HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-20 Transcription
March 20, 2006
March 20, 2006
Council:
Staff:
City Council Work Session
Page I
City Council Work Session
6:30 PM
Bailey, Champion, Correia, Elliott, O'Donnell, Vanderhoef, Wilburn
Atkins, Davidson, Dilkes, Fowler, Franklin, Helling, Karr, Knoche,
Logsden, O'Brien, O'Malley, Somerson
TAPES: 06-28 Side 2, 06-30 both sides, 06-31 Side I
Plannlnl! and Zonlnl! Items
Franklin:
Wilburn:
Franklin:
Franklin:
Elliott:
Franklin:
Elliott:
Franklin:
Ok.
Let's go.
a) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
APRIL 4 ON AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY PLAN (OPDH-12) FOR
SILVERCREST PART 3 ON 12.17 ACRES LOCATED AT
AMERICAN LEGION ROAD AND SCOTT
BOULEVARD. (REZ05-00026/SUB05-00019)
Zoning items. First you have some setting public hearings for April 4th. The first
one is a reiteration of Silvercrest Part 3. This is the development on the comer of
Scott Boulevard and American Legion Road.
b) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
APRIL 4 ON AN ORDINANCE REZONING A 1.51-
ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED ON KOUNTRY LANE SE EAST
OF SYCAMORE STREET FROM INTERIM DEVELOPMENT-
MULTI-FAMILY (ID-RM) TO LOW DENSITY MULTI-FAMILY
(RM-12). (REZ06-00003)
Next you have a rezoning of 1112 acres. This is on Kountry Lane, which is east
of Sycamore and east of the Sycamore L. It feels like it's in the county but it's
not.
When you go down Sycamore,
You take a left.
Clear to the end? Oh, take a left going to the soccer fields.
Toward the soccer fields. Those apartments there.
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c) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
APRIL 4 ON AN ORDINANCE REZONING A 1-
ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED AT DUBUQUE ROAD AND
NORTH DODGE STREET FROM LOW DENSITY SINGLE.
FAMILY (RS-5) TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY-LOW
DENSITY SINGLE.FAMIL Y (OPD-5). (REZ06-00004)
Franklin:
The third hearing that you'll be setting for April 4th is on Dubuque Road and
North Dodge Street, from RS-5 to OPD-5. That's on the northwest quadrant of
that intersection of Dubuque Road and North Dodge.
d) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
APRIL 4 ON AN ORDINANCE REZONING A 1.8-ACRE
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1803/1835 BOYRUM STREET FROM
INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI-1) TO COMMUNITY
COMMERCIAL (CC-2). (REZ06-00005)
Franklin:
And then the fourth public hearing is a rezoning for the Hyvee on Boyrum from
CI-I to CC-2. Essentially that will bring the Hyvee out to Boyrum, expansion of
the Hy-Vee toward Boyrum there, where Yen Ching was.
Elliott: Was?
Franklin: Well, will be was.
Elliott: Really?
Franklin: Yeah.
Vanderhoef: Yen Ching has gone out.
O'Donnell: Will be was.
Franklin: Will be was, yeah.
Elliott: Sure.
e) AMENDING A CONDITIONAL ZONING AGREEMENT TO
REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR A 30 FOOT LANDSCAPE
SETBACK FROM HIGHWAY 1 FOR A .63 ACRE PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 809-817 HIGHWAY 1 WEST.
Franklin:
Ok. Item E is a public hearing amending the conditional zoning agreement to
remove a thirty-foot landscape buffer requirement on Highway I for .63-acre
property. This is Auto House. This is the general location and the specific area
that we're talking about here is this area right here that is currently in grass. And
the proposal that was required when we rezoned this property from I-I to CI-I
and the request is to remove that requirement for that 30-foot green space to kind
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of make this even out here and have the paving come over such that they can
display car, which they've been doing on the grass anyway.
(laughter)
Franklin: So, you know. This will all be landscaped along here, as it is in front of
Autohaus, and that met with a favorable response from the Planning and Zoning
Commission on a vote of 5 to 0, and is recommended for a change. Any
questions on that?
Wilburn: No.
Elliott: Nope.
f) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING 9.72-ACRES OF LAND
LOCATED WEST OF FOSTER ROAD FROM INTERIM
DEVELOPMENT-RESIDENTIAL (ID-RS) TO PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT HOUSING-LOW DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY
(OPD-5) (PASS AND ADOPT)
Franklin: Item F then is pass and adopt on the rezoning ofthe property known as Elk Run.
The only thing I would point out to you is that there have been some materials
changes on the building which, as the developer was proceeding with this, they
found that the costs of what had been proposed were going to exceed what they
felt was economically feasible. Those material changes, however, do not change
the conditions of the zoning agreement which was sent to you by the Planning
and Zoning Commission. We have made the judgement at the administrative
level that these are fairly minor changes. Essentially, it's taking off some of the
lodge-like features in the gables and the plasters, instead of being stone, will be
brick. So it's some fairly minor design changes.
g) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF
WINDSOR WEST, PART ONE, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB06-
00002)
Franklin: Item G is a resolution approving the final plat of Windsor West, Part One. This
is the southerly part of the Windsor West project that you looked at previously
for the preliminary plat and is, as you see it, essentially, 37 lots.
Vanderhoef: Karin, that was the one that we mentioned that we would like over-wide sidewalk
up to that connection to the park.
Franklin: That was something that was raised, yes, during that preliminary plating stage at
the Council. I don't know that there was a majority that was after that. The
outline of the street had been done by the time that the preliminary plat was done,
so that is not anticipated with this particular subdivision. My understanding was
that was something that I know you, Dee were interested in doing. I think it's
something we need to talk about as we do our subdivision regulations. If that is
something that there is a majority of people that they want to have included in
our standards, because it's not currently in our standards.
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Vanderhoef: It is and it isn't. But in subdivision I know it's not in there, so, ifthere's nobody
else interested, I'm just trying to open up that possibility from a street that we'll
be upgrading that will have a major trail on it.
Franklin: American Legion Road.
Vanderhoef: American Legion Road. And I wanted at least one sidewalk going in that would
connect people with the park and it would show them, from American Legion
Road, where the connect is. Otherwise, they're all going to go out to Scott
Boulevard and try to wind their way in again to the same location, and we're
going to be growing east of this area right now, so putting it in at this point and
time I think would be a real positive addition to the trail.
Bailey: I'm sorry, I'm not following where the sidewalk would be, so could you remind
me?
Franklin: It would be on this side.
Bailey: Ok.
Franklin: If you were going to do it in this circumstance, it would be on this side of the
road, if! can go back for a second. The reason is, is that up here there is a trail
that will go back toward Scott Park.
Bailey: Scott Park. Got it.
Franklin: And I think Dee's thinking is that if you're down here on American Legion,
you're on an eight-foot sidewalk; if you had an eight-foot sidewalk here, that it
would cue you into there being a visual.
Bailey: Ok. And so.
Franklin: We can do that with signage, also.
Bailey: There are just normal sidewalks throughout there,
Correia: Because those are lots, going to be, we don't generally have that.
Vanderhoef: It would be three feet more on one side of the street, is what.
Bailey: Can we do it with signage?
Franklin: It can be done with signage, yes, it can easily be done with signage. The
question is ifthat meets what the intent is.
Vanderhoef: Well, the intent obviously would be both the connection and knowing that there
will be families there and space on that sidewalk for wheelchairlbicycles and
stuff to meet other traffic.
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Franklin: It would be, and the reason I suggest that we talk about it as we're doing the
subdivision regulations is that because that would be a significant change from
the sidewalk requirements that we have now in terms of having an eight-foot
sidewalk on a local street. So, we're talking about then the question of who pays
for that, is the developer cost, does the city pay the overwidth on that? Is that the
best way to guide people through a trail system? And I think those are all valid
things to talk about, in that that is a time when it would be appropriate to do that.
So we have it on a very general basis.
Elliott: What's the cost differential between, what is it, three feet to eight feet? Five feet,
eight feet, what are we?
Franklin: Well, right now we have a four-foot requirement for sidewalks on local streets,
and so it would be doubling the size of that sidewalk. In the subdivision
regulations that we're talking about, just at the staff level now, we're looking at a
five-foot sidewalk, so it would be, if those are adopted, it would be the difference
between five and eight. That's where we are.
Vanderhoef: That's where I got my three feet.
Wilburn: It would be consistent with connectivity with the trail system.
Franklin: Yes.
Bailey: Right.
Elliott: And you're talking about - excuse me-
Wilburn: Go ahead.
Elliott: You're talking about five feet, making it a uniform five feet now, which is, kind
of, splitting the difference.
Franklin: Well, that, no actually, the five feet is independent of the issue that Dee is talking
about. Five feet is just to, we have a lot of people that use our sidewalks. That's
kind of the idea. Four feet, depending on its maintenance, it kind of gets
scooched in at the edges as people don't do their edging or whatever. Five feet
then gives you just that little bit more, so if you've got bicycles, people walking
it's better than a scooched in four.
Champion: A scooched in four.
Elliott: Scooch. I like that.
Champion: Karin, what size are the sidewalks like in my neighborhood?
Franklin: Those are four.
Champion: They're four?
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Franklin: Yeah, if that, anymore.
Bailey: People walk a lot on the grass.
Vanderhoef: Are arterials where we put in the eight-foot?
Franklin: Arterials are where we put the eight-foot. On Scott Boulevard, one side of Scott
Boulevard is eight feet, and that's the standard, is eight foot on one side of an
arterial. - I think - Mr. Davidson, is that correct? Yep.
O'Donnell: The sidewalk is not required to be eight feet now.
Franklin: No.
O'Donnell: And this is adding something to what's already been approved and required, so I
think we're, it's for discussion down the road, not for this project.
Franklin: Yes, and we can, in this particular instance, we can look at signage, because
that's something we have control over at any time.
O'Donnell: Signage would be the way to go.
Bailey: I would like to do that certainly.
Correia: Yeah, I would like to do signage too. Even ifthere was a bigger sidewalk, it's
still, people that don't know where the trail is, even ifthere was a big sidewalk,
signs are going to help them.
Vanderhoef: I think our citizens are getting at that point that they recognize that the overwidth
is part of the trail system.
Correia: If they've been around for a long time, and I mean, if they are new bicyclists or
new to the community, they might not.
Bailey: I think it's to understand where all the trails are.
Vanderhoef: l'lllook at it certainly at subdivision time. And also consider the city picking up
the overwidth cost like we do on the arterials.
Franklin: Ok. That's it on the Planning and Zoning items.
Moss Propertv
Wilburn:
Good. Moss properties. Are you up to this?
Franklin:
I am. I think I'm up to it. Up for it. Ok. You received from me the
memorandum and then the correspondence that I had with Mr. Moss back in
2002. Obviously, this has some history to it. Over time, with the expansion of
NCS at that time, Pearson now, there has always been discussions of how to get
access to this property, to the west of the Pearson property, and as you can see on
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the drawing, right here is the existing fann access, and that fann access has been
in place, and has been retained, through all of the various expansions to
NCS/Pearson over time. Also during those expansions there was discussion of
what would happen as this property to the west developed, and at one point in
time there was a reservation of a fifty foot piece at the north boundary of the
NCS/Pearson property that went over, well, I think it went all the way to the
highway, but I'd have to verity that. But obviously what is up here is Rapid
Creek. So the last time that this discussion occurred, which was in the mid-80s,
the conclusion at that time was not to have this reservation on the northern part of
the property but to put a provision in an agreement that at such time as the city
deemed necessary, that the city would negotiate with NCS at that time, now
Pearson, for a, I would say, a dedicated right of way, because that's what's in the
resolution even though it's not in the agreement per say. The idea being that
there would be some street that would get you over from Highway I to the Moss
property. Mr. Moss has asked now that the Council act on that agreement from
1995 and begin negotiations with Pearson to get access to his property. That is
the question before you, as to whether now is the time?
Elliott: Yes.
O'Donnell: Yes.
Champion: Yes.
Bailey: Yes.
Franklin: Ok. I hear four yes's. We will talk to Pearson.
Champion: No time like the present.
Franklin: Ok.
Vanderhoef: Show me real quick where the access road is right now.
Franklin: Right now it's a fann access, and you come in through the parking lots, no, you
probably take your tractor around the edge here, and then you come over here,
and then you go through the lot, and up here, and right there.
Vanderhoef: Ok, so this similar size drawing that goes around the southwest and is not
connecting up to the fann road?
Franklin: This one?
Vanderhoef: Uh Huh.
Franklin: No that's just circulation on Pearson's property. I mean, you could, get there,
you could come in, I suppose - I don't know what the exact wording is of the
agricultural access easement, but I presume you could drive your tractor this way
and come around.
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March 20, 2006
(laughter)
O'Donnell:
Bailey:
Franklin:
Bailey:
Wilburn:
Franklin:
Vanderhoef:
(laughter)
Franklin:
Vanderhoef:
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I'm sure we'll figure out the best way to get there.
But, but, but.
Yeah.
Ok, thanks.
Are you Economic Coordinator position, too?
Mmm hmm. Yeah, and then I'll be out of your hair.
