HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-06 TranscriptionSeptember 6, 2011 City Council Special Work Session Page 1
Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Dickens, Hayek, Mims, Wilburn, Wright
Staff Present: Markus, Helling, Dilkes, Karr, Yapp, Davidson, Havel, Andrew, Benteley,
Tharp
MPOJC Committee on Future Transit Needs (Agenda #22):
ITEM 22. CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
a) Future Transit Needs in Iowa City Urbanized Area Committee
Hayek/ Okay, why don't we start our special work session. Welcome, everyone! First item is
the, uh, the MPOJC Committee on future transit needs. John!
Yapp/ Good evening, uh, John Yapp with the MPO of Johnson County. Uh, this committee was
formed by the MPO board, uh, to discuss transit needs in the 20 -year time frame, uh, it's
meant to be a `visionary' committee with two main tasks. One to identify where we,
meaning the metropolitan area, where we want to be in 20 years, and then what steps
should we take to get there. Uh, the appointee, maybe an elected official; it may be staff,
or it may be a member of the public. Uh, and I think ... the composition of the entire
committee is meant to include ... all elected officials, staff, and members of the public,
with the goal of having a good mix. Uh, several elected officials have been appointed
from other entities, and the, uh, MPO board has appointed three members of the public
already. So, the Council largely has discretion in ... in who to appoint. There have not
been any staff members appointed to date.
Hayek/ Do you, uh, do you have a recommendation?
Yapp/ I'd suggest somebody from the Transit staff, or if there is a member of the public that is
interested in this topic, that would be appropriate as well.
Champion/ (unable to hear) ... Transit staff.
Bailey/ I think that would be helpful actually if no staff have been appointed, that would make
sense.
Mims/ Yeah, if he MPO already appointing three members of the public (mumbled)
Bailey/ Right.
Hayek/ Yeah! (noises on mic)
Mims/ Sorry about that! Um (several talking) yeah, with the MPO having, uh, appointed three
members from the public, I think it'd be good either somebody from the Council or staff,
definitely to, you know, be on...
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Bailey/ Yeah.
Wright/ I think the staff perspective would be probably welcome in that group.
Bailey/ I think so too!
Wilburn/ Yeah, I agree.
Hayek/ So if we're going to take this up at the, uh, meeting in two weeks ... would it be
appropriate to...
Karr/ It's on ... it's on for tonight, unless you want to defer it.
Hayek/ No, I was looking at the memo (both talking)
Karr/ It's item... agenda 22.
Hayek/ Yeah, you're right! Well...
Karr/ I mean, you certainly can defer it!
Hayek/ Got somebody in mind?
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Yapp/ Well, I'd suggest Chris O'Brien, the Transportation Services Director, or his designee.
Markus/ I think he'd make an excellent choice, as well.
Champion/ Why don't we vote for him or his designee, if he can't do it. Then we won't have to
bring it back.
Yapp/ And I don't believe he's here tonight to, uh, debate that (several talking and laughing)
Hayek/ Permanent position, right? No...
Yapp/ It's not a permanent committee, no.
Hayek/ Okay, so for Item 22a, why don't we, uh, we'll take up as a motion, uh ... Chris O'Brien
or his designee for that spot.
Yapp/ Thank you.
Hayek/ Thanks, John! Okay, next item is the ECICOG services presentation.
