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ITEM 2. STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS — Lemme Elementary
Hayek: First and foremost we have some Student Citizenship Awards. I think I need
some Lemme Leopards up here if they wouldn't mind coming up front. Would
the students from Lemme please come (both talking)
Karr: Lemme students up front please!
Hayek: (several talking off mic) Hi, guys! How ya doin'? You ever seen so many
people in a little room like this? (laughter) Probably a student assembly or
something. Anyway, well I'm Mayor Hayek and this is your City Council behind
you, and these are the guys who are in charge of, uh, making important decisions
for the city, and we're really proud to have you, uh, with us this evening. Um,
one of the things the City Council does throughout the school year is invite, uh,
elementary students who are nominated by their schools as leaders to come down
to City Hall to our City Council meetings and uh, tell us a little bit about them
and ... and to receive a certificate from ... from us, and that's the purpose of this
evening. So, um, I've got a ... an award I want to give to you, and I see each of
you brought a piece of paper, so that's the first step. That's good, and if... and if
you wouldn't mind, uh, just talking into the microphone and tell us a little bit
about yourself!
Schroder: Hi, my name is Samantha Schroder. I'm a sixth grader at Lemme Elementary,
and I am very thankful that I'm receiving this award. I want to thank all the sixth
graders and staff at Lemme for nominating me. Some of my biggest role models
are my parents and my grandparents. They're the ones who have taught me to be
respectful and caring to others, to have good manners, and to have a good attitude
about everything. In my opinion, being a good citizen means that you are caring,
respectful, responsible, trustworthy, and honest. Also that you are flexible and
can work with lots of different people. You are patient and listen to others. Be
kind to everyone no matter what. That is what I think being a good citizen means.
(applause)
Coelho: Hello, my name is Julia Coelho. I am honored to be receiving this award. I
would like to thank the staff of Lemme and the Lemme sixth graders for
nominating me for this amazing award. One person in my life who is a good
citizen is my sister, Lilyanna. She is one of the most hardworking civilians that I
know. Her dedication to volunteering makes a difference at City High and our
community. She volunteers at so many places and is one of the presidents of
Interact, the volunteer club. Of course my parents are the people that taught me
everything and made me a better human being. They are the best counselors that I
can have. I've learned from them to be a kind and hardworking person. A good
citizen is a person that cares ... cares about their community. They work hard for
the city and try to make it a better place. Also, a person that is a good citizen is
kind to people and can work with others. This is what I think makes a good
citizen. (applause)
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Kimm: Hi, my name is Maddie Kimm and I am in sixth grade at Lemme Elementary. I
want to first thank my classmates and teachers for nominating me for this award.
I am honored that I am receiving it. I want to thank my parents who are amazing
role models and always help me to get better. I look up to them and admire them
greatly. Being a good citizen means you need to be caring, to help others, and
stand up for them, but it can also be just simply saying `thank you' and being
friendly and kind to everyone. Respect and honesty toward others play a big part
in citiz ... in citizenship too. You don't have to be an A+ student to be a good
citizen, but you need to be ... have a good attitude, even when the conditions aren't
great. It helps to be fair and truthful wherever you go, whether it's out on the
playground, at your job, in school, everywhere. You need to be patient, hard
working, and willing to work with others, but overall you need to be kind. To me
that's what it means to be a good citizen. (applause)
Hayek: Well those are just simply fantastic comments! And ... and if we could all live by
that golden rule and all of those things that you mentioned, uh, we ... we'd be a
better community. Um, you guys are clearly leaders of your schools. That's why
you're here and your teachers and your parents and the other people who are
important in your lives are ... are people we should also be thanking, uh, because
they play such an important role in your lives, but you guys are ... are examples for
your school and for the whole district, and that's why we bring you down here.
Um, and we hope you grow up to be, uh, contributing adults in the community, as
well, and ... and maybe someday you'll sit on the City Council. Now I gotta ask
you, do you have a certain grandmother on the City Council? (laughter) All
right! I don't want to call you out too much but, uh, Connie Champion is the
grandmother of this one right here. (laughter) And I have to tell you, I went to
junior high with your mom and she bossed me a ... a .... (laughter) So ... anyway, I
want to congratulate all of you and I want to read this award. It ... it's called a
Citizenship Award. Uh, and it says for her outstanding qualities of leadership
within Lem ... Lemme Elementary, as well as the community, and for 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, May 2013. (noises on mic) I'll shake your hands, and I want to
congratulate you. You're welcome to stick around, if you can find a place to sit,
or go home and do homework! (applause)
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ITEM 3. STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS — Longfellow Elementary
Hayek: There's another school here that, uh, sent some student leaders down to meet us
and they, those are the Longfellow Longhorns, if they wouldn't mind coming
forward — that would be great! The kids from Longfellow here? All right, I'm
sorry you had to go behind Lemme. That's probably pretty hard (laughter) but uh,
so you ... you're here for the same reason! You're leaders of your school, and
you've been nominated by your teachers, uh, to come down and meet us, and
we're delighted to meet you, and I've, you know, you know the score already.
This is your City Council behind you and ... and this is the group that makes a lot
of decisions for the city about roads and police and fire and things like that. Um,
so it's great to meet you, and I see you each have your little list, and that's the
most important thing we look for (laughs) so I'll hand the microphone to you and
we can just get started!
Hennager: Hi, my name is Ella Hennager and I am a sixth grader at Longfellow Elementary.
Thanks for having me. I would like to thank my friends, family, and teachers for
helping me achieve my goals. One of the things I am involved in is Girl Scouts.
Our Girl Scout Troop 8407 has recently (mumbled) canned food, made toys for
the Animal Shelter, and cleaned up the creek near our school. In the future we
will plant a tree. In school I help out our guidance counselor Miss Schmidt with
six other sixth graders. We meet to make videos demonstrating our pride. We
perform puppet shows for younger kids focusing on units, like internet safety and
accepting our uniqueness. I also participate in school food drives and jump rope
for heart. Thank you very much. (applause)
Martin: Hi, my name is Kelsey Martin and I am a Longfellow sixth grader. I would like
to thank all my teachers and my family who have encouraged me to always do my
best. Why I think I'm an outstanding citizen is because I feel for people and I like
to help people in need, or just every day people I know with little or sometimes
big jobs they need help with. I do small jobs like when I bring in my older
neighbor's garbage can and give my mom help by hanging up my towel when I
go to the (mumbled) An example for some big things I do are helping with my
younger sister's Girl Scout troop. Also things like raising money with my troop
to buy a tree to plant in a park and more. These reasons are why I think I'm an
Outstanding Student Citizen. Thank you. (applause)
Threlkeld - Wiegand: Hi, my name is Ry and I'm a sixth grader at Longfellow elementary. Um,
I would like to thank my teachers for nominating me for this award. At school I
help others in (mumbled) I am student council class president and I'm a member
of the recycling club. I am willing to pick up trash others have dropped, hold the
door be ... and be helpful when needed, and I've never gotten a disciplinary sheet.
At home I help my parents rake, shovel, carrying groceries, and help my
grandmother walk from the car to her house. I have also supported sports clubs
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with the fundraising... with fundraising. Lastly, I even got my dad to recycle a
few times (laughter) Thank you. (applause)
Hayek: Well just like the statements the Lemme, uh, students, uh, read, yours are fantastic
as well and... and you guys do so much in your schools and these groups your part
of and ... and that's just so great, and one of the reasons we bring you down here is
because we want others to see what our fifth and sixth graders are doing in our
elementary schools, and you guys are clearly doing a lot, and so I want to
congratulate you on that. So we have the same award for you. It's called the
Citizenship Award, and it says for his or her outstanding qualities of leadership
within Longfellow Elementary, as well as the community, and for her ... 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 Council, May 2013. (noises on mic) Shake your hands again!
And ... you're welcome to stick around (applause) Congratulations! Thanks a lot!
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ITEM 4. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 4b Iowa Girls Softball Month
Hayek: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is softball board president Temple Hiatt and
board member John Smick. (applause)
Hayek: Thanks for being here! Congratulations! Thanks a lot! You bet.
Hiatt: Thank you very much, um, for recognizing Iowa City Girls' Softball this month.
Um, in 1973, parents approached the Iowa City Recreation Department and asked
for a place where girls softball could play. Um, and they designated the ... the land
down at Napoleon Park for that purpose. Um, so we are very grateful with our
partnership with the Iowa City Recreation Department. Um, they, uh, do a great
job of maintaining those fields down there, while ... um, 40 years we have relied
on parents to, um, be board members, coaches, um ... and do everything else to
...to run the program. Um, and of course we do it for the girls, like Christine,
stand up, who has played, um, Mave, Gabby, and Maddie, back there, received
award earlier. Um, for these girls to just come out and ... and have fun. We are a
recreational program. We've never wavered from that. Um, and we just really
want to provide a good environment for the girls to come down, have fun, and
hopefully learn a little bit about softball! So, um, in celebration of 40 years, thank
you very much!
Hayek: Thank you (applause) Thanks for what you do!
Champion: I hate to say it but I can remember when that initiative was started and I cannot
believe it was 40 years ago! Congratulations!
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ITEM 4. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 4d Scald injury Awareness Month
Hayek: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is firefighter Glenn Pauley; his wife Alison who
is a UIHC burn nurse; and Stacy Burke, UIHC Physician Assistant. (applause)
Hayek: Thank you for coming! (away from mic) Thanks for coming, appreciate it!
Burke: We just want to thank you for recognizing this, um, significant issue that we deal
with every day. Um, we've very appreciative of you acknowledging that, and
then we also just want to say we have some brochures and literature, um, with our
web site, and we just encourage everybody to be safe at home, um, practice scald
safety, use insulated mugs, check your water heaters, um, and just be very careful
at home because this is a very extremely preventable type injury that we see every
day. So, thank you!
Hayek: Great! Thank you! Okay. (applause)
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ITEM 5. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Hayek: We're going to have to make another reminder. If you could please stand away
from the door and create a corridor so people can get in and out as needed. It's
very important for, uh, for safety. And... and you can be out in the, uh, hallway
and hear and I think view the entire meeting on a television. Okay, Item 5 is
consider adoption of the Consent Calendar as presented or amended.
Throgmorton: So should I make a motion on this or...
Hayek: Move to adopt it but removing...
Throgmorton: Yeah, so I ... I move to adopt the, uh, Consent Calendar, but uh, I would suggest,
uh, would ask that we, uh, pull Item 5d(7), uh, from the Consent Calendar so we
can discuss it separately.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Roll call, please.
Dilkes: (begins roll call)
Hayek: Oh, before you do that, uh, we were going to get a quick update from Chris
O'Brien on one of the Consent Calendar items.
Throgmorton: Thanks!
Hayek: There he is! Uh, Chris, could you talk to us about 5d(14).
O'Brien: Sure. The question came up during the informal work session, uh, related to the,
uh, aware of the parking meter project and um ... I guess, uh, summarize the ability
to ... to utilize a skimmer to steal credit card information on the parking meters.
Uh, as part of our collection procedures, um, as we do in our parking facilities, uh,
which currently accept credit cards at the exit stations. We check for skimmers
on a routine basis, um, and with the ... the meters, we collect those, uh, some once,
some twice a week, and at that time as we're doing, um, those, uh, weekly
collections, we would check to make sure there were no devices being utilized to
...to skim that data. Uh, in addition there was a question to the use of sensors, uh,
and the ability to take that data and ... and, uh, somehow, uh, utilize that for, uh, I
believe it was for immigration... what were the, Jim, what was the...
Throgmorton: Yeah, immigration and customs enforcement.
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O'Brien: Yeah, the actual sensors don't... there's no video. There's no ... it's just a ... a
sensor that senses if there's actually an object in place, and therefore it couldn't
be utilized for that type of, uh, of information.
Throgmorton: Thanks for looking at that. So you're... you're confident there would be no way
that, uh, credit card information could be stolen by ... by our use of these, um, new
meters, right?
O'Brien: Uh, we're confident... yeah, the actual utili ... the vendors are PCI- compliant, and
like I said, we would make sure that we're checking those on a routine basis to
make sure no external devices, uh, are in place to ... to steal that data (coughing in
background)
Throgmorton: Thanks.
Hayek: Okay. Thanks, Chris!
O'Brien: Thank you.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Okay, Item 5d(7) which we'll take up
separately, and there may be people in the community who want to, uh, address us
on it, so we will allow for public input (coughing in background) Urn ... this
regards the 2014 COPS hiring program grant in support of (coughing in
background) staff recommendation to apply for the grant, and if successful create
school resource officers within both high schools. I need a motion.
ITEM 5d(7) COPS HIRING PROGRAM GRANT- IN SUPPORT OF
STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT AND IF
SUCCESSFUL CREATE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS (SRO's)
WITHIN BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS.
(coughing, unable to hear)
Champion: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Champion. Discussion? Is there anyone from the
audience who wishes to address the Council on this item? If so, please step
forward, and there are so many people tonight, we are going to ... uh, shorten the
amount of time people can speak on a topic down to four minutes. We're going
to keep close track of that because there must be 150 people in the room and...
and uh, it's the only way (coughing in background) get through this evening. So
we're going to ask that you limit your comments on this item and any other items
throughout the evening to ... to four minutes. And while you're getting ready,
Kingsley, I need to remind people standing in the back of the room to please keep
the area around the door open so that people can get in and out. Not seeing a lot
of movement back there, guys. We really need you to...
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Karr: I ... I think we're going to have somebody from Police...
Dilkes: I've asked the City Manager to contact the...
Karr: You can listen in the hallway and see it, and then come in as people leave. But
we do need to keep it open.
Dilkes: That means you need to start backing out into the hallway.
Hayek: Thank you! Okay, go ahead, Kingsley!
Botchway: Hey, everyone. How ya doin'? Can you hear me? (several responding)
Hayek: Yep!
Botchway: Um, I guess I come before you just to make clear that I'm not speaking on behalf
of the Diversity Committee but being the Chair of the Diversity Committee I
wanted to make sure that we clarified, or at least I clarified. Um, the report or at
least, um, some of the things that were described as, you know, this is ... kind of
from the recommendations from the Diversity Committee. So I wanted to be
clear that as far as I'm concerned, um, it's a little bit of a stretch, um, as far as
putting officers in schools. Um, I think my first point, and I'm just going to go
quickly through here, is ... is just community involvement that we spoke about
during the Diversity committee. Um, I think we were looking, or at least again
I'm going to say "we" a lot of times but I mean "I "...um, were talking about
expansion or extension of Officer Bailey, and I'll say Jorey Bailey to put his name
out there again, extension of his position in particular, and maybe looking for a
grant similar along those lines that really, you know, helps him out as well as
adding officers with the same type of makeup, the same type of cause to the
community to really expand the connection between the community and the
police force. Um, I also think I brought up during the minutes and it might not
have been in the recommendations the thought about introducing themselves to
the par... particular segment in which they're working and so again, talking to the
community, helping with that trust that's there by, you know, whether they're
working a particular beat, going out to those houses — I don't want to say door -
knocking, but letting them know, letting the, at least the public know that they're
available to, you know, make sure that ... I guess trust is being built. `Hey, I'm the
person, you know, who's designated to this particular beat. My name is so -and-
so, you know, can we work something out? Can we talk ?" That type of deal.
Um, also I think we talked about in the couple of the minutes again in the
Committee that... it seemed like some of the things that were brought up as far as
police interactions with the community were strictly an organizational type of
things. And I think ... I was looking more for police showings in community
events. Um, such as the 319 Festival. I mean, meeting the community through
those type of events, again, building that trust, um, letting people know that, you
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know, it's beyond the uniform and that we're here not to just protect, but also
serve the community. Um, I know the Police Chief, I was here during the work
session, commented on, he brought up the web site and just to kind of read from
the web site again, you know, the National Association of School Resource
Officers programs across the nation are founded as collaborative efforts by police
agencies, law enforcement, educators, students, parents, and communities. I think
what again was lacking from that, especially at a precipice as ... as far as this is
concerned is the ... parents, students, and the communities. Um, I take that to
mean that there's collaborative efforts and I feel like at least in this initial
discussion, or at least in this phase, it's only been discussed with Superintendent
Murley; I think the City High and West High principals; the Iowa City, um, Police
Chief; and then of course y'all, but besides that it hasn't really been talked about
with community or the parents or the students, and I think that's necessary to
really have that feeling this is a collaborative effort going forward. I wasn't able
to do much research, um, in kind of the time put together, but I think I, and again,
correct me if I'm wrong, this is something that has never been done before in
Johnson County, and I think when you have that kind of statement being made,
whatever decision that you make, whatever decision that you decide to, you
know, consent this go forward ... a lot more discussion has to really come about,
because again, this has never been done before in Johnson County. I have
particular experience within the state that I came from regarding school resource
officers and how quickly, you know, talk about that as well, but again, the
questions are how in -depth has the research been? Whether or not it works. I
know that, um, Council Member Throgmorton brought up, um, measurable goals.
Again, discussion from the past as far as the community. I think there's been like
a past outcry against this, urn ... and then again, the brief research that I have done
has been somewhat in the negative in that, you know, student resource officers
usually become the disciplinarian in schools, and so again it's ... it's past the
education component, and then they come in and you know I'm the disciplinarian.
We need to do this. I think that's something that the Council really needs to look
at.
Hayek: Kingsley, we're going to need you to wrap up your (both talking)
Botchway: All right, I'm going to speed through ... I'm going to speed through. Um, again,
no ... just kind of a rebuttal. 62% of calls from schools dealing with juveniles may
be a consideration as far as a better diversion program is needed when talking
about schools, when those calls are made, um, to the police department. Um,
again, the money that is used that apparently is okay to use for this, or will be
okay to use for this particular situation, maybe staff someone who's a third party
considering these type of referrals, who's not associated with the school or the
police department, and give somewhat of a an objective outlook. Um ... and...
you know, just kind of in conclusion since we're speedin' through here, um, I
agree with the comments that were made by, um, Council Member Champion and
Mims. I ... this is, times are very different, um, and I have a slightly different take
on that because we have people, especially youth, who are saying they are being
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harassed by the police. We have people who are stating that there's already an
area of concern when it comes to disproportionate minority contact, and because
of that I think the ideas of putting an officer in the school... really, you know,
really ... hurts or really... stops what the Diversity Committee was really trying to
do as far as building that relationship with the community first and then you
know, eventually getting a better, you know, working relationship.
Hayek: Thank you. Appreciate you, uh, coming down, Kingsley.
Botchway: No problem.
Hayek: Is there anyone else who would like to address the Council on this particular
item? Okay. Hearing none, uh, we'll open it, or take it back to the Council for
Council discussion. And ... and for the audience's knowledge, we had a
discussion about this particular item during our work session, uh, prior to the
meeting we're holding right now.
Champion: Well, as I said earlier, I'm going to support, um, the possibility of applying for
this grant. I think ultimately this is going to be up to the public and the School
Board. It's not going to be my decision of whether this actually happens, but I do
think it has the support of the principals, um, at both high schools and I think it
can be a very positive thing, but I'm not ultimately going to make that decision
but I'm going to enable the School Board to make it.
Throgmorton: I ... I can see some, uh, potential merit in this proposal, but I do have several
concerns. I was able to express some of them in our work session. I ... I want to
go into others. My concerns come partly from past highway divisive debates in
Iowa City about stationing armed officers in City High. I don't think we ought to
leap into that, uh, without forethought. I'm also aware of a 2011 article that, uh,
Tom Markus referred to earlier, uh, in Justice Quarterly, which is a scholarly
publication and it found that, and I'm going to quote here, Tom, it's a little bit
different from what you quoted. As ... as schools increase their use of police, they
record more crimes involving weapon and drugs, and report a higher percentage
of their non - serious violent crimes to law enforcement. So I'm ... I'm concerned
that maybe by having armed police in City and West High, we might actually
increase the likelihood that people will be, uh, dragged into the law enforcement,
uh, system. With these facts in mind I think we need to know what members of
the Ad Hoc Committee think and thanks to Kingsley for coming in and ... to speak.
We need to know what the School Board members think, not what we un ... we've
heard the, uh, the Superintendent and the principals think, and we need to know
what the general public thinks, and without having any opportunity to discuss this
stuff at the level of the public, we can't possibly know. So, I strongly support the
idea of improving, um, connections between police officers and the community,
and having fewer students sent to juvenile justice, but I'm not persuaded that
having armed officers in City and West is the best way to do that. So before I can
vote to place officers in City and West, I need to be confident that any officers
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present would act in accord with the community- policing model. That is to
protect and serve, which is what the Ad Hoc Committee, uh, recommended, not to
control and monitor, and I would need to know that the idea is strongly supported
by the community, especially by African Americans and Latinos, who are, uh,
likely to be observed, uh, more systematically. A couple other minor, uh, a
couple other short points, I don't think we should place armed police in our
schools simply because federal grant money is available. That's not a sufficient
reason to do it. And lastly, I ask kind of like what Kingsley, uh, said, must they
be police officers? If the School Board, I mean School District is going to be
funding the ... these folks, why would they have to be police officers and if they're
police officers, must they be armed?
Payne: I ... I think at this point we're just, um, voting on whether to apply for the grant,
and I think if we vote yes to apply for the grant, between now and then we need to
come up with things you suggest, Jim, and if the community and the School
Board can't... can't come to a... a conclusion, then we don't accept the grant. I
mean, I don't think just because it's (several talking) granted to us that we have to
accept it. This is just the first step in getting there. So I think we need to do those
things that you stated, and make sure that we're on the right path, but take the
time between now and the grant... potential grant award to do that.
Mims: Well and I ... and I would agree, Michelle, and ... and I would agree with some of
the things you said, Jim, is I ... mentioned in fair detail at the work session, I won't
take as much time here, uh, we've got a full agenda and a lot of people here for
other issues as well, but um, it is essential to me that if we do this, and I will
support applying for the grant, that the agreement between the City and the
School District, and obviously I think parents will be very involved in influencing
the School Board's decision, is that this is an effort at community policing. It is
an effort at building relationships between the police department and the youth in
our community. It is not an effort to go out and find more crime. It is an effort to
build those relationships, to mentor young people, and... and as I said earlier, you
know, just because they happen to walk out in the parking lot and find somebody
smoking pot it doesn't mean every time they have to file a charge. I would hope
that there would be discretion and we're trying to work with people. I'm not
saying you don't ever file a charge, but ... we're not doing this ... I will not agree to
it if we're doing this simply to get more people in the judicial system. It's ... we
have to go about it with the right, uh, purpose and we have to make sure the right
people are in place if we do it, and we have to have metrics in place in terms of
why are we doing it, what are the outcomes we expect, and we need to measure
that and if we can't do that then we need to stop. But certainly at this point I will
support, uh, the application for the grant.
Hayek: Uh, I'll support it as well, and ... and echo comments that were made just now, and
at our earlier work session when we had a ... a really good discussion about it. I
think what intrigues me, um, is ... is the fact that ... that law enforcement is already
in the schools. They get called to the schools periodically as they do at schools
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around... around the country, and that as I understand it, you know, those tend to
result in, um, referrals to the justice system, which does not necessarily lead to
good results and the idea here would be to pursue, uh, more of a relationship -
building dynamic where diversionary tactics, uh, that smart community policing
can ... can deploy, uh, can avoid those problems and so, um, that's something I
would look for, but uh, to put this in perspective, to put this item in perspective,
Michelle, as you indicated, this is simply to ... to join the District in ... in applying,
uh for the funds, but certainly how this gets rolled out should we receive them and
whether this rolls out is something that we need to engage in depth, uh, in... in-
depth discussions with ... with the School District on, um, what they do, how...
what they're, you know, where they are, what they're doing, how they present,
uh, what the activities are, etc. Those are a lot of details that have, you know,
haven't been, uh, delved into at this point. But I'm supportive of...of this
particular item at this (mumbled) Any further discussions? Roll call, please. Uh,
item passes, uh, this is 5d(7) again, passes 6 -1, Throgmorton in the negative.
