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ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS.
b. Juneteenth National Freedom Day — June 14
Hayek: (reads proclamation)
Karr: And here to accept the proclamation on behalf of the Juneteenth Committee is
RaQuishia Harrington. (applause)
Hayek: Thanks for being here!
Harrington: Thank you!
Hayek: Here you go!
Harrington: I have flyers that I'm going to leave for everyone at the back of the door. Thank
you (laughs)
Hayek: Thank you so much!
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ITEM 4. 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. If there's something
that's not on the agenda that you'd like to bring to our attention we invite you to
come forward, ask that you sign in, verbally give us your name, and to limit your
comments to five minutes.
Gravitt: My name is, uh, Mary Gravitt and I'm here as usual about, uh, quality of life in
Iowa City. Came to Iowa City in 1989 because I liked Iowa City. I stayed rather
because I liked it. This ... what I'm passing out now is a letter that I got from the
University of Iowa on the LEAP program, and I'm going to connect this with the
Senior Center. The Senior Center now is under attack. I consider it under attack.
And the people who work there and who attend it there, they consider it under
attack. Now, the University of Iowa got a million dollars from the ... from the
Bernard Osher Foundation. Now if you see on the second page where it came
here in... in, uh, 02. Now, from 02 to sometimes in the middle of 13, they went
broke. They had a million dollars. And the Senior Center is still going. The
Senior Center offered the same thing that 011ie offered. It... it was originally
named 011ie, and they changed the name to LEAP. But ... the Senior ... they paid
their teachers and I don't know what they did with that million dollars, or they
frittered it away, but the Senior Center is still going, and I want you to consider
this when you, uh, put the Senior Center under attack and try to shrink its
footprint. Now that university, with all its contacts, could not survive, and the
Senior City ... Cen ... Center is surviving. There must be something good going on
at Senior Center. We were blue before there was a Blue Zone. And got results!
And another thing I'm so upset about why we get half a bench and three sides to a
bus shelter in front of Aldi's. I think ... the working class and the poor class are
tied at least to what Walmart is willing to give. Three sides and a ... and a quarter,
or three- quarters in the front, to keep the wind and the weather out, and a whole
bench! How you gonna have half a bench when people waitin' for the bus? It's
not fair! And ... I want to talk about ... you brag about this city being a `walking
city.' Please patch the sidewalks! And please get that man to take his dumpsters
off the sidewalk and plant some grass. Look like the goats been eatin' the grass
again, and mow his lawn. He's downtown! And maybe Mr. Moen needs to look
down there at his neighbor, turn his fabulous hotel into a slum area. So if you
gonna get on the people on the city, you gotta do your part too. I don't know if
any of you ever walk around the city. I don't know how I can see so much, and
it's going on year after year after year, and my next thing is SEATS. SEATS did
not get a fair hearing! Someone told me down at the Senior Center today that he
got a letter said SEATS going up to $5.00! I don't know if it's true or not; I
haven't checked my mail! But people tell me things. I said they should come
down here and complain, but SEATS weren't treated fairly, and SEATS needs an
Ad Hoc committee, and SEATS gets federal money! So something went wrong.
I know what went wrong. Old school boy fights, and this person who had all the
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mouth but especially... expects special treatment because of her "condition." I'm
not gonna say what condition it is, but I'm saying you don't ask for special favors
and then you're worse than the person we got rid of! And SEATS, the people
who use SEATS are on fixed incomes, the majority ... are on fixed incomes, and
that raise they got from Social Security got eaten up in rent if they're in
subsidized housing, and they lost half their food stamps, probably, because of that
raise. Uh, Republicans have no feeling for poor people, and ... and (mumbled) the
quality of life ... of life is going down in Iowa City! It's not because the people
aren't law abiding! The people are (mumbled) the same. Maybe the classes are
changin' but if the City won't do its part, if you won't make it walkable because
trying to walk between ... on Washington, between Dubuque and Clinton is like
trying to commit suicide! That's one side of the sidewalk... with those benches
poking out is not nice. Find somebody who knows something about urban design,
and they'll tell you, those benches poking out are impeding people from walking.
