HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-19 TranscriptionSeptember 19, 2011 City Council Work Session Page 1
Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Dickens, Hayek, Mims, Wilburn, Wright
Staff Present: Helling, Dilkes, Bowers, Karr, Bentley, Andrew, Hargadine, Davidson,
Fosse, Dulek, O'Brien
Others Present: Cody Graham, UISG
Council Appointments:
Hayek/ Okay, well why don't we, uh ... get started with our work session, uh, tonight. Welcome
to those of you who are in the audience. First order of business is, uh, City Council
appointments. Got one for, uh, Parks and Recreation Commission.
Wright/ Um, I was just going to speak in favor of John Thomas. I know John. I think he'd be a
very engaged member of the Commission.
Bailey/ And I was going to speak in favor of Joe Younker. Incidentally, Joe was a student of
mine, and um, I do think he brings what we're losing a little bit, um, with some of the
recent resignations and young professional representation, and I know one person cannot
represent an entire group, but that's an important perspective for us with Parks and Rec
and the other considerations that we're trying to make in that...
Wright/ Joe is ... Joe is a very good candidate, I agree.
Dickens/ I would agree with Joe. I've known him since he was a young boy and...
Bailey/ ...I have too!
Dickens/ Yes! He's very ... very strong candidate, I think.
Hayek/ He threw his hat in the ring previously, the previous opening (several talking)
Bailey/ I think so. So, I'd like to see him become more involved in our community.
Wilburn/ I'd support that.
Champion/ I will too.
Wright/ Fine with that!
Hayek/ I ... I agree about John Thomas, he's...
Bailey/ Yeah, I think it was a strong slate of candidates, without question, I mean, it's good
(mumbled)
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Wright/ Yeah, I'm very fine with it!
Hayek/ Okay, so we'll put Joe Younker up.
Wright/ Joe'll be terrific!
Karr/ Mr. Mayor, I'd also like to note we're going to be adding to the agenda, um ... a new item
for, uh... Stonebridge Estates, Item 6.k., to the Planning and Zoning. It's a resolution
approving the final plat of Stonebridge. Will be adding that as Item 6.k. tomorrow
evening. You have the staff report and the resolution in front of you this evening.
Hayek/ Okay, so that's... got it!
Karr/ Thank you.
Joint Meeting With Human Rights Commission /Sanctuary Cit- Ommigration & Building
Safe Communities OP2 of 9/8):
Hayek/ And you'll get the verbiage ... tome? Okay. Okay, next item up is the joint meeting with
the Human Rights Commission on, uh, Sanctuary City, and immigration and Building
Safe Communities issue. Uh...
Karr/ We can pull up some additional chairs, but if the Committee ... if the Commission would
like to join you at the table for the joint meeting, that'd be fine. (several talking) And if
we could have introductions so we can test the microphone, please.
Hayek/ Yeah. Before we do this, I want to introduce Cody to, uh, to the City Council and to the
rest of the room. Cody's the ... the new UISG Student Liaison and um, tonight's his first
night and want to welcome you to the ... to the cause and we look forward to working with
you.
Graham/ (mumbled) I look forward to it as well. So...
Champion/ And we hope you last more than (laughter)
Graham/ I do too. I look forward to it!
Hayek/ Okay, well why don't we, uh, let's just all do introductions and we can start with me.
I'm Matt Hayek, uh, the Mayor. I want to welcome everyone.
Goeb/ Constance Goeb.
Wright/ Mike Wright.
Mims/ Susan Mims.
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Dickens/ Terry Dickens.
Wilburn/ Ross Wilburn.
Olmstead/ Harry Olmstead.
Finnerty/ Diane Finnerty.
Townsend/ Orville Townsend.
Cowen/ Howard Cowen.
Lubaroff/ Martha Lubaroff.
Gathua/ Wangui.
Day/ Dianne Day, Chair.
Graham/ Uh, Cody Graham.
Bailey/ Regenia Bailey.
Champion/ Connie Champion.
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Hayek/ Great! Um, well we've received the ... the recommendation, um, from the Commission.
Do you want to start us off, Dianne?
Day/ Thanks.
Hayek/ Thank you!
Day/ I'd like to start off by saying we formed a subcommittee to look into the, um, issue of
immigration and those on the committees included myself, Diane Finnerty, Harry
Olmstead, and Orville Townsend. We met throughout the summer, and as you can see I
think we were relatively busy. Um, our recommendations were unanimously approved
by the Iowa City Human Rights Commission at our last meeting. As you know, last
March Council asked the Human Rights Commission to reflect on the originally proposed
Sanctuary City ordinance as well as whether any type of action to create a more
welcoming environment for immigrants was needed, excuse me, in our community. We
thank you for the opportunity to think deeply about issues of immigration in our
community, and we took this task seriously, as I hope you can recognize by the
thoroughness of the report we have submitted for your review. As introduction to
tonight's conversation, I would like to share a bit about our process in developing the
recommendations. Then Diane Finnerty will give a very brief introduction to each one of
the recommendations. As to our subcommittee's process, our goal was to step back from
the previous ordinance and understand the community's interests and needs in the area of
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immigration. To do this we, number one, listened to the community regarding the nature
and scope of concerns. To do this we, a) conducted an informal survey, We Are Iowa
City, which you can find in the appendices; b) we attended community gatherings such as
"Know Your Rights" programs and informal gatherings with immigrants and advocates;
c) we met with the Sanctuary City committee which is a subcommittee of the
Consultation of Religious Communities; d) we interviewed local law enforcement leaders
to better understand the role of secure communities and also understand what types of
training law enforcement officers currently receive; e) we are pleased that the
recommendations we submitted to you have widespread support within the community,
and we understand that you have received, or will be receiving, a letter of support from
the Consultation of Religious Communities Task Force on "Diversity, Poverty, and
Public Safety." Number two, we next benchmarked other municipalities to better
understand best practices for creating safe and inclusive communities for all. And lastly,
we reflected on what we learned and have attempted to provide for your consideration
concrete steps that we believe are implementable, pragmatic, low -cost, and will work to
strengthen the Iowa City community for all of us. The recommendations fall into two
realms — legal and ethical. In other words, some of the recommendations take to heart
what the City can and cannot do legally. But we also explored what the City of Iowa
City can proactively do, not only to ease the fear that we heard about in the local
immigrant community, but also to provide leadership on best practices. We're not only
saying that we embrace diversity and human rights as a community, but that we put that
commitment into practice, as well. I'll turn it over to Diane.
Finnerty/ Thank you all for this session and for entertaining the conversation. Um, following up
with Dianne Day said, or you'll refer to us as the "Dianes" with our hats on the
subcommittee, um, we did take seriously our ... the charge you gave us, and we're a
volunteer commission. We did some due diligence of figuring things out and listening
and the making recommendations, um, we recognize that some of the recommendations
we make are low- hanging fruit that are just ... the Council can easily, um, say,
"Absolutely." Other ones are going to take a bit more research, more deliberation, and
we recognize that as well. We did not present recommendations in any specific order of
priority. Um, we presented them to you though, we would like each recommendation
considered. Um, and voted on and uh, comments about how they or may not be doable
from your perspective. But I wanted to emphasize, we're ... we're fully aware that some
are low - hanging fruit and you could today nod your head and they're put into place. And
other ones might require a bit more and, um, I think the other thing I would add, the
entire Commission would be glad to work with you as ... as partners in getting the
research you need, um, to aid in your deliberation on the harder items. If we could
though just very quickly, it's a 9 -point plan that we came up with. Um, and this was
taking the original ordinance and ... and it was an ordinance that was first put to us, but we
looked at what was the intent behind the ordinance, what was doable, what were the
concerns of Council when you discussed it before, could we address the concerns, and
still um ... determine whether even any type of ordinance is needed and if so, what would
that look like. And so the first one was ... was that topic, because that was what we felt
like was ... was first put to us actually. Um, and as you see in the materials, uh, we do
recommend that some type of ordinance would be of use, um, both for clarification to the
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community, as well as clarification to municipal employees about the distinctions and the
differentiation between city or municipal employees, state and federal authorities, and the
role of municipal employees in immigration matters. We benchmarked several locations,
uh, to see how folks have done this. Um, and found Minneapolis -St. Paul seemed like
had the clearest language that was just very strong clarification and the, uh, the quote at
the end of that first one I think is ... is captures our, um ... sentiment on that one is that
municipal policy would therefore ensure that city services are available to all citizen, city
residents on the basis of need, and without discrimination on the basis of immigration
status, but it would also ensure that municipal funds, resources, and workers would not be
used to enforce immigration laws. So it would not be doing the work of federal
immigrant, um, enforcement officers, but would be doing the work of municipal
employees in creating a community, and so we thought the municipal one, um,
Minneapolis was an excellent model for how they came to some resolution around that.