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ITEM 6. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA)
Hayek: This is an opportunity for members of the public to address the City Council on
items that are not on the agenda. So if there's something that's not on the agenda,
invite you to step forward, sign in. Also verbally give us your name and
(coughing in the background) ask that you keep your comments to four minutes or
less.
Wright: Hi, I'm Mike Wright, I'm Coordinator of the Northside Neighborhood
Association and I promise to stick to the time limit. Um, as has just been
evidenced there's been quite a bit of discussion about the Iowa City schools
around the town lately and we in the Northside Neighborhood are feeling pretty
optimistic about the future of Horace Mann School, which has been a lynchpin of
our community for over 100 years. We're looking forward to the time when we
have a greatly enhanced Horace Mann facility. An idea that we want to get out,
uh, in front of Council and in front of the community, because we are hoping for
some reinvestment in Mann School is an agreement between the City and the
School District to establish a joint use multi - purpose room at Mann School. Uh,
the City has already established an agreement in a facility, uh, at. Grant Wood
School, which has really been quite successful, both for the school and the
community, and we really think this would be just the ticket for Mann. Um, it has
benefits for the school and the neighborhood, and as you know, the school is used
as a polling place, as a meeting place for the neighborhood association, for
various civic groups. It's ... it is a well -used facility and while the current room
works, it could use an upgrade. Um, Horace Mann is an ideal location. It's very
easy to get to, uh, both by foot, by bicycle, and by car, and it's, uh, right in the
heart of the Northside /Goosetown area. (mumbled) the Northside Neighborhood
is one which the Council has identified as being in need of some stabilization and
some revitalization efforts. We really think having a vibrant, healthy school, uh,
with facilities on par with those of the other schools in the district, uh, would be a
win -win situation for everybody. Uh, the Northside Neighborhood, uh, is hoping
that Council will begin this conversation. Uh, Horace Mann is a key part of Iowa
City's history, and I think it should be a key part of Iowa City's future. And, it
would be something... have something to offer for both the neighborhood and the
community, and I hope this is something that you will, uh, discuss as time goes
on. Thank you very much.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Maas: Hello, my name is Liz Maas. I live at 620 Ronald Street in Iowa City. I'm also
here to speak about Horace Mann Elementary. Actually have some comments
that were prepared by a friend of mine who is a neighbor and parent also of
children at Horace Mann, and I have some drawings to hand out to you as
sketches. This is just a proposed, uh, concept idea, prepared by a neighbor, um,
John Thomas. He's a retired landscape architect. Uh, thank you for giving us the
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opportunity to speak tonight. Many of us are here because we know that Horace
Mann Elementary School is vital to our neighborhood. It is one of only three
schools located in the central district of Iowa City. Stabilization of the central
district is said to be a top priority, based on the City's Comprehensive Plan.
Aside from the Comprehensive Plan, neighborhood stabilization is also a strategic
plan priority. We have seen positive changes to the Northside and Goosetown.
We have a wonderful new park. Um, the restoration with Market Square has
reenergized a plain community space for residents. The UniverCity program has
promoted stabilization in home ownership. There's some parents here tonight that
purchased a home ... a UniverCity house and are now hoping to have their child
attend Horace Mann Elementary. Um, a current ongoing traffic study will help to
mitigate problems and develop traffic calming ideas and conversations. And
while progress is being made and ongoing efforts are still needed for our unique
area of Iowa City. I would just like to ask the City to begin a conversation with
the School District to promote partnerships and joint... sorry, lost my place! Joint
use agreements with Horace Mann Elementary. The City could budget for partial
funding for multi - purpose space along with ongoing operational costs. This
would be similar to what is happening at Grant Wood Elementary as well as the
elementary schools in Coralville. This space at Horace Mann allows for
expansion. Suburban models for building and expanding schools should not be
applied to our school. It's an urban school in an urban setting, so the mindset for
expansion has to be different. Historical schools have been successfully restored
and added on to in other cities such as Kingsley Elementary in Waterloo, Iowa.
This is a crucial time in the central district of the city. We are asking that you
make a commitment to stabilization and growth in the central district of Iowa City
by creating partnerships and dialogue with the city community school district.
Please be proactive in your approach. Iowa City has too much to lose. Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you!
Colby: Hi ... uh, my name is Dr. Tony Colby. I live at 5 Bella Vista Place, and I'm here
representing the Bella Vista Neighborhood Association. Uh, I'm wearing a
yellow band on my sleeve, and this represents the yellow tapes that we've placed
on the trees on our properties adjoining Dubuque Street. We have come to the
conclusion that the gateway project will have a signif...significant negative effect
on the bluff itself. Uh, it could conceivably bring a near fatal blow to the bluff,
which ... on which the houses of Bella Vista reside. Furthermore we feel that the
project as outlined would have a major affect on the quality of life for thus ... us
who live there, um ... with added noise. By elevating the street we simply are, uh,
turning our houses into row houses along a very busy thoroughfare. Um ... you
might wonder why we haven't approached you before, because this has been
going on for some time, and there are a couple reasons for that. One is... a lack of
knowledge on our parts, and we haven't quite had the facts so we can put things
together. Uh, for instance, there was a, uh, Historical Preservation Commission
meeting where the City's, uh, input was given, but none of us were there. None
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of us were aware of it, and the ... the, uh, Commission approved, uh, the ... the
plans as given. We think that we would take ... have a lot of differing thoughts
were we at that meeting. And second of all, we know some basic facts but the
final details have not been, uh, penciled in, and there's kind of a catch -22. These
details won't be made until the project is approved, and ... but once it's approved,
that we will have no, uh, affect on what's going on. Urn ... we know at the present
time that it calls for raising Dubuque Street 10 to 15 feet below Bella Vista. We
know that it calls for moving the bridge. We are told that there will be ... there
will be little land acquisition of our properties, and we're told that the noise levels
won't be such that any mitigation will be necessary. We differ with that. Uh...
we've asked questions, one of them is how many trees will be lost and one of
them is how much fill is required, and no one has been able to answer that. So
two weeks ago my daughter and I, my daughter Jenn who lives in Salt Lake City.
She works for the Sustainability Department of the University Utah, and uh, she
has an interest in the house as, uh, she stands to inherit it, so she and I took the
figures given and we took a 10 -foot pole and a measuring stick and went down to
the street and measured the distances, heights, to see exactly if that ... those
elevations are correct, how that would affect our properties. Uh ... we ... measured
at 10 -feet from the south end of Bella Vista and 15 feet at the corner of Kimball
Road and Dubuque. Uh, so we went straight up and, uh, with the idea that if the
land comes down here and the road goes up here, something has to be filled in.
Otherwise, uh, we're looking at the Great Wall of China right here in Iowa City.
This, there has to be fill, and the trick is where that fill in... it will be, that will, uh,
require cutting down of trees, and so we went up and down and ... we realized that
if given our measurements, a significant number of trees will have to be cut down.
Uh, on my property alone, most of the trees are within a, this narrow zone. The
tall trees that ... that, uh ... uh, when I face the west, so we are looking at...at
significant tree loss and then once you bring in the idea of fill, you had ... you have
a whole `nother, uh, list of problems with drainage, uh, and ... heavy rains. What
happens, does this turn to mud, and we went ... the biggest eye- opener, and I
would hope some people will do that, is to go down to the corner... corner of
Kimball Road and Dubuque. At the stop sign there, the top of the sign is 12 -feet
and the road there would be, the proposed road would be 15 feet tall.
Hayek: Dr. Colby, I'm going to have to ask you to wrap up here.
Colby: Okay, anyway, uh... (both talking)
Hayek: ...sorry but I have to be consistent.
Colby: ... we ... we would like to give you, uh, our comments. We would like them put on
the record, and we would like to be put on an agenda for a future time.
Hayek: Thank you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
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Throgmorton: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries. Is there anyone who would like to
address the Council during community comment?
Coulter: Uh, thank you, Mayor Hayek and Council Persons. Um, I'm Joe Coulter, uh, I,
um, I'm very interested in the gateway project, um, the uh ... I own the, uh,
property that begins at, uh, on north Dubuque Street that begins at, uh, the
intersection of Ridge Road and uh, Dubuque Street, and then runs for two and a
half acres around the hill, uh, includes the stone garages, uh, with the red doors
that you go past, uh, and then goes around the hill and includes the Englert beer
cave. Um (clears throat) it was built, uh ... in that location because of the
friendship of Colonel Jacobsen, uh, with General Hayek, uh, whose house is
located down off, uh, Kimball Road. Uh... in addition to the, uh, Englert
homestead, which is the original property there, uh, the Hayek house and the
Jacobsen/Coulter house, uh, are the two ... the three major historical, uh, homes
on, uh, north Dubuque Street. I'm going to read my statement and then I'll turn it
into, uh, the Clerk. The planned elevation of north Dubuque Street by 10 to 15
feet above the present roadway along and in front of my property on 1818 N.
Dubuque Street would significantly detract from the asetic ... aesthetic, historical,
and property value of the house, the garages, the stairway, and the landscaping of
this property. It would increase the vehicle... vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the
consequent noise, trash, and other ecological damage to the properties, the
residents, the house, the gardens, lawns, and other properties, as well as the
adjacent properties of Ball Heights, which is above Ridge Road. It would create a
safety hazard in both a vehicular and pedestrian traffic, uh, especially in proximity
to the garage area in front of the house, which would fall sharply according to the
plan by 10 to 15 feet below the level of the planned, uh ... roadway. So there
would be a ... you would no longer see the garages, uh, you would be 10 to 15 feet
raised in front of my house, but there would be a pit right there off of the planned
sidewalk, uh, no plans, uh, to provide for any drainage or anything else, uh, and I
consider it a significant pedestrian and vehicular hazard, uh, with the current
design. This would result in a ... this plan would result in substantial flooding, uh,
potential along and in front of the property facing north Dubuque Street, uh, the
Foster Road, B'Jaysville Lane which is just north of my property, especially in
the area of the garages and there's no provision at this time in the plan, uh, to deal
with the Ridge Road, uh, the B'Jaysville Lane, Foster Road, or the Ball Heights,
uh ... uh, water disbursement and run -off areas. Uh, it's going to restrict my
access and any guests to my home, uh, because there would be ... I would no longer
be able to access those garages, uh, from Dubuque Street, accept by a planned...
another entry that would be, uh, up above and raised up by 10 to 15 feet, uh, down
from those garages. Uh, there's also a plan to divide my property, uh, by cutting
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across the south end of it, that would separate the south end, which is down by the
Englert, uh, house from the rest of my property by creating a... another entryway
to, uh, to Ridge Road. Uh, again, uh, increasing the ... the traffic, the, uh, trash,
and other hazards, and ecological damage in the area. Uh, finally, the plan is
currently, uh, in the works, fails to plan any access for the, uh (mumbled)
continue, uh, to have garbage service, to get my mail which I get right down there
by my garages, uh, as well as access other city services including fire protection.
So I thank you for hearing some of these issues and uh ... uh, appreciate your
concern.
Hayek: Thank you.
Cummins: Good evening, my name is Laurie Cummins and um, I have no prepared
comments, but I'd like to say something on this issue. My husband Dan and I are
returning to the Iowa City area and we are moving into 12 Bella Vista Place
which is the pink house that overlooks both Kimball and Dubuque Street. Uh, we
are moving in Monday and um, we just found out about all of this (laughs) so I
know that this has been in the works, uh, this Dubuque Street raising, I believe
since 2008, and there have been ... has been conversation. We have not been privy
to that because we haven't been here. Um, I ... my understanding is that, uh, the
conversation started with a raising of three feet and now it's 10 to 15. And, um,
yes it's in my backyard. It's in, uh, several people's backyard, uh, who are
present tonight, but I urge you to think about this not from a `my backyard'
perspective, but to think about it from an Iowa City perspective, to think about
what it will do to the view from City Park, to think about what it will do from a
noise perspective. What I've read is that the decibels or however they measure
noise will be just below, um, not acceptable levels. The wildlife will be
tremendously affected. The ecology of the area will be tremendously affected.
The beauty on that bluff will be tremendously affected. When people drive in on
Dubuque Street and there are many other ways that this will affect Iowa City.
Property values, taxes, that kind of thing. So I urge you to please at least give us
time, at least give us time before this is approved. Somehow it's gotten this far
without... some of us being able to have a say and we can't get the facts and we
haven't been able to, um, really have a say the way I feel we should. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you. Anyone else during community comment?
Wilkes: Good evening, my name is ... my name is Dan Wilkes and I'm here representing a
not - for - profit group that has property at 202 Ellis Avenue in the Manville Heights
neighborhood. My understanding is you'll be voting to adopt zoning changes that
will affect, perhaps negatively, the value and the developability of these
properties. And in reviewing...
Hayek: Is this the, uh ... (both talking)
Wilkes: ...public comment? Am I out of (both talking)
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Hayek: You actually may want ... we need you to stick around cause I think what you're
here to talk about is ... is an actual agenda item.
Wilkes: Okay, I apologize. I will, uh (both talking)
Hayek: What number is that?
Wilkes: I just got here late so...
Hayek: Yeah (several talking and laughing) It's 7g, and we'll get to that in a little bit.
Hang on!
Tannen: Hi, my name is Steve Tannen. I have no comments prepared either. I was
inspired by the other speakers. I'm here to, um, my wife and I and our family
moved here about a year ago. Um ... we looked all over the United States for our
perfect city to raise our three kids in, and we chose Iowa City cause it's amazing,
and we love it! When we came through here, um, several years in a row on tour,
we're musicians, we always stopped at City Park and we looked up at the bluff,
and it's beautiful. The gateway to Iowa City is something that I'm not sure those
of you who haven't lived out of Iowa City know what you have. It's amazing. I
would ask when you're looking at this Dubuque Street project, that you see if you
can find a way to save the bluff. Um, it drew us here and I think it adds
tremendously to the value of Iowa City. It's an emotional issue. It's not really a
not- in -my- backyard issue, though it is in my backyard. Um, I'm all for solving
the flood plain problem, I mean, the water's gotta go somewhere. We have to do
something. But when I looked at the alternative plan ... there wasn't any. There
isn't a second option that I've seen, and I would ... I would ask that you ask
whoever's in charge of this. I think it's Melissa and her crew, who are very good
people. I've talked to all of them. See if you can find a way around it ... before
you approve it. And that's my request. Thanks so much.
Hayek: Thank you.
Karr: Mr. Mayor, if we could just encourage people to be sure and sign in so if staff
does want to contact you we have the ability to do so. Thank you.
Futrell: If I could just really quickly go back to the Horace Mann topic. It was hard to get
up to the mic (laughs) when that was going on. I just wanted to quickly, um, add
my comments and support to the suggestion...
Hayek: Give us your name first (both talking)
Futrell: I'm sorry! My name's Susan Futrell and I live at 311 Fairchild and my husband
and I have lived in the northside neighborhood for a long time. We don't have
kids in the school, but we've attended many events at Horace Mann and I've been
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Page 20
involved in a number of different kinds of community organizations and
educational programs in my time in Iowa City. We have really fabulous meeting
space in the Public Library now, but is very, very busy (laughs) space and I think,
um, a joint school and community facility upgrade that's close to downtown,
close to the University would really lend itself to, um, keeping this neighborhood
that the City's invested in in so many other ways with the UniverCity housing
program and zoning, historic zoning, would ... would get ... be one more way to
help keep this neighborhood and this school a very vibrant part of the community.
There were a lot of people in the lobby with Horace Mann stickers (laughs) who
couldn't get in and there are a bunch more at the School, um, Board open session
tonight, too, so I just wanted to make sure you knew there were a lot of us. Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you. We have time for one more community comment and ... and at 8:00
we switch to the rest of our agenda, but then we make time at the end of the
meeting if there are any lingering community comment makers. Uh ... uh, we can
take those up at that time. So ... is there one last person who would like to get in
under the wire here? (unable to hear person in audience) Sure!
Hamilton: My name is David Hamilton. I live at 814 N. Linn Street. You can see from the
tags on me that I am sympathetic to two of the causes before you tonight. I don't
have a huge vested interest in either one, except that I'm a longtime Iowa Citian
and I value the neighborhood I live in. I think that anything that can be done to
support the neighborhood school should be done, and I also don't want to be
precipitous in taking down trees, beginning to deforest an area that is a visual and
ecological asset to the city, at the entrance point to the city. I've long walked up
Dubuque Street, going home at one home or another. Look out at the park, look
out at the bluff, back over the Mayflower, over Kimball Road, especially in the
autumn when it's beautiful, and have admired that scene, and I walked through
the area that Dr. Colby was speaking of this afternoon, looked at the trees with the
ribbons around them. I don't know how accurate his measurement is, and
apparently the City doesn't have a definite plan on what to cut, but there are some
wonderful trees there. There are some huge trees, a huge sycamore I'm thinking
of right now. They could be thought of as specimen trees, and to be precipitous in
taking those down I think would be a grave mistake. I don't know what
alternatives there may be, but to hear tonight that initial plan was to raise the road
three feet and now you're talking 10 or 12 or 15, that's a pretty radical change.
Anyone would think one could come up with some second and third thoughts on
those approaches before they are made concrete. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you; appreciate your comments. Again, if there's anyone who wants to
have, uh, bring, uh, issues to our attention through community comment, we will
have time at the end of our meeting for that. At this time we'll move on to Item 7,
Planning and Zoning, uh, matters.
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ITEM 7a AMERICAN LEGION ROAD REZONING -
CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 2 ACRES FROM
COUNTY RESIDENTIAL (R) AND APPROXIMATELY 2.83 ACRES
FROM LOW- DENSITY SINGLE - FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS -5) TO
LOW- DENSITY MULTI - FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RM -12) LOCATED
AT EAST OF SCOTT BOULEVARD AND NORTH OF MUSCATINE
AVENUE AND AMERICAN LEGION ROAD. [Discussion only at formal
meeting] (REZ13 -00002 & REZ13- 00003)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) I'm going to open it and ask if there's any
ex parte communications? (several responding) Um, we do not have, uh, a
signed Conditional Zoning Agreement, which means we can take comments from
the public if there are any, um, and ... once we exhaust that, uh, we will not close
the public hearing — we will continue it, uh, until our June 4th meeting. So is there
anyone from the audience who would like to weigh in on this item 7a? I'm not
seeing any interest. So ... uh...
Mims: Need a motion to (both talking)
Hayek: Yeah, so let's uh ... yeah, a motion to ... to...
Mims: Move to continue to public hearing to June ... 4th (several responding)
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Uh, motion from Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -4, so the public hearing on Item 7a will
be taken up again on June 4th
Karr: Mr. Mayor, could we take a friendly amendment and that would be continue the
public hearing and defer consideration to June 4th
Mims: Yes!
Hayek: Sure.
Mims: Sounds good.
Hayek: Works for us!
Payne: Second that.
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ITEM 7b COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE — ADOPTING THE
IOWA CITY 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The 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 for the City. With me is Associate Plans ... uh, Planner
Sarah Walz. Uh, Item 7b on your agenda is the Iowa City 2030 Comprehensive
Plan Update. Uh, all of you are familiar with the Comprehensive Plan. We've
brought amendments to you periodically. Uh, this is a significant event for Iowa
City in that it is, uh, the ... the updating of the Comprehensive Plan. The overall
document, which has not been updated since 1997, uh, at least as a single
document. During that time you're aware we've had the district plans which are
basically the Comprehensive Plans for certain sectors, uh, of the... of the, uh... uh,
the community. Um, the Comprehensive Plan is obviously the broad vision. It's
...it's the, uh, the ... the document that establishes the community values that we
want to see, uh, implemented in Iowa City, and it lays a foundation for City
policies. Obviously in our department the zoning ordinance is a significant
document that is based on the Comprehensive Plan and so careful consideration,
uh, of the Comprehensive Plan is important. Uh, as we mentioned, the last time
this was adopted was in 1997. At that time there ... that's when we, uh,
established the district planning process. The City was carved into 10 districts,
which we've taken closer looks at periodically over the intervening time. It also
led to an overhaul of the zoning code and the subdivision regulations in 2005.
Uh, for this update, which we've called Iowa City 2030, we have drawn heavily
from the plans that you have adopted over the past few years. We want to
emphasize we're not throwing those out of, uh, out the window — things like the
bicycle plan, the long -range transportation plan, those district plans that we
referred to, some of which have been adopted fairly recently. Those are still in
effect and ... and are used, uh, in the document that you're going to see presented
briefly, uh, here tonight. Uh, the other thing that we're very proud of is that when
we went to update this document we thought to ourselves, okay, we're ... we're in
a new age here, technologically. There's got to be a better way to solicit public
comment than by making everybody show up at a ... at a public hearing in this
room. And so ... and I give, uh, Sarah a lot of the credit for this. We established
the `good ideas' program and this was a ... where people could go online and give
us their comments, uh, much more convenient than ... than the traditional methods
of, uh, gathering public comment. Uh, we received hundreds of comments and
those have been incorporated into the document, uh, and Sarah will touch on
those as well. So we ... we very briefly, uh, want to go through what the new plan
is and then you have a resolution considering adoption on your agenda this
evening.
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Hayek: Thanks, Jeff!
Walz: So Jeff covered a little bit of the material that I'm going to go through, but I'll be,
um, as brief and helpful as I can. Obviously, um, one of the big areas of the
Comprehensive Plan deals with this ... in guiding our public investments. So when
the CIP comes before you all, and we're thinking about new roads, um, new
public facilities like Fire Station #4 up there, new parks, um ... the plan guides
those, um, things, and it also directs future growth and development. This is a
map from the North District Plan, so a broad goal was set, um, in 1997, uh, for
how ... guiding growth in the city and then in our district plans we look at that
more closely, identifying environmentally sensitive areas, identifying those places
that are appropriate for higher density development versus lower density single -
family development, even thinking about things ... where some of our civic
structures might go, where schools might go, um ... where neighborhood
commercial or larger commercial nodes might go. The Comprehensive Plan also
shapes how we respond to unexpected change, um ... um, you'll recall the ... the
tornado of 2006. It was in the Comprehensive Plan, there was language about,
um, we had adopted our, um ... Historic Preservation Plan and some of the
language in that allowed us to apply for grants that helped private property
owners to restore their property, and then of course the flood of 2008, we were in
the midst of the Central District Plan, which is part of the Comprehensive Plan for
that, and um, we have identified an area which is now the Riverfront Crossings as
need of atten ... needing attention. Um, a desire to redevelopment that area.
Along came the flood and suddenly something that seemed like it might be
decades away was right in front of us on the table that we needed to plan for that.
Then again, that allowed us to apply and we were successful in getting grants.
Um, and then of course the Comprehensive Plan helps define, um, our character
and identity, our shared values, um, the value this community has for education,
our City of Literature designation, our unique history, um, our value for local
foods and the Farmers Market. So, um, as Jeff mentioned, there... numerous
components of the ... of the Comprehensive Plan, these various components that
you see up there, everything from the Bicycle Master Plan to the Riverfront
Crossings Plan get more into the specifics, um, of unique areas or unique issues in
...in Iowa City, but ... but the Comprehensive Plan sets the tone for everything, or
this Comprehensive Plan document. Um, those are the districts that we have.
