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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-12 TranscriptionNovember 12, 2009 City Council Page 1 Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Hayek, Wilburn, Wright Council Absent: Correia, O'Donnell Council Elect: Susan Mims, Terry Dickens Staff: Miklo, Helling, Karr Others Present: Lorin Ditzler, Tim Weitzel, Aaron Krohmer, Charlie Eastham, Michelle Payne, Joshua Busard, Facilitator: Victor Dover Special Work Session & Joint Meeting with Planning and Zoning Commission and EPA Consultant Team for Riverfront Crossings District: Dover/ Thank you for coming out this morning. My name is Victor Dover, and I'm (mumbled) and I'm here to help the (mumbled) and our friends in Iowa City, uh (mumbled) and so, um (mumbled) be helpful right at the beginning... some of you are Council Members, some are Planning and Zoning Commissioners, and (mumbled) quick round of (mumbled) Miklo/ I'm Bob Miklo with the (mumbled) Ditzler/ (mumbled) Bailey/ (mumbled) of Iowa City. Champion/ Connie Champion, Iowa City Council. Weitzel/ Tim Weitzel, I'm on Planning and Zoning Commission. Mims/ Susan Mims, Council Elect. Hayek/ Uh, Matt Hayek, uh, on the City Council. Dickens/ Terry Dickens, Council Elect. Karr/ Marian Karr, City Clerk. Krohmer/ Aaron Krohmer, Parks and Rec Commission. Eastham/ Charlie Eastham, Planning and Zoning Commission. Wright/ Mike Wright, City Council. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 2 Payne/ (mumbled) Busard/ Josh Busard, P&Z (mumbled) Doyle/ (mumbled) Doyle with the EPA regional office in Kansas City. Dover/ (mumbled) nice to see you again. It's good to be back in Iowa City. (mumbled) that area (mumbled) is the subject of our focus (mumbled). We've already learned in every conversation about it that all the pieces (mumbled) and so (mumbled) what's going on with (mumbled) side of the river and campus, north side (mumbled) we're taking notes and trying to absorb it all and (mumbled) Miklo/ (mumbled) Dover/ (mumbled) so you probably note from the schedule that, have a couple of days to huddle with you and other stakeholder groups, in a quick focused way on... and hopefully follow up some starter ideas that (mumbled) this area as part of (mumbled) and we also think that for just our observation and discussions, that what you are undertaking here is going (mumbled) useful ideas for other communities that are grappling from recovering from a catastrophe or helping to prepare and mitigate (mumbled) um, and for (mumbled) audiences generally. (several talking) ... Water plant up to Burlington Street, east of Gilbert and the river's edge. Um ... and there are a couple things we think would be helpful to learn about from you, just go around the room and (mumbled) go in order if that's okay. Uh, the way (mumbled) things that really ought to be in the plan (mumbled) shows up on your desks as Council Members or Planning and Zoning Commissioners, or ... or Park Commissioners, uh, when, uh, (mumbled) ought to be there because there are essentials in it (mumbled) and on the other hand, as long as we're doing that, things that really could make it go wrong (mumbled) deal killer (mumbled) not to focus on "Y' or be sure not to (mumbled) on "Y" or "Z." Be helpful to hear those kinds of things (mumbled) so that's the ... that's, uh, essentially what I'm looking for. Tomorrow all we have to do is (mumbled) notes (mumbled) what is being learned in the different rooms, and present a starter ideas and then (mumbled) that won't work here in our session tomorrow at 5:30. So (mumbled). Would you like to start? Ditzler/ Sure! Um (mumbled) making sure to include (mumbled) Parks and Rec Commission, uh, person and thinking about parks and I ... I feel like this is an area that (mumbled) which is (mumbled) so that's one thing, and then also in just thinking about (mumbled) affordable. Um, cause we have all the students downtown, which is great (mumbled) area and so um (mumbled) Dover/ (mumbled) lightening round, so (mumbled) have time we'll come back around. Bailey/ (mumbled) residential, um, so (mumbled) possible living spaces (mumbled) and then additionally because (mumbled) and what's happening there because I think part of living down there is having the river view, but if you're looking at (mumbled) (several talking) commercial (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 3 Champion/ (mumbled) riverfront very accessible and uh (mumbled) Dover/ (mumbled) way too fast (laughter) (mumbled) they read off their ideas much more slowly (laughter) accessibility and walkability. Weitzel/ I agree with all those, and I would add to it, um, aesthetics, mass transit if feasible, and um, (mumbled) Dover/ (mumbled) are there a series of historic buildings you know