The other we did is, um, one of the surveys we did with Stephanie Bowers', um,
assistance and we thank her for her assistance in that element, is just clarifying what
types of identification are needed to access city services currently. We are not
recommending for any policy change. We're not recommending the City go against
federal requirements, whether it be on employment, needing to fill out an 1 -9 and verify
that you're eligible to work. We're not making policy recommendations on that, simply
educational recommendations. So that if, urn ... and one of the statements that the ... I took
to heart, um, was how can we make it so that all members, residents of the city, can
participate to the degree possible in our city services. So for example would someone
feel comfortable coming to, um, a Council meeting and testifying. Would they
know ... would they expect that there would be a police officer at the door coming in,
would they be required to do any kind of identification. How might voices be heard that
aren't heard currently, and helping identify what the ... the requirements are, um, for that.
As we surveyed the city services, we found that there was a great deal of
misunderstanding about what even that question was, about identification, where
sometimes we'd get the response, `No identification needed,' and then later it would be,
yeah, proof of residence is needed or, "Yeah, a driver's licenses is needed,' or you know
different types of things, and so it'd be education to the community, as well as to
municipal employees about what is needed, and specifically if a government issued I.D. —
that is not a driver's license, so something like a (can't hear), something ... a passport
from a different country would be sufficient for government issued I.D. So, um, we feel
that's an important one to be able to increase access to services. The Human Rights
Commission, that's within our purview, but just the ... the partnership or the support for
offering public forums, as we went through our process, um, again we ran into a great
deal of misunderstanding, as well as um damaging rhetoric, um, that we think some
public education could be assistive of, and that's something within our purview, but
that ... again, we think it's something to do in partnership. The access, the city survey
...the survey data that Dianne mentioned, um, informal, uh, don't tell any, uh, faculty
member conducting research or any researcher that this a valid instrument, cause it
wasn't and we know it, but we do believe it gave more information to this issue than
we've had in the past, so we ... we did a survey. We distributed it very widely in the
community, and what came back is ... is we are recommending that you build upon the
strengths that were identified in the community, um, as well as I think it's useful if there
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was no opinion about a service that ... that could mean they could increase access and
outreach to immigrant communities. Let me clarify — immigrant to us, there are people
who are immigrants in the community or foreign born who are documented, who, um, are
here on visas, whether they be students, employees, whatever it may be, as well as
undocumented immigrants. And both ... and some of the undocumented immigrants may
be people who came here on a student visa, right, and overstayed, so visa overstayers,
and nationally it's about, what, 60% of visa overstayers. So when I reference the word,
and we reference the word immigrants, we really mean foreign -born peoples, um, that
have now come here, regardless of documentation status. Proclamation ... um, that would
be the spirit of the ordinance, in addition to the ... the pragmatic application. Um, that we
would imagine may take some more deliberation about exactly what secure communities
is. Um, in the course of our time of doing these recommendations, more and more and
more opposition to this federal program, um, has resulted around the country, including if
you caught the, um, interview by Sheriff, the Polk County Sheriff, Bill McCarthy, about
how the memorandum of understanding that Iowa signed, um, with the feds is not what is
indeed happening, and there's been stories in the Des Moines Register about the
originally stated intent of secure communities, it's not indeed what's happening on the
ground, and so we asked that from a justice perspective that Iowa City stand with the
other municipalities and ... and states that are asking for a reform of this particular, um,
piece of legislation (mumbled) a program, federal program. Couple of the other ones —
best practice model. Um ... we're aware of several groups in the community that are also
concerned about diversity issues. Um, would be on nationality, ethnicity, racial
categories, and there are models out there that are just amazing that put an entire
community through a deliberative process, in addition to kind of all community reads one
book, which could certainly be one approach to raise our education, but also looking at
our ... what we are doing, um, creating segregated communities. We're creating, um...
not these diverse communities that we say are welcoming and inclusive, but are actually
having an adverse impact, and so we are asking Council to consider that Iowa City, um,
investigate and /or employ one of these national models. There's funding resources that
we've been exploring out there for implementing these types of things that would be
throwing the weight and the, um, support of the City behind those efforts. Um, and we
cited a couple of them for you — one in Seattle, City of Seattle's Racial and Social Justice
Initiative, as well as one just for immigrants. Law enforcement, um, this is certainly one
of the concerns, or the ... the fears that we heard in the communities, of law enforcement,
and particularly misunderstanding and accurate understanding of the impact of secure
communities, and what that means at time of booking. Um, and how biometric data is
shared. Um, we have multiple points that we think could address the concerns, as well as
increase the effectiveness and the safety of officers going into volatile situations when it
comes to, uh, immigrant issues, um, as well as cultural competence issues and ... and uh,
cross - ethnic worlds. Um ... the points secure communities, again, we're not asking for
policy change, but we are asking for better community education on that. We've given
one recommendation of how that could happen with like a "Know Your Rights." Um,
the stories that are most problematic that we hear nationally is when a victim of a crime
because of language differences is ... is picked up as a result, and I don't know of a case
like that here, but it's the ones that of course you hear nationally, um, and is taken in and
booked, and once booking occurs, the biometric data is done. And so what's happening
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and the concern expressed around the country is that it's ... it's deteriorating local
immigrants' communities' trust of local law enforcement, um, which is not anything
anyone wants, and so finding ways to address that ... as one of our recommendations.
Um, monitoring of secure communities program. Again, that's what I mentioned
with ... with Polk County Sheriff, and there's different ways of...of going about doing
that, and there's models, and there's many, many places that are engaged in that type of
work. Um, one of the things that may need to be put into place is a clarification of the
standard operating procedure when someone who is Latino is picked up, because often
times given the current, uh, federal distinction between race and ethnicity, um, our
understanding is local law enforcement do not monitor ethnic, uh, identity (mumbled)
officer's discretion what race they put down and uh, there's been patterns around the
country where race is identified as white for Latinos, and so investigating issues of racial
profiling, you don't have the data. And so we don't know what the current SOP is here,
except for the ... the officer's discretion and we'd like some discussion about that.
Training and outreach, and then also diversity of law enforcement. The last two, and I'm
trying to go through them quickly but ... but give them some cursory, um, review. One is
the ... the standing Immigrant Review Committee, um, we know that often times change at
the city level is done as a result of complaints that are filed ... and we know from our
conversations, that this may not be, um, communities that come in and file a formal
complaint for understood reasons. And so are there ways to increase a... a conduit
between city government and immigrant communities, and so one of the things we're
recommending is an Immigrant Review Committee. We're playing with what the
composition is and gave some recommendations, but you can feel the spirit of what we're
recommending. And then lastly, just uh ... outreach to local immigrant communities.
