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ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2a Welcoming the testing and operation of intelligent vehicles
Hayek: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is the President of the Iowa City Development
Group, Mark Nolte. (applause)
Hayek: That was a long one! (laughter) How ya doing? (mumbled)
Nolte: Thank you!
Hayek: Absolutely! (mumbled) Yeah!
Nolte: Uh, thank you for, uh, both the City staff — Jeff Davidson and Eleanor — were, uh,
instrumental in drafting this very long proclamation, but it conveys a message to
the world that the, uh, this area wants to be a leader in this coming technological
transformation that will allow more vehicles to, uh, have autonomous
functionality, allow more, uh, individuals with disabilities or seniors to use, uh,
better transportation. In the long run it has a lot of implications, but we're trying
to, uh, show a welcoming front so that we can, uh ... uh, kind of obtain some of the
jobs that will be created in this sector. So, really appreciate the leadership of the
City, uh, and our partnership with the University of Iowa, uh, Dan McGehee
who's the Director of the Human Factors and Vehicle Safety at the University of
Iowa has been a great partner in this, along with the City. So, uh, thank you very
much for your support!
Hayek: Thank you. (several talking) I know this was pushed by ICAD and we applaud
you for ... for doing so! It's a great opportunity.
Nolte: Thank you.
Hayek: Thanks, Mark!
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formal meeting of August 19, 2014.
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ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2b Day of the Great March for Climate Action
Hayek: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Miriam Kashia. (applause)
Kashia: And I have a proclamation for you...
Hayek: Oh boy!
Kashia: ...from us, and ... so I'm going to briefly read it and we can trade (both talking)
Hayek: ...and we can trade! (both talking) That sounds great! (laughter)
Kashia: And I'm ... I'm going to have to tell you it's a little wrinkled. It ... uh, traveled to
Iowa City from Homestead, 17 miles by foot in my backpack today.
Hayek: That's all right!
Kashia: So ... thank you very much. That was a warm welcome and we appreciate it!
Um ... and some of this is going to sound redundant, because you've already said
it, but ... I put all the whereases in this too, so ... (laughter) (reads proclamation)
(applause)
Hayek: Thank you! Thanks for what you're doing! That's not too wrinkled! (laughter)
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ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL 8
PM]
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 the agenda that you would like to bring to our attention, we invite
you to come forward. We ask that you sign in and also verbally give us your
name, and then to keep your comments to five minutes or less.
Norbeck: Hi, my name is Martha Norbeck and uh, 906 S. 7th Avenue. Um, my comments
are very appropriate to your second proclamation. Uh, I wrote a letter to the
Council a couple weeks ago, uh, it starts on page 235 of your packet. I
understand there's over 450 pages in your packet. You might not have had time
to study it in detail. So I wanted to highlight a few components of that letter. The
letter is... (mumbled) regards to climate change and as you've heard me state here
before, uh, nearly 45% of our emissions come from building energy use. And
buildings are the greatest untapped opportunity for addressing climate change,
and the city is poised in a position to actually affect that through, uh, some of its
policies and conveniently you already have two documents that state that you're
going to do this! One of them is the 2030 Comprehensive Plan that states that the
City will identify and seek opportunities to create incentives for the private sector
to increase energy efficiency. In addition, on... in April of 2014, there was a
memo issued on Economic Development policies that states in return for public
assistance, developers will be expected to meet all or some of the following
minimum standards, including energy efficiency. What's missing from these two
statements is no threshold. Like are we talking 5% or 20% or 90 %, like no idea
who gets to decide what's good enough to be worth of...in exchange for public
assistance. I proposed 40% -- 40% better than the energy code. Why do I state
this? Well, because it's a little bit higher of a bar than what's considered pretty
much standard. The University of Iowa requires 30% better than code for all
buildings. The UI, um, football operations facility is going to blow that out of the
water and exceed code by almost 60 %. So this is being done today by many
projects, and one thing you might think is oh my god that's a big burden on the
developer! No, it's actually an opportunity for the developer! For example, Oak
Knolls building a new facility and they are slated to get a million dollar rebate,
and this isn't a rebate stretched out over time. This is a million dollars in their
pocket to go to their construction budget. And then in addition to that, once they
start operating, they're going to realize savings over the life of their building.
And so this is a win -win for the developer to pursue these measures, and the
developer gets to pick and choose what measures make sense for them to...
financially to pursue in exchange for these incentives. So the State, the Iowa, uh,
Iowa Utility Board has already set up a mechanism for tracking this. And so it's
merely a matter of setting a threshold then saying in exchange for public
assistance, we're going to require at least this ... much efficiency for a project of
`X' or `Y' size. I think it's a great opportunity for City to demonstrate its
leadership. It's a carrot; it's not a stick. You're not changing the energy code.
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You're just saying, `Hey, you have an opportunity save money upfront and pass
that savings on to your tenants over time, and in exchange we'll give you the
public assistance,' and it will support the two, uh, the two goals already stated by
the City. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt, and I'm here to talk about affordable housing. It was
something brought up about how affordable housing, your last meeting, but this is
a ... since you cancelled one meeting in the month, this is the ... the first I've had to
talk about this. Uh, one person said, uh, a citizen said that ... he linked affordable
housing with crime, and this is a good time to talk about affordable housing,
crime, and discrimination because of what's happening in Ferguson. It's
happening in the Midwest, and if you notice how ... what is that base is
discrimination. They talked about zip codes, where all the uneducated people
were and so on and so forth. So that when you issue these building permits, you
should make ... put some affordable housing there. Because then the people won't
feel left out and they won't have an excuse that the ... well, whatever. Ferguson is
a different story, because that policeman was out of control. Here we can
compare what happened to Ferguson to what happened to Eric Shaw, and if you
want to make some people mad down at the Senior Center, bring up Eric Shaw.
Well ... uh, the person said that the crime came with the people in Chicago. The
crime didn't come with the people in Chicago! The crime always was there, and
the reason that the people in Chicago came to Chicago... cause of, uh, Oral -B and
all those low wage, slave factories down on Scott Boulevard. They needed those
people cause they got tired of being raided by the IMS. They were breaking the
law! Hiring illegal aliens. So they needed the workforce. So what they did, they
got lured out here by the Section 8 vouchers. So they're out here ... so they said
they're causing more crime and so forth, we have 82 policemen. I don't see the
crime increase anymore, nuisance crime. People always going to have nuisance
crime. The students are the biggest cause ... the biggest nuisance crimes! Because
they get drunk and you have to call the police. But the idea of hooking up, telling
people they're criminals from the beginning is no good, and the greatest crime
you have in these developments is issuing building permits on flood plains!
People put their lifeblood into their houses. They don't expect to come and get
taken back in a rowboat! So it has to be some affordable housing. If you're
planning to stay in this city 25 years or more ... cause when this blows over, you
have to have a place where a workforce can work, can live. I'm not talking about
workforce housing! That's slave housing. And then, um ... you have to ... make
provisions cause listen ... the riots ... that's just, uh, some ... some lawbreakers
sneaking in with the crowd, but listen to what's at base with these people's
complaints in Ferguson, and like I said, we're not that far! And I want to talk
about how I was discriminated last time. I handed in some paperwork one ... at a
previous meeting and so ... I finished talking and I sat down! And then from the
audience had to (mumbled) disturb the people by saying, `You didn't read my
work into the record.' So I sat down. So then last ... the last time I was here I
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handed in some more paperwork, and nobody ever read it into the record! You
know? And the same people was still here. I don't know if the City Manager
were here ... was here, but to me ... that's a form of discrimination! Why didn't my
thing get read into the record? I'm showing you how discrimination ... how a
pattern works! I didn't say anything. I sat here to 8:30. I said they gonna read it
in? I said I'm taking my bus; I'm not going to miss my bus! And even the fact of
that bench in front of Aldi's, that's like that waterfront, uh, system down south.
How you get the inferior places for the poor people. So ... we have to, if you ... if
you doubt my word about reading my document into the ... the record or whatever,
look at the ... the video! So this is ... is my main complaint, how discrimination —
little things lead to big things! Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Van Horne: Amanda Van Horne. I'm here on behalf of Trinity Episcopal Church and I'm
here, um, to speak in the community comment section, um, about some of the
correspondence that you received in your packet this past week. So I'd like to
draw your attention to, um, Item 3f(3) in your packet. Um, it's a letter from
Trinity Episcopal Church commenting on, um, the change in the use of Chauncey
Swan parking garage. It was followed by a response from, um, the staff, um,
from the Police, um, Department, explaining why they chose that location. We...
the leadership at Trinity does not feel like this response has really adequately
addressed our concerns. Um, we understood when we put in the letter that there
was actually in fact in reality adequate parking access in Chauncey Swan garage
on Sunday mornings. That was clear to us. What we were objecting to was the
change of highly desirable parking spots within the garage, from the use ... for
parking, which was a location that our parishioners used regularly to ... storing
people's junk, um... something that's not attractive, something that makes that
parking garage actually a less desirable place to park because it's no longer clear
that it's, you know, a nice, attractive, safe place to park. It looks ... it looks ugly.
