of each and every one of you.
Karr/And here to accept is Officer Gist and Gallo along with the Brownie Troop #1626
who have been promoted to the Regina Junior Girl Scout 4th Grade Troop #2640.
Kubby/All right.
Lehman/You guys done good, is he a cool dog, neat neat dog. (can't hear-away from
mic).
Karr/Mr. Mayor would like a mic.?
Lehman/Thank you very much.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#2c Page 4
ITEM NO. 2. c. CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN
FINANCIAL REPORTING - FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1998
Lehman/Our next award is a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence n Financial
Reporting. It's the highest form of recognition of Governmental Accounting in
Financial Accounting for state and local governments. Earning the award
represents a significant accomplishment by a government and it's management.
The certificate is awarded annually by the Govemment Finance Officer's
Association which is a nonprofit professional organization serving approximately
13,500 government finance professionals representing school districts, counties,
state agencies, cities and pension plans. This is the 14th year in a row that the
City of Iowa City has received this award. Last year out of 1,051 cities and
counties in Iowa only 38 received this certificate. I would like to present the
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the year
ended June 30, to City Controller Erin Herting.
Erin Herting/I would just like to thank the entire Accouming Division especially our two
accountants Regina Schreiber and Ann Maurer without their hard work and
dedication earning this award would not be possible. Thank you.
Lehman/Thank you. It's really significant I think 14 years in a row.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#3 Page 5
ITEM NO. 3. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Norton/So moved.
Vanderhoef/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by Vanderhoe~ One thing I would like to point
out el which is a resolution authorizing Historic Preservation Commission to
apply for a Preservation Services Grant would if that Grant is successful would
require a $2,500 matching Grant from the City which we discussed last night we
agreed to does not indicate that the City of Iowa City is interested in spending a
great deal of money in restoring the Butler Bridge which is not on the water plant
project.
Thomberry/(can't hear).
Lehman/Other discussion.
Thornberry/The Butler house not the bridge.
Lehman/Yea.
Kubby/Just to clarify that the grant is actually to go out and seek other organizations who
would help in the restoration of this historic property. So the money that we're
giving to match actually doing what we want it to do to find other funds.
Lehman/Other discussion. Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#4 Page 6
ITEM NO. 4. PUBLIC DISCUSSION (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL
8 PM]
Lehman/Item 4 is Public Discussion. This is a time reserved on the agenda for people
who would like to bring the Council' s attention to matters that do not otherwise
appear on the agenda. If you wish to address Council please give your name, sign
in, and limit your comments to five minutes or less.
Gary Sanders/Hi my name is Gary Sanders. And I would like to say Thank you first of
all to this Council and to all City Staff and everyone involved with the
refurbishment of the downtown pedestrian plaza I believe we are now calling it.
Although I believe the name ped mall will live on forever. Also especially thank
you for the fountain, I think it is cheap at the price that we paid for it I think it's a
wonderful fountain, I think it's enormous amount of fun for kids and adults and it
is art and we need public art. It's public art I believe is ennobling and I thank you
for it. Now you know I couldn't just come up here and.
Champion/I knew there had to be a catch.
Norton/Here comes the left hand.
Sanders/OK that was yea. Now the next step. What is going to be the next step in
improving downtown? Well I'd like to suggest something that won't cost
anything at least the City anything as a matter of fact it would save us money.
And that is that we pass an ordinance following the lead of Ames keeping 18, 19,
and 20 year olds out of the bars. I believe this is very long overdue. The present
policy is wrong on many levels, we shouldn't be spending tax payer money to
have the police go into the bars and pull out the 18, 19, and 20 year olds. I think
that's a waste of money, although they have to do it because it's the law. I think
it's a very difficult job for the police, I personally wouldn't want to wade into a
crowd of dnmken teenagers and pull. I used to like to do that a long time ago of
course I wouldn't want to do it today, I wouldn't want to try to bust kids today in
a middle of the bar. I think it's a very difficult job and I also think it engenders a
lot of bad feelings on both sides between the kids and the police and I frankly do
not understand why we continue to allow this. I'm not opposed to drinking per se
I did it in high school, I did it in college, I did it when I was a college drop out,
when I was a working person, all of that was underage. I admit to that. But I
didn't feel like it was my God-given right to go into a bar, you did that in
somebody' s private residence and I think that we're definitely on the wrong track
here and it would be so easy to do something about it. Alcohol abuse is the
number one substance abuse problem in this country, it dwarfs all other drugs and
we here could show some courage and say that enough is enough. You know I'm
sure you all do know as a matter of fact of what's going to be going in downtown
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#4 Page 7
here in the next few months. We've got two new drinking establishments for sure
and a third one that's a good possibility. We are going to wind up with more
square footage downtown in alcohol establishments than in retail if we exclude
Old Capitol Mall. And I frankly think that's horrendous. I think that with the
underage alcohol problem what it is with groups all over the country trying to do
something about it, I would like to see us be part of the solution to this problem to
stopping underage drinking. And I think we can do it at the door of the bar, I
think that we should put the burden where it should belong on the bar owners and
not on the police and the tax payers. Thank you.
Lehman/Thank you Gary.
Joe Murphy/My name' s Joe Murphy I want to the Council about the proposed Iowa
Avenue Improvements specifically relating to the removal of so many parking
places off Iowa Avenue. From page 4 of the CDBG Revitalization Plan
Objectives. It states the primary objective of the Urban Revitalization Plan is to
encourage revitalization of commercial activity in and the reuse of historic and
architecture significantly structure of the central business district area. I feel that
the remodeling plans go completely against that. What I want to request that the
Iowa City Council make intersection and sidewalk enhancements to the 100 block
of Iowa Avenue, but leave the width of the sidewalk, the parking and loading
zones alone. The plan as designed is truly beautiful but does not meet the primary
objective of the revitalization plan. The plan for the 200 block of Iowa Avenue is
great because we do need to have the sidewalk widened there and have that area
made safer and I can see loose a few places there. Take some many parking out
of downtown will reduce commercial activity downtown, we nm stores in the
Clinton, Washington, Iowa Avenue area and did an informal survey asking store
owners and managers if they thought the loss of over 100 parking places will hurt
their business. We attempted to be impartial as we presented it, and many times
as we were presenting it customers made comments to us like your nuts if you get
rid of parking spaces. Out of the 42 stores, like I said we didn't hit all of them we
attempted to hit as many as we could, some we didn't talk to because the store
owners or managers weren't around and a couple just didn't have any opinion at
all. Out of 42 we talked to that had a preference one way or another 34 felt the
plan would hurt their stores. That's a pretty significant number. Anyway please
do not eliminate the parking places. Other personal (can't hear) we can't afford to
lose close access parking to the downtown area and that's within the one or two
block area. The plan does not allow for loading zones that accommodate modern
delivery vehicles, if the people from the City David Schoon??? and them for as
smart as I think they are they would have sat up there and watched delivery traffic
for a day or two. A loading zone that accommodate two vehicles in a one block
area is not big enough to accommodate the modern truck traffic that Iowa Avenue
supports especially the 100 block. The other thing is lights and benches etc.
should match the rest of downtown Iowa City it's lower maintenance cost.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#4 Page 8
They've got beautiful things picked out but like the lights don't match the rest of
the lights in downtown Iowa City. I'm just too cheap to do other stuff. That's all
I've got for today. Thank you all.
Lehman/Thank you Joe.
Kubby/You know this is kind of the second time in a short period of time where we've
had what I thought was really wonderful public process to get people involved to
get feedback and that if certain huge segment of the community either for
whatever reason chose not to be involved or just didn't get involved and maybe
you could talk about that a little bit because it does raise a little bit of restriction
on my.
Murphy/Sure, I can address, that's very simple to address. We we're under the
impression that we're going to lose 15 to 20 maybe 30 parking places down there,
maybe I was misinformed. But we thought you know we can afford to lose some
to make it better and greener and nice to make Council's like you happy that need
more green space. I mean the plan would, first of all we have to dig out Iowa
Avenue because we have to replace the sewer so we have to do something. The
beautification part of the plan is just wonderful, however, the cost to the
merchants who are in the business of having honest businesses with honest
markup in downtown Iowa City is going to be high. Our customers drive, they
use cars, they use automobiles. We need automobiles, we need them close to our
store.
Kubby/I hear your concems, what I'm trying to get at is our process.
Murphy/Yes.
Kubby/That how can we, when we invest so much time and money to get input and this I
know this is a new thing for communities to get.
Murphy/Well.
Kubby/If I could just finish, input on the front end of process where I thought we did
great notification, we had great participation, we had an Iowa Avenue Committee
that really brought in all kinds of different sectors of the community including
businesses in that area and that after really painstaking decision about deciding to
taking parking out downtown which lead to the discussion of having a larger
facility on Iowa Avenue and here we are agreeing to do that bigger facility and
now people saying you don't want us to not have the parking. We need to figure
out how to make sure that we don't get in this spot where way late in the process
people bring up these concems, and that's partly our responsibility and that's
partly your responsibility.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#4 Page 9
Murphy/Oh it's all my fault for not being involved earlier and I apologize. I attempted
to be part of the process on the remodeling on the remodeling of the downtown
pedestrian mall. I went to some meetings and I gave my input as to a few things
there. I thought I'll say once again I will say I was ignorant and did not know as
did a lot of us downtown merchants how many parking places and so what we're
attempting to do now before it gets any farther along we're saying hey, part of this
plan is great, his wonderful, it's a positive forward step. We want to positive and
forward with what we have to say. But we want to say that part of it is not and
we'll be a step backwards for Iowa City and we want to move forward and be
positive with this and that's what I'm here for. I don't want to, I want to say hey
look we screwed up, we already spent too much money at this point, I mean I'll
take the blame for the for them you know going so far in the planning process
without getting involved.