Look at all the hats she's wearing tonight. Really, it's very becoming.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Economic Development Coordinator Position
Franklin:
Ok. As you all know, Steve Nasby has gone on to bigger and better things in
Wyndham, MN, and that gave us an opportunity, or presents an opportunity, to
look at the position of Economic Development and evaluate how it's working,
what the city wants as its position for economic development. Historically, Iowa
City has taken somewhat of a responsive role to economic development in that
the support ofICAD was for the recruitment of businesses to Iowa City. The
Chamber was the entity that was kind of the nurturer of existing businesses and
looking at business expansion, and what the City's role was to be responsive
when there was a business that was interested in the City, that we would have
information available for them, we would work with them as they went through
any kind of incentive package and do all of the mechanics of that. So, that's why
I describe it as somewhat of a responsive role. In meeting with the Economic
Development Committee, there is clearly a sentiment to have this role be a much
more active, assertive role, someone who would be out there in a variety of ways
which I've tried to articulate on the two-page addendum to the memo which just
describes some possible tasks that this person would do in addition to that
responsive and maybe more technical role, that this would also be an expectation
that this person would be very much a part of advocating for corridor
development, for economic development in the City, working with various
groups in the community that are advocates of economic development and trying
to grow our tax base, grow quality jobs, be attentive to what is happening in the
downtown, be attentive to what is happening in our various commercial centers,
and trying to foster that growth and enhancement of those areas. So, in order to
do that that would require a full time position. Currently, Economic
Development, since David Schoon left, which it was a full time position at that
time, that was around the time when we had some reductions in state funding, we
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Wilburn:
Champion:
Bailey:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
Elliott:
O'Donnell:
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were tight in the budget, we needed to look at areas where we could economize,
and so joined the Economic Development with Community Development, and
the funding for Economic Development has diminished by .5, so it was at a .5
FTE when Steve Nasby left last month. So, in order for it to be a full time
position, we'll require that we add to that local funds for the remaining .5 FTE.
The question for you tonight as a Council as a whole is whether you wish us to
go forward with that?
Comments? Or anyone from the Economic Development Committee want to add
anything to what Karin has said?
Well, I think we all feel that we have to be much more aggressive in recruiting
business opportunities for Iowa City. We have to increase our budget, otherwise
we're not going to increase it because of rental property. So we need to be much
more aggressive, and especially now that this is the state talking about making
all apartments the roll back? We're going to be in big trouble. So we want to see
this position filled by somebody with a lot of energy, and someone who is really
dynamic, and we think it could really work for us. We need to work beyond the
Chamber. This isn't anything against the Chamber, but we need to have
somebody out there tooting our horn.
And I think the Committee, as Connie said, views this as an investment rather
than an expense, because the intent is to grow the tax base, and the intent is also
to really have somebody who can produce, not just be out there and visible, but
actually somebody who is bringing business to Iowa City.
And I think, too, in the description you pointed out, partner with the Convention
and Visitor's Bureau to promote downtown Iowa City, but in the years to come,
it's going to be more to it than that, it's not only going to be recruiting businesses
but people, ifthere's going to be a workforce shortage in Iowa as projected, than
Iowa City in general needs to be more appealing to both businesses and people to
fill those jobs.
And I think the work with the Technology Corridor Business Alliance is going to
be critical to be visible with that group, because they are looking at the corridor
as a whole, looking at the labor set area, looking at recruiting people, and I think
that that's really important, that we are at that table, and up to this point 1 don't
really think we have been.
I'm the third member of that group that rather enthusiastically and unanimously
approved this. I look at this as a necessary investment in the future. At the
meeting I was asked rather pointedly, Bob, are you comfortable with this? And I
remember saying, no, I'm not comfortable with it. I'm very much in favor of it.
That doesn't mean I'm comfortable, because I think there are other positions that
I've tried to get unsuccessfully, but I think you can not ruin everything because
you didn't get something. I think this is a good decision on the Council's part, if
we approve this. Am I comfortable? No. Is it a necessity? I think it is. !t's very
much an investment, a necessary investment, in the future.
Agreed.
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Correia:
I agree too. Ijust have, because we already passed the budget, how is this?
How, what's the plan? Is it budget neutral? It's going to come from?
Franklin:
The man with the socks over there.
(laughter)
Vanderhoef: Well, I was going to ask a question of Karin first before we do that.
Franklin: Yes.
Vanderhoef: Is there a way to realign the Planning Department, which is your bailiwick, and
use the same staff that we have but have a full time Economic Development and
rearrange the department just in general?
Franklin: Well, I'll answer that two-fold. I mean, anything is possible. I think that there
probably is a skill-set in this person that we do not have in the department right
now. That's probably number one. The second part is that we are going to be
doing some rearranging, limiting what happens in the department, in the
Community Development division already. Community Development had a, at
least a 10% cut this year; we anticipate at least that next year, and so we are
going to have to rearrange some people within that division and not hire an
additional person. So, some of that tightening is going to be there regardless. So
what it would mean would be to be taking somebody from some other division,
and I think that's where you get to the skill-set part of it.
Vanderhoef: It's basically letting go of a half time person someplace else to go out and hire a
full time person that has the skill sets.
Franklin: Yeah, and it's because we've got different funding pots that this is all done with.
Vanderhoef: I know, I know - it's complicated.
Franklin: It's yeah, it's complicated.
Vanderhoef: And I don't disagree with your assessment of skill sets and so forth. I think we
were very fortunate that we had someone that we could use in the last time, and if
we could reincarnate Steve Nasby somehow or another, he certainly did a good
job for us, wearing a lot of hats.
Bailey: I just want to point out, Joe Raso was in on this discussion a little bit, and he did
point out that he felt the most effective person would be viewed as a more of a
business person more than a planner, so to echo that skill set issue.
Vanderhoef: Yeah. Vh huh.
Franklin: Not that planners aren't wonderful.
(laughter)
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Elliott: Well said.
Bailey: They're fabulous.
Wilburn: Stephen.
Bailey: Funding.
Correia: The funding.
Several: The money.
Atkins: What I thought we would do, is when you adopted the budget, the halftime
position is already in the budget, you make that assumption, so you need another
halftime. And I would suggest, and I haven't got the proportions just yet, but
water and sewer fund, because the purpose is to create additional customers, and
we look at it from a customer-driven basis for our water and sewer system, and
the airport. The airport is said frequently that economic development and the
economy and the economic issues that they bring, the positive economic issues
that they bring to the community, so I would be suggesting that they pay a
proportion. Right now that's a general fund. As soon as the financing settles out,
I have got to believe that they should be able to cover that. So it would be water,
sewer, airport.
Bailey: Great.
Correia: Makes sense.
Vanderhoef: May I go back to one thing? Real quick, Karin? I'm sorry, I didn't get all my
questions asked. It's not that I don't want the road to Moss, but could we have
an update, please, of the water and sewer situation to the Moss property and how
that fits into our total capacity? I know we've always talked about that area north
of 80 and how much more capacity we have for it, but could we just have a
review of that so we know what we're getting into?
Franklin: Mmm hmm.
Atkins: And so you're aware, that's also a question that staff had raised in considering
the matter. Can we service it? We have plenty of water capacity, as far as
production capacity.
Wilburn: We probably shouldn't have too much more discussion, because the folks who
might have been interested in hearing this discussion have left.
Atkins: Ok. Good point.
O'Donnell: That's good.
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Dilkes: We'll do a memo that will go out and be in your packet and so that will give
where we are with that.
Vanderhoef: Ok. And the second thing that I had thought of that I wanted information on, as I
recall right now, we have just a TIF district that is on the east side of Highway I.
Franklin: Northgate Corporate Park, yeah.
Vanderhoef: And just look at the potential of expanding that district, if this is to be
commercial, or office park.
Franklin: Ok. So on the Economic Development position, we have a majority that says
yes.
Wilburn: It looks like we do.
Franklin: Ok, if any of you have any comments, and this doesn't have to be now, please
email me or send me any comments that you have about the work list, if there's
anything, I've already put workforce recruitment as a possible issue that might
come up for this person, because I'd like to have a clear sense of expectations
from the Council as to what you would like the person to achieve, other than, you
know, wonderful things and bring in lots of money for the City. You have a
memo, I think, on the retail incubator visit?
V anderhoef: Yes.
Franklin: Ok. That is set for March 30th at 2:00, and, just, the Economic Development
Committee members don't travel together. The rest of you, no more than 3 of
you if the moon is full. Just meet up there. We're going to convene the meeting
at the Incubator. Ok?
Vanderhoef: Address, please?
Champion: Oh, it's in the memo.
Franklin: 207 Second Avenue, SE.
Wilburn: Recycling Center East.
Champion: Oh, wait, we probably need to know if anyone else is going besides the
Economic Development Committee, we need to post the meeting, is that correct,
we'd have to post the meeting?
Karr: 1 believe the memo notes if there are more than 3 of you going, which is the
Economic Development Committee meeting, to let me know, because we will
have to post a meeting, we'll have to have a meeting.
Vanderhoef: I'm going to look at my calendar.
Karr: Ok.
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Vanderhoef: I want to go, I'll put it that way.
Atkins: All set?
Wilburn: All set.
Recvclinl! Center East
Atkins:
Dilkes:
Atkins:
Davidson:
Atkins:
(laughter)
Davidson:
(laughter)
Davidson:
Bailey
Atkins:
Elliott:
Atkins:
Davidson:
Atkins:
Regenia, will you send these around to folks? I'm handing out a map for you,
take a quick look at it. What we have this evening is in effect, in a sense, an idea,
and before we get too involved in it we wanted to run this idea by you, because
it's a reasonably significant contribution of resources. Most of us are familiar
with Habitat for Humanity and their Restore project. They've been looking for
some time, they're currently in Coralville, I'm not so sure what the arrangement
is, but they're getting booted out. So, they're looking for another site, and they
have entered into a contract for the purchase of some property on Scott
Boulevard. If you look at this, with Freedom Circle to your right, the properly is
immediately across the street to your left. I was asking Dale, is that a trapezoid
or a rhombus, or whatever you call that thing?
This?
Yeah.
It's a rhombus.
It's a rhombus? Thank you. You stayed awake in that lecture.
It was like 4th grade.
I didn't mean it like that.
The education system has changed.
I didn't use candles, you know.
I love it.
You know I will get even on you with that.
Ok.
They have this ground. It's a little over three acres, the building you see on the
side is about 9000 square feet.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 14
Elliott: What building is?
Bailey: Where are we?
Correia: Yeah, where are we?
Atkins: Right here.
Franklin: Scott Boulevard.
Vanderhoef: On the west side of Scott here.
Elliott: But, what's the building? What's in there?
Atkins: It used to be Waste Management.
Elliott: Oh, yes. So this is between the railroad tracks and the grocery store.
Atkins: Sort of, yes. Ok, yeah.
Elliott: Fairway.
Bailey: This is Highway 6, right?
Atkins: Right there.
Correia: Where's Highway 6?
Champion: Where's Highway 6?
Atkins: Down there.
Davidson: Bottom of the page.
Vanderhoef: This is north.
Davidson: Oh, you turn that north, left side of the page.
Wilburn: And for the benefit of the City Manager, I believe that is a trapezoid. A rhombus
is an equilateral parallel. You were right, Steve.
Bailey: Oh my gosh.
Elliott: May I be excused?
(laughter)
Bailey:
Geometry is not on the agenda.
Wilburn:
Moving right along.
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meeting of March 20, 2006.
March 20, 2006
Atkins:
Bailey:
Atkins:
Champion:
Atkins:
Bailey:
Atkins:
Bailey:
Atkins:
Bailey:
Atkins:
Davidson:
Atkins:
City Council Work Session
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Habitat has it under contract. They've come to us, they have a CDBG grant
pending for the renovation ofthe building, and as we got to talking with them
about it and some of our own interest in expanding recycling initiatives, the
suggestion, the idea developed that why can't we have the 9000 square foot
building (they ultimately would like to have something close to 20), why not
bring in other aspects of our recycling policy and make this a little more
comprehensive? This is in effect going to be like a store. It's going to be open
Monday through Friday or Monday through Saturday, and we would like to bring
in the furniture project and the salvage barn.
That makes sense.
You know, we've also thought about bringing in a better grade of wood chips,
some of the compost that we have, we would deal with household, in a selective
fashion. We now have a portable household hazardous waste material van that
we could bring to the site, but we could also take it, because it's portable.
Electronics, how to get rid of those, maybe some recycling bins, in other words,
make it a reasonably comprehensive recycling center.
You have to have the furniture being available to people.
Well, we have a lot at the landfill, but it's on the west.
It's far out.
One ofthe ideas that we have is that the furniture project is only open a couple
days a month. This would allow us to make, to expand the hours significantly,
we could enter into an agreement with Habitat, who is going to have to staff the
place anyway, to do oversight for these other uses. They would probably assign
the contract to us, we would fund this from our landfill, and any capital
investment would be landfill funds. If it doesn't work, we figured a downside,
we have a decent industrial piece of property, we would just put back on the
market. The bottom line is, I'm not so sure we'd be out much. We want to start
putting this together as an idea, and I wanted at least your initial reaction before
we run a formal proposal to you.
Do you have ballpark?
Beg your pardon?
Ball park costs?
The ground and building is under contract for $700,000.00, correct?
730.
730.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 16
Elliott: Steve, you're talking about comprehensive recycling. Are you looking at
magazines and newspapers and bottles and plastics?
Atkins: We would put recycling bins there, exactly to the extent to which, Bob, I don't
know just yet.
Elliott: Would that be then working with City Carton?
Atkins: Oh, we always do. Oh, we're under contract with City Carton because they are
the receiver of recycled materials.
Elliott: In other words, this would not be detrimental.
Atkins: Oh, no, quite the contrary, it should be advantageous to it.
Elliott: It should be advantageous, ok.
Bailey: And you've talked to the Salvage Barn as well, right?
Atkins: Beg your pardon?
Bailey: Salvage Barn?
Atkins: Salvage Barn, furniture project and Restore Habitat for Humanity, those three
major uses and then some peripheral uses - the Public Works Department has
actually talked about maybe putting a salt/sand bin. I need to think about that a
little bit more. That would allow us to do a lot quicker response time for snow
removal on the east side of town as well. We need to think about that. But the
primary motivation is to have a second recycling center.
Wilburn: Well, and if it's more convenient for some folks on the east side it may
encourage that and then the end result is more stuff going over to City Carton.
