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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-01-22 TranscriptionJanuary 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 1 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session 1:00 PM Council: Lehman, Champion, O'Dormell, Pfab, Karmer, Wilbum, Vanderhoef. Staff: Atkins, Karr, O'Malley, Franklin, Helling, Mansfield, Trueblood, Davidson, Fosse, Schmadeke, Herring. Tapes: 01-07, Side 2, 01-09 and, 00-10, Both Sides. Lehman: Steve? You are going to go through the Capital Improvements projects and I would suggest for council folks if we have feelings about a project being moved to another fiscal year, make a note of it. But we would like to get through the presentation and then we will go through whatever projects we think we want to move from one period to another. Atkins: Yeah, I have an overview to present to you and staff is going to be prepared to take you through each of the projects. We can record anything you might want to do with them. We will wait for everybody to get seated and then we will get started. All set to go? Lehman: Let' go. Atkins: We are on. In front of you, like we did last time, is a handout of charts that I will be using. You will need to use your budget book a little later on when we step through the projects. I have some citizen summaries if that is one you want to doodle in. It will be up to you all. Like we talked the other day about the operations, another important part of our budgeting process is capital. Capital Projects represent an investment in the physical plant, the infrastructure of the community. It says much about what we anticipate and would like to see in the future. And by the way staff, if you guys want to turn around and look at me you are allowed to- but you don't have to. Lehman: On the other hand, if you refuse not to we will understand. Pfab: You know what you have to look at if you don't. Atkins: Thanks Irvin. As you know, our operational levies 8.10, 95 cents for transit, 27 cents library, etc.- those are fixed. Your debt service levy, however, you do have more discretion with respect to the rate. The tax base is also differently designed. When you are reviewing Capital Projects, I believe there are several issues that you need to keep in mind as This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 2 you think through a particular position that you might choose to take. And I have just listed those and I will move through these fai~y quickly. That is the amount of and the source of revenue to finance a project. There is a variety- you can borrow the money, you can use current cash, the type of debt- whether it is a revenue bond, general obligation bond. An important aspect to funding is availability. That often a grant is available to us not only for a specific project but it is also only available for a specific time sequence. So, in other words, if we are going to take advantage of that particular grant we need to be able to design the project, in effect, around when the money is available. Now, each grant- and we will identify them for you when we talk about the projects- has certain specific obligations. For example, the Near Southside Transportation Center is over $9 million in federal aid from the Federal Transit Administration. You can't build sewers with that. It is a specific grant for a specific project and must be used at a specific time. Each and every time we chose to take a grant we in effect play by the rules of that particular jurisdiction_ usually the Federal or State government. Remember the adage- they got the gold, so they make the rules? Well, in effect, that is what we do with respect to the availability and the type of monies that are available for these Capital Projects. The second component is that amount of debt available. A lot of this is your discretion. But General Obligation debt, in particular- revenue debt a little less so- is substantially governed by the State. They determine what we can and cannot use General Obligation debt for. They determine the value of the particular asset that you might choose to pledge. In effect, they have a great deal to say about the amount of money that you borrow. Local policies are also important. And in this upcoming budget you will have to deal with the issue, for example, of our 25% policy. We will go over that in detail in a few minutes. Basically, we have an internal operating policy that says no more than 25% of our debt service levy or of our debt levy will be identified for the purposes of debt service. With the projects that you have in front of you and the addition of the library debt, it has the effect of pushing us beyond the 25% policy. And so we will have to discuss that. Pay-out schedules are important. We have traditionally as a city enjoyed the good credit rating that we do because we pay our debts off on a short-term basis. Many of the General Obligation projects that are financed- again, with General Obligation debt we have a ten year pay-out. (Can't hear) credit rating companies and bond purchasers like to see that. So it is not strung out forever. There are federal and state policies that affect your Capital Project planning. Federal spending also affects Capital Project planning. We are now enjoying a substantial federal surplus. But it wasn't but a few years ago that- there is only so much money in the market to be borrowed, and if the federal government is absorbing most of that borrowing the effect is that it limits This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 3 the ability of other local governments or, in effect, drives that interest rate up and we have to go into those markets. The state and the federal govemment also have IRS- Internal Revenue Service- Securities and Exchange Regulations, which it is incumbent upon Kevin as Finance Director to follow. But all of these things have a bearing upon your Capital Projects. Credit rating- we as a city are analyzed by an independent firm- there are two firms in the United States that generally do this work and it is called Standard and Poor's or Moody's. We have chosen to use Moody's. When you are doing credit ratings it involves a variety of factors. The amount of debt, identifying the city' s ability to pay that debt, speed of repayment, the asset that is pledged, what is the market at the time- whether the stock market is up or down, state policies with respect to restrictions on what we can and cannot do with the debt, city money management policies such as our own operational reserves and the capital reserves that we have. And there is also one that is often not thought of a lot that affects our credit and it is called overlapping debt. Overlapping debt simply means that another governmental jurisdiction has chosen to issue debt that our citizens, you and me, might have to pay. An example of that would be a school or most recently the jail. Those were debt to be incurred by other jurisdictions. We don't have a say other than as the electorate in deciding those issues. And what happens is that the credit rating companies to determine the credit worthiness of our ability as a community to pay for these projects analyzes all the debt. And overlapping- I think you understand the principle. Local credit rating is very important. We enjoy a Aaa credit rating. To give you some idea of what it can mean if we were to slip to an A rating- a 20 year $20 million project would require over $1 million in additional interest payments. So it is a substantial savings when you can keep your credit rating high. We have some noticeable concerns and I am going to read from the most recent Moody's report. I sent this to you back in June. "Moody's believes the city finances will remain stable for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, expenditure pressures and limited revenue raising flexibility may result in a downward pressure on the undesignated General Fund balances. Consequently, the city's ability to maintain favorable reserves will remain important over the long term." I raise that issue again to remind you that the credit companies look at all sorts of factors in analyzing our credit. Also recently, Moody's just finished an analysis of the state of Iowa- not the state government but the state and all of its political jurisdictions. And I am going to quote from their analysis of Iowa City's: "The local economy" they are referring to the cities in Iowa "revolve around urban manufacturing and service centers in the ever prevalent farm economy. They performed exceptionally well over the 1990's, but is being to show signs of deceleration. Economic prosperity This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 4 has significantly helped cities' financial operations and has supported ambitious Capital Improvement Programs. Generally strong credit trends about Iowa's cities are notable. Given statutory constraints on operating revenues, Moody' s believes that other legislative initiatives including the phase out of taxation on machinery and equipment, utility and property tax replacement, could place additional financial pressure- and notably- with adverse affects on cities." Iowa City was not alone in having ambitious Capital Projects throughout the state because of, again, our prosperity. Many cities were taking advantage of it. They are simply flagging that there may be signs that we wish to be cautious about the amount of debt that we choose to incur. They do anticipate and they specifically talk about the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area. The economy should remain stable, but they do anticipate some pressure due to the tight labor market and the lack of diversity in the manufacturing base. Moody's believes that an economic downturn- that if there is an economic downturn the state' s statutory financial constraints could have an adverse affect on the city' s finances and therefore the consequences are reflected in our credit quality. Those are important elements in Capital Project planning. We do have projects that are pending in the future. Those are very difficult to predict. One of the things that we have going for us is the fact that we use multi- year planning with respect to our Capital Projects. Changes can occur. You will recall that we had to accelerate the construction of the ammonia treatment at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. We were under when we initially built it. We were under a rule that gave a ten-year moratorium. The federal government changed the rule and as you know now, we are into additional improvements at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. And of course, other projects in the future- it depends upon what other governmental jurisdictions might chose to do. The amount of taxes to be levied- it is clearly a political question with respect to what you believe the public expects and are willing to pay for. And then finally, it is your vision. We try to incorporate all of our Capital Projects into a visioning process. This is in your packet. And I am just simply showing you that these are a list of all the various visions and comprehensive plans that we utilize in the development of our Capital Plan. They represent a significant investment. They represent legislative issues on your part- open space ordinances, sensitive areas ordinance, development regulations. Most of them- the overwhelming majority- are incremental. That is, we step through them a piece at a time. But an important thing for us to remember that when we have these in place is different city councils have different priorities. Whether it be street projects or bike paths, the tone of the city council with respect to what you want to see done has a great deal to do with the design of Capital Projects. There are three principal policy issues. And this is not to oversimplify spending a couple This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 5 of million dollars, but the bottom line is that you need to understand each proposal. You need to evaluate the merit in relation to all of the other projects. And then you need to select a project in relation to the availability of money- whether it is the grant or what you would choose to do, is appropriate as a council. When one, two and three come together, you in effect have a project that should secure your approval. I distributed to you and to the staff- this is the document that I have used over the years in my career that is intended to identify for you various factors. Basically what you are thinking about when you are walking through a Capital Project. And I would like to summarize those briefly. And they are somewhat in descending order with respect to the various pressures that are put upon you. Mandate from a higher governmental authority- bottom line, that is a no choice Capital Project. An example might be certain water and sewer regulations where we have to meet those national standards. We have the Americans With Disabilities Act, the compliance requirements that we have such as installing lifts on our transit vehicles. Those are Capital expenses of some consequence. You may have undertaken those on your own initiative just simply because it is good public policy. But in this case a higher governmental authority has mandated those particular expenses. Compelled by a decision or referendum, or compelled by another jurisdiction- we have a community mandate with respect to the construction of a new library. But there are actions of other governments that also have a bearing upon Capital Projects. Some of you may remember Rohret Road. The school district made a decision to build Webber School on Rohret Road. It was not in your Capital planning process. It was an unfunded project. The decision at the time by the schools was that that was where they wanted it and we had to take that project, accelerate it into our planning, and if I recall that was about a $3 million investment to support the location of that particular school. So another jurisdiction can have a bearing upon your Capital planning process. When you have a project that furthers a goal- for example a new park- and you have already seen it. We are proceeding with the design work for the new Miller Orchard Park. Great idea- wanted to do it for some time. What was one of the first things that you received shortly therealter? Traffic concerns. So you will have peripheral Capital expenses that you are likely to have to deal with when you make the decision. Public safety- and public safety is often more than fire and police. An important part of the water project was improving the water pressure in the northeast part of our community. There is a ridgeline that runs just south of ACT, and the water pressure in that part of the community had been less than desirable. With that Capital project we believe the fire flows will be improved substantially in that part of town. A new bridge- things of that nature- also are issues allowing for This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 6 convenience movement of traffic and people throughout your community. Projects that are advocated by interest groups- I think that is pretty straight forward. This is where serious political questions arise on behalf of the council. All of you- you may not have participated in them but I can think of three major road projects that caused a great deal of public debate. Melrose Avenue, Kirkwood, First Avenue- all of which were projects incorporating into our Capital Plan and neighbors and other folks saw it differently than for example the arterial street plan and those projects were modified accordingly. Project consequence- I think I have pointed out- I won't spend much time now. Economic development policy has a bearing upon many of your Capital Projects. I have asked the staff to identify if there is any element of economic development with respect to a particular project that is being proposed, such as opening land for development, making access to a particular facility easier, etc. And then finally under miscellaneous- this has a lot to do with availability of money. When money is available it often will skew the direction we might choose to- excuse me for not putting that up folks, I am sorry- for any of our Capital Projects. And that does have a bearing upon the decisions that you all are going to make. Now, this Capital budget that we have is balanced. Now, the consequences of this balancing are something that we will need to discuss as we go through them. First of all, in balancing it we identified the cost and our ability to get the job done. We have limitations with respect to our engineering capacity. There are projects that may be staged that you want done faster than we may have identified in the Capital Plan. We may have it spread over three years and you may want it done in one. Well, that just simply means that that staff commitment for that project has to be changed. We have anticipated grants. And we will identify those for you. Most of you are familiar with the Mormon Trek project, which is a very complex array of monies. You are also familiar with some of the changes that are occurring potentially with the railroad and the City of Coralville as they plan that particular project. There is a debt plan. And that will be laid out for you. We have assumed in preparing this Capital Plan that there will be no substantial changes in the federal or state government with respect to policies. Such as the 1992 that the moratorium is now gone and you have to do something different. We are assuming we don't see anything. We have assumed there would be no major change by the council. Now, that doesn't mean you can't change them. It is just going into the preparation we took a poim in time and said this appears to be where we were with projects. I point this out to you because of the tenn called "sunk costs". How much money have we put into the project planning, the engineering, the land acquisition? You may still choose to undo that project. That is your choice. But you also need to understand you could be undoing it in the face of substantial expense. We This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 7 have assumed that nothing dramatic like that will occur, but we will see. I am sure you all have your ideas. Remember that Capital Projects and City Councils don't all run in sync. Generally speaking it takes a year to secure approval for a project. It takes at least a year to plan it and design it. And it takes another year to build it. Now, that overlaps at least one council- sometimes two. So just please keep that in mind as you think about your priorities. And then finally, the construction industry- construction generally runs a tad- construction inflation generally runs a tad bit ahead of other inflation. We have made the assumption we will have a good bidder's market. We have traditionally been pretty successful at that. Bottom line- every project has a time. If it is financial- when the debt is available by your assignment or the grant. Practically- whether it is a mandate or an issue of public safety. And then thirdly, the bottom line it is politically. Does it come together in a timely fashion that can secure majority approval on the part of the city council? What does our plan look like? In summary, what we are proposing and the projects we will review are '02 through '05. We list for you '01. Just so you know what other work activities- again, because of ove~ap. We do not intend to spend a lot of time on '01 unless you call out a project that you would like for us to do that- to review. This plan is a continuing extensive investing on the part of the community. Economic development issues- that is, growing the property tax base- have been identified. My concerns are substantially credit rating- that is, the amount of debt we are proposing and the overlapping debt. That is, sooner or later we will deal with a school or a jail issue. And in analyzing the credit- and when you make your expenditure decisions my concern is not so much this next four years as identified but five and six years out. And you will see in a moment that a library debt of $20 million- while it spikes in one year, it is paid off over a number of years. The cumulative effect of all of these projects could have some profound affect upon not this Council but about two Councils out. If I had my preference, I would like to postpone or set aside certain projects. But on the other hand, I think everything we have identified for you is worthy of your consideration. I am going to look quickly so we can get started, on the revenue side. This is page 30 in your budget. It pretty well speaks for itself. It is that our debt margin, while we are at 64% of our available General Obligation debt in the year 2004- about 11 years ago we were only at 19%. I think that is representative of an aggressive Capital Plan. That is not a number that I am uncomfortable with. But once we get into possibly the debt margins- and this does include library and everything we have proposed to you- once it got into the 70% factor I would begin getting real nervous about that. As far as our debt service levy- and you will have to deal with this as a matter of policy- fiscal '94 we had a debt service levy of 149, by the time these projects- all of the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 8 related capital projects- are well under way we will have a debt service levy of 457. Now, what we will do is we will work through the Capital Projects virtually one by one. Normally- and this is not in your packet- normally the thing that I hear the most from council members is out General Obligation debt commitments. That is what is proposed. A couple of you may recall that about three or maybe four years ago we did a four year $40 million. We figured we could assume $10 million a year in new debt because we were also paying off old debt. This budget, if you were to for example take out the library, it would be at about $38 million. We have tried to continue that same policy. The biggest issue, again, is the addition of $18 million in library debt. Now, what I would like to do now is go to page 120 in your budgets. And I am going to ask Marian to turn the lights on. The staff is here to walk through these projects specifically. I am going to put- this is the page that is in the budget. I would rather leave the lights on because it is just easier for all of us. And then the staff is prepared- so you know, this plan has 154 