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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-18 TranscriptionPage 1 ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER. ITEM la Roll Call Hayek: Uh, for those in the audience, Council Member, uh, Mims is participating via telephone so you will not see her but you will hear her this evening and she is very much a part of this meeting. Um, also I want to note that, uh, there is an addendum to the agenda. It's Item 7a and it regards the SEATS contract. So if you are here to address the Council regarding SEATS, I ask that you do not address us during community comment, but instead save your comments for Item 7a on the agenda. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 2 ITEM 2. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ITEM 2a Friends of Animal Center Foundation (FACF) Hayek: Item 2 is special presentations. We have two this evening. One is from the, uh, Friends of the Animal Shelter, uh, Center Foundation. If they could please come forward! Karr: And here to pre ... make the presentation is Kym Leyden, Executive Director. Come right up! There you go! Leyden: With me this evening I have Misha Goodman, Animal Services Supervisor, and our Board President, Tara Mott. So I'd like to present you with this awesome check for $250... $200,000, our first installment over the next five years and I ...I'm pleased to announce that thus far we've raised $750,000 towards our million dollar goal. So we are well on our way and (applause) (mumbled) That's in gifts and pledges so for those of you out there who've already given, thank you very, very much and for those of you who are considering a gift, um, I'll be right out there after the meeting! (laughter) Thank you. Hayek: I gave these comments a few minutes ago at your ... at your press conference outside, Kym, but I want to thank you on behalf of the City for a tremendous fundraising effort. Uh, we ... many of us were part of the Council in 2008 when the floods hit and the Animal, uh, Shelter was impacted so adversely and what a difference five years make, um, and this is a very important partnership for the City and we're going to have a good product at the end of the, uh, effort and uh, but ... but much of that product will be thanks to the efforts of this group, and the people in the community, and the businesses in the community, uh, that support it. To ... to have reached three - fourths of your goal already is just incredible, uh, and for those of you out in TV land, it is not too late to, uh, consider a... a pledge or a donation, uh, to this excellent organization. So congratulations! Leyden: Thank you very much! (applauses) Hayek: (away from mic) ... shake your hand here! (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 3 ITEM 2. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ITEM 2b Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation Karr: Okay, the second presentation is from the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation. Here to present is Patty McCarthy, Development Director of ICPL. Hayek: Patty, how are you? McCarthy: Good to see you! Hayek: You too! McCarthy: It is an honor to be here to be able to present the City with $125,000, which represents the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation first installment of our Better Busin ... I'm too many betters! Better Building, Better Service campaign to remodel the Library. The new Library will celebrate its 10th year next year. The City kindly, uh, agreed to issue $200,000 in bond money to help us do this remodeling project. So we've gone a little bit above and beyond and are going to raise about $250,000. We're well past $200,000 so it is an honor to give you $125,000 tonight and I'll be back next year! And thank you to everyone who golfed on Friday for the, uh, Library Links was one of the fundraisers just for this effort! Hayek: Thank you, Patty, and... and as with the Friends of the Animal Shelter, uh, this important organization is such an important one, and ... and it's a strong partnership and it's one of the reasons our library is, uh, from my perspective, second to none in the state of Iowa. So congratulations! Keep up the good work, and we hope to continue the partnership! McCarthy: Thank you. Hayek: Thanks, Patty! (applause) I guess I have to turn the check over! (laughter) Champion: Maybe everybody out here's going to bring us a check tonight! (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 4 ITEM 3. PROCLAMATIONS ITEM 3a Juneteenth National Freedom Day Hayek: (reads proclamation) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Human Rights Commissioner Orville Townsend. (applause) Hayek: (mumbled) Thanks for coming! Townsend: (away from mic) Hayek: Sure! Townsend: Although Juneteenth is a special day for African Americans, uh, here in Iowa City we are a ... a community of color. So ... we will be having a Juneteenth celebration on, uh, June 29"' at Mercer Park from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. and since we are a community of color, it's only befitting that everybody have an invitation to attend. So we hope we can see you! Thank you! Hayek: Thank you, Mr. Townsend! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 5 ITEM 4. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED. Hayek: Item 4 is consider adoption of the Consent Calendar as presented or amended, and I think we want to make a... Champion: Move adoption with, uh, excluding 4e(1) and 4e(7). Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved, uh, by Champion, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Throgmorton: Matt, could I say one... one brief thing about, uh, 4d(1), which is the Transit Title VI program plan? Hayek: Sure. Throgmorton: Very long, complicated document, but ... but what I noticed in it is, uh, a ... a real positive. A lot of... a lot of good information concerning the number and variety of people in Iowa City who have limited English proficiency, and about how the Transit Division is trying to connect with them. It's a very positive thing. I was very impressed with the information and with, uh, what, uh, the Transit Division is trying to do. So I just wanted to acknowledge that. Hayek: Thank you for those comments. Karr: Mr. Mayor, I think there's someone here to comment about 4f(6). Did you want ... we should talk about the Waterfront? (unable to hear person away from mic) Hayek: Yep! If there's here ... anyone here to talk about the Waterfront parking changes. Dahlen: Should I sign in? Okay. My name is Lori Dahlen and I live at 2018 Waterfront Drive and I also work there. I'm a manager at Hilltop Mobile Home Park. And I was speaking with John Yapp yesterday and today, um, regarding the potential changes and I think some of `em are ... are really good. I like the idea of the, um ... no parking signs at any time south of the main entrance to the park, because that's a wooded area and there's been a lot of dumping there, and there's been some efforts in cleaning it up so that's really great also. Um ... and also people have been sleeping in vehicles and we would like to get away from that being an element of the neighborhood. Sure you can all agree with that! Um, and then... the issue that a lot of people have in the park, um, the west side of the street is also currently full of parking. And the east side is supposed to be no parking, which in the most part it is. Um, sometimes there is like a food service vehicle that maybe sometimes gets stuck in the middle of the road, and I think ... I think it was, um ... originally designed for that food service truck to be able to park on the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 6 east side and then service the Shelter House and also maybe HACAP. I'm not exactly sure about that. Um, but anyway, a... apparently it's kind of in the middle of the street now and um, the issue with the park is, on a daily basis during the time of the school year, there's 13 buses that come in and out of there. So you've got these 13 buses and then you've got the exiting of the park, and the coming in to the park. So if by chance you had parking on the west side and you had a bus going out, if there was a need for an emergency vehicle to come in ... that ... that wouldn't happen in a fast way. That person would be stalled, at best. So ... so your option, I think, is to eliminate that west side parking. That's what I think the option is. Uh, I don't think we can eliminate the school bus turnaround. It's just a thought. I know you're trying to do the best with what there is, and I know that you're trying to make changes, and I hesitated to even come here, um ... I know some people have emailed and so, you know, hopefully it's a good idea to show up. Um ... another thing too that... that... that bothers people and ... and I think it's great, um, they are proposing, um ... I mean, the good side is they're proposing having parking from 8:00 to 5:00. Um, so there would be no overnight parking, which would be no sleeping in vehicles. Okay? So that's a big thing and um... the Shelter has rules, uh, you know, they have situations where they'll allow services to certain people and ... and then it ends there. Um, so this ... by chance, if someone let's say was on the sex offender list and sleeping in a vehicle, you know ... was there a law passed three years ago that says ... uh, sex offender of a more serious nature can't be within 300 feet of a daycare or places where children gather. Does that mean ... does that mean staying in a vehicle? I don't know. Is that loitering? Maybe it isn't. Um... anyway, I... I think we're headed in the right direction. Um ... but I do know coming in and out of the park I hear it constantly from people that they have to wait and wait and wait and wait getting in and out of the park, and if it were a normal street in Iowa City, uh, you know, you wouldn't have that ... just that one segment of the population where the buses are coming from. And, so ... so that's the issue and I just would like you to consider that and consider the no parking on the west side. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you for your comments and for coming down. Dahlen: Yep! Do you have any questions? No! Hayek: Thank you! Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. Why don't we take up 4e(1) and 4e(7) at this time, but we need a motion for that. ITEM 4e(1) MOSS GREEN URBAN VILLAGE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN - DETERMINING THE NECESSITY OF AND SETTING DATES OF A CONSULTATION (JUNE 26, 2013) AND PUBLIC HEARING (JULY 239 2013) ON A PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE MOSS GREEN URBAN VILLAGE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN IN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 7 ITEM 4e(7) MOSS RIDGE ROAD CONSTRUCTION - SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON JULY 23, 2013 ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE MOSS RIDGE ROAD PROJECT, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID HEARING, AND DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER TO PLACE SAID PLANS ON FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION Champion: I move, uh, 4e(1) and 4e(7). Throgmorton: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? Throgmorton: (mumbled) gonna get a presentation? Hayek: Yeah we ... do we ... do the staff presentation at this time? Thank you. Ford: Hi, good evening. My name is Wendy Ford. I'm the Economic Development Coordinator for the City, and I understand there were some questions about the, um, the Resolution of Necessity for the Moss Green Urban Village Urban Renewal Area, Amendment #1. If I can say that twice, congratulate me! Um, we're also referring this to ... as, to this as the Moss Ridge Urban Renewal Area. And as you can see on the map here, the original area, um, was approved in 2010 when the development team was different than it is today. There have been several iterations of project ideas to get, um, development going in the Moss Ridge Urban Renewal Area over these last three years and it has come to, um, light that the, uh, most efficient way to, uh, to do this would be to build a road that is not the extension of Oakdale Boulevard, but rather Moss Ridge Road. So let me back up just a little bit and set the stage for why having an amendment to a Moss Ridge, to the Moss Ridge Urban Renewal Area's necessary in the first place. What you're actually cons ... going to be considering as a Resolution of Necessity which, um, initiates the legislative process to either adopt or to change an urban renewal plan, and because of access issues to the Moss, the original Moss Ridge, uh, Urban Renewal Area, the ... and the, uh, desire by the developers to, uh, to construct, uh, Moss Ridge Road as opposed to Oakdale Boulevard extended on the north, uh, and... proceeding discussions with Pearson, the ... and the use of the Pearson prop ... uh, property over which to construct this road, we have a need to amend the urban renewal area. So again, looking at the map, you can see with the big green arrow, the Pearson property there, um, the area that we would like to amend into the urban renewal area. And to get a closer look at, uh, at how the proposed new road fits into that. Let me switch to this view. An aerial view here which, uh, which shows the original, uh, sorry ... the original Oakdale Boulevard and plans, uh, the new plans for the Moss Ridge Road here, and you can see how they bisect the Pearson property. Little more clear when we take off some of the other graphics there. So, uh ... so that is one change that was needed to the original plan, um, the location of the road, and for the City to construct the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 8 road, um, we ... we would have to have that area included in the urban renewal area to be able to use TIF financing to finance the cost of the road, uh, from Highway 1 into the Moss Ridge Urban, uh, Development there. And so the ... the construction of the road is one new project in the ... in the Moss Ridge Urban Renewal Area that needs amendment. The second would be providing us the opportunity to work with a, uh, future development project in that area. So let me stop there and see if you had specific questions, uh, visa vie anything I've said yet. Throgmorton: Yeah, I'd like to ask two questions I think, Wendy. Wh ... the first is why does all the Pearson property need to be included in the amended area? Ford: Pearson requested that their entire parcel be amended into that area, and that is one single parcel. Throgmorton: Right, that has implications for... Ford: Say they desired to expand their building, uh, have new jobs, um, do any kind of a project that might be worthy of your considering a development agreement because of the jobs, because of increased property taxes, they too would then be able to participate or request participation, public participation, in that expansion. Throgmorton: Right, okay. I thought that's what you'd say. And then the ... the second part about, uh, potential development agreements. That applies to anywhere in the expanded, uh, urban renewal area, is it ... is that correct? Not... not... not just the older part but also to the part that would include the Pearson property. Ford: Yes. Yes. That is correct. Throgmorton: Okay. Those are really the two questions I wanted to ask, uh, there are other things I could say but ... but they don't really apply to scheduling a public hearing. Hayek: Right! Ford: And if I could just clarify, again, the Resolution of Neces ... Necessity just initiates that legislative process, and it sets a date for a da ... a consultation with the other taxing entities — the schools and the counties — and that is set for June 26th here in this building, and it also sets the date for a public hearing when you would, uh, consider adoption of the amended urban renewal plan. Hayek: Thank you, Wendy. Champion: Thank you. Hayek: Any other discussion on these items? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 9 Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I will have other things I would want to say about the particular... activity but I'll defer that to our next meeting, cause all we're doing tonight is initiating the process and scheduling consultation sessions, scheduling the public hearing, right? Yeah. Hayek: Yeah. Okay. Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 10 ITEM 5. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). Hayek: This is the opportunity at each City Council meeting for members of the public to address the Council on items that are not on the agenda. So if there's something that's not on tonight's agenda that you would like to bring to our attention, I invite you to step forward. Uh, we ask that you sign in and then verbally give us your name, and we ask that you limit your comments to five minutes. Ross: Hi, my name is Brandon Ross. I, um, I come with, uh, an issue that, uh, a lot of, uh, a lot of people I know, uh, do talk about, and I thought it was not inappropriate to bring it up at this point, which uh has to do with, uh, with Council and uh, Council elections, Council, uh, wages. (mumbled) strong belief that ... as ... as earning $6,000, I think, is about what the Council earns per ... I haven't checked. I hope I'm not giving away anybody's secrets here. Uh, but that at $6,000 it's my opinion that, uh, that the Council is not really open enough, uh, to the greater public for people to run. That the, uh, City Council... City Councilors generally make ... are made up of people who tend to be upper middle class or even upper class, uh, well to do. People making perhaps $100,000 but very few, if any, uh, practically none who are working class. Um ... the working class in this town is much larger, uh, than people in the upper middle class in this town. The average wage, uh, in Iowa City is somewhere in the 40s, so you can imagine there's plenty of people in the 20s. There are many people who are working for Walmarts, McDonald's, pizzerias, yet uh, not too many people on the Council, uh, come from Walmart or uh, Kmart or pizzerias. Well, one Council Member did work for a pizzeria. Uh, that would be a trivia question for any of you. Uh, it was Steven Cantor. With the exception of Steven Cantor and a few others, very few others, that I can think of. Even people running. You don't have working class. Recently we had a candidate named Jared Mitchell. He owns a very small coffee shop. But this doesn't seem to be the make -up of the Council. This is not a personal, uh, this is not a personal complaint about any of the Council Members, uh, whose services I ... I respect and appreciate. Um ... the other day I was, uh, I was on the soccer pitch. My daughter plays soccer with, uh, Connie Champion's granddaughter. Champion: Which one? (laughter) Ross: That's right! That's a bad thing, that's an open statement, right! Of the 47 or 8, I can't remember now (laughter) Uh ... Maureen's daughter, uh, Sam is one of our ...is the great ... she plays .... she's our offense right there. My daughter's the... she cleans up the messes on the defenses. And Maureen said to me, she said, yeah, my mom always said anybody can run. And it reminds me of, you know, it just reminds me of the kind of parental things that parents say, and I agreed with her. I remember Connie saying, uh, I remember her saying many times, I believe anyone can run and everyone should run, and that's one of the things I really like about the spirit of Connie Champion is that she does really feel this. The problem is ... is that, uh, the door's not really open. And ... if I can remain on the soccer This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 11 pitch just for a while longer, my daughter before she was fortunate enough to be able to share the pitch with one ... with a Champion, and uh, and believe me, she's out top goal scorer. So you can see where all the aggressiveness comes from, um ...I was, uh, I was watching a game where my daughter was the only girl on the co -ed team. She was the co -ed aspect of the team, uh, a year ago. And there are a lot of great players. My daughter learned how to play physical and everything, and I was standing and I was watching this one player, uh, who was fantastic for our team, a great kid. Beautiful, soft - spoken, but the ... but just amazing player. And he came over to the sidelines and he was hanging out with me and my daughter and I said, hey, it's been a whole season already, where's, uh, where's your mom for crying out loud? He said, oh, well she's working at McDonald's. And I thought, she's working at Mc ... he's the best player on the team! His mom doesn't ever get to see him play even. The prospect of somebody like his mom being a Council Member — his mom who brings up children and knows a lot about life and whose son is the best player on the team! That she could possibly... possibly know what's going ... you know, possibly come and ... and run for Council for $5,000 or $6,000, it's an impossibility! And so I feel like what we have here is we have ... we have a situation that is not representative, uh, of...of the community. You have a broad group of people. Most people in this community are not the kind of people who talk about whether or not we're going to change commercial to uh, to uh, partial residents, uh, open up properties to businesses and things like that. They have other concerns that are not being met. They have concerns that you talk about but I think that it would be just as good if they would be able to talk about it and that the wage of the Council should be higher for them to be able to do that. It should be $10,000 or $15,000. Should be a living wage. Do you realize we have a City Council that is not paid a living wage? Who can afford to be on this Council? Retired people. People with money who can move around their hours. Uh, and not to say that these are... these are bad people or anything. I think a lot of `em are great people! But none of those people include the real people that make up the great majority of this town. Hayek: Brandon, we're going to need you to wrap up here. It's good to hear from you, but you're about five or six (both talking) Ross: Am I long- winded, anybody? (laughter) All right. I appreciate this moment. Thank you, and please consider this, uh, not only the Council but also people, uh, who are watching in, uh, and maybe send some emails about this. Thank you! Hayek: Thanks, Brandon! Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt and I'm here to talk about a qual ... quality of life issues. For one thing, about the Library. I noticed the Library gave you huge check, in my opinion a huge check, but they're not in compliance with the ADA! On the second floor, you're supposed to have those same power pushes that you have to open this door, on the bathroom — both bathrooms, and on snack shop, and they're This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 12 not in compliance. I have been complaining about this ever since the Library was built. If you do not have upper body strength, you cannot get into the bathroom on the ... on the second floor or you cannot get into the snack rooms, and the way that the bathroom ... the ventilation set ... system in the bathroom works, there's a ventilation system swirling and pulling the door in, and you're trying to pull the door out, and then ... even that, the way the toilets are, uh ... were constructed where they hang from the top and ... not toilets hanging from the top (laughter) the stalls hang from the top. So that the building is settling, and the stalls are leaning, so that the stalls doors no longer shut. And the disability stall, the hook fell of it. I guess the maintenance man decided ... he put it someplace and he can't find it cause it's not on there now. And when you open the door, it smacks against the wall so some day the tile is gonna break! So I should ... could suggest that if they can have ... get $250,000, they use a small portion of that to get back into (mumbled) the ADA law. Like I said, I've been complaining and I, uh, I spoke to someone, and I wasn't speaking about the Library. He told me the only way that a patron could force the Library to get in line is to sue the Library, uh, Board. Now I ... I like the Library! I use it the Library every day but Sunday because I don't have a car. But ... I think it's time for the Library to start obeying the law! Cause people use the Library, disabled people use the Library, and once your body strength goes, you can't go to the bathroom on the second floor, and the second thing I want to, uh, talk about is peop ... I have a neighbor. I ... I don't know the neighbor, but it's been two neighbors in there, and the trash can has been out there for three years. That little blue can has been out there for three years. Now summer's here — it's drawing flies. I thought that after the trash was collected you bring in your trash container and you set it to the side. But this person after ... this is the second ... it's a rented property and each tenant has left it out for about three years. So it's never going (mumbled) I'm expecting a tree to grow out of it soon, and the final thing is that too many people are buying their way out of green space. Even this development where you're gonna ... make the street go higher 'and pull up the old trees. That shouldn't be allowed! There should be some other method of .. of flood control other than ripping that neighborhood apart. So that's all I have to say. I'm waiting for SEATS. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. Could staff look into that Library maintenance issue, and report back? Thank you. Anyone else during community comment? Bramel: Mayor Hayek, uh, Councilors, my name is Alec Bramel, City Council Liaison. Uh, just want to give you an update concerning the, uh, fraternity and sorority, uh, density, um, zoning (mumbled) that we did on ... we last voted on on May 14tH Um, we ... you instructed staff to go back and look into that and see if we couldn't, you know, look into the densities, uh, of the fraternities and see if we couldn't change that, um, cause we had quite a, uh, showing of students in support. Um, last week I met with, uh, Geoff, uh, Fruin and I met with, uh, Karen Howard and Bob Miklo from, um, City staff (clears throat) City Planning and we had a ... a fairly collaborative and very successful meeting, and we, uh, came to the ultimate This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 13 conclusion that we're going to look into changing the RM -44 and the P -RM, uh, zones, um, that are currently now with the ... with the new, um, amendment that we put through, 500 square feet, um, per roomer, um, per property. Um, and we were going to look into changing it back down to maybe 300, maybe somewhere in between. We haven't made .... has not been set in stone yet, but we are continuing that conversation. Um, so, um, to ... sum up, you know, we will be changing, we're looking into changing the density, um ... this action is not on our agenda tonight. Um, may not be on the next one. We're looking into ch... bringing this to the Council, um, first Planning and Zoning first, um, probably late summer or early fall, uh, and that's only because we're going to be bringing the ...the City is also ... City staff and Planning is also going to be bringing private dormitories, uh, action also and we're gonna put `em together, push `em through. So ... uh, that's all I have. Uh, is there any questions, just let me know. Talk to Geoff or myself or anyone from City Planning, I guess. So ... thank (both talking) Hayek: Thanks, Alec! Appreciate it! Anyone else? Okay. We'll move on to Item 6, Planning and Zoning Matters. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 14 ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. ITEM 6a 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) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Hayek: This is second consideration. Expedited action has been requested. Payne: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances be ... 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 first consideration and vote be waived, and that the ordinance be given second consideration and vote at this time. Champion: Second. Hayek: Um, motion to collapse from Payne, seconded by Champion. Uh, discussion? Any ex parte communications from the last reading? Um, is there anyone from the public to address us? Okay. Throgmorton: And why should we collapse readings? Hayek: Well ... so I'm just waiting for that, and then if there's no one from the public, now we can have ... there is a staff member. Miklo: Yes, as you only have one meeting in July, if you wait til your normal course, it delays the project by, uh, almost a month. Hayek: Thanks, Bob! Let's have Council discussion. Um (both talking) have a concern about this? Champion: No! I don't! Throgmorton: Well I ... not really and totally understand how summer's the construction season, uh, waiting a month... cuts into the construction season, so I completely get that. Uh ... so no, I guess I don't have any objections. Hayek: Yeah, I don't generally like (both talking) Throgmorton: ... I don't generally like it. Hayek: ...but when you've got a unanimous P &Z vote and a unanimous first reading vote, and ... no apparent controversy in terms of input from the public, I feel more This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 15 comfortable under these circumstances. Any further discussion? Is there any inclination the Coun ... the Council will go against the P &Z recommendation? Okay. Roll call, please. Payne: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Pass and adopt moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Payne: So moved. Hayek: Moved by Payne, second by... Dickens: Second! Hayek: ...Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 16 ITEM 7a PARATRANSIT SERVICE CONTRACT - REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 13 -196 AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST REVISED 28E AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND JOHNSON COUNTY FOR THE CONTRACTING OF PARATRANSIT SERVICE WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF IOWA CITY. Hayek: Need a motion. Dobyns: (several talking) moved. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dickens, er, Dobyns; seconded by Payne. Discussion? (noises on mic) Throgmorton: Uh, well ... you mean from the public first? Hayek: Well yeah, do we, uh ... we can hear from staff if anyone is interested. Maybe we oughta get just a brief (both talking) Throgmorton: Yeah, we ... we don't have a copy of the resolution in front of us. Karr: It was a late ... it was a late handout electronically sent to you. Throgmorton: This? Karr: No. Electronically sent in your late handouts this afternoon at 3:00. Champion: Oh, that's right, you told me that! (several commenting) Hayek: Why don't we get (several talking) just a brief summary from staff of what this means and then ... uh, invite audience, uh, input. O'Brien: Following the ... the meeting that we had on ... June 4th where it was passed, um... after discussions between, um, legal counsel from the City and the County, exchanging back and forth, uh, there was some language change within the contract related to indemnification, as well as, um, any substantial changes made to operating costs would result in renegotiating and opening up the contract again at that time. Those were two changes that it was felt were, uh, substantial enough changes to bring it back to Council to ... to revisit, uh, and to approve those changes, but there was nothing related to ... um ... any of the issues that had been discussed prior that ... that changed in that timeframe. Hayek: Can you explain a little bit more what the indemnification change that was worked out with the County regards? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 17 O'Brien: Are you familiar with that? That was something that Eric worked out. So ... so more or less what we're looking at there is in the past the County had done ... the contract was all done within the County. So there was no need for us to really be involved in that. Now that we're performing some of the maintenance and we have some other issues related to the vehicles, um, it's ... it's come that we now have to kind of indemnify each other. Does that... sound accurate? Dilkes: Right. We're ... we're just ... for those things that we're taking responsibility for, we ... we indemnify them and, uh, visa versa. O'Brien: Where ... where as in the past we had no ... we were just contracting with them and they were responsible for maintenance, operating. Now we have a part in that so... Dilkes: (both talking) So in other words if we ... if we do some maintenance that ... is faulty and causes an accident, for instance, that would be our (both talking) O'Brien: That would be on us! Hayek: And then can ... just a little bit more, um... O'Brien: On the operational changes? Hayek: (both talking) ... on the operational changes. O'Brien: Sure. I mean, that was something that's been discussed since the beginning and... I think it was more hinted at in the contract. The language was called out to where, um, for example, if we make any changes ... to our paratransit service operations. For example, we decide we're going to stop operating at 6:00 P.M. Uh, whereas right now we go until ... til midnight, or if we're going to eliminate Saturday service or ... any big changes like that that impact the operational costs, um, of the paratransit service substantially, the ... then the discussions will reopen based on ... on what the County's portion of participation will be for those services. Um, now in that we have excluded what Council has already passed being Sunday service and half fares. Uh, those are not included in the substantial change language, um, but are rather excluded from... from reopening the contract. Does that make sense or did I talk myself around that enough? Hayek: No, that ... that's helpful, and I think it's good for the audience to ... to hear this before we solicit input, so... O'Brien: Okay! Hayek: Okay. Thanks, Chris, and if there are (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 18 O'Brien: I'll be here if there's any. Hayek: ...he will be here. Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I'd like to ask one question... Hayek: Oh, I'm sorry, go ahead, Jim! Throgmorton: Not of Chris! I mean, just ... I ... I think maybe the question would be to Marian or to Eleanor. But I just want to make sure, am I right in understanding that the ... the revised resolution, uh, includes the language we adopted two weeks ago about directing the staff to explore alternatives, etc. Dilkes: Yes, it does. Throgmorton: Yeah, okay. Great! Hayek: Okay. Now is the time, uh, that we would ask for input from the audience to the extent there is any. Ostrognai: Hi, I'm Nancy Ostrognai ,um, I live on Glendale. I, uh, I don't really understand, uh, what's going on, like uh, last time when I was here and (mumbled) half fare but uh, have the (mumbled) alternatives. Have you looked into alternatives? Hayek: I ... I think I can answer that and say that ... that is still what we are going to do. Ostrognai: And so what .... need to come back in two more weeks? Hayek: Well when we... Markus: It's in September. Hayek: Yeah, that would be early fall. Ostrognai: (mumbled) Hayek: What ... what we're doing this eve ... what the staff told ... what the Council instructed staff to do after the last meeting, which you attended, was to ... was to go in this direction but look for alternatives, uh, and we gave them authorization to finalize the contract with the County based on that but if there were any material changes to what we had talked about that staff needed to come back to us, and we just heard from staff about two changes that ... that don't affect our intention to look at those alternatives, but instead had to do with the language in the contract, and staff felt that they should come back to us, and that's what we've, uh, got before us this evening, but the underlying intention to move This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 19 forward, uh, with implementation, but look for alternatives, that's still the track the City is ... is headed down. Ostrognai: I ... I think the (both talking) Hayek: Does that make sense? Ostrognai: ...the Council is sort of abandoning... the moral priorities (mumbled) Iowa City. Um, you know, it's (mumbled) diversity and tolerance and ... you know instead you're (mumbled) figure out your priorities and instead, uh ... you're coming up with different priorities, you know ... I don't think it's very fair. Hayek: Well we will be looking at those alternatives which is a direction that the Council instructed staff to take, and that has not changed. What is before us tonight are the two, what I would call minor changes to the agreement. They don't modify the underlying instruction to look at alternatives, and that will come up in September, uh, and there will be more opportunity for input at that time. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, Eleanor, but I think what's before us tonight are those ...are those two changes. One is this mutual indemnification. It's a legal term and it has to do with the City and the County protecting each other because now both entities are responsible for a portion of maintenance, meaning the maintenance of the vehicles they own. In the past it was all done by the County. We're now taking on some of that. That's the first part, and the second part is... is this clarification, uh, that ... that Chris O'Brien from ... from the Transportation Department, uh, explained. So those are the only two changes, uh, in the agreement. Um, the rest is ... is ... is exactly what we decided as a Council at our last meeting to accomplish, and again, there will be this opportunity because we're going to look at these alternatives by September. Dilkes: Yeah, I ... I think the ... another important component is that the ... the end of Sunday service and the elimination of half fares does not go into effect until September 30th, and the Council has asked for alternatives prior to that time. Hayek: Thank you! Ostrognai: (mumbled) to the Council that ... it seemed like a majority were voting to reject this (mumbled) Hayek: Thank you. Cunningham: Hi there! I'm Terry Cunningham. 554 Westside Drive. I guess I ... I just need a little clarification on a couple things Chris said about possibly reducing the time that SEATS is operating from 11:00 to 6:00, and taking another day off, or did I totally misunderstand that? Hayek: I think ... let him... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 20 O'Brien: No! Yeah, those were just examples of what would reopen that contract. That's not something being considered. That... that's... if we ... in order, um, for that, I guess part of the contract to be opened up and be renegotiated we'd have to make some sort of change like that... in order to renegotiate. Cunningham: Thank you! Hayek: Thank you, Terry. Ruff: My name is Keith Ruff. 601 S. Gilbert. (mumbled) when you do vote, please remember every time (mumbled) and go wherever you want, some of us don't have that privilege. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you, Keith. Gravitt: My name is, uh, Mary Gravitt. And I ... when you make your decision, I ... I want you to consider what's going on in the society. Today on Harvest Radio, on WSUI, they had a program about the SNAP program. Now that means that the poor and the disabled are under attack, because SNAP is food stamps. So now their food stamps are going to be cut, and these social programs won't give any money — they don't have the money, and we seem to be under siege from our own Congress. So that a person that's on a fixed income is not going to get a raise. They just don't have the money. So if you ... it's like you're going to double the fare on the half price people, and that's not right. And people have ... a lot of disabled people work. So they need to get to work on Sunday. Like some people want to go to church. Like I say, I keep church in my heart. I don't go to church but ... the idea is ... we have ... we have to protect each other. For some reason this country we are no longer one people. We are `them' and `us,' and the `uses' with the money don't want to help the `them' that's bothering them. You know? So when you consider... just consider those things. Look in the budget. There's some money out there... so this program can continue. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else? Okay, we'll close it down for Council discussion... if any. Throgmorton: Well, I ... I think I want to reiterate what you said, Matt, just to put it in different language. Two weeks ago when we adopted that resolution, we explicitly directed the staff to explore alternatives to the elimination of Sunday services and half price fares, and to present alternatives to the City Council prior to the elimination of such services on September 30th of this year. So ... this resolution has nothing to do with whether or not we're being bad to lower income people or people with disabilities, or anything like that! It's just a ... a legal modification that reflects a particular... two particular changes in ... in the negotiated agreement. S o l ...I'm very happy to support the proposed resolution, but I'm looking forward to seeing what the staff comes to us with in ... sometime in September. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 21 Dickens: I'm ... I'm on the same page. I ... I did meet with Reverend Welsh today for 15 minutes or so, over 20 minutes. He, uh, has sent some emails that you should be getting. I know he sent `em to the staff today and he's just ... just goes over some of the ideas that possibly could be used in the future. So there's people out there that are trying to ... trying to figure out a solution and they're passing it on, and (mumbled) studies need to be done ... and phasing it possibly in, so ... I will support it. Hayek: Any other discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 22 ITEM 7b. 2013 WILLIAM STREET STREETSCAPE - PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2013 WILLIAM STREET STREETSCAPE PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. a. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing (clears throat) is open. (bangs gavel) Um, the estimated construction cost for this, by the way, is about $530,000 and will be funded with General Obligation bond proceeds. Anyone from the public? Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Dobyns: Move the resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 23 ITEM 8. PHASE 2 OF THE FIRST AVENUE STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS - PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PHASE 2 OF THE FIRST AVENUE STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. a. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Estimated construction cost of Phase 2 is roughly $1.1 million and will be funded with General Obligation bond proceeds. Anyone from the audience? Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Dobyns: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 24 ITEM 9. PIN GRANTS - APPROVING DISTRIBUTION OF THE "PROGRAM FOR IMPROVING NEIGHBORHOODS" ( "PIN ") GRANT FUNDS. Hayek: Get it on the table? Champion: (mumbled) move the distribution of the (both talking) Hayek: Maybe... should we wait for the, uh, do you want it on the table? Karr: We need to have it on the table to discuss it (several talking) Hayek: ... on the table. Champion: It's on the table. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Now it is on the table! Roberts: Now I can go? Hayek: Yes you may! Roberts: Okay! Hayek: Please do! Roberts: Good evening, Mayor Hayek, City Council Members. I'm Cindy Roberts from the Grant Wood Neighborhood Association. And we are here to present our ... our annual PIN grant requests, PIN grants being our `improve our neighborhood' requests. Um, we always appreciate your support and we ... we hope you can continue to support this very valuable program. It's now in its 18t year and historically the City Council has approved $15,000 towards the PIN bant ... PIN grant requests. Many of the grant requests are for low to, uh, moderate income, uh, neighborhoods, and events and activities that support those neighborhoods. This year we had initial grant requests that exceeded the $15,000. So in our neighborhood council meetings, there were, um, some ... um ... some grant requests that were reduced and some that were eliminated to ... to help accommodate that, um, that difference. Because we have numerous grant requests, each presenter, and we will try and hold to this very tightly in respect of your time, each presenter will limit their comments for each grant request to two minutes, along with any questions that you may have for any of us as we present our requests. Uh, the first grant request is from Country Club Estates. Okay. Thank you. Throgmorton: Cindy... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 25 Roberts: Yes? Throgmorton: Do you want questions after each presentation or at the end? Roberts: I think whatever... if you would prefer, sometimes I think it might be simpler if...if you have questions about a particular grant request to ask that right away. Throgmorton: Okay. Roberts: And then we just move on ... if that's acceptable to all of you. Thank you. Gholson: I'm Tim Gholson. I'm here from the Country Club Estates Homeowners Association in west Iowa City. Uh, we were approved through the PIN grant program for $1,600 plus, um ... to put in new trees, shrubs; um, do lots of improvements on the park that we have in our neighborhood. Uh, it's the only park we have in the neighborhood, is a private park. Um, but it serves more than just the people who belong to the Homeowner's Association. It does serve the whole neighborhood, as well. Um ... we are matching, uh, these funds with $1,500 of our own money, as well. It is ... will ... um, benefit the neighborhood by making it a much, uh, nicer place, providing more shade for the people who use the park, all those kind of things, and it's no different, uh, even though it is on private property, uh, it is no different than any other program that you're going to hear about because this program serves the taxpayers, or this project serves the taxpayers of Iowa City, just like the rest of them do. Um (sneezing noise on microphone; unable to hear speaker) doesn't care whether it gets improved — the taxpayers do. Uh, the money that's spent in the park helps improve property values in the neighborhood, helps homes sell in the neighborhood, helps improve tax values in the neighborhood. All things that the city benefits from. So, thanks! Hayek: Thank you. Dobyns: (mumbled) questions for him? (several talking) Hayek: There might be a question, Tim. Throgmorton: Well I ... I was going to ask you a question, couple ... two questions... Gholson: Sure! Throgmorton: ... but I think you've already answered them. The first is, is the park privately owned by the Homeowner's Association? (both talking) Gholson: Yes it is. Throgmorton: And... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 26 Gholson: Or it's owned by the ... the developer at this point in time but ... same thing. Throgmorton: Okay. And ... and the second is ... can any member of the general public of Iowa City go to that park and use it? Gholson: Sure! They can't use the pool or the tennis court, but they can use the park. Dobyns: What does the park encompass? I ... I (both talking) Gholson: It's an open area. It's a parking lot with a basketball hoop. It's a playground with a play structure, urn ... it's got sand, um ... so it's ... it's a park just like most any other park. It's green space and place for kids to play. Hayek: And is the landscaping intended to occur in the area that the general public could access freely? Gholson: Sure! Definitely! Champion: You know I ... I ... I still have problems with this. I'm sorry. Uh, this private park is using more than 10% of our PIN grant money, and I have a lot of problems with ... over 10% of our PIN grant money going to a neighborhood that is not at all low income and not ... and not ... and not open to the public. I ... I really cannot support your ... I personally cannot support (both talking) Gholson: So you're not supporting the taxpayers of our neighborhoods? Champion: I'm not going to support your PIN grant for your neighborhood. Gholson: But the taxpayers are the ones that you're not supporting. Hayek: Why don't we do this, why ... why don't we limit this to questions right now and, cause we'll have an opportunity to either vote this up or down, or massage it as the Council sees fit once we go through these. So are there any other questions, uh, for the presenter? Okay. Thank you. Gholson: Sure. Clark: Good evening, Sarah Clark, Northside Neighborhood Association. And I'm here with two items, both related to North Market Square Park and I think all of you are familiar with it and several of you I know were at our grand opening celebration last September, and um, if you've been by the park this spring and summer you've noticed that the plants that we planted using PIN grant funds have been thriving. Um, they made it through the drought last year, and that was in good measure due to, um, one or two neighbors manually taking hoses down to the park, oh about every two days, and doing watering, doing a lot of volunteer work, and we've always ... we planted the, uh, planting areas knowing we wanted This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 27 to support them using volunteer labor. There's no complaining there at all, but based on last summer's experience, we talked to the, uh, Park and Rec Department and they have generously agreed to build us a small tool locker that will be located on site. Um, we've talked about, uh, what it'll look like and the location of it, and I think something very nice is going to come out of that, but we are asking for $300 just to buy some very basic... some hose ... several hoses, some litter pick -up tools, five- gallon bucket, that sort of thing, which will make it a lot easier when the neighbors do their volunteer work days, so that they don't have to take things down to the park in a wheelbarrow or, God forbid, drag their car two blocks with tools in it, cause that would not make sense (laughs) So that's the first one. And the second one, um, we're asking for, uh, $700 in, uh, funds to basically finish off the planting areas there. Um, even though we did have a drought last summer, we made it through without losing too many plants. Um, but we will need to do some infill, and we are also have an eye to expanding a couple of the planting beds and uh, maybe also supplement — there's one bed there that's a ... that the City staff, um, planted out, but neighbors have been looking after that one and we may try to do a few more things, like bulbs, in that area. So, that's what we're asking for. Um ... and we are happy to volunteer to help supplement City staff cause I know there just aren't enough, um, Rec Park staff to devote the kind of hours that, you know, we'd love to see to keep that park going. So we're very happy to do that volunteer work. Thanks! Hayek: Thank you, Sarah. Kreitkowski: Good evening. My name is Amy Kreitkowski and I'm here on behalf of the, uh (mumbled) sorry, the Northside Neighborhood Association, to express support for the PIN grant to help defray the cost of preserving the last remaining brick sidewalks in the Brown Street Historic District. As many of you know, there are four remaining brick sidewalks that are located on the 700 block of North Johnson Street. They're all adjacent to homes that are designated as key contributing properties of the Brown Street Historic District in the Iowa City Historic Preservation handbook. Uh, last fall three of the four homeowners received letters from the City directing them to repair or replace the brick sidewalks. The Historic Preservation Commission has recommended to the City Council that these brick sidewalks be preserved, um, and while this PIN grant won't cover the full cost to repair all of the brick sidewalks, um, it, uh, it does demonstrate the support of the other neighborhoods for preserving these historic sidewalks and as y'all probably know, we are currently, uh, working with City staff on other potential solutions to this issue. These sidewalks, like the brick roads and the historic homes we feel all play a very significant role in bringing people to the north side — visitors I know personally are usually pleasantly surprised to find that brick sidewalks are still in existence. Um, thank you for your consideration of this PIN grant application. And if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer. Hayek: Thank you. Appreciate it! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 28 Kreitkowski: Great, thank you (mumbled) evening. Thomson: Good evening, I'm Will Thomson, uh, from the Longfellow Neighborhood, and I'm here to apply for a PIN grant to cover some historic sign renovations and repairs. Uh, ten years ago the City granted us an arts grant which allowed the Longfellow Neighborhood to install over a dozen historic signs in the easements around the neighborhood. Uh, these historic signs reflect the, uh, the growth of the neighborhood, the industrial, uh ... history and some of the really significant buildings in our area, and they have in the last, uh, several years, um... gone through the usual erosion process that, uh, overtakes all of us at some point and uh (laughter) with a very modest investment of $500 from a PIN grant, we would be able to replace all of the sign graphics with a... a vinyl, which was tested two years ago on one of the signs — the one on Muscatine Avenue. Um, and we can replace all of the graphics so they would be refreshed and renewed, and uh, we would scrape, prime, and repaint all of the sign standards and bring them up, uh, to a... a sparkling condition. Uh, this is basically our intent, uh, and the... offset is that most ... all of the labor will be performed by neighbors and uh, friends, and the, uh, cost is simply ... the funds are requested to offset the cost of producing the vinyl graphic sheets that, uh, that, uh, I mentioned. Um, I appreciate your attention to this and I'm going to, uh, step over to one side here and present on behalf of Longfellow and Grant Wood Neighborhood with Cassandra Elton of the Long ... of the, uh, Antelope Free Library Book Mobile project and ... and Cindy Roberts, who is co- sponsoring this next PIN grant application. Um, Cassandra spoke to our annual meeting in the Longfellow Neighborhood about the Antelope Free Library Book Mobile project and uh, re ... received our support for the book mobile, and the neighborhood's endorsement. Uh, this PIN grant would allow her to purchase books and supplies and extend the support for, uh, literacy... (feedback noises) City of Liter... Literacy to areas beyond our own neighborhoods. Um, and Cindy Roberts will speak to her Grant Wood Neighborhood's, uh, endorsement of the project and uh, I'll hand it off to you. Roberts: Think of this as just a wonderful merger of a neighborhood interests and also what Cassie is doing with her Antelope Lending Library, particularly in the Grant Wood Neighborhood we have a variety of summer programs geared towards elementary students. The reality for a lot of our elementary, well, I can't quantify that exactly, but many of our elementary students having access to the downtown library sometimes just is not, um, a reality for them as far as transportation needs, unless they have parents during the day who are able to actually drive them downtown. Um, taking the bus downtown when you're a young child, unless you have an adult or some, um, guardian doesn't really work very well. Cassie's program here which will visit Grant Wood, um, two or three times a week during the summer is just a wonderful blend to, uh, some of the needs that we have in my neighborhood. Elton: As mentioned, my name is Cassandra Elton, uh, and I'm the Library Director of the Antelope Lending Library. Um ... uh, so the Antelope Lending Library is a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 29 small mobile community library. Uh, it's actually a 31 -foot bookmobile that lives in my driveway (laughs) and um, and it allows us to bring books out to the Iowa City neighborhoods. Um, this is our first summer offering services, um, and we spend part of every week day afternoon in the Iowa City parks. So on Mondays, uh, and this is all from 2:00 to 3:00, uh, on Mondays we're at Willow Creek Park. Tuesday at Creekside. Wednesday at North Market Square. Thursday at Fair Meadows, and Friday at Wetherby. Um, next week we'll be at the Mercer Park Farmers Market every Tuesday from 3:00 to 6:00, um, and as Cindy mentioned, um, every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9:00 to noon, um, we're at NCJC's Grant Wood's summer program. Um ... we just began lending books this week, um, so ... Monday, and today, uh, and we've already had over 70 people visit us and we've lent out over 30 books, um, in just those two days. But we have over 4,000 books in our collection, all from donations, um, many are worn and outdated, uh, so the money that we receive from this grant would enable us to purchase more current books for our collection, um, as well as books in other languages that are spoken in our community. The languages that we're looking at are Spanish, French, and Swahili specifically, but we're open to other suggestions. Um ... these books would enable parents to read with their children in their native language. Um, we're really excited to provide literature and support literacy for everyone in our neighborhoods. Um, are there any questions? Hayek: Fantastic! Elton: Okay! Payne: Can ... can we get your, I mean... can we get her contact information if we want to donate some books? Elton: Yeah, definitely! I can give that to you at the end or... Hayek: Shoot an email to the Council, if you want... Elton: Okay! Hayek: ... go to the web site. Elton: Okay! Great, thank you. Hayek: Thank you. Payne: Thank you. Roberts: Or you can look at the latest issue of the Grant Wood Neighborhood Association newsletter (laughter) and her contact information is right in there! How `bout that? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 30 Hayek: Shameless! (laughter) Throgmorton: Gosh! Where would we find that, Cindy? (laughs) Roberts: Um, it's in your inbox! (laughter) I'm Cindy Roberts. I'm back with the Grant Wood Neighborhood Association PIN gren ... PIN grant request for this year. We have four this year — two are new as far as what I'm calling new, one -time requests and two are returning requests, as far as things that we would like to continue from previous years. The, um, the total dollar amount for our PIN ... PIN grant request is approximately $4,100. 1 first want to extend a sincere appreciation to Mike Moran at the Parks and Rec Department who recently improved ... who recently approved Parks and Rec funding that will take care of our Parks and Rec staffing need for our skate afternoon, our Sunday skate afternoon, and also our Grant Wood open gym time, which um... skate time will begin again in the fall and the open gym will begin a little bit later in the fall when the weather starts getting a little cooler. With that approval, that meant we did not need to submit a PIN grant request for that type of staffing because we do use Parks and Rec staffing for those needs. Thank you very much. (speaking away from mic, unable to hear) ... but I guess not. Um, as a general reminder about my neighborhood, it's in Census Tract 18 with approximately 56% of our residents and families with low to moderate - income level. The percentage of children who receive free and reduced ... free lunch at, uh, Grant Wood Elementary is currently at about 62 %. So just as far as that, um, demographic. The first PIN grant request is a continuing one, would be our fourth year — the PTO family dinners at Grant Wood Elementary. It's been a very successful program. There is a letter of support from Michelle Eckland who's Grant Wood PTO Treasurer. The primary purpose of the funds is to provide simple suppers and childcare, uh, directly to Grant Wood PTO to help encourage parental involvement. Sometimes it's just the simplest thing like having a meal ready -made and know that you will have childcare for your children. Michelle has mentioned in her involvement with PTO this really has helped increase the ... the parental participation, which is something that had ... had dwindled a bit in the last, oh, prior to when we started this program. So, uh, basically no change in that program. What we are providing are funds. They take care of pulling together the simple meal and providing childcare. And I will move on unless you have questions. The next one I'm actually here on behalf of Henry Harper who recently returned from his, um, trip, civil rights tour with his FastTrack students. He was, for some reason, extremely tired when he got home; so I told him to stay home, get some rest and I'll ... I'll take care of this. This is a continuation of a project that, uh, Henry started with his FastTrack students last summer. It's a, uh, curb painting project. Henry has three goals with this project. One is ... is just a logistical, providing a hands -on activity for his fast ... FastTrack students, and it's primarily during the summer — little bit during the fall, but once school starts, uh, there really wasn't too much time for that. The second goal, to provide a real positive interaction between students and residents, just for people to get to know each other. It's ...it's kind of like you get out to get to know your neighbor, but get out to maybe This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 31 know neighbors that are not just in your circumference area. So that was, um, the second goal, and ... and actually the area residents, he concentrates primarily in Grant Wood, Wetherby, and Pepperwood. These are all ... they're all very large neighborhoods, but they're all within an area where it's fairly easy for the students because these are primarily high school students to ... to get around and make that connection. I said three goals, but I think I only said two. Okay, so... two goals. Um, the ... the money this year, which is substantially less than last year is mainly to replenish some things, um ... few of the stencils needed to be replaced and then just some paint. So the...the amount if substantially less than what, uh, he needed last year to really get the, um, get the business going, so to speak. This service is provided to residents free of charge. And the third item, um, and the last two are new requests from us and we're considering them as one- time requests. The third item is ... uh, equipment so we can have an ID, uh, let me just read my notes here because I'm messing this one up. Um ... a one -time grant request for equipment that would provide Parks and Rec staff who work at our Grant Wood gym, for example skate time, open gym time, other times where Parks and Rec staff have, uh, duties there. The same ID card equipment, um, to make ID cards on site. Now my understanding ... this was kind of a new development. My understanding's that this ID card equipment resource is now available to Parks and Rec staff, both at Mercer and downtown Parks and Rec. I'm ... I'm not totally sure about that. Um ... in addition to having this equipment resource for check -in, just checking in students or families or whomever just to be consistent with what ... because we do treat our Grant Wood community gym, school gym and community gym, as kind of a rec center. A quasi -rec center. Uh, we're also hoping that the ID card system could help facilitate making the Grant Wood facility even more accessible to other students or families, as well as providing a better idea of just who's using the facility and the ... the type of activities and the quantity of people that are using that. The funds would cover, um, the printer that's needed, the scanner, replacement ribbons, and the actual ID cards. And, of course, that would be a one -time expense because then that would be used year after year, only replacing or needing to purchase new ID cards. We also view this as something I'm a little unfamiliar with exactly how the equipment works, but um ... my understanding is that this really does help with some of the initial intake of supervision, as far as when students or families come in to a... a rec center type setting. The last one came to our attention, or my attention, somewhat recently, prior to the PIN grant request. The Broadway Neighborhood Center in the past has always had a summer lunch program where they actually provide free lunches to school -age children. This would be primarily elementary - age at Fair Meadows Park which is in the Grant Wood neighborhood. Urn ... they were unable to secure funding for the staffing that they need for the two people that basically provide the lunches. The funding for the food is there, but the funding for two people which is an hour a day, two taf...two staff members one hour a day for 46 days, and in the past this summer lunch program has served about 125 summer lunches each day during, um, during that 46 -day period. I'm not quite sure what... since typically that summer program would have started June 6th, I'm not quite sure what they're doing right now since our funding This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 32 wouldn't start until July. I was going to check with Marcia on that. We wanted to, uh, submit a PIN grant request so that can continue this summer. My understanding