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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-19 TranscriptionPage 1 ITEM 2. PRESENTATION. a) Trees Please! Payne: Good evening, I'm Michelle Payne, the Community Contact person between Mid American Energy and the City of Iowa City. (mumbling, away from mic) Hayek: Yeah, let's use this mic then. I can hold it. Payne: All right! Um, I would like to present this check, grant check, for $20,000 to Mr. Terry Robinson and the City of Iowa City, on behalf of Mid American Energy's Trees Please! program. Robinson: Thank you! Payne: Um, Trees Please! funds are distributed to local communities each year to promote energy efficiency and improve the physical appearance of communities through the planting of trees. The grants are based entirely on the individual merits of the project, the benefits to the community, and the ability to obtain matching funds. With the Trees Please! program customers benefit from the beautification and environmental enhan...enhancements in our communities. Thank you to Mr. Robinson and the City for their efforts to beautify our community. (laughter) Robinson: I'd like to say thank you to Mid American Energy. They've been a very good partner. We appreciate their help and...and all the trees we've been able to plant through the years, uh, with these checks. Thank you very much! Payne: You're very welcome! Hayek: Michelle, I want to thank you on behalf of the City, as well. It's a great partnership, and this is certainly a program that benefits the entire community. Thank you! Payne: Thank you very much! (applause) Hayek: Terry, we'll make...we'll want to make sure that...that you and the City are co- payees on that check! (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 2 ITEM 2. PRESENTATION. b) Arbor Day--Friday Apri129, 2011 Hayek: (reads proclamation) Karr: And here to accept the proclamation is the City Forester and... and Superintendent Terry Robinson. (applause) Robinson: I'd like to take the c-pportunity to thank the Council, um, it's been a lot of support over a lot of years. Uh, seems like I've been up here 28 times, which is exactly what it has been. So we thank you very much and uh, just as a quick note, uh, I think we've all seen what can happen when we have, uh, terrible weather. We knew that from 2008, by looking down south to see what's happened down there and how important trees are for everyone. So I thank you very much for your support. Hayek: Thanks, Terry. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 3 ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). Hayek: This is the opportunity during each City Council meeting for members of the audience to address the City Council on items that are not on the agenda. If there's something you'd like to bring to our attention, please, uh, come to the podium. You'll need to sign in and give us your name, and I know there are people who are interested in speaking to us tonight, so I want to remind you that our limit for public comment for each person is five minutes, and uh, I'11...I'll, uh, be strict about that because I think there are people who, uh, want to, uh, address us. Um, and with that...you may proceed! Hello, Jean. Walker: Could I give a copy of what I'm going to say? Hayek: You can, yeah, provide it to the City Clerk, yes. Walker: Hi, my name's Jean Walker, and I, uh, live in the Melrose neighborhood. So, um, I want to make it very clear that the Melrose neighborhood is not opposed to the vendors. Yes, it would be crazy to ban them! The problem is their location. We have come up with several alternative locations that address many of the issues brought up by the City staff and the neighborhood. Bottom line, we feel that the Council is moving ahead too fast on this topic, without sufficient knowledge, for example, of the alternatives and without sufficient input from the neighbors. So we are asking for time for further discussion by the Council and further public input. Let's not rush this through, but let's get it right. Take time to look at the alternative locations. Because time is pressing, we suggest that the vendors remain where they are for the next year or two, with temporary use permit regulations in place. With the understanding that an earnest effort is made with cooperation of the City, the University of Iowa, the neigh...and the neighborhood to find an alternative location that is outside the historic Melrose neighborhood. City staff has stated that the highest priority is protecting the neighborhood and moving the vendors to an alternative location close to the stadium would help do that. So now is the time to come together to make this awin-win-win-win situation for the City, the fans, the neighbors, and the vendors. Putting all other considerations aside, we respectfully request that you answer this question, if a nearby alternative location is found for the vendors outside the Melrose neighborhood, is there any reason why it should not be used? And so I've already submitted to the Council a document that lists the many positive aspects of these alternative locations, and summarizes the reasons that vending should not be on the south side of Melrose Avenue. And now I'd like to just present, uh, suggestions for, uh, the alternate...um, locations. You can see, barely, Melrose Avenue down at the bottom, and then the Melrose neighborhood is south of that. The vending occurs in the first couple of inches from the railroad track in. So that's the current place. The ideal place would be in the parking lot beside Kinnick Stadium, because this would contain, um, all the vendor activity within that area. Um, but as you already know, there's a contract that the University has with a couple of vendors that doesn't expire `ti12016. Now, unless that contract This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 4 can be modified, somewhere else has to be found, and we found a place. If you can see, uh, there's Melrose and then Hawkins Drive, which is to the east of Kinnick Stadium, and you see Ramp #2 there, and