Some of the fun things we thought about is using cable television and uh, expressing
welcome messages in multiple languages. Might cost a little bit, but not very much. Um,
to signage, um, to a variety of things. Holding meetings, doing some civic lessons to
increase civic participa ... there's all kinds of fun and creative things that can be done to
increase the City's outreach, so that we truly can build one inclusive, um, safe
community for everyone. And, I will stop there. I just want to emphasize that we didn't
put them in order of priority, but we would like each item, um, maybe not tonight but at
some future point to be discussed and voted on by the Council. (mumbled, several
talking)
Hayek/ Well this is pretty ... this format is pretty loose, as you identified, even if we were to
support some of these things, it would definitely require, you know, staff input, which we
have not yet really received in any formal sense, um, on this, and so ... I think the Council
should, I would just throw this out there, discuss these things. There may be some things
we can agree on now or ... or, uh, or not, um, but ... but I, you know, we don't have to
reach decisions tonight, especially if there's interest in finding out, um, what staffs'
perspective might be on a given issue or ... or recommendation, urn ... but, uh ... but we're
here and we have an opportunity for some dialog and I think that would be advisable.
Wilburn/ I just have a couple comments before I ask a couple questions. First, thank you all for
the time that you spent, uh, looking into this, you know, we ... and you were approached
about Sanctuary City and what does that mean, and I think some other concerns
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expressed on Council was, uh, in part not wanted to create, urn ... misinformation,
misunderstanding of what does that mean, sanctuary, and then just on a day -to -day basis
what does ... what does that mean and so just your careful thinking, research, surveying,
albeit, uh, loose, uh (laughter) uh ... (several talking) exactly! Exactly! Yeah, but um,
you know, I ... we really do appreciate your taking the time and perhaps if, uh, that type of
time consideration, deliberation, uh, would happen on the national level, perhaps the
passions involved on both sides of immigration issue wouldn't be, um, as strained and
complex as they are. Just ... taking the time to thank what could this mean for Iowa City,
for it to continue to be the welcome... welcoming place that we all love it for, and to, uh,
make it even more welcoming, uh, where we can, when we can for folks, uh, in different
situations. Um ... couple things stood out for me that I really liked that you (mumbled)
this again gets at what does this mean on a day -to -day basis, I mean, even just the list of,
uh, by department what is really required (mumbled) someone, a certain City service, I
think is helpful and useful, and I think a lot of Council Members may agree, you know,
we may differ on ... on certain things, but I think, uh, just so that, urn ... it's... it's human
nature if you're working in a place and you see someone ask for a certain bit of
information then you just assume that, well, I need to ask for that information, and then it
becomes, urn ... habitual and it becomes the unwritten rule that, uh, if you try and track
down the origins of that, uh, no one seems to know or it may be totally unrelated to what
people are requiring. So that, I think, is very helpful. Um ... I think one of the other
concerns that came up was not wanting to, um ... I ... I know Council will correct me if I'm
wrong, but not wanted to, um, put a staff member in the position of, uh, fielding whether
implicitly or ... or ... or directly that they couldn't or shouldn't respond to a subpoena, not
wanting to ... clearly not wanting to put someone in that particular, uh, situation. Um,
couple clarifications that, just so that I can understand where we're going. I kind of
jotted some notes, urn ... on the fifth one on ... this is just more for clarifications. Are you
asking for a Mayor's proclamation or a Council resolution, uh, a Mayor's proclamation,
just FY, we don't really ... it's really at the discretion of the Mayor, um, we don't,
um ... have a ... a, uh, process necessarily for the Mayor to issue a ... a proclamation. Um...
resolution, that's typically how things would appear ... so that's ... what were you thinking,
or do you ... did you realize there was a distinction or...
Day/ I think basically what we were looking at as far as that type of thing, it's not really a legal
document, but leadership on probably what we could figure to be more of a human rights'
issue. I mean, we here at this table cannot deliberate immigration law, you know, that's
for the federal government.
Wilburn/ Uh -huh.
Day/ But my position is what we can deal with is the residents of Iowa City.
Wilburn/ Right.
Day/ And, so ... with the added data now that's out, or seems to be out about the secure
communities and their own numbers on the arrests.
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Wilburn /Uh -huh.
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Day/ That is just supporting that basic premise that, and I don't want to put words in your mouth,
well, maybe I might! Um, but ... but...
Wilburn/ I may not let you, but go ahead! (laughter)
Day/ Um, it's ... it's where, what is the intent of secure communities, and if it is indeed to ... to,
"deport serious criminals," well, I don't know that too many people would object to that,
but if someone as a result of this was put through their procedure for lack of fishing
license or broken tail lights or, you know, I mean, in their own words they were saying
that's what ... it was not intended to do but statistics are starting to show. Their own
statistics are different (mumbled) information, so it's something in support of that.
Finnerty/ And I think probably our hope would be that it would be a Council resolution because
it would be a statement of the Council versus the individual Mayor. (mumbled)
...leadership. (mumbled) No, we didn't know the difference (both talking)
Wilburn/ Okay, I just wanted ... I just wanted to, so that we're clear what's... what's being asked
for. Um, a second thing ... um, I didn't have a chance to take a look at the City of
Seattle's, uh, model there, but uh ... just so that I'm clear, are you, um, how will this
enhance current commission activities? Is this just more formal of a, and maybe a more
comprehensive approach than the education and outreach efforts the commission has
already done or ... talk me through that a little bit.
Finnerty/ And we're still investigating different models, but that one was put forward as not just
an educational effort, but as a, uh, looking at policy issues, for example; looking at the
institutionalization of, um, disparate impact that's unintentional, but that is indeed having
disparate impact, so it's much more around, um, looking at systemic and institutional
areas of practice...
Wilburn/ Similar to the example I pointed out about asking certain, for instance certain
documentation and (both talking)
Finnerty/ ...but there's no intentional bias or intentional anything, but the ... our policies and
practices result in, and so it's a ... it's a community-wide ... it's educational certainly in
nature, but it's with a, um, there's a web site, there's a commitment from the City that we
stand in opposition to, um, in support of racial and social justice, and in opposition to
unintentional ways that we may be, uh, creating disparate impact.
Wilburn/ Okay. And uh ... this is just a clarification. Uh, it's the Johnson, or the Crisis Center of
Johnson County, not the Iowa City Crisis Center, so...
Finnerty/ Number...
Wilburn/ Number, uh, number 7 (several talking and laughing) Crisis Center of Johnson County.
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Finnerty/ Okay.
Wilburn/ Um ... I just have one or two others, Council, so thanks for your patience. Um ... another
clarification was, uh, and this ... I don't know where we'll end up on this particular one,
but this is an item that is going to need a little of that, uh ... uh, considerate, deliberate
thought that you all went through. The standing Immigration... Immigrant Review
Committee, um, you talked about it being a conduit, and maybe a place for someone who
may not be, uh, prone to filing a ... a complaint. Um ... and this is just kind of a logistical
thing ... um ... we have a challenge, um, with maintaining full membership on some of our
existing commissions, and so can you talk me through a little bit more, um, why create
another committee, how could this not ... could this not be, uh, just a subcommittee of the
Human Rights Commission, talk me through your thinking there.
Day/ I'd like to, uh, I think address that. And that I think basically what I found in visiting with
different, um, different groups, both immigrant groups, um, professionals, is that the
perceptions are totally different. It's almost like two different worlds. And so today all
I'm saying is I don't see communication with the existing structure. Now how that's
fixed I'm not sure. This would be a possibility. I understand that it's hard to fill
commissions and advisory groups and that type of thing, um ... it could be underneath the
Human Rights Commission. As for the structure, I ... it was, to me it's a conduit or a way
to ... to try to engage different parts of the community to dispel myths, on both sides.