about that I don't? Weitzel/ Um, well, there's the Depot and obviously the Court House, um (mumbled) eligible, um, I don't think anything been evaluated down there, beyond the individual buildings like the Depot, um, probably (mumbled) and then, uh, I mean, if it's older than 50 years old you should look at it and see if it qualifies. Dover/ (mumbled) evaluation of (mumbled) Miklo/ (mumbled) looked at, uh (mumbled) highlights as to, uh, (mumbled) historic buildings. There are a couple (mumbled) in there. For example, there's the (mumbled) arms which was a (mumbled) run by Helen Tate and the University was going to (mumbled) allow them to live in (mumbled) a place for students to live (mumbled). (mumbled) jazz musicians were (mumbled) Iowa City (mumbled) jams after performances there so (mumbled) really well-known jazz musicians played in the basement (mumbled). It's now (mumbled) office building but (mumbled) then there's a few buildings (mumbled) Dover/ Anything else that, you just said transit (mumbled) (several talking) more specifically you want to say about that? Weitzel/ Well, I mean, I'd like to (mumbled) and urban, you know. I think if, you know, bus service obviously is (mumbled) component and (mumbled) transportation (mumbled) so um, but I think having this as our rail hub and then going out (mumbled) biking, um, I guess one thing about bike paths ... a lot of bikes were just crowded, um, it's out in the weather, you know, we have a few bike lockers but they're (mumbled) possible. Dover/ With the large number of cyclists that you have (mumbled) five bike shops (mumbled) run through the area yesterday, um, do the landlords not see that as an opportunity for being more competitive? I'm curious. It would seem like that (mumbled) bike friendly apartment to rent you can charge more (mumbled). (several talking) Weitzel/ The whole idea of putting amenities on your apartment building or residence to attract better clientele is a difficult subject. Well, I mean, you would think that (mumbled) building you would attract people that you would like to live there as opposed to (mumbled) breaking down, and instead people just want to build the cheapest building possible. They say they're providing (mumbled) more affordable apartment available, but in (mumbled) without giving back to the community. That's how I see it. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 4 Payne/ And a lot of their amenities they do are more geared towards students. (mumbled) internet that's included in their rent, you know, things like that, rather than (several talking) Dover/ That's very helpful. I'm ... I (mumbled) get all the way around. Mims/ I would, you know, echo what has been said. I think, certainly, another area is, um, good office space. I keep hearing that we're really short on office space downtown, and particularly, um, some with big open floor plans, uh, we've got a gamer company here in town who's looking to expand; not enough office space downtown that's suitable for them, um, and so getting some more flexibility for those kinds of companies. It would really draw in young, energetic people who really want to be in a downtown area and right now they just can't find the office space they need. So really looking flexibly at more office space. Dover/ What a very powerful thing (mumbled) going to have that little, uh, cluster (mumbled) close in where commutes are short and the action is and (mumbled), as compared to (mumbled) Mims/ Well, and that's what they're looking at having to do because they're looking to expand in the next couple years, and they can't find the office space they need downtown, and if some things don't start moving relatively quickly, they're... they're going to start looking in Coralville and North Liberty, and we're going to lose them. Bailey/ (mumbled) types of businesses (mumbled) energy supply. They need some very specific (mumbled) that's what we want to attract. (several talking) Oh, absolutely! (mumbled) Dover/ (mumble) part of the region, are there fiber optic with trunk lines (mumbled) associated with the University or (mumbled)? Miklo/ (mumbled) in terms of AT&T, Verizon (mumbled) (several talking) Dover/ (mumbled) (laughter and several talking) we'll work our way around (mumbled) anything else (mumbled) I'm sorry! Hayek/ Matt! Hayek! Um, general ditto of what has been said. I guess I ... uh, the river... development of the actual riverfront, the bank, um, whether it's park land or something else is ... is critical. Iowa City has never really, uh, approached the riverfront, uh, with any particular design in mind. The University has and so our ... our attractive sections of the river through the community are generally University property. We have an opportunity here, uh, to ... to do that, so