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ITEM 5a VACATING AIR RIGHTS WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT -OF -WAY
LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY AT 114 SOUTH DUBUQUE
STREET, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (VAC12- 00003)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. Public hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Davidson: Good evening, Mr. Mayor and Members of the City Council. I'm Jeff Davidson,
the Director of Planning and Community Development for the City. Item 5a on
your agenda is a request from Marc B. Moen; uh, the action that is requested is to,
uh, is a right -of -way vacation to allow the applicant to acquire the air rights to a
portion of the public right -of -way along City Plaza, and Black Hawk Park, and
this would allow the top 13 floors of a proposed 14 -story building, to cantilever 4-
feet over the public right -of -way, and this is the Park at 201 project that you are
very familiar with, located at 114 S. Dubuque Street. Um... as I said... as I
mentioned, you're... you're very familiar with this project. Here is a site plan of
what is proposed and I would clarify just one thing ... if I can get the mouse
working here. Um, this is not drawn exactly right in that this little corner here
should be filled in, okay? There's not a notch there. That ... it ... it's continuous 4-
feet out on the west side of the building, 4 -feet out, uh, on the north side of the
building. So it includes that small corner, uh, I did provide a site plan just so you
can orient yourself. Paul Helen Building, Black Hawk, uh, Mini Park, and the
pedestrian mall. Urn ... there are a couple of photos here. I think this one shows
pretty clearly, uh, the ... the uh ... the cantilever as it would extend out, uh, over the
pedestrian mall. And obviously, you know, one of the concerns is light and air
and visual obtrusion and that sort of thing, and so this ... this gives you a feeling,
albeit from a bit of a bird's eye view, not one that any of us will necessarily have,
but uh, of...of, uh, the ... the impact of the cantilever, uh, as you look down
Dubuque Street towards the, uh, hotel. I think the ... the next photo here. This
shows real well, um, basically here and here, I think those ... yeah, those were the
only... but... but gives you a notion of the, um ... basically the ... the amount of
cantilever that we're talking about, uh, and the relationship of the first floor. This
elevation right here is 16 -feet 8- inches where the cantilever would begin and then
extend up to the, uh, remaining floors of the building. Uh, just a couple of other
things ... uh, along ... uh, City Plaza then, it's basically 40- feet ... uh ... 40 -feet on
this dimension, and 60 -feet along the Black Hawk Mini Park dimension. Um...
in terms of reasons, uh, provided by the applicant, the cantilever will provide for a
superior overall design of the building, create a much more pedestrian- friendly
main floor retail space, uh, it will maximize the amount of class A office space on
levels 2, 3, and 4; and it will allow recessed balconies, uh, you'll note the recessed
balconies, uh, those would be enabled, uh, by the ... the cantilever. Um ... uh,
the ... we also feel that the, uh, the cornice effect here is ... is one that, in terms of
how the pedestrian scale relates to the ... to the rest of the building is ... is a
positive, um, would have a positive impact as well. Uh, in terms of the actual
vacation, uh ... many of you have been through a number of vacations. We have
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of June 19, 2012.
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set a number of criteria, uh, some of which don't... really, aren't really affected
the way ... for example a street or alley vacation would be, but we ... we looked at
all of them, as we always do. Impact on pedestrian and vehicular, uh, circulation
and access. Obviously there is no, uh, vehicular, uh, circulation on the, uh, sides
of the building where the cantilever would occur. Uh, similarly emergency and
utility vehicle access — the uh, just outside of the frame of the picture here is
where the fire lane occurs and there's no ... there's no interruption of the fire lane
by what is proposed. Uh, utilities and easements will remain in their existing
locations and not be impacted. Uh, in terms of the access provided to adjacent
public property, um, not an issue with this. Uh, desirability of the right -of -way
for access or circulation. You know, since it does ... does not begin until, uh, 16-
feet, 8 ... really no impact on that as we see it. And then, you know, just any other,
uh, relevant factors, uh, and we did not find there to be any. Um ... any questions
about any of the vacation criteria that we went through? Um ... you know, one of
the things that we ... we feel is, um, significant in terms of considering this request,
and staff is recommending, uh, approval; the Planning and Zoning Commission
also recommends approval, is that ... that the site is so small, uh, and that ... on a
much larger site you might see the setback of the building, uh, to allow the
cantilever, but with a site this small, uh, we feel like, um ... that would have a
negative impact on the building in terms of the size of the retail space, the size of
the office spaces, uh, which is of course a significant addition of, uh, taxable
value to each of those floors, and then the ability to recess the balconies. If you...
if you were to shrink the size of the site in order to accommodate the cantilever
and then recess the balconies, it really results in residential units that are not
viable, at least compared to, uh, what is proposed here. So, uh, as I mentioned
staff recommends approval. Are there any, uh, questions that I can answer prior
to your consideration?
Throgmorton: I have one. Uh, how is the cantilevering and the construction likely to affect
trees, uh, immediately adjacent to the building?
Davidson: Yeah, you can ... you can see that there are trees, uh, adjacent to where the
building will occur that ... that will be trimmed back, uh, for the construction,
and ... and if you, you know, I was downtown and actually took time to ... to look
up and down Washington Street and ... and College Streets and there are a lot of
trees that touch buildings, uh, throughout the downtown and that's a positive
thing, uh, so there's nothing unique here, Jim, compared to anywhere else, uh, in
the ... in the pedestrian mall area, um, and ... and uh, you know, presumably those
trees will grow back out and eventually touch the building again.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Davidson: Any other questions? Thank you!
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Hayek: Thanks, Jeff. Would anyone else from the public like to address the Council
before I close the public hearing? Okay, I will close the public hearing at this
time. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion?
Dilkes: I just wanted to note, I don't think we handed out a revised ordinance, but we did
include the amount of the con ... of the consideration that was left blank in the one
that's in your packet. It's $31,759.
Throgmorton: I ... I'm going to vote no, only to be consistent with an earlier vote with regard to
the cantilevering itself.
Hayek: As ... as am I and the ... the earlier vote we took was on the, uh, revised plans and
this vote is on the vacation of air rights and they go hand -in -hand essentially, um,
and although I ... I think this is a great project, my ... as I said before, my ... my
problem is with encroaching on the right -of -way in the ... in the pedestrian mall.
And I've spoken about those concerns before, but what I want to be clear is that
my vote on this, and then the earlier plan revision, um, are in no way reflective of
my feelings about the project. I think this is an excellent project for us to
undertake and that's why I was supportive of, uh, the underlying TIF agreement.
Just to clarify that.
Champion: (mumbled) I am going to support it. I think it adds some architectural interest to
a building that might look pretty stark otherwise. And I like the idea of the ... your
sight being stopped from just going up.
Dickens: And we already have some cantilever type things on the Jefferson Building...
Champion: Well, yeah, that's lovely!
Dickens: Well, but it overhangs and it's kind of nice when you have rain (both talking)
places for people to walk. So there is ... there is some precedence there that it...it
is downtown and it really does not affect people walking and enjoying downtown.
S o l ...I think I would vote for it.
Mims: And the other comment that Jeff made that I would just add, in terms of my
support of this, as well, is when you look at the small footprint of this building. I
mean, if it was a much larger footprint, it might be a little bit different situation,
where they could do the setback on the first and second floors and get the
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cantilever within their own air space, um, but because the footprint is so small, I
think that is also a compelling reason. So I will be supporting this.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. First consideration passes 5 -2; Hayek and
Throgmorton in the negative.
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formal meeting of June 19, 2012.
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ITEM 5b CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 4.29 ACRES OF
LAND LOCATED ON WALDEN ROAD, WEST OF MORMON TREK
BOULEVARD FROM MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL (RS -8) ZONE TO HIGH DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL (RS -12) ZONE. (REZ09- 00003)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) I will open it at this time, um, but
I ... here's how we're going to proceed tonight. We do not have a signed, um,
Conditional Zoning Agreement, um, and so what we will do this evening is
initially disclose any ex parte communications and then open it up for, uh, public
input and some staff input, but when we get to ... when we run out of speakers,
essentially, we will, uh, entertain a motion to continue both the public hearing and
first consideration until our July 10th meeting. Okay? Jeff!
Davidson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Hayek: (both talking) ... start with the ex parte which I just said we would do! Does
anybody have any ex parte communications to, uh, disclose? (several responding)
Dobyns: Yes, I did speak with Brian Fink, Kevin Denadal, and Jason Masher who are
property owners, um, on Coll Court. I can give you those names later, Marian.
Dilkes: You just need to briefly describe the substance of your conversations.
Dobyns: I went and toured the site and uh, being property owners, uh, they allowed me to
their backyard, into the property and I just, uh, discussed some concerns that they
had.
Hayek: I spoke, uh, to Michelle yesterday briefly who, uh ... uh., identified a question she
had about Mid American Energy and ... and the site in question, and said she was
going to get some information from the City Manager. I also talked to the City
Manager who, uh, indicated he had heard from Michelle with a question about
Mid American. So ... that's the extent of my disclosures. Anybody else?
Payne: Do I have to say I talked to staff about it? (laughter) Obviously I've talked to
staff about it.
Hayek: Yeah, you do.
Dilkes: Yes, you do.
Payne: Okay. I didn't know if it was only public or staff, but yes, I discussed with staff
the easement issues.
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Dobyns: As did I. I spoke with City staff, as well.
Hayek: Okay, with that... Jeff!
