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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-23 TranscriptionFebruary 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 1 Council Present: Botchway, Dickens, Dobyns, Hayek, Mims, Payne (via phone), Throgmorton Staff Present: Markus, Fruin, Dilkes, Karr, Boothroy, Andrew, Yapp, O'Brien, Ford, Hightshoe, Hart, Hargadine, Havel, Moran, Scott, Nations, Jordan, Clark, Bowers, Bollinger, Bockenstedt Others Present: McCarthy (UISG) Questions from Council re: Agenda Items: Hayek/ Welcome, everyone! This is the February 23rd, 2015, work session. Initial bullet point is questions regarding agenda items. ITEM 3d(10) WASHINGTON STREET AND NORTH PEDESTRIAN MALL DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE - RESOLUTION APPROVING, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND GENUS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, PC, OF DES MOINES, IOWA TO PROVIDE CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR THE WASHINGTON STREET AND NORTH PEDESTRIAN MALL PORTIONS OF THE DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE PLANNING PROJECT. Throgmorton/ Hear a lot of silence. So on Item 3d(10) ... uh, which is, uh... about the Washington Street and ped mall, downtown street ... streetscape planning. Uh, I'd like to recuse myself from that vote because I was pretty heavily involved in the, um ... uh, the selection, or recommended selection of...of an artist for the ped mall part, uh, and... pretty close, you know, pretty close to the process so I ... I think I shouldn't be voting on it. Hayek/ Uh, okay. I don't know that it's necessary but if you ... I ... I look at Eleanor on that (both talking) Throgmorton/ Well I don't think it's necessary (both talking) Dilkes/ Yeah, I mean it's up to you whether you chose to recuse yourself. I don't see a legal conflict. Throgmorton/ No, I ... I'm sure there's not one but ... but uh... Hayek/ Do you want to just ... I don't ... I don't know that we want to pull things from the Consent, or pull this from the Consent. Or do you want to do that and then... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 2 Throgmorton/ Well that's what I was thinking, cause then I don't .... I'm not ... I wouldn't be voting on that particular (both talking) Hayek/ That's fine! Why don't we pull 3d(10)... Throgmorton/ Thanks! Hayek/ ... um ... and then ... and then you can, I guess, abstain or recuse ... on that one. Other agenda items? ITEM 3e(2) PORTABLE SIGNS — MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 9 ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14-5B „SIGN REGULATIONS" FOR CENTRAL BUSINESS ZONES. Throgmorton/ I have a question about 3e(2), which is about sandwich boards. Uh, sign regulation. Hayek/ Right! Throgmorton/ I ... it's just a simple question, I don't know maybe .... maybe Geoff s the right person to ... to answer, but uh, I'm just wondering if, uh... if...if the proposed amendments take into account potential effects on people with disabilities, especially sightless people or people in wheelchairs. Boothroy/ It's my understanding they ... they had some input on this, uh... what this does is, uh, requires the portable sign to be next to the building, uh, or next to the outdoor service area and to maintain... if... if it's between the building and an outdoor service area, maintain an 8 -foot walkway through there. So, uh, that ... that clear area isn't being blocked by a portable sign. Fruin/ Jim, if I could just add to that, um, at the ... at one of the Downtown District legislative meetings I ... I attended, along with a couple other staff, um, a couple of, uh, disability advocacy groups were invited to share their input and um, the ... the basic feedback that we all took away was that as long as it's ... the signs are placed in predictable locations, in consistent locations, then it's no different than a bench or a newspaper, uh, dispensing machine. Um, what they didn't want to see was businesses that had flexibility to move it throughout the right-of-way. So that's why you see in the ordinance the requirement for it to be up against the building. Throgmorton/ Yeah, okay, that sounds... sounds good to me! ITEM 8. EQUITY REPORT ACTION PLAN - RESOLUTION APPROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2013 EQUITY REPORT ACTION PLAN INCLUDING THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIVE AREAS OF FOCUS FOR RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AS PRESENTED BY CITY STAFF AT THE CITY COUNCIL WORK This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 3 SESSION HELD ON JANUARY 13, 2015 (RACIAL EQUITY & DIVERSITY ISSUES). Dobyns/ On Item 8 ... public session, uh, regarding the resolution on racial equity and diversity initiative. Is, uh, is that going to be (mumbled) I think that's on the agenda (both talking) Hayek/ That's the next bullet point actually. Dobyns/ Okay (several talking) All right, I'll hold! Hayek/ Um, tonight is the, uh, it's not on the agenda but I'm going to read the State of the City address, which we've been planning to give and uh, was inadvertently omitted from the actual agenda, but we've cleared with legal that it doesn't... it's not an action item, so I can go ahead and read it. The alternative would be to schedule a special meeting before the end of this week (laughter) um... (several talking) Exactly! And I'm not gonna do a ... a Cedar Rapids' style, uh, press conference either, so ... I'm gonna read this after our student, uh... uh, leadership, uh, awards and before the Consent Calendar. It's all ready to go and I've ... you know, instead of watching the Oscars, I focus grouped this several times and (laughter) make-up's on and I'm ready to roll so... Throgmorton/ How'd that go? (laughs) ITEM 3d(9) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL - RESOLUTION APPROVING, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE THREE CITIES OF IOWA CITY, CORALVILLE, AND NORTH LIBERTY ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY. Hayek/ Okay! We will also have, I believe, ICAD here speaking on the, um, economic development protocol, uh, which is 3d(9) but we'll just do that in connection with the Consent, uh, vote. Botchway/ Can I ask a question about that? Hayek/ Yep! Botchway/ Um, have the other city governments voted to this effect? Karr/ Do you have a microphone on, Kingsley? Botchway/ Have the other city governments voted to this effect? Markus/ No. It hasn't been on their agenda yet. Hayek/ We're the first ones to vote, yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 4 Botchway/ Okay. Throgmorton/ But conversations (both talking) Botchway/ Yeah! Markus/ Well the conversations were going on for well over two years. Throgmorton/ Yeah. Markus/ Uh, Mark Nolte resurrected this. I kind of had, um ... the impression that the discussion was pretty well over, and then Mark resurrected it. So I think that there ... you know, there's still some challenges as to whether the other jurisdictions will approve it. I'm recommending it. I think we should go ahead with it; get it out there! Have a discussion. Hayek/ Yeah, and ... and there's some history to this, and ... and ... and the managers had worked on the language for some time, from the three cities, uh, and they all three sit on the ICAD Board, which has unanimously voted to endorse what's on tonight's agenda, um, and we wanted to get it out there. ITEM 3d(1) AGREEMENT WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT RE: SYCAMORE STREET - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A 28E AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF SITE PLAN IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE SOUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOW KNOWN AS ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOCATED AT 3571 SOUTH SYCAMORE STREET AND RECONSTRUCTION OF SYCAMORE STREET Botchway/ Okay. Um, the other issue kind of speaking to, uh, issue Jim brought up is recusing myself from 3d(1). Pulling it from the Consent Calendar has ... having as a separate action item. Hayek/ Right, okay. Botchway/ And I don't ... we're talking about it in the discussion, urn ... in regards to the high schools as well, and so I'm just going to not speak. Hayek/ Okay, other agenda items? Okay, let's move on to, uh, the resolution on the Equity Report Action Plan. Hi, Stefanie! Throgmorton/ Hi! Review Resolution on the Equity Report Action Plan (#8): This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 5 ITEM 8. EQUITY REPORT ACTION PLAN - RESOLUTION APPROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2013 EQUITY REPORT ACTION PLAN INCLUDING THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIVE AREAS OF FOCUS FOR RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AS PRESENTED BY CITY STAFF AT THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION HELD ON JANUARY 13, 2015 (RACIAL EQUITY & DIVERSITY ISSUES). Bowers/ So I think each of you in your packet should have a, uh, copy of a memo that I wrote and it outlines the resolution, as well as identifies some current initiatives that City staff, um, are currently working on, as it relates to equity and diversity... herein Iowa City. So I don't know if there's any specific questions about the resolution or about anything contained in the memo. Throgmorton/ I... I think there are a lot of terrific things in... in the memo. I admire it a lot and congratulate you on putting it together and I hope the staff continues to do the work, uh, outlined in the memo and makes considerable progress on it. I ... I do have one question about what the City Council itself will do with regards to the listening posts, but maybe we can ... uh... you know (both talking) Markus/ You can engage in that right now if you'd like. I mean ... we've had some discussions about it ourselves. Throgmorton/ Yeah, yeah, so ... well, in brief, we Council Members, uh, with the assistance of staff, maybe, uh, maybe Marian, need to be clear about how frequently we will be meeting, what the schedule will be, where we will be meeting, and things like that. Uh, and ... it'd be good to give the staff some guidance tonight probably so that we can actually move ahead with that. So, you know, like are we meeting ... are we going to be meeting quarterly or like six times a year? Uh, the staff recommended two Council people, okay? That sounds reasonable to me. Uh, it ... it's ... I believe we should be