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ITEM 2. STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS — Horace Mann Elementary
Hayek: Would the students from Horace Mann please come forward! (several talking in
background) Well how are you doing this evening? Good! Well we want to
welcome you to City Hall. I'm Mayor Hayek and this is the City Council behind
you. Have you ... have you ever been to a City Council meeting? Well you're in
for a good one tonight! (laughter) So we're really honored to have you here with
us and what ... and what the City Council does throughout the school year is invite
the leaders of the elementary schools from around town who get nominated by
their schools, uh, to come down to City Hall and to tell us a little bit about
themselves and let us show you off a little bit! So, that's the purpose of it, and
I've got an award that I'll read for you. The first thing I want to look for is to
make sure you've got your piece of paper to read. Step one accomplished!
(laughs) Uh, and so what we'll do is I will hand the microphone to you and if you
could just read your piece that would be wonderful!
Boerner: Hi, my name is Alice Boemer. I think the reason I've won this award is due to
the inspiration from my family and my many good friends. In school I enjoy
reading, math, and gym and art classes. I also take band lessons. After school I
like doing activities such as choir, band rehearsals, and dance. I also volunteer at
my church on a regular basis. I help clean up art projects or do other jobs. I think
these acti ... activities also affect who I am. For this award I want to thank my
teacher, my friends, and my class for voting for me and choosing me to receive
this award. (applause)
Stanier: My name is Caleigh Stanier. I'm the president of Mann student council and a
member of the safety patrol. I am proud that in student council we've worked
hard at cutting box tops and have raised over $250. 1 also play the violin and
saxophone, participate in sixth grade band, Preucil Opus Orchestra, and a singing
trio and two choirs, the Family Folk Machine and the Trinity Church Youth
Choir. In my free time I like to read, draw, and bake. I also like to swim and play
volleyball, tennis, and softball. Lastly, I'd like to thank my classmates for voting
for me. This is a great opportunity. (applause)
Fast: Hello, I'm Hannah Fast. In school I have been in safety patrol and student
council for two years. Outside of school I play soccer. I like the teamwork and
playing. I am in Girl Scouts. My troop raises money to have opportunities to
learn new things. I have done leader in action, which is helping younger troops
earn badges. In May I will study to be a program aide to help at summer camp.
play flute and piano. I try to be ... I try to be fair to everyone and to help my
classmates. I would also like to thank my classmates for this honor and also
congratulate tonight's other honorees. Thank you. (applause)
Hayek: Well those were ... those were amazing! I, uh, I went to Shimek and I was on the
safety patrol and I was really proud of that, but I gotta tell you — I did ... I didn't do
a fraction of the things you guys are doing in school. It's just incredible! And
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Caleigh, I remember you. I used to live near you and you were only about this
high when I was there (laughter) But ... uh, those were ... those were amazing.
You're clearly up to a lot of good things and you are examples for your school,
and that's why we want to bring you down here to show you off a little bit, and
also to thank your parents and your teachers and the people who play such an
important role in ... in your lives, and Horace Mann is a wonderful, wonderful
school. It's a really important one for the city, and it's in a great neighborhood
and you've got... you've got that, and my kids love going over to the playground
there. You also have a really good playground! So what we have is a Student
Leadership Award, and there's one for each of you, and it reads as follows: For
her outstanding qualities of leadership within Horace Mann Elementary, as well
as the community, and for her sense of responsibility and helpfulness to others,
we recognize you as an Outstanding Student Leader. Your community is proud of
you. Presented by the Iowa City City Council, March 2015. Alice, here's yours!
And Caleigh! And Hannah. Let me shake your hands and congratulate you.
Well done! You're welcome to stick around or go home or do homework!
(laughter) It's your call! Thank you! (applause) I'm gonna stay up here because
we have a special proclamation for our Special Olympians who are going to come
forward at this time!
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ITEM 3. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 3a Special Olympics Month — March
Karr: Mr. Mayor, joining us this evening are the Special Olympians joined by Joyce
Rossi, who will do the introductions!
Hayek: Hello! I'll make some room over here if you need to ... come on over! (talking in
background) Welcome!
Rossi: Thank you! Thank you once again. You know Sergeant Eunice Shriver started
Special Olympics in 1968. Iowa, the Uni.... or, the University of Iowa ... I work
for the University of (laughs) Iowa. Iowa has provided... Special Olympics for
people with intellectual disabilities for 47 years. We take ... have 22 sports for
over 12,000 people throughout the 99 counties in Iowa. Our mid -winter
tournament is what we so graciously accept the proclamation is this weekend.
The ... we have a banquet on the 13t . 14th is our day of competition. We have
cheerleading, gymnastics, basketball, basketball skills, and cheer... and power
lifting! In order to put all this on, we're very, very blessed in the fact that through
all of our fundraising efforts, we are able ... that once the athletes arrive in Iowa
City, they have no expenses. We pay their overnight stay in the hotel. We have a
wonderful banquet on Friday night, and then their full day of competition with all
of their meals. And in order to do this we have a polar plunge, which this year I
think it's going to be a solar plunge (laughs) It's on April 11th. If any of you'd
like to join us, you're more than welcome to come on out at the Reservoir!
(laughs) We also have a `Swing with Celebrities' golf tournament that, uh, Brian
Ferentz and the University of Iowa football helps us with, and that is on July 17th.
I would, uh, like to once again thank the... Council for giving our Special
Olympic athletes the recognition they so deserve. Our athletes in attendance
tonight are Jill Michalek, Mallory Earnest, Julia Brumbaugh, Jenna Helms, Ann
Greenstein, Jimmy Mitchener, Cindy Moore, and Robin Kugley.
Hayek: Well, Joyce, and Special Olympians, thank you for coming down. We're very
proud of you! It's something we get to do this time each year. I remember last
year was a pretty cold polar plunge, as I recall (laughter) so I (both talking)
Rossi: So maybe we're due for the solar (both talking)
Hayek: Exactly! (laughter) Maybe we're due for a warm one, but we are very, very
proud of you and we want to show you off to the community and we're glad to be
able to host this ... this event. It's important! And so we have a special
proclamation and it reads as follows: (reads proclamation) Congratulations!
(applause) (talking in background) And, Jan, I'll give this to you! Do you need
the (several talking) All right! Anyone want to say anything?
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Rossi: Should we lead `em in the Special Olympics' oath? (several responding in
background) Okay! Come on, Mallory! (talking in background) Right where
you are is great!
Ernst: Uh, it's okay, I got it! Should I do it in front of the other athletes (both talking)
Rossi: Just turn around and you can help everyone!
Ernst: Okay! Let me win, (audience repeats) but if I cannot win (audience repeats) let
me be brave in the attempt (audience repeats)
Rossi: Great job, Mallory! (applause)
Ernst: Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you! (talking in background)
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ITEM 4. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Hayek: Consider adoption of the Consent Calendar as presented or amended, with
removal of Item 4d(3) for se�arate consideration and deferral of Item 4d(5), uh,
for the ... until the March 23r meeting.
Throgmorton: Move adoption.
Botchway: Moved.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Anyone from the
public? Council discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7-0.
ITEM 4d(3) DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FEE SCHEDULE -
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING FEES FOR BUILDING PERMITS AND
OTHER SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES DIVISION AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 12-103.
Mims: Move approval.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Di ... Dickens, er...Dobyns.
Dickens: Dobyns! (laughter)
Hayek: You guys all look the same over there! (laughter) Seconded by Dobyns.
Discussion? Kingsley, you...
Botchway: Oh, yeah, I just had a conflict and so ... (several talking)
Hayek: Yeah, we pulled it for separate consideration because Kingsley's unable (both
talking)
Botchway: I had a conflict and so I wanted to...
Hayek: ...connection to the School District.
Botchway: Yeah.
Throgmorton: Not to sweat it! (laughs)
Hayek: Anyone from the audience? Council discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6-0,
Botchway... abstaining!
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ITEM 5. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL 8
PM]
Hayek: This brings us to Item 5, Community Comment. This is the opportunity at each
City Council meeting for members of the audience to address the Council on
items that are not on the agenda. So if there's something that is not on tonight's
agenda that you would like to bring to our attention, we invite you to come
forward. We ask that you sign in, uh, also verbally give us your name and to keep
your comments to five minutes or less.
Meyer: Hello! My name is Fred Meyer. I'm the Director of Backyard Abundance, a
local non-profit that helps create environmentally beneficial landscapes. And I
would like to submit to you a strategy for increasing biodiversity in Iowa City.
The strategy was written by experts in our community from the University of
Iowa, New Pioneer Food Co -Op, Transition Ecology, and Backyard Abundance!
When our economy struggles we can see red flags and generally know what ... the
corrective actions to take! We're motivated because our livelihoods depend upon
our economy. When our ecology struggles, however, often we miss or dismiss
the red flags, partially because we want ... we're not sure what to do, but mostly
because we believe our livelihoods are not dependent upon a healthy
environment. The rapid decline of monarch butterflies and honeybees is a red
flag that our residents are not ignoring. In my circles, there's a great concern and
a great effort in trying to restore their numbers, and the numbers of other species.
But their efforts are piecemeal and ecology is not. Creating enough habitat to
address species lost requires an over -arching coordinated effort and this is where
the City can help! We are not asking for money. We're asking for a collaborative
partnership with City staff so all concerned organizations and residents can
coordinate and magnify their efforts. And it'd be really nice to have a place to
assemble ... to do these things as well! Our hope is that you'll look over this
strategy, give direction to refine it, and help make it happen! Your attention to
our city's biodiversity is greatly appreciated! Thanks for the consideration.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. (applause) Anyone else during community
comment?
Laurian: Hi, I'm Lucie Laurian. I want to support the proposal that Fred Meyer just
brought forth, uh, for different reasons actually. Prairie plants don't need to be
mowed as often as turf. They also infiltrate water really well. So if we had
prairie in our parks, we could mitigate some of the flooding impacts. Um, they
also have deep roots that are drought resistant! So that's a grass that is flood
resistant and dr... drought and flood resistance potentially. Um, they're beautiful!
They're an education tool potentially to remind ourselves we're a city on the
prairie. That's who we are. So there's a potential I think to support a sense of
identity for school kids, for visitors, and for all of us! This is who we are. We're
a prairie! Butterfly gardens, who doesn't like butterflies, right? It could be
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pr ... pretty. It could be flowers. It could be next to a community garden. Here's
an apple tree and here's a butterfly garden together, and I think that's what
Back... Backyard Abundance is doing, but I want to highlight the role for our
identity of who we are. Economically I think it makes sense also. Very low
maintenance cost when it's real nature. Higher maintenance costs when we try to
cut it this short when it really wants to grow. So I would encourage you to
consider that for a variety of reasons — economic, sense of place, and that's the
right thing for nature. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. (applause) Anyone else?
Moss: Hello, my name is Liz Moss and I'm also one of the authors of the statement that
we sent to you. (clears throat) I'm also the President of the Burr Oak Land Trust,
which is a local land trust here in Johnson County. We just recently changed our
name. We were the Johnson County Heritage Trust. Um, I'm also the... several
things! I'm also (laughs) the, uh, property manager for the Dickens property,
which is the property that adjoins ... uh, Hickory Hill Park. And um ... I think that
this opportunity of the biodiversity statement shows how we could combine
efforts, not only with the City but also with public, private partnerships, ACT, um,
Dickens property, the ... the park, and coordinate a ... a management plan that
would actually protect biodiversity and enhance species diversity within our
community. There's a lot that's written about protecting corridors and how good
corridors are to protect not only biodiversity but of course improve water quality
as well, and I'm sure you're all familiar with what's been happening in Des
Moines and how important water quality is to all of us. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you! (applause)
Quinn: Hello! My name is, uh, Linda Quinn and I'm here to represent two different
organizations, um, one is the Iowa City, uh.... Iowa City, uh, Climate Advocates
and the other one is 100 Grannies for a Livable Future, and both of the
organizations, um, support the, um, biodiversity plan because we are all about,
um, climate change. We want to help mitigate, um, to adopt, to, um, educate
people about climate change and um ... the biodiversity plan would, um, be a great
thing for Iowa City and ... uh, we'd just like to lend our support to that idea.
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. (applause) Anyone else during community
comment?
Loots: Mike Loots. I ... I too would like to, um, echo support for the biodiversity, uh,
plan as being submitted. Um, echoing again, uh... uh, Fred's comments, um ... uh,
about biodiversity being an integral part of our... community's overall
sustainability. I think on the work of Slay and Ross, um, in their explorations of
the importance of...of cores, corridors and carnivores, and we're lacking some of
our cores, which are these big, big areas, um, for critters to ... to roam around in
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and have these healthy, happy breeding populations. Um, E. O. Wilson, uh, does
some ... does some research. He was just here at the University's, uh, lecture
series three, four years ago maybe, uh, on io... um, island bio -regionalism and
about how dangerous that is for, um, things like birds which draw a lot of ... a lot
of, um, people into our state, um, to see where ... where you can get these isolated
little populations with nowhere else to go, um, if you're lacking close cores, but if
our community starts to ... to shift its land use into these multi -tiered systems
where we can have these great, beautiful prairies and these ... these fantastic
edibles growing all around us, um ... that can provide a corridor for ... for bird
species to not be so isolated, um, not to be subject to predators that can target
them very easily, um, in these places. Well boy howdy we can ... we can do some
good stuff! We can move `em between, uh, the south and north on their fly zones,
and the east and west, uh, while at the same time which I think is what's so
fantastic about this, um, providing a ... uh, recreation opportunities that fit right in
line with our community's Blue Zone visions, right? Um, we know that ... that
recreating daily, um, just ... moving, being active is ... is a great way to add
longevity to our lives, and we also know that exposure to nature is a great way to
reduce stress while we do so. My students, uh, at Northwest Junior High enjoy
our prairie very much and they also, those who do choose to commute by bike or
by foot, um, we have great conversations at the beginning and the end of every
day about some of the wildlife opportunities they've had, just along the Clear
Creek Trail. So anything that we could do to increase more, um, nature-scaping
with our ... in our community, I think, um ... will increase our economic viability
and uh, make our city just a little bit more livable for all of us! Thanks ... thank
you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. (applause) Anyone else before I close out
community comment? Okay! We'll move on to Item 6, Planning and Zoning
Matters.
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ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
ITEM 6a COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT — ADOPTING
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR THE THREE BLOCKS
SOUTH OF IOWA AVE., EAST OF GILBERT ST., WEST OF VAN
BUREN ST AND NORTH OF BURLINGTON ST.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) We'll hear from
staff initially.
Yapp: Uh, good evening, John Yapp, Development Services Division. Uh, I thought I'd
start with, uh, why we are here tonight. Uh, the IC2030 Comprehensive Plan
identified two areas, uh, one located east of Gilbert Street and north of Burlington
Street, uh, and the other located north of Iowa Avenue and west of Dubuque
Street, uh, as areas that were not included in the Downtown Master Plan or the
Central District Plan. Uh, this map shows ... is an overview of these ... these two
larger areas. Uh, tonight we will be focusing on the three blocks east of Gilbert
Street and west of Van Buren Street, uh, south of Iowa Avenue. Uh, those three
blocks were considered by the, uh, Planning and Zoning Commission, and I'll
summarize their vote in ... in a little bit. Uh, the remainder of these areas is ... has
been deferred and will be discussed again, uh, by the Planning and Zoning
Commission. Uh, to start out with, uh, what is a Comprehensive Plan. Uh, it is a
road map for directing growth and change over time, and that's from the IC2030
Comprehensive Plan. Uh, the Central District Plan states that plans are advisory
documents for directing and managing change over time. Uh, and the Downtown
Riv ... Riverfront Crossings Master Plan states that the Master Plan will serve a
framework, again, to guide future public and private investment. Uh, my point in
showing these statements, uh, is ... is to indicate the role of the Comprehensive
Plan, in that it is intended to guide, uh, change over time. However, it is not
regulatory. Uh, in this context the importance of the Comprehensive Plan is that
it would set the stage for any future, uh, rezoning actions, uh, and it is the
rezoning actions which would be regulatory. Uh, the proposal, uh, staff has for
you tonight is to add the three blocks, uh, east of Gilbert Street and west of Van
Buren Street, uh, to the Downtown District of the Downtown and Riverfront
Crossings Master Plan. Uh, this map is an overview of the entire Riverfront
Crossings and Downtown area. Uh, south of Burlington Street we have, uh, a
form based code, uh, to manage growth in the Riverfront Crossings area. Uh, we
do not have such a code in the Downtown, uh, area, but do have a... a set of, uh,
policies and goals, uh, for that Downtown area. Uh, again, south of Burlington
Street the Riverfront Crossings plan already extends to Van Buren Street. Uh,
and the ... these three blocks are already a part of the, uh, Downtown and
Riverfront Crossings Parking District. I have a few slides to, uh, show the area.
This is a ... a view of Chauncey Swan Park near the center of these ... of the three
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block area. Uh, this is a view of City Hall. Uh, City Hall, uh, contains numerous,
uh, meetings and functions, such as the one here tonight, uh, that serves the larger
community. Uh, few slides of Ralston Creek. Uh, Ralston Creek w ... um,
for ... borders the majority of the, uh, eastern edge of this three block area. Uh, a
lot of the public input we received emphasized a desire to improve the creek
corridor, uh, make it accessible, uh, by pedestrians, create wayside parks and so
forth. Those goals are already a part of and are consistent with the Downtown
and Riverfront Crossings, uh, Master Plan. Uh, this is a view looking north from
the College Street bridge with, uh, Chauncey Swan, uh, ramp, uh, on the west side
of the creek. And a view looking south from Washington Street and you can see
the parking ramp in the background. The, uh, Downtown and Riverfront
Crossings, uh, Plan ... uh, contains a height map with recommendations for future
building heights. Uh, one of the policies in that plan is that taller buildings should
be on corner properties. Uh, and that is what we've tried to reflect with this, uh,
height map for this three block area. Uh, it does show, uh, taller buildings, seven
to 15 stories on corner properties along Gilbert Street, which is a ... a four -lane
arterial street. Uh, and at the corner of Gilbert and Burlington. Burlington Street
is a ... a five -lane arterial street and also a State highway. Uh, the green area is
Chauncey Swan Park. Uh, and the Chauncey Swan parking facility ... is on the,
uh, eastern half of the middle block. Along the Iowa Avenue, uh, frontage ... uh,
what staff has proposed is two to four stories in height. Uh, the rationale behind
that is that the majority of structures in the Iowa Avenue corridor, uh, in this area,
are two to four stories in height and Iowa Avenue is an important corridor for the
view of the Old Capitol, uh, to the west. Uh... the Unitarian Church, uh, property
is identified as a potential, uh, historic building. Uh, that word potential is
important because unless it is designated as a historic landmark, which is a
rezoning action, uh, it does not have historic landmark status. Uh, the Historic
Preservation Commission has discussed, uh, this area and did recommend that the
Unitarian Church be identified as an eligible, uh, historic landmark property.
