HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-12 TranscriptionJanuary 12, 2015 Iowa City City Council Budget Work Session Page 1
Council Present: Botchway, Dickens, Dobyns, Hayek, Mims, Payne, Throgmorton
Staff Present: Markus, Fruin, Moran, Grier, Yapp, Dilkes, Karr, Mansfield, Ralston,
Davidson, Bockenstedt, Knoche, Schaul, Boothroy, O'Brien, Hightshoe,
Tharp, Havel, Andrew
Others Present:
Review of Saturday's work session:
Hayek/ Okay, want to welcome everyone to our capital improvements program discussion.
We're sorry to be starting, uh, a few minutes late. We had an Economic Development
Committee meeting that got out at 1:00, um, and about half the group here (laughter) was
at that meeting. So, with that I'll turn it over to staff for scintillating conversation!
(laughter)
Markus/ Just before, uh, Ron jumps back into this conversation, actually the, uh, agenda calls for
a review of Saturday's work session. I'm not really asking for a review of the Saturday
session, but if you had any thoughts or comments you wanted to share, um ... I think that
was the intent of that particular provision on the agenda. So ... well thank you! (laughter)
Ron, it's all yours! (several talking and laughing)
Throgmorton/ I guess it's worth saying it was a very informative presentation, which, uh, you
know, we learned a lot from. (noises on mic)
Capital Improvement Proiects:
Knoche/ Well thank you for the time this afternoon to ... to walk you through our 2015 to 2019
Capital Improvement Program. Um, it'll be a tag -team effort by, uh, a bunch of folks
here to ... to bring you up to speed on the projects and give you an idea of, um, what we
have planned, uh, over the next few years. Um....you know, as ... every year it's, uh,
it's ... it's a process that, um, takes a lot of time and effort, and a lot of folks' effort to pull
things together. Um, you know, as ... as every year it's, uh, it ... it's a process that, um,
takes a lot of time and effort, and uh, a lot of folks' effort to pull things together. Um,
the, uh, I'll let Dennis walk through kind of the ... our program calendar and ... and what it
takes to develop this ... this plan for you.
Bockenstedt/ Um, and we have a calendar that lays out for the Capital Improvement Program
and ... and we start that up in September, um, where we send out forms and instructions to
the departments, and so, uh, this year on September 3rd, uh, the Finance Department sent
out forms to all the departments, uh, to begin gathering updates and changes to the
Capital Improvement Program for the next five-year period. Um, those forms were due
back. So they had about a month to, uh, gather that information, fill out the forms that we
sent in, and, uh, and then get those back to us. Um ... once the Finance Department gets
that back in, uh, we put that into a database and start compiling the information, uh,
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gathering all the information from the departments and putting it together to see how it
looks. Uh, once we get that information, then in October, uh, we have a series of
meetings, uh, with the CIP Committee to review those projects, uh, see how they lay out,
uh, see where there's overlaps, inconsistencies across the departments, and .... and really
start to form like how that program is going to fit together and ... and uh, an important
piece of that puzzle is the financing piece. As we look at what's being funded from
grants, uh, how much General Obligation bond money we have available, how much
money is available from the ... from the different funds, such as the Road Use Tax fund of
the General Fund, and so once, you know, everybody reviews it. We ... we ... and at the
end of the month, uh, at the end of October we pull that together, into a final report. And,
uh, that really, uh, once we pull that together it becomes an integral component of the
budget. Uh, but for the next month of November is when we're really pulling the
operating budget together and then once it hits December we really kind of pull the two
together and see how the whole thing fits together. Um, so really then in December, once
that budget is compiled, then the whole book is compiled and put together and .... and
submitted and ... and then here we are!
Knoche/ Um, so ... so the ... the way the format'll be today, we'll run through kind of some
overview on the ... the financial picture and how ... how the projects are put together. Um,
we'll have Airport, uh, some miscellaneous projects. It's a ... kind of a grab bag of...of
some projects, um, Public Safety; Economic Development; Parks, Recreation and Trails;
uh, Solid Waste and Landfill; uh, Streets, Bridges, Public Utilities, and Public Works;
and Transportation Services. We'll wrap it up and uh, we'll have some on -the -radar
projects. There's a few of `em there of...of, uh, projects that we ... are ... probably, um,
ones that we'll see come to us, uh, here over the next year.
Payne/ Is that slide dark because it'll be dark by the time we get to it?
Knoche/ I hope not! (laughter)
Hayek/ That's a Rick Fosse slide. I've seen that same moon a few cycles here now and (several
talking and laughing) Ron, I don't know!
Knoche/ So, uh, with that, we will, um, start off with kind of the financial overview.
Financial Overview:
Bockenstedt/ Um, so this is a pie chart, kind of lays out the five-year program across division,
and ... and you can see that the ... the bulk of the improvement program over the next five
years is going to be spent on streets. So that's usually the largest, uh, piece of the puzzle
and ... and it's ... that's true to this year. Um ... another, uh, large piece of that program
include, uh, the wastewater treatment plant, which has some, uh, large improvements
planned. Um, that also includes the demolition of the north plant. Um, another large
sliced of that pie is the, uh, Transit operations. Um, although, you know, that has a...
over a $20 million tag on it, most all that is in the final year of the program, uh, for the
replacement of the facility. So, um, it probably represents a larger slice of the pie than
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would normally be the case. Um, but this kinda lays out where the state looks at
allocating its Capital Improvement Program dollars over the next five years.
Throgmorton/ Dennis, uh, a quick question on that, uh... this 170...$57 million ... is ... does that
imply that all of the capital improvements are in... that are listed in the document are
included in this and (mumbled) it's anticipated that they actually will be funded and will
be acted on, instead of having a whole bunch in an unfunded category which used to be
the case in our CIP documents.
Bockenstedt/ Well, I mean... there... there's generally a process when it comes to a Capital
improvement. So ... and when you mix in the five-year program, it kind of means that
it's... it's... has funding allocated for it, but there's a lot of times maybe they have grants
allocated for that, that don't materialize or that there's other things that happen between
year one and year five that that project wouldn't take place. Um, that first year of the
program, like the 2016 year, uh, and the 2015 year, will be appropriated into budgets. So
not only is there the CIP process that has to make it through, but then there's the annual
budget process it has to make it through, and then there's, uh, bond issues and ... and plans
and specifications, and so there's really, uh, this is the first step for a project to get on the
radar is to make it into the five-year plan, but there's a lot of steps after that point before
that project would become reality.
Throgmorton/ So to translate, the answer's yes with a series of caveats.
Bockenstedt/ Yeah, big asterisks!
Throgmorton/ Okay! Got it!
Hayek/ Well except that there are ... there are lots of projects that ... I mean, we used to get this list
of...the unfunded list of the back, right, that (mumbled)
Knoche/ It's still there!
Bockenstedt/ It's still there.
Hayek/ Well it's not as ... yeah, I guess you're right.
Bockenstedt/ On page 557 (several talking) or 556, 557 is the start of the, uh, list of projects that
are out there but ... that are not in the current year, five-year funding (both talking)
Hayek/ Right, but to answer Jim's question, that ... those are not on that number (several talking)
If we added this up, it'd be ... a few billion probably (several talking) So ... anyway, Jim,
there ... that's more of a wish list.
Throgmorton/ Thanks!
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Bockenstedt/ In ... in this slide, um ... kind of lays out the ... the funding, uh, or at least the plan
over the next five years and typically in this slide the bulk of the expenditures, um, are in
the first couple years, and so, you know, that's pretty much true to form here. Uh, 15
then would be the ... the planning and engineering for the Gateway project. Um, and
there's also some large, uh, wastewater improvement projects in that 15 year. Uh, 16, 17,
there's really pushed upward because of, uh, the Gateway project raises kind of the
spending for those two years, and also the, uh, Central Business District, uh, plan, um,
some of those expenditures start to kick in or increase in those two years, as well. Um...
where you would normally see a drop-off in 19, this year is ... is not the drop-off, or
there's kind of a bump there and that's that, uh, Transit, um, station or the Transit garage
replacement is being planned out in 2019, so ... and that one would be like one of the ones
that would be subject to funding, uh, for that replacement. Um, now ... that other pie chart
is based on the expenditures. This pie chart really is based on the funding sources of how
we plan to cover those expenditures. And, um, you can see that really this one's maybe a
little more dispersed, but the General Obligation bonds is the ... is the largest slice of that
pie and... and we tend to try and keep it to around $10 million a year is, uh, typical year
for General Obligation... General Obligation bonds. However, I believe in the second
and third years of this plan, because of the Gateway project, uh, we expect to probably
see elevated issuance for that particular project. Um, you still see local option sales tax
on the radar here, um, because uh, you know, that money is still being allocated, um, for
that project, which will take place over the next three years, and then federal grants is
always a large ... large source of funding. So there's, um, a lot of, especially street
projects, um, other environmental projects, uh, that are funded through federal grants and
then it kind of disperses out there to a lot of other smaller funding sources from there.
So...
Payne/ So between those two pie charts, it's about $1.3 million shy on this chart. Does that
mean there's 1.3 unfunded still?
Bockenstedt/ Um, usually that would be from money that's... already in the bank, from funding
sources that are being carried forward, um ... so that's typically where that ... that
difference comes in where ... where maybe we had monies that we issued last year that are
being allocated to ... to the current year or future years. Uh, you can notice that tax
increment financing on there is ... is a very, very small sliver, um, it's only $95,000 out of,
uh, $155 million, so that, uh, it's really not something that we utilize to a large extent for
infrastructure funding. So...
Knoche/ So generally as ... as we step through this, the ... the, um, presentation basically follows
the Capital Plan as it's in your budget book. Uh, so starting on page 488, uh, we'll start
with the Airport projects and um, Mike Tharp's here to join us!
Airport:
Tharp/ All right, good afternoon again!
Throgmorton/ Howdy!
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Tharp/ Uh, the Airport projects, uh, one of the things to keep in mind with the Airport — the
Airport projects are, um, heavily relied on some type of other source of funding. The
FAA projects contribute, uh, the FAA contributes 90% funding to any Airport projects,
and the State DOT will contribute anywhere from 70 to 85% of our funding. So going
back to, uh, Jim's question earlier, if we don't get a particular grant, the project doesn't
move forward. Um ... starting off, just going kind of in order in the book, um ... 3430, a
lot of these projects you'll have seen before, is our apron reconstruction and connecting
taxiway. Um, all of these projects are going in line with our current FAA plan, so they're
all based on a, um, kind of a cycle that's been approved with the FAA at this point in
time, you know, pending, uh, particular funding in that given year. Uh, the apron
reconstruction and, uh, connecting taxiway, this is more of a parking and ... and, uh... uh,
plane, uh... uh, management, uh, operation where we can expand the hard surface
facilities for aircraft. You can see some of our bigger events, we do have, uh, parking
issues, where we get larger airplanes that, uh, we have to, uh, space out either on the, uh,
decommissioned runway or, uh, if you can see ... I don't have a ... you can see a couple of
airplanes really far out there, and it does, uh, put a little bit of pressure on us in terms of
both security and ... and being able to keep an eye on those aircraft while they're on the
field. 3442, the obstruction mitigation part 77, uh, airspace removals, this is a ... a,
essentially an airsplace ... airspace clean-up project. Um ... this one will take a look at...
and we are in the process as part of the Master Plan of doing the survey work, uh, that'll,
um ... project those ... those items that might need mitigated. Um, there's various avenues
of mitigation from anywhere from ... uh, lighting areas to, uh, removal of...of
obstructions, um ... but uh, that will focus on making sure we have clean approaches, uh,
with the FAA and air ... aircraft can utilize our ... our airport to the best of our abilities.
The Airport equipment shelter, if you folks remember the old United hangar, we used to
use that as a... a temporary facility for housing off-season equipment. Right now we keep
a lot of that equipment outside, so we're looking for, uh, essentially a ... a replacement
building. Um, this one is something that doesn't weigh very heavily on the FAA, um,
funding scale, so it usually slides a little bit, um, but we are hoping to get something
completed within the next few years. Uh, 3448, the Airport perimeter road, this is
something that will start to kind of kick off that south aviation development area. Uh, for
us it's an access road that would provide to future facilities on the south side of...of the
Airport. And it's... it's... it just starts as that access road and ... and allows for, you know,
possible aviation development, which is what you see those kind of blue boxes, uh,
projected to be additional hangar space. Uh, 3454, the Airport Master Plan, this is
currently underway and we hope to wrap this up, uh, later this summer, but this'll map
out the...kind of the next 20 year, uh, construction and operation timeframe for the
Airport. Um, it'll be blessed by just about everybody around. It'll be presented to the
City Council when it's finished. Um, FAA will approve it, and ... again, this'll be what,
uh, the Airport and the Airport Commission is operating the, um, Airport under for the
next 20 years. Uh... these are two grants, uh, these roll in to the State projects. These are
two State grant awards that were just awarded. Uh, north T ... T -hangar electrical, uh,
facil ... electrical and LED lighting. We're going to replace some electrical service lines
to the T -hangars. Um, and add some additional LED lighting to the area. Uh, we did, a
couple of years ago now, do an LED swap -over of our existing outdoor lighting
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and ... and it's ... it's been great. It's, uh, illuminated a lot of...a lot of areas. Uh, we're
just looking to add a few more lights into ... into the area for a little more security. Uh,
the feu ... fuel storage system rehab, it's ... it's more of a, um. ... uh, maintenance item. We
are going to do some, uh, pipe replacement and cleanup of our... of storage tanks. Urn...
again, make the system, uh, be able to ... to handle the ... the fuel quantities that are going
through it ... and maintain the ... the facility so that we can keep, uh, the system up and
running. Uh, one of the things that ... that was mentioned Saturday with the, uh, Airport
overall is ... is the change in the funding. As part of that change in funding, we're...
you're starting to see some more of the State grant opportunities be plugged directly into
the Capital Program, and that's what a couple of these are right here. Uh, we're
anticipating in the spring to apply for the air... airfield pavement rehab and hangar A door
replacement. Um, the airfield pavement rehab, if you actually think, the runways on the
airfield now are coming up on about 10 years, uh, of age. That's a pretty good time to do
a lot of, uh, a lot of updating of crack sealing, joint repair work, uh, things like that, so we
can preserve the life of the ... the concrete. Um, the hangar A door replacement, hangar A
is our only facility that has a manual, chain -operating door. Um, it's operated on a pulley
and counter -weight system, and we do have ... um, some tenants that have, uh, turned
those hangars down for lack of ability to manipulate the doors. Uh, so we're looking
at...at replacing those doors and retrofitting some electrical, uh, motors on it, and that'll
also allow us to, uh... increase, uh, the rates on those doors and ... and generate a little bit
more revenue. Uh, the south airfield site development, this is a ... a flood mitigation
project primarily. Um, looking at a ... a study that Public Works did with Willow Creek.
It's been a little while ago but, uh... uh, mainly called for some dredging and ... and
levying of...of Willow Creek to pull the Airport area out of the flood plain, and not only
does it help the areo... the Airport overall, but it helps to, uh, begin facilitate that south
area for development. And that's all of my projects! (laughs)
Hayek/ Any questions for Mike?
Tharp/ Thank you!
Hayek/ Things are under... much... they're under control more than they were before and...
Tharp/ I ... I think we've got a good handle on things!
Hayek/ Yeah, it's ... kind of a mundane list of projects, which is what you want to see (laughter)
Miscellaneous Projects:
Knoche/ Thanks, Mike! Um, some miscellaneous projects. I ... these projects aren't any less
significant of...of what the other ones are. It just kind of was a ... a catchall of some
projects in the program. Um, Geoff, do you want to cover the CDBG streetscape?
Fruin/ Sure! Uh, as ... as you're all aware, we've been doing the Master Plan, uh, process for a
couple years now. Uh, what's proposed in the Capital budget in front of you would be,
uh, three projects. Um, the first one would be the reconstruction of Washington Street
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from Clinton to Linn. Uh, that is proposed for, uh, 2016 construction season. Um, in
order to get that done we will be bringing you a contract, probably in the next 30 days, to
finalize the designs and prepare the construction drawings for Washington Street. You'll
recall, um, the ... the primary driver for that is the condition of the water main. Uh, we
had that major break, uh, two years ago and would really like to see that upgraded.
Payne/ And ... part of that project is to have, um...
Fruin/ Parallel parking.
Payne/ ...parallel parking.
Fruin/ Yes.
Payne/ I saw a picture, um ... recently this ... just at ... over the weekend, in fact, of...like the 70s
when there was parallel parking there. So it was quite interesting to see the (both talking)
Fruin/ Coming full circle! (laughs) Um, then, uh, after 2016, um, we would look to transition to
the ped mall and uh, the funding scenario contemplates phasing of the ped mall from, uh,
between 2017 and 2018. We're really not exactly sure, um, how that will look, but
probably do a... a north -south, um, leg and then the east -west leg in... in some order there.
And then finally, uh, 2019 would be Dubuque Street, and that would address the, uh, the
major priorities that were developed during the Master Planning process.
Hayek/ Why that order, Washington, ped mall, Dubuque, as opposed to some other order?
Fruin/ Um, well, Washington it's the ... it's the utility work, um, that's really driving that,
and... and plus that... Washington probably has the oldest, um... streetscape elements. If
you look at the sidewalks and ... and the condition of the ... of the walks, that's... that's, uh,
certainly driving it. Um, and then when you look at ped mall versus Dubuque Street, it's
just the condition, um, of the, uh... uh, the ... the bricks, the planters, the lighting, um,
that's really... really driving that. Uh, this is a change from last year's, um, proposal to
you. We actually, um, did not have Washington Street first last year, and that was
because, um, there were some active discussions on the Jefferson Hotel and we wanted to
see if we can line those two projects up together. Um, there's still talks, uh, regarding the
future of the Jefferson Hotel, but, um, nothing appears to be imminent, and we're, um...
uh, just concerned with dragging, uh, our feet on Washington Street too long, so we're
going to go ahead and hopefully get that done.
Hayek/ Thank you.
Throgmorton/ I ... I'd like to raise a flag here. Uh, and ... and the flag basically has to do with my
concern that, um ... given limited amount of discretionary capital expenditures that we can
make that are really under the control of the City of Iowa City, uh, that, um, my concern
is that, uh, we would be dedicating too much money to the downtown area, uh... uh,
relative to other parts of the city that I believe need more attention, and by other parts I
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basically mean the area south of Kirkwood Avenue, and ... and I can go into detail about it
at some other point. I just want to kind of raise a flag, and I know Geoff, you know,
because of the participation in the street, uh, Streetscape Improvement Project
Committee's work. I expressed concerns kind of all along the way, that there... there...
there might be an imbalance there that needs some attention. So anyhow we can come
back to this whenever it's appropriate, but I just wanna... raise a flag for discussion.
Bockenstedt/ Um, each year in the, uh, program we have a ... an allotment of dollars for the, uh,
Police and Fire Station and City Hall facilities, uh, kind of to meet necessary
improvements. Um, the current project that's been allotted for next year is $100,000,
which be ... would be to do some landscaping and signage improvements around the
building. Um, and that would be (mumbled) the lobby, uh, project is still on the docket
to be completed, so ... uh, once the lobby's completed and signage then the landscaping
and signage around the building would be improved, and then the other piece of that
project for next year would be to refresh, uh, some of the carpeting on first floor that's
getting a little worn out. (several talking away from mic)
Boothroy/ Initially the project was, uh, funded, uh, for a couple years, and this is the second year
of the upgrade, and so as I mentioned on Saturday, uh, we'll be proceeding with adding
other functions, such as the planning functions into the, uh, project docs software to
complete that, uh... uh, particular project as it was originally intended, uh, couple years
ago. Any questions about that or...