projects. And we have 75 projects that are unfunded. So you can understand the magnitude of what we are talking about dealing with. With that, I am prepare to turn it over to staff and start working through these projects. Unless there are questions from Council7 Okay. BRIDGES Arkins: First up are bridges. Bridge guy! Fosse: I will start out with the Fourth Avenue bridge. This project is under design fight now and will be constructed later this year. We were able to get a federal grant for innovative material. We will be getting about $130,000 in federal money to use a fiber reinforced polymer deck on it. This existing structure out there is currently a culvert- so it is not eligible for any other bridge replacement funds. So this was a kind of creative way of getting some federal money to replace this bridge. Pfab: What was the grant, again7 Fosse: About $130,000. The next one is the annual bridge maintenance and repair. This is for miscellaneous repairs such as we did on Muscatine Avenue this summer on the deck of the culvert over Ralston Creek. It is for painting railings, for ceiling bridge decks preventive type maintenance. As things come up- it is amazing how many people run into bridges each year and they do need repairs. The Burlington Street bridge over Ralston Creek- that is just a block over here on the other side of the Rec Center. That is a bridge that is structurally nearing the end of its life and we are This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 9 looking to replace that in '03. And when we do that we intend to extend that center tum lane through that block there- through the intersection of Van Buren Street. And we are working with MidAmerican on that regarding the coal tar issues in the soil in that area. And we are also partnering with the DOT on this project. We will be the lead agency but they will pay for the majority of the project. Park Road Bridge Approach is currently unfunded and we've spent some money evaluating- Atkins: Rick, can I interrupt just a second? Is this distracting? This noise? Would you prefer it off?. Okay. Excuse me Rick. Fosse: The Park Road Bridge Approach is unfunded right now. But we have spent some money evaluating our options there and also looking at some capacity improvements (can't hear) intersection. Oh- Atkins: That was me Rick. Not you. Fosse: Okay. Summit Street and Woolf Avenue bridges are complete this time. So, are there any questions on bridges or (can't hear)? Lehman: Yes, wasn't there an item talked about the last couple of years about renovation or work on the Buffington Street Bridge over the Iowa River that needed some maintenance work? Fosse: Right. That is in the unfimded list tight now. We have got a truck and we got underneath it and looked at it. We think we are okay putting that off for a few years and reevaluating what our options are. We are also looking at some outside funding sources for that as well. Wilburn: Is that not in as bad a shape as the Ralston Creek section? Fosse: That is correct. Ralston Creek is in poorer condition. Wilburn: What is the- are you cutting it close here or is there a few years beyond that- is this the point- is 2003 the point where you need to start design work (can't hear). Fosse: There are two aspects there. One is the structural condition. And it is difficult to say when that is really going to hit the skids. But the load beating points on the beams are rusting out. That is a big problem there. The other aspect is the DOT has us in their program right now for '03, and our investment in this will be in the neighborhood of about $150,000. They will pick up the remainder. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 10 Davidson: Rick did mention with the Park Road Bridge project that he and I have been working on taking a little bit more comprehensive look at the Dubuque Street Park Road intersection that is actually one of our four functioning intersections during peak periods. With the bridge being on of the approaches of three and Dubuque Street also constrained by some physical features through there, we have worked up a project that would alleviate a lot of the capacity issues there during peak periods. It is an unfunded project but if it is something that when you do your discussion any of you are interested in elaborating more on, it will end up at about a $450,000 project, which would include the approach work that Rick referred to. Pfab: I have a question. How- if that project was completed, what would you see percentage wise of the traffic capacity increase? Davidson: As I said Irvin, we've got a situation now where- the intersection currently doesn't work too badly through the day except during peak traffic periods. I mean, even to say peak hour is probably overstating it because it is not an hour in the moming and an hour in the afternoon. It is probably more like a 20-minute period each time. But that is an intersection where there is- all the growth in the county is focused on that intersection. It is one of the main gateways in and out of town. It is not going to get better. It is going to get worse. And so we are just trying to stay a little bit ahead of it by trying to ascertain what it is that we need to do. The plan we have right now, Irvin, would get it working very, very well. How far in the future that carries us- I mean, we think it would carry us at least a good 5 to 10 years and by that time maybe we will be considering replacing the bridge. The project that we have now, obviously, does not replace the bridge. It uses the existing bridge and makes the median go away so that we can add an additional lane of traffic. And like I said, we can elaborate more on that if any of you are interested in it. Pfab: Okay. One quick question. Is that a high accident area? Davidson: No. Fosse: Move onto Streets? Okay. The Benton Riverside Right Turn Lane is finished. That was a very successful project. We got a lot more capacity out of that intersection and got a lot of good feedback on that. Biennial Asphalt and Chip Seal Program- that shows money in it every year but we lump that together and do it every other year to make a larger project to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 11 get better bid prices on it. We will be coming to you in about a month or two with a list of streets that we have proposed to do for the summer. Lehman: Why do we only show $50,000 in '017 Fosse: It is $400,000- we didn't get that fixed. Lehman: Okay, go ahead. Kanner: I am sorry- I didn't understand that. Fosse: The $50,000 is shown there but it was supposed to be $400,000. Pfab: It is a mistake? Fosse: Yeah. Kanner: But you said though that it is every other year for the big sum. Fosse: Right. Karmer: Why is it almost a constant- same fund? Fosse: Oh- we take the funds for two years and we put it together into one project and do it every other year. Kanner: Okay. Fosse: We find that by doing that it makes it feasible for out of town asphalt contractors to bid on something like this and makes it more of a competitive market. Pfab: At that point is that big enough then to get the people you are looking for? Fosse: Yes. Well, we still usually only have (can't hear) bidding on it but it at least raises that question mark that somebody from out of town can come in and go after that. And it has helped our prices. Pfab: If you put three together would that help? Fosse: I don't know if it would or not. Pfab: Okay, just a question. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 12 Fosse: There is the competition issue and then there is the economy of scale too. It allows them to do a bigger project, which makes it more economical. Biennial Concrete Street Maintenance- we bid the Rochester Avenue- oh, I am sorry- Biennial Brick Street Repair. This is some money that we've budgeted annually to take care of our existing brick streets. That is a tough one because we have not found a very economical way to take care of our brick streets. So we are kind of just widdling away at it little bits and pieces of it at a time just hitting the worst spots. We are not in a position yet were we can go out and replace a block at a time for instance, because it is so expensive. Vanderhoef: And are we losing ground there on keeping up with that? Fosse: We are losing ground on the ride- especially like on Dewey and on Bowery. Those are two bad ones. And those may get to the point where we can't maintain them with just little repairs. We will have to make a decision whether to do the whole thing or not. Vanderhoef: This is one (can't hear). Pfab: Is this- when you say "work at them" does that mean replace them or do you just get rid of them and start over? Fosse: No, what we have been doing in the past ten years is where we have dips- significant dips or old concrete patches that have been put in- we go in and replace those. Pfab: And put them back to original condition? Fosse: As best we can. Pfab: Okay, all right. That is the goal- to get back to original condition? Fosse: Right. I don't think we will ever be there though. The Concrete Street Maintenance- we just aborted the Rochester project and we will do like we did on Benton Street a few years ago where we do some spot repairs and do diamond milling to reestablish a good riding surface. And that smooth surface does a lot to extend pavement life because- Lehman: Mormon Trek is unreal. Fosse: That helped a lot. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 13 Lehman: That was the worst street- that was what, three or four years ago? Fosse: Uh-huh. Lehman: And it is just really great now. Fosse: What happens there is that the roads literally beat themselves to death when they get bumpy because you get the impact loads which are much greater than just the static loads that go across it when it is smooth. So you can buy a lot of time by doing that. Captain Irish Parkway ACT to Dodge is finished. The Captain Irish Parkway ACT through to Rochester is under design right now and will be bid this summer. And we are splitting that into two projects where we will take it all the way through the ACT property and then from ACT down to Rochester. We will put that into bid packages. And the first bid package will include First Avenue with it. Pfab: When you break them up is that over a year or a work project? Fosse: We will bid one this summer and the second one in '02. Pfab: Two years? Okay. Fosse: Yep. Lehman: Is that- tell me the two year (can't hear)- let's call the one Scott Boulevard. Fosse: Okay. Lehman: We are going to bid Scott Boulevard and First Avenue separately? Is that what you are telling me? Fosse: No, we will bid First Avenue and the first phase of Scott Boulevard together. Lehman: We are going to split Scott into two? Fosse: Right. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 14 Franklin: One thing I would just like to point out with that one- with the Captain Irish/Scott Boulevard, or whatever we call it, that is going to open up hundreds of acres in that northeast comer for growth. Fosse: Curb Ramps, the A.D.A program, we will be continuing that this year and next. Dodge Street Reconstruction 1-80 to Governor, that is another project where we are partnering with the DOT. You approved a funding agreement for that about a month ago. And that is another one where the DOT is paying certainly the lion's share of that project. But we are being the lead agency in doing the design and property acquisition on that. Davidson: We will have a public meeting next Tuesday at Shimek School. Lehman: Right. Pfab: When is that? Are you going to announce that-? Davidson: I don't recall the time of day. Pfab: Will that be a media release? Davidson: It has been a media release. Yeah, it is next Tuesday. Fosse: First Avenue extended- again, that one is bundled with Scott Boulevard or the Captain Irish project and that will be bid this spring. Foster Road, Dubuque to Prairie Du Chien, that is the grading for that project but not the paving. Grading is a part of a water project that will get to you in a little bit. The paving aspect of it is out in the unfunded years. Foster Road, West of Dubuque, that is out through the Elks. That is pretty well finished. We have some repairs that need to be made to it when the weather turns. There was a portion of it that cracked and that needs to be fixed before we accept it. But that- so far that project has gone very well. Iowa Avenue Streetscape Phase I is about half done. That will resume in the spring. Iowa Avenue Streetscape Phase II- we have received bids on that. It has been awarded. And that will begin when school is out. Both of those projects we are sharing with the University of Iowa on the cost there. About a 50/50 basis. Mormon Trek Highway 1 to 921- do you want to cover that one Jeff?. Davidson: Yeah. This is a project that we had the opportunity to talk with the Economic Development Subcommittee about. It is certainly one that, as Karin alluded to earlier about another project, will open up the area south of the airport for redevelopment. This is- I guess a portion of this Steve This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 15 has been put into the funded years? Yeah, with the $2 million in '03. If this is a project that you decide to keep in we will need to schedule a time to discuss with you the alignment alternatives through the area of the Dane and the Williams property. We've had some discussions about that before. We otherwise have what an engineering firm has determined to be the preferred alignment that you essentially approved in the south central district plan- the south district plan- the south central district plan. So we pretty much have the alignment determined. We looked at many different alignments before we arrived at the one we recommended to you. But we do have the issue of the three through the Dane and Williams area to discuss with you at some point. This does open up- excuse me- a fairly substantial area of commercial and industrial type of development ground. Pfab: According to this schedule, the way you have it here, at what point do you have to finalize that alignment? Davidson: That needs to be finalized before we go much further at all. Pfab: And when is that? I mean, are you- Franklin: A couple of months. Pfab: Are you bumping against time right now? Davidson: Within the next couple of months we would schedule that discussion with you. The total project- you can see there is $7.5 million- it would be broken into three segments and done in consecutive years. As I said, we do have a plan as you know that basically takes from the Highway 1 Mormon Trek intersection all the way over to the Highway 6 Scott Boulevard Intersection. So we know what we want to do and when you get around to prioritizing specific sections and identifying the years that you want to have those done, then (can't hear). Lehman: Can any part of that cost be covered by federal money from the airport master plan? I know they were planning on building a temporary road- we can't use part of that funding for this road? Davidson: The one possibility there as I understand it, Ernie, is that there is some money budgeted as part of the Airport Master Plan and the extension of the one runway, which gets into disrupting Dane Road and needing to relocated Dane Road. My understanding is that the money which has been budgeted for that kind of a Band-Aid type fix and doing that, knowing full well that we intend sometime to build this new road, if you were to make a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 16 decision now that we might possibly see if we could use those funds in the more comprehensive improvement. Franklin: But they will only pay for a replacement of what we close- the Dane Road standard. Lehman: But that is still something. Franklin: It is something. Yeah. Lehman: Okay. Davidson: Is everybody clear on the area of where we are looking at? From this intersection- that is Carroll and Merrill them- I guess (can't hear). Atkins: (Can't hear) sort of like that. You know where Mormon Trek- what is the name of this place? Rock's Road House is right there. Yeah. Champion: Oh, that is right. Davidson: And we can by that- we would disrupt their parking lot. Lehman: You just can't park there to eat any more. Davidson: The area of course is- this area here is where we do have the issues with the potential alignment of the road. We have three alternative alignments that we can build according to our arterial street design standards. It is a matter of the political issues associated with one another and where you all land on those. Pfab: Are the rest of them really locked in? The rest of the trail? Davidson: The rest of the road alignment, lrvin? Well, we have given you an alignment that you adopted at the plarming level that we feel is justified with respect to the- remember we had a list of about 7 social factors, economic factors, engineering factors- whether or not residences were displaced. Certainly the impact on the environment. There are some environmentally sensitive areas. All of those- the assessment of those factors all went into our determination of where the alignment should be. Pfab: That is one of the toughest issues I have seen in a long time. And it is very difficult for me to get comfortable with the way that is in there. It just bothers me a lot. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 17 Champion: We are not asking that now. Pfab: I have a lot of questions. Kanner: Karin and Jeff- does the north commercial development that is being planned look into the proposed road in any way or does that affect the ability for them to do business that makes it more attractive or less attractive? Davidson: The north commercial park here, Steven, has its access by (can't hear) intervening between this road we are talking about so, no, it wouldn't have any connection. Franklin: I mean, it just kind of plays into the whole commercial development in that area, but I don't know that there would be any direct impact of this project on the noah commercial area or vice versa. Kanner: So if this road doesn't go through that still develops in the same (changed tapes) Champion: So we basically have two very expensive projects to open up land. Franklin: And I think the distinction that Jeff drew there that Mormon Trek is an area- Mormon Trek extended is an area that is going to open up commercial industrial development which is consistent with the economic development strategy. However, Captain Irish/Scott Boulevard was part of a warmly debated issue in this community and for political reasons has a certain degree of importance. That is a tough one even though that one mostly is going to be residential in that area. Although there are some economic development opportunities with that one also in that it goes through the ACT campus and then east of the ACT campus on the noah side of the Kral Farm ridge. Nope, that is not the picture. From this point north we have shown in our Comprehensive Planning now office research park- but whether it is office research park or some other kind of commercial- I wouldn't say industrial but maybe a research park large office kind of development- there are some opportunities there, which the Captain Irish/Scott will make possible to open that area. Pfab: And those would have Interstate 80 exposure? Side exposure? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 18 Franklin: Visibility definitely. Yeah. Which is why in the planning we made that kind of distinction at that ridgeline, because that is where it faces noah and they are visible properties from Interstate 80. Pfab: I would certainly see that as an advantage of- Franklin: -using that. Yeah. Pfab: It is basically (can't hear). Vanderhoef: Well, even the first phase that we have in the upcoming budget for Captain Irish would open up a lot of that without having the last phase of Captain Irish. Franklin: Except that only goes to the edge of ACT's property. Davidson: And eventually Dee you are going to get into secondary access issues. You could perhaps initially start some development (can't hear). Vanderhoef: But it could be phased out another year or a few years? Davidson: Of course I should add, only because I have been getting a lot of phone calls on it, that we are operating under the- to tie in specifically to what you are saying Dee- we are operating under the decision that you made several months ago even before the referendum that you do not want First Avenue opened until Captain Irish is completed down to Scott Boulevard. So if you pushed the completion of Captain Irish or Scott Boulevard- whatever we are calling it- out a couple of more years I think that is going to open the question of when (can't hear). Franklin: And that was an adopted policy when you adopted the Northeast District Plan. So that would take some consideration. Pfab: So where the- Franklin: Well, it would take some thought or debate. Lehman: It is not something (can't hear). Pfab: Where Scott Boulevard/Captain Irish is planning to run or planning to be located- that will facilitate the commercial building to the noah? Franklin: Potentially. If the market is there for it. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 19 Pfab: Is there a- the location of that is basically cast in stone? Franklin: It is not cast in stone until it is actually designed. Well, it is not cast in stone until it poured concrete. Pfab: Does that take the greatest advantage of that road going through there? Franklin: Yes. Pfab: Okay, that is all. Kanner: For this area and the Mormon Trek area south of the airport, where do you factor in possible collector streets and other streets that will have to be built according to the plans that you are laying out here? Davidson: The Northeast District Plan Steven, as you may recall, have a plan for this area which shows at least suggested places where engineering wise (can't hear) network. We haven't gone to that level of detail- oh, sorry- we haven't gone to that level- there is the one that I was just referring to- that is taken from the Northeast District Plan. As you can see, there is a system of streets that hypothetically, you know, we are not requiring that they be built exactly this way but hypothetically we are forming a street network according to the principles that comprehensive planning-wise we have all determined are preferable. With respect to that, the South Central area- we haven't gone into that level of detail. But similarly, and I think especially because the topography at least once you get down into flatter areas is a lot more easily engineered. Having a system of streets they connect into the arterial- I don't think it will be a problem. And that is why we would expect it to be. Kanner: And so you are saying it is beyond our four year Capital Improvement Plan- the cost (can't hear)? Davidson: Those streets, Steven, will be built as development occurs by the private sector. Franklin: We don't build them. Davidson: We don't build them. Kanner: We don't build them? Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 20 Franklin: The way you get involved is when the plats come before you and you approve the location of them. But the developer, whoever is doing it, would actually build the street. Now, on collectors sometimes we pay the oversize if they are 31 feet, but the developer pays the 28 feet and we pay for oversize. We used to have an oversize budget. Fosse: It is here. Franklin: Okay. Davidson: And we do like to make sure (can't hear) build an arterial street since one of the principle things we are trying to accommodate is adjacent development extension of those kinds of streets. We want to at least make sure that engineering-wise there are places that we can do that where the intersection is (can't hear) lines. And we think both of these streets (can't hear). Karmer: And one final thing is there was talk about First Avenue going through- a need to widen and work on south of Rochester. And is there any planning in the budget for that? Davidson: There is nothing in a funded year, but clearly that is something that staff intends to bring to you so that by (can't hear) years with that issue. There are some improvements south of Rochester with respect to the sidewalk system and the Court Street intersection that we do think you need to pay some attention to before First Avenue is opened up. So you will- those aren't in a funded year now, but of course the opening of First Avenue is three years off- two to three years off. So, you don't need to deal with those immediately but within the next couple of years certainly. Karmer: You anticipate it being outside of 2005, which is the (can't hear)- Davidson: We anticipate that in your next couple of budgets you are going to have to deal with those issues. Those are the kinds of issues that can be dealt with a lot more- on a lot more short-term decision making than a large arterial street extension. Basically what we are talking about is making the sidewalk system continuous with Court Street and Rochester Avenue, along First Avenue and improving Court Street intersection to where it will accommodate the (can't hear). Kanner: I don't understand why we don't put that then in the budget. It seems that there is a pretty clear idea of what is proposed. And why doesn't that show up then for '04 or '057 Do you have an estimated cost on that? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 21 Davidson: No, but we could come up with one fairly shortly. Vanderhoef: A traffic light would be in that $55,0007 Davidson: A traffic signal would around $60,000 and the intersection improvements are likely- we do have an estimated expense, $490,000. Kanner: Where is that at? Davidson: Under the unfunded project number 15. Franklin: That is one- Lehman: What page? Davidson: 134. Franklin: -Steven, where you can consider if you feel that that is a high priority and ought to be in this Capital budget, that you take it from unfunded and put it in a year in your discussions here and then at that same time, always, you look at what is there that you can push out given that there is a finite amount of money. Fosse: Move on? Mormon Trek Railroad Overpass- that is a joint project with Coralville to widen the railroad overpass. Coralville is currently negotiating with the railroad to see what they can contribute to the project. There is about 8 funding sources- is that right Jeff- on that one. So it is quite a mix. Mormon Trek Abbey Lane to Highway 1 - that is the one where the winter caught us before we were finished. And one of the contributors there was there were a lot of fiber optics in that corridor and that made the project go slower than we had hoped. Everybody was moving their stuff around while we were rebuilding that. We will finish that up in the spring. Mormon Trek Railroad- or, excuse me- Melrose to the Iowa Interstate Railroad. That one is ready to go out to bid. That will be bid this spring and constructed this summer. That is a joint project with the University of Iowa. And we also have about $2 million in STP money on that one. So the money- Pfab: What kind of money? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 22 Fosse: Surface Transportation Program. It is federal money and the project costs beyond that $2 million. It will be split 50/50 between Iowa City and the University. Lehman: Will that railroad issue be settled before we start construction of that road? Fosse: I am guessing it will not be. Lehman: It certainly doesn't like there is much movement on it. My only concern is I really can't see us moving forward with that kind of an expenditure to make a four lane road go up to a two lane bridge. Fosse: One of the things that is contributing to this scheduling is the work that the University is doing with what all they have going on there. They have got the Hall of Fame- Lehman: And the Sports Center. Fosse: -and the Sports Center. And if we can get the construction of the projects to occur concurrently, at least in that area, we are all money ahead there. Davidson: One quick note on the question that Irvin had- the STP money that Rick refers to and also the Transportation Enhancement Money that you will probably hear about when we get to the Pedestrian and Bike Trail- that is the federal money that comes through JCCOG. And the decisions on how it is spent are made at JCCOG. So if you decide you want to change something relating to one of those projects, that would involve going back to JCCOG- not that that is not insurmountable to do- but it would mean taking it back to JCCOG to have the board bless any decisions about that. Champion: How much of that road do we need to do to concur with the University's development of that building? Fosse: Certainly from Melrose to Hawkeye Drive. Lehman: But that leaves such a little teeny section left over that that is not- you wouldn't get a good bid on bidding that little railroad to Hawkeye Drive. Fosse: No. What we are doing- or what is proposed here is to take it up as close as we can to the bridge and then put a transition in there so that that piece of the pavement would be done with the bridge itself. And we would really need to take it through that intersection if we did cut it short because This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 23 you have got to get all of the lanes on both sides of that intersection to balance out. Lehman: I can't imagine it being two projects. It needs to go with that project, I would think. Just from a bidding standpoint you would need to (can't hear) cut that little chunk out from Railroad Bridge to Hawkeye Drive is not going to be very appealing to very many people. Fosse: The little pieces do lose some appeal to bidding. Lehman: Right. Okay. Champion: Well then what happens then- what happens when the bridge is finally done? This road could be built three or four years before that bridge is done. Davidson: I think Connie that we will have that resolved long before then. I have indicated to Coralville in the discussions that I have had with Ernie about this that Iowa City wants to sit down and get this resolved. Coralville has said let us finish the work with our consultants and get that so that we know exactly what the situation is- they are trying to squeeze some money out of the railroad and we will see if that is successful or not. But I think Coralville also wants to sit down and get it resolved once (can't hear). They don't want it out there. Pfab: I think it is going to be awful hard to motivate the railroad to dig very deeply. Davidson: The railroad has limited funds. We all know that. Pfab: Right and the tracks are working fine now. Davidson: They work fine for them. That is what they will tell you. Pfab: I just don't see any motivation. Fosse: Mormon Trek from the overpass to Clear Creek. Oftentimes that is called the First Avenue project. That is in Coralville. That is underway and our contribution to that is $243,000. North Dubuque Street Median improvements- that one is- the design is complete. And that is on hold. That is out by the 1-80 interchange. Overwidth Paving and Sidewalks- we talked about that earlier. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 24 Pfab: Just a minute. What did you say about North Dubuque Street? What is the status of that? Fosse: The design is complete and it is on hold until- Schmadeke: We applied for a state grant on that project so we are waiting. Pfab: When you get finished with that is that going to drive like a real street should? A normal- when you drive on a street you kind of expect (can't hear) certain ways (can't hear). Lehman: This is just the median. Pfab: I know, but it is just something. It could use some tender loving care. Fosse: That will come with the Foster Road Dubuque Street intersection improvements. That will not be a part of this project. Pfab: Okay, so where is- that is- Fosse: That is on the unfunded list right now. Pfab: Okay. Fosse: Yep. Kanner: What is wrong with the road lrvin? Pfab: I just don't adapt well to that kind of road. That is all, no more. Just a (can't hear). Champion: Maybe you could fund that. Pfab: I didn't say you should fund it, I just asked. I didn't- I wasn't trying to force my will on anybody. Fosse: Okay. The Overwidth Paving and Sidewalks- that is where we pay for that center three feet of collector streets and also for four feet of the eight foot sidewalks that go into new developments. River Street Paving is complete. Railroad Crossing City Wide- that is an ongoing expense in keeping the railroad crossings in good shape. I should note that the budget here represents our 20% local match in the projects. And that 80% of it is paid by the feds working through the state. They are looking to dedicate This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 25 some more money to that statewide. So it is possible we could see an acceleration in some of the work that we have had there. Pavement Marking- that is some of the epoxy lane markings that have gone down. We tried a new product last fall that we are not happy with performance on that. They will be back in the spring to do some touch ups on it. I don't know whether we will allow that product again or not. Pfab: Is that the one that you were hoping- it is not fulfilling its promises? Fosse: Well, there is three long-term products out there that you spray down there. There is the epoxy, there is a 3M product, and then there is another product, I think it is called HPS5. And that is the one that went down last fall. And that has not been performing well through this winter. It is coming up in some places. Pfab: Is that the most expensive? Fosse: Of the three that was the least expensive option. Pfab: Okay, so have we tried the most expensive one yet? Fosse: Yes. We've got epoxy markings down, we have- the 3M product is right out here in front of the Civic Center. It seems to be performing well. We've put- we call it an iron-on- on our new asphalt streets or streets that we resurfaced. It is rolled into the hot asphalt. We get good life out of that. But it is very expensive. But I think that the service life- the actual cost per year- is favorable. Pfab: Okay, so that was the most expensive one but that is just available on asphalt- resurfacing? Fosse: Right, when we are putting down hot asphalt. Pfab: Hot asphalt. Davidson: We are keeping track of some other innovative products out there. There is one that is going to be, I think, especially effective where it is inlayed into the pavement. Snowplowing is one of the things that is just murder on our pavement, in case you hadn't noticed. And by inlaying it down into the pavement the plows can go over the top of it. It is very expensive to do but, you know, you have to weigh it against how much longer it lasts. So we are keeping track of that at the moment. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 26 Pfab: Does that- this is not something, I just- while you were talking you reminded me of something. when you go out of state on some of the Interstates they have different ways of doing these things- the little reflection things- is that- Davidson: A lot of those Irvin are innovative practices that they are evaluating depending on unique particular situations. With the reflectors they actually have some now that are energized and have a light in the pavement. We had a guy by trying to sell us some of those not too long ago. You know, I think typically we wait for the innovation to be done by somebody else and see how it works and then we come to you and recommend doing it. Pfab: But has the most expensive of the three has been tried here in Iowa City and if so where? Davidson: It is right out here. Pfab: This is the one out here. Fosse: This is the 3M product. Pfab: But the one that is inlayed into the asphalt we haven't tried? Davidson: There is a test patch of that out where 380 transitions into Interstate 80, if you ever want to see what it looks like at night. It is very, very effective. Pfab: But where is that at? Davidson: 380- when you come off of 380 to head into Iowa City there is a bunch of it right there where they are evaluating it to see how it works. Pfab: Okay, that is fine. Fosse: Sycamore Street Bums to City Limits- that is one where we've got some STP money dedicated to that. We have discussed in-house that that might not be the best application for that STP money because with that funding source comes certain clear zone requirements. And given the right of way constraints that exist out there that wouldn't really leave us any opportunity to plant street trees along there. So we might look at moving some of that funding around to fund this one locally and perhaps move this money to another project- this federal money. But as Jeff pointed out, that takes an action of JCCOG to do that. We can't just do that ourselves. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 27 Traffic Calming- that continues on. And then Traffic Signal Projects- about $50,000 a year and then Jeff was also working with the DOT to round up some money to make some improvements along the Highway 6 corridor going with some video detection units along there. Pfab: I notice you went real fast over traffic calming, and that is okay. But what is going on over in Mannville Heights? Did that finally-? Davidson: Are you talking about Lexington? Pfab: Yeah. Davidson: There will be a memo in your packet from me. Steve asked me to give you an update on that. That is kind of stalled. We were- we had a neighborhood meeting in November where the coalition in favor of closing Lexington seemed to start eroding. At the conclusion of that meeting we asked the neighborhood to kind of reiterate what it is exactly that they wanted us to evaluate further and we have never heard back from them. And that was in November, so we it is kind of in the neighborhood's court. Pfab: Is that a place where just putting in some stop signs at various-? Davidson: It's got stop signs there already Irvin. And it is not helping the problem. Pfab: That is not doing it? Okay. Fosse: Any questions on streets? Wilburn: Yeah, refresh my memory- I am sorry- the Sycamore Bums To City Limits- is the County Planning on (can't hear) or are we doing that just for that housing development down there? Fosse: This project will just take it to the corporate limits. And in the unfunded years it is extending that on down to the Sycamore L, which is where-. Davidson: Once that is in the city obviously (can't hear). Vanderhoef: Has there been any request for (can't hear) down there? Franklin: Not formally. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 28 Davidson: I will tell you, most of the comments I get about this stretch of road is needing to have a sidewalk or a trail down there. That is the most of the comments that I get. Wilbum: Because there is a few- like on soccer there is a few kids running in the ditch to get down to the (can't hear). Fosse: The tough thing is with the rural cross section that is out there that is tough to put a walk in. Certainly down in a ditch you can't do it. You have to pretty much get outside the right of way and acquire some land and put it out there. PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE TRAILS Fosse: Terry, do you want to start out here? Trueblood: I will take a stab at it. You see in Pedestrian and Bike Trails it only shows two projects listed in FY02. This is the first year we are dealing with. There is actually three, although one of those is under storm water, which we will talk about in a couple of more pages here. That is the one along Highway 6- the trail and drainage project. But with regards to this particular page, obviously the biggest project there in FY02 is the Hickory Hill Trail Development. With regard to trails in general, I think you have all received a copy of the Commission's prioritization list. If not, I have got extra copies with me here. Just in general, six of their of their top ten priorities are trail projects, with two others being park development projects that have sizable trail components within them. I guess you could say the emphasis is sort of on trails. But any way, the Hickory Hills Plan we've got over here on this wall. We just got this, for the second time, this morning. And this brown line obviously represents the outer limits of Hickory Hill park. The red trail components down here at the bottom over here and over here are what they call the primary loops. And then the secondary loops are the orange color. And then the tertiary, or the third priority, are the yellow ones. With a possible undecided future component up here. We've been working on this- we actually started it over three years ago in 1997, and then put it on a back burner until the last few months. And we have had several meetings involving Friends of Hickory Hill and the Johnson County Coalition for Persons with Disabilities. So that everybody would hopefully be on the same page. And I think everybody is. What we are looking at is- keep in mind, this is more of a nature trail kind of thing as opposed to transportation trails- so we are looking at 6 foot wide trails made of a granular surface, probably crushed limestone. And we are also looking at something called road oyl- believe This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 29 it or not- but it is not road oil. Oil is spelled "oyl' and it is a tree resin kind of project to mix in with the granular to give it a very hard surface and still look like the granular. So it is more of a nature trail concept. We just found out this moming though that to do that it is about a $110,000 more than just doing the crashed compacted limestone. But that might be a possibility for like a (can't hear) grant or something to be able to do that. At any rate, they put the three different colors or the three different phases, if you will, just in case we had to phase the program in. Based on our budget hem in the book and the preliminary cost estimates, we would not have to phase that because their preliminary cost estimates have come in at under $500,000. Of course, when we get to the final product you know what happens to preliminary cost estimates sometimes. Wilbum: And that estimate is for crushed lime? Trueblood: Yes. That is correct. And virtually all, if not all of this trail system, would be accessible to persons with disabilities. Lehman: All of the trails, regardless of the color designations, would be the same surface material? Trueblood: That is correct. The same surface material and the same width- all accessible. There would be several bridges, small bridges, involved with the project. We are also looking at the development of three small wetland areas right here, fight up there, and right over here which are areas- and the development of a prairie area fight in here. This overlook is already there in upper Hickory Hill but we need to make it accessible. At any rate, that is the plan fight there that we have been working with those groups on. And the meetings have been very well artended. I think we had about four or five meetings. And we would like to comment that the Coalition and Friends have worked together beyond that. They have had meetings beyond (can't hear) trail to come to a resolution that everybody can accept. So it has been a good process, I think. See down here it is 1997 plan- but over here it was revised in January of this year. Pfab: I have a couple of things I would like to say on this. Is there a way that we could consider- maybe this is not the time- renaming that instead of (can't hear) Parks so we don't think of that as a city Park7 It is more of a nature area- take some of that park pressure offof- O'Dormell: -something like Hickory Hill Nature Area. Pfab: Pardon7 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 30 O'Donnell: This is the wrong time. Pfab: Okay. But the other thing is on the trails I am really concerned whenever I am out in that area that trails are so subject to erosion- the ones that I see- because of the fact that they go against the grade. Is there any other way to reduce that so that you don't force water to erode? Trueblood: This plan addresses that. Pfab: It does? Trueblood: Yes. Pfab: I think that is an extremely high priority. That has to be a very high priority of how you put those trails in there. The rest isn't so important. Trueblood: The two primary reasons for locating the trails where they are proposed to be located are "a" accessibility, and "b" to control erosion. Kanner: Terry? Trueblood: Yes? Kanner: Has Parks and Rec talked about more off road bike trails, similar to like what is at Sugar Bottom, anywhere in the Iowa City area? Has that been- that seems to be a hot sport the last couple of years for younger folks. Trueblood: When you are referring to off road bike trails you are really talking about like BMX bikes and that kind of thing? Kanner: Well, that- but mountain bikes. Mountain biking- that is a big sport nowadays for teenagers and older people. Trueblood: It has been actually been probably at least three or four years since the Commission has discussed that. And that is the last time that I recall being approached about it. It might have been- as a matter of fact I think it was when this plan for this particular park first started up. And there was some BMXers that were represented at one of the early meetings. But that is the last that we have heard. There hasn't- at least from approaches to us- there hasn't been a big demand for it. I know it is popular. Like with the skateboarders coming to us for example, we just haven't had that with the mountain bikers. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 31 Vanderhoef: I think when they brought it to us, as I recall, we were pretty adamant that this was not a park that we were interested in doing it in. It wasn't that we said we wouldn't think of it at another location, but at this location we would not. Wilbum: I think part of the concern was with the erosion that occurs with it. Vanderhoef: It is so fragile in there. Wilburn: The Sugar Bottom trails (can't hear). That was the concern related to this plan. O'Donnell: Did everybody get a copy? From the Coalition? Vanderhoef: This morning from the coalition, yes. O'Donnell: There is a lot of work that has been done on this. It is really nice to get both sides- not sides but really two different vantages. Pfab: A lot of input on that. It takes a lot of work. O'Donnell: Absolutely. Kanner: So you don't anticipate problems with bicycles on this? Trueblood: We have always had some problems with bicycles in Hickory Hill Park. Frankly, I think- I could be wrong but I think there will be less problems on this then there are on the existing trails because this won't have the same grade to it that the existing trails do. And the mountain bikers like those steep grades. There is just, you know, no way we are going to cure the problems by 100% until we can find a way to patrol it with many people 24 hours a day. The only other one shown here for FY02 is the annual allocation for Intra City Bike Trails, which is used for a variety of things. Anything from bike racks to painting lanes to some minor repair work on existing trails. Jeff, can you think of anything else that that is for? Davidson: Another thing it is really handy for is when we have had a small project- one that comes to mind is when we did the two pieces of Willow Creek Trail. There was a need to widen some sidewalks in the Mormon Trek/Benton Street area and put some signs in. and we were able to go This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 32 into this fund and have a nice continuous longer trail rather than two shorter ones. Kanner: The bike racks on the buses I assme are coming. And that probably- a lot of people- not a lot but some- will use that to get to other bike trails further out perhaps. Davidson: Those should be arriving this spring and then (can't hear). Trueblood: That is the idea. Fosse: The Longfellow/Pine Street Pedestrian Tunnel- the design is complete on that. We intend to bid it this summer for construction this year. But we are not through the easement and property acquisition phase for that. So until that is done this isn't a done deal. That has some transportation enhancement money on it, which is from a federal source. Pfab: Is there any problem with right of way? Fosse: We just don't have all of the easements yet. Willow Creek Trail- it is all done isn't it? Trueblood: Yeah. We have a few loose ends to tie up but all of the rest of the trail projects are schedules on the unfunded list. There was one other one- oh, Court Hill Trail. Davidson: Court Hill Trail, which is the very next wastewater project, also has a trail component that Rick can highlight. Fosse: All ready to move onto wastewater? WASTEWATER Fosse: The first project is the Court Hill Trunk Sewer. And we have had a pre- design meeting for that. That takes us from Court Hill Park right there, out and underneath Scott Boulevard. And that helps to open up sewer capacity for the development of this area out here. And the next- let's see- two projects down is the Scott Park Area Trunk Sewer- and that takes it on up this drainage way here. And that is one where we have done some preliminary work on that but we are going to sit back and see if development takes the lead on this. Kind of like on a collector street. It is generally built by developers. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 33 Vanderhoef: So you are taking it to Rochester / Hoover Highway but not all of the way out? Fosse: No. We are getting it out to and underneath Scott Boulevard but we are not going north. Vanderhoef: Oh, you are not going north with this project? Fosse: No, we are not. Pfab: Your dead end- as scheduled fight now- (can't hear). Fosse: Well, it ties in to an existing sewer in this neighborhood that goes out and serves this area now. This piece needs to be upgraded and we want to do a proactive approach here and do it before people' s basements start flooding. In the past we have kind of waited until the problem occurred and then did it. Johnson Street Cross Connect- we've got some intermingling of storm and sanitary sewers there we want to deal with. We've got three- or approximately 315- and that is suggested for inflation- for sewer main projects on an annual basis. That allows us to deal with cave-ins and other miscellaneous problems that we mn into throughout each year. Chuck do you want to cover a couple of those- Wastewater Plant? Schmadeke: Sewer Plant Upgrade- that is being constructed now. It could be finished by the end of this calendar year. WB-Dane Rd Sanitary Sewer- that sewer extends from the Willow Creek interceptor at the southwest comer of the airport and extends west across Highway 218 to the WB development. Pfab: To where? Schmadeke: To the WB development. It is on the southwest comer of Highway 1 and 218. Pfab: What is- W what? Fosse: Iowa City Motor Sports (can't hear). Pfab: Okay. I just couldn't understand what you were saying. Fosse: That is currently served by a lift station. It has very little capacity in it and really limits that area for development. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22,200l Council Work Session Page 34 Pfab: This will eliminate the lift station? Fosse: Yes. Franklin: This is a project that in conjunction with the Mormon Trek extended adds to the development potential of that southwest area southwest of the airport commercial and industrial. Fosse: The West Side Trunk Sewer we just finished up. And that is one where we saved a bundle of money by being able to utilize that carrier pipe that was already underneath the Interstate out them by West High without having to bore a new line through there. So we are very pleased. Willow Creek Sanitary Sewer is- Schmadeke: That project is completed and this money is our potential exposure on the lawsuit with (can't hear) Iowa Supreme Court. I don't know when that will be resolved. Lehman: It will probably be resolved in the unfunded years. Fosse: Any questions on wastewater before we move on? Chuck will take on the water ones. WATER Schmadeke: Backup Electrical Generation- that project is completed. Bloomington Street Booster Station- that is booster station will go in the University parking ramp to serve that water storage tank when the new plant is on line. Pfab: I have a question. What was the electrical generation? Schmadeke: That was to get standby generation at our storage tanks. Pfab: All storage tanks? Schmadeke: Right. Basic power outages. Pfab: So without electricity you could still fight fires? Schmadeke: Right, these will kick in and we will still have water pressure. Kanner: Are those portable at all for other federal emergencies? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 35 Schmadeke: No, those are stationary at the site. We do have portable generators that we can use at other locations like the lift station. Pfab: But these are instant (can't hear)- Schmadeke: Collector Well project- those are complete. College Street Main- Fosse: That is done. Schmadeke: That is completed. First Avenue Water Main- part of that is complete and part of it is that extension up through closed First Avenue. Foster Road/Dubuque to Prairie Du Chien- that is grading, water main, and storm sewer culvert work to complete the grading for the road paving between Dubuque and Foster Road through (can't hear) area. Iowa River Power Dam Improvements- if you recall, we took bids on that project a couple of years ago. Lehman: Was it $3.2 million? Schmadeke: Right. One of the reasons for additional cost is, if you recall, we were bringing the walkway across the top of the dam and just ending it on the east side and then walk across the spillway over to the Penninsula. The Corps of Engineers has changed their operating procedure and that spillway is going to be underwater a lot more frequently than in years past. So this project is (can't hear) the bridge and that spillway as well as the dam. Lehman: Will the walkway go across the present dam? Schmadeke: Yes. Lehman: It will? Because I know there has been talk about maybe moving it one way or the other. This is still cheaper than a new dam? Schrnadeke: It is still cheaper than that. Lehman: Not much. Schmadeke: It is trying to relocate the dam someplace else- it just has too much of a negative impact on the adjoining properties. Lehman: Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 36 Kanner: How much outside money-? Schmadeke: We are getting a $150,000 (can't hear) grant for construction of a portion of the walkway. Kanner: But everything else is picked up by local? Schmadeke: Right. (Several talking) Schmadeke: Coralville is sharing in the cost of the walkway. Penninsula Site Water Resources-. Lehman: What is that? Schmadeke: I don't know. Lehman: Good, take it out. Franklin: It is done. Schmadeke: It doesn't look like it is funded other than (can't hear). Pfab: It is a contingency fund (can't hear). Schmadeke: It could have been (can't hear). It is finished (can't hear). Prairie Du Chien Road/Dodge Street Water Main- that extends the water main from Prairie Du Chien to Dodge paralleling the Interstate about 300-400 feet south of the Interstate. The next project is completed. The next project is completed- the water line to the south plant is completed. The Sand Pit Pump Station is completed. Sycamore Reservoir- if you will recall, when we did the repairs on that we found that there were some problems with the floor on that storage tank. We are looking at repairs to that. Pfab: Could you say that again? I didn't hear. Schmadeke: The floor of the Sycamore Street Storage tank has some cracks in it and we are looking at options on repair of that storage tank (can't hear). Pfab: It has potential to be major? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 37 Schmadeke: I don't think there are major problems. Vanderhoef: You may have to frame it down. Schmadeke: Taft/Court Ground Storage Reservoir- that work is completed. Water Facility Site Development- the work is completed. Annual Water Main Projects- that is to repair our water main system. These Water Main Phases- that is just to complete the tie-in to the new plant. Most of that work is complete. And the Water Treatment Plant is ongoing now and that should be completed probably March or April of 2002. Fosse: Questions before we go to stormwater? Break time? (Break) STORMWATER Fosse: -that is a grant program for people that have problems maintaining the creeks in their yards. And that has been going very nicely. We have had some nice projects out of that. EPA Stormwater Permitting- here we are gearing up phase II with the EPA Stormwater Regs. I don't know if the Bush Administration will have any impact on that or not. But at least at this point we are going to need to proceed as if there is no impact. And this will dovetail with the GIS effort. GIS is one of the tools that we will need to come into compliance there. Highway 6 Trail and Drainage Project- there will be two projects there. The drainage component, that is the storm sewer that will enclose that south ditch line, will be constructed this summer. It will be out for bid fairly soon. That has got a large amount of federal money involved- about $1 million and then there is about $450,000 in state money available on that project. We will follow up next year in '02 with the trail project. It will go on top of that ditch after it has been filled in. And the trail will go at least from the river to Broadway and depending on how we go funding-wise we might get all the way to Sycamore Street. Lehman: Is there something about this project where we are using- we are obviously using funding sources other than just General Funds but, I thought there was something on this project that required us to complete it. We couldn't go just part way through and just stop halfway. We have got to complete that whole project. Because of the way that we are using the funds? Fosse: What we need to do is to follow up and build the trail component because the JCCOG- or, excuse me- the STP money that we got for this was This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 38 approved by JCCOG with the understanding that the trail is going to be an integral part of that project. Lehman: Fine. We have a commitment to do this project? Fosse: Yes. Lehman: Thank you. Because we have already taken the money. Fosse: We haven't spent it yet but we intend to this summer. Vanderhoef: -the whole project, not just the drainage part? Lehman: All fight, go ahead. Fosse: Mormon Trek/Abbey Lane Storm problems- that is finished. We dealt with that issue by rolling parts of it into two independent projects. So this project never had its own formal project. We did part of it with the Kiwanis Park and we also did some other parts of it with the Mormon Trek reconstruction. (Can't hear) increase the size of the crossroad pipe there. So it should improve that situation. But with any flooding problem, you never make it go away. You just reduce the frequency. I don't want to make promises I can't keep here. Noah Branch Basin Excavation- in that we will just be dealing with some sediments that are accumulating in a Noah Branch Basin. Riverside Arts Campus Storm Sewer- go ahead. Pfab: Where is the Noah Branch Basin? Where is that? Fosse: That is the one behind you in Hickory Hill Park. And we have a similar issue on South Branch as well. In there. Pfab: Okay, it is a dam? Fosse: Yep. Riverside Arts Campus Storm Sewer- we have completed phases I and II. Both of those projects were joint with the University of Iowa. Phase III is scheduled for this summer. And again, that is a joint project with the University. And they will be the lead agency on this one. We were the lead agency on the last two. Pfab: And who- is there any other funding or combined funding? Fosse: No, other than we are splitting the cost with the University. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 39 Pfab: 50/50 with the University? Fosse: Pretty much so. And that 50/50 split is when you look at all three projects in total. Pfab: Right, but overall? Fosse: Yeah. South Sycamore Regional Stormwater Detention- that is that biggie that we have been working on for a number of years now. But we do have all of the property that we need for it and we have got a $200,000 REAP grant for it. And we intend to bid that this year. Shamrock/Peterson Storm Sewer is done. Snyder Creek Watershed- I think that is a GIS modeling grant that Julie Tallman got down in Housing. Is that right? I don't know a lot about that but she was able to get some GIS software that we can use in the greater GIS effort as well. And the Sump Pump Discharge Tiles continues to be a popular project to give people an opportunity to start their sump pumps into a tile rather than out onto the surface or into the sanitary sewer. We don't want it either (can't hear). Questions on stormwater? Pfab: On the Sump Pump Discharge Tiles- Fosse: Uh-huh? Pfab: What do- do you allow people to help it into the storm sewer? Fosse: Yes, if there is a storm sewer in front of their home they can just tap right into that. But not every home has a storm sewer in front of it. Some people can discharge their sump pumps into their backyard and it doesn't cause really any problem for anybody. But other people- like if it all drains out to the street you get algae in the summertime and we get ice buildup in the wintertime. Pfab: What is the- I am just curious- what is the method they can use to tap that? Fosse: You mean an existing storm sewer? Pfab: Yes. Do you tie it in? Fosse: Yeah. We got out with a core drill and drill a round hole in it and then they extend it through there and then patch around it. Pfab: Okay- you trench it to it and then- This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 40 Fosse: And then tie it fight in. Anything else? Parks and Rec? Terry? Trueblood: I guess that is me. PARKS AND RECREATION Trueblood: First of all, in the 2001 column all of those projects that you see in there have either been completed or are underway or at the very least the planning stages are underway right now. I will call out two or three of them as we progress down the list. The first one on the list is the Benton/Miller Orchard Park development. As you have seen from your Commission' s Priorities, that is their number one priority in Capital Projects. (Changed tape) ... looking at having another meeting with neighborhood representatives. I have been working with Marcia Klingaman on that. And we are looking at trying to get together either next week or the week after and get a process started on that. As you may recall, what we would like to do is acquire two more acres of land there adjacent to it and make it four acres total. We haven't had any luck with that as of yet. Pfab: Is that owned by a certain-? Trueblood: Yes, the Ruppert Family. The Butler House at Trailhead Park- I am going to let my good friend Jeff Davidson address that since he knows more about it than I do. Davidson: A couple of things are going on with that project right now. At the end of this week we are going to meet with a consultant that you have approved as hiring to develop a- basically a strategy for an adaptive reuse project for the Butler House. She is going to explore what the options are and what grants funding is out there to do something appropriate with that facility that would then enable us to preserve it as a historical icon. At the same time, we have a transportation enhancement project and have received funds through JCCOG for three things. A very small parking lot I think on the order of magnitude of 6 or 8 cars near the Butler Bridge in that vicinity of the Penninsula area or the water plant area. A trail that would extend from that area up to the Butler House. And by that time us having known what we are going to do with it, hopefully. And then some type of restroom facilities that are in the area. This is part of funding that we have already received. So we are going to try and take those two. The determination of what to do with the Butler House planning project, along with this transportation enhancement project and kind of put it together This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 41 and get something established down there in conjunction with the water plant park creation. Treeblood: A couple of items down the list- in FY01- City Park Trail Improvements. We do have a concept plan on that now. We just didn't have a big picture to show you. And we are working with John Yapp from Karin's operation and he has submitted a grant application- a sizable grant of somewhere between $250,000 and $300,000 1 think it is, to help fund this project. But we won't hear back for awhile on that one just yet. The Hunter' s Run Park Development- you may have heard or seen or been there. We did have a meeting last week- our first in what will be a series of meetings with the neighborhood residents out there to develop that park and getting construction started sometime this summer. And then back on the FY02 projects down the list- Open Space Land Acquisition- that is an annual amount that is put in there, at least for now, that with the funding com9ing out of the Parkland Acquisition and Development Funds that we have had in there for a number of years. I believe that is where that comes from, right Kevin? Park Restroom Improvements- $40,000 a year. We have a number of mstrooms at the parks that basically need to be demolished and rebuilt. We are looking that the first one likely to be in south Hickory Hill Park this summer. What we are looking at- you know, $40,000 doesn't build a real big restroom. Just to give you an idea, the most recent one that we built was one in Lower City Park- the concrete block one that is just south of the ponds- and that was built I am thinking 7 or 8 years ago at a cost of over $90,000. We are not looking at that large ofrestrooms in these other parks. We are looking at probably prefab kinds of things and as vandal resistant as possible that will fit in with the park's surroundings. Parkland Development- there again an annual appropriation at least part of which comes from former acquisition and development funds. This is the kind of thing where if we acquire a piece of land for example and we need to put some development money into it before we can actually put a Capital Plan together- it could come out of this. We use it for a variety of things. For example, the Wetherby Park redevelopmerit plan that went on. With that, some funding was used out of this line item to try to achieve some of the results that the two neighborhood associations wanted to see out there. Vanderhoef: This is from the old hotel/motel money (can't hear)? Trueblood: That is fight. It originally started up with some land sales but most of it came from the hotel/motel sales tax that used to go into this. So when that money runs dry then what we would have to do is look to you to see if you want to continue funding through GO bonds or whatever. The Parks This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 42 Annual Improvements- $65,000- that is for a variety of(can't hear) shelter improvements, sidewalks, parking lots. Probably most important is accessibility programs. We used to have that all split out- a few thousand in one, a few thousand in another one. And we grouped it all into one because there might be a given year that we might want or need to spend that entire amount on accessibility projects for example or parking lot