Lehman/Joe let me, correct me Council if I'm wrong but if I'm not, you know this
started with a committee of folks who included downtown people and included
not downtown people. It included University people and whatever, along with
city staff folks. And they visited with Brian Clark firm out of Des Moines, and
they gave preliminary presentation to the Cotmcil which I thought was fairly well
attended and I thought it was fairly well publicized and in that presentation they
showed what they would like to do with the streetscape with the approval of the
committee and the public group that was there. And that first, that first
presentation showed the removal of parking from the center of Iowa Avenue.
Murphy/OK, I just made it to the last presentation.
Lehman/Then we told them to proceed. They came back with a much more detailed
plan, we decided that we could not remove parking from the center of Iowa
Avenue unless it was replaced. The parking facility that is presently under
construction the I think the parking portion of that's about 11 million dollars. Has
a net increase with that facility when it's completed there will be a net increase of
14 percent of the parking spaces in downtown Iowa City. The Hannon Building
was condemned and I don't think there was any question it was all over the papers
in Iowa City, the only purpose of condemnation of that property, the building of
that ramp was to accommodate the cars that were going to be removed from Iowa
Avenue. A million dollars almost was spent on the design of the parking ramp,
we've entered into agreements with the University of Iowa for the sale of South
lawn Building. There is so much that has happened at this point with this Council
moving along with what we've perceived to be the agreement of the public and
I'm not sure that we're at a point where we'd like to be (can't hear).
Murphy/Well, we're, but, this is where like I say, I'm saying we've been lackluster in
our attention and I'm apologizing to the City Council but I'm saying now that
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#4 Page 10
quite a few of the downtown merchants have realized what' s happening we're
come to our senses and we're not disagreeing with the plan. We think the adding
the parking and where the Hamon Building is a great step forward. But after
looking at the detailed plans like I said for the first time I did and as somebody
who uses Iowa Avenue everyday I looked at it and I went, because I see the truck
traffic on there. I pay attention to that section of the block, I'm going this is going
to be real interesting and it already gets jammed up there from trucks attempting
to make deliveries.
Norton/Well.
Murphy/Well I say I think if we stand here we're just going to waste everybody else's
time but I want to say that sometimes should be given to. I say from the 200
block on down great let's do it, that 100 block is so important to merchants of
downtown Iowa City.
Norton/Of course, that's right where the view is Joe, that's right where the, that' s right
where the Old Capitol and that view is.
Murphy/Dee, Dee, Dee, there's not much of a view and there's dust flown out of stores
in downtown Iowa City and actually the speaker before me was talking about you
know the proliferation of bars etc. that's what you get when you get when you you
know get rid of the merchants, anyway, I'll it's not worth talking about anymore
than what I've said already.
Lehman/No. Thank you for coming down.
Murphy/And you know 10 to 15 years from now I don't want to be right with what I
said, I really think it would be better if we save the parking places down there
because we need them down there. Thank you.
Kubby/I guess my comments weren't meant at all to place blame but to figure out what
we can do to make sure that information gets disseminated and that there are
natural networks, the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Association are
two players here that were involved and so how can we, we can't control what
anybody else, what anyone else does and so what can we do to make sure that that
information gets disseminated in the early stages of things. So I don't really.
Murphy/Actually there's an easy way with that, the people I talked to were David
Schoon's staff and the Planning & Zoning I talked to him and I talked to a couple
other people there, whose names I can't remember I'm sorry. But I said the next
time we go to any plan anywhere that we're thinking, just even thinking about
doing, why don't we have the people that are have the concept in their head take a
day or two of their time and walk around and talk to every house owner in the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#4 Page 11
center of residential area or every business owner or property owner in the area if
they're available you know at least just make the attempt. And it was, well we
had committees and meetings, I said no, if you had the people who you know,
have the concept, if you walk around and talk to people you learn far more about
that, just in going around attempting to talk to people about you know the Iowa
Avenue, putting the parking on Clinton Street which is a fantastic idea. I spent 15
to 20 minutes in a place for something that my initial questions of 2 or 3 minute
little presentation just talking about Iowa City about what we can do to make it
better and stuff and was tremendous. I think that maybe sometimes the city
staffers who come up with these plans if they would just talk to the people in the
area where they're planning and the area surrounding it that would open the doors
so much more to what's going on that would eliminate you know bottlenecks.
Kubby/As well as the Downtown Association participating in that as well.
Murphy/Sure. Thank you.
Pete Vanderhoef/I'm Pete Vanderhoef, I wasn't going to speak today but I feel I should.
I was part of this little survey we did. If the cormnittee did not speak to the
property owners or the managers of the facilities downtown they did not do their
job, very simply. I came to Iowa City with my folks when I was very young in
the mid 40' s and for nearly five decades I have watched the University of Iowa try
to make the University of Iowa a walking campus. This is a major step toward
that, we will surely have a walking campus because there will be no place to park.
We are on a very fast track to what we call in my industry a dog town. There will
be bars, banks, and bookstores. Few other retail and if that's the kind of
downtown we wish here I mean we're going to be there and I feel very
comfortable because I fit in on either one of those. I've got a place if we have
vital shopping district downtown or if we have a dog town, it doesn't make any
difference, I'm going to be right in the heart of probably one of the most beautiful
downtown dog town's in the country. I did respond to the initial survey, I sent in
if it doesn't look like a parking lot I don't want it. We're going to be about 2 ½
blocks from parking in about three different directions. I asked some people
would you would you park in the ramp and walk 2 ½ blocks to my store and they
said you've got to be kidding me. I've done multiple survey's with students,
faculty and staff and they're usually national survey's and one of the questions in
the survey is "what's your opinion on the parking?" I've had more survey' s
thrown back to me scrawled right across the front of it saying "this completely
negates the entire survey because you can't be serious, we have no parking in this
town." I think the ramp is a beautiful idea, I think beautification is wonderful but
if you take the parking away from the farthest comer in the downtown from all the
ramps your going to hurt the downtown a lot. I did a little bit of study which I'm
willing to share, I checked parking and in the months of July and August, parking
revenues were down in Iowa City over the previous year. All the, all of the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#4 Page 12
reduction occurred in the malls, the street parking went up, and if you'd like to
check the cost of hours worth of parking, the CDBG parking on-street goes for 60
cents an hour and the malls that are downtown, the one at Old Capitol and the one
by the hotel are 50 cents an hour and the other ramp is 40 cents an hour. My
customers, downtown customers chose to park in the most expensive place and
not have to walk. And I wish I had a time lapse camera for you I think you would
enjoy watching the cars going around in circle multiple times waiting for classes
to change or whatever. Iowa City needs both the ramp and on-street parking, but
is vital to leave it on the 100 block simply because there's no other parking for
that whole side of town. Everything is to the south and now it's going to be to
the east. I talked to some people about the churches, we do have some downtown
churches, can you park in the ramp and go to church? And they say if I have to
park in the ramp and walk two blocks I will not attend that church anymore, I'll
go to another church or stop going to church. I talked to customers, will you
come down and buy something that's not required? They said why should I when
I park at a place where I can see my destination. Just because we're not part of
the initial survey is not a reason to negate this, what I'm saying is you either have
a lot of bad data and you say OK survey group you've done your job and you've
produced a beautiful product, I don't disagree it's beautiful, I'm just saying it's
going to cause problems in downtown. Iowa Avenue where your going to have
space to park one semi in the plan between 7:30 and 9:00 we generally have one
large food truck, one beer truck, LIPS truck and two or three service vehicles, van
size vehicles. We're going to be reduced to the space for one semi. I'm not real
clear where they're going to park this, a lot of this stuff comes in from out of state
we can't say you must deliver before 9:00, like I'm saying somebody didn't do
their homework. And we'll leave at that.
Lehman/Thanks Pete.
Kubby/I want to say that I think staff did do their homework, there just may be different
interpretation of the results of their homework.
Lehman/Other public discussion.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#5a Page 13
ITEM NO. 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14,
CHAPTER 6, ZONING, TO ALLOW BANNER SIGNS IN SHOPPING
CENTERS.
Lehman/Public hearing is open. Last night at Work Session we discussed this to no great
length but the proposed ordinance requires that only banners that with
identification signs can be used, the Council asked that this perhaps be returned to
Planning & Zoning and consider signs that or banners that could announce
festivals, festive occasions, right now the banners that we find in the downtown
usually are associated with holiday events, United Way, Mercy Hospital,
University of Iowa, these sort of things, which would have been prohibited by this
ordinance so we are asking that that be allowed and also some regulation on the
numbers of sign. Is there a motion to continue?
Norton/I would move to continue that I think those those didn't we they would look into
those two aspects, yea, we certainly need to.
Lehman/All right moved by Norton.
Thornberry/Second.
Lehman/Seconded by Thomberry. Any other discussion? All in favor. All ayes.
