HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-17 Transcription#2 Page 1
ITEM NO. 2. OUTSTANDING STUDENT CITIZEN AWARDS- Grant Wood
Elementary.
Lehman: If the four students would come forward please. You guys think vacation
is really neat in the summertime and we really get a little lonesome for this
because this is one of the most important parts of our Council meeting.
And one that we enjoy probably as much as anything else. This is an
opportunity where the city council of Iowa City recognizes outstanding
student citizens in the community. The way we will do this: I will ask
each of you to give your name and then read why you were nominated.
Alyse Riley: My name is Alyse Riley and I go to school at Grantwood Elementary and I
have since kindergarten. Since kindergarten I have participated in many
sport activities like soccer, basketball, softball and dance. The musical
activities that I have participated in are band, orchestra and I sing in my
church's choir. At church I also would go to a youth group called (can't
hear). At school I have participated in (can't hear), calming managers,
student council, band and orchestra. For the past two years I have helped
my mom with the Run for Schools. I am also a former Girl Scout.
Sarah Anciaux: My name is Sarah Anciaux and while I am attending Grantwood
school I have tried to be active in a variety of ways. I have been in
Grantwood (can't hear). The next year I went to (can't hear) board
member and I served as the president of the kid's bank during its last year
of business. This year I was chosen to be a safety patrol and I am one of
the captains. I am helping with KinderBuddies and I am also helping with
ECSE. I have been in Jazzy Jumpers for two years and I am in my third. I
am in my third year of- okay- I am in my third year of being a conflict
manager and in school my favorite areas are math and PE. I have been in
band for two years and play the clarinet. Outside of school I am on a
basketball team, a soccer team, and I have been on a softball association
since kindergarten. And I was in Brownies but I had to give it up because
it interfered with basketball. And during summer vacation I attended
many sports camps and I helped with a booth at the (can't hear)
foundation and I volunteered to paint the Wetherby park shelter with my
dad.
Ben Mulenbruch: Hi, my name is Ben Mulenbruch and I am a sixth grader at
Grantwood Elementary School. I have been involved in safety patrol for
one year. The best thing I like about safety patrol is that I get to help the
younger students get to school safely. I also have been involved in the
conflict managers program for the past three years. I enjoy this program
because it has taught me how to resolve conflicts by talking them out.
Another program I have been involved in is KinderBuddies and ECSE. I
like this the best because I have a chance to teach the younger students
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how to read. For the past year I have been involved with student council.
This has given me a lot of experience for being responsible for many
things. Thank you.
Ben Rocca: Hello, my name is Ben Rocca. I am honored to have been chosen to
receive this award. The activities that I have been involved in are patrol,
conflict managers, ECSE, and KinderBuddies. I have enjoyed
participating in each of these different areas and have learned a lot from
them. I would like to thank those that chose me for this award. Thank
you very much.
Lehman: I will read the award. (Reads award). Ben, are you going to be a fireman?
Now- it is true, the city council is really, really- we are really pleased to be
able to do this. But there is another group of folks around here that is
pretty proud of you too and that is your parents. Parents don't always tell
us when they are proud of us, but the group that is really proud of you is
the grandparents. They couldn't- hey, don't laugh- that is a fact. They
couldn't be prouder. So, thanks a lot guys. Good luck to you. Thanks for
coming down.
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ITEM NO. 2b. HUMAN RIGHTS ANNOUNCEMENT
Lehman: Before we do the proclamations I do have an announcement from Heather
Shank regarding the Human Rights Awards breakfast. I would like to
announce the winners: Jude West with the Isabel Turner award, Sally
Murray for the Vocational Rehabilitation Award, a Great Balancing Act
which is Jean Bott, Susan Buckley which is the Rick Graf award, and Jael
Stillman for International Human Rights Award. These will be- the
awards will be presented at a breakfast on Thursday October 26 at 7:30 in
the morning at the Iowa Memorial Union Wayne Richey Ballroom.
Tickets are available for $10 a piece. Those tickets can be reserved by
calling Heather Shank at 356-5022. And I would certainly encourage
anyone interested to call Heather. That is a really delightful event and one
that is attended generally by at least some of the council. And it is
something that I think you all would enjoy.
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ITEM NO. 3. MAYOR'S PROCLAMATIONS.
a. Community and Regional Planning Day- November 8.
Lehman: (Reads proclamation).
Karr: Here to accept is Jim Maynard.
Maynard: On behalf of the Iowa Chapter of the American Planning Association,
thank you Mayor Lehman for declaring November 8 Community and
Regional Planning Day in conjunction with the worldwide observance of
World Town Planning Day. I have had a card with a little information
about that placed in each of the council members places and (can't hear)
button for World Town Planning Day. The American Planning
Association has encouraged communities throughout the country to
observe Community and Regional Planning Day as a way of recognizing
the importance of sound and continuing planning to community
development, and acknowledging the contributions of our citizen and
professional planners to improve our communities. Iowa City has a long
tradition of citizen participation in the planning process. I think our first
citizen zoning board was established in 1924. Many others have served
Iowa City in an advisor and professional capacities since that time. And I
thank you again for your recognition in support of their efforts. I hope
you will wear those buttons on November 8 or if you would rather pass
them along to your favorite planner. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you Jeff.
b. Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery Day- October 29.
Lehman: (Reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept is Lt. Steve Stimmel and Sparky.
Lehman: Let's hear it for Sparky!
Stimmel: Thank you very much. On behalf of the fire department, we want to
express our appreciation. Since the technology for detecting smoke and
fires has been developed, the number of fire deaths in the United States
has dropped every year. It is important that the detectors are maintained
and new batteries are replaced on an annual basis. And that they are
replaced every 10 years. We have gone along with the National Fire
Protection Association's campaign of change your clock, change your
battery. And we greatly appreciate the council's efforts in recognizing us
through the proclamation. Thank you.
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Lehman: Thank you.
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ITEM NO. 4. CONSIDER AN 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: Mr. Mayor, I have some discussion. And I am going to note in the item
under C liquor, alcohol license renewals- I would like to note that the Que
Bar is up for renewal. And it is disturbing it has a very high number of
arrests for people under the legal age. It has had 37 visits year to date as
of the end of August. And 46 arrests there which is 1.24 average of arrests
per visit. Way above our 1.06 average for the whole city. And I would
like to move that we remove this from the consent calendar and defer it for
action to our next meeting, realizing and taking into account what our City
Attorney said, that we cannot base our rejection solely on this but- we also
are going to be receiving other information soon on a regular basis and I
think this warrants a closer look to see if it is hurting the health, welfare
and safety of the city. And so move that we defer consideration of this
item to our next council meeting.
Lehman: Is there a second to that motion?
Pfab: I will second that.
Lehman: Moved by Kanner, seconded by Pfab to defer item c(5) to the next
meeting. Is there discussion?
Kanner: I wanted to ask Steve- are we going to be getting that information that the
Police Chief was talking about soon?
Atkins: Yes we are. We are going to put that together in the form of some sort of
systematic way to get it to you. But, yes we are.
Dilkes: I don't anticipate that that will be ready until probably the first of next
year. January is what I am shooting for.
Kanner: I don't know if we are talking about the same information.
Dilkes: You aren't talking about the procedures for the-
Atkins: No.
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Dilkes: Okay.
Kanner: Can you explain what we are getting?
