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ITEM 2. STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS — Mark Twain Elementary
Hayek: Would the students from Mark Twain please come forward! Hi, guys, how ya
doin'? Uh, how many days left, uh, before school gets out? (response from
group) (laughter) You're not countin' the days though, are ya? I know you're
disappointed for summer to start! Well, we're honored to have you with us here.
Um, I'm Mayor Hayek and this is the City Council behind you, and ... Terry, did
you go to Mark Twain?
Dickens: Yep!
Hayek: So, this guy went to Twain ... back in the day! And, uh, he's okay! We'll keep
him on the Council (laughter) but it's ... it's great to have you here and what we do
throughout the school year is, um, invite, uh, the schools, the elementary schools
in Iowa City, to nominate leaders in those schools, and ... at each meeting, uh, one
of the schools gets to send its leaders down here and we get a chance to show you
off to the room and to the public, and uh, it's great to have you here, and so I've
got some awards I want to read to you but we would like to hear from you first!
So I think I'll just hand the microphone to you and you can read us (mumbled)
piece!
Hippert: Hello, my name is Molly Hippert and I'm a sixth grader at Mark Twain
Elementary. I bel ... I believe I got chosen for the ... Student Citizenship Leader
Award for (mumbled, laugher) because I'm awesome! (laughter) I always do my
best in school and I always get along with my peers. I would like to thank my
teachers for always supporting me all throughout the year and to thank my parents
for believing in me. (applause)
Livio: Hello, my name is Rachel Livio and I'm a sixth grader at Mark Twain
Elementary. Urn ... being a citizen means taking part with the community by
taking your share and helping our planet. I believe it makes a big difference. I
made a difference by helping homeless people on the street. I went with my mom
on the streets to help with the homeless people. Most of the time when we see
homeless peop... people, we give them food or something they might need. I also
help out with patrol and conflict managers. Patrol is made to help kids and
parents cross the road. Conflict manager is a program that happens at lunch
recess to help kids with conflict. (mumbled) with friends to help kids and that is
being a great citizen in school. Every Monday or Tuesday I go to Crisis Center to
volunteer and help people, and make sure people are doing what they need to do.
That is how I help the community. Sometimes I ... I make donations. In school, I
paired up with kindergartners and help them with their project. I also was on the
leadership committee and helped the school. I helped ... I helped with family
nights at school and served up food. Our classes helped (mumbled) our music
teacher set up for con ... concerts. I'm going to help kids with their problems as
their mentors. As a mentor, I will do my best to help kids reach their goal and be
a great ro... role model. I will be respectful. I enjoy helping people. It makes me
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feel good and it makes people happy, and when people are happy, I feel like a
better person and that is helping the community. (applause)
Nava: My name is Karla Nava and I'm a sixth grader at Mark Twain. I believe that
being a good citizen is when we stay busy by helping our community. Even by
picking up trash, it could help you be a good citizen. Ways I help out our
community is by helping kids when they feel left out. I'm also a conflict
manager. I help solve conflicts between younger kids and save the trouble ... save
them the trouble from making things get worse. Free lunch program helps those
unlucky ones who starve. I volunteer to help feed them every last Wednesday of
each month. I will also ... I'm also a mentor. Mentors will help those younger
kids who need help with their feelings and behavior. Those are the reasons why I
think I am a good citizen. (applause)
Hayek: Well those are great and we ... we hear from students at each of these meetings and
the thing that strikes me is just how active, uh, our young people are in Iowa City.
I mean when I ... I went to Shimek back in the day. I was on the safety patrol, just
like you were, but that was about all I did! I didn't do all these other things, and I
can't imagine how busy you must be, doing the... doing the basic school stuff and
then all these things on the side, but it's really important, and you ... you are
helping your community, and ... at a young, young age and I hope you'll continue
to do that, and that I hope ... I hope you grow up and at least one of you serves on
the City Council some day, um, but the things you're doing now will prepare you
to be, uh, leaders as you get older, and ... and Twain's a great school! Didn't you
guys just get a lot of remodeling done there? And looks ... it looks great, and
that's a ... that's an important school for us and it's a great neighborhood, and it's
got a fresh, new look and ... and that's exciting, so ... we're really proud of you!
We have what's called a Student Leadership Award and there's one for each of
you, and it reads as follows: For her outstanding qualities of leadership within
Mark Twain Elementary, as well as the community, and for her sense of
responsibility and helpfulness to others, we recognize you as an Outstanding
Student Leader. Your community is proud of you. Presented by the Iowa City
City Council, May 2015. And, Molly, here's yours (applause), and Rachel
(applause) Karla ... let me shake your hands (applause) and congratulate you!
And I say this to everybody ... I say this to everybody: you're welcome to stick
around. We've got a lot of exciting things tonight, or you can go do homework!
Totally your call! (laughter) Thanks for coming!
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ITEM 3. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED
Payne: So moved.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Botchway. And I would point out there, uh,
several of the items have updates that are in the packet, and there's also an
a ... there's an addition to the Consent item, which is 3e(2), regarding the setting of
a public hearing on June 2nd on plans, specifications, and form of contract on the
fiber infrastructure duct installation project. Any further discussion on that? Roll
call, please. Passes 7-0.
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ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA)
Hayek: This is the opportunity at each City Council meeting for members of the audience
to address the Council on items that are not on the agenda. So if there's
something that is not on tonight's agenda that you would like to bring to our
attention, we invite you to come forward, and our standard practice is that we ask
you to sign in and also verbally give us your name, and to keep your comments to
five minutes or less!
Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt and I'm here about the Iowa City Transit. The ... the...
first I'll start with my friend. My friend ... I met my friend on the bus today.
She's blind, and she's deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other, and she
told me that she called SEATS and they told her she was not eligible because she
lives on a bus line. Now when you're blind it doesn't matter where you live, you
can't even see where you live, and I don't see why she's not eligible to ride
SEATS. And she told me too, she gets $1,200 a month. She spends $600 of that
on her mortgage, and $300 a month on real estate taxes, and she can't get any
relief. Now ... I don't think that's quite fair! She was a sch ... retired
schoolteacher, and she's blind, and my second complaint is that 3:30 is the last
time that the senior pass can be used on Iowa City Transit. I was waitin' for the
bus, uh, for the 3:30 bus. On the bench by the City Coun... by the Senior Center.
So I got on the bus. I looked at the big clock that's down there, and the clock said
3:30. The bus pulls up. So I go to get ready to get on the bus, and the bus driver
says, "Oh, it's 3:30! The ... the (mumbled) down there by the Capitol. I left there
at 3:30. You can't get on this bus! You gotta pay!" And I said, "Wait a minute!
The clock says it's not quite 3:30!" Okay? So I get off the bus and I call Mr.
O'Brien. And I told him ... now ... and I was explaining ... I left a message cause
he's never there. That ... 3:30, this is the Senior Center on the corner of Linn and
Washington, why can't a senior get on there at 3:30? There's a senior center!
One minute from downtown, the ... the (mumbled) whatever you call it down
there! But the idea is ... the way this woman complained, and the way she hollered
and carried on, given affirmative action a bad name, I'm not gonna say who this
woman was, but I didn't like it, and I didn't want to argue with her because I
don't believe that you're supposed to make disturbances on the bus. So I did the
next best thing, and I complained! And I'm complaining that Senior Cen...
seniors should be able to get on the bus ... at the Senior Center! And that's just my
main complaints for tonight... because I believe in public transportation, and I
should ... and it should be pleasant, and I think the disabled should be able to ride
the bus, and to tell ... give a blind person the third degree and tell them they're not
eligible is not quite fair to me. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. Anyone else during community comment? Were
the 100 Grannies going to ... speak (unable to hear response from audience) So
now ... now would be ... yes! Sure!
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Ross: I'm Becky Ross. And I'm, uh, one of the 100 Grannies who actually are more
like 130,1 think! Um ... and we ... are here to ask for change. Um, it's time for a
change when you look at plastic bags. Um, some people think that's a bad word —
change. It's, uh, sometimes takes courage to make that change, even if it's for the
good, and it can be scary. I know when I was a kid, um ... we moved every two
years. That was kind of scary! Change in schools every two years, but ... it was a
good thing! I met lots of people. So there's lots of good things that can come
from change! We are asking you to adopt our proposed resolution and that would
be a great change! I'm not going to go into all the reasons that single -use plastic
bags are bad because I think you all know that by now, but if you have questions I
could ans... try to answer them. So I'm just going to read our, uh, proposed
resolution right now, and I did add some, just one little, uh, phrase in here that
you didn't get in print, but ... um ... this is the resolution. Because single -use
plastic bags threaten our environment by clogging our waterways, polluting our
oceans, endangering our wildlife, overburdening our landfills, and increasing our
dependence on fossil fuels, we the Iowa City City Council resolve to eliminate
single -use plastic bags by Earth Day, April 22nd, 2016. That's about a year away
(applause) Many of you have already done this yourselves, or at least are trying!
I know because some of you participated in our video of how to remember your
re -usable bag that was produced by our local Channel 4 TV station. And you all
know that we've become a throw -away society, and that single ba... single -use
plastic bags never really go away. Um, Jen Jordan, our recycling coordinator, has
said probably many, many times that we need to look upstream and quit using
these single -use items instead of having to address the problem after we've
thrown `em away. This seems to be a very logical way to think about it, but
we've been using and throwing away so much plastic for so long it's become a
bad habit. We need to think of being a partner with nature, rather than polluting
her. Um, one friend of mine from church, a young, uh, married woman with a
couple kids tries to ... told me she tries to bring her own bags, but always forgets,
and she's just too busy and she'll probably never be able to remember to do it...
until she has to! So that's why we're asking you to make this change. Think
about things differently, more radically. Change for the good! Um, Austin,
Texas, has banned both single -use paper and plastic bags. I think they're doing
pretty well! I think that's... they're a really good example. Um, but one of the
things... the... we would like to ... um ... take this time to make the change ... change
our habit like, as was suggested by ... by the MPOJC. There were three steps. The
first was education, which 100 Grannies has been doing for the past three years,
and then the second step was to charge for the plastic bags, and the third step was
to eliminate the single -use plastic bags. We realize that plastic bags are just the
tip of the iceberg, but it's a way to get people to start thinking about all the plastic
we throw away and we have to start somewhere! This will not change the quality
of anyone's life by bringing your own bag. It's not that hard once you get in the
habit. Uh, and it could be a savings! It could be a savings for retail businesses.
The landfill. The refuse collection and storm sewer maintenances. Um,
maintenance. And ... you would also make us very happy! 130 of us (laughs) uh,
we don't think you want to see that many angry grannies (laughter) runnin'
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around town! Um, so we're asking for this for our grandchildren and yours!
Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Ross: Oh, yeah, we don't want to get up to our neck in plastic! (applause)
Rupe: I'm tripping over all these bags I'm buried in. I just wanted to say that ... I am,
and many of the Grannies are old enough to remember a time before these things
even existed.
Hayek: Could you give us your name, please?
Rupe: Oh I'm sorry — Donna Rupe! Uh... we can live without them, if we chose to! Uh,
we can go back 50 year ... 50 years or less (laughs) uh, when we didn't have these
bags and do just fine!
Hayek: Thank you! (applause) Anyone else during community comment? Okay! I'm
going to move beyond community comment to Item 5, Planning and Zoning
Matters. (people talking in background)
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 5a COURT STREET AND TAFT AVENUE — AMENDING THE
SOUTHEAST DISTRICT PLAN, AN ELEMENT OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, TO CHANGE THE LAND USE
DESIGNATION FROM "MIXED USE" TO "LOWIMEDIUM DENSITY
MIXED RESIDENTIAL" FOR PROPERTY LOCATED SOUTH OF
COURT STREET, WEST OF TAFT AVENUE. (CPA15-00002)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Mr. Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, good evening, John Yapp. Development Services, and ... I'll just get my
PowerPoint... up and running. Uh, this is an image of the Southeast District Plan
and the subject property, uh, we are discussing tonight is at the northeast corner of
the district, at the corner of Court Street and Taft Avenue. Uh, this property was
rezoned to Neighborhood Commercial in 1995, with a conditional zoning
agreement that required a town square -type development with mixed uses,
including residential and neighborhood -serving commercial uses. Uh, sub...
subsequently as the neighborhood built out, the developer did dedicate a town
square park, uh... located near the corner of Court Street and Taft Avenue. Uh,
we recently received an application to amend the Comprehensive Plan
amendment to ... uh, remove the requirement for neighborhood commercial, uh,
type uses and amend the plan to allow mixed residential and multi -family uses at
this property. Uh, the argument in the application is that because the market for
commercial development has never materialized at this location, and is unlikely
to, given the proximity of other nearby commercial areas, uh, the Comprehensive
Plan should be amended to allow multi -family development at this location. Uh,
some of the other, uh, nearby commercial areas are the neighborhood commercial
zone at the cor... comer of Scott and Court. Uh, the Towncrest, uh, commercial
area a little bit further to the west. Old Towne Village, which is not reflected on
this map, but the corner of Scott Boulevard and Rochester Avenue, uh, and a little
bit further away, uh, the Sycamore Mall property, at the corner of First Avenue
and Lower Muscatine Road. As staff evaluated this request, one of the things, uh,
we note is that ... the City has gone to some expense, uh, and some effort to
revitalize the Towncrest commercial area and the Sycamore Mall commercial
area. And... adding additional commercial land at the, uh, corner of Scott and
Taft could dilute, uh, some of the existing nodes that the City is trying to ... to
keep stable. Uh, a quote from the Southeast District Plan is that the City will need
to be careful to not dilute the demand for daily retail shopping by allowing too
many retail commercial nodes on the east side of Iowa City. Uh, if the efforts to
revitalize Towncrest and to maintain the viability of Sycamore Mall and the First
Avenue commercial corridor are to be successful, the City will need to be
cautious about zoning additional land at the edge of the city for retail and office
development. Uh, some other factors about this request. At ... at the initial time
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that the Neighborhood Commercial Zone was put in place, uh, there was some
land set aside on the north side of Court Street for a future potential elementary
school, uh, which could have created some of that market demand, uh, for a
commercial area. Uh, the school district chose not to develop a school on that
property. Uh, another factor is that at the time the Neighborhood Commercial
was first put in place, there ... there was an expectation that Taft Avenue, uh,
would be paved, and would become more of a north -south, uh, route for a ... a
volume of traffic. Uh, Taft Avenue has not been paved and while the developer
has, uh, participated in... in some dust control on Taft Avenue, uh, there are no
plans in the imm... in the immediate future, uh, to repave, uh, Taft Avenue. Uh,
given, uh, all those factors, staff finds that it is appropriate to change the
Southeast District Plan, uh... to identify this property as mixed-use and low/
medium density residential, uh, to amend the Southeast District Plan narrative to
indicate that development of the property should contain a mix of housing types,
with units oriented toward the town square park and Court ... toward Court Street,
Taft Avenue, and Huntington Drive, and to delete the text within the Plan that
describes this neighborhood commercial area. With that I'd be glad to take any
questions.
Hayek: Any questions for John? Thanks, John (both talking)
Dobyns: John, I'm trying to vision what sort of commercial development might have been
there. I mean it's a fairly small footprint. Um...
Yapp: It is!
Dobyns: ...and I'm thinking of...the (laughs) I'm thinking of donuts (laughs) I don't
know (laughs) um, the donut shop, gas station, Court Street near Scott Boulevard.
That's a fairly small footprint area, but I think even that is larger than what this is,
and I'm trying to envision what might have gone there, uh, to serve commercial
needs of the local community.
Yapp: The ... the Neighborhood Commercial Zone allows, uh, smaller -scale, uh, retail,
uh, and grocery, uh, development. Uh, does allow convenience stores, gas station
with a sp ... approval of a special exception, um, but it...it would be ... similar to
the, uh, Neighborhood Commercial Zone at Scott and Court...
Dobyns: Okay.
Yapp: ... in terms of the mix of uses.
Dobyns: And why wouldn't ... I would think that Taft would have been paved, at least in
the next five years, but you're saying not in the foreseeable future, and I'm trying
to get a sense because we've thought about, um, you know the city is right there!
Um, there were some discussions of things going out south of there in terms of
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perhaps some recreation in the future. Um ... and so I thought Taft might be
paved.
Yapp: (both talking) ...and I guess I phrased it that way because there's ... it's currently
not in the Capital Improvements Program, uh, for paving.
Dobyns: Okay.
Hayek: It's on the `unfunded list.'
Yapp: It's on the unfunded (both talking)
Dobyns: Okay, on the ... okay! Thank you!
Yapp: And from a traffic perspective, Scott Boulevard, uh, certainly has adequate
capacity at this time, uh, so from a purely traffic circulation perspective it... Taft
is not necessary, unless and until there are more, uh, developments and density in
this part of the city.
Dobyns: Okay.
Hayek: John, it's my sense that... that... that there is an awful lot of RM -12 in ... in this
area, or even denser. Um ... and ... but my ... my hunch and I guess I'm looking to
you to answer this is that, you know, primarily because it's located on what will
...what are or will be considered arterials...
Yapp: Uh huh.
Hayek: ... and on a corner!
Yapp: Yeah, Court's (both talking) Court Street and Taft Avenue are both arterial
streets. Uh... and I'll ... in the next item on the agenda I'll get a little bit more
specific into the specific development that's proposed, but it is a ... a mix of
duplexes, townhouses, and multi -family. Uh, and I think adding to that mix, in
this neighborhood, uh... is a ... is a very positive goal. Uh, on the south side of
Court Street, the majority of this neighborhood is single-family. Uh, and there's
more multi -family and mixed housing on the north side of Court Street. Uh, this
would introduce that mix of housing types south of Court Street.
Hayek: Okay.
Throgmorton: John, are you going to show us renderings of the proposed buildings?
Yapp: I am with the, uh (both talking) with the rezoning.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
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Yapp: Yeah, at this time, uh, it's just the Comprehensive Plan amendment.
Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I want to address Rick's question very briefly. Uh, there's a whole
bunch of new urbanist -kind of literature that would suggest ways about how to
develop that whole intersection around Taft and Court Street, and ... and not just
the ... the Neighborhood Commercial area but ... uh... the, um, residential activity
around it. They ... they have to go together. But ... that's not what is before us and
not what we'll end up being ... uh, voting on, uh, what we will end up voting on,
but there's a whole bunch of literature about that, as ... in terms of possibilities.
Hayek: Thanks, John! Uh, this is a public hearing. Be ... maybe I'll ask for ex parte now
because the...the Comp Plan and the rezoning have kind of been touched on
together. You all right with that, Eleanor? So ... we ... in connection with
rezonings we ask Council to disclose ex parte communications, um, which would
normally be something we do under 7b, um, but why ... let me go ahead and ask
that. Has anyone had any, uh, ex parte communications on ... on 7b at this time?
Okay! So the answer to that is no. This is a public hearing. If anyone from the
audience would like to address us, we invite you to come forward.
Moreland: Hi, um, my name's John Moreland. I'm the developer of, uh, this area, and have
been for the last 22 years. And, uh, I'd just like to start out by saying, you know,
I feel like I'm pretty proud of the area. We have $100,000 condos. We have
starter homes for people. We have $600,000 homes. And... when... when we
took this over, we were sure there was a school that was going to be built out on
Court Street, and before Lane Plugge left, he determined that he didn't want to
build a school there. And that's when our mind kinda changed a little bit as far as
the commercial area goes. Um ... we ... you know, we really thought at the time
there was going to be more traffic there. We knew Taft ... might get paved, but
maybe not get paved, but ... when you think about Taft, you don't just pave a little
section of Taft. You don't go from Lower West Branch Road to ... to, uh, Herbert
Hoover Highway. If you're going to pave Taft, you need to come from Highway
6 to make it effective, and you need to go all the way to Herbert Hoover Highway.
And you're talking $100 million or more! And ... and that's why Taft hasn't been
paved and that's why I don't think I'll see it paved in my lifetime! And ... uh,
so... you know, the more we thought about the school not being there and... I've
had a good relationship with the staff over the years and we've bounced around
different ideas, and uh... finally we came to an agreement. We've been working
on this for probably six or eight months, and ... to go to RM -12 meant to address
what you said ... I think this would allow up to 60 units and I think I'm only asking
for 40 units because ... I have single-family on one side so I decided to abut
duplexes to them to not be, you know, crowding them and then I have 12-plexes
to the north. So I put my more dense property out on the corner of, uh... uh, of,
uh, Taft there. So ... you know, when you ride your bike or walk, I think it's less
than one mile down to the donut, coffee shop, down where Suburban Amoco is.
