HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-05 TranscriptionMay 5, 2015 Iowa City City Council Work Session Page 1
Council Present: Botchway, Dickens, Dobyns, Hayek, Mims, Payne, Throgmorton
Staff Present: Markus, Fruin, Karr, Dilkes, Ford, Havel, Andrew, Bockenstedt, Aria,
Moran, O'Brien, Knoche, Rackis, Hightshoe, Yapp, Boothroy, Morris
Others Present: Neal (UISG)
Questions from Council re: Agenda Items:
Hayek/ Let's get going here! Welcome, everyone, to the City Council work session for Tuesday,
May 5, 2015. First bullet is question regar... questions regarding agenda items.
ITEM 5d(3) CHURCHILL MEADOWS — RESOLUTION APPROVING FINAL
PLAT (SUB15-00002)
ITEM 5d(4) AGREEMENT WITH COUNTY RE: HERBERT HOOVER
HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS - RESOLUTION APPROVING A 28E PROJECT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA AND THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY, IOWA FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO A PORTION OF HERBERT
HOOVER HIGHWAY FOR THE CHURCHILL MEADOWS SUBDIVISION
ITEM 5d(5) MACKINAW VILLAGE PART SIX — RESOLUTION APPROVING
FINAL PLAT (SUB15-00003)
Karr/ Mr. Mayor, I'd like to note that we are going to be pulling for no action tonight, we'll be
putting it back on. 5d(3), Churchill Meadows; 5d(4), the Herbert Hoover Highway
improvements agreement; and 5d(5), Mackinaw Village, Part 6. We'll just delete those
from the Consent Calendar and it'll be back at a later time.
Hayek/ 5d(3), (4), and (5) (noises on mic) Okay.
Botchway/ So I have a question...
Hayek/ Sorry (mumbled) Deletion of or removal of? Do you have a preference?
Karr/ I don't have a preference. If you do, that's fine.
Hayek/ Deletion.
Karr/ Okay!
Hayek/ Go ahead, Kingsley. Sorry!
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ITEM 5d(17) ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER - RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING FUNDING OF $6,250 IN FY15, $25,000 IN FY16 AND INTENT
TO BUDGET $25,000 IN FY17 FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT
CENTER, INC.
Botchway/ So I, no that's fine! I have a question, uh, statement about, um, 5d(17). Um, the
article about ... Pear Deck ... or EDC, sorry, the EDC. Is there any particular plan ... I guess
it's a question for ... well, Wendy! Um, you know, we've kind of talked about this in
some type of context over the last couple weeks with other, um, entities, um, and so for
Pear Deck, which is ... I think it's currently housed in the, um, ICAD, you know, building
here. Assuming that they... grow, I mean, do we have particular plans with organizations
or places ... we're thinking about being an incubator. Do we have any plans with these
economic entities... further than that? You know what I mean, like (both talking) are we
looking at (both talking) space and other things.
Ford/ Uh huh.
Markus/ Yes, we do!
Botchway/ Okay! That's what I ... that was my questions. (both talking) ...to not run into...
Markus/ Yeah, go ahead! Court/Linn is a space.
Ford/ Yes, we're. -..we're working with the developers of the Court/Linn site, on 20,000 square
feet of office space that could be used, uh, or that will ... would (both talking)
Markus/ ... grow `em out!
Ford/ ...used for businesses to grow into and ... and uh... further grow out of the Co -Lab and
grow into.
Botchway/ But beyond that space as well, as we have other entities that might be ... may not
necessarily want that location. Have we ... have we established other locations or other
areas, um, that might ... be of use or ... I mean I'm just ... I'm going back to the
conversation that we had with, um...
Markus/ Leapfrog?
Botchway/ Yeah, Leapfrog, and obviously there's situations that are out of our control from that
perspective, but just making sure that we're doing whatever we can to ... um, encourage
business growth or encourage, especially that start-up growth within our town, um...
wherever, and so obviously the Court/Linn spot is one place, but I didn't know whether
or not we were continually and consistently thinking about that as well.
Markus/ We are.
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Botchway/ Okay! That's all I (both talking)
Markus/ Riverfront Crossings.
Botchway/ Okay.
Markus/ Moss project.
Botchway/ Okay.
Markus/ Other places. I think we're ... we're trying to, you know, look forward to those kind of
opportunities to grow those businesses into `em. So...
Ford/ We .... and we keep a ... a rough database of everything we hear about, as well, so we can
flip to those and link up. It's all sort of private -market work. Link up the business who
needs something, with a developer or the realtor who has something.
Botchway/ Okay, that was it! Thanks!
ITEM 5e(3) NORTH EAST CORNER OF COLLEGE STREET AND GILBERT
STREET — MOTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 19 ON AN
ORDINANCE REZONING APPROXIMATELY 27,200 SQUARE FEET OF
PROPERTY LOCATED NORTH OF COLLEGE STREET, EAST OF GILBERT
STREET FROM PUBLIC (P-1) AND CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5)
TO CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. (REZ15-00006) [CHAUNCEY]
Dickens/ I got ... 5e(3), the Chauncey project. Uh, just wondered if we could kind of put a
timeline together, so that it's out there in the public and that we're all in agreement when
we're gonna go through this, cause we have to do a consult with the P&Z and then just...
make sure that we have... everybody's going to be available, cause we may have to have
a special... meeting to keep everything in process, so ... (mumbled)
Dobyns/ Especially with less summer meetings.
Dickens/ Yes! Because they're going to be tearing this building (noises on mic, difficult to hear
speaker) apart, so we may want to ... look at...
Karr/ We put something in your packet for the next time ... at the time of your hearing, and you
can look at some options.
Dickens/ Yeah, see what works (mumbled)
Botchway/ But we don't ... we have no set schedule as far as talking about it, because I know the
individuals came to the last one. I know that was a Press -Citizen article and so I'm not
saying that that came but I think (both talking)
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Dickens/ We're having the ... we're setting the public hearing (several talking) so the next
meeting we'll have a... it'll be... yeah, so bring a sleeping bag (laughter)
Markus/ I think the way we've counted so far, we're anticipating as many as five meetings to
deal with that issue alone, and so ... you know, probably finding out what all of your
schedules are, what, you know, the ... the developer's schedule is, what the staff s
schedule is to make sure that all ... you know, can fit into a... a pattern of meetings, uh,
we'll... we'll take a look at that and Marian, I think, and I have talked a little bit about...
contacting the Council to find out what their schedules are too. I mean, it's a big issue in
the community, so we want to make sure that ... you know, we're going to have
Councilors here.
Payne/ And I think, if I remember right, during the summer there are several meetings where not
all of us are here.
Markus/ Right.
Payne/ For... for, both like the June and July meeting.
Throgmorton/ Tom, can you say a little more about what those five meetings would focus on?
Markus/ Well you have the ... number one is setting the hearing. Then you have at least three
readings. Plus you have the consult. You're already up to five.
Throgmorton/ Okay. Yeah.
Hayek/ I think he's including tonight.
Markus/ Yes.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I didn't know if you had something else in mind but (several talking)
Markus/ There's just a ... there's a lot of process involved in a project like that.
Throgmorton/ Right!
ITEM 5b(1) Human Rights Commission— February 17
Payne/ I have a question on 5b(1), which is a memo from Stefanie Bowers. Um, to the Mayor
and the Council.
Markus/ Oh, yeah.
Payne/ The first item is underneath... um, recommendations. Am I in the right packet here?
You're looking at me...
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Karr/ ... cover sheet to the minutes. (clears throat) Is that what you're looking at, the cover sheet
(both talking)
Payne/ Yep! Yep! It's on page 32. And ... my question is this, how is ... I don't read that as a
recommendation. How is it a recommendation?
Markus/ Are you... are you talking about the minutes or Stefanie's report?
Payne/ Well, it's a memo...
Markus/ Yes! Here's... here's the situation that ... Human Rights Commission talked about this
issue. Okay? So it...it appears through the minutes, um, as ... a recommendation, I guess,
from the Human Rights Commission. And... Stefanie, in looking at the specific
recommendation, felt it was necessary to take a lot more time to research that issue before
it became an agenda item. So ... the cover letter is an attempt to explain and copy back to
the Human Rights Commission, as well as the City Council, explain that we need more
time to really get you some sort of recommendation in that regard. This kind of goes
back to, I think, a discussion the Council had about ... uh, boards and commissions
submitting minutes and in the body of those minutes having, you know,
recommendations that don't necessarily manifest as a part of those minutes, into a
specific recommendation that ends up on the agenda of the Council. And so ... that was in
those minutes and she wanted to explain that we will be studying that issue and bringing
it back to your attention so that you didn't move right into that issue. Does that make
sense?
Mims/ It is a little weird. I mean, it's not a recommendation. Just (both talking) she indicates at
the bottom that, you know, that it's going to take (noises on mic, both talking)
Payne/ Right! I mean and I ... when I read that I'm going, how is this a recommendation? So I...
I wasn't following...
Mims/ I think maybe ... I think maybe the Commission had made the recommendation (both
talking)
Markus/ They did! As a part of the minutes (both talking)
Mims/ Yeah, they had made a recommendation that the ... the issue of housing vouchers should
not be (both talking)
Payne/ But that's the second item! Not the first item! Housing vouchers is Item #2.
Mims/ Right, and I think that one says no further action needed, doesn't it?
Dilkes/ No, it says motion by Townsend, seconded by Olmstead for Council to add housing
choice voucher to the definition of public assistance source of income pass date zero.
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Payne/ Right, that's #2. I'm asking ... on #2 it makes sense that it is a recommendation. But #1,
as you read that it doesn't sound like there's no ... recommendation in there!
Mims/ Oh, cause they're just supporting...
Payne/ Yeah! That we support the ... we support listening posts. How is that a recommendation?
Mims/ That they supported the racial equity and diversity plans.
Markus/ I think that's their own. Isn't that their own listening posts?
Payne/ Well ... I don't know (laughs)
Markus/ Yeah.
Payne/ It says ... made the following recommendation to the City Council, and then you read it
and it's not ... so I'm not sure ... I don't understand what it's getting at.
Markus/ Yeah. My comments refer to Stefanie's (several talking in background) second item.
Mims/ I ... I hear what you're saying, Michelle, because to me that first one isn't really a
recommendation to the Council. It's just indicating support of something that we've
already...
Payne/ Right!
Mims/ ... done.
Payne/ Okay! So it's just (both talking)
Hayek/ Well and it ... and it refers to questions and concerns from at least a couple members of
the... Commission that staff said ... asked them to organize and forward so that responses
could be provided. It really isn't a ... (both talking) recommendation. It's ... a list of
questions and concerns that they'd like some answers to, it seems to me.
Dilkes/ I ... I think if staff has a ... has any thought that it may be a recommendation, it's better to
put it in that form and get it to you that way than to do otherwise.
Hayek/ Yeah.
ITEM 5d(2) UISG APPOINTMENT — MOTION APPROVING THE
APPOINTMENT OF NICOLE NEAL AS THE CITY COUNCIL LIAISON FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA STUDENT GOVERNMENT (UISG) TO THE
CITY COUNCIL UNTIL MAY 1, 2016
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Throgmorton/ So on Item 5d(2), I don't really have a question, it was just an observation. On the
left we have Nicki Neal sitting as Student Liaison. So, uh, welcome! (several talking)
And, uh, you know, it's too bad Evan's not here; he's done a great job and I'm sure Nicki
will do every bit as well!