Atkins: This basically is having a more detailed response for the council's respect-
calls for service, response to those calls- based upon these licensees. We
are trying to systematically prepare something so that we can get it in a
routine fashion to the council. So it shouldn't affect what you have to do.
Champion: I appreciate your efforts Steve. I am not going to support your motion
because I think it is inappropriate at this time. But I don't mind your
making the motion and I appreciate you finding out all of these little
statistics that you do each meeting.
Wilburn: Are you thinking since we don't have data information relative to all of
the other applicants?
Champion: Right. I just don't think it is an appropriate time to postpone this decision
although I think it is not a bad thing to do. I just don't think we pounce on
that. I think we have to have more of a reason to do it.
Vanderhoef: I wanted to look at also how this factors into all of the things that happen
downtown. And this one taken by itself is very directed at one
establishment and other establishments probably have similar records and
I want to see how the police department puts this whole number situation
into perspective for us.
Pfab: I have a question. Does this jeopardize the- is there a time pressure to get
this taken care of or if by taking it up at the next meeting will that cause
any unnecessary delay?
Karr: This is a straight renewal and a straight renewal is automatically renewed
as long as the proper papers are filed in the Clerk's office awaiting council
action. So it will just hold over.
Pfab: When do these- when is time- when does the time get to be critical?
Karr: The state will allow the establishment the latitude awaiting council
decision to remain open.
Pfab: So there is not a problem for them to-
Karr: Certainly not in two weeks, no.
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Pfab: So, in other words, it will not cause unnecessary work for the
establishment?
Karr: The establishment's papers are all in order for council consideration. So
they await council direction and no recommendation will go to the state
until that time.
Pfab: And the fact that no recommendation goes to the state until after the next
meeting would not cause a problem for the establishment?
Karr: It will remain open.
Pfab: Okay, I would say it might be a- I would encourage that we take a hard
look at this. We have to start someplace. And this might be a way to staff.
We probably won't do the first look at this in a perfect way but I think we
need to staff. And I think we need to bring attention to the management of
these different organizations. They have obligations to the city and the
citizens and I think it is our obligation as council people to help encourage
them to take those responsibilities seriously. So I would support you.
Lehman: I certainly sympathize with the intent here. However, I will not support
that.. And I won't support it because I believe that if we are going to
change the rules when it comes to liquor licenses or beer licenses that
those rules need to be explained to those folks who are applying for the
renewals instead of being a surprise at a council meeting without any
previous notifications. Other discussion?
Pfab: Can I speak to what you just said? I don't believe this is a surprise or I
don't think this is causing any-
Lehman: It has never been done before. It has never been suggested before so by
that nature alone it is a surprise.
Pfab: Well, but it doesn't, in itself, it doesn't huff the establishment other than it
maybe draws a little unfavorable publicity to it, which is unfortunate but
that was their behavior and not ours that is that cause of it.
Kanner: Dee and Connie- I would say we are not picking out bars arbitrarily. I
chose this because this is the highest that I have seen since I have been
looking at this. And I think it is not saying that we are going to decide on
it in a negative fashion. That we are going to look at it a little closer, we
are going to talk with our City Attorney and hear her full advise and we
are going to ask our City Manager and Police Chief "Are there any other
incidences involved with this bar that we might want to look at in total to
see if they deserve to have a license?" Emie, I don't think it is a surprise
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when we are doing it in that fashion. It has to start somewhere for any
item and it is not like we are saying we are automatically voting you
down. We are deferring it for two weeks and it doesn't affect their
business if it is deferred for two weeks. And if we find out that there are a
lot of things happening at this bar that perhaps they are not deserving of
renewal, then we will be able to see that. Or if we find that things are
going along okay in the council's opinion, then we can renew it.
Lehman: Other discussion? All in favor of the motion to defer item 5 for two weeks
signify by saying "aye". All opposed same sign. The motion is defeated
5-2, Kanner and Pfab voting in the affirmative. Other discussion on the
consent calendar? I want to point out that there is setting a public hearing
for the plans and specifications of contract for the construction of the
Washington Street transit interchange project, which we hope to get
started shortly after the first of the year. Other comments? Roll call.
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ITEM NO. 5. PUBLIC DISCUSSION (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL
8 PM].
Lehman: This is a time reserved on the agenda for the public to address the council
on any item that does not otherwise appear on the agenda. If you would
like to address the council please sign in, give your name and address, and
limit your comments to five minutes or less.
Dietetic: I am Caroline Dietetic. An article appeared in the March 20, 1930 New
York Times reporting that "Yale poll indicates more drink earlier" and
"larger proportion of freshman than seniors use liquor before entering
University". The survey involved 2648 students of Yale, of whom 1871
drank. Of those who drank, 1353 began drinking before entering college.
It looks to me as though things haven't changed much with college
drinking, and bearing in mind that this survey was taken in the midst of
the prohibition era which ran from 1919 to 1933, when having any alcohol
at all was illegal for everybody. I think Johnson county could bankrupt
itself building jails to put students into and not change things very much
except that a lot of other more worthwhile community efforts would lose
funding. Prohibition doesn't work. If anything, it exacerbates the
problem and makes people, especially the young, want to drink more
expressly because it is forbidden. Tickets and fines, plus being required to
clean up the trash and barf on the Ped Mall, would do a lot more to solve
the problem than a 21 only ordinance or city limits on sales. The jail price
tag- the proposed new jail- is $20.3 million. But it will cost closer to $35
million when the interest payments on the bond issue are added to that.
The sheriff himself has estimated that the operating budget of the
proposed new jail will be $4 million, which is double the current $2
million budget. There are alternatives available to reduce the numbers of
people in jail that cost nothing. There are other alternatives to reduce
inmate crowding that cost millions of dollars less than $35 million. They
are being used in Linn County and why not here? Ironically, a typical
Iowa City incident that wasn't planned, it was just chance as far as I can
see, the individual who today is pictured on the front page of the Daily
Iowan and who expresses in the accompanying article his great concern
about student drinking is in fact the architect for the new jail- the single
individual who will profit most from the construction of the new jail. As a
taxpayer of Johnson County I urge the city council and all Johnson County
residents to vote "no" on the proposed jail. Proposition A is on the back
of the ballot. Turn it over, find it, and vote "no". Save your money for
something worth while. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
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Benz: Good evening. My name is Lori Benz. I live at 2012 Dunlap Court and I
am a member of the Senior Center Commission. And I am here this
evening at their request to give you a brief update of the activities at the
center. And specifically the progress with the fundraising that is occurring
toward the skywalk that the center commission is very much in support of.
We are currently approaching $73,000 toward a $120,000 goal. And I
understand that Linda Kopping and our chair Jay Honohan have met with
the architects and city officials- city staff I should say- to look at the basic
project design that will allow the skywalk to enter the senior center at the
second floor level. That will allow direct entry and the loss of one office
at that level. However, it will allow immediate access for those that may
have difficulty coming to the center and finding their way by other means
that would require them to walk further. You should be receiving cost
estimates of the change in the design, I understand, in a couple of weeks.
So you will have an opportunity to review that at that time. I also wanted
to mention that in support of that fund raising, the Senior Center is
working with Younkers- both the mall store and the Coralville- the
downtown mall and the Coralville mall stores on a special benefits sale
that they will be having in November. And we will be able to receive
100% of ticket sales that we sell to the event that will be publicized in the
paper in the next few weeks. So you will be hearing more about that.