Atkins: City Carton is aware of that and that we're interested.
Vanderhoef: Is that Heinz Road just?
Atkins: I'm sorry Dee, I didn't hear that?
Vanderhoef: Is Heinz Road just north? There's one property between this and?
Atkins: Mmhh hmmm. That's Knutsons there, yeah, the odd-shaped building there.
Vanderhoef: Ok.
Elliott: That is odd-shaped.
Atkins: Just making a statement.
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March 20, 2006
Champion:
Atkins:
Bailey:
Atkins:
Bailey:
Davidson:
Atkins:
Bailey:
Elliott:
Davidson:
Atkins:
Bailey:
Davidson:
Bailey:
Atkins:
Davidson:
Bailey:
Elliott:
Atkins:
City Council Work Session
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Well, I think it would encourage people to take their furniture - it's hard to get
people to take furniture out to the landfill. It seems so far away.
It does seem far, and remember the rule, the downside of the furniture project is
getting someone to go out and pick it up, and we think, even if we have to staff
this, we think in the long haul- I'm proposing it all landfill funds, no general
fund expenditure.
And we would work with Habitat to staff it? They wouldn't be City staff?
That's one of the ideas, Regenia, I don't know for sure.
I mean, there's some job development opportunities there, I guess, through
programs.
Austin, you know, alternately, Austin Baeth has been talking around the
University trying to set up a trash-to-treasure type of program right now, so a
different point of view (can't hear) would be great.
We've had a, sort ofa running issue with the students in the apartments and so
forth, and we've just never been able to put it together. I would like to, I want to
reenergize the recycling position, get it up and running, because we need to get
recycling out ofthose apartments, because there are too many apartment units
that just simply don't participate.
You mean a trash-to-treasure move-out weekend, or comprehensively?
Yeah.
Well, comprehensively, but I think move-out weekend is the main time for that.
Yeah.
Yeah, so people don't necessarily have to pick it up off the curb.
Exactly, so they could put it out, bring it to a spot.
Oh, that would be cool.
Yep. That's one of the ideas.
So, I know a spot with something, we had trouble with, so this something that
could potentially work to both.
That would be very cool.
And the cost is $730,000.00, capital improvement.
$730,000.00 is for the purchase. Now remember, they've, Habitat for Humanity,
we'd have to make.some arrangements with them. I'd like to, right now, I'd like
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March 20, 2006
Elliott:
Atkins:
Elliott:
Atkins:
O'Donnell:
Atkins:
O'Donnell:
Atkins:
O'Donnell:
Atkins:
O'Donnell:
Correia:
Atkins:
Correia:
Atkins:
Correia:
Atkins:
Bailey:
City Council Work Session
Page 18
to do some payment in lieu of property taxes, there is a number of things I want
to discuss with them. But in return, they could help staff the site and look out for
our interests.
But this property would be owned by the City?
The property would be owned by the City, yeah, that's correct. They would
become a tenant.
In cooperation with Habitat, would be a tenant, and we anticipate our hope, do
we anticipate they would at least assist in staffing?
Yes. Oh, absolutely. That's one of the advantages was that they want to open
this Restore and they want business hours, 8 - 5, well, they're going to have to
have someone there that can provide some of the onsite oversight. What we
would likely do is because we like weekend traffic in there, that's where we'd
have to make some changes. Cause a lot of these are great, we understand.
Steve, how big is that building?
9000 square feet.
How much would we have to put into the building?
That's really up to Restore. Right now, the building for our use would be usable
right now.
Well, it just doesn't look like it's that big. When I drive by?
Karin, does 9000, is that what you recall? Yeah,9000?
Well, ok.
So, the City would buy it with the?
Landfill funds.
The landfill funds, and then they're applying for the CDBG for renovating the
inside for their use.
That's right, and then they would become a tenant, with us. It's like leasing a
piece of property and.
Right, right, right, I was just checking on the.
Yep.
And you said the downside, if it didn't work, what would that look like, not
working, I mean what does, what does working look like and what does not
working look like?
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 19
Atkins: Well, if it just fell flat on its face and we got no use at all. One of the things I'd
like to develop out of here is we do need some performance measurements to
ensure that.
Bailey: Right.
Atkins: But I'm just saying if, even if a change in Council, and Council says we're not
interested in doing this stuff anymore, what you've got is a piece of industrial
property you just put up for sale.
O'Donnell: . Sounds like a good idea.
Bailey: I think it's a great idea.
Dilkes: You are going to have, you're going to have to have a long-term lease.
Atkins: Oh, absolutely, I mean, Restore is going to want something of some
consequence.
Champion: Well, I love the idea.
Correia: I think it's a great idea.
Bailey: The weekend hours will benefit them, I mean, for people who work on their
houses.
Atkins: Oh, yeah, oh there are advantages for us and for them, and I think getting the
furniture project and the salvage part in there could be very positive.
Bailey: Yeah, because the salvage part is open, what, twice a month?
Atkins: Twice, two Saturdays a month, I think, does that sound right? Two Saturdays a
month.
Vanderhoef: Salvage Barn uses a lot of volunteers also.
Atkins: Yes.
Vanderhoef: That may be tapped into, certainly for the recycled products that they're trying to
put up.
Atkins: Well, I think Historic Preservation Commission folks and the Historic
Preservation groups in town would weight in on this.
Bailey: Have you talked, you haven't talked to them yet?
Atkins: No.
Champion: (can't hear) provide a lot of volunteers, too.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 20
Atkins:
Yeah.
Bailey:
Well, they provide volunteers to get the stuff, but not to keep the door open.
Atkins:
My concern is, while we're not in a residential neighborhood, we're close enough
that this has got to be tidy, it's gonna have to be picked up, tended to, sometimes
some of our recycling enthusiasts can be a little sloppy.
(laughter)
Vanderhoef: Well, the businesses around them will certainly want to see it tidy.
Atkins: Yeab. Well, unless I hear otherwise, we're going to start putting together a
formal proposal to bring back to you.
O'Donnell: It's a good idea.
Bailey: Yeah. How quickly?
Atkins: Ah, well, probably weeks, because they have a contract.
Bailey: That's what I wondered.
Dilkes: We need to see what the terms of that contract are.
Atkins: We need to deal with that, yeah.
Elliott: If this is going to be in fact, comprehensive recycling in addition to the other
furniture, the people on the southeast side ofIowa City, speaking as one of those
people on the southeast side ofIowa City, are going to be, I think, pleased at
having the proximity.
Bailey: Yeah.
Vanderhoef: Having the hazardous waste there is a real positive if you know it's going to be
there every Saturday, and not this appointment.
Bailey: That would be nice.
Elliott: Oh yeah.
Bailey: Yeah. That appointment thing stinks.
Atkins: Well, we try to work and call it the household hazardous waste -gets folks a little
nervous, so.
Vanderhoef: Whatever we call it, it's the appointment thing.
Bailey: That makes it daunting to people, they don't even just call.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 21
Atkins: Well, what we'd like to be able to do, because it is portable, we can say, every
other Saturday it's going to be there, come on out.
Vanderhoef: First and third Saturday.
Atkins: That's right, whatever it is. All set? It's a go, we'll put it together.
Elliott: Set.
Wilburn: Thank you.
Champion: You know, another idea that you could do with that recycling truck. I'm sorry,
use the neighborhood elementary schools' parking lot.
Bailey: Oh that would be nice. It would make it really convenient.
Atkins: I'll bet you even some of the churches would weigh in.
Champion: Yeah.
Atkins: Because most of them have large parking lots as well. I would suspect they
would have some interest in the thing.
Bailey: Yeah, I think we need to get out.
Vanderhoef: Twice a year at this church, twice a year at that church, park it out there and let
them fill it up.
Atkins: Yep. Ok. Thank you.
Aid to Al!cncv Fundinl!
Wilburn:
Aid to Agency funding. I will be stepping away from the table. I work for an
organization that's an applicant.
Bailey:
I don't have that on this.
Elliott:
I don't see that on the agenda.
O'Donnell:
It's not on there.
Champion:
Here it is. Aid to Agency funding.
Wilburn:
Under Recycling Center.
Bailey:
Oh, not on this one.
O'Donnell:
I have Bus Routes.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 22
Correia:
On which one?
Elliott:
It's on the (can't hear) we got a focus sheet.
Bailey:
Outdated.
Correia:
Oh, there it is.
(can't hear)
Elliott:
Making his own agenda.
(laughter)
Karr: Ok, you should have a spreadsheet
Wilburn: This is from the, from what's online, so it's been posted, correct, Marian?
Karr: I think it's fine.
Atkins: I'm positive that's the one that went to the press.
Correia: So, we're good.
Bailey: Dee, did you want to walk through this? Walk everybody through this, or did
you want?
Vanderhoef: Ah, I will be happy to do that. The Committee that you appointed, meaning
Regenia and myself and certainly with lots of good help from our staff person,
Linda, we've come up with
(cut off - end of tape)
Vanderhoef: Back from the agencies in how the money from Iowa City has impacted their
agency this year, and in this spirit we're going to be asking for even more of a
request for funds next year that embodies exactly what they're planning to do
with it instead of just having it as, a miscellaneous kind of request for funding.
We would hope, with that kind of request, that we would have the opportunity to
make better decisions on whether they should be re- funded because of working
towards their mission and meeting the goals that we set in the original allocation.
The numbers that you see on the sheet are, as we did last year, we used City
Steps, and the highest priority folks received a 3%, the folks with medium need
in our City Steps received 2%, and those that were low priorities are receiving
1%.
Correia: Increase, you mean, from last year?
Vanderhoef: Mmrn hmm. Of the total funds available.
Bailey: An increase based on funding they received last year. That's the increase.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 23
Vanderhoef: We have incorporated in this what we approved, what Council approved, in the
budget, which was, in total, a 3% increase, and of those funds then we have
broken it out by 3, 2 and 1.
Elliott: Dee, I had, were you going to do some more Dee? I had a question.
Vanderhoef: Go ahead. All of the questions (can't hear)
Elliott: I almost hesitate asking questions because you folks, you two have done, this is
an awfully tough job, it's an impossible job, but my questions are, one, and 1'11
ask them both at the same time, the Star program received, requested nothing, but
got 5 grand, and it appears that the two that received the largest reduction of
request and proposed, are DVIP and the Shelter House, and I thought, I'm kind
of interested in how you came up with those.
Vanderhoef: The request, we have no control of what any agency requests of us. Some of
them didn't even request anything new, as you'll notice - 4 Cs at the top - they
said $2000 is what we are requesting, and we funded them at $2000 and that's-
Bailey: That was my error, because we had that combined, so request, the $26,779 on the
line above for Shelter House, was a joint request from Shelter House, and that
was my error, because this afternoon when we were looking at this, we had them
jointly, and we suggested that it would be easier for you all to see if we split them
out, so their request was 26 for both programs.
Elliott: Ok. So, for both, ok, good. Ijust took a glance at that, arid that, it just kind of
jumped out at me, so I'm glad I asked.
Bailey: Sorry about that. Yeah, I am too.
Correia: I have a, I
Vanderhoef: And the Star programs also is contingent on them receiving that grant, which was
the same way last year. If they weren't funded from the feds, because this money
is match money. for those dollars, and those are the ones that they tell us are
roughly 3 for every dollar that we put in, which is a good leveraging.
Bailey: Amy?
Correia: I just, I like that you're using the 3% process. The one thing about that is that
programs that receive less funding, their increase is less, I understand that it's
like 3%, but it's less than programs that, because the Neighborhood Center ends
up receiving more than they even requested, using that percentage, I was just
wondering if there was a way to do even amounts.
Bailey: Right. We can do anything we choose to do that.
Correia: No, but I mean based on the priorities.
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This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
meeting of March 20, 2006.
March 20, 2006
Bailey:
Correia:
Bailey:
Correia:
Bailey:
Champion:
Bailey:
Severson:
Vanderhoef:
City Council Work Session
Page 24
One of the things that we're trying to do in order to get beyond the historic
increase is to go to more of this accountability, what your funding will be used
for and evaluation of that. And keeping in mind that, we had nothing to say
about what the funding would be used for. This year we were entirely responsive
to their requests and their indication of what they use City funding for, and I
anticipate that that might continue, depending on our priorities. But, this gives us
also the option to act more like a funder, that is to say, there is some reporting
involved and there is some accountability about how funds are used, so this may
give us the ability to move away from simply historic, across-the-board increases
(can't hear).
Oh no, I understand that part, Ijust mean, when you decided to make, to give the
agencies that are responding to high priorities in City Steps, which I think is a
great idea, because that is what we should be using our planning documents for,
because Shelter House receives such a low amount compared to like the
Neighborhood Centers, both of those received 3% increases because they meet
high priority needs, the end amount for Shelter House is an increase of $400, or
something like that, where the Neighborhood Center was an increase of, I didn't
do the math on that one, but significantly more, because they started out more.
Right. It's like pay raises. That's the way it works.
Right, I was just wondering ifthere was a way to say.
Yeah. We bring this as a proposal. You all can make any suggestions you want
to in those end numbers. We bring this to you as a starting point.
Amy, do us a little history of what we're trying to, what Amy's trying to look at
here. Right. Because some groups get larger amounts of money from us, that
'03 increase was a lot of money, and we try to reapportion all that, maybe four
years ago, so that actually some groups that were getting huge amounts of money
were cut significantly, and just because they were original recipients of this
money, and so we have, over the years looked at that quite closely and where we
wanted our money to go. And also, dislocation of services was a real concern,
so some groups may not get the same increase because they feel like they're
duplicating services, so it is kind of arbitrary, but on the other hand there is some
kind of reasoning behind it.
It's an inherited process, and I think we're still working with that aspect of it.
Linda, did you have anything to add?
I think you covered it pretty well, and I hope the agencies supplied the
information that you needed to make your recommendations.