meeting in ... key locations out in the community, uh... uh, to include places like The Spot and Evan and I talked about this, uh, a few days ago, um, maybe one at the University in one of the, uh, one of the rooms at the University. Uh, over in Pheasant Ridge, uh... uh, maybe Uptown Bill's, I mean, places like that — out literally in the community where people really feel comfortable. So ... so all I'm saying is I think we ought to be clear about that, for us... as... so that we can... and... and so that we can give the staff clear guidance. Hayek/ I mean I think that's... that's the understanding staff already has, and... Markus/ I think so, and I think ... I think we were talking about having them somewhat topic - based as well, um ... but I think the other advantage is is you want to have ... you want to have your public come to you and tell you what's on their minds and what their concerns are. So maybe a combination of the two. The other thing, uh, we became aware of is the Human Rights Board is desirous of having some representation. Uh, they were going off This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 6 on their own to have listening posts, as well, and I think they would like to have a member sit in with us, as well, which probably makes some sense. Throgmorton/ I personally have a suggestion about that. Uh, I ... I think it...it is very wise to inform them of when the meetings, when these listening posts will be held, to invite them, uh... uh, but not expect that they are sort of mandatory members of the listening post, cause it's really City Council doing this. Markus/ Well, we ... you know, sometimes we find ourselves in a staff position where we can't say that, but you certainly can. Throgmorton/ Yeah. Markus/ So... Dobyns/ I ... I would ... agree with that, Jim. I think this is, I mean, this is an unprecedented heralded action by Council to sit there and go out. It's a great thing. I think it just should be Council people, um, and staff, but I'm not... necessarily Commission Members. I know that they would be perturbed by that. Um, I'd like to go out there and get a feel for it, and then maybe subsequently invite them, but I would prefer not to do it at the outset. Markus/ Stefanie serves as liaison to the Human Rights Board and maybe you could just... share some of the conversation (both talking) Bowers/ Yeah, and I think some of it, um, just to give you some background. The Commission ...held a retreat last fall and one of their... initiatives or action plans was to hold listening posts. So it kind of coincided with the Council deciding to do the same thing. I think, um, not only would the Commission like to participate because the topic's obviously overlap with the work that the Human Rights Commission does, but I also think that, um, the Commission was thinking of the community and... and kind of competing maybe for the same, uh, participants, not confusing people by having Council listening posts, Commission listening posts, and so I think they thought if they could, you know, participate, um, I think their recommendation to the Council is two but not more than four Commissioners. Um, not necessarily trying to ... become a part of the Council listening post but to be able to participate in a way that they then can go back and do programming activities in the community, based upon the things that are discussed and mentioned at the listening posts. So I kind of think that was their idea was to work alongside you, but then to kind of splinter off and do things based upon the information that was received. (several talking) Markus/ But, Jim, I would say to you that ... there was an expectation I think by the public ... that they wanted some interaction directly with the Council. And so ... (both talking) Throgmorton/ ...that's my (both talking) Markus/ ...your earlier comments were... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 7 Hayek/ Yeah. Markus/ ...more what I had previously heard, as well. Botchway/ I would agree. Just because I think, I mean, in the same sense from a confusion standpoint, you would have, you know ... maybe two Councilors and then, uh, Human Rights Commission Member and from a public perspective it might be confusing who the City Council Member is and ... what the particular position would be and..I don't know, I'd have to look back over the Commission, urn ... charter whatever but ... um, you know, if we were talking to a group of students, I don't if they would all, I mean, it would fall in line and maybe a Commission Member would be speaking about things that people might think, uh, is a Council perspective. I don't know, I ... I would be confused. I would like it to be just Council Members. Dobyns/ And I recognize, Stefanie, that ... devoid redundancy. I guess if they're concerned about that, I mean, they're asking Council to interface directly with the public. If it's that important, we will do so, but then I would suggest that they take a ... perhaps a hiatus, uh, from that interaction, just see how we do — one or the other, but not both (mumbled) That ... that's my feeling. Markus/ Stefanie, why don't you talk about the roundtables, as well, and ... the participants in the roundtable discussions. Bowers/ Sure. So for the past, uh, few weeks, uh, we have been trying to arrange the first, uh, roundtable discussion that will take place in early March. Uh, currently we have nine participants, um ... representing several, uh... social justice, uh, and uh ... different organizations around town, including the Coalition for Racial Justice, uh, the Center for... Work... wait, sorry! I get these names right! The Black Voices Project, uh, the Center for Worker Justice, the Coalition for ... Racial Justice, and then also the Human Rights Commission, and I hope I pronounced each organization correctly there. But, um, so each of those organizations at this time will have representatives at the roundtable, uh, which will also include City staff, which will be the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager, uh, the Chief of Police and myself. So, we're looking forward to ... to that discussion. Throgmorton/ (both talking) I was very excited to see that, and very optimistic about that. I was also very excited to see that the City had applied for the Department of Justice's... Bowers/ Building Community initiatives. Throgmorton/ ...Building Communities Initiative, and I suppose we don't know what the results of that application are yet. Bowers/ I don't believe... no, I don't believe so. Not that I have heard. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 8 Throgmorton/ I ... I admire the fact that the ... the Police Department has made that application. Markus/ It's better to invite them in. (laughter) Throgmorton/ And ... and to be clear about one thing, I ... I, um, I'll speak for myself, but I imagine others might agree. Um, by... saying that I don't think that Human Rights Commissioners should explicitly be part of, formally be part of a listening post does not, uh, imply any kind of `dissing' of the Commissioners. I mean, they're all a great people and I admire them a lot, but it's more a matter of...being clear that, um, the City Council Members feel a need to get out into the community and meet with a variety of, uh, of various members of the community about... various topics and ... and to take our ... our responsibility to do that. Hayek/ I ... I think that's the ... I think the Council feels ... yeah, I .... and I'd be supportive of that approach, as well. I ... you know, if one of the concerns is duplication of efforts, I think actually this is an area in which we do want to duplicate efforts because ... it increases the points of contact between the community and the City, urn ... anyway. So, I see the logic in what ... in what you're saying. Botchway/ So I had some, uh, questions on ... in regards to a couple things, or just actually two things, one mainly. Um ... and this could have been in the packet so I apologize. Um... I mean, obviously this is a resolution approving some of the action plan steps and everything else. I guess ... my thought would be similar to how the Diversity Committee plan was kind of put in place and there was like a timeline and everything else. When will it come back? I mean obviously these are all things that we're gonna work on, but when will there be some type of, you know, report or quarterly.... Markus/ We're gonna do it the same as we do the diff reporting. Botchway/ Okay. Markus/ So this'll all be ... all these items will be rolled (both talking) into our regular reporting process, so you'll have all of that. Botchway/ Okay. Markus/ That'll be loaded onto the web site so the public can watch it, as well. Botchway/ Okay. That works! Um... Bowers/ The next diff is due, urn ... it should be released April 1St, around there. Yep. Botchway/ Okay. Then the other question I had is, um, and maybe this is for ... I don't know if this isn't adding or maybe this can be an extension of something in there. Um, but ... just kind of what I was reading, or in thinking about, was ... if there was any way, um, I'm This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 9 talking to you, Sam, if there's any way to get ... uh, I know we do the `Coffee With a Cop,' uh, but I was also thinking about from... again, I know we're doing the grant and everything, but from a community model, whether or not we can get particular beat cops to walk the ... um, section or whatever the case may be, meet more community members at their homes, in a non -threatening way, um, to kind of push out the community message that way. Um, I didn't know if that was something that was thought about or discussed. I know it wasn't discussed in this, but just in looking through some of these things I was, um, I was just trying to think of other ways in which we could push that community message and that trust more, again in a non -threatening way at first. So if an officer came and knocked on my door, just say `hey, you know, um, I am Chief Hargadine. Just want to tell you that, you know, I'm here to protect and serve ya,' um, it could mean something to people, and..and the reason why I'm also asking it ... or thinking about it, is because in a couple of different... different conferences that I've gone to in regards to my own particular position, one of the things that've been advocated by, you know, national conference people have been, you