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ITEM 2. OUTSTANDING STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS -Lucas Elementary
Hayek: Would the students from Lucas Elementary please come up. Hi, guys, I'm Matt
Hayek, the Mayor, and this is the City Council, and welcome to City Hall! We're
glad to have you here. This is a...the best part of our meeting, where we get to
meet student leaders from around the school district, uh, who are doing great
things in their schools, and the way this works is that I'll pass the mic around and
each one of you can, uh, tell us a little bit about yourself, and uh, and then I've got
an award to read for you and um, and we'll recognize you. So, without further
ado, why don't I pass the microphone to you?
Tran: Hi, my name is Dai Tran and I'm from Lucas Elementary. I'm in Miss
(mumbled) class and I'd like to thank everyone who came here see...thank you
all.
Hayek: Wonderful! Thank you. Tell us, uh, what...what kind of activities do you do at
school? You study hard...are you involved in any groups or...(mumbled)
Tran: No.
Hayek: Just a lot of hard work! Well, you...you obviously are doing something because
your...your teachers recognized you. So, congratulations! (applause) (speaking
away from mic) Thanks!
Roemerman: Hi, my name is Anna Roemerman and I'm proud to receive the Citizenship
Award, and I'm also proud to be a student of Lucas Elementary. For those who
don't know me, I try to be a good citizen by working in groups and help to make
sure everyone feels included in the decision...er, in the discussion. Also, as a
former student council member, I was able to help with Dance Marathon, Lassie's
Mittens, and other fundraising activities that supported both the community and
the school. Thank you for this award. I'm really honored. (applause)
Howard: My name is Jacob Howard, uh, I go to Lucas. I'm in sixth grade and I'm in Miss
(mumbled) class.. Well, uh, thanks for letting me be here, uh, it's probably going
to be fun (laughter) well, I think I got picked because, well, I like to make a
difference, to be frank about it. Uh, ever since I was little I like to help. In fourth
grade I was playground monitor, not anything special. That same year I was in
student council, eh, a little bigger. It felt like I was actually making a difference
then...in helping raise money for good causes, homeless people, stuff like that,
and then at the end of fifth grade I started safety patrol now. That's a little more
direct. Uh, now...um, in sixth grade, um, actually wearing the vest and helping
kids cross the street and stuff, I'm part of the safety patrol. Uh, so I'll just stand
at the crosswalks, helping kids cross the street, stuff like that. Uh...and then once
in a while I'll help out at the soup kitchen and ring the bell for Salvation Army.
So, pretty much that's how come I think I got this - I like to help out! (applause)
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Hayek: I didn't see you had a piece of paper there. Would you like to read that for us?
And I can hold (away from mic)
Tran: My name is Dai Tran and I'm from Lucas Elementary. First, I'd like to thank my
parents and my brother for being a good family and showing me what's right and
what's wrong, and thanks to my teachers for teaching me what I need to know in
school. The reason I got this award is that my family and my teachers encouraged
me to try harder, and when I try, good things can happen. Again I'd like to thank
my parents, my brother, and my teachers. (applause)
Hayek: Well you're all doing very important things, and uh, I know your parents and
teachers support you, that's why they're here tonight, and I want to give special
recognition to them. Anna, I understand your Aunty Kathy's here tonight to, uh,
support you, and she's a bigwig around City Hall. She pretty much controls
everything! (laughter) Um, and so, uh, but thank you to the parents and to the
teachers. Your support of these children is very important, and...and the work the
three of you do is very important, and it's great for Iowa City to see, uh,
elementary-aged students do so much at such an early age, whether it's safety
patrol or...or the other things, uh, you've mentioned. Those are very important
things and...and uh, you will grow up to be leaders in your community, just like
the people up here, uh, are leaders of the community. So I...I applaud you for
your work. I have an award, it's called the Citizenship Award, and it goes to each
of you, and I' 11 read it. It has your name on it. It says for his or her outstanding
qualities of leadership within Lucas Elementary, as well as the community, and
for his or her sense of responsibility and helpfulness to others, we recognize you
as an Outstanding Student Citizen. Your community is proud of you. Presented
by the Iowa City City Council, January 2011. Dai, here's yours! (mumbled)
Congratulations! (applause)
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ITEM 3. RICHARD W. "DICK" LEE AWARD.
Hayek: Would the Police Department please come on in.
Karr: We have Police Chief Sam Hargadine, and we also have members of, uh, the Dick
Lee family, Terry Parker and Rick Lee.
Hargadine: (Text archived with Clerk) (applause)
Hayek: Thank you! Thanks, Chief!
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ITEM 4. PROCLAMATION.
a) EITC Awareness Day -January 28, 2011
Hayek: Okay, next we have two proclamations. First one reads as follows. (reads
proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Amy Correia, Johnson County Social Services.
(applause)
Correia: Good evening. On behalf of the Johnson County "You Earned It, Now Claim It"
coalition, I thank you for making this proclamation. The objective of the fifth
annual IRS EITC Awareness Day is to increase the number of eligible households
filing for this important potentially life-changing tax credit. The availability of
this tax credit is particularly important in today's economy, as more workers may
qualify due to reduced incomes. The Earned Income Tax Credit can help make
lives a little easier. The credit can increase a qualifying household's federal tax
refund from $1 to more than $5,666 depending on the individual circumstance of
the household. But to get their EITC, the tax filer must know about the credit,
then file tax, uh, file their taxes and specifically claim it. This is where our local
"You Earned It, Now Claim It" program can help. We provide volunteers
through the IRS Vita program to help eligible households file their taxes for free.
Our volunteers complete the thorough training from the IRS, and screen all
households for eligibility of the Earned Income Tax Credit. University of Iowa,
Tippie College of Business, and Johnson County AARP has trained volunteers
ready to begin helping residents file their state and federal tax returns on January
30th. We hope that every eligible working individual who may qualify for the
EITC will claim this credit. Including newly eligible taxpayers due to changes in
their income, marital or parental status during 2010, farming and other workers
living in rural areas of our county, self-employed individuals, workers with
disabilities, childless workers, especially those whose earnings may be too low to
require filing, and workers with limited English proficiency. The University of
Iowa Tippie College of Business is hosting free tax preparation clinics at four
locations, including the Iowa City Public Library, Goodwill of the Heartland
located on First Avenue near Southeast Junior High, at Northwest Junior High in
Coralville, and the North Liberty Community Library. These sessions begin on
January 30th. There are no appointments, and the full schedule of clinics can be
found on the Johnson County web site, or by calling the United Way 2-1-1.
