HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-23 Council minutesb 1
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CITY OF IOWA CITY
MEMORANDUM
Date: March 4, 2015
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk
Re: Council Work Session, February 23, 2015, 5:23 PM in Emma J. Harvat Hall
Council: Botchway, Dickens, Dobyns, Hayek, Mims, Payne, Throgmorton
UISG: McCarthy
Staff: Markus, Fruin, Dilkes, Karr, Andrew, Bockenstedt, Yapp, Boothroy, Hart, Ford,
Hargadine, Hightshoe, O'Brien, Havel, Moran, Scott, Nations, Jordan, Clark,
Bowers, Bollinger
A transcription and power points are available in the City Clerk's Office and the City website.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS
1. (Consent Calendar item # 3d(10) —Washington Street and North Pedestrian Mall
Downtown Streetscape... ) Council Member Throgmorton stated he was heavily involved
in the recommended selection process and therefore feels he should abstain on voting;
and requested the matter be removed from the consent calendar for separate
consideration. Majority agreed.
2. (Consent Calendar item # 3e(2) — Portage signs...) In response to Council Member
Throgmorton, NDS Dir. Boothroy stated the proposed changes require signs to be next
to a building and maintenance of an 8 foot sidewalk. Asst. City Mgr. Fruin reported that
on Downtown District legislative meetings he attended with staff and disability advocacy
groups and the feedback was it was no different than a bench or newspaper dispensing
machine.
3. (Agenda item # 8 — Equity Report Action Plan ....) In response to Council Member
Dobyns, Mayor Hayek said the item would be discussed separately during the work
session.
4. Mayor Hayek stated he would be delivering the State of the City address after
Leadership awards.
5. (Consent Calendar item # 3d(8) — Economic Development Communication Protocol...)
Mayor Hayek said representatives from ICAD will be speaking on this item and
suggested handling it in connection with the Consent Calendar discussion . In response
to Council Member Botchway, Mayor Hayek stated the other cities have not scheduled
the matter for action yet.
6. (Consent Calendar item # 3d(1) — Agreement with School District ...Alexander
Elementary School...) Council Member Botchway requested separate consideration of
the item so he could abstain on voting. Majority agreed,
Council Work Session
February 23, 2015
Page 2
REVIEW RESOLUTION ON THE EQUITY REPORT ACTION PLAN [# 81
Equity Dir. Bowers presented information and responded to questions. Police Chief Hargadine
present for discussion.
ACTION: Equity Dir. and City Clerk to prepare draft schedule for listening posts.
REVIEW THE ICCSD BOUNDARY PROPOSALS [IP # 3 INFO PACKET OF 2/191
Mayor Hayek stated the ICCSD administration had been invited to attend the meeting but were
unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts. A power point of the proposed plan was displayed.
ACTION: Continue to stay engaged and assist in the process and monitor boundary
discussion. (Markus)
DISCUSS RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MULTI -FAMILY HOUSING
[IP # 4 INFO PACKET OF 2/191
Recycling Coordinator Jordan provided a multi -family recycling update. Majority of Council
directed staff to proceed with the code change (building in lead time for enforcement) as
outlined in the February 18th memo. Mayor Hayek noted the information from Mary Jeanne
Perino Phillips regarding food -scrap recycling received on the Consent Calendar and asked
staff to provide a response.
ACTION: Proceed with recommendations outlined in memo, and respond to Perino
Phillips (1139 of 2/26 Info Packet). (Jordan)
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS [# 111
Historic Preservation Commission At Large Rep. — defer two weeks; Clerk to provide additional
attendance record information
Telecommunications Commission — reappoint Laura Bergus
INFORMATION PACKET DISCUSSION [February 12,191
February 12
1. (IP # 2 — Overview of Local Food Efforts) Council Member Botchway questions the
establishment of downtown community gardens. Asst. City Manager Fruin responded
that downtown community gardens were not in present plans, but reported on a
children's garden area outside the Library, and working with Backyard Abundance and
Blue Zones on the edible landscape around the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center. In
addition a grant application will be submitted shortly to expand the discovery garden
that's presently at the Recreation Center around the building. In response to Mayor Pro
tem Mims, Parks & Recreation Dir. Moran stated staff had approached residents in the
Normandy Drive area about establishment of community garden and they were against it
at the time. Majority of Council asked staff to pursue the idea with the neighborhood
again.
February 19
1. (IP # 8 — ... Combining Assessor Offices) In response to Council Member Botchway, the
City Manager reviewed past discussion and staff analysis on the advantages of retaining
the City Assessor position.
February 12 (continued)
2. (IP # 3, #4, # 5—Articles from City Manager) Mayor Pro tem Mims noted the articles in
the packet, and thanked the City Manager for distributing.
Council Work Session
February 23, 2015
Page 3
February 19 (continued)
2. (IP # 7 — letter to Board of Regents from Mayor Hayek ... Presidential Search) In
response to UISG Liaison McCarthy, Mayor Hayek stated he had not heard anything on
his request to be appointed to the Presidential Search Committee.
HEDULE AND PE
TOPIC
and # 6 of 2/19 Info Packetl
Council Member Throgmorton said he would be attending the City of Literature meeting
at 2:00 PM tomorrow afternoon.
2. Council Member Throgmorton stated he would be out of town the 27th through the 0
3. (IP # 5 — Proposed Meeting Schedule April through August) City Clerk Karr stated she
proposed a summer schedule, and noted two Council Members would be unable to
attend the April 21 meeting. Majority of Council agreed to the schedule as proposed,
retaining the April schedule. Council Members were encouraged to contact Karr with
future schedule conflicts. [Further discussion occurred next item]
Upcoming Community Events / Council Invitations
1. Council Member Botchway stated he would be announcing the presentation by Ta-
Nehisi Coates on February 24 and community discussion that follows at the formal
meeting. Mayor Pro tem Mims said she was sorry she could not attend because of an
ICAD prior commitment.
2. Mayor Hayek reported he would be speaking to the Consultation of Religious
Communities in a month or two and will report back.
3. Council Member Dobyns stated he would be gone the week of July 28th, and August 18th
and would miss two months of meetings with the proposed schedule.
Meeting adjourned 6:40 PM.