HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-09 TranscriptionMarch 9, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page I
Council Present: Botchway, Dickens, Dobyns, Hayek, Mims, Throgmorton
Council Absent: Payne
Staff Present: Markus, Fruin, Dilkes, Karr, Hightshoe, Knoche, O'Brien, Boothroy,
Yapp, Clark, Slattery, Bockenstedt, Schaul, Ford, Laverman, Hall, Dyson,
Morris
Others Present: McCarthy (UISG)
Council Appoints 015):
Hayek/ Welcome, everyone! We don't have much time so we'll get through as much as we can
and we'll take up the balance after our meeting. First up, Council appointments. Uh, I
see only one....
Mims/ One!
Hayek/ ...which is, uh, Historic Preservation Commission.
Mims/ Good with ... I'm good with that.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, it's one we discussed last meeting so (several talking) it seems to me we
should proceed, yeah!
Hayek/ Yep. I think the message was received ... in terms of attendance. So we'll put Frank
Wagner up, uh, for the at -large Historic Preservation Commission. I'll need a motion
when we get to that. Next is questions regarding agenda items.
Questions from Council re: Agenda Items:
ITEM 4d(7) 2015 LANDFILL GAS FLARE REPLACEMENT - RESOLUTION
AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND
THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
THE 2015 LANDFILL GAS FLARE REPLACEMENT PROJECT
Throgmorton/ What's the land flare ... landfill glass...
Mims/ Gas flare.
Throgmorton/ ...sorry, landfill gas flare replacement project, Item 4d(7). Who can help me?
Knoche/ It's the flare at the landfill. It's what we use to burn off the methane gas. It's up for
replacement.
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Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Knoche/ So ... so, yeah (both talking) Yeah, so we're replacing that flare. We have ... we have an
existing flare. It just ... it's time for it to be replaced.
Throgmorton/ So what's the methane difference, or the emitted, I mean natural gas is methane
primarily, isn't it?
Knoche/ Right. Yep.
Throgmorton/ So is there a difference in the amount of methane being released as a result of the
flaring or does the flare get rid of it (both talking)
Knoche/ The flare gets (both talking) the flare gets rid of it.
Throgmorton/ Okay. Thanks.
Hayek/ Thanks, Ron!
ITEM 8. UNIVERCITY SALE, 711 NORTH GILBERT - AUTHORIZING
CONVEYANCE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME LOCATED AT 711
NORTH GILBERT STREET.
Dobyns/ I had a comment on, uh, UniverCity. This is Item 8 in the public session. Taking a
look at the prices ... and this is, uh, something that, uh, Michelle and I discussed, um, is
that if you take ... one of the prices is $218,000 and then the second one that we're
considering tonight is, uh, I think about $230,000. And this is sort of the high end of
some of the UniverCity prices that we've been looking at. Um, and I guess our concern
is that, um, you know, we never thought that UniverCity should be sold to people, um,
you're sort of in this income area, that's sort of more supposed to be affordable housing,
and that's just trying to be a little leakage toward an income bracket, um, because you
know there are restrictions in terms of the people who could apply for this, and so it's sort
of a catch-22. You have to make a certain lower income to be able to be eligible, but
then we're making the mortgage price pretty high and I'm ... I'm afraid that we're forcing
these people into sort of a house -poor situation. Um...
Mims/ Tracy, is this up to 120 of...
Hightshoe/ Um, yes it is! Um, when we first ... there's just some confusion, cause when the
UniverCity Program started we started off with the I -Jobs grant.
Dobyns/ Uh huh.
Hightshoe/ And that I -Jobs grant had a affordable housing provision. And when you look at it
it's confusing cause it says 80% of IFA's owner -occupied limits, but that 80% doesn't
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translate to what you guys are used to, that HUD area median income. So what IFA's or
I -Jobs income was about 120% of median income. So while we do try to price homes,
but if we have to ... if the ... if the purpose of the ... of the purchase of that home was
basically to get a lesser density on that street or we're converting a multi -family into a
single-family and we had to pay over 200 grand for that house, then no, it's not ... it's not
affordable as you... as you know it. So we have to go with a higher income in order to
get that sold. It's not going to somebody under 80% of median income based on HUD's
definition. Now if we got money from the Housing Authority for downpayment
assistance or rehab, then yes, then those homes would have to sell for ... to a homeowner
less than 80% of median income, and those limits are quite a bit less. Like we'd be
selling them like a Douglas Court house that was like for $90,000 or some of the other
homes that we could sell for 130, 140, 150,000. So, the purpose of the UniverCity was to
stabilize neighborhoods, not necessarily affordability. So when we can do both, great!
