HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-18 TranscriptionJune 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 1
Council Present: Champion, Dickens, Dobyns, Hayek, Mims (via electronic participation),
Payne, Throgmorton
Staff Present: Markus, Fruin, Miklo, Bollinger, Bentley, Dilkes, Havel, Gannon, Karr,
O'Brien, Yapp, Kopping, Hargadine, Boothroy, Moran, Fosse, Ford,
Bockenstedt, Steffen, Wyss, Bowers
Others Present: Bramel (UISG)
Agenda Items•
Hayek/ Okay, why don't we start our June 18th work session.
Karr/ Mr. Mayor, just for the record, we want to note that Council Member Mayor Pro Tern
Susan Mims will be participating electronically. (loud noises on mic)
Hayek/ Did you get that, Susan?
Mims/ I do! (several talking)
Hayek/ Okay. So welcome... welcome to the meeting, everyone. Uh, we've got a few things to
get through on our agenda, um, we do need to disband around 6:30. There's a little bit
more set up involved for this meeting. So we need to give staff as much time as possible.
Uh, let's jump right in. First bullet point is questions regarding agenda items.
ITEM 4e(6) AMENDMENT TO MODIFY AREA SPACING BETWEEN
DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS - SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY
23 ON AN ORDNANCE AMENDING TITLE 14: ZONING CODE TO MODIFY
THE REGULATIONS REGARDING THE SPACING OF DRINKING
ESTABLISHMENTS SO THAT THE 500 -FOOT SPACING RULE WOULD
ONLY APPLY TO THE UNIVERSITY IMPACT AREA AND THE
RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS DISTRICT
Dickens/ I had a question on 4e(6), uh ... on the Consent Calendar... about the Planning and
Zoning.
Hayek/ Four what six?
Dickens/ 4e(6), about the spacing for the (both talking)
Markus/ Spacing between drinking establishments?
Dickens/ Yeah. I just need to know what we have to do to ... change that or move it forward,
since the...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 2
Karr/ Setting a public hearing.
Dickens/ Set ... okay. So this is just for the public hearing?
Karr/ This is setting a public hearing.
Dickens/ Okay.
Karr/ For your... for your next meeting.
Dickens/ All right.
Markus/ July 23 rd
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 23, 2013) ON
A PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE MOSS GREEN URBAN VILLAGE
URBAN RENEWAL PLAN IN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA
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
Throgmorton/ I have a question about 4e(1) which has to do with the Moss Green Urban Village
Urban Renewal Plan (noises in background). I ... I don't know if anybody ... Tom, I don't
know if anybody intends to make a presentation about that tonight for us.
Markus/ Uh, yes, we can have Wendy Ford, uh, come forward, make some comments, and I and
Eleanor can chime in as well.
Throgmorton/ Okay but we... so we don't need to do that right now. We can do that...
Markus/ If you want to just briefly touch on it right now, you can. Or we can wait until the
agenda item.
Throgmorton/ I'll wait. I mean, you mean the work sess...
Karr/ The agenda item is a Consent Calendar, setting of a hearing.
Markus/ So you might want to ... do you have questions?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 3
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Hayek/ Why don't we tackle `em right now?
Markus/ Let's take `em then.
Throgmorton/ Okay. So...
Hayek/ Oh, wait, she's got a PowerPoint or some... something.
Throgmorton/ We should wait then. (several talking)
Markus/ So, why don't you come up?
Hayek/ Well we ... we could do it now, or we could pull it from the Consent.
Champion/ Yeah, why don't we do that?
Hayek/ Separate consideration.
Throgmorton/ Let's do that!
Markus/ Is that what you prefer?
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Markus/ Okay.
Hayek/ I'm agnostic on this but uh ... (laughter)
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Markus/ Wendy does have a slide showing the ... uh, property that we intend to acquire so ... it
might be better to just wait because we've got this thing all loaded up now.
Hayek/ Should we pull 4e(7) as well? Which is the ... which is the road (several talking)
Karr/ They're setting ... both setting hearings.
Dilkes/ I got it. Yeah.
Champion/ Yeah, we can pull both of `em.
Dilkes/ Yeah, just ... just clarification. We're not talking about the road, the property we're
acquiring. We're talking about the property we're adding to the urban renewal area.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 4
Throgmorton/ Well, to be clear about what I was wanting to ask about is the agenda item 4e(1).
Hayek/ Right.
Throgmorton/ All right, which is ... which is the whole thing about a Resolution of Necessity, etc.
Dilkes/ Right, and I was simply clarifying that ... that we're talking about adding, that resolution
deals with adding property to the urban renewal area, not acquiring property.
Throgmorton/ Right.
Hayek/ 4e(7) is the road, which is ... related because it's ... same area, and we could pull that if
you want to get into that as well. Otherwise we'll just take up 4e(1) and 4e(7) will be
passed as part of the Consent Calendar, which just sets a public hearing.
Throgmorton/ Yeah. Boy I think I'm only ... want to ask questions about 4e(1), though it will
touch on the road because it's part of the Resolution of Necessity.
Markus/ I think that's correct.
Dilkes/ Yep!
Hayek/ Well let's pull both!
Champion/ Yeah.
Hayek/ Okay. Ju ... just in case, so ... okay, so at the beginning of Item #4 we'll need a motion to
do that, and remove 4e(1) and 4e(7). (noises on mic) Okay, other agenda items?
ITEM 9. PIN GRANTS - APPROVING DISTRIBUTION OF THE "PROGRAM
FOR IMPROVING NEIGHBORHOODS" ( "PIN ") GRANT FUNDS.
Throgmorton/ IP9.
Hayek/ Uh, that's...
Throgmorton/ Oh, I don't mean IP. What do I mean?
Hayek/ That's an Info Packet.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I'm sorry. The ... yeah, my numbers are wrong. I don't mean IP. It's, uh,
think agenda Item 9, but what I'm referring to is the Neighborhood Council's
recommended allocation of PIN funds (several talking)
Hayek/ That's 9.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 5
Throgmorton/ Yeah, okay. Sorry, my notes were just wrong. I see, uh, basically $1,700 in there
for a private park, improvements to a private park. And I ... I don't, I mean, I'm not
objecting to it necessarily, but I do not understand why we would provide funds for the
improvement of a privately owned park.
Markus/ Marcia, you want to come forward?
Champion/ I didn't catch that, but you're right! That seems... (several talking)
Throgmorton/ ... Country Club Estates. (several talking)
Bollinger/ I can respond to the process that they use, um, to evaluate all the applications. Um,
once they've been all presented, um, there's a ranking, um, sheet that they use and there's
a number... numbering system, um, with a number of criteria, and once they go through
all that, there's a priority, um, system set up for which one's ranked one through ... I think
there were 13 in this instance. Um ... after ... they are aware of those figures, then they
start appropriating dollar amounts ... to each one. And with this typical ... this scenario,
they went through the first 11 of them, gave them for the most part the ... the minimal
amount of money that they needed in order to be able to operate their project, and the two
last ones, which was the sidewalk, brick sidewalks, and this park, um, private park
project. They decided just to split what was left over and give it ... give ... a little bit to
each. So that was basically the process. There's no ... nothing that prohibits applications
for private property, um, there's criteria that suggests that if it is private property that
preferably there be some, maybe low, um, to mod - income benefit for it. Um, in this case,
there's matching funds that they're providing the $1,500 plus there's labor that the, uh,
the neighborhood's providing. So I'm ... that ... that was kind of the, I think the focus that
pushed it into the point of being funded.
Champion/ But there's not a low- income...
Bollinger/ No it's not (both talking)
Champion/ ...value there at all.
Bollinger/ Nope.
Throgmorton/ I don't see as a matter of public policy and values why we would want to provide
public money for a privately, the improvement of a privately owned park. I...
Payne/ Can anybody use the park? Or is it just for the residents...
Bollinger/ It's just for the residents of...of the subdivision.
Champion/ The only correlation that I can put on that, Jim ... I agree with you. I ... I probably
won't support that. But when we talk about helping people replace their brick sidewalk,
that's also ... public money for private use.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 6
Throgmorton/ No it's not! Cause those are publicly accessible sidewalks.
Champion/ Right, okay!
Throgmorton/ ...that people walk down all the time. I walk my dog on those sidewalks pretty
frequently.
Champion/ All right. Thanks!
Bollinger/ Uh huh.
Champion/ I have real problems with that.
Bollinger/ No, I ... I think that there was some Neighborhood Council members that did have
some concerns about that proposal, but that was where the majority of them decided that
they wanted to (both talking)
Champion/ ... we can change that.
Bollinger/ It's been done in the past.
Champion/ Right!
Payne/ I mean we also support the UniverCity program which is giving money to a private
individual to help them buy a house, I mean, that's...
Champion/ But ... but that's...
Throgmorton/ ...for a public purpose.
Champion/ That's... that's for general good of the community.
Payne/ If this neighborhood doesn't have another near ... park nearby that they can access easily,
this is in lieu of that. I mean, you could look at it that way.
Champion/ I ... I can't look at it that way.
Throgmorton/ Since it's privately owned and managed by a homeowner's association, they
should be able to fund whatever improvements they want to their privately owned, uh,
park. If it was accessible to anybody who lived in the city, then I would say, well, okay.
Champion/ I mean, I have a park in my backyard basically. All the neighborhood kids use it, but
I don't ask the City to give me money to improve my play area. Even though I really...
any kid who wants to use my yard does.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 7
Dobyns/ Where's this property, this uh, association?
Champion/ It's in Country Club Estates.
Hayek/ Out west.
Champion/ West.