We got full-service Midtown Restaurant, um ... and you know it's only three and a
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half acres, and, you know, I ... I would like to see this developed, um ... while I'm
still around, at least, and uh, you know, we've tried ... I've been involved with the
largest real estate company in Iowa City for the last 20 years. The words been on
the street. We've talked to several people. They just think it's too far out, and
with Taft being un ... unimproved, we just can't talk anybody into doing it,
and... and so for that reason, uh, I would, uh, ask you to, uh, consider strongly
and, uh, please vote on it tonight, and I'll answer any questions, Jim, or anybody
that has on this.
Hayek: Questions for Mr. Moreland? Thanks ... for your input!
Moreland: Okay.
Hayek: This is a public hearing. Would anyone else like to address the Council? Okay!
Uh, I will close the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Voparil: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
Dobyns: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Throgmorton: (mumbled)
Hayek: She was going to put it on the floor.
Throgmorton: Oh! (laughs)
Hayek: Discussion?
Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I'd like to say something, Matt. Uh, in ... in my view, the original vision
was a pretty good one, uh, and ... the more I think about it, the more I think it was
a good one with the school just to the north and ... Taft getting repaved and other
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stuff going on in the ... the farm to the east and ... having a neighborhood
commercial area there with the ... the kind of housing you've been putting up, and
in the sense of spirit of disclosure, I should say that ... one of my sons currently
lives on Cardigan in one of the, I don't know, duplexes that... or are they four-
plexes. I can't remember! That face the park, uh, but he's outside the zone and
everything so there's no conflict of interest there. Uh... but ... but I think the
original vision was, uh, pretty darn good, and the proposed changes are not so
good, but I... I'll go on about that for a second. I ... I was looking up the walk
score for that particular site, and maybe because it's so far out there the walk
score is 6, which is about as low as you can get cause it only goes down to zero.
Uh, so ... too bad, and the walk score web site describes that intersection as a car -
dependent neighborhood so almost all errands require a car. So, you know, in...
in the world I'd like to see, uh, that wouldn't be the case! And I think your
vision, John, was very similar to what I have in mind as well but, uh, so um...
(mumbled) (laughs) so I just want to say, but I can understand why, uh, you're...
you've proposed the changes, uh, circumstances are in fact different in ways you
and John have, uh, John Yapp have described. So ... I'm going to vote yes on it,
even though it doesn't fit my ideal image of what could possibly be there.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7-0.
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ITEM 5b COURT STREET AND TAFT AVENUE — REZONING
APPROXIMATELY 3.34 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED SOUTH OF
COURT STREET, WEST OF TAFT AVENUE FROM NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL (CN -1) TO LOW DENSITY MULTI -FAMILY (RM -12).
(REZ15-00005)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Yapp: Uh, good evening, John Yapp, Development Services. Uh, this is the same
property we just discussed with the Comprehensive Plan amendment. It is
currently zoned, uh, Neighborhood Commercial. There's RM -12, low-density
multi -family zoning to the north and to the south, as well as, uh, planned
development, uh, 8 to the south and where my, uh, pointer is now is the town
square park. This is an aerial image. Uh, this is an image, uh... standing across,
uh, Court Street, uh, looking, uh, to the south across this currently vacant
property. Uh, another image from the same location. And these are the, uh,
townhouse style units, which currently face the park. These are, uh, north of the
park. The, uh, proposed development associated with the rezoning consists of,
uh, four, uh, duplexes; uh, two duplexes facing Huntington, uh, and two duplex...
two, excuse me, two duplexes, one facing Court Street and one facing Raleigh
Lane; uh, four townhouse -style four-plexes, uh, facing both the park and Court
Street, and one 16 -unit multi -family building, uh, facing Taft Avenue. Uh, all the
parking, uh... and on-site circulation is in the interior, uh, of this property, which
allows the fronts of the buildings and the entrances to the buildings to face the
surrounding street network. Uh, some of the images of the proposed buildings,
uh, these would be the duplexes. Uh, because of the slope on the property, there
is a retaining wall proposed. Uh, near the corner of Court Street and Taft Street.
One of the conditions staff has recommended and Planning and Zoning has
concurred that, uh, the specific design of that retaining wall be reviewed by the
Design Review Committee and that landscaping be required, uh, along the
retaining wall to soften the appearance of that wall. Uh, these are the side
elevations of the duplexes. We worked with, uh, Mr. Moreland, uh, to ensure that
the side elevations that face the park and face Court Street have street -facing
entrances. Uh, to give them a ... a residential appearance, not just a blank wall
appearance, uh, to the public street. Uh, these are the front elevations of the, uh,
four-plexers ... yep, four-plexes. Uh, excuse me, these are the front elevations of
the four-plexes. Uh, you'll note a lot of use of stone, uh, and articulation in the
roofline to give the appearance of individual units, uh, in these buildings. And
the, uh, 16 -unit, uh, building that would face Taft Avenue. Uh, you'll note that
the vehicular entrance is at the side of the building, uh, facing Raleigh Lane,
facing to the south. Uh, staff does recommend approval of this rezoning from
Neighborhood Commercial to Low -Density Multi -Family, uh, subject to
substantial compliance with the site plan, building types, and building elevations,
and design review approval of the retaining wall design, and a landscaping plan to
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Page 14
soften the views, uh, and reduce the perceived height of the retaining walls. Be
glad to take any questions!
Hayek: Questions for John?
Throgmorton: John, can you go back to the ... I guess the first rendering.
Yapp: The plot plan?
Throgmorton: Yeah, that one! So ... when I was looking at the ... the map on ... online, in our
packet, I couldn't tell what the frontage on the street would actually look like...
Yapp: Uh...
Throgmorton:... the part facing the park, uh, and now I can see, by hearing you describe what
we see before us, that, uh, they would have the appearance of basically homes
facing the ... the park and I think that's really crucial.
Yapp: (both talking) I would say they would be homes facing the park.
Throgmorton: Right! Right! Thank you. So ... so it's really crucial for that park to succeed, and
it seems to me that park actually has a great deal of potential...
Yapp: Uh huh.
Throgmorton:... for the people who live in the area. So I'm very happy to see that.
Yapp: Yeah, and th... that's along the same lines, when we started discussing this with
Mr. Moreland, uh... he's done a very good job with that, with ... on the south and
the east side of the park, with framing the park, if you will, uh, with residential
structures, front doors, windows, etc.
Hayek: Thanks, John! Any other questions for John? Okay! This is a public hearing.
Would anyone care to address the Council on this issue?
Moreland: Um, one more time. I guess then I'll have to sign in again. Um ... there's just
a ... a couple things I'd like to bring up. One is the, uh ... retaining wall down at
the bottom corner, down there. Uh, there was some controversy over a building
that was built on First Avenue and a retaining wall and ... we all know that. This
is substantially different than that. I've decided to use the same stone on the wall
that's on the buildings. So as you look at the wall itself, it blends into the
buildings that are up behind it and my wall would probably be about three feet
lower than the wall that is on First Avenue ... that we talk about that. That's one
item. Another item, uh, and I ... I'm not one for patting myself on the back, but
(laughs) normally... normally, uh, when an arterial street runs through a
developer's neighborhood like ... such as Court Street, uh, the developer on one
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Page 15
side pays a fourth. The developer on the other side pays a fourth, and the City
pays a half. I'm ... be glad to tell ya that Arlington Development paid for 100% of
all infrastructure of Court. The City has no investment in Court Street. We've
paid for the whole thing. And ... there's one last item I just want to mention and
it's just because I'm happy about it. Really doesn't have anything to do with this,
but when I said I had a diverse neighborhood there, about three years ago, uh,
Roger Lasalla came to me from the, uh, Mayor's Youth. This is kind of
emotional for me. Um, he came to me and he said, `John, we'd like to build a
couple group homes out in your neighborhood.' And I thought well, group
homes, you know, how's that gonna be taken. And he said, `Well, we've got a
$100,000 grant from the City, and your lots are $60,000 a piece. How can we get
this doneT And I said, `Well, we can get it done, Roger. Just give me $100,000
and we'll build the two houses for ya!' So we built, uh, two group homes, right in
the middle of all our single-family, and ... I haven't been shot yet and I'm very
proud to say that we've done it and that, um ... we ... we got them in the lots.
We've got all those disadvantaged people in there and the bottom line is, when we
were done, any money I made on the project went back to them. Thank you.
Hayek: Thanks, John! Further public comment?
Ross: Hi, I'm Brandon Ross. I just have a question for the developers, uh, what ... what
are the projected, um ... costs of these properties that are being, uh... planned for
development, uh, of the, uh, of the units?
Hayek: If you care to answer you may, but you're not required to. This is public input.
So...
Moreland: You know right now all we have is concepts. We don't have hard costs, but based
on the existing condos that are there, those were all less than 200. They were in
the 180s, 190s, you know. I ... I don't know, until we get all the final plans done
and get all the beam sizes sized and ... footings sized and everything, I ... I can't tell
ya, but I can tell ya the ... the market is, you know, the lower the better, the more
the market, but... you know, it'll be what it'll be. Thank you.
Hayek: Anyone else? Okay, before I close the hearing I need to take the Council's
temperature. Are we inclined to go with the P&Z recommendation? Appears to
be the case. Okay I will close the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Voparil: Motion to accept correspondence.
Botchway: So moved.
Payne: Second.
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Page 16
Hayek: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Payne. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
Mims: Move first consideration.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion?
Mims: I think it's a good project, very appropriate for the location, and uh, appreciate all
the stuff that Mr. Moreland has done out in that neighborhood.
Hayek: Yep, I'll ... I'll be supportive. I do think we need to keep our eye on... on... on the
RM -12 out there, but I ... as ... as this area develops, but I do think the confluence
of two arterials justifies this rezoning.
Throgmorton: I ... I'd like to say I'm impressed with what Mr. Moreland's doing.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7-0.
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ITEM 5c NORTH EAST CORNER OF COLLEGE STREET AND
GILBERT STREET [CHAUNCEY] — 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 (CB -10). (REZ15-00006)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Payne: Mr. Mayor, I have to recuse myself from this item.
Hayek: Okay!
Payne: Um, due to conflict with my employer!
Hayek: Okay!
Throgmorton: Mr. Mayor, I need to address a potential conflict of interest. When do I do it?
Hayek: Uh, do you ... do you care to do it before the public hearing or during the public
hearing, Eleanor? Doesn't matter! Go ahead, Jim!
Throgmorton: All right. I'm gonna read a text, just to make sure I don't misstate myself. So
I've consulted with the City Attorney about this and have concluded that I have
no troubling conflict of interest, legal or otherwise, but in the interest of full
disclosure I do want to state a few facts. As one of my Facebook sites states, I am
very lucky to be a member of the Trinity community. Just as I'm very lucky to be
a member of the Iowa City community. I attend Sunday services at Trinity.
Contribute modest amounts of money to it. Have many friends there, and have
heard many Trinity parishioners express their views — both pro and con — about
the proposed rezoning and The Chauncey in particular. But I am not a formal
men ... member of Trinity. I have no personal financial stake in its well-being, and
I do not hold nor have I ever held any official positions on Trinity's governing
committees. I also have several financial... made ... I also have made several
financial con... contributions to Film Scene, and as Andy and Andrew both know,
I greatly enjoy attending films there, and ... I'm happy to say I frequently have
lunch in Plaza Towers Bread Garden, and have enjoyed attending many events in
the big ballroom upstairs, uh, so there ... all sorts of interests involved. Eleanor, I
don't know if you wanted to elaborate on anything I said or... anything?
Dilkes: No.
Hayek: Okay, uh, I will open the public hearing at this time (bangs gavel) Uh, before we
get into the staff presentation, why don't we disclose any ex parte
communications regarding the rezoning.
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Page 18
Dilkes: And let me just note, um, about ex parte communications. Urn ... the purpose of
disclosing an ex parte communication is so that the members of the public and
the, um, applicant have the ability to respond to something that is not otherwise in
the record, um, that you may have heard. Um, so to ... to the extent. .-so you need
to say who it's from and um ... and the substance of it, the conversation. Um, if...
the substance of that conversation is reflected in the record, it's sufficient to refer
to the record.
Ger and
4Hayek: I can start. Um, I, uh, Bill G t who is a local labor leader, urn ... uh,
contacted me and came into y office a couple of weeks ago for a cup of coffee
and... indicated to me that, um, local labor is supportive of the rezoning. He is
supportive, and he asked me to be supportive, and uh, I encouraged him to, um,
come to this meeting. So...
Dobyns: I did discuss the other day with a colleague of mine, Jason Wilbur, who is a
member of the Trinity Episcopal community regarding elements of, uh, the
parking issues and which of the services at Trinity Episcopal, um, what the typical
attendance is and it was, um ... uh, only to that regard.
Botchway: Go ahead! I ... I had the same discussion, um ... urn, with the individual Matt ... and
I can't remember his name, sorry!
d Hayek: Bill Ga*t. Gerhard
Botchway: Bill ... Bill Gart, um, about, um ... uh, the support from the - m. laborers,
local laborers in a area, um, and I think it was along the same lines of what you
just talked about.
Throgmorton: I'd like to mention two ex parte, um, conversations. On April IP I met with
Reverend Lauren Lyon, who's the Rector at Trinity, at which time I explained the
rezoning process and what Trinity's rights are within that process. I did not
provide her with any advice about what course of action Trinity should take. On
May 3'd I spoke to parishioners who were attending the 9:00 A.M. service at
Trinity. I asked them not to lobby me personally on this rezoning, and I
emphasized that I have to think in terms of what is best for the people of this city,
as a whole, not just Trinity. I also urged them to share their views with the
Council as a whole, either by email or during this public hearing.
Hayek: Anything else to disclose?
Botchway: Yeah, I mean I had ... see the problem is I gotta remember all the emails. Um, I
had another conversation with ... Royce! God, I can never remember ... Royce
Peterson about, uh, along the same lines as Bill Garhardt as far as, um, local labor
unions and supporting it, I mean, we went a little bit further as far as talking about
PLA's but ... um, that was the extent of it and that's... that's it. Um ... and then ... I
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Page 18
Dilkes: And let me just note, um, about ex parte communications. Um ... the purpose of
disclosing an ex parte communication is so that the members of the public and ..,
the, um, applicant have the ability to respond to something that is not otherwise in
the record, um, that you may have heard. Um, so to ... to the extent... so you need
o say who it's from and um ... and the substance of it, the conversation. Um, if ..
substance of that conversation is reflected in the record, it's sufficient to er
to the record.
Hayek: I can s . Um, I, uh, Bill Garhardt who is a local labor leader, um...
contact me and came into my office a couple of weeks ago for a p of coffee
and...indi ated to me that, um, local labor is supportive of the r ning. He is
supportive, d he asked me to be supportive, and uh, I enco ged him to, um,
come to this eeting. So...
Dobyns: I did discuss the ther day with a colleague of mine, n Wilbur, who is a
member of the Tri 'ty Episcopal community regar g elements of, uh, the
parking issues and 'ch of the services at Tri ' Episcopal, um, what the typical
attendance is and it w , um ... uh, only to tha egard.
Botchway: Go ahead! I ... I had the S' -
I can't remember his name,
Hayek: Bill Garhardt.
Botchway: Bill... Bill Garhardt, um,
local laborers in the area
just talked about.
..um, with the individual Matt ... and
t, uh, the support from the -from the laborers,
and I 'nk it was along the same lines of what you
Throgmorton: I'd like to mentio o ex parte, um, con ations. On April 13" I met with
Reverend LaureLyon, who's the Rector Trinity, at which time I explained the
rezoning proc s and what Trinity's rights within that process. I did not
provide her th any advice about what course f action Trinity should take. On
May /1ke to parishioners who were attend' the 9:00 A.M. service at
Trinited them not to lobby me personally o this rezoning, and I
emphthat I have to think in terms of what is b t for thepeople of this city,
as a wot just Trinity. I also urged them to share eir views with the
Counwhole, either by email or during this public g.
Hayek:
else to disclose?
Botchway:eah, I mean I had ... see the problem is I gotta remember all the emaiIs. Um, I
had another conversation with... Royce! God, I can never remember... Royce
iu
eterson about, uh, along the same lines as Bill Garhardt as far as, um, local labor
n ions and supporting it, I mean, we went a little bit further as far as talking about
PLA's but ... um, that was the extent of it and that's... that's it. Um ... and then ... I
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Page 19
had a conversation with Mr. Moen a while back, um, just about the project in and
of itself. Um ... mainly just on, um, my thoughts as far as the ... the project is, um,
and the rezoning. That's it! Is that enough?
Dilkes: Is the information that you got from Mr. Moen contained in the record?
Botchway: Yeah.
Dilkes: Yes. So there's nothing outside the record that, um ... that you learned from that
conversation. Okay.
Hayek: Anything else? Okay, why don't we hear from you, John!
Yapp: Uh, the property in question is at the northeast corner of College Street and
Gilbert Street, uh, as shown on the overhead. It includes, uh, a portion of City -
owned property, uh, as well as a property owned by Mid American Energy, which
is currently occupied by an electricity substation. Uh, this is an aerial view, uh, of
the property, of the same corner. Uh, to the east is the Chauncey Swan ... parking
facility. Uh, to the south is the Recreation Center. Uh, directly to the north is
Chauncey Swan Park, uh, and directly to the west is Trinity Church and, uh,
downtown, which is all CB -10 zoning on the west side of Gilbert Street. Uh, this
is a photograph of the existing property. Staff has, uh, characterized it as ... uh,
sub -standard in its use. Uh, it's currently a... a vacant, uh, parcel. Uh, part of the
property is used for surface parking, and the old John Wilson building is primarily
used for storage. Uh, the ... property is located within the Downtown Planning
District of the Comprehensive Plan. Uh, this is an image from the IC, uh, 2030
Comprehensive Plan, which shows the various planning districts in the city. Uh,
the property was not, however, included in the Downtown Master Plan, uh, but it
is within the Downtown Planning District, uh, as described by this map. This is
the land use map out of that IC2030 Comprehensive Plan. Uh... and the subject
property at the cor ... northeast corner of College Street and Gilbert Street is
identified as General Commercial, uh, consistent with the remainder of
downtown. Uh, the land surrounding, uh, on three sides this ... of this property is
identified as, uh, Public, for public uses. This is an image of the proposed, uh,
project, but before I start describing that, uh, let me discuss the Comprehensive
Plan. Uh, the IC2030 Comprehensive Plan identifies this corner as general
commercial. Uh, the IC2030 introduction section, uh, notes that this area has not
been added to any sub -district plan and recommends a process be initiated to
address how this area redevelops. Uh, a process was conducted in 2012 and 2013
regarding redevelopment of this property. Uh, this process included a request for
proposals, uh, public input on those proposals, uh... City Council interviews,
public interviews with five finalist proposers, and ultimately the selection of a
preferred del... developer for the property — the developers of The Chauncey
project. Uh, staff initiated a second process, uh, last fall regarding the larger, uh,
Comprehensive Plan areas, uh, east of Gilbert Street and north of Iowa Avenue,
and also the Dubuque Street, Jefferson Street, uh, corridor. Regarding the ... these
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Page 20
specific three blocks between Gilbert Street and Van Buren Street, uh, staff did
recommend that those blocks be added to the Downtown and Riverfront
Crossings, uh, Master Plan, as a logical sub -district plan, uh, for those blocks.
While a majority of Council supported that proposal, uh, it did not pass due to a
super -majority vote requirement, uh, triggered by the Planning and Zoning
Commission, uh, not supporting that proposal. Rezoning the subject property to a
higher density specifically the CB -10 density, uh, that is proposed, uh, staff finds
several goals in the Comprehensive Plan that ... that support that. Uh, page 12 of
the plan notes that continued construction of downtown highrise condominiums
suggests there is increasing demand for higher density urban living for people
other than college students. Uh, page 13 of the Comprehensive Plan notes that
one of the principle goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to foster an environment
in the downtown area that is attractive to new employers, especially professional
knowledge-based and entrepreneurial firms, small businesses, cottage industries,
artists and artisans that thrive on and... and expect urban amenities. One means of
accomplishing this goal is to encourage the construction of class -A office space.
Uh, page 23 of the plan notes that a land use goal is to encourage compact,
efficient development that is contiguous to and connected to existing
neighborhoods to reduce the cost of extending infrastructure and services.
Another land use goal, uh, on page 24 is to maintain a strong and accessible
downtown, that is pedestrian -oriented with a strong and distinctive cultural,
commercial, and residential character. One way of doing this is to encourage
continued investment in the downtown to assure its place as the center of arts,
culture, entertainment, commercial, and civic activity. And I think it was with
many of these goals, uh, in mind ... that the City Council ultimately selected, uh,
this project, The Chauncey project. Some of the land use factors, uh, for this
property that support CB -10 designation ... uh, is its adjacency to the Chauncey
Swan parking facility. Uh, it's adjacency to Chauncey Swan Park, uh, which
provides open space, uh, for residential living, and... these... the... the parking
ramp and the park make this really a unique property ... in the downtown area.