ITEM 5d(15) THE PALISADES, FIRST ADDITION - RESOLUTION
ACCEPTING THE WORK FOR THE STORM SEWER, TILE LINE, DRAINAGE
WAY, SANITARY SEWER, LIFT STATION, FORCE MAIN, WATER MAIN,
PAVING, LIFT STATION DRIVEWAY AND CERTAIN SIDEWALK PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENTS FOR WINDSOR WEST - PART THREE, AND DECLARING
THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS OPEN FOR PUBLIC USE
Mims/ Um, in the ... the, uh, agenda itself, not the packet but the agenda, I think Item 5d(15) has
a typo in it. Um, it's for the ... the title says the Palisades First Addition. When you get
down to the next to last line it says `improvements for Windsor West.' Just as you ... filed
them. Okay.
ITEM 12. AID TO AGENCY ALLOCATIONS FOR THE YEAR STARTING JULY 1,
2015 - RESOLUTION ALLOCATING HUMAN SERVICES AID TO
AGENCIES FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2016
Dobyns/ Want to bring attention to a few items, uh, Item 12. The first one, uh, you recall Matt
sent to me a report about six months ago, the Milken Report. It was touting that Iowa
City was the number one metro area for older citizens, um ... and it's something that came
up in our Senior Service Commission. We talked about it. Uh, we didn't go into a lot of
the, um, the issues with this because... people who are very bought into the Senior Center,
there were three of them ... three of us who were not so bought into Senior Center, so not
as you recall not a whole lot came out of that report. Urn ... but this is a good time since
Matt will be having a proclamation the beginning of public session today on older
Americans, um...
Mims/ Like you and I?
Dobyns/ ...uh, month (laughter) So, um (both talking) I won't tell you who I'm thinking about
when I think of the Council (laughter) um ... but I take a look at the Aid to Agencies
(mumbled) recommendation and if you take a look what the Milken report said was
positive about what we did, (mumbled) you know our excellent economy; um, our great
budget rating; um ... you know, our transit system, you know, good job there, Chris! Um,
and the fact that, you know, we have great health services. What they warned us though
about was that the fact that, uh, frail elders who are struggling to stay independently in
their home really need more services than Iowa City. So they sort of said `watch out'
there. Well if you take a look at Aid to Agencies, there are two funded organizations —
Elder Services, uh, and Pathways, that promote this. Senior Center really doesn't have
services in this regard. And ... um, if you take a look at the funding that we're giving to
the two services here, it's 1/20th of the $666,000 that the City puts in, um, you know, to
the Senior Center. So ... my recommendation is to the future Council, when we sit down
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in December as we usually do when we take a look at budgetary items, to talk with staff
about some of the (mumbled) doing already in terms of having the Senior Center put on
the norm with other Senior Centers around the country and driving more of the money
that they need for their good services through fundraising, rather than just getting it from
the government, because a 20 to 1 inequality I think is something that just needs to be
spoken to. So, just sort of a, you know, a suggestion was, you know, to be mindful about
this December.
Throgmorton/ On that point, Rick, I went to the, uh, the Senior Center's annual meeting on the
23rd, I think, and fundraising was certainly part of the conversation that they had.
Dobyns/ Yeah. Yeah. So I'm glad about that. So, um, I also had an issue, and ... Tracy
Hightshoe here, urn... yeah... Tracy, I had a question. You had a comment regarding, um,
that there were few applicants this year than in previous years, um, for CDBG and
HOME, uh, funding and I was just curious — is that some concern that there's not ... an
interest out there or...
Hightshoe/ Um, we have about the same number of applications for CDBG and HOME housing
applications. Um, two years ago we had nine, last year we had six, this year we have
seven. The ... uh, for Aid to Agencies we have more than we've had in the past.
Dobyns/ Uh huh.
Hightshoe/ It's the CDBG public facilities that we've really had a ... a reduced number. Um, like
last year. We usually average about nine. This year we only had two. Um, I think that's
the net effect of we went to a minimum allocation of $50,000. We strongly encourage
applicants that serve the Johnson County or the multi-regional, you know counties in the
area, to start looking at a long-term facilities plan and then to also ask other funders. So
if you... if that agency is providing services to all Johnson County then, you know, they
should be looking at Iowa City for funding, but they should also be looking at other — the
County, the cities — that make up Johnson County or the region. Because of that, and we
started giving first consideration to 50,000, that has really reduced the number, cause that
requires that non-profit to look at a whole facilities...
Dobyns/ Uh huh.
Hightshoe/ ...um, update plan, put that together, start ... start doing a capital campaign, asking
other funders, and then coming to us at the same time. So that's why I think you're
seeing fewer applications.
Dobyns/ Okay.
Hightshoe/ But for public services and housing, we have about the same as normal.
Dobyns/ Okay.
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Hightshoe/ Or same as usual!
Dobyns/ Good. Thank you!
Hayek/ Are you comfortable with that ... that 50,000 threshold? Or is it... or is it...
Hightshoe/ To be honest we only have about 90 to 100,000 every year for public facilities and
we looked at it, um, we also have a lot less time, I mean, our budget is shrinking, our
admin is shrinking, um... we're trying to make an impact, a bigger impact, with the same
amount of funds and we're trying to... make the biggest impact in sharing the cost with as
many people using those services. If that makes sense! So we're trying to increase our
funding partners as well as make a larger impact. You know we were getting to the point
where we were getting the same agency applying year after year to do a bathroom
remodel, to replace carpet. That wasn't the kind of impact we were hoping to make with
our funds. So, I think you'll see this year with DVIP, they're remodeling a significant
portion, doing all their commercial bathrooms. I mean, it's $116,000 project.
Neighborhood Centers is finishing up their whole lower level to... for space. So they're
making... progress and it's just a lot different than funding. Not to say it's not needed by
non-profits to do one bathroom at a time or one carpet, or one room of carpet, but ... we're
hoping to make a larger impact with the funds. If that answers your question.
Discuss two points of conversation recommended by the Charter Review Commission
(selection of Mayor and Council Member compensation) UP # 3 Info Packet of 4/301:
Hayek/ Yeah, thanks! Thanks, Tracy! Well, Rick, I think your ... your first point is a fair one
and ... when we have junctures like this where we're voting on... on these kinds of, um...
allocations to the service providers, it's ... it is telling, to see the ... the distinction in
funding. Other agenda questions? Going once, going twice! Okay! Let's go to the
second bullet point, which is, uh, discussion of the two points of conversation
recommended by the Charter Review Commission. This is at, uh, the April 30t' Info
Packet. Isn't it? (several responding) And there's a little handy red "X" (laughter) in
paragraph 1 and paragraph 4 (laughter)
Dobyns/ I wish I had that all the time! (laughter and several talking)
Mims/ Well I'll ... I'll start out on the first one, the selection of the mayor. I... I mean I read... all
of the minutes in detail of the Charter Review Commission because I think this is such,
you know, an incredibly important process that ... that we ask people in our community to
go through every 10 years in terms of, you know, looking at our Charter, that you
know ... how we... how we run the government, and I think there was obviously... some
people who were interested in having a popularly elected mayor and some continuing the
way we are. You know, they decided not to recommend a change to that selection, but
there was a concern about the ... I think the transparency maybe of...of the way the mayor
is selected. Um, personally ... I like the way we do it, and ... and I think it's worked really
well for Iowa City for a long time. I think ... given that, you know, when-people are
voting, they... should understand that any of the seven Council Members could ultimately
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be mayor. And ... I think historically the Councils have done a very good job of selecting
people, um, with the skill set, you know, to ... to be public spokesperson, to ... hopefully,
you know, bring diverse opinions together on the Council, as people have different, you
know, political agendas or whatever and ... and do that kind of thing. So I'm really
comfortable with the fact that the seven Council Members over the years have had that,
uh, responsibility after every election to do that. You know, in terms of.. and I, I mean, I
said this publicly on KXIC and I'll say it publicly tonight. I mean, a year and a half ago
or ... whenever it was, after the last election, after the 13 election (both talking)
Hayek/ (mumbled)
Mims/ Um ... I threw my name in the hat ... for mayor! And ... you know, had discussions with all
the Council Members and stuff and Matt had already been Mayor for two years, and the
consensus of the Council was, you know, Matt had done a fine job and people didn't see
a need or reason to make a change, and Matt wanted to continue. And we re-elected Matt
as Mayor and ... I'm happy we did, and we've continued to work well together, and ... I
guess when I look at, you know, I think people have... historically as I've heard other
councils doing it, you know, people have kind of thrown their hat in the ring and talked to
Council Members, I'm not sure how else you do it! Um, and I ... and I guess I look at it
this way: you're talking about potentially some very, um ... personal comments that you
might be thinking about somebody, or have to make, okay? Let's ... let's say you've got
two people who kind of throw their hat in the ring to be mayor, and if people want to
open it up to ... I'm not sure what all this public discussion and ... and I don't know how
you can force Council Members to say something they don't want to say, but do you
want to be sitting here in a public meeting saying, `I'm going to pick Joe because Sam's
an idiot. Sam could not possibly represent the City very well. Sam ... you know, doesn't
come prepared to the meetings.' or ... you know, whatever else it might be. I mean, it
could be a very...
Payne/ Contentious!
Mims/ Well, very contentious and very uncomfortable. I mean there ... there quite frankly is the
Iowa nice. You're not going to sit here... typically, and personally insult somebody by
saying what their shortcomings are and that's the reason you don't want that person for
the mayor and you do want the other person. So ... you know, I'm not sure how ... else we
make it, other than ... I mean, you can put a press release out and say this is on the agenda.
This is what the Council's going to be talking about. But I'm not sure...
Payne/ Or just public education on how it does work.
Mims/ Uh huh.
Payne/ Would be more transparent...
Mims/ Sure!
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Payne/ I think a lot of people don't really understand how it works.
Mims/ Right!
Payne/ Um ... because it, you know, it's different than most places.
Mims/ Uh huh.
Payne/ But ... it's a public meeting. I mean, even before I was on Council, I came to probably
three, at least three elections of the mayor and sat in the audience. I mean, there weren't
very many other people (laughter)
Mims/ I was going to say, you're probably the only one here! (laughter)
Payne/ But it is ... it's not ... it's a public meeting! So...
Mims/ Right! And Council Members can say or not say whatever they want in that public
meeting.
Payne/ Uh huh.
Mims/ And they have not all been unanimous votes.
Payne/ So the transparency part of it maybe is just an education of...letting people know that
when you elect somebody, they could be mayor, and not necessarily this year! Two years
from now they could be elected mayor.
Mims/ Right.
Payne/ So it's...
Dickens/ I just think that, you know, if somebody wants to be mayor, that they can go and lobby
all the other Members. Personally, on a one-to-one basis. That way you're not bringing
all, you know, if you have a reason that you don't think... Kingsley would be a good
mayor, you, you know, talking to face to face, you can say I think maybe I don't think
you should do this, but these are things you could do that maybe I would consider you.
So I guess I like the way we do it because I believe that the mayor is the person that we
feel that we can work with...