Actually designating that as a landmark would require, again, a ... a rezoning
action. Uh, one of the ... the Unitarian Church property is currently zoned, uh,
CB -5, which is a Downtown zoning designation, uh... that allows building heights
up to 75 feet. The CB -5 zone does have, uh, floor to area ration bonus require...
bonus standards, uh, embodied in that zoning category, uh, to allow a greater floor
to area ratio, if a historic property is preserved. Uh, there's some language in the
staff report that ... uh, if that property is preserved and neighboring property, uh, is
proposed to be developed, and as part of the development the church is preserved,
uh, there is potential to go above that two to four story height limit, consistent
with the CB -5 zone. Uh, the remainder of the majority of these three blocks is...
are, uh, zoned public, uh, because they are owned by the City. In summary, uh,
staff recommends that the three blocks, uh, of this area west of Van Buren Street
and north of Burlington Street be added to the Downtown District of the
Riverfront Crossings and Downtown Master Plan. Uh, the rationale is that these
blocks are higher intensity in use and have community -wide, uh, functions
consistent with the Downtown setting, including the Recreation Center, the Police
Station, Fire Station, City Hall, etc. Uh, they're served by Gilbert Street and
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Burlington Street. Served by a 450 -space parking facility. Uh, within one to two
blocks of the pedestrian mall and the Library, and I think that's... that's an
important point in that ... uh, for a long time part of the City's goals for downtown
have been to encourage mixed-use development and more residential
development within walking distance, uh, of downtown. Uh, these three blocks
represent an opportunity, uh, to do that, uh, in an area that is not part of a
residential neighborhood. Uh, these three blocks are already home to publicly
oriented community events and functions, such as the Farmers Market, uh, food
trucks, live music, and events at the Recreation Center. Uh, and again, are an
opportunity to add mixed-use development without encroaching, uh, into
residential neighborhoods. And ... with that, I'll go off script a little bit. Uh, I
think there's two ... two decision points, uh, with this proposal. Uh, number one is
should these three blocks be added to the Downtown District, uh, to allow for
mixed-use development? I think that's the first decision point. Uh, the second
div ... decision point is at what scale ... of that development. Uh, much of the, uh,
public input we've received, and we've received a significant amount of public
input which you'll see in your packet, uh, both for and against this proposal. Uh,
the ... the concerns ... were not, uh, with just allowing development on these three
blocks. It was the scale ... of development. Uh, what staff has recommended, uh,
is, uh, consistent with the policies in the Downtown District, uh, to encourage
taller buildings on corner lots, uh, transitioning to mid -rise buildings as you move
to the east, uh, and I'd say low to mid -rise buildings along that Iowa Avenue
frontage, uh, which is part of the Iowa Avenue corridor. With that I'd be glad to
take any questions!
Hayek: Questions for John?
Throgmorton: Uh, I do have some.
Yapp: Sure!
Throgmorton: So ... I know you ... you addressed this sort of obliquely, but my first question is
this. Why is the staff recommending an expansion of the downtown to the east
when for ... when 20 years of planning documents clearly indicate the City's
intention to expand the downtown to the south.
Yapp: Uh, good question. Uh, several years ago ... the, uh, City went through a facilities
study. Uh, and at that time determined that not ... not the entirety of these three
blocks were necessary... for municipal functions. Uh, along with that we've had
some long-standing policies to try to encourage mixed-use development, uh, and
residential development within walking distance of downtown. Uh, and these
three blocks represent an opportunity to do that. I think adding these three
districts to ... three blocks, excuse me, to the Downtown District do not detract
from the desire to grow to the south, as well.
Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks! If I could...
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Hayek: Go ahead, Jim!
Throgmorton: So the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 1-5.
Yapp: Yes!
Throgmorton: And did not recommend, uh, adoption of this amendment.
Yapp: Yes, and that does, uh, trigger a super -majority vote requirement (both talking)
Throgmorton: I understand. So ... so (both talking)
Yapp: ...for the City Council.
Throgmorton: ... so ... has anything changed in your recommendation since the Commission
voted 1-5?
Yapp: Not ... not to my knowledge, no.
Throgmorton: Right. Okay. So why should we reject our Commission's advice?
Yapp: I think that's a (both talking)
Throgmorton:... since they review the (both talking)
Yapp: I think that's a question you would ask yourselves.
Throgmorton: I'm sure we will! (laughter) So you don't want to answer that question, other
than (both talking)
Yapp: Well I ... I can't ... I can't speak for the City Council, but uh...
Throgmorton: Okay! I ... I also understand that ... uh, some Members of the Commission feel that
the minutes of their February 5th meeting do not adequately convey the
conversation that Commissioners had during that meeting as they were deciding
whether or not to support the recommended amendments. Uh, it's my
understanding that, you know, the revised minutes are not yet available and can't
be available for another several days — I don't know exactly when — so I'm
wondering when those revised minutes will be available for us to read so that we
know what they actually said to one another.
Yapp: Uh, the minutes we attached were preliminary minutes. Uh, that is our practice
when ... when the Commission has not yet approved, uh, their minutes. Uh, the
next Commission meeting is, uh, next Thursday, a week from this Thursday. Uh,
and we hope to have Commission... the Commissioners that wanted revisions to
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the minutes will have submitted those by that time. Uh, the Commiss... the
minutes do reflect the vote accurately.
Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I wasn't questioning that at all and ... uh, but I ... I just, I'm aware that
some Commissioners have asked for the minutes to be revised because they do
not fully express the conver... (both talking)
Yapp: At the time we published this, uh, packet, those were the latest... version of the
minutes that we had.
Throgmorton: Okay. Well I'd like to ask one more question and then, uh, defer to everybody
else. Uh, one of your memos, I don't know which one cause there are several in
this (both talking)
Yapp: There were several!
Throgmorton: (laughs) Yeah, probably real tired of writing these things (laughs) But one of the
memos states that the building height map..."provides guidance on building
heights to be considered in any future rezoning requests. Uh, I worry that this
guidance to be considered language is mighty vague. Uh, and does not provide
the public with... um... clarity about what actually might be built there.
Dobyns: Excuse me, Jim. Are these questions or are these commentary? I thought this
was time for (both talking) questions.
Throgmorton: ... all the others were questions.
Dobyns: But I think ... I think we're doing interrogatives now.
Hayek: Well if you're getting to a question, then I ... I, this'd be the time for it.
Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I'd like to have a little clarity about how ... uh... the guidance would be
considered.
Yapp: (both talking)
Throgmorton: ... especially with regard to any potential density bonuses that might be involved.
Yapp: Oh! (both talking) Uh, Com ... again, a Comprehensive Plan is a guide. Uh... the
way staff would use this height map is that if rezoning requests are received, uh,
we would recommend that, uh, through the zoning classification, or through a
Conditional Zoning Agreement, uh, the zoning specify a maximum height.
According to this map. However, uh, the zoning code also has, uh, incentives in
place, uh, to allow a greater height, uh, in return for a public benefit. Uh, such as
historic preservation. And I think we ... we would have to honor those incentives
embodied in the zoning code, as well.
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Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks! I'm done!
Hayek: Thanks, Jim. Other questions for John?
Botchway: I just had a quick question. You mentioned at kind of the beginning of your, um,
kind of discussion with us that this was potentially something that would
encourage growth, um, and that you felt that this recommendation would
encourage growth. Is there a lack (both talking)
Yapp: I would say `allow for.'
Botchway: Okay.
Yapp: ... instead of `encourage,' but yes.
Botchway: All right, never mind then!
Yapp: Oh! Okay!
Botchway: I mean ... just the word that you used made me think that if that was the case or if
that was the thought... behind the recommendation, I just was going to ask the
question then, do we, I mean, do we have any analysis or do we truly think that
CB -5 wouldn't have the same amount of growth or encourage in ... individuals to
be interested in the property.
Yapp: Uh...
Botchway: But ... never mind!
Yapp: One thing I wanted to mention is, uh... in the context of...because Planning and
Zoning Commission has ... has not recommended approval, uh, that does trigger a
super -majority vote requirement by the City Council, uh, to approve this. Uh, if it
is not approved, uh... and if this proposal is not approved, we would operate under
the current... Comprehensive Plan, uh, for these three blocks.
Botchway: I guess another question I have is so in that sense, there would be no situation
where we'd go back before the Planning and Zoning Commission to discuss, you
know ... kind of what Jim was saying, you know, a change in how this looks or
just kind of (both talking)
Yapp: I think if that were the case, uh, staff would want some direction... from the City
Council.
Hayek: So, Jim ... er, uh, John, to ... to go back to your, uh, your ... your comment about...
the ... the three block area if ... if we don't support the staff recommendation this
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evening, and ... and things remain in place with respect to that geographic area,
future proposals, and I... one example would be New Pioneer, which I know has
interest in this area.
Yapp: That ... that has been public, yes.
Hayek: Yeah, um... if they were to come forward with a redevelopment proposal,
you ... you'd have to basically piecemeal deal with that on a Comp Plan level and
then (both talking)
Yapp: I think ... I think for any development proposals on these three blocks, uh, it would
be a ... a piecemeal approach with Comprehensive Plan amendments and
rezonings. Uh... for ... various areas on these three blocks. Uh, the benefit of
having a ... a ... unified vision, if you will, for these three blocks is it...it gives
some... some direction over a long period of time. Uh, the other thing I wanted to
mention was the, uh, Recreation Center, uh, in that we do show, uh... potential
future development on the Recreation Center property. Uh, there was input,
public input at the Planning and Zoning level with a concern about that. Uh, and
just ... and I know the Council is aware of this but there are no plans to close the
Recreation Center. Uh, this was in the context of long-range planning.
Hayek: And ... while you're up here, could you reiterate or ... for us, what is not before us
this evening. I mean I know the P&Z minutes are ... there are several meetings
and the proposal was originally for a larger area.
Yapp: Sure!
Hayek: A portion of that was deferred and has not come, you know, completed its P&Z
process.
Yapp: The, uh... the larger area we started with ... uh, there were two areas. Uh, this area
north of Jefferson Street, in between Clinton Street and Dubuque Street. Uh,
and ... east of Gilbert Street, uh, to the ... uh, mid -point between Johnson Street and
Van Buren Street. Uh, Planning and Zoning Commission deferred action on ... uh,
all of these areas, except for the three ... three blocks, uh, between Gilbert Street
and Van Buren Street. So the remaining areas are ... are still before the Planning
and Zoning Commission.
Hayek: Any other questions for John? Okay, thanks, John! Uh, this is a public hearing.
Uh, based on the Planning and Zoning, uh, participation and the number of bodies
out there, I anticipate a lot of input tonight and so I'm going to ask that people
limit their comments to four minutes so that we can hear from as many people as
possible. Um ... there's no particular order we need to take the comments in, but
I ... I invite you to come forward and we'll stick with our protocol which is ... to
please sign in, verbally give us your name, uh, and to limit your comments to four
minutes, and I encourage you, uh, as you listen to the input, uh, and if you are
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thinking about making your own comments to the Council to, uh, not go over
territory, uh, that was covered by a previous speaker, but instead give us
something new that we can benefit from in terms of tonight's public input. Thank
you!
Eastham: Thank you, uh, Mayor Hayek. My name is Charlie Eastham. I'm a Member of
the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission. I just wanted to address
the ... the, uh, minutes issue that, uh, already been discussed. Uh, I just, um, as
you know, the Planning and Zoning Commission considered this, uh, recommend
...recommendation on this particular item, this Item 6 tonight, uh, at their
February 5th meeting. (mumbled) February, uh... um ... um, well... 19th meetin�
we considered, we looked at the draft minutes for that, uh, for that February 5
meeting and uh, some of us noticed that the, uh, discussion of the Planning and
Zoning Commission Members that led up to the vote was much briefer than what
we remembered. So we went back and listened to the audio tafes for that
February 5th meeting, uh, and uh... uh, then at the February 19' meeting we, uh,
asked the rest of the Commission Members to defer approval of those, uh,
minutes so we would have a chance to add, uh, add, uh... uh, additional, uh,
discussions and thoughts to the minutes. And since we have not had a meeting
since that February 19th meeting (mumbled) not had an opportunity to do anything
with the minutes from the February 5th meeting up to ... through tonight. Uh, I just
want to point out that the, um, Iowa City ordinance that, um, applies to the
consideration by the Council of proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan
states very clearly, uh, that the Council is to ... after the recommendations and
reports of the Planning and Zoning Commission have been filed, then the City
Council... before an act ... enacting amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, uh,
should hold a public ... needs to hold a public hearing. I read that several times
and to me that paragraph is quite clear in that the City Council is to con ... is to
hold a public hearing after the report and recommendations to the Planning and
Zoning Commission have been filed, and they have not been filed to date. They
haven't been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and they have
not been on any, uh, City Council, um, Consent agenda for, uh, filing. So I'm,
um, I'm confused about why the Council is holding this public hearing at this
time.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. (talking in background) Please, uh, give us your
name and...
Kuenzli: Do you want to go ahead with the public hearing or have you decided that
the... since you don't have minutes.
Hayek: Well we're ... we're holding the public hearing, and unless I hear, uh, from ... from
Legal that we should not proceed, we're going to proceed.
Kuenzli: My name is Ruedi Kuenzli. Although I have lived in Iowa City for 45 years, I
haven't quite gotten rid of my Kentucky accent (laughter) I, uh... walk downtown
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all the time, or take my bicycle from Summit Street. I've never had a parking
space at my work. It's very easy to do this where we live on the east side, close
in. I have been thinking how we got to this point of considering the proposed
amendment to Co ... to the Comprehensive Plan, two and a half years after the
request for proposal for the College/Gilbert site went out. My conjectures are...
the lot for the building is owned by the people of Iowa City ... with the exception
of a parcel that belongs to MidAmerican, which is zoned CB -5, allowing for a
maximum six -story building. Since this predominantly City land... since this is
predominantly City land, our planners must have grasped the opportunity to put
something special here. The request for proposal asked for a bold project ... for
bold projects reflecting Central Business CB -10 density. That means unlimited
building heights, and indeed the highest one, 20 -story high, was chosen by the
Council. It seems that in this process, little thought was given as to whether this
20 -story building, later reduced to 15, would be compatible with the
Comprehensive Plan. Of course the zoning for the lot needed to be changed, but
before the property can be rezoned, the Comprehensive Plan must be amended to
lay the groundwork for the upzoning. To (mumbled) staff is recommending the
expansion of the Downtown District, which allows high, uh, highrises, uh, CB -10.
As a Comprehensive Plan amendment, expanding the Downtown District would
for the first time allow Central Business CB- 1Os unlimited building heights east of
Gilbert Street. The Planning and Zoning Commission's recent public hearings on
the Comprehensive Plan amendment were the first opportunities for the public
and the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider future development in this
area east of Gilbert Street as it relates to the Comprehensive Plan and this
opportunity came two and a half years after the request for proposal for ... for a
building of unlimited height went out. We probably should have had this
discussion before the request for proposals went out. Since the Comprehensive
Plan amendment to expand the downtown high density core district across Gilbert
Street contradicts the Comprehensive Plan, the Planning and Zoning Commission
voted on February 5th against the amendment by a vote 5-1. I very much support
the Commission's vote against the amendment. If you vote for this amendment,
you would indeed put highrise buildings where the Comprehensive Plan
consistently calls for building heights that provide a smooth transition to the
College Green Historic District, which is only one and a half blocks east of
Gilbert. Highrise buildings, according to the Comprehensive Plan, belong in the
downtown core and in Riverfront Crossings.
Hayek: Sir, I need you to wrap ... wrap up. You're at the four minutes.
Kuenzli: Uh... I urge you to vote, uh, against, uh... the amendment. Instead of an eastward
expansion of the downtown district's high density, I envision redevelopment in
this area but by following the example of Northside Market Place, including
Brewery Square. We could call it `Chauncey Square.' The Central Business CB -
5 and CB -2 zones, six and four story high buildings, would establish an orderly
transition from the downtown core to the College Green Historic District.
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Hayek: Sir, I ... I need you to wrap up. We ... we need to (both talking)
Kuenzli: Okay, last sentence! Chauncey Square would comprise distinct new civic and
mixed-use commercial district. City Hall ... local foods...
Hayek: Sir ... I ... I really need you to finish up here. (both talking) I'm trying to be
consistent with everyone (both talking)
Kuenzli: Thank you.
Hayek: ...and I will continue to do so. Thank you for the comments!
Quellhorst: Good evening, I'm Nancy Quellhorst. I'm with the Iowa City Area Chamber of
Commerce. We support the staff's recommendation for the Comprehensive Plan
amendment. Um, employers locally are losing opportunities to expand. They're
struggling with talent acquisition and we know that mixed-use projects downtown
attract workers that are so important to business growth. Survey datas, think
tanks, even the Council of Economic Advisors will tell you that young workers
who will sustain our future economy prefer dense, diverse, interesting work
places that are workable, bikable, and transit served. Mixed-use areas are also
attractive to retirees who want walkability and access to downtown amenities.
The Civic District Plan features smart growth. It yields affordable infrastructure.
It provides the highest revenue potential to the City, which is important to fund
...funding the social services and the community needs on which we've come to
depend. I think, uh, Plaza Towers and Park at 201 are two highrises that are, uh,
extraordinary examples of this. They've increased the vibrancy of downtown.
They've attracted companies like Meta Communications and Modus Engineering
that have attracted, uh, the knowledge workers on which our economy, uh, is
required in order to grow! Thanks for your consideration!
Hayek: Thanks for your comments!
Ginsberg: I'm Mark Ginsberg. Um, first of all this is, uh, I think a thoughtful process and
one that's not easy for any of you or for those that are here representing their own
opinions, uh, to make or to articulate. Um ... I just want by way of, uh,
introduction to those who don't know me, I've been a member of this community
for a long time. I've invested a lot of my time and effort, not only in my business
and the business development, but also in the cultural programming of this
community. We have seen out of our business grow the Jazz Festival, the Friday
Night Concert Series, the Gallery Walks, the Saturday Night Movie Series, trees,
the benches, the pianos, along with Mark's help in that as well. Tonight I'm here
as an advocate for the amendment. I'm speaking on behalf of the Convention and
Visitors Bureau, as their past president. Current Board member. We see a
tremendous potential. Can't speak to the specifics or the, uh... to ... to what Nancy
has spoken to or to some of the ... the figures and fractions that you're talking
about, but for us it's a ... a matter of economic development and ... in addition to
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biodiversity that Fred is introducing to the community, we feel that economic
diversity, uh... generation diversity, business diversity, residential diversity, and
we also see that the ... current use of the ... the space is ... obviously underutilized,
but our feeling is, like Nancy's, uh, vertical at this demarc and not going any
further east is acceptable and encouraged by the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments!