Uh, in that it is vacant property. Uh, does not contain any historic landmarks.
Does not contain any residential, uh, uses currently. Uh, no businesses will be
displaced, uh, by redevelopment of this corner, and that it is adjacent to a parking
facility, and open space, uh, make it a unique... property. Uh, the property is
already a part of the Downtown and Riverfront Crossings Parking District. Uh,
these three, uh, blocks are a part of that parking district. Uh, the property has
frontage on a four -lane arterial street. Uh, it's served by public transit service, uh,
multiple public transit service routes including the Seventh Avenue route, the
Towncrest route, uh, and the Court Hill route. Uh, it's within walking distance of
several public facilities. Uh, one block or less from City Hall, the Recreation
Center, the Public Library, and the Linn Street entrance to the pedestrian mall.
Uh, within easy walking distance of the rest of downtown, several grocery and
convenience stores, uh, the Farmers Market, uh, and of course the University of
Iowa campus. All of these are factors which, uh, indicate to staff that this is
appropriate for a higher density development. Many, uh, rezoning applications do
have projects associated with them. Uh, the project associated with this rezoning
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Page 21
application is, uh, The Chauncey project. This is another image of the project.
Uh... from two and a half years ago to today, uh, staff has been discussing the
project with the developer. Uh, several of the design factors, uh, that have
changed from the project the City Council initially selected, uh, include the height
being reduced from 20 stories to 15 stories, uh, more emphasis on the step -backs
and building height, both at the third story and at the fifth story, uh, to de-
emphasize the height of the building at the College Street and Gilbert Street
corner, and I have another image to show that, uh... to show that step -back effect.
This is an image looking, uh, towards the west, uh, standing to the east of the, uh,
Swan parking facility in the foreground. Uh, regarding parking, uh, one of the
conditions staff recommended was that all required parking for residential units
be provided on-site. Uh, the project, uh, does include 52 parking spaces, on-site
parking spaces, which are, uh, more than enough to satisfy, uh, the City's
minimum parking requirements, uh, for the residential units. Uh, as we've gone
through the process, we've had a lot of questions about how this project would
effect, uh, parking demand versus parking capacity. Uh, and in the last month the
Transportation Services Department has collected more data, uh, to provide more
information. Uh, based on our estimates, the project would create parking
demand for about 161 parking spaces during the day and 146 during the evening.
Uh, the Swan parking facility, uh, currently has a capacity of...of 457 parking
spaces. Uh, based on the last month of, uh, data, they have an average weekday
capacity of 142 parking spaces, uh, per hour. An additional 340 parking spaces
are available in the other downtown parking structures on weekdays. Uh,
regarding Saturdays, the Swan parking facility has an average, uh, unused
capacity of 218 parking spaces. Of course during Farmers Market, uh, that
parking facility does fill up. Uh, so we also looked at the other nearby, uh,
parking ramps on Saturdays. Uh, the Dubuque Street and Tower Place ramps
have over 500 spaces, uh, typically available on Saturdays. Uh, how the City will
deal with this parking demand is through, uh, where we allocate parking permits.
Uh, much of the Swan parking facility is, uh, parking permit holders, uh, who
park in that facility. The Harrison Street facility, scheduled for 2016, will provide
an additional 600, uh, parking spaces, uh, to the system, giving us a lot of
flexibility to reallocate parking permits, uh, to ensure adequate capacity for the
general public at the various, uh, parking ramps, and Transportation Services'
Director Chris O'Brien is here if you have specific questions about that process.
Uh, regarding the step -backs, uh, in building height, this image, uh ... provided by
the architect for The Chauncey, uh, shows the step -back of 10 -feet at the...
starting at the third level, and at the fifth level, uh, a step -back of 70 -feet, uh, from
the Gilbert Street, uh, right-of-way for much of the building. Uh, and this shows,
looking at the east side of the building, uh, similar ... not as significant but similar
step -backs at the, uh, and third and fifth level. And ... the, uh, architect for the
project, uh, Steve Rohrbach is in attendance and I believe would like to explain
the building design and building features, uh, in a little bit more detail than ... than
I can, uh, once we have public comment. Uh, this is a map staff prepared
showing, uh, surrounding land uses ... of the northeast corner of College Street and
Gilbert Street. Uh, specifically we measured its distance to the ... uh, nearest
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Page 22
residential zone, which is 340 feet, uh, to the east, and the College Green, uh,
Historic District, which is 480 feet, uh, to the east of this parcel. Uh, with all five
finalists, uh, proposals during the RFP process there was, uh... uh, attention to the
shadow effect ... of proposed, uh, buildings on this property, and I'd like to go
through some images of the, uh, shadow effect. Again, this was provided by, uh,
Steve Rohrbach, the architect. Uh, this first image is showing June 21" at 7:00
A.M. Uh, the right hand side is the proposed Chauncey project. Uh, the left hand
side is a 75 -foot tall building, uh, which is the maximum height allowed in the
next lower zoning density, uh, the CB -5 density. Uh, so on ... at 7:00 A.M. on
June, uh, 21St ... uh, the proposed, uh, Chauncey project does shadow, uh, Trinity
Church on the west side of Gilbert Street. The 75 -foot tall building, uh, would not
shadow the entirety, uh, of the church facility. By 9:00 A.M., uh, the sun is
higher in the sky. Uh, the shadow effect of the proposed Chauncey project, uh, no
longer impacts the, uh, Trinity Church structure. Uh, 11:00 A.M., the sun is, uh,
very high in the sky. Not much of a shadow effect for either, uh, scenario. Uh,
1:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M., 5:00 P.M. the shadow is more, uh, easterly, and then we
move on to, uh, March and September, which are the ... the two equinox, uh, dates.
Uh, in March and September, both the ... 75 -foot tall scenario and the, uh,
Chauncey building both shadow, uh, the west side of Gilbert Street. Uh, by 9:00
A.M., uh, the ... during the equinox, the sun is to ... at a more southern rotation.
The shadow is more northerly, uh, and so the Chamber of Commerce building at
the corner of Washington Street and Gilbert Street starts to be a little more
effected. Uh, 11:00 A.M., uh, I think the main difference between the two
scenarios at 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. is that the, uh, Chauncey building does
shade Chauncey Swan Park more than a 75 -foot tall building would, uh, during
that 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. time period. Uh, by 3:00 P.M. again the shadow is
at a more easterly, uh, direction, shading the top of the Chauncey Swan parking
ramp. And 5:00 P.M., uh, again, much more of an easterly shadow. Uh, the last,
uh, time period is December 21St. 7:00 A.M. it's still dark. (laughter and several
talking) Uh, by 9:00 A.M., uh, both ... both scenarios would produce a shadow.
The sun is much more to the south. The shadow is much more northerly. Again,
affecting more the ... the Chamber of Commerce building, uh, for both ... for both
scenarios. Uh, 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., again the, uh, park is in shadow, uh,
under both scenarios. The sun is lower in the sky, so the 75 -foot tall building also
shades the park. And 3:00 P.M. and finally 5:00 P.M. it is dark. Uh, staff does
recommend approval of rezoning this property to CB -10, Central Business
District, uh, subject to a Conditional Zoning Agreement requiring construction of
a mixed-use building, no more than 15 stories; a minimum of two floors of class -
A office space; and again, that's to help meet that Comprehensive Plan goal of
class -A office space in our downtown; uh, step -backs in building height at the
third and the fifth levels; all required parking for residential units being provided
on-site; and approval of the exterior building design by the City Design Review
Committee. Be glad to take any questions. And if not, I think there are a lot of
people who wish to speak.
Hayek: Yeah.
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Throgmorton: John, I ... I'd like to ask you one or two questions.
Yapp: Sure!
Throgmorton: What would you guess the average height of buildings in the downtown currently
is?
Yapp: Yeah, I hesitate to (both talking)
Throgmorton:... CB- 10 (both talking) you know what's ... looks to me like they're mostly ... three
or four story buildings, mostly, and then there ... a few really notable exceptions.
Yapp: I hesitate to answer that without looking at ... the actual information.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Yapp: But I ... I would agree that there's a range ... of building heights.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Dobyns: John, could you go to the ... back to the shadow grams? Um ... the ... I think we
have to interpolate here between your, um, 7:00 and 9:00, I believe. 7:45 I think
is the first service on a Sunday at Trinity Episcopal.
Yapp: Which time of year, Rick?
Dobyns: Uh... let's look at several times of year, but I think probably, um, the winter, uh,
winter equinox....or winter solstice. And taking a look at the... northeast, um,
window to their sanctuary, um...
Yapp: Here's a 9:00 A.M.
Dobyns: Okay. So at that point, the shadow is ... taking a look at that, I just want to make
the point that I think the shadow, um ... I ... I'm ... it's always nice to have, uh, some
light come in at the first morning service and in the winter you don't expect much
light but ... my assumption there, taking a look at the shadow, is that at several
dates at 7:45 on a given Sunday, it ... the shadow does not totally obscure the east
fagade of the church, but it does graze the northeast corner, from what I can tell.
Yapp: I think the ... the most significant time of year ... uh, for the Trinity property would
be in the ... in the summer.
Dobyns: Can we look at that (both talking)
Yapp: The 7:00 A.M., uh, June 21St, uh... at that point the church would be in shadow.
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Dobyns: And that's at 7:00. Show 9:00.
Yapp: That's at 7:00, uh, by 9:00 ... uh, out of the shadow.
Dobyns: Okay. So ... the worst would be in the summer, when it would ... during the
morning service ... at least half of the east fagade would begin to get sun as the
service proceeds, and I believe there are three ther... services in that community,
so...
Yapp: The, uh...
Mims: Might want to (both talking)
Yapp: ...Mr. Rohrbach can address questions, specific questions about how the shadow
study was ... was generated.
Dobyns: Okay! That's fine. Thank you!
Botchway: Go ahead!
Hayek: Kingsley!
Botchway: So we don't have any information as far as the rest of the buildings in that area? I
mean outside of the zoning you showed, I mean I think Jim's point about, um, you
know, what are the other buildings in the downtown area. Is there any type of just
kind of picture, because I know you showed it from ... if you can go back to the
original slides, as far as showing the actual picture from different standpoints.
Starting right there! Um ... there's no, I mean I'm terrible at directions and so I'm
(mumbled) (several talking) Yeah, the northeast side, there's no pictures as far as
showing that? That we could see?
Yapp: We can certainly provide those for your next meeting.
Hayek: Oh, from the opposite, looking (both talking)
Botchway: Yeah, from the opposite. That's what I wanted to see.
Hayek: Well, John, maybe you could bring that ... if there's a next time ... to answer
Kingsley's (both talking)
Yapp: Oh, good point!
Hayek: Uh, John, we may have more questions for you. Is ... you said the developer's
here (both talking)
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Yapp: I'll stick around!
Hayek: ...wants to (laughter) wants to, uh... wishes to pro ... present relevant information.
Rohrbach: Good evening, everyone. I'm Steve Rohrbach with Rohrbach Associates. We're
the architects. John, is this ready for me? John has asked me to clarify a few, uh,
additional items relative to the design of the building and short discussion on the
architectural approach with the College and Gilbert Street intersection, um, The
Chauncey architecture in general, and then some ... touch on sustainability. So if I
can do this correctly. Um ... when the building was reduced from 20 stories to 15
stories, um, the College and Gilbert Street intersection here was reduced from five
stories to four stories, which we feel made it much more contectural with its
environment, um, across the street, the heights of the, uh, commerce center, the
apartments, even the church. Um, the heights of these buildings are all the same,
um, scale at this, uh, at this intersection. Um, and to clarify what John had shown
before is that there's many step -backs, uh, and we've really chosen to push the
tower as far, um, east as we can so that the, um, mass and form of the building
...close, John? (laughter) (unable to hear response from audience) Um, really
steps back from the intersection and continues just to present this, um, four-story
massing at the corner. Urn ... what we've also tried to do in the design of the
building is ... is make this corner very translucent as you can see with the design of
the building, um, so that doesn't, um, present a hard ... um, architectural form but a
very translucent form where public walking by or going by in cars can see into the
building, can see the amenities that are in the building, and not just see this cold,
hard architecture on the corner, so a very sof ...very much softens the building,
and allows the participants to see what's going on, which is really the public
entities that, uh, we're bringing downtown with the two new, urn ... Film Scene
theaters, the bowling alley, um, art and uh, sculpture space, um, both on the first
and second floors of the building. So we're really, um, very ... proud and ... and
think this element will provide great interest for this corner as a four-story
element with a tower pushed to the back, which at a pedestrian level you won't
see as you walk by the building. Um, let's just talk about the architecture in
general. Um ... hear an awful lot about this being a glass tower and I won't deny
there's a lot of glass in the tower, but um, we're very proud of trying to bring the
other elements in the building, which is some very warm terracotta type material
as you can see running up the vertical sides of the building, whether they're stair
towers or elevators or structural elements. That really brings a warmth to the
building and breaks down the scale of the glass. Um, on the fourth and fifth floor,
which are the class -A office space, we brought a warm metal, um, facade that
wraps the windows, provides a strong base to the building, and breaks down that
glass at that element sitting above the, uh... um, the retail space down below.
So ... yes, it's a glass tower but it's got a lot more warmth and strength to it than,
um, purely what one might think of just, um, glass. Quickly on sustainable
design. We could stand here for hours and talk about this. I consider there to be
two primary things about sustainable design, and one is living and one is energy.
I can't tell you the number of people Marc and I have talked to that want to come
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and live in this building because they want to stop driving that five, 10, 20, 30
miles a day to work downtown. They want to live downtown, uh, they want
access to the restaurants, grocery stores, their workforce, um ... they want to sell
their second car. Um, to me this is one of the biggest sustainable elements of this
building is the cleaning of the environment that we're going to do by driving less
cars! Um, relative to the energy ... you know, at an early stage of a project, you're
just making guesses on what type of, uh, savings you can get, um, you know,
we're at this time thinking we're going to be no less than 30% better than code.
Um, we're going to design for a silver LEED building but we're going to strive
for gold. Um, the geo-thermal heating and cooling system we have, and the
passive solar techniques and all the other elements we have in this building, tell
me that we're going to make silver, but until we get into the detail of the building,
and can do the energy modeling, we'll be working with Mid America and the
White Group on their, uh, commercial new construction program, and we'll get to
gold. We feel we'll get there, but I can't commit to it today, because there's just
too many unknowns that you don't know until you get into the modeling of the
building. But we're going to make this building as sustainable as we can. I'm
going to have my office here! I (laughs) want it to be cheap! I'm going to live
here! I want it to be cheap! So ... you've got my support to make it as sustainable
as it can. So ... that's what I have. I'll answer any questions if you'd like.
Hayek: Any questions for Mr. Rohrbach?
Throgmorton: Yeah, I'd like to make a suggestion maybe for our next meeting, uh, because you
can't do it right now. I ... I was just looking, uh, at our, um ... uh, packet for the
January, 2013 meeting to see the images that were available then, to try to
compare them to what you've shown us tonight, uh, and I ... I've heard you talk
about changes and I ... completely believe that you made these changes, but I think
it'd be very helpful next time to have some side-by-side comparisons so that we
can see what the original design looked like and what the current design looks
like. You know, maybe ... maybe a couple, uh, pair ... paired comparisons. (both
talking)
Rohrbach: Yeah, I can tell you today that, you know, it was a 20 -story building. There were
four residential floors removed, and there was one, uh, commercial floor
removed.
Throgmorton: (both talking)
Rohrbach: So that'll be what we can show you next time (both talking)
Throgmorton:.... totally recognize that. It... it's more like the set -backs part of it and the warmer
design elements, those kinds of things.
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Rohrbach: Yeah, and a lot of those things weren't necessarily changes. Uh, that rendering
right there is very similar to what you saw at the beginning, but ... the changes I
can certainly bring ya next time!
Hayek: Other questions for, uh, the developer's representative? Okay, thank you. So, uh,
what we're going to do — this is a public hearing. We're ... I can see that there are
a lot of people who wish to speak to the Council. Urn ... because there appear to
be so many people and it's already 8:15, I'm going to ask that people who come
forward to speak on this issue limit their comments to four minutes, um, and I'll
keep a timer for that, and there's no, uh, particular order in which, uh, we're going
to go, but we ask you to sign in and give us your name, um, and to keep your
comments to four minutes! (several talking)
Mondanaro: My name's Jim Mondan... (both talking)
Hayek: Just ... just (several talking) Yeah, we'll see how that goes!
Botchway: Okay, all right.
Hayek: We'll see how that goes! Okay, go ahead!
Mondanaro: My name's Jim Mondanaro and I own the Bread Garden Market downtown, and I
think that this is a wonderful project. I encourage you to move quickly so that
construction can start, but as I listen tonight, one thing I don't understand is ... how
many Sundays are sunny and how many are cloudy? If we're talking about the
shadow. I mean I'd like to know but ... that's all I have to say!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt, and ... they didn't remove five floors out of the
goodness of their heart. It was the FAA that got on `em that they would obstruct
the air traffic. Now my main objection to the building is the shadow, because that
shadow has to fall somewhere. I'm worried about College Street, but more
worried about Gilbert Street, because Gilbert Street is a main thoroughfare. Now
to show you how a building can cast a shadow that's dangerous, there's a law
office right there on Linn Street — the red brick office, one story. All winter long
when it was snowing, it was icy because the shadow of the building fell on the
sidewalk, the whole sidewalk was icy, so you had to cross the street. And the
objection to Chauncey was always the height — how does it match the
neighborhood? So the people don't... it doesn't... it's not the point that they don't
want the building there. People want to see progress. But the objection is it ... that
that height, that 15 floors, is still too tall! And when we have these tall buildings,
we have problems. Even the Vetro or the Ventro, whatever the name of that hotel
is, I seen the septic tanks pump that place out twice. So, who's going to inspect
the plumbing, and if you ever seen that Red Green Show with the guy with the
boots? (laughter) And he talks about things and if you ever ... I live, when I lived
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Page 28
in Philadelphia, I lived in a place similar to Iowa City. We had cesspools and
cesspools when they overflow, they stink! But the idea is ... the shadow, and that
shadow has to be cast somewhere and the objection is the excessive height of the
building. So ... 15 floors is still too much! You can still have all that fancy stuf .
But they didn't get rid of the five floors because they wanted to, and this is the
problem. The problem is still the shadow. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
G*dt: Uh, good evening, I'm BillGto
t, uh, I come tonight wearing two hats. One I
came to Iowa City in 1969 toschool and I never left, probably like a lot of
Gerhard people in the audience here, and two, I'm the President of the Iowa State Building
and Construction Trades Council, which is the umbrella organization for those
craft unions that do construction. You know, the carpenters, electricians,
plumbers, fitters, sheet metal workers, roofers, painters, glazers, laborers,
operating engineers, on down the line. Uh, and I'm in support of this project for a
couple reasons. One, uh, it's going to create I would say at least 150 good
construction jobs, and by good construction jobs I mean jobs that pay well, jobs
that have health insurance, jobs that have pension benefits, jobs that contribute to,
uh, apprentice programs which, uh, train our future, uh, craftsmen; and two, I
think as the architect said, this is environmentally a preferable and more
sustainable building, uh, than if we don't go up. It's better to go up than to go
out, somewhere along the line people want to live in Iowa City, but we need to
stop the blight of urban sprawl because we're taking farm land out of production.
When people want to live downtown, uh, not have a car, then I think we ought to
accommodate them. So, uh, I just want to let you know I'm in favor of this. Uh,
my only caveat is I wish it was 21 stories. (laughter) Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Ross: I want to know about, uh, my name is Brandon Ross, and uh—what is the
consideration for the actual people ... of Iowa City. I heard the architect say that
he wants an office in that building. He wants it to be cheap. But I would venture
to say that the architect is earning well over $100,000 a year. How many of those
units are going to be affordable to people in this town who are working class,
Afro Americans, Latino, working class Anglicans, Caucasians, how many ... how
many of those buildings are going to be ... how many of those, uh, places are going
to be affordable to people who are in labor unions? Now I say that because I see
some of the... some of the labor brothers here. And I've always been in the union,
and I support, uh, the labor. This is not the only, uh, type of building that can be
built. This is a building that is going to be tall. It's going to be out of scale. But,
where is the affordable housing? Right now we're in an economy that is bad for
eight years, and people can't afford to live. In these chambers I see before me...
upper middle class people making decisions. You are in the minority. That says
nothing bad about any par... particular person. This building is a land -grab for
those who have money. That's the way the people see it. TIFing, giving this land
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Page 28
in Philadelphia, I lived in a place similar to Iowa City.J
had cesspools and
cesspools when they overflow, they stink! But the ide.the shadow, and that
shadow has to be cast somewhere and the objection is xcessive height of the
building. So ... 15 floors is still too much! You can stive all that fancy stuff.But they didn't get rid of the five floors because they ed to, and this is the
problem. The problem is still the shadow. Thank you
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Uh, good evening, I'm Bill Garhardt, uh, I comet 'ght wearing two hats. One I
came to Iowa City in 1969 to go to school and I ver left, probably like a lot of
people in the audience here, and two, I'm the Pr sident of the Iowa State Building
and Construction Trades Council, which is the brella organization for those
ft unions that do construction. You know, a carpenters, electricians,
p hers, fitters, sheet metal workers, roof , painters, glazers, laborers,
o 'ng engineers, on down the line. d I'm in support of this project for a
couple ons. One, uh, it's going to cre e I would say at least 150 good
constructi jobs, and by good constru ' n jobs I mean jobs that pay well, jobs
that have he insurance, jobs that ha a pension benefits, jobs that contribute to,
uh, apprentice p grams which, uh, our future, uh, craftsmen; and two, I
think as the archit said, this is en ' nmentally a preferable and more
sustainable building, than if we on't go up. It's better to go up than to go
out, somewhere along line peo le want to live in Iowa City, but we need to
stop the blight of urban sp wl ause we're taking farm land out of production.