If it's going to be walkable ... let it be walkable! You know? They're not couches
to be stuck out in the middle, and people are entitled to the sidewalk. That's one
thing you're entitled to! You might not be entitled to the street, but you're
entitled to the sidewalk. And that's all I'm complaining about tonight, but I'll
find something else, and I won't be complaining if you fill that hole in front of
Kirkwood! That way I won't see this stuff. I can just walk by it! You know, and
people tell me about it. I say I don't want to hear it cause it's got nothing to do
with me! But if I gotta walk by it, and I see it, I have to express myself. I think
that's part of having a conscience. Having a social conscience. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Howarth: All right! Hello! Uh, my name is Ali Howarth and I, uh, work with Josh over at
the Iowa City /Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, um, and we just
wanted to be sure to attend today on behalf of the CVB to thank you for all of
your support in producing 2014's return of Herky on Parade. As many of you
might have, um, been seeing or experiencing yourselves, um, Herky on Parade
has definitely taken the community by storm, and it wouldn't have been possible
without the City of Iowa City's support and participation in its production. More
specifically we want to thank City of, um, Iowa City Manager Tom Markus,
Assistant City of...Assistant City Manager Geoff Fruin especially for your
leading of the install team, Geoff! Marsha Bollinger for her large role on our, um,
Executive Herky on Parade Committee and ... and all of her hard work with all of
the artists that have helped to make those, um, public art pieces shine. All of you
from the City Council who helped with the unveil on Monday, May 5t ". The Iowa
City Public Art Program, Mike Moran, John Sebasky, Brian Michael and the Iowa
City Streets Department, as well. We've had numerous positive comments from
those living and visiting the area about how this parade has been a bas ... blast for
their families to get involved in. And have really enhanced the quality of life
here. For example, um, one in particular... we have a... a comment on our
Facebook page that has told us that they actually discovered Terry Trueblood, um,
Recreation Area for the first time because of the wood grain Herky that's out
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there. Um, and there are a lot of more ... or a lot more comments, um, that you
should check out on our Facebook page, as well. Um, again I just want to say
thank you so much for your support in coproducing this event for our greater
community. We could not do something like this without your support, and to
express our thanks, we wanted to present you with, um, a framed 2014 Herky on
Parade poster to hang within City Hall. So let me grab that here quick. (away
from mic) (noises on mic) So this poster (several talking) is framed and the
plague says, "Presented by the Iowa City /Coralville Area Convention and Visitors
Bureau to the City of Iowa City with appreciation for their efforts to coproduce
the 2014 Herky on Parade public art and community engagement event." So we
very much appreciate your help (away from mic) (laughter)
Hayek: See if I can hold this end.
Howarth: It's a little ... (laughter) There you go! So thank you again so much! We ... we
truly appreciate all of your guys' support and, um, and we couldn't have had this
success without you, so...
Hayek: Well, Ali, uh ... thank you so much. Oh, I don't want this to fall. This is a
beautiful piece of artwork here (laughter) I'm on the CVB Board and, um ... the
credit goes to you folks and, uh, you Ali and Josh and the whole team there and...
and I'm glad you ... you, uh, brought out the names of the Iowa City staffers, uh...
uh, who were part of the roll -out of this. Uh, it's been an incredible event and
(mumbled) everybody up here is very, uh, supportive and excited about it and the
anecdotal, uh, feedback we're getting is... is remarkable. This is so much better
than an already good roll -out 10 years ago. Um, so, it's great... great... great thing
for all ... all the communities involved.
Howarth: Awesome (both talking)
Hayek: Thank you so much.
Howarth: Yeah, no ... thank you!
Dobyns: And as Matt makes his way back, just to let you guys know, I mentioned, uh, at a
previous meeting the range of, uh, people from the Iowa City area who were
going and having their pictures taken. Not just graduation! But also just having
families, um ... go by, getting their pictures taken all over town. It was just really
sweet! So...
Scott: Hard to follow Herky on Parade! (laughter) Um, good evening. My name is
Sally Scott. I live at 205 Black Springs Circle, and I serve as the facilitator of the
Johnson County Affordable Homes Coalition. Uh, I wanted to use this
opportunity to clarify our Coalition's position on affordable housing, uh, in
Riverfront Crossings. Um, after several months of presenting before the Planning
and Zoning Commission, we supported an amendment to the City's Master Plan
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for Riverfront Crossings that read, "Development incentives, such as density
bonuses and policy options that require affordable housing for City- assisted
projects within the district shall be considered." Um, at the May 20th City
Council working session, uh, this amendment was interpreted, at least by some, as
advocating mandatory inclusionary zoning. Uh, that was not our intention. We
were not taking a position on inclusionary zoning when we supported that
amendment, pro or con. Our Coalition wants to generate affordable homes in
Riverfront Crossings, and we are not wedded to any particular means to achieve
that goal. The possibilities include regulation, incentives, or a mix of the two.
And there may be other possibilities that ... that we haven't considered. Uh, we
hope that others share our goal and will be open to discussing different means to
achieve it. Uh, we think a successful process will generate public, private, non-
profit partnerships and will require compromise as well as creativity. Increasing
access to affordable housing for people making less than 80% of the area median
income is socially and economically productive for the community as a whole,
and you will find letters in your packet, uh, supporting this point of view from a
wide range of our community. So as the process moves forward, we are looking
forward to working with the Iowa City community, City staff, Planning and
Zoning Commission, and all of you on the City Council on this issue. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else during community comment? Do
we need a motion to accept the, uh, frame?
