HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-18 TranscriptionFebruary 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 1
Council Present:
Staff Present:
Others Present:
Botchway, Dickens, Dobyns, Hayek, Mims (arrived 5:06 P.M.), Payne,
Throgmorton
Markus, Fruin, Dilkes, Karr, Bollinger, Davidson, Fosse, Bockenstedt,
Moran, J. Bailey, Steffen, Frank, Andrew, Dulek, Long, Kopping, Clark,
Morris
Bramel (UISG)
Gilbert/Highland Court Discussion (IP3 of 2/13 packet):
Hayek/ ...get started. Want to welcome everyone to, uh, this evening's work, uh, session.
Um ... we've been asked to, uh, move the Gilbert Court/Highland Court discussion up
because we have some, uh, officers from PD here who have to get to another, uh,
function. Um ... if people are okay with that (noises on mic) um ... we could take that up
initially and then jump into the other things? (several responding) You guys okay with
that? Is that okay, M ... Marcia? Okay. Let's do that. Just get it out of the way!
Bollinger/ Good evening, or late afternoon! (noises on mic) Um, I wanted to take some time
this evening to go ahead and just review the memo that was included as part of your
packet. Um, but more importantly there's... there are many representatives here that are,
um, number one much more familiar with some of the issues that are going on, and
probably can respond, uh, even better than I can. So I'd like to open that up as an option
if you have questions afterwards. Um (mumbled) introduce them all now but if any of
them feel the interest to answer that they'll jump up and do so. Um ... we've got a map up
here, cause I'm not sure how many of you are really familiar with the area, the general
area that we're ... we're talking about here. (mumbled) Okay, urn ... the Gilbert/Highland
(several talking away from mic) (mumbled) Okay. There we go; much better! (several
talking away from mic) That's okay, you can (mumbled) Um, the Gilbert/Highland
Court area is primarily located, um, south of Kirkwood... north of Highway 6, east of
Gilbert, and ... um, includes any of the business, um, businesses, as well as the agencies
that are located along here. Um, as we were discussing more about the impacts of...of
what we'll be talking about tonight, um, some of the business owners on the west side of
Gilbert asked to be involved, as well as north of Kirkwood, as well as south of... of
Highway 6. So particularly the Hy -Vee Waterfront area, um, wanted to be involved in
those conversations, as well. So that's primarily the location, um, that we're going to be
talking about. Of significant importance is the... railroad. (mumbled) see that?
(mumbled; person responding away from mic) There? Okay, thank you (laughs) um...
the railroad, um, more or less passes through north -south through the area and it's just
kind of a convenient, uh, pass - through from the Waterfront area, up through into the
Crisis Center, um, the 1105 Project, which was just recently opened, um ... as well as the
Salvation Army. So those are some of the things I'm going to be referring to; if you get
confused as I'm talking please let me know and I'll be more specific. In any event, um,
as most of you know, um, the 1105 Project has been quite a while, um, in forming and
it's just recently finally opened up, uh, I believe the end of December, but prior to that
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 2
there were some conversations that were occurring, um, with the City Manager and some
of the business owners and property owners in the area, expressing concern about
existing issues, um, particularly related to ... to vagrancy, loitering, um ... establishing, um,
areas where there was long -term inhabitation, for lack of a better term, uh, by some of the
clients that, uh, maybe visited the Salvation Army, as well as maybe some of the...
located down at the Shelter House and maybe spending time along the railroad tracks.
Um, because of that there was a lot of discomfort that some of the business owners, as
well as their customers and even clients at some of the agencies were experiencing, um,
with ... with having this population that was ... that was sleeping in corners and sleeping in
recessed areas along the, um, back property lines of the railroad tracks, and there was also
issues with graffiti, um, sleeping in cars overnight cause parking was permitted along
Gilbert Court. Well, all the streets in the area. Um ... and although a lot of the ... those
folks are homeless, they do have vehicles and they were using, uh, their vehicles as
basically their ... their homes to live in. Um ... there was also some instances where there
was some harassment occurring from clients, um of some of the agencies to even other
clients of, uh, of other agencies. So there was just a lot of tension (mumbled) It was
accumulating area... in the area. Um, one of the first things that we did was, uh, have a
number of meetings that invited everyone that owned property, as well as the agencies
that were represented, uh, to get together and start to talk about what some of the issues
are and to, um, to maybe figure out as a group how to address some of those problems.
Um, we also brought in a lot of resources, such as the Police Department, um, to talk
about what was available, um, from their end to ... focus their attention a little bit more in
the area. Um, the Housing Inspection staff, um, came in to talk about code enforcement
and actually did some initial sweeps to, um, to take care of some of the real obvious
issues and some of those sweeps didn't necessarily just focus in on the impact of, um, the
homeless or the collection of those ... that population in certain areas. It ... it also included
some of the private property owners who needed to address some of the issues that they
had. Um, so the intent was to, um, to at least stabilize as much as it could, um, that area,
to the degree that we had the capabilities to do so. Um, so the three meetings, we, uh,
had a number of the property owners and the business owners attend, um, I think there
was some good communication. The agency directors and their representatives also
learned firsthand what some of the ... the concerns were, so that they could better address
those. Um ... the primary concern with the 1105 Project was ... was the, um, addition of
the Free Lunch Program, uh, to that area. Free Lunch Program was originally located up
at the, um...
Throgmorton/ Wesley House.
Bollinger/ ...the what? (several talking) Thank you! Wesley House, sorry (laughs) um, and so
moving the operations down there, there was just the thought that that was going to
significantly increase that movement of pop ... of the population down in that area. Um,
we've yet to figure out whether that's actually the case, simply because with it not
opening until the end of December, and with the weather being what it is, um, I don't
think there's the sense, and maybe, um, Mary or some other representatives can talk a
little bit more about that, whether they're seeing a real increase of...of activity down in
that area. But particularly as the weather starts warming up, um, that's ... when probably
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 3
more of the issues are going to be occurring. Um, so some of the things that have been
occurring, as I've talked about, was, um... increased interaction with the Police
Department, particularly Jorey Bailey and Derek Frank. Derek is the neighborhood
response officer and he'll be kind of the point person and in terms of communicating with
everyone there to address some of their, um, their issues that the Police can take care of
Um, the code enforcement will continue on, um, to address the gra ... graffiti has been an
issue in the past; um, the illegal parking; there's been some issues with tall grass and
weeds and accumulation of junk; um, and other materials by some of the businesses.
Um, we also are having the opportunity to install LED lighting, um, within the area,
which is just a ... it is a lighter and brighter form of lighting, which I think is really going
to, um, open up spaces visually a lot more... for patrol and those kind of purposes. Um...
last but not least, um, I want to talk about a little bit what we're continuing to do. One of
the next things that absolutely has to get done is the information, um, regarding the policy
that was established and to back up, that was a policy that was, um, worked on very
intensively by members of the Crisis Center Board, um, Joy Imen and Steve Hurst
particularly, who are both here, um, worked on that, and um, collected resources and kind
of, uh, filtered through to see what would be most applicable, and we were also
successful in gaining support by all the other agencies who have a client base that, um,
they might be, um, impacted by needing to enforce that policy, and that's included in
your ... in your packet as well. Um, but basically it's just a no- tolerance in terms of long-
term gathering, um, on the public spaces. We didn't focus in on the interior operations
because that wasn't necessarily, um, the concern of the business owners, but I know a lot
of the agencies spent time doing that as well! Um, we've also had communications with
the, um, Waterfront business owners — the Hy -Vee management particularly, and ... in a
meeting that we had last summer it was very obvious that they are already dealing with a
lot of the activity that's a consequence of...of people needing places to stay and um,
restrooms to use, and that concern was expressed, um, in terms of possibly seeing an
increase in activity down in that area be ... if...if we see that ... that movement towards,
um, the Gilbert Court and Highland Court area. Um, that ... that Hy -Vee could be more
impacted. So we're going to be meeting with, um ... with the manager on Friday to start
communications about that, and possibly doing something parallel with the business
owners down in that area to open up communications. Other than that, I... if there's any
questions or...
Hayek/ Questions for Marcia?
Dickens/ Is the parking ... know we talked about parking at one of the meetings.
Bollinger/ Uh huh.
Dickens/ Has that been instituted?
Bollinger/ It has been, yes. I apologize. The, um, there has been no parking established on all
streets from 8:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M., and that was a timeframe that was established by
everybody in the area. They felt that was workable, um, from all their perspectives.
There was one street, Third... Third Street that we needed to get consensus from all of the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 4
property owners on all of the streets individually to establish that, so there's one street
that we didn't get that consensus, but apparently they're not seeing any carryover from...
from that problem.
Dickens/ Good!
Hayek/ Kingsley!
Botchway/ Um, who are you speaking on behalf of, I'm sorry, I missed that part.
Bollinger/ I'm sorry?
Botchway/ Who are you speaking on behalf of?
Bollinger/ Um, the Neighborhood Services Office. I apologize (laughs)
Botchway/ No, I ... I just missed it, that's my fault! (laughs) Um, you said there was a couple of
meetings, um, where Police and uh, some of the organizations had met, um, and talked
about these issues.
Bollinger/ Uh huh.
Botchway/ Were any of the I guess "problem" people invited to speak at these meetings?
Bollinger/ Um, the agencies that serve those, that population, were.
Botchway/ But not the people themselves?
Bollinger/ Um ... no.
Botchway/ Okay.
Bollinger/ They weren't. Um, we were looking for input from, uh, staff and the Free Lunch
Program and the Crisis Center to get an indication of what they felt might be, you know,
the impact on them. One of the biggest, um, focus ... well, one of the bigger focuses too
was to look for alternative resources for them, because obviously at some point,
particularly when weather's bad, urn ... you ... you want to be able to provide options, and
the Salvation Army, um, has opened up their doors between lunch and dinner because
Free Lunch Program does the lunch; Salvation Army does the dinner; um, but they've
opened up their doors to, um, to provide that, um, safe place or warm, or cool, depending
upon the weather.
Dickens/ So the Salvation Army did finally speak to you, because I know they were...
Bollinger/ Uh huh, yep, we have gained support from them, uh huh!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 5
Throgmorton/ Marcia, I'd like to follow up on Kingsley's question. I wonder ... I mean, it's clear
that this is an issue that is of concern to the business people and agencies in the area, as
well as to the transient homeless people who li ... who inhabit or pass through the area.
So, what I'm wondering about is whether, uh, any ... whether you or others have given
any thought to involving various church organizations, uh, the Consultation for Religious
Communities, etc., in working with the homeless transient population, to help them
address difficulties that they are helping to create? Uh, have there ... any of those
conversations taken place?
Bollinger/ Um, we had ... oh, um, and I've forgotten her name. Dori ... (unable to hear person
responding away from mic) ...and she's with ... (unable to hear person responding away
from mic) The Pathways Program. Um, she has a lot of daily contact, um, with those
folks. In fact she ... it's one of her responsibilities to make sure they are receiving the
services that are available, and that they're safe. Um, so we did have her participate in
one meeting to kind of share her perspective and what the ... what the issues might be and
what the needs might be, um, if indeed this all kind of materialized, um ... so, but in terms
of actual individuals attending the meetings, no we have not.
Throgmorton/ Thanks. The main thing I'm thinking and then I'll shut up and let other people
talk is ... is that, uh, basically homeless and transient people have to be somewhere, so I
don't think we ought to be in the business of saying `you can't be here full stop,' but
instead if...if they are producing or helping to produce particular problems, we need to
address those, and it'd be best to have them involved in resolving those difficulties, to the
maximum extent we can. That's the way it seems to me anyhow.
Bollinger/ Sure.
Throgmorton/ And I think you've done a great job of, you know, coordinating with, uh, folks, so
I'm not objecting to anything, but...