Davidson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, uh, here's a picture of the site, just to orient you. Oh, I
guess I should say. This is a request from Southgate Development to reactivate
their application for a rezoning of Walden Woods, Part 7, Lot 79. This was
originally brought to our attention in 2009. Uh, at that time the applicant
requested that the rezoning request be deferred, ben ... pending resolution of issues
related to storm water drainage, and we will talk about those issues briefly. Uh,
here is the location of the site, along the east side of the site you have Mormon
Trek Boulevard, uh, Rohret Road is here. Um, Coll Drive, Walden Road, and this
is an infill parcel. I think I have an aerial. Yes, you can see that it's a ... uh, built
out with the, uh, elderly housing here and then a variety of...uh, townhomes and
single - family dwellings, and here's the infill parcel that we're talking about. Uh,
it includes a rather significant pipeline easement, uh, controlled by, um, Mid
American Energy. And we'll talk about some of the issues related to that. Um...
excuse me while I get my staff report back here. Um, as I mentioned to you, this
was originally brought to us in 2009 and there were issues related to storm water
drainage. Uh, and I'll point those out, and this is a concept plan and we'll talk
about this in just a second. And this is the same ... pretty much the same concept
plan that we received in 2009. It consists of 18 attached townhome units. Uh,
you can see there's five here, four here, and then along here there are, uh, five and
uh, four as well, so a total of 18. Uh, and you can see that the concept plan here is
off of Walden Road there would be a rear lane that would provide all of the
access, a private drive, uh, that would provide all of the access to all 18 units
would come off of that private drive. No access otherwise to the public streets of
Walden Road, uh, or certainly the arterial of, uh, Mormon Trek Boulevard. And
we feel like this is a good townhouse design and one that we have tried to
encourage in various places throughout the city. Um, the issue in 2009 with storm
water drainage which was basically designed to drain directly south, uh, through
the Walden Court property that's down here, and you can see how that's, uh, built
out with the ... the townhomes here. And ... and hypothetically the drainage could
come through the middle here and then out to the storm sewer system on Mormon
Trek Boulevard. Uh, and that was not able to be worked out at the time and that's
when the project was put on hold. What has occurred recently is that a new storm
water management system has been, uh, developed which the City engineer has,
uh, approved in concept, and ... and I want to emphasize to you that everything
you're seeing tonight is a concept, based on this plan, and the Conditional Zoning
Agreement says that when the plat for the property comes in, and the site plan,
that it basically looked like this concept plan, but we do not have the detailed
information that we will receive at the platting stage tonight. We are not
approving that! What you are approving is the rezoning that enables a project like
this to occur. Okay, I wanted to make that clear. Um... so the concept of the
drainage now is that right now you see two ... two storm water basins that were
part of the original plan. There will now be a single, larger basin over here, and
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the storm water will drain around the Walden Court, uh, site, over the, uh,
pipeline easement to the storm sewer system, uh, located along, um, Mormon
Trek... excuse me, along Rohret Road. Um, and the City engineer has reviewed in
concept, uh, and approved that. We have a letter from Mid American Energy
indicating that they believe the concept, uh, can be engineered, uh, along with the
special considerations that need to take place with their pipeline easement. There
are three significant, uh, underground pipelines located in this area. Two are
active, one is not active. Uh, and ... and there will have to be special consideration
given to obviously the grading, and the filling, over that pipeline, and that will be
done in accordance with what Mid American Energy will allow. There were also
issues brought up, uh, with some of the neighbors over here on, uh, Coll Court,
uh, who appeared at the Planning and Zoning Commission, concerned that some
existing, uh, drainage issues that, uh, occur at the ends of their lots here would be
exacerbated by the proposal, and the City engineer did go out and meet with the
individuals, and they do have sort of swampy situation along the very backs of
their lots here. Uh, does believe that the plan that is to be engineered for this
development, uh, will not, um ... will not make the problem worse for them. If it
is engineered correctly. And also that the opportunity might be here for some of
the dirt, uh, from this area to be used to perhaps fill the ends of their lots, defining
the drainage corridor through here and making the situation on their lots better.
Now that would be something that would be a private matter, between the
developer and the ... and those property owners. City would not be involved in
that, but it's at least a possibility that ... that can be pursued, uh, by them. So as I
mentioned the City engineer has approved the, uh, drainage, uh, plan that's in
place now that basically enables the project to go ahead. I did want to just
quickly highlight the CZA conditions. Really this is the most significant thing
this evening in terms of what you're approving are the conditions that go along
with the rezoning. Um, the storm water management system obviously designed
so that it does not impact the adjacent properties. Uh, that the gen ... the
development will be in general compliance with the submitted concept plan that
you see before you. Uh, that access to all of the units will be from the rear lane
that you see here, and that's probably going to be an 18- to 20 -foot rear lane.
Again, we don't have that detail, but it appears to be, uh, laid out in such a
fashion. No direct vehicular access to either Mormon Trek Boulevard, um, well,
actually it just stipulates Mormon Trek Boulevard because that's the arterial street
that we would certainly want to eliminate access to. And that, uh, and ... and I did
want to highlight. If...if all you did was read Karen Howard's memo, when the
CZA got to the Planning and Zoning Commission they did make a couple of
changes to this last provision, and that was that Karen's memo refers to three
visitor parking spaces. Planning and Zoning upped that to six. And that all of the
units would have two -car garages, and this was related to parking concerns. They
wanted to make sure that there was adequate parking and so they did stipulate
two -car garages and the developer has agreed to ... to all those provisions. So
those are the conditions of the CZA. Uh, as Eleanor, uh, or Marian or maybe it
was the Mayor mentioned we don't have a signed CZA tonight and there are no
officers of the corporation that can ... can sign it tonight, but they have indicated,
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uh, overall that they will sign it when it is, h, presented to them. So ... uh, any
questions about any aspect of the project?
Payne: I do have a question. Um ... because these garages are in the rear, how far do they
have to be set back from the lane?
Davidson: I apologize, Michelle. I do not know that exact dimension. The ... the notion is
that there ... there needs to be enough setback that a car can be sitting in the area
between the lane and the front of the garage, and not extend onto the lane, but I
don't know exactly what that dimension is.
Payne: Okay. Cause I know that that was part of what Planning and Zoning was talking
about, was being able to have two ... two cars sit behind the garage (both talking)
Davidson: ...that's clearly... clearly the intent. So you'd basically have two in the garage,
two behind the garage.
Payne: Right. Okay. Um...
Davidson: Because this lane, I would just point out ... if it's ... if it's an 18- or 20 -foot lane,
uh, it would... it would not be allowed to have parking on it by virtue of the fire
lane standards. Not, you know, typically the Fire Department likes to fight fires
from the main streets anyway, so they would only use the ... the rear lane in a real
emergency, but we would want to keep that open.
Payne: So when they actually did the site development then they would have dimensions
on that setback?
Davidson: Right! Yeah, that'll all be through the platting and the site plan approval process.
Payne: Thank you.
Davidson: Any other questions?
Throgmorton: Uh, yeah. I'd like to ask, uh, one or two, I don't know. Uh, like all places, this
site has a history and ... and it also has a very complicated topography, as best I
can tell. I went out today and looked at it as carefully as I could.
Davidson: Picture of it right there!
Throgmorton: Yeah, there ya go! Uh, and ... (both talking) I'm partly just curious about, uh, the
shape of the parcel. Why is it such a weirdly shaped parcel? How did that result?
Davidson: Well, the ... the easiest answer to that, Jim, is that it's the last one. Uh, and it's not
uncommon to ... when you're dealing with the final infill parcel to have a weirdly
shaped parcel because basically everything that's been designed around it, it was
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designed to fit that, and what you're left with is an oddly shaped parcel. So it is...
it has involved some creativity, I will tell you, to come up with this plan for the 18
units, and ... and we think given, and you can note here — this is looking to the east
and there was one in particular... you can see how it falls away there. That
sideway is directly behind the sidewalk right ... here. Is directly behind the
Walden Court, uh ... uh ... townhomes, and you can see how much higher the site
is, how it would drain down, uh, to that Walden Court site. So ... it is a ... it is a
site that we feel, Jim, they've done a good job with the ... the clustering of the
units to, uh, accommodate that topography in... in a way that has the least amount
of... of impact.
Throgmorton: Yeah, can you help me understand how the storm water management actually
would work, given the topography, because you know I ... I have it fixed in my
mind what the topography looks like, but not the storm water management part of
it.
Davidson: The City engineer is right here and will probably be better able to do that
than ... than I can.
Knoche: So on the plan where they would do their excavation and put their storm water
basin in the middle, uh, everything would be graded to drain to this location.
Throgmorton: So that's where it's all... it's pretty level up there right now. So (both talking)
Knoche: ... excavation there, yep, and then for their outlet, their control structure would be
here. There'd be a storm sewer pipe that would outlet here, and then it'd be
overland flow from that point. So, we ... our requirement is that we require them
to detain with a 100 -year event, at. 15CFS (mumbled) ends up being about a 6- to
8 -inch pipe that would be coming out of there, and then an event that's larger than
a 100 year, then it would go overland flow and they would grade (mumbled)
emergency spillway basically to direct the water that way and down into the Mid
American easement.
Mims. So, Ron, in that easement area, I mean, is the design going to be with berms of...
to some extent so that it's not flowing into those neighboring properties that are
already having problems? Or...
Knoche: Right now the ... the preliminary, um, plan that we have shows some berming that
occurs kind of here and where it makes the bend.
Mims: Uh -huh.
Knoche: And then it just kind of shows it coming out into the ... the bottom there. Um, they
would ... we would have to, you know, make sure as they work with Mid
American to ... as much ... we wouldn't have any berms blocking this drainage
coming off the back of Coll Court...
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Mims: ...but on the side, yeah.
Knoche: ...right, so, because this all drains to this storm sewer down here at the bottom
now.
Mims: Right.
Knoche: Any berm that would happen in this area would prevent this water from coming
across the Mid American easement.
Mims: Okay.
Knoche: So ... I would ... as we look at it, there may be berming here but I'm guessing that
will be (mumbled) down here to get ... to keep the water within the...
Mims: ...within the easement.
Dickens: And is that storm sewer that's currently there big enough to handle that new
development...
Knoche: Yes. Yes. Yep.
Throgmorton: So all the run -off from the ... from the new streets and the rooftops of the buildings
would be directed to the retention pond and then deflected on down to the sewer
system?
Knoche: That's correct.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Knoche: We ... we'd have to look at...it may be a little problematic here on this very front
piece here, where the road comes straight off, because of the way the topography
is. Um, but we would make sure that ... as much of it as we can would go to the
storm water management basin.
Payne: Could there be a ... the original plan showed a berm ... kind of where that .... where
the lot line goes toward the east, right in there. The original plan showed a berm
along that lot line, along the ... I'm going to call it the south lot line, up...
