HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-04-16 Transcription#2a Page 1
ITEM NO. 2a EQUAL PAY DAY: APRIL 16
Lehman: Reads proclamation
Kan': Here to accept the proclamation is Sandy Kunde representing the
business and professional women's.
Kunde: Thank you Mr. Mayor and City Council. As you heard according to the
U.S. Census Bureau women earn on average only 73 cents for every
dollar that men earn. Women of color experience even greater
inequities. African American women earn 64 cents. While Hispanic
women earn 52 cents for every dollar men earn. Studies indicate that a
predominant of women in an occupation directly correlates to lower
wages for that occupation regardless of its difficulty, importance, or
required level of skills or education. According to the National
Committee on Pay Equity, college educated women earn over $12,000
less on average than men with the same education. In January of 2002 a
report released by the U.S. General Accounting Office offers the dismal
outlook for women in management also. According to the report,
women continue to lag behind their male counterparts in both
advancement and pay. The majority of women managers were worse
off relative to men in 2000 than they were in 1995. And as you can
recall that was a period of economic prosperity. BPW USA was
founded to insure women's workplace equity and has advocated for pay
equity in the national and state levels. We led the way for the passage
of equal pay act in 1963 and numerous other legislation bills (can't hear)
by told by women's equity. We believe that for women to achieve pay
equity existing laws must be better enforced and new legislation
addressing pay equity must be enacted. Our national group along with
thc public policy department in conjunction with the BPW pact and our
issue's management and legislation committee will roll out a new
campaign entitled "Take the Pay Equity Pledge" in 2002. BPW USA
will send every candidate for U.S. Congress a pledge card asking them
to pledge their support for pay equity legislation such as the pay check
fairness act. Finally, if they are elected to Congress we will use the
cards as a reminder of their pledge and maintain a tally of pledge cards
on our web site at bpwusa.org. Once again, I thank the Mayor and City
Council of Iowa City for recognizing the significance of Equal Pay Day.
Lehman: Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of April 16, 2002.
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ITEM NO. 2c CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK: APRIL 21 - APRIL 27
Lehman: Reads proclamation.
Kart: Here to accept is Valer/e Kemp.
Kemp: Thm~k you Mr. Mayor and City Council Members. I just wanted to
invite everybody on behalf of the Victim Advisory Board in Johnson
County to attend our opening ceremony for Crime Victims' Rights
Week. That will be held at the Ped Mall on Monday, January or April
22nd at noon. This year will be...the theme is honoring those who honor
victims and we will be honoring the Sheraton Motel for going above
and beyond assisting the Watson and Lehmer families during the double
homicide trial or their daughters.
Lehman: Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of April 16, 2002.
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ITEM NO. 2d VOLUNTEER WEEK: APRIL 21 - APRIL 27
Lehman: Reads proclamation.
Karr: Here to accept is Dana Huttin, Crisis Center Food Bank Director.
Huttin: Thank you Mayor Lehman and the City Council for proclaiming April
21 -April 27 National Volunteer Week. As we all know, volunteers are
a vital part of our community and on behalf of the Volunteer Action
Network, I would like to commend the many people in Iowa City who
help strengthen our organizations by providing a backbone in
foundation for many .at~gencies here in Johnson County and Iowa City.
On Saturday April 20t fi.om 10:00 until 2:00 the Volunteer Action
Network will be hosting a volunteer fair at Sycamore Mall. At the fair
there will be representatives and information about the 25 member
organizations that comprise the Volunteer Action Network for people to
come out and learn about volunteering and possibly get connected with
some local organizations. In addition to the volunteer information that
will be present, there will also have wonderful music fi.om Tom
Knocknagle, so if you are cun'ently volunteering and would like to
come by and join with others in the cause. I would encourage people to
come and hear the music and hopefully sign up for volunteering. Thank
yOU.
Lehman: Thank you. I just really need to say that Iowa City is so good with
volunteers. Volunteering is kind of like giving a hug. You always get
one back. Those folks who volunteer are really better people for having
volunteered. So, great community and lots of volunteers.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of April 16, 2002.
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ITEM NO. 2e PROJECT GREEN WEEK: APRIL 29 - MAY 5
Lehman: Reads proclamation.
Kan': Here to accept is Ann Hesse, President of Project GREEN's steering
committee.
Hesse: In 1968 the founders of Project GREEN considered all of Iowa City an
arboretum. Since then, over these past 34 years, many like-minded
citizens have taken action to implement this vision of our founders.
They have worked together to enhance, beautify, and preserve not only
the public landscape of the greater Iowa City area, but the school
grounds of every school within the Iowa City community school district.
They share a respect for our natural environment. They share an
appreciation for our native Iowa landscape. They all have a willingness
to learn and a courage to try new things. We thank you Mayor Lehman
and Council Members for recognizing these very dedicated volunteers
in the greater Iowa City area by proclaiming April 29 - May 5, 2002 as
Project GREEN week. And we invite you all - those listening on cable
as well - to come to our 32nd annual Green Garden Fair May 4 9:00 to
11:30 in the morning at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
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meeting of April 16, 2002.
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ITEM NO. 2f CRISIS CENTER WEEK: APRIL 29 - MAY 5
Lehman: Reads proclamation.
KaIT: Here to accept is its executive director, Ross Wilburn.
Wilbum: Good Evening. Thank you Mr. Mayor and City Council for your
support of the Crisis Center and our services to Iowa City and Johnson
County. Just for the young people fi.om Horace Mann who are going to
be coming in here too, adults get nervous too speaking at the
microphone, so relax when you get up there. Anyway, Crisis Center
week is a time when we honor and thank the volunteers who give many,
many hours to the Crisis Center and service to their community.
Indeed, they are the background and give lots of hugs down there. I like
to think of it as a mini community. In fact we've had volunteers from
University to seniors to service clubs and churches and we simply can't
do without the work of volunteers. We...1 figured out once that we
would have to hire 29 full time employees to do the work - the
thousands of hours that volunteers give to the Crisis Center providing
crisis counseling, providing supplemental food help in emergency
situations and giving out diapers - those types of services. During
Crisis Center Week our activities will include a annual Friends of Crisis
Center campaign, a volunteer recognition dinner Tuesday April 30th at
the Sheraton downtown Iowa City. Throughout the week if any groups
would like to have tours of the center, please call the Crisis Center at
351-0140. And Sunday May 5th we have annual gourmet pancake
breakfast which many of you Council Members have participated in
helping feed the community and raise some money for the Crisis Center
by flipping pancakes. And I promise not to embarrass anybody by
saying who spilled some of the pancake batter last year. Anyway, once
again thanks for your support in helping us help others.
Lehman: Well, in all honesty, that Crisis Center breakfast is probably one of the
best breakfast you'll ever have and it couldn't go to a better cause and
we have a dual when it comes to flipping pancakes and Mike is still
struggling to equal my technique.
O'Donnell: Ernie, you know if you would just stay out of my way.
Lehman: That's probably tree.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of April 16, 2002.
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ITEM NO. 3 OUTSTANDING STUDENTS.
Horace Mann Elementary: Claire Paulson, Jose Gomez, Ivan
Osinsky, Cassie Panther
Lehman: Item number three is the outstanding citizenship awards. Tonight the
kids are from Horace Mann Elementary and if those students would
come forward please. Right up here, all of you at the same time. I
understand that we need to start this in a certain order, so I'm going to
ask each of you to give your name and then read why you were
nominated.
Abullah Awad: Abullah Awad and I'm speaking for Ivan. On behalf of the students of
Horace Mann Elementary School, I would like to thank the Iowa City
Council for organizing this program. One of the reasons we're hem
tonight is to honor one of Horace Mann's students, Ivan Osinsky, my
dearest friend. As students we spend a great portion of our lives in
school with our peers - more than with our parents. This emphasizes
the importance of friendship and the qualities of the individual
students and how they deal with each other. Having those qualities in
mind, I wasn't surprised that Mr. Kemp's class chose Ivan as the best
citizen of the class. Ivan is very quiet, polite and nice. He is a hard
working student and is serious when needed to be. He's active and full
of life. Although I met him no more than eight months ago, we
became very good friends. Ivan has proved to be a very exceptional
friend. He loves to share and help. Ivan is always there when needed.
He had accomplished many things together. Ivan has always been a
good sport and he treats others as he would treat himself. Most of you
probably don't know that Ivan is a very good hut builder. We spent all
Spring Break building a hut in forests of Hawkeye Drive, although I
had to carry all the heavy loads of wood and gather the hay. I thank
Ivan for being an example of a good student and a good friend and I
wish him a bright future. Despite the fact that people differ in their
behaviors and attitudes, but I really believe that everyone has good in
him or her, especially kids. Being in the right environment with the
right people will bring the good out of everybody. In conclusion, I
would like to thank Horace Mann principal and all the teachers for
providing the right environment. I would also like to send a special
thanks to Mr. Kemp for being our teacher. Thank you.
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Cassie Panther: Okay Claire Paulson. Claire is a star student is Ms. Tiller's fifth and
sixth grade class. She has many friends that look up to her and love
getting to take part in her ideas. Her favorite subjects are social
studies, math and science. She is also in the upper units book club at
Mann and enjoys sharing every book that she reads. She plays the
trombone and piano and also studies German. In addition to this, she
plays many sports including basketball, soccer and dance. This year
Claire and a friend have started and become co-editors of the Upper
Unit Gazette. The newspaper's features include articles about school
news and out of school news, poems, sports, sport articles, movie
reviews, book reviews, riddles, crossword puzzles, and information
about what movie theaters are showing. This summer she's planning
on going to music camp for two weeks in order to improve her
trombone playing skills. She also will attend College for Kids in July.
Claim Paulson: Cassie Panther. Cassis Panther is an honest, hard working and smart
sixth grader in Ms. Tailor's class. She has many friends. All of whom
enjoy her bright and fun personality. She is attentive and very
conscientious about getting her work polished and completed on time.
Cassie likes, and is quite good at, playing the flute, soccer, basketball
and softball. She is a member of the Upper Unites book club and the
East side advanced band. During this past year, Cassie and her parents
have volunteered several times at the Crisis Center helping to feed
homeless people. Last summer she attended several sports camps and
a horseback riding camp and hopes to be able to attend similar camps
this summer.
Tim Kemp: I'm reading a piece that was written by a student at Horace Mann
about Jose Gomez. Jose came to the United States in the summer of
2000. When he came to Iowa City he knew very little English. He has
worked hard to understand and speak English. Since he has come he
has been a friend to everyone, gets along very well and is helpful to
others in the classroom. He is hardworking, very motivated to learn
and follows all class rules. Others can learn a lot from Jose by
watching how he behaves in the classroom. For example, during our
reading time, students come in and out of the room and when many
come into the room they raise their voice and ask, "What are we
suppose to be doing?" Jose quietly enters the room and quickly gets to
work. Jose is also a great citizen outside of the classroom. He is very
involved in soccer and basketball. He shows good sportsmanship and
plays like a professional. He is probably one of the best soccer players
in the school. Jose is a role model for the students at Horace Mann.
He is respectful and understands the importance of doing his best.
And now to read in the Spanish version...
We wanted to do this so Jose's family could understand what
wonderful things that people have said about Jose too.
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meeting of April 16, 2002.
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Stacey Medd: [Spanish version of above]
Lehman: Pretty cool, huh.'? I like to say that I understood it. But I understood
your version a lot better. You know we do this. We try to do this
every Council Meeting. It's a really important part of our meeting to
recognize student citizens and I hope that you appreciate the honor - it
is really an honor to be...to get an outstanding student citizenship
award and there's lots of us that wish you folks could say about us
what you said about your classmates. So, congratulations to you and I
have a plaque. I have three of them. I'm going to read one of them.
For outstanding qualities of leadership within Horace Mann
Elementary as well as the community and for sense of responsibility
and helpfulness to others, we recognize these as outstanding student
citizens. Your community is proud of you. Presented by the Iowa
City City Council. April 2002.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of April 16, 2002.
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ITEM NO. 4 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED
Lehman: Item number four is consider adoption of the consent calendar as
presented or amended.
Champion: Move adoption.
O'Dormell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion. Seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Vanderhoef: I would like to pull number 4e (2) for special consideration.
Lehman: 4e (2) okay. Other discussion? Roll Call. Motion carries. Is there a
motion to consider item number two?
Pfab: Moved.
Kanner: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Pfab. Seconded by Kanner. Discussion? Item 4e(2)
is...I'11 read it consider a resolution setting a public heating on May 7
for plan specification, form of contract, and estimate of cost for the
construction of the Northside Marketplace Streetscape Project, Phase I.
Which is a project that is about a half a million project and I think that
them are members of the Council who wish to speak to this.
Vanderhoef: This is one of the projects that we talked about a lot while we were
going through our budget discussions with the entire Council. I
support the project. It's one that needs to be done and it is not a
critical project that I see right now when our general fund is and is a
little bit of...it's constrained. I'll put it that way. In the future, I will
support this project when I see that our general funds can handle it.
But, in the meantime I will be voting "no" on this item.
Lehman: Other discussion?
Champion: Dee, this doesn't come out of the general fund.
Vanderhoefi Most of it does.
Lehman: I thought that it was capital improvement.
Atkins: It would be capital improvement.
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Vanderhoef: It is, but it still is the constraint on the budget.
Lehman: Right.
Champion: But, it's not from the General Fund.
Lehman: I concur with what Dee has said. I think the project is a worthwhile
project. Later this evening we are going to vote about issuing about 29
million dollars in debt and I...we have issued more debt than I would
like to see us issue and I think that this is one project that we could
postpone for a year or two or whatever and not have any significant
negative effects. Other discussion?
O'Donnell: I agree with you Dee and Emie, this is a project that although I do
deem very worthy this budget is extremely tight and I believe this is
one project that we can put off. We need to address...there is going to
be several other things in this budget that I'm not going to be able to
support. This is one of them.
Pfab: I'll certainly support this project. I think it's something that's long
overdue. A lot of promises made on it and it'll also help complete the
downtown area that's adjacent to it. And because of that I'm going to
support it.
Kanner: Yeah, I'll support it. Actually we are quite plush with money. It's
what we spend it on. I think we need to cut other areas. We have
Mormon Trek Road. Why don't we cut there, Mike, instead of here?
This is something that's the heart of Iowa City. It's a neighborhood.
It's a model for our city and around the cotmtry. And I think it's time
that we support the folks there. So, I'm going to vote wholeheartedly
for this and I think that we need to cut other areas.
O'Donnell: I understand that Steven, totally. But, I think that you need to
understand is that unless we address economic development and build
a tax base that this City is headed down a road that I don't like to
follow.
Kanner: This is economic development, Mike.
O'Donnell: What's that?
Kanner: This is economic development.
O'Donnell: It's not brining jobs into town, Steven. I'm not going to debate this
with you right here. This is something that can be delayed and I don't
believe that Mormon Trek can. You and I have a difference in opinion
and it's probably not going to change.
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meeting of April 16, 2002.
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Lehman: Any other discussion? Roll Call.
Dilkes: O'Donnell?
O'Donnell: What are we voting on?
Lehman: We are voting on Item 2. Whether to pass that or not. Motion carries
4-3, Vanderhoef, Lehman, and O'Donnell voting the negative.
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meeting of April 16, 2002.
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ITEM NO. 5 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Lehman: Item five is public discussion. This is the time reserved on the agenda
for the public to address the Council on items that do not otherwise
appear on the agenda. If you wish to address the Council, please sign
in and give your name, address, and limit your comments to five
minutes or less.
