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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-17 TranscriptionPage 1 ITEM 3. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA) Hayek: This is the opportunity at each City Council meeting for members of the public to address the Council on items that are not on the agenda. So if there's something that is not on tonight's agenda that you would like to bring to our attention, I invite you to come forward. We ask that you sign in, also verbally give us your name, and uh, to keep your comments to five minutes or less. Gravitt: My name is ... Mary Gravitt, and I'm here about a quality of life, uh, here in Iowa City. And some ... and about this free bus we're supposed to get Friday. I got on the bus today and I saw the sign that I ... I use ... I read all the signs that's on the bus, and when something new was on there ... I noticed it. Now Friday we're having Customer Appreciation Day, where everybody... where the buses are free. But my thing is, if we could have a free bus Friday, why do we need a free bus Friday when we can't get a bus for the 4th of July? It would be better to ... to lose that money or to spend the money and have a bus for the 4th of July so the people who don't have cars can get downtown, to ... to enjoy theirselves at 4th of July! Cause free buses on Friday don't even make sense. Most people have bus passes. It'd be better if we all had to pay to come downtown to see the 4th of July celebration. We have free rides on the 3rd. Free rides on the 5th. Nothing on the 4th, and the 4th is truly a national holiday. That's one of two holidays that they couldn't move. Christmas is always on the 25th. And the 4th of July is always on the 4th of July. You can switch everything else. Easter from month to month, but the 4th of July is the 4th of July. And the second thing I want to take up (sneezes) excuse me, is this term `workforce housing.' I have come down to the City Council. I have gone to Zoning, protesting that. The only people that ever needed workforce housing were the slaves. My grandfather was a slave. He had workforce housing, until General Mitchell came down there on the plantation and they bought the plantation from the master. They don't have workforce housing. We ... we need affordable housing. Unless you gonna invent some slaves! Now see people don't understand what Martin Luther King was about, when he went to help the garbage men. He said, "If I don't help them, what's going to happen to me ?" And this is how I feel, and I have to put it in plain language. We don't need white people thinking that they're slaves. Because it'll spread over to the rest of the population. It'll spread over to me! And I gave up slavery as an occupation, and I have to pro ... protect myself, my family, my children. You don't have workforce housing. Anybody that's in their mind that their part of some workforce conspiracy by that I% that further wants to take away our rights from us. And the next thing I want to bring up, a friend of mine who lives in... in Ecumenical Towers brought up the point that she wanted to go see the ... I think it was the Weather Girls or some... entertainment for the Art Festival. They were supposed to come on at 6:00. They came on at 9:00. She said she knew she couldn't make it up that late. Now you gotta space this entertainment out. The entertainment's for everybody! So, I ... I think you should make it for everybody. And I'm still complaining about that shelter. I went down there Saturday. Still got half a seat and three walls. Now we need a whole bench and another three- This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 2 quarter wall. So, that is my main complaint, and I heard ... I always hear things... about the meeting for the Ad Hoc Committee for the Center. The people came in, Transportation and the Recreation Center, but what is our statement of purpose here? The statement of purpose for the Senior Center is devoted to senior, mature adults. We don't belong with the Recreation Center! We don't belong with the main Library. The mission statement for the Public Library is to serve youth. That's the mission statement. Every type of library has its own mission statement and purpose. So to try to confuse us and to smoosh us in with other things when we, as a mature adult, need our own space. And I think that's all of my complaints, but I still say we need a bus for the 4th of July. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you for the comments. Anyone else during community comment? Okay, we will move on! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 3 ITEM 4. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. ITEM 4a ANNEXATION HERBERT HOOVER HIGHWAY — ANNEXING 39.96 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 4701 HERBERT HOOVER HIGHWAY. (ANN14- 00001) 1. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: I'll open the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel) Uh, and ask for any ex parte communications. Okay! John! Yapp: Uh, John Yapp, Development Services. Excuse me while I get the, uh, slide show set up. Uh, the next two items on the agenda are related. Uh, annexation of approximately 39.6 acres, uh, from County, and a rezoning of that property from County Residential to Interim Development Single Family. Uh, the property is located north of the St. Patrick's Church property. So... south of Herbert Hoover Highway. This is an aerial view showing the property. Uh, again, north of St. Patrick's. This is a view of the property, uh, looking east with Herbert Hoover Highway on the left side of the slide. A view of the property looking north. And a view of the property looking south, with St. Patrick's Church in the background, just to give you the ... the lay of the land. Uh, this is a voluntary annexation request. Uh, the City's Comprehensive Plan states that voluntary annexation requests should be viewed positively, uh, when the area falls within the adopted long -range growth boundary, which this property does. Uh, development in the area will fulfill an identified need without imposing an undue burden. Uh, the property is planned to be rezoned to Residential at some point in the future. Uh, the Interim Development designation is due to the lack of utilities to the property, specifically water and sewer. Uh, and because the property will not be zoned for development until those utilities are provided, uh, it will not, uh, cause an undue burden on the City. And finally, uh, control ... when control of the property is in the City's best interest, uh, the ... the annexations are to be viewed positively. Uh, staff does feel that the City can provide services to this property, uh, when utilities are provided. Uh, regarding the rezoning request, uh, the request is for the Interim Development designation, uh, indicating that utilities are not yet in place for development. I'd be glad to take any questions. Hayek: Any questions for John? Throgmorton: I guess I'd like to ask two questions, John. I think I know in part the answer to the first one, but will this development be located within a safe walking distance of an elementary school, a grocery store, neighborhood parks, places of employment, and other activities? Yapp: It depends on how you define safe walking distance, but one of the recommendations, uh, associated with the rezoning is that the developer provide a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 4 pedestrian, uh, route, either a sidewalk or a trail, uh, to the Old Towne Village area, which is just to the west. Throgmorton: Do you know approximately how far that is? I meant to measure it, but I didn't get around to it. Yapp: I think without measuring it I'd say about half a mile. Markus: Can you show it on the map, John? Yapp: Old Towne Village would be ... let me go to the other map, see if it ... oh, there it is. Throgmorton: (mumbled) Yapp: It's this area here, at the corner of Scott Boulevard and Herbert Hoover Highway. Uh, the new, uh, elementary school is proposed at American Legion Road. Uh, probably about three- quarters of a mile to the south of this property. Throgmorton: Okay. So ... just wanted to kind of try to become a bit more clear about the walkability basically of this, uh, the new residential neighborhood that would be developed. So anyhow, the second question has to do with affordable housing. And again, I think I know the answer to this based on the written material, but... will the proposed development, once it, um, proceeds from IDRS to I ... uh, to Residential something or other, will it contain some housing that, uh, people who have incomes at or below 80% of the median can afford? Yapp: I cannot answer that at this time. Uh, we have seen some concept plans for the eventual development that include a mix of housing types, uh, including single - family, townhouse, and potentially, uh, some multi - family dwellings, as well. Whether they would be affordable at that income range I cannot answer. Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks! Hayek: Thanks, John! This is a public hearing, so if there's anyone else who would like to address the Council (mumbled) Okay! I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) 2. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Dobyns: Move the resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 5 Throgmorton: I asked the questions I did, uh, partly because we've had extensive conversation recently about the walkability of neighborhoods relative to neighborhood schools, and it...it seems to me in principle, though it's not going to be possible in this instance, in principle, uh, our... our... the new neighborhoods should be within walkable distance of...of the elementary schools. I don't think that's possible in this instance. Um ... but with regard to the affordable housing component, uh, I'd like to say in principle I don't think it's wise given our, um, concerns about affordable housing, etc., I don't think it's wise in general to support any annexations or residential rezonings unless they contain a reasonable amount of affordable housing. Now in this instance, the proposed rezoning is to IDRS, so there's time in the future, a moment in the future when this particular topic can be discussed more thoroughly, but if we are serious about achieving, uh, goals, uh, contained in the, uh, Fiscal Year Annual Action Plan, which we adopted back in May, and uh, the