Mims/ Uh huh!
Dickens/ ... as the rest of the Council. So I like the way it's set up, and I like the way that, you
know, if you really are interested in it, that you go around and talk to all the other
Councilors and ex ... express your views that you're interested in it, and that you want to
pursue it, and ... and hopefully that everybody's honest enough with you to tell you their
reasons yes or no!
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Mims/ Right.
Botchway/ So we have ... we've talked about why it's important to ... to engage in this particular
process, but I guess the one ... I guess my ... question from my reading of the minutes
was ... why do we have the current structure in place, compared to other structures? And
so I don't know ... so why ... why do we do this process, I guess is my question.
Payne/ Why is ... why is it ... elected within instead of...
Botchway/ Correct!
Mims/ Well, that's the way the original Charter was done and every Charter review since then
has felt that it's worked well for this city and has left it the same!
Botchway/ So if that's the answer, then ... um, if we don't come to some type of agreement as far
as that might necessarily be concern, then why wouldn't we ... put it out to the voters to
answer that question? I guess I mean I have, you know, other communities within the,
uh, Johnson County area do it... and I don't ... let me say this. First and foremost, I do
think it's an interesting thing and I do think, um, I think it's one other community in Iowa
that does it, or one other city in Iowa City ... or in Iowa that does it, is that correct?
(several talking) That does this process, as far as selecting the mayor within the actual
council. Maybe I'm wrong, I'm hoping I'm right, but ... um ... so being the ... the few, one
of the few cities, I think you know, gives it an eccentric taste that I do like from a ... a
different standpoint. But, um, I ... part of me, you know, obviously reading some of the
minutes but also some people have come to me and talked to me personally about it, and
even when I ran, talked to me about it. Um, it is interesting that we don't have it ... we
don't do it differently. I mean, we don't do it where you elect your mayor and from that
respect, and I don't see ... I didn't necessarily have an answer, and I haven't heard ... any
other reason why, outside of ..you know, that's what the process it was when the Charter
was originally, um, put together and you know, it's just been kind of continuing from
that.
Payne/ And it's been reviewed, every 10 years! So there is a commission that reviews it, that is a
rep... representative of the people! That commission is representative of the people!
Botchway/ Okay, well ... I mean, I could ... we could make different arguments about that because
I mean we had how many lawyers on the actual commission? I'm not saying that that's
necessarily a bad thing (several talking and laughing) No, no, I'm not saying that's a bad
thing! I'm just saying that when we talk about representative of the community, we have
to be very careful how we're, you know, talking about that from that perspective. People
could have applied. There's a lot of different conversations we could have had. I was on
board with the people we selected. I'm not saying anything about that, but I'm just
saying that if we really wanted to ... if we really want to know what the community wants
to hear about it, I mean we would ... put it to a vote! Find out from there!
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Mims/ I don't ... I guess I ... I mean, to me ... the Charter was developed. It's got a 10 -year review,
and ... I'm not interested in starting a second Charter review of picking... picking and
choosing things that the Review Commission didn't do and saying, well, because they
didn't do it I think we should put it out to the public to vote.
Throgmorton/ But that ... that's not really what's before us, Susan. What's before us is ... is a
recommendation from the Charter Review Commission to think about how to make our
selection process more open, more transparent, more inclusive.
Mims/ I agree! But what I'm hearing from Kingsley is the idea of potentially putting it in front
of the electorate. I agree with what you're saying entirely, that that's not what their
recommendation was, but what I think I'm hearing from Kingsley is the idea of putting
this before the electorate, and so my response to that is ... I'm not interested in starting a
second Charter Review Commission process.
Throgmorton/ Well I don't know what Kingsley meant but uh, I ... I believe, as y'all know, that
we ought to let the people directly elect their mayor, but I know there's not any real
strong support for that here, so there's no reason to kinda go down that... down that road.
Uh, but I do think we really ought to consider at least alternative ways of making our
process more open, inclusive, and transparent. So, you know, I tried to think about that a
little bit and I came up with some ideas. I don't know if they're good ones or not, but at
least I thought about it. Uh, so one possibility, uh, one stepping point, uh, starting point
might be something like this: formally announce the opening of the elec... selection
process on say, I don't know, December the 1 st. Make it visible to the public that the...
the process has started (laughs) all right? And then, uh, a second step might be to invite
members of the public to nominate people from the seven to be their preferred
candidates, and to explain why, uh, and then ultimately the ... the seven Council Members
would still chose who to, uh, select ... but at least the process might be more open. So I'm
just trying to suggest a possible way of making things more open, transparent, etc.
Dobyns/ I would agree with the, uh, first one. I mean when you run and ... and you're lucky
enough to get elected to Council, um, kind of the last thing you're thinking about, um, but
then the first thing you think about afterwards is that you get a call from one of you, um,
and all of a sudden you recognize this, say, `Oh, okay!' So I think it would be reasonable
to, uh, you know, cause I'm reading here the Commission does recommend strongly that
we spend some time studying the issue. I guess that's what we're doing now. I think it's
reasonable to make some sort of declaration. We can put it like we put it with a lot of
things, in the back pages of the paper where no one reads it. Probably that's not in
keeping with what you're talking about, Jim (laughs) Maybe something a little bit more,
you know, brash than that, um, but I think that'd be reasonable. Just in some way and
fashion is that just a notice to the Iowa City public that these Council Members, with our
contact information, um, will be deliberating with each other regarding the, uh, election
of a mayor.
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Payne/ Isn't that what the notice of the public hearing is on the meeting? I mean we elect them
in a public (several talking) It's a public ... okay, public meeting, but we ... we have notice
of the public meeting and what the agenda is at that meeting.
Dobyns/ But the Charter Review Commission is not talking about all the other things that we can
put in. They're talking about this issue. That ... because they're saying (both talking)
Payne/ Right, and that's what I'm saying. That's the only thing (both talking)
Dobyns/ This Charter Review was a ... this is a blue panel group, um, and they're saying we...
this is different. Um, and I think all of us would agree that this is a big decision that we
make, you know, who our leader is going to be, um, for two years. You know I don't
think that's a big ask ... to put that up and just make people aware that you know if you
want to call into each other and start, you know, giving your two -cents worth, I think
that's in keeping with what the Charter Review was asking us.
Throgmorton/ Yeah and I think... as... as it is now, my sense is that from a public point of view,
the process involves this. It's announced who the next mayor is going to be. How did
that happen? (laughs) You know, I mean you know from a public point of view. We
know that conversations take place among ourselves.
Dobyns/ Yeah.
Throgmorton/ But from the public point of view, I don't think that's what it looks like at all.
Dobyns/ Your ... your second recommendation about having people, uh, solicit names. You
know, there's only seven of us. Um (laughs) (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Well, nominate people.
Dobyns/ Nominate, and I ... and .... and (both talking)
Dickens/ Several of us that really don't want it! (laughs)
Dobyns/ (laughs) Yeah, I (laughs) ...ask me may I please unnominate myself (laughs) um...
Dickens/ If elected I will not serve (laughs) (both talking)
Dobyns/ So that's what I ... that's (several talking)
Hayek/ Yeah, well first of all, any Council can propose changes to the Charter... at any time.
Um, you know, and secondly this is ... and ... and I say this as somebody who's not going
to benefit one way or the other from this, I mean I'm ... I'm done in eight months and so
I... (both talking)
Dobyns/ Well that's a benefit! (laughter)
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Hayek/ That is a benefit! (laughs) (several talking) Um, but ... but I don't have a ... a dog in the
fight as it were on ... on this issue, but ... you know we did ask this Commission to look at
it. They spent... over a year doing so. There was, from the minutes, a lot of discussion
back and forth. They ultimately decided to maintain the status quo. Um ... they did ask us
to ... to study this issue, but ... um ... you know ... as with your School Board, you know, it
... it's ... it's ... it is a position that, um ... uh, votes but is, you know, by and large a
facilitative, diplomatic role within ... the Council, and... regardless of what outside people
think makes for a... good mayor, uh, and by the way, we hear from people anyway about
that. Um, you know, ultimately this comes down to a vote among the seven Councilors
as to who in their collective view would do a good job of facilitating meetings, uh,
collaborating between the Councilors, being a good face -forward for the City, um,
and... and so forth, and when you elect someone to the Council, as somebody said, you do
so knowing that there's a one in seven chance that person will end up as mayor. So I ... I
view it as part of our representative democracy.
Payne/ And ... we're all equal. We all have equal voting rights. You're not voting to split a tie
vote.
Hayek/ Right.
Payne/ So we, you know, we ... we're all equal. Basically, and I ... I don't mean this in a bad way,
it's a figure head that is leading the meetings, you know.
Mims/ Uh huh.
Payne/ That you get to do all those extra things, cut ribbons and stuff like that. (laughs)
But ... but really you're equal to the rest of us in voting capability. You're just the leader.
I... so, I...I don't... it would change the whole structure to have it direct elected by the
people (both talking)
Hayek/ I ... I guess I think if there'd been a ... a substantial change in the powers assigned to the
mayor position, or the duties assigned to the mayor position. You know I ... I might be...
more persuaded to ... to change the actual selection part, but ultimately that ... that didn't
occur through our Charter process.
Payne/ Right.
Botchway/ So ... so I guess, Jim, you're proposing that we have some ... you know ... message out
to the public that, um, we are now going to start deliberation on the mayor, between
Council Members. Is that what I ... is that what I heard or...
Throgmorton/ Uh, yeah, basically.
Botchway/ Okay. I mean I guess... from my... from my standpoint, I mean this is ... I mean,
again, I think we ... maybe cause we live here and we don't necessarily know. I mean any
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individual coming into this environment wouldn't necessarily know that that's how we
select the mayor, so I ... I mean, I understand that the Commission voted, um, a majority
of them voted to, um ... uh... to keep the current process, but I don't know if we've
addressed the concerns that were brought up from the public comment, or even were
discussed, and maybe we don't care! Maybe we're not interested and that's fine. I guess
I'm just trying to figure out how do we ... if that's the case, how do we get that
information out before the election, to let people know that that's ... a part of the process?
Is that in, um ... I don't know, I mean maybe you put that on the ballot somewhere, you
know. I ... I'm not sure, but...
Hayek/ Put what on the ballot?
Mims/ (mumbled)
Botchway/ There's no ballot when we ... when we vote in November? (several talking)
Mims/ Oh, okay!
Botchway/ I'm talking about education beforehand (both talking)
Hayek/ Oh! Oh!
Botchway/ Letting people know that once you're a Council Member, um, or when you vote for
these individual Council Members, they could be possibly selected (both talking)
Hayek/ Yeah!
Botchway/ ... as mayor.
Dickens/ It could be brought up at the forums, you know.
Hayek/ There could be an educational component, I don't disagree with that, and I also think
that ... that the ... that the organizational meeting, as I think we call it, sometimes gets, you
know, buried on a Saturday morning or right before the budget process starts. And I
wouldn't have any problem with, you know, drawing more attention to that or ... or
separating it, um, and encouraging the public to come. Um ... and the public, you know,
can weigh in. It's a public meeting. We always take input. As ... as can the Council and I
can, in m tenure, uh, I ... I know I remember comments being made at several, uh ... two-
yearjunctures.