Knoche: Up here?
Payne: Yeah, right in through there. Will there be one there?
Knoche: I think what ... I what'll happen here is there'll be a swale that'll be cut through
here, and then... and then it would be a berm on this outside here, and that... and
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that's just preliminary from, you know, from what I could tell, uh, what was
presented to us.
Dobyns: I mean that's a significant amount of water that's going to be in the swales. As
it's making that turn, um ... from the west to the south, uh, down toward Rohret,
um ... sometimes it's hard to predict water, admittedly! And, looking at it the
other day, there's so much brush there. It's hard to see where the terrain really is.
Um ... I guess I'm concerned where (mumbled) water makes that turn and
(mumbled) I mean that's a large volume of water during a large rainstorm.
Knoche: And that's one of the discussions that we've had with Mid American Energy in
regards to the gas line easement itself. It's fairly well overgrown and ... and one of
the requests that I had made to Ed Young, who is one of the gas technicians, was
to potentially look at a project to clean that area up. Basically as ... as they're
required to do inspections, over top of their gas lines, it would basically be a... an
inspection, uh, area for them, but it would also clean up some of the downed
timber and ... and really help with the overall drainage in that area.
Dobyns: Well my concern is that there's just not much room between that, um, Mid
American pipeline, and the um, eastern edge of the prop ... property line right
there. I mean, as far as ... but you're confident that that'll control a substantial
amount of water volume?
Knoche: Yeah. I ... I'm not ... I'm not, you know, I'm not going to guess how much water's
going to be coming here ... coming through here, but I think coming off of this lot
it'll be ... less than what comes off that lot currently. And with the detention that's
going to occur here, you know, our... our storm water management standards, as
far as what we have for our release rate, is fairly minimal. It's less than a 5 -year
event, uh, undeveloped. So we're ... until you get to the 100 -year event, where
it's ... where it would eventually come out of the basin, but that ... in a large event,
there's going to be a lot of water everywhere.
Hayek: Part of the problem we face is that this is a rezoning request and the plan before
us is conceptual, and ... and the ... the City standards as they relate to storm water
and ... and engineering don't get a chance ... aren't vetted as they relate to this until
we get to the preliminary and final platting stage. So maybe it would help if you
could explain, you know, how ... how those standards would be applied to this
particular proposal, assuming we rezone, and then we ... leap forward to the
platting stage.
Knoche: So...
Hayek: Does that make sense?
Knoche: Sure! I mean, the process that we would go through is ... the engineer for the
developer would develop a ... a storm water plan and then also ... do all of their, uh,
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modeling to show what the off, what the runoff would be, off of the site. Uh, they
would make sure that the storm water management basin would retain 100 -year
flow with the .15CFS (mumbled) that run -out, um, for that 100 -year event. Um,
and then from that point it would be a matter of making sure that that flow is then
held into that swale, as it ... as it goes down off the Mid American site.
Hayek: Okay. And then my follow up question is, the ... the added challenge is the ease...
the utility easement and that grants the utilities certain rights within the easement
area. How does that mesh with our engineering standards for water runoff, etc.?
mean, is there ... is there some risk that ... what Mid American might do to protect
its interests within its easement, could bump up against what the City is
attempting to do with ... in ... in terms of storm water management. Could there be
a conflict?
Knoche: There ... there could be a conflict and then that's something that we would have to,
you know, there would have to be some guarantees that that was put in place
would remain in place.
Hayek: Is that part of the platting process that you would resolve those potential
conflicts?
Knoche: I ... I don't know the answer to that, I ... cause it's ... cause Mid American has (both
talking) Mid American has easement rights and that agreement would be between
the developer and Mid American, and the City wouldn't be a part of that
agreement, per se.
Dilkes: It wouldn't be a part of it, but ... but we would have to know that whatever
agreement they worked out would allow them to comply with the storm water
management requirements. So yes, that would be part of the platting.
Hayek: Okay.
Throgmorton: I have a question for Jeff. How ... how might the site be, uh, developed if we do
not rezone it?
Davidson: I believe it's zoned RS -8 right now. Is that right ... yeah. It's zoned RS -8 right
now which is a, you know, single - family residential zone. Um, I haven't ... we
haven't determined like how many lots could be fit onto that. Obviously many
fewer than this.
Throgmorton: Would there be ... is it likely there'd be any significant difference in terms of
storm water runoff between one versus the other?
Davidson: With more units you would generally have more impervious surface, which again,
that just becomes an engineering management type problem, you know, it's
certainly possible with proper engineering to ... to manage the storm water...
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storm water under either scenario. Takes a little bit more creativity and
knowledge to do it with ... with the larger number of units.
Payne: But either way you'd end up with that lane in the back, cause you ... you're not
going to be able to have access...
Davidson: Not necessarily, you know, I mean you could ... you could, you know
hypothetically you could put one house on Walden Road right here with access
directly to Walden Road, or maybe you could get a couple lots. So not
necessarily. We wouldn't allow direct access onto Mormon Trek, um... so there's
likely be some type of a lane in here if you were to ... to put any homes down at
the back of the site like this. Any other questions for me?
Hayek: Okay, why don't we ... unless there's any further staff, uh, presentation, open it up
to the public. If there are members of the audience who would like to address the
Council during public hearing time, please do so. And again, we ask that you sign
in and then verbally give us your name.
Siders: My name's Glenn Siders. I'm with Southgate Development Services. I'm
representing the applicant ... for this rezoning request. We do not have a signed
CZA. I apologize for that. By the time we received a copy to review we simply
didn't have enough time to have our attorney review it and then catch an officer to
sign it. Uh ... we have, uh, been aware of what's coming down the pike. In scope
we have no problems with the CZA at all; any revisions would be wordsmithing,
but we have no problems with the conditions that are imposed on the CZA. We
fully intend to sign that as quickly as we can and get it to the City. Uh, it's been
interesting. I've heard these, a lot of these questions numerous times. Drainage
seems to be a big issue. I want to point out a couple of things that weren't
addressed. There is a storm sewer system right here. It goes to about this point,
I'm going to say 20 -feet short of the property line. That is a private storm sewer
system. When this property was developed, it was intended for that to be a public
storm sewer system and why it was not required to be extended to the property
line I have no idea because your standards require that. To extend public utilities
to the property line. That's a private system. We were not able to negotiate any
kind of agreement with this association to use that private system. Therefore, we
had to come up with an alternate plan. We came up with this, over - ground
drainage system. That opportunity came about when Mid America vacated the
eastern pipeline. They no longer are going to use that underground pipeline. That
is a vacated, uh, it's been represented to me that if we would like, they will come
and physically move that line from the ground. So there will be two active
pipelines. One about here, one about here, and then from about mid -point of this
easement is free game for our drainage swale. With the recommendation, the
favorable recommendation we got from the Planning and Zoning Commission we
felt comfortable to proceed a little bit with some preliminary engineering on how
this ... the size and type of this swale, because I know the... adjoining property
owners along here have major concerns and they have some issues. We have, uh,
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the preliminary design indicates that you will have approximately a 6 -foot wide...
at the bottom, uh, ditch, so to speak. At any one point it'll be about a foot deep,
minimum. It will be higher in spots. This ... the swale will be a level plain so you
get your proper shed, but the ground may alter. So, in some spots the ditch will
be deeper than 2 -feet. Uh ... both banks'll have a 3 -to -1 slope, which is a very
gentle slope. And as, uh, Ron indicated, until we fully engineer this, we believe a
maximum size of that pipe's going to be 8- inches. It's not a very big pipe for a
storm water discharge. I mean, it sounds big ... 8 -inch sounds big but that's not
real big when it comes to discharging water. We are very cognizant that at...
where you make any bend we may need to berm ... to keep that water contained in
that swale. I concur with your City engineer that I think these property owners
will see less water runoff with this storm water basin and with this swale than
what they currently see from that site because right now there's uncontrolled
water that just streams allover everywhere. This design will essentially capture
that water like a bathtub and then when you pull the plug it goes out the drain. So
it...it controls the flow of the water, the direction of the water, and the amount of
water this property receives. Following, uh, once we, uh, got our engineering
criteria, I did meet with I think most all but one of the property owners along here.
Showed `em our preliminary design. Explained to them that it may be 5 -foot, 9-
inches instead of 6 -feet, or it might be 6 -feet, 2 when you come to the actual final
design; might be 14 inches; might be 11 inches. Right now it's 6 -foot by a foot
deep. I don't think it will vary a great deal ... from that. We are aware that there's
some gas services in here. Mid America's made it quite clear that they have
standards on the minimal amount of ground cover and maximum amount of
ground cover that we need to adhere to on their pipes. Uh, we are aware of that.
We will have to ... in this design when we get there, we know the depths of those
pipes now. We can work around those depths. We are confident that we can
comply with all of Mid America's criteria. Uh, and still be able to design this to
something that is acceptable by the City. Uh, some of the questions go about
zoning and ... platting and ... it's correct. The way the process works you don't do
your engineering on the storm water basin. Uh, but then you can't do any work
until you get the zoning to go ahead and proceed. So we're asking for the zoning.
We're quite aware of...all your standards, all your rules, and ... and the bottom
line is we can't develop ... if we don't ... comply with these rules and regulations,
we aren't going to be able to develop this site! So we're aware of the conditions
that are posed. We're acceptable to those conditions, and we'd simply like to
proceed. I'll try to answer any questions you may have with this. Jim, you had
one. Right now you can get no access off Mormon Trek. If you have any
subdivision of that property at all, correct me if I'm wrong, you've gotta generate
a storm water basin so you ... I think at one time we looked, you could have three
really hokie shaped... single - family lots that nobody would buy. We would leave
it a weed patch before we'd split that into three single - family lots.
Throgmorton: Glenn, is there any chance of, um ... uh, erosion of that slope because it's so steep,
pretty much where that retention basin (both talking)
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Siders: Absolutely! There's always chance of erosion on a slope. Again, that's why the
engineer says you've gotta do this, you gotta seed it with that, you gotta put mats
on this, you ... one of the first things we have to develop is a grading plan ... to
manage that water. And the City has to say ... yes, that's a good design.