ECICOG Services Presentation:
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Elliott/ Good evening! I'm Doug Elliott, the Director of ECICOG, Mayor Hayek, and uh,
Members of the City Council. Thank you for the opportunity to be on your agenda this
evening. You have a full evening, so I plan not to take too much of your time, unless you
ask me to. As part of our agency's own strategic planning process, the management team
at ECICOG which consists of the director and the three department directors, made a
commitment to our board that we would visit with each of the 66 municipalities in our
region every two years, and so tonight is your night, and I'm your guy! Uh, and uh, the
point of those visits was not to have, uh, specific requests or a project to talk about, but to
provide you, uh, with an update on our services of some activities that we hope would be
of interest, or you .... uh, we hope you would feel, uh, be of benefit to the city, and
perhaps even more importantly, to take the opportunity to, um, entertain any of your
questions or comments or concerns that I can take back to the board of directors for their
consideration and deliberation. Um, to that end I did have, uh, distributed prior to your
sitting down a packet of information. I don't intend to go through all of that. Most of it I
leave for your benefit and for you to look at at your leisure later on. Uh, the first item is
our most recent annual report, that multi -page document. It's, uh, created as an electronic
document and hopefully is, uh, a little more impressive as it appears on your computer
screen. Um, but the reason that I like to provide it, even though it was published almost,
uh, nine months ago is that if you go to the last several pages it provides just a nice
inventory of the variety of activities, the breadth of activities that our agency's been
involved in the region, not only at a breadth geographically, but um, subject matter
and ... and type of projects. But because it is somewhat dated, I also provided you, I
prepared for you today, an update specific to activities, um, in Iowa City, those that the
either the City's involved in directly or we hope is benefitting from directly. Some
activities that, uh, we would hope you would agree you're benefitting from indirectly and
some things that may be on the agenda that I wanted to make sure were brought to your
attention. And it's, um, on that document I might concentrate for a few minutes and
point out some of the other things that are left in the packet. Uh, on current projects, I'm
sure you're aware that, uh, ECICOG assisted Johnson County Emergency Management
with the application for the multi jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, which was
recently funded. That one really accomplished three things for those jurisdictions in the
county that don't have a ... currently have a plan, that will provide one for them. For
jurisdictions like Iowa City, which currently have a plan but are obligated to update that
every five years, the timing of this process is such that the multi jurisdictional plan
should be done just about at the time that you would have ... be required to update your
current plan. So uh, starting day one of year five, you'll already be in good stead. And it
keeps all of those jurisdictions eligible for implementation projects for hazard mitigation
or pre- mitigation projects. Um, you may also be aware that ECICOG submitted an
application to the Statewide Intelligent Transportation Systems, pardon me, program for,
uh, video surveillance systems for the para- transit vehicles that both SEATS in Johnson
County and LIFTS in Linn County use, uh, to provide para- transit services to the
municipalities. Included in that application are ten systems for the, uh, vehicles owned
by the City of Iowa City that SEATS operates, and if that's successful, the benefit
directly to the City will be just over $18,000 to put those equipment on ve ... that
equipment on those vehicles. Um, under that are some, uh, current projects, which I
presume to think are beneficial to Iowa City and I hope you would agree. Let me just
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speak to those briefly. The first is the update of the Comprehensive Economic
Development Strategy, and I think the last document you have in your packet is our most
recent electronic newsletter and again it has an article about that update. But this is the
planning document that allows ECICOG to remain as a federally designated economic
development district, and as we remain, uh, maintain that designation, then absent, um, a
federal disaster declaration and a disaster supplemental appropriation, then the
jurisdictions within our region remain eligible for EDA funding through other programs.
To that end, uh, the other thing I've provide you is a summary of our current revolving
loan fund activity. Um, again, that was originally funded through the disaster
supplemental, through EDA, at $1.5 million. You may have seen that, uh, last week we
had the honor of hosting the Acting Secretary of Commerce, Dr. Becky Blank, and the
Assistant Secretary of Commerce, John Fernandez, where they announced an additional
$2.9 mill ... pardon me, $2....I still get excited when I say it! $2.9 million grant to
ECICOG to recapitalize that RLF. That was matched with $195,000 in local funds from
throughout the region and across economic sectors, um, local governments, private
foundations, local businesses, the banking industry. Uh, so that fund now will have a
value of just over $5 million, um, and we had to pretty much stop ... we had loaned out
basically all the money we had and so part of that is a notice to you that we have an
additional $3 million through that program. Um, and the distribution of it has, uh, been
somewhat limited geographically, um, that hasn't been intentional. It's really been a
reflection of where applications have come from. So we would really encourage you to
encourage businesses, uh, in Iowa City and in the Johnson County area that are looking
for additional capital assistance to look at that program. The last item listed under there
is the Single - Family New Production program. I'm well aware that the City of Iowa City
has been running its own programs. I bring our program to your attention because out of
the about 150 housing units that ECICOG will assist, um, through the three rounds of
funding, well over 100 of those are in communities immediate... immediately contiguous
to the City of Iowa City, and we're using Iowa City contractors. I just did a quick survey.
Out of the first two rounds, 63 of the individuals benefitting from that program are, uh,
employed in Iowa City, and so I think it's fair to say that the economic impact of that
goes beyond the communities in which those homes are built. And then finally just to
bring your attention to, um, a more recent regional effort, which is the possibility of
submitting a sustainable community's regional planning grant on behalf of the entire
ECICOG region. John Yapp, uh, attended a meeting on Friday that was called by, uh,
Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston and I assume at the appropriate time he'll share
the information with you that he learned at that meeting. Um, that's really the initiative
of a partnership between Linn County, the City of Cedar Rapids, and the greater Cedar
Rapids Community Foundation, but our hope is that it can be a project that can be applied
across the entire region, over several years, and um, we were just notified on Friday, uh,
by HUD that we have been, uh, invited to submit a full application which will be due at
the end of September and either I or another member of my staff, or someone from the
consortium of individuals putting this project together will be back to talk to you about
that more specifically later in the month. That's really the bulk of my prepared
comments to the greatest extent, and I'm happy to answer any questions or take any
comments.