Bollinger/ Well, and it's very preliminary at this point too because I don't know any ... that any of
us understand what the true impact, if any, there's going to be with ... with this transition
from the Free Lunch Program going down to that area, but um, the business operators are
concerned. They were being proactive, and so this was an attempt to at least try to
address, and ... and establish a policy that ... I don't think would have existed, um, I think
every agency may have established their own individually, but it's a unified voice that it
can be very clear that this is the policy that they all plan on enacting, and encourage...
encouraging the other property owners and business operators to ... to join in on that, you
know, if indeed they feel comfortable to do that, so that it's ... it's structured and it's very
clear from the get -go. Um ... but no, continued conversations with ... with representatives
and ... and folks who ... who can speak to exactly what the needs are are certainly
something that can occur.
Markus/ So, Marcia, what's the ... what's the possibility that all we're going to do is just move
the population from one location to another, and...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 6
Bollinger/ Uh huh. We talked ... (both talking) we spend ... yeah, we ... (both talking)
Markus/ ...the conflict associated with just having a migration occur around town.
Bollinger/ Uh huh. That was talked about pretty extensively, I mean, particularly as it relates to,
um, the Waterfront area, um, is ... is that (mumbled) cause, um, all the activity to ... to
occur down there. Um, again, we haven't been in the position that we've been able to
evaluate that. We did have conversations with, uh, Davie Schwent, the downtown
officer, because we wanted to get his perspective knowing... knowing some of the folks
and thinking that maybe he'd have some indication, but quite frankly, um, he's even
saying at this point that there's still a lot of continued, um, collecting in the downtown
area and not necessarily moving down, um, to that area for any length of time during the
day. So, yeah ... yeah, evaluating how that traffic flow's going to work, or ... or it may just
exactly remain the same. We won't know for a while. But everybody's keeping their
eyes open I guess.
Hayek/ You ... you know, this area is adjacent to the Riverfront Crossings area and the Highway
6 area that we're attempting to turn around and we've seen some very positive steps in
that direction. You know, Hy -Vee has ... has made major investments in its property and
...and we're seeing that and ... and so it's ... and it's important for that progress to
continue. We are seeing a concentration of services in that area, more so than in the past,
um, and to some extent, you know, this conversation doesn't surprise me. Um, and I
think it's very important that we maintain that open communication with ... with the... the
stakeholders in that area, um...
Bollinger/ I need to add too we had, um, a member from the Shelter House, a staff person that...
that provided a lot of background information and helpful, um, resources on what they
provide, um ... so the communication is there, it's all been established and everybody
understands that the effort's occurring.
Hayek/ And thus ... thus far it looks like, you know, a ... a thoughtful, holistic approach to the
issues, and they are thorny, um ... I'm not sure what we can add to that other than to say,
you know, please keep it up and...
Bollinger/ Well, we'll keep you apprised as ... as things evolve, and that's basically what's going
to happen here. Um ... that ... that the communication links still be, um, occurring on a
regular basis, that everybody's, um, working together on any potential results here.
Hayek/ Yep.
Throgmorton/ Matt, could I ask two other (noises on mic) well, I ... I, couple other quick
questions, but Kingsley go ahead (both talking)
Botchway/ Well I guess, I mean, you bring up a good point but I feel like this is another situation
where we're, um, we're moving around a population without a solution, and not to say
that falls directly on your shoulders, but I guess what we could add is something along
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 7
the lines of figuring out a way of, you know, dealing with the situation, um, differently
than, uh, you know, possibly putting something together that, again, pushes the
population, um, to another area and then we have another, um ... uh, person representing
whatever affected association coming up before us and saying, oh, we have another issue.
Um, I don't ... I'm not sure how that works, Tom, as far as who we need to talk to, or
whether we need to talk to other service agencies and um ... really kind of make a push, I
mean, I love the ... the Salvation Army deal where you open your doors between, uh, 12
and uh dinner, and so if there's something else we can do during that breakfast
timeframe, um, moving towards what Jim talked about, you know, something overnight,
because, uh, again it seems like this is another situation that's creeping up and, you know,
then we're going to have a lot of affected people and ... uh, people getting upset when
we're kind of aware or ... of the problem right now, and so something ... we could do
something from that standpoint would be nice, but I don't know how we would go about
it either.
Bollinger/ That whole concept of coordination of all the ... the human service resources, um, in
the community, it's happening in a lot of different, um, corners. It's not necessarily
completely comprehensive, is ... is my evaluation. Um, and to have that one resource that
could ... that could ... get you all the information that you need would be excellent. It's
just that it doesn't exist that I've been able to find.
Hayek/ (mumbled) you know, there are a lot of resources in that area and ... and the City
contributes to many of the providers. Um ... but I ... I, you know, what appears based on
this memo and ... and your presentation to be ... to be lacking is ... is, you know, sort of the
expectations and enforcement (mumbled) which if done thoughtfully and ... and
sensitively, you know, may have a good impact, in addition to the coordination with the
non - profits and the business sector, and ... and ... and everybody else who's ... who's down
there.
Bollinger/ Uh huh.
Hayek/ Um ... so ... I mean, I'm ... I'm encouraged to see this interaction and communication,
and... and heads being put together.
Bollinger/ Yeah, it's ... that whole air with the human services. It's a whole other....
Hayek/ Sure!
Bollinger/ ...whole other world, um, that ... we could all spend a lot more time on.
Dickens/ Well the fact that all the neighbors got together, all the stakeholders really got together.
Almost all of `em came to several of the meetings and it was very open and ... and we
even got the railroad to step forward and clean their...
Bollinger/ That's true! They (both talking) accepted some responsibility. There could be some
nudging necessarily along the line (both talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 8
Dickens/ ...it was good to see that they were all talking, so...
Bollinger/ Uh huh.
Dickens/ I mean, just the open communication is a big plus (both talking)
Bollinger/ Well and I think just them being familiar with each other too is ... is something now
(both talking)
Dickens/ ... some of `em had never met each other so...
Bollinger/ Yeah, exactly!
Markus/ So, Marcia, when you're dealing with the ... the population that we were dealing with in
terms of Gilbert Circle, um, Court ... um ... were those some of the folks that Chrissy
Canganelli described as `service resistant ?' More so because they weren't ... they weren't
staying at Shelter?
Bollinger/ I think, um, there... they're coming from all different, um, components, but that's
probably a large number of `em. That's my observation, that they don't have the Shelter
House as a resource for them ... you know, for sleeping, um...
Markus/ So now we've focused the, um, meal programs in one concentrated area, and if we have
individuals who are more service- resistant, that seems to pose a different challenge, uh,
than what Shelter House tries to do in terms of not only providing shelter, but trying to
get people back into, uh, the mainstream of...of society, and so ... it seems like I think
we're ... we're going to move populations around and until we get to the point where we
figure out how to deal with the service, uh, resistant population, I don't think we're going
to solve the problem.
Bollinger/ I don't disagree with that. It's ... it's fairly major and it's going to take a concerted
effort by ... many more than (coughing, unable to hear speaker) we have available, but...
Mims/ I know one of the things that I think Chrissy is starting to take a very, very preliminary
look at, cause I've talked to her briefly about it, there's ... and I'm not, if it was in one of
our packets or where I saw it, but there is a ... a program that's been done in some of the
larger cities across the country called "Housing First," where what they're doing is
they're providing housing for those service - resistant individuals, um, basically no strings
attached, with the idea that once they don't have to worry about where they're going to
sleep and where they're going to keep their belongings, then they become, uh, more
willing to accept services and whether it's, you know, drug, alcohol, mental health
services, etc., and what these other communities have done is they've identified the
individuals that have had the highest utilization of services within the community, and
they actually amazingly enough find it to be cost - effective, that you spend less by putting
them in housing, and ... then they start utilizing some different services than if they're just
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 9
showing up in the emergency room six or seven times a month or whatever it is. So, I
know she's doing some very, very preliminary looking at that. That obviously would
take, um, I think a big focus within this community and the county and a lot of people
to ... to pull together to make something like that happen, but I think that's something that
we need to be investigating more.
Throgmorton/ I ... I completely agree, Susan, um ... but we also need to recognize that that topic
emerged, uh, I don't know, nine months ago or thereabouts, and so we first heard about
Housing First back then, and not to put any weight on Chrissy cause she does a great job
at Shelter House, uh, I don't know that we collectively had made any progress in that
direction. So ... somehow collectively we in the community need to take that on or it's
...it's just words. Could ... could I ask two quick questions and, uh, and then move on?
So, Jeff, one question for you, or somebody else, but ... but anyhow, what's the boundary
of the Riverfront Crossings district down there in that.. .
Davidson/ Uh, roughly Gilbert Street, Highway 6 is the corner.
Throgmorton/ So stri ... right down the middle of Gilbert Street basically or (both talking)
Davidson/ Well, both ... both side... actually it would be the ... it would be the east back property
lines of the properties on the east side of Gilbert Street. Both sides of Gilbert Street (both
talking)
Throgmorton/ Okay, okay.
Dickens/ Railroad track basically or (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I couldn't remember exactly where the boundary was. Thanks. The other
question has to do with, uh, Salvation Army. I ... I don't know if anybody from Salvation
Army is here. Anybody? (several talking) Yeah, um ... well I ... (several talking) Yeah,
um, I ... I ... I guess I'll just be blunt. It's not entirely clear to me w ... how Salvation Army
is functioning down there now, and I'm ... I'm ignorant so I would like to have a better
sense of that because I've sort of gotten some signals that... some people aren't really
paying attention.
Bollinger/ The end result was we had ... we established communication with both, um... Richard
and Larisha.
Foxen/ Will and Larisha Richardson (both talking and laughing)
Bollinger/ I was close! (laughs) The Lieutenants who oversee the Salvation Army operations,
and they did participate in a number of meetings. It was a little challenging. I know
they're very busy, um, but ... but we did make that connection, and Cassie is the Social
Worker?
Faxes/ Yes.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 10
Bollinger/ ...that also works with them, um, and she's been really helpful in making that
connection work, as well, so ... they are very aware of the policy and they accept that and
are ... are working with the group.
Foxen/ And I just wanted to, uh, revise something: We ... they had talked about having the hours
after the Free Lunch gets over to when we start, but that policy is not in place right now.
Right now there's still a gap, um, in between the time that people get out of the Free
Lunch program to when Salvation Army opens, which is at 3:00. Um ... we do operate as
a heating or a cooling center, depending on the weather. So when it's below 26, we're
open all day for people. Um, but right now that is a gap in service is the morning times
before Free Lunch, and then that in between time, and I think the Lieutenants are waiting
to see kind of how things play out, if it's needed to open it up during that time. Um, if we
do, they're wanting to get another staff person for, um, security of staff. So...
Throgmorton/ Uh huh.
Foxen/ Yes.
Bollinger/ So have you been operating, um, as a warming location?
Foxen/ It's a warming shelter (both talking)
Bollinger/ ...pretty much since the Free Lunch program's...
Foxen/ We do it every winter, whenever it drops below, uh, 26. If we're open. Um, there is a
couple days that we're on holiday or whatever and we're not, but...
Bollinger/ Okay.
Foxen/ But, for the most part if it's under 26, people are welcome to come in, so ... any other
questions? (several talking off mic)
Throgmorton/ Thanks!
Hayek/ Thank you!
Throgmorton/ We ... why don't we get an update, like three months from now or something like
that.
Hayek/ Yeah, you'll come back to us in a few months and...
Bollinger/ (mumbled) ... uh huh.
Hayek/ Okay.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 11
Bollinger/ Any other questions for any of the other... representatives (both talking)
Hayek/ We're glad you're here! Thank you.
Bollinger/ Alrighty!
Hayek/ Thanks, Marcia!
Bollinger/ Thank you.
Throgmorton/ Thank you!
Hayek/ Okay, thanks for ... allowing that shuffle. Uh, let's go back to the top of the agenda,
which is questions regarding agenda items.