Dobyns: Glenn, I was wondering do you think if the, uh, property owners on Coll Court,
um ... would agree to it, do you think that moving dirt possibly from the swale dig -
out, um ... would be helpful over there in their backyards to, as a further measure
to kind of control water runoff?
Siders: Uh, I'm not going to answer whether it's helpful. I ... I don't want to be placed in
a position where I'm recommending or managing their property.
Dobyns: Sure.
Siders: We had discussions. We told them that ... if we didn't have the dirt, we'll find
dirt. If they want to fill in their rear yards. We will find dirt for them to do that.
also mentioned that I'm not going to cut down a bunch of trees and stuff to do
that. I'll remove what trees are necessary to design our swale. Uh ... I'm not
going to take down their fences or replace them, but if there's a way we can get
dirt from our site to their site, we're more than happy to do that free of charge to
those neighbors.
Champion: Answer me a question about ... those water pits. What're they called again?
(laughter)
Siders: Storm water basins?
Champion: Yeah, right, and we have a lot of `em around town!
Siders: Yes you do.
Champion: But just basic engineering, like ... they just drain naturally, right? There's not an
electric drain on them or electric pump.
Siders: Correct.
Champion: And so when they overflow, it's kind of...the dam overflowing. It's just
uncontrolled water.
Siders: That is correct. That's part of the required design. If you get a real excessive
rain, a ... is it 100 -year, Ron ... real excessive rain where the bathtub fills up.
Champion: Right.
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Siders: Then you gotta put a little cup like a dike or an overflow, uh, to let that water.
That will be designed and directed as part of the design of that swale to
incorporate that water.
Champion: Thank you.
Siders: And that was another issue we had with ... I don't know if you recall the aerial, but
that storm sewer here, you'd still have to incorporate that overflow, if...even if
we were able to hook up to that storm sewer system, and there are buildings here,
and here, and they've had significant water issues already. That overflow would
probably be disastrous to put it in that area. Any other questions?
Hayek: Thank you, Glenn.
Siders: Thank you!
Hayek: Would anyone from the audience like to address us ... during the public hearing?
Fink: My name is Brian Fink. I live at 44 Coll Court, and uh, which is a property
located along the west side here. Um, kind of collectively myself and my two
neighbors who are here tonight. We experience a lot of, uh, chronic, insufficient
drainage po ... ponding. All of that which was described in the Planning and
Zoning, uh, meeting we came and described that; we wrote letters; should have
been in your packets if you saw that so I won't go into a... a great amount of detail
about, um, what's causing that and whatever... except that this is a very flat area.
All the water from the west comes in this way. Um ... and what ... the problem we
have is ... is, uh, a high water table in this area, which uh ... is persistent between
rains. We get pon ... well, ponding. It's very swampy. Um ... and it exists, in a
normal year, uh, we have large areas of our properties which have standing water,
um, very difficult to mow. Uh, reduces the enjoyment and use of our properties.
It's gotten worse over time. Uh, I'm ... this is our 14th year in our property, um...
this area has silted in from runoff. Also from, uh, standing ground water. But
uh ... and that basically was the result of I believe it was this, the presence of this
pipeline swale here. Um, when this area to the west was developed, obviously
they had to leave that alone because of the pipelines. Uh, either by design flaw or
the way the grading was carried out, it created this situation where we're, um, you
know, swimming in water. Um, and I know it's not Southgate's, uh, prerogative
or directive to solve our problems, but ... uh, this is kind of a gray area as it's, you
know, part two of the Conditional Zoning Agreement that the plan does not
exacerbate our problems, which affects me personally and directly. So ... given...
having said that, we're taking ... all this new water which now unfortunately goes
down into the Walden Court area. Sorry about that, but uh, we're going to bring
this down, um, right through here, uh, to an area which has chronic, insufficient
drainage. So ... um, in principle I guess I'm opposed to an open system. Um, the
2009 engineering report specified a pipe system. I'm not sure why the open
system has been, uh, approved this time but ... uh, if you take away our problems,
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the ... the Swale design looks fine but uh, I have serious concerns that over time
that uh ... whatever water it's moving, uh, there's... there'll be some siltation.
There'll be some degradation. Urn ... as has occurred, uh, a worsening of our
issues over time. So it's ... it's a gray area. I just wanted you to be aware of that,
urn ... urn ... I would ... I would suggest that ... the minimum City standards and rules
should not apply. I think it should go beyond minimum standards. You know,
over, uh, if the swale concept is going to proceed, it should be I think over -
engineered. Um... otherwise there's... it ... I believe it's going to make things
possibly worse, and there is a ... a huge amount of storm water coming from the
west that crosses this area. Uh, the water from our yards and from this
development up, uh, up to the west has to actually cross here and go down to, uh,
drainage box down here. So that's... that's another issue that the swale cannot
interfere with water coming from the west. So, um, familiarize yourself with this
issue, um, it's here for a reason, because um, it's a long- standing issue, um, it's...
I plan to be there for a long time and uh, I would prefer not to have, uh, sea level
in my backyard rise over the years so ... just urn ... educate yourself and ask
questions. Get in touch with the engineer, um, before ... this seems like the ball's
rolling on this project, but ... um, pause and, you know, find out what the problem
really is and if this may make it worse, so ... thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Would anyone else like to address the Council?
Denadal: Hi, my name is Kevin Denadal. I live at 54 Coll Court which is the, directly south
of Brian who just spoke. The, uh, middle of those three properties, which are
adjacent to the, uh, proposed area. Um, my main question. Brian, you know,
talked a lot about the issues. My main question about, uh, the conditional, uh,
conditions in the rezoning, and I know there's a process. Obviously this is for
rezoning and then the platting occurs later, and I'm not familiar with the exact
process. That's why I want to ask these questions. The one that talks about will
not exacerbate the storm, uh, water drainage issues on adjacent properties, uh, I
...I'm not clear exactly what the process is for determining first of all what the
baseline currently, and then in the future, to measure ... how do we know, or
what's the required measurement to determine if it's exacerbated or if it has not
been exacerbated. It's not clear to me how that condition will be measured
immediately, and then ongoing in the future. So it's kind of that gray area that
Brian talked about, but that's one question I had. Uh, and... and the, a related
question I have is, if...however it's measured, if it is determined that it is ... has
been exacerbated, what the process is then to remedy the situation, given that
there's already been a design, um, passed, and then the final question I had about
that was the conditions talk about the design, um ... the word `maintenance' is not,
as I see it, in the conditions. So I'm not sure if the maintenance is attached to the
design or on, from the initial standpoint down the road five, ten, twenty years, um,
it's my understanding that the townhouse association is responsible for
maintenance, but I'm not sure how that would be enforced or managed down the
road, and so the absence of the word `maintenance' causes me some concerns,
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road, and so the absence of the word `maintenance' causes me some concerns,
even if initially it seems to work fine, what about ... down the road? So those are
just some questions I have about the conditions and the rezoning. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Mascher: Hi there! My name's Jason Mascher and I live right down here at the corner
property, at the proposed development site. Um, I just want to be clear right up
front that I'm not opposed to the, um, rezoning of it. Uh, but I do want to present
my, uh, our issues and ... and basically... bring up awareness that our problems
have been there for a long time and um, I think at this point we need to be very
careful on the steps that we take and ... and make sure that throughout the planning
stage and process that we pay a lot of attention to how this is going to affect, uh,
this whole area basically. Um, regardless of whether it's passed as RS -8 or not
today, or proceeded forward, um, this issue will always still be here. Um, there's
a lot of silting in that's happened, um, from years past when this was a dumping
ground for dirt, and that was before the days of silt barrier fence, but uh, so
there's been a lot of...as ... as he said, this is a very complicated property. Um,
so ... I invite you all to come out and look at it. Um ... I would be more than happy
to provide ... I know all three of us would be more than happy to provide our
emails so that we can be available to you to show you the physical ... uh,
physically what the property looks like and the concerns that we have. Uh, I
appreciate Rick stopping out and uh, and asking about our concerns and what
issues we were having. Um, so I ... I invite that invitation to all of you, but um...
uh ... there was some talk with Southgate that there was the potential to ... possibly
put a miniature swale into the creek channels that currently exist from the middle
of my yard down, uh, Kevin and my's corner, and Kevin and ... and Brian's
corner. Um, and I ... I ... a concern is that this is all concept so we really, um, have
nothing concrete to look at and feel secure about. I do appreciate Glenn, uh,
meeting with us and I did feel more comfortable after that, so I ... I'd like to thank
you for that. Um, I just think we need to be, uh, very clear and urn ... and look at
all the designs that, uh, you know are proposed, or the design that'll be proposed,
and find out how it'll work best for, you know, everybody involved. So, um,
thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else? Okay, as I said, uh, earlier we can't
close the, uh, public hearing because we do not have a signed Conditional Zoning
Agreement. So at this time (both talking)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: I move to extend the public hearing and first consideration to the July l Otn
meeting.
Throgmorton: Second.
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Payne: Can I ask ... Eleanor a question?
Hayek: Uh -huh.
Payne: I was on Planning and Zoning when this came the first time. Does that count as
ex parte communication?
Dilkes: I don't think it counts as an ex parte communication. You were recusing yourself,
um, when you had dealt with something (both talking)
Payne: ...we never voted ... cause it got deferred. So we never actually voted on it in
2009.
Dilkes: Yeah, I ... I think you're okay. I think you can act on this.
Payne: Okay.
Champion: Could I ask a question? How do we enforce maintenance to these water drainage,
um ... things?
Mims: I would suggest that's a comment to ... in discussion to wait until we actually get
into it.
Champion: Oh!
Mims: Don't you think, or not?
Hayek: It ... it seems to me that some questions have been asked and ... and uh, if stack ... if
staff could take note of them and be prepared at ... in July to discuss (both talking)
Mims: ...cause I have the same questions, Connie.
Hayek: Yeah. Okay, so the pending motion to defer the public hearing and first
consideration to July 10th on the table. Further discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0. Thank you for your time!