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Hayek/ Council?
Wright/ Just a quick question for you. I noticed that you funded summer library reading
programs all over the place.
Elliott / Right!
Wright/ What were ... what was the support you gave for those?
Elliott/ I'm sorry, what's the support...
Wright/ What was the support you gave for those?
Elliott/ No, we actually present those programs.
Wright/ Oh, okay!
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Elliott/ It's part of, um, it's one of the educational programs through the Solid Waste
Comprehensive Management Plan, and actually the, uh, Iowa City Landfill's a part of
those programs to the tune of a couple hundred dollars. Um, each of the landfills
participating in the Solid Waste Comprehensive Management Plan, urn ... provide a small
stipend, if you will, to that program each summer. So it's actually our solid waste
education planning coordinator that goes out to each of those libraries and presents a
program.
Wright/ (both talking) program for all of those.
Elliott / Right!
Wright/ Okay.
Hayek/ The breadth of your services through the multi - county jurisdiction is impressive! You
know, what this makes me think about is some of the, um, issues on which, um, or with
which we've not had a lot of success getting, uh, a more regional approach underway and
I'm thinking of areas of affordable housing, human services, and some other areas where,
um, we think it's in the region's best interest for there to be a regional approach...
Elliott / Right!
Hayek/ ...we haven't had a whole lot of luck, you know, just stick in your head something we
might be... something we can maybe collaborate on, going forward.
Elliott/ Well, again, I hope when John has an opportunity to share more information with you
about this HUD initiative, I think that you'll hear many of the words you just spoke
thrown back at you, what the aspirations of that effort are. I think we all acknow...
acknowledge that, um, one of the other impacts of the disasters of 2008 is it causes
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appropriately so ... to go back to our communities and be more concerned about local
issues, um, and uh, so we're trying to ramp regionalism back up, if you will. So I
appreciate that!
Hayek/ Thanks, Doug!
Elliott/ Thank you!
Hayek/ Okay. We'll move on to agenda items.
Agenda Items:
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Karr/ Mr. Mayor, if I may. Before you tonight you have an addition, uh ... 3.f(3) and it's a
motion notifying the Iowa City ... the Planning and Zoning Commission the petition filed
for SSMID, and I did include it on the Consent Calendar, but I'd like it removed from the
Consent Calendar for separate consideration so that those of you who wish to state a
conflict of interest may do so, and we would then start the process, um, moving at that
point.
Hayek/ Okay, so when it comes up, we'll pull it. Somebody (both talking)
Karr/ We'll adopt the Consent Calendar as amended, and then I'll need a motion from somebody
to delete 3.f(3) for separate consideration. Preferably from a Member who does intend to
vote. (laughter)
Champion/ (mumbled)
Dilkes/ And just briefly since I've never talked to you as a group about it, although I've talked to
some of you individually is, um, I did a written opinion in 2003 that, um, you're welcome
to see if you'd like to and have reviewed the laws when this new SSMID petition came to
the City, and have concluded that, um, if you own or rent property in the proposed
SSMID district, such that you have a financial interest in the outcome, for instance as a
tenant you're likely paying the taxes, um, then my advice is that you abstain due to a
conflict of interest.
Hayek/ That's Terry, Connie (mumbled). Okay. Oh, and so we don't want to make a bee -line
for there, we talked about us not needing to get up from the table since it's about a 2-
second process to, uh...
Dilkes/ Unless the rest of you want to engage in a extended discussion about it. Then I think
they can remain seated.
Hayek/ Okay, thanks! Thanks, Marian. Uh, agenda items generally?
ITEM 3. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
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g) Correspondence.
2. Traffic Engineering Planner: Installation of NP PARKING
8AM -5PM signs on B'Jaysville Lane, east of Dubuque Street,
at locations where parking is currently allowed
Bailey/ I have a question about 3.g(2), removal of parking during the day in the Jaysville.
Karr/ Regenia, do you have your microphone on?
Bailey/ Yes I do!
Karr/ Wow! Okay, thank you. It was 3.g(2)?
Bailey/ Yeah! Um ... and I understand the issue, the long -term storage and commuter parking.
Yapp/ Yes.
Bailey/ Who had the issue? Did we, or did a neighbor?