Karr: No (laughter)
Hayek: Little parliamentary, uh, jokesters in there! (laughter)
Throgmorton: It's quite an impressive, um, collection of photos, isn't it (mumbled)
Hayek: Oh it's beautiful! Yeah!
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
ITEM 5a REZONING ( GOOSETOWN / HORACE MANN) —
ORDINANCE TO DESIGNATE THE GOOSETOWN /
HORACE MANN CONSERVATION DISTRICT AS A
CONSERVATION DISTRICT OVERLAY (OCD) ZONE.
(REZ -14- 00004) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Hayek: This is second consideration, but there is a request, uh, from the neighborhood
association, one of the neighborhood associations, for expedited action.
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally
passed be suspended, that the second consideration vote be waived, and that the
ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Throgmorton: I ... I normally resist (both talking)
Hayek: ...what I wanted to see is ... is there anyone from the audience who wishes to
address the Council on Item 5a?
Gravitt: (speaking away from mic) Did you accept my, uh, the thing that I gave out?
Doesn't it have to be accepted into the minutes?
Hayek: Yeah, that's a...
Karr: Thank you.
Hayek: ... yeah.
Payne: Motion to accept correspondence.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. The motion carries. The correspondence is accepted. Is there
anyone here to address the Council on Item 5a, which is the Goosetown/Horace
Mann rezoning? Or, uh, conservation district. Okay. So we'll shut it down for
Council discussion. Jim.
Throgmorton: yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off...
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Hayek: No, I'm ... that's okay!
Throgmorton: Uh, I normally resist motions to ... to condense or whatever the right verb is. Uh,
but we have done it occasionally in the past and I know the Council as a whole
over the years has done it with some frequency. In this particular instance since
there has been no expressed opposition, either in writing or orally to the Council,
uh, I don't see any compelling reason not to collapse and move ahead.
Mims: Would agree.
Hayek: Eleanor, do you have ... any advice one way or the other on this? Okay.
(laughter)
Dilkes: It's up to you! (laughter and several talking) It'll take six of you! (laughter)
Hayek: Yeah, yeah. I share Jim's, uh, general reluctance. I think if there's even an iota
of controversy, uh, at the Council level, I ... I take a conservative view on
collapsing. Um ... uh, but in this instance, uh, at the Council level at least, we've
received nothing. No ... no one appeared at the public hearing. Um...
Payne: The only thing we've had is some correspondence but I mean...
Hayek: Yeah.
Payne: ...like one email or something, nothing that was ... and they ... I ... they didn't come
and talk tonight or the last time so...
Hayek: Right. Right. So I think based on the lack of any ... anyone appearing at our
meetings, I'm ... I'm comfortable with this. Okay. Any further discussion? Roll
call, please.
Karr: (both talking) ... do ex parte?
Dilkes: ...probably want to do ex parte too.
Hayek: Oh, you're right! This is ... it's, you know, it's the storm cloud coming over me
(laughter) (mumbled) ... letter in and... good lord. Uh...
Payne: It's only ex parte since the last (both talking)
Dilkes: Since the last reading.
Payne: Okay.
Hayek: Yeah! So...
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Mims: None.
Payne: None.
Hayek: I had a quick email from ... from Mike Wright, thanking us for our vote on the first
round, but that's (both talking)
Dickens: ...that's it.
Hayek: ...all I can remember. Okay. Ex parte's out of the way. Discussions out of the
way. Anything else? Roll call, please.
Mims: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Pass and adopt moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Roll call,
please. Passes 6 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries 6 -0.
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ITEM 5b 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. (PASS AND
ADOPT)
Mims: Move adoption.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Uh ... Jim, were you gonna...
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Hayek: (mumbled)
Throgmorton: I'd like to move to amend the ordinance by making three specific modifications.
You have them all in writing in front of you. Uh, first for any projects that might
receive a density bonus for affordable or workforce housing, the affordability of
the units must be maintained for a minimum of 15 years. Second, the maximum
post -bonus building height in the park district ... and on the west side of the river,
shall not exceed 10 stories. Third, one bonus floor shall be permitted for each
floor of class A space. That's the motion.
Dobyns: Second.