Spanish translation is available at all of these sessions, and translation for other
languages, including sign language, can be made by calling Johnson County's
Social Services at 356-6090. Also available at these sites this year is the U.S.
Bank Excel-a-Pay card, a free debit card which a tax filers state and federal
refund can be direct-deposited, and which can be withdrawn for free at an ATM,
uh, U.S. Bank ATM. Taxes are electronically filed at all of these sites, and
refunds are generally received within seven days of the filing date. The Johnson
County AARP Vita program will begin operating at the Senior Center by
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appointment only beginning on February 1St. Tax filers wishing to have their
taxes completed at this site must call in advance and make an appointment by
calling 356-5220. Funding for this program is provided by the IRS Vita grant
program, the Iowa Department of Human Services, University of Iowa
Community Credit Union, Veridian Credit Union, and the United Way of Johnson
County. Last year the Johnson County IRS Vita program helped more than a
thousand tax filers file their taxes, with approximately $460,000 in EITC refunds.
We are prepared to help more eligible households file their taxes this year, and
households earning $49,000 and below in 2010 are eligible to have their taxes
filed for free at one of our sites. The full schedule can be found on the Internet at
www.~ohnson-county.com and clicking on the link or by calling 2-1-1. Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you, and Amy, it's great to see you!
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ITEM 4. PROCLAMATION.
b) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday -January 17, 2011
Hayek: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Human Rights Commissioner Harry Olmstead.
Olmstead: I accept this proclamation on behalf of the Human Rights Commission, and like
Dr. Martin Luther King, our goal is to create a beloved community. We on the
Commission serve to assure that there is a peace and justice for all citizens of
Iowa City. I also want to make mention that on the web at...at www.ic-
~ov.org[humanri~hts there is an opportunity for people to serve in volunteer
positions during that day. Thank you. (applause)
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ITEM 5. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Champion: Move adoption.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Karr: Mr. Mayor, there is one person here for discussion, of item Sg(1). Sir, did you
want to talk about the letter? Please approach.
Wright: My name's Bill Wright, and I live at 1902 Woodridge Avenue. It's right on the
corner of Woodridge and Windsor Avenue, that's at the heart of this discussion.
If I may approach, I'd like to hand some photos out to the Council.
Hayek: If you could give them to the Clerk, she'll distribute them.
Wright: The problem that exists in this area, and in that section of Windsor, is that...a hill,
it's uphill, from the bottom of Windsor up to Rochester. In the wintertime, when
the snow has fallen and the trucks haven't had a chance to get out and clear the
snow, it gets very slick going up that roadway. Cars have to actually get a run at
it at times to make it up that hillside, or up that hill, to Rochester. Now the
problem's generated because there are essentially two people who insist on
parking all the time in the areas where I've shown their vehicles parked. Uh, they
don't live on Woodridge. They don't live on Windsor. They live on Rochester.
They don't have adequate parking at their houses. So they, one of them has five
vehicles. Three of which he parks in his driveway, and two of which, the black
van and the red vehicle, he parks on that section of Windsor on a daily basis.
Now...I did not submit a yes or no vote to this because I'm really ambivalent.
My house sits on the corner, practically where that photo was taken, on the, uh,
well, it'd be the northeast side or northeast corner of that T-intersection. Um...to
just ban parking on the west side of Windsor is not going to help, because if you
look you can see where the traffic tries to flow between the vehicles are parked
there; you can see the traffic, uh, marks where the cars go. It's barely big enough
for one vehicle to get through that space, which compounds in the wintertime
when those vehicles are parked there. The snow plows come by those vehicles.
Of course they have to leave a two or three-foot gap on the sides of those, which
narrows that section even more. So what happens is you've got a vehicle coming
down Windsor trying to make it up that hill at speed, and all of a sudden you've
got somebody turning off Rochester to come down Windsor from the opposite
way, and you've got a bottleneck! So what happens? The person going up the
hill has to stop, then their tires are spinning, they can't go anywhere, they have to
back all the way back down Windsor, try to get up the hill to get another run at it,
and it's...it's a mess! So moving the parking to the east side of Windsor is not
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going to, or to restrict it on the west side, but allowed on the east side is not going
to correct the problem. I tried to explain this to some of the traffic engineers and
got the response that was in the letter that was initially sent out that they think the
site distance is fine; therefore, no problem. But they haven't been out there in the
wintertime to see vehicles trying to get up that hill, bottlenecking, and having a
big problem, not to mention with trying to take that turn, as you can see from
Windsor, er, from Woodridge onto Windsor, uh, you have to get up some speed
there also and that...when those vans and those vehicles are parked there, there's
a good chance that somebody's sliding into them, fishtailing, etc. I've got a
vested interest because I...personally don't want to see those vehicles parked
across the street from my house either, on Woodridge, which is where I have a
good guess they're going to end up, so I'm not coming in with no interest in this.
I don't want to look out my kitchen window every day at a black van and a red
vehicle. I've also got friends that like to visit; they want a parking place. Our
neighbors want parking. My suggestion is, is that you table this for a week or
two, consider the comments I've made, with the idea... of putting in a snow
restriction, a snow emergency sign, no parking when snow emergencies are in
effect, so that those vehicles aren't there before the plows have had a chance to
clear the roads so when the, uh, plows do come through they can clear the whole
roadway and get it cleaned out. Um...I don't think it'll fix the problem 100%
because people are aggravated with it in the summertime too, but I think it would
go a long way toward alleviating the major problems in the wintertime, uh, just to
have no parking, uh, from here to corner or however the Traffic Engineering saw
to...saw to, uh, sign it. During snow emergencies or something along that effect,
and I think most people that voted yes that they didn't want parking on the west
side, had they known it was just going to be still allowed on the east side, would
have reconsidered. I don't think most people gave that much consideration at the
time that card was sent out to vote either yes or no against it. There weren't any
real chances for a, well, I don't like either one of these but, um, you know, we've
got to come up with a better solution, and like I say, it's two...two people have
ruined this for everybody along there, uh, I understand they're allowed to park on
the streets. That's...that's allowed, but if we could take a little more measured
look at it and restrict it during snow days at least I think it would be a major help,
rather than just move the problem to the other side of the street. Thank you.