There is also some water proofing work that needs to be done around the
exterior of the Senior Center but that will have to be delayed due to the
amount of the bid that came in over the expected amount. So they will be
looking- Linda and the other staff will be looking at that bid to see if it can
be resubmitted. I would be glad to answer any questions that you might
have.
Pfab: You had mentioned that you were going to see if it could be resubmitted-
the bid?
Benz: Yes, the waterproofing bid.
Pfab: I understand there was only one bid. Is that correct?
Benz: That is my understanding.
Pfab: And it was rather high?
Benz: Yes, I think it came in about 27% over what they expected. So it will need
to be resubmitted.
Pfab: And if the work isn't done you have a good possibility of having water
damage in the lower level?
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Benz: Yes, that is a concern. Definitely. That is why the work needs to occur.
Pfab: Is that where you just laid new carpet and what not?
Benz: It has been completely refurbished with new carpeting and wall covering
and so on- yes. We would like to see that happen as soon as possible but
understand the need to have the bid resubmitted because of the cost too.
Pfab: Are you- is there any other way to help cover that cost? I am just asking
because I don't know.
Benz: Are there other funds available to cover that cost? I can't say that I know
that either. I would have to ask specifically the director about what the
budget permits. Any other questions? Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Carol de Prosse: If I could see better this wouldn't be such a problem. Hi, my name
is Carol de Prosse. About a month ago I went up on a Friday night to the
Pedestrian Plaza with a group of friends- there were five of us. And we
went up about 12:30 at night and stayed to about 3:00 in the morning. We
went up, the five of us, with two video cameras so that we could film
whatever happened on a wild Friday night on the Pedestrian Plaza. It
turned out to be a really rather interesting evening in many ways. A lot of
it of course is just because of the observances and the opinions and things
that I formed about what was going on up there. But one of the things that
struck me at the time and that has lingered with me since- particularly
since I am active in trying to encourage people to vote against the
proposed new jail, was the question of the allocation of resources.
Because in the time that I was up there during these hours there were three
Iowa City police cars parked in the kind of like apron in front of the
entrance to JC Penney's. There were 3-5 more Iowa City police cars kind
of making a round in the downtown area- kind of going down Burlington
Street and my guess would be over Madison and up the one way and then
down Gilbert and doing that. And then there was also something like a-
kind of like what I call a community service car- it kind of looked like one
of those that was in the area. And then there were a number of officers in
uniform downtown and I assume from what I have read and know about
the placement of officers in certain areas that there were probably some
undercover officers active that night as well. So that seemed to me to be
for this relatively small area of Iowa City- I mean, it can't be one tenth of
all of all of Iowa City or one twentieth of all of Iowa City- this kind of
focus on the Pedestrian Plaza and the downtown. It seemed to me that
there was a huge kind of disproportionate allocation of resources perhaps.
And that if I were a resident again of Iowa City I might feel more
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comfortable if I thought that instead of being down there those officers
might have been out patrolling neighborhoods or being on duty for
something that might be of more importance than what I sense that they
were down there for. And with regard to that then, I have been reading
about your consideration of passing this under 21 drinking ordinance or
what ever it would be called. And I strongly encourage you not to do that-
particularly when I read about all of the accompanying use of resources
that would be involved in trying to monitor and police and bring all of that
under control. I don't remember what I read in the paper anymore but it
seemed to me as though it was rather enormous that we be sending police
officers in to try to monitor the inside of these bars. And the thing that
bothers me about that because of the way some of the Iowa City police
operate is that I think that it also would be serving perhaps as undercover
agents and looking for people then who are doing other things. And it
seems to me to be kind of a- maybe perhaps a mild form of entrapment or
something that I don't really favor. And I was thinking again then about
this allocation of resources and thinking about how I read in the paper the
other day that I think it is the Fire Department that has said they are badly
looking to expand and that they need more firemen. And I think about all
of the really- you know, everybody finds our firemen admirable and the
amazing things that they do to protect people's lives first of all and then
their property. And we have a great deal of respect for our firemen. I do
my do my rural volunteer firemen and I do Iowa City firemen. And I
think how that respect is being lost for our officers of the law because of
the fact that I know it is very hard- believe me, I believe this is hard for
some of you to understand this but there is a resentment in this community
that is brewing around your police department and I only ask with all
sincerity that you just try to open your mind to that because I think there
are answers to it. And that would be far more productive than it seems to
me perhaps this kind of war we are in with the students at this point in
time. And with that, I would just like to say that if you are going to look
at budgets that maybe some of the police money could just fund a few less
officers and be transferred over to the fire department instead. And if you
would like to see any alternatives that we have to the new jail please go to
our brand new website- it is just up and started- www.nojail.com. And there
yOU will see a list of alternatives that we have- most of which cost
absolutely nothing but would require policy changes. And then that would
put us in a position of being able to better evaluate how much we actually
need to spend- if anything- on a new facility- a jail facility- and any kind
of accompanying services to support that. So, thank you.
Lehman: Thank you Carol.
Daly: Hi, my name is Dan Daly. I live at 2325 Mayfield Rd. I am proud to be a
citizen of Iowa City and a property tax payer and a parent here. I am here
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to talk about traffic on First Avenue. First Avenue is dangerous. The
Johnson County accident report lists for high accident locations on First-
the Iowa Department of Transportation has reported 324 accidents on First
between 1993 and 1998. 114 of these caused personal injury. The
property damage alone was almost $700,000. This should come as no
surprise. The current traffic overburdens of First Avenue- city planners
and other extension boosters admit extending it would bring more traffic.
How much more? Nobody knows. Planners tweak their traffic models in
ways they can't explain to us and they get numbers they tell us not to
believe. A 1998 extension model forecasts 20,000 cars on First Avenue
south of Rochester- they called the figure raw and unreliable. And they
are right. You can't put 20 gallons in a 6-gallon bucket. If20,000 cars
pour down a 6,000 capacity road they will spill onto the side streets. First
overflows at Court Street now. Cars back up for blocks and impatient
drivers scoot down Second and Third. An extension would be expensive.
Supporters tell us there are no plans to widen First. Well, it is no wonder.
They are afraid that the sticker shock would scare voters. It is not cheap to
tear out and replace mail boxes, driveways, trees, telephone poles,
sidewalks and storm drains. It is expensive to add lanes, lights and
crossing guards. When the city seizes somebody's land to widen a road
the taxpayers have to foot the bill for that. After extension, the need to
widen would be painfully obvious. Plans would appear. We would spend
millions fixing our mistake and we would still have a road that is much
more dangerous than it already is. East of the river are public Junior,
Senior High Schools border First Avenue. So does Hoover Elementary.
Regina is literally only a stone throw away. Over 3000 kids attend these
schools. Where First Avenue has sidewalks, they are narrow. Some of
them are right next to the curb. Now, if something is going to be an
arterial street, it needs wide sidewalks that are set back from the street.
There is a lot of arterial street standards that First can never hope to meet.
Now, when roads exist in predate standards, cities can avoid prosecution.
But new construction courts liability. Iowa Department of Transportation
report HR234A An Engineering Study to Update the Iowa Transportation
Laws, chronicles our rich heritage of taking cities to court for ignoring
road standards. They lose and we pay. Now, voters rejected this
extension in 1997. Our own Iowa City sponsored citizen planning groups
did it in '98. So, why is the city defying the will of the people in this? It
can't be because our biggest newspaper owns land that the extension
would open up to development. Although their coverage seems to support
this.
Lehman: You need to wrap this up Dan.