John Neff: My name is John Neff. I'm an Iowa City resident and I'm here to talk
about the process that's used for approving the renewals of beer and
liquor permits. The reason that interested in that is that I analyze the
data collected by the Iowa City Police Department which shows that
the people charged with possession of alcohol under the legal age 96%
of those charges occurred in twelve bars. I believe that this includes
both adults and juveniles and I think some of the juveniles are high
school students. I want to tatum to that later. Now the problem with
the process is that the State of Iowa has ruled that even though you
have evidence, which is what I just mentioned, that there's illegal sales
taking place in certain bars that's not sufficient cause to reject a
renewal. And the consequences of this State ruling are that any permit
holder can sell to whoever they wish as long as it's not an undercover
agent and there will be not consequences. The renewal of the permits
is automatic because ifa Board of Supervisor or City Councilor or any
person of the State does not renew, the State will give them a license
anyway...a permit anyway. There is no point in delaying things. You
might as well automatically approve them, which is what we just say
happen. And finally, any public input on this process is irrelevant.
Now what I want to talk about it is this State policy impacts juveniles.
There's a State Department of Human Rights and within that
Department there is something called a criminal juvenile justice
planning project or department or whatever. And they conduct an
annual survey of students in grade schools, junior highs and high
schools in each county of the State. And one of the questions on this
survey is "How easy is it to obtain alcohol?" And the junior high
school students in Johnson County answered to that question is that
it's difficult, but it can be done. The high school students responded
anybody who wants alcohol can get it without any problems. Now the
data that I mentioned does not distinguish between adults and juveniles
although the police have that information. You can get some idea how
many by looking at the incident base crime reports. The last date
that's available is 2000. And it looks like about, in the urban areas,
about 6% of the liquor license violations are by juveniles. About 40%
in the rural areas are by juveniles. And I think there's a reason for that
difference. Now what happens with these juveniles that are charged is
they become...they are put under the jurisdiction of juvenile court
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meeting of April 16, 2002.
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services and they place juveniles in residential treatment programs for
the treatment of alcohol and substance abuse...or dependencies. They
also place them incarceration if the alternate placement is not
advisable or not available. And what's happened in the last 10 years is
the alternates are not available and there aren't enough beds in the
residential treatment programs. And because of ftmding cutbacks, the
number of Jolmson Cotmtyjuveniles incarcerated has increased 500%.
And the 15 beds that we're limited to are full. People, who can't get
into the beds, have to be held somewhere. And some are held in jail.
So what I want to do is conclude with that there's a critical problem
with alcohol abuse by juveniles in this county and the root cause is that
there are individuals who sell alcohol to high school students.
Lehman: Thank you, John.
Neff: Thank you.
LeRoy Bird: My name is LeRoy Bird. I just happen to be reading the paper today.
Somebody knows what I mean by that
O'Donnell: Sir, Sir I can't hear you. Can you do something? I don't want to miss
anything.
Bird: I said I happen to be reading the paper. The person knows what I'm
talking about knows that. And I read that we have the biggest bunch
of drunks if you want to call them that are whatever you want to
say...alcoholics in Iowa City than any other place in the nation. Our
college is up to 60%. Most are down around 45 or 50. Also, the
people are making money made 70 billion dollars out of selling
alcohol. Now, I'll take you back around 58 years. When I was 18,
you couldn't even go into a bar. You couldn't buy any drinks because
the minute you bought a drink there, they'd shut the place down. Not
ifs, no ands, no buts. I don't know when that law changed. When I
got into the service, I couldn't buy a drink. How come we can do it
now? We're supposed to have progressed so far. And then I come
down here and I see a big long page of people wanting alcohol
permits. Why do we have to have that in Iowa City? That's my
problem. You're talking about that you want to reduce the people
drinking. You want to quit having the (can't hear). You want to quit
having the people in the Crisis Center. You want to help the people
who volunteer to help these people to cut it down because we don't
have the funds to do it. Why can't we turn the clock back?
Everything wasn't bad in the old days, believe it or not. And I know
that it was just as easy to get a drink as anybody else. I remember
people punching holes in pop cans and pouring liquor into it. So don't
kid me that it wasn't done. I can tell you a lot of tricks that was done.
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So, I just ask you to turn the clock back a little bit. Mr. Whoever the
attorney is here. Why don't you check on your records and see when
those laws were repealed because I never saw where they were. I
person under 18 or...not under 18, under 21 could not drink in an
establish...a place where they sold liquor. Now that's the way it is,
and that's the way it was back then. When did they change it? That's
my question.
Dilkes: They still can't in some communities.
Bird: They're doing it right downtown here. And I see One-Eyed Jakes. I
see the Fieldhouse. I see all these other places they get picked up
underage drinking what do they do? They fine them a little bit. Why
don't they shut their doors for 30 days? Put them out of business. Hit
them where it hurts - in the pocketbook. Now ! know people have
taverns here, but they can be mn without furnishing the kids liquor.
That's all.
Lehman: Thank you.
Mike Newman: Well, would somebody come and hold this or do something with it?
Champion: It's kind of wobbly.
Lehman: There you go.
Newman: There you go. Thank you very much. I'm Mike Newman. You all
know me pretty much here. I met all of you one time or so. I made
some cookies for you for your break time. I thought maybe you guys
would like to have some.
Champion: Great.
Newman: You're welcome. By the way...there is a catch.
Lehman: I thought there might be.
Vanderhoef: Bribing us.
Newman: I have a question for you. What would you do ifI told you that I put
something in this to make you sick when you ate them? What would
you do? Would you want them?
Lehman: This time in the meeting, we might all eat them.
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Newman: Well, that could be. Would you eat them if they would really make
you sick?
Lehman: Probably not.
Wilbum: Some of us would ask for two.
Newman: Well, some of you would. Well, with your health and your age I don't
think...I wouldn't do it. Okay. My point is. I'm warning you right
now these cigarettes...I mean these cookies do have...could have I
should say have something in them that could make you sick. So, I
won't give them to you. Cigarettes have a warning on them that they
cause cancer, health problems for pregnancy, heart problems and it
also could cause (can't hear) where it could interfere with other people
when they're in the room. My point is this - I do not care for smokers
around me. I really don't. I used to smoke. I had cancer. It was
caused by this one pack of cigarettes. The bill on the average pack of
cigarettes that is sold in this country costs us 70 dollars a pack to be
taken care of. It's a fact. The government checked it out and found
this to be hue. I am here to ask you ifI put this product to you with
something that would make you sick, you're not going to eat it. I
guarantee you. But, yet you allow cigarettes to be sold which the
govermnent itself and the tobacco company themselves have said we
yes we put chemicals in cigarettes. It's a fact. It's also another fact
that it will harm you. So, why do we allow our young people, our
young kids that was just was up here in front to suffer the pain and
suffering of cancer, heart problems because of excess smoke from
other smokers or their parents smoking with a 2-year old baby. He has
no choice but to put up with it. I think it's time that the government
does what it says it suppose to do and that is to protect our rights. To
protect us from harm. It doesn't do it if they're going to allow this to
happen. I am recommending tonight that the City of Iowa City to sit
down at the Council Meeting and bring up a bill that bans smoking
from all businesses in town. I'm not talking about restaurants. I'm not
talking about bars. I'm talking about businesses. I enjoy going to
restaurants. I enjoy going to places and some place I can't go because
they allow it. Because it does harm me. IfI can get cancer, I could die
of it. The doctor told me that. And I don't think it's fair for all those
kids and those young kids that were up here to face that same problem.
Thank you very much and I do appreciate it.
Lehman: Thank you, Mike.
Newman: By the way, do you guys want the cookies?
Karmer: Mike, I think that we...Mike
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Newman: What?
Kanner: I think we will look at that issue in the future. We'll see how the
current resolution is going that bans smoking in certain eating
establishments.
Newman: Well, do you believe what the Constitution says? The Constitution
says, "To protect our American people." And if we're going to allow
our people to get sick. Then you don't care. That's why I'm asking
you to bring it up. It's a Constitution of our United States to protect
our American people. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Julie Spears: Good evening. My name is Julie Spears. Thank you for the
opportunity to speak tonight. I live at 1019 Church Street. I am a
graduate student here at the University in social work and urban
planning. And I also completed my undergraduate degree here some
time ago. I'm here tonight to talk to you about a study that I
conducted. I'd like to call your attention to the memo that was
distributed earlier this evening. My apologies for not getting it into the
packet so that you would have time to review it before tonight, but
please allow me to briefly summahze the contents of the memo for
you. A few weeks ago I conducted an assessment of the Iowa City's
Boards Commissions and Committees and their representation of Iowa
City residents on the basis of age. This memo is an abridged version
of the full report that I did. I'd say that this tums out to be a really
fitting night to bring this to Council seeings how had some ideal
student citizens here before us from Horace Mann. For the purposes
of this assessment, the student age population is the 18- to 24-year-
olds of Iowa City. What I intended to do with this assessment was
estimate the extent of which the student population is present as a
voice of Iowa City Commissions, assess the willingness of these
commissions to increase student input and civic participation, and also
make recommendations to both the city and the students in order to
improve the relationship between and the representation of 18- to 24-
year-olds on local commissions. So let me give you some
demographics of the Iowa City student age population. As you can
imagine, 69% of Iowa City...University of Iowa students are between
the ages of 18 and 24 years old according to the Office of the Registrar
for 2001. Almost three quarters of these students enrolled in the
University of Iowa live in Iowa City. Now about 5,000 of those live in
on-campus housing, but another 15 plus thousand live right out there
throughout the Iowa City community. That's about three out of four
students that live in Iowa City. According to the U.S. Census, over
20,000 residents of Iowa City - that's about one-third the population of
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#5 Page 17
this town were between the ages of 18 and 24 in the year 2000. That's
32% of the town. So in my study to assess the representation of this
age group on Iowa City commissions, I conducted a total often
interviews - telephone interviews with representative board members.
I included the neighborhood housing relation task force in this
assessment which is of course and ad hoc, non-permanent committee.
But, 1 included them because the issues to be addressed by this
committee are, at least to me, directly related to the student population.
So what I found was that only one member of any board or
commission is 18 to 24 years old in Iowa City. And it's important to
note that this person is Nick Klenske as his position as a representative
as the student population on the Neighborhood Relations Task Fome.
So, in other words there are no members of any permanent Iowa City
boards, commissions or committees that are 18 to 24 years old - that
represent that age group. Most of the respondents, however, seven out
of ten of the boards responded that.., reported being representative of
the older population of Iowa City - 65 years and above. At the same
time for the committees, one being the ad hoc Task Force reported
having at least one member who is a student of the University of Iowa
or Kirkwood. And I refer to these commissions as being model
commissions. These same three model commissions responded that
they have members who are students also reported that they have a
board that reflects the greater Iowa City community in terms of age.
These same three respondents also felt that students should have an
active role on their board, that this type of role fosters conununity
leadership and civic participation, and that they would be willing to
recruit 18
[end of side 1, tape 02-40]
These commissions could serve as a model from which the City
Council would appoint future board members to upcoming vacancies.
Next, I would like to talk briefly about non-voting student
representatives. One of the most fascinating findings of this
assessment was that 90% of the respondents stated that they would
prefer a regular voting board member who happened to be a student to
a non-voting student representative. In fact, several respondents stated
that a non-voting member would be excluded from a majority of the
commissions business on the basis of confidentiality. Although a
recent student council initiative to create a non-voting student
representative went unsupported by City Council, I believe that the
ultimate dismissal of this initiative is a blessing in disguise in the long
term goal of increase student involvement. Non-voting student
membership would only give students a less legitimate or tokenized
voice in local decision making. Instead I believe, as well as nine of the
other board members, that all board members should be voting board
members. And I would add that I do not see this response pattern as a
way to effectively dodge a potential for student involvement on the
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#5 Page 18
boards. This action may have also created a damaging practice of
treating students as a special interest group. Certainly, it should be
noted that as 33% of the population, students should not be considered
a special interest group any more than any one neighborhood
association. Lastly, on a refreshing note, respondents generally
expressed a desire to increase their inclusiveness of the student age
population so long as students had an interest and could meet the time
requirement and commitment. Term length could be problem,
however, and I think we need to continue to look at this issue. It's not
one that cannot be overcome. I'll address this in my
recommendations. So to conclude, although to some degree of
representation of older adults exists on these commissions. The
population of 18- to 24-year-olds in no uncertain terms is grossly
underrepresented on the Iowa City commissions. This is particularly
astonishing once again that 33% of the residents of Iowa City - that's
over 20,000 people - are between the ages of 18 and 24 years old. Of
course the onus to participate in democracy falls finally on each
individual be they black, white, old, young, rich, poor, so on.
However, I believe that as a community we must continuously
examine ways in which certain groups are intentionally or
unintentionally excluded from the process. The City of Iowa City
should consider conducting a similar assessment extended the focus of
this current research to other groups to insure that the residents of Iowa
City have a voice. So finally, let me share just a few of my
recommendations with you that are all listed with you in this memo.
First, like I said, City Council should follow the example of the model
commissions that I described earlier when making future
appointments. I believe that students should be actively recruited as
voting members of these commissions so that they sufficiently
represent the age distribution of the general population. We need to
start taking steps to insure - steps by both the students and the City -
to insure that they're represented on the commissions. I also think the
length of the term of appointments could be altered. As Council
changes one seat on each board or commission to a one or two year
term or something that's acceptable for that commission. That will
reasonably allow students to serve on these commissions. I listed a
number of other recommendations such as sending a mass e-mail
which is now available through the University, highlighting the newer
ICW web page, and other city services that could be very important
information to new students. And that could also advertise the
vacancies on the boards and commissions. So you're looking to
recruit maybe five to ten students a semester to consider applying for a
commission out of approximately 20,000. Also, creating a city student
partnership. I have lots of ideas and there are other student groups that
have been working on this I know Dee and Steven have been working
with some students at Student Government. For example, in franchise
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#5 Page 19
more of this population - the 18- to 24-year-olds of Iowa City. Voting
is the most basic form of civic participation and I believe that voter
registration drives will let the students know that they are residents too
and that they should vote where they live. And of course I would like
to continue support for student to be elected to City Council ideally an
18- to 24-year-old. So that concludes the summary of this memo. I
think that there's an unprecedented willingness with this last Student
Government and this one just starting to work with the City and I think
we should capitalize on these resources while they're available. So
feel free to ask me any questions about the memo.
Pfab: I would like to make a comment...
Spears: Sure.
Pfab: You had mentioned the fact that we should set certain term limits for
certain people if possible. Every person that is elected to every board
doesn't fulfill its full term. People move.
Spears: That's true.
Pfab: Things change. What was I going to say...? So and I also believe that
a student should not come on as just an observer. If they're going to
come on, I think that that's how you learn. Get in and roll up your
sleeves and let's get to work. And let's learn. And what is great I
observe a number of the meetings that are on neighborhood housing
relations task force and the student participation is great. And that's
what we're looking for. So, I mean, come on, come one, come all.
There's a lot of applications. I think the City Clerk has enough
applications if somebody needs one, she'll usually help. But thank
you for bringing it up. I think it's a great study.
Spears: Thank you for your time.
Lehman: Thank you.
Spears: Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Wilburn: Move to accept correspondence.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Wilbum, seconded by Vanderhoef to accept
correspondence. All in favor. Motion carries. Any other public
discussion?
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#6c Page 20
ITEM NO. 6 PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
6c. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO PROVIDE FOR THE
LOCATION OF LARGE APARTMENT IN NEW
NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO AMEND THE SOUTH DISTRICT
PLAN LAND USE MAP TO DEPICT MULTI-FAMILY
DEVELOPMENT ON THE EAST SIDE OF SOUTH GILBERT
STREET EAST AND SOUTH OF NAPOLEON PARK.
Lehman: Item c: Consider a resolution amending the Comprehensive Plan to
provide for the location of large apartment in new neighborhoods and
to amend the South District Plan land use map to depict multi-family
development on the east side of South Gilbert Street east and south of
Napoleon Park.