Dobyns/ Okay. That's the one I'm thinking of
Hayek/ Off of Rohret (several talking)
Dobyns/ Right, yeah, the far west (mumbled) um...
Champion/ I mean, these other projects could use more money.
Dobyns/ You know ... I understand the philosophy of it, but that's a fairly eccentric area of the
city. Currently I don't think, Mike, there's any park out there, way out, I mean, there will
be some day, but at this point ... the city can't accommodate that portion of the city. I
mean, there is a small park, um, near Interstate 218 that has a playground in it, but still
about a mile away. I'm thinking, I mean, I run around that area quite a bit. I can't think
of any...
Champion/ I ... I disagree with you! I mean, I ... I (both talking)
Dobyns/ I'm actually not disagreeing with you (both talking)
Champion/ ...I'm actually a mile from a public park!
Dobyns/ Yeah.
Champion/ And I'm in the heart of the city.
Dobyns/ Well ... well, I think you're near a lot of parks that people can go to. That's, uh, I'm
actually not arguing against it. I'm just trying to take a broader look...
Champion/ (laughs) I know you are!
Dobyns/ Is that ... it's an exceptional part of the city just because of its geographic eccentricity.
It's in a fairly new part and we haven't really built a whole lot of parks out there. There
really are no parks west of Highway 218.
Throgmorton/ I ... we need Mike to talk about that.
Dobyns/ Yeah.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 8
Moran/ yeah, uh, there's Hunter's Run which is (both talking)
Dobyns/ That's what I'm thinking.
Moran/ ...right there off, uh, around there and that's on the other side of Highway 218.
Throgmorton/ It's on the west side of 218.
Moran/ Right. Yeah.
Throgmorton/ North of Rohret Road?
Moran/ Correct.
Throgmorton/ Not far from Country Club Estates.
Moran/ Correct.
Dobyns/ I'm actually... just, not to jump the gun (mumbled) Connie. I'm actually agreeing with
you and Jim. I'm just trying to...
Champion/ No I'm ... I don't mind listening to you.
Dobyns/ ... I ... I think it's not appropriate either, but I think we need to understand, um, you can
make the case where sometimes private entities allow the City not to do something. They
figure, hey, the City hasn't built me a park close enough so far and we're just going to
have a neighborhood association; we're going to do one ourselves.
Champion/ Fine! Do it yourself.
Dobyns/ Maybe ... maybe they shouldn't have done it. Maybe they should have suffered a little
bit and let, uh, it sort of enables the City not to put a park out there. Well, it was their
decision to put a park out there. Um ... and I don't ... and I agree with you and Jim, I don't
think we should enable it by funding them with public monies.
Hayek/ Do we know that in fact the public does not have access to this ... parcel?
Bollinger/ That's what ... the information was given. It's available to residents and their guests,
so friends, family.
Dobyns/ But everyone's bought in out there (several talking) I mean, it's a neighborhood
association, I mean, it's still ... you know...
Hayek/ Yeah.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 9
Bollinger/ It ... it was ... it was not an unacceptable application to provide, so we ... there was no
ability to say no, this is not eligible ... to fund. Although there was a lot of the same
conversations, same thoughts going on, um...
Hayek/ But I think you could distinguish this from like an outlot that ... uh ... a homeowner's
association maintains and allows anybody on too.
Champion/ Right!
Hayek/ So ... well, listen, we can take this up at tonight.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I... during... during the meeting, one of us, and I'd be happy to do it, should
move to delete that particular item.
Champion/ Aren't they going to do it ... there'll be presentations from everybody.
Throgmorton/ Well, but it's part of the resolution though (several talking) motion.
Bollinger/ ...be the presentation (several talking) uh huh. And then they'll ask for a
recommenda ... or they'll recommend approval and ... that would be the process.
Hayek/ Okay! Let's, uh, so we'll take that up when we get to it. Any other agenda questions?
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)
Throgmorton/ Do we need to talk about the residential waste containers at this...
Hayek/ Sure!
Throgmorton/ ... moment?
Hayek/ Yeah, go ahead and bring that up.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I, uh, agenda Item #18, I think, the residential waste containers thing. Hi,
Doug! So I just want to say, Doug and I were at the same meeting at the Northside
Neighborhood Association, uh, up in Mann Elementary, and Doug comple ... rightly
reports that the response from neighbors was quite mixed in terms of whether or not they
supported the ... the proposal. Uh, at the time I said something like, if I knew that the
neighborhood ... the neighborhood, the residents, strongly supported the residential waste
proposal, I'd support it. I don't sense that. So, I'm just reporting to the rest of you, I
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 10
don't sense that there's strong support within the neighborhood for that particular
ordinance. And therefore, I do not feel, uh, strongly inclined to support the proposed
ordinance either. Maybe we could, uh, rely more heavily on more proactive enforcement
of the nuis ... nuisance ordinance. That ... that's where I'm falling is, just as a resident of
the Northside Neighborhood, and so on.
Payne/ Why ... why did you get the impression they didn't support it? Is it because of some
specific thing in there or just in general?
Boothroy/ Well it was a ... it was a well- attended meeting. I suppose there's 30 to 40 people
there, uh, and I would say it was about 50150. Um ... uh ... there was just a lot of mixed
feelings about it, and um (noises on mic) so I would ... yeah, I think Jim's described it
correctly. There was not overwhelming or strong support for the change. Um ... um...
Payne/ It wasn't because there's something missing in there that they wanted to see in there (both
talking)
Boothroy/ No, I ... I think some didn't want add ... didn't want to change the regulations or the...
for various reasons people didn't support it. Uh ... uh, nobody raised any, uh, specific
issue about, urn ... you know, parsing the language or anything like this about that. Um,
I...
Markus/ But, Doug, they actually... they kinda argued from both sides (both talking)
Boothroy/ Yes.
Markus/ ...because they originally recommended much more restrictive provisions, so those
individuals kind of felt like they didn't want to back off to a less restrictive, and then
there was the contingent that felt bad. They didn't want any (both talking)
Boothroy/ Yes... there... there was a (several talking)
Throgmorton/ ... ambivalence, mixed opinions about all this — yeah!
Boothroy/ I think in... in, and Jim, I would say that at the end of the memo I sent, well, one of the
benefits of doing this is recognizing what's being done... legally. So, uh, I mean, that's
another way of looking at it. I understand ... we did send it out to a lot of neighborhood
organizat... all the neighborhood organizations and we got, what? I don't
remember... now. Three to four responses. So, I don't think there's a lot of concern
about the regulations either. Um... so I guess it's kind of a mixed bag, and I guess you
have to decide how you want to do it. Right now the expectations are that the ordinance
should be enforced as written, which means that the waste containers need to be move
...be removed as near as possible to the side or rear of a building. Period. Uh, and we
have ... we had some difficulties with that. Uh, what this would say is, uh, that's no
longer the law. You can have it in front of your building, within two feet. So ... urn ...
you have to decide, I guess, how you want to ... how you want to proceed. We can ...we
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 11
can do whatever you want. Don't have a solution here, I guess, but I would recommend
adopting the ordinance because I think it helps enforcement.
Hayek/ Help ... helps (both talking)
Boothroy/ Helps the enforcement because we're ... we're recognizing what most people are doing
anyway, and ... uh, storing it in front of the, uh, structure and it does provide a ... a way of
dealing with it if it becomes a nuisance. But, that's my...
Markus/ We thought there was a lot more flexibility in the, uh, approach (unable to hear, away
from mic)
Hayek/ You may have to talk into the mic.
Markus/ ...we thought there was a lot more flexibility in the approach we took with the proposal
so ... (several talking)
Boothroy/ The current proposal.
Hayek/ Number three? (several talking) Yeah. Okay. (several talking)
Throgmorton/ Thanks!
Hayek/ Other agenda questions? Thanks, Doug. Okay. Move on to Council appointments.
Rick, you want to ... fill us in.
Council Appointments:
Dobyns/ Yeah, I had a chance to talk with some of the candidates. I'm going to recommend, uh,
Jewell Amos, uh, she did, uh, call me a couple of days ago. There was, um, I thought that
Jewell was, um... she's sort of a non - stereotype of person, uh, some people come into
these sorts of interests from an academic point of view, cause they studied it, evaluated it,
um, I think that she has a more ... you know, just talking to her, I thought she was very
articulate, um, about the matter. I appreciated the fact that she called me early, um,
trying to get a hold of me so I didn't have to get a hold of her. I thought that was, uh, you
know, spoke to her interest. Um, some of the other candidates, you know, they aren't yet
in town or ... they're making moving into town contingent on them getting onto this
commission, and I think that's sort of backwards. Urn ... and so ... uh (mumbled) I don't
know if any, uh, the rest of you had a chance to talk with her but I (both talking)
Champion/ I did talk with her and ... and I really liked her. I also liked Rachel (several talking)
yeah, no ... the one that still lives here! (laughs)
Dobyns/ Yeah, the one who lives here. Yeah.
Champion/ But I do agree with you. I think Jewell ... I was very impressed with her also.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 12
Throgmorton/ I talked with her, as well, and I also talked with Rachel Campbell, who I think is
the young woman who lives out of town.
Champion/ Right.
Throgmorton/ ...might move here. Uh, I was very impressed with Jewell, as well, so ... I'm
completely on board with that idea.
Champion/ We always get such great candidates for this commission.
Dobyns/ Yeah. Yeah. So...
Hayek/ We have a majority for Jewell Amos?
Champion/ Yes!
Hayek/ Okay. I think that's our only, uh, appointment. Okay! Let's move on to the staff
recommendations, uh, on the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee report.
Staff Recommendations on Ad Hoc Diversity Committee Report Implementation (#14,15):
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.