Agenda Items•
ITEM 5f(5) Josh Eklow: We can and must end our tenure as the most racist state in
our nation's war on drugs
Throgmorton/ Uh ... well ... I ... I do have, I don't know, questions about three topics and I'm
concerned that two of `em might take too long, so let me mention one of `em, and maybe
we could come back to the other two if there's enough time during the work session. Or
something like that. I don't know. But anyhow, um, my first question has to do with
Item 5f(5), which is an email from Josh Eklow to the Council urging us to ... not to
encourage our police to waste money searching for people smoking cannabis in their own
homes, and he says we should end discriminatory policy... policing and jailing. Uh, I'm
sure you all read that and everything. So I ... I asked Eleanor whether it is within the
...the power of the City to instruct the Police Department not to arrest anyone simply for
possessing or using marijuana, assuming of course that that person is not committing
some other offense. If I understood Eleanor correctly, she tells me that, yes, it is within
the power. The Police Department may exercise discretion in its approach to possession
of marijuana, and that, as I understand, tell me if I'm wrong, Eleanor, that dis...
discretion, or direction, would come from the Police Chief, who answers to the City
Manager, not to the City Council, but here's my suggestion. I ... I would suggest that we
discuss whether or not we want to instruct the City Manager ... to alter, uh, the ... the way
Police deal with people who are found possessing or using marijuana without there being
any other signal that they're committing any other offense. That's my suggestion. And I
don't ... this is not the time to ... to discuss it in detail, but that's the suggestion.
Botchway/ So this is basically... sorry (noise on mic) this is basically something we would add
to, um, talk about for an agenda item on a work session?
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Botchway/ Okay. So I agree! Yeah. I agree with Jim that we should look at this.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 12
Mims/ (both talking)
Payne/ I think it's worth discussing. (laughs)
Bramel/ From a student point of view, I think (both talking)
Payne/ (mumbled)
Bramel/ It's a very big issue!
Markus/ I think it's ... I think it's worth discussing, but, Jim, I'm not sure what I heard you say
and what I read Eleanor say are the same things.
Dilkes/ Yeah, let me just tell you what I ... what I said. I'm going to pull it up here. I ... I think,
Jim, you were kind of mixing up the question and the answer. Um...
Throgmorton/ Sorry! I ... I thought I was quoting you directly.
Dilkes/ You did quote me directly, but after kind of...let me just pull it up.
Throgmorton/ Sure, sure! (laughter)
Dilkes/ After kind of... okay ... this may take me a minute if you guys want to move on.
Hayek/ Jim, you want to take up the other item and we can circle back?
ITEM 12. MERGER OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND
HOUSING AND INSPECTIONS SERVICES DEPARTMENT —
ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, "ADMINISTRATION ", CHAPTER
8, "ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ", SECTION 1 -8 -1,
"ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ORGANIZED" TO
UPDATE THE TITLES OF DEPARTMENTS AND THE HEADS
THEREOF AND TO EXTEND THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE
FORMER POSITIONS TO THE REVISED POSITIONS. (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
Throgmorton/ Oh, well ... uh, I ... I have questions about ... the, um, let's see what the items are,
um ... Item 12, the merger of two departments. It's a real simple question basically.
Uh ... Item 13, having to do with taxi regulations, and Item 16, having to do with Meta -
communications. So ... you know, I don't want to take up too much time, uh, till we get
through everything else, and then if there's time left over ... we could come back to these
things. That's... that's what I was thinking anyhow.
Hayek/ Well...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 13
Throgmorton/ So, the first one can go pretty quickly. So, can I ask that?
Hayek/ Yeah, let's ... so Item 12, the merger?
Throgmorton/ So, Item 12, the merger, I was just wondering if Tom could elaborate on how...
how he understands that the merger would accomplish the objectives stated in the memo.
I mean, you lay out, I don't know ... three or four, uh, intentions, ambitions, whatever in
the memo (both talking)
Markus/ Let me ... let me try and find the, um, actual ordinance. But what I would say to you is
that generally I think that there's a ... streamlining that occurs, and I think as a result of
that streamlining, the communication, um, amongst the different department, uh,
divisions — as you have it now, HIS and the Planning Department, I think there'll be a
better chance for cross - pollinization of communication and ideas, and then conveying
that back to the parties that, um ... you know, use those services, come through our
operation. I think the other thing in moving the sustainability operation into that starts to
impose sustainability, um ... initiatives, requirements, uh, into new development and into
redevelopment, and that's not the focus now. So, other questions?
Throgmorton/ (laughs) Uh, let me see ... well, not really. I just wondered ... I just wanted to hear
you ar... articulate a little bit more deeply than the memo does how you were seeing that
the merger would actually accomplish objectives that, uh, that ... that you lay out, and...
and you've already... you've responded, so I ... so I don't want to push the point too far,
but...
Markus/ Well and I ... I think the other thing too is a lot of times there's a lot of time that occurs
between somebody initially coming in looking for a review, to the time it gets to
inspection. And our approach is going to be to try and work those two divisions closer
together so that we work out some of those... potential conflicts, challenges, right up
front, because you have people that tend to specialize in building code issues. You have
people that ... uh, tend to have more of an expertise in zoning, planning type sides of the
issues, and by blending them together, I think we get to a better attitude of how do we get
it done, uh, instead of...this is a problem because of this. And so it ... I think it takes
some of the sequential kind of approach that we have right now and, urn ... consolidates
those issues, uh, in a shorter timeframe so that people can see maybe a bigger picture of
all the issues that they have to deal with, uh, when they ... come in and propose a
development. So I ... I think it smoothes out the process from that standpoint quite a bit.
Throgmorton/ It's basically you think nothing will be lost and a lot will be gained.
Markus/ I do!
Throgmorton/ Yeah, all right. Okay.
Markus/ And ... and, you know, like anything, there's going to be bumps, you know, along the
way that we'll experience. Whenever you bring people together, uh, but we've had pretty
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 14
intense conversations with every division, uh, both in HIS and in the Planning
Department, and it really depends on the communication and keeping people kind of
coordinated, moving in the same direction, stating what our mission is, stating what our
goals are, and so far I think they've been very responsive to it.
Throgmorton/ Great. Okay! Thanks!
Dilkes/ You want to go back ... back to the...
Hayek/ Sure!
ITEM 5f(5) Josh Eklow: We can and must end our tenure as the most racist state in
our nation's war on drugs (CONTINUED)
Dilkes/ Okay. So, Jim asked me whether the City ... can the City exercise discretion with regard
to arresting people for possession of marijuana or are the City's hands tied by State law,
and my answer was, yes, the Police Department may exercise discretion in its approach to
possession of marijuana, um ... and that direction would come from the Police Chief, who
answers to the City Manager, not the City Counc ... Council, and I made that clarification
cause of your earlier question about could the City Council direct the Police Chief.
Throgmorton/ So are ... are you saying the City Council cannot direct ... that the Police Chief,
well, direct the City Manager to direct the ... the Police Chief to exercise discretion in the
way I just...
Dilkes/ You asked me if the City ... if Council could direct the Police Chief, and my answer to
that was no. Clearly the City Manager serves at the pleasure of the City Council.
Throgmorton/ Right, right, so ... so the pathway would be through Tom.
Dilkes/ Right.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, okay, got it! Yes, thank you. Is that what you were...
Markus/ Yeah, I ... I think though, Jim, that the conversation goes to ... every law, every ordinance
that's on the books right now, our enforcement personnel have the discretion... at the
point of contact, at the point of conflict, to use their discretion when they are dealing with
that particular issue, whether to charge, whether not to charge, how many charges are
applicable to the particular situation of conflict. What I want to caution the Council
about is giving some sort of blanket d ... direction to me to say something about going
light on something or going heavy on something. To me when a Council or when the
State law passes laws, those laws are ... are as a result of a governing body making that
determination. You then turn the responsibility over for the enforcement of those laws
and ordinances to City staff, and I think you have to be careful when you have a
conversation like that, you can intone a certain direction that may or may not be exactly
what you want. They currently have ... the discretion to charge or not to charge, and I
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 15
don't want you to be ... mislead or, um, misunderstand, um, based on an assumption about
how often we actually do use those laws in actually charging somebody. I think it's
better to understand what the factual data is about how often those charges get played out,
and I know there's been a lot of discussion about this publicly, and what the
consequences of those laws are, and I'm seeing... getting' the high sign from the City
Clerk to shut this off.
Hayek/ ...going too far (both talking) because it's ... we're not in work session...
Dilkes/ That's a ... that's a discussion for another (both talking)
Markus/ I know, but I ... but I just, I want to make sure you...
Hayek/ Okay!
Markus/ ...and other Council Members understand, it can't just be a blanket `don't enforce.'
Hayek/ Well let's ... there are three people clearly who want to take ... take this up, um ... and...
and we can do so, and I think your points are well taken, Tom, and we'll take those up at
... at that time as well. I ... it... when we do take it up, I would like, uh... some indication
from staff, are there other issues or areas of our, uh, of law enforcement where as a matter
of policy we direct ... you know, either a heavier or a lighter approach to enforcement. In
other words, are there other examples, um, I'm not aware of any, but if there are, I'd like
to know what those ... those are. So...
Payne/ Well, I think it's important to see statistics. How many times are, um, African Americans
charged versus white people versus Asian people, you know, those kind of statit...
statistics to see if the ... if it's being applied evenly, the discretion is being applied evenly.
Hayek/ Okay.
Throgmorton/ So we can discuss these things at a forthcoming work session.
Hayek/ Yep. All right, so we've done 5f, uh, 3; we've done 12. Number 13, Jim, from you with
taxi regulations, do you want to talk about that, Marian?
ITEM 13. REVISIONS TO TAXI REGULATIONS — ORDINANCE AMENDING
TITLE 5, ENTITLED "BUSINESS AND LICENSE REGULATIONS,"
CHAPTER 1, ENTITLED "GENERAL LICENSING PROVISIONS," AND
CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "TAXICABS," AND TITLE 9, ENTITLED
"MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC," CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED
"PARKING REGULATIONS," TO REQUIRE DRIVERS TO MAINTAIN
MANIFEST LOGS, TO REQUIRE SOME UNIFORMITY OF RATE
CARDS, TO REQUIRE NOTIFICATION WHEN A LICENSE PLATE
NUMBER IS CHANGED, TO ELIMINATE TAXI STANDS, TO ALLOW
TAXIS TO BE PARKED ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, AND TO
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 16
AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO SUSPEND A LICENSE. (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
Throgmorton/ Well, uh, I'll just...
Payne / And I have a couple questions about that too, Jim.
Throgmorton/ Well why don't you go ahead then and I'll...
Payne/ Um, one of ..one of my questions that I have is the ... what was the intent of the 24/7
answering of the phone?
Karr/ Okay. The intent of the 24/7 goes back a number of years and it was a ... a request by the
Council at the time to ensure service to all of our citizens when it's needed most, and if
they were going to be ... if they the companies were going to be advertising 24/7, there
should be a commitment that at least one vehicle be on 24/7. And that's one of the
unresolved questions that (both talking)
Payne / Right, that's why ... yep, that's why I asked, and then who polices it? Is it only complaint -
based?
Karr/ It's a combination. It is complaint -based certainly, but also we do routine, uh, sting
operations with our Police Department, stopping by the office and/or making phone calls.
Payne/ Okay. The ... the reason I'm asking is, my son tried to get a cab not too long ago. Took
him over 30 minutes to get somebody to answer the phone, and then it took almost two
hours for the cab to actually get there. So (laughs)
Karr/ Well that's one of the items that is not, um, in the proposed ordinance before you this
evening because we wanted to do some more review and we wanted some more, uh,
input and direction from Council. What we learned from the companies is when a
company (clears throat) excuse me, is busy, and they are staffed but they are swamped
because of an event or because of, uh, weather, to answer the phone and tell someone that
they can't pick `em up for two hours usually isn't met with a lot of, uh, approval. So
many of the companies chose not to answer, but the... because they're busy, and ... but
they are staffed and open, and that is one thing we will do more research if Council is
interested and feels that that's still is a priority, the 24/7. One aspect may be that one car
is not enough 24/7. Right now we do require 24/7 at least one vehicle.