Mondanaro: My name's Jim Mondanaro and I own the Bread Garden Market and I've been in
business in downtown Iowa City since 1976. I've seen this town change, always
for the better, without controversy. That's what makes Iowa City a unique town.
I'm here to say that because of pulling these three ... this three block area into the
downtown is a good thing! The New Pioneer Co -Op has asked, I believe, to
expand their facility and I think that is a great thing to do! Is that against what I
do at the Bread Garden? Absolutely not! Competition breeds business! And I
just want you to know that you have my full support, and I hope you pass this
amendment to bring this into the district. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Etre: Uh, my name is George Etre. Um, I own Takanami Restaurant, Formosa
Restaurant, Giovanni's Restaurant, and I'm one of the owners of the Iowa Chop
House. I also live, um, downtown in Plaza Towers and ... this kind of
development, um... and these kind of buildings are what make me want to stay
downtown, and what make me continue to ... expand downtown. This is the
excitement that ... our clientele loves and it's why I live downtown. So I'm all for
all of this and I'm for the amendment and ... there's a lot of opportunity for growth
downtown and Iowa City is so unique, um, that I understand why we should be so
careful about decisions like this, but as a business owner, and someone who lives
downtown, I'm all for it and ... I love all this type of expansion. Um, it gives us a
little bit of a big city feel downtown and um, it's the energy that ... that we feed off
at the restaurants. It brings people downtown. It ... it's just a microcosm of
everything about downtown. So, thank you for your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Smith: Hello, my name is Ian Smith and this is my wife Dahlia Smith. We are recent,
um ... we came here recently about in September. We absolutely love downtown.
We're here to speak for the amendment. Um ... I ... I actually work in Cedar
Rapids and the downtown is so nice here I'm willing to drive the 30 minutes
every day and uh, my wife absolutely loves it here.
Smith: Yeah, I just moved from Italy. That's where I'm from and it's a long trip to Iowa
(laughter) and I actually decided to come and live in Iowa, well, except for my
husband, because downtown Iowa City has a lot in common with Europe.
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There's so much art, so much going on all the time despite it's a pretty small city.
Um ... it just makes sense to me that the downtown area should expand together
with the art community and everything else that you have going on here. It's a
beautiful city. And I think expanding vertically is just a way to expand in the
future. We can't expand horizontally forever and ... I just love to walk. It's good
for the environment. It's good for the people. I ... I wish, you know ... the
Downtown District could expand.
Smith: Thank you.
Smith: Thanks!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments!
Holden: Good evening. My name is Ann Holden and I am here to speak as a
representative of Trinity Episcopal Church. First I would like to state that Trinity
supports growth and development of downtown Iowa City. Since the 1960s,
Trinity members have chosen to remain a downtown church, growing connections
and ministries in support of people downtown — the poor, the homeless and
hungry, as well as the University students, staff, and faculty and other workers
and residents. We wish to see and be a part of a vibrant downtown. With our last
major renovation completed in 2009, Trinity has invested over $2.5 million to
protect the historical integrity of our worship space, retrofit the church to become
accessible to all, and upgrade our mechanical systems to provide long-term
energy conservation. In past conversations with the City regarding the
development of the Chauncey, Trinity has advocated for affordable housing and
environmental sustainability. These remain values we support. Benjamin
Schaumbaug of the State Historic Society of Iowa wrote in his iconic book, Iowa
City, a Contribution to the Early History of Iowa, that when surveyors began
platting Iowa City in 1839, special care was made to include areas specifically
dedicated for the State Capitol, the Governor's House, city parks, school, three
market spaces, and four reservations for church. Well before the first
automobiles, or the concept of highrise buildings, the forefathers of Iowa City
recognized the essential conclu... inclusion of churches in an organized society.
Churches serve all ages and income levels. We are one of the few places where a
great diversity of people is served and welcomed. Our clergy and staff devote
significant time either offering direct help or providing guidance as to where
services can be accessed. Trinity's ministries include support for Agape Cafd, the
Free Lunch program, and Shelter House. Healing ministry continues to be a vital
part of Trinity. During the past year, more than 150 people were served through a
variety of programs. Clients include both Trinity members and people from the
larger community. Many are undergoing cancer treatments and find that healing
touch is a valuable complement to their medical regimens. These are just a few of
our activities supporting the greater good for all. To continue our ministries we
must have adequate access for the regular use and enjoyment of our property.
Currently our gravest concern about the proposed three block rezoning is the
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Page 21
ongoing issue of inadequate parking facilities. There's a common misconception
that a church such as Trinity only uses the facility a few hours each week on
Sundays. Well I can't speak for other congregations, but this is certainly not the
case for Trinity. In this week alone, there are 46 scheduled activities, including
12...12 -step program meetings. There are 11 formal worship services throughout
the week. Over 50 ministries meet throughout the year, some of which I've
already, uh, highlighted. If we have a funeral during the week or God forbid on a
football Saturday, the lack of adequate parking is a major difficulty for all seeking
to visit us as they honor their loved one. This is a problem without any new
development in this area. Yet the proposed rezoning will greatly add to the
building mass. By including these three blocks in the Central Business District,
while the map shows projections of C-5 ... it will automatically and by ... by
comments made by the City, most likely with incentives, mean that we will be
talking about C-10, and we will be talking about large, tall buildings. This
designation holds no requirements for developers to provide parking for the
people using this space.
Hayek: Ma'am, I'll need you to wrap up. You're over the four minutes.
Holden: As it now stands the City does not accept any responsibility for providing
infrastructure to alleviate the parking gridlock that would be incrementally
increased. It seems likely that more and more of the available parking will be
rented or given to projects that we will be ... that will be developed. We love Iowa
City and wish to be a committed partner in its growth and development. It would
be a terrible shame if these areas are developed in such a way that the church
community continues to leave the downtown district. We ask that the City
considers the needs of all of its constituents, including our church. A lack of
access (both talking)
Hayek: Ma'am, I ... I really need you to finish up (both talking)
Holden: ...our ability to continue ... we look forward to being involved in future
conversations. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Gidal: Good evening, uh, my name is Eric Gidal. I'm a resident of the Northside
Neighborhood. I find on occasions like this I often wish I lived in a much larger
city where I didn't know and respect so many of the Members of City Council
(laughter) and members of the community with whom I have great respect for but
I often disagree. Um, I just don't think I speak for myself when I say that a
number of us are feeling increasingly dismayed and feeling a lack of morale, uh,
ebbing away as we see what seems to us indifferent and piecemeal development
of the downtown. Um, I worry ... that taking this as a simple three block segment
outside of consideration of what lies to the east and what lies to the north is
continuing that kind of simply opportunistic, uh, and maximizing development
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without a consideration for the surrounding neighborhoods, and while I support of
course a vibrant downtown and many of the business owners who give so much to
our community, I would also ask you to think about the residents who live here
and for whom the symbol, the icon of Iowa City, with all its ... gables and its, uh,
spires, uh, is much more appealing than simply a skyline of endless rectangular
blocks. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Lorian: Lucie Lorian again. I'm one of the neighbors. I live on Washington Street. Um,
I'm from France, so it's not Italy but it's not very different. Uh, I ... I love
vibrancy. I love this town. I ... I think I'll be here forever. Um, and I'm all for
smart growth and I'm all for building high and I'm all for mixed-use, all these
there's no doubt are good, but we don't need 10 story buildings for that. Four or
five stories is just fine. We have examples of four, five story buildings that some
I like, some I don't like. I'm not going to judge on the looks of `em, right, but
they're fine. Economically_ they're successful. They're all occupied. The
upstairs, downstairs, not always — ground floors, and they're all between four and
five, six stories. I think that's perfectly fine to achieve all the goals that we...
we've heard from the business community, of vibrancy of mixed-use. So the next
question is, why here, why so high? I think this is a transition zone ... between the
downtown, College Park, and historic neighborhoods. Transition zone is not 10
story buildings. For me it's closer to four or five. Two, four — that's low. I can
see on (mumbled) and I can see four, five, six — that's all right! But 10, 15, 20 —
that seems completely out of proportion for something that is a transition zone.
So I urge you to vote against. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments!
Cole: Rockne Cole, and I'm the co-chair of Iowa Coalition Against the Shadow. I guess
I echo the other person's remarks, um, you know what I see here is so much of the
people that are proponents from the Chauncey, I find myself agreeing with
probably 90% of their positions. That is to say I 100% agree in the concept of
mixed-use. 1100% agree that we need to find a way to have dynamic, place -
making for the community. I 100% agree that we need to have a dynamic arts
community, but I disagree that we need to build beyond the human scale in order
to be able to make that happen. We need to look only to the successful parts of
the downtown that already exist on Iowa Avenue. Take a stroll down there. Most
of those buildings are two and three stories hi ... high and are some of our most
dynamic locations. Go to the northside! Look at ... really what ... think about
really what makes the North Market Square Park work and the ... and the North
District. It's human scale development where you can feel a sense of boundary,
you can feel a sense of community. One thing I'd like to briefly address is this
question of being a big city. Of course we all aspire to be something more, but I
don't think we can really forget the community that we are. You look at the cities
that have grown really high. A lot of them, after their experience with building
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Page 23
beyond a human scale, have found that it does not work. If you want to look at
major cities, look at major cities such as Washington, D.C.; Copenhagen,
Denmark; Paris, France; Florence, Italy; Edinburgh, Scotland — these are some of
the most dynamic places, um, that ... that I know of and most of them have limits,
um, of four stories and less. Height really does matter! It is not an insignificant
factor. Um, tragically a couple years ago there was a ... a major earthquake — I
think it was in Christchurch, New Zealand. That community had their... it was
totally decimated. And starting with a clean slate, what they had decided was is
they were only going to with all the negative experiences they had with height,
they decided all buildings were going to be four stories or less. Why? Just
because of, um, sort of doe -eyed idealism? No. Because they looked at the
communities that had built beyond a human scale, seen unfortunately the tension
that that ... that sort of scale causes, and they rejected it! So I find myself again
agreeing with a lot of the dynamic place -makers and... and contributists to the
community here today, but what we need to do is reject this notion that you only
can achieve these things through the height, and a final point, um, I don't believe
there's any members of the New Pi Co -Op here tonight. I don't think they've
spoken as a board. Um, so I think in terms of pro or con, I don't think their
position should be taken into consideration, unless there's a board member that
can speak on them, in their corporate capacity, um, and I also echo that as I ... I
appreciate that everyone has been able to have a very thoughtful discussion as
we ... as we struggle with these issues of becoming a bigger community.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Zeitler: Hi, my name is Rod Zeitler and I've also lived here for 45 years and this is my
first time to the City Council! (laughter)
Hayek: Welcome!
Zeitler: And urn ... I'm here to support the staff recommendation. Um, I've seen a lot of
changes in Iowa City. I've seen a lot of beautiful old homes torn down for ugly
apartments. We have some very beautiful buildings downtown and I'd like to see
more of that high density, uh, multi -use type facility. I'm an avid bowler. I'm
looking forward to being able to bowl in a bowling alley in Iowa City downtown
like we used to do. So I ... I ... I would support the staff recommendation, uh, in
regard to this change in the City plan. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments!
Nolte: Good evening, uh, Mark Nolte with the Iowa City Area Development Group. Uh,
would just like to echo some of my colleagues' comments that, uh, we, uh, we
need to grow our economy. Now is the time. Cities around the nation are being
sorted out into `winners' and `losers.' Uh, we get calls for, uh, companies that
want to locate offices close to downtown. You've heard some of the other
comments. Uh, people want to live here and this is why, because people care
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Page 24
about this community and that's something you can't get everywhere else, and uh,
I think that's what makes a city special. I don't think anyone's advocating that we
become Chicago but, uh, there was a vision for that RFP that was put out to have
big, bold thinking and I think there's been good communication between City
staff, uh, and the developer to bring the property into a manageable size. I think
15 stories is not 40 stories, but building up is the most sustainable. It's the most
environmentally conscious. It's most accessible. And we're trying to build that
kind of density that ... that will allow us to continue to grow and become that
dynamic place, uh, that will allow us to succeed long-term and so, uh, I would ... I
would urge you to support the City's recommendations. Uh, thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Dalton: Good evening, my ... my name is Bryce Dalton. I'm an attorney that practices
with the law firm of Pugh, Hagan, Prahm in Coralville and our firm represents the
Greater Iowa City Homebuilder's Association. I'm here representing them
tonight. Uh, the HBA is enthusiastic about these amendments and supports it.
They feel that staff has done an excellent job of taking careful consideration to the
growth and the fixture of the city. It feels especially that the height proposals that
have been proposed are consistent with the ... the development plans, with the
Master Plan, and especially the transitioning between, uh, the different
development sites. The HBA is concerned with the Unitarian Church parcel. It
believes that that parcel should be slated for a higher, uh, height restrictions than
the current two to four. It would advocate for a more four to six, which would be
consistent as a corner lot within Gilbert Street and that's consistent with the CB -5.
Additionally the HBA's a little concerned with, again, tagging this property as a
proposed historic site. The HBA feels again this is the City's perhaps way of
suggestion that it already supports, uh, designating this property as a... as historic.
On a personal note, I actua... I went to law school here. I graduated in 2013 and
moved to Des Moines where my family and I have two twin year old girls and I'm
married and we live downtown. I walk to my office every day. We lived in an
11 -story building at Sixth and Walnut. I chose to leave Des Moines to come back
to Iowa City and that's one thing we noticed is for our family there really isn't a
lot of mixed-use development where we can live downtown. I can still have that
commute where I can walk to work. Uh, we recognize there's... there are
property downtown, but for a family, you know, lot of living on the ped mall isn't
ideal for little kids. And we feel, I feel personally, this would be a great
opportunity to attract people like me who make the decision to come back and be
permanent residents, where I can still have that environment of living downtown.
So both on the HBA's side and ... and personally we ... we encourage the City
Council to adopt these proposed amendments. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments!
Kuenzli: My name is Cecile Kuenzli. Um, as Mr. Yapp said earlier, the Comprehensive
Plan's purpose is to, uh, direct expansion and growth, uh, to arrive at a consensus
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about it, and while the document is not regulatory in nature, it does guarantee that
if followed, growth is done in a manner that is consistent with an overall vision
for the city. Well there's another document, the Iowa City Zoning Code, that
spells out the criteria that have to be met for approval of making an amendment to
the Comprehensive Plan. The most relevant criterion for approval states, and I
quote, the proposed amendment will be compatible with other policies or
provisions of the Comprehensive Plan, including any District Plans or other
amendments thereto. End quote. In your enormous Council packets for this
evening, you received excerpts of Comprehensive Plans and District Plans from
1992 to 2014, in which the parts pertaining to development north, east, and south
of downtown were highlighted. If you had time to read through them, you must
have noticed that they call for transitional areas between the high density
downtown area and the surrounding neighborhoods and ... and historic districts to
the east and north in order to protect those neighborhoods from the character -
altering effects of high density development. In that context, the east side is
particularly vulnerable as was previously stated there currently exists only a one
and a half block area ... distance between Gilbert Street and College Green. Were
you to adopt the amendment, it would be possible for multiple highrise buildings
to spring up in that cl... close to that residential area. When the amendments were
presented to P&Z, I was at the meeting. Several Commissioners stated that they
failed to see a rationale for the amendment. Hence the vote I suppose! I would
then ask the following question: how did the urgency arrive for the three
municipal blocks lying east and south of Gilbert to be included in the Downtown
District when the forward-looking Iowa City 2030 Plan, adopted only in 2013,
clearly states, `Staff recommends a process be initiated to appropriately address
how this area redevelops over time. After a redevelopment plan is complete, this
area should be added to the Central District Plan map.' You will note that on the
zoning map for the Central District, the recommended zoning, uh, density in the
transition zone is CB -2, two to four story high buildings and CB -5, up to six story
buildings. The IC20 plan makes no mention of adding the municipal blocks to the
high density Downtown District where the zoning category CB -10 would permit
structures of unlimited height. One can only assume it is not included because
IC2030, the latest document, is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's policies
that have guided decisions in downtown planning district for over 20 years.
Adopting this amendment to the Com ... uh, Comprehensive Plan contradicts the
latest recommendations of 2030 and pushes high density development into
neighborhoods lying to the east and north of Gilbert Street. Those highrises
would form a veritable picket fence on the east side, where instead the City's own
planning documents, beginning at Gilbert Street, call for buildings that reflect the
downtown's characteristic building height of two to six stories. So, since P&G
rejected the amendment, since the amendment that would create the high density
in the three block municipal area contradicts 20 years worth of comprehensive
plans and district plans, and since the amendment fails to meet the criteria
mandated for amending the Comprehensive Plan, in the City's own Zoning Code,
I urge you to reject the amendment. To adopt it would be inconsistent with any
planning for this area that has occurred in the city to date.
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Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Carsner: Good evening. My name is Tom Carsner. I am a native of Iowa City and I have
seen, um... several, uh... attempts at, uh, improving the town through, uh,
development. I go even before urban renewal and I think in each one of those
plans we lose something and we gain something, and I am of the same mind about
this proposal really. I'm somewhat agnostic about several of the elements, but
one thing that I'm not agnostic about and feel strongly about is tax increment
financing. And I believe that, um ... anything that the City does to encourage, uh,
tax increment finance projects through rezonings is a detriment to the city as a
whole. We have seen recent, uh, proposals come before the Council without
asking for TIF money. It can be done. Developments can be done, uh, without
public support, and I encourage you to consider that very strongly as you consider
this vote tonight about, uh, whether adopting this amendment would encourage
more, uh, tax increment financing proposals. I think, uh, I know I for one am
tired of, uh, putting my dime, uh, into, uh, projects and I think many other people
are too. So, uh, that's my major concern tonight. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments!
Conroy: Hi, uh, my name's Tim Conroy and I'm a real estate agent in the Iowa City area,
and I happen to work, uh, out of an office in the downtown, uh, section, and I'm
here today to show my support for staff's recommendation and I hope that the
Council, uh, will agree with them. I on a ... on a real estate perspective, I see the
need for mixed-use downtown, primarily mixed-use that incorporates true
residential. So when I mean true residential I mean condos that are going to be
occupied by people living in them, rather than condos that are rented out. Um,
this three blocks that we're discussing tonight has a site that would be in my
opinion perfect for that. It would also bolster the city, uh, image. It seems a little
bit of an oversight that the civic district was not included within the
Comprehensive Plan for Iowa City, and perhaps we're playing a little catch up on
that. But I see on a day to day basis people not only moving within our city, but
moving to Iowa City, and there is definitely a need and a hope from people
coming into this city and to this environment for jobs, for the University, that they
have residential housing downtown. That's a ... not dominated by undergraduate
rentals, and I think... that... going with this amendment creates that kind of a
framework to work in the future and I hope you approve of it. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Phipps: Hi my name is Barry Phipps. After 22 years of living in Chicago, my wife and I
relocated here three years ago, uh, as my wife took a job at the University of
Iowa, um, Library. We love it here. When we moved here we were primarily
attracted to the downtown. Um, I feel like what we have here is something really
special. It's very unique. Um ... I described Iowa City to my Chicago friends as
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taking everything that's amazing from all over the city and putting it into a very
dense area, where we have countless great restaurants, we've got an independent
movie theater, we have, uh, venues that have the same bands come through that
go to Chicago. Everything that Chicago has, we have here. The benefit of what's
better... of Iowa City than Chicago is it's all within walking distance. They're all
right here. It's so unique! It's so special! We want to see more of it. Um ... we
have been here for three years. We lived in Plaza Towers for the first year,
renting a studio apartment. We love the mixed-use building. We love the
opportunity to have our gym be in the same building. To have a grocery store in
the ground floor. To have my wife walk to work and walk home for lunch. I
work from home. We get to see each other more often. Walking everywhere.