Motion carries.
(See page 35 for item 5b.)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#6 Page 14
ITEM NO. 6. PUBLIC HEARING ON AN AMENDED NEAR SOUTHSIDE
COMMERCIAL URBAN REVITALIZATION PLAN FOR AN EXISTING
URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA IN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY,
IOWA
Lehman/Public heating is open. This is the area between Court and Burlington Streets
from actually it's a little past Clinton Street down to Gilbert. Public heating is
closed.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#7 Page 15
ITEM NO. 7. THE CITY'S 1NTENT TO PROCEED WITH AN AUTHORIZING
THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR THE
LONGFELLOW -TWAIN PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL PROJECT.
Lehman/This is a public heating, hearing is open. This is a tunnel that will connect two
neighborhoods Longfellow and Twain under the railroad tracks where there's a
considerable distance between crossing and apparently we have a fair number of
folks who choose to walk over the tracks, yes.
Ann Freerks/I'm Ann Freerks from South Governor Street and I just as a representative
of the Longfellow Neighborhood Association Board wanted to express our
support for the Longfellow-Twain pedestrian tunnel. I think this will provide a
much safer connection between the two neighborhoods, breaking up a pretty long
stretch about a mile and a quarter where there is no safe pedestrian access across
the tracks. I think it'll promote a lot of transportation alternatives, be good for
pedestrian's and bicyclists of all ages and especially for Kirkwood students I think
too, I know there are quite a few of them that do cross the tracks there. I think
it'll also be a good step in able to share the new park that we've created with the
other neighborhoods to the south of us. And I've seen a lot of visible support in
our neighborhood and it's been more than two years in the process, we've had a
lot of communication, a lot of hard work that' s gone into this, and I think that we
hope that we see that you see the many positive outcomes that can come about by
putting this into action and we support it.
Lehman/And you know there were two proposed alternatives, now the Council last night
in discussing this came to favor the first which would be.
Freerks/There are different views in the neighborhood and I would say I probably can't
represent the neighborhood.
Lehman/OK, all right.
Freerks/And say that we prefer one view over the other and I know that there are people
here that could probably voice their opinion's on that.
Thornberry/What block do you live in on South Govemor Ann?
Freerks/443.
Thornberry/4. I grew up in the 600 block.
Freerks/Down the other end a little bit.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#7 Page 16
Norton/You grew up everywhere.
Thornberry/Some, down by the tracks.
Norton/By the tracks.
Freerks/Thank you.
Lehman/Thank you.
Bob Lehman/My name is Bob Lehman, my wife and I live at 1231 Sheridan Avenue
and we've lived there for 26 years and there's been a constant foot traffic stream
by our house down the Oakland Extension and across the tracks, and I'm one of
them. I work for Mid-American Energy, I think I'm very much in favor of the
first option, I'd take the second option, I'd the other one. I've used all three
positions in the last thirty years going to work. You can see that there is a need
for it, there's a beaten path on both sides of Mr. Stetson's fence at each end. I live
next door to the young lady who Mr. Lucas saved from her difficulty of the train.
I don't know how much, this might not help the kids going back and forth to
junior high but there is a lot of traffic through there. The fact that it is
trespassing, I wasn't really aware of the it was illegal to cross the tracks until the
articles came out in the paper. I will admit that it has not only stopped (can't
hear) but it's it will also increase the traffic flow of a non-automotive variety
because right now it's not a dependable way to get out. A lot ofmoming's I've
gone out intending to walk to work, train on the tracks, back to the garage, get the
car. You know there isn't time to walk now. So I just wanted to say something in
support of especially option number one but in support of the project in general,
there definitely is a need, I've seen it for 26 years. Thank you.
Thornberry/So you'd walk a block out of your way to go through a tunnel.
Bob Lehman/Easily, easily. It, any of the three locations would not be out of my
personal way because I need to end up at the far location anyway, very definitely,
but when it's a matter of walking up the hill to Summit Street that takes, you
know that makes it twice as far as it, there have been a couple times I've left work
and found a train on the tracks and rather than trying to make my way around it
I've walked around it and it really about doubles the time that it takes to get from
that area. And you do have a lot of traffic, there used to be a lot of traffic for
Sycamore mall, a lot of the traffic that direction to and still some.
Thornberry/Thanks.
Champion/I didn't know it was illegal to walk the tracks either and I've done it.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#7 Page 17
Thornberry/Of course that's what tracks are for. (can't hear).
O'Donnell/We're getting off track here folks.
Lehman/Let's get back on track.
Vanderhoef/(can't hear)
Thomberry/And slow trains smash a penny yea.
Margaret Felling/My name's Margaret Felling and I live in the Longfellow
neighborhood and I taught at Mark Twain School for 19 years and I wished we
had a tunnel years ago because as Bob was saying it took 12 minutes for me to
walk from my home to Mark Twain School but 30 minutes going up to Summit
Street and around coming back through the farthest neighborhood to get to Twain
so if I ended up being in my car a lot, I would have preferred walking but with the
unpredictability of the train it would have been a lot more convenient and I think
it will be a lot safer. And I also think this is a way to encourage bikers and
pedestrians as part of our city wide trail concept even though it isn't formally
linked into it I think it's another well much needed option. Thank you.
Lehman/Thank you.
Norton/Margaret you know we are considering how to deal with that trail after it comes
out on the south side. Trying to get people along Lower Muscatine onto
Kirkwood and or Sycamore Area and is going to be another trick but we certainly
intend to deal with that at some point as fast as we can.
Felling/Well I think as Ann mentioned earlier there's a lot of cars parked for Kirkwood
Community College along Deforest there right before you get to Lower Muscatine
and that's tuming into a real bottleneck of parked cars over there and if we could
get you know any people that live in our area that are willing to walk or ride there
bike over there would really help that part of the neighborhood to I think. Thank
you.
Vanderhoef/I'd just like to comment that this is part of the trail system because the
neighborhood open space plan and trail system was very specific in that they
wanted to connect schools, to parks, to commercial neighborhood commercial
areas and this is what we're doing. Longfellow, the Longfellow Manor Park and
Mark Twain so it is.
Felling/Thank you.
Lehman/Public hearing is closed. Is there council discussion?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#7 Page 18
Karr/Motion to accept correspondence.
Thornberry/So moved.
Kubby/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by Kubby, all in favor, all ayes, motion carries.
Kubby/Move that we consider this resolution.
Norton/Emie the I think the.
Thornberry/Second.
Norton/Critical step to get this connection in and I understand that fight now the
attendance boundaries for Mark Twain don't cut across the tracks, that is they go
along the tracks. But what makes me think that those boundaries could be
changed if we had some way to get across Highway 6, remember we, I was
thinking we were putting in this underpass, here we need an overpass because the
kids south of.
Thomberry/Yea.
Norton/And I don't know whether those boundaries might be shuffled some when a new
school goes in down south, it's something we might want to put on our agenda to
talk with the school board about because I don't know whether our traffic layouts
trail their on. Has it ever been coordinated with their boundary change
consideration? So I'd like to bring it up what is it Thursday we meet with them?
Vanderhoef/Yes.
Thornberry/Yes. And we did look at that, we did look at an overpass over Highway 6 at
one time.
Norton/Well I know we did but yea it was big numbers then.
Vanderhoef/But it was considerably (can't hear).
Norton/And they were putting it out at First Avenue I think.
Thornberry/Yea that' s right.
Vanderhoef/No east of First Avenue.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#7 Page 19
Norton/But it still, that leaves those kids that have to go across that busy highway to get
to Mark Twain as to.
Lehman/We have a motion by Karen and a second by Mr. Thornberry, any further
discussion.
Champion/(can't hear)
Kubby/And we need, well I need to give some staff direction and I would propose that
we go with Option 1 and making sure that we deal with in the design of this deal
with getting people safely across Kirkwood.
Thornberry/And I like Option 1 to I can second.
Lehman/That was part of the motion. Thank you.
Thornberry/We decided the yea.
Lehman/Further discussion. Roll call. All ayes. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#8 Page 20
ITEM NO. 8. THE CITY'S INTENT TO PROCEED WITH AUTHORIZING THE
ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR THE HIGHWAY 6
CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
Lehman/There's very little property involved in this if I'm not mistaken.
Vanderhoef/Three pieces maybe. Yea.
Lehman/Something like that.
Thornberry/Not very many different landowners.
Dilkes/Oh Highway 6 no yea there is very little (can't hear).
Thornberry/And I would like to know, be aware of any of the people who we might that
might be involved in the condemnation.
Lehman/We always do that.
Thornberry/A friendly condemnation.
Dilkes/We always inform before we can do that.
Thornberry/OK.
Lehman/Public hearing is closed.
Thornberry/Move adoption.
Vanderhoef/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by Vanderhoef. Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#9 Page 21
ITEM NO. 9. THE CITY'S INTENT TO PROCEED WITH AND AUTHORIZING
THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR THE MORMON
TREK BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENTS, HIGHWAY 1 TO ABBEY LANE
PROJECT.
Lehman/This is a public hearing, public heating is open.
LeRoy Nida/LeRoy Nida I live on Plain View Drive.
Thornberry/I'm sorry your name.
LeRoy Nida/LeRoy Nida.
Thornberry/LeRoy.