When people want to live do own, uh, not have a car, then I think we ought to
accommodate them. So,) I' I ' t want to let you know I'm in favor of this. Uh,
my only caveat is I wish it w 21 tories. (laughter) Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comme)tts.
Ross: I want to know about, , my name is Bran n Ross, and uh...what is the
consideration for the tual people ... of Iowa . I heard the architect say that
he wants an office in at building. He wants it t be cheap. But I would venture
to say that the archi t is earning well over $100,0 a year. How many of those
units are going to affordable to people in this town ho are working class,
Afro Americans, lino, working class Anglicans, Cauc ians, how many ... how
many of those b Wings are going to be...how many of th , uh, places are going
to be affordabl to people who are in labor unions? Now I s that because I see
some of the... me of the labor brothers here. And I've alwaybeen in the union,
and I support, , the labor. This is not the only, uh, type of buil1'ng that can be
built. This i a building that is going to be tall. It's going to be ou of scale. But,
where is affordable housing? Right now we're in an economy that is bad for
eight ye , and people can't afford to live. In these chambers I see before me...
upper iddle class people making decisions. You are in the minority. That says
no g bad about any par... particular person. This building is a land -grab for
those who have money. That's the way the people see it. TIFing, giving this land
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Page 29
to somebody, uh... it's out of scale, and it's out of reach. You take a look at that
... of those, uh, charts, you reduce everything down to geometry. The shadows.
My favorite was ... December 21St, 5:00. It's pitch black. December 21" at 5:00,
to me, represents... where the people of Iowa City are in regards to this project,
because they cannot afford to have any part in it. The bowling alley, the theater,
they're nice fetishes. Who's going to afford those things? Okay? So ... I see it as
a failed situation, much like I see the (can't hear) project that's across from the
Co -Op that displaced the Red Avocado, the Bradley Center, uh, the bed and
breakfast, replacing 16 affordable businesses with one. To date, two after two
years. Replacing all that affordable housing ... with none! Okay? How much is
each unit in this building? Can we honestly give this to the people of Iowa City?
Maybe people who are ... who are architects, people who are managers, people
who are on the Council who are in upper middle class, maybe those people can
afford these places. But in my way of looking at things, the rest of us, the 85%
perhaps, we're at December 21 st, 5:00 — in the dark, out of reach!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. (applause)
Ason: Good evening, my name is, uh, David Ason and um, I'm a neurosurgeon here at
the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. And ... I probably would like to
speak on behalf of most of the single, professional, uh... people who work at the
University Hospital and probably the University. (clears throat) I did my training
here and then I left and lived ... lived in Philadelphia, Helsinki, and different major
cities, and uh, when I came back, one of the attraction that made me come work
for the University of Iowa is the ability to live in college town and mainly in a
downtown that affords semi, uh, vibrant, urban lifestyle. Um, because of that I'm
able to enjoy, uh, living town, access to all the facilities that downtown offers, but
(clears throat) not only that, I do a lot of emergency surgeries, um ... probably I'm
the only one in Iowa that does what I do, and because of that I'm able to go to
work within probably three, four minutes. Um, not only that, I ... I afforded a lot
of jobs and one of the reasons I stayed in downtown, or in Iowa City, is the
community that both, uh, hotel Vetro, which I lived for five years, and also Park
that I live now for almost a year, the community that affords. For example (clears
throat) as I said I'm a single person. We had a neighbor, uh (mumbled) who, uh,
you know, that's emotional story for us, um, he's ... was single man and
disappeared for almost, uh, two weeks and no one knew anything about him,
but ... living in that neighborhood or that community, um, Monica Moen called all
the hospitals, um ... all the police, uh, stations and finally we found him in Mercy
Hospital. He has no relatives. He's single, and all the community (clears throat)
the people who lives in these towers, rallied around... around him and supported
him. He died within six weeks. But ... seeing that, for me as a single person, um,
knowing that this comfort. Now I'm sitting here, I'm a neurosurgeon and I hate
to kind of emphasize that, but listening talking about the shadow, that's
disgusting! I'm really disgusted with this! If someone who has, you know, I
mean, if you're talking about substantial thing about the building, about the ... but
shadow? I mean, come on! I mean (clears throat) for ... for that similar argument,
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Page 30
people that go to football stadium now should complain about the Children's
Hospital. I mean that's going to foreshadow the ... the stadium when the game's
gonna happen. Same thing for ... for me, you know? I operate. I'm going to go
tell my boss, well, because it shadow this I'm not going to operate. You know, or
I'm going to wait till it's sun... sunrise. So ... I ... I'm just emotionally charged
about this ridiculous shadow thing, and sitting here for 15 minutes trying to reflect
how the shadow is going to, you know, effect Trinity Church. I mean ... I think
Trinity Church should look at this, they're religious people, we respect them and
everything... but ... I think they're being too greedy about the sun covering their
church or not. You know? Who cares! I mean I lived in Philadelphia and there's
a lot of tall buildings cast ... (several talking in background) So I'm sorry! Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Severson: Good evening, I'm Joan Severson. I'm the co-founder and president of Digital
Artifacts. I'm actually David's next door neighbor at the top of 201 Park. So,
um, the first thing I want to say is that if any of you would like to come and visit
our offices and see Iowa City from 201 Park, you'll see why we love where we
are as a business. 201 has provided our company tremendous opportunity in both
recruitment of high-tech talent, as well as providing us with an environment that
articulates the creative design and aesthetic elements of software and technology.
So, very few people think of the type of work that we do, which is advance
engineering and software development, as having an aesthetic and artistic
component, but actually three of our employees, our full-time employees, are
artists. They're digital artists, multi -media artists. My background is actually
fine arts originally and theater, and I went into computer science here at the
University of Iowa after wanting to study virtual reality (laughs) so I come from a
... an unusual background. Um, I love Iowa City. I love the fact that we were
able to move from out at Oakdale down to downtown Iowa City. That was
because Marc was able to help us to get, um, an office space at the top of the
building, which was originally zoned for residential. Part of that had to do with
the fact that David, um, agreed to let a commercial, um, business be in the ... in the
unit next to him. I cannot tell you how much it has benefitted our company.
When we bring clients in from outside the area, they are stunned at our business.
We've had people from the Bay area come and take pictures of our office space
because it is so unique. I think that, um, you don't understand... maybe you do
understand and appreciate the talent that is in Iowa City. Um, the people that
graduate from the University of Iowa. A lot of them like to stay and a lot of them
have ad ... have advanced degrees. We have people that have come and applied,
uh, to work with us from up in Cedar Rapids that are at some of the tech firms
that are up there. Urn ... I think that building this space is ... is necessary for
potentially... providing an opportunity for people that want to, um, in my
background which is software, be able to start businesses that have a global
impact. So I just wanted to bring up one more point that I'm not sure if, uh, many
of you are aware of, but we were ... Iowa City was featured by the American
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Page 31
Institute of Economic Research as the best small city for educated millennials.
We have to keep that momentum going and I think that this type of a building is
really necessary and I think that the commercial space will benefit everybody,
including people that want to move here and start businesses. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Botchway: (mumbled) ...who does she work for again? (several talking in background)
Quellhorst: Good evening. I'm Nancy Quellhorst. I'm the President of the Iowa City Area
Chamber of Commerce. Uh, I want to begin by thanking you for your thoughtful
decision making regarding downtown and the surrounding areas. I know some of
the decisions that you've made in the past have not always been the most popular
and they've required courage and I think they've been (mumbled) So thank you
for your thoughtfulness. Um, I'm here to advocate for CB -10 zoning for The
Chauncey. Uh, I think it will do many things, but among two of the most, uh,
important are, uh, helping us to attract the knowledge workers that Joan just
referenced. We have a lot of employers in this community who are struggling to
find people in the technology area, in the STEM fields. Uh, they're very
competitive fields and this kind of property attracts people from other areas and
that's really critical to our economy. The other thing that the dense, vertical, uh,
housing that this represents will do is help us build our tax base and that's so very
important to the work that our great non -profits are doing in this community. So,
I thank you for your support and consideration.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Schamberger: Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, my name is Josh Schamberger. I'm
President of the Iowa City and Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,
and I want to join and echo the comments made by my peer, uh, Nancy at the
Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce and I assume will soon be made by my
peers at the Iowa City Area Development Group and Iowa City Downtown
District in supporting this Chauncey project. This development will provide new
opportunities for tourism and economic growth in the downtown area. It also
contributes to the viability of existing businesses, as previously communicated
here and at P&Z, um, to ... and to staff via our... a few of our organizational board
members downtown here and Mark Ginsberg and (mumbled). The Chauncey will
enhance existing business and add much needed additional property taxes for area
services, all while promoting a diverse set of new commercial space. All of
which are positive additions to the downtown area and community. These efforts
combine to advance a shared goal — to continue making this area a strong attractor
for out of town visitors and enhance the quality of life for residents in Iowa City
and our surrounding communities. I'd be happy to visit with any of you, uh, at
any time, uh, regarding our support and uh, our reasons for wanting to see this
move forward. Thank you.
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Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Farkas: Good evening, my name's Linda Farkas. This is my husband Ed. Uh, we moved
back to Iowa eight years ago and about four months ago we moved into the Plaza
Towers because we were looking for more of an urban setting. Uh, we moved to
the Plaza Towers because the incredible reputation of the Moen Group and I ... we
have found their excellence is well founded. Building The Chauncey would
increase that quality living experience and bring even more positive economic
impact to our downtown. We know multiple friends that if this is approved want
to get on the list for this downtown urban place to live. I do hope you will vote to
build this for the po ... progressive positive future of Iowa City, with the proven
quality of the Moen Group, and I will also say on sustainability, we went from
two cars to one and we're looking at the Zip cars real heavy and just to getting rid
of even a car. So ... thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Cilek: Hi, I'm Dan Cilek and I work at Meta Communications and um. ... Meta
Communications relocated from Gilbert Street down to Park 201, uh, in August
and we've gone from 33 employees to 45 and we're growing very rapidly now.
Um, our last three hires, one's from Kansas City, one came from Coca Cola in
Atlanta, and then we had a gentleman in St. Petersburg, or not ... yeah, Florida,
and um ... people from the east coast, and the reason they're coming here is
because of our location, I believe, because they see it on the web. We have a full
time recruiter now that is out, uh, targeting people, and the only way we can bring
them to Iowa City is to have this type of environment that, uh, these young kids
will work in. So, I highly encourage, uh, that this project move forward cause
Iowa City needs ... (clears throat) needs to recruit smart, intelligent young people
and ... not only do they want to work in this type of environment, they want to live
in this type of environment. Um, I've heard in the past a lot of talk about you
know neighbors, you know, the neighbors are against it, that type of thing. I
would argue that, you know, we're neighbors too and when we bring people to
Iowa City and they work downtown they become part of the community and
they're part of the neighborhood. So, I'd encourage you to go with it. Thanks!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Peterson: Hi, my name's Royce Peterson. I'm with the Carpenter's Union here in Iowa
City. I'm also a resident of the community. Um ... couple reasons I support this
building is one ... what Bill talked about as far as good paying jobs for
construction workers in the area, as well as ... I don't want to see urban sprawl.
Is ... if we don't start going up, we can't ... we can't keep going out. We have to
start going up. Uh, just for personal experience, my niece just moved into town
here recently. We had a hard time finding her a place close to downtown. She
has a ... handicapped child. We ended up having to get her out in Riverside is the
closest thing we could find. I think as we build these buildings up, and the people
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move into the highrises, that we'll open up housing in the outside areas. Also,
one of the reasons I really support this building is as far as the downtown area
goes, there's not a whole lot of entertainment for the college chil... kids and... and
adults alike. With the ... the theaters in the building and ... and some of the other
things they're going to offer, I think it's going to be a good opportunity for the
college kids in the area, but ... I really think that this is the direction we need to go
in in Iowa City. There's a few more coming up, and I support `em! Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Pettit: Hello, my name's Joseph Pettit. My ... I'm a college student here. Also an Iowa
City resident. Uh, I have a ... multiple issues with The Chauncey project as it
stands. For the first part I'd like to start off by saying that I would strongly ... I
absolutely oppose the idea of using TIF money for its construction. Uh, it's ... has
...Little Village magazine covered it in a ... uh, in an article about a year ago. Uh,
TIF money is not neces... well, should not be used for .... or should not expressly
be used for the ... projects like this. It should be used for, for example, low-
income housing and not to subsidize a large project, such as The Chauncey. Uh...
there was also a disregard for the transition zones when this issue was brought up
repeatedly during the Planning and Zoning Committee's meeting about two weeks
ago. I ... I personally would see The Chauncey as something like a sore thumb. It
would ... there would be ... there wouldn't be a gradual, uh ... movement away from
highrises down to lower, well to two or three story residential areas. It would be
something like a nail sticking out of a board. Um ... I'll ... I also have a ... nother
issue with how the whole building looks, as ... in person. Uh, the architect said
that the use of glass on the first two levels would blunt it, make it more
transparent. I just see it more like a greenhouse, more like ... I would just feel
uncomfortable standing inside, waiting for a movie to start. And speaking of
movies, the ... I don't know if the ... well, I'll have to dig up the Field of Dreams
and say ... about the `if you build it they will come' thing. I don't know if people
would... if students would come to these new theaters or this boutique
al ... bowling alley. I don't even know what a boutique bowling alley is. Um...
some people might not have the means to go to it every so often, and I don't see
where the ... tourism attraction would be either, unless it...it would be for ... if
there was a hotel there, if it would just be bringing people for the football games
and that's it. Uh... I understand that ... the City's looking to expand its ... its tax
base to prevent fu ... for future debts. Also to reduce... zoning and housing.
You'll get all that but ... Iowa City just wouldn't really be the same. I've heard
people talk about how its ... how Iowa City's kind of a mix between urban and
rural, like ... like it's a comfortable hybrid between Chicago and a ... any small
town ... west of here. I just feel like this would be ... that this is just going to make
Iowa City more metropolitan and go away from that image. I like being able to
go downtown as I please. I like the sort of mix of highrise and ... uh, normalcy,
for lack of a better word right now. It's just harder and harder for me to think
about remaining here as these changes occur. That's all I have to say tonight.
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Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Cole: Good evening. My name is Rockne Cole and I'm a Co -Chair of the Iowa
Coalition Against the Shadow, and I'm also here appearing on behalf of Trinity
Church. I'm going to depart a little bit about from my prepared remarks tonight
because I...there's a lot of things that I don't know. We have he ... people here
tonight that have all of the answers. They articulate all of the jobs that'll be
created. All of the young millennials that will be attracted here. All of the great
cultural amenities that we will have if The Chauncey is built. The reality is if...if
we're here tonight to discuss what sort of jobs Trinity Church provides, what sort
of millennials will come to Iowa City because of Trinity Church, the answer to
that question is is we don't know the answer to that question. We hope they do
join the church, but I do know one thing — the mission of this church is important.
It serves a central function in our commutity... in our community. Feeding the
homeless ... or housing the homeless does not necessarily create any jobs or attract
any millennials. Standing up for the most vulnerable members of our community
may not attract the high -paid workers, the knowledge workers, or all of the people
with access and economic interests, but it's important work. Over these last fif...
40 years since we've seen churches from throughout our community leave the
inner -district and move to the outer rim. It's extremely troubling and what we
also have here is a Trinity Church who has served this community with
distinction. Since 1870! And they've identified a community under stress. But
rather than listen to their concerns, address what their needs are, and engage in a
community-based discussion so we can solve these issues, instead they've had to
endure countless... tonight even mocking about what their concerns are. They've
consistently been ignored. I stand here proud to represent this church because I
think we can never forget what this community is about, which is not only mixed
use, but mixed income, and this particular project is only going to allow the I% to
thrive and flourish. People that work for a living —12, 15 hours a day — will not
have access to this project. And one final comment related to the Comprehensive
Plan this evening. We were here little more than three months ago to change
the ... and modify the Comprehensive Plan, which we admit would have
greenlighted this project, no doubt about it! Seven to 15 stories at corner lots.
That's what the modification said, but it failed. And that failure matters, because
if you look at the Comp Plan, where we are now, and even the proponents of The
Chauncey have to admit this, it says, and I state, it refers specifically to College,
Gilbert, and it says, and I quote: While both areas have potential to redevelop at
higher densities due to their proximity to the downtown and University. Both
should comply with policies and goals of the Central District Plan, in order to
ensure quality design and appropriate transitions to the lower density residential
neighborhoods that board `em. That border them. So I think as you deliberate
tonight and as you consider whether you're going to grant this and discuss this, I
think you really need to answer one question — and that is does CB -10, which
allows for unlimited density as well as unlimited height comply with that
particular provision, and we believe the answer is is no, it does not. And it's that
height, that density that's driving the cost, which in turn is requiring a huge
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subsidy that's going to be transferred from the working people of Iowa City to the
elite of our community and it's wrong and you should vote no and you should
stand up for the entire community rather than the select few. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Warnock: Good evening! I'm Attorney Chris Warnock. I live at 532 Center Street here in
Iowa City, and I represent Trinity Episcopal Church. I have the luxury though as
a lawyer of only taking cases that I personally believe in and that's been the ... the
cornerstone of my ... of my practice. When it comes to deciding policy, uh, just
...when it comes to deciding if The Chauncey tower is a good project or a bad
project, you get to make the call! The buck stops with the City Council. But that
authority to make policy decisions comes from the law. So, um ... you must
follow that law in ... in making your decision. So tonight I'm not going to be
talking about policy like everybody else. I'm just going to talk about the legal
problems that (mumbled) identified with The Chauncey project. The first is Mr.,
uh, Cole just talked about was the Comprehensive Plan fix. That failed. Without
that Comprehensive Plan fix, the CB -10 zoning has serious legal questions.
Second of all, uh, Trinity filed a protest. Now under Iowa law, if 20% of the
property owners file a protest, you have to have a super -majority. The City has
decided that that's only ... that that applies to all property, public property
included. Our view is that the right to protest only attaches to private property.
The City does not need to protest its own decision, and that law was made to
protect private property owners. To protect private property, and that's enshrined
in the Iowa Constitution. That's very important. So that's the second problem
that hangs over this CB -10 zoning preceding, from a legal standpoint. And just in
terms of the ... of The Chauncey project, the use of HUD funds for luxury housing.
Senator Grassley asked HUD to inquire into that use. It's ... and I looked at the
statute myself. The first thing I saw is you cannot use affordable housing funds
...for luxury housing, and that makes sense. Finally, we also have some questions
about the legality of refunding the purchase price for the land. That's going right
back to the developer. So that's another, uh, legal question we have. So even
if...CB, uh, if CB -10 zoning is approved by the City, and the City signs a
contract, in the words of the immortal Yogi Berra, it ain't over till it's over! And
it's not going to be over until the courts decide the legality of these various issues.
So if CB -10 zoning is approved, I will advise my client Trinity Episcopal to file a
protest petition. Now a petition for (can't hear), it sounds like ... it is ... to go to the
courts, there's no damages. We're not asking for any money. We're just asking
the courts to take a look at the actions and see if they're legal or not. Everyone
has a right to do that and we're gonna initiate that process if necessary. Now the
only thing the court's going to be able to do is overturn it if it's illegal. They
won't come and say this is a good project or a bad project. That's over. Okay?
The only question is whether it's legal or not. So this is a project that's going to
change the face of Iowa City for 50 years. It's a ... on a huge scale. And we need
to make sure that we've crossed our T's and dotted our I's legally. So the
question I think for the City and the City Council is ... are you willing to gamble,
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and is Mr. Moen willing to gamble, millions of dollars and start construction or
even start the contract before the legality has been decided by the courts. We
think that would be a serious mistake. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your time.
