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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-13 Transcription#2 Page 1 ITEM NO. 2. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED. Champion: Move adoption. O'Donnell: Second. Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Kanner: Yeah. Consent calendar? I had just two things on here- just a second please. The first one was about- we had a letter about an abandoned railroad and I was wondering if Steve could comment on that if it is abandoning. That person asked if we could take the railroad sign down. If that is appropriate? Atkins: If it is we will take care of it. I asked somebody to check that the other day and I will get back to you in a couple of days. Jim is one of our bus drivers and I am assuming that is probably (can't hear). I will get back to you. Kanner: And I just wanted to note- quite an echo on this- too far. Sorry, no wonder. I just wanted to note also that we in our minutes from the Library Board they are continually talking about how to improve service and possible branch libraries in the future. And extended hours and see what it takes to provide a better library for all of Iowa City. So, I would just like people to be aware that that is going on and to contact them now because they are talking about, like other departments, next year's budget. Even now. That was it. Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #3 Page 2 ITEM NO. 3. PUBLIC DISCUSSION (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL 8 PM]. Lehman: This is a time on the agenda reserved for the public to address the council on items that do not otherwise appear on the agenda. If you wish to address the council please sign in, give your name, address and limit your comments to five minutes or less. Tom Simpson:Hi, I am Tom Simpson. I live on Dodge Street Court. You guys had talked about that in the past about the parking situation. I just wanted- I didn't understand quite the 5-3 vote- why that wasn't allowed. I mean, I have voted several times on things and it is one time and it is a done deal. And I didn't understand the whole concept of the now it is 4-4 and now we are just going drop everything and let it be. Lehman: My understanding- and Steve, ifI haven't got this correct let me know- my understanding is there were a number of neighbors who objected to the changing of the no parking and we resurveyed that at their request. And the result of the second survey was 4-4. In other words, it was an even vote. And our policy has been that it takes the majority of the vote to change the parking regulation either to prohibit or allow it. Simpson: But when I built on that piece of land there was zero- there wasn't a "No Parking" sign on either side. A year ago. I mean, actually, I purchased the lot from Florence probably a year and two months ago and there was, just over night, there was a parking sign- "No Parking" sign- on both sides of our street. And that is why I called and I was the one who got this whole thing going because there wasn't any- there was parking signs- they didn't exist and then all of a sudden the next day they were there. And, you know, we weren't notified that it was a "No Parking" zone and, you know, when we purchased the place there wasn't any signs up. Lehman: I don't know why they went up in the first place. Champion: There was construction. Atkins: It was a mistake. Remember- it was a mistake I think on the timing of the thing. You were presented with this issue- I will do my best of recollection- presented with the issue and that it was 4-3 for the parking regulation. And then the one vote came in later on and it was 5-3. Those people objecting came to the meeting and asked that you authorize a resurvey. That is what you did. You sent it- you told us to do a resurvey and the resurvey resulted in the 4-4. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #3 Page 3 Lehman: Right, I know that but his question was do we know when and why the "No Parking" signs went up in the first place? Atkins: I didn't (can't hear). Lehman: (can't hear). Simpson: And that is what, you know, you said this was 4-4 and that it was going to stay the way it was. The way it was was that there wasn't- Lehman: But the "No Parking" has been in effect for some time (can't hear). Simpson: There wasn't any signs there. Lehman: They may not have been there but it has been in effect for some time. Karin? Franklin: When that subdivision was done initially there was an agreement that there would be no parking on Dodge Street Court. Lehman: When was that? Do you recall the timing? Franklin: No. Lehman: A year ago? Two months ago? Franklin: Oh, it was years ago. Lehman: So it has been a few years- Franklin: A number of years ago- maybe three, four years ago. I don't know about that. There evidently was some resurfacing that was done on Dodge Street Court and the signs were taken down during that resurfacing and they weren't put back up again. Then they were put up. Simpson: Over night they- Franklin: Over night they were put up. Well, at some point they were put up again. Simpson: We weren't notified of it or anything. They just- boom- appeared! Lehman: Well, but I think the point is that- This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #3 Page 4 Simpson: (can't hear) Lehman: The point is that it was supposed to be "No Parking". The signs- they made an error in not putting the signs back up. It was drawn to somebody's attention and they were replaced the way they should have been. Simpson: So the value of my home goes down because you guys forgot to put "No Parking" signs up on both sides of the street? Lehman: When did you build your home? Simpson: About a year ago. Lehman: The parking restriction has been a lot longer than a year. Simpson: I know but why wasn't the signs up? That is what I am concerned about. I mean, how long have the signs not been up and why weren't they up and, you know, I mean, I certainly wouldn't even had thought about building a one car garage in a place were you can't even park- you can't park three blocks away. I can't have anybody over to my house because there is no place to park. And it is not a safety issue. Lehman: I know that. Simpson: There is apparently no reason why there can't be one side or the other and if the reason is the Cambus well then let's say we can't park there from- she gets there at 7:30 to 2:30. And after 2:30, you know, we can park there. I mean, there has got to be something that we can work out to accommodate everybody. I don't think that there is a reason why there couldn't be. I don't know what to say about it other than that. And, you know, I don't know how much of a safety concern it is when a person- the Cambus- backs all the way down that street anyway. I mean- Lehman: Our own staff said that allowing parking on that street did not present a safety problem. Simpson: Yeah, I know. Lehman: We know that. Simpson: Right. So why was there a revote. I mean, it was 5-3 the first time. Why was there another? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #3 Page 5 Lehman: We were asked to redo it by the neighbors. And that is not the first time that we have been asked for a recount when we survey a neighborhood. Sometimes people gets surveys or cards and don't fill them out and whatever. Simpson: Sure. Lehman: That is- Simpson: But it was the same number fight? It was 8 people who voted the first time and 8 the second time? As far as I understand? Lehman: As far as I know, yes. Simpson: And then also was the person who owns the lot next to us, were they invited on this whole deal to vote or-? Lehman: I have no idea. The people who- the property- Atkins: We surveyed the same group of people twice. Now, if you will recall, it was the people around the comer that protested the parking regulations. Lehman: Right, but we surveyed the people whose properties were on the street? Atkins: That is- Simpson: Actually that is a property if it is a lot. Is that- I mean, if it is a lot for sale wouldn't that person be allowed too? Lehman: I don't know. I would suggest, and I don't know this and this is strictly a suggestion, my best suggestion is that you perhaps visit with your neighbors. If there are 8 people there and 5 or 6 of them would like parking you will get parking. Simpson: Okay, so then how do I go about- just come back in here again and try to get going again or how-? Lehman: Well- Champion: Emie, your microphone (can't hear) Lehman: Well, in any event, if I were in your position I would talk to my neighbors and if I could find people who live on that section of the street, becanse This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #3 Page 6 that is all we are going to survey- if you can get 6 of those people who say they would like to do it or 5 then I would come back to the council again. Simpson: Okay. All righty- thanks. Lehman: You bet. Any other public discussion? Jim Walters: I don't know, is the Highway 6 matter on the agenda? Because I- that you talked about last night? Lehman: I think not but you will need to sign in with your name and address. Kanner: You mean with Southgate Development? Walters: Right. Kanner: It is not on. Lehman: No. Walters: I am Jim Walters at 1033 E. Washington. I was at last nights informal council meeting and we talked about the Highway 6 access and traffic signal there at (can't hear) Kmart mall. And your assistant planning director JeffDavidson said that- and I wrote this down because it struck me that it was a contradiction from something that we had previously been informed of- that he said that the city controls the traffic lights on Highway 6. And does that mean that the city- Lehman: I asked that question about the timing of the lights. Walters: The timing of the lights. Lehman: That is what he said. Walters: Right, and the quote was "we control the lights on Highway 6". Now, I assume we own the lights? That they are our property as a city? Lehman: I don't know that. Atkins: I don't think so Jim. I think that, you know, we may participate in the installation but they are- Lehman: Owned by the state. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #3 Page 7 Atkins: They are- Waiters: They are the property of the state? Atkins: (can't hear) the state. Yeah, the state highway. Walters: So what is the word "control" mean? What is the word "control"? Atkins: I am assuming the discussion- ifI recollect from last evening- Jeff's comments were pertaining to the fact that we would synchronize the controllers in order to allow for the platooning of traffic and so forth. Walters: In other words we operate them? We don't° Atkins: Yeah. Walters: But we operate them at the discretion of the state? Atkins: Jim, I can't tell you for sure. I would have to find that out. Walters: Okay. Lehman: I suspect it would be- Atkins: We can find that out. Excuse me, sorry Jim. I can find that out. I just- I am just not real sure. Walters: Okay. Atkins: Because usually anything on the state highway, the state highway runs the place. Waiters: They tell us to do and we do it as they tell us? Atkins: To install that traffic signal in front of the Kmart Pepperwood requires the state's approval. Walters: That I know but when Jeff says "we control the lights on Highway 6", all he is really saying then is that we change the bulbs? Champion: The timing. Vanderhoef: The timing on them was what we were talking about because not too long ago we were talking about how the traffic wasn't moving well because the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #3 Page 8 lights weren't timed well to keep traffic moving. And we did retime them and we have even been noticing and getting comments about how smoothly it is moving down there now because of the re-timing. Walters: But then if- okay- could we time them so that- in a fashion so that pedestrians could cross the street? Vanderhoef: Yes. Waiters: We can stop the traffic? Vanderhoef: Uh-huh. Waiters: In other words we can stop the traffic from all directions and pedestrians could cross the street? Lehman: I don't think from all directions. I think the state is going to give you certain parameters you have operate within. But I know that Burlington Street (can't hear) the state highway and we have changed amount of time it takes to walk across from Old Capitol apartments so that there is a longer time for those folks to cross Burlington Street. So I know that we have been able to do that. Stopping it in all directions- I would be amazed if the DOT would let you do that on the state highway. O'Donnell: Jeff was talking specifically about timing and he also said that we approach the state and make the suggestion and they normally go along with us. Vanderhoef: With the safety issue when we took it to them, the DOT, for Burlington it was a safety issue for our slower citizens to get across that wide street and I think this is the same kind of issue that we are approaching out here on Highway 6. Walters: Okay, well I was concerned about- when I saw that use of the word "control". Atkins: Let me get a better- I will get a better answer for you Jim. I will get in touch with you. Pfab: Jim, before you go- I think what the question that you asked may have just a little flaw in one of the parts of the question and that was can we stop the traffic in all directions? Not at the same time. But, you know, yes we can- the lights can be set so we can- that is the understanding that he said. So people can walk across. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #3 Page 9 Waiters: Or you could conceivably put a pedestrian crossing and it would stop- if there was traffic in only one direction you could conceivably put a stoplight in that would allow people to cross the street. Champion: Oh yes. Right. And Jeff also mentioned that when we design that road to try to have it wide enough that things goes in the middle of the road. Vanderhoef: Island. Champion: Median? So people if they got halfway across could stay there safely. So it is something that is going to be looked at when that road is designed. Walters: Thanks. Lehman: It is a good question though. We will find out. Atkins: I will get him a better answer. Lehman: Okay. Other public discussion? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #4 Page 10 ITEM NO. 4. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. c.) REZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 190 ACRES FROM INTERIM DEVELOPMENT RESIDENTIAL (ID-RS) TO SENSITIVE AREAS OVERLAY (OSA-5) (APPROXIMATELY 82.1 ACRES) TO ALLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PENINSULA NEIGHBORHOOD, A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OF UP TO 400 DWELLING UNITS AND LIMITED COMMERCIAL USES AND PUBLIC (P) (APPROXIMATELY 107.9 ACRES) LOCATED WEST OF FOSTER ROAD. (REZ000-0016). Lehman: The public hearing is open. I guess I should probably just explain this. This is the area the we have been talking about for several years now. This is the area adjacent to the Elks Club. This starts the process where building can occur. We have got a contractor who is working with us. This will allow the upper part of the Peninsula to be subdivided and building to take place. And it also zones the lower portion, which is the location of the wells to become public property and remain that way. The public hearing is closed. Karr: Mr. Mayor, you also have an addition for first consideration, if you recall, distributed last evening. Lehman: Yes. Vanderhoef: Did we get those P & Z minutes? Lehman: Okay, Item 4c. Let's get the motion and then we will talk about it. (reads Item 4c). O'Donnell: So moved. Lehman: This is- Karr: This is first consideration of the public hearing. Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell. Vanderhoef: Second. Lehman: Seconded by Vanderhoef for first consideration. Discussion? Kanner: I had a question for Karin. Lehman: Karin? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. F061300 #4 Page 11 Kanner: There were two Planning and Zoning commission members that voted against this. And I was wondering if you were able to recall and summarize their opposition to it? Any of the major points that they- Franklin: Their opposition was to the narrower streets. The 25 foot wide street standard that we have for some of the streets within the Peninsula neighborhood. That was the crux of their- Kanner: We had- was it Scott that put in that article- a very good article about how innovative it is with the narrower streets and it really helps develop community. And that is the reason we are doing some of the narrower streets I suppose? Franklin: Yeah, I mean, we have always talked about doing that in this neighborhood and doing it in kind of what is called a "neo-traditional" sort of mode. To look at using some of the street widths that we have in some of the other parts of our community. I mean, there is a lot of 25 foot wide streets in Iowa City already. The standard currently is 28 feet. I believe that you received in your packet a map that shows you all of the streets that are 25 feet wide. So it is not like this is a radical thought or change. But particularly for this area it fits in with the effort to create a streetscape that is a little bit more human in scale and focusing on the street as a public realm and a place where you will have activities between people that live in this community. Kanner: Thank you. Vanderhoef: We don't have those minutes yet. Franklin: I had the minutes last night Dee, and nobody mentioned them and so I didn't pass them out. I didn't know that you wanted them. Vanderhoef: I asked for them yesterday afternoon and I was told I would get them last night. Franklin: I am sorry, I had them last night and it wasn't mentioned so I didn't pass them out. I can go fight upstairs and get them out of my recycling box. Lehman: Other discussion? Kanner: Just one other comment that one of the things that I like also that I learned about yesterday is because of its proximity to the Iowa River, we are going to be limiting the amount of certain chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizer This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #4 Page 12 that is going to be able to be used on this property. So that will make our water safer when it runs off into the river. And I like that idea. Lehman: I think it is because of the location of the wells. Kanner: The wells by the river. Lehman: Well, the river- we don't do any regulation yet. Although I am sure we will. But the wells themselves are in that floodplain and runoff from this could conceivable pollute the water. Other discussion? Roll call. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #4f Page 13 ITEM NO. 4f. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE 54 ACRES FROM PUBLIC/INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (P/CI) TO SENSITIVE AREAS OVERLAY- PUBLIC (OSA-P) AND FOR APROVAL OF A PRELIMINARY SENSITIVE AREAS DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE NORTH PART OF THE AIRPORT PROPERTY, WEST OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE. (REZ99- 0001) (FIRST CONSIDERATION). O'Donnell: Move first consideration. Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell. Champion: Second. Lehman: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Kanner: Ernie, can you just briefly state what is going to happen there again? Lehman: Yes. The airport master plan, which I think we approved 2 or 3 years ago- Vanderhoef: 4 or 5. Atkins: Longer than that. Lehman: Maybe longer than that. It calls for the closing of the north/south runway and this frees up some property on the north side of the airport for commercial development and this is really, really prime property for commercial development. This rezoning allows this property to be leased by the airport for potential commercial development. It could be some of the best commercial property in the city. So, I personally, am very anxious. The airport is hoping to generate enough revenue from the rental of this property so that they become self-sufficient and do not require tax subsidies. Which is another really good thing. Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #5 Page 14 ITEM NO. 5. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INVITATION TO SELECTED EASTERN IOWA ARTISTS FOR THE PUBLIC ART COMPONENT OF THE NEAR SOUTHSIDE TRANSPORTATION CENTER. Vanderho ef: Move adoption of the resolution. O'Donnell: Second. Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. I would like to ask Karin Franklin, who serves on the Public Art Committee, to explain this briefly. Franklin: This is to select an artist to work with the project architect for the Near Southside Transportation Center. What the committee is recommending that you do is to send an invitation to a certain number of selected eastern Iowa artists. The reason for the invitation as opposed to a broad call is because of the timing on this project. It is very important that when you are going to have art which is integral to the architecture of the building that you start very early on with the work between the artist and the architect. And the work on the architecture has already begun. After we got the grant from the FTA last October. And so it is important that we move quickly on this to get an artist engaged and working with the project architect. Lehman: And this was a unanimous recommendation by the art committee? Franklin: Yes. Lehman: Okay, very good. Discussion from council? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #6b Page 15 ITEM NO. 6b. A PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH SON JAY AND JANI FOR CONDOMINIUM UNIT l~B(2) IN TOWER PLACE AND PARKING AND THE DISPOSITION OF SAID UNIT l-B(2) IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING. Lehman: Do we have a motion? Vanderhoef: Move adoption of the resolution. O'Donnell: Second. Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Steve? Vanderhoef: I am excited about this. Lehman: Tell us what this is because I, you know, we go through some of these things really quickly and this is something that we spent a long time on. It is a huge investment on the part of the public. I think we kind of- a lot of people think we stuck our necks out on this but we moved forward with what, I think, is a wonderful project. And explain just exactly what this is. Atkins: As you know, we have about 26,000 square feet of commercial space incorporated into the Tower Place and Parking facility. A goodly portion of it- I think 4000+, as part of compensation will go to the Cottage Bakery Deli and they will be relocating hopefully fairly shortly into the Tower Place. Shortly after the project was up and running we authorized a contract, a local real estate finn, to market the sale of the additional square footage in Tower Place. Outside of Cottage, this is sort of our first official sale. I think their name is pronounced Jani. They an architectural finn. If you were standing on Linn Street and looking at the main entrance, Cottage would be on one side and the architect would be to the left. This is our first sort of official sale. We have another one on the next item on the agenda. And I am pleased to say that we have had a great deal of interest in the Tower Place and Parking. Lehman: It is pretty amazing. I mean, the property isn't even completed yet and we have got the first- well if we pass this we will have the first two units sold. Atkins: And these are full price offers. Lehman: Yes. Other discussion? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #6b Page 16 Kanner: I had a question maybe folks could answer here or one of the staff. It is about $136 a square foot. Is that about the going rate for something unfinished in Iowa City like this? Champion: I think so. Atkins: I don't think we can say Iowa City. I do know that what we decided to do is when we built that space, we sort of backed into the number estimating the cost of building this space. And Eleanor can help me out because I know we did some review and we are very comfortable with those numbers as far as being competitive for similar space located in downtown. Dilkes: Yeah, I think we have relied on our relied on our realtors in part too to help us figure out what- Atkins: The price of those for us. Dilkes: -what the price should be. Which is part of their job. Atkins: If you remember the intent was we took short term financing of the commercial (can't hear) is to pay that back quickly. Lehman: And these two sales that we have are being handled by the real estate firm that we engaged for this purpose? Atkins: Yes. Lehman: I don't know that that answers your question. Vanderhoef: Well the spaces are vanilla boxes meaning that the people who are buying still have to do all of the finishing really inside their space. So it is a good price, I think, for the vanilla space because they certainly have more costs coming in there. Atkins: It is ajudgement but ifI recall- and I don't have the numbers- that the $136 was not out of line with other property in downtown. Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #8 Page 17 ITEM NO. 8. PUBLIC HEARING ON A RESOLUTION ADOPTING REVISED PROCEDURES AND DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS WITHIN HISTORIC AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND FOR HISTORIC LANDMARKS. Lehman: The public heating is open. Scott, if you would like to just tell us real briefly what the changes are? Actually, the public would probably like to know too. Scott Kugler: Sure. If you recall, a couple of years ago we were before you with an appeal of a project down on Summit Street and at that time we had some problems- we identified some problems with the existing guidelines. Their vagueness and also our procedures and how we handle those reviews before the preservation commission. And the proposed guidelines are intended to address those problems. We have a set of local design guidelines that will apply to building alterations in historic districts that are much more specific based on federal guidelines and the Iowa City design book that the commission published about 10 years ago as well as the commission's history in dealing with project reviews. The procedures were revised to make them a little more inline with the way the commission actually handles these reviews. The major change to the procedures involves the establishment of a second monthly meeting which should expedite reviews for property owners and allow the commission to have a little more time for discussion of other preservation issues at their regular meeting. We will still handle project reviews at the regular meeting as well but this should free up a little time and save applicants some time as well. Lehman: Just a procedural question- was the- obviously the commission has adopted these changes but did they receive any input from property owners or folks (can't hear). Kugler: We did notify property owners of the proposed changes and offered them the opportunity to submit written comments or come in to attend public hearings or public discussions. We received a few comments [and] some changes were made. Lehman: Okay, very good. Kanner: I had a couple of questions. Some folks- some constituents have mentioned that some times it gets a little complicated and costly for some of these things and I just wanted to have you explain maybe the need for This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #8 Page 18 this. Overall I think it is a good piece of work and I will be voting for it. But I, too, and concerned sometimes that the concentration of little things certain ways that has to be painted and the way things have to be replaced at times get to be a little too costly. For instance, aluminum siding- someone mentioned that if aluminum siding is taken down it is supposed to be replaced with wood siding. Is that true? Kugler: I might have to have Mike Gunn comment on some of the specifics. He is much more familiar by having authored most of the guidelines for us to review. But, I can't recall the specific situation with regard to siding replacement. But in general the commission is trying to encourage the use of wood or more wood-like materials within historic districts rather than allowing vinyl or aluminum siding. And the guidelines would restrict someone from putting those materials on. In conservation districts that will not be the case. Most likely we will deal with conservation districts on a district by district basis in terms of those standards. And they will be presented to you when the conservation district ordinance is brought before you. Mike, do you recall replacing aluminum siding? Gunn: If there is vinyl siding that is being removed, then we wouldn't allow the reapplication of vinyl siding on a historic property on a contributing structure. In the historic districts and in future conservation districts, not all of the structures are historic. In fact, a lot of times almost as much as 35 or close to 40% of the structures are not contributing. So, for conservation districts we would allow siding for those. For historic districts the guidelines do not allow vinyl siding at all. And that was an issue on Summit Street a couple of years ago. Within historic districts vinyl siding is not allowed. But in conservation districts it can be. Lehman: Steve, did you ask if you took vinyl siding off of a building could you replace it with the same thing you took off?. In other words, I have got a historic building that has vinyl siding that needs replacing and I take it off- can I put the same thing back? Gunn: No, we wouldn't allow the reapplication ofvinyl siding. Now, if there is a repair going on we provide- on page 13- we provide an allowance to repair a portion of the vinyl siding. Lehman: If you do two boards at a time you can maintain it if you do it over a two- year period? Gunn: Yes. But if a tree branch falls or something and damages a corner that can be repaired with vinyl. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #8 Page 19 Vanderhoef: What have you- maybe I should ask did you have discussions after that one new property was built down on South Summit about alternative materials as new things are being developed? Have you any way of addressing new materials? Gunn: Yeah, we have for siding and for wood and I think in the porch section as well, we talk about materials. On page 11 at the bottom of the recommended, the last bullet. "Recommended: substituting material in place of wood only if the substitute material retains the appearance and function of the original wood. Substitute material must be durable, except paint, and be approved by Historic Preservation Commission". So we have that language in, I think, three places all together. And then I think we have an alternative design clause at the end. That is for multi family- I think we have a- there are a lot of guidelines here. Is it in the front? Alternative, yeah, on page three we have a guideline. "Alternative design solutions or exceptions to the Iowa City guidelines and multi family construction guidelines or the individual district guidelines may be considered by the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission. The intent in considering alternative designs is to allow architectural flexibility in exceptional circumstances. The intent is not to reduce the scope or the quality of the work required by these guidelines". So we provide a general clause in there that gives us a way to look at new materials or an alternative design that we think makes sense that may not necessarily appear in some part of the guidelines. Vanderhoef: I like that flexibility and I appreciate that being written in there. Gunn: In fact, as far as the substitute material for the wood siding, that has been recommended on numerous occasions since being approved on Summit Street. The (can't hear) and the fiber cement work. Vanderhoef: Good. Lehman: Steven? Kanner: Two other concerns. One that was raised to me was about metal roofs having to be replaced with metal roofs. Is that the case? That seems to me that it would be prohibitively expensive to have to do that. Atkins: (can't hear) discussion of that? Of the metal roofs? Gram: The most- actually most of the metal roofs in Iowa City are put on over the original shingle- wood shingles. So if we were going to go to original material we would want a shingle. And we are not requiring wood This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #8 Page 20 shingles so if you are talking about the original historic structures a shingle roof would be more appropriate. And we didn't have any discussion about metal roofs in particular that I can recall. So if there is a metal roof- you know, there could be a landmark building that has an original standing seem roof that in certain cases we may require that but the general home that has a metal roof applied over the top of shingles, I don't think we would require it. Kanner: One final thing. I was reading about window replacement. Does it allow for the new efficient window replacements in the historic districts? If you take a window out and want to put, you know, the argon in there and the double pane is that allowed? Gunn: Yeah, we have approved several replacements. We require that they look like the original and they can. You know, we are not- we try to write the guidelines so that we wouldn't approve vinyl windows that didn't have the same profile and set back as historic windows. But we try to specify windows that would work as replacements that would allow high efficiency windows. But they would have to look like historic windows. And that can be accomplished. That is not, you know, that doesn't add greatly to the cost or make it impossible to do. It is just that we want them to look original when it is done. Kanner: Thanks for your work on this. Champion: Can I just comment that when people put vinyl siding on a house they don't ordinarily remove the wood Steven. So if they took the vinyl siding down the wood is probably still there. In fact, I have never seen a house with the wood off. And that vinyl siding and aluminum siding are actually damaging to a house after so many years. And that is the reason it is frowned upon so much by historic preservationists. Vanderhoef: Scott, we just got this handout and I am just reading it because we just got it. Under the demolition- the second bullet that was in this handout tonight- does certificate of appropriateness for demolition will be approved for the particular site, the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission must approve a certificate of appropriateness for the structure that will replace the one being demolished. And this is true for both contributing and non-contributing structures? Kugler: Yes. Vanderhoef: I am a little surprised by the non-contributing. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #8 Page 21 Lehman: That would be like a garage detached? Kugler: A garage is often a non-contributing structure. In many cases, they are contributing. An old carriage house or a garage that is built the same time the house is built may have some significance. In addition, we have some primary buildings that are due to alterations or because they were constructed outside of the period of significance for that district they may be considered non-contributing. But regardless, if a building is demolished and is to be replaced with a new building that new building design will have to be reviewed and approved by the commission as was the case with the new building. In the guidelines, just to ensure that before a property owner makes the decision to remove a building, they have an approvable design worked out for the building that is going to replace it. The one case where this might not apply is if the property owner intends to demolish a building and turn the area into a landscaped garden or something like that, which has happened in our historic districts before they have been designated. It could happen again. Lehman: Let me ask you a question. If you have a building that is unsafe and cannot be repaired, but there is no intention- I own the building, okay? And the city condemns it. I have to tear the building down. I have no intention of building a new building now. Someday I am going to build a building. Does this ordinance say I cannot tear the building down? Kugler: No it does not. I believe other places in the city code would say that the safety takes precedence over these preservation ordinances. Kanner: And could you just comment. What is different about what we just got handed out tonight and what is in the proposed (can't hear)? Kugler: The first clause of the first bullet under demolition. We have had some discussions with the city attorney's office about whether or not demolition of contributing structures in conservation districts can be regulated like we do in historic districts. We are still discussing that and we expect that when we bring the first conservation district to you for adoption. We will have some discussion about that issue and we will have to make a decision at that time. This clause allows for that future discussion to take place without having to come back and amend this if it is decided that we cannot regulate demolitions in conservation districts. It has really no effect on any existing properties but we are just kind of planning for discussion in the future on that issue. Lehman: Other discussion or questions? (changed tapes) The public hearing is closed. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #9 Page 22 ITEM NO. 9. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CIVIC CENTER RE-ROOF PHASE II PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. a. PUBLIC HEARING Lehman: The estimated construction cost is $185,000. The public hearing is open. And my understanding Steve is that as many times as we have looked at re-roofing this building, we have not done it every time we have talked about it. otherwise we would have fourteen roofs on this building. Arkins: Yes sir. Lehman: We are not re-roofing the re-roof. Arkins: It has been postponed on several occasions. Lehman: Yes. Vanderhoef: But this does not include the newest section? Atkins: No. Vanderho ef: Just that that is to the south of it? Arkins: The south of it? Vanderhoef: The front part. Arkins: Yes. Lehman: This is the old part. Atkins: Yeah. Lehman: The public hearing is closed. Can we have a motion approving the resolution? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #9 Page 23 B. Consider a resolution approving. Vanderhoef: So moved. Pfab: Second. Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Pfab. Discussion? We did re-roof this portion. Arkins: A portion of it. Lehman: A portion of this portion. Arkins: A portion of this building has been re-roofed. Lehman: The part over the council chambers I think. Atkins: A portion. Champion: Of course. Lehman: So if it rains out tonight we are safe? Arkins: I make no promises. Lehman: Okay, roll call. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #10 Page 24 ITEM NO. 10 CONVEYANCE OF 1512 DICKINSON LANE. Lehman: I just probably I should read this. (Reads comment). The public hearing is open. Tell us what we saw today Dee. Vanderhoef: We saw the nicest house I can imagine. I am so pleased with the way this house turned out. It is a concrete house. It has multiple recyclable kinds of furnishings in it. The oak floors- there is reused steel in some of the windows, I believe it was. We are using recycled paint that we collect. We have our recycling day here in Iowa City. That paint is sent off to a center and it comes back in large quantities. It is going to be something that we will look at in using some of our other houses. We have carpet that was made from recycled pop bottles. And the carpet pad also. And I will tell you, I was walking bare foot on it today because we didn't want to track up the house and it feels like any other carpet. It is just very, very nice. Lots of good storage. Lehman: Very attractive. I believe, ifI am not mistaken, it is supposed to be 40- 50% more efficient energy wise than conventionally built homes. Wilburn: Believe it or not this was on the Parade of Homes and after the- I went to the Parade of Homes and after seeing it and heating about the construction and insulation between the concrete I went home and turned on the Bob Villa show and they were talking about this exact energy saving feature. It does look real nice. Lehman: It really is. And we were fortunate to have it in the Parade of Homes. Vanderho ef: And our staff did a great job researching all of these products and getting them here and putting them in for the community to see. Lehman: And of course the best part of this is- oh, I should close the public heating. And we need a motion authorizing the conveyance. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #12 Page 25 ITEM NO. 12. PROCEEDINGS TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF $12,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. a.) Public hearing. Lehman: The public hearing is open. These bonds are used for construction, reconstruction, repair, improvements to streets, sidewalks and public ways. There is just a myriad of things it will be used for. The public heating is closed. Do we have a motion? b.) Consider a resolution instituting. Champion: Move. Vanderhoef: Second. Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Roll call. Thisrepresents only areasonably accur~etransctiption ofthelowa City councilmeeting of June 13,2000. FO61300 #13 Page 26 ITEM NO. 13. PROCEEDINGS TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION FOR THE AUTHORIZATION AND ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $700,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. a. Public hearing. Lehman: The public hearing is open. This is basically for the Public Works complex. The public hearing is closed. We need a motion. b. Consider a resolution instituting. O'Donnell: So moved. Pfab: Second. Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Pfab. Discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 # 14 Page 27 ITEM NO. 14 PROCEEDINGS TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION FOR THE AUTHORIZATION AND ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $300,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. a. Public hearing. Lehman: The public hearing is open. This is money for the Parks maintenance facility. The public hearing is closed. b. Consider a resolution instituting. Champion: Move adoption. Lehman: Moved by Champion. Pfab: Second. Lehman: Seconded by Pfab. Discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #15 Page 28 ITEM NO. 15. PROCEEDINGS TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION FOR THE AUTHORIZATION AND ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $580,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. a. Public hearing. Lehman: The public hearing is open. The public hearing is closed. b. Consider a resolution instituting. Vanderhoef: Move adoption. O'Donnell: Second. Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Vanderhoef: This is one that I will support it, yes. But in the 4+ years that I have been on council, when I first started doing my first budget with this council the items that are listed under this particular bond, which is over a half a million dollars, these things were being paid for out of our general fund. Over the last four years our general fund has not grown. We are still capped by the state legislature with an 8/10 taxation. And with the inflation of everything in running the city, we are finding we are having to move more and more things into bonding. These are all perfectly legal things to do. Philosophically I have a real problem with moving these things in and yet I understand as the budget process goes forward, we don't have an option in this point in time. Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #18 Page 29 ITEM NO. 18. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS PROGRAM FUNDING, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST TO THE SAME. Vanderhoef: Move adoption of the resolution. Wilbum: Second. Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Wilbum. Discussion? Vanderhoef: Who sets the amount given to each of these recipients? Atkins: As I understand the way it works, is the Department of Economic Development notifies us of availability. We apply on behalf of these agencies. And in effect, we are their agent. So I make the assumption, Dee, that in consultation with our staff Economic Development staff and the agency represented, that is how they arrive at those numbers. I do know that they have to specify a specific purpose within that number. So one might be for support for utilities and another might be for remodeling the kitchen or something such as that. And then all of that coming together is how they end up with a number. Vanderhoef: Okay. Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #19 Page 30 ITEM NO. 19. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO CONVEY LOT 85, SOUTH POINTE ADDITION, PART 5, LOCALLY KNOWN AS 1552 DICKENSON LANE, IOWA CITY, IOWA TO GREATER IOWA CITY HOUSING FELLOWSHIP, AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 20, 2000. Pfab: Move adoption of the resolution. Lehman: Moved by Pfab. Champion: Second. Lehman: Seconded by Champion. Discussion? Wilburn: I have a question. We had (can't hear) individuals- I think it was one that didn't identify themselves, complain about- if these are the houses I am thinking of- they hadn't been soded yet. My understanding is there may have been a problem with the contractor that the Housing Fellowship- they had a problem with the contractor to do the soding. Is that why the weeds are growing? Atkins: I can't tell you exactly. Lehman: We were down there today and Doug (can't hear) told me when we were there in the downpour, one of those homes that perhaps as recently as Sunday may have had very tall weeds on it has now been- the weeds have been mowed and there is being- we issued a citation for that property. And we are looking after it. The Housing Inspection Department is looking at it and those weeds will be taken care of and sod or seed is going to take place. Wilburn: Okay. And was that- did that person- did they call the manager's office or is that how the citation got issued? Lehman: I do not know. I just know Doug told me as I drove by that this one property had had some significant weeds. Atkins: Yeah, I went down three days ago and saw it. I should say several days ago. And when I came back they were already on it. Someone else had called in. Lehman: Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #19 Page 31 Atkins: Because normally we get a complaint, I feel compelled, I will respond on behalf of the citizen but I must go out and look at it so I can (can't hear). But they were already on it. Wilburn: Okay. Good. Dilkes: Just to clarify. The lot we are talking about here is owned by the city, not by Greater Iowa City Housing. This is the proceeding to set in motion the sale to them. That they don't own it yet. Wilburn: But there were- I think there were two or three different places on the street. Dilkes: I don't know. Wilburn: That is fine. Atkins: There was real noticeable- one house that was- that looked like a giant salad. Lehman: Other discussion? Kanner: I would like to note that my understanding is that the Housing and Commtmity Development commission recommended, I think it was a unanimous vote, to give both lots to Greater Housing- to the Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship. I would have hoped that we could have given both lots to that but I will vote for just giving this one lot because- Champion: We don't give it to them. Kanner: What is that? Champion: We don't give it to them. They buy it. Lehman: Sell it. Champion: Don't they? VanderhoeE No. Kanner: Actually we are giving it to them and we are keeping the other one for our own Housing Authority of the two lots. And I just wanted to note we are going against the recommendation of the Housing Commission. The reason they said both going to the Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #19 Page 32 is because they could keep it at lower affordable prices for a longer time, which I think is a good goal. Lehman: We also are following the recommendation of our own Housing department that wanted one of the lots. They recommended to us that they build properties, so we are going against the commission but also following the recommendation of our own staff. Vanderhoef: And there is a difference in philosophy and the way those houses are used. In the case of Greater Iowa City Fellowship, how they make it cheaper is that they continue to own the land underneath this house. And in the case of our Iowa City Housing Authority, we sell it like this ad-hoc house that we sold tonight. And it is sold to a family who is 80% or below of median income housing. And we still keep that second mortgage on it. So, it is pretty apt to come back and be cycled again for a second low income housing. Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #20 Page 33 ITEM NO. 20. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DESIGN OF THE EXTERIOR SIGNAGE TO THE OLD CAPITOL MALL TOWN CENTER ON CLINTON STREET. Pfab: Move adoption. Vanderhoef: Second. Lehman: Moved by Pfab, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? This is reviewed by the Design Review Committee, approved 5-0. Discussion? Vanderho ef: This was just the one that they brought in a (can't hear). O'Donnell: Very attractive. Vanderhoef: It is going to be real attractive. O'Dommll: Uh-huh. Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #21 Page 34 ITEM NO. 21. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE POLICE 2ND FLOOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. Lehman: We have received four bids. The engineer's estimate was $566,000. The low bid was Moore Construction Company of Iowa City at $534,800. Public Works and Engineering recommended the award and the contract to Moore Construction Company. Vanderhoef: Move adoption. Pfab: Second. Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Pfab. Discussion? Champion: Well, I am real pleased with the bid but I need- I mean, don't you think that is amazing that the low bid is $534,000 which is pretty close to what our estimate was and the high bid is $641,0007 I mean, that is a huge difference. Lehman: It could have something to do with the amount of work that these companies have lined up. There is all kinds of reasons why those are different. Champion: It is just unbelievable. Atkins: There were a number of firms that we were hoping to bid that didn't. That were just too busy. Lehman: Too much work. Vanderhoef: Too busy or not enough workers. Kanner: I had a comment. As Dee mentioned earlier, our capital debt is going up and although this project may have merits I think there are other priorities at this time and as I voted on other passages of this issue, I am going to vote "no" again. Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. I think this was a 6-1 vote, Steven Kanner voting "no". Motion carries. We are going to take five minutes. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #22 Page 35 ITEM NO. 22. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND DIGITAL TELEPORT INC. TO USE A PORTION OF CITY STREETS AND PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR THE INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A FIBER OPTIC NETWORK. Champion: Move adoption of the resolution. Vanderhoef: Second. Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Pfab: I would like a little bit of information on this. What is going on and why? Dilkes: This is- do you want me to respond to that? Lehman: Yes, please do Eleanor. Dilkes: This is a request by a company to use our rights-of-way for installation of a fiber optic network. We are obligated to provide them access to our rights-of-way by the Federal Telecommunications law. Pfab: And what does the city get out of that? The pleasure of serving them? Dilkes: Ask your federal congressman. I don't know. Lehman: Other discussion? Pfab: In other words what you are saying Eleanor is that it is a one way street? Lehman: I think it goes on two-way streets too. Pfab: I mean, the benefits go one way. Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #23 Page 36 ITEM NO. 23. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND THE IOWA CITY ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, IAAF, AFL-CIO, LOCAL NO. 610, TO BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2000, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2001. Lehman: This provides for a three and a quarter percent wage increase and increase of $ 1 00 per year in the premium pay for EMT certification. O'Donnell: Move adoption. Pfab: Move adoption. Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Pfab. Discussion? Champion: I just have a question and maybe you don't know the answer to this Steve, but I am just curious- don't all of the firemen have EMT certification? Helling: Yes, they do. Champion: Okay. Kanner: I am going to vote for this. And I appreciate the negotiating that went on. At our work session yesterday we talked about line of questioning and negotiating in general and the council involvement. And my hope is that the council will discuss future negotiating involvement along a broad possible spectrum of involvement- not necessarily all or nothing. And that we will have that discussion sometime this year at a work session. Lehman: Okay. That may need to even be at an executive session. But we did discuss that last night. Other discussion? Roll call. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #24 Page 37 ITEM NO. 24. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING CABLEVISION VII INC'S REQUESTED RATE INCREASE AND ESTABLISHING A MAXIMUM PERMITTED RATE FOR BASIC CABLE SERVICE. Lehman: Dale- first I need a motion. Vanderhoef: Move adoption. Champion: Second. Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Champion. Dale, would you like to, we got a letter here tonight and just kind of brief the council and the public as to precisely what we are voting on? HeIling: Right, I think you received a memo from the Iowa City Telecommunications commission recommending this. And in that memo they stated that the calculated maximum permitted rate that you were approving was lower than that submitted by AT&T Cable Services. That issue has been resolved apparently. Today we received a communication which you have a copy of from AT&T basically indicating that they now agree that the maximum permitted rate that we established is the one that is appropriate. That is the result of our using a consultant on an annual basis to review their figures and so forth to make sure that the calculations are accurate. The rate that you are approving falls well below, I think that the maximum permitted rate is $13 and 77.53 cents I believe. The rate that you are approving for basic cable tier service is $13.06 per month. So the rate that you are approving is well within the limit set by the federal govemment. Lehman: Let me ask you- what, aside from reviewing their calculations, what power does the City of Iowa City have in setting cable rates? Helling: The only regulatory authority at this point is to apply those FCC formulas and to calculate a maximum permitted rate and to enforce that. As long- Lehman: Go ahead. Helling: As long as they are actually charging a rate that is below the maximum permitted rate we have no further regulatory authority. Lehman: So a headline in tomorrow's paper that says the Iowa City Council approves an increase in cable rates would not really be totally accurate- that we would be abiding by a contract that we have with the cable This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #24 Page 38 company and insuring the fact that they are abiding by the rules in that contract? Helling: I think that that is one way to say it. Yeah. The fact that you approve it simply means that you have no authority or rational reason not to approve it. O'Donnell: And we have no options. Helling: Basically that is correct. O'Donnell: And that there is no competition. Champion: By voting for this increase, I wish to make it clearer that I don't think any of us- or at least I am not- endorsing what you are getting for your money. Vanderhoef: Or not getting for your money. Pfab: This is somewhat off the immediate topic here- what have we done to create more competition? What is possible? Lehman: May I say that we voted as a community a year ago or so to allow McLeod to come in. They have the authority and the permission to come in Iowa City if they choose to. The public voted to let them come in. Pfab: Okay, so as of now they haven't been able to find a way to town? Is that it? Helling: The- well, for whatever reasons they have they have not moved as fast as they thought they would. I think at this point it would require another referendum. The referendum was based on a franchise that we thought we had negotiated with them that was unacceptable to them after the referendum passed. And so we had some attempts at negotiating something but in the meantime it appears that their interest right now has waned somewhat. They still may be interested at some point and the door is still open. Pfab: Okay, is there a time limit on- is there a window- does the window of time close at any time? For that option for them to come in? Helling: There is never- I mean, there is no window other than the window based on the approval of the referendum, [and it] is probably already closed because the circumstances have changed. But that can come back to a referendum at any point in time that they want. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #24 Page 39 Pfab: So is that something that we would want to consider- is it something we should explore to get it on a general election ballot? Helling: I think if they are interested that we should encourage that and be accommodating. Pfab: Is there a way that a city could or someone contact them to check if there is still interest? Helling: Yeah, as a matter of fact, I am in the process of putting something together fight now just to figure out where we are and where they are and let them know that if they are interested to pursue this further, that we are willing to meet and talk with them. O'Donnell: I would also- excuse me, I am sorry- Vanderhoef: That is all fight. I will go next. O'Donnell: I would also like to see how we compare with other communities as far as our cost and our services. Helling: A lot of these systems in Iowa are owned by AT&T. Is that what you are talking about? Other AT&T systems? O'Donnell: I would just like to know if we are getting as much as we should be getting for this basic or if other communities are getting more and paying less. Helling: We can- O'Donnell: I would like to see something like that. Lehman: Mike, we can find that out but we have a franchise agreement with them that allows them to do what they are doing. Whether we got a good deal or not, it doesn't make any difference as long as we have that agreement. Champion: And how long is that agreement for? It was 10 years, was it? Helling: It was a 10 year agreement. It was just- the 4th year just expired in February so it would be- Lehman: Six more years. Helling: Yeah, 2006 1 believe. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #24 Page 40 Lehman: Irvin? Pfab: I think that Mike did not intend to limit it to just other AT&T providers. I think he was interested in the whole spectrum of cable providers. Helling: I think what we would probably do is pick out comparable cities or maybe the same kinds of comparables that we use for other things in terms of other cities in Iowa. What I am saying is you are going to find a lot of them are served by AT&T because those are systems that were owned by Heritage that were all sold to AT&T in one transaction. Pfab: Okay, would you try to find that? Helling: Sure. Vanderhoef: What is this 72-cent basic add-on for the 15 years for the rebuild? Because when I take the basic rate of $13.06 and then it talked about the 72 cent basic add-on, that brings us up to that $13.775. Helling: I do not know- understand the mechanics of the calculations. There were 100 and some pages in the federal register that talked about how to do these calculations. But my understanding is by virtue of this letter that a lot of what you see in those numbers has been withdrawn and they will file this form 1235 or whatever again next year. But I can't tell you exactly what those numbers mean. Vanderhoef: I was wondering whether that 72 cents was going to show up on the customer' s statement as a separate thing so that it would be like two basics. You have to pay the basic rate and you have to pay the 72 cents for the system rebuild. Helling: That is not my understanding. Vanderhoef: Okay. Kanner: Emie? Lehman: Yes? Kanner: I have a question also for Dale. What is the cost to us for the consultant and what is a rough estimate of what we saved because we are going with the lower rate for customers? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #24 Page 41 Helling: Our cost- and we just kind of looked at that- since this federal formula was established in I believe 1996, we have probably paid our consultant somewhere between $20,000 and $25,000 out of the franchise fee revenue to keep abreast of these things and counsel us on the calculations and so forth. There was one rebate as a result in the past and I believe that was probably in the neighborhood- well, somewhere between $60,000 and $80,000 total to the customers. Our feeling is that for the cable subscribers in Iowa City up to this point that has paid off. Kanner: So it was maybe $60,000 savings for the previous find by the consultant and now plus this present one we will realize a savings also because the consultant came up with these lower figures? Helling: This one will not result, I don't believe, in any rebate or any kind of savings because the rate that they are actually charging is well below the maximum permitted rate. They could be charging more and still be within the maximum permitted rate. All I am saying is that through pursuing this regulatory authority- this limited regulatory authority- we probably have spent between $20,000 and $25,000 and probably recouped between $60,000 and $80,000 for the subscribers in Iowa City because of that. Kanner: I just wanted to clarify something. But I thought we were- there is going to be an increase but it is a lower increase than what AT&T originally asked for? Helling: No. This- the $13.06 that they are proposing was their amount. They proposed a rate that is below what they can charge. Kanner: What did the consultant come up with? Helling: The consultant came up with the $13.7753 cents. I believe the actually maximum permitted rate that AT&T calculated was higher than that. And they have since, by virtue of their letter today, have informed us that they no longer are claiming that higher rate. That they are agreeing with our lower maximum permitted rate. That is just a ceiling. Kanner: Oh, just a ceiling. Helling: And they are below that ceiling, so they are fine. Pfab: So what this letter- if I understand correctly- from what you are saying now, the letter does not save a customer any money? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #24 Page 42 Helling: It could in the future because the maximum permitted rate that is established now is used for calculating future maximum permitted rates. But that is an unknown whether it will or not. And several years since we have staffed the regulation they have actually charged somewhat below the maximum permitted rate. Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #25 Page 43 ITEM NO. 25. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ON UNCLASSIFIED SALARIES AND COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000 FOR THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, AND CITY CLERK. Champion: Move adoption of the resolution. O'Donnell: Second. Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Kanner: Yeah, I would like to mention something here. I am going to vote "yes" on this and I think that our three city employees put in a lot of hard work and a lot of good work. And we compensate them well also I feel. And my feeling was that- and my philosophy- is that employees that are making a much higher rate perhaps should not get the same percentage increase as lower salaried employees. And we are essentially raising the base salaries about 6 or 6-½ %. And so 6-½ % of high range salaries is a great or absolute increase than those with lower incomes. So my philosophy is that although we should increases, not at that range. So I will- because the majority of the cotmcil wishes to go with the higher rate I am going to go along with that but I just wanted to state that I would have liked to have gone at a lower rate at the 3 - 3 ½ % yearly rate increases without the step increases that our negotiated employees in this city receive. Lehman: I appreciate your comments Steven and I also think all council appreciates the fact that I think we are unanimous in our decision on this. The one thing I would like to point out is that lower salaried employees- union employees in particular- and I think this is what you are talking about [with] 3% increases- we could have but we couldn't have afforded to give these three employees a 3% raise and pay them time and a half for overtime as we pay those union employees. That would have accounted for far more than the 6 ½% increase. But I certainly concur with you. I think we have got three very, very fine employees. And I think we are very fortunate and the people of Iowa City are very fortunate. I guess this is one way of us telling those folks that we appreciate what they do and we appreciate the quality of their work and their ability to work with the council and the people of Iowa City. Other discussion? Vanderhoef: That was said well. O'Donnell: Very well. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #25 Page 44 Lehman: I meant it too. Roll call. Motion carries. Thisrepresents only areasonably accur~etransc~ption ofthelowa City councilmeeting of June 13,2000. FO61300 #27 Page 45 ITEM NO. 27 PUBLIC DISCUSSION [IF NECESSARY]. (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). Lehman: Hey, come on up. We had public discussion, you weren't here. Come on up. Spratt: I know I wasn't. Lehman: The idea of the public discussion here is to take care of those folks who didn't have an opportunity to speak earlier. Spratt: I didn't have an opportunity because I was too late for it. You guys were so fast! Lehman: Go right ahead. Spratt: I have never seen you move this fast. Lehman: We haven't either. Spratt: And I assume that you must have something on the tele or something like that scheduled like that. Lehman: I think it is the weather that made a lot of other folks decide to stay home tonight. Champion: I think it is the lack of controversy on the agenda tonight. Spratt: Jim Spratt. I am going to put my address as Iowa City and I think I am the only one in town with that name. Yesterday morning the Press Citizen alerted me with this little byline: Council to Consider Traffic Light. I happened to look at it and then I stopped by to blow 20 cents on a copy of a letter to the City Manager from Southgate Development and a copy of the memo to you folks from the City Manager. And this is a request by Southgate Development to have a new intersection and stop light somewhere between Keokuk and Broadway on Highway 6. And, Iowa City turns over a lot. And people change. I suspect the people at the newspapers who wrote that up, they have probably changed a few times since Southgate Development came to this council. Obviously with different personnel sitting on the council. And requested the stoplight at Broadway. I happened to, at that time, have lived out in that area to the east and south- to the east of Broadway and south of Highway 6. And last evening you were told that Southgate had tried for the last 15 years to be This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #27 Page 46 doing something out there. But I am going to look you in the eye and say "yes", something was done and that is the intersection was put in at Broadway. But, at that time it was the position of both Southgate and the city staff to not only vacate a portion of Hollywood Blvd, which was done, but also to terminate the access to Highway 6 at Taylor Drive. Which, granted, is not the greatest access to Highway 6. But if that had been accomplished, all of us who lived to the east of Broadway and to the south of Highway 6 would have had to head for Muscatine to get to work and downtown Iowa City, driving over to Sycamore and other places to the east end of Iowa City to get access to Highway 6. It was with a lot of effort, a lot of concern, by a number of people who lived out there and watching every move and every meeting on Planning and Zoning and at the council to make sure we were appropriately represented. Because, frankly, as difficult an access as Taylor Drive was, it was the only thing we had. And it would have meant a tremendous of extra gasoline burned. It would have meant a tremendous amount of extra time and biggest- trying to get an emergency vehicle for example, to the east end of Hollywood. Which as you know, dead-ends before it gets to Sycamore. That was asking a little too much. Now, it turned out that the Planning and Zoning members did see our point and we did convince the council and Taylor Drive remained open. Now, the letter to the City Manager spoke of a request for the City of Iowa City to assist them in putting in an intersection. And the City Manager's letter to you folks spoke of support for this effort. Now, I don't know what that means- Lehman: It means, I believe, the support that the City Manager indicated and the assistance that was requested is for us to make an application to the Highway Commission- not to spend any money. Spratt: I don't know. Lehman: Yeah, we discussed that last night. No money would be spent on the part o f the city. Spratt: Okay, but that goes beyond that too. Because I would ask you that this is an assistance for Southgate and for their Pepperwood Plaza out there. And I don't know how much a new front door, so to speak, will make for them out there. But I would ask you, since this apparently I am told after your meeting, does not have to go through the Planning and Zoning. And since there really was no solid information that you were given last night. and knowing that previously it is my recollection that nothing could be put in short of Broadway because the DOT thought that was too close for intersections. So, as you work through this and as you also have to consider the traffic flow- and the reason I stuck around tonight because I This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #27 Page 47 don't plan to come back to follow this, I will ask you to please consider everyone in the area in addition to Southgate. And I would make a plea with councilman Wilbum to let his neighbors know and I don't know if you have to let the folks know out there but whatever you can do to let them know that you are thinking about this. And work it out to the best of everyone's bottom line and money or not. And it may mean maybe it is not the best thing to put one in. I don't know. Wilburn: Jim, if I could interrupt for a minute. I got a letter from the neighborhood association, or it looked like it was going to everyone in the neighborhood, saying how Southgate and some others in the area- businesses and the neighborhood centers and the two neighborhood associations- are going to be working on some focus groups to discuss the area. So I guess I would ask and would out of courtesy' s sake to let those groups know together that this project is going if they haven't seen it already. And I would assume- maybe I shouldn't assume- that folks from the neighborhood associations that will be having these focus groups with Southgate that if something goes on that is undesirable for the neighborhood they would let them know while they were talking about the redevelopment of this area. Spratt: That is the kind of thing I would hope for, in the sense that since this doesn't have to go through some of the processes that the city has to go through in vacating streets. This is a different circumstance and whatever can be done to make it come out good for the City of Iowa City, for the citizens who live to the east, south and west of that area as well as the traffic patterns out there. And you might even throw in talking to Dick Summerwell about the bank mess, you know. I think there can be some creativity out there to really make it work well for everybody if something is to be done. I am not suggesting it should be done or it shouldn't be done. (changed tapes) Pfab: I have a comment, don't go away. I believe what you are saying, ifI understand you correctly, is this might be a good time to look at the intersection at Taylor, at Broadway, the new one that is proposed and all the way down through Keokuk. And take a whole look at that- all of that traffic pattern and take a forward look at what is the best way to look forward into the future to serve that area. Is that correct? Spratt: I am not a planner, I am not an engineer. Pfab: No, no. But the concept? Spratt: The concept is look after everybody in the process, whatever the (can't hear). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #27 Page 48 Pfab: In other words, when the scales of justice- equal number on each side you mean? Spratt: Sure. Pfab: Okay. I didn't- when I talked to you last night it didn't dawn on me but that is probably one of the worst traffic problems but until you went back and told me what streets were closed- I used to have an office over in the building that burnt down. I was the first person in that. And that was a pretty good traffic pattern then. But when this intersection came in it just got all screwed up. I don't know what went wrong. I know I avoid that like the plague now. And something didn't work. You brought up some old ideas- some ideas that were kind of laying dormant that says hey, some things happened in that neighborhood that a lot of the neighbors, a lot of people in that community were not happy with. Spratt: Well, they weren't happy with the potential of closing Taylor Drive. And I suspect there is one of you who would be unhappy if that happened tomorrow. And all I am saying is that the people who have a stake in that area go well beyond Southgate. I am not saying that Southgate doesn't have a good stake in it and they certainly do. And that should be acknowledged, they should be worked with. And what better can be done. Pfab: So, I guess the question that I would ask that the engineer's take a hard look at- is it time- is it something that we should look at as possibly to spread those lights out farther? Maybe go up and maybe make some changes for Taylor Drive with a light or maybe closing- so you are saying look at the whole thing? Spratt: Well, I think you always should do that. I think you always should do that. Lehman: Thank you very much. Spratt: Thanks. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #29 Page 49 ITEM NO. 29. CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS Lehman: The Historic Preservation Commission for the term ending May 29, 2002, Ann Freerks. Is that correct pronunciation? Housing and Community Development Commission, April Gutting. The S.E.A.T.S. Paratransit Advisory Committee from the council two representatives, Mike O'Donnell and Dee Vanderhoef. And the Deer Committee, we have confirmed Mr. Emerson's appointment as the hunter and have appointed Linda Dykstra as a person to represent the gardening community. Do I have a motion to approve those appointments? Vanderhoef: So moved. Pfab: So moved. Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Pfab. All in favor? All: Aye. Lehman: Opposed? Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #30 Page 50 ITEM NO. 30. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Lehman: Irvin? Pfab: I have no comment. Lehman: Connie? Champion: I don't have anything. Lehman: Mike? O'Donnell: Just a couple of quick things. I participated in the Millennium Mayorathon calling attention to the need for organ and tissue transplants. And also the need for funding for process (can't hear). It was very, very worth while and I really enjoyed it. Dee Vanderhoef and I helped cut the ribbon at the Shakespearean stage. Lehman: I heard about that. O'Donnell: Did you hear about that? Lehman: I heard that it was a smashing success. O'Donnell: It was outstanding. Lehman: I heard that you were. Is that right? O'Donnell: Well, I am too modest to say anything to that Ernie. Vanderho ef: I play a good (can't hear). O'Donnell: But it really- if you have not had an opportunity to see this stage I encourage you to go out and look at it. It is really nice. It looks like it should have always been there. You can drive by and the park is alive. It is a great asset to the city, City Park, and the county for that matter. One final thing, the ADA parade is going to be on July 22nd at 10:00. The city has made a contribution. I would like to encourage every one of the council members to participate in it this year. This is a growing event. And it is very important. That is all I have. Lehman: Thank you Mike. Dee? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #30 Page 51 Vanderhoef: I will just add on to the Shakespeare. I saw Ron Clark today, actually at the grocery store, and he tells me that the production is totally sold out for this coming week and that they have been having reviews from eastern Iowa. All very positive reviews. And he is very excited about it. And I am too. That is it. Lehman: Ross? Wilburn: I believe that the month of June is pride month. And those of you who are interested keep around the paper for activities. And as we celebrate the diversity in our community. Congratulations to the Arts Fest committee, commission, group. I had a great time. It sounds like most people had a good time. It was very well attended. Hopefully that momentum and interest and enthusiasm- safe enthusiasm- and non-violent enthusiasm will continue for the Jazz Fest the first and second. And I want to thank Barbara Curtin, former director of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters, for her years of service to the community. And to wish Karla Miller, the new executive director, good luck. And we need to give our support to Karla. Kanner: I want to announce a three-day symposium that is happening at the University of Iowa. "Planning a Story Telling, Sustaining American Cities." And it is going to be June 15-17 from 9 AM to 5 PM, basically each day. We had a letter about this in our packet inviting the council members and the community is invited to this free event. I think it is really- it is going to be a fun and interesting event. It is going to have story tellers coming from diverse urban professions and it is going to include a landscape architect, regional planning director, a scholar of African American history, and all of these people are going to come together and tell stories about what makes our urban centers. And the people that are going to attend this, such as myself and others that might attend, are going to be participants in telling stories. So I invite you all to attend. If you would like more information you can contact Jim Throgmorton at 338-0880. That is 338-0880. And that is coming up in the next couple of days. And I just want announce we have one big New Jersey Devils fan in the audience that is celebrating the Stanley Cup victory. Hats off to them! Lehman: I have just one item that has come up. The council- we obviously have received from- and I guess we have talked about it at work session and have talked about our policies regarding council use of city vehicles and when items will be reimbursed. One of the rules I think as we have it now is that trips made by council people, if they are not something that the city staff feels they can approve, the mayor is going to be asked to say yes or no when the council person wants to make a trip. Some place out of town- This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #30 Page 52 without any guidance from the council, my policy will be that if council people or the City of Iowa City is invited to attend a function, I will approve a council person attending that meeting and the city will reimburse that council person for the expenses involved in attendance within reason. We do have perimeters for state and national meetings. If it is an event that we happen to know about that is of interest to a council person and that person wishes to attend that meeting, without invitation, that council person will be expected to attend that meeting at their own expense and using their own vehicle. If that isn't acceptable to the council tell me. That is going to be my philosophy. If we receive an invitation as a council, and certain members would like to go, I think that I would certainly concur with that. But if we choose to go to a meeting that because we have an interest in it and it is not an invitation to the City of Iowa City, then I will not be inclined to approve that sort of expenditure of city money. Do we have any comments from council people? Is that fair? I don't know. Karmer: Can we just- Vanderhoef: I am asking for clarification I guess. For instance, when you are appointed to a state committee- Lehman: If you are serving that is part of your job. Vanderhoef: Okay, so it is an individual rather than a whole council being invited. Lehman: Yeah. Kanner: Ernie? Lehman: Yes. Kanner: I don't want to get into it now, but maybe can we talk a little bit at a work session? Lehman: Any time, because I don't feel real comfortable with this personally. I really would like to have some concurrence from the rest of the council people so this isn't something that I arbitrarily say this or that. But without some comment to the contrary that will be my position. Certainly I will change any portion of that if the council wishes to. O'Dom~ell: We will have to see if there is four people here that approve your position. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300 #30 Page 53 Lehman: I have no problem with discussing it also at a work session. But I just wanted to inform you. Kanner: I propose we do it at a work session just to clarify and ask questions. Lehman: That is fine. Okay, that is all I have. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of June 13, 2000. FO61300