Now we live about two blocks north on Van Buren near this proposed
amendment, which we advocate. We want to see more of this dense development
of great stuff here. Um, when people come to visit us from Chicago, we walk
them around through the city and everyone's jealous of what we have. They see
our car parked in the driveway. They see us walk to all these places. Uh... love
this town. I think it's, uh, great what's happened so far and I want to see more of
the same. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Thanks, Evan.
Diehl: Hello, my name's Paul Diehl. I live at, uh, 221 E. College. And my family and I
have lived in Iowa City since 1975. Doesn't seem that long but um ... we have and
we've seen all kinds of changes but the ... the downtown as it is now is in my mind
the best that it's ever been. Um ... the ... I love the phrase `human scale.' Um,
because human scale doesn't have to do with altitude. It has to do with what you
find there as value and beauty can be any height. Um ... where you live can have
any height. And for me, I ... as I've grown less, uh, pedestrian over the years, um,
my first opportunity was just a few years ago to come down to Iowa City,
downtown Iowa City, and wonder around to my heart's content. Before then, I
was trying to find parking places or... you know, a spot where I... someone could
let me out. Now I'm free, in downtown Iowa ... Iowa City, and I ... I think that's a
wonderful development for me, uh, and maybe um ... uh, the compensation for that
is, uh... um, having uh... having the diversity of, uh, all kinds of people, uh, in the
area, but my... my favorite moment, and then I'll, uh, leave off, was when my
granddaughters were here a couple years ago and Maizy and I walked down to the
cupcake place. And we were ... we went through all the different routes that we
could to get there and she was thrilled pointing out different buildings, pointing
out the...the, uh, Jefferson and its decoration and its, um, and its height, which...
which I hadn't thought about before. Um, and... and Seashore Hall and, um... she
also noticed, um ... uh, the ice cream place, alas (laughs) which is gone but
uh... um, may ... maybe we can get that back. At any rate, you know when
I ... when I look through down... downtown Iowa City, I don't see short buildings
and tall buildings. I see diversity, beauty, difference, and happy people, and... the
folks that come and visit us, they walk away saying, `We're going to think about
this,' about moving back or moving to Iowa City, and that is only possible I think
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with more, uh, residential areas downtown. Urn ... the idea that there's no demand
for that is, um, belied by the fact that they sell out almost immediately (laughs)
So, um, I ... I urge that you continue your approval of, uh, of this amendment.
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Sherburne: Uh, my name is Andrew Sherburne. I'm the Founder ... Co -Founder of Film
Scene and uh, I've lived here in Iowa City for 1 I years. I'm an immigrant from
far-off Minnesota. (laughter) Um ... yesterday was International Women's Day
and uh, Film Scene hosted a screening of `She's Beautiful When She's Angry,' a
documentary film about the passionate women who founded the modern women's
movement. Uh, over 70 people came to our little downtown ped mall cinema, uh,
to partake in the screening and a discussion led by leaders from Planned
Parenthood and the UI Gender and Women's Study Department. Uh, over 70
people. Our theater only seats 65. (laughs) Don't worry! The Fire Department
said it was okay (laughter) We ... we (laughs) we can accommodate those people,
but we also had to turn away dozens of people at the door, and I woke up this
morning, uh, and took a look at Facebook to see what people were saying, and I
just wanted to read a few comments. Urn ... here's what they said: It would be
wonderful to have this here for more screenings! Agreed, more screenings
please! Yes, more screenings!! So glad this is here. I'll be in line early. Please
have another screening of this important film! And then in all caps: MORE
SCREENINGS PLEASE!!!! (laughter) Um, but (mumbled) to give these people
what they want, we need more space. Uh, we need additional screens. We need
more seats. Um ... to ... to provide more opportunities for the public to engage with
important films like this. Uh, it's a challenge we cannot meet in our current
humble one -screen theater as much as we love it. Um, in the last year, Film
Scene has brought over 32,000 people to downtown Iowa City in our first year.
There's plenty of demand for more films, events, dialogues, and discussions,
um ... but opportunities for expansion in downtown Iowa City are ... are few. Uh,
the occupancy is high. The physical requirements, uh, for a movie theater are
hard to meet. And of course this would be a project that would be difficult to
undertake on our own. Luckily there's a lot downtown that's perfect. It, uh, it
falls in that three block area, uh, there's two empty parking lots there, uh, a
decaying currently empty building, and an energy substation. Uh, that's all that
has to be moved. Uh, preliminary plans have already been identified, uh, as the
ideal fit for this location by this City Council. And most importantly, we have a
development partner who believes in the project, who believes in our
organization, and who believes in this city. Uh, I urge the Council to reaffirm the
decision that they made during the RFP process that asked for a visionary, uh,
multi -use property for this lot. I ask the Council to approve the staff
recommendations to amend the Comprehensive Plan, and to move to the next step
with the multiple projects that will enhance this city for the moviegoers, bowlers,
grocery st... grocery shoppers, and new residents that are eager to come to
downtown Iowa City. Thank you.
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Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Van Horne: Hi, my name's Amanda Van Horne. Um, I'm here tonight, um, speaking for
myself. So in the past you've seen me speaking on behalf of Trinity. I'm no
longer on the governing board and I'm now speaking as a citizen rather than a
representative of the church and I think that's an important distinction to make.
Like many speakers, including the one who spoke just before me, I find it very
difficult to separate this Comprehensive Plan proposal from the work that's come
before it in the last two and a half years on the Chauncey. Parts 1 C and 2 in the
resolution before you from the City staff address removing height restrictions.
The key difference between CB -2 and 5 and CB -10 are height restrictions and
parking rules. The key point left for the Chauncey is rezoning to remove the
height restrictions, to move it to CB -10 so that that building can be built on that
lot on the corner of College and Gilbert. The proposed heights in the diagrams
you see before you in Exhibit C are misleading. Because when you look at these
heights, the way the map is centered, it centers those heights relative to
downtown, rather than centering those heights relative to the district to the east. If
you had drawn that map so that the line cut across Gilbert instead of across Van
Buren, what you would see is predominantly two story residential buildings rather
than the downtown that we're all comfortable with and happy to talk about. As a
citizen, I have to say how disappointed I am that we're here tonight and asking
this question. And though we're asking a question that's a defacto rezoning in a
way that excludes the church from filing formal protests and sets the stage for...
changing the height restriction in a way that feels like it's kind of going around
the back end. The only other time I was this disappointed was when we came to
the work session where ... or came to the City Council meeting where the
Chauncey was chosen and the decision had already been made in work session.
Despite the fact that the City Council had said it would have a public hearing on
the rubric for the values. As a citizen, it makes me so ... upset ... that this is the
way business gets done. I'm sorry! It's not how it's supposed to be done! We
come here and we listen to anecdotes about why people move here. I'm sure that
the City Manager and other people can provide us with data and studies about
what actually causes people to move into towns like Iowa City and not about what
the economic benefit is of doing this kind of rezoning. I'm very curious about
how those changes affect the poor and the disenfranchised in our community and
I hope that our City Council will think about the way the process gets done in
addition to thinking about the way the decisions that they make. Thank you!
Hayek: (applause) Thank you for the comments.
Tiefenthaler: (mumbled) Council, thank you for listening to all of us. Uh, my name is Joe
Tiefenthaler and I, uh, I'm the Executive Director at Film Scene, and uh, one of
the Co -Executive Directors of our Mission Creek Festival, and I'm not here to
talk to you about, uh, height, but I'm here to talk to you about our downtown
culture. And I'm here to share with you part of my story. I've lived in Iowa City
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for 15 years, since coming to the UI in 2000, with a literary scene quickly turned
me from a chemical engineering major into an actively contributing member of
the our arts community. I worked in literary non -profits for about 10 years but
had moved to New York for what ended up the briefest of periods. Because the
rarest of opportunities actually took place. A full-time art's job opened up here in
Iowa City. And I was lucky enough to be offered the position. We've lost so
much of our young arts' talent over these years. I had to jump at this and come
back. So I returned. I returned for the chance to hone and build on a home-grown
non-profit cinema, owing to the vision and commitment the Moen Group has
shown our community and our downtown. Growth in population, opportunities in
employment and business for the arts and entertainment scene, mixed purpose and
possibilities all in parallel, and all fixed on cultural growth. I and most here have
seen the Englert reopen. The movie theater in the Old Capitol Mall closed.
Parking lots have grown into multiple stories of locally -owned businesses, new
ventures into the tech world, and homes to some of the biggest contributors to our
cultural centers and community programs. We have seen an old bar turn ... like
turn a leaf and rebuild the cinema conversation to the tune of more than those
32,000 community members attending films on critical topics and issues, family
and children's programming, a forthcoming series of films focused on our retired
senior and assisted living communities, and special events otherwise unavailable
to our entire community. One benefit of the Comp Plan and rezoning would be
the Chauncey project and yes, Film Scene, but just imagine what we can do as a
cultural center with three screens in two locations, adding large-scale film
festivals and education series, summer camps for kids, community spaces,
outdoor screenings, and more. And we are just one component of this greater
possibility, helping redesign... helping to redesign our concept of downtown Iowa
City in not just north and south terms anymore, but a little east and west ... helping
redesign Iowa City as a growing arts employer. We have heard doom and gloom
in this city before when it comes to development, but the cultural life of
downtown is as vibrant and ever and begging for an expansion, and east and west
is not a derogatory phrase. My story is similar to many people here who want to
live here long-term, and I have lived on and around College Green Park for more
than half of my years in Iowa City. Those are beautiful homes and they deserve
focus and attention, but many attacks ... or many complaints lodged against...
against this expansion and rezoning are thrown against what have been two
blighted empty parking lots for far too long. A three block area that with our City
Hall and our Farmers Market already blend into the fabric of our downtown. An
area that could house immense cultural possibilities for our entire community,
right here in downtown Iowa City. I urge you to ... I support the staff's
recommendation. I urge you to pass. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Mims: Marian, Michelle has gotten disconnected.
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Hayek: (mumbled) Miss Michaud, just a second. We've got a technical item
with... Council Member Payne. (talking in background) In case you're
wondering, Council Member Payne is patched in by telephone, but it looks like
the call just dropped and she... sent a text to Susan (laughter) telling her, uh, that
she had been cut from the call. We're trying to figure that out presently. (phone
sounds in background)
Payne: Hello again! (laughter)
Hayek: Okay, Michelle, we've got you back online. We're still in the public comment
and we will ... start up anew!
Payne: Thank you!
Michaud: No surprise ... I'm Pam Michaud (clears throat) continually representing College
Green Historic District. Um, you've heard a lot of comment from me for the last
two and a half years. Um ... we circulated petitions against TIFs and for CB -5 in a
lot of downtown. Another thing that this map doesn't represent besides the east
neighborhoods that are two stories are the west, um, commercial buildings that are
one and two stories. Uh, west of Gilbert Street. Now if, um, owners there already
have a two story building, I would encourage them to rebuild there and south of
Burlington because there could be a whole new nexus with Film Scene. I think
Film Scene's great. I attended it this weekend too. And you could have several
hundred seats in the ... the new nexus that is the hub, uh, south of Burlington
Street. It could be a bigger project. It could have multiple bedrooms for those
young families that are dying to pay $2,000 a month for an apartment. So I think
that, uh, all these things can be handled. We don't have to have higher buildings
east of Gilbert. We can have them south of Burlington and even west of Gilbert!
Thank you very much.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Bird: Good evening, my name's Nancy Bird. I'm the Iowa City Downtown District
Executive Director. Thank you for inviting the community to comment on this
important amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. Um, as you know the Iowa
City Downtown District is a non-profit entity with a mission to champion the
Downtown District as a progressive, healthy, and culturally vibrant urban center
of the region, and we're off to a really good start. The ICDD Board of Directors
had, uh, discussed the City's Comprehensive Plan review for these areas, um, and
proposed development plans, uh, with the Civic District at length in our Oc... in
our October Board meeting. Um, we are unanimous in our support of increased
mixed-use density in both the Civic and North Clinton, Dubuque Street Districts
...uh, Street Districts. New dense in -fill development that brings additional
residents, employees, and exciting entertainment and cultural issues like, um, uses
like bowling, cinema space, and other amenities to our (mumbled) environments
is a win for our commercial core, as well as our residential base. Similar to the
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newly selected site for the University of Iowa Museum of Art and the Voxman
School of Music underway, the Chauncey and New Pi developments, if the New
Pin in fact moves forward, um, will support our existing businesses with an influx
of new people that will help keep the downtown and northside neighborhood
businesses economically viable. The Downtown District also believes in a 2%
solution ... for supporting a vibrant downtown. For those of you who are familiar
with Bruce Katz, the Brooking... Brooks... Brookings Institute, sort of our ... our,
uh, urban planning guru, um, basically two ... the 2% solution entails, um, op...
providing opportunities for 2% of our community's population to live in our city
core, and that's not in Riverfront Crossings in a new neighborhood, but right
downtown. That's almost doubling the residential base that we have now. What
that does by providing new opportunities, um, it provides new supply for the
residents that leave their homes that they currently have. It affects the entire
community, is an important, uh, support the businesses as well as the residents.
The Iowa City Downtown District is growing in a positive direction and the
natural boundaries of downtown are falling into place with this amendment. I
think one of the reasons that any community looks at a Comprehensive Plan is to
review it over time and correct it over time to make sure that as the base changes,
as climate changes — all kinds of things change — that you're still keeping up with
your ... with your base. And you're... you're hearing a lot of passion around that.
People love downtown, but they....but they, right now the supply is limited, and
that supply makes a huge difference. We believe that accommodating equally
dense developments in these close -in areas is a sustainable and efficient approach
to growth that best utilizes public infrastructure already in place. Um, I will say
from my years of consulting prior to coming to the Downtown District, I've
made, uh, neighborhood plans. I've worked on comprehensive plans, and I will
tell you there's no perfect, uh, development pattern. You can do whatever you
want to do to try to make it perfect and it just doesn't work that way because
you're working with landlords, property owners, business interests. What you do
is you make the best of what you got, and right now we have a flood plain that
makes a nice natural transition and, uh, spare parking lots! And to me that's a
land bank that helps support the larger commercial core. It increases our tax base.
It supports those, um, vital social services that this community also needs, um,
with a larger general fund. So with that I would ask you to support staff's
recommendation and approve this amendment. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Clark: Good evening, Sarah Clark, Northside Neighborhood and um ... gosh, I don't
wanna be a downer here. I tell ya! It's been booster, booster, booster all night,
which is actually quite exciting but I kinda want to bring us back to the actual
question in front of us, which is an amendment to a Comprehensive Plan. Um,
and not bowling alleys and not... and not movie theaters and things like that.
Um ... so even though it's great to hear about all of these things, what ... what I've
been hearing a lot of the input from the public about movie theaters, bowling
alleys, and housing can actually already happen in these three blocks. We have
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CB -5 zoning already. There's nothing in CB -5 that precludes ... a movie theater or
a bowling alley. They don't have to be in a 15 -story building. They can be in a
five -story building or a seven -story building. Um... CB -2 zoning, we also have
that. Mixed-use development can happen under those sorts of things. You do not
have to change anything. It ... I kind of got the impression it sounded like, gosh,
we wouldn't be able to ... I have no idea where the New Pi proposal is that was on
the, um..uh, possibly behind or next to the, um ... to the Rec Center from several
years ago. I don't see how this could be stopped. Why we would need CB -10
zoning to allow that to happen. Sounds like to me it can happen. Urn ... we just
heard a little bit about the, you know, expanding the down ... the need, the
argument we've been hearing a lot tonight about the ... the argument about the
needing to expand downtown. I also just heard the reference to the `natural
boundaries' of downtown. The thing is this has already been ha ... this has already
been accomplished ... in the Downtown Planning District. Right now as we speak
it goes east to Van Buren Street and it goes north to Bloomington Street. Um,
those areas have CB -2 and CB -5 zone, which allow mixed-use development.
Such ... much of what already exists in the downtown core, similar to what
happens in the downtown co ... downtown core. Nothing is preventing
development from happening on those places, except maybe some people who
own property and they don't want to sell. I don't know. Um, also been hearing a
not ... a lot tonight about economic factors. Um ... would just like to point out that
part of the City's Comp Plan, and I know it's boring to slog through it. It's
difficult. It's not written for the average person. You can read it 15 times and go,
wait a minute, what did I just read? But, the City's Comp Plan actually does
recognize the importance of promoting economic stability that is consistent with
the Comp Plan. It also recognizes the importance of protecting existing and
future land uses from intrusions by incompatible land uses, such as highrise
buildings in close proximity to historic residential neighborhoods, public parks,
like we have right across the street, and places of worship. Um ... a Comp Plan
does not promote the idea of... badly planned or placed land uses intruding and
making negative impacts on things that already exist. Yes we want thoughtful
development. We want all of that. We do want to keep our town economically
stable. We can do that, but a Comp Plan cannot have ... it has to take the entire city
into consideration. Um, and it should. So ... I don't think there's anything here
that, um... currently exists that prohibits or precludes that you... you can't do any
of this development. I ... I just don't see it. Um ... and I know it's exciting to think
about, gosh we want businesses to move downtown and yes we want, you know,
more grocery stores. We want this and that. The question here tonight is on the
Comp Plan amendment. It's not on those sorts of things. You're not supposed to
think about what's going to happen afterwards. Thanks.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Fleming: Hello (clears throat) My name's Matthew Fleming. Uh, my wife and I currently
reside at, uh, in the Plaza Tower building. Um, I'm a staff physician at Mercy
Hospital and at Cross Medical Laboratories, which is located just about a block
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away from ... from the hospital. Um ... seven months ago I was ... my family and I
were living in Portland, Oregon. Specifically in a part of town called, uh,
Sunnyside, which is in close, um, close -in southeast, uh, Portland. The reason
why we chose to live there, uh, is that the neighborhood represented an
aggregation of, um, grocery stores, restaurants, parks and other, uh, businesses,
and also, um, a... easy access to, uh, public transportation that afforded us to live
essentially, uh, car -free, um ... uh, existence, uh, which, um, to us was quite
important, not only for the environmental and health benefits, but also we felt
that, uh, living there, urn ... living, getting out and walking every day, being a part
of that community, um, would facilitate our integration into that community, um,
and uh, make us ... vital members, uh, of that. Um, so ... about a year and a half
ago when, uh, I was being recruited to take a position here in Iowa City, finding
housing that offered a similar, uh, living environment was important, um, to us,
and I think if we were unable to find, um, such housing, it would have profoundly
negatively impacted our decision, um, to move here. Luckily we were able to
find a unit, uh, within the Plaza Towers building and ... and we were able to move
to this, uh, wonderful community. So, um ... you know, my story here ... this, I
know this is my, what I'm telling you here is ... offering only anecdotal data in
support of this amendment change, but I think it does, uh, reflect a true
democrath... uh, demographic desire amongst young professionals, both here and
throughout the country, for this, um, high density, uh, mixed-use development.