One of the things that, in the coming year when we really are asking them to be
accountable for the money that they use, but we will be better positioned then,
with that information, to look at it in a holistic area and see whether there are
gaps within the larger community, and that's one place that we can target if we
come up with a gap like that, look at that and put it out as a possibility for the
whole group of agencies to look at and see how they can respond to a gap.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 25
Severson: Also, just to let you know the agencies have expressed appreciation a number of
times. They appreciate the fact the flexibility of the funding, they also feel that it
gives them a competitive edge in terms of applying for grants when they can say
we have local funding, we have match from local dollars, that that increases the
value or scoring of their applications, so they wanted me to pass that on to
Council.
Bailey: And you can see here that a couple of agencies are very specific about using our
funding for match of various programs. UA Y uses City funding for match for
many, ifnot all, of their federal grant funding.
Correia: What's the Youth Pre-Employment Job Training at the bottom? I guess I didn't
remember what that?
Elliott: Is that new?
Bailey: No, that's the grant, a program that the city of Iowa City developed, developed
an RFP for it, for pre-employment training for young people who are at-risk.
And it's an ongoing grant. We discussed that this afternoon, about the length of
that grant, and I guess it wasn't determined.
Correia: So do we get the grant or do we give the grant?
Bailey: We give the grant.
Correia: And where do we get the money from?
Bailey: Just from here. From Aid to Agencies.
Vanderhoef: From the (can't hear). And it's a collaboration of Goodwill and UA Y, and it was
a gap Connie and I were working on that, and Linda helped us write up a RFP,
and we had several responses to that RFP. It was sort of a rocky startup, the first
year, for a variety of stacking reasons and so forth, and it's slowly developing
into a responsible program that is meeting the original goals that we were looking
for, to get these kids the skills so they could even apply for and retain ajob.
Correia: So it's different from what Mayor's Youth Employment does?
Champion: Yes.
Vanderhoef: Mmmm hmm.
Bailey: Somewhat.
Champion: I wanted to ask a question about Mayor's Youth Employment. This was one of
the agencies that was heavily funded by the City, if not by any comparison to
other agencies. And their whole philosophy had changed since the City started
funding them. And are they doing any work now, Mayor's Youth Employment,
with at-risk kids who are not on vouchers, or what do you call that?
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Correia: Waiver?
Severson: Yes, they are.
Bailey: Plus they made that presentation, too.
Vanderhoef: The disability, some (can't hear).
Bailey: I'm sorry, Linda, go ahead.
Severson: Their focus has, their focus has expanded. They have done for several years now
service to youth who have developmental disabilities and that source of funding
comes through the Home and Community Based Waiver Program, so they offer
supervision after school during the summer, they do some respite and some
community-supported living. They also work with at-risk youth that don't have
an identified disability, they still have the Corp of Engineers contract or
agreement every summer where they work out at Lake McBride and around in
areas. They also have the bike shop, so they do work with at-risk youth in terms
of helping them identify and develop pre-employment skills and also how you
interview, those types of things, fill out an application.
Champion: Do you know the number, you probably don't know it off the top of your head,
but I'd like to know the number?
Bailey: 27.
Champion: 27. Ok.
Dilkes: The number of kids served?
Bailey: Mostly boys, at this point. And as you can see, too, it's very specific, but that's
exactly what our funding goes for, and it doesn't go for the other programs, and
that basically covers that program, I think.
Severson: And I think the majority of our local funds go to incentive wages for youth while
they're like doing internships.
Vanderhoef: And this was a response, actually, by that agency to some funding cuts that we
did to the agency about three years ago, and some of these dollars that are in the
Youth Pre-Employment Job Training, that's where those funds were generated to
start that RFP.
Correia: So the RFP comes out of where?
Bailey: It came from Council before I was on.
Vanderhoef: It's out of the Aid to Agency total funding, and it came out of that from the
beginning and it still is.
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March 20, 2006
Correia:
Champion:
Bailey:
Correia:
Severson:
Correia:
Severson:
Correia:
Severson:
Bailey:
Champion:
Bailey:
Champion:
Bailey:
Correia:
Dilkes:
Severson:
City Council Work Session
Page 27
I know, but, ok, I'm saying, so you, so this. I apologize, since.
That's all right.
Hmm mm.
That the City operates a sixteen thousand dollar grant fund process after Aid to
Agencies gets passed. Who, where do we generate the RFP, out of what? Do
you generate the RFP?
We've had one RFP request for proposal, and that was done three years ago, and
we were looking at ability to provide pre-employment and employment skill
training and also collaboration was required. We got three applications from
local agencies and after we reviewed them the recommendation was made to go
with UAY.
So we didn't do that last year.
No. It has just been renewed, so Dee and Regenia and I also talked about is there
a certain point in time when we want to open it up again or if we're satisfied with
it, do we continue to renew it, if production and they're meeting the
expectations?
So you're saying that last year it went to UA Y.
Right.
It's been going to UA Y for three years, so this was an inherited program when I
came on Council, and it continues, they're continuing to meet those original
goals, but I think it merits reevaluation by the Council, for how long. Because
one of the things, I mean, this was never intended to set up an ongoing program,
necessarily, I don't think.
It meant to be, just sort of a purpose that wasn't being addressed.
Right, but I think that we, you know, things change, and it's important to look at,
after a certain period of time, it can't just be, a grant has to end sometime.
Oh yes, it does, and maybe that's something we can talk about, but it would seem
to me that grants have to have enough time to get the program going and get
people trained and hired, so what's the minimum? I've never written a grant.
Three years is, well a multiple year, three years is a pretty good multiple year
grant in the human service world.
Three to five, three is pretty standard.
When does the current one end?
June 30lh.
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City Council Work Session
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Dilkes: Ok.
Elliott: Do you look at cost per person served on these things?
Champion: Yes.
Bailey: In some.
Elliott: I was just wondering with this pre-employment training and Mayor's Youth and
that sort, just how?
Bailey: And they're serving about the same numbers.
Vanderhoef; So we're between 55 and 60 total between the two programs.
Elliott: Yeab, I'm wondering between the two programs?
Bailey: Right, 27 was for Mayor's Youth and what did Jim say today, 25 (can't hear).
Elliott: $36,000 serving between 25 and 50 individuals?
Bailey: Yes. About 50 she said.
Vanderhoef: And that's fairly standard in the workforce development through the federal
programs.
Correia: Yeab that doesn't seem like much, really.
Vanderhoef: It seems on one hand that it's very expensive and on the other hand it's pretty
standard.
Severson: It's an investment, hopefully it has good returns.
Vanderhoef: It's like some of our other social service, our advocacy kinds of programs that,
until we get the skills, to move forward, they stay in that welfare position all of
their life. If we can catch them and get them moving and trained as young
people, I think it's a great investment.
O'Donnell: Well, I think you've done a great job on this. I don't know one thing I'd change
on it, I think it's a good document, I like the idea of more discussion next year,
but I don't know what I'd change on it, so I.
Elliott: One more question I have, is there anything that the two of you would change in
this process as you've gone through this?
Bailey: We will be changing some other things next year, in addition to, and not to make
it onerous, but to get at the purpose of the grant from the city oflowa City, we're
going to develop a one-page sheet that, in addition to the United Way
applications, that they would be very specific about Iowa City, because, as you
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know, when they fill out the United Way applications, the audience for those,
United Way, the city ofIowa City, Johnson County and the city of Coralville,
and so they can be very specific about how Iowa City funds will be used. And
then we'll also have some reporting process that we have yet to develop about
how these funds were used. Something that's not onerous, it's not a lot of
money.
Champion: (can't hear) be real careful it doesn't get to be
Bailey: No, and for $2000 we're not going to ask them to write 20-page documents,
which is mean.
Vanderhoef: And we will look at, and I'd like input on this one, if we should have a quarterly
or at least a 6-month report from the agencies on how they are moving towards
meeting the goals or if they have any barriers or if something has come up to at
least let us know what is happening.
Champion: I think that's a lot of work. I think on the sheets you give them, when they apply
for this money or to request the money, there could be a column, did you meet
your goal in Iowa City, it could be incorporated into that one-time statement.
Correia: To be like an annual report rather than, well, and quarterly.
Bailey: Perhaps when they appear before Council they can also reflect upon, that can also
be a report rather than this sort of over-arching request for funds and this is what
our agency does, it can be very specific, directed to the money they received. I
think one of the motivations for this was the Mayor's Youth program and they,
and she was very direct with me about it was very good to know exactly what
Council expectations were with the funds, and I think that other agencies
probably, it's just better to know what the expectations for accountability are.
Champion: Right. Well, thanks for doing this, it's a lot of work.
Bailey: It's not much.
Elliott: Yes.
Bailey: And I think we'll also look at the pre-employment grants in this upcoming year
and see if we want to re-issue that and I think that that's a discussion we should
have with Jim.
Champion: Do we have any reserve money in this fund?
Bailey: Yes.
Correia: Thirteen thousand.
Bailey: There's a contingency down here. Oh, no, subtotal, other human service
agencies on this.
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Champion:
Ok, thank you, thanks.
Bailey:
Ok? Is this good then? Do you understand?
O'Donnell:
Goodjob.
Elliott:
You bet.
Correia:
Go for it.
Bailey:
Thank you. Thanks, Linda.
Bus Routes
Wilburn:
Bus routes.
Fowler:
We will not do Power Point tonight.
(laughter)
Vanderhoef: We won't, or
Fowler: We will not.
Wilburn: Actually, Joe, why don't you take some time to set up? We're going to take a
ten-minute break.
Fowler: Just to give a quick recap. That's better. We started this process because the city
came into additional transit funds, and we limited ourselves to additional
moneys, not counting the Court Street money, which put us at $313,200 as our
anticipated increase in revenue, and that's dependent upon the formula and
JCCOGS staying the same. If that formula changes, then the amount of money
that we would receive would change.
Elliott: Joe, this is continuing funding? This is not one-time?
Fowler: Yes. It's a five-year program at the present time. So, just to recap, excuse me,
what we discussed at the last meeting was adding the west side route which went
out through Hunters' Run, the Westwinds area, and Hospital Ramp 2, then it
turned around at Hospital Ramp 2 and went out to Chatham Oaks for the second
leg of the trip, so that was one route. The second thing we talked about was
combining the North Dodge and Rochester routes at night, which put more
service in the North Dodge area later in the evening. The third thing that we
discussed was extending the Mall - Broadway route out to the Industrial Park to
serve that later at night, and then Council wanted us to look at adding an east side
route. The first presentation we had suggested adding half-hour service on the
Lakeside route all day long, but to add an east side route, we would have to drop
the half-hour service on Lakeside to stay within our funding guidelines. So we
looked at a route that would go out Court Street to Windsor Heights, turn around,
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come back in Court and through the new developing neighborhoods on the east
side of town.
Elliott:
And this picks upMike's friend?
(laughter)
Fowler: Your friend. The thing goes down Scott Park.
Elliott: Ok.
Bailey: This is the Green one, right?
Vanderhoef: Show me where it comes back in there again, please.
Bailey: On Rochester? Ok.
Fowler: Well, yeah. It comes back into Scott, then it would go up by the new Three Bulls
development.
Bailey: Nice.
Fowler: At Rochester and Scott Boulevard as it develops, would come in Rochester, then
the last stop at that point would be Regina, then it would express from there to
Mercy Hospital, stop at Mercy Hospital, and then go downtown. That's
approximately forty minutes to make that trip. And then we would continue it
over to the north side of the hospital, turn around at the Cambus loop on the north
side of University Hospital, and come back downtown. And that full round
would be approximately a one-hour route.
Vanderhoef: Twenty minutes on one side of the loop and forty on the other.
Fowler: Yes.
Bailey: Ok, the express from Regina to Mercy to downtown to the east, the west side
hospital. Got it.
O'Donnell: That's great.
Champion: Can I just back track a minute, because you said the Lakeside route would be
every half-hour - did you decide not to do that?
Fowler: Right. To get the funding to run - the east side and the west side buses are
proposed to run 13 hours a day, and to get the funding to run those, that long, we
couldn't do that and the Lakeside. The Lakeside was approximately $80, 000,
$78,000 a year to run that half-hour service mid-day, and so we took that money,
put it on the east side. Now, in addition to this, we would be dropping the west
side loop school bus, because it goes basically the same area that our current
Plaen View and the new west side bus would go, so it would just be a duplicate
bus that was running on the same routes.
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Correia: So it would still have service, it would be part ofthe bus, yeah.
Fowler: Yes, it would still have service, it just would be, right, instead of having service
only twice a day, they'd have service all day long.
Elliott: You're talking about Lakeside, still?
Vanderhoef: No.
Correia: He's talking about west side.
Elliott: West side. Ok. Lakeside, you want it to go half hour, now it's every hour?
Fowler: We'll have to keep it as it is.
Elliott: Ok.
Fowler: The one thing that we should keep in mind is that these changes amount to
$313,000 as we've estimated, so we're right at the dollar amount that we had
talked about. Next year at this time we'll have the Court Street money, we'll
have the Court Street money in the bank and we'll know how much money we're
going to raise off of that facility. At that time we can corne back and look at
adding additional routes, increasing service. One of the things that corne up
during our previous discussion was increasing service to the Lodge, and the only
way we can see increasing service to the Lodge would be to discontinue service
on the 7th Avenue route and run back-to-back Lodge routes. We don't really see
that as a viable option, but it's the one way we could put additional service out
there with the number of buses and funding constraints that we currently have.
Another item that was discussed was Sunday service. Sunday service costs
basically the same as adding one route, because we would run five buses for one
day instead of one bus for five days, so, that could either be an option for
discussion next year as additional funds corne along, or decide not to do one of
the routes that we've proposed.
Bailey: I'd like to add it to the list for next year, because I've heard people talk about
that, and getting people to jobs on Sundays is significant.
