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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-06 TranscriptionPage 1 ITEM 2. PROCLAMATION. a) Special Olympics Month — March 2012 Hayek: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Joyce Rossie who will also introduce you to our Special Olympians. Rossie: In 1968, Sergeant (mumbled) Eunice Shriver started Special Olympics. For the last 44 years, Special Olympics Iowa has ... had over 13,000 athletes in 22 sports, over 99 counties. Our mid - winter tournament is here this weekend, and on Friday night, the 9th, we will have a banquet, and on Saturday is our day of competition. We have basketball, basketball skills, cheerleading, gymnastics, and power lifting. Once our athletes arrive in Iowa City they bear no expenses, and it is through our fundraising efforts that all of their expenses are taken care of. We have a sponsor - an- athlete campaign where many Iowa City businesses contribute to that. We have a polar plunge coming up on March 24th. Any of you that'd like to join us, you're more than welcome (laughter) out at the Reservoir! (several talking and laughing) And then we also have a swing- with -a- celebrities golf tournament, which is July 13th at Brown Deer Golf Course this year. The Iowa City... Council gives our Special Olympic athletes the recognition they so deserve by making March Special Olympics Month. We thank you for that honor, and here to accept that proclamation is Justin Conklin, Katalan Garten, Kratisha Harbach, Sherry McKee, Jill Michalek, Faith Milburn, Kelly Peterson, Laurie Ruth, Sandy Snyder, Julia Brumbaugh, Cindy Moore, Robin Kugley, and Brian Bates. We would like you, the Council, to recite with us the Special Olympics oath. (several talking) And the Special Olympics oath is: let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. (applause) Hayek: Congratulations! (several talking) Thank you, and thanks for all you do for the community. (several talking) And congratulations to our athletes! Dobyns: Thanks, guys! (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 2 ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA) Hayek: This is the opportunity at each, uh, City Council meeting for members of the public to address the Council on items that are not on the agenda. If there's something that's not on the agenda that you'd like to bring to our attention, please step forward, uh, sign in. Also verbally give us your name, and we ask that you limit your comments to five minutes or less. Honohan: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Council Members. I'm Jay Honohan. I'm a member of the Senior Center Commission. My address is 5010 Summerset Lane. I'm a little tardy, but I'd like to welcome Michelle, Jim, and Rick to the Council. I'm the pest that you will see on a regular basis extolling the virtues of the Senior Center. I don't need to remind everybody because you've already read the pamphlet that we went you out, that we have 118 classes this quarter, 18 performance groups, and several different clubs and little groups. I won't take a lot of your time. I see you got a big crowd. There are two things that I would like to call to your attention tonight. The first one is that at the next Commission meeting the Commission is going to consider raising the participant fees for participation at the Center. Uh, we've had forums and public meetings. It isn't like the last time, Connie, when we had all the naysayers that have said that the Senior Center would collapse when we started the participant fees nine years ago. Champion: Oh my gosh! Honohan: But the forums and that indicate that we will be doing a good job, and we'll be presenting that for your approval in the near future. The second thing is the one thing I'm a little excited about. It isn't original with us. It started apparently out in California, where they have a telephone system from the Senior Center that goes out to the assisted living homes. Operates kind of like some of the CLE's that I think you've attended, Matt, where we have the speaker and then we communicate with the people. We don't know yet the cost. We don't know, uh, we're just in a exploratory stage for it, but I think it's a ... a coming thing, and then eventually in this electronic age, I even see television screens at the assisted living, where we direct broadcast. Uh, with that ... I will, uh, leave you with one suggestion that came from my wife. Matt, she thinks you ought to get a red button up here, that when it flashes they have to shut up! (laughter) Hayek: I've given thought to that, Jay! (laughter) Honohan: Thank you very much! Champion: Is the red button going off, Jay? Honohan: Yes it did! (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 3 Hayek: Thanks, Jay! Hemann: My name is Brian Hemann, uh, I live at 1722 G Street. Uh, I have heard something about a couple years ago they had the issue of chickens for eggs, um... and I haven't heard anything. Haven't been able to find anything in City code or haven't been able to talk to anyone in regard to this, so I'm just wondering if it's possible to get it back on an agenda to address, um, I would like to have, uh, what seems to be nationally accepted of three hens per household, urn ... it doesn't seem like it could be any more obnoxious than a barking dog. So, urn ... if you might put that on an agenda in the future, I would appreciate it. Hayek: Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Clark: Good evening, Council, Sarah Clark, 509 Brown Street, and I think that red button thing was directed at me (laughter) uh, I'm going to be very short. Um, just here tonight to thank you very much for, uh, your action in the work session, uh, earlier tonight to, uh, forward the payday lending, uh, matter on to Planning and Zoning. Appreciate that very much, and I'm speaking here tonight as a member of, uh, the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. Um, and now since you are passing it on to Planning and Zoning, you're going to put yourself in the same stead as other cities in this state, where uh, Ames on March 29th of uh, this year will be voting and we believe the numbers are there, will be passing, um, some restrictions on, uh, payday lending, and Ankeny also has, um, some action in the work, as well. So it's moving forward and uh, the more cities that we have around the state that take a look at it, in terms of a planning and zoning matter, I think the ... the better it will stand a chance at the, uh, State legislative level to, uh, get some action on, uh, actually capping some interest rates and uh ... if that happens, could happen. What's happened in other states where when interest rate caps have gone into effect, payday lenders have decided, gee, it's not so profitable. We'll just, uh, decamp to another state and uh, local banking institutions have then come in and uh, are providing what is really needed, um... smaller loans at, uh, onerous rates and uh, you used to be able to get those here in Iowa City. I used to get them myself many years ago at the University of Iowa Credit Union, so I'm sure there are many financial providers here who would be willing to step forward and fill that gap. So thank you very much for your action. Hayek: Sarah, while I've got you ... and Eleanor, can you confirm, did we decide tonight to send it to Planning and Zoning, or are we just scheduling this for a work session (several talking) Clark: Oh, I'm sorry, then maybe it was misreported. Hayek: I think we should clarify that. Clark: Yes we should, thank you! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 4 Hayek: On... on... on payday lending. Dilkes: Payday lending. Hayek: What action did we take, if you can... Dilkes: My understanding is that you asked staff to look at it, do a staff report, and then it would proceed through P &Z. Hayek: Okay. Right. Clark: Okay. Great, thanks! Hayek: Okay, then you're correct, Sarah. Other, uh, members of the public? Heck: Might as well be me! Um, my name is Mauro Heck. I, uh, reside at 1 Joyiield Lane here in the east side of town. And I've been an Iowa citizen since 1983, and like, uh, all of us here I love this town very much, and I want to speak on the same issue as Sarah just addressed. Um ... I think, uh, what we do and what we allow to be done in the community... as a city, as a citizens, individuals, institutions, banks, schools, whatever, really reflect as to who we are, and this payday lending is really outrageous in many, many ways. I cannot speak as an expert because luckily I've never had to use it, but from what I've read and from what I understand, it is a much better deal to work with the mafia than it is to work with these people. Uh, so, I mean, is that how we want to look? You know, it's questionable, you know, so I would like to ... have the City zoning, whoever, takes care of these things to take a really close look at this issue and um, take some action about it. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Dilkes: I'm sorry, I just want to clarify cause I'm getting a few funny looks, but um ... I mean, the staff report could be we don't recommend that you regulate, you know ... I mean... Hayek: Right. Dilkes: Okay. Nobody's saying it's coming to you for, with the recommendation of approval. Hayek: Other, uh, input from the public during community comment? Hembreiker: My name is Helene Hembreiker. I live here in Iowa City. I am a member of the Citizens for Community Improvement. These payday lenders make their living off the vulnerable and the poor. These businesses bring our neighborhoods down. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 5 The average annual percentage rate of a payday loan is close to 400 %. They prey on vulnerable people. Our Iowa City community doesn't need these payday lenders. If people need small, short-term loans, Veridian Credit Union here in town offers payday alternative loans, called pal loans, where the borrower has six months to pay back the loan. With payday lenders, the borrower must pay back the entire loan in two weeks. Veridian Credit Union as part of their pal loan program also helps the borrower open a savings account and assists them to get back on their feet financially. We ask you to please consider our recommended zoning amendments. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else under community comment? Okay, we will move on! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 6 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. C. AMENDING TITLE 14, ZONING, ARTICLE 4E, NONCONFORMING SITUATIONS, REGARDING THE REGULATION OF NONCONFORMING DEVELOPMENT. 1. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open. Davidson: Good evening, Mr. Mayor and Members of the City Council. I'm Jeff Davidson, the Director of Planning and Community Development. Uh, at your work session, which proceeded this meeting, we had discussion of this item and there was a question that came up, which I would like to clarify, and also clarify one other thing that I have been able to find out. The question, uh, was raised about input from property owners or, uh, contractors about, uh, whether or not we have addressed their concerns in what's proposed before you. Uh, we did not, uh, I had to clarify, that we did receive input during the legislative process, but what we did, what staff did was take all of the evidence that we've had collectively about the onerous burden of the disproportionately high amount of money that needs to be invested to bring properties into compliance. That's basically what we used in addressing the proposals that you have before you, and that's why the, basically the `cap' is there and the thresholds for putting into action when properties need to be brought into compliance. I also wanted to clarify, because Michelle had specifically asked about, uh, the lighting standards being so low, and I directed you to the page that was, um, part of the staff report that went to the Planning and Zoning Com ... Commission, excuse me, the Commission did request, specifically Charlie Eastham pointed out to me that that be moved up higher, and if you go to the ordinance, which is several pages back, you will see that outdoor lighting standards has been moved up to, from 9 to third, uh, in that list. So, that did reflect Planning and Zoning's, uh, recommendation to you. Any other questions? Thank you. Hayek: Thanks for that explanation, Jeff. Would anyone else from the public, uh, before I close the hearing? Okay. Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel) 2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Mims: Move first consideration. Throgmorton: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? Throgmorton: I think this is a terrific move. It's likely to make things, uh, much easier for developers and, but more importantly, uh, facilitate incremental change in good direction for the city. So I think it's a terrific move, and I ... I want to express, uh, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 7 admiration for the P &Z Commission for thoroughly vetting this in ... in their internal deliberations. Hayek: Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 8 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. d) REZONING 1.25 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 108 MCLEAN STREET FROM NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION RESIDENTIAL (RNS -20) ZONE TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY / NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION RESIDENTIAL (OPD/RNS -20) ZONE (REZ12- 00002) 1. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) The public hearing is open. Any ex parte communications? (several responding) Okay. Jeff. Davidson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, here's the location map of the property, uh, that we are dealing with on Mclean Street. Riverside Drive is down at the bottom of what is actually a steep hill, and I'll show you some photographs in a second that'll illustrate this even better. Uh, this is a property ... and let's see, I'm not ... I'm not ... having trouble advancing the slides here. There we go! Uh, there's an aerial view then, and you see what is, uh, formerly, uh, by the way I should just clarify. This is a request, uh, from Parish Apartments LLC for a planned development overlay rezoning, to allow reduction of a protected slope buffer. That is the action that you are being asked to take tonight, or to consider tonight, and that is to allow construction of a parking area within the slope buffer, and the conversion of the building to 16, uh, one - bedroom apartments, and this is a ... a property that, uh, we've had a number of discussions with developers and we have had proposals, uh, that ranged all the way to taking down the existing building, uh, historic structure, and building a completely new building at a higher density, and ... and many other things, and this is the first proposal that has successfully dealt with the, uh, sensitive areas present on the property, uh, I think successfully, uh, preserved a historic structure, uh, and is, uh, an appropriate conversion in terms of, uh, adapting it to the remainder of the neighborhood. And I'll elaborate on that slightly. Um, this is a 1.25 -acre property. It's located at 108 Maclean Street. It is the former St. Thomas Sm... St. Thomas Moore Parish House. Um, this structure was built, and I have some pictures... here... come back to that one. There's... there's the, a picture of the structure taken from, uh, Maclean Street. Have a couple of other ... uh, this is the ravine in back of the, uh, property, and what you see here in this area is the 40, well, at least 40% slope, uh, which designates it as a protected slope under the sensitive, uh, areas ordinance, and that is the definition, a 40% or greater, uh, slope, and this is at the, uh, let's see, I think you can ... basically right ... that slope we were just looking at is ... is right on the other side of the pickup truck