But it wasn't always the case with every single home that we bought.
Hayek/ You know I'd ... I'd also add we're ... we're, um, we're buying up homes in the University
area impact area, or the University impact area and, you know, a lot of the values on their
...on those homes are ... driven by rental (several talking) which ... so if we're going to
accomplish this program's objectives in that geographic area, that's what we face.
Dobyns/ Well we can't solve every problem.
Mims/ Right!
Dobyns/ ...I understand that, you know, we ... if the stabilized area (mumbled) buy houses that
that's the market cost that we have to pay because the rental agreements, and (several
talking) and solve the affordable housing issue. I mean, I...
Markus/ We're kind of in a pause right now.
Mims/ Right.
Markus/ We have I think two houses that you're buying this coming year. Um, cause we have
quite a bit of inventory that we're working with right now. So...
Botchway/ I will say though kind of to Rick's point, maybe and maybe not. Maybe it's my own
point, that it is kind of misleading though, cause we do talk about when we're talking
about affordable housing and so ... and maybe that it was past... practice when we had that
particular I -Jobs grant but then I think ... then in the future we can't put that under ... or
any type of affordable (both talking)
Dobyns/ We can't advertise for it if we don't do it.
Hightshoe/ There's been a substantial number that we have provided to ... sold at prices that are
affordable for those under 80% of median income and people have taken `em. It's just
not all of the homes.
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Botchway/ Okay, but I think that needs to be...at least when we're discussing it in some type of
large forum, we need to make that clear.
Markus/ Yeah, to your point, I think that's one of the big problems I think I see across this region
is defining what affordable housing is, and if you listen to the discussion that has taken
place amongst all the jurisdictions, there seems to be no commonality as to what
affordable means.
Dobyns/ It looks like I just need to be careful when I talk about and tout the UniverCity program
and I say well it's really great for affordable housing, it's really great for neighborhood
stabilization, but maybe not both... simultaneously.
Hightshoe/ Um, we've sold 40 homes to date. The Housing Authority assisted with 15 of those
homes, so those were definitely under 80% of median income.
Dobyns/ Yeah.
Hightshoe/ So and then... probably... over 51% have probably sold to folks under ... but like I
said, when we have to buy a multi -unit and convert it down to single-family, we have to
pay more than 200 grand. Then we're looking at incomes up to 120 or higher if we have
to sell those homes so that, yes, we're looking that they can afford the home that they
buy.
Dobyns/ I just need to be more clear about, you know, more articulate in terms of what the
program is.
Hightshoe/ And then, you know with the ... as we go forward, we're going to try to limit
ourselves to homes under 200,000 cause they're a lot easier to sell. They're, um, we can
market `em better and they sell quicker, but um, depends on what the purpose is if we ... if
there's a rental property that's been a problem and we need to buy it ... then we might
have to pay more.
Dobyns/ Okay. Thanks, Tracy.
Hayek/ Thank you!
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.
Botchway/ Can we go to, um, 4d(3). Can we move that ... remove that from the Consent
Calendar? (mumbled) it's the development services fee schedule. I think I have a
conflict. Cause we're eliminating the fee waiver for public projects, including the School
District.
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Mims/ Oh!
Dobyns/ Uh...
Botchway/ I mean I have no idea anything about this, except what I just got, but I just want to
make sure I'm taking care of myself.
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.
Dobyns/ I had an additional question, um, on urn ... 6b. Um, I was taking a look ... this is the one
regarding the portable signs, um, on the right-of-way. And 8 -feet seemed ... John,
although tight to me, and I don't know if I read that correctly, um, in terms of the
recommendation. Could you comment?
Yapp/ Uh, 8 -feet is the, uh... space required between a... a sidewalk cafe and a building wall.
And is, uh, commonly accepted width for, uh, pedestrian paths downtown. And so what
the proposal is that the portable sign cannot, uh, encroach into that 8 -foot pathway.