Throgmorton: Thank you.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by ... Dobyns. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Well ... let me kinda lay out a case here, but first I want to acknowledge that the
City staff, uh, responded to these amendments in writing to us. It appears in the
packet, under Item 5b, way ... way down near the end (laughs) but it's there. Uh,
so I want to thank them for, uh, responding. And they also describe the process
they intend to follow with regard to considering, uh, affordable housing incentives
in the ... within the form based code. I want to thank them for that as well. I'm
especially pleased to see that non - profit housing providers will be included in this
process. So ... bravo! Uh, I also, uh ... see that the staff recommends against
adoption of the three proposed recommendations, and the staff lays out, uh,
reasons for that. Uh, it seems to me that, um, despite the recommendation, there
are still good reasons to, at a minimum, for us to discuss them and then secondly,
I think to adopt them. So, the first amendment, uh, addresses concerns about
having a developer receive a ... one to four -story affordable workforce housing
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bonus ... but then, uh, convert the units into market -rate apartments, uh, some ...I
don't know... 10 years later, maybe a little bit less, but something like that. Um,
that ... that makes no sense to me to ... to have ... to open that door, to make it
possible for us to provide a ... a very large set of incentives for development in the
area ... that might result in some affordable units being provided, or not ... not
necessarily affordable. Some workforce units provided ... but only for a ... a tiny
number of years. It seems to me if we're going to provide those kinds of
incentives, there should be a longer time period involved. So I ... I suggest 15
years, and I know it ... unless, I don't know, Doug or John can correct me. I think
this idea was proposed at some point during the Planning and Zoning
Commission's deliberations, and rejected by the Commission as a whole, uh, but
nonetheless, there was support for it, uh ... uh, before the Planning and Zoning
Commission, on the part of some Planning and Zoning Commissioners. So
anyhow, that ... that's what I would say about the first proposed amendment. We
could talk about it now if you want or I can say something about the next two as
well. I ... I don't know how you want to proceed.
Hayek: Why ... why don't you just go through all three.
Throgmorton: Okay. All right. With regard to the second amendment, the staff's memo says,
and I'm quoting here: "The intent behind allowing taller buildings in the park
district and for projects with frontage on the Iowa River is to allow buildings that
will take advantage of the views of the park and river." So to be honest when I
read that I thought, buildings don't take advantage of views, people do. So the
question becomes who would have the desirable views. And ... I'll do my Bill
Blasio kind of thing here now. It seems to me that if we ... if we enable the
construction of 15 -story buildings, fronting on the park, down by the river, that
the people who will live in those buildings and have the desirable views will be
wealthier people. Not incredibly wealthy people cause I don't think there are any
incredibly wealthy people in Iowa City, but wealthier people. And I think that's
not fair! If... if in fact that's what it ends up being exclusively. Moreover the
staff s memo doesn't really address a... an issue that was raised before us, uh, four
weeks ago, and I think in the Planning and Zoning Commission's hearings as
well, having to do with scale and proportion. A 15...15 -story buildings down
there would be completely out of scale and out of proportion with the existing
buildings in the area, and ... uh, out of scale with what one finds basically in Iowa
City. So if we think about how people characterize Iowa City now, it's
characterized as ... um, really, um ... a great place to live because it combines the
attractions of small town living with the culture of a larger city. That's what our
Comprehensive Plan basically says. That's what people routinely say when they
describe what they really like about the place. If we ... initiate a process that will
enable the construction of 15 -story buildings, down on the river, I think that
radically transforms the core of Iowa City, the essence of Iowa City. As
described in the Comprehensive Plan. Uh, the third amendment with regard to
...I want ... I want to ask John Yapp a question. So, John I wonder if you could
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come up cause I ... I might even be willing to withdraw this particular amendment
cause I'd just ... I'd like to get some clarification.
Yapp: Uh, John Yapp, Development Services.
Throgmorton: Thank you, John. Uh ... uh, the memo you wrote reads in part, and I'll try to read
it slowly cause I know it's kinda hard to deal with stuff quickly on the fly. The
proposed code would allow up to two bonus floors for every floor of class "A"
office space. Up to two floors for every floor. But later in the memo it says,
"City Council approval is required for bonus height of more than two floors." I
don't understand what that means. It seems to me that they ... the two statements
work in different... they're... they're kind of contradictory or not complementary
anyhow. Uh, what actually would be permitted with regard to class "A" office
space?
Yapp: Up to two floors, per floor of office space, would be permitted.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Yapp: However, throughout the code, any bonus height of more ... more than two floors,
so three or more floors, would have to be approved by the City Council.
Throgmorton: Okay, so...
Yapp: So for ... for example, two floors of office space ... up to four floors, could be
permitted, but it would have to be authorized by the City Council.
Throgmorton: Right, okay, so three floors could conceivably result in six floors of bonus. I...
you know (both talking)
Yapp: Conceivably (both talking)
Throgmorton: (both talking) ...City Council approval, and it ... would it already go through staff,
as well, right?
Yapp: Up to the maximum allowable height of the building, of course.
Throgmorton: Right.
Yapp: Yeah.
Throgmorton: Yeah, so ... again there's a matter of proportion here. I ... I don't understand the
reasoning behind, uh, that degree of bonus for class "A" office space when we're
already encouraging class "A" office space in a variety of other ways, especially
through TIF. But anyhow, those are, uh, the ... the three particulars of the
proposed amendment. It's basically what I wanted to say about them. So, I ... I'd
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be curious to know how you react to the suggestions and then if you choose to
reject them, uh, I totally get it, understand.
