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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-04 TranscriptionPage 1 ITEM 2. STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS a. Robert Lucas Elementary b. Hoover Elementary Hayek: Would the students from Lucas and Hoover please come on up! Well how you guys doing tonight? Good? Tell me where do you guys go to school? (person responding away from mic) You're at Hoover. (unable to hear response) Hoover. All right! Well, those are great schools. I'm, uh, Mayor Hayek and this is your City Council behind you, and we're really thrilled to have you here, and one of the things the City Council does throughout the year is recognize student leaders from the elementary schools around Iowa City and you come down, you get nominated, I know, uh, because of all the good work you do, and you come down here and we get to know you a little bit and you get to know us a little bit. Is this your first time down here at City Hall? (unable to hear response) I bet it is, cause you're too busy doing homework and stuff like that, I'm sure! Um, well I have to tell you, I have a first grader at Hoover so, uh, that's a special school for me, and Lucas is a great place. Um, well, I have something I'm going to read to you, but first we'd like to ... to hear, uh, from you guys and I see you brought your ...your piece of paper. That's the first thing, so good job on that! And I'll just hand the ... the microphone to you and you can start out! Nkumu: Hi, my name is Rose Marie. I'm from Hoover Elementary. At Hoover, citizenship is a part of our Hoover star, along with respect, responsibility, honesty, caring, and courage. I practice citizenship in school and outside of school every day. I think citizenship is being able to work well with others, put in your best effort every day, help others with things they don't understand, and be a good leader. Each day I challenge myself to be a good citizen. I appreciate being nominated to receive this award. We can all be better citizens by just being nice to each other, helping out in whatever way we can, and being good role models. Thank you. (applause) Goodman: Hi, my name is Spencer Goodman. It is an honor for me to be here. Citizenship to me means following rules, being responsible, working hard, and helping others. I had an opportunity to show citizenship when I helped with the Boy Scout food drive. There are lots of people who participated. My partner and I went door -to- door collecting food for the Crisis Center. It was raining really hard and we got soaked. I was nervous at the beginning, but by the end I had a lot of fun. I'm grateful for the opportunities I have had to learn about citizenship. Thank you for selecting me for this award. (applause) Nunez: Hi, my name is Alex Nunuez. It is a great honor to receive such an award. Citizenship means a lot to me and I would like to thank my classmates who always make me strive to do my best. I would like to thank my family for without them I couldn't be here. In addition I'd also to thank the City Council for giving me this award. I will continue to be the best citizen I can by being nice and respectful to others, and helping others when they need it. Helpful actions may be This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 2 small ones, but they add up and can make someone feel a whole lot better. (applause) Hayek: Well those are fantastic and citizenship is really what it's all about, and you guys are great examples of young Iowa Citians who are doing great work in your schools and you're an example to all your classmates, and that's why we want to recognize you, because we hope you grow up and do things like join the City Council and help the City out, and you're already doing great things in your schools, and you know, your ... your parents and your teachers and your siblings and everybody else who's ... who's here, and I can see a lot of people in the crowd, we should thank them as well for everything they do. Now I have an award I'm going to read, but I want to ask you first, what do you guys think about all these, uh, snow days and late starts? Is that good, or bad? Nunuez: Bad because we have to stay in summer! (laughter) Hayek: That's right! As a parent I say bad! (laughs) Anyway, we're really proud of you and ... and I've got a Citizenship Award for each one of you and it...it reads as follows: For his or her outstanding qualities of leadership within Hoover or Lucas, as well as the community, and for his or her sense of responsibility and helpfulness to others, we recognize you as an outstanding student citizen. Your community is proud of you. Presented by the Iowa City City Council, March 2014. (away from mic) I want to congratulate you guys. You can stick around and watch the rest of the meeting or go do homework, either way is fine with us, and we're really glad you're here. So thanks so much! Take care! (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 3 ITEM 3. PROCLAMATIONS ITEM 3a Special Olympics Month — March Hayek: We have some special Olympians who are going to come to the front of the room today. Hello! (several responding) It seems like a bigger group than last year (laughter) (several talking) Well welcome to City Hall, everyone! How are you? (several responding) Good! Well we're excited to have you, and you come down here once a year and it's so great for us to get to see you and to recognize all the hard work you do. So, uh, I have a proclamation which we have, uh, to read, and it's in your honor and it ... and it's for Special Olympics Month, and it reads as follows. (reads proclamation) (applause) Well you guys are great competitors and so I'm going to ... I guess I don't really need to hand the mic over. You can go ahead and talk! (laughter) Rossi: (reads statement) (applause) Athletes, do you think we can have the Council help us with our Special Olympics pledge? (several responding) All right, let's lead `em! How does it go? Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt! (applause) Hayek: So I'm going to give this proclamation to you, but first I have a question. If you jump into the Coralville Reservoir at the end of March, what is the temperature of that water? (laughter) (several responding) Pretty warm? Rossi: Generally it's between 41 and 42 degrees! Hayek: Oh! (laughs) That's tough! Rossi: Um, in the past ... last year we had it a little bit later and the outside temperature at least was a little bit warmer! (laughter) Hayek: That takes real bravery! Rossi: It does! Um, and Tim Dwight, I'd like to put kudos out to him. He's our celebrity plunger, and he comes out and plunges with us every year! Hayek: Good for Tim! (laughs) (applause) Rossi: Thank you, everyone! Hayek: I want to congratulate all of you and wish you the best of luck, and thanks for competing! Thank you so much! (several talking and clapping) Terry, I think I heard you indicate you're going to be doing the Polar Plunge along with them? (laughter) Dickens: Uhhhhh, I may be out of town! (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 4 ITEM 5. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). Hayek: This is the opportunity at each City Council meeting for members of the public to address the Council on items that are not on the agenda. So if there's something that's not on tonight's agenda, we invite you to step forward, and uh, to please sign in, give us your name verbally, and limit your comments to five minutes, please. Bird: Good evening, I'm Nancy Bird, Director of the Iowa City Downtown District. Um, thank you for having me. I'm here tonight to thank you for the support with the streetscape update process and really all the staff time that has been devoted to trying to make, uh, downtown Iowa City the best that it can be. Um, I want to remind everyone here that may not know about the Downtown, um, District. We're supported by property, um, property owners' tax that they put into the District, as well as University of Iowa contribution, and other sponsors and fundraising that we do. So it's very important that in order to us to fulfill our mission of keeping downtown Iowa City, um, vibrant that we work with our community and we make sure it's a place that's inclusive for all, and part of that, uh, we've gone out, um, and we will be doing in the next month, a friend's drive, and so we appreciate your support with that. Um, making sure that we re- invite people downtown that haven't been for a while is really important, and we think this friend's drive is going to help support that. So I wanted to thank you for your, um, consideration, um, of the support to that drive. And uh, I look forward to talking with each of you in the future. Hayek: Thanks, Nancy. Knight: Hi, my name is Roger Knight. Um ... I know you, Kingsley, er... sorry, um... brought it up in a work session but it's not helping today, um, about low- income housing. There's a big, big, big need for that in this city, and Mr. Hayek, I know you said that you worked on it, you know, just throughout your career and different things, and uh, Champion did it as well, but a quick vote for Moen kind of undid a lot of your work for let's put these ... you know, 14 -story apartment building downtown. And then we're going to charge rent, thousand dollars, whatever it might be. You can go on Craigslist, I challenge