Nida/Just want a couple comments, we were at the first meeting that they had over at the
church and it looks fine and dandy except for a couple things that all the folks that
attended, I'm not sure where there all at now, that's usually the way it happens.
Talked about that at this point the speed on Mormon Trek I would guess averages
between 40 and 45 mph, you let that to be 4-lane all the way through there.
(END OF 99-91 SIDE 2)
LeRoy Nida/(can't hear) you get onto Mormon Trek especially if they're turning left
toward Highway 1 without some sort of stop sign or stop light device and I just
think that that would be something that isn't in the project now that needs to be
considered and also one down further whether it be is it Teg that connects at the
top of my hill I'm not quite sure.
Norton/Yea.
Nida/Or Plain View that would help slow traffic, that's the only way I know you'll slow
traffic, that' s the only way I know your going to slow traffic down is to make
them stop. That's all I have to say.
Lehman/Thank you. Public hearing is closed. Council discussion.
Norton/Has staff looked at that at all? Are there other? There was no plan for
signalization I take it at either end of Westside Drive where it intersects, there's
no plan for that is there at all Jeff?. In arbitrary stoppage.
Jeff Davidson/I'm sorry I walked in halfway when the speaker was.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#9 Page 22
Norton/But I mean there's no plan for any signalization along Mormon Trek.
Jeff Davidson/ There are no plans however.
Norton/Except there is one now at Rohret.
Davidson/The intersections will be reconstructed such that if we conduct a warrant study
and a signal is warranted one could be installed subsequently thereafter. Not a
plan for any signalization at the present time as part of this project.
Lehman/Do we have a motion?
Thornberry/Move first consideration.
Lehman/Moved by Thomberry.
Vanderhoef/Second.
Lehman/Seconded by Vanderhoef.
Vanderhoef/Yes.
Norton/Well I thought this was a resolution.
Lehman/Are there, well I guess I have one question for you Jeff. If there are
intersections that may have the potential of being signalized will construction
include putting in the conduit where you wouldn't have to tear the road up to?
Davidson/Ron I don't believe we're actually putting conduit in?
Ron Knoche/(can't hear) if we did it's something we could when (can't hear).
Lehman/I mean it's a pretty inexpensive thing to do when the roads being built.
Davidson/I tell you what maybe we'll go out and just we've got a little preliminary study
we can do before a full blown warrant study and see if it's advisable, if it looks
like there's even a chance like Ron says now's the time to do it.
Norton/Yea and consider which of those two because you wouldn't put it at both places
so get a comparative look at how it might work. Because eastbound is going to be
really really harry, that's fight they'll start cutting through some places.
Lehman/Other discussion. Roll call.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#10 Page 23
ITEM NO. 10. CONVEYANCE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME LOCATED AT
2814 IRVING AVENUE.
Lehman/This is a public hearing, it's part of the Affordable Dream Home program using
funds from the sale of public housing. I think this one would have a second
mortgage on the part of the city for $27,580. Public hearing is open. Public
hearing is closed.
Norton/Move adoption of resolution.
O'Donnell/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion.
Thornberry/We're buying this to sell it. Is that correct?
Atkins/Yes.
Vanderhoef/This is the third one of that series out there.
Lehman/I think this is a procedural thing that we because it is so, were not, we buy it but
it goes through our hands directly to the owner.
Vanderhoef/Right.
Atkins/We sell the units, the affordable housing units, part of the tenant-to-ownership.
Lehman/Right.
Atkins/Create the cash, then can purchase these units and then we can sell them back to
families with low income and these are new new units. I think this is our third
one.
Thornberry/And they're built for that purpose? They are built for that purpose.
(A few talking)
Atkins/Well they are built at part of a regular neighborhood.
Norton/Regular development yea.
Arkins/It's just a regular development and we go in and work with the developer in
anticipation of buying a couple units in the neighborhood.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#10 Page 24
Vanderhoef/This is one good way of spreading out our low income housing and have
private ownership.
Champion/Well there's obviously a need for houses in this price range. I think the
developers are meeting some of those needs because as I drive around now there
are a lot of smaller houses that aren't quite as fancy that are selling in the $108 to
$130 dollar price range and I know we'd like to see those.
Lehman/Other discussion. Roll call.
Thomberry/I don't know ifI want to do this.
Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#11 Page 25
ITEM NO. 11. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO
SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND LEPIC-KROEGER
REALTORS OF IOWA CITY, IOWA.
Lehman/This is for the marketing of approximately 27,000 square feet of commercial
space which will be located in the new parking facility on Iowa Avenue.
Vanderhoef/Move adoption of the resolution.
Norton/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Norton. Discussion.
O'Donnell/Well I, we had a discussion on this last night, my problem was not with the
selection, but with the selection process. I'm very confident that Lepic-Kroeger
can do a very good job but I just felt that it's on, we should have gone out and
solicited all the Realtors and had proposals sent in and get from the best but like I
said my problem is not the selection but the selection process and I hope we can
do it differently next time.
Champion/I don't know if there will be a next time but I think your right Mike and I
wish we would have thought about that when we first brought it up, that's an
excellent idea, but I think we're too late in the process now.
Lehman/There was a question last night that came up that Ernie I think if you could
address it Council would appreciate it. The listing agreement I believe is fairly
standard, there was an item on that agreement for providing for a ~/2 percent
charge, and would you explain what that is for and why you feel it's necessary.
Emie Galer/Well we felt in our discussions that if there were some some additional
moneys there to advertise this project which is going to need to be advertised in
quite a wide market place other than just in town that would be included, you
know, ifthat's if that's a consideration that Council wants to take up that's fine,
we'd certainly be happy to work with it in a traditional a traditional manner. We
just felt that there's going to be some different things that needs to be done, you
know, different maybe out of town newspapers, more TV advertising, this is a
project that's really as you know never been attempted here locally before, public
or private so.
Kubby/So that kind of advertising was not incorporated into the other fee the six percent
that was negotiated?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#11 Page 26
Galer/There is advertising in there but not to the extent that we perceive we'd like to use
on this project.
Thornberry/So if the other half percent wasn't available you wouldn't be interested in
having this listing is that?
Galer/No, I didn't say that.
Kubby/I don't want to get into the details of what you plan to do but since you brought
up a specific thing in terms of TV advertising would you talk about how that is.
Galer/We don't have any definite plans but then you know there's all sorts of media and
we just have to decide which media might be might be newspapers, as far away as
Chicago I don't know, we have to figure out who this, the prospective clients
might be and go after them. It might be a magazine add in a trade magazine.
Champion/I think this is a kind of project that needs a lot of promotion any of us that
have businesses of our own know the price of promotion is very expensive and I
don't have any problems with this figure because I really think it's for our benefit
to promote it and get rid of this space and it will help us to be in the longer (can't
hear) more than half(can't hear) than have to pay taxes for it so I don't have any
problems with this figure.
O'Donnell/And I agree with Connie, we're talking a half a percent here and with, it is a
new project and it's new to everybody including you and we really don't know
what we're going to get into by, I don't have a problem with it.
Norton/Well I want to comment Mike about your concern about process because we did
have a perfectly good chance to discuss how we wanted to proceed and choose to
go the way we did and I've looked at other alternatives and tried to play them out,
you know drawing straws doesn't feel very good, sending out you know, for
people to send in applications and waiting, those doesn't seem very comfortable
either so I'm perfectly happy with the way we're going. I do think it's going to
take special effort, it's going to take a web site or something probably to get
computerized drawings because it's kind of complicated space and very different
size of space yea.
Champion/The other problem I have is I wondering if a year is enough at this stage of the
development of the project.
Norton/Presumably they've talked about that in.
Champion/Oh is that talked discussed?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#11 Page 27
Kubby/Because it can be extended, the contract.
Lehman/Right.
Kubby/Can be extended, so I don't think that traps us in any way.
Galer/Well we hope that after the end of the year there will be an extension in the wings
for us, because your fight I mean in a year's time you know how construction
goes there may not be, obviously it won't be finished and there may be some
some areas that we can start marketing in full or showing to people anyway so I
guess we're willing to go at for a year's time and hopefully we can demonstrate to
you we warrant an extension and we've invested time and expertise in it and have
enough leads going that you feel comfortable doing it.
Thornberry/You don't mean to say that your not going to start marketing this until it's
completed?
Galer/No, no, no, no, no, but.
Thornberry/Because the Sycamore Mall are they had 80 percent of the spaces before the
mall was completed.
Galer/No we have we have drawings and which we're going to work up into .brochures
and pamphlets and things and until we get something physical there.
Thomberry/So are you, in a year you expect to be 80 percent sold out fight?
Champion/Right.
Thomberry/Thank you, thank you very much Ernie.
O'Donnell/I want to expend to Dee, Dee like I said I have no problem with the selection,
it's the selection process. And I think at the very beginning.
Norton/Oh.
O'Donnell/If we send out letters to, excuse me, different Realtors and ask for their
proposal and the program then I think we'll be better (can't hear).
Norton/I guess I'm not sure if that's the way to do it in this kind of case either.
O'Donnell/Well I think it, in any kind of vote (can't hear).
Norton/But we had our chance to do that and we didn't.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#11 Page 28
O'DonnelF Well we didn't.
Thornberry/Kind of like the bid process.