that would be a focus. Um, very much agree with the sentiments about office space. I think there's a ... a ... an alarming dearth of professional space in the downtown area, and those are, uh, the spinoff of bringing that kind of demographic to your downtown area (coughing, unable to hear) in terms of spending dollars and that sort of thing is considerable, so that ... that would be a focus of This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 5 mine, and then ... the residential is so tough in Iowa City, and I think there's so much private sector pressure to, um, to build large-scale, private student apartments, and ... and I think, as you guys are helping us to look at what has happened in the Gilbert Street corridor, and up and down Burlington, and..and some areas (mumbled) elsewhere, um, I don't know at what point that kind of pressure, uh, wanes. Um, but it hasn't yet, as far as I can tell, and as we're trying to create an area with ... with mixed residential and bring people who, uh... want to live and work downtown into this area, um, you have to be careful with the balance you strike, um, and uh, you have to be mindful of ... of what I've ... of this pressure over the last 20 or 30 years to ... as the University has stopped building dormitories, which it stopped doing, um, about ... yeah, actually in the last 60's. They haven't built a dorm since 1968, um, but there has been some growth and they've actually lost some dorm space because they retrofitted dorms and they accommodate fewer students now. Students don't want to cram into dorms, uh, of the size that they were a generation ago, so the private market has picked up that demand, has meet it. Uh, but that has had a profound impact on ... on the landscape downtown and on many of our historic buildings and ... and the look of the place. So that ... that is one of the biggest pressure points I see as we go into this. Dover/ Any, uh, solutions (mumbled) Hayek/ Uh, I mean, you can zone that away, obviously, if you don't want more of it, you know, but ... but, uh, I don't have specific solutions in mind. I think ... it's not an easy problem to solve, and it might... from my perspective the ... the approach of, I mean ... after a number of these buildings went up, we ... we started looking at them and saying, well, we at least need to have commercial on the first floor, and then we can have residential above that, and that works in theory. I don't know how well it's worked in Iowa City, cause a lot of that first floor commercial is not, uh, is not... desirable, or it's not attractive to a lot of businesses, um, and ... and so, uh, I don't know that just continuing with a first floor commercial and five stories of student apartments above that is ... is what we want down here. Maybe it is, but that's what we've been doing. Mims/ But I also think related to that, if it's not just five stories of students, okay? If it's five stories of mature adults who live and work in the area, then that would have a tendency to attract other kinds of retail, restaurant, you know, whether it's restaurants or retail outlets, whatever. I think when it's all students up there, you're very limited, I would think, as a business owner of what you're willing to put in there, and so I think if we can get that mixed housing, then hopefully that would really draw some other businesses. (several talking) Hayek/ I totally agree with that and I think, you know, a focus on the quality of that first floor commercial or office or retail or whatever it is space, uh, is important, but you know our ... I'm an attorney. We have a law firm downtown, and three or four years ago we were looking to relocate, um, and we looked in this area on the northend of it, um, and ... and we ... we weren't able to find anything that really suited us, and we saw some first floor commercial spaces that would have worked in terms of the, just the square footage, but we didn't want to put a professional office at the bottom of five floors of This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 6 student apartments, and we took a pass on an opportunity, um... so I've said enough. (laughter) Dover/ (mumbled) taking notes as well (mumbled) Champion/ I don't know how you get that to happen, because right now the (several talking and laughing) Bailey/ ...the quality of the residential and what comes first, I mean, what drives it, and I think that residential is ... we're going to have to be, um (mumbled) flexible, not five bedrooms because what the heck do you do with all that space, sort of thing, open layout. Payne/ (mumbled) three bedroom you're still, you know, (mumbled) kids there too, if you really want families, and then that also is (mumbled) students, kind of, you know, unless it's very high-end. Bailey/ (mumbled) I have a lot of people in the northside neighborhood who want to retire into smaller units downtown (several talking) and so I think that's (mumbled) not available (mumbled) Wright/ (mumbled) Bailey/ Right, this is where I want to retire (mumbled) (laughter) Champion/ I don't know. (several talking) Dover/ ....next? Dickens/ Sure. I was just recently in St. Louis, Monday and Tuesday, and what they've done downtown has really taken off. They really worked at getting lofts and people to move back downtown, and they have over 12,000 people that have moved into the downtown area and they expect another 6,000 to move down in the next year and a half. And what that's caused is all the restaurants, new grocery stores, everything has just exploded in that area. So you kind of look at models like that, what they've done with their downtown. We don't have the big buildings that they're using for lofts like that, but ... uh, I think there's a big market for people to move downtown. The Hotel Vetro, those places when they go for sale, they're snapped up pretty quick, uh, I envision the lower area, because of the, uh, flood possibilities, let's make it like the riverwalk in San Antonio, have that entertainment district, maybe something like that, and you mentioned Savannah, which I'm going to in January for a show. So I get to go to a lot of fun places with my job, but you pick up things like that, where if you have the squares and the park land that's all integrated into that area. So I kind of look for like three distinct areas where you keep the housing and the offices, condos closer to downtown. You have some entertainment that's easy to walk to, and still have some park land (mumbled). This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 7 Dover/ This one vision of, uh, lower downtown, the ... the near southside (mumbled) area is kind of the extension of downtown that has room to do the things that downtown doesn't (mumbled). And north of Burlington Street, you'd like the elbow room to create that, but south of Burlington Street you (mumbled) you have some (mumbled) to do that. Um ... talked about the riverfront, I'm curious to hear about, have any of you (mumbled) want to jump on this topic about the possibilities of a riverfront park space, particularly given how much of this land is ... is uh, flood prone and might lend itself to, um (mumbled) good, bad, and great and ugly about that idea (mumbled) curious as well. Um, want to go next? And I forgot your name. Wilburn/ (laughter) My name is Ross. Dover/ Ross! Wilburn/ Uh, just to pick up on that theme where you left off. It's not as if there haven't been ideas centered around the riverfront. It's just, uh, availability, and then who's doing it, and the cost, uh, for example, uh, you know, Terry brought up that riverwalk type things. That's something I've always felt, uh, important, trying to look at this area, whether it's destination point or um, if it's neighborhood, then some unique character about that neighborhood that people want to (mumbled). I'm even thinking, uh, on Parks and Rec way back, I remember looking at an idea about, uh (mumbled) I think it was even a kayak course (several talking) but that, you know, that would be the combination of destination point, but also if I ... if I'm, uh... wanting to go watch those type of, you know, something for me to do on the weekends, or even if you go see something or be to hang out, read, listen to music, watch the people run around in their kayaks, and I'm not saying that that's it, but those are the types of, um, destination (mumbled) type things, uh, that, uh, not necessarily typically a... a park, um, like a city park type park, but some area of the community where people are allowed to decompress and it's just breathable for the ... the community itself. (several talking) Yes, exactly! Dover/ (mumbled) my ignorance about the nature of the river itself during the year (mumbled) the water's down, are there ... is there... Krohmer/ The water below the Burlington Street dam is usually low, year round, and you have issues with fish kills and stuff like that (mumbled) Dover/ White -watering around the river... Krohmer/ No, people do kayak it, but I think it's for a lack of (mumbled) Dover/ Is it a rowing kind of river, like the... Krohmer/ We're working on a river trail. We just got a grant that we'll have some portage around the various dams, um (several talking) for canoeing mostly, yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 8 Dover/ Okay, um, always amazed at the economic development power of ... of, uh, water (mumbled) competition for the location (mumbled) Krohmer/ Not ... no. Bailey/ Iowa... Wilburn/ But you still do, you see people down there, uh, how they manage to get themselves