HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-01 TranscriptionPage 1
ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER.
Hayek: Uh, Council Member Payne will be here in roughly one hour.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 2
ITEM 3. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA)
Hayek: This is the opportunity at each City Council meeting for members of the public to
address the Council on items that are not on, the agenda. So if there's something
that's not on the agenda that you'd like to bring to our attention, we invite you to
step forward, uh, we ask that you sign in and verbally also, uh, give us your name,
as well, and to limit your comments to five minutes.
Cannon: Hi, my name is Mark Cannon. I live in the Miller Orchard Neighborhood and
then I'm going to be showing you some scenes from our neighborhood tonight.
Um, for those of you who don't know the neighborhood, if you think of the
railroad overpass on Riverside Drive and you walk south until you hit Joanne's
Fabric. Then if you start at the river and you go up Benton Street past old
Roosevelt School to the top of the, um, street, that's basically the neighborhood,
and I'd like to focus on the business district tonight. That's kind of what I'd like
to talk about. Um ... here you ... you kind of start getting, and ... and I ... I really
want this to be visual for people because I ... ride my bike, walk through the
neighborhood, and ... and there's some things in the neighborhood that I think
most of the people in our neighborhood would say is going in the wrong direction.
So here's just a scene, um ... back in 2009, our neighborhood spent a lot of time
planning. We created a very beautiful plan. We later, uh, worked with the
University of Iowa, Urban and Regional Planning students and created an
absolutely wonderful, uh, plan for our neighborhood. Of course this was, you
know, a lot of creative and great thinking. In our plan though we ... we talked
about that we wanted to promote the neighborhood identity through beautification
and community, we wanted to encourage preservation of the housing stock by
promoting housing rehabilitation programs, and I will get to that a little bit later,
but the UniverCity program, which the City has sponsored, has been fabulous.
We have probably between 10 and 20, um, rehabbed houses in our neighborhood
that is transforming certain areas in the neighborhood, so thank you very much.
We want to create a safer neighborhood for residents, pedestrians, and visitors.
Uh, advocate for investment in the commercial district, and that's kind of where
I'll get to in a little bit here, and investigate options to improve traffic safety. Um;
here's just kind of a little bit of the ... the schem ... schematic the University
students helped us create, um, that would improve the ... the beautification, the
...of our neighborhood. So you can kind of get a feeling for what we did.
Positive features of our neighborhood, um, trails to be installed south of Benton.
Um, I... what we're referring to here is the river trail that kind of ends on the ... on
the northern part there and ... and I think there are some plans in the works for that
trail to continue. Sidewalks within the neighborhood and Highway 1 trail, we
have some new sidewalks in the neighborhood that have drastically increased the
safety to children trying to get to school. Um, the Highway 1 trail is in progress.
UniverCity homes in the neighborhood, I've already mentioned that. Benton Hill
Park, it's beautiful; we love it. Thank you very much! Um, we hear that there
will be four zoning changes that could provide more pleasant... or pleasing
development. Um, I'm not fully aware of what those mean, but what I ... what I
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 3
do hear about them I think is consistent with what our neighborhood would love
to see happen. Um, and then we hear that there's been designated that Riverside
Drive will be a redevelopment area. So here's the northern portion of Riverside
Drive. Um, this would be the railroad tracks to Benton Street and you can kind
of, uh, get the idea ... the idea there that, um, there's the ... the Deery parking lot, or
well, it was a business but it's now vacant. Bruegger's Bagels which we hear is
going to be leaving. Um, what used to be the Sinclair shop, or uh ... you know, a
filling station is now a pawnshop, and if you've driven by there anytime recently,
it is really an eyesore. Um, we have some vacant lots, uh, as you can see there.
There again is the pawn ... where the pawnshop is. And here's... here's the visual.
Just in the last few days of what that looks like on that corner. And that's after we
asked that some weeds be cut down that were left to just go rampant. Um, there's
Bruegger's. The, um, Deery lot as we said is now vacant, so ... and we hear that
there's some thought in the works as to what that might become. Here's just
another, um, view of a vacant area. As you can see, kind of broken concrete,
weeds. Another, um, vacant lot and again ... kind of the same visual (laughs)
Here's the southern part of um, Riverside Drive. Uh, you can see that there's a
Hampton Inn. That's new, uh, Staples is new. Um ... other than that, most of the
things there have been there a while. Here' s Staples and um ... just draw your
attention to the fact that when the Staples was developed, and I think the point I'm
trying to make is that without proactive, um, planning in this area, some things are
happening that wouldn't necessarily be consistent with what the neighborhood
ever would have hoped for. Um, my understanding is that that parking lot was,
um, required by code. There's probably 60 parking spaces in there, and I go by
there nearly every day and I don't know that I've ever counted more than 12, uh,
cars parked there. So we have a huge slab of cement that in coming years will
probably be broken and full of weeds. Mums, um, which I'll ... we'll get to here.
There's the Mums building, which is an old kind of abandoned building. Um, put
...I put this slide in here because when you really think of all the planning that has
been done by our neighborhood and by the City, consistently in every planning or
uh, meeting, people have said let's use our river ... to its greatest advantage. It's a
beautiful asset, and so here's the possibility of a building that could start thinking
of our river in different ways.
Hayek: Mr. Cannon, you're... you're on a very important subject, but you're up on your
five minutes.
Cannon: Oh, goodness!
Hayek: I'm going to need you to wrap up pretty quickly here.
Cannon: Okay. All right. So here's, um, dock standard. You can see an abandoned
...well, I'll just go really quick then. Kind of a lot there full of broken cement
and um, weeds. We have sidewalks that end. This is the Hampton Inn started the
sidewalk. It didn't articulate with Staples. It looks to me like that was never
thought out or planned. Um, a sidewalk going under... or should go under an
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 4
underpass. There's no safe way to even get under that underpass for pedestrians.
Um ... pedestrian unfriendly. Here's two people crossing Riverside and there's
only one protected crossing in the entire Riverside. Here's abandoned tire, well,
not abandoned, but tires and weeds along the riverfront, the old train trestle that is
full of graffiti. Um, that's a good day for the recycling plant when there isn't stuff
blown down on the side of the banks. Oh, there it shows it. Vacant lots. Uh
(mumbled) transportation study shows huge amounts of traffic going through
there, um, a lot of collisions. So, here's our challenges — safety, beautification,
investment. And here's what we're asking for the City Council to actively create
a redevelopment plan (clears throat) to support the process of proactive planning,
commit City resources and funding. I would call this ... call us a neighborhood in
need of assistance. We call schools that underperforming, schools in need of
assistance. Call us NINA. Just remember that little buzz word. Provide financial
incentives to developers and to take a proactive role in promoting the area ... area
to potential developers. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you and ... thank you for submitting this information. We will take a look
at it. (several responding)
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Throgmorton: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by, uh, Throgmorton, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor
say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt, and I'm a resident here in the city. And I'm here about
the code. Last week someone mentioned workforce housing. Now I've spoken
about workforce housing before. The idea of workforce housing has to do with
slavery and immigrants. So workforce housing should never be a legal word in
the code. And I'm talking about that because in this coming election, it seems
like some candidates like that word so much. But for me ... it relates ... it ... it's just
not right! And I'm here too about this, what I see as Skinnerist - behavioralism. I
noticed that the benches from Dubuque to Clinton have been rearranged, but
there's still one facing this way. And that restaurant on the corner of Linn or the
hotel where... whatever it's attached to, Linn and College. I've complained about
that before, where people have to walk around it. That's legally the sidewalk, and
that restaurant pushing out in the sidewalk to me has to do with workforce, cause
you have to make people think that they're slaves and they won't object to their
environment. I stand by the Library and I watch people ... I watch the women and
their baby coaches and their children walking almost in the street, walking by
that, uh, fireplug where the dogs urinate on. Some people I guess they have to get
off the street. If you're in a wheelchair, you cannot use that side of the sidewalk,
and they've been out there. And I ... I believe it's illegal. I haven't looked up the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 5
terms let... let... yet, uh, but ... the term workforce, now maybe that's the
workforce! Shuffling your feet and with your head down. Okay, my second thing
is about Lower Muscatine. That's is the worst! You cannot get across the street
unless you go to the intersection. You can't get over to Kirkwood College. Now,
planning, it can't have been planned! Deforest Str ... on Deforest Street, a two -
block, cause it's curved, the people can't go in the front door. They gotta go out
the back door. Dug up Lower Muscatine, one side, patched it up, and then dug up
the rest. Takes you a half hour to get to the bus, just ... just to get to the bus stop.
Now ... that is not planning. I don't know whose idea that was. The bus no longer
goes to Eastdale Mall and you have to get off at the old bus stop, cross the parking
lot for the Syc ... Sycamore Mall, take a chance on your life trying to get across the
street, if you live in Eastdale, there's apartments down First Avenue. So ... some
planning has to be made. And as I was saying before, stop this behavioralism.
How you ... you're messing up the sidewalks and ... and manipulating the benches
so the people look away from center city into this new center city where this 20-
story building is going to go. And I ... and ... and when I looked at it, it ticked off
something in my mind and I remember what it was. It was this movie called "The
Shadow" with Alec Baldwin, and I advise anybody that wanna see what's going
on down here to watch that movie. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Bramel: Hello, Mayor Hayek, Council Members. Alec Bramel, City Council Liaison. Uh,
about two weeks ago the UISG, uh ... um, appointed a new vice City Council
Liaison, um, and so um, he will be serving with me, uh, for the next, uh, next two
semesters until he takes over my position on May 1St. So, uh, in the interest of
time, he's got to get to another meeting, um, I'll let him introduce himself, so,
Kasra.
Zarel: Hello, Mayor Hayek, and the rest of the Council. My name is Kasra Zarel and
I'm a freshman at the University of Iowa, majoring in biomedical engineering.
I'm delighted to be a representative of UISG and um, work with the Council.
Thank you very much!
Hayek: Welcome! Glad you're here!
Knight: Hi, uh, it's your neighborhood pest, Roger Knight (laughs) How are you guys?