Payne/ Okay. I mean, this was 3:00 in the afternoon, on a week day! (laughs) So...
Karr/ Okay! Yeah, and that is ... that is, uh, something we do do on a complaint basis. We also
this year have the new procedure of the complaint cards in the vehicles, but of course if
you don't get them to answer the phone, that's another matter. But yes.
Payne/ Thank you!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 17
Throgmorton/ Is that it, Michelle?
Payne/ Yeah, that was my only one, Jim.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, well so I ... I just have a general point. I ... as far as I know there's no other
area of, uh, city government in which the City regulates the behavior of particular firms
where regulations are developed without the consultation or involvement of other people
who are affected by the regulations. And... and it seems here, you know, the regulations
have come from conversations you've held with ... taxi firms.
Karr/ Taxi companies, yes.
Throgmorton/ Taxi company ... what about everybody else? I, you know, users of taxis. Here,
you ... you know that a ... a master student over at the University of Iowa did a master's
thesis on this topic.
Karr/ Yes!
Throgmorton/ There's a whole bunch of literature out there about changing the way in which taxi
firms are regulated and ... and finding ways to improve the quality of regulation and so on,
and when I raise these points, you know I have enormous respect for you, so I'm not
being critical of you, Marian. You totally understand that, I hope (laughs) It's just... I
don't understand why ... we would develop regulations through consultation with only the
firms involved. That ... that mystifies me!
Karr/ I don't think we ever thought we were originating the ordinance based on firms alone. The
staff, working in consultation with the City Attorney's office and with the Police
Department have, along with the complaints we've received from citizens, raised certain
issues. We as a staff had some recommendations. We then, based on the input we
received from Council the last time, you asked us then to coordinate that with the
companies. We then had a joint meeting with the companies on our proposal. That is
why we're here before you this evening, urn ... certainly there are other ways to do it. We
can ... we could certainly start all over. This is ... a tweaking of the ordinance that was
done a number of years ago, and we're updating it. Um, I'm looking for direction from
Council; if you'd like a total rewrite then we'll have to do it...it won't be this licen...
licensing year.
Hayek/ I mean, it seems to me that we regularly interact with ... you know, the groups affected by
our ordinances. I mean, you know, and whether it's the Farmers Market or uh, you
know, mobile vendors or ... or taxis or any number of other things that we ... that we
regulate, we ... we involve those groups, um, to get as much input as possible. Staff
comes up with recommended, uh, legislation and oversight. There's process for public
input. Anybody, whether you use taxis or not can ... can come before us, uh, at our
meetings or through email or whatever. Um... and... and you can only do so much, I
think, to ... to reach out. You've gotta come back and ... and give Council, uh, a ... a
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 18
proposal, and this particular issue, the taxi issue, is a perennial issue. There are always,
uh, the ... you know, complaints. There are always people trying to push it in one
direction or another. I suspect it'll come before us every year for the rest of time, and
um ... you know, I ... I think we do a good ... I think staff does a good job of trying to
accommodate those shifts of...of, uh, interests or ... or demands. I mean, I'm not sure
what more we could do that ... than we're doing now. Urn ... pers ... (both talking)
Throgmorton/ ...we don't have time to talk about it right now. I think we could do a lot. I ... I
don't understand why the regulation is conducted by the City Clerk's office. I... and
again, I mean no disrespect to Marian. Uh, it's ... it's a transportation activity. I don't
understand why this isn't tightly coordinated with SEATS, Cambus, pub ... uh, City
Transit, uh, in terms of providing over... thinking about the overall transportation services
within the city. (laughs)
Hayek/ Well, but .... those are fair points, and ... and if you want to, uh, gauge interest in a work
...in a work session on that topic, we could do so. We ... we just went through strategic
planning and ... and didn't come up, but that doesn't stop us from looking at it at any time.
But I think for tonight's purposes, we have before us a proposal. It's on the agenda and,
you know, we either tweak it or reject it or accept it.
Throgmorton/ Uh huh.
Hayek/ But ... but you ... you know, you're ... the manner in which we provide oversight is a
legitimate question, just as anything else would be, it seems to me.
Throgmorton/ Right. Okay.
Dobyns/ There's three considerations. We'll see what the public has to say.
Hayek/ Okay, do ... do we have time to get into...
Karr/ Before we leave that topic, is there interest on the part of Council to continue to look at
regulating destination rates, and businesses being open 24/7?
Payne/ And destination rates are...
Karr/ Those are the rates that on, separate from the taxi meter rates, those are the rates that are
like from downtown to...
Payne/ The airport.
Karr/ ...the airport. Uh, well, yeah, the airport now is a little different because they have
...they've regulated it differently and you must be licensed with the airport. Um, but um,
to the casino, to the stadium, to ... destination rates where the meter is not on. A flat rate.
Uh, it has caused some enforcement problems because when you pay for the destination
rate from downtown to Kinnick Stadium and traffic is backed up and you're sitting in
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 19
traffic, and then you let them out early and they pay the same amount. That isn't their
destination. Um ... but we are not proposing that we look at that tonight. We're just
asking if you're interested in looking at it and we'll come back to you in 90 days or so.
At the same time we can put it on the pending list and just make no changes.
Mims/ I could care less whether we ... (noises on mic) I could care less whether we regulate it, as
long as it's posted in the cab. I think that's most important (both talking)
Karr/ So you would continue destination rates. You would continue it as long as it's posted.
Mims/ Yeah.
Karr/ We can come back to you with something.
Dobyns/ And that's the status quo?
Karr/ That would be status quo, yes.
Mims/ Yeah.
Karr /Yes.
Botchway/ That's not currently in what we're going to be talking about tonight.
Karr/ No, it is not.
Botchway/ I mean I'd like to look at it. I mean...
Karr/ What is in (both talking) what is currently is that they are permitted ... to a ... destination
rates are permitted.
Botchway/ Yeah, I'd ... I'd like to look at it. I don't know if anybody else, I mean, I think...
Karr/ We ... (mumbled) can come back.
Botchway/ Okay.
Karr/ And the 24/7? Okay.
Payne/ I think that's important because buses don't run 24/7, so people have to be able to have
transportation. That's, you know ... if, at some points in time!
Karr/ Okay. We can come back. What is before you this evening is less controversial, more
clarifying in nature.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 20
Hayek/ Okay, so we'll live to fight another day on those other issues. Okay. Uh ... why don't we
take up Meta? Item 16. 1 think that was your other point, Jim.
ITEM 16. METACOMMUNICATIONS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT -
RESOLUTION APPROVING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN METACOMMUNICATIONS INC. AND THE CITY OF IOWA
CITY FOR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT NOT TO
EXCEED $58,000 FOR OFFICE BUILDOUT AND AN AGREEMENT FOR
PARKING PERMITS AND A LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR FIBER
OPTICS TO ENSURE THE RELOCATION OF THE HEADQUARTERS
OFFICE TO DOWNTOWN IOWA CITY.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I, if you don't mind let's skip that and make sure we address the other
topics that are...
Hayek/ Okay, let's table that then.
Botchway/ Oh, skip it till when? Later on?
Hayek/ See if we've got time. (several talking) Yeah.
Throgmorton/ (mumbled)
Council Appointments:
Hayek/ Okay, other agenda items people have questions about? Okay. Let's move on to Council
appointments. Why don't we take up the, uh ... the uh, so- called easier ones ... first. There
are... several. One, uh, vacancy on the Airport Commission and I believe there's one
applicant for that.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, Chris Ogren wanting reappointment.
Hayek/ Yeah. Any... everybody okay with her? (several responding)
Throgmorton/ Howard Horan tells me he's done. (laughs)
Payne/ He said that last time though too didn't he?
Throgmorton/ I think he's done though.
Hayek/ Chris has a, uh, perfect attendance record, I'll point that out.
Payne/ I noticed that.
Hayek/ And that's something we need to keep an eye on. Some people are better than others
about attending.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 21
Payne/ Yep!
Hayek/Okay, so that's good. Um ... Item 18f is a Civil Service Commission, Lyra Dickerson.
Payne/ Is that the one that's been on there for like 15 years?
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Payne/ But there's ... it's the only applicant, right?
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Hayek/ Yeah.
Throgmorton/ It's just not good!
Dobyns/ So, we didn't appoint the person ... (several talking) Does appointing the person enable
someone else, I mean, do we need to put a little bit of attention into the system to get
someone to apply? I'm not so sure that will happen. It'd be my guess.
Dickens/ We need to have a two - person... commission.
Botchway/ Jim, you brought up last time about, you know, if somebody's on is it two
consecutive terms we won't necessarily appoint ... and that was I guess a ... a policy that
only speaks to, um ... if there's other applicants or just period? Oh, if there's other
applicants. Okay. So we haven't (both talking)
Dobyns/ No, I don't know if we (several talking)
Hayek/ Yeah.
Throgmorton/ We didn't pin that down.
Dobyns/ Yeah, what do you do when you have someone who's (several talking) and we don't
have a lot of applicants.
Botchway/ If we were ... Marian, if we were to reject then, um, or not (both talking)
Karr/ You would chose to readvertise.
Botchway/ Okay.
Karr/ And you could leave this person ... you wouldn't ... you have the option of rejecting,
certainly, or you could just reopen it, allowing this person to remain on the active list and
advertise it another 30 days.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 22
Botchway/ Okay.
I.T. 7 : I RN
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I ... yeah, I wouldn't want to reject, you know...
Botchway/ Well, yeah (both talking)
Throgmorton/ I have no objection to Lyra at all, not that I know her personally, but that's not the
point (laughs)
Hayek/ Yeah, now we have ... renewed for, you know, multiple terms people in circumstances
where there simply is no one else applying. And I think our friend Mr. Honohan out
there is Exhibit A in that category (laughter) (several responding)
Karr/ You would do this ... you would do this if it were one male applicant advertising... because
you wouldn't have a gender balance, so you would advertise it another period of time.
But that's correct, you have readvertised.
Botchway/ I mean, I guess it's ... if this is a situation where if we can readvertise and if somebody
doesn't submit application within the 30 days then they're automatically...
Karr/ Well you would still make the appointment then in 30 days.
Botchway/ Okay.
Karr/ It would come back before you in 30 days and you would still get it before the term expires
in April.
Hayek/ I guess the thing is this though, I mean, this has been open for more than two months
and ... and we've got one application, and ... um ... and I think it would be consistent with
what we've done in the past to ... under those circumstances, reappoint. Unless we have a
reason not to regarding that particular person, and I'm not aware of one. Um...
Mims/ Yeah, I would agree, I mean, it's been ... the Council announcement date was December
17th, so like you say, it's been open for two months and...
Payne/ Yeah.
Mims/ If she's willing to continue on and there's no issues with her then ... thank her for her
service (laughs)
Botchway/ But just so I'm clear, if this had been ... if there were other applications and the person
had been on two consecutive terms, we would then possibly not let that person come on?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 23
Mims / Right. It's not ... it's not a hard ... it's not a hard and fast rule, but it ... has frequently been
the case.
Botchway/ Okay. I just wanted to make sure. All right.
Hayek/ Yeah, typically we ... we try to open `em up to get some turnover in there and get some
new blood. (noises on mic) Okay, so we're okay with (several responding) Okay. Um,
and then Historic Preservation, Northside. There's a application from Thomas, uh, I'm
going to mispronounce this — Agren? Agran?
Dobyns/ That's fine.
Hayek/ He's filling ... (several talking) he jumped in a few months ago and took over an
unexpired term, so this'll be his first full term.
Mims/ Sounds fine.
Payne/ Yep.
Hayek/ Okay. I mean, he's so new he's not even on the attendance record (laughter) And then
lastly, uh, Public Art Advisory Committee, Elizabeth Marilla Pusack. Anybody know
anything about her?
Throgmorton/ She ... no.
Hayek/ Good application, I thought (several responding)
Throgmorton/ Yeah, think she'd be fine!