Daly: Our biggest private employer (can't hear) to exploit it. Retired executive
Bob Elliot leads the extension booster charge. Corporate convenience
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doesn't justify doubling ambulance traffic on First. Hickory Hill park- in
many ways our best- is in danger. Elsewhere we are assaulted with traffic
noise and exhaust fumes. We have plenty of room now to grow without
doing further damage to this treasure. The extension is redundant. A
short distance from First is Scott Boulevard. On this arterial wonder you
can cruise at 35 miles an hour. You don't risk hitting cars backing out of
driveways every 50 feet. Next year it will finally connect to Dodge. 20
years ago Scott became-
Lehman: Dan, you are going to have to wrap this up. Please? Five minutes is what
we allow.
Daly: When the (can't hear) of cars and people collide, people have the right of
way. I hope you will save our taxes, save our park, and save our kids by
voting yes and taking this back out of the budget. Thank you for the
opportunity.
Lehman: Thank you Dan.
Kanner: Ernie? At a previous meeting you asked about my quotation of the 20,000
figure and you asked if I had confidence in the figure and/or the staff.
And obviously you are for the extension and I am against the extension
and we have spoken as a council- but I think it behooves us to come
together and say let's get an independent analysis of the raw figures-
Lehman: We are in public discussion. If we want to talk about that during council
time or something fine, but let's get through public discussion. We have a
whole meeting and we have folks waiting on other items on the agenda. If
you wish to bring it up during council time and place it for a work session
I have no problem with that.
Kanner: Okay.
Lehman: Other public discussion? The next item is planning and zoning matters-
00pS! Almost.
Rooks: Hi, can you hear me?
Lehman: Sure.
Rooks: My name is Wendi Rooks and I am here to represent the Broadway
Improvement Group. I am part of the neighborhood advisory council. We
just wanted- we have some people here from the Broadway area and we
just wanted to say that the highway 6 improvements- we would like that to
stay. I don't even know how I want to say this-
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Lehman: Prioritize.
Rooks: Yes- it is very important to us. We are trying to do a lot of improvements
in the Broadway area. Actually, I live on Taylor Drive and I have been in
the Broadway area for 9 years. So I have seen everything come and go
and we would like for this to stay. Thank you.
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meeting of October 17, 2000.
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ITEM NO. 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
Lehman: I need to point out and I don't always do this but I think it is important-
and I probably should. Council's policy generally is not to react to
comments made during public discussion. Our failure to respond to
anyone who speaks before the council does not indicate our agreement
with or our disagreement with anything they happen to say. So we are
here just to receive information and we do that.
a. PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AN
APPROVED OPDH-12 PLAN TO ALLOW A 40-UNIT
ASSISTED LIVING BUILDING ON 2.87 ACRES LOCATED ON
THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SCOTT BOULEVARD AND
AMERICAN LEGION ROAD. (REZ00-00020).
Lehman: The public hearing is open.
McClure: My name is James McClure and I am with the Dial Land Development
Corporation that is developing the project. My first thing is what
questions do you have with the project that I can answer that may expedite
things instead of me rambling on here about anything?
Lehman: We had this work session last night and I guess I didn't sense that there
was any particular concerns on the part of council for what you are
proposing. The council people obviously are able to speak for themselves
but-.
O'Donnell: I certainly didn't have any concerns.
McClure: Pardon?
O'Donnell: I didn't have any concerns.
McClure: I didn't hear you yet.
O'Donnell: What?
McClure: I didn't hear you.
O'Donnell: I didn't have any concerns.
Wilbum: I support the project but some of the letters that we got were about things
that at least in my mind (can't hear) are more directly related to this
rezoning, but there was questions about the detention basin and there were
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concerns about some mowing of grass near the area. Did we get a
response to those?
Atkins: Karin can answer those.
Wilburn: Karin, did we give a response to those concerns to the people that
expressed concern about that?
Franklin: The weed issue Dial responded to immediately on site and took care of
that.
Wilburn: I thank you for that.
Franklin: The detention basin issue had to do with the neighbors, Mr. Wolf of
Modern Manor and Mr. Prybil who owns property to the east and I think a
couple of residents of Modern Manor who were concerned about the wet
bottom detention basin and whether this should be fenced. There was
quite a bit of discussion about that or some discussion about it at the
planning and zoning commission. We have not required the fencing of
wet bottom detention basins in other developments in Iowa City. We have
one right across Scott Boulevard in Village Green where there is some
fencing but it is not totally prohibitive fencing. We also have a wet
bottom basin at West Side Park. I think- to point out- in LakeRidge
Manufactured Housing park owned by Mr. Wolf, there is a lake which is
not fenced. So the commission decided not to pursue any requirement to
fence the basin.
Lehman: Are you saying that the retention basin in this development is not unlike
other detention basins through out the city where wet bottom basins
occur?
Franklin: That is correct.
Lehman: Thank you.
Wilburn: I thank you for taking care of the mowing. That helps us out.
Kanner: I had a question for you. So, have you talked to these people- I assume
you have had discussion with the ones who have protested initial rezoning
attempt- Prybil, General Partnership and Modern Manor- have you been in
dialog with them?
McClure: We have been in dialog previously with them. We haven't heard any
more- we were at the hearings with the planning commission and none of
them were here on those concerns. They didn't have any concern that I
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saw with the project itself. Merlin- he is with us. He has been with the
project longer than I have and he can tell you all of the correspondence
they have had with them.
Lawrence: We have met with them. In fact, we have a- we actually moved the
detention pond at their request and had them sign off where we moved it
to, and they saw the plan (changed tapes) I guess in the issue that we are
here before here, it is not even on the land that we are talking about.
Lehman: Right.
Lawrence: We have tried to be a good neighbor. And so we moved the detention
pond. At a considerable expense we did that.
Kanner: It sounds like you are having good dialog and you are being a good
neighbor.
Lawrence: In fact, after that Planning and Zoning} (can't hear) was in Omaha for a
tennis tournament and came up to our office and we talked. But we do
have a set of plans that they signed off on. Both parties- both him and Mr.
Wolf.
Karr: Excuse me sir, could I have your name for the record?
Lawrence: Merlin Lawrence. I work for the Dial Company.
Karr: Thank you.
Lehman: Any other questions? The hearing is closed.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence?
O'Donnell: So moved.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell.
Vanderhoe~ Second.
Lehman: Seconded by Vanderhoefto accept correspondence. All in favor?
Opposed? Motion carries.
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#6b(1) Page 2o
ITEM NO. 6b. AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION
FROM LOW DENSITY MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RM-12)
AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION RESIDENTIAL (RNC-
20) TO MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
(RS-8) FOR FOUR (4) PROPERTIES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF
THE 900 BLOCK OF IOWA AVENUE, SEVENTEEN (17)
PROPERTIES ON THE 900 AND 1000 BLOCKS OF
WASHINGTON STREET, TEN (10) PROPERTIES ON THE 100
AND 200 BLOCKS OF SOUTH SUMMIT STREET, FOUR (4)
PROPERTIES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE 10 AND 100 BLOCKS
OF GOVERNOR STREET, THREE (3) PROPERTIES ON THE
WEST SIDE OF THE 1000 BLOCK OF MUSCATINE AVENUE,
AND FIVE (5) PROPERTIES ON THE 900 AND 1000 BLOCKS OF
COLLEGE STREET.
(1) Public Hearing (Continued from October 3)
Lehman: The public hearing is open.