Vanderhoef: Move the resolution.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Vanderhoef: We've had a lengthy discussion about this with our Planning and
Zoning Commission. I've thought about it a lot. I see our culture and
our needs in our cities change. I'm convinced that we need some
alteration in our Comprehensive Plan. I think that the sticky point is
here is what is big. Since our Plan doesn't give us numbers or acres or
size, number of bedrooms, all those kinds of things. I pointed out to
the Commission last night when we discussed this, that some of the
changes that I see are directly opposed. What's in the Plan and then
what the ideals are for our zoning and for our implementation shall we
say. For instance, our neighborhoods are defined by barriers. Our
neighborhoods don't jump across a river. They don't jump across a
commercial area. They don't jump across a busy street. However,
having said that, then we know that in many cases we are going to
have an arterial along the boundary ora neighborhood. In this location
we're going to have two arterials. We're going to have a north-south
and an east-west. When we get into our zoning and planning we bump
into design factors. We don't allow drive-ways to enter and leave on
an arterial. We also choose to have all residences face the street so
that we don't get a board fence kind of picture along our arterial.
Because of those two rules, it seems that you and ! don't want to live
on an arterial. We want to live on the interior. Somewhere away from
the busy street. And I think that's common nature for all of us. We
feel safer in there. So, in our planning guides we have also said that to
protect our neighborhoods we are going to put the multi-family kinds
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#6c Page 21
of structures out near the arterial so that that traffic doesn't necessarily
go through the neighborhood streets. That they will leave their
residence and go on the arterial and go where they're going. And this
is by design that we're doing this. So now the conflict comes up
where we have a proposal on the table for a multi-family living in on a
comer that has two arterials bordering two sides of this particular
proposal. The question in my mind is, "Will we be better off if one
developer and one project or will this comer develop with multiple
owners, multiple buildings which this proposal has multiple
buildings." I look across the street from this and we're looking at the
public works area. I'm looking at one comer and it is a very small
commercial spot that will probably have something like a gas station
and a quick trip. I look at the other two comers and we're sitting there
with two gravel pits. So, I'm thinking in my mind, if I'm going to
move forward with a large project I can't think of a better location for
it. Now I recognize that there are people who are afraid of large
projects. In my mind the culture is changing for students and students
that want to live in the neighborhoods and want to be absorbed by the
neighborhoods will find housing. It's available. But, I think the vast
majority of them want to live with their peers. And this would be one
way they could do it. Another piece of it is the fact that students want
to get where they want to go quickly. So, yes they do like to live
downtown. I hear complaints about overpopulation of downtown right
now. I also hear complaints about people who say we aren't using our
land in a good form. In other words we don't have the density on the
land. This is density although it's moderate density. And it could well
develop at even a higher density than this particular project. But, this
project also has transportation to the campus. So, there's lots of pulls
and pushes. 1 see the possibility of some of our older neighborhoods
reclaiming into single family homes because they are presently lived in
by a group of students. And that always isn't good for the property
itself. So, I recognize that we need to change the comprehensive plan.
I would like to think that we have the courage to look at this project as
a new possibility that fits the 21st century. It could fail and I'll be the
first one to say that it has failed when it failed. But, I don't think that
until we try one we're ever going to know. And ifI were picking a
location for this to happen, this is where I'd put it.
Lehman: Let me remind Council, we're not talking about this project; we're
talking about the Comprehensive Plan. The next item on the agenda
will be relative to the project.
Vanderhoef: Right.
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#6c Page 22
Lehman: But, our discussion at this point is whether or not we are interested in
changing the Comprehensive Plan to allow larger developments to
OCCur.
Champion: Well, I agree with you, Dee, in the sense that I do think the
Comprehensive Plan needs to change and to be looked at. I, however,
do not agree that we should be the ones doing that. It was a plan
developed by committees, so to speak, over a long period of time.
And so I'm not willing to change the Comprehensive Plan because
there's a project in front of us that wants to change it. I'm not against
changing it. I don't think that as the City Council it's our right to
change it. We can change it for minor things, but this is a major
change in the Comprehensive Plan. This is not just moving a road or
making some other minor decision on zoning. This is a major change.
So, I agree with you, it should be changed. But, I don't think we're
the one that should be doing it. I think that if we want it changed, we
should be sending it to Planning and Zoning to look at it and decide on
how they're going to go about looking at it. But, I will not vote for us
to change it.
O'Donnell: I think it should be changed, but it's not going to be changed until we
answer that age old problem of how big is big. And it's something
that maybe should have been answered a long time ago. Dee, I share
many of your concerns. I see apartments dominating downtown or
starting to. And I believe that downtown should be dominated by
retail. In our neighborhoods we've down zoned Governor and Lucas
to prevent apartment buildings from going in there. And I supported
that. ! think that we have an opportunity here to try something new
and I think that we should look at it seriously. We do have in many of
our older neighborhoods, eight, ten, twelve students living in one
house. Maybe this is an opportunity for new housing and recycling the
apartment building back into residential. I think it is the responsibility
to Council to look at this. The Comprehensive Plan is something...it
is to be used as a guide and a guide can be changed. And I will favor
changing it.
Wilburn: I will not be supporting changing the Comprehensive Plan at this time.
I recognize that the plans are flexible, fluid documents, but there is a
basic philosophy that was reaffirmed by citizen input and so I will be
sticking with that. If we do end up looking at the Comprehensive
Plan, and trying to answer some of the questions that you all brought
up, I would think it would also be important to include a major
provider of student housing, University of Iowa, so we can get some
information about their future plans for what they will be offering for
students as their population increases.
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#6c Page 23
Pfab: I won't comment, but I won't be supporting the change. No other
comment.
Kanner: It's somewhat ironic that tonight as we're meeting, there's a meeting
concert by some 151 environmental groups for Thousand Friends of
Iowa - they're a group that addresses the issue of sprawl and trying to
preserve farmland at the same time develop the inner city. And I think
that our Comprehensive Plan certainly can do a better job in assigning
density and looking at so-called student population and how they fit
into the overall plan. And I think that we can do a better job...we do a
pretty good job, but we can do better at creating affordable and livable
communities. Sometimes, though, we have to hang our hat on
whatever we have in our code book and our Comprehensive Plan and
right now we have no large complexes and that may be only one part
of the answer of good development. So, ideally we would have more
than that right now. Then we'd have a better definition. But, that's
what we have and I'm going to keep it that way for now and hang my
hat on that and hope that we can work to get development that are
more in tune with livable and affordable communities for everyone.
So, I'll be voting against the proposal.
Lehman: Well, I guess that leaves me. And I basically agree with a lot of what
has been said. I believe that this project...and I hate to refer to
projects when we're talking about the plan....there is no reason this
thing won't work. On the other hand, I think there has been significant
input by the public in the Comprehensive Plan. I believe we need to
change the Plan. I don't think there's any question about that. I don't
think that this change is perhaps the change that I would necessary - I
won't support this change. But, I do think, and I would like if this
resolution is not passed, that we would direct the City Manager to put
in our work session a consideration of the Comprehensive Plan
because I believe that the density restrictions are too severe.
Champion: Yeah, they are.
Lehman: I don't know what...like Mike says how big is big....and I really
would hate to see proposals such as would have been coming up later
if this is defeated. I hate to see that go by the wayside. I think it has a
tremendous amount of potential and it's something that this
community really could use and needs if there is any way at all we can
work it out. However, I will not support the change as is proposed.
But, I will certainly would propose that we address this issue and as a
Council send it to Planning and Zoning Commission and have them
take a little harder look at the density issue.
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#6c Page 24
O'Dormell: One conunent, Emie, is I look - and I'm being project specific now -
but this...we're talking to accommodate large apartment complexes
and I'm really hung up about how large is large.
Lehman: I think that's a good question.
O'Donnell: I think it's a very good question. We've got 17 plus acres there and
the way I've got this calculated, it comes down to RS-8 zoning. We
could divide this - and this property will develop eventually - we
could divide this into four and possibly five separate sections and the
zoning of RM-12 or RM-20 and end up with more units that we have
in there now. I just think we're missing an opportunity.
Lehman: Any further discussion? Roll call? Motion fails, 5-2, Vanderhoef and
O'Donnell voting the affirmation. Do I have concurrence with
Council to add this., .to ask that this be added?
Vanderhoef: Absolutely. Sooner rather than later please.
Lehman: Pardon.
O'Donnell: Why are we going to go into the next one?
Lehman: We don't.
Karr: Could I have a motion to accept correspondence.
O'Donnell: Moved.
Vanderhoefi Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Vanderhoef to accept
correspondence. All in favor (all ayes). Opposed.
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#6d Page 25
ITEM NO.6d PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE REZONING 17.64
ACRES FROM INTERIM DEVELOPMENT SINGLE FAMILY
(ID-RS) AND INTERIM DEVELOPMENT MULTI-FAMILY
0D-RIM) TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT HOUSING
OVERLAY-12 (OPDH-12) TO ALLOW 168 DWELLINGS IN 18
BUILDINGS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF GILBERT
STREET SOUTH OF NAPOLEON LANE. (REZ01-00024)
(1) Public Hearing
Lehman: Procedurally do we open the public hearing and close it because it is a
continued public hearing?
Dilkes: We need to open the public hearing, yep.
Lehman: Item D is Public hearing on an ordinance rezoning 17.64 acres from
Interim Development Single Family (ID-RS) and Interim
Development Multi-Family (ID-RM) to Planned Development
Housing Overlay-12 (OPDH-12) to allow 168 dwellings in 18
buildings located on the east side of Gilbert Street south of Napoleon
Lane. This public hearing is continued from April 2nd. Public hearing
is open.
O'Donnell: I have a problem with this because we've just with the previous item
we've said that we're not going to amend the Comprehensive Plan.
Lehman: Procedurally we have to close the public hearing.
Dilkes: Wait. Absent withdraw of the application we need to give this
application a vote.
Lehman: Oh.
Dilkes: Which means we need to open the public hearing as you've done,
conclude the public hearing, and proceed to a vote. It has...because
you didn't amend the Comprehensive Plan I believe a vote in favor of
the rezoning would be inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
Lehman: But, procedurally this is how it must proceed?
Dilkes: Yes.
Lehman: Okay. The public hearing is open.
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#6d Page 26
Bird: Once again I'm up here. This time I take a pencil at you. I've lived
here since 1982. My wife owned a property out there since, I think,
since 1962. In that time...and her father-in-law owned a property next
to them. The person who owned the golf course owned the property
up in there. And at no time were we ever, ever talked to about this
plan that you talked about. Where in the world did this plan come
from?
Lehman: Well, just before ....
Bird: Who was the ones that thought it up?
Lehman: This was public.., this was publicized. There were neighborhood
meetings. It was all over the papers at the time.
Bird: Hey. We were never...we weren't even told about the Planning
Committee. I had to get the Cedar Rapids paper to find out what's
going on in Iowa City.
Champion: Good. Read it.
Bird: Now that's terrible that I have to get a Cedar Rapids paper to find out
that the Council is going to have a meeting in Iowa City and that the
Planning Commission is having one. I went to the Planning
Commission and it was the most disaster I ever say. They're
unprofessional. Two people sit over on this side playing footsie,
grinning at each other. The other guy drinking pop all night long
didn't even know what was going on.
Lehman: You want to speak to the issue here.
Bird: I am speaking to the issue.
Lehman: The issue is the proposal of...
Bird: The issue is that you have come up with a proposal and I'm not in
favor too much of the proposal at all. I'm just talking about that you
have not set a plan that everybody had a chance to enjoy. I'm sorry, I
stutter. I've got false teeth. I can't always say what I want to.
Pfab: I've been there.
Bird: If anybody's got false teeth, you know what I'm going through. So, I
have to switch it around to see what I want to say.
O'Donnell: You want a cookie?
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#6d Page 27
Bird: Hey, get me one of those cookies. It might improve it. But, anyway,
what I want to know if where this plan come from. I want to know
who made the decisions. I want to know how come everything is so
tight that you can't change, when you can change downtown and put
seats out on the sidewalk which is a good thing. I think that it's
wonderful that you have these chairs out there on the sidewalk.
O'Donnell: Sir...
Lehman: This plan was adopted in 1997. There were a number of neighborhood
meeting.
Bird: None of us in that area were told about it. None of us were
ever...that's the way you people act. This is what I told you last
time...at the last Council Meeting. We want you to be here out here
where we can talk to you so that we can hear what you're thinking. So
that we know what you're saying. We don't want you to go behind
closed doors and have all your meetings and then come out with a
booklet like that and say this is what it is.
Lehman: This was all done in public meetings in the neighborhoods.
Bird: This was not done in public.
Lehman: Yes, it was.
Bird: No, it was not. It's just like you accusing me the other day of not
reading the paper. I read the paper everyday and I read every inch of
it.
Lehman: We weren't reading...
Bird: I don't like to be personal on it.
Lehman: No, I appreciate that, but this was a public...
Bird: No, it was not. The first time...you know the first time I say that?
Was at a planning committee over at one of the schools over here and
then people that had it hid it from me so I couldn't find it and look at
it.
O'Donnell: Sir, do you know that we may be at fault here for not making this
public information more accessible. And I apologize to you for that.
But, this was in the Press Citizen many times. I was interviewed...
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#6d Page 28
Bird: Why don't you get a new...what a minute I forgot how to say that.
O'Donnell: It was in the Press Citizen. I spoke with a reporter and it was also in
the Gazette. But, this...
Bird: That's where I have to go the Gazette to find out what's going on
down here.
O'Donnell: It's a very good paper, but so is the Press Citizen.
Bird: Fine.
O'Donnell: At any rate we'll try to make ourselves clearer in the future and more
accessible.
Champion: Thank you.
Bird: What I'm saying is that no place should anything be to the point where
you got a line and you can't change it.
O'Donnell: I agree with you totally.
Bird: We are in a world that changes everyday. Every second. I don't know
if I'm going to be alive the next second or not. So that's how much it
changes. So let's start in thinking a little bit more positive. Like I told
you the other day about the State dying and about the City dying. It's
because people don't take and look forward to see what's going on
above. If you don't take that and start looking forward to see what's
going on, you're going to be left back behind in the Model T days.
Lehman: Thank you.
Mike Pugh: Good evening. I'm Mike Pugh. I'm the attorney for the applicant on
this agenda item. And on behalf of the applicant, we would like to
withdraw this application from the agenda.
O'Dormell: Thanks, Mike.
Lehman: Don't drop the concept. This is a good concept. It's something that
we may be able to work something out.
Pugh: That's why we want to withdraw the application rather than voting on
it.
Lehman: Right.
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#6d Page 29
Pugh: We've been at this since last July. We've put forth a lot of effort, so.
O'Donnell: Thank you Mike. And that brings up something also, in our process it
shouldn't take this many months to get an answer. It did through
many changes, much time and a lot of money spent and I think that we
owe it to come up with an answer sooner than we did on this.
Pugh: I appreciate it and I do appreciate all the time that the Council gave to
this issue. It's not an easy issue. And I am certain that the Council
gave this matter quite a bit of time and effort and certainly was open to
our comments and our input and our information. And if the Council
does see fit to amend the Comprehensive Plan sometime in the future,
our application will still be present.
Lehman: We're going to go to work on that directly.
Champion: Don't through the plan away.
Lehman: Public hearing is closed.
Vanderhoef: Motion to accept correspondence.
O'Donnell: Moved.
Pfab: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, seconded by Pfab. All in favor (all ayes).
Motion carries. There will be no first consideration because it's been
withdrawn and we're going to take a break until 8:30.
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#6e Page 30
ITEM NO 6e. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING 5.45 ACRES FROM
RURAL RESIDENTIAL (RR-1) AND INTERIM
DEVELOPMENT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (ID-RS)
TO LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS-5)
LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF ROHRET
ROAD AND PHOENIX DRIVE. (REZ02-00001) (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
Lehman: We need to get started again. Item e is Consider an ordinance
rezoning 5.45 acres from Rural Residential (P_R-1) and Intetim
Development Single Family Residential (ID-RS) to Low Density
Single Family Residential (RS-5) located at the northwest comer of
Rohret Road and Phoenix Drive. This is first consideration and we've
been asked to expedite it.