down there fishing and things (several talking) Krohmer/ ... fishing along there. Wilburn/ So there is a draw to the river down there. It's just... Champion/ The river is a river if you don't (mumbled) (laughter and several talking) Bailey/ And Iowa really has a (mumbled) coming to that (mumbled) (several talking) Dover/ Is the river polluted? (several talking) Ross, did you have some other things you want to add to that? Keep going? Wilburn/ I think keep going. I mean, the themes of affordable housing mixture... that's been part of the community conversation for some time. Krohmer/ Two things, one first would be, uh, for park land where the waste water treatment plant is, once moved, which seems to be a key aspect of any plan for that area. Uh, specific ideas for ... that I've always thought would be good, seems how it's in the flood plains, things that would be largely cement -based, things that, you know, easily be washed out after any type of flooding event, um, amphitheater of some sort for live music, combined possibly with a enlarged and improved permanent home for the Farmer's Market. Uh, something similar to what downtown Des Moines, downtown Cedar Rapids have done as a gathering, uh, event style place, and I know the University is looking at, when they relocate Hancher, possibly doing an outdoor amphitheater at the existing Hancher site, um, that's sort of a historic commemorative thing for the, uh, past building. I, however, don't think that the two things would necessarily have to compete or, you know, one would exclude the need for the other. Dover/ Well, where's the Farmer's Market? Krohmer/ Currently right across from City Hall, and uh, underneath, um, the parking ramp there. Uh, because of some arguments that have happened with members of the Farmer's Market in the recent past about it being moved to an outdoor location, I think designing an outdoor location that had shelter would be probably pretty important to easing any transition. Um ... jumping back to the housing, if I may, really quickly ... uh, I know there's a lot of talk about trying to limit student housing, things like that, and I understand the reason for that. I think to make anything you do on the southside compatible with This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 9 other long-term City goals, one of the big ones mainly being slowing the creep of student housing into existing neighborhoods on the north and east side, you're going to have to do zoning in a way that does not ... well, doesn't allow for only student housing. It doesn't exclude it. Uh, we recently had a chance, Big Ten Development out of Madison just finished a building on Court Street and Linn. It could have been about twice the size it was because of how we're trying to develop an area. It isn't! If we don't build at least some dorm style housing in this area, you'll continue to lose single-family houses on the north and east side. That's just inevitable. So, when we talk about mixed housing, I think mixed housing throughout the neighborhood is good, if that doesn't mean you can't have some buildings that aren't really mixed housing, that are designed for students. Um, most people who are going to want to live in those nice condos aren't going to want the students living in the apartments right below them anyhow. So, I think a mixed neighborhood is good. That doesn't mean each individual building needs to be designed with multiple uses within it. (several talking) The other problem is the five -bedrooms is what's most attractive for students, I mean, dorm -style is the most efficient style housing for students to be able to afford. (male)/ And they're problematic. Krohmer/ It's problematic, as well ... I mean, it's not an easy solution either way. I just think if you go to (both talking) (male)/ ... one thing is not necessarily good. Krohmer/ No! (male)/ Diversity is... Krohmer/ Diversity over ... and that creates its self -policing attitude in the neighborhood by having actual residents living on the same block as students. They enforce various code issues, things like that, by reporting it to the City, whereas students aren't known for doing that to themselves. Champion/ I think that we need to clarify that when we're generally taking about the student housing we're talking about the undergraduate housing. Krohmer/ Yes! Champion/ Because graduate housing is (both talking) Krohmer/ Very different, yeah. Dover/ Now (mumbled) Busard/ My apologies. Uh, one of the things that I wanted to bring up was the location of City Carton. I think it's very accessible place (mumbled) drop off their goods, and if we move This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 10 City Carton (mumbled) um, and where are we going to locate it (mumbled) like a gas station