Um ... I just wanted to bring up a few things, um ... just from kind of what I keep
saying is like, um, the potholes in the sidewalk. They just ... seem to be getting'
worse, um, a few of `em maybe a little bit of gravel' ll get thrown in there. Just
maybe it's stuff that blows into it, but these are big potholes. These things are
damaging my wheelchair. You know, when you can't get over. Sometimes with
the college students, they don't care if it damages your chair. They want to walk
on this side of the sidewalk and ... you know, you can't really just like switch to
the other side of the street. So I understand that when you're driving but... it's
just ... can something finally be done? And another of these plans, um, to fix
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 6
downtown and some streets and all. Um, and I have a few ideas on here that I
will be turning in, but um ... kind of goes against what's being done. You're going
to build these high -rises and all of this and then you're going to make it feel like a
small city? Yeah, okay, that really seems to make sense. And... (mumbled)
something that Jim kind of hit on was for the homeless. You guys really need to
start thinking shame of yourselves. These people are homeless. I want you to
think about something here. I make ... how, exactly how much I make is none of
your business (laughs) you know. I'm not going to be up here saying exactly but,
I make less than ... well, actually I make just over $700 a month. There's rent at
apartments that is $700. So if I want to eat (laughs) oops! Too bad! I'm 28 years
old. I've kind of gotten used to eating food every day. So ... (clears throat) you
know, it's ... things like that and ... you know, um ... the City Manager wanted to
move the bars away from downtown. Well there's a huge fight Friday night. Just
some drunk fool decided he was going to fight somebody. Do we really want this
stuff in our neighborhoods? Where kids live? Do you really want our kids seeing
that? This is proper way to act, to go get drunk and go cause fights, cause damage
to property. Oh, this is okay but eventually we're going to give `em the message
of how's it not ... you know, I mean, come on! We gotta stop confusing our kids.
And it's just things like that, you know, um ... sorry! I don't mean to keep
breathing into the mic. Um ... it kind of just ... I don't know what's going on with
the City Council. You guys want one thing and then you do another thing and
you guys just keep contradicting yourselves. You guys keep making things like,
urn ... you know, no stuff downtown. Well, sure, that looks nice for the businesses
and all. But where is the homeless supposed to put stuff? Or the smoking? No,
okay no more smoking on the ped. Well, now everybody smokes in this certain
area. You guys hit on that. You guys just kind of make ordinances, change
things, and then you guys don't think about how every time you change
something, you're going to change it either for the better or for the worse.
There's a equal and opposite reaction. And I know that's kinda science but... it
works that way for people's behaviors, as well. And uh ... one last thing is you
guys did a really good job, well, not you guys (laughs) you know, I doubt you
guys are down there paving over Highway 6 but, um ... northbound Gilbert.
Um ... I don't know how ... I'm trying to think what that would be called. Like that
median sidewalk right there. That thing didn't get paved over, so it's a big divot
down and a big ... almost flip you backwards to get on it, and it's really fun going
the opposite direction too. (laughs) So I mean it's just something like that got
overseen but it happens all the time. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Is there anyone else during community comment?
Ross: Hi, I'm Brandon Ross and uh ... first thing I would like to say is I think it's
absolutely disgusting that our government is shut down over affordable health
care. Um, it's not only a national issue, it's a local issue. I think that the ... the
behavior is, uh, in the Congress is despicable. I'm certainly happy that our City
Council does not behave that way. Uh, I ... I've never seen anything like it. It's a
circus. It seems entertaining to some, but that some people with, uh, with... with
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 7
money can control, uh, our government like that, and that the issue is actually
affordable health for people. I think it's an embarrassment to our government, uh,
everywhere, and that includes even our own city, that we should denounce this
kind of, uh, behavior and it is a local issue. Uh, I ... I saw someone today who
was, uh, who didn't work today. She works for DNR. She lives in Iowa City.
She's not getting paid. Uh, Veterans ... uh, the Veterans Hospital, there are people
there that are affected. Uh, this is just people getting paid, services aren't being
provided, parks and recreation is not being, uh, is not being, uh, looked after.
And uh, this is the affect of... of our money moving basically up to the top I%.
Uh, that money has been going there, uh, the top I% own a ridiculous amount
right now that, uh, the spoiled brats who belong to an oil tycoon, Koch, you know,
are basically funding all kinds of nonsense and people like them are doing the
same, and I don't think we should stand for this. I don't think we should stand for
this locally. I don't think we should stand for this in local government. I think
that this is ... this is absolutely unacceptable and uh, I think that it's a ... it's a dark
day and I think it reflects badly on all our governments here and we have to do
better. You know, locally I think, uh, I think we do feel the effects locally. I
think that also we do make some decisions that, uh, that do favor some and don't
favor others. I think that some have sway and some don't. Nationally right now a
lot of people who are in our government, uh, have direct attachments to
millionaires and billionaires. You know, my ... my criticism of...of local
government here is often times that the Chamber of Commerce and the City
Council, sometimes they seem to be walking in, you know, their doing the Texas
two -step together, and that we need more ... more considerations, uh, for those
who are poor, those who are homeless, those, uh, who need affordable housing,
workforce housing. Um ... I think that also that ... another thing that is ignored and
uh, and is ... is going to waste in this particular atmosphere is our environment.
Uh, global warming. We are heating up at a rate at which some scientists say we
can't survive in another 50 years. And even in our city we can do better, uh,
better in the environmental areas, uh, I think that we should be looking more at,
uh, pedestrian and bikeability, as opposed to more parking amenities, which
seems to have been the trend in the past years. We have people here in this town,
the average age is something ridiculously low, uh, and people can take bikes or
walk. Uh, so having a minimum parking, uh, arrangement I think is ... is the
wrong way to do it. We have people running around with rulers measuring how
tall somebody's grass is but we don't ban chemicals that'll cause cancer and nerve
damage to our children and ... and you know, I think that's ridiculous. We talk
about broadening roads to make more flow, uh, in our city, but we don't have
livability standard there. I think we can do better with that. I think that we are
allowing high -rises to go up so that, for instance, in the pedestrian mall we have a
high -rise, we have the shadow, what they ... what we affectionately call `the
shadow' uh... on... on Chauncey Swan, uh, and other areas. The, where the Red
Avocado was, all those buildings. What are the environmental, uh, specific...
specificities? Uh, where are those? I don't see any! Uh, I think we can do a lot
better there. Um ... I think that we have to be more, pay more attention to these
things. We are not living in the 1950s when we do ... did not know what the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 8
causes of...that we were having global warming. You know, in 1980 we actually
had what we call `environmental capital.' We actually could use the environment
more. Right now we've overdrawn, and that's why the environment's going up in
... in ... up in temperature. I appreciate your time. Again, I think we need to do
better environmentally and for our working class people, and I think that, you
know, anybody should take the time to denounce this absolutely obnoxious
behavior that's going on in our government and do not accept this. Do not in our
local government. Thank you so much for your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Is there anyone else during community comment?
Okay, we will move on to Planning and Zoning Matters.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 9
ITEM 4. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
ITEM 4A. REZONING SADDLEBROOK — AMENDING THE PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY/HIGH DENSITY SINGLE - FAMILY
(OPD/RS -12) PLAN FOR SADDLEBROOK TO ALLOW 13 APARTMENT
BUILDINGS WITH 142 MULTI - FAMILY DWELLINGS AND 6
DUPLEXES WITH 12 DWELLING UNITS ON APPROXIMATELY 19.67
ACRES OF LAND LOCATED SOUTH OF PADDOCK CIRCLE. (REZ13-
00021) (DISCUSSION ONLY AT FORMAL MEETING)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: Um ... there is a public hearing scheduled for tonight, but the applicant has
requested deferral of this item until November 12th to consider possible changes
to its proposal. So I'm going to be opening the public hearing this evening, uh,
and then I will continue it to November 12th. Uh, I will ask for a motion to do
that, as well as to defer first consideration to November 12th. Um, is there anyone
who came down here to speak on this issue? Okay. Um, doesn't appear to be the
case. In which case, staff's recommendation, and I think it's a good idea, for us to
open the public hearing, continue the hearing and first consideration, and wait on
staff report until November 12th so it's all done at once.
Karr: October 15th or November... November 12th is this one. That's correct.
Hayek: Yeah. So November 12th (mumbled) (noises on mic) Okay.
Throgmorton: You want a motion, don't ya?
Hayek: Well I need to open the public hearing.
Throgmorton: Oh! Sorry.
Hayek: So the public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) And why don't we go ahead and
take a motion.
Throgmorton: Well I move that we defer to November 12th
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: All right, I'll interpret that to be deferring public hearing and first consideration til
November 12th. Uh, moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Champion: So moved.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 10
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries. So the Saddlebrook rezoning item will be
taken up on November 12th here at City Hall.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 11
ITEM 4b. REZONING WESTWINDS — CONDITIONALLY REZONING
1.31 ACRES LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE
INTERSECTION OF MELROSE AVENUE AND WESTWINDS DRIVE
FROM LOW DENSITY MULTI - FAMILY (RM -12) ZONE TO PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY/LOW DENSITY MULTI - FAMILY (OPD-
RM12) ZONE. (REZ13- 00019 /SUB13- 00012) (DISCUSSION ONLY AT
FORMAL MEETING)
1. PUBLIC HEARING.
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Any ex parte
communications? Do we have a...
Dilkes: We do ... do not have a signed CZA.
Hayek: Okay.
Dilkes: So we'll have to continue the public hearing.
Hayek: All right. Well is there anyone here to speak on this item? Okay, so why don't
we take a motion... and... that is deferred until when?
Champion: So moved.
Karr: October 15t ", the next meeting.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Okay, moved by Champion to, uh, defer the public hearing and first consideration
to October 15t ", seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries. So the Westwinds rezoning will be, uh, taken
upon October 151H
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 12
ITEM 4c. REZONING N. DODGE AND CONKLIN LANE —
CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 2.19 ACRES
LOCATED NORTH OF DODGE STREET COURT, EAST OF CONKLIN
LANE, AND SOUTH OF DODGE STREET FROM COMMUNITY
COMMERCIAL (CC -2) TO LOW DENSITY MULTIFAMILY (RM -12).
(REZ13- 00020) (SECOND CONSIDERATION) (DISCUSSION ONLY AT
FORMAL MEETING)
Mims: Move second consideration.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Any ex parte since the last?
