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Home My WebLink About2014-08-10 Council minutes�-r CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: August 26, 2014 To: Mayor and City Council From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk Re: Council Work Session, August 19, 2014, 5:00 p.m. in Emma J. Harvat Hall Council: Dickens, Dobyns, Hayek, Mims, Payne, Throgmorton. Absent: Botchway UISG: McCarthy, Neal Staff: Markus, Fruin, Dilkes, Karr, Andrew, Long, Bockenstedt, O'Brien, Moran, Rackis, Ralston, Davidson, Boothroy, Hargadine, Hart, Yapp, Dulek, Hightshoe, Frank, Reichart, Rummel A transcription is available in the City Clerk's Office and on the City website. QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS 1. (Consent Calendar item # 3e(3) — Normandy Drive Restoration Project ... setting public hearing ... Phase Three) In response to Council Member Throgmorton, Parks & Recreation Dir. Moran reported on the restoration of Lower City Park grounds and stated several options including a sand prairie and riverbank restoration were being considered. 2. (Consent Calendar item # 3d(3) — Traffic Safety Grant Applications ... ) In response to Council Member Payne, City Manager Markus stated the project would proceed regardless of the grants. 3. (Consent Calendar items # 3d(1) — Downtown Traffic Modeling Project) In response to Council Member Payne, MPOJC Acting Dir. Ralston explained the study would determine if the all -red pedestrian signal phasing option could be safely removed and replaced with a leading pedestrian signal phase. 4. (Consent Calendar items # 3f(3) — Correspondence from Amanda Van Horne ... Trinity Episcopal Church ... Chauncey Swan Parking) Council Member Throgmorton indicated Ms. Van Horne would be present for the formal meeting on this matter. 5. (Consent Calendar items # 3f(10) —Correspondence from Martha Norbeck ... TIF funding and Energy Efficiency) In response to Mayor Pro tem Mims, Economic Dev. Adm. Davidson provided a summary of the existing economic development policy as it relates to TIF and energy efficiency. 6. (Consent Calendar items # 3f(11) — Correspondence from Robert McGrath ... Charter Review Committee Information) Mayor Pro tem Mims stated her appreciation to staff for the responses and adopting some of the suggesting. Council Work Session August 19, 2014 Page 2 7. (Consent Calendar items # 3f(12) —Correspondence from John McMillan ... Follow up to Iowa state official.....) Mayor Hayek noted no response was response. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS [Agenda Item # 13] Airport Commission — David Davis Housing and Community Development (HCDC) — appoint Peter Byler and Angel Taylor reappoint Jim Jacobsen POLICE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE CITY'S TAXICAB REGULATIONS OP # 3 of 8/14 Info Packet) Police Chief Hargadine outlined the recommendations as presented in his July 18 memo. After discussion a majority was not interested in pursuing businesses hiring drivers as employees; but expressed interest in staff pursing all the remaining recommendations. ACTION: Meet with stakeholders, prepare ordinance, and report back to Council. ( Hargadine) QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS (continued) 8. (Agenda item # 12b — Indemnification agreement with MidAmerican Energy .... arc flash calculation ... ) Mayor Hayek noted the addition of item # 12b to the agenda. City Atty. Dilkes reported that the item would be a simple motion to authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement. Council Member Payne noted this matter related to electricity and she is employed at MidAmerican in matters related to "gas "; and therefore there was no conflict with her voting. 9. (agenda item # 13e — appointment to Historic Preservation Commission) In response to Mayor Hayek, City Clerk Karr confirmed the one applicant was not a resident of the district and the vacancy would be readvertised. LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX (LOST) [Agenda item # 12] Mayor Pro tem Mims introduced the discussion by reporting on conversations with the Affordable Housing Coalition and their concerns on how the money would be utilized. As a result of sharing those concerns, a draft resolution was prepared for consideration clarifying that the 10% would be utilized for the neediest in the community. Individual Council Members expressed their views, and stressed importance of educating the public on LOST and the ballot language. After discussion a majority agreed to change the ballot language to read: ➢ 50% for maintenance, repair, construction, and reconstruction of public streets, trails and associated infrastructure; ➢ 40% for property tax relief; ➢ 10% for programs and initiatives that increase affordable housing, with no less than 75% of said 10% to 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. Council Work Session August 19, 2014 Page 3 INFORMATION PACKET DISCUSSION [July 17, 24, 31 and August 7,14] July 17 (IP2 — Memo from Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator — Gilbert Court ...update) In response to Council Member Dobyns, Council Member Dickens stated that businesses have reported that the lighting is better and the neighborhood cleaned up. July 24 1. (IP # 5 — Article from City Manager ...And Now for a Bit of Good News) Council Member Dobyns noted the article and the increase in the number of internet -based commerce business activities. July 31 None August 7 1. (IP # 3 — Letter to City Manager from Public Works Dir. ....... retirement) Council Member Dobyns noted the retirement of Public Works Dir. Fosse. City Manager Markus indicated Council Members would have lots of opportunities to express their views. 2. (IP # 6 — Article form Council Member Throgmorton .... Iowa's largest solar farm ...) Council Member Throgmorton questioned if staff had investigated PV panels on City - owned facilities given the incentives currently available. City Manager Markus reported that the City Sustainability Coordinator Nations has moved in to the Neighborhood Development Services Department and was working in a number of new areas. 3. (IP # 10 — Article from City Manager ... How's Your City Public Transit Stacks Up) Council Member Dobyns offered Kudos to Transportation Dir. O'Brien on their number 11 ranking in the urban area in efficiency of transit, and stated he expected to be in the top 10 next year. August 14 (IP # 4 — KXIC radio) Council agreed to the following KXIC radio schedule: ➢ August 20 — Throgmorton ➢ August 27 — Hayek ➢ September 3 — Mims ➢ September 10 — Payne ➢ September 17 — Dobyns ➢ September 24 — Dickens 2. (IP # 5 — Meeting with Army Corp of Engineers) Council Member Throgmorton noted the tentative meeting with the Corp of Engineers and requested the Corp be prepared to discuss the day -to -day operations and not just the operational plan. City Clerk Karr noted the meeting was not posted as a Council work session at this time. COUNCIL TIME AND MEETING SCHEDULE [IP # 4 and # 5 Info Packet] Council Work Session August 19, 2014 Page 4 1. Council Member Dobyns noted an invitation from the Quad Cities Hispanic Community for an event at Billion auto on September 18 and questioned if that needed to be posted as a meeting or special arrangements made. City Atty. Dilkes stated that event would be viewed as a social one. 2. Council Member Throgmorton reported on an event at the Iowa City Mosque attended by City Manager Markus, Senior Center Coordinator Kopping, fellow Council Member Dobyns and himself on July 19th, and publicly thanked them for the invitation. 3. Council Member Dobyns acknowledged the neighborhood party at Pheasant Ridge hosted by the Police Department that he and City Manager Markus attended. PENDING WORK SESSION TOPICS [IP # 6 Info Packet] 1. Council Member Throgmorton questioned when the top item on the pending list, black leadership to promote black males, would be scheduled. City Manager Markus stated the Equity Dir. is preparing a cover memo that would be circulated with the annual equity report on the August 28th packet. 2. In response to Mayor Hayek, the City Manager stated the Fiberright update would remain on the pending list pending further discussions and updates form Marion and Blairstown. UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS /COUNCIL INVITATIONS Council Member Throgmorton noted the Great March for Climate Action on the formal agenda, and stated he has been asked to speak at the downtown rally in the Ped Mall on the 20tH Adjourned 6:15 p.m.