Dobyns/ Well we've made our decisions by that meeting. So public comment is ... interesting,
informative, but I don't know if it's persuasional.
Throgmorton/ So here ... here's an alternative thing. Let's say that we did issue a ... a public
notice of some kind that on say... on say December 1St that the selection process was
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underway, and then invite, uh, residents to contact any of the seven to express their views
about who they believe should be the best mayor, would be the best mayor.
Dickens/ You could bring it up at the .... at the first Council meeting after ... after the election, that
this process will be starting. You know, you're ... these seven people are eligible to be
mayor. If you have concerns or recommendations, please call these ... any one of the
seven Councilors and ... bring your views forward, but you could do it at each of the
Council meetings up until the time that we actually vote.
Dobyns/ So could we have ... it seems we have four of us that have ... warmed to this idea. Could
we have staff prepare ... a recommended, um, amendment? That we could consider at a
future meeting?
Hayek/ To do what?
Dobyns/ To make a ... what did you call it, Jim? Um ... a pr ... a (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Notifying the public that the selection (both talking)
Dobyns/ ...public notification.
Throgmorton/ ...and encouraging them if they so desire to contact their ... their elected Council
people to express their views about (both talking)
Dobyns/ Eleanor, would that be your office or...
Dilkes/ Pardon me?
Dobyns/ That be your office, comes or...
Dilkes/ We'll ... we'll come up with something.
Dobyns/ Okay.
Dickens/ She needs more work! (laughter)
Dilkes/ I mean I got the gist of it, I think!
Throgmorton/ Yeah, but there wouldn't have to be any amendment, cause we wouldn't ... at least
as I understand, we wouldn't be amending the Charter, the recommendations that have
come from the Charter Review Commission (several talking) We just (both talking)
Dobyns/ As much as it hurts me to say that, I'm going to leave (laughs) alone! (laughs)
Botchway/ So the other question, what about adding it to the ballot? And saying that to the
public, as they're selecting the individuals, from an educational standpoint.
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Mims/ I don't ... I have no idea what the State rules are (both talking)
Dobyns/ ...Auditor's office, is that even legal to put advertisements on the ballot? (laughs)
Botchway/ ...an advertisement, it's a .... it's just, I mean, letting them know, letting people know
that ... I don't, and I don't see necessarily any reason why off the top of my head now.
I'm not ... I'm not sitting in front of the legal, uh, opinion in front of me, but off the top of
my head I don't see any reason why we couldn't do that.
Payne/ I think it actually could be confusing.
Botchway/ To tell people ... that that's how the selection process is?
Payne/ Uh huh.
Mims/ They could then think they're voting for the mayor.
Payne/ Yes! (laughs) (both talking)
Mims/ You know, I didn't think of it until you said that.
Payne/ Uh huh. I think they could interpret something the wrong way.
Dobyns/ I mean we can always ask Travis what he thinks, but...
Dilkes/ Yeah, we can ask Trav.... I mean what ... I'm not aware of any particular process for
adding stuff like that to the ballot. Are you? (unable to hear response) I mean ... or how
we ... then what ... but we can certainly ask!
Botchway/ Or explanation in the ... in the booth.
Dilkes/ But that's about a ... that's about a ballot issue. If...if you have a ... if you have a ... if you
have a public measure, then you can put an explanation of it... in the booths (several
talking)
Botchway/ But I just don't ... I don't know off the top of my head if there's anything against
(both talking)
Hayek/ I'm not ... I'm not ... I think ... I ... I agree that it could cause confusion, that you think
you're voting for the mayor by casting your vote for a City Council candidate.
Mims/ And then when you've got at -large and you've got districts then it really gets confusing if
you've got language on there about a mayor that...
Payne/ Yeah.
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Mims/ ...you're not quite sure how that fits in.
Payne/ And you're voting for more than one (both talking)
Mims/ ... education ... I think education...
Payne/ Prior!
Mims/ ...after the election, education about the process after the election has occurred...
Payne/ Right!
Mims/ ... is probably the best way to go.
Payne/ Yep.
Dilkes/ I mean I guess I can just think of a number of things you'd want to educate people about
and ... and put on a, I mean, you could educate people about our district, the way we
(several talking) districts and stuff, and I'm ... I just don't ... I don't know how receptive...
the Auditor's going to be to just putting anything we want ... to educate people about on
the ballot.
Throgmorton/ I think, I mean, I don't agree with the idea of putting it ... language on the ballot
that you, uh, sort of pointed us toward, but I do completely agree that when people first
move here, they have no idea whatsoever how the mayor's selected — no idea! And
they're, I think to the... when... whenever they begin thinking about it, they're surprised
to discover that they don't elect the mayor. So ... there ... there is ... a ... confusion,
uncertainty, doubt, uh, I don't know what the right word is to use there about (both
talking)
Dobyns/ But the first change will... should address that, Jim.
Throgmorton/ I would think so!
Dobyns/ Yeah, so I ... I know we've already decided on that, so (several talking)
Mims/ Yeah, I mean I think with a lot of these things, if... if (coughing, difficult to hear speaker)
have the interest in the civic process, they're going to find out. I mean, we don't elect the
president or the chair of the County Board of Supervisors. Okay? I mean, they alternate
that every year. We don't ... as the public we don't, like you said, we don't elect the
president of the School Board or the vice president of the School Board. I mean, so you
have different ways of doing things, I mean ... you've, you know, you've got a mayor in
Coralville who's elected but doesn't vote. You've got... Cedar Rapids has (several
talking) a totally different, I think Cor ... Corbett votes, doesn't he, he's a voting. I think
he's a voting member of their council. Anyway, I'm just saying there's lots of different
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ways and... you know, if people are civic minded and want to get involved, they're going
to figure out how to look it up or ask some questions, and they're going to pay attention
to the elections. So ... not to say that we can't do a better job when we're getting ready to
elect the mayor, of making people aware that we're getting ready to do it. I have no
problem with that.
Dilkes/ And some... some of those differences are a function of the fact that we have an option to
have a Home Rule form of government. That ... the structure of which is not dictated by
State Code.
Throgmorton/ Should we turn to the compensation ... issue? So I do have a view about this. I ... I
personally think that the compensation should be substantial enough to make it feasible
for an every -day -person of modest means, uh, to run for election and be elected and
serve.
Mims/ What does that mean?
Payne/ Yeah, what ... that's my question.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, if you ... if you don't .... if you're a working person, uh, run a small business,
don't earn a lot ... a ... a large income, it's unaffordable for you to .... kind of move away
from that work and start doing this cause you're only going to make $7,500 a year.
Mims/ Why though? I ... I...
Throgmorton/ But here, I ... I don't want to kind of get us trapped in that. I ... I don't think there's
support for, you know, in ... increasing the pay to a ... a large enough number so that
enough, so people could really afford to do what I just said. So, set that aside. Uh, I do
think if...if we, uh... an alternative would be to ... just provide for raises, basically, and so
my suggestion is this: that ... that we have, uh... um, what do you call it? Um ... that, uh,
annual increases should be equivalent to the, uh, to, uh, what our union employees get, or
what I actually think is something like 90% of what our union employees get. So that it's
not quite as large, but there is an increase, and it ... and it's, you know, kind of built in,
instead of... anything else.
Hayek/ Did ... did there used to be that? I ... I think there might have been a ... a COLA or some
sort of adjustment...
Throgmorton/ Yeah.
Hayek/ ...and I think it was ... right around when I joined, or maybe even before I joined, there
was a budget scare and you know as a political statement (both talking)
Dickens/ I just remember Regenia said that we're freezing (both talking)
Hayek/ We're freezing, and it just stuck!
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Dickens/ That was six years ago...
Throgmorton/ Yeah, so...
Dickens/ ... at least!
Throgmorton/ So we could change that.
Dobyns/ Oh, okay, I didn't realize that.
Dickens/ I think it should raise $10. (laughter)
Dobyns/ Well I ... I think it should go back to a, uh, ad ... an adjustment, a cost of living
adjustment, to be determined bi-annually.
Hayek/ I mean, you could adjust it by like the average increase in the bargaining units, cause
you're going to have three (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Right, something like that! Yeah!
Hayek/ Or...
Dickens/ I didn't know we got paid when you were on the Council and then Marian asked for my
social security number and I said it was too late for a background check. (laughter)
Dobyns/ Well, we're not arguing if you're worth it, Terry, we're arguing in general. (laughter)
So...
Dickens/ Whatever anybody wants; I don't... doesn't matter!
Mims/ I don't feel real strongly about it either because ... I ... I do feel strongly that it is not set so
high that this becomes a career position for people, okay?
Payne/ Right!
Mims/ And (laughs)
Payne/ I think we know a town close by that that didn't work out very well in ... like north of us.
Mims/ So ... you know, so I don't agree with that, and I ... you know ... I don't fu11... I don't fully
agree with the argument that people make that ... people of modest means can't afford to
run for Council. I ... I ... that's another whole story, but ... so to me, if you're...
Hayek/ We've seen them run. I mean (both talking)
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Mims/ Well, yeah, I think you have, and I think ... I mean, yeah, if...if people need childcare to
come to meetings, that's... that's a different story, but ... you know ... I think a lot of us
continue to work full time, I mean, my god, Michelle works 60, 80 hours a week and still
manages to do it, and so ... it's not the matter of money, it's the matter of time, lots of
time, and ... and I mean I think that's one ... like with the mayor! I mean you've gotta be
somebody who is either self-employed or has flexibility with an employer to put in the
kind of time that the mayor puts in for a lot of the special, you know, activities and stuff.
So, to me, if you're not going to go so high as to make it basically a... a living wage
position, which I totally do not agree with, I don't really care whether we get a raise,
because I don't ... I don't see it as an incentive to run. I don't ... I mean, I see this as
volunteer work.
Payne/ Uh huh!
Mims/ So ... I'm ... I mean I can go with the COLA. I can go without it.
Throgmorton/ (both talking) Only a person who has substantial income could say that this is
volun... should be thought of as volunteer work.
Mims/ I disagree with that! I disagree with that!
Throgmorton/ I think it's ... not paying people an adequate salary systematically disenfranchises a
large proportion of the public ... who could possibly... serve on this Council, but never
think of it as remotely possible because they can't afford to do it! Now I know we
disagree and there's no reason to kind of struggle with that, you know.
Dickens/ I guess every board and everything I've ever been on it wasn't for the money. And I
don't (mumbled) you know sometimes I don't get a paycheck if business is bad so... you
know, you're talking about the small business person. Well, I'm probably that. Yes,
over the years I've increased, but I ... I was eligible for cheese when I was younger, with
my children, so ... I guess... our... our board that I'm on, our behind group board. I've
been president and chairman of the board of that and ... I get travel and, uh... $500 a
meeting, and we have four meetings a year, and that's just because we're gone from our
business. So ... I guess I don't ... I don't do things for that, and maybe some people do,
but ... yeah, if we want to increase it a little to make it a little more enticing for people,
that's fine. You know, we can do whatever. I'm fine with it, but I think most of us don't
do it for the money and ... and I don't consider myself a rich person. I ... I've worked hard
to get where I'm at, but...
Payne/ I don't (both talking)
Dickens/ It's taken years!