Knapp: Jim Knapp, Iowa City. Um, first I'd like to congratulate Mr. Rohrbach for
designing an absolutely beautiful building. I ... I think it is, and I'd like to ask Mr.
Moen why he can't put that building down on that parking lot that's illegal instead
of puffin' it in there, and why this ... he's the only one in Iowa City allowed to
have an illegal parking lot in the Central Business District! After that, I'd like to
educate the Council just a little bit about what happened with Plaza Towers. Did
you know Karin Franklin served as the Director of Planning and Community
Development for 20 years? Did you know that Monica Moen worked with Karin
Franklin for 20 years? Do you think there's any prejudice there? Do you think
there's any gift or giving? Did you know Karin Franklin, the head of the UI
Community Credit Union and now Marc Moen is on the board of the UI Credit
Union? Do you see anything that might be a conflict of interest so far? Do you
think that ... gave Moen some inside pull when the sitting ... the City ... the City
Council and the City Manager. Do you think ... what Robert Bobby Joseph Jett
was kept in the background during this thing, and there was a reason for that. Did
you know the (mumbled) was appraised at $1,771,000; sold to Marc Moen for
$250,000. He said I will pay more and he never did! Do you know what property
was sold to Moen for $250,000 although he said he would negotiate, pay more,
okay. Did you know Ross Wilburn was a counselor at that time and happened to
be the swing vote on the (mumbled) came out 4 to 3. Ross Wilburn recused
himself every time he was at the ... a Council meeting when it involved a
community development block grant funding issue because he got his income
from an agency that worked for the community... block grant funds. But he did
not recuse himself on this one! I've seen him and Mr. Moen out having coffee
together! I think there's a little bad influence and I don't want to see this Council
do that! And you've already ... some of you have come out and said, `Oh it's a
wonderful idea!' Well it is a beautiful building, absolutely beautiful! Why not
put it down there on the corner of Clinton and Burlington? Where Moen owns the
property that he could put it on and he didn't have to ask the City to sell it to him,
and we don't have to give our property away. And then you say, `Okay, only
people within 200 -feet of that. What about all the people in Iowa City, they all
own that property and they all have to walk by it sometime or other. Will they
walk into the glare when the sun's shining off those glass walls? Or they going
someplace else, but they're always going past there, so why not put it someplace
where you can put a little lift over to the parking ramp across the street and let
people use that? That parking ramp hardly gets used, and why did the City sell
... the ... wall to the University? And why did the City change their ideas ... at one
time the University could not occupy a space below the second floor in downtown
Iowa City. And that's been changed! And then that Karin, or ... they come out
and they say in the paper, behind closed doors we finally reached an agreement!
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Why the hell should that be behind closed doors when you're talking about
millions of dollars of taxpayers' money in a TIF, and I asked to see those behind
closed doors records, and she wants $120 for me to see them, and I don't think
that's right. I've got 2,000 pages of Plaza Towers and it's going into a book that's
called ... well, you'll know (mumbled) you'll know later. Do you know where the
proceeds of the land will go? How much are you going to get for that land?
When Moen already owns the rest of it, and he'll be coming asking you for the
parking lot between his land and The Mill, which he also owns. Did you know
that all previous votes came from before ... (mumbled) Did you know the...
Hayek: Mr. Knapp, your... your (both talking)
Knapp: ...development block grant was cheated out of $1,500,000 by...
Hayek: Mr. Knapp, you're at four minutes. I'll ask you to (both talking)
Knapp: I got three and a half minutes; I just looked at my watch!
Hayek: No, you're at four minutes and 14 seconds.
Knapp: Yeah, well how come you gave all the time to the City to talk all night about
shadows?
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Bird: Mayor and City Council Members, my name is Nancy Bird and I'm the Executive
Director of the Iowa City Downtown District. Thank you for, um, providing
opportunity for the public to comment and for your patience in hearing everyone
speak tonight. As you are aware, the ICDD Board of Directors voted
unanimous... unanimously in October to support increased mixed-use
development plans within the Civic District and the North Clinton, uh, Districts of
the Comprehensive Plan. These close -in areas provide opportunity for existing
businesses to breathe and grow and help support additional permanent residents
downtown, which is critical to our overall health. The zoning proposal before you
meets the position of the Board, and I'm here to express support for quality
developments, such as this, that will bring new tenants and uses to the downtown
area. The developer team has great experience. They don't cut corners, and they
care about our tenant ... tenant mix, which is very important to our organization.
We've been working on this for a number of years, um, and we're making
progress. The Moen Group is providing several things in this proposal that I
believe is important, such as set-aside units for affordable housing and family ori -
oriented entertainment uses that don't rely on alcohol sales for profitability.
That's very appealing, and it's very challenging to finance and carry forward. A
different, um, a different zoning category would likely not yield the same
community benefits. These benefits, I believe, will give a real signal to others in
the market that the downtown areas isn't just for the bars and the students any
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more. It's a place that students will want to stay and work for companies who do
business, for families to enjoy time out to visit, and a place possibly even to retire.
With that I hope you'll vote in favor of the proposal. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Parkes-Perret: Now where do I sign here ... I guess this page. Okay, my name's Ariane Parkes-
Perret and I am part of the millennial generation, or at least the upper end I guess
(laughs) and I'm an artist, a local artist, and I've grown up in Iowa City my whole
life. Um ... I'm suppose ... I guess uh... there's somewhere between 12 to 50
million tax incre... or TF money that's going to be going into this project and I
guess, um, there's probably still a little confusion as to exactly what it is supposed
to be used for. My understanding of it is that it's supposed to be going into like
blighted communities or to help like with Iowa City infrastructure, and I didn't
know if there was anything in the TIF criteria that involves improving city
infrastructure, for example like roadways. I mean, I'm a bicyclist and ... I ... this
year I've had to deal with a lot more potholes and a lot more, you know ... you
know, flat tires than I've had previously and... it's... it's kinda of a nuisance
having to bike through this community and have to deal with that. So ... wouldn't
like improving city roads, like for example, you know, adding protected bike
lanes or permeable paving would be a ... wouldn't that be a better use of TF money
than say... going into a building that may or may not be affordable to the general
community, and I mean I also have a lot of concern about accessibility, um, in
public places, urn ... just a few months ago I saw a program on PBS about, um,
some, you know, Central Park and how the, uh, some of the new highrises that are
like anywhere between 80 to 100 stories are affecting the, you know, just the park
itself. People would be sitting out and ... in late summer morning and all of a
sudden this shadow kind of casts its, you know, just all of a sudden it starts
casting its ... its way across the park and this is a building where, you know, the
apartments are upwards of like $30 million per unit. So just ... I'm ... I'm very
concerned about how this will ... how affordable this building will be and even
with a bowling alley, I mean, how much is it going to cost per game? $10, $15?
Um ... I mean ... what, how ... how accessible is ... are the amenities in The
Chauncey going to be to the ... the community at large, and is it going to be
something that everyone is going to be able to enjoy, and something that's not
going to block out the sunlight. So ... those are my comments.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Summerwill: My name is Dick Summerwill and uh, I'm a long-time resident of Iowa City. As
a matter of fact I spent, have spent most of my life in Iowa City, uh, especially as
a ... child running around through downtown Iowa City in the 50s and the 40s
(laughs) I would say it was a very nice town in... in that era. There were five
movie theaters, there was lots of green grass. There was lots of retail business
going on. Uh... I left for college and a stint in the Navy, and when I decided to
come back here in 1963, the town was a mess frankly. It was ... it was the worst
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dog town anybody almost could ever imagine, and we had to go through
something ugly called `urban renewal' to get it straightened out. Uh, it took a
long time to do that, and I can tell you that right now because of what the City is
doing and what the University is doing, that ... this city in my opinion is in the best
shape it has ever been in, and is moving faster and more positive than any time...
that I have ever, uh, seen it. It's because the City and the University are
cooperating fully and well, and it's also because developers, like Marc Moen, has
agreed to take a risk and put buildings up that make this city what it is today, and
I know there are people who don't like glass and tall buildings, uh, and... and you
have your right to that opinion, but ... there are many people, including most of the
young ones, that ... do not feel that way. They like the idea of a major city
influence, and so ... when ... when I look back on it, I see .... such positive moves
that ... I encourage you to do what you can to keep those moves going, and I say
that ... that is because ... you need to approve this thing and ... and keep ... keep the
city moving. Thank you! (applause)
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. How's the Council doing? Are we ... okay!
We're ... we're going to, uh, take a quick break and come back and we'll ... we're
going to shoot for five minutes. It's going to be a quick break! Uh, and then we
will resume the public hearing at that time. (BREAK) If we could have, uh, the
audience's, uh, attention... we're going to resume the meeting here. Um...
(several talking in background) We took a short break and now we are back. We
are still in the public hearing. (several talking in background) We're, uh, we're
still in the public hearing on Item 5c, which is The Chauncey rezoning and what I
would, uh, we've heard from a number of people and we'll ... we'll stay and hear
from a number more, but what I would encourage people to do is, especially if
you've been here and have heard the comments of previous speakers is to try to
bring something to our attention that has ... has not yet been mentioned to us. It's
helpful to ... for us to get as diverse, uh, and, um ... uh... detailed information as we
can and not to repeat messages. So, I just encourage you to, um, bring new
messages to us to the extent you can. With that (mumbled)
Plum: Thank you. My name is Mark Plum. I am a resident of Iowa City. I went to
school here. Uh, I'd like to thank the Council for this, uh, opportunity to speak
and uh, for your time, and I ... think you have a wonderful opportunity tonight to,
urn ... and I hope you will act on it and .... uh, I am a member of Trinity Church but
I'd like to speak ... I'd like to think I'm speaking not only as a lay leader of the
church, but also as a citizen of Iowa City and of ..this planet. Tonight the
Council has a chance to go against the trend of unequal distribution of housing
that is a real crisis in our country. In Iowa City, as in many other places around
the U.S., housing has become a world of haves and have nots. Where the upper
and upper middle class can easily obtain the housing they need and want, while
everyone else struggles to obtain and pay their mortgages. (mumbled) we think of
ourselves as a progressive city, Iowa City is no exception to this trend. In fact we
are very much a part of it. What does all this have to do with The Chauncey?
Everything! In fact I think we have a microcosm of this issue with this building.
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If the Council fails to act tonight and this building goes up, it will provide over 50
homes, all but five of which will almost certainly be bought by people with
means. It will not provide diversity. The people that will purchase these units
will be almost exclusively high income single or couples. There will be no
families with children and no working class, and certainly not working poor.
Now, the Moen Construction Group certainly has the right to build such a
building, and sell the units to whomever they wish. But it is my opinion, and the
opinion of many other citizens of our community that our City has absolutely no
business subsidizing this construction, in what can only be termed as an upward
redistribution of wealth. In these times of high inequality absolutely shocks me
that Iowa City, a progressive city, would use taxpayer money to further subsidize
those who do not need our help. I'm not the first person to point out this obvious
flaw. In response the City has offered to purchase, again with public funds, five
units at $200,000 a piece. A $200,000 condominium is not workforce housing.
This is a completely inadequate sys... solution to this issue. It seems to me that
the tract of land we are discussing here is quite desirable... from a development
point of view. In fact, when this process began there were over a dozen
proposals, many of which were much more palatable to the public than the one we
are discussing tonight. As a citizen I fail to see why the City needs to provide any
financial incentive at all! If we chose to, however, I believe the people have the
right to ask that the City spend the money in a way that is compatible with our
values. If we as a city have to have a huge debate on whether or not we can
provide temporary homeless shelters for those of us most in need, it is obscene
that we ask our taxpayers to fund those among us who do not need help at all! I
urge you to take this opportunity to speak for your citizens, to follow two ... two
recommendations of the Planning and Zoning and Committee ... to not further
exacerbate income and housing inequality in our city. Thank you for your time!
(applause)
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Lyon: Lauren Lyon, and thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening. Cities
frequently attempt to derive their identity and define their accomplishments
narrowly through the avenues of government and commerce. Anyone or anything
that does not fit readily and function optimally within the competitive
marketplace is easily lost sight of or discounted as not having a legitimate role in
a city's life. Divergent interests have been at the heart of discussion of rezoning
the corner of College and Gilbert to CB -10, making way for the construction of
the 15 -story Chauncey. Advocates for Trinity Episcopal Church have addressed
the issue of tax increment financing and HUD funds for the construction and
purchase of luxury housing. Trinity parishioners, many of whom are affluent,
accomplished, and young, the vast majority of whom support some form of
development on this land, have noted also the negative impact of a high density
building on available parking and the long-term effects that will have on the
church's ability to host the kind of activities that will further its mission and build
its membership. Religious organizations and the sacred spaces in which they do
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their work operate primarily outside the marketplace. They offer respite from it.
They care for those who are excluded from it economically, or left behind by it
because of their inability to compete. They care also for those whose needs are
outside the scope of government's expertise, or its will to act. It is not surprising
that faith communities are not automatically taken into account when a city's
identity is being described or envisioned. They live and move and have their
being in the spaces between government and commerce. But at least in recent
history, religious organizations have had a part in the life of all great cities and
have had the respect of their inhabitants. At their best, they draw together the
members of a community across boundaries of social and economic status, race,
age, and interests. They offer an ethical counterweight to the values of wealth and
power that frequently drive commerce and government. They emphasize the
inherent value of the person, apart from his or her ability to produce, act, or
persuade. Government and commerce have the power to make it difficult for a
faith community to access what it needs to thrive. When master plans are put in
place, faith communities don't fit easily into the categories around which they are
organized, and they get left out of the picture. Frequently those in charge of
creating the plans are not aware of the important contributions of faith
communities to the neighborhoods and cities they serve. Such a lack of
knowledge was demonstrated this evening and at the recent Planning and Zoning
Commission meeting, at which the Commission declined to recommend the
zoning change under consideration tonight. At that meeting, several supporters of
the zoning change expressed the opinion that the church should be thankful for
the anticipated presence of an upscale... upscale residential building full of
prospective members right across the street. Trinity welcomes all who wish to
take part in its mission, but that mission is something different from greed and it
is something different from the search for affluent, accessible customers.
Religious communities have a rightful place in the life of downtown Iowa City. It
is endangered by a headlong pursuit of profit that risks forcing them out
economically. First Christian Church, Agudas Achim Temple, and St. Patrick's
Church have relocated already to the peripheral parts of the city. It appears that
the Unitarian Church will soon follow them. They left downtown in order to
safeguard their ability to pursue their respective missions. Unwise decisions
about downtown have not impeded their work, but downtown is poorer for their
absence, and the shortsighted values that it represents. Please do not allow
overwhelming density to pressure Trinity and other faith communities to follow
their lead. I urge you to vote against rezoning to CB -10.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
McElroy: Hello, my name is Betsy McElroy. I'm an elected lay leader of Trinity Episcopal
Church and I thank you for, um, hearing us tonight. The purpose of the zoning
regulation is to develop and promote a common vision among diverse contingu...
constituencies for how land is used, to serve the common good. It is intended to
mediate relationships between neighbors with divergent interests, in a manner that
looks beyond what is immediate and narrowly focused, toward overarching values
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and purposes that serve the community as a whole. The proposal to rezone the
corner of College and Gilbert Streets to CB -10 will make way for the construction
of a 15 -story Chauncey building. The Chauncey, as currently envisioned, will put
additional pressure on available parking in the nearby area and increase the
difficulty for persons to attend events at Trinity Church. Those events include not
only Sunday morning worship and parish activities throughout the week, they also
include weekday and weekend evening concert, frequently hosted at no charge for
University students, and meetings of community organizations that are scheduled
every day of the week at various times of the day in support of cause as diverse as
youth empowerment, environmental sustainability. Many attendees of these
events also support downtown businesses before and after their activities.
Limiting acc... access to parking at these events will also limit that support of
nearby businesses. Growing membership is central to the mission of any church.
Membership begins with an initial visit and the quality of that experience is
significantly impacted by the convenience of parking and subsequent access to the
building. Limited available parking for church visitors will make it more difficult
for them to get to services at Trinity on Sunday mornings and for other events.
This impact will potentially reduce future membership and threaten the long-term
viability of the congregation in its downtown location. In addition, welcoming
and incorporating persons of a broad range of ages and abilities is central to the
mission of any church. Trinity's elderly pa ... parishioners and those with physical
challenges depend on access to parking close to the church building in order to
take part... in its activities. The demand for parking imposed by The Chauncey
building will further limit the availability of spaces with easy access to the church.
Downtown is alwa ... already poor for the losses of First Christian Church, Agudas
Achim... Temple, and St. Patrick's Church. Faith communities that have chosen
to relocate away from center city in order to safeguard their vi ... ability to pursue
their respective missions. It appears that the Unitarian Church will soon follow.
If the zoning is changed to CB -10 to allow The Chauncey to be built, I can
imagine a day when Trinity and other faith communities, many of them among
Iowa City's oldest institutions, may be forced to follow their lead. At that time
the extent to which they contribute to the city's quality of life will become readily
apparent. I urge you to vote no on the proposed zoning change to CB -10. Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Futrell: Hello, my name's Susan Futrell and I want to speak on behalf of myself and my
husband Will Jennings. We live in the near northside neighborhood, one of the
historic districts that abuts the downtown area. Um, and I came to Iowa City in
1973 so it was about 10 years after Dick Summerwill (laughs) came back in 1963,
and I can agree with his, um, picture of the urban renewal process and the times,
um, when I came in 73 ... downtown had its charms, but it certainly was not the
vibrant and, um ... lively center of...of commerce and culture that it is now. And
in fact I share many of the visions in the description, um, that were outlined in
the ... in the presentation by the Planning Department and the proponents of the
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building that we need a high density, um ... mixed housing opportunity downtown
and that wo... that I would really like for Iowa City to be a place where people
come and want to live and work, and contribute culturally and economically to the
community in that way. I think the project that's being considered here would be
a great addition to downtown Iowa City, um, in any of many ... parts of the
downtown and the Riverfront Crossings zone that are already zoned for just this
type of mix of housing and ... and offices and the theater and, um, I'd ... I'd really
like to see that happen, but I ... many of the proponents of the project tonight have
spoken as if in order to have those things we have to have them in this very
particular place and this project, and I think the City Planning and the Council in
past votes on this project have done a disservice, both to the community and to a
developer who's made a lot of great contributions to the kind of downtown we
have, by persisting in ... trying to put this particular project in what should be a
transition j ... zone that abuts three of the oldest and most historic neighborhoods
in the city. College Hill, Iowa Avenue, and the Jefferson area, um, that ... that
many ... decades of investment have been made in that, and also in much of our
civic space in the downtown, including a Farmers Market that's repeatedly voted
as one of the top 25 in the country. That transition, um, and the ability to have
both these visions of our city co -exist, um ... has plenty of opportunity in the
Comprehensive Plan and the zoning that is currently here for, um, us to move
forward ... and I think it makes no good sense for this ... the Council and the City to
go against both Planning and Zoning and the Comprehensive Plan, and somehow
persist in ... in the idea that this, to have these benefits of a project like this we
have to have them on this particular spot. Um, I don't believe that's true and I
hope you'll see some broader sense in ... um, finding a way forward that allows us
to have this ... vision of our community that both preserves and honors the old and
the intangible public, um, culture that we have here with the vibrant new modern,
um, arts and housing and business that we could ... could have together with that.
So, thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Holton: Good evening. My name is Ann Holton. I speak here tonight as another
representative of Trinity Episcopal Church. Progress in Iowa City is not an either
or proposition. Vibrant development that increases the tax base of Iowa City is
not dependent on rezoning the corner of College and Gilbert and erecting The
Chauncey as a 15 -story building. It's not! Proponents of this project have stated
that people who oppose The Chauncey, "like the city the way it is and dislike any
and all change." This certainly is not the view of Trinity Episcopal Church.
From the outset of all discussions, we have proclaimed our support of
development of this site. But as many opponents have stated, this is the wrong
project for that place. For years the Downtown Association has been looking for
ways to enhance downtown life and bring businesses and consumers into the heart
of the city. Businesses must have had access to their establishments as a major
priority because they know they cannot survive if people cannot or do not want to
brave the parking perils to come through their doors. And the City has responded
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to their needs ... by changing to many one-hour parking meters, adding credit card
payment options, providing free first hour parking in the ramps, and now
experimenting with valet parking. Access to a place of business is essential to the
survival of downtown establishments. It is essential for Trinity too. The
citid... the City's Chauncey Swan parking ramp study indicates that there is
always access to parking, and that this should not be an impediment for users, but
this is not the reality experienced by many of us, and not just Trinity's members.