Hayek/ Okay. So that's that, and then we have the, uh ... urn ... Charter Review. (noises on mic)
So, um ... Marian distributed the, um, results of the approach we took where everybody
threw in nine names to her and then she tallied the results. You can see it there. And
actually there are nine people who have four or more votes, based on what was
submitted.
Mims/ I would just start by saying, and I'll say this in public meeting, or the formal meeting as
well, um ... I want to thank everybody who threw their name in the hat.
Throgmorton/ For sure.
Payne/ Absolutely!
Mims/ I think we had a very large group of very, very qualified candidates and we've got some
very, very qualified people who are not going to get selected for the commission (noises
on mic) and urn ... that's just the way it happens. I think ... when I look at that group that
did get at least four nominations or whatever if you will from Council, um, I think all of
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 24
us really worked hard, uh, to get a very diverse group in terms of age, gender, uh, the...
to the best of my knowledge there was not a whole lot of ethnic diversity within the...
within the, uh, applicants (noises in background)
Botchway/ Uh huh.
Mims/ Um, but we did the best that we could there. Um ... you know, former Council Members,
not former, I mean, just all sorts of things and I think we ended up with, uh, a very
qualified group. Um, the one thing I would add is, um, one of the things that we do need
to do also ... well, I'll get to that in a minute. I've talked to somebody about the chair
position, but... see if we're comfortable with what we've got here for names.
Botchway/ And, uh, I (mumbled) sentiments. I ... I guess my, just from looking ... can we talk
about the list? (several talking) Okay. I guess my only issue, and this is just from seeing
the list, is that ... lot of lawyers on the list, and I love lawyers! Obviously went to law
school (laughter) have no problem with them, but...
Payne/ We need to accomplish something though!
Hayek/ Dobyns is here!
Dobyns/ I'm right with you there (laughter)
Botchway/ But yeah, there's, I mean, I ... just the count based on knowing, uh, some of the
individuals, I mean, that's four.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, there are four.
Botchway/ Yeah, and that's just a ... lawyers tend to think ... and may ... maybe not think the same
but it's just that mindset I would like to see ... like to have seen, I guess, a little more...
and I don't know if we can talk about ... I don't know if we're switching up or whatever
the case may be, but that's just a lot of lawyers! (laughter) Um, and then on top of it,
there's ... and this I guess kind of talks to what I ... I mean the, I didn't have a matrix so it
was kind of tough, I mean, it was just one of those things you kind of look at and look at
every application and go through some things, but one of the things I did consider is that,
you know, um, there's two previously appointed individuals and I wanted to make sure
there was at least just one cause you just don't want people not knowing how to ... at least
start the process and go through it, but ... having two on there was ... uh ... I don't know, it
just seems ... to be one too many I guess. Um, and then also factoring in other people who
haven't been in, um, who haven't been in other boards and commissions. I think we've
left a lot of those people out. Um ... and I ... I have as well, but I guess I just .... I don't
know. I guess I'm looking at some other names, like you know Brian Rickman. He was
a University professor. That would have thrown in somebody that, uh, and obviously one
was me (laughter) that would have thrown in somebody who, uh ... would at least given us
a University perspective. I know Mark Schantz is also a professor at the Law School but
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 25
again I just ... just wanted to see a little more diversity, but ... I don't know. I guess I'm
just talking about it to see what other people thought or if it doesn't matter or...
Mims/ I thought it was incredibly diverse, except for professions. And I'm not sure that the
individuals' professions necessarily have anything to do with how they will review that,
and at the same time, I think given it is a legal document, it is good to have, uh, some
legal thinking on there. We may have more than we need, but we had ... we have more
attorneys in the list that we didn't select too so...
Botchway/ That's true. That's true.
Hayek/ And I guess I would say, uh, to defend my brothers and sisters on the bar (laughter)
that ... that the attorneys selected actually come from different walks, you know, one is a
professor. I don't know that he's ever practiced law. One is...
Botchway/ Okay.
Hayek/ ...one works for a bank, as ... you know, one is with the County. And only one is private
practice. And so, uh, they're not all from the private sector or ... or...
Botchway/ Right, right.
Hayek/ ...so I...I would add that, and I think, you know, we ... I think we need to decide are we
going to ... tweak these results because then it's kind of, you know, it's kind of a free -for-
all at that point.
Botchway/ Right.
Hayek/ Um ... I mean, either a little in or ... I mean, you can't just be a little in.
Mims/ Yeah.
Hayek/ If we want to discuss it, we certainly can, and we do not have to appoint tonight. I think
we should.
Mims/ I do too!
Hayek/ ...but um ... but if we're going to open it up for horse - trading, for lack of a better word,
um, I ... I think then that ... that means we need to do that completely, or be open to that,
cause everybody's probably got people they wish (both talking)
Dobyns/ Yeah, did anybody get exactly what they ... they picked for nine?
Mims/ Nope! I didn't.
Dobyns/ I don't think so (several talking and laughing)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 26
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I was shocked to discover that my nine candidates didn't... weren't selected.
(laughter) Just shocked!
Payne/ Not none of your nine?
Throgmorton/ Oh no, five actually.
Payne/ Oh, okay!
Throgmorton/ So I think that's probably pretty typical (several talking)
Hayek/ You're battin' more than 500! (laughter)
Throgmorton/ Pretty good! So I ... I don't have any objection to the list. I mean, some of the
points Kingsley brought up are ... totally reasonable points but I ... I think they're like
only, let me think now... urn ... um ... hardly any cur ... mem ... current members of boards,
uh, Wally ... I mean, Andy Chappell is one.
Hayek/ He's on Housing. (several talking)
Throgmorton/ Uh ... uh, two prior Council Members, uh, Dee and Karen; two prior members of,
uh, a Charter Commission, Andy and Karen; urn ... four lawyers, five non - lawyers, uh,
what, six men, three women?
Karr/ Five men (several talking)
Throgmorton/ Five and four, sorry! No offense to any particular person (laughs) Uh ... um...
Payne/ I kind of bought into the way we did it. I mean, it was like we all voted for nine people
and the top vote gotters are here!
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Payne/ So I mean it would be hard to ... when there's nine. If you're doing three, you could...
Mims/ Right!
Payne/ ...hash it out probably easier than you can nine.
Dobyns/ Yeah. I thought we'd have to hash out the final two or three at this meeting, but that's
not how it all came out (several talking)
Throgmorton/ Am... am I right in thinking, understanding, that... all of us, no, at least one of us
knows every one of the members that would be appointed? Cause one of the things I
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 27
thought about is ... I wouldn't want to see us appoint somebody that none of us knew.
None of us had any, uh, connection or any knowledge of, you know (several responding)
Hayek/ I know almost everybody of the 26 who applied, short maybe three names or so.
Dobyns/ Who's Steve Atkins? (laughter)
Throgmorton/ Yeah, okay, good!
Mims/ I think it looks good.
Payne/ Yeah.
Mims/ I don't, like I say, I don't think anybody got their nine, but I think we came with a good,
qualified, diverse group and there's some really qualified people that didn't get it!
Payne/ Yep! Right, absolutely.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, and praise to them for applying too.
Mims/ Um, well...
Hayek/ Are we okay with this nine? (several talking; noises on mic)
Mims/ ...list the names (both talking)
Hayek/ ...yeah, so you guys don't even know who we're talking about! (laughter and several
talking) The nine ... uh, the top vote getters, so to speak, which means anybody with four
votes or more from this council of seven, uh, include Ann Moyer Stone, Andy Chappell,
Dee Vanderhoff, Karen Kubby, Adam Sullivan, Kerry Craig, Melvin Shaw, Marvin
Chaunce, and Steve Atkins. Those are the nine. And then there are another 17 or so who
applied and who appear in our, uh, packet.
Mims/ What I would like to do, um, one of the other things we need to do is appoint a chair, and
uh, I had talked with a couple other Council Members and I had a phone call with Andy
Chappell, and Andy has served on the Charter Commission before, and if it is the
pleasure of the Council, he will chair it, and so I would nominate him as chair, suggest
him as chair for the...
Dobyns/ I would second.
Mims/ So, I (mumbled) formally do it now but...
Hayek/ I think he'd be really good. He's (several talking) very level- headed. He, I think, has
respect from people across the community.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 28
Dickens/ He's done it before. He has a (both talking)
Mims/ He has an incredible amount of respect for this process and for the whole ... the whole way
this is done, so...
Dobyns/ He is a lawyer though!
Mims/ Yeah, he is a lawyer though.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I was thinking (several talking and laughing) Yeah, I'd like to bring up one
other procedural matter. Uh, Eleanor can correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding
is that we are required to appoint at least nine members to this commission. We are not
required to appoint only nine, correct? So as a procedural matter I just want to see if I
understand correctly that the Council... thinks it's wise to appoint only nine members, not
to appoint some larger number. I ... I would guess 11 if we did go to a larger number.
Dobyns/ And I would have gone with that, Jim, except that if you take ... if you go to the next
level to the next, you know, three vote getters, urn ... one, how they're all male which
throws us off the diversity, and so we'd be in a position of having to look through all of
them and having to figure out one out of the next, and that's... that's a dicey discussion
that I'm not very comfortable having. But if there ... had there been one, had there been
one person on the bubble at three, I think I would have gone for that. Um, if it would
have been a female, it would have maintained a gender equity.
Dickens / What about an alternate?
Mims/ I don't think most people want to bother to be an alternate, I mean, why spend all that
time if you're (several responding)
Dickens/ I just didn't know if we wanted to have one in the wings in case somebody can't (both
talking)
Dobyns/ ...the other eight carry it....
Dickens/ ... cause you got an even number then.
Dilkes/ I ... I can just speak to, you know, what we ... how it worked last time. Um, I mean, I
think the ... the nine members, uh, 10 years ago did a really good job of coordinating their
schedules. We had one member who was gone for a few months during the winter, and
we got her on the phone, um, and she participated. So, um...
Dickens/ ...problem with it then.
Dilkes/ ... it worked pretty well, um, that way.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 29
Payne/ And nine people's a lot anyway. If you get more than that, it's going to be hard to get
people to come to consensus on things, I think.
Mims/ I agree.
Payne/ I mean, nine's even a lot! So...
Mims/ I think nine's...
Hayek/ And that's consistent with past, uh, cycles, right? Well, if somebody drops out, you
know, for personal reasons or whatever, then we'll have to take this up again, but we
know who ... who has applied and...
Dobyns/ You can always find a lawyer (both talking)
Hayek/ Oh, geez (laughter) We'll take this up later! (laughs) Dr.! Um, okay, so we'll go with
that and sounds like there's consensus for Andy Chappell as ... as chair.
Throgmorton/ Could I ... I'd like to bring up one other point, A...
Hayek/ Yeah!
Throgmorton/ ...maybe for, uh, any member of the commission who's out in the audience, like
Adam, and I don't know if anybody else is, but when I think about this commission, the
one thing I think is that ... the situation that Iowa City is in right now is very different
from what it was in 1976 when the commission was created. And I would hope the
commission would take the changes in population, diversity of population, and
technological and economic things into account when it's thinking about how to change.
Not trying to tell anybody how to decide anything, but ... those are factors.
Hayek/ Yeah, although you are kind of suggesting (several talking) careful as a council that, you
know, the commission is charged (both talking)
Dobyns/ I think we're done!
Hayek/ ...with a look -see (laughter) um ... anyway!
Dobyns/ Yeah, I don't think we should...
Hayek/ Okay! Let's move on. It's already 10 after 6:00, um... so that takes care of Council
appointments, uh, next is the proposed Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee resolution,
which is, uh, agenda Item # 17.
Discuss the Proposed Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee Resolution (Agenda Item #17):
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 30
ITEM 17. AD HOC SENIOR SERVICES COMMITTEE - RESOLUTION
ESTABLISHING AN AD HOC SENIOR SERVICES COMMITTEE TO
REVIEW THE VISION, MISSION, AND PROGRAMMING OF CITY
SPONSORED SENIOR SERVICES IN RELATION TO THE OVERALL
NEEDS OF SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY.