We've now done district plans for eight of the 10. We've not yet done the north
corridor of the Northwest Plan. The Downtown District is covered in that
Downtown Master Plan that was done simultaneously with the Riverfront
Crossings Plan. So the planning process that we used was we ... the 1997 plan was
a very good plan. Um, we went back and we held a couple of large community
workshops in February 2012 and sort of went through with people the guiding
principles from those plan ... plans and, from that plan and asked people to
respond, um, and then went into a couple of new areas, urn ... um, arts and local
foods, and um, use of...energy and other resources. Um, we also have the `good
ideas' online survey and then we drew heavily from the ... from the very intensive
work that was done on the Downtown and Riverfront Crossings Plan. Um, a lot
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of things in that plan, um, touched on environmental issues and we also look to
the most recently completed district plans, which were the Central District Plan
and the Southeast District Plan, two very different districts, but a lot of shared
values from those, and we drew from public input from sessions that came in
front of you that had to do with rezonings, a lot of redevelopment in this
immediate area was going on with the properties that we see along Washington
Street. And then we looked at it through the eyes of sustainability, um, the ... the
grant that we had was a... a sustainability grant and we looked at a three- tiered
approach to sustainability, um ... um, looking both at environmental sustainability,
which is what most people think of, but also social and economic. How do we
pay for all of these things and who gets access to all of these things. Um, so one
of the things that we asked as part of the `good ideas' campaign and in all of the
workshops is what do you like about Iowa City, and the things that are listed here,
most of those things you would find come out in almost every planning process
that we do. One that I would highlight that came out especially strongly in the
last year is schools and the access to educational resources. And then, um, the
cover of the plan, so I can just touch on this, in a nutshell that is, urn ... a thought
bubble, and so all of the input that we took at the meetings and the online input
we fed into a software program and the words that came up most often are the
words that you see in that thought bubble and the bigger they are and the bolder
they are is the more often that people mention them. So that sort of captures Iowa
City in a nutshell, the things that people value. And then what would you change
about Iowa City, what are the challenges, what are the things that would, um,
make Iowa City a better place, and this is the list of things. Obviously economic
development and reinvestment in our commercial areas, and better cooperation
between local governments were two strong things. The ... the, um, the plan does
touch, um, I shouldn't say touch. It does address TIF, uh, funding fairly directly.
And then we asked people to suggest a good idea, and I just wanted to list four of
them that we've actually made some progress on. Um, there were a lot of people
that asked for reconnection with the Iowa River. That comes out in the Riverfront
Crossings Plan, but also most of you are aware of the Burlington Street Dam
project and the desire and possibility of making that into a white water feature,
um, a kayaking feature. Real twan ... transit between Cedar Rapids, Iowa City,
and Chicago, that was also something that obviously, um, is at the state level
that's being worked on. More and better bike facilities — this is not something
that's just, um, a City project that's making progress but some of our larger
employers are making, um, real headway on that and creating bike facilities for
their employees, and then the City is in the process of just the beginning phases of
investigating the feasibility of an indoor Farmers Market for year - round, uh, use.
And so from all the input that we received, we came up with this as the
community vision statement. Iowa City is an energetic and friendly community,
renowned for its arts and culture, healthcare and education, and distinctive local
businesses. The small -town character of our neighborhoods, combined with a big
city vitality of our downtown and University campus, make Iowa City a unique
and appealing place for people of all ages. These assets define our sense of place
and are the foundation of our economy. And everything else in the plan feeds,
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um, from there. And so I'll just briefly touch, um, the... the... the community was
really supportive of the way that we are approaching growth at the edge, um, of
the city and that has to do with the, uh, the mix of housing, um, encouraging
higher density housing along our arterial streets and at major intersections, and all
collectors. Um, the fact that we include, um, planning for open space when we're
looking at new subdivisions, and um, the connectivity of roads — that one
neighborhood feeds into the next. Um, growth at the center, the Riverfront
Crossings plan, there's a real desire by a lot of people to have more opportunities
for different types of housing in the downtown, and that Riverfront Crossings area
is an opportunity to do that. Of course the City's part, you know, major role in
that is going to be converting that north wastewater treatment facility into a public
park, a real amenity, that will, um ... uh, sort of be the catalyst, the springboard, for
all the redevelopment that goes on around it. And then we've heard a lot tonight
from the people in attendance about stabilizing and reinvesting in existing
neighborhoods. These are some of the things that we do right now, um, and
people appreciate that and want that extended, and then um ... the ... the plan also
addresses neighborhood quality and there ... and once again, there is more
emphasis in this plan on neighborhood schools. Um ... echoing again what was in
the plan before the range of housing, having different housing types — low
density, single family; higher density; affordable housing; housing that's intended
for people, whether they're empty- nesters or single people or... or people with
families. Um, there's a section on economic development, um, entrepreneurship
and local businesses, and the buy local campaign were things that people were
really passionate about in our meetings. Um, and of course we've added a few
new, um, opportunities in Iowa City in the last few years. The industrial area out,
um, near, um, the Scott Six Industrial Park, an opportunity perhaps for wind
energy there, um, and then the office research park, the Moss, um, Development,
uh, adjacent to, uh, the Pearson NCS property. Uh, the transportation in the
section... section of the plan, again, a real desire for, um, supporting our complete
streets program. We're now up, I think, to a, uh, silver for our, um, bike
friendliness in the community. So ... so just opportunity, really encouraging
opportunities to expand walkability, bikeability, and transit use. And a big part
of, um, trans ... not just transportation, but the ... the following section, um, the
environment is this interconnected street system. We use this illustration a lot in
our planning meetings to talk about the image on the top is more of a traditional
suburban model where you have a lot of cul -de -sacs, um, not very many
connected streets, one -way in, one -way out, um, that is something that, um, while
it's desirable in a certain respect for the private property owner, it's more costly to
maintain, it's more costly to service, um, with ... with fire and police protection,
with snow removal, with solid waste removal, um ... the ... the image of the
neighborhoods at the bottom show that you have an interconnected network so
people have multiple routes in and out, and that feeds into the section on energy
and the environment. Um, one of the biggest things that we can do to, um... to
conserve energy and to use energy widely is to ... wisely is to look at how we use
land. And again, another concept from a ... from a district plan looking at those
interconnected street systems, but also looking at those mix of uses so that people
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don't have to drive far to go to school. Many people can walk, people don't have
to drive to do their daily shopping, um, or if they do drive, they don't have to go
so far and they have multiple routes to get there. And then I just threw in a couple
of other things here, um, with water resources — a lot of support for, um, best
management practices that, um, are encouraged by our Engineering Department,
um, to, uh ... uh, retain storm water runoff on properties and a lot of support for
expanding the recycling and waste reduction programs. Um, I should say that,
um, when this went through the Planning and Zoning Commission they
strengthened the language, particularly with, um, a desire for, um ... more energy
conservation, looking more carefully at that. A lot of these things will be covered
in a forthcoming assessment that's being done for the City. Brenda Nation's is
working through the Public Works Department to put that together, and that will
give a clear measures of... of, um, how we're doing in terms of sustainability.
So... that's what I have, unless you (both talking)
Davidson: That's a very quick review of a very important document and uh, we're happy to
take any questions. It is recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning
Commission, and either Sarah or myself would be happy to take any, uh,
questions before you continue your hearing.
Throgmorton: What ... what specific changes were made with regard to net zero emissions and...
green house gas emissions?
Davidson: That is something, Jim, that would probably be a subsequent policy enacted by
the City Council that would certainly be based on general guidance coming out of
the Comprehensive Plan, but it is probably at a level of specificity that's not
directly addressed in the Comprehensive Plan.
Walz: The Planning and Zoning Commission just added some language that encouraged
the City to look at, um, not only in... in City properties, looking at ways to
conserve energy, but also how to work with, um, private property owners and
developers to encourage energy conservation.
Throgmorton: Thanks.
Walz: So ... it's fairly broad and general (mumbled)
Throgmorton: Okay.
Hayek: Any other questions for Sarah or Jeff?
Davidson: Thank you.
Hayek: Okay, thank you. This is a public hearing. So if you'd like to address the Council
on this, uh, plan, invite you to step forward! Okay, I'll close the public hearing at
this time. (bangs gavel)
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2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Hayek: Oh, you know what? Before I close it, I need to take the temperature. Is there
anybody inclined to not, uh... support this? If so we gotta go back to P &Z. Okay.
Champion: No, I'm going to support it!
Hayek: (bangs gavel) Closing it again. (laughter)
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Mims: So moved.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay.
Throgmorton: What about the discussion?
Hayek: Motion carries (both talking)
Mims: Move the resolution.
Hayek: No, that's just the motion to accept correspondence.
Throgmorton: Oh, right! Sorry!
Hayek: The motion carries. Now need a resolution.
Mims: (several talking)
Payne: (several talking)
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? (laughter) Go ahead, Jim!
Throgmorton: Oh... well...
Champion: Complex!
Throgmorton: Yeah, well, uh ... I first served on the Council 20 years ago and when I was on the
Council I advocated sustainability as strongly as I could possibly do it. So I'm
thrilled to see this appear before us. Uh, I admire what ... the work that the staff
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has done, especially Sarah who's shepherded the whole thing. Uh, so that's
terrific! And as she knows, I taught courses in sustainability at the University of
Iowa for years, uh, so again, that's another reason to be thrilled about it. Uh, I see
a lot to admire in the text, and I'm going to vote for it obviously, uh, but I ... I'm
going to raise one caution and ... so we can, you know, think about it when it's
appropriate. Uh ... oh, I just lost my place! Good grief! Sorry! Can't read this
stuff without keeping my place! Excuse me. Um ... the ... the update suggests that
several key events since 1997 present the City with an array of new challenges
and opportunities. Okay, that's the context. It further indicates that application of
the context sustainability will enable the community, in quotes, to "strike a
balance between preservation of the City's small -town character and change,
growth and investment that bring big city vitality." It sets up that ... that, uh,
tension. So here's my caution. The update does not indicate how this balance
should or will be struck. What for example constitutes a healthy balance with
regard to new mixed -use buildings and older residential neighborhoods near
downtown. It's a balance that has to be struck, but the plan isn't clear about how
that balance should be struck or... or how it should be struck. So, how's it going
to be struck? Well, the answer is, you know, we will strike it, but we strike it
based largely on recommendations that come from the City Manager and the City
staff ...and how that process works ... often appears to the public to be a black box.
Where it's not really possible to understand why the balance was struck in
particular ways, which is the ... the crux of the whole thing. So, uh ... with that in
mind, I think we need to actively solicit the views of diverse public prior to
striking the balance with regard to any major action. Not just those who routinely
participate, and we all know who they are because we all see `em all the time, all
right? What I mean is, those who don't routinely participate, working people,
diverse ethnic groups, students who are lining the back of the room... often older
people, often environmental groups, newcomers, and others. I mean, there's a
whole bunch of people that do not routinely participate for all sorts of reasons and
yet they have a ... a profound stake in how we balance those tensions, and ... and,
uh, and how we strike the balance. So we need to give those ... those folks ample
opportunity to express their views, and we need to give them good reasons to
believe ... to know that their views will affect the final decision. It's absolutely
crucial that we do that. So, Sarah referred to one other thing, the sus ... uh, the
sustainability assessment that (mumbled) is coming out with. Tom and I have
talked about this quite a bit. It's ... it's a really good project and I'm looking
forward to it coming out. It'd be one good way of measuring how well we're
doing along the way, so I'm pretty thrilled about that. But in the end, nobody
really knows what kinds of balances are required in order to ensure that our city
and our residents prosper over a fairly long period of time. There's a lot of
unknowns and uncertainty about that. All we can do is the best we can right here,
right now.
Hayek: Um, I ... I'll support this. It ... this is an aspirational document and uh, I think it's,
uh, fantastically well written, um, it's a ... it's a good read, uh, makes me feel good
about this community. Um ... and you know the feedback we've gotten thus far on
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this, lots of different perspectives, primarily I think some criticism for not going
far enough on the environmental sustainability issues, at least that's my read of
the correspondence, but um ... you know, I spoke at a panel discussion about a
month ago on this issue, and in preparation worked with staff to come up with a
list of the umpteen things the City has done over the last few decades and is doing
now and will do in the future, uh, on the issue of sustainability, and I would stack
Iowa City up against any community in the state in terms of promoting good
practices and... and pursuing the sort of sustainable, um, development or
redevelopment in neighborhood planning and ... and urban and land use and ... and
trans ... transit planning and all of those things, um, that (coughing, unable to hear
speaker) take us to where ... the promise to take us to where ... where we need to
be. So, and I have no doubt that as a community we will continue to do that. Uh,
this document provides a ... a nice guidepost for us to work forward ... work
toward, and certainly there are ... there are, uh, things we need to do and ... and will
do in the ... in the years to come, but I'm very pleased with it, and I think staff did
a great job. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 7c COLLEGE ST / GILBERT ST REZONING REQUEST —
REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.38 ACRES FROM PUBLIC (P) TO
CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT ZONE (CB -5) FOR PROPERTY
LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF COLLEGE ST &
GILBERT ST (REZ13- 00009)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Couple of
things before we take up with our speakers. Uh, Eleanor, I know you wanted to
advise the Council.
Dilkes: Um, both, uh, Council Members Throgmorton and Payne have approached me
about potential conflict issues in relationship to this, um, rezoning. Um, and I
wanted ... I've talked to them about `em and have determined that they don't...
neither of them have a legal conflict, um, and I told them I would just kind of
briefly put my reasons on the record. Um ... uh, Jim's potential conflict arises
because, uh, he participates at...at Trinity Church which is in the 200 -foot protest
area that, um ... within that area property owners have ... have rights to force a
super- majority vote, so we usually look at that. Um ... my conclusion is based on
a couple things. Number one, um ... Jim is not a formal member at Trinity.
Number two, um, the vestry, which is the church's governing board is elected by
members and authorized to make decisions on behalf of the membership with no
requirement of consultation with the membership, and finally, uh, Jim's spousal
relationship with the chair of the vestry, uh ... does not implicate the duty of
support between spouses, um, and I don't think that in ... that in and of itself
creates a conflict. Uh, with respect to Michelle, Michelle is employed by
MidAmerican, which owns a property within the 200 -feet, uh, protest area. Um,
it's not the subject of this rezoning. It, uh, but uh ... it is included within that 200 -
foot area. Um ... on that property is located an electric substation of MidAm's.
Um, just briefly ... based on my discussions with Michelle on this, it's my
understanding that she works in the gas side of the business, not the electric side
of the business, and the right -of -way department, uh, which is a different
department than that in which she finds herself is likely the decision - maker,
um ... uh, so for that reason I don't think, um, Michelle has a conflict. Um,
obviously the caveat is as it is with all, uh, conflict issues that conflict issues are a
fact -based analysis and should the facts change, we'll revisit it.
Hayek: Um...
Dilkes: Oh, and then I had one more, um, comment to make. Not on the conflict issue but
just with respect to this rezoning, um ... just reminding Council that you need to
keep your focus on, uh, the appropriate land use, uh, for this corner, for this... the
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subject property and not on, uh, Council's selection of the, uh, preferred, uh,
developer, and the negotiations with respect to that.
Hayek: Ex -parte communic ... uh, disclosures? If any.
Throgmorton: Matt, uh, I ... I think in the interest of full disclosure I should say a few things
about my involvement at Trinity, cause there's a difference between legal conflict
of interest and perceived conflict of interest. So, if y'all bear with me for just a
second about this. Uh, I attend services at Trinity Church. I contribute, have
contributed, a modest amount of money to it. I have many friends there, a few of
hume ... whom are in the room right now, and I've heard many Trinity
parishioners express their views about the possible building across Gilbert Street
from the church. As I have heard many other people throughout this... throughout
the city express their views. I'm not a formal member as, uh, as Eleanor has said,
nor have I ever held any official position on Trinity committees. My wife
Barbara is in ... is the chair of Trinity's lay governing board, its vestry, but she's
made no public statements, either written or oral on behalf of Trinity with regard
to this rezoning. Uh, and as Eleanor said, there's no fiduciary connection, I think
is the phrase you used.
Dilkes: Well I ... I think the spousal relationship is implicated... much more so when
there's a financial issue involved.
Throgmorton: Yeah, yeah. So I just want people to know that that's the situation as I live it.
Thanks.
Hayek: Thanks, Jim. Any ex -parte communications to ... to pass along? I ... I spoke, for
me, I spoke briefly with, uh, Susan ... Susan Mims and ... and Terry Dickens earlier
today, and just passed along what Eleanor had told me, what she just told all of
us, which is this is a land use issue and not, uh, and ... and nothing else, and that
that's how we should look at this, but ... that's all I can think of. Anybody else?
Okay. Got that out of the way! And again, we're going to stick to the four -
minute rule here. Still have a lot of people in the room! Go ahead.
Cole: My name is Rockne Cole and I reside at 1607 E. Court Street, and I'm here on
behalf of the Iowa Coalition Against the Shadow. Before I get started I'd like to
give you a written handout for you to take a look at while I'm speaking. (away
from mic) because I think it outlines what ... what we face, cause I know we're not
here to talk about the development itself, but quite frankly, public trust in this
Council is at an all -time low. After the Council made its decision that it did, I
think many people felt that it was a black box, because really what this comes
down to is a question of the Comprehensive Plan. It's ironic that in fact we're
addressing that tonight, given that we feel what the City Council has done has
been a breach of the public trust. What it comes down to is a question of
neighborhoods. Is the City Council as a... as a owner of land, are you going to act
as a good neighbor? To the west we have Trinity Church. Trinity Church spent
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$1.5 million to have sustainability, to have a place where they could feed the
hungry, where they could clothe the poor, where they could address the needs of
the dispossessed. To be a good neighbor to the University of Iowa when they had
problems with their own flood. What they want is solar access, and that is a
concept that was utilized by Benjamin Webb. We're not here in 1982, folks.
We're here in 2013. Sun and access to sun is going to be critical for purposes of
energy, solar panels, light, and human dignity, because what this is about is, are
we going to be a community that is going to have communities of faith
downtown? One of the most disheartening things that we've heard so far is that if
in fact they remain cloaked in shadow, the Trinity, uh, Church may consider
moving, and I think that that would be an absolute tragedy to lose another
community of faith. We've already lost the Jewish church as well. But not only
to the west do we have Trinity, to the east we have the New Pi Co -Op, an
organization that stood ready to provide 40 full -time jobs, 70% full -time wages,
26,000 members, because what this is we can't ignore the obvious. No one saw
this coming, and you look at the transitional plan as outlined by John Thomas,
what I've handed to you is in part quite ... quite clear on the question of what this
Council's obligations are. And if you look at page two, I direct your attention to
page two of what I handed to you, and I ask... and I direct your attention to
something that this City staff wrote, in connection with the rezone of the
MidAmerican parcel, as well as the Unitarian Church, and the staff said in 2005,
and I quote, the purpose of the CB -5 zone is intended to allow for orderly
expansion of the Central Business District and enhance the pedestrian orientation
of the Central area of the city. CB -5 would allow for density and scale, similar to
found ... that which is found downtown on the University property. And then...
and Mr. Thomas, and he's a Zoning Board member and an expert on zoning
issues. What he said, with a handful of exceptions, the buildings in the
downtown, including the west side of Gilbert Street, reflect a height and size
within CB -5 standards. As noted earlier, most downtown development will also
reflect CB -5, uh, zoning. So what this is about is restoring the public trust. I
think what this Council is going to have to address is what's different from that
point to this. Nothing! The MidAmerican parcel is immediately to the south of
the 404. The Unitarian Church is just down the street. There's no difference
from that. So you can see why members of the community were shocked when
the City was essentially going to violate its own Comprehensive Plan and if the
City continues doing that, I think what you're doing is you're setting a green light
to developers that the Comprehensive Plan does not matter. What CB -5 will
allow is it'll allow reasonable height restrictions. It will allow robust
development. It will allow the church access to light. It will protect the
neighborhoods. We also have several members that are involved with the College
Green. To a T, all of them have a bet against this. So, this is your opportunity to
do the right thing, to uphold the Comprehensive Plan, and to restore the public
trust. Thank you very much. Grant (mumbled) CB -5.
Hayek: Thank you.
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Quellhorst: Good evening. I'm Nancy Quellhorst. I'm with the Iowa City Area Chamber of
Commerce, which is located next door to Trinity Church. I'm here to support the
retention of public zoning for the College and Gilbert parcel, uh, with the hope
that the property will at some point be zoned CB -10. CB -10 allows with smart
growth strategies, uh, the dense urban areas provide walkability, enhanced foot
traffic, which will support local merchants, create an environment where people
will feel safe on foot, and most importantly bring a vibrancy to our area. CB -10
will allow a critical mass of workforce housing units, uh, and office space, and
ground level activity that I think will best utilize this parcel. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
McCallum: Um, my name is Mark McCallum. I live at 1610 Crescent Street. Um ... um...
I'm one of the co- applicants, uh, to this, um, motion. Uh, in 20051 was on the
Historic Preservation Commission during the zoning code rewrite. I actually
helped rewrite some of the language in the historic preservation part of the code.
I also participated in the, uh, open houses that Planning had, uh, during the zoning
code rewrite, getting input on, you know, what I thought was going to be a 20-
year plan at least, uh, during that period. I advocated publicly in newspapers, uh,
increase density for the area. I advocated for a, what I would describe as a
`village' zoning code that would increase, um, live- works. I was trying to add
value to old historic structures, and I advocated density bonuses for, um,
handicap- accessible units, and ... and ... drew up some provisions trying to
advocate, um, provisions that would allow you to build more one bedrooms
versus the five bedrooms, which was a big issue at that time. Uh, some of my
preservation proposals were adopted, uh, on national landmark structures. The
other ideas — handicap- accessibility, density, um ... I was told the `village' zoning,
the live -work expansion that I advocated for, which means more rights for owner-
occupied in ... in this area. Um, I was told that ... that was, those were dangerous
thoughts, that this would add to, uh, all sorts of chaos in the neighborhood and so
now I'm looking at a proposal in which, um, the... some of the same people that
told me that expanding the live -work provision in the zoning code would be
dangerous are now proposing to allow a 20- story, uh, glass structure next to an
1800s Victorian, uh, neighborhood. And, um, so ... and I, you know, I wanted
some change, but I wasn't expecting this. I mean, this is planning on steroids,
let's be honest! Um ... I ... I don't know where this is coming from. I mean, I was
told specifically during those meetings downtown... Mark, you can't have more
expansion of small businesses in old houses. I was proposing that a dentist office
is better than a rooming house on College Street. And let's make it a little bit
easier to do that type of operation. The more you get small business owners into
the neighborhood, it'll be better for the neighborhood. Um ... but that is too
dangerous in that neighborhood but now a... a 20 -story building that's going to
tower over an 1800s Victorian park is okay. And one only needs to walk over to
College Green Park to see the intrusions that have been presented to the
neighborhood already. And ... and I ask you, I mean, you've done things to
protect the Northside. I look at this area not much differently than the Northside
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Market Place, areas where you guys have taken action and... and east Jefferson,
where you've installed a historic district, and what is different about this
neighborhood than either of those two areas that you just took action to protect?