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ITEM 5c CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING APPROXIMATELY 1.3
ACRES OF LAND LOCATED SOUTH OF HARRISON STREET
BETWEEN CLINTON AND DUBUQUE STREETS FROM PUBLIC (P -1)
TO INSTITUTIONAL PUBLIC /CENTRAL BUSINESS SERVICE (P -2 /CB-
2). (REZ12- 00007) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Hayek: Uh, this and ... the applicant, I will note, has requested expedited action.
Um ... before we take those up, any ex parte since the last reading? Okay.
Mims: Uh, move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on
for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be
finally passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived,
and that the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Champion: Second.
Hayek: Motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by Champion. Discussion? Roll call,
please.
Mims: Move final consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Motion from Mims, seconded, uh, by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call, please.
Uh, second and third readings pass 7 -0.
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ITEM 6. CONVEYANCE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME LOCATED AT 702
GIBLIN DRIVE.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: Moving out of Planning and Zoning, uh, the next three items have to do with
conveyances of single - family homes, uh, pursuant to the UniverCity
Neighborhood Partnership Program. (reads Item 6) This is the public hearing.
(bangs gavel) The public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. (bangs
gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Champion: Move the resolution.
Dickens: second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Dobyns ... Dickens, uh, discussion? (laughter)
Throgmorton: I'd just like to say, uh, I had the pleasure of driving up Giblin Drive today for the
first time. I hadn't done that before, and took a look at the house and ... you know,
it's terrific (mumbled)
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 9. IOWA CITY'S FY11 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AMENDMENT #5,
WHICH IS A SUB -PART OF IOWA CITY'S 2011 -2015 CONSOLIDATED
PLAN (CITY STEPS), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
SUBMIT SAID PLAN AND ALL NECESSARY CERTIFICATIONS TO
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open. Uh, for the
public's, uh, information this, uh, amendment proposes to use $280,000 in
Community Development Block Grant funds, uh, for recreational improvements
at the Fairmeadows Park, uh, on Miami Drive. I will close the public hearing at
this time. (bangs gavel)
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ITEM 10 PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE
OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY 1 TRAIL
PROJECT - ORCHARD STREET TO SUNSET STREET, ESTABLISHING
AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID,
DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND
FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) The public hearing is open. And this has
to do with construction of the, uh, 10 -foot wide trail along the north side of
Highway 1 from Sunset Street to Orchard Street. An 8 -foot wide trail along the
west side of Orchard Street, uh, also a 4 -foot wide, uh, sidewalk on the east side
of Miller Avenue, and on the west side of Hudson Avenue, uh, and the Highway 1
crossings at the Walmart entrance, Miller Street, and Orchard Street. Public
hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
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ITEM 11. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE
OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE U.S. HIGHWAY 6 AND
SYCAMORE STREET INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT,
ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY
EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO
BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is open. This has to do
with a lot of infrastructure improvements in that neck of the woods. I'll leave it at
that! (laughter) Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
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ITEM 12. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE
OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS
COMPLEX — WARM STORAGE BUILDING 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.
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING
Dickens: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dickens, seconded by, uh, Payne. Discussion?
Champion: This has been a long time com ... coming, and a slow process getting everything
moved!
Hayek: Yep! Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 13. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE
OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2012 MUSCATINE
AVENUE WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, ESTABLISHING
AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID,
DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND
FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) This has to
do with water mains along the south side of Muscatine Avenue, from Arthur to
Scott Boulevard and a few other amenities. Public hearing is closed. (bangs
gavel)
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ITEM 14. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO
ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE J STREET &
SYCAMORE VIEW WATER MAIN - SOUTHEAST JUNIOR HIGH
SANITARY SEWER PROJECT.
Hayek: Items 14 and 15 are revised. (reads Item 14)
Mims: Move the resolution.
Champion: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Champion. Discussion? Uh, the engineer
estimated this would come in at $40... $246,000. Public Works, uh, recommends
awarding the contract to Carter and Associates of Coralville, Iowa, who came in
at $258,000. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 15. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO
ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE ROBERT A.
LEE RECREATION CENTER IMPROVEMENTS - EAST ENTRY
REMODELING PROJECT.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Dobyns: Move the ... second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? The engineer estimated
this would come in at around $2...$128,000. Uh, Public Works recommends
awarding the contract to North Construction LLC out of Muscatine, who came in
at $138,000 roughly. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 18. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN
AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO
THE AGREEMENT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF LAND FOR
PRIVATE REDEVELOPMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY AND MARC MOEN FOR 118 EAST COLLEGE STREET,
IOWA CITY, IOWA.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call, please.
Throgmorton: Sorry, I was, um, got, um, distracted about which resolution we're considering.
Hayek: This is the FilmScene.
Throgmorton: The FilmScene, right, okay, so ... that's what I thought but I wasn't hearing
the ... so, um, is it too late to have some ... a brief discussion?
Hayek: I ... I think that's fine. If you were confused about where we are, why don't we
back off the reading and (both talking) return to discussion.
Throgmorton: yeah, I ... I just ... I think it's a great idea and I'm totally supportive of it, uh, but as
I indicated during the work session, I ... I think there ought to be sort of a
termination date for this and that, uh, something like two or three years, instead of
having open - ended, uh, opportunity for, uh, FilmScene to continue using the
space in ... in the way that involves catering food and drink and whatever. That
seems inconsistent with the original purpose of the initial agreement. So, uh, I ... I
would just like to offer that as a possibility, and I think I know how it'll go from
...based on the work session.
Hayek: Any discussion on... on that? I guess in response I would say, it... it may be
somewhat inconsistent with the agreement, but I think it's consistent with the
market study we did and the needs we've identified and the ... the possibilities and
opportunities (both talking)
Throgmorton: ... like the idea a lot, you know, that's not my point.
Payne: Jim, I was somewhat concerned when I read this too, that it was ... against what
the original agreement was, but I do think that this maybe was a use that wasn't
contemplated at the time, and that this is probably a very good use and something
that will be good for the ... the area, and this is maybe an accessory use that was
specifically denied in the original agreement because it is kind of accessory, but
it...it is something that, uh, I think will ... will be beneficial to grant this exception
that will just go with this one specific business.
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Throgmorton: Yeah, and rigidity isn't necessarily a good thing, is it (laughter)
Champion: No, it's not!
Hayek: Any further discussion on ... on Item 18? Okay, if we could do the roll call again,
please.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Matt.
Hayek: You bet! Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 19. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING FUNDING FOR IBLITZ
BOXING AND FITNESS, LLC 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.
Davidson: Mr. Mayor, there was a question at the work session and it has been clarified by
Chad Wiltz, who is the applicant, that there will not be people boxing each other
(laughter) at this facility. They will be boxing apparatus (mumbled) Chad will be
happy to answer any other questions you have if you have any.
Hayek: Sounds good!
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Champion: Sounds like a lot of fun! (laughter)
Dobyns: You and me, Connie!
Mims: We'll get Connie signed up! (laughter)
Dickens: Do you have some anger management?
Champion: Yes I do! (laughter)
Hayek: Well I ... I think it's an exciting project and I think it's a good, uh, it's a good
micro - enterprise project for ... for the City to support. Further discussion? Roll
call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 20. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT FOR
PRIVATE REDEVELOPMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY, IOWA, AND MDK DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.
Champion: Move the resolution.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Throgmorton. This has to do with the
proposal, uh, previously approved by the Economic Development Committee that
I believe Jeff will be telling us about here shortly.
Davidson: Yeah, actually I just wanted to answer the question that came up during your
work session. Uh, Michelle's question about the ... the two parcels are both zoned
CC -2 which is the ... the building, the proposed ... the uses proposed in the
proposed building are allowed in this zone. Incidentally the CO -1 zone, the
Commercial Office zone, which is what a lot of the rest of the property in this
area is, would also accommodate the ... the proposed building. Now there are
some nuances, that since you don't have a site plan in front of you again, there are
some nuances that will have to be worked out such as the setback of the building.
That will have to be worked out at the site ... site plan stage and we'll determine
how to do that, so I didn't want ... I didn't want you to think that the building as
proposed meets all of the zoning ordinance requirements. Uh, there are some
things that'll have to be worked out, but the uses that are proposed are allowed
under the existing zoning.
Payne: Thank you.
Hayek: Further discussion?
Throgmorton: This ... this is an opportunity to ask questions about the proposal? Yeah, since
we're on television I think it's important to ask a few questions and be able to get
a clear response, and I'm sure Jeff would be fully capable of doing that, so that
other people would be able to hear this. So I'd...
Davidson: The applicant is also here, Jim, if you have questions of the applicant.
Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I'd like to ask maybe four questions, uh ... the first is, and we discussed
some of these during the work session, right. The first is, what happens if the
State legislature reduces commercial property taxes next year, uh, how would that
affect the payback of the TIF, you know, can we be assured that, uh, the ... the
loan will actually be paid back in accord with the schedule that's, uh, outlined in
the ... the proposal.
Dilkes: Uh, the agreement provides that were that to happen, uh, the, uh, minimum
assessment would be adjusted to ... to reflect that and capture the taxes, and as a
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backup to that, um, there is a... a contractual obligation on the part of the
developer or its successors in interest, those that buy the property, to make up that
shortfall.
Throgmorton: Okay, thanks. Um, second question is, uh, what ... what's the risk that this, uh,
this project will simply move, uh, existing doctor's offices, etc., medical use...
related uses, from, uh, existing Towncrest buildings into the new building and
hence just shift jobs around, rather than creating new jobs, creating new this and
that.
Davidson: Yeah, it's a good question. We do believe that two entities that will be, uh,
hopefully going into the new building are existing Towncrest entities, ones that
we feel are important to try and retain in Towncrest for the viability of Towncrest.
They are both entities that have considered other locations, uh, some in Iowa City,
some perhaps not in Iowa City, again, we do feel that it's, uh, although we'd be
happy to ... for them to go to another location in Iowa City, that it's a priority to
keep them in Towncrest. We also feel, uh, that the, um,.vacating of the spaces
that they're in currently, that those may be, uh, spaces, buildings that are in need
of additional, uh, development, perhaps complete redevelopment, and that this
will hasten that process by, uh, leaving spaces vacant that are currently leased.