It looks ... like kind of a junky area now. Um, in the last two weeks I've also had
conversations with Trinity's parishioners. We have three elderly mobility -
impaired parishioners who come to events that happen at Trinity on Saturday
mornings when the Farmers Market's in session. They can't get to Trinity for six
months out of the year because the Farmers Market and the way the parking is
downtown, and the lack of access to, um, handicap parking spots interferes with
their ability to safely and reliably get from wherever they park their car into our
front doors on a weekend. When we look at weekday parking, we're seeing that
the increased price of the meters, the move of handicap parking spots onto Linn is
interfering with the ability of our mobility- impaired parishioners to get to Trinity
to participate in regular activities. There's lots of options and we can talk in detail
about what the options are, but what we're finding dismaying is the lack of
consultation from City staff with an organization that's been in this location for
over 100 years. And the City staff isn't coming to us and saying, `Hey, we're
going to change the way we're utilizing the space. It's going to affect the way
your parishioners can handle things. What can we do to make this better for you?
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How can we work with your Instead they're just making changes and leaving us
to discover after the fact what's happened, and then leaving us to figure out
through multiple phone calls who the right person is to talk to to get information
about this. So ... we're uncomfortable and we're uncomfortable as we see things
related to the Chauncey coming down the pike. Oh, well, you know, there's
going to be builders there, and they're going to park their trucks there and... so
sorry that you can't get to your church on Sunday morning. So sorry! Oh, there's
going to be a movie theater there. They're going to have shows on Wednesday
nights. So sorry that people can't get to their bible study. We see this as the
harbinger of things to come. We ask for the City Council to intervene on our
behalf, to encourage the Police Department to find an alternative location that's
perhaps less convenient for them, but more convenient for citizens in terms of
utilizing publicly available facilities for everyday use. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Michaud: Hi, I'm Pam Michaud ... at 109 S. Johnson. Um, I'm here to express gratitude for
your, um, proclamation that August 19th is the day of Great Mar ... March of
Climate Change. Um, I hope it's an annual reminder, um ... to ... it's really
important to respect 45 years of climate studies. I propose that all new multi-
permi ... multi-use or commercial projects that are three stories or higher in the
city or the county have... at least the 40% energy sustainability that Martha
previously, um, explained. Um ... I support a height of four to six floors for the
west of Gilbert Street, which I'll address later. Thank you very much!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Hacker: Hello, I'm here to address something I know you already voted on, but it's ... I
think you guys didn't vote very well on it. It's about the SEATS thing.
Hayek: Could you give us your name, sir?
Hacker: Oh, it's Geoff Hacker ... on the SEATS thing. You guys didn't realize that... that
it's going to cost people $80 a month to ride SEATS, some people, cause they
may have to work five days a week. I figured it out on a calculator. That's more
than riding the Iowa City Transit, and stuff like that, and you also didn't figure
that they have to pay for staff (mumbled) cause a lot of people have staff people
and that costs `em an extra $2.00 and there's going to be people that can't ... can't
afford the SEATS thing because they have to have .... be a fixed income because
the State and federal government tell `em they have to live within a certain
amount of money because ... in order to get money and they're going to be on a
fixed income and you're making it even tighter on them cause mostly that... like
me, I... don't use SEATS, but I know a lot of people that do. For instance, Special
Olympics people and stuff, and a lot of `em take SEATS, and they use ... and
they're on a fixed income cause they're already told they have to be on a certain
amount of income (mumbled) every time they ... every month or they could lose
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their SSI and... disability cause there's like $2,000. Just like they tell me for my
job coaching, if I make a certain amount of money I could lose ... my services. So
you're not thinking ... you didn't think about all those people that are on such
tight, tight, tight budgets ... are already making decision... have to take ... pay for
their staff. It's like $4.00. That'd be $4.00 just for one ride and they cause...
(mumbled) regular transit and the buses one time, I saw them, there was four
people wanted to ride the regular bus and the bus service said we can't get a
second bus out here for ya, so someone had to miss their meds. So they didn't
think about ... if you're gonna make people ... be able to ride the regular bus that
can ride the regular bus, you're going to have to have extra wheelchair... cause
only two spots. You can't have (mumbled) another bus come out and take those
people. They did that one time when a SEATS bus ... when Systems had a bus
break down, they had to have people ride the bus, and two people had to be left
behind and wait a whole hour for another bus. It's not gonna work. If you want
people to ride the regular transit system if they can't take the regular bus in order
...as an alternative to SEATS, if the regular transit won't bring out another bus!
If there's only two spots on the bus for `em. Cause the buses only can take two
wheelchair people, and so you guys (mumbled) heard you guys was thinking
some people maybe get off SEATS that shouldn't be on SEATS, but there's not
enough room on the SEATS bus for wheelchairs or ... or elderly people sometimes
and stuff, so they have to ... wait for another bus! Cause the City won't send out
another bus to get them home, maybe have to take meds or something. And they
don't think about that. And you don't think about the fixed income people have
to do because the federal government is so tight on stuff. They tell `em they have
to be in a certain budget and that's all the money they got to have for the whole
month, and they tell `em they can only work so many hours on a job. It's going to
make the employers not want to hire people as much if people aren't going to be
able to take SEATS as often. You're going to lose people working out in the
community that ... cause they'll say, well, I can't afford to go to work cause the
bus fare's too high, cause there're people that were on the ... were on the half fare
(mumbled) because they couldn't afford nothing but the half fare because of their
circumstances. You got (mumbled) individually because they're on welfare and
stuff and that program is dictated by what the State tells `em and the federal
government tells `em they have to live on. And that should have been taken into
consideration when you guys made your decision about SEATS. So next time
...and another suggestion to get more people to come to meetings, you should
have sent information to se ... the System Reach and, uh, the Senior Center, telling
`em that you're gonna change SEATS cause some of those agencies ... I talked to
people that didn't even know (mumbled) you guys were changing SEATS. Cause
you have people that are not going to be able to pay the ... remember to take the
$2.00 out of their pocket and pay the fee cause they have certain kinds of
disabilities like autism and other kinds of disabilities that's going to really dis
...distract their routines. So people didn't think about that either. They're ... sonic
people cannot afford the fee then and they won't be able to afford it. So, next
time you guys gotta think about the people you're affecting and why that they
...why they're in that situation in the first place. Maybe they can't work as much
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as they want to. It's because of their disability... that keeps them from working.
They could have mental disabilities. They could have physical disabilities, and
then they're stuck with whatever the government tells `em they're... they're gonna
get for the ... get in the long run. So ... next time you should recon ... consider
having a half fare because it'd be more ... for the people that really can't afford it,
cause there are some people that are going to be hurt by it.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Kardos: My name's John Kardos (clears throat) uh, I live at 956 Tamarack Trail. Uh
(clears throat) I'm also a member of the Board of Directors of Friends of Hickory
Hill Park. And, uh (clears throat) I'm here tonight basically to speak on behalf of
the Board and to support the letter from Mr. John Thomas who's in the ... audience
here, to the Council concerning funding for the park. Um (clears throat) first a
few details about who we are. Um (clears throat) we're an all- volunteer, non-
profit organization. We have a overall goal of preserving Hickory Hill Park as a
natural sanctuary within an urban environment. Uh, little bit about what we do.
We ... we work with volunteers from the local community, uh, organizations
mostly, uh, the University of Iowa, Kirkwood Community College, the Boy and
Girl Scouts, um, and some businesses and churches, to improve the access to the
park and (clears throat) the entrances and to restore its natural features.
Specifically, we have, um... some things, and I want to give you a handout,
showing some of the things that, uh (away from mic) Uh (clears throat) we're
working on a reforestation effort in the park, to restore the oak and hickory, uh,
savannah. We do this by a controlled, uh, burns and also by removing invasive
species, like, uh, garlic mustard and uh ... oh, something like honeysuckle is a big
one (clears throat) and um ... figure one there shows an area that we have burned
and taken out the invasive species and (clears throat) you can see what a nice
open forest it is. Um, the ... it's covered with a mat of, uh, may apples I think is
when I took this picture (clears throat) uh ... so ... that's one thing that's... that's
being done. Now we haven't... we have done it only on a small region in the
park, but if you go into the Bloomington entrance and walk down the trail,
straight through, you'll see this area on the left -hand side. And what it was before
we did that is on the right -hand side of the trail (laughs) so you can compare `em
right there. (clears throat) It's quite a jungle on the right -hand side. Uh ... we also
um, initiate and care for various trees, wildflowers, and native plantings,
particularly at the park entrances, and also in native prairie areas, uh, where we
also do controlled burns. And we also (clears throat) aid Parks and Recreation
with, uh, rail ... with trail and, uh, bridge maintenance, and that's ... one example is
shown in figure two in your handout there, where we have, uh, put flanges,
wooden flanges at the corners of the bridges to prevent erosion of the footings of
the bridges, which was becoming a serious problem. Uh ... now how do we get all
of this done? Well, we organize work days led by our Board members and staffed
by other interested volunteers. We have projects done by individual volunteers,
for example, uh, mowing the edges of the trails and keeping the bridges clean so
that they don't, uh ... accumulate leaves and mud. Uh (clears throat) we develop
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funding sources, mostly from donations. We have a spring plant sale, a fall
calendar sale, and once in a while we write grant proposals either to local industry
or to government agencies (clears throat) The volunteer hours worked in 2013 in
the park, 1,130. So it's a significant effort. Now ... as y'all know we have a
current serious problem. Um (clears throat) the large deluges that we've been
getting have, uh, basically destroyed two or three bridges in the park. In one case
it really almost floated it away, and that's figure three in the handout, it's the last
one. Uh, that bridge was pushed downstream about eight feet and ended up with
its exit almost up against a tree. So pretty hard for anybody to get across that
bridge (laughs) right now. Um, Allen Frank, uh, who wrote you a letter, I think,
also, uh, pointed out a couple other things in terms of, um, washed out trail
sections and so forth, and both of those items are safety hazards, of course, and
um, to almost everybody that uses the park and walks or runs on those trails. So,
it is a problem. Now what's the solution? Well (clears throat) we had, uh, we
were going ... we tried to implement much of the Confluence trail and bridge study
and that was funded by Parks and Recreation Department in 2011. And that, um,
study recommended the following that we ... you ought to repair and replace
bridges, redesign and resurface trails to prevent erosion, relocate some trails and
remove some trails. Um, the total estimated cost that they came up with was
$950,000 (laughs) which is of course high.