Brokken: Good evening, my name is Joe Brokken and I live at 200 S Summit Street.
I am a member of Summit House Cooperative and I represent Summit
House to the River City Housing Cooperative's board of directors. I am
not here this evening to call names or make personal attacks, which I
guess went on last week. I would just like to talk a little bit about my
single-family house. Though the city recognizes us as a boarding house
we function just like any other single-family house. We do chores
together such as recycling, grocery shopping, and cleaning. We come
together for dinner each evening. We discuss issues and upcoming events
on Sunday nights. And the list goes on from there. In fact, we are in
every way just the same as a single-family home, fight down to the
birthday cake. Each building in my neighborhood has its own little quirk
and 37% of those buildings have a quirk that deems them non-compliant
under RS-8. Our quirk is that our single family home isn't made up of
blood relatives. The quirk of the Mosterfavi house is that they have one
too many bedrooms in each of their apartments. These simple examples
display the lack of consideration RS-8 shows for our neighborhood as a
whole. The members of RCHC support the planning and zoning
commission' s proposed down zoning to RNC-12 for our house and the
surrounding area. Though RNC-12 still leaves two buildings non-
compliant, we trust the commission's choice as being unbiased and as fair
as possible. As a side note, Sunday evening the members of RCHC
discussed the RS-8 and the RNC issue and would like to have any
signatures or support otherwise given to RS-8 removed from the record.
We apologize if we came off as misleading, but would like to assure the
council that we would never support such a biased and unfair document.
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In conclusion, those who speak after me in support of RS-8 may call me a
transient or even uneducated. But no matter what they claim they can't
make RS-8 right for the community because it simply isn't. And I am sure
the council has looked over these notes and possibly seen the biases within
them. And I trust your decision. Have a good night.
Lehman: Thank you.
Lynch: Hello, I am Michael Lynch and I am currently the president of the River
City Housing Collective. And I am speaking on behalf of the board of
directors tonight. When RS-8 was proposed it was based on a good idea.
It promises to keep rental companies from tearing down nice, preexisting
structures and putting up a series of ugly unkempt apartments. It does this
by keeping the number of people per acre down to a minimum. However,
the problem is that the people who proposed the down zone did not
consider the full impact it would have on this neighborhood. Under the
RS-8 we are considered a non-conforming entity as well as 15 other
homes. That is 37%. What that means is that under the auspice of
keeping out apartments, the housing rights of current residents will be
severely limited. If one of these non-conformists were to bum down, they
would be unable to rebuild to the fonner capacity. Moreover, as a part of
the community, we would like to sustain the current mix of housing
options. Right now rental housing, Greek houses, and (can't hear)
communities such as ourselves, and single-family homes all contribute to
keeping this neighborhood diverse. Unfortunately, by instituting RS-8 the
community develops an unwelcoming front towards houses being non-
conforming. In contrast, RNC-12 meets the original goal of the RS-8- to
keep out apartments- while successfully preserving the diversity of our
community by allowing all but two of the current houses to remain legal
conforming entities. In a neighborhood that is already 30 to 40% rental
and multi family, it is understandable the residents are concerned about
possible developments in the future. But it is also counterintuitive and
illogical to turn it into a single-family neighborhood. Furthermore, this
area will continue to be- there will continue to be a demand in this
neighborhood for multi family housing. It makes this area less than
desirable for a single family down zone. Lastly, I would like to point out
that the connotations connected with single family and (can't hear) a lot of
unintended prejudice against altemative life styles. You cannot in this city
and in this century (can't hear) to exclude all but the nuclear family-
especially in a neighborhood five blocks from downtown. It simply won't
stand. Thank you very much.
Lehman: Eleanor, I am about to do something which may not be appropriate so you
can tell me if it isn't. But before we get other folks who speak to the RS-8
use, I guess I would kind of like a- I don't sense there are any interest on
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#6b(1) Page 22
the part of the council in down zoning this large portion to an RS-8. And
so if other folks are interested in speaking to the RS-8, it might save them
some time. Shouldn't do that, tight?
Dilkes: Well- probably not. I think you just need to let the public heating run its
course and then you can take your action.
Lehman: Strike that. Who else would like to speak at the public heating?
Champion: Well done.
Pfab: You have been practicing that for a long time.
Lehman: (can't hear) I won't have another opportunity either, will I? Anyone else
who would like to speak at the heating? The public hearing is closed.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence?
Vanderhoef: So moved.
Kanner: So moved.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Kanner. All in favor? Opposed?
Motion carries. Do we have a motion?
Champion: I would like to move that we consider the ordinance to rezone 11
properties to RS-8-
Lehman: No, excuse me. We have to do number 2 first. We can vote it down but
that has to be done because the proposal was for an RS-8, which has to be
defeated, and then we can pass the recommendation from the planning and
zoning commission.
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ITEM NO. 6b. AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION
FROM LOW DENSITY MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RM-12)
AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION RESIDENTIAL (RNC-
20) TO MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
(RS-8) FOR FOUR (4) PROPERTIES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF
THE 900 BLOCK OF IOWA AVENUE, SEVENTEEN (17)
PROPERTIES ON THE 900 AND 1000 BLOCKS OF
WASHINGTON STREET, TEN (10) PROPERTIES ON THE 100
AND 200 BLOCKS OF SOUTH SUMMIT STREET, FOUR (4)
PROPERTIES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE 10 AND 100 BLOCKS
OF GOVERNOR STREET, THREE (3) PROPERTIES ON THE
WEST SIDE OF THE 1000 BLOCK OF MUSCATINE AVENUE,
AND FIVE (5) PROPERTIES ON THE 900 AND 1000 BLOCKS OF
COLLEGE STREET.
(3) Consider an ordinance to rezone 11 properties to RS-8 and 32
properties to RNC-12, as recommended by staff and the Planning
and Zoning Commission. (First Consideration).
Champion: I would like to consider an ordinance to rezone 11 properties to RS-8 and
32 properties to RNC-12 as recommended by staff and the Planning and
Zoning Commission.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Champion: I am going to support this ordinance. I think it is good for the
neighborhood. I think it is also good for other property owners that are
there. To maintain this neighborhood as it is, is the right thing to do.
O'Donnell: And I think that council sent a clear message with Governor and Lucas
that we are interested in preserving the integrity of the neighborhood. So I
also will support this.
Kanner: I am going to offer an amendment to the resolution- be resolved that all
properties listed in this rezoning request be rezoned to RNC-12.
Lehman: We have a motion by Mr. Kanner to rezone the entire area to RNC-12
rather than splitting it up between RS-8 and RNC-12. Is there a second?
Pfab: I would second that.
Lehman: Motion by Kanner, seconded by Pfab. Discussion?
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Kanner: I would like to state that I think that ditto to what Mike said and to Connie.
I think the conservation effort is a good effort and I think that is what
belongs for the neighborhood. I think it is a good mix right now. And I
think that the part that is proposed for RS-8 fits more in with the west of
Muscatine area- for the rest of the RNC-12. I think it is more natural to be
part of that. Even though Muscatine is not an arterial I think it is a
dividing line. And I think that we have to be careful about down zoning
more areas, especially closer to downtown. I don't think we are at risk for
that small section changing drastically. I think if in years to come there is
someone that builds a duplex there I don't think it is a terrible thing. I
think it could be a benefit to the neighborhood and could help with
housing problems a bit. And I think if we are going to consider down
zoning that low we have to think about up zoning in other areas and think
of the bigger picture. I don't think our city can afford to down zone that
much and lose that possibility perhaps in the future of having that space
available for a bit denser housing. So that is the reasoning behind my
proposed amendment.