Hayek: Sir, could you give us your name and...
Wright: Yes. It's Bill Wright.
Hayek: Okay.
Wright: Uh, W-r-i-g-h-t. I live at 1902 Woodridge Avenue.
Hayek: Appreciate that, and why don't we, uh, have staff look at this and we'll contact
you. Thank you, Sir. Any further discussion? Roll call, please.
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Bailey: Are we interested in pulling this out or doing something with this item or...are...
Champion: (mumbled) staff look at it (mumbled)
Bailey: But if we vote on the Consent Calendar, we go ahead with parking on the
west...no parking on the west side, which...um...
Champion: I' 11 withdraw g(1) from my motion.
Hayek: I think it begs the question though, does that...does that letter trigger the action or
is it just (both talking)
Champion: It's just a letter.
Hayek: It's just correspondence. I'm not sure (several talking)
Bailey: Okay.
Karr: So do you... (several talking) okay, so we're adopting it as is.
Helling: (several talking) Okay, I think...I think as part of...this is correspondence, but
it's from the Traffic Engineer. So you do...you do approve this by, even as part
of the Consent Calendar. You can check with the City Attorney, but I think that's
the...
Hayek: ...where we are on this. I think there's some interest in knowing first of all the,
you know (several talking) does including this in what we pass tonight trigger that
action?
Dilkes: It does!
Hayek: Okay.
Dilkes: It does.
Champion: And I move to withdraw g(1) from my original motion.
Dickens: I'll second it.
Hayek: Okay. (laughter) Can we consider the motion, uh...(several talking)
Wilburn: ...Consent Calendar by, uh...
Dilkes: You don't really need to amend the Consent Calendar. Anybody can take it off.
So you want to vote on it separate...separately, you would just (several talking)
consider this a motion to pass it without that item.
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Hayek: The motion, which has been seconded, is to pass the Consent Calendar, uh,
excluding Sg(1). Further discussion on that? Roll call, please.
Champion: Move to re...move to defer Sg(1).
Wilburn: (mumbled)
Bailey: Second.
Hayek: Okay motion to defer from, uh, Champion, seconded by Bailey.
Bailey: Are we talking January 25t"? Is that sufficient time? I mean, since the
neighborhood has already voted on this, I'd like to move it as quickly as...as is
feasible. (several talking) Great!
Hayek: Okay. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion
carries 6-0, and uh, the item carries 6-0.
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ITEM 7. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
d)REZONING APPROXIMATELY 49.3-ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT
FIRST AVENUE AND MUSCATINE AVENUE AND MUSCATINE
AVENUE AND AMENDING SECTION 14-3C OF THE ZONING CODE
TO ESTABLISH THE TOWNCREST DESIGN REVIEW OVERLAY
DISTRICT. (REZ10-00015)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open. Any ex-parte
communications? Okay.
Davidson: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, and Members of the City Council. I'm Jeff Davidson,
the Director of Planning and Community Development for the City. Uh, item 7d,
as the Mayor's indicated, is the Towncrest design review overlay district, and the
public hearing and your first consideration of that. Um, over the last several
months we've had a number of items pertaining to Towncrest. I think you're well
aware of what the City's initiative, uh, is in that area. It is one of our principle,
uh, economic development zones in the city right now. We are attempting to
encourage investment and increase the property tax base, uh, in that, uh, area as
part of, uh, our initiative, and what's before you, uh, this evening is a proposed
design review overlay district to implement the Towncrest urban renewal design
plan, and the design plan manual is, uh, I'm going to quick through a few slides
here and tell you a little bit about the development of it and just see some visual
images and answer any questions you may have, but this document is available,
uh, to the public. It's on the web site. Uh, and I think there are also hard copies
available at the Planning Department, but encourage everyone to, uh, take a look
at that, and uh, it is that document that would be implemented by this design
review, uh, overlay district. Um, I'm one of the people, and I think a number of
you, uh, this would also pertain to, uh, remember when, you know, Towncrest
was a very distinctive place. Uh, it was the, uh, prime, uh, medical office
complex in the community. Uh, it has, uh, since, uh, in the last few years, uh,
been going through a period of decline, due to a lack of investment in the area and
it's that lack of investment that we attempting to, uh, stem the tide and create a
new place, a new place that has the same distinction, uh, that the former
Towncrest, uh, did have. Um, you have already established an urban renewal
district and a number of financial incentive programs. Those financial incentives
are very important because we do anticipate in design review overlay projects, uh,
to work with applicants and hopefully use those financial, uh, incentives to help
spur, uh, development. Um...the, you have a memorandum from Christina
Kuecker, uh, in your packet, uh, at this meeting. It has Article C of the zoning
code, and it has some areas highlighted that would basically, uh, include, uh,
Towncrest in the, uh, overlay...design review process through the zoning
ordinance. Oh, we have a number of design review, uh, districts already. I think
you're aware of...all of the historic districts are subject to design review. Uh, the
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all multi-family, uh, anything larger than a duplex in the Central Planning
District, which is basically the central area of town, excluding downtown, uh, is
subject to design review, and you might recall that until recently, the Pepperwood
Plaza TIF district, uh, required design review. We then made a decision to
change that, but these are all examples of design review that's implemented
according to the City's current process, and this would simply add an additional
area to that, uh, process. Um...a couple of things...that the design review will not
impact is it will not impact the use of property. Uh, that will be subject to, well, it
includes the current zoning, and in a second I'll put up a diagram that shows what
that is, but we are not changing the current zoning. We do anticipate possibly
changing some of the zoning, but that would be subsequent action by the City
Council to do that, as with any zoning designation change. Uh, there are also a lot
of things, uh, and I'd like to clarify some of those that...that will not require
design review. Basically if you come in for a building permit, uh, in the
Towncrest area, it will require design review. Uh, if you want to replace a light
fixture on the side of your building, if you want to plant a shrub on your property,
if you want to paint the exterior of your building, if you want to seal the driveway
or the parking lot, none of those things require design review. It's basically
activities that require a building permit and we're talking about renovation or
hopefully the building of new buildings, uh, in the Towncrest area. It is the
intention of City staff to provide technical assistance and outline the financial
incentives for people to use. When the City does a project in the Towncrest area,
and this would be a streetscape project, um, or a sidewalk project, something in
the public realm. Um, we will subject ourselves to the same design review
standards. And finally, in case I forget it, uh, the Planning and Zoning
Commission did recommend, uh, approval of the design review overlay. Um,
let's just click through the slides real quickly here. Uh, the...the, probably the
one thing above everything else that I want to emphasize to you when we get to
the visual images of the, uh, design plan that...that would be implemented by this,
is that this is...this is definitely something that organically has grown up through
this neighborhood. Uh, this is a design plan that belongs to the businesses and the
residents of the Towncrest area, and it was an extremely gratifying process, to be
part of the development of this plan. Um, prior to the development of the design
plan, beginning in summer of 2008, uh, a number of Towncrest property owners
approached the City and said something has to be done. We...we have to do
something in this area. It's continuing to decline, and we need the City's help to
do that. Uh, we then had a series of public meetings which... which led up to July
of 2010, uh, when, uh, July to September of 2010, when we...we hired RDG, uh,
consulting firm to help lead us through the development of the, uh, design, uh,
plan manual. Um, when we ask people what they thought of Towncrest, these
were the kind of comments that we received: Towncrest is past its prime.
