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ITEM 2. STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS — Lemme Elementary
Hayek: Would the students from Lemme Elementary please come forward!
Karr: Right over here (mumbled) Uh huh! Thank you!
Hayek: Hi guys, how ya doing? Welcome to City Hall! I'm Mayor Matt Hayek and this
is your City Council behind you. Have you ever been down to City Hall before?
Pretty exciting place, let me tell ya! (laughter) Well we're really, uh, really glad
to have you here and ... and just so you have an idea of what we do, throughout the
school year we invite, uh, schools in the Iowa City elementary system to, uh,
nominate leaders, uh, from each school to come down to City Hall and get an
award from us and talk to us a little bit about what ... what they're up to, and it's
an opportunity for us to show off to the whole community, uh, our great students,
and so we're really glad you're here and then ... I've got an award that I'll read,
but first I'd like to hear from you, and so ... I see you've each brought a piece of
paper, so that's the first step! Why don't I hand the microphone to you!
McLaughlin: Hello, my name is Mark McLaughlin and this is what citizenship means to me.
Citizenship is where you go out of your way and do more for your school and
community than is expected. For example ... for example, citizenship is helping
out other kids without being asked by an adult. Citizenship is actively
participating in school events and doing more service projects than required for
your community. I am very grateful that my classmates and teachers have
selected me to receive this award. Thank you for your time. (applause)
Surom: Hello, my name is Sophia Surom. What is citizenship? Is it trying to be the best
at everything? Is it trying to be the smartest in class? Or is it doing something
because you have to? No, it's helping your community, school, and the earth.
Some people may not know this, but picking up trash and either throwing it away
or recycling it is being a good citizen. So is helping your elderly neighbor mow
their lawn. So whenever I help someone, I get this feeling that lets me know I've
done something right and hopefully you do too. Thank you. (applause)
Wilson: Hi, my name is Avery Wilson. I think that a good citizen is someone who cares
about the well -being of themselves and others, is constantly trying to make the
community a better place to be, and is always willing to help someone in need.
I'd like to thank my parents, teachers, and classmates for helping me become a
good citizen and thinking that I possess some of these qualities. I'd like to
continue to show good citizenship throughout my life. Thank you. (applause)
Hayek: Well those are really great, and you talk about citizenship and ... and one of the
reasons we bring you down here is to show the community that citizenship starts
at a really young age. You don't have to be just an adult to be a citizen and serve
your community. You can start at your age, and you're clearly doing that, and the
fact that your school selected you to be here shows us that you're really leaders
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in... in, at Lemme, and for the whole district, and... so we're glad you're here,
we're glad your parents and teachers and... and others are here. Um, and uh, is
that a McClaughlin out there? Are you a McClaughlin? I went to school with
your dad, and your grandfather taught me Algebra (laughter) and he never had a
sick day, as I recall, in all of his years. Maybe one ... three! Three in like 45
years. (laughter) Anyway, I digress! It's really great to have you guys here.
Um, and ... and you ... you're an example for all of us and your parents and
teachers and the other people, uh, in your lives who ... who support you should be
thanked as well. So what we have is a Citizenship Award and there's one for
each of you and it reads as follows: For his or her outstanding qualities of
leadership within Lemme Elementary, 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, May 2014. So (mumbled) and Avery, and let me shake
your hands and congratulate you. Thanks for coming down and congratulations
on this award. Take care! (applause)
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ITEM 3. PROCLAMATIONS.
ITEM 3a Bicycle Month — May
Hayek: Okay, we have three proclamations this evening. Uh, the first is for Bicycle
Month. It reads as follows (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Anne Duggan, representing Think Bikes and
Bike to Work Committee. (applause)
Hayek: Hi, Anne!
Duggan: Hi.
Hayek: Congratulations! Thanks for being here!
Duggan: Thank you.
Karr: Anne, you can use the steps if you'd like to use the podium.
Duggan: Well, first of all thank you and uh ... I, uh, am here in the capacity as President of
Think Bicycles, which is a coalition of, uh, bike shops, organizations, and
individuals. We s ... all together we seek to foster and expand all aspects of
cycling in our community. I want to thank Mayor Hayek, all the City Councilors,
City staff for your long- standing support of bicycling, and I am honored to accept
this. I'm also a Member of the Board and the Steering Committee and a volunteer
at the Iowa City Bike Library. I organize really fun a twice - monthly shop night,
led by women for people who may not know how to fix their bicycles and would
like to learn in a nice, non - threatening, well- equipped spot. Um, I know all of
you are familiar with Bike to Work Week, uh, which unofficially starts on
Saturday at the Bike Library. We're having a garage sale at ... in the parking lot
right next to it, and under the premise of the perfect number of bicycles is one
more than you actually have. We'll be selling bicycles, frames, parts, and uh,
everything else that we can get out the door and sell. Our official events start on
Monday morning with a commuter breakfast. We have our, uh, and at noon, three
...three elected officials will participate in the, uh, bus ... bike, bus, car race,
including Councilor Throgmorton who will ride his bicycle to the Coralville
Public Library, load it on a bus, and see how long it takes him to get here. Um,
and then on Wednesday after work, Councilor Susan Mims will launch our Old Pi
to New Pi ride, which is a nice family -fun ride. I hope you can ride, as well!
And, uh, the Coralville Mayor John Lundell will greet us at the new New Pi.
There's a listing of all the events on, uh, the thinkbicycles.org web site. Uh, this
has been a great spring so far. The last couple days at least, and uh, I... and I see
many more bicyclists on the road every day. I am actually a person who cycles
year- round. I don't always like it, but I do it, uh, but I'm glad to see more people
on the road. But, uh, for the ... and ... and for that reason, I like to get more
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bicycles out and so the all- volunteer Bike Library is a... a big part of my life for
this reason, and I'd like to close by throwing you a few facts, uh, about the Bike
Library. We checked out our first bikes 10 years ago, in a corner of the Farmers
Market. We've been, uh, we're now housed in the old Wilson Sporting Goods,
which is getting older by the minute. We share with a number of small livestock
but ... (laughter) we all get along very well. Um, we ... to date, we have
reconditioned and checked out more than 1,300 bikes, of which one -third to one-
half go back out. Uh, and uh, in 2013, Bike Library volunteers checked out 248
bikes, 143 of them were newly reconditioned last year. Our 100% volunteer
organization is powered by individuals who collectively donated well over 3,000
hours. In 2013, the Bike Library recycled 1,400 pounds of rubber, more than
3,300 pounds of metal, and passed along 150 bikes to Working Bikes of Chicago,
a non - profit that donates them to people in developing countries who desperately
need transportation to work and school. Thank you very much for supporting
bicycling in our community.
Hayek: Thanks for what you do. (applause)
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ITEM 3. PROCLAMATIONS.
ITEM 3b Project GREEN Day — May 10
Hayek: The next proclamation is for Project GREEN Day. It reads as follows. (reads
proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation are Co- Presidents Diane Allen and Cindy
Parsons. (applause)
Hayek: Thank you (mumbled) Thanks for being here!
Parsons: I'm Cindy. I'll just say a few words, um, you heard about our plant sale on
Saturday, which is our big event of the year. Kind of our biggest fundraiser.
We'll have thousands of plants and you don't have to be there right at 9:00 to get
something good. You can, uh, come at the end. There's lots for everyone, and
um, as the Mayor mentioned, our newest project that we're very excited about is
working at the Ned Ashton House in the gardens down there, and we're just... it's
definitely going to be a work in progress. Um, we've already started the cleanup,
and I have the poison ivy to show for it! (laughter) So, um, stay tuned on that,
but we ... we have a wonderful relationship with the City and the Parks and
Recreation Department and we are very thankful for all your support!
Hayek: And thank you for what you do! (applause)
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ITEM 3. PROCLAMATIONS.
ITEM 3c Dottie Ray Day — May 13
Hayek: Last, but certainly not least, we have a proclamation for Dottie Ray. (reads
proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Dottie's daughter Amy Kannellis and
representing KXIC Clear Channel Media, Jay Capron. (applause)
Hayek: Thanks for coming!
Karr: Matt, can we... (both talking)
Hayek: ... come around. Oh golly! (laughter) (unable to hear person away from mic)
Dickens: No White Sox hats though! (laughter and several speaking away from mic)
(applause)
Capron: And I just want to say a quick word, um ... I've been at KXIC for three and a half
years and one of the first people I met was Dottie Ray, and just absolutely amazed
at the impact she's had over the ... the course of the years. I just talked to someone
who was on the ... the birthday club and uh, older Iowa Citians might remember
the birthday club where she would have, uh, a little ice cream social for little kids
on their birthdays and it ... to think about someone who's been in media, in local
media, for that long. In fact she worked for the Daily Iowan on D -Day, and she
was out on the street yelling, "Extra, extra!" in downtown Iowa City. You think
about that, and over the course of the years how many people she's interviewed
and you ... it's immeasurable how much of an impact she's had just by talking to
people, getting the word out about community events, it's ... it truly is amazing
and we're ... we're sad that she's going to be ... she's going to be hanging up the
microphone, but as you mentioned and ... and proclaimed, May 13th is Dottie Ray
Day and uh, I'll be interviewing Dottie for one last program for an hour and we're
gonna go back through the years, and I think it's going to be a great opportunity
for her to talk about her life and, uh, we'll all celebrate together. So I hope
everyone tunes in on, uh, May 13th at 8:45, her normal time, and uh, I'll have a
nice cup of coffee and I'll probably leave with a pen, just like everyone else does
(laughter) so ... all right, so thank you very much! (several responding) (applause)
Hayek: Well I'm sure some of us, uh, are included in that 32,000 number. I know I was
in her home once. Unforgettable!
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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 is not on this evening's agenda that you would like to bring to our attention
we invite you to come forward. We ask that you sign in, verbally give us your
name, and to please limit your comments to five minutes.
Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt. And, um, I'm here about community. I believe in
community. I don't have to like whoever's running or whatever they're doing,
and I wanted to thank you for the shelter, but the problem with the shelter, the
shelter in front of Aldi's, it only has three sides and no bench. It needs at least
three and three- quarter size... sides in order to hold the weather out, and with the
three sides that it has, even though it's bolted to the ground. It's a wonderful
location. It's not stable! So there has to be another side, and a bench! And if you
can't put a bench in there, get one of the park benches and put a park bench in
there. Because it's not fair to the handicapped to have to stand there. You never
know when the bus is coming. The bus doesn't always keep its schedule.
Because the bus company lets the people sit down. Sometimes you have to strap
people in wheelchairs. There has to be some kind of provisions for people to sit
down. And ... I'm here too to talk about License and Inspection. You cannot have
substandard housing without the cooperation of License and Inspection. Because
I had a young friend. She calls me ... she tells me about all the mold and mildew
in her apartment. She called the landlord. He gave her a spray bottle, and she
says, "What can I do with this ?" She said, "I'm moving." So she ... I told her call
License and Inspection every day till somebody calls you back. I don't think
anybody ever called her back, but the landlord finally decided to send some heavy
equipment to dig up the foundation to see where the crack is. So, that's... that's it
for License and Inspection. And I want to talk about SEATS. I think if the
Senior Center can have an Ad Hoc Committee, SEATS should be revisited.