other ... what's the other thing called? The, uh ... the Housing Authority's, uh, 2014 Annual Report, Annual Plan. If we're serious about achieving the goals specified with regard to affordable housing, then new developments involving annexations should contain some amount of affordable housing. So, that ... that's my own view about that. In this particular instance, given ... uh, the ... the sort of preliminary site plan, and given the, uh ... uh, the... the IDRS element of the ... of the rezoning, I'd be willing to support the rezoning. But I'm trying to draw attention to a couple key elements here. Hayek: Well, Ji ... Jim, I guess what I would say in response is ... I don't think those ... I think you have two goals here, or they're ... the goal you speak of and ... and the goal of... of growth and more housing — those don't necessarily have to be, uh, incompatible with each other. Um, you know, this Council has previously supported rezonings, and I think you voted with the Council on them in other areas of the community with ... with similar, uh, you know, largely single - family residential growth plan for those areas. I'm thinking of one off of Kennedy Parkway that we did not too long ago, um, I think that is good growth for Iowa City. It is not the only kind of growth I would want to see, um, but I think this is an important area for us. It will support the commercial areas. It will go the issue of balance in the public school system, and we're trying to boost numbers, uh, on ... on, in this area, which I think will help us with respect to our on -going challenges with ... with the School District. Um, you know, and that ... that is... really is not particularly far from a commercial and elementary, uh, facilities, um, that John, uh, talked about. Um, so I ... I get what you're saying and I understand you're trying to sort of repeat the ... the message, um, but I'm not ... I ... just am not sure I share it on ... on a project like this. Throgmorton: If we don't include some affordable housing in this ... and similar kinds of annexations, then ... we will not be actually trying to achieve the affordable housing goals we have said we intend to achieve. Hayek: But it ... but we have our Comprehensive Plan. It appears to be, uh, somewhat of a mix of housing (mumbled) although we haven't seen anything yet, I'll grant you This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 6 that. Um, but ... but the...but the Comp Plans that we've gone over in years past would apply to this and any other development. I mean, we're having a conversation that may be premature because we don't have the actual rezoning. It ... it's going into Interim. Anyway, those are my ... those are my thoughts. I'm supportive of this. Botchway: So we will be able to discuss it at a time when we do discuss rezoning? Throgmorton: Well when it ... when it... Mims: Later! Botchway: Okay, later. I just wanted to make sure, but I ... I do ... not to your point though, um, you know, and I guess this is kind of Jim's point, but it's expanding on it a little bit, I mean, when we talk about the elementary schools, you know, having that affordable housing I think speaks to, um, the balance and I think the School District's trying to ... apply as well right now, for the fact that, you know, affordable housing has been condensed in a certain, um... uh, particular place in town and, um, you know, I ... I kind of agree. Any time we have any type of new development, we have to look very closely on how we're going to do it because, um, I ... again, from what I've ... what people have talked to me about as far as affordable housing's concerned is really tough to do now that you have, you know, the different housing markets that are here in Iowa City, and so any new plans I think are very important as far as what we talk about when we talk about affordable housing. But I'm willing to have the discussion, you know, when we talk about it from a rezoning aspect, so... Dilkes: Well, really that discussion occurs at ... and is going on at the Planning Department (both talking) It really is not appropriate for a rezoning at this point, because the rezoning has to be done in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, and in accordance with the zoning code. So, that whole conversation, I think, is occurring at the Planning Department and Planning and Zoning, and is coming back to you, but you can't look at any particular rezoning application and decide ... you know, to do whatever. Botchway: Yeah, that's what ... that's what I was trying to say. Hayek: So the vote for us is ... is merely the annexation. This is 4a. Is there further discussion on that? Okay, roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 7 ITEM 4b REZONING HERBERT HOOVER HIGHWAY — CONDITIONALLY REZONING 39.96 ACRES OF LAND FROM COUNTY RESIDENTIAL (R) ZONE TO INTERIM DEVELOPMENT SINGLE - FAMILY (ID -RS) ZONE LOCATED AT 4701 HERBERT HOOVER HIGHWAY. (REZ14- 00002) 1. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Again, are there any ex parte communications to disclose? Okay. Anyone from the public on the rezoning? Okay. I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) 2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Dobyns: Move first consideration. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Throgmorton: Yeah, I'd like to read a quote from the fiscal year 15 Annual Action Plan which we adopted in early May. Uh, the quote is, proactive selective rezoning of land within Iowa City by elected officials to expand the location of zoning districts that permit multi - family housing by right will eliminate the opportunity for (mumbled) object to development proposals on a case -by -case basis. In other words, if we don't... require affordable housing to be built into new residential developments that we bring into the city, then it will be impossible in the future to find locations for multi - family housing in large parts of the city. So that's my point, you know, I ... I'm going to vote for this rezoning cause it's to IDRS, but... Mims: Yeah, what... all I would say is I think... given the point you're trying to make, Jim, I think you're just premature, because it is Interim, and until we get an actual rezoning to a final ... to a final zoning so they can build, then I think that's the time and place that we need to ... to have that more detailed discussion. I think you've got some valid points, but I think that's when we need to do it. Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. First consideration passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 8 ITEM 4c ROBERTS DAIRY ADDITION — RESOLUTION APPROVING FINAL PLAT. (SUB14- 00003) Mims: Move, uh, to defer this to July 15tH Throgmorton: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? Uh, the pub ... for the public's, uh, information, the applicant has requested that this final plat, uh, be... or the resolution approving the final plat be, uh postponed until ... or deferred until July 15th. That's why we're doing this. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. It's kinda weak! All those in favor say aye! (laughter) Opposed... opposed say nay. Ayes have it, 7 -0! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 9 ITEM 4d CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, CELL TOWER 420TH STREET/ TAFT AVENUE — MOTION SENDING A LETTER TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF A CELL TOWER NORTH OF 420TH STREET IN FRINGE AREA B. (CU14- 00001) Mims: Move the resolution. (several talking) Move motion. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by ... um, Botchway. Discussion? John! Yapp: uh, this is an application submitted to the, uh, Johnson County Board of Supervisors because it's in the fringe area, uh, Iowa City has the opportunity to send a letter, uh, to the Supervisors regarding this request. Uh, the request is for a cell phone tower at the corner of 4201h Street and Taft Avenue. Uh, this property is within the city's growth area, and potentially could be annexed in ... into the city in the future. Uh, this is an image showing the location of the cell tower. The, uh, the concern with this proposal was the set -back requirement, uh, for the cell tower, and making sure it is set back from the property line a distance equal to the tower's height. Uh, and that's, uh, a requirement, both in Johnson County and in Iowa City, if it were to be annexed. Uh, the proposed tower location does meet that setback requirement. Uh, and staff recommends the, uh, letter indicate support, uh, for this, uh, cell tower request. Dickens: This is down by the industrial park then? Yapp: It ... it's just east of the industrial park. Hayek: Is there anyone from the audience who is here to speak on this item? Bieniek: Good evening, urn ... I'm the applicant for ... on behalf of SB Communications and Verizon. Um, just ans ... answer any questions, if you have any. Um, the Johnson County meeting is tomorrow evening, so just wanted to let you know that. Hayek: Could you give us your name just so we... Bieniek: Sure! My name is Mike Bieniek, 10700 Higgins Road, Suite 240, Rosemont, Illinois. Hayek: Thank you! Payne: Can you go back to the aerial view on the pictures, John? Uh ... yeah, that one'll work. Dickens: (mumbled) ...railroad track is north of it. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 10 Payne: So the industrial park is the OPD -11 there, or is that... Botchway: I think it's I1. (several talking) Yapp: It's the OPD -I1. Payne: Okay, yeah, I can't see it from this angle. Yapp: That's overlay plan development industrial park. Payne: Okay. So the likelihood of this being annexed into the city, in the relatively near future, is probably... moderate to high? Yapp: Uh, possibly! (laughter) Now the ... the (laughter) Dickens: Well, Taft is kind of our ... outer limits of the city growth right now. Yapp: It is, and you know, the City has been very positive about entertaining voluntary annexation requests so it ... part of the answering that question is ... is understanding the desires of the property owner and if they wish to annex, and I don't know the answer to that. Payne: But if...at some point in time we intend Taft to be the major truck traffic route to get to the industrial park, it would be likely that it would be ... annexed into the city. Yapp: Yes. Payne: Thank you! Hayek: So to summarize, staff is supportive ... as long as the ... the support includes the setback proviso, and ... this is adjacent to our industrial park and likely would be zoned industrial, following annexation, should that occur. Is that a fair recitation? Yapp: The only thing I would add is that, uh, cell towers like this are a permitted use in industrial parks. Hayek: Okay. Thank you! Any further questions? Roll call, please. Karr: It's a motion. Hayek: Or, yeah! You're right! All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. I'm going to count seven voices! (laughter) You guys are so quiet! Motion carries 7 -0 on 4d. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 11 ITEM 5. DEDICATING RYERSON WOODS AS STATE PRESERVE — APPROVING THE DEDICATION OF LOT 2 IN RYERSON'S WOODS AS A STATE PRESERVE AND AUTHORIZING THE DEDICATION. a. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Horton: My name's Diana Horton and I'm a botanist and I've been investigating the vegetation of Ryerson's Woods since 2009, uh, ably assisted in the first two years by an honor student who has now moved on. Um, Sophie Krajewki. Um, I would just like to explain, uh, why we proposed that Ryerson's should be a State Preserve, uh, and to give you some idea, if you haven't been out there, of what is at that site, because it really is not your average city park. Um ... uh, there's I guess two main things that are notable about Ryerson's Wood — topographic diversity and uh, the pristine, and it really is for an Iowa woodland, um, in that condition. Uh, with respect to the topography, this is looking straight down on the site. A topographic map. And what all those lines tell you is that there's a lot of elevational change in there. It's 100 feet difference from the flood plain level where the parking lot is up to the top, uh, the highest area at the south end of the preserve there. Big change! The main area of the preserve is the part in the topographic map that's green there, and that is covered by woodland vegetation, and on the left, this is showing you up on the highest part of it, uh, the right -hand photo shows the ravine which is one of the really prominent features through the preserve, uh, and gives you a lot of elevational change throughout. The big thing about this preserve is the spring flora. That's the element that characterizes eastern deciduous forest of which this is an example, and it is spectacular at Ryerson's Woods. I think you'd be hard pressed to see any spring flora as spectacular as this one, and here it is right on the edge of Iowa City, and so in the springtime, late April, uh, early May, you just see this profusion of wildflowers. I mean, it's absolutely incredible. Um, so what are State Preserves? Um, they're set aside to permanently protect significant natural and cultural features, and there's various different types of preserves, uh, are recognized depending on what's being focused on in that one. This one we were looking at it as a biological preserve, based on the vegetation in particular. I compared it to 10 existing State Preserves that are woodlands, as well, in southeastern Iowa to see how the vegetation of this site ranks relative to these other preserves, and so the other preserves are green dots in the various counties and Ryerson's, of course, is the one dot in, uh, Johnson County. Ryerson's Woods, uh, the graph is on the left, all the other 10 are to the right of that, and I just want to point out a few things from these graphs. The bright green bar shows you the number of native species in each of these sites, and with a couple of exceptions, Ryerson is right up there among the top sites. So there's good native species diversity. The other thing is to look at the purple bar there, which shows the number of alien species, because in many, many Iowa sites, uh, the percentage of alien species of the total This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 12 will be as much as often 20 %. At Ryerson's it's about 10 %, which is very, very good and speaks to the pristine quality of this site, again. Um, the other thing that we can do is look at particular groups of plants, and so for example the bright green bar represents the number of ferns. There's an extraordinary number of ferns at Ryerson Woods and many, many people know it for that in particular. The other thing is to look at the pink bar, magenta bar, uh, which shows you the number of rare or infrequent species, and again, relative to any of these other preserves, there is an extraordinary number of rare or infrequent species at Ryerson's. This just shows you five ... five of the species of ferns that are out there. It's ... the maidenhair fern, in particular, I guess. You see it everywhere when you go along the path there. Um, and this shows you a few of the rare or infrequent species that are present there. Um, overall the conclusion about this is that this is really a high - quality site in terms of the vegetation, um, and the condition of it, um, relative to these other preserves. It's also unusually well - documented. As far as I know there's no other State Preserve that is as well - documented on the basis of preserved specimens as at this site. Um, and the third thing is that if you look at the map, none of the surrounding tier of counties have