Payne/ I don't necessarily like tying it to cost of living, which would kind of imply that you
could ... use this as your job. I ... if you want to tie it to, you know, the average, um,
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compensation increases that the union gets or something like that, that would be one
thing, but I don't like tying it to the words `cost of living.'
Throgmorton/ I ... I agree!
Payne/ And ... and I don't care if it increases at all. So I'm not ... it's not...
Hayek/ Uh huh. And ... and people of modest means run regularly. Think of the Brandon Ross's
and the Garrett Mitchell's and ... and ... and, um ... and others who ... who jump in.
Mims/ I think it's the time commitment.
Hayek/ I think it's the time, and ... and everybody does it differently. I think North Liberty pays
like 50 bucks a meeting.
Throgrnorton/ (mumbled) ... does it differently.
Hayek/ You know ... I think. I don't know what they do in Cedar Rapids. Um... so ... I think ... I
think Coralville is ... little bit less than us„ but they're kind of in the ballpark.
Dickens/ It's all borrowed money.
Throgmorton/ So here's my proposal to get us off the dime here, uh, that ... that we, uh, annually
increase the ... the compensation for Council people by the average of the union increases
for each, for those years, and I don't know if that's a problem from a staff point of view.
I doubt that it is, but you know, if it is ... it'd be important to know, but that's the proposal
on the table and so we can (both talking)
Dobyns/ Can I make a friendly amendment? We just ask City staff to recommend a cost of
living adjustment, mostly based on (several talking)
Payne/ As long as they don't call it that!
Hayek/ Yeah, they could just call it...it could be some sort of inflationary thing. I worry
politically about tying our compensation to what we end up bargaining with the ... (several
talking)
Throgmorton/ ...90% or some ... or something like that (several talking)
Hayek/ You could also ... you could also have ... just like in leases, some sort of, you know,
increase based on an inflationary or consumer price index, or something that staff could
come up with, that would be more objective and less tied to a relationship we have with
our employee groups.
Dobyns/ Is that okay, Jim? As a friendly amendment?
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Hayek/ I don't know what that would result in, but I ... I think a more objective measurement
might be safer for future Councils.
Throgmorton/ I'm not sure what the friendly amendment is, because (several talking)
Dobyns/ Friendly amendment is we just, uh, have City staff, um, you know, bring to us a cost of
living, and don't specify it.
Throgmorton/ If... if our, uh, terrific staff (laughs) uh, can sort of grasp that general sentiment
and put something in writing, that'd be dandy. I could go along with that.
Markus/ We can do that.
Dobyns/ Okay.
Payne/ Just don't call it `cost of living.' (laughter)
Markus/ I don't think you necessarily want to tie bar it to union settlements either, and I don't
know if this conversation came up, Geoff ..Geoff and I were just conversing that ... you
approve the union contracts and you're setting (several talking) those amounts and so
that's a ... that to me would be an issue. Um, the other thing is, having lived through,
um ... our countries closest, uh, resemblance to a, uh, depression, um, they don't always
go up! Um, in certain places (several talking) and so, you know, to ... to suggest that it's
always going to be an increase is probably a bit misleading as well.
Throgmorton/ Right.
Markus/ So I think, you know, that ... that we'd probably use the terms `annual adjustment.'
Dobyns/ Adjustment, okay.
Markus/ And ... make a recommendation based on some metric that we can come up with.
Mims/ 1%.
Dickens/ Dollar a day! (laughter)
Hayek/ Okay! So you've got enough direction to ... to explore that further.
Markus/ Libor Index or something (laughter)
Discuss any other changes to the City Charter not addressed by the Charter Review
Commission:
Hayek/ Call it a roundabout! (laughter) Uh, all right, next item ... oh, yeah, next item is discuss
any other changes to the City Charter, not addressed by the Review Commission.
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Payne/ Haven't we already voted on this once?
Mims/ I'm ... not interested!
Payne/ Yeah.
Botchway/ I mean, there's an obvious problem, and maybe we're not aware of it from wherever
we're sitting from, but there's an obvious problem with how people think about, um, our,
um, election process. Now I know we've moved on from the selection of the mayor, but
the number of districts and the election of district council members, I mean, it's ... maybe
we don't hear it here, but in my previous job, it was an on-going question of debate and
problem, and so I mean I guess ... it depends on...
Payne/ Ex ... explain cause I don't ... I don't understand why it's a problem.
Botchway/ It's ... it's confusing! To, I mean, it's confusing to somebody, you know, just being
introduced to the process. As far as an individual would be in a particular district, they
would run in that district, you would vote for `em in a primary election to re ... reduce the
particular number, um, and then everybody would vote on `em as a whole in the general
election. There's, I mean, there's some people that if we do have districts would like it so
you would vote in that particular district, and only vote in that particular district, and then
vote for the at -large candidates.
Payne/ And I would like direct... direct election of the President of the United States but it's just
the way it is. I mean what's ... I don't get it! (laughs)
Botchway/ That argument, I mean I know we've ... that argument in and of itself, I don't believe
is ... it's not necessarily a good argument for me. Like because of the way it is, is not, I
mean, I don't like that argument. But I mean...
Mims/ Well, I guess I look at it this way: again, you know, we appointed a Charter Review
Commission who spent a year going through this (both talking)
Payne/ Yeah!
Mims/ And they talked at length and got a lot of public input on ... the districts and should they
change the number of districts, should we get rid of the districts, should they all be...
should everything be districts, and ... they came back and recommended no change. So
again, I'm not interested in having this Council start a second Charter Review process.
Dobyns/ I agree with you , Kingsley, uh, on that, but there are only two (both talking)
Hayek/ Can you put your mic on?
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Dobyns/ Uh... I ... there are only two X's on this and it, um ... the Charter Review says take a look
at these things. We've discussed the others. So out of respect for the process of the
Charter Review, even though I agree with you, I think this just needs to go to the
(mumbled)
Botchway/ So ... I'm just making sure I'm reading this correctly. In addition to those matters
discussed that led to the above rec ... recommendations, the Commission gave serious
consideration to several issues that did not lead to recommended amendments. Some of
those issues are discussed below. Numerous other issues were discussed by the
Commission. These discussions though not described here are reflected in the
Commission's meeting minutes. I thought we were discussing the fact that, you know,
while they weren't able to come to a recommendation about it, having some deliberation
on, um, what could be done about these particular items, but it sounds like if they don't...
if they didn't give a recommendation either way, because they didn't we're just not going
to address it. And that's okay. I just want to make sure that I'm understanding it
correctly.
Hayek/ Well their ... their decision was ultimately not to change... whatever the particular issue
was.
Payne/ They're just saying that they had discussion on it, and pointing that out, but...
Botchway/ Okay, then I ... then I'm ... then I was confused about when we ... when we initially had
talked about it, because ... when I thought the other matters were considered, it was to
give some thought as far as, um, these particular processes and discuss `em at a Council
level, but (both talking)
Hayek/ Well that wasn't a recommendation from the Charter. I think that was coming from you
and Jim.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, you ... you and I had talked about how... the... there might be some other
topics that should be discussed and maybe (several talking)
Botchway/ But it sounds like, and I guess I'm going back to my point, but it sounds like ... we
don't need to have that discussion and we're just going to follow that ... I wish we'd just
known this before cause this is a waste of -it's a waste of time (both talking)
Dobyns/ Well, it sounds like they talked about it a lot, and they sort of floated before us in case
you wanted to jump in, but we read all their minutes. They had a lot of meetings and
excellent deliberations, and I just don't think ... those of us in our limited time discussing
this can come anywhere close to the deliberation that that body had over the last year. So
I'm going to, out of respect for that, I'm not going to take the bait.
Botchway/ Okay! And that's what I'm saying. If that was the case, we just shouldn't have had
the discussion brought up, period.
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Dobyns/ Yeah.
Throgmorton/ So I'd like to (several talking) I'd like to make a claim and then possibly a
suggestion, depending on whether the claim is factual or not. Uh, when I read the
minutes, and here I want help from Eleanor and Marian and Karen, I guess. I don't know
who else out in the room might have been on the Commission. Uh, but uh, when I read
the minutes, I did not see moments where they carefully looked at what other charter
cities around the United States do in terms of how they structure the mayor's relation... or
what the mayor's duties and how they, whether they elect people on a district basis, like
Kingsley was referring to. Uh... I think of Tacoma, Washington, for example. I know
they just went through a ... a charter review process. I know they have a ... a ... a, um, a
council/manager kind of government and ... and soon. So ... if, is that true? I mean, am I
factually accurate that there was no systematic study of other charter cities, small to
medium size cities, in the United States, uh, in terms of...their charters and so on.
Dilkes/ I ... I think that's accurate. I don't recall any.
Karr/ I think it's accurate, especially with systematic. There was informa ... information
provided, both from citizens as well as some Committee Members who brought forth
such as Tacoma. So they were aware of other... changes... as they were brought up, but
not a systematic approach to them, no.
Dilkes/ Cause there were proponents on the.... obviously on the Commission for both.
Throgmorton/ (both talking) Yeah, okay! Fair enough! I ... that's what I thought the situation
was. So anyhow, my ... my suggestion is simply this: we have a really good political
science department here at the Univer... ver ... versity of Iowa. Could we not ask them to
conduct a systematic study, uh, and you know, this could involve masters students, uh,
just to look into what these ... those other cities do with regard to may ... the mayor's
duties and with regard to district -based elections.
Hayek/ Jim, I'm ... I'm just not interested in that! We ... we have a constitutional process that is
our Charter review. We had some extremely bright people from varying political camps
on this Commission. Spent over a year ... taking up all of these issues, collecting input
from the outside, and bringing their own sense of...their own, uh... uh... sense of...of, uh,
governance, uh, to ... to the discussion, and ... and I think they engaged in a ... in a
thoughtful and deliberate process, um, made some changes, didn't make some other
changes, and...and sent it to us, and ... and we ... we, you know ... every system is different,
you know? We ... look at the County, you know? So we're non-partisan, um, you know,
and ... and .... and I think that's a good thing! Um, the County is highly partisan in how
they elect over there. Um ... there's no end to the number of ways to ... operate a local
government, or set up a local government. Um, and ... and we went through a very
thoughtful process. I'm just ... I'm not interested in opening it up again or ... or ... or
pitching this body of work aside and... and (both talking)
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Payne/ And what would we do with the data once we got it? I mean, is it going to sway us to do
something different than we do now?
Throgmorton/ Well I have two answers to that.
to the next Charter Review Commission.
talking)
Payne/ So we should do it then! (laughs)
One is, uh, in the longer run it could be provided
Course that's 10 years from now. (both
Throgmorton/ In the short ... in the short run, any future Council always has the ability to amend
the Charter and then have a recall referendum on it in case the public doesn't like the...
the changes. So ... it could be valuable. I'm not saying it would be cause I have no idea
really what they'd find. I have no idea! (laughs) I ... I'm just saying I think that ... that
kind of information was not obtained and could have been valuable. Anyhow, I don't
(both talking)
Hayek/ I know, and I just think ... I .... at some point, I think you ... you ... I think this process can
reach a point where we're ... where we, you now, study our navel again and again, and I
think we have a good system, uh, it has been by and large upheld at 10 -year cycles...
ever since the early 70s, and ... you know, Councils have... Councils come and go and the
Councils have not during that time saw fit to make massive changes to the Charter
during, you know, in between the 10 -year cycles. We have ... we have serious issues that
face the City, um, serious challenges, and I think to go down the road of...of...political
science review of...of all the various ways of running a local government would just be,
you know, a continued expenditure of time and resources, and I'd much rather us focus
on ... on the things that are..are right before us, that we can do something about. That's
my opinion.