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.
Markus/ All set? Okay! Uh, what we're going to do is walk through the Diversity
implementation form, and just so everybody understands — this follows the same format
as the strategic plan report. I think there' s been some confusion about how we would
report out. We'd actually report out on this document on an annual basis and I think that
that will, um, update us as we go through the report. So we're going to walk through the
different items, but we'll be brief. I hope it's interactive. I hope you, uh, as we go
through it you raise questions about what our specific recommendations are related to the
Ad Hoc Committee. So in the case of the Iowa City Police Department, the general
recommendations were that changes should be made in the Police Department to create a
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 13
more positive culture that focuses on a protect and serve approach. Increase the
understanding between police officers and the minority community. Respond to the
pending recommendations to Council from the Human Rights Commission. Under
Police Citizens Review Board, the recommendations are to increase public awareness of
the public, or the Police Citizens Review Board and the complaint process options. Uh,
number two is to change the process and procedure for the Police Citizens Rev ... Review
Board to address the issue of public distrust. Three is to respond to the pending
recommendations to Council from the Police Citizens Review Board. Um, moving on to
the, uh, Iowa City Transportation Services Department, uh, the recommendations are for
Iowa City Transportation Department to work on providing additional transit options;
look into alternatives to notifying the public about acceptable behavior, expectations, and
procedures; increase community outreach efforts; improve overall environment of the
downtown interchange and high volume bus stops and shelters; and five, to improve
communication between other transit services in the Iowa City, Coralville area. And
while speaking of other transit services, I think when you talk about transportation here in
Iowa City I think our model tends to be a model of service delivery that's providing
service across the entire community on an equitable basis. If you look at other
transportation systems in the area, I think they look at penetration. They look at how
many people, uh, will be using this system, is there enough support in different parts of
their jurisdiction that will support a route. We've tended to be more oriented towards this
more universal approach, equal service in ... across the entire community. Sometimes that
obviously plays into the economics of these issues. Uh, the recommendation included a
reporting component as well, uh, which recommends an annual report be provided the
City Council which highlights various statistical data and information for the Council's
review. Uh, in speaking to one of the Ad Hoc Committee members earlier who was
primarily responsible for the specific recommendations, as to reporting, I think there was
some confusion and what we tried to do is, as I said before, is use the strategic plan, uh,
model for reporting out, uh, the recommendations and the changes as they occur, and
you'll see that in the model as we walk through it. Uh, finally the Manager's office is
going to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations, along with a new, uh...
uh, advancement in the position of the Human Rights Coordinator, uh, which'll be
combined with an Equity Director, uh, position. The status report explains each of the
recommendations. The staff's response to the recommendation. Names a primary staff
contact. Defines the anticipated steps needed to achieve the desired outcomes, and
presents a time line for completion of specific projects. So this'll be loaded onto our web
site as we implement different improvements associated with the Ad Hoc Committee
recommendations. We will be amending the, uh, the actual reporting document on our
web site so that people can track what we're doing and then we will generally report out
on an annualized basis, as well. So, at this point we'll walk through the
recommendations for the Police and Public Safety, uh ... uh, recommendations that were
made by the Ad Hoc Committee. Recommendation A as a general recommendation was
changes be made in the Police Department to create a positive, more positive culture that
focuses on a protect and serve approach. This was a terminology that a specific member
of the Ad Hoc Committee, uh, tried to urn ... discuss and ... and actually kind of achieved
consensus with the rest of the Ad Hoc Committee members and I don't remember what
he described kind of the ... what his impression of the current operation was. It was more
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 14
control kind of, um, view that he had of our Department and so he felt that it was
important to ... to move towards more of a protect and serve kind of environment.
Obviously you heard a lot about the police recruitment video and under, uh, the
recommendations we have a number of sub - recommendations. The first was to replace
the police, uh, recruitment video, and staff already, uh, directed that to start in March of
2013, uh, actually during the same time that this discussion was being, uh, undertaken,
and so we expect that to be completed, uh, in three to six months. The Manager's office
and the Cable Division, uh, will be undertaking that, and there shouldn't be any real cost
associated with that. Uh, currently the recruiting process, uh, informational posters are
sent to approximately 50 educational institutions, career placement centers, and
approximately 40 employment, uh, career centers. Uh, media releases are issued
announcing the openings and a web site is maintained specifically for law enforcement
positions. In addition we will be using social, uh, media, including Facebook and
Twitter, uh, which'll be use ... utilized to disseminate the information, as well as print ads.
Uh, and ads will also be placed, uh, on various job web sites, um ... across the country.
The next sub - recommendation is to encourage more relationship building, uh, activities
with the police officers and members of the public. I think the Ad Hoc
Committee... believed that while we had representation on a number of committees, uh,
that address issues of diversity they felt that this category really needed to move into
more direct contact, uh, with the minority community and establish those kinds of
relationships. I think their point was it's one thing to serve on committees. It's an
entirely different thing to actually build the real relationships in the community, and I
think we've done some of that. Obviously I think the Committee and the staff believes
we can do more, and we can get better at it. Um, under the staff response, um, this...
Department partners with, uh, the Strive for Success Mentoring Program, uh, outreach is
also completed by participation in the National Night Out, Safety Villages, Fast Track,
Immigrant Voices, Restorative Justice, bike rodeos, and speaking at various, uh, schools,
uh, and preschools. Under the staff recommendations, uh, you may have read recently
two new programs that we've entered into. One was the Badges for Baseball Program,
um, and the other was the, um, Juvenile Court and Mayors Youth Empowerment
Program. Uh, maybe, Chief, you could just comment briefly about those two.
Hargadine/ The latter is, uh, an effort to help clean up graffiti around town. Um, the ... um... I
think it was Henry Harper, one of his original ideas that, uh .... um, if kids are looking for
something to do, there's plenty of graffiti that needs to be cleaned up, and that the City
and ... and, in ... in cooperation with that group, um, maybe we can supply some paint and
they would supply the labor. Okay?
Payne/ I just have a comment on that. I did see an email that went out on that ... today,and we
have a lot of graffiti on our transformers. So I forwarded it to management at Mid
American, so I don't know if anything'll become of it, but it did get forwarded to
somebody that may use the program.
Hargadine/ Good!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 15
Markus/ In addition, um, to get to some of the specific recommendations the Ad Hoc Committee,
um, attendance at meetings with Immigrant Voices and the Neighborhood Centers
located on Broadway and Pheasant Ridge. Uh, specifically the Ad Hoc Committee had
mentioned, uh, outreach activities, uh, at Forest View and a couple of the other mobile
home parks, uh, in the community, uh, where ... um .... a foreign language may be the
predominant language in ... in those particular neighborhoods (noises on mic) and the
other thing we want to do and ... and one of the Councilors actually called on this to see if
it was possible for a, um, City Council Member to reach out to members of the minority
community and invite them on a, uh, a ride -along with the police officers, and I really do
encourage that. I think ... all of this is about trust and it's all about trust- building, and I
think trust- building is usually best achieved on a two -way street, and so I think we want
to have members of the, uh, minority community come in, participate in the Police
Department, the Citizens Academy, the ride- alongs, uh, so that they can become familiar
with the officers. I think that creates ... I think it's easy, you know, for people to be
distant, uh, and not really get to some of the issues when they're not face -to -face. And I
think those opportunities to create those face -to -face opportunities can actually improve
the relationships and hopefully build the trust from that. Uh, the next, uh, sub -
recommendation is the restructuring of the Police Department to adopt a community
policing model. And this is something that quite frankly, uh, I think the Committee
picked up on because we had submitted a number of Justice Department reports on
community policing, uh, to the Ad Hoc Committee, and I think that many of them read
that, saw value in the community policing approach. Obviously the ... the most, um,
recognized community policing approach is course the sub - station and uh, Jorey Bailey
and ... and when the Ad Hoc Committee went out and did their, uh, outreach at the various
locations around the community, that was commonly referred to as kind of the example
of the relationship building that wanted to be ... that the minority community wanted to
see accomplished in the community and ... so we do, you know, we do intend to proceed
or pursue other community policing options. Recently we received a, uh, COPS grant
and two of those positions, one was designated for the downtown area, uh, where of
course we come in contact with the entire population and the other was in neighborhoods,
and uh, some of the issues that neighborhoods can address and having an officer directly
in the neighborhoods, doing a walking beat or... or working with neighborhood
associations on particular problems outside of just where the sub - station is located, uh, is
another approach that we will pursue. Um, we did pursue the, um, the issue of the, uh,
school liaison officer, as I refer to `em, and ... and of course that met with mixed reaction
in the community. Uh, as you'll recall, one of the ... the things that I had said in response
to that was that... um, one of our goals should be to reduce disparate contact with, uh,
minority, um, youth, uh, as a part of that program. That would have been one of the
goals. Uh, financial issues came into the picture, uh, push -back from the community
came into the issue, and uh, the schools, I think, decided to take a pass on it at this point.