so there is a... an area, and I' 11 just note that, um, it doesn't stop the access to the hospital because it's just that section along Ramp #2. That helps. Thank you. All right. So, I'm talking...this is current, this is where would be ideal location, and here's the other spot, along here. So, you still have all of this open and this is open here, and people coming in from this side can get around here. It's just this section here. And so, um, here is a... a photograph of that area, and I... it's 15-feet wide with a wide sidewalk, and then there's another grassy area there. And here's another shot of it, and here is the entrance to Kinnick, and I know that Regenia Bailey had just mentioned in passing that maybe that would be a spot for it, and it certainly is a big, wide area, but um...the other locations I think would be more acceptable to the University. Here's a picture of the current, uh, location of the vendors, along here, and they extend down here, and you can see that it's just a...a grassy area and then this sidewalk. It isn't as much space, and you can see that these little houses, I mean, it's an overwhelming thing to have the vendors along this strip. As I've said before, we are not against the vendors being close to Kinnick and all the fun that that involves, but it's just protection of our, uh, neighborhood, and here's aclose- up of the grassy area, and where the vendors are, and there's a small part of the sidewalk here. And, this is just to show you some of the mess that we're, um, faced with in the city. And so...that's what I have to say. If there's any questions, I'd be happy to...answer them. Thank you. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Champion: Sao moved. Wright: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Wright. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries. Thank you, Miss Walker. Stromquist: Good evening. My name is Ann Stromquist, and I live at 316 Myrtle Avenue, which is at the very top of Myrtle Hill, um, and I'm also on the very edge of our historic Melrose neighborhood, and um, it's a very fragile as well as historic neighborhood, and I thought I would just follow Jean up with, um, some of the reasons that we would...we think that Hawk, the Hawkins Drive location would be advantageous to all, to the vendors as well as to the neighborhood. That location would avoid the congestion along Melrose Avenue, thus allowing emergency vehicles a clear path, and that's not always possible, um, when the emergency vehicles have to go down Melrose Avenue. It makes the job of police, fire, and ambulance workers a lot easier. It is just around the corner from the current location, but still just across the street from Kinnick Stadium, so it's...close to the football games. It gives greater protection for the historic Melrose neighborhood. The favored location does not involve any residences. It This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 5 gives the University of Iowa an opportunity to take responsibility for some of the activities generated by their football games, and the City would not have to spend the money, people, and resources to police the area and enforce regulations. The University of Iowa lias stated in the past that it supports historic preservation. And also that it wants to have good relations with its neighbors. By taking care of this problem they will achieve both of those goals. It stops the inflation of property prices in the neighborhood that is based on speculation of monetary gain from commercial vending. Inflated prices would make home purchases in the neighborhood out of reach for most people. It removes some of the trash concerns generated by vending activity. Including the perception that it's okay to trash the neighborhood. There might be some congestion of Hawkin Drives...Hawkins L)rive though less because the vending area there is more open than the current one. Also Hawkins Drive is not a main arterial of Iowa City, or one that leads directly to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics... emergency room, as opposed to Melrose Avenue. That section of Hawkins Drive could be closed to all but official traffic during the vending period. Note that access to the Hospital entrance is still available from both ends of Hawkins Drive. As Jean pointed out:, people can still get in from the south, and from the north. So thank you very much. Hayek: Thank you! Ford: Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening, I'm Chuck Ford, the person who's responsible for the Big Ass Turkey Legs! Uh, what I would have to say to you is that there are a couple of things that I would like to address. Number one, uh, it's been stated numerous times that uh...the, uh, problem is the vendors, not the tailgaters. Well, I beg to differ with you. There are over 100,000 people that show up over there on Saturday afternoon. Only 70 of `em go to the game. That leaves 30 to 40,000 people roaming around in the streets, uh, in the parking lots, all over, trashing the place as it's been said. I can only speak for myself in the area that I, uh, participate at, uh, 7...627, 727 Melrose Avenue. We patrol our area very, very close. Uh, in the memorandum that, uh, Mr. Boothroy came up with, all of the things that he has talked about enforcing, we already do. Uh, we should enforce ourselves. Uh, I would like to just touch on the fact that there's been some suggestions for alternatives. Uh, obviously the previous speakers don't realize how much traffic there is coming up Melrose Avenue. Uh, they see the trash and it bothers them. It also bothers me. Uh, I would like to offer to them, uh, an answer to it by possibly considering the fact that we teach people to pick up trash and dispose of trash as it's supposed to be, and if not, uh, smack `em on the head if necessary, if that's what it takes, but uh... it is a fragile area, and it's a beautiful area, but there's also a tradition with, uh, Hawkeye football and tailgating there for over 40-some years that I know of, uh, that I've lived in Iowa City, and uh, we keep our area clean, and I think everybody should keep their area clean. If that's something that needs to be enforced, more power to `em, and I'm behind `em 100%! Uh, the pictures of the trash that she showed, uh, I can't This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 6 imagine it was there for a long period of time. Uh, most of the people are pretty earnest about getting the trash cleaned up off the yards. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. Cavanaugh: I actually am located right next to Big Ass Turkey Legs. I'm Coco Cavana, and I do t-shirts, and I may have... Hayek: I'm going to interrupt you. Unless your name is Coco Cavana, could you... Cavanaugh: Oh, I'm sorry! Crystal Cavanaugh! Hayek: Thank you. Cavanaugh: It's close! (laughter and several talking) I have a lot to say, but I'm going to condense it, because I think a lot may have already been touched on, and...one thing about moving the location for us is we have good relationship with our property owner, and I do want to mention that while some of the neighbors may be complaining, there's a lot of neighbors that love Hawkeye football because it's a money-making opportunity for them, and you get a relationship with your property owner. You respect the property, and we also need things like power. So just picking us up and moving us on the side of the University, we're not going to be able to have the same access to the tools that we need there. So I did want to mention that, because I'm not sure people understood that. We are not a destination shopping event. So we're not commanding buses and cars to be coming in just for the vendors. So we need the foot traffic, and Melrose has heavy foot traffic, and that's an ideal location for us, and I think if respecting the neighborhood would just become a bigger theme for the specific problems, without sending everybody out. I think that would be a better...better avenue to go. So, and also things like I had heard and I don't know if this is true, about encouraging...not encouraging, but saying the vendors should be paying for port- a-potties. I don't understand that at all because basically we're not encouraging, you know, urination in people's yards, and if that is some of the concerns, of which I had heard, you know, property owners do have to take some responsibility as far as securing their own property, and if somebody is...is destroying your prop...property, they need to take a usual avenue, which is call the police. Put up some video surveillance, put up some signage. Our property owners love having us be vendors there, and I just hope that if there's some very specific issues, we can address very specific issues without...without dismantling the whole process, because it is a great Hawkeye experience. I know a lot of people say if you haven't been to an Iowa football game you really should go, because the atmosphere at our football games is not the same as other even Big Ten schools, and I love Hawkeye football (laughter). Thanks a lot! Hayek: Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to address the Council during community comment? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 7 Norpel: Hi, my name is Troy Norpel. Um, my wife and I own Kingdom Graphics. We're also a vendor on Melrose. We've been there about nine years or so. Um...we're a small screen-printing business and uh, we, um, sell officially licensed Hawkeye merchandise. We...,at the meeting last night they talked about bootleggers and things like that. We're officially licensed with the University so we pay the University a royalty fee. We also pay a site fee, and I keep track of all sales tax, stuff like that, so I'm a legitimate business. Um, one thing that I do agree with the, uh, Melrose Association, um, is with the trash problem, and I know as far as myself and other vendors that I know of, we have our own trash receptacles and we empty `em, and also, um...the, uh, we have...what we sell are t-shirts, is what she does, we have...we take all the tags off our products, etc., so we really have no trash that's going out there, but we constantly empty our trash cans full of beer cans, pop cans, etc.,. that are coming from the tailgaters. Um...and I do...I do appreciate the, I don't know what the company is but they're going to be donating their services for the trash, and I think that'll help immensely, and like Mr. Ford said, that if people just realize what they're doing to this area, they just feel like they can just throw stuff. Us as vendors aren't encouraging that cause we don't sell the alcohol there, causing these people to do that. Um...the money that we do make from this is a large portion of our business because we're a small business. Um, and honestly ii' we're not allowed to do vending in this area, it would probably force us, I mean, it may force us to sell our business, just for the fact that it's our slow time of the year's, um, usually December through March, so it does...basically the revenue we make from the profits helps us get through that slow time, and by n.o means am I making a ton of money at this. Um...uh...let's see here...some of the issues were addressed already so I'm not going to go over those again. Um...but I...I talked, I agree with Mr. Boothroy last night where I really appreciate his willingness to meet with the vendors and kind of discuss some of the options and regulations and some of the vendors, I've been there for almost ten years, and some of the vendors have been doing it 15, 20 years, and they have it down to a science, exactly how they set up and then what they're doing, and the respect to the...the property, etc. Um, one thing that...at issue last night was about stake-less tents. Um, in theory that would work, but then depending on, sometimes if you sandbag a tent down and the gust of wind does catch it, and Ifirst-hand of that, it can flip over so if it's not property secured, so one reason, and that was brought up in the past, was having the utilities properly marked by the utility companies so if you do have to stake it down, maybe there's a...that needs to be done each game, etc. Um, but um...Melrose, or...vendors on Melrose are a huge portion of the tailgating and the football experience, and then, um, many of us vendors rely on this as a part of our income and livelihood, and I hope that we can, us vendors can work with the City and work with the community, um, some of the alternative areas, I...logistically Idon't know if that' 11 work cause :you're butted up right next to the street, so I don't know if that...if someone went up on the curb, that could be a...run into someone's tent, and also one of the photographs that they showed was of trash in the front yard. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 8 That's a house that does offer parties in front of the house, so that's a result of a party, not vendors. So I appreciate your time and I thank you very much. Hayek: Thank you, Sir. Would anyone else like to address the Council during community comment before I close it? Okay, and I want to express thanks to everyone who did address us tonight, um, no matter the issue. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 9 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. a) CONSIDER A MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 3 ON AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING 10.39 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 1725 NORTH DODGE STREET FROM RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PARK (RDP) ZONE TO NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC (P1) ZONE (REZ11-00006) Wilburn: Um, Mr. Mayor, I will be, uh, abstaining due to a conflict of interest. Uh, even though this is just setting a public hearing. I work for the Iowa City Community School District, although I'm not involved in these negotiations, um, I'm in the Central Office and i.t would be located at this. Hayek: Fair enough. Thanl: you. Wright: Move to set the public hearing. Bailey: Second. Hayek: Moved by Wright, seconded by Bailey. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 6-0 with Ross Wilburn abstaining. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 10 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. c) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 2.17 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF TAFT AVENUE AND COURT STREET FROM NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL (CN-1) TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY-LOW DENSITY MULTI-FAMILY (OPD-RM12). (REZ10-00018) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Bailey: Move second consideration. Champion: Second. Hayek: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Champion. Discussion, uh, any ex-parte communications? Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Item carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 11 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. d) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 12.72-ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT MORMON TREK BOULEVARD AND DANE ROAD FROM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL (A) TO INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI1). (REZll- 00004) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Hayek: The applicant has requested expedited action, uh, that does require six votes. I don't know if we have that, or if there's even interest in expediting. So either we need a motion to, uh, collapse, or just a motion to get... Bailey: Move second consideration. Wright: Second. Hayek: Okay, second consideration moved by Bailey, seconded by Wright. Discussion? Oh, yeah, we need to, uh, disclose ex-parte, and I'm sure there's quite a lot of that! Dickens: I just had a question on who the property owners were before...it was sold. That was a question that I had asked, and was given that it was the Dane property before it was sold to...that was the only ex-parte. Hayek: Just go down the row. Bailey: Um, and I received a...a video, a DVD, um, I didn't view it because I didn't have the right program on my computer, but I did receive it in the mail. And I tried to view it! Davidson: Terry, the property was originally owned by John Dane. Dickens: Thank you. Hayek: Council Member Wilburn. Wilburn: Um, I bumped into Colonel Dane, uh, at the pancake breakfast and I did not, uh, he invited me to come out to the property. I did not have an opportunity to do that. That was the extent of the, uh, conversation. (mumbled) Hayek: Okay. I'll go in order here. Um, I did a number of things. I received a DVD from the family over the weekend showing a view of the area around the property, which I examined. Uh, I had two or three conversations with the Dane family, um, and then I also visited the site, uh, yesterday with the City Manager, um, and...and looked a.t the property. Uh, and spoke to the family. Uh, I also had a question for Jeff Davidson this morning, uh, regarding, um, the zoning in the area, uh...around this property, and then I...I briefly spoke to Susan Mims, um, today, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 12 uh, we were touching base on other issues, and... and briefly discussed this, and uh, my...my site visit to the property. Wright: I have email from a member of the Dane family just inviting me to come out and, uh, view the property. I did so independently, without meeting with anyone, and I also received the panoramic DVD. Champion: I also received the I)VD, which I did look at, and I did, uh, go out and look at the property, alone, myself in my car. Um, and that's it. Mims: Um, I received the DVD, as well, and I believe I received an email as well inviting me to comes out. I did not go visit the property, and as the Mayor indicated, we had a conversation earlier today about the issue. Dickens: I did receive a DVU, as well, and I did drive out to go completely around (mumbled) Hayek: Now that we've got that disclosed, uh...discussion? Wright: I actually had a question for Mike Moran, and I see he's in the audience right now. We had a memorandum from you indicating that you were going to check the status of this property, (mumbled) the Iowa National Heritage Foundation. Did you find anything out? Moran: Uh, they were supposed to be sending me a copy of, uh, what they have on file, and I haven't received that yet. Wright: They do have... Moran: They do have something that they'd indicated to me that they'd received, when they did an agreement with the Dane family. Wright: So there is an agreement. Moran: That's correct. I just haven't seen it, or don't have receipt of it yet. Bailey: I'm just curious. Did they indicate a nature of the agreement, like is it a conservation... Moran: It's a conversa...a conservation easement, basically, and then it's just got the results of what the Dane family had asked for, uh, as a result of that. Bailey: Okay. Thanks. Champion: Will they be sending you a copy of that? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 13 Moran: Yes. And then I'll pass it along, uh, to Tom, and then to you. Champion: Thank you. Hayek: Does anyone have questions for staff? We've got pretty much everyone here on the issue. Okay, further discussion by Council? Champion: Well, I am concerned about the view of this from this park, and to this park. It will be a park eventually, I'm sure. My...my economic side of my body says to leave it alone and let it develop, but my human side, 30 years from now or 40 years from now, what Iowa City is going to look like makes me not be able to support it. I think in the long-run it's not a good decision. Wright: I would agree with you, having visited the site, um...I...I think it's probably even, uh, a worse idea than I thought it would have been originally, given the...the lay of the land. Hayek: Well, I'll, uh, I'll weigh in here. Um, I spent a lot of time on this issue, um...in part because it's just an important issue, and in part because I know the family. Um...uh, but, and this is a tough call, but I'm...I'm not going to change my vote tonight. I'm going to stay with...with what I initially voted, which was to support the rezoning, and I want to explain why. Um, first this...this is consistent with our Comprehensive, uh, Plan, uh, and the City's investment, uh, significant investment in...in infrastructure in the area, um...uh, this was vetted through the P&Z Commission and that...that was a unanimous vote, and I looked at the meetings from those, uh, the minutes from those meetings carefully, uh, today, uh, I prepared for this meeting tonight. Um, the...the area to the east, uh, which is a significant geographic area, south and west of the Airport, is slated for industrial, um, in the future. I think CI is an appropriate lead-up zone, for lack of a better term, um...and uh, I...I also think with...with CI there's a, just a far greater likelihood of development, uh, along this sector and in the area in general. Um, and...and that's important at a time when we are, uh, striving to expand the tax base, um, it doesn't mean anything goes. It's got to be something that's appropriate, uh, for• the area. I do consider it to be appropriate. I think it's a closer call than...tlian most situations. Um, but I think CI affords a much broader, uh, set of opportunities for development, uh, in...in that area. Um, and then lastly, uh, I...:[ feel like there are some adequate protections in place, um, with respect to lighting, uh, the buffer, and...and then the height, or I'm sorry, the screening. Um, that went through P&Z and that's part of this, um, and...and so for those reasons, um, I...I will support the rezoning. I look forward to the time when this becomes a... a public vista, or a gathering place, as I think was described before, um, I do have one question, uh, of staff. Um, and that is, is there any, uh, with respect to the, uh, screening, um, is there any part of the zoning code or thi:> process that dictates where that screening occur, relative to the boundary, or the property line? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 14 Davidson: Uh, that's worked out at the site plan stage in the HIS department, Matt, so I can't tell you specifically, only that it...it is worked out at the time of the site plan. Hayek: Okay, but I...and the reason for my question has to do with the fact that this property slopes up so that the extent that you have a...have screening, you...you maximize the visual screening the higher up the hill you get, and the closer to that boundary you, uh, you go. Davidson: Yeah, and I think, for the purposes of your discussion, probably...the most significant thing before you in terms of the lighting and the screening standards are what is in the conditional zoning agreement. Um, and that is that there would be a 20-foot wide landscape buffer, meaning the S3 screening standards, the S3 standards are a dense hedge at least 50% evergreen that is 5 to 6-feet in height, and that outdoor lighting may not be mounted higher than 30-feet. I mean, that's basically...those are the stipulations in terms of the relationship between the CI-1 zoning and the adjacent residential property. Hayek: Well, so the...the buffer zone, I assume, runs east-west along that boundary, is that correct? Davidson: It would be along the property line between the residential property and the CI-1 zone property. Hayek: And the screening lzas to occur within that buffer zone? Davidson: Yes. Hayek: Okay, well, I think that answers my question that the screening would be close to, if not right along the...the boundary line, between those two properties. Davidson: Yeah, I mean, it's clearly...you're correct, Matt, in that it is clearly influenced by the topography of the land, but...but what I just gave you is the requirement. Hayek: Okay. Thanks, Jeff. Is there further discussion on this item? Wilburn: I supported first reading, um, for the very reasons that you mentioned, Mr. Mayor. Um...but I did say I would try and take a look at the property, and so I'm...didn't want to expedite so I could find an opportunity to go do that, but, um, I think there's (mumble) staff s been successful trying to help guide development and usage of buffers, um, so, but I want to take a look and we'll go from there. Hayek: Okay. Anything else? Roll call, please. Item passes 5-2, Council Members Wright and Champion in the negative. Karr: Mr. Mayor, could we have a motion to accept correspondence? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 15 Wilburn: So moved. Bailey: Second. Hayek: Moved by Wilburn, seconded by Bailey. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 16 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. f) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF TERRA VERDE, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB11-00004) Hayek: I'm going to, uh, recuse myself from, uh, someone in my firm did some work on this, uh, application. Council Member Wilburn will take over. Wilburn: (reads item) Champion: Move the resolution. Wilburn: Moved by Champion. Dickens: Second. Wilburn: Uh, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 6-0, Hayek, uh, abstaining due to a conflict of interest. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 17 ITEM 6. AUTHORIZATION OF A LOAN AGREEMENT AND THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $7,640,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION CAPITAL LOAN NOTES, SERIES 2011. a) PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing (bangs gavel) is open. Uh, Kevin, you want to tell us about the bond sale today? O'Malley: Yes, Mr. Mayor, thank you. Uh, we had a...three bond sales today, A, B, and C, 2011 A, B, and C; 2011 A was our construction bonds for this summer's work, and um, the bids were, uh, I think they were favorable. They were 2.47% versus last year at this time, actually it was a little later. I think it was July. We got 2.18%, but um...the uh...the market had gone about 120 basis points since last December. There was some scare in the municipal market so we felt that's pretty much a good victory for atriple-A city like ourselves. Um, 2011 B bonds are the taxable bonds. They're a short structure of two years. Uh, they got phenomenal rates of 1.08%, uh, and we had a lot of bidders. We had, uh, seven bidders on that one. And the 2011, uh, C bonds, excuse me, were the refunding bonds from the 2002 GO issue. We had projected a 5 '/s% savings of roughly about $500,000 present value (mumbled) about $700,000 full-term. Turned out we had some very good bids on that. I think it was 2.6%. And (mumbled) savings of a million eighteen thousand dollars, present value about $900,000. So roughly about $100,000 a year savings on that issue for the life. Um...we had three bidders for...for that one also. Uh, any other questions? Karr: You do have the documents in front of you this evening with that information. Champion: Thank you very much. (several talking) O'Malley: There's about nine resolutions to get all this done. (laughter) Thank you. Hayek: Thanks, Kevin. Champion: Keep on doin' it! Hayek: Anyone else during the public hearing on this item? Hearing none I will close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION FOR Wright: Move adoption. Mims: Second. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 18 Hayek: Moved by Wright, seconded by Mims. Discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 19 ITEM 13. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION DIRECTING SALE OF $ GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING CAPITAL LOAN NOTES, SERIES 2011C. Hayek: ...and I don't have a dollar amount. Karr: $10,930,000. Hayek: $10,930,000 general obligation refunding capital loan notes, series 2011 C. Mims: Move the resolution. Bailey: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Bailey. Discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 20 ITEM 15. APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA RIVER TRAIL -NAPOLEON TO TRUEBLOOD PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. a) PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) For the public's, uh, knowledge this is, uh, this regards the construction of a 10-foot wide recreational trail from Napoleon Park to the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area. Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel) b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Champion: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the lowa (:ity City ~;ouncu formal meeting of April 19, 201.1. Page 21 ITEM 21. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN ENVIRONMENTAL COVENANT FOR A PORTION OF HIGHLANDER DEVELOPMENT, SECOND ADDITION, IOWA CITY, IOWA. Hayek: In regards to items 21 and 22, someone in my firm did some work on those and therefore I need to recuse myself from these. Council Member Wilburn will take over. Wilburn: (reads item) Mims: Move the resolution. Bailey: Second. Wilburn: Moved by Mims, seconded by Bailey. Discussion? Roll call. Item carries 6-0, Hayek abstaining due to a conflict of interest. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 22 ITEM 23. CONSIDER A MOTION APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF A STUDENT LIAISON AND ALTERNATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA GOVERNMENT (UISG) TO THE CITY COUNCIL MAY 1, 2011 UNTIL MAY 1, 2012. Bailey: So moved. Mims: Second. Hayek: Moved by Bailey, seconded by Mims. We'll have discussion and think we probably ought to hear from Elliot. Higgins: How you guys doing tonight? Uh, Mr. Mayor, Honorable Council, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address you tonight. Um, first of all, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the continuance of this program. Uh, it's truly innovative, um, it allows for the representation of almost 30,000 students in this community who may not have much of a voice otherwise, and I know that you do not have to do it, so we really, really appreciate it! In the last two weeks I've actually gotten two emails, um, from other schools, Northwest Missouri State and Western Illinois who are also interested on modeling, um, our system here, and I'll actually probably have to talk to you, Marian, about, uh, the