Throgmorton: Okay, thanks. A third question has to do with the gap analysis, and I didn't have
time to ask this during the work session so ... you know ... you'll have to think on
your feet and all that. Um ... it's not clear to me as I read, uh, the ... the gap
analysis that was done by, what ... NDC, is that (both talking)
Davidson: Yeah, the National Development Counsel, we ... we have under contract to do our
financial analysis, right.
Throgmorton: Yeah, it's ... it's not clear to me, and hence probably not clear to most readers that
they kind of pick up the, uh, packet and read through it, how that
document... demonstrates that there is a gap that justifies the ... the City providing
public support to make the project happen. Can you help me and others
understand that?
Davidson: Yeah, and I'll ... and I'll try to do that in, you know, not being an expert financial
analysis myself and ... and as in laymen of terms as I can come up with here, Jim.
Um, we retain NDC for their expertise in looking at, uh, development proformas
and basically they ... it's very critical for them, they look at the assumptions that
are made, uh, because you can make these financial analyses say anything, uh, by
putting in inputs that get you to the bottom line that ... that you want to be at. So
we make sure that the inputs that are put into the financial analy .... uh, analysis
are reasonable, are appropriate, and NDC can actually drill down to our specific
area here in terms of financial deals that are put together. They have a great deal
of, uh, knowledge in these subjects, so they make sure that those inputs are
appropriate. Ultimately what we end up with is, we expect the developers to
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make money doing this. Um, that's how they prosper and that's how we prosper
in terms of the growth in ... in jobs and tax base. Um, but we want to make sure
they don't prosper too much! And so when it gets down to that, you know, that
bottom line of what the developer is going to achieve financially on the, uh,
project, that's a critical part of what NDC does for us. They gauge whether or not
the developers, uh, what ... what's produced for the developer at the end of the day
financially on the project, that it is appropriate, and uh, again (both talking)
Throgmorton: And by appropriate you mean not excessive (both talking) reasonable rate of
return.
Davidson: Exactly, that there's a percentage that they're achieving on the project, and ... and
again, I apologize, Jim, I can't get into the details of that, but certainly at the
Economic Development Committee level it is scrutinized, any aspect of the ... of
that that comes up for question. The three individuals on Council that are on that
committee, uh, have the ability to ... to find out whatever answers they need. So
the bottom line is that it's determined to be a pro... appropriate rate of return for
the developer... and we adjust the amount of funding that the City puts into the
project, depending on whether that needs to go one way or another so that the
developer has enough return that it's worthwhile for them to do the project, and
the project is achieved, but not excessively so with the City's investment.
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you, that's helpful! So, uh, Matt, you know, based on our
discussion during the work session, uh, I ... I believe that it's appropriate for these
and other questions that the public might have, it's appropriate for them to have
an opportunity to ask... ask questions, uh, and hence that it's appropriate for there
to be a public hearing related to this and any other significant TIF, uh ... uh, being
proposed by the City of Iowa City. So with that in mind, and ... and it's consistent
with the recently enacted, uh, legislation at the State level, so with that in mind I
would like to move that we defer this, uh, to our July 10th meeting, uh, and ... and
uh, hold a public hearing prior to voting on July 10th
Hayek: Okay. So there's a motion on the floor from Throgmorton to defer Item 20 and
hold a, uh, a public hearing on July 10th on the same.
Dilkes: Just so you understand, you ... you can't ... doing that will not ... the law that passes
on July lst ... holding a public hearing on that will not satisfy the law.
Hayek: Yeah. I ... I understand that.
Throgmorton: Will not satisfy the law, but it would satisfy what I take to be a ... an appropriate,
urn ... uh, response to public concern (both talking)
Dilkes: Yeah, I'm not ... I'm just ... I just want to make sure people understand that.
Hayek: ...and see whether there's anything to discuss.
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Payne: I guess I just don't agree with you, Jim, because this is the public hearing, and
(several talking)
Hayek: ...it hasn't been seconded, so (several talking) if there's not a second, uh, it's a
moot point and we move forward with this item. It would not appear that there is
a second to that motion, so...
Mims: Move the resolution.
Champion: Second.
Karr: The resolution's been moved. Champion, Throgmorton — this was discussion.
Champion: Oh! (laughter)
Hayek: Yeah, so ... so we've got discussion before we vote on ... on, uh, Item 20.
Throgmorton: Well I'll be voting no for ... for the reasons just pretty much articulated.
Hayek: I ... I'll be voting yes for this. I think this is a ... an excellent opportunity to
jumpstart the kind of development we've talked about for years in the Towncrest
area. Um, this has been through, um, extensive staff vetting and uh, additional
vetting from the outside consultants that the City retains to help us, uh, analyze
projects like this. Um, this is something that has been discussed and negotiated
and ... and considered for quite some time. I think it's gone through quite a
process, and as was indicated earlier, uh, we held a, uh, a public Economic
Development Committee, uh, meeting just the other day, and three of the seven of
us were ... were there for that, um, and it was covered by the media. Um, and we
had a very good discussion, I think, about the merits of the project, um, and we're
taking those up again tonight and discussed those earlier in our work session, and
um, I'm supportive of this. I ... I think it's a great move forward in Towncrest.
Champion: And I don't want to push this out any further. I want to get this going as soon as
possible. Uh, I do agree with you, Jim, that sometimes moving somebody from
one space to another is not a good thing, but the person who owns a lot of those
buildings in Towncrest has simply not maintained them, and they're almost
uninhabitable. So to keep people there, if this project would start moving that
forward, that's a good thing. So I'm definitely going to support it.
Payne: And sometimes you have to hip -hop from one place to another to, you know,
redevelop the next lot as Jeff stated in his ... I think this is a good way to do that.
Dickens: Big part of our strategic plan too is to ... revitalize this area, and this is a great
start.
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Mims: I'll be supporting it as well. As part of the Economic Development Committee
I've had an opportunity to, you know, probably see and hear more, you know,
than some of the other Councilors have, but we went through, as Matt said, in
great detail on that, and ... again, you know, that is a publicly... it's a public
meeting, agenda goes out ahead of time, so anybody from the public who, you
know, wanted to listen to that meeting was, you know, certainly welcome to come
as they are to all the Economic Development Committee meetings. Agenda has
been out for this meeting since last Thursday. So, and I realize the law will
change July 1St, but I don't think we should hold somebody who's already started
the process, I don't believe that we should hold them up, um, in anticipation of a
new law that's starting, um, July 1, and so I will ... I think people have had the
opportunity to have that ... to hear about it and have the input, and so I'll be
supporting it.
Hayek: Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 6 -1, Throgmorton in the
negative.
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ITEM 21. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING DISTRIBUTION OF THE
"PROGRAM FOR IMPROVING NEIGHBORHOODS" ( "PIN ") GRANT
FUNDS.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? This has to do with the, uh,
$15,000 allocation, um, from the City Council for purposes of neighborhood
improvements, and looks like we've got somebody here to talk about that! Cindy!
Roberts: Yes! Mayor Hayek, City Council Members, I'm Cindy Roberts and I volunteer
for the Grand Wood Neighborhood Association. It's ... I just love coming to City
Council to talk about PIN grant funds. I love PIN grant time! It's just such
a ... it's such a neat time as we're planning forward. On behalf of the
neighborhood council I was asked just to introduce our PIN grants, as far as just a
general introduction. We have several neighborhood, uh, association
representatives here who have pulled together really some interesting different
combinations of PIN grant funds this year. As all of you know, this is improving
our neighborhood, um, ideas that we pull together. We've had one meeting
already where we reviewed our grant requests, made some adjustments, uh,
basically to, uh, try and make it work for everyone. We so appreciate ... I cannot
emphasize this enough! We so appreciate the funding that the Council continues
to supply, the $15,000 that ... um, we actually have grants to cover all of that. This
is the 17th year for the PIN grant funds. And, um, the ... several years several of us
have been here in front of the Council requesting this funding. The, um, of the
representatives that are here, several of the, uh, several of the PIN grant funds are
from the neighborhood that I represent, but we also have several other
neighborhoods represented. We will present each one of our grant requests very
briefly. If you have any questions, certainly, um, if you want to ask that before
we sit down or later on, that's entirely up to you. Uh, we will keep our comments
very brief to allow for questions that you may have, and I will start out with
the ... the first two for the Grant Wood Neighborhood Association. Each year in
the Grant Wood Neighborhood Association we try and provide a variety of
workshops. The workshops sometimes are small in scale as far as the number of
participants. Sometimes they are larger in scale. And what we try and do in the
Grant Wood neighborhood is really to try and not necessarily meet everyone's
needs but we do try and meet a variety of needs, whether it's individuals with
young families, whether it's, um, individuals who have interests in gardening.
For example this past season, uh, the past year, we had a couple Hy -Vee cooking
classes where Hy -Vee gave us a ... a really good deal on the registration fee. We
had a compost bin sale, working with Jen Jordan. And a compost workshop. Uh,
two events that we do have repeated, and we expect to repeat some of these each
year because they have been so popular, particularly with, uh, families. The pet
care fair and the family fun and safety day. So those are examples of some things
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that we've done in the past. The, urn ... the Grant Wood neighborhood, for those
of you who may not be familiar with the neighborhood, we're a census tract 18
area with approximately 56% of our residents living low to moderate income, and
some of those individuals living within poverty levels. So partly what we're
trying to do is also plan workshops that bring individuals together that sometimes
maybe ordinarily wouldn't be coming together, to try and ... and basically we have
a very diverse neighborhood and we like to have that diversity come together, and
our Grant Wood neighborhood school is a hub for that activity. Um, ques ... oh,
and Michelle, you had raised in the work session. I had actually, um, I should
have put down the honorarium for five speakers, as opposed to four. Thank you
for pointing that out. Questions on our workshops?
Payne: I don't have a question, but I have a comment for you.
Roberts: Yes.