I actually believe it can work. I actually believe it can, again, create that, uh, immediate
face -to -face kind of relationship building that I think is necessary. I know the concerns
because the concerns are addressed in a number of reports that I've read from across the
country about actually increasing the percentage of disparate contract, uh, contact, and so
I think we would have had to set some very, uh, strict goals and uh, standards for how we
would achieve a reduction, but I ... I was hopeful, uh, if in fact that program was
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 16
implemented, that that's something we could achieve. The recomm ... the next
recommendation in the Police Department was to recommend opportunities to develop
understanding beli... between police officers and the minority community. Um ... and the
sub, uh, the b(1) recommendation — all officers should receive information, education so
they are less likely to make assumptions regarding minority populations. Uh, we have a
fairly, uh, comprehensive program of, uh, training our officers in terms of all sorts of,
um, equity types of issues, and those are listed under the staff response. In addition, the
staff recommendation is to continue to provide the diversity - related training. Uh, the
Police Department is committed to participating in the 2013 Reducing Racial and Ethnic
Disparities in Juvenile Justice Certificate program at the Center for Juvenile Justice
Reform at Georgetown University. The Johnson County team includes a representative
from the Juvenile Court system, the District Court Judge, Coordinator for the Johnson
County Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee. Additionally the Police
Department is working with Dave Coker. Remember he was the gentleman that came
and spoke to you from the State about the Johnson County report on disparate treatment,
or our contact, uh with the Human, uh, the Iowa Department of Human Rights, Division
of Criminal and Juvenile Justice. Uh, we've continued to meet with him about different
approaches that we might take, uh, with, um ... the Police Department in how to, uh,
implement some of the, uh, suggestions that he made, uh, in order to change the, um, the
disproportion contact. Chief, do you want to just comment about that meeting, if you
can?
Hargadine/ Uh, he's only been back to Iowa City once, but he is committed to, uh .... he, he made
the offer to the Council as well that he was will ... he was committed to coming back and
assist as much as possible and ... and to date we've only had one ... one follow up meeting
with him, but I suspect, uh ... um, as his schedule allows, he'll be back, uh (away from
mic, unable to hear)
Markus/ Kind of in a related matter, and this is at the very early stages, we, uh ... uh, the Police
Department, uh, command staff and some of the management staff has talked about, um,
the juvenile arrests and juvenile arrest records, and we, um, we've asked the City
Attorney to take a look at how other states handle, uh, juvenile arrest records upon the
age of 18. A lot of states expunge t hose records, and um, obviously when those records
aren't expunged, that's something that can impact a young person's life for the rest of
their lives, so, um, if there's an opportunity and ...and we've just begun this, so this is
preliminary, but if there's an opportunity for us to influence State legislation in that
regard, um, if in fact um ... uh, the City Attorney's office determines that there is an
opportunity in that fashion, that something will bring brack ... bring back to you for, uh,
further discussion to see if that's an opportunity for us here in the community.
Champion/ At what level of crime do they expunge those records? Is there ... do you know?
Please?
Hargadine/ It would ... if it falls under the juvenile court, uh, realm then it stays with the juvenile
court. There are times when someone is, um, for example a, you know, a homicide or
something like that. They're pros... prosecuted by the County Attorney. Once they've
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 17
done that, then obviously they would... and if they're convicted, then they're an adult
from then on at that point.
Champion/ Okay. Okay.
Hargadine/ But ... urn...
Champion/ As long as it remains in a juvenile court...
Hargadine/ Then it would be ... eligible to be expunged.
Champion/ Great!
Hargadine/ But there are times when juveniles of a younger age commit an adult offense...
Champion/ Right!
Hargadine/ ... and ... from, at that point they become certified as an adult. That's the way other
states handle it.
Champion/ Okay. Thank you.
Markus/ Next, uh, sub - recommendation was officers need to handle situations consistently for all
community members. Expectation needs to be clearly communicated and officer
behavior needs to be monitored. Um, the staff response is that situations do vary and
maintaining officer discretion with the expectation of consistent behavior is the standard.
Um, the Department supervisors review officer, uh, recordings to monitor officer
interaction with the public. Inappropriate officer interaction will be immediately
addressed and documented consistent with the Department discipline, uh, philosophy
general order. Um ... staff recommendation, to continue to pursue the highest degree of
expectations from our police officers. Urn ... again, um ... we do have a number of
mechanisms for office... for the public to come in and communicate to us their concerns
about, uh, whether they feel they were treated, uh, fairly or not fairly and um, those
systems are in place. Recommendation C is the recommended opportunities to assist the
public, uh, with educational opportunities. Additional educational information needs to
be provided to members of the minority communities. Um, staff response is the
Department participates in a monthly training with youth regarding contact with police
and providing information, understanding on police procedures and collaboration with
Mayor's Youth, uh, Empowerment Program. And the staff recommendation is to
develop relationships with very minor... various minority communities in Iowa City.
Recommend publishing efforts already occurring. The Police Department will actively
recruit minority members of the community to participate in the Citizens Police
Academy. And the Police, uh, Department will expand outreach efforts by educating the
public on the availability of speakers and presenters for public meetings and educational
activities. And this means that in ... on certain occasions we will go into, uh ... um, non-
English speaking, uh, parts of our community and bring translators to ... to talk about, uh,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 18
the responsibilities of the Police Department and how they do interact with our public.
And that was one of the things I think the Ad Hoc Committee, again, really stressed for
us. C(2) is to strengthen the community partnerships with the community and
neighborhood organizations to provide educational opportunities and to disseminate
information. Um ... we ... we, uh, currently, uh ... um, participate in maintaining working
relationships with a number of agen ... various stakeholder organizations and those are
listed. Uh, we will continue those efforts, uh, and the Police Department will work
toward incorporating street officers' participation and cream ... crime prevention activities
and community outreach programs, as well. So that the ... the person behind the seat of
the patrol car... seat of the patrol car will also be out there, uh, as a face, uh, talking about
different issues. Develop partnerships with the schools and community youth groups to
implement a police cadet program. I think this is something actually the staff suggested,
and the Ad Hoc Committee thought it was a good idea. Um, we are going to work on
that kind of cadet program. This has a two- pronged approach. One is it's to, uh, bring
the youth of the community into a program early on, and secondly, it's to encourage
minority youth and others about, uh, the benefits of a career in law enforcement and, uh,
in the case of the fire service, uh, the Fire Department and so we think it actually has two,
uh, benefits, um, and quite frankly will help us in the long run by, uh, being able to attract
minority, uh, members into the Police Department itself. Under committee response to
the pending recommendations to Council from the Human Rights Commission, the Ad
Hoc Committee, um, the Human Rights Commission would support the City in pursuing
a municipal issued identification card implemented in a manner to protect the safety of
undocumented persons. Uh, the Chief has already weighed in on this and he is
supportive of that. Uh, we do believe that this matter needs to be studied in terms of just
the simple bureaucracy of how that would happen, uh, who would be issued the cards,
what the criteria is, um ... you know, you get into the whole issue of the immigration issue
in that regard, which is I think where this derives from, and so we would be studying
other, uh, cities that actually have implemented, um, the ID card, uh, process and we
would, um, come back with a report in about three to six months. Uh, the Police
Department will also be a part of that study. Uh, under Police Citizens Review Board,
um, the ... to increase public awareness of the Police Citizens Review Board and the
process by which to file a complaint. Um, I was a bit surprised, uh, since coming here
that there seems to be a ... a pretty significant lack of understanding about the process of
the PCRB, and so, um, I do agree that we do need to do a better job of getting our
message out. So the sub - recommendation is to distribute the literature regarding the
Police Citizens Review Board. Um, staff response is, uh, we do offer information
regarding the Police Citizens Review Board in locations throughout City Hall, Iowa City
Public Library, and then a number of other locations through the community, and on our
web site. Um... one of the things that the... in terms of the recommendation, is to
continue to provide that and access to relevant information will be improved on the City
web site and promoted. Um, and later on we'll talk about a video that we're preparing, as
well. The primary contact will be the City Clerk's office, uh, as you know, Marian serves
as the liaison to the PCRB at this stage. And, input will be solicited from the PCRB
members, the Police Department, and the Equity Director, which I'll describe a little bit
later. Sub, uh, category recommendation, uh, A(2) is to prepare a video, um, to be shown
to local organizations, neighborhoods, uh, different, um ... um, minority communities, as
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 19
well. Play it on Channel 4, uh, and get this out into the public so that the public does
understand their rights and ... and opportunities, um, if they feel that they've been treated,
uh, inappropriately. Uh, and... and through the review of the PCRB. Um, we will
develop this video using our ... our Cable staff as well. This shouldn't be any significant
cost. The primary contact will be the Clerk's office and again, we'll solicit, uh, the
PCRB, the Police Department, the Equity Director for input into the production of that.
Recommendation B is to increase public awareness of the Police Citizens Rev ... Review
Board and the process by which you file a complaint. The person filing the complaint
will have the option of requesting that a member from the Police Citizens Review Board
participate in the complainant's interview. This is the first, uh, item where, uh, we take
exception to the ... to the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Committee, and basically we
feel that, um, it's a fairly small board and by having the PCRB board member participate,
um, in that, um... introduction, uh, and review of the initial complaint that they may feel
compromised in terms of the review, and so that may be a conflict for somebody, and uh,
with a small board you start to run into the jeopardy of, uh, the potential of not having a
quorum to handle those things. So our recommendation is not to pursue that opportunity.