Mims/ Agree!
Throgmorton/ Next! (laughter)
Council Appointments:
Hayek/ Next! Uh... Council appointments. I don't think there are any.
Dickens/ Wasn't any!
Mims/ Quick!
Throgmorton/ We did that really well! (laughter)
Hayek/ We're on consensus for that! (laughter)
Dickens/ I would like to review that! (laughs)
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Information Packets:
Hayek/ Info Packets, uh, April 23rd and 30th. Start with the 23rd
Botchway/ So ... in the ... Tracy Hightshoe memo to, uh, Tom on IP3.
Hayek/ Uh huh.
Botchway/ I know that we're currently working on it, but... is there ... I mean maybe this is going
to be a broader discussion as, um ... I think we've talked with, uh, respective other, um,
municipalities and County about affordable housing, but is there any way to give
incentives... to landlords ... in regards to, um ... accepting housing vouchers? Or housing
choice vouchers? And maybe this is going to be a topic for discussion later on ... at that...
Hightshoe/ Yeah, it'll be a topic for discussion later on, but ... um, we try to educate landlord as
much as possible, um, but no there's ... I don't believe budgetary -wise that we'd have
money for incentives, or it's not part of the program. Um, Steve Rackis is here with the
Housing Authority, but ... we try our best to educate landlords, um, but no, we do not
provide incentives.
Botchway/ Okay. So one of the things I'm going to, I mean I guess I bring up from, uh, our next
discussion, whenever we get that memo from staff, and maybe that's gonna be a part of
that memo from staff about affordable housing is ... you know, thinking about that as we,
uh, think about, you know, initiatives that we support. I mean obviously we support, um,
economic initiatives, um, with incentives as we looked at the (mumbled) Riverfront
Crossings District and we did some incentives, as it was, um ... uh, put together for that,
and so if we're, I mean, if we're serious about affordable housing, and again, we're going
to have this discussion later on so maybe I'm making a ... more comment or statement for
later on, um, be thinking about, you know, how we could possibly incentivize, or ... um...
yeah, incentivize, uh... you know, landlords to, uh, possibly you know help us out with
the vouchers, um, the HC ... the HC vouchers and ... and you know really help us with the
affordable housing pie ... piece of it.
Hightshoe/ I mean we do work with over 400 landlords and we do have a high utilization rate.
Botchway/ Right!
Hightshoe/ I mean another way is ... it's not your typical tenant that doesn't have like ... if that
tenant has bad credit, has poor landlord references, can't afford the security deposit, those
are all issues that you're going to have to work through to try to get a landlord, and some
of our non -profits, you know, like Shelter House, Crisis Center that work with folks that
have that problem, they try to help and try to encourage landlords, um, to begin, but those
are some of the issues that are hard to get a landlord who's doing diligent screening to
overlook some of those and ... and accept the voucher. So ... sometimes it's not just
landlords not having a problem with the Section 8. Problem is the tenant history and then
it's just really hard to find a place, or a landlord that'll accept that tenant.
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Botchway/ Well and I actually had a couple of different things in regards to that, because I think
you ... you know, you laid `em out really well in the memo, but I think ... I think that's for
another discussion as far as, you know, looking at barriers to, um ... to having Section 8
vouchers for landlords, and what the City can do about it, but ... again, that's maybe
something (both talking)
Hayek/ Yeah, but on that point, this ... this 97% utilization rate, what does that tell us about the
interest on the part of landlords in using, or accepting, vouchers, at least locally? I ... can
you...
Hightshoe/ That for the tenants that, you know, they come up ... they can find a unit. If they can't
find a unit, then another tenant, uh, Steve would give the, have the information about how
many tenants aren't able to utilize a voucher.
Hayek/ Hi, Steve!
Rackis/ The ... the 97% is, and I don't have the memo in front of me, if...if that's the ... 97%
you're referring to, that's our 10 -year utilization average, for the voucher program. Right
now we're at ... close to 102%, which is fine because on ... on a monthly basis you can be
above or below, but at the end of the year, and the calendar years are budget year from
January to December, uh, we cannot fund more than 100% of our vouchers. So, we're
gonna have to, you know, count on a little attrition and we will see some attrition,
typically in August, that will bring those numbers down, and our hope every year is that
we hit right at 100%. So, like I said, right now we're over utilized on the vouchers. So
there... and this is, you know, less than I%, uh, vacancy rate in the community and as
Tracy mentioned, over 400 landlords are participating in the program. So ... utilization is
... is not... is not an issue for us and in regards to incentives, there are no additional
monies available within the program to provide to landlords. There is just no provisions
from HUD to do that, and the incentive to the landlord is that a portion of that rent is
being paid by the Housing Authority, on behalf of that family, based on their household
size and income, and the incentive is they know that that money is coming at the
beginning of the month and it will be coming at the beginning of the month, because even
people on our program that we're paying ... I mean we have people on the program that
are paying $10 a month for rent and the landlord is continually collecting that ... that rent
late. Uh, so that ... that's an incentive. The ... the other incentive is ... for the landlord, is
they know that, uh, there's been a five-year look -back at the ... at the initial eligibility
determination process. Uh, they know they can contact the Housing Authority to get
other information to ... to confirm if a ... if an applicant, uh, submits an application and
says Kingsley Botchway's their last landlord. The landlord can contact us and confirm
whether or not that is in fact who the last landlord was. So, um, you know, I think there
...there are those types of incentives built into the program but ... but simply the ... the,
HUD does not provide any additional money to give a landlord, uh, to entice them to... to
accept the vouchers.
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Markus/ Steve, I'm not sure that Kingsley was suggesting that it would be HUD that would
provide the inducement, but I guess the ... I think it begs the question if you have 10)%
utilization or you're tracking very close to 100% utilization, what do you gain by
inducing ... a landlord to ... to go and ... and join this program, if you're already use...
utilizing 100% of the vouchers?
Rackis/ There... there's nothing to be gained, and ... and as a matter of fact, it doesn't matter if
you incent the landlord or not with some other pot of money, because I would say, you
know, and Doug can back me up on that, that a lot of landlords just simply don't
participate in the program because they don't want to deal with any government red tape.
They don't want to deal with ... and it's not extra paperwork. There's, you know, there's
a couple of pieces of paper. They don't want to deal with that. They have
misconceptions about how the program works, because of how it worked 20 years ago.
So ... those landlords that don't want to participate with government, whether you give
`em another dollar or two, they're... they're simply still not going to participate.
Markus/ So this is somewhat born out of the issue, um ... uh, from Human Rights, as well...
Rackis/ Correct.
Markus/ ...where the discussion took place that, um, we would make, urn ... the use or denial of
vouchers somehow part of our discriminatory practices, uh, prohibitions. But if we are
utilizing 100%, I guess I still go to that question — what ... what is the practical gain for
the dollars we'd invest through inducement?
Rackis/ There is none!
Botchway/ Okay. So ... I guess just from what I'm hearing, I just want to be clear cause I'm
going to go back and talk with some people that have asked questions about this, is that
we have no problem with utilization of vouchers in Iowa City, and that they're
interspersed throughout the community?
Rackis/ Correct. Uh... roughly, you know, 65 ... well, they basically follow the general
population trends. So ... roughly 68% of the Johnson County population lives in Iowa
City, typically 68% of our vouchers are in Iowa City. Same thing, 20 -some percent in,
uh, Coralville. Uh, 17% in North Liberty. So the ... the vouchers are following the
general population trends.
Botchway/ Well I think that's maybe ... maybe I need to clarify. I mean, so .... and not to be rude.
I'm not worried about any of the community from that perspective, but... so from Iowa
City, if individual, um, we ... we are ... we are dispersed throughout Iowa City equally, as
far as housing vouchers are concerned.
Rackis/ Uh, we're dispersed, uh, equally throughout Iowa City, and the rest of the jurisdictions,
based upon what market rents the landlords are charging. There ... there are areas in the
community that voucher holders are not going to get into if a landlord is charging $2,000
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for a three-bedroom voucher and our ... our vouchers just, you know, if that rent is not
determined reasonable on the program, then ... voucher holders not getting into that unit.
There... there's a provision within the HUD regulations that on the initial lease -up, the
family cannot pay more than 40% of their adjusted gross income towards the rent. So
even in ... market areas where vouchers are utilized, we still have, you know, some
families that those rents are too high ... based on their income. So I wouldn't say they're
distributed equally because it's based upon what is the market rent a landlord can get for
that particular unit, and I think, you know, we were talking about the student areas.
You're not going to see, you know, you might see one or two, but in the student areas
with the rents that those landlords are getting, you're just not going to see vouchers.
Markus/ Which... but... but, I think that then trends to the next issue, and that is ... what we're
trying to do in Riverfront Crossings in terms of modeling, um, this whole idea of taking
10% of the units and ... and providing affordable housing in there, and we've had some
successes, I think, most people would acknowledge, and that's in areas that heretofore
probably haven't been, you know, um, in the landscape for affordable, um, units for
people to get into, and by putting them at ... even at the rate of 10%, I think it starts to
spread out the area where affordable housing is made available to our public.
Rackis/ Kingsley, maybe another a ... approach to this, and ... and this is pretty common
throughout the country, uh, if we contact 100 people on the waiting list, typically we'll
hear from 50. Of the 50 that respond to us, typically about 25 will ... will lease up a unit,
and if we don't have the proper utilization at that point, then we go into the waiting list
again. But that is ... that is quite common, but we have seen ... we have seen periods, I had
done a two-year study of, uh, vouchers that we issued for people that were moving. So
an existing participant was moving, and new vouchers that we were issuing, and I did a
two-year study, and what we found was 88% of those moving in new vouchers were
utilized and over that same period of time, our voucher utilization was about 102%. So,
yes, there are people who ... whose voucher expires, but ... Tracy already pointed out, a lot
of times it has to do with credit checks, landlord references, lack of security deposit, and
a whole host of other issues that go beyond whether or not they actually have a voucher.
Markus/ At the end of the day though, we ... you would still say that we do not have enough
affordable housing in the community?
Rackis/ I would agree with that.
Markus/ Okay. So ... to get to your inducement issue, we are using inducements, uh, where we're
using TIF and economic, as you know as a part of the Court/Linn Committee to create
that next nexus to expand beyond the voucher system and other, you know, model
programs that we're using, to expand the amount of affordable housing into our
community. And that is inducement related.
Payne/ But I don't think we should confuse... housing vouchers with affordable housing. To me
it's two different things.
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Markus/ How would you react to that?
Rackis/ Um, I ... I would agree! Uh, you know, affordable housing is defined as not paying more
than 30% of your, uh, gross income towards your housing costs, which includes the
utilities. Uh, I would say the housing choice voucher program is a pro ... program that
helps make housing affordable for a family that's eligible for the program.
Payne/ It's a rent subsidy.
Rackis/ Yes.