Fowler: Ok.
Elliott: How about Jeremy's suggestion, of the night?
Vanderhoef: Wait a second, before we do that, may I just ask one other question? How late is
that east side out to the Industrial Park? When is the last pick-up out there and
how does that coincide with their hours?
Fowler: It's about 10:30.
Bailey: How does that coincide with shifts?
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Wilburn: You need to talk in front of the microphone, please.
Logsden: That would definitely get everyone to work. We don't know, we've talked to
them and they said that they had varying shifts, they don't have a set shift. That
might leave some people who are getting off at eleven without bus service home
at that point.
Bailey: And are we, we are working on reverse commute stuff? When is that going to
come into play?
Davidson: I was just sitting here thinking that was a potential source of funding that could
be used for what Ron was talking about or even Sunday service. The state is
kind of using the series of workshops - ours is gonna be in May. Mobility,
what's it called? Mobility Action Plan Workshop, and that will be kind of a
springboard for our process for the JARC money as well as a new source of
money called 5310 - we'll combine those in a single process, and part of that will
be ascertaining where these needs are, that are kind of fill in a gap kind of a
thing. Hopefully we can do some of that with some of those funds.
Bailey: So, funds might come online as soon as?
Davidson: Well, there's funds allocated for this year, isn't there Ron? It'sjust a matter of, I
guess for this year, you didn't have to use this planning process. It would be the
'07 money that this planning process would fund, right, Ron?
Bailey: So when -
Logsden: Yes, we'd be eligible for next year's JARC money.
Bailey: Ok.
Vanderhoef: So are you saying that the JARC funds could extend our bus time for that
additional 35 minutes or so to pick up the II :00 folk an,d get them back.
Davidson: Yes.
Bailey: And it could be used for Sunday service, too. The people who have talked to me
are talking about jobs on Sundays and getting the bus as their transportation.
O'Donnell: Well, how late are we running the bus in the east side now?
Champion: 10:30.
O'Donnell: 10:30? So we're not making any change on that.
Fowler: Yeah, we are.
O'Donnell: But not in our schedule.
Fowler: Not in our service area.
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Correia: It doesn't go all the way there now.
Fowler: Previously it didn't go all the way, go to Bon Aire.
O'Donnell: No, I know the service areas, but we aren't changing the hours any from what
we're doing now.
Fowler: Yeah, all the way to the Industrial stops at 6:30 now, but there's service this late,
it's just not extended into that area.
O'Donnell: Ok.
Vanderhoef: So getting the JARC money and extending that past 11:00, it does one huge
thing, in my mind, in that it can move a lot of people and it can potentially reduce
the number of cars that we've got out there on the street, because the people can't
get home, they're still going to take their car out there. And in some cases, it
may well make it in a position where a family only has to have one car rather
than two cars, which would be a real positive for some of our folk who work out
there.
Bailey: I think it sends a real positive message to our businesses, our industrial
businesses that we're supportive with our infrastructure. And I think that's also
critical.
Wilburn: Connie, did you have something?
Champion:
Fowler:
Champion:
Fowler:
Champion:
Fowler:
We talked a little bit about looking at routes that weren't being used. Did you
eliminate any areas that aren't being used?
No.
No. Because if we, look, I don't even know how we have the time to do that this
year, but, maybe we can extend some services if we eliminated routes that aren't
being used, you know, that use it or lose it business.
We took the Manville route, which isn't one of our heaviest used, and changed
the way it runs so that instead of going through Manville Heights twice it would
go once, and then our goal is to take that on the other end and expand it further
out Foster Road, so that we're starting to serve the new development out in the
Foster Road area.
How long does it take to establish a route? Once you have it running, how long
does it take before people realize it's there and start to, what kind of time frame
are you talking about evaluating?
We would look, really, at the end of a year to see how much the service is being
used. The Plaen View route took probably 5 - 7 years to develop and several
changes in the routing of the bus. The original route was modified and then the
area developed more, and it went from our lowest route to one of our highest-
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March 20, 2006
Champion:
Elliott:
Champion:
Elliott:
Bailey:
Elliott:
Bailey:
Fowler:
(laughter)
Schreiber:
Wilburn:
Fowler:
Logsden:
City Council Work Session
Page 35
used routes, so it does take time to develop and I think we would have to have
realistic goals as to what we hope to achieve with it.
Yes, that is one of my questions. The other thing is, I mean, I really am
interested in providing transportation to work areas and not necessarily to
shopping areas, so I hope next year we can be a little more specific, I mean, if
other people feel the same way I do. I think it's really important that people get
to and from work. Otherwise they won't ever just go to retailers - they won't
have any money.
Connie, the City was very responsive years ago, when NCS and ACT requested
buses out there.
I know.
And I think that's been a good thing for those two firms.
So, did we, we didn't talk about Jeremy's idea, right?
No, not yet.
Ok.
You want Jeremy to talk, or me?
Do you have any comments before I?
I had just a question. Joe, do you know, didn't the University try this, and do you
know why, or do you know Jeremy why they stopped it? Was it money, or was it
other issues?
Ron worked there at the time, I' lllet him.
There, I guess, with the SAFE Ride was set up, half using Student Senate money,
half using Cambus money, and it went on, I guess it was supposed to be
volunteer dispatchers, that sort of worked, didn't work. A lot ofthings were tried
and went through, but I guess the biggest issue that we had with the service was
we were using vans going out to residential areas. There were issues with
intoxicated individuals, harassing, at one point sexually assaulting one of the
drivers, so we started putting two people in. Not rape or anything, but if was
physical. And we started putting two people in the vans, and I guess it was
decided that, all in all, it was better to just run a bus, having a larger vehicle
rather than the vans, was maybe less, maybe more people on, and it I guess didn't
seem as cozy or something, the problems weren't as bad, and we did have quite a
few problems with people getting sick on the vehicles, and people just basically
not being very responsible riders. And that's why it went to what it is today, and
Cambus runs just basically a Red and a Blue route, which stays on campus, is
what's currently being run.
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March 20, 2006
Bailey:
Schreiber:
Logsden:
Schreiber:
Correia:
Karr:
Correia:
Wilburn:
Schreiber:
Correia:
(laughter)
City Council Work Session
Page 36
How late?
That one runs pretty late, the Red and the Blue run pretty late.
Yeah, they run Thursday, Friday, Saturday night I believe, and they run until
2:30, I believe.
What we had looked for was something to supplement that route, off-campus,
basically. If you look at the maps here you've got heavily populated areas on the
east side of campus. Actually, if you don't mind, I'm going to come up there. I
just put together an Excel spreadsheet that kind of runs over some expenses and
possible revenues from running a route like this, compared to other routes.
There's a laptop up there, isn't there?
Jeremy, do you need a laptop?
You'll have to give him yours, Ross.
You just need Excel, right?
I apologize. I thought there was one stationed up here permanently, but.
It's not like a university classroom.
Elliott: We're not as bright, either.
O'Donnell: Maybe if you'd stick around, quit running to Hawaii.
Vanderhoef: We're not as educated on computers.
Schreiber: Do you have anything else to say while I kind of shut this up? Dead air here.
Correia: You've got some history.
Champion: How were the buses financed, do you know?
Vanderhoef: We bought a system, didn't we?
Fowler: We bought an existing system, and I believe it was with federal money.
Correia: Whose system did we get?
Champion: Wow the price has gotten expensive, because when I moved to Iowa City the
buses were free.
Bailey: All ofthem?
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meeting of March 20,2006.
March 20, 2006
Champion:
Bailey:
Atkins:
Bailey:
(laughter)
Wilburn:
(can't hear)
Schreiber:
Elliott:
Schreiber:
City Council Work Session
Page 37
Mmm hmm.
I don't ever remember free buses in Iowa City.
The feds also assured us at the time of the purchase that they would always
provide major operating subsidies for the thing, yeah, so.
Promises, promises.
It's a sign isn't it?
So, while I restart so we can get this up, I apologize, Ross, you might have to pull
your stuff back up. But, clearly, the main reason why we look for this late night
route is there is plenty of areas out there, first of all, for safety. The one thing,
we clearly don't want people driving in and out of downtown at these times,
anybody, if they're planning on having even one drink at all. Second of all,
walking downtown and back into those areas there are a lot of sorority houses out
there, there are plenty offemales who have to make that walk, and that's just not
a safe situation when people have to walk by themselves or even in small groups
late at night. Furthermore, there are lots of people that work downtown. It would
be good if they didn't have to drive downtown, in order to facilitate the bars.
You know, they have to drive down, they have to park and if they had a way to
get down on the bus that would be nice for them as well. And just a convenience
factor - it gets cold on the weekends, and it gets cold in the winters, and we
would love to be able to do something like this, and I think that we can do it
fairly cheap, as I can show you relative to some of the other routes that are
proposed, and possibly find a, some room in the budget for it here.
Jeremy, has the Student Senate, have the students in the governing capacity of
the University, have they talked about providing volunteers to be a part of the
prospect? Because, as you were talking, I'm concerned if there were just a driver
and there were no one else.
Sure, if that was a concern, something that we'd be more than happy to look into.
Furthermore, you were talking about advertising for these routes and getting the
word out on new routes and how does that happen. I think we can make an
immediate impact because, again, I'll discuss it with the other executives on the
Student Senate, but we would be able to advertise that through student moneys
and student means in order to get the word out on this new route and really have
an immediate impact on working with Cambus to figure out what weekends
they're operating so we're not using that at times when it's just not going to get
any use at all and there is nobody sitting on the bus is another thing that we've
done. So I really think that we can make a really effective route here, keeping
the costs very low. That's all basically I'm going to show with this Excel. I
hope it's worth all the effort that's gone on.
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City Council Work Session
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Vanderhoef: The numbers that you had in your memo to Council, I was just curious. Which
salary line were you using to cost this out?
Schreiber: The $70.00? Where did that come from?
Correia: The drivers?
Vanderhoef: No. The $70.00 per hour that would include driver. But is that union-wage
driver of the City, or is that campus?
Schreiber: Yes, when we discussed it with these two gentlemen, they gave us the number of
$70.00 based on the extra overhead costs that it would take to open up their
facilities later into the evening and the cost that the drivers, union.
Vanderhoef: So it's a City driver, not a Cambus driver.
Schreiber: Exactly, exactly.
Correia: Because it would be a City - we can't really use. (can't hear)
Bailey: Ifwe can't use Cambus (can't hear)
Schreiber: It's generally less than that per hour to operate, but, since it is extra time, you
have those other costs, then.
Vanderhoef: While we're waiting for this to come up, Ron and Joe, one of the ways to maybe
get more word out faster about new routes and stuff is working with our
neighborhood coordinator and the newsletters. Some people really get a-
everyone gets one of those, I guess that's the biggie.
Correia: Ron, when the University did the SAFE Ride or whatever it was called, and you
said the Student Senate put money in - they put hard cash money in? I mean, is
this something, if we were interested in it, we could request, see if the Student
Senate has funds and would be willing to match some of the costs?
Logsden: Yes, they did. It was my understanding that it was going to be a continuing
thing, and I think they ended up doing it one year and it got cut after that, so that
was, so it's a possibility, but you might want to look for a long-term
commitment.
Wilburn: When they, I'm sorry, Ron, did they take folks door-to-door, or did they?
Logsden: Yes, it was door-to-door, it would go from downtown out to the residential
neighborhoods. People would come up to the Pentacrest area where the
Cambuses normally stop, and then they would take them to wherever they were
requested.
Bailey: So it was like a cab.
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March 20, 2006
Correia:
Wilburn:
Schreiber:
City Council Work Session
Page 39
Almost like a cab, yeah, ok.
Is that what you're proposing?
That's not what we're proposing. We're not proposing door-to-door service.
This would act just like any other bus route, it would have stops along the way,
and people would be able to board and leave wherever. For these revenue
numbers at the bottom, in this area, I just basically kind of made up numbers
right there. We clearly don't have any idea of what kind of ridership we've got
because there's no precedence for it. But what I did here, if you didn't like the
hours that I was operating and you wanted to change, just plug in a new number
and that would change the entire formula.
(tape ended - cut off)
Schreiber:
Correia:
Schreiber:
Correia:
Atkins:
Correia:
Elliott:
Champion:
Elliott:
Correia:
Elliott:
Schreiber:
Bailey:
Schreiber:
Elliott:
Such an idea, so, ah.
Could we have, I mean, you've proposed the $1.00 ride, could we have a
different scale for fares from?
Sure.
No, I'm just wondering, is that something that the City could do? We could do
that?
Yes, we could pass that.
Ok.
Connie, I think I heard you say you'd like. I would dislike having it be more
expensive than our usual fares.
It is.
Yeah. I would not like that. I would like to have it be the same as usual fares, if
we could afford it, I don't know what's affordable.
Although, keep in mind that a lot of people are paying for cabs and they're also
using gypsy cabs, which is, I think, creates an unsafe situation.
Oh.
Yeah, I agree, the cab situation is very important. You've got people with old
rented limousines driving people home.
I think the cab situation is something we should look at another time.
It certainly isn't a replacement for what we have.
My main interest in this would be safety purposes.
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This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council
meeting of March 20, 2006.
March 20, 2006
Wilburn:
Schreiber:
Elliott:
Schreiber:
O'Donnell:
Schreiber:
Wilburn:
O'Donnell:
Correia:
Wilburn:
Schreiber:
City Council Work Session
Page 40
Following along those lines, though, ifit's not to be a, and I'm not advocating
one way or another, but if it's not to be a to the door service, given that people
are going to have impaired judgement, may have impaired judgement if they're
coming from bars, if that's one of the points of this, it's not just stranger danger, I
mean, if they're delivered to any route, than, ifit's many time a sexual assault or
rape occurs with someone who they know, again if you've got alcohol involved,
you mayor may not be, I mean, maybe you're just juggling the safety factor here
between these different things. Go ahead.