or (mumbled) we just need to make sure we have a plan, and then secondly, I think we need to have a (mumbled) flooding worse (mumbled) (male)/ Couple of questions related to the two items you raised. One is what would be the alternative location for City Carton (mumbled) Miklo/ We've had some discussions about, um, one of our industrial parks (mumbled) location in this general area, or (mumbled) Wilburn/ I was going to say, however, the convenience aspect can be addressed if the Council proceeds with the, uh, multi, um, multi -family apartment recycling pick-up then, and there's, you know, and there's work with some of the property owners, that can be addressed. My daughter goes to school on a green campus, and on their dorm floors there ... on your way to the elevator, you drop off your recycling, and, um, that ... that can address, so I mean every floor on this campus (several talking) Dover/ ...contemplating changing the set-up for multi -family recycling? (mumbled) Wright/ There are a couple other drop-off places. Bailey/ Yeah, there are multiple drop (mumbled) essentially. I just want to build on this green concept, and I think (mumbled) this area (mumbled) but any other kind of green (mumbled) as well as office users (mumbled) (noises on mic) a lot of market appeal. Dover/ (mumbled) question on this one. Um, there are a number of communities that make, uh, achieving (mumbled) requirement for getting to certain provisions of the (mumbled) you want to get the full benefit (mumbled) green buildings (mumbled). Are you one of them? Bailey/ We are now. Dover/ Okay (several talking) Champion/ (mumbled) Bailey/ (mumbled) in this area we should (mumbled) have a better understanding of (mumbled) Dover/ It's essentially routine (mumbled) or Boston, um, and the buildings are all LEED certified, and you pretty much have to satisfy... City of Cambridge requirements you've got to get (mumbled) becoming something that's embedded in policy. Bailey/ (mumbled) Wright/ Something we should take a look at. Bailey/ Especially this district. (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 11 Dover/ The other point about storm water management (mumbled) talked about Ralston Creek, talked about the riverfront. If you look at the map (mumbled) back to the flood (mumbled) um, it wasn't just the river, it was the tributaries as well, and (mumbled) 100 - year, 500 -year flood plain so, um (mumbled) visions for Ralston Creek? Do you want to go next? Eastham/ It was on my list (both talking) Charlie Eastham (mumbled) P&Z, um, I think there are two waterways, one the Iowa River but the other one is Ralston Creek, and Ralston Creek actually perhaps offers some opportunities for doing trails into the area to connect to other parts of the community. Um, and also Ralston Creek really (mumbled) the banks are yucky (laughter) (several talking) no, it's not. It's ... it's not a wonderful (mumbled) but it (mumbled) (several talking) Uh, the other thing I have on my list is accurate flood plain, or flood zone maps, uh, glad the FEMA people are not here right now. I thought their previous maps for this community were woefully inadequate and I hope that (mumbled) planning process somewhat. I don't know if we need to do it now, but somewhat (mumbled) University of Iowa's recent innovations in doing flood plain mapping (mumbled) I don't know if (mumbled) um... Dover/ I have to ask. Do they tend to exaggerate the amount of area that needed to be protected (both talking) Eastham/ They understated. Dover/ Okay. Eastham/ They understate the flood levels. Dover/ Yesterday we had, uh, FEMA representative (mumbled) ask that question when we see him next, but (mumbled) Eastham/ The fact that the Iowa River ... we talked about the east side of the riverbank. I hope somehow we can include the west side of the riverbank as well. Bailey/ Yes. We have to (mumbled) Eastham/ Uh, the next thing, current demographics in this area. Do we know something about the population mix, ages, um, affiliation and so forth. I don't know, I feel nervous about starting a project and knowing ... not knowing who's living there now. And then, um, finally we've talked about mixed housing and I ... I think it's a wonderful idea if we can get to that point. If families with young children could populate this area (mumbled) and I think the schooling becomes a real issue, especially elementary schooling, as well as pre-school and daycare (mumbled) so I hope we can (mumbled) possibilities or those needs can be included and while we're looking at this, perhaps ... I hate to (mumbled) sensitive issue, but perhaps including the School District (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 12 Dover/ (both talking) Champion/ (several talking and laughing) Dover/ I saw a lot of (several