Um, we do have some other recommendations that probably beef up that initial, uh,
complaint process and make that a ... um, a uh, a smoother, uh, more acceptable way for
people to come in and file a complaint. Item, uh, B(2), the commit ... the Ad Hoc
Committee's recommendation was the Human Rights Coordinator serves as an assistant
and provides education about the process. Once a complaint has been received, the
Human Rights Coordinator will be informed and will send a letter to the person, uh, filing
the complaint to offer support through the process. The Human Rights Coordinator will
be available to address any questions or concerns that the individual may have and will
extend an invitation to accompany them in the complainant's interview with the Police
Department. Uh, the City Clerk's staff refers individuals with questions regarding non-
Iowa City officers to the Equity Director. Um, so ... uh, the staff recommendation is that
the Equity Director is available to provide information to the complainant about the
PCRB process and to assist the complainant understanding the process. It is not
recommended the Equity Director participate in the complainant's interview with the
Police Department as the Equity Director should not be put in the actual, uh, or perceived
position of advocating for the complainant. And so this is to make sure that the
individual has their rights fully explained, their opportunities fully explained, in the
process of filing a complaint. That's the role of the Equity Director in this particular
position, and then we have the contact time line, um, under who's responsible. Under
B(3), it's recommended the City Manager participate in the interview with the Police
Department and the officer in question. Um, we had quite a discussion about this item
and ... and uh, it went back and forth, um, in discussion with Legal, with the Police
Department, with the Manager's office and ... um ... I ... I agreed to participate in the
interview process and in part, um, I guess my justification for it was, in addition to the
request of the Ad Hoc Committee, was that I might be, um ... um ... I might bring a
different perspective to that interview process. I might see things different, uh, not being
of the specific police culture, more of an outsider in that kind of role, uh, and so, uh, to
the extent that we can create a, uh, a higher trust level in the PCRB system, uh, I think the
Ad Hoc Committee wanted to see somebody else involved. Now you might ask the
question, what ... what about somebody other than the ... the City Manager. The problem
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 20
is, is that, um ... the Police Chief and the City Manager are the only ones that have the
ability to compel the testimony, uh, of the officer, and so that's why I'm probably the
only, uh, likely candidate, uh, to serve in that extra role. So ... um ... the Chief ...the Chief
has me on speed dial so when somebody comes in and we interview `em in the middle of
the night, he'll be sure to call me. (laughter) So we are recommending that change,
consistent with the Ad Hoc Committee. Item B(4), the complainant will be offered an
exit survey. The staff response is the City can offer an exit survey, uh, tool to the
complainant to provide staff and the public with their perceptions. This data derived
from the survey will be provided as a component of the annual reporting mechanism that
we'll be using. Hopefully that will inform us, um, if there's things that we're missing in
the process or things that we could correct in the process going forward by having that,
uh, exit survey information. Uh, we expect that this can be implemented by changing the
standard operating procedure and we should be able to get that done within three months.
Next item recommended was the terms of the Police Citizens Review Board should be
limited to two four -year terms. Staff believes that the definition of terms for the PCRB is
a policy decision of the City Council and so we really haven't taken a position on that.
It's up to the City Council. Council can give us direction; we can prepare the necessary
legislation and get that amended. Uh, next are...
Payne / What ... what would be the process to discuss that? Us just to ask to put it on a work
session agenda?
Markus/ Or ... or ... any other suggestions, Eleanor? I suppose they could just direct it, uh, with a
majority vote to (both talking)
Dilkes/ Yeah, I mean ... I mean, Council wants a ... has a clear idea of what you want to do with
that now you can give us that direction now. If you want to schedule it for a work
session, you can do that.
Payne/ Do we want to discuss it now or...
Markus/ Term limits is one of those things that usually gets into a ... kind of a lot of discussion
about, um ... you know, just that the policy decision of term limits, and if you're going t
do it here, I don't think do we do it any place else?
Karr/ (mumbled) we do not do it in any other board and commission within the City (clears
throat) and I know that's been a little bit of a concern as far as, um...
Hayek/ I don't think I'm comfortable acting on that particular one this evening. I mean, there's
not a staff recommendation and it gets into the issue of what we do with our other boards
and commissions, and it probably merits more discussion, if we're to discuss it.
Champion/ We have kind of...I'm sorry (mumbled)
Hayek/ And these other ones, that ... that Tom's going to get to, uh, under sub ... under
recommendation C have a recommendation behind them, and you know, maybe things
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 21
we can deal with tonight and if not, maybe we lump that into the ... to the other
conversation and we just do this in a work session.
Champion/ We do have kind of a informal term limit on commissions. In the sense that if
somebody's had two terms, and there's a qualified applicant, we tend to ... add a new
person.
Dobyns/ (both talking) not codified, that's just sort of a style (both talking)
Champion/ Something informal we do.
Hayek/ You okay with that?
Payne/ Uh huh.
Throgmorton/ I...
Payne/ I just don't want it to get dropped. That's why I asked, you know, I just don't want to
lose it.
Throgmorton/ There ... there are probably lots of things one could say about this particular
recommendation, but speaking only for myself, I'd much rather hear the whole spiel first
and then ... you know ... figure out what we want to do with particulars.
Payne/ Well I'll forget by the end.
Dilkes/ We'll just put it on the pending work session (several talking and laughing) We'll just
put it on the pending work sessions (several talking)
Hayek/ You know it's already ten of six and we ... and we want to make progress and ... and there
would be a lot just to get through what we're talking about right now.
Markus/ I got the cue! (laughter) Um...
Hayek/ Tom!
Markus/ ...the next recommendations, uh, regarding Police Citizens Review Board, change the
name to the Citizens Police Review Board. This is a Council determination. Quite
frankly I think it's fine, you know, but we didn't jump out and make a formal
recommendation on it.
Payne / And I thought that we couldn't legally do that from some other conversation that we had,
Eleanor.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 22
Dilkes/ No, I think ... I think you can do it. We'll probably formally say ... cause it's in the
Charter. We'll probably say `also known as' but you know something like that. But its
name can be ... as we ... I don't have a problem with that.
Dobyns/ The committee formerly known as the PCRB. (laughter)
Markus/ Next is C(2), remove the language regarding formal mediation within the City code and
from the standard operating procedures. It's in there now. We hard ... I don't think we've
ever used it, um, it doesn't occur as named officers chose not to participate. I think the
union is, uh, correct me if I'm wrong, Sam, I think the union has advised, uh, the
membership that, uh, it's not something that, uh, they would recommend.
Hargadine/ That's correct. Also, there's some things that once they're said you can't take `em
back. Examples would be an allegation of brutality or, uh, when I was booked, you
know, they stole my cash. When you say that, you can't some back later and say, I want
to mediate this. It's gotta be investigated. So ... very, Tom's right. Very rarely was it
ever formally investigated because once it's said, now it's gotta be followed up on.
Markus/ Next item is C(3), uh, no change, um ... and you gotta be clear about this. The, um, the
Ad Hoc Committee recommended no change in the PCRB's 45 -day reporting period, as it
may impact time process. The recommended change from the PCRB was to go to 90
days. Okay? So ... uh, we actually, um, had quite a debate among staff about this issue
and we've, uh, kind of fallen on the side of the PCRB and have recommended that, uh,
the change to the 90 days, cause there's been a number of times. I think Michelle
brought it up. Why are we, you know, continually voting when it, you know, and so we
said hopefully it's 90 days. Hopefully it...it doesn't move it now to 120 days. So ... next
are the Diversity... any questions about the Police or PCRB recommendations at this
stage? Okay. We're going to move into the Transportation Service, uh, Services
recommendations. And um ... the Diversity Committee identified assorted policies,
practices, procedures, and gen... generated recommendations of diversity - related matters
within the Department. Um, starting with sub - recommendation, uh, A(1), Sunday service
options, assessing the free downtown shuttle as a potential revenue route to off -set
additional (mumbled) services or researching how to develop a free shuttle service to
other areas. Staff recommendation is, and you'll see this about a number of things, is to
develop a report to outline Sunday service options to include costs, estimated rides
(mumbled) this will be submitted in a report as a part of a system -wide evaluation.
Currently, uh, Transportation Department and the Manager's office are evaluating the,
um, direction from the SEA ... from the City Council on the SEATS, um ... issue that has
to be addressed before the September, uh, deadline, uh, when Sunday service, half, uh...
half fares, uh, issue went into effect. So we will start pursuing that, uh, immediately
following that issue. Uh, the next recommendation was to expand times on Saturday.
Again, uh, we will do a community outreach piece to gather, uh, survey information on
this and report back, um ... uh, in the general report on whether we can, uh, implement
some of those things or not. And, of course, what the cost related, uh ... uh, issues would
be with that.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 23
Champion/ When you ... talk about those recommendations, are you talking about areas where
there's heavy transit use?
Markus/ Yes. Yeah, and ... and that might be a little bit of a diversion from what I said earlier,
is ... I think the Ad Hoc Committee actually started to get us moving in a direction of
demand, uh, for some of these extra types of services. I think they ... they obviously
recognize... there's a cost component to these decisions and so they wanted us to look at
it, and if you look at the next recommendation, which is to increase the start times, that
specifically came out of a request by one of the members relating to, uh, having
transportation services for employment purposes for members of a specific area where a
concentration of minority, uh, members in the community live. Um, the staff
recommendation is enhance outreach efforts to the businesses along Heinz Road and
industrial areas in Iowa City to evaluate their needs in terms of business to lead ... uh, to
outline a proposed solutions recommendation for any necessary service enhancements.
Um, right now we probably have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country...
Champion/ Oh I know it!
Markus/ ...and so you know this is ... you know, this is ... this is a part of keeping us, uh,
economically viable, you know, is developing the work force and make sure the work
force, uh, can get connected with the businesses that are already here, let alone the ones
we're trying to attract. A(4) is recommend that the central bus facility uses an atomic
clock. Everybody knows what an atomic clock is, right?