Payne/ Where afford ... I mean ... this other affordable housing... discussed first isn't a rent
subsidy, necessarily.
Hayek/ Well housing... housing can be affordable... whether it's subsidized or not (both talking)
Payne/ ...or not. Right.
Hayek/ Both (both talking)
Dobyns/ ...of the same coin.
Rackis/ Yeah in ... in some cases, when you look at tax credit properties, they ... they are
subsidized to be developed, and that usually comes with a fixed rent that is typically
around the fair market rent or, you know, perhaps lower. So they're affordable in that
sense, but then the... increased affordability comes because the tax credit project can
accept the family with the voucher. So they're, you know, tax credits are very, uh, good
targets for people with a voucher because you already sort of have a fixed rent structure
that's around the fair market rent, plus you're receiving a rent subsidy from us based
upon what your income and household size is.
Markus/ But ... but in terms of what we're trying to do through TIF, that's a matter of setting
what the bar is so you can some very close to a ... you know, the same kind of
affordability limit, depending on how much we wish to induce.
Rackis/ Correct.
Hayek/ Okay! Very helpful, Steve. Thank you for the help, and Tracy, you too! Anything else
on the Info Packet?
Payne/ Still on 23?
Hayek/ Still on 23! All right, how bout April 30th?
Botchway/ Um, going to IP #...7. Did we ever ... and this might be just my, uh... not being able to
remember, did we ever give a presentation from the individuals we did give, um ... kind of
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those ad hoc funds ... to? Like for example the temporary winter shelter. Maybe we did
and I'm just forgetting. Did, you know, did they come back (both talking)
Throgmorton/ After the fact ... (several talking)
Botchway/ After the fact, just to know, I mean, for ... for that... 1105 Project, I vaguely
remember, I mean, it could just be just because it was a time, and then the Diversity
Focus Fasttrack partnership.
Fruin/ Typically with those agreements, or with those grants, there's an agreement that goes
along with `em that'll, uh, require a ... a year-end report or program -end report. So for
instance the ... the Diversity Focus Fasttrack partnership that we funded a year or so ago,
um, we did get a final report on that and were able to verify that the funds were used in
accordance with the Council's wishes. Um ... we ... we don't always pass those along to
Council. We certainly can if you're interested to see `em. I've reviewed the winter
shelter, you know, financials just to make sure that our money was spent accordingly
and ... and it was. Um, but we typically don't forward those to you unless there's an
explicit interest. And if there's a particular project that you're interested in, like the
winter shelter, I'm sure they'd love to come and talk to you about that experience,
but... we'll, we usually wait for that direction from you.
Botchway/ Yeah, I just wanted to ask and find out (mumbled)
Hayek/ Other items on the Info Packet?
Dobyns/ In the spirit of self-righteousness, I'd just like to mention that in the Planning and
Zoning Commission of April 16`x', um, you all recall that at the last budget meeting in
December, I pined to find a place in downtown Iowa City where I could buy some
underwear. And I just want to note that Nancy Bird also reflected on the same issue,
when she said there are significant gaps in the (mumbled) dry goods in the Iowa City...
that the Iowa City shopper would like to see downtown. Thank you very much!
Throgmorton/ Well it's an opp... it's an entrepreneurial opportunity (several talking and
laughing)
Hayek/ This is gettin' a little personal! (laughter)
Dobyns/ Little TMI here, Matt? (laughs)
Markus/ In the same line of self-righteousness, I ... I'm surprised nobody mentioned IP8, which
was the, uh (away from mic, difficult to hear speaker) notification that we secured a
triple-A bond rating once again, so...
Botchway/ Oh I tweeted it so ... (laughter)
Markus/ You tweeted it? (several talking)
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Dickens/ I talked about it on the radio show!
Botchway/ I don't know whether or not ... or, I'll wait till Council time! Never mind!
Hayek/ Someone, I encouraged someone to raise the ... the Moody's issue at the end of the
formal.
Payne/ Yes! I figured Susan was ... would do that! (laughter)
Hayek/ Okay! Um ... Council time!
Council Time:
Botchway/ Well, and Susan ... I mean, you bring it up ... are you going ... to the Moody rating, are
you going to explain what that means? Or can staff, can somebody explain?
Mims/ Yeah, we certainly can, at least in general terms.
Botchway/ Yeah! Or I mean and what it means ... yeah, what it means, because I think there's...
just important to ... hear.
Mims/ Yeah! It means we pay really low interest rates! (several talking and laughing)
Hayek/ I talked about it on KXIC. I don't know when they ran it.
Dickens/ They ran it... it was running this morning.
Markus/ That's part of the agenda, so ... (mumbled)
Mims/ Yeah.
Botchway/ Oh, okay!
Mims/ Yep, because we have the bond sales.
Hayek/ Oh right. Right! Right (mumbled) there's that.
Dobyns/ Your item was more important than mine!
Hayek/ Other Council time?
Throgmorton/ I want to quickly mention three things. Uh, I already mentioned that I'd done to
that, uh, the... the... April 23rd, uh, Annual Meeting of the Senior Center. That was
instructive and a very valuable thing to do. But I also had a chance to go to the City of
Literature's pizza fundraising party at President Mason's house. Uh, which was a treat,
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of course, cause the pizza's fabulous, and you know, they raised a fair amount of money
for the scholarships that, uh, the City of, uh, the City of Literature provides. So that was
an excellent thing. But I also rode in the ... bus, bike, drive race or whatever it's called,
yesterday, and finished third (laughter) Kind of embarrassed...
Payne/ While you were riding in a bus you finished third?
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I finished third. Yeah, but I, you know, I was a close third, so ... but Tom
Gill won. He won, I think he cheated (laughter) but I'm only kidding! (laughter) Only
kidding! Tom... Tom wrote, said some really good things in the newspaper this morning.
So ... it was a fun event anyhow, and Sarah Waltz was the organizer. Uh, she did a great
job!
Dickens/ I saw you wondering around the streets (laughter) I don't know, was it ... was there a
tour?
Throgmorton/ Oh that ... that was a tour of native American sites and stories, uh, concerning the
downtown area (both talking)
Dickens/ ... saw you out there ... I didn't have, I couldn't get to it, but I saw you going around to
the different (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Yeah, yeah, it was fun to do!
Dobyns/ Yeah, I saw you in the pictures. You looked great in your underwear... your shorts
(laughter)
Throgmorton/ I meant to wear my bright red I Bike Iowa City shirt that is, was produced by the
organizers of the event, but I forgot it! So, anyhow...
Botchway/ Can we have a motion to ban, um, Rick from talking about underwear? (laughter)
Seriously!
Dickens/ Second! (laughter)
Botchway/ Yes!
Mims/ Um, last Monday and Tuesday, um, Geoff and Wendy Ford and I, um, joined a total of 14
people from the Chamber and Coralville and ... small business owners, etc., that went to
Omaha, and had ... uh, just an outstanding visit with, uh, a Chamber of Commerce that I
think probably gave Nancy and Rebecca more ideas and work than they might ever want
(laughs) but uh, the Omaha Chamber is phenomenal, and they were wonderful hosts, and
they do all their economic development through the Chamber. They have, um, great
partnerships with their surrounding communities and counties, um, including, um, they
don't necessarily call it a communication protocol, but they have a communication
agreement, uh, about how they talk with each other and how they share information
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and ... and these other Chambers actually pay the salary and benefits for one employee
who is housed in the Omaha Chamber of Commerce office, and so kind of sees
everything that's going on, is involved in the economic development. They, you know,
show `em all the sites in the area, and in fact includes Council Bluffs. I mean they go...
work across the river, um, in Iowa. Came back with lots of great ideas but the one I
...sort of that I liked the best is they got together, people from their, urn ... in, oh what do I
want to say, Rebecca? When they get ... they got their motto (unable to hear response,
away from mic) Yeah, their branding ... they got their really creative people from their
marketing and... and different organizations to create kind of a... a brand for the area, and
uh, I should have brought my t -shirt, uh, it says `We coast here,' and it runs slanted uphill
a little bit and then they can kind of co -brand it. Oh, you've got one! You've got one!
Rebecca Neades/ It's Geoff s actually. (unable to hear speaker, away from mic)
Mims/ Oh, okay! Um ... oh, okay, We Don't Coast, right! So basically saying that, um, and
you ... that you can basically co ... you know, they can co -brand it in different
communities, so like Bellevue can put their name on it or they have it in their book, um,
you know, We Don't Coast We...
Hayek/ Are landlocked!
Mims/ (laughter) We ... we don't (both talking)
Hayek/ That's a good play on words!
Mims/ Yeah, we, you know, We Don't Coast We Entertain, We Don't Coast, uh, We Drink, and
it's got bars, I mean, We Don't Coast We ... you know, We Create Jobs, We Surf, yeah,
cause they're really into the tech business and stuff. Um...
Hayek/ Ah!
Mims/ But just ... it was a really.... really good visit. I think lots of good ideas that we brought
back and hopefully, um, between the Chamber and ICAD, because Mark Nolte and Kate
Moreland were part of the trip too, and City staff, we can ... kind of work on some of
those ideas. So ... but it was a great trip!
Hayek/ Um ... School Board is taking up secondary boundaries as early as next week. Um ... I'll
make a pitch at the end of the meeting, there is a ... uh... listening, another listening post
this Thursday at Northwest Junior High and if anybody can make it, I would encourage
you to do so. I would also ... 7:00, um, I would also encourage you, either on ... on your
own or even better with ... with, uh, you know, anyone else you can muster, to weigh in
and support the School Board. I think they are, um, it would appear that they are leaning
toward one of the F scenarios, 4 or 5, which are virtually the same. Um, we certainly
determined that that would be, uh, a good outcome for Iowa City. Um... (both talking)
Mims/ ...those create the most...
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Hayek/ Yep!
Mims/ ... uh, dispersion, or the most equality, don't they, in terms of SES?
Hayek/ Yeah, and again, this is (both talking) this is at the high school level only.
Mims/ Yeah!
Hayek/ Um, the other, you know, the harder to solve pieces are ... are not before the Board at this
time, but at that ... at the secondary level, with the opening of the ... of the new high
school, most of which is being paid for with Iowa City tax money, the ... there will be
rough parody in terms of socio-economic balance between the three schools, which is a
really important step forward.
Dobyns/ I plan to go. And speak on behalf of those options.
Hayek/ I think all of us need to, um, at least communicate to School Board Members. If, Rick, if
you can go to the actual open house, that would be wonderful.
Dobyns/ Uh huh.
Payne/ I did my communication to.
Hayek/ Okay. So ... this is a very, very important juncture. Thanks! Other Council time?
Dobyns/ I'm going to mention that, uh, public session Council time this Friday at Terry Plu...
Trueblood, there's a fundraiser for Hospice House of Johnson County. So I'm going to
talk a little bit about what Hospice House is and the opportunities for that, so....
Meetim Schedule:
Hayek/ Meeting schedule?
Karr/ Can we talk a little bit about IP #4 in the 4/30 packet? That's the KXIC Wednesday and
Friday shows, and the goal was to try with your schedules and a lot of your absences to
get the summer taken care of. If possible, and I don't know if you want to take the time
now or you want to call me, but we do have quite a few openings, for both (both talking)
Hayek/ You know, I ... I can do June 10t'. Um, did you want to jump on that?