you all, try ... try to find an apartment for less than $700 in this city. That's about what I make a month. That gives me, you know, if I were to do that, that gives me no room for food, electricity, anything! I mean ... I need food, I need water, I need electricity. It's been cold. I don't know if anybody has noticed — it takes a lot of electricity to do that, unfortunately. It needs to be addressed. Bad! Today! You know, and it just doesn't get brought up. I don't know what needs to be done. I don't have the money to help. I only make, like I said, about $700 a month. Unless you guys are going to give me money (laughs) like you guys do to Moen to build ... ugly buildings. I can build one that would be nicer, but I don't have any kind of plan. Maybe I should put one in! That's kind of the gist of it right there. You're ... you This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 5 know, look at the 14 -story apartment building. Does it even match anything downtown, other than his buildings? It's... sad and another thing I brought up is Mediacom! You guys need to look at maybe going with Ion, share with Cedar Rapids. But ... you know either Mediacom needs to start addressing treating the customers of Iowa City better... or... get out! And one thing I can't even think from the work session, how does nobody notice this? From the, uh, how we're going to re -vamp downtown. Great (mumbled) you know, great idea! That's a 10 -year idea. That it should last for 10 years. At... low budget, $10 million. That's a million dollars a year, people! A million dollars a year, and ... no maintenance! No maintenance! Go look downtown right now! Trees aren't being done. It's designed to ... as trees are nice and round. I haven't seen a nice round tree grow nice and round all the way around. Nobody seems to notice this! As a City Council, I know you guys can't see it. But some of your votes, you quickly vote, and then you end up hurting somebody in that vote, but you just pass on to the next one and do it again! Over and over. You know, it was once brought up for a gas station. You know one thing for a quick little plan, does that gas station even need to be there, or is it just to help somebody make some money? It's just a question that needs to be asked ... in your head! Before you even think about having it come up for a vote. It's just ... a lot of people. Go ask around! Have a friend do it, cause then they're not actually here on the City Council. You guys have the reputation that ... you guys don't care about this city. Because nothing you guys do makes sense! That's really sad! I know you guys care. That's why I brought it up. It's maybe, you know, a challenge. Here's a challenge for you — show you guys do care! For the entire city, not just Moen and a few rich people. I'm poor. I'd like to see a few things, you know, sidewalks get fixed. I'm not asking for much. I know it costs more than a hundred dollars to do, but ... you know, sidewalks get fixed. Snow be taken care of from where the street and the sidewalk meet. Look at the bricks downtown! They're gettin' worn out. Try to take a wheelchair over those gates that go to like Whitey's or something, you know what I'm talking about. I don't know what those are called. (laughs) Evel Knievel wouldn't do that! It's just a thought. Thanks! Hayek: Thank you for the comments! Anyone else? Okay, we'll move on from community comment to Item 6, Planning and Zoning Matters. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 6 ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. ITEM 6a COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR WALDEN SQUARE — APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO AMEND THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PLAN TO CHANGE THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF PROPERTY LOCATED WEST OF MORMON TREK BOULEVARD, NORTH OF WESTWINDS DRIVE (WALDEN SQUARE) FROM NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL. (CPA12- 00006) ITEM 6b REZONING WALDEN SQUARE — CONDITIONALLY REZONING 8.7 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL (CN -1) ZONE TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC -2) ZONE LOCATED WEST OF MORMON TREK BOULEVARD, NORTH OF WESTWINDS DRIVE. (REZ12- 00001) (FIRST CONSIDERATION) 1. PUBLIC HEARING. Hayek: I'm going to read Items 6a and b, uh, and then ... which regard Walden Square. The applicant has requested that, uh, they be deferred until the March 25 meeting, but if there's anyone here from the audience who wishes to provide input, uh, they can certainly do so. (reads Items 6a and 6b) I will open the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel) There will not be a staff presentation this evening on these items, but instead at the March 25 meeting. Is there anyone from the public who wishes to provide input? Okay, if we could take up a motion. Okay, if we could take up a motion? Mims: Move to continue the public hearings to March 25. Throgmorton: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Throgmorton, and this is to continue both 6a (both talking) Mims: ... and 6b. Hayek: ... and 6b. Um... (both talking) Karr: And to defer the resolutions. Mims: And to defer the resolution. Karr: And the ordinance! Hayek: And the ordinance. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 7 Mims: And the ordinance (laughs) Hayek: Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0, so 6b ... 6a and 6b will ... will come up before the Council on March 25. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 8 ITEM 6c REZONING ON CLINTON STREET FOR NEW MUSIC SCHOOL — REZONING APPROXIMATELY 1.45 ACRES LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF CLINTON STREET AND BURLINGTON STREET FROM CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5) TO INSTITUTIONAL PUBLIC (P -2). (REZ13- 00026) (FIRST CONSIDERATION) 1. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: I'll open the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel) Davidson: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, and Members of the City Council. I'm Jeff Davidson the Director of Planning and Community Development for the City. Uh, if it's all right, Mr. Mayor, the ... the next two items have almost identical staff reports so I'll make one staff report and then you will consider them separately. Um, Item 6c, these...these are both rezonings, uh, for University of Iowa, uh, flood impacted facilities, basically the new facilities that are being built, uh, for the Music School and the Visual Arts Building. Uh, the first is at the corner of Burlington and, uh, Clinton that you see here and it is for the Music School. It is a rezoning from CB -5 to P -2, Public 2, and an important distinction. We have two public zones, uh, for designating property that is public and non - taxable. The P -1 zone is for local, uh, units of governments — school districts, county, cities. Uh, the P -2 zone is for state and federal levels of government. The distinction that's important and important to have the zoning clearly indentified when you, especially with the P -2 zone. The P -1 zone has certain site development standards that local governments are still, uh, still have to comply with. School District and the County still have to comply with our local site development standards for the P -2 zone, or for the P -1 zone. For the P -2 zone, for state and federal level of government, there are no site development standards. So it basically puts people on notice, especially neighboring properties that there are no site development standards associated with this zone. Basically the University and the federal government can go and do whatever they want. Now that being said, I do want to emphasize that the University has cooperated with the City greatly on both of these parcels and I guess I didn't show you the second one yet. Uh, there's the location at Clinton and Burlington for the Music School. Uh, you see the aerial, the two banks that used to be there that are now gone. Big hole in the ground now. Um, here is the location then of the Visual Arts Building at, uh, on River Street, and here's an aerial with the building that has also since been demolished. Um, the ... the, uh, Visual Arts Building, uh, the rezoning is from, uh, RNS -20, Residential Neighborhood Stabilization 2P2. Uh, the, uh, Music School site's approximately an acre. The Visual Arts, uh, site is approximately a half -acre. Uh, are there any questions? Thank you. Hayek: Thanks, Jeff. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 9 Throgmorton: Jeff, I ... I do have one question. I think fairly obvious, maybe I don't understand quite a... a detail about the procedure. Constructions already underway... Davidson: Uh huh. Throgmorton: ... why are we getting the rezoning after construction was initiated? Davidson: Um, I ... I do not know the answer to that question, Jim, but it is simply to, um... basically make the zoning ordinance comply with the fact that the University now officially owns these properties. The ... the timing of it, I'm sorry, I can't ... can't tell you just exactly, and I ... I also wanted to emphasize, cause I think it's important that the University's been great with the Visual Arts Building, uh, and cooperating with the Manville Heights neighborhood in keeping the neighborhood informed, through Marcia of our office, keeping them informed of what's going on with that project. They've been really great to work with. Hayek: Thanks, Jeff! This is a public hearing on 6c. Is there anyone from the public? Okay. I will close the hearing at this time. (bangs gavel) 2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE Mims: Move first consideration. Dobyns: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by ... Dobyns. Discussion? Roll call, please. First consideration passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 10 ITEM 6d REZONING ON RIVER STREET FOR NEW ART SCHOOL — REZONING .54 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION RESIDENTIAL (RNS -20) ZONE TO INSTITUTIONAL PUBLIC (P -2) ZONE LOCATED AT 109 RIVER STREET (REZ13- 00027) (FIRST CONSIDERATION) 1. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: I'll open the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel) Is there anyone from the audience who would like to address the Council? Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel) 2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE Payne: Move first (both talking) Throgmorton: Move first consideration. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 11 ITEM 6e REZONING NCS PEARSON — REZONING APPROXIMATELY 49.5- ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM OFFICE RESEARCH PARK (ORP) ZONE TO RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PARK (RDP) ZONE LOCATED AT 2510 N. DODGE STREET. (REZ14- 00001) (FIRST CONSIDERATION) 1. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Davidson: Uh, here you see the location of the NCS property at the Dodge Street interchange with I -80. The rezoning before you from ORP to RDP is to avoid the creation of a non - conforming setback due to the proposed, uh, construction of Moss Road, and that, uh, road is scheduled for this upcoming construction season. I apologize. Somehow the aerial that got stuck in here does not show the location of the road, but basically the road will come in here, and then along the parking lots, right here is the setback in question. Uh, the, um, ORP zone, uh, requires a 150 -foot setback. That will not be met when the new road is put into this building here, uh, and then the road will come and uh ... hit the Moss property here, and of course we're trying to establish the new commercial office subdivision in this area. Um, the differences between the ORP zone and the RDP zone are minimal. Uh, basically the reason even for having the two separate zones are in terms of the character of the site. The ORP site, uh, the ORP zone requires greater lot sizes and greater setbacks than the RDP zone does. Otherwise the uses are almost exactly the same, so this was considered a satisfactory resolution of making sure that NCS's property is not non - conforming, uh, once the road is installed. So basically something that was worked out in conjunction with the road, uh, reconstruction. Uh, are there any, uh, questions? Payne: The property owner didn't have any issues with the change, because it doesn't (both talking) Davidson: Uh, my understanding, and the City Manager's been part of these discussions, is that this was satisfactory resolution of the issue for, uh ... uh, the, uh, for NCS, and they ... they are represented to night if you want to ask them directly. Markus: They are, uh, present, but my impression is is that they, um, after a lot of discussion with staff understood that this zoning district, uh, protected them, uh, and their uses much better than the current zoning. Davidson: Any further questions? Thank you. Hayek: Thanks, Jeff. Anyone from the public? Pugh: Good evening, uh, my name is Mike Pugh. I'm here to, uh, representing NCS Pearson. Uh, as Mr. Davidson indicated and ... and Mr. Markus indicated, um, the application is really a result of, uh, an effort to avoid a non - conforming setback This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 12 once Moss Ridge Road is ... is constructed. Uh, it's a ... resolution that was initially suggested by staff, uh, and after considerable review, uh, Pearson is in favor of it. Uh, we think this'll be a good change for Pearson. Um, Mr. Stabanow is here from, uh, Pearson; Miss Fornish is here from Hall & Hall Engineers; and any one of us'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you. Hayek: Thanks, Mike. Any questions from us? Anyone else from the audience? Okay, I'll close the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel) 2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE Mims: Move first consideration. Payne: Move (both talking) ... second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Dickens: Glad to see it move forward. Mims: Yes! Agreed! Hayek: Yep. Roll call, please. First consideration passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 13 ITEM 6h LEXINGTON GREEN — RESOLUTION APPROVING FINAL PLAT (SUB14- 00006) Davidson: Uh, you of course recall the (both talking) Hayek: Let's get it on the table first actually. Davidson: Oh, I'm sorry! Mims: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Davidson: All right, here's the location on Lexington. Uh, you see the for ... it was formerly one lot, uh, with a house on it, which has been demolished, and here are the three newly platted lots. Uh, the p ... final plat is in, uh ... uh, concurrence with a preliminary plat, and the recommendation is for approval. Any questions? Thank you. Hayek: Thanks, Jeff. Jim (mumbled) Throgmorton: See if there's anybody else. Hayek: Oh, yeah, is there anyone from the audience who wishes to speak to us on this? Okay, we'll ... close it down for Council deliberation. Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I'm just thinking I ought to recuse myself from this. I have a relationship with the attorney. She's been a ... the developer, she's been helping me revise my will. I...1, you know, if...if that's sufficient, I should recuse myself. Dulek: You certainly can recuse yourself. Throgmorton: I'll just ... I think I'll do that, just ... you know, for sake of...propriety! (laughs) Hayek: Just make sure we're in the will! (laughter) Throgmorton: Yeah, 20 bucks! (laughs) Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -0, uh, Throgmorton abstaining. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 14 ITEM 7. UNIVERCITY SALE, 1034 EAST BURLINGTON - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME LOCATED AT 1034 EAST BURLINGTON STREET. a. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) For the public's information, this regards the University's, or the City and University's neighborhood partnership program called, uh, UniverCity, and uh, this is the... the sprucing up of a property located at 1024 (sic) E. Burlington Street, and uh, the sale of it, uh, back into owner- occupancy, uh, for eligible, uh, individuals. Is there anyone from the public? Public hearing is closed. b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Dickens: Move the resolution. Dobyns: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Dobyns. (laughter) Yeah! Discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 15 ITEM 8. ANIMAL SHELTER CARE AND ADOPTION CENTER 2014 - APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTION CENTER 2014 PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. a. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Karr: Mr. Mayor, do you have the revised comment in front of you, the addition? Hayek: Yeah I do. But uh... Karr: Just noting that... Hayek: Yeah, there is a revised comment. The, uh ... estimated cost of the project is $2.7 million. This is going to be funded with FEMA money, uh ... uh, State and other local government money and GO bonds, as well as Foundation contributions. Is there anyone here from the public on this item? Okay, I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Mims: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Mims: Just happy to see it moving forward ... after so much time! Hayek: Yeah. Throgmorton: Me too! I'm very excited about it. Uh, I remember earlier conversations about how we could possibly work this out with various people and ... and we've managed to do it. So bravo to the staff, and bravo to the people in the Animal Shelter and other participating governmental units. It's a really good thing! Markus: Hooray for good bids! (laughter) Hayek: Yeah! (several talking) Oh, and I ... I congratulate the Foundation and the supporters of...of the organization. There ... there is private money involved and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 16 that's a great way to accomplish a task of this significance. Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 17 ITEM 9. OPERATING BUDGET AND MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM - PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2014, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2015, THE PROPOSED THREE -YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN FOR FY2014 — 2016, AND ALSO THE MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2018. a. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Bockenstedt: Good evening! My name is Dennis Bockenstedt. I'm the Finance Director for the City of Iowa City. Tonight is the public hearing for the fiscal year 2015 City Budget. Preparation for the fiscal year 2015 budget was consistent with the City's financial goals. It was also guided by the City Council's strategic plan priorities and it was focused on a balanced budget with controlled spending. The City's fiscal year 2015 financial goals include, number one, to prepare for the property tax shortfall resulting from the 2013 legislative changes. Two, to maintain the Moody's triple -A bond rating. Three, to maintain a competitive tax and fee environment; and four, to continue to achieve the GFOA awards for financial reporting and budget presentation. In order to prepare for the property tax shortfall that is expected, this budget creates an emergency reserve fund to help protect against sudden revenue shortfalls, pension and healthcare rate spikes, natural disaster and emergency funding needs, and other unforeseen financial emergencies. This budget maintains strong reserve and fund balance levels, and maintains sustainable fees and rates that sufficiently recover the cost of operations wherever feasible. Uh, this budget also continue to emphasize low debt levels and controlled spending. And you can see by the chart that the City's general obligation debt as a percentage of its legal debt limit continues its downward trend. In addition, the City's debt service payments have been reduced by 28.1% since fiscal year 2013. This has been accomplished through a combination of debt restructuring and early bond retirement strategies, and through the funding of capital projects with cash balances in lieu of bonded debt whenever possible. The City's fiscal year 2015 proposed property tax rate is $16.71 per $1,000 of taxable value, as a 10% decrease from last year and a 6.3% decline since fiscal year 2012. The City's proposed property tax rate will be the lowest city property tax rate in the last 10 years. In addition, we are continuing to explore opportunities for revenue diversification, such as the local option sales tax, or utility franchise fee increase. The City's fiscal year 2015 budget document will be submitted to the GFOA for the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. Uh, the City's received this award for both its fiscal year 2013 and 2014 budget documents. The City will also continue to participate in the GFOA Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting program. The City has received this award for 28 consecutive years. In addition, we are looking to continue our efforts to integrate performance measures and the strategic plan into the budget document. In addition to the City's financial goals, the budget was guided by the strategic plan priorities. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 18 Those priorities include fostering a more inclusive and sustainable city through commitment to healthy neighborhoods, a strong urban core, strategic economic development activities, a solid financial foundation, and enhanced communication and marketing. This budget continues investments in the residential housing stock, including UniverCity, GRIP, and targeted neighborhood investment programs. It continues investments in neighborhood parks, trails, and events, such as upgrades to the playground in Mercer Park, improvements to Willow Creek and Kiwanis Parks, continuation of the PIN grant and community event grant programs, uh, funding for LED streetlight conversions, and expanded ADA curb and ramp replacement program, and the elementary school recreational facility partnership with the School District. Uh, this budget also continues investments in the downtown and near - downtown areas, including the Riverfront Crossings redevelopment, removal of the North Treatment Plant, the Central Business District streetscape enhancements, uh, new parking ramp construction on Harrison Street, and Burlington corridor intersection (mumbled) at both Clinton and Madison Streets. Uh, the budget also includes strategic economic development activities, including an expanded micro - enterprise program, the Towncrest area redevelopment, the Moss Road office park development, uh, Riverside Drive streetscape improvements, and infrastructure investment in the First Avenue and Lower Muscatine corridor. The fiscal year 2015 budget also strives to maintain a solid financial foundation. This budget sustains strong fund balances with all major fund balances projected to remain stable. Uh, the budget includes revenue enhancements in both the Park and Rec, or in the Park and Rec programs, the Water funds, and the Refuse collection fund. This budget also creates an emergency reserve fund and an energy efficiency revolving loan fund. Uh, it also includes additional funding for marketing of human rights' programs and awareness, funding for redesigning of the City's web site, and marketing activities, and funding for the Fastrack and Diversity Focus organizations. The City's expenditures by fund type, expenditure budget for all City funds totals a little over $193 million. Uh, the City's governmental funds, which are primarily property tax supported and inter - governmental revenue supported have a budget of $117.3 million. Of those funds, it includes the City's, uh, primary operating fund, the General Fund, has a budget of $52.3 million. The City's debt service fund has a budget of $13.7 million. And the couple project funds total a little over $39 million. The enterprise funds are the City's business type funds that are operated like a business, and that would include the City's water and sewer funds, uh, those fund expenditures total $57.1 million. Overall, the FY2015 operating expenditure growth is 2.76% from last year, and the 2015 budget is considered a balanced budget with its projected revenues equal or exceeding its projected expenditures. In summary, proposed budget was guided by clear financial goals. Its priorities were determined by the City's strategic plan. Uh, we were focused on having a balanced budget with controlled spending, and the proposed property tax rate is $16.71 per $1,000 of taxable value, which was a 10 -cent reduction from last year. And that concludes my presentation. Hayek: Thank you, Dennis. Any questions for Dennis? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 19 Hayek: Thank you, Dennis. Any questions for Dennis? Mims: A big hearty thank you! (laughter and several responding) Bockenstedt: You're welcome. Hayek: Okay, I ... it's my understanding there are people, uh ... who may have an interest in addressing the Council during the public hearing. If so, now would be the time to step forward. Geerdes: Good evening, uh, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Greg Geerdes. I live at 890 Park Place in Iowa City, which is the Parkview Terrace neighborhood, immediately to the west of City Park. I'm here, I've been in front of you before on this issue, and I'm here again to express the neighborhood's ... disappointment with the continued presence of the emergency road which is in the capital budget, will connect the existing park roads, which serve Lower Park, with Normandy and our neighborhood. Um, when this idea was first proposed, it was represented to us as being an emergency access road, which could be used to get ambulances, fire trucks into the neighborhood to help people who may need assistance, or to assist for example the baseball crowd if there was summer storms that needed, um, people to leave in a hurry. Being reasonable people we had no objection to that and we still don't have any objection to that, but somewhere along the line, that plan sort of morphed into something far more like a city street, and that's sort of the status where it is now. We hear reports about, uh, Riverside Theater wanting a through street through there to cut down on traffic affecting its performances and things like that. Uh, and it's simply a bad idea to make that a street. Um, there's a lot of safety concerns, for example the baseball players are going to be right next to where this street is going to go. When you leave our neighborhood and need to access Park Road, that's a very... dangerous I don't think is an overstate word, uh, intersection because of the traffic coming from the east, which goes down the rather steep hill there and it's hard to see. Um, I think this is one of those situations where you should switch directions on this idea if you have any interest in it. Rather than budgeting the money and then getting the specifications, I would suggest that you don't budget any money until you see the specifications, because unless you do it that way, you're going to end up with a city street, which my sense is you folks didn't really anticipate that you were going to be getting, and the neighborhood certainly doesn't want! Um, we've tried to be good neighbors with the ongoing park renovations that have been going on. We appreciate them, things like the Ashton House. I think they are treasure waiting to happen for the City. Uh, we welcome the walkers that we see in the neighborhood. Uh, we welcome bicyclers that ... that are going to be, uh, using the new, uh, trail that's going to sort of cut the corner off when you get to the Park Road intersection. I think that's going to be a wonderful attribute to the city. All those uses however are going to be in conflict with a city street, if you increase traffic along that area and that's going to be the result of this, uh, project as it is ... contemplated. Um ... couple other points... you've got