Hayek: Is there anyone from the audience on (coughing, unable to hear speaker) motion
to amendment the agenda item? Okay. Any reaction to Jim's motion, which has
been seconded.
Dobyns: Jim, I don't plan to support the amendment. I'm going to support the original,
um, resolution from City staff. I ... I guess it was my overall intent to encourage a,
uh, substantive discussion of inclusionary zoning, um, and especially involved
with, uh, stakeholders over the next few years, and I suspect sometime in the
future, Tom or Geoff, is that the, uh, we're going to get a report about what ... how
those discussions ensued and ... what they told us. Um, at this point I'm a little bit
reluctant to codify at this point in the discussion of Riverfront Crossing. Um, I
think that's sort of like... sort of like saying well let's have a meeting and discuss
it, but oh by the way, I've already made the decision. And I think that sends the
wrong decision. Um ... uh, but you know this is ... there are ... this is unprecedented
enough for me, in that it actually, um, has started the ball in motion about
discussing of something which, you know, uh, some people have been
uncomfortable with in the past. So I will not support the amendment because I
think it's sufficient, uh, for what I want the intent to be.
Throgmorton: Just to be clear, Rick, I ... I'm not ... the particulars in this proposed amendment,
the three particulars, don't address, um ... the uh...
Dobyns: Inclusionary zoning.
Throgmorton: ... the inclusionary zoning.
Dobyns: What (both talking)
Throgmorton: ... the first one is about the dura ... temporal duration of time, uh, for which the
bonus ... for which the affordability would have to be guaranteed.
Dobyns: Well I would agree it isn't a draconian change, uh, but still I think the intent is not
to codify much in the way of anything. I like to go into discussions having it
unencumbered. Um, by anything like that. And it does ... that does, uh, suggest,
you know some things. I'd like to give the City staff, um ... I don't want to overly
constrain City staff in negotiations with potential developers, and I think that's
what the amendments could potentially be going into those discussions.
Throgmorton: Okay. All right.
Payne: And ... with the very first amendment, the minimum of 15 years, I guess at work
session the last time, I got the impression that sometimes it may be 12 years, and
sometimes it may be 22. Depending on what the project is and how many units
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there could be, and you putting this in here at 15 is actually making it less than
... it's ... it's tying ... tying staff's hands that they can't make it any more than... 15
if that's what they ... think would be necessary for the project. I'm not sure that
putting a ... a year in there is a ... is a good idea. I think it's more of a ... way to
negotiate.
Throgmorton: I seriously doubt that they'd be ... their hands would be tied, but I ... I hear what
you're saying.
Mims: I think there's a lot of positives in what you've put in here, Jim. Um ... and ... and I
would agree on, you know, from the standpoint of the ... the length of time that
property must be kept as affordable. I think we have to look very carefully at that,
that we're not just giving away money and it's only affordable for ... for too short
a period of time. But again, I'm ... I'm concerned about going into kind of a
whole new realm in the way we're doing some of this with the form based code
and the regulation, um... you know, it... are there situations where what we are
giving to the ... to the developers is minimal enough that we're still getting them to
do it, but to ask them to keep it for 15 years is maybe too much. Um, I'm ... I'm
just not sure, and so to maintain that kind of flexibility and on the second one...
conceptually, you know, I ... I had that same concern about how high should we be
going in some of these locations. But again, with us just moving into it, I want to
keep that flexibility there for staff and Council in terms of negotiating, um, with
developers, and I ... I could see that these might be things that we would come
back to in a year or two, um, I'm just not ready ... like kinda Rick said, I'm ... I'm
not ready to codify it at this point in time. Conceptually I have a lot of agreement
with what you're saying, particularly in the first two. Not necessarily as much for
the third one on the... one floor of bonus for... for class "A" office space.
Payne: I guess I think that ... it seems like ... well the new zoning code that we have. I'm
going to call it new — whenever it was adopted in ... the 90s, whenever it was. I
mean we change it all the time to, you know, because it's ... it's kind of a living
document, I guess. So I look at this like it will be a living document.
Throgmorton: Oh it will be! Yeah, it will be.
Payne: And ... we have to kind of grow into it and figure out what's going to work for us
and maybe some of these things are making it too constrained at the beginning.
I ... I'm with Susan, I think I agree with the ... the concept, but maybe it's just ... for
me, too constraining at this point.
Dickens: Are there height restrictions already with the FAA? I didn't know if that's taken
into effect there or is the 15 the max in that area, because it is lower down there.
It's not on a hill like some (both talking)
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Markus: I think ... I think 15 has been the max, but ... they each go through a particular
review to determine what the appropriate height is, because the clear zone out of
the Airport is ... it fluctuates depending on the vicinity that you're in.
