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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-19 Transcription#1a Page 1 ITEM NO. 1 a. CALL TO ORDER. Lehman/Two minor changes to the agenda, first one is, let's make sure everybody hears this. The first one is and I'm sure that most of us realize that as people grow older generally speaking they receive a fair amount of respect from those people that are younger than they are. And that' s kind of a tradition I think all over the world. It's not necessarily a tradition on the Council, we have one Council member who for three months has been telling me about how much older I am than he is and Mr. Thornberry had a birthday October 9 so Happy Birthday Dean. Thornberry/Thank you your (can't hear). Champion/Much older. Thornberry/Everybody has those and Ernie is three months older than I am and he's way up there. Lehman/Yea, right, OK. We have a proclamation tonight. Lehman/(Reads Proclamation). Now, therefore, I, Emest W. Lehman, Mayor of the City of Iowa City, Iowa do hereby proclaim the day of October 31, 1999 to be "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery" Day in Iowa City and urge all residents to change their smoke detector batteries and to install smoke detectors if they don't have them. Karr/Here to accept from our fire department is Sparky. Kubby/All right. Thornberry/There's Sparky. Lehman/There's Sparky. Thornberry/Have a police dog and a fire dog. Champion/I know it. I think it's important to point out too. Lehman/This is a Sparky dog. Champion/That the fire department was installing fire detectors and batteries in the (can't hear) this week, is that week? Vanderhoef/That's right. Champion/We appreciate that. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #1a Page 2 Thornberry/Sparky doesn't talk much. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #2 Page 3 ITEM NO. 2. OUTSTANDING STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS - SHIMEK ELEMENTARY Lehman/Are the young folks here? Karr/Yes if you'd like to come forward. Lehman/Yes please. And while they're coming up I was at Shimek School a couple weeks ago and talked to three classes for about an hour, dramatic, just had a ball, you guys are great kids there. Now if you'd like to state your name and then read your thing for us. c. ANNA BETH MCNABB Anna Beth McNabb/My name is Anna Beth McNabb. A citizen is a person that belongs to a certain community or place. As a good citizen at my school I always try to stay organized and always try my best. I try to come to class prepared and have my homework done all the time. As a 6th grader at my school I also feel it is important to set a good example for younger students and also for my peers. I try to be respectable, nice and fair to my peers as much as I can. I'm also involved in school patrol where I'm setting a good example for younger people. I also am involved in Green Team where I help the environment. Out of class I am first chair flutist in my third year of Iowa City Girls Choir and I'm in my fourth year of playing piano. And also I've been involved in Softball since Kindergarten. To be a good citizen, acquire discipline and assuming you have to work at it. To me being a good citizen is very important. b. SOLON CHRISTENSEN-SZALANSKI Solon Christensen-Szalanski/My name is Solon Christensen-Szalanski. I think that to be a good citizen you have to help your community like your school and neighborhood and always try to do your best. I'm in the school safety patrol, I'm one of the two captains that helps make the monthly schedule for the patrollers so they know where they have to be to help. To make this schedule you have to be organized enough to make good decisions about where people should be at the right time. I am also in the Boy Scouts of America, I play the Cello and I also play on a basketball team. And the Boys Scouts of America I learn about how to help myself and other people. While playing the cello I have to find motivation to practice daily. Finally in basketball I work with my teammates to reach a common goal which is to get better. I think a good citizen is someone who helps other people reach their goals or purposes. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #2 Page 4 Lehman/I have certificates for each of you. They say "For it's outstanding qualities of leadership within Shimek Elementary as well as the community for a sense of responsibility and helpfulness to others we recognize these citizens as Outstanding Young Student Citizens, your community is proud of you. It's really quite an honor to be selected and I think Council is extremely pleased and honored each fall and during the fall year we make these presentations at regular council meetings. It's one of the high points of the council meeting for all of us so congratulations to both of you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #4 Page 5 ITEM NO. 4. PUBLIC DISCUSSION (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA) (UNTIL 8:00 PM] Lehman/This is a time reserved for the public to comment on any item that does not otherwise appear on the agenda. If you wish to address the Council, please sign in, state your name and limit your comments to five minutes or less. Gary Sanders/Hi my name is Gary Sanders and I've been here the last couple weeks talking about the proliferation of liquor establishments and the diminishment of retail establishments in downtown and what we can do about it, if we need to do anything about it. Well I'm here tonight to offer kind of a hypothetical question to the Council, possibly to each one of you. And that is at what point in time do we consider this to be a big enough problem that we convene some sort of ad hoc Emergency Citizens Council Advisory. How about if oh maybe a couple historic places were sold and turned into liquor establishments, maybe one or two, maybe Mercantile Bank, you know they keep changing hands, or how about the Englert Theater, how about if either of these two were sold and converted to a liquor establishment. Would that get us off the dime here, what do you think Dee, would either of those, selling of either of those and? Norton/I don't know that which particular events might of those might but I'm certainly in favor of moving as promptly as we can to consider options, in fact we talked about it last night. Sanders/Yea. Norton/That we are going to have to get serious about what kinds of steps can be taken, finding out which kinds can be taken isn't easy. Sanders/Dee what about you, if either of these two great institutions the Mercantile Bank or? Lehman/Gary we've put this on our work session. Sanders/Could I just have two more minutes? Lehman/Sure. Sanders/All right, just if any of you would the selling of either of these two establishments raise any red flags, Mercantile Bank or the Englert Theater? Thornberry/I thought the Englert was already sold Gary. Sanders/Oh, well, who bought it Dean, I. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #4 Page 6 Thornberry/I don't know who bought it, was it? Lehman/I don't think I know for sure. Sanders/How about Kip Pohl the owner of the Union Bar and Malone' s. How about that the fact that the plan is going to be change it to at least half of a dancing and beer place. Is that any reason for alarm that we're not going to have Englert Theater's anymore? That we might have the Eng, but we won't have the Lert? How' s that? I mean this is, it seems to me that it's time for you know the media to pick up on this, that this is a, this is a pretty famous building here and I think this is a, should be front page story. That the liquor license application has been picked up, not necessarily turned in but picked up. Housing Inspection Services downstairs has been talked to and I think the ball's rolling on this and I think it's time that time that Iowa City really realizes how far along we're going here and I would hope that you folks would have some sort of citizen ad hoc committee to decide if this really the road we want the rest of downtown to go on. Thank you very much. Kubby/Well especially with the Englert Theater, we want it to go the other direction, where we take the wall out of the theater and get back to the screen and revitalize it because it is the last chance in our community for that kind of theater to get put back to a different use but not necessarily a. Norton/There are so darn many movies. Kubby/That kind of use that we're talking about. Sanders/Yea I mean for us middle age folks I mean how many more things are going to be left downtown to go to at night? Thornberry/Well the Strand, the Strand burned down and is now part of the Holiday Inn. The Capitol Theater was torn down and is now part of a parking lot, the Varsity was converted to what part of a bank and I bought the Iowa Theater and converted it to a Burger King so. Kubby/It's a trend. Thornberry/Things change. Where were you when all the other theaters were? Sanders/Well I was only here when the Astro went down, and it was the only reason I went to see a Madonna movie because that was the last movie that played at the Astro was Truth or Dare. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #4 Page 7 Thornberry/I guess it was the Astro, I think it was the Varsity, that' s the same thing as Varsity so. Sanders/But this is the last one, freestanding downtown and this has a history to it, the Englert family and I'm calling on you folks to have some sort of citizen commission to find out if we just go hole hog and go all the way and that will be it or whether at some point whether through zoning or anything else we can draw the line on this. Kubby/You know I'm not sure that we need a citizen' s commission to tell us because our comprehensive plan and our downtown revitalization plan states that we want downtown to have a variety of housing, commercial establishments and that we want cultural things as well as bars and restaurants and retail so we already have that as a policy. And I mean that I think those are the things to move us last night this coming, no two weeks from last night, I don't know what that date is, November 8 at our informal session we're going to review the memo that city attorney had given us about what are our options for doing something? And then to decide whether or not we want to so maybe it's a call for citizens to respond to us between now and November 8. Do you want us to act? Sanders/Right and I know this is the last meeting before the election and that that meeting on the 8th will be after the election. So thank you very much. Champion/Thank you Gary. Kubby/Thanks for the news Gary I think. Steven Kanner/Actually this might be a bad movie house, move the screen fight over here, might be good. Champion/It is a movie house. Kanner/And it's free too. My name's Steven Kanner, I live at 2315 E. Washington. And first before I get to my comments I want to applaud Eleanor for running in the race for the schools out there Sunday, I saw you running pretty hard. And glad that that happened and that the city' s part of that. And I want to talk about another form of transportation, yesterday at your work session you talked about the new transportation hub that's your planning on for downtown. And there' s a couple issues that I want to speak to. First I don't believe we need any more parking spaces and it looks like this is a parking garage hidden with some other good features in it. We have Iowa Avenue parking ramp that' s going up and I don't believe we need 300 more spaces. And I believe we need City Council to encourage public transportation, and I want to quote from JCCOG's, Johnson County Council of Govemment that oversees transportation planning. They say This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #4 Page 8 in the recent report the ability of transit marketing and advertising to stimulate ridership is generally overstated. If you make it hard to drive and park a car either through pricing or availability then more people will use transit. If parking is inexpensive and plentiful they will generally choose to drive. There are hidden costs to driving cars in our society and I think as a City Council and as a city we need to encourage alternative means of transportation that which will have a lot of benefits for our city. And therefore I would ask the City Council not to include the 312 parking spaces in the new transit hub. And another thing that we should look since we're thinking about housing the Greyhound station there or any other transportation like that in the new hub we ought to look back to our last contract that we made with Greyhound as far as renting the space over at College and Gilbert. And basically we gave them a sweetheart deal, we had a long term lease there for many years and we renewed it at the same price where other people in town when they renew leases often times it goes up much more over inflation. Greyhound is not going to be leaving Iowa City, it's a gold mine for them I have to believe and I believe we can get more financial payment from them especially if we're building them a new hub and we should keep that in mind when we rent out space to their company. That's it. Thank you. Lehman/Thank you. Champion/I just want to make a little comment about something that Steve brought out last night the parking spaces that are part of this new hub of transportation hub, all the profit from that will go to public transit so a lot of our parking revenues support a lot of public transit and I know it sounds ideal not to have parking lots and parking ramps but you probably wouldn't have public transit either because you wouldn't have those. Kanner/Right now we get about $90,000 from the parking funds. Champion/That' s a lot of money. Kanner/I think we should double that, I think we could afford to double that and we need to do things like that to encourage public transportation because the costs are just tremendous. The air pollution alone from increased car usage costs billions of dollars. Champion/I agree. Lehman/Any other public discussion? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #2a Page 9 ITEM NO. 2a. BRYANT ROBERTSON Karr/Mr. Mayor we have the third Student Citizenship Award Recipient who just arrived, a little misunderstanding and I'm wondering if you would consider awarding him his proclamation at this present time. Lehman/Absolutely, absolutely. Karr/Bryant if you would like to step up here. And Bryant if you would start by introducing yourself. Bryant Robertson/OK I'm Bryant Robertson. To me a good citizen is someone who is trying to do their very best in school and outside of school by being helpful, caring, organized and not getting in trouble. At school I try to work hard, be organized, and get my homework done right and on time. I help with patrol at my school, on patrol I explain to students how to be do things right so they set good examples for younger kids. I tell kids to not to run so they don't get hurt. I also try to help my teachers ifI see they need help with something. Outside of school I play football, baseball and basketball. Being a member of a team helps me practice citizenship because when I play sports I team how to be a good listener, how to work with others, and how to motivate myself to be a better athlete and person. It is important to me to be nice to other people and have good friends, good friends help each other out. I want to thank my teachers at Shimek for choosing me for this award and to thank the City Council it means a lot to me. Thornberry/Very brave. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 10 ITEM NO. 6. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA CITY WATER FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, DIVISION 1: WATER TREATMENT PLANT, DIVISION 2: WELL HOUSES, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. Lehman/Public heating is open. I've asked Ed Moreno from the Water Department to give us some background information to explain what the hearing is about and we'll proceed from there, Ed. Ed Moreno/Thank you, good evening. What I'm going to do is give a quick narrative, a brief narrative of what I shared with you yesterday about the project, what the background is and what it is. And I'm just going to read from my notes here. What' s been driving the project is safe drinking water act regulation changes, also an aging facility that we are not operating, also a poor water quality from the Iowa River that is very difficult to treat and the inability for us to upgrade the existing facility. With that in mind with those as facts what we did is a quite a bit of planning and studying and we arrived a new sources for the new water treatment plant. Those sources include the alluvial aquifer, the Jordan aquifer, the silurian aquifer, the sand pit surface water and the Iowa River as new sources. What has been accomplished to date is the distribution system, there's a water main that's been completed from the old plant to Foster Road. Water main has been installed in the Peninsula by the Elks Club and we have renovated the three ground storage reservoir tanks that are in the distribution system in preparation for the new water plant. In addition we have drilled four wells in the silurian aquifer and one well in the Jordan aquifer. Projects that are currently going on right now include water main at Captain Irish Parkway, water main that is going from the Emerald Street ground storage reservoir to the Peninsula. Water main that is going from the Peninsula to Dubuque Street along Foster Road. Also at the water plant site we have done quite a bit of site development out there, also site development at the Peninsula area. We have installed the lower terminus in four collector wells. We are constructing the river intake and also the sand pit pumping station, the lower terminus. In the public hearing what we're looking at now is the water treatment plant construction which is a culmination of these projects, the limestone structures for the collector wells and the sand pit pumping station. Backup electrical generation for the new water plant and the water works park on that site. The collector well lower or upper terminus will have these limestone structures also in this project due to the quantity of water coming from the alluvial aquifer we are also increasing the pump size also the discharge piping and putting variable frequency pumps in there. What is still left to be done in this overall project is to run a water main from Dubuque Street to Captain Irish Parkway to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 11 the Rochester GSR. Also to renovate the Iowa River Power Dam and to decommission the existing water plant and put a booster station in that area or in that site. So that's a brief overview of where we've been, what we're here for today and where we're going. Lehman/Ed, there' s one piece of information the Council got at the last meeting that I'd like to have you reiterate publicly and that is the two water sites, the Peninsula and the plant size themselves have the wells and of course the intake from the river. But I think it's rather amazing the amount of capacity that those wells are showing and if you would tell us the amount of water we're currently using, the capacity of the new plant and then the potential capacity of the sites that we've been working on the last three years. Moreno/Sure, currently at the existing water plant over a year we've average about 6 million gallons a day. In that averaging where you can have a peak day of about 10.5 million gallons in a day. With the new sources and they came in very plentiful in particular the collector wells came in at 16.6 million gallons a day. The design capacity for the new plant is 16.7 million gallons a day, combining all five sources that I spoke earlier, we have a capacity of 25.1 million gallons which is outstanding, it give us. Thornberry/Per day. Moreno/A lot of flexibility and it's good for our future. Norton/Ed how much is going to happen on the Peninsula site as distinct now from the water plant site itself. Water plant site is something in this project going to happen on the Peninsula side? Moreno/Yes. Norton/Precisely, relative, roughly speaking what's going to happen there. Moreno/Right, what' s going to happen in this, for this public hearing is the upper terminus will be put on the collector wells, that's the pumps and the structures of building the controls. Norton/I'd say, no earth moving or anything of that kind necessarily. Moreno/I beg your pardon. Norton/No earth moving in that area. Moreno/No. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 12 Norton/That's all over on the plant site. Moreno/That's correct and currently we're laying the water main in to connect all these sources up to the plant currently we are doing that fight now. Norton/Does it include access roads to those wells along the Peninsula? Moreno/This one, this contract does not I don't believe so, it's just the upper terminus. Norton/So that will be a future. Moreno/Yes. Norton/That and the river dam and the connection from the plant out to over to Dodge Street over to the GSR out on First Avenue. Moreno/That is correct, maybe Chuck will bring you up on (can't hear). Charles Schmadeke/The Peninsula work as far as the water main and access to the wells, that is currently under contract as part of that Foster Road project. Norton/Oh I see, part of the Foster Road. Schmadeke/The Peninsula site work will be done as part of the Foster Road project and just the upper terminus of the two collector wells will be part of this current project. Norton/But aren't there silurian wells over there too? Schmadeke/Yes but those are finished. Norton/Yea. Thornberry/So this is basically Chuck the last big contract we'll let for that project? Schmadeke/Right (can't hear). Vanderhoef/Well, the dam. Norton/River dam. Schmadeke/(can't hear). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 13 Thornberry/Except for the yea. Lehman/Well the big. Thornberry/But this is the last part of the water project basically. Schmadeke/That's right. Norton/Do we have any estimate of those two connections, aren't there two connections left to to main, I don't know raw or finished water lines that have to be done yet that are not yet planned, the one that goes along the Foster Road extended? Schmadeke/In the Foster Road contract the water main is extended east to Dubuque Street, we will still need to put the water main in from Dubuque to Dodge. Norton/That will be a new one. Schmadeke/That will be a new one, and then from it's on Captain Irish to First Avenue and then from Captain Irish to Rochester. Norton/Wonder what those two lines will cost, have any idea? Schmadeke/We don't have the estimate on those yet. Champion/When do we expect to have everything done? Schmadeke/The plant will go on line in mid 2002 and we should have everything completed by that time including the water main construction. Lehman/Now this is a, the estimate on this is job is almost $32 million dollars which makes it the largest project I think we've ever let in Iowa City. Sometime ago I think the Council adopted a policy of paying for this project obviously with revenue bonds but also a policy that we would have a certain percent of cash to put down which has necessitated the increased of water rates that we've seen over the last few years. Steve do you want to explain to us a little bit about that. Steve Atkins/Councils, yep, the Council's policy just to reiterate to the public is that the water related improvements would be financed by moneys raised from water revenues, that is the water rates. As an example in the project list we have certain water plant site improvements that we have directly tied to the water works park, that portion of this project and the funding of that project will not be covered by water revenues it will be covered by our general obligation debt which we would usually use for parks and recreation improvements, and that's been the consistent policy. So water works park and those elements are not financed by your water This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 14 revenue. The water rate schedule was adopted about five years ago and stages increases over a six year period, we have one more rate adjustment due in July of 2000. In our water rate policy we have somewhat of a unique component and that was after extensive council conversations we have chosen to create a cash reserve of about 20 percent of the value of the project. And the intent is that would reduce our borrowing and thereby at some point in the future making the assumption we did not have any major new environmental regulations we might actually be able to see a downturn in our water rates. There are many factors involved in this project, many of them beyond our control. For example, the bond market, is the bond market right now is still good? When we go to sell we're hoping the interest rates treat us as they have over our last few projects, we hope for good bids, and the traditional operating costs associated with the with the operation of the water plant or subject to the same pressures, economic pressures as anyone running any kind of public utility. Kubby/What's that 20 percent translate into dollars, dollar amount? Atkins/It should be at about 10.7 million dollars within the month. Kubby/OK, so the adage has always been at least in the past that for every dollar you don't borrow that you pay up front you save a dollar in interest. Atkins/That's correct. Kubby/So that you mean that by using that strategy we help reduce the overall costs of the plant over time, the whole system over time by 10.2 million dollars. Atkins/That's correct, that's correct. Norton/Yea, the other side of that coin is that you lay a heavier burden on the current cohort payer, we're catching up for things that should have been spread out over time in the past in my judgment too but it's all a let's say "water over the dam" on most. Incidentally Chuck if the dam project and I understand you run into some issues out there if improved impossible to use that dam would you have to somewhere construct a new one, do you have to do something to stabilize the river level by the dam. Schmadeke/We need to maintain that pool level for the collector wells to work effectively because the water head above the well is what helps (can't hear) volume. Norton/(Can't hear) what keeps them. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 15 Schmadeke/Right and then the river intake structure and the sand pit water elevation, they're all dependent on the river level. Norton/So that one even though it's going to involve more money than we had hoped to use is essential. Atkins/Chuck, I think you want to describe, I saw an inquisitive look in the audience, we own the Iowa River Power Dam is what we're talking about. Schmadeke/Right and that's the dam that's near Clear Creek near the Iowa River Power Restaurant. Vanderhoef/Without the dam and the collector wells that are producing so well and you're saying your getting 16.5 million gallons per day without the dam, what might they go to? Schmadeke/That I really don't know. Vanderhoef/Really could go pretty low. Norton/(cant 'hear) could go to zero. Vanderhoef/That' s the point I'm trying to make is that we really have to have that dam otherwise that water source is going to dry up on us. Schmadeke/You mean substantially? Vanderhoef/Yea. Lehman/Thanks Chuck. Schmadeke/Thank you. Thornberry/It obviously Steve helps a lot on this funding of this project that we have a AAA bond rating. Atkins/The AAA bond rating just to remind you applies to our general obligation. Thornberry/That's GO. Atkins/Right. However, we have an A bond rating on our revenue bonds which is also the best you can have so we have top of the line credit with which we expect to go into the market with. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 16 Thornberry/That's a good point. Lehman/Other discussion. Public hearing is closed. Thornberry/Well for the $32,894,000 engineer estimate I'll move first consideration. Lehman/Moved by Thornberry. Norton/Second. Lehman/Seconded by Norton. Council discussion. Vanderhoef/(can't hear). Thornberry/That's a biggie. Lehman/Well that's a biggie but it's something that we've needed for a long time and (can't hear). O'Donnell/It has to be done. Vanderhoef/Well we haven't had a choice. Lehman/Well. Vanderhoef/Truly with the safe water act. Lehman/It's been in the planning stages for five years and finally we're bidding it so. Kubby/Actually I have a couple comments I wanted to make, one, because there are three comments I wanted to make. The first one is about our rates because even though the vote we're making tonight is not about our rates the vote we're making tonight for this has a huge impact on our rates and I guess some of it is going over old ground but I think it's important for people to know. Maybe it will motivate people to choose to participate in our elections to understand the actions of those of us up here have long term effects for the community. A long time ago Steve Atkins came to a previous Council and said the water plant is old, the quality of the water isn't as high as we should be producing, we need to start slowly raising water rates now because they've been so steady for all these years to start squirreling away some money so we don't have a huge impact on water rates later. It was a very responsible move on his part of the City Manager. Three of us said yes that's a good idea to start saving those nickels and dimes now to be responsible now. Susan Horowitz and Naomi Novick were the other two people on that Council who said yes. The other folks said no because they really This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 17 believed it was important for people to keep those nickels and dimes in their own pockets to invest and so the city collecting that small amount. And the end result was I didn't get to, get to much more out of that quarter every month, reduced, not raising the fees that quarter a month, that dollar a month, that $12.00 a year. I couldn't really make much money a year but collectively the city could created some interest with that $12.00 per household. And we would not have raised the water rates in the way that we had to do to be responsible in our decision making. And so the decisions we make November 2 are really important, so get involved. No matter who you choose to support, get out there because it's really what we do here now has affects, not just short term but long term on your monthly living ability in this community. So I'm glad we made that decision about the 20 percent and we are putting a burden on the current generation in a certain way, in a real concentrated way instead of spreading it out but we are also having a huge amount of debt for future generations who will have the advantages of this water plant. And if this water plant, it's not, it's a combination of purposes, it's a public health issue and that it will not only increase the aesthetic quality of our water but it's going to increase the chemical quality, the health quality of the water, most of our body is water, 70 percent or so is made up of water. So what you put in is really really important. It's also an environmental issue that we're doing some things differently, there's some aftermath to our water treatment process no matter what quality of water we bring into the plant and we're going to be dealing with those in a much more environmentally sound way. So that' s a second very very important purpose. And I guess the last comment I want to make is that we were approached by the construction trade, the construction unions to ponder whether we should do something called a project labor agreement for this big project. And what that would do is ensure that more local labor was used, I think that other communities have shown that it helped increase and stabilize the quality of work that' s done on the plant. And it ensures no work stoppages and for those people who would have come in and chosen to belong to the union, they would have gotten consistent health care from job to job over a period of time. And I'm sorry that we did not choose to go that route. I think it was a huge missed opportunity for our community but there was not interest on Council to do that. I'm glad we're moving ahead on this, I look forward to that mid 2000 when that water quality I think will be very very high. I will personally stop buying bottled water then, although many people don't think you need to now but I will wait until that point in time. Bottled water is extremely expensive, much more expensive than what your paying for even with the higher water rates. Like you know 35 times as expensive, it's outrageous but I look forward to that day and thanks Ed and all the water plant employees who have spent and public works employees who have spent lots of time even starting 10 years ago looking to the south part of the county for water. It's a much longer than 5 year trip for this and I'm waiting for mid 2000, big water. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 18 Vanderhoef/I have a couple or 3 comments too. Number one about three years ago five of us were on this Council, Connie and Mike and have joined us since then and so it's this Council who chose to save the and accumulate the 20 percent dollars up front for this project, therefore, putting in that savings of 10.2 million. At the same time we recognize that the rates were going up for everyone and that it was a hardship on part of our citizens. And we collectively looked at how we could reduce rates for our citizens who have less ability to pay that so I think this has been a positive move forward for our committee and for our Council. The other thing that I think we should note is that because of our collector wells and the capacity that they have shown that they can produce we will be taking less from the Jordan and Solurian wells so therefore the people in the noah county area who tap into this water will have better quality of water and we will not be drawing down on their same source nearly as much as we thought we might have to at in some time in the