a woodland State Preserve, and there's nothing in Johnson County, except for Ryerson Woods. This is an exceptional example to preserve something that's of extraordinary scientific value, and has great educational value, and just very briefly, the process that we've gone through to get to the point of having it dedicated as a State Preserve is we first of all submitted a proposal to the State Preserves Advisory Board. This is a seven - member board that's appointed by the Governor and advises the Governor, and also the Iowa DNR Plant Ecologist, Dr. John Pierson, both of them came and visited this site, and then assessed it. We submitted a management plan as to how we're going to maintain this site, uh, over time, and they evaluated the management plan and finally on April 291h the Preserves Advisory Board voted unanimously to dedicate it as a State Preserve. There's one final step remaining at this point, and that's the Governor's signature to have it dedicated. So, I would appreciate your support. Hayek: I have a couple of questions. I ... I think you'll find a ... I'm guessing a supportive Council on ... on this, but um ... first, why is this a City park when it's in the County? What's the history on that? Horton: It was originally owned by the Iowa Land ... Law Foundation. It was ... it was bequested to them essentially, and as I'm still working on ferreting out the history exactly of what went on, but it's clear that some people became aware that there was something really special here and wanted to make sure it was preserved. So this Law Foundation offered it to the City of Iowa City, uh, at half price, on condition that they would maintain it as a natural public area, and so, uh, and then at the point once in 1985, I think the Law Foundation ... uh, acquired it in 1982 or so, the City acquired it in 1985, and from 1985 to 1995, when it was dedicated as a City park, there was a lot of interest from scientists at the University, uh, people from botany and geology, in the site, who recognized that this was really This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 13 something extraordinary and so ... I think people were determined to keep this alive and having it as a City park was a way to accomplish that. Hayek: Okay. Dickens: Were there any old buildings in that area? Horton: No. Dickens: Okay. Horton: There's nothing. It ... it, uh, there, as far as I can tell from the records, there never was anything there. Um, Ryerson's ... the Ryerson family owned it from about, uh, 1856 or so, uh, until about 1936 when the last surviving member of the family died. And then it...it went to other people. Hayek: And my second question is, um, does ... does State Preserve, um, classification open up new funding opportunities or.. . Horton: Yes! I mean, that's... that's a big thing right now. We ... we need to do some work on the trail system in there, for example, and that trail system was put in by a REAP grant to Parks and Recreation. Um, which for $63,000 in 1992, I believe, um, and uh, we need ... it needs just to be ... some fixing up, this sort of thing, uh, to do that. So that would open up that possibility. Um, there's also a borrow pit area unfortunately where somebody took a hunk out of the northeast corner of the park, and this might open up possibilities for getting funding for that too, and I think is absolutely crucial, uh, for dealing with this use like that. So, and I mean, it's ... I think in many respects, it's perfect as a City park. I mean it's ... it's what city parks in many respects could be about is not only educational but enjoyable. I mean, it's a wonderful place just to go and unwind, as I see many, many people out there all the time. Um, but it has great educational possibilities. It's used a lot by the University, uh, the biology department. They have classes going out there to look at it, and ... and who knows in the long -term. Hayek: Thank you. Horton: Thank you. Hayek: Any other... Throgmorton: Could I ask Diana... Horton: Yes! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 14 Throgmorton: ... um, I know you have very deep knowledge of biota and biological systems and so on. Can you very briefly give us a sense of why such a high diversity of... of flora and other plant life is found there? Horton: I ... I would say, um, from my experience just throughout Iowa that it...it surely is there still because it's been relatively undisturbed. Um, Lon Drake, if any of you know him from geology department, uh, he was one of the first people who sort of got in there and said this is something really special and he said he saw where they had been taking, uh, logs down the east slope there and so I'm sure it was selectively logged, but there was never any housing so there has not been a lot of introduction of alien species, and as soon as you get alien species in there, the native species are going to plummet, because you get these things that go crazy, like garlic mustard — I think everybody's heard of now — but ... but that's one example, and so I ... I think it's the lack of disturbance, and particularly when you get into the ravine in there, uh, it just ... I mean, it...it almost is pristine, I would say. It's amazing! Dobyns: Geologically it's a high point, um, and the river eroded around it... Horton: Yes! Dobyns: ...but it's a high point that's not surrounded by the city, so it ... it's bad farmland. And so... Horton: Yeah, they couldn't get in there. Dobyns: It was never developed, why it was left pristine, which is why you don't have any corrupt species that are in there right now. Um... Horton: There's a couple of the northwest corner and a little bit along the very extreme south edge, uh, one was heavily passed through. The other was row cropped, and there's... there's nothing left in the row cropped area. It's ... it's not good. But, um, that sure... surely is it. They couldn't get in there to do any significant farming because of the contours. Dobyns: And I appreciate you mentioning the fact that it is utilized, but actually that's one of the issues, is it's really underutilized. Um, you know, a lot of Iowa Citians don't even know it's there... Horton: Yeah. Dobyns: ...because that's not a casual destination. When you're going by it, you're pretty much in a hurry getting some place else because there are large roads. And a lot of people just don't realize what's that hill over there about. Um, but the trails are very accessible. Um, you know, the ... the City has done a nice job of making sure that the slope access is very gentle. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 15 Horton: Yes. Dobyns: Uh, the maintenance and lack of erosion in the area is remarkable! And there's a lot of built -in areas to sit, some platforms to watch, uh, flora and fauna. It is a remarkable park, and it's amazing how few people know about it. So I'm really ...I'm excited about this for no other reason than I think it would draw some attention, um, to an area that needs to be attended. Horton: Yeah, and it's ... it's very unusual, obviously, to have a State Preserve in a city, I mean, it would be once ... once it is annexed it would be quite nice. Hayek: Good. Thank you! Horton: Thank you. Walker: I'm Jean Walker. I'm at 335 Lucon Drive, and I've lived here for ... decades and Ryerson Woods is an absolute jewel in the crown of Iowa City. Um, if you go there in the spring, as Diana has described, you see not just a plant here and a plant there. You see carpets of these wildflowers, just flowing down the sides of the ravine. It's absolutely spectacular. Um, as well as the education that occurs there with the University students and also, um, grade school children are brought there, it's also a place where people go to do bird watching, um, because many of the migratory warblers and other birds, uh, come through, and so it's ... because it's so undisturbed, it has a lot of birds, as well as all these wonderful plants. Uh, it ... in my opinion, it absolutely needs to be preserved! A few years ago, I don't know ... many of you probably remember, mountain bikers wanted to have it as their recreational area, and Diana, talked with her and she said the sides of those ravines, it's very fragile and so if you had anything like mountain bikers going down there, it would just destroy the, uh, flora there. So it's an absolute jewel, and if it becomes a State Preserve, it's a huge feather in the cap of Iowa City to have an actual State Preserve in the city! I mean, as you say in Johnson County, but a ... an Iowa City park! And finally, I just want to say, we are so lucky to have Diana Horton who has spearheaded this whole thing. She and her student did a complete inventory of every plant in that park! And she has a huge amount of passion for the park and is preservation. So, she and her student did the initial inventory, but Diana has put in countless hours, um ... getting all the facts together of the topography, as well as all the flora and the history, and ... where else could you have a ... an emeritus botany professor who has done this for Iowa City just on a volunteer basis, and so we — the Iowa City and environs — owe a very deep debt of gratitude to Diana Horton. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you, Jean! Anyone else? Close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 16 Mims: Move the resolution. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Throgmorton: (mumbled) Mims: (mumbled) Fantastic! Hayek: Thank you! Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. Karr: Motion to accept PowerPoint. Mims: So moved. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Motion carries 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 17 ITEM 6. CITY HALL NORTH COURT HVAC REPLACEMENT PROJECT 2014 - APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY HALL NORTH COURT HVAC REPLACEMENT PROJECT 2014, 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) For the public's information, this regards, uh, a bunch of air conditioning and heating work to be done down at City Hall. Estimated cost is around $255,000, and will be funded with general obligation bond proceeds. Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 18 ITEM 7. MOSS RIDGE ROAD - APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MOSS RIDGE ROAD 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) For the public's information, this, uh, regards the construction of a street from Highway 1 to the Moss Ridge campus. Estimated construction cost is $4.21 million and will be funded with GO, general obligation bond proceeds, tax increment financing, and RISE grant funds. Anyone for the public hearing? Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Mims: Move the resolution. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Mims: Just happy to see this moving forward. It's been a long process and look forward to seeing some development in there! Throgmorton: As you all know, I'm not a big fan of this project, but uh ... given where things are, I'll vote for it. Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7 -0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 19 ITEM 10. ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES. Applicants MUST reside in Iowa City and be 18 years of age unless specific qualifications are stated. ITEM 10g Airport Commission Hayek: We also have another, uh, new vacancy on the Airport Commission. Uh, this is, uh, this came in just in the last day or so. Um, and the applications for that spot, again, it's on the Airport Commission, are due by 5:00 on Wednesday, July 23rd This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 20 ITEM 12. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Hayek: Why don't we start down with ... the doctor! Dobyns: We've got some Boy Scouts in the, uh, the audience. What ... what badge you guys going for? (unable to hear responses; away from mic) Community? Excellent! Great! Welcome! Hayek: Thanks for being here. Dickens: Troop 218, my old troop! (laughter) Payne: Is that it? Dobyns: That's it! Payne: I don't have anything tonight. Dickens: Uh, I'd just like to thank all the volunteers that worked at the Arts Fest, including Coralville Mayor Lundell that was working. His wife tricked him into working (laughter) We know how that goes, but uh ... it was a ... big success, even with the rain. It was a great event! Mims: It was a good one. Um, the Iowa City will be hosting the State Garden Club on Friday. I'll be giving them a welcome on Friday morning at the Sheraton, so they'll be here in town. Throgmorton: Two brief ..two, excuse me, two brief things. Paula Swygard was sitting out in the audience, uh, for the whole meeting. I was hoping she'd still be here at the very end, but she's not. I just wanted to thank her for sending an email to us about the Highway 1 bike trail, and about how well things are going with it. The other thing is, um, when I missed the meeting last week, you know, the special meeting we had, I was trying to get the rabbit out from under my car (laughter) I could elaborate, but maybe not right (laughter) Hayek: Were carrots deployed? (laughter) Throgmorton: It's a sadder story than (laughter) Hayek: Well, I won't ask! (laughter) Botchway: Um, Prime Time League starts, uh, Thursday, uh... Throgmorton: And what's your position? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 21 Botchway: Right now, bench! (laughter) But at ... at, it's going to be some pretty good basketball, UNI's, um, they're back in it so ... um ... come out and enjoy. Dobyns: Were you drafted or were you a free agent? Botchway: I was drafted! Dobyns: Okay. (laughter) Payne: So where is it at? And... Botchway: Oh, North Liberty. It's in North Liberty and it starts at 6:30, I think. North Liberty Community Rec Center. Thank you, Michelle! Throgmorton: Say hi to Randy Larson former councilman! Botchway: I will. Hayek: It's true! And he saved somebody too! Or did he get saved, I forget! Um, I wanted to ... to thank the volunteers for Arts Fest, as well. That was a fantastic weekend and the live entertainment was over the top and despite the rain, which seems to occur with most of our Arts Fest, uh, it was just a great, great thing for Iowa City. I wanted to welcome the Boy Scout Troop, as well, but the good doctor, uh, jumped me on that one, and then last thing I want to recognize, our own Marian Karr! Who has, uh, who has been the City Clerk for 35 years and uh, I have a Certificate of Recognition that we give out to employees who have been with us for quite a while, and I want to hand it over to Marian here in a second, but I want to thank her for what she does for the City. Uh, the City Clerk's office does an incredible amount of work to keep the trains running on time, to keep us out of trouble, uh, to keep us in compliance with the various sundry, uh, laws that apply to governments that operate in the public eye, uh, and to make our jobs easier. So, Marian, our hats off to you and congratulations on this milestone! (applause) Karr: Thank you! Dobyns: Marian, would you like that sent to you electronically? (laughter) Markus: Do we have to vote on putting that in the record? Hayek: Yeah, motion to accept Certificate of Recognition! (laughter) That's it! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014. Page 22 ITEM 13. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF. a) City Manager Hayek: Tom! Markus: Just congratulations, Marian. If I knew you were in charge of the trains we would have put you on that Amtrak issue! (laughter) Hayek: Probably would have gotten it through! (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council formal meeting of June 17, 2014.