talking) Mims/ ...middle of a major redistricting of all their boundaries. They just closed one elementary school just across the river, which is very, very controversial, uh, pardon? Dover/ In town. Mims/ Yeah. Bailey/ (mumbled) that's how I would... Dover/ (mumbled) Mims/ Yeah, well I think, I mean, I think they had a large group that looked to Roosevelt and the cost and stuff associated with refurbishing it and the ability refurbish it, and even the majority of the teachers felt it should be closed. They bus about 50% of the kids into the school (mumbled) so they had a lot of issues, lot of input. They ended up closing it. Very controversial decision, um, and I think, you know, as Regenia's saying, they, you know, they've got to build where they can find the land and they're not typically finding the land in and so they're getting land for new developments (mumbled) kids are going to be and the concern I think that a lot of people have is as more development is done on the periphery, and that's where the kids are, that that's where they're going to be building schools and the concern that the older in... inside schools are going to end up being closed, and it becomes a real challenge because neighborhoods tend to turn over. They mature, uh, you can go through a period where you've got, and we did on our street. You know, there were twenty kids in the morning waiting for the bus, and then we went through about ten years, there was hardly any kids, and now a lot of those houses have turned over. Younger families, new kids, and now they're... again, there's twenty kids. Well, that's very difficult for the School District in terms of the way they do their boundaries and stuff, and so one of the pieces though in the middle of this district is the Central Office for the School District, and even ten years ago when I was on the School Board, we were talking about selling it, because it is a very valuable piece of property. I mean, it's basically just kiddy -corner southeast of the Court House. Dover/ Another one! Mims/ Yeah, and so ... you know, you want that as a historic building. The second thing is is it a practical building for anybody? Um, it's a very valuable piece of property for somebody to tear that down and put up something better, and they certainly are going to be looking at it with their financial problems, uh... I wouldn't be surprised, I mean, they've talked about it for over ten years of when's the opportune time to sell that. So... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 13 Eastham/ It may be possible to plan for elementary school opportunities for people living here, without including the school nearby. There's no nearby school, well, good connectivity (mumbled) could be overcome I suppose but... Champion/ I think the way the School District is operating schools is going to (mumbled) because there is no school. There's a daycare, and so I think that's going to be ... I think the thought of a young family moving in, I don't see that happening, unless they're looking for temporary housing for a couple years (mumbled) but I think that (mumbled) but I just (mumbled) Bailey/ Well, and I'm not sure (mumbled) Iowa City for (mumbled) the way we live when we have kids. It's more of (mumbled) neighborhood traditionally, so I'm also wondering about the fundamental appeal of this neighborhood to families with kids, but I would defer to somebody like Matt (several talking) people who have kids. (several talking) yeah ... I ... I don't see a lot of our people with kids living in condo -sort of set-ups, no matter how large. Dover/ Aerial photograph of the city tells (mumbled) footprint is in single-family houses, as is typical, and that's likely for (mumbled) areas here where (mumbled) taking place and you wanted to wreck it. But one other question I have though is about the changing demand. You mentioned (mumbled) but really thinking about the balance of housing needs (mumbled) population yet to come. There's (mumbled) really good (mumbled) existing demographics is hard to do. It's also hard, um (mumbled) housing analysis, you know, something that says (mumbled) of the total housing picture that are ... that have the predisposition to (mumbled) like one we're talking about. You can do the same thing with office use and uh, some of the (mumbled) same thing with, uh (mumbled) but um, without doing that (mumbled) how different are you, if at all, from the national trend of basically needing over the next twenty-five years far fewer single-family houses (mumbled) the national surplus of single-family detached houses in the two and a half to three million houses range by 2025, which is scary for all of us w ho put our lifetime investment in single-family homes, so, um, cause (mumbled) surplus and be less