future. Norton/Ernie I'd like to make just one point regarding the financing of this plant, there are federal guidelines coming out that will apply I think to the city within a few years. Maybe you know exactly Steve when that require city budgets to actually consider deterioration of all of their infrastructure including things like water plants and sewer plants and heavy duty costs so that Council' s of the present time can't defer the costs of that and then pass the law on to the next generation and I think it would be a it'll make it be a tough calculations I'm sure. And it's going to be really hard to do budgets but you have to program a replacement costs Atkins/Yes. Norton/For things that are deteriorating and keep those costs spread evenly over multiple generations. O'Donnell/Well I'm not going to berate past Council's but I think Dee did bring up a good point up that this is the Council that this is the Council that decided to save the money and get the job done and I feel it's something we had to do. The past Council's you are contacted by many citizens in Iowa City and told to keep the costs down so it's a balancing act but this is something that I'm very proud to be part of, we got it done. Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries. Champion/I've spent a lot of money in my life but I think this is the most I've ever spent in one sitting. Lehman/I hope it is. Thornberry/(can't hear). I don't know you've got that bridge on Summit Street. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #6 Page 19 Vanderhoef/The whole project though when we voted to go forward and it was in the 92 million that one was scary too. Norton/Yea. Lehman/This project actually started the December before I came on Council would have been. Thomberry/1960. Norton/93. Lehman/1993. Council of '93 voted to start (can't hear.) Atkins/That was the first sort of formal presentation to you of the plan to begin to kick this off. And I would remind you so you can sit back and swallow hard. We have major waste water treatment. Vanderhoef/Coming up. Atkins/Coming up shortly also. Lehman/Why did you have to say that? Atkins/I don't know. Vanderhoef/Because it's there. Atkins/Because it's there, thank you. Norton/Followed promptly by storm water. Atkins/Another roll fight. Lehman/Boy that was a brief period of satisfaction I'll tell you that, 15 seconds. Vanderhoef/Chuck, there's no rest for you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #7 Page 20 ITEM NO. 7. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE TITLE 1, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION," CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED "MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL," TO CHANGE THE COMPENSATION FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COMPLY WITH THE POLICY ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE 97-3804. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Vanderhoef/I move that the rule requiring the ordinance that must be considered and voted on for passage at two council meetings prior to the meeting at which is to be finally passed be suspended. That the second consideration vote be waived and the ordinance be voted on for final passage on at this time. Norton/Second. Lehman/Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Norton. Discussion. Kubby/How is it helpful to expedite to this? Karr/We are requesting expedited action for two reasons, one to comply with the policy established by the ordinance and secondly to comply with state law which provides that council' s not be allowed to compensate themselves in November and December proceeding an election. Kubby/Oh so we just need to start this process earlier? Karr/Well it will be part of your finance budget package, since the money was already appropriated in the finance stage in the budget the ordinance will be done at the same time as the budget in the future. Kubby/OK. Lehman/Other discussion, Roll call. Motion carries. Vanderhoef/I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time. Norton/Second. Lehman/Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Norton, discussion. Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #9 Page 21 ITEM NO. 9. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND A SIDE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY 6 PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVERPASS PROJECT [STP-U-3715(14)--70-52]. (END OF 99-101 SIDE 1) Lehman/For Highway 6 on the curb just west of, right next to Crandic tracks west of Riverside Drive. Thomberry/Move first consideration. Lehman/Moved by Thomberry. Norton/Second. Lehman/Seconded by Norton. Discussion. It's a foot bridge for those folks who may not know about it. My understanding is it will not look quite like the one over Dubuque Street but it will carry pedestrians over Highway 6. And my understanding is there are a tremendous of people, pedestrians who do cross that highway daily to go to the Vets hospital or to the complex which is a very dangerous situation. This bridge will enable those folks to pass over the highway on a bridge so, and this is at no cost whatsoever to the city. Thornberry/Yea I was going to say well this is a no brainer, this is, the department of, now the Department of Transportation is going to pay not to exceed 80 percent and the University of Iowa the other 20 percent so. Lehman/How can we argue? Thornberry/Thank you University. It's needed for them and why are we letting the contract instead of the University? Norton/We had to be the agent somehow yea. Atkins/Rick, and yea we have to be the agent Rick. Rick Fosse/It's because of the funding source the DOT can only give the money to the city. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #9 Page 22 Thornberry/I see. Fosse/We're acting as the agent. Thornberry/Thank you very much. Vanderhoef/And it's a safety issue for us. Lehman/That's agent Fosse. Champion/So ordinarily we would be matching this money but the University is giving it to them instead providing the fight. Lehman/Right. Other discussion. Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #10 Page 23 ITEM NO. 10. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DESIGN OF THE EXTERIOR TO THE WHITEWAY 2000 PROJECT AT 210/212 S. CLINTON STREET. Vanderhoef/Move adoption. O'Donnell/Second. Lehman/Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion. For those of you who are not aware this is the building that will is being constructed on the former site of the old Whiteway grocery store. It is a, I think it said seven story, but six stories above ground building, basement and first story being commercial the next five levels. Atkins/Apartments. Lehman/Being residential. And this is in an area that has been designated as a tax abatement area required approval of the design review committee. Our city staff is performing the function of the design review committee and has been for over a year. My understanding is that they have approved a design and it's up to us for approval. Thomberry/Boy that is a beautiful beautiful building. O'Donnell/Massive looking building. Thornberry/Pictures that I've seen have just been great. Lehman/I think we're all pretty excited about it. O'Donnell/It will be a great addition to downtown. Kubby/I have a couple specific questions. Lehman/Yes. Kubby/Some of it may just be not understanding how to read the picture. But it says east elevation on one of this and the east side is the side that's in the back isn't it? Norton/' It means looking east. Jim Schoenfelder/Yea (can't hear). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #10 Page 24 Kubby/OK. Lehman/All fight. Thornberry/West elevation. Kubby/I didn't want to assume that I was mixed up or not mixed up. Atkins/Karen, Jim's on the Committee if you'd. Kubby/Could you. Schoenfelder/And the architect is here too. Lehman/Yea if there's any questions, would you stay at the podium. Karen do you have any other questions? Kubby/OK so the picture that we're seeing is the frontage along the Clinton Street? Norton/West elevation fight. Kubby/OK, doesn't that make? OK. And the second question I have is on the south elevation, that that' s the elevation along the alley way correct? Are there this section in the middle is that glass so that some natural light can come in or is there no? I can't tell from the picture what material that is. Schoenfelder/I believe that's glass block. Atkins/Glass block. Tim Schroeder/(can't hear). Lehman/You need to speak into the microphone so that we can record it. Schroeder/That window opening needs to be rated 45 minutes and we need glass block there, we wanted to provide something there to articulate that wall, that's actually a stairwell, so we're letting natural light into the stairwells and that will be lit up at night to give it a little accent, so it will be seen from Clinton Street as well. Champion/It will be beautiful. Kubby/Thank you. Champion/(can't hear) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #10 Page 25 Norton/Is service, while your there is service to the building entirely from the east from the alley, not from the alley? O'Donnell/It's out. Norton/I mean not from the south but from the east. Schroeder/There' s some coming in from the south, there was the electrical transformer there on the south in the alley. I think the water sewer will be going to the east but electrical will be south. Norton/Does the building go right up against Givanni's? Schroeder/No there's a 20 foot (can't hear). Norton/OK that's what I thought, there is some space back there? Schroeder/Yea. Norton/Or dumpsters and things maybe. Schroeder/Yea. Lehman/Other discussion. Champion/Well I'll enjoy watching this go up. Lehman/Absolutely. Schroeder/They've already started so. Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #14 Page 26 ITEM NO. 14. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION Lehman/Mr. Norton would you like to? Norton/Yea I have a couple, mainly they're announcements. The county group that has been discussing trails in the county is meeting Monday night. I think this is the third meeting and we're going to hear I think some fairly detailed plans for trails in the county, trials that would presumably connect with any of those that are going on in the city and in Coralville and Noah Liberty. I intend to go to that meeting but I have a visitor coming into town and there's a chance I might not. Lehman/Will somebody. Norton/This is on Monday evening, is that the 251h isn't it? Karr/Yes. Norton/Monday the 251h at 7:00 at the County, I'd like to call somebody if I turn out not be able to show up there, anybody, I know your all busy and. O'Donnell/I've got a meeting all day. Thornberry/I've got a forum that night. Lehman/Call me if you can't go. Norton/I'll give you a call, okay thanks Emie. Now second I'd like to remind people of the Human Rights Breakfast, the Annual Human Rights Breakfast is October 28 at 7:30 at the Ritchey Ballroom at the IMU. I think if your interested in that you can call Heather Shank at 356-5022 for details. The other meeting is an interesting meeting on the first public meeting on planning from a skateboard park and that meetings on the 271h at Scanlon Gym at 7:00. That's for seeking public input about the design of a more permanent skate park, skateboard park where or perhaps more than one park we heard that that's a consideration so, there' s several meetings that are coming on. Finally I want to say that some of the, the fountain is now tumed off for the bad weather and some of the repairs that might be necessary to handle. The water are well under consideration, the fountain will be coming on properly in the Spring. Thank you. Lehman/Dee. Vanderhoef/OK just a couple things. I'd like to note the desolution of the Council on Disability Rights and Education. These folks have put a lot of input into the city This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #14 Page 27 over the past years, things that they saw that we could do that would be assistance to them and both our downtown core and noting businesses that were accessible and met some of their special needs. I'm sorry to see them disappear at this point and I will welcome their input in the future when they see an issue please bring it to the Council we'll be looking forward to working with you in small groups or however it looks so we can continue to address your needs. Then also I would just like to announce the HUD award of excellence in management operation is given to our Iowa City Housing Authority and Maggie Grosvenor our Housing Administrator, Deb Briggs the Public Housing Coordinator and Bob Shaver the maintenance person for this they really have worked hard and I'm real proud of what they have done and they should be proud too. Thank you. Thomberry/I've got a couple of things. I would like to thank all of the people who not only ran in the Iowa City Road Race for the school systems, Iowa City and Regina but for all of the volunteers that helped out and they were considerable. It was quite a deal and it and I hope the school spends the money wisely. There's also a free Halloween Parade and Carnival Friday October 29 from 6-8 PM, all ages welcome. It starts at 6:00 meet in costume at the intersection of Clinton and College Streets in downtown and from there they're going to the Community Recreation Center, for those who don't walk along the parade just come to the Community Recreation Center and the carnival and harmless haunting and treats at the rec. center. Iowa City's trick or treat night will be Sunday, October 31, so if there are any question of when the little trick or treaters are coming it will be Sunday, Sunday, October 31. And