Wilburn/ Yeah. And ... and there are many solutions to a particular issue, and I'm just ... I'm just
wondering is creating another commission the answer. Does that ... does that get at the
answer?
Day/ (both talking) ... a commission. It could be a subcommittee of the City Council, the Human
Rights Commission. It's just to me a recognized body that you recognize, to have it have
some status, where someone could feel more relaxed in visiting with that group, as
opposed to filing a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, or filing something
with the City Council, which very frankly is very scary, to most of the people I've talked
to. So (mumbled)
Townsend/ And, Ross, I, you know, I feel that we should have a separate committee for this.
I ... I would support, you know, our recommendation. I was kind of torn being on this
committee and, you know, when I first got on the committee it was no big deal, but the
more I began to learn, I began to feel a little awkward and what it came down to is with
this particular issue, there's a big elephant in the room, and we don't often talk about it.
You know, I think we've got a lot of different variables that need to be addressed, you
know, we need to address, you know, how do we welcome individuals to our community
so that they can get everything that they're entitled to and all services are available to
them, but at the same time, I look at our law enforcement, you know, they have a job to
do. They have responsibilities and whatever we do we basically need to make sure that
while we are making an advantage for one individual we're not making a disadvantage
for another individual. And, I think we need to get that elephant out of the room and
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basically put the issues in the center of the room, and focus on them. I mean, this is a
very unique, uh, situation and I think we better address it separated from everything else
and dealt with separately.
Wilburn/ I'll stop monopolizing the time and allow my colleagues to question or comment.
Champion/ Well, my question was ... don't people have the right to go to your Commission if
they have a problem? Already? Or they have to go to the staff? What... what works with
that? If somebody has a problem, a social problem (mumbled). If somebody has a
problem with their human rights, who do they actually go to? (several talking) Yeah,
they go to staff. But that would go then to your Commission?
Day/ What I'm saying is that ... that's the way the system is set up, absolutely, and we think, well,
as you said, that's where you would go, but what I'm saying is that the perception in
various communities is that they're afraid, because of either past, and I'm just saying
that. They're not right, you're not right, I mean, or wrong or whatever, but ... but it's a
way of getting a, um, a system of some sort that bridges the gap. And I'm saying that we
do have the structure. All I'm saying is, there's a whole big part of the community that is
not understanding that that's the structure and that it's a safe structure. And by us saying
that it's a safe structure, and a safe way of doing it, is not working. I mean, I've
suggested in a couple of small conversations to go to, um, the Human Rights
Commission, or to, um, file a complaint with the Police Department or to attend a City
Council meeting. And it's like ... done! I mean, I can see it right there. The wall goes up
and it's the end of the conversation. So that's my ... my own personal experience.
Champion/ Why do you think another commission would be different?
Day/ That if it's not the City Council, if it's not the Human Rights Commission, and if it's made
up of individuals from leaders of their community, that they trust, with members of the
Human Rights Commission by virtue of its name, would be safe, um, that if you have
some kind of representation from the police, just from the stand point of...perceptions of
what should be going on or not be going on at a point of arrest. I've heard so many
stories that sound so farfetched that ... that different people believe, and I'm just saying
that would be a clearing house then for both sides to ... to discuss the issue. Does that
make sense?
Champion/ Yeah, but I'm going to push the issue a little bit more.
Day/ Okay.
Champion/ Why do you think that would be different than going t the Human Rights Coordinator
or to you in the beginning? Why would that be different? It's still an...
Day/ No, I think it's very different, cause right now if somebody went to either one of those
committees, as far as I know, there are no, uh, immigrants...
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Bailey/ Well, that's my question. You're talking about a systemic change, but I actually think
what you're calling for is a process change. That is to say, have more representation on
perhaps within the systems that we already have existing. Now that doesn't necessarily
mean that any governmental system will feel accessible to everyone, because it's ... it's
daunting to interact with, um, in the halls of power, no matter who you are really, and
then we have additional barriers is what we understand, but I think what Connie, and I
think what maybe others have similar questions about ... why would this be different, but
what I hear you saying is, we need representation. We need visible community leaders
who are connected to the communities that we want to reach, rather than, um, and so I'm
not absolutely certain that I agree with your analysis that we need a separate committee,
but I do agree with what I hear you saying about representation and I think that that's
something we've been concerned about for quite some time. I think we could use a lot of
training and help and outreach to get that kind of representation and that kind of diversity
all throughout all of our systems.
Townsend/ (mumbled) ...if I had an issue personal issue that I feel that I've been wronged, I
would go to the Human Rights Committee, and that would be one process, but I'm seeing
this as a separate process. One that's going to basically take a different... different
approach, you know, like questions like how do we get individuals to be more
comfortable in the community, become a part of the community. Um, you know...
initiate planning and things is going to basically improve the process, I mean, not the
process but the situation that we have so whether or not it's another committee, uh,
maybe another process, but I think if something like (mumbled) we've got a lot of
individuals out there that feel disconnected.
Day/ And if you say you've been trying to do that for...
Bailey/ Well, we've talked about diversity issues or getting representation (mumbled) I mean,
since I've been on Council, which has been eight years. I think we recognize what those
challenges are and ... and you're bringing it up again, with a different population and a
particular community, and I think, um, I think it does need to be addressed. I'm not
sure ... we need a separate committee. We may find as we begin to address it that we do.
Day/ How are you going to assess that? The establishment, or the value of a committee like this,
I mean, what process would you go through?
Champion/ (mumbled)
Bailey/ Fundamentally I think looking at what its goals and objectives are, where those are
occurring or not occurring, what the gaps are in our current systems.
Day/ So my question I guess would be, would you consider talking to say the, um, leaders of the
Latino community or the leaders of the Latino churches, to see what ... what their feelings
are on how this ... on how more representation could be accomplished? Since they're the
group essentially, excuse me, one of the major groups that's not represented.
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Bailey/ Well of course, but I think the question that I have is, where are the ... where are the gaps
and what's the distinction of this committee about the kinds of issues it would be
addressing?
Day/ How can you address what the issues are if you're not...
Bailey/ That's what I'm asking you!
Day/ Well I think that's why we have the...
Bailey/ No, you've made the recommendation to have this. So, how did you see it as distinct
from our current... current systems? That's what I'm asking.
Finnerty/ This might be one of the items that requires greater deliberation (mumbled) as Ross
was saying, that there's multiple solutions to a... an identified problem, and we certainly
have kind of in our hearts and in our minds the stories of peoples who certainly in
this ... in this town are facing great injustice, whether it be, um, employers withholding
wages that were rightly earned, whether it be threats, um, whether it be violence, whether
it be, uh, all kinds ... we know, in our hearts and our minds we ... we have heard of the
injustices, and then also the concern that there's no place to take them. So I think part of
our city is ... city's culture is do we want some way to identify, or create an avenue,
whether the committee's the right way. I think it's ... I think it's important that these are
the ... these stories are heard at a municipal level, instead of just left invisible, and
leave ... the rest of us go on with business as usual. So I ... I would agree with Ross that
there's multiple solutions to an identified problem. We ... are glad to help and connect
with the leaders who also know of the identified problems, and then brainstorm together
how to get the solution. This is one proposal for that.
Wilburn/ And one of the things that, um, I ... reminded me as Orville was talking was, um, you
know, Connie, you brought up the, you know, why don't go to our investigators.
There's... there's a multitude of reasons why someone won't go to, uh, an ... an
investigator or to file a complaint, um... some of them perceived by the individual.