O'Donnell: Go ahead, Ross.
Wilbum: Move that the role requiring the ordinances must be considered and
voted on for passage at two Council meetings ptior to the meeting at
which it is to be finally passed be suspended. A second consideration
will be waived.
Vanderhoef: Excuse me, we're on first consideration so if you'd like to collapse
first and give it second heating.
Wilburn: Oh, you ~vant to do that?
Vanderhoefi Or, you may give it first and collapse the next time. That's entirely up
to you. But, we are on first.
Wilbum: You know I think I'll do first then.
Lehman: Okay.
Wilbum: Okay. All right. I guess I should pay attention then. I move that the
rule requiting that ordinances be considered and voted on for passage
at two Council meeting ptior to the meeting at which it is to be finally
passed be suspended. A first consideration and vote be waived and
that the ordinance be given a second consideration vote at this time.
Vanderhoefi Second.
Lehman: Moved by Wilbum. Seconded by Vanderhoef. Roll call.
Pfab: No, wait. Is there discussion on it?
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Kanner: If you'd like.
Dilkes: Yes, you can vote no.
Pfab: Okay. What is the purpose? What is the compelling mason?
Vanderhoef: The expedited was requested so that they can start building sooner
since it's moving into construction season.
Pfab: When was this project first brought to the Planning and Zoning?
Vanderhoefi Oh my.
Lehman: I don't have any idea.
Kart: The staffreport was dated February 21st, but I don't know short of
that. So, that's almost two months ago.
Pfab: At what time did the Planning and Zoning approve it?
Karr: Planning and Zoning approved it March 7th.
Kanner: I think it's normal flow of things. I think it's fast enough. And I think
the reason to do three...
Pfab: I looked...I watched some of it in Planning and Zoning and I couldn't
see where there was a reason to do this that so I will be going against
it.
Lehman: Okay. Any other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries 5-2, Kanner
and Pfab voting the negative.
Wilbum: Move that the ordinance be given a second consideration.
Kanner: What's the percentage?
Dilkes: Five out of seven.
Kanner: Five out of seven.
Wilbum: Move that the ordinance be given a second consideration vote at this
time.
O'Donnell: Second.
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Lehman: Moved by Wilbum, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion?
Pfab: It's the same reason.
Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries 5-2, Kanner and Pfab in the negative.
Kanner: Can you explain this to me. What's the percentage needed for
expedited?
Ditkes: Two-thirds.
Karmer: Two-thirds. Okay.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Vanderhoef: So moved.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. All in favor [all
ayes]. Motion carries.
(See additional discussion after item #7)
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ITEM NO. 6g CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING
CODE, ARTICLE O, SIGN REGULATIONS, TO PERMIT
PORTABLE SIGNS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS SERVICE,
CB-2, CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT, CB-5, AND CENTRAL
BUSINESS, CB-10, ZONES. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Lehman: Item g. Consider an ordinance amending the Zoning Code, Article O,
Sign Regulations, to permit portable signs in the Central Business
Service, CB-2, Central Business Support, CB-5, and Central Business,
CB-10, zones. This is first consideration.
O'Donnell: Move.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell, second by Vanderhoef. Discussion?
Vanderhoef: I'll be voting "no" on this. When we put portable signs out to begin
with it was sort of a trial run. I don't think they enhance the look of
our downtown business district and can possibly be a hazard for
pedestrians and I think we can get plenty of advertising from flat faced
and not on stands out in the public right-of-way. So, I will be voting
"no?'
Lehman: These can't be in the public right-of-way, can they?
Atkins: No.
Vanderhoef: But, they do get out in the public right-of-way.
Lehman: This ordinance allows them only in private property.
Vanderhoef: I understand.
Lehman: Okay. Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries 6-1, Vanderhoef
voting the negative.
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ITEM NO. 6h CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING 18.2 ACRES FROM
LOW DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY, (RS-5) TO SENSITIVE
AREAS OVERLAY LOW DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY (OSA-5)
AND A PRELIMINARY SENSITIVE AREAS DEVELOPMENT
PLAN FOR HICKORY HEIGHTS, A 20-LOT RESIDENTIAL
SUBDIVISION LOCATED WEST OF SCOTT BOULEVARD
NEAR ITS INTERSECTION WITH DODGE STREET. (REZ01-
00028/SUB01-00031) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Lehman: Item h. Consider an ordinance rezoning 18.2 acres from Low Density
Single-Family, (RS-5) to Sensitive Areas Overlay Low Density
Single-Family (OSA-5) and a preliminary sensitive areas development
plan for Hickory Heights, a 20-lot residential subdivision located west
of Scott Boulevard near its intersection with Dodge Street. This is
second consideration and it's also been requested that we expedite this.
Champion: I will move second consideration.
Lehman: We have a motion for second consideration.
O'Donnell: Second. Are we going to expedite this?
Lehman: The motion is for just regular.., if somebody wants to move to expedite
this, we can do that. That isn't what we have.
Vanderhoefi I move that the rule requiring the ordinance be considered and voted
on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it
is to be finally passed be suspended. That the second consideration
and vote be waived and the ordinance be voted on for final passage at
this time.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell for expedited
consideration. Discussion.
Clemens Erdahl: Your Honor, I'm here on behalf of the Friends of Hickory Hill Park
and on their behalf I would ask that the rule requiring an ordinance be
considered on and voted on for passage at two meetings prior to the
meeting at which it is to be finally adopted not be suspended and the
second vote not be waived. The developers have been very
cooperative with us, but this is one point that we disagree. This is a
decision with enough magnitude that it ought to be given the time and
patience that is required for making a final decision. Thank you.
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Wilburn: What anticipation do you all have happening with between the second
and third reading without the expedition?
Erdahl: We've signed a confidentiality agreement with the developer and I
don't know that I'm really at liberty to discuss that. I mean I know
that they have a different interest to some extent. We just...my hands
are sort of tied on that one.
Wilbum: All right.
Erdahl: Just on behalf of the Friends of Hickory Hill Park we would ask that
you take it through the regular process. Thank you.
Champion: I think that this will be the first time that I have not voted for expedited
consideration. I don't have any problems with it on issues that had not
had any controversy. What we haven't had is people at public
hearings. But, I will be voting "no" on the expedited consideration
because of the controversy with the zoning.
Pfab: I basically would support what Connie had just mentioned. That is my
feeling.
O'Donnell: And I will be supporting this. They have a developer who has met the
requirements of all the regulations, rules and everything that we've put
forward. It is the building season and I will be supporting it.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Dianne Kaufman: I'm here officially representing the Friends of Hickory Hill Park
tonight and I believe that you've had a chance.
Lehman: The only thing that we're discussing is whether we are going to
expedite this vote.
Kaufman: And I have reasons that you should not do so. So, would it be
appropriate to discuss that now. I think that the fact that this is an
extremely important and weighted decision that's going to effect a
public asset - the park. I think that there are some particular...this
is...if you expedite it, if you approve it tonight, there will not be a
further opportunity for you make any concessions on behalf of the
public's interest. Once the dirt starts being moved, the public will
have no further opportunity. And you will not on our behalf have any
further opportunity to make a few of the, what I would say, conditions
that would help buffer a major development that's right next to our
public heart, our public land. And I think in balancing the private
developer's interest against the public interest, you're the folks who
have to step forward and act on behalf of the public. That's what
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you're there for, I think - to help us. You know, we need...we can't
do it; we can't do it without your help. So, there are some real
particular and I think reasonable things that I would ask for you to
consider between now and the next reading. And consider adding to
the approval, which I know is going to happen because they do meet
all the requirements. But, as part of that approval there are some
particular things that would make a big difference in buffering the park
and I'll just quickly go over them. One is a City Staff
recommendation to simply move the cul-de-sac back 200 feet which
would save the visual impact. It would make a tremendous difference
and it would not...none of these things are going to harm their project.
They're still going to get to build and as many as 20 houses. The
second thing would be to require the developers to construct and
environmentally appropriate landscape barrier. This is a major hill to
have some kind of landscape buffering so that the people who are
using the part would be seeing trees instead of houses would be
meaningful and it would also act as a physical buffer to run off and
other kind of problems that would be coming back at you twenty years
from now, ten years from now when the residences that live there
have, you know, their property is going to be right next to the park.
Them will be issues coming back about use and misuse. So I think
that taking some time and thought about how to make that border
between the two a good border will save you some headaches or your
future Council Members some headaches. The third point would be to
make sure that the trails that run from Scott Boulevard to the park
boundary are clear and clearly marked. That there is some kind of a
clear passageway for the public. And the fourth one is, I don't know if
you remember on the plan, but there is a pipe that is going to run, yeah
the pipe, it's going to be running.., it's going to collect runoff over half
the driveways and half the cul-de-sac and be dumped into a creek that
runs then into the park. Now the engineer for these folks is going to
mitigate the physical water part as much as the law requires, but when
we asked about the mitigation about the fact that this is going to be
petro-chemical and chemicals that collect off cars dumping into this
stream and probably also will be pesticides, I'm assuming, also.
They...their engineer stated at the public meeting that they had no -
were not required to do any mitigation of that part of it, the toxicity
issue. With a little landscaping there's particular plants that absorb
toxic chemicals. People here at the University of Iowa have been
leaders in developing that. Ask...requiring them to make a few of
amenities like that will help secure the public's interest. This is, you
know, an investment that we have a million dollar park here, a halfa
million dollars in trails that are just being put in. With a few additions
to their plat, you could do a lot of good for both protecting the park
and I think saving headaches with the City in the future. So, I would
ask you to not expedite, but to in fact consider adding these four points
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as part of the plat and part of the approval. And, I guess that would be
it. So, give it a little more time. A few more weeks, you know, before
the dozers hit the dirt. It's not going to hurt. And it would really make
a huge difference.
Vanderhoef: And your expectation is that there will be change betwixt what's
presented to us now and in the next two weeks?
Kaufman: I'm sorry. I'm not sure I understand what you're asking.
Vanderhoef: Well, your expectation, Ross asked it another way, are you expecting
to make some of these changes in the next two weeks?
Kaufman: No, I'm asking that you would be ...that the City would recommend or
make part of the plat agreement.
Lehman: I'm not sure that's legally possible.
Dilkes: I think as the speaker recognized earlier, legal requirements have been
met. And while these might be nice things to add from certain
people's perspective they're not something we can do.
Lehman: They're not something we can do. They're something you could
negotiate if you're able to do that.
Kaufman: Well, but I'd also like to say that having watched the City do...when
you wish and choose to make something happen. It's not always
[end of tape 02-40]
...in ways that were pretty interesting to allow the fairway to go in.
Great. That's going to make some people happy, but you went against
the Planning and Zoning Staff, Commission and changed to planning
considerable to make that work. You helped the Englert out to make
things work. When you want to make a recommendation...you have
the power of recommendation.
Lehman: There is a distinct difference between enabling things...and when
there are rules in place and you comply with those rules, we have to go
by those laws.
Kaufman: And I'm not asking you to change the law. I'm asking you to...
Lehman: Yeah you are if you are asking us to put this in, you're asking us to
require something that legally we cannot require.
Kaufman: You could certainly give it the power of your recommendation.
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Lehman: That is true. But, legally we cannot require it.
Kaufman: No, and I guess that I would ask that you strongly...a recommendation
from you would mean a lot. And it would show a lot of support to the
public that you're going to protect the park in ways that you can. And
maybe you can't do it legally, but the power of recommendation
counts.
Lehman: Okay.
Champion: I'd like to...
Karr: Could you state your name for the record please?
Kaufman: Dianne Kaufman.
Kart: Thank you.
Champion: Karen, do we allow wastewater to go into streams? I mean is that
really going to happen?
Vanderhoef: Storm water.
Lehman: This is wastewater.
Vanderhoef: It's storm water.
O'Donnell: Surface water. That's all it is.
Kaufrnan: It's collecting water off of the cul-de-sacs and the driveways and
running in a pipe over to this creek...this little ravine that will then
drain into the park.
Champion: And then where does that water...
Lehman: The storm sewer.
Champion: Oh, it goes into a storm sewer.
Kaufman: No, it doesn't go into a storm sewer.
Franklin: We have extensive storm water regulations, and the engineers have
found those to be compliant.
Champion: Okay.
Kaufman: But, it didn't address the quality of water that's going to be dumped.
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Champion: I mean I really would hope that we could do some planning that would
prevents...I mean that provides a barrier to the park. I mean, I would
like to see all these things done. I can't make them happen. But, I'd
like to see that hill left vacant. I'd like to see some trees planted up
these to buffer the park from the housing. I'm not against the
development, don't misunderstand me.
Kaufman: No, ! understand that.
Wilbum: The counsel for the developer is here, perhaps we could invite them up
to see if they're willing to consider any further.
Kaufman: Thank you for listening.
Lehman: Thank you.
Bird: I'm going to ask you one more question. Where in the world did
Hickory Hill Park come from? My recollection is that it was donated
as part of the cemetery. When did they take it away from the cemetery
and make a park out of it? Who give them the authorization?
Lehman: I think part of what is presently being used as a park was in fact
donated as a cemetery that's correct.
Bird: It was supposed to be part of the cemetery and as far as I know it
never...no deed was ever deeded to the City to make a park out of it.
Lehman: I don't think that's accurate.
Bird: Was there a deed made?
Lehman: I do not know.
Bird: Then how can they say there's a Hickory Hill Park?
Lehman: There was a park in addition to the cemetery area. Them was a park
and an area donated for a cemetery and they have been treated as one -
as a park.
Bird: Yeah, I know that. But, what they're claiming now is Hickory Hill
Park is part of the cemetery.
Vanderhoefi It is. It's part of the flood plain plan.
Bird: It's part of the cemetery.
Vanderhoefi Well, there's a piece also that is...
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Bird: Which is authorized by the person who deeded it to them.
Vanderhoef: ...the flood control...
Bird: It's just like the University of Iowa taking the farms and selling them
before they was suppose to.
O'Donnell: Thank you.
Pugh: Good evening. I'm Mike Pugh. I'm the attorney for the applicant.
Mr. Erdahl was correct in terms of the negotiations and the discussions
that have been entered into and have been entertained with my client
and the Friends of Hickory Hill. He's also correct in stating that the'
parties are subject to a confidentiality agreement which prohibits both
parties from discussing the terms and conditions of the discussions.
And even if really if we're having any discussions. One thing that I
can tell you...I can tell you confidently and positively that delaying
third reading by two weeks is it going to have no significant impact on
our discussions. So, I'd urge you to collapse the hearings. Thank you.
O'Donnell: Thank you, Mike.
Lehman: Other discussion on the motion to expedite?
Pfab: I won't be able to support that. I think that's...
Lehman: Roll call. Motion fails 4-3, Kanner, Pfab, and Champion voting in the
negative. Do we have a motion for second consideration?
Vanderhoefi So, moved.
Wilbum: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Wilbum. Discussion? Roll call.
Pfab: I'm going to ask you a question. IfI vote against this, is this going to
be an illegal vote?
Champion: I think so.
Dilkes: It complies with the law.
Pfab: So, is that mean that...
Dilkes: I would recommend that you vote "yes"
P fab: Well, then I'll abstain.
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Lehman: Motion carries 6-1 abstention which under our roles counts as an
affirmative vote, so it's a 7-0 vote.
Kan': Can we have a motion to accept correspondence?
Vanderhoef: So, moved.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. All in favor [all
ayes]. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 6i CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE
PRELIMINARY PLAT OF HICKORY HEIGHTS.
Lehman: Itemj. Consider aresolution approving the final plat of Lindemann
Subdivision, part one. A 15.05 acre, 33-1ot residential subdivision and
Lindemann subdivision, part two. A 16.97 acre, 29-1ot residential
subdivision located on...
Karr: I'm sorry Mr. Mayor, excuse me...
Lehman: We're gong to break this into two issues.