Throgmorton: So, on that point, Tom, we ... we're going to be considering another ... is it an
ordinance or resolution, in ... in just a few minutes about the ... the Airport flight
zone, whatever the technical term is, um, I ... I might be completely wrong, so
Mike could correct me if I am or you could, but uh, it seems to me that that ... that
proposed resolution... would have a bearing on the ... the maximum height of a
building that might actually be built, uh, in the Riverfront Crossings district.
Markus: It's ... it's my understanding that it does require FAA approval, urn ... you know,
when you get into those ... those different zones that are impacted, uh, by the
Airport flight pattern, so ... Mike, you want to ... elaborate?
Tharp: Um ... Tom is pretty much right on the ball with that one. Uh, the ... uh,
amendments that you'd be looking at later would, uh, just cover the horizontal
overlay. It's ... it's a plain above the Airport elevation, and you, uh, the way the
ordinance is written now, it would ... it would be, um ... permissible to break that
plain and only that plain. You couldn't break multiple plains, um, so there's...
there... you would still have to have a... a airspace study conducted of whatever
development you were looking at, and it would still have to meet with, uh, FAA
approval and... and be, uh, a non - hazard.
Throgmorton: Okay! That's helpful. Thanks!
Hayek: Jim, I ... I'm ... uh, appreciate these, uh, suggested changes, you know, there may
be some merit in them. I ... but I agree with the staff recommendation, you know,
these were discussed at the P &Z level. I think the focus is too, at least for now,
maintain flexibility, um, and also ... to recognize that many of these issues would
have to...would have to get Council approval anyway, urn ... but to ... to expand on
what was said earlier, I ... this, any ... any of these changes would have caused us to
start the process over again, go back to P &Z, change the... ordinance, uh, and...
and, uh, start ... start the readings all over again and I don't want to do that, and to
Michelle's point, you know, code ... zoning codes change with time to ... to adapt
to changing circumstances and whatnot and whether it's on these or any other
issues, urn ... I'm sure this will morph with time. So...
Mims: And I think that's another good point, Matt, of...not having to start this whole
thing over. I mean, I think we've got a good enough thing in place to get started
with, and ... like I say, I ... there's a lot of things in here that you've written that I
agree with, but I'm not ready to codify. Um ... but yet I don't want to start the
whole process over either. So...
Throgmorton: Then ... if y'all permit I'll say just a couple things, but I want to ask Eleanor a
question. Is ... is it correct that if we adopted this, these amendments, or this
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amendment, which isn't going to happen, but if we did ... would it have to go back
to the Planning and Zoning Commission to be, for them to start their process over
again?
Dilkes: you would have to have a consult (both talking) but I think the ... what would take
the time is you all would have to back up to first consideration and (both talking)
Throgmorton: Right, so it's like a... it's like a six -week delay if we adopted it. Right. Okay.
Dilkes: Yeah.
Throgmorton: Uh, so I guess the only other thing I would say is thank you, first of all, for, uh,
for giving me this opportunity to introduce the amendment and so on, and to talk
about it. Um ... but the only other thing is that ... I don't know, it seems to me that,
uh, we have a, well, I believe I have a duty to read ... the proposed rules as
carefully as I can, and... and think about whether I agree with `em, and of course
there's ... this thing is very complicated. So ... it'd be foolhardy to try to change a
whole lot. It seemed to me that these were ... kind of key points that might have a
bearing over the future of that district and I wanted to ... bring them up and at least
have us consider amending it ... amending the code.
Dobyns: And, Jim, I think our job on Council is to provide a strategic oversight of City
staff, and not so much be tactical and perhaps micro -manage the morass of facts.
Um, I feel comfortable that City staff has gotten the message.
Hayek: Further discussion on the motion?
Throgmorton: This is on ... on the amendment, right?
Hayek: Yeah, on the... exactly. All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion
fails, uh, 1 -5. So that brings us back to what is on the floor, which is the motion
on 5b. Is there anyone from the public on this item? Okay. City Council
discussion on pass ... on pass and adopt? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -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 6 -0.
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ITEM 6. REZONING (AIRPORT) - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14,
ENTITLED "ZONING," CHAPTER 6, ENTITLED, "AIRPORT
ZONING," TO PROVIDE THAT A STRUCTURE MAY PENETRATE
THE HORIZONTAL OVERLAY ZONE UNDER CERTAIN
CONDITIONS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Tharp: Good evening. Um, this is the horizontal overlay zone. It's a zone that actually
extends 10,000 feet off the edge of each runway. Uh, that's why it's not a
complete circle, a perfect circle, around the Airport. Uh, this zone is essentially
meant to protect the Airport, uh, from tall structures being built in the vicinity.
