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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-19 TranscriptionPage 1 ITEM 3. STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS — Grant Wood Elementary Hayek: We're going to switch Items 2 and 3, uh, and I'm going to ask the students from Grant Wood to please come forward at this time. How you guys doing? Good! Well I'm honored to meet you. My name is Matt Hayek and I'm the Mayor of Iowa City and this is your City Council sitting behind you. Have you ever been to a meeting of ours? First time! (laughter) I want to tell you that, uh, I think the last ... the Mayor before me was a Grant Wood, uh, alum. I think Regenia Bailey attended Grant Wood. Am I right about ... who's got the institutional memory? Anyway, so we're ... it's great to have you here and the reason, uh, we bring you here is that throughout the school year, um, the elementary schools in Iowa City nominate, uh, leaders at those schools, um, who serve as a good example to other students, and to the community, to come down to City Hall and meet us and tell us a little bit about themselves and we have a special, uh, certificate that we want to give to you. So I see that you've each brought a piece of paper — that's the first step, and uh, if you wouldn't mind holding this, or I can hold it for you if you're more comfortable. (mumbled) like to hear about ya! We'll start with you (mumbled) Flack: Hi, my name is William Flack. But you can call me Will. (laughter) I'm a sixth grader at Grant Wood Elementary. I participate in band ... I play the trumpet; 411; Johnson County Shooting Sports, the Sharpshooters; wrestling, City High Mat Pak; tackle football, The Little Hawks; safety patrol. getting students on the buses safely; and flag personnel, raising and lowering the flags in the morning and in the afternoon. I think Miss Brock, my teacher, chose me for this award because I am responsible, respectful, and help people when they need to be helped. I thank my coaches, teachers, family, and the Iowa City Community School District for this award. (applause) Lopez: Hi, my name is Karina Lopez. I am a sixth grader in Mr. Glenn's classroom at Grant Wood Elementary School. I help Miss Gold by being a reading buddy helping kindergartners in their classrooms and by checking my class reading (mumbled) to make sure they're reading according to their contracts. I also help by being a good role model for my peers, and all students at Grant Wood. I am responsible. I show respect, and build relationships. I would like to thank the City Council for this award; Mr. Glenn and my family for supporting me. (applause) Patterson: Hi, my name is Cora Patterson. I'm a sixth grader is Miss Grigsby's class at Grant Wood Elementary. I help my school by being in safety patrol, where as a sixth grader I take younger kids to their buses and make sure they get on safely. ...I help by being a classroom banker. I'm also reading buddy. Finally I help by being a good role model for my peers and all students at Grant Wood. I am responsible; I share respect, and build relationships. I'd like to thank the City Council for this award, Miss Grigsby, and my family for supporting me. Thank you. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 2 Hayek: Those are all really well read and you're clearly doing a lot of things at school, and I remember when I was your age I did the safety patrol and then some of those things, and you know, you learn a lot of lessons when you do those kinds of things, and you help people out and you develop into young adults and uh, you're all doing such great things and you know, one of the reasons we do this is so that the community can see the things you do and the leadership you provide in your school, um, so that others can ... can learn from that, and we can see how great our schools are doing and... and how our young people are coming up in this world, and I would be remiss if I ... if I didn't thank your parents and ... and your teachers and the other people in the crowd here, um, who uh .... who play a huge role in your lives, um, and have them to thank for ... for that as well. So, uh, I want to read this Citizenship Award, um ... and we call it a Citizenship Award because that's who you are — you're citizens just like the rest of us of this community. Um, for his or her outstanding qualities of leadership within Grant Wood Elementary, as well as the community, and for his or her sense of responsibility and helpfulness to others, we recognize you as an Outstanding Student Citizen. Your community is proud of you. Presented by the Iowa City City Council, February, 2013. Will, here's yours! Karina! Cora! I'm going to shake your hands and congratulate you, and now you're welcome to stick around (laughter) or go home and do homework. It's your call! (laughter) Thanks a lot and congratulations! (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 3 ITEM 2. STATE OF THE CITY Hayek: Okay. Now is the time of year when we read the State of the City address. Got my Marco Rubio water here. (laughter) See if we can get going! (mumbled) give these folks a chance to exit the room here. (reads State of the City address) (applause) Thanks, and I would be remiss to, uh, if I didn't, uh, thank Adam Bentley and other members of staff who, uh, shouldered the bulk of this, uh, preparation work. Thank you, Adam! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 4 ITEM 4. PROCLAMATIONS c. Sertoma's Freedom Week — Week of February 24 Hayek: I believe we only have one to read tonight, um ... (mumbled) in the audience and that, uh, has to do with Sertoma's Freedom Week, and I'll read it. It's a City of Iowa proclamation: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Ted Halm. (applause) Halm: Just briefly, I'd like to thank the City Council and Mayor Hayek for this award, and I'd like to let you know that the topic for this year's Freedom Week was `What does the United States flag mean to meT And you might imagine that some of the eighth graders who answered that question answered it in ... very different ways! And uh, we had five participa ... participants in Johnson County and for the first time we had someone who has home - schooled who wrote one of the essays. So, thank you again to the Council for this award. Hayek: Thanks for your volunteer work, Ted! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 5 ITEM 6. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA) Hayek: This is the opportunity at each City Council meeting for members of the public to address the Council on items that are not on the agenda. So if there's something that's not on the agenda you'd like to talk to us about, we invite you to step forward, please sign in and give us your name verbally, also, uh, and then we ask that you keep your comments to five minutes. Gravitt: My name's Mary Gravitt, and um, I enjoyed your State of the City and you kept emphasizing on neighborhoods. My problem is that the neighborhood that adjoins, uh, Gilbert and College, they don't want a 22 -story building there. And, I feel like Don Quixote, just always talking about this, but at the last meeting, you gave the impression that Chauncey was a done -deal. But somehow you neglected to go to Zoning. So I know you don't answer questions here, but I asked... Zoning answers questions. They said it had never come before them. So if it's a done -deal, I want to know why hasn't the property been rezoned. And, furthermore, you talked about businesses and flood plains. Now there's one business here that's been here for years. Services the community, gives to charity, pays a living wage which (mumbled) which the President was talking about. It pays a living wage, and it gives benefits. They're located on a flood plain, and it's a shame to have a city bound on the north side by a river and right downtown here at, uh, Van Buren Street, it's a flood plain. Now the business wants to get up and out of there. Now the 22 -story building, I ... I don't have anything against skyscrapers, except the only place the skyscrapers are popular is in the third world, and you know, and it ... it's just not feasible to me, but I was thinking as I came over here. The only way that 22 -story building would work, if you went up to Linn Street tearing everything down on the right -hand side and gave them some 22 -story buildings, and as for neighborhoods, that ... that's a viable neighborhood, and people need affordable housing here. I'm not talking about poor people who are at ... who can get Section 8. I'm talking about that middle class making $45,000 to $60,000. You can't get anything. You can't even get free lunch for your children. And they need affordable housing. They can live down there, on ... on Gilbert Street. What's wrong with affordable housing and a viable business that has proved it's viable! Why can't it have room instead of a 22 -story monstrosity when all the other buildings are low rise — seven, eight stories. That's enough! But you know you talk about tax, they pay taxes. You lost two tax build... taxable buildings up on the corner of Burlington and Clinton when the University decided they were going to have a music building. Right across the street would be perfect for a 22 -story building. I've brought that up before. But I just couldn't get over the fact that Chauncey is a done -deal and not zoned. Where I come from you get the zoning, then it's a done -deal! But it's not fair and that's what ... money going to the community... I was here, I don't know whether it was this year or last year, community for the summer programs got $15,000 and Moen got $2.5 million. Now it's disgraceful! Towncrest was supposed to get trees, although I'm not a tree person cause I don't clean up no leaves, and my landlord doesn't either! But what happened to our This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 6 trees? So ... here we need a living wage. We got plenty of jobs. You need two and three jobs at the rate that these ... that the people get paid, and excuses — oh those are students. They're only getting' drunk, but it's some people with families trying to live off minimum wage, and ... and I'm very disappointed, and I'm ... and I'm statin' it. Now, the state of the City might be in very good shape, but the state of the people aren't. And I've been reading the City Charter. And I'm going to continue to read it. It may be long. The ... the code book is long and boring, but it's very interesting, and the preamble to the Charter, it always mentions the people, the people, the people, but the people can't get anything except some answers that they don't want to hear, because they want to keep the integrity of their neighborhood. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Knight: Hi, my name is Roger Knight. I've came and talked to you guys a couple times and kind of seems to be like a little kid. In one ear, out the other. And that is ... I bring up a couple of issues and I have yet to see anything. Like, uh, you said the state of the union's so great, of the City, and ... I'm glad, but you guys can't even take care of snow. I flipped this thing on a snow, because the plows come through and do a very good job of cleaning the street, but the ramps off the sidewalks, nobody touches; and you call the City, you guys do a very good job of pointing to the, well, this business should take care of it or ... or maybe it's this home. Oh we'll fi ... no, no, no, no! Get your butt out here and fix it, because when somebody's life is in trouble, cause I went into the street! Where was the City then? You guys did a really good job of pointing the finger on that one! And it's just things like ... you know, are we really Iowa City anymore? We're getting' really close to be ... actually we're Moen -City. Everything for Moen! What about for us, the poor people? The other people who actually live here. He's one guy. Let's stop scratchin' his back and do what is right for this city. And let's stop listening to him. He only cares about his bank, you know, his bank account. He wants these big buildings. Okay, cool! They're not even good lookin'! I'm sorry, but ... the one that he has completed (laughs) I think it's an eyesore. You know ... and things like downtown ... we still have plenty of bars. Okay, cool, whatever! But at nighttime, we got drunks ... we got people, you know, throwing bottles and trash. You guys do a pretty good job of cleaning up the trash in the morning. But you still see when people get sick on the sidewalk. That's real beautiful! How you're going to get a business to come in and look at that? I live on 320 E. Washington. They built not a too bad lookin' building next door with four stories of apartments above a business. Nobody wants to move in! That should be saying somethin' about this city. Not the little report that you just read. That says something about our city! The, another thing is, I called the Police Department about how this bus for a bar, that was going to play, how they were using foul language, they were playing real loud, they didn't care anything about what we had to say because they were in the alleyway, which is okay. They had the pass, they had all that. I called the Police Department about it, just to, hey, can you tell them to quiet down a little bit? The officer saw 320, called in This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 7 and said that's a mega bus. You just tell `em to knock it off. Basically. He didn't even see what street it was! 320 S. Dubuque is Capitol House. That is where mega bus is. I'm on 320 E. Washington. Now if that was a gunfight or something, I would have been dead, and ... no one from the City would have been there to help me. Think about that! When you start coming through and votin' for what Moen wants, how `bout votin' for what the city wants? Thank you! Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else before I close community comment? Okay! We'll move on to Item 7, Planning and Zoning matters. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 8 ITEM 7b ZONING CODE AMENDMENTS PERTAINING TO QUICK VEHICLE SERVICING USES IN TOWNCREST AND RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS - MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 5 ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 14 -411-12 AND TABLE 2C -1 OF THE ZONING CODE TO INCLUDE NEW STANDARDS FOR QUICK VEHICLE SERVICING USES IF LOCATED IN THE TOWNCREST DESIGN REVIEW DISTRICT OR THE RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS DISTRICT. Mims: Move to set the public hearing. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? All those in (both talking) Champion: (mumbled) What is a quick vehicle servicing use? Mims: We'll find out more! That was my thought too! (several talking and laughing) Champion: Okay! (laughs) Dobyns: Stay tuned! Hayek: Well, uh, all those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 9 ITEM 7c CITY INITIATED REZONING NORTHSIDE — ORDINANCE REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.47 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 906 N. DODGE STREET FROM MULTI - FAMILY (R311) ZONE TO HIGH DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS -12) ZONE AND APPROXIMATELY 1.15 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 911 N. GOVERNOR STREET FROM COMMERCIAL OFFICE (CO -1) ZONE TO HIGH DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS -12) ZONE AND APPROXIMATELY 1.78 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 902 AND 906 N. DODGE STREET FROM MULTI - FAMILY (R311) ZONE TO MEDIUM DENSITY MULTI - FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RM -20) ZONE. (REZ12- 000016,18 & 19) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) [Discussion only at formal meeting] Hayek: Before anyone makes a motion, I'm, uh, going to read a statement. I've decided to recuse myself, uh, from the second and third readings on ... on this, uh, zoning item, but I want to briefly explain why before I head into the other room. (reads statement; left room after) So, I'll step out now. Mayor Pro tem! Champion: Move second consideration. Payne: Second. Mims: Moved by Champion, seconded by Payne. Anybody from the public who wants to address the Council on this item? Barkalow: Hi, my name's Tracy Barkalow. I'm actually the President of the company TSB Holdings that owns the majority of the property before you tonight, um, on this rezoning matter. I would like to ask that the City Council defer a vote this evening. Uh, our company yesterday late, uh, filed a, uh, District Court motion or lawsuit against the City, uh, on this matter, and we are asking that the, um, District Court, uh, enforce the court order on the property and allow us to build apartments on the property at the R313 zoning in effect on May 30, 1978. Uh, we would like the City Council to take time and look at the lawsuit, uh, before they make a second or third, uh, reading or vote on this. Therefore, we ask that you defer it or vote no tonight. Uh, thank you for your time. Mims: Sue, did you want to address for the Council please the ... what you mentioned to me earlier in terms of legalities in moving forward. Dulek: Yeah, the lawsuit has no impact on your ability to vote. You certainly can vote, uh, this evening. Mims: Any discussion by Council? Throgmorton: Susan, before we proceed I need to disclose a conversation I had with another person about this. Uh, Tracy phoned me, I don't know, maybe four or five days This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 10 ago. We had a conversation on the phone that lasted about ten minutes. During that conversation, he articulated his views about this particular rezoning, uh, proposal, uh, I didn't hear anything significantly new, other than him telling me that he expected to, uh, file the, uh, the court suit on Monday. Um, and that was it. I mean, I didn't, you know, make any statements on my own behalf or anything like that. I just listened to him. Mims: We need to ask for ex... ex parte. Anybody else? Dobyns: I had a similar discussion with Mr. Barkalow that, uh, Jim did, and a short discussion with, uh, Mayor Hayek about his recusal decision. Mims: Anybody else? Payne: I also talked to Matt about his recusal. Mims: (several talking) As did I. (mumbled) Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Vote is in the affirmative 6 -0, with, uh, Hayek recusing himself. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Champion: So moved. Dickens: Second. Mims: Moved by Champion, second by Dickens. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Pass 6 -0. Hayek: (returns) Thank you, Susan. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Statement from Mayor Hayek re # 7c: As I disclosed at the last meeting the City Attorney's office examined this rezoning matter in advance of the first reading and concluded that there is no conflict precluding me from participating in the discussion and voting but last week we received an email to the council alleging some things and suggesting that I am conflicted as it relates to this rezoning item. The email contains some factual inaccuracies that I am not going to bother to address but it also contains a suggestion of impropriety on my part and I take that very seriously as a city councilor and as an attorney so the city attorney's office and l revisited the issue a second time and the City Attorney's office confirmed its professional opinion namely that it is not a conflict for me as a councilor or as an attorney in town to participate and vote on this item and my own law firm and I concur with that opinion. But sometimes perception and reality are not one in the same and I simply have to make a judgment call as to the potential risks to my firm and in this case I just don't think it's worth it and so for those reasons I'm going to recluse myself this evening and assuming it goes forward for the third reading. Page 11 ITEM 7d CONDITIONALLY REZONING ROBERTS DAIRY / HY -VEE GROCERY - ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 7.79 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH DODGE STREET AND PRAIRIE DU CHIEN ROAD FROM MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY (RS -8), NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC (P -1) AND HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL (CH- 1) TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (OPD- CC -2). (REZ12- 00026) (PASS AND ADOPT) [Discussion only at formal meeting] ITEM 7e VACATING THE RIGHT -OF -WAY ROBERTS DAIRY / HY -VEE GROCERY - ORDINANCE VACATING THE RIGHT -OF -WAY FOR A PORTION OF ST. CLEMENT STREET (VAC12- 00005). (PASS AND ADOPT) [Discussion only at formal meeting] ITEM 7f PRELIMINARY PLAT ROBERTS DAIRY / HY -VEE - RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY PLAT OF ROBERTS DAIRY ADDITION, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB12- 00012) Mims: Make a motion that we defer Items 7d, e, and f until March 5'n Payne: Second. Hayek: Uh, motion from Mims, seconded by Payne. Uh, discussion? These concern the ... the HyVee rezoning, um, and right -of -way and preliminary plat items. Further discussion? Those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7- 0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 12 ITEM 7g MACKINAW VILLAGE — RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY PLAT OF MACKINAW VILLAGE — PART FIVE, IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SUB12- 00015) Mims: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Staff is here if we need more information. (mumbled) to present but uh... (mumbled) Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 13 ITEM 8. CDBG AMENDMENT FOR FACADE IMPROVEMENTS — APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO IOWA CITY'S FY13 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, THAT IS A SUB -PART OF IOWA CITY'S 2011 -2015 CONSOLIDATED PLAN (a.k.a. CITY STEPS). b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Champion: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by ... Dickens. Discussion? Mims: (several talking) explain to the public what it is? Hayek: Yep! Uh, so, the ... proposal which, uh, I believe went through Economic Development Committee, is to use some of our, uh, CDB ... CDBG funds, which are funds we get from the federal government that can be used for a variety of purposes, um, to supplement, uh, and ... and encourage fagade improvements, uh, to certain commercial buildings in the, uh, City/University Urban Renewal Area. Uh, we think it's an exciting opportunity to help spruce up, uh, some of our downtown business landscape and ... and promote downtown generally. Any further discussion on this? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 14 ITEM 9. LANDFILL FY09 CELL RECONSTRUCTION - RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE LANDFILL FY09 CELL RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT. Mims: Move the resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims; seconded by Payne. Uh, discussion? Um, go ahead. Payne: I just wanted to, I mean, in the item on the agenda it doesn't talk very much about how we're going to reconstruct it. Were you going to talk about that a little bit? Hayek: No, but I see a guy who might, um ... (laughter) Another guy who might too (laughter) That was the fastest (several talking and laughing) Payne: How it's going to be reconstructed; you know we had three different things to pick from and thought maybe the public would be interested in what we're going to do. Markus: Dan can tell ya! Scott: Okay, sure. My name's Dan Scott. I'm a Project Engineer. I'm involved in this project so, um ... yes, we're ready to rebuild the landfill cell that was damaged by the fire. We ... feel that we've got a, uh, a very good design with a number of, uh, fire risk control features. So, um, we've, uh, we've ... we've really looked at that, and uh, tried to come up with something that's... that's much safer. We've got, uh, it's basically a smaller cell so there's less of the tire- derived aggregate. We're using a thinner layer of the tire aggregate. Uh, we've got special permission from the DNR to do that. And, um ... the way we're doing it this time is it ... um, the waste will be more compartmentalized and separated by, uh... well, basically fire walls of ..of a stone material so that, um ... we don't think there'll be another fire, but even if there is, it'll be much more contained. So we've, um ... uh, we've also increased the amount of insurance this time, both uh ... the ... the amount of coverage and the length of coverage. So we've uh, we've taken a number of steps to ... to address the risk. Um, also as, uh, as part of the bidding process, we ... we included a number of alternates. We looked at ... um ... uh ... the sand material instead of the tire aggregate. We looked at a crushed stone material instead of the tire aggregate. Urn ... based on the recommendation of our design engineer and their evaluation, it's, uh ... just wasn't necessary to ... to ... to go with that extra cost, that the safety features that we've got, uh, we ... we feel very comfortable with. So... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 15 Payne: And wasn't there, if I remember Rick right when he was explaining it before, one of the things that they've done at the landfill is they have a different process for filling the cells so the waste doesn't go directly into the cell. It goes someplace else first. So the chances of something being hot (both talking) and going in the cell are greatly reduced? Scott: Yes. Yes, thank you, that's another big part of our (coughing, unable to hear speaker). We're also, um ... um, separating out waste and stockpiling it as we're constructing the new cell, so that as we place these tires, we can immediately cover them with this, uh, special waste that ... that we know is safe, that we know there's no fire and ... and um, in addition to that, we ... we urn ... have special permission from the DNR to ... um ... put in an acre of tires and then immediately cover it with the waste. So we're... building it more like an assembly line. We're building a small portion of it, covering it with tires, and then building the next portion and then covering that with tires. So that'll be a much safer process, as well. Markus: One of the things we wanted to make sure of is that didn't have a repeat (several commenting) incident and Rick and I and Ron and Dan talked about that... ad nauseam to make sure that that didn't happen. We all talked about our early retirements if in fact it did happen again (laughter) so the Fire Chief, um, did review all these things and uh, we vetted the different ideas about how we would operate a safe landfill, and he's comfortable with those, uh, provisions. The other thing I'd point out is that this tire liner actually acts as a better filter fabric than the other alternatives, so ... that's one of the reasons we went that direction. Hayek: Well, and this kind of event is essentially unprecedented in the industry, um, that's one of the things we talked about. Mims: Right! Hayek: And ... I noticed fortunately we came in with a ... a successful bid, about $350,000 under our estimate. Scott: Right. Hayek: Do ... you attribute that to anything in particular? Just a favorable environment or, uh... Scott: Uh, right. This is a very good time of year to be putting bids out there, um, contractors are just now lining up work for the entire year so ... this is a good window of opportunity. Markus: the other thing I'd point out about that is the estimate, if you look at the estimate that the engineers prepared, it's right in the middle. Uh, there's three below it and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 16 there's four above what the engineers' estimate was so ... that's a pretty good sign that the engineers had a pretty good tag on these numbers. Hayek: Yeah! Champion: The question that I found interesting is how many ... how many bidders there were. (several responding) I would think it would be very specialized in going landfill operations but I ... I guess not, but I think that's pretty amazing! Scott: Uh, well it is ... it is rather specialized but this was a very attractive project. So we ... we uh ... we had bidders from all over (both talking) Champion: Sure did! (several talking) Markus: And I think the other thing too is to get out in front of the construction season, far enough so that people are trying to line up work, so I think their timing, uh, was fortuitous in terms of getting some good bids. Hayek: Nice work! (several commenting) Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 17 ITEM 10. ENTERTAINMENT VENUE AMENDMENTS - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 4, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, CHAPTER 5, PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS, SECTION 8, PERSONS UNDER THE LEGAL AGE IN LICENSED OR PERMITTED ESTABLISHMENTS, SUBSECTION B, TO MODIFY THE TIPS TRAINING TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEW STATE I -PACT PROGRAM; AND TITLE 4, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, CHAPTER 5, PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS, SECTION 8, PERSONS UNDER THE LEGAL AGE IN LICENSED OR