Anyone here from the audience? Any Council discussion? Roll call, please.
Second consideration passes 6 -0, Payne, uh, absent.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 13
ITEM 4e. PALISADES SUBDIVISION SENSITIVE AREAS PLAN —
REZONING 13.07 -ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 1729 DUBUQUE
ROAD FROM LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY (RS -5) TO PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY -LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY (OPD -5)
ZONE. (REZ11- 00010) (PASS AND ADOPT) (DISCUSSION ONLY AT
FORMAL MEETING)
Dobyns: Move adoption.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by, uh, Dobyns, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Any ex parte since
the last? Oh, you're (laughter and several talking)
Davidson: Just getting ready for the next item!
Hayek: (laughs) I know! What are we gonna hear? Any further discussion from
Council? Roll call, please. Passes 5 -1, Throgmorton in the negative.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 14
ITEM 4f. PALISADES — APPROVING PRELIMINARY PLAT (SUB13-
00005)
Davidson: Uh, just to refresh your memory ... (mumbled)
Hayek: Why don't we get this on the floor first, Jeff.
Davidson: Excuse me! I'm sorry.
Mims: Move adoption.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Jeffl
Davidson: Um, just to refresh your memory, Mr. Mayor and Members of the Council, 32 -lot
subdivision, uh, connection to Oaks Drive here, uh, outlot which will be...be
dedicated as public park, uh, Parks and Recreation Commission has already, uh,
accepted that and a small outlot that will be the mailbox cluster. Any questions?
Thank you.
Hayek: Thanks, Jeff. Any discussion? Anyone here from the audience? Council
discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 5 -1, Throgmorton in the negative.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 15
ITEM 4g. EASTBROOK FLATS — APPROVING FINAL PLAT (SUB13-
00014)
Mims: Move adoption.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion?
Davidson: Uh, you can see here the two lots will be combined into one property for the
purpose of two multi - family buildings, uh ... don't think there was anything
unusual. Oh, um, actually the ... the building site here and then also a, uh, a road
extension. This will be a public street from, uh, Muscatine Avenue here, which
will then provide access to the adjacent property as well.
Hayek: So are ... are those the only changes from what we saw earlier?
Davidson: Yeah, actually nothing's changed. It's just a (both talking) refresh your memory
on the plat.
Hayek: ...that's finalized. Okay. Is there anyone here from the audience? Council
discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 16
ITEM 4h. COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES FIFTH ADDITION —
APPROVING FINAL PLAT (SUB13- 00015)
Mims: Move approval.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Davidson: Uh, you have two ... two final plats for Country Club Estates tonight. It's the first
one here, Part 5, uh, just to orient you, uh, 13 lots, uh ... there is also ... let's see,
that's the aerial. Here we go. Uh, 13 lots here, uh, this is Slothower Road, the uh,
corporate limits boundary in west Iowa City. Uh, there is an outlot here which
will be dedicated as public open space. Uh, it will be developed in conjunction
with ... you see the P -1 here. That is a water tank site, which the City already
owns which will provide a nice big open space here, uh, eventually for the
neighborhood. Uh, if you want I can just do Part 6 real quick, as well. You can
see Part 6 is to the south here, urn ... urn ... I apologize for ... here we go. Um, this
is 19 lots. Uh, and there you see the configuration. It hooks it into Part 5 here.
Here's that open space that we were just talking about. This is a ... a private, uh,
open space, which has already been developed, uh, private open space for the
Country Club Estates neighborhood. Any questions? Thank you!
Hayek: Thanks, Jeff. Is there anyone here from the audience?
Ross: Excuse me for speaking twice, but this is the kind of thing that I do like to, uh, ask
a question about. Who is benefitting by this? Who is really getting anything by
this, and is the land that is there, that is going to be developed, is it really, uh,
better off with the development there? And, uh, how many ... how many more
developments can we put and how long will we go on with this kind of
developing? What are the environmental considerations and who really benefits?
That's what I would like to know. I ... I see that the developers benefit. Naturally
they're there to make money, but often times in, uh, when doing things like this,
uh, environment is ... is what they call an `externality.' It doesn't really exist, uh,
and I think that why are we even ... are we even taking those areas out? It's just a
question to think about. I never hear that brought up in here! Just the question
why? Why we doing that? Uh, so it's ... you know, it's in line with ... with
environmental considerations, but it's also in line with who's paying for this?
Who really is paying for this with taxes and ... and uh, and other, uh, things, the,
uh, the infrastructure that must be extended or distended out there. Do we want
more roads out there? I mean, how much ... how long can this go on? That's...
that's just a general question. I hope in your comments that maybe someone will
pick that up. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. Council discussion? We're still on 4h here.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 17
Throgmorton: I ... I'd like to briefly, uh, respond to Brandon though not get into a, uh,
interrogatory or whatever with him. Brandon, I'd love to talk with you about it.
Let's schedule a time! Let's you and I chat, okay? And I'll ... you and I can kind
of work through what you just said. Uh, I'm going to vote for this, though I'm
very sympathetic to what Brandon says, but still I ... I don't ... I don't see any
compelling justification to vote no.
Hayek: Well and I ... I'm going to support this, as well. I think it's important for the
public to understand we've actually been through these ... this subdivision process
in earlier meetings and there's been a fair amount of discussion and questions and
answers provided, and staff memos and so while it seems like we're moving
quickly through this, it's because we're approving a final plat, but the bulk of the
work and the analysis occurred earlier. Further discussion? Roll call, please.
Passes 6 -0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 18
ITEM 4i. COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES SIXTH ADDITION — APPROVING
FINAL PLAT (SUB13- 00016)
Dickens: Move to approve.
Dobyns: Second!
Hayek: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Roll call, please. Passes
6 -0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 19
ITEM 5. CONVEY LOT 6 NORTH AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT - APPROVING A
PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND
RUPPERT FAMILY, LLC FOR LOT 6 OF THE NORTH AIRPORT
DEVELOPMENT SUBDIVISION AND AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE
IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Public
hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Roll call please. Approved
6 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Throgmorton: So moved.
Dobyns: ...moved. Second!
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? All those in favor
say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 20
ITEM 6. PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH RUPPERT FAMILY - APPROVING A
PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND
RUPPERT FAMILY, LLC FOR 12.09 ACRES BETWEEN HIGHWAY 1
AND RUNWAY 7.
Mims: Move approval.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call ... go ahead!
Champion: I was going to say, this was kind of an unusual purchase... sale.
Hayek: It is.
Champion: And it's ... it's good because it, um ... the Rupperts are buying land that will pay for
the Airport share of the ... isn't that correct? Isn't that (several talking)
Hayek: ...would you just give a...30- second explanation here.
Markus: What we did is we ... instead of having to raise the funds from the operating fund,
we sold a lot that we had and we'll use the proceeds of that lot as the, uh, City's
share of the acquisition for the FAA grant in this. So it kept us from using liquid,
uh, cash to make up our share.
Hayek: And this is in connection with our acquisition of around 12 acres of land next to
the Airport and the runway, uh, protection zone.
Markus: Fairly creative!
Hayek: Further discussion? Anyone from the public? Discussion by Council? Roll call,
please. Passes 6 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Dickens: So moved.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, or Dickens, uh, seconded by Dobyns. It's so hard to do!
(laughs) (several responding) Discussion? (laughter) All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 21
ITEM 7. PUBLIC INPUT ON GATEWAY PROJECT.
Hayek: Um, we are going to, uh, hear from City staff. Uh, we heard from staff at our
work session earlier this evening. Um, and the idea this evening is that staff will
reiterate some of, uh, its presentation from earlier this evening for the benefit of
the ... of those who were not here earlier today for the work session, um, we're
then going to entertain input from the public, uh, because we value that. The
Council is not taking any action tonight. It's important for you to understand that,
if you're watching or... or in the audience here. Um, and so, uh, when we get the
public input, it ... there appear to be a lot of people here to speak and I'm going to
ask that you'll ... you keep your comments to four minutes so that we, uh, can...
can get out of here at a reasonable time. Um, but uh, those are the basic ground
rules and uh, we'll start with a presentation from our Publ ... Public Works
Director Rick Fosse.
Fosse: Thank you! Um, we're nearing the end of the ... of the national, uh, or the NEPA
process for the environmental assessment for this project, and we're beginning to
focus on the design parameters for this project, which ... which leads us to our
purpose here tonight, and that is to ... to outline some recommendations from staff
and also to provide an opportunity to hear from the public on this, in addition to
the ... the opportunities for public input throughout the environmental, uh,
assessment process. And as the Mayor indicated, there'll be no formal action, uh,
taken this evening. So with that brief intro, let me just dive in and ... and lead you
through the staff recommendations and the basis for those, uh, recommendations.