origination, uh, of the program, um, and speaking of our City Clerk, I would like to give you a special thanks for helping me along the way. Um, you have really been phenomenal this year. Um, as a student, I, uh, tend to like to do thing at the last minute (laughter) um...Marian has always been there on Wednesday night to remind me when I promised to submit some correspondence that the real world has time limits, so :[ thank you for that, Marian. (laughter) Um, Eleanor, I'd also like to give you a special thanks, um, I'm far from a lawyer and uh, I think I've probably made that clear to you this year, uh, I have pled ignorance on various issues, and I have, uh, needed your help often, and you are always willing to give it, um, and you're always very patient with me and I appreciate that. Um, so this past year, working with the Council's really been one of the best experiences of my college career. Um, sometimes when we're locked in here on Monday and Tuesday nights, I have to remind myself of that, uh, especially when we're going through some zoning stuff, but uh, all kidding aside, it really has been a wonderful opportunity! Uh, we were able to make a lot of progress together this year on, uh, the security deposit issue, uh, the proposed amendments to the informational and acknowledge declo...disclosure form, which I believe will be in your packet next week, I think. Uh, and the reduction of the 21-fine. Um, when I first became UISG's City Council liaison, I had the perception that there was a great tension between the City of Iowa City and the students of the University of Iowa. Uh, but after this year my view has truly changed. As my hero President Barack Obama once said, the forces which divide us are not as strong as those which unite us. I've come to realize that we all want what is best for this community. We may not always agree on every issue, but we have always engaged in open and healthy dialogue. Um, I want to thank you all for This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 23 being responsive to the various concerns that I've raised this past year, and I look forward to continuing to build a strong relationship between UI students and the City of Iowa City, which brings me to the reason I stand before you today. Uh, it is my true pleasure to introduce to you the Vice City Council Liaison, Cody Graham, and the new City Council Liaison, Raj Patel. I am confident that you will enjoy working with both of these young gentlemen. Uh, they are capable, intelligent, hard-working, uh, and they will advocate successfully on behalf of our peers. Um, so thank you again. It really has been an honor to work with each and every one of you, and without further ado, here is Raj Patel. Patel: I'd like to thank...I'd like to start by thanking Ma...Mayor Hayek, the Honorable Council, and the City of Iowa City, in allowing the University of Iowa Student Goverrunent to have a student liaison position with the City. It is certainly a privilege that we are very thankful for, and we will not take for granted. We appreciate the opportunity to sit in on discussions of common concern to the students and the City of Iowa City, so thank you. I'd also like to thank my predecessor, Elliot Higgins. It goes without saying that your work was valued both on campus and in the city. Elliot has done a fine job creating a very healthy relationship between the City and the University. I hope to further that relationship, and I will always look up to you for advice, Elliot. So thank you. To introduce myself, I'm an Iowa native, born in the great city of Burlington, Iowa. I'm a sophomore at the University, studying Political Science. And I've actively been a part of the University of Iowa Student Government since I stepped on the Hawkeye soil my freshmen year. You may also remember me as that kid asking for your signature in the ped mall last summer as I was trying to put a referendum together for the 21-ordinance. Ultimately that didn't go our way. But, I look forward. to wrapping up some of Elliot's initiatives, such as lowering the fine for being underage in a bar after 10:00 P.M. A priority of mine is also ensuring that Iowa City downtown stays vibrant and engaging for students, years to come. I look forward to helping the City attract businesses that foster student- friendly downtown.. I also look forward to working on some of Student Government's goals, such as making the University charge card more accessible with downtown businesses. There's a whole lot of Iowa City to discover outside of the University of Iowa campus. Working with the City we'd like students to get more involved and come across these areas through different volunteer and community service activities. Yesterday at the work session, Susan Mims said that we expect the University to be good neighbors to the City. And we in return should be good neighbors to the University, and I believe that goes both ways, both the University and City have one another's interests in heart. So again, thank you for this incredible opportunity. I hope to bring innovative ideas and a persistent work ethic to this position, and I look forward to a good year ahead. So, thank you. Hayek: Thank you! (several talking) Uh, we can go ahead and vote on these, and I want to drag Elliot back. up here for a... a bit of recognition. Why don't we go ahead and vote on...on the pending motion, um, is there any discussion on that? Those This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 24 in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7-0. And, Raj and Cody, uh, welcome, and we look forward to working with you. Um, Elliot, uh, there may be others who want to say something but let me just...let me just, uh, put in a few of my own words. I've...in my time on the Council, you've shown yourself to be the most effective L1ISG, um, liaison, uh, that I have worked with, and, uh, I think that's because you, um, identify tangible opportunities for collaboration between the Council and...and Student Government. Uh, you come up with specific, concrete