Others some real practical things that come up, but I think assumptions, presumptions on
both sides, um ... experiences that I have had, um ... someone, um, you know, issues of
national origin come up and uh, well, I don't want to trouble you with this. It may not be
a complaint that they want to file, but there's a... a misunderstanding, misperception that
they have that having some other individuals, regard... whatever the format, would be
decided that, urn ... essentially will help try to bridge that gap to provide them the
information, maybe, uh, you know, there's uh ... maybe they do have some type of status,
but there's a perception that if I somehow I may be detained, deported, and even
just ... the feeling of having to go through that process or the questioning may be a barrier,
so ... I ... I'm thinking that not necessarily complaint- driven, but just as you experience life
in the community, and those are those issues that I think, um, at least that's what I was
reacting to as Orville was talking. So, you know, I ... we can get to whatever that
(mumbled) but I think that is one thing that would require some time just to kind of think
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what, what are the issues, what are the avenues of trying to get there, and then how can
we agree to get there so...
Gathua/ (mumbled) ...the Council can approach it from the ... in places like the University of
Iowa to approach some of the issues from ... foreign-born people. Sometimes they have
places like the International Office which kind of, it's part of the University of Iowa, but
it also ... it's also an avenue that a foreign -born student (mumbled) an international
student will go through before they finally get to the, maybe the graduate college...
Center for Diversity, is also another approach. And, in Iowa we also have refugee
centers, which also (mumbled) before they finally get to (mumbled) in Iowa, in
the ... yeah, maybe before you get to the Johnson County offices. So when I look at this
city, sometimes the Human Rights Commission doesn't really, sometimes somebody I'll
give an example of a Kenyan (mumbled) because I'm on the Human Rights Commission,
before they come directly to the Human Rights Commission. I don't know whether... sort
of giving some sort of idea. We do have the Human Rights Commission. We ... those
things are there, but there's something missing, some link missing, as Dianne was saying,
to link these foreign - born... community members in our city. And, that's a way we could
approach it. And the issue of representation that you are talking about, some (mumbled)
because it's still there but it's not working. So that's what we could ... we could approach
it that way, what others have done.
Townsend/ Another way to look at it is that there appears to be a definite need to build bridges,
and the Human Rights Commission is not set up to do that. It's set to deal with specifics,
but if we have a separate commission that has the right composition of individuals
assigned to it, then we've got ... a more in -depth grip on things, you know, we can find
out exactly what we're dealing with, what needs to be done, and I think it'll be much... a
much more fair process because it's much more specific to that specific issue.
Hayek/ Let me kind of share with you where ... where I am on this. Um ... there ... my reaction
kind of falls into two camps. There are things ... there are recommendations in here and
things that have, uh, been added to the recommendations in this ... in this conversation
that ... that resonate with me. I think it makes perfect sense to me why they're ... why
someone would be reluctant to, uh, express a grievance. Um, there are cultural language
barriers and other barriers, um, to that kind of, uh, communication. Um, and I think we
can do more as a community to overcome those, and as Mr. Townsend said, and ... I'm
going to call you Mr. Townsend until the day I die because I played baseball in your
backyard (laughter) 30 years ago, uh...
Champion/ Did you break a window? (several talking and laughing)
Hayek/ Uh ... build those bridges. Um, and I, you know, as it ... if it's ... if it's better outreach, if
it's, uh, soliciting and recruiting liaisons, um, to, um, various communities or
populations; if it's um, improving the avenues for, uh, communication and expression of
grievances, um, as Regenia said, changing of our processes; um, I think those things are
things we ... we should explore. Um, the other camp that represents my feelings thus far
in this, um, uh ... and I want to, well, I want to preface these comments with ... with this.
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In the last week I spent a significant amount of time, um, representing two clients, uh, on
a legal pro bono basis in which, uh, A to Z the entire transaction, uh, was in Spanish and
one was a documented immigrant and one was not. Um, and I feel like I have a fairly
good appreciation of the challenges, at least of that segment of our immigration
population, um ... but, but my feeling, um, is that as a general matter, it's ... it's not an
appropriate function for city government to pass judgment on federal matters.
Um... and... and I think it's a... a... it could... it can create precedence we, uh, don't fully,
um, appreciate and A ... opens us up for having to explain why we're weighing in on a
federal, uh, matter of one kind but not another. I have strong opinions on... on a
multitude of federal matters, laws, programs, etc., and I take great issue with the way
things are done, uh, in Washington, and I take great issue with our immigration laws, but
it's one thing to have those personal views. It's another thing for a local government,
um, to, uh, as a matter of policy, uh, pass judgment on those things, and so that's where I,
um, come up short. Um...
Day/ You're talking about the one...
Hayek/ Well, the ... the proclamation, I mean, it's ... (several talking)
Finnerty/ So the clarification, the ... the ordinance where it's not... statement against federal but
(both talking) no, number one the ordinance, the municipal ordinance. It just clarifies the
role of municipal employees, really makes no statement about federal policy, just makes
a statement about municipal policy, but the one that you're mentioning is number... five,
around the City Council resolution? And secure communities.
Hayek/ Yeah, and I ... I'd have to delve in more on number one because it seems to me number
one is awfully close to an official pronouncement on a federal program or law. Uh, but
I'm open to ... to studying that more, but ... but that's where I come ... at these issues. I ... I
take a conservative view of... of the function of local government. I certainly didn't run
for City Council on ... on federal, on national issues, um, and ... and I ... I worry that ... that
taking, uh, stands on certain national issues opens us up for criticism for either taking or
not taking stands on other issues. But I still think there's a way for us to, um, reach out to
these communities, that are underrepresented and ... and often lack a voice. And I'm
absolutely open to that.
Finnerty/ The one thing I'd say, and I do think there's a distinction between one and five. One
being a municipal clarification; the other being more of a ethical... proclamation I
suppose, but... our... our hope in our recommendations is not to ask Council ... to ... to
deliberate and come to a unified voice on federal immigration policy because (laughter) I
would love that! I would love to live in a community where we would have the
wherewithal to do that and be the only place in the United States where that is the case,
and speak as one voice on federal immigration policy, um, I would desperately
and ... and ... I would be delighted and very proud to be in a place where that can happen.
That's not what we're recommending! But, when federal policy has a local impact, that's
the statement on secure communities I think you're seeing show up, um, all over the
country, in terms of the impact, um, both in terms of local communities' trust in law
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enforcement, um, whether it be the, uh, what's happening in county jails in the ... whether
the county and city dollars that are going to the, um, unnecessary in some ways, uh,
detention and then booking and then etc., etc., so I ... I would support that we cannot make
a ... again, I would adore ... I would love that! Ain't gonna happen! But, to the extent that
federal programs have an impact, a local impact, I would absolutely think it would be the
responsibility, um, as well as the role, of city government in making a statement about
local impact. So, we can debate maybe the degree of the impact and what that means, but
again, I would be very proud to be part of a community that ... that is doing the work to
state what that impact is, um, and that it's problematic.
Townsend/ I have a lot of respect for your concerns, you know, and I think take one and five and
put `em together in terms of how we deal with `em. I think in terms of trying to make
national law and things like that, that's not going to be appropriate, and it's not going to
work. I think one and five, this whole thing is ... I think what we're talking about is
change. You know, we're talking about change. And we're talking about change in our
community. How do we handle it, how do we approach it, how do we (mumbled)? Are
we going to tolerate change or are we going to embrace change? All we're doing is ... is
suggesting that as a community we embrace the changes that are occurring around us in
our community.