Dickens/ I guess I did have some questions about ... the way it was set up with having ... a Council
Member on the ad hoc committee, and also having a ... the way it was written was, uh,
non - residents. So I was a little concerned about that, that they weren't residents of at
least the county, and I don't know if that's a clarification or whether they have to be a
resident of the county to be on this board.
Dilkes/ As written, no, they do not have to be a resident of the county.
Markus/ But I think our preference would be that they would be, so we could add that
clarification.
Hayek/ Don't you think they should be? (several responding)
Dickens/ It was a little vague, that it was ... that, and I ... I know because I'm on the Rules
Committee and with Kingsley, and he's well familiar with all the (laughter and both
talking) We've only had two meetings in four years before, but (laughter) I mean we...
we really were, we looked up at non - residents, uh, and you know, having people that own
businesses within the city could not even a ... apply because they had to be a ... a member
of the city so that was my concern that even if they're in the county.
Dilkes/ Well I think the way it's written even to a point a non ... a non - resident who's a county
member, you would have to find that that person had specific expertise that was not
available from the resident applicants. Like on the PCRB board for instance, we urn ... we
can appoint a police, uh, officer representative, if we can't find one in the ... if we don't
get an applicant from the city, then we can go outside. I think that was the intent of this.
(several talking)
Markus/ That was ... that was the intent, was to have someone that may ... may bring something to
the table based on professional experience...
Dilkes/ Right.
Markus/ ...expertise that ... that would add to this conversation, but may not, you know (both
talking)
Dickens/ I just didn't want the Koch brothers or somebody to ... apply and show up at one of
(laughter) and be on this committee.
Dilkes/ So are you asking, or are you, um, telling us that you want us to change it so it's clear it's
just Johnson County? Okay!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 31
Hayek/ I think so (several talking)
Dilkes/ Okay!
Dobyns/ Regarding the issue about the Council Member. Unless the six of you surprise me, I
think it's clear which one of us, you know, would be most likely to be interested, just
because of my professional interest in elder and senior services in the county, um ... you
know, if this does go through, um, if the Council was willing and I think it's up for
discussion, um, I would submit my application to be on the commission. Um ... along
with any of the six of you who might also (laughs)
Mims/ Challenge you! (laughter)
Dobyns/ Um, but uh, you know, just to be clear and transparent, you know, I would ... I'd be the
one, um, I think would have the most interest in serving on this commission.
Dickens / And then as far as ... if you were elected to the commission, when the findings were
brought and we have to vote on it, you would have to recuse yourself.
Dobyns/ And I'd be willing to do that. In fact I would not only ... I would recuse myself, but I
think it would be best if I just left the room, quite frankly. Let the other six of you
deliberate. Um... cause I looked at it, where could I — based on my professional interest —
you know, do the best for the city? Is it a member of this Council as a sitting Member of
the seven of us? Or is it someone who would be on this commission? Um, and...
(laughs) it'd be a lot less hours ... to not be on the commission, but I'm willing and
excited to do that. Um, but I would agree. I don't think I should get two shots at the
eventual decision.
Dilkes/ I ... I just want to make it clear that that's not a legal requirement. That's...
Dobyns/ That's a personal...
Dilkes/ ...at all. Okay.
Dobyns/ ...it's, and ... uh, Terry and I talked about that, and I brought that up as something that I
was going to bring up anyway.
Dickens / Right.
Dobyns/ Um...
Dickens/ But I just wanted to get it out that it was a concern! Because we don't have anybody,
you know, we're all on either boards or committees, but as an ad hoc commission, it's
kind of a gray area where...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 32
Dobyns/ Think you'd make the case is that I was elected by the people of Iowa City to make
these sort of judgments, um, and so this would be a personal recusal if something is
allowable, um ... but anyway, I ... I just thought I'd throw that out. I guess it's for the rest
of you to discuss (several talking)
Hayek/ ...I'm not thrilled with sort of a pre - promise to abstain, I mean, that first of all creates six
people and so you have a potential for...
Dickens/ A tie.
Hayek/ ...a tie. Um ... I mean I ... I, you know, seems to me I'd rather... someone who's on this,
you know, then vote when it comes back. I mean, that may be ... politically...
discomforting, but I don't know.
Payne/ I mean, the three of us are on the... Economic...
Mims/ ...Development Committee.
Payne/ ... Committee and we all vote.
Dobyns/ I'm willing to do it. I'm not recommending you all go that ... but I'm willing to do that.
Throgmorton/ As ... um, as Rick knows, I ... I don't think it's a good idea to have a Council
Member serve on this particular ad hoc committee. When we appointed the Ad Hoc
Committee on Diversity we did not have a Council Member serve on that committee. I
don't think it's appropriate in this instance either, though I recognize the expertise you
can bring to bear on it ... maybe you can do that differently than by serving on ... on this
particular committee. I think it'd be better to have more diverse representation of, uh, of
affected interests, affected people, uh, within the city.
Dobyns/ And in this case I think I'm peculiar! (laughter)
Dickens/ Well we knew that! (laughter and several talking)
Botchway/ No, I ... I agree. I ... I just think it's ... I mean ... yeah, I agree. I can't say it so
eloquently as Jim did, but ... that's just a weird situation, like when ... I guess ... (both
talking)
Dickens/ You've been on ... you were on the Ad Hoc Committee (both talking)
Botchway/ Well, I'm not on it any more (laughs)
Dickens/ ...how would that affect you.
Botchway/ (both talking) I ... I don't - think, I mean, I don't think I would. I mean I think that
would be ... but I mean you make the point about being on the Economic Development
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 33
Committee and so ... I don't know. I don't think I would for this, cause this is a totally, I
mean I think this is a totally different situation and if we're going to do it this way then
we need to have ... the individuals affected, and ... and maybe we do get somebody with
your particular expertise. I know that you're one of a kind but ... um, maybe somebody
else (both talking)
Dobyns/ That's a better way of putting it, Kingsley (laughs) I appreciate it (laughs)
Hayek/ Well he's not a lawyer! (laughter)
Dobyns/ So, Kingsley, to be clear, you're just, uh, you would prefer if I was going to be on it I
recuse myself, or you're just uncomfortable with the whole ball of wax.
Botchway/ Uncomfortable with the whole thing, yeah.
Dobyns/ Got it. Okay.
Hayek/ Wait, wait, he's uncomfortable with a member of (several talking)
Botchway/ I guess you're counting votes, right, too, as far as (several talking)
Throgmorton/ I ... I couldn't hear all that, so what ... what were you saying? I want to make sure I
understand.
Botchway/ Basically I just think it would be a weird situation for him (both talking)
Throgmorton/ ... for him to be on (both talking)
Botchway/ Yeah, I just don't know how you would... whether it'd be like a consistent recusal
every time- something would hap ... come up, I mean, I just ... and again, that's one part.
The second part being, um, you know, if we're going to do an Ad Hoc Div, or Ad Hoc
Senior Committee, I'd rather hear from the individuals affected on a regular basis. Um,
not to say that you wouldn't be affected based on your profession, but ... I guess I'd rather
just see other points of view, and I'd get your point of view when we discuss this as a
Council.
Payne/ But he wouldn't be the only member on the committee, so there would be a committee of
seven people, so there would be a... a diverse, you would pick diverse people to be on the
committee and you would hope everybody would bring a different aspect to the
committee, and he brings one aspect because of his... profession.
Mims/ I think... go ahead, Eleanor! I mean I think there's a couple things. I mean, we have
...we have a ... standing subcommittee of this Council, that's the Economic Development
Committee, okay, that is ... it is a subcommittee, okay, with three Council Members.
We've done various ad hoc committees before that have not had any Council Members
on them. Um, and they've had, you know, different purposes. I think one of the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 34
differences here is ... we're looking at, like the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, that was not
looking at a specific element of City government. Okay? It was looking at the
community and how we interact with the community and how we should do things
differently in interacting with the community. This is an element of City government. It
is a huge financial piece that we contribute money to, and so I think it's very fair and
reasonable to have one of those seven committee members be a Council Member, and I
don't necessarily feel that a Council Member who's on here needs to recuse themselves
when they ... when this comes back to the Council either.
Markus/ (several talking) We've had other committees too, by the way, that Council has served
on, um, we had the Streetstate ... uh, Streetscape Committee, uh, downtown. Jim, you
serve on that. I presume you'll be voting on that when it comes back. Uh, we have the
Chauncey RFP Committee. A Council Member served on that. Turned around and they
voted on that. Um ... it ... I ... the conversation I'm listening to is unique to me because it's
something that in my career I've seen happen all the time. Council members serve on
committees and they turn right around and vote on those issues, and I don't see that as a
conflict. In fact, I was thinking about the conversation I was thinking that ... it seems just
the opposite. It would seem like shirking your responsibilities not to vote on the issue
when it came back to the Council table.
Dilkes/ And ... and in that regard, I was just ... this, I mean I'm just kind of thinking off the cuff
here but we ... actually, when it got to Council, Rick, you would have to state that it was a
conflict of interest. Otherwise it would be counted as a vote in the affirmative under our
current policy.
Markus / Right, and can you see where that would be a conflict of interest? For him to serve on
the committee and...
Dilkes/ I ... I ... I don't see it being a conflict of interest at all, but the code provides that a Council
Member's statement of conflict is determinative. So ... that would be a decision that Rick
would make.
Markus/ And ... and is the, is the practice that if you state a conflict of interest, it's the ... it's in the
individual's interpretation of what that is, or isn't, and that that stands?
Dilkes/ The code specifically provides that if a Council Member (both talking)
Markus/ Declares one.
Dilkes/ ...declares a conflict of interest (noises on mic) then that's how the vote is determined.
Markus/ All right.
Throgmorton/ So with regard to, uh, two analogies that have been put forth, I don't think they are
appropriate analogies. The Economic Development Committee is a committee that we
appoint from ourselves, and the committee provides direct advice to the Council.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 35
Nobody else can serve on it. With regard to the Downtown Streetscape Design
Committee, Tom's right. I serve on that committee, but we did not appoint members to
that committee. In this instance, we are appointing members to the committee. I think
there's a significant difference there, but going back to another point that Susan raises,
uh, focusing on, uh, you make the point about focusing on, uh, a unit of City government.
Um, it's ... I think it's important for us to be clear about what ... what our charge is to this
particular committee. I don't understand this committee to be charged with a task of
evaluating the Senior Center. It's looking at senior services, as I understand it.
Dobyns/ That's the name of the commission!
Throgmorton/ Right, so ... so it's not ... I don't think we're asking them to evaluate an agency of
City government. (both talking) ...but it's a component of Senior Services (both talking)
Dobyns/ ...a component of the bigger picture, absolutely! That's why it's not named that.
Hayek/ And ... and I would ... I guess what ... I think that's a very good point, Jim, and ... and I
would add ... I ... I am not bothered by the prospect of the City Councilors, you know,
serving... serving on such a committee. Um... and... and what Eleanor says is... is... is a
point that's well taken. I mean, we ... by our own ... charter as I understand it or our
ordinance, we ... we, uh, we basically expect people to vote on issues unless there is an
actual conflict. Now, we leave it up to that person to determine whether that's the case,
but I think the assumption and understanding is that people aren't going to claim a
conflict unless there really is one. Um, and you know, what I would expect out of this,
uh, committee would be a series of recommendations, which we would take up and
maybe we'd like `em, maybe we wouldn't, um, but the extent that we did like them, you
know, there would be a seri ... you know, there could be, you know, multiple decision
points that follow that the Council would have to make. Funding, you know, there could
be budget implications. You know, we need to do more of this, or more of that, and...
and then it would come back before us, and if you've been conflicted out of voting on a
set of recommendations, then that gets sticky in terms of what you do down the road
when subsequent budget issues come up, so ... I ... I just ... I don't have a problem with it,
personally! So...