valuable, and (mumbled) national housing. (female)/ Well, and Iowa City attracts retirees, I mean, with the hospital, health care services that we have here. The big ten university town with Hancher Auditorium, the cultural events, I mean, you know, we've been in the national news in terms of a good place to retire. And so, I mean, I would really envision a lot of this area, you know, young professionals who want to live downtown, close to their work, uh, you know, the dual -income, no kids who like condo living and also retirees. I mean, as well as some balance probably with some students, but I mean, I think those are the people that area really going to be attracted to the ... that kind of a lifestyle. Dover/ In the few seconds that we really don't have left, let's give Mike and Michelle a chance to jump in (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 14 Wright/ I'll try to be concise, uh, I really agree with everything that's come up (mumbled). We talked very briefly about bringing in some retail in this area (mumbled) and I'd like to see some diversity in retail (mumbled) a store where you can buy screws and nails and, you know, with a hardware orientation, a little bit more variety than we have (mumbled) other retail areas, um, a market. It used to be diverse retail, if you're talking about dense development, so that we're not encouraging people to drive to the fringes when you need string. Uh, and also we have been (mumbled) area right now, we don't build so much surface parking at the City, but we have (mumbled) surface parking (mumbled). Places where you literally have a sea of asphalt (mumbled) were it not for that sea of asphalt. And that needs to be (mumbled) Dover/ Okay. Those are very helpful. Dickens/ That city study talked about we needed like a small department store, you know, when they did the downtown, we need a small department store, hardware type store. It's missing from (mumbled) that would be a great... great thing to be had. Dover/ (mumbled) (several talking) after... after traveling a lot (mumbled) might be a little bit like a narcotic (mumbled) to get it. (mumbled) damage on the other hand, um (mumbled) the need rises. So, um... (several talking) parking (laughter). It does lull us into (mumbled) Michelle, do you want to... Payne/ I just wanted to expand on the warehouse and the loft style housing. I think that would be wonderful, and I think that would attract non -student (mumbled), and I (coughing) zone for, or people even build that type of housing new, if it's even possible to build it new. I suppose it is (several talking) um ... the second thing is is I live on the east side and the train is always a problem, and these train tracks split this area. You can't get from one side of the train to the other side of the train, and it has hurt the Towncrest area on the east side. So I wouldn't want the train to hurt this area, because people can't travel from one side to the other. Obviously the train is an important part of the area, but we have to be able to get across the tracks. Bailey/ And part of getting across the tracks (mumbled) and not allowing the train (several talking and laughing) Wright/ We might have to have (mumbled) Bailey/ There's Madison. (several talking) Wright/ Madison... Payne/ ...of scheduling that (mumbled) train was blocking the tracks, you know, so... Dover/ (mumbled) commuter rail trains and (mumbled) Amtrak trails (mumbled) rarely stop across (mumbled) I had to wait 47 seconds for the commuter rail to go by (mumbled) freight cars that block (several talking) yesterday it was (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009. November 12, 2009 City Council Page 15 Payne/ I don't know what we need to do about it, but it could be an issue. Dover/ We got responses that this ... when the railroad proposed (mumbled) in the road. Maybe they already have a plan (mumbled) (several talking and laughing) disorderly at times, but part of all that's the vitality. (mumbled) Before I forget (several talking) Payne/ ...last thing that I have, it has to do with the utilities. Um, I would say utilities should be involved (mumbled) any kind of preliminary plan, and we (mumbled) very big substation, but that doesn't mean it can't be made bigger (mumbled) and the University does have a substation in this area too, so just those are two things to keep in mind, that those facilities are there and have to be there in order to (mumbled) Dover/ (mumbled) Steve from FEMA (laughter and several talking) we should adjourn because we've run over time but I definitely want (mumbled) Miklo/ One other thing (mumbled) Friday at 5:30 in this room or maybe upstairs (mumbled) (noise on mic) Dover/ Thank you all very much. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2009.