Neglected. A dead place. It's dying. Lost its identity, but...what we also found
was that there was a tremendous dedication to the Towncrest area from the people
who work and live in this area, and that was very gratifying. People will really
invest in the area. It wasn't a case of they were saying we're here because it's the
cheapest rent in town and we can't wait to get out. They wanted to redevelop
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property in the Towncrest area. There are a number of very good reasons why
people are in the Towncrest area. A number of the medical offices love the
adjacency to Southeast Junior High, they love the adjacency to Senior, uh, City
High, uh, they love the adjacency to the elementary schools. There's a lot of
schools in this area, and then...and it was very gratifying for us that people
wanted to, uh, remain in the area. But again, I...I want to emphasize, the design
plan process we went through with RDG that resulted in that document, this
document right here, is definitely one that was developed by the, uh, by the
neighborhood. Um...the boundaries here, I just wanted to go through real
quickly, um, you can see in the shaded area that we've included a little bit more
property than...than would might in your...your mind's eye be considered part of
Towncrest. We've also included, uh, this...this shaded area that's actually north
of Muscatine Avenue. A lot of people would consider Muscatine Avenue to be
the boundary of Towncrest. We basically encl...included these commercial
properties, not the cemetery of course, uh, but the Hy-Vee, the strip, uh, the strip
malls here, the commercial areas here, as well as the Towncrest, uh, proper area.
Uh, it includes some apartment complexes in this area, uh, including the Town
and Campus Apartments which we're still developing our strategy for dealing
with that, but they would be, um, redevelop of that prop...redevelopment of that
property would be subject to design review overlay. There are also these single-
family homes on First Avenue, and these are excluded from the design review, uh,
overlay. If somebody wants to make an improvement to one of those houses as a
single-family residence, that's not, uh, that does not include...that would not be
subject to design review; however, if, uh, if a strategy is developed that would
remove some of these homes and then expand the commercial area, that would be
subject to design review overlay. Um, as I mentioned, we will not be, uh,
changing the zoning by this action, uh, tonight, or when you finally approve, uh,
or disapprove the design review overlay. We do anticipate that this CO area here,
the Commercial Office area, may change to more of a mixed use area, but again,
that would be part of a subsequent legislative process that would ultimately, uh,
come to the City Council. Um, and there are a number of... of things we've
already been working on in this area. For example, the CVS, uh, pharmacy right
here, uh, in talking to their corporate people, they have a design for a store that
would fit beautifully into what we're proposing here. More of an urban-style
store with the store up against the street, and the parking in the back, and we
would love to work with them on a...on a project that would fit into the area.
Um, the themes then -low maintenance materials and landscaping, human scaled
architecture, maintain a sense of community, Iowa aesthetic, uh, we want to get
rid of the, uh, faux colonial as it's been, uh, called in the area. Uh, we want to
enhance this area for all modes of transportation. You know, it's a pretty decent,
walkable, bikeable area. It has Transit service already. That`s one of the assets of
it, but we do want to make sure that we're setting up an area for, uh, people of all
modes of, uh, who use all modes of transportation to get around. Uh, enhance
safety and security, I think we can make some real improvements there. And
have a cohesive development that really, uh, is a signature for the area that
this...this is Towncrest. Uh, the design plan elements then, um...you know,
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we're trying to establish a new theme. As I mentioned here, we do not believe
that the proposed design guidelines, uh, are necessarily expensive. You know,
they may increase the expense of a poorly designed building. And quite frankly,
that's one of the things that we're trying to do here, is have well-designed
buildings that create the new character, uh, for the area. As you can see here, we
don't want buildings to be cookie-cutter, look exactly the same, uh, but we want
materials that create some cohesiveness in the area, pedestrian-scale architecture,
again. We'll have a toolkit of acceptable materials and work with applicants, and
then of course allow for mixed-use buildings. This is...this is part of the overall
strategy that's very, very important for Towncrest, as it will be for, um, Riverfront
Crossings, south of downtown, as well. Couple of images then, and one thing to
emphasize, and I'll show you an image in a second here that...that shows kind of
the model for the new buildings that we have planned here. Multi-story, higher
density for sure, but as we got into developing that and talking with property
owners in the area, it became obvious to us that we were going to need to develop
some programs for facade improvements of existing buildings, especially with the
economy the way it is right now. There are a number of people out there
interested in new buildings, but they simply can't afford to do it right now, so
they want to improve their old buildings, make some investment in their old
buildings, and so we took a number of existing buildings in the area and came up
with some sketch plans of how they might be improved with facade
improvements, uh, here's one, uh, here's another, and you can see the strategies
there, uh, down below that we might use to, uh, improve some of the existing
buildings. Uh, new buildings, certainly we want to encourage. We've got a
couple of people interested in new buildings already. We'll have some
architectural standards that we'll use for those. And then of course, this is an
example, uh, some images that we, uh, developed in the Planning Department of
how it might be, two and three-story buildings, uh, oriented more to the street,
uh...and...and mixed use, office perhaps in the first floor and uh, residential
above. You might also have some second-floor, uh, office space. You know,
there...there's been some questions about retail, and I think we have some
opportunities for retail, but we don't envision Towncrest becoming a retail center.