Throgmorton/ Got one right here! (laughter)
Markus/ Uh, for the purposes of drivers to sync their clocks and watches. Uh, the transit office is
placing a clock at the downtown interchange that syncs with a clock posted on BONGO,
and this, uh, would allow, uh, drivers and riders to routinely sync their watches with
transit time. Uh, we concurred with that recommendation. Purchase and installation of
the atomic clock for the downtown interchange is underway. (mumbled) the ... will
inform our drivers to routinely set pieces to display time. Uh, this is the clocks that are
used, um, in terms of global navigational systems, GPS, and used for the timing of, uh,
television broadcasts, make sure that there's consistent timing. Um, recommendations
look into alternatives to notifying the public about acceptable behavior. We did talk
about some of the incidents that have occurred on the buses, and terms of conflicts, uh,
with passengers, passengers to staff, um, we are creating a document, pamphlet, outlining
the procedure followed, uh, by the Iowa City Department when there is an incident on the
bus. Um, and this information will be displayed prominently on the bus web site,
downtown interchange, and schools. The staff recommendation is in the process of
developing education campaign outlining proper conduct for users of the Transit system.
This will be coordinated with Legal staff for review and be implemented with the
assistance of Communications staff. Uh, item B(2) is to create youth liaisons. Um, by
partnering with local schools to find students in leadership roles. Um ... uh, leadership
roles to help drive, uh, drivers with incidents involving other youth. Um (mumbled) an
outreach program specific to youth and community can be valuable for education of the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 24
future users of the Transit system. Um ... we will engage schools to discuss mechanism to
dispense information about behavior, safety, regulations, and policies. Um, there was
kind of a specific recommendation in this regard about actually having potentially a
student, uh, on the bus that would kind of serve in that capacity and I think we have some
concerns about, uh, the risk for that student and the liability, uh, for the City associated
with putting a student in that role. So as we talk to the schools we'll examine that but uh,
at this point we're not going to recommend specifically that we go into that kind of
program.
Champion/ Chris, did you ... it seems to me in the back of my mind, it's not coming out very
quickly, um, that you talked about routing one of those buses that picks up at the school
out of the downtown. Did that happen? You talked about it once.
O'Brien/ Out of the downtown...
Champion/ Yeah, running a bus from the Southeast Junior High directly into the neighborhoods
it's going to.
O'Brien/ Yeah, we changed the direction of that route, as well as the timings to better match up
with the, so that there was less, uh, time waiting at those ... those spots.
Champion/ Did that help?
O'Brien/ Um ... ridership at the beginning was ... was roughly about the same and it picked up
slightly, uh, but for the most part we still saw, um, a lot of the students would still ride
downtown, depart the bus, and then would ... would once again board later to ... to head
out to a destination. We actually ... um, in addition, added a stop to our East Side Express
Route that picked up, uh, in the City High area, headed uh, eastbound, uh, across Scott
Boulevard because that was another area where we were having, uh, long rides.
Champion/ Uh huh.
O'Brien/ ...to get to some of those locations and ... and um, once again, that was something that
was moderately used. So...
Champion/ Thanks!
Markus/ Okay, so urn ... the next recommendation are increase community outreach efforts in the
Transportation Department; create a video with local youth community members that
explain how to appropriately use City Transit, uh, services; and we actually will use
students in some of these shots to, uh, communicate with, urn ... uh, same -age riders. Uh,
the staff recommendation is to develop a media campaign to promote and educate
community members on the use of public transit. Um ... C(2) is an interactive
informational kiosk. That's something that we will coordinate. As you know the
downtown is going through a major, uh, downtown streetscape program in the next year
or so, and so we will look at that as a part of the streetscape program, uh, implementing
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 25
that kiosk for not just this but for other, uh, related issues as well. Uh, C(3) is connect
with the local schools, neighborhood associations to inform the community on on -going
changes and improvements in transit, and uh, staff recommendation is to develop a transit
outreach program to include neighborhoods, schools, social service agencies, senior
center, and businesses. Um, that's something that we've actually given us ... ourselves a
little more time to actually implement. Um, but something that we will focus on.
Recommend Iowa City Transportation Department staff participate in on -going cultural
and lingui ... linguistically appropriately diversity training. Uh, and the recommendation
is in the process of setting up the training program with the National Transit Institute to
provide transit specific diversity training, and this'll be coordinated with Coralville's bus
system and Cambus, and Johnson County. Um, recommends that the Iowa City
Transportation Department create a survey addressing current transportation needs in the
community, um, and some of the specific concerns were community needs for Sunday,
Saturday service; community needs for extending service both AM and PM on weekdays;
assessing needs for low- income areas; and broad outreach and publicizing of the survey.
And our recommendation is to develop a survey mechanism to evaluate the current
Transit system; uh, gaps in transportation and future needs as it relates to the public. This
is going to be done in coord ... cooperation with the MPO of Johnson County and it will
be distributed in multiple formats, uh, and we've described those. Uh, Transit is also
interested in, um, investigating the implementation of a mind -mixer type system for
collecting input from the community. Those that don't know what a mind -mixer program
is, it's an online interactive computer program that allows public to engage in this whole
discussion and hopefully come up with some creative solutions, uh, in terms of, uh, our
Transit system. Next is, uh, the recommendation D and that's to recommend improving
overall environment of downtown interchange and high - volume bus, uh, stop, uh, shelters
and work on providing additional transit needs as specified, uh, this was the
recommendation of the Ad Hoc Committee. Pursue additional seating in downtown
interchange; increase number of shelters; increase frequency of maintaining bus stops,
uh, litter, overall appearance. The staff recommendation to create a Transit facility plan
to include current amendments... amenities, outline a future installation, establish
maintenance plan, document for on -going maintenance. And then, uh, improving
communication, uh, with, uh, between the other transit systems, um, and that was the
recommendation of the, uh, Ad Hoc Committee. Establish radio communication with the
other transit services; trip planner to include all local transit services; and assist riders to
travel throughout the Iowa City /Coralville area; review current services for streamlining
or duplication of services with other transit systems; and uh, social and cultural issues
when considering, uh, structural changes to the transit system. That specific comment
relates to don't just make decisions based on economics, but look at the social, cultural
ramifications. That was the Ad Hoc Committee's recommendation. Staff
recommendation is to continue ongoing communications with Coralville, Cambus,
Johnson County; continue to find ways to improve the communication coverage and
efficiencies as it relates to providing public transit services to community; plans are in the
process for the next evolution of BONGO to include a trip planner function for utilizing
Iowa City /Coralville or University transit systems. The next item was on reporting and
urn ... uh, one of our Ad Hoc Committee members, uh, actually came up with a fairly
comprehensive reporting mechanism, and I don't wish to offend him but we've modified
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 26
that to some degree, um, and this document that you have before you, and I had a chance
to speak with him before the meeting, actually is the document we largely will use to
report on the specific recommendations that the Ad Hoc Committee made. As I said, we
will report on a periodic basis as we make progr ... progress and you'll note that the
column talks about current status. That's where you'll see changes being made. This
same format has worked quite well with our strategic plan effort and those that want to
see how we handle that can go online and pull down the strategic plan and wa ... and
watch how we progress throughout the year, and we'll actually do an actual report out.
And um, quite frankly, uh, that will, um, be assisted and aided by, um ... the um, the
Equity Director, which is an item that's on your agenda, uh, this evening, and what we
did is, when we're looking at these issues, um, in order to, uh, really keep us on pace and
to be focused on, uh, not only the human rights angle, but the, uh, equity types of issues
that come out about ... come into play about, uh, employment, about communications,
about interaction with our minority community. We decided to expand the position of
the Human Rights Coordinator to include that of an Equity, uh, Director role and uh, the
Equity Director role in terms of the job description reads as follows: serves as an advisor
to the City Manager on issues of equity, inclusion and diversity within the community,
and the City government organization. Provides and coordinates community
presentations, education, outreach, and uh, equity initiatives on behalf of the City. Works
with City departments to promote and measure, um ... urn ... equity inclusion and div...
diversity within the City operation. Uh, in terms of essential job duties and
responsibilities beyond the Human Rights Coordinator position, this position will serve as
an advis ... advisor to the City Manager on su ... on the issues that I described; consults
with the City Manager in deter... developing and integrating diversity and inclusion
management goals and strategies into business and planning processes and practices;
leads and directs diversity initiatives; monitors diversity related policies; and manages
diversity programs for the City; develops and implements a system to provide clear,
timely communication regarding diversity and equity initiatives to promote an inclusive
environment; disseminates information and develops programs that contribute to the
identification and con ... and confrontation of inst..instances of prejudicial behaviors,
stereotyping, and discrimination, and prepares community equity diversity reports.
Identifies and implements training opportunities as needed throughout the organization
and to community groups as requested; and performs as liaison to community agencies,
organizations, City departments and divisions; communicates with such organizations
regularly, and ensures appropriate contacts with the City organization, and I think this is
going to be one of the, um ... uh, more important areas — collaborates with our Human
Resources Division on efforts to support diversity goals in the hiring process and
personnel practices of the City. So that is ... a separate item that's on your agenda, as
well, this evening and um ... uh, Stephanie Bowers and ... and uh, the staff and Legal have
had this discussion and we think that, uh, her position can be enhanced and help us move
forward with, uh, equity and diversity, um, inclusion into our operation in a more
significant way than it may have been in the past. So ... I've said enough!
Hayek/ You know, on the ... on the Transportation, urn ... it may be time to take a philosophical
look at our... approach to transit, at least the fixed transit.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 27
Champion/ Yes, I think so.
Hayek/ Do we maintain our ... our cover all the territory approach? Do we ... to more of a fish
where the fish are, you know, go where the demand is ... approach?
Champion/ The last time (both talking)
Hayek/ ...time for that conversation. I don't know.
Champion/ The last time we talked about this it was very painful. (laughs) Because some of the
places that weren't very populated, I mean as far as using transit, there would be like two
or three people who used it every day and wondered how they were going to get to work,
I mean, so ... it becomes an emotional issue more than a practical one.
Dobyns/ It becomes a neighborhood stabilization issue too because then you disincent living in
certain areas. So I could see where that could get real complex real fast.