Payne/ Do you know what page that's on?
Bockenstedt/ It's on ... it's on page 501 (several talking)
Payne/ I just didn't go far enough (several talking)
Boothroy/ Yeah with different order than (mumbled)
Throgmorton/ Maybe I could ask ... I'm sorry! I don't mean to interrupt your thinking.
Boothroy/ Go ahead!
Throgmorton/ I ... I was just going to ask a more general question that Dennis could probably
answer. It's a real simple question, but it has to do with the priority listing, you know, on
that ... that section of the CIP document, that lists priority 1, 2, 3, 4, N/A. So ... I don't
remember from last year what in that context is N/A mean in the priority listing?
Bockenstedt/ Well ... and this ... this is a little bit of an anomaly in the software, uh, program
because when we actually assign a priority to `em, it's ... they're assigned like `critical,'
uh `central,' uh... something of that nature, and... and for whatever reasons when we
convert that into printing the document... there's some pre-set settings in the database that
aren't converting... those actual assignments properly when we print the document. So,
um, so those numbers kinda correlate to the actual... settings we put on `em, but that is...
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aren't the actual settings we're putting on `em, so ... urn, I would say that the N/A's the
highest priority! (laughs) In... in there, and then... followed by 1, 2, 3, 4. Does that (both
talking)
Throgmorton/ Thanks! I'm surprised by the answer! (laughs)
Bockenstedt/ It's just a ... it's just kind of an anomaly in the database. I did notify the software
company and hopefully they'll... figure out a way to fix it.
Throgmorton/ Okay.
Bockenstedt/ So...
Hayek/ Thanks, Doug! (several talking away from mic)
Boothroy/ ...back again! Mentioned on Saturday that we were remodeling the second floor of
the, uh, north, urn ... addition to the ... to the Civic Center. This is, uh (both talking)
Hayek/ What page (both talking)
Dickens/ (mumbled)
Boothroy/ (several talking) ...what was the Planning and Community Development department,
uh, you ... you can see that...
Bockenstedt/ 502 is the page.
Boothroy/ ...so essentially what you're looking at up there, uh, is that the reception area is ... is
the same, but the area, uh, to the left of the reception area, uh, up to that ... the offices that
go around the perimeter is all, for the most part, being opened up and is common space.
At the bottom in the ... the lower left-hand corner, uh, that area...it...it will be primarily
the Building Inspection, uh, functions. Uh, with the senior building inspector in the
office right next to it, and they'll have eyes on the counter, so we're opening up that wall
so they can see through. It's not very obvious by the drawing. To the ... to the north, or to
the top of this, uh, is the area that will have, uh, Neighborhood Services, which is ... is
Rehab and Housing Inspection, and the housing inspectors and the rehab inspectors are
cross -trained so that they ... they do both, uh, activities. Uh, then around the outside, uh,
primarily, uh, a lot of the Planning offices, as well as, uh, the Sustainability Coordinator,
uh... and then down near the, uh, elevator, uh, you'll note that there are two bathrooms
being installed there, uh, to accommodate, urn ... uh, the increased number of people on
that floor, uh... uh, and to provide, uh... ease of access and comfort for us all (laughter)
Any questions? Thank you.
Hayek/ Thank you.
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Bockenstedt/ The fiber optic in -fill program is ... is something that we started, um, last year as
well, and uh, intention here was to, uh, fill gaps. (several talking) This is on page 495.
Uh, to fill gaps in the City's, uh, fiber optic system that connects different facilities and...
and the current configuration is that most all of the servers, phone systems, networking,
internet connections really are ... are centralized in one location and they feed out to all
the other facilities through the fiber optic network. Uh, this is to ensure loops are in place
so that those facilities do not go offline at any given time. Uh, the current project plan for
next year is actually a joint project with the School District, which we do pretty, uh,
regularly, uh, because the major cost of laying that fiber optic cable is the boring, uh, the
underground, and so if we can join with the School system to ... to cost -share in the
boring, then we each pay for our own, uh, fiber optic and ... and conduit, it re ... helps
reduce the cost of...of creating those loops, um, as we're kinda trying to do the same
thing. So ... urn, it's kind of the same situation here. Um, you know, with the upgrade to
the facility and, you know, pretty much all the facilities are ... are highly computerized
these days, urn ... we're just currently one fiber optic line connecting the south treatment
plant. Uh, back to the ... the primary essential computer operations, and that's an old line
that goes down pretty regularly. So, uh, the plan, uh, is to replace that line and then also,
uh, jointly with the Sycamore, uh, construction project, to create a redundant loop to that
plant so that... so that does not go offline, um, regularly, and that it has a... a ... two routes
back to the connection to the, uh, servers and phone systems and ... those other facilities.
Payne/ Is that going to be underground too?
Bockenstedt/ Yes, those will be underground. The current one's underground. The second one,
when they construct Sycamore, um, and they've got the ... the right-of-way tore up and
the ground tore up they'll put in ... they ... the, uh, conduit runs alongside of that street
with the rest of the utilities, uh, at that time. So...
Knoche/ And the ... the blue route that you see on there, that ... that route will be, um, completed,
all of that will be completed with the Sycamore project. So that ... that gives us the
redundant loop. Uh, the piece along the ... east -west leg of Sycamore has had some
issues, uh, with varmints getting in and chewing up cable and so currently that's our only
service down to the south plant. Um, so in ... in the ... in the budget there's a ... urn, in
calendar year 17 there's a $250,000, um, allocation for a, uh, bookmobile. Um...
Bockenstedt/ Page 498 (both talking)
Knoche/ 498, yeah, um, and that's, uh... we're doing ... to provide some, uh, extended outreach
services, uh, for the Library. And then along with some, uh, HVAC master planning
that's been done, uh, for FY ... or for calendar year 16, uh, there's allocation in there to
upgrade some of the HVAC controls at the Library. Urn ... what they found as they went
through in the master planning there are some, urn ... pieces of equipment in there that are
from the ... prior to the ... this rebuild of the Library. So there's some, uh, some fairly old
equipment in there. Chief Grier'll come up and, uh, cover us for the Public Safety
portion.
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Public Safety:
Grier/ Good afternoon (clears throat) Sorry!
Hayek/ John!
Grier/ Uh, the apparatus replacement that you see (clears throat) referenced in this is to replace,
uh... a pumper in, uh, sorry, get on the right page! I woke up with the crud today so ... I'll
try not to breathe on any of you! (mumbled) would replace a ... a pumper and then
in ... 18, we have a safety house that, uh... is quite old. We've been limping along. We
did move it out an additional two years to replace, versus fixing it up, uh, or replacing it
now. We've been able to maintain, uh, the generator and, uh, the light switches and those
sorts of things just with our personnel taking care of `em and working with the
Equipment Division. So we felt it was o ... okay to move that out a couple years. And
then in 2019 we have another pumper that is scheduled to be replaced. Our replacement
schedule is ... kind of a guideline. If...if we don't have the criteria met in the, uh,
assessment schedule to replace it, we won't replace it, but it goes into, uh, the miles on
the apparatus, the ... the down time, uh, the hours that the engine's been worked, that sort
of thing. So ... nine years front line, seven years reserve status is ... is our standard
approach to, uh, the apparatus. But if we happen to get a lemon, and it's costing us more
to maintain it, then we would look to replace something earlier, but, uh, right now we
plan on nine and seven as the standard replacement.
Hayek/ And ... and that nine and seven is a bit of a longer duration than we historically (both
talking)
Grier/ We did extend it out. I think we were at 15 before, and it was pretty regular would just
replace. So then we decided to stretch it out a little bit longer, and then come up with
some sort of matrix to make sure that we were... replacing things that needed replaced
and not just because it was time.
Hayek/ And is that consistent with ... the durations followed by other departments?
Grier/ I think so. I think there's, uh, probably both camps out there that ... if it's on the schedule
we want it, regardless of if we need it or not, but I think there's ... as everybody's getting
a little more, uh, budget -conscious, they're looking to making sure they're replacing
things that need replaced, and not just replacing it for the sake of replacing it. So...
Hayek/ Okay.
Grier/ That was a good program. I think that, uh, retired Battalion Chief Dan Smith and Tom
Hanson came up with to make sure we were really evaluating what we had, and what we
need.
Dickens/ Do we put any money away every year to prepare for this or is it all just in one year?
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Bockenstedt/ Um, well we generally issue General Obligation bonds for the replacement, but
there are some funds that come from the University of Iowa under the fire contract to
help assist in the ... in the replacement of the equipment.
Payne/ In ... in the budget, the dollar amount that's shown for equipment, that's just to purchase
it. That isn't a ... it does ... it's not less a cost of selling the equipment that we're no longer
using?
Bockenstedt/ I believe so. I believe that's the case.
Grier/ When we order a new apparatus, we order pretty much new equipment with everything,
cause when we sell it, we sell it the same way.
Payne/ So that ... sale cost isn't shown back in here at this point. It's just the capital cost.
Bockenstedt/ Usually the sale of equipment goes back into the General Fund as a revenue line
item.
Payne/ Okay.
Throgmorton/ Who buys this ... the used units?
Grier/ Uh, smaller fire departments. There's... there's a big market for `em, and our ... our
equipment is so well maintained that when it doesn't meet our standards still, it...it meets
a lot of other people's standard (laughs) so ... there's cer ... certainly a market out there.
We never have any issue with, uh, getting it sold. Uh, the other one you have on the ... in
the CIP is the replacement of a ... our training facility. You'll see there's a $700,000 in
2016 to, uh, construct... design and construct a building that would ... we're looking at
putting that on the Public Work's campus. This would get us out of the, uh, rental
agreement that we just entered into. Uh, just on ... down on Highway 1. It would give us
(several talking in background) the ability to train at a facility inside the city, and allow
us to store the things that need to be stored inside a ... in a facility. So at...at this cost, it's
a ... uh, a large pole building that is weather regulated and would be a good start for us.
Okay, thank you.
Hayek/ Thanks, Chief! (several talking)
Bockenstedt/ I will mention that there is a ... table of contents, um, on page 486 that lists the
project codes and which page they're on. So, um, if you're looking for an easier
reference to how to find the ... the correct project numbers.
Economic Development:
Knoche/ So it will go to the Economic Development!
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Davidson/ We've got our two redevelopment areas — Riverfront Crossings and Towncrest, uh, in
here; $200,000, uh, each year for the 15 through 19 period. Um, you know we use these
funds for a number of purposes, but they're basically intended to be catalyst funds for
doing other things. Um, obviously it's pretty ... a pretty modest amount of funds in any
given year, but um, for example we might use them to match a ... to purchase a...
consultant assistance for a ... a plan or something that we were designing; uh, for a grant
application match; uh, we might... in Riverfront Crossings we had a situation where we
worked out a public/private deal with the new Midwest One office building that's going
up. Uh, they paid for some expenses that we would of otherwise had to pay for on
Harrison Street, and then we paid for something that, you know, so we worked it out and
we used ... we used these funds. It was a fairly ... $35,000 (noises on mic) amount of
money. So we just use it for a variety of things to implement the redevelopment plans,
and I assume the next one is Towncrest probably. Yeah, in Towncrest you see the office
building project there. Uh, these funds were used to provide, uh, one of the funding
sources to kind of finish filling the gap. Uh, we were ... we had a limited amount of...of
TIF increment that we could use for that particular project, so we're able to make up the
difference with ... with these funds. Uh, Towncrest Drive reconstruction is something
that's come up in discussions that we've had. We actually had with the, uh, person who
was interested in this building. This is the old Towncrest ... this is Wade Street right here.
Uh, Williams... Williams Street would be up at the other end of the picture here. This is
the old Steindler Orthopedic building, and there was someone interested in purchasing it
who's, um, financing... the... the bank that they were using was uncomfortable with the
fact that the parking area had access only onto a private drive. Right now Towncrest
Drive is a private drive. Basically the lot lines for these lots come out to the center line of
what looks like a street when you're in a car or a bike or... as a pedestrian out there. You
can see there's parking that backs directly on ... to it. It doesn't meet our design
standards. Anyway, the sale of this building became encumbered by the fact that there
was not access to a public street, and so we had discussions with some of the folks out
here and said, you know, listen if you all want to get together and dedicate to us the right-
of-way, um, that meets our standards, which would be a 60...50 or 60 -foot? (person
responding away from mic) 60 -foot right-of-way, if you all want to get together and
come to us and say you will dedicate that, then we will take it under advisement to have it
become a public street. Uh, and that's basically the project that you have in here. We
won't implement it until that point at which we receive the property from the ... from the
people out here. Uh, Riverside Drive streetscape improvements, uh, with the help of
Mary Niichel, we just got a request for a proposal, uh, for a consultant to come in. This
is something we've been planning to do for some time. The ... the project that you
recently approved on the old Hartwig Motors' site compels us to actually get going, get a
streetscape design, uh, firm hired. Those proposals are due back at the end of the month
and we'll ... we'll put together a multi -department committee then in the City, uh, to do a
design plan, to ... to essentially, you know, the ... the one thing we want to accommodate
are all modes of transportation. Uh, we want to enhance this area for pedestrians and
bicyclists. Um, right here in this photo you can see where the ... uh, railroad overpass will
have a tunnel carved through it right here so that you don't have to go across the front of
the ... the bridge abutment, and anyway, I mean, these ... these photos do a ... a great job of
showing what we want to enhance. (laughs) We basically want to improve, uh, certainly
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the ... the right-of-way here for pedestrians and bicyclists, uh, persons with disabilities,
and also then accommodate vehicular traffic, as well. Do some things aesthetically, do
some things with ... with lighting, hopefully; uh, nothing, you know, incredibly elaborate
but ... but just something that makes this a more functional corridor. The study will be, I
don't think the ... yeah, I guess it does show the whole corridor. The south terminus is
Highway 6 down here by Gateway Shopping Center, and then the north terminus would
be ... Myrtle Street, which I think is ... just right, just off the picture here. So that's the
corridor. Be both sides of the street. We will get the plan in place, and then we'll
implement it as development occurs. We'll do the piece at the Hartwig Motors' site first,
uh, it... it sounds like the corner with the Kum n' Go, uh, taking up where the pawn shop
used to be. We'll coordinate those two projects, but hopefully that'll be the first piece.
The west side between Benton and the railroad tracks.
Dobyns/ Jeff, there'd also be surface crossing at Riverside?
Davidson/ Yeah, it'll be a ... it'll be an at -grade crossing, but we'll have it set up with the ... the,
uh, pavement markings and the ... walk signals and all that.
Dobyns/ Optimized... okay. Thanks!
Boothroy/ As I mentioned Saturday, uh, we are in the process of...of working with the
consultants with... in terms of the development of the plan. This is a... an iteration that
we got recently. It's still ... it's still be ... it's still beim, uh, im... you know, changed and
improved. Urn ... we're planning a meeting on the 28 of January to go over, uh, the
enhancements to this area, the plan for this area, uh, not only with regard to the dam, but
also the riverbank area and the park. Uh, just to note that at the bottom of this park, there
is a wetland feature. It's a five -acre wetland feature, and that was one of the conditions
of... of... of some of the money that we got. And so that will be enhanced to be not only a
wetland, but an area where people can learn about, uh, wetland features and there'll be a
boardwalk, uh, meandering through it with some, you know, information stations and
stuff like that. Um, the City of Literature will have some pieces, uh, in ... installed in it,
and so, uh, we'll have better graphics and better perspectives, uh... uh... uh, soon, at least
by the end of the month when we have the open house. Any questions about...
Davidson/ Could I just add quickly to Doug's comments that one of the very significant features
of this park development is the redevelopment sites that it creates. Very, very significant,
in particular for the South Gilbert area, and then also the ... the development you see in
the ... in the projected images there with the high-rise building right on the corner of the
new street. Um, very, very significant potential in terms of redevelopment projects,
because all of a sudden this is a park, where it used to be a sewage treatment plant, and...
and even with just the demolition that's going on out there now, it's really gotten a lot of
developers in to talk to us about speculating on property down there.
Boothroy/ And this is actually showing more than just the sewage treatment plant. Uh,
everything south of Kirkwood extended is approximately the sewage treatment plant, but
as you can see with this park development, it'll extend up along the river, giving a
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perspective to the Iowa River, uh, and, uh, it...it also shows how it interfaces with the
extension of Capitol Street into Kirkwood.
Dobyns/ (mumbled) State code protect citizens from zip -lining? (laughter)
Boothroy/ That sounds like a ne... legal question! (laughter)
Dobyns/ Get... get... get back to me!
Boothroy/ I think it falls under sledding! (laughter) Except in the air!
Dobyns/ Yeah, that's where I was going! Yeah!
Hayek/ Just in Dubuque! Thanks, Doug!
Parks and Recreation:
Moran/ We'll run through some, uh, Parks, Recreation, and Trails (coughing, unable to hear
speaker) Greetings again! Um, the Iowa River Trail, Benton Street to Sturgis Park, uh,
will depend a lot on grant money. We've applied for federal trail grant and State trail
grant monies. Uh, the biggest portion of this course would be ... the erosion that's taken
place down in here behind that, uh, Coldwell Banker building, uh, that we're concerned
about, and ... could be, uh, with some of the development up there, could... development
up there could help us, uh, get that started in there, but ... that mostly will be, uh, grant
program monies that we're looking to do, uh, in order to get that done on the west side.
Hayek/ We do ... are you saying that ... that trail would assist with protection against erosion...
Moran/ Correct, yeah.
Hayek/ ... stabilization of the west bank.
Moran/ Of the whole bank. Intra -city bike trails is an ongoing fund that we have, uh, MPO, uh,
also uses that and we do that to go in and put in, uh... uh, bike racks in the Central
Business District and... in some of the parks, to do some of the landing, uh, that you see,
the knobbed -landing, uh, at the intersections of bike trails and then for bike signage that
we've been trying to modify over the last couple of years. Highway 1 trail, Sunset to
Mormon Trek is an extension of the Highway 1 trail that we just completed. Uh, and this
will go (clears throat) all the way up to the Mormon Trek area and in front of, um ... the...
the old car dealership business so that it's just a continuation of the trail so they'll have
unin ... uninterrupted trail from Mormon Trek down to Riverside Drive. Parks annual
improvements and maintenance is an ongoing account that we'll get, uh, all the time. It's
been reduced just a little bit. We used to have a little bit more money in here, but we've
allocated and other resources. Uh, this year you'll see, like I ... we talked about on
Saturday, you'll see some improvement to all the park shelters and clean-up, and we also
want to redo all the trash containers in the parks so they're more consistent and they're
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better looking than what they have now, and they don't look so beat up. So, we've got
some intentional things that we want to do on a year-to-year basis and try to get `em all
done at one time instead of just doing a portion of `em and do `em in two, three, or four
phases. Frauenholz-Miller is ... is just below St. Pat's Church. Uh, we had a design done
about two years ago with the neighborhood. Uh, I think I told you we had a little bit of
discussion with the neighborhood. They had a little bit of, uh, disagreement between a
bathroom and not to bathroom at...at that facility, and so we just sort of left it alone for a
while, and we told `em we'd come back and ... and have a discussion with them. Uh, we
expect a... an influx of neighborhood open space monies with the development of land
above St. Patrick's Church now that we'll be able to add to that project and then come
back to it, uh, and ... and ask `em if that design is still good that they want to do, if they
want to revisit that and then start all over again, or whether they just want to make
amendments to what we've already done.