Botchway/ I guess my ... another question, um, so ... I could serve on the Human Rights
Committee. I could serve on the Charter Review Commission. I mean, I could serve on
all those committees and still have a vote? On Council?
Dilkes/ I think our current, um, I'd have to pull the resolution. I believe ... (noises on mic) No,
not on the Charter.
Botchway/ On the Charter, okay.
Dilkes/ Um ... I ... does the one about spouses address ... I don't think it does. Um ... uh huh.
Karr/ (difficult to hear; away from mic) ... so the answer would be, to Kingsley, would be yes.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 36
Dilkes/ Uh huh.
Throgmorton/ So a Council Member could be a member of one of those commissions or boards?
Dilkes/ If... if it wasn't determined that the role as a Council Member was incompatible with
that, of the City member (mumbled)
Dickens/ And that's something that (both talking)
Dilkes/ And it also would make a big difference as to whether it was advisory, like this is, as
opposed to, um, like the Board of Adjustment, which actually makes (several talking)
decisions. Yeah.
Dickens/ And is this something the Charter committee, or ... the new Charter can look at and
make recommendations to on how we affect ad hoc committees?
Dilkes/ Well, board ... boards and commissions is a section of the Charter. (several talking)
Pardon me?
Karr/ (difficult to hear; away from mic) ...board and commissions and committees are, yeah.
Dilkes/ Yeah, yeah. I mean, I ... the ... the ... the Charter Commission is limited to issues that
relate to the form of government and ... and likely a board, uh, issue would ... would be
encompassed in that. Yeah.
Mims/ I think there's also a difference though between an ad hoc committee and a standing
committee or commission, board or commission, to in terms of...
Dickens/ And that's what I was trying to get at is they're... they're different and we've never had
this come up where we've had...
Mims/ Right.
Dickens/ ...that I know of! That we've had a ... a Council Member on an ad hoc (several talking;
noises on mic) That's why I brought up the issue. I mean, I have no problem with Rick
cause I think he's an interesting gentleman and (laughs)
Dobyns/ No one's been crazy enough to want to be on that!
Dickens/ But uh, no, I thought I needed to bring it up and just see what ... what the reaction is.
Hayek/ Yeah, but we've had so few ad hoc committees. I ... you know, there's really not a
precedent one way or the other.
Dickens/ We've had two in the last year though.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 37
Hayek/ Well out of the last... 10 or 20 years though.
Dickens/ I've only been on for (several talking and laughing)
Hayek/ Yeah, but I think it would be a problem if we were trying to like ... all run for, you know,
all put in applications for ourselves to be on (several responding) standing (both talking
Botchway/ But again ... again, Rick, not a problem, but I just see ... I see it as an issue (both
talking)
Dobyns/ (laughs) If you like me, you won't let me do this! (laughter)
Botchway/ I just see it as an issue as far as you know ... if we're talking about an ad hoc
committee, and maybe I'm just looking at it wrong, I would just ... I'm going to talk to
Rick about this. I'm al ... we're already going to have this discussion during a work
session or whatever the recommendations, um, bring about. I just feel like ... we'd be
missing, not to say that you would automatically get it I guess, but we'd be missing
another applicant, and what's to say I guess if we don't figure out a policy or maybe we
don't discuss this on the Charter Review Commission, what's to say, Jim, if we have
another Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, me, Jim and Terry are on it, and then we take out,
you know, four other potential, or three other potential candidates that are part of it. I
just ... I feel somewhat uneasy about it, I guess, and I guess we'll talk about it later but
(several talking)
Dickens/ And we can still do that by, you know, everybody that applies, we're going to appoint
`em and if Rick is one of the ... best applicants that we put him in!
Dilkes/ No, the way the current resolution reads now (both talking) it says it will include a
Council Member (both talking)
Dickens/ ...that's why we're discussing it now (both talking)
Dilkes/ ...that's why you're talking about it, right.
Dobyns/ ...so if I don't, one of you has to! (laughter) And I ... I guess to speak to that, Kingsley,
um, to do due diligence to this issue, um, because of my professional, uh, experience, and
my very zealous interest in the City of Iowa City, um, and Johnson County, um, how
could I not... ask of the six of you to consider this. I realize the issues, but if I truly am
genuine, um, to my profession and my interest in Iowa City, how could I not make this
request of you all?
Botchway/ But you perform it as a Council Member! Currently.
Dobyns/ Yes, but how can I not ... give it my ... best? And ... um, and I ... I agree, there are some
issues here. Um ... issues for the six of you to ponder. But I felt from my point of view,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 38
um, it would have been a lot easier to just have stood back, but I think I have peculiar
experiences (several talking) and from my point of view, I'm just asking the question.
Good luck in your discernment! (laughter)
Hayek/ All right (several talking) can we, uh (several talking) wrap up this, uh, this item. What,
by the way... go ahead.
Mims/ No, I was just (mumbling) I think there's four of us aren't there that ... that are agreeing
with having a Council Member (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Yeah, you gotta count the noses here!
Mims/ So...
Hayek/ I mean, I ... yeah, and (both talking)
Mims/ So...
Hayek/ ...I want it to be clear that the ... the non -Iowa City, must be a Johnson County resident, I
mean, I wouldn't be interested in this if the case were otherwise.
Mims / Right.
Dickens/ So that change will be made.
Hayek/ Yeah. (several talking in background)
Throgmorton/ And ... and there are at least four agreeing that a City Council Member can ... can
serve, is that right?
Payne/ Will, I think it says will. Not can, will!
Mims/ Yeah.
Throgmorton/ Okay. So, uh, I ... I have a different topic to bring up, if it's appropriate.
Hayek/ That's fine but I do want to just let you know, um, we are going to hear from the
audience this evening on this Senior Services Committee. It's Item 17. There is interest
in moving it up to accommodate the schedules of those who would like to be here and,
uh, I think it's a fair accommodation to that population, and so if you're okay with it, um,
what we'll do is take up right after the Planning and Zoning Items, but before Item 8, a
motion to move Item 17 up and take it up then. Um ... if...(several responding) Okay.
And I ... I spoke to Jay Honohan about that so he ... he can tell, uh, others in the audience.
Okay! Move, uh, moving on, so...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 39
Throgmorton/ But ... but, no, I wanted to mention something else with regard to the Senior
Center. Uh, I think we should at least acknowledge that we have received a request from
the Senior Center that ... that we initiate some kind of...a particularly described kind of
survey, prior to creating this ... this ad hoc committee. We ... we should acknowledge that
and ... and ... and indicate ... why we're not going to do that, if...if in fact we are not going
to do that, and that seems to be the case.
Payne/ Well isn't the, um, the survey specifically for the...
Hayek/ Just a second. Eleanor's... going to weigh in here.
Dilkes/ I'm sorry, I didn't hear the question.
Throgmorton/ Oh, I'm sorry! Uh, we have received a request from, uh, I think all members of
the commission that we initiate a ... a survey, partic ... described in detail, prior to
appointing an ad hoc committee, and I'm just saying I think we need to at least
acknowledge that we got that request.
Dilkes/ Oh, well that's not a `me' issue. I'm sorry (laughs) (both talking)
Throgmorton/ ...to proceed, and anyhow...
Payne/ And I guess my comment is is that I read that request as ... the survey would be about the
Senior Center. But the ... ad hoc committee is not just about the Senior Center. So to me
they were kind of disconnected.
Throgmorton/ Uh huh.
Payne / And, you know, in my mind, the ... they aren't really totally connected, so I don't know
why we would have to do a survey before we appointed the committee, because the
committee is about elder services as a whole and not just ... or senior services as a whole,
not just ... the Senior Center.
Throgmorton/ Uh huh.
Dickens/ I know. They've requested having a... survey for the last couple years, and it hasn't
been funded, so ... if I'm wrong, let me know, but I thought that was what I heard. (both
talking)
Hayek/ Yeah, but that could be, uh, I mean, that could be the subject of discussion by the
committee. It may very well be a good idea (several talking)
Throgmorton/ ...that's the way it seemed to me as well and...
Payne / Right, right!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 40
Throgmorton/ ...and that ... and I, you're exactly right that ... the focus of this committee is not
exclusively on the Senior Center (several talking) It's not an evaluation of the Senior
Center and so on.
Payne/ No! (several talking in background)
Hayek/ Okay. Okay, we're going to ... we've got about eight minutes before we need to ... pack it
in and let staff set us up for the, uh, for the formal meeting. Um, let's quickly go through
the Info Packets if we can.
Information Packets:
Throgmorton/ How many do we have? (laughs) (several talking)
Hayek/ First is January 23. Anything on that?
Throgmorton/ Uh, municipal I.D.s Um, Item ... I don't know, what's the item number? Sorry, I
can't ... (person responding) IP4 on the January (mumbled) so we got a report, uh, from
Stefani Bowers, or a memo from her, and a long report from the law ... the law students
and uh, Professor Elias, and we've also gotten a request from, uh, the Center for Worker
Justice ... uh, and uh, the Human Rights Commission, and so on, to take up this particular
topic. I believe we ought to take up the topic. Uh, but we can't just approve it, uh,
overnight. So...
Dickens/ Should be work session.
Throgmorton/ We ... we should discuss ... find the time to discuss it in detail. Yeah.
Dilkes/ I ... I think staff was recommending that you send it back to the Human Rights
Commission for their review and recommendation. Then that would come up to you.
And then you would have your work session.
Dickens/ That sounds...
Dilkes/ That's what we anticipated would happen, I guess.
Throgmorton/ I ... I didn't fully understand that, so that sounds reasonable to me.
Hayek/ Okay! How about the January 30th ... IP?
Botchway/ Oh, yeah, sorry, IP4. I think we need to, um ... work towards, uh, or rediscuss the
meeting that we were, talking about with the Board of Supervisors and do something
along the lines of maybe for this just first time having all the Members present, or all the
Members that can attend, I mean ... no. All the Members present, and then from that
discussion decide whether or not we want to go forward. I know that we initially talked
about (mumbled) as well as far as just sending delegates, but um ... you know, after
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 41
talking with them, or talking with one of them actually, urn ... and ... and understanding
also that it seems like every other city does this, and I know we meet in the ... the, uh, the
MPO, the Joint Session, as well, but it seems like they want to talk about specific issues
dealing with Iowa City, um, separate from, you know, other um, cities and ... also separate
from other cities possibly weighing in, I mean, unless they're there for the public session
or public discussion. Um, and so again, this is, I guess, if we could work it out or talk
about it or send another, um, response to where we have one meeting, to where we meet
with them and then figure it out from there and make that an agenda item. I don't know
if we could ... yeah, urn ... that would be ... something that I would like to see, and I know
this is a change from what I had previously said earlier but ... um...
Mims/ Have they ever responded back to your letter, Matt?
Hayek/ To my knowledge, no.
Mims/ I think that would be the first thing that we officially sent them a letter from (coughing,
unable to hear speaker) the chair to the chair of the Board of Supervisors. I would
suggest the chair of the Board of Supervisors should respond to the Mayor.
Botchway/ Okay.
Throgmorton/ Well I ... I (both talking)
Botchway/ And then go from there.
Throgmorton/ ...I want to add something to that. Um, I thought in our work session when we
discussed that, that at least four of us had agreed that we would instruct Matt to write, uh,
the chair of the Board, uh, chair of the Board to say, yes, we co ... all of us will meet with
all of you, and that... at that meeting, Matt would suggest that we appoint a
subcommittee. That's what I walked away from that work session understanding that we
had agreed to do. So I was really surprised when I saw the letter.
Hayek/ Oh!
Mims/ That's not my recollection!
Payne/ Yeah, I ... I remembered it like the letter states.
Mims/ Yeah, I do too. I'd have to listen to the minutes but...
Payne / Right. That's how I recalled it too.
Mims/ Yeah.
Payne/ Yeah, the letter didn't surprise me at all, because it was ... it's exactly how I...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 42
Dickens/ We had talked about everybody meeting but then we thought that was too big a group.