Payne/ Yeah, I better do ... I haven't done one for...
Hayek/ ...let Michelle jump on June 10th then. Maybe we should (both talking) Oh, sorry, go
ahead, Jim!
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Throgmorton/ I don't want to do both May 27"' and June 3rd. I'd prefer May 27"' if...but....
Payne/ I ... if you want to do the ... (both talking)
Mims/ I can do the third. I mean... (both talking)
Payne/ (mumbled)
Mims/ ...works for you. I'm totally flexible, so I can really fill in (both talking)
Payne/ The l Od' would work better.
Mims/ Then you do the I Od'!
Payne/ Okay.
Karr/ June l Od' is Payne, May 27d` Throgmorton, but not June 3'd. So we're (several talking)
June 3rd is... Susan.
Mims/ Yep! As long as I put it on my calendar right now!
Dickens/ And we're back to 8:00 live. As of (several talking)
Mims/ Has he communicated that to you?
Payne/ What?
Dickens/ Yes, he got his hour back so (both talking)
Mims/ Yeah, he got his hour back!
Dickens/ ...so it is live. It's not tape delayed now on Wednesday.
Karr/ No, he did not communicate that!
Hayek/ Why don't we email you ... let's all remember to email Marian about the later dates in the
summertime.
Mims/ Okay!
Payne/ And my problem is ... is I can't predict that far out. I mean, my schedule's going to...
Mims/ Well, what we can do is fill it up and you just let us know when you can do it, and one of
us can give up our slot for you.
Payne/ Okay.
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Mims/ Why don't we do it that way? I mean, that way we've got `em covered (both talking)
Payne/ Or I can pick it and then if something comes up, call ya!
Mims/ Yeah, that's fine too!
Karr/ Yeah, it's easier to fill them and change among yourselves than to try and (several talking)
Mims/ I'm usually pretty flexible.
Payne/ Okay.
Mims/ Okay!
Pending Work Session Topics:
Hayek/ Pending work session topics.
Mims/ Too many!
Hayek/ IP5 (laughs)
Botchway/ How does the pre-recorded work?
Payne/ The what?
Botchway/ If you did pre-recorded? How does that work, you just talk to Jay or talk to you
or... (several talking)
Karr/ You talk to Jay and he'll set up a time.
Hayek/ (mumbled) ...try to make sure you say good morning or good evening during it, cause it
could be playing at any time. (laughter) Other than that it's ... pretty much the same
(several talking)
Throgmorton/ Matt, with regard to the, uh, work sessh... work session agendas, topics, uh, I... I
have ideas about how to structure the priority of `em. Should I share them with Marian
or ... you know, just mention `em right now? Cause I don't know (mumbled) have time to
really process the suggestion. So...
Hayek/ Um ... I don't know, maybe start with Marian. I mean we've got ... 10 minutes.
Payne/ That's a way to start the process of thinking about it. (several talking)
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Mims/ Can do a memo and put it in the thing and we can talk about it. I mean I don't think
it's ... I think we need to do the prioritizing.
Payne/ Right!
Mims/ So...
Hayek/ Want to throw `em in a memo and then we can take it up (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Okay...
Hayek/ ...at the next work session.
Throgmorton/ Sure!
Hayek/ Okay. Thought there was something else.
Payne/ Council events. Oh!
Mims/ We've got the listening post, Matt and I do Thursday night.
Hayek/ Yeah.
Mims/ Or 4...4:30, whatever that is.
Hayek/ 4 to 5:30.
Karr/ 4 to 5:3 0.
Hayek/ ICPL.
Mims/ It's on my calendar. Yep!
Dobyns/ How often are we going to do those?
Karr/ We're going at, uh, trying to do four a year, because we're a little late getting started this
year, we'll do at least two more and I'm looking for, again, suggestions on locations as
well as individuals who would like to...
Dobyns/ When?
Karr/ Totally open right now! Suggestions on locations, times, and individuals.
Throgmorton/ The Spot! I'd be happy to go!
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Hayek/ Quick question on the Moody's. Just out of curiosity ... I mean we issue GO debt
regularly...at...at what junctures do these ratings come out? Do they ... I mean, they
don't do it every time we issue.
Bockenstedt/ They do do it every time we issue.
Markus/ Every issue is (several talking)
Hayek/ Every issue, okay!
Bockenstedt/ Yes, every time we issue, uh, bonds, they'll go through a ratings process and
they'll issue that rating. So, that happens every year, at least once a year.
Hayek/ Yeah!
Markus/ So the rating is important because the buyers of those...
Hayek/ Sure!
Markus/ ...investments, that's their gauge to determine the risk associated with it. And so
Moody's is the independent that rates the issue, which is basically a ... a rate of risk.
Bockenstedt/ It's a credit rating.
Markus/ And ... and so then they ... they, that creates the, you know, the competition ultimately for
the price point that they'll ... that the interest that they'll buy the bonds at.
Bockenstedt/ Yeah, that's correct. So it's a credit rating and the higher the risk, the higher the
rate you're going to pay.
Hayek/ And I'd ... and I'd point out that among the ... warnings or, you know, the ... under the
category what could make the rating go down, would include a deterioration of our tax
base, um ... and ... material reductions in our financial reserves. (mumbled)
Bockenstedt/ Yeah, and those ... they put that in there, I mean those are important things to pay
attention to because I mean they put those things in there for a reason and ... and so when
you develop your ... your financial plan, I mean, you should be cognizant of ..of what
Moody's is looking at, um, because they look at those reports every year and they do
cycle back to those issues.
Markus/ It's.... it's... somewhat akin to a lot of the surveys, you know, that rate us for different
things. I always contend that Moody's is probably the most analytical evaluation of our
community in terms of...of drilling down into that information. So, they tell you what
they're evaluating and so what we do then is we look at the factors that they're
evaluating, to determine whether, you know, where we fit into those things and to the
extent that we can control that, we ... we attempt to. How much debt you have; how
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much, you know, what your expense, you know, ratios are. Um, all sorts of things that
we try to put in place. Your policies that you use! So ... you have a bit of a head start.
The thing that's kind of interesting in just, I think, the last few years, they've kinda of
overhauled how they rate municipal bonds, and so I think that they've gotten tougher
over the years in how they do those ratings. So I think for us to be maintaining it and
it's ... it's probably the proof of that is is I think there were four or five triple -As just four
years, five years ago. There's down to only two in the state of Iowa at this point, and
so ... they're ... they're taking a harder look at how they rate, uh, the communities in terms
of scorecarding us, um, for that risk.
Hayek/ Do you ... go ahead!
Payne/ I was going to say, the ... the outlook says... outlooks are usually not assigned to local
government credits with this amount of outstanding debt. Does that mean we have a high
amount of outstanding debt or a low amount?
Bockenstedt/ Um, I believe that means we have a high amount of debt, which is ... somewhat
ironic, because you think of us having a low amount of debt, but when you look at the
amount of debt that is required of a triple-A entity, is significantly less than we have
outstanding. Which means that most triple-A entities really do not borrow money.
Which is kind of, uh, a factor amongst all credit ratings is the ... the more you need it, the
lower your rating is, and the less you need it, the higher your rating is, and .... and so
shifting from a... a debt burden, uh, financial picture to a pay-as-you-go basis is part of
the criteria of being a triple-A rated agency. Um, the percentage -of debt that you would
issue as a ... as a triple-A is ... is, uh, very low. It's like less than 1% of your valuation.
So, um, it's lower than ... than we're currently issuing, but ... you have to build that whole
financial picture. It's not just about one statistic. It's about the whole package.
Markus/ And I... and I think the other thing too that you want to pay attention to in... in, when
you read through the reports and I really encourage you to do that, but they talk about us
not having a profile similar to the typical triple-A type community, and I think that's the
case. You know, there's per capita income information, and some statistical information
that kind of separate, you know, us from what the herd looks like...
Hayek/ And isn't the herd kind of the west Des Moines, suburban office park, low debt...
Markus/ Typically more in that direction, yes. And so ... I think that even speaks to how much
more effort it takes on our part to maintain that triple-A.
Hayek/ So question on the ... on the ... on the mention, um, you know, what could make the rating
go down in the future, deterioration of the tax base — do you think that reference ... can
you glean what ... what they mean by that? Is it ... is it a reference to property tax reform?
Is it a reference to ... something else?
Bockenstedt/ It ... it could. It ... when you look at our property tax growth, it's ... it's slow, but it's
going up. So I mean we're not getting in the double digit property tax growth gains that
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you might expect from a high-growth, high -rated community. You know, there have
been more in the 2, 3, 4% range. However, they are going up. There are some risks out
there and as long as we keep a stable, steady growth pattern, I think they're comfortable
with that. You know, if we can accelerate that, they'd like that even more, but if that tax
base starts to deteriorate, where we're getting negative... where it starts to slide, that
would be a ... a definite red flag for them and ... and so how that's going to play out with
property tax reform is just something, you know, when those valuations come in, we'll
just have to take a look at that and ... and like I said, it's an entire profile. So you know, if
you have one element that maybe starts to slide, you have to be aware of the things that
you can control, such as the amount of debt we're issuing, amount of cash reserves that
we're maintaining on hand, and things with that factor, and trying ... and adjust the picture
accordingly. That saying, there are things in that rating that are beyond your control. So,
um, but being aware of those factors, at least you can try to do something to mitigate that,
if that were to start to happen.
Markus/ And ... and along those lines, it's about capacities, as well. So ... to get that rating, if ..if
in fact you're too dependent on one source of revenue, if you have alternative choices to
generate revenue for your jurisdiction, they look at that sort of thing. So they ... they want
to see how close you are to capping and ... and if you have alternative choices, that plays
favorably in ... in regards to your situation, because it's a basically a risk reducer to have
the ability for optional revenues in case the one you're most dependent on, you know, is
...is really starting to get, uh, stretched, uh, too hard.
Bockenstedt/ I mean what Moody's is most interested in is that the bondholders are going to get
their money back. I mean, that's... that's the number one thing they care about, and so
anything we can do to lower that risk to those investors, that's going to be a benefit.
Hayek/ Okay! Well, congratulations again and ... thank you! Any other (noises on mic) events or
Council invites?
Throgmorton/ Matt, I wanted to mention that at 7:00 P.M. on the 13'h Mary Beth Slonnegar will
be speaking in Room A about the history of our downtown. Could be an intriguing
presentation.
Hayek/ Uh huh!
Markus/ I have one... introduction I'd like to make.
Hayek/ Yeah!
Markus/ Usually you know we have a door prize for the person that came the furthest distance to
the event, right? (laughter) We have somebody that came all the way from Jakarta,
Indonesia. Aria Widyanto is our Fellow, uh, through the State Department of the United
States and he's here for the month of May. He'll be residing at the Markus' household,
and he will be joined by Genevieve Yee from Brunei. Uh, she'll be coming in tomorrow.
So they're ... a part of an exchange in terms of our governments looking at local
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government issues, back and forth between our countries. It's a program started by
President Obama.
Throgmorton/ Excellent! Welcome!
Mims/ Welcome!
Hayek/ Glad to have `em!
Markus/ So introduce yourself to `em at the break, please!
Hayek/ Okay! Good meeting. We'll come back at 7:00!
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