Because SEATS was treated like a rape victim. One of the ... the frat boys — I'm
calling em a frat boy and I mean it, and I'm ... I'm telling you, the way he came
down to the Center from the Johnson County Supervisor and bragged about how
he cut the funding for SEATS, and the one who led the fight for cutting the
funding for SEATS is running again for another Supervisor! I voted for her
because she was different. Now I see she's just the same! So if you're gonna
have an Ad Hoc Committee, what happened? It seemed to have something to do
with Iowa City funding the Animal Shelter, but that's the animals. I'm talking
about disabled people and I'm talking about they hadn't got a raise... Social
Security didn't give us a raise for two or three years. I can't even remember.
And when you got the raise, your rent went up because most of the disabled live
in subsidized housing, so the rent went up! The food stamps went down. So
where do these people have the extra money? And let... and before I go on with
that, uh, SEATS, I receive no subsidies for SEATS. I pay the whole rate. I've
received no subsidy for rent. I pay market rate. So that the messenger is not here
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begging for herself. I'm just here to tell you what's going on, and I see you have,
uh, the funding for the Senior Center. The same person came here bragging about
why the funding went down. He claims they used to get $70,000, but it's their
fault because it got reduced to $59,000. Now I want to know, and then the person
at the meeting says, `Oh, he was lying!' Hey! If he was lying, face him down
and tell `em he's lying! His position on the County in Johnson County, depends
on the voters. So if the ... if an elected official comes to you and lies, it's up to
you to get him, and the way he talked about SEATS is the way you talk about a
rape victim. He ... he, in other words, what happened is this bitch, this whore, well
who cares about her? Her words don't matter, and this is exactly the way SEATS
was treated, and I think that's wrong! Because community doesn't call for that,
and to get the weakest people in the community and cut off what little they have,
and ... I guess that's all I want to talk about. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Ross: My thanks to the Council for, uh, for Bicycle Week. I think that's great!
Uh ... Bike to Work Week. Make it Bike to Work Year! Uh, what I have is, uh,
for you tonight is a concern about, uh, environmental issues and on the City
Council, actually, uh, there are a few people who have ... who have done things
directly to help the, uh, the environment, which, uh, which I'm happy, uh, to say
and uh, Rick Dobyns, Councilor, has, uh, worked on the, uh, smoking ordinance
and uh... Jim Throgmorton actually 20 years ago, although you know, he can't be
much more than 40, he actually, uh, was one of the people on the Council who,
uh, proposed a new ordinance to, uh, ban pesticides, lawn chemicals, in areas, uh,
that were sensitive in Iowa City. And uh ... and I would like to just address a few
points regardingly, uh, from some information from Beyond Pesticides, uh, which
should concern us. Of the 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 13, uh, are
probable or possible carcinogens; 14 are associated with birth defects; 18 with
reproductive effects, such as reduced sperm counts or infer ... tility. 20 with liver
or kidney damage; 18 can cause neurotoxicity, which impairs the central and /or
peripheral nervous system, resulting in the range of problems from the ability to
learn to chronic fatigue. Eleven suspected endocrine disruptors. Two, children,
uh, take in more pesticides relative to body weight than adults and are less able to
detoxify these chemicals. Three, a child in a household using home and garden
pesticides has a higher risk of developing leukemia by more than six times. Four,
exposure to herbicides before the age of one is linked to four -fold increase in
childhood asthma. Five, suburban lawns and garden use, uh, use ... they use more
pesticides per acre than agriculture. Six, lawn and landscape pesticides drift, uh,
can be tracked into homes, where they are inhaled and ... and ingested, and can
remain for up to a whole year, and these are people who clean their houses! Uh,
seven, dogs exposed to herbicide treated grass, such as 24d and other, uh, weed
killers have increased risk of bladder cancer and lymphoma from two to seven
times respectively. Eight, of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 17 have been
detected in ground water; 23 can leach into ground water; 16 are toxic to birds; 24
to fish and aquatic organisms; and 11 to bees. Uh, 11 may disrupt the hormonal
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system in wildlife. Again, I said children are more vulnerable than adults. They
are smaller. They eat and drink more per pound. They are still developing, and
have behaviors that put them at risk, uh, playing on the grass, uh, you know,
touching their mouths to ... you know, going through their skin and things like
that. EPA registered does not equal safety. Environmental Protection Agency is
the first to say that registration of pesticide does not mean it is "safe." EPA
recommends people avoid all pesticides, when possible. All studies provided to
the agency for registration of pesticide are submitted by the manufacturers.
Remember the smoking industry? Remember all the reports we got that smoking
was not ... that was not of, uh, unhealthy for us? Same situation. Uh, and they
have their own interests. EPA uses a risk - benefit approach that subjectively pits
economic benefits of a pesticide against the potential harm. I will say this, again,
20 years ago we tried to ban these chemicals, uh, in sensitive areas only in, uh, in
our town. Uh, in Canada, starting in 2011, 171 municipalities, including the
entire provinces of Quebec and Ontario, that's 80% of Canada's population,
placed bans on cosmetic use of synthetic lawn pesticides and herbicides. The
most common ones, about 95 of them, and most recently in 2013 in Washington,
D.C. Tacoma Park, uh, they also banned, uh, these chemicals. The United States
has, uh, cities and towns that do ban these things. I will say just a few things, uh,
else, um ... the ... just like with the no smoking ordinances, uh, these chemicals
don't stop, — they drift. So basically, uh, our rights as citizens, uh, who live in
this town to not go through this town and have these things about is ... is a ... is
basically health, uh, question and a... and a right, uh, for safety. I will bring up,
uh, a few points that basically, my wife and I know 10 women in Iowa City, uh,
who have breast cancer. Uh, their ages from 32, uh, to the 50s. Three in their
30s, four in their 40s, and then in their 50s. Just ourselves! Uh, when I was a kid,
I grew up in inner -city. I didn't know one person. None of my parent's, uh, none
of my grandparents, great uncles, friends' parents, adults or anything had breast
cancer.
Hayek: Brandon, you're going to need to finish (both talking)
Ross: Thank you! I'm sorry!
Hayek: ...you're five minutes are up.
Ross: I appreciate that. So, what I am saying to you, is I am appealing to you, much like
with the bicycle ordinance, uh, and uh, and those kind of things, the no smoking
ordinance, and respect to the Council's actions over the past 20 years. To please
consider coming back to this issue. Thank you so much, uh, for your time and
patience.
Hayek: Thank you. Anyone else?
Norbeck: Hi, my name is Martha Norbeck, 906 S. 7th Avenue. And I just wanted to point
out that on your Consent agenda this evening, Item 4d(12), uh, pertained to
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Fiberight and approving a 20 ... up to a $20,000 appropriated for, um, hiring a
consultant to evaluate that option. Um, I'm a little confused about this, that it
went on the Consent agenda and that this wasn't open for public comment. That
concerns me. That's a big chunk of change and are these people the right people
to do this evaluation. Are we even going to do the evaluation at this point? So I
did want to daylight that Consent item that you approved this evening. Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. Anyone else before we move out of community
comment?
Sweeting: My name is Carol Sweeting and I live at 435 Peterson Street, and I'm here tonight
because recently I understood that Elder Services funding, um, was cut
significantly, um, from about $48,000 to about $11...$11,000 annually. And I'm
concerned. I want everyone to think about the fact that right now we're healthy.
Hayek: Hey, Carol, I'm going to interrupt you cause actually that's on the agenda (both
talking)
Sweeting: Oh, so I can't talk about it (both talking)
Hayek: ...yeah, and I know there are other people here who are probably going to address
the Council, so if I could ask you to ... wait for that? (both talking)
Sweeting: ...I'm sorry!
Hayek: ...it's under the Aid to Agencies. Thanks! Is there anyone else on community
comment? So if...something that's not on the agenda this evening. Okay. All
right, we'll move on to Item 6, Planning and Zoning Matters.
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ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
ITEM 6a RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS FORM BASED CODE —
ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14: ZONING, ADDING ARTICLE 14-
2G, RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS FORM -BASED DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS, AND AMENDING OTHER ASSOCIATED PARTS OF
TITLE 14 TO INTEGRATE THE FORM BASED CODE.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: I'm going to reopen the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel) So if there's
anyone from the public who wishes to speak on the form -based code proposal
... invite you to step forward.
Park: Hi, Jiyun Park, 20 Rocky Shore Drive. Um, I wanted to just make, um, comments
regarding the form -based code, and if, um, first of all thank you for serving Iowa
City. It's, um ... encouraging, the biking, the sustainability, all the directions that I
think the City is making, and as you move forward to potentially double in size,
there's a lot of growth potential it seems. Um, every other city, um, throughout
the world, so many other cities — not every other city, but every major city and so
many other cities have doubled their size in the past 30 years and Iowa City has
surprisingly, um, not yet doubled, but there's this 25% growth that's happening.
So as you grow, I was just ... hoping that, urn ... like Boulder and other cities that
are really desirable and destinations and places where there's a lot of growth,
economic growth, with entrepreneurship and the next generation of growth, like
the 40 and under growth, that some of the things that appeal to that particular
generation are issues of sustainability, um, the bikability, walkability, but also
issues of set - backs, cellar access, um, neighborhoods, walkability, bikability, and
also proportioned. So, I'm a design architect and, um, one of the single most
things that makes cities beautiful and makes cities, um, sort of more intimate with
the forces of nature, which is kind of a (mumbled) sustainability is proportion. So
in the code, if it could be written, much like it is in Boulder and other cities, to,
um, include proportion. So that ensures that if you have a neighborhood, um, or a
city like Iowa City which is predominantly two to three stories, or six to eight
stories at its maximum height, that you're not sort of then juxtaposing, um, 14, 15,
16 story buildings next to those buildings without ample green space or breadth.
So things are done in proportion. Um ... so, urn ... there's this, um, mathematical
equation called the Fibonacci Series and that's the number that's found in nature,
and it's a sublime and beautiful number, and you can apply it to practically
anything. So it's kind of a sustainable number, but it's ... if it could somehow be
written into the code in the way that Boulder has written into the code. Boulder
has one of the largest growing entrepreneurial communities, um, in the United
States, and those entrepreneurs create jobs and res ... they retain and attain really
attractive, um, communities that then sort of make their communities... better, and
I just want you to please think about the next generation coming forward and what
their future will be like because there's going to be a radical shift, just like
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19... 14, when you went from horse and carriage to planes, trains, and
automobiles. The next ... we're at 2014, and the next 100 years is going to show
you the most radical change we can possibly imagine, in terms of our technology,
in terms of our human consciousness, in terms of how we live on this planet. So
for the kiddos coming down the ... you know, way who will sit here 100 years
from now when I'm, you know, six foot under, please sustainability is really
like... you're already doing it so thank you, but keep doing it. Nicholas Benson,
you know, there's just so many organizations if you could please keep supporting
them through codes and through whatever, um, civic possibilities. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you!
Welsh: My name is Bob Welsh, 84 Penfro. Mayor and Members of the City Council,
City Manager, and members of the staff, I have read, uh, Doug's, uh, memo to
you in answer to concern question 17. When I read it I found myself saying,
"Hey, good! Uh, you don't have anything to say to the Council." And then I read
`in these limited instances,' and I thought, "Gee, limited instances. Why do I
object to that ?" And then I remembered, the pictures that we saw at your last
meeting, steps... steps. Next picture, steps, steps. Barriers, barriers. Uh ... not
limited instances. Uh, goes on it says, may not be possible, practical, affordable.