Um, in the past couple of years, we have seen the FAA, uh, give, uh, essentially a
determination of no hazard to, um, buildings and projects that would penetrate the
zone in, uh, some outlying areas of, uh, this circle. And that spurred a
conversation and, uh, among staff on ... on, uh, walking through the process,
which right now, um, to do something like that you would need to go through a
special exception. Um, the amendment that you're, uh, considering would bring it
back into a administrative review process and as long as the FAA determines that
it's a no, uh, issues a determination of no hazard, and that it doesn't impact, uh,
Airport approaches, safe altitude, or ... um, any flight patterns with the Airport, or
bust a... other part 77 airspace zone, um, it could be allowed.
Hayek: Thanks, Mike. Any questions for Mr. Tharp? Anyone, uh, from the audience?
Okay, I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
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ITEM 7. BLUE ZONES COMMITMENTS — RESOLUTION STATING SUPPORT
FOR ACTIONS ALIGNED WITH ACHIEVING BLUE ZONES
CERTIFICATION.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Brenda!
Nations: Good evening. I'm Brenda Nations, the Sustainability Coordinator, and as you
know, Iowa City applied to be a Blue Zones Project demonstration site and was
accepted as one of the 10 large communities in Iowa, and I'm here tonight to do,
um, a short presentation. Our project is a two -year project that started in February
and I'm here with Shannon Greene the Community Program Manager for the
Blue Zones Project. She's in charge of the, um, the project and can answer any
other questions that you might have about the project, as well. Um, the program
has six sectors and I've been asked to be ... to represent the City government on
the Power 9, which is the Advisory Committee for the community, and um, we
started our planning stages and as a part of that, we need to reaffirm our
commitment to the Blue Zones Project by having a list of, um, possible actions
that we're willing to take as a city government. Um, in your packet there's a
humongous list of all the possible things that we could do, that's the menu that's
provided by the Blue Zones, and working with City staff, um, on what we are
currently doing, uh, would like to do, have already done. Um, you were also
provided with, um, a mile ... a list of milestones of what we propose to do. Um,
there's a total of 42 available points and to get certification we need 17 points,
and on the list we have 25 points that could, um, that we hope to,
um ... uh ... complete to get certification. So, um, we have full confidence that we
should be able to, uh, get this certification in the community's policy section, um,
and the other five sectors also have to get, um, certified as well for us to get, uh,
certified as a community. So, um, the list includes, um, complete streets, tobacco,
um ... uh, healthy living, and um, different... different things that we hope to
pursue over the 18 months of the implementation stage, which should go through
August through the end of October, 2015. So, we're not locked into those
particular actions. Um, it could be that we may not be able to complete them all.
It could be that we add another on, but we should be able to, um, get 17 points,
uh, to get the, uh, community policy, uh, checked off the list. For the minimum
requirements. So, our intent is to keep the Council informed as we go along and
we'd be happy to come back and give you any updates and answer any questions
that you might have.
Hayek: Any questions for Brenda? Or Shannon?
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Throgmorton: I guess I'd like to ask one, which maybe Janet could ask, or answer, uh ... uh,
several weeks ago the Blue Zones group put together a ... it was events about food
and about walking. Uh, I know we ... I was at the walking one I think and ... uh,
I'm wondering whether specific ideas that were generated during those two events
appear in what's being recommended to us.
Greene: (both talking) Shannon Green, Community Program Manager for the Blue Zones
Project. Yes, there were two events held in April, what we call the Food Policy
Workshop and then a Walc Workshop. Walk being w- a -1 -c, walkable, livable
communities, and from the folks that attended on those day ... on those two days,
we've gotten kind of a summary report back of the recommendations from those
particular groups. Um, we aren't surprised to see that several of those
recommendations are already in our plans for the City and for the other sectors as
well, like grocers and restaurants. Both those reports will be made available to
the Council and they are just that, um, recommendations from a particular group,
but a particular time. Some things may be a fit for what we want to look at down
the road. Some we may say are not really right for us in Iowa City, and some may
be even bigger projects that we want to aspire to at some point. But again, those
reports should be available, we're hoping within the next week to 10 days to have
both of those out to all of you.
Throgmorton: Thanks!
Hayek: Thank you.
Nations: And you asked earlier, um, which is the most difficult part of achieving
certification, and Shannon said it's the restaurants, and also she can answer the
question about how the University is going to be involved.