Champion/ ...it was heated discussion!
Dobyns/ I bet!
Champion/ And obviously we didn't do anything about it! (laughs)
Throgmorton/ So ... so we don't have a whole lot of time to talk about this apparently. Uh, with
that in mind, I ... I want to express some things that I value so that you all hear it and you
understand where I'm coming from. Oh, my screen just went blank. Uh ... this is a, I
think a really important action and we need to be clear about what we value, uh, in
responding to it. So first thing I think is I would suggest that we invite the members of
the previous Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity to, uh, give us their thoughts about, uh,
about the staff's recommendations, not to say yay or nay, but to give ... to tell us whether
they think the staff has understood what the Committee was recommending and ... then
whether the Committee members, uh, you know, generally speaking support the ... the
recommendations being presented. That's... that's the first thing I want to suggest. The
second is, and this ... with that caveat in mind, I'm going to tell you how I personally read
the text of...of the recommendations. I'd rather discuss it in a different format, but here
we are, so I don't have any choice. Uh... as... as I read the text, especially the Police
Department's portion, what I read is basically text that says we will continue what we've
been doing. There ... there are in particular, uh, with regard to the following kind of
language with regard to staff recommendations — continue efforts to develop, continue to
search for opportunities, continue to provide, continue to pursue, all right? So that's the
text that I read. I think, Tom ... much of your oral presentation takes on a ... I hear it
differently than the text in the ... in the written recommendations. So ... if I understand the
Committee rightly, the Ad Hoc Committee, that's not what the Ad Hoc Committee
wanted. And I don't think it's what we should want. I believe we should be, uh, seeing a
more, much more active indication of what the Department will change, not what it will
continue doing. Again, this may be all about text, so maybe I'm misreading the text, but
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 28
boy I tell ya, that's what I read! So, uh ... I ... so I'm recommending first that we invite the
Ad Hoc Committee to review the document. Secondly, I think we need to be a lot clearer
about what's ... what we're proposing to change. And ... then, uh, with regard to the, uh,
with regard to the, uh, the annual equity report, I ... I'm aware that some members of the
Ad Hoc Committee, I'm sorry — not the Ad Hoc Committee. Uh, some members of the
Coalition for Racial Justice, uh, think that we ought to be focusing the report not so much
on the specifics of what the staff is doing, though I understand the reason for that and I
support doing that, but instead to focus on... on outcomes. Meaning how are we doing
with regard to racial equity in Iowa City?
Markus/ Yeah, and... and I should have pointed something out. In addition to this document,
we ... you will be receiving a raft of reports...
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I know there are nine ... nine that you mentioned (both talking)
Markus/ .... and ... and another one in here about, that I had mentioned during the course of the
presentation, that do create those measures. Uh, one of the concerns I had was it seemed
like we were reinventing the wheel, uh, on some of the requested, uh documentation.
And the documentation already existed so if you wanted to measure, uh, what had
happened before to what is going to happen, uh, you ... you have that documentation
there, and the one I think really got to that that I mentioned during the, um, during the
comments.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, yeah, so it could be ... a lot of that could be consolidated because I ... I agree
with you, there's a lot of information in those reports and ... and that information could be
used, but as it is, nine reports coupled with, uh ... I've forgotten what the acronym is, uh,
the ... the kind of report that you have in mind, that's a lot, and it would be buried in ...in
the, uh, in the apparatus. It'd be very hard for the public to be aware of, to track, uh, and
we can't read nine reports and track them individual. Anyhow, I don't want to be talking
all the time. We don't have a whole lot of time here. Telling you what I value.
Mims/ Uh, this is Susan. Can you hear me?
Hayek/ Yeah, go ahead, Susan!
Mims/ Yeah, I just ... my reaction to this report is ... in the context of kind of where we've started
and where we need to go. And I see this as a very positive first step, but only a first step,
and something that we need to, as a Council and a staff, really keep our eyes and focus
on, in an ongoing way, if we are really going to improve our community, not only, uh, in
reality but in perception as well, and so um, I hear what you're saying, Jim, you know,
when you see things like continue, continue, but there are some changes there, I think,
and I think the additional reporting out and the fact that we are giving it our attention and
need to make sure we continue to give it our attention, so that we do see some improved
outcomes as we go forward. So again, I just see it as a very positive first step, but only a
first step.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 29
Hayek/ Yeah, I ... you know, my experience was the Scattered Site Housing Committee which
produced a report, not unlike the report from the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, um, and
unlike the, uh, experience in 2004, 2005, uh, in this instance staff has come up with what
I regard a comprehensive response to the specific recommendations, and a proposed
action plan, uh, using a template that has proven successful within City Hall, um, and to
the extent it's an evolving process, an evolving document that will require work over
time, both to comply with the specifics and to, uh, make sure that ... that the specifics are
in fact adequate, um, you know, this is a work in progress, but ... but what we did ... what
we, the exercise we went through the last Ad Hoc Committee the Council created was in
03. I was part of that. And we generated that report and it ... and it came to the City
Council and essentially collected dust, and uh, so I would draw a big distinction between
that process and this, urn ... uh, I ... I think this is an admirable, uh, re ... and a ... and a fairly
prompt response to a set of... of recommendations on... on some very important issues.
Um, we're going to ... you know, I think it's important that we support this tonight. Um, I
think it's important to hold the work session on some of these undecided issues, the
policy ones for us, and maybe there's an opportunity for ... and, well there certainly will
be opportunities for continued input, uh, with time and ... and the, just the essence of the
reporting approach with these periodic updates and the annual report, just as we see with
the strategic planning, uh, approach we take, you know, we will be revisiting this, um,
time and again, um, and it will ... it will ... it will change over time. Uh...
Mims/ The other thing I would add is, if as a Council we believe that these are very important
issues, then after the election when we revisit, uh, the new Council revisits our strategic
plan, then this would I think also be a place for some discussion of...of incorporating
these issues as part of our strategic plan for the community.
Payne/ One of the things that I got out of reading the meeting minutes from the Ad Hoc Diversity
Committee, and I also get it from reading the Human Rights Commission meeting
minutes is there is some mistrust with the Police Department, and I don't know what the
history is or how it got that way, but the ... contact and the timeline, a lot of them are the
Police Department will manage. So I hope that because the Police Department is
managing that ... those items, that it will help reestablish trust so, you know, having that
reporting and ... and reporting out on a periodic basis, hope that that will ... help reestablish
that trust.
Champion/ I don't think it's a matter of trust so much. I think it's a matter of we really have
always had a shortage of police here. We've never had an adequate number. So we've
never been able to do neighborhood policing. So every time somebody has contact with
the police, 90% of the time it's because they're in trouble.
Payne/ Yeah, it's negative.
Champion/ So (laughs)
Payne/ And I ... and I don't...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 30
Champion/ ...after you for something!
Payne/ ...I don't ... I totally agree with your ... that assessment, but sometimes when you're in the
situation, you don't ... you don't look at the big picture (laughs)
Champion/ Right, right! So I think because we've added some police now that, uh, our police
department might be able to do more, well... call it neighborhood policing, call it
whatever you want, but not the only contact you have with a policeman is not when
you're in trouble.
Payne / And I guess the point I was trying to make is, I think this can be a positive
towards... towards that.
Dobyns/ Hey, Tom, there's a whole lot here. Um ... (several responding) this kind of reminds me
of the, uh, strategic plan. Um, and I've been very happy with how the strategic plan has
been operationalized. One, I think Geoff comes by and talks about it more than once per
year, plus it's also in sort of the language. I ... I notice we sort of like refer, at least in our
heads, to the strategic plan in multiple times in discussions, deliberations, policy
formation. I'm not quite so confident that this will be like that. I hope it is. Um ... you
said once per year. I would assume the Human Rights/Equity person would come to you
and say how I'm doing on this periodically. Um ... to wait a whole, you know, this'd
probably be 15 months from now before we'd hear the first report. That's a whole lot of
time on a whole lot of issues. Um ... could you...
Markus/ Well, you ... you'll actually be seeing interim reports in terms of as we progress.
Dobyns/ Okay.
Markus/ I'm talking about an annual total review of these things, but in the interim (both talking)
we're going to be...
Dobyns/ ...missed the timeframe in terms of (both talking)
Markus/ ...we'll be reporting out and through the web site, and you'll get it in your packet when
we actually, you know, we can do that on a quarterly basis, when you ... when we have
changes being made in different parts of this ... this, um, report.
Dobyns/ Okay. All right.
Markus / And I... and I would point out that, uh, and I don't know which of you spoke about
making this an issue in the strategic plan, but that would elevate this issue and quite
frankly I think it's probably something that's worth doing and not just slotting it under,
uh, one of the other categories that we currently have.
Throgmorton/ It was ... it was the disembodied voice (several talking and laughing) that's ... that
said it.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 31
Mims/ Yeah! (laughs) That's why I mentioned it, because I ... I like, as Rick said, how staff has
been reporting out this year on the strategic plan, and I think if, assuming that Council
believes this is as important as those other issues, uh, that are currently in the strategic
plan, as you just said, Tom, this would elevate it and we would get much more reporting
out and also publicity and then hopefully input and feedback from the community, as
well, to help us on this.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, so I ... I want to agree in general with what Rick was saying about periodic
reporting and so on, and I think doing that is a... is a wise move and it's great from a...
from a managerial point of view. My concern is this, Tom. When I read the text of...of
the recommendations having to do with staff, uh, Police Department actions in particular,
I see the words continue to do, X and Y and Z and whatever. So when I think about
reporting back about progress concerning whether or not they've ... they are continuing to
do something, I don't see that as being meaningful.