Lehman/Well I think this is a difficult situation one that we're not accustomed to facing
because normally when we acquire goods or services for the city we're able to bid
those goods and services and accept the lowest bid. In this particular situation
we're dealing with a number of firms who might very well have been able to
perform the service. It's been recommended to us from our staff who have
worked with these folks that we accept their offer and that we enter into a contract
with them. There's no way that everybody's going to be pleased with the process
anymore than we are it just appears that this may be the least painful sort of way
of doing it even though I have some problems with it I mean just as you do Mike I
just feel that this maybe, and I think it is, the best way for us to proceed and so I
will support it. Other discussion. Roll call.
O'Donnell/I'm going to vote no and it's simply because I do not agree with the process
and once again I'm totally in favor of the group we're doing but I don't like the
process we used.
Dilkes/Thornberry.
Thornberry/I'm going to also vote no but not for a different reason and I so expressed it
last night.
Lehman/Motion carries 5-2 Thornberry and O'Donnell voting in the negative.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#13 Page 29
ITEM
NO. 13. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, POLICE,
CHAPTER 6, ENTITLED "PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF
AGE," SECTION 1, ENTITLED "SALE TO AND/OR POSSESSION OF
TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND CIGARETTES: UNDERAGE PERSONS;"
SUBSECTION B, "EMPLOYEE EDUCATION - CIGARETTE SALES,"
TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT EMPLOYEES SIGN AN
AFFIDAVIT AND ADD A REQUIREMENT THAT BUSINESS/
RETAILERS ENSURE THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE EDUCATED
ABOUT THE PROHIBITION ON SALES TO MINORS. (FIRST
CONSIDERATION.
Thornberry/Move adoption for first consideration.
Norton/(can't hear)
O'Donnell/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion. This change is it
puts the (can't hear) on the property of the business owner to educate the
employees, is that correct?
Dilkes/Correct.
Lehman/OK.
Norton/And to do so annually.
Dilkes/Yes.
Norton/OK.
Lehman/Discussion.
Kubby/Well I'm really glad to see I mean Eileen Fisher here, well which some of the
things we can (can't hear).
Brad Huff/I'm Brad Huff I'm tiom Colonial Lanes and a couple years ago we had to do
away with our cigarette machine in order to comply with the state ordinance
which meant we had to start selling cigarettes over the counter in order to do that
we had to had all of our employees read the state law and then take traud them out
somewhere out to a notary and have the papers signed. The paper looks like this
okay, you get that when you go renew your cigarette permit. So the very next
year I go down to renew the cigarettes again and the gal says we've got to get
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#13 Page 30
your business affidavits again, and I said really I said I can understand it for new
employees that you know weren't on the payroll the previous year, but she said no
your required to go out and everybody sign it, now here's the paper for this year,
it's the same it's just blue. So I guess my complaint of anything is is there, I don't
have a problem so much with having them to sign this to take them over there
year after year I'm to the point where if we continue it this way I'm seriously
considering becoming a notary so that I, you know because it's just a hassle to
run, because I can't get them five at a time to run over to the bank and get them
notarized.
Champion/We're trying to eliminate.
Karr/This will eliminate that.
Thornberry/Eliminate that.
Huff/Yea, yea, well yea I guess that.
Norton/You're the reason we're fixing it.
Huff/What's that?
Norton/You're the reason we're fixing it or one of them.
Huff/I know and I appreciate that.
Champion/But the owner (can't hear).
Karr/There are two affidavits, there' s a business affidavit that is done yearly and it's kept
in the clerks office and there' s an employee affidavit that is done yearly and kept
at the business, the later would be eliminated.
Kubby/So the purpose behind the current ordinance of having that happen yearly to make
sure that people are reminded what their responsibilities under the law are and it
was just trying to make sure that that happened. Is the business affidavit Madan
say that you have reviewed this with your employees this year so that education
still happens?
Karr/The business affidavit will contain this statement, it will be revised for next year
and will indicate that the responsibility of the owner is to share the information
with the employees.
Norton/Well this is one of those win win situations because it's been a problem for
people like Brad and it's been a problem for the City and it's and we're always
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#13 Page 31
talking about reducing the red tape well here's a chance where we can do it
without causing a problem so I appreciate you bringing it to our attention.
O'Donnell/Thank you.
Huff/Appreciate it.
Lehman/Thank you. Further discussion.
Kubby/Well I would love to hear from Eileen, if she has any comments from the
coalition if the coalition has talked about this issue I'm not sure. That was a
question I had last night and if you would state the name of the coalition because
I'm sorry to say that I can't stay as active (can't hear).
Eileen Fisher/I'm Eileen Fisher I'm the chairperson for the Johnson County Citizens for
Tobacco Free Youth (can't hear).
Kubby/Thank you.
Fisher/And I talked to Karen and the committee about the tobacco (can't hear) issue that
we've been dealing with and specifically about this affidavit. I think last year or
the year before that and I'm glad to see the city changing this from the employee
and putting more responsibility on the retailer because the turnover among clerks
at convenience stores and grocery stores are very high and it's actually about
every 90 days you have a tumover in clerks so if the responsibility is on the clerk
and they come and go so rapidly it's really is the retailer who has to make sure
that everyone who is selling cigarettes or tobacco products knows that they have
to be responsible and that the clerks should be responsible. This is certainly I
would think a step in the fight direction in that. The other thing that's been shown
in other states that really cuts down on tobacco sales to minors is by doing
compliance checks quarterly for all retailers and I think it was in June of 97 and
the recommendations to the City Council that you start doing quarterly
compliance checks and that at this time in Iowa City, Johnson County and
unfortunately for most of Iowa when a sale is made to a minor in a compliance
check it's only the retailer whose fined. And in Johnson County or excuse me it's
only the clerk that is fined and the retailer has not been assessed the $300.00 fine
that they're suppose to be assessed. We've worked with the County Attomey here
and County Health Department to try to make that more easier part of it is because
the way the law is written it's very confusing whose suppose to enforce the law
the Health Department, the Sheriffs Department, you know, the City and it's easy
for when the police do the checks they write a ticket to the clerk but the retailer
doesn't get the ticket that has to go through another process and we've talked to
you about that and we're still in the process of trying to work that out and I think
that most of you know that Iowa is in a big fix now because they're non-
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 21t, 1999.
#13 Page 32
compliant back when the noncompliance rate was 36% and it was suppose to be
under 25% and they've had seven years to get it under 25% so we're one of only
eight states who are going to lose the money for our substance abuse. But I would
like to congratulate Iowa City because in I checked I think it was 2 weeks ago
Iowa City has done 96 compliance checks this year, part of that is because the
FDA has provided some funds to the police department to do that. And they're
sale over 8 in those 96 checks for 11% so doing those checks the word gets out
and the retailers will make sure that they're clerks don't sell and I think this is an
opportunity for Iowa City to let other communities know that you can make a big
difference, this is just a little thing and once the retailers find out that we need to,
they can make sure their clerks do the fight thing so I really would like to
congratulate you on putting this issue up front where it belongs because 5,000
kids die or Iowan's die every year from tobacco related diseases and so.
Kubby/And talking about a gateway drug, tobacco's probably the largest gateway drug
and that's where we should be focusing a lot of (can't hear).
Fisher/
I think that, I talked to Carol Thompson on the phone just last week and she
mentioned (can't hear) the juvenile court system and she said like 90% of the kids
that come through there use tobacco. Whereas in the general population 37% of
the kids so other stuff and abuse you know and things and also just getting in
trouble in general. She said she thinks that using tobacco it's somehow a taboo,
one of the first things that kids start doing that they know they're not supposed to
and that damages their self image and then they get involved you know in lots of
other bad things. This is, this is really a step in the right direction and I like the
idea that your sending a message to the retailers that they can really help our
youth stay on the fight track, we'd love to have them come on board and show the
rest of the communities in Iowa that they can do the job too. Any other
questions?
Lehman/Thank you.
O'Donnell/What is the fine for the young person attempting to purchase cigarettes?
Fisher/The fine I think is $25.00 for using, possessing, attempting to buy, purchasing, I
think it's $25.00 for the first offense, $50.00 the second, and $100.00 for the third
attempt.
O'Donnell/I would be in favor ofjacking that one up substantially also.
Lehman/That's a state law.
Kubby/State law.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#13 Page 33
Fisher/That's a state law.
O'Donnell/Well we have to send the message there too.
Fisher/Right and I think that some of the tobacco laws have a preemption, the state has a
preemption and you can't have a law that's more strict but there's some question
on that particular area cities maybe could jack up the fines to teens and retailers,
it's something that you probably want to (can't hear).
O'Donnell/OK, yea.
Fisher/And have the city. We're also looking at other tobacco related laws and to see if
we're preempted from doing those things.
Kubby/So it's this change that we're going to make will that influence who is fined in
terms of the county?
Lehman/No, no.
Fisher/No, this really doesn't have any implications in terms of enforcement at all, it's
just that in order to get their permit they have to sign this affidavit, they don't fine
them.
Kubby/I'm just hoping it might like transfer.
Fisher/So your earlier statement they weren't aware of the law later.
Kubby/So is there a role we can play in talking to the County about how they prosecute
or?