Throgmorton/ Can you help me understand the, uh, bathroom or no bathroom controversy?
Moran/ Uh, group of neighbors, uh, do not want a bathroom in the park. They feel that that'll
make it a little bit more busier and bring more people on a... a longer distance, instead of
make it a neighborhood park...
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Moran/ ...uh, but the Church is the one that wants a bathroom because they're the ones that get
all the little kids up there that have to go to the bathroom after soccer practices and stuff
in the park. So they think that a bathroom would be, uh, advantageous to that because of
the activities that go on in the park.
Throgmorton/ Well ... just as one person I'd say many people have to go to the bathroom
and... and...
Hayek/ All people eventually, Jim! (laughter)
Dobyns/ TMI, Jim. TMI! (laughter)
Throgmorton/ And, you know, I'm recalling my ... most immediate neighborhood park, Happy
Hollow, which as you know has a bathroom, and low and behold people use it! So, this
mystifies me.
Hayek/ Yeah (several talking)
Markus/ ...you know, I think that there's... there are solutions to these things, and I think if we
entered into an arrangement with the Church, where that facility was open and we
reimbursed them for the use of it, it would be far cheaper than building our own facility
and trying to maintain it.
Throgmorton/ Uh huh. Uh huh.
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Markus/ And it's in very close proximity! So ... maybe we need to pursue another option. (both
talking) ...church and state, but (laughter) in this case I think it's acceptable!
Dickens/ I just want to thank you for the trash can two years ago. That made `em happy for at
least a couple (both talking)
Moran/ Thanks, now I have people that want us to take it out again, so (laughter)
Hayek/ You know, what ... yeah, I don't see...
Payne/ ...please all the people all the time.
Hayek/ The whole thing is being held back because of this.
Moran/ Yeah, and the reason it...it was such a contentious issue that I didn't get it either, that we
just decided it would be better just to step away from it for a while because people were
really getting excited about it, but once we come back to it again, I'm just going to have
to make that decision, just say this is what we have to do to go forward with it, because I
don't want to keep it hung up again for ... for that purpose.
Markus/ Mike, you have a significant, um, ombudsman right here at the table, who is very close
to Father Rudy, and can probably work something out with the Church.
Moran/ Yep.
Dickens/ I'll work with Father Rudy.
Fruin/ A quick point of clarification. I believe the ... the slide is mislabeled there. It ... it's
scheduled to be, uh, improved in FYI in this budget, and there's, um, a combination of
General Funds and... and, uh, neighborhood open space funds, and the other thing
I'd ... I'd point out with this one with the new subdivision that was annexed, uh, just north
of the church, there will likely be, uh, more funds over time that will be able to be
allocated. So, post -improvement there could be a phase two down the road at some...
some point.
Knoche/ Uh, Iowa River Corridor Trail, uh, is entirely a REAP grant. There won't be any
governmental money with that besides from the State, and that will connect, uh, Rocky
Shore Drive into the Normandy Drive area. It'll go behind the Ashton House along the
river and then connect up to the intersection of Manor Drive and Normandy Drive. Uh,
it'll just give us another alternative to get in so we don't have to go on Park Road and sort
of, uh, miss the Park Road traffic and the Normandy Drive traffic. And in your budget
book, this is actually titled the Peninsula to Water Works Prairie Park, um, so what we've
done is we've reallocated, uh, through the REAP money from that project to this project.
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Moran/ Lower City Park emergency access, we brought that up last year and as you know we
had some neighbors that ... that weren't entirely sold on this and they came in front of you
all and ... and you endorsed this project again. Uh, so it is in the... currently in the design
phase, and we will be putting it in ... uh, and it will be an extension of...City Park road...
Lower City Park road that comes right through the ... follows the trail line and then
we'll... sorry (both talking)
Hayek/ That's all the way to Mercer! Wow! That's a... (laughter)
Moran/ Yeah! (several talking in background) And then we'll tie into Normandy Drive. So it'll
just be a nice little straight line in there. It will not be a permanent road. We had that
discussion last year. It'll be a ... a temporary access road during high visibility and usage,
like during Shakespeare Theater, boys' baseball, things like that, so we have another
access in and out of the park.
Markus/ So at one point we had talked about getting rid of it. Now we're back in to putting it in.
Moran/ Correct.
Markus/ What changed? Again?
Moran/ Well we weren't going to get rid of it. We just put it on the back burner.
Moran/ I thought we had at one point said we were not going to go with the ... the access.
Moran/ Well, we talked about that when Shakespeare Theater announced that they weren't going
to perform this summer. But we've decided to go forward with that.
Payne/ But it isn't going to be a permanent road, where people can drive there every day of the
year.
Moran/ Correct.
Payne/ And that was the concern of the neighborhood, if I remember correctly. They didn't want
it to be a ... the people to use it to bypass going along Park Road.
Moran/ We have to figure out a way to gate that that's... that's nice so that it isn't just a chain,
you know, stretched across the road and ... or put some bollard systems up or something,
so that, uh, they can be taken down and put up at random.
Throgmorton/ Michelle, that's... that's the way I remember it as well.
Payne/ Uh huh.
Dobyns/ My sense, Mike, is going forward is that Lower City Park being in the flood zone was
going to be ... not emphasized as a core park area of the city anymore, especially
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that ... most western (mumbled) that was my sense of why we were de-emphasizing the
need for a permanent road structure.
Moran/ Correct, and ... and that's why we've got an RFP out to look at that, cause we want to
look at the redesign of Lower City Park to see how we can make it more flood resistant or
more flood friendly, I guess.
Throgmorton/ Can I follow up on that, be ... because it raises something, a point that I wanted to
bring up during one of our work sessions weeks ago, but couldn't cause we didn't have
time. Uh, I was mystified one day when I saw a newspaper account about how we were
reseeding... Lower City Park, close to the river. And that ... was not consistent with what
I understood we were going to be doing, which is what you just described. That we were
going to be anticipating that it would routinely flood and it no longer made sense to
continually reseed it a ... after floods. So...
Moran/ Yeah, the reseeding occurred because of the FEMA allocation. Uh, we ... we applied for
FEMA on that, in order to move the sand out, uh, of the park and one of the provisions of
that FEMA request was to move the sand and then to reseed it back to the way it was
before the sand appeared. So that was purely a function of the FEMA monies or the
FEMA grant that we got for that part of the ... uh, restructuring of City Park.
Bockenstedt/ And FEMA'll pay for that seeding because of the erosion control that it ... by
having that grass in place it helps ... if (mumbled) come up from washing the dirt away
down the river.
Throgmorton/ But over the long run, the intention is to be ... expecting that it will flood and that
we would not be routinely ros... reseeding it, after floods.
Moran/ That's what we're hoping to achieve with the RFP, to have somebody come in and show
us how we can do that, or what the best method of management would be for that.
Dobyns/ Does FEMA pay for sand removal after a flood?
Moran/ They do.
Dobyns/ So that's why we do it, because they pay for it.
Moran/ Right.
Dobyns/ Even though... we don't have to?
Knoche/ Right, and ... and that was one of the concerns that came up with this last event,
urn ... FEMA had ... had alluded to the fact that they may not fund future sand removal
projects, and not knowing what we were going to be facing with the Master Plan update,
wanted to keep our bases open for that. So it ... it, because it was such a small amount of
sand that was in there this time. Most of it ended up in the river, not necessarily on the...
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on the river banks. We just wanted to make sure that we didn't... didn't preclude
ourselves from ... from future, uh, park restoration through the FEMA funding source.
Dobyns/ But going forward we might not necessarily have to. We can let it go a little bit more
wild.
Knoche/ Correct.
Dobyns/ Okay.
Payne/ But we don't want it to look like a ... beachfront and people, encourage people to swim
there, right? I mean if you leave sand there, then pretty soon people think it's a beach
and they can swim there.
Dobyns/ People would swim in the Iowa River? (laughs)
Payne/ Well ... (laughter) students! (laughter) I mean...
Hayek/ It's not illegal! (laughter)
Payne/ Think about it! (several talking and laughing)
Moran/ Uh, Mercer Park playground is ... is, uh, we're currently in the process of developing, uh,
an RFP to replace that entire system. We'll have a neighborhood meeting with the
Mercer Park folks, and then we'll take out basically all the equipment that is currently
there behind the two shelters that we've put in, and replace that, and that'll be a project
that you'll see yet this spring, uh, early summer.
Hayek/ This is a really good one, um, and I've been hearing about it for a while from neighbors
and City High Administration and other people whose students and children use this area.
This is a good one for us to do.
Moran/ Yeah, it's got some good money behind it, so we should get a nice... adventure park or
adventure playground or something a little bit different than what they've been used to.
Uh, Hickory Hill trail redesign and development, uh, this is a three phase project with
Friends of Hickory Hill Park. Uh, the RFP process'll be developed, uh, to replace
bridges and to ... to redesign trail to better suit it so it doesn't get so much erosion in it,
and that we don't have the washouts that we're currently getting with the bridge systems.
Uh, in June we could get a half-inch of rain and we get a lot of water coming through
there, and it alters our bridges and adjusts them a little bit. So we need to really take a
look at that and see if there's a better way that we can, uh, utilize that. Uh, Friends of
Hickory Hill Park have ... have jumped onto that, as well, and ... and they'll be supporters
with that and we'll ask them to help in some of the fundraising efforts to pay for the
consulting (several talking) in and does that.
Mims/ And this indicates ... (noises on mic) that there's going to be wayfinding? I mean...
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Moran/ Correct. Correct.
Mims/ Okay. It's easy to get lost in there if you haven't ... if you haven't been in the park before.
Moran/ It is, and ... and plus, hopefully it'll eliminate people that go in and create their own
paths...
Mims/ Right.
Moran/ ...through there, which has happened over the years many times too.
Mims/ Okay, thanks!
Throgmorton/ Thought you were doing a Connie imitation there for a second!
Moran/ Willow Creek, Kiwanis Park, we ... we've had neighborhood meetings. We have a
consultant hired with that and we have another meeting coming up Thursday, January
29th to review those plans. Uh, those plans have been vented through the Commission,
and then they will be vented through the neighborhood again. If we don't have very
many adjustments to that, then we'll go hap ... go ahead and take that out to bid and that...
and you'll see that construction, uh, again sometime this spring or early summer for that.
Uh, the splash pad component really didn't gather a bunch of, uh, interest. So I'm not
sure that that will make it through the ... the final process with the neighborhood. But the
redesign, we concentrated mostly on the creek restoration and the trail restoration through
that park, so that was the two areas (mumbled) and then we'll also put a bathroom in...
somewhere in there, as well.
Dobyns/ Is that the right picture, Mike?
Moran/ Uh, that's Kiwanis Park.
Dobyns/ Yeah.
Moran/ It's not, uh, Willow Creek but it is Kiwanis.
Dobyns/ Okay. All right.
Moran/ In its early stage.
Dobyns/ Yeah. That's what I thought. Okay.
Moran/ Annual Recreation Center improvement fund, we've done, uh... i... items in that and
what we wanted to do is develop a ... an annual fee, uh, since it is a 50 -year-old building,
uh, currently what we did is we went through and we redid the east entrance, if you've
noticed that. And... and stretched that out so that the drop-off point for the kids and the
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pickup point is a little bit safer than what it was, uh, initially coming out of the east side
of the Center. Uh, we've also put in a new fitness wall, which is just now getting
complete with that, and then in the upcoming year we plan on spending, uh, the current
allocation with ADA improvements ... to the building, to make it...it is ADA accessible,
but we can do abetter job with some portions of those. So we'll spend most of the
money on ADA improvements for that.
Botchway/ Is there still a plan to leave, um, a lot of the recreation, ping-pong, foosball,
urn ... pool tables where they are, like going through the gym? I just always thought it
was awkward to have to do that for people that weren't necessarily engaging in... any
type of activity in the gym, and then having to, you know, take that walk, from like a
wheelchair standpoint, from a lot of different standpoints.
Moran/ yeah, we ... we've moved some, uh, table tennis and ... and foosball and stuff into the old
game room, I'll call, that we enclosed the fitness, but we left the pool tables in the
auxiliary gym off of the ... off the gymnasium for now, cause we don't have another spot
to put `em. Uh, elementary school recreational facility fund, this is the same, uh,
agreement that we entered into Grant Wood. We will also go and, uh, do the same thing
at the, uh, Archibald Alexander School and it'll allow us to have a ... an oversized gym
than what usually the School District puts into their elementaries, and then we'll have the
funding, or I mean we'll, I'm sorry, we'll have the programming, uh, for after-school and
on weekends. Uh, it'll be treated similar to Grant Wood and it'll just be an extension of
what we already offer at...at Mercer Park, Scanlon, and at the downtown Recreation
Center. Uh, the buildings that I've mentioned, uh, at the Recreation Center, Mercer, are
15, 25 years old, as well as the buildings here and they ... they all have pneumatic, uh,
building controls and those are ... are archaic and when they go out, it affects the heating
and the air conditioning, and we want to go to more upgraded electronic version of
controls. So we've prioritized the buildings and you'll see a three-year, uh... uh,
allocation of money to do the Recreation Center, City Hall, and Mercer Park. So it's just
an upgrade that we haven't done for a long time and we have to get caught up on... on
that. Uh, City Park pool cabana shelters, uh, will be added to the feature that we did last
year when we renovated City Park pool. Uh, these are ... right up in here and the
attraction to those is that those are rentable, and so we can rent for birthday parties. We
can have people come in and rent for family reunions, whatever they want to do, and then
we can bring groups of people in, one to use the pool and then two to get some additional
rental for, uh, the shelters as a... an amenity to the pool. Emerald Ash Borer response
plan, uh, we talked a little bit about this on Saturday. Uh, we're going to concentrate on
the ... on the street trees that we have, the 1,300 street trees that we have in the city, uh,
and then we'll go to ... into the parks after that. Uh, we will do, uh, as much as we can for
as much money as we can, and some of it will be contracted. So a lot of it will depend on
what the contracts come back with that, uh, but we're hoping that we can, uh, utilize as
much of this to get a head start on the plan instead of waiting until the trees are actually
dead and then we have to pull them out after that. Uh, the one thing that ... that, uh, we
will, or we're working on currently is some sort of a response to the public when their
trees are on private property, because we anticipate getting numerous calls from folks
who have trees in their backyard or their front yard that aren't on public property, and
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they're either going to expect or want us to take care of those. And, of course, that's
something that we aren't going to do, but we're going to have to prepare some sort of a
response on what they can do, uh, so that they don't fall down on their homes like they're
probably going to be concerned about. So it'll be a ... an educational plan that we'll have
to work on, uh, for the public. Especially when they see us start to take out trees, uh,
street trees and park trees.
Payne/ So this budget item, the 75,000 per year is only for removal. It doesn't include
replacement?
Moran/ Uh, we've got replacement... we're... we're trying to build replacement into that. You
know we had that discussion Saturday about a one-to-one or a two -to -one, uh,
replacement on that. So some of it'll depend on how ... how many we get done per time,
every time that we go out into the field, and we don't want to decimate neighborhoods
that are ... have nothing but ash trees along the street. Uh, we're going to have to do... we
may have to do different, uh, replanting plans in some areas of town, depending on how
many we take out.
Payne/ So that 75,000 does include the replacement trees.
Moran/ Yes.
Payne/ It includes the cost of removal and replacement.
Moran/ Yes.
Payne/ (both talking)
Moran/ ...not all 1,300 trees. We're not gonna get it all done in ... in one felled swoop. It's
going to take us, you know, three or four years to get that all accomplished.
Payne/ It just doesn't seem like very much money ... to do replacement too.
Moran/ Well, that ... that depends on the bids that we get back.
Fruin/ And ... and this pot of money is in addition to what's in their operating budget. So
there's... there's their traditional, um, tree replacement and removal funds in their
operating budget. We beefed that up and then in addition to that we put this capital line
in there, um, to help as well. So, um, and I think I'm going off memory here, Mike, but
when we plugged in this $75,000, uh, number, we ... we had a ... kind of a 15 to 20 -year
mark in mind, um, thinking that if we kept up this funding for that length of time, then
we'll probably be able to address the issue.
Payne/ Okay, so it isn't intended that it would be done in five years (both talking)
Fruin/ No, oh no (both talking)
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Payne/ ... it's over a long period of time.
Fruin/ Absolutely, yes!
Payne/ And so explain how you can ... do the ... you can remove a tree and replace it, and call it
maintenance and how you can remove a tree and replace it and call it capital. Because to
me it's either capital or maintenance. Not both!
Fruin/ It ... it's part of the Capital Improvement Plan, but it's being funded with General Fund
dollars. So we're not bonding for the removal and replacement of trees. Um, we ... we
called it out in the, uh, Capital Plan more just to give it a little bit of extra recognition.
Payne/ So how do you depreciate it if you cap ... you capitalized it, how do you depreciate it?
Bockenstedt/ Uh, in this ... and this won't from a definition from accounting perspective (several
talking) be capitalized, but... (several talking and laughing)
Payne/ Sorry!
Hayek/ One leaf at a time!
Bockenstedt/ But what this does allow is when we create a ... a capital project for it, it allows us
to roll those funds over if they're unspent and keep them dedicated towards that program,
versus, you know, if they're funded specifically in the General Fund, um, then at the end
of the year those dollars kind of fall back in with the rest of the dollars, and so this allows
us to kind of segregate that program and ... and keep those allocated dollars dedicated
towards that purpose.
Moran/ We also want to identify it in the same line item. We don't' want to cross line items
between operating and capital, just in case the State, for example, comes in and says,
`We've got a grant program that can assist you with removal or can assist you with
planting.' We want to be able to ... to track those ... those dollars better instead of trying to
pull `em from two or three different sources. (several talking in background) Sustainable
roadway vegetation management program is (several talking in background) to get us
started in, and uh, on Saturday I told you that we have over 200 acres of roadside, uh,
plantings that we, uh, need to start taking care of and paying attention to. But we've
never had any money identified to do that. So what we'd like to do is start that program
and see wh... how far that takes us and then do something that, uh, everybody knows
where we're at, as well, because sometimes people see, uh, roadsides by the University
and they're doing something, and then the entrance ways, Project Green has done some...
a couple things, but we don't have a consistent program throughout, uh, all of our
roadsides.
Throgmorton/ Mike, are you going to have a landscape architect help... determine, uh, what kind
of plantings should go in there? Like, I mean, you know, I imagin... I imagine certain
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members of the public saying, oh, no, you're just letting it go to weeds! And ... and then
others saying maybe, I don't know, it's big blue stem, little blue stem ... etc. So what...
Moran/ Yeah. Well we ... we've had a couple people ... with the Dubuque Street project we've
been workin' with them on ... on the Dubuque Street. With Terry Trueblood, we've been
working on the sand prairie down there and we've got some input from those folks.
We'll rely on Project Green because they've been a big help to us in other projects. So,
we aren't specifically going to go out and hire one. We're just going to use from the
different project we've had from around town, cause what works there should certainly
work in other areas of the city.
Hayek/ And how ... what would the approach be to the roads you select? I mean, is it ... is there a,
are there a set of criteria?