Hayek: Sir, I'm going to need to interrupt you. You ... you've been going for five minutes
so I (both talking)
Kardos: Okay!
Hayek: So I need you to wrap up, please. Thank you!
Kardos: Uh ... we had a discussion with Parks and Recreation, and we managed to chip it
down to $750,000. And ... that's the final number that was prepared and
presented. Uh, so to conclude then, uh, Mother Nature has dealt the park some
... some rather harsh blows in the last two years. The Parks and Recreation
Department and the Friends of Hickory Hill Park volunteers have just not been
able to keep up with all of the, uh, improvements and maintenance that have to be
done. Uh (clears throat) and let alone implement any of these suggestions in the,
uh, report from Confluence. Therefore, the Friends of Hickory Hill Park
organization hopes that the City Council can provide sufficient funding to begin
implementing the modified study plan in FY2014 -15. And I thank you for your
attention and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
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Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries. Is there anyone else who would like to address
the Council during community comment? Okay! We will move on to Item 5,
Planning and Zoning Matters.
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
ITEM 5b REZONING 2815 ROHRET ROAD — ORDINANCE
CONDITIONALLY REZONING 4.4 ACRES OF PROPERTY, FROM
COMMERCIAL OFFICE (CO -1) TO MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE
FAMILY PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY (OPD -8) ZONE AT
2815 ROHRET ROAD. (REZ14- 00006) (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
fi ... 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.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Any ex parte
communications since the last reading? Any, uh, input from the audience?
Further discussion? Roll call, please.
Mims: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
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ITEM 5c REZONING, 629 S. RIVERSIDE DRIVE (FORMER HARTWIG
MOTORS SITE) — ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING
APPROXIMATELY 3.02 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM COMMUNITY
COMMERCIAL (CC -2) ZONE TO RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS — WEST
RIVERFRONT (RFC -WR) ZONE LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF
SOUTH RIVERSIDE DRIVE, NORTH OF BENTON STREET AND
SOUTH OF THE IOWA INTERSTATE RAILROAD (REZ -14- 00009)
(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.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Matt, uh, just to be clear, we've ... we have not received any correspondence or
any verbal communications in opposition to this particular rezoning. Is that
correct?
Hayek: I think (both talking) ...let me ... let me get the ex parte out of the way first. (both
talking) Has anybody had communications since first reading? Okay. So...
Throgmorton: I apologize.
Hayek: That ... that's fine. Um, and uh ... maybe we ... let me just, is there anyone from the
public, uh, on this item? Okay, Jim, go back to your point (laughter)
Throgmorton: Sorry! (laughs)
Hayek: That's all right!
Throgmorton: Yeah, I just want to make sure that no ... that I'm correct in understanding that no
one has expressed opposition to this rezoning, either verbally to us or in writing,
email or whatever. I ... I'm aware of no opposition.
Mims: Yeah, I'm not either.
Payne: Not that I recall.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Okay. Thanks!
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Hayek: Yeah, and I would ... I ... it's, that's what we always look for, to see if there's, uh,
any controversy with something and to my recollection we haven't had anything.
So, I'm glad you raised that. Further discussion by Council? Roll call, please.
Mims: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6-
0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
(noise on mic) Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
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ITEM 5d REZONING 203 N. LINN ST — ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY
REZONING APPROXIMATELY 4,000 SQUARE FEET OF PROPERTY
FROM CENTRAL BUSINESS SERVICE (CB -2) ZONE TO CENTRAL
BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5) ZONE AND LOCAL LANDMARK
DESIGNATION LOCATED AT 203 N. LINN ST. (REZ- 00007) (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.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by, uh, Dobyns. Discussion? Any ex
parte from the last reading? Anyone from the audience?
Throgmorton: So ... so I'd pose precisely the same question, and I think the answer's no. Right?
Hayek: I believe you are correct. Wait! We have somebody from the audience.
Michaud: Uh, this is Pam Michaud again and I ... I wondered if you could define 203, what
building is that that's going to be a local landmark?
Hayek: The Northside Book Market... building on the ... on the northwest (both talking)
corner.
Michaud: Okay! Thank you very much.
Hayek: Yep! Any further Council discussion? 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: (both talking) I'm sorry, motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
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Hayek: Moved by ... Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
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ITEM 5e REZONING HERBERT HOOVER HIGHWAY — ORDINANCE
CONDITIONALLY REZONING 39.96 ACRES OF PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 4701 HERBERT HOOVER HIGHWAY FROM COUNTY
RESIDENTIAL (R) ZONE TO INTERIM DEVELOPMENT SINGLE -
FAMILY (ID -RS) ZONE. (REZ14- 00002) (PASS AND ADOPT)
Payne: Move adoption.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Any ex parte from the
previous reading? Anyone from the public? Further Council discussion?
Mims: Wait, I think you've got somebody from the audience.
Hayek: Oh! Yeah! Sorry.
Joslin: My name's Corinne Joslin and I actually live at that address, 4701 Herbert
Hoover Highway. I wasn't planning on speaking. I'm powered by pure emotion,
but on August 15th of this year I will have lived at that residence for 36 years and
I know it's somewhat of the wrong format to come and speak before you as you
can't ask the developer to have specifics. I just need ... I lose more by not saying
anything. I spoke to Planning Zoning briefly. I guess what I'm saying is that
there's a long, long interesting story here. Um, I moved in there when shake of a
hand and word of mouth meant something, and we have ... I and my husband and
family have maintained approximately four acres on there, putting up buildings,
um, numerous things, maintenance, $2,000 well pump, numerous trees, numerous
trees, and I mem ... I remember at one of the meetings, um, Mr. Miklo said that he
didn't see ...there's an old barn there too. It's in disrepair. Um, we've kind of
quit doing things because every morning I wake up I have the fear of what's
going to happen today. Are we going to be asked to leave? Urn ... we have put
numerous trees; planted oak trees, blue spruce, Japanese maple, um, cherry trees.
There's too many numerous ones to mention. But after we'd lived there for a few
years, we had asked the owners if we could purchase just that property and at the
time he said don't worry, everything's going to be okay. It's your place; do
whatever you want, and I think anyone knows that you can't put up buildings, you
can't do the things we did without the permission of the owner. So my only
request... bequest is that people at least hear my story and know that that little
section, I've asked if it could be taken last because again, I don't know how I can
just pack up and leave, because development's going on all around me. We ... got
kind of burned when, uh, we had an appointment with the landlady. The landlord
died; the landlady, we had an appointment with her in October and she became ill
and we didn't ... we weren't grave robbers. We weren't going to say please sign
this to protect us, and she died in January. So again, we're kind of left ... we're
more than tenants, but in the eyes of the law we just live there and development's
coming, so ... I only ask that ... I know that they need easements for the property
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and people have been out there. I'm assuming they're going to use our driveway,
um ... I just need to tell somebody this story because when the first realtor got it,
um, basically we talked to him ... we spoke with him, and again tried to buy just
that parcel. We've always been told don't worry, but now like I say it's day to
day, and the realtor that first had it, we mentioned it to him, and we found out he
told the owners that no, we don't want to parcel that off because that's the little
jewel of the property. That's the one that will be the money -maker cause
somebody's going to want to move in there, around all those trees and such, and
so he advised the owner not to parcel that off. I'm just here simply to say that I
can't not say anything. I just have to let public know that there's a story here.