Um, the...if we can open up portions of Towncrest, First Avenue, and Muscatine
Avenue, certainly the existing commercial buildings that are along First Avenue
and Muscatine Avenue, those have retail potential, but the interior areas of
Towncrest will remain more office-type uses. We hope to increase the amount of
residential, uh, we don't anticipate those...those being, uh, major retail centers
cause they simply don't have the traffic count to make them attractive to retailers.
Uh, some of the design plan elements then, uh and we want to emphasize in these
images, you know, these images were developed by the...the neighborhood,
and... and we're very proud of them and pleased with them, but I wouldn't want
anyone to think we're going t end up with exac...exactly what these images show.
Um, for example, right here is a streetscape element that may or may not be
something we ultimately adopt. Ultimately the streetscape projects would come
through you, uh, likely through the Capital Improvements program, uh, for
approval, uh, but we're trying to do these things that are called out on the left side
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of the...the page here, uh, bring Towncrest out to the arterial streets, uh, again,
make it a special, unique place, make people understand when they're in
Towncrest - have a real identity to it, uh, signage - I know there's been
some...some comments made, uh, both pro and con about the gateway
architectural element. You know, we...we deliberately developed this element
here, um, because people said we needed to at Williams Street and...and at
Wayne, uh, you know, have something that announced -you're coming into
Towncrest. This may be a strategy; may not be. We may end up with something
more like a monument sign over here, but we did identify some things that for
future consideration could possibly be part (mumbled) here you see, uh, a
gateway element. This is, I think, Williams Street, uh, proposed, the intersection
of Williams and Muscatine. Uh, and you see in the upper left there what's there
right now, uh, again, the CVS building, uh, you can see here we've just...we've
superimposed a gateway element with the existing CVS building. Uh, the
streetscape, we really, really want to emphasize we hope to...we hope to be able
to partner with the private sector, have the City do some of the streetscape
elements for either some significant facade renovations, which is what you see
here, uh, or for a new building. Uh, here you see, let's see if I can kind of orient
you here...what we might do with Towncrest Drive. You can see the angled
parking along Towncrest Drive. Just to orient you here's the U.S. Bank up here,
Internal Medicine would be along this side of the street, uh, this looks like a new
building, uh, and...and, uh, Wade Street would be down...down here, a cross
street, down here. That's...that'sthe image you're looking at there. Again, some
ideas that we...we hope to implement along with some...some new buildings in
the area. Again, just a typical streetscape scene that we hope to, uh, have in place.
You see the angled parking there. That would be very important. Uh, we also
think we can, in opening the area up, hopefully do some things out on the arterial
streets. Again, we don't...we don't want to have any gateway elements that...that
block sight distance and create some traffic hazards, but we do think we can bring
some elements out, uh, and again, announce that you're in...you're in Towncrest.
Again, uh, just the rendition, uh, the...the fireworks aren't actually funded and set
yet (laughter) but we...we might possibly have that. Uh, we also wanted to, uh,
to, uh, state in the plan that we do hope to have an open space feature. Uh, here's
an example, uh, you...you can see, this would be something that would be done
with some new buildings that came out to the street. We might identify an area,
you know, this is a pretty large one for Towncrest, but again, we're...we're kind
of in a mode of maybe overstating a little, and then we'll pare back if need be.
Uh, but we would like to have a feature like this so that if there is added
population, added office, uh, there'd be a place for people to come out during
lunch hours and create more of a, you know, a 24-hour kind of a sense maybe
to...to the area, something in the evening where people could congregate. So, uh,
that's kind of a quick run through of what's planned and again, what we're trying
to do, uh, with the design review overlay, uh, is, um...basically implement the
vision, uh, I think that's the most accurate way to put it. So, Matt, did you get
your questions answered?
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Hayek: Yeah, and I...I neglected to mention then in terms of ex-parte that I...I talked to
Jeff this morning for a little while, and I think I passed along to Regenia and
Susan briefly some...my, the questions I had for Jeff this morning had to do with,
um, design elements as they relate to the public improvement, uh, the private, um,
improvements in terms of design as it...as it's shown on this manual, uh, looked
good to me, um, but my, uh, I just want to make sure that as we go forward with
whatever public improvements ultimately go in to that area, that we address it,
um, from a perspective of...of long-term, enduring design that...that, uh, that
doesn't look dated, uh, after a while and...and holds up. Um, and I...I saw some
things in the plan that gave me a little bit of concern, as they related to the public
things, but, uh, L ..I think Jeff's reaction, and correct me if I'm wrong, is
lot...some of that was...was that particular design professional's idea of what was
possible out there, not necessarily what the City will do when the time comes.
Davidson: And I think also, Matt, to...to...it was certainly what you just said, as well as the
neighborhood's then buy-in with it. We had two design alternatives, and...and
the group was great, I mean, they kind of took a little from this and a little of this,
and we ended up with a hybrid, which is basically the slides that you've just seen.
Any other questions about, uh, the proposal? Thank you.
Hayek: Thanks, Jeff. Well, this is a public hearing, so anyone from the audience can
address us on...on this matter, if they wish. Hello, Sandy!
Pickup: Good evening. My name is Sandy Pickup, and I work at the Free Medical Clinic,
which is right smack dab in the middle of all that, uh, redevelopment stuff. And,
um, we...participated in all the meetings that kind of led up to the design, and you
know, it's pretty exciting for us to...to think that, you know, we'd be a part
of... of making that a new... a new place, that, um, people would enjoy coming to.
And, uh, you know, for the last, what, four years I guess we've been, uh, out there
in Towncrest and even the way it is now, uh, for our patients, it's been really
great, and um, having the opportunity to not stand out, um, as sort of the poor
step-children or something of the rest of the area. We're glad that, you know, we
were considered for Community Development Block Grant funds to help, um, do
some facade work. So, hoping that, um, when that...that comes to the table that
we will, um, be, uh, benefitted by that, and uh, you know, I just...I just think it's a
great thing that....that part of town can have a little bit of, uh, new face put on it.
Thank you.
Hayek: Anyone else? Okay, I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Wilburn: So moved.
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Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries 6-0.
Wilburn: Move first consideration.
Bailey: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Bailey. Discussion?
Mims: Exciting project!
Bailey: Great, and a great process. I'm...I'm really pleased with this process. So much
involvement, I mean, there are businesses, there are non-profits out there,
churches...I...I think that this is really exciting. Can't move quickly enough on
it!