Moran/ High visibility, uh, would be one, you know, like the entranceways. That's why Project
Green picked on those. Uh, we don't want to do all the roadways. We want to do just
sequential order like you had suggested, and then we have a relationship with DOT that
we're going to have to talk about for Highway 1 and Highway 6, as well, uh, so my guess
is ... is going to be, it's going to be away from the highways and more so the entrance
roads that ... that Public Works and that we maintain. That would be our initial start.
Markus/ So this goes to the whole sustainability, efficiency, um, initiative and... and I agree, Jim.
I think we have to be careful about ... what actually starts growing in some of these areas.
You know, it'd be nice to see some... some, uh, real wildflower vegetation and things like
that growing, but... in the long run, it's a much more sustainable approach.
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Markus/ And ... quite frankly, you know, you go to probably one of the nicest golf courses, uh, in
the entire metropolitan area, Finkbine, and they have significant areas of natural growth
occurring right within our boundaries, um, that look very nice. They swallow a lot of
golf balls! (laughter) Especially Rick's! (laughter) And uh... uh, so there's ways to do
this to make it attractive, and make us much more efficient. I mean, if you think about
the lifetime of...of expenses in terms of fuel, equipment, manpower, and the amount of
time we're spending in those areas, um, that we ... we could be avoiding. It's a pretty
significant savings over time.
Throgmorton/ The roads I really wish ... wish we could get to are the State roads, mainly
Highway 6 on the southern part of town and ... Highway 1 on the southwest part of town.
Those are, uh ... desperately in need of basically good landscaping and I think natural
landscaping would be an enormous asset.
Hayek /Is there any possibility for those roadways?
Moran/ Well Public Works has a... gets together with them on a... a fairly annual basis, and I
think we can certainly bring that up and talk to them about that, and what they ... they
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could do for us and what we could do for them, and try to work ... work some of those
things out. You know the other issue that you have with this is anytime you work on any
kind of vegetation program, it takes anywhere from two to three years to do that, and
some people don't have patience for that, or they see things growing that they think are
all weeds, and ... and so we have to work through the education process of that too so the
public knows what we're doing and ... and what it's going to look like later on.
Throgmorton/ Uh huh.
Moran/ Uh, tennis court, pickle ball court resurfacing, this is just a generic, uh, thing that we
need to do about every five to seven years. Uh, the only addition, of course, is the
addition of pickle ball's become hugely pop ... hugely popular and we get, uh, continued
request for that. So we're going to go ahead and stripe the ... the courts for that, and if
you haven't played that, uh, come on down to the Recreation Center Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday morning, and uh, play with ... oh, there's quite a few people that
are in there. They also play at Mercer Park, uh, there's a lot of different areas where they
try to get in. North Liberty, uh, has `em and Coralville as well.
Throgmorton/ I'll be the one to embarrass himself. What the heck is pickle ball?
Moran/ (laughter) It's a slower version of tennis. Uh, and they use a wood racket that's entirely
mad out of wood, so it doesn't have the fast recovery and speed of tennis, and then the
ball is a little bit ... it's about three times the size of a tennis ball. So it's played just like
tennis. It's a little bit smaller than tennis, but it's a ... it's a slower version.
Dobyns/ Like your tennis racket, Jim! Wood!
Throgmorton/ (laughs) It would be! (laughter) Guaranteed!
Hayek/ But it's ... but they use a standard tennis court?
Moran/ Correct. We'd have to put in some dashed lines cause it isn't as long, uh, and it isn't as
wide. Uh, Tower Court Park renovation is one we talked about on Saturday. That's all
being done with neighborhood open space, uh, monies. Uh, I've got the final meeting
with them. I've been meeting with them, uh, most of the fall and the winter. January 24tH
we have our final meeting to review everything, and uh, if everything gets approved from
there, we'll bid that out and ... and do that in the spring and summer. Uh, this
would ... this park, it looks will have not a splash pad but what's called a `spray pad,'
which basically is just a ... a smaller version of a splash pad with four different nozzles in
it that shoots water up, and the neighborhood has bought into that concept, along with the
new playground, and then we're also going to put in some, um, senior fitness equipment,
uh, for a lot of the folks at Oaknoll. So it'll ... it'll have three different components, uh,
with this park. Pheasant Hill Park renovation is the same. Uh, we'll be done with some
neighborhood open space money. We put in a new shelter just recently, and I would
imagine most of the renovations to this will be playgrounds. Uh, the ... the playground
system there is fairly old and we'll have to replace that. Youth Sports Complex
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feasibility study, um, there ... it's no secret that the ... the sewer waste water treatment
plant down at the, where the soccer complex is is going to be in expansion mode in the
next 10 to 15 years, and with the issues that we've had at...at Lower City Park with
the ... the boys' baseball fields, uh, I think we need to start looking at some alt...
alternatives to this. So we've been looking at ... oops, I did that again! This ... this 73 -acre
parcel in here, um, we ... we feel that that's probably enough room to where we could put,
uh, several soccer fields on that, maybe not as many as we have currently, and then all
eight baseball fields that we have at City Park and utilize this as a youth sports area... in
town, with the relocation of those two areas.
Fruin/ The other thing that, uh, this of course is ... is City owned property. This is our industrial
park. Um ... and (noises on mic) um ... you know, what's changed since the City bought
this property is that the, uh, School District has sited an elementary school a little bit
north of here, and if you think about just the transition of uses from an industrial, uh, type
of use into a, uh, single-fam... or into a residential -type setting, with a school around it,
that's a pretty harsh transition there. Um, the railroad gives us an opportunity, uh, to
really keep the industrial piece south of that, should this concept, uh, develop some merit
here. So, uh, the ... the sports complex, I think, would be a much softer transition, help
with the residential development in that area, and also be a... a nice park site for the
future, uh, eastern part of town there.
Moran/ The new elementary school's right up Taft Road, so it's up ... up in this area in here, and
uh, the study would then tell us, one, if it's possible to do all the things that we want to
do, and then how much money we're going to have to start looking at in order to get this
accomplished.
Hayek/ I think this has a lot of promise, um ... I've been worried for several years on ... about the
transition be ... you know, or the buffering between industrial activity and the residential
we want to occur to the north, uh, and we've talked about that, whether it's through, you
know, a different set of buildings or vegetation or whatever, but this is an exciting
concept and ... and I know some of the School officials are ex ... certainly excited about it,
and if you look at places like the ... there's that Cownie... uh, Sports Complex in the Des
Moines' area, um ... named for the (both talking)
Moran/ ...Park, yeah.
Hayek/ C -o -w -n -i -e. You know, some ... some of those are huge destination... spots for youth
sports. And that can do a lot for that end of town, in terms of...uh, promoting, uh, traffic
and... and interest.
Fruin/ We did, um ... um, Mike, uh, secured some appraisals for some property, uh, around the
Kicker site, just to see what type of expense we'd be looking at, and ... the appraisals were
coming back at 22,000 or 23,000 an acre, and ... and when you really, you know, start to
pencil that out, um, and you think about what we ... the challenges we have, whether it's
flooding in City Park or the eventual loss of soccer fields. It's a pretty expensive
proposition to go secure land, um, and if you are able to secure land, it's going to be on
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the, you know, on the periphery of the ... of the town. So, having 73 acres that's already
bought and paid for is a, uh, is a nice luxury, I suppose, to have. We have, uh, talked
with the ... the DOT as there was some State money in the... industrial park development,
and they're comfortable, uh, with us moving forward and exploring this, so long as it's
the north edge. Uh, if we start to creep into the ... area south (several talking) then ... then
they'll get a... a little nervous.
Dobyns/ (mumbled) get to that park area, other than Taft? I'm just looking at the ... from the...
Markus/ There's an interior industrial road that goes in there right now, but that's probably not
the most desirable place to (both talking)
Payne/ I would think you'd go down on American Legion and then down Taft. Rather than
through the park ... through the industrial park (both talking)
Dobyns/ Yeah, but I was wondering if (both talking)
Markus/ Eventually you can get there, but... internal there's, you know, development to the north
and to the west that's potential that those connections could be made, as well.
Moran/ Yeah, Highway 6 comes straight in here, and then there's a road here, and then Taft goes
all the way out to American Legion Road.
Dobyns/ Uh huh.
Davidson/ If you look at the Southeast District Plan, Rick, there's a whole network of interior
streets in that area.
Dobyns/ That'll be, okay, proposed. Okay!
Throgmorton/ So this might be a great idea, but I ... I personally would want to ... ex ... explore it
more. I ... I don't ... we don't have time to get into this in detail, but I don't fully
understand the rationale between, uh, behind consolidating all of these sports facilities in
one location, uh, far on the... basically the southeastern part of town, which requires, you
said traffic, right? It requires peoples to drive there from all over the city and other parts
of the Iowa City area, presumably. So I ... you know, an alternative is to disperse some
facilities. Uh, throughout the city. So, I ... I just say I'd ... I'd like to see that, uh, explored
more before I personally would just kind of start clapping my hands.
Dobyns/ But my sense, Jim, I mean because of the size of this. This isn't a neighborhood park
soccer field. This is a des ... a macro destination field. This keeps people from going to
Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, Muscatine, Coralville. So I mean I see this as ... this is going
after a different transit demographic, so I could see this decreasing carbon footprint
because it's going after that instead of...
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Throgmorton/ Hm, I think that's a real stretch but maybe you're right, I mean, I really do mean
(several talking)
Hayek/ ...I mean that's... that's a fair concern. I think there is a distinction between a ... a
destination facility of this scale and the ... the neighborhood, kind of pocket facilities that
we have, but ... in any event, we'd be looking at it, and this is some (mumbled) money.
So ... I don't disagree, Jim!
Dobyns/ What we talkin? Three to four years? Five years down the line?
Moran/ Probably depends on the price tag more than anything else.
Dobyns/ Okay.
Moran/ Once we get that in, whether one we can do it, and then two what the price is for it.
Fruin/ The... the... the ask before you is ... is a $50,000 allocation to do some preliminary
planning, just to make sure it's feasible and maybe develop a rough concept, um, from
there we would have to work it into the City's CIP, and we would probably, uh, partner
with, uh, some of the ... the private clubs in town to see if they'd be willing to undertake a
fundraising campaign, and ... we've had some preliminary conversations with at least a
couple of those, uh, folks and ... they're eager to ... to work with us on this.
Moran/ Uh, Mercer Aquatic Center, Scanlon Gym improvements, a lot of those are just cosmetic
as well. We put in, uh, some, uh, temp ... not temporary. Permanent walls so we have
party rooms that we can rent out a little bit, uh, pick up the weight room. Uh, we have to
replace the curtain divider that separates the game room from the meeting room in there.
So, lot of these are just cosmetic and trying to keep up with the 25 -year-old building.
Recreation Center lobby remodel, uh, we have two trains of thoughts of wanting to do
that. One is we want to enclose that balcony that overlooks the pool, because we think
we could get some people that would be interested — parents looking over, uh, while their
kids are taking swim lessons, and make it a little bit more usable space. Right now it's
just locked off because we can't let people out there, and so we might as well enclose
that, try to make it a little bit more usable space. Uh, the lobby area, that used to be the
lobby area in there, uh, you know, maybe we can turn that into a little bit of a ... a
playground, if you will, sort of like what the mall has with the smaller versions of the...
the rubberized play equipment for kids while, uh, they're waiting for their brothers and
sisters to get done with other ... other activities. The City Park cabin restoration is an
ongoing project that we've been trying to do. We've applied for several grants, that we
have been unsuccessful for, uh, and we currently have a private fundraising, uh, effort
that's going forward with that through the Foundation, but it isn't very high on ... on
anyone's list. So, uh, we need to pick that up a little bit and determine whether, uh, we
need to renew those or whether we want to restore those or what the ... the status will be
of those.
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Dobyns/ Mike, this might be a ... a Kent question too, but you mentioned earlier that, um, we
sometimes can leverage funding collaboration of the MPOJC for wide sidewalks. Is there
anything that, uh, Iowa City can do or ... in other words to, you know, leverage those
funds maybe a little bit more efficiently?
Moran/ Well those are the bike trail funds and there's only $50,000 and we don't pretty
much ... we don't go after wide sidewalks. We go after, uh, curb cuts and signage and
bike racks and the knobs for, uh, access at intersections. More so than (both talking)
Dobyns/ Okay.
Moran/ ...than width.
Dobyns/ All right.
Ralston/ Yeah, hi, Kent Ralston, Transportation Planner. Um, I just wanted to mention that the
MPO is also going to be going through our annual allocation process of our surface
transportation, and transportation alternative program funds, and those applications'll
come out in about a week or so. Hopefully by the end of the week, and that's about $6
million worth of, uh, transit, or excuse me, transportation funds.
Dobyns/ (mumbled) gave prioritization on that, um, in an area of Iowa City, then there's
increased access of funds for ... you know, widened sidewalks?
Ralston/ It's a strictly competitive process. So, uh, what we would do is usually work with the
Public Works' department and go through that process. Uh, we rank those projects and
then because it's competitive (mumbled) and then the Board ultimately has the final say
on what gets funded and what doesn't. Doesn't have to go by the scoring, but the
scoring, of course, drives that conversation.
Fruin/ There's one example of that in the proposal before you, um, would be the extension of the
Highway 1 sidewalk trail. That anticipates us receiving MPO funds, um...
Dobyns/ So that's something TAC would possibly prioritize, I mean, is something like that?
Ralston/ Correct! So long as ... so long as an application is submitted at the MPO, that will be
scored and prioritized like any other project. Some of course shake out higher at the ... at
the top of the list. Some not so well, but uh, for instance what Geoff was mentioning
with the Highway 1 trail project. I mean, that would be ... that would be a ... a good
project to apply for, and that's why it shows up in the CIP.
Dobyns/ Okay.
Ralston/ Thank you!
Knoche/ I think we're about halfway through. Do you want to stop and take a break or...
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Throgmorton/ Okay!
Hayek/ Yeah! (several talking and laughing)
(Break taken at 2:30 P.M.)
Solid Waste & Landfill:
Hayek/ Well, let's ... uh... start back from where we left off. But ... so we're at the halfway point.
Are we on target to get out of here by 5:00? (several talking)
Knoche/ Yes.
Karr/ Depends on the time zone — 5, 7 — same thing!
Hayek/ 5:00 eastern (several talking)
Karr/ Yeah! (several talking and laughing)
Hayek/ Nova Scotia time! (laughter) Yeah! Which means it's happy hour somewhere!
Anyway! (laughter and several talking)
Knoche/ All right, uh, so the next section is the Solid Waste and Landfill. Uh, we have, uh, a
refuse building, uh, this is, uh, part of the initiative to try to, uh, get off of our Public
Works' site, um, this, uh, will relocate this building over to the Public Works' site, and
uh, start moving off of this corner.
Payne/ Not physically relocate this building.
Knoche/ No, no, no! (laughter) No, not this building. Building a new building at the Public
Works' site, uh, to replace this one. Uh, Hebl Road improvements, uh, this is to upgrade,
uh, the ... the road that goes into the Landfill. Um, currently it's a chip -sealed, uh, and
asphalt roadway. Uh, this would, uh, to reconstruct it in, uh, concrete, PCC.
Payne/ Is that ... that road'll still be in the county though?
Knoche/ Correct.
Payne/ So it'll be a county road that we improve?
Knoche/ Correct. It ... it basically serves us, um, you know, we ... we just purchased, or are in the
process of purchasing the ... the Hamen Farm here and uh, and then the Hebl Farm is off
to the side of us, but we own ... um, you know, basically here, up and over, so...it...it
basically is ... (both talking) It's our driveway! So, yep! Uh, project that ... that's in the
works currently is ... is a Landfill gas collection flare replacement, uh, just, uh, at the end
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of its useful life, uh, it needs to be ... needs to be, uh, replaced. And this one is ... is
actually, you'll be seeing that before you in the next couple agendas, uh, on ... our next
Council agenda is to approve the project and move forward, uh, as far as the plans and
specs. Uh, we have a ... a household hazardous waste storage unit, um, that's ... needs to
be replaced. Obviously you can see the ... there's some issues as far as rusting out, um,
this one also is ... is in the current, uh, 2015, uh, calendar year for ... for work on it. Um,
haven't started the ... the process yet, but, uh, but will be. Um, and that takes care of the
Landfill and Solid Waste projects. Uh, the next up is the Streets, Bridges, Public Utilities
and Public Works.
Streets Bridges Public Utilities and Public Works:
Knoche/ Um, the first two projects that are listed here are ... are new projects. Uh, this is
Normandy Drive, uh, there's a ... the Iowa River is ... is at the rear of the picture. Uh, we
have a storm sewer that's a corrugated metal pipe that runs out to the river. Um, with
our, uh, demolition of the north plant, we'll have some larger pumps that'll be available
to us, and so what we're looking at doing is replacing the storm sewer, uh, but build a ... a
vault here that we could actually pump out of this area into the river during a high water
event. Uh, with the way the ground is established out there, up to about 100 -year event
on the Iowa River, we could keep the ... the interior roads dry ... in that area. Um, and
basically it's just the ... at the cost of putting a structure in. Um, storm sewer needs to be
replaced anyways. So it's, uh, it's just something that, uh, we're ... that we're looking, uh,
towards some reuse on some pumps.
Dickens/ How old are those pumps?
Knoche/ Uh, the ... the pumps are, um ... of the two ... (mumbled) around 2000 vintage of those
pumps, so they were ones that were in one of the renovations at the north plant. And, uh,
it's in the effluent building there, the influent pump building there that we'd be able to
reuse.
Dobyns/ So when Normandy Drive flood, it flooded because the water came through there, not
because it went over the...
Knoche/ In ... initi... initially, um, what ... what flooded in ... in 2008 when the ... when the interior
roadways flooded down here, it actually started to bubble up through this structure and
that was... there... there's two areas down there. There's... there's actually two outlets
that run to the river. One is, uh, closer to City Park. Uh, but in 2008 when we ... when we
had our issues down there, it was actually this ... this structure is what ... what caused our
initial problems. Obviously in the end, the water was high enough it was ... it was coming
over bank flow at us, um...
Dobyns/ But maybe a 100 -year flood, this might be as close to a 500 (both talking)
Knoche/ This would be a ... it would be a way to ... to keep this area, keep the road ... access to
those people that are still down there living ... in that area.
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Payne/ So during a 100 -year like the intersection at Normandy and Park Road doesn't flood.
Does it?
Knoche/ It ... it would flood if we didn't ... if we did not, um, go out and do some work, as far as
pumps and putting some sandbags in, it would flood at the 100 -year event.
Payne/ Okay.
Knoche/ So this would ... this would help us, um, to ... to alleviate some of that staff time to go out
and deal with those things.
Payne/ I mean maybe it's even on the list of, um, future projects for that intersection.
Knoche/ On an unfunded, yep, exactly.
Payne/ Okay.
Knoche/ Yep. So this ... this would ... so this could help offset that project as far as a future need.
Um, down on Stevens Drive is a similar type of project. Uh, you know, up to a 100 -year
event on Stevens Drive, we can ... we can keep, uh, the water out of here by setting up a
pump in this manhole here, uh, then we have a valve system and, uh, can ... can ... we put
out some pipes and ... and drain it into Sand Lake, which is, uh, here, uh, back in this area.