Uh ... putting in a wrap like this at the time of building and while the steps are
being poured, is not that expensive. Doing it later is. My hope is that there are at
least hopefully all seven of you (mumbled) at least four of you that will say,
"Hey, yeah, if something is not possible, then exempt it. Don't require a front
door accessibility." But if it's possible... then do it! Uh ... it's not only a
goal ... that, uh, is a worthy goal that shouldn't be discouraged. It's one that
should be implemented. Uh, as I said at your last meeting, please don't make
elderly, the disabled back -door citizens. Even in limited cases, except if it is not
possible. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Norbeck: Hi! Um, Martha Norbeck again, and uh, first of all I want to say that, um, in a
way it's great that there's so few people to talk about the form -based code. Uh, I
read it and I... and I looked at the plans and I am very excited about what this
means for the development of Iowa City. I think it's going to promote some
excellent opportunities for walkable neighborhoods, open up opportunities for
increased bikability, and also increase the possibility of students being able to
come here, live their lives, and live car -free, and other people to live car -free, and
that's sort of the direction we want to go, and those are fan ... fantastic things, and
I think it's going to be a great economic opportunity for the City as well. So
thank you for supporting the form -based code, and on that front, um, I wanted to
talk about one particular provision, which is on page 94, which is the provision
for the, uh, bonus height for, uh, LEED buildings, and, urn ... my company
specializes in LEED consulting. We have 20 -plus projects, um, either certified or
in progress, and so I look at everything from that lens of how does it relate to
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sustainability, and I appreciate this opportunity for the bonus provision, um, and I
also (mumbled) included a letter to the Council regarding this specific item, and I
spoke a little bit further with City staff and would like to adjust that comment a
little from what I said before with a greater understanding of how energy
efficiency, um, can play into this particular form -based code, because there's
different tools for different times. So LEED is an amazing tool for promoting
green design. Um, but what you may not realize is that out of the 110 possible
points that you can pursue for LEED certification, only 19 are directly connected
to energy efficiency. So that's 17% of the total points, or 19 points, are available
for energy efficiency. So it's actually just a little slice. So for example, I am
doing a LEED project that's going to probably get Gold certification and they're
going to get, um, 15% in more energy efficient than the energy code requires.
Wow! That's really embarrassing! Um, but they're still going to get LEED Gold
so I want you to be aware that, um, LEED is a fantastic tool and that's great
because it's comprehensive, but it only awards up to 19 points for energy
efficiency. So energy efficiency and LEED are not ... they're inter - linked, and
they can be worked together, but you can't actually have a LEED certified
building that's not very energy efficient. So that's... that's part one. And then the
next part is that the reason I care so much about this is because 45% of our
emissions in this country, of our carbon emissions, are from buildings. 45 %!
You know we talk all about Prius's and how great that is, except transportation's
only 28% of our emissions. So 45% is buildings, and we're not talking about
building efficiency. So we have a really great opportunity here and in many other
places, without... throughout all the things the City does, to promote energy
efficiency. And one way that is ... that ... that is promoted in Iowa City is through
Mid American. Uh, Mid American Energy is actually providing a million dollars
in incentives to the new Oaknoll project. So there's real money in their pockets
that they can save upfront, and also save in operating costs. Now where is this
going? So, where it's going is that 45% of our emissions are from buildings and
so that's sort of the sleeping giant of climate change. It's not what we're talking
about, but it's right there under our feet, ready to ... to come to life for us to do
something about. So what I'd like to say is that on page 94, under the bonus li...
height for LEED, um, it says up to four additional floors may be granted for
projects that are designed to achieve LEED and then it says a bonus will be
granted for ... based on the overall quality of the project. So what I suggest is
adding after that sentence energy efficiency and the projected energy use per
square foot will factor into the evaluation of the quality of the project. And the
reason for doing that is we're not adding a specific code. This is not the place to
like change the building code, but it is an opportunity to highlight that the Council
and City staff are committed to considering energy efficiency when offering this
bonus height... height provision, that you're not just going to look at the ... the
LEED certification. You're actually also going to look at the energy points
involved, and so this is one of many opportunities for you support energy
efficiency, and it would indicate your commitment to that ... to that change. Thank
you.
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Hayek: Thank you for the comments. This is a public hearing. If anyone else wishes to
address the Council, you're invited to come forward. Okay! I'm going to close
the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Throgmorton: Move adoption.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by ... Dobyns. Um ... we do have a list of
several, uh, minor amendments that staff handed me right before the meeting.
Um ... and they address what we talked about during the work session.
Throgmorton: You want to read `em?
Hayek: Yeah. So ... um, again, these would be additions to what's on the table right now.
One is amend Table 2G -5 permitted frontage types to indicate that forecourt
frontages may be permitted for apartment buildings, which I think goes to what
you were talking about at the last meeting. Um, second is to amend Table 2G -7
permitted parking types to indicate that integrated structured parking is permitted
for apartment buildings. And third, uh, is, uh, in paragraph 14- 2G -7G -7, height
bonus for leadership in energy and environmental design, uh, to amend the first
sentence to read as follows: Up to four additional floors of building height may
be granted for projects that are designed to meet high standards with regard to
energy efficiency, and environmental stewardship, according to LEED or other
similar environmental or energy efficiency rating systems. Uh, in general the
higher the level of energy efficiency or environmental stewardship demonstrated,
the greater the bonus, which I think goes to the last point. Um, so ... we could start
all over or consider this a friendly amendment to include these items.
Throgmorton: Um, sounds like a friendly amendment to me.
Dobyns: Yeah, and I agree to second.
Hayek: Well, we'll just consider it a motion as ... that includes these items, if people are
okay with that. All right, so that's on the table. Now we can have Council
discussion.
Mims: Well I'm excited about this form -based code. Um, I know staff and P &Z has
spent a lot of time, um, working through this and from our work session, I think
we all recognize, and ... and certainly staff does, that this is still, to a certain
extent, a work in progress. That inevitably there will be, um, some things will
come back before us as we kind of get into this in more detail and so ... you know,
as developers or other people bring things forward to us or to staff, um, then we'll
see things back, but I think it's a really, you know, exciting time to look at a new
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way of doing some of our zoning to have very, uh, integrated kind of buildings
and uses in a very small area, and move forward hopefully on what will be just an
incredible, uh, south part of downtown and going down to the new park where the
waste water treatment plant will be taken out. So ... um ... I'm really looking
forward to seeing some new development down there.
Payne: I agree with you, Susan, and I think if anybody pays attention to what goes on at
City Council, almost every week we talk about changing some part of the building
code, or some parts of the code. So ... everything's a work in progress, you know,
it's... what... what do we need to do to, um ... allow building to happen, because
sometimes you make a code and it doesn't allow something to happen that needs
to happen. So ... definitely a work in progress and ... but it's very exciting to see
what ... what the possibilities are.
Mims: Yep!
Throgmorton: Well I guess I ... I want to say a few things. Um... and I've ... I certainly agree with
what both of you just said, uh, but I want to elaborate. I guess I feel compelled to
because of my own background. Um, one of the fascinating things about this is
that zoning itself was, uh, a response to industrialization of cities. That's why it
exists, and uh, it was designed to exclude industrial areas from residential
(mumbled) I mean that's not the original intent, but as time progressed, that's wh
...why it, uh, kind of took hold in the United States. Over the years it's become
much more refined as an instrument, everybody uses it, but it's a really blunt
instrument for separating uses from one another. That's the intent. Separate uses
from one another. And excluding unwanted uses, like industrial stuff. And it has
a very limited capacity to enhance the quality of design. It's a really blunt
instrument. I hate it! Have ever since the get -go when I first started to learn
about urban planning. And the more dense a city becomes, the more land uses
become melded together and more important — high quality design comes. I think
I've said that over and over in our meetings as time has gone on. So, with that in
mind, I think the proposed form -based code is ... is definitely a move in the right
direction for our city. I strongly support the move in that direction. It's likely to
produce much met ... much better overall design than continued reliance on current
zoning would. It's also likely to be more environmental ... environmentally
friendly as Tom has repeatedly pointed out, because uh .... as ... as compared with
the alternative of building more and more out on the periphery in low dense...
low density subdivisions and all that. Uh ... I agree with that, but uh, if we and our
neighboring cities don't do anything to discourage low- density development on
the periphery, then building up here will simply be another way of increasing
population, etc., in the region. So I think we ought to get it right here and try to
get it right on the periphery too. So I know I'm going on here but uh ... uh, you
only get one shot at these things, you know! So, like I said, I'm going to support
the code, the proposed code, but that's ... that said, there are a couple key aspects
of it that, uh, we've talked about in the work session and we just heard a little bit
about, as well. The bonus provision, uh, with regard to LEED certification, I ... I
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felt really needed strengthening, uh, when ... when we came in here, and I'm really
pleased to hear the amendment that the, uh, that we are ... are incorporating into
this, uh, that the staff has recommended. I ... I think we're ... we ought to set the
bar much higher for, uh, buildings constructed in the district with regard to LEED
certification and energy efficiency together. Uh, the other thing I would want to
draw attention to is affordable housing, and I think maybe Kingsley's going to
bring something up about this in a second, but uh ... uh, so maybe I'll just defer to
you on that. Are ... are you going to make a ... a motion aren't you (both talking)
Botchway: Yes!
Throgmorton: ... yeah, so I'll just defer to that. We had an extended discussion about affordable
housing, uh, during our work session. So ... there ... there are details I'm not fully
comfortable with, um. ... you can't do everything at once! So, I'm going to support
the ... the proposed code as amended in these technical ways.
Hayek: I think this is a ... um, were you going to jump in?
Botchway: Well I didn't know when I needed to make my motion.
Hayek: Well we're... we're... we have a (several talking) motion on the table.
Botchway: Afterwards, okay! Just want to make sure I didn't miss my opportunity.
Hayek: Um. ... I ... I mean, I think this is a bold experiment and ... and um, reflects a process
we should be proud of, uh, with a lot of staff, uh, time; a lot of Planning and
Zoning Commission time; our consultants and everybody else who played a role,
and they should be thanked for this. You know, we're ... and we have two kind of
broad missions here. One is we're pursuing a set of public obj ... objectives, you
know, flood control, um, design and aesthetic concerns, density, environmental
considerations and ... and ... and other objectives. Um, and on the other we want to
promote the redevelopment of this, uh, area. Um, our... our... our tax base is, um,
is threatened by a whole slew of dynamics, locally and around the state, um, we
want to make Iowa City as attractive a place for businesses and residents as we...
as we possibly can, and I think we want to exploit the competitive advantage that
this area of our community represents for us, with its strategic location adjacent to
the University and ... and downtown. This is an incredible opportunity, and I think
this, uh, code, uh, balances both interests, and obviously it remains to be seen how
this plays out, and we're going to have to be vigilant going forward, both at staff
and Council, uh, to make sure that it's a success, but I think we're off to a good
start with this. So any other...
Botchway: Uh, I did want to add a couple comments. I totally agree with you, Matt. I mean,
I think that, you know, this is obviously an awesome opportunity, uh, but I guess
Bob, uh, Bob's comments kind of resonate with me a little bit because I don't
want us to, and I'm sure we won't when we deliberate this, um ... in the next
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couple sessions, I mean (mumbled) made the comment, six months, year, two
years, whatever the case may be. Who we are building this for. You know, this is
a great opportunity to have that mixed community that I think a lot of places are
trying to figure out ways of doing. Um, and I think that ... again, from just
comments from the community, it just seemed like ... or, it doesn't seem like. I
just don't want us to lose sight of, you know, this awesome opportunity to do
something different, um, in a different way, regardless of what everybody else is
doing, and really promote that, as far as pushing forward, and I know I'm
speaking specifically to affordable housing in the motion, but I agree with Jim as
far as energy efficiency goes. I agree with what Matt was saying about, you
know, how we're treating storm water and everything else, I think it's just very
important, but uh, you know, I think you know, and I know I'm going to bring up
consistently through the process, you know, that we be very deliberate in making
sure that a lot of these things that we've talked about from a strategic planning
standpoint, about affordable housing and sustainability, are some way infused,
um, later on in the process. I just don't want us to forget about that particular
point.