know, working on home visits, um, from like a teacher perspective and an administrator perspective to incorporate the trust involved in that relationship, and so I was ... you know, trying to think about it from a City relationship, as well. Dobyns/ Kingsley, I remember a couple years ago when I first got here we had something called the Neighborhood Watch Program... Chief. Um, I don't know if that's come and gone but I think our neighborhood wanted us to be a Neighborhood Watch designated and uh, some Iowa City police people came to our house, with a bunch of neighbors, which seems sort of like what you were getting at, but that was sort of... is that still occurring, those (both talking) Hargadine/ Neighborhood Watch still exists. It's, uh, there are some neighbors... neighborhoods that are stronger than others. Um, they ... they have to go through certain steps to keep their neighborhood watch signs, and usually when they come down that's when they really notice it and decide to get back involved in the Neighborhood Watch cause people are proud of those ... those signs. Dobyns/ How's that ... in terms of numbers, has that fallen by the wayside over the years? Hargadine/ It is. It's one of those things that, uh... you almost have to renew the interest every three years, because you have block captains and ... and those people come and go and ... and it's, uh, you have to revitalize that program almost constantly, especially with a transient community like ours. Dobyns/ So we already have a program that sort of meets criteria what Kingsley was talking about. It's just sort of...gone fallow. Okay. Hargadine/ There's Neighborhood Watch. Knocking on people's doors, sometimes you know that's pretty close to a knock and talk, and ... and that has a different connotation so ... uh (laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 10 Markus/ If I can interject, I think one of the things that we would hope would come out of the roundtable discussions is we're going to be meeting with organizations, um, that have developed the trust of...um, our community, and we think that that might be ... the entree point, um, to facilitate discussions in some of the neighborhoods where we might not just be readily... accepted or trusted to come into those neighborhoods, that they could help facilitate that. So I would hope that that's one of the discussions we have at the roundtable to facilitate that kind of... connection. Botchway/ And I ... I would agree, um, and again I think I remember the point, cause it was ... it was a discussion we had, um, during that work session, and we had brought up ridealongs and, um, an audience member had been upset for the fact that we brought it up because, you know, it...it might not be something that people want to do or engage in. Um, but... the only thing I would caution to that particular thing, and I agree, is ... um, there might be community members that don't necessarily associate themselves with those particular groups. Um, and not to say that it... it wouldn't come out from that, you know, that roundtable discussion, that it would be something that is important. I just don't want us to, you know, um, look ... not look at it from a ... a macro level and try to, um, walk across the community or do whatever, and... you know, I don't know, obviously you're right. I think that, you know, doing that would... could be problematic but if we could, you know, think of some advertisement or something along those ways that could change the discussion a little bit, I mean, it would be...it would be something that is different and is not necessarily done nationally, obviously. Um ... but it could turn the corner, I mean, could be like a Mayberry type of situation, so... Hayek/ Well so but we ... now are you talking about, you know, we've got a new position in the last two or three years and we've taken more steps on ... on community policing. Are you talking about more than what is occurring (both talking) Botchway/ Correct! Hayek/ ...presently? Botchway/ I'm talking... Hayek/ But are you (both talking) Botchway/ ...cause we ... cause we looked at it from the St. Ambrose study in that, you know, there were officers working a particular beat and obviously that 2A model wouldn't work, because they're all across the city, but presumably they're all sectioned in zones and so, you know, not to ... I mean, I don't know your resources and you know efficiencies and stuff like that, but you know, taking 15 to 30 minutes out of their particular, um, timeframe to knock a couple of doors. Um, and then talk to community members on the ground. I'm sure just from doing it a couple of times that word of mouth as far as you know the engagement (mumbled) the officers, um, I think would be good, and again, I'm thinking about how do we ... cause that was a consistent theme, how do we get out ... one of the things that was brought up was that, you know, community members This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 11 need to come to the Police and talk, or talk to you and, you know, know that you're a nice guy and all those wonderful things, and I agree, but how can we get out to them and say, you know, um, from a positive interaction standpoint and say, you know, hey this is ... I'm Officer so-and-so. I'm not here for any other reason, just to say hello, and you can just walk away, but I think that positive interaction from that would be totally different than the negative interaction that I think people, you know, consistently talk about or... or kind of go to when we're talking about these things. Hargadine/ You know last year we had a number of, uh, neighborhood events, uh, starting with I think Juneteenth, National Night Out, uh, Pheasant Ridge, um, they were all successful. The crowds are ... are larger, um ... uh, that I've seen in years previously and I think we continue to do those things, especially when there's food, um ... I think they're ... I think they do the same thing that ... that would, that you're talking about. People come up and they introduce themselves and they have fun and... Mims/ You know, piggybacking on that ... kind of going to what Kingsley's saying is the ... the Parks and Rec, I think, does the Thursday Night park, um, events during the summer. Throgmorton/ Right. Mims/ And I know I've gone to a couple of those and ... um, I think Officer Frank was there when I had done a couple of `em, but to ... if at all possible to get ... if you do have officers that are at all assigned to neighborhoods, and I know that may not really be the case, you know, to have officers that are more familiar with and spend more time in those neighborhoods if it was possible to have them at those events, that might be really nice too. Throgmorton/ Yeah (mumbled) Botchway/ And looking at it from a cam... campaign perspective, as well, I mean if I was to campaign for the Police Department to, you know, show that we are this positive, you know... group of people or individuals, you know, um, I would... do that. I mean, um, and again, still go to all the events, and I think that's a great thing because I think that's important, and to be as many events as possible, cause I remember the Juneteenth event. I think I had a phenomenal time and, uh, with one of the officers and he was a judge, and it was really funny and going back and forth, but just to kind of do ... take that one more step to do even more, to, you know, one make this a community that ... well make this community that's separate than other communities that officers don't really do that, um, and then two just to kind of have that ... I don't know, I mean it's ... to me this is still not that big of a city. I mean the more and more I learn about it, it is but, urn ... I think there's still that avenue where we can just have that face-to-face engagement with, um, with individuals. Now whether, you know, we can do that legally or you know ... and again, the efficiencies of doing that as well, I'm not sure about, but just kind of putting it out there. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 12 Hayek/ Thank you, Sam! Okay, so tonight we have the resolution, uh... um, if there are other questions for Stefanie. Throgmorton/ I ... I do wonder how we're going to set up a schedule for City Council people to hold these listening posts. Markus/ I think we should count on our trusted City Clerk to (laughter) facilitate that. Hayek/ Yeah (several talking) Karr/ Why don't I do something, a proposal. Send it to you and we can ... talk about it and see what dates work for everybody. With a quarterly in mind and with locations in mind... that you mentioned. Hayek/ Yep! Karr/ Okay! McCarthy/ While we're on that, I wanted to bring up again, like Jim mentioned. I think it would be a really good thing to just get the student body involved with this, because I think that first this is a generational issue. This is something that people, even if they are living in Iowa City for a long time, care about just in the macrocosm and I think that means that we saw students come out to this public meeting, and there are students following this I can tell you that. So I think that that would be a really good resource to tap into, because there's a lot of...good will and willingness to work with the community and the Council on this in the student population. So it'd be a real shame if we missed that opportunity. 1 think that a campus event would be really good, even if it's just maybe a more informal listening post than... somewhere like Uptown Bill's or maybe other places, but ... I do think that you would see a significant student turnout, and I think that'd be a really good way to engage students in the community. Throgmorton/ Yeah, Evan and Nicki and I had talked about this at length, uh, when we had lunch a few days ago and ... they made it very clear how ... how significant they thought this would be, so, yeah, I'm all ... all ... all in favor! Review the ICCCSD Boundary Proposals UP #3 Info Packet of 2/19): Hayek/ Okay! Thank you! Okay, next item is, uh, review of ICCSD boundary prop... proposals. Um, this is at, uh, IP #3 of the February 19th packet, and we had, um ... invited the School District Administration to come, uh, they are unable to be here because of scheduling conflicts, um ... uh, which is okay but I ... I think it's important for our Council to be aware of, um ... where things are ... are....you know, what's... what's going on with respect to boundaries, um ... uh, Director Murley put out a couple of, um ... uh... or put out a proposed boundary, uh, map, uh, that ... that's up there and it's not my intention that we engage, uh, tonight on the merits of that map. Urn ... uh... but ... what I'm hoping to do is ... is ... is have us just make sure ... make sure that we're on the same page as a Council. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 13 Uh... in terms of being engaged on, uh, the issues, uh, concerning boundary adjustment because this is of critical importance to the City. Um, and that we're watching it closely and ... um ... uh, and ... and doing what we can to assist with the process. We've talked a lot about ... about, um, zoning issues and, you know, we work sessioned that and ... and... and at the joint meeting laid out what we ... what we've .... what we're looking at doing, whether it's in Riverfront Crossings or otherwise, um, and we've been responsive to the School District's, um ... uh.... request from last fall to, um, to the communities that make up the district, uh... uh, on the issue of housing, um, and I think we've shown a very good faith response to that, um, but as part of that we pointed out that ... you know, zoning in, um, zoning and ... and ... and land use planning are, uh, long-term solutions, uh, to the issues of equity and balance in our school system. Um ... uh, and that they, uh, will not have much of an immediate impact and we have an immediate problem, which is inequity and imbalance, uh, in our school system. And I think that's recognized at the School District. Um ... um, and you know, they've ... they have been down this road before in terms of talking about boundaries and ... and the process is ... is starting anew and ... and the map that was released and discussed, uh, at the School Board meeting, um, was, uh, Steve Murley's initial, uh, stab at something. You know, we've got the new high school coming online and... and, in a couple of years, um, and, uh, they are attempting to start the post -secondary boundary line drawing, uh, to coincide with, uh, the new school coming online. Um, and ... uh, you know it's... there... this, you know, now is the time for us ... for ... for us to ... to watch this very closely and encourage the School District to pursue equity, um, and... and you know, come up with, uh, a boundary regime, uh, that ... uh, ensures balance, ensures equity, and keeps our high schools in, uh, approximate... parody, or balance, visa vie each other. So this is incredibly important, um ... uh, I, you know, the... the... the work session, uh, minutes from the last Board meeting are in the packet and you know there was already a little pushback to it, uh, it looks like and there's been a request to come up with more geographically, um... compact, uh, maps. Uh... Markus/ And transportation based. Hayek/ Yeah, and so ... um ... you know, and we'll see what that looks like. What I suspect it would look .... it will look like is a .... is ... is an outcome that shows a ... a ... big difference in terms of socioeconomic, uh, st... status, uh, numbers between the high schools. Um, I don't know that to be the case for sure. We haven't seen them, but that's my ... that's my supposition. Um, so ... uh... you know, I ... I'm not prepared to weigh in on this. I, you know, I don't know whether, and ... you know, this is good or not but what I can tell you is that it appears to represent an effort on the part of the School Administration to present, um, a ... a boundary map that ... that best balances, uh, the socioeconomic levels between the high schools. Um ... uh, and so I would applaud the Administration for putting this out there. Uh, and I know the School District is going to have, uh, you know, considerable, uh, conversation about this, um, and this will be a process that unfolds over the coming months, but I think we as a... as a... as a city need to be engaged on that. Um ... and ... and you know be prepared to ... to speak out on it. One of the, you know, one of the primary... bases on which we endorsed the RPS a couple of years ago was a commitment by, uh, the School District to address the imbalance issues. Um, and ... uh, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 14 the diversity policy was of course the tool by which they were going to do that. That has been rescinded and presently there is nothing, uh, to replace it. I... it is my hope that there ... there will be a ... a suitable replacement. I know it's being worked on, so I think we just need to stay tuned on that. Um, but this is where the rubber hits the road. So... Throgmorton/ So ... oh, Susan (both talking) Mims/ No, I was just going to say I would totally concur. Uh, I think the, you know, the School District came to us with, you know, housing issues and wanting us to address things. Uh, from that perspective, you know, we talked about how a lot of that is much more of a long-term issue, you know, neighborhood cycle, etc., um ... this is obviously, you know, a first effort but I think is absolutely essential for ... you know, for this community and for all of our students, regardless of which city or county they live in, uh, that the schools have as much equity as possible and would certainly encourage us to stay very engaged in this process. Markus/ The reason the maps were kind of positioned the way they were initially is if you look at the lower left-hand corner of the maps there's a legend in there which I kind of refer to as a score card, and that gives you kind of the macro look at what is involved in those, uh, numbers in terms of total students and I think the FRL make-up and so forth. So ... that's what I think you want to keep in mind as you watch these discussions and watch the change in the maps that occur and how they roll down to those numbers. Throgmorton/ So I wanted to ask a question about the two maps. I ... I know you mentioned this, the two new maps that are going to be coming out soon. I know you ... you mentioned this briefly, but maybe part of it kind of went right past me. So one of `em is going to be what this, um, geographically compact ... um, map. So it's easy to imagine what that would look like. Uh, but the other's a clean slate boundary. Do you have any idea what that means? I don't know what it means! Hayek/ I don't! I don't. Dobyns/ I noticed that Liberty High School has a discrepancy, and I know these are surrogate categories to determine whatever diversity means in the high school, but just taking up ... but this is the initial... footprint. My understanding is that Liberty High is supposed to grow at some point in the future. So again, this is just temporary. Throgmorton/ Right. So there's a (both talking) Dobyns/ But City and West are ... equal in terms of all these numbers, which ... as far as Iowa City is concerned is relevant. Um... Hayek/ Right! Markus/ But I think knowing what ... you know, the growth potential in Liberty, I think this goes back to the discussion we were having about housing and the need to have, um ... the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 15 School be engaged with the City of proximity to the high school, as to what types of housing and the affordability of that housing in specific areas, where you have potential growth in enrollment possibilities. Throgmorton/ Yeah. It ... with, you know, as a ... as a person with a planning background, you know, I just kind of stretch this out, uh, temporarily, you know, and ... and imagine what the implications would be, with each passing five years basically. Hayek/ Yep. Dobyns/ Uh huh. Throgmorton/ Uh, and that's all about housing. In the ... in the end it's about who lives where. So ... uh, I don't ... I don't know how to deal with that at...at this very moment but ... it's a... Mims/ Well and I ... and I think it comes back to that ... that whole aspect too of what are people's perceptions? You know, about these high schools. And that's where I think it's so important that we start in this, you now, with the new high school that people in this community, people coming to this community, people working here, realtors in this community see these as equally good high schools, because we have heard the stories first hand from people who have been moving to this community and have been told where they do and don't want to live, based on ... certain people's perceptions of City and West. Throgmorton/ Yeah, that's an old story. Mims/ And that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. And so I think, you know, as we look at additional housing in the future, where's that demand for housing going to be. We want to make sure that that demand for housing, um, both high-end and low-end is equally distributed across all three of the school ... high schools, um, catchment areas. Otherwise... Hayek/ Right. Mims/ ...you're gonna end up with self-fulfilling prophecy of...oh, you know, Liberty for example is the newest. It's the best. It's got the lowest FRL, etc., etc. So of course we want our kids to go here and all the realtors are sending everybody out there, and it does become a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, starting out with them as equal as possible I think is essentially important. Dickens/ Sounds like we need to work with the realtors! (laughs) Mims/ There has been some effort in that regard too! Throgmorton/ Good idea, Terry! (laughs) (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 16 Dickens/ ...just the perception that they have and they carry seems to affect a lot of where people go and where they go to school, so... Mims/ I think it does effect a lot of new people to the community (both talking) Throgmorton/ I can assure you when I bought a house in Kansas City, Missouri, on ... near Truest Avenue in the ... in the late 1970s, my then wife and I were explicitly told not to live on the east side of Truest because that's where black people live. It's a poor neig... the neighborhood's poor. That's what we were told. Wow! You're not supposed to tell people that! And it's not ... it's bad advice too! So ... we end up buying a place three blocks west of Truest, but you know, close by. But ... uh... that's what we want to avoid is that kind of talk a ... about (several talking) Hayek/ I think, uh... I ... I think tackling the problem, of ..of imbalance between our elementary schools, um, is ... you know, will be difficult. That is ... that is a tough