Nothing, not a bit... except... except that the City owns the land, and I would
suggest to you that if you rezone this CB -10, every other CB -5 and CB -2 property
owner in that area is also going to ask for CB -10, and if you don't grant it to `em,
they're going to say it's spot zoning. And this is just going to be the tipping point
for the future development. Imagine; think about it honestly. Most of our CB -10
is really only build out of CB -5. You put a 20 -story building in this
neighborhood, you are now changing the center of our downtown, and you're
creating a new center point. And that's going to encourage like -wise
development around it. It's going to attract that. That's all I'm, you know, I
appreciate... I'm going to give you a compliment. I appreciate your efforts. I ... I
always complain about taxes. I know I'm ... I get ... I bore people to death on that
subject. So I appreciate your effort to expand the tax base, but I think this is just a
little bit too aggressive. Thank you very much for your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Fales: Hi (clears throat) I'm Evan Fales. Um ... I live at 1215 Oakcrest. I've lived there
for 27 years now. I've taught at the University for almost 40 years. Um (clears
throat) I was, uh ... very pleased, uh, to hear wise words of Professor Throgmorton
concerning the problem of balance, and um ... cause to reflect on the fact that if
you take the, uh, census figures for Johnson County for the last three decades as
any sort of indication of the kind of balance that we're striking. I ... you come up
with a rather surprising result, and we've been growing quite steadily at an
average, uh, population growth I'm talking about of, uh, 3% a year. If you project
that forward, uh ... well, about 130 years now, urn ... (clears throat) uh, that would
be two life times. The population of Iowa City or perhaps more properly of
Johnson County will be that of Los Angeles. That is the balance that we're
striking now. I was very dismayed to, urn ... uh, witness the vote of the, um, your
Zoning Commission on this particular issue. Uh, and for the obvious reason, uh,
that this seems to me to be the wrong sort of development. The, uh, people who
spoke at that meeting were I think probably about 90 %, um, against the, uh,
construction of a large building on this particular site. Well I've asked people
what ... what is the ... the motivation that drives the City Council, uh, constantly to
make decisions that seem to favor, uh, development, and the answer does seem to
be, um, that you're concerned about the tax base. And I understand that concern,
and so I just want to say to you that I'm one of your citizens who will put his
money where his mouth is. Increase my taxes. I'll be glad to pay more. Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt and I live on the, in Towncrest. Uh, one of the reasons
I got up to speak tonight is really bothering me was that term `workforce.' Now
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this 20 -story building has no workforce housing, unless somebody has $360,000,
and the reason that it was turned down, that I heard it was turned down because as
usual I was ... it was, the meeting was running long and I was going to miss my
bus, but it was because culture does not count, and this was one of the arguments
for making it a CB -5 instead of the 10. Because culture doesn't matter. You
spoke about big city amenities in a small town atmosphere. Well, you have a
small town here, and people are satisfied the way it is. And the idea that that
building will split this town in half between the haves and the have -nots, it ... that
concerns me! And ... it ... it's ... it's not, we don't have to (mumbled) appeal on
money. How is that building going to look in a 100 years? 50 years? 25 year?
Because it ... it'll be out of place. That giant phallic symbol in the middle of town
is not right, and I cannot understand this fascination with skyscrapers!
Skyscrapers have been out for so long, unless you live in a place like New York
or Chicago, a major city. You have no place to go but up! Here you can go this
way, and things can stay at a human scale. And as for the church, the church
members should look at Luke 18, and they'll see, they must be persistent. They
don't give up, regardless of whatever. Win, lose, or draw, you don't give up!
And then too, you... you... you can't be arrogant with the people. You
representin' the people. The people do not want it. And you talked about
sustainability before with the City planner. Uh, skyscrapers are not sustainable.
Have it at a livable level; maybe five is too short — take a seven! But we don't
need a CB -10 because we don't need a 20 -story building. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Van Horne: I'm not sure where we are in this. Um, my name's Amanda Van Horne. I'm a
junior warden at Trinity Episcopal Church. Um, I'm authorized to speak for CB-
5 zoning on behalf of our congregation and the vestry. Some of whom you see
here today wearing red. As the closest and largest non -city owned neighbor, we
feel a responsibility to speak. Trinity values being a part of a livable community
in the luminal space between the bustling downtown and the quiet residential
neighborhoods. Replacing the empty lot with a neighbor that will revitalize the
corner is in the interest of the developer, the City, and our church. We believe
that CB -5 zoning would result in a development that is consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan, maintains the viability of our church, promotes civic
discourse, and provides for the welfare of all citizens. As we've heard tonight,
the Comprehensive Plan is a considerable investment on behalf of the taxpayers
of Iowa City. It provides a plan that citizens can trust to guide decision - making
into the future. The City has an obligation to abide by the Comprehensive Plan
and to respect the transitional nature of the neighborhood. All of the buildings
between the ped mall and Gilbert conform to the requirements of CB -5 zoning, as
it's currently built. While it may be too restrictive to limit buildings for that lot to
three to five stories, 16 stories violates the compact that was established when
people purchased homes on College Green and further to the east. The ways that
Trinity utilizes its property are limited by the parking and space constraints that
come with our decision to remain a downtown church. We fear that increased
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park... pressure on parking, which may result from CB -10 zoning, a zoning
designation that does not require businesses to provide adequate parking, would
limit our economic viability. People do not have to come to a church in the same
way that they have to come to schools, grocery stores, and other city buildings. If
limited parking due to zoning changes or to the new parking regulations that are
coming into force pushes people to other churches or causes us to cancel, shorten,
or otherwise alter our activities we may no longer be a viable congregation,
forcing us to abandon an historic building that we treasure. As a Christian
community, we feel a particular moral obligation to speak on behalf of those who
cannot speak for themselves. Three and potentially four privately owned high -
rise buildings in downtown would restrict access to major public spaces that exist
in Iowa City. By dominating the visual and physical landscape, these private
buildings project a sense of exclusivity. Architecturally they speak only to each
other, and they exclude the lower profile, and more public spaces such as the City
Hall, the Library, the Recreation Center. Large urban buildings often claim to
have public amenities such as terraces and gardens, but because they are privately
owned, the public allowed in such spaces are often restricted. This is a divisive
social pattern — we would not want to see it further developed in Iowa City. The
City has an ethical responsibility to mainton ... maintain common spaces in such a
way that all citizens, not only upper - middle class citizens have access to the
public sphere. Trinity has been a regular advocate for clean, decent, and
affordable housing. High -rise construction not only impinges on the surrounding
neighborhood, it also limits who can afford to use the building. As I'm sure this
Council is aware, buildings taller than 75 feet are required to meet the building
codes for high -rise construction. High -rise construction means increased
construction costs, and these high costs make it more difficult to provide
affordable housing and to engage in sustainable building practices. As we heard
from the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, mixed developments stabilizes
neighborhoods, and including both affordable and workforce housing in the new
development will only be possible in a lower profile building. In -fill development
alone is also not sufficient to claim that one is a responsible... responsible builder
from environmental standpoints, um, and given the public investment via the TIF,
we should ensure through the zoning means that the building is open to use by
tenants of both modest and extravagant means and that it conforms to sustainable
building practices that will serve our city for generations to come. CB -5 zoning
limits the height of the building to 75 feet, reducing construction costs, making
the building more accessible and supporting sustainable building practices. In our
transitional neighborhood between downtown and the College Green residences,
between public use and private, between religious and civic life, between the 19,'
century and the 21 ", we value a continuous, livable community. We value the art
of architecture that reaches across differences, and finds valuable
correspondences. This is why we are urging the City Council to decide for a
building scale at College and Gilbert that respects these transitions over time and
space, and indeed respects the City's own plan for the neighborhood. If we speak
with some idealism about the light that comes through the windows of our nave,
it's because that shared light inspires our mission to stand up for humans of
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limited means, a plant of species who do not speak our language, and a livable
community and to a long future. We urge the City Council to decide for CB -5.
(applause)
Hayek: Thank you.
Machatka: Hi, my name's Diane Machatka, and I attend Trinity Episcopal Church. I live in
the Goosetown neighborhood. And I do love Horace Mann! Um ... I, by way of
full disclosure, I'll note that I am employed at the University as a planner. But I
do not speak on behalf of the University and my comments do not represent any
position of the University. I support development on the corner of Gilbert and
College Streets. I support the City's stated goals for that development, that... it
include class -A office space and workforce housing. I welcome economic
development downtown. I ... I welcome the continued development of the
downtown. But I'd like to speak to the idea of transition to adjacent
neighborhoods and how to keep economic development linked to high quality of
life. The College Green Historic District as you know is directly east of the
planned development. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The
College Hill Conservation District is just north of Washington Street, and adjacent
to the College Green Historic District. These historic and conservation
designations were established specifically to help preserve the character of fragile
residential neighborhoods that were being degraded by encroaching development.
These designations protect the area within the boundaries of these districts. But
that assumes that any development on their borders could have no impact on
them. And that's not necessarily the right assumption. We have a responsibility
to make ... to make sure that historic neighborhoods and historic properties are not
diminished by new development. Our job as citizens of this town is to
accomplish that balance. The Iowa City downtown contains recognized historic
properties, among them Trinity Episcopal Church, right across the street from this
site. And the reason for making historic designations is to recognize that these are
places that we cherish and want ... want to preserve. The block east of the
Chauncey Swan ramp, just outside which transitions to the College Green Historic
District is zoned CB -2 on its west side and residential on its east. If we look at
the maps of the downtown zoning, we can see that all of the central district zoned
CB -10 that's not bordered by public land is bordered by CB -5 zones, which then
step down to CB -2 or CC -2 and then on to residential areas. There are no places
where CB -10 borders against a CB -2. It's not consistent with the City's
precedent. It's not consistent with the City's hopes of what it wants to be. A
transition directly from a 20 -story building... perhaps 20- story. I understand it
might not be, but something on that height to a half block wide CB -2 zone and
then to an historic residential district is not a transition that makes sense. If you
...if people would argue that that makes sense, I'd like to hear them say what
transition wouldn't make sense. Because it seems to me you couldn't come up
with a more outrageous, incongruous transition than that. Responsible planning
typically considers context when assessing building compatibility, in particular
sensitive design takes into account height differences between adjacent buildings
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and within the overall neighborhood. It's not inconsequential. Smart growth,
sustainable growth encourage pedestrianism, not just by packing people in closely
together but by creating places where people want to walk. I'll make a special
plea here for the quality of life at Trinity Church. Church sanctuaries of this era
were designed to use light as an architectural element. A sanctuary is designed
both for quiet contemplation and joyful worship. It's a place much different from
the hectic pace of daily life. A sanctuary creates space and time to be mindful of
things beyond ourselves. Light pouring through stained glass windows is an
important element of that space. It's more than an amenity. And if we lose that
light, it will be lost for good, and you will have permanently changed the interior
character of an historic property. It will be a real loss for the church, and not just
a reasonable compromise with the developer. I applaud the City's interest in
increasing downtown density, but this site is not the only opportunity to create
that density, and create more business opportunities downtown. There are more
sites downtown that fit with the Planning Department's definition of desirable
sites. They are corner lots. They are adjacent to parking ramps, and they're
already zoned CB -10!
Hayek: I'm gonna (mumbled) need you to (mumbled)
Machatka: Yeah, I'm ... I'm ... (both talking)
Hayek: ...wrap up, sorry! Gotta be consistent.
Machatka: So I would ask that you support wise development, not just of this site, but the
whole area, development that builds not just new buildings, but buildings that
work together to create a real sense of place. And not allow this to be CB -10.
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
Young: My name is Louise Young and I am also a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.
I also have been a member of the New Pioneer Co -Op for many, many years now,
and I think that the decisions that have been made regarding this building have not
been made honestly by most of the Council. In effect, the, uh, New Pi Co -Op had
the ... was reasonably certain that they would have a pretty good chance at having
a space in that building when four out of the five buildings that were being
considered were allowing space. So what does the council do? With the
exception of one person, they... go in favor of the 20 -story building that doesn't
allow any space for New Pi Co -Op. Uh, that's being truthful to them? I also have
a concern when you say you want balanced development and then you turn
around and go right against your own plan to put a 20 -story building right where
it does not belong. And where all the attention is being foisted on that building,
and it's drawn away from the University campus, it's drawn away from the
churches downtown, and I'm not just meaning Trinity Church here. The other
buildings, the accessibility for everybody of all incomes. Also, part of the
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requirement for that building is that a certain percentage of those apartments shall
be apartments for low- income workers. Uh ... how are you going to have the
person that owns that building afford to have very many of those apartments if
he's going to insist on putting a 20 -story building up. Doesn't it make better
sense to have a higher percentage of those apartments available so that people can
be right downtown and not have to spend a lot of extra money to get there?
There's a lot of things that need to be considered, and one of the most important
ones when it comes to building nowadays with as much solar as being used not
just by churches like ours, but by people who put collecting devices on their
homes, one has to consider the effect of the building next to the solar place, what
the effect is going to be for that neighbor when you build that building. A 20-
story building right across the street from our church is not being considerate of
the effect of the neighbors building on the solar... conditions for the church. That
we need!
Hayek: Thank you.
Beck: Good evening. Uh, my name is Phil Beck and um, I live at 2230 Russell Drive.
I've been a resident of Iowa City or Iowa City community, surrounding
communities for about 40 years and I would like to, uh, speak tonight in favor of
the, uh, petition to rezone, uh, the College - Gilbert site, uh, CB -5. Uh, I cannot
match the eloquence that I've heard from a number of people who've, uh, spoken
in favor, uh, of that, um, that petition before me tonight. So I'd like to, uh, do this
by using the City's own words. Um, I think it's appropriate that the Council
passed the Comprehensive Plan unanimous... unanimously earlier this evening
because, uh (coughing, unable to hear) other people have, uh, indicated, um, I
think this is a good document and ... and so I'd like to turn to that first. And on
page two, uh, I note that, uh, this plan discusses, uh, the very section, um, in
which the College - Gilbert Street site is located. Um, an area east of Gilbert Street
and north of Burlington Street, which is currently not included, uh, in either the
Downtown Master Plan or the Central Distri ... District Plan. Um, this document,
uh ... uh, the Comprehensive Plan says that, uh, this area has ... while this area has
the potential to develop at higher density, it should, and here I'm quoting directly,
it should comply with policies and goals of the Central District Plan in order to
ensure quality design and appropriate transitions to the lower density residential
neighborhoods on its borders. Uh, the eventual goal is that, uh, this, uh, area is to
be added to the Central District Plan. Uh, given the stated goal of the
Comprehensive Plan, I, uh, took a look at what the Central District Plan, uh, itself
has to say, uh, that is pertinent. And so I'm going to quote, uh, a couple of
passages, uh, short ones. Uh, from page two, and this is from the Central District
Plan, uh, the Central District Plan will be used as a general guide to future
development or redevelopment within the district, and for preserving valuable
assets already present within established neighborhoods. It will take the efforts of
City officials, area residents, businesses, and community organizations to achieve
the goals and objectives in the plan. Planning staff, the Planning and Zoning
Commission, the Board of Adjustment, and the City Council will use the plan as a
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guide when reviewing development and rezoning requests. Later on, on uh, page
21, um, the plan discusses, uh, one of the goals which is to provide for an
attractive and functional transition between residential areas and adjacent
commercial areas through management of traffic, landscape buffering and
screening, outdoor lighting that provides for safety but avoids overlighting and
glare, effective management of outdoor service work and storage areas, etc. And
finally, from page 63, quote, residential density, building bulk and height should
gradually decrease the further these areas are from the Central District, Business
District in order to provide a transition (noise on mic) lower density residential
areas that surround the downtown. Think you've heard all this before in... in
different words, um, but I do want to point out that, uh, the operational word I
think is `transition' and I think it's, uh, this document, the Central District Plan
makes it very clear that, uh, transition zones between downtown and residential
neighborhoods, uh, in those zones, buildings should gradually decrease in size.
Um ... rezoning it CB -10 or allowing for a building that would be as high as 20,
uh, 20 stories, uh, I believe is a, uh, flagrant, uh ... uh, violation of the principle in
the Central District Plan. Uh, that plan and all the other district plans, uh, were
created for a purpose. They're a matter of public record and I think that any
rezoning... rezoning decision that the City Council makes for the College - Gilbert
site should honor and not predict ... not contradict those, uh, previous decisions
and agreed upon goals for responsible development in Iowa City. And for this
reason, uh, I speak in favor of the petition before you for rezoning, uh, this site
CB -5. Thank you very much.
Hayek: Thank you.
Papineschi: Hello, Council, my name's Hannah Papineschi. I live at 905 S. 7th Avenue.
Um ... should probably confess I haven't been to church since 1992 when my
grandmother made me go (laughter) uh (laughs) just thought I'd get that off my
chest right away (laughter) Um... (several talking in background, laughing) thank
you! Um, so I made a presentation at the Planning and Zoning Committee when
this issue came up a couple weeks ago, um ... and before that meeting I was baking
some cookies and I was thinking about this proposal, and the word transitional
and what it means and, you know, I looked at the zoning maps and I looked at the
codes, and the CB -5 and the CB -10 and it was really hard to understand what does
that mean when you're looking at a two - dimensional map. So, I went to my son's
bedroom and I got out his lego's and I recreated Iowa City. Um (laughter) well,
relatively I recreated Iowa City with what, um, lego blocks I had in the bucket.
Um, so ... this ... well, this is your blue parking ramp — our blue parking ramp — the
Chauncey parking ramp, uh, Trinity Church here, the apartment buildings and the
Rec Center, and this of course is the corner of College and Gilbert, and when I,
you know, this obviously... doesn't accurately represent the Chauncey
development proposal, it does a fairly good job of representing the scale and the
issue of the scale, and the problems that are ... people are having with the scale and
the transitional zone, and ... that's why I'm here tonight to support the appeal of
the Planning and Zoning Commission, um, Commission's decision because I feel
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it's more appropriate, although now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not entirely
sure that I want any building there at all, but that's never going to happen anyway,
so um ... this is the CB -5 zoning. This is the height limit at seven stories, and it
feels much more appropriate and transitional in that ... in that ... lot, and that's why
I support that zoning and I hope the Council will consider appealing the Planning
and Zoning Commission's decision. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (unable to hear person speaking from audience)
Papineschi: Yes. Well (unable to hear person speaking from audience) (laughter) You're
going to make me work? Oh, okay, well (mumbled) (laughter) And (mumbled)
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you! (light applause)
Ross: Hi, I'm Brandon Ross. Uh ... at least ... at least we should ... we should have the
Eiffel Tower design for that place because that's what it's going to stick out to be.
At least we could, uh, borrow the French ... we've borrowed their Statue of
Liberty. It's out of whack! Come on, guys! Look at the thing. It doesn't fit at
all. There is no transition. I mean, uh, I know that, uh, Professor Throgmorton is
a planning person. He knows that. It doesn't ... it has no, it has no continuity. It
doesn't look good, and it sends a bad message. You know, we're in a period of
time when people are getting poor, uh, the average income in this ... in this town
could probably not afford some of those apartments, uh, in there. We've already
seen the diminishment of public space downtown, the pedestrian mall. We've
seen ordinances like the panhandling ordinance, uh, sending out a message that
people who don't have, uh, are not going to get, and they're going to get less. Uh,
we've already denied the Co -Op, uh, space over in that area, which is a
cooperative that would have provided many jobs. Um, piece of parcel that was,
uh, buildings were demolished to put up a... a apartment house across from the
Co -Op on Washington Street. We saw how we lost a historical, uh, viable, uh,
property in order to stick up a, just a piece of development, and I think that the
community at large feels that the wrong messages are being sent out. That
basically, uh, we're taking care of some people at the top and letting everybody
else, uh, go by the wayside. Um, the uh, the average, uh, the average income of
each of the, uh, Council Members is probably much above the average of, uh, of
Iowa City. Uh, you know, considering each person over there. It doesn't mean
that you don't have concerns for downtown. I happen to know that, uh, a lot of
you are really interested in historic preservation and how the town looks. Uh, and
I just think that it's completely... it sends the wrong message. It's way out of
whack. Uh, if you told me that you're going to put another Ecumenical Towers
there, where people who didn't have could get, where people who ... who are elder
could live and afford to live there. Where people who had disabilities could live
there and that would be a place for them. For people who just happen to be on the
wrong side of the economic line could live. I'd be more ... I would say, all right,
put 40 stories there. Make `em all affordable housing. You know, create the, uh,
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the Eiffel Tower effect. But this is not going to be the Eiffel Tower. And this is
not going to represent the people. This is going to represent something that's
going to be looked at as kind of... as a cynical thing. And so I urge the, uh, the
good Council to consider this when they're making the decisions. Thank you.
Hayek: Thanks, Brandon.
Kuenzil: My name is Cecile Kuenzil. I live at 705 S. Summit Street. Um, it's pretty
generally acknowledged I think that there's nothing more ridiculous than a
wanna -be. A wanna -be is someone or something that tries to appear or
(mumbled) pretends to be something he is not, and to me this 20 -story building on
this site is a project that wants to be somewhere else. Minneapolis, Chicago, Des
Moines, I don't know, but not in Iowa City. Um ... a block and a half from an
historic district of one and two -story buildings. As the Lego lady just showed you,
visually (laughter) it's wildly inappropriate in that location. Um, I ... I'm just
summing up everything I've heard here tonight because I see there aren't many
more speakers. Just to sum up, if you don't ... if you keep CB -10 you are going
against your own Comprehensive Plan. You're creating spot zoning, which is
opening a can of worms to every guy who comes down the pike and says, well,
you did it for them, why not for me? You ... the, the CB -10 provides no transition
to an historic district or residential district, and ... on another level it destruct ... it
disrupts the quality of worship for a good neighbor. I urge you to support CB -5.
This citizen begs for five, and prevent creating a civic embarr ... building a civic
embarrassment.
Hayek: Thank you.
Nusser: My name is Bill Nusser and I, um, am the owner of Hands Jewelers downtown,
uh, and we are 159- year -old business. We're the oldest retail business downtown.
We have many generations of...of, uh, perspective on this downtown and ... and I
can even say that my great - grandfather John Hands was, reached the highest lay
position in the ... the, uh, Trinity Episcopal Church that could be reached and I'm
very proud of Trinity for all they do, for many, many, um, groups of people. I've
had the ability to take advantage of a lot of programs that are offered there. Uh, I
think they're just incredible citizens. I also think that we have, uh, the ... the, one
of the goals of the City is to have diversity, everywhere diversity — downtown. I
think we have plenty of, uh, CB -5 housing. We have plenty of students living
downtown. We have Ecumenical Towers is an example of a project, a new
project, that sits right next to a historical building, namely the Senior Center, that
doesn't seem to ... to cause a problem with that. Um, at a meeting here several
weeks ago I think with the Planning Commission, I think where they showed the
effect of the shadow, um, I was very pleased to see that ... that Trinity Episcopal,
after about 9:00 in the morning, seemed to be, uh, in the clear. It'd have sunlight,
and ... and I was also pleased to see that CB -5 and CB ... CB -10 didn't, there
wasn't that substantial difference in the effect of the shadow from ... from that
building. Uh, we like the idea, I like the idea, of...of going up and uh, I'll have to
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say when I was a little kid I always used to go to other cities, even Cedar Rapids,
and wonder when we were going to get our tall buildings and so I may have a
long prejudice here but I ... I do think that, um, there's progress in this
development. I think that there is diversity in this development. It's not another
student, uh, apartment building that we've had so much of down there and, uh, I
support, uh, your decision to, uh, have ... zoned it CB -10 and to have chosen this
project. And I wanted to ... I also wanted to say that, uh, as a representative of the
downtown ... the Iowa City Downtown District, um, not necessarily representing
their point of view but ... but it is my belief that this Council has never worked
harder to...to, um, work with the people of Iowa City of all beliefs, and I
appreciate the fact that you have all of our best interests at heart. Thank you very
much.
Hayek: Thank you.
Bailey: Good evening, I'm Regenia Bailey. I live at 310 Reno Street. How did we get
here? We got here because you made a courageous decision to release public land
onto the tax rolls. It's unprecedented; it's rare; um, and I'm here to appeal to you
not to squander the opportunity. The opportunity costs of releasing public land, it
means that our community will never again have access to this land for a park, for
a new City Hall, to move Fire Station #1 or any other thing that we could come up
with. So the opportunity costs have to be balanced out with a really high return.