Dobyns/ Okay. I guess I need to lose some weight! (laughter)
Mims/ Well, I will agree when you get a lot of people downtown, 8 -feet's not wide enough,
so ... it can get congested, but...
Dobyns/ Okay!
ITEM 4d(5) SYCAMORE STREET, CITY LIMITS TO SOUTH GILBERT
STREET, PHASE 1 - RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST
A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE SYCAMORE STREET - CITY
LIMITS TO SOUTH GILBERT STREET, PHASE I PROJECT.
Hayek/ By the way, just ... before I forget, uh, 4d(5) um, which is the Sycamore Street, uh...
resolution is going to ... we need to defer that, I'm told, to the next meeting, uh, the
property acquisitions are not complete, so ... I'll read a sort of omnibus motion on Item 4
that pulls yours for separate consideration and defers the other.
Botchway/ Okay. Going back to ... urn, where were you just at, Rick?
Dobyns/ Uh... (several talking)
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Botchway/ 6b ... um ... so in my previous job we had those huge election flags. Is it ... I was just
thinking that could be a problem. Maybe it's not my, I mean obviously not my problem
right now but ... um...
Markus/ We've defined the dimensions (both talking)
Botchway/ Okay! Perfect.
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.
Throgmorton/ Uh, Matt, just for the record I'd say I have several questions with regard to 6a, the
Comp Plan amendment, but I imagine other people do and we don't have enough time to
really go through it.
Hayek/ So when we get into that tonight, we'll have a public hearing and, um, I'm sure there'll
be plenty of discussion regarding it. From the Council, I think it's okay to ask questions
during the public hearing. Let's just not engage in ... discussion (several talking) yeah,
ask questions if you want but ... but wait for discussion until the hearing's closed and we
take up the resolution.
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.
Dickens/ I just have one question on 10, cause I know there's going to be some public discussion
on that. The estimated cost of...demolition is that ... yes. Is that ... there's been some talk
about saving the one building and... and what would be the difference in cost, if you save
that one building and demolish everything else.
Markus/ Come on up to the mic!
Dickens/ I know it'll probably come up but it's just a...
Fruin/ Yeah, I ... I have it in ... in the, uh, memo. It looks like it's a $62,000 savings, uh, if you
were to pull that out.
Throgmorton/ Well done! (laughs)
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Dickens/ Thank you!
Hayek/ Other agenda items? Okay! Uh, let's move on to Info Packets. First one is from
February 26. Anything regarding that?
Information Packet Discussion (February 26, March 5):
Botchway/ IP2, I would just say that great minds think alike, and um ... just kind of when we get
to the point where we're talking about, um, the body cameras for police, obviously
there's going to be a lot of questions, comments about the procedures and everything that
we put in place and so that's why I ... I didn't talk to Susan about it previously (both
talking)
Mims/ No! (laughs)
Botchway/ ...but um, I ... I think that we need to be conscious of that because it's gonna come up
to ... it's going to come ... have a lot of scrutiny, basically.
Markus/ Normally the police department would issue those policies and I think previously I
indicated that we would share those policies with you.
Botchway/ Okay. Good.
Markus/ So that you had any questions you could at least (noises on mic)
Hayek/ Anything else on the Feb 26? Okay. How bout the March Stn .
Mims/ Uh, it was nice to see that Iowa City's been selected to participate in the Leadership Star
Community Program!
Hayek/ Interesting articles on ... on Uber, both in this and the previous packet.
Mims/ Yes!
Hayek/ While we're in this packet why don't we take up KXIC. Is that all right, Marian? Since
I see it. I can do ... April 1St
Dobyns/ Michelle said she could do April 1St too, if there was a... she's not here... (several
talking) April 1St, Michelle could do that if, uh... she just wanted me to let people know
and she's not here to ... (several talking and laughing)
Mims/ I can do the 11 to
Dickens/ I'll do ... (several talking)
Karr/ The 11 th, Mims.
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Dickens/ 25tH
Throgmorton/ I'd rather do April 8, and I cannot do March 181H
Dobyns/ ... schedule's kinda tight.
Mims/ (several talking) ...take the 18th if, I mean, did you want it (several talking)
Dobyns/ No, I'm doing this on behalf of Michelle.
Dickens/ I'll do the 251H
Karr/ March 18th is...