Yapp/ Uh, the owner of the property...
Bailey/ Okay.
Yapp/ ...had the issue and he has recently added more off - street parking for his tenants, um, and
we have monitored the long -term parking and it... and there is an issue there.
Bailey/ And it's not, I mean, do we think it's also parking from people who live in Mayflower?
Yapp/ We do think so.
Bailey/ And so this is going to displace that, that's my ... that's a little bit of my concern.
Yapp/ Oh!
Bailey/ Um ... because I know that in the past they've parked on the ... it's been common for the
northwest section of the north side also to have an impact (both talking)
Yapp/ Yeah, and there are similar no parking designations designated throughout the north side
for largely the same reasons.
Bailey/ Well, it's mostly even/odd or whatever, for that (both talking)
Yapp/ Even -odd and, uh, from 8 to 5.
Bailey/ Right.
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Yapp/ Right.
Bailey/ Um ... okay. Are we going to keep an eye on the fact that it's going to displace a bunch?
Yapp/ Yes. The area that ... that we've identified that we will need to keep an eye on is Terrell
Mill Park.
Bailey/ Uh -huh.
Yapp/ Right across the street. Across, uh, Dubuque Street.
Bailey/ Okay. Maybe keep an eye on those, uh, Linn Street, I think it's mostly Linn and up on
Brown. I've heard complaints about it.
Yapp/ Okay.
Bailey/ Thanks!
Hayek/ Other agenda items?
ITEM 3. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
d) Setting Public Hearings:
4. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO ENTER
INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH WELLS FARGO
COMPANY FOR LIMITED OCCUPATION AND
POSSESSION OF THE KIOSK LOCATED IN THE
COLLEGE STREET PEDESTRIAN MALL ALONG THE
CLINTON STREET FRONTAGE FOR INSTALLATION OF
AN ATM MACHINE AND NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR
THE SUM OF 5500 PER MONTH, AND SETTING A
PUBLIC HEARING ON SAID LEASE AGREEMENT FOR
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011.
Mims/ I had a question on, uh, 3.d(4). This relates to another one ... it's the ATM lease on the
ped mall, and I guess, um ... I understand where this is coming from with the possible
redevelopment, um, of the Wells Fargo building and then possibly then relocating. From
the perspective of the city, are we opening ourselves up to other financial institutions
wanting to put an ATM on public property, and are we prepared to deal with that?
Davidson/ My thought would be that we are, uh, and we are prepared to deal with it. Um, you
know, the kiosks have been largely ... you know, relegated to really a lot of, well, not very
useful anymore. Um, we ... as you saw in the information I provided you, I anticipate
that this will provide for better maintenance of the kiosks, and certainly any of the others,
I think there are four others, uh, we would be open to similar type arrangements with
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financial institutions, or anyone else who felt they had a legitimate purpose that you
would like to consider, uh...
Mims/ So if another financial institution, for example that didn't have a location downtown, I
mean, I can see where this one is specifically related to a move downtown of their
offices.
Davidson/ Right.
Mims/ I guess that's my question. From a staff perspective, are we comfortable and willing to
open that opportunity up to others whose circumstances might be different?
Davidson/ And... and their circumstances will be different. Our... our original motivation for the
one that was on your ... is on your agenda tonight, is the redevelopment of the parcel
where it's currently located. Now, Tom and I have had subsequent discussions with the
property owner of that parcel as well as the tenant, Wells Fargo, about well, what if I
don't redevelop the parcel, are you still willing to do this, whether Wells Fargo relocates
or not to the Savings and Loan building, and our conclusion was we probably were. That
it's, uh, will hopefully result in better maintenance of the kiosk. We will still have access
to it to post information, and, urn ... 500 bucks a month in rent.
Markus/ We do think it's probably a better use of these kiosks than we've experienced in the
past. And, in fact, we subsequently learned that, uh, we have newspaper leases so we
have to make some accommodation for the bank to use it as an ATM, plus have it, um,
available for these newspaper, uh, venues. I think the leases run through March of 2012
so at least for that period of time. I think you raise an interesting question though about
the potential for an ATM that may be associated, uh, with a bank that isn't in the vicinity
and maybe, uh, among staff we can have that discussion and determine if there's ... the
potential for some prioritization of...of who we would consider, um, cause I ... personally
I would think it would be more advantageous, uh, to have somebody that has a presence
in our downtown that's paying taxes on their bricks and mortar, uh, not just paying, um, a
fairly low lease rate, uh, to have that kind of presence... presence at a kiosk. Whether we
can do that legally or not remains to be discussed.