Payne: Um, Mid American Energy, um, has a sign program through their community
liaison person, and I noticed in one of your grants here you have $175 for signs.
Roberts: Uh -huh.
Payne: That ... you might be able to use that program through Mid American and then that
$175 could go towards something else.
Roberts: Is there a specific person that we can contact on that?
Payne: I can ... I can get in contact with you and give that ... give you that person's name
so that...
Roberts: I'll just ... I'll send you my email, and that would be great!
Payne: That'll (mumbled)
Roberts: Yeah, that would be great! Um ... questions on the workshops? And I'll continue
with my next one. The, um ... let's see ... and then ... the enclosure that was part of
your packet, you can see the other activities that were from the past year, which
some of those will be repeated. The next one is our Grant Wood Elementary PTO
family dinners. This is our third season requesting funding for this. The main
goal here is to help participation of families with children, and to help them
participate in the PTO program. One of the things that the Grant Wood
Neighborhood Associa ... or excuse me, the Grant Wood Elementary School began
to notice, um, well, over the years is participation in the Parent Teacher
Organization started to dwindle quite a bit. Sometimes it's just the logistics of
having young ... you're raising young children, you're working, and the logistics
of volunteering at that point is sometimes very difficult. Sometimes it's just the
logistics of...you have young kids who need childcare and you're pulling together
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a family meal, so we had offered to ... the Grant Wood Elementary... Grant Wood
Elementary has a special place in my heart because both my daughters went there
and it's a wonderful school. Still is a wonderful school! So we put in a grant
request to basically provide funding to the Grant Wood PTO for them to hire
childcare and put together a very simple supper, once a month, and this usually
averages, I think it averages like 10 to 12, well... approximately 10 meetings
during the academic year, where then parents can come to the PTO meeting.
Childcare is taken care of. There's a very simple meal taken care of, and it helps
the participation in the PTO. We've received feedback from the school,
particularly in the last couple years that this has really helped the, uh, level of
parent involvement, and of course that helps the ... the elementary school
tremendously. So, uh, we're requesting funds... basically at the same level that
we have previously and urn ... those funds, they purchase... sometimes they're able
to purchase food in a very economical way from various vendors, and it's brought
to ... it's brought to the school by the PTO, um, officers. Questions on that?
Um ... that's it for me for now. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you, Cindy.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Cindy.
Trimble: Hello, I am Alicia Trimble. I am also a member of Grant Wood Neighborhood
Association and I am the community garden coordinator for the neighborhood.
Um, I'm presenting three grants. Um, the first one will be on the, uh, community
garden. Um, over the last two years with your help we've been expanding the
community garden. Uh, last year we did a big expansion. Um, and this year
we're also besides partnering, um, with, uh, Jen Jordan and Fast Track and a
bunch of other people, we're also becoming part of the farm -to- school program,
uh, working with 4H and Master Gardeners to provide examples of healthy food.
Um, this year since we're working with all those organizations, we really are in
need of equipment. Uh, the equipment we use now is mostly mine or a couple
other volunteers in the neighborhood, and we're really at the point where we want
to start gardening clubs. Farm -to- school is going to use this for their fall planting,
and so we're requesting some funds to buy a shed or another type of storage, as
well as tools that can be used by the neighborhood and by children working in the
garden. Um, are there any questions on that? And the next two I'll present
together, just simply because they go together. Um, is the Grant Wood roller
skates and uh, staff for the roller skates at Grant Wood gym. Every Friday night
we have a very, very successful program in our neighborhood where, um, students
can skate for free at Grant Wood Elementary. There usually are 100 -plus children
there and um, we are very short on skates. Um, most ... most, well, most needed
are sizes 4, 5, and 6. Um, so we're requesting five pairs of each of those size and
then to continue this getting (mumbled) program we also have to have Parks' staff
there. So we're requesting the money for that, as well. Any questions on those?
All right, thank you!
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Hayek: Thank you! Would anyone else (laughter in audience) would anyone else like to
present on this, uh, item?
Roberts: Henri Harper and I are collaborating on this next request. I really have very little
to say other than this is an idea that Phen Funk from the Pepperwood
neighborhood and Henri Harper had discussed for a couple of years. The Grant
Wood Neighborhood Association wanted to support this financially, primarily
the ... the big goal with this, and Henri can articulate this much better than I, is we
want to create a particular program that will help foster some real positive
connection with, um, certain teenagers in the neighborhood and area residents,
through this type of work, um, work effort. Henri, you're up!
Harper: Uh, yes, well like Cindy said I've been talking the last couple years with issues
we've been having in the neighborhoods and the community, and I feel strongly
about the fact that it's easy for kids to respect their neighborhoods and community
and know who live in those houses. Instead of people blowing and talking to kids
in a negative way and the kids being negative for their own community, I've been
trying to think of ways where I can bring that ... bridge that gap in the community.
So by talking to some of the kids and thinking about how that can happen in a
very simplistic way, I just believe that if kids knew who live in the houses, they
live in their neighborhood, they more or less respect that if they know those
people and the people in the neighborhood know the kids. They're more
(mumbled) to respect that so the way to bridge that I felt (mumbled) we just do
curb numbering. For instance we can knock on the neighbors' door and say do
you want your curb, uh, number or your mailbox number. You can actually order
a certain logo for your mailbox. So I felt strongly about the kids know these
individuals, and the individuals know the kids. They can have a sense of
community and neighborhood. And we've come a long way in ... on that side of
the town and I feel by helping these kids understand their neighbors. Like I say, I
come from a place where you know who you're talking to and in essence you
respect that, and I'm trying to create respect for their own neighborhoods, and
we've worked hard in creating this environment in our community, and with the
people that live in this community, that they now have to reach out to the kids to
understand their respect goes a long way. So this is a small way of saying, hey,
you know, if you know who lives in the corner house, and the person in the corner
house tell you to keep the noise down, you (mumbled) not be disrespectful if you
know that's Mrs. Charles who's talking to me. That way (mumbled) respect
that's that white lady talking to me and why she's talking to me. Well if you
know that person, (mumbled) listen to them. If you're in the middle of the street
and somebody's blowing at you and you turn around and that's Mrs. Wineguard
on the corner telling me to get out the street, it's about getting out the street. It's
not about this white lady telling me to get out the street. So I'm trying to create
this environment to kids, understanding that they ... it's their neighborhood and the
people in the neighborhood need to be respected, and the people in the
neighborhood need to respect them. So this is just a small way of doing that, and
I just figured we'd do that. In the long run I'm hoping that these kids understand
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that they have a sense of community and a sense of neighborhood. So I've talked
to Cindy about it and she said she would talk to the Council about it, and I think
this is a good opportunity... a win -win for everyone that ... to be able to give these
kids a sense of community and neighborhood.
Hayek: Great! Thank you! Thanks, Henri, and thanks, Cindy.
Roberts: Thank you. And I ... I always like the opportunity to express my appreciation to
Marcia who just, um ... does so much, not only for our neighborhood but every
neighborhood that works with her, and I... she never gets enough thanks! Thanks,
Marcia!
Walker: Hi, I'm Jean Walker. I'm the Melrose, uh, Neighborhood representative and I'd
also like to thank Marcia for all the work she's done. She works really hard and
helps us a lot. Um, the PIN grant that the Melrose Neighborhood has applied for
is to do with plantings at the entrance to the Brookland Park, which is our
neighborhood park. In 2007 the neighborhood, um, was renovated by the City
using a master plan concept that the neighborhood raised funds for. Um, the park
itself will be 100 years old in 12 years. The renovation was beautiful, and this
grant would add icing to the cake, and would show the pride the neighborhood
has in this park. Um, groups of daffodil, crocus, and (mumbled) bulbs,
(mumbled) plants, and coral -bells will be placed at the entrance. And it will
beautify the entrance and highlight the entrance stone which has Brookland Park
carved on it. And will make it more welcoming for the enjoyment of neighbors
and the general public. For those who are going to the park, those who are just
walking through it, those that drive by it or who are riding their bikes past it. Um,
the project has been approved by Mike Moran, the Director of the City's Parks
and Rec department, and Steve Ford who is Landscape Architect and (mumbled).
He generously donated his time, uh, to advise us on the planting of the bulbs as
did Melanie Switzer of Iowa City Landscaping for the planting of the coral - bells.
So the neighbors will supply the tools and the labor, and so ... um, we hope that we
can have a PIN grant to supply the bulbs and other plants, and we'd like to take
this opportunity to thank the City's Parks and Recreation department, and
especially Terry Robinson for the wonderful work with all the City parks. They
do an amazing job! Thank you. Any questions? Thanks!
Hayek: Thanks, Jean.
Clark: Good evening, Sarah Clark, Northside Neighborhood Association. And um, our
association believes that it's important to, uh, celebrate our public spaces, whether
they be new or have undergone renovation, and the um, renovated North Market
Square Park has really given us a gem! It's a true gem. I don't know if you've
been by in the past month. I know this project has been, well ... I think it actually
started before I moved to town in 2009 so (laughter) it's been a long time coming
but... whatever, um, through, urn ... neighbors working with the Rec Parks staff
and uh, City consultant, we've come up with a really, really great project and um,
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so we are going to celebrate that on September 9th. You'll receive a formal
invitation later, but consider this your informal invite right now on, uh, Sunday,
September 9th, 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. We're going to have a party and our PIN grant
is requesting money to hire a band, because you can't have a party without a
band! (laughter) So, um, and just in terms of, um, when you do take an
opportunity to go by, please notice the pavilion is now up. Park benches were,
um, or picnic tables, I'm sorry, picnic tables were, uh, delivered yesterday and
today, and um, the money you awarded us last year, a little over $4,000, has been
spent, and a little over a month ago about a dozen neighbors took that money and
did a beautiful perennial planting and um, because of the shortage of rain falling
from the sky there's been at least one neighbor who has been going down about
every two or three days and watering those plants. So they're just gorgeous!
So ... think it's a wonderful, wonderful addition to that side of town. So ... and
thank you so much for considering this.