Not only financially, not only through tax base, but I ... but I think that's really
important, and I think you know that I think that's really important, but also
through economic development. This is supporting our strategic initiatives to
support downtown, a diverse and thriving, vibrant downtown, for density of
development close in, and also a return on vision, and to me ... I know that many
disagree, but I'm with Bill. Tall buildings say vision to me. Tall buildings say
proud. Tall ... tall buildings say we're going to build up. We're not going to build
out. I'm not a planning professional, so when I walk by a block I don't
necessarily know the zoning. I might remember it from my time on Council, but I
get a sense of the feel of the block. And that block across the street is not
adjacent to residential. It's adjacent to a very intensive use. It feels very
`downtown.' It feels very, I mean, a parking garage is an intensive use. It's 24/7.
It's brightly lit. It attracts vehicular and pedestrian traffic at all hours. So to me,
that whole block doesn't feel stepped down at all. Despite what the zoning might
say about it. So, thinking about the feel, the sense of place, the adjacency, um, to
this bulky parking garage, um, CB -5 feels a little bit out of scale. Too short; too
little; too small. It ... it's more appropriate from my perspective as a downtown
sort of development. We already know that the city will continue to grow.
We've heard that tonight. We've been growing since the mid -19th century.
And ... you all struggle every year with the sustainability of city services from, um,
a budget perspective. Growing up rather than growing out makes sense from a
sustainability, a budget sustainability perspective, a community sustainability
perspective. Um, the infrastructure is there. The access to services are ... is there.
We have places to eat, places to shop — it's walkable. Some would have you
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believe that the Comprehensive Plan is a plan of specificity. As you've heard
tonight it's not, and you know that. It's a plan of general broad strokes. It's a
plan of vision. So ... I encourage you to think about that as you make the most of
this opportunity, consider the broad sustainability issues of growing up versus
growing out, and all the city services that would require because we are going to
grow in population, and consider what this really does mean to the community as
we grow densely in our very thriving downtown and support that diverse activity,
um, downtown. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you. No, you know what, we've ... I ... I can't let you. We still have a huge
issue, uh, that many people have been waiting on for almost two and a half hours,
and so we ... in fact, I don't know how many people are left to talk about this
during the public hearing, but we can't go indefinitely. I mean ... (unable to hear
people speaking away from mic) Okay ... well, you may ... we probably have
them...
Champion: We have `em!
Hayek: ... and you may resubmit them through the email channel.
Champion: They're in our packet.
Parkes - Perret: Okay. Not exactly used to doing this so (laughs) please bear with me! Uh, I just
merely wanted to say I appreciate all the eloquence of...
Hayek: Could you give us your name first, please?
Parkes - Perret: (laughs) Sorry! Ariane, um, I ... Ariane Parkes - Perret. I wanted to, uh, I
appreciate all the eloquence of the statements people have made, um, I also
wanted to make a rebuttal, um ... bigger does not necessarily mean better, um, I
like ... I've grown up here in Iowa City. I ... I love the ... the vitality that the
downtown offers. The, uh, Jazz Fest, the Arts Fest, Friday Night, um, Concert
Series ... and I just like the charm of Iowa City. It's just like small business, small
little cute little quaint shops to go to, the White Rabbit, the Java House, uh, you
know, all sorts of places, and I just don't think bigger necessarily means better.
Um, because it is a 20 -story building. It's going to be huge, I mean, it's going to
alter the entire face of our downtown forever, and it ... I don't really think it's
necessarily what we need right now. Um ... I guess that's all I should say
(mumbled)
Hayek: Thank you, appreciate your comments.
Michaud: I'm Pam Michaud at 109 S. Johnson. My house is surrounded by increased
density in the last 18 months. Five multi -story buildings have been built on
Washington Street alone. We're in for a housing glut, and if you don't believe in
housing bubbles, we're in for an apartment bubble. If Mr. Markus is looking for
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revenue to balance, I'd say let's give up vacuuming our leaves and bag them.
Um, on a more, uh, topical level, um ... I could talk on this for a long time but I'm
just going to narrow it down. I've been dissuaded from using images. However,
if you go to this building very often you know what the in -fill looks like across
the street. It's four stories and it's 18 feet from my back wall. There is no
transitional zone there, and that is only CB -2. Click on this. I think the lego is...
is eloquent and I'm sorry, I don't have, uh, a video presentation for you but um,
this is just ludicrous and I ... I hope that you respect your written documents that
people have gone to workshops and worked and put in in -put and don't just think
about your own comfortable incomes. Really! The rest of us have different kinds
of incomes and when I presented my ... my, uh, slides the last time, somebody
said, oh, I'd like to see her tax return! Well, you know what, it doesn't make the
mean income. And I ... my property is my retirement. I don't have Social
Security because I'm a landlord. And if this is not relevant, just get your cell
phone out again, Tom. Sorry!
Hayek: Okay. Anyone else before I close the public hearing?
Johnson: Uh, I've just got a quick comment. My name's Eric Johnson. Um, I think part of
the problem, why there's such a backlash is because 20 stories and the scale of the
building is so hard to grasp for regular people, like it's beyond the ... beyond our,
uh, ability to easily understand and um, that's why I think the lego model is very
useful, but also, um, the comment about, uh, when's Iowa City going to have its,
uh, towers like Cedar Rapids does is also useful because, uh, the Alliant Tower in
Cedar Rapids is 21 stories, um, so that's the kind of scale we're talking about is
taking a building like that and putting it in a transitional zone and ... I feel like
that's a ... completely inappropriate and I'm in favor of CB -5 because of that.
Hayek: Thank you (both talking)
Johnson: Thank you.
Hayek: Okay. I'm going to close the public hearing at this time. Wait, do I need to ... just
check here.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Hayek: Well, that and then something else, uh...
Payne: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries. Um, before I close the public hearing, I need
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to take the temperature of Council. Is the Council inclined to go against the
Planning and Zoning recommendation?
Champion: I am!
Payne: I think I am too (several talking)
Throgmorton: I am.
Hayek: That's three.
Champion: Do we ask ... what question did you ask? (several talking)
Dobyns: Yeah, let ... let's make sure I have the (several talking)
Champion: Oh, yes! Yes, okay.
Hayek: In other words, you're going to support CB -5.
Champion: No!
Dobyns: Yeah, okay. (several talking)
Hayek: So, a ... a yes vote supports CB -5. A no vote ... turns it down, which is what
Planning and Zoning did.
Dobyns: I will be voting ... plan to vote no.
Champion: Well that's what I said. I wasn't going to support Planning and Zoning.
Hayek: Now Planning and Zoning...
Mims: You support Planning and Zoning, you're supporting CB -5.
Champion: I said I'm not going to!
Mims: Okay, but they didn't support, Planning and Zoning did not support CB -5.
Champion: Oh! Why am I so confused? Cause it's ... past my dinner time (several talking)
Hayek: ...been going for four and a half hours here! (several talking)
Champion: Okay! Anyway ... (several talking) support CB -10.
Hayek: Okay. So then...
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Mims: Then you want to vote no.
Hayek: ... so you're a no vote.
Mims: I'm a no vote.
Throgmorton: I'm a yes vote.
Hayek: Yes vote.
Payne: I'm a yes.
Hayek: You're a yes. Two yeses, five nos. Do I have that right? Tentatively (both
talking)
Throgmorton: Might persuade one.
Hayek: Right, right, right but it's ... it's the temperature. Okay. I'm going to close the
public hearing. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Throgmorton: Move first consideration.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Payne: I ... I do agree that this is a transition zone. I ... I don't like voting when you
...you're just voting arbitrarily. Typically we vote for a rezoning with a plan in
front of us of what is going to go there, so we have an idea of what it would be.
This is just kind of voting arbitrarily saying... limiting something. Um, so I don't
...I don't necessarily like that. I don't think we should zone something just
because it makes the lot economically viable, but economic development is
important. So I'm really, really torn but ... I do think that the ... this is a transition
zone and something... huge to me doesn't belong on that lot. So that's ... I mean,
that's why I would support the ... the CB -5 just because I don't think something
huge should go on that lot.
Champion: I liked it better when you had to (mumbled) (laughter) (several talking)
Hayek: Jim?
Throgmorton: Yeah, well, all right I ... the staff report indicates that the staff thinks the site
should be rezoned to CB -10 once negotiations with the developer are completed.
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So I think that introduces the topic of CB -10 as something that can at least be
touched on. Uh ... Jeff...
Dilkes: I didn't tell you you couldn't talk about CB -10. What I ... what I told you was
we're talking about the appropriate land use for this block, not the Council's
selection (both talking)
Throgmorton: Okay. Good. Thank you. Jeff, could you put that, uh ... uh, image up? I asked,
uh, Jeff if he, well, I sent him a photograph I took of this, the cable channel's
video, when we were doing a public hearing here and the development team had a
model, a scale model of their development, of...of their proposed development
up, and it's kind of like a lego set, so I, you know, it's like we're really ... would
be looking at a scale model and I think ... there it is! So, uh ... um, Trinity's on the
right, the apartment building on College Street is, uh, just above it on the right.
We're sitting in the building just to right in the immediate front of, uh, the
proposed structure. So just wanted to get the image up. I'm not going to talk
about it very much. Uh, maybe we can leave it up for just a second. Uh, it... it
makes me wonder whether there's any evidence that additional CB -10 land is
necessary, and then ... I... as one speaker already suggested, there are at least two
great locations downtown that are already zoned CB -10 and would be great for
this kind of project. So one thing I wonder about, I've had no conversations with
anybody about it, is why a development, why this particular kind of development
isn't proposed for one of those two sites. That's one thing. The staff report also
suggests that the kind of develop... residential development proposed for the
anticipated project will reduce pressure on the less dense older neighborhoods
north and east of downtown. My sense is that, uh, it will do precisely the
opposite. The nearest parts of those neighborhoods, uh, for ... for the nearest parts
of those neighborhoods, and nothing for the more distant parts. Likewise, the
staff report indicates that the area on the east side of Gilbert is zoned CB -10,
while true ... this obfuscates the fact that the actual scale of those buildings is
equivalent to CB -5. Uh, and it obfuscates the fact that Trinity Church is hardly a
commercial building. So those are a couple facts to ... to kind of lay out. Oh gosh,
I just lost my place again. I'm sorry. Uh ... frustrating! Never click the wrong
button! (laughs) I'm getting' there!
Dobyns: I'm happy to jump in, Jim, if you want a little time to...
Throgmorton: No, I'm ... I'm (mumbled) to it, Rick, thank you. Urn ... (laughter) 55 people spoke
during the Planning and Zoning Commission's public hearing. 44 of them
opposed, or supported the proposed rezoning to CB -5. 11 opposed it. Most of the
11 opponents, every one of whom I respect enormously ... ev ... most of the 11
opponents expressed support for the Chauncey and the economic benefits they
associate with it. But they did not make a strong case that this site, this particular
site, is an appropriate location for such a building. The proponents challenged the
wisdom of expanding the downtown to the east, rather than to the south, as has
long -been planned. And they argued that the eastern edge... should continue to be
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a transitional zone between downtown and the residential areas farther to the east.
They also argued that we should have rezoned the land prior to issuing the RFP,
so there's a question there, uh, that could be considered, and somebody mentioned
shadow stuff. Charlie Stanyer during the ... one of the public hearings
demonstrated. He presented a lot of data, and we have some of it in our... in our
packet, demonstrated that the shadow effects of the tall building will be much
more substantial than, uh, indicated by the staff's initial analysis. As
demonstrated by these public hearings, and I think by what we've heard tonight,
public opinion is overwhelmingly opposed to extending downtown eastward at
the density contemplated by our earlier decision relating to the Chauncey. So
which gets us to the 2030 plan update, which we just approved. We just adopted.
It also indicates that this site should ensure quality design and an appropriate
transition to the lower density residential neighbors, uh, neighborhoods that
border it. Pam, uh, Michaud just referred to the building, uh, that is ... that abuts
her ... her house. It perfectly illustrates the consequences of providing poor
transitions. We desperately need to build better urban design measures into our
zoning code and to ensure better transitions. Okay, all ... go back to the ... the
Planning and Zoning Commission. It was a 5 -2 vote in favor, uh, against
rezoning to CB -5. I was present, as many of you were, and I listened to people,
uh, to the Commissioners articulate they ... their reasoning. All five of the
Planning and Zoning Commissioners who voted against the rezoning agreed that a
20 -story building would be inappropriate on this site, and a majority of them, a
majority of the Commission, appeared inclined to favor CB -5, but they didn't
want to vote for it because they knew we had already made a decision. The
statements made by both proponents and ... and the opponents... here... here's the
kicker though. The statements made by opponents and (mumbled) reveal a
substantial amount of common ground. But that common ground cannot be
occupied unless key stakeholders are willing to listen carefully to what other
people say, and incorporate those views into their plans. And I have enormous
respect for the developer, the development team, the architect involved and so
on ... I'm confident that they can do that! In brief, our decision about this site
perfectly exemplifies the challenge we face in trying to strike a balance for
sustainability as called for in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update that we just
adopted. With these facts in mind, I support the rezoning to CB -5, but I want my
friends to hear this too — I might be willing to support a later rezoning to CB -10 if
the proponents of the project significantly modify their project to take the
opponents' views and values into account. So I'm going to vote yes.
Dobyns: I will be voting no, uh, because I think shifting it to CB -5 zone at this time is
premature at this point in the process. Um, even though I think it appears the
defining moment of tonight's meeting is the lego lady, um (laughter) If I had my
daughter's, uh, blocks right now here, um, I would take a look at the perspective
and not just include the surrounding buildings immediate to the proposed site, but
would also include the entire, uh, downtown district, the other taller buildings as
well. I think that gives a slightly different scope. Um, I have been concerned
about the 20 -story building, um, I'm enthusiastic that it's being, uh, planned as
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perhaps smaller, perhaps 16 floors, yet I realize that that is significantly more, um,
than many of you want. So I think at this point, um, I'm going to support what
the Planning and Zoning recommended and not adopt CB -5.
Dickens: I'll be following, uh, Rick's ... I ... I just feel that it's a, since we're just discussing
this piece of property and what can be done on this piece of property, we have not
signed a contract with... so that shouldn't even be a part of this. It's what we want
to do with this piece of property. I think it's a... it's a great piece of property that
we can in -fill with. I know when we hired our City Manager that was one of the
things that really impressed me was that he wanted to build the city from the
inside out, because it saves you tons of money, infrastructure. It's the best way to
have land use, and I ... I don't see what the parking ramp and everything that's
around it, I ... I don't see it as much of a transitional neighborhood as say the north
end. I ... I see it as an extension of the downtown. You've got the Ecumenical
Towers less than ... than 300 or 400 feet from it. So, I will be voting no on this.
Mims: I will as well and ... I think kind of like Rick, kind of following up on what Rick
said, I think that, um ... what we end up with, none of us know yet, but to at this
point limit this to a CB -5, a 75- put ... foot building, um, I'm not comfortable with
that either. So I will be voting no.
Champion: I think it's important that people understand we're not voting ... any zoning for this
property tonight. We're just denying the CB -5 because we're not sure that's what
should be there, so ... it doesn't mean that we're going to build a 20 -story building.
We don't really know for sure. It's just being negotiated.
Hayek: I will also be, uh, a no vote and I ... wrote some things out that I'm not going to get
into in the interest of time. But I will say this, among my proudest votes over the
last five years, uh, are the votes I've cast relating to neighborhoods, historic
preservation, um ... and ... and the numerous things we have done, uh, in recent
years and ... and will be doing to protect our neighborhoods. I take that, uh,
charge very seriously. Um...it...it is accurate that ... that, um, tonight we're
simply discussing whether to ... deciding whether to proceed with an ... with an
application for CB -5. Urn ... I ... you know, that's about a six -story limit. I think
that's, uh, insufficient, uh ... and I would largely point to the staff memo, um...
that's in our packet, and I won't get into the details, uh, of... of that. Um, when
staff does come back to us later, um ... with a rezoning request, it will be hand -in-
hand with, um, an actual plan that can be reacted to. Um ... and ... and, uh, you
know, that will be an important moment, because we'll see what was in store for
that and can decide at that time, uh, if a different zoning is, uh, called for, uh, but
tonight, um, I ... I don't think CB -5 is, and I think there's a better use, uh, land use
for this parcel. Any further discussion? Okay, remember... (laughter) (several
talking) Unless someone's changed their mind in the last, uh, few minutes
(several talking) there should be, uh, two yes votes and five no votes.
Champion: Got it, dad! (laughter)
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Hayek: All right! Roll call, please. Um ... item fails, uh ... 2 to 5...
Throgmorton: Could we take a break?
Hayek: Yes, and..and Throgmorton and Payne in the affirmative. Everyone else in the
negative. I think we've got to take a quick break. I know people are here, and we
can just take a five- minute break and we will come back, uh, at around 9:45.
Thank you. (BREAK)
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ITEM 7e WETLAND BUFFER REDUCTION (BILLION AUTO) -
CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 7.09 ACRES TO
AMEND THE SENSITIVE AREAS DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO ALLOW
A REDUCTION IN THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED WETLAND
BUFFER ON PROPERTY LOCATED ADJACENT TO 2845 MORMON
TREK BOULEVARD [Discussion only at formal meeting] (REZ12- 00032)
(SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Payne: Move second consideration.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Mims. Discussion? (several talking) Yeah, is
there ... if there is someone from the public, uh, now would be the time to speak.
Rummelhart: Uh, good evening. Um ... I'm John Rummelhart. Just make it short and
sweet ... here, um ... um, don't want to ... ha ... hash this over too much, but in
regards to this particular issue, I want to just remind ya that the buffer on this area
has already been reduced and... in... in 20... or in... in 03 from a hundred foot
buffer down to a 50 -foot. A 50% reduction. The sensitive, uh, area plan
approved in 03 ... um, states that this outlot we're talkin' about, um, was for storm
water management, wetland restoration, and wetland buffer area. There's nothing
I could find back then that stated ... had anything about any buildings on the site at
all, or, uh... a bunch of, uh, in addition... a bunch of additional parking. The
sensitive area ordinance re ... requires this buffer, um, unless... unless it's justified
otherwise. So I would just appreciate... for the record, as you, um, discuss this,
and make your decisions, that you each state your justification for this minor
additional reduction and urn ... if...if it's ... if it's for the expansion of the vehicle
display area as, uh, Billion has requested, please state so. If it's something
different than that, um, I'd appreciate um ... that ... that being stated also. Thank
you very much.
Hayek: Thank you. Anyone else from the audience? Okay. Council discussion?
Dobyns: I will be switching my vote on this. Um, my main concern last time was because
of the height of the lights. I went over to the area and noted that the current
height of the lights is disturbing to upper stories in the buildings, but with the
decrease in 10 -feet, that's enough of a change, um, talking with the neighbors,
and I think that's a reasonable change. I appreciate that the owner ... I don't
appreciate that they made the mistake in the first place but I (both talking)
Champion: I don't think it was a mistake! (both talking) Never mind. I'm sorry!
Dobyns: No, no, jump in after I have finished (laughter)
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Champion: ...big family, you know, gotta interrupt! (laughs)
Dobyns: No, I just ... but I will be changing my vote on the basis, um, and as he mentioned,
my concern was not so much with the buffer. I think the, uh, the wetlands area is
within guidelines and requirements and I think it's sufficient.
Throgmorton: I ... I went out there at night, uh, I ... I think I kind of promised some residents I
would do that, although I had hoped to do it with some residents. Didn't work out
that way. Anyhow, went out ... I went out there at night and it's pretty striking
how four of the houses at the northern end of Dane Road are exposed to those
lights, and, uh, and ... I think it exemplifies the challenge associated with
transitional zones. And ... and the edges of zones. And trying to make sure that
things are done well at the ... at those edges. So I'm going to continue to vote no.
Champion: I'm going to also continue to vote no. Because I'm disturbed by two things — that
the lights are already 10 -feet taller than they were supposed to be in the
beginning, and now they're offering to reduce them? I mean, that seems
ridiculous to me, I mean, they should have to reduce them whether they offered to
or not. They obviously went against the plan. And ... and I agree, I just don't like
that kind of...citizenship for that kind of commitment to the ... to the city. When
you say you're going to do one thing and you do another, and I have a hard time
believing that somebody didn't know about this before now. And the fact that
they're offering to lower `em, that doesn't affect me at all. That just even irritates
me more. So I'm just going to vote no!
Payne: I gu ... I guess to answer John the reason that I would vote ... that I voted yes and
will vote yes is because the ... the wetlands are still within the guidelines. So even
though they're reducing them, it's still within the guidelines of what is required
so ... they were doing more than they needed to to start with.
Hayek: I'll, uh, echo, uh, Michelle's comments, you know, the ... but I would also add I
thought this, uh, got appropriate staff vetting. It's subject to a Conditional, uh,
Zoning Agreement, which ... which implicates a wide range of staff involvement
and... and oversight and scrutiny. Uh, and I appreciated the update, uh, memo
on ... on some of these (several talking) details.
Dickens: I'll be voting yes, as well (several talking) but I also think that, uh, there does
need to be some follow up on this to make sure that the ... since it was missed the
first time, that the follow up is done and recorded and ... and brought back to us.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 5 -2, Throgmorton and
Champion in the negative.
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ITEM 7f HAWKEYE COURT REZONING - REZONING
APPROXIMATELY 27.8 ACRES LOCATED WEST OF MORMON TREK
BOULEVARD AND NORTH OF HAWKEYE PARK ROAD FROM
INSTITUTIONAL PUBLIC (P -2) TO INSTITUTIONAL
PUBLIC/MEDIUM- DENSITY MULTI - FAMILY (P- 2/RM -20). [Discussion
only at formal meeting] (REZ13- 00001) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for
passage at 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.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Motion from Mims, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? Roll call, please.
Mims: Move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Champion: Second.
Hayek: Pass and adopt moved by Mims, seconded by Champion. Discussion? Is there
any indication that we would be going against P &Z? Okay. Further discussion?
Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence on f.
Champion: So moved.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0.
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ITEM 7g HOUSING COOPERATIVES AND FRATERNAL GROUP
LIVING - AMENDING TITLE 14: ZONING TO DEFINE ROOMING
HOUSE COOPERATIVES AS A TYPE OF FRATERNAL GROUP
LIVING USE AND TO SPECIFY THAT FRATERNAL GROUP LIVING
USES ARE ALLOWED BY SPECIAL EXCEPTION IN THE RNS -20
ZONE AND TO MODIFY THE RESIDENTIAL DENSITY AND PARKING
STANDARDS FOR SAID USES TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE
DENSITY AND PARKING STANDARDS FOR MULTI - FAMILY USES.
(SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move second consideration.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Sir!