Lehman: Other discussion of the amendment?
Pfab: I believe that maybe this is something that we ought to take a look at. I, at
this point, can't say I would support it but I think that there may be some
needs for some flexibility in this area as close to downtown as it is. And
that is where I would leave it.
Lehman: I don't know what you said.
Pfab: In the sense of locking it in as single family houses this close in to
downtown or relatively close into downtown- may or may not be
appropriate. I just don't know.
O'Donnell: Were you here during the Governor and Lucas problem we had here a
couple of weeks ago?
Pfab: Right- I was.
O'Donnell: And- you know, and Steven, I kind of agree with you but a little bit can do
an awful lot of damage to a neighborhood. We showed that on Lucas
Street. I think we should vote on this.
Lehman: I will definitely support the RS-8 for that area. It is primarily RS-8 right
now. I don't think it presents any difficulty for those neighbors to have
that down zoning and it certainly will help protect the character of that
neighborhood, which is precisely why we are here.
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Pfab: Will RNC cause a deterioration of that neighborhood?
Lehman: I don't know that you can say any zone causes a deterioration.
Vanderhoef: It changes the rules, definitely, of what can happen there.
Franklin: What the RNC 12- and what I am assuming you are talking about is the
piece by Washington and Muscatine?
Lehman: Right.
Franklin: What the RNC 12 would allow is the conversion of more dwellings to
duplexes. That is a change from what they are now.
Pfab: Do you know how many would qualify there? Does anyone know?
Lehman: Under an RS-8-
Franklin: It was like the difference between- in RS-8 there could be one and in
RNC-12 there could be 8- is my recollection.
Champion: That would make a major difference.
Lehman: Yes.
Franklin: So that is the distinction between those two.
Kanner: But that assumes that people are going to swoop in- which they haven't
been doing for the last ten years in that section- or however long. And are
going to swoop in all at once and convert all of the eligible ones to
duplexes. And I don't believe that is going to happen. I think that we
have a history of over the last ten or twenty years in that area of single
families mixing in well with others and if a duplex does happen I don't
think it is such a bad thing. And I think we have to also be concerned with
possible gentrification where prices go up and up and up when you down
zone, and makes it more and more unaffordable. I was talking to someone
who bought a home there like ten years ago and they couldn't afford that
home today.
Champion: That is true of most people who live in most houses. That is not a
phenomenon for that street.
O'Donnell: There is nothing unusual about that.
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Kanner: I think it has accelerated Connie, when you down zone that. And I think
our job as council- these people are working hard and to us individuals
they are not going to stop that. But if we put in a mix there that the RNC-
12 allows, which conserves basically, I think that is a good mix.
Champion: I would be willing to make the whole thing RS-8 except for the
neighborhood is already well established as a mixed neighborhood. I am
going to make sure that somebody can't swoop in there and tum all those
houses into duplexes. And I am going to vote for (can't hear).
O'Donnell: What is all of this swooping?
Pfab: It is a new word.
O'Donnell: I don't think anybody is going to swoop in either. But could it happen?
Yes, it could.
Lehman: Excuse me- I am sorry Mike. I almost swooped on you.
O'Donnell: That is all right.
Lehman: The reason we are here is to see to it that the swoops stay out. Is there any
other discussion on the amendment?
O'Donnell: Absolutely not.
Lehman: All right. All in favor of the amendment that would change all of this to
RS-8 say "aye".
Several: RNC-12.
Lehman: I am sorry, RNC-12.
O'Donnell: (can't hear)
Lehman: I swooped out. Say "aye". The amendment is defeated 6-1, Kanner
voting in the affirmative. Now, is there further discussion on the motion
as it was originally made?
Vanderhoef: I would just like to say I definitely support the RS-8 in the area that has
been designated. I also have some sympathies for the RS-8 on the western
end of that block where there are several single family dwelling houses.
However, the way zoning laws are written, it becomes an island out there
if we do RNC-12 with the properties that are in the middle there and then
to the south. Surrounding this whole neighborhood we have RM-20 1
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#6b(3) Page 27
believe it is, and that is even a higher density than what we have. I can't
change the zoning laws on islands. Therefore, I will support the RNC-12
but I truly wished I could make that section a RS-8.
Lehman: Further discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 6f. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FINAL PLAT FOR
THE RESUBDIVISION OF LOT 52, WALDEN HILLS, A 4.89-
ACRE, 19-LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION LOCATED ON
THE WEST SIDE OF SHANNON DRVIE SOUTH OF WILLOW
CREEK. (SUB00-00018)
Vanderhoef: Is the grading plan ready?
Lehman: I just got the yes.
Vanderhoef: Okay.
Lehman: She will tell us if it isn't. Do we have a motion?
O'Dormell: So moved.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion? Roll call.
Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 6g. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 13 S LINN STREET AS AN IOWA CITY HISTORIC
LANDMARK. (REZ00-0019) (PASS AND ADOPT).
Wilburn: Move adoption.
Kanner: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Kanner. Discussion?
Kanner: I just want to note I see things going on there- refurbishing on the outside.
It looks nice what is happening there. I don't know if that is a result of
this consideration or not. But it is good to see.
Lehman: Okay. Other discussion? Roll call.
Vanderhoef: Wait a minute.
Lehman: I am sorry.
Kading: My name is Scott Kading and I actually own the building at 13 S Linn
Street. And we have spent a lot of time and money fixing and restoring it
to how it was when it was built. That is all I have to say and thanks for
your time.
Lehman: Thank you for doing it.
O'Donnell: You are doing a good job.
Vanderhoef: It looks great.
Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 6i. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY
PLAT OF WESTCOTT HEIGHTS, PART THREE, A 102.6 ACRE,
53-LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION LOCATED IN JOHNSON
COUNTY ON THE WEST SIDE OF PRAIRIE DU CHIEN ROAD,
SOUTH OF NEWPORT ROAD. (SUB00-00022).
O'Donnell: So moved.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion?
Kanner: I am going to be voting against this and number k, and just briefly state
once again that I think that the city should take the lead in advising
Johnson County on the need for filling its land use policy and for doing
infill first before it rezones new areas for residential. At the least, if it
does go outside of its planned residential areas and rezones to residential, I
think there should be other areas from the 10,000 acres that are available
for residemial that should be zoned back to agricultural. And I think it is
appropriate for the city to recommend taking the lead on this issue of
sprawl and the issues of infill.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries, 6-1, Kanner voting in the
negative.
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ITEM NO. 7. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND
ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
MERCER PARK CONCESSION AND RESTROOM FACILITY,
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.
b. Consider a resolution approving.
Lehman: Do we have a motion?
Vanderhoef: So moved.
Wilbum: So moved. Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Wilburn. Discussion?
Champion: I just have a little question because I am- how much money are do you
think they are planning to raise by donations?
Lehman: We asked that last night.
Champion: I wasn't here.
Lehman: We don't know (can't hear).
Atkins: I can repeat for you Connie what Terry told us. The Babe Ruth folks are
usually quite good about getting materials donated and things such as that.
And his number, based upon that question last night, was the city expense
should be in the $150,000 range. And that they would hope to get $50,000
in contribution of materials and other things to offset total project costs.