And so, um. ... (clears throat) I think, you know, this parcel of land that so much
discussion is ... happened tonight about, is uh... is available and is a valuable and
unique, um, piece of land and I think moving forward with the right development
is critically important. Uh, luckily I think that, uh, the Chauncey development
plan is the right one and will, uh, further, um, encourage young professionals to
both stay and move to Iowa City, um, and ... and further the vitalization of, uh, the
downtown and ... and the city as a whole. Um, so I strongly encourage, uh, this
amendment. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Harman: Good evening. (clears throat) My name is Peter Harman and I'm a resident of
downtown Iowa City. I live in, uh, Plaza Towers. I also own a restaurant in
downtown called Graze. Um, and I wholeheartedly support the, uh... the proposal
to, uh, improve the district. Um, but before that ... but I also want to make a
couple of points. Um, I've listened to, uh, arguments on both sides tonight and I
think there's... there's really two central arguments and I think the first one is on
this hand you have the people who are clinging to the past, saying oh I love Iowa
City. It's a very quaint place and I grew up here and I used to live here and I love
one-story buildings and two-story buildings. On the other hand, you have the
people who are for mixed-use, who say we want Iowa City to be a vibrant
downtown area. The ... the beautiful thing about Iowa City and ... is that the
University of Iowa City is here. That is the engine that drives Iowa City.
Imagine ... no University! I spent 16 years in Burlington, Iowa, and ... we didn't
have a university. If we had the University of Iowa ... of Iowa in ... in Burlington,
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it would be a very vibrant town. But it isn't there; it's here! The University of
Iowa Medical Center is the second gigantic engine that powers this community.
The thing ... the thing to consider today is the future. This whole discussion is
about the future. What's happening in Iowa, there's two mega ... mega
communities. There's Des Moines and there's Iowa City. Des Moines is the
financial power and it's also the political center of ... of Iowa. Iowa City is the
Venice, Italy of the ... of the world! We ... we represent the potential to be the
future. Look at all the great things we have going for us! We have the literature
program. We have the arts and the sciences here! This comm .... this is a
community that is a magnet for ... for Iowa and the Midwest, and as people no
longer need to go into downtown Chicago and New York and Kansas City and St.
Louis to work, where they can work from home, people are going to choose Iowa.
Iowa is an amazing, amazing place to live. I ... I lived in... in southwest Florida. I
lived on Sanibel Island for years. Three story buildings. But that's a ... that is a
beach community and it made a lot of sense there. What we need here is organic
free growth. What we really need to consider and what I ... what I ... I ... I really
seriously think you should consider when you ... when you're thinking about this
amendment is, what is the future? Everybody... there have been three or four
people tonight who have said, I am one of the young people who came back to
Iowa. I live here because I want to live in Iowa, and that's really one of the things
that's happening. People are graduating from the University of Iowa and they're
leaving! They're going to California. They're going to Florida. They're going to
New York. They're going to Chicago. We need `em here! We need the smart
young people of the future. So the thing to consider is ... how, what is the best
thing for the future? Not what's the simplest thing that we can do today — what is
the best political situation. I say it's time to think of the future. Let the future go!
What's it going to be? You know in 1903 the President of the Michigan State
Bank said, you know what, the automobile is a really cool thing, but the horse will
always be the primary mode of transportation in Am... in America! (laughter)
We sit at the... at the precipice of that same exact decision today! I'm not sure
that ... that this redistricting is going to be big enough! Look at the computer
industry. It has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 30 years. And somebo...
several people have mentioned tonight ... you know what? Well just in 2013 we
were here redistricting this! Hey, I suggest that we'll be back here in 2016, 17, 20
and 25 and 30 to make it bigger and more awesome than it is now! What a great
problem to have. So anyway, I think it's a great debate. And I ... I applaud you all
for, uh, for your efforts and I hope that you, uh... think of the future when you
make your decisions. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Bennett: My name is Mary Bennett. I know you're very tired but I appreciate your
patience. I have to add a little thing. Those of you who went to the ... She's
Beautiful When She 's Angry, it incorporates some film footage from the, uh,
KCRG television that's in the archives of the State Historical Society, and it's
about women fighting for their rights and they're not just fighting for their rights,
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they're fighting for civil rights. Civil rights like we're exercising here today.
Cause we all want to be treated fairly and we want you to adjudicate in a manner
that creates a fair balance in things. And I have to keep parading up here and I
see your sighs when I come up and I know you're tired of it and you're
patronizing some of you in the ways that you look at me, but I'm trained as a
historian. So I'm here to remind you of history. Just not only your own history,
but the histories of the City Councils that came before you. And the ways in
which they identified this town's character and the way that it could be
perpetuated so that those of us who live in this state or the visitors we attract from
all over the world can find a community that is at their human scale, which to me
does not necessarily mean a highrise. So my concerns about this proposal... come
from many different angles. First and foremost is Old Capitol, and why do we
have a Conservation District along Iowa Avenue if we're not going to project...
protect the sight lines that lead to that really nationally significant landmark. A
second one would be the College Hill Park. I feel really sorry for Pam Michaud.
I feel sorry for the Berford family. They took homes that were bordering our
historic park and made them beautiful. Now they're going to find themselves
threatened, because of this action that we have here. I may not be beautiful when
I'm angry, but I'm angry tonight. This is the second time I come before you and
ask you not to override a decision that your Zoning Commission has made, which
you just did with the cottages. If you're having a public process, it's so important
that you have meetings like this where we can actually have public discourse and
talk to one another and not just send each other emails, but make this a public
event, so that everyone can witness what's going on in our town, because what is
happening is a domino effect. It's the big land grab. We now have, because of
this proposal, the mental health house that's here, those two houses are being sold.
The youth home's house that are next to State historical site are being sold.
Everybody knows that the value of the market space ... of the market value on
these spaces that surround this have skyrocketed. Someone at a previous
Planning and Zoning meeting called this, uh... sorry, I've lost my little note here,
but this is a stroke of genius, in their point of view. I'm telling you, it's not!
They're saying that because it's going to bring them profit. What I'm really sad
to see is the class divide in this community. I see people who are coming to this
meeting tonight because they're tenants of Mr. Moen. Or they're partners in
business. They're people who are looking for more money. They already have
monopolies on the restaurants in this town, so that small, independent restaurants
have a hard time going. We have the Homebuilder's Association, the Visitor
and ... uh, Convention Bureau. The people who are most interested in the
economic benefits in this particular parcel of land because they have financial
interests in it! And you need to realize, this is the last city -owned town in direct
proximity to the activities the center of our town. What's going to happen when
you have these highrise dormitories and these other large developments? Is your
police department going to have to grow? Are your traffic patterns going to
change? Are you going to have more stoplights here in these residential
neighborhoods that haven't had them before? Are you going to have to build a
bigger Council chamber? You knew you'd have a big turnout tonight, but did
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anybody on staff make arrangements to put as many chairs as possible in this
room? No, you always have people overflowing into the hallway when you have
the contentious issues like this. So to me it's very short-sighted to rush into this
decision. You know I've told you before, for 15 years I've gone to the Recreation
Center three days a week. I've seen the increased usage of that. I've seen more
diversity of usage of that, and yet I see it threatened here by two brown squares
that say seven to 15 story buildings could go there, where we currently have a low
horizon line building that serves our community well! Of course we need more
space for the arts! We need more space for recreation. We need more green
space, but where would that opportunity be? When I echo some of the things that
were said earlier, what's going to happen with recycling? I was appalled when
your Landfill was burning last year and I read in the Des Moines Register that you
do not have requirements on most of the apartment houses and these giant
dumpsters that get picked up to recycle those materials! And that's a very large
percentage of Iowa City's population.
Hayek: Miss Bennett, I'll have to ask you to wrap up (both talking)
Bennett: Okay, I'll wrap up ... by just asking you to consider things slowly. We have a lot
of development going on at once. What's going to happen to our environment?
have friends with the Meskwaki Tribe. They would be asking you about the
birds, the insects, the earthworms under the ground, the Ralston Creek, and its
potential as a natural resource. Please use that resource wisely as well as the
amount of green space and sky space we still have. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Meyer: Hello! My name is Ross Meyer. I live on north Dodge, urn ... I'm also employed
as the Facilities Manager and Head Projectionist at Film Scene. Um, I'm a fairly
recent hire down there. I had volunteered for a little while and was, uh, when a
position opened up, I applied and luckily was chosen for that position. Um, I
really didn't know the Moen Group, um, a lot of the contention over this
development seems to be about a par... one particular aspect, uh, one particular
proposal, uh, looking to move into this, uh... uh, Comprehensive Plan amendment
put forward by the Moen Group. Now that I, uh, you know ... work for Film
Scene, have gotten to know Marc and Bobby and Monica, uh, other,
urn ... members of the Moen Group, I've gotten to know that they're good people.
Uh, and I think ... I don't know ... I don't think anybody in this room probably
wants suburban sprawl. I don't know anybody who thinks suburban sprawl is
amazing. Uh, so I'm absolutely an advocate of building up and not out. All that
being said, I'm an advocate of building up with good developers, and the Moen
Group are good developers. Um, you know... so if we're going to have tall
buildings, I want to have tall buildings built by good, progressive arts patrons like
the Moen Group. Uh, like I said I'm the head projectionist. I run most of the
movies at Film Scene. I'm also a ... the Facilities Manager, which means I fix the
broken seats and shampoo the carpets and, you know, when a lock doesn't work
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right I call the Moen Group and, uh, you know who shows up? Uh, Marc Moen
himself shows up with his toolbox and fixes stuff, and that's what's great about
working with local developers to build... buildings like this. And that's why I'm,
uh, I'm in favor of the Comprehensive Plan amendment and I ... I hope you guys
support it as well. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Carlson: My name is Nancy Carlson. Uh, and I like Sarah, you know, you ... you listen to
all these wonderful things and you want to get on the ... on the good wagon! You
want to feel good, you know? And I sit back there and I go, you know, this is sort
of like being a parent. You've got a kid who comes and he tells you about all
these great things that he wants to do or all these great things that he wants to buy,
and this is going to be the greatest thing in the world. And you as the parent have
to stand there and go and analyze that and go, okay ... let's look at all angles of
this and decide whether this is just a passing fancy and that there are other better
things that he can do or this is something that he shouldn't do. Uh, I would like to
talk about the Downtown Riverfront Crossings Master Plan and the IC2030 Plan
tonight. These documents were adopted by the City Council in 2013. Six
members of the current Council signed the adoption resolutions. They both
entailed extensive community participation over several years. And together they
fully address questions related to both the downtown and the three municipal
blocks east of Gilbert. In the Downtown Riverfront Crossings Master Plan, the
Downtown District is described in full. Nowhere is expansion of the Downtown
District east of Gilbert Street even considered. Uh, the IC2030 Comprehensive
Update was a... adopted in 20... in May of 2013 as a guide to our community's
future over the next 20 years. It is our most recently adopted element of the
Comprehensive Plan. As stated in its introduction, the Comprehensive Plan
should reflect shared community values and aspirations, provide a broad set of
goals and objectives for both preservation and change, set a foundation for
policies, strategies, and other a... actions, articulate priorities, and build consensus
and confidence about the future direction of our commu ... community. Later in
the introduction, IC2030 addresses Civic District area now under consideration by
City Council. It states, `While this area has the potential to redevelop at higher
densities due to its proximity to the downtown and University, it should comply
with policies and goals of the Central District Plan in order to ensure quality
design and appropriate transitions. Staff recommends a process be initiated to
appro ... appropriately address this. And then after that, uh, redevelopment plan is
completed, it should be added to the Central District Plan, not to the Downtown
Riverfront Crossings Plan. The ... in the 2030 Plan, uh... in the ... let's skip, I want
to skip cause I know you're getting tired. In the section called "How We Grow,"
Iowa City 2030, it states, "It is clear from the planning workshops that people care
deeply about Hiowa... how Iowa City grows. There is tension between the sense
of smallness and tran.... tradition that people value," and that was one of the
things that was brought out over and over and over again in the workshops that
were held before ... to, as a predecessor to the, uh, document, the 2030 Plan. It ... I
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lost my place. Okay, value and identify as being uniquely Iowa City and the
uncertainty that comes with change in a growing community. Nowhere is that
tension felt greater than in the residential area on the near east side of downtown.
Internal and external development pressures have significantly impacted the
College Green Neighborhood. The Downtown Riverfront Crossings Master Plan
and IC2030 Plan both reaffirm the City's long -held po... policy of employing
Central Business CB -5 and CB -2 zoning east of Gilbert Street. These two zoning
classifa ... classifications were established to provide an appropriate transition
between the downtown and residential neighborhoods. I would like to make
another off the cuff comment. (both talking)
Hayek: Miss Carlson, your ... you're at four minutes, so please wrap up.
Carlson: Okay! Everybody talks about coming in a ... new people coming in. I have lived
in Iowa City for 50 years, uh, in my residence for 35 years. I am concerned about
the people who have already made a long-term commitment to Iowa City. I am
also concerned about Iowa City's com... commitment to (mumbled) diverse
populations of our community. The people who are going to live in these
highrises represent one part of our socioeconomic community. We need to (both
talking)
Hayek: Miss Carlson...
Carlson: ...think about other socioeconomic areas.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. (applause)
Swanson: Uh, my name's Alan Swanson and I work in real estate, but I'm here to talk about
something else. I want to represent what I would call myself, an aging baby
boomer. (laughter) And we talked about young professionals wanting to be
downtown. I can tell you that I'm one, and there are many others, and there are
many others moving here and... and who already live here and who are in the
outskirts who are aging baby boomers who would like to be closer to downtown
and yes, some of us have more resources than others, but we are also some of the
same people who are willingly will put our money into the cultural scene
downtown that will help the city grow and ... and the cultural events here, many
are free for everyone! And that would just be my comment. The more vertical
space we can have to have baby boomers be closer, who want to move into ... wh
...where the action is going on and all the cultural scene here, including and I
want to ... especially the ... the new Museum of Art and the Music Building. When
they move here it's going to be a major impetus to many things. But, uh, that's
my comment. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you ... for the comment. Is there anyone else? Okay. I'm going to close
the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel)
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Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Botchway: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by ... Botchway, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those...
Dobyns: I... (both talking)
Hayek: Uh, we've gotta get the ... uh, correspondence in. All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Okay. Michelle, are you with us?
Payne: I'm still here!
Hayek: Okay! (laughter)
Throgmorton: Hang in there!
2. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Hayek: Council discussion... or, we..yeah, we need to get a resolution on the table.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Dobyns: Well I would agree that what's before us is, uh, amending the Comprehensive
Plan and focusing on that. It is a road map. It's a road map to be advisory for
future staff discussions, future of Council deliberations, and I guess the advice I
wanted to give. I didn't want to give it until I had a chance to hear from some of
the Planning and Zoning Members, because ... when I took a look at the paucity of
information, um, you know, in our packet from Planning and Zoning, I said, okay!
I don't think there's been misinterpretation. I just don't think there was really
much to interpret from. There was many Members of the Planning and Zoning
who I don't think spoke to that. So I had a chance to spoke with, uh, (mumbled)
Swygard and Carolyn Dyer this morning who I think joined you, Charlie, in, uh,
recommending we vote against this amendment. When I talked to them, uh, I ... I
think, and of course they'll have to speak for themselves, but my sense of what
they said is that they were concerned that the transition from the Downtown
District to beyond Ralston Creek was not sufficiently soft enough transition. And
my sense in the three years or more that I've been on Council is that there are
some differences between what Planning and Zoning takes a look at and what
Council takes a look at. I think ... they made a genuine decision, taking a look at
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what they thought was the transition. However, I think many people have talked
about the fact that we have to realize that, um, even in a... in sort of a market-
driven economy ... I think an old liberal like myself has to recognize that if we are
going to help the poor and disenfranchised, we have to build a good base as far as
property taxes. I think what I would want to recommend and advise going
forward is that before we start to, um, take a look at Riverfront Crossing and
south of Burlington, we need to sort of recognize the left shoulder of downtown,
and I think that this is sort of a soft -enough transition from Gilbert Street to
Ralston Creek. When I take a look at that, uh, Exhibit C, which... is not up there
anymore and it might be helpful to put it up for people to deliberate, John. As I
look at it, I think it is ... is it soft? No. Is it soft -enough when you consider the
other compelling issues that I think other Members of Council will speak to. And
because of that, I felt it was the appropriate advice to give so I will be supporting
the amendment tonight.
Botchway: I had a ... couple of questions. I wanted to hear from Evan. Oh, not
John... (several talking) Yeah! I meant Evan! (several talking)
Hayek: ...been upstaged by our...
Botchway: (both talking) I didn't mean to make it seem like (laughter) I just kind of wanted
to hear your view, kind of from a student perspective. Sorry to put you on the
spot again!
McCarthy: (both talking) ...perspective is similar to what I said last week. Uh... I understand
the need for attracting young professionals, but I think that there are other
populations that ... and I'm speaking from a biased viewpoint, that should be
served first, because they are the ones who are going to stay in Iowa, if that's a
priority that we have. We can try and attract people as much as we want, but I
think that there's more gain to be had in the long run, especially, by trying to
capture the people that we have here, people like me. I grew up here. And I
wouldn't be able to live in a ... some of the proposed developments like this. So...
speaking personally, I'm not going to pretend to speak for the student body on
this issue specifically, but speaking personally... this is disheartening. I would
much rather see some more long-term planning with more sustainable, more...
holistic goals in mind when it comes to the diversity of income, the diversity of
types of people that we want in the downtown. I'm worried about homogenizing
the area and as someone who grew up here and who loves this city,
that's... frightening to me and that ... that might come off as reactionary or I'm just
being nostalgic and that shouldn't necessarily be considered as much as more
concrete things, but ... this is an issue that's close to my heart and I think that a lot
of other people who have spoken tonight agree. And ... I... if I were in any of your
positions, I don't know that I would support this amendment, but I urge you to
vote your consciences on this.