Fisher/Last summer we met with Pat White, Graham Dameron from the Health
Department and some prevention specialists from MECCA, Kristy Scheets and
several other members of our coalition met with Pat White to try to figure out
what the Iowa law really was and who should enforce it and Pat White had
worked out the procedure for how these fines should be assessed from you know
the retailers if they sell to a minor and we were all sent to roll and the FDA came
in with a whole bunch of new regulations and new compliance checks and they
wanted to go through training and so it really sort of set us back about a year. But
we met with him last week and he's meeting with and he's talked to the police
chief so I think we're in a position now where we have (can't hear).
Kubby/Help keep our focus.
Vanderhoef/What are the new methods then to do this?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#13 Page 34
Fisher/Well basically the FDA just said that they would pay the police departments to do
the check, they'll pay for officer's time, they have other paper work that then they
want to go out, the FDA so they've had training sessions and they've invited
police departments to come to the training sessions. That was in, that was last
summer.
Vanderhoef/So there is possibility for the City to move forward on this with outside
funds?
Fisher/Yes, they have, I think they sent four officers from Iowa City to be trained and
they've been doing the compliance checks. Which they were doing before with
the help of MECCA but now they've, one of the differences is they will allow the
reimburse the youth that worked with the police officers and before it was always
a volunteer. And they've trained, they spent a lot of time training the youths
(can't hear).
Kubby/Thanks.
Lehman/Thanks. Roll call. Motion carries. We're going to take five.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#5b Page 35
ITEM NO. 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
b. PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14,
CHAPTER 6, ZONING, TO AMEND THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO
HOME OCCUPATIONS.
Lehman/Wait a minute, we have someone who missed the public hearing and (can't
hear) this is regarding home businesses. You need to sign in and give us your
name and address.
Mary MahaffaJ My name is Mary Mahaffa and thank you very much for allowing me to
have this opportunity. I would like to comment on Item No. 5b. Zoning and
Planning Committee Matters, specifically relating to home businesses, I have a
home based business, I make chocolates and sell them to a couple local retailers
here and the Item I'm specifically interested in is B allowing us to have an
employee in our business. And all you business owners know it's very risky
running a business if you don't have somebody to back you up if your not able to
work because of illness, jury duty, whatever reason so I definitely would love to
be able to have an employee. I was wondering though if you could consider
allowing us the option of an employee or part time employees or an employee or
the equivalent of an employee. Some businesses like mine that are seasonal it's
hard to have one person that works all year, it would be nice to be able to have
two people, maybe one could come in at a time something to that nature.
Thomberry/I brought that up last night on the FTE Full Time Equivalent. I said what if
someone goes on vacation can they have someone replace them?
Mahaffa/Or if.
Thomberry/And the answer was yes.
Norton/She needs it more defined though.
Champion/It doesn't mean that you have to have a full time employee, it means that you
can have a part time employee.
MahaffaJ Right.
Kubby/The reason we talked about not having two part time is because one of the issues
about home based business and residential areas which the ordinance speaks to is
the amount of coming and going. And so even though you might get (can't hear)
the same amount of work from two part time people as one full time person, it
may work better for your business, it means more traffic coming and going from
those two separate people and that's the concern that we want to take this change
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#5b Page 36
in how we do home businesses slowly so that we don't put pressure on
neighborhoods.
Thomberry/But if you have one person, one employee then who is on jury duty or is on
vacation you can replace them with one person.
Norton/Yes.
Mahaffa/If that's, OK, in my case.
Kubby/That doesn't work for your.
Mahaffa/Well in my case because of the Iowa Health Department regulations I my
employees also have to be healthy so if someone comes down with a cold, the flu,
they obviously can't work, can I just have someone else just come in or?
Thornberry/Sure.
Lehman/I'm pretty sure, I think the intent of that was no more than one at a time.
Mahaffa/OK well (can't hear).
Champion/It might be breaking the ordinance but I don't think anybody's going to
complain.
MahaffaJ Well see that's what everyone says you might be breaking the ordinance but
we're not going to tell.
Champion/Don't ask questions we don't want to answer.
Mahaffa/OK. Well I just wanted you to know that the Iowa City Chamber of
Commerce's new home based business committee supports these changes.
Lehman/Right.
Mahaffa/Thank you very much.
Lehman/Thank you.
Norton/If we hear of enough people who think it should be one full time equivalent
whether that 's two half time people or whatever that we might in the future
consider that if we hear that that's the case. So as long, but it does increase the
traffic no doubt.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#5b Page 37
Mahaffa/Well that would be one advantage of having one full time or two part time in
that it wouldn't increase the traffic a great deal.
Kubby/Well it would.
Thornberry/It would be one car leaving and one car coming.
Mahaffa/Exactly, yea.
Kubby/No, that math doesn't work for me.
Norton/Sometimes they might be there at the same time.
Thornberry/It would be like my wife going out to the grocery store twice in a day instead
of once.
Kubby/Well that these employees are on top of that.
Norton/OK we'll think about it.
Kubby/Instead of that.
Mahaffa/Thank you very much.
Lehman/Fine.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#19 Page 38
ITEM NO. 19. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, ENTITLED
"POLICE REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED "ANIMAL
CONTROL." (PASS AND ADOPT)
Norton/Move adoption of ordinance.
Vanderhoef/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion.
Thornberry/I'll be voting against this as I have the last two times.
Champion/I you know, I got an e-mail from somebody about this and I answered it.
Thornberry/You got an e-mail and you answered it.
Champion/Yea I answered it. Now, they were confused they thought we were making
electric fences illegal.
Lehman/Right, doesn't do that.
Champion/Doesn't do that.
Lehman/Doesn't change the status of those at all.
Champion/Right, doesn't change the status of those, I just wanted everybody I got e-mail
and I answered it.
Kubby/Good job.
Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#24 Page 39
ITEM NO. 24. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO
SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND GUY AND SUE
DROLLINGER, D/B/A DROLLINGER RIDES FOR PURCHASE OF
CERTAIN AMUSEMENT RIDES.
Lehman/Which includes the train, the carousel, and the small airplane fide.
Norton/Move adoption of the resolution.
Vanderhoef/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion.
O'Donnell/We're we able to get the concession stand?
Atkins/No.
Lehman/We didn't.
Atkins/And we weren't really interested. We'd like to build our own, a new one.
O'Donnell/We're going to build our own?
Atkins/Yes.
O'Donnell/As long as we have cotton candy in it.
Atkins/Cotton candy.
Champion/Right.
Vanderhoef/(Can't hear) cotton candy machine.
Arkins/We'll get you a cotton candy machine.
Vanderhoef/OK.
Champion/I'm definitely going to support this and I'm really enthused about it but what
are the plans as far as fundraising to pay for this because I actually have had
people call me who are interested in donating money for this.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#24 Page 40
Atkins/We have not put together an official plan for you, we were anxious to deal with
the Drollingers and sensed they were anxious to sell, put that together, and so
we've made the capitol investment. What Terry will have to do now and I think I
gave you a memo a couple of weeks and we'd like to sort of dress up the area, do
some other planning, he needs to do some sketches, and we have a number of
human service agencies that have expressed interested in participating so I'm not
real concerned that we won't get the folks who want to get involved in the thing.
Kubby/But people can write a check to the Parks and Rec. Foundation right?
Lehman/Right.
Vanderhoef/That Foundation is available tight now.
Atkins/And, that's right, and the final thing Karen and Dee is just that you may send
something to the Parks and Rec. Foundation if you'd like.
Vanderhoef/Terry will happily accept.
Thomberry/Why don't the parks and recreation department (can't hear).
Norton/Would you take any checks you could get? Would you take any checks right
now if you could get them yea?
Thornberry/For the Drollinger tides?
Atkins/Say yes Terry.
Norton/Say yes.
Trueblood/Yes.
Lehman/Thank you, thank you Terry. Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#25 Page 41
ITEM NO. 25. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING
EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH GENE, L.L.C., FOR
TEMPORARY USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR PORTIONS OF
COURT AND LINN STREETS IN IOWA CITY, IOWA.
Lehman/This is for the construction of a building and my understanding is that after the
meeting two weeks ago there has been discussions and an agreement reached
between the builders and the adjacent property owners.
Dilkes/Yes.
Thornberry/Move adoption of the resolution.
O'Donnell/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion.
Kubby/Well I'm glad that we've heard that conversation, that that conversation shifted
hangs, it doesn't make things impossible for the new building being constructed
but maybe create some more visible way for people to get to the businesses on
that stretch on Gilbert Street so I think even though it can be uncomfortable to
have those conversations it really ended up in something that will work better for
them in this temporary transitional phrase.
Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#26 Page 42
ITEM NO. 26. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION
OF AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT FOR TEMPORARY USE OF PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND GENE,
L.L.C.
Lehman/This will be an easement that will associated with the same building which
would allow placement of I believe steps on city owned fight of way.
Dilkes/Steps, planters.
Lehman/Right.
Thornberry/Move adoption of resolution.
Vanderhoef/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Thomberry, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion.
Kubby/Well I've been really struggling with this all day, I've been thinking about it
because I tend not to like the private use of public fight of way's without some
kind of fees for the use of that public land or for some greater public purpose.