Hayek: Any other... go ahead!
Dickens: I think we're just all excited about the moving forward with the project. We've
seen what's happened downtown with the new high -rise, how fast that filled up.
There's a definite need for people that want to live, want to be able to walk, have
all the services downtown, um ... it's ... I think, uh, Midwest One really kind of
kick - started things by choosing to build in that area and I ... I think it'll just, uh... I
didn't think it'd be ... I thought it'd be a 10 or 20 -year project but it...it looks like
it's going to be a little ... little faster than that, if we can just continue this. I think
the zoning really helps dictate how that area is going to develop, and ... and I think
the Councils to come will be able to ... to tweak what we're doing now and make it
just better, because I think we've got a very strong foothold here and I ... I just see
great things happening in that area.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. First consideration passes 7 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0.
Botchway: I'd like to ma ... make a motion. A motion directing City staff and the Planning
and Zoning Commission to discuss or consider inclusionary zoning and other
affordable housing incentives in the form -based code.
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Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Yeah, I think this is a great move, uh, it... it's an opportunity to, uh... depending
on how things proceed at the Planning and Zoning Commission level and ... and
how it gets to us. It's a great opportunity to really take into account the need for a
range of people in our city to be able to afford to live in the district, and ... if that
goes well, it will be a really good signal for other parts of the city as well.
Mims: And I would just like to thank the City Manager who, um, so often and so adeptly
helps us work through (both talking)
Throgmorton: Absolutely!
Mims: ...issues, um, in terms of ways to approach things and so ... thank you, Tom.
Hayek: Would you read that again? You read it kind of fast! (laughs)
Botchway: I was trying to make sure I didn't make a mistake so (laughter) read over the
(laughs) as quickly as possible (both talking)
Hayek: (laughs) ...and focus!
Botchway: All right, um, and you know, obviously tell me if I made a mistake. Um, motion
directing City staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission, cause I thought
that was what we talked about, um, to discuss or consider inclusionary zoning and
other affordable housing incentives in the form -based code.
Hayek: Okay, so it's an instruction to ... to take it up and look at it.
Botchway: Right.
Hayek: Okay. Well I'll ... I'll be, I think there's support for this. I mean, I'll ... I'm okay
with it. I would ... my preference would be to work session it. I think that's the
appropriate thing, but I think what Eleanor's describing is basically the same that
we've.... we're... we're taking a look at it, which is ... what work sessioning it
would ... would (both talking)
Dilkes: ...I understand the motion is you're... you're direc ... although it's a little different
than a work session. You're directing staff and the Planning and Zoning
Commission to examine it and make a recommendation to you is how ... what I
see.
Botchway: Well should I add make a recommendation to the motion or just leave it as it is?
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Hayek: (several responding) Just leave it as it is (several talking)
Botchway: All right.
Throgmorton: You know, this ... Matt, one other point. This ... this makes me think of another
item on our ... that I guess is in the Consent Calendar, setting a public hearing with
regard to revising the Comprehensive Plan. Uh, I think just the Downtown/
Riverfront Crossings portion of the Comprehensive Plan to, uh ... uh, direct us ... to
...to state that we shall consider affordable housing in the Riverfront Crossings
plan. Uh, so ... we're kind of settin' that in motion! It doesn't say how
specifically we're going to consider it. It doesn't ma ... doesn't say what the
outcome's going to be, but it definitely says we ... we will do what we're going to
tell ourselves to do (laughs) in a few weeks.
Hayek: Yeah, I know, but ... but I think the inclusionary is a departure from ... from what
we've talked about in the past. If staff's comfortable with it, I am, but it does
mark a departure from what we've done in the past and ... and that's (mumbled)
my concern is more a procedural one with ... with how we follow through on this.
But...
Payne: Well I think it's a good idea to look at it, but ... I don't think that we should, um,
have any foregone conclusions on what it's going to do in the end. You know, I
mean ... I would love to hear more about what staff thinks about it. So the only
way to do that is to direct them to look into it (laughs)
Hayek: Yeah.
Mims: Well and I think through the P &Z process of...of them looking at it, getting
developers in to discuss it, as well, and see if we can get by in there, because as I
said in the work session, any time we start looking at things like this that are, um,
a significant departure from what's being done in the region as we ... were talking
earlier about doing things regionally, I'm really sensitive to the fact that we get
buy -in from our business community and our developers, so that we are not
pushing business out of Iowa City. And so I think that gives us the opportunity to
hopefully see if we can get them on -board of saying this is a good project
and ... and we can really be a leader in this and not worry about what everybody
else is doing, but again, as Tom has said we're not doing this community -wide.
We're looking at one core area of town to try it in.
Payne: Right, but we're also looking at redevelopment, and if we can't get buy -in, it's not
going to get redeveloped. So...
Mims: Correct!
Payne: ...you know...
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Mims: I agree.
Payne: Don't want to get the cart before the horse. (laughs)
Hayek: Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries
7 -0.
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ITEM 6b AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS FOR ACCESSORY USES
- ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14: ZONING, ARTICLE 4C,
ACCESSORY USES AND BUILDINGS, TO ADDRESS DIFFERENCES IN
THE REGULATION OF ACCESSORY USES IN THE RIVERFRONT
CROSSINGS ZONES AND AMENDING THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION
CRITERIA FOR DRIVE- THROUGHS ".
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Karen.
Howard: These are just amendments that are related to the adoption of the form -based code
for Riverfront Crossings. Um, there's other parts of the zoning code, and we're
inserting, uh, the Riverfront Crossings' code into the larger zoning ordinance. So
these are amendments related to accessory uses such as, um ... uh, porches and
decks and um ... uh, other accessory uses, um, and ... it just ... and clarifying
what ... what standards apply in the Riverfront Crossings' code as related to these
particular items. With regard to the drive - through standards, um, we needed to
incorporate the Riverfront Crossings' zones and address what types of drive -
throughs and where those are allowed in the Riverfront Crossings' district and so
these amendments will clarify ... um, how drive - throughs are treated in the
Riverfront Crossings' district.
Hayek: Any questions for Karen? Any input from the public? Okay, I'll close the public
hearing at this time. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Dobyns: Move first consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Well I ... I want to say, I don't, uh, I feel like I don't really have any idea what I
think about this particular amendment or the amendments in the next item, Item
6c, or in the parking code provisions of the one we just adopted. And I just want
to kind of acknowledge that because it's ... it's at a very technical level of detail.
I ... I felt like I didn't have anywhere near enough time to read through it in a way
that would make me feel like I really understood what was going on with the
changes. So what I'm going to do here is trust the staff and ... and, we have a
great staff so I'm willing to do that, and... but... it's like, "Yikes!" (laughs)
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. First consideration passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 6c AMENDMENTS TO SIGN ORDINANCE — ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 14: ZONING, ARTICLE 5B, SIGN REGULATIONS,
TO BROADEN THE STOREFRONT SIGNAGE TYPES AND SIZES
ALLOWED IN COMMERCIAL ZONES AND TO REGULATE
TEMPORARY WINDOW SIGNS.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Miklo: Bob Miklo with the Department of Neighborhood and Development Services.
Like to just show you some illu ... uh, photographs illustrate, uh, the code
amendments. Uh (clears throat) the amendments deal with projecting signs which
are currently only allowed in our downtown zones. Um, projecting that they
project out from, uh, a storefront. The proposed amendments would allow these
in all commercial zones, uh, throughout the city and would also, um, allow a little
bit larger sign, or ... they're ... they're currently limited to 12- square feet, uh, or
excuse me, 6- square feet. This would allow up to 12- square feet, um, and then a
little bit larger signs for, uh, certain uses, such as, uh, theaters or ... or hotels. Um,
the amendments would also allow limited lighting such as a small spotlight on
these types of signs. Here's another just close -up of that same sign. The, uh...
uh, proposed minutes also address canopy signs. Again, these are currently only
allowed downtown. These are roof canopy signs in that they're... they're on the
roof of a canopy. Uh, the proposed amendments would allow these in all
commercial zones. And, uh, finally the, uh, the proposed amendments would,
um, regulate window signs and temporary signs, uh, to help assure that when
there is a required storefront as ... as we have in downtown, that you can actually
see into the storefront that ... that these types of window signs do not block
transparency of the ... of the windows. Uh, they would still be allowed, but there's
a limit to 25% of, uh, of the window. Be happy to try to clarify any questions.
Hayek: Thanks, Bob! Anyone from the audience? Okay, I'll close the public hearing.
(bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Dobyns: Move first consideration.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7-
0.
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ITEM 11. 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 hearing is open. (bangs gavel) So this is the
Animal, uh, Shelter item if anyone out there wishes to weigh in. And for the
public's information, we're going, uh, back to the bidding community with a
revised set of plans.
Throgmorton: M ... Matt, I ... I don't know if this is the right moment. Is ... is there a possibility
that one of our staff members could explain what's been cut or modified...
Hayek: Sure!
Markus: Yeah, we've, uh (both talking)
Hayek: This'd be a good time to do it!
Markus: ...we've managed to, uh, go through the bid document and make some cuts. I'd
asked Kumi Morris to come forward and just address the major cuts that we're,
uh, proposing as a part of this, uh, re -bid process.
Morris: We made about 26 changes to the building and the site plans, um, resulting in
about $700...$744,000 worth of cuts. Um, they're across the board. Everything
from, um, from the site, changing certain elements in terms of paving to program
in the space design, as well as building materials, um (mumbled) building
materials, as well as the interior. We had masonry in certain areas in the interior,
and changing those out to, um, wood construction, wood -frame construction.
Um, as well as animal equipment and um, mechanical and electrical systems, as
well. So, the changes were ... we had 26 items across the board.
Throgmorton: Were there any changes or cuts in the amount or quality of space provided to the
animals?
Morris: There were ... there are some changes to certain elements of the animal spaces.
For example, in the exterior dog kennel area, we've removed the, uh, the, um,
roof structure over the exterior kennel area. That's one. Um, another area that
we're looking at is we've reduced the space in the cat isolation area and then we
also have a deduct alternate for removing the isolation area altogether. So, um,
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and then also in the cat colony area, we reduce the number of cat colonies in that
space as well.
Markus: Kumi, why don't you explain, um, the original bid and then the 15% requirement,
and if we were to exceed that what would happen in terms of returning to our
partner agencies and what then that would lead to potentially time -wise related to
the FEMA funding.
Morris: Sure. So, um, the way ... we had nine bids that came in, in our ... in our first round,
and that we had nine GCs that bid that, um, project, general contractors, and um,
what happened was the lowest bid was about $900,000 over our, um, our initial
estimate. Um, and I can talk about that a little bit more if you want to know more
information about that. Um, what we have in our contracts with other
communities is that anything that's over, we ... we have the ability to approve, um,
a project that's within 15% of 3...3.3 million, but now we have 3.18 million
because of the geo- thermal system, but um, if we ... if we accept, we cannot go
over the 15% above that amount, um, because our contracts with the other
communities indicate that we have to go back and renegotiate those agreements or
we discuss those, open those agreements back up within the other communities.
So we have a ... we have about a 15% threshold above that $3.1 million amount.