Hayek: Thank you, Evan.
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Mims: When I look at it, you know ... I'm similar to where Rick is ... is on this, I think ... I
look at it from a number of things. The transition I think is sufficient, particularly
given the creek, given the parking ramp, given the trees, etc. Is there a perfect
transition? Would it be better to have more? Um, you know, that is all debatable,
but I ... to me it is sufficient. Um, you know, been a lot of comments about ... you
know, I'll just take the housing issue for example. We have a lot of demand for
people who want to live downtown. And whenever you have a supply and
demand issue, it gets complicated because who's going to be able to live there are
the people with more money. One of the things that we are trying to do, and
certainly we've done it with Riverfront Crossings, is starting to look at some
affordable housing components to that. I think that is a big step for us. It's kind
of a... a... first step in terms of some kind of inclusionary zoning type, um,
approach, so we can have diversity of incomes within our downtown
neighborhoods. Um ... you know, people talked about sustainability. There is
nothing, and... and you know, the difference of splaw... sprawl versus building up,
and when we talk about, you know, it's interesting that we started tonight with,
um, a presentation on biodiversity. And, you know, the birds and the butterflies,
etc. Well, to keep some of these more rural areas green and things like that, and
building dense downtown, makes a lot more sense. So I think it really falls into
the support of that sustainability issue. People talked about, you know, the things
that we like and the disenfranchised within the community and the arts, etc. We
need to grow our tax base to support those kinds of things. Okay? People who
don't think that we have, or are going to have financial issues in this town, um,
aren't paying attention. Um, as we ... as the property tax reform elements that
were put in place by the State Legislature in 2013 start phasing in, we are going to
have significant issues. And so to be able to continue to support not only the arts
but the things that we do for social services, etc., are going to get more and more
difficult unless we continue to grow the tax base. Um, so given, you know,
the ... the height, the proposed height, um, legend here and given our need for the
growth in tax base, given what this will do for us in terms of sustainability, being
able to support other needs in the community, um, I will support the change in the
Comp Plan.
Hayek: I think, uh... uh, I would describe this evening's public input as among the best
I've heard. I've been on the Council for over seven years now and ... this is a
divisive issue. Many issues are divisive issues, but, uh, I ... the ... the input was
excellent and ... and um ... uh, the comments very thoughtful and as, uh, to borrow
what Professor, uh, Goodell, uh, indicated toward the front end of our public
comment, it's hard to be up here, uh... and, um, make decisions that, uh, we know
will disappoint people we know, um, and, uh, Ma ... Mary Bennett spoke. She, uh,
is the reason 1, uh, completed my college honors thesis many years ago. Um, and
I have profound respect for people like her and 1, uh, I don't know how many
Council Members keep multiple, uh... uh, editions of Benjamin Schaumbaug
books in their basement, uh, but I do and um, I'm ... I'm sensitive to those things.
Having said that, I ... I've lived in places where historic, a vibrant historic
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neighborhoods are, uh... co -exist in ... relative proximity to thriving commercial
areas. Um, I lived in Ansley Park in mid ... mid -town Atlanta. Um, and I lived in
Ann Arbor and those are two areas that ... that have, uh... a juxtaposition of
historic neighborhood, uh... against or ... or in proximity to, urn ... uh, a commercial
area, and I think you can do that. Um, you have to do it appropriately. Um, and I
think the approach here, uh, is appropriate. I think it's, uh, an appropriate
approach, urn ... uh, to ... to, uh, go the next, uh, used route. I think, um ... the scale,
uh, is ... is appropriate. You know, the ... the, the IC2030 Plan land use map
already includes the College/Gilbert, uh, corner that has been, uh, focused on, uh,
but what staff has recom... recommending is that we take a, um, a... a... a longer
term comprehensive vision, uh, and apply it to ... to the broader area. Um, and I
think it makes sense. Uh, and ... and the scale, uh, steps down as you move to the
east. Um, and I think that's, uh, appropriate. Um, you know, this is only a block
from our pedestrian mall. Um, the ... the rezoning, uh... uh, that we ... that projects
will go through, uh, will allow for that regulatory, uh, oversight that ... that has
been mentioned by some. Um, so I'm supportive of this. I...it...it is a question,
question mark, what happens to the areas that were deferred by P&Z and I'll be,
uh, watching that, uh, very carefully, but for this three block area, I think what is
proposed is, um, appropriate and sensitive to the... neighborhood to the east, uh,
and represents a... a good way of rounding out, uh, our Downtown District.
Dickens: I know a little over four years ago when we were deciding on hiring a City
Manager, one of the things that stuck out the most about Tom Markus was the fact
that he believed in building the city from the inside out. You've already got your
infrastructure. Your ... you're protecting your environment. I can go from Tom to
a ... to a farmer I spoke to that says thank you for building up instead of, uh, urban
sprawl. Every ... every acre of ground that you take is irreplaceable to those
farmers. So, you go from here to there. It ... it affects everyone. Uh, you know,
we're building on an area that's ... it's, uh, actually in the flood zone, so a lot of
the parking is going to have to be below, uh, its ... it's using land that is parking
lots right now and it's a ... I think it's a very important area that we can use. I've
always believed never forget the past, but don't stop the future.
Throgmorton: Maybe Michelle wants to speak. Michelle, you want to ... you have something to
say?
Payne: I ... I just want to say that I totally agree with what Susan said 100% and I won't
repeat it again, and thank you for the opportunity for me to speak while I'm on
speaker phone. Thanks! (laughs)
Botchway: I want to ... I'm gonna, uh, you want to go first or...
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Botchway: You want to go first? Okay!
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Throgmorton: Give you the drama.
Botchway: Yeah (laughs)
Throgmorton: Given the Commission's 1-5 vote, and given what Charlie Eastham said about the
Commission and the way he reads the particular legislation, I think we ought to
defer! And... and we ought to defer at least until we have a chance to read the
minutes of their meeting. Maybe even to consult with the Commission, even
though it's not required. We could offer to do that, but at a minimum I think we
should read the minutes of their meeting. That's my thought about that. Uh, IA
suspect, uh, others don't agree but .... we'll found out. So I want to thank
everybody who ... in the room who came to speak. Virtually all of you are friends
(laughs) so it's pretty hard, uh, talking about this and making a decision. You
know, we all know this, uh, when we know that whatever the decision is, it's
going to upset a friend! Or more than one friend. So ... I ... I think everybody,
almost everybody in this room has expressed their love for the city. And there
...and the appeal of the downtown. Uh, as it is now! I mean, I heard so many
people talk about how great things are now, as it is now! But we're not
deliberating about what the city is like now. We're talking about the future. So in
the last several months, this Council has voted in favor of three new 12 to 15 -
story buildings. South of Burlington Street. And now we're considering enabling
one, two, three more. At least three, I mean, I can't ... I asked Jeff, uh... John
Yapp about this earlier. I can't really determine what the actual heights of the
buildings would be, but I ... on that point I noticed that nobody's talked about the
southernmost block. That's there the Lee Recreation building is. Nobody's
mentioned it! There ... it highlights two 15 or ... seven, I don't know, seven to 15
story building. I don't know what their range is. What's it say? Yeah, seven to
15 story buildings. So that's interesting. We haven't talked about that building
and what might happen to that site. So I can't help but note... given all that, I
can't help but note that the people of the city, friends in this room, are deeply
divided over the direction they want this city to go. Speaking about the future
again. It seems to me that one group thinks we should enable construction of very
tall, mixed-use buildings that many people obviously like a lot ... uh, buildings that
attract high-tech businesses, creative class workers, and wealthier residents. And
therefore expand the tax base. Lots of friends have advocated that. (laughs) Last
night I was at Film Scene. I love Film Scene! Saw a great movie, and I liked the
idea that Marc Moen has been working with Film Scene to try to make something
happen there. The other group prefers a mixture of uses. Notice I say mixed use,
but in two to six story buildings, rather than concentrated in a few highrise towers.
That only basically wealthier people can live in. And they prefer ... they want a
more sensitive transition between the new and the old ... and between the
downtown and the east side residential neighborhood. But in the end, I think
everybody in this room wants a lively and thriving downtown! We've got it now
and we want to have it in the future. I think we can do it, but to do it we need a
more sensitive and savvy proposal for redeveloping the area. So I want to say one
other thing that kind of connects to what, uh, Susan and, uh, I guess Terry said.
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Uh, earlier I asked why the staff was supporting this effort to expand the
downtown to the east. Some of you might disagree, but here's what I think. The
un ... the primary motivation behind the proposal is to enable construction of the
Chauncey. Or we know that's the big debate, the big debate, and okay, well, there
it is! But underlying that is as Susan has said a desire to increase the taxable land
value, the taxable value of the land. So we can have greater property tax revenue
to provide services and so on ... that, uh, people want. So, and moreover, many
people, uh, many supporters of the amendment, like Susan just a minute ago, have
argued that developing at high density in the downtown area will reduce sprawl.
Well I can tell you there's no bigger advocate of higher density than me. I mean,
I've been advocating it for more than 20 years! Okay? But there's a big
difference between density... mixed-use density at a... at a... in two to six story
buildings and a few highrise towers. There's a very big difference! Moreover, if
the purpose of the proposed amendments is to help avoid further sprawl, then we
would have not already been supporting new suburban developments on the
periphery, which we do routinely in this room. So ... we would instead be
investing in and strengthening our older core neighborhoods. I don't think the
proposal before us strengthens our older core neighborhoods. I think it can ... but
it needs to be revised. So that's what I would advocate is a revision, a more
savvy, more sensitive revision to the proposal before us.
Botchway: I'll be honest with ya, I hate going after Jim. Um ... you know, Mr .... I think it's
Mr. Hamman got up and ... and really spoke eloquently about Iowa City and just
how amazing of a place this is and I ... I was excited about his enthusiasm. It kind
of pushed me off my seat and he talked about this being a great problem to have
and I ... I can appreciate that and I believe that because a lot of other cities that
I've visited, especially in Iowa, um, don't necessary have this great problem,
where we are literally, um, talking about... um, development in a large scale
because of the many different groups of people that, you know, come to the area.
Um, as people know, I am, uh, not a native Iowa City and so I've lived in many
different places and I appreciate, um, and love economic development and
growth, um, and from a younger perspective, I appreciate it a little bit more just
because, um, I think that we consistently forget about maybe the 21 to 30 -year-old
individuals that want that economic development and growth as well. I agree
with Susan — I think we need to, uh, to grow our tax base. Um, I am interested in
figuring out, you know, programs to where we are helping those, uh,
disadvantaged individuals or those individuals that don't have the necessarily the
resources, um, to figure out how to get that growth of tax base to those individuals
in some meaningful way so we can really speak to all the residents, urn ... of Iowa
City. Sorry my ... my notes are all over the place. I also agree that the parking lot,
um ... and the parking lots are an eyesore. I mean there's ... I think I've mentioned
many times, uh there's an alley that's an eyesore that apparently I think that I've
made ... might have made up, but also that, um, those parking lots in particular I
think we would just need to do something differently about `em, especially since
there's an opportunity and with the potential tax base. So granted, going back to
my main point, and just to make sure I'm clear — I do love economic
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development. Um, I appreciate Iowa City and I have come to enjoy the fusion,
uh, between buildings like the Park 201 and a lot of the historic buildings. The
issue that I have in this particular decision is that I haven't heard that a change in
designation would inhibit the growth that we actually see, or at least that I in my
own opinion seek. I honestly kind of follow along those same lines as Jim is I
would like to see a revised proposal. Um, because again, not being necessarily,
um, on Council for as many of you individuals have had, or many... as much time
as you individuals have had, I just ... I would like to see, I mean, maybe there's an
RFP process we can walk through with, you know, the CB -5 designation. Uh,
and because of that, again, I want to see more discussion on this particular issue.
Um, so if we're not inclined to do that particular thing, I would ... I would not
support this amendment.
Hayek: Okay! Further discussion among Council? (mumbled) see people up pulling on
their chins (laughs)
Throgmorton: I did suggest deferring, I mean that's a possibility. I don't want to push it, but ... it
is a possibility.
Hayek: To ... to what end? To ... to (both talking)
Throgmorton: Mainly to ... to read, to know what the Commissioner's actually said. I don't
know that it would change votes. I have no idea about that, but ... but (both
talking)
Mims: Yeah, I don't, I mean, we know how they voted, so I think that's ... and I know
some, Council Members, have already talked to them.
Dobyns: I'm trying to think going forward, urn ... having talked with two of the P&Z
Members, it's fairly clear what they thought, but I never did ask them the
question, you know, if this was going to be tweaked, how we would tweak it,
and ... I guess my sense... all I can do is extrapolate from the conversations I had
this morning and urn ... I'm not sure what tweaking would do except maybe
shaving down some of the height, um, of the area. I'm not so sure that will
mollify the concerns. I mean they had ... we had a gener... genuine, uh,
disagreement, um, about the softness of the transition. I guess my gut feeling is
that, urn ... I don't think I would vote, um ... or ... or make a ... an amendment to put
this off, cause I think Planning and Zoning has ... it might not have been in the
minutes, but the conversations I had today, I think they ... they voted what they felt
was genuine, and so I guess I don't think that would change, even if we tweaked it
a little bit.
Mims: Yeah, I think ... for me what's disappointing is ... in not having a super -majority, is
when I look at this, I mean I think the plan does a really good job of protecting the
Iowa Avenue corridors. So somebody had mentioned the view of Old Capitol. I
mean, that's two to four stories, which is consistent with what's on the northside
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of Iowa Avenue. So I don't see where people would, in my opinion, would have
issues, um, with that. Then you've got on the northside of Washington Street,
four to six stories, um ... I don't see this building going anywhere in a big hurry.
So I don't think we really have to ... to worry too much about that. We've got...
the park is being preserved, which I think is ... is absolutely essential. Uh, you've
already got the parking ramp in place. Um, allowing for a higher, uh... density,
more height, um, on the corner of College and Gilbert, which we've been talking
about. And then the southern block, which again is the Recreation building,
which certainly there is absolutely no plans in place to do anything with that, but
the Comp Plan would give us, this change in the Comp Plan, would give us the
opportunity if for some reason we did want to move that, rebuild it, whatever...
that you're talking two major corners, again, you know on the west side of that
block to potentially go to five to seven .... five, or seven to 15 stories. You know,
I see that so incredibly far in the future, um, as to be maybe non-existent in our
lifetimes. I mean, unless we were to make some major, major changes with the
Recreation building, and I think there's a huge commitment to making sure that
we have good recreational facilities around the community and as long as we've
got good usage downtown, I can't imagine people, you know, deserting a
downtown location. So, you know, I look at this and on the east side of this we're
talking four to six stories maximum on ... on the east side. Um, I think it's a very
reasonable... adjustment to the Comp Plan and um, yeah, just disappointed that...
we can't get to the six.
Hayek: You know, uh... to your point about the Planning and Zoning minutes, Jim. I
mean, we've got 200 to 300 pages of documents in our packet, including page
after page of P&Z minutes, um, over multiple meetings, and uh, and what I had
heard was ... was that frankly at the ... at the ... the meeting in question where the
reported deliberation of P&Z was ... was shorter than what you typically see is
they've been going for a couple of hours and there ... and there wasn't, um, so
much. So, but .... but, be that as it may, I ... I just don't think that's gonna change
things. We've got ample, ample written material, uh, in our packets and we've
... we heard, uh, from... from the public tonight, uh, for an hour and a half. Um,
but Kingsley, to your point, you know, the ... you talk about those ... those parking
lots that you'd like to see something done with. You know, this would
accomplish that. It sets a vision for the area that includes those, uh, those parking
lots, and, uh... you know, by not doing this, um ... and again, the land use map on
the 2030 ... the IC2030, uh, Plan already covers the... the... the, uh, the College/
Gilbert corner, uh, but what it .... but what this proposal from staff does is ... is, it
creates a ... a ... a more holistic approach to the ... to the little, to the three block
corridor there, uh, for, uh, those parking lots if they ever, uh, get developed,
um ... and for, uh, economic development projects, whether it's New Pioneer
which has, you know, does have interest — that's public, or... or others in that area,
and if we don't have this, uh, supported by six of seven people this evening, we'll
have to take those up in ... in piecevel... piecemeal fashion, um ... uh... which I'm
not sure is desirable, uh, from ... from a planning perspective. So...
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Throgmorton: I ... I do have one further thought. Uh, it would make a difference to me if a
revised version of this went to the Planning and Zoning Commission and a
majority of the Commission recommended approval. I mean I'd have to read
what everybody said but 1, you know, that would make a difference to me!
Getting a 1-5 vote and have ... coming from the Commission carries weight for
me. It's not the only thing I think about, but it carries weight. So gettin' a
majority carries weight too. From ... from them.
Hayek: Okay, further discussion? Roll call, please. Uh... the vote is 5-2, which means
the amendment fails. (applause) Okay. It is, uh, 20 of 10. We've got to take a
quick break, uh, and so let's... suspend for five minutes and then we will come
back! (BREAK)
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ITEM 6b PORTABLE SIGNS — ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14:
ZONING TO BROADEN AND CLARIFY THE PLACEMENT
STANDARDS FOR PORTABLE SIGNS ALLOWED IN CENTRAL
BUSINESS DISTRICT COMMERCIAL ZONES.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) John!
Yapp: Uh, good evening, John Yapp. Uh, the placement of portable signs over the
years, uh, has been problematic. It has, uh, required significant staff time in, uh,
inspecting and regulating the placement of portable signs. Uh, currently portable
signs are permitted only on private property. Uh... this has led to some, uh,
confusion with different businesses. Some businesses have some private property
in front of their business where they can place a portable sign. Some businesses,
their building, uh, goes up to the property line and the portable sign is placed, uh,
in the right-of-way. Yet to the pedestrian and to the business, no one can tell
where the right-of-way line is, where the private property is. Uh, staff has
proposed, uh... cleaning up, if you will, the portable sign, uh, ordinance. Uh, to
also allow portable signs on city right-of-way, uh, within 30 -inches of the front
wall, uh, or the property line. Uh, also allow for businesses not on the ground
floor to have or to share a portable sign with up to two portable signs per
storefront. Uh, and then require a minimum 8 -foot -wide clear path for pedestrians
to be maintained between the portable sign and any sidewalk cafe, planter, or
other streetscape amenity. Be glad to take any questions!
Hayek: Questions for John? Thank you! Is there anyone here ... anyone here from the
audience on this item? Okay! Uh, before I close the public hearing I just need to
take the temperature of the Council. Are we inclined to go with the P&Z
recommendation? (responses in background) Okay! I see a majority. I will
close the public hearing.