Additionally the lower level of the ramp, which is included in the number of
spaces available, is not easy to negotiate for those who need close proximity to
our church or downtown businesses, especially those who are older or who have
mobility issues. CB -10 zoning requires developers to provide less parking than a
building with CB -5 zoning. CB -10 zone minimal requirements intensify the
competition for already extremely meager parking opportunities. It is not too late
to step back and reconsider. It is not too late to design a project that promotes
growth and development for Iowa City and also takes the needs of its neighbors
into consideration. The City looks out for its businesses, and rightly so! We ask
that the City look out for the needs of its good neighbors, as well. I urge you to
reject rezoning this property to CB -10. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Bergus: Good evening! My name is Laura Bergus. I'm a lifetime resident of Iowa City.
Uh, I'm also an attorney, but unlike some of my colleagues who spoke earlier
tonight, I'm not here to threaten a lawsuit. I'm here (laughs) to advocate on
behalf of my young family. I've heard a few comments in support of higher
density in the downtown area, but maybe not right here. And I want you to
consider why this is the right place and the right time and why you should
approve CB -10 rezoning for this location. Talk about accessibility to downtown
for young families. If you have young children, you don't want to park in
Chauncey Swan or park in the Tower Plaza ramp and walk down to south
Riverfront Crossings in order to access a movie theater. That has the most
affordable tickets in town and the cheapest and best popcorn in town. You don't
want to have to walk (laughs) all the way down there for a bowling alley, which
the only other option right now is all the way down at...at Colonial Lanes. Talk
about the Public Library right there! The ped mall, right there! The Farmers
Market, right there! This is a perfect opportunity to enhance the vibrancy and
vitality of downtown Iowa City, downtown! Where young families can use it,
whether they live there or not! I live on the southeast side of Iowa City and ... I
probably will never be able to afford to live in this building, but I think you
should rezone it and I think it should be built. Thank you. (applause)
Hayek: Thank you for the comments (applause)
Lowenberg: Good evening, my name is Gerhard Lowenberg. I'm a resident of Iowa City. My
family and I moved here 45 years ago and I've been a member of the faculty of
the University of Iowa. I'm a retired faculty member now. For eight years I had
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responsibility for recruiting faculty, uh, to the University of Iowa, specifically to
the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. So I am sensitive to the importance of
making Iowa City the kind of community which can attract the best faculty
nationally and internationally, and it always has been a struggle, not only because
of salary competition from major universities, but also because Iowa City in the
university world is a relatively unknown community. People fly over Iowa City,
they don't land in Iowa City very often, and to attract faculty nationally and
internationally would typically have been educated in graduate departments in
larger cities than Iowa City is a ... is a struggle, it is difficult. We often lose out,
not only do we often lose out but we sometimes lose faculty when we're happy to
attract when they are recruited by universities that are in more metropolitan areas.
We want to preserve in Iowa City the attractiveness that it has always had and that
I have always enjoyed but in keeping with what is happening in the United States
today, that requires Iowa City to become a more urban community. Because the
process of suburbanization, which govern much of land use development in
residential development in the United States from the end of the second World
War more or less to the end of the 20th century is over it seems to me, and a re -
urbanization is occurring, for many, many reasons and I don't want to go into
detail, but we're all aware of the fact that re -urbanization is occurring. So that...
not only do faculty coming to Iowa City need to find it attractive when they first
come, but they need to find it attractive for their whole careers and they need to
find it to be the kind of community that is with it, that is in keeping with what is
happening in the United States today, and that means high density housing and
architecturally sophisticated housing, uh, and green housing of the sort that has
been developed recently in recent years in Iowa City, is really indispensible. On
the question of transition zones and whether this particular property ought to be
developed ... as a CB -10 area, um, it seems to me that we've got to be forward
looking and say the transition zones cannot be too narrowly drawn within a city of
this kind. Uh, the property which we are looking at is a property that is so close
to the heart of Iowa City, as you have heard over and over again and as we all
know, to the Public Library, to the Civic Center, uh, to this building, to the
University of Iowa that to artificially regard it as a transition zone in which no
development of this sort can occur would I think restrict, uh, the kind of re -
urbanization or urbanization that I think is indispensible, if Iowa City is to keep...
its place in the United States as a major university town, which is its distinction
and which is something we ought to be jealous to preserve. Thank you very
much.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Diehl: Thank you for letting me speak. Um, my name's Ethan Diehl. My family moved
herein 1975. Um ... I think that the decision for this building was already made.
Um, it was made when the Council decided to put out an RFP to fill in the space
that is currently vacant. Um ... because of not rezoning it before the RFP went out
we've been spending the time since, um ... fighting over this property. I think
most of the ... the bad blood about this, um, is sour grapes. I think that the
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building is beautiful. I moved here from Austin... back from Austin, Texas, a year
and a half ago, specifically because Marc Moen built Park at 201. Um, I'm a
painter who actually works for a living as opposed to the rich person I'm
supposed to be. Um, my parents are retired. They're downtown. My dad was a
teacher and my mom was a librarian, and I think that this should be rezoned, um,
and improve downtown Iowa City. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Madden: Uh, my name's Henry Madden. I've, uh, spoken to you before. Maybe you
were ... you read what I had to say in the newspaper. This, uh, whole, all this
discussion of which, uh, you found out in the last two and a half years is a ... is a
really hairy issue! Uh, the people are interested in this issue, and the way you
attacked it in the very beginning, you acted as if, uh, people would not be
interested. You're going to make the decision, uh, you didn't explain it in
January of 2013. You didn't explain why you chose this particular building. Uh,
you asked for afford... workforce housing. There were 13 units in The Chauncey.
You added to `em but cost us a million dollars, but you've added five units to it
now. (clears throat) The, uh, there was one, uh... uh, developer who offered you
153 units! But you ignored that! There was one, uh, developer who ... who
offered you a ... energy net -zero building and you ignored that! Platinum LEED!
So ... if you had had this discussion and you let the people in on why you were
making these decisions, uh, maybe you wouldn't have all this consternation for
the last two and a half years. You took it to the, uh... well, I might say that the
only reason that I heard when... and I was at that meeting, the only reason I heard
was ... it was a bowling alley which would keep the kids out of the ... out of the
bars! I've never been in a bowling alley that didn't have a bar! (laughter) I don't
see that as a good reason! Uh, theaters — we know that theaters are in decline!
You have population... every... every year is shrinking in theaters! And you're
going to put two theaters in here? The one that's here now is barely able to keep
its head above water! I ... it, uh, it...it baffles me! Now it's very easy to get five
or six, uh... uh, residents of Plaza Towers to come in and talk about the residence.
Yes, it's, uh, these are $300 to $350,000 residence! But uh where are the
workforce housing? You want to bring these people downtown, you want to be...
bring accountants and... and clerks downtown? You're not going to build
a ... bring `em down in that building! I ... it would appear to me that you solve
your problems if you started all over again, and all you need is, uh, if the two
people that, uh, that voted against this before vote against it now, all you need is
one person to say `let's start all over, let's tell the public.' You had the public in
the P&Z, the Planning and Zoning Commission. You had them tell you twice that
this doesn't fit the Master Plan and they aren't ready to change the Master Plan!
But you want to bulldoze it ahead, bringing it up here again. You're gonna want
to go through three meetings like this. Bulldoze it and say `the hell with the
people; we're gonna make this happen!' I hope there's one of you that has the
courage to change his mind!
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Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Brodie: Good evening, Council, my name's Andy Brodie. Um, I am 35 so I don't count
myself as a millennial. I'm a little older than that, but I am still young. I have
lived here 15 years. I currently live in a 19'b century building on the north side of
Iowa City, so I do appreciate the historic architecture we have here. I also
appreciate the new development that we've had in this city, which I think has
moved it forward immensely since I ... I moved here 15 years ago. I voluntarily
chose to stay here after college to try to build a filming community in Iowa City.
I am one of the co-founders of Film Scene. I can tell you that was not an easy
choice to make and I've turned down opportunities to work elsewhere for more
money. I worked the first two years of Film Scene's existence completely pro
bono to make this happen. I'm now salaried. We're up to five full-time
employees and a number of part-time employees, which is quite good for a non-
profit. We're certainly not in decline! We have been open for a year and a half
now, with our Scene One space which we chose to open after knowing that The
Chauncey project would take a number of years to develop, because Iowa City
was so badly already behind the curve. And just those 15 months with one screen
and 65 seats, we are nearing the 1000 -member mark and in our first 12 months we
did over 35,000 admissions and I'll add we did those admissions without one
single dedicated parking space. Those are the kinds of developments we need in
Iowa City. Just today we announced a new programming partnership. I now
work as the Program Director because our success allowed us to hire a dedicated
Executive Director to help lead us forward, who I think you'll probably hear from
after me, but just today we announced a new program initiative called "Vino
Veritas." I'll take credit for that clever name. It's a reference to verite film
making, but also a reference to in... in vino veritas, in wine truth. We also think
there is truth in film. Our first vino veritas ... uh, veritas series is June 7a'. We're
bringing a filmmaker in from France to show us some Spartacus and Cassandra.
We'll also be doing an educational outreach program with that director and that
film with United Action for Youth. That's completely free of charge. We do
multiple free events every single month, and those also 12 first months we
managed to show more than 200 different feature films. Those are all really
remarkable numbers, and I can tell you our colleagues across the country have
been very impressed with what we've been able to do. Those colleagues are also
expanding to better serve their communities because there's a growing demand
and desire for non-profit community -oriented art house film programming and
media education. We are poised to do the same. We'd like to do the same.
We've been working on it for a number of years now. It's time to move this
project forward. I've been here ... I've lost track of how many hours in the last...
going on three years. I've never heard more public comment and feedback on an
issue, and many people seem to repeat the same thing hoping that that makes it
true, but I like to look at the facts. When you look at the facts about parking, the
shadow, etc., those concerns are largely unfounded. I might also add, uh, another,
you know, it's kind of semantics. Are we going to chop down trees because they
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cast shadows? No, they provide shade. So ... let's also think about that. Thank
you. Please vote to approve The Chauncey tonight!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Conroy: Hi, my name's Tom Conroy and I do not live downtown. I live out on the
Peninsula neighborhood. But I work downtown, actually fairly close to the site
that is under discussion tonight. I work at Blank and McCune, the real estate
company which is just on the other side of Ralston Creek, and I'm here in support
of changing the zoning, and I hope you will change it as well, so we as a city can
move forward and, uh, begin to heal. This no doubt has been tough on many
people in this room, including yourselves. Uh, but ... I think when we look at the
facts of what potential the lot has, to the future of Iowa City, um, it outweighs at
this point the, uh... changes and the ... and the stress of those changes, um...
mainly I ... my point wants to be that there is a market for this type of living.
Now, in real estate there's a great saying that there's a lid for every pot, and...
you don't have to like every pot that you look at or that you try to go and you see
and you imagine yourselves living in it, but at some point in time, somebody...
will see themselves living in that house. And ... many people that we talk to on a
day to day basis who are coming in to Iowa City, who are recruited here for jobs,
who are retirees, who are coming here to set up businesses... like the idea of living
downtown in higher -end homes like this, in high density areas where they don't
have to have a car, where a ... huge amount of amenities are provided for them.
And I think... in the long-term, if we go ahead and we develop as the proposal is
set up to do, I really think all of these fears and concerns will be outweighed on
the future and what's going to happen. Um ... I can't help but think, um ... you
know, nobody's tearing Trinity Church down. Trinity Church has been there for a
really long time, longer than a lot of us here, obviously. And it ... will continue to
be there, and it relies on ... the individuals in that church to carry on its mission.
And part of that mission is going to have to adapt to the change in the
environment that happens around it. It would be a shame ... if people from that
church felt that they needed to exit just because this building was built. And...
that's something they have to resolve in themselves, because I think they can
come together as a community and understand what good is going to come out of
this building, for the community at large. So ... I hope you make a decision
tonight. I think we all need to move forward and the right step forward is not
being afraid of our shadow and rezoning this. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Horan: Hi, I'm Howard Horan. I'm a life-long resident of Iowa City, um ... I'm certainly
committed to this, uh, sweet little place and I ... I ... I've tried to leave several
times, but not been able to. I'm here tonight as an elected lay leader from Trinity
Episcopal Church. Um, we oppose, uh, we oppose this rezoning, primarily on the
parking issue. If...the project had 50, even 50 more spaces designed into it, we
might not be here! If in planning there had been another parking structure
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planned for a ... behind the Rec Center — that would certainly accommodate our
specific personal concerns. If the City hadn't... removed from public use some 15
parking spaces in, uh... the, uh, blue ramp, I might not be here at all! Urn ... I'm
concerned about (laughs) I'm concerned about the specific uses of the TIF funds.
I understand that TIF is a great thing and I ... and it can be used properly, but... if
...you as individuals would not personally invest in a bowling alley, then perhaps
it is disingenuous for you to invest my tax ... tax dollars! (laughs) Urn ... we don't
really oppose the development. We know something has to go there. Uh, in fact
we would love to see it, um... (clears throat) I was concerned about the shadow. I
don't think that's, uh, I don't think that's going to be a ... finally I don't think
that's going to be a great issue. I am sorry to see the City grow like this, partly
because I can't grow as fast as the City. But I urge you not to approve this zoning
change tonight. Urn ... I think there's a better way to do this project. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Van Horne: My name's Amanda Van Horne. Um, I'm a resident of Iowa City. You've seen
me up here before, uh, as a representative of Trinity but today I'm speaking on
my own behalf. Urn ... I like to think that the values that I'm going to express are
also held by many of the members of Trinity, but my role here is as a citizen, not
as an elected representative. What is the purpose of government? I think the
purpose of government is to look out for those who can't look out for themselves
and to provide a vision, to protect and strengthen our community for the future.
This function may be carried out through regulations, financial support for
particular initiatives, or through determinations about how the city grows and
changes. The question before us tonight is one of zoning or land use, but both the
judiciary and Planning and Zoning have ruled that it's not possible to consider a
zoning issue without considering the particular project. So we can't speak
vaguely to land use without talking about the project that's under consideration
here. With that in mind, I'd like to spend a moment reflecting on how The
Chauncey in particular proposes to use land and the values of the City that were
reflected in the original RFP. The original RFP reflected values like the need for
workforce housing. When I listened to the conversations about school district
boundaries and community policing, part of what I hear is a conversation about
how housing appropriate for a variety of income levels and family structures is
made available and distributed around town. Where students receiving free and
reduced lunch go to school and how we chose to develop land are not unrelated
issues. The original RFP called for workforce housing, and a small percentage of
the total rental units are being ... or total purchased units actually are being
allocated for affordable housing in the current project, with the majority of the
building devoted to other uses. The original RFP asked that the building
strengthen the existing Chauncey Swan Park, but made limited mention of
surrounding neighborhoods. Although City staff believes that this development
will take pressure off of surrounding neighborhoods, we've heard in the rezoning
process about how members of those neighborhoods view this as a threat. What
about the goal of strengthening Chauncey Swan Park? I'm gratified that the
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proposal includes some uses of Chauncey Swan Park and some ideas that
incorporate a redesign of aspects of the park. But in my mind strengthening the
area means that we have a plan to maintain many of the successful activities that
make it a plant town square. Food trucks, the Farmers Market, Rummage in the
Ramp. I sometimes wonder if The Chauncey will actually crowd out these public
activities in place of private activities that serve a select few who know how to
lobby the Council. Have we asked whether this development strengthens our
whole community? I simply don't see how gardens on a rooftop of a building, a
hotel and luxury apartments are in the service of the least of these. Or even in the
service of most of these! These are upscale amenities open to a select few, a local
neurosurgeon, high -paid architects. Critically the building consists of services not
available to the general public, but rather only available to those who can afford
to live there. In terms of forward vision, I also see a role for governments at all
levels to incentivize care for our earth. In that vein, in -fill development is
certainly better than urban sprawl. However, building on abandoned lots in town
is a low bar to set for environmental protection. The Chauncey could make an
attempt to be more ... in a more environmentally -friendly building. For instance,
committing to, not just aspiring to or ... vaguely waving their hands at, but
committing to gold or platinum LEED standards. We know that global warming
is changing how land may be used in terms of farming, landscaping, and
recreational activities. It may not be long before we all go the way of California.
Iowa City should be a progressive city looking ahead and requiring that the way
land is used is for the purpose of promoting long-term sustainability in our
building development. We're all in agreement the development would be better
than an empty lot, and would provide more skilled construction jobs in the
process of the construction of that building. I think it's important to bear in mind
that no one here is arguing for no development.
Hayek: Miss Van Horne, you're at four minutes. If you could wrap up, please.
Van Horne: Okay. Everyone here thinks that whatever development goes in on this corner is
going to have a major impact on the future of Iowa City for years, for decades
even to come. Don't make a hasty decision and vote in favor of this change
because it's been three years worth of City work, or because we've waited long
enough. For a building that might last a century or more, more time spent on
careful planning is very likely to be worthwhile. Please deny this request for
rezoning as the first step in helping to shape Iowa City into a community that
cares for those who cannot care for themselves.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Tiefenthaler: Hi, my name is Joe Tiefenthaler. I'm the Executive Director at Film Scene. Um,
I would like to talk a little bit more about, um, the arts and culture of downtown a
little more broadly. Um, I'm also the literary director of, and one of the co -
executive directors of Mission Creek Festival. Uh, it was a festival that started
small, um, but it started as a festival that saw a... a bright future in this downtown
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area and what, uh, a long-term collaborative arts festival really could be. Uh, it's
a festival that in its 10th year was recognized two weeks ago by the NEA, and we
look forward to seeing how that grant and this ... this vision for putting arts
programming in ... in our venues, old and new, how that can affect the lives of
everyone across our community. Uh, as Andy is stating, you know, we're
already... we're doing some programs at Film Scene alone that are bringing these
artists, these world-renowned artists, out into the communities, across sections.
Urn ... we are continuing to strive to put the rest of the cultural scene, uh, in Iowa
City on the map, and on the national map, on the world map, um, everybody like
will know what the literary community is like, but there's a burgeoning film
community and there's, uh, the tech side and the food culture. Uh, we really have
a vision, um, for what downtown Iowa City can be, and I ask you like when you
look at the vision of what this building will bring, uh, we're excited about what
two more venues, um, can do to the film community, what it can do to ... to
concerts, comedy, uh, how it can expand the different ways in which visiting, uh,
visiting artists to Iowa City can really interact. Just look at that ... look at that plot
with CB -5 zoning. If you... if you vote against this and it stays the way it is, we
have plenty of examples of what CB -5 building look like. They're just south of
Gilbert right on the other side of Burlington. These apartments that will go up, it
will be mixed use, but the apartments will be for undergraduates, and they will not
be affordable anyways. I've been here since 2000 and I've seen Iowa City really
progressively move towards including families more and more downtown, and
this building, these developers, that's been with ... that's what they've been doing
for years and I would hope to see that continue. I hope you guys can... can vote
on this as soon as possible and I urge you to vote yes. Thank you.
Hayek: (applause) (mumbled) comments.
Dillon Ridgley: And the list grows! Hello, good evening! My name is Dianne Dillon Ridgley
and ... oh, it's going to be hard with that echo! Uh, but I want to thank you first
and foremost for your service. I know it's not an easy task, even as the hour
continues to grow, and the primary reason ... oh, everybody (mumbled) identified
themselves, so I'm a fourth generation Anglican who is a member of Trinity
Church. I'm also a member of the Grannies, and since everybody's talked about
film, I happen to be annually one of the jurors for the D.C. Environmental Film
Festival for the last three years. So there! Urn ... but I'm speaking primarily
tonight because the questions that I asked at several of the Planning and Zoning
Commissions, none of those questions have been, with one caveat, have been
addressed or sufficiently answered, and I think they're important to be addressed
in this process. So ... um, I've lived in Iowa City for the last 25 years, and quite
frankly, when we decided to move here, my children and I could not wait to come
to Iowa City, and I agree with you, Matt, when you ask the question — where else
would you live — we don't want to live anywhere else cause I've had plenty of
offers to do so, and I love it here! And I care tremendously about this community.