Lawler: Uh, good evening! Uh, my name's Steve Lawler. I'm, uh, the Regional Director
for Sigma Phi Fraternity, and we're here to talk about, uh, fraternity and Greek
zoning density tonight, and the recent, uh, zoning change that's been proposed. A
little bit of history about myself. 1, uh, am the Regional Director, I said, for the...
for Iowa and the state of Minnesota, uh, I also happen to be a U of I grad, so I did
spend four great years here in Iowa City, loved every minute of it... and uh, was a
part of the community, worked here, all this stuff, and um, so anyway ... uh, a little
history about our fraternity here. We've been here, uh, since about, uh, the early -
1900s and then we went off campus, uh, during World War II when the guys, I
guess, went into the service, but at that point we had built a house here, was over
on McLean Street, and so the group has come back here now and uh, we are
trying to get permanent housing for these guys and so a few years ago, we tried to
...to, when McLean came up for sale, it was the, uh, St. Thomas Moore, uh,
parish house. We wanted to buy that, we were prepared to buy it, but ran into all
kinds of zoning issues over there. Just couldn't make it work. Then we tried to
work, we've been working with a developer to try to get a project going here east
of town on some housing. That got turned down by the Historical Society. Then
we've got to another set of...another property on Governor and uh, Burlington,
and that was going, that was going, it looked like that was all gonna happen, and
then at the last minute here now this proposal came up to change the zoning
density on it, which makes building our fraternity that we were going to build, and
any others, economically unfeasible. We were only going to be able to have 13
people in this lot. On the, based on lot size. So what this proposed change is
doing is really, it is ... incrementally ending the Greek system here at the
University of Iowa. If you're going to put requirements on that they have to have
huge lots to build houses. I did a little math on this. If you're going to build the
typical 50- person Greek house, sorority or fraternity, your lot would have to be
the size of a football field under these recommendations ... and where you going to
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find that size of housing lots in Iowa City? So ... we just think that this is,
uh ... and the reason why, uh, I know you're trying to bring it in with the
Comprehensive Plan and trying to standardize it and neighborhood stabilization,
and all that but as we heard tonight, we heard from the Comp Plan, we're talk...
we heard all kinds of things about density tonight. We've heard about, uh, you
know, trying to have, uh, all kinds of things accomplished — diversity, all this
stuff, and I understand why there's some things, you know, you don't want where
you want `em and in zoning, as I've always said, every worthy project has a fit,
has to be ... there is a place for everything, even when you're talking about this big
building, it's maybe not ... maybe that's not the place, but there's a place for it,
some place. Well, the fraternities are the same way. We need to have a place, be
allowed to exist and expand, and as far as why we are different — we are not
apartment buildings. We are not a profit deal. We are not a developer thing. We
are a brotherhood of people living together. We have always lived with, uh, low -
density requirements because the guys live... share a lot, live like a family. So
some of the densities... moving the densities to 950 square feet a person ... just
don't fly for a Greek house. And also with this is put into place the Greek houses
that are in existence, if there was a major disaster like the tornado that hit one of
the sororities a couple ... few years ago, they probably would not be able to be
rebuilt even on their site because of the density change. So ... that's why I feel we
are ... need to be looked at differently than apartments. So what do we do? I do...
I don't ... I didn't come here to just, uh, complain or whine about it. I came here tc
propose a solution, and a compromise! Because all politics is compromise. So I
understand why you don't want a fraternity in some parts of some neighborhoods.
But what I'm asking for tonight is for you to send this back to Planning and
Zoning with a directive to them to add in there... what's... I'll call it a Greek
Enterprise Zone, but let's ... let's have some part of the city, close to campus,
within walking distance where guys and the... sorority girls want to live that will
...we can live with as far as the density goes. So, you know, let's separate that
out, give us a separate, uh, density.
Hayek: Mr. Lawler, you're going to have to ... wrap it up pretty quickly here.
Lawler: Um ... so anyway, thanks for your time, but that's ... and I also just want to show
that we've got, I don't know how many guys here — 50 to 100 people here
tonight, and it's not just my fraternity. It's going to involve everybody here. The
Greek, uh, system's bringing back, trying to bring back more houses every year
and if we're ... if we're not going to allow them to have housing, provide, uh,
affordable student housing close to campus, it is ... I say, incrementally going to be
the end of the Greek system at the University of Iowa, and I think in a diversity
city like this, this is not something that any of us want for a goal. So I would ask
you to reconsider your vote from the last meeting and ask for Planning and
Zoning to think this issue through, and allow some exemptions, or some changes
and uh, let's find an area of the city basically where the houses are now, um... to
allow us to, uh, find a lot, build a house, and for other, uh, sororities, fraternities,
to also en ... enjoy the lifestyle they choose. Thank you.
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Hayek: Thank you. (applause)
Parker: (noise on mic) Council, Erin Parker, uh, a 10 -year Iowa City resident and one of
the advisors to one of the Greek fraternities on campus, and I just want to remind
you of the type of people that you're affecting with, uh, this planned zoning to
restrict the density in the area, and I've prepared some comments because I forgot
my sleeping bag. Uh ... (laughter) Tonight I speak in opposition to the zoning
density code because of...of its negative impacts on the UI's fraternity and
sorority community and the hindrance of positive progress being made by that
community and the larger student body. I know you seek to positively change the
community, however, I feel that... as though the policy creates a blanket effect,
uh, misserving portions of the intended community. If you looked at ... for
outstanding role models of the UI student body, it's my feeling that you would
need not look further to the Greek community on campus. By restricting its
members the ability to live within ... live with one another, you restrict the ability
to promote positive study behaviors, a healthy college experience, and a mentality
of philanthropy on campus. Ultimately you not only hurt the individual members,
but you restrict the positive impact that the members have on the University and
Iowa City communities. While the stereotypes of fraternities and sororities of...
that Animal Houses which breed not (mumbled) neighborhood nuisance, I know
quite the opposite is the case here on ... at Iowa's campus. Chapters on Iowa's
campus find their chapter structures to be a home of learning and development.
Iowa's fraternity and sorority men and women tend to maintain a university, or a
chapter average higher than that of the university average. Speaking to personal
experience, my grade point average rose after moving into the chapter structure
from a residence hall on campus. Furthermore, because chapters tend to own
their chapter dwellings, members and occupants take great pride in the
maintenance of their chapter structures. If visited you will find that the upkeep of
chapter premises are far superior to that of other properties around Iowa City.
Partying, binge drinking, obnoxious behavior of your concern, then newspapers
have failed to publicize that Greek members' progress in promoting a responsible
and healthy environment. With regulation the community has maintained an
arrest and citation rate better than that of the average Iowa student. Not only that,
they long ago voluntarily moved to a dry and alcohol, no drugs policy. I know
that you are to interview ... I know that if you were to interview any of these
members of the community, you'd be more than willing to accept them as your
own. And by passing this zoning com ... zoning code, you would turn a cold
shoulder to their development. Our Greek system should be rewarded of their
progress and be granted opportunities to expand that development. By limiting
their density and ability to build like structures, you completely impede their
progress to success. My father always encouraged me surround yourself with
great people and you yourself will be great. Our Greek community is full of great
people and I know that going against that wise advice, you'd be going against that
wise advice by approving this zoning density amendment... that... thank you!
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Hayek: Thank you (applause) for your comments.
Greenwood: Council, my name is, uh, John Greenwood. I am a Iowa City resident and former
fraternity member. I'd like to speak a little bit about, um, what it means, uh, for a
gentleman, or for a guy who moved back to town and will appreciate, uh, when a
lot of the citizens, a lot of the students have moved out, but ... uh, we'll still be
here raising our family, and I think really there is a misperception what a lot of
this is generated from, and that is of the Animal House. Um, at...at the end of the
day, uh, few of the numbers have been thrown around, but I don't think it's truly
appreciated that the ... that the students are ... that are involved in the fraternities
and sororities are those that in ... want to become engaged, want to be involved,
want to be future leaders. You know, if we take a step back and realize that there
are requirements self - imposed for philanthropic hours and I know that
ci... students who are not involved in the fraternities and sororities are not, uh, are
not, um... engaging. There are several layers of people looking after, uh, the well-
being of, uh, the students involved in fraternities and sororities. You've got the
housing corps, you've got, uh, live -in, uh, live -in individuals who are adults,
you've also got their national boards, which is I think a ... essentially what we're
addressing here. So you have additional people looking over the structures and
ensuring that, uh, they're living up to standards that we would hope to have as
citizens of Iowa City. Another additional aspect is ... I think isn't really being
considered is just how big of a constraint this poses upon the fraternities and
sororities. I know my structure in 1994 had a fire that essentially gutted it and
I'm telling you it was probably greater than the 75% reduction. And it
probably ... it may not have had the best reputation at the time but um ... this last,
uh, this last spring, we actually worked with Boys and Girls Club to dedicate a
significant amount of money to bring one to Iowa City and they've dedicated up
to 3,000 hours next year in order to bring, uh, a Boys and Girls Club to the ... to
Iowa City, not for the University's benefit, but for our benefits so we can
potentially reduce issues like having to bring, uh, police officers into, uh, into, uh,
our high schools. When you look at what 950 square foot really means, in
addition to the football field, um, we can ... we can place that upon just something
that recently happened with the tornado destroying another, uh, sorority. So not
only do they wake up to the morning of their sorority, their structure destroyed,
but they would have to on .... their 3,200 square foot lot, they better not have more
than 35 people living on that lot, otherwise they would be out of the new code.
The fraternity and sorority houses that exist on campus are some of the most
beautiful, picturesque properties that we have in Iowa City. They actually add to
it, I believe, rather than detract. You add to that a benefit of the students having a
lot of scrutiny, a lot ... uh, a lot of people looking in on them. I want to begin to
change the perception of Animal House and look at the fraternity and sorority
members as people who might someday sitting behind those desks. I also want,
uh, to point to the fact that there's been a real juxtaposition tonight with looking at
potentially building a 20 -story building downtown with a great deal of contention
in order to reduce the zone, or in order to reduce density. Fraternities and
sororities are not apartments. They don't each have kitchens. It teaches them
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how to live together and also helps to redo ... reduce that, um, re ... reduce that
density. Asa ... as a, uh, owner of a home, I can assure you that I do not want
people owning, or apartments and multi - family dwellings going up around me
because of what it does to the neighborhood. So if we can keep them close to
campus, keep them in good structures that are sound, I think it's a bit short-
sighted to effectively zone out the ability to expand fraternities and sororities. In
addition, just from the perception, uh, which is reality, especially with the
citizenship, it looks as though it's a bit discriminatory. Calling it fraternal or
sororal living, uh, you look at RNS -20, it's a perfect outline of what's
traditionally known as, uh, as fraternity circle, and I know there can be
exemptions made but that's a ... a great deal of an uphill battle. So in conclusion
I'd really just like to, again, point to who these citizens are that we want to recruit
and develop at the University. We're talking about thousands and thousands of
man-hours that are, uh, that are being given to the, uh, to the community at- large.
We're talking thousands and thousands of dollars, tens of thousands, potentially
hundreds of thousands of dollars given to philanthropic organization (mumbled)
University, and to the City. I just ask you if these are the citizens that we want to
cultivate, or we want to snuff out. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you. (applause)
Goode: Good evening. My name is Trent Goode. I am a current member of Sigma Phi.
Uh, I just kind of want to give you a perspective of what's happened to me this
past semester. Um, actually earlier today I was here, I presented the, uh,
redevelopment plan for Towncrest and I've actually been here all day so
(laughter) I feel where you guys are at! Um ... earlier this semester we were able
to sign a lease because we had ... we thought we had our fraternity approved and
we had a lease, and I had my housing for next semester set up and for the
following semester, but that did no longer happen. We found out two weeks ago
that we were unable to build and ... me among probably 20 to 30 other members
had to go out and find housing quickly. For the past two weeks I could have been
struggling, or excuse me, studying for finals among other things, and I had to find
housing. Uh, just wanted to give you some perspective of...from a student.
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Wilkes: Well, good evening. Uh, again, my name is Dan Wilkes, and I'm here
representing a not - for - profit that owns property at 202 Ellis in the Manville
Heights neighborhood. Uh, yeah, my sympathy being here this late. I know I'm
missing time with my four children under the age of 10, but it's not the same
sacrifice of all these students that are sitting here during finals' week. I would... I
would ask that maybe the Council consider sending this back to Planning and
Zoning. Uh, I didn't see there was a lot of discussion at this issue. Uh, the
minutes I read during April ... all the time was spent on ... the ... the issue 7c that
you talked about this evening. Uh, maybe I'm just behind the, uh, the curve on
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seeing that, but it seems like ... a lot of the people who are here in this room were
caught by surprise by this amendment and so perhaps more discussion is
warranted. Um ... 25 years ago the Greek campus attempted to build a new
campus ... a new, the Greek community attempted to build a new campus on Taft
Speedway. The City Council at that time elected not to pursue that development.
When a, of course a church and some, uh, townhomes were built there, and I
guess we ... we dodged a bullet there because that meant our homes were not
flooded. Urn ... in that same period of time, 10 Greek structures have been
redeveloped. Those are no longer available to the Greek community. And, with a
zoning change that is ... going to reduce the density that I can develop that
property, I think I can make a very strong case that you are taking money out of
my pocket. And I'm absolutely prepared to make a very strong case. I've got a
lot of credentials that will back that up, and it's not me alone. Finally ... I'm going
to use examples just from my own chapter house. Tom ... Thomas MacBride,
President MacBride of this campus, was a member of my fraternity. He started
the state parks and rec here in ... he started the state park program for the State of
Iowa. President Jessup was a, uh, managing director of the Carnegie Foundation.
He was a member of my fraternity. Dean Lindquist, who created standardized
tests. I know all of you have probably thought about ACT's or Iowa Test of Basic
Skills to prominent employers here in town, was a member of this fraternity, here
in Iowa City. Professor Mabee who tutored such playwrights as Tennessee
Williams was a member of my fraternity. And finally, Owen Elliott and his wife
gave the challenged gift to build the Museum of Art for the University of Iowa.
Again, a member of this fraternity in Iowa City. If you do not allow these
structures to be replaced, you are effectively killing their existence, as we know it.
I ... I ask for your consideration to help us find a solution. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Brammel: Mayor, City Council, Alec Brammel, City Council Liaison. Uh, first off I want to
thank all the students here for being here at 10:15 on... on a Tuesday night, uh
(mumbled) finals' week. That is awesome. That is a testament to what these
students, um, believe in and what they want to see, um, in this city. Urn ... in the
last three weeks I've met with more students, Greek and non, uh, Greek leaders,
uh, Student Government, uh, students who run Student Government, and students
from organizations that are not even involved with Greek, the Greek community,
uh, come to me and say ... we ... we can't do this. This ... this can't fly. And, you
know, why is that? Um ... I did some digging through the ... the City code and I...
I did a lot of digging. I made sure, uh, checked all my definitions and did
everything, uh, to the best o my ability, and I, you know, in the City code we
have... fraternal living, we have group living, we have multi - family housing.
Now, the City wants to standardize those — I understand that. I understand that
where we're coming from, we want to standardize our housing. Yes. Fraternal
living is not the same as multi - family. We cannot put it in that same category.
Individual and group living, which is another thing, say ... uh, senior residents, say
um ... landlord who's renting out, um, rooms in his house in Iowa City. That's one
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side of it. And then we have fraternal. That we're changing. We're changing
both of those though. Um ... that is not the right way to go. We can, perhaps we
can change in... independent and group living. We can set them aside and we can
say yes, that we can standardize that with multi - family housing — sure! But
fraternal living is not the same! We have too much ... the density levels that are in
the fraternal, um, group houses are there because there's culture there. There are
students there that it is ... it is a family. We do define group ... group and
independent and fraternal as different things. They're very similar in the text that
we look at in our City code, but we define them differently. And we should. And
we should not group them together in this amendment. So what should we do? I
agree with the previous speakers, they've done a phenomenal job, uh, in
addressing, you know, the culture of the students, what they do here on campus,
how ... they bring positive activities to this ... to this community, philanthropy, um,
you know, active volunteerism, you know, that ... those are positive things they
bring to this community. So what can we do? Well, we can send this back to our
...our staff and we can separate the two. Um, I have no problem with what's
going on with the ... with group and independent. If you want to standardize that
with multi - family housing, that is one ... that's another fight, I believe, but
fraternal does not belong there. We should... section it off. It should be...it
should be either one we do have it, we have RNS, which is a different zone.
That's how we ... it's how we ... we keep it apart, but we should not ... it should not
be limited to these, to this new zoning code. It should not... it is not the same.
And we need to recognize that it's not the same and keep them separate. We
can't group them together. That's not ... that's not what we should do here. That's
just ... like we said before, blanketing the situation. We, if...if we pass this,
effectively what we're doing is cutting the legs out from under our... our Greeks
here in the City. Granted we're going to grandfather in the houses that are already
here and everything is going to stay... the... everyone, every house that's here now
is going to stay the same — yes, but that's not looking down the road. We need to
look down the road, we need to say `hey.' We understand that, you know, by
passing this or not passing this, we're not going to have a thousand ... a thousand
five ... five to 20 to 15 Greek houses built. It's not going to be just ... it's not like
that. It's not how it works. We have to look down the road. It's... it's... it's
incremental. And so ... we ... we have to look at it. We cannot cut their legs out
from under them. We have to ... if we're going to leave the occupancy, we should
leave the occupancy where it is and just section it off ...from multi - family. Call it
a different kind, if you will. That ... that is what I'm getting at. And, um, you
know, the previous speaker summed it up ... almost as ... far better than I can ever
do, um ... but you know, that is where I stand, and that is where a lot of student
leaders on campus, Greek leaders, that are coming to me — we all stand with the
same side. So I please urge you. I know this is second consideration. We're
moving on to our third. I understand. We went through the first consideration
pretty quick with little to no debate. I understand that, but we need to look at this
from a different perspective. Get it from a Greek perspective, look at it from a
precedent and culture perspective, and separate the two out. Thank you.
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Hayek: Thanks, Alec. (applause) Is there anyone else?
Lambias: My name is Justin Lambias. I'm a merit scholarship chair for Sigma Phi, um, I
actually wasn't even living in the house next year, um... (mumbled) lot of these
guys, I mean, we all have finals tomorrow. We're all here as a sense of
brotherhood. Um ... I was reading today and it's uh, statistics... all the presidents
of this nation have been Greek, except for three. 85% of Fortune 500 CEOs are
Greek. And around this, we have 100% of our chapters in some kind of
committee, chair, or executive position. 100 %. Every person. Every person
contributes to this community. We're all required to do six hours of community
service. Many of the members do way past that. Myself, I put in 48 hours last
semester. I mean, we have a lot of guys that are doing a lot. We have
philanthropies for the spring, the fall, and looking at bringing a second one for our
spring. We do a lot for this community and I just ... I hope that you guys can
understand that the Animal House perspective is no longer there. In our fraternity
it's a... a sense of brotherhood. You guys, if this doesn't go through and we can't
get our fraternity house, we're still going to be a brotherhood and we're still going
to be together, but 30 years from now I don't think we can say that, and that's...
what you guys would be killing. Be killing the sense of brotherhood... cause
house or not we're staying together. Thanks!
Hayek: Thank you. (applause) Okay, I'm going to close it down to City Council, uh,
discussion.
Dobyns: I have a question. How many of you students still have finals left? (laughter)
Wow! (several talking) That's awesome. My .... I'm even more tired than I
thought I was so (several talking) well, uh ... thank you for coming. I think that's
awesome that you guys are here. Um, I also think it's impressive. I know Vice
President Rocklin, um, and his staff has met with the Greek community over the
last year and there's been a significant change in behavior and operations, um, I
agree. I don't see John Belushi in the house right now. Do any of you even know
who John Belushi is (laughter) um, and I think that's fantastic. Um...
Champion: Well they've been able to survive without John Belushi!
Dobyns: Yeah! (mumbled) Um ... and, you know, this is the second consideration. I'm
willing to admit that I'm ... I've just been reading through the Planning and Zoning
minutes of March 21. I have listened to what you've had to say. Um, I appreciate
some of the comments. I don't appreciate implied threats. Nonetheless, urn ... I
think at the second consideration I plan to, uh, vote no for this measure. I'm not
going to promise you I'm going to, uh, be consistent with the third consideration,
but out of respect for, uh, your student representative's, uh, opinion and rest of
what I've said, I'm going to, uh, think about this a little bit more.
Dickens: I would like to see it go back to P &Z just for a little more, if they can be
separated. I thought, uh, you did an eloquent job of...of splitting the two. I'd be
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willing to ... to, uh, defer it until we can have a little more time and see if there is
other options.
Champion: Yeah, I think, uh, I'm not interested in getting rid of the Greek community. Um, I
think it has a lot of value, and I don't know how to do it, so I ... I'm willing to
either defer this until we come up with a different plan or (mumbled) Planning
and Zoning or see if staff come ... come up to some solution on where sororities
and fraternities can be built. I'm totally willing to look at other possibilities.
Throgmorton: I ... I think it's pretty clear something slipped through the cracks and so I'd support
sending it back to Planning and Zoning, uh, and maybe asking them to vet it a
little more thoroughly, uh, without prejudging what they're going to end up
recommending. I mean, they might recommend exactly what we have before us
now but I ... I want to feel more comfortable that it's been thoroughly vetted at that
... at that (both talking)
Dobyns: Can I ask for a point of order in governance, Eleanor, in ... in terms of `sending it
back' to ... I know we need to meet with Planning and Zoning, if we ultimately
defeat this on the third consideration. Can you help me with that?
Hayek: And can you also answer the issue of any moratorium or ... duration?
Dobyns: Yeah.
Hayek: ...you know ... if that even applies.
Dilkes: Well first of all you ... you don't want to vote no on the second consider .... I mean,
if you want to keep it alive you can't vote no, cause if there's a majority that votes
no, it goes ... it's done. There is no third consideration.
Hayek: Okay!
Dilkes: So, it sounds like what you're talking about is a deferral, um, to ... uh, you know,
give time for, um, staff to give it some thought, Planning and Zoning to give it
some ... perhaps arrange a meeting with Planning and Zoning. Um ... it may be
that if you defer it to the next meeting we have to defer it again if all those pieces
don't come in to ... you know... aren't... can't be taken care of but I ... I think
you're talking about deferral. In terms of (both talking)
Dobyns: ...move to defer.
Dilkes: Uh huh. In terms of the moratorium, um ... it's ... expires 60 days from the setting
of the public hearing. I don't remember when the setting of the public hearing
was.
Hayek: Probably 30 days ago or so.
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Karr: I was going to say probably (mumbled)
Dilkes: So...
Hayek: So, again, the... the... the risk we face is, um, that if you blow beyond the
moratorium, then ... uh...
Dilkes: Well if we ... if we defer it to the 4t', if we have a moratorium issue we can also...
always collapse it if that's the way you want to go. If you chose not to go this
route, then the mor ... moratorium is not gonna ... it's irrelevant anyway.
Throgmorton: So, if we de ... move to defer for two weeks, uh, we should also provide some
instructions about what we want done in the interim, right?
Hayek: But ... we don't really need to defer if we just do second consideration and take up
third on June 4`h.
Dilkes: Yes, you can do that as well.
Throgmorton: We could do either one (both talking)
Hayek: Kind of six of one, half a dozen (both talking)
Champion: (several talking) Yeah, but I think that sends the wrong message.
Throgmorton: Yeah, I do too!
Hayek: Yeah, it might.
Payne: And if we waited til then to vote again ... and it's close to the 60 days and we vote
no ... I mean we're ... it just seems like it's out of order. It seems like (both talking)
Dilkes: Well I think your options are open. You can either vote no or you can vote yes
and collapse, and then you'll be within the moratorium period.
Hayek: Vote yes on second, or vote yes to defer?
Champion: Well, to defer (both talking)
Dilkes: if you vote to defer, you keep your op ... you still have your options open because
on June 4t', if you vote no, then it's gone, or you can collapse a yes reading.
To... to stay within the moratorium period.
Dobyns: But what's difference between now and then? Do we meet with P &Z or ... I'm
trying to get a better sense of how to inform myself but...
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Markus: You need to give us some direction on what you'd like us to do (several talking)
Throgmorton: Well one thing I ... I noticed in Karen Howard's memo to us about this particular
topic that she said she was going to meet with the Greek community on May Stn
(both talking)
Markus: And she did.
Throgmorton: ... but we don't know ... I have no sense of what she learned from that meeting, nor
do I ... is it clear to me that she was able to fully communicate ... uh, her ... her
sense of what we were actually proposing and whether that was consistent with
what the Greek community thought was going on or whether there was a
misunderstanding. I ... I'm not clear about that at all. So some clarity from Karen
would be helpful, I think.
Hayek: What do the rest of you think?
Markus: Well, there's... there's that clarity and then there's the issue I think that the
fraternity and sororities are bringing up, that issue is, um ... do you want to
separate them? Do you want to treat them differently than maybe the ordinance is
proposing?