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Dobyns: Move first consideration.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Throgmorton: I ... I gather there wasn't any opposition from downtown businesses, right?
Hayek: No, our ... our Downtown District Executive Director is ... giving us the thumbs
up!
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Throgmorton: Good deal!
Hayek: Roll call, please. Passes 7-0.
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ITEM 6c MACKINAW VILLAGE PART 6 — RESOLUTION APPROVING
PRELIMINARY PLAT (SUB15-00003).
Mims: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Mr. Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, this is a proposed eight -lot, uh, subdivision, uh, preliminary plat in Mackinaw
Village. This would be the last phase, uh, of Mackinaw Village. Uh, this is an
aerial photo. The, uh, lots would be on the Southside of, uh, Manitou Trail, west
of Mackinaw Drive. Uh, this is the existing, uh, preliminary plat, sensitive areas
development plan for this, uh, for the larger, uh, development. Uh, this piece of
the preliminary plat has expired and requires to be reapproved, uh, by the City
Council, and the applicant has requested one, uh, change to the previous...
previously approved plan. Uh, that change would be to have, uh, an eight -foot
wide sidewalk on the south side of Tranquil Bluff Trail, uh, and then ... no
sidewalk along, if I can find my mouse ... then no sidewalk along outlot A. Uh,
the previous plan had sidewalks on both, uh, Tranquil Bluff Trail and then the
eight -foot sidewalk on... on the north side of Tranquil Bluff Trail, along outlot A.
Uh, staff does see some advantage in having... having that sidewalk on the south
side of the street. It eliminates, uh, two, uh, street crossings, uh, for that wide
sidewalk which ... which does provide a connection under the interstate and to the,
uh, Waterworks Park, uh, Trail. Uh, in addition, uh, outlot A is really designed as
a... as a large median, uh, and staff does not see a need for sidewalk along... along
that outlot. Uh, staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend
approval.
Hayek: Any questions for John?
Throgmorton: John, where's the outlot? Again?
Yapp: It is ... right ... right here, Jim.
Throgmorton: Ah!
Yapp: It's a... it's a large median.
Throgmorton: Yeah, yeah!
Hayek: Anyone from the audience? Council discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7-0.
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ITEM 7. NORMANDY DRIVE RESTORATION PROJECT - APPROVING PLANS,
SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NORMANDY DRIVE
RESTORATION PHASE IIIB PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF
BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY
CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND
PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Hall: Good evening, um, Normandy Drive Trail... um... sorry! (mumbled) Um... is
phase 313 of the trail system. It runs on the river side of...
Hayek: We've got your name but why don't you, uh, give it for the audience! (laughter)
Hall: Pardon me! Uh, Zachary Hall, Superintendent of Parks and Forestry. Urn ... the
trail connection is a ... REAP grant, uh, is being funded by a REAP grant, um, and
will connect off of Park Road, uh... a, uh, triangular connection and ... run along
the backside of the Ashton House on, uh, along the river and then connect back up
on ... uh, Normandy Drive, and uh, again this is part of a REAP grant, a $200,000
REAP grant that, uh, Parks Department has received and ... (clears throat) ... um, it
is a porous HMA, uh, trail system. So, if there's any specific questions, um, Ron
and I both can help answer those.
Hayek: Looks good! Thank you, sir! Anyone from the audience on this item? Okay!
Close the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Mims: Move the resolution.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? Roll call, please.
Passes 7-0.
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ITEM 10. NORTH PLANT SALVAGE AND DEMOLITION PROJECT PHASE ONE
— APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT,
AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE NORTH PLANT SALVAGE AND
DEMOLITION PHASE OF THE IOWA CITY WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT RELOCATION PROJECT, ESTABLISHING
AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID,
DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND
FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Biggers: My name is, uh, Jeff Biggers. I ... really appreciate your time and patience. Uh, I
spoke last, uh, time and promised I wouldn't come back, but I'm here! And I'm
happy to be here on a non -controversial issue. Uh, something which I see as a
win-win. I'm not here to ask you to vote, uh, no against this, uh... um, resolution.
I'm asking you to follow the City staff note that says you can seek an amendment
to exclude the historic control house from this resolution, and I think this is a very
much win-win for the entire city. It's an incredible step forward to sustainability,
uh, in our city, and it really reminds us that this vote is not really an all or nothing
vote, but we can easily make this amendment. Uh, last time I ... I spoke very
briefly about the legacy of the ... of the history, and the legacy of the control
house, why it was created — because of an environmental crisis in 1934 and the
City Council really rose to the occasion and against the City. It was a very
unpopular decision created the ... the treatment plant and the control house. Uh,
this time I ... I briefly want to talk about the cost and the value. As you all know,
the whole operation of moving the treatment plant is about $63 million. So in the
big picture, the cost of saving one building that's perfectly positioned, the historic
control house, is really minor in comparison, especially if we ask the City to allow
the community to step forward, not put the burden on you, but put the burden on
the community to step forward and find the funds to save it and renovate it like
the betwir.... with the boat house and make it a flood resistant building, a building
that can be used for the community. This has a tremendous value for the City. I
truly believe, uh, Iowa City's greatest natural resource is its people. The
innovators. The people who are out there doing action. And just in recent weeks
we've seen an incredible movement of people who are truly concerned about
saving part of a sewage plant. This historic building! Not for any historic
preservation reason, but because they see it as part of our future! Exactly what
you were saying, Terry! That this is a place where the folks who came for
biodiversity need a place to be based, and what better place than to be based in the
riverfront park? Where we can actually use the biodiversity project. We have an
incredible group of people who want to use it as a center for the arts. From all
sectors of our community, both east side, west side, north and south. We have an
incredible group of people who want to use it for local food and entrepre... uh,
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local farm and food entrepreneur movement, who are every day growing and
growing. We have such a thriving local food movement who need this kind of
space, and what better space than right at the portal of the riverfront park. We
have an incredible community of people who want to have river and nature
education. And these are the people who've been asking us please try to save this
darn building! And that's what we're asking you ... is that in the end you're not
looking at a risk! Because as your City memo said, if we ... uh, level this building,
we're going to allow that area to be a vacant grassy lot for a number of years. I'm
not sure the ... that the community is really aware of that! And so why not give the
community a couple of years to step up to the plate and find the funds to really
make this and incredible asset to our community, both for sustainability, both for
historic preservation, and really about our future. Really appreciate your time
and... consideration of this amendment.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Cole: Uh, my name is Rockne Cole and I'm not here to talk about the shadow. Um...
you know, there's a recent article in the Press -Citizen about the hotel being
proposed for Burlington, and they were talking about during the course of this
hotel, that they just had a ... an amendment to add a million dollars extra, on top of
the existing tax increment financing project for that hotel. I think there's a lot of
good things about that hotel. It potentially could hold the University Art Museum
and I'm not saying that it doesn't necessarily make sense, but I think that that
illustrates the art of the possible. That is where the ... where the City, uh, finds
projects that it...it wants to do. It finds the resources to make that happen, and if
you look at this control house, um, which is what we're calling it, if you go down
to 1000 S. Clinton Street, and we have this ongoing debate about how you attract
and how you create a dynamic community. It is a nearly perfect location for a... a
center for doers, for bikers, for makers, for growers, and it's perfectly located. If
you see that particular location, it's essentially, um, and you ... you could
repurpose it for about $500,000. The bike path goes right by it. There's a flat
area to actually grow. It's close to the river so if we ever redevelop for a white
water, uh, rapids, which I think that we should embrace. Urn, it's close to the
University so it'd provide opportunities for, uh, the University, as well as the, um,
interactions with the City. Unfortunately we are here at the end of a very long
evening and I ... I know the Council's gettin' tired, um, but I (laughs) but I'd ask
you to just ... think of the energy on a bright spring day, 10 years from today,
where this Council can make the same decision that the Council made 10 or 15
years ago for the Englert. When you enjoy that facility, what if that Council
hadn't done that, and so 2...2025 and you can look forward and look back at the
decision that this Council had to do for $500,000. So delay this, modify this
agreement, allow the community members to do just like they did with the Englert
Theater, and raise the funds, and if we don't do it, we've lost the opportunity and
you can make whatever decision you would like. So modify this agreement and
allow this community to grow in this particular area at 1000 S. Clinton. Thank
you.
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Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Carsner: Uh, Tom Carsner. Uh, just 10 minutes ago there was an aerial view of the Ashton
House. Another great example of how engineers can take a building in the flood
plain, make it usable. It's gonna flood. We can't necessarily stop the water, but
we can make buildings that have ground floors that can be ... uh, quickly
evaculate ... evacuated, uh, non ... non -permanent structures so that we can use
these buildings that are in the flood plain, otherwise great buildings, and I think
that's another chance for engineers to make, uh, this building, uh, flood proof in
the sense of being able to be used, uh, most of the year on the ground floor, and
certainly on the upper story. My other big thing is ... the number of public
meeting places for non-profit groups is very small in Iowa City. Sometimes this
room is available. The Public Library, but beyond that, it's very difficult to find
free, uh... uh, no cost rooms, places to meet if you're a non-profit. I believe that
this building can become a third major location, a place where, uh... uh, groups
that don't own their own building can meet for a low cost, or no cost, and, uh,
have their own public meetings. I think that is something that this town needs a
lot more of. We end up competing with each other, uh, for the Library and ... and
for this space. So I would encourage you for that reason, as well. And, I also
think, as others have said, it's a money -saving, uh, proposition in the long -run.
Yes, there may be some upfront costs, but if you're looking, uh, at a three to five-
year, uh, range, it's going to save you money, and it's going to preserve
something, uh, it reminds us of what was there. And I think continuity is
important in this town. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Schultz: Good evening, I'll be brief! My name is Grant Schultz. I live a few blocks away
on College Street. Um, my time these days is as environmental scientist and a
food producer. I just got back from a conference in California, fresh off the plane,
haven't been home in a week! But I made it here! Um, I've lived in Boulder,
I've lived in Beaverton, Oregon. I've been all over the country, all over the
world, and I chose to come back to Iowa. And I chose Iowa City, of every...
anywhere I could go. And the longer I've been here the more I've realized is that,
you know, there's certain aspects of the city that can be really, really great, and I
see them slipping away, and I see myself and people like me that are going to
seek out a better place than this, and there's an opportunity here with the re -
envisioning and the recreation of Riverfront Crossings Park to make it a
community hub, and if it's another grassy lawn that we just stroll through one day
a year for a concert, it's not going to retain the top talent that we need to make
Iowa City great. And with the opportunity of this building, which yes is in the
500 -year flood plain, at the same elevation as the County Administration
Building, um ... it could be a ... a center for the arts and environment. It could be a
ce... uh, center for youth innovation. It could be many, many things, but if it's
crushed to the ground, it never has that opportunity. So what we're proposing,
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put a temporary stay on it, on the ... on the demolition of this particular building,
seek out the community, see what we can do, in the ... in the coming months, and
again, if we raise the money to do it — fantastic! If we don't — level it! But you
never get the opportunity to put that building back in place. All that said ... we've
heard a couple different arguments of why that can't be done. We certainly know
that the agreement could be amended. We know that the building could be saved,
whereas the settling tanks are removed. Five minutes with a concrete saw can
separate those two structures. I've heard a lot of ... poorly fashioned arguments to
the contrary that it must come to the ground, when it can. It just takes a little bit
of effort, and there's many, many people here representing a lot of different non-
profits in this area that say it can be and are willing to put in the sweat and the
tears to get it done. So just ask for a stay on that particular item. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Flesher: Good evening, everybody! Uh, my name is Alex Flesher. I've been a community
member here for a little under a decade, and I'm also a community organizer here,
and I, uh, am also coming in favor, um, of supporting this amendment, um, to
give a stay to the demolition of the control house. I think that, uh, a lot can be
done with that space. We've seen a lot of, uh, things and uh, in the community.
Just recently in the last few weeks that, uh, tell me that, uh, this is something
that's really ripe and something that's new, and at the very least, uh, we'd like to
see a little bit of time, uh, that you can give us so that we can see if we might be
able to do something with it and like those that have come before me, if we can't,
then you can level it, it's all right. Um, but just ... give us a chance and see what
we can do because, uh, I think we can, and there are ... there are other people who,
uh, support me in that. So, uh, yeah, thank you very much!
Hayek: Thank you!
Carberry: Good evening, City Council, uh, my name is Mike Carberry, and uh... I've worn
many hats in this town, but the first hat I wore was as a community organizer, and
the first real project I worked on was ... the Save the Englert project in 2000. I
was on the core group, attended every meeting, beca... got on their board of
directors, and that was ... the Council saw the foresight in giving the community a
chance to, uh, really create a jewel in this town, and I think everybody would
agree that has been a ... overwhelming success. Um, Iowa City could use ... I
mean, and that's the center of the cultural activity in downtown. But I think that
Iowa City really needs another cultural center and I think the Council has seen the
foresight to create the Riverfront Crossings District with the riverfront park. And
we're here to talk about the control house. Well I'm not a big fan of that name
the control house and I'm a marketing guy, so I'm going to temporarily call it the
freedom house, and it's ... that house is going to give us the freedom to, uh, to
create, to make things, to do things, things like music, art... theater... ecology,
local foods, and other forms of sustainability, to teach, gives us the freedom to do
all those things. And just like the citizens saved the Englert, we can save the
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freedom house. I was part of that group. I was the benefit director. The
musicians in this town alone, over five years, raised a $100,000 to, uh, save the
Englert. We probably need $500,000 initially to raise. We probably need another
$500,000 close to a million dollars, and I'm being ... maybe even a little
conservative. We also need ... to raise money. We need to take that burden off of
the City. The community wants this, then it should be the community's
responsibility to raise that money and not only to begin with, but on an ongoing
basis. I don't want to see the City having to put a bunch of money every year into
that. The groups that use this, I think, should be able to raise the funds on an
ongoing baint... basis for maintenance, and for operations, of that building. So
again, I'm just asking for patience, not for money. Um ... so we need the million
dollars. Of course it's in the flood plain. We've talked about that. Citizens of
Iowa City have stepped up over and over again to save this city from the flood.
Sandbagging hundreds and hundreds of thousands of sandbags. We could do that.
We have engineers. We have architects that can help us with that. We're not
going to be able to move that building. It is where it is, but that park could really
use the freedom house. If it ... once it's gone, it's gone. We have an opportunity
to save it and all we need is time. You give us the time, we'll give you the
money. Thanks for your opportunity and thanks for your time.
Hayek: Thank you!
Perret: Hi, my name is Ariane Parkes-Perret. I just decided to come up and speak. Um, I
am really inspired by the ... the efforts that has been made by Ecopolis. I've
grown up in Iowa City. I was born here. I was raised here and then for about four
years I lived in Las Cruces which is ... basically kind of a desert and it's basically
streets, like urban sprawl, for as far as the eye can see and I just ... that's part of
the reason what ... what really made me want to come back to Iowa City was that I
just love the culture here and I love the opportunities that has ... it provides, but
sometimes... during the recent years I've constantly been questioning whether or
not I really want to live here because it's becoming less affordable and sometimes
I feel like it's just kind of closing in and then I ... started becoming involved with
the student gardeners and groups like Backyard Abundance and Ecopolis and it's
just ... constant sources of inspiration. Just about two or three weeks ago we had
this amazing meeting, 50 ... about 50 people got together and shared all sorts of
amazing ideas and I really see the, uh, sewage ... or the ... the old sewage treatment
plant as a really amaz... an amazing opportunity to ... to offer like artists to grow
and to have educational classes about permaculture and sustainability and I feel
like it's just a really amazing opportunity, um, thank you very much.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. Anyone else? Okay, I'm going to close the public
hearing at this time. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence..
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Botchway: So moved.
Throgmorton: So moved.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? All those in favor
say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Som ... second.
Hayek: Moved by, uh, Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Throgmorton: So I'd really love to support, uh, to preserve the control house, and I think the
Ecopolis group has done a great job, a really great job of being creative and
generating really valuable ideas. I mean, I've talked with Geoff a lot. I've talked
with Grant, you know ... I ... I admire the work a lot! Uh, and the creativity has to
do with how River ... Riverfront Crossings Park can be used as a focal point for, I
don't know, ecologically sound community action or something like that. So that
creativity needs to be taken advantage of. But I'm finding it really hard to get
past the aerial photographs. You and I have talked about this, Geoff, the aerial
photographs of the control house, or what Mike calls the freedom house, uh... uh,
the photos of that ... that house under water in 2008. I'm having a lot of trouble
gettin' past those photographs. So I want ... that makes me want to ask the staff a
couple questions, maybe Geoff because Geoff wrote, uh, a couple memos on this.
So if you're the wrong person tell me, Geoff, as I ask these. So just two
questions. Uh, the Riverfront Crossings Plan states that the City should, and I'll
quote here, explore the possibility of developing a community art center in the
administration building. Uh, at the former waste water treatment plant or some
other suitable location, and so on. So, the question is this, did the staff seriously
explore the possibility of developing such a center in the administration
or ... building, or control house, more specifically has the staff spoken with
architects who know a lot about renovating older buildings in ways that are flood
resilient.
Fruin: Uh, the answer to your first question on whether we had serious discussions at the
staff level. Yes, absolutely. We had, uh, several discussions, uh, at a staff level
on... on what to do, um, with this building and what our options were. Um, I
think the points that I laid out in my initial memo when we looked at the flood,
um, of 2008, uh, when we consider what our experience is at City Park, uh, when
we looked at the funding source to actually get these down, you know, prior to
that funding source becoming available, we didn't have a plan to take these
structures down. So, all those contributed to our decisions. Um, in terms of ... uh,
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have we engaged, uh, architects — I'm not aware of any architects that we've
engaged. We engaged Stanley Consultants in 2011 and that's where the estimates
came when we were evaluating preservation, uh, versus this path that we're
recommending to you tonight. Um, they looked at the cost to rehab, uh, or make
usable the control house in its current state, and that's where those numbers in the
memo came from. So, urn ... I ... I think that signals by the fact that we looked at
Stanley Consultants or we talked with them in 2011, that yes we did look at those
options. Um, it's not an easy decision to come to, um ... uh, because, uh, you
know, the ... as the memo stated, there is a ... you know, a piece of history there
that, uh, that staff feels is valuable. So this is a tough decision. It was a tough
recommendation for us, but at the end of the day, um ... we think this is the best
route for the City.
Dickens: I guess I'm willing to ... to look at ... you know, two years max would be
my ... would be my goal with the million dollars because the $554,000 or whatever
was in our memo was ... isn't the bare minimum, and you don't want it to be at
bare minimum. I'd also ask in the amendment that it not be given historic
designation so that if the fundraising doesn't go, the building can be removed.