projects. But this gives us some flexibility with that. The Parks Playground Equipment Replacement- $100,000 a year over a period of a few years. I know that sounds like a lot of money- and it is a lot of money. But you may recall that we had a playground audit performed this past year to find out where we need improvements in our various playgrounds. And the short answer is all of them. But playground equipment is very expensive. And any more the surface that goes beneath it is almost as expensive as what the kids play on above it because of the more stringent safety requirements and accessibility guidelines. Kanner: Terry? Trueblood: Yes? Karmer: The figures for 2001 for playground equipment and then for annual improvement maintenance- are those more realistic? Had you budgeted closer to the figures for '027 Trueblood: No, those include some carryover from the previous year that did not get expended. Kanner: So that is pretty realistic, the $65,000 and the $100,0007 Trueblood: Since the City Manger and the Finance Director are sitting right here I will say "yes", that is very realistic. Atkins: Terry, why don't you take a- yeah- Terry, why don't you take a minute and explain that carryover process. That might be helpful. Trueblood: Okay. The carryover process could involve two things- one is it could have been some encumbered funds from the previous year that were encumbered but not expended. But more likely it is- some of our projects especially, we might intentionally not spend funds in a given year because we will need more funds the following year for playground projects or whatever it might be. Sometimes it is just a matter of not getting to it in a particular year. So that budgeted amount is canied over to the following year. And they really frown on it if we ask for carryovers more than two This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 43 years. But essentially that is it, in a nutshell. It is that for whatever reason you don't- if you choose not to or don't get to expend funding in one year and then carry it over to the next year- and we have to justify it- usually it is approved in Capital Projects. But not for travel. Oh, staff development- excuse me. Let's see here. The Scott Park Development and Basin Excavation- that is a joint project with Public Works. As you know, it is primarily a stormwater management area, Scott Park is. And Rick tells me that they are going to have to go out in there in a couple of years and skip some topsoil to get that basin to the depth that it needs to be- and destroy all the trees and tear down the playground equipment. Lehman: And tear out the roads. Trueblood: Yeah, and tear out the roads and some other things like that. Kanner: Make some kids cry7 Lehman: Put in bike trails. Pfab: Is this a good time to bring up the dog park? Kanner: Yeah. Trueblood: You are assuming there is a good time? One of the things- actually, I was going to call your attention to is that on our Commissions Priority List that did not make their top ten- but two items that are on there that you won't find in this plan anywhere- one of them is the Riverside Stage Seating and one is the Development of a Dog Park. If you want to see those in the plan somewhere that is something that we are going to have to talk about. Pfab: Have you had much contact with people that are looking for a dog park? Trueblood: We have had a couple of Commission meetings addressing this issue where we have had representatives attend those meetings. Pfab: Is there an ongoing dialog? Trueblood: There hasn't been any dialog for the past few months. Pfab: Do you know why7 Trueblood: One of the reasons is because the Commission doesn't consider it a high priority. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 44 Pfab: So you don't encourage them too much. Trueblood: I guess you could say that. I don't know if I would say that, but you could say that. The next item in the 2002- well, before that the Skateboard Park. I just wanted to call your attention. We are still working on that and we plan to be out to bid sometime late summer or early spring for that particular project. Vanderhoef: Is $300,000 still enough? Trueblood: According to our estimates it is. Pfab: Is there any other funding available to make that work? Trueblood: Actually, we applied for a grant but we did not finish high enough in the grant process to get that. Pfab: So you got shot down on that one. Okay. Trueblood: The Sturgis Ferry Park Development- that is a minor development, $50,000. You won't find that on the Commission's Priority List either. And if I recall, the reason is that that was originally a FY01 project or maybe even further back and it got delayed to '02. So it wasn't on the- when they did their prioritization it wasn't on the FY02 through '05 listing. Kanner: Where is that at? Trueblood: Sturgis Ferry? It is just south of the Public Works and Transit facilities. Across from the airport. Lehman: It is the old dump. Trueblood: Let's see here. I guess that brings us down to Waterworks Park. You see $750,000 spread over three years. We do have the concept plan back over here. If you want it up here we can take a look at it. Just as a refresher- we went through quite a process- we meaning Parks and Recreation staff and the Public Works staff with the consultant, in trying to determine- we wanted to make sure that whatever is allocated for park development is in fact park development and that anything else- so that we could cut a clean line between park development and waterworks development. So that there isn't water money going into park development. Now, some of the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 45 areas in here, some of the roadways to the wells, will also double as trails. So we have tried to take advantage in that way as well. Some of the natural- a lot of it is natural area and that lends itself well to around the wellheads and that kind of thing. But things such as the nature trails, plans specifically for park development, fishing pier, the little amphitheater, all of those kinds of things are what is budgeted in the parkland development portion of it. Lehman: These funds are strictly parkland uses and not necessarily associated with erosion control or any of the Capital Improvement Projects for the water (can't hear)? Trueblood: That is correct. Although there may have been some erosion control put in as part of the waterworks development project that might lend itself well to parkland uses, for example. Chuck, did you want to add anything? Schmadeke: This $750,000 here too is for the structural improvements to the park- the (can't hear), the trails, the parking lot- but not for the prairie grasses that are showing on the plan. Fosse: Karin Franklin and I have been working with the Corps of Engineers and the City of Coralville on getting a Section 206 grant, which may help to pay for a portion of that but certainly not all of that- as far as the plantings. Lehman: When will we know about the grant? Franklin: We have a meeting tomorrow. Sometime this week. Fosse: Sometime this week. Lehman: We will have an indication as to whether or not we will be successful in getting the grant? Fosse: It looks like we have got it. Franklin: Yeah. Lehman: And what amount of money? Franklin: I would have to go back and look. That is one thing that we will get clarified when we have our meeting with Coralville and the Corps is the total mount of the project and then what the local match would be. As I recall, it was quite a bargain. We will have an update memo for you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 46 Champion: Are you talking about the prairie area and that kind of stufF?. Franklin: It is actually- it is in the wooded areas along the river. Champion: Right. I remember we talked about that before. Vanderhoef: And we held off doing the prairie grass last year- seeding as I recall- because we were afraid it would all get taken care of by the deer. We wanted to hold offa year on that. Franklin: I am trying to remember why we did that. Lehman: We did some funding for work that was going to be associated with erosion control. Vanderhoef: We didn't fund it. Lehman: I know we talked about that but I don't remember any conversation about the deer eating prairie grass. Vanderhoef: We originally were thinking about putting- getting the prairie grass going- Trueblood: I think that was actually- that might have been the Penninsula area. Champion: Right. It was $100,000. Trueblood: We originally- we had had $100,000 at one time for the Penninsula area. Lehman: Right. I remember that. Vanderhoef: For the Penninsula area, okay. Trueblood: And then we decided to delay that until you see how the housing development went along before putting significant money into the park area. Lehman: Right. Vanderhoef: Thank you. Trueblood: And Jeff had been talking earlier about the Butler House/Trailhead area- I think you are all aware of it but just in case you aren't, it sits right up here. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 47 Kanner: So what would not be done if we didn't fund $250,000 in this fiscal year coming up? ' Treeblood: Chuck, I am not sum if we have an actual phased plan put together for that as yet, do we? Schmadeke: No. Treeblood: We can't tell you specifically what would not be done yet. Vanderhoef: So this could be planning money rather than projects? Schmadeke: One thing we would like to see done is parking lots and the trail extended from where it stops roughly at that northerly well and have that put in and tied together so that people would not use the parking area around the waterplant but would park in the park area when they are using the park facilities. Lehman: Are you talking about the parking lot up next to Iowa River and Dubuque Street? Schmadeke: Right. Lehman: Well, now- we just said that part of that was apparently going to be associated with the Butler House. How much of that would be done under the Butler House portion? Davidson: The Butler House project is $100,000. (Can't hear) grants it is 80/20. Lehman: But, I mean, is that going to build- you said the parking lot? Would that build a parking lot? Davidson: (Can't hear) and trail. Lehman: And trail? Does that build the parking lot over the trail? Davidson: That does not build that entire parking lot I don't believe Emie. Lehman: Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 48 Davidson: And you heard Terry say that a restroom facility is somewhere on the order of magnitude of $50,000 or $60,000 or maybe $40,0007 So, that is taken out of it. Lehman: But the Butler House included a restroom? Davidson: Yes. Lehman: Before we even start restoring the house we are going to put a restroom in? Davidson: Remember, we are going to proceed with that project once we have an idea of what the Butler House might be used for so that the facility we put in is consistent with that. Franklin: The Trailhead, too, is to be part of the Iowa River Corridor Trail System, which you will have there regardless of what happens with the Butler House. So it may be that the restroom might go down in this lower part as opposed to up right next to the house. And we have to coordinate those. Davidson: I think absolutely that is the case because we want the restroom to be convenient for trail use. Franklin: Yeah. Champion: Why do we do those expensive restrooms? Franklin: With the gold handles? Those? Champion: In an area like that. Do we do men's and women's or just a unisex bathroom? Trueblood: In all of our parks we have them separated. Champion: Why? Trueblood: Uh- Atkins: Women prefer it. Champion: I don't care. Lehman: Enough said. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 49 Champion: It seems like a waste of money to me. Pfab: Jeff?. You had mentioned that there was a 80/20- explain that again. Davidson: All of our federal grants- the STP, the enhancements- everything is 80/20. Pfab: Okay. Vanderhoef: So I am still not clear then- the $250,000 from waterworks park, Chuck you are still saying that has some trail and some parking lot on it? And I can't reconcile how much is coming from which or where in this combination. The total we've got is $350,000 between the Butler House/Trailhead and the Waterworks Park. Is that going to take care of the whole project? Is that what you are saying? Schmadeke: No, I am not saying that. I am not sure what this $250,000 is. We took the $750,000 project and spread it over three years. Lehman: I think this is a concept, Dee. The $750,000 is what is going to cost for the total project and just for budgeting purposes they show $250,000 in each of three years. But I don't think at this point in the process you will be able to identify what you are going to do in each one of those years. You can only show what the completed project would look like. Kanner: But what happens if we push that $250,000 and we push everything a year down the road? How does that affect the Butler House and other projects? Champion: That wouldn't affect the Butler House. Davidson: If you do that Steven obviously we would try and tailor other federally funded projects to what we have the money for. And it might be less than this overall plan that you have here. We want to make it compatible with this but what we could afford (can't hear). Kanner: So we could still do something and then just think about not as grandiose? Davidson: Yeah. And, you know, we will make sure you are apprise of what we are planning so that it is consistent with this. And when you finally do get around to funding this (can't hear) compatible. Champion: And when will the waterworks be done? Remind me. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 50 Schmadeke: Waterworks? Probably March or April of 2002. Lehman: But if we were interested, for example, in seeing to it that the parking lot was completed and the trail was completed to link up with that part that is existing, we could say that we think this is important- this portion of it needs to go and out of that use your $100,000 out of the Butler House fund and whatever else it takes to make that effective and we will deal with the rest of the park in future years. I mean, that would be easy to do. Davidson: One thing that is out there that I think you will hear about is, as many of you know, the county is putting in the portion of the Iowa River Corridor Trail between Butler Bridge and Overlook Road in 2002. The only thing left then between Coralville Dam and Napoleon Park will be the area from the Butler Bridge to the Penninsula, going underneath the interstate. I think you will have some people asking you to complete that length of trail. That will make it a little over 13 miles. It makes it a nice regional trail. Karmer: Do people tend to come in from out of the area for a certain length? Davidson: John Yapp tells me Steven that we are just now getting to that level. We've got a little over 6 miles of the Iowa River Corridor (can't hear) and when you get into that 6 to 10 to 15 mile trail is when you do start attracting people. John says absolutely when we get to the whole 13 mile trail being done we can definitely be attracting people on weekend type trips and stuff. So people would come in and spend a little more time here. Kanner: And do they tend to spend a little money- eat a meal? Davidson: Sure, stay over night, eat at a restaurant. Absolutely. Vanderhoef: This is one of the things that a CBG grant could be a useful component for this Trailhead (can't hear) attract. Trueblood: Connie, in answer to your question about unisex restrooms- we haven't done that- let me preface this by saying we don't intend to do this but for example, if we wanted to put a restroom, small restroom, in the middle of Hickory Hill Park or at the top of Ryerson's Wood Park, it would make perfect sense to just have a unisex restroom. But all of our restrooms right now are located at or near park shelters. So they accormmodate frequent large family picnics and that kind of thing where we would almost have to have them separated. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 51 Pfab: And also you can't get by with one- you have to have two. Champion: I was just thinking of those isolated areas like that. Treeblood: Right now we don't have any restrooms in very isolated areas. And I wouldn't propose to put any in very isolated areas. They are more subject to vandalism, harder to get to to maintain. Just to reiterate briefly, again, you know you have a proposal from Riverside Theater about the seating project and the dog park that are not anywhere. So just a reminder that if you want those in here somewhere we need to talk about them. Any other questions for Parks and Recreation? Lehman: Thank you sir. Fosse: Airport? AIRPORT Fosse: About the only one I can address there is the Noah Commercial Park. Construction is well under way. We've got- most of the storm sewer is complete, the sanitary sewer is complete, portions of the water main- and they will finish up with the grading and paving when the weather tums nice in the spring. Steve can you help out? Atkins: I think it is all pretty straight forward. The Terminal Project is finished. The Tower Painting Project- I know they are putting that together. The Land Acquisition offers are out. And the Underground Tank Replacement- I understand Ron is working on that. Nothing really substantial has changed on that for future projects. Champion: And this is all still 80/20? Atkins: 90/10. Except for the under- well, the underground storage tank is ours. But the land acquisition and the other major master plan is 90/10. (Several talking) Atkins: The underground storage tanks. Kanner: And when is the Noah Commercial expected to be ready for people- for starting to solicit- This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 52 Fosse: It will be ready next summer. Kanner: This summer? 2001. Atkins: Yeah. Kanner: And it will take them like a year to build something there? Fosse: It depends on what goes in. I think it is unlikely we would have a business there and open operations prior to (can't hear). Landfill? LANDFILL Fosse: Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Facility is nearly complete. We are just in the early planning stages for the next cell out there. The Gas Collection System- we are getting ready to fire it up, literally. We are about ready to go. Lehman: We bum that gas off?. Fosse: Yes, we do. And once we get some history with gas production, then we can make some decisions about how to use that energy. But right now we have no idea what it is going to produce. Pfab: But you are measuring it? You have a way of measuring it? Fosse: Uh-huh. Pfab: So you are (can't hear)? Fosse: Yep. And what kind ofresource we have. Salvage Barn and Fumiture Building- the space is there for it and as I understand it, we will be putting up a shell and (can't hear) by entities other than the city. Vanderhoef: Saying space meaning the land space and this 55 is a total of $90,0007 Fosse: For a building shell. Vanderhoef: For the building shell? Davidson: It will be right adjacent to the (can't hear) hazardous waste building. And the idea isn't somebody comes in and sees what is in there- there might be some (can't hear). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 53 Pfab: It was- was this part of the school inventory of hazardous waste? Okay, the landfill was not involved. Vanderhoef: This $90,000 is being funded by landfill revenues so without a GO-. Atkins: If we do it- and I say "if' not in the sense that I don't think we will- it would be a landfill project. There is a whole variety of issues- we would really like to have it there, Dee, because quite frankly it will kind of wrap that whole recycling center concept together. But we still have many details to work out with these folks. This is publicly funded but privately managed. There are issues about whether our employees should run it. And we will get those details worked out very shortly. But the important thing was I wanted you to understand that this furniture salvage barn idea, we would really like to make it part of the recycling center. It just seems like a nice fit. Vanderhoef: Their space is going away from (can't hear). Atkins: Their space is going away, yeah, and it is a program that we would like to make sure we don't lose the momentum because of the positive things it has created over the years. Fosse: Other projects? OTHER PROJECTS Fosse: I think because of the wide variety of projects here it might be best for you to take a minute and go through them and if you have any questions about them, ask rather than us struggling through each one of those with a little sumnaary for you. Do you want to do it that way? Vanderhoef: I guess I will open up with the Art Projects. Right now we have done the fountain and we have ordered two pieces for the Ped Mall art project. Franklin: We have two under contract, yes. Vanderhoef: Two under contract and two more that we have chosen but not under contract yet at this point? Franklin: And also we have the Iowa Avenue Literary Walk under contract. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 54 Vanderhoef: Right. So it seems as though we are getting ahead of ourselves if we are trying to stay at the $100,000 a year? Franklin: Well, what I figure Dee from when the program started in FY99 to '02 we have had an allocation of $400,000. And we have encumbered or spent $358,550. So we are about $42,000 under, going through fiscal year 2002. So we cannot commitment to anything more than $42,000 that we would have to actually expend it before July 1 of'02. And I think we are in a pretty good place for that. The only projects that are out there are the Near Southside Transportation Center, which the actual expenditure on that would not happen until after that period of time. We have a very small one that will be coming before the council at your next meeting of $1700 to support a rotating sculpture on the Pedestrian Mall. Vanderhoef: The pad? Franklin: For the pad that is there by Burger King. There is a NEA grant for the remainder of it. So I feel quite comfortable that we are in the bounds of the allocation. Vanderhoef: But with the additional then it would mean- Franklin: Additional what? Vanderhoef: The other chosen art pieces for the Ped Mall. Franklin: I have included those in my number. $75,000 for Weatherdance, $192,600 which includes the Literary Walk and the two (can't hear) sculptures that are under contract-. Vanderhoef: They are $192,6007 Franklin: $192,600 is for the Literary Walk of $120,000 and $72,600 for the two sculptures on the north pads. Then there is $90,950, which includes the other two sculptures that we have selected but are not under contract. And $1700 for the rotating sculpture that is combined with the NEA grant, for a total of $358,550 and an allocation of $400,000. Vanderhoef: How big is the NEA grant? Franklin: I can't really tell you. That is a grant that was acquired by- I may have known it at one point- it is not coming to the city, it is going to the Epicenter Group and it is to support a sculpture by Justine Zimmer, a local This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 200l Council Work Session Page 55 artist, to do one of her tornado sculptures for the pad by Burger King. And the Public Art Committee is recommending that we do a portion of the local match at $1700. Vanderhoef: So the $17,000 is the local match? Franklin: Right. Fosse: $7000. Franklin: Pardon me? Fosse: $7000, is that the grant? Franklin: No. Oh, the total grant? Okay. Karr: Rick? I am sorry, I am not picking you up at all. Lehman: This item, is this community- Franklin: $7000 would be the grant Mafian. Karr: Thank you. Lehman: -Community Protection Capital Outlay? Is that what that is? Atkins: That is a classification of expenditures Emie. What that is is the $500,000 a year for Capital Outlay. We generally expect to spend most of that in the community protection category that we have to report to the state. You can cross it out if you want, but it is the $500,000 in Capital Outlay. It is meant for our purposes more than yours. Lehman: Just get it out of here. Atkins: If you are going to draw a line- draw a line through the Comm Prot- draw a line through that because the Capital Outlay is correct. Lehman: All fight. Kanner: Can you just remind us again where the Economic Development is coming from? This $700,000? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 56 Atkins: General Obligation Debt. This would be the Capital component of it Steve. WehaveanEconomicDevelopmentOperatingbudgetof$500,000 and that is $125,000 from four of our enterprise funds. Karmer: And have you- has the committee or has management identified some Capital expenditures for this? Atkins: Not yet. Kanner: So we have accumulated $1.4 million? Atkins: We have not sold that debt. Kanner: But budget $1.4 million for this year and next year? Atkins: That is correct. Kanner: For economic development- for capital expenditures. Pfab: And you are saying that the debt won't be sold until we have a project? Atkins: Generally we don't Irvin. Pfab: (can't hear). Atkins: That is right. Yes. Vanderhoef: What is the Fire Station #3 Expansion? Atkins: Fire Station #3 down on Lower Muscatine is in need of some renovations- showers for women- it just needs a good going over. Pfab: I can attest to that. Atkins: Okay. We at one time, remember, were going to do a major renovation on that and expand it. This also includes some additional storage space. We backed off that project at the time of the First Avenue debate. Now that that has been approved we believe we can go ahead and invest there. Champion: And Steve, with the Englert- why do the totals still show that when we already have some money saved back? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 57 Atkins: At the time of this budget preparation it probably wasn't settled. We do have $200,000 that we have committed and they owe us $550,000 and they made a $100,000 payment. That is all. Remember it is an estimate and it is a budget. So there will be certain changes along that occur. Kanner: Marketplace Streetscape? Atkins: Karin can take that. Franklin: That is the project at the Northside Marketplace- Market, Bloomington- that was presented to the City Council maybe a month or so ago. Basically for cosmetic changes to the streetscape. Well, as I understand it now, to keep it under this $900,000 we will need to do something different in terms of the pedestrian walkways across the streets and in terms of how that is going to be treated. But basically it is lighting, trash containers, a couple of benches- well, more than a couple. Lehman: Very expensive benches. Franklin: No, not very expensive. If there is just two of them- yeah. Kanner: That would start in the fall? Franklin: Yealn. That is likely. Or next spring. Pfab: What kind of community or participation or input were you able to hear? Franklin: There have been a mtmber of public meetings that included anybody who would come from the businesses or tenants in the area. In fact, I think there is another one that is coming up in February that will be brought back to the City Council for your final approval. And there is always a public meeting prior to that. So them has been quite a bit of public participation in terms of the businesses down there. Pfab: So- (can't hear) have another meeting out in the area? Franklin: Yes. Pfab: Will that be- will you see that we be notified of that? Franklin: Sure. Lehman: We are doing design work as we speak? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 58 Franklin: Yeah. It is just about done. Atkins: We have had a reasonably longstanding relationship with those folks. Remember a few years ago we put in concrete pads and bike racks? Terry' s crew brought the pots out for the flowers- it just simply grew from there. Franklin: And the Northside Marketplace is kind of a business association that David Schoon, the Economic Development Coordinator, has been working on. Pfab: I think that is certainly something that- there is support there from the people. Atkins: In fact, some correspondence came I think today that you will be seeing where folks are sending you letters to encourage you. Pfab: And a sense- I believe them is starting to develop a community spirit there. Atkins: Also keep in mind that the Linn Street Connector- while it is not shown in here, is part of that. Karin can give you a two minute version. Franklin: That is the pedestrian way between Iowa Avenue and Jefferson Street that we have been working on with the University, the first stage of which was the demolition of Seashore which there will be some work there that the University is doing. And then that walkway is to give at least a visual and a more open feel to get from Iowa Avenue to Jefferson and to this Noahside Marketplace where the lighting then would pick up to the noah side. Pfab: That is great. Kanner: The Radio System Upgrade- are we working with other entities on that, county or other cities? O'Malley: We are the lead agency on that. And the county does not want to participate. But we do participate with the University. Champion: Okay, what is a radio upgrade? (Can't hear). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 59 O'Malley: No, we have a- we bought this radio system in 1990 and its useful life has worn out more or less. And we are planning on a full system upgrade in about two years. Champion: (Can't hear). Lehman: New radios. O'Malley: All of our police and fire have radios. Champion: Okay, all right. That is fine, okay. Atkins: It is not KDAT or anything. Franklin: It is all the radios for our offices. Pfab: (Can't hear). Kanner: So the County had an opportunity to go in with us? O'Malley: The first time they had an opportunity and they decided against it. Kanner: So now it is not possible? O'Malley: It is always possible. It is a matter of willingness of the Board of Supervisors. Ithink at that time it was the decision ofthe Sheriffs Department not to invest in it. It is quite a bit of investment. Changing out all their side portable radios, the car radios and possible a tower site somewhere in the county. It is more useful for us because our scope can be defined- our area of service. And the University is within our scope. But the county has much broader range. So their radio system- their portion would be pretty expensive. Pfab: Does our application for low input or- Atkins: That is a different issue. Pfab: I presumed it was but does that show up someplace or is that just (can't hear)? Atkins: I don't think so. I don't think we put anything in on it. I have to admit, I don't know a whole lot about it. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 60 Lehman: The Downtown Transit Interchange- that $352,000, does that include the flat work that we did? Atkins: Downtown Transit- Lehman: Fourth item from the bottom. Fosse: Yes. Lehman: That includes the concrete work that is already done? Atkins: Yeah, that is the flat work. Right. Kanner: So that must include the building too, fight? Atkins: Yeah. But it did include work we already finished. Pfab: I am trying to recall- I have heard different comments- derogatory comments- that this is going on but there is no place for bus riders to wait. They took away the little station- is there going to be a place for passengers to wait? Atkins: Downtown in the interchange- Davidson: There will be no buses stopping at the island anymore Irvin. Pfab: No, no at the island but will there be- is there an indoor place to wait? Davidson: The mall. Pfab: But just the mall? So that island thing or something similar to that- Davidson: The island stops went away or will with the shelter. Pfab: So now if people wait for the bus they have to go into the mall. Davidson: Or wait by the street. Pfab: But for indoor they have to go inside the mall? Atkins: Yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 61 Kanner: Well, also in the Transit Interchange they can go in there to buy tickets (can't hear). Pfab: And just wait? Kanner: If it is really bad they could go in there. Atkins: I think they can sort of hang out while they are getting their ticket, yeah. Pfab: So how large a capacity is that? Atkins: I don't know. Davidson: It is not intended to be a waiting area. Kanner: It is going to be like the size of this table probably or less. Davidson: You can tell if you go up there how big the foot print is. Pfab: I didn't go check but people were- Lehman: It will be a very cozy waiting area if there are very many people. Atkins: The idea is to get them into the mall so they spend more money before they get back on the bus. Pfab: You can't afford- well, I guess if they buy a pass (can't hear). Kanner: And the Transit Intermodal Facility? Atkins: The Near Southside Transportation Center- that is the better name for it Steven. Kanner: That is what you are figuring you are going to need this year for planning and what you will get from the feds this 'year? Atkins: Up from the bottom Jeff. Karmer: Yeah, third up from the bottom- $3,100,000 in '02 and then $10,000,000. Davidson: That will likely be spread even further. We are anticipating beginning construction in January of 2002. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 62 Franklin: (can't hear) Davidson: Half of it will be in 2003 and it is an 18-month construction project so we will be into 2004 with some of those things. Atkins: But it is still 80/20- the plan, right. Davidson: And that does reflect their- notice that is a, you have always heard us say $12 million project, I think we've got $13.2 there. We did inquire of our congressional folks if it looked like we were going to need additional money might there be some available to put in for it. We are not guaranteed by any means (can't hear). Kanner: So you are just figuring perhaps the 9 to 10% cost variance is a natural way of (can't hear). Davidson: What we intend to do with that project Steven is bid the fifth level of it as an alternate to see what kind of bids we get. (Can't hear) Pfab: Does it make any sense- I am going to ask again as I have asked before- to go underground there even if it is just storage? Davidson: I think if you were going to go underground you would at least want to make it a revenue generating type of thing like parking. As you have heard us say before, it is about tripe the expense to build (can't hear). Pfab: But that is if you use it for parking. What if you use it just for storage. How much storage does the city have around that could possibly been put in there? Davidson: (Can't hear) Lehman: It is awfully expensive. Atkins: It is awfully expensive storage space. I couldn't tell you I could put it to effective use. I mean, if we are going to have any storage- remember we are building a new public works facility on a 20 acre site that would give us reasonable above ground storage for whatever necessary. Pfab: Is that because of the downtown location area (can't hear)? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 63 Atkins: If we were to build underground storage, I am convinced the feds would say that we would have to pay for it out of our own pocket. And that in itself means the city share of this project would increase substantially. Lehman: What would we store in it? Atkins: I don't know. Stuff. Lehman: That is awful expensive stuff. Pfab: But is there- Atkins: Irvin is not wrong in that there is no way- I mean, if you create storage it shall be filled (can't hear) or something like that. Pfab: Is that storage then- is there a place that that could be used to go into the commemial- eventually into the commercial people (can't hear). Davidson: We assume Irvin that when commercial phase II portion of the project is built that it will have built into it whatever type of storage is needed for that type of commercial office (can't hear). Pfab: But do you get a higher utilization- I am just- I just hate to see that put (can't hear). Davidson: And Irvin, there is nothing to day that the phase II portion of the project couldn't have a subterranean basement. Right now we are kind of intending for that to be a private project and get a private entity to do that. But there is nothing to say that they couldn't have a subterranean basement in that portion of it. Pfab: Is there any- apparently there is no potential commercial need for something like that- I mean- Davidson: There are two conumemial entities that will be in the phase one portion~ the bus station and the daycare center. Franklin: You mean if we were to use that storage space for commercial purposes? Pfab: Instead of a rent a garage- Franklin: If we were to do that we would have to- that would be a part of the project in which we would have to pay the full cost of that because the FTA This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 64 would not support that. And so it is another whole endeavor that we would be pursuing then to determine whether there was a market for that kind of storage in the downtown and whether we wanted to get into that kind of enterprise. Pfab: So what you are saying is that even if you didn't put one layer of storage on at this time and left that as an alternate bid, the feds still won't pick it Bp? Franklin: That is fight. (Changed tapes) MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION Atkins: -are taking on a lot of debt. I do have some concerns about our future. And as you all know, no one comes to the microphone asking for less. And that the cumulative effect of all of the Capital Projects that we have put together in this four year plan- future Councils are going to be left with- and this is an issue of legacy which I want you to think about- it is going to be a lot tougher on them with respect to the projects they would like to see. Lehman: If they would have built the waterplant that would have been a lot easier on us. Atkins: Yeah. You know, Ernie, you are absolutely fight. You know, we went through that debate in the 90's when wc wcrc putting it together. It is that the waterplant reached a point where there was really no choice but to do what we had to do. And we know the difficulties it took to get that approvcd. Lehman: Steve, this is probably a question for a financial gum but one of the concerns that I havc- Atkins: They are looking at each other. Lehman: -that we are going to address this before we get through with budget is that the debt service rating (can't hear) 28% which is 3% more than our policy. I guess what I would like to know is what- how much does a $1 million average- how much do we have to take off our Capital Improvement Projects to keep that rating at 25% or no more than 25%? For each $1 million that we add what does that do to our amount that it takes to retire the debt? Is there a way of computing that? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 65 Atkins: Yeah, I am sure there is a way to compute it. O'Malley: I think I did some rough numbers one day in regard to that question. I thought it was somewhere around $400,000. Champion: It is only $400,000? O'Malley: You need $400,000 to get it back to around 25%. Atkins: Now, that is $400,000 in principle and interest payments- not in face value of debt. Lehman: No, but face value- Atkins: I think Ernie is asking face value of debt. O'Malley: It is about a- this is 20 year debt so it is roughly about $87,000 per year. Atkins: That is about $4 million worth of debt. Lehman: Pardon? Atkins: $4 million worth of debt. Lehman: That is $4 million off the total? O'Malley: Right. Atkins: Each million dollars, as Kevin pointed out, requires about $87,000 a year to retire it. So you take that times 4 and you are at $350,000 in payments. That is $4 million worth of face value debt. Pfab: And what kind of an interest rate (can't hear). O'Malley: I am using about 5%. Atkins: Yeah. Pfab: Okay. Champion: The other thing I think we really need to concern ourselves with is I think we absolutely have to perfect our credit rating. I think it is foolish to let This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 66 that slide. So, I think we are going to have to cut some projects out of here. Lehman: Or move them out a little. Vanderhoef: Right, or phase some kinds of things. I am uncomfortable with the way we hit the peak in '02 and '03 there with the library kind of expenditures. And to bond for all of that at that point in time- is there a way that we can continue with the library project and phase that enough that we can relieve some of that pressure? Atkins: We had originally planned- Kevin will have to help me out on this- that we were going to take the library debt and split it 9 and 9. However, there are IRS and some securities and exchange regulations that affect our ability to do that. A portion of the library debt is taxable debt because of the commercial. And you can sell up to a certain percentage. I am trying to simplify something that has got all kinds of arithmetic gyrations you have to go through. We can to the conclusion that selling the 18.4 gave us the best benefit for the use of the money to do the things that we wanted to do- both build a library as well as build the taxable commercial component. Now, it is not out of the realm of possibility, Dee, once we get down to really nailing the project down that we might not split off. And it doesn't have to be 50/50. It could be, you know, $12 million and $7 million or something such as that. But I just don't have the answer for that right now. That $31 million I know just leaps off the paper at you. Champion: It is a lot. Atkins: Yeah it is. And it is one of the things, folks that I think you all know that I am not so sure the public understands public indebtedness as much as they should. Remember that $18.4 million by passage of the referendum is the public saying to you you have an authorization to spend up to that much money on a library. Yeah- up to- you can't go any higher. Vanderhoef: But we don't have to spend that much. Atkins: No, you wouldn't. Champion: That would be a first. Pfab: Are you being sarcastic? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 67 Kanner: How do you factor in the expected fund raising efforts of the library foundation? Atkins: I am making the assumption Steven that they will deliver on what they were going to deliver on. Because it was $18.4 plus fund raising. This project was more than that. Now, how they are going to go about that- I have made the assumption that they will deliver on their fund raising proposals. Wilburn: I don't know how this will affect you all in terms of thinking about the library and the referendum but in kind of looking at the criteria that you gave us Steve- and I appreciate your doing that Capital Improvement Projects criteria for review. You know, we certainly looked at each of these projects and I looked at- one you've got the mandate from the higher powers that be and those we can grumble about but the second one is it is compelled- I mean, it is a clear message that regardless of how the public understands how this is all put together, they just sit here and look at the different projects and a lot of good projects- and it is like well, in a certain sense we are guessing what the public and our supporters are wanting to do. But in this case the library it is a clear decision about a Capital Improvement project. You know, we want to be taxed to support this for a variety of reasons. So, you know, if I were the administrator of the city I would- given limited income- I would groan a bill that I had to pay all of the sudden. But I think that is also a sign that we need to- given those other concerns that you mentioned- we have got to reprioritize some of these other things. You know, it isn't- these are investments that we are making but we don't want to invest to the point where we are going to hurt ourselves by (can't hear) by the amount debt long term that we would have to pay. So I was just kind of jotting down notes- I don't know if we are going to spend the rest of our time doing this but looking at areas that we would be willing to, at least (can't hear) be willing to cut some of those things. And just knowing areas that we wouldn't want to cut. I mean, we could nickel and dime some of the lower ticket items which in my mind tend to come from things like Parks and Rec which are quality of life things which I would hate to see because I think just from my background those things help with our health and mental health. And that the community wishes to see and participate in. I think we need to take a look at- I don't have some of the concerns that some folks would have with just the fact that you are building a road but since that is one of the big ticket items I would be willing to look at a street or two to see if that is something we could phase later or put into an anfunded year. I will just throw this out- things that I- just general areas that I wouldn't want to touch are water and stormwater. Some of those I would speculate would This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 68 be mandates from the higher power. But just to get all of this waterplant stuff taken care or- I mean, those are things that I wouldn't want to touch. Before I came in here bridges would be another area I would look at but safety would be the overriding concern where I wouldn't want to- that would be another area where I wouldn't want to touch. And I don't know if looking at streets- I don't know how that would fit in with some of the economic development things but I would be curious to hear as you have been (can't hear) what are some philosophical areas that would be an untouchable area or not for you. Champion: Well, I am- Wilburn: Maybe we need to think about the South Sycamore Street or maybe we need to have a bigger conversation about the streets in terms of our economic development. We've got another community mandate with one particular area- that being the First Avenue/Scott Boulevard. (Can't hear). Lehman: We also have to look at the funding sources. For example, the first thing- I don't want to pick on anything but, the waterworks park is $750,000. I certainly can see us getting the trail system connected and a parking lot but if we are having a problem with trying to get down to that 25%, I don't think we are harming any public (can't hear) by putting part of that off. But if we've got a grant coming from- is it the Army Corps of Engineers? Franklin: Uh-huh. Lehman: If there is a grant coming up that is going to pay for a significant portion of that, then you really don't save- you are not really taking it off the CIP because it is being funded elsewhere from another source. Atkins: I have always assumed from you all in all of the years that I have been doing this that you wish us to be aggressive and seek out grants to the fullest extent practical. Lehman: Oh, yeah. Atkins: And that, with those grants, you know certainly goes certain strings and we are just willing to accept- swallow hard and accept that. Because of the difficulty that we are having fight now- what would you cut? It is not easy folks. And I can assure you your staff spent a lot of time- we went through an exercise at what we were going to cut. And we ended up the same way. You end up nickel and diming it to death. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 69 Wilbum: (can't hear) as an administrator in another fashion, you know, you look at a grant and there are some that- I mean, we look through- I've got a 50% chance of this one and I've got a snowball' s chance in you know where to get the other one but can I come- there are some cases where this would be a good idea but can I come up with the match? Champion: How much (can't hear) can you afford? Atkins: That is exactly what it is. Champion: The other thing is that Sycamore Mall Project- I need a little explanation on that. Not Sycamore Mall but the Sycamore Bums- I mean, that is a $2,400,000 ticket item. I don't know because I am not an engineer and I don't think about (can't hear) but is it possible to just leave that road alone and do some minor resurfacing and put a sidewalk in? Or do you have to do the whole thing to do the sidewalk? Fosse: We could put in a temporary sidewalk but we would have to acquire right of way outside of the ditch line. And the (can't hear) house is certainly a constraint down there in doing that. Atkins: As you discuss the Sycamore Bums to the City Limits $2.4 million- Pfab: What page are we on? Atkins: We have- you don't have this. This is me. We have a $2.4 million project, a $1.9 million in grants. So if you got rid of the project you your savings would be $500,000. Of that $500,000- $400,000 is debt. Vanderhoef: But that is the project didn't you say Rick that had the STP funds that you were talking about maybe moving elsewhere because when we did the right ofway- Atkins: That is a good point. Vanderhoef: -we wouldn't be able to do the trees? Fosse: Yes. Vanderhoef: Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 70 Davidson: That money that is clarified for your discussion- that money can be shifted into another project on the (can't hear). You can't use it on the (can't hear). Champion: Could we use it for Scott Boulevard? Davidson: You could, but I think Rick has some concerns about that he may want to raise. There are strings attached to that (can't hear). Of course, you could turn that money back to JCCOG and I assure you the other entities would love to have the opportunity to split it up. Champion: Oh, we are not going to do that. Davidson: If you reuse it somewhere else though you also have to bring the $500,000 with it in order to match it. (Can't hear). Vanderhoef: But on a different project. Refresh me- those dollars cannot be used for purchase of right of way? Is that correct? Fosse: They can be. Vanderhoef: They can be? Fosse: Yes. Vanderhoef: Okay. I am trying to figure out how we could go forward with part of Sycamore and buying right of way knowing that in future years we would be doing- Davidson: Are you talking about the South (can't hear) arterial? Vanderhoef: No, I am not. I am talking about- Davidson: Oh, the Sycamore Bums. I am sorry. Vanderhoef: If we move those STP funds out of there and use them on a different project- but Connie's concern and mine also is to get a safe pedestrian way down to the soccer field or at least to city limits at this point. And we need to buy right of way. So is there any advantage for us to go ahead and purchase our right of way knowing that in the future years we will be widening that road and upgrading it and doing all of that stuff but go ahead and buy it now and do the sidewalk? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 71 Fosse: Possibly we could do that. And one of the things to remember is the pedestrian demands down there for the soccer field are on the east side but for the residential development are on the west side. Most of the homes that are built have been along the west side down there. So we might have to look at doing it on both sides of the road. Lehman: Isn't this the area that is being- or this is farther north than the area that is going to be surfaced by the new stormwater management $3 million project? Fosse: No, it is the same area. Lehman: There are a couple of things about this project. First of all, we have been talking about it seems ever since I have been on the council, which has been quite a while. It is an area of the city that we are going to spend some money on Highway 6 trying to improve it, beautify it, and provide better pedestrian access to the trail. It is in the most affordable part of the city for development because of land costs. It is in a part of the city that is going to utilize this $3 million stormwater detention basin. Certainly an improved street is- I would think- would be an asset to see development occur. I am almost talking myself out of delaying that project. I mean, this is a part of the city that- we have talked about Sycamore Bums Street Dee for how long? Vanderhoef: Three years or four years. Lehman: At least. And every year we have put it off. At some point we are going to need to do this. Franklin: In terms of the development potential there, right now with the Southpoint addition we are down to the corporate limits. That is the south boundary. The south boundary of Southpoint is the corporate limits. So, in terms of how much more development you are going to get there along Sycamore there will be some, yes, but I don't think you are going to see a boom as a consequence. Lehman: This isn't going to help open up other areas as far as from collector streets or residential streets that would hook into this? They can hook in now. Vanderhoef: There are two phases down them Emie. Franklin: They do hook in now. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 72 Lehman: Right. Vanderhoef: This one is to the corporate limits. And it is a matter of when the annexation comes in that that road needs to go all the way down to the L. Franklin: Which is another project that is in the unfunded- Vanderhoef: It is almost like, in my mind, when that it is done it is the whole project needs to be done. Lehman: Because if it isn't going to open that much for development- it is expensive. Franklin: I just wanted you to be clear on that. That this project just goes to the corporate limits. Lehman: I knew that. Franklin: It doesn't open up a whole lot more beyond what it already going on there. Lehman: It is not going to facilitate- okay. Champion: It is a hefty amount of money. Wilburn: So what- if I back up a project for a second what broad philosophical areas would you be willing to be not quite as- or invest as much? Champion: I am willing to eliminate some roads. Atkins: Can I ask a question of you? Is this the primary question? Reduce the General Obligation debt to 25%- however you get at it, do you have a mindset that I want to reduce the amount of borrowing? Lehman: I think I would like to reduce that. Atkins: Then I think Ross' point is, okay, philosophically how do I accomplish that. That is what I am hearing. I mean- and I have raised that issue with yOU also. But if you are agreeing to that then it becomes a philosophical question of what am I willing to give up to get there? Wilburn: Yeah. That is what I am wanting to hear. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 73 Vanderhoef: And I am not sure that I am willing to cut it back. But what I am willing to do is to target more of the economic development (can't hear) if we were going to be building roads and taking advantage of our STP funds. I want to look at where they will have the biggest impact because I am still looking at how to grow my tax base. O'Donnell: Grow your tax base rather than cut it back? Vanderhoef: Yep. To me, moving those STP funds where they may impact economic development projects- Lehman: Like Mormon Trek extended? Vanderhoef: Like Mormon Trek extended, thank you. Wilburn: But if we grow at a pace where we don't successfully protect that credit rating then what did we accomplish? Vanderhoef: But the point is that the STP funds could be moved another year out (can't hear) and that would be part of the phasing as I see it. That is the way I am looking at it because of where I would like to target it, which is Mormon Trek extended. By the time we get ready to use it we are out there and that is not scheduled until, what, '03 is the first $2 million? Atkins: What is that? Lehman: Three, four and five. Vanderhoef: Three, four and five. Lehman: Mormon Trek extended. Vanderhoef: Yeah, it is. $2 million in '03, (can't hear). Arkins: Yep. That is based on that principle of we've got a year's worth of planning to get this thing together. Yeah. Vanderhoef: That is what I am saying (can't hear). Wilburn: So are you not buying into that concept to reduce the amount of debt? Vanderhoef: Well, by spacing it out what I am saying is that we will lessen this in the '02-'03 years. And that is where my real big concem is- where the spike This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 74 is. Where the library kicks in and it throws us totally out of whack. If I move out on the project and I get the project planning dollars in there to go would be my thinking. Pfab: I have a question here. Over the last, say four or five years, how much has the money market- the cost of funds in long term bonds changed? Atkins: Over the last four or five years it has been substantially unchanged. And that is what I- it is just the general health of the economy. Our borrowings have been mid fours to low fives for four or five years. But it really has changed very little. Pfab: Okay, now, are we coming into a money- an economic area where funds may be (can't hear)? Atkins: If I knew that I would not be standing here. Pfab: I know. Atkins: But I promise I would not tell you. Pfab: Are we ready to go if these things start softening up here? Atkins: Softening up means what- higher interest rates? Pfab: Lower interest rates. Atkins: Oh, we are ready to go. I mean, ready to go in the sense that we have given you a whole series ofprojects- Pfab: No, no, no. what I mean- okay, let's say you could watch the long term funding- Atkins: We watch the bond buyer market with regularity. Pfab: I am sure someone is. And you- Atkins: He does and I do. Pfab: -hard to see that we are into an area where the money market- or the cost- the money market, is that the fight term I am using? Atkins: Bond buyers. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 75 Pfab: Bond buyers. O'Malley: Irvin, let me preempt your question that I will be bringing a resolution to you probably in a month to give authority to Steve and I to act on the next discount rate cut because our bond attomey and the financial advisors have told us that we have several issues that we can refund and take advantage of the lower interest rates. Pfab: And that will help us? That will be a big help. O'Malley: There will be some savings. Atkins: We refunded a sewer project about three years ago and I think (can't hear) we paid for the whole finance department for the next couple of years. You can save huge amounts of money if you hit the market just right. Pfab: What about these bonds that we know are coming up? Okay, say we have an $18 million library bond. Atkins: That is right. Pfab: What is to say if- O'Malley: We have the SEC and the IRS regulations saying that we have to spend it within two years. And if we don't we are subject to arbitrage. If we have some arbitrage rebate problems and we have pay the money back. And it could also make our bondholders taxable bonds and that would create a large snafu. Champion: (can't hear) city management problems. Pfab: But this is all- it doesn't take an awful lot- it doesn't take- a percentage of interest would change that totally. Champion: So would a percentage the other way so (can't hear). Pfab: You are right. But if you are looking at a possible softness in the cost of funds. I am asking you- Atkins: First of all, I cannot promise you that and as I said I am not going to tell you something that I can't deliver on. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 76 Kanner: I think we have to go with what Connie was saying. We have to go with the assumption that it is going to go up or down. You can't live with saying it is always going to go a certain way. Pfab: But are we ready to move if the opportunity makes itself available? Champion: Of course. Pfab: Well, we can't do anything for the library because we can't get it spent in two years. So that doesn't help us any. The other thing is we talked about overlapping funds- Atkins: Debt. Pfab: Debt. Okay, maybe we need to work to see that we don't have to spend the money for a new jail. Actions: That is a political question that you have to answer I am afraid. Pfab: But it is our problem. He just said if the- if our rating is- Atkins: It has a bearing on it. Pfab: If it does it says hey- your citizens that you are taxing here, they are going to get taxed another way. Well, let's see if we can- Champion: We have to deal with our own budgets now. Pfab: I didn't say Connie that I get to get the scissors out and cut it. I am saying these are things to look at. Lehman: The $18 million for the library adds what pement to the amount that it takes to retire- or the percent of our tax bill that goes for retired debt? O'Malley: I am not sure what the percentage was but I thought it was around~ we are looking at $4.57 of our current years tax asking being debt related or project by that time. I think it was around 74 cents of that $4.57. Atkins: And I am so sure- Ernie, we can calculate it if that is what you would like to have done. But I think one thing we have to admit about our Capital Plan is that the library became the instant priority project. Lehman: Right. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 77 Atkins: It went right to the top. Right to the top because the public said so. Okay? So we start from there and work our way down. Those aren't circumstances of your creation. That is the public' s position in the thing. O'Donnell: You know, Ross, I did it almost the opposite way that you did. I put what the priorities are. And the library and First Avenue voters said that we are going to do those automatically without a question. I wrote down the Fire Station. I think that is extremely important. I had a question about doing Highway 6 when we have allotted money for that. Lehman: -locked into that one. Atkins: Well, the first phase of it. Rick can tell you about that. Fosse: That one- in fact we started the bidding process with the state on it already. Arkins: Remember, up until the time of award of bids it is your call. Now, of course the people at the state may never speak to us again but you can take it up- Vanderhoef: Or give us money. Atkins: You can take it to that point. It is your decision. Champion: Okay, so let's make a list of the untouchables. I mean, the library is untouchable. First Avenue is untouchable. Atkins: Is that what you would like to do? Champion: The water stuff is untouchable. Do we all agree the fire station is untouchable and Highway 6 because those (can't hear) so far going that we really can't back out ofthem. So those are- ifeverybody agrees- those are the untouchables. The water, the sewer-. Atkins: The water and sewer, remember Connie, often do not have GO debt. Lehman: They don't count against our debt retirement. No. They pay for themselves. Champion: (can't hear) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 78 Lehman: (can't hear) Atkins: It is a revenue bond. You borrow against the assets. What we do is revenue bonds and general obligation- remember that? Okay. Gotcha. Kanner: But they are part of the equation of the 25%. Atkins: No they are not. Vanderhoef: No. Atkins: No they are not. That is important. This isjust- Vanderhoef: That is an addition. Atkins: That is I qualified it- GO debt. Champion: (can't hear) Vanderhoef: (can't hear) but they aren't part of that 25% that we are trying to (can't hear). Atkins: Indirectly. Lehman: I think if you put First Avenue in there- which I think we have to- but I also think that you have to put Captain Irish/Scott Boulevard because we had said that we will not open First Avenue until Captain Irish or Scott is completed. I mean, I think that is as untouchable as First Avenue. Champion: It is $6 million. Lehman: But, I mean, we said that. Champion: I know. Atkins: The library- $18 million. $6 million. Lehman: Right. Atkins: All GO. Those are our projects. Those are big ticket items. Lehman: Is Captain Irish/Scott Boulevard all GO? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 79 Atkins: Captain Irish is- yeah. I can't recall anything other than all GO debt on that. Lehman: Okay. Atkins: Is that-. Yeah. Yeah Emie. Lehman: Okay. Well that Dodge Street Governor project is a cooperative project with the state. It probably is not one that can be moved. Champion: Okay, let's write that one down. Atkins: The reason about Dodge remember is that it is really very little local money. Lehman: Right. Vanderhoef: That is IDOT. Atkins: Now, local in the sense that the money comes to you through our appropriation distribution. The bottom line is it is passed through from the state. Champion: The other thing that is so far- and is not touchable at this point is the Iowa Avenue Improvements (can't hear) with the University. I have a hard time doing Mormon Trek until that railroad thing is (can't hear). O'Donnell: I have that as one of my priorities. But I totally agree. I just don't want to do anything- I don't want to send four lanes into two lanes. Lehman: That is a really complicated project with so many people involved and so many various sources of funding. It probably isn't one that we want to play with a whole lot. I wouldn't think. Vanderhoef: I think you might be right on that one Ernie, as much as I hate (can't hear) horrible thing. But we have worked with that one for almost four years now also trying to get that funding in place and to jeopardize it now-. Pfab: Steve? Atkins: Yes sir? Pfab: Can you put numbers on each of those? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 8o Atkins: As in 1, 2, 3, 4, 57 Pfab: No dollars. Atkins: Oh. Lehman: (Can't hear). Champion: (Can't hear). Atkins: These are close folks. I am doing them from memory. Champion: What about the fire station? Atkins: About $1 million? I will tell you my biggest concem about the fire station. It is not so much this as the operating costs. What we talked about the other day. That is the big-ticket item. I mean, that is a recurring expense. I am assuming the fire station- we can build it and equip it. Equip it means buying a $300,000 pumper for that. Vanderhoef: The fire station- Franklin: Are you putting the fire station on the untouchables? Atkins: I am just writing things down as they tell me. So we can cross things off. Champion: I think the fire station is untouchable. Especially if we open up Scott Boulevard (can't hear). Lehman: It may be untouchable but it wouldn't necessarily have to fall in that particular year. Vanderhoef: It could move out a year. Partly because the years when we get the roads open our response time becomes much better. Arkins: Absolutely. Vanderhoef: So that piece of it- to have the fire station done at the same time as the roads are completed isn't as important to me as getting the roads open so we can get the response time out there. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 81 Wilburn: What are some other larger proportions funded by General Obligation debts that we (can't hear)? Atkins: Well, the library- Wilbum: Do you see where I am headed? Atkins: Our General Obligation debt- (can't hear). Mansfield: Steve? Atkins: Yes? Mansfield: Somewhere in the revenues section of your C1P book you will see a sheet there that says like 5201, 5202, 5203- Atkins: Yeah. Mansfield: And that is a summary of the projects being funded by debt. Atkins: Thanks. Well, if you took quick arithmetic- we proposed $31 million, $18 of which is the library- 18 plus 13- so you have got $13 million in other- you didn't do Captain, you are down to $7. If you didn't do the library you are down to $6- or, the fire station you are down to $6. I mean, that is a quick way to- quick arithmetic. Pfab: This isn't a big one but was First Avenue- the referendum wasn't to build it, it was to put it back in the plan. Lehman: It was not to take it out. It means you build it. Pfab: No. So, I mean, can you move it out a year? Lehman: No. (Can't hear). O'Dormell: We already did that once. Champion: We are building that road. Lehman: Irvin, I am surprised you would suggest that when the public said leave it in that fiscal year. That is what they said. The vote was- Kanner: Is that what you said after the public voted to take it out four years ago? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 82 Champion: (can't hear). I know this is political suicide. Lehman: We did take it out. Atkins: Yeah. Lehman: -back in. Champion: -take out Scott Boulevard. I am serious. That is a lot of money. It is. Franklin: You would then need to change your policy- unless you are not going to open First Avenue. You are going to build it and not open it. Champion: I don't know. (Can't hear). O'Donnell: (Can't hear) Scott Boulevard and open First Avenue? Lehman: No. Atkins: Keep in mind Captain Irish/First Avenue/Dodge Street are sort of inexplicably pulled together because when you close Dodge you've got to push the traffic somewhere else. Vanderhoef: That has been the plan all along. While we are working on Dodge Street- Pfab: But that will go to Scott Boulevard. First Avenue won't be built for another year anyway right? Lehman: First Avenue will be built the same time. Pfab: So then you might as well put Scott Boulevard with First Avenue and say one thing then. Lehman: We do. Pfab: I mean, that is what you are saying. I was thinking that there was going to be a year separation after we put- Atkins: We can stage them virtually any way you want. But keep in mind, when you are redoing Dodge Street the traffic has got to go somewhere. And it has got to be diverted. And it is going to be diverted- I am assuming This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 83 diverted First Avenue, Captain Irish, Scott Boulevard. That is where it will go. Then when it is reopened hopefully that traffic will switch over. Vanderhoef: The Waterworks Park is one that I could move out. Atkins: Okay, now we went from tmtouchables to moving out. Franklin: Another list. Vanderhoef: This is moving out. O'Donnell: (Can't hear). Vanderhoef: This is a lesser priority for me at this point in time. And that has some affect over a three year- (Several talking) Champion: (Can't hear). Mormon Trek extension. Vanderhoef: I don't think you are totally wrong on Scott Boulevard. Atkins: Only 500 of this GO debt. (Can't hear). That is right, I am in charge of the numbers and you are not. O'Donnell: How do you feel about Mormon Trek Highway 1 (can't hear)? (several talking) O'Donnell: (Can't hear) I think with all of our shortcomings (can't hear). Atkins: We are back to this original issue of reducing the GO debt. What we are doing is going through the gyrations of trying to decide how to do that. We don't have a target either. Champion: What we have to do- I agree we do have to finish Scott Boulevard (can't hear). We don't have any choice. But does anybody else have any ideas of what else we could push way out that is $500,0007 Lehman: That North Dubuque Median Project is $468,000. Is that all GO money? At some point in time we are going to redo the intersection- This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. VqST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 84 Atkins: You are nodding your head Kevin that that is all GO- would you look up the North Median? Lehman: -across the road at Noah Dubuque, which is a huge project. That could very well be incorporated into that project even though it certainly has some benefit as far as improving the entryway into the city. But that is a half a million bucks. Atkins: North Dubuque is all road use tax. Keep in mind, you could get rid of North Dubuque- $400,000 worth of road use tax- Lehman: Use it someplace else? Atkins: Thank you. And move it to another street related project and not sell debt. That is a method you can do. Lehman: (can't hear) live with. The South Sycamore STP monies could be re- I mean, for example the extension of Mormon Trek to 921- that money could be used on part of that project. Vanderhoef: That is where- Lehman: Which is all GO? Atkins: I didn't hear the question. Lehman: The extension of Mormon Trek extended to 921 is all GO money? Atkins: Yes. Vanderhoef: We have never taken that to JCCOG even to- Davidson: It is in the street plan. Vanderhoef: It is in the street plan but we haven't taken it as a project for STP monies or anything. So, we could possibly use these and apply for some more. (Several talking) Vanderhoef: But that is- well, and that is '02 and '03 and '04 are what we are looking at. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 85 Davidson: That is another issue that Dee raises. It is that I believe the South Sycamore project is an '03 project. Vanderhoef: And that is when Mormon Trek Highway 921- Davidson: (Can't hear) Lehman: I mean, that would work. Vanderhoef: We could do that and we could apply for more than what the next allocation is in '03. Davidson: (can't hear). Vanderhoef: Uh-huh. To my mind that is a very reasonable one to do and work towards building our tax base. Lehman: That takes off a significant amount of GO money. Atkins: Didn't hear it- say it again. Lehman: Take the money from South Sycamore and apply it to Mormon Trek extended- you have $1,900,000 in STP funds that would be used instead of GO debt for the same road. Now, that is $1.9 million (can't hear). If you took the $400,000 off Noah Dubuque Street you are up to $2.5 million. If you did water- I don't know what that happens there- there is another half million. I mean- Atkins: Waterworks Park is a halfa million. The North Dubuque Median is $400,000. Lehman: I realize that. Those three projects alone are $3 million off the GO. Atkins: What did we do- South Sycamore- or, Sycamore Bums to City- what did you do? Lehman: If you took that money and applied it to Mormon Trek extended, those three projects would pick $3 million in GO debt. Also, it would fund projects that probably should be done. Champion: Well, we can't have everything. It is just like a family budget. You've got to pay the heat, you can't always buy the steak. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 86 Atkins: Mom said it wouldn't be easy. Can you give me, Jeff real quickly, Sycamore Burns to City Limits we don't do it- what happens to the $1.9? Davidson: Let's say they consummated a decision that they wish to use for the extension of Mormon Trek Boulevard. Instead we would just take that back to JCCOG for reallocation (can't hear). Lehman: The Council represents a majority. Vanderhoef: We will all be there to vote. Davidson: The Iowa City City Council is not quite a majority there- they are 6 out of 14. Pfab: Do it on a real stormy night. Lehman: But that would- Vanderhoef: We have done it for other folks. I don't think it is a problem making that switch. Atkins: So those three right there represent in effect $2.8 million? Lehman: Those three represent a significant amount of GO money. Davidson: By the way, we could do that in March at the meeting. Lehman: Now, fire station #4 is scheduled for what year? Atkins: '03. Vanderhoef: '03. Atkins: Plan for it next year and build it the following. Lehman: I mean, that could legitimately be moved out a year or so. Which would also mean that the firemen to staff it would also be moved out a year. Atkins: That would reduce your operating budget. Lehman: It would also help us with our ending balances somewhat for at least a short time. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 87 Atkins: I am not paid to think in the short term Emie. Lehman: I am not either but- Vanderhoef: I am following you. Lehman: But it delays what you have projected by one year. It also gives us an opportunity to see what would happen on the airport north commercial. It gives us a pretty shot as to starting to open up the southern portion. Now, that southern portion of Mormon Trek extended to 921- would that be a single project or would we let that in more than one project? If we built that road? Vanderhoef: Probably two. Lehman: Mormon Trek to 921. Atkins: I can't imagine it in less than two. I guess you could. Lehman: What I am saying is if we did the first phase it might very well open up along with that sewer project (can't hear)- it is conceivable that part of that could start to develop. Atkins: You mean do something like this? Vanderhoef: Yes. Champion: And if not you could put off phase II for awhile. Seriously. Lehman: I really kind of like that idea. Champion: I do too. Vanderhoef: I think it is real good. A question of fire apparatus then- we've got a $1 million in there and it would seem that much of that is for the 9 new fire fighters and the new station? Atkins: I would have to go back to the schedule. We have some equipment but most of that is equipment that is just due for replacement. For example, the arial ladder is due in four years and that is at least $1 million to replace that. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 88 Vanderhoef: We've got $320,000 change in our present year and $350,000 for '02 and '03. Atkins: I think we've got some pumper replacements due. Dee, I will have to confirm that for you but I hear what you are saying. Vanderhoef: Okay, just check that one out because if that is to do with equipment for new firefighters and if we move it out a year then we are getting a little wiggle room on our General Fund again. Lehman: You could also start that- I wouldn't want to do it but, the Northside Marketplace could be moved one fiscal year out. That picks up- I mean, that transfers almost $1 million into another fiscal year. Champion: We are going to be trouble a year after that however then. Lehman: Well, the two big spikes are in 2002 and 03. And projects that could be moved into '04 and '05 is definitely going to be of some benefit. Vanderhoef: The fire station to '04 or '05 a year after or two years after we have opened up the roads- and then juggling the employees to go with that and we will find out about the equipment for nine new fire fighters. Pfab: What happens when you end up closing Dodge Street and you don't have no- how do you get the fire department there? Atkins: What do you mean now? Lehman: We outlaw fires. Pfab: Postpone fires? Lehman: Outlaw them. Vanderhoef: Getting the roads open will get us response time. Atkins: Remember, when Dodge Street- if the fire station is built and Dodge Street is closed- Pfab: No, we were pushing off the fire department. What do we do then? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 89 Atkins: Then you are going to go around the barn to get to folks. Then you better get First Avenue opened right away then. Because the Lower Muscatine station is going to have to respond. Lehman: I hear you. Franklin: And First Avenue would be open by the time (changed tapes) Vanderhoef: -that is why we timed them the way they are. Lehman: That is right. So that would work one way or the other and we would still have fire access. Because First Avenue/Scott would be done prior to the closing of Dodge. And Dodge isn't going to be closed, it is only be limited. That will be open. It will not be closed at all. Not totally according to the DOT. Vanderhoef: It will be slow going through there but (can't hear) the state highway. Pfab: Just tell (can't hear). Vanderhoef: Yes, we are not going to isolate them. Pfab: Help all fires, I think that is the best. Ernie has the best- if we just can find somebody that will do the outlawing. Vanderhoef: I am pleased we haven't touched any of our annual outlays for ongoing necessities- that I call the repairs and maintenance and those kinds of things. It could be real tempting to nickel and dime and take some of those things away. And I just think that puts us in trouble (can't hear). Champion: The other thing is Hickory Hill trail development- is that all going to be done in one year? Davidson: That is the plan right now. Champion: That is a half a million. Vanderhoef: Is that one that we would not get nearly as good a bid if we tried to phase it? Lehman: I am sure that is true. Davidson: That is generally the case. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 90 Vanderhoef: It is just not that many- Lehman: That is a disability issue as well as a park issue. I am not- Wilbum: (can't hear) Vanderhoef: It is a quality of life issue for disabled. Lehman: Yes. O'Donnell: How about the $300,000 for Scott Park Basin excavation? Vanderhoef: How soon is that going to overflow? Fosse: $100,000 of that is for the basin excavation and $200,000 is for park improvements. As far as basin performance, the sediments have not cut into the performance yet but they are at the threshold of doing that. So we thought hit it sometime in the next five or ten years. Lehman: This is five or ten years. Hey- say that a little bit louder, I want to make sure Marian has got that. Pfab: -the '01, '027 Champion: How come we didn't hear that when we first talked about it? Trueblood: You said that five years ago. Fosse: But again, this was an opportunity to do two projects together. So if one goes the other one goes too. O'Dormell: Realistically we can move that out of here? Lehman: Well, just a minute though, there is two issues here. One is basin and one is parks. What is involved with the park component? Trueblood: We don't have a specific plan yet but obviously we don't want to do that until after the basin excavation is completed or at the same time. Pfab: Is there any matching funds or anything? Lehman: No. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 91 Arkins: (can't hear) South Basin? Champion: That is another thing we can delay. Davidson: What are we doing with that project? Franklin: Move out one year. Atkins: Before you move it- South Basin soume of funds? Champion: I mean, maybe it will last ten more years. Like the park people don't have enough to do. Pfab: Where is the silting coming from? Davidson: The watershed. Lehman: Upstream. Pfab: It is opening up? Davidson: No, actually you know it has been there about 19 years and development has only been in the subdivision or in the area for about five years. Pfab: Have we seen quite a bit of improvement- increase in the sedimentation? Davidson: A lot of it has been ag runoff over the years. And any time you take water and slow it down- which is what that does- it drops its sediment load. Pfab: Yeah. I mean, the source of the sediment. What I am saying is the (can't hear) the watershed stabilizing or becoming more unstable with development? Davidson: I think that after the development process is complete it is very stable. When it is in the agricultural state you've got a couple of times every year when the land is very vulnerable to rains. Pfab: Okay, so now are we still in the allotted development stage in that watershed? Davidson: Oh yeah. Probably only 15% of the watershed is developed. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 92 Pfab: So we are at least as vulnerable as the agricultural state. Maybe more so? Franklin: Less so. Lehman: Less than agricultural. Franklin: Yeah. Pfab: Well, if you are in the middle of the development. Lehman: Yeah, but we have so many regulations to prevent ranoff during construction. Franklin: And you also have that stabilization once it is already developed. With the ag you don't have it. Champion: Do you remember last year and the year before that- I liked the idea- remember Steve we had that $10 million year, you talked about that? Atkins: Yes, the four year $40 million? Champion: So now we have four years $56 million- have we taken off enough to bring that down closer to $40,0007 Lehman: $40 million? Champion: $40,000 would be great. Atkins: Going into this it was already less than that. It was $38 million. It is- $38 plus $18 is $56. Champion: I know. Atkins: Take the library and you are still at $38. Now, you are down in the $32 or $33 now. Lehman: Without the library. Atkins: Without the library. Champion: Yeah, but you've got to include the library for me. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 93 Atkins: Well, if you want to include the library then you have about $20 million worth of projects that you could fund. And you aren't even close if you were going to stay with that policy. Champion: No- oh, I see. No, I was just wondering how far we were from it. (Can't hear). Pfab: That's another thing that don't work Connie. Champion: Huh? Pfab: That's another damn thing that don't work. Atkins: Any other thoughts? Lehman: Yeah- I am getting tired. Atkins: I sense you are going to send it back to me any minute now. Lehman: Well, we are going to be meeting tomorrow night and talking agencies, is that correct? Atkins: Yep. Lehman: Our next meeting is- Atkins: The 30th. Lehman: The 30th. And what are we planning for that meeting? Atkins: Well, if you let me get to my notes here. Tomorrow night- I want to go with you tomorrow night for a minute- but on the 30th at 8:30 I have it as open for discussion. There are several things- we will have finaled our values by then I am sure. That will give us a reserve position- remember I told you we were going to go back and squeeze- push those reserves- we will have that for you. And I also gave you that list last time around on issues. And I think you just kind of need to work through them and make some agreement on what you want to do. But I have it open. I mean, I have probably- it depends on what kind of debate you get into but you've got that morning to do whatever you want to do. If you want me to do something with what I heard you say tonight then we need to get- Lehman: I was just going to ask Council if we are interested in seeing- This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 94 Atkins: -because I have got to get these guys all round up. We all got to get at that. Lehman: Are we interested in seeing on the 30th what would happen if we did make those adjustments that we are talking about- what it does to the amount that it takes to retire GO debt and what it does to our contingency fund balance? (Several): Yes. Pfab: I would say, or even sooner ifthey- Vanderhoef: -if it is on the 25%. Pfab: So we can start- Atkins: I think Irvin is right. IfI prepare something I need to mail it out to you so you can think about it before then and then on the 30th yOU ca amend it n again if you want to. But I need to get something to you sooner than later. Pfab: Whatever works. Atkins: In the next couple of days. Lehman: I would encourage the Council to look through those and see if there are other things that we see that we might want to discuss on the 30th that we don't think would have a significantly negative impact if they were moved farther out. I mean, there is negatives to moving anything out. There is no question. Atkins: This remains the goal- you didn't give me a direction on how much but clearly you said that we've got to pull that down. These are ideas that you've identified. I have heard you bang around a couple of others. We may come up with a few also but I will flag those for you. Pfab: Steve, I am not sure if we are saying you've got to get this down but I think that we want to get it down. Champion: I think we are saying that we have to. Lehman: Irvin, that is exactly fight. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 95 Pfab: We may have to bite the bullet and go on. Atkins: That is a good point. Pfab: And I think we really want to. Lehman: I don't want to do something that is going to be really harmful, and we will bite the bullet and go with what we have to. O'Donnell: I don't like all of this talk about biting the bullet and all. Atkins: Staff folks- I think we will just have a scheduled CIP meeting. And you all are okay? Before you all- yeah, we will do it Wednesday. Let's get started on this Wednesday. But I want to try to get you something at least a day or two in advance so you can think about it before. And we will try to offer a description of what those things are. Can I have two more minutes? Lehman: Yes. Arkins: Tomorrow night is Boards and Commissions. You are booked all evening. You have seen that list. A couple of things- if you add something- okay, I won't go any further. I won't say it. I won't dare. If you do add something- if you add something- please keep in mind two factors. One time- one time and we are done- but if it is a recurring expense then we get into trouble. That is the one- this is (can't hear). Also in those handouts we gave you the number available for 8 agencies is the same as last year. Your budgets show $443,000 and it should read $466,000. That was our- so it is the same as you had last year in dollars. Now, some of the things went away but the dollar figure I kept the same. Champion: I think the thing that is important for people to remember about that is last year we had some money left- some funds- and so people of the 8 agencies not only got what they asked but they all got more money than they asked. So, when they don't get what they asked this year I think that would be easily understood and we may have to just give them the same as we gave them last year. They got a real boost last year. Wilburn: We are going to discuss (can't hear). Champion: Oh, I am sorry. Lehman: Oh. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201 January 22, 2001 Council Work Session Page 96 Atkins: I just want you to understand what is in the budget as far a dollar figure, which does not have a direct beating on Ross. I just want you to know what we the staff put in. This is what you have got to work with. And the budget was balanced around that number. If you add to it then we have to talk about it. That is all I have. Lehman: I have just one thing to add. We are going to get requests from a number of folks and I think we have seen the list of the people that have appointments with us. But we also need to remember I think we have already spent $24,000 or some such- just a minute- no, we spent like- $24,000 we are spending to finance the balance on the Englert this year. That is the same sort of money that we spend for Fourth of July and Arts Fest and fireworks and all of that sort of stuff. So, we have already spent $24,000. O'Dormell: $224,000. Lehman: $24,000 is the interest. Atkins: Anything else you need from all of us? We will get started on this for you. Pfab: Do we cut the insurance back? Lehman: We don't insure it anymore. Atkins: Thank you for your time. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of January 22, 2001. WST012201