I do in mentioning those questions though that I have feel that they really are...
uh, important to address and ... I know you don't want repeats, but I do think it's
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important to underscore that the change from a 20 -story building to a 15 -story
building was not some concession, but was, uh, requirement that was dictated by
the, um ... F ... (unable to hear person in audience) Well we should make it clear
then, because it has been stated over and (unable to hear several talking in
audience)
Hayek: Okay, okay, okay! Let's ... let's just focus (both talking) person at the podium,
and ma'am, just please continue with your comments (both talking)
Dillon Ridgley: All right! Okay! But it does not seem to be a particular concession. Um... and
while on the issues around sustainability, which is where my personal expertise is,
um, I noticed that in the, um, visual this time there was a ... an addressing of
moving from ... the aspiration of the equivalency of LEED cer ... certification to
mentioning silver LEED or gold LEED. I would mention that when Trinity did
their, um ... rehabilitation and ... and building and adjustments a few years ago, we
committed to sought and guaranteed LEED gold certification, and I would ask
that the, uh, project if it goes forward not just talk about equivalency, but actually
seek and commit to getting the certification at LEED silver or gold. Um, my
biggest concern that I'd express this evening that no one else has mentioned, uh,
because several times it's been mentioned that there's going to be geo thermal in
terms of the heating, and clearly the building as it's currently expressed has no
land to do that, cause we sought to try and do that at Trinity, and we were told we
did not have enough land. So it's my understanding that the geo thermal will be
placed in the Chauncey Park, cause there's no other land anywhere else in order
to do that, and I would say as a... citizen, as a taxpayer, if in fact the geo thermal
is going to be installed in the park, that would seem to me needs to be expressed
whether or not that is going to be a payment to the City, whether that's going to
be surrendered as a gift, and then what would be the legal implications of the
people who gave trees, plantings, and donations to that park and they were made
with the expressed, uh... um, expectation that they would be there in perpetuity. It
seems like there would be some legal implications to those gifts that had been
made to a public park, which if it is given for this use for the geo thermal, will
alter that.
Hayek: I think you're at....four minutes and we need you to wrap up!
Dillon Ridgley: Really? Okay! I'm ... 90 seconds! I...
Hayek: We need you ... we need you to wrap up!
Dillon Ridgley: That's what I'm doing! The ... the last question that I asked the other time was in
terms of the Americans With Disability minimum requirements in terms of access
to the building, particularly a building that would have such high density and...
inclement weather, which we know is much of the year on the east College
entrance, if you look at the designs, that looks to be at best one or two spaces for
cars, and the last point is that considering that this is over a former gasoline
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station, there's been no discussion, and I asked previously, what about the
removal or verification that they have been safely, uh, excavated, the tanks, in
terms of being able to provide the underground parking. Um, lastly...
Hayek: Ma'am, please wrap up!
Dillon Ridgley: I am! Lastly ... as a, someone who's been a master speaker at the US, uh, GBC
for the last 15 years, um, we are not saying that we want no building, cause I do
think that is what people keep seeming to think, but we want one that is far more
appropriate to the size and space, and there's just too much and it's too intense for
that space. Thank you... very much!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Kuenzli: My name is Cecile Kuenzli. You've heard from me before too and I did not plan
to speak tonight, but as I sat here listening to the comments I just have three little
things I want to say. We've heard a lot about the film community and what it
does for Iowa City, but I would like to point out that the film community is not
the whole community and you are making your decision on what's best for the
whole community. I would ... we've heard a lot about the amenity of the bowling
alley in The Chauncey. Well, nobody has mentioned that there used to be a
bowling alley in the University Union and it closed for lack of use. Um, we've
heard that The Chauncey would attract new faculty to the College of Liberal Arts.
I very much doubt, in fact I know that no young faculty, and particularly faculty
with young families, could afford even the $200,000 units in The Chauncey and I
know because I've helped many young faculty in the English department find, uh,
housing they could afford in our neighborhood, and I'm not a realtor. If you
chose to zone this CB -10 you really are, as you have heard so often this night,
deciding on using a TIF for the select few. (applause)
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Rapson: Hi! I'm John Rapson, uh, I ... a resident of Iowa City for 22 years, since 1993.
Live on north Johnson Street. I work and live in downtown. (clears throat) I'm a
former resident, born and rais... not born, but raised in Santa Barbara, California
and left a 10 -year job in Santa Barbara, California, partially among many other
reasons because of the way that wealth was dividing the community there, and
bifurcating the community. I'm Director of Jazz Studies and I don't know if you
know, but since 2008 Trinity Episcopal Church has been the home of University
of Iowa Jazz Studies. It is not just a Sunday -morning church! While we were
there ... no longer, but while we were there, there was a co-op ... that was for
watching children, taking care of daycare. There are many things that go on in
that church, morning, noon, and night. So it's not just a Sunday -morning problem
of the shadow. And they are serving a larger community than just the
parishioners. As a faculty member I ... have cherished Iowa City because of the
way that the city is able to galvanize behind a number of events. One of the
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things that I also noticed in Santa Barbara was the lack of support per capita
anyway for the arts, for the great wealth that was there, and the fact that it is
possible to have it happen here in Iowa City over a large swath of the community
is something that I cherish about being here and I intend to retire here. I raised
three kids here. We've decided not to go back to California, but to stay in Iowa
City. I ride a bike to work. I walk to work. I love that aspect of it. I want to be
able to retire here ... and it's increase... increasingly difficult for people of my
income bracket to be able to find ways to retire in the city ... not just with low
income but moderate incomes. There have been other faculty that have spoken
tonight. I'm not in their income bracket. If you look at the income bracket of
people who teach dance or theater, or who in social work. It doesn't come close
to the people who are in the medical profession or in the law profession. So you
need to consider even a large swath of the professional people who are in Iowa
City. I would like to see affordable income... excuse me, affordable housing in
Iowa City. I'm not against development either. In fact I ... like many of the things
that I see around here and the vibrancy that are in the city. It has to do with scale.
In Santa Barbara, my former home, I believe that the tallest building in
downtown, of a city over 250,000, is eight stories. The Granada Theater. It is
possible to have development in a very beautiful city and also not necessarily to
just have sprawl. We just need to look at the variety of ways that many different
peoples and incomes can be served within the city. Thank you for your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Etre: Uh, I'm George Etre. I, uh, live at, uh... 221 E. College Street, Plaza Towers,
#1109. Um, I want to thank you guys for your patience. I'm going to make this
quick because I've been up here a few different times and I'm sure you guys have
heard everything under the sun tonight, but ... I've owned my own business
downtown for 13 years, um, I live downtown. I grew up in Iowa City, and this
type of development is what as a business owner I thrive on, and this is one of the
reasons why I chose to live downtown, uh, my brother lives in Park and he loves
it. Um, my parents want to move downtown from Coralville and this type of
development and excitement is really what I thrive off of, and it's what's helped
me grow as a business owner and open up more and more restaurants, um, and
that's the kind of excitement that ... Iowa City needs, and ... keep pushing the
envelope. So I would suggest that you guys move forward on this development.
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Moen: Good evening, my name is Marc Moen. Thank you so much for all the time
you've, uh, committed to this process. Urn ... I want to just review briefly ... I'm
on the development team, by the way. Um ... I want to review briefly how we got
to where we are tonight. In August of 2012, almost three years ago, the City
released an RFP for this site, and requested development teams who were
interested in urban... downtown density buildings. It specifically stated that the
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goal was for an urban downtown density development with commercial, hotel,
office, and residential uses. It also stated that the purpose of the RFP was to
solicit proposals from development teams for an urban downtown... building, and
it specifically stated that the City anticipated CB -10 zoning for this site. That was
a very public process, uh, and many people bid on that process. Most of them bid
on CB -10 buildings. Um ... 15, 18, 20 stories. The Chauncey development team
extensively studied the site and the surrounding area when that RFP came out. I
bid on exactly two RFPs in my life — Plaza Towers and Chauncey. We take that
very seriously. It takes... it's... it's a several hundred thousand dollar process to
get to the point where we are tonight, and ... we don't do it lightly. So we did our
own independent analysis of that site, and we came up with the same conclusion
that the City had in its RFP. Site selection is critical to us in our developments.
And ... all things considered, and there were ... it was a balancing act. There are
considerations on both sides. All things considered, we felt that this site deserved
and could handle a CB -10 building, and as you know our original proposal was 20
stories. From the very first early concept plans when we first started looking at
the ... the massing of this building, the architects were extremely sensitive to the
corner of Bur ... or of Clinton, excuse me, of, uh, College and Gilbert Street. We
had looked at the contact... contextual, uh, situation at that corner and the
buildings around it, and the ... and the tower is set back 70 by 100 feet from that
corner. That's... that's larger, twice ... twice the size of most ... uh, properties
downtown. That ... that now functions as a four-story building; uh, in the original
proposal functioned as a five -story building. And the towers sit back 70 feet from
one street and 100 feet from the other street. The materials used were chosen so
that they would be reflective and allow for dynamic street presence, rather than a
blank wall. Again, taking into account the buildings around it. And the step -
backs to the tower potion... portions of the building, as I just mentioned, were...
were very significant. I mean we dropped down to I think something like 7,700
square feet, per floor plate on the towers, from a 22,000 square foot lot. All to
...to make this pedestrian -friendly and to give context to the area surrounding it,
including Trinity Church. We've heard concerns voiced by several of the
parishioners at Trinity Church over the last two and a half or three years. We've
also been approached by a number of the parishioners at Trinity Church who are
very supportive of this development, as Jim mentioned in his earlier comments
tonight when he indicated that he had, uh, or attended church there. And we've
heard concerns from others including those in the College Green area. I spent a
great deal of time with Reverend Webb in the early ... in early 2013, talking about
Chauncey, which specifically included many of the concerns that, uh, Trinity
Church had. He specifically told me that they did not want student housing, they
did not want the density of student housing on this lot. Um, and in response to
Reverend Webb's request, I agreed to be available at any time, in any format, to
address the congregation. I told him if he wanted to do it in a questions/answer
situation that was fine with me. If he wanted me just to explain the project,
whatever they felt comfortable with, but I was open to any format they wanted.
In terms of the specific concerns, the height, which has been talked about by
people tonight that really don't know the facts. They say that we were limited by
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the FAA, to 15 stories. That ... that's not true. We applied for 15 stories because
we had already compromised with the City during our negotiations. In direct
response to the concerns that we've heard for the last two and a half years, we
took 25% of the building out. It has made it almost financially impossible to
build this building. That's one of the reasons the process has taken as long as it
has is because we've struggled with that and we've come... we've... we can do it,
but it's a much different project than the 20 -story building was. And it's much
more difficult for us to accomplish this building, and it reduces the tax revenues
to the City tremendously, because we're cutting out ... they are high-end unit,
condo units, and it cuts out a tremendous amount of the tax base that would have
been provided from a 20 -story building, and we did it as a compromise. There's
nothing good for us as a developer that comes out of that. There's no financial
benefit. It wasn't anything to do with the FAA. We agreed during the negotiation
sessions to not apply for a 20 -story permit and I'm confident we would have
received it. The other thing that we've heard about is the shadow. The shadow
effect (mumbled) essentially the shadow effect on the (both talking)
Hayek: I know you're... you're the applicant here, but I've gotta be pretty consistent. We
can give more leeway to the ... to the developer and we've done it. If I could just
get you to wrap up, please. So...
Moen: Okay! So let me talk about the parking which has been cited most recently by
speakers as really the issue. So I ... have monitored the Chauncey Swan parking
ramp the last two Sundays. Last Sunday was graduation Sunday. There are 457
spots in that ramp. The maximum number of cars from level two on up, which is
the College Street level, were 98 cars during the ... during all of the church
services, and the maximum number of cars in the lower level were 28, which
means ... there were 330 vacant spots in that ramp during the most heavily used
time on Sunday.
Hayek: (both talking)
Moen: Thank you!
Hayek: ...wrap up. Thank you for your comments.
Dieterle: I'm Caroline Dieterle. Um, I'm a long-time opponent of TIFs. So, uh, my first
objection is the use of TIF money for a project of this sort. Uh, a quick visit to
the County Assessor or discussions with the Board of Supervisors... will, who
incidentally construct their own budget amongst themselves, which is something
the Council does not do, um, will tell you why TIFs are basically destructive to
life in Johnson County. So I do not favor TIFs and I certainly don't favor them
for something like this, which is certainly not, um, reclaiming a .... a blighted area,
in any way! But the other thing is is that it seems to me that the schism between
the rich and the poor is nowhere better, uh, shown than in retired people. Um,
because you either have to be incredibly wealthy or really on the edge of poverty,
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uh, to be able to live in downtown Iowa City if you're a retired person. People
of... of, uh, modest means, uh, simply can't. And I've lived here since 1968, paid
my taxes regularly (clears throat) and, uh, there's no way that I could do that!
And I'm sure there are a lot of other people who are in this same boat that I am,
and so I found the letter in today's paper, uh, rather offensive, that said that it
would attract people from outside to come and live in Iowa City as retired people.
So basically my tax money and the, by way of the TIFs, is being used to subsidize
people coming in here who haven't lived here before, who simply have a lot of
money and can come down here and buy one of the more expensive places to live
here. I don't think there's any fairness in that. The other thing is is that (clears
throat) I would like to point out ... that when recruiting people to come (mumbled)
to the University on ... not everybody is a, uh, highly -paid physician, um, and there
are going to be very few professors left because the University is downsizing too
in terms of its ex ... expectations for faculty, and more and more of the faculty are
adjunct faculty who are basically living on the edge of poverty. So to build places
where you think a lot of faculty are going to come and live, uh, is, uh, I think
short-sighted. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (applause)
Walters: I'm Jim Walters. I want to apologize for coming down tonight without cleaning
up. I .... I, uh, two hours after this hearing began I was out still working till dark
at, uh, Iowa City's only urban farm, Friendly Farm, um ... Iowa City is fortunate to
have, uh, one remaining family farm within the city limits and I was working
there tonight. I live six blocks east of this building, which means that this is my
neighborhood. I consider, uh... the east side a very important and sacred place.
My wife and I chose to live in this neighborhood, and moved to the east side 18
years ago, not just because we found a house that we liked, that we both liked, but
because Iowa City had ... zoning and commitment to preserving its neighborhoods,
and we trusted that commitment. Uh, now we are feeling that we are not willing
to honor that commitment, and that bothers me a lot! I'm ... I'm big on the golden
rule. Anybody who knows me well, knows that I'm big on the golden rule!
Which is ... for, to repeat it if you don't know it, it's do unto others as you would
have them do unto you. And I'm big on that. I ... you know, I come down here to
talk about speeding on the east side, which I'm big on, uh, I ... I don't come to
your neighborhoods. None of you live down here. Well, Jim lives in the north
side. I don't come to your neighborhoods and speed and drive 45 miles an hour in
a 25 mile an hour zone but some of you do that in my neighborhood and it bothers
me. Um ... and it bothers me when you say you want to change the zoning in my
neighborhood! So that you can build a 15 -story building. I'm ... can I change the
neigh ... the zoning in your neighborhood? So that I can build a 15 -story building?
Many years ago, we attended something called a `sharette,' uh, with the City
sponsored, that uh.... in regard to the construction of the parking ramp across the
street, and Nancy Sieberling, the late Nancy Sieberling, spoke eloquently against
the construction of... of that parking ramp, and she walked people down and
explained why the construction of that parking ramp would interfu with the
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viewscapes of the east side and... and destroy the symmetry of the neighborhood,
and she was ignored! And I think Nancy who ... is going to be honored later this
week, would be rolling in her grave! I think she'd be down here screaming at you
...about this project right now (laughs) I know she would! Uh... but ... um. ... my
biggest objection ... is ... that government has always served the wealthy. Most of
you are wealthy. Government has always served the wealthy. It... it comes with
the territory, but in the last few decades, not only has government served the
wealthy, it's pandered to the wealthy! You bend over backwards to ... to give
things away, to ... to serve the interests of people who don't need your assistance.
If this building that is proposed to be built a block from here stood on its own
merits, why on earth would you be giving tax money to assist the construction of
it? I mean, I agree with Caroline — this is preposterous! You know ... I'm not long
for this world and most of you aren't either. But... if... if we could come to a
point where we could agree that the role of government is not to serve the fucking
rich. It's to take care of widows and orphans! (applause)
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Fisher: I think it's appropriate that a Coralvillian close out. Linda Fisher. Um, and
supposedly I don't have a dog in this, or a horse in this race, but I do. And
uh... ironically I care a lot about... Marc Moen. And I think that you could do him
a bigger favor by denying the rezoning than you can by taking it to the... the... the
direction that ... he seems to want. He explained it himself. He's given up this,
and he's given up that, and given up more. And this is going to cost him ... a lot
more than if you say `no' as it were, and let him build where I suggested that he
build in the first place, which is south of Burlington Street. There he could go to
the 18 stories or the 20 stories, no problems, and I have heard no one say they
don't like what he does. It's just the location! The location, the location! That's
it!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Mildenstein: Hi! Uh actually Brian Mildenstein. I came here for other business but I've been
here so long that I thought (laughter) maybe I'd come in and, uh, weigh in a little
bit. Um ... I also live six blocks east of...of the building and, uh, personally I
think it's great. Kind of was hoping maybe it would be built while my daughter
could still get on the bowling team, but uh, maybe my son (laughter) um, honestly
and there are lots being made about that. Uh ... personally I remember when there
was a lot of debate about, um, whether or not we should change the rules for the
bars, and there's a lot of, uh, courage that you guys had to show for that, and
again, being in a downtown neighborhood in one of the historic neighborhoods,
um, we were told that ... you know, all the parties are going to move into your
neighborhood and um, that proved to not only not be true. That year was the
quietest year in my neighborhood and it has remained quiet since then. Um... and
I'm just hoping you guys have some ... have the courage to kind of stick with, uh,
the decision and with the, um, proposal that was solicited and, uh... and help the
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City move forward. It's ... it's good for the whole community, and I think the
point is really not that everyone can afford to live there. I'm probably not going
to move six blocks west, um ... and nor ... will everyone else, but I think it's about
the type of town and the direction that the town's going to go, and as much as, uh,
my family's been here ... I think I'm fifth generation. So my kids are sixth
generation Iowa City, um ... Matt's probably got me by a couple but ... (laughs)
um, but we've been here ... been here a while and uh, I like this town a lot, and I
live in an old house and I'm somewhat traditional in those ways, but ... um, we
gotta show some progress too (mumbled) you know, um ... think this is ... this is
going to be good for downtown. I hope you guys pass it. Thanks!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Is there anyone else during the public hearing?
Okay! Um, before ... we close the public hearing, here's how this works. I need
to take the temperature of Council, and if a majority of the Council is inclined to
support the rezoning, then we will ... um, entertain a motion to continue the public
hearing and defer first consideration, uh, until the June 2nd meeting, uh, which
will allow us to, uh, hold what's called a consultation with the Planning and
Zoning Commission. Um, and we would do all of those things, uh, at the June 2"a
meeting, but the ... whether we do that depends on whether there is a majority of
Council that supports the rezoning. So where are people? (several talking)
Mims: I tend to support it ... oh, go ahead!
Dobyns: I will support it!
Mims: I will as well.
Dickens: So will I.
Hayek: And I am supportive.
Throgmorton: There's four.
Hayek: Either of you? Okay. Nope? Okay, there appears to be four out of the six of us
who support, uh, the rezoning, which means that we will entertain the motion I
just mentioned.
Mims: I'll move to continue the public hearing and delay first consideration until the
June 2nd meeting.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion, and can we include with that
a ... the assumption that we'll offer the P&Z consult on June 2na. I don't know if
that needs to be part of the motion, but ... it doesn't? Okay. So moved...
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Throgmorton: (mumbled) ...continuing the public hearing.
Mims: Right.
Hayek: Yeah, and deferring first consideration. Yep! Uh, discussion?
Throgmorton: So, urn ... just ... just for clarification because people are in the audience. Will we
have an informal discussion of any kind about our responses to the proposal? Or
is that inappropriate (unable to hear person from audience) Oh, I'm sorry! I ... in,
out of respect to people in the audience who have spoke, I was just wondering
whether we will have any informal discussion about our responses to, uh... to the
proposed rezoning, or whether we can't have that kind of response... given the
motion to defer for another two weeks.
Dilkes: I wouldn't say that you can't, but I would advise against it, until you get to the
close of the pub ... public hearing.
Hayek: Yeah. Does that answer your question, Jim?
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Hayek: Okay! Okay, so, uh, the motion's on the floor. Any further discussion? All those
in favor say aye. Opposed say nay.
Throgmorton: It... it might be helpful to be very clear with the audience about why we're not
going to be talking about it. So... so that everybody really understands (both
talking)
Hayek: And -and I will be, Jim. I will be, Jim, but I need to know who's an ... who's an
aye on the motion to continue the public hearing.
Throgmorton: Oh, I thought we all said aye.
Hayek: Did ... okay, so ... any nays?
Botchway: Oh I thought, yeah, so ... aye. I apologize! I was misunderstanding.
Hayek: Okay!
Botchway: So aye!