Karr: No, I'm at i.
Kanner: i, yeah.
Lehman: I'm sorry. What did I do?
Karr: Well, I'm just conferring. I don't think that we can take action on i
because we didn't have h, but you might want to have a motion
deferring that.
Lehman: Oh my gosh.
Kanner: I'm sorry, what did you say, Marian.
Karr: We didn't take action on i.
Champion: Correct.
Vanderhoef: Move the resolution.
Wilbum: Move to defer until...
Karr: May 7th.
Wilbum: ...May 7th.
Lehman: We have a motion to defer Item i by Wilbum to May 7th.
Pfab: Why...
Lehman: We can't apparently consider a resolution until after we have approved
the third reading of the ordinance which we just refused to approve.
Kanner: Okay.
Lehman: Do we have a second?
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O'Donnell: I'll second it.
Lehman: Seconded by O'Donnell. All in favor of the deferral [all ayes].
Opposed? Item i is deferred.
O'Donnell: When will that reading be, Emie?
Lehman: May 7th, is that what I heard?
Wilburn: Yes.
Lehman: I'm sorry I skipped that.
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ITEM NO. 6j(1) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT
OF LINDEMANN SUBDIVISION, PART ONE.
6j(2) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL
PLAT OF LINDEMANN SUBDIVISION, PART TWO
Lehman: Itemj. Consider a resolution approving the final plat of Lindemann
Subdivision, part one. A 15.05 acre, 33-1ot residential subdivision and
Lindemann subdivision, part two. A 16.97 acre, 29-1ot residential
subdivision located north on Court Street, east of Scott Park Drive.
We need to handle this in two motions. One to approve and one to...
Dilkes: Wait a minute. We need...I'm sorry the legal papers are not in order.
We need an indefinite deferral.
Vanderhoef: Move to defer indefinitely.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoefi Seconded by O'Donnell to delay indefinitely.
All in favor [all ayes]. Opposed? Motion carries.
Karr: It was Vanderhoef, O'Donnell?
Lehman: Yes.
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ITEM NO. 7 PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND
ESTIMATE OF COST FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST
AVENUE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT -
ROCHESTER AVENUE TO D STREET, ESTABLISHING
AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID,
DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENT
FOR BIDS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT
OF BIDS.
(a) Public Hearing
Lehman: Item 7. Plans, specification, form of contract, and estimate of cost for
construction of the First Avenue Corridor Improvement Project -
Rochester Avenue to D Street, establishing amount of bid security to
accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to publish advertisement for
bids, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids. Public heating is
open. And I think we're going to see tonight some sort of sketches as
to what this...
Karr: You have the sketch book before you.
Pfab: It's in your pack.
Kanner: Did Rick give us an overview of this? Walk us down that street.
Fosse: Sure. Do you have your sketches handy? I don't have a large visual
aid for the audience. Go to page two of this and that gives an
overview of the entire project.
Champion: Oh, right. Good.
Fosse: Everybody there? Okay. I'll start by pointing out that the visions two,
three and four are simply pavement maintenance. They're different
techniques of pavement maintenance that are specific for that stretch
of the road be it milling off, existing asphalt, replacing it or new
asphalt or concrete maintenance. That's what those divisions are
apart.., or about. Division one is intersection improvements...
Pfab: Can I interrupt?
Fosse: Sure.
Pfab: Go over that again. What...when you started about those divisions. I
think I understood what you said. I just...could you repeat that again,
please.
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Fosse: Sure. Division two, three, and five are pavement maintenance. And
each division uses a different technique of pavement maintenance that
works well for that stretch of road. And that's what that consists of.
And then divisions one and four are intersection improvements.
Pfab: Okay.
Fosse: Now, what division one does sets up at the intersection of First and
Rochester and adds a center turn lane for the north and south bound
legs of that intersection. There currently are center turn lanes for east
and west bound. And so that will help that intersection work better
when we're done. Division four is at the First and Court intersection
and that adds a center turn lane to all four legs of that intersection as
well as signalizing the intersection.
Pfab: What do you mean by a center turn lane?
Fosse: It will be a three lane...
Pfab: Oh, a three lane. Okay.
Fosse: Because without that dedicated lane for the left tums, it will get
boogered up if we put signals in there. The congestion will be worse
than it is now with the four way stop configuration. And that division
goes north to Mayfield Road because if you've been by there when it's
been raining heavily you'll note that that intersection is not drained
well. And we're going to try to remedy that at the same time that
we're in there.
Vanderhoef: What's the length of the stacking in the center lane?
Fosse: It's a little over half a block is what we're allowing for in there.
Vanderhoef: Which is how many cars?
Fosse: It's about six.
Vanderhoef: Is that enough?
Fosse: For left turn lanes, yes we think we'll be fine there. There...during
peak hours it may stack out of there, but...
Vanderhoef: I'm afraid it will.
Fosse: It's how far do we take it.
Pfab: Is there...can it be extended any farther without great difficulty?
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Champion: We don't have very many places where you stack more than cars on
busier roads than that.
Pfab: That's a busy place.
Fosse: Yeah, it's a tight corridor.
Vanderhoefi Both of them hit schools.
O'Donnell: But, your best recommendation is six is ample?
Fosse: Yes, absolutely.
O'Donnell: Okay.
Kanner: And you can put a bus in there. Do you have to take any more land off
to the side to get three lanes in?
Fosse: Yes, and if you look at page...the last page. That shows that First and
Court intersection configuration and it's a bit of an odd duck that's out
there now for right-of-way availability and the way things are
centered. And what we're doing is we're widening primarily to the
north and to the west. So, the school inside quadrant is taking the
brunt of that as well as the north side on the east part of the
intersection.
Pfab: Going back, is it possible if you ever have to increase that stacking
area to do so?
Fosse: Yes, we've done that at other places in town where we have a left turn
lane and we just make it longer.
Pfab: It is possible...at this point your studies indicate that it is not
necessary, but you say it is possible if the need arises?
Fosse: Yes.
Pfab: Okay. That's great.
Fosse: Any other questions.
Lehman: Any other questions. I'm sorry, Rick.
Fosse: Oh, I was just asking the same thing.
Lehman: Yeah, any other questions for Rick?
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Kanner: Do we have to take out the new sidewalk that the school put in in any
part of that?
Fosse: No. If you'll notice that sidewalk when it went in a couple years ago
does not follow the old curb line. It went straight down and followed
the right-of-way line in anticipation of this. So we worked with the
school on that as we're working with the school on these intersection
improvements. I might add that they am very good to work with.
Kanner: And is there room for a possible bike lane at all on Court Street and or
First Avenue?
Fosse: Not with the lane widths that we have out there. There were bike lanes
on First Avenue south of Court Street some years ago and at the
recommendation of BIC those were eliminated because it's just a 33
wide pavement there and it's really not wide enough like Rohert Road
to have full fledged bike lanes and all it was doing was relegating the
bikes to area with the sand and the junk was in the gutter line. So, it
works better to blend them in traffic there.
Vanderhoef: Haven't we completed all of the curb cut and ramps now on First
Avenue for the sidewalk?
Fosse: There's still some gaps in the sidewalk on the west side of First
Avenue between Court and Rochester and we're working with the
apartments. They will begin construction this spring on their portion
of it. Got one lot that we haven't worked things out.
Vanderhoef: But the curb cuts are all there, so that all the way down have been
completed now.
Fosse: Off of the top of my head I couldn't answer that. I could check on it
tough.
Vanderhoef: I guess that would be the rest of the request. To double check and be
sure that all of the curb cuts...
Fosse: From Rochester to Court? Or south of Court as well?
Vanderhoefi On down to Muscatine.
Fosse: Okay, I'll look at that.
Pfab: Is riding a bike on the sidewalk going to be permissible in the area or
not?
Fosse: Yes, it is.
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Pfab: So, in other words, as a safety factor, people can ride their bikes on the
sidewalk.
Fosse: Yes.
Lehman: I believe you can anywhere except in central downtown.
Fosse: Except in central downtown.
Lehman: Okay, other...anyone else like to speak at the public hearing? Public
hearing is closed. Do we have a motion?
(b) Consider a resolution approving
Pfab: So, moved.
Lehman: Moved by Pfab.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Seconded by Champion. Discussion, Council? Roll call. Motion
carries.
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1TEM NO. 6e Consider an ordinance rezoning 5.45 acres from Rural Residential
(RR-1) and Interim Development Single Family Residential (ID-
RS) to Low Density Single Family Residential (RS-5) located at the
northwest corner of Rohret Road and Phoenix Drive. (REZ02-
00001) (First Consideration)
Dilkes: Mr. Mayor, we need to go back to Item number 6e because I had my
percentages wrong. It's not two-thirds. Two-thirds is for going into
executive session, it's three-quarters for collapsing. Therefore, we
need six to collapse. So, we need to go back and do first consideration
on that one.
Lehman: All right. We are back on page five, 6e. Is that...
Dilkes: It's 6e.
Kanner: E as in Edward.
Lehman: Edward, I'm sorry.
Pfab: There would be two collapses right?
Karr: No, the other one failed four to three.
Dilkes: The Hickory Heights would not have...
Kan': It only affects e.
Karmer: Well, expedited failed on a vote of 5-2.
Lehman: That's correct.
Karr: So, now we need a motion for first consideration to approve.
Lehman: We need a motion on e.
Champion: Approve first consideration.
Vanderhoef: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion, seconded by Vanderhoef.
Karmer: Will you hold on a minute so I can look at this? Actually can we move
this to another time?
Lehman: Well, we have discussion. What would you like to discuss?
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Katmer: I just want to see what my original vote was. I voted against it because
of...
Lehman: You voted against it because it was expedited.
Kanner: Expedited. I want to look at my notes here. Can we hold off voting on
this for a few minutes before we go back to it?
Lehman: If we hadn't... Yeah, I'm sure we can Steven; if we hadn't expedited
it...I would have thought that you would have known what it was
about.
Karmer: No, I voted against it because it was expedited, but I...
Lehman: But if it hadn't been expedited you would have...
Kanner: I have to look at my notes, Ernie, that's what I'm saying is...I
don't...I'm sorry remember exactly. So, if we could go on and come
back in just a few minutes.
Lehman: All right we're going to do item 8 then.
(See further discussion after item #8)
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ITEM NO. 8 PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE FY03 ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN, THAT IS A SUB-PART OF IOWA CITY'S
2001-2006 CONSOLIDATED PLAN (CITY STEPS), AS
AMENDED.
Wilbum: I will be abstaining due to a conflict of interest on this item. I am
employed by one of the applicants.
Lehman: Okay item 8 is a public hearing regarding the FY03 Annual Action
Plan, that is a sub-part of Iowa City's 2001-2006 Consolidated City
Steps as amended. Public hearing is open.
Gary Smith: Hello. My name is Gary Smith and I am speaking on behalf of the
Housing Repair Program through Elderly Services, Incorporated. The
reason that I'm here tonight is...well let me preface my comments by
saying first that I'm not wishing to look a gift horse in the mouth here.
And I want to express my profound gratitude with the City of Iowa
City and this Council for providing all the funding that they have
provided for our organization throughout the years. I think it's one of
the things that make Iowa City such a wonderful place to live in the
way we tend to care for those that can least care for themselves. And
certainly makes me proud to be a member of this comanunity. Having
said that, I would like to speak to this year's allocation for the Housing
Repair Program. And first, I would like to outline briefly what the
program is about and then take a look briefly at the process that led to
our current funding recommendation here this year. We serve through
this program primarily women, single women, over 75 years of age
with physical impairments that limit their activities of daily living. In
recent years, most - or many - of these clients have fallen below 30
percent of median income in Iowa City and last year by the time we
reach 58% of median income we'd had 89% of the clients included in
that group. There's a need for this program. Among older people,
those with greatest need often have the fewest resources. Many older
people live in older homes where the cost of maintenance, not to
mention accommodations for disability, can be prohibited. Without
that maintenance or modification, they're not safe in their homes. The
people whom this program serves do not have the resources necessary
to keep their homes safe when the disabilities associated with age
begin to accrue. It's no stretch to say that very little separates the fully
functioning elderly to the frail. It may only be a deferred repair away
from such...they may only be a deferred repair away from such a
classification. You'll have to excuse me; I'm not accustomed to this.
The program, I believe, fits with the Comprehensive Plan quite nicely.
Elderly are rated at a medium priority on the whole in the City Steps
Plan. With the frail elderly as a sub-population with a high priority
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need. This program provides a critical supportive service to those
served that addresses accessibility, needs of the handicapped, and
smaller housing rehabilitation needs. The City Steps itself states that
rehabilitation and maintenance of housing stock is one of the most cost
effective and efficient means of insuring a safe decent housing stock.
And it also states that to provide housing support services to persons
who are elderly and frail elderly is a special need and this is from the
City Steps Plan. We've worked very hard to make this program a
compliment to the Housing Rehab Program that the City itself runs
and have conferred with them to that point. It addresses the need of
affordable housing too this program. These minor repairs and
modifications maintain these homes in a decent, livable state. We also
do a lot of repairs on mobile homes which is, as you're well aware,
provides some of our lowest cost housing stock. This program
promotes diversity. Within the neighborhoods where these people
have aged in place, we've managed to keep the texture of that
neighborhood as far as age goes. And also on the income level too.
And with the fact that we've served a greater percentage of minority
clients than exists in the general population as we serve, some where
in the neighborhood of 10% of the folks are minority people that we
serve. It also advances that notion of diversity within our
neighborhoods. The repairs we do are essential. This is not cosmetic
stuff. We install bathroom grab bars, we mitigate trip hazards, we
repair windows and doors, we fix air conditioners and we repair
furnaces. Things that are necessary to keep a person safe and
comfortable in their home. Is it a cost effective program? I believe so.
The repairs themselves have ranged from $26.25 to $1520.00 in the
last fiscal year with a median of $154.35 and a mean of $328.00.
These again are minor repairs that are cost effective in terms of
maintaining these housing stock here in Iowa City. We have special
knowledges and skills in this area? We've administered this program
for 12 years and have developed long standing relationships with
individual contractors that mitigate toward prompt and low-cost
service. We know whom to turn to for which types of repairs,
particularly helpful where these mobile homes are concerned.
Lehman: Gary, you need to wind this up.
Smith: Okay. Okay. We adhere to the policies of the City in our record
keeping. We've had 12 years of compliance with policy in terms of
reporting in their guidelines. What happened with the funding? We
were rated twelfth on the initial go-around. We were offered $36,000
on that initial go-around and that was skewed by one member of the
HCDC who voted $0.00 for us. The spread on who was hit - if you
look at who was funded the average was 51% of their request. That
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again in skewed because only two other organizations had a higher hit
than that - one at 53, one at 66 - we took a 90% hit.
Lehman: And we've got those numbers, here. Do you have any other source of
funding?
Smith: We do. We do. We try very hard to seek other funding. We have
Elderly Waiver funding and Senior Living Trust Dollars that we have
access to do some of the repairs. The problem there is not only do the
people have to qualify in terms of income; they have to qualify in
terms of medical requirement. It's a much lengthier process and there
are a lot more hoops to jump through when a person wants to get a pair
of grab bars installed in a bathroom. Although we utilize those funds
whenever we can. I think we...it was about 10% or 12% of the budget
last year that we spent on this was from those other funds. It's just not
as accessible to either the clients or myself.
Lehman: What pementage of you funding came from HCDC?
Smith: HCDC? For well, if you...
Lehman: I mean it was 30...
Smith: It was...it is $40,000 for the current year...
Lehman: Right.
Smith It was $30,000 last year.
Lehman: What out of a $40,000 budget...or out of your total budget, what was
your total budget?
Smith: There would be another $6,000 of S.O.P.
Lehman: So, in other words this year with $40,000 from HCDC and your other
funding sources your total would have been in the neighborhood of
$46,000.