The old Sand Lake, uh, that's behind Hills Bank. Um, similar type of project, uh, we
would reconstruct some storm sewer, put a... a pump vault in and would be able to pump
out of that structure with pumps, um, that we have on hand versus havin' to have pumps
come in from FEMA or uh, or some of our larger pumps, and even at times, in ... in flood
events we've had to have fire ... the Fire Department bring their pumper trucks down
and... and pump out of this area. So, it... it helps alleviate, um, some need for staff time.
Payne/ So this'd be a more permanent solution to what has been done in the past.
Knoche/ Correct. Both ... both locations. We would ... we would not leave the pumps in place all
the time. It would ... the pumps would be stored, um, but we would then bring `em out if
we had to, uh, for a flood event.
Payne/ And do they run off diesel fuel? Is that how the pumps run?
Knoche/ These would be electric pumps. So ... so our, the pumps that we have would be electric
pumps, but the existing pumps that we have are diesel pumps, that we use at...at the
current, the current way to deal with this. Uh, next project is a vehicle wash system. So
we have, uh, you know, we have a vehicle wash at the Public Works' site on the corner of
Riverside Drive and uh, old Highway 218. Uh, this would be relocating that to our, uh,
relocate... building a new ... new facility, um, at the Public Works' yard. Um, this is one
that we had identified early on, uh, was working forward, uh, working towards, and then
just due to dollar amount, we ... we couldn't ... we couldn't move forward with the project
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(mumbled) so we have ... we have a set of plans available to us. Um, but we are in the
process now of going out with an RFP to do a re -Master Plan of our Public Works' site,
and it may relocate that ... it'll change things around a little bit, from what our original
intent was. Uh, traffic engineering building, um, here again is ... we're working off the
old Public Works' site. This would be moving, uh, moving this operation, um, to the new
site. Uh, project that Jeff Davidson spoke of earlier, this is, uh, Riverside Drive
pedestrian tunnel. Um, we ... we've, just had the final report handed in on Friday in
regards to feasibility to ... to do a pedestrian tunnel here. Um, and ... and it is feasible. Uh,
what we've ... what we're looking at is ... um, bringing, uh, using circular pipe and push it
through the railroad embankment. Uh, with the way that this abutment is constructed,
um, there's no, you know, guys or shoring back into the embankment. It's basically... it's
just a gravity wall. So it gives us the ability to ... to push a ... a pipe through, on the west
side of that abutment and uh, and move forward with ... with having that pedestrian
connection on that ... on that west side.
Mims/ Do we have the... agreements in place necessary with the railroad or ... what, what do we
have to do there?
Knoche/ We do not have the agreements in place. Uh, we have had contact with the railroad and
what they've told us is, um, it ... it'd be similar to just a ... their utility agreements. So
it... it, if we wouldn't have to, you know, negotiate a... a, you know, a large agreement on
that. It'd just... agreement that's already in place, so...
Mims/ Okay. Thanks!
Knoche/ ...should be fairly easy to ... initiate. Um, we're still in the process of working through
the Idyllwild, uh, storm, uh, storm water drainage diversion study. Um, basically what
we're ... we're looking at is ... is still allowing water to go through the system, uh, to their
storm sewer system, uh, but in large events be able to ... to valve that off and ... and take it
down the old, uh, the ... the No Name Road right-of-way. Uh, we're at the stage right
now, uh, of setting up neighborhood meetings and just meeting with those folks
and ... and uh, help them, uh, understand where we're at and hopefully we're ... making
sure we're going down the right, uh, the right attack on that project. Uh, Harrison Street
reconstruction, uh, this is, uh, in conjunction with the Midwest One, uh, building. So
this'll be removing the brick, um, and putting in PCC. Uh, this'd be the full block from
Clinton, uh, to ... Dubuque Street. Uh, along with this, uh, we'll be putting in water main,
uh, putting in storm sewer system, and uh, in ... and basically bringing that up and ... and
getting rid of the issues that we have there with the brick streets. Uh, along with that it'll
also be the removal of the mailboxes in that area as the Post Office is ... is moving, uh, to
Pepperwood.
Hayek/ Do we salvage any of the removed brick for...
Landscaping Projects:
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Knoche/ We will. We'll ... we'll palletize all this brick and ... and save it for future, uh, brick
street projects around town. Uh, in ... in this, uh, proposal we have three locations for
landscaping projects or streetscape projects. Uh, our ... our past practice has been, uh, as
we ... we go through and we build roadways, we don't like to do the ... the, uh, tree
planting with those. You know, you just got done compacting a roadway to, you know,
(mumbled) as you can to ... to, uh, to build the road. Um, we let ... we like to let `em sit
for a year or two, uh, let the (mumbled) kind of, you know, soften things up and then
come back and do a tree planting project. So there ... the three projects that we're looking
at is Lower Muscatine Road project. Uh, so that'd be the area that we just worked on last
year. Uh, we would have, uh, a piece of Sycamore Street. That'd be the Langenberg, uh,
Langenberg to the L. That's in the area that we'll be building this year, so we'll ... we'll
have a little bit of delay on that project, and then the south Sycamore landscaping, from
Highway 6 to ... to Langenberg. So that ... is the piece that was constructed, uh, probably
five years ago, uh, and ... and get some trees in there and really soften up that (coughing,
unable to hear speaker) that street ... uh, streetscape in that area. Uh, another (mumbled)
actually coming off of the unfunded list is the Foster Road extension, uh, Dubuque Street
to Prairie du Chien. Uh, this is in here for 2018 construction, uh, with money allocated in
2017 for some design work. Um ... I ... it's, uh, it's really a project, as we look at our
arterial street network, it...it makes sense for us to move forward on this project at this
time. Uh, we have had some interest in, uh, redevelopment of... of the Alberhasky
property, uh, which is this property right in here. Uh, so we'll ... (mumbled) proposed
2018. Uh, Gateway project, uh, we ... we're all well aware of...of what that project
consists of. Um ... we're currently looking at, uh, 2016, 17 and based on, uh... where
the ... the length of time that it'll take to ... to build the bridge that we're looking at, it'll
probably be spring of, uh, 2018. Uh, we'll ... the construction'll spill into that ... into that
timeframe. Um, but uh, we are in the ... pulling together the final plans now. Um, we'll
start the right-of-way acquisition process probably within the next few months, and uh,
get the final design done, and ... and move forward. Uh, we are on your February 9th, uh,
work session agenda to ... to have the next round of presentations in regards to where
we're at with this project.
Payne/ So this ... this 16 in here is not fiscal year 16, it's ... I mean, will construction start in fiscal
year 16, which would be in the fall of this year?
Knoche/ Construction will start ... in fiscal year 16, so ... yeah, so ... the ... the way that the CIP is
set up, these are calendar years. So it would be...
Payne/ That's how I interpreted it, so...
Knoche/ Yep, so it ... it's ... so ... ca ... calendar year 16 is fiscal year 16 and 17, so it would start at
the end of fiscal year 16.
Bockenstedt/ We kinda laid it out, based on construction year (several talking)
Payne/ ... confusing!
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Knoche/ It is a little bit!
Bockenstedt/ ...you know, the end of our fiscal year, the June 30/July 1, cuts across right in the
middle of a lot of our operations, and makes it... difficult to plan and... and, cause it cuts
our recreation season down the middle. It cuts our construction season down the middle,
and ... so it was easier to plan a lot of these projects based on construction season, rather
based on fiscal year, because ... the fiscal year cuts that construction right in half and so
when you look at these, we kind of based these projects on the construction year and not
on the fiscal year. Does that make...
Payne/ It ... it does but I ... now I'm, I still want to ask my question again to be sure I understand.
Bockenstedt/ Okay.
Payne/ Will we start construction on Gateway in ... the year 2015 or 2016? Not fiscal year, actual
year!
Knoche/ 2016.
Payne/ Okay! So ... like a year from now.
Knoche/ A year from now. So ... so, our ... our current plan right now is we will be bidding this
project in about a year.
Payne/ Okay!
Knoche/ And so we would start in the spring of 16.
Payne/ Spring of 16. Construction year 16.
Knoche/ Correct.
Payne/ Got it! Thank you! (several talking in background) Yes ... do ... do you get it? (laughs)
Knoche/ Um, some of the annual allocations that we have, traffic signal projects that we have
100 ... 150,000 a year that, uh, we use for signalizing intersections. Uh, along with that,
uh, we ... we may also look at using, uh, that on some roadway lighting, uh, pole issues
that we have along Mormon Trek. We had some poles that are rusting out that ... that
need to be, uh, replaced. So, um, if we have ... if we have ... if we don't have a signal
project that is, you know, is ... is imminent, um, we'll use that in other locations. Uh,
traffic calming, we have 25,000 a year that we use for the traffic calming projects that we
do around town.
Throgmorton/ Ron, can I interrupt... interrupt for a second?
Knoche/ Sure!
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Throgmorton/ Uh, you mentioned the ... the words `roadway lighting,' and it just made me
remember some conversations I've had with Tom in the past. Maybe here in work
sessions too, I don't know, but uh... uh, with regard to roadway lighting, I ... I would hope
that in the future all of our lighting would be directed downward, rather than sort of
broadcasting light. Uh, what ... what's the ... Tom, you and I have talked about this, but
what's ... I'm trying to remember the phrase (several talking) Night sky, uh, being very
conscious of the, uh, effects of excessive light on night sky, and on security. If you have
broadcasting bright light, it's actually worse for security than if you focus the light on
where ... you really want it.
Knoche/ You bet! And ... and, the ... the, um, light fixtures that we've been using on our capital
projects are... are.... night sky compliant and are ... are the downcast style.
Throgmorton/ Great!
Knoche/ Uh, traffic calming, this is the ... the speed humps and ... and some of those other, uh,
projects that we move forward with. Um, we have an annual allocation for overwidth
paving and sidewalks. So if we have a developer that comes in, um ... and ... is, um, gonna
construct a collector street or an arterial street, um, we will pay for the overwidth on
those pavements, above the 28 -foot wide pavement. Also, for the wide sidewalks. So if
they put in a sidewalk wider than 5 -foot, uh, we would also offset that, uh, pay the
additional... for the additional 3 -foot wide width of sidewalk. Uh, curb ramps for ADA,
uh, this is a project that is ... is an every -other -year allocation for us of $100,000. Um, it's
pretty self-explanatory. Um, we do have on the unfunded list, uh, some, uh, alloc... or a
need for some areas and some CDBG money. We're looking at the potential of some
CDBG money to fund ... to fund those projects. Uh, brick street repairs, uh, 20,000 a
year, um, to do spot repairs, uh, on our brick streets. Um, it... it doesn't go very far, but
uh, but we do have ... we do have that available to us.
Hayek/ Uh... (both talking)
Payne/ Can you go back to the curb ramps?
Knoche/ You bet!
Payne/ I thought we decided that we were going to put money in every year rather than every
other year ... or did we just increase the every other year?
Knoche/ We increased the every other year (several talking)
Payne/ Okay!
Knoche/ Yes. (several talking in background) ... last ... in the last budget. Uh, pavement
rehabilitation. Um, you know we ... this ... this is one, this is our ... our, uh, HMA overlay
program and also PCC repair, uh, di ... (can't hear) project. Uh, this project as you can
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see is ... is up, urn ... you know, last year we had ... or in 15 we had about 855,000
allocated. Uh, 16 we'll have 930,000, and this is up from, uh, right around 600,000 in the
2014 budget. So we're ... we're making strides, um ... not necessarily as far as we need to
make, but we are ... we are able to allocate some more money for those, uh, projects.
Fruin/ If I could just jump in real quick. Um ... when Ron's predecessor was leaving, he was, uh,
making sure we all had little pieces of his office in giving us, uh, files and whatnot
(laughter) and before he left he dropped off the 1997 annual report from engineering and
...and notes that the resurfacing budget at that time was 834,000. So roughly the same as
what we're proposing here, and I think that just goes to show that ... over time we have
not been able to keep up with ... with road funding, and that's a huge, uh, need if you look
at the ... the inflation and ... and what not that have affected prices, uh, we're not, uh, we're
not keeping up. So, an interesting, uh ... interesting fact along with the 1997 budget of
834,000 is that we were able to do 3.2 miles of streets with that amount and then some
chipseal and curbs and what, and ... whatnot, and I think, Ron, this year ... with relative,
that same relative number of, uh, dollars, we got maybe four or five blocks, compared to
3.2 miles. So...
Knoche/ Yeah.
Fruin/ ...we've lost a lot of ground in...
Hayek/ Yeah!
Fruin/ ...20 years almost (several talking)
Knoche/ And a ... a lot of that loss is ... is actual the ... the curb ramp replacement that we have to
do, you know, and in the past we were able to ... to move forward on overlay projects and
weren't required to upgrade all the curb ramps, you know. So if it didn't have truncated
domes, uh, if... if there wasn't a curb drop, um, you didn't have to upgrade those. Now
with the way the ... the federal law is written, if...if you ... if you touch the street in front
of a curb ramp, you have to upgrade the curb ramp and make it ADA -compliant.
Payne/ Well theoretically we'll have them all done some day. (several talking and laughing)
Knoche/ Theoretically yes, we will have them done (mumbled) some point! (laughs)
And... and...
Dilkes/ Well that assumes that the regulation doesn't change.
Knoche/ Yeah, and...
Payne/ Again! (laughs)
Knoche/ And... and... kind of the asterisk on that is, there ... there are some locations that we will
not be able to make ADA -compliant, and... and the law does recognize that. And so, you
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know, so there's... there's going to be some areas that ... that just due to the ... the slopes
that ... that are in that area, the hills that are in that area, we won't be able to make them
compliant, but you know, there again, the ... the law doesn't require that all of them be
compliant. It's just that they have an ADA -accessible route. Uh, 3826 is the
underground electrical, uh, basically underground electrical facilities, uh, line item.
That's, uh, from the franchise tax. Uh, so this is, uh, we're able to use this when we have
a capital project, uh, or ... or just if we have an area that we want to underground the
overhead utilities (several talking in background) Um, we ... we use this line, we use this
funding source.
Payne/ I just told Rick it looks so beautiful!
Dobyns/ I think they look ugly! (laughter)
Knoche/ The sidewalk infill program is a ... is another every other year, uh, allocation of 100,000
a year. Um, this year's allocation will be used in the Oakcrest Drive area. Uh, we have
some areas in there where, um, we have no sidewalk or we have pieces that are just
outright missing, and this comes from, uh, some folks in the neighborhood who ... who,
when Roosevelt was closed, um, as far as the neighborhood school, um, this was a
request that was made by the neighborhood to ... for an accessible route towards Horn.
Uh, alley assessment program, so this is ... this is a ... the, you know, if you recall the way
this was originally set up. It was ... it was set up so that if, uh, neighbors wanted their
alley to be upgraded, um, it gave us a funding source or the ability to ... to build that and
then assess it back to them. Um, since we've set this program up, we've had no interest
(laughs) from ... from any of the adjoining neighbors to ... to do, uh, any alley upgrades,
and so, um, this is something that I think it's good to have, um, because it, you know,
gives us the ability to tap into a funding source if we, um, if we do get a request. Um, as
I said it was one that, uh, we had set up because there was some... some interest,
and ... and we haven't had any interest since we set it up.
Hayek/ So how ... how would that work again if...you know, we've ... it's a GO debt approach,
but we would only tap it if we get the requisite interest from ... the neighbors? (several
talking)
Dilkes/ Oh I'm sorry! We were talking about doing a special assessment I think.
Knoche/ Right.
Bockenstedt/ Yeah. You would issue the GO bonds to compete the project, and then you assess
them and they pay that back over like a 20 -year period.
Hayek/ Okay. (several talking)
Throgmorton/ But it would only be initiated if...if adjacent neighbors expressed interest, right?
Hayek/ So we play bank ... visa vie them.
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Bockenstedt/ Exactly!
Hayek/ Of course we've got our own ... debt buyers out there, but ... but we don't do it unless we
get... some threshold of interest met... from the neighbors.
Dilkes/ And that's because it takes a super -majority, if there's a certain amount of protest, of the
Council to do the special assessment.
Markus/ Is that statutory, Eleanor?
Dilkes/ Yes.
Hayek/ Is there another way to do this when you see ... that's the John's Grocery alley, I think.
Um ... it's awful!
Throgmorton/ You don't like driving on that? (several talking in background)
Dilkes/ I mean you can certainly go in there and take care of it and pay for it. (laughter) But if
you want (both talking)
Markus/ I just said the same thing! (laughter)
Dilkes/ ...if you want to collect (laughs) if you want to collect the money from the adjoining
property owners, then the way to do that is special assessment.
Hayek/ I mean short of a whole -scale change in our... philosophy about maintenance of alleys...
Markus/ There ... there probably is a way to soften the impact ... using the assessment process,
where we would pick up half the cost and assess half the differential, and that might be
enough to incent people to come onboard to do that (several talking in background)
Hayek/ But you still can't do it ... you still run into those... obstacles. (several talking)
Markus/ ...there's a backdoor (several talking)
Hayek/ ...unless we just paid for the whole darn thing, which would be a .... an immense cost.
Throgmorton/ What ... what Tom was suggesting is kind of like the fagade renovation program.
Markus/ Yeah, you...
Throgmorton/ ... split the... split the incentives.
Hayek/ Well maybe we need to be thinking about this more, because whatever we've dangled
out there is not getting many bites.
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Throgmorton/ ...pretty crazy alley right there for sure!
Dickens/ It's not as good as that looks either anymore! (laughter and several talking)
Knoche/ Uh, next project is the Burlington/Madison intersection project, uh, this is, uh... uh,
scheduled for 2016. We have, uh, we went through the planning process on this, and
uh... and we have ... we have a final set of plans available. Um, since then we've ... we're
doing some traffic counts in the downtown area to determine, uh, whether or not some
four -lane to three -lane conversions, um, would be suitable, like for example the Madison
Street corridor. And so ... so with that, uh, we'll ... we'll re-evaluate, um, the plan for this
project, as far as, uh, number of lanes, at least on the Madison piece, as ... as ... before we
would actually construct it, but uh, this one is slated for 2016.
Dickens/ There's the potential for more residential in that area.
Knoche/ Correct.
Dickens/ ...coming...
Knoche/ Yeah. Uh, Burlington/Clinton intersection project, this one is, uh, is slated for 2015, uh,
Shive Hattery's doing the design for us right now. Uh, what we're gonna determine is,
uh, you know, what impact the School of Music project would have on our schedule.
Um, they are behind a little bit, uh, with their project and so we just want to make sure
that we're not in each other's way. Um, this ... this project right now, what we're ... what
we're showing is, uh, four -lane to three -lane conversion, uh, for the piece of Clinton
Street, and then also going to a three -lane, uh, with bike lanes in the corridor.
Dobyns/ So, Ron, eventually the safe egress from east to west Iowa City with bike is going to be
along Burlington? Is that going to be ... cause right now it's hard to get east/west
anywhere. But will this be ... cause I'm seeing that we're improving it in increments.
Knoche/ Right. So, it ... basically with ... with the Burlington Street improvements, we ... we
would ... that would be maintained as a five -lane section, you know, so that ... you know,
we would be moving the bicyclists off of Burlington Street at Madison, if they're ... if
they're coming from west campus, and coming into the downtown, you know, we would
work with the Burlington/Madison project, and... and... facilitate either on ... either on
street or in the right-of-way, facilities for bicyclists. And then at Madison Street they
would slide over and use Washington, or ... or Jefferson, to move up in ... or they could go
the other way and use Court and ... and get up to Clinton Street and then come across...
into the downtown.