There are people that are behind us, and there is a magazine that has asked me to
write the article, but ... it's so emotional for me that I just need to regroup. We
just, um, had my mother placed into, uh, Walden Place, great place, but that has
consumed my week's times in the last month that require my effort to go forward
on this. So, all I ask is that people know and listen to the story, and maybe come
out and see the place and see, yes, it's in disrepair now and yes we haven't
mowed for a while. What it's done to I and my husband ... it's beyond belief. I
just don't know how to say anything other than please consider that there aren't
just month -to -month tenants there. This has been our life and this is where I teach
my grandkids about life and we have been great stewards of the land and no one
could care about, you know, I know you can make any house a home. This isn't
about the home. This is about the owls that live in the barn and all the animals
and wildlife we've cared for, the ... numerous pets that have been left there that
we've cared for. It goes on. I just need someone to know that in that little house
exists... some lives that are going to be hard to just pack up and move out, just
because. That's all, and I thank you for your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else from the audience? Council
discussion?
Throgmorton: Uh, it's hard ... hard to listen to and I ... I wish I knew how to respond in a way that
would really be helpful but... thank... thank you for speaking. (unable to hear
audience member's response)
Joslin: (walking towards mic) I will say ... I will say humbly that during one of the
Planning and Zoning meetings and it's all on record that, um, our neighbors
spoke. I mean there are so many people that even know about our meeting with
the landlady, and they know about, um, one of the sons of the ... the previous
owner's sons has stuck behind us. He ended up in the hospital when they
developed his place. Um, Jesse Allen knows. Jesse's worked with us several
times. He ... he understands; he knows. There are so many people that know.
Planning and Zoning, several of the, um ... Commission Members had said that
they would ... they voted yes, but they would like it to be on record that they
would like to see that little parcel protected, as well. They wanted to see if there
was something we could do to consider us in another category. Um, I don't
know. I will ... I'll keep fighting. And in a gentle way, because this isn't about
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development. We were always told that we'd be okay, at least till Taft Avenue
went through and now we know what's happening. I knew it would be developed
sometime but ... we're literally less than four acres of the entire parcel. I have
pictures of St. Patrick's Church when, um, the concrete and the steel of the church
reflected the wood and the metal of the barn, so we had the old and the new and
so many things. I can't ... I can't go there, I just can't because I'm proud of myself
for even having enough courage to stand up here and say anything at all, but ... I
thank you and I know at least some people care. So (unable to hear, away from
mic)
Hayek: Thank you. Further Council discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -0.
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ITEM 5h SANDHILL ESTATES PARTS THREE AND FOUR —
RESOLUTION APPROVING PRELIMINARY PLAT (SUB14- 00014)
Hayek: If we could get this on the floor, please.
Yapp: This is, uh, John Yapp, Development Services (both talking)
Hayek: ...we need to get it on the floor (both talking)
Yapp: Oh, excuse me!
Mims: Move approval.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. It's on the floor!
Yapp: Thank you! John Yapp, Development Services. Uh, this is a request for a
preliminary plat of Sandhill Estates Part Three and Four, uh, 51 -lot, 102.56 acre
residential subdivision located predominantly north of McCollister Boulevard and
east of Gilbert Street. This is an aerial view of the ... of the area. Uh, McCollister
Court and part of Color... Covered Wagon Drive have been, uh, developed and
subdivided, uh, on the west side of this subdivision, and on the east side, uh,
Langenberg Avenue and Keel Boat Loop have been developed. Uh, the requested
plat, Parts Three and Four would connect Langenberg Avenue, uh, which now
would connect from McCollister to Sycamore Street. Uh, a majority of this plat
remains an outlot for future development, uh, but 51 lots are proposed to be
subdivided, generally along Langenberg Avenue. This is a close -up of the, uh,
lots, uh ... proposed to be subdivided. This area was subdivided in 2004. Uh, that
plat has since expired and since that time the City's subdivision code has changed,
uh, requiring shorter block lengths and less use of cul -de -sacs. The new plat
reflects these changes, uh, and has a more interconnected street network, uh, with
no block more than 600 -feet in length. Uh, staff and the Planning and Zoning
Commission have both recommended approval.
Hayek: Any questions for John?
Throgmorton: John, could you go back to the aerial, the satellite photograph or aerial photo,
whatever it is, and show us exactly on that particular view where this, um...
preliminary plat is located?
Yapp: Uh, right in this area, Jim, on the south... side of the property.
Throgmorton: Yeah, okay. So, how does this, uh, pre... preliminary plat, uh, and the proposed
development of that property relate to this ... to the, uh, updating of the South
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District Plan? In other words, um, we had a conversation on the Council many
months ago about how we wanted to update the South District plan, to make sure
that future development in the area would, um ... um ... well I don't know exactly
how we said it. I know I said something, but that doesn't mean that's what the
Council said. So we had a discussion, anyhow, about updating the South District
Plan and instructed the staff to do that. So Sarah Walz is now heading that effort.
But ... you know, is that up ... updating going to result in any modifications that
potentially could impact this development, or vice versa? Could the fact of this
development impact what's possible with regard to the South District Plan?
Yapp: This property is already zoned...
Throgmorton: Yep.
Yapp: ...for development. Uh, I do not know if through the South District Plan process
amendments to the Zoning Code would be proposed and subsequently, uh,
considered. Uh, that would be one way for property that is already zoned where it
might have an effect. However, because this property is already zoned for
development and the infrastructure is largely already in place, uh, I do not think
the South District Plan workshops would have a significant effect on this without
subsequent Zoning Code amendments.
Throgmorton: That's what I thought you'd say. So, thank you for, uh, making those points. Uh,
I'd just like to observe, um ... uh, it's hard for me to see how anybody in this
particular (coughing on mic, unable to hear speaker) would be able to walk to a
nearby grocery store or a nearby coffee shop or, uh, any other nearby facility,
other than somebody else's house or the park that's located, uh, just across, uh,
south Gilbert Street. So, I ... won't surprise you all to hear this. This is
problematic over the long run. So when we ... as ... as we think about new
development out on the periphery, we gotta be thinking about how people can
walk to what they need. Not everything, but to a lot of what they need. And, you
know, I know we're talking about a plat for a property that's already zoned, so
that makes my choices different but ... we need to be rethinking what we're doing
and I thought that's what the South District Plan would enable us to do, at least
potentially. Thanks.
Hayek: Yeah.
Payne: What ... what are the average square footages of the lots?
Yapp: Uh, they range from a ... uh, 8,000 to 12,000 square feet in size. I think there's
one that's slightly larger than that.
Payne: Which allows about what size of a house to be built?
Yapp: It... it would allow a... a single- family house, uh...
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Payne: A 20,000 - square foot house?
Yapp: No! (laughter) No, not 20,000.
Payne: So I mean these are going to be...
Yapp: Three to four - bedroom houses.
Payne: Okay!
Hayek: I ... I think that these, uh, lots range from the smallest you can have on an RS -5 to
what John (both talking)
Yapp: Yeah, 8 ... 8,000 square feet is our minimum lot size, and many of these lots are
between 8,000 and 9,000 square feet in size.
Throgmorton: So we don't have much choice on this particular (both talking)
Hayek: Well, let ... let's wait. I want to see if there's any audience input. I think we were
asking John questions and if (mumbled) deliberation we can. Any more questions
for Mr. Yapp? Okay. Is there anyone from the audience? Okay. Oh, Mary!
Gravitt: Well if you're developing for the future, you've got to have places where people
can walk! It's just that, you know, that's the wave of the future. You just can't
plan places where people are boxed in and you can't cross on other people's
property, and I would be afraid at some point to walk through the woods or
whatever you have surrounding, because we have lightening and we have floods
out here. So it...it...you have to have access! Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. Council discussion?
Payne: Jim, I think that I ... I get what you're saying.
Throgmorton: Uh huh.
Payne: Um ... and I think that's, I mean, like the Peninsula has places to walk to. Um, I
think that that's a good idea, and we should strive to get there. Um, but I think
that's what we're trying to do right now, and maybe this ... redoing the South
District Plan will push us more in that direction. So I mean I'm agreeing with
you, I guess...
Throgmorton: Uh huh.
Payne: ...is what I'm saying, that it .... I think that we need to get to where you're going.
I think in the ... in the packet that we had we talked about a sense of place...
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Throgmorton: Uh huh.
Payne: ...and one probably good thing about this area is they can probably walk to school
from here.
Throgmorton: Well, I wonder about that. I was ... I don't have a (both talking)
Payne: Right, I don't know how far it is either (both talking)
Throgmorton: But uh .... that South District ... or the new Alexander School will be down there on
south Sycamore, not terribly far away...
Dickens: ... about a half mile (several talking) east of there.
Payne: So it ... that ... that is a positive for this area.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Yeah.
Payne: But ... but we need something like a corner grocery store or coffee shop, those
kind of things to really get people to have that sense of place.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Yeah, thank you! If I could just toss in two words, I guess, here. Um,
since the land is already zoned RS -5, the property owner has the right to develop
it in accord with, uh, basically the preliminary plat. So I'm not gonna vote against
it. Uh ... it's following existing codes. Can't object. Which tells me we need to
rethink RS -5. The zoning stuff. Think of...just try to picture this whole trend 20
or 30 or whatever years in the future! It's just not plausible ... to continue doing
things the way we are. So ... I ... I'm just urging us to ... think differently and
hopefully the South District Plan will be a step in the right direction.
Dobyns: John, what is P -1? Is that...
Yapp: I'm sorry, Rick?