Dilkes/ I don't think legally you're locking yourself into anything by doing this. I think these
circumstances are based on the fact that ... there is an anticipated relocation of this bank,
and they can't because of the physical setup of the building, put the ATM on the face of
the building, and therefore it's logical to put it in the kiosk, whether you choose as a
policy to ... to do that with banks who either aren't nearby or aren't in Iowa City, I think
that's a decision you have the right to make at the time.
Champion/ I don't have any problems with it, but I did wonder about the terms of the lease. Can
you go over those with me quickly?
Davidson/ Uh, is there a copy of the lease in the packet, Eleanor?
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Dilkes/ No. We're still working on the de ... on the actual details, um, and we've had some
conversation about that because, um... since the bank wanted an initial term of five years,
that's why we had to set the pub ... public hearing cause it's three years and arguably a ... a
(both talking)
Davidson/ ...we anticipate the lease being initial five year term, three five -year renewals.
Dilkes/ Yep!
Champion/ (mumbled) at the same rate (mumbled)
Davidson/ Not necessarily I don't believe.
Dilkes/ Sarah's been working on this, so I can't tell you the details of that, but all you're doing is
setting the public hearing right now. You certainly have the right...
Davidson/ ...the actual lease on the 20tH
Dilkes/ Right!
Hayek/ But ... but there is a Letter of Intent we're passing.
Davidson/ Yes!
Hayek/ Isn't there?
Davidson/ There is. There's a Letter of Intent in the packet, yes.
Markus/ I think the developer... Eleanor wanted a, urn ... an indication that we were willing to
proceed with this so that they could (both talking)
Davidson/ It is a Resolution of Intent.
Dilkes/ No, wait a minute! The Resolution of Intent is not a binding at all. It simply says we
have an intent to move forward with the lease. It doesn't talk about the specific details of
that lease. I mean, that lease came to you with the same rate for the next 25 years. You
could choose to say ... no or not, that's not acceptable (several talking)
Champion/ ...couldn't find it so I...
Dilkes/ ... it's not a Letter of Intent. It's simply a resolution which in accordance with the statute
we have to (several talking)
Champion/ Okay, thank you. (several talking)
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Markus/ ...Eleanor, further clarification as to how we determine the value, um, do we have an
obligation to charge fair market value for the use of this property. How do we ... you
know, what's the ... what's the standard we're going to use. Is it just a negotiated value or
what's the lease (both talking)
Davidson/ Yeah, it's a negotiated value, Tom. (several talking) We really don't have any
precedent for leasing the kiosks (several talking)
Dilkes/ We didn't get an appraisal of this. I think the bank came to Jeff or Mark and Jeff worked
together and they offered $500 a month and I believe that was acceptable to you.
Markus/ Yeah, it...it seems like a fair amount to me. I was just ... I'm asking the legal question at
this point. There's nothing in the law that requires some sort of appraised value or
anything to that extent.
Dilkes/ No, there's nothing that requires fair ... you have to do it for fair market value, you know,
I think...
Davidson/ We may be establishing (both talking)
Dilkes/ $500 is ... you know. I don't ... I don't know! If there's competition for these kiosks in
the future the fair market value may not be $500.
Markus/ Got it. Thanks.
Dilkes/ Um... so...
Hayek/ I think we should assume that that kind of interest will be forthcoming. (several talking)
Mims/ I do too. That's why I (several talking)
Bailey/ ...that that's great. I mean, these have been underutilized and I think it's great to see
really a vibrant use for them, and interest that brings a little bit of revenue, and potentially
a ... a bidding war ... down the road!
Davidson/ Ten years there will be a generation in the ped mall that don't even know what pay
phones are! (laughter)
Champion/ I don't think they (several talking and laughing) ...they're already there! But I do
know when ATMs are put on private property, there's also ... um ... kind of a dividend
(mumbled) how many times it's used.
Davidson/ ...can certainly go that direction, if we keep (several talking)
Bailey/ That's a nice idea! (laughter)
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Champion/ I mean, I'm totally for this project, and I don't want to hamper it at all. I think
there's some things we should think about.
Mims/ Yeah, I don't either, that's why I wanted to raise the issue of ... what precedent we're
setting and not locking others out, if they have an interest that ... we're at least open to
that discussion.
Dilkes/ I don't think you're setting any precedent, politically perhaps you think so but ... certainly
not legally or practically.
Mims/ Thank you.
ITEM 11. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION DETERMINING THE NECESSITY AND
SETTING DATES OF A CONSULTATION AND A PUBLIC HEARING
ON A PROPOSED RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS URBAN RENEWAL
PLAN FOR A PROPOSED URBAN RENEWAL AREA IN THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY, IOWA.