Dobyns/ So right now, once they get to Capitol they really have to move north or south.
(mumbled) you know, cause Burlington... is there any plan in... even in the next five or
10 years to make... Burlington more bicycle -friendly from Capitol Street eastward?
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Knoche/ The ... the strug... the struggle with Burlington Street is it ... the ... the right-of-way width
is (both talking)
Dobyns/ Yeah!
Knoche/ Yeah, I mean, you're just ... you've got as much packed in there as you can ... as you can.
With the..with the number of vehicles (both talking)
Dobyns/ ...the whole world wants to be (mumbled)
Davidson/ The Riverfront Crossings form based code does have a set -back on the Riverfront
Crossings side of it, to create ... you know, using the set -back create privately owned
space that would affectively be sidewalk in order to get at what Ron's getting at, that the
right-of-way (both talking)
Dobyns/ So if you're on the west side of the road, you could actually move ... north or south,
south (both talking)
Davidson/ Well the wider ... the wider we can make the sidewalk, um ... the more that you can
accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists, but... so it... it starts getting us to that point, but
it's just ... it's one strategy to try and get us closer.
Dobyns/ Okay. Yeah.
Payne/ But in the block going west of Clinton... you're... you're not going to do anything there. I
mean there's ... it's built street -to -street. Curb -to -curb!
Knoche/ Right, um, one of the things that the, uh, University's doing with their School of Music
project is there'll be a wider sidewalk along that south side of Burlington Street.
And ... and they're actually, um, looking at expand... extending that down to the alley,
right by the Kum n' Go, and so with our Madison project we could, we would, you know,
extend that wider sidewalk up through the frontage of Kum n' Go. So it would ... at least
have a wide sidewalk along that piece. Right now it's a ... it's like a 4 -footer that ... that's
in there, and it's ... not very conducive. It kind of slides out to the back of curb
and ... yeah, so ... so, as these projects move forward, uh, you know, the University, um,
realized that..that there is a need for that sidewalk, and they're... they're actually paying
for that on their ... on their own bill in regards to in front of, uh, the Clark's Pentacrest
Garden's project.
Hayek/ What ... if you were to ... if your focus were to improve the bicycle... access, basically
from the east side of the Burlington Street bridge, into downtown, um, and given the
constraints on Burlington Street itself, is there a way to look at the area ... I guess north of
Burlington and east of the river that, you know, that ... there's some University facilities
there, and then you'd bump over to, close to the ... to the park where, you know, the
Student Union is. Hubbard Park, in that area, but to angle the bicycling... path maybe
toward ... I guess it's Washington Street ultimately and go up that way to downtown.
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Knoche/ Yeah...
Dobyns/ Or through Lindquist Center, you could go (several talking)
Knoche/ Yeah, I mean, I ... that ... that's what we've looked at in regards to ... it ... with ... with the
Madison Street project, you know, we had looked at bike lanes across the bridge and
using sharrows on the pavement to ... to bring the pede... bring the bicyclists to Madison
Street, and then they would use Madison Street to get, you know, to the north, and... and
into the downtown. Um, there has been some discussion about looking at, um, Front
Street or..or kind of the Front Street extension north, going towards the Library parking
ramp and the EPB parking ramp, or parking, uh, lot. And, uh, and try to use that frontage
road that kind of runs around past the water plant, in front of the Library, and ... and kind
of use it that way.
Dobyns/ Yeah.
Knoche/ The..you know, you saw you ... you have to go across traffic, get an unsignalized
intersection if you're doing that, but... we'll... we'll look at some options there to ... to try
to help facilitate that.
Hayek/ Just be nice to get the bicyclists away from... Burlington (several talking)
Knoche/ Yeah. The... (several talking) one of the things that the University has done is they've
upgraded, uh, a trail from ... kind of the roundabout in ... at the Fieldhouse, across to, uh,
Iowa Avenue, um, in that area, and I don't know if it's really well known, uh, in regards
to that, but that was ... um, that was one of the things that they were pointing out to the
bicy... bicycling community when ... when they had ... had conversations about, you know,
on -pavement, uh, in -street bicycle facilities.
Throgmorton/ Ron, could you please say more about the pedestrian aspects of this particular
intersection? Of... of the renovated intersection.
Knoche/ Um ... so, uh, you know, what we'll upgrade, uh, we'll upgrade the, uh... uh, signal
system here and ... and then we'll have a ... the wide sidewalk that'll run, uh, in front of,
uh, our parking structure, and then we'll continue that sidewalk, uh, along the east side,
um, of Clinton Street, and ... and make that connection. Um ... and that'll extend... extend
down and improve that area in front of, uh, well, we'll have some timing there with the
Kinseth Hotel, but uh... um, you know, they'll extend that down to the Court Street piece.
Throgmorton/ I ... I don't quite understand what you mean about upgrading the signal system.
So, I mean, I understand the general idea (both talking) but what .... what specifically do
you have in mind?
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Knoche/ Um, so ... so with ... with the new signal systems, as far as the ADA -requirement, um, it
has the tones at the signal so it helps the, um, handicap folks be able to locate where the
push buttons are...
Throgmorton/ Uh huh.
Knoche/ ...and then helps `em, uh, progress across the ... across the intersection. So that they
know which... which... which has the walk, which doesn't have the walk.
Payne/ What about the timing? I mean like right now the timing's really bad. If you're gonna
make ... if you're going to turn, you always have to wait for a pedestrian.
Knoche/ Yeah, it ... timings are something that we're always looking at, um, and ... and part of
the, our pedestrian, uh, study in our downtown intersection study is ... is looking at, is
counting those pedestrian movements to get a better feel of what, uh, timing should be in
that corridor.
Payne/ It just takes a long time to get across five lanes of traffic.
Knoche/ Uh huh.
Dickens/ Especially in the (several talking)
Throgmorton/ Yeah, and it's likely to go up dramatically because of the Music building.
So ... (several talking) and then maybe the hotel too, I mean, that ... that might have a big
affect too, but... especially the Music building. (several talking in background)
Dobyns/ Where will parking be for the Music building? Will that be south of Burlington on a
University site? Where's that being planned? (several talking in background)
Davidson/ There's no parking ... with the Music building. The thought is that those uses are in
the Old Capitol Center right now.
Dobyns/ Cause ... cause that's my point, I mean, in some ways it's preferable, I mean, the ... I look
forward to, uh, people who use the Music building to feeling comfortable crossing
Burlington Street and using downtown district (both talking)
Davidson/ Yeah, the event ... I should ... I should have clarified that, Rick. I was talking about the
daytime uses. The event parking will be either in the ramp right there, or in the Court
Street Transportation Center. The ... we've allowed, uh, the possibility of an overhead
walkway. There's no plans to put it in now, but we've allowed the possibility from this
ramp into the Music building. Their ... their building would accommodate it if in the
future anybody ever wanted to put that in.
Knoche/ (several talking in background) All right. Um ... next project is the annual railroad
crossing, uh, citywide. So we have a ... an annual allocation in there, um, we work with
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Crandic and Iowa Interstate Railroad, um, to upgrade signal crossings. This would pay
for our share of the ... of a ... of a federal project or through a DOT project. Uh, brick
street reconstruction, um, in here we have $800,000 in 2017. Um, and this is a ... the
complete overhaul. This is, uh, pulling the brick up, um, putting concrete base down, and
then putting the brick back on. Um, we have not identified, uh, what area we're looking
at with this project yet, but uh, this is ... this would allow for us, um, to basically build two
to three blocks of brick street.
Hayek/ Is ... are these numbers on the brick issues, uh, consistent with the last year or two?
think they are.
Knoche/ Yes.
Hayek/ All right. Um ... (several talking in background) I just want to, I mean, this is something
I harp on every year but ... but, uh... I ... I hope we're... making, I ... I understand the
expense, but...and we can talk about the ... the cost benefit of it, but if we're supportive of
it. I hope we're making at least incremental progress toward ... um ... the protection of our
streets, you know, above and beyond just the ... the spot maintenance, which ... is just that,
spot maintenance.
Knoche/ Right.
Hayek/ Um, so I don't see anything on ... for several years before or after. I assume we're...
trying to accumulate money and then bid out a larger (both talking)
Knoche/ That's correct.
Fruin/ Yeah, we did the Dewey Street, what, a year or two ago and...
Hayek/ That's great!
Fruin/ ...and then, uh, the idea was to accumulate some funds and do some larger stretches,
and ... and hopefully get some ... economy of scale, but ... we'll see how that goes.
Throgmorton/ Well I ... I ride the, um, the part of Church Street in front of the President's, uh,
home, uh, a lot on my bike, and... and it seems to be holding up really well, you know,
especially when I think about it...it in relation to Linn Street, which is a mess. Uh, so,
anyhow.
Hayek/ Yeah.
Knoche/ That was our ... that was the first block, that was the first project that we did with the...
with the (coughing, unable to hear speaker) rebuild `em now. Uh, three, uh, 53854 is the
American Legion Road, uh, Scott Boulevard to Taft Avenue. Uh, this project, uh, we are
doing a functional design on it now. Um, we have 2018, uh, final design and then 2019,
uh, constructing the project. Uh, the current plan would be to put a roundabout in at, uh,
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Scott Boulevard and uh, American Legion Road (laughs) intersection, uh, but uh, and
then that would carry through to Taft Avenue. Uh, with this, uh, because of the school,
you know, being sited, uh, out in this area, uh, we're also looking at pedestrian access,
um ... uh... uh, not ... not at grade connection between, uh, the Windsor Ridge, uh, area and
tying into the school site. So we would have a ... a pedestrian tunnel, basically,
underneath, uh, American Legion Road to make that connectivity.
Dickens/ When is the school being ... built, or when it's supposed to be finished?
Fruin/ The opening is 2017.
Knoche/ I believe that's right.
Dickens/ So... should this be moved up or...
Knoche/ You know I ... I, we had talked about that and ... and I think just based on, um ... the
condition of the road as it is today, I think we're in pretty good shape, as far as road
condition. Uh...
Dickens/ But you're going to be tearing it up when the school's open then.
Knoche/ Right. So ... you know, we would ... we would be, uh, looking at that, kind of not during
the school year. So it would be a summer construction. Um, and then along with that we
would be looking at doing, um, pedestrian... doing some of the pedestrian, uh,
connections, uh, prior to actually this ... this road construction.
Fruin/ Yeah, and this is a ... from a dollar standpoint a very significant project. It's plugged in for
$6.3 million, and if you think about that $10 million average that we try to hit, to move it
up would be extremely difficult when you've got Gateway and First Avenue, uh, grade
separation going. So...
Mims/ The other thing I think on that new school, the first two years it's open, kids from
Windsor Ridge aren't even going there, because they're going to bus kids in that are
going to other schools while they rehab some of the other schools.
Dickens/ ... Longfellow and... (several talking)
Mims/ I'm not sure, but ... I think that's their intent.
Dobyns/ Okay.
Markus/ The road's in pretty good shape. It'd be nice to get more miles out of it before you have
to go and ... tear it all up.
Knoche/ Yep. Um, Mormon Trek Boulevard, right turn lane at Benton and three -lane
conversion. Uh, this is a project that we have gotten, uh, some State funding through,
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um, TSIP money, so some traffic safety money. Um, to ... to do this conversion. So
basically what we'll, um, you know, convert from a four -lane to a three -lane section, uh,
provide for, uh, bi... bike lanes on the ... on this pavement, and then also, uh, do a right -
turn lane, uh, for that northbound movement, uh, to the eastbound movement on Benton
Street. Uh, along with this, um ... you know, originally we looked at this project kind of
going from Rohret Road, uh, to the north, uh, we are going to look at this project to take
it all the way down to, uh, Highway 1. So kind of...through the median area, starting
where the median converges, or the median goes away if you're heading northbound on
Mormon Trek from Highway 1, um, looking at starting the conversion there and carrying
it through this corridor.
Payne/ Is the curb line going to change?
Knoche/ The curb line will not change, um, it will change actually where the right turn lane will
be, but yeah, so the overall pavement width here will not change.
Payne/ Okay.
Fruin/ Ron, is that, uh, targeted for this year?
Knoche/ It is, yep! So that's in the (both talking)
Fruin/ ...this is something that was moved up. I think last year it was maybe 2017. (both
talking)
Knoche/ Right. Uh, First Avenue, uh, grade separation project. So this is, uh, this one is ... is,
will, uh, you'll be seeing the ... the plans on this, uh, soon. Um, we're in ... finalizing the
property acquisition on this project and ... and move forward with it this summer. Uh, so
what we're looking at here is, uh, basically south of the bridge, looking north, uh, we'll
have ... this'll be a four -lane to three -lane conversion. Um ... right now currently, uh,
north of Bradford Drive, uh, on the First Avenue, it's a three -lane, uh, section now. Um,
this'll be taking that three -lane section all the way south to, uh, Highway 6. And uh,
providing some, uh, on -pavement bike lanes, uh, and then, uh... um, with that, uh, with
that there's also TSIP money involved in this project now, uh, which we origin...
originally didn't have so we have some federal money involved in it also. But, uh, we're
uh... excited for this one, to get this one started.
Payne/ And will it be a two construction year project?
Knoche/ It will be. Uh, one of the things that, uh, as ... as, you know, we went through a process
and, uh, and hired Snyder and Associates to kind of finish up the ... the plans for us on this
project. And ... and with that, um, they have come up with an option to do detour
pavement to the east of the ... of First Avenue. Uh, originally we were trying to keep
the ... the, kind of detouring on the existing lanes that are there now, um, which was going
to kind of string out the construction of the project, and so now we're going to go detour
pavement, uh, kind of through the Goodwill... through, uh, Southeast Junior High and the
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Goodwill parking lot, and, uh, be able to alleviate some of that construction, uh, conflict
that would have been there.
Payne/ So does that cut down on the overall length then?
Knoche/ It should, yes.
Throgmorton/ Ron, with regard to this, uh, project, I'm a little puzzled about its projected cost.
So when I look at, uh, page 24 of Tom's introduction to the budget, I think I see that the
cost is indicated to be 8.4 million? And yet on, uh... um, on the projects by division
listing, it says 4.5 million (several talking in background)
Knoche/ So ... so what ... what you're saying is there's... there's... there's, uh, money that's
allocated in the last budget, so 2014 budget, you know, there ... there is roughly (both
talking)
Markus/ ...fiscal years.
Knoche/ ...roughly $4 million there, and so ... it, that didn't ... that didn't carry through to the
reports that you see with this ... with this project (several talking)
Hayek/ ... indicated in the red on the left of that page?
Dickens/ 3.85 is next to it. (several talking)
Throgmorton/ ...not on the project's by division. That ... this, I'm looking at it ... the one
consolidated, uh, report, projects by division. There's no indication on the left, but...
okay, so, but it's already been allocated.
Knoche/ Right.
Throgmorton/ Yeah. Okay.
Knoche/ And there was also a ... we did a previous storm sewer project also on this one.
Um ... one of the other things that I ... I do want to note with this, you know, originally we
had been looking at a fairly large, uh, storm sewer pump station to be, uh, built with this
to ... drain the storm water. Um, they have, uh, went through and looked at it, and we'll
be able to gravity flow this versus having to pump it. So that'll ... help us out, uh, instead
of having that huge maintenance expense there ... for that. Uh, we have a...
Fruin/ Ron (both talking) just jump in, cause I think you're transitioning away from the ... the
street projects a little bit, and ... I'm sure you all picked this up, but uh, you'll notice
whether it's Mormon Trek, First Avenue, um, Clinton, there's... there's really an
intentional effort to ... to consider road diets, um, with all these projects and on -street bike
lanes, and that's a big shift from ... what we've done the last several years. So, uh, we'll
put that out there. You'll see that on Sycamore too, uh, when we bring that forward to
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you with some bike lanes on that street. So, um, we're excited to..to kind of jump into
that the next few years.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, definitely see it!
Knoche/ Uh, 53910 is our bridge maintenance. We have $50,000 a year that, uh, is ... is in there.
Um, this is where we, you know, we deal with issues, uh, as you see here. Uh, also, um,
this is how we, uh, do our biannual bridge inspections, and ... and pay for the consulting
work that has to go into those inspection reports that are required every two years from
the DOT. Interstate 80 aesthetics improvements, um, you know, this is one that's kinda
been ... been sticking around for a while. Um, what we're ... what we're looking at now
is ... is, um, hiring a landscape architect to, uh, look at the interchanges, and not
necessarily look at the corridor. You know, when we ... we hired Howard R. Green
originally to do a ... a aesthetic project, or do an aesthetic, uh, concept project for us, and
they looked at not only the interchanges, but the whole corridor. Um, you know, now we
have the...the median, uh, wall down the middle, which was a part of that project. Um,
we think it ... it'd be best just to kind of look at those inter... interchanges themselves and
...and do the aesthetic improvements there. So basically our out-of-pocket cost would
be, uh, for hiring the consultant to do that work, um, everything else would be, uh,
through DOT grants ... to pay for that.
Throgmorton/ What do you have in mind for aesthetic improvements?
Knoche/ Um, you know, it ... for ... for example the ... the Dubuque Street, uh, interchange work
that's been, uh, completed by the DOT as far as the urbanization. There's a lot of
concrete out there now in those medians. So, um, looking at a way to put plantings in
there. Uh, remove some of the concrete that ... that they've placed and ... and put some
plantings in there. Um, and then ... and, you know, maybe do some vegetation cleanup
of...of what's in there now, just to ... to make it a little bit more desirable.
Hayek/ I think that makes sense. I mean, we ... this ... I've never been very concerned about the
aesthetics of the I-80 corridor going through Iowa City, in large part because you have
beautiful trees lining both sides of it. And we have, I think, higher priority sections like
the ones you mentioned earlier, Jim. But if there's State money available, and if we can
focus on ... the places people stop and ... are thinking about Iowa City itself, like the off -
ramps or whatever. That ... that seems to make sense. (several talking) ...I think
Regenia Bailey had a lot of interest in this, didn't she? I'll go talk to her! (laughter)
Knoche/ Uh, pedestrian bridge, the Dubuque Street/ I-80 pedestrian bridge, uh, this is, uh, that
area that we were just talking about. So the pedestrian bridge'll be on the west side of
Dubuque Street, uh, that'll tie in the ... the Butler Bridge, uh... uh, section of the Iowa
River, uh, Trail and bring it up, and will cross at the south, uh, interchange and then run
down, uh, down to Foster Road along that east side of Dubuque Street. Similar, um, it'll
be basically, uh, similar bridge to what we put in on Dodge Street a few years ago. Uh,
the Sycamore Street project, this is a ... one that, uh, we have...um...it...it actually
doesn't show up on your budget book, but ... but just wanted to put a slide in here on it for
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the phase 1 work, just that everybody's aware of what we're doing. So the school site
obviously is going in here. Um, we'll be, um, you know, constructing down to the L.
Uh, the current proposal is, uh, roundabout where McCollister Boulevard alignment'll
come through. Uh, also looking at a roundabout at, uh, down at the L, and uh, just to ... to
better, uh, organize the traffic. Um, you know, one of the things ... that we, um, that we
heard from Dan Burden when he was here talking about, uh, the complete streets and
talking about, um, you know, ways to ... to make, um, streets more pedestrian friendly, uh,
the first thing he talked about was roundabouts. So, it's...