Dobyns: (several talking) It's public, okay. I ... I'm trying to envision as this area
develops, I assume one of the elements that, Jim, you were referring to is a place
to go to in terms of some, at least commercial venture, urn ... one of the elements, I
mean, there's a whole host. I guess those sorts of things usually go on arterials
and the only arterials in this are all in the future McCollister, uh, Lehman Road
south of here and along, um, south Gilbert. And I'm trying to remember some of
the plat, which is sort of rough, for this larger development, and I guess I'm trying
to take a more microscopic look where, and I realize that, uh, we're only focusing
on a small area of this part of Iowa City, but I'm trying to get a sense where other
than, um ... residential, uh, would go in this area, envisioning for the future.
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Yapp: There is a... a small commercially zoned area on Gilbert Street, uh, near
Trueblood Park, currently undeveloped. Uh, through the South District Plan I
think there may be, uh, discussions of other smaller commercial areas in the South
District but ... we have not had the workshops yet.
Dobyns: Okay. All right.
Payne: But I think that's an inside - the -box type thinking, to think it has to go on an
arterial street. I mean, you go to some of these other towns and they have a
corner grocery store and they have a coffee shop on the next corner and it's
residential all around.
Dobyns: Uh huh.
Payne: So I mean ... I think, you know, we need to think outside the box, not inside the
box for where we put some of this... commercial type endeavors. You just have
to have the people there to support it too.
Throgmorton: Yeah, true enough.
Hayek: Well we'll ... and we'll be having those conversations and I mean it depends on
how you define, you know, commercial, uh, or... or sense of place, you know, the
retail and commercial offering, I mean, what could be a quaint little store could be
a ... a convenience store proposal, as we've seen, uh, you know, in the last few
years that ... that this Council and many ... many neighbors did not want to see and
so that's an important discussion for us to have, but what I was going to say is,
you know, this is a preliminary plat review and, Jim, you appropriately pointed
out that ... that our ... our review of that is different from, um, what ... what our role
would be in the ... in the case of a zoning request. Um, and, John, I'm glad you
pointed out that CC -2 on the corner because that is zoned for precisely the sort of
thing, uh, that would be a commercial or retail destination, uh, for individuals, and
...and actually, unlike so many of our applications, this area surrounded by ... by
my count four parks! Uh, Wetherby, Sand Prairie, uh, Napoleon Park, and then
the Trueblood area just southwest of there, and (both talking)
Yapp: ... Sycamore Greenway, as well (both talking)
Hayek: ...and a lot of trails. So I would say the connectivity's good, and now with our
new, uh, codes since the plat expired and they had to come back and, uh, and
shorten the blocks and so on and so forth, I think this is a ... a good product. Um,
but ... but we ... we will have those discussions when the South District Plan comes
UP.
Dobyns: I like the fact that Langenberg going through allows bikers, pedestrians from
southeast Iowa City to get over to Terry Trueblood, uh...
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Yapp: Connectivity has been a challenge in this part of the city, uh, and as it develops,
connectivity will get better.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -0.
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ITEM 6. AMEND DOWNTOWN URBAN RENEWAL AREA PLAN — AMENDING
CITY - UNIVERSITY PROJECT 1 URBAN RENEWAL PLAN TO ADD
PROPOSED URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS WITHIN THE AREA.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Hunsicker: I'm told I'm supposed to announce myself. I'm Larry Hunsicker from 904
Denbigh Drive, uh, and ... citizen of Iowa City for 38 years, and by way of
declaration of conflicts of interest because I'm at the University and I have to
pro ... propend all of my talks with a conflict of interest statement, I am a member
of Trinity Parish, but I'm ... I think not speaking particularly from a Trinity Parish
point of view. Um, I want to start out by saying I don't have any objection to
what is planned tonight, which is a ... a passage of a thing that permits beginning a,
uh, consideration of ways in which we might be changing the downtown. Uh, it
seems... there's nothing objectionable about doing that, and I do understand that
all of the specific proposals will eventually have to be evaluated and will have to
come through this process again. So I'm not objecting to the proposed thing, but
it seemed to me a reasonable time for me to express a few concerns about what I
see as the core thrust of the, uh ... the proposals as they are being lumped together,
and particu ... I have no problem with the first part, which is decorating the
downtown area a little bit more, but the three big things, which are the three
capital, uh, proposals for this area. And I'm going to try to discuss these three
issues in a ... a way that shows to some extent their relatedness. The first is a
simple economic issue. The, uh, City is proposing contributing, if they go along
with these proposals, and I understand that they're all tentative, is proposing, uh, a
contribution not only of land for the, uh ... um, Chauncey towers but of ... of
substantial capital, and it wasn't clear to me, it has not been clear to me what the
City's interest is in providing capital for what should be self, uh, supporting
economic development to these are ... if these are economically viable projects,
they should be economically viable without the input of the City, uh, capital. If
they're not economically viable without the City capital, I'm wondering whether
this is really a wise thing for the City to get involved with. Now, that may sound
like a, uh ... you know, I wanted to say in here I have spent now a certain amount
of my time, because my two sons live up in Minneapolis, a town that has gone
through the bruising of whether the city should support building a major sports,
uh, arena for the benefit, as far as I can see, of the people who own the teams, not
of the city. And so my question is, what is the interest of the City in involvement
in these things? Well, then you go from that to what does the City expect to get
out of these things, and what are the City's reals ... real interests, and here is where
I think the heart of my concern is. One of the clear -cut City's interest was
expressed earlier this evening by the lady over to my right, which is that we need
to develop affordable housing for the people who work in Iowa City, and I've
been very disappointed by the, uh, rather paltry fraction of the units that are being
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discussed, that are aimed at the people who live and work in the city. Now, were
we to be, uh, insisting that there be a higher fraction of those, then there might
well be a reason for the City to be involved in... in developing this. This is a
matter of the City interest. Uh, if you look at this from another point of view, we
just heard about developing tracts, but if you go out and you're going to develop a
whole new tract of land, uh, typically, uh, zoning people require that a certain
amount of park space be set aside. I think in the same line, if you're looking at
developing some of the few remaining really nice places in Iowa City, you should
have a policy of saying that a certain fraction of those, a substantial fraction,
should be set aside for affordable housing, which is one of the real needs of Iowa
City, for people who work in the town who, as it's been pointed out, may have
difficulty getting (mumbled) so forth, and we're not really doing that. That's the
second part. The third port ... part is really probably addressable, but it has to do
with parking, and this is perhaps the thing that most affects my relationship with
Trinity. There's no question that putting a Chauncey up right across the street is
going to affect access to Trinity. I suspect the same thing's going to be true for
the other areas, the other big investments, and again, you could argue that a
person who is developing land has to, uh, make, uh ... appropriate ... take into
appropriate consideration what that's going to do to parking. Uh, not just for the
people who live there but for the businesses that are... positioned in that city to
make sure that the impact of developing these things is not to crowd out the other
people in the area. So ... in sum, what I come to say is, sure, go ahead and pass
this. I think it's reasonable. I think that the City needs to make a clearer, uh, case
to the citizens as to what the benefits of...to the City are of these projects as
they're developed, uh, yes, in 25 years they ... the debt will be paid off and so
forth, but you know, it would be paid off even if we didn't put money in. What is
the argument for doing that, and in particular, how does this address the needs of
Iowa City, which include amongst them, access to reasonable cost housing for the
people who live and work in the city. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Van Horne: Thanks for indulging me and hearing me twice tonight. Um, I'm here to oppose
Item 6, um, and I'm going to try and explain why. This is a ... what on appearance
is a procedural vote. We're going to approve this urban renewal plan and then
we're going to take up each of the projects later, individually. Well, I assume
whoever put in place the rules that you have to approve an urban renewal plan
didn't just do it to make your life difficult. They did it to give you a chance to
stop and think about what you're doing, and to really consider what it means to
engage in urban renewal, and how each of these projects fit in with the zoning
considerations and the long -term City goals that exist. We have before us a
Comprehensive Plan and its undergone some revision, but the Comprehensive
Plan doesn't necessarily speak to having the kinds of projects that are being
proposed in this urban renewal amendment in those particular locations in the way
that they're currently designed. Now I understand there's still chance to modify
those proposals, but rather than thinking of this as a rubber stamp vote, I
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encourage the City Council to take the pieces of this project apart, to approve the
things that are actually ready for and worthy of approval in terms of urban
renewal, and to set aside and send back and ask to see again the things that aren't
as clearly developed, and I encourage you to think about what it means to have
renewal. It doesn't just mean putting a building or a storefront on a lot. It also
means taking into consideration the values and the needs of the city. Mr.