Markus: And so to go back and renegotiate would put us into a time sw... sequence that
would jeopardize the FEMA funding, and that's a critical part, obviously, of
getting this, uh, facility rebuilt. So we've made some cuts. We tried to make the
cuts deep enough, um ... that the contract bids will come in and ... and we have
some certainty that we can be under those estimates so we don't have to return to
all the partners and delay the time, and risk the FEMA funding at this point. So
that's what we've attempted to do. Hopefully we get good bids!
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Markus: Hopefully they're under that 15% mark, and hopefully, uh, we continue with our,
uh, strong partnership with the, uh, Friends and that together after we get this
facility built, uh, we can look at additions to this building as funds become
available. The critical part now is to get the building up and operating. (several
responding) Using FEMA funding.
Payne: So you talk about 3.18 million. Our work packet actually says 2.83. So it's
$300,000 for the geo- thermal?
Howard: It's, um, well, 1.8, uh, $180,000 over a regular system ... is what it is. So when I
say 3.1 million I should clarify it. That's total project cost. So what you see in
terms of in the, um, the 2.85 is the construction costs. So that's what you'll see
reflected in the bids. But when we talk about the ... when we talk about what's in
our agreement with other communities, we're talking total project costs. So that's
what the buy -in is within the other communities — it's the total project costs. So
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that's, you know, design fees, that's testing and balancing, that's testing services
on the site, that's, um, construction management fees, that's a number of things
outside of just the building construction itself.
Markus: So it's the building construction, minus the extra for the geo- thermal, which the
City itself is picking up, and then you can multiply that times 115 %, and that will
give you the upset limit that we can go to before we exceed the 15 %. Make
sense?
Hayek: Yep! Thanks, Kumi! Anyone else before I close the public hearing? Public
hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Payne: Move resolution.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? I think this... staff has
done a good job. You know, these...these bids were all ... they were all high, but
they were all close to each other, and I think it goes to the ... the quality of the
estimate not ... not reflecting, um, something, the market or cost or something, and
so we....and we went down this road with our partnering, uh, communities, those
who will be joining us in this project and paying their fair share. We negotiated a
good deal with all involved, and I think it's important that we stick to that
agreement, and we've value- engineered this down into that range that allows us to
proceed without renegotiating the whole thing. This is a long time coming and I
don't think we want to delay, and we certainly don't want to jeopardize those
FEMA dollars.
Mims: No! Not at all!
Markus: Keep your fingers crossed!
Hayek: All right! Thanks for the work on this! Further discussion? Roll call, please.
Passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 12. AID TO AGENCY ALLOCATIONS FOR THE YEAR STARTING JULY 1,
2014 - RESOLUTION ALLOCATING HUMAN SERVICES AID TO
AGENCIES FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2015.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? (both talking) Yeah, so this
is, urn ... this is the vote that the City Council is taking that includes the funding
recommendations from the Housing and Community Development Commission,
uh, under our Aid to Agencies category. I know there are people here from Elder
Services and possibly other organizations. This is the item that affects you, um,
and so, um, before we have City Council discussion, uh, we'll certainly provide
for an opportunity for the public to weigh in. Um, so if you'd like to bring
something to our attention, um, regarding the recommendation, uh, that we got
from HCDC, whether regarding Elder Services or anybody else, we invite you to
come forward and we'll follow the same protocol. We ask that you sign and give
us your name, and limit your comments to five minutes.
Mims: Are you going to address the ... the additional that we're going to take from the
General Fund?
Hayek: Well, that's not ... we don't have a motion on that (both talking)
Mims: Okay!
Hayek: We could certainly take that up. Urn ... so there was some discussion at our work
session about, uh, different ways to, uh, mitigate the impact. Um, we didn't reach
any consensus, but I think you'll hear some discussion at some point among
Council is probably the best way to phrase it.
Mims: Okay.
Hayek: Go ahead!
Blodgett: My name is Susan Blodgett. I live at 2362 Catskill Court. Council Members, Mr.
City Manager, thank you for letting us come in and... and tell you all what it is we
do and why we think it's so important that you continue your funding. Elder
Services, when we submitted our application for CDBG funds, we were told that
you were all going to try to follow the City STEPS program. Which focused on
homelessness, um, food pantries, children. Well, we are not a homeless shelter.
We prevent people from becoming homeless. We are not a food pantry. We take
food to people to keep them from food insecurity. So I wanted to go through the
services your funding supports and let you know the number of people that you're
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taking care of. Um, your funding supports our money management representative
payee program, our home assistance program, our elder answers program, and
meals -on- wheels. We currently have 613 clients residing within the city limits of
Iowa City in those programs. Um, you've probably all heard of meals -on- wheels.
We provide 411 unique clients with homebound delivered meals. These are
people, 95 %, who live in isolation on their own. Many times the only person they
see for a whole day is the volunteer that delivers those meals. That volunteer
provides a safety check, some socialization, and the hot meal. In addition, our...
many of our clients receive what's called `breakfast bags.' Uh, which is breakfast
for a week, and also frozen meals that they can prepare in the evening. 75% of
our clients earn less than $2,000 a month. In Iowa City, Iowa City ... I ... I moved
down here three years ago. I was kind of surprised at the rents! (laughs) Iowa
City's a fairly pricey place to live. Many of our clients have to make a
determination what they're going to spend their money on. If they utilize us for
their food, that's one less cost that they have. Uh, malnutrition, as I'm sure Dr.
Dobyns can tell you, is a major factor for, um, hospitalization, institutionalization,
and nursing homes. Um, it restricts daily activities that the clients will later find
they need help with, such as toileting, bathing, mobility issues. Um, recent
statistics in 2011 show that nationally 8.35% of older adults are challenged by
food insecurity. In Iowa, it is 11 %. We're all getting older every day, and as we
age, this number is only expected to increase. Between 2001 and 2011, food
insecurity increased by 200% in the population of people age 60 and over. Some
adults with, um, with inappropriate amounts or not normal amounts of insecurity,
food insecurity, are Hispanic and black older adults, and that includes 7% of our
clients that we deliver meals to. Older adults living below the poverty level in
Iowa City, 5.1 % of these people age 65 and older live below the poverty level.
Um, 75% of our clients, as I said, earn less than $24,000 a year. Older adults who
rent, according to the Iowa City Housing Authority there are 117 head of
households, both elderly and disabled, and 75 who are, uh, elderly people who are
participating in the public housing program. Additionally, 35 elderly residents are
on the waiting list. 'And older adults who live alone, which are approximately
93% of our clients. Without our continued efforts to deliver food to these people,
I don't know what's going to happen. Elder Services' clients are your invisible
constituents. Um, tonight we have one of our clients that we brought here, Lenora
Sheldon is here, and she said, "Do I have to get up and speak ?" But I know she
would be more than willing to answer any questions for you. Um, our... one of
our care managers picked her up and brought her in tonight. Um, another
program that you all support is our home assistance program. Now this is to help
people stay safe and secure in their own home. We do a variety of things. It may
be mowing someone's lawn, making sure the snow is removed in the winter, it
could be companionship, it could be this, um, person had a major sur ... or a minor
surgical procedure and needs someone to be with them for the next 24- hours.
That's what we do. Your funding allows us to subsidize these amounts. Many of
our clients, because of their income levels, cannot afford to pay the full $20 an
hour that we charge. Some clients pay $5, some pay $8, some pay $13. About
$10,000 of the $50,000 that we've received in the past goes towards subsidies.
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Out of the 94 Iowa City clients that receive home assistance, 38 receive subsidies.
We don't want to take this away from them. They'll have to do without our
services. We also provide a program called elder answers. And one of our staff
members is here tonight, Katelyn Lemon. She is the social worker that goes out
and meets with every new client that calls our office. Um, for the first four
months of this year, we have seen 192 clients. That's a lot of people! 94 of these
clients reside in the city of Iowa City. When we go out to meet them, we do a
brief assessment to see what services they need. Uh, try to arrange services that
we don't provide for, uh, do a... a brief care... care management plan for them,
and then do follow -up. Um, and lastly, our money management program. A few
years ago I received a call from a, um, a nursing home director who said I've got
a problem; I don't know what to do. I have a client in our memory care unit and
her son has not paid her bill for four months. I don't want to evict her. There is
no place for her to go. Shortly thereafter Elder Services got a call from the
Railroad Retirement Board. She was not on social security. She was receiving
her income from Railroad Retirement Board. And they asked us to take over her
finances. Um, the Sheriff was brought in and uh... charges were filed against the
son, with the order to pay back, to start paying back, and we took over her money
management so she could stay in the nursing home. That's what prompted us to
become a social security representative payee agency. We care for people age 60
and over. If you are a social security rep payee agency, you're the last ditch
effort. If I need someone to ... to help me with my funds, and I'm on social
security, they're going to check with my kids first. Maybe my neighbors. Any
family members close by, or people from church. When you don't have any of
that, we are the last ditch effort, and so many, many, many of these clients, 60%
to be exact, have a diagnosed mental illness. 50% of them are schizophrenic.
Hayek: Ma'am, you're... you're gonna have to wrap up here (both talking)
Blodgett: Okay, without... without these programs, these people are not going to receive the
services we need and more law enforcement's going to be called. You're going to
see more stress on other services in the community. Thank you so much.
Hayek: Thank you. Any other members, uh, of the audience who would like to weigh in?
Cunningham: The fact that Susan had to come ... (noises on mic) The fact that Susan had to
come tonight is criminal. The fact that...
Hayek: Could you give us your name first, please?
Cunningham: Oh, I'm sorry! Terry Cunningham, 554 Westside Drive.
Hayek: Thank you.
Cunningham: It is criminal! The fact that the passage of the farm bill this year included major
cuts to food stamps. The fact that we pro ... profess to be the greatest country in
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the world. We profess to tell all the other countries in the world how they should
take care of their people. Well, we have people, starving in their homes! We
have people neglected from the basic needs for them to survive with a little
decency. Now, most of this trouble runs downhill, obviously, but ... we put people
where they're at to make these kinds of decisions. I don't think anybody in this
room, I sure as hell hope, is happy with the mess that things are in right now. For
folks like this! We need to let ... people who make those decisions at every level
know this isn't acceptable. That the folks who are dying, or going to die, who are
in this bad shape, are the people who this country was built on. They never
thought this was the way they would end up being treated. How would you like it
if it was your parents? Your grandparents? A neighbor? Someone from your
church? Is there anybody that you would wish this kind of problem on? I
certainly hope not!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. Carol!
Sweeting: I'm Carol Sweeting. I live at 435 Peterson Street and I want to come and talk
tonight about what it might be like, um, I want all of us to kind of think for just a
minute what it's like to be alone and to be older, or even sometimes younger, and
wonder for sure what's on the shelf when you're at home. And I'm new to Elder
Services. I've recently been working with some of the folks there and spend a
little time in a grocery store recently, asking people just to pick up something and
bring it to the ... to the aisle and give it to somebody who might be homebound.