here, and then here's the back of the building you were looking at, uh, previously. Here you see the driveway around the side, and ... and we're standing... this, who took this picture, was standing right kind of at the top of that slope that's in, uh, back of the property. Urn ... so, the ... here you see then the existing building, and the protected slope, uh, in the back of the property, that photograph we just saw, and then the ... the slope buffer is the yellow area here, and that is something that ... that's drawn according to ... it This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 9 basically is .... is keyed off of the ... the slope. There's so much buffer required for so much, uh, rise in the slope, uh, and you can see it designated here, and you can see that that slope buffer gets into the existing parking area at the ... at the rear of the facility, and even a corner of the existing building here. Uh, what ... what you're seeing at the back of the property, basically the bottom of that ravine is a platted alley that's never been constructed, and it's ... it's still a public alley to this point right ... I think right here, and beyond this point it's been vacated then. It used ... it was actually platted down to Riverside Drive, and you can see here from the topographic lines that it's a very steep slope down to, uh, Riverside Drive here. Um ... the, uh, the applicant has requested, uh, a um .... historic, excuse me, as recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission, they have, um, requested a, uh, National Register designation for the property, and one of the things that it would enable, uh, if that designation is granted and the State is recommending that it be granted, the Historic Preser... uh, Preservation group at the State, is recommending, I think there's a letter in your packet, it would allow a narrowing of this driveway, which is proposed as part of the re -use project to create the 16 apartment units here. What will be done if you approve the modification of the ... the buffer area here is a new, there will be two parking spaces added here, as well as a dumpster area, and then additional parking added here for I believe a total of 17 spaces, hypothetically one for each unit and one for, uh, a visitor that might come. Now, as part of this, it's not of course done without some impact to the site, and one of the things that will be done, which I wanted to point out, is there's... there's a desire to try and protect a grove of, uh, oak trees in this area which you see here, and unfortunately to complete this plan, one of them, and I'll even show you the exact tree. This tree right here, uh, has to come out, but otherwise, all of the oak trees are protected, uh, otherwise, uh, this one's taken out. There'd be a retaining wall constructed in the approximate location that you see here, and ... if I can go back to the ... urn ... we were just looking at ... is right here. Be retaining wall in this area. There will be some screening... this was requested by the property owner in this area. Some screening, uh, in this area right here to, uh, the ... the retaining wall will do some of the screening of headlights into this property, but will also have some vegetation up here that does that as well. Um, the, uh ... the occupancy of this building when it was a fraternity way back when was 20 people. If you look at the existing zoning category, hypothetically the ... the lot area plus the zoning would enable, uh, up to 30 dwelling units to be placed on this property, but that, there's some question about that, given the sensitive features, and it absolutely would require taking down the historic structure to do that. Um ... let's see, I think I've covered ... in terms of the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan does encourage both the protection of natural features and historic structures. We feel the proposed plan that you see before you does that successfully. Um... there will be fees, if approved... there will be fees in lieu of dedicating open space required, uh, for this. Uh ... and in summary, the Planning and Zoning Commission, by the way, the Planning and Zoning Commission had several conditions, uh, involving the design of these drainage flumes. There's two of `em here, which will, um, convey storm water from the parking area, down to the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 10 ravine, where it'll then drain down this area. Uh, that design has been approved the City Engineer, uh, the general storm water management of the site has been approved by the City Engineer, the Fire Marshall, and City Forester have also signed off on the plan as recommended to you. Uh, are there any questions? Payne: I have a question. Davidson: Yes, Michelle. Payne: I don't know if you have a copy of this letter that we have from MMS Consultants dated February 6. It's the minutes of a meeting. Number 4, there's a ... a list of questions on here. Number 4 says, is this plan the most disruptive to the site anticipated. And then it answers the question, and at the last it says, all of these proposals were more disruptive to the site than the current proposal. Was the question stated incorrectly? Should that be is this plan the least disruptive? Champion: Oh, right! Davidson: Yeah, it seems to be what the question is getting at, certainly. There was a ... prior plan, and I think there might even be in ... in your materials that you received, uh, it may show it where they were going to bring a driveway into this area and significantly impact this area of the, uh, the slope buffer with, uh, in lieu of this parking they were going to put a number of parking spaces in this area, and then again, a driveway through this area to form a loop driveway, and I think it was a combination of...of factors, including the expense of doing that, that led them to then go to this plan. I think that question was intended to address the relative disruption of the ... the two plans. Um, as I said, Michelle, the ... both were debated by the Planning and Zoning Commission, and this is the one that's recommended to you for approval. Hayek: Are there questions for Jeff? Thanks, Jeff. Davidson: Thank you. Hayek: And, any other input, uh, during the public hearing? Beasley: Good evening. Uh, John Beasley on behalf of Parish Apartments LLC. Um, the ...the one thing I wanted to note in your packet of materials, and Jeff touched on it, is this plan is different than the plan that was in your packet. It referred to, uh, a drive and making a one -way loop around it on the east side. This is the one that I think that, uh, P &Z, uh, approved. Uh, the ... Parish Apartments LLC has worked very hard and diligently to balance... preserving this incredible site in its current state, trying to, uh, preserve the beautiful oak trees, and trying to preserve the historic nature of this building. You know, Jeff touched on it, they could have 24 units in there. They want 16. They don't want to tear it down. They want to preserve it and put it on the National Historic site. So, we're ... asking you to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 11 approve this rezoning which permits them to intrude a little bit into this buffer because my reading of a lot of the publicity on Planning and Zoning issues recently is this is the kind of projects Iowa City's lookin' more for. So, this is a good project. Let's have it go forward! Hayek: Thanks, John. Davidson: John said something that just reminded me, these are 16 one - bedroom units. Champion: Right. Hayek: Any further public input? Okay, I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) 2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Dobyns: Move first consideration. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Mims: I think it looks like a great project! Um, again, a beautiful, beautiful old building and to get that preserved and with some, hopefully minimal impact on the slope and the environment there, um, I think it looks like a great project. Throgmorton: Certainly agree with Susan. I'd add only one thing. I ... I'd really hoped that this could be used as a model for adaptive re -use of Roosevelt School. Now I know we have no control over that and I know the School Board's doin' its own thing and they're movin' ahead, but it would really be terrific if... if, parts of that building could be re -used in, uh, very constructive way, like this one is. Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. First consideration passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 12 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS e. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF MACKINAW VILLAGE PART 4, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB11- 00018) Mims: Move the resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Throgmorton: As I said in our work session, this is not my ideal of, uh, good residential development, uh, but I... Hayek: Are you referring to this one or the one on, uh, Brook ... on Brookwood Pointe? Cause I think you made that (both talking) Throgmorton: Oh, actually I was going to make a similar point, but a different one (both talking) thank you. Sorry. I guess what I wanted to do on this one is ... is express some disappointment, even though I'll vote for it because it's, uh, because it's a final plat and so on. I just want to express some disappointment that, uh, the entire, uh, Mackinaw Village subdivision could not have been developed in a way that is much more compatible with the ... with the Peninsula development. I think that was a missed opportunity. Uh, and I don't want to elaborate on it. We don't want to spend a lot of time doing that, but that's... that's my own personal sense of it. S o l ...I'll vote for the final plat. Hayek: Okay. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 13 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. f. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF BROOKWOOD POINTE SECOND ADDITION, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB12 -0002) Champion: Move the resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 14 ITEM 6. AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME LOCATED AT 320 FAIRCHILD STREET. a. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is through the UniverCity, uh, Partnership Program between the City and the University of Iowa. This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Dobyns: Move resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Throgmorton: Yippee! Hayek: Yeah! The speed with which these come across, uh, our desk is ... is remarkable. Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 15 ITEM 9. APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA RIVER WATER MAIN CROSSINGS PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. a. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This has to do with the installation of two new water mains under the Iowa River. This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) The public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Payne: Move the resolution. Dobyns: Second. Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Throgmorton: Matt, I just noticed something on the description, the comment part of, uh, Item No. 9. It says that the ... the mains were exposed and undermined during flooding in 2009? I don't know if Rick is here or not but ... I don't know if that ... you mean 2008? Havel: Yeah, that's a typo. It was 2008. Throgmorton: Okay. Hayek: That's another one we put in there to see if you're paying attention (laughter) Champion: Think I slept through that flood! (laughter) Hayek: Good catch! (several talking) Uh, further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 16 ITEM 11. PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2012, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2013, THE PROPOSED THREE -YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN FOR FY2013 — 2015, AND ALSO THE MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2016. a) PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) O'Malley: Mr. Mayor, Honorable Council, for the folks at home my name is Kevin O'Malley. I'm the Director of Finance. I have a few comments about the budget. Um ... this resolution, uh, sets our city tax rate at $17.27 per 1000. This is a decrease of 3.2% over last year. Much of the credit for this reduction is the reclassification of Transit operations. Um, also, credit should be given to the current attrition policy and the continual review of departmental processes. The tax rate reduction is impressive for another reason, in that it occurs during a biannual reevaluation period where we only had I% growth, and our new construction was less than 1 %. So, uh (mumbled) is pretty good. This resolution adopts the legal budget for the city. This is, uh ... presented on the State of Iowa forms and is based on program classifications. I'm here to, uh, answer any questions in regard to the budget. Mims: Just want to thank you, Kevin, for all your work. I know you've ... are very diligent on this and do a great job for the city and appreciate it. O'Malley: Thank you. I have a lot of help. I've got staff and the City Manager's office helps quite a bit. Thank you. Hayek: Thanks, Kevin! Any input from the public on this item? Okay. I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FRO THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2013. Dobyns: Move the resolution. Throgmorton: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? Throgmorton: I ... I'd just like to note that when we had our first discussion about this back in early January, I offered several suggestions, expressed several concerns, uh, I've conveyed some of the detailed concerns to Tom personally, in ... in conversations, uh, and ... and so, you know, in an ideal world I'm not perfectly satisfied (mumbled) just great, uh, budget and financial plan. Uh, I'll certainly vote for it, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 17 uh, mainly as a mark of respect for Tom and the staff and ... and trust in the skill that they have, and the humility. Good grief, you know, a new council member coming on here looking at this thing, right, Michelle, Rick, it's ... it's pretty daunting. So, bravo! Mims: Well, and I would just add that I think, um ... with the new management that we have here at the City we're seeing a huge change in the way budgeting, um, is being done in the presentation of the budget, and I think it's a huge improvement, um, for the Council and for the public in general. So, um, appreciate the new insight and ideas that Tom and his staff have brought to ... to the City in doing that, as well. Hayek: Yeah, I'd echo that, and add that ... I think, uh, budgets are more difficult for councils in this day and age than they were in the past, and we ... we don't have the built -in growth, um, and thus the decisions are more difficult, um, and ... and the planning and the budgeting, uh, is more difficult, um, and as our... our Finance Director indicated, this is ... this is an off year, meaning the ... the percentage increase in taxable value is less than what it usually is, and so, um ... these are harder things for staff to go through, um ... and thus, you know, they're harder decisions for us, uh, because we, you know, we have to make difficult choices. Um, I think this is a ... you know, it's obvious it's legally a balanced budget, but I think it's ... it's balanced in terms of its fairness and its, um, review of all the operations of the City, so I ... I think it was a good process. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. C) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE THREE -YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN AND FIVE -YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM Payne: We need a resolution for c then? Hayek: Yeah we do! Payne: Resolution to approve the three -year financial plan. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Uh ... motion from Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? This regards the capital improvements portion of our budget. And the three -year financial plan. Uh, any further discussion on this? Roll call, please. Sub c passes 7 -0, as well. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 18 ITEM 12. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, "POLICE REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 5, "MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES," SECTION 6, "INDECENT EXPOSURE AND CONDUCT" TO CREATE TWO SEPARATE OFFENSES TO BE KNOWN AND CITED AS "INDECENT EXPOSURE" AND "PUBLIC URINATION AND DEFECATION." (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Champion: Move first consideration. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call, please. I thank our student liaison for his good work, uh, pushing this through. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 19 ITEM 13. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 3, FINANCES TAXATION AND FEES, CHAPTER 4, SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES, CHARGES, BONDS, FINES AND PENALTIES, SECTION 7, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO AMEND FEES. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Mims: Move first consideration. Dobyns: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Throgmorton: Matt, uh, some of the specific concerns I expressed to, uh, to Tom Markus, uh, concern ... have focused on this topic and I don't need to go into `em in detail. I just wanted to kind of be clear that we had that conversation and I'll support this, uh, despite the concerns I expressed. Hayek: Okay. Thanks, Jim. Other discussion? Mims: I think it's just important to note that the last Transit fee increase was in 1996. 1 think as people look at the increase, even if they think it's a large amount percentage -wise, um, it's been a long time and I think one of the things ... one of those conversations we've had, especially since Tom got here, is you know looking at these things more frequently and doing more gradual increases on all of our fees across the city, um, and keeping up with our costs that way, rather than waiting... let's see, 12...16 years, um, and then having what seems to people maybe an awfully large increase, but we haven't done anything in 16 years so ... I think it's, that's important! Hayek: And it also gets to our goal, or helps us toward our goal, of making this operation a little more self - sustaining. Mims: Right! Hayek: I mean, I think their goal is 30 to 35 %, um, revenue threshold, which this will get them toward. Dobyns: And as someone who takes the Westwinds bus into work a lot, um, I think this is a very fair and very reasonable. It'll be nice not having to get change for a while. (laughter) Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 20 ITEM 16. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING THAT GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES LEVIED AND COLLECTED EACH YEAR ON ALL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS URBAN RENEWAL AREA, IN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, COUNTY OF JOHNSON, STATE OF IOWA, BY AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STATE OF IOWA, CITY OF IOWA CITY, COUNTY OF JOHNSON, IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER TAXING DISTRICTS, BE PAID TO A SPECIAL FUND FOR PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON LOANS, REBATES, GRANTS, MONIES ADVANCED TO AND INDEBTEDNESS, INCLUDING BONDS ISSUED OR TO BE ISSUED, INCURRED BY SAID CITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS URBAN RENEWAL PLAN. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Mims: Move second consideration. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? (mumbled) What's that? Oh! Didn't even see that. Thanks! Eicher: Hello! My name's Charles Eicher, and gee, I tried to address you last time, uh... due to some procedural errors I wasn't given the opportunity, but anyway, I'm a resident of Coralville and I was born in Iowa City and work there, and I would probably live there if I could afford to ... to live there, but being as it may, I'm here to speak out about the, uh, Riverfront Crossings TIF and there were some justifiable concerns raised by the Mayor at the last meeting as to evergreen TIFs that, uh, will take, uh, tax ... will erode the tax base on a continual basis, for uh, but I'm not here to discuss and analyze the marginal tax rates; that could be a discussion that goes on forever. What I'm here more to address is some of the things I see in the City plan have beautiful architectural renderings to redevelop basically what is the only remaining light industrial and uh, small manufacturing area within the immediate city limits. These are a lot of marginal city businesses. They include things like social services, like the Crisis Center and uh, shop where handicapped -owned businesses hold meetings for their support groups. It has small businesses such as printers, dance studios, small clothing shops. These are the types of businesses that we want in our community and where are the jobs coming from? They're not being created by the top I%. They're being created by the bottom 1%, the people who are striving to create a small business and can only afford to live and work in these possibly distressed areas. Uh, if you look down near the actual Riverfront Crossing, I mean, you've got to be pretty interested in finding a cheap property if you want to work in a facility down by the sewer treatment plant with the, uh, airport laying right over you, and there's a lot of businesses like that. Small manufacturing, auto repair businesses. These are where the job growth is coming from. What concerns me greatly is that we're seeing these great plans for ... to redevelopment of large ... larger scale medium to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 21 large businesses, and where are those going to come from? Well, they're not going to be coming from within Iowa City if the small businesses in that area are going to be disrupted, and basically gentrified out of that area. They, uh, even areas near those redeveloped businesses will have rents raised due to the proximity of improved... Dilkes: Mr. Mayor, I think there's some confusion here about what area we're talking about. This is the, um, TIF ordinance for the smaller area to the west side of the river. Not what has been referred to as the `larger riverfront crossings area.' Eicher: But my understanding is that this is, uh, most of the area down by the sewer treatment plant, over near the river itself, the redevelopment or the park, and... Dilkes: No ... no, not this one. Hayek: ...across the river. Eicher: Across the river, okay! Hold on a sec, let me see if I can ... well, I don't have an ability to look at that plan. Uh, can't get it in front of me right now, but I would like the City to basically keep in mind as they consider this plan. I haven't been in on this during the early stages, but I want the City to be aware that ... this plan is being funded by the taxpayers and it will be a burden on the taxpayers, and I want to make sure that this addresses... does not ... this does not increase some of the social inequity and economic inequity we're seeing develop in the current age. I want to see that this is going to be able to help develop jobs for the people who are working hardest to raise themselves up into the community and can afford, uh, these properties under other considerations. I just believe that, uh, well, I'll reexamine this and hopefully be able to respond more detailed at the third reading, but I would like the, uh, City Council and the, uh, and uh ... to take an opportunity to consider that this may not be addressing, it may be increasing some of the inequities we see in the community. Hayek: Thank you, and I encourage you to ... to, uh, share your message on tax increment financing, uh, to a broader array of communities locally, if you haven't already done so. Eicher: Right. I am working on that and uh, as well in Coralville, and we have, uh, taken your suggestions to, uh, deal ... and contact Iowa Policy Project. They have some very interesting things to say. Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Eicher: So I appreciate your consideration. Champion: Appreciate your comments. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 22 Hayek: Any other input, uh, from the public? Okay, Council discussion? Throgmorton: Matt, as I said during our last, um, initial vote (mumbled) on this two weeks ago, uh, or whenever it was we had a discussion about it. Uh, I ... I'm concerned about the lack of a sunset provision for the district itself. Now I understand everything else everybody said with regard to the ... TIF monies being determined project by project. But I ... I'm not going to vote for this because I think there ought to be a sunset provision on it. If we came down to a tied vote I'd probably support it, cause I'm not trying to get in the way, but ... but I just think there ought to be a sunset on it. Hayek: Understood. Understood. Thank you for those comments. Any other comments on this? Roll call, please. Item passes, uh, or second consideration passes 6 -1, Throgmorton in the negative. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 23 ITEM 17. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING FEES FOR BUILDING PERMITS AND OTHER SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE HOUSING AND INSPECTION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 09-39. Mims: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by, uh, Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? We have a member of the public... Buss: Well, you had to know I'd show up for this one! (laughter) And here I am! Anna Buss, 525 W. Benton Street. Well imagine my surprise when I received this letter that the Housing Inspection fees were going to go up, yet again! Now I'm also going to suggest, I have a nice way for you guys to get $100,000 but more on that later. When I received this letter, um, there was a bit of history on here about the permit fees, and it said that in 2009, they went up approximately 19.5% and that they haven't gone up basically since then, but that's not quite true, because in 2010 the inspection department shortened the housing inspections by one year, which in essence raised our housing inspection fees. Karr: Anna, excuse me, I just want to clarify. You're talking about 18, the housing and inspection fees. 17 is the building permits. Just so that the numbers you're quoting... Council's aware of. Hayek: Yeah, I think you're one item premature. Buss: Okay! I'll be back! Hayek: Okay, so ... we're still in discussion here. Would anyone from the public like to weigh in on... (talking away from mic, laughter) ... on uh, on the permit plan review inspection and licensing fees. Further discussion by the Council? Roll call, please. Item 7, uh, passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 24 ITEM 18. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING FEES FOR SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE IOWA CITY HOUSING AND INSPECTION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 09- 40. Hayek: We need a motion. Mims: Move ... move the resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Anna! Buss: Okay, once again. Um, anyway, to add to what I was saying earlier, they... the Housing Inspection Department lowered the inspections to two years instead of three on a lot of the housing properties. And, which also increased their workload and they didn't need to do that. Um ... the thing about this is is that I would like to see the City maybe table this increase, um, for further investigation on some other options. As landlords, we are being nickeled and dimed to death, uh, there's going to be an increase in the water /sewer /trash. We have an increase in insurance and property taxes. And they're all pushing some of the smaller investors' budgets to the limit. On tap, um, on top of all of those increases, we also have our regular maintenance issues that we have to keep the properties up. A lot of us try really hard to keep our properties in good condition. In the last (mumbled) in the last 30 days I've had three inspections on my own properties. The only problem was a dead battery in a smoke detector in a bedroom. Now, this smoke detector, okay, I kind of go overboard on mine. I have smoke detectors everywhere in the house. Urn ... now the inspection, our ... my inspector went through and one of the things he found wrong was we had one battery in a bedroom that was dead. The tenant had put a note on it that said, we're going to get a new batter for this smoke detector. We just didn't have time between classes. And I was informed by the inspector that since that battery was in fact in a bedroom, he would have to come back for that one battery, which is a colossal waste of time in my opinion. So, since I have more, um, smoke detectors than what I need, he was nice enough to take one of the batteries out of the other smoke detector that I didn't technically need, put it in the bedroom so he didn't have to come back. But there's a lot of issues that are kind of like that, where it's maybe one or two small things, where we ... as landlords, could call in and say, okay, we did it. And if for some reason they found out that we didn't do it, then they could come back and fine us. To that, why not let the landlords self - inspect maybe every other time? I know there's a lot of municipalities in other areas of Iowa that do this, and if you ... when the inspector comes, I mean, you actually fill out a form. My duplex is owner- occupied. Now they come and they inspect the one part of it. I live in the other part of it, and I have to fill that out. But, if they were to find out that I hadn't done something, they have every right to fine me. And that's as it should be. But maybe you could expand that a little bit, because a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 25 lot of the inspectors know which landlords are going to do stuff and which don't, and maybe this is one of the ways that would save a little bit of money for the City. Um, now back to how I would love to see you guys get an extra $100,000. You're real good at having the Housing Inspection Department inspect all of us, our rental properties. But a lot of the businesses have a lot more people through them, every single day, than what we do. And a number of years ago when... in 2009, I brought this issue up then, that if the City were to do nothing more than have ... charge for their fire inspections. If they charged each ... the businesses are every two years, and if they charged the businesses $200 for their fire inspections, which would come to $100 a year, that would bring another $100,000 into the City for the Fire Department or whatever the City wanted to use it for. And I just think that it would be a little bit more prudent for the businesses to have to pay for their inspections. The Housing Department, the renters, we have to pay for ours. And, every time one thing you need to remember, every time you add anything on to the landlords, that gets sifted down to the tenants and now we're back to that affordable housing issue. So, kind of keep that in mind. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you, Anna. Anyone else from the, uh, public ... on this before we close it for Council discussion? Okay. Council discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 26 ITEM 19. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING FUNDING FOR KATY L.L.0 DBA TRUMPET BLOSSOM CAFE FROM IOWA CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT — ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACT AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND SUBMIT ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. Hayek: This has to do with, uh, a grant recommendation coming out of the Economic Development Committee. Mims: Move the resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Mims: This is, uh, I think it's in the notes here, but I think, uh, a great, uh, move by one of the former owners, co- owners of the Red Avocado to open a new vegan restaurant. Um, her presentation to the Economic Development Committee was very impressive. I think she's, uh, you know, really done all her homework; worked with a number of different people in terms of getting, you know, the financial help that she needed in terms of understanding some of the things, and um, I think it's going to be a great project. Dobyns: I'm looking forward to opening night! Throgmorton: Yeah, Susan, tell me if I'm wrong. This site is located on Prentiss Avenue? Mims: Yes. Throgmorton: Yeah, so it's in the area that the gentleman was trying to talk about, and... concerning the TIF, uh, district (several talking) Hayek: Well, it's a different TIF district. Throgmorton: I ... I know, but he ... when he was talking about it, he had that in mind. Uh, so here's an example of how we're actually choosing to help a particular small business thrive in a new location after having an unfortunate, uh, combination of circumstances happening here. Hayek: What I would add from our Economic Development Committee meeting is what's nice about the way we handle these, uh, applications now is that we look for private sector lending participation, and in this case, as with many other applications, you see that a bank has met with this applicant and, uh, made the ... the lion's share of the lo ... of the lending. Um... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 27 Mims: And also done the due diligence kinds (both talking) the finances. Hayek: ...so you get a market- based, you know, objective commercial look at the viability of the project and in this case, uh, a bank supported it. So, I think that's helpful for the way we do these things anymore. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 28 ITEM 20. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND ABUNDANT PLAYSCAPES, INC., OF IOWA CITY TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE LOWER CITY PARK — PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Mims: Move the resolution. Dobyns: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Champion: What is Abundant Playscapes? Is that a company? Hayek: Yeah. Champion: Do they actually make the play equipment? Hayek: Mike, you want to get ... fill us in a little bit on this? Moran: Yeah, it's, uh, it's a design engineering firm, just like MMS and other companies in town. That's just their name. Champion: Oh, they don't make the equipment though. Moran: No, that's correct. Champion: Okay, that's what I wanted to know. Moran: Right, they design it and go through the engineering, so... Champion: Great. Thank you! Moran: This is for the lower Normandy Drive area. Throgmorton: I think you held an open house down there, uh, week and a half ago or there abouts. Moran: Uh, the last two Thursday nights. Throgmorton: Yeah, I wasn't able to go to either one of `em. I... did it go well? Moran: Yes, we had, uh, 25 people on the first Thursday night, and then we had 7 the second Thursday night. So we got a lot of good comments. We told the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 29 neighborhood we'd come back, uh, mid to late April with a ... a final plan for `em to look at and review before we send it to bids. Hayek: Thanks, Mike! Champion: Is there going to be parking, new parking there? (laughter) I'm sorry! (laughter) Moran: Yes, uh, there will be, uh, parking down by the boys' baseball field; we'll expand that, and then up by the Ned ... the Ned Ashton House. There'll be a parking lot next to that as well. Champion: Okay. Thank you! Hayek: (several talking and laughing) Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 30 ITEM 21. CONSIDER A MOTION GRANTING A 45 -DAY EXTENSION TO THE POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD FOR THE FILING OF THE PUBLIC REPORT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ON COMPLAINT # 11- 03. Dobyns: Move for extension. Throgmorton: Second. Hayek: Uh, moved by Dobyns, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? Payne: I have a question on this one. In the comment, the very last sentence says, the Board unanimously requested an additional 45 day extension. Is this the second time they've asked for 45 days? Karr: No. It refers to the initial 45 day extension. Throgmorton: And it does refer to 11 -03, not 11 -02? Cause I got a little confused as I was reading through the ... the text in, uh, I guess in their work session. Karr: Okay, no. The ... this is for 11 -03, and the only thing in your packet, you would not see public discussion of this yet. This is still a complaint form, so the minutes refers to the closure of a complaint. This is still in the process. It's 11 -03. Hayek: Yeah, and that's consistent with the letter they sent. Karr: Correct. Hayek: (mumbled) question answered that... Payne: Yes. Hayek: ...okay! Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 31 ITEM 23. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. Hayek: Uh, at our work session earlier today, uh, the Council agreed to appoint, uh, Jose Assouline to the Airport Commission, and uh, Jim Jacobson to the, urn ... oh, gosh, unexpired (several talking) yeah, the ... to the Housing, yeah, I was looking at another thing. To the Housing and Community Development Commission, under Item 23d. Is there a motion? Mims: So moved. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Uh, discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0. So we have a few more vacancies here to announce. Uh, one vacancy on the Airport Commission to fill an unexpired term, uh, one vacancy, uh, on the Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment, uh, second vacancy on the same Zoning Board of Adjustment, and then two vacancies on the Airport Zoning Commission. We encourage the public to, uh, take a look at these positions. It's a great way to get involved in the community and ... and help out the City Council. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 32 ITEM 25. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Hayek: Why don't we start down with you, Jim. Throgmorton: Other community comment? (several talking) No. Hayek: We only do that if we run over. Throgmorton: Right, okay. Uh, the ... the minutes from our last work session, uh, indicated that I had suggested that we invite Mannerchor to come here and sign at the start of one of our meetings. And, so I .... I communicated with, uh, with Marian... Marian about that. That's not what I meant to say. I don't know what I said really but what I ... what I was suggesting is that we invite Mannerchor, which is the boy ...young men's glee club at City High to come here and sing, not sign. Champion: Right, you did say sing! Throgmorton: Yeah, so I just want to ... I want to get the possibility back before you. I know Matt and I talked about that, uh, a few days ago and I had a communication with the principal, John Bacon, at City High. Uh, to find out who the right people are to contact, but they're terrific! I mean, they're just really good and I think it'd be very exciting to ask them to come in and sing for I don't, three, four minutes at the start of a meeting, to express that idea that we're a part of a really creative city. And, that'd just be one ... one thing we could do and then maybe we could do some other things over time. So... Hayek: Well, and ... Jim, you and I did have a discussion about it, and I've thought about that since then and ... and I think if, I guess my response is this, if we want to discuss our meeting format, whether to include... something extra at our meeting, such as that, you know, a cultural or social, uh, element, um, maybe we can, you know, figure out what ... what would work for us. My concern though is opening the door to that, and you know, many of our meetings last until the wee hours of the night. People are pretty exhausted, and I under ... I know it would be, you know, maybe three or four minutes, but ... but you know, that ... that can add up, you never know exactly how long a performance or ... or presentation is actually going to take. Um, you know, maybe we ought to talk about it ... you know, as a work session item or ... or something like that. I'm just ... I think the idea in principle is an interesting one, and we have many groups throughout the community, uh, this one included, who would, uh, I think lend themselves well to ... to this kind of setting, but I ... I'm mindful of all that's on our plate at any given meeting. That's... that's my concern. So... Mims: I would agree. Hayek: Okay, I don't think (several talking and laughing). Okay! Keep chipping away at it! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 33 Champion: (mumbled) Hayek: I appreciate the ... the suggestion though, Jim! Connie? Champion: I think I've already said my peace earlier. Mims: Nothing! Dickens: I just want to bring up the, uh ... this weekend, Friday and Saturday night, the Iowa City Hospice has 150 community members that will be participating in the Citywide variety show, under the Community Big Top. It's a music... musical extravaganza that June Braverman has put together. It'll be performed at the Coralville Center for Performing Arts. It's, uh, Friday night at 7:30, Saturday at 2:00 in the afternoon. Uh, tickets are available at the front door. I know there's a lot of great community groups that are putting this on. June Braverman's done a fantastic job ... through the years putting on productions, so ... make sure you get there! Hayek: Anything, Michelle? Payne: Um, I had something to bring up at the work session but I didn't because we ran so far over, and it was actually the idea that we always seem to run so far over on our work sessions, so it's kind of ironic (laughter). Um ... but wondering if there was something different we could do with our work sessions. Matt, you and I had talked about this a little bit before the ... so that we didn't feel so rushed when we were in our work sessions, and maybe, you know, sitting up here to me seems pretty formal. It's kind of hard to talk informally in a formal setting. Is there something we could do to not have it seem so formal, and to facilitate what I would perceive as better discussion. Hayek: No, and you raised that and I've talked to a couple of others, uh, about this as well, as well as with, uh, talking to staff about this. Um, I mean, I ... it seems to me that when we tried to ... when we went with the double header approach so to speak, where we do the work session and the ... and the formal on a single night as we have done today. That we would keep an eye out for... situations where we think there was too much on our plate, or there was a super -hot button issue that we knew would generate all sorts of debate or... or input, and in those instances, look to decouple and go back to a Monday - Tuesday, um, and you know, maybe we need to be doing more to accomplish that and keeping a view toward exactly what's on our plate for ... for a given week. That'd be one thing we could look at. Um, we could also move up the start of the work session, uh, from 5:30 to 5:00, um ... uh, in terms of your suggestion about being able to face each other like we do when we're down there, you know, maybe moving it up, uh, a half hour would accom ... would allow us to reconfigure the seats. I ... I don't know. Um, I think This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 34 that's a good suggestion, and I think we do work well when we're in a more informal setting, down there by the conference tables. Champion: I have an idea! Why couldn't we just put a table out there like we used to when we had more people to conference? Throgmorton: Yeah, we used to do that. Champion: And then put three chairs, put four of us back here and three of us out there, so we're looking at each other. Hayek: Or some bar stools right there (laughter) Champion: No! We need a table to write, or we might want to draw a picture ... of you! (laughter) A nasty one! (several talking) Dobyns: Yeah, I don't care where we are, but I would like us to reconfigure work session in some fashion and um, I'd like to do it soon, um ... cause these meetings (both talking) Champion: ...lot of work to do that. Not for me anyway. Payne: ...table out there so we're looking at each... Throgmorton: When I was on the Council 15 years ago, we ... we had, uh, a table right there in the center, and sat around it, you know, sort of everybody was at the table, rather than some up here and some down there. Hayek: Could staff... Karr: We certainly can look at it. So some of you wouldn't object to your backs to the audience? Champion: No, no, not ... just the work session! Not the... Karr: I understand, but at the work session you would not object to having your back to the audience? (several talking) It was in the round. Everybody had the same issue. I ... I'm just asking, so some (several talking and laughing) Hayek: I think it's worth looking at. Mims: Yeah. Markus: If you'd like I'm sure that we can sit down and discuss it and come back with a recommendation. And maybe if you'd like we can just try different configurations, uh, and see how they work out. You can comment on them and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 35 (several talking) evolve to something that is satisfactory, and yes, we can try something for the next meeting. Dobyns: Could we start at 5:00? Champion: That's be fine with me! Mims: That works fine for me. Throgmorton: I can do it. Payne: It works for me. Dobyns: And I'll have my face away from the public, as a public service! (laughter and several talking) Dickens: We have matching heads so I join you too (laughter) Hayek: Okay, so why don't we start ... we try an earlier start time and some configuration of the tables and see how that works, and if it's still not working, let's continue this discussion, because we want a format that ... that people are comfortable with. Mims: Right. Champion: I mean, I would like to tear this whole thing down and start over. (several talking) Hayek: Capital improvements come but once a year! Mims: Make a donation! Hayek: Thanks for that ... thanks for that, Michelle. Dobyns: Nothing for me! Hayek: Uh, two items for me. Uh, first a ... a congratulations to the girls' basketball at both City and West for... for making it to State and, uh, especially to West for winning the whole kitandkaboodle. That was just fantastic! Um, and secondly, um, as I was thinking about this, Marian, as we move to an electronic format for the way we, uh, deal with our materials, you know, often with the written materials we get, something will come up like in first consideration and then, you know, we'll have it on our packet for second consideration, but the material from first consideration isn't necessary there in the hard copy format. You have to remember to bring your old thing. Is there a way, I mean, maybe as we do this make sure that with each consideration or each time something comes up, there's some way to include that relevant information? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012. Page 36 Karr: We can do that (both talking) the previous Council didn't want it because it was redundant and made the packets bigger. If you want the ordinance in there again, it's no problem. Hayek: Well, only because it's now electronic and you don't have that thickness. Payne: If..if you download it, it's like on the hard, on your hard drive. Hayek: Yeah. Payne: And you can just... Karr: So do you want it effective immediately? Hayek: I don't know! I'm just suggesting we consider that because... Karr: It's not ... we've got it. Dobyns: He's a lawyer. He likes lots of stuff so (several talking and laughing) Karr: That's fine! Hayek: So ... uh, that's all I have! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of March 6, 2012.