Hunsicker spoke about affordable housing, so I won't reiterate those points. I
think they've been well articulated in the past. I would also draw your attention
to the concerns that we might have around things like climate change and the need
for truly sustainable building practices,. That's not possible or it's prohibitively
expensive in extreme highrise buildings, um, and I would encourage you to think
about how the particular amenities that are there complement and continue to
develop the other amenities that are downtown. Things like Film Scene that will
be the anchor business for the Chauncey is already existing and thriving in
another location. Its success is not going to rise and fall with the Chauncey. So
consider the amenities, consider the needs, consider the values that our city would
like to project to the world as you consider this urban renewal plan, and don't just
think of it as a procedural vote.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Gravitt: (mumbled) Mary Gravitt. I lived through the first redevelopment, 1957, and I
know that the dangers in overbuilding and the same way with TIF. 57 had to stop
because the government ran out of money or the project ran out of money, but
what I heard last time was that, uh, the City was to give Mr. Moen, or a developer,
a million dollars for five, uh, affordable units. Now it only has to be affordable
for 15 years. That's what I ... I, uh, derived from a talk that, uh, the Housing, uh,
the person in charge of Housing gave a talk to the Ad Hoc Committee about
housing for the elderly, and for everybody else, whatever, and those contracts are
15 years. A million dollars just for 15 years is a lot of money to give for the
Chauncey, and nobody seems to be satisfied with it. In other words, you're over
...it looks like it's overcrowding the city. The beauty of Iowa City is that it is a
rural ... a large, rural town. People come here for a reason, so that you'll feel
comfortable. You don't feel all ... when you go to Chicago. It's nice to look, but
it's hell living there and Philadelphia's the same way. Philadelphia once looked
like Iowa City, till people got too many ideas. But the idea of a million dollars for
five units that's only going to do the city and the person living there good for 15
years. It doesn't seem like it's a bargain at all! Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Cole: My name is Rockne Cole. I reside at 1607 E. Court Street. Um, I'm the Co -Chair
of the Iowa Coalition in the Shadow, an organization opposed to the luxury
housing tower called The Chauncey. We're encouraging this Council to vote no
on expansion of the TIF district, if it means including the 404 College - Gilbert
site. Our economic policy states, I think in deciding this you should look at the
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City's own written documents. It states, and it's the Economic Development
policy from April of 2014. It will be the police of the City to ensure that the
process of using incentives is an open and transparent process which instills
confidence in the public's understanding of how economic development
incentives are uticiz ... uh, utilized. The way that our TIF policy has been
implemented has not been open. It has not been transparent, and it has not been
just. In fact, it has been quite illogical insofar as it has failed to follow this city's
own documents. That same planning document states that the use of TIF rebates
shall be considered highly preferable to the alternative cash -up -front TIFs. That
language is quite clear that it's a statement of intent on the part of this city that
rebates shall be highly preferable as opposed to money upfront TIFs, yet in spite
of that clear language, this Council and past Council have awarded nearly $20
million in money upfront TIFs to the same developer. The technical term is tax
increment financing. But let's be really clear about what it actually is. It is an
unprecedented wealth transfer from the entire community, flowing into the hands
of the select and politically connected few. It is plain and simple — subsidized
housing for the I%. And now most tragically as Mary had pointed out, our City
staff has committed to purchase five affordable housing units for $100,000... for
one million dollars, averaging $200,000 per unit. That's in addition to the $14
million that this Council stands poised to give to the same developer. Until this
Council engages in public meetings, out in the community, in listening posts at
our Public Library, until it explains why this Council has ignored its own policy,
this Council should vote no on expanding the TIF district. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Hacker: I would like to say that (mumbled) last time there was a be... a building you built
(both talking)
Hayek: ...give us your name again, sir, just to (both talking)
Hacker: My name is Geoff Hacker.
Hayek: Thank you, sir.
Hacker: ...the building you wanted to build that last time and you guys had a petition
against it. You're probably going to end up with another petition like that again.
You ignored the people at the time. The more people wanted not to have that
building, and now all that's got in there is like a hair cutting place that costs 30...
costs you almost $30 to get a haircut and nobody (mumbled) could even get a
haircut in there. There's nothing in the building that anybody can really use!
(mumbled) and they're so expensive, you can barely even get a haircut. I couldn't
even get a haircut there. Nobody else ... except for the rich people downtown
could get it, cause the (mumbled) for the rich people downtown. You got stores
downtown that are designed for the rich people. You got everything. You don't
have anything designed for the average people. So much that the ... the stores like
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Connie Champion's (mumbled) had to close they were so expensive. They had to
sell clothes more expensive cause you got the taxes so high downtown, people
can't even begin ... can't begin to ... to compete with Coral Ridge Mall, which has
taken away the money and stuff, cause you don't realize it all transferred out to
Coral Ridge Mall. People go out there cause it's cheaper to shop and go out to
Coralville to shop cause there's no shopping downtown and you talk about having
stores downtown. There's nothing downtown really except for John's Grocery
about ... maybe one of the best places. Still keeps his prices as cheap as they can.
There's just nothing downtown. That building was useless. You went against the
people. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Going against the petition that the
people signed, and then you let a haircut place go in there that's so expensive,
most people can't afford it, not even the college students basically are going to be
able to afford it, cause a lot of college students come here and they're going to
have struggles too, and there are a lot of elderly people that probably can't afford
it either. Live over by Senior Center and ... and people live in Capitol House, they
can't afford it. You need more housing but the ... for the poor people. You need
more stores that are designed for the normal people, cause during the summer
none of these businesses even stay open so us normal people can even use `em!
They close down early. They think that we're not here ... not really here all the
time. They only open when the college students are in town. So you need to
think about redesigning downtown so it's more ... so everybody can use it, not just
the rich people, cause it seems like the rich people have all the say downtown, and
they get everything decided, all the time (laughs)
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Michaud: Hello, I'm Pam Michaud at 109 S. Johnson. I would encourage the, uh, Council
to be very serious about consistency. We have over 30 years of historic
preservation in this city, giving awards to little projects and we have a four -
month -old, updated Comprehensive Plan that immediately was negated when you
tossed out the matrix and chose this 15 -story proposal. That's inconsistent and it
doesn't seem legal to a lot of people. We also have, um, a tradition of supporting
at least two or three generations of people, including many of you on the Council,
for supporting historic preservation. Let's ... let's honor that and ... and provide a
transitional zone height to all residential neighborhoods, whether it's affluent or
modest, historic or new, that there should be no taller buildings than four to five -
story that's already existing on Gilbert Street. That is the intermediate height
zone that's indicated in the 2014 four - month -old Comprehensive Plan update.
Don't make a laughing stock out of that. I mean, you (laughs) you're trying to
establish a legacy, and I think that various administrators are trying to make their
mark in Iowa City's history. Let's make ... let's not make it a big, messy mark
that nobody loves. Thank you very much.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
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Krinsley: My name is Ruedi Kuenzli. I live at 705 S. Summit Street. I would like to, uh,
talk about this amendment, especially to the Chauncey. This amendment also
allows City Council to consider development agreements for The Chauncey at the
corner of Gilbert and College Street. For years I have walked or bicycled down
College Street to work. When I was a member of the City's Historic Preservation
Commission I convinced absentee landlords to support the creation of the College
Green Historic District, which is just adjacent to what will be The Chauncey. I
would like to speak tonight against using TIF for making The Chauncey possible
for the following reason. The 15 -story building does not conform to the City's
Comprehensive Plan, according to which the area east of Gilbert should be
regarded as transition to lower density residential neighborhoods. The parcel on
which The Chauncey is supposed to be built is not in the central business district.
In regard to streetscape, at present no building on Gilbert is higher than five
stories. The City's enabling the construction of a building with public funds that
clearly does not comply with the Comprehensive Plan creates a problematic
precedent. The City's Comprehensive Plan is the strongest tool the City has to
approve or reject developments. The City's ignoring its own Comprehensive Plan
will make it a much weaker tool to stand up to developers making their demands
for exemp ... exceptions to the Comprehensive Plan. The parcel on which The
Chauncey is planned to be built is currently public land. It belongs to all of us.
(mumbled) such a break with the Comprehensive Plan, a break that we are asked
to heavily subsidize with public money, our money. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. I will close the public hearing at this time. (bangs
gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Mims: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion?
Throgmorton: I think the speakers have raised several important points that have to do ... that go
to the heart of the value choices that we face within our community. I know there
are differing points of view about these kinds of things, urn ... uh, but I'm going to
vote no on the resolution, uh ... assuming the resolution passes, however, that does
not mean that I will vote necessarily... that I will necessarily vote against any
individual project that comes up in the future. Nor does it mean that I will
necessarily vote for any individual project (mumbled) comes up in the future. I'm
going to make that choice based on the merits of ... of those individual projects,
but I think the value choices that our speakers have so deftly uh ... um, presented
to us, uh, need to be taken into account and um, I'm going to speak on behalf of
them and vote as ... as they have suggested. There you go!
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Mims: Well, I'm going to vote in support, um, of the amendment to the Urban Renewal
Plan. I think we've got, you know, three, uh, major projects at, uh, important
locations that we need to move forward on. This gives us the opportunity, um, I
mean, as Jim said, I think each of us and ... and myself included will vote on these
projects individually, based on the merits, and I know there's concerns about the
one that is, uh, gotten the most publicity and is furthest along and that is The
Chauncey. Um, I would ... I think clarify a couple of comments that were made,
um, and my understanding — please, staff, correct me if I'm wrong — but if the
City buys, um, affordable housing ... buys units in The Chauncey for affordable
housing there is not a 15 -year limit on that.
Markus: That's correct.