Uh, we're looking at the level of protection for Dubuque Street, the backwater
reduction goals, as well as the structural type of the bridge. So with regard to the
recommendation for the elevation of Dubuque Street, uh, staff recommends a
minimum level of protection for Dubuque Street of one foot above the 2008 flood
level. And uh, what we are showing on this slide are some metrics comparing
that, uh, comparing the days closed for the different options, as well as the
relative elevations. So let me walk you through both of those. Uh, when we look
at the past 20 years and the number of days that the roadway's been closed,
because of river flooding, uh, this does not include closures due to locally heavy
rains because we have not documented those, but we can go back and ... and
reconstruct these records. Uh, the existing configuration has been closed a total
of 150 days over the past 20 years. Uh, if it's elevated to a foot above the 100 -
year flood elevation, we estimate, uh, if we saw a repeat of the past 20 years, that
it would be closed seven days. That includes one day for cleaning, inspection,
and repair. Uh, if we elevate to a foot above the 200 -year level, it includes ... it
would be closed a total of five days, including a day for cleanup. Um, if we
elevate to a foot above the 100 -year or a foot above the 500 -year, it would not be
closed, uh, any days during the past 20 years. Uh, but as we talked earlier at the
work session, over a long period of time you can certainly expect that eventually
even at those elevations the road would be overtopped by the Iowa River, just less
frequently than it is today. In the right column we're comparing the relative
elevations to the recommended level. So to the 2008 flood plus one foot, so if we
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 22
were to elevate to 500 year plus a foot, we'd be 19 inches higher than what's
recommended. If we go to 200 years plus one foot, uh, we'd be 11 inches lower,
or 100 years plus a foot be about 39 inches lower. Um, what helped to shape
staff's recommendation here is our experience after the 1993 flood, which was 20
years ago, uh, we did three public improvements as well as, uh, we updated some
of our public policy related to that, and it was all centered around a protection
level of 100 years plus ... a 100 -year event plus one foot. And uh, I'll walk you
through each of those. Uh, the first one is the Rocky Shore Drive floodgate and
uh, and opportunity for pumping there. Uh, that was ... uh, it did not, it was not
able to perform in 2008. It was overwhelmed there, as well as the other
improvements along the ... the corridor. Uh, in 2013 it did work okay because that
fell within the design parameters for those improvements that we made after the
93 flood. However, based on our experience in 08, uh, we have secured $6.6
million in CDBG money and it's a part of a five - project, $26.9 million project
that's, uh, regionally collaborative with Coralville to protect this area to a higher
level of protection now. (clears throat) Excuse me. Looking at the Riverside
Drive lift station, uh, again, that was unable to perform in 2008 because it did not
have the ... the capacity, uh, which, uh, caused flooding to the University's, uh,
new art building, which relied on that improvement. So today they have the ... the
mountable floodwall system, uh, which was put in place during our flood earlier
this year, and the improvements that we did after 93 performed okay this year, uh,
during the event that we had, although we did have some leaking and water
coming up through the road there. Um, in addition to the temporary floodwalls,
we're working on a collaborative project with the University to upgrade this lift
station to... so that it will operate to a higher level. That's approximately a $1
million project. And finally on south Gilbert Street and Stevens Drive, after 93
we put in a floodgate and it worked in collaboration with the property owners who
elevated some low spots in between their buildings to provide protection to a foot
above the 100 -year. Uh, again that did not perform in 2008. Um, we did look at
upgrades to that system down there and concluded that it was too expensive for
the funding that we had available. We had about $4 million in CDBG money
available, uh, the upgrades to this area would cost in the neighborhood of $12 to
$13 million. So that's a project we ... we had to walk away from. Um, but it did
perform okay in, uh, 2013, earlier this year that is, with the exception of the, uh,
had some difficulty keeping up once in a while with the ... with the temporary
pump that was down there. And then finally looking at the flood plain map
updates that were made after 2000, or excuse me, after 93, is we did, uh, revise
the maps to reflect the ... the higher flow rates that were expected for the 100 -year
flood and we redefined the flood plain boundaries to reflect better topographic
information, as well as the observed boundaries, and in... in 08 we experienced
quite a bit of damage in homes that were, uh, built to the standards of that. Uh,
we have since bumped our standard up to 500 -years plus one and in 2013 I'll
point out that the old standards were ... were adequate for that type of event. So all
this contributed to us looking back at...at our experience with improvements to
100 years, plus one, and uh, the ... the disappointment in that and the desire to
upgrade those levels of protection leads us to recommend a higher level of
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 23
protection for Dubuque Street. That ... that level being 2008 plus one. Moving on
to the ... the bridge, uh, bridge types and backwater objectives. Uh, what we have
is a matrix here that represents 48 different combinations of.. of, uh, of bridge
types and elevations, uh, parameters there. Let me explain, uh, what we have. In
the left column we have three different bridge types represented. We have deck
girder, deck arch, and through arch, each at four different levels of protection,
ranging from 100 - plus -one up to 500- year - plus -one and we look at backwater
reduction in the first upstream neighborhood, which would be Idyllwild and Taft
Speedway. We look at the incremental improvements as we work our way up
through those protection levels. Uh, we also look at deck elevation through that.
Uh, the deck elevation is what, uh, drives the elevation of the Park Road,
Dubuque Street intersection, which is important for the Bella Vista neighborhood
and the other impacts along the ... the south end of that corridor. Um ... we look at
the ... the incremental changes as the bridges get higher, and then finally we look
at construction costs associated with that. So, let me begin with some ... just some
generalizations about the different types of bridges and then we'll ... we'll start to
narrow this down and ... and look at some recommendations. First let's look at the
deck girder type of bridge. Uh, that's a conventional type of bridge that you see
in ... in the picture here, and the real strength of this bridge type is it's very
economical. The, uh, the costs, uh, for the bridge tend to be lower than other
bridge types, that's why it's the predominant bridge that you see constructed, uh,
for most, uh, roadway applications. The downside to this bridge is the ... the deck
thickness. That is it's a fairly thick bridge. So if you're in a situation like we are
here where you want a more slender bridge, uh, that can be a disadvantage. Now
moving on down and looking at the ... at the two arch -types of bridges, both the...
the deck arch and the through arch (noises on mic) the advantage of this bridge
type is that is has a slender deck. So that we have advantages in that regard, but it
is more expensive to build. That's why you don't see as many arch type bridges
constructed today. So with that background, uh, let's begin to look at these
individual parameters and how we can use those to narrow our recommendations.
Uh, the first one we'll look at is the backwater reduction upstream. This is what's
important to upstream neighborhoods and here we're focusing at the Idyllwild,
Taft Speedway area. And we look at the backwater reduction for each of the
protection levels of each bridge type. For instance, the deck girder provides at
100- plus -one elevation, it provides a reduction of 3.4 inches of backwater at that
neighborhood. If you construct it to a foot above the 500 -year, it provides a 7
inch reduction in backwater in that neighborhood. Now the interesting thing here
is when you begin to look at the incremental, uh, improvements in the, um, in the
backwater reduction, and what you see for each of these bridge types is ... is once
you get beyond the protection level of 200 years plus one foot, the incremental
improvement begins to drop off fairly substantially. That is, it begins to be
measured in fraction of inches instead of inches. Uh, so you reach a point of
diminishing returns for that additional investment, both financially and in that
additional height, which has an impact on the Dubuque Street corridor. So we can
begin to narrow our search and ... and look at some of these bridges that are at the
...the 200 - plus -one level. So let's move on and look at the deck elevations. And
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 24
here, uh, we're going to narrow our search and just look at those bridges that are
at the 200 - plus -one level, and ... and what we'll see as we expected from talking
earlier is ... is the highest one is the ... the deck girder. It's the thickest bridge. Uh,
but we also want to compare our two, uh, arch -type bridges, and what we'll see is
there's... there's a fairly substantial advantage, about a two and a half foot
advantage of the through arch bridge over the deck arch. So ... what we do is
eliminate the deck arch from this and we begin to zero down and we look at two
bridge types. The, uh, deck girder at 200 - plus -one and the through arch at 200 -
plus -one. And then in addition to that, what we want to keep on the table is the...
the preferred alternative that's talked about in the environmental assessment,
because that is the ... the benchmark project that provides the best flood protection
for the road, and the best reduction in backwater upstream. Now let's compare
these three alternatives, uh, begin by looking at backwater reduction at that
upstream neighborhood. And you'll see that the ... the best performing bridge here
is the ... the one that's identified in the environmental assessment, uh, and that you
would expect that based on what I just told you. The next best performing bridge
there is the deck girder at an elevation of 200 - plus -one, uh, and finally we have
the through arch, uh, at an elevation of 200 - plus -one, and what we're seeing here
is that the ... the, um, about a .9 inch difference between the performance from this
bridge to this bridge, and we're seeing about a 2.1 inch difference in performance
between this preferred alternative and the through arch. Now let's move on and
look at deck elevation. Uh, in this case, the advantage and ... and significant
advantage goes to the through arch bridge, uh, it can maintain a deck elevation at
659.02, uh, the next, uh, next best is the deck girder at 662, and then finally, uh,
the deck girder that's at the 500- plus -one elevation. So you'll see that this has a
2.5 foot advantage over the deck girder at 200 - plus -one, and it has a 6 foot
advantage over the deck girder at 500- plus -one.
Hayek: And Rick, can you explain what that advantage is, I mean...
Fosse: Oh! Yes! Uh, what ... what that advantage translates to is, uh, a less impact along
the Dubuque Street corridor, because the ... the elevation of the bridge dictates the
elevation of the Dubuque Street, Park Road intersection because they're so close
to each other there. And then from that point you need to get down to the ... the
regular protection for Dubuque Street. So the lower that we can make the deck on
the bridge, the less impacts we have in the south end of that corridor on the ... on
the wooded hillside there. Does that get at what you were after?
Hayek: Yes, thank you.
Fosse: Okay. Good. And then finally let's look at...at the cost component of it. Uh, the
least cost option, uh, for the, of the three bridges here is the deck girder at 200 -
plus -one, and the ... the next lowest cost option is the preferred alternative, oh,
excuse me. Preferred alternative from the environmental assessment that has both
the bridge with the low steel at 500- plus -one and then the entire Dubuque Street
corridor at a protection level of 500- plus -one. And then the, uh, the third place
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 25
here is the through arch, um ... which has the bridge at 200 - plus -one and the
corridor at 2008 - plus -one. So with that background and recommendations, do
you have any questions before we open this up to public comment?
Payne: What is the elevation of Dubuque Street at Park Road today?
Fosse: Melissa, do you have that figure handy? (laughter) Sorry I've not committed
them all to memory! Are there other questions while she's looking that up?
Dickens: And ... you did leave out that the, most of the plans that have been shown were
shown at the 500- plus -one, I mean, most of the plans that we've seen were based
at the maximum.
Fosse: That's right. Throughout the environmental assessment process, we have
evaluated a protection of the road at 500- plus -one and then a low steel on the
bridge of 500- plus -one, and that's what's represented in this option here. That
was done to get environmental clearance on the most disrupted option, but also
the option that provides the best level of protection for both the road and upstream
properties. Melissa, do you have any numbers?
Clow: Existing elevation of the intersection ... is at 653.3.
Fosse: Thank you.
Hayek: Thanks, Melissa.
Payne: Thanks.
Fosse: Anything else ... before we open it up? Well thank you!
Hayek: Okay, Rick.