Greene: Oh, sure, and I would just add, it's not because the restaurants are not, um, willing
to be a part of this and excited about this. It's just their particular items and their,
uh, pledge can sometimes be challenging, sometimes involves more time and
even personal expense to the restaurant, so that tends to have been a barrier for
other communities in the past. We're very optimistic with, uh, Iowa City
restaurants because we already have so many very healthy choices in place, and
so many of our local restaurateurs who are passionate about well -being to start
with. Um, in re ... in regards to the University, uh, the University of Iowa has
been, um, unbelievably supportive, um, as an organization. Uh, they have 16,000
benefit - eligible employees and so to work for ... work towards work site
certification for the University, they're charged with getting at least 25% of those
individuals to take the individual pledge. So that amount is really going to help
our overall, uh, city totals as we look at that goal under "Engagement." Um,
they've been very active. They've been asking for pledges by the boxes of the
thousands, and have been doing a lot of outreach and will really, um, continue
that and do that even more so in the fall. So they've been very, very, uh,
supportive, both the University and the ... the Hospital itself.
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Hayek: Good!
Payne: So earlier you ... um, somebody asked a question or maybe you made a statement
about the pledge, you can go in and sign up but you then have to do a pledge also.
Um ... I think I signed up but I don't remember anything about a pledge, and you
made a comment that that's what people don't understand. So will an email go
out to everybody that signed up that say, hey, don't forget to make a pledge?
Greene: There should be. We're ... we're kind of learning about the system, um, we're
wanting to make sure that happens because exactly what you said is happened.
When we first applied, we had sort of a call -out for folks to go on and register and
pledge their support, and now that we were awarded and are a demonstration site,
we need individuals to go in and kind of check that box from, hey, I will try
something to I did do something. It's by checking that `I did something,' um,
piece that we can count those individuals toward our total. We need 11,829 Iowa
City residents to complete one action on the personal pledge. An action of their
choice, you know, from walking your dog to, um, using smaller plates in your
kitchen, whatever seems to fit with your interests, um, around well- being. But we
would, and we ... that's one of our main charges this summer and this fall when we
go into implementation is to be clear with folks about if you ... who think they may
have registered and may have done that, on what they need to do to go back in
and make sure that, um, they have, and to also encourage people to do that
throughout the ... the project period, because well -being is not static. So maybe
someone's, you know, gotten a dog or a bike and they want to do something
more. We want to encourage our citizens to keep moving forward, with well-
being.
Payne: Is that something that we can put a, like a hyper -link on the City's web site to
your web site so it's easy for people to find it?
Greene: Yes, and I think, um, Faith Ann Molino who is our Engagement Lead has been
working with ... is it Shannon that would be ... I should remember that since that's
my name as well (laughter) has been working with her to do that very thing and to
kind of come up with a plan for the fall of...of, um, utilizing both of our, you
know, Facebooks and newsletters and so forth.
Markus: We're already linked!
Payne: We already are linked? Okay.
Greene: She's ahead of me, good!
Hayek: Good.
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Mims: Not to put you on the spot, but if...for people who are watching, can you tell us
the web address or where they would do (both talking)
Greene: Oh sure, it's ... it's bluezonesproject.com.
Mims: Okay, thanks.
Greene: And if you have registered, it will automatically take you to Iowa City's specific
Blue Zones Project page.
Mims: Thank you.
Hayek: Good. Well thanks for all your good work (several talking) ...exciting and
another step forward. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -0.
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ITEM 11. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Hayek: Start with you, Jim. Anything?
Throgmorton: Nothing.
Mims: Um, Arts Fest this weekend. I'm sure I'm taking Terry's thunder. He would
normally do that (laughs) You can add to it though, Terry! Um, encourage
people to come downtown, enjoy the activities, um ... summer is here!
Dickens: Uh, Friday night Indigo Girls, 9:00 at the corner of Iowa and Dubuque Street.
That's the main headliner but there's a great, uh, all -day Friday, or all night
Friday, all day Saturday. There's a kids' zone on Saturday which I know my
grandkids will probably be down there, and the Friday Night Concert Series goes
all summer. If you missed the Grateful Dead last Friday night, they were
wonderful, so ... just keep it up!
Throgmorton: Oh come on, were you a dead ... a `deadhead' back when?
Dickens: Um, no, but I've become one! (laughter)
Hayek: Now hold on a second! Who among us has been to a Grateful Dead concert?
How many?
Dickens: One!
Hayek: Oh, geesh!
Dickens: Well that's better than none!
Hayek: That's better than none, all right! (laughter) Three for the record!
Dickens: Okay.
Markus: I can't remember! (laughter)
Mims: Because there were so many or ... (laughs)
Dickens: We'll leave that one unanswered!
Payne: I just want to mention that tomorrow at 10 ... June 4th, Wednesday, at 10:00 A.M.
the Iowa City Public Library is having a Tech Help for, uh, to learn about
computers, e- books, iPods or your cell phone. So, anybody that needs help, stop
down!
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Hayek: Doctor?
Dobyns: I'm glad we're getting done early because there's a whole lot of rain coming our
way.
Hayek: Yeah, we gotta get home (laughter)
Dickens: My umbrella's in the car!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
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