Mims: That ... that is, those will be affordable housing as long as the City owns those.
That is totally different than money that comes from other segments that has that
15 -year limit on, so it is very possible that those units could be used as affordable
housing in perpetuity. Um, it would take the City to sell those units for them to
no longer be affordable housing. Um, those are expensive units, um, and this gets
to an individual project, and those are things that we'll hake to consider, um, as
we get closer to that, but I think it's important that we're able to move forward on
this. Um, I also would respectfully disagree with one of our speakers that we
have violated our own policies. I think we have done everything, um, that we
have been able to do, publicly, um ... certain negotiations have certainly been done
privately but the results of those negotiations will be, uh, presented publicly and
voted on publicly. So, um, I think we very much have followed our economic
development policies. There are certain things that are preferred in those policies,
but just because something is preferred does not always make it possible. Um, so
I would certainly stand by the city, uh, the Council, the Economic Development
Ci... Committee in following the policies that we have in place, and I will support
this resolution.
Hayek: I will be, uh, supportive as well. I ... I note that, um ... uh, this ... this vote is ... is...
is required under State law. We cannot consider any of these projects or enter
into agreements with developers, um, without going through this step, and that's
why it's before us. I understand that ... that, uh ... to ... to defeat any one of the
projects, uh, this would be an opportunity to ... to keep us from going beyond the
threshold, but ... but that's not a ... that's not a reason, uh, from my perspective to
vote against this because I think we should take them up individually as ... as, uh,
they are presented to the Council, and um, I ... I would ... I would concur with...
with Mayor Pro Tem Mims' comments, uh, I think there can be a very healthy
debate on ... on, um, the merits of, uh, any given development project or the City's
overall philosophy, uh ... uh, with respect to, uh, economic development or ... or
redevelopment. That is ... that is fair, that's... that's a discussion that can be had,
but um, I ... I ... I, um, am proud of the transparency with which the City does its
business, and I would, uh, I would compare how we go about our business,
whether it's in this arena or any other, with any other community in the state of
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Iowa, and I think it would stack up, uh, well and... and be, uh, indicative of... of,
uh, great transparency and ... and process. Um, but this is a ... this is an
amendment, uh, that allows us to move forward with, uh, projects we've talked
about already and projects that, uh, are anticipated, and all of those projects will
receive, uh ... uh, appropriate consideration by staff, uh, and ... and Council, with,
uh, with ... with many opportunities for public input, and we'll have those
conversations at that time. Further discussion?
Throgmorton: Matt, I ... I do have a suggestion... with regard to individual projects. Uh ... it's
very clear that many people in this city feel that private negotiations behind
closed doors are favoring particular individuals or firms or interests. One way to
respond to that concern is for our Council and the staff to conduct what one might
call an open public forum in which people have an opportunity to learn how those
negotiations proceed, what the staff thinks about when conducting those
negotiations, like you know the strategic plan and, uh, policies that as ... as a staff
understands and polices that we've adopted, and where the Council can, uh, also
convey to the public ... the policy choices the Council has made ... so that, uh, on
the whole, public understanding could be enhanced. If, on the other hand, we
wait until the moment when a ... a ... a proposal for financial assistance is presented
to us, we schedule a public hearing, we hold the public hearing, people come in
and say their minds — there will be no public understanding. What we will have
instead is people just saying, `I don't like it. It's not transparent. It's, uh... some
developer's made a sweetheart deal with the, you know, with the staff. It's not
good.' The way to deal with that is to conduct some kind of open public forum
where, uh, as much shared understanding as possible can be developed. You
know, we've ... I've communicated to both of you about that in writing, right?
Hayek: Thank you, Jim. Further Council discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 5 -1,
Throgmorton in the negative.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Dickens: So moved.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Payne. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
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ITEM 7. WILLOW CREEK STREAMBANK RESTORATION — APPROVING
PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE
OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WILLOW CREEK
STREAMBANK RESTORATION 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) Uh, for the public's
edification, the estimated cost is, uh, about $203,000 and will be funded with
storm water revenue and FEMA money. Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
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ITEM 8. IOWA CITY PUBLIC WORKS EXTERIOR WASHOUT, PCC ACCESS
ROAD AND STORM SEWER — APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS,
FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA CITY PUBLIC WORKS EXTERIOR
WASHOUT, PCC ACCESS ROAD AND STORM SEWER 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) Estimated cost of
the project is about $325,000 and will be funded with general obligation bonds.
Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
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ITEM 9. HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (HCV) ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN -
RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE IOWA CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY'S
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (HCV) ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN
Payne: Move resolution.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by, uh, Payne, seconded by Mims. Discussion? Anyone from the
audience? Any Council discussion? (several talking)
Throgmorton: You know, I ... I think I asked the ... that this topic be pulled from some previous
meeting agenda so that we could actually give people an opportunity to speak.
I ... I don't know if anybody plans to speak to the next item, urn ... I guess we'll
find out (laughter) but uh ... I ... I have no particular issues to bring up with regard
to this. I ... I thought some other people might.
Hayek: Looks like we've got a taker!
Throgmorton: Ah ha! (laughs)
Eastham: My name's Charlie Eastham. I live at 37 Colwyn Court in Iowa City and uh, I'd
just like to thank the Council, one, for agreeing to remove this item from the
Consent Agenda at the, uh, July meeting so we have a chance to consider it, and
also to give us a chance to have a conversation with the, uh, Director of the Iowa
City Housing Authority, and uh, I have a meeting with Mr. Rackis and members
of the Black Voices Project and the result of that meeting I think is the Housing
Authority Director's decision to remove, uh, the two - degrees of harassment, uh,
as elements of the, uh, plan, uh, amendments. Uh, and, uh, so we'll have a little
bit better, I think, understanding of how people will be able to, uh, to access, uh,
to qualify for housing assistance and uh, we'll be able to ... we'll be less likely to
relos ... to lose that assistance because of some issues, okay? Uh, again, thank the
...the Council for its consideration, and uh, for the Housing Authority's Director,
uh, decision to participate in a process which we thought was very open and
involved people affected by the, uh, proposed amendments. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Excellent!
Mims: Good! Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you!
Dilkes: If the Council agrees, it should be clear that, um ... you're moving the resolution
with the changes proposed in the August 18, 2014, memo from Steve Rackis.
(several responding)
Hayek: Understood! Further Council discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -0.
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ITEM 12a. LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX (LOST) - RESOLUTION AMENDING THE
BALLOT LANGUAGE REGARDING THE USES TO WHICH THE
REVENUES FROM THE LOCAL SALES AND SERVICES TAX WILL BE
ALLOCATED.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. (unable to hear person from audience) On
12? Yes, now is the time. Uh, but if we could... explain what (several talking)
Mims: Do you have new language, Eleanor, or...
Dilkes: Yes! Um, so the changes that were discussed at the work session are to add a
provision to the 10% affordable housing allocation, which would provide that no
less than 75% of said 10% be allocated for programs and initiatives that increase
affordable housing for households at or below 80% of area median income, as
defined annually in accordance with federal law. The other change that was made
was to change the percentage allocated for property tax relief from 50% to 40 %,
and to change the allocation for maintenance, repair, construction and
reconstruction of public streets, trails, and associated infrastructure to 50 %.
Mims: Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you. So the motion's on the floor and if there is anyone from the audience,
I invite you to come forward!
Gravitt: What I'm interested in about this tax because that last tax we had was 1 %, and it
was supposed to be for flood relief, and then I read in the paper that the flood was
paid for whenever the flood was and I have been trying to track the money, so I...
every time I would come here, nobody would answer. I finally found the answer.
They're taking the 1 %...that's on the energy bill, cause I pay electric. I don't
know what anybody else pays. So it's being salami- sliced into the City budget.
So this is what ... how, is this going to be salami-slice ... how long is this tax going
to last, and is it going to be salami- sliced into the budget? Is this ever going to
have it end? Now my energy tax is only like 28... averages about 28- cents, but I
like to know where my money is going, because I thought since the flood was
paid for that that money could go to SEATS. Now you have this new thing, is
this tax ever going to end? And if it ends, will the people know it's going to end
or does it go back into the budget and gets recycled and recycle? And another
thing that I'm very curious about, now the City is going to own The Chauncey,
right? The City doesn't own The Chauncey. So the ... the five affordable units go
to the developer.
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Mims: The City would own the five units, if we buy those, but just those five units.
Gravitt: Okay. Now ... is it, how they gonna be distributed out to the public, or is this
going to be a lottery to get it? See this is very ... you know, when it comes to
things like that and the taxes and you're dealing with everybody's going to be
angry and upset anyway, but I like to know where my (mumbled) I want to know
where my 28 -cents is going, and I don't know since I don't pay real estate tax. I
know I ride the bus with ... with, uh, people who pay real estate tax and they very
upset, and the ... and the Governor who put that tax in force about the business
taxes going down, the residence going up — I want to know why not the cities
fighting that?
Hayek: Miss Gravitt, you've... you've raised a number of points, uh, and if you'll stick
around I'll talk to you about them after the meeting.
Gravitt: Okay. As long as I don't miss my bus. Thank you.