thing to ... to address. Throgmorton/ ...can be dealt with. Hayek/ But this ... this can be dealt with, and from my perspective, if...if ..if the secondary schools are in approximate balance with each other, uh, the rest will fall into place, and we can ... we can, uh... uh, we can move forward as a ... as a broader region. As a ... as a region that is growing together and, urn ... and thriving. Um, I ... and so I'm ... I'm glad they're leading with the secondary, uh, school, um, map. Um ... uh, but this is of critical importance, and we need to be engaged on it, and I... and one of the... one of the reasons I wanted to have this conversation is that, you now, I'm ... I'm going to at some point, if I feel necessary, you know, weigh in, um, on behalf of the City. I mean, we've communicated in the past to the Board. Um ... uh, I don't know that that's necessary quite yet, um, and I've ... you now, Tom and I and Susan have met with ... with, uh, the Administration and we've talked to School Board Members, and that will continue and I encourage you to do the same things, but, um ... we ... we need to be part of this conversation and ... and watch it very carefully. Um ... so ... anyway! Throgmorton/ Before we jump off this, uh, this topic, to bring a little levity into the situation, nobody's talked about football and basketball, and the implications of this, uh, redistricting for ... for the powerhouses! Markus/ ... already have the new school colors and the mascot though! Throgmorton/ yeah, so... (several talking) Mims/ I'm sure there's been a lot of discussion, maybe just not super -public (several talking and laughing) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 17 Hayek/ yeah, yeah! And ... and West's populations is going to drop! Uh, and ... and that is a concern for them, urn ... you know, they need the relief, but I think they're nervous about how much they will get. So ... there's a lot in flux right now. Dobyns/ What it means, Jim, is people like you and me would need ... get to be starting forwards now! (laughter) Throgmorton/ yikes! Hayek/ There's a lot of water to take (noises on mic, unable to hear speaker) (laughter) Pardon me! Okay. That's enough for that. I ... Tom, did you have anything else you wanted to add on ... on this issue? Markus/ No, but I think ... I think the housing element is part of it, but I think the other thing that, you know, you need to probably encourage ... is that the boundaries have to be monitored so that as time goes on we're looking at that scorecard and seeing how things relate so that they can be adjusted. I mean it's ... looking at those maps is like looking at any other map. Those ... those lines can be adjusted to adjust those numbers in the scorecard, so... Throgmorton/ Yep. Mims/ And I think given that this is the first time they're gonna have to change these boundaries in ... how long has West been open? Hayek/ Well since... Dickens/ 1970 (several talking) Mims/ Okay, so ... forever! You know, basically (several talking) You know, it...it would be nice, and I know this is difficult, but it would be nice for the District to get into the mode that a lot of other school districts are, that they automatically relook at their boundaries every two to three to four years, you now, I mean it's just an ongoing process and you know, that river got set as basically the dividing line when West opened, and it's been ... you know ... take your (both talking) Dobyns/ (both talking) Mims/ Yeah, exactly! You know, to even think about changing that boundary, and I think it would be very helpful, very healthy, for the community to ... um, start taking a little different approach that these are flexible boundaries and that they do need to be reviewed periodically to make sure that we're keeping things in sync and have three really good, healthy secondary schools. Hayek/ What you want to get is to a place where a newcomer asks what are the good high schools and the answer is they're all good, and so you choose where you live for other reasons — you like the ... house, you like the park you're near, whatever! But that that's This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 18 not ... that's a non -issue, and if we ... if we accomplish that, I think our efforts ... I think that will support our efforts to, uh, to strengthen neighborhoods, to, uh, do the in -fill development we've talked about, to have the new growth, uh, to do all the things we've prioritized as a City Council. This is ... as important as anything else I can think of. Throgmorton/ Yeah. I ... I would agree with those points and I want to echo something that Tom said also. May ... maybe, Matt, um, if you do communicate with the, uh, with the Administration, uh, and the Board, you could suggest to them that like once every two years they give us... an update that looks kind of like this, with numbers (laughs) so we can track the trend. I don't know. That's just a (both talking) Hayek/ Yeah, I think that occurs generally anyway. That's a very good idea, uh, typically that data ... those data are out there. It's the ... it's the examination of boundaries that ... that there's been an aversion to locally. I think even Cedar Rapids does this just as a matter of course. Mims/ Yeah. They do. Dobyns/ I betcha one Member of our Council looks at that pretty closely! (laughter) Hayek/ Okay! Enough on that. Thank you! Let's take up recycling opportunities for multi- family housing. Throgmorton/ Hi, Jen! Discuss Recycling Opportunities for Multi -Family Housing (IP #4 Info Packet of 2/19): Jordan/ Hello! Good evening, Council. I'm going to vote for the Liberty Recyclers (laughter and several talking) So I haven't given you a multi -family recycling update in quite a while, so I'm here to do that tonight! Um, you had a memo in your packet, a long memo, that tried to highlight the different things we've done over the past five or six years. So I'm just going to give a brief highlight of that. Um, Landfill staff's goal's always to improve recycling programs in order to keep resources out of the Landfill and to try to expand programs to more, uh, community members, and one of the areas of focus over the past few years, as you know, has been multi -family and that's a huge opportunity for us. Uh, right now only about 55% of households in Iowa City have access to curbside recycling, either through, uh, or household recycling, either through curbside program through the City of Iowa City or through the ... the few, the small handful of apartments who have chosen to offer services, um, through private haulers. Those have been primarily Keystone and Assurance. So they've done ... those in particular have done a good job with it. Um ... so in the meantime in trying to get multi -family apartment recycling up and rolling, in 2012 we did a pilot and you've gotten some information about that over the years. A couple highlights of that that I ... I like to make sure to include every time I talk about it, the average cost per unit per month for recycling for multi -family households in the pilot program was $2.57. So, um, I ... I think that is a great thing to point out at much as I can. Also tenants do understand that there's a cost for This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 19 recycling services and in the pilot ... we did do surveys before and afterwards and ... and the students do ... or, I shouldn't say students. Primarily students, but tenants, do understand there's a cost and they ... most of them willing to pay for that cost. Another highlight is that with the outreach and education that we did through the pilot, we actually doubled the apartment recycling, or worked towards doubling the apartment recycling. It wasn't... certainly it wasn't just these efforts. The University's done a great job. The student government's been involved with this as well. We got from about... roughly 30 apartments to roughly 60 apartments who are now providing recycling services, which is ... it's great! It doubled, but there's still about 950 apartment buildings who don't have access to recycling. So, um, the ... the drop-off site tonnages have increased significantly over the past couple years as we've been talking about this. They actually increased 20% from 2013 to 2014, which is awesome, but there's still ... that shows us that there's... people are willing to recycle, but not everybody can get to those drop-off sites, so there's still a huge ... lost opportunity there. The other thing that really came out of the pilot and in conversations with property management and owners, um, prior to the pilot was that many of them have pretty explicitly said, or implied, that they will not provide recycling unless it is mandated. So, I ask you to keep that in mind. Um, in thinking about what other communities in Johnson County do, uh, the City of Iowa City, as you know, offers single-family homes through four-plex apartment recycling. Coralville offers single- family homes and duplexes, but the rest of the communities in Johnson County actually offer all of their residents, condominiums, apartments, everything, recycling services through their private hauler. Coincidentally they all have Johnson County Refuse. So I talked to Steve this morning, the owner, and he said there is a small handful of apartments in North Liberty that aren't included, but the vast majority of the rest of the county members do have access to recycling services. They offer... Johnson County Refuse and ... and other recycling, private recycling haulers, also offer recycling to rural members, um, and that's on a .... kind of a ... a hired basis. Some hire dumpsters or ... or recycling services. Some hopefully don't burn, but some bring stuff directly to the Landfill or to the drop-off sites. I will point out that I made an error in the memo, um, in calling out that we would not include the con ... the apartments and condominium regimes. Our intent would actually be to include as many as possible, um, as far as the condominiums or ... or any multi -family. So that was an error on my part. Um ... so with that, staff requests permission to work toward a multi -family recycling mandate that would include apartments and condominiums, and we know that we would see some issues with fire code, possibly with ... with space and logistics, especially if you think about downtown... downtown or the near northside, um, but we think it's ... uh, feasible that most properties would have space for recycling facilities. And that we would be able to allow exemptions of some sort for those who physically couldn't accommodate a recycling dumpster. Um, we'd be working with the property mo ... owners to engage them to get their input on this, as we have all throughout. We'd be working with tenants and interested... other interested stakeholders, including the University, as we've done pretty well, um, and then work with Neighborhood and Development Services to draft the ordinance, and then bring bat ... that back to City Council at some point in the future. Um ... we ... we've already had quite a bit of input from other departments and divisions and staff ac ... across the City really and it seems that the consensus is that with a mandate we could really make this work. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 20 Mims/ I say go for it! Throgmorton/ Fabulous (several talking) Do it! Dobyns/ Stefani, can you give me a sense of the push -back that people have, uh, seen as far as, uh, real or perceived? I mean Jen, I'm sorry! Jordan/ That's all right! Dobyns/ Real or perceived. In terms of having multi -family residential areas. Jordan/ Sure. I think the two biggest points of contention are probably the ... the perceived cost. And that was part of what the pilot was about was to ... to really get a sense of how much it did cost, and ... and frankly when we estimated... so we ... the ... the, uh, the pilot program was partially funded through the Solid Waste Alternative Program, through the DNR, so we had to put out some estimates, and frankly I overestimated by something like 30%. So even I had a ... a, kind of an inflated sense of what it would cost. So at $2.57 per unit, on average (both talking) Dobyns/ ...wasn't over. Jordan/ Was, yeah, was pretty good! Urn ... the other issue that I think is probably the bigger issue, frankly, is the ... just the space and the logistics. Know the City requires so many parking spots, so many ... so much green space, but that's ... in talking with HIS or what used to be HIS, sorry, NDS, um, it seems like those are things that we can work through. We know that we'll need to make some exceptions. There are probably some properties that will not have space. Some of the things we've talked about, you know, maybe neighboring, urn... properties, if they don't both have space, maybe they could share a dumpster or... a recycling dumpster, um, or maybe if there's a small pocket of properties, maybe the City could add a small recycling drop-off site there, consider something like that. So we're ... we're willing to look at different things, we're willing to make exceptions. Dobyns/ We've talked ... in the past about perhaps, uh, making compostable items recyclable. I'm assuming that you're recommending that we proceed on this first operationally, before we start to add on something else. Jordan/ Sure. This ... that's really a different conversation. That's something we've been talking about too. Dobyns/ Sure. Jordan/ But that's, um... Dobyns/ (both talking) ...relative back burner (mumbled) Okay! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 21 Jordan/ Yes! Botchway/ So if we all agree to do it, or at least majority of us do, um, how ... how fast is the timetable as far as, you know, getting the ordinance back to us and kind of putting the infrastructure in place to move this forward? Jordan/ So there's... there's two parts to it really. There's... there's a code change that could happen with ... for new buildings, and that could be done pretty rapidly. Um, it's the existing properties that we'd really need to work through all those details to make sure we're covering all our bases and figuring out what the exemptions might need to be. Realistically that's probably looking at least a year but ... well, I shouldn't say that. Closer to a year at least before we could bring something back, and then if...if we were to roll this out through the rental permit, um, system, that would give property man ... owners and managers a couple years before ... you know, if their permits weren't renewed immediately, it would give them some kind of a... some time to get on board with that. So it wouldn't necessarily be immediate. It wouldn't necessarily be an instant hardship for property managers and owners. Markus/ So, Jen, you would ... you would come back with an ordinance, the Council would consider the ordinance (coughing, unable to hear speaker) built into the ordinance would be some lead time before it was actually enforced. Jordan/ Right! Markus/ And so likely it's going to be a requirement that these property owners, um, have some level of...of recycling component. They will then have to contract with private contractors. Those private contractors will work, uh, on agreements with the individual property owners to customize the service that meets the standard that we set in the ordinance. Jordan/ Exactly, yep! And this would also allow the private haulers who offer these services, of which there are at least three and probably now four with the recent changes with City Carton. So there's at least three. They would need to ramp up their services and um, but that sounds, in talking with them, it sounds like that's something that they're able to do. If we gave `em an extra year or couple of years, that's certainly something that they could do. Markus/ So what do you think the impact on the market for recyclables is by adding multi- family? Jordan/ The recycling market's really a national market. Um, we do have Weyerhaeuser Paper Company here locally but um, it probably wouldn't have much effect. Markus/ So does City Carton usually the purveyor of the ... the recycling marketing part of it? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 22 Jordan/ Yes. Markus/ So we can ... you think that we can filter this in without much impact. Jordan/ I think so, yeah. Markus/ In pricing and everything else. Jordan/ Yep! Hayek/ Uh, I ... I'm ready to do this, either... either approach we take, but ... but talk to me about an expansion of City services, versus the mandate that staff recommends. Jordan/ Sure. So if the City were to expand recycling services through our existing program, we'd need to roughly double equipment and staff. Um, one way we could ... we could, uh, maybe reduce that ... the burden a little bit would be to look at single -stream recycling again, which we've talked about off and on over the years. Um, I think that... probably the hardest issue to think about with that is that the City would also pick up the trash service, as well, which is currently done through private haulers. So I think there would be a pretty contentious, uh, debate that would have to take place for that to happen. It ... it's possible, certainly, and that ... that's your choice but ... that would definitely be something that would need to be considered. Hayek/ I think that's an important thing to point out though that ... that the refuse is also part of that... calculus (both talking) if... if we go down that road. Jordan/ Right. Yes! Right, the apartment owners and ... and condominiums are already required to provide trash services in the community. That's not the same for recycling. This would essentially make it the same as trash services... Hayek/ Right! Jordan/ ... if we were to look at private haulers. Hayek/ Okay. Throgmorton/ I ... I'd like to say that I found Jen's memo, your memo, Jen, to be very, very persuasive, partly because ... uh, it...it was obviously based on considerable groundwork over a period of years and partly because there had been substantial research about what other communities, both in Iowa and outside Iowa, uh, including Big Ten communities have been doing. So (laughs) gives a lot more credibility to the recommendations. Jordan/ Uh huh, and the Student Government has played a role in that as well. They've really helped ga... gather information and they did the, um ... well there ... it's actually still in progress now. They have a ... or a, um, help me out, Evan! A petition on-line, thank you, that has something like 1,700 signatures, which aren't all students... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 23 Throgmorton/ Right! Jordan/ ...but there's... there is a demand for it in the community and they've been very helpful in putting this all together, as well! Hayek/ Okay! So I think we'll... we're... we're ready to take up a resolution on ... on this and take ... you know, go with the mandate approach. While I've got you up here, uh, it's ... it's on the packet and it's ... it's recyclable enough that I think I can ask you about it. There's a letter to us from someone I know on food scrap programs. Um, can we make su... and it's in our packet. She's on Kimball Road. Um ... could we just make sure we get a staff response to her. She submitted an article and I think it was ... was it Oak Park, Illinois that was doing it? Jordan/ We'll do! A lot of communities are (several talking) Dobyns/ My question to you is related to that letter so... Jordan/ Yep! Okay. Botchway/ So basically you'd come back with an ordinance for new buildings, and then we'd add on to that ordinance regarding existing buildings or ... okay. Just want to make sure. (several talking) McCarthy/ What's the procedure for new buildings that don't physically exist, like they haven't started construction? Is there a grandfathering process for that? I'm thinking of...like the new student housing developments that might not be covered by ... when the ordinance goes into effect. Assuming it passes. Mims/ Probably depend when they get their rezoning done and their plan, site... McCarthy/ ...so it's just case-by-case. Mims/ Yeah. McCarthy/ Okay, sure. The (both talking) Mims/ ...whether the ordinance is in effect by the time they're... reviewing their planning site, I would assume. Dilkes/ Well kind of depends on how we define existing building. Hayek/ Yeah. McCarthy/ Okay. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 24 Botchway/ Existing building is built currently. McCarthy/ Yeah, it's like why not go with that? Yeah. Markus/ Did you mean the University housing? McCarthy/ No! I'm thinking the 316 Madison specifically but ... no, not University housing. Yep. Hayek/ And so we're ... but we'll roll it in in connection with the renewal of the rental permit, is that the idea? Jordan/ That's what has been talked about at staff level, but we'll be open to suggestions and working with the (both talking) Hayek/ ...as will we (both talking) Markus/ ...that's a pretty valid connection. Hayek/ Sure! Botchway/ Wait a minute, does... University buildings or ... dorms currently ... (several talking) Okay! (several talking) ...mandate everybody to do it! (laughter) Jordan/ Thank you! Council Appointments 011): Hayek/ All right (several talking and laughing) Okay, uh, Council appointments. We have, uh, two. One is Historic Preservation and one is ... H ... wait a second. Mims/ Telecom... Hayek/ Tele ... I'm on the wrong ... (laughs) I'm on the Info Packet! HPC and Telecomm. Mims/ On Historic Preservation ... this, uh, we've only got one individual applying. The individual is currently finishing his second term, um ... and ... normally I would not have an issue with reappointing for a third term since there's nobody else applying; however, attendance ... is an issue here, and we've had this discussion before and I personally am of the mind not to reappoint, to readvertise, and... hopefully we'll get another applicant and if we don't, hopefully we're making our point that while ... and I would think this would be a commission that we would have a lot of interest in. Um... Dobyns/ I ... I share that same concern, I mean, it was a 40% absence rate. The average for the rest was like 12% so it was a couple standard deviation over that mean, but ... uh, and I... and I agree with the concern; however, he was a renovation contractor. I'm recalling the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 25 discussion we had about St. Mary's and the windows ... we had a couple of months ago, and I appreciated the fact that ... well it was the information brought forth from ... I think this individual and other Members of the, uh, Preservation Commission was that, you know, there are available contractors and um, artisans in the area that can solve these problems and help, and I thought that sort of information brought to us with that level of expertise was helpful. I can't recall if this individual was part of that information given to us, but that... Susan, that was my ying and yang. Um, I looked at that absence record too and the fact that, you know, it looks like this person is ... loosing enthusiasm. Mims/ Yeah, and I didn't go ... way back, I mean, this is just since October. Dobyns/ So I'm kind of equivocal. Throgmorton/ Yeah, I was struck by that, as well, but ... but to pick up on your point, Susan, uh, one thing I am curious about is what the attendance record looks like ... for the duration. So ... cause we're talking about all ... almost a six-year period of time really, but we only have this one 12 -month snapshot. So I ... I don't know if we could defer on this. I don't know if that... Botchway/ Yeah, is there anything precluding us from finding out more information? Karr/ I would have more information that I can provide you next time if you wish to defer it. I would have the history like that. Hayek/ You know ... I ... listen, I ... I picked up on the ... on the ... on the, uh, absence issue as well, and we've talked about that before and not taken hard and fast action. I guess my thought would be, you know, there's no one else competing for this spot. Um ... we don't like vacancies on our commissions. I mean, I'd be okay with reappointing him, but with a reminder that this was a cause for concern for the Council. Um ... so ... I ... I share (both talking) Throgmorton/ Plus we don't really know why he was absent those five times. We don't (both talking) Hayek/ Yeah, although that ... that frankly doesn't, I mean, it ... whether you have an excused absence (laughs) or not. We don't have a policy on that, of course, but ... but an absence is an absence, and it means that the person we've... Karr/ This is an excused absence (several talking) Well no I'm ... I'm just clarifying (laughter) Hayek/ Thank you! Dobyns/ We're very polite here in Midwest. It's always excused! (laughter) Hayek/ No, the ... the issue is that, of course, that person's not... participating in the commissions that we ... whose work we value, so ... um ... anyway ... it ... it's a problem. If...if there were This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 26 other people competing for this it might be enough to cause me to say I'd rather go with the alternative candidate. Dobyns/ Well I guess I agree, reappoint but just make him aware that we were aware. Botchway/ I disagree. I think that... since we don't have anybody for this position and there's nobody else that presumably apply, then there's no reason why we shouldn't defer. I mean there's ... he doesn't lose anything, we don't lose anything, I mean, I think we need to find out more information, and I'll just say that we ... would say that, you know, because he decided that he wanted to, I don't know, watch football games on all those days or whatever the case may be that there's a problem, but I ... I do think it's ... this was an imp ... going back to your point, it was an important discussion. I mean, it came up and you know we are relying on, um, these individuals to give us a lot of our information. I mean, I'd want somebody who ... thought it was important to come to the meetings. And again I don't know if he didn't think it was important. I just want to know. That's all. Throgmorton/ I ... I'd like to have additional information. Hayek/ Okay! (several talking) That's fine. Throgmorton/ I don't feel really strongly about it, but I'd prefer that. Hayek/ So let's just not appoint anybody this evening. Let's just take action on the second one, assuming (both talking) Karr/ Defer two weeks? Mims/ Yeah. Hayek/ Sure. Does that need to be part of the motion or do we just not take action on ... on ... on HPC this evening? Karr/ Well I just want to clarify, you're deferring not readvertising. So therefore you'd want to defer to a specific date. So two weeks. March 91h Hayek/ So the motion would include a ... deferment for two weeks. Okay! Okay, the other one is, uh, the Telecommunications Commission. Um ... full disclosure, although it's in the application, Laura Bergus is the only applicant. She works at my firm. Um, so I don't know if I need to (several talking) or not. I don't think I do, but ... I want you to be aware of it. (several talking and laughing) Uh (both talking) Mims/ Again she's one (both talking) Yeah, I mean, she's reupping for a third term, urn ... there's nobody else and she's had good attendance, so I've got no problem. Information Packet Discussion (February 12, 19): This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 27 Hayek/ Okay. Um, Info Packet discussions. There are two to consider. One was February 12. Botchway/ Oh, I just had a ... had there been any thought on, uh, this was your memo, Geoff ...um ... and Brenda and Mike, regarding the local food efforts and it talked about community gardens in the Riverfront Crossings' area but I ... I don't think it talked about community gardens in the, uh... downtown area. (mumbled) going back to that one alley I can't stand, um, downtown Iowa City and I can't remember where it is, and I always walk by it but if I mean that was like a ... a garden where people could eat or ... you know, grow their own food or something like that, I'd be really excited about that! Hayek/ Which ... which one are you referring to? Botchway/ I don't know ... there's one downtown that I walk by like on a regular basis and it's just that gravel... Dickens/ What bar is it close to? (laughter) Botchway/ That's a good one! (laughs) I don't remember and I ... it, I guess it hasn't been a while because I've found actually really good parking downtown so I've been able to park exactly where I wanted to go, but ... um ... I don't know if there's ... this speaks to this or could be an expansion of, I just wanted to know if there's been any thought regarding... cause we're talking about the downtown projects coming up and everything else and whether or not that's a part of the discussion as well. Fruin/ Well certain... elements of the streetscape project provide greater planting areas, but they're not contemplated to be ... um ... community gardens or anything like that. We don't have anything really, uh, forthcoming, uh, for community gardens downtown. We have the children's garden area outside of the Library. Uh, we hope that, um, if...if a ped mall project is pursued in the future that we cannot only maintain what we have there but perhaps grow it a little bit and ... and uh, showcase it a little better than ... than we are able to right now, but ... um ... there's really nothing in the works. Uh, we do have a small project that, uh, we're working with Backyard Abundance and the Blue Zones on that would be to create an edible landscape around the Robert A. Lee, uh, Recreation Center. So taking the discovery garden that's there and basically wrapping the building, uh, on that. So we've got, uh, that grant application nearly ready to go. That's about the only thing I can think of right now. Botchway/ Okay. Mims/ Yeah, my only comment, and I want to thank ... you, all of you for that memo. Um ... I know we're doing the Chaddick Park this year, coming this spring with ... with garden plots, and I just hope that we'll, you know, continue to look at expanding locations across the city, um, as we can, as time goes on, and I have a feeling I know the answer to this one. Um, but somebody had asked me about the possibility of garden plots down along Normandy, along the river. And at first I thought, oh, that sounded good and then I got to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 28 thinking about, uh, let's see, we bought all those houses cause it floods. So do we want to bother to, uh, tear up sod and put gardens in and have all that dirt and planting... wash away. Moran/ Yeah, when we first went into Normandy Drive and talked about the restoration, uh, program, that's the first thing that came out of our mouths and the neighborhood down there was adamantly against it. Uh, one for animals, they have a lot of deer and stuff that go through there and so they were worried about security, but the second thing was... Hayek/ Security? Like a ... what kind of deer are these (laughter) Moran/ Security for their plants! (laughs) Uh, and then the other one was they didn't want the additional people in the ... in the neighborhood, which was selfish on their part. Mims/ Right. Moran/ But we had mentioned that and