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Home My WebLink About2014-09-02 Council minutes� � CITY OF IOWA CITY i MEMORANDUM Date: September 10, 2014 To: Mayor and City Council From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk Re: Council Work Session, September 2, 2014, 5:00 p.m. in Emma J. Harvat Hall Council: Botchway, Dickens, Dobyns, Mims, Payne, Throgmorton. Absent: Hayek UISG: McCarthy, Neal Staff: Markus, Fruin, Dilkes, Karr, Bockenstedt, O'Brien, Moran, Ralston, Boothroy, Fosse, Knoche, Bowers A transcription is available in the City Clerk's Office and on the City website. Mayor Pro tem Mims announced the passing of Mayor Hayek's father on Sunday and stated Mayor Hayek would be absent from both the work session and formal meetings. QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS 1. (Consent Calendar items # 3d(4) — West Side Levee Project) City Clerk Karr noted the addition of an item to the Consent calendar and asked that the Consent Calendar be adopted as amended. 2. (Consent Calendar item # 3f(7) — correspondence Susan Shullaw ... Senior Housing... ) Council Member Throgmorton noted the letter and encouraged developers to propose more senior friendly housing projects in and near downtown. 3. (Agenda Item # 8 — ... design elements ....Iowa City Gateway Project) Public Works Dir. Fosse and City Engr. Knoche responded to questions. DISCUSS CITY OPTIONS FOR REGULATION OF E- CIGARETTES [IP #3 of 8/28 Info Packet] Johnson County Dir. of Public Health Doug Beardsley and Health Educator Susan Vileta presented a power point. A majority of Council directed staff to prepare a resolution to prohibit the use of e- cigarettes on property that is owned or controlled by the City; and requested the City Attorney follow up on the status of an Attorney General's written opinion on preemption of municipalities based on the request from the State Department of Health. ACTION: Resolution on September 16 agenda. ( Dilkes) Council Work Session September 2, 2014 Page 2 TI City Engr. Knoche facilitated discussion on the May 19 letter from the County requesting the City vacate and convey Harrison Street between Clinton and Capitol Streets for the proposed Courthouse annex, noting a revised request on July 29 showing a redesign of the Courthouse annex. Majority of Council agreed with staff's recommendation to consider vacation and disposition after passage of the bond referendum for the Courthouse annex. ACTION: Written response sent to Johnson County on September 4. (Knoche) INFORMATION PACKET DISCUSSION [August 21, 28] August 21 1. (IP # 2 — Memo from Asst. City Manager — mobile vending pilot update) In response to Council Member Botchway, City Manager Markus confirmed staff was working with vendors and seeking areas with a concentration of likely customers that are not already served by the downtown. 2. (IP # 4 — Charter Review .... Community Forum) Mayor Pro tern Mims announced that the Charter Review Commission would be holding a public forum to hear comments regarding the City Charter on Tuesday, September 23, at 7PM in Harvat Hall. August 28 1. (IP # 6 — Memo from Equity Dir.... City Leadership to Promote Black Male Achievement ... and IP # 7 .... 2013 Equity Report ) Mayor Pro tern Mims stated she had discussed setting aside a work session for discussion solely of both items only and after talking with Equity Dir. Bowers and City Manager Markus the date of November 18 was identified. Council Member Botchway asked that the City act on some type of acknowledgment of racial disparities in the community right away and not wait until the November 18 work session Equity Dir. Bowers present for discussion. Individual Council Members expressed their views. Staff will report back to Council on actions and / or statement already undertaken concerning diversity issues. 2. (IP # 8 — Memo from Police Chief .... Continuation of St. Ambrose Study) Mayor Pro tem Mims noted appreciation for the update and continuance of the study. 3. (IP # 10 — Email from Finance Dir ... to Mary Gravitt ... Sales Tax / Utility Franchise Tax) Mayor Pro tern Mims referenced the e-mail and stated she appreciated the response. Council Member Payne questioned how using the utility franchise tax for public safety and public infrastructure to support commercial and industrial economic development relates to administering the utility companies use of City right -of -way and outlined in his email. Finance Dir. Bockenstedt present for discussion. City Atty. Dilkes will provide a memo. 4. (IP # 12 ... Public Works Dir. appointment ....; IP # 13 ... Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC) Director Position; IP # 14 ... letter from Judith Knabe ... commending ....Joan Siders) Mayor Pro tem Mims congratulated City Engineer Ron Knoche on being named Public Works Dir.; Kent Ralston on being named Council Work Session September 2, 2014 Page 3 Executive Dir. of MPOJC; and NDS employee Joan Siders for the complimentary letter on her outreach on a complaint. COUNCIL TIME AND MEETING SCHEDULE 1. Council Member Botchway reported that the Taste of Iowa City was absolutely amazing. 2. Council Member Botchway requested staff review the information sent to citizens on rezoning of a particular area and asked that it be put in a plain understandable language, noting that better communication would help avoid confusion. 3. Council Member Throgmorton stated he and Council Member Botchway had been invited by the Green Party to attend an event on August 24 to discuss the Riverfront Crossings Project and the City's form based Code. He echoed the comments from Council Member Botchway on making zoning matters more understandable. PENDING WORK SESSION TOPICS [IP # 6 of 8/28 Info Packet] None UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS /COUNCIL INVITATIONS 1. Council Member Botchway noted Soul Fest was coming up, and Council Member Dickens stated he was also going to mention it at the formal meeting. 2. Mayor Pro tem Mims encouraged Council Members to let the City Clerk know if they planned on attending the ICAD Annual meeting. 3. Council Member Throgmorton announced that the School of Urban and Regional Planning at the University was holding a Creative College Conference the same week- end as Soul Fest. Adjourned 6:35 p.m.