Hayek: This is a very appropriate, uh, use of urban renewal. (several responding) Okay.
Roll call, please. Item passes 6-0.
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ITEM 8. RENEWAL OF A CLASS C LIQUOR LICENSE FOR IOWA CITY
GROUP, LLC DBA PIANO LOUNGE, 217 E. IOWA AVENUE.
a) HEARING
Hayek: This is a hearing. Hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Hargadine: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Council. This particular establishment has no issues
from a previous 12 months as far as the management or liquor law violations.
One of the...one of the issues that, uh, um...I did note though when we did the
background was there are three particular, uh, principle owners, and one of those,
uh, has a debt to the City of Iowa City, which, um, amounts to $46,212.37. That's
one of the, uh, reasons, uh, that I looked at when...I based my decision. The
other one was a, uh, it was a bad check that, uh, was passed at Marion, Linn
County, and of particular note in that is that in Linn County they give you ten
days to make, um, basically make this go away and within that ten days the...the
item was not addressed and therefore, um, Mr. Chad Freeman was, uh, prosecuted
for, uh, Theft, which amounted to passing a bad check. Um, based on both of
those items, the debt to the City and the, um, the not taking care of the check
within the ten days, um, that one principle, um, I'm making a recommendation
that this not be renewed. Any questions for me?
Hayek: Questions for the Chief?
Dilkes: I just want to report that, um, I don't believe the Chief or my office have heard
from Mr. Thomas who's the...the gentleman that we typically deal with, one of
the three owners. Um, we attempted to contact, uh, him today, um, cause I
think...there's certainly ways that this could be resolved or addressed. Um, we
got a message from him late this afternoon indicating that he was meeting with
Mr. Freeman, um...today or tomorrow, um, to discuss what options they might
have. Um, but I just wanted to pass on that information.
Hayek: I assume there's no one else here, other than PD to address us during this hearing?
Okay.
Champion: Chief, if you...if we deny this liquor license and Mr. Thomas talks to Mr., it is
Freeman? And gets this straightened out, does he have to just reapply or...what
happens then?
Dilkes: He'd have to...yes, he'd have to reapply. Probably if you're interested in that, in
exploring that, you want to defer this to your next meeting and give him time
to...examine that.
Bailey: I do have one question, because I think this is the first time we've seen a
recommendation for denial based upon, um, this...based upon this kind, this set of
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circumstances, and so I mean, I'm assuming that this is appropriate sort of
measure of good moral character and appropriateness of holding a liquor license.
I mean, this is the first time we've ever addressed...
Dilkes: Yes, I think these are appropriate considerations, certainly the financial standing
issue is specifically called out, um, in the good moral character definition.
Um...the...the theft charge...would not require a denial under the statute, like a
felony would, um, but it's certainly right for consideration. And the....and the
code requires that anybody who has a 10% or more interest in the business must
be examined, must be a person of good moral character.
Hayek: And that was my question, the...the...the theft and the debt are from an individual
and an entity that is not on the liquor license. Uh...Freeman Construction
and...and the individual himself, but...it's triggered by the greater than 10%
ownership?
Bailey: Thanks for clarifying that. I would be interested in continuing this, and um
(several talking) and deferring the consideration, um, of denial until we hear from,
I mean, I think part of this process is having the opportunity to have somebody
here to speak to it. And so I would be interested in continuing this `til our next
meeting.
Hargadine: They've been notified by the Clerk.
Dilkes: Yeah, I'm not certain why he's not here, um, and...I...I can't speak to that, but
we decided to affirmatively give him a call and see what was happening, and we
certainly haven't gotten to the end of that discussion yet, and if you wish us to
continue that discussion, then you need to defer it.
Bailey: It seems like (mumbled) so that seems appropriate to me. I don't know if others
agree.
Mims: I do. I think given the nature of the ownership and this isn't the individual
evidently the City has typically been working with and the debt is from a
company, not the individual themselves. Sometimes there's difficulty telling the
difference; I understand that. Um, and if... if he is having a discussion with that
individual, then I'd like to give him a chance to...to try and take care of that and
so I'd like to, yes, defer it to our...not forever, but just to our next meeting.
Champion: Right, I would agree with that.
Dickens: I agree with it also and defer it to the next meeting.
Hayek: Motion to defer both the hearing and the, uh, motion itself.
Bailey: To January 25th; I'll make that motion.
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Mims: Second.
Hayek: Seconded by Bailey, or um, moved by Bailey, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 6-0. Item will be
taken up again on January 25t .Okay. Thanks, Chief.
b) CONSIDER A MOTION TO DENY IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF
RECOMMENDATION
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ITEM 9. AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME
LOCATED AT 416 DOUGLASS COURT.
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open.
Walz: Good evening, um, my name is Sara Walz and I'm just going to bring...I am an
Associate Planner with the City of Iowa City, and um, just going to do, um, I'm
here just to provide a brief update on the UniverCity Neighborhood Partnerships
Affordable Home Ownership program. As you're well aware, uh, this program
targets neighborhoods close to campus in the downtown, uh, where there
continues to be asingle-family character that is the majority of houses are still
single-family style homes, but where there's an imbalance between, um, rental
and owner-occupied property. Um, just a quick refresher for people in the public,
um, that might not be aware -under the program the City purchases homes, um,
in these areas and using I-Jobs funding, we can provide up to $50,000 in
renovations per home. Qualified homebuyers purchase the homes for our original
purchase price plus any carrying costs and any money that goes above that
$50,000 in rehab. Um, all the renovations are done by local contractors who bid
on the projects and supplies come primarily from local vendors. Um, as you
know, uh, we selected on the west side of the river a portion of Miller Orchard
neighborhood for consideration in the program. The neighborhood, um, it's a
strong neighborhood that contains a number of affordable home opportunities, but
some portions of the neighborhood have fallen into neglect in recent years, um,
and so this map shows a little bit about how we're targeting in that neighborhood,
um...uh, properties show in blue have rental permits, and have assessed values
that are under $200,000, which is...is what we look for just initially, before we go
in to screen a house. Um, you can see that four properties are shown in green, and
those are the houses that we've purchased so far in the neighborhood. We're, um,
hoping to purchase one or two more homes in the neighborhood for rehab. Uh,
the first property to...to sell will be, uh, 416 Douglass Court. Uh, the sale price
is, uh, $91,191.28. Is that right, Eleanor? The price went up a little. There were
some carrying costs that hadn't been factored in with regard to snow removal. As
you can see, we acquired the house for a little under $85,000, um, two-bedroom
house, uh, renovated with new kitchen, new bathroom, new flooring and drywall,
new driveway, um, and some work in the lawn as well. These are some quick
before, um this is what the home looked like before, in need of a little bit of
updating. Uh, this is some of the work, uh, during, showing some of the local
contractors who were put to work, um, through the program. And, then interiors
of what the home looks like now. Uh, we anticipate a purchase offer this week on
a second home in that same neighborhood - 310 Douglass Court. This was a little
bit bigger house. The estimated sale price is around $91,000 as well, um...uh,
this was a home also in need of updating; these are the after shots. This is a three-
bedroom home. Uh, we also have a number of homes, um, on the east side map.