Um, shelf -life, something that ... peanut butter, anything that they could put on a
shelf and it made me really begin to realize how important it is if you are alone
and you don't have someone to bring those things to you, maybe you were the
driver for the other four ladies in your area and all of a sudden you can't drive
anymore. And you've put four people out of a... a good meal. Um, what Elder
Services has done with their shelf life food and with their frozen meals that
they're able to provide to families, to ... to mothers and fathers who no longer have
anyone to take care of them is monumental in this community. Many of these
people have spent their whole lives in this community, paying taxes and making
sure that other people's children are okay and making sure their churches have
been ... been able to help other people, and now it's them that needs the help, and I
realize that there's a lot of funding everywhere that from our small children to our
teenagers to ... people in need from all over our community, but this is one area
that we can't let go of. Just because they're elderly or just because they can't
meet the income criteria does not mean that they should not have a healthy meal,
and um, have that daily person come in and make sure that they're okay. And
Elder Services gives 100% to every day, and I know some of you recently have
gone out, and passed a meal, and I think what that brings back to you is how
fortunate we are in this community to have the services that we are, and to drop
our services from 50,000 down to 11,000 roughly is going to really have a ... a
severe impact on those elderly people, and we'll do everything we can to try to
find fundraising to bring that back up, but I think this is one spot that I really hope
that you find other funding for because it will impact all of us. Thank you.
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Hayek: Thank you.
Reddis: I'm Becci Reddis. I'm the Executive Director of the Crisis Center, um, 1121
Gilbert Court in Iowa City. And, I am a ... um, agency, um, related to Elder
Services in the fact that, um, we both provide services in the area of food, and um,
the Crisis Center, about four or five years ago, um, started a hunger project and
thus far we have, um, the partnership in it has ... has been with local food pantries
in Johnson County. In an effort to work together to avoid duplication, to make
our dollars stretch. Um, I've given some thought over the past few days, um, that,
um, we possibly need to expand to all kinds of food systems, whether it's rescue
food. It's congregate meal sites, um, because hunger is a go ... growing problem
in our comm .... community. It hasn't ... we just got, um, new statistics on the
number of individuals in Johnson County who are food insecure. And I think it's
(mumbled) out of feeding America runs a couple years behind but, um, we have
the slowest growth this past time. We only went ... I think we went from 18,400 to
about 18,600, somewhere around there. Um, but the past few years we've been
increasing each year by a thousand individuals. I've been at the Crisis Center for
six years. I came with the floods, so I ... I didn't ... I don't know what normal is...
what normal was at the food bank prior to that. I know with the floods we had a
lot of increased visits. But since that time, about in 2010, we saw those numbers
dip back down to normal levels. But we've been experiencing, um, record
increases, um, since then. And so I speak, um, as a ... an agency that is also in the
business of helping, um, individuals in our community who do not have enough
to ... to eat. Um, who do not, um, cannot regularly make it through the week, um,
on an ongoing basis without having to seek out other food assistance. I ... I speak
as one of those agencies that it is important to take a look at, um, the funding
impact that would happen with Elder Services and what kinds of program cuts
that they may need to make. Those individuals are going to go to other
community agencies. They'd impact other community agency budgets. Could
impact the Crisis Center. Frankly, I don't know how we could handle any more.
We ... we've (coughs) we've had two record months of service, um, in this last
fiscal year. We'll have a record number of individuals that we're serving. We're
serving about 12,000 of those 18,600 that are hungry in our ... in our county.
We've worked with other agencies, other communities, to open food pantries, but
these kinds of cuts, um ... are very, very difficult for a non - profit agency to figure
out how to continue to provide services, and um ... the services have to be paid for
somewhere. How do you just take a huge cut and, um, be able to deal with it, um,
in an agency budget? I ... I really don't know, but what I ... what I do know that's
important is that, um, the consideration of on -going funding and what we're doing
here, what kinds of programs that we are funding is important, and that I would
say that, um, you know, I would support if the Council can find funds from its
General Fund to help Elder Services so they can continue the meal program,
meals -on- wheels, and oth ... other essential services for those vulnerable, um,
citizens that they serve. It would be really important. Thank you!
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Hayek: Thank you!
Shelton:
Hayek:
Manora Shelton of Autumn Park. (laughs) I'm scared!
Don't be! Don't be! Welcome!
Shelton: I use Elder Services in their housekeeping
help I don't think I'd be able to live alone.
their funding, and I hope you continue it.
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I'll be 88 next month. Without their
And I wanted to thank all of you for
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for coming down.
Mims: Thank you.
Hayek: Thanks for your comments. Is there anyone else who would like to address the
Council? (several talking away from mic)
Kaskie: Hi, I'm Brian Kaskie. I serve the Board of Elder Services and uh, two things.
First, uh, appreciate your interest in ... in our services and our programs. We
certainly recognize y'all have a lot of, uh, competing priorities and are often
constrained when you're having to make decisions. Uh, we feel, uh, at least from
our perspective, as Susan mentioned, uh, we appreciate the process of setting your
budget going to a committee and setting values and priorities to it, but the way it
was set up this year seemed to (clears throat) not necessarily, uh, incorporate
the ... the perspectives of seniors as much as we had hoped, so ... going forward,
we'd appreciate the opportunity to think how we might contribute to that so we
aren't, uh, repeating this, uh, process where we just aren't necessarily
incorporating the views of seniors in our community in it, and then second, um,
the immediate problem in front of us is the budget going forward for the coming
year, and we just appreciate your considerations in making any adjustments you
can. Uh, I just want to speak on behalf of the organization as far as ... as
considering it, uh, money well spent, I (coughing, difficult to hear speaker) cannot
emphasize the fact of how much, uh, Elder Services has been, uh, positioned very,
uh, strongly in the last three years. We are now, uh, reaching out in places in
Johnson County and Iowa City in particular that we've never been to before.
We're now serving meals in local neighborhood churches, uh, across the city.
We're now making contact with people all across Iowa City, uh, simply in ways
through... through medical volunteer driver programs through the (mumbled)
program, uh, just through the diversification of our efforts, we're ... we're
touching people's lives in a lot of different ways now that has become integral to
their ... their successful aging. So I think it's a ... it's a good organization to ... to
make a consideration for, and thank you for your... thoughts.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
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Lensing: Good evening! My name is Vicki Lensing. I live at 2408 Mayfield Road. I
certainly share an empath ... ize with you for the decisions you have to make
regarding funding. I have some experience with that at another level, and let me
tell you that as recently as last week, the State Legislature was struggling with
funding decisions themselves. And some of the things that were on the chopping
block were food pantries, were congregate meals, and we heard from people
across the state, and then I come home and hear from people in Johnson County,
in my own community, about the struggles of finding food. There have been
more food pantries asking for assistance than I can remember in recent years. I
serve on the Grants Committee for the Community Foundation, and I can tell you
we're hearing from food pantries that we have not heard from in the past, asking
for grants for assistance. In terms of congregate meals, around the state and even
in our own area — Agency on Aging — they were asking for more dollars. And
here at home, Elder Services is the agency that provides that type of assistance to
the elderly in our community. Friends that I know that deliver meals -on- wheels,
sometimes that's the only human contact that those seniors have during their day.
And they're getting breakfast bags. They're getting lunches. They're getting
frozen meals for dinner. They may depend on meals -on- wheels for all three
meals during their day. Meals -on- wheels delivers 125,000 meals! That's a lot of
people depending on that food. Congregate meals are a great... program to have,
but that's asking people to go to them. Meals -on- wheels takes those meals to the
elderly. So I ... I am advocating for... sufficient funding for this program to
continue. The Legislature also looked at elder abuse and in terms of abuse, we
also added financial abuse to the definition. And so programs that Elder Services,
the example that Susan gave where they were able to help someone who had been
taken advantage of, I think is critical because we are finding more and more
elderly who are not finding that kind of help and they are being abused, and their
funds are being depleted, and they may be on limited funds to begin with. I think
communities are looking for groups like Elder Services, like the Crisis Center, to
step up and fill those gaps. And they depend on donations, City support, and
human support, and so I'm asking you to find in your budget a way to help Elder
Services so that the seniors in our community can get the services that they need,
and that they deserve. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you. Any other audience commentary? Okay, we're going to shut it down
for City Council discussion.
Throgmorton: Well you need a motion, don't ya?
Hayek: Uh, we have one. It's on (both talking) it's on the floor.
Throgmorton: Oh, sorry!
Hayek: But it was ... it was the recommended allocation (both talking)
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Throgmorton: Yeah. Yeah. I think we need to find ... find a way to increase, uh, funding to
Elder Services and ... and we discussed this in the work session. Uh, one proposal,
which I think is a pretty darn good one, is to, uh ... uh, withdraw some funds from
the ... withdraw dollars from the General Fund and allocate it to Elder Services.
We didn't talk about the dollar amount, so we would need to be clear about that.
Uh... and I would also think that because the Housing and Community
Development Commission on its own initiative is going to be revisiting the Aid to
Agency process because they experienced difficulties, that we could ask them to,
uh ... uh, advise about ... um ... h ... how to incorporate senior services into it better.
But anyhow, the main thing I'm trying to say is what we already t ... talked about
during the work session. We need to find a way to increase some funding.
Mims: I guess one of my questions and maybe, Susan, you can answer this, is ... if it was
in our packet I missed it, but I'm curious about your overall funding and your
various sources. I know with our process, you're... you're filling out a form that
goes through the United Way, and so what ... what kind of funding are you get...
getting from either directly from United Way or from the other municipalities or
the County?
Blodgett: Um, the City of Coralville, we only receive $2,500 and we would really like to
increase that substantially. We have a lot of clients in Coralville. Um, from
Johnson County, Johnson County, um, is providing to us this next year I believe
around $50,000. They always have a one -time special grant we can apply for.
Last year we received it because we went way over meals. We had no idea we
would serve so many meals. Uh ... we have applied for it this year because we
prepare the meals and we have to have a new mixer. And industrial mixers are
not cheap! So they have funded that for us. Um, United Way, we will receive
slight... slightly more than $50,000 from them this year. We have about a million
and a half budget. We have anywhere from 35 to 40 employees at a time,
depending on... is it a big winter and we've got all these people out moving snow,
um, is it, uh, rainy summer and so we're not using our ... our people to ... to mow
lawns, it just ... it just varies. But ... we have around 22 full -time equivalent staff.
Our total budget for personnel and this includes, uh, benefits, is $800,000. Now I
know you can do the math on that. We are lean. We are mean. We are a good
non - profit agency. We are extremely good stewards with ... with dollars that we
have, because we know how precious they are. And we know how critical it is
that every dollar we get in moves out to a client.
Botchway: I was going to say something but it wasn't to ... well, it wasn't to your comment. I
appreciate you asking that question cause that number is ridiculous as far as
$2,500. I mean there needs to be ... sorry, the caffeine is really (laughter) is really
getting to me! I don't normally drink caffeine before a Council meetings and now
I kind of (laughter) being on point, but uh ... we gotta figure out some matrix or
something regarding, you know, funding. I don't know whether or not we need to
put that on a work session, um ... but we need to talk about because that's ... I
mean, that's ... it's not even close. Um...
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Mims: It comes back to this whole regional cooperation and people paying their fair
share, which historically they haven't done, and this is an incredible example.
Botchway: But I think (both talking)
Mims: Can you give us any idea of the breakdown of clients, by municipality?
Blodgett: No but I could get that for you in the next day or two if you'd like it.
Mims: If you could (both talking)
Blodgett: Off the top of my head, no. Um...
Mims: ...if you could maybe send it to Marian Karr, City Clerk (both talking)
Blodgett: ...but I can tell you, out of the clients we said that we had, about 50% of all of our
clients, and we also serve, uh, rural route meals in Washington, Iowa, and Cedar
County, in addition to Johnson. Our total client base is around ... close to 1,100.
Half of our population resides in Iowa City.
Dobyns: (both talking) ... seen that data. I've been on your Board before, and there's a
sizeable amount of people who are in the City of Coralville. Um, and even now
with the reduced recommended amounts to ESI, um ... it's a significant difference,
as Susan alludes to.