Bailey/ And, Matt, I certainly agree with what you said about, you know, taking a stand or
responding, but as community leaders we also have a responsibility to lead, um, in regard
to the people in our community. So I think finding where that line is for this group, and
determining what we can do because we ... we know that there are concerns. And we
know that there are things, as you know with your experience, that we need to address,
and so where are those within this recommendation, and where can we show community
leadership to be the leaders of the people who live within our community, um, walking
that fine line, knowing that we're not going to necessarily weigh in on ... on federal
immigration law, and I think that there are some recommendations here that we could
take on and then I think that there are some worthy of further discussion. I ... I would like
to discuss in greater detail what, you know, what number one might look like. What, you
know, where is everybody comfortable with that, or ... or are people completely not
comfortable with that, but just number two, for example, getting really clear on what
types of identifications are required for City services. As Ross said, you know, these are
policies that are developed through habits. Um, changing our language to make City
services more accessible to all people, just using, um, a government issued I.D., versus a
driver's license, makes a huge difference in whether I feel that that's successful to me, or
whether I feel like it can produce the appropriate documentation. And so I think that
there are some things here that we could really take on that are applicable to the people
who are living in our community.
Champion/ I think that's a good point. When you go to get your driver's license that you've lost,
and I've lost mine many times (laughter) all you really need is mail or a bank statement
with your address on it. You don't need a picture I.D.
Finnerty/ To get a driver's license?
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Champion/ To get a driver's license. So (both talking)
Finnerty/ Yeah.
Champion/ (mumbled) take care of.
Wilburn/ You know ... and, this will be part of the further conversation that we'll have, this ... in
terms of role and, you know (mumbled) on number one and number five, um ... just
looking back ... on my time on Council, um ... a couple examples of how that played it out,
how I resolved that for myself. Um ... I think back to an example where I was willing to,
um, support a resolution, at least the, uh (mumbled) resolution against racial profiling.
We do, uh, through the City Manager, impact on local law enforcement; um, we did the
study; there were some other things I think that came up around, uh, that particular issue.
Um, so that was an area where I was willing to issue, um, a resolution. I remember back,
um, when a question about, um ... a resolution against, um, against the, um ... uh, Iraq war
came up and, urn ... you know, this gets in to how you define local impact and people
would say, well, there's National Guard here in town. They're impacted, families ... yes
they are. City government doesn't control the National Guard. In that instance I wasn't
willing to support a resolution against the war. I did, however, uh ... as an individual
Council Member, urn ... write to our representatives, uh, in D.C., stating my concerns that,
concerns that, uh, expressed by constituents, and so ... um ... you know, even flushing
things out like number two, I mean, I think there's a distinction between poten... again,
we'll need to discuss (mumbled) but I think there's a distinction... um, from the examples
in Minneapolis and St. Paul's ordinances that talk about, well, in this community and
how this impacts staff that we do pass policy on, related to ... through the City Manager, I
think, uh, could be an area that could be done. Uh ... as opposed to that broader
resolving... federal immigration (mumbled). I just throw it as an example of how I feel
that I've tried to create those distinctions.
Wright/ I'm thinking somewhat along those same lines, Ross. That old saw that all politics is
local, um ... comes into play I think in a number of these, you know, what they're talking
about, the local initiative, a local resolution, urn ... um ... clarifying municipal employees'
authority. Uh, we're talking about some communities that don't have a voice right now.
And I think it's incumbent upon this Council to take a very careful deliberation on some
of these issues. Um ... there's also... there's... a message that's going to be heard locally
with far more volume than will be heard nationally, for example, if we were to, uh,
approve such an ordinance. There's quite a bit of volume just changing the language in
our City (mumbled) Regenia pointed out; saying driver's license to government issued
I.D. So I think there are some, a number of points that we could, and in my opinion,
should take some sort of an action. And I'd certainly be willing to, uh, consider some of
these issues in, uh, in more depth and more detail, with some input from staff. I think
staff have some important perspectives to share.
Mims/ Yeah, I think it's ... I think one of the first things, and ... and again, I echo what Ross, and
really appreciate all the time and effort that ... that you've put into this and you know
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bring us perspective that ... with some depth that we don't necessarily, uh, haven't had
and so helping us to get up to speed on some of this. Um, I, again, I see some of the same
issues that a number of the other Councilors, um, have indicated. I think there's that
issue, uh, conundrum between federal and state, and ... and exactly what we are
comfortable in terms of putting in in terms of language and what that does. I ... when we
had discussed this early on, I ... I expressed at that point and I still feel this way, that
concern about anything that gets us labeled in ... in the document or not as a Sanctuary
City, and sometimes you don't have to have it in your language, but just certain things
you do, um, gives you that, and what... and what that says to people, that we may
(mumbled) not want to be said. Do we want a safe environment for people? Yes,
entirely, I mean, I have no concerns about that at all. Do we want people to be able to
access services that they have a right to access? Yes, no question about it. And so I think
as ... that's an area that I need a lot more discussion and deliberation on in terms of...of
what we would do with those. Completely agree with other things that Council Members
have said in terms of, you know, clarifying types of, you know, identification that people
need. I think we need to have staff look at that and see where they think it's already very
clear, where they think, oh yeah, we could make some improvements here, uh, and ... and
help people out. I have the same concerns other people expressed about, um, a separate
commission. Um, I ... at least on the surface, and my initial reaction, I ... I would like to
see it be some kind of a subset, maybe of the Human Rights Commission some way,
rather than adding another one. We already have on our work session agenda at some
point in the future to look at consolidating or getting rid of some of our commissions
because of the incredible amount of staff time that goes to some of them, we have trouble
filling spots in those. Not to diminish the importance of this at all. I think this is
incredibly important, but to find a way that we might be able to dovetail it effectively and
meet the needs that are out there, but dovetail it with something, um, that already exists.
I think getting things, you know, into different languages, uh, you know, I think we need
to talk about that. I (mumbled) lot of programs at the University; let's get some of those,
uh, foreign language students at the University doing a project for class of taking some of
our city documents and translating them for us, uh ... (several talking) yeah, things like
that where, you know, if they can get a grade for it, doesn't cost us anything, they learn,
you know, doing (mumbled) things like that. Um ... always interested in seeing, uh, the
Police Department increase their diversity. I know it's always a challenge, um, when
you're living in a state like Iowa to increase the diversity, whether it's at the University, I
mean, they struggled with it for years in many different areas, and certainly the Police
Department, I think, has ... has worked at it, and uh, some progress. Not as much
certainly as we would like. Um, training and outreach, I think for all the staff, whether
it's Police or not. I think we need to step back and look at what's already being done,
um, I ... you know, in saying ... in seeing it in here, um, I do not take the assumption that
they're not doing it, uh, or not doing enough. Um, maybe they are; maybe they aren't. I
think it's something we have to look at, you know, in more detail and ask those questions
and see, um, you know, if there are ways of improving and doing some things differently,
but certainly not jump out in front and criticize, uh, until I know more (mumbled). I
just ... I really want to express my appreciation for ... for the time and effort and detail that
you've gone into, um ... and the fact that I ... I feel very confident that this Council takes
this really seriously and will put a lot of time into, uh, deliberating the different points
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and trying to find (mumbled) will find areas where we can improve that may not be
everything that you've come forward with, but I think we'll see a lot of progress as we
move forward.
Day/ (several talking) Um, I may have come on a little strong earlier with you guys (laughter).
Um, I have a ... a, I mean, I understand that you ... you want to discuss this and there are a
lot of different things here, again, some are easy, some we all interpret differently.
Actually we all interpret it differently here, and we've all been in the community for a
long time. I found, and what you may or may not understand, is that a number of these
recommendations came from discussions with the immigrant community, and the
strongest feeling that I came away from that was they're looking at me or Diane
and ... and, any of us, and saying, we've never been asked. Nobody asked us. What
might a solution be? Now, we could say, well, come to the City Council! Well, that is
out of their, in general, reality system. So ... my hope is that when you ... do some
investigation that you check with staff, but not maybe just with staff, but if you can, um,
reach out to different communities, to maybe it's not at a meeting like this, but maybe
over a cup of coffee (mumbled) find out recommendations from them. I would ... that's
what I was really trying to say.