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I know this is a little small and a little hard to see, but again, those green
highlights are homes that we've purchased through the program, the blue again
are rentals, um, that are, uh, under $100,000 in assessed value. And this is, we
use this map to sort of target, uh, properties. Uh, we have a purchase offer on the
home at 517, oh, South Governor Street, um, which was completed in early fall.
Um, we hope that there will be a closing on this house in February. And some,
um, notes on our progress to date, um, we have gone and visited and walked
through more than 80 properties. Um, to date we've purchased, the City has
purchased 10 homes. Um, we'll purchase the 11th home, um, in February. We
have a goal of doing 25 homes in all, and that will have to be done by the end of
2011. Uh, four home renovations are now complete, um, including the ones that
I've spoken about, three more homes are due to be complete in March. Um,
we're in the process of contacting 100, more than 150 landlords, um, in the area to
see if they'd be interested in selling a...a mailing that we did, uh, earlier in the
year, um, brought in a lot of response, which is what lead to the investigation of
those 80-plus properties. We're still in communication with some of those
landlords who may be interested in selling. I should say that we, um, try to target
things to move with the lease schedule, so that no, um, renters are evicted from
their property. We haven't had to displace anyone. Right now we have 15
qualified perspective homebuyers on the list. Um, five area lenders are
participating. We have a lending pool of $2.2 million. We recently added U.S.
Bank, that's the fifth lender, and we're in talks with a sixth bank to provide
additional money for the mortgages, and also um, the program has won two
awards, uh, we received a Historic Preservation Award from Iowa City's Friends
of Historic Preservation, as well as a Best Development Award for Housing
Rehabilitation from One Thousand Friends of Iowa. So that's where we're at
now. I don't know if you have any questions. (several talking)
Hayek: Thanks, Sara.
Walz: Thank you.
Hayek: Would anyone else like to address the Council during the public hearing? I will
close it then. (bangs gavel)
b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Bailey: Move adoption of the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call, please. Item
passes 6-0.
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ITEM 10. ADOPTING IOWA CITY'S FYll ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
AMENDMENT #2, WHICH IS A SUB-PART OF IOWA CITY'S 2011-2015
CONSOLIDATED PLAN (CITY STEPS), AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO SUBMIT SAID PLAN AND ALL NECESSARY
CERTIFICATIONS TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. Public hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Hightshoe: Hi, I'm Tracy Hightshoe with the Community Development Division. Um, the
City has a unique and rare opportunity for funding that typically does not come
that often, at least not while I've been here! Um, we are expecting a $2.7 million
loan repayment from a State CDBG disaster recovery loan that went to a local
low-income housing tax credit project in Iowa City, um, called Aniston Village
LP. When the permanent investors come in and provide the permanent...pay-off
the construction financing, the State, Iowa Department of Economic
Development, is allowing us to keep that money, receipt it as program income,
and allocate it as CDBG...to CDBG-eligible projects. Um, this represents about
four times our annual CDBG amount. Um, due to the timeliness of expenditure
and the need to get the money out to get spent to meet our timeliness of the
expenditure, this different CDBG regulations that we have to meet, we decided to
have amid-year allocation round, and not wait `til our regular fiscal year 12, um,
spending, um, allocation process. Um, in September we did a request for
proposals, we put it out to the public, um, we received 25 applications, 15 public
facility applications, and 10 CDBG-eligible housing applications. Um, HCDC
met in November and the recommended six public facility projects. There's one
carry-over public service project that we, um, that they recommended, and then
the housing projects, we will not decide at this point. We'll have another public
comment period, and once...we'll decide and we'll put that forward for Council
decision in February or March. The six projects were the acquisition of the
Chaddick property by the City of Iowa City for parkland, Crisis Center of Johnson
County to complete necessary roof and, um, flooring improvements. The Iowa
City Free Medical Clinic, to...um, complete the exterior renovations, uh, the
rehab so it'll meet the Towncrest design plan guidelines. Iowa Valley Habitat for
Humanity to acquire an acre, um, with a warehouse to offer employment training,
a, uh, a youth employment training program for the construction trades. Um,
they'll build a house a year at...on site, and then they'll build it, um, at a location
later. Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, to acquire property, um, it's the
old mayor's youth space, it's behind Pepperwood Plaza on Cross Park Avenue,
to...for extended programming, um, youth services, adult education, different
things, and then the Visiting Nurses Association to acquire property, um, to be
their permanent home and to partner with the University of Iowa, um, College of
Nursing program to provide nurse managed care. Um, and the last one is the
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ARC of Johnson County. They're going to buy some equipment for, um, therapy
equipment for kids with disabilities.
Hayek: Questions for Tracy? Thank you. Would anyone else like to address us on this
item in the public hearing? Hearing none I will close it. (bangs gavel)
b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Champion: Move the resolution.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Bailey: Um, before we enter into discussion, I just wanted to disclose that I'll be working
later this month with the Crisis Center as asub-contractor, but I've, um, talked
with Eleanor and she doesn`t see any conflict of interest, so I am going to be
participating in this conversation...tonight.
Hayek: Any further discussion on the item itself?
Bailey: I do have a, uh, a question about the City of Iowa City's, um project, the acquiring
the Chaddick property for parkland. I mean, we've so often heard that parkland is
a challenge, given some of the ongoing maintenance, and just wondering a little
bit. I see Mike here...wondering alittle bit, um, about this particular project
and...and, you know, parkland in that property, why not infill residential
development, for example? I don't know.