Dobyns: Rick, briefly we, uh, at work session earlier, we commented on the fact that
there's sort of multiple decisions, two large ones. The height of the bridge and
the height of Dubuque Street. Um, can you comment on at least the ability for
City staff to look at the possibility of, um, the descent from the Park Road bridge,
Dubuque Street intersection, um, at least going north, um...
Fosse: That's... that's been one of the questions that's come forth is how does that
intersection at the, at Park Road and Dubuque Street compare to the intersection
at Kimball and Park Road, and Jim had asked the question at the work session that
if we ... if we build the bridge at 2000, excuse me, uh, 200 - plus -one and the road
at, which one was it that ... (several talking) 100 - plus -one. You asked about that
differential. Melissa gave you a number. She re -ran the numbers in between the
meetings, so I want to get the right number to you, which is ... 6.8 feet difference,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 26
and that's over that ... that entire distance between Kimball and Dubuque Road, so
that's a manageable difference in elevation.
Dobyns: By manageable you... you... (mumbled) engineering standpoint and it wouldn't be
necessarily a safety issue by having that much of an ascent?
Fosse: That's correct. It would not be as steep as the current hill on Dubuque Street as
you continue to the south.
Dobyns: Okay. Thank you. (several talking and laughing)
Hayek: Okay, so ... so uh, what we're going to do this evening is ... is ... is, uh, at this time,
uh, take public input. I ... I do want to say, you know, we've been through a
couple work sessions so far, um, and we've ... we've received a lot of
communication from the public, which we welcome and which we hope
continues, and ... most if not all of us have met with, uh, members of the
community, uh, in the location, uh, we're talking about and ... and um, and
elsewhere, um, and that's been a very good process and I hope it continues. What
we want this evening is ... is ... is your live input, if you will, at a City Council
meeting. I'm going to stress that we're not taking any action tonight, um,
and ... and the way you can help us the most, because we've already heard a lot
(noises on mic, unable to hear speaker) correspondence and in in- person meetings
and telephone calls, is to say something new or at least try not to repeat the person
who went before you. Um, the more information we can get that is different
(noises on mic) the more we are helped. So with that (noises on mic, unable to
hear speaker) you to come forward and so we'll just take one at a time and we ask
that you sign in and give us your name, just like we do everything else. Thank
you!
Cummins: I'll start. My name is Laurie Cummins and if I may, I'd like to read a letter from
my husband, Dan, who can't be here tonight, and I apologize. He thought he had
five minutes and he wrote this last night. I'll read quickly. Dear Mayor Hayek
and Members of City Council, over the last four months you've heard many
points of view concerning the Gateway project. I'd like to focus on
communication and citizen involvement. As informed citizens, our objective is to
be part of the solution. I trust you remember your meetings with concerned
Northside residents. Where you were presented with thoughtful questions about
the Gateway project, as well as creative ideas regarding those problems. As we
have stated many times, we support flood mitigation, but believe the solution
proposed by the Gateway team is extreme. Our role as citizens is not to passively
attend the presen ... attend presentations then go home and complain, but to engage
in projects and to leverage the expertise of citizens. This is our community and
the decisions being made will impact us for decades. I'd like to point out two
items for your consideration. First in any organization, whether it be business or
government, there should be open, transparent, and clear communication to
ensure that all stakeholders understand the facts and the implications of decisions.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 27
Successful communication requires that both the sender of the message and the
receiver have the same understanding. Creating a web site or sending email
updates or holding public meetings does not ensure good communication. In the
case of the Gateway project, there has been communication, but it has not been
effective. How do we, those of us at ground zero know that? Because many
citizens, Northside residents, real estate professionals, Historic Preservation
Commission members, to name a few did not realize that the 500- year - plus -one
recommendation equated to raising Dubuque Street by 10 to 15 feet. This
affected initial levels of outrage that you or the engineers might or might not have
heard about. Future communication with the public needs to be concise,
descriptive, and put in terms that any citizen can understand. Second, I'd like to
highlight two sections from the letter you received from Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation dated September 13, 2013. "Consultation is the process of
seeking, discussing, and considering the views of other participants, and where
feasible, seeking agreement with them regarding matters arising in the Section
106 process. Consultation is fundamentally different from the process that an
agency may undertake to ... disclose information to the public, and ask for general
public input on a project, and ... we recommend FHWA, Federal Highway
Administration, and DOT, Department of Transportation, reopen the Section 106
review, re- engage the State Historic Preservation Office, invite concerned
property owners to be consulting parties and consult to develop a memo of
agreement to resolve the adverse effects to historic properties. We urge FHWA
and DOT to consider what reasonable options may be available to minimize and
mitigate the adverse effects of this project, as well as the opportunities that may
exist for ongoing consultation as the project design continues to evolve." As of
yet there has been no proactive attempt by the Gateway project team to engage the
impacted citizens in a meaningful consultive process aimed at coming to
agreement. I urge the City Council not only to select an alternative that
minimizes the impact on the Dubuque Street corridor, but also to select one that
requires the Gateway project team to engage with impacted citizens in a way that
truly communicates. As noted above, we want to be part of the solution. Thank
you, Dan Cummins. (several talking)
Dobyns: Excuse me, Laurie, what's your address? Where do you live?
Cummins: Um, we're at 12 Bella Vista Place and our property, um, abuts both Kind...
Kimball and Dubuque.
Dobyns: Thank you.
Cummins: Yeah.
Karr: Laurie, do you wish to make that part of the record? The letter?
Cummins: Yes, I have a copy for the record. Where ... where should I...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 28
Karr: Right here.
Hayek: Give it to Marian.
Cummins: I'll get you a better copy.
Coulter: Mayor Hayek, uh, Members of the Council, I'm, uh, Joe Coulter and I, uh, have
provided, uh, copies of my presentation, uh, for each of you. Uh, it's entitled,
"Building a Better Gateway, Objections to the Preferred Alternative Plan." As the
owner of the Jacobsen Coulter House at 1818 N. Dubuque, which fronts north
Dubuque Street from just south of Foster Road to the intersection with Ridge
Road. I'm well aware of need to improve the Iowa City's gateway, to avoid
closures during heavy rains and during ongoing maintenance and construction of
the roadway, signaling, uh, the sidewalks, and the sewers. Through the City's
planning process, I favored a design that would move north Dubuque Street away
from my property to the west, from the area Foster Road through Terrill Mill
Park, and elevate the road by no more than a foot or two. Something along the
lines of the Gateway's, uh, project alternative C, which would ... had been
previously, uh, presented to us. However, my efforts, uh, and those of my
neighbors to mitigate the effects of the Gateway, uh, and the preferred alternative
on our historical homes and properties have gone largely ignored. I'm here this
evening to tell the Council to take no action on the Gateway preferred alternative
until the Historic Preservation issues have been resolved. In order to obtain the
necessary federal funding for the Gateway project, the City must have the Federal
Highway Administration environmental assessment and the National
Environmental Protection Act approvals. To date the City has yet to receive this
approval. The Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as we've heard
in the previous presentation has recommended that ... that Iowa Federal Highway,
uh (clears throat) Administration, Iowa Department of Transportation, and the
Historical Preservation Office need to reevaluate this project and the impacts, and
do it in consultation with the affected property owners to minimize and mitigate
the adverse affects on the Gateway project. This process should include
discussions and evaluation of the options regarding grading, drainage, acquisition,
and condemnation of the properties, limitations to property access, temporary
construction easements, uh, removals of trees and vegetation and landscaping, uh,
that, uh, and other, uh, actions that this project, uh, may, uh, produce on our
historical properties. This process has not yet been initiated by the Federal
Highway ... uh, Administration and I urge the Council to take no action until
you've approved... until you have the appropriate approvals. In closing I wish to
again register my strong objections to the Ioway ... Iowa City Gateway preferred
alternative design, the planned elevation of north Dubuque Street by 10 to 20 feet
in front of my property, all along my frontage, from near Foster Road all the way
to Dubuque Street would significantly detract from the overall historical,
aesthetic, and property value of my house, my home, my garages, my stairways,
my landscaping. It would restrict my access and the access of any guests to the
garages, to parking at the property, to the stairway access to the front of my
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 29
house. It would result in the destruction of the few remaining original spruce
trees and all of the other landscaping and vegetation along the entire frontage, the
entire frontage, from near Foster Road clear to Ridge Road. And (clears throat)
(mumbled) it would result in a loss of my... section of my, the southern section of
my property, uh, due to the plan to redirect Ridge Road, uh, creating a smaller
northern section of my property where the houses and garages are located, and
this would increase vehicular and pedestrian traffic across my property, uh, and
the consequent noise, trash, and other ecological damage to my property and to all
of those who are in back of me on Ridge Road in the Ball Heights Addition. It
would also result in substantial flooding potential along the front of my property,
facing north Dubuque Street. Uh, and along Foster Road, B'Jaysville Lane and
especially in the areas of the garages as no provision of the storm water ... for
storm water dra... storm water drainage has been provided in the preferred
alternative. (mumbled) discussion. There's runoff, and you're building a dike in
front of my house. Where's the water going to go that comes off the ... from Ball
Heights, from Ridge Road, and from my property? The construction of a
sidewalk, uh ... in front of my property, or actually according to the plans, on my
property, uh, will increase the vehicular and pedestrian traffic, uh, noise, trash,
and other ecological damage to my house, uh, my gardens, my lawn, and other
areas of the property. Finally (clears throat) uh, I think there's a major safety
hazard being created by, for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, especially in
proximity to the garage area, directly in front of my house, uh, which would fall
sharply by 10 to 15 feet, straight down, uh... according to the preferred alternative
plan. Thank you very much for considering my comments.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt and of course I don't, uh, live in that section of town,
but I ... I'd like to ask some questions that I've always been curious about. Is why
do you issue building permits in flood zones, because I notice these pictures are of
newer houses and it doesn't seem fair to issue a building permit in a flood zone,
and I want to know about the people who ... will the river run faster and what
about the people who live downstream. I don't know what's downstream,
whatever's downstream. What do they think? (mumbles) What do they think
about this bridge in Iowa City drowning them? And have they been consulted,
and it's just, to me it just boggles the mind that somebody should have a new
house in the flood plain! And as some woman was trying to explain to me about
that Taft Speedway, that the people that's halfway down the hill live in like a New
Orleans condition, where the water was swirling up and the water's running
down, and I'm saying these are new places. What happened, but I just don't
understand this! Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you.
