HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-07-2000 Communication January 31, 2000 Council Work Session Page 84
Lehman/Well we got it quite a while ago.
Vanderhoeff Yea and we made a real special request for that.
Champion/(Can't hear) couldn't have been a problem but we did get minutes.
Karr/But I think that is the understanding is that any time Council is being asked to take
some action that the board or commission requesting that action furnish a copy of
the minutes. I don't know that as I said since that was clarified that we've ever
had a problem with that. As far as that issue is concerned.
Champion/Bt~t we bring up this all the time.
Kanner/I guess I'm in a minority but I still find it a problem.
Champion/You're not, you're not in a minority it's just that we haven't gone (can't
hear).
Vanderhoef/It's been ongoing Steven and I've asked for it for.
Champion/You're not in the minority.
Kanner/Well I'll write up my proposal and I think it is workable, that is something that
we could try.
Pfab/Steve I think the prior members of our...
(END OF TAPE 00-15 SIDE 1)
Kanner/We got a letter from John Watson about the Police Citizen Review Board and we
should talk about meeting with them or that request.
Lehman/I think after after we get through with budget we need to meet with them and I,
in fact I suggested that last fall, I think it's probably a good meeting.
Kanner/Maybe we could memo for that, maybe April or so.
Atkins/Did you talk to John?
Lehman/No I tried to call him and I missed him, I do intend to call him, I want to talk to
him as well.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of January 31, 2000.
WS013100
January 31, 2000 Council Work Session Page 85
Karr/I did report to staff upon the direction received here that it would be after budget so
that might have been what John had heard through staff.
Lehman/Yea it would be.
Kan-/After budget.
Lehman/Yea probably March or April.
Kanner/And also if you'd maybe mention to John, he said something about meeting with
the new members, he can feel free anytime to call us individually I think, he
should feel free.
Lehman/Well that's true except when we set that commission up and I think this is I'm
going to take a minute here because I think it's very important. We receive 40
some applications for that PCRB board when it was first set up, one of the things
that we try very very hard to do was make that as non political group as we
possibly could. And the Council at that point pretty much said we will not
interact with that board, we want them to be as independent fi'om the City Council
as they can possibly be. If they're ever viewed as being an arm of the Council
they lose their effectiveness so for the most part Council has not even talked to
those folks about what they do. I mean we'll say hello to John Watson or I see
someone on the street and I'll say Hi to them. As far as the Council interfering
with their work or their interfering with Council's work, we've really tried to
distance ourselves from each other so they can remain as independent as they
possibly can. I think that's a good policy n~v if this Council chooses to do
differently obviously we can do that.
Champion/No I think (can't hear) think about it.
Vanderhoef/The other thing, the other thing they do is if they have an encounter with us
you'll see it in the minutes.
Lehman/Well they'll come, I mean we've met with them before but.
Vanderhoeff I've talked with Dee Vanderhoef and this was a concern.
Lehman/Yea, but by and large we've really tried, I mean we have not. We have one
Council Member who wrote them a couple letters but overall the Council has tried
to distance ourselves from those folks, we read their annual reports, we've met
with them a couple times, but if they're going to be effective they've got to be
independent totally from the Council.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of January 31, 2000.
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January 31, 2000 Council Work Session Page 86
O'Donnell/I agree with that.
Lehman/And that's kind of where we left it, if this Council chooses to do that differently
you know let somebody say so but I think it's a good policy.
Pfab/I have visited with, I don't think it was anybody on the board just a person that was
doing it, I just asked how, when, absolutely not intending to have any input on
just a curiosity of how they handle that.
Lehman/And I think some of those questions we can answer when we have our joint
meeting with them. There will be questions that all of us may have and certainly
it would certainly be the time to ask it.
Pfab/No I mean if they, if their perceived as being part of us, they're dead.
Lehman/Well yea and I don't think they should be.
Pfab/Right.
Kanner/One final, one final thing, I was wondering Eleanor if(can't hear) now but
maybe the next couple months we can get a response from you on the Supreme
Court ruling about a campaign contributions, we made a decision about changing
our ordinance based on what you perceived to be the previous Supreme Court
ruling.
Dilkes/No.
Kanner/No.