Finnerty/ And if I may, I think what I'd also like to do is thank you for your deliberation. I think
you had something before that was a bit more general and so our goal was to give you
concrete, again, implementable actions that we believe would, um, implement the spirit
as well as the, um, practical applications of the ... the previous called upon ordinance and
so to the extent that we've done that, we thank you for your deliberation of us trying to
make your job doable! Um, and uh, it's been a joy to both work with my Commissioners,
and also with the communities about this, um, as Dianne said, that ... that some of them do
fall within purview of legal or municipal, you know, more policy, not changes, but policy
clarifications. Some of them are ethical and ... and um ... might I also state since the
original Sanctuary City, uh, ordinance came from the religious communities, and the
Consultation of Religious Communities, some of them are actually moral issues and... as
you deliberate, I think that is what stance we want Iowa City to take. As we think about
signage, I'm ... I'm familiar being in local businesses where they have some signage that
isn't translated, but it's the signage regarding shoplifting. So that they can make sure that
there's language about don't shoplift or you'll be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,
but nothing about we welcome you; our sales are on Thursday; come on in! Um, and so
the ... the (several talking) environment and the tone that is sent is also an impact of the
federal immigration debate and the elephant in the middle of the room as... as Mr.
Townsend said, um, is this elephant that we know that there is a great deal of, uh, anti -
immigrant sentiment in our nation right now, um, and it shows up in those types of
things. It shows up that we think that people documented or not in our community are
taking away from rather than adding to our community. I don't know the percentage, and
your City Manager may, about the percentage of foreign -born in Iowa City, but
it's... continues to grow, and in fact in most places in Iowa is the only representation of
population growth, in multiple areas, contributions to our labor force, contributions to our
tax base, contribution to our ... the richness of the communities, um ... and so any
(mumbled) in any of the restaurants, if any of us live in new constructions, if any of us,
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uh, have clothing on our back, you need to give honor to the labor that got it there, and
decide kind of which side also we want ethically and morally to stand on these issues,
and I ... I thank you for your deliberation. Our hope is that since this came up in this
current Council that you all will deliberate and at least vote each item, um, and the intent,
if not the specifics of, um, during this ... this current configuration of Council, cause it's
been a long (laughter) process and it may need to be revisited, but we do ask for a vote to
come to close of...of this Council since you were the ones that, um, directed it to us as a
commission.
Mims/ And I would just add to that too, Diane. Didn't think of it necessarily in that way, but as
you put it very specifically. The specificity of these recommendations is very nice, I
mean, I think it makes it I think much easier as a Council to look at these and kind of go
through one by one, or even combining, that there's very specific recommendations that
make it much easier for us to analyze and deliberate as we go forward. So appreciate
that.
Hayek/ We'll take this internally and figure out, we'll work with Eleanor's office and the City
Manager's office and figure out how to proceed. Yeah, and a collective thank you for
your... for your work. Yours is self -less work, um, you know, you're repaid as volunteers
in karma (laughter) urn ... but the ... the time you ... you devoted to this and the seriousness
with which you approached it, uh, is reflected not only in this document, but in this
dialog.
Day/ And again, I like ... would like to stress it was a lot of time from the immigrant community
that took the time.
Hayek/ (both talking) Right! I know this does not originate with this group, but in some (both
talking) yep!
Wilburn/ Should we, um, as Council Members, um, kind of get our initial thoughts about these or
were we going to have questions, to Marian's office for them to kind of compile to see if
there's ... to be able to decide ... (several talking) how, you know...
Hayek/ Yeah. What's...
Wilburn/ To give them a gauge on what timeframe it would take to ... how much of a work
session for the future to...
Wright/ I was just going to say, we ... we do need to work to get this scheduled. It's not
a ... especially with the current Council, there's not a lot of time left. (several talking)
Bailey/ There's not!
Hayek/ I don't know, urn ... this will be a priority, urn ... how quickly we get back on this, I don't
know, but we'll make every effort to get back... get it back sooner and with this current
Council. Um ... we need to hear from staff on ... on some of these things that are, for
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example, the Police Department issue. We haven't gotten, you know, any input on ... on
that. I believe a lot of things are done in terms of training and things... and outreach, uh,
that we need to know about, but you know, we need to hear from ... from t hem.
Wilburn/ (several talking) ...think about this, I guess. What I'm suggesting is (mumbled) if
it ... will it be helpful to help frame the staff frame the discussions if we can give them
our, just initial thoughts or, you know, I would like more information on number blank,
or uh, number blank and blank seem to be a low - hanging fruit to me that we could (both
talking)
Hayek/ ...prepared to do that now, uh, do you want to do that now?
Wilburn/ I wasn't necessarily thinking of doing it tonight, but I meant for the next ... to get that
by the next, so we ... our next work session at least ... that could be tallied or ... (several
talking)
Dilkes/ I think...
Bailey/ ...tonight and just give some initial questions (both talking)
Wilburn/ I ... whatever ... works...
Bailey/ ...how people are prepared for this but...
Wilburn/ I don't either know how, yeah.
Bailey/ It' pretty...
Dilkes/ I think there ... when staff is going through, I mean I can't speak for Tom I guess but
when staff is going through here, there will be obvious things that we think you need
some information on to make an informed decision, and we'll give you those. IF there's
specific questions that you have about information you would like, get, yeah, I mean, I
think getting that question to Marian and we'll just staff 11 take it as we work through it is
fine.
Wright/ I think it'll probably be more efficient for everybody's time if we just ... you have the
recommendations now. Staff has these recommendations as they exist. If those could be
parceled out to appropriate staff for research, and then come back to us in a work session,
and we get questions to you in the meantime.
Dilkes/ I assume that's what we'll be doing, that if there's... if you do have a specific question
about information you need, you might as well send it to us now while we work ... work
through that.
Hayek/ Regenia, you look like you've got some questions (both talking)
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Bailey/ ...a lot about number eight, and ... and one of the things that I would like to clarify, I
mean, Dianne D. pointed out that these suggestions came from, you know, the immigrant
community, but I ... I would really like to go back and get a sense, um, about, I mean, you
were very specific about the charge of the Human Rights Commission, and for us to more
fully understand it and see if... if something could be added on, if outreach could... if
bridge- building could be added on to this commission, if that's a realistic charge given
your other responsibilities and the charges, and get a better sense of ... of...what we
currently have in place and then where the gaps are. So I'm not sure that that's
completely a staff question, but maybe Stephanie working with the Human Rights
Commission could establish some of that ... that information. Seems we've spent so much
time on that particular item.
Day/ (mumbled) that we suggested there is appropriate, I mean...
Bailey/ Oh, I don't know.
Day/ With, I mean, we have like, you know, a couple from the Human Rights Commission and
some from the immigrant community, couple from the community, a police review,
maybe somebody on the City Council. Just ... there you've got...
Bailey/ But off the top of my head I don't right now understand completely the charge of the
Human Rights Commission. I mean, I know it, and I know that you deal with official
matters, and I know that you do reviews of cases, but understanding the distinction and
could the bridge - building come or originate from this commission or not. That's... that's
all I'm asking. (several talking)
Townsend/ ...I mentioned bridge building, and I'd like to add education to that, because there is
a great need for education, you know, to individuals coming to our community.
Bailey/ Right.
Day/ The commissioners charge is education. We don't ... deal with any complaints. So, from
that standpoint.
Finnerty/ But ... you want that question settled, about what's the Human Rights Commission do
(several talking)
Wright/ Could this be expanded or...
Bailey/ Providing additional information, that's a question that I have specifically for staff and
the ... the Commission.
Finnerty/ We'd be glad to work with Stephanie on...