But I think we should give people a chance to ... to step up and show us that this is
very important. Like I said earlier, don't forget the past. This is part of our past,
but it can be part of our future too. So I think it may be a... a cornerstone for this
area. The flooding area does bother me a lot, you know, the potential that it... it
could flood again and putting all the money into that... and have it all gone right
away, it .... it's a scary thought. If there's a way to prevent that, that'd be great but
I ... I have some reservations about that too.
Mims: Yeah, I find it really hard to ... to support it, and I'm ... like you, Jim. I look at that
picture from 2008 and ... you know, I just think we're going to be seeing that more
and more, uh, with the flooding, and I find interesting a couple people said it was
perfectly positioned, or nearly perfect location, and I'm like, no, because it's in
the flood plain! I mean ... and you know... comparisons have been made with, um,
the Beckwith Boathouse and the Ashton House. Those buildings, if people don't
realize, both were built with the intent to deal with floods. I mean, the Beckwith
Boathouse, they were about ready to break ground on that when we had one of
our floods and they raised the whole thing by about four or five feet to make sure
that... (laughs) actually was going to be able to let the flood water through the
bottom part of it. Um, Ned Ashton built that house with the intent of being able
to open the doors downstairs and letting it flood and just being able to hose it out.
So, those were constructed from the very beginning with the intent, that knowing
that they would flood, and how could they build those so that they could not be
damaged from the flood and they could basically be hosed out. This is a totally
different situation. And so my concern is ... that it's ... it's not perfectly positioned
at all. It's sitting right there in the flood plain and we know it's going to flood
again. It's just how often and how soon. Um ... I'm not willing to ... to have the
City on the hook at all for the money, and I... and I really appreciate, um, you
know, the interest in the community, and I... guess let me back up for just a
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second, because you know, as you said I think, Jim, I think the ... the energy and
enthusiasm that is there for ... these groups coming together and having a place
and doing some things is fantastic, and I think to find a way to do that, um, is
really important. Having said that, we also do have, and they may not be the
perfect locations for what you're looking for at this moment, but in one of the
memos that Geoff Fruin did for us, it listed about six or seven different locations
that the City has between ... I don't know if I can find that memo real quickly.
Throgmorton: Ashton House.
Mims: Yeah, I mean Ashton House, Trueblood, the Eastside Recycling Center has
meeting space. What ... what else did you have listed, Geoff?
Fruin: (several talking) ...traditional meeting spaces, whether that's City Hall, the rec
centers, uh, the Library.
Mims: So there, I mean, there are a lot more than just two, you know, buildings that are
available. I ... I get what a lot of you are talking about though is more of a ... place
for permanent office, classes, you know, permanent location. And ... and I think
that's a great idea. I just don't think with this building sitting in the flood plain,
and costing... a minimum of you know the $554,000 that's been estimated just to
get it, um, to usable condition, and as indicated that doesn't even include ADA
improvements and, you know, doorways and elevator and interior things. I mean,
again, we're probably looking at least another 500,000, I don't know, maybe
another million. I have no idea — to get it useable. Um ... and then it's still sitting
in the flood plain after we have spent all that money on it. And so to me ... I
would rather take an approach of you've got all this energy. You've got the
organization. You're interested in raising money. Let's find a better location out
of the flood plain to try to work together to do something like that. Um... so I'm
...it's a beautiful old building. I ... it's a beautiful old building from the outside,
but I ... with it still sitting right there in the middle of the flood plain, I just can't
see ... doing anything more with it.
Hayek: So we've, uh... I mean ... you know, I struggle with this but ... since 2008, the
City's policy has been to remove structures from the flood plain and
not... encourage new structures or keep structures there, uh, where ... where
possible. Um, I ... I mean, I ... I admire the enthusiasm. I'm glad it's there. I'm
glad it represents a community like this, because I think it ... it's part of the fabric
that ... that makes us a great place, but you know ... I mean, we've got ... and ...and
you know, some of this may be, uh, driven by, um ... I don't know, synergies
between proximity to the river and... and... and open space and the opportunity to
save a building. I ... I ... I think I understand that, but you know, by the same ... at
the same time, you know, we ... Iowa City's got 800 -plus acres of ... of ... of
preserved, uh, natural space. We just brought in, you know, the Ryerson Woods,
uh... uh, piece. We've expanded our community gardens and will continue to do
so. We've expanded edible forests and continue to do so, both out in the
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neighborhoods and downtown. Um ... urn ... we've ... you know, and we ... we've
invested heavily in facilities, um, that go to this essence of ... uh, environmental
advocacy and education. Um, you know, the ... the Trueblood facility, that ... that
was an $8 million project, uh, that's our largest City park and has all sorts of, uh,
meeting space there. Uh, the Ashton House, um ... uh, and... and... what I don't
think people are recognizing is, you know, just a few years ago we spent $4.5
million on the Eastside Recycling Center! Um, which is a ... a beautiful facility,
um, that not only ... uh, provides a recycling outlet for people on that side of town
but also houses non -profits whose... function it is to boost sustainability locally,
and has an educational component in terms of the materials with which the
structure was, uh... um ... uh, put up and uh... other educational, uh... uh, features,
and has meeting space. Um ... I mean the Eastside Recycling Center is the essence
of... of environmental, um, education from a... from a municipal investment, uh,
perspective and um, you know, and there are other spaces. So if...if it's ... if it's a
meeting and gathering area with .... with an environmental angle to it, I ... I just feel
like we ... we made heavy investments, um, and if ... if we are to, um ... look at
something like this. If... if indeed there is a... a paucity of... of... of spaces that
would ... that would serve this function, um, and I'm not convinced there is, but if
there is, and we are to look at a major capital investment in something like that.
I ... I just think we need to find a ... a better location for that, that's not going to
require the kind of protection, um ... uh, that ... that will ... by necessity occur, uh, if
it's reconstructed in that particular spot. Um, you know, I was on the Englert
board, as well, uh, and I joined not much longer after, uh, Mr. Carberry and I was
part of the group that ... that saved that, but I think one of the key differences is
that, you know, the Englert was the last of six or seven downtown theaters that...
that all ... all of `em were gone and there was no theater venue left, um ... and it's
not a completely analogous, uh, description, but ... but we don't face that situation
here. We have multiple, um, venues that we've invested heavily in, uh, that
would serve this purpose, um, and if we are to add to our stock, um, I ... I'm just
not sure it should be here in a place that's so vulnerable. I ... and I think it's a... I
think it's a beautiful structure, um ... so I'm ... I'm struggling with this with you.
Throgmorton: Um, Tom or Geoff, I don't ... maybe somebody else. If ... if we chose, you know,
if we chose to say ... we want to maintain the control house for another couple
years max like Terry suggested, what would be the practical financial
implications, uh, for us ... you know, what's the ... how would the demolition costs
be altered? How would the (both talking) plan have to be revised, you know
(both talking)
Markus: I think there's economies of scale in taking it down now that you lose by
separating this project out. Um, the other thing I'd like to mention is that the
1105, uh, the City contributed, uh, significant dollars to that project. That wasn't
all raised privately, and that's the case with the Englert every year too. I think the
City's contributing $80,000 a year to that project! I don't ... I don't take that away
from it, but this isn't all money that's been raised privately.
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Fruin: Jim, I think, urn ... another, to ... to further answer your question, urn ... you know,
you have to maintain the building over that two year period or wherever that
exploratory period is, and there's some ... some costs, uh, that would shift over
from the sewer fund right now and ... and transfer over to the general fund.
I ... I ... don't know that that's a huge amount but it would be, you know, just your
regular maintenance. Uh, the other thing that would likely occur would be that
we would seek an amendment to remove this structure from the Iowa flood
mitigation grant and therefore if we had to come back and... and tear it down, you
wouldn't have access to that flood grant to take it down. You'd be looking at City
general funds to take that down.
Markus: And so the credit that you'd get for removing it from the contract was how much?
I think I heard (both talking)
Fruin: 62,000.
Markus: Yeah, and I ... and I can ... I can guess that if you went back and went out to bid for
that, a ... a structure that size, you'd be over 200,000 -plus to take it down later.
Hayek: What do you want to do, Council?
Mims: Vote! (laughter and several talking) It's 10:30! Kind of heard everybody and
(several talking)
Hayek: Yes I do want to go to Dave's Fox Head right now! (laughter)
Dickens: Historic Dave's Fox Head! (laughter)
Throgmorton: Is there a motion?
Hayek: It's on the floor (several talking) so if there's any further discussion...
Throgmorton: Okay.
Hayek: Roll call, please. Passes, uh, 6-1, Dickens in the negative.
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ITEM 14. PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AND PROPOSED FINANCIAL
PLAN — ADOPTING PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2015 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2016, THE
PROPOSED THREE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN FOR FY2015 — 2017, AND
ALSO THE MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2019.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Markus: Before Dennis starts, Dennis and I had this conversation. We knew that it'd be
10:30 by the time we got (laughter) and so he's going to go through the slide
presentation in part because, and he's going to do it quickly, in part because we
want to create the record and create the video for our public to see what's in this
document.
Hayek: Understood!
Bockenstedt: Good evening, I'm Dennis Bockenstedt, the Finance Director for the City and uh,
tonight is the public hearing for the City's 2016 City Budget. Uh, preparation of
the 2016 City Budget, uh, was done consistent with the City's financial goals. It's
also guided by the City Council's strategic plan priorities. Um, it was also
focused on creating a sustainable financial model in an uncertain financial
environment. The City's 2016 financial goals include number one, to prepare for
the property tax shortfall that will result from the 2013 Legislative changes. The
second goal was to maintain the Moody's triple-A bond rating. The third goal
was to maintain a competitive tax and fee environment. The fourth goal was to
continue to achieve the GFOA awards for financial reporting and budget
presentation. In order to prepare for the property tax shortfall that is expected, uh,
this budget continues funding for the emergency reserve fund. Reserve fund is
there to protect against sudden revenue shortfalls, pension and healthcare rate
spikes, and other unforeseen financial emergencies. The budget also seeks to ma
...maintain sustainable rates and fees to sufficiently recover the cost of
operations, and it continues to seek operational efficiencies through software
implementation, internet accessibility, and department reorganization. The
second financial goal is to retain the Moody's triple-A bond rating. Uh, this
budget continues to emphasize low debt levels and controlled spending. As you
can see by the chart that our general debt as a percentage of our legal debt limit
continues to decline. Uh, the budget also seeks to maintain strong reserve and
fund balance levels, with a policy change this year to increase the maximum fund
balance level to 30% of expenditures, which is consistent with the Moody's triple-
A benchmark. Um, we're also continuing to shift capital financing to pay as you
go versus long-term debt borrowing obligations. Um, our third goal was to
maintain a competitive tax and fee environment. Uh, this year we are proposing a
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reduction of 5 -cents in the property tax rate to $16.66. Uh, it is the fourth
consecutive property tax rate decrease and it'll create the lowest City property tax
rate in the last 14 years. Um, the fourth goal was to con... continue to receive the
GFOA awards for financial reporting and budget presentation. Uh, this budget
document will be submitted to the ... to the GFOA Distinguished Budget
Presentation Award Program. The City's received that award for the past three
fiscal years. In addition, the City will continue to participate in the GFOA
Certificate of Achievement and Financial Reporting Program, and the City has
received that award for the past 29 consecutive years. In addition we, uh,
continue our ongoing efforts to integrate performance measures and the strategic
plan into the budget document. Uh, in addition to the City's financial goals, uh,
the budget preparation was guided by the City's strategic plan priorities, uh,
which are to foster more inclusive and sustainable city through its commitment to
healthy neighborhoods, a strong urban core, strategic economic development
activities, a solid financial foundation, and enhanced communication and
marketing. Um, the strategic plan priorities for inclusiveness and sustainability,
uh, there's a number of things that are included in the budget to .... to address our
programming for those areas. I won't take the time to sit there and list them all.
Uh, but some of them are to continue funding for human agency partnerships, our
human rights agency partnerships, uh, the partnership with St. Ambrose
University for a disproportionate minority contact, uh, minority recreation
programs, um, new to this year is the roadway vegetation management program,
and also increase street pe... street tree plantings. Uh, the budget continues
investments and ... for healthy neighborhoods, including the Uvers ... UniverCity,
GRIP, and targeting neighborhood investment programs. Um, the 2016 budget
funds two new UniverCity homes. It also creates a new UniverCity neighborhood
fagade improvement program. Uh, the budget also continues investments in
neighborhood parks and trails, uh, parks that will see improvements or
renovations include the, uh, Fraenholz-Miller Park, Mercer Park, Willow Creek
and Kiwanis Parks, and the Tower Court Park, uh, as well as the Pheasant Hill
Park. Uh, so there's a number of ... of parks that are being affected by this year's
budget. Uh, it also continues the PIN grant program and also there's additional
recreation facilities in the new Alexander Elementary School in partnership with
the School District. Um, the budget also includes investments in the downtown
and near downtown areas, including Riverfront Crossings Park. Uh, streetscape
enhancements in the downtown area, including Washington Street and pedestrian
mall. Um, as well as the Clinton and Madison intersection improvements, and
improvements to the parking facades. Um, the budget also includes strategic
economic development investment, including the Micro Enterprise Loan
Guarantee Program in which the City is partnering with local banks. Uh, and also
funding for Englert Theater and Film Scene, uh, as well as funding for the O..
ICAD group and continued investment in the Towncrest area. Um, the fourth
priority to sustain a solid financial foundation, uh, this budget seeks to maintain
those strong fund balance and solid foundation, including, uh, revenue
enhancements in Parks and Rec programs, uh, the water and landfill funds, for
housing rental inspections, and planning. Um, it also includes funding to enhance
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communication and marketing, including... the marketing of a human rights
programs, uh, the redesign of the City's, uh, web site in partnership with the
University of Iowa, uh, the expansion of translation services in the
Communication Division, and an increased functionality for the online program,
uh, GovExpress. Uh, expenditure totals, uh, the total City budget's $175.9
million. Of that the governmental funds which are primarily property tax, uh,
supported funds and inter -governmental revenues, uh, total $108.9 million, uh, the
City's general fund, which is the primary operating fund totals $50.3 million.
Capital projects, uh, totals $36.3 million and the City's enterprise funds, which
are the business type funds such as the water and sewer funds, totals a little over
$49 million. The operating expenditures represent a decrease of 5% from last
year of operating expenditures and, uh, the budget is considered a balanced
budget, meaning its operating revenue are in excess of its operating expenditures.
Uh, to summarize, uh, the 2016 proposed budget was guided by clear financial
goals. Its priorities were determined by the City's strategic plan. And it was
focused on a sustainable financial model with controlled spending. Um, also the
property tax rate is $16.66 per $1,000 of value, which is a decrease of 5 -cents
from last year. And I will answer any questions if you have any!
Hayek: Any questions for Dennis?
Throgmorton: I ... I do have one, Dennis.
Bockenstedt: Okay!
Throgmorton: State Legislature recently enacted, uh, 10% ... or a 10 -cent per gallon increase in
the road use ... in gasoline tax. Uh, what's that going to translate into for us in
terms of annual revenues? Do you have an estimate of that?
Bockenstedt: Um, I believe it was around $1.2 to $1.5 million a year in road use tax funds.
Throgmorton: Is it reflected in this budget?
Bockenstedt: That is not reflected in this budget. This occurred after the preparation of this
budget.
Throgmorton: Yeah, okay.
Markus: And so what we'll do is we'll take a look at how that money comes in, and look at
potential amendment to come back. We have a lot of deferred maintenance on
our roads, and uh, especially existing roads. So we ... we'll look at the strategic
plan, see if that couldn't be amended to do some more work yet this year, because
there is a ... there is a lot of (mumbled)
Throgmorton: Great!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of March 9, 2015.
Page 66
Hayek: Dennis, I think the absence of questions is not just a function of the time of night,
but the fact that, um, this budget process was exceptional in terms of the efforts of
staff and the focus on... creating a document that reflects our strategic priorities
and carries out the many demands we place on the City operation to meet the
needs of the public. So, you and Tom and Geoff and everyone else are to be, uh,
commended for this.
Mims: Well ... the many meetings we had in January to go through it with us in detail was
certainly very helpful.
Hayek: So...
Dobyns: You want two separate resolutions?
Hayek: I'm going to close the public hearing first, Doc. (bangs gavel) Public hearing is
closed. And yes we do!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of March 9, 2015.
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ITEM 18. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Hayek: We'll start down with you, Kingsley!
Botchway: Nothing.
Hayek: Jim?
Throgmorton: I'll say one quick thing. Uh, maybe four hours ago, do you remember that, a long
time ago, uh, Fred Meyer presented us with, uh, this biodiversity for a health
future, uh, biodiversity management strategy, uh, and when I was listening to Fred
and skimming through this I ... I was thinking about a symposium I went to over
the ... this past weekend, uh, sponsored at the University, by the University, titled
`Energy Cultures in the Age of the Anthropocene,' which means, I don't know, so
like human geological labor ... layer, um, and I wanted to praise the organizers,
um, Brad Cramer, Tyler Priest, and my wife Barbara Eckstein for putting it
together. It ... it was a superb symposium.
Markus: Before you ... you keep moving, um, as relates to that presentation, we will be
referring that to Brenda Nations to review that, and a lot of what, um, was
presented in that report are things that we're actually working on now. So, um,
we'll deploy Brenda to meet with the group, just so you know that that won't stop
here (several talking) keep moving.
Throgmorton: Great!
Mims: Okay. Nothing.
Dickens: Don't forget the Englert and Riverside Theater!
Hayek: Dr.? Michelle, anything?
Payne: Not for me tonight, thanks!
Hayek: All right. Two quick things. First, uh, the One Book, Two Book Festival was this
past weekend and was a smashing success, I believe. And kudos to the City of
Literature group that put it on. Secondly our Charter Commission, I believe,
wrapped up its work this morning and we'll be getting that report soon, but I want
to commend, uh, those who participated in it, both staff and, uh, the citizen
volunteers. Uh... it's a very important service to the community.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of March 9, 2015.
Page 68
ITEM 19. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
a) City Manager
Markus: Uh, we've been notified that Debbie and I will be hosting two international
fellows from Indonesia for the month of May.
Mims: Oh wow!
Markus: And uh... we've been invited, I've been invited, uh, so Debbie gets to do all the
work during May, and then I've been invited to return to Indonesia...
Throgmorton: Ooh!
Markus: Um, at the end of July, first part of August. I wanted to let you know that.
Hayek: Either of those guys like a .... or women, like a spot on one of our commissions for
a month (laughter)
Markus: We have them actually working on our welcoming committee... community
initiative. And we thought what a ... what an interesting perspective they would
bring into our community being totally foreign to Iowa and Iowa City and ... and
having them comment about how they're received publicly, uh, throughout the
community because we're ... we're working on that with the International
Committee through ICAD at the same time, and hopefully, um ... that ... they have
to do a project while they're here and that's kind of the focus of the project we're
working on.
Hayek: Good!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of March 9, 2015.