Hayek/ Okay. Other agenda items? Well, we ... on the urban renewal, item 11, are we going to
get some information when it comes up tonight or is now the time?
Davidson/ Uh, what you will, Mr. Mayor, is there's the ... there's the district. If you're interested.
Um, it's the west side, uh ... it's basically the west side of the river, adjacent to the
conventionally thought Riverfront Crossings district, but we determined that it made
sense to include this as basically Phase I. We're motivated by beginning with this area,
because we have a redevelopment project that, and we anticipate requesting financial
assistance through a TIF, uh, it'll be a significant increase in taxable value. It's a hotel
project, and so we are starting with this district, and will eventually add the area that we
all think of as Riverfront Crossings, across the river to the east, eventually.
Champion/ Thanks for clarifying that.
Davidson/ Yeah, but this is the district, and these just show the blight designations that we made
in our fieldwork.
Hayek/ Are the boundaries shown by that brownish line?
Davidson/ The brown ... the boundary is the orange line, orange -brown line that you see there.
Bailey/ And ... did you discuss about taking it south eventually?
Davidson/ We did! (both talking) ...and it got to be one of those things that it's like where do
you draw the line? We can always amend it. You know, we thought about adding the
Gateway Shopping Center and then you just keep going down Highway 1 and you don't
know where to draw the line, so we decided to start with this district, and we can always
amend it.
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Bailey/ Well, and I figured because there's a limitation, um, that we would want to add things as
things were coming up, rather than just make it as large as possible.
Davidson/ Right, that's correct.
Bailey/ Okay. Thanks!
Davidson/ Is there anything else you need, Matt?
Hayek/ No, I mean, are you going to go through that during the meeting or...
Davidson/ Yeah, basically this is all the information I have. If there's anything else you'd like
let me know and I'll try and get it before the meeting.
Bailey/ (mumbled)
Hayek/ To do what?
Bailey/ To go through it at the public meeting (both talking)
Hayek/ Yeah, I ... I think (both talking)
Bailey/ ...there are (mumbled)
Davidson/ Sure, we can go through this if you'd like.
Hayek/ Great, thanks! That's all I've got for ... for now. Thanks! Other agenda items? Okay.
Hearing none, why don't we move on to lobbyist services.
Lobbyist Services (IP3 of 9/1 Info Pkt.):
Markus/ I, um, included a report in your packet of September 1, 2011. Basically I'm
recommending that we retain the services of a lobbyist, um ... right now I think we've had
pretty good success in terms of lobbying, uh, our legislature, especially the State
legislature. Uh, however, going forward I think that, um ... there is some value in us
contracting specifically with a lobbyist on a retainer basis. I've estimated the cost at
about $25,000 to $30,000 per year. The report talks about different, uh, issues that in the
past we could have used lobbyist services for ... not necessarily who we would be using
them for in the future. Uh, and I discussed, urn ... typical services that would be
incorporated in a, uh, retainer agreement, uh, for lobbying services. Uh, I noted a number
of jurisdictions, uh, across the state that do have, uh, lobbyists, um, either under retainer
or, uh, as a member of their staff. Uh, and the next step in my opinion would be to, uh,
issue an RFQ, RFP and bring in some, uh, potential lobbyists for interviews. We could
do that as a, uh, committee with representation from Council, and from staff, with a full
recommendation as to the lobbying firm that, uh, was preferred back to the full City
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Council. I believe there's merit in considering this at this point and would be glad to
answer any questions you might have.
Wright/ Have some of the other cities that have, uh, lobbyists... reported any figures that
they ... we got this much benefit ... out of our ... our investment?
Markus/ Actually, I'm meeting with our, couple members of our local delegation, uh, tomorrow
morning who wanted to make sure I understood that they thought this was a good idea
and some of the benefits that they thought (mumbled) to their community, that being
Coralville. Um ... tomorrow morning; they, uh, our delegation was very supportive of
this. I think they recognize that, um, that we need to have discussions, uh, in both
political sides of these issues, and thought that this would be a way to achieve that.