Smith: $46,000. Right. It's hard to pinpoint those numbers because as we
qualify the clients then we seek those funds.
Lehman: I understand that.
Champion: Right.
Lehman: Okay.
Pfab: I have a question. Are you getting any funding from United Way?
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Smith: Yes.
Pfab: How much is that?
Smith: You know that's part of the general fund...it's not a designated fund.
Pfab: Is that for your...those projects?
Smith: No, it's not a designated....no this is - we're talking designated money
here. This is all designated for this housing repair thing that...
Pfab: Okay so you've also applied to different churches and giving area?
Smith: Whenever the opportunity arises for any funding, we seek it. It's just
very limited.
Pfab: Okay so as you see it know, over the next budget year, how much
funds are you going to be short?
Smith: I'm thinking that we can do very little. I'm disturbed about the fact
that come with $5,000 come the summer when ! get that call from the
gentleman whose air conditioner is broken and he's had two strokes
and he's home bound, that I'll have to say, "Gee, I'm sorry, I can't
help you with that." And I'm concerned that next winter when
somebody calls me with a furnace down - which just happened last
month - that I'll have to say, "I'm sorry - you're going to have to go
somewhere else with that."
Pfab: Do you have any carryover money? Or carryover funds?
Smith: No. In fact last year we had to request a supplemental because of the
demand for the program. We were originally allocated $25,000 and
we requested a 20% supplemental which the City again graciously
gave to us and I can't express my appreciation enough. And I'm not
here to beat up on the HCDC. I realize they have a very, very tough
job with a lot of worthy, worthy projects to fund, but...
Pfab: But, they also have some restrictions on what they can do with that
money, right?
Smith: [ guess you'd have to...I'm not sure what the guidelines are that
they're under. I'll tell you we went from $36,000 to $5,000 and over
the process of the night it went 30, 25, and so forth. I'm sure I'm now
over my time. I appreciate your indulgence.
Pfab: I appreciate your coming and stating your case.
Lehman: Thank you, Gary.
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Marsha Acord: My name is Marsha Acord and I'm the Associate Director at the
Wesley Center that houses the free lunch program and the free medical
clinic and I simply wanted to say thank you for this public process and
for all the community services involved in this and the time
consideration and hard work of the Commission and the Council. And
a specific thank you for the recommendation to fund the Wesley
Center, to renovate the restrooms in order to have clean, safe and
accessible restrooms for the low-income persons who are served by
free medical clinic and free lunch program.
Pfab: Is that also...Are those also public restrooms.
Acord: Yes.
Pfab: Okay.
Christy Canganelli: I'm Christy Canganelli from the Emergency Housing project and I
would just like to thank this Council and this community for your
continued support of emergency housing and would strongly
encourage you to uphold the recommendations as made by the HCDC.
We feel that they deliberated over these issues and they were very
difficult issue and showed that they really listened to the concerns of
the organizations. Through these recommendations, we hope that
emergency housing is going to be able to continue to serve this
community, to be a good partner, to be a good neighbor. And we take
very seriously the charges that are given to us in developing a new
facility that would meet the needs of the hundreds of people that we
serve, the hundreds of people that we have to refuse shelter to during
the winter and every other time of the year. We believe that this is
something we cannot go forward with alone and that we need the
investment and the partnership of the other stakeholders throughout
this community to fully participate in the development of this. Thank
you.
Lehman: Anyone else care to speak?
Pfab: I'll ask a question. If those public speaking
Lehman: Well, okay. Public heating is closed.
Pfab: I would ask are funds available for what Gary spoke of anyplace else?
Lehman: I don't know. Let me just before we get there ifl am reading this
agenda correctly, we need a motion to approve the recommendation at
this point.
Dilkes: No, this is just the public heating.
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Lehman: Just the public hearing. Okay, now you're right. Just discussion. First
vote will be at the May 7th meeting is that right? The only vote, that's
correct.
Champion: Well, I do appreciate the work the Commission does on this. It is
difficult choices. I, however, am a little disturbed about the Elder
Services because I think this is a time when all of our social service
agencies are going to be short of money. The economy is not
particularly good and the State is cutting a lot of social services and
the County is having trouble fulfilling a lot of needs. And I feel that
the Elder Services are providing help for people who are here right
now who need help. And I don't have my book with me, but I would
like to see some money allocated to the Elder Services. I don't want to
take away from another organization that is getting money, but there
was some money - I don't have my paper with me - allocated to study
or a survey or uh...
Pfab: That's the one that Christy just spoke of.
Champion: Yeah.
Vanderhoef: The feasibility study for Emergency...
Champion: The feasibility study. I guess that we need a feasibility study when we
already know that we have people that are going to need help this
winter and summer and I don't think... I personally would like to see
the money from the study go to the Elder Services that provide
immediate need for people who need help.
Pfab: Let me ask you this statement: The City has taken a larger percentage
of the total funds for different reasons than had been customarily done.
Is this the year to do that? I think that we the administrative funds
were funds were increased what - almost doubled?
Lehman: I think administrative funds are numbers aren't those illegal?
Steve Nasby: The administrative dollars changed by $400 from last year.
Pfab: Is that all there was?
Nasby: Yeah. Then they are fixed pementages of the CDBG (???) and home
allocation. What you're seeing in the planning and admin budget that
was an increase is the $23,000 for the study because it has to come
under the planning and admin cap. That is the only increase in
planning and admin which is due to the study.
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Pfab: I was present when this was being discussed and from what I can
gather, if we ever any hope of making emergency housing be
functional and adequate I think that study is critical.
Kanner: Let me further comment. Connie, I think that we do need to increase
Elder Services, Small Repair Programs. I don't know if to the full
$50,000. I don't know if we should even do it to the full '02 allocation
which was less than. Perhaps a little bit less. And Ernie, ! think you
have a good point in saying that there are certain rules set down. Well
the rules that we do have some control of is how much is given to
economic development and I think, Connie, this is a tough time and we
have to deal with the here and now. I think planning is essential -
you've got to pay some people to do some planning. Even though we
do know there is a need for emergency housing, we need to do that.
We need to move forward in an expedited fashion. This is where we
need to do that and the planning is, I think, money is going to be well
spent. So I think that Irvin's point of going into the economic
development money which is up to $159,000, I believe, I think that we
can take $25,000 out of that this year for that. So, I'll be offering an
amendment at the appropriate time that we lower the economic
development money at this time. I think that it would be money well
spent into Elderly Services to allow those people that Gary so
eloquently talked about to stay in their homes and receive those
services.
Pfab: Are you finished?
Kanner: Yeah.
Pfab: Okay this study on the emergency housing as I understand is not just
what does emergency housing need, it's how to involve the rest of the
community into supporting this. So there's a chance to get private and
public funds also. I believe that's correct. Is that right? So, it's kind
of...the name...the project may be somewhat misnamed because it's
how do you...it was done, I believe, in Davenport and I believe quite
successfully. And what it was was how you encourage foundations
and other people to come and help, but you had.., it's not...there is no
advocate out there for emergency housing.., for these people who have
no homes. So this is what...this project is how you develop that and
show that it's very valuable to the community and with the hope that
the community will help fund it.
Champion: I still think the study can wait.
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Pfab: I don't. But, I think it maybe...maybe this is a time we're going to
have to go into the economic development. This maybe a little - a
wrong time to up that went to the economic development. I believe
that was an increase from last year. Is that right? How much?
Vanderhoefi About $20,000.
Pfab: I thought it was more than that, but I could be wrong.
Vanderhoefi I think that we spent about $125,000 for economic development
projects last year.
Lehman: I think that's right.
Vanderhoef: And we're at what $159,000.
Lehman: $159,000
Pfab: How much was the different allocations from last year to this year?
How much was...
Vanderhoefi The difference between 159 and 125. 34?
Pfab: $24,000, $25,000 something like that. $28,000 $29,000.
Kanner: $34,000.
Pfab: How much?
Vanderhoefi $34,000.
Pfab: $34,000. Okay. I mean I think the project that Gary is talking about
probably in time like time, is probably a higher priority than were we
were going to shift the money.
Lehman: Other discussion? Is it appropriate...I suspect that tonight we will
discuss concerns that we have and then any amendments will be made
before the vote on the 7th. IS that correct?
Dilkes: Really tonight was just the public heating and the discussion.
Lehman: Right. The discussion among ourselves. This discussion will then
continue after the vote on the 7th. But, I think in all fairness to the
public and to the Commission if we have concerns they should be
voiced tonight so that we don't come up with surprises on the -]th.
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Kanner: Ernie, I would like to ask if there is anyone from HCDC that would
like to speak. We got a letter that said that perhaps there was some
confusion. I don't know if that's the word that they used in the
funding process in the last minute and that there was an expectation
that it was going to be higher for Elderly Services and then at the last
minute...at the end of the meeting when people were tired that it went
down to this $5,000 mark even though there were high marks from
everyone.
Champion: I don't think that's necessary. We're not questioning their ability to...
Kanner: I think it's important to hear just some reasoning on maybe they have
good reason for going to $5,000. I'm sure they do have good reason. I
would just like to hear that as part of my decision making process.
Kathleen Renquist: Kathleen Renquist, Housing Community Development
Commissioner. Several things I'd like to talk about. One, your
discussion about taking money out of the economic development for
the feasibility study or for Elderly Services is well taken and I would
strongly urge you to continue on that talk. There were...when we
came down to the end of the money, what was left over we looked at
three projects that we still hadn't funded. We weren't tired. We
looked at how much money was left and what projects would continue
with the money that was left and we looked at the priority that these
three projects that had and we took the highest priorities. So it wasn't
that we were tired. And another thing I'd like to say is there
are...there were a couple projects that year after year after year come
to us and we ask them if they can find funding elsewhere and they
don't find funding elsewhere and this year happened to be a time
where there was a big ticket item that had an opportunity that they
would not have ever had an opportunity to had - that Youth - UAY -
to purchase this property for their youth program. And it came in and
it needed the money now and Elderly Services has come year after
year after year. Even though it is a wonderful project, all the project,
almost all the projects that we look at are wonderful project and they
help needy people. This year I guess I have to talk about the youth
group a little - UAY a little bit. Year after year we've also funded
people who are able to vote. And youth don't have a vote, but they are
the future and we need to support them as well. So, I guess that's
about all I have to say.
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Vanderhoef: Okay. I have been looking at our housing projects and real
specifically our home funds that we're very fortunate that we do get a
lot of dollars for home funds and we certainly have needs in the
housing area. When I look at our groups that do it as non-profit and
also at our City Housing Authority which is obviously is non-profit.
And then I try to compare that with projects that are for-profit projects
and I went looking for a policy and I inquired about it last night a
policy on interest rates and I think it's something we certainly should
be looking at and I was told that the Commission talked about interest
rates for private for-profit loans and talked about using a 3% or the
allocations and then I see a project that was accepted and
recommended with a 1% loan. I will be looking at changing in the
negotiations as I read on page 176 of the book that all of you received
and it's for the applicant too and it just says, "Loan terms are subject
to negotiation or modification by HCDC or City Staff or Council
approval may also apply." So I will be asking Council to look at
negotiating for a 3% loan for the for-profit project which is $301,200
loan to be made for a housing project. And then in the future, I asked
last night also that Council look at putting in place a policy and
obviously I would be asking for a recommendation from HCDC, but
the policy would be set by Council. And one of the things that I would
be looking at would be a floating kind of thing that had to do with
some percent off of whatever market rate is at that point in time when
the loan is given.
Pfab: Dee, I have a question. Are you suggest...what are the rules now?
Are you suggesting that we change the rules now?
Vanderhoefi No, I'm not suggesting. The rules say that we can negotiate these
things.
Pfab: Okay.
Vanderhoef: And that's what I'm going to ask for - to negotiate for a 3% loan for
that 300 plus thousand dollars.
Pfab: And there was another question I was going to ask you - and I don't
have my book here with me - what was the total amount number of
home dollars that was in there. You said there was a certain number in
there - the total amount.
Vanderhoefi Oh the home dollars...let's see...add them up.
Lehman: Steve's probably got it right here.
Pfab: Do you know, Steve?
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Vanderhoef: Got the total?
Atkins: The total home allocation was $753,000.
Pfab: 753 and that is somewhat limited as to where that money can be spent?
Atkins It has to be for housing activities. It can't be used for the elderly
(end of side one 02-41)
rehab. You have to address everything that's a code issue.
Everything in the unit they basically address accessibility issues and
deferred maintenance items as Gary said.
Pfab: Okay. I believe...you're asking about a specific project, right? Is
that...
Vanderhoefi I'm looking specifically for-profit projects.
Pfab: Are there...any of you here want to speak to that?
Charlie Eastham: Hi. My name is Charlie Eastham and I'm the President of the Greater
Iowa City Housing Fellowship which is a non-profit affordable
housing developer in town. I think the issue is about if we should have
policies which apply differently for for-profit and non-profit affordable
housing developers are interesting. I also think they're very complex.
And if we in this community want to go down that road I think we
should have - I hope we will have - an extensive, open and frank
discussion before we make any major decisions. I, as a member of the
non-profit developing community, I think we have a lot of useful
alliances between for-profit and non-profit developers and I think for-
profit developers play a very important role in developing affordable
housing both in this community and across the State. So, I think we
should be very careful about what we do here. And I hope you'll take
that into consideration.
Pfab: Don't leave, Charlie. Now where as a non-profit, where do you get
your funds from?
Eastham: We basically get our...non-profits and for-profits basically use the
same sources of funds.
Pfab: And what...you have loans, grants, what?
Eastham: Ali of us receive funds in the forms of loans. Many of us receive some
funds in the forms of grants or forgivable loans. The bulk of the
money that we get - or I'm sorry not the bulk, but a large part of the
money we get is in the form of a loan of some form.
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Pfab: Okay. I guess, yeah. I would say that anybody here. We are trying to
get information here on what to do.
Bob Bums: My name is Bob Bums. I'm an architect - 319 East Washington Street
- and we're the general partner in the Garden Prairie Project. And the
impact of increasing the interest rate on the loan will mean increasing
the rents to the tenant.
Vanderhoefi You have no possibilities to change your budget?
Burns: Yes.
Vanderhoef: Or to make changes in the project so that is not reflected in...as I see it
right now you're rents are going to be for a 3-bedroom house only$92
different than what the market median is right now in Iowa City. So,
it's like the same folks as I understand it with their Section 8 vouchers
can apply for housing in your project or in any other project in town.
What I'm looking for is the best use of our Federal tax dollars on
projects.
Bums: We think we try to put a project together that does that. The rents that
the projects currently structured at financially is to have them at the
fair market rent and that's what the Section 8 voucher pays.
Vanderhoef: And I would encourage you...
Bums: Any increase...interest rate is an operating cost so that is covered by
the grants.
Vanderhoef: I understand and I would encourage you to look at your project and
find some other way to absorb that without immediately saying you're
passing it on in rent.
Bums: Well again we have to structure it so that we blend the financing
together from multiple sources. One of the ways that we might be able
to reduce costs, which would reduce the loan amount, would be to find
land that's less expensive. Our budget is set up in a worse case
scenario with land costs being $50,000 a unit and we did that so that
we would protect ourselves in the event we couldn't find any land
other than that, And if we get it for $20,000 a unit we will certainly
adjust the budget that way, but we would not recommend a change in
the interest rate.
Pfab: Okay, Bob. Where do you get your funds? Where are sources of
funds for your project?
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Bums: The City home funds, State home funds, low-income housing tax
credit - which is...
P fab: What' s that?
Bums: Equity that's contributed by investors.
Pfab: What does that mean?
Bums: Well, it's equity capital that an investor contributes for the
development for the project.
Pfab: And so what's the mechanism? Where is the tax credit? What does
that do to the equity?
Bums: The equity will lower the amount of money that has to be borrowed.
Pfab: How...what kind of tax credit...how much of that comes into these
projects?
Bums: It's the...I don't have the performer in front of me, but it's generally in
the neighborhood of 40-50% of the development cost.