Dilkes/Not what I perceived to be the previous Supreme Court ruling, it was an eight
cimuit ruling which governs our state at and that has been reversed by the
Supreme Court so yes I will, I'm in the middle of that opinion and I will give you
a memo on it and that's something you can take up again.
O'Donnell/I just have a quickie here.
Lehman/Yes.
O'Donnell/Mr. Norton's putting a great deal of pressure on me.
Vanderhoeff How many pins (can't hear)?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council
meeting of January 31, 2000.
WS013100
· Council Work Session
January 31, 2000
Page 3
ENGLERT THEATER ACQUISITION (Item No. 7)
PCD Director Franklin reviewed the project and resolution.
PENINSULA PROJECT
PCD Director Franklin provided background and an update on this project. Council requested a
special work session be scheduled to allow their attendance at the March 1 presentation by
three developers. Council directed staff to move the meeting to a larger room than Council
Chambers.
STAFF ACTION: Investigate another room and properly post Council meeting. (Franklin)
CVB APPOINTMENT
The Mayor will contract Director Wendy Ford regarding meeting time prior to making
appointment.
COUNCIL TIME (CONT.)
1. Council Member vanderhoef outlined recent concerns on behalf of the Council's Legislative
Committee as to their purpose and implications of open meetings law. After discussion
Council stated it was not their intent the main function of the committee was to be an
advisory body to the Council, and agreed to dissolve the committee. Staff will follow up.
2. Council Member Kanner suggested a policy for a quicker distribution of Board and
Commission minutes to the Council. City Clerk Karr and City Atty. Dilkes reported on the
current policy that minutes should be furnished to Council prior to any action being
requested. Kanner agreed to formulate a proposal/timeline.
3. Council Member Kanner noted the request from PCRB Chairperson John Watson
requesting a joint meeting, and questioned a response. The Mayor stated Council had
agreed to meet with the Board after the budget process was completed and he had been
unsuccessful in reaching him by phone. The City Clerk stated she had notified PCRB staff
the meeting would occur after March 15. In response to Kanner, Mayor Lehman stated
Council's policy to distance themselves from interacting with the PCRB so they can remain
as independent as possible.
4. In response to Council Member Kanner, the City Attorney stated she is preparing a memo
on the recent reversal of the eighth circuit ruling regarding campaign contributions.
5. Council Member O'Donnell asked Council Members to let him know who was interested in '
bowling in Big Brothers/Big Sisters fundraiser on February 26.
Meeting adjoumed 10:30 p.m.
City Council Office
410 E Washington Street 52240
Phone: 356-5010
FAX: 356-5009
To email all Council Members: council@iowa-city.org
TERM TERM
MEMBERS BEGINS EXPIRES
Connie Champion (District B) January 2 January 2
430 $. Summit Street 52240 1998 2002
Res: 337-6608
connie_champion@iowa-city.org
Steven Kanner (At-Large) January 3 January 2
2315 E. Washington Street, Basement Apt. 52245 2000 2004
Res: 338-8865
Ernest W. Lehman (At-Large) January 2 January 2
902 VVylde Green Road 52246 1998 2002
Res: 338-7741
Bus: 337-2375
ernie_lehman@iowa-city.org
Mike O'Donnell (At-Large) January 2 January 2
901 W. Park Road 52246 1998 2002
Res: 354-8071
mike_odon nell@iowa-city.org
In/in Pfab (District C) January 3 January 2
PO Box 2446 52244 2000 2004
Res: 351-4094
irvin_pfab@iowa-city.org
ipfab@avalon.net
Dee Vanderhoef (At-Large) January 3 January 2
2403 Tudor Drive 52245 2000 2004
Res: 351-6872 (prefers mornings)
dee_vanderhoef@iowa-city.org
Ross Wilburn (District A) January 3 January 2
1917 Taylor Drive 52240 2000 2004
Res: 358-6374
Bus: 335-3270
ross_wilburn@iowa-city.org
Stephen Atkins, City Manager Marian Karr, City Clerk
410 E Washington Street 52240 410 E Washington Street 52240
Bus: 356-5010 Bus: 356-5040
steve_atkins@[owa-city.org marian_karr@iowa-city.org