McDonough: I'm Scott McDonough. I live at 10 Bella Vista Place. Um, this is mostly for Rick
or staff. Is the cost of the bridge strictly the cost of the bridge, or is that the total
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 30
project included? My point is, I would assume ... I have a, obviously a vested
interest in the ... the thinner the bridge the better. So ... the thinner the bridge the
lower the elevation. I would assume that that total project costs would be lower
then also. Something to consider.
Hayek: Thanks, Scott.
Neades: Good evening. I'm Rebecca Neades from the Iowa City Area Chamber of
Commerce, and um ... with the limited access from interstate 80 to downtown
Iowa City, well, to Iowa City in general, we have only a few exits into Iowa City,
and Dubuque Street being the primary entrance into our community, and in
particular into our downtown and giving us access even to south Iowa City, the
Iowa City Area Chamber supports this project. For those of you that were in Iowa
City in 2008 and went downtown Iowa City after the flood, it was ... a ghost town.
Uh, the restaurants were empty, the retail was empty, it was a very eerie and
strange place to be for several weeks after the flood. Um, the Chamber, the Iowa
City Area Chamber is on record for supporting this project, both at the federal
level — we've taken it in our federal issues trips, um, also at the local level — we
actively and successfully supported a one -cents sales tax for flood relief in which
this project was one of them, and so we're very appreciative that you are taking
the next steps to move forward with this project. We understand that you are in
the initial stages. That you're still looking at the bre ... the bridge type and
composition. You're looking at the backflow of the water. You're looking at
construction costs, but we appreciate that you're moving down this path. So
thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Knight: Hi again, urn ... it's been for ages since I've talked to you guys. No, just kidding!
Sorry! Um, I know I talked to you guys about this once before, um, I lived in
Waterloo during the 2008 flood, and I lived in Coralville during the 93 flood.
And ... there's no doubt that the flooding's bad. But in ... when I, uh, moved up to
Waterloo before the, um, the flood, it had already been done, but they dredged the
river in combination of raising the street a little bit. You know, if you dredge the
river, maybe you can also get some of the junk that's in that river, I don't know,
cars, who knows! But ... you know, like um, right now we got a drought. Oops!
Nobody was supposed to know that! (laughs) Um, just kidding, sorry! Um...
and when you look at the bottom of the river, it kind of looks like you got sand
and junk in there and if you cleaned that up and made it so that, you know, in a
drought like this, if you kinda talk to ... um, the University. Maybe we could make
like a little tunnel or something like that towards the center of the river for when
they are doing their rowing. You know, there's other solutions that, here we are
again, you guys haven't thought about. You guys are gung ho and ... you know,
property's being destroyed and, you know, devalued, but heck it's good for the
city. You know? We don't look at the big picture. If we dredged the river, yeah
it might cost more, but it might be better in the long run because how high are we
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 31
going to build? This ... let's build this road 100 feet! I mean, of course that's
overdoing it, but how high are we going to go? This river might flood to where
we're like, hey, you know what? 2008 wasn't all that bad! Who knows! But
...you know, hindsight's always 20/20. Let's not make it 20/20 again. Going, we
shouldn't have done this. Let's look at other options, other than just raising
things. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
Tannon: Hi!
Throgmorton: Wonder what that (mumbled)
Tannen: Sorry? Well, I'll be dramatic! (laughter) (noises on mic) (speaking away from
mic, unable to hear) Okay. We'll stop there for now. Um, my name's Steve
Tannen. I live at 6...6 Bella Vista Place. Um, first I just want to say having been
through a few Council meetings right now, I'm a little in love with all of you
(laughter) for your service (laughter) and your attention to all these things that
people are so passionate about, so thank you! Um, I want to tell you this, don't do
this! This is 15 feet, and this is what they're going to raise Dubuque Street at
Kimball Road. It's at the level of the streetlights. Um... it's a plan of little vision
with no beauty and a huge price tag. I know that you are feeling pressure to do
something, and we all are! Um, but you are the leaders of this community. You
signed up for this. So you have to stand up, slow down, and take a breath! Um,
the options that you are being given aren't as good as they might be. Because no
local input was actually involved in the process. Um, there's not one suggestion,
comment, or improvement that I heard over the months and months of our
meetings that ended up before you tonight. Um, in our own neighborhood group,
we have engineers, city planners, doctors, three university professors, not to
mention the fact that we all live exactly where it's all going to happen, so we have
a pretty i ... good idea of what might happen in particular circumstances. By
contrast one archeologist that I talked to, who officially commented that this
project will have no impact on the community, no adverse impact, admitted to me
that he's never set foot on any of the land in question. Um, the letter from the
ACHP's important because it basically gives a third -party view of exactly what I
just said. In that letter, they say that the Gateway project has ignored local
homeowners, that the project's findings are flawed, and that the Gateway will
officially have... should have concluded that it will have adverse affects based on
its own findings. Um, this is in contradiction to what you've been hearing, and
it's important to take everything here, take a step back. There's also the issue of
the federal money. Um, now ... (coughing, difficult to hear) plan to spend $40
million if you haven't got it. Um, and I think the federal money is in jeopardy
now, and I don't think it would be if the community had been involved, so it's
time to get the community involved. When I started this, I was way in favor of it!
Now I'm against it. Um, I love one idea, and that's this — let's make a gorgeous
bridge. The bridge has to be fixed. Let's make a gorgeous one that impacts
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 32
minimally the environment and you can put it on a postcard. Um, let's do
something that you can be proud of, not a 15 -foot elevated highway and a bad
bridge. Um, that you're not going to be that proud of 30 years down the line.
Um, and ... that's about all I gotta say! Thanks so much for your service (noises
on mic)
Hayek: Thank you. (laughter and several talking)
Champion: (laughing) Oh they did in Milwaukee! (laughter)
Alan: Hi! I'm Jan Alan. And I moved in 2007 to the house that Carl Seashore built
exactly 100 years ago. It's at 815 N. Linn. I know you're going to do something
about the flooding. Will you please take the least invasive plan, not only are we
blocking entrances with this (mumbled) uh, our trees'll suffer, our wildlife'll
suffer, our money will suffer! Uh, our peace and quiet will suffer and our gardens
will suffer. I'm trying to make a garden from, um, Linn Street down to Dubuque.
Tony Colby already has one. There're stairs going down. During that flood, I
went down those stairs every day. It was swarming with people. I'm sorry
(turning away from mic) I don't agree with you. There were ... there's people all
over. We wanted to see it. We wanted to know what the impact was. Um...
please don't do anything invasive. I live across from Hancher, and I tell you, it's
just headache, pound, pound, pound all the time, every day of the week, work
week, and that's going to be the same if you build a new road — pound, eeeehhh,
jackhammer — it's going to be horrible! I'm not looking forward to that, so make
it as short as possible and as least invasive as possible. Thank you (crying)
Hayek: Thank you.
Bailey: Good evening, Council. I'm glad we're talking about this issue, um, it's been a
long time in coming for this flood protection. I'm Regenia Bailey. Um, I'm... I
believe that this is a really important project because it has impacts on citizens
throughout our community. And one of the things I haven't heard, and perhaps
you've talked about this in other, um, work sessions is the role of this arterial on
our system, our transportation system, and I mean that in the broadest sense,
vehicular as well as bike and pedestrian. Um, when we consider the closure of
Dubuque Street, we know that at least 25,000 cars go somewhere, and if you are
aware, and you all are aware of the other alternatives, um, on Sunday I was on
Linder Road. That's one of the alternatives, Linder Road, Prairie du Chien,
Dodge Street, past Horace Mann School, 25,000 cars in, um, the Highway 1
entrance. In 1993 I lived on Brown Street, um, despite its brick quality and its
bumpy quality, we noticed, um, heavier usage during the flood of Brown street,
Dodge Street, Brown Street, Gilbert Street. People, like water, will flow where
they need to go, especially when they're determined to get to our major employer,
the University. This is the primary entrance to our community. Um, I'm glad to
hear that you're interested in doing something. I'm glad to hear that the
neighbors are interested in you doing something, but as you consider what you do
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 33
to this entrance, as you consider elevation, which I strongly support. I ... I actually
support the 2008 - plus -one. Also think about other changes that you'll make that
will have an impact on how people will use this entrance. If you slow things
down too much or make it too undesirable, um, vehic ... vehicles will go to other
places, and they will go in other parts of our system that may not be able to
sustain that usage, so we have to think of this in a broader sense. And if some of
you remember in 2008 when we were dealing with the flood, we thought back to
1993, and we said, why didn't they elevate Dubuque Street? Why didn't that
Council talk about elevating Dubuque Street? We found out that there were...
there were funds available in 1993 and it was a... it was a, a little bit of a
frustration that we think that, you know, some of that closure in 2008 could have
been mitigated a little bit had something been done in 93. So I'm asking you to
be the Council that leads and be the Council that when we have subsequent
flooding, because we will, that that Council in the future doesn't look back at this
Council and say why didn't they do something. Please do something, address the
issue of flooding that we know is going to come, make it beautiful, it's the
entrance to our ... to our community, but consider the broader systems as you think
about ... um, narrowing the lanes, slowing the... slowing it all. Think in the macro
as well as the micro. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
Popelka: My name is Becky Popelka and I also live in the historic Northside
Neighborhood. Um, I come to you late in this process because the initial
impression that we were given would be that the Dubuque Road would only be
raised three to five feet. Recently I have learned that the recommendation of a
third -party out -of -state consultant is to raise the road much, much higher than
that. I also learned recently that the City staff have moved their recommendation
from the 500- plus -one option to the 2008 - flood - plus -one option. The 100 -plus-
one option remains the best choice for the city. According to the data provided by
the City, based on what I had before, it was 144, but based on what we just saw, it
would be 143 out of 150 days of road closure due to the floods over the last 20
years would be prevented by the 100- plus -one plan. That is 96% of the days. For
every day above that 96% figure, you prevent by raising the road higher, you may
lose many more days of road access due to additional construction time. Even if
you don't care about the total costs of the project, even if you don't care about the
destruction of the 150- year -old trees, even if you don't care about the increased
likelihood of family homes being converted to rentals, even if all you care about
is the number of days that Dubuque Street needs to be closed, then the 100 -plus-
one is still the best choice. Thank you for your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Carlson: Hi, my name is Nancy Carlson and I would like to talk about the west side of the
river. We have spent a lot of time talking about the east side of the river and east
of Dubuque Street. But on the west side of the river we have two cultural icons in
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 34
our community. We have Hancher and we have, uh, the Riverside Shakespeare
Theater. Let me start with the Riverside Shakespeare Theater, which is an
outdoor venue, which puts on a great thing each summer. It's one of the pri...