Moran: Uh, primarily I would agree with you, about 95% of the time is, uh, we don't
really want more parkland without more staff, but in this option in the Central
District Plan that the City has, one of their goals was to proactively pursue, and it
listed Chaddick Park as a neighborhood open space, uh, three of those districts in
that plan are about half way to their neighborhood open space, uh, land, and since
that district is so, uh, bound and not, uh, ready for expansion, uh, whenever we
get land available we usually like to take that as an opportunity instead of
development, cause it's pretty much landlocked, the whole area is, and so we
don't' have many opportunities to do that.
Bailey: So they have about half of the open, I mean, I wouldn't naturally think that for
that neighborhood, but...
Moran: Yeah.
Bailey: So...
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Moran: That...that one and two other districts inside of this plan only meet half of their
neighborhood open space requirements.
Bailey: Okay. All right, um...makes sense when we can pursue the master plan and the
comp plan, in that way.
Hayek: We've had our eye on this for a while, haven't we?
Bailey: Right, but I didn't know that we had our eye on it necessarily for parkland! I
mean, we have, um...infrequent opportunities for in-fill, but if that's a more
appropriate use with our comp plan...
Champion: Well, I think it is in that particular neighborhood. It's an older part of town so the
lots are very small.
Hayek: Maybe we should take this up during (both talking) or no, we are in discussion!
(laughter) I'm losing my mind here. Keep going, Connie!
Champion: It's usually me that loses their mind!
Hayek: I know it! I know it! That is not lost on me! (laughter)
Champion: But I...I think this is a valid thing for this...for this neighborhood and there are
other neighborhoods that I would love to have this happen to also. Including my
own!
Hayek: Any further discussion on, uh, that aspect, or any other, uh, of the six items, six
projects?
Mims: Just a number of great projects to be able to get done.
Bailey: This is a wonderful opportunity for the City and I'm really excited to have Free
Med in our Towncrest area can take advantage of this, and...move forward.
Hayek: Roll call, please. Item passes 6-0.
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ITEM 11. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 4, ENTITLED
"ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES," CHAPTER 3, ENTITLED "OUTDOOR
SERVICE AREAS; SEASONAL, FIVE DAY OR FOURTEEN DAY
LICENSES AND PERMITS" TO ALLOW OUTDOOR SERVICE AREAS
WITHIN 100 FEET OF A RESIDENTIAL ZONE IN CB2, CBS, AND CB10
ZONES. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Bailey: I do have a question, um...is...I assume that we're doing this to...to have a more
fair approach about outdoor service areas that are...private? Or...
Helling: Exactly, to have the same standards, same distance for private or public outdoor
service areas.
Bailey: Okay.
Helling: The private ones are sidewalk cafes and that's what this involves.
Bailey: Right! Thanks!
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 6-0.
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ITEM 13. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COMMITMENT OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT
OF $7,200 PER YEAR FOR TWO YEARS AS A 25% PARKING SUBSIDY
FROM ALREADY APPROVED ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FUNDS TO
THE PRESS CITIZEN FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE RELOCATION OF
THE HEADQUARTERS OFFICE TO DOWNTOWN IOWA CITY.
Bailey: Move adoption of the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call, please.
Dilkes: I just wanted to...to point out before the roll call that the resolution that was in the
packet referred to the original letter, which was talking about 40%. That
recommendation changed to 30, or 40, employees. That changed to 35, so...that
resolution has been fixed, which is why you have a new one.
Hayek: Item passes 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of January 10, 2011.
Page 28
ITEM 15. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE BUDGETED
POSITIONS IN THE ENGINEERING DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT BY ADDING TWO SPECIAL PROJECTS
ENGINEER POSITIONS.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Bailey: Do these go away when the work goes away?
Hayek: The answer we're getting...
Helling: Yes! (several talking) ...and they are funded from the projects, not General Fund.
Bailey: Okay. Thank you.
Hayek: We had so super-sized our capital projects, uh, as they relate to flood
recov...mitigation work. I think this is called for.
Bailey: I think it makes sense, but I think it's also important for people to know that once
the super-sizing is done, when it...when and if it's done, that we go back to
normal operations.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of January 10, 2011.
Page 29
ITEM 20. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Hayek: Start with Mr. Dickens.
Dickens: I have nothing.
Bailey: I have nothing.
Champion: Wow! (laughter)
Bailey: Thanks, Connie! (laughter)
Champion: I, uh, I don't really have anything, but I wanted to ask a question of the Council,
and of Eleanor, uh, because I'm hearing a lot of talk downtown about private
clubs in the bars. Is there any validity to that? Can that be done? I mean, I don't
expect an answer, but I'm wondering if that's something we need to address.
Dilkes: There are a number of issues there, um, and each proposal has to be examined on
its own facts.
Hayek: Ms. Mims?
Mims: Nothing!
Hayek: Okay, I'm going to be helping the CVB and the, uh, Athletic Department make a
pitch to the U.S. Olympic Committee for the 2012, uh, wrestling try-outs, uh, to
be held in Iowa City. We're duking it out with, uh, Council Bluffs and
Columbus, Ohio (several talking) well, that's what they probably say about us!
That's why we've got to fight for this, but if we...if...if, and CVB is leading the
charge on this, but if we get it, it's the better part of a week of maybe 10,000
people, uh, in our hotels and eating at our restaurants, which would be great for
the economy, so...
Wilburn: Challenge `em to a wrestle-off?
Bailey: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Make my parents very happy if it was here.
They are big fans.
Hayek: I'll put them all in half-nelsons until they give us the answer we need (laughter)
so stay tuned on that.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of January 10, 2011.
Page 30
ITEM 21. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF.
a) City Manager
Hayek: City Manager?
Markus: Nothing.
Helling: I do have one thing, sort of follows up on your discussion about events, uh, and
invitations. The, um...25t" of January, which is in two weeks, and it's also a
Council meeting night, but there is the Iowa League of Cities legislative day in
Des Moines, and I plan to go over there. I plan to skip the reception afterwards,
leave there, and be back here in time for the Council meeting, so I just bring that
out if anybody would like to go, let me know. I'm assuming there won't be more
than three of you (several talking)
Hayek: I'll follow up with you on that, Dale.
Karr: We'll have something in the packet this week, too, a schedule.
Helling: And it's all weather permitting, by the way (laughter)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of January 10, 2011.