So, you were asking about different fares, if you wanted to go down to .75 or up
to $1.50, those are all things that you can do and put into the formula, and kind of
figure out numbers. I can definitely figure out how many people we need to ride
every day even to break even. I mean, generally you're getting 18% of your
costs covered by your fares, and I think that a route like this could nearly be
solvent if we advertise it the correct way and if the real ridership shows, the
potential ridership gets there.
Jeremy, did you talk with any of the police on this? Since we're, to me the safety
factor is just vitally important. Ross just brought up a point that is a valid point
for our consideration. If it's a regular bus route, this does set up a designated
time and place if someone wanted to do something, for them to do it.
It's the difference between hopefully the place that you get off the bus being,
you know, a block or a half a block from your front door, than walking ten blocks
from the downtown area, or from wherever you're at, the library or wherever
you're coming from. I think that alone reduces the amount rather than causing an
additional safety hazard.
Well, you know, we're all assuming that everybody that gets on this bus is going
to consume 3 or 400 beers. That's not the case, because many people downtown
work and they get off and this will provide them an opportunity.
Exactly. And even ifthey have two beers and they decide that it's not a good
idea to be driving because they had two beers, and I don't think that's a safe
situation, or they had no beers and it's cold outside and they want to get on a bus
and go home late at night after enjoying the music scene downtown.
Yes. Again, I think it's more just kind of juggling. I mean, if, I wasn't
suggesting that everyone would. But, clearly, the experience that the University
had was that was a significant factor.
That's true.
Well that was related to the use of the vans and the, wasn't that more that.
But even when they went to the buses, there were still problems with it.
Ross, would you like me to, because, like I said, Cambus operates a late night
that goes to some of the campus areas which undoubtedly, probably gets some
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City Council Work Session
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people doing these types of things. I can talk with Cambus again and see how
many incident reports they have filed for those types of actions at night?
Wilburn: If Council is interested in that. I'm just putting out another (can't hear)
Elliott: I'm very, I'm very interested in looking at this possibility, if it's financially
feasible, that's what I'd like to find out.
Correia: And another thing is, did I read somewhere that some of our buses are getting
cameras? Because I'd think we'd want to use buses that have the cameras added.
Bailey: That's a very good idea.
Vanderhoef: That's a good idea. And something else that I would certainly look at as the
stops that we're using, to be sure that we have good street lighting in that area.
Hopefully we have it already in place, but if that's a concern for lighting or lots
of trees that need trimming up so the light really does what we intend it to do.
Champion: I don't - this is an odd tangent to be going on, to me. Our buses run until 10:30
now? Do we have any incidents more at night than during the day with
misbehavior on the bus routes? I mean, most people are behaving when they're
drunk. Most people.
Fowler: We occasionally have.
Champion: Exactly, there are occasional people that misbehave, usually males.
(laughter)
Champion:
Bailey:
Champion:
Schreiber:
Elliott:
Correia:
And you can't decide, because there have been three incidents on campus that
you're not going to do this. It's going to provide safe transportation for alot of
people, and ifthere turns out to be incidences, then you start to deal with the
incidents, but you don't do it because you think it might happen.
Well, and another safety issue that we're dealing with is driving under the
influence or impaired judgement. That would be another safety factor that we're
actually potentially addressing.
I would like to see it (can't hear)
The 385 is a break-even number per day, so that's how many riders we would
need, per day, on average. 385 riders per day, on average to break even which
you would never even see, wouldn't be fathomable on any other route in the City,
I wouldn't think.
Well, I'm in favor of studying this further and seeing what the feasibility of,
financially and logistically.
And I would be interested in going to the Student Senate, students to see if
there's any amount of money that they could use to support it.
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March 20, 2006
Wilburn:
Champion:
Elliott:
Bailey:
Correia:
Wilburn:
Correia:
Schreiber:
Wilburn:
Champion:
Schreiber:
Champion:
Schreiber:
(laughter)
Schreiber:
Bailey;
Correia:
Bailey:
Schreiber:
City Council Work Session
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Sure.
Does anybody else agree with me that it should be free, if possible?
No.
I want to see all the numbers.
I have no problem with a dollar, just because it's easy to have a dollar in your
pocket.
Exactly. When you check in your jeans (can't hear)
There's probably a lot of people that already pay a dollar, because they don't
make change and.
Right. Nice round number, for one.
It's good.
It's going to run the route that the shuttle runs, right?
What's that?
It's going to run the route that the shuttle runs?
We haven't cemented any route, I imagine that we could, I mean, you guys
would know more about the routes that already exist to those areas, and we could
see if that would be the best way to go or if a slightly altered route. And it's such
a short route that you said you could probably run it every 15 minutes or so?
Because it's such an abbreviated route out there, so. I mean, you're constantly
getting buses out there hitting people, I mean, not hitting people.
I mean, hitting spots.
We try to avoid that.
I also appreciate your point about the workforce housing. You have a lot of
people working in these places, and if they didn't have to drive downtown to go
to work.
Well, it also makes a nice option if you take the bus downtown and you have
dinner and you go out after or something, it gives you another option how. I
think it creates some nice options for downtown.
Right, it's not just, certainly any non-student resident of those areas would be
more than welcome, we won't bar them from the bus at all.
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March 20, 2006
Bailey:
Schreiber:
Wilburn:
Schreiber:
Bailey:
Elliott:
Schreiber:
Wilburn:
Correia:
Schreiber:
Wilburn:
Champion:
Schreiber:
Bailey:
Champion:
Schreiber:
(can't hear)
Schreiber:
Bailey:
Correia:
Fowler:
Bailey:
Fowler:
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Oh, ok.
I think it could be effective in the earlier evening hours for that crowd as well.
So you're suggesting marketing this as more than just a safe ride?
Absolutely.
Well, it supports our cultural district, right?
Yes.
Right.
So there's a request to, you're going to follow up, Jeremy, with the Student
Senate to find out about funding. What other bits of information did you want
from staff, there also was any type of incident?
Incident report from Cambus, right, you were going to get that.
See if we can get anything like that.
I'm sorry, Connie, I interrupted you.
Well, I'd like to know, is that the total cost up there?
That is. $32340.00 is the cost, with, obviously if you get rid of the revenues then
that is exactly what it would cost.
Based upon those hours per night.
We get. Ok, let's say that (can't hear)
Or not enough
I'm sorry?
Does increased ridership at this level get us that amount of money from another
source, federal?
Oh.
The more rides, the better the formula looks.
Did we make up $32,000.00?
I doubt it, but I don't know for sure.
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Vanderhoef: And tell me this, does the $32,000.00 include benefits?
Correia: The cost.
Fowler: Yes.
Vanderhoef: Ok, so we are.
Fowler: I think that 32 is a little low, I think it's a few more hours than that, but
Elliott: Jeremy,
Correia: But the numbers he's using are numbers you gave him, the cost of running the
bus.
Schreiber: Well, (can't hear) was 16 1/2 hours, and I'm trying to think if maybe I have the
wrong proportions of hours on days of the week, it might be more hours on
Saturday or less on Friday or something along those lines, but we carne up with
that 16 1/2 hours somewhere.
Fowler: Well, we don't run t it so maybe Saturday you just want to start running it late.
Schreiber: Right, exactly, that's what it was, we were going to start running at 9:30 or
something like that. 9:30 was when we were going to start it on Saturday, that's
the numbers we were going off of. And again, if you guys want to see more
hours than that, then.
Elliott: When you go to Student Senate, I wish at least after I :00, I think it would be
good to have an additional person on the vehicle with the driver. Maybe not until
12:00, not even untill:OO, but Ijust think that would be good.
Schreiber: That's something I'll look into.
Champion: We could hire security guards.
Correia: Our bus drivers, well our buses have radios to the police too, and if we have
cameras.
Bailey: And we have cameras.
Schreiber: Yeah, those are all safety features you don't get by walking, or in a van, so.
Correia: Right.
Bailey: Or in a gypsy cab.
Schreiber: Or a gypsy cab.
Champion: (can't hear) the next school year.
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March 20, 2006
Schreiber:
Champion:
Schreiber:
Bailey:
Correia:
Bailey:
Schreiber:
Elliott:
Bailey:
Wilburn:
O'Donnell:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
Elliott:
Atkins:
Fowler:
Atkins:
Bailey:
Fowler:
Bailey:
Fowler:
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I'm sorry?
If we do this, would we start it the next school year?
Sure. I think that, like I said, we'd line it up with the 28 weekends that Cambus
operates, I mean, that's good precedence to use, because they know what their
ridership is at any given time. They don't operate over breaks, or, if you'd like to
operate over breaks because we want to continue to try to get the service out to
people using the downtown late at night?
Well, if it's more than just a, serving students, we should.
I was out on the weekend over break.
We're out a lot more over breaks.
So, I mean, we could potentially go some more weekends on there as well, I
mean, if that was something that.
I would just say put together a package and lets talk about it further.
Yeah.
Does anyone need any more information from Ron or Joe?
No. Thank you.
Ok.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
Before you wrap this item up, Joe, as I understand, the next step is Council needs
to call a public hearing? Or do we just schedule a public hearing?
We would need to schedule a public hearing on the route changes.
Route changes. Ok. So we'll need to do that sooner than later.
How will this proposal sort of interface with route changes? I mean.
We have to have a public hearing if you change 25% of your routes, but if we
just add another route, we wouldn't need a public hearing to do that.
It would be nice though to show the public a package. It's better PR, if we want
to get the word out.
We could do that.
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Correia: So when we hold a public hearing, that would be within a Council meeting.
Bailey: Right.
Fowler: It would just be an opportunity for the public to come in and address.
Correia: I'mjust wondering if there should be a public meeting at the library or
something, that would just be you all presenting this. I mean, really giving folks
a chance.
Fowler: We could do that. We did that the last time, we didn't get very good attendance,
but we could certainly do it again.
Correia: It seems like a lot of people are interested in transportation (can't hear)
Bailey: Well, maybe we could use the idea too of advertising the public meeting in the
neighborhood newsletters and then also, once the routes change, advertising
those in the neighborhood newsletters. I don't know.
Atkins: Have we picked a target date for start-up?
Fowler: The end of August.
Atkins: That will creep up on us sooner than we think, so we need to get moving on,
particularly with public meetings.
Bailey: I would like to see a public meeting.
Correia: Yeah.
Fowler: We'll do one.
Bailey: Ok.
Elliott: And I see no reason why you couldn't talk about the late night being in the
planning stage or the exploratory stage.
Vanderhoef: That's a good (can't hear)
Elliott: Start getting the word out.
Bailey: Schedule the public meeting in such a way that students and University people
can attend as well, because that will be a large part of that audience.
Correia: By the end of April or something. And another thing is ifit's at the Library, they
can film it, and so many people watch (can't hear) so even if there's not a lot of
people there, you'll get a lot of people.
Bailey: An amazing number of people watch.
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Fowler: Basically, the last time we went over general discussion, but mostly it was one-
on-one with people, because people are mostly concerned with how they were
affected, so the majority of it would probably be one-on-one interaction.
Champion: It's really not a public meeting, it's about my transportation.
Bailey: Well, yeah. They can do the one-on-one counseling sessions after.
Vanderhoef: (can't hear) so I know it's the gospel.
Wilburn: It sounds like we've got a direction to go, so maybe we can go ahead and move
on (can't hear).
Elliott: Yeah.
Correia: Thank you.
Bailey: Thanks.
Parkin!! Fees
Wilburn:
Atkins:
Fowler:
(laughter)
O'Brien:
(laughter)
O'Brien:
Bailey:
O'Brien:
Bailey:
O'Brien:
Parking fees.
That's Joe's and Chris.
You had asked about graduated parking fees. We went through, did the numbers,
Chris did 90% of the work, so I'll let him tell you what he figured out.
It's good to see you all again, of course.
After that February 28th meeting.
The sarcasm doesn't translate.
That wasn't sarcasm at all. It's always good to get feedback. We did, broke it
down every fifteen minutes as requested. The actual process itself involved, I
didn't count the total number of tickets at the end, but it was several thousand
individual tickets. We went through, broke them down, then broke them down
into their time from 0 - IS minutes, IS - 30, 30 - 45 and so on. To sum it all up,
basically, what we came to was a $305,000.00 loss in projected revenue.
Annually?
Annually.
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Vanderhoef: 305?
O'Brien: $305,000.00. that's correct. Which represents about 16% of our operating budget
for that specific line item of hourly parking, and that included not only the cash
transactions but hotel transactions, all of our validations, park n' shops, also
included our prepaid debit card usage, and I broke out all those amounts in the
actual memo itself. For the first year of increases we projected about a
$375,000.00 increase, based off ofthe elasticity you would lose some people, so
to take $305,000.00 away from $375,000.00 you're not really gaining a lot. To
get that back you would either have to raise rates or we would just be happy with
the increase that we would have.
Vanderhoef: But we are clear that the lost revenue feeds into the lack of doing the
maintenance in the ramps, correct?
O'Brien: Correct. Just the ability to repay back anything that we would borrow to do that.
Elliott: Well, first of all, we asked for this, and I think that we need to tell you thank you
very much. You and whoever else helped you count thousands of tickets and do
the computing. It was, I think it was something I wanted to know and I would
still like to make that change at some point in the future if the $300,000.00 is
what you just said, no way can we do that this year, but at some point in time,
there's an issue of fairness. When I go to the store and buy a dozen of
something, if! get 14 or 15, I don't pay for a dozen. I still think there's a matter
of fairness to be addressed, but not at this time.
Bailey: I would still like to find a way that we can be fair. One of the things I noticed is
that our rates are lower than most of the University ramp rates? Is there a reason
for that? We want them to park here rather than there?