Like when we do the outdoor cafe's people have to pay something. When we
allow downtown businesses to use the possibility of right of way for ramps, it
give the community something back because it makes those businesses accessible
to all citizens in terms of accommodation. And so I was thinking about okay what
is it that we're giving and what is it that we're receiving from this and I still (can't
hear) totally firm about how I feel about that balancing act. I mean we don't have
any plans for widening Court Street so the public doesn't, we don't need that
space and allowing the planters and the steps to be there allows a more aesthetic
building and it allows that land to be used in it's fullest density. That it, it sounds
very strange but at least if we're going to, if the property owners are going to tear
down three nice old houses that really weren't in structural disarray that we at
least it helps live out our vision of south of Burlington to have that high density
area so I'd really like to hear how other people feel about that balance and you
might help me make my decision.
Lehman/Karen my understanding from last night's discussion I don't know that it was, it
was said real specifically but my understanding is that the design of that building
has been, let' s put it this way, I believe the owners of the building worked with
city staff and rearranged some of the appearance of that building and in doing so it
was necessary for them to have a different sort of entry to keep the building
aesthetically pleasing and I guess my take on this it was tradeoff.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#26 Page 43
Kubby/We're getting a nicer building.
Lehman/We're getting a nice building.
Kubby/Aesthetically.
Lehman/But we're going to have a little easement for the steps. I mean I don't know that
that's true but that's kind of the.
Norton/I' d.
Lehman/That's how I understood it.
Vanderhoef/And because of the topography and not being able to change topography at
all in this area of the city it became more necessary I think to do that.
Lehman/Well.
Thomberry/And they pushed that entryway back as far as they possibly could as I
understand it.
Norton/No, well they could push it back further if they want to stay on a lot line I mean,
they could push it back.
Champion/Well they could but it was going to affect the others for parking.
Thornberry/And then if you have, if you have a space between the lot line and the
building it's just going to collect junk there anyway, they built fight up to the lot
line.
Norton/Let me ask, what are the steps like, what are the steps going to look like as to the
Main Street building or one of those other?
Lehman/I don't, we're not going to have any way of getting the answer to that tonight we
don't know, we don't have plans.
Norton/Yea, we don't know what the deal is like yea.
Lehman/We don't have anything. Karen told us last night that apparently it wasn't too
intrusive but I think it was a compromise to get a building design that the City
was comfortable with.
Kubby/Yea but most of us have to build on our property.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#26 Page 44
Norton/Yea.
Kubby/And so that' s just the thing I'm concerned about is that we're giving this property
owner an advantage of having that higher density and that creates more resources
for that private property owner what we get from the community is maybe some
more units down thero are close and walkable for people who work or live or
leam downtown but I just don't want this to become a trend where a lot of
property owners are saying I can get three more units and the city maybe, only,
and I will not make my building so pretty so then it'll negotiate for that aesthetic
and we'll get to use some right of way.
Kubby/I'm not saying that that's the thought process that happened here but I don't
want it to become a pattern.
Vanderhoef/Another thing the city gets is the larger and more dense that is the higher the
property taxes the city recoups.
Norton/Yea but essentially.
Vanderhoef/From the size of that building.
Norton/Essentially converting giving a little bigger footprim to build on.
Kubby/But I think it's important to talk about why we're doing this.
Norton/Yea so generous.
Thornberry/It's not something that hasn't been done before either.
Lehman/Yea but I don't think we're known for our generosity when it comes to giving
up space on the part of the staffif they recommend it it's got to be a pretty
substantial improvement on the part of the building or they wouldn't recommend
it.
Thornberry/I think there was some give and take there and I think that part of the process
was that the staff is trying to work with the developers and we've encouraged that,
tried to say yes and make a compromise with the developer I think is what
happened in this project.
Lehman/Well none of us really know except it's been recommended.
O'Donnell/Let's move on.
Lehman/Any further discussion.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#26 Page 45
Kubby/No. Thank you for that discussion.
Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#27 Page 46
ITEM NO. 27. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION DECLARING INTENT TO
TERMINATE THE CONSULTANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY
OF IOWA CITY AND WEHNER, PATTSCHULL & PFIFFNER P.C. FOR
THE CIVIC CENTER PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO GIVE WRITTEN NOTICE OF TERMINATION.
Norton/Move adoption to the resolution.
Thornberry/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by Thornberry. My understanding is that the work
on this project is being done by a former partner in that firm who is going to be
taking over.
Atkins/Later so this will keep the continuity of the project. Other discussion. Roll call.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#29 Page 47
ITEM NO. 29. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
ARCHITECTURAL CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZNG MAYOR TO SIGN
AND CITY CLERK TO ATTEST CONTRACT FOR ARCHITECTURAL
SERVICES FOR THE IOWA CITY LANDFILL SCALE HOUSE AND
RECYCLE CENTER.
Thornberry/Move adoption.
O'Donnell/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Thornberry, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion. This is a new
contract that replaces the previous one that is done with John Shaw who was a
former partner in the firm. Roll call.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#30 Page 48
ITEM NO. 30. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING PURCHASE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND
SOUTHGATE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, INC. FOR PURCHASE OF
PROPERTY ON BENTON STREET ACROSS FROM ROOSEVELT
ELEMENTARY.
Norton/Move adoption.
O'Donnell/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Norton, seconded by O'Donnell. This property will be.
(END OF 99-94 Side 1)
Norton/What's the acreage we're taking about?
Thomberry/Two.
Lehman/Two acres.
Thornberry/2.2.
Lehman/This is an area that the neighbors, as long as, I lived there 35 years, the
neighbors in that, farther west, but those neighbors have complained bitterly about
the lack of park land in that area and this certainly will, you can't get to it but at
least the ground.
Norton/Yea but what is the access question here, what is the status of that?
Atkins/A couple things, I'm not sure they complained bitterly I think they exercised
remarkable restraints.
Norton/Restraints right.
Atkins/Because we've been.
Lehman/Publicly.
Atkins/Publicly yea. The project is two acres of land formerly owned by Southgate,
purchase price is $135,000, half of which is to be paid by CDBG moneys, the
other half to be paid from our Park land Acquisition Fund. The property fronts on
Benton Street, it's not the comer lot, it's the one.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#30 Page 49
Norton/I think a couple blocks.
Atkins/Two blocks to the west yea, exactly how we're going to design it and lay it out
I'd defer to Terry I'm not so sure he's given much thought just yet unless there's
some sketches, no.
Norton/Well that' s surely going to involve access offof Miller down there or something
isn't it, somewhere?
Treeblood/Yea, we don't have the park design plan yet but we what we do have planned
is there's a sidewalk going up Benton Street fi:om the north to get to the property
so there will be access there.
Norton/Right on Benton Street?
Treeblood/Yea.
Thornberry/We're not going to have to go between two houses or anything like that are
we?
Lehman/No houses there.
Champion/No not any.
Norton/Wait a minute what's the story at the comer then?
Thornberry/Get it done quick yea.
Norton/What's the story with the comer lot then?
Atkins/The comer lot is still that's the Ruppert property I think it's (can't hear) sale.
Treeblood/My understanding is there's some right-of-way (can't hear) for sidewalk
being constructed.
Lehman/There is. The city has I believe has a six foot of right_of_way all the way to
Riverside Drive to Oaknoll Drive and we're only using like 28 feet I think. That
came up with the discussion relative to what Benton Street (can't hear). So I'm
sure.
Atkins/But the intent is to get a walk-in as one of the early things to get it in so we can
get folks into and out of the park.
Thornberry/Yea.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#30 Page 50
Lehman/Thank you. Roll call. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
Page 51
ITEM NO. 33. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
O'Donnell/I had the Solid Waste Management Committee meeting the other day and
through that we've started to look at forming a Solid Waste Advisory Committee
or we're going to look into it and I learned a great deal that evening and I think we
all have a lot to learn about recycling. There was a fire on 5th Street out in
Coralville about three weeks ago and a group of people got together and helped
this man and Town and Country, Town and Country Furniture in Coralville
donated fumiture and that's really what Coralville and Iowa City is all about it's
helping people and I wanted to thank them. I attended the fountain opening
Saturday downtown if you haven't been there I encourage you to do it. We asked
for an interactive fountain and 30 seconds after the Council and our Spouses
walked under it we had 50 young people in there and it was a tremendous event.
And that' s all I have to say I would like to hurry my bride's birthday is today.
Lehman/She's 26.
O'Donnell/26 years old and one year older than I am.
Thornberry/Stick to that story.
Champion/Well I just want to remind people to vote in the primary next week and I God
I think the fountain is a great success, seems to me there's a lot of water around.
Lehman/It rained.
O'Donnell/It's a fountain.
Norton/No running loose you mean.
Champion/It was great.
Norton/Running money loose, yeh.
Champion/But it's really nice and the people are, the comments on it have all just been
really positive, people are really excited about it.
Kubby/There are a lot of events going on so I am just going to, I've honed it down to
four so I wouldn't take so much time. This Friday there's a group called Business
Leaders for Sensible Priorities and really what they want to do is shift some
money from the Pentagon to kids programs on a national level and their big "You
Slice the Pie" bus tour is coming Friday at noon in Hubbard Park and CNN's
going to be there and so if you want to have a chance to be on national television
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#33 Page 52
go on down to Hubbard Park, it starts at noon I think. Then on Saturday, or
actually I should go Friday first. Another thing on Friday there's a whole bunch
of events happening for International Year of Older Persons, there 's lots of
different things going on. I'm just going to highlight two things, one is at 6:00
there's a celebration of local older artists that will be displaying their artwork.