PERMITTED ESTABLISHMENTS, SUBSECTION C TO ALLOW THOSE NINETEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO REMAIN IN ENTERTAINMENT VENUES UNTIL CLOSING. (PASS AND ADOPT) Champion: Pass and adopt. I mean move adoption (laughs) Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Champion: (mumbled) Hayek: You know, the Daily Iowan endorsed this. Champion: Yes! Hayek: ... few weeks ago. Champion: I think the Press - Citizen did too and I think it's because these entertainment venues have done a very good job of controlling what's going on in their establishment. And I give them credit that we can do this! Dobyns: As someone who worked with, um, a lot of these efforts over the last, uh, 10 or 15 years I think, a lot of, uh, members of the community have come up to me, concerned that we're `de- constructing' some of the efforts that a lot of people have worked at, and as someone who started at the beginning, the 21- ordinance was only one of many, uh, sort of tasks that we had to do. The Partnership for Alcohol Safety, between the City of Iowa City and the University continues to go on. Um, some of the things the City Council has done in terms of, uh, making enforcement of the noise ordinance a lot easier is another aspect of this. Um, providing this, providing non - alcoholic opportunities for students, um, this has everything to do with that. This is not just, uh, rewarding the good guys. But want to remind everyone that we're still trying to punish the bad guys, the people who don't quite, um, keep up, uh, with alcohol enforcement. And so we still have increased, uh, police activity, um, checking for underage, uh, alcohol and uh, you know, those, uh, nobody likes police, um, in their bars and so this is a punishment, it's a negative incentive, um, for that as well. So, we're still doing This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 18 all the other things, uh, we're not just, uh, de- constructing, um, the 21. I think we're emboldening it. Champion: I'd just like to comment, um, that not all people under 21 are students. Dobyns: Uh -huh. Thank you. (laughter) Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 19 ITEM 11. RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE CONTAINER STORAGE - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 16, ENTITLED "PUBLIC WORKS," CHAPTER 3, ENTITLED "CITY UTILITIES," AND TITLE 17, ENTITLED "BUILDING AND HOUSING," CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED, "HOUSING CODE," TO REQUIRE THAT WASTE CONTAINERS BE STORED BEHIND THE BUILDING LINE OF RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Champion: Move first consideration. Hayek: Moved ... well, are we going to discuss ... we gotta get it on the floor to have the discussion so ... moved by Champion... Dickens: Second. Hayek: Seconded by Dickens. Thank you! My lifeline! Discussion, and I think we're... we had some discussion at our ... at our work session, some concerns raised, um, so I think it'd be appropriate to hear from City staff and Mr. Boothroy! Boothroy: Good evening. Uh, I'm Doug Boothroy, Director of Housing Inspection Services, and uh, as you mentioned before you is a ... an amendment to the Public Works chapter, as well as the Housing Code, to deal with the location of the trash storage carts, the, uh, the green trash court ... storage carts that we see, uh, in residential areas and uh, this ordinance came out of a meeting that I held with a neighborhood association, the Northside Neighborhood Association in particular, uh ... uh, last year and this was a priority for them because of the, uh, growing problem, uh, in their neighborhood about these particular containers being left, uh, continuously in the front yard and... and problems that that creates for the neighborhood. Uh, the current ordinance, as I indicated in the memorandum, uh, encourages, uh, trash containers to be, uh, located, uh, and they use the standard, "reasonably near the side or rear." Uh, but that ... is not a ... enforceable standard. Uh, that's... that's maybe, you know, what you can try to convince somebody to do, but it doesn't require them to be removed. So what this does is it...it looks at that, uh, and it says that it shall be located out of that area, and if it can't practically be located out of that area, such like on a corner lot or someplace where it's just very difficult to find a location, then the City can approve it to be located, uh ... uh, somewhere else on the lot, possibly in front of the building, as long as it's screened. Um ... there is also, um ... uh, a letter that you should have got a copy of from the Northside Neighborhood, um ... uh, supporting the change and then before I take any questions, uh, I did make a couple, uh, amendments to the ordinance. I don't know if that was mentioned at the informal meeting or not, uh, very minor changes to make sure that it was clear that we were talking about, uh, the entire front wall of the building, uh, and... and uh, and that's, the intent is still the same, uh, it's just changes that language a little bit to make it clear. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 20 Dulek: Right, it's a non - substantive change. It inserts the word "all" for the, for example (mumbled) just to clarify. Boothroy: So ... so on a front wall of a building, most of them are irregular, and so I didn't want them to take the closest front wall necessarily. I wanted it to be regulating the entire frontage of, along that irregular fagade. I understand there were some questions, uh, so ... I'm ready! (laughter) Payne: My first question is you keep saying "building, building, building." What about house? Is a house, I mean... Boothroy: I think the ordinance says residential structure. Payne: Okay. Boothroy: So it's not a garage necessarily. Payne: So we're talking about all houses, buildings in the entire city. Boothroy: Yes, it applies to both, uh, rental property as well as owner- occupied. It's in the Housing Code, uh, the way the Housing Code is enforced, uh, is that the Housing Code applies to all properties, owner- occupied and rental, all the standards do for the most part. Um, but with owner- occupied property, the Housing Code's only enforced on a complaint basis, whereas on rental property it's on a systematic basis. So when this situation, uh, these standards would be, uh, enforced, uh, through the rental inspection, uh, process, which is every two years, uh, whereas with regard to owner- occupied property, it would only be on a complaint basis, as is the way it's been for the rest of the Housing Code. I just wanted to make sure (both talking) Hayek: (mumbled) Boothroy: ...understood that dynamic before you... Payne: Did you consider any other options? Boothroy: For example? I mean, did you have another one in mind or... Payne: That it's not for... residential properties; it's only for rental units or something like that. Boothroy: You mean not owner- occupied (both talking) Payne: Well non -owner occupied. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 21 Boothroy: Um, I... yes, but, um, in my mind it... if it's an issue in, uh, single - family or duplex rental properties, which is where we see this for the most part, it could also be an issue, uh, with owner- occupied properties. Uh, the biggest difference is that, uh, as you probably know, the Housing Code doesn't get en ... enforced on owner- occupied properties very often, unless the problem, um, grows to such an extent that, uh, that we get, uh, complaints about that, but uh ... uh ... typically, uh, with regard to enforcement of the Housing code with owner- occupied properties ...if we do one a year, that's... that's, uh, that's an exception. Uh, most of the time, well, it's always all rental. Payne: I guess I have (both talking) Boothroy: That's not to say it wouldn't happen. I'm just saying that ... that we don't typically get a lot of complaints on owner- occupied property, and doing a, and Michelle, doing a drive - around, uh, looking at, uh, the northside area, which has more rental properties and looking at other neighborhoods, uh ... uh ... it doesn't seem to be as common a problem in owner- occupied neighborhoods as it is on the Northside, and the College Hill area. Payne: I guess I have two concerns, and one of them is ... you have the corner of a house. Let's just say it's like this and the best place to sit their trashcan is right here, and it happens between, be between the house and the street. But they can move it right here around the corner, and it's no longer between the house and the street. It's behind the front property line, but they moved it three feet. If they're going to ...if they're going to be a slob with it up here, they're going to be a slob with it over here (laughs) Did it really fix the problem? Boothroy: Well, I think it's broad... it's a broader question than that. What ... what you see driving around the Northside is not that three -foot deviation. It's ... it's that, uh, property after property in certain areas on certain streets have the trashcans, uh, right by the, uh, front steps or out near, uh, the street, uh, in the front yard. It's not just right at the corner like you're suggesting. Now I'm not saying that doesn't ... can't happen or doesn't occur from time to time, but ... but that's not the typical situation that we're looking at. It's usually much greater. Moving it around the side of the house, and I did think ... I did think about what you're suggesting is whether or not they should always be screened. Uh, some communities require screening ... in the side yard, as well, from both the street, as well as from public view, and I thought that was too, um, too great a step to take at this time. Uh, I thought that just getting them out of the front yard, uh, was a... a good first positive step, and if that ... if that cleans up the neighborhood and makes it function and ... and meets their needs, then we should start there. Hayek: What's the um ... the process if...if there's a complaint, as to a rental property? Um ... a ... about, you pass this; there's a complaint about a rental property and... and garbage can in the front, etc. Does that ultimately go to the permit? Does it go to the renter? Uh... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 22 Boothroy: Um... Hayek: What's the recourse? Boothroy: (both talking) ...let me understand... if... if somebody calls in and says a neighbor calls in and says that their trashcans are, uh, in front of the property and they should be lo ... located around the side, uh, who gets, uh, contacted? Uh, typically we would conta ... we would do a knock and talk tyk ... type of thing. We'd go up to the door and talk to the tenants. If...if that doesn't, uh, succeed in ... and that's the way we do it now. Most of the time we require, or we ask them to move it to the side, although they don't have to. Uh ... uh, if that doesn't work, uh, then we contact the landlord and uh, ask the landlord to make sure that ... that the property's in compliance with the Code, and ... and uh, if...if that can't happen, then ... then it could result in a municipal infraction or something of that nature, but uh ... we usually go out and talk to the occupants first, ask them to move their cans, uh, and if they don't then we ... we deal with the landlord and try to, uh... um, look at it that way. Right now in our, in our information disclosure form, uh, we have a provision in there that says that they're supposed to comply with the section of the code that deals with storage of trash and location of trash containers, uh, so ... uh, it's part of that, uh, process by when they lease up they... they understand that there are boundaries. They can't leave their trash containers, for example, at the curb all the time. They have to bring `em in and things like that. Hayek: But ... so if you get to the point of issuing a municipal infraction (both talking) who does that go against? Boothroy: It would go against the property owner. Hayek: The property owner, okay. Boothroy: Right. Dobyns: Doug, if a house is on a corner lot, which side of the house is the front? Boothroy: The front's on both st ... both streets. Dobyns: Okay. Boothroy: So, in some situations, and I can think of a couple properties in particular that I'm familiar with, uh, they're going to ... they're not going to be able to effect... because of the parking spaces, they're probably not going to be able to find a good place to put those trash containers so they're probably going to need to ... have `em screened. When you have a lot that's 50 X 50, and a house and a couple parking spaces on it, it gets very difficult to find anywhere to ... to put This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 23 these, uh, large containers. Uh, which, you know, I think the reason they've become more of an issue now is that ... is their size and uh, and they're, uh, certainly much more obvious than ... than the other types of containers that were previously used. Dobyns: If someone is older or it's tough to move around those big ones, um ... and they have to move it around the side, can they trade in for a smaller one or.. . Boothroy: (laughs) Yeah, I ... no, I think the City requires a certain size. I... Dobyns: Okay. Boothroy: Yeah. Dobyns: All right. Boothroy: So they can grab `em, dump `em (both talking) Dobyns: Yeah. Champion: The City (several talking) Dobyns: Okay. Sure, cause it fits the truck. Boothroy: Yeah. Champion: Well the City does make some allotment for people who can't move those heavy trashcans. Dobyns: Yeah, I thought there was (both talking) Champion: ... actually move them for them. Dobyns: Okay. Boothroy: Yeah, but I think they still have to use the same green containers. Champion: Oh right, yeah. Right. Boothroy: That's what I was trying to say. Dobyns: Okay, so there's that ... option. Okay. Mims: As you looked at the screening requirement, did anybody put any kind of numbers to paper of, you know, I mean ... what kind of screening you're cau ... you're talking about, what ... that's acceptable, and what it might cost? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 24 Boothroy: Um... Mims: ...to do that. Boothroy: ... for example you can buy them already preconstruc... a pre -fab, snap- together type of things, uh, from Menard's, uh, I looked at that, uh, and I think they were, you know, it's ... it's been a few months since I looked at those numbers, but less than $200. Some place in the $100 range. Champion: Tall enough for those trashcans? Boothroy: Yeah, yeah. Mims: That's... that's a significant amount of money for a lot of people. Payne: (both talking) might be just as unsightly, you know. Boothroy: Well and I... and I think in... in the situation here the reason we have the City approving design standards in historic districts where that ... that's much more of an issue, uh, that would not be an appropriate screening mechanism. We'd want to try to get that more, uh, consistent with the, uh, the look of the house so it's not obvious, but keep in mind, this is an exception to the rule. So I don't expect it to happen very often that ... that, uh, people would be scr ... providing that trash container in the front yard, but it could happen, yes. Mims: When you have something like a trash can that is moved very frequently, it would seem to me the enforcement on this becomes a real issue. Uh... Boothroy: And? Mims: You know, so they put their trash out on Tuesday morning and the City comes by and picks it up. And ... they don't put it back or it gets halfway back to the house and a day later, whatever, the neighbors call. City goes out, checks on it, they move it back. You know, next week the same thing happens. You know, every second or third week it doesn't quite make it back beyond, you know, the front line of the house. What ... I mean, how many times do we get called out before... you know, if...if they comply every time you go out and go, you know, a knock and talk, at what point is ... is municipal infraction issued, um, you know, how does that work? Boothroy: If we're not getting consistent compliance, I think at some point we have to make a call as to whether or not, uh, we have to either issue an infraction because it's a con ... an on -going problem, uh, or, uh, there may be, uh, working with the landlord to find a spot where they can put it, place it, and if it has, um, screening, like a, you know, dumpster enclosure, uh, then there's a spot that is designed for This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 25 those containers. We may have to get to that, where you have, uh, repeated problems. Um ... you know, what ... what we see is that, uh, you ... we get the complaints on those left at the curb a couple days later, uh, and then we ... and we ... and we work with the landlord to try to make sure that the tenants understand what the ru ... obligations are, um, but those that we can't get around the side of the yard or something like that, if they're still sitting out by the front porch and the lids over, I mean, I ... just a week ago I drove down and there was a couple houses, the lid was over, trash was overflowing, and it was all over the front yard. We'll contact `em but we're trying to get that ... we're trying to get some control over that look because it doesn't ... it does impact the quality of the neighborhood, uh, it's sort of, you know, the broken window syndrome and uh, when you have trash in the front yards, it... it's... it has an impact. Payne: My (both talking) Boothroy: You know, I don't know that this is perfect. I ... I would agree but ... but we're trying to get there. It certainly isn't perfect now and we're still struggling with this exact same issue. Payne: I ... I just think it's penalizing people that keep their yards picked up, but that's the best place to put their can because a few renters can't pick up their garbage. Boothroy: Well, on the Northside it's more than just a few renters, but... Payne: But if you looked at all the houses in town, I ... I understand that they have an issue and that we ... we really need to do something about it, but it's like we're penalizing everybody because a few people are ... not following neighborhood ...neighborhoodly rules. Champion: I can't think of anybody I know who keeps their trashcan in their front yard. Payne: Well you know me! Champion: I know you now! (laughter) Throgmorton: You know, it ha ... it certainly happens in the Northside. I ... I'd like to ask you a couple questions about process, Doug. I mean, I see really good reasons to propose the ... the revisions but, uh, one question I have concerns, uh, the meeting we had with, uh, the Northside neighbors, uh, usually these take place in Horace Mann. Is this... Boothroy: Yes. Throgmorton: ... is this where you meant, I don't know, 10 people there? Uh...15? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 26 Boothroy: That would probably be about right! I mean, I don't remember exact number but ...it's a handful. Throgmorton: Yeah, and ... and you hear ... you heard clear, uh, consistent support for this particular (both talking) Boothroy: It's definitely a priority. There was two things that we're talking, or more than two things, but there ... these were two ... there were two things that were discussed at the meeting. It's laid out in the letter. One was the trash carts, uh, and the other was, urn .... uh, screening of, uh, dumpsters, uh, in the, uh, in the ... in the neighborhood. That's a much more complicated and expensive proposition and it's not mixed in with this particular issue at this time. But that was the other priority they have. Throgmorton: Right... so... so ... I ... I think I get that, uh, very clearly. But it does make me wonder, uh ... uh, you know, whether there're, uh, buildings on the Northside that could not reasonably comply, you know, because of their size, lot size, uh, layout of the building on the lot, stuff like that. Boothroy: That's what the screening requirements are for. Throgmorton: Well I, yeah, I mean ... even given that, but I ... but I, so I understand you to say not to worry about that, Jim, just, you know, the alternative is the screening... Boothroy: Well the alternative to ... I mean, that is the ... that is the ... the safety valve on these regulations, uh, I ... I don't ... I would not recommend these regulations with an alter ... with this type of safety valve, which allows people to find, uh, a location, uh, that works, uh, when it's not practical to put `em any place else. Uh, and uh... uh, cause then I think it's too ... too restrictive. Throgmorton: Okay. So the ... the other process question I have actually connects to something Michelle has said ... A ... I ... I get it that, uh, people I know on the Northside advocate this, but it's only one neighborhood in the city. So I'm wondering whether other neighborhood associations have been contacted, whether they have any views about this particular ordinance that we ought to be taking into account. Uh ... you know whether they would have concerns about it that we're not... maybe not fully aware of yet. Hayek: You know, I... Boothroy: I think the difference between this neighborhood and some of the ... the east side neighborhoods, for example, is the ... housing makeup. The Northside is ... is mostly rental. Throgmorton: Right. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 27 Boothroy: Uh ... uh, Windsor Ridge is mostly owner- occupied. Maybe all owner- occupied, and so, uh, if you drive around that neighborhood or the neighborhood I live in up by Shimek, uh, you're hard- pressed to find one of these green containers in the front yard. Uh, so it's not an issue. Payne: And many of those even have ordinances they can't even have it outside. They have to have it in their garage. Covenants, sorry, you're right. Wrong word (both talking) Boothroy: That's where I keep mine! Payne: So ... (laughter) Hayek: Let me ... let me throw out an idea and ... and we had talked about deferring this... this item at our work session. It's apparent from the Northside Neighborhood's letter that they'd still like a chance to review this particular language. They really want us to focus on the multi -unit, uh, dumpsters. You know, we got this neighborhood stabilization strategic plan and periodically we take a looksy at what we've done and what we want to do next. We've had discussions periodically about whether there is more we can do, especially in these, uh, more rental- dominated areas where the nuisance issues seem to be greater. Um, what else we can do, what, you know, what are we missing, what can we take up and maybe we ought to defer this, you know, schedule a dedicated work session and ...and take up a number of these items, um, and I know we're rolling out this application for... for smart phones to make complaints, and we could all wrap it up into something. It doesn't seem ... there's clearly a, at a minimum a split, maybe the majority that aren't really comfortable pursuing this tonight. Doesn't seem like something we should be ... we need to be divided on. Throgmorton: If...if we defer though, let's not defer indefinitely. Hayek: Oh I ... yeah, and listen, this is one of the things that drives me nuts about, um, and ... and it's mostly rental. I'm sure it's some owner - occupied, but I could ... I... in 15 minutes I could take, you know, 15 pictures of, uh, sort of example, uh, dwellings, residential units, that I ... I don't think we're doing enough to ... enforce. Throgmorton: Uh -huh. Hayek: In a number of areas in town. And um ... so, I don't know. Just throw that out there. Payne: Well I ... I think ... I agree we need to do something. We can't just leave them hanging there. So it shouldn't be a very long deferral, but I ... I just ... would like to hash it out ... more. Mims: I would agree. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 28 Hayek: Okay, why don't we ... why don't we defer... probably indefinitely just so we can have staff do its part ... look into it, but ... but... Markus: We'll check with some of the other associations too. I ... I think the point is that, uh, those with homeowner's associations probably do have covenant restrictions, to some degree, uh, on placement of garbage receptacles. So... Mims: But those covenants expire, and most neighborhood associations do not renew them, so ... a lot of our neighborhoods may think they have covenants that they don't. Throgmorton: Sometimes they don't expire. (several talking) Dulek: No, they all expire by law. Twenty -one years. Throgmorton: (mumbled) Champion: I've never lived anywhere but where I'm at now, and they don't (several talking) Dulek: You can renew `em, it's just a very difficult thing to do (several talking) Yes. Mims: Most of `em don't! (laughs) Hayek: I ... but I think the problem's the ... this, uh, measure is intended to address our (several talking) and um ... I would lump them into a category with ... with a number of other things that ... that I think we could do a better job of. Markus: You'll probably get some communication, plus minus on it, after this discussion too. Hayek: All right, so... Markus: You'll hear from the citizenry on it. Mims: Well and I would just echo what Matt is saying. Nothing that I'm hearing from the Council says that we don't support, cause I know we do as a group, support improving the appearance and livability of our neighborhoods. And the neighborhood stabilization that we, you know, agreed on as a... as one of our strategic goals. I think it's more ... the details of this approach that there's some nuances too that we feel we need a little more time to look at so ... the support is there. We just need a little time to ... (several talking) Dobyns: How much more time ... I ... I've heard a couple different things, so I just want... looking for clarity, um ... we want to wait until we can bundle some things This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 29 together, but then we don't also want to wait forever to have this come back. So ... what is this, maybe ... (several talking) Hayek: I ... I think ... I think Tom and Geoff and (both talking) Markus: We can try and get it back in March sometime. Maybe the first part of April (mumbled) Hayek: I'm comfortable with that. And (several talking) just have ... it, you know, stuff could be half - cooked and still thrown out for... for discussion. Markus: For a work session? Hayek: (several talking) At a work session. Markus: Got it! All right. Hayek: So, why don't we have a motion to defer... Karr: Motion to defer indefinitely. Mims: Move to defer. Payne: Second. Hayek: Motion from Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? And this is to defer indefinitely until we come back at ... when staff's ready. Uh, all those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Payne: So moved. Dobyns: Second! Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by ... Dobyns. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 30 ITEM 15. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Hayek: Start down with you, Jim! Throgmorton: Nothing. Champion: Nothing. Mims: Nothing. Dickens: I just had a meeting with, uh, HR Green, uh, a proposal to use the landfill as a potential greenhouse, using the methane gas that the University was no longer interested in, in making a four -acre greenhouse. Growing organic tomatoes. It's already been done in Lake Mills, uh, I turned it over to staff to look into it as another option for our landfill. Hayek: (mumbled) Payne: Nothing for me. Dobyns: Jim asked me to call attention to the fact that Jim and myself and uh, City Manager Markus were all in the Detroit area, um, visiting friends and family, and we were just sort of wondering where the rest of you were! (laughter and several talking) Uh, you know we were just sort of in the same area. (several talking and laughing) Purely coincidental! Hayek: Three Amigos and uh ... (several talking) Champion: Well that's really good news! (laughter) Hayek: I think it's ... I think it's great to see, uh, these housing starts. Um, a lot of in -fill development; we approved a couple tonight. We've had others in recent months. It's nice to see the market rebound and people making those investments. So... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013. Page 31 ITEM 16. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF. a) City Manager. Hayek: City Manager? Markus: Yeah, if we can get the cameras to, uh, turn and kind of point at this gentleman sitting here in the front row, this is ... this is our new Finance Director, Dennis Bockenstedt, and uh, Dennis, uh, comes tows most recently from Hutchinson, Kansas, but he has previous experience in Ankeny and Burlington, Iowa. He is a, uh, Iowa native, and uh, was really happy to come back. He's a big Hawkeye fan so he's (laughter) he's back in the right part of the country and ... and um, he's already purchased a house here in town and his family, uh, is I think relocated already. He has a child in, uh, our public school system already so he's ... kind of gone for the full emersion right away and we're really happy to have `em on staff. So welcome, Dennis! (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of February 19, 2013.