Pfab: So, how do you take...in round numbers how much tax credits have
you been able to get to bring to the Iowa City community?
Vanderhoefi If I'm reading the book correctly here, there's 185,000 private dollars
in here for a public project of $1,000,860.
Lehman: $1,860,000.
Vanderhoef: $1,860,000. Excuse me. One million... 1.86 million dollars and
there's $185,000 in private funds in that. So when we look down into
cost per bedroom the subsidy on it is $52,343 per bedroom and the
private dollars that go into a bedroom is $5,782.
Pfab: So your point is what then?
Vanderhoef: My point is that perhaps more private dollars need to be going in and
that this is really perhaps not the best use of our Federal tax dollars for
one of these types of projects and the one way that we can assist with
this is through being sure that we get more dollars back into the
revolving fund because the loan gets paid off after 30 years. However,
during that time the interest rate is 1%. So, I'm saying the private
developer could probably absorb the additional interest rate over the
30 year period. And therefore, bring back more dollars into our
housing fund for us to put out in a new project.
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#8 Page 65
Pfab: And I believe the developer is saying here that...if you raise the
interest rate you're going to need to raise the rent.
Bums: That's correct.
Karmer: Well, there is other ways to raise sources of revenue with his own
money. The question is...it's always a balance - how much do you
subsidize a project? And especially...in a for-profit project there's
even more of a question, how much are you going to subsidize their
profit. The profit looks pretty substantial that they're making. Was it
started off 12% for the first few years? I think that is what was listed
on here. We're giving the money for that and in return we're getting
some housing available for low-income folk. And I would have...I
agree with Dee that perhaps we're giving too much for what we're
getting in return with the whole scenario
Pfab: Okay then I hear the voice that Charlie I believe mention, he said these
are quite complex and I believe are competing for the same dollars. Or
competing for the same dollars and working in the same area of
helping to produce housing. Now, I think Charlie is saying, ifI
understood him right, is that - and obviously they're aware of what
you're doing. They understand a lot better than I do and maybe other
people here too - I don't know. But he's saying this is what it takes to
make it work. Is that basically what Charlie was saying?
Bums: That's what he was saying and this is...these are...they way these
types of rental projects are structured, not only in Iowa City, but across
the State and across the Nation, and I have the performer in front of
me know. The equity that's contributed by an investor is $775,000.
That's labeled a public subsidy, but it's actually $775,000 in equity
capital that's in...
Pfab: Is that cash?
Bums: That's cash.
Pfab: Okay.
Bums: It's invested in the project by an investor. And in this case we don't
have an investor, but a typical...yet because we don't have a project
ready to go. But a typical investor would be Alliant Energy. They've
invested in ten of our projects. But that's cash that's going into the
project. You don't label that as cash.
Kanner: They get a portion of that back through tax credits.
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Bums: And that's what their return is. The 16% return is...includes their
return on their investment for...
Lehman: But that $775,000 is cash that is generated by tax credits so it's
actually cash put into the project.
Bums: That's right.
Pfab: And those funds are...do they come from the Iowa City community?
Bums: Well, they come from Alliant Energy. They come from...they're an
investment...
Pfab: But the tax credit. Who provides those or how ....
Bums: It's a Federal tax credit.
Pfab: A Federal tax credit allocated tax credits to you for this project?
Bums: It's allocated to the project.
Pfab: Okay, allocated to the project?
Bums: That's right.
Pfab: Okay. So if the project wasn't going that...how much tax credit was
allocated - you said a total of the...am I understanding right?
Bums: If you don't do...if you don't get the tax credits, you don't have...they
go somewhere else.
Pfab: So, in other words, the $750,000 is what Alliant says those are worth
to them.
Bums: That's correct.
Pfab: So that's...by giving the Federal tax credits negotiated that with
Alliant. Alliant says we'll put $750,000 cash into this project?
Burns: That's correct. And that's where the return is I think that you're
referring to.
Lehman: But that is the investment that is capital in the project. So essentially...
Vanderhoef: They're private.
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Lehman: Well, essentially, you've got $775,000 cash invested whether by tax
credits or whatever it's still equity and another $185,000 so basically
you're just under a million dollars out of the total project of a million
eight.
Vanderhoef: If they use the tax credit piece of it.
Lehman: Well that's how...
Champion: They'd have to make it work.
Lehman: So, the actually...the basis in this for private investment is almost a
million dollars.
Burns: That's correct.
Lehman: Out of a 1.8 million dollar budget.
Bums: That's correct.
Lehman: Okay. Any other questions? Comments? We'll be looking at this
again obviously on the 7th.
Kan': Motion to accept correspondence?
Vanderhoef: So, moved.
Karmer: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Karmer. All in favor [all ayes]?
Opposed? I've been asked to take a short recess for about seven
minutes because it's going to take Ross that long to get up here. So...
Kanner: Thanks to housing. We all want to thank Housing, any development
and the staff.
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ITEM NO. 6e Consider an ordinance rezoning 5.45 acres from Rural Residential
(RR-1) and Interim Development Single Family Residential (ID-
RS) to Low Density Single Family Residential (RS-5) located at the
northwest corner of Rohret Road and Phoenix Drive. (REZ02-
00001) (First Consideration)
Lehman: We're going to go back to 6e.
Champion: Move first consideration.
Vanderhoefi Second.
Lehman: Moved by Champion for first consideration. Second by Dee
Vanderhoef. Discussion? Roll call.
Pfab: What is...what are we looking at?
Lehman: This is the one that we erroneously expedited a few minutes ago.
Pfab: And now we're...we're starting over?
Lehman: Now we are having first consideration.
Pfab: Okay.
Lehman: Okay? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 9 AMENDING TITLE 10, ENTITLED "USE OF PUBLIC WAYS
AND PROPERTY," BY ADDING CHAPTER 10, ENTITLED
"CHUTES AND VAULTS WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-
WAY" TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM TO REGULATE THE USE
OF CHUTES AND VAULTS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-
WAY.
Lehman: Item 9 is an item for which three of us have a conflict and will have to
leave. Which we shall do.
Kanner: Am I one of them?
Lehman: No you're not one of them.
Champion: No, you get to stay.
Karr: Just for the record, can we state which three are leaving?
Lehman: Lehman, Champion and Vanderhoefi
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ITEM NO. 9a CONSIDER MOTION TO APPOINT CITY CLERK AS
TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON FOR PURPOSES OF
ELECTING TEMPORARY MAYOR PRO TEM
Kan-: Okay. This is the first time to consider a motion to consider to appoint
the City Clerk as temporary chairperson for purposes of electing a
temporary Mayor Pro Tem.
O'Donnell: So, moved.
Kanner: Second.
Kan.: Moved by O'Dormell. Seconded by Kanner. Discussion?
Kanner: I'd like to nominate Irvin ....
Kan': We have a motion on the floor to...
Kanner: Oh.
Kan': Just give me my moment of fame, Steven. All those in favor say aye.
Karmer: They thought it was funny outside there. We try to keep them
entertained.
O'Donnell: I thought it was funny here. Since I don't have a big head, I want to
nominate Irvin Pfab.
Kan:: No, no...I think I have outsted. All those in favor appointing the City
Clerk as temporary Chairperson say aye [all ayes]. Opposed same
sign.
Kanner: Do it, Marian.
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ITEM NO 9b CONSIDER A MOTION TO ACCEPT NOMINATIONS FOR
AND APPOINT A TEMPORARY MAYOR PRO TEM
Karr: Okay. All those...do we have a motion to accept nominations for an
appointed temporary Mayor Pro Tem.
Katmer: I'd like to nominated Irvin Pfab at this time for Mayor Pro Tem
Karr: Moved by Karmer. Is there a second?
Pfab: I guess I would second that.
Karr: Seconded by Pfab. Okay.
O'Donnell: I must have missed out here.
Karr: Are there any other nominations?
O'Doimell: Absolutely not. Let's get it over with.
Karr: Okay. All those...we have a motion on the floor moved by Kanner,
seconded by Pfab to appoint temporary Mayor Pro Tem Council
Member Pfab. All those in favor say aye [all ayes]. Opposed same
sign. For tonight and the duration of the item discussion, Council
Member Pfab will be acting as Temporary Mayor Pro Tem
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ITEM NO 9c CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION0
Pfab: Okay we're working on Item number 9. Is that correct?
Karr: We're on "c" first consideration of the ordinance.
Pfab: Okay...so do I need to read it?
Kart: Please.
Pfab: Item number 9 Amending title i0, entitled "use of the public ways and
property," by adding Chapter 10, entitled "chutes and vaults within the
public right-of-way" to establish a system to regulate the use of chutes
and vaults in the public right-of way.
O'Donnell: Move first consideration.
Wilbum: Second.
Pfab: Discussion?
Kanner: Yeah I think this is a good ordinance that we're going to be voting on.
There is...hopefully it will lead to greater safety and people with
disabilities will feel safer that people are going to be taking better care
that there's no injuries that happen when the vaults might be open.
O'Donnell: But the large part of this is to transfer liability from the City to the
property owner. And it is a good point. However, I have been a native
of Iowa City - I've been here forever- and I don't remember an
accident in these. I don't remember ever having an accident or a
complaint on these vaults.
Pfab: Okay. I would be supportive of this again because it protects the City
from unnecessary liability. The people who are using them gain by
their use. And also I believe that it has an amendment there where if
something happens to the City water mains or something like that
where the City was sued that this would protect the City in that case or
not?
Dilkes: One of the provisions of the agreement would be an assumption for
risk provision where the property owner assumes the risk of the other
utilities in the right-of-way.
Pfab: Any further discussion?
Kanner: Mike, you've been here what 70 years, let's go another 70 years with
greater vigilance.
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O'Donnell: Steven, I have not been here 70 years.
Kanner: No?
O'Donneli: But I've been here more than seven.
Kanner: Okay. That's good.
O'Donnell: I realize that.
Kanner: I know. I haven't been here seven. I'm waiting to get up there to
seven. I've only been here for six.
O'Donnell: And we're all waiting breathlessly.
Kanner: You are?
Pfab: Okay. Any further discussion?
Kanner: Mike already outwitted me. So, continue.
Pfab: Comments from the Public?
Mark Moen: Are you taking public discussion on this?
Pfab: Sure, that's what it's here for.
Moen: My name is Mark Moen. I live at 210 S. Clinton Street, apartment
601. I'm concerned about this amendment because of one provision in
it. I just was alerted to this tonight by our architect, Kevin Munson,
who's designed several projects for us including the building that is
currently under construction at the comer of Linn and Iowa Avenue at
229 Iowa Avenue. We have, with the City's permission, relied on a
vault system in that building. It's no the type of vault that opens and
allows for deliveries, but it's a vault system that allows for distribution
of...it's a ventilation system. It services the dryers in the basement of
that building and I believe it also takes part of the ventilation for the
heating and air conditioning units. What...I just got a voicemail from
Kevin and he was telling me that this was on the agenda tonight. He
was concerned and I'm concerned too because of, I think it's Article 4f
of the proposed amendment, which says that the use of the vault which
the City's approved in our case and is the one I'm most concerned
about at the moment would be a temporary use and without cause the
City can withdraw that on 30 days notice. That would effectively shut
our building down in the future if the City choose to do that. Now, I
haven't read the ordinance or the amendment, so I'm not sure...Kevin
thinks it applies to our vault and so I'm just concerned that it would be
construed that way that way in the future.
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O'Dormell: I didn't understand it that way, Mark.
Dilkes: Let me...all our use of right-of-way agreements, and I haven't seen the
one you've entered into Mark, but all our use of right-away
agreements are called temporary use of right-of-way agreements
because we are prohibited by conveying a permanent interest in the
fight-of-way. As a practical matter, unless there is a great public
interest in making the person move out of the fight-of-way, that
doesn't happen, but we can't frame the agreement that way.
Moen: Was Kevin right that Article 4f says that without cause you can
terminate it with 30 days notice? That was the part that most
concerned both of us.
Dilkes: That's what it says.
Moen: So, I understand that you can't make a permanent conveyance of a
public right-of-way, but I'm not sure why you would need the without
cause language to restrict it. So essentially that's...
Dilkes: Our intention is to mirror the language we have in our current use of
right-of-way agreements which I'm not sure it uses the word "without
cause," but it's very close. I mean it's 30 days notice we can require
that, you know, if there was a public need for the fight-of-way we can
require it.
Moen: Now, that I understand.
Dilkes: I understand that wouldn't be without cause. I can certainly look at
those.
Moen: So anyway I just wanted to...I didn't know. I had actually gotten a
copy of this. It was mailed, but probably to everybody that had
property downtown and frankly didn't read it when I saw what it was
about because I didn't think it applied to us and then I got this call and
it was alarming to both Kevin and me.
Dilkes: I don't...without cause language may be harsh.
Moen: That was exactly the word Kevin used.
Dilkes: And I will check the language we typically use. I don't think it's that
strong, but it's pretty flexible. I mean it doesn't require a lot to kick
someone out of the right-of-way. So, but I can...I'll check the
language on that.
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Pfab: I believe also somebody mentioned a question and forget where it is in
this ordinance about abandoned or not used or if the person doesn't
pay the liability insurance or whatever. Is there a ...
Dilkes: You were discussing at your work session yesterday the provision that
allows us to seal the vault in certain instances including one that's
been abandoned. When the person won't sign a temporary use of
right-of-way agreement. Those kind of things.
Pfab: Okay, so this is your...this is the City's way of enforcing the
agreement to be unsigned and also providing liability insurance?
Dilkes: The main goal of the ordinance is to transfer the risk to the property
owner who's using the vault. Require that they have insurance.
Require that they indemnify for any injury or damage caused by the
use of the vault and that they accept the risks of being underground
with other things that are underground.
Pfab: I think that if Mark hadn't had a chance to read that he may have a
shock when he reads that one. It's something that other people were
saying that they can be sealed.
Dilkes: No, no. We would seal it if it wasn't used or if somebody...
Kanner: ...refused...
Dilkes: Yeah. And we would probably have to get a court order to do that
because we can't seal it without getting on the...
O'Donnell: I do think the language is little harsh on there "without cause." I agree
with him on that. Is there...what is...?
Dilkes: I think you can go ahead and pass if you want to pass first reading. I
don't think it will...let me look at the language that we typically use in
our agreements.
Wilburn: Correct by the second.
Dilkes: I don't think probably second it's not going to be that substantial a
change.
O'Donnell: Fine. Thank you, Mark.
Pfab: Any other discussion?
Kanner: Nope.
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Pfab: Alright. Ready for roll call? Okay. [All yeses] I guess that concludes
my temporary appointment as Mayor Pro Tem
Kanner: Mazol tof.
Pfab: I guess we should call in the rest of the people then.
Kanner: Did you have time for a smoke?
Champion: Speak as a member of the public.
Dilkes: You actually could have.
Champion: Oh, I was going to, but I thought that we couldn't
Lehman: ...second reading.
O'Dormell: That would be really nice.
Champion: Well, I'm going to do it just for you, Mr. O'Donnell.
O'Dormell: Thank you very mtich I appreciate that.
Champion: ...Mayor Pro Tem Pfab.
Pfab: It's former Mayor Pro Tem
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ITEM NO. 10 CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 3, "CITY
FINANCES, TAXATION AND FEES," CHAPTER 4,
"SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES, CHARGES, BONDS, FINES
AND PENALTIES" OF THE CITY CODE, TO INCREASE
PARKING FEES IN IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
Lehman: Item number 10. Consider an ordinance amending title 3 "City
Finances, Taxation and Fee," Chapter 4, "Schedule of Fees, Rate,
Charges, Bonds, Fines and Penalties" of the City Code, to increase
parking fees in Iowa City, Iowa. Second reading.
Karmer: So moved.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Kanner. Seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Fowler: There was a request, Ernie for expedited.
Lehman: I'm sorry.