some financial This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 20 issues facing you. I think those are probably going to get worse before they get better. You need to prioritize things. I don't see this as being a high priority item. I think you've got more important things that you should be spending your money on. And lastly, I ... I couldn't help but make a few notes when the ... when the finance direc ... finance director was making his ... his fine overview presentation, and he pointed out that we're looking to build healthy neighborhoods and we're looking to focus on ... on some core parts of the city. We've got an extremely healthy neighborhood where we're at now. It's a very walkable neighborhood. It is a bicycle - friendly neighborhood. I challenge anyone to find a neighborhood which is not used by so many biking and... and fundraising walk sort of ac... endeavors, which we welcome! I ... I think they're wonderful. I think they liven up the place. They're... they're happy fun things to see! But all that gets ... gets dampened if you open up that street to traffic. So you gotta be extraordinarily careful on that. Um, and when you have financial projects that you want to focus on the core of the community, you know, City Park is about as core as you're gonna get when this ... with this community! It's a ... it's a jewel. It's one of those things where if you damage it you can't really repair it, so I would advise that you err on the side of preservation of that park and... discourage increase in traffic, rather than encourage an increase in traffic. Uh, those are my ... my remarks. Be very careful of this because it... it can cause some serious damage to the park, which we all enjoy, and certainly to our neighborhood, uh, and just go very slow and very cautiously, if you want to go at all. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you for the comments! Anyone else before I close the public hearing? Ozeroff: My name is Jon Ozeroff. I also live in Parkview Terrace and I'm, uh, appearing to basically second the previous speaker's comments. Um, I had a more specific question. As I have talked to the City engineer, I've gotten the impression that the idea of this, uh, emergency access road came about as specifically to, uh, assist in the final stages of the bridge construction ... of the Park Road, the new Park Road bridge, and that it was supposed to, uh, it was supposedly needed during the switchover from the old bridge to the new bridge. And that's when the original, the normal access to City Park, to Lower City Park, would be sh... temporarily shutdown. And so I, as I understood it, this road is ... is really, was really tied to the bridge construction. So my question is, uh, there is an old access road from Upper City Park to Lower City Park, which was put out of service in ...sometime in the 80s, but the road ... the road bed is still there and my question is, could that road be ... re ... repaved and used as the access to City Park during this construction, uh, period. Um, I did talk to a local paving estimator, and he thought it would run somewhere under $50,000 to ... to do that project. And I see that, from looking at the City budget that the ... the budget, uh, budgets $261,000 for the new road. So that would obviously be a pretty big savings. And that would be a six -inch concrete road, which would go right down from Upper City Park to Lower City Park. So that ... that was my question, if that ... if that had been considered, if that had been ruled out for some technical reason or if there wasn't a good reason to rule it out, if you ... uh, respectfully would consider that option. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 21 Hayek: Well we have staff here who probably could answer that question, um... Markus: Rick, why don't you come forward and attempt to address that. Ozeroff: Thank you. Hayek: Thank you, John. Fosse: Well there's... there's two components to the ... the need for that secondary access to the Lower City Park. Part of it has to do with the construction of the Gateway Project, and other parts have to do with long -term function of City Park, and I'll let Mike, the Parks and Rec Director, address those aspects of it. Uh, as part of the Gateway Project, um, Park Road will be reconstructed from the bridge, up through the intersection with Templin. And during that period of time, there'll be a period of about two months in which we won't be able to access the Lower City Park entrance. So if this project can be timed to precede the Gateway Project, that does provide an opportunity to keep access to Lower City Park and ... and continue its use. Uh, that old access that he talked about, uh, is ... is very steep. It goes off the end of Templin Road. I've ridden my bike on it. Dobyns: That's the gravel road that goes down to the tennis courts? Fosse: Yes. Yes, it is. And, uh, it will lead up to Templin Road, which, uh, will be affected by the same construction project that also will affect the Lower City Park entrance. So it'll be necessary to ... to go around the block to the ... to the west. You can still weave through the neighborhood and get through, uh, the question is do we want to rely on a ... on a grade that that ... is that steep for the access to Lower City Park during that period. Hayek: Thanks. Fosse: There was a reason they got away from that access. Hayek: Thanks, Rick. Fosse: Uh huh. Markus: Mr. Moran (both talking) Hayek: Mike, you want to ... come on up? Thank you! Moran: Uh, I would concur with that, that the steepness of that grade is only used, uh, in my tenure here we've used it once and that was during the ... the 08 flood, when we had to get into the park quick and ... and get out. Uh, other than that we don't use it for any other kind of purpose. Uh, the road bed is there and it was used as a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 22 sledding hill and other things way back in the day, 30 or 40 years ago, but it's... it's basically a non - usable road right now for us. Or trail or anything else. Markus: So, can you elaborate on what the other use would be for this roadway? Moran: Yeah, it was originally set up for, uh, purposes of transportation through the park, and another access point. Uh, a singular access, if you've ever been into City Park (clears throat) excuse me, if you've ever been into City Park during a tornado siren or during rain storm and you have all those kids and stuff at the ball parks, uh, you only have one point of entrance and exit into the park. And it... it seems like it would make sense to have a secondary access where you can, uh, leave the park in an orderly fashion instead of getting into a ... a delay because you're waiting to get access onto Park Road. Uh, we can do a lot of different things with that road, and make it usable for a lot of different activities. There hasn't been any plan developed for that yet, uh, the money has been allocated for it. Uh, in talks with the neighborhood, uh, they were adamantly against it, period, and so that's why we decided, well, we'll just come here and play it out in here and then see where we go from there, but we haven't done any research for any other kind of options for that at that point ... at this point in time. Markus: Uh, Mike, our conversation has been in the area of...beyond for the construction of the Gateway Project, that if...if in fact you were going to leave that road there and once you built that road you'd leave it in some fashion, but the understanding I think that, at least I have, is that it would be for emergency ingress and egress, in the case of a ... uh, a rapid evacuation of the park, and it seems to me that there's different techniques that you could use to make that happen, uh, but that hasn't gotten into the design phase. Is that the intent? (both talking) Moran: Yes. Markus: (both talking) ...affirmative... Moran: It would not be a full -time road, uh, concrete and asphalt, it could be a lot of different things. We just haven't explored any of that, but that's why it says it's an emergency access road. For just (both talking) Markus: ... and ... and the impression I get from the neighborhood is they do not want that to evolve into a ... a road, so that's why I'm asking you this question, to get you to state it on the record that that is the purpose of this. Moran: That's correct. I understand that ... that do not want a full -time road, and that's not what we're planning to do. Throgmorton: Def...definitely my understanding of all our prior conversations, emergency road not built to conventional street standards. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 23 Markus: He ... here's ... and here's part of the inherent conflict in what you just said. I think the road has to be built to some level of standard, um, even when, uh, one of the speakers talked about, um, getting estimates. They were talking about deep dip, uh, depth concrete, uh, for a roadway through there. If you're going to be running traffic for any period of time during the construction of the Gateway Project, it has to have some substantial characteristic to be able to carry that traffic. And I think once you make that kind of determination, then is it ... is it really wise then to pull that improvement out, uh ... I don't think it is necessarily. I think the ... the more important thing to do is to come up with some sort of reasonable device that ensures that it is only going to be used in emergency situations. I don't know how that it at this point, um, you know, to ... to make sure that that's the case. That to me has to be design element, and what I'm really trying to do here is to get that out publicly so that the public understands that that is what our intent is to do with that roadway. Hayek: Okay! Moran: Any other questions? Hayek: Thank you, Mike! Murphy: My name is Mary Murphy. I live at 890 Park Place and I do live in Parkview Terrace, and I would very much like to thank Mr. Markus for his comments. We appreciate him acknowledging that this should be an emergency access only. Um, and I wanted to mention a couple of other things that have not been mentioned yet. Certainly this had been represented to the neighbors as only an emergency access. For those of us that live in the neighborhood, there is already access being used via the bike trail, or that path that runs through City Park. During the nice weather, the park, um, vehicles, the trucks, routinely use that, uh, path, and I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say they use the bike path every day to mostly go out, but sometimes go in the park. So, certainly vehicles could be moved out of the park using the park paths, and also with regard to getting baseball traffic out quickly, there is a fair amount of parking in our neighborhood, both in the parking lot and on the street, so not all of the baseball traffic parks on the Park Road side of the City Park. A number of baseball cars do park at our end of the park in Parkview Terrace already. So you would certainly not be exiting that many people that way. With regard to, um, perhaps needing another entrance on the nights of the Shakespeare Festival, or the theater nights, I wouldn't want to say that it would be pure speculation as to whether or not traffic would actually decrease in front of the Shakespeare Theater because it could easily increase with another access, because people then might be coming through our neighborhood to go through and enter into City Park, and it may in fact increase the number of cars. I also wanted to point out that this was property that was bought out by FEMA. And because of that it was supposed to be deed restricted to green space in perpetuity. So we'd ask that you give that some consideration, as many of the neighbors have relied on the property remaining green space in perpetuity, and I This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 24 cannot emphasize enough how many walkers and pedestrians and even people in motorized wheelchairs currently enjoy our neighborhood, but most if...of them are actually using the street to enjoy our neighborhood rather than the sidewalks because the sidewalks are narrow and ... they're really not compatible with wheelchair use and certainly bikes aren't using the sidewalk, and most of the walkers, including myself when I walk my dog, we're using the streets. So, thank you very much. Hayek: Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING OPERATING BUDGET Dobyns: Move to adopt the operating budget. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Just want to... Throgmorton: On ... on the points that have been raised, I ... I believe it's a wise investment to, uh, to build an emergency access road there. Uh, I don't believe the, uh, the narrow bike lane would be appropriate, uh, as a way of getting people out quickly under emergency conditions. Uh, my sons played baseball there for a long, long time, six years in a row I guess, so certainly spent a lot of time down there. Uh, so I'm going to support that particular part of it, and I'm going to vote for the budget as a whole. Hayek: Uh, my comments are addressed at our operating budget, but also our ... our capital, uh, vote, which is the next item. I ... this is an excellent budget, and I've been doing ... this is now my seventh budget, and this is the best process I've... I've been through to date, and I credit staff, uh, for... for that, and we are applying precious tax dollars in furtherance of the strategic goals that the City Council, uh, came up with, uh, over the last several years, and this approach gives us a head - start on ... um, what, uh, those of us who study (laughs) municipal, uh, budget issues recognize is going to have to be a multi -year effort to, uh, mitigate the impact of a decline in State revenues, um ... caused by changes in the commercial tax, um ... uh, regime and uh, the apartment complex, uh, classifications. And, um, this is a serious matter for Iowa City, and we stand to lose upwards of $50 million over the next decade, um, because of these changes and this budget is the first step, uh, toward addressing that and it, uh, makes us more competitive, while also giving us a head start on, um, on ... on, uh, adopting, or adapting to, uh, these changes in...in revenue from, uh, Des Moines, and I think we will see in the years to come how much of a difference this budget and the ones I think, uh, that I think will follow, um, will make to ... to position us to ... to soften the blow of these changes, uh, and...and position ourselves to ... to be a ... a stronger community and so I...I applaud staff. Um, this ... this is an excellent budget. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 25 Mims: I have one question. Dennis. I think I know the answer but could you come ... can you tell me ... bonds that we are issuing now, what kind of an interest rate are we paying? Bockenstedt: Well, um, I believe our last issue had a 10 -year rate of about 1 1/2 %, um, but the market has ... has changed a lot in the past year. Um, over this past year the market has increased about 1% point so um, you know, we would expect to issue those bonds, probably in the 2 to 2 1/2% range this year. Mims: I ask the question because I want to make the point of how important our triple -A bond rating is. Um, I got a ... I work in the financial planning field, and I got a phone call yesterday from an individual who analyzes a lot of bonds for our clients, and they were asking about some bonds that were out there, um, from a municipality that does not share such a high bond rating as we have, and those bonds have a coupon of 5 1/4%. Right? If you think about the difference of what that entity is paying in interest on money that they borrow, at 5 1/4 % versus what we are paying at 1 1/2% right now, it is just phenomenal, and so it is so important and I think a lot of people don't necessarily understand why we keep emphasizing our triple -A bond rating, but it saves us so much money when we do borrow money, um, to have that triple -A bond rating. So thank you to you and to Tom and to staff and our past Councils and staffs for making this such a priority, because it's very important for us. So thank you! Hayek: That's an excellent point! Further discussion? Roll call, please. (mumbled) passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 26 ITEM 10. COMMUNITY EVENT FUNDING — RESOLUTION ALLOCATING THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PROGRAM FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2015. Mims: Move the resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Thank you to those who undertook this task. Mims: Yes! Hayek: It's ... nice to not have the Council spend so much time on what is really not a lot of money. Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 27 ITEM 11. CITY HALL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT HVAC REPLACEMENT 2014 - RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY HALL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT HVAC 2014 PROJECT. Payne: Move resolution. Dobyns: Second! Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Throgmorton: What's HVAC again? Mims: Heating, ventilating, air conditioning. (laughter) Hayek: Uh, and for the public's information, uh, Public Works and Engineering recommends awarding this contract to Day Mechanical Systems, Inc., out of Cedar Rapids. Uh, this project will be funded by general obligation bond proceeds and the bid was for $165,800. Further discussion? Roll call, please. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 28 ITEM 12. 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 AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO SUSPEND A LICENSE. (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Hayek: This is second consideration, but staff has requested expedited action. Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Yes, Alec! Bramel: I just want to say before letting this go through for expedited action, uh, I didn't mention it before but you had mentioned in your... in the previous, uh, Council meeting how we were concerned that no one had spoken on this, um, you know, no taxicab drivers per se, and uh, how the student population is a very, uh, big, uh, client population for the taxicabs. Um, I wanted to say that, um, after talking with some of, um, my executives and doing a little polling on my own, um, I found that uh, this issue was very much supported by the majority of the students I talked to. Urn ... uh, it was more, it was more so supported in light of recent events concerning the, uh, the sexual assaults, and whatnot on campus, um, but uh, in no way do I want to link, uh, that, um, concern with this issue, but uh, nonetheless, it is very important, uh, and so urn ... at least from the student body, um, what we see in this, uh, ordinance is ... is very rationale and makes a lot of sense, uh, for the safety and security, uh, of our citizens and the ... the student body here. So, um, I put my support behind it and thank you very much. Hayek: Thanks, Alec. Anyone else? Any Council discussion? Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... um, I'll support the collapse but I'll have something to say about the proposed amendments when we get to the main motion. Hayek: Okay. Further discussion? Roll call, please. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 29 Mims: I move the ordinance be finally adopted at this time. Payne: Second. Hayek: Pass and adopt moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Throgmorton: Yeah, in our last meeting I voted against the proposed changes and it's not so much because I oppose the changes themselves. Substantively. I ... I really had concerns about ... no offense to ... to Marian about the process, uh, by which the changes were proposed. So I did so for three specific reasons. First, as best I can tell, the staff did not consult with any relevant stakeholders, other than the owners of the taxi companies... when preparing the amendments. Diverse taxi riders, for example, as a stakeholder. Secondly, I also noted that a master student at the University had recently completed a thesis about taxi regulation nationwide, and in the U.S. Thanks to Marian, that abstract as I mentioned in a work session, the abstract, and the ... and the conclusions, are in our formal meeting packet. I think analyses like that should be taken into account when considering revisions to our taxi, uh, regulations. Lastly, I also said that I think taxi regulations should be completely rethought with... in relation to other modes of transportation. Why not get `em together in a ... in a packet, so to speak? A package, instead of having taxis regulated by the City Clerk's office. I really don't understand, other than historic ... for historical reasons why a transportation activity would be regulated by the City Clerk, and this has nothing to do with Marian as a person, obviously. (laughs) It has to do with, uh, you know, the structure of the whole thing. So in brief, I think the amendments themselves might be okay, but the structure and process that produced `em leaves much to be desired. Hayek: Well, Jim, I ... I guess I'd say I'm agnostic as to exactly what structure we impose over, uh, the taxi industry, whether it's at the City level or at a more regional level, and of course trans ... it's part of transportation, and I think you can make the case that it should be, uh, on a more regional level, but I want to make sure we're not moving the goal posts on staff on this, because as I recall from ... in years past, you know, we directed staff to ... to include the taxi community in connection with changes to policy, and I think they've done that. Um, and... and we can always direct `em to expand the target audience, but I think they've done what this Council and earlier Councils have indicated should be done in connection with, um, these regulations, and you know, it's like a water balloon. You squeeze it here and it pop ... you know, gets bigger over there, and there are always... tweaks to the ... to the taxi ordinance, uh, taxi ordinance that we have on the books and that's what we take up, it seems, every year or two. Throgmorton: May well be right but I'm gonna vote against it for the reasons I just articulated. Karr: Mr. Mayor, can I clarify one thing that I neglected to? Um ... a year ago with the revisions we also instituted a new complaint procedure with complaint cards and comment cards located in, required to be located in all taxicabs. Those complaint This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 30 cards do come through my office. So all of those comments received during the year were also taken into consideration in preparation, as well as the phone calls we received, um, from those who chose not to put it in writing. So I wanted to clarify those also were taken into consideration. Throgmorton: Yeah. Hayek: You know, and it's a balancing act! We ... we, you know, some people don't like that ... that the larger taxicabs or the ... the larger taxi companies are ... are viewed as trying to keep the little guys out of the industry and then we get criticized for not having enough regulation because we have problems, uh, with respect to driver/ client interaction, and so it's ... it's always a difficult balance, but ... um, I ... I think staff's done a good job. Throgmorton: Which is why diverse stakeholders ought to be involved in the process. Markus: Could I make just one observation? It seems to me that what Mr. Throgmorton is kind of introducing here is two things. One is about the regulation and the licensing, and the other is how taxis fit into a grander picture of transportation in the community, and I'm more interested at this point about how it fits into the transportation system, and the potential opportunities that that provides in looking at it kind of differently that way. I don't want to steer away from the way we currently regulate and what we regulate, but I do think that there is maybe another thought process that needs to be given to ... how taxis are integrated into our transit system, and so, um, with the Council's understanding, I'm going to ask, uh, Chris O'Brien to kind of take a look at that in terms of how that all fits together. Um ... you know, regulation and all that, I ... I think we try to do, you know, the best we can with the circumstances. Uh, I did read the report that the student had prepared, um ... but again, you know, we hear comments on a regular basis from our bus transit users about, you know, empty days or empty buses during certain parts of the day and, you know, we'd be cheaper off providing a voucher to let `em ride a taxi. I mean, that's... that's kind of a crude example of... of what we're talking about, but how does this all fit into the transportation system is at least worth talking about. (several talking) Payne: I ... I guess ... you have the right to vote no if you want to, but we just passed a $193 million budget, and the people that came and talked about it really weren't talking about the budget. They were talking about their specific issue. We didn't have any public comment... diverse public comment on that. You voted for it. I mean, you would vote no on everything if that was your... Throgmorton: You want to know why ... one reason I voted ... we ... we ... what we need is an alternative budget! You know, so that we can actually compare it against something. But, you know, our structure of governance has us defer to the City Manager, who's very expert at it, the staff is very expert. So, and we ... we saw all the presentations. We're in no position whatsoever to critique it, and ... and ... and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 31 there's... nobody in the public is either! There are all sorts of other cities around the world that have very participatory budget making processes. We don't because our structure of governance doesn't... doesn't, uh, enable it. It's not designed to do this. Payne: We have all ... we have public hearings. People have every opportunity because we have (both talking) Throgmorton: That's true. Payne: ....and people chose not to because (both talking) Throgmorton: That's true. Payne: I'm assuming because it doesn't... specific things don't matter. They come and talk when things matter ... when things matter to them! (laughs) Hayek: Well let's take a vote on this! Is there any other discussion on Item 12? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -1, Throgmorton in the negative. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Payne: So moved. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 32 ITEM 15. FILM SCENE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE - RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO BUDGET ANNUAL FUNDING FOR FILM SCENE FOR THREE FISCAL YEARS 2015, 2016, AND 2017. Payne: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Botchway: My only question on that one was, um, it didn't... Michelle, I think you brought up the question about the minimum wage increase. That never got answered. I don't know whether or not, uh, there was a question about, uh, it being $7.50 or $10.00 and just in case, you know, the minimum wage would change, how that would affect their budget or how that would affect their practices and that never got answered. I don't know whether or not it will get answered or ... and it...at the time it was said that, um, there wasn't any information on that, but I guess... (mumbled) information on that. Hayek: Sure ... if you want to come forward. Brodie: Hi, guys, I'm Andy Brodie, I'm the, uh, Co- Founder and Director of Film Scene. Um, so yeah, that question came up by Michelle at the Economic Development Committee hearing and um, we said we were planning to do some wage increases and certainly prepare if the minimum wage were to be increased. Our projectionists are already paid starting at $10.00 an hour. Our counter staff makes $7.50 an hour currently, plus tips. So, um, what some of this funding will help us do is increase our payroll and, you know, so ... does that answer your question or... Botchway: Yeah, it does (both talking) Brodie: We don't have any specific plans to increase that starting wage for all of our employees now, but I think it's something (both talking) Botchway: ...will help, at least you get to, I mean, get to that discussion (both talking) Brodie: ... certainly would help, yes. Yeah. Botchway: Sorry, I just didn't (mumbled) packet so I just wanted to ask to make sure. Brodie: Thanks! Hayek: Thanks, Andy! Well this was taken up at our Economic Development Committee, uh, and uh, we vetted it at that level and there was strong support from the three of us who serve on that committee, as I recall. Any further This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 33 discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. And we wish Film Scene the best of luck! Mims: Yes! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 34 ITEM 18. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Hayek: Why don't we start down with you, Rick. Dobyns: Hey, Michelle, you like, uh, we both watch Daily Show on, uh, the Comedy Channel. If you'da watched in February, you would have seen a story about Coralville, but if you had watched 30 minutes later, the Colbert Report, which I know you love, you would have seen Iowa City's own Bridgette Carney, graduate of Horn Elementary, West High School, who is the lead bass on an up and coming band called Lake Street Dive, um, they were on Dave Letterman only a couple weeks after that, and while we can't go, but two weeks during this meeting, three weeks, on March 25th, Bridgette and Lake Street Dive are going to be at the Englert Theatre, so go watch that up and coming band in three weeks! Instead of watching us! (laughter) Payne: Wow! (laughs) Cool! I can't beat that! Hayek: It sounded like you guys had practiced this two - person (several laughing and talking) Payne: He didn't let me get a word in edgewise! (laughter) Throgmorton: I think he did rehearse it. Dickens: I think he did! Botchway: Sounds like a great thing though! (several talking) Payne: I don't have anything. Hayek: (mumbled) Dumbfounded, aren't ya? (laughs) Dickens: I'd just like to reiterate the Englert's such a great place. I miss getting to go to Frogs tonight. All my grandkids and my wife are there right now. It should be probably over, but uh, and there is a show tomorrow night. I think Sharon Jones, and I do have tickets for that. So that grown -ups get to go there too so (laughter) looking forward to that. Mims: I would just like to thank ... there was a nice letter, uh, in the newspaper the other day, um, and I would just like to, you know, emphasize again, support for all the people, City staff and others who are out there having to work in this, uh, incredibly, snowy winter. Uh, whether it be our City staff members or Postal people, whoever, um, just this week we had a, I think five water main breaks on one day, two of `em were at the end of my street. They got one repaired evidently, and then 10 minutes later they said another one ... it broke like 10 feet down, and just, you know, I just can't imagine being out there in that, you know, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 35 single -digit or below zero weather having to do water main repairs and I stopped and talked to `em afterwards, I was on my way home and they were finishing up, and the guys were just so friendly and smiles on their faces and I'm like ... this guy's gotta be crazy (laughs) but really just ... I really want to say thanks, especially to City staff out there in this incredibly cold weather, whether it's picking up the trash or whatever, so thanks for all their hard work. Throgmorton: Here, here! Hayek: Anything else? Throgmorton: I don't know if I can top that but I want to, uh, draw attention to our City Manager's very excellent beard (laughter) (mumbled) Botchway: I was going to do that! (laughter and several talking) Throgmorton: Aw! Well you'll get it ... you'll get your opportunity, but I also, uh, had ... wanted to say that last... in our last, uh, meeting I told you I was going to Tacoma, Washington for a, uh, a forum titled "Beyond Urban Branding," and I was invited in my role as a retired professor over at the University, not because I'm on the City Council, uh, and so I wanted to give you a little feedback about that. The ... the event was held in the University of Washington at Tacoma's campus, which is in the heart of downtown Tacoma. I was talking with Nancy Bird about this just a little while ago, cause she knows it very well. Uh, the campus is a beautiful, uh,, example of very high quality urban design that involved, uh, preservation of older buildings, the insertion of a few new buildings in the ... the network of older buildings, uh, and the event itself was held in a street ... a storefront kind of fac... structure. In other words, the first floor of one of the new inserted buildings, with the windows open to the public so that, uh, you know, if they wanted to they could come walking by and looked in and seen the forum underway. There were 300 people there. The speakers were, uh, from Chattanooga, from Tom's old haunt, uh, Detroit; from Cleveland, from Iowa City, uh, and uh, from uh, another town, I've forgotten where the other one is. One of the key speakers was a fellow named Ken Greenberg and I was talking with Bret about Ken Greenberg earlier, he recognizes him. He's a very well known urban designer. So, uh, Ken made a great presentation about the importance of high quality urban design, uh, in developing high quality places and high quality streetscapes. A lot of his ideas are expressed in this book, and maybe the camera can draw attention to it cause I promised Ken Berg... Greenberg I'd do this. He... he wrote this book about two and a half years ago, it's called Walking Home, the Life and Lessons of a City Builder. It's a really excellent book. I'm about, you know, that far into it, but, uh, he does a great job in this piece of work explaining how he developed the expertise that enabled him to work in St. Paul, to be the urban design ... the leader of the Urban Design Unit in Toronto, Ontario for, I don't know, a decade and a half. He studied under... or worked with Jane Jacobs who's probably one of the best known urban, um, analysts that's ever lived in the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 36 United States and so on. Anyhow, it was absolutely superb forum. I was really lucky to be able to participate in it, and uh, I really benefitted from meeting Ken and uh, the various other people who spoke there. Botchway: I have two comments. One, going back to the beard, it looks very Indiana Jones'esque (laughter) so please keep it! Every time I look over there it makes me think I'm a huge Indiana Jones fan! (laughter) Um, secondly, just with the Special Olympics that were here, uh, today. If you can, I think she talked about it being, uh, next week, if you can `pack it,' uh, pack the Fieldhouse, pack, um, you know, the different venues, um, as much as you would pack, you know, an Iowa football game. I know that's kind of crazy, but um, they would love it. I used to work with a lot of people who, um, participated in the Special Olympics and you know it..it'd be huge to see you know just anybody and everybody out kind of supporting the event. Um, and one of the ladies who were actually up here, I won't say her name, she actually knows so much basketball information I think she would rival Fran McCaffrey. I mean, it's that ... it's that serious, um (several talking) Markus: How `bout Fran's wife? (laughter) Botchway: Possibly, possibly! I'm surprised she didn't spout off, um, but I think that's because Matt didn't even ask any questions or bring up Iowa at all, and so that's a good thing but uh ... yeah, so please try and support and get out there and uh, you know, give `em a couple cheers! Throgmorton: Just want to say, Fran's wife is a Notre Dame grad. Go Irish! (laughter) Hayek: Uh, Mission Creek Music Festival is around the corner. It's the first six days of April. It is an incredible gathering of musicians and, uh, giants in the literature and film and... and other areas of our local ... local arts and culture scene. Go to Missionfreak.com for your tickets. You will not regret it! So ... that's all I've got! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014. Page 37 ITEM 19. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF. a) City Manager. Hayek: Uh, Mr. Scruffy over there! Markus: Yeah! Um, the Crisis Center has a program that they run every year. It's called the "Spread the Love" program. And I wanted you to know that besides a very dedicated staff of employees, they're very generous! Um, the employees here donated 139 jars of peanut butter, and 95 jars of bottles, uh, of jelly, uh, to that program. And the other thing I wanted to mention to you is we completed our United Way Iowa, uh, shares, uh, fundraising campaign for this year, and we raised, uh, over $50,000 (several responding) amongst our employees, which set a new record, and Jeff Davidson was our ... our United Way leader, along with, uh, Tracy Robinson and Karen Jennings. So I wanted you (several talking) Mims: Very good! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 4, 2014.