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Bailey/ And then number two, is the list that you provided with the types of identification, have
we done a complete survey? I mean, I think we all saw that as a potential, something to
address pretty easily. Do we have all the (several talking)
Hayek/ Okay, well, as Eleanor suggested, let's, uh, as we review these in anticipation of when
this next comes up on a work session, communicate your personal information requests to
her, uh, or whatever staff person will be working with her.
Dilkes/ Let's get `em to Marian.
Hayek/ Marian?
Dilkes/ Uh -huh.
Hayek/ Okay.
Finnerty/ And ... and does it seem possible and, um, that this can be addressed during this
Council? On an actual agenda and the voting on the items and ... just to give the
continuity (several talking)
Wright/ I think certainly some of these could have (several talking)
Hayek/ I think Mike's right. Yeah. (several talking)
Day/ ...pretty basic that did not include (mumbled)
Hayek/ Yeah. So I think the answer is ... yes to some, and (several talking) and I ... I struggle to
be any more specific than that (laughter)
Champion/ But I also do think you have to have some faith in the next Council too (mumbled)
Finnerty/ I don't think it's lack of faith. I think it's that (mumbled)
Champion/ Some things get drawn out a lot longer than we want them to, but (several talking)
Wright/ Sometimes when you have some momentum...
Hayek/ Yep!
Day/ One or two steps out of...
Hayek/ Okay. Well, thank you for your time (several talking) for the community.
Wright/ You did a terrific job with this! (several talking and laughing)
Agenda Items:
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Hayek/ Okay, are you, uh ... guys still have the juice to keep going here, cause I don't think
there's a whole lot left. (several talking) Let's take up the, uh, agenda items. Any
agenda items?
ITEM 16. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR
FUNDING ASSISTANCE FROM THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (IDOT) FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A
LANDSCAPED MEDIAN ON BURLINGTON STREET FROM THE
IOWA RIVER TO CAPITOL STREET.
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Mims/ I just had a question, maybe ... is Rick still here? On number 16, this is the resolution for
the application for funding assistance for a landscaped median from Burlington Street, on
Burlington, from the river to Capitol Street.
Fosse/ Yes!
Mims/ That ... I assume is something that the University is very much wanting to have done,
especially with their new wellness center in place or...
Fosse/ Yes, that's one of the driving factors for the project there. And, uh, so far they ... they've
tentatively, uh, agreed to contribute about $750,000 to that project. But we still need the
grant to be able to fully fund it.
Mims/ So the grant ... the grant for the 750 is just for the design, or is that for building?
Fosse/ That's for design and construction, primarily construction, yes.
Mims/ Okay.
Dickens/ Total project for (mumbled) two and half, three million dollars.
Fosse/ Probably more than that. This ... this project looks to be in the $2 million range, which is
beyond what is in the current capital program. That's one of the reasons that we're going
after the grant. So ... so that you all understand if ... if we're successful getting the grant,
and ... and we get the $750,000 from the University of Iowa, we probably still have about
another $250,000, uh, of gap that we need to close to build this project with the current
estimates we have right now.
Dickens/ And what year would that...
Fosse/ Probably, uh, around, uh, 13 or 14, and ... and one of the uncertainties in the timing for this
project has been related to the University of Iowa's modifications to the steam tunnel
system...
Dickens/ (mumbled)
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Fosse/ Well, it ... it's been in flux, ah, depending on FEMA's response to how or if they will
participate in the reconstruction of that. And ... and that's seems to be coming in focus
now, which may allow us to move forward on this project.
Mims/ Did I read in the agenda packet that, in some places this is going to be like 20 -feet across
or something?
Fosse/ That I don't recall.
Mims/ I'm trying to figure out where the rest of the road is going if we end up with a median. It
just ... I thought...
Champion/ (mumbled)
Fosse/ Well, the...
Wright/ We'll be taking out a lot of the left turn ... lane and just making some specific turning
areas, right?
Fosse/ Right, and we'll be expanding to the north into Hubbard Park, as well. So for that ... for
the whole median project in the ... in the corridor, this is one stretch where we had the
room to expand and I really don't have the capacity concerns that I have in ... in the other
parts of the corridor, uh, for this.
Mims/ Thank you. (mumbled)
Fosse/ Uh -huh.
Hayek/ Other agenda items?
Information Packets:
Hayek/ Okay. I'll move on to the Info Packets. September 8th? (mumbled) we just hit (several
talking) Uh, September 15th? Okay. Hearing none... Council time?
Council Time:
Wright/ Um, just a point of information to Council. If you've never taken a look at the, uh,
University of Iowa's arrest log ... put on the Public Safety web site, and updated, I think
they update it, uh ... weekly or daily, I don't remember, but... considering we have some
upcoming conversations about change ... possible changes to the 21- ordinance and the 21-
exceptions, I think that makes for some very interesting reading.
Champion/ What... where... on what web site do you find it?
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Wright/ The University of Iowa's Public Safety Department's web site. Their arrest log. Um...
startling how many alcohol related arrests are there, that we don't see on the Iowa City
Police log!
Dickens/ When are we going to have a discussion on ... where are we at as far as staff?
Hayek/ We had a really good meeting last week with, uh ... uh, the Iowa City and University
officials on the various recommendations, that got passed through... pass, PAS ... and
some, you know, some of the conversation has to do with merging the data sets of the
two institutions...
Wright/ That would be really... helpful.
Hayek/ ...which is easier said than done, but should happen. Um... and... so they're working on
those things. It was a ... no, it was a very productive meeting. It lasted, geez, hour and a
half, two hours. Um ... so I think there's forward movement on that, uh ... you know,
even ... even a six -month grace period I think you know there's a willingness to look... to
look at that.
Wright/ (mumbled)
Hayek/ So ... it's moving forward; I don't think it's forward as fast as, uh, some people would
like but ... it was productive, and that merging of systems is a, uh, more technically
challenging than you might think. So...
Wright/ Just was a real jaw- dropper when (noise on mic, unable to hear)
Hayek/ (mumbled) Doug Beardsley, John's partner, the public health director, gave some,
provided some stats at the PAS meeting last week, uh, showed some serious
improvement at the University on alcohol issues, mixed numbers in other areas, and the
numbers they really can't discern one way or the other. They watch that closer than I
thought. Council time? Okay. Budget?
Budget:
Champion/ Dreading it! (laughter)
Helling/ Staff has the forms so everything will be submitted from the staff by the end of the
month. So we're moving ahead!
Pending List:
Hayek/ Okay. Summary of pending, uh, work issues, work session issues? Just talked about, uh,
21 stuff. We've got immigration issues. Anything else on the pending list, or that should
be on the pending list?
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Wright/ Nothing! (several talking and laughing)
Upcoming Events /Council Invitations:
Hayek/ Upcoming events, uh, Council invitations? Uh, I've been invited to Des Moines, uh, in
October to, uh, participate in a ... a session that ... that I think is being hosted by the Des
Moines, it's not the Chamber, but it's ... it's a Metro Area Chamber-like ... yeah, exactly,
on passenger rail and freight rail issues, um, I'll give you more details on that but Des
Moines is taking, uh, taking this issue very seriously and... and providing a lot of
leadership on rail issues. They've asked me to speak at that. Anything else?
Graham/ (mumbled) UISG will be hosting, uh, an event called Meet Your Neighbors cookout,
uh, it'll be from 4:00 to 7:00 in College Green Park and we'd love to have any of you
there! (several talking)
Hayek/ I've heard about that, maybe last week, at the PAS meeting. I think that's a great thing!
Graham/ Yes, it's going to be a good time.
Wright/ 4:00 to 7:00 at College Green?
Graham/ Yep!
Meeting Schedule:
Hayek/ Anything else? Meeting schedule? Okay, anything else for the good of the order? All
right. Well, good meeting. We will see you tomorrow night at 7:00! Thanks!
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