Mims/ I'll take the 18th (both talking)
Karr/ So you've got the 11th and the 18`h.
Mims/ That's fine.
Hayek/ Did somebody take the 8thq.
Botchway/ I'll take the Stn. (both talking)
Karr/ April 8th is Botchway. And what did we decide on the 1St? Is that Payne?
Hayek/ That's fine. Let's give it to Payne.
Dobyns/ Yeah, one ... one of the issues that Michelle brought up, and I have the same problem, is
that you now know we do this taped.
Karr/ Right.
Dobyns/ ...at 8:00 and ... um, I guess Jay did mention to me at the last airing that possibly doing
it earlier. Um ... for me and Michelle, that would be great. We would love to do a live
show, um, earlier in the morning.
Mims/ That's what I told Jay and he was supposed to get a hold of me so hopefully he will.
(both talking) ... couple times a month.
Dobyns/ I thought I'd just bring it up as a possibility. I realize that (both talking)
Mims/ Some might not want it.
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Dobyns/ ...just because some of us have... obnoxious schedules, but ... for me I'd like to do it
live. I think it's better. I think it's better in the morning. Um, and for the two of us,
recognizing, you know, it's really early for you guys. It's something we'd like to do.
Botchway/ Well is that a request, I mean, I'm not saying we should change it, but I'm saying is
that a request for individual Council Members to ask him and then get back to him
about...
Dobyns/ Well (several talking)
Karr/ ...common message you want me to send him I would.
Mims/ Well he was going to email me and I'll ... I'll touch base with him because he's ... thought
he could get us two times a month live at 7:15 A.M. and still do ... and still do the weekly
taping.
Dobyns/ You could ... he could air it earlier on Wednesday and you guys could tape it ... on
Tuesday or on Monday, I mean, if you're going to tape it anyway, you know.
Mims/ But we've got these dates set and we'll still work with him on some other times (both
talking)
Karr/ So we've got March 1 lth, the 18th is Mims, the 25th ... is, uh... Dickens.
Dickens/ Yep!
Karr/ 1St is Payne and the 8th is Botchway. Correct?
Botchway/ Yes.
Hayek/ Okay.
Karr/ And you're going to take care of the scheduling individually.
Mims/ Yeah. If there's some extras, yep.
Throgmorton/ Just for the record, I did volunteer for April 8th and... and uh, but Kingsley got it.
So that's okay, I'm not complaining, but I ... I don't want to appear to not have
volunteered.
Botchway/ Well, no, put Jim back on. I didn't know, so remove my name; put Jim back on.
Karr/ April 8th, Throgmorton.
Throgmorton/ So what about you then?
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Mims/ He's got the 25th already.
Hayek/ He's not running for re-election!
Throgmorton/ Ah! (laughter)
Karr/ He has ... he has February 251h
Dobyns/ Do what I do. Go to 2016 and just (several talking)
Throgmorton/ So I'm April 8th, right?
Karr/ April 8th is Throgmorton.
Hayek/ You know we may be able to finish this work session up here. Are people comfortable
on Council time, just taking that up at the end of the formal since we'll have (several
talking)
Botchway/ I'd actually like to spend about 20 minutes on Council time (several talking and
laughing)
Meeting Schedules:
Hayek/ Uh, meeting schedules.
Karr/ I just would like to suggest one change to the proposed one. Um ... we're back to two
meetings in May, two meetings in June, and the proposal for July and August were
Monday meetings; however, um, Council Member Dobyns has had a, uh, rescheduling
and so the regular meeting in August is the 18th. Tuesday the 18th would put us more in
line with ... then getting back to a regular schedule for September. If that works for
everyone to go with Tue... with Tuesday, August 18th ... which'd be the third Tuesday.
Throgmorton/ Thought that was what was on your most recent thing. I guess not.
Karr/ No, it was August 10th i
Throgmorton/ So many of these...
Karr/ I know!
Hayek/ I think that's fine with me.
Botchway/ It's fine with me. (several talking)
Hayek/ Tuesday the 18th of August.
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Karr/ A regular...
Dobyns/ And Michelle said it was okay for her so...
Hayek/ Okay! Pending work session topics? And ... upcoming events? Okay! Got through that
quickly. Let's take a 15 -minute break and we'll come back at the formal!
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