Markus/ I would acknowledge that there is some of that in there, but that's in addition ... I think
that there's more than just continue to do in there. There is ... there was comments about
going out and meeting with various parts of, uh, the community, engaging the community
in different ways, and to me, that's not just a continuation. That's an extra effort. I think
the ... I ... I would distinguish it this way: the Ad Hoc Committee made a very strong point
that they wanted us to go beyond just sitting on a board or committee, uh, cause there's
lots of them here (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Well, yeah, definitely!
Markus/ Okay! They wanted us to get out and have face -to -face contact. (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Right.
Markus / And I think the opposite of that is ... trust is built on a two -way street. It just doesn't go
one way. And so we need to invite the minority community in. We do that through the
cadet program. We do that through the, uh, through the different training programs that
we're proposing to have. Uh, through the communication that's beyond the continuing to
do things. I think there are other specific things in here, um, that are not just a
continuation of the same. And I think that diminishes what our intent was, and what we
intend... and... and how we intend to proceed.
Throgmorton/ May well be. I can tell you ... I'm just telling you how I read it, and I read it really
carefully this afternoon, um, it's the first time I had a chance to read it, and that's the way
I read it.
Markus/ And, Jim, I would say to you that you are very supportive of the recommendations that
came out of the Ad Hoc Committee, weren't you?
Throgmorton/ Absolutely!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 32
Markus/ Okay ... and I would say to you that we've addressed every one of those.
Throgmorton/ I ... I see (both talking)
Markus/ ...and some of it is continuation. Some of the recommendations are basically
continuations of what we're doing, and we attempted to expand beyond what the Ad Hoc
Committee suggested we do.
Dobyns/ You know, Jim, I don't think this is the time to praise or damn this. I think as it
marches out, as it's operationalized, I mean, this is all ... this is just talking the talk. It
looks great!
Champion/ Talking the talk! (laughs)
Dobyns/ But ... walking the walk, um, over the next year, I mean, I don't think at this point that
we can sit there and say this isn't going to work. I mean, all the things that I think we
need to look at, um... as recommended by the Diversity Committee are there. But this
isn't the time. Now, to get ... the time to get critical I think is henceforth. The next three
to six to 12 months in the reporting as this goes out. Um, how is the interface, um,
between you know the Police and the Transportation people with the public? Those are
the tough questions. And I don't think this is the time to ask those tough questions. They
come later. That's why I'm comfortable with this.
Hayek/ And I ... I think if we've been satisfied with the strategic planning approach (coughing,
unable to hear speaker) approaching two years, I think, of implementation, both the
reporting and monitoring and the implementation, then I think we have to have faith in
this proposed approach, because it is, uh ... it uses the same template. And um ... and
...and we have to give it a chance to unfold. We've set up, uh, clear goals. We've set
up, uh, monitoring. We've enhanced employment positions that are specifically, uh,
instructed to ... to look at implementation. Uh, and a host of other things, and I ... I think
you're right, Rick. We need to see how this unfolds. Uh...
Dobyns/ And my test of it, Jim, in about three or four months, uh, I was talking with City staff
about, you know, the ridership with the Police. I have not yet done that. I think the best
way to do that is not to go out but to, you know, try to get a member of the minority
community to go out with me, and actually see this actual, you know, on the streets
interface between the police and the public. Talk about engaging with them, and measure
together, um, and actually see it, um ... as it, uh, marches out. I mean, I want to see what
the end product is. And that's not now. That's in like the next three to six months.
Throgmorton/ And I should talk about the Heisenberg Principle after our meeting. Seriously.
Let's talk about that.
Information Packets:
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 33
Hayek/ Well let's ... let's do this. We ... I promised Marian we'd be out of here in about three or
four minutes. Um, we're not going to finish our work session clearly. Um, I think we
should hit upon the Info Packets in case anyone has any questions, and the rest of the
items can wait until we adjourn from the formal back to the work session this evening.
So the first work, uh, first Info Packet is June 6th. Nothing real relevant to tonight's
meeting. Any questions about that? Okay. Uh, June 13th Info Packet.
Mims/ I just had a real quick comment. I know we're short on time but on IP5 the strategic
planning community survey, I would just ask the staff to look very carefully at the
questions that are developed for that, so that we get back some meaningful information.
Uh, too often questions (noise on mic, unable to hear) the information that no citizen
wants anything cut. And that really doesn't help us at all. And so questions that would
help in prioritizing, uh, services and things that the City does in a... in an era of a
tightening budget would be, I think, very helpful to the future Councils.
Hayek/ Good comment, Susan. Any other items on the June 13th?
Karr/ IP3 is the KXIC radio show. We've got Dickens on the 19th; and Dobyns on the 10th.
Hayek/ I could do, uh, June 26th or July P.
Champion/ And I can do whatever one you can't do or whatever. I'm not fussy.
Hayek/ I'll take the 26th I guess.
Karr/ Okay.
Hayek/ And then July 3`a, Connie?
Champion/ Yeah, I'll take July 3`a
Karr/ Thank you!
Payne/ Do we need to go further than that?
Karr/ 17th and 24th.
Hayek/ Of July.
Karr/ Of July.
Mims/ I can take July 17th
Karr/ Thank you, Susan. 24th of July?
Dickens/ I can do the 24th.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 34
Karr/ Okay. Thank you. I'll get a revised agenda out in the packet.
Hayek/ Okay.
Throgmorton/ Is that it for now?
Hayek/Yeah, why don't we, uh, end the work session, we'll adjourn it, but we'll take it back up
at the close of the formal meeting. So we'll start back up at 7:00 for the formal this
evening. (BREAK)
Meeting Schedule:
Payne/ We don't need to do Council time again?
Hayek/ Council time we just did. Meeting schedule.
Throgmorton/ We did that, didn't we?
Hayek/ Well we did KXIC, right. There is a ... I don't know which packet it's in. It's, uh... IP2,
or IP 1.
Dickens/ We just have the one special meeting in July.
Hayek/ Yeah.
Payne/ The 23rd or something.
Hayek/ We've got ... we've got our ... our reviews, uh, on July 16th, and then we've got a regular
work session/formal on July 23rd
Karr / And then just noting the Joint Meeting in North Liberty the 29th. It's on your schedule as
well (several responding)
Throgmorton/ July 29th
Karr/ Uh huh.
Payne/ July 29th?
Karr/ What was in the minutes.
Throgmorton/ Joint ... joint meeting. What ... what time?
Karr/ 4:30. So I added it to your tentative schedule.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 35
Hayek/ Okay. (several talking)
Champion/ The 29th, North Liberty. What time?
Karr/ 4:30 (several talking)
Payne/ It's the (several talking)
Champion/ At their new headquarters?
Karr/ Yes!
Pending Work Session Topics:
Hayek/ Okay, uh, pending work session topics. Got a big list!
Markus/ So cut me ... cut me off if I go too far. You have the hearing for the 500 -foot, uh, issue
at the next regular meeting. In advance of the regular meeting, um... do you wish to have
potentially a consultation, because didn't the recommendation come up negatively?
Dilkes/ Yeah, the ... the P &Z voted, uh, the 500 -foot change down, um, and that was initiated at
Council direction, so we anticipate that there may need to be a consultation between P &Z
and Council on that issue, and if you anticipate that then we'll go ahead and arrange for
that consult ... or ask P &Z if they want that consultation.
Champion/ So they're saying they don't want us to do this. I read that (both talking)
Markus/ ... split vote, wasn't it?
Karr/ Yeah, this is 4e(6). It was on your agenda.
Hayek/ I would suggest (several talking) go ahead and schedule the consultation (both talking)
Dilkes/ That's what I thought. Yes.
Mims/ I would agree (several talking)
Dickens/ Have we got the notes from ... the P &Z meeting?
Dilkes/ No, because we're just setting the public hearing, but we're asking because it's so long til
your next meeting that (both talking)
Dickens/ ...I just wanted to know ... I haven't seen what they said at their P &Z meeting so I
could see what their reasons (both talking)
Dilkes/ Right! I don't think there was a whole lot of discussion actually.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 36
Dickens/ I thought somebody said that one of the new members spoke for about ... ten minutes
and changed people's minds, but I haven't seen any (both talking)
Dilkes/ You're not binding yourself to anything.
Dickens/ I know, I just wanted to...
Dilkes/ ...we just want to save some time.
Hayek/ Will you schedule that for the July 23rd meeting, is that how that works?
Karr/ We'll offer the consult.
Dilkes/ We'll offer the consult to ... to P &Z if they want to do it then we'll probably schedule it
(both talking)
Upcoming Events /Council Invitations:
Hayek/ Okay. Okay, great. Thank you! Uh, okay, last, upcoming events, Council invites.
Anything new?
Throgmorton/ ... stuff.
Hayek/ Okay!
Payne/ Motion to ... I just wanted to ask Marian one thing. That meeting that we have on, that's
at 4:00 on the 16th or whatever, could you send out an email reminder? Don't (both
talking)
Karr/ Oh yeah, we'll have to call it a special formal. It'll ... we'll have to have, uh, you'll get an
email and you'll respond to it. It'll be a special formal meeting so we can go into
Executive Session.
Champion/ That's for evaluations?
Karr/ Uh huh.
Payne/ I just don't want to forget to show up.
Karr/ Yeah, no, we'll have ... we'll have some information going out.
Payne/ You won't be here, will you? Will you (several talking)
Hayek/ Okay, anything else for the good of the order? All right, thank you and have a good
evening. Bon voyage (mumbled)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.
June 18, 2013 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 37
Mims/ Good night!
Payne/ Bye, Susan (several talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of June 18, 2013.