So we ... I know at that session we talked about doing the smaller.
Throgmorton/ (both talking)
Hayek/ ...and that was just a point of confusion between us, I guess. Uh...
Dickens/ But I still think we need to move forward and meet. But we need to hear from `em.
Mims/ Well, exactly, I mean, the Mayor has sent them a letter and if they haven't responded to
the letter, to me the ball's in their court.
Throgmorton/ I ... I suspect they're surprised because they asked to meet with us. They didn't
ask to meet with... in a subcommittee.
Mims/ That's fine! It may not be what they wanted but they got an official response from the
Mayor of Iowa City to their chair, and it may not be what they like and that's fine! And
they can (both talking) They need to respond back and say, yes we'll do it or no, that
really is't what we want; we'd like you to reconsider and have the whole thing, but ... I, to
me ... it's like negotiating with yourself. We have sent them a letter telling them what
we're willing to do, and they're not responding to us. So...
Hayek/ Why don't I give ... Terry Neuzil a call. (laughter) We played, uh, Babe Ruth baseball
together and I've known him for darn near my... all my life.
Mims/ Whatever you'd like!
Throgmorton/ Good idea!
Hayek/ And uh, I'll give ... I'll give Terry a call.
Throgmorton/ Good idea!
Dickens/ I know where he lives! (laughter)
Hayek/ I knew Terry before he started going by Terrence! (laughs)
Dickens/ I may go back to Terrence! (laughs)
Hayek/ I'll... I'll call him, Jim.
Throgmorton/ Uh ... can we maybe take a break and, you know ... I gotta get something to eat. I
don't know (several talking)
Hayek/ Yeah, yeah, so all right.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 43
Dobyns/ And someone's staring at us (mumbled)
Hayek/ Yeah, I know it (laughter) Do we need ... do we need to take up anything... well, maybe
we'll just have to convene after (several responding) the formal, we go back to the work
session (several talking) so ... okay, so we're gonna, uh, end the work session but we'll
take it back up at the, uh, close of the formal. See you back here at 7:00! (noises on mic)
(work session back in session after formal meeting)
Information Packets (continued):
Hayek/ Okay, so um ... we left off, uh, about halfway through the Info Packets. (several talking)
Throgmorton/ February 6th, is that where we stopped? (coughing, difficult to hear speaker)
Hayek/ I think ... I'm looking at the 30t " ... and um ... really took those issues up already. Unless
there's something on the 301h, we'll go to February 6th packet.
Throgmorton/ How bout IP5, KXIC stuff? Do you want to do that now?
Karr/ Uh huh!
Throgmorton/ I could do (both talking)
Payne/ I'm doing tomorrow. Is my name on there for tomorrow?
Karr/ February 19th, yes ma'am!
Throgmorton/ I can do either the 12th or the 26th of March. You chose. I don't care.
Karr/ February 26th, can anyone do?
Dickens/ I can do it!
Karr/ February 26th, Dickens. (several talking) Well you said ... I thought you were in March.
Were you into February ... or March?
Throgmorton/ (mumbled)
Karr/ They both happen to be the same dates. (several responding)
Throgmorton/ Oh, I'm sorry! I ... I meant March 121h or 261h
Karr/ Of March?
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 44
Karr/ Terry's doing the 26th of February.
Throgmorton/ Ah!
Hayek/ So your pick!
Throgmorton/ Oh, okay. So, uh, March 12tH
Botchway/ So who's doing March 26th?
Payne/ You! (laughter)
Botchway/ There you go! That's what I was going to ask!
Karr/ Thanks! (several talking)
Botchway/ Anybody catch that? Any of you, or the ... KXIC? Um ... the radio show, when I was
on it?
Karr/ Yeah!
Botchway/ Oh! (laughter)
Hayek/ Don't take it personally! (laughter)
Botchway/ Thanks, guys! (laughter)
Dickens/ If I didn't have a big family, nobody' d be listening (laughter)
Payne/ You did a great job!
Botchway/ Appreciate it! Thanks!
Hayek/ Okay, got that taken care of! All right, uh, February 13th Info Packet.
Throgmorton/ Oh, wait a minute, wait ... maybe there's something.
Hayek/ Did I jump something?
Throgmorton/ Oh, no! The 13tH, okay. Uh, yeah, on uh ... what is it ... IP1 1, the minutes of the
January 16th meeting of the Housing and Community Development Commission. They
went into great detail about all sorts of things and what it made me think, and speaking
on ... maybe only for myself, I ... I feel a need to have a network map of social service
agencies and non - profits. For me it's a blur, and you know, I've been here for a pretty
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 45
longtime now. I ... I can't see how these various agencies and non - profits are connected
to one another.
Mims/ That's really interesting... that you mention that, Jim! Because I started back in
Defem ... in December, and I haven't gotten very far on it with the holidays and
everything else but ... looking at how ... getting a list of all the non - profits in just saying
Johnson County, and you can go ... you can go to a web, to state web site. You can find
all the 501C(3)s and there's about ... 800 gazillion of `em, and it's trying to narrow it
down, but then I agree. I think what we need is a list of all of the non - profits and all the
service agencies in the county, and ... what service they're providing, how they're funded,
what are their metrics, you know, how are they measuring success, are they measuring
success, particularly as we're ... I think we're going to see more and more of them coming
to us for money, and if we don't have ... I think ... and I think this is one thing that speaks
to what we're doing with the ... the Senior Services Committee too, is get... hopefully
getting a handle on all the different agencies that provide services, and again, where's
their funding come, where are they housed, what are the metrics for their success, what
are they asking from us for money, how can they work more cooperatively in grant
applications, um, and I think we need to find a way to do that for all non - profit social
service agencies across the county.
Throgmorton/ (both talking) Yeah, I was thinking about the connection (both talking) senior
services thing too.
Mims/ It's a huge project.
Hayek/ Yeah. Is it ... and, but I think the biggest question, to whom should that duty fall, and I
don't ... I don't know if that's a City thing or a County thing, or a non - profit thing, like a
clearing house like United Way, or somebody (several talking)
Mims/ Or a master's thesis project? (laughs) (several talking)
Hayek/ ...but you're right, I think there's way too much overlap! And ... and, you know, don't
quote me on this, but I ... I read once that there were, you know, over 200 non - profits in
the county or something to that effect.
Mims/ Oh, I bet that's low! Looking at this list ... (both talking)
Hayek/ ... and uh, you know, that's a lot of administration, uh, that might be overlapping in terms
of different places providing competing, but similar services, and you know, they're
gonna have to ... consolidate at least their services, if not their organizations. To some
extent over time, I would think.
Mims/ Yeah.
Hayek/ So ... yeah.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 46
Throgmorton/ Well, anyhow, I'd love to see a network map.
Dobyns/ They're going to turn off the lights in a minute (laughter)
Hayek/ Could you sign in please and keep your comments to five minutes or less, Nixon!
Markus/ Power ... is there a power outage? Oh, we have to go! (laughter)
Hayek/ Okay, anything else on the February 13th? All right. Council time.
Council Time:
Payne/ Didn't we already do that?
Hayek/ God help us! (laughter)
Mims/ Yeah, I think we already did that. (laughter)
Throgmorton/ I'm going to mention one thing. Uh (several talking) this may sound like bragging
but I just want you to know. So, uh, tomorrow morning I'm going to fly to Tacoma,
Washington, where I'm going to, uh, speak at, uh, a "Beyond Urban Branding" forum
being held by the University of Washington at Tacoma's Urban Studies Department. So
I'm one of five people invited to speak at that event, and it's not because I'm on the City
Council, you know, it's because of the other work. Uh, so I ... I've already talked with
Mark Naulty and Kate Moreland at ICAD about it, because Beyond Urban Branding, I
mean, what they're doing is focusing on (laughs) that ... that whole idea about how to tell
our story better. So ... I'll give you some feedback about that when I come back from the
event, but... (both talking)
Dickens/ Tell me how Tacoma is! (laughs)
Throgmorton/ Well I hear all sorts of good things about it actually. I understand the University's
a ... a great component of the downtown of...of Tacoma, and of course Tacoma's trying to
reinvent itself, being a de- industrialized city. Uh, so ... it'll be fun to learn about it.
We're going to be learning about Chattanooga and Detroit. I'm going to talk about
Alborg, Denmark, and... a couple other places. Fellow from Toronto named Ken
Greenberg, who is an urban design professional who worked with Jane Jacobs in
Toronto, he ... he's going to be the main speaker. It'll be fun!
Hayek/ Any other Council time?
Mims/ I would just make one quick comment, um ... as I was reading through minutes of the
Human Rights Commission, I noticed a lot of abstentions, and I noticed that staff
addressed that with the Commission, and I think that is something, if it continues, that we
need to look at as a policy. I mean, I know there's a policy for the Council, but if we're
appointing people to these commissions, in my estimation they need to have ... the time
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 47
and the dedication to do the homework they need to do, and the fortitude and guts to
make decisions and vote.
Payne / And they don't say why they abstain. They just ... they just abstain.
Dobyns/ And that's a popular committee! These people vie actively to get on it (both talking)
Mims/ ...I know, to get on it, and then you've got what looks to me like difficult decisions and a
bunch of `em are abstaining.
Payne/ And sometimes there's four people that abstain!
Mims/ Yeah, and Stefan called `em on it.
Payne/ Yeah, she did. I ... I... (both talking)
Mims/ That was in the minutes.
Payne/ What went through my mind is ... they don't have the same policy that we do? (laughs) It
means yes?
Mims/ No they don't. So...
Hayek/ So we're watching that though?
Mims/ Well, Stefan mentioned it to them that...
Dilkes/ ...our policy came out of a problem. (several responding)
Meeting Schedule:
Hayek/ Yes! (laughter and several talking) Okay. Uh, meeting schedule? Plenty of `em! Uh,
pending work session topics. We've got a growing list, and we added a couple new items
to it today. Alec!
Pending Work Session Topics:
Bramel/ I was just going to say, um, between the Gateway project, the Streetscape project, um,
Marijuana position, and uh, what was the other one we were thinking of? Oh, ID cards!
We've got a lot on our plate, um, but I was looking into, uh, for March of, uh, do we have
anything that's tentatively planned out for the 4th or the 25th? (several talking)
Markus/ Yeah we do (laughter) We've already booked March pretty well.
Karr/ The Streetscape's March 41n
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 48
Bramel/ March 4th 25th?
Hayek/ That's Gateway (several talking)
Bramel/ Gateway.
Dobyns/ What were you thinking of?
Bramel/ My suggestion is that, uh...
Hayek/ Is this a swansong comment?
Bramel/ Swansong, um, hopefully sometime in April maybe we could talk about, uh, the
municipal citations in lieu of the criminal citations for, um, oh I guess a wide range of,
uh, things that Kingsley brought up and whatnot. Did you want to say something?
Dilkes/ This is the issue that, um ... uh, Kingsley brought up (both talking)
Bramel/ Yes, that's the one!
Dilkes/ ...Kingsley brought up and we met as a staff today and (mumbled) should have a memo
to you in not too long.
Bramel/ Okay.
Dilkes/ So, I mean, if it works out on the schedule for ... for you all, we can shoot for April is
fine.
Bramel/ April would be great!
Dobyns/ So the short-timer can participate! That would be nice to, I mean, if you want.
Bramel/ That would be good!
Hayek/ Yeah, so if staff is ready to discuss it, or will ... could be soon, um...
Dilkes/ I think so.
Hayek/ ...accommodate Alec!
Dilkes/ Uh huh.
Hayek/ Lame Duck, uh, tenure here!
Bramel/ Almost!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.
February 18, 2014 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 49
Dickens/ You can come back! You can take grad school!
Bramel/ I'll stick around! Very good! All right, thank you. Appreciate it!
Upcoming Events / Council Invitations:
Hayek/ Yeah! Okay, upcoming events. Jim, we got yours ... kind of an event or ... professional
(mumbled) Okay! 10:15, let's go home. Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work
session of February 18, 2014.