Champion: So we are kind of matching the money 3 for 1 ?
Atkins: Yep, in this case it is.
Champion: Is that a profit making institution for us?
Lehman: It just cost us $150,000, I don't think so.
Atkins: You could go out- if you have been to the park- the building is in need of
reconstruction.
Champion: I know it is.
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Vanderhoef: What we are also going to get out of this is that they are going to fix up the
old stand that is out there and make it for some more storage space for
Parks and Rec.
Pfab: Steve, I thought the way you started out that you were going to answer the
question the way Terry did last night.
Atkins: I was going to explain the dent in the roof?.
Lehman: You (can't hear)
Pfab: No, ifI remember right, didn't he say in answer to your question "I don't
know"?
Atkins: Initially he said that and then (can't hear).
Champion: I was just looking at all of these things that we fund- 3-1, 2-1, and I am not
against any of them. Please don't misunderstand me. But I am kind of
thinking of the Englert.
Lehman: We already did that.
O'Donnell: They've got a concession stand.
Champion: Oh, do they? Anyway, it is a great idea and I appreciate that the Babe
Ruth baseball (can't hear).
Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 8. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE TITLE 2,
ENTITLED "HUMAN RIGHTS," CHAPTER 3, ENTITLED
"DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES," SECTION 2-3-2, ENTITLED
"PUBLIC ACCOMODATION; EXCEPTIONS" TO EXEMPT
DISCOUNTS FOR SERVICES OR ACCOMODATIONS BASED
UPON AGE FROM THE PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION
IN PUBLIC ACCOMODATIONS (SECOND CONSIDERATION).
Vanderhoef: Move adoption.
Pfab: I have a-
Lehman: Let's get a motion first.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Pfab: I believe I was checking my email- and maybe you did too- someone
asked does that mean that fights for Senior Citizens will not be
discounted?
Lehman: It means you legally would be able to.
Pfab: Okay, that was- that is what I understood it to mean but I thought I would
just- somebody seemed to be concemed about that.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 9. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER
TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS FOR USE OF INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RIGHTS ON PUBLIC ART PROJECTS.
Vanderhoef: Move adoption.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Kanner: I had a question. Does this include more than the literary walk for any
other future items, art pieces or anything else that might fall under this?
Dilkes: Yes it does.
Lehman: It says, "public art program projects". So I think it would be anything
under the public art-
Dilkes: As written it applies to all public art projects.
Kanner: Okay.
Lehman: Further discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 10. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE SELECTION
OF ARTISTS AND SCULPTURES FOR FOUR OF THE
DOWNTOWN PEDESTRIAN MALL SCULPTURE PADS.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Pfab: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by Pfab. Discussion?
Vanderhoef: I like what the public art group has chosen. It pains me to think that some
art pieces have to be rejected because of safety to the citizens of what they
might use the art project for. I particularly liked one of the pieces that had
the moving parts on it and it was deemed not a real safe kind of piece of
art to have down there. And I understand those concerns and I go along
with the recommendation. It says something about the community when
we have to take into consideration things like this that they will be defaced
or someone will hurt themselves on it.
Lehman: Further discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 11. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING TBE FY2001
OPERATING BUDGET.
Vanderhoef: Move adoption.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Kanner: It looks like it is in good order.
Lehman: I think it is.
Atkins: It is.
Lehman: It is. It doesn't just look like it, it is. Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 13. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT AMENDED
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES
FOR THE IOWA CITY POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD BY
AMENDING SECTION IV.E.7 RELATING TO NAME CLEARING
HEARINGS AND REPEALING RESOLUTIONS 99-17 AND 99-103.
Vanderhoef: Move adoption.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Kanner: We are on number 137
Lehman: That is correct.
Kanner: I had a question about that. I was reading through that and I wasn't quite
clear that it was presented the bylaws of the police citizen review board in
entirety- and I didn't quite see where the correction was in that. There
weren't any crossed out.
Karr: It was the entire subsection number 7.
Kanner: Entire subsection number 77
Karr: It is just two sentences.
Kanner: Okay, let me just get to that real quick.
Wilburn: 163.
Kanner: 163. Annualreport?
Dilkes: No, it is under IV, paragraph 7.
Kanner: Page 161. It is basically-
Dilkes: It is IV.e.7.
Karr: Starting with "before the hearing".
Kanner: Before the hearing, at the bottom of the page?
Karr: That is correct. It is just two sentences and it just clears up any questions
at the request of the Police Chief- it does then require the board to notify
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the officer of the criticisms before the name clearing hearing is presented
to them.
Pfab: If I understand that right- the officer goes in there knowing what the- pre-
warned?
Karr: The officer will be extended an invitation to attend the name clearing
hearing and that invitation will include the proposed criticism.
Pfab: Okay, so he will know why he is there?
Karr: Correct.
Dilkes: He will know when he is making a decision whether to attend what the
proposed criticism is.
Vanderhoef.' And this is an attempt- as I read the minutes from the PCRB- to get more
officers to attend a name clearing session. They have consistently not
attended those sessions and they were in the dark as to why they might be
called to that session.
Karr: I just want to clarify- it is not necessarily that they were in the dark
because they chose not to .... (can't hear).
Vanderhoef: But they didn't know what the criticism would be. So in that respect they
were in the dark. It is how I was-
Dilkes: They knew there was criticism, they didn't know what specifically it was.
Pfab: I think I will pass over this without commenting in light of recent history.
Champion: Well that would be a first.
Lehman: Other comments or discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 15. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.
a. Civil Service Commission
Lehman: Civil Service Commission, one appointment to fill an unexpired term
ending April 2, 2001. The person decided last night was James Anderlik.
b. Historic Preservation Commission
Lehman: Historic Preservation Commission, one appointment to fill an unexpired
term representing the College Green district ending March 29, 2003- Loret
Mast.
c. Housing and Community Development Commission
Lehman: Two appointments to fill a three terms ending September 1, 2003. Amy
Correia and could I have a motion to appoint those three?
Vanderhoe~ So moved.
Pfab: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Pfab. All in favor? Opposed?
Motion carries.
d. Solid Waste Advisory Commission
Lehman: This is a new commission which will have, I believe, seven members. We
have had- being new, it has not had the kind of response that we expected
it to have. In view of the response to date, we have decided to readvertise
to hopefully have a larger pool of applicants to choose from. We will
readvertise and make the appointments at which-
Kay: November21.
Lehman: November 21 meeting.
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ITEM NO. 17. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Kanner: I had some-
Lehman: Connie?
Champion: I just wanted to ask a question because I don't want to forget about it.
When is the employee lunch? Does anybody have that date down?
Lehman: November-
Atkins: 16th. November 16th.
O'Donnell: I volunteered.
Champion: I will be there.
Lehman: We should all be there. That is such a fun event.
Vanderhoef: That is a great event.
Lehman: It is kind of like flee lunch. Anything else Connie?
Champion: No.
Lehman: Mike?
O'Donnell: Just one quick thing. Last Saturday I mowed my yard-
(Several talking)
Lehman: Did the inspection services finally get to you?
O'Donnell: And- I was ordered to mow my yard. I had some yard signs out with
candidates that I had chose to support and I was very careful to do the
trimming around these. As it turned out, had I mowed Sunday I needn't
worry about the trimming because the signs got stolen Saturday night. I
don't know what this obsession is with stealing signs or kicking them
down or spray painting them but it is really your expression, it is your
fight to support the candidate or issue of your choice. And I really wish
people would leave the signs alone in the yard. If you have traveled up
Rochester you saw spray painting on signs. It is- it really bothers me to
see that, so let people support their candidate or issue. And while I am
talking about it- it is very important to register and vote this year. Thank
you.