things that Iowa City takes pride in. Uh, you know, we think about this as
probably lots of communities have this! But as a avid watcher of Jeopardy, um, a
few weeks ago, there was a lady on from Iowa City who said she had gotten
married at the Globe Theater in Iowa City. And the host said... is it outside, is it
round? He couldn't believe that a small town in Iowa would have a reproduction
of the I ... of the Shakespeare Theater in London. How much, um ... publicity did
we get from that one little comment, from that one little lady, and ... the fact it
registered in my mind, that what I took for granted, was in actuality a unique
thing that we should look at. Uh, let's look at Hancher. Hancher is not only well -
known in Iowa City, not only well -known in Iowa and the surrounding areas, but
we have national and international artists who come here. Uh, so when we
change the venue, or change the atmosphere around there, we are changing the
atmosphere of two cultural icons of our community. Right now when you dri...
when you get off Dubuque Street and, or off the interstate and drive down, uh,
from Taft Road on, although it is not a park, it is a total park setting, both on the
east side, except for the Cliff Apartments, and um ... the Mayflower, but it, you
know... although this part here is not a park, it's owned by individuals. Together
you get this park -like feeling, and when you put in a cultural icon, not only is the
building itself important, the environment, the ambiance of the whole area is
important, to say, `We think this is an important thing in our community; we are
proud of it; we want it ... we want everyone who comes here to know this is
something that we value.' I realize that something needs to be done, and I will go
along with that, but I would like to see the smallest imprint possible, both
vertically and horizontally, so that we can say to anybody who comes in to our
city, any visitor, that this is what we value. I would like to close with a few lines
from a poem from Robert Frost. "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I, I
took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
Hagehorn: Good evening, my name is Jason Hagehorn and I live at 211 Richards Street in
Iowa City. And uh, I'm speaking today about the Gateway project. I'm not a
land owner that's going to be impacted, uh, by the project, but I am a daily user of
Dubuque Street onto the freeway for ... for commuting, and uh, on August 28th, I
wrote a letter to the Council, um, kind of indicating my thought process around a
maximum solution versus kind of a right -size, kind of sophisticated nuance
solution. So I encourage you to kind of take a look at that as you think through
the ... the, the balancing that's happening with this particular project. Today,
tonight I'd like to comment less about big versus small, and hope... hope... trust
that y'all find the right solution to that, and by the way I'm encouraged to hear
about the thinking around kind of some hybrid solutions like what about a, you
know, a ... a bridge at the 200 - foot -level and a street at the 100 - foot - level. It's that
kind of thinking that I think can get us to the place we need to be. Also, when
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 35
you look at that 100 -foot level, there's seven days at risk and 39 inches at risk.
That 100 - foot -level with one layer of HESCO barriers could put no days at risk
with no flooding. So I... so I'm... so I trust that y' all can kind of work through
this and find the right size solution. I ... I'd like to talk just a little bit today about
... about safety of the neighborhood and the impact that this can have, um, on that
area. I'm concerned about, um, a flood mitigation project that... that... that is a,
going to impact the aesthetics of our ... of our, you know, the ... the front door to
our city, um ... to have the scope of the project creep to ... to now all of a sudden,
you know, dramatically increase vehicle traffic. Um, specific capacity, you know,
elements that I'd be concerned about would be widening of lanes, widening of the
street, adding turning lanes, um, to either, uh, Dubuque Street or to Park Street
bridge. Regarding traffic and safety, it's important that this Gateway, you know,
we notice that it's already inadequately transitioning from a high -speed freeway
to low speed multi - modal, uh, residential streets in the center of Iowa City. If
anything, we need to move the neighborhood towards the freeway, not freeway
into the city. Dubuque Street functioning as an arterial really only happens north
of...of Foster Road. That's where intersections are restricted. South of Foster
Road, all of the streets dump into that street. So it's not a true arterial where
you've limited traffic and limited intersections to create high speed. And so if
we ... if we treat this Dubuque Street all the way down to Park Street with high...
high volume, high capacity, wider loads, we will bring more traffic and decrease
safety in a very critical part of our town. We need City Park, Hancher, Dubuque
Street to be walkable, to be ... to have high pedestrian traffic, to have, you know, a
high amount of bicycle traffic, and have it be safe! If we add lanes and add
turning lanes on Dubuque Street, um, or on Park Road, we will further isolate
City Park and it's just, you know, from just a ... a pure community aspect,
something I would think would be a really, uh, disappointing outcome of the
project. Personally I'm excited about the opportunity to do great things with this
project. We have the opportunity to solve the flooding problem, which by the
way, I would ... I would, um, assert that the flash flooding problems is a greater
risk to safety than the notice ... being put on notice that the flood, the river is going
to rise in the next few days. Given that we are south of the dam in Coralville, we
have time to put up HESCO barriers in the ... in the event of a ... of a flood we have
notice to do that. We just witnessed that this summer. And so a 100 foot solution
can resolve some of the flash flooding problems and we can do a hybrid kind of
HESCO barrier solution for the ... for the ... for the types of floods that we have
notice for. So I'm excited that we can have the opportunity to solve some of the
...the flood problems, and we can really, uh, take the opportunity to aesthetically
improve, uh, the front door to our city. I envision the result being something
that's a source of pride, hopefully from a, you know, boulevard feel coming into
town with a ... with a dramatically improved bridge, scenic entryway to our city.
So please continue to push your staff to ... to work for a nuance, kind of smart
solution, right size solution. Um, so that it's something that we all, um, are real
proud of when we're done. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 36
Meyers: I'm Julie Meyers and I live on the Northside Neighborhood. Umm, I would like
to ask the Council, I think you're getting really good feedback that will help you
with your decision, and I would like to ... I was having a, some of the same
problems reading through the, urn ... material that was in your packet. I did look at
it online and I did print it off and look at it, and I was having some trouble
understanding it, but the presentation that the City staff gave at your work
meeting I thought was very helpful, and I would like a chance now to take what
they have said and think about it, and so I'm hoping that you will have at least one
more public comment, uh, as a City Council. Because then we have a chance to
look at the City information ourselves and their explanation that they gave
tonight, and absorb it, and give you some good questions and insight. That's my
most important point. Uh, the second thing is I do like how you're looking at
both the bridge and the road separately, you know, not looking at just because one
is at one level the other one has to be there too. So that's ... I thought that was
very intelligent. And I hope you continue down that path. Um..I also like how
you're looking at the timelines and asking the City staff about timelines so that
you're not foreclosed, uh, from making decisions on some of the smaller things
(mumbled) um ... like lanes. You were talking about lanes, for example, and I did
think of a question about lanes, um... did... is the width of the bridge effected at
all, um ... by, uh, well, does it affect the thickness, like if they make the ... the
bridge thinner and it has fewer lanes, does that impact the thickness. Uh, if so,
does it impact the cost, because we're kind of doing these tradeoffs and balancing,
um, and so I would like to know about, you know, lanes. It seems like it would be
small, but perhaps lanes does affect, uh, deck thickness, ultimately elevation, and
perhaps cost. I don't know. Uh, that would be a good question for the City staff.
They've been really good at answering things. Um ... I ... I was getting a little
confused about the, uh, backwater part and I really want to look at that again. Uh,
my understanding is that the, uh, the bridge as is, uh, is six inches, I think, below,
uh, the new 100 - plus -one elevation. And so this new 100 - plus -one elevation that
came out in 96 maybe. Anyway, it came out after 1993. It was raised up one and
a half feet already. So ... we're getting a lot of improvement with the new 100 -
plus -one, uh, level. So I just want ... want to make sure that's being taken into
account, and I can't tell from looking at the charts if it is. Um ... the backwater
issue, it seems like ... I ... I'd like to know actually if, uh, the 2008 levels that are
being used for the flooding, if the ... the bridge had been like gone and not causing
that backwater, would those levels have been less, cause we're using a 2008 flood
level, but that flood level was exacerbated by the bridge at, you know, causing
that backwater. That's my last comment. Thank you.
Hayek: Appreciate it. Thank you! Anyone else?
Dallmann: Uh, my name is Derek Dallmann and I live on Ridge Road. Um ... I usually don't
attend these, so ... um, but I thought it was important enough that I wanted to have
at least my voice spoken here. Um, I'm against raising Dubuque Street. I think
it's kind of curing dandruff my decapitation. Um...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 37
Champion: (laughs)
Dollman: ...I think there's some other ways to go about it, and the one thing I want to
mention to everyone here is I know you're presented with, uh, four different
options. There's a fifth option of none of the above. So, usually when you have
options put in front of you, you decide, hey, I gotta pick one! And a lot of times
you see the options — I'm in sales — you put the low option, you put the high
option, and what you're really hoping for is one of `em in between. So, I just
want to make sure that you know, you know, don't rush into this. A lot of people
are being impacted and ... that's all I gotta say!
Hayek: Thank you. Appreciate it! Okay. It appears that everyone who wishes ... who
wanted to speak has spoken, and uh ... let me say on behalf of the City that we
value this input. We're listening to it, uh, a lot of, uh, good comments were made,
a lot of interesting questions were raised, and uh, we're going to be waiting to
hear from staff as to the next step of the process. We're not taking any action
immediately. Um, and we will communicate, uh, when we know what the next
step is in terms of staff and City Council, uh, attention to this issue, but I, on
behalf of the City, thank you for being here and we look forward to continued
communication.
Champion: Can I make a comment?
Hayek: Yes!
