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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-01-04 Transcription#1 Page 1 ITEM NO. 1. CONSIDER MOTION TO APPOINT CITY CLERK AS TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON. Marian Karr/Organization meeting January 4, 2000 9:00 AM, first motion to appoint City Clerk as Temporary Chair. Champion/So moved. Lehman/Seconded. Karr/Moved by Champion, seconded by Lehman. Discussion. All those in favor say Aye. All ayes. Karr/Opposed same sign. Motion carried. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #3 Page 2 ITEM NO. 3. CONSIDER MOTION TO FIX METHOD OF VOTING. COMMENT: UNDER ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER, THE PREVIOUS CUSTOM HAS BEEN TO USE THE VOICE METHOD VOTING. AS THE CHARTER DOES NOT PRESCRIBE THE METHOD OF VOTING. NOMINATIONS CAN BE MADE BY BALLOTING OR FROM THE FLOOR. VOTING CAN BE BY VOICE VOTE, SHOW OF HANDS OR BALLOT. COUNCIL SHOULD ALSO DECIDE IF THE BASIS FOR DECISION IS MAJORITY VOTE OF THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP AND PROCEDURE FOR CANVASS OF BALLOTS. Karr/Want to entertain a motion? Champion/I'd like to move that we vote by ballot. Karr/Ballot. Is there a second? Pfab/I'll second it. Karr/Moved by Champion, seconded by Pfab. That the balloting be by ballot, paper ballot. Champion/Paper ballot, I prefer that method but I'm not locked into it. Kanner/Could you explain why you prefer it? Champion/Because I think at times the voting that sometimes that people would prefer that other people don't know who they voted for. O'Donnell/Con~dentiality. Champion/Right. Karr/Is there any other discussion? Lehman/My personal preference that I think that in a group of seven that that probably not the way we start out, I think we need to know where we all stand and we also need to know who's voting for who so I'm not going to, it's not a big deal but I just think that the public needs to know and I think that we need to ourselves know who we're voting for. Champion/OK. Lehman/No but there's a motion on the floor that's just my. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #3 Page 3 Karr/Is there any further discussion on the motion on the floor. Vanderhoef/I'd prefer open ballot. Karr/OK. Other discussion. We have a motion on the floor that the balloting be by paper ballot, all those in favor say Aye. Karr/Opposed. Karr/Could I have a show of hands? All those in favor show of hands. Champion, Pfab. Those in favor? Lehman/Opposed. Karr/I'm just questioning those in favor, there's two. Those opposed show of hands. OK for the record O'Donnell, Lehman, Vanderhoef, Wilbum, Kanner opposed. OK I'll entertain another motion for balloting. Wilburn/I move to have voice vote and also need something about the canvassing. Karr/Yes, canvassing and also decide if a decision is a majority vote if you'd like to. Wilburn/I move that we have a voice vote to be decided by majority vote and that the canvass of ballot occur by visual count by the temporary chair. Lehman/Second. Karr/Moved by Wilbum, seconded by Lehman that the voice vote the balloting be done by voice vote, the decision be a majority vote of the total membership and the canvass be a visual one by the temporary chair. Is there any discussion on the motion of the floor? All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Karr/Opposed same sign. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #4 Page 4 ITEM NO. 4. NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY. Vanderhoef/I would like to nominate Emie Lehman. O'Donnell/I'll second it. Karr/OK there is a motion by Vanderhoef seconded by O'Donnell that Emie Lehman be nominated for Mayor. Are there any other nominations? Vanderhoef/I move nominations close and that we accept this as the unanimous vote. Karr/Moved by Vanderhoef. Champion/Second. Karr/Seconded by Champion that nominations cease and that a unanimous vote be cast for Emie Lehman for Mayor of the City of Iowa City. Discussion. Kanner/Yea I think we should have some discussion on the matter. I think that, although we've had private discussions and I think that's good that City Council sometimes has private discussions among individual members. I think there should also be some public debate and I think that it's good for the city to hear from the nominated council members for mayor to hear a position or some of their hopes and feelings on the position of mayor and also ask what they expect of the city councilors in the term of mayor and just to get a little feel of that and so I'd like to see if the Council would be open to that. Champion/I don't have any problems with it. Karr/Mr. Lehman would you like to comment. Lehman/I have no problem with that as I think all of you who are familiar I've served as mayor the last two years. The mayor's job of the Iowa City Council is not, it is different from the rest of the Council but Mayor carries one vote just at the rest of you folks do. I view the mayor' s job as trying to move business along the Council, I view the Mayor's job as trying to reach consensus of trying to keep the Council on track. I think we've been very successful in that the last two years, I have no reason to think that it wouldn't continue. There are some things that I would expect from this Council as the last Council did in that I think everyone has a, should have an opportunity to speak on issue before the rest, we engage in debate sometimes among ourselves but I think everyone has, should have an opportunity to speak. I think it is when it's obvious that further discussion isn't This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #4 Page 5 going to change anybody else's mind I think it's appropriate that we call for a vote. I know the last two years a couple different times we've entertained the idea of deferring a vote when it was obvious that nothing was going to be different in two weeks so I think I expect us to move along in a judicious fashion, not that we limit debate or that we don't thoroughly discuss things but I don't think we need to drag it out either. One of the things that we've, it's worked for us most of the time but there are occasions, we have an item on the agenda called public discussion which I would like to change to public comment. We have been known to engage the public in arguments during public discussion which I don't think is appropriate and I think part of that is because we label that public discussion when things are said that are obviously erroneous I think we owe it to the public to correct those things but I do not expect the Council to argue or debate the public during public discussion which I'm going to ask to change to public comment. I'd like to see Council stay on track, generally speaking I think we do a pretty good job but there are occasions when we starting talking about items that are really not relevant to the resolutions we're talking about and I think it's the mayor' s job to keep Council moving along and if it's not relevant I think it's the mayor's job to say look folks you know this is the issue and this is what we need to address. We have Council time, we have work sessions, we have other times to entertain some other sorts of views. I would also expect the Council to be respectful and considerate of each other, I think we did a good job of that the last couple years, I would expect that would continue this year. Certainly in the time I've been council, or mayor I don't think that there's ever been an occasion when a member of the Council wanted something to appear on the agenda or to discuss it that we didn't do that so I would certainly be open to any suggestions ~'om the Council as far as agenda items. We do keep a pending list and I think we're all I think aware of the fact that when there' s an interest on the part of one of the Council people to pursue something as long as we have the agreement of at least three other council persons, in other words if we have four people we will pursue that, that's been a policy that has been in effect for the six years that I've been on the Council and I think it's a good policy if you don't go off on tangents unless we do have the support of each other. There are a number of other Council policies that are we will be discussing, I don't think they're probably relative you know to my position but there are some things I think we need. One of the things I would like to do is to develop a written policy for work sessions and I've, we've talked about that and Eleanor smiles because we sometimes talk about public hearings and we end up having a public hearing at a work session which is not appropriate. And there's also I've been a probably the biggest defender of allowing public input at work sessions when our stated policy is not to allow that but I would like to come up with a written policy which we would distribute to the Council and then ask for your input. Does that address the things your interested in Steve? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #4 Page 6 Kanner/Yes I think, I appreciate that statement Emie and, well another question I have though is we started to talk about this at November 18 and it ties in with what you were saying about the informal session, the work sessions. How do we solicit greater public input, especially groups that might feel intimidated and that maybe traditionally have been left out of the process. Do you have any ideas on that? Lehman/You know I don't really know. The one thing that I do know, and I don't say this to be demeaning of the Council but there isn't one of us sitting up here that got more than 12 or 14 percent of the eligible voters, there isn't anyone sitting up here who didn't have at least 9 or 10 percent of the eligible voters who voted for our opponents. That represents a maximum of 20 to 25 percent of the eligible voters which means that none of us have a mandate from the public I think we all have to really worry about what that 80 percent who didn't vote who didn't say what they thought would like us to do and that's been a problem I guess for as long as I've been on the Council it's been a problem probably is going to be. If you put a street in front of your house your concerned about, if a street goes in front of my house nobody seems to except me. How do you involve the public? I don't really know, I do believe we were elected to do a job and I think it's our job to fill that, I have, I appreciate public input and I appreciate public opinion but I also think that we have a it's incumbent on us to do our jobs and if that, if we have to do those jobs without having the input that we would like to do so be it but I do think we need to encourage as much input as we can. Now how we do it, you know we've been trying for six years to get people out, the only people we see come to Council meetings are people that are affected directly by something we're talking about. And I can think of almost no exception to that and there's been I think a very conscious effort on the part of the Council to try to get more public input, and I think that's something we all have to work on, and certainly that's not, that's not something the mayor's ever going to solve, it's going to be something that the Council's going to have to work on as a Council. Karr/Is there any other discussion? We have a motion on the floor moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Champion that nominations cease and that an unanimous vote be cast for Ernie Lehman as Mayor of Iowa City. All those in favor say Aye. All ayes. Karr/Opposed same sign. Motion carries unanimously. Champion/Good job Ernie. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #5 Page 7 ITEM NO. 5. NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE OF MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY. Champion/I'd like to nominate Mike O'Donnell. Pfab/And I'll second it. Karr/Moved by Champion seconded by Pfab to nominate Mike O'Donnell as Mayor Pro tem. Are there any other nominations? Wilburn/I'd like to nominate Dee Vanderhoef. Karr/Moved by Wilbum. Kanner/Second. Karr/Seconded by Kanner. Are there any other nominations? Champion/Move to close nominations. Lehman/Second. Karr/Moved by Champion, seconded by Lehman that nominations cease. All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Karr/Opposed same sign. Motion carded. We'll have the balloting of voting. First in the order of nomination, all those in favor of Mike O'Donnell Mayor Pro tem say aye. For the record show of hands please, Pfab, Champion, O'Donnell, and Lehman voting in the affirmative. Opposed same sign. For the record Vanderhoef, Wilburn and Kanner. I believe I do not need since it's a majority cast I won't do a vote on the Vanderhoefnomination. And Mike O'Donnell has secured enough votes for Mayor Pro tem. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #6 Page 8 ITEM NO. 6. MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM SWORN IN. Karr/We'll have the swearing in. For the Mayor first. You raise your right hand and repeat after me. I state your name. Lehman/I Errtie Lehman. Karr/Do solemnly swear. Lehman/Do solemnly swear. Karr/That I will support the Constitution of the United States. Lehman/That I will support the Constitution of the United States. Karr/And the Constitution of the State of Iowa. Lehman/And the Constitution of the State of Iowa. Karr/That I will faithfully and impartially. Lehman/That I will faithfully and impartially. Karr/To the best of my ability. Lehman/To the best of my ability. Karr/Discharge the duties. Lehman/Discharge the duties. Karr/Of the Office of Mayor. Lehman/Of the Office of Mayor. Karr/In Iowa City. Lehman/In Iowa City. Karr/Johnson County Iowa. Lehman/Johnson County Iowa. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #6 Page 9 Karr/Is now hereafter required by law. Lehman/Is now hereafter required by law. Karr/I'd like you to raise your fight hand and repeat after me. I state your name. O'Donnell/I Mike O'Donnell. Karr/Do solemnly swear. O'Donnell/Do solemnly swear. Karr/That I will support the Constitution of the United States. O'Donnell/That I will support the Constitution of the United States. Karr/And the Constitution of the State of Iowa. O'Donnell/And the Constitution of the State of Iowa. Karr/And that I will faithfully and impartially. O'Donnell/And that I will faithfully and impartially. Karr/To the best of my ability. O'Donnell/To the best of my ability. Karr/Discharge the duties. O'Donnell/Discharge the duties. Karr/Of the Office of Mayor Pro Tem. O'Donnell/Of the Office of Mayor Pro Tern. Karr/In Iowa City. O'Donnell/In Iowa City. Karr/Johnson County Iowa. O'Donnell/Johnson County Iowa. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #6 Page 10 Karr/Is hereafter required by law. O'Donnell/Is hereafter required by law. Karr/Mayor Lehman now presiding. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #7 Page 11 ITEM NO. 7. MOTION FOR CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. Lehman/Item 7 are City Council appointments, as you can see there are several committees that we need to set up and appoint council people to. There are also a number of committees that are more of a temporary nature that we will address at future meetings but for the time being we need to address these. The Legislative Committee is a committee that we normally put on, we have three people serve on that committee and we can not have on any committee more than three and while I'm at that, to keep on the good side of our City Attorney was a delightful young lady. The open meetings law prohibits more than three council people at one place discussing anything that' s of interest to the City of Iowa City I think socially that probably does not apply but if your ever in doubt don't be there, that keeps Eleanor happy so in any event there can be no more than three people on any committee and there can be no more than three people attend that meeting so if we have three people on that committee and a fourth person wants to go to that meeting unless one of our members wants to step down they cannot attend that meeting even if they don't speak so. Now last year we had as usual three people on the committee, there were a couple occasions where we did not have three people at the meeting. I do think we have enough members of the Council that if someone is on that committee and cannot make legislative meeting if they let me know I'll check with other Council people so we'll always try to have three people at the meetings. Eleanor Dilkes/Emie just a clarification because each one of these committees is formally created by the Council they are in of themselves a govemment body subject to the open meetings law so even though there are only three of you for instance on the legislative committee when the Legislative Committee meets that is subject to the open meetings law. Lehman/Let me ask you this then if you have the three people on the Legislative Committee decide to sit down and discuss legislative issues is that a violation of the open meetings law? Dilkes/Most likely yes. Lehman/That's something I didn't know. Vanderhoef/It needs to be announced then in advance? Dilkes/Yes, it needs to noticed. For instance when the Rules Committee meets we notice that meeting just like we notice a meeting that you all have. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #7 Page 12 Lehman/In other words it would be illegal for the three on the Legislative Committee to meet for a cup of coffee and discuss issues that will be discussed at the meeting? Dilkes/Yes. Yes. Lehman/I think that's important to know I did not know that. Dilkes/That's what I thought. Lehman/OK. Dilkes/That sounded like from what you were saying. Lehman/OK I think it's important on most of the committees that we do have both the representation from experienced council people and also representation from our freshman council people. And I obviously the appointments to these committees are going to be appointments that are going to be approved by Council, (can't hear) approved by the entire Council I ask suggestions, these are only suggestions so I will not be concerned, offended or anything else if you change the suggestions. Dee I believe served on Legislative last year and I think. Vanderhoef/The last four years. Lehman/The last, well yea, and I think that Dee there's a certain continuity there that I would, I think I'd like to see continue. I personally would like to see either Steven or Irvin as one of our new people serve on that committee. The third member I don't know where the, and I think it's important that the council people serve where their interests are. So if you have an interest in that or thought certainly speak up. Pfab/I definitely have an interest in it myself. Kanner/So did I, maybe we could work out this time that we could have two new people on that committee especially since we have an experienced person with four years to give us some guidance. Lehman/What' s your pleasure? Champion/I don't have any problems with two new people on it, it's a committee that requires a lot of out of town travel. Lehman/No it really, it's a committee that meets on Saturday momings during the Legislative session. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #7 Page 13 Champion/Oh this is not the. Vanderhoef/This is not the (can't hear) one that, that's a different appointment that's from the state appointment. Lehman/Meet on Saturday mornings during the Legislative session so there would probably be what six or eight meetings Dee? Vanderhoef/Yea, that's, no probably six. Lehman/Six so it's only six meetings and it's on Saturday mornings is it the Chamber office or the Library? Vanderhoef/They change it depending on how big the group is. Lehman/Yea so I mean it's not an entire year commitment, it's a commitment for the term of the Legislature. Kanner/Ernie maybe, excuse, maybe it would be helpful for each one of these committees if you'd explain what they, what their purpose is and their meeting time. Lehman/Well the time I can't tell you for sure but my understanding is and Dee help me out if I'm wrong but they meet on Saturday's during the Legislative Session and it really is an opportunity for the legislatures to tell the City Council of issues that are pending at the State level that affect City and certainly an opportunity for people from the City to let the legislatures know the issues that affect the cities. For example machinery equipment tax which was being phased out is a dramatic affect on the finances for the City of Iowa City. Anything that deals with rollback is a real interest to the City of Iowa City. There's been an issue the last year or so on taxation for condominium whether they be taxed at commercial rate or residential rate, tremendous impact on community. So it's an opportunity for give and take between the Council people and the State Legislatures, and I think we've found that our State Legislatures are very receptive folks, they really do listen to what we have to say whether or not they can help us a lot in Des Moines is another story. That basically is the purpose of the committee, Dee is that not correct? Vanderhoef/That is, the only other thing to add there is that this is with chamber folk and also with school district so sometimes the bent is a little different than just city issues but a lot of times it's a good opportunity to see where these things meld together and to have this dialogue with each other so there's a broad range of folk that come to that meeting on Saturday mornings. And this does not discount the possibility of this council choosing to look at our State Legislatures directives This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #7 Page 14 from the Iowa League of Cities to promote or write letters say to the Legislature or lobby for certain action. Champion/Well then I think you almost need at least two of these people that have some experience in city policies and economics. Lehman/Well that's the issue here I mean we've, Dee is OK with everybody OK well that's one person who's been there before and then Steve and Irvin both have expressed an interest well I guess my first question is there another person that has some experience on the Council who is interested in serving on that committee? Champion/I guess there aren't very many of us (can't hear). Lehman/Well no I mean I think that. Vanderhoef/Perhaps we need to look at some of the others and find out where other people' s interests are and how it breaks out so that the opportunities for different committee work for different folk. Lehman/Well let's put that one on hold for now. The Rules Committee I would suggest myself and Connie Champion, that's a committee that meets about two or three times a year, it's a rather just, the only time we ever met is when you have a rules concerning the boards or commissions or whatever and that's been pretty simple. I think we met very few times last year but that's pretty simple so if that is all right with the Council. Vanderhoef/That's super. O'Donnell/All fight. Lehman/It deals with rules for boards and commissions. Kanner/OK. Lehman/In fact the last time we met or one of the last times there was some concem about being able to remove a person of board or commission because they didn't attend meeting. We worked this through for the policy standing, gave it to the board or commission they decided they didn't need it. It, I think it's a Rule Committee required by law is that not fight Marian? Karr/Correct but also all of they're a recommendation body to the Council so Council always votes on that recommendation. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #7 Page 15 Lehman/Yea you recommend to Council and the Council has to vote on the recommendation so. Kanner/Well could you recommend council procedure. Lehman/That's council will do that themselves. Is that correct? Karr/The Rules Committee could recommend Council if it so desired. Lehman/Well we could but any. Karr/Typically there' s been a couple of occasions where matters have been referred to the Rules Committee and then reviewed and then recommendations be made back to the Council again, the Council as a whole votes on it. Lehman/The Council has to decide it. Karr/Ultimately. O'Donnell/Well I'm very satisfied with those two people. Lehman/Is that? I mean do we consensus? OK. Emergency Management is a Mike tell us what that is you served on that for the last year. O'Donnell/Emergency Management is a group of people around the area small counties, we get together, we recently went through this Y2K thing which didn't develop. You just talk, you work in natural disasters like the floods of 93 and we're right now buying out on the Izaak Walton area down there but it's a group of people that just prepare for an expected event. Lehman/How often do you meet? O'Donnell/We meet once a month on a Wednesday and it's about an hour meeting and very very good committee. Lehman/Well you served on it before, Irvin do you have any feelings as far as serving again on it? I think Irvin is interested in serving on it. Pfab/I would serve on it but it's not if there's no one else wants it. O'Donnell/I think Irvin would do very well on there, it's a good. Lehman/Is that? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #7 Page 16 Pfab/Certainly I'm not going to ann wrestle anybody to get away from me. Kanner/Mike do you folks coordinate with FEMA the federal agency? O'Donnell/Yes. We have Jim McGinley and Tom Hanson down there who do that on a regular basis, they're in contact, we're directly a, the head of emergency management in this county is always the sheriff. And he's in attendance at all of these meetings and there's really a good group of people, like when we had the tornado here several years back this group coordinated some rescue areas, some food and water, it's a very good committee and I enjoyed serving on it. Lehman/Do we have consensus with Irvin? Champion/Sure. Lehman/When we get through with all of these we'll have a motion that we'll just approve them all. OK Johnson County Council of Govemments will take six people and I would suggest that the six council people other than myself serve on that committee and I will serve as an alternate. Is that? Champion/Good. Lehman/That's OK. Kanner/How often does that meet Ernie? Lehman/That meets monthly, well not every month. Champion/No not every month. Vanderhoef/It varies. Lehman/It varies, that's a really important committee I think, that basically coordinates transportation, waste management, a lot of things that one of the things we hear from the public (can't hear) is cooperation between governmental units and that one probably is as effective as anything in establishing that cooperation so, we'll do that. Commission of Tourism Bureau, that's a once a month meeting I believe, they meet in Coralville at their offices which is fight across from the Iowa River Power Company. Who served on that last year? Champion/Well I started out but it just met at a time where I could just never seem to get to the meetings so I asked Dee if she would take it back again, it meets usually at 4:00 in the aftemoon and 4:00 in the afternoon is a very difficult time for me. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #7 Page 17 Lehman/Well I guess I would suggest Mike you live in Coralville it's about six blocks from your business is that something. O'Donnell/I live in Iowa City. Lehman/I'm sorry you work in Coralville. O'Donnell/I have now for 53 years. Lehman/I moved you already. All right 53 years, your getting up there too. Is that something you'd be interested in doing? O'Donnell/I will do that ifthere's no. Lehman/Is there someone who has a real interest in that that would rather do it? Because I think from a matter of convenience it would work out well for Mike because he's right down the street. O'Donnell/That's fine I'll do it. Lehman/The Student Senate, Ross I really really would like to see you be on that. Wilbum/Sure, I've got a pretty ease access to students and. Lehman/Well and I think yea I think you would be very very good on that. Who else would like to serve on that? Champion/I would like to. Lehman/Oh. Kanner/Is that a monthly meeting basically? Lehman/No I don't think it meets regularly does it? Champion/No. Lehman/I mean from our participation I think we meet with them two or three times a year we have one meeting with the entire council which always a fun meeting that addresses the concerns of the kids and these are very bright kids. Now Irvin has indicated that he's going to go to some of those meetings anyway because he's close by. Does that meet with Council approval, Connie and Ross? Pfab/Ifthere's a third one I'd be interested in but it's. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #7 Page 18 Lehman/Well you can attend as a observer anyway, there's no problem with that. Pfab/It doesn't say how many people will be on that one, that's what I was asking you. Karr/Two is (can't hear). Lehman/Two is what we have. Pfab/Two okay that's fine, then that. Lehman/OK let's get back to legislative, let's decide what we're going to do there. Champion/Well maybe are fine, I think it will, it's impossible for me to do that committee again because it meets at a time when I'm usually working so maybe two new people is fine since they're interested, that's probably the main criteria. Lehman/Well I think any interest is pretty key. O'Donnell/I think so too Emie and there's Irvin's been involved in the community and that will fit fight in with that. Lehman/Okay, do we have agreement? Champion/Yes. Lehman/Now there are some other committee's that are going to be coming up that I think are significant that we're going to be dealing with as time goes along. Wilburn/Like I would have interest in the if we go forward with the Economic Development. Lehman/We'll be dealing with that and we also SEATS committee, we've got a committee that meets with the County Board of Supervisors (cant' hear) dispute over fringe area agreements, these things are going to come up later but these are the ones we have to do now. All fight are we an agreement then legislative committee be Vanderhoef, Kanner and Pfab? Champion/Move to accept all the nominations for the committees. O'Donnell/Second. Lehman/Moved by Champion, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion. Does this take a roll call? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #7 Page 19 Karr/A motion. Lehman/All in favor. All ayes. Lehman/Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #8 Page 20 ITEM NO. 8. REVIEW OF COUNCIL COMPUTER POLICY. Lehman/I think we've all received with our computers a pretty explicit instruction as to what our computers can and can't be used for. I think it's important to realize that those computers are for the private use of a Council person, that no one else is to be using them. That no one else is probably should be allowed to put anything on or take them off. Wilburn/They're for private use for public business. Lehman/What did I say? Karr/Private use. Lehman/Oh. Wilburn/We use them for public. Lehman/That's all right, misstated it. The other thing that I think is we need to know not that it's going to be a problem but anything that's on those computers is public private property. So not that I can't imagine that we're probably going to (can't hear) and examine the computers but we don't put anything on that computer that you don't want somebody else to read because it is public property I believe that is the law. Dilkes/That's right, I think the key is that you have no privacy interest in what is on your computer. The city has access to that for purposes of checking with compliance with the policy just as we have access to employees computers so. Lehman/I saw a bulletin sent out by a local CPA firm last week and even in the private sector the issue of privacy on computers is questionable. If your using a computer in the private sector and you put private information on that computer your employer may in fact have access to that information so that's not something that's just in the public sector. But I think it's important that we all understand that whatever goes on the computer may in fact be public record because it is for the use of the, it is city property to be used for city business. Kanner/Eleanor is that based on state code or city council resolution? Dilkes/State law prohibits the use of public funds equipment etc. for private purposes. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #8 Page 2 1 Lehman/We do have a mechanism in place where council people as any other city employee can purchase through the City of Iowa City computers for their own use. I think that comes up in the summer. Karr/July or August. Lehman/July or August, and it's, I know we have a number of city employees that take advantage of that because you can buy up to the date state of the art computer equipment, have the cost of that equipment even deduced from your pay checks and that has been a really good program for city employees I know a lot of them really really appreciate that. So if Council people have interest in access to a computer for personal use that is available or it will be. Karr/And I do have last year' s copies of last years proposal just as a point of reference if you'd like to take it with you you'll be receiving the new updated information closer to the time, closer to summer. Kanner/I'm sorry what was that. Karr/I do have last year's proposals for purchase of the city employee, yea, I do have that if you'd like to take that with you it's somewhat outdated but it won't change that much and then you'll be of course getting new information as it becomes available closer to mid summer. Pfab/Since I was the one that brought up the part of the computer use, my question was could the city make an allocation where you can buy your own computer and use it with the cities equipment? Karr/And we did do research on that and the discussion was that city staff support is available for city equipment and we do not have and do not recommend that city staff be available for private equipment. What the policy denotes here is and what the policy we operate under fight now is that all city support is done to city equipment and when you purchase a personal equipment even through the city the city does not maintain that. Pfab/But what if that was not an issue, the support? If the person took care of the support any problems with the computers themselves. Lehman/Well I think what we're talking about you could buy a computer. Pfab/No but I mean and then to use it instead of one that's, in other words ifa person's traveling should a person have to take two laptops? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #8 Page 22 Lehman/No but I think if you chose to purchase a computer like that will be available in July you choose to use your personal computer and I don't think there'd be a problem with that. Karr/I think the issue comes up if I can just give a little background on it with Laserfiche, Laserfiche is a software that allows council to read their electronic packets, that is not going to be loaded on anything but city equipment. ???man/Because it would be licenser. Karr/OK, because of a licensing issue, so in Irvin's situation if he would like to do business on his personal one and read his packet the answer would be yes he might have to take two laptops with him under the present provision. Lehman/OK. Any other? Pfab/End of discussion for me. Lehman/Well I think it's because of licensing of that. Pfab/OK well that' s fine, that was one thing that I hadn't had to consider when I made the inquiry. Lehman/I never thought about that. Any other questions about the computers? There's a couple things along the same vein I just I'd like to go over because we're starting out fresh. I think that we as a Council need to respectful of city staff office hours, and obviously the folks here are available to us for questions whenever we need them but they also have their offices are open basically from 8-5 and some cases that's till 4:30. But if we have business with one of the city offices I think we should be respectful of the hours that those folks keep and if possible and I know whenever I need to come down and talk to Steve or talk to Marjan, I guess I don't always make appointments with you but if I need to talk to one of the department heads I like to call ahead of time so they know I'm coming and also I think it's easier for them, they're able to schedule it and usually I can tell them what I'm interested in and they can do a little backgrotmd work before I get there and it saves us all time but I think we really do need to be respectful of the folks who work for us. We did talk about requests that require a significant time we'll take a majority of Council to do. We do not have nor have we ever had private offices or private phone lines but there is an office located in the building that is for the Council, and I know that office is frequently used by staff folks so it isn't available always but if you need an office to use for occasionally for a period of time check with Lisa and that office if that office is not in use it certainly can be used by a council person and there is a telephone in there. Although we don't This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #8 Page 23 have private lines and private offices we do have an office that I realize that it's a very limited basis but it is there and it is available so. Pfab/Can you tell me where that office is. Lehman/It's located right outside the conference room, so but check ahead of time because I know when I'm here frequently there's someone from the city staff that, we do not have an excess of space so that it is being used frequently by I think probably some from Human Rights uses it so but it is there so if you have a situation needed why let Lisa know. We do have a travel policy that is written and it's available to any council person so if your contemplating making a trip for city business or whatever you ought to consult that policy to see just what the city does cover. It is the same policy as other city employees with just a couple exceptions so that's available from Marian anytime you want it. We all have access codes to the building and those access codes for me has been when I get to a council meeting before somebody else is here. But their for the use of the individual council person only so go ahead Eleanor. Dilkes/Can I suggest that any discussion of some other things other than computer policy wait till council time. Lehman/Oh yes, yes. OK. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #9 Page 24 ITEM NO. 9. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED. Champion/Moved. Vanderhoef/Second. Lehman/Moved by Champion, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion. Kanner/I have some discussion. Lehman/Yes. Kanner/On a couple different items. I was wondering if for the permit motions for the liquor licenses and the dancing permits if we can reports if there have been any violations by any of the applicants, any citations noted by the police, if we can get that on a regular basis. Champion/We do, we'll get a list every so often from the police department of bar checks and they list the bars and how many. Lehman/Underage drinkers. Champion/Underage drinkers are in there. Kanner/Well I didn't get one for this and. Champion/No you don't get it every council. Kanner/For me it would be helpful to get it for every time, I think it would be useful to look at that for the public, they should know that we received a number of letters in our packet from concerned parents about underage drinking and this is something the council said they're going to take a look at and I think this would be a good step to help us realize if there is a problem or if there isn't a problem and I think that the state law says that we're responsible for looking for out for the health of the community through liquor permits that we recommend or don't recommend and I think that would be part of the process it would be a good thing. Lehman/I think. Dilkes/Can I make a couple comments here, I think as I've said before I think the Council needs to talk more comprehensively comprehensively about the liquor issue and I think that's probably something that your going to schedule for This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #9 Page 25 discussion. Secondly the number of PAULA' s, the number of underage drinking violations within a bar in and of itself is not grounds for revocation of a license or not renewing a license etc. So and that is not something that I think that we compile at the time of renewal or application for license so I think you need to be really careful about getting those issues mixed up and I would suggest that you have that more comprehensive discussion about this before we start doing things sort of on an ad hoc basis. Lehman/Well the liquor licenses are issued by the State of Iowa is that not correct? Dilkes/It's a state license. Lehman/Right and. Dilkes/I think what I'm what I don't like the perception that or what it seems to be coming from Steve is that that the number of PAULA's. Kanner/The number of what? Lehman/Underage drinking. Dilkes/Position of Alcohol Under the Legal Age or underage drinking with it's citations of the individual whose doing the drinking in the bar is not that number or the frequency of that is not in of itself grounds for not granting a license or not renewing a license or not provoking a license. Kanner/Eleanor I never well I agree with you to a certain extent that that shouldn't be the sole criteria but I think as a council it's our obligation to look at these different things before we recommend whether or not that establishment should have it's license renewed or should get a new license, that's part of our duty as a city council to recommend to the state licensing board and part of that obligation is to look at the health of the community that' s part of the state law of how an establishment receives a license. So I'm not saying just look at under age drinking but look at any kind of eitation~ a~ part of the whole story of liquor establishment. And not to say that because someone has two or three citations that we're going to deny them a license but that we should be able to discuss that with that kind of knowledge. Dilkes/I just want it to be very clear that legally that 10, 20 or 30 citations for under age drinking in a bar is not grounds for not granting a license. Lehman/I think I hear your concerns Steven but I think that's a larger issue that we probably need to address as an issue, I don't think it would be appropriate for us to address that as a license comes up without some indication to what our policy is This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #9 Page 26 and tight now we do not have a policy, I do think your right we need to establish a policy but I think that's going to be coming up probably as soon as we get through with budget so I think we hear what your saying and I think we all agree that there's some concern about it. Wilburn/Ernie are the state code requirements for licenser listed in the city code or so it might be a good idea for us to check the state code before having that comprehensive discussion? Lehman/I think it would be good to talk to the city attorney. Dilkes/There's a memo from my office of a number of months ago that Andy Matthews put together that very comprehensively outlines all that. Wilburn/OK. Dilkes/I certainly can get you a copy of that. Wilburn/If it, it should be on Laserfiche right? Champion/Well this is a whole other discussion. Lehman/Yes that's correct. Other discussion on the consent calendar. Kanner/A couple other things being a rookie I just want to get some things clear on this so that in the future it can go faster. Would you explain what a dancing permit is that we're going to be voting on? Karr/A dancing permit allows a liquor establishment to dance, it is by city charter and it is does not denote whether the establishment has it on a permanent or temporary basis often some establishments may have tables and chairs on the dance floor and dance only on certain circumstances allow dancing. The procedure, there is an inspection done along with the liquor license so it's renewed at the same time of year as the liquor license and there is a fee established by resolution. Karmer/Do you know what the purpose of the dancing permit is, is it a safety issue? Karr/It's again a primarily it is a safety issue, fire and police, exits, occupancy, yes. Kanner/Thank you. Lehman/Other discussion. Kanner/And we're going to be having a public heating on the electrical code? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #9 Page 27 Lehman/Right this just sets the public hearing. Kanner/OK and what are the amendments? Lehman/We won't find that out until the public hearing I'm sure. Kanner/We'll be getting that in our packet. Lehman/Yea, although I think this is part of the national code so I. (END OF TAPE 00-1 SIDE ONE) Lehman/Yea thick so I don't think that your probably going to, probably your not going to get a laundry list of every single change that's made, this is really we adopt the national code if I'm not mistaken. Karr/IfI can clarify that two things, one we typically send out any changes at the time of the public hearing so as the mayor noted earlier so that we do not conduct public hearings prior to the time that they are scheduled. So you'll be getting a memo from staff outlining the changes as well as the ordinance itself at the time of the public hearing. Kanner/OK. And then, if I may continue for just a bit. Number E(3) the subordination agreement, would you just explain that briefly why we have to do that for these lien's. Lehman/All right, is this part Doug, correct me if I'm wrong. Dilkes/I can do that quickly. In order to, in order that a lending institution will be willing to grant a first mortgage when the city is involved in some you know more minor aspect of the financing they typically will require that we subordinate our lien to there's. They want their mortgage to be first. Kanner/So if anything happens for the ability to pay back they have first crack at it. Dilkes/That's right. Kanner/But we make sure that there's enough equity. Dilkes/Equity. Kanner/In the property that we'll be able to recover. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #9 Page 28 Dilkes/Right, we would not take a second mortgage if there was not significant equity to cover the first and the second. Lehman/And it's really I think only through these sort of things that we're able to even to do that tenant to ownership program we would never be able to help people buy homes if we didn't coordinate our interest with that of the bank. Kanner/Thank you. Lehman/Other comments. One comment we have received in our packets and you'll see a number of letters to the council and some of those are indicated here in the consent calendar from folks who are concerned about the underage drinking and there will be a response from the city to those folks, kind of a I hate to use the word generic but indicating that we do in fact make every effort to enforce the code of the state and the city as we now have them so I hate to (can't hear) correspondence when you just plain ignore it so there will be a response but there will be no commitment of any kind until council has an opportunity to discuss any change that we might have in policy ordinance. Wilburn/Can you indicate in that correspondence of that reply that we'll be having some general discussions? Lehman/That will be, yes, yes. Other. Vanderhoef/Do we have any idea the two letters about the bridges from IDOT whether we do have any utilities that have to be paid for by the city in order to move? Lehman/No idea. Vanderhoef/OK I would be curious. Helling/That' s all referred to engineering they'll go through that but at this point we would, I don't know. Lehman/Other discussion. Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #10 Page 29 ITEM NO. 10. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME UNDER THE AFFORDABLE DREAM HOME OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. Lehman/This is a public hearing, public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. Obtain a motion to consider the resolution. Vanderhoef/So moved. Lehman/Moved by Vanderhoef. O'Donnell/Second. Lehman/Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion. Kanner/I have some discussion, I think this is a, it's a great program and I look forward to seeing this built. I do have a question after reading the minutes from the Housing and Community Development Commission, there was talk about two lots being available and that there was another organization that wanted to develop one or both of the lots and I was wondering how that was resolved. Doug Boothroy/Doug Boothroy (can't hear) and other organizations (can't hear) and they were also (can't hear) they got the lots one of the arguments by (can't hear) for a program (can't hear) I guess (can't hear). Vanderhoef/Well the two things that came up in my mind when I read that too number 1 I was sorry I hadn't had that set of minutes prior to voting on purchasing the other lot that we purchased at our last meeting as I recall at as I recall someplace around $17,000.00 the other question I have truly is whether that decision because of the value of those should have been brought back to Council with a recommendation only from HCDC instead of them awarding without making recommendation to uS. Boothroy/(can't hear). Dilkes/I think your going to have to ask Steve Nasby about that. Champion/That's a pretty good point. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #10 Page 30 Kanner/So. Boothroy/(can't hear). Kanner/Where's this house going to be built then, do we know the location? Boothroy/Lot 81 9th Street, (can't hear) off the top of my head I can't recall (can't hear). Vanderhoef/Is this the lot that there was discussion about that the neighborhood wanted to buy one of these for open space? Boothroy/I don't there was discussion was (can't hear) they wanted. Vanderhoef/One of those. Boothroy/(can't hear). Vanderhoef/But there was some discussion I thought in there about buying one of the lots for open space and there was a possibility of buying another lot and trading it with greater Iowa City. Boothroy/I don't really, there wasn't any money to buy lots (can't hear) but I'm not sure what that discussion was about except that maybe (can't hear) that's the commission (can't hear). Vanderhoef/No I thought from the discussion I thought it was the neighborhood had talked about raising funds to buy one and that they might trade because there was one of the lots that of those two that they specifically wanted for open space and that they might purchase a different lot and trade them. Boothroy/(can't hear). Lehman/Other discussion. O'Donnell/Thanks Doug. Lehman/Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 31 ITEM NO. 12. COUNCIL TIME. Lehman/Irvin we'll start with you if you have any. Pfab/I'll pass. Lehman/OK Connie. Champion/Well I just want to congratulate Mayor and Pro Tem and welcome the new Council members and will all look forward to working with you and it's a great beginning. O'Donnell/Well I want to second what Connie said, I welcome all the new Council members, this is a tremendous learning experience and you'll enjoy it, I encourage everybody to get involved, we've had a nature of civility over the last two years among the Council members and there's a certain amount of commeratity??? that builds up when you work with each other this closely so again I welcome you and wish you well. Vanderhoef/I can go ditto with previous comments, I have a couple of things, I wanted to double check and see how many councilors are truly getting the legislative bulletin that comes out from Iowa League of Cities. Champion/I get it. Vanderhoef/Maybe it's just the new councilors. Karr/The new councilors will get it, we've submitted the list they'll be getting it on a regular basis. Vanderhoef/Fine, OK and then recently I had an opportunity to visit with Mayor Clancy how they did some team building and goal setting for the City of Cedar Rapids. It was an ongoing or an updating of what they had done four years and they have two new councilors and I requested information about how they did it and what they did and she was kind enough to send me some materials that they used at their meeting and I'd like to just pass them out and let you take a look at them and we'll go from there. OK. Thanks. That's all I have thank you. Lehman/Russ. Wilburn/Just two comments, two follow up comments just about the election just want to thank the voters for trusting me enough to put me in office. Secondly about the election I acknowledge there is a learning curve but I would also ask each of the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 32 veterans here to just on a personal note and for your own personal reflection to consider why each of us was put here and perhaps use that as feedback in your own actions here in the next couple years together with us. Let's see, the Laser tiche software is pretty slick Madan, it's a lot easier to navigate through this than the packet was as a candidate sitting in the audience during the work sessions and then I guess I should have brought this up as a point of order, just a question during the consent calendar. We can't, can a motion be made to remove items that are question. Lehman/Yes. Wilbum/Just so that we have an idea before just so we have an idea before so that we can go ahead and adopt a consent calendar so that we have an idea of how many items we're going to have a discussion on that would be helpful I think so. Lehman/Well any item can be, you can amend it consent calendar add it or you can take items out and address them separately. Wilburn/I guess I'm just asking maybe we could, if people would consider removing them before we get to the consent calendar. Vanderhoef/Pulling them. Wilburn/Pull them out so that. Vanderhoef/Yea pull them out. Wilbum/So the public won't hear us on the consent calendar thinking god they're still on the consent calendar and this way they know that there's well there's three items that they're going to discuss separately. Lehman/Historically there's been little discussion on the consent calendar, basically most of the stuff is basically non controversial sort of housekeeping sort of things, we've probably had more discussion today on the consent calendar than we've had in the last four years and there will be occasionally there is something, but there is, usually on our Monday night work session if there's something we would like. Wilburn/That's (can't hear). Lehman/That's where we'll take it out, either address it separately or address it a future time. Wilburn/Sounds good. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 33 Lehman/OK. Wilbum/Look forward to working with you all. Kanner/First I wanted to thank the three council members who ran for leadership positions I appreciate their going the extra yard on that and so thanks Dee, and Ernie and Mike and wish you well and look forward to working with you. I had some procedural items I wanted to bring up see if we could discuss down the line and I'll get to those in just a minute and there were some items in the packet that I had some questions about. We received a note about an innocent victim going through some procedures with the police department after what she claims is an accident, what this person claims is an accident happening to them. I was wondering if they were referred to the Police Citizen's Review Board. Lehman/Yes I took care of that last,week and that person has been notified that there are two things they can do. They can file a complaint with the PCRB and also they can contact Heather Shank in the Human Rights we did respond to that. Kanner/Do we know if they did that? Lehman/I have no idea I think we have set employees mechanisms to handle just such situations which is exactly what we did. Dilkes/You likely would not be privy to that information because a contact with the human rights office as well as the PCRB board would be confidential. Kanner/But aside from a report from that maybe a report from the police I mean we had charges against the police and perhaps we should get a report from the police chief addressing that because these are public comments and they shouldn't be left to hang out there in that way and I was wondering if we could get their point of view because we're just getting one point of view of what happened in this case. Lehman/I personally feel that if the feeling of the person that wrote the letter is strong enough that their really is a miscarriage of justice then it's incumbent on them to file a complaint with the PCRB in which it would have to be addressed by the police department. You know we can, I don't feel that we can respond to everybody who says the police department isn't fair equitable whatever but if anyone who feels strongly enough to file a complaint obviously is going to require a response to the police department. And this is what we frankly told her that was available to her and we were very careful and putting that up to cover situations just like that. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 34 Kanne~ Another item we received a notice about bus passes that were passed out and there are a number that were given out free to different agencies were those monthly or daily passes do we know that? Vanderhoef/That was quarterly. Kanner/Well no were they passes that were given out to people your saying that they could use the people could use them for a whole quarter. Vanderhoef/No I'm saying that's the total number. Kanner/They're given yea, my question is whether or not they are good for a daily single trip or a monthly trip. Helling/I think most of those are for a single trip however there are some monthly passes a small number that are also allocated so there are some of both if you want the breakdown I'm sure we could get it from Joe for you. Kanner/OK yea I appreciate it. And then there was talk at the last council meeting where the council elect members were not officially part of the meeting, the November 18th meeting I believe it was or it might have been the December meeting but I'm not sure but the question is about talking with Ecumenical Towers and seeing if there' s any way of reopening discussion into use of their elevator that' s going to go into the parking ramp and I got a memo back from Steve Atkins saying that there were quite extensive legal proceedings that went into the agreement and so I was wondering if the Council would like to look at that, I'd be interested to see if there's anything more that can be done about that using that elevator as a way to aleve issues of crossing the alley in a safer manner behind the Senior Center. Lehman/Is the issue your talking about if the elevator is put in that it go to the basement area? Kanner/Well no this is the elevator that's been designated. Lehman/Part of the sky walk. Kanner/No, no, this is the elevator that's been designated for the Ecumenical Towers use to their parking area as part of the parking ramp. And it just seemed to make sense that people from the Senior Center should be able to use that during the day but apparently we've negotiated so that it's their extensive it's for their use only and that you have to have a key code of some sort to use it. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 35 Champion/It only serves a very small area of the ramp, it serves their designated parking area so the basement area. They have their own reserved parking area. That's all the elevator serves. Lehman/Eleanor. Dilkes/You can ask whatever you choose to ask I can tell you that the security to them was very important and they wanted that their route to their parking to be secure and only for them. But there's nothing that would prevent you from asking. Lehman/And they can do that. Dilkes/But they are entitled to that by virtue of our agreement with them. Vanderhoef/And was that not negotiated partly with HUD because of the original agreement on parking. Dilkes/HUD essentially controlled the negotiations with Ecumenical in large part I mean Ecumenical people had a lot of input but HUD. Kanner/Well I bring this up because the concern is that we have to build a $350,000 sky ramp because people would have without it would have to exit onto Linn Street and there was a question brought up by Dean Thornberry why not just use the elevator that's in the middle of the ramp and it would be easy to cross that alley and come into the Senior Center. As far as the issue of security in Ecumenical Towers there are doors that are open from the Senior Center to Ecumenical Towers fight now that the Senior Center controls one of those doors and Ecumenical Towers but they've found a working relationship to keep both of those open and also Ecumenical Towers keeps both of it's main entrance way doors open you don't need to buzz in to get in so I think if we were to talk more directly with Ecumenical Towers folks they might be open to the idea if we can save some money for this great expense they might be open to the idea of sharing the elevator. Dilkes/You know I don't know whether the elevator I don't think it goes anywhere beyond the first floor it doesn't go up. Kanner/Right. Dilkes/But I mean that and I don't know if that end could be built I'm assuming would have to be built into that change would have to be built into the plans or. Kanner/Well right now with the proposed sky ramp it's a bit of a convoluted (can't hear). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 36 Dilkes/No I understand I'm just raising that as another issue but I don't think that physically it's built to go up. Lehman/Steve I've gotten this from getting your point is that you feel that if this elevator were available for public use the sky walk might not be necessary to be able to exit from the ramp in the center of the ramp go directly into the elevator and into the Ecumenical Towers and not have to exit onto Clinton Street or Linn Street. Kanner/Linn Street yea. Lehman/Yea I see your point. Kanner/I think it's worth looking into making another effort and see if their open to that talking directly with Ecumenical Tower board members and residents there. Dilkes/All I'm suggesting is there may be a timing issue here since the thing is under construction and I don't know what I don't think the current plan is that the elevator goes beyond that floor. Pfab/Is it my understanding that that was part of the negotiations for the Ecumenical Towers to give up their parking spot and as a result they basically they have exclusive fight to some of that space in the ramp and the elevator is the way for them to get back to the surface and also be secure as their previous parking ramp was. Dilkes/That's correct. Champion/That' s exactly right. Pfab/So I don't think it's negotiable. Champion/It's not. Pfab/I mean I don't say it's fight or wrong but I don't think it's negotiable. Kanner/I think it's always worth taking a shot and talking with folks and see if it is negotiable I especially if we're going to perhaps save $350,000. Pfab/Oh I. Champion/I don't think we would. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 37 Pfab/But I think the elevator only goes into their spot also see which is a as I understand a secure spot like their previous one was with the fence around it with an electric gate so that was my understanding and I can be completely wrong. Kanner/I would just like to see if we can look into it a little more and have some more discussion. Lehman/Well I guess, you'd have to address the council, do you know the folks at the Ecumenical Towers well enough to at least run it past them to see what kind of response you'd get. Kanner/Yea. Lehman/I mean this has been, and I don't know exactly, I'm not sure that we're all clear of what we're talking about. Champion/I'm not. Lehman/But yea I don't think we are totally but I do know that there was an extensive amount of time spent negotiating with Ecumenical Towers relative to the parking, where it was going to be, the security, the elevator, all of those sort of things even as far as the maintenance and who pays for various things is that not correct. Dilkes/Yea it was a pretty extensive negotiation. Lehman/Yea. Dilkes/But again I'm not saying you can't ask but that's what their entitled to now and I think critical from a time perspective if you did want to pursue this would be to take a look at what physically can be built in that location now because the elevator is planned only goes from ground level to undemeath the surface where their parking is. Helling/We can get you an explanation of that so you everybody will be clear on where the elevator is and. Lehman/All right, yea let's do that. Kanner/(can't hear). Helling/A legal agreement. Kanner/Just a summary of. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 38 Dilkes/Pardon me. Kanner/Just a summary of the legal agreement. Dilkes/I can give you a copy of letter of understanding, it's not that long. Kanner/OK. Dilkes/Is that on Laserfiche? Karr/I was going to say it's probably on Laser~che because council had to approve it. Kanner/OK. Lehman/OK. Anything else. Kanner/I'll hold off for another time. Lehman/OK. I guess I only have a couple other things. First of all I thank you for supporting me as Mayor I will, I'm really looking forward to working with this group of folks. I think we can do a good job for the city I think in the six years I've been on council I've never met a council person that wasn't sincerely interested in doing what was best for the community. And I think sincerely goes a long long ways and I certainly feel that we have that here with this group so I expect us to do, I don't expect us to get along on every thing, I would be offended if we did but I do look forward to working with all of you and I appreciate your vote of confidence. I will try with I will try to get for you a an outline of the rules that I think we should follow for informal sessions for your comments, obviously nothing that I say is going to be in affect unless you folks approve it. But I do think we need to address some questions that have come up over the last couple years and I'll try to get that for you rather soon. We also at some point and I don't know when we're going to do this but I think we will talk about having a session where we do not address city business but we rather look internally and have a goal setting session or and I think we need to address the sorts of things that are brought up in this handout from Dee look at. I think