brought that up, three or four years ago, and we could certainly bring it up again cause the dynamics of the neighborhood have changed drastically since we started that process. Mims/ I ... I would encourage you to look at it. I don't know if the rest of Council feels that way, um, again I just happened to think... happened to think of it also from the flooding aspect and would that be a location where we would want to do community gardens because of.. . Moran/ We started some in Crandic Park last year and then of course those all got flooded out too so the same thing happened there. Throgmorton/ I ... I would agree with Susan. Mims/ Yeah, I mean I ... I think it's worth looking at again. Like you say, the dynamics maybe have changed down there some and there's some spaces that ... there's nobody nearby. mean, there... Moran/ Right. Hayek/ I'm not sure ... mowed, you know, quasi -mowed grass looks ... you know, particularly nice either, you know, so I mean ... from an aesthetics standpoint it might be quite nice to have some ... some perennials and whatnots (several talking) So anyway. Okay. Thanks, Mike. Uh... February 19th packet. Botchway/ Um, going back to the discussion, kind of briefly had ... the City Conference Board. Is there any way that the County could bear the brunt of that cost, um ... if any, if we decided to do something along those lines? I ... I appreciate the memo and I think it really did a good job as far as outlining things, and I think I'm just bringing it up also because, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 29 um, I think your response, Matt, and maybe to the, um, League of Women Voters, as well... Hayek/ Uh huh. Botchway/ I just want to make sure that, you know, this doesn't come up ... even later on this year, um, in discussion like, you know, with the campaign and everybody running or whatever the case may be, but as, you know, the County seems, or at least one Member of the County seems pretty adamant that this would happen. Is there any way that they would just take the brunt of the cost and from like a representative standpoint we would ...it's almost like negotiate our way into where we would have a vote or ... blah, blah, blah, blah, and it doesn't necessarily have to be talked about now. I just... Mims/ I don't think legally we can get a vote if we, I mean, if we give up our Assessor, we've lost, legally lost representa... Dilkes/ (both talking) I think that's the problem. It's not just the cost. We lose our representation on ... on the Board and um, and we also lose legal representation by the City Attorney's office. Mims/ Yeah. So... Markus/ I think, Kingsley, you know, it keeps coming up from certain individuals on the Conference Board and I think the answer has to be, look ... the City staff went through and did a complete analysis of the pros and cons of doing this. If you feel so strongly about this, where's your report justifying this? I think, quite frankly, you need to push back a little bit. So far, I mean, we ... we kind of get pushed and nobody says anything in response! But that report is quite clear as to the advantages of retaining the City Assessor position. So ... I don't understand why this just keeps coming up and quite frankly nobody seems to counter ... that argument when it does come up. Throgmorton/ Oh I think, uh, during the Conference Board meeting there was a response saying that the staff had presented a lengthy report. I don't remember who said what... Markus/ ...and shortly thereafter we get a letter from the League of Women Voter's pushing the issue again. Throgmorton/ Well... Hayek/ But I think what Tom is saying is if...is if somebody takes issue with the data presented by our staff (both talking) Throgmorton/ Yeah, sure, I understand. Hayek/ ...from our staff, let's hear it! I mean I ... I went into this assuming we would merge, because you know all things equal it makes sense to combine services and so I ... was This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 30 surprised to find myself coming down on the side of...I was surprised to have the recommendation to begin with. Mims/ Right. Hayek/ Um, so ... anyway. It'll come up again! Mims/ I'd just like to thank the City Manager for the articles in, uh, the 12th packet. Number of good ones. Dobyns/ Yeah. McCarthy/ I have a question on #7 for the 19th. The letter to the Board of Regents. Have you heard back on that? Hayek/ Haven't heard back! McCarthy/ Okay. Cool, that was all! Mims/ Surprise, surprise! (laughs) Council Time: Hayek/ Um ... okay. Council time! Mims/ Stay warm out there, folks! Meeting Schedule (IP #5 Info Packet of 2/19): Hayek/ Meeting schedule. Throgmorton/ City of Literature Board is having a meeting tomorrow afternoon at 2:00. I'll be attending that. And I also wanted to mention, I'm going to be out of town for a few days, uh, so, uh... Marian, from the 27th through the 4th I'll be out of town. Karr/ I had the proposed, um, schedule in there, uh, for April through August, and I know there are a couple of you who contacted me about ... um, possibly making some other adjustments to it. The sooner that we do decide on it, then uh, as noted in the memo, we have some absences, uh, by Council Members, but also we have some renovation plans for Harvat Hall, in addition to staff uses that to plan projects and Council meetings to get through the ... the bidding process. So, um, I'm just wondering if there's any input or any changes you'd like to discuss. I know we have a ... two Council Members who will be unable to make the April 21st meeting. Botchway/ Two important Council Members! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 31 Karr/ Two important Council Members (laughter and several talking) Throgmorton/ So you're wondering if we can change that meeting? Karr/ I'm just bringing it to your attention. We have two ... we certainly can ... we do not need seven to conduct business. Hayek/ Michelle, you communicated your, uh, conflicts, didn't you? I think you did earlier. Payne/ I did and it's actually the next meeting, the March 9th meeting. Karr/ It doesn't affect the April through August. Hayek/ Oh, okay! Dobyns/ I will not ... I can't attend the April 7th Council meeting. And I can't be on the stereophone either so... Karr/ So, given that should we ... are we looking at shifting the April meetings... because we have one person gone the 7th and two people gone the 21St, or do you wish to proceed with five and six people, which is fine. Botchway/ I think we ... I mean, for ... I guess I go back on my initial thing because I think we proceed. I think Tom mentioned this when I first started that this is kind of.. we don't normally do this back and forth. Mims/ Yeah. Botchway/ Or the ... not we, but other councils don't normally do this back and forth, and so I rescind mine as being the one and a half Council Member and so I think... (several talking) Karr/ So ... so... Mims/ I say leave `em the same, personally. Throgmorton/ Me too. Karr/ Retain the April ... April meeting schedule? Throgmorton/ I would agree. Karr/ Okay. Hayek/ This list works for me! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 32 Mims/ Yeah. Karr/ That's great, okay! Botchway/ Apologize for (both talking) Karr/ ...and is there any other questions regarding then the `summer' schedule being June, July, August? (several talking) Dickens/ I just have the one June ... first week of June that I'll be ... gone. The ... other ones, the July and August, I'm fine. Karr/ That ... that's correct. Hayek/ All right. Karr/ Okay, thanks. Pending Work Session Topics (IP #6 Info Packet of 2/19): Hayek/ Thank you, Marian. Thanks, everyone. Uh, pending work session topics. Dickens/ (mumbled) Hayek/ Why don't we go ahead and at least get on there the ... nuisance neighborhood ... property management one. Markus/ Now that we took (mumbled) got all sorts of time (mumbled) Dilkes/ Can you guys talk a little louder? Karr/ We can't hear! Markus/ (mumbled) didn't hear ya! Hayek/ Who, us or them? Dilkes/ Both of you! Hayek/ Yeah, so, uh, we're gonna get the nuisance property management neighborhood item back, or on... onto the, uh, pending list. Okay, upcoming events. Upcoming Community Events / Council Invitations: Botchway/ Um, I'll save it for the (clears throat) formal meeting as well, um, but uh, Ta-Nehisi Coates, I think I'm saying his name right, um, he's coming to the Englert on Wednesday, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015. February 23, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 33 um, and part of that community discussion afterwards, um ... so I...hopef illy I'd be able to say something. Apparently I might be star struck, kind of reading what he's been talking about and hearing that it might be, you know, packed so we'll see what happens. Mims/ Yeah, I've got an ICAD function that night. I wish I could go! Hayek/ I'll be speaking to the, uh, Consultation of Religious Communities in another month or two. I'll let you know how that goes. Okay. Dobyns/ Can I drag us back to schedules? Hayek/ Yeah! Dobyns/ Um, I just looked at my own schedule. Uh, I'm ... I'll be gone the ... only July meeting, on the 28th, and I will be gone only ... the only ... so I won't be ... here for like two straight months, cause I'm also gone on the 18th of August, as well, and I think that's the only... are there two August meetings? I think... Hayek/ Just one! Dobyns/ Yeah, so I'm gone on (mumbled) meeting. That might be a positive, negative, depending (laughter) but ... I ... uh, because it's really hard for me to change my schedule (laughs) and uh, normally I ... I guess I'd be missing, but it's the only meetings we have those (both talking) Hayek/ Yeah! Dobyns/ ... specific months. Could I petition we look at alternate Tuesday nights? Like the (both talking) before. Hayek/ In July and August. Dobyns/ ...like in July, could we do the 21St of July and the 11th of August? Hayek/ That would... probably work for me. Uh, do ... do you want to ... why don't we do this. It's 20 of. We don't need to worry about July and August (several talking) You know it's ... no, we don't want you to miss two months in a row. Mims/ ...two months in a row, yeah I agree. Hayek/ Um, so, Marian, if you could follow up on that. Let's just not commit to July or August quite yet. Okay. Okay! Uh... I think that's it. And we'll see you at 7:00. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of February 23, 2015.