Hayek: I'll talk fast!
Hacker: You talk about a sales ... the sales tax, but then the County wanted ... was telling
people one time in the newspaper we're going to use it for the annexation of their
pri ... their Courthouse thing they want to build, so ... so what would you do
(mumbled) for that money (mumbled) They want it for that (laughs) How you
gonna deal with that problem? The County wants it for ... to go to their annexation
thing so that people are more willing to vote for it and... Courthouse thing, they
mentioned that in the news, and my names Geoff Hacker (laughs)
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Scott: Good evening, my name's Sally Scott. I'm Chair of the Johnson County
Affordable Homes Coalition and quickly tonight I want to thank the Council for
including the 10% for affordable housing, and uh, particularly for specifying that
it ... a ... a percentage will be for, uh, those at 80% of area median income and
below. Uh, I think we've heard tonight, and this was not a, uh, coordinated effort
at all (laughs) There's a lot of folks who care about this issue, um, and I think it's
simply because it's hitting so many people hard. Um, and if it's not hitting you
personally it's hitting somebody you know. So, uh, I think affordable housing
will remain an issue for the time being. This will help us deal with it, and um...
our coalition, I think, has a lot of experience, uh, in this area, um ... uh, we've had
opportunity to speak with Susan about this, and it'll... what'll really be critical, I
think, to preserve all of our credibility moving forward is the ongoing
conversation, ongoing collaboration, if this gets passed, if the money becomes
available, because if it's simply, uh, you know, allocated without that kind of
conversation, collaboration, uh, I think it won't be as well spent as it could be,
and I think there's some great opportunities to leverage money, uh, federal, state,
private money that this could unleash. So, thanks again!
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Hayek: Thank you. Council discussion?
Mims: I'm real pleased with the changes. Um ... appreciate Council's support on this.
Uh, as Sally said I had met with them and gotten some ideas and ... and some, uh,
helped address some of their concerns about, uh, the allocation of the money. I
think this makes it much clearer, um, that there is that commitment to the neediest
in the community, uh, in terms of housing and uh, hopefully it will help us as, uh,
those of us are out there advocating for passage of the local option sales tax.
Throgmorton: So, I...I'm very pleased with the adjustment we've made with regard to
affordable housing. Uh, focusing a substantial fraction of that money on... 80% or
below median. Thank you, uh, for talking with Sally about that and suggesting
that possibility. Uh, but as you all know, I also expressed considerable
reservation about various things in the work session, but uh, in part because of
that and then related conversation, uh, we agreed to shift from 50% going to
property tax relief to 40 %, and ... shifting the roadway infrastructure element from
40 to 50. So, I'm ... I'm right about that (both talking)
Mims: Right, got it right!
Throgmorton: ... numbers confused (laughs) So, uh, I want to thank you all for, uh, you know, a
... a ... agreeing to that adjustment and in light of that I'll ... I will definitely vote
for, uh, this, um, this resolution.
Mims: I think it was good improvements tonight!
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? All those opposed say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
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ITEM 12b MIDAMERICAN ENERGY CO. REQUEST FOR INDEMNIFICATION
PRIOR TO ITS RELEASE OF FLASH ARC CALCULATIONS TO THE
City, WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF THE FLOOD
PUMP STATION NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH THE ROCKY
SHORE LIFT STATION.
Mims: So moved.
Hayek: Well let's ... let's have the, uh, how about the ... how about a (both talking)
Dilkes: It's in the late handouts. I think it's phrased as a motion.
Karr: It is.
Hayek: It is?
Mims: Yeah.
Karr: In the late handouts.
Dilkes: Here, I'll (several talking)
Mims: So moved! (laughter)
Payne: Second! (laughs)
Dickens: Third! (laughter)
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Uh, discussion? This is to give ... the City
Manager authority to pursue and make a deal with ... an arrangement with
MidAmerican contingent on approval by the City Attorney (both talking)
Dilkes: In connection with the, uh, Rocky Shore Road project, correct.
Hayek: Yeah!
Throgmorton: So, I'm sorry, what...
Payne: It's for arc -flash information.
Throgmorton: What's a (mumbled) What's arc -flash, I mean, you know.
Payne: It's so that they can design the electrical equipment so that there is not an injury to
a worker on the equipment.
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Throgmorton: All right! I'm all for that.
Hayek: (laughs)
Payne: It's just information that's being provided.
Hayek: All right!
Payne: Is my understanding. (laughs)
Markus: That's correct.
Dilkes: That's right.
Hayek: Any further discussion? Roll call, please.
Dilkes: Motion!
Karr: It's a motion.
Hayek: (mumbled) All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
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ITEM 15. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Hayek: We'll start down with you, Jim.
Throgmorton: All right! Uh, at the start of this meeting, Matt, you read a proclamation
concerning the Great March for Climate Action, and hard on the heels of that,
Miriam Kashia who is a good friend of mine and who has walked something like
2,000 miles from Los Angeles as a part of this march spoke to us and read her
own proclamation back to us. I don't know, you all did trade, didn't ya? (laughs)
Uh, tomorrow, Wednesday, August 201h, uh, the Great March will be departing
from the New Pioneer Co -Op in Coralville and coming to, uh, the pedestrian mall
in downtown Iowa City. They're going to depart at 10:00 A.M. in the morning
and arrive around 11:30 or 11:45 or something like that at the ped mall. Uh, at
which ... and at noon there's going to be a rally. I attended the rally up in Des
Moines, uh, a week or so ago. There were about 350 people there, in front of the
State Capitol building. A very enthusiastic crowd which heard from, uh,
numerous speakers. So I don't know how many we're going to have there
tomorrow, but I'm going to be there. I hope you all, uh, come if you can. Uh, I'll
be one of the speakers, but there will be ... I don't know ... I don't know, five, six
others.
Dickens: Are you going to keep it short? (laughter)
Throgmorton: Under 4 ... under 45 minutes guaranteed! (laughter)
Dickens: Okay! (laughs)
Throgmorton: So, anyhow, I ... I, if there...if people are watching, um, I ... I invite viewers to
attend the noon -time rally to celebrate the marchers' efforts, which have really
been extraordinary and to hear a variety of people make ... well, short speeches!
(laughter)
Dickens: (mumbled) only had so long for lunch (laughter)
Mims: I would just remind the public that the Iowa City Community School District is
back in session and be careful as you're driving out there, um, with all our little
ones, uh, either walking or riding their bikes or even driving to school, and uh,
certainly welcome back the University of Iowa students, who are, uh, making
their way back into town, as well.
Dickens: Nothing!
Payne: Nothing.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of August 19, 2014.
Page 42
Dobyns: There were two wonderful opportunities this past summer for the City to work
with members of the community, over on the west side during the month of
Ramadan. The Iowa City Mosque, which is a, uh, growing part of our
community, of the Muslim faith, invited members of the city, uh, Jim
Throgmorton and myself attended, um, Linda Kopping from the Senior Center,
Tom Markus, and Sam Hargadine, our Police Chief, all were invited to, uh,
witness a ... a pray session at the end of the day of Ramadan. Uh ... just, uh, to
inform Ramadan is that month where the Muslim faithful will chose to fast, um,
during the daytime hours. No small feat in the month of June, uh, itself, and then
we were invited to, uh, partake in their, uh, fasting... breaking of the fast feast at
the end of the night, which was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to, um, sort
of celebrate their faith and their being in a... a, an ever - growing member of the
community. Thought that was great! Um, later on we saw many of the same
people. The, uh, Pheasant Ridge neighborhood invited, uh, many of us over and
there was a, uh, party in their park over at Pheasant Ridge. Many of you realize
that Pheasant Ridge has had some difficulties with some, uh, shootings over the
last few months and so anything that, um, we could do to sort of bolster the stable
sense of community in that part of town was very important. Um, I'm very proud
of our Police for, uh, supporting that and, uh, bringing a lot of the food, as well.
Uh, Officer McGruff was there, who is an anthropomorphic version of a dog, I
understand (laughter) as well a neighborhood group was there and the, uh, School
District was there as well, um, and it was a, uh, great time. Uh, Tom Markus and
I had a chance to go there and, um, be part of the festivities. So a lot of really, uh,
wonderful things are going on on the west side and bringing in groups of the
community that heretofore haven't, um, been (mumbled) but certainly make up a
large part of our Iowa City community.
Hayek: Thank you. Uh, I echo Susan's comments on school. I ... took the words out of
my mouth (laughter) Please slow down. Uh, on a sad note I want to, uh, note the,
uh, unexpected passing of John Chadima who is a Trust Officer at MidWest One
Bank and has been there for over three decades. He died unexpectedly, uh, in his
sleep last night and we got word this morning, um, for those who, uh, knew him,
he was a wonderful member of, uh, the community, uh, involved in many groups.
It comes as a shock to the bank and ... and to people in the legal community and
others who worked with him, uh, and so we will miss John Chadima.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of August 19, 2014.
Page 43
ITEM 16. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF.
a) City Manager.
Hayek: City Manager?
Markus: Uh, no comments expect ditto to Rick's comments. Very enjoyable!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
formal meeting of August 19, 2014.