Throgmorton: Right!
Markus: Do you want to increase the density? I mean, they're making arguments that they
need more density to survive. Um ... so what ... what's your issue?
Throgmorton: Yeah, so ... yeah. So ... if we want (both talking)
Markus: How would you like us to pursue it?
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Dobyns: Did this address a loophole initially, wasn't this a concern of a loophole when it
was first brought to Planning and Zoning? I'm trying ... as I was ... I was reading
through the minutes and ... and admittedly the Planning and Zoning minutes of...
Hayek: (mumbled)
Dobyns: ...March 21St are not, uh, lengthy (both talking)
Markus: ...take the stand. (laughter)
Davidson: Uh, Jeff Davidson, Director of Planning. Um ... the issue came up over a specific
project, located at the intersection of Burlington, uh, and Governor Streets. Uh,
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which has... which... which by passage of this ordinance would effectively not
allow, uh, the ... the applicant for that project to construct a fraternity at a density
that they feel is viable for it to go ahead. A density that would be higher than
what is allowed in a ... apartment building, a multi - family building. I mean, that's
essentially why the issue has come before you at this time. That specific project.
What is proposed is to hold sorority, well, to hold all, uh, fraternal living
situations to the same density standards that apartments have, and this is being
done under your neighborhood sta... stabilization strategic planning initiative. I
will tell you that the neighborhood where that particular project is located feels
very strongly about this ordinance.
Champion: Yes, and ... at ... with Burlington and what? I forgot. (several responding) Right!
Markus: And that was in that particular situation, I think, one of the things you heard is...
is there a possibility that these could be focused in a specific area, maybe within a
specific zone. I, you know, I don't think you can come back and just amend the
ordinance to do that sort of thing. I think that's something that's going to take a
lot more study to focus on a particular zone to permit or allow, uh, this fraternal
organizations kind of zone area that you ... you might consider in the community.
Throgmorton: You know, it...it sounds to me like what ... what we need to do is ask the staff,
instruct the staff and ask the Commission to, uh ... reconsider, or consider the, um,
suggestions that have been made by the Greek community (both talking)
Markus: And report back (both talking)
Throgmorton: ... and report back to us. And they have a pretty short timeframe to do it.
Champion: Well the other scenario is is that we approve this ... and then, um ... to protect these
neighborhoods, and then ask the staff to come up with a new zone or a new area
that this kind of a structure could be built in. Is that just off the wall totally?
Markus: Well I'm ... I'm trying to figure out, what was the notice date, um, Eleanor or
Marian? (several talking)
Hayek: ...crunching numbers over there.
Dilkes: Yeah, we were just fig... when the public hearing was set? Yeah, it was set April
4th. Um, so the moratorium would expire on June 3ra
Throgmorton: Yeah (several talking)
Payne: And our next meeting is June 4th9 (several responding)
Markus: It would expire on June ... (several responding) 3ra.
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Champion: What about my suggestion, is that even possible?
Dilkes: (several talking) ...hear that, Connie, I'm sorry...
Hayek: What Connie's suggesting, and I think it's a potentially good idea is to proceed
with this measure and get it in place, but then go through a process, more
deliberative, more inclusive of-to respond to some of these ideas about looking
at an enterprise zone or some partnership with the University or ... or ... or some
other approach that could, you know, as Alec eloquently put it, uh ... um, separate
out somehow, um, this type of use, urn ... I mean, you know, that's I think what
Connie's getting at (both talking)
Champion: Yes, yes, yes! I mean, I don't want them not to be able to build. I don't want
them to build on this corner.
Hayek: Yeah (both talking)
Champion: So I'm in favor of this ordinance as it stands right now, but I also want some kind
of zoning that allows fraternities and sororities be built, within the city limits.
Hayek: I ... I guess where I am, I mean, this ... this, first of all, thank you for being here.
You guys have, uh, end of the semester and I know what that's like, um, but ... but,
and this is not about Animal House. This is, uh, what this has to do with is
density in... in neighborhoods that we've been focused on for the last couple of
years as a city to try to stabilize and protect, and um ... this measure is consistent
with what we are doing, uh, in those neighborhoods, and it makes it a consistent
standard across the ... the various uses. There are still, you know, there's still a
special exception process. Existing facilities are still grandfathered. Uh, and it...
all in all it's consistent with our strategic planning efforts over the last couple of
years. Um ... that said, I'm ... I'm, so I'm reluctant to ... to vary from this, but
I'm ... I'm not foreclosing the concept of looking at other options, um, if that's
something staff tells us we can do, whether in connection with this or following
passage of this.
Champion: Well if we don't...
Hayek: I just don't know!
Champion: ...my question for Eleanor is, if we don't pass this and expedite it tonight, we're
going ... we'll lose that ... what do you call it?
Dilkes: The moratorium. I ... I'm not familiar about where this project is and what the
potential is that they could... could make that happen and, you know, if you... if
you waited for a day later to ... to pass the final reading. So to be safe, yes, you
would want to collapse it (both talking)
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Hayek: Collapse tonight.
Champion: And ... and so I mean I ... I think we're really in a horrible position here! But I'm
willing to expedite this and ... and vote this tonight and then direct staff to go to
Planning and Zoning, or the staff come up with some idea where we can allow
sororities and fraternities be built. I want them ... I want you to be able to build.
Don't misunderstand me! But I also (both talking)
Markus: ... intention to expedite tonight?
Champion: Yes!
Hayek: No, the ... I think the intention is not to (both talking) not to blow the moratorium.
Champion: ...but we won't have any choice and we'll (several talking)
Dobyns: ... collateral damage to the Greek community.
Payne: And ... and I don't, I mean I agree that obviously neighborhood stabilization is our
goal, but I don't think that the Greek community is the problem with our
neighborhoods. It's the apartment buildings that are the problems, and we're
lumping them together like, I mean, I actually think that a... a Greek house in a
neighborhood could help stabilize the neighborhood, rather than building an
apartment building there.
Champion: Well I have one in my neighborhood! I have several, and ...
Payne: Right!
Champion: ...they, right, they're not a problem!
Payne: So ... so I don't think ... I think that ... that they shouldn't be together I guess is what
I'm saying is it seems like we're putting two things together that are similar but
probably shouldn't be together because they have ... kind of a different (several
talking)
Mims: ... different living models, as they've talked about (several talking) It's a very
different living model.
Dobyns: Jeff, it's 10:30. What's the answer? (laughter)
Davidson: Um ... in the interest of moving the discussion along, I mean, I think a joint
meeting with the Planning and Zoning Commission is probably what the
Council's looking for in terms of clarity, in terms of where Planning and Zoning
was on this particular issue. Connie, to answer your question, there's four zones
in the city: RNS20, RM20, RM44, and PRM. You can build Greek houses in all
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of those zones, and that's quite an extensive amount. But ... in all those zones, if
you pass this, they would be held to the same density standards as an apartment
building in one of those zones. That's... that's really the essence here.
Mims: And did I under...
Markus: What they're telling you is is that that economic model won't work.
Davidson: Right.
Mims: And did I understand you...
Davidson: That's at least what the one project is telling us for sure.
Markus: Well I think we heard that from ... the community here tonight too.
Mims: And did I understand you right earlier, Jeff, when somebody asked how this
rezoning got started. It was started because of this project? That's what brought
this to the attention...
Davidson: I think that's fair to say, Susan, yes.
Mims: I guess I'm ... I completely support what we've been doing, with our neighborhood
stabilization. I think it's essential. I think it's important to the vitality and
strength of this community, and particularly to the close -in neighborhoods. I am
concerned... that... we start a rezoning process because of a particular project that
comes to our attention.
Dilkes: I ... I'm not ... I'm not sure that's accurate.
Mims: Okay.
Dilkes: I mean, I'm ... I'm not sure that's accurate, Jeff. I mean, based on what I ... the
history that I am recalling from my staff. (several talking) So I'm not sure we
should assume that.
Davidson: It ... there ... there had been an earlier issue, may have been a catalyst with the
timing, perhaps, but there had been an earlier issue identified by the neighborhood
association (both talking)
Champion: I can think of three right off the (both talking)
Dilkes: In fact ... in fact there's been a lot of discussion in my office about, um ... efforts by
staff to work with the... the... the gentleman who was going to build this, um,
fraternity, to get ... to get enough progress made such that, um, he would have
vested rights before the ordinance passed, and we had that whole discussion too.
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Markus: Considering the hour, I'd recommend that you expedite the action but that you
give strong direction to the City staff to go back, examine this issue, and see if
there are alternative ways to address this for the fraternity, sorority community;
um, and ... and that we report back as, uh, quickly as we can in terms of what
alternatives might be.
Dobyns: And the time from when we potentially adopt it, urn ... to ... whatever else we come
up with, is there going to be a negative impact on the Greek community over the
(both talking)
Markus: I don't think we have any other pending projects at this particular time and ... and
whatever we were to do at this point, we're going to have to go through some sort
of review in development of an ordinance to permit something of this sort
anyway. So I think it protects us from the situation that one may have been
pending but I'm not aware of any of those at this point. So, are (both talking)
Davidson: And if you ... yes, and if you ... if...if you as a Council wish to separate out
fraternal living associations and treat them separately, you are within your rights
to do that.
Markus: that's something we can examine (both talking)
Champion: Right, right.
Markus: ...I get the sense from the Council that they would like to see something
accomplished that ... that attempts to accommodate the fraternity, sorority
community, but I think we're going to have to be creative in how we create
something like (mumbled)
Throgmorton: I ... I'd like to make sure that, uh, when the staff comes back to us with
recommendations, they will have already reconnected with the Greek community
and had, you know, consulted with them about ... about concerns and about
possibilities. And ... and that we also will need to instruct the Planning and
Zoning Commission to reconsider, or to consider alternatives (several talking)
Champion: ...have a whole new thing to reconsider.
Markus: The reality is even though you would expedite and pass an ordinance tonight, if
we came up with a creative solution that deals with all of this, we can come back
and amend that at some future, you know (several talking)
Champion: Okay.
Markus: ...to deal with a solution that ... that seems more satisfactory.
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Champion: Okay.
Throgmorton: So ... so this is going to sound like we're doing what they don't want us to do...
Champion: Right!
Throgmorton: ... but in fact we're going to be (both talking) responding to ... to (both talking)
Champion: ...respond to what they ... what they want, and we're going to see that they're
taken care of in the end. Some way, somehow.
Dobyns: I support Susan reading the blue card.
Champion: Yeah! (laughter) Go (several talking)
Karr: ... want to withdraw?
Hayek: Withdraw?
Karr: The original motion that's on the floor, withdraw it. (several talking)
Mims: I 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: Mo ... uh, motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Dilkes: Remember, it takes six to collapse. (takes roll call)
Mims: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Pass and adopt moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion?
Mims: I ... I would just comment that I am going to vote for this, but only because it is
very clear to me that this Council as a whole has heard you tonight, is very
concerned about this issue, and we are directing staff to come back as
expeditiously as possible to find a solution that is workable, both for
neighborhood stabilization in this community, and to meet your needs as well.
Hayek: Yeah I ... I ... (several responding) It may seem inconsistent to support this tonight
but ... but we don't want to lose, uh, what's called the moratorium which is...
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which is ticking and will expire before the next meeting, but you guys have made
some fantastic arguments. You have a great student, uh, government liaison in
Alec Brammel there who's ... who was part of that eloquence. Um, I know Tom
Rocklin, the Vice President for Student Services, is generally supportive, um, and
there may be something we can do and that's ... that will be our ... our charge going
forward, and we'll give staff the ... the time it needs to interface with the
appropriate stakeholders and get back to us.
Champion: Thank you!
Hayek: Roll call, please (applause) We're not done yet! We haven't voted! (several
talking and laughing)
Karr: Motion... (both talking) Motion to accept correspondence.
Hayek: Item passes 7 -0.
Mims: So moved.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: ' Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Markus: Just one other point, do we ... should we ensconce what, uh, Ms. Mims said in a
motion directing staff? Is that permissible at the table at this point?
Hayek: Do we need it? Or do you (several talking)
Dilkes: ...don't need it but you could.
Markus: I think they might appreciate it.
Payne: Second. (laughter)
Mims: That's fine!
Hayek: I'm not even sure what our motion is.
Dobyns: Well it's a motion of intent. (several talking)
Hayek: Motion, so motion to instruct staff to proceed (several talking) investigation of...
Dobyns: A lot of them are going home for the summer, and they need to trust us!
(laughter)
Champion: And buy a lot of coffee tonight!
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Throgmorton: You need a second for that, huh?
Payne: I did second. (several talking)
Hayek: Okay, discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries
7 -0. Thank you!
Mims: Thank you. Good luck with your finals! (applause)
Hayek: Okay, let's keep moving here! (several talking)
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ITEM 7i CRISIS CENTER REZONING — REZONING 0.78 ACRES OF
LAND LOCATED AT 1105 GILBERT COURT FROM PUBLIC (P -1) TO
INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI -1) (REZ13- 00006) [Discussion only at
formal meeting] (PASS AND ADOPT)
Payne: Move adoption.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Any indication we will go
against P &Z? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 7j RUPPERT ROAD REZONING — CONDITIONALLY REZONING
2.12 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 1 WEST,
EAST OF RUPPERT ROAD FROM INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI -1)
ZONE TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC -2) ZONE (REZ13- 00007)
[Discussion only at formal meeting] (PASS AND ADOPT)
Payne: Move adoption.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Is this the Aldi's?
Mims: Yes!
Throgmorton: Yeah, okay.
Hayek: Any dis ... uh, any indication we'll go against the P &Z on this? (several
responding)
Dilkes: Ex parte.
Hayek: Oh yeah! Any ex parte ... by the way? (laughter) Further discussion? Item
passes 6 -1, Throgmorton in the negative.
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ITEM 7k REZONING HWY. 6 AND BROADWAY (CASEY'S) -
CONDITIONALLY REZONING PROPERTY FROM COMMERCIAL
OFFICE (CO -1) ZONE TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC -2) ZONE
AND AMENDING THE CONDITIONAL ZONING AGREEMENT FOR
APPROXIMATELY 2.31 -ACRES OF PROPERTY CURRENTLY ZONED
CC -2 AND CO -1 LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE
INTERSECTION OF BROADWAY STREET AND HIGHWAY 6.
[Discussion only at formal meeting] (REZ13- 00005) (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move second consideration.
Dobyns: (both talking) Move second consideration.
Mims: Oh, this must be expedited?
Champion: Uh huh.
Mims: (several talking) Let me get my blue card. (several talking) I 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: Moved by Mims, seconded by Champion. Discussion? Any ex parte? Okay.
Roll call, please.
Mims: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Champion: Second.
Hayek: Pass and adopt moved by Mims, seconded by Champion. Discussion? I think
we're all on board. Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Dobyns: Second.
Mims: So moved.
Hayek: Moved by (laughter)
Dobyns: Is that expedited enough for you? (several talking and laughing)
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Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
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ITEM 7m REZONING ON JEFFERSON STREET — CONDITIONALLY
REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.465 ACRES OF LAND FROM
COMMERCIAL OFFICE (CO -1) ZONE TO HIGH DENSITY
MULTIFAMILY (RM -44) ZONE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 821 E.
JEFFERSON STREET (REZ12- 00030). [Discussion only at formal meeting]
(PASS AND ADOPT)
Dobyns: Move adoption.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion?
Champion: This is a great opportunity (both talking)
Hayek: ...ex parte before we discuss?
Champion: No!
Hayek: Okay. Go ahead.
Champion: I'm happy with this project.
Mims: It's a good opportunity!
Hayek: Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 7o LINDEMANN PART FIVE - APPROVING FINAL PLAT.
Dickens: Move to approve.
Mims: (both talking) Second.
Hayek: Moved by, uh, Dickens, seconded by Mims. Discussion? These are very good
developments by the way, but it's late and no one wants to talk.
Champion: Right.
Hayek: (unable to hear person in audience) (laughter) (several talking) ...out of order,
Siders!
Dobyns: Is that a (mumbled) minutes? (laughter)
Hayek: Ouch! (laughter) Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0.
Champion: (laughing) ...eight minutes next time!
Payne: We're finally done with Planning and Zoning items!
Hayek: yeah, now we're out of Planning and Zoning.
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ITEM 9. BUDGET AMENDMENTS - AMENDING THE FY2013 OPERATING
BUDGET.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: Public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Mims: ...the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? I'm really sorry that staff
stuck around for the last three and a half hours only to have (several talking and
laughing) Yeah! Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 10. APPROVAL OF THE CDBG / HOME BUDGET - ADOPTING IOWA
CITY'S FY14 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN WHICH IS A SUB -PART OF
IOWA CITY'S 2011 -2015 CONSOLIDATED PLAN (CITY STEPS) AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT SAID PLAN AND
AMENDMENTS AND ALL NECESSARY CERTIFICATIONS TO THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND
DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER AS THE AUTHORIZED CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Payne: Move resolution.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion?
Champion: Well, as you all know, I'm not going to support this for reasons I've already
stated at the work session meeting. I'm not going to make you all listen to that
again.
Mims: Thank you.
Hayek: (laughter) ...thank you (laughs) Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6-
1, Champion in the negative.
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ITEM 11. AID TO AGENCY ALLOCATIONS FOR THE YEAR STARTING JULY 1
- ALLOCATING HUMAN SERVICES AID TO AGENCIES FUNDING
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2014.
Mims: Move approval. (laughter and several talking)
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. You guys are the only ones who can move
and second an issue.
Champion: I'm not going to, uh, support this either and I've already stated my reasons at the
work session, but I will state them again unless you promise me to develop some
criteria.
Mims: We'll develop some criteria.
Champion: Thank you.
Hayek: Yes, I think that's clear to staff. We're ... we're going to work on that for the next
round. Roll call, please. Passes 6 -1, Champion in the negative.
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ITEM 12. DEVELOPMENT OF SABIN SCHOOL SITE - AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A LETTER OF
INTENT REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF 509 SOUTH DUBUQUE
STREET BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, MIDWESTONE BANK
AND THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
Dobyns: Move authorization.
Mims: Move approval.
Hayek: Moved, uh, by Dobyns, seconded by Mims. Discussion? Mr. Davidson.
Davidson: Uh, yes, um .... the couple of you who I believe the Mayor was absent that day, but
um, Michelle and Susan had the opportunity to hear a presentation from
representatives of Midwest One Bank and uh, Neumann Monson Architects
regarding property at the corner of Harrison Street and Dubuque Street, and what
is planned there. Uh, as well as bigger picture, uh ... uh, plans for Midwest One's
facilities, uh, in downtown Iowa City. Midwest One Bank has, uh, basically made
a commitment to downtown for their long -term, uh, future and we're delighted
about that. They are certainly a major employer in our downtown area. Uh, the
item that's on your agenda this evening is a letter of understand... or a Letter of
Interest... Letter of Intent, excuse me, uh, between the Bank, the University and
the City. The, um, that they have asked us to enter into, to basically form a
partnership. Uh, the City's involvement would be in terms of parking facilities,
uh, but in spite of the lateness of the hour, we have just a brief presentation that
we'd like to make. Uh, I'd like to introduce Kevin Monson, Neumann Mon, uh,
Neumann Monson Architects, and ... is Charlie here as well? Yes, Charlie Funk,
uh, President of Midwest One Bank.
Champion: While they're setting up, this is actually going to replace that other parking ramp
we talked about at one time. This would be...
Markus: Correct.
Champion: Okay.
Davidson: Yeah, that's correct. This would ... this would basically be the location, uh, if...if,
and ... and we can certainly have additional discussion about it, but the ... the Letter
of Intent does not bind us to anything. It's basically (noises on mic) trying to get
everybody on the same sheet of music for moving forward, so, uh, I think that's
an important consideration for Council to consider, that you're not being bound to
anything, but yes, what is proposed is ... is moving the location of our next multi-
use parking facility from the St. Pat's, uh, School site to this location. Uh, we
certainly haven't given up on the St. Pat's site. We think for future consideration
that that still has some positive attributes, but this would change the priority. This
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would become the first priority location for some of the reasons that you'll see
demonstrated here shortly.
Champion: Thank you.
Funk: Good evening. It's not good morning yet! (several talking and laughing) Good
evening. Uh, I'm Charlie Funk and I'm the President and CEO of Midwest One
Bank, uh, which is headquartered in Iowa City. I'm also an Iowa City resident,
uh, living at 4779 Dryden Court. Um, just a brief history about Midwest One
Bank. We were founded in 1934. We started with ten employees, uh, in 1934.
Uh, we've grown now to be the fourth largest Iowa -based bank in the state, uh,
we're proud that our headquarters are in Iowa City, even though we're in 19
communities now, uh, mainly in eastern, southeast Iowa. Uh, we have about 400
employees in our company, uh, about 200 of `em in the ... the Johnson County
area, and about 170, 175 that work downtown. So we are a major downtown, uh,
employer. I think it's important, uh, for the Council to know the history of our
bank and how we've moved around, three times now, uh, what ... we would say
for the good of the community, even though we didn't necessarily want to move.
Uh, originally we had our drive -up, uh, facility to the west of our downtown
location on Capitol Street, and in 1977 there was this thing that Old Capitol Mall
needed to be built and we didn't necessarily want to move the drive -up facility,
but we did that, and we moved down south, uh, on south Clinton Street, uh, just
south of Burlington and established our home loan center there, and we were
there, uh, until just recently, and that worked very well for us. We had a ... a
drive -up facility there. We also closed all our real estate loans there that we made
in Johnson County. And then we had 2008 and the floods came. And ... the
University of Iowa came to us, uh, and said we'd like to build, um, you know,
our ... we'd like to build our School of Music on your property and others, and we
really didn't want to move, uh, because we wanted to stay downtown. We wanted
a drive -up facility and we ... and we needed some place for our home loan center,
and if you haven't noticed, there aren't that many properties that would be
conducive, uh, you know, the long story made short is that we wound up on the
Sabin site, which is where we are now. The Sabin site ... the Sabin building is not
a long -term solution for us. So, what we propose to do, uh, in ... in our win -win-
win scenario because for all of this to happen, uh, we had to have the University
win, we had to have the community win, and we had to have Midwest One win,
and we think we've found that solution. So we propose to, uh, build probably a
five -story building, uh, just west of the, uh, of the Sabin site now. We need
parking though, uh, we're going to have a lot of people in that building and we
need ... we need accessible parking and Kevin's going to talk about that, uh, in...
in just a second. So we need the City's, uh, assistance in making this project
happen. Um, I would also say that we're very committed to keeping Iowa City as
the headquarters for, uh, Midwest One Bank. We're very proud of the fact we're
...that we're from Iowa City. We're a public company now and we have, uh,
about 3,500 shareholders, and when I go around the country and talk to investors,
I ... I'm always proud of the fact that we're based in Iowa City, and uh, so we are
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committed to the ... to Iowa City and I think this, uh, what you're going to see in
just a second makes a real commitment to that. Final comments, uh, when I
talked to the Economic Development Committee I made a couple comments
about TIF and I got some, uh, comments back on that. I just want to clarify, we
think ... we think TIFs a ... a good thing whenever it's used in the right way. We
have nothing against TIF, but for Midwest One ... we're doing pretty well. Uh,
we're a prosperous company, uh, and we think we ought to pay our fair share
from ... from the word go. That's what we believe in. Uh, others might feel
differently and that's okay, but uh, you know, we're ... we are not asking for TIF
assistance, even though we know that we could probably qualify, uh, we'll pay
from ... from the first day. So, I'd like to introduce, uh, Kevin Monson, who's the
CEO of Neumann Monson Architects and also the Chairman of the Board of
Midwest One Financial Group.