Payne/ He must never drive in them! (laughter and several talking) ...has got almost hit in
them! (laughs)
Knoche/ So..., uh, so ... so that...
Payne/ Or tried to walk across one! (laughs)
Knoche/ Right, so ... so with that, that's... that's our proposal. So there again it's a ... urn, looking
at a two-lane section through here. We'll have bike lanes, uh the roundabouts, and then,
uh, what we're looking at also is ... is the ... can we ... can we restripe the existing project
that was built to the north, to, uh, to accommodate the bike lanes ... in that section up to
Highway 6. Uh, we have the LED streetlight replacement project. So we have, you
know, our existing cobra heads that we're replacing with the LED streetlights, and these
would be, uh, the ... the lights that are on our facilities. Uh... with, uh, with that we have
our annual sewer main projects. So this is, uh... um, basically our upgrades of our
sanitary sewer manholes, uh, issues where we have lining that needs to be done. That's
what they're working on here. Um, and just the overall maintenance of our ... of our, uh,
sanitary sewer system. Uh, one of the things you'll see is ... is, you know, we used to
have a similar water main project, similar (mumbled) now we've kind of...divided up the
water main projects to site-specific locations versus just kind of having a ... just one
annual program for that. But uh, but the sanitary sewer, just due to the nature of those,
uh, you know, a lot of `em just kind of creep up on us. So we just kind of left it as an
annual allocation. Uh, down at the south wastewater plant, uh, we have, uh, a piece of
equipment, uh, for the sludge, uh, bio -solid dewatering equipment that needs to be
replaced. This is the original, uh, equipment to the plant. Um, so, uh, with that, um, you
know, we had, uh, good bids on our project and uh, we were able to have some savings
there. So this'll help, uh, pay for some of the other equipment that we have to upgrade.
Uh, demolition of the north wastewater plant, uh, as ... as we talked about, this is, uh, you
know, ongoing currently. This will be, uh, you know, they're working on these trickling
filters now, pulling and ... and dealing with the mercury abatement. Uh, we have the, uh,
asbestos and uh, hazardous waste folks in, uh, getting those pieces removed and Strand
Associates is currently working on the demolition plans for us. Um, you know, one...
one of the things that you're seeing right now is ... is there's bunch of piles of...of rock
down there. That's actually the ... the rock coming out of the trickling filters. Um,
because of the mercury abatement side of things, they ... they are basically cleaning it,
stockpiling it, making sure that there's no mercury issues, and then we're taking it out to
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the Landfill and going to use it out there, uh, for our haul roads, and uh, some of our, uh,
pads that we use for our composting areas.
Payne/ Have we found any mercury in any of it?
Knoche/ The ... there is ... not ... not in the rock itself, but there is mercury present, uh, at the
bottom of the .... of the, um, trickling filters.
Dickens/ Wasn't it lower levels than expected (mumbled)
Knoche/ It ... it is ... it's not ... not nearly as bad as what EPA thought it was going to be, uh,
but ... but there, but we're not all the way down to the bottom yet so ... we'll see what we
find. Uh, but uh, you know, one of the things that we thought we were going to have to
do is these ... these arms and the whole, the whole trickling filter, um, equipment part of
it, uh, we thought we were going to have to treat that all as hazardous material and
because... there was no mercury present there, we were able to just recycle those pieces
instead of having to haul `em to a facility. Uh, down at the south plant, one of the things
that we do have to do is ... is, uh, a generator upgrade. Um, we, uh, we have, uh, we're...
we're looking at a couple different things, but we do have a generator at the north plant
that we can relocate, uh, to the south plant, uh, but it may just be, uh, more feasible to
...to purchase a new generator. We're in the process of, uh, hiring a consultant to look at
this project for us. Uh, this is a clarifier down at the south plant. These are the original
clarifiers. Obviously there's some rusting issues and so we have a project, uh, that we're
proposing to upgrade those two clarifiers down at the south plant.
Water Division Proiects:
Knoche/ Uh, as I mentioned, uh, we have, you know, a various amount of...wa... Water Division
projects that ... I have two slides of these, um, we have, uh, First Avenue, uh water main
replacement. That's the area that we had the water main break, uh, a few years ago, uh,
in that piece of First Avenue, uh, at Friendship. Uh, ground storage reservoir, uh, VFD
replacement, these are, uh, we're upgrading the pumps to be variable... variable
frequency (coughing, unable to hear speaker) um, and uh, and moving through that. Uh,
water treatment plant building, we need to do some resealing up there. Uh, Spruce Street
water main replacement. Uh, Wade Street is one that, uh, is ... is out for bid now. Or
actually we took bids on that, uh, and that's the piece in between, uh... Wayne and, uh...
Muscatine Avenue. Uh, Washington Street water main, we've talked about this one
earlier with, uh, C13D, uh, streetscape project. Um ... the wastewater plant ... or at the
water plant we have the (can't hear) replacement integration. So, um, 10 years old, or
older, up there. Just a matter of...of bringing that in and uh, and bringing that up to ... up
to the current, um ... uh, processors. Um ... we are looking at, uh, so with the ... with the
new projects, um, one of the things that we're going to look into is aquifer storage and
recovery. So this would be, um, doing a study to see if we could actually take treated
water, pump it down under the aquifer, and then recover it and use it, um, during those
drought conditions when we have issues, um, with the river and ... and our ... our current
wells that we have on the Peninsula and the water plant site. Uh, we have a Dill Street
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water main replacement, uh, Douglas Street, uh, Douglas Court water main replacement,
uh, Lee Street, High Street water main replacement. Uh, at the plant we need to build out
filter #6. It's one that ... that's been offline since the beginning of the ... of the plant. It
will help us better utilize the plant. And then we have, uh, some control systems, uh, that
we need to replace, uh, in ... up at the ... up at the water plant. And with that I'll turn
things over to Chris O'Brien for the Transportation Services!
Hayek/ Thank you, Ron.
Transportation Services:
O'Brien/ Uh, the first project that we have listed is for our parking facility restoration repair.
This is, uh, pretty much an annual project that you will see that consists mainly of, uh,
removal and repair of the ... of the concrete that, um, is in bad ... bad condition, then the
water proofing membranes and water proofing sealants that go on top of that will be the
primary expenditures that you see in this project. Uh, parking facility enforcement, uh,
automation project, that's been an ongoing project and we're ... we're kind of wrapping
that up. Uh, the last piece that we have right now is the Chauncey Swan facility which,
uh, we're ... we're waiting until the development at College, uh, College and Gilbert to
see, uh, what type of changes we need to make to that facility and how we'll address
those when they come, so we've ... we've got those funds in there for that piece of the
project. Uh, the Transit facility relocation, uh, this is another project that you'll see,
urn ... we kind of keep pushing this one back as we wait on federal funding for this facility
and it's for the, uh, relocation of this facility. Uh, currently the site that we have is ... is
on the Public Works' campus. Uh, there's... there's a place there and as Ron had
mentioned, we're in the process of...of doing a Master Plan for that ... that location. Uh,
this would allow for us to expand that facility to accommodate growth, as well as upgrade
the facility and get it off of that, uh, regulated dump site that it currently sits on. Uh, the
Transit bus shelter replacement expansion, this is Part 2, urn ... of, what we're ... we're in
the design process, uh, of coming up with some different designs for ... for shelters, to
upgrade the look. Um, the top left in the photo that you see here, it's kind of what we
have, which is a, kind of a brown, aluminum, um... structure and we're looking to
upgrade that to a more modern, with ... with some more glass and ... and a little bit, um,
better lighting, uh, some ... some solar powered lighting in those facilities, uh, in order to
kind of upgrade the looks of those bus stops. Uh, the last one we have is the Transit bus
camera replacement and that's in process, as well, to just, um, upgrade and replace the...
the hardware, software package in the cameras that we currently have on all of our buses.
Dickens/ The SEATS buses... already upgraded or ... I thought you just put those in a few years
ago.
O'Brien/ Yeah, and they ... they are on the system ... um, the issue with the ... the system for
the ... for the big bus system is that ... um, that company went out of business and was
bought out and is no longer supported, so we're ... we're able to function, uh, with the
company that bought them out, but we have a sunset as to how long that'll take place, so
we need to upgrade that (several talking in background) Thank you!
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Hayek/ Thanks, Chris!
On the Radar -
Knoche/ Uh, we have a few projects left that are kind of `on the radar.' Um ... the first project is
the Carson Farm redevelopment. Uh, so we have, uh, you know, a ... a couple projects on
our unfunded list that... that... that are, deal with kind of the ... the redevelopment of the
Carson Farm. Uh, the first is an Abbey Lane sanitary sewer project. So that's, um,
extending a ... a sewer, upgrading a sewer along Abbey Lane to Mormon Trek, and then
putting new sewer in, uh, poking it underneath, uh, Highway 218, and uh, getting sanitary
sewer service into this ... this area here. Um, the other project that's... that's on the
unfunded list, uh, in ... in regards to this Carson redevelopment is, uh, Carson Lake. So
we had, uh, anticipated, uh, a... storm water, uh, facility in this area, um, similar to what
we did with, uh, south Sycamore greenspace area, where, uh, there would be tap on fees
and buying into that. Uh, sanitary sewer project would be the same on that one.
Payne/ So this is south of Rohret Road?
Knoche/ Rohret Road is, yep, that's correct! Rohret Road is north here, urn ... this is Katy Lee
here and ... Menard's sits right down here.
Payne/ Okay! (several talking in background)
Dobyns/ If there was development interest in this area, then would we accelerate plans for like
building that ... um...
Dickens/ No, because we can only spend $10 million in a year!
Knoche/ Um, you know, I ... I think ... there will be a development interest in this property. Um,
it's ... there, it's in the process of changing hands now. So I think ... I think, uh, you know,
we would have to ... weight the options there and figure out, you know, how best to ... you
know, move forward with our development.
Dobyns/ But not so ... close on the horizon that we ... we can still keep this on the radar cause it's
not...
Knoche/ Correct!
Dobyns/ ...for a few more years. Okay.
Markus/ There ... look, there's... there's, um, property's changing hands. There's interest in this.
I think this is where the senior facility eventually wants to locate, but it's a residential
developer that's kind of pushing that (both talking)
Knoche/ ...yeah....
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Markus/ ... equation on this issue, and I think... you know, when we start to look at all of the
different things we invest in, I think what you have to do as a city, look at what your
return on investment's going to be. And so ... when you start to think about how much
money ... might be required for you to invest in this area to get this going, I think you
have to look at your other parts of your community to find out where you already have
infa ... infrastructure investment... to determine whether... you're just going to diminish
or... or create your own internal competition. That analysis has not been conducted by
staff ...at this point. So, this ... this belongs on `on the radar' but ... I'm a bit concerned
about jumping off on this right away, and we've gotten some pressure from the potential
purchaser of this property to start moving this forward, but ... you know, you can spread
yourself pretty thin in terms of your staff, and then on top of it, you can spread yourself
pretty thin on where you invest all your money, and then just start competing with
yourself in these things, which then causes... developers to request assistance for a lot of
things, you know, and ... and I don't think we want to go there at this point, but ... that's
one of my concerns. That's why it's not in a funded year at this point. It's on the radar.
Throgmorton/ I think you're exactly right and I'd want to re ... reinforce, but I ... what you say,
but I won't repeat it. I think ... I just think you're... you're right.
Markus/ We just have to take a hard look at this thing before we jump.
Knoche/ Uh, second project on the radar is the First Avenue/Scott Boulevard intersection. Uh,
this is the ... the main entrance into ACT's campus. Um, this is a intersection that ... that,
uh, can function poorly at times. Uh, and so we're ... we're in the process of...of working
with ACT, uh, to come up with a concept, uh, for the potential of...of a roundabout or a
signalized intersection (several talking and laughing)
Mims/ I was just going to say a roundabout!
Payne/ ...drive around town! (laughter and several talking)
Throgmorton/ So, Michelle, maybe there ought to be a statutory limit on roundabouts, you know,
that's related to density (both talking)
Payne/ One! And we already have one! (laughter)
Dickens/ There is a lot of backup at that corner.
Mims/ Oh, well you get backed up and there's no competing traffic, but you have to come to a
stop, so ... (several talking) a roundabout could work really well there.
Hayek/ We need to have a beer and talk about your philosophical aversion to roundabouts!
(laughs)
Dobyns/ I love roundabouts!
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Payne/ I hate `em!
Hayek/ I think they're (several talking and laughing) God's gift to mobility! (laughter)
Throgmorton/ I could tell you a story about roundabouts that involves the (mumbled) and the
Arc de Triomphe in France, 1969 (several talking and laughing) I'll ... I'll let you know!
(laughter)
Hayek/ Let me guess, you couldn't get off (both talking)
Throgmorton/ I couldn't get off! (several talking and laughing) It seemed like there were a
million people there.
Hayek/ A movie about that! (laughter)
Mims/ Ron, where is that project on the unfunded list?
Knoche/ It ... it actually is not on the unfunded list (several talking)
Mims/ It's not even on the...
Knoche/ Yeah, no! This is ... this is one that ... that (both talking)
Payne/ Really unfunded.
Knoche/ Really unfunded, yeah!
Mims/ Okay. (several talking)
Throgmorton/ So there's a special category — really unfunded, right? (laughs) (several talking)
Knoche/ Where ... where it could fit in, if you wanted to fit it in some where would (several
talking) be an annual ... it could be one of the annual signal projects, but you know, it just
...it's one that ... that we just kind of came up with over the last month or so.
Payne/ That's kind of an oxymoron isn't it, to say a signal project, and then not put a signal in?
Knoche/ Yep! (laughter)
Davidson/ If I could add one thing. This actually came up for discussion because we have ... if
this was something Council wanted to go ahead with, we have a real good chance of
getting ... used to be called `clean air attainment program.' What's it called now? The...
Knoche/ Still is, I think.
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Davidson/ Oh, is it still called that? Okay! Uh, through the State, we'd be, uh, really good,
um... in really good shape, eligibility -wise, because of the reduction in idling vehicles,
uh, to get funding for this through the State, if it's something you wanted to go ahead
with. So we're just ... we're evaluating (both talking)
Mims/ Well heck yeah! I mean... if we can get State money to pay for it, do it anytime would be
my opinion!
Fruin/ Yeah, I think we were, uh, Jeff s right now having some conversations with ACT and just
making sure that, um...
Mims/ Okay!
Fruin/ ...there's interest there.
Dickens/ Well, and there is more building going to be going on out there too, isn't there?
Knoche/ Yeah, and ... and....I think part of that is to ... I mean they've made a pretty major
investment in their signage along ... along Scott Boulevard there, so obviously we'd want
to ... not have an impact on that, I think is ... is part of their interest on it also.
Hayek/ But ACT would like us to do something? They want to partner on something?
Davidson/ Yes, they're interested in us evaluating it. Their ... their question right now, the ... the
reason they're not willing to come out and endorse it 100% at this time is cause they want
to see how it would fit in.
Hayek/ Sure.
Davidson/ Um, and... and so we did take the liberty, the State DOT has a program where they
will actually look at a site for you and see if a roundabout will fit. ACT owns all four
corners here. So we're working with one property owner. Um, but ... we ... we do have
the State going to the exercise of seeing if a roundabout would potentially fit, and
hopefully not get into their, I mean, they ... they spent a ... a huge amount of money with
their entranceway features there. So, anyway, we're just going to see how it fits.
Hayek/ Thanks, Jeff!
Knoche/ See, uh, think we have two more. The, uh, Gilbert Street/Highway 6 intersection, left
turn lanes' project, that's one that we had, uh, on the ... the funded list at one point in time
and pulled off with some, uh, really past Councils. Um, but with the Riverfront
Crossings' redevelopment that's, uh... um, you know, something that ... that we should
keep on the radar. Uh, we do have a set of plans that are final, uh, up collecting dust in
our office, uh, for that project. And then, uh, and then obviously we (both talking)
Hayek/ That got ... so just, that got shut down hard a few years ago. I can't (several talking)
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Payne/ I think we should put a roundabout there! (laughter)
Hayek/ Anyway...
Knoche/ We ... we could concept that, if you'd like (laughter)
Hayek/ Yeah! (laughter)
Knoche/ Um... (several talking and laughing)
Hayek/ That was like five plus years ago I would say!
Knoche/ Yeah, and actually the...
Karr/ More!
Knoche/ ... we ... yeah, we ... we had STP money, uh, for this project and uh, that STP money is
what paid for the Oakdale Boulevard extension, and then also paid for the Butler bridge
pedestrian bridge. That ... that was our share of what we got back out of it, but uh, the
Oakdale Boulevard piece went to Coralville in Johnson County. So ... um, obviously the
redevelopment of the Public Works' site and the Transit site. You know, we ... we
continue to ... to move forward as ... as, uh, and look at various options as people come
forward with that. And with that ... that's, uh, that's our presentation! So, questions,
discussion?
Other Discussion:
Throgmorton/ I ran a flag up the pole... earlier, uh, with regard to the downtown streetscape
project. Uh, and uh, have kind of a ... a political, or policy, well political perspective on
this and a policy perspective. Uh, the political part is, my sense is if...if we choose to,
um ... uh, state that we're gonna invest almost $11 million in the streetscape project ... I
don't think that will play well, uh, with a lot of people in town, because I think they will
interpret it as yet another example of us, uh, focusing on the downtown. So ... my sense
is, just purely a ... from this political point of view, uh, it would be wiser to do a both/and,
which is to invest in the downtown streetscape, but at a slightly lower amount and in ... in
my mind I was thinking, oh, I don't know, maybe 10% less than what's currently
anticipated. And redirecting the rest ... toward, uh... uh, improvements in the area south
of Kirkwood. All right, now I picked Kirkwood intentionally cause I do not mean this to
be, uh, about, uh, redirecting investments toward "the southeast side," but instead toward
basically the southern tier of the city, in terms of the built-up part, already built-up part of
the southern tier. Uh, and that ... the money would be, uh... uh, designed to improve, um
...that large...large neighborhood ... to ... to make all sorts of physical improvements in
that neighborhood. Uh, and also ... um, hopefully provide, uh, employment and training
opportunities that, uh, that lower income youth could take advantage of. So, there's a lot
of ambiguity in what I just said. I completely understand that. Uh, so in my own way of
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thinking about this, it is clearly ... if...if we did choose to redirect funds in the way I just
articulated, we clearly would not want to ... suddenly say that this coming fiscal year
we're going to be spending a lot of money... in... in this area south of Burlington, cause
we don't know what we'd be doing. So, uh, my suggestion would be that we spend the
coming year... devising an investment strategy for the area south of Kirkwood. That may
dovetail quite nicely with the South District Plan that's being prepared. I ... I haven't seen
it, I don't know what the status of that is. I ... I'm ignorant about that. Uh, and ... this
suggestion that I'm making is one that I think is completely consistent with what I
recommended with regard to the equity and diversity, uh... uh, work, uh, work session
discussion we're going to have tomorrow. Uh... uh, you might recall the memo that I
sent to all of you, uh, several weeks ago and that is reproduced in our, um, Information
Packet for the work session tomorrow. I ... I think we need to be trying to imagine ways
in which we can in ... uh, target investments that will provide employment and training
opportunities that low income youth — black, Latino, white — low income youth could
take advantage of. So it'll take time. If...if you all bit on this proposal, it would clearly
take time to devise such a strategy. But ... that's my core idea. Redirect 10% of the
downtown streetscape funds to the area south of ... of Kirkwood and devi... over the
coming year devise an investment strategy for that area.