it's very important that we work effectively together and in order to do that we need to get to know each other as well as we can and find out as much as we can about each other and we'll probably, or at least my opinion we will try to set that after the first couple budget meetings but set a time aside where we all can get together and just do a brainstorming session for all of us. There are going to be things that come up from time to time that we haven't thought of, let me see if I can. We have, we all received our own computer, we all received a printer, we all received a printer, we all have access to a certain amount of paper for printing supplies. If there any unusual requests for commodities from the city, those by council members, those This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 39 requests will be referred back to council. Again if we have any questions about open meetings, check with Eleanor. We, during council time if we have something that is going to be of a controversial sort of nature that we want to bring up, probably should be run past Eleanor and the rest of the Council there you know the public has a I think a fight to know what to expect at Council meetings and from a mutual respect for each other's standpoint and also I think from a legal standpoint. There are some things that if we're going to bring up during council time they need to be the public needs to be advised ahead of time. I don't think I've seen much of that. Dilkes/I think one thing to remember is that if you want to discuss something with Council and you know you want to discuss something with Council then we should make it an agenda item. It's important not to just think well I'll bring it up sort of obscurely at Council time so. Lehman/OK. Dale do you have anything? Helling/No sir. Lehman/Now Marian I know your not on the agenda but we do have a new council and are there things that you we haven't covered that we should cover? Karr/I believe you had indicated possibly the Martin Luther King discussion. Lehman/Oh, thank you very much. We are scheduled to meet for an informal work session I believe the 17th which is Martin Luther King day. And I think it would be appropriate for us to reconsider that meeting date because it is a legal holiday but then we do need to schedule a work session for the following day which will be the formal meeting of the 18th. Do we have, I didn't bring my calendar. We need some discussion on that, first of all, do we agree that we do not want to meet on the 17th. Pfab/I would agree to that. Lehman/OK that. O'Donnell/I do to. Lehman/OK we are not going to meet on the 17th. Now we I guess there are a number of options for the other, we could meet early in the day on Tuesday come back that evening for formal, we could meet in the afternoon on Tuesday close the meeting, have lunch and come back for formal but. And we can limit the informal discussion to those things that are going to be addressed at the council meeting so This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 40 we don't have to have an informal session that would last as long as some of them. What's your pleasure? Pfab/To add to the discussion, I would propose at this time that we meet in the moming. Lehman/I have no problem with that. Pfab/I mean just as a discussion item. Lehman/OK. What's your pleasure. Vanderhoef/That week for me is real difficult for me to be gone during the day. Lehman/Well we're going to have to be gone during the day either morning or afternoon if we're going to do a work session, I mean it's either going to have to be 8:00 in the moming or 3:00 in the afternoon. O'DonnelF I would prefer morning. Vanderhoef/I would prefer aftemoon then because of the work schedule I have that week. Kanner/What about. Wilburn/Ifit's morning I would request that it be early morning like 8:00 because I teach, that's the first day of the semester at 9:30. Lehman/Does the afternoon work better for you? Wilbum/The afternoon does but. Champion/We would never be done in an hour and half do you think I mean. Lehman/Well I can tell you that if. Vanderhoef/Well it forces us to be done. Lehman/Yes, if we meet in the afternoon we will finish the meeting because we have a formal meeting. Champion/No I know but if Ross has to teach class at 9:30 then. Lehman/Oh that's correct. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 41 Pfab/I think Steve had a interest in saying something. Lehman/Steve. Kanner/Yea it's a little easier if we have to meet on Tuesday in the afternoon normally I work on Tuesday's, what about the idea of Sunday, the open of idea of Sunday. Lehman/Well the problem I have with Sunday is I think it's a real imposition on our staff to expect them to come down, I have no problem personally. Champion/I do. O'Donnell/I do. Champion/I do, I do have a real problem with that. Lehman/Well obviously it won't work so. Kanner/As late as possible on Tuesday is better for me. Vanderhoeff Likewise. Pfab/I would want to be out of here by 5:15 at the latest. Lehman/Well now we meet at 7:00, one of the things that we have done in the past and it has worked, we have broke at 6:00 so we have one hour to get a sandwich or whatever and be back at 7:00, does that not work for you. Pfab/That would be very difficult. Karr/I would just like to note and I apologize but prior to Mr. Atkins departure we had a, this week, we did a brief discussion he did want to note this is going to be a hefty agenda. Lehman/Yes. Karr/And even sticking to the agenda the work session being your first work session might also take some time and he just wanted again to stress to all of you the importance of allowing enough time to discuss the work session items and realizing that it is in the afternoon there is no follow-up that staff will be able to do for a council requests for agenda items prior to the formal vote. Lehman/That' s one of the problems with the afiemoon there' s no opportunity for staff to respond to any questions that come up. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 42 Pfab/What about moving back a day or two. Obviously Sunday is not agreeable to many people here, what about Saturday or Friday? Lehman/Well I don't think that Saturday, I think has many of the same objections that Sunday does from the staff standpoint. I can not meet on Friday, I can't be gone from the store. Pfab/Friday you say you can not. Lehman/Friday' s I can not. Pfab/OK. Kanner/What about Tuesday and Wednesday, I know we're starting just with the schedule and change it as to have some problems but meeting Tuesday and Wednesday night. Karr/I'm sorry are you talking about the 18th and 19th. Kanner/Yea. Lehman/We have public hearing scheduled for the 18th we've already set so we can't do that. Karr/You've already set some public hearings. Lehman/I think we probably. Karr/You could meet I guess you could meet and you still have to have a formal meeting to. Dilkes/(can't hear) Karr/Yea we could pre publish those. Lehman/Well we have objections to morning on that, you have a problem with morning Ross you teach. Ross/I'm a, from 9:30 till 10:30. Lehman/Can we swing it at 3:00 in the aftemoon? 3:00 Tuesday afternoon, would that work? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 43 Pfab/What time will we be out that's all. Lehman/That's up to us. Champion/We don't know. Pfab/OK 5:30 I'm gone. Lehman/That's fine, no I understand that and that won't be the first. Pfab/Or it may be a little before 5:30. Lehman/OK 3:00 Tuesday a~emoon we'll try to break. Kanner/Do you want to try 2:30just. Pfab/Yea 2 or 2:30. Champion/You know that's that. Kanner/Is that hard for you? Lehman/I think 3:00. Pfab/3:00 OK that's fine. Lehman/We really should be able to walk through this. Champion/I can't leave the store (can't hear). Lehman/OK 3:00 on the 18th we'll have our informal session. Pfab/3:00 on the 18th. Lehman/The Formal at 7:00 that night, and knowing full well that we're not going to get a response from staff folks on questions that come up during that informal before that meeting that night or probably not. Vanderhoef/And unless it's more than public heating there's always the option of deferring if we have to. Lehman/Oh yea we can always do that. O'Donnell/And we (can't hear). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000. #12 Page 44 Vanderhoef/Ready to forward. Lehman/All fight Marian did you have anything else? All right, Eleanor. One thing Dale, really our the folks who work for the city did an absolutely outstanding job over the holiday, this Y2K thing and I realize there was a lot of hype and whatever that maybe didn't need to be there but there was a dinner on New Years Eve for 200 or so city employees I think it was a wonderful event. We've got some folks who I think very dedicated people who did a really good job and I think on behalf of the people of Iowa City they need a real big thank you and we appreciated it. Helling/Yea I think that's fight and along that same vein I think the fact that we had a lot of people who were ready to react and the fact that they didn't have to react was due to a lot of preparation ahead of time and those folks deserve the same. Champion/That's correct. Lehman/But will you see to it they get the message? Helling/Yes. Vanderhoef/Great great job. Lehman/Do we have a motion to adjoum? O'Donnell/So moved. Vanderhoeff Second. Lehman/Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Vanderhoef. All in favor. It carries, we're adjoumed. 10:30 AM This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 4, 2000.