Fowler: There's a request for expedited on it.
Vanderhoef: That's right so they can get it done.
Atkins: To get it finished.
Lehman: Is there someone? We should have had the first reading last night it
would have been a lot simpler.
Vanderhoefi Okay.
Lehman: May I ask whoever made the motion would withdraw the motion so
that we can...
Champion: I think Mr. Kanner did it.
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Kanner: I don't wish to have expedited.
Vanderhoefi Does a second want to?
Champion: Who seconded it?
Karr: You did.
Lehman: You seconded it.
Champion: Oh. I'll withdraw my second.
Pfab: Okay. I would ask a question before we...where are we in the
procedure here?
Kart: You have a motion on the floor to give second consideration.
Pfab: And it's been second?
Lehman: No, it's been withdrawn.
P fab: Okay.
Kanner: Where's the notice in here.
Vanderhoef: Staffrequests expedited consideration.
Kanner: Is this the written notice?
Vanderhoef: Yes.
Pfab: Is this a time to ask why we're...
Karr: Yes it is...it's the last item in each...last sentence in your agenda in
the comment.
Kanner: It's not in our computer is it?
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Karr: It's under comment on ....
Vanderhoef: ...on the agenda.
Kart: ...on the agenda.
Kanner: It's on the paper thing. Not on our computer.
Pfab: Okay. Is this the time to ask why...is there a reason why you're
asking for an expedited?
Dilkes: The item says...are we on 117
Lehman: We're on I 0.
Dilkes: The item says "staff requestg expedited consideration to implement the
new fees"
Pfab: Is there a timing problem here or a question?
Karr: There is no motion on the floor.
Dilkes: We don't have a motion on it.
Kart: You moved the second consideration?
Wilburn: No, I said you need to have a second and you don't.
Kart: You have a motion without a second so it died.
Lehman: A motion with no second...
Karr: Motion dies for lack of a second.
Lehman: Now we don't have anything.
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/410 Page 80
Vanderhoef: I move that the role requiring the ordinance be given considered and
voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at
which it is to be finally passed be suspended and that the second
consideration and vote be waived and that the ordinance be voted on
for final passage at this time.
Wilbum: I'll second that.
Lehman: Motion by Vanderhoefi Seconded by Wilbum for expedited
consideration. Discussion. Joe there is some question as to why you
would like to have this expedited.
Fowler: We first presented these changes to you on January l0th at a budget
session. At that time you told us to go ahead and implement the
changes. However, before we did we had some other work we needed
to do with Mercy Hospital to kind of put the whole thing together as a
package which delayed us up to this point. Basically, what we would
start working on right a way would be the meters on North Clinton
Street. Those are the older style mechanical meters which would
require us to bring them, each meter, into the shop, tear them apart,
change the parts, put them back together, and put them back on the
street. And it's going to take quite awhile to change those meters. The
other meters: Jefferson, Market Street those are electronic meters. It
won't take us very long to do those, but we wouldn't change those
immediately. It's just kind of so we can put in motion what you told
us to do in January and the fact that the mechanical meters are going to
take us quite awhile to change.
Vanderhoef: And you want this to happen before July 1 which is our budget year
that we're anticipating budget dollars coming in from the meters?
Lehman: Any other questions for Joe? Roll call.
Pfab: We're voting to?
Dilkes: To collapse.
Champion: To expedite the parking question
Dilkes: Expedite.
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#10 Page 81
Champion: So they can get to work on them.
Lehman: Motion carries.
Vanderhoef: I move the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
O'Donnell: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by O'Donnell. Discussion? Roll
call. Motion carries.
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#11 Page 82
ITEM NO. 11 CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 3,
ENTITLED "CITY FINANCES, TAXATION AND FEES,"
CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED "SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES,
CHARGES BONDS, FINES AND PENALTIES," ARTICLE 5,
ENTITLED ?SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL," OF THE CITY
CODE TO INCREASE CERTAIN SOLID WASTE CHARGES.
(SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Lehman: Item 11: Consider an ordinance amending Title 3 entitled "City
Finances, Taxation and Fees," Chapter 4, entitled "Schedule of Fees,
Rates Charges Bonds, Fines and Penalties," Article 5 entitled "Solid
Waste Disposal," of the City code to increase certain solid waste
charges. This is a second consideration. We have been asked to
expedite this one.
Wilburn Which one? Okay. I move the rule requiring the ordinances must be
considered and voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to
the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended. That
second consideration vote be waived and the ordinance be voted on for
final passage at this time.
Vanderhoefi Second.
Lehman: Moved by Wilbum, seconded by Vanderhoef. Discussion.
Pfab: I have a little bit of difficulty with this and this is what I don't
understand so maybe my concerns are not warranted here. We're
raising the minimum for everyone that uses solid waste collection.
Now what is going on with those large collectors and where are they
going to be used and who is paying for them?
Atkins: What large collectors?
Pfab: Is this part of this increase going to use by...
Atkins: Oh, you mean the new experimental program?
Pfab: Right.
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Atkins: That will occur in three or four neighborhoods. This is a general rate
increase that we believe is necessary because it's been 10 years since
we've adjusted the rates...last adjusted the rates upward.
Pfab: Okay. So this is estimated to generate how much income? In round
numbers. I'm not trying...here's where my concern is: my concern is
this used to help pay for this other system...
Atkins: No.
Pfab: ...which is only going to go for a very small part of the...
Atkins: Remember the whole system will hopefully would eventually will
incorporate most of the City and that will generate about $160,000 a
year - this rate increase.
Pfab: This rate increase $160,000 and the other...the containers or what not
we're purchasing we're talking about as an experiment.
Atkins: Yes.
Pfab: And what is that going to cost?
Atkins: Well the first batch we're out for bid on now. I believe we're going to
buy, I believe, a thousand and we expect the bid to be in the
neighborhood of $35 to $55 per - we hope more on the short end.
Pfab: So, $35,000 to $50,000 for those cans.
Atkins: Yes and we would pay for those with our current reserves.
Kanner: Before you get into anymore discussion, I'd recommend you vote
against expedited process so there is more time to...
Pfab: Right. I think that is...I wanted to know if...I have a problem with
this and the fact that will this system be able to be used all over Iowa
City.
Lehman: Well, let's vote on the...the question now is whether we want to
expedite it.
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Pfab: Okay. I'll vote no.
Lehman: Well, let's do it when we roll call shall we? Motion fails 5-2. Kanner
and Pfab voting the negative.
Lehman: Do we have a motion for second consideration?
Vanderhoef: Move second.
Kanner: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Wilburn. Any discussion?
Wilbum: Second by Kanner.
Lehman: I'm sorry. Seconded by Karmer.
Wilburn: How many years has it been, Steve, so it's been...?
Atkins: In fact it went down once.
Wilburn: And it's 10% over...this is about a 10% increase over 10 years.
Atkins: 1992 it was $11 for everything - $11.55. We lowered it to $11 in 1996
and brought it back...now we're brining it back up.
Wilburn Okay.
Pfab: Can I ask a question? How much has the amount of solid
waste.., what are volumes then and now?
Atkins: Our volumes are still around the neighborhood of 12 to 15 percent of
the total volume at the landfill.
Pfab: But, I mean as far as what we talk about a percentage over so many
years, has the volume changed?
Atkins: I'm sorry I don't have that committed to memory?
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Pfab: Any general trends?
Vanderhoef: The tonnage has gone down over the last few years because we were
mandated to decrease our tonnage and to go down by 50%.
Atkins: We also recycle extensively.
Lehman: The cost of doing this is mom.
Atkins: Yes.
Lehman: That's why we're raising the rates.
Atkins: Yes. We still have to make the stop at the property.
Lehman: Whether it's two bags or one.
Atkins: Or whether it's one or two bags.
Lehman: Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 12 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE TERMS ON
WHICH THE CITY WILL PURCHASE A 3-ACRE PARCEL OF
LAND ON THE WEST SIDE OF IOWA CITY ADJACENT TO
SLOTHOWER ROAD, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO
SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST
DOCUMENTATION OF THE SAME.
Lehman: Item 12: Consider a resolution approving the terms on which the City
will purchase a 3-acre parcel of land on the west side of Iowa City
adjacent to Slothower Road, and authorizing the Mayor to sign and the
City Clerk to attest documentation of the same.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Lehman: Moved by Champion.
Vanderhoefi Second.
Lehman: Seconded by Vanderhoefi Discussion.
Kanner: Could we have some explanation of why this is necessary?
Fosse: This is a site that will be deeded for ground storage reservoir in the
future. We currently have them spaced throughout town and in
looking at our long-term needs this is the place for the next one will
need to go on the west side. The key here is that we're purchasing it
now pre-development so that we're not paying developed prices at a
later date. This three-acre tract can be expected to split into
somewhere between 15 and 24 lots and we don't want to buy them at a
per lot price.
O'Donnell: Wise decision.
Pfab: I have an interesting question. How much does that come out a square
foot?
Fosse: I don't know off the top of my head. $22,000 an acre, 44,000 square
feet an acre.
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Lehman: What difference does it make?
Pfab: I just want to know. That was our common denominator.
Lehman: Why don't we get the square inch price too?
Kanner: How many storage tanks do we have?
Fosse: Let me count them, we've got...
Vanderhoef: Three
Lehman: Rochester, Emerald Street
Vanderhoef: South Sycamore.
Kanner: Three of them and this is to help with expected growth on the west
side?
Fosse: Yes. And we're also looking at a site on the east side as well.
Kanner: Now. I might vote to approve this because of the point that you made
that the price will go up, but shouldn't we wait to decide what the
Southwest District Plan is. If we really want public input to see if we
indeed want the kind of development there that merits having to build
this kind of thing.
Fosse: We feel pretty good about our projection out on the west side based on
the demographics at the last census and what we've seen going on. I
feel confident about it.
Kanner: What if we want to preserve some sort of farmland out there. Be
creative and replicate the Braverman Farm - one to two acres and save
some of the farmland that's out them instead of development.
Lehman: We'll have just bought a small farm.
Vanderhoef: Very small.
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Kanner: Well, perhaps we ought to hold oft'...I'm not totally convinced that we
need to buy it at this time. I think it behooves us to wait and see what
the Southwest Plan if we really want public input it seems we're
saying this is what's going to happen.
Pfab: Okay now. You have negotiated the price?
Fosse: Yes. The price has been reviewed by an appraiser. They think the
price we've negotiated is a good one.
Pfab: But, you still don't know the cost per square foot?
Fosse: Not without my calculator.
Champion: Come on Irvin.
Fosse: 44,000 square feet divided by $22,000 is what
Pfab: 50 cents a square foot.
Champion: 50 cents a square foot.
Pfab: Okay. At least we're buying and selling about the same rate.
Fosse: It's about the price of a nice lot.
Champion: Yeah. And it's three acres.
Lehman: If we decide we don't like it, we'll split it into 24 lots and sell them all
for $56,000 a piece. Roll call. Motion carries, 6-1, Kanner voting the
negative.
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ITEM NO. 14 CONSIDER A RESOLUTION DIRECTING SALE OF
$29,100,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
Lehman: Item 14: Consider a resolution directing sale of $29,100,000 general
obligation bonds.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Pfab: Second.
Champion: To RBC-Dane
Lehman: At a rate of...I don't have that number.
Champion: 4.5543. Right? Gmat.
Pfab: Okay. I have one question ifI might ask it. When we last sold general
obligation bonds what has happened in the meantime price wise.
O'Malley: I think that you can probably explain the Aims sale that was just a
week ago. Yeah them was a sale last week and the rate was 4.6 and I
think last year we sold 11.5 - $11,500,000 and we got 4.81 ifI can
remember the sale right.
Pfab: So, it's not a lot of variation right now.
O'Malley: No, actually the market has come down some since the last bond sale.
Sewer bond sale.
Pfab: You're talking interest rate has come down?
O'Malley: Interest rate.
Kanner: What did you estimate - I just thought I saw a quote somewhere?
O'Malley: 4.5. I was optimistic.
Lehman: I'd say you came pretty close.
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Champion: You came pretty close.
Atkins: You did a very good job of estimating it.
Vanderhoefi Well when you see how tight these bids were.
O'Malley: Yes they were good bids.
Vanderhoef: They were very, very close.
Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO. 18 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Lehman: City Council information
Kanner: I'll start oft:
Lehman: Go ahead.
Kanner: I'd like to announce two...one event...a series of events that are
happening this week. It is Earth Week 2002 sponsored by the
University of Iowa Environmental Coalition coincide with Earth Day
on the 22nd. There's a number of events happening. Campus and river
clean up. There was as I mentioned before the talk of 5,000 Friends of
Iowa. Hickory Hill Park picnic on Saturday, April 20th. And Monday
April 22nd is UI Environmental Coalition Earth Day rally at 12:20 on
the Pentacrest. So that looks excited and I'm glad to see that
happening in Iowa City. And the other thing that I'd like to mention is
that our Senior Center is once again seeking nomination for the 2002
Senior Distinction Award. That is open to any man or woman living
in Johnson County at least 50 years of age. They say we all know
someone who's contributed in a special way to Johnson County. If
th
you do know someone, please submit a nomination by April 19 to the
Senior Center. That's the Senior Distinction Award that's given out
by the Senior Center. Thank you.
Wilbum I don't know if Council has publicly mentioned or thanked the City
Manager and Finance Staff in helping work with us to make the
decisions necessary to secure a triple A bond rating. So, thank you.
Lehman: Atta boy.
Vanderhoefi Yes. Atta boy.
Vanderhoe~ I have nothing.
Pfab: Spoken like a tree grandpa.
Lehman: Mike?
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O'Donnell: No. Four hours is enough.
Lehman: Connie?
Champion: Well, I was just thinking, do we want to consider to kind of appease
people, because we're going to have a great construction center that
we will open First Avenue November 1st with or without Scott
Boulevard being done? Do you want to put that on agenda?
Atkins Yes, we do.
Vanderhoef: We can talk about that.
Champion: It would make a lot of people happy.
Lehman: Got it. Irvin?
Pfab: Good night.
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ITEM NO. 19c REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
Lehman: Steve?
Atkins: Two real quick items. Economic development committee meeting
Thursday has been cancelled. We'll get you another date. Secondly,
I'd like the work session item for you all to consider. The Senior
Center is just about to wrap up their $40,000 plus in budget reductions.
I'm assuming that you have not given up on your discussions with the
County and we haven't walked away from this issue and I know we
have a committee and I think we're going to need some direction about
where to go next.
Champion: I think they've walked away from it.
O'Dormell: Steve, I spoke with Jay Honohan.
Atkins: Oh, good.
O'Donnell: ...the other day and we are going to revive a meeting.
Atkins: Good.
Champion: But, we have to revive it.
Atkins: That's all.
Kanner: Could you go get us a copy of the proposed agreement with Elder
Services for Senior Dining? I saw in the minutes that they had sent a
proposal. And also we didn't talk about the public power possibilities
discussion and franchise. About how we're going proceed with that. I
thought we were going to do that at the work session.
Atkins: You want another work session for the...
Lehman: It's coming up in the next work session.
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Kanner: But, we were going to lay the ground rules at what we were going to
talk about at the work session yesterday. If it's clear on how we are
going to proceed we don't need to, but we had talked the previous...
Atkins: Yeah, we did. That's right.
Kanner: ...we were going to talk yesterday.
Atkins: We didn't get to that. Steven's right we were going to chat about how
to deal with the issue and present it.
Kanner: Could you give out a memo perhaps?
Atkins: Let me see what I can put together in writing on something that might
outline the issues at least the talking points for the meeting.
Lehman: The options.
Atkins: Yeah.
Lehman: Anything else, Steve?
Atkins: No, sir.
Lehman: Marian? Eleanor? Dale? Is there a motion to adjourn?
Vanderhoef: Moved
Pfab: Second
Lehman: All in favor [all ayes]. Meeting is adjourned. Thank you.
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