And then at 7:00 you can hear Dr. Joyce Brothers talking about older and better.
Roy Justice will be the M.C. and Voices of Soul will be there singing which is a
delight to hear. Then on Saturday you could go to the Lucas Dodge Room at the
IMU and participate in the Social Change training program sponsored through the
Women's Resource and Action Center on public speaking. If you want to register
for that you need to call the WRAC at 335-1486. And that's from 9-1, actually
you get a time to practice public speaking so you should be aware that you'll be
expected to do a little bit of work while your there not just listen. So bring a
topic. And lastly October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and one of the
things that people are asking of people in communities all over the country to do
is on October 4 it's called Unity Day and we're asking people to light a path to
safety where you would on Unity Day leave your porch light on in order to turn
off the violence. One day you can leave your light on. That's all I have thanks.
Norton/Well I have just a couple of items. I wanted to reassure (can't hear) that we are
we agreed last night to take another look at the Kirkwood signalization question
where that will come out. But I just wanted to be sure people understand that.
Two little subcommittees that I'm on, one the Senior Center 28E we completed
another draft yet of our 28E.
Champion/Draft number 25.
Norton/And we're sending it off to making the final revisions and sending it off to the
County for their consideration. We have not brought it to you yet because we you
know we have to see how it flies but we're gaining on it. And then the.
Kubby/Although on that issue one of the things we did ask for was just maybe you know
what are the five issues the broad issues, just on a piece of paper for next informal
would be real helpful to keep us a little updated.
Norton/Well some of these issues have to do with procedure, that is clarifying precisely
how this consultation that is suppose to take place between the County and the
City happens there' s been some concern that that didn't always happen. Second
exactly there the purview of the Senior Center Commission and Staff with respect
to activities at the Center and those are the key ones and well I guess those are the
key ones and I think we've clarified those in our draft, we'll see how it matches
with what the Counties preparing.
Kubby/OK.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#33 Page 53
Norton/The other subcommittee I'm on is the North Commercial Area of the airport
Ernie and I have a meeting Thursday moming to think about that. If you look at
the minutes of the Airport Commission was it Emie? And I think the South
Central plan there was some concern about the roads and the status of runway
1735 and I want to assure that Emie and I ready to debate heavily exactly what's
going on there because there some concern one keeping that third runway.
Intends to intrude on some of the possibilities for roads on the south and
commercial development on the north so we want to try to be very careful I'm not
prejudging it but I think we need to make sure we all agree.
Thornberry/Are you going to bringing that to Council then Dee?
Norton/Yep, we'll talk to them about it and then we'll bring it back to you. Nothing's
going on without the blessing of this group believe me. I had a mild curiosity,
first I wanted to mention is the Iowa City River Trail is having an opening I think
at 10:00 on Sunday at City Park to celebrate the opening of the trail so maybe you
could have your religious service there as well and bless that trail.
Champion/I thought you weren't going to talk tonight.
Norton/Right, well I was, I promised I wouldn't talk. But the other thing is have we had
a, where do we stand on the peninsula project? Has anybody briefed us lately? Is
that just handing? Is anything moving?
Atkins/We're out for the second go around of prospective developers, I'll just prepare a
summary memo to let you know where we are and the timing of it and so forth,
I'll do that.
Vanderhoef/It's due in December is it?
Norton/Coming along sometime shortly okay.
Vanderhoef/As (can't hear) bids are closed, something like that.
Norton/Incidentally one of the issues on the airport we want to hear from you is exactly
is the role of the Science Center and what extent are we invested in, how are we
going to work in that in the interest of the Science Center what are we prepared to
do? Those are some of the issues we'll be bring back to you I'm sure that's going
to be important. And now Connie I promise not to talk anymore, blessing on me.
Vanderhoef/OK, had an opportunity to go to the Second Annual Snow Plow Rodeo, it's
a time for the drivers of the City trucks from all over the city to practice their
skills with the trucks. The drivers from four divisions participated and they
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#33 Page 54
participated not only in driving but they participated in a written test covering safe
driving and applicable rules of the road. They also do a vehicle diagnostic
evaluation, inspect a dump truck plow with a set of a number of defects to see
what they would find so they tell me that they do this usually before they go home
so that if they get called out in the middle of the night for a snow storm that their
vehicles are ready to roll when they get there. Then they also drive the obstacle
course that simulated conditions of parked cars, street curbs, things like this that
they might be involved it. It's a very interesting course. The emphasis on the
rodeo is education with a stress on safe operations during snow and ice season.
Drivers achieving the highest combined scores were honored as their division
champions. The highest overall score received a grand champion award. The
following are the high scorers: Chris Gilstrap for Waste Water Department, Brian
Tack from Forestry and Parks, Jim Tandy from Streets, Tony Worrell from
Landfill and the Grand Champion is Randy Salm from Streets. And I had the
opportunity to ride with him during that ride so he had distractions all over the
place and he's still an excellent driver. Special congratulations goes to John
Sobaski, Assistant Superintendent of Streets for his outstanding score and
demonstration of vehicle knowledge and drivers expertise. An additional
congratulations goes to Engineer's Kim Johnson and Finance (can't hear) Cindi
Sheets, and Leigh Lewis who completed the course in an exhibition run with a
dump truck plow. Truly a great job by everybody and they had a regular good
time, much fun. Thank you for allowing me to participate with you.
0 'Donnell/You didn't drive?
Vanderhoef/I didn't drive a truck, I didn't take my jump seat, next year.
Norton/(cant hear).
Thornberry/OK are you finished I'm sorry.
Vanderhoef/I'm finished that's all right you can rest.
Thornberry/I want to reiterate Sunday, October 3, I'll be down there to open their Iowa
River Corridor Trail, Ernie won't be able to make it and.
Kubby/You going to bike down? I'll bike down with you.
Thornberry/Be glad to do that and along with that and that's at 10:00 AM Sunday
October 3rd. Along with that there's it's the lower part of the City Park.
Norton/(can't hear).
Thornberry/You'll see it, you'll see where all the people are.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#33 Page
Lehman/Follow the trial.
Thornberry/Yea it's where the trail is. And there's also at that time a walk for Diabetes
right after that opening so, see you there, Sunday, October 3rd. Well I.
Champion/(Can't hear).
Lehman/All right I just want to remind Council Thursday at 4:00 we have a joint
meeting with the County, Coralville, at Scanlon I believe.
Atkins/Scanlon I believe.
Vanderhoef/And school district.
Lehman/Thursday 4:00.
Champion/Where is at?
Atkins/Scanlon.
Lehman/Scanlon Gynmasium.
Karr/Proctor & Gamble Room, Scanlon Gynmasium, Mercer Park.
Norton/When we do we have a computer training program?
Lehman/Computer training this coming Friday at 3:00 so bring your laptop.
Norton/Might (can't hear) to that too.
Lehman/Leave your laptop I'll watch it for you.
O'Donnell/(can't hear).
Lehman/I had the and if any other Council do get an opportunity to talk to any of these
grade school kids it is a wonderful experience, went out to Shimek School they
wanted to talk about city government and whatever. Those kids are so bright they
are just so bright, they don't beat around the bush, they ask you exactly what you
think, a great bunch of kids. And I also have had in the last week a Mr.
Thornberry knows about this but I have dealing with our Animal Control Officer.
And there's a little creature names Peaches that's going to be going to my house
tomorrow night at 5:00.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#33 Page 56
Kubby/Congratulations.
Thomberry/We're going to have a party.
Lehman/There aren't very many dogs down, but there's a chocolate lab down there, 5
year old female, absolutely gorgeous so if you need a pet they've got some great.
Norton/What are you doing with Peaches?
Lehman/Peaches is my.
Thornberry/He's adopting Peaches.
Lehman/Going to be our new dog.
Kubby/What kind of dog?
Lehman/A English Shepherd, she's abused so I don't have to break her in so, no.
Kubby/OOOH, don't let the shelter folks hear you say that.
Lehman/Really looking forward to taking Peaches home to our house and anybody that
needs a dog that's a great animal shelter and I think they do a great job of finding
homes for pets.
Thornberry/Yea and your on your third week of background check I understand.
Kubby/They do, they will check to make sure he owns the property he says he owns.
Lehman/I'm assuming that I passed the background check.
Norton/They'll microchip you Emie.
Lehman/Steve do have anything to add?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.
#34 Page 57
ITEM NO. 34. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY
ATTORNEY.
Atkins/Two quick items, number 1 is Linda Kopping our Senior Center Coordinator was
recently elected President of the Iowa Association of Senior Center's, a nice
honor.
Vanderhoef/Congratulations.
Atkins/And on Saturday past we had our Household Hazardous Waste Cleanup Day and
we don't have the numbers in sense of the cost to us but we had 475 appointments
in a six hour period. We filled 128-55 gallon drums of what they effectively refer
to as the bad stuff. We, and that does not include paint, paint is a separate. Dried
the latex, we bulked the oil based paints and we'll be looking for a home for the
oil based paint sometime this winter. So again a very successful program. That's
all I have.
Lehman/OK. Eleanor. Motion to adjoum.
Thomberry/So moved.
Vanderhoef/Second.
Lehman/Moved by Thomberry, seconded by Vanderhoef. All in favor. Adjoumed.
9:00.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of September 28, 1999.