Champion: Um, I want to thank all of you for coming, and we are listening to you, but I also
want to defend our staff a little bit. When they're presenting things like they have
been the past year I guess, they're presenting the worst -case scenario. The
preferred alternative doesn't mean that's the preferred thing to do. That might be
the best thing to do, but ... you gotta separate the two, the description. So they're
presenting to the public kind of the, what you would consider the worst -case
scenario, which obviously probably isn't going to happen! (laughs) So um, I just
wanted to defend `em. They were listening to you, they were doing their job.
They're actually really good about meeting with the public, but when you bring in
that 12 -foot pole, I mean, that would scare anybody! But that's not going to
happen, and that's not even what they're recommending. So we do listen to you.
Please come again and talk to us again, but I just want to defend the staff. They
actually do a really good job.
Hayek: Thank you, Connie.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 38
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion?
Mims: Payne.
Hayek: What did I say, yeah, Mims, or ... Payne, geez! It's only quarter to nine!
(laughter)
Karr: So who (several talking and laughing)
Hayek: Motion from Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries. Okay. Let's move on. Item ... how are
we doing? Can we keep going here?
Champion: Sure, let's go!
Hayek: Okay.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 39
ITEM 10. PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION EXEMPTIONS - AMENDING TITLE 2,
ENTITLED "HUMAN RIGHTS," CHAPTER 3, ENTITLED
"DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES" TO EXEMPT CERTAIN PUBLIC
ACCOMMODATIONS FROM AGE DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS.
(FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Dobyns: Move first consideration.
Mims: Move... second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Mims: Got Stephanie here!
Hayek: Yes, hi, Stephanie!
Bowers: I'm just standing up here.
Hayek: Is there any questions for Stephanie. We went over this at the work session.
Throgmorton: I ... I don't think I have any questions, but I did pose one in an email earlier today.
Uh, Stephanie answered it during the work session. I feel totally comfortable
with, uh, supporting the ordinance.
Payne: Since I missed the work session, can you ask it so that I can hear the answer?
Throgmorton: No! (laughter) Uh, let me see if I can find it. Uh...
Bowers: Actually I can... (several talking)
Throgmorton: Thanks! (several talking)
Bowers: Um, the, um ... I believe it's labeled... amendment ... F in the, um, ordinance that
you are looking at. Um, basically it's just making the Human Rights ordinance,
um, consistent with local and state law as it relates to, uh, persons under the legal
age for drinking here. It's, um, not taking away any rights that someone would
have under the Human Rights ordinance. It's not a substantive change. It's just
that our ordinance doesn't reflect this restriction. And so if somebody read our
ordinance, it may be misleading to them and imply that there's protection or
coverage, when actually there's not. So that's... that's all the, uh, amendment is
for... for F.
Payne: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Great. Thanks, Stephanie!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 40
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 41
ITEM 11. MANN SCHOOL SPEED ZONE - AMENDING TITLE 9, ENTITLED
"MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC," CHAPTER 3, ENTITLED
"RULES OF THE ROAD," SECTION 6, ENTITLED "SPEED
RESTRICTIONS", SUBSECTION C, ENTITLED "SCHOOL SPEED
ZONES" TO CREATE A 20 MPH SCHOOL SPEED ZONE FOR MANN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Throgmorton: Move first consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Dob ... Dickens. Discussion?
Throgmorton: So this is a good thing, but we'd love to have, uh ... um, slower speed limit along
Dodge Street, next to Horace Mann as well. I ... I don't know if Sarah intended to
speak to that but I understand there are restrictions because highway, Dodge
Street is Highway 6 is controlled by the State. (both talking)
Hayek: Okay. Well we do have people from the audience who want to address us so
invite them forward.
Reynolds: Hi, my name is Chris Welu Reynolds and I live on the Northside and have two
children, an 8- and 10- year -old at Horace Mann Elementary School. Thank you
so much for putting a 20- mile - per -hour sign, uh, on Church Street next to the
school. Um, it's a shame that the DOT though denied the request on Dodge
Street. Um, citing a lack of collision history. To me that's kind of the point
(laughter) We want to avoid a collision history, especially, um, if it's a child's
body. Um, and that is the reality. I think the police could probably verify that
people coming down (laughs) Dodge Street, at ... between 7:30 and probably 9:00
in the morning are well over 25 miles per hour, probably well over 30 miles per
hour. Um, my oldest, my 10- year -old, is a crossing guard at Mann and she, you
know, she weighs about 55 pounds and she's six feet away from Dodge Street
with her sign, and know there's people trying to get to work. They've dropped
their kids off at another school or maybe at Mann. They're late and they're
zooming down Dodge Street. Um, I get it. It's tough. We all have to get
somewhere in the morning. Things don't work out. We're late, and we go over
the speed limit. Um, the thing is signs actually work, flashing signs, 20 miles per
hour signs work. I know on my way to, um, to my job, um, recently in the last
couple years I noticed speed humps to my job in the morning and I thought, wow,
I probably have been speeding through these neighborhoods and haven't noticed
it. The speed humps, what they got me to do is they got me to slow down. They
got me to notice the neighborhood. I now see kids coming out of houses. I now
see parents walking their kids to school. Uh, so signs, flashing signs, 20 miles per
hour signs, they do work. Um, whatever we need to do, uh, we would take your
directive as to, do we need to petition the DOT? Do we need to ask again for a 20
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 42
there now. We don't want to ruin, um, our collision free history by having an
accident, especially with a child. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
Clark: Hi, Sarah Clark. I live on Brown Street, and Chris is actually much more politic
than I am, um, I was actually thinking what do we have to do, you know, what
does it say about the DOT if we have to sacrifice a child in order to get them to
slow things down, but uh, it does very importantly point to the problem of having
state highways coupled with streets running through cities. Um, the DOT doesn't
have to care because they're not ... living here on the ground. I mean, their ... their
idea is to, or their rationale is to move people as quickly as possible through areas
with as least resistance as possible, (mumbled) basically my view of DOTS
everywhere. Um, and they don't fit into the neighborhood, um, so ... this really
points out that we need to seriously work on decoupling state highways from
roads that run through neighborhoods. Um, if you ... I know you've ... we've talked
the last couple years about neighborhood stabilization and speeding traffic on
streets coming through neighborhoods is anti - stabilization. So ... um, really do
encourage you. We're very pleasantly ... I was very pleasantly surprised to see
this on the agenda when I was looking at it on Friday. I was like, "Yes," cause it
came out of a neighborhood meeting, uh, I think last November. So, uh, very
pleased to see this at least as a start on Church Street, and um, also because of the
hour, you didn't have a bunch of Horace Mann kids down here, but (laughter)
darn it! We'll get `em here when we need to, and uh, cause I know they're either
all in bed or they're doing their homework right now (laughter)
Champion: I'm sure! (laughter)
Hayek: Thank you! Anybody else? Council discussion?
Dickens: I just ... wonder if we can have the Chief maybe look into assigning, uh, patrol car
up there in the ... the times when school is starting and ending a little more often to
deter the traffic from becoming down the hill quite so fast. I ... I see one on a
regular basis there, but maybe a little more often would not hurt.
Dobyns: Or a speed sign or something...
Markus: We can have a discussion with the Chief and see if we can come up (several
talking) ideas.
Hayek: That'd be a good idea.
Mims: Yeah, I know historically they've been there frequently enough that if I was going
down that street at that time of morning, I was very conscious of the fact that if it
was after 7:30, they could very well be sitting down there. Just the idea of it
slowed me down, which is fine. It's easy to go fast down that street.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 43
Champion: Yeah, cause it's a hill! (laughter)
Hayek: Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 44
ITEM 15. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Hayek: We'll start down with you!
Dobyns: Well today was the first day for signing up for Obamacare, or the Affordable Care
Act. The Iowa City community's blessed with three great hospitals, and a lot of
healthcare providers, but it doesn't mean anything if you can't access healthcare.
So don't listen to everything you hear. Probably don't even listen to me. Listen
to yourself, and check out healthcare.gov. Now millions of people are accessing
this. Um, if you're a little bit concerned , a little nervous about computers
because I certainly am, go to the Iowa City Public Library. Our staff is ready and
available to help you get on the computers that are there and available for citizens,
and they'll help you get on the site, help you navigate it, and get it to the people
and, uh, show you that it isn't quite so difficult and it's so important. So use our
Public Library!
Payne: Nothing for me tonight.
Dickens: Just want to mention the mac n' cheese, uh, third annual fundraiser at the Senior
Center from 4:00 to 6:00 Friday night right before the homecoming parade. So
it's a great place to stop in and eat and get a good spot for the parade!
Mims: Nothing.
Champion: Nothing!
Throgmorton: Well, I want to mention a couple things. Uh, the Run for the Schools will take
place on October 20. And if you want to run you should register by October 4th at
www.runfortheschools.com. And, you know, you promised you'd do it, Tom.
(laughter) I heard (both talking)
Markus: I didn't know what you were asking! (laughter)
Mims: I heard him ask. I didn't hear you promise! (laughs)
Throgmorton: Yeah! Also the Iowa City Book Festival will be taking place on October, uh, 11th
through 14th. It's an outstanding array of writers and events, a real good event
(mumbled)
Hayek: Uh ... the public may not know this but we certainly do. Uh, one of our own is
moving on. Adam Bentley, who has been in the City Manager's office for a
couple of years, um, obtained a great position with the city of Manhattan, Kansas.
Uh, and this week is his last week, um, and Adam has worked closely with ... with
uh, all departments in ... in the City, as well as the City Council, and Adam, we're
very proud of you and we wish you the best! (applause) (several talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.
Page 45
Markus: Maybe get the camera on him out here. We're very proud of Adam and we wish
him all the best in Kansas and, uh, you know, he came to us from, uh, Wichita,
and now he's going to Manhattan, Kansas, which is in northern, kind of north -
central Kansas, but uh, he's leaving home again ... again, and he came to us as a
young man and he's leaving as a young man (laughter) He's gained a lot of
experience. He's ... he's matured while he's been here. And he's been a lot of fun
to work with, um, he's touched, uh, all of the departments and uh, we really will
miss him.
Champion: He's pretty good on YouTube too!
Markus: Yeah, and he (laughter) see the YouTube, it's ... I think that's what sold Manhattan
on him! (laughter) Wish you all the best, Adam!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of October 1, 2013.