Um ... again, I'd say in the past we've had very good success, uh, with the individuals, uh,
on this Council, among senior staff, um, that have, uh, served in that lobbying capacity. I
think this can carry us to the next level in terms of communications with the various State
departments, with the Governor's office, um ... and with both, uh, bodies at the
legislature, uh, going forward. I think it's really critical at the state level. I'm not as
convinced that it would have the same kind of merit in terms of the federal, um, lobbying
efforts. It's just, um ... it's an entirely different kind of arrangement, and the other thing
I ... I note that our federal legislators have, um, pretty strong and deep staffs that we
communicate with on a regular basis and to try and get outside of our own delegation, it's
pretty difficult, um... sitting here in Iowa City, sitting here in the State of Iowa. I think
that would be a very difficult challenge, and I think that's best left to our affiliate
organizations like National League of Cities, uh, and the Mayors group, City Managers
organization, things like that. So...
Wilburn/ As a practical matter, I think the critical time to, um, the critical times of the year in
terms of the State, uh ... level lobbying efforts is around State budget time, around times
when they're having hearings, um, you know, and a hearing can come up on a ... on pretty
quick notice or a change in a particular policy that's being shaped, uh, or even
allocations. Um ... and so as a practical matter, it's difficult to either have staff or a
Council Member running back and forth between here and Des Moines, um ... on such
short notice, um, and then in the fall as they start to, uh ... uh, ramp up with some
committee meetings that they may get together, uh, or ... uh, subgroups get together. So
it's just ... in order to be responsive and to help craft policy ... and to whether it's being
offensive, whether it's being reactive, uh, not offensive, but offensive (laughter) uh, to
things that are happening at the State level, it's just, uh ... um, that deeper presence, and to
be able to reach not only people, uh, across parties, but just some of the committee
chair ... chair people, um, it just ... it makes sense to have that access.
Bailey/ I can understand why our delegation would be excited to have that point person, um, to
communicate with, and that person we would have the expectation to communicate with,
um, elected officials or department heads or ... or Tom or whomever needed to be
weighing in on an issue, and I think it makes a single point of entry as Ross was saying,
much ... it's much better for, um, for us and for them.
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Champion/ Oh, I totally agree! I think it's a smart move and the way this legislature's going, I
think we could have three or four of `em (mumbled) behind the game, but I'll settle for
one!
Wright/ It's certainly going to give us better access to ... what's going on.
Bailey/ Right.
Hayek/ Yeah ... to answer your specific question I think Dubuque would say that they, uh,
they've had great success with their efforts, and they pour a lot of money in ... in ... within
the building, and then they have top level assistant city managers whose sole focus, if not
almost sole focus, is government relations, um, and that's a very expensive way to
approach it. Cedar Rapids does both. They've got outside, um, lobbyists, and paid staff
who are both working on issues, and they invest quite a lot in that. And I think they feel
it's ... it's worthwhile (mumbled) and ... and you know, this is not a ... it's not a long -term
commitment, you know, we see how it goes.
Markus/ My thought would be to structure a retainer agreement filled in provisions where we
have unilateral severance provisions so that if we're not satisfied with the progress, uh,
with the relationship, that we move on and we would decide that this isn't the way we
want to go, or we, uh, can secure the services of somebody that we think might be more
compatible.
Hayek/ Is there general support to (several responding) an RFP? Okay. Thanks, Tom! Okay.
Uh, info packets. There are three.
Information Packets:
Hayek/ First is August 11th. Anything on that? Okay. Next is August 1 gth. Anything on that
info packet? And then finally August 25th, anything on that?
Karr/ The KXIC radio show.
Hayek/ Yeah!
Karr/ Assignments. Do you want to take that ... that would be in the packet, or would you rather
wait till meeting schedule?
Hayek/ Um ... whatever ... whatever you'd like to do.
Champion/ It's in the information packet for September 1St
Hayek/ Yeah. So yeah, it's ... there's actually four, which is September 1St. Anything on that?
Marian, do you want to talk about KXIC?
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Karr/ We are, uh, we have assignments through tomorrow, so I'm looking at, um, filling some
slots between the middle of September and the end of October. 141H, 21St, 28tH
Dickens/ I'll take October 51H
Karr/ October 5tH, thank you.
Dickens/ I'm on tomorrow so it should be at least a month in between.
Hayek/ I think I can do the ... I think I can do the 21St
Karr/ Thank you, Matt.
Mims/ I can do the 28tH
Karr/ Thank you. 14tH .
Champion/ I can basically do it anytime. I don't want to do it every week but (laughter)
Karr/ 14tH, Connie. (several talking) Okay. So then we are to the, um, second week in October,
the 12tH
Champion/ Who's taking the 28th9
Karr/ Susan.
Mims/ I did.
Karr/ So I have the ... and Terry's taking the 5tH, so we're to the 12tH, 19th, and 26tH
Wright/ I can do the 19tH
Karr/ 19th. Thanks, Mike.