Hayek: I'm going to count seven ayes on the motion. (several talking) Or six! Yeah,
that would be, uh (laughter and several talking) That'd be fuzzy math! (laughter)
All right, the ayes have it. That was a 7, or 6-0 vote to, uh, to continue the public
hearing, defer ... defer first consideration to the June 2nd meeting, and Eleanor,
correct me if I'm wrong, but I want to explain that the Council has not ... advised
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to discuss the many, many points that we heard this evening because the public
hearing is still open. It will be reopened at the June 2nd hearing, um, and we really
need to complete that process and, um ... people are certainly able and welcome to
come back, uh, because we ... we do need to open it up at that point in time. We
will complete the public hearing on June 2nd, and it will close on that date, and the
Council will take its first vote, uh, on the rezoning. So (unable to hear person
from audience) If you can come up, please.
(female): I understand that the next step is for the Council to confer with Planning and
Zoning. When and how will the public be made aware of the date and time of that
conference?
Hayek: So stay tuned, we're about to talk about the schedule going forward on this item.
(female): Okay!
Hayek: Okay, so 5c, uh, has been handled in that fashion, but um, apropos the comment
we just got. We as a Council, with the help of staff, need to determine the
schedule of this item going forward, and... as you know, fellow Councilors, in our
packet is a memo from... staff dated May 14t', um...
Mims: Page 235.
Hayek: It's page 235 of our packet, at least on the ... iPad. (laughs) Uh, with three
options for, uh... the ... the various steps going forward. Does staff want to
explain, uh... basically the thinking on this?
Dilkes: There are three options being given.
Mims: Your microphone, Eleanor.
Dilkes: Oh! There are three options being given, and I have to say Marian is really the
architect of this, so I'll do my best. Um ... but we have now that we know, um,
there was not going to be a vote at this meeting, we know how many meetings it
would take in the event, um, there was not a `no' vote at the ... at the first
consideration, and so that ... this schedule gives you three possible schedules for
accomplishing that. Um ... and ... the first one is ... and ... and the other big issue
we've got here is that, uh, Harvat Hall is going to be closed. Um, that's why your
schedule is currently set such that, um, June 6 ... you don't meet between June 16th
and ... and July 27th. Um ... so option A is ... just looking at your current calendar,
how you would accomplish that. Okay? The dates you currently have scheduled.
Um, and you'll see the, um, the ... the issues with option A at the bottom are ... is
that the de ... the developer's out of town on June 16th and key staff are not
available for the meeting on July 7th.
Hayek: 27th (several talking)
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Dilkes: Or 27th! Um, oh I should also note that this... this... this schedule includes not
only the rezoning, but all the other issues that have to be dealt with. The, um, the
vacation of the alley, um, the authorization for the bonds, the development
agreement, etc. Assuming it proceeds that far. Obviously at any point in time, if
there's a `no' vote, then the process is over. Um ... option B ... is, um, a schedule
that, um, would avoid those dates on which the developer is out of town and key
staff are not available, and the downside to that is that the approval would be
extended, uh, three months. Um ... option C is the option that would condense the
schedule, um, to complete it on June 8th to avoid those issues, as well as to
complete it before the, um, Council Chambers are unavailable.
Mims: My preference would be to go to ... with schedule C, and ... I think ... I think we
need to avoid schedule A simply because I think if we've got key staff missing,
I ... that's really, really critical to me if...if key staff are not available to be here. I
think the community is ... absolutely entirely engaged and ... on top of this, whether
they were for it or against it. Everybody is engaged at this point in time, and I
think to move forward while people are paying attention and can give their input
to the Council is very important. I think to stretch it out and... go from June 2nd to
August 18th, which is ... and then to September Is, which is ... I think you lose
traction for the public to be paying attention to what's going on and when the
meetings are scheduled. Again, whether people are for it or against it, I think it's
harder for them to keep track of the schedule and vacations and, you know, the
la ... the latter part of the summer. Um ... so my preference would be to go with C,
um ... like I say, people are engaged. They're on top of it, whether they're for it or
against it, either ... and regardless of what we select, the schedule will be very,
very public. Everybody will know when we're meeting, but I think it's easier for
people when you've got a shorter time frame out there so they ... they're not
forgetting about things and people are gone on vacation in the middle of the
summer.
Dobyns: I would also, uh, recommend option C to Council. Um, one thing I know about
Iowa City, if you want to decrease transparency, if you want to obscure an issue,
you move it into the summer. Um, when people aren't around. Um, I think in
this case, um, condensing it to make it when we are engaged and um, when
everybody is in town is, uh, consistent with optimal transparency, so I would
recommend C.
Dickens: I only have one problem with C is that I'm going to be gone that week, but I will
be able to phone in. So it ... I would have to do it over the phone, which I'm
willing to do.
Mims: Which meeting is that?
Dickens: I'm gone the week of...like May 30th through June 6th or 7th. So ... it is a little
difficult, but I can do it by phone.
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Hayek: I ... I think the thing that compels me on ... toward option C, I ... I think we're, it's
risky to hold meetings on an issue of this, uh, level of interest within the
community in the dog days of July and into August. So ... I think you mentioned
that, Rick.
Throgmorton: I ... I'm concerned that the, urn ... option C bit probably doesn't make much sense
to people out in the audience. Unless they've already seen, uh, the schedule, and
have a sense of what steps would take place and precisely when under option C.
That concerns me. Um, on the other hand, I ... I don't see a whole lot of merit in
dragging the process out, given the fact that four people have already indicated
they will support the rezoning. So ... I ... I don't want to be an obstacle for this.
There are a couple things that I do think are really important. One is, first to, um,
be as public as possible about what the schedule for option C really consists of.
Uh, secondly, uh, one of the key steps that I guess would take place on June 8, if I
read that schedule right, is a consideration of a developer's agreement. That is,
the agreement that involves a $12.1 million TIF. And if there's one issue that's
really been divisive, about this project, it's that component of it and, uh, so I don't
want to elaborate. I ... I don't want to get on a soapbox here. So I think, yeah,
here's what I just want to make sure we do. I don't ... I want to make sure we
don't schedule a meeting on June 86' at, I don't know, 7:00 A.M. or 9:00 A.M.
We've done that kind of thing before. So I think it's really crucial to schedule it
at a time when people in this audience, right now, or people who are watching or
have spoken, can be here. If, you know, if it's important that key staff be present
and if it's important for the developer to be present, it is also important for the
people to be present.
Mims: Oh definitely!
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Hayek: Absolutely, and... and... and... the memo in our packet, and it's hard if you're
watching or listening to this to follow, but ... but it was ... it was placed in there by
staff, at the direction of Council, at our last meeting, so that in the event we were
at this point of...of continuing the public hearing and ... and taking up, uh, first
consideration, that we know the various steps that, uh, are in front of us, um,
assuming it...it goes forward. You've got ... you've got the public hearing.
You've got three readings, and you've got ancillary things that go along with
the ... with a rezoning like this, and Jim, to your point, uh, a development
agreement at the end if it gets that far, and those are listed out with a lot of
specificity in here, um, and I think if we, um, select one of the options, I think we
would want staff to ensure that there be plenty of notice to the public, whether
through press releases or otherwise, uh, on the web site, etc., so that it...it is
perfectly clear, uh, when the points of engagement are for the community, on... on
this issue, and I think that can be done.
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Dilkes: I would just point out ... in respect to the question that was ans... asked earlier by a
member of the audience, um, that the schedule provides for P&Z considering the
request to consult, um, at their meeting ... on May 21St. So ... on Thursday... this
week.
Hayek: Yep!
Dobyns: My understanding, Eleanor, is that at Planning and Zoning when they considered
this, um, it was 6, uh, present, it was 3-3 so therefore it tied and therefore they did
not move it forward. So that fails, um, the motion then fails. My sense is that
since, um, we appear to be discrepant with what Planning and Zoning, that's what
causes the meeting to occur with Planning and Zoning on that Tuesday, June 2nd
Dilkes: We'll ... but the, what happens is that you offer, when that appears to be the case,
as it is here...
Dobyns: Uh huh.
Dilkes: ...you offer to consult with P&Z. They may decline that (both talking) consult, or
they may chose to have that consult. They will talk about that at their meeting on
May 21St and they will, if...if they accept that consult, that will be held, um, at the
work session, urn ... on the June 2nd meeting.
Dobyns: And just to clarify with my awareness of that is that Council listens to Planning
and Zoning. We may ask questions of clarification, but still the public, you know,
session is open and so if people are coming to listen to our rationale for our votes,
I don't think that's the meeting that they ... that necessarily happens. Is that true or
not?
Dilkes: It certainly is a public meeting and anybody can come to that discussion, that
consultation.
Dobyns: But if people want ... I (mumbled) in the, for transparency, I mean if...you know,
people have spent a lot of time tonight. If they want to come to hear why the six
of us have voted the way we did, that might nec ... necessarily be the most relevant
meeting, um (several talking)
Mims: ...formal meeting that same night.
Dilkes: I would say...
Dobyns: ...but later that night. I'm just saying it's the difference between 5:00 and 7:00.
Mims: Right!
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Dobyns: Um ... and I just don't want people to show up at 5:00 and not understanding what
we're doing.
Mims: I would just have one other ... ask staff one other point of clarification. Marian
had asked us to put Tuesday, June 90' down as a tentative meeting. This schedule
is showing Monday, June Wh.
Dilkes: I can't speak to that.
Mims: Okay. I just...
Markus: Julie, do you recall? What that conversation was?
Voparil: I checked Marian's preliminary calendar and she didn't have anything marked
down for June 90i, but I can certainly (both talking)
Hayek: ...I think this was quite a (several talking) I think this was months ago when
we... she just said as a placeholder keep that meeting...
Dilkes: We ... we've looked, I mean, we have spent hours trying to get this calendar put in
place (laughs) and so I'm fairly certain that June 8"' is the correct date.
Dobyns: I think it was a Monday. When we get into June it goes back to Monday for a
while.
Mims: Did it? Okay! Okay, just wanted (both talking) just wanted to make sure! Yep.
Thank you!
Hayek: Okay.
Botchway: I have one more ... kind of clarification question. I mean I would be supportive of
option C as well. My only question is is that since I wasn't on the Council at the
time, that the ... the development or the RFP was going in process, when would be
the time to weigh in or talk about, um, particular details or points to the
agreement?
Hayek: Well if you ... I guess I would say if you have questions about those... probably
ask that in the public hearing.
Botchway: Okay.
Hayek: When it's ... when it's reopened.
Botchway: Okay!
Hayek: Um...
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Mims: Or contact staff ahead of time.
Hayek: Or contact staff ahead of time (several talking) If you want comments on them, if
they sway you one way or the other, you know (both talking)
Markus: ...copy of the agreement too.
Hayek: Yeah!
Botchway: Okay!
Hayek: I would encourage you to reach out to staff and get ... get that ... before we
reconvene, uh, in ... on June 2"d. So...
Throgmorton: So I ... I want to bring up one more thing. Um, I ... not in the spirit of changing
what we were agreeing upon here, but I ... I do ... I would like to know which key
staff cannot be present on whatever the date was — June 16th or ... I don't know
what the date was.
Hayek: July 27th
Throgmorton: July 27th.
Dilkes: July 27th
Markus: I for one.
Dilkes: I think it ... Tom was the primary (both talking)
Throgmorton: Is there anybody else (several talking)
Markus: I'm not sure.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Hayek: Okay, is there a consensus to go with option C? In terms of the timing? Okay!
So we will get this information out to the public, uh, so it's very clear what the
junctures are and the meeting times and so on and so forth. So ... are we able to,
uh, move on or do you need another quick break before we reconvene?
Throgmorton: Me?
Hayek: (several talking and laughing) I keep (laughs)
Voparil: Can we have a motion to accept correspondence?
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Mims: So moved.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by, uh, Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Passes ... 6-0. Should we take a break? (several talking) Keep going?
(several talking) All right!
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Mims:
Dickens:
Hayek:
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ITEM 5d BLOCK 43 ALLEY [CHAUNCEY] — MOTION SETTING A
PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 2 ON VACATING THE WESTERN 160
FEET OF THE 20 -FOOT WIDE ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY IN BLOCK 43,
CITY OF IOWA CITY (VAC15-00001)
So moved.
Second.
Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I want to ask a question about this. Um, you know, we've gotten a lot
of information pertaining to the development. I don't remember seeing
before ... kind of hard to hear, right? (several talking) I don't remember seeing
before that the alley, or at least part of the alley, would have to be vacated. So
to ... to my way of looking at things, is news.
Dilkes: It's included in the RFP.
Mims: Yeah.
Throgmorton: Anywhere else? Cause you know I don't think we ever saw the RFP before it
went out. Way back when in 2012.
Dilkes: Well I think it's...
Mims: I remember it being (both talking)
Dilkes: I don't know (both talking)
Mims: I remember it being discussed with a presentation of the proposals and... and how
that played into it, cause we talked about ... we talked about Mid American. We
talked about the alley and then we talked about the property itself. So I mean,
I ... I recall it.
Throgmorton: Okay, so ... all right. There... there's a lot of information (both talking)
Mims: ...and it's been over a long period of time, as well (several talking)
Hayek: ...look at this and make a recommendation at its upcoming meeting. So we'll
have that vetting process, as well.
Throgmorton: Okay.
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Hayek: This just sets the public hearing. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries 6-0.
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ITEM 5e PLEIADES FIRST ADDITION — RESOLUTION APPROVING A
PRELIMINARY PLAT. (SUB15-00004)
Mims: So moved.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Mr. Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, this is a, uh, two -lot subdivision at the corner of North Dodge Street and
Dubuque Road. Uh, you considered the rezoning of lot 1 of this subdivision at
your last meeting where the medical clinic, uh, is proposed. This is the
preliminary plat, uh, accompanying that rezoning. Uh, the property would be
divided into two lots, with lot 1 being the mixed use zone for the medical clinic.
Uh, lot 2, uh, is zoned RS -5 single-family residential. Uh, there are, uh, steep and
critical slopes on the east side of lot 2, or the back of lot 2, uh, that ... uh, may not
be developed per the sensitive areas ordinance. Uh, the line where my mouse is
highlighting here is the construction limits line. Uh, east of that line, and this area
is occupied by woodlands. East of that line will not be permitted to be, uh,
disturbed. Also per the sensitive areas ordinance the total area of, uh, woodland,
uh, to be preserved is 58,000 square feet, or a little bit more than an acre, uh, of
woodland. Uh, it is a ... it was important in discussing this with the applicant that
a contiguous area of woodland be preserved, as opposed to splitting it up into
smaller, uh, pieces of...of wooded area. Uh, Planning and Zoning Commission
recommended approval. The staff recommends approval.
Hayek: Any questions for John? Anyone from the audience? Council discussion?
Dickens: I have to recuse myself. I live within 200 feet.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Uh, passes 5-0, Dickens recusing. Payne
absent, which I'm not going to repeat for every vote going forward, cause you see
the empty seat! (laughs)
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ITEM 7. CONCESSIONS AT TRUEBLOOD RECREATIONAL AREA -
APPROVING A CONCESSION AGREEMENT WITH FIN & FEATHER
H2O LLC FOR THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL RENTAL
EQUIPMENT AND FOOD SERVICES AT TERRY TRUEBLOOD
RECREATION AREA
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) This will renew the
agreement through August 3 I st, 2017 on the same terms, uh, that we currently, uh,
are under with Fin and Feather. Anyone from the audience? Public hearing is
closed. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Botchway: Move the resolution.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Dickens: They do a great job. I've taken my grandkids down there and ... (mumbled) so
I ... I think it's a great addition to our parks. (several talking)
Hayek: It's a very good partnership and it works really well in that location. Further
discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6-0.
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ITEM 8. COUNCIL COMPENSATION - ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE
TITLE 1, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION," CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED
"MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL," TO CHANGE THE REVIEW
PROCESS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR. (FIRST
CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Anyone from the audience?
Council?
Dobyns: This is just being, uh, put forward. There's been some recommendations, uh,
from the public that, um, perhaps compensation of Council should be more than it
is. Um, that's what this is about. The recommendation from staff is that we, um,
basically keep it consistent with the general increase, um ... you know, and the
economy by measured as the consumer... what the consumer price index in
perpetuity. So we don't, you know, necessarily have to look at this again, but
it'll... it will keep pace.
Hayek: Yeah, it's a ... it's a CPI increase. Right as I go off Council! (laughter) But this
comes ... I think it's important to note that this comes, this was one of the Charter
Review Commission's recomm ... recommendations to Council.
Dickens: (mumbled)
Throgmorton: When you come back, Matt!
Hayek: I'm not pulling a Throgmorton! (laughter) Further discussion? Roll call, please.
Passes 6-0.
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ITEM 9. ELIMINATION DEFAULT JAIL TIME - ORDINANCE AMENDING
TITLE 1, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION," CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED
"GENERAL PENALTY," AND TITLE 8, ENTITLED "POLICE
REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED "MISCELLANEOUS
OFFENSES," TO ELIMINATE THE DEFAULT PENALTY OF JAIL
TIME FOR UNSCHEDULED SIMPLE MISDEMEANORS AND
ESTABLISH THE PENALTY FOR INDECENT EXPOSURE. (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
Hayek: This is second consideration, but staff has requested expedited action.
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally
passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that
the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by Throgrnorton. Discussion? Anyone
from the audience? Council discussion? Roll call, please.
Mims: Move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Pass and adopt moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Roll call,
please. Passes 6-0.
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ITEM 13. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Hayek: Why don't we start down with you, Kingsley?
Botchway: Um ... I think I'm saying it right — entreFest is, uh, starting I think tomorrow
through Saturday. Um, just (several talking) through Friday? Through Friday.
Unfortunately I found out, uh, through my email that tickets are sold out, so I
might not be participating as I wanted to, but um, just something to support. I
think it's a ... it's a great kind of festival and event, and um ... and just something to
do.
Markus: Contact Simon and we'll see if we can't get you into a particular event if you
want to go.
Botchway: Simon? All right!
Throgmorton: Uh, it's late. Nothing.
Mims: Nothing!
Dickens: Real quick, uh, Towncrest Pharmacy will be receiving the Roots Award for 50
years in business tomorrow at 10:30. They're on, uh, Muscatine.
Hayek: Uh, briefly, a congrats to the City and West soccer teams. There's a big cross-
town rivalry and uh, the City High boys prevailed and the West High girls
prevailed, and uh... it's a great rivalry, but also congratulations to Jerry
Argenbright on 31 years of strong, strong leadership at West High. Um, he's
done, uh, great things for that school and for the community.
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ITEM 14. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
a) City Manager
Markus: Uh, we have our second, uh, International Fellow in the audience this evening,
Jennifer Yee, and I like to say this — she's from the Kingdom of Brunei and I'd
ask like Aria that she just come up and tell us just a little bit about herself
considering the hour. If she sounds like she has a little bit of Fargo accent, she
actually spent a year at Bemidji State Minnesota.
Dickens: Maybe about a ride with the police!
Yee: Aw! (laughter and several talking) Yeah! Um, good evening, everybody. Um,
it's been a long night (laughs) not going to talk too much! But thank you so much
for inviting us here and um, you know, for being so welcoming, uh, to both
myself and Aria. Um, my name is Genevieve. Uh, you can call me Gen for short.
I am from Brunei. Uh, Brunei is a small, uh, country on the island of Borneo that
borders with, um, Indonesia and Malaysia. We are about a population of 400,000
people. Um. ... um, with a, uh, the population is mainly Malay Muslim. Um, with
about ... 60% of the population, and the rest would be, um, Chinese and, um, other
indigenous folk. Um, I think as you already know with Aria we are here on a
(laughs) this, uh, professional Fellows Program with the U.S. State Department.
So, um ... you know, Tom, thank you so much. Mayor Hayek for your welcome,
um, to..to us here, and of course for Tom and Simon at the City Manager's office
for putting us up. Uh, they have been really very good to us (laughs) Uh, we
have been seeing a lot of the city, uh, we have toured the University... um, seen
the Kinnick Stadium, you know, um, got all the really... we did a police ride -along
recently last week and we're really enjoying ourselves immensely, so thank you
so much!
Hayek: It's great to have you! We have a lot of ties out... throughout the globe here in
Iowa City, um, and it's fun to bring new people in and I hope you, uh, learn from
us and I hope we can learn from you.
Yee: Yes, thank you so much!
Throgmorton: Welcome, Gen!
Yee: All right, thank you!
Hayek: Thank you so much.
Markus: So they went to their first baseball game this last weekend and we're going to get
`em out to a farm actually next week, so ... we're trying to get `em into the Iowa
Culture real quick! (laughter)
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Hayek: And, Tom, thanks to you and Debbie for hosting them, I mean, you're (both
talking)
Markus: We're happy to!
Hayek: ...what would, you know, be just a perfectly nice day with ... with your average
host family, a remarkable stay because you're taking them to all these places.
Markus: Simon's been really helpful.
Hayek: I know!
Markus: Coordinating all of this!
Hayek: Should have had `em throw out the first pitch at the Kernel's game! (laughter)
Markus: We got there a little late!
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