this is the last Council meeting before the general election for Council members and there is a satellite early voting stations at the Public Library on Friday October 29 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday, October 30 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Monday November 1, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. At the HyVee food store on First Avenue, Saturday, October 30 the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics on the 8th Floor, Colloton Pavilion, Monday November 1 from 9:00 Am to 5:00 PM and the Johnson County auditors office on Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. So if you can't, if you can't vote on November 2 you can before the 2nd starting the 291h so Library, HyVee Food stores, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the Johnson County Auditors office. That's all I have. Lehman/Thank you. Mike. O'Donnell/Oh I just have one thing I want to encourage everybody to get out and vote. You have an opportunity this time, listen to these forums carefully and make a decision that's right with you. Thank you. Champion/I just want to remind people to vote, that' s it. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #14 Page 28 Kubby/I have a couple of things. One is a question about the downtown information Kiosks and when they're going to be put up because it seems like the ped mall is pretty much done but the public phones, the newspaper racks and the places to put posters up which are an important part of our downtown aren't replaced yet. And people, I think there's some thought that they're not going to be replaced but I've assured they will be. Atkins/Yes. Kubby/I just don't have a time frame so if you could let us. Atkins/I'll get a note out to you. I know it's soon. Kubby/OK. Atkins/Because I was speaking with the folks the other day about it but I'll get you a definite date. Kubby/People will be happy to see. Atkins/Yes, they are going to be constructed. Norton/Does that include posting pillars as well as the gast???? Vanderhoef/I forgot one thing. Kubby/We got our brochure in our packets called the Combo Program, and as many of us in town live in older homes we know that when you are looking to buy a home sometimes the home if your a lower or moderate income household that you can afford to buy, you can afford to buy the house but there' s a lot of things that need work in the house, plumbing, electricity, the roof, the foundation. And there' s a new program that the city has helped coordinate called The Combo Program that you can get a mortgage that includes what you need to purchase the house but also to do the rehab. And there are some local lenders who are involved in this, you can contact them for more information, Hills Bank and Trust, Iowa State Bank and Trust, Mercantile Bank, Residential Mortgage Network and the University of Iowa Credit Union. So there are some income eligibility guidelines and I'm sorry that I don't know what the household income is but if your between 80 and I'm sorry, you can, households earning below 80 percent of median income will be given priority but the program goes up to 125 percent of median income. So you should call either the city or one of these financial institutions to find out if you qualify. We hope with the program to be able to help 30 homeowners with this Combo program so if your interested in this you can contact me or more detailed information those financial institutions or the city's planning department. And This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #14 Page 29 lastly there's another celebration on October 31 as well as our celebration of Halloween. And that is something sponsored by the School of Social Work and it's Mexican Holiday called Day of the Dead and there's a time to remember and celebrate those who have passed away during the last year and to see death as a part of the cycle of life. And there will be, it's at Old Brick starting at 6:00 PM, I'm not quite sure how long it goes but for a long time. Last year it went I think at least until at midnight. There will be a 15 piece Mexican band, other singers, there will be alters that people who if they want to bring a momento of someone who has passed the last year to bring to add to the alters. And there will be food so come dressed up, have fun and celebrate the Day of the Dead. Lehman/Dee. Vanderhoef/Sorry, just one thing. For those folks who have been waiting for the new recycling to happen with pick up of mixed paper and magazines we've had a little problem with the trucks here and that program will let you know when the trucks are here and we're ready to roll with the project. Thank you. Lehman/Well just a couple things. And Dean I want to just reiterate, we said about those road races they were I think very successful. The thing that I thought was neat, they're local, folks who ran, we didn't perhaps have some of the national names that rim races before but this was a tremendous local effort and I expect that to get bigger and bigger and bigger and people just had a great time so. I got a call today from The League of Cities in Des Moines, the state legislature apparently isn't or at least the subcommittee is having second thoughts about the decision I thought they made on tax and condominium's. Kubby/You had better go talk to them again Ernie you were so effective. Lehman/I'm going back next Wednesday and see if we can kind of reinforce what the decision that they I thought they made last Spring. Norton/You mean they're thinking about going back on the decision? Lehman/I guess so but they called and asked if I'd testify with the committee and I told them I'd go down there next Wednesday so that one isn't probably to bed yet. We're all aware of the meeting Thursday night between Iowa City, Coralville, the County, and School Board what in Coralville 6:30. October 28 Steve you and I are going to that Mayor's Summit in Bettendorf. Atkins/Yes. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999. #14 Page 30 Lehman/Which will be the mayor's of the larger cities and talking about issues that will be coming up in the legislature. And last but not least there are two dates that we need to remember as a council. October 22 Karen and Joe anniversary. Kubby/Five years, it's a record for me, I can tell you that. Lehman/And on the 241h this old man to my fight and his lovely bride Charlene are having their anniversary. I want to remind you Dean to keep you out of trouble. Thornberry/Oh boy. Lehman/October 24 so congratulations folks. Steve. Atkins/Nothing sir. Lehman/Eleanor. Dilkes/Nothing. Lehman/Do we have a motion to adjourn? Thornberry/So moved. O'Donnell/Second. Lehman/Moved by Thomberry, seconded by O'Donnell, all in favor. All ayes, meeting is adjoumed. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 19, 1999.