Fowler: No that's just their bonding requirements and their maintenance.
Bailey: So you don't think that indicates some kind of market capability of charging for
garage or parking garages or parking ramp?
Fowler: No. I mean, there's a definite sway in the parking depending on whose rates are
higher at the time. If our rates are higher, more people go to the University, if
there's are higher, more come to the City.
Bailey: And if they were the same?
Fowler: I don't know.
Elliott: They'd stay home.
Bailey: Well, would they use transit, or would they walk?
Correia: How much are, I can't remember those numbers.
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Bailey: An hour is .60, over one hour, they don't do it incrementally, I checked, is $1.35,
over two hours it's $2.10, over three is $2.85, etc. I can show you this.
Correia: There's an incremental increase.
Bailey: Yeah, it's an incremental increase. They don't want people parking for a long
period of time, it seems, and they have different pricing depending upon what
time, 5 am to 9 am is.
O'Brien: The reason that they do that is to try to prevent staff from parking then, so they
get you pretty good if you park before 5.
Bailey: Yeah, they do.
Correia: The thing about the University though is they have a captive audience. People
have to go there, because they work or go to school, where we want people to
come downtown.
Bailey: But we don't want to have to drive there.
Correia: No, I know, but you know what I'm saying, that.
Bailey: I can tell you stories about people being late for class because they were looking
for a parking place because their apartment was across the street, you know.
Doesn't make them captive.
Wilburn: I know nothing about that.
Correia: I mean, the University doesn't need to draw people to there.
Bailey: Right. And how are we drawing people by being?
Correia: No, no, but I'mjust saying.
Bailey: I mean, this process might draw more people, therefor you get, I don't know, are
we at capacity for every ramp?
Champion: I haven't heard anybody complain.
Fowler: Pretty close, yeah.
Wilburn: Are there any other questions about the memo that (can't hear)
Champion: I really appreciate it.
Correia: Yeah, thank you.
Bailey: I appreciate it.
Vanderhoef: How many hours did it take you to do that.
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Correia: 87, Dee (can't hear)
Vanderhoef: How many?
O'Brien: It was 76, I know that several people had asked, so we just included that in the
memo for everyone.
Correia: Thank you.
Wilburn: Thank you.
Bailey: Is it only men doing it? Is man-hours, are you the only one?
Champion: Unbelievable. Totally unbelievable.
O'Brien: While I did put man-hours it actually was man-hours, it was.
Bailey: Just wanted to check.
O'Brien: Four people specifically, all men.
(can't hear)
Elliott:
Champion:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
O'Brien:
Bailey:
O'Brien:
Correia:
O'Brien:
(can't hear)
Connie, do you have something negative to say about that?
No, I don't.
Thank you.
Can I ask one other question? Can you see any way that we can move towards
this kind of system in some way that would communicate.
Sure, if you tell us to, we could do that.
Yeah, I.
We did a half hour, we broke it down by a half an hour, we did that, and it was
61 % of the transactions were actually of30 minutes or more, so that would effect
our budget by roughly $186,000.00 to do it that way, which is, what was it, 9.7%
of our operating budget for that specific category. I mean, it could be done, but
what you'd have to do to get the money you need, you'd have to raise your base
rate, so it might be $1.25 an hour, it might be a $1.15 an hour.
People would still be paying that same amount as they.
Correct, but
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Bailey:
O'Brien:
Correia:
Champion:
Bailey:
Champion:
(laughter)
Bailey:
Elliott:
City Council Work Session
Page 51
A sense of fairness, sure.
That's correct.
Ok.
I think when people complain about parking money, fees, whatever, I'djust
explain to them that it pays for, most people do not know that we do not
subsidize parking, and once you explain that to them, they think that's pretty
incredible and they don't ever complain again.
Well, I've always found that if people are complaining to me, that's mostly want
to do, they don't want an explanation, but.
Oh, I make them (can't hear) explanation.
Thank you.
Thanks, guys.
Council Appointments
Wilburn: Ok, Council appointments.
O'Donnell: What do you have, Planning and Zoning?
Bailey: I'd like to see Charlie Eastham appointed to Planning and Zoning.
Correia: So would I.
Champion: So would I.
Vanderhoef: I would like to see Reed McDonald.
Elliott: Reid McDonald. I'd like to see Terry reappointed for now.
Champion: (can't hear) for Terry.
O'Donnell: Terry Smith and Reid McDonald is who I'd like to see.
Bailey: The reason I'm supporting Charlie is because I thought, Don served on, Donald
served on the Scattered Site Housing Task Force, and I think he had a view of
those kinds of issues and I think we do need to get that around that Planning and
Zoning table, and I think Charlie could bring that. And I think that's really
particularly important this year, so I think that would be an added bit of skill
around that table.
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Elliott: I think that Reid McDonald would provide, he is a manager of a downtown,
family-owned, family-operated business, and I would really like to see that
representation on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Vanderhoef: I'd also like to see the age mix onto that Commission, and certainly this young
man is local and involved in family business, so will be staying here, and we
need to be promoting young people to come on our Board and Commissions so
they will continue to support our city government as active volunteers.
Bailey: Well, he's certainly welcome to apply to another Commission, it doesn't
necessarily have to be that one.
Correia: Plenty that are open - the Airport, I mean.
Bailey: Yeah.
Correia: Well, I'm also interested in Charlie Eastham. I think his long history with the
Housing Fellowship could be really important on the Planning and Zoning
Commission.
Vanderhoef: I like Charlie, he will do a good job, and he will be there whether he is on
Planning and Zoning or not.
Correia: Well, people being there is not the same as people being at the table. I think we
all know that. There's a difference between being an observer and being at the
table.
O'Donnell: I would like to see Terry Smith and Reid McDonald.
Champion: Well, where do we settle this?
Wilburn: Charlie, Charlie was the first name that was brought up. Are there four who
would like to see Charlie? I think that there were.
Bailey: Yes.
Wilburn: Dee, did you say Charlie too, right?
Vanderhoef: No. I did not.
Wilburn: There are four for Charlie? We have one other vacancy. Mike was suggesting
Terry Smith. Terry? Are there four. Ok, there's four for Terry. So Terry Smith
will go again, and Charlie Eastham. And, there's one other, isn't there?
Vanderhoef: No.
Champion: No.
Karr: No, there were no other applicants.
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Bailey:
We can't seem to get applicants.
Wilburn:
We ought to do something about that.
Bailey:
Forced conscription? We can't do that, can we?
Al!enda Items
Wilburn: Agenda items.
ITEM 20. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AID TO AGENCY
FUNDING FOR FY07.
Correia: Can I go back to that Aid to Agencies?
Wilburn: Ok, I'm going to back up from the table.
Correia: I'd like to, Regenia and Dee did an amazing job coming up with all of these, and
I know it was a lot of work. I'd just like to see the extra from the Neighborhood
Center - they asked for 60, I think it's great to then give them 60, but I'd like to
take that $997.00 proposed and move that to the Shelter House line. I'mjust
wondering if there are four people who would be?
Champion: (can't hear) Are you going to put it on the grant or the general fund?
Correia: You mean the STAR or the?
Champion: STAR.
Correia: I mean I, either way.
Champion: I would support that amendment.
Elliott: I would too.
Vanderhoef: For which, Connie?
Champion: Hmmm?
Vanderhoef: For which?
Bailey: $997.00
Vanderhoef: For the STAR program?
Champion: For the STAR program. Either one, but I think it should go to the STAR
program, but it doesn't make any difference.
Correia: Either way. I mean that, if there, if there.
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Champion: The STAR program I think is really a valuable asset.
Correia: Yeah.
Champion: And it's always hard to get that money together.
Bailey: I would be more inclined to put it toward the STAR program just because they're
struggling with the math and that's a more.
Correia: Yeah. Sure, yeah, that's a popular.
Bailey: So are there four?
Correia: Did you say you were?
Elliott: Yes, yes.
Vanderhoef: I can go along with it for the STAR.
Bailey: So will we need an amendment tomorrow? How will we do this?
(can't hear)
Bailey:
Just revise this.
Correia:
So we'll add the $997.00 to the STAR program.
Karr:
Regenia, do you have that or does Linda have that?
Bailey:
Linda has a copy of it. She has the spreadsheet.
Karr:
I can also send you an electronic.
Bailey:
She can change it, Linda can change it.
Karr:
Are you going to talk to her?
Bailey:
Yeah.
Karr:
Thank you.
Correia:
So it would be $6147.00 for the STAR program.
Bailey:
And $60,000 for the neighborhood centers.
Correia:
$60,000 for the neighborhood centers.
Vanderhoef:
And that's still contingent on the STAR program being awarded.
Bailey:
Yeah.
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This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
meeting of March 20, 2006.
March 20, 2006
Correia;
Bailey;
Wilburn;
ITEM 15.
Elliott;
Atkins;
Dilkes;
Elliott;
Atkins:
ITEM 17.
Elliott:
Atkins:
Bailey;
Elliott:
Bailey:
ITEM 19.
City Council Work Session
Page 55
Right. Yep. Great, thank you.
Ok. Thanks. Ross?
Other agenda items?
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, ENTITLED
"POLICE REGULATIONS" CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED
"MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES," BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 8,
ENTITLED "ENGINE BRAKING" TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF ENGINE
BRAKING EXCEPT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
I've got something here. Oh, the engine braking - is that complaint driven?
I'm making the assumption that once you pass the ordinance, I will alert the
police that if an officer observes engine braking, officer is entitled to issue a
citation.
In terms of, if you're talking about complaint driven, like reporting a license
plate, that, no, because we have to know who the driver is.
But, no, Steve answered it's more than complaint driven.
I'm expecting police to enforce this.
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 12 OF THE CITY
CODE, ENTITLED "FRANCHISES," CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED "CABLE
TELEVISION," SECTION 13, ENTITLED "FRANCHISE PAYMENTS"
TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL USES OF THE ANNUAL FRANCHISE
PAYMENT. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Ok, ok. The next thing I have is 17. I think that is simply making official what
we have done so it conforms to our policy, is that correct?
Yes.
Wait, wait, wait, I just want to know what you've just asked.
$100,000.00.
Oh, got it, thanks.
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION NAMING THE NEW DOG PARK AT
PENINSULA PARK AS THE "THORNBERRY OFF-LEASH DOG
PARK" AND DESIGNATING TWO SECTIONS WITHIN THE DOG
PARK AS "LUCKY PAWZ PLAYGROUND" AND "EMMA'S RUN
AGILITY AND TRAINING AREA".
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This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
meeting of March 20,2006.
March 20, 2006
Elliott:
Champion:
Elliott:
Correia:
Bailey:
Correia:
Atkins:
Elliott:
Bailey:
Elliott:
(laughter)
City Council Work Session
Page 56
And then item 19, because the last time we talked about signs, we said
$35,000.00 for a sign. I want to make sure we're not talking about that sort of
thing.
What item are you talking about?
19.
The dog park? Isn't it from the?
The DogP AC would cover it.
DogP AC is paying for it.
All we're doing is naming it, I have not been asked for, nor did I volunteer to pay
for a sign.
They're paying for the signs then, ok.
I would assume that if they want money for signs, that would be another request.
I'm going to encourage them now.
Oh, gosh.
Champion: It might be a nice public art project.
Bailey: I think so.
Correia: They could be in the shape of dogs.
Elliott: Jeremy, they're ganging up on me.
Schreiber: Yeah. Leave Bob alone.
Bailey: He can take care of himself.
Vanderhoef: Are you whining and complaining?
Wilburn: Any other agenda items?
Item 4g(10). Consent Calendar, Carolyn Peterson: Greetings from Ithaca New
York
Bailey:
Correia:
Bailey:
Are we going to respond to the letter from Ithaca?
Oh yeah.
The one that I thought was kind of nice (can't hear) send it back.
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This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription ofthe Iowa City City Council
meeting of March 20,2006.
March 20, 2006
Dilkes:
Bailey:
Correia:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
Wilburn:
Elliott:
Bailey:
Elliott:
(all talk)
City Council Work Session
Page 57
From who, Regenia?
The letter from Ithaca, it's 4G #10, from Carolyn Peterson.
Did she say she wants to come here? I think we should go there.
I had actually sent their mayor an email.
Ok.
I think two days after, after it hit the news. Is she basically waiting for a email
reply or a telephone call?
Please advise the best way for a conversation. We could arrange a conference
call with prepared questions. I mean, I think it invites a little bit more than a
letter.
Mmm hmm.
I would like for us to be as responsive as possible to that.
I would, too.
And I think that certainly, I can't imagine anything but the most positive message
about David Skorton and.
Bailey: (can't hear) about the relationship between your community or University or
your President.
Champion: We should be negative for the fact that he's leaving.
Correia: They're not going to give him back.
Vanderhoef: I think it would be nice to have Ross and Jeremy, as the student representative.
Bailey: Yes, I think that would be a great idea.
Correia: That's great.
Vanderhoef: (can't hear) of that phone conversation.
Bailey: That's a good idea.
Elliott: Dee, I actually agree with you.
(laughter)
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
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Vanderhoef: I won't say what I normally do.
Wilburn: Why don't, before you leave tonight, or tomorrow night, think of three different
days where we can do a conference call. I can email or call her and let her know
those dates for the possible conference call, just extend an invitation to come to
town.
Schreiber: Can we use your cell phone? I'm running low on minutes.
(laughter)
Wilburn: Yeah. We can probably use the City phone for that.
Schreiber: Oh, wow.
Vanderhoef: Maui to the US uses lots of minutes.
Bailey: Yeah, no kidding.
Wilburn: Ok. Any other agenda items? Anybody want Council Time?
Council Time
O'Donnell: Welcome back, Jeremy.
Schreiber: Thanks.
Bailey: North Dubuque Street? Lights? Clean up that dirt, orange cones, when's that
going to happen?