Blodgett: Um, let me ... thank you (away from mic) (laughter) Steve brought my report!
Yeah! (laughter) Okay! So, urn ... for fiscal year 14, Johnson County
unduplicated is 1,231 clients; uh, Iowa City is 830, uh, Coralville is 140, North
Liberty is 70, and then the remaining would be in other parts of Johnson County.
Throgmorton: Well so ... surely we can agree that we should have more proportional repre ... or
uh, funding of Elder Services, that that's pretty clear but what we have at hand
right now is what we're going to do.
Blodgett: I'll be glad to stand up here and answer any more questions (laughter) should you
want! (laughs) But if you want me to go back to my seat, I'll be glad to do that
too!
Mims: Well, that's all I have at the moment (laughs) I don't know if anybody else ... I
appreciate that, because I'm ... it's a concern!
Hayek: Well I agree!
Mims: Thank you!
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Payne: Didn't we give the commission that did this a rec ... a method to come up with
this? A method for their recommendations? Or did we just say figure it out,
whatever you want to (both talking)
Mims: Well, it was rank ... they had to rank the high and medium and low priority, 80%
to the high priorities, 20% to the medium and low, and with... and that's I think
one thing that Jim was alluding to is ... and ... and they said with the way the
priorities were set, this was set as a medium priority. And so ... it got lumped in
with that bottom 20% for funding. So it may need to be something that, you
know, as we look at giving them direction for next year, I ... they're going to
review it cause they had troubles with it.
Payne: Uh huh.
Mims: Um ... how do you set those high, medium, and low priorities and does it need to
be adjusted in a way that some ... if we believe something like this should be a
higher priority that it ends up as a high priority, not a medium one.
Markus: You know I ... I don't think this issue would have been as dramatic maybe as it is,
uh, but for the fact that ... that Elder Services received the most significant total cut
in dollars. They went from $48,819 to $11,200, and ... you know, when you look
at the progam ... programs that they provide, that's a si ... significant hit in terms of
those services. So I think what we talked about in work session was the potential
to use some General Fund and maybe ... maybe provide 50% of the differential,
which would create another $18,810 contribution to the $11,200, for a total of
$30,000, which is still a cut but ... I think starts to, you know, move in the right
direction for them. And this'd be a, you know, for this year and ... and then, you
know, if there's an evaluation going forward, uh, maybe there'll be an adjustment
as a result of that.
Dickens: And we're going to have our Ad Hoc Committee on Senior Services. We'll have
a (both talking) more information by next year as well.
Dobyns: And... and let me speak to that, and Brian, you mentioned that, as far as what we
can take a look at going forward. I think, uh, Tom Markus has mentioned sort of
a short-term approach. Um, and I hope that eases the pain. Let's think about the
long -term issues, um, that's why, uh, Council has appointed a Senior Services
Commission. Um, there are many senior services, um, we're all aware — those of
us who are in the biz — know that. Um, and (mumbled) significant problem in
taking a look at all of them. The Senior Services, uh, Commission, um, which
I'm the Council Member of, is going to be taking a long look at many aspects,
um, on where the City needs to put, um, these various issues. Um, at the January
meeting, I looked at the minutes. I would have wished that Elder Services had
provided more commentary, um, when these were provided, and certainly in the
future, you'll have an opportunity to do that with the Senior Services
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Commission. You will be invited, along with other senior services, uh, groups to,
uh, make your petitions.
Botchway: So ... so basically from a ... from a dollar perspective, we're talking about 30,000
now being the total amount.
Markus: 30,010.
Mims: (laughs)
Botchway: 30,010, appreciate that!
Markus: I think every penny and dollar counts at this point.
Throgmorton: Yeah, so ... uh...
Botchway: Oh...
Throgmorton: Go ahead.
Botchway: I just wanted, I mean, I know that we weren't trying to ... disadvantage anybody
else on the list, and I know that one of the requirements, and I think, Steve or
Tracy, if you can speak to this, one of the requirements was the fact that the
guidelines stated minim... minimum allocation awarded will be $5,000. At least
from the ... I know this, you know, minimal compared to, you know, the amount
from General Fund, but if we could give, you know, an extra 3,000 based on what
they applied for. I mean, would just push it a little bit closer to, you know, the
amount that, you know, they didn't ... or they don't have, so to speak.
Hayek: Are you pushing for more money out of General Fund for that or from (both
talking)
Botchway: No, I'd be pushing for taking or trimming off of what we had before. From Free
Lunch, sorry. I (mumbled) designation. I wish I would have started with that.
Throgmorton: Yeah. I ... I'm inclined not to want to do that. We talked about it during the work
session, and if I'm understanding you correctly, Kingsley, pulling some money
from somebody else...
Botchway: That they did not apply for.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Payne: But many of these people may have to go to a free lunch program now that
they're not getting the meals -on- wheels, so ... is Free Lunch going to need, I mean,
even though they didn't apply for it, I understand your thought process, but...
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Throgmorton: Yeah, and they've been told now to expect $3,000. The Free Lunch program has.
Right? So...
Hayek: 5,000.
Throgmorton: 5,000, I'm sorry, 5,000. They've been told to expect it, so then if we go to `em
and say no, you didn't... sorry, you're not going to get that.
Hayek: Well, yeah...
Throgmorton:... (mumbled) is it?
Hayek: So ... so I'm going .... let me ... let me speak on this, and ... and ... and uh, my
comments may be interpreted as cold - hearted. I certainly hope they're not, um...
uh, so this ... the broader context is that this is all part of our Aid to Agencies
process, which is roughly $380,000 a year of money that (coughing, unable to
hear speaker) out through a process to a variety of non - profits that do very
important work in the community, and the majority of those dollars come from
...from our General Fund and for years the City Council tried to do this on its
own, and those who've been around for a little while know what a difficult
process that was, and sometime ago we tasked the Housing and Community
Development Commission with this process and asked them to take the lead on it.
Um, and ... and they've done so, and they came back to us a year or two ago and
said we need more guidance as we ... allocate these dollars and make
recommendations for where they should go throughout the community, and so in
2013 the Council provided that guidance to, uh, the Commission. And, um,
HCDC implemented it and ... and the policy makes very difficult distinctions. It
ranks by ... by priority, high versus medium versus low priority the multitude of
services, uh, provided in the community, and I think that's a hard distinction to
make, and I think you can make very strong arguments that this particular service,
uh, should be high not medium and maybe others should be lower than they're
ranked, but ... but it is the process we ... we came up with. Um, and the choices are
never easy. I was on this commission for four or five years. It's very difficult,
but um, I do think HCDC, the Housing Commission, is in a ... is in a good ... better,
relatively better position than we are really because they spend more time with
this process. They have closer interface with the ... with the organizations. They
work closely with staff, and ... and they make really, uh, deliberate decisions. Um,
and the choices are not easy and ... and this is not to besmirch Elder Services at all,
which I think is as worthy as anything else we ... we fund of the 24 or so, um,
programs, that ... that are on this list, but ... but so ... but ... so the request before us is
to take additional monies out of, uh, the General Fund to make up the difference,
um ... uh, on ... in the case of one of the roughly two dozen applicants, um, because
we're not comfortable with the recommendation we got from our commission,
and I ... I'm ... I'm just ... I'm not comfortable with that. I think it's inconsistent
with our budgeting process. I think it sends a mixed message to our ... to our
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Housing Commission, um, and I think the proper thing to do, which is what we've
done in the past when we don't like how the recommendations come to us, is to
do kind of what you're talking about, Kingsley, and that is to look for, uh, ways to
take from the other recommended allocations, uh, some amount of money to
increase, um, this particular one because we think that is a better outcome or
pursues the public good in ... in a more efficient way or ... or for whatever reason.
Um, we're not... it's... the proposed recommendation, it...it does represent a cut in
funding dollars to Elder Services, which I'm very sensitive to, but it's not a cut in
funding from the City. We are, uh, funding about $380,000 of...of programming
throughout the community. Um, that's not being cut. Um ... but it's ... it's never
an easy process to divide limited public resources amongst a multitude of
agencies that are doing good work in the community. So...
Throgmorton: I see things quite differently, Matt, uh, we developed a policy... Housing and
Community Development Commission did a fine job of carrying out the policy,
and it's had an unanticipated consequence. And we should learn from the
unanticipated consequence, and adjust to it, and we should adjust to it partly by
bringing some additional funds out of the General Fund because the funds are
available. We ... it's not as if we're... increasing the tax rates and property taxes
and all that to do it. And, we should tell the Commission we'd like to have some
... some advice about how to bring seniors more clearly into the... into the list of
priorities. I don't see any reason why we can't do that. It's a ... it's a matter of
appraising the Commission for the work... good work it did, but also
acknowledging a consequence we didn't intend to have happen.
Payne: I think to do that, to be fair to every agency that applied, we need to take that
money out of the General Fund. Send the whole thing back to the Commission,
and ask them to redo the whole thing with the increased dollar amount. That's fir
to everybody on the list then. So if we took $20,000 out of the General Fund, we
need to tell `em they got $398,700 to work with and start over.
Mims: Oh I wouldn't do that!
Payne: I ... I'm not saying that that's what we should do, but that's the fair thing to do.
You just can't take 20,000 out and give it to one ... when we had a clear direction
and they followed the direction. Now we know the direction isn't ... maybe has an
unintended outcome, so next year we need to fix it.
Mims: Yeah, and I ... and I think for ... I mean I think when you look at the rest of these, I
mean, I think the bulk of them got, you know, either close to what they requested.
Some of `em, you know, were ... some were significant increases from last year.
Still not maybe what they requested for this year. This is the only one that had
such an incredibly significant negative impact that was, you know, I don't think
that anybody anticipated, uh, with the direction we had given. So, I'm
comfortable with the City Manager's, you know, advice and recommendation of
taking, you know, the shortfall between what they got last year and what we...
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what was recommended, split that in half and give them that difference added on,
which would put `em at about the 30,000, um, level. With the understanding that
this is a one -time action on the part of the City Council. We're not every year
going to keep dipping back into the gen... General Fund to supplement our Aid to
Agencies budget, but we're doing it this year because of the incredible
discrepancy, uh, that came up between what they've gotten in the past and what
they requested, and what our policy or what our approach ended up with, and as
we've said, the Commission is going to be looking at the whole process. We may
need to engage them on that between now and next year to make sure that this sort
of thing doesn't happen again so people have a little better expectation of where
they might rank in terms of priorities and what that might mean for their funding.
Throgmorton: Do ... do you need a motion?
Hayek: How do we want to handle this?
Dilkes: That's... that's what it'd be is a motion to amend (several talking)
Throgmorton: Well I ... I'd like to move to amend ... uh, this is a resolution, isn't it?
Hayek: Well it's a motion to amend the resolution.
Throgmorton: I move to amend the resolution to increase the funding to Elder Services, to a total
of $30,000...
Markus: And $10.
Throgmorton:... dollars.
Dobyns: Second!
Hayek: Uh, so it's a motion from Throgmorton, seconded by Dobyns to increase, uh,
using General Fund dollars the...
Markus: For the difference!
Hayek: ... for the difference, but to result in (both talking)
Markus: ...between the recommendation and the $30,000, to come out of General Fund.
Hayek: To result in an allocation to Elder Services, uh, of $30,010 for the FY15 ... um,
cycle. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Looks
like it passes 5 -2, Hayek and Payne in the negative. Okay, so we'll consider the
resolution amended, um, and that's now on the floor. Is there any further
discussion, uh, as to that?