proposals, um, you work with staff to tailor them to what is realistic and...and uh, get rid of what is not, which is the part of any process, whether you're in your shoes or our shoes, uh, and then you advocate effectively and respectfully for that, and I think you've seen that you get, uh, a strong, uh, audience and reception, uh, when you do that, and I think you're going to see that as you go forward with your, uh, position next year, uh, with Student Government, and as you leave the University and...and I think, uh, that has helped us work well with you over the last year, um, and...so you're...you're an extremely good advocate and...and I want to applaud you for that. We have a certificate to, uh, give you, but if there's anyone else who wanted to weigh in before I read that, um, go ahead and do so. (several talking) Champion: Go ahead! (laughter) You're always interrupting me! (laughter) Wright: I can say the same! (laughter) I was actually going to address Raj...just to say, all of these accolades are true. You have might big shoes to fill in next year. Elliot, you've done a terrific job and thank you very much! Champion: I'm going to miss you, Elliot! I almost treat him like a child, but with a little more respect! (laughter) You've done a great job! And you'll do a good job next year too! And welcome, both of you! I'll try to be nicer to you! Wilburn: She treats all of us like children, so (laughter) I would just say that, uh, you know, I think one of the things that, uh, the Mayor was pointing out that made you, uh, helped you gain the respect of the Council, and the...and the, uh, the community was that, um, you looked at multiple issues that, uh, have an impact on students and the, uh, some Iolks in that position that haven't been as effective, uh, merely looked at the alcohol issue, and so really appreciate, uh, some of those other issues, uh, that, uh, well, that you rattled off yourself, um, so thank you. And good luck! Bailey: Elliot, when you first came, um, aboard I think I greeted you with the story that I actually voted against this position years ago when it was up in front of Council, and I think what you've shown me this past year is actually what the position truly could be. Not to take anything away from previous liaisons. I think all of them did a good job within their own scope, but I think you've actually shown us what this position can be. It can be rigorous, it can be multi-issued, and that you do represent 30,000 people in our community, and so a great job, and I know that This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of Apri119, 2011. Page 25 you'll be successful in whatever you undertake, and uh, just keep me on your mailing list! (laughter) Dickens: I just want to thank you for all the time you put in. I know being afull-time student and trying to put this into your schedule and...does affect your studies. I just appreciate all the extra time that you put in, and you brought a lot of great ideas to the Council and you're going to be tough to follow! Mims: I would just add, Elliot, it's been a pleasure working with you, and..and I would just kind of piggyback on what the Mayor said. I think what really I think has set you apart is the fact that you did a lot of homework, you...you looked at tangible issues, and you came up with some specific ideas, instead of just coming in and complaining about things. And, kind of off in the wild blue yonder. You were very concrete in the issues and...and approaches to solving some of those problems. And, that's the way we get things done in the real world, and so you've...you've got a leg up on a lot of people, and so, Raj, you've got...you got somebody to learn from and piggy back on and hopefully, you know, (mumbled) characteristics to the table, so welcome to you, and thank you, Elliot. Hayek: All right, let me read this, uh, certificate. The City Council of Iowa City presents this certificate of appreciation to Elliot Higgins for is dedicated service as the University of Iowa Student Government student liaison to the City Council of Iowa City, to better identify issues of common concern to students and the City, and for his commitment to improved communication between UISG and the City for the 2010-2011 academic year, uh, it's a nifty certificate with the City's seal, and it says presented this 19t day of April, 2011. So, Elliot, thank you very much! (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011. Page 26 ITEM 26. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Hayek: Start over with you, Susan. Mims: Nothing! Champion: Nothing. I don't like the weather! (laughter) Wright: Nothing. Hayek: Ross? Wilburn: Nothing. Bailey: Um, I think, um, we saw a letter in the, from a citizen a couple weeks ago, about the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area and as many of you know, we received a grant from the State, um, from Vision Iowa, and now the Parks and Rec Foundation is undertaking a capital campaign to fund, um, to do some fundraising for that...that particular asset to the community, and I would encourage those of you who have watched the development of this park and who sought the development of that park to consider making a donation to, um, bring it about. Um, I think that there was a very nice appeal in the paper, and I know that the Parks and Rec Foundation is working hard, as is the Mayor, talking to various entities ,that we can all make a difference in bringing that closer to a reality, and so I just appeal to the community to consider that, and as you look at, um, your participation in the Parks and Rec programming, participation in the community. Dickens: I just want to thank: our City Manager, Tom Markus, and the Parks and Rec for their willingness to, uh, work out a compromise on the trail system out in Windsor Ridge, uh, made the neighborhood very happy that it was something that something was able to be worked out, and it made...made everybody happy I think. Hayek: Thanks for those comments! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of April 19, 2011.