Monson: Thank you, Charlie. Kevin Monson, uh, and uh ... I'd like to just talk a little bit
about the building side of things and Charlie talked a lot about the Sabin site and
our new building, but really one of the most fun and interesting parts of this
puzzle that we've put together is the restoration of the headquarter bank building,
the 1934 bank, which actually was built in 1911, and we feel is probably the most
significant piece of architecture in our downtown core owned by the private
sector. And uh, certainly it's one that we want to save. This actually is a, as you
can see, an early picture, and we want to restore that building to its glory, uh, we
have received, uh, a landmark status, uh, from the State Historic Society and we
intend to restore the original cornice, uh, the windows, uh, get rid of those, uh,
window air conditioning units, and also restore the main bank lobby to its, uh,
historic, uh, placement, as well as its historic, uh, feel and um, at the same time,
the 1984 building will be renovated, as well, and uh, throughout this whole
process, we will actually be able to vacate what we call the Younker's building
where the, uh, trust department and the Brown Bottle Restaurant currently exist
and we have the upper floor of that. So, we'll be able to pull ourselves back into
this structure as well as the new building. Uh, we think this is very significant to,
uh, again ... uh, recall our heritage and bring this very significant piece of
architecture back to its original glory. Uh, the new site, uh, this is, um, a photo or
...or a rendering as if you were standing on the corner of the Courthouse, looking,
uh, south and east. Uh, this currently, uh, is a parking lot, just south of the Post
Office. Uh, this is the corner of Clinton and Harrison Street. And this is where
our new five- story -plus building will be. Uh, it's the replacement for our home
loan center, our home mortgage center, which is a, uh, was up the street, and the
first floor will be exactly that replacement, plus two floors of offices for the bank,
and we have two floors of offices for other, uh, potential, uh, owners or tenants,
uh, and we do have interest in those floors. And the top level will be mechanical
system, as well as a penthouse, uh, reception center on the top. The, uh, this will
move about 85 people, uh, from our downtown core, allowing us to restore the
historic building and maintain all of our operations in downtown Iowa City. Uh,
this is the floor plan, uh, of the first floor, showing basically the operations of the
home mortgage center, and if you recall, we temporarily rezoned this some time
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ago to CB -5, uh, and allow... and did receive allowance to do a drive -up facility,
which was critical to us. Currently we are in the Sabin building, with a temporary
location which allows us to get off of the School of Music site and we'll be
starting construction on that facility very soon, and um, and allows us to build this
building, uh, and when our new building here is completed, uh, we will vacate the
Sabin site and we will exercise our ... our option with the University of Iowa, uh,
to purchase the bare ground, uh, of that east half of that block. And then we have
very open upper floors, uh, the ... the goal of this building is to be the best possible
highest performing office space in the City of Iowa City, and uh, the first office,
strictly office building built, in ... in Iowa City since the 70s. So a very significant,
uh, project for our community. It does open up, uh, our Rivercrossing District
and (noise on mic) it's a viable district and we want to be first, uh, to make that
happen. This is a site plan showing our new building on the corner. This is
Clinton Street, Harrison, uh, Prentiss, and Dubuque. And you can see, uh, the
partnership that we hope, uh, that you allow to ... to continue would be to build a
multi -level parking structure, about 560 to 570 sp ... parking spaces. Uh, and it
will be ringed with townhomes and I'll ... I'll get into that. We have about 28
townhomes. Uh, we have two options, actually an entrance off of Prentiss, and
also the option of coming off of Harrison. I think, uh, we're heading toward an
entrance off of Harrison Street, and we, uh, hope to ring our townhouses, uh, on
then Dubuque Street and Prentiss. So Harrison Street will be the, uh, what we
believe is the best entrance point for this facility. So this is a condominium
project. Uh, it will be jointly, uh, as somewhat similar to the Iowa Avenue
parking structure, the Clock Tower parking structure, where we have mixed, uh,
uses on one site. Uh, and part of those uses that'll ring that parking structure
will... are actually these townhomes, which are two -story units. Uh, two -over-
two. So we actually have a stack of two units, and each unit has its own front
door. Uh, very unique. So the door for the upper unit is here, the door for the
lower unit is here, and they stack so there's no common corridor. Uh, this is not
an apartment house. This is really designed to be workforce housing, uh, and we
believe we can get into that price point very nicely, and what a wonderful place to
have workforce housing this close to our downtown and certainly our office, as
well. We could see ... we could get some very handy, uh, apartment living or
condo living. Uh, the gold units are the first -floor units. They're about 1,100
square feet. The yellow units, floor plans here, on the upper floor, and you can
see they have doors here on the street. So coming up to the second level I come
up the stair, come across and enter my unit here, if I have that upper unit. What is
so unique about this, because this is a condominium project, uh, each unit actually
has a back door onto the parking ramp and actually could have their car right
outside their back door, and that's certainly something that we're going to
develop in conjunction with the City. So we think that's very unique and could
not happen without this being a true partnership of all involved. So we anticipate
this be built by a. private developer, uh, and uh, sold back then in pieces, either to
individual condominium or townhome owners, and then the unit ... the City of
Iowa City would purchase the ... the parking structure. We do have a, uh, a
connecting bridge, uh, to the parking structure into the third level of our proposed
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structure. So, uh, a very interesting project. One that has taken a lot of effort and
true cooperation of the University of Iowa, uh, the City of Iowa City, and our
private community. I think it ... hopefully will be a model for the future growth of
our community, which I think is very exciting.
Hayek: Thank you.
Monson: Thank you!
Davidson: ...any questions for Kevin, certainly, um, now's the time, uh, to have those. As I
mentioned then, what's on your agenda is a, uh, Letter of Intent. Uh, Eleanor has
been the principle drafter for the City in terms of negotiating that letter, uh, with
the other two entities. So she can answer any specific questions, but it basically
lays out road map for going forward, uh, some deadlines that we would try and
adhere to, but in terms of any specific, uh, development agreement type stuff and
working out ... what things are going to cost and that sort of thing, that's all in the
future, that's all subsequent, um, decision making for you. Nothing binding in
this agreement, uh, such... so... so any... any questions in general about (both
talking)
Dobyns: ...Kevin comes up again, uh, Jeff I had a question for you. As I recall for the
Riverfront Crossing, the Clinton Street, a plan was to be sort of like a esplanade,
uh, boulevard (both talking)
Davidson: Right. Clinton... Clinton becomes a major street between... connecting downtown
and the Riverfront Park.
Dobyns: Kevin, can you describe what elements of your, the ... of the Midwest One, um,
financing building on Clinton... it's... how it's going to co -opt into that?
Monson: Well, certainly our front door is on Clinton Street, and one of the prime, uh, needs
for the bank was to maintain a Clinton Street address. Uh, our main bank is on
Clinton Street. Our home mortgage center was on Clinton Street. We really
wanted to have a Clinton Street address, because we really believe it's Main
Street in downtown Iowa City. So, actually our corner here is our main entrance
to our facility. So it really ... uh, says that, uh, we believe in, uh, that is a major
thoroughfare in our community for now and for the ... for the future.
Dobyns: But the area's supposed to be, as I understand the concept, Clinton is supposed to
be pretty open. Um, could you go back to the picture of that from the current
Courthouse corner? I'm ... trying to get a ... cause this ... the importance of this, as
you know (several talking) is that this is one of the first, um, residential and
commercial building sites in what we envision to be, you know, a major change in
Iowa City in Riverfront Crossings. So this really much in some ways sets a
standard and I'm, you know, excited about it.
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Davidson: One ... one key feature about Clinton Street (noises on mic) is if you were to go to
the north from this view, um, the ... the block directly to the north. Basically the
block between the Post Office and the Courthouse becomes a large (noises on
mic) basically the front yard of the Courthouse and the front yard of what we
hope will eventually be a redevelopment project on the Post Office site, forms
kind of a big plaza that the ... the street would go through. So ... we certainly, you
know, there's a lot of details and cert ... in terms of site plan, things that would
need to be worked out, but as a general concept, we feel this is quite consistent
with the plan.
Dobyns: (mumbled) okay. Thank you. Thanks, Kevin!
Dickens: The drive -in is off the current alley. It's just opposite from where it is now, on
the new building. Is that ... is that covered or is that going to be ... I know that's
conceptually (both talking)
Monson: It's covered, and actually it's right here (both talking)
Dickens: Right.
Monson: ...you can see it's a non - event. It's really made to just go away.
Dickens: Blends in.
Monson: Uh, that was why we put it off the alley, versus off of Clinton Street, because we
really see Clinton Street as ... as our ... as our Main Street. We didn't want to have
a drive -up off of Main Street.
Dobyns: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Like to ask a quick question, Kevin, and it's not going to ... your answer's not
going to influence my vote, uh, at all but uh ... uh, can the building, uh, the parking
structure building, be designed to potentially accommodate photovoltaic panels on
the roof, or will there be parking on the roof, etc.?
Monson: Okay, um, yes it could, A ... we do have parking on the roof but uh, we have air
and light above, uh, actually we are proposing photovoltaic sale, uh, cells on the
top of this building. We have done an analysis and we hope to have, be
generating our own power, not enough to fully, uh, feed our building, but we do
plan to have photovoltaic, uh, electric generation on our roof top.
Champion: I love it! Okay? I ... I just love it. It's great! Thank you.
Monson: Oh, it's hard to see but ... this is glass and it does have a frit on it and the frit, uh,
we anticipate to be the background of your dollar bill, just to ... (laughter) Now
you'll have to look at your dollar bill!
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Markus: You know, I don't know if it was mentioned but I think that it has to be discussed
and ... and I'm going to ask Jeff to go back up to the ... to the mic. Um ... this
project does deal with Sabin School.
Champion: Right.
Hayek: Yep!
Markus: Everybody's clear about that? (several responding) Okay. And ... and there's
some history between the University, between Midwest Bank, and between the
City, and we felt that it was best that we were all ... kind of holding hands on that
issue together, based on, uh, you know, the potential for people pointing fingers
about whether this had to happen or not, and so that's in part why this agreement
came together. To kind of show that we're all in this issue at the same time
together, if we're going to make this project happen. And I don't know if I heard,
but I think this site is much more conducive than the other site that we had
proposed. Did ... was that comment made?
Hayek: On the parking?
Markus: On the parking?
Davidson: I believe it wasn't made, but Tom is correct, be ... because of the advantages
topographically to this site (noises on mic) St. Pat's site, and again, I don't want
to ... I don't want to throw out the St. Pat's site. The St. Pat's site is going to be a
great site for future City parking facility. I genuinely believe that. However, this
site does save us some money building the parking structure. The estimate that,
uh, the parking consultant that, uh, the development team here has been using,
which is the same one we use incidentally, uh, so very credible parking consultant
is that we could save approximately $2 million off of our estimated expense of
building on the St. Pat's site. So, certainly some advantages there that we hope to
take advantage of.
Dobyns: Jeff, what percentage of the available parking spots in the design so far will
accommodate (both talking)
Davidson: Good question, Rick, we ... we ... (both talking) we have estimated that
approximately a third of the spaces could be used for, um, the ... the other uses on
the site — the workforce housing and the office building, which would include
both bank facilities and non -bank facilities, approximately a third, and that's, you
know, perfectly appropriate. The Court Street Transportation Center is intended
to be a catalyst for future development of the remainder of that site, and that's the
intent here as well. But it would, the remaining two - thirds (both talking)
Dobyns: ... available...
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Davidson: (both talking) ...several hundred spaces would be available for public parking.
Markus: I think the other thing too that you have to keep in mind is that this particular
project unlike the other suggested project that we were talking about for a parking
facility has built -in parking users from day one.
Champion: Right!
Markus: So you have some demand. It's not only a ... a better site to build the deck on, in
terms of cost, you have a demand starting right away, and it's ... (several talking)
and it's closer to, uh, the new, you know, the ... the new Justice Center. I'm
convinced that at some point, uh, that is going to be dealt with. It's going to
happen, and I... and quite frankly I think the County has contemplated that City
structures were going to be providing the parking for ... for that expanded facility,
so this ... this is closer to that facility.
Dobyns: So you'll park there and walk to work! (laughs)
Davidson: We could also, uh, see this...
Markus: (several talking) ...have my bike (mumbled)
Davidson: ...use for long -term parking for the Amtrak service when it begins. Very short
...very short shuttle trip, uh, from the station down to this location. So...
Champion: I think the Sabin, uh, building, uh, will create a few, uh, public problems for us. I
am a total historic preservationist, but I don't see ... keeping a building that has no
real function. It, you know, like ... I don't have any problems defending it.
Throgmorton: I ... I think I'm going to echo that, Connie. Uh, I really don't like the idea of
demolishing the Sabin building, uh, I don't like it one bit, but I see this
development as a crucial part of the River ... Riverfront Crossings initiative, which
I support, getting the first developments right on the Clinton Street corridor are, as
you were suggesting, uh, Rick, absolutely crucial for that initiative. So I'm going
to vote for it, with... with some regret, but I'll vote for it.
Hayek: I ... before I talk I want to just disclose that I ... I bank at Midwest One, and I'm
one of the 3,500 shareholders, but I vetted this, uh, with ... with Eleanor. I hold a
small amount (laughs) of stock in the bank. Sad to say! Um, but uh ... uh, but that
doesn't disqualify me from ... from...
Champion: I've borrowed a lot of money (both talking and laughing)
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Hayek: In the interest of disclosure, I want that out there (laughter) but I think ... I think,
uh, I think this is a strong project, a strong partnership and ... and an exciting
catalyst for that area.
Champion: Great! Love it! I love it, love it!
Dickens: (mumbled) years.
Payne: Yeah, I think it's a fantastic project. It's really very exciting.
Champion: Thank you for staying so late! It woke me up, I'm so excited! (laughter)
Hayek: Okay! Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 13. PARKING FEE CHANGES - AMENDING TITLE 3, "CITY FINANCES,
TAXATION AND FEES," CHAPTER 4, "SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES,
CHARGES, BONDS, FINES AND PENALTIES" OF THE CITY CODE,
TO ADJUST OFF - STREET HOURLY PARKING FEES INCREASE ON-
STREET HOURLY PARKING FEES AND CHANGE EXPIRED METER
FINE STRUCTURE. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? I think it's nappy! (laughter)
O'Brien: Just a ... a brief. Uh, this is part of our first -hour parking initiative that came as a
part of our approved budget for FYI 4, um, and these rates were actually a piece
of that. Uh, if you have any questions, I'll be sitting back here. (laughter)
Payne: I have one question.
O'Brien: Yep!
Payne: I find a typo in (several talking)
O'Brien: Yeah, we made the amendment (both talking) It's actually in the late handout that
came out (several talking)
Karr: It's in your late packet.
Payne: Okay.
O'Brien: A change in the, no! I appreciate that.
Payne: Okay. Thank you.
O'Brien: Sorry I missed that, but it was changing the lost ticket fee from $20 to $23.
(several talking and laughing)
Payne: It was a (both talking)
Hayek: What does that have to do with the (mumbled) (laughter) All right. Thanks,
Chris. I think this is good. It's supported by the Downtown District and I think
it's going to shift things in a way we like, in terms of parking. Uh, roll call,
please. Passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 19. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Dobyns: I'd like to congratulate, uh, Asya Bergal. Asya is a senior at West High School
and there's only 100 U.S. Presidential Scholars that are named, two from each
state out of three million high school students in America, and Asya for her
leadership in the high school and other attributes was selected as a U.S.
Presidential Scholar. In June she'll be going to Washington and getting her, um,
just honors for that. So I congratulate Asya on her leadership.
Payne: Um, I just wanted to mention that, um, Iowa City, uh, bicycle friendly community
rated ... rating was upgraded to silver and this was posted by the Iowa City
Communications Office yesterday, and Sarah Walz made, um, reference to it in
her presentation that the ... that she did too, so thank you very much for
everybody's efforts to make this happen. I think it's a great thing for the City!
Dickens: Just looking forward to the Friday Night Concert Series, and Saturday nights
starting very shortly, so come on downtown and enjoy! It's all free.
Mims: Nothing.
Champion: I have several things. I'll wait til the next meeting. (noises on mic)
Throgmorton: What she said! (laughter)
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ITEM 20. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF.
Hayek: Reports from City staff?
Markus: Just one thing, uh, they're going to add a new feature to SODA this year and it's
Soul Fest and it's going to take the place of Sand in the City and uh, one of my
favorites Buddy Guy is coming to Iowa City, so it will be a... a great concert!
Hayek: City Attorney? City Clerk? Need a motion. Uh, should we adjourn back to work
session for 30 seconds. It'll take 30 seconds I think. (several talking)
Throgmorton: That's right (several talking)
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ITEM 18. COMMUNITY COMMENT [IF NECESSARY] (ITEMS NOT ON THE
AGENDA).
Hayek: Were you waiting around (several talking) Okay. I apologize (several talking)
Let's go back, so we'll... let's... community comment. We'll finish up cause
we ... we stopped at 8:00.
Walters: I'm Jim Walters. I live at ... I don't know where I sign in. I live at 1033 E.
Washington Street. If I, uh, I could have sent an email if I knew... if I would be
on the agenda. Urn ... we're ex ... exhorted constantly to use and adopt new
technology, uh, whether it's in schools, offices, government, business or
wherever. Um ... but a group of petitioners has come to you asking you explicitly
to reject the use of a new technology and you need to ban that new technology,
and I ... I hope that you can be dissuaded from, uh... cooperating with this group of
petitioners. The reason that we have laws and regulations that you pass is so that
we can live together in a civil society. Urn ... it would be wonderful if everybody
simply obeyed those laws and regulations. Uh, the fact of the matter is, many
people chose not to. Uh, it would be wonderful if everyone paid their taxes. We
wouldn't need an IRS. People would voluntarily send, uh, their taxes to the
government. We in fact ... passing the laws, we need enforcement of the laws, uh,
to make the laws effective, and when you preclude yourself from using effective
new technology that allows us to enforce the laws, I think you're making a very
serious mistake. Uh ... we ... we've had discussion for quite some time about
traffic enforcement, uh, technology in Iowa City. Uh, you in fact have given the
City staff permission to proceed with exploring the use of that and ... and the Chief
of Police has endorsed its use. I'm a strong supporter of it. Urn ... I believe that
you can look to the community to the north of us and see that traffic enforcement
has worked very effectively to reduce speeding, reduce personal injury accidents,
reduce property accidents in Cedar Rapids. Uh, so I ... I really... encourage you
to ... to reject this idea that we should reject progress and technology and I ... I
instead encourage you to pursue its... its use as your... as your law enforcement
have asked for. Uh, I think it would be very effective in reducing speeding in my
neighborhood. I regularly have to cross Dodge and Governor, and routinely see
people going 45- miles -an -hour on that street. Uh, should you chose ... as Eleanor I
think has suggested to ex ... to accept this ban, you know, and ban this technology,
I hope you'll consider one thing, that you won't preclude, or that you'll make an
exception for school zones. That you'll consider the safety of our children, the
safety of parents, the safety of school crossing guards, and at least make an
exception, uh, so that we can use traffic enforcement technology... in our school
zones, that you'll... that... that you won't completely knuckle under, and finally,
I ... I just have, you know, when ... when it comes to drones, you know, this w hole
idea of drones, you know, I think that we need to, uh ... you know, let that
technology kind of, uh, you know, have... see what... see what uses can be made
of drones. You know, you might discover that, uh, drones might be a highly
effective technology for enforcing your chicken ordinance (laughter) Thank you.
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Hayek: Thank you, and ... and Mr. Walters, let me tell you...
Champion: We want to tell you what we (both talking)
Hayek: At our work session earlier this evening, uh ... we ... we instructed staff to proceed
with an ordinance consistent with their recommendation. That will come back
before us in June, I presume (several talking) so June 4th on this issue and so if
you wish to appear before us again, once that's on our agenda, for June 4th, I
encourage you to do so.
Walters: You ... you can't put the cameras up fast enough for me. (laughter)
Hayek: Okay. Thanks!
Walters: Thank you.
Hayek: (unable to hear person from audience) Wait, wait, wait! Yeah ... you've been
sitting dutifully, although you... okay. Go ahead.
Van Dyke: Julie Van Dyke, uh, 3635 490th Street SW. Um, usually troubling the School
Board and not you as I'm sure you're well aware. Um, what happened to the
SRO officers grant that was on the agenda tonight? Did that get bumped off as
part of the work section? What ... what happened to that?
Mims: We went ahead and directed the staff to go ahead and apply for the grant.
Hayek: Yeah.
Van Dyke: And did you do that during the work section... session or did that come at the
beginning?
Hayek: ....little after 7:00, maybe 7:15ish.
Van Dyke: Um, can I say something about it, even though it's too late?
Hayek: Briefly. Very briefly. You've been sitting there.
Van Dyke: I know that every one of us wishes that we could have done something to stop
Sandy Hook from happening. Um, and I like to some degree the idea of school
resource officers. But this grant is not what it is being portrayed as. It has not
been publicized to the school community. There is nothing about it on the web
site. They have not arranged any public, uh, forums yet that have been advertised.
We know that there was an immense opposition against this in 2007. This is not a
school resource officers... officer situation. This is two officers between six
schools, which is essentially going to mean that they won't be in those schools
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long enough to ... to establish relationships and rapport, and become familiar
person in the school for the students to look up. for. If you authorize this, you
authorize essentially an armed patrol of six schools, including Tate, at a time
when you have been supportive of the minority, I mean, of the... of the diversity
effort, which is being successful, um, all three principles and two of them spoke
to it in the governance meeting of the School Board two Mondays ago. Said the
police get there quickly, as quickly as they could possibly get there now, and that
they're happy with the service now. They also all said that incidents have been
dramatically down this year, not up. This could provoke a situation. And when
you ... when you decide to authorize this, um, if the School Board goes ahead and
does this, you've basically set us up for armed patrol of our high, um, risk
children and our low SES communities, um, while they're in school, which is a
time that they should be concentrating on school. I'm open to the discussion on
...on school research, or I mean school resource officers, but this is not the way to
do it. Two policemen spread between six schools is inadequate. The first three
years of the grant are paid for by federal dollars. The fourth tear of the grant
comes out of the General Fund of the ICS ... ICCSD, which is the pot that they use
to pay for teachers. So each of these policemen could potentially take two to four
teachers out of the school district in the fourth year of this grant. Are you willing
to trade those teachers for police officers, who are not even in the schools long
enough to become part of that community, to do ... to become what they're
supposed to be? I mean, I could be open to a... a one -to -one, um, assignment. I
could be open to a police officer to two schools assignment. But two officers
between City, West, Tate, Northwest, North Central, Southeast, and this is not
even been brought before the public yet. Murley did not even bring it up until the
governance committee meeting, um, which they popped onto the agenda at the
very last second to avoid, uh, issues, um, and uh, it was not even included on the
School Board agenda at the last meeting. They slipped it in through the
governance committee report. You're about to get a lot of push -back. And ... and
my concern is that it comes at a time where we're all hoping that the diversity
policy promotes equity. Um, the diversity policy will trump whatever BLDD
comes up with, and they're already talking about closing Lincoln, Mann, Hills,
and Hoover. Uh ... this could take us back. This could escalate situations. It
could provoke situations, and with two police officers between six schools, do
you really think that that officer's going to be there when someone comes in with
a gun? I mean, you're essentially approving an armed patrol. You are not
providing an officer that becomes a part of the community of that school.
Hayek: Thank you, Julie. Good night. Okay. Uh, where are we?
Karr: Motion to adjourn.
Dobyns: Motion to adjourn.
Payne: Second.
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Hayek: (several talking) To the work session, very briefly! (several talking) ...seconded
by Payne. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. We are
adjourned. Have a good evening. (bangs gavel) What's left of it!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of May 14, 2013.