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Lehman: Thank you Mike. Dee?
Vanderhoef.' Nothing.
Lehman: Ross?
Wilburn: I have two things. One- a few weeks ago was the Sexual Assault
Awareness Proclamation. There was a rally in the Pentacrest. There was
a call for one day without rape or violence against women. And there was
some subsequent news articles and letters to the editor about this subject.
I just wanted to say that I fully support the rape victim advocacy program
and all of the efforts that they do and the other human service agencies
that work to try and end violence against women. The second thing that I
wanted to say or actually ask my colleagues up here- I would like to know
if there are enough interested to have a work session to discuss- I would
like to follow up with trying to name this room after Emma Harvat. I was
under the assumption that it was going to be on a work session one or two
times ago but it wasn't. So, is there enough interest to-?
Lehman: Let's get it on a work session. Can we do that?
Atkins: Just so you know- I had a call from her folks the other day and obviously
these folks are active in lots of things that are going on now. They did ask
that I put something on the agenda, with your approval Ernie, in
December. If it is okay?
Wilbum: That is great.
Atkins: We will just go over it in December and have it on a work session.
Lehman: Anything else?
Wilburn: That is it.
Lehman: Steven?
Kanner: A few things. Since we weren't able to have a work session council time
last night because of the lateness. One- I read an article recently about art
available for University people from the masters program. And I was
talking to someone in the community and they said that at one time Susan
Horowitz made use of that or suggested that at least. I don't know what
happened with that but the idea of University of Iowa Masters Art Thesis'
perhaps coming into Iowa City buildings might be a good idea. It might
be kind of fun and people would be able to pick it out. And I was
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wondering if we could look into that at all and see if there is the ability to
make that connection with the University in sharing some of the art.
Because apparently there is tons of far out- all types of artwork that is in
the University that is son of buried. Sort of like Raiders of the Lost Arc, I
guess. And a small percentage of it gets out into the light of day. So I was
wondering if staff- if council agrees staff could maybe make inquiry into
that.
Champion: (Can't hear) Public Art people.
Vanderhoef: A loan program type thing?
Kanner: Yeah.
Lehman: I think Connie maybe fight. If we ask the Public Art Committee to pursue
that- finding the fight people at the University and pursue that.
Champion: That is a great idea.
Kanner: Okay.
Pfab: So you are saying that only a small proportion is utilized because there is
no demand at this point? No awareness?
Vanderhoef: No display place.
Kanner: There is no display and there is no demand. Apparently people in the
University- anyone can rent it for $20 a year- or $20 they can go in and
pick something out for their office. And we might be able to do that. So I
think that is great to give it to the Public Art Advisory Committee.
Champion: Where did you hear that at Steven? That is interesting. Did you read it
somewhere?
Kanner: I read it in the paper recently. And then I ran into someone who
mentioned Susan Horowitz was involved with this in some way when she
was on council. Okay, good, thank you. And I want to offer condolences
to Betty McKray on the death of her husband Dean McKray. Betty is a
long time senior dining volunteer at the Senior Center and she is a member
of our Telecommunications Commission. She is active and her husband
Dean died a couple days ago. A funeral is tomorrow at 1:00 PM in the
Gay Funeral Home on Wednesday. And Dean- many people know- he
was the owner of Whiteway grocery store downtown, where the new
building is- the Whiteway building. Good folks. And I wanted to
comment on a couple of things that were in our packets. We get in the
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information packets we get minutes from our informal session that we
don't officially approve or disapprove. But there was some- we base some
of our actions on those meetings and I wanted to correct something if the
council approves. It was handed out by Marjan- let's see- IP6, sheet here-
and it has to do with council time from October 2. And I think we made a
policy statement and I would like to see if the council agrees with that.
Basically saying that we were not interested in going back and assessing
penalties against licensees.
Karr: Dealing with the tobacco discussion?
Kanner: Dealing with the tobacco discussion. Thank you. And I would like to
know if council would agree with that assessment of our discussion.
Champion: Wasn't that because the county attorney was going to be doing that?
Kanner: This was saying that there are people- there are licensees that have had
employees that were caught selling tobacco products to minors and
criminal charges were brought against them. It was decided, I think
informally, the majority of council said that we didn't want to go back and
assess civil penalties against these people because we had not notified that
we were going to start doing this.
Champion: Right.
Lehman: I think that is right.
Champion: That is right.
Kanner: Was that the consensus? Or the majority at least agreed?
Champion: That we weren't going back for the same reason we didn't support your
motion tonight about (can't hear).
Lehman: I think it is important thought- is there a majority of council that feels it
would be unfair to go back? I felt that that was accurate at the time- that
we don't go back and start enforcing something we haven't been without
giving notice. I think that was the consensus.
Vanderhoef: That was the consensus of the group.
Kanner: The transcript really didn't show that. But there was an informal sense
there.
Lehman: I think that is correct.
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Kanner: Okay, so we just take this as-
Karr: Done.
Kanner: As done. Okay. Thank you. And I would just like to mention that we had
a discussion about council involvement with collective bargaining process
here in Iowa City and again it was done at our work session. Somewhat
heated at times and the majority was against my proposal that council
should have more involvement at- not substituting for our professional
management team but to perhaps improve upon that by being notified of
what is going on and perhaps having a council member be part of the
negotiating team. I think it is a good idea and perhaps in the future
council will be more involved than just voting up or down the final
contract when it is presented to us. Thank you.
Lehman: Okay, first I guess I would like to present the majority opinion when it
refers to the collective bargaining process. If the council disagrees with
me please join in. I think it was the collective opinion of the majority of
the council that we have a work force that we are very, very happy with
and a work force that we believe is very happy being employed by the
city. We have negotiators who are directed to negotiate by the council on
behalf of the people of Iowa City who care a great deal about our
employees and about the community in which they live. We feel that we
have a marvelous relationship with those folks and that the process that we
are presently using is working very well and that to change that process
might send a message that we didn't really want to send. And that was
primarily why we chose, I think, not to have the council becoming
involved in negotiations. I have two other things- I would like mention for
the benefit of the public a former council (changed tapes) passed away a
week ago. Her funeral was a week ago yesterday. He was certainly a dear
friend of several members of this council and his wife was a lovely, lovely
lady. And Dean certainly has our condolences in his time of loss. Next
week there is an event which some of you may like to attend. At 1664
Dickinson Lane there will be a meeting with Jim Leach with the Greater
Iowa City Housing Fellowship Community Land Trust. We have an
owner who is going to be buying a home for the first time. It will be
financed by- this is through a rather complicated sort of thing with Fannie
Mae, Hills Bank and Trust Company, Nationwide Home Mortgages, etc.
The City of Iowa City is a part of that program and there is a family who
will be owning their first home through the joint efforts of a lot of folks.
And that is at 4:15, Monday the 23rd. If anybody would like to attend that
I am sure that they would certainly be welcome to be there.
Vanderhoef: I would like to go.
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Lehman: And don't forget next Thursday- Human Rights Breakfast, 7:30 at the
Union. Steven?
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ITEM NO. 18. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF. a. City Manager
Atkins: In the conference room is a copy of the new zoning map. I urge you to
pick one up.
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