Hayek/ I can do the one at the end of...October.
Karr/ 121H and 26tH
Hayek/ I can do 26.
Karr/ 26tH, thank you.
Mims/ You can put me down for the 12tH. I think I can do that.
Karr/ Thank you. I'll revise the schedule and place it.
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Champion/ (mumbled)
Hayek/ Thanks! Anything else on the, uh, September I work, uh, or info packet? Tom, thanks
for that white paper. I forget which one it was part of, but ... from San Jose. Very
interesting! Council time?
Council Time:
Wright/ Something I wondered, urn ... we should maybe take a look at. There's been some
discussion in the community about the notion of the ... the road diet for Gilbert Street.
Tied into an article I just read in The Economist magazine last week. Since we have a
complete streets policy, um ... wonder if that bears some investigation. In other words, do
we want to at least act like we're putting our money where our mouth is on this one.
Hayek/ John?
Yapp/ My staff has already started collecting data to do such a study, uh, largely as part of the
Riverfront Crossings planning. Uh, we're also doing a traffic signal study at Gilbert and
Court Street, at that intersection, and our... something in our minds is if it can all be tied
together.
Wright/ When do you expect to have the study done, John?
Yapp/ Uh, we're collecting the data over the fall so over the, typically over the winter.
Hayek/ If we get something from staff after you're...
Wright/ After I'm gone.
Hayek/ ...gone...
Wright/ But I can still be a thorn in your side! (laughter)
Champion/ I'm sure you will be! (laughter)
Wright/ I'll do my best!
Mims/ I know I've had some comments from people, very concerned about that potential change,
because they just feel that the volume of traffic on that in the mornings is such that
changing that to one lane each way is just not going to be sufficient to carry the traffic.
So ... I realize those are peak times, but I think the more answers we can have for people
before we move forward is a good idea.
Hayek/ Uh -huh. Good point, Mike. Other Council time items? Okay. Uh, budget. Anything
on that?
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Budget:
Markus/ Well, we're ... kind of in the process of finishing up the, uh, request message for
budgets, uh, that will be going out at the end of this week for the upcoming budget.
Hayek/ Okay.
Markus/ It's a little more conservative statement probably than it's been in the past but ... it's
kind of recognition of the times.
Hayek/ Around the corner! Okay, pending, uh, work session issues?
Pending Work Session Issues (IP2 of 9/1):
Helling/ One item that ... will change is the Executive Session regarding collective bargaining.
That's probably going to be moved back to the, uh ... third, fourth of October, uh,
meetings.
Hayek/ Okay.
Helling/ That will free up ... you have a rather heavy schedule on the 19th, and uh ... the ... early
October will work fine for the collective bargaining sessions, so...
Hayek/ Okay.
Helling/ (mumbled) or suggesting we move it.
Hayek/ All right. Thanks, Dale. Upcoming events, Council invitations?
Upcominp, Events /Council Invitations:
Hayek/ There is a function on the, uh, 1 I 1 down at City Park, which is in reference, somewhere
in these packets... is it in the ... actual packet? Okay. I just draw your attention to that. I
think it's Sunday, uh, 6:30 down at City Park. Ten -year anniversary of 911. I'll try to hit
that. Anything else?
Karr/ Mr. Mayor, you're going to try ... you will ... you will hit that? (laughter) That's g(15).
Hayek/ Strike `try to,' all right? (laughter) Uh, meeting schedules.
Meeting Schedules:
Hayek/ One thing, uh, we're going to be doing here in the next few weeks is reviews for, uh, our
three direct reports, um ... and I was talking to Marian about this. I think, unless people
want to set up a separate meeting, if we can tack this onto either the front end or the back
end of the meeting, um ... I think we can tack it onto the front end or the back end of a
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meeting (several talking) but I think we set aside half hour each, but I think that's
more ... way more than we need, um ... and uh, and just tackle all three at once.
Karr/ We ... you might, Mr. Mayor, take a look, uh, we don't anticipate that collective bargaining,
um, discussion in Executive Session to last a long time either, and we may take a look at
seeing if we could maybe combine those in October, as well, urn ... before and after, using
that same ... but realizing that I think, urn ... I think Council... Council Member Wright
may not be here the third, but we certainly can take a look at the fourth, maybe start it a
little bit early for that sole purpose, and then plan to stay a little bit later after it.
Hayek/ Great. I'll be in touch with each of you about the process. Anything else on the meeting
schedule, Marian? Okay, unless there's anything else, why don't we stop the meeting
and come back in 15 minutes for the formal. Thanks!
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work session of September 6, 2011.