Atkins: As soon as the weather breaks.
Bailey: Well, it broke two weeks ago - what do you want?
Atkins: We can't put sod down.
Bailey: Well, I'm not necessarily asking about sod, I mean, ok.
O'Donnell: It broke (can't hear).
Vanderhoef: It'll snow tonight, the snowplows will take the dirt off the street.
Bailey: It just looks terrible.
Atkins: And it will look much nicer, I promise you.
Bailey: I'm just asking when.
Atkins: And I can't tell you exactly when.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 59
Wilburn: We received, Council on Friday received a email relatedt0335S.Clinton Street
about the Historic Preservation Commission's concern about they wanted to get
an application for that for some type of state funds. We would need to schedule
this for a discussion if people are interested and probably fairly quickly, since
there's a time limit to this.
Dilkes: Very quickly. It would have to be Wednesday, and we'd have to set two
meetings. Two things have to happen, an application has to get filed for a
landmark designation and a rezoning, and then Council would have to set a
public hearing on that application, which would put the moratorium in effect for
sixty days. But the demolition permit is set to issue Thursday morning, so, if you
want to, if you want to discuss something along those lines, you're going to have
to meet on W.ednesday morning, because we need 24 hours to set it, so we'd set it
tomorrow morning.
Champion: We'd better be doing something.
Bailey: I can't meet Wednesday morning.
Correia: I can't either.
Wilburn: I can't either.
Vanderhoef: Oh boy.
Bailey: I'm interested in having this discussion, but I just can't meet Wednesday
morning, or most of Wednesday.
Wilburn: And the time limits is a factor.
Correia: Well, I could meet early, but.
Bailey: I could meet at 7 or 7:30.
Vanderhoef: On Wednesday?
Wilburn: (can't hear)
Vanderhoef: In my sweat suit, I can make it at 7:30.
Correia: Well, how long would the meeting have to last?
(laughter)
Wilburn:
As long as we wanted to discuss.
Dilkes:
It depends on what you all want to do. I mean, if you do, if you want to go
forward, then you'd have to, and there is no application filed, then there'd have
to be a direction to staff file.
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meeting of March 20,2006.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 60
Bailey:
To have any discussion of anything we'd have to have a separate meeting and I
would like to be responsive. I'm not sure that path is one I'm interested in, but
I'd like to have a discussion.
Correia:
I can meet at 7:30.
Wilburn:
I can do that if! cancel, it's no big deal, I can cancel the radio show.
Bailey:
It's not even with Roy anymore anyway.
Wilburn:
Can anyone else?
Champion:
10:30 is your radio show.
Wilburn:
7:30?
(laughter)
Elliott: Will we have all parties there?
Wilburn: How many do we need to have this - we have four?
Bailey: Will we have interested parties there as well?
Elliott: The landowner?
Dilkes: Notice will be given, we'll post notice and you can announce that there will be
the meeting tomorrow night.
Karr: Ok, Ijust need to think about, a little bit though. Ifit's 7:30 Wednesday
morning, I've got to notice them before 7:30 tomorrow morning.
Bailey: That's true.
Karr: So I have to, I get to write up the agenda and deliver, they have to sign before
7:30 tomorrow morning.
Atkins: Oh heck.
Champion: Oh.
Correia: Who has to sign?
Karr: You all do.
Atkins: Council.
Vanderhoef: While we wait right here and sign it.
Correia: Yes.
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This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
meeting of March 20, 2006.
March 20, 2006
Bailey:
Atkins:
Dilkes:
Atkins:
Bailey:
Dilkes:
Bailey:
Correia:
Champion:
Wilburn:
Dilkes:
Wilburn:
O'Donnell:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
O'Donnell:
Bailey:
Dilkes:
Wilburn:
Champion:
Elliott:
Wilburn:
Bailey:
City Council Work Session
Page 61
Yes.
The other thing, we have to prepare an application? We have no.
Wait, I don't want to, we don't want to get into talking about that now.
I know, but we have no data on this thing, I wouldn't know where to begin.
I'm interested in discussing it on Wednesday morning to be responsive to the
letter.
I just, I wanted to explain why it's urgent, I mean if you want to preserve that
option, you have to meet Wednesday. Early.
Let's do it.
Good.
Why can't we just say we don't want the demolition permit issued?
We can't discuss this.
You cannot say that now.
We can not discuss this. If we stick around here, is that sufficient to, for us to
sign for it? Is that sufficient time?
All we need is four, too.
Yes, we just need four. If we don't do it from 7:30 - 8:30, I can't meet until after
2:00 on Wednesday.
Ok.
I'm ok after 2:00 on Wednesday.
I'd be after 2:30.
Do you want to take a break for a minute and let us talk about this?
Ok.
Ok.
Are we on Council Time?
Yes.
Yes.
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This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
meeting of March 20,2006.
March 20, 2006
Correia:
Wilburn:
Karr:
Champion:
Bailey:
Dilkes:
Bailey:
Wilburn:
Elliott:
Wilburn:
Dilkes:
Champion:
Dilkes:
Correia:
Dilkes:
Correia:
Bailey:
Champion:
Wilburn:
Karr:
Dilkes:
Bailey:
City Council Wark Session
Page 62
We had (can't hear)
Ah, take a break.
Ijust need to know if! should shut off the tape recorder.
Wen we could finish Council Time.
She might want to listen, they're going to talk.
We're going to need some time after that to figure out (can't hear)
They need to talk.
Let's take, let's take 5, back at 9:00.
'Take 5" - Dave Brubeck.
An right. There are several logistical issues with this, and I've asked Eleanor to
review how it can possibly be puned off.
We can take a break and go do an agenda and get that delivered to you before
you leave tonight for 7:30 am Wednesday morning meeting to discuss the issue.
If you want to preserve the ability to prevent the issuance ofa demolition permit
Thursday morning when the office opens at 8:00, you are also going to have to
schedule a meeting to set the public hearing now.
Ok.
Ok.
So would the public hearing have to be before Thursday?
No - the public hearing has to be set to kick in the moratorium.
Oh, ok.
I see.
Ok.
We would have to meet again after 7:30 to set the public hearing.
After the application were filed.
After the application was filed, because, to my knowledge, there is no application
for a rezoning on file.
Doesn't have to be.
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This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
meeting of March 20, 2006.
March 20, 2006
Atkins:
Oilkes:
Champion:
Oilkes:
Karr:
Bailey:
Oilkes:
Karr:
Oilkes:
Wilburn:
Champion:
Karr:
Oilkes:
Champion:
Correia:
Champion:
Bailey:
Champion:
Karr:
Wilburn:
Karr:
Champion:
City Council Work Session
Page 63
Who does the application?
You'd have to direct staff to do the application.
And it would have to be done pretty quickly.
And I don't even know, that's something you're going to have to discuss on
Wednesday morning. I'm just telling you, if you want to preserve the option to,
by the setting of the public hearing to prevent the issuance of the demolition
permit, you have to decide to schedule the hearing for later in the day on
Wednesday.
So, for instance, you could, for instance, if there is a majority of you, say 7:30
Wednesday for the discussion. Then you would decide to direct staff to do the
application, getting staff as much time to do that, you would set then another
hearing later in the day, for instance, I'm picking 4:30.
After JCCOG? We have JCCOG on Wednesday.
Well, if you want to do that, just give us a time.
Just give us a time.
Are there four of you who want to do that, set that second meeting?
Are there four who want to set the second meeting?
Yes.
At what time?
At what time do you want to do that?
We can either do it before JCCOG or after JCCOG.
And the meeting is just that one item, to set the public hearing.
Yes.
Ok. Setting the public hearing means that we are not issuing a demolition permit.
Right.
And would kick in a moratorium.
And we can't discuss the terms of that right here.
Right.
But we're just saying (can't hear) come out.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 64
Karr: We just need to know what time. We can't talk about it tonight.
Champion: Any time.
Vanderhoef: 6:00 would put us
Bailey: Well after JCCOG.
Champion: Yeah. I think we should do it right before JCCOG, it's going to take (can't hear)
Karr: The only thing I'm cautioning you is, I can't speak to staff, but in all fairness, I
don't know how long it's going to take them to do an application, so the earlier in
the day you make it, Ijust.
Correia: 6:00. It's like a three-minute meeting if we have this meeting.
Champion: 5:30.
Correia: Right after JCCOG.
Bailey: Well, 5:30 really scrunches JCCOG, we indicated that we'd have a longer
meeting this month.
Wilburn: Are there four people who are interested and able to meet at 6:00, by a show of
hands?
Elliott: I have no idea - I don't have my calendar here.
Champion: I can.
Vanderhoef: I can.
Bailey: I'm willing to do it.
Wilburn: I have a board meeting at work. I can't meet after, I can't meet after 5:00.
Karr: Or you can again potentially look at 7:30 Thursday morning for the same reason,
before the office opened, for the issuance of the (can't hear)
Bailey: That's better.
Champion: But if four of us can make it after JCCOG, the meeting won't take more than a
few minutes.
Wilburn: I think there were four - Dee, Amy, Regenia and you.
Karr: Assuming that four -
Dilkes: It takes four of you to set it.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 65
Karr: Assuming that the four who show vote yes.
Champion: And you can come after JCCOG?
Bailey: I can come after JCCOG.
Champion: Right, and so can Amy, and so can Dee and so can L
Bailey: I'm not sure that will get you to a public hearing, is what I'm saying.
Champion: Why.
Vanderhoef: It would take four votes.
Dilkes: You know what, we're getting beyond. We haven't posted this item, we need to
decide a time for a meeting on the setting ofthe public hearing. Do you want it
on 6:00 on Wednesday, do you want it at 7:30 on Thursday morning? Pick a
time.
Correia: How many can be there at 7:30 Thursday morning?
Champion: I can.
Vanderhoef: I think I can.
?: The same four people.
(can't hear)
Correia:
So we should do it at 6:00 on Thursday.
Bailey:
Fine.
Wilburn:
I think you're looking at 6:00 on Wednesday.
Correia:
6:00 on Wednesday.
Champion:
If only four of us can come, and then if four of us. Let me ask a question, to set
the public hearing do we need a majority of four?
Dilkes:
Four.
Karr:
We need four yes's.
Bailey:
You need a majority of Council.
Champion:
We don't know if we would have four votes to set the public hearing.
Wilburn:
And we can't discuss that here.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 66
Vanderhoef: And there's only four people that can come at 7:30 on Thursday morning.
Champion: Bob, could you come in for JCCOG?
Elliott: I, I didn't bring my calendar tonight. I had no idea we were going to (can't hear)
Correia: People should always bring their calendar to Council meetings.
Bailey: How do you know where you're supposed to be if you don't have your calendar?
Champion: Mike, could you come after?
O'Donnell: I definitely can not be here.
Champion: It might take two minutes.
O'Donnell: I definitely have got that, some place I have to be, and it's headed out of town.
Elliott: And JCCOG, when is that?
Champion: Wednesday.
Correia: Wednesday at 4:00.
O'Donnell: And I'm counting on that being over at 5:00.
Bailey: I told you last time that it would go to 5:30, sir.
O'Donnell: I may leave early.
Bailey: Well, ok, but I told you.
Wilburn: It would appear that 6:00 is the time, 6:00 Wednesday.
Bailey: And so we're meeting 7:30 on Wednesday and 6:00 on Wednesday.
Elliott: Ok, 7:30 Wednesday morning, are you going to contact the property owner,
Marian, or who does that?
Karr: Yes, I'll contact, yeah.
Champion: I have another question. Can we have the meeting to set the public hearing after
our meeting on Wednesday morning?
Karr: No, because the application has to be filed, and the application's not filed until
you direct staff to write it.
Champion: I don't like all these rules.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 67
(laughter)
Bailey:
And it's the application for what?
Karr:
We can't, I can't go on anymore. Eleanor doesn't want me to, that's the process.
Dilkes:
It's an application for Historic Landmark Designation and an application for
Historic Overlay Rezoning.
Bailey:
Ok.
Atkins:
So it's a rezoning as well.
Bailey:
Rezoning and application for designation.
Karr:
They got it.
Wilburn:
So there's two meetings Wednesday, one is at 7:30 and one is at 6:00.
Karr:
And the other one, again, we just need the one to give you the latitude of the
second one.
(cut off - end of tape)
Elliott: So as it stands?
Vanderhoef: Weare going to find out on Wednesday morning that it takes more time?
Karr: Dee, will know tomorrow if it takes longer - you will know tomorrow.
Dilkes: You'll have that information Wednesday morning.
Karr: We'll have that information.
Elliott: So Wednesday at 7:30 am and 6:00 PM.
Karr: Then you'll have to wait tonight.
Dilkes: But then you've got to hang around while we put it in agenda.
Elliott: Ok.
Atkins: Can I go home?
(laughter)
Dilkes:
No.
Wilburn:
There's one other item, it's a schedule of pending discussion items.
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March 20, 2006
City Council Work Session
Page 68
Champion: We just scheduled that (can't hear).
O'Donnell: Let's schedule this for the next Work Session.
Elliott: Ok.
Correia: Oh.
Vanderhoef: Oh, what?
Elliott: Are we done?
Bailey: No.
Atkins: Vou gonna hang around?
Vanderhoef: It's got Council Time, yet.
Wilburn: We did Council Time.
Vanderhoef: Ijust wanted a heads up.
Wilburn: Keep the tape rolling.
Karr: Wait a sec
Dilkes: The tape is still rolling.
Vanderhoef: Just a heads up, my TIS meeting will be held, the June meeting will be held, in
Alaska and I wanted to give you the heads up, and I'll be investigating using
frequent flyer miles that have been accumulated.
Wilburn: Ok.
Bailey: Ok, thanks.
Wilburn: See you tomorrow.
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This represents only a reasonable accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
meeting of March 20,2006.