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Botchway: Just so I'm clear, I wasn't trying to poo -poo on, um ... the uh, the Free Lunch
program. It was just the only one out of the columns that when they requested
they got less...or they got more! That was it! It was the only one out of all the
programs. So ... just to clar ... just to clarify! (laughter)
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries. Okay, let's move on to Item 14.
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ITEM 15. GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS SALE - RESOLUTION DIRECTING
SALE OF $11,980,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2014.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Dennis!
Bockenstedt: Uh, good evening, I'm Dennis Bockenstedt, the Finance Director for the City.
Um, just going to give you a brief update on how the sale went today. I think you
can kind of see the results in front of you, um, we had a bid opening this morning
at, uh, 10:00 A.M. for the, uh, bonds that we sold today. Uh, we feel very, uh,
happy, I guess you could say, about the sale. We received 10 bids. All of them
were ... were really good bids, but we received a low bid of, uh, 1.77% for a 10-
year bond and so (several responding) uh, we're pretty excited. We were
expecting it to probably be in about the 2.3 to 2.4% range, based on what the
market's been doing. So, um, we're pretty happy with the results of the sale and
we recommend you accept it!
Mims: Oh yeah! (several talking and laughing)
Hayek: Thanks, Dennis! (several talking)
Markus: I ... I would just point out that, you do understand that the Finance Department, led
by Dennis, does a lot of work in preparing for a bond sale. The official statement,
the discussions with Moody, um, it...it takes a lot of effort to get this all out, and
to get the information to them so that they can accurately evaluate the risk and get
that information out to the bidders. So ... thanks to Dennis!
Mims: Yes, thank you!
Markus: And staff!
Hayek: Well and I think because we do have Dennis, our Finance Director, here and
because I think some of us wanted to mention the Moody's triple -A rating and we
figure you're going to get out of here after these items are over (laughter) now is
the time to commend staff for, uh, holding on to, uh, our triple -A credit rating,
which for the public's benefit is the absolute highest credit rating a local
government like Iowa City can achieve. There are only two left in the state of
Iowa. We are one of them. Um, and it results in what you just saw here, which
was a proposal for an exceptionally good interest rate on money for borrowing,
uh, to fund the various things that the City does, and it's because we maintain
a ... a tight operation, a conservative fiscal approach, um, and do other things that,
um, the private bond market looks to in gauging our credit worthiness that we are
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able to achieve these low interest rates, which is a direct savings to ... to the people
of Iowa City. So, that's hard work and ... and I know, uh, our staff does a lot to
interact with, uh, Moody's and others in the bond market who look at our
operation and they ask questions, seek information. We're a very transparent
organization. I think that's part of our success, um, and that's clearly, uh, the...
the case, uh, even in 2014, so Tom and Dennis and everybody else (both talking)
Markus: Yeah, I ... I think what's interesting to note is Moody's commonly refers to us as a
non - typical, um, demographic for a triple -A bond rating, which means that we
have to do some ... some different things to show our strength in terms of how we
go about achieving a triple -A bond rating, and the other thing I would say to you
is that ... the scorecard, you know, for lack of better terminology that they use to
evaluate, uh, bond ratings now has changed, which caused us to scramble a little
bit, and so pensions like they have across the country are becoming a much more
significant issue in terms of how they eval... evaluate, um, credit risk, uh, to bond
buyers, and it's something that I have actually contended for a long time that the
evaluation is not been, um, as accurate as it should be about pension, um, liability.
So ... I think they're now getting to the point where they're... they're really taking
a hard look at those liabilities and what those liabilities mean, based on some
pretty dramatic examples of what's happened across the country. So, I think we
have to be diligent and careful as we go forward at these ratings. So ... and will
be!
Mims: Well, and I think we've put some good policies in place over the last few years
and then the newest approach that staff has done is with our emergency fund,
so ... um, doing those kinds of things and be able to show Moody's that we're
preparing for things such as the property tax reform, etc., um, obviously helps as
well, so...
Markus: Right.
Mims: ...thank you!
Hayek: Did we vote on 15 yet? All right (laughter and several talking) Further (laughter)
total sidetrack here!
Dickens: And then Dennis can go home!
Hayek: (laughter) He's got one more! Uh, further discussion on Item 15? Roll call,
please. Passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 18. WATER RATE FEES - AMENDING TITLE 3, "CITY FINANCES,
TAXATION & FEES," CHAPTER 4 "SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES,
CHARGES, BONDS, FINES AND PENALTIES," SECTION 3 ENTITLED
"POTABLE WATER USE AND SERVICE," OF THE CITY CODE, TO
INCREASE OR CHANGE WATER SERVICE CHARGES AND FEES IN
IOWA CITY, IOWA. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Payne: Move second consideration.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Mims. Discussion? Roll call, please. (several
talking) Did you want to say something? (laughter)
Markus: Yeah, I ... I did want to mention something. Uh, Councilor Throgmorton brought
up the issue of, uh, those who have, uh, problems paying for their bills and we
submitted a report and I hope that you had a chance to see that... as a part of this
whole (both talking)
Throgmorton: ... I didn't get to it.
Markus: Okay. Uh, one thing I wanted to mention is the possibility of doing some sort of
charitable dues, kind of check -off to help pay for those types of things in the
future. And to gauge the Commission... or Council's interest in doing something
like that. Put it right on the water bill.
Hayek: So that the... the... the utility payer, or the individual or business...
Markus: Yeah, if they wish to help somebody that's less capable of paying for their ... other
communities have done that around the country and I was hoping that you might
want to consider that. So if you ask, we'll look into it and come back with a
recommendation. (several responding)
Mims: One of the ... issues in doing that, I'm assuming ... I don't know how ... what
percentage of the City water customers pay electronically, and don't even get a
bill. Or if...
Markus: Some of us do that.
Mims: ...yeah, or if I get a bill it's by email and I don't bother to open it cause I just
know the money's coming out of my checking account automatically and I just
never even look at it. So how to reach those people like me.
Markus: What... do you have any idea what percent of the... (unable to hear person away
from mic) Is it? I wonder how we would take that on.
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Hayek: You'd have to come up here if (unable to hear person away from mic)
Markus: Yep. It is ... as a general part of the...
Hayek: Yeah.
Markus: ...the direction we'll take a look at that and see if we can come up with
something.
Payne: Do ... do you, I mean, you have ... things that you have to send out, due ... due to
regulations, on a basis. I mean, those (both talking)
Markus: The water ... the water report goes out (several talking)
Payne: Right, the fluoride and bill insert, I mean, how do you get those to people who get
electronic bills? Maybe you could do it the same way.
Markus: Yeah, we'll take a look at all that and come back. All right. Just as long as
there's some interest!
Mims: Yes! Definitely!
Hayek: Thank you! Okay, roll call, please. Passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 19. LOWER WEST BRANCH ROAD SPEED LIMIT - ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 9, ENTITLED "MOTOR VEHICLES AND
TRAFFIC," CHAPTER 3, ENTITLED "RULES OF THE ROAD,"
SECTION 6, ENTITLED "SPEED RESTRICTIONS," SUBSECTION B,
ENTITLED "EXCEPTIONS ". (PASS AND ADOPT)
Dobyns: Move adoption.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Do ... Dobyns, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Yeah, I'm going to vote against this again. I ... I noticed too we got a couple
letters, or emails or whatever, in our ... late afternoon packet. Both of whom
oppose the...increase in speeds.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 5 -2, Throgmorton and Payne in the
negative.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7 -0.
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ITEM 20. MECHANICAL CODE AMENDMENT - ORDINANCE AMENDING
TITLE 17, ENTITLED "BUILDING AND HOUSING," CHAPTER 4,
ENTITLED "MECHANICAL CODE," BY AMENDING THE
INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE, 2009 EDITION, TO
REGULATE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN HOOD TERMINATION
LOCATIONS. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
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.
Throgmorton: You need a second?
Mims: Yeah!
Throgmorton: Second! (laughter)
Hayek: (laughs) Motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by Throgmorton (several
talking and laughing) Discussion? (several talking and laughing) Roll call,
please!
Mims: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Payne: Second.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: (laughter) Pass and adopt moved by Mims. We're gonna give the second to
Dobyns, cause I think he feels lonely over there! Discussion? You know this...
we make light of this process, but ... but this measure is a direct response to a
reasonable request from the business sector to adapt, um ... uh, to ... to changes
downtown and... and really a reasonable request, um, I think it's a good thing for
us to support and not lose sight of. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes
7 -0.
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ITEM 23. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Hayek: We'll start down with you, Councilor.
Botchway: Um ... nothing! (laughs) Sorry! I had some things but (several talking and
laughing)
Throgmorton: I think I'll mention one thing. On Saturday, May 10th, Jill Harper and City High
students will be celebrating the Grant Wood neighborhood art project. It's going
to take place from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. at 1930 Lakeside Drive and the project was
funded by the City's public art program. So, it sounds like a really good event
and ... maybe I hope (mumbled) be out there! (laughs)
Mims: Um, Friday afternoon I'm gonna go to the ICAD's STEM, uh, drop -in at the
Sheraton. They've got UI students, uh, presenting projects and stuff there so
looking forward to doing that.
Dickens: Looking forward to Grandparent's Day on Friday at Regina to see all my
grandkids! (laughs)
Hayek: Sure they want to see you? (laughter and several talking) Okay!
Dickens: That's why they call me Nono!
Payne: Last Saturday the Farmers Market started, uh, across the street in the ramp, and it
looked like there was a lot of people there, so just a reminder that the Farmers
Market's open!
Hayek: Uh, couple of, uh, Hawkeye related items, uh, I was, uh, sweeping the front entry
of my law office yesterday morning as I do at about 7:30 every day and uh, there
were a number of U of I, uh, athletes out on the streets of downtown Iowa City.
This is a, through a United Way initiative. They were cleaning garbage and
cleaning up our, uh, our downtown area, and the ones who were near my office
were from the swim team, so I wanted to thank them. I said I would, um, and I
think it's a great way to give back to the community. Uh, the second Hawkeye
related thing is Herky on Parade. You saw the press on it. This is through the,
uh, the ... the Convention and Visitors Bureau. It's round two of those massive
statutes that are artistically detailed and put around the community. Um, and uh,
Iowa City was well represented on that, including in particular our own, uh, Geoff
Fruin and Marcia Bollinger and I'm not sure if anybody else...
Markus: Chris O'Brien.
Hayek: Chris O'Brien, that's right, but I know that, uh ... two nights ago Geoff was out
until almost 3:00 in the morning with crews, uh, stealthily, uh, installing these, uh,
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Herkys around the ... around the place in what they called their "Hawk and Awe"
uh ... uh, deployment of, uh, of the statutes, but uh ... uh, Geoff did a great job on
that and I just wanted to commend him!
Fruin: Just don't lean on `em! (laughter) I'm not known for my handiwork!
So... (laughter)
Markus: He's been draggin' the whole week (laughter) as a result of all that!
Throgmorton: I was just going to say I was at, uh, President Mason's house for some reception
kind of thing and there's a new Herky right across the street from her at the bend
in the road. It just happens to be a City of Literature, um, mini - library, so it's got
in its midsection it has (several talking) books and you can open `em up and take
one out! It's pretty cool!
Hayek: Brilliant!
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ITEM 24. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF.
a) City Manager.
Hayek: Tom!
Markus: Just one reminder — it's Mother's Day this Sunday, so don't forget your moms!
(laughter)
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