is this would be a one -time request because then the hope being that, how the Broadway Neighborhood Center secured staffing funding in the past that would be open to them in the future. Um ... in closing, our neighborhood works to create events and activities that help bring our neighborhood, a very large one, together as well as welcome Iowa City residents outside our neighborhood to our events and activities. Getting the word out about the many positive things in our neighborhoods is always one of our goals, as well as one of our challenges. Um ... I want to extend a personal invitation to our Fair Meadows Park splash pad grand opening this Sunday, 2:00 to 4:00. Free ice cream, um (mumbled) puppet show and a puppet workshop, along with the grand opening of the splash pad, as long as that City inspection thing works out (laughter). We're still waitin' on that! Um, and as always, thank you for your ... your consideration for our PIN grant requests. Uh, they're always very much appreciated and to Marcia Bollinger for all the assistance she provides each one of us as we prepare these. And Marian, thank you for the #9 slot on the agenda. I really like that! (laughter) Hayek: Thank you, Cindy! Krapfl: Hi, my name is Katy Krapfl. I'm representing the Goosetown Neighborhood Association and we're requesting PIN grant funds to renovate the parks and garden at Reno Street Park. Currently the structures and the playground are being renovated by the City and to go along with that we'd like to renovate the parks and the planting area. There are currently two garden plots available and they've become overgrown and kind of...filled with hostas and kind of things that have spread out. We'd like to renovate those plantings, including more, um, seasonal interests with some bulbs and also maybe do some plantings around the, um, exterior of the structures that are being installed. And... eventually we'd also like to have, uh, more children's involvement and possibly create an edible, kid - friendly garden at ... using the funds next spring. So ... that is our proposal. Champion: I'm sorry, what park is this? Krapfl: The Reno Street Park. Champion: Oh, right! I know which one you mean. Krapfl: Yep! Champion: It's a cute little park. I just saw it. Krapfl: Yeah! It is little! (laughs) Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 33 Nichols: Hi, I'm Karen Nichols and I'm representing, um, Creekside Neighborhood Association, and we are requesting $500 for two Little Free Libraries in our neighborhood. Um, we see this as an opportunity to build community and ...and improve quality of life in our neighborhood. Um, libraries have long been recognized as a public good and supported by tax dollars. The neighborhood libraries play nicely into our city ... city's identity as a UNESCO City of Literature and um, as you probably know, Little Free Libraries have received PIN grant funding in the past. Um ... we have two neighborhood contractors, um, Martin Construction and Top Shelf Construction, who have volunteered to build the libraries, and both have said they can do so by the deadline of June 30', 2014. We have eight people from the neighborhood who have volunteered to be involved in, uh, the building and upkeep of the libraries and many more have offered to donate books. Given the high -use areas where these libraries will be located, um, Creekside Park and the bike trail, and the popular... popularity of these libraries in other neighborhoods, we expect, um, high use of the libraries among the neighborhood residents. The tot ... total number of households in Creekside Neighborhood (coughs) excuse me, is 669. Uh, Creekside is a moderate to low- income neighborhood and we expect high use among both young people and seniors. At least two of the people who will be supplying books are educators, and we plan for at least half of the books in the park to be for children. Educational research has shown that a key indicator of student success is the presence of books in the home, and low- income students are the least likely to have an ample supply of books of their own. Little Free Libraries are one way to meet this need. It would be beneficial for seniors and other disadvantaged persons in the neighborhood to have a source of free books that, um, is very nearby. No other funding that we know of is available for this project. Um, private donations of building materials will be sought. If money can be saved in this way, the savings will be put toward building more Little Free Libraries for the neighborhood, and the amount we're crest... requesting is based on, um, the amount that, um, has been given, uh, for these Little Libraries in the past. About $250 to build each one. Um, the libraries will be well - constructed and well - maintained and are expected to benefit the neighborhood for many years to come. Questions? Throgmorton: Karen, do I understand correctly that, uh, there will be a party in the park at Creekside this week? Nichols: There will be! (laughter) This Thursday (both talking) Throgmorton: When's that going to be again? Nichols: 6:30, um, in Creekside Park this Thursday. Throgmorton: This Thursday. Oh yeah, good! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 34 Nichols: Thank you! (laughs) Hayek: Thank you. Nichols: Any more questions? Thomson: I wanted to thank the Mayor and Members of the Council for allowing us to ... (both talking) Oh, you have one more! I'm so sorry! I ... I lost my, uh... (laughter) I lost my place here! Champion: Now you're going to be #15 on the agenda next year! (laughter and several talking away from mic) Gartzke: My name's Francis Gartzke. I live at 2709 Wayne Avenue and I'm with the East Side Neighborhood. Um, it's funny, everybody's requesting flowers and books. I'm requesting trashcans (laughter) Urn ... we, uh, appreciate the Council for trying to upgrade Towncrest. It's ... we're really excited about it. We see construction going on and we're ... we want to take it a step further to help keep it clean, and uh, we're... probably want to put trashcans around the bus areas. When a few of us in the neighborhood get home from work it's been an issue. We've had to do a lot of pickin' up. When we get home from work we want to relax. But um ... we have numerous volunteers who are willing to maintain these trashcans so ... and we don't want to get `em too close to the bus stops cause I talked to Mary (laughter) We don't want her smellin' anything she don't need to be smellin' (laughter) so we uh, are really excited. We want to keep ... take the step up and help better the Towncrest area for new prospects possibly coming in, businesses. If they scout the area out, we want to give a good presentation. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. Appreciate it. Thomson: (speaking away from mic) ...apologize for (mumbled) (laughter) um, and ... and to say that I appreciate your listening to the grant proposals and ... as you know, they are a cost - effective way of...of expanding services and uh, and beautifying and improving our neighborhoods. Uh ... many of the worthwhile projects that you've heard about tonight and others that you have ... have approved in the past have really improved things in the neighborhoods, like the Little Free Libraries for example, uh, gardens and beautification projects, uh, grassroots improvements, uh, historical signage, trails, and so on. Um ... and we hope that you'll (feedback sounds) continue to support PIN grant funding as it has made these projects possible. And, uh, we're asking that you authorize the resolution approving the recommendation made by the Neighborhood Council for the fiscal year 2014 PIN grants. Thank you very much. Hayek: Thank you, Will. Okay. Let's take it back to Council deliberation here. Figure out what we want to do (feedback sounds) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 35 Mims: Um, I would just ... who's got the floor, Matt? Hayek: You do, Susan. Mims: Okay, thank you. Um, I would just say I have to find myself in agreement with Connie. When I look at grants, to me, and I don't know how the language is actually written on our PIN grant. These should be going to help neighborhoods who either could not or would have great difficulty, uh, doing these projects on their own without the assistance of the City. And, when look at the Country Club Estates, um, PIN grant request, I have two concerns. One is ... as others have mentioned that this is on private property, and two that there is no ... I can't believe that there's any economic need per se in this neighborhood, um, for the City's grant money. And so I ... I have grave concerns about that one. Um, I'm fine with the rest of them. Champion: I guess I've already expressed my view on this. Payne: When you look at the requested amount and the recommended amount, there's only one of them that wasn't fully funded and that was the ... Johnson Street brick sidewalk repair. Champion: But there were other grants that were ... did, weren't there other grants? Bollinger: (both talking) ...um... Champion: ...other proposals? Bollinger: Hi, Marcia Bollinger, Neighborhood Services Coordinator, um, there were the two grants that Cindy referred to that Mike Moran, as part of the Parks and Rec budget, is now going to be funding for the roller skating and the open gym. Neither the Brookside walk nor ... um, the Country Club Estates were fully funded. Champion: But didn't you say ... at the beginning, somebody said there were ... the grants proposed (mumbled) amounted to a lot more than the... Bollinger: I think it was $25,000 (both talking) Champion: Right! So ... were there things that were taken out? Bollinger: Almost $25,000. Champion: Right. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 36 Bollinger: Um, Northside voluntarily reduced their initial grant request from $1,000 to $700, wasn't that correct, um, cause you found that you had some additional funding, um ... but that pretty much reduced it down to what ... what you see in, um, the memo that you received. Champion: (both talking) ...$25,000 to... Dickens: ...the Rec Center took over some of the, couple of the grants. Champion: Well I ... I'm sorry. I'm still not willing to fund that. (mumbled) money was carried over. Payne: Where I was going with that was would we put that 1667 towards the ... brick street sidewalk repair, you know, add that because they requested $5,000. It still wouldn't be up to their $5,000 (both talking) Champion: That would be fine! Payne: But move that money to a different item, line item. Champion: I would not have any problems with that. Dobyns: Didn't... didn't a couple weeks ago we talked about another place that was trying to repair their brick sidewalks, uh, was that (several talking) Markus: ...same issue. Hayek: Same... same one (several talking) Payne: And this was one of the items ... the ideas for funding for that, wasn't it? Markus: That's exactly right. The ... the Commission referred ... or deferred to this funding source. Um, I spoke with, uh, Amy earlier today or emailed Amy earlier today. It's my understanding though that the funding would go to the off -set of the City's, uh, contribution towards the brick, uh, sidewalk and that issue, and um, so that we're clear on that. I'd just like to ... see, there's going to be ... there's going to be private participation and there's going to be public participation. The proposal that the staff proffered was that the ... adjacent residents would pay the equivalent of what a sidewalk replacement would be with concrete. The City would pick up the overage from, you know, subtracting concrete from what the brick replacement was. Payne: I think the... Hayek: The overage though... is the overage 1677? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 37 Markus: Um, no. It's... combined it's going to be more than that, but it's ... it's actually, uh, we met on the site, um, I kind of took the lead because we assigned and had Rick handling floods that week (laughter) and so um, what we, um ... kind of concluded was ... we brought out a ... a, uh, landscape, bricklayer and so we had ... I think had pretty reasonable prices. So that's kind of the approach we're taking, but we're still working out the details with the adjacent residents. Throgmorton: So I ... I don't have any objections to, you know, committing this $1,700 to the brick sidewalk, but I want to make a different suggestion. I ... I, like Connie, I think it's inappropriate to commit $1,700, uh, for a privately owned space. All right, so ... that's ... but I wonder if maybe we could ask the, uh, what's the name of the ... Neighborhood... Bollinger: Council. Throgmorton: Council, thank you. Uh, to recommend to us, um what they ... another way of spending the $1,700. Bollinger: Uh huh. That's occurred in the past and that's been the standard procedure (both talking) Throgmorton: ... gonna suggest ... I mean, I don't have any reason to oppose committing that money to the neighborhood. It's putting the money into a privately owned space that I object to. So perhaps the Country Club Estates neighborhood people could come up with an alternative use of the funds... Bollinger: Uh huh. Throgmorton: ... that would pass muster from the Neighborhood Council's point of view. Dobyns: Well the two playgrounds in the area are Weber Elementary and at Hunter's Glen Park (both talking) Champion: ...Hunter's Run (both talking) Bollinger: Hunter's Run. Dobyns: ... and both those areas have playgrounds which would benefit from (mumbled) Throgmorton: Yeah, uh, a little creativity here might ... might help (both talking) Dobyns: ... (mumbled) Bollinger: Well as they ... as the Neighborhood Council summarized where they ... how they had ranked the applications and allocated funding, I think there was some level of ...they need to sit down and really look more closely at the PIN grants. They This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 38 have kind of evolved over the last 18 years and um, the limitation on private property, um, was ... was somewhat soft, depending upon what the outcome was and what the availability to the public was, um, to enjoy whatever is being done. Uh, so they ... they plan on spending some time talking about that as well. Dobyns: And I'm not willing to never say never. I mean, if a private entity, um, wanted to allow the public access to their area in perpetuity and that was clearly advertised in perpetuity, um, and there was adequate signage suggesting that, um ... this area I don't think has that intent, except for that very small private playground area, and if I recall, um, off Lakeshore Drive there's a sign there that doesn't invite the public. It says this is, you know, a private area, and there's no suggestion, as I recall, that that little play area is open to the public. And so it does not describe that so... Hayek: Well let's do this. If...it sounds like there's a majority that does not want to fund, um, the Country Club Estates portion of this, um, you know, we've spent ov... almost 45 minutes now talking about $15,000 of funding. I would prefer that we move forward and if we're going to make this change, uh ... instruct the Neighborhood Council to determine how to spend the remaining $1,667. Champion: Okay! Hayek: Um ... and, you know, come back to us or not, but I'm comfortable... trusting them to make a good decision. Throgmorton: Okay, so you want a motion in that ... to that effect? Champion: Yeah (several talking) Throgmorton: Yeah, so I... I move that we adopt the resolution, minus the $17... approximately $1,700 from Country Club Estates, but we direct the, uh, Neighborhood Council to come back with us to recommendate ... with recommendations about how ... how we could spend that $1,700. Bollinger: Okay. Hayek: Well I would... could... could you have it be with instructions to spend it, I mean, I don't know that we want them to come back to us with (both talking) Champion: No, they can just spend it! Hayek: ...on $1,700. Throgmorton: Sure. Hayek: I mean, don't you think that'd be more efficient? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 39 Throgmorton: Sure, uh ... (laughter) I'd accept that, uh, amendment (both talking) Bollinger: So you just want a informational memo that says what they decided (several talking) Champion: Thank you! Bollinger: Okay. Hayek: And we'll consider the, uh, the original motion, uh, withdrawn. Okay, so moved by Throgmorton, uh ... and seconded by Champion. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0, and we appreciate the, uh, appearance of everyone here this evening. Good luck! Thanks for beautifying Iowa City. (noises on mic) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 40 ITEM 10. SALE OF $7,230,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS - DIRECTING SALE OF $7,230,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2013A. Champion: So moved. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Uh, hello, Dennis! Bockenstedt: Good evening, uh, I'm just going to talk about the bond sale we had today a little bit and this actually covers Items 10 through 13 and ... um, at 10:00 this morning we took bids on, uh, two separate bond issues, uh, the first one was titled 2013A, uh, $7,230,000. Uh, we ... we thought we had a very successful sale this morning, um, we ended up getting nine bids on that particular bond issue, um, which is quite a few bids. We were very pleased, uh, the..the low bid came from UNB Bank in Kansas City, Missouri, uh, and they teamed up with Hills Bank and Trust of Iowa City, and they put in a 10 -year rate of 1.538 % ... which is a ... a tremendous rate. We were pretty happy with that. Uh, the second bond issue was a taxable bond issue and this was a two -year bond issue. Um, on that particular series of bonds we received five bids, uh, that ... the low bid on that was from (mumbled) uh, Fifth Third Securities and they bid a two -year rate of .7419 %. Um, so we were happy with the number of bids we got, and we're also very happy with the rates, uh, we were able to get. So, and I'll take any questions if you have any. Hayek: Nice work! Throgmorton: How's our bond rating? Bockenstedt: (laughter) Very solid! Throgmorton: Great! Hayek: Any questions for Dennis? Thank you! Council discussion? Roll call, please. Item passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 41 ITEM 14. REDEFINING THE HUMAN RIGHTS COORDINATOR POSITION TO HUMAN RIGHTS COORDINATOR / EQUITY DIRECTOR - AMENDING THE BUDGETED POSITIONS IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND CONFIDENTIAL PAY PLAN BY REDEFINING THE HUMAN RIGHTS COORDINATOR POSITION, GRADE 28 TO A HUMAN RIGHTS COORDINATOR / EQUITY DIRECTOR POSITION, GRADE 29. Payne: Move resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Champion: I just think this is a really smart move. I like it! Throgmorton: I do too! I think it's an excellent move. Payne: Yep! Hayek: Roll call, please. (noises on mic) Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 42 ITEM 15. CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING AD HOC DIVERSITY COMMITTEE REPORT- IN SUPPORT OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE AD HOC DIVERSITY COMMITTEE. Payne: Move resolution. Dobyns: Second. Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Uh, we have a number of people in the audience here and I assume they wish to address us, and so we'll start with input from the audience and then close it down for City Council discussion. Whiston: My name's Dorothy Whiston and I live at 317 Mahaska Drive. Um, first of all I just want to thank you for all the time you've put in over the last six months. I know that, um, Tom Markus and other staff members attended a lot of the Ad Hoc Committee member, or Committee meetings and that they did a lot of really good work. Um, as a member of the Coalition for Racial Justice and the Consultation of Religious Communities who has a keen interest in the issues around diversity and racial disparity. Um ... we were very heartened by what the Ad Hoc Committee, Diversity Committee, came up with. Um, I do want to say that I ...I think that I really appreciate how much time the staff evidently put into going through the ... the report with a fine -tooth comb and thinking about what might be done. I think what still needs to be done is for the Council, um ... not necessarily at this time. I liked the idea of putting something in the strategic plan down the road. Um, to really make a statement about racial disparity in Iowa City. Um, diversity, uh, is one issue, but racial disparity, which is something that can be numerically measured, um in terms of police contacts, in terms of housing, in terms of employment, in terms of educational outcomes and practices. Uh, is really something that Iowa City... nationally is an issue, but Iowa City also really needs to make a... a concerted effort and commitment to working on overcoming the racial disparities in our count ... in our community. Um, there's clear evidence, I think, out there, whether it's from the juvenile justice, uh, report issued by the State, or the thing about marijuana arrests that there is discrepancy in policing in ... in Iowa City. Um, and certainly I think in the criminal justice system in other places, as well. Um, so while I think these are great first steps, I think that there... they're not, uh, in the report that you got, or the recommendations from ... the City staff, there are not evidence - based, best - practices based, uh, elements that will allow us as a community to measure racial disparities as they currently exist in our community, um, and even particularly in terms of policing, um. ... but I think it needs to be expanded beyond that. Fir... first to measure where we are, and secondly to come up then with strategies to address those discrepancies, those disparities and ... and inequities, um, so that we can have clear strategies to overcome them. Um, and to remedy them. So I hope This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 43 that, uh, I heard a couple of you say in the work session that this is a first step, and it's a commendable first step, um, but I ... but I really, uh, hope that you will hear the community, uh, who's interested in this, hearing it's ... it's a baby step. It's a ...it's a preliminary first step, and a lot more needs to be done. Um, I guess the ...the piece of the report that I, um ... feel the most concern about is when ... when I first read the report, my take on it was that the Ad Hoc Committee was calling for pretty significant change in culture in the Police Department in Iowa City. Um, and I didn't see that ... kind of urgency and the ... and the real shift in direction that I think that they were asking for, uh, in the response, uh, to the recommendations that they made, and I hope that you will, uh, continue to dialogue with them. I really appreciated Jim Throgmorton's idea that there would be a meeting between the Ad Hoc Committee and the City Council and staff to talk about that. I hope that if you have that ... I hope you will have that, and I hope you will make it a public forum, um, you know, from ... from little things to, you know, the ... the police recruitment video was replaced, but why did we have a S.W.A.T. team oriented police recruitment video up there in the first place? You know, we need to talk about that as a community, that... that... who... who we want to be as a community. How we want the Police Department to represent us as a community, and respond to us as citizens in this community. Um, I think when you get a message from a significant portion of the community that they feel that the attitude toward them is monitor and contained, um, I don't feel that way as a middle -class white person in this community, but I know that many, uh, people of color do feel that way. And that's a problem! That's a problem! That ... and it's not just a matter of trust. It's a...it's a problem that we have as a community, and it's a problem that's borne out in the arrest statistics in our community. So I think we have to, um, pay very close attention to that. Um, so you know, again, I want to commend you on what you've done so far and all the energy and time that you've put into this and ... and there have been some good forums. Um, but I think there's a lot more to be done and I hope, again, that the shift can be from a diversity outlook to a racial disparity and racial equity outlook, because those are very different ways of looking at them, looking at these issues, and racial disparity and racial equity are measurable. And, I don't believe that the report, um ... as outlined in, uh, in these recommendations really addresses that issue. It kind of addresses how we're progressing on these recommendations, but that does not address how we're doing on ... on issues, measureable issues of racial disparity. So, thank you. Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Calkins: Good evening. My name is Marilyn Calkins. I live at 2714 Wayne Avenue. I also am a member of the CRC and the Coalition for Racial Justice. And ... it's been really interesting to hear the recommendations by the staff, and it's good to know that people have been thinking about these issues, but I have two really big concerns. First of all, that I didn't feel like those recommendations or any of the wording reflected the fear and mistrust that many of the minority and immigrant community feel about the law enforcement here in Iowa City. And those feelings This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 44 should have been reflected in some way. Also, I've lived at my address, a neighbor of Town and Campus, uh, apartment complex for 15 years. And in fact, my door overlooks their parking lot and part of their buildings. I can't tell you how many times, even though a majority of that time I worked during the day and was only home nights and weekends, that I'd hear the sirens and sure enough they'd stop at Town and Campus, and even the number... again, the fewer number of times that those were on an area where I could view, there wasn't just one or two cars. There were three, four, or five cars. And a bunch of policemen jumped out, and obviously I didn't know what the call was about. Quite often though within 10 or 15 minutes, all but one of the cars was gone. I don't know how those families felt. I don't know how those mothers with children felt when something was going on and maybe it was nothing, and why did all the police come to their house. Why did they all show up at their address? I hope that during the continuing discussions, that the voices of the people concerned are really heard and taken into account on some of the decisions that are made. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. Eastham: (clears throat) My name is Charlie Eastham. I'm also a member of the Consultation of Religious Communities and the Coalition for Racial Justice. Uh, I do want to, uh, thank the Council and uh, the, uh, staff, the City Manager, for getting us this far. Uh, and I, uh, I hope that (mumbled) have expressed, we can get a lot faith... further in the next, uh, very few months, if not... certainly not immediately but, uh, relatively soon. Uh, I think one of the ... I share the same issues that, uh ... uh ... uh, Dorothy and Marilyn have expressed. Urn ... the, uh, it would be much better I think if the ... if the report, the staff's recommendations (mumbled) Council's response. First of all simply acknowledge that a racial disparities is a ... is a problem. Just, you know, say that outright. Um, and the... this community, uh... and the other... and the, uh, other parts of the recommendations in terms of law ... uh, law enforcement and their relationship to minority communities and people of color, um..uh, it's very helpful that the City is doing many, many things. It's going to be more helpful if the City ... uh, the law enforcement community were, um, committed to changing their numbers. Uh... each interaction between a police officer and a member of the minority community can go in many different... many different directions and right now most ... many of those interactions are convincing people of the minority commun ... the minority community that they're not particularly welcome in this ... in Iowa City. They're not particularly pleased with how the police off... the police department is, uh, is addressing their concerns. Uh, and those individual interactions ... eventually get reflected in larger numbers. Um, and the juvenile justice, uh, system is very good at creating, uh, numbers that reflect disproportionate minority contact. Those ... that same data could be collected and uh, analyzed, uh, for adults and young adults, and those numbers kind of, you know, they can ... they can drive, uh, or they can guide, I'm sorry, they can guide a changes in police behavior so that in ... over the next many months, people of minority communities will see themselves, understand that the police department This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 45 is actually here to protect and serve them, and not to monitor and control them, and I hope that that's where we're going to go, uh, here immediately. Um (clears throat) I'm sure the members of the Coalition and the CRC and many other commun... community members would... are dedicated to assisting, participating, and working with City staff and the Police Department in getting to a place where we are not quite now. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Fox: Hello, I'm Karen Fox and I'm on the, uh, Coalition for Racial Justice and I wanted to be sure that we thought about the juvenile effect of the disparity of children in school being addressed by the police in school being addres... arrested, having criminal records because they have had an argument or a... a disruption in school. It's, uh, the disparity is huge. It's like 17 times more children, is that correct? Um, are ... are confronted by the police who are of racial, um, minority and I think that our community needs to look at this and see what we are doing to these children, graduating from high school with a criminal record, not expunged, has an effect on their entire life for a mistake they may have made in junior high school. So I hope that the Committee will look at ...the Council will look at that. I think the Council and the Manager (mumbled) Assistant Manager and also the ... the racial, I'm sorry, the Ad Hoc Committee, um, and I thank you for your time. Hayek: Thank you. Massey: Good evening, Councilors. My name is LaTasha Massey. I live at 2826 Whispering Meadow Drive. I just quickly wanted to say that I am very much open to sitting down and having that conversation you all as a, um, a Ad Hoc Diverse, well, previous Ad Hoc Diversity Committee Member, um, I think that it's very important that, um, I appreciate, um, and I'm sure my family appreciates, the opportunity to be heard, um, and I think that there is a difference between being heard and being listened, and I think it's ... as a country we've missed that. We've taken a lot of time and we've heard what people have said, but we haven't really listened to what they said, and I think that we ... if we miss this opportunity, this would be another one of those things, one of those policies or procedures that's happened in our country that's had a chance to make it right, and we missed it, and I really ... I really will encourage you to really, really look at what we wrote. We spent a lot of time, and we didn't get paid. My family, I missed many a dinners (laughs) you know, coming because I feel it's important and that I feel like not only is it going to impact me, it's going to impact future generations. People are staying. This is not a community anymore where you're seeing people of color being here for one or two generations, but people are staying for multiple generations. So this is going to affect my grandchildren and their children. So please take antoher chance to look at some of those things. Some of those things I really see as ... as some parts where some people put some serious work into that and we can see that those things are going to be changed, and there's some other This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 46 areas where's it's like, oh, I think we should talk a little deeper about that part of it. I can't speak for the entire, um, Committee that was here, um, but I can only speak for myself and for my family in saying that we would appreciate a second look, and another opportunity to dig a little deeper, because these are historical things that have been happening for a very long time. It's not personal. It's not, you know, personally just pointing out the police (mumbled) personally pointing out transit services, but this is a historical thing, and I really think that it's important that we see beyond that, that we see beyond our own lenses of how we view life and see that there are other people out there that are having a different experience, so they're going to hear it and they're going to feel it differently. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. Finnerty: Good evening, Diane Finnerty, um, member of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, and uh, resident of Iowa City, 728 Dearborne. First, and I'll make it quick, I have three requests for the Council in regards to this, and ... but let me first start with the thank yous, and that is to every member of the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, to the Councilors that proposed it, to really the effort and the time and the arguments and the conversations and the, uh, hopes that were embedded in the report, it shows and it's a, uh, I think, a model for, um ... when you ask the opinion of the residents they will give it, and... and make recommendations. So, I thank the committee members. I thank City staff for the really quick, when you think about public (mumbled and laughs) the quick and very thoughtful responses to the item by item, um, recommendations and the format, uh, that you're presenting it to Council to be able to regard, um, the... that's not ... that's not a small effort and so thank you for that, and then also indeed to the Council for, um ... uh, your comments during the work session, um, for your thoughts about taking this seriously and putting it into the strategic plan. I think that's a fascinating, um, recommendation and I can tell that it's, uh, each one of you is ... is bringing your heartfelt thoughts to, um, what's been proposed before you. The three recommendations or requests that I would make of Council as you, um, decide what to do with this, um, the first is to, um, regard the ... the recommendation the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee made regarding an equity report. Um, I think the proposal that is coming from staff around the ... the, uh, the DIFS, diversity implementation forms, is ... could be a very useful management tool in terms of the timely and effective implementation, and indeed it is a (mumbled) implementation, um, of making sure the efforts that they promise you will be done, will be done. That's a very different report than a equity outcomes report. So the difference between, um, monitoring whether implementation occurs is a managerial issue. Monitoring whether the efforts that were put into place have any impact ... is an assessment of outcomes, and that's an equity report as the ... as the committee members have recommended to you. So, I ask that you think about not just from a managerial perspective, um, about whether what your staff say will be done is done, but also from a community leadership perspective about whether what is being put into place is actually This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 47 having the intended, um, outcomes. Uh, I think it's also interesting to think about annual reports being submitted, on a report that's issued in 2013. So as ... as it's currently written, you'd get the annual update about whether those things are being implemented or not, but there's no feedback loop about is what we're doing effective, and I... and I would also agree that I think, um, there are both new initiatives and also there's a continuation of many initiatives that we know continue to result in disparities. Um, so the first is ask you to look at the concepts around the equity report and ... and revisit what the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee is recommending. The second one is the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee recommended, um, that the refort ... report format is, uh, developed... I'm reading from, um, equity report, the first bullet. The report format and composition shall be developed by the City Manager in consultation with the City Council, the City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission, and any other committees determined by the City Council. So in addition to the DIFS, what's being recommended right now is you've got tons of reports out there, and of course you do. There's compliance agencies you need to be giving data to about how you're doing. There's no format for that to be publicly accessible, and I've tried, believe me. I've been into every one of those reports that's been, uh, identified as being out there. I would also not want any public employee to reinvent the wheel and have to resubmit one more report in one format, um, but there are formats that can be accessible to the public that looks at monitoring indicators that the Iowa City Human Rights Commission stands ready and willing and able to work with you on looking at models. I'd like the Council to consider why the Human Rights Commission was, um, recommended out of that process for the report format, uh, in spite of the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee's recommendation. I did just come from the Iowa City Human Rights Commission and that's why I was in and out as we met this evening, as well, and we voted uh, to request that Council, um, ask that we ... uh, work with the City Manager, uh, to put the Iowa City Human Rights Commission back into the concept about the equity report as re ... as requested to you from the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee. And that comes ... will come to you as a Human Rights Commission resolution. Lastly, um, and my third one as a Commissioner is just to ask you to think in general what role the Iowa City Human Rights Commission can play in these efforts. Um, I've been out working to recruit people to join, as I'm looking at the applications and what it states for all boards and commissions is that, "Individuals serving on boards, commissions play an important role in advising the Council on matters of interest to our community and its future." Please consider, um, you've got some commissioners that stand ready, willing, and able to partner with you on looking at these, whether it's monitoring best practices that exist in other places. All of us, I think all of us in this room, would like Iowa City to be known as a leader, not in disparities, but a leader in how do you create municipal models for addressing, uh, changing demographics and the Commission stands ready and I ask the Council to ... to think very strategically about how you can make good use of its commissions. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 48 Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else from the audience? Okay. Close it down to Council discussion. Dobyns: You know, to me if it was evident that the Police Department's interaction with mor ... minority members of our city did not facilitate diversity, then the Council wouldn't have called the Diversity Committee, and we certainly wouldn't have listened to them. But we called the Diversity Committee. We did listen to them, and so did City staff. And what they put together is the way I look at it is it's sort of like a microscope. We needed to take a look at this, but when I take a look at a microscope, it's because I need to scrutinize what's down there, but I do not pre- suppose what I am going to see. So I don't think you should pre- suppose what the Council is going to see. We're going to take the microscope to this. But don't pre judge, and I'm not going to pre judge either. And I think what we have is a plan in place to take a very good look. What is important is what we are going to see over the next six to 12 months, and I think with the addition of pairing this with the strategic plan will add to that evaluation and scrutiny, and so I am going to vote for the measure. Payne: One ... one of the things that, um, Diane mentioned was effectiveness, and I think it is important to have an effectiveness review. Maybe that could be part of the annual review, you know, how effective was this... what... what staff did, um, I think it's important that what we're doing is working or not working so that we can change gears if we need to. So, I mean I thought that was a very good suggestion to have some kind of effectiveness review. Dickens: Like, uh, Rick, I think we need to start somewhere with human rights and look ...looking forward, may have to learn from our history. Uh, I ask each City Councilor to meet with our Police Chief. Uh, I talked to him in between the break and I'm the only one that's actually sat down. He said Rick talked to him a little bit, uh, when Sanctuary City came up. Uh, ask the Chief to sit in and uh, learned a lot about what he thinks about his role in the community is, and I think each of the Councilors needs to take the time and see his view as well. I really would like to meet with the Ad Hoc Committee, as well, and uh ... just respect our differences, and we have to move forward. Hayek: Seem to be kind of going in a line here so (laughs) continue. Uh, I'll be supportive of this, and I, uh, applaud the process that brought us to this point. I think it's clear we need to increase, uh ... engagement and ... and trust, uh, between, uh, law enforcement and ... and transit, you know, that has not gotten the ... the same attention as law enforcement, but it was certainly part of this exercise, uh, increase the engagement and trust between those, um, departments and the community, and we need to expand the conversation with the other institutions that I consider stakeholders in ... on this issue, the ... the County, the other cities, the ... the Sixth Judicial, uh, the justice system, um ... um, the schools, etc. Um, but I ... I think we all concur on those things and I think we can see that that is one reason the staff adopted nearly all of the recommendations coming from, um, the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 49 Ad Hoc Committee. Um, and I think it makes sense for us to take this next step, um, using, um, a template that mirrors what we do for our strategic plan, in that, uh, we've got this document. Staff presented it earlier this evening. Uh, it allows for periodic reporting. It allows for measurement of progress toward accomplishments of the goals, uh, set forth in it, um, and as we've seen with our strategic plan over the last couple of years, I think it can lead to an efficient result - oriented, um, transparent, uh ... uh, outcome, uh, that ... that provides the reporting we've gonna want to see over time, to see how we're ... we're measuring up. Um, so I think those things are good. I think it's also important to remind ourselves as a community, um, that ... that we have a Police Department that, uh, that is marked by a high degree of...of professionalism. Um, they operate under a lot of scrutiny. Um, and ... and you know, they're... they're expected to keep us safe and ... and solve crime and we have crime, uh, and... and do all of those things, and they're also expected to do so and engage the community with sensitivity and tact, um, and ... and ... and discretion. Um, I think our Department does those things. Um ... while there is always room for improvement, uh, throughout the City operation, um, and ... and while this is a ... a first step, um, that will ... that we will be revisiting time and again, uh, I think in the years to come, um, it's important to recognize that ... that this is a high- functioning operation and one that we can be proud of. Champion: Thank you for saying that. I thought you did very well. Mims: Connie, I'm next. Champion: Oh, I'm sorry! Hayek: Yeah, don't you see her? (laughter) Champion: I forgot to bring up the blow -up doll! (laughter) Sorry! You can go next. Mims: Matt just said we were going down the line so (laughs) No, I ... I know it's getting late and I won't, uh, add too much other than to say that, as I said during the work session, I really see this as a first step. I think it is a very good first step, but I ... I heard a lot of comments from the community tonight that I think we need to take to heart, um, as we move forward, and there's always room for improvement, but this is a good place to start, and um, I look forward to making this part of our strategic plan for the City, um, come late fall. Champion: Can I talk now? Mims: Yes you can! (laughter) Champion: I'm sorry, Susan. Mims: No, that's okay! (laughs) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 50 Champion: I appreciate what everybody else has said, and I also think that ... the Committee did a fantastic job, but this is ... you're talking about a cultural change. I'm sorry, it's not going to happen overnight, and that's what the beauty of this whole document that we talked about tonight. It provides ... uh, some basic guidelines to keep moving forward to get to where you want us to be, and ... and I have total faith that this City will do that, but this isn't going to happen overnight, and that's why you can't take it all so literally. Every time there's a new report coming back about this, it's ... there's going to be some improvement. I mean, I ... I'm hoping there's going to be some improvement! If there isn't any improvement, then you're going to have to come back and yell at us again. But thank you so much, and I ... I have a strong hope in this whole document. Thank you. Throgmorton: I guess I would be last in the line, huh? Okay. Thanks for coming ... uh, to listen to the work session, in particular, and then to speak, share your views with us about this, thanks! Uh, this is a really important action. During the work session I made several comments about the staff's recommendations. All of them were intended to be constructively critical. I suggested that it ... I thought it would be wise to ask the Ad Hoc Committee, Joe and, uh ... um ... uh, LaTasha and others, and RoyceAnn and others, uh, what they think about the staff s response before we in fact acted on them. I... indicated I ... I thought we should seek greater clarity about what the Police Department intends to change, rather than to emphasize what it intends to continue. And I ... I said I thought we needed to be measuring changes and outcomes with regard to racial disparities, the point that, uh, Diane has made. Not simply actions undertaken by the staff, even though those actions are good ones. We've also heard many good suggestions tonight. So take ... we should take those into account, but right now what I want to do is emphasize that I recognize and appreciate the very good ... work and effort that's gone into the ... the task of preparing the staff s recommendations. I totally recognize that this is not an easy topic to address. It's not easy to go through a complicated document and figure out how you're going to respond to each particular recommendation. So ... I ... I want to acknowledge that and express my admiration for that. Susan just described this as a very good step forward. Many of you have said something similar. I agree, and I support, um, you know, most of its particular recommendations. Uh, and what else was I going to say? Something on the next page here ... and lastly, and I think I want the Chief to hear this more than, uh ... um, more than anyone else, or maybe I want to hear myself say it, because it's ... it's important to express. I have the highest respect for our police officers. I recognize they have a very difficult job, and I know they're doing the best they can in that very difficult job. So I hope you and the other officers know that. So I'm going to vote for the resolution, of course. Hayek: Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. Should we take a quick break? (several responding) Okay, we're gonna keep on (several talking) keep on keepin' on, I guess! (laughter) All right! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 51 ITEM 18. RESIDENTIAL WASTE CONTAINERS — AMENDING TITLE 16, ENTITLED "PUBLIC WORKS," CHAPTER 3, ENTITLED "CITY UTILITIES," AND TITLE 17, ENTITLED "BUILDING AND HOUSING," CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED, "HOUSING CODE," TO REQUIRE THAT WASTE CONTAINERS BE STORED WITHIN TWO FEET OF A BUILDING WALL OF A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE. (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Champion: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Hello! Dieterle: Hi, is there any input allowed? Hayek: On Item 18? Dieterle: On this item? Hayek: Yes. Dieterle: Well, I would just request that the City consider, or really more than consider, that the City provide an alternate size to the thing that we have in front of all our houses. Um, I ... I would probably, if it weren't for, you know, just other reasons, just ... take it once a month to the curb because it's huge and for one person, who also composts and recycles (laughs) you know, it could probably go for a couple of months before I had to take it out there. And meanwhile I've got to find some place to store the retched thing. And in my neighborhood it isn't such a neat situation. I really don't believe that I can conform to this aud ... this ordinance. I don't have somewhere where it's going to be within two feet of my house. And it's just too big! Um, the University has smaller ones that are available, so they must make them somewhere, and it would be really nice if a resident could request a smaller one, um ... I ... I think that this ... this ordinance, you know, is... is sort of extra for most people, I mean, most people have got a reasonable idea of what to do with their waste cans, that it doesn't need to be something that's legislated. So I really am sorry that you're going to be doing this. I don't know where that's going to leave a lot of us, as far as (noises on mic) conform. Hayek: Well stay tuned! Anyone else from the, uh, audience? Carlson: I'm Nancy Carlson. I live at 1002 E. Jefferson. Asking you not to vote for this. Uh, this has brought up a lot of discussion. I included a piece, uh, about a... a meeting that the North Side Neighborhood Association had about a month ago, along with some pictures. Um ... in which this was discussed. Uh ... there were a lot of concerns and people really wanted to try and deal with the fact that in our This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 52 neighborhoods there are garbage cans stored in front of the houses, but they had other problems also, one of which was the size of the container. They, uh, in fact that we ... that there is only one size in Iowa City. Uh ... uh ... Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Coralville all give their residents a choice as to size. We have no choice. When this came ... when they brought these to my house. I live ...I live in a duplex. I live... there ... I live in one half of it. I have a tenant who lives in the other half of it. They brought me two of these. I said, what am I supposed to do with these? I don't need two! Doesn't make any difference. You have two units, you have two of these. I have never used the one. I barely use one of `em. In the meantime the people, the guys next door, which there are five, overfill theirs on a ... on a weekly basis. So it's all based on one size, one units. Doesn't matter how many people live there. Doesn't matter how, uh, responsible they are. One size fits all in Iowa City! Uh, for older women it's very frustrating. Especially if you happen to live on an embankment. The older section of Iowa City is not flat. If you live on an embankment, it is your responsibility to get that container down to the parking strip so that the ... so that the City can pick it up. There was a lady who told a story at the neighborhood association about the fact that she did live on a high embankment and she had a lot of difficulty in getting it down. Couldn't she just take a bag of her, her little bag of garbage and put it down for the City to pick it up? The reply was, "No, we have to protect the safety of our workers." I want to know about the safety of our residents! I want to know if the City is concerned about older women who live by themselves, who have to deal with these containers. The container is almost as big as they are. You cannot fill them. If you fill them over one -third full as an older woman it is almost impossible for you to get them down to the street, especially if you're on an embankment. In fact, I had one lady who told me what she did because she lived on an embankment is she got it down to the first step, she put it at a 45- degree angle and let it go. Then she went down to the bottom of her steps, picked up the garbage that had fallen out of the container, put it ... put it back in and put it out for the ... out at the street for the City to pick up. Now I would hope that the City of Iowa City would be, uh, considerate enough to realize that there are people here who want to be good citizens, but they would appreciate the City looking at their position and not just the City's position. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. Markus: You know, I've heard this, um, argument made, uh, in writing as well as the testimony, and I would suggest we defer action and give staff an opportunity to examine the different size issue, and I would argue that ... you know, maybe some elderly men would (mumbled) Champion: I was going to say the same thing. Hayek: You know, and I think I know what Sarah's going to say to us this evening. You know, why ... why don't we hear from her, um, and we'll either defer or maybe even just vote it down and ... start from scratch, is the sense I'm getting. But uh... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 53 Clark: Then I'll cut it short! (laughs) Um, Sarah Clark, um, and I'm here tonight speaking as a... as an individual. The Northside did not take an official vote on this, though I also did speak with Mike Wright today and he did share my feelings about it, and as Doug Boothroy mentioned in his staff report, and as Nancy also mentioned at our, uh, May Northside, uh, meeting, we did have a discussion. Actually it went on too long, I think, um, but um ... about this matter and neighbors were split on it, but a lot of the discussion, actually one of the very first things that was mentioned, uh, had to do with the size of the container and wishing could we maybe have smaller ones. So, anyway, I just want to give a little bit of background on this. Over a year ago residents from the Northside and from Jefferson Street, you know, met with City staff to express, um, our frustration over the lack of enforcement tools to resolve, you know, some of the kind of chronic nuisance issues in our neighborhood, and one of them had to do with, um, the seemingly permanent storage of the 65- gallon waste containers in front yards, not just in one or two houses. I can fully appreciate there are a number of neighborhoods in this town where ... people do not have to ... do not, or actually... just do not store their waste cans in the front yard. Unfortunately, we, uh, our neighborhood hosts a disproportionately high number of, uh, houses with many tenants, many of them short-term, high- turnover, and not all of them of course exhibit that behavior, but a number of them do, maybe because they just haven't been informed by their landlord that they need to move the trash can, you know, maybe a little bit out of sight. Anyway, a cumulative effect of multiple houses in a block displaying this ends up with something where our central neighborhoods get a little shabby and if you think it's just because I'm a prima donna, well I want to point out that I'm not, and I want to point out that (laughs) um ... the Press - Citizen in an editorial just this past Friday, June 14ffi, said, "Some of the city's most attractive neighborhoods in terms of location often are the most unattractive in terms of appearance." They also say, "And some of the city's most unaffordable housing, uh, actually looks the shabbiest." Well, I think they were probably talking about good portions of the Northside. Um, so that's why we wanted to have something where on a case -by -case basis we could actually maybe address the chronic abusers, not your average citizen, not your person who ... doesn't have any place to store the garbage can, but must store it next to the front of the house. Basically we want to go after the scofflaws I think. Um, the low hanging fruit. I'm sorry! Well (laughs) um ... what happened, I guess we didn't make our case clear enough or people just didn't understand what we were trying to do. Um, so I have to say that ... based on an earlier Council meeting and the work session you had on this, um, I personally am not in favor of Option #3. Um, I ... doesn't mean that I'm interested in this, uh, issue going away permanently. I'm certainly not, and I think a lot of people in the Northside feel the same way. I'm not sure how it is that we're going to come up with how we will address it, but um ... it just ... doesn't really look good and it's not welcoming to the gateway of Iowa City when you come into town and the first thing you see is house after house after house proudly displaying their 65- gallon waste This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 54 containers in the front yard. So, um ... I'm sure there's going to be a way that we can come up to address that. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. Anyone else from the audience? Council discussion. Champion: Well I'm not willing to defer. I am willing to look at other options, um, I agree that those things are huge. I mean, sometimes I'm really glad they are, like after I decide to clean out my basement or something, which is like once every 25 years, but ... I mean, I also because there's only two of us living at home, I don't have much trash. Um ... but when my kids are all home, I could use two of those. Maybe I come borrow from Caroline's, but I'm not willing to shut this whole thing, cause I understand this problem. In my neighborhood this happens, sometimes with rental property, but it's ... it's not so many. You just have to knock on the door and talk to them, and it... it ends. Problems in my neighborhood are solved by a neighbor talking to a neighbor. But it's a different, whole different environment. It's different than the Northside. It's a tight -knit neighborhood for one thing. Throgmorton: I think we should vote down this particular ordinance, and do what, uh, do what Nancy and Sarah, the prima donna denier (laughter) and ... and Tom and others have ... have suggested that we, um, look more carefully at... Hayek: I agree! I mean, this ... you know, in staff s defense, this came out of pressure from the (several talking) which as it turns out was a little more mixed on the proposals, uh, and the issues than we initially thought. Um, so I applaud staff for going through, uh, a lot of, uh, steps on this, but I agree. I think we should just vote this down. You know, this ... I think what this comes down to really is enforcement of nuisance issues, and I ... I don't know that the two -foot rule that we're going to vote down, or I think we're going to vote down, truly solved that. I also don't know that offering var ... variable or varying sizes of...of containers does either. It may serve a different purpose, but I don't know that it gets to the nuisance issues really. I think this, you know, has to do with the appearance, um ... of...of front yards and ... and structures, uh, largely, uh, rental, uh ... occupied um ... um and ... and as I've said before, I ... I'd really like us to move away from a complaint -based system to more of a proactive enforcement approach, uh, with respect to grass and yards and ... and junk and things like that, um, and I think that might help these things, so ... but as it relates to the size of containers, I'm happy to look at it. Further discussion? Dobyns: I don't understand why the size... admit on a winter, uh, driveway of any slope, dancing with those large receptacles is dangerous as dancing with me, I mean, that's (laughter) but I'm not sure. I thought ... this just speaks to the, um, the... the condition in front. I'm not ... I'm not... Hayek: It's really a separate issue. Both have to do with garbage cans. I think that's the relevance. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 55 Dobyns: Okay! (laughter) But I mean, like with Connie, I'm assuming that ... I like Option #3. I think it was a good one. I think this other issue ... but I'm not sure, Tom, why you ... aren't they separate issues? Maybe I'm confused here. I mean, we have to ... we should probably, you know, um, defer tonight's vote to be able to consider this, uh, other, the size? Markus: Yeah, I think so. Dobyns: Okay. (several talking) Hayek: I think what we're saying is that there ... there doesn't appear to be ... even close to a consensus on the part of the neighborhood groups that we've at least interfaced with on this issue that would support Option #3. And if that's the case, why move forward with it? Dobyns: Cause it was a good idea? Champion: I mean... Dilkes: Well you know we're only on first ... we're on first reading. So deferring just makes Marian have to keep track of the fact we've deferred it, as opposed to just putting it back on if you all decide (several talking) Dobyns: ...we can always... Champion: Yeah, we can vote ... it's just first consideration. Dobyns: Yeah. Throgmorton: If you want to. I'm not going to do that. Hayek: But you were... Dilkes: No, I was proposing that... that ... if...if you just vote it down or remove it, you can always put it back on. Karr: You can resurrect it in any form you wish. Dilkes: Any... any time you want. It's not like we've done one reading already and we don't want to ... uh... Dobyns: Six of one, half dozen of the other. Okay. Dilkes: Yeah! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 56 Champion: But what am I supposed to do now if I want to comply with the rest of you? Mims: Vote no. (several talking) (laughter) Dobyns: The voice from the cosmos says to vote no! (laughter) Hayek: All right! (several talking) We're, uh, losing our edge here, uh, so let's (several talking) unless there's further discussion on this, why don't we take a vote. Item fails 1 -6, Dobyns in the positive (several talking) Okay! Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Payne: So moved. Champion: So moved. Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Champion. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries. Markus: Good job (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 57 ITEM 22. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Hayek: We'll start down with you. Dobyns: Nothing. Payne: I just want to tell Rick to have a good time when he's in Europe for two weeks, startin' tomorrow! (laughter) Dickens: I just want to thank City staff for, uh, all their efforts during the flood and for getting Dubuque Street open rather quickly so I can get out of my driveway on Dodge Street. (laughter) Hayek: Susan! Champion: Oh, Susan! (mumbled) Mims: I'll echo, uh, I'll echo, Terry. Dodge Street is looking a little better now that Dubuque Street is open back up and thank you all for, uh, accommodating me doing this meeting electronically. I appreciate it. Throgmorton: Susan, can you see Dodge Street from there? (laughter) Mims: Can I do what? (laughter) Throgmorton: Can you see Dodge Street from there? Mims: Uh, no! I'm kind of looking at the downtown Indianapolis area right now. Champion: I think you're at the beach! (laughter) Mims: I wish! Champion: Well I do want to tell you that I didn't think this would work very well and it actually works very well. If we just had a face here of some kind, but I'm really amazed that it worked. This is the first time I've really done this at a regular meeting and it really turned out well. Thanks for experimenting! Mims: Well Marian and I did, or I was talking to somebody. We did talk about putting a stuffed bear in my chair, but we thought that might be a little tacky. So we passed. Dickens: I think a chicken would have been good! (laughter) Dobyns: I agree! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 58 Hayek: Jim! Throgmorton: My turn? I want to give a shout out to my son Paul and his beautiful fiance Min who are getting married this coming Saturday. Bravo! Dickens: Congratulations! Markus: Congratulations! Mims: Congratulations! Hayek: And I want to, uh, once again commend staff on ... on ... on the flood response. Uh, we appear to be moving past that but remarkable coordination, um, between all entities involved. It was really... really well done, and ... and secondly to reiterate the congratulations on the Moody's, um, 37 years, uh, and running. That's incredible, and ... and what that means to this operation, uh, cannot be underestimated. So... Throgmorton: Yeah, appreciate it. Hayek: ... bravo. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013. Page 59 ITEM 23. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF. a) City Manager Hayek: Mr. Manager! Markus: Dennis and I looked at that 37 years and we said ... oh boy! We're in trouble if that ever dropped! (laughter) Champion: You'll get your walking papers! (laughter) Markus: Yeah, exactly! (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 18, 2013.