Throgmorton: It is great, but I'm disappointed you're not going to be the lead singer! (laughter)
Clark: You would not be! (laughter)
Hayek: We probably couldn't afford ya! (laughter)
Clark: I don't know. Maybe if we did the little karaoke I could do an Ethel Merman for
you but I don't think (laughter)
Throgmorton: Is that a promise? (laughter)
Clark: No! Are there any questions? Thank you. Oh, and for danger of making this
sound like a love fest, I also want to, um, jump on the, uh, Marcia Bollinger, uh,
band wagon. Thanks! (laughter)
Stevenson: Good evening. My name is Wendy Stevenson and I'm from the Goosetown
Neighborhood Association. Um, I'm here ... to present the, uh, party in the park,
uh, PIN grant. Uh, I'm representing five other neighborhoods. The money is for
five neighborhoods to put on an event in their local park. Um ... the
neighborhood, uh, the Neighborhood Associations are College Green, Melrose,
Miller Orchard, (mumbled) Cae, and Goosetown. And it's pretty simple. It's just
a chance for us to celebrate our parks in neighborhoods. Um, our project, or the
thing that we would like to do with the money is our park is in the process of
being renovated and so we'd like to use the funds ... use the funds to ... um, have
music and refreshments to ... reintroduce the park after the renovation. So, and uh,
this is also an opportunity for neighborhoods that aren't part of the City party in
the park to participate and so this gives them funds to put on an event in their park
and the College Green Park is ... is going to have ... do (mumbled) and can
(mumbled) a really unique project, or party, that they would like to put on
(mumbled).
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Michaud: I'm Pam Michaud, representing College Green, and um, this is first year I've, um,
come up with an idea. Um, so many people use College Green, whether they're
sororities, weddings, homecoming parade or a gay pride parade, and everything in
between, but for the people that live there, uh, everyone surrounding that park
immediately has been there from 10 to 30 years, including renters, are very long-
term. So, I thought it would be interesting to open our porches and give different
perspectives to the po ... park, so that we would have four porches open up to, um,
neighbors, have light refreshments, and an acoustic musician on each porch. So
that, um, we would have gifted, classical people at, uh, the Dixon House, Miria
and Carrey Bostian would perform and I don't know what kind of program they'll
have but I'm sure it'll be good, even if it's popular! And then um, they will be
helping us to match up with musicians on the other three porches, um, which
might include ukulele players on, um, the Fired Up porch (laughter) so there'll be
a range of, uh, skill levels and formality. Um, but I think it'll be a relax summer
porch afternoon, um, kind of replicating early- 1900s, uh, style of visiting casually
with your neighbors. And um ... and then we certainly will welcome new
developers as, um, our new neighbors. Um, because they're going to be there for
a long time! So ... (laughter) that's part of it. So thanks very much. Any
questions about that?
Throgmorton: That's great!
Michaud: Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you, Pam!
Thomson: Good evening. I'm Will Thomson, I'm from the Longfellow Neighborhood, but
I'm privileged to represent all the neighborhoods, uh, in presenting the idea of
funding the little free libraries project for Iowa City community. Uh, as you have
in your packets the little free libraries are (mumbled) weatherproof boxes of
unique and novel designs that are designed to contain books, uh, you take a book,
you leave a book. Uh, we have neighborhood stewards and volunteers lined up
to, uh, conduct this project, and we're asking for funding for a total of nine
libraries at the present time, although I think that with the number of volunteers
and the recyclable materials that might be available, we might be able to go a little
bit farther in that, uh, project. But uh, this is a very relevant project for us in the
neighborhoods. Um, I, as president of the Longfellow Neighborhood Association
brought this project up in January at our annual meeting, and we had a very
enthusiastic response from our neighbor and uh, volunteers have stepped forward
to steward the boxes and so on, and other neighborhoods have followed suit. Um,
there are little free libraries in, uh, 40 states and uh, 20 different countries outside
of the United States, uh, it's a very exciting project that promotes literacy, and as
you know, Iowa City being a City of Literature, uh, the City of Literature and the
Little Free Libraries Association in Madison, Wisconsin, have gotten together to
help promote this project. And we feel that your funding the project would help
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us go a long way towards establishing several of these little volunteer libraries
around the city, uh, that will greatly enhance our... our, uh, promotion of literature
in ... in ... in the Iowa City region. Um ... in conclusion, uh, since I was asked to,
um, wind things up for the PIN grants, um, for which we are extremely grateful,
and it's interesting to note that a few ... just a few years ago, uh, the Longfellow
Neighborhood was able to install, uh, historic signs and uh, public art sculpture in
the park in our, uh, neighborhood, and it helped us to, uh, be named, uh, one of
the "50 best neighborhoods in North America" by a Little House, uh, by This Old
House magazine. Um ... and ... the grants have helped us to do projects like this,
um, in ... improving the neighborhoods is very important to those of us who live in
them, uh, PIN grants I think are very cost effective way to do this. Uh, both for
the City and for the neighborhoods as the leverage that ... that these funds provide
help us to go a lot farther in terms of volunteer labor and hours, equipment, and
knowledge. Uh, and we hope that you all will continue to support the PIN grant
program in the future. Um ... and I really appreciate your taking the time to hear
us out here tonight. And I thank you.
Hayek: Thank you!
Thomson: Any questions about the Little Free Libraries project by any chance?
Dickens: Looks neat!
Thompson: Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the presentations. Council discussion?
Mims: Just a lot of great projects. I think a lot of good things happening with a lot of
volunteer time and not very much money, so I think it's great to see!
Champion: (mumbled) always been one of my favorites. It's $15,000. That is really not a lot
of money, and a lot of great things get done with it. Thank you, all of you!
Payne: I think it's interesting how each ... how the neighborhoods come up with different
ways to ... make their neighborhood cohesive, and each one is a little bit different.
I just think its ... I think it's great that the neighborhoods can get together and do
that.
Hayek: Well and we have certainly leveraged a lot of volunteer work, um, in addition to
neighborhood improvement. So ... it's great. Thank you for your presentations.
Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 22. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION FIXING DATE FOR A MEETING ON THE
PROPOSITION OF THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $2,800,000
TAXABLE GENERAL OBLIGATION URBAN RENEWAL BONDS,
SERIES 2012, OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, STATE OF IOWA, AND
PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION OF NOTICE THEREOF.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Uh, I'd like to raise a particular point. As we all know, a petition is circulating,
uh, that would, uh, ask us, if I remember the wording correctly, ask us to schedule
a referendum, uh, on the TIF. I mean I think that's the essence of the ... of the, uh,
petition. So my question is basically this, um, and this may ... we discussed this
partly in our work session, but um, assuming we receive a valid petition
containing a sufficient number of signatures, my question is — what would be the
process by which we consider whether to schedule a referendum, and I know we
talked about that earlier. Eleanor, maybe you could address that or not...
Hayek: Uh, yeah, I mean, maybe Legal could address it, I mean, and what would our
options be at that point?
Throgmorton: Right.
Dilkes: Um, this item and the ... and the following item are setting public hearings, uh, for
the issuance first of, uh, GO bonds and second for the issuance of revenue bonds
to ... to fund the, um, the construction grant that the Council has agreed to give the
Central Park project downtown. Um, both of them are on, uh, because ... so that
you have the option to proceed with the General Obligation bonds, if you don't
get a petition; or if you do get a petition, to proceed with the revenue bonds.
Hayek: Okay. I mean, is that the ... well, to answer his question, would July 10th be
the ... be the time when we discuss what our options are?
Dilkes: Right.
Hayek: And have you laid out all of our ... is that all of our options, the GO if we don't get
the petition...
Champion: Yes.
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Hayek: The, um ... the revenue bonds, which would be Item 23, which we would preserve
tonight by setting the public hearing. Anything else?
Dilkes: Urn ... not proceeding with either, and if you get the petition, setting it for election.
Hayek: Okay. Abandonment or...
Dilkes: Right.
Throgmorton: Yeah, that's what I was trying to get at, whether that would be discussed. That
would be the moment, that evening, to discuss it.
Dilkes: Yes!
Hayek: Okay. Thanks for that clarification. Any further discussion by Council on Item
22? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 25. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE BUDGETED
POSITIONS AT THE IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Payne: Move the resolution.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? This has to do, uh, with
adding a position, uh, for development and fundraising purposes, and as I
understand it, would be paid for out of, uh, from the ... from the Foundation, not
with...
Mims: Not with City money.
Hayek: ...Iowa City money. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 26. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AN AD HOC DIVERSITY
COMMITTEE TO STUDY CITY OPERATIONS AS THEY RELATE TO
MINORITY POPULATIONS.
Dobyns: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Di ... Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion?
Throgmorton: I ... I'd like to bring up one point. Urn ... given the sensitivity of the topics being
addressed, uh, I think it's really important that the ... that the process be conducted
in a way that, um, enables, um, the members of the committee and anybody who
speaks to the committee to speak freely and honestly without any kind of fear.
And I ... I don't, I won't elaborate on that, but one of the reasons we're creating
the committee is that there's a certain degree of fear. So, it's important to
construct the process so that ... um ... there isn't any.
Hayek: I ... I assume these are op ... open meetings just like the rest of our commissions.
Markus: Yes.
Throgmorton: Well, you know...
Hayek: I mean...
Throgmorton: I'd like to talk with you afterwards about this a little bit, if you don't mind.
Markus: Sure.
Hayek: Any further discussion on Item 26? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 30. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Hayek: We'll start down with you, Jim.
Throgmorton: It's been a long night.
Mims: No, nothing.
Dickens: Happy 30th Anniversary, Rick!
Throgmorton: Yeah!
Dobyns: Thank you! (laughter)
Hayek: Enjoy the last couple hours of it! (laughter) City Manager? (several talking)
Oh! I thought you were ... yeah!
Dobyns: She has nothing to say!
Hayek: Please present! (laughter)
Payne: The only thing I had was just a reminder that, um, when Johnson County
test ... tests the emergency siren in July, the normal day would be July 4t . It's a
holiday, so they're going to do it on July 5th at 10:00.
Hayek: Got it! Thanks for delaying Rick's anniversary now about 10 seconds! (laughter)
No, that's important public information. (several talking and laughing)
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