Mims/ So you're saying take...
Payne/ Capital improvements (both talking)
Mims/ ...take capital impro... take money out of the Capital Improvement budget. And ... use
some of it for capital improvements south of Kirkwood, but then use some of it for stuff
that's not capital improvement at all.
Throgmorton/ No, no, not ... not quite. Thanks for (both talking) I'll try to clarify.
Payne/ That's how I understood too (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I'll try to clarify. Um ... I am saying ... I am suggesting taking 10% out of
the downtown streetscape, the amount that's dedicated to the downtown streetscape, uh,
improvements' program, at the moment, and redirect that toward the area south of, uh,
Kirkwood. I'm definitely saying that. Uh, I think we need to....we could devise an
investment strategy that would involve, uh, construction, renovation, etc., involve capital
improvements in that area, but... in some fashion, some of that work could be done by
lower income youth ... uh, whether they be black, white, or ... uh, Latino.
Payne/ Do you have any ideas?
Throgmorton/ That's why (both talking) that's why I'm saying the next year could be dedicated
toward developing an investment strategy. (noises on mic) So do I have specific ideas?
No I do not! Uh, but I ... I think they could be devised.
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Mims/ I mean, I ... I'm all ... su ... supportive of trying to find ... um ... ways that we
can... realistically get involved in ... in job training. Okay. Um ... but a lot of that really, l
think, is so incredibly expensive and is more in the purview of State programs. That I
think it would take an awful lot of looking at what the State is doing and how we can, or
if we can, realistically partner with that. I'm also really concerned from a ... job training
standpoint that as one municipality we start taking on ... things for the region ... that, just
are unsustainable financially for ... for this community. Um, and I think that's why it has
been a State type of program for job training.
Throgmorton/ Right, good point, so I ... I would not be suggesting that we invent and conduct by
ourselves a job training strategy. I ... I didn't mean that. We would have to partner ... with
existing organizations. And, you know (both talking)
Mims/ Personally I think... partnering with the State can get incredibly challenging, when just in
the last two years they have shut down ... a lot of their workforce development offices,
moved things into public libraries, tried to cut their costs, etc. Um ... you know and the
other piece back to the capital improvement, I was just kind of trying to start making a
list, but ... I think we're doing an awful lot of capital improvement outside of the Central
Business District, and I am not uncomfortable with what we're going to be spending over
the next four or five years downtown. I ... I think our downtown is critically important.
We've also spent a lot in Towncrest, a lot in the Sycamore or ... whatever the new name
is, Town Mar ... City Town Market (laughs) I'm still stuck on Sycamore, sorry! (laughs)
Um ... you know, we're ... we're putting a lot into ... into the Moss Ridge Road. Hopefully
that will ... will reap benefits for us and in ... in terms of, uh, increased tax valuations, etc.
So, I guess I don't see that same overemphasis or overspending on downtown. I ... I think
we've been doing a lot across the entire city, and I ... I see that as a very... different kind
of thing in terms of...than trying to figure out some ways to connect with and work with
(coughing, unable to hear speaker) job training with low min ... low income. I mean, I
think... our academies, our youth academies for police and fire I think are really... good
strategies that the City Manager has put forth with ... with our City and Fire departments,
and hopefully those'll be better attended this coming year. Um, and more way ... more
things that we can do like that, I'm very, very supportive and open to ideas, but the
capital improvement ... I ... I just don't .... I don't feel like we have an imbalance. I think
we're doing a lot in lots of parts of the city and I think the vibrancy of downtown is
critically important to the identity, um, and the ... and the financial well-being of Iowa
City.
Hayek/ And I would, uh.... I ... I agree. I would say if...if we want to have a conversation about
what's really kind of a ... our social programming or our social spending, we ... we can do
so and add that kind of topic to that list and have that conversation, but as it relates to our
capital spending, I ... I look at the panoply of projects before us, um, and I tend to concur
with ... with Susan, and to that I would add, I mean, we have sunk millions into Lower
Muscatine and First Avenue and Sycamore Street, and... and Towncrest, and a lot of
these areas, um ... uh, on the south side, on the southeast side. Um, and I don't doubt that
we'll continue to do so. Um ... I ... you know, where I ... where I think, and maybe what
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you're talking about in some way dovetails with what we've talked about before, about
some of these neighborhoods...
Throgmorton/ To an extent...
Hayek/ ...near Twain, you know, near Longfellow, and ... and we've given some attention to that
in the past. These ... these, um, neighborhoods that have ... some of the charm of the north
end, but haven't received the attention, um, or the reinvestment of the north end. I think
they hold great promise for us, because they are, uh... unique and charming homes.
Many of them, not all of them, in tree -lined streets with fantastic proximity to schools,
downtown, etc., and have been overlooked! They just ... sort of fly -over territory. A lot
of people ... there are many streets in this area, and I would say basically south of Court,
um, and I don't know, east of...Gilbert. That's a big area, but ... that, I bet a lot of Iowa
Citians have never traveled. And... and they're neat streets and... and, so there may be
infrastructure investment possibilities that we should be looking at in years to come there.
Food for thought!
Dobyns/ Jim, I'm thinking and I'm trying to divide this to make it more ... it sounds like you're
trying to solve two problems. One is this area of town, south of Kirkwood, to put some
CIP funds into. And the other is some social, uh, activity, and I'm ... I'm just going to
look at the first part, just for simplicity. But I'm trying to think of this area of Iowa City.
Riverfront Crossing on one side, um, I ... my sense of the Mark Twain neighborhood is
there, I think they're becoming much more interested in developing their neighborhood.
They're becoming much more organized, is my sense, much like the northside
neighborhood has been for decades. Um, the Sycamore Road project has helped. Are
you kind of thinking that maybe south of Highway 6 (both talking)
Throgmorton/ No! No, I'm thinking south of Kirkwood (both talking) Thinking of south of
Kirkwood! Okay?
Dobyns/ North of Highway 6.
Throgmorton/ So let me point out a couple, uh... uh... activities that we've discussed, uh, in the
past that fit into what I'm bringing up. Uh, concerns expressed by neighboring
businesses when the 1105 project was built.
Dobyns/ Yeah.
Throgmorton/ And Terry brought those concerns to us, and did ... did a great job in letting us, uh,
understand what was going on there. But I ... I think money could be invested there. Not
in that building, but in that neighborhood, to, uh, enhance it. Okay? Also, we just made
a decision to put a temporary, um, homeless shelter, a wet shelter, uh, in the old Aldi's.
And uh, we've now received a petition from mam... many neighboring businesses, uh,
expressing great concern (both talking)
Dobyns/ That's south of Highway 6. That's why I was asking.
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Throgmorton/ Yeah, so south of, well, south of Kirkwood. I mean, by ... by south of Kirkwood, I
mean ... south of Kirkwood, and south of Highway 6, to the built-up, to the you know, the
built-up fringe, the currently built-up fringe of Iowa City. Okay? So, those two projects,
the ... the wet shelter and the 1105 project, both are in areas that could be enhanced...
significantly ... through basically quality urban design. So, you know, and I'm thinking,
okay, that would be a big plus ... for us to be able to say we have chosen to invest in areas
that, uh, people are concerned about for a variety of reasons, and we recognize that we
also want to invest in the downtown for very good reasons. So we're gonna do both!
Hayek/ Well I think we are doing both. And ... and, but ... listen, I (mumbled) that area you've
identified, I concur with you and you and I have spoken about that before, and ... and I
would add to it our investment in the Sycamore Mall. I guess you mentioned that as well.
Um, but there's great potential there. These are homes that are ... are smaller. They're
more affordable. They've got the kind of charm that's going to attract ... my wife and I
like to call `em, the bohemian professionals, you know, they ... they don't need to be in a,
um, they want to be in an older home with ... with some historic charm. Um, there...
there is a lot of potential in ... in this area. So...
Dobyns/ I don't know. Jeff ...uh, Davidson, I was just sort of wondering, um, cause I guess I
didn't have the same concerns about this area. I'm concerned about it now, but I look at
Riverfront Crossing. I think of Trueblood Park and the building that's going to go around
there, and I'm thinking along Gilbert Street, you know, that area's had some problems,
but I've always had a sense looking forward to the next five to ten years, with those
Riverfront Crossing, and the Trueblood area developing, that that area probably would be
enhanced, um .... but that's just my very simplistic view of urban design.
Davidson/ Well certainly that applies to the Riverfront Crossings' area.
Dobyns/ Uh huh.
Davidson/ Um, I guess to the degree that you think there would be ... urn ... you know, to the area
further to the east, urn ... some question, you know ... I mean, I think you're all aware that
in our economic development efforts we do try and not neglect other parts of town.
Clearly the focus is downtown and Riverfront Crossings, cause that's where the greatest
potential is ... for Iowa City, but we've got areas like Towncrest, um, and even ... and
even, you know, like the improvements you saw Ron, uh, go through for Mormon Trek
Boulevard. Well, you've got Walden Square shopping center right there. That's gonna
have a positive benefit on that little commercial area. So, you know, we ... we try not to
neglect any of the areas. You know, we ... we did establish an urban renewal area for the
Pepperwood area. It's been virtually unused, but we do continue to talk to people about
buildings, uh, that have ... you know, the Bochner Chocolate building is ... is vacant now.
The TM1 building is vacant down there. We continue to discuss with the realtors that are
representing those properties what the potential is, and that they do have a tool available
to them in the ... in the form of TIF or property tax abatement that we can use in projects
down there. So, I mean, I ... I certainly wouldn't want you to have the impression that our
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focus is totally on downtown and Riverfront Crossings, but that's just simply where the
greatest potential is.
Dobyns/ Well I, and if I do a count of the CIP funding is that I think there was a dearth of
funding in that area that Jim brings up. Um, and I guess I'm ... maybe I was deluding
myself into thinking that ... you know, uh, rising tide on both sides, Trueblood and
Riverfront Crossing might bring that up, but... perhaps...
Davidson/ Well our investment (both talking)
Dobyns/ ...look at that area (both talking)
Davidson/ Our investment in the Sycamore Mall area, both the TIF that you put in place from the
renovation of the mall, as well as the Public Works' projects that have occurred on
Sycamore and Lower Muscatine, you know, I ... I think your ... your notion that that ... that
supports a larger area. You know, clearly the renovation of.. of Sycamore Mall is going
to benefit the Pepperwood area and the Highway 6 area, certainly, I think.
Hayek/ But if you look, Jim, if you look at the area you're talking about, you know, on the west
end you've got Gilbert Street, which we're investing in. You've got the southern end of
the new park along the river, which is going to be fantastic! And ... and you've got all the
investments at the bottom end of Riverfront Crossings. You've got Highway 6, which...
I don't know if we invested in, but the DOT has, at least that's spruced up. On the east
end you've got... everything we did on Lower Muscatine and Sycamore Street, and the
Sycamore Mall itself, and then you know ... even kind of edges up onto ... where
Kirkwood starts. So the periphery has seen substantial public investment, it seems to me,
and then as you work towards the middle, you know, that's where you get into the
residential, and there may be opportunities for us to do things with pocket parks and...
and our streetscapes and ... and things like that, and I would concur with you there, and I
would expand the area actually. I think there's a lot of potential north of the railroad
tracks, um ... uh, you know, into the Longfellow areas and then towards the east, over
(several talking) toward, yeah, exactly, over toward First Avenue. (several talking)
Up ... up to Court. Yep! (several talking) I, you know, I ... I live...
Davidson/ ...by parkland in that area.
Hayek/ We just bought parkland, I know, so I ... I think that is a fantastic opportunity for us,
um... uh, in terms of redevelopment and ... and generating more interest in an existing
neighborhood. It's the best kind of in -fill. And it wouldn't even be in -fill! It'd
be ... reinvestment. I mean, you know, the ... the stuff's already there. So ... I'm glad you
brought that up!
Throgmorton/ Um, this is a very helpful conversation to overhear and participate in, but I guess I
want to be clear. Part of my... one of the reasons I brought this up is because I ... I ... I
think it would be ... a good thing for us to invest in ... uh, neighborhoods and areas
(coughing, unable to hear speaker) people in the, basically the lower third, lower 40% of
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January 12, 2015 Iowa City City Council Budget Work Session Page 63
the income bracket live and work, uh, and ... and to enhance the quality of.. the places in
which they live and ... etc. Uh, and ... and many of the places, uh, that have ... y'all have
pointed to are ... are really terrific improvements, which I support. The River, uh, the
Riverfront Crossings' park, Terry Trueblood Park, and so on, and the improvements to,
uh, Sycamore Mall and so on, I mean, these are all good things. But it's not at all clear to
me that they're going to improve the quality of lives for the lower 40% of the people in
this city and...
Dobyns/ Jim, are you thinking like a municipal WPA or CCC project or something? I mean I'm
trying to figure out where you're going with this.
Throgmorton/ Well I'm not a new dealer, but an Elizabeth Warren or ... (laughs)
Dobyns/ Okay, all right, all right.
Payne/ That's why I asked what ... what were your ideas for a ... for your type of project? I was
just not...I'm kind of with you (both talking)
Dobyns/ (mumbled) ...yeah, that's what I'm...
Mims/ I mean when I look at those neighborhoods from a ... from a CIP standpoint, you know, or
infrastructure standpoint, one of the things that comes to my mind is saying, okay, when
you look at those older neighborhoods over there, you know, how ... how much are we
reaching out to homeowners, for example, and making sure that they're aware of the
GRIP program and things like that. So that we ... we do our best to make sure that these
homes are maintained, so that we don't let this housing stock get really run down, when
you've got people on fixed incomes, can't afford to maintain things, and all of a sudden
you've got stuff that you might as well just tear down or...it...it just brings the
neighborhood down even more because of that. So I mean I think of things like the GRIP
program and other things like that, where ... if people are in that financial need situation,
that we can try and help, uh, you know, in terms of the maintenance. I mean, I think
otherwise within the neighborhoods themselves, if we're doing the park kind of stuff, if
we're maintaining the streets and the water and the curb cuts and the pavements and...
I ... I guess ... yeah, I guess I'm not sure where you're going with... specifically what it is
you want to ... make life better for that group of people, who may live in those areas, if
we're doing all of those things already.
Throgmorton/ Uh huh.
Mims/ Other than ... getting more into the social service side of things.
Throgmorton/ I think ... I think if... if we, um, chose to focus attention on... on the topic and try to
devise an investment strategy, we ... we could do it. But, you know, in terms of my
particular ideas, I ... I don't have particular ideas I want to be foregrounding at the
moment. I can tell you one thing that, uh, inspired me, uh, to a degree. I mean, the main
thing that inspires me is ... all the feedback I've gotten from our African American and
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January 12, 2015 Iowa City City Council Budget Work Session Page 64
Latino and other lower income, uh, residents in town. All right. But the second thing is,
at...at one point I chose to ... uh, walk from, um. ... particular residential locations to
nearby, to the nearest school, and you know, I ... I designed these walks to be like 20
minute walks. So I walked from, uh... uh, Broadway Apartments I think it was, no, no.
What's the, uh... uh, well, there's another apartment complex near there, but not ... not on
Broadway, on um... and, I walked from there to Twain. And it was a dreadful walk,
in ... in the late spring when they ... the kids were still in school. It was very hot,
completely unshaded, no trees whatsoever along the way. The streetscape ... streetscape
for the walk was really pretty dreadful. Until I crossed Highway 6, got north of Highway
6, and then suddenly I was in a residential neighborhood with lots of nice streets and it
was really pretty pleasant. But on the south side of Highway 6, it was dreadful! So I'm
not ... I don't ... I'm not trying to demean that neighborhood. I'm just saying that was a
particular activity that, um ... um, I don't know, influenced me. So I ... I'm not expecting,
uh, you know ... uh.... you know, everybody to agree with me, or even ... to have ... some
people agree. But I wanted to get the topic out and ... so we ... you know, we can't deal
with it all right now, so we can move on!
Dickens/ That's a long-term... something that we can look at long-term. I don't think ... you
know, we ... we've talked about this downtown streetscape. I'm not real happed up about
it. I mean it ... I'm downtown, but it's ... it's something that needs to be done. But, it can
affect businesses as much as, you know, with the construction and everything, but yes, I
understand what you're saying that we need to look outside of the downtown area. Put
some investment in the area that, uh, you're talking about, the Highland... Highland, uh,
Court and Gilbert Court area, which is pretty industrial, but you know, there's some
businesses there that have put some investment in and then there's other ones that haven't
put a cent in and ... that are really deteriorating and we need to look at those areas and
maybe ... as Riverfront Crossings does start moving down that way, I think it will flow
over that railroad track area there, and then could affect that whole area and... potentially
be a ... an area that could provide jobs for people in that area. But right now there's...
there's not a lot of investment in that area. But I do think it's a conversation we should
have in the ... in the next year, but we ... I know we've talked about the downtown
streetscape for several years and kind of agreed on the funding for most of that over the
period of time, but it's an area that I'd be interested in looking at.
Throgmorton/ Thanks!
Hayek/ You bet! Anything else? I guess I would just sort of in a global sense commend staff for
(clears throat) a budget that so clearly reflects what we've been talking about at the
strategic level for years. In terms of hitting on our (clears throat) strategic priorities
and ... uh, you know, minding the wallet of the City, uh, you know, as it relates to changes
with State taxation and our tax rates as they ... relate to our neighbors and other, uh, cities
with which we compete and ... and ... and becoming a ... a more efficient organization.
All... the things we've talked about for several years now, um, and ... have been occurring
for several years, but this is the latest evidence to me that... that... that the Council's
collective vision is, um ... uh, robustly reflected in ... in this budget, and I think that's,
personally I think that's ... by and large why Council discussion of the budget has ... has,
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January 12, 2015 Iowa City City Council Budget Work Session Page 65
is..is somewhat ... is minimal, you know, um, I mean we can ask questions about brick
streets and things like that, but ... but, you know, in the aggregate, this is a really, really
thoughtful, uh, proposal.
Throgmorton/ Thought the CIP presentations were terrific too, I mean, it was really, really clear
what each of the projects were and ... yeah, so the impresario himself deserves some
credit, I suppose! (laughter)
Markus/ Actually, Geoff and I were commenting, we thought your conversations were ... were
more robust this year, for whatever reason you seem to have more of a focus on the
projects and ... and got into the discussions better, so ... for whatever reason!
Payne/ And I actually... even though you think about sitting in a meeting from 8:00 in the
morning till 5:00 or 3:00 or whatever, plus what we've done today. The way this is set
up, it's not boring, you know, the different person talks every once in a while so
it's ... very onerous. (laughs)
Markus/ And you ... you know, you find out things about people that you just never knew!
(laughter) Like... Michelle and roundabouts! (laughter)
Dickens/ Matt and foosball!
Throgmorton/ Yeah, what is it (several talking and laughing)
Hayek/ Foosball and roundabouts, I don't know! (laughter) Pickle ball. Who the hell knew that
existed? (laughter and several talking) Okay, is there any other questions that we have
for staff? Should ... is there anything else you have or should we wrap this up and...
Markus/ No, it's ... fine, we'll see you in March with our public hearing and ... and uh (several
talking)
Hayek/ Okay! (several talking and laughing) Yeah. (several talking) Anyway, job well done,
staff — all of you! Um, excellent... excellent process. Thank you!
Mims/ Thanks!
Throgmorton/ Thanks!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council budget
work session of January 12, 2015.