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ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2b Pride Month - June
Hayek: A couple of items ... I don't think we'll have ... we don't have a crowd, uh, right
now in the back, but if people assemble we will, uh, remind those, uh, who are in
attendance that, uh, this meeting is being live -streamed out in the lobby and also
at the conference room next door. We don't want people to congregate by the
door for, uh, fire code purposes, and secondly though you can't hear him, you...
or see him you can hear him, uh, Council Member Dickens is participating by
telephone. Second item is proclamations. Uh, we only have one to read this
evening and it's for Pride Month. It reads as follows. (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Jason Seaman, Iowa City Pride. (applause)
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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. Discussion? I will note for the public
that, uh, one of the consent items is, um, 3d(14), which is the CDBG Home, um,
amendment for housing projects. If there's anyone here to speak on that item,
now would be the time to come forward. Or on any of the other items on the
Consent Calendar. Okay! Further discussion?
Throgmorton: Matt, I wanted to mention that we're scheduling, uh, setting June 16`" is the date
for a couple public hearings. Uh, one of `em has to do with rezoning almost
seven acres ... almost eight acres on the west side of Miller Street from RS -8 to
OPD -H...8, uh, for an innovative co -housing project. And the other has to do
with rezoning about 4/1 Oths of an acre on the 700 block of south Clinton from CI -
1 to RFCCX. How many people in the room know what RFCCX is? (laughs)
Probably not too many. I mean, it's a complicated thing. Anyhow I just wanted
to ... note those two public hearings.
Hayek: Further discussion? 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' agenda that you would like to bring to our
attention, we invite you to come forward and our standard practice is to ask you to
sign in, uh, verbally give us your name, and to keep your comments to five
minutes or less. Is there anyone during community comment?
Adams: Good evening. My name is, uh, Adil Adams, American Taxi. I was here a couple
of times, and last time I request, uh, financial assistance (mumbled) papers
requesting that, and I put the details. Uh, since (mumbled) and I think the
(mumbled) subcommittee but until now we didn't receive anything. I talk to
(mumbled) today and she said, uh, maybe next meeting. So I wanted (mumbled)
reconsider my request again. Last time I was sick, I didn't show up. So if they
can ... uh, give me some assistance to my company, because now the insurance has
become very high and uh, the last, uh ... regulation (mumbled) new regulations,
they cost us a lot of money. So we are dying now but is still alive. Hopefully to
look to my (mumbled) give it to Marian next meeting or next (mumbled) could do
that (mumbled) Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you, sir. Anyone else for community comment? Okay! Moving on to
Item 5, Planning and Zoning Matters.
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 5a ZONING AMENDMENT FOR HOSPITALS — ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 14: ZONING TO CREATE AN EXEMPTION FROM
THE FLOOR AREA RATIO LIMITATION AND ESTABLISH NEW
HEIGHT STANDARDS FOR HOSPITALS LOCATED IN THE
COMMERCIAL OFFICE (CO -1) ZONE.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Mr. Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, John Yapp, Development Services. Uh, this item was brought to our
attention, uh, by architects working with Mercy Hospital on plans for a new
building at the corner of Johnson Street and Jefferson Street, uh, as shown on the
aerial photo. Uh, this area's currently a surfaced, uh, parking lot. Uh... (clears
throat) Excuse me. Prior to the, uh, 2005 Zoning Code rewrite, uh, there was a
provision in the zoning code that exempted, uh, hospitals, uh, which existed in
1962 from, uh, the dimensional requirements in the Zoning Code. Uh, because
this clause was deleted during the Zoning Code rewrite, uh, the buildings that
currently exist, uh, the Mercy Hospital buildings that currently exist on ... on this
block are non -conforming. Uh, this is due to the floor to area ration requirement,
uh, in the City's Zoning Code, uh, which requires that for any ... uh... commercial
office use, across from a residential zone, the floor to area ratio may be no more
than one, or one square foot of floor area for every one square foot of lot area.
The Mercy Hospital complex is across, uh, Johnson Street from, uh, residentially -
zoned properties. Uh, staff discussed this and uh, the solution is ... is to, uh,
reinsert a clause related to hospitals, uh, but not a full exemption from the
dimensional requirements as previously existed. Uh, staff recognizes that Mercy
Hospital is a long-standing, uh, member of the Northside Neighborhood, uh, but
we also recognize that there should be some design considerations, uh, for taller
buildings. Uh, so what is proposed is that... hospitals be exempt from the floor to
area ratio limitation, uh, and may exceed the height limit up to 65 -feet, provided
that when they are across the street from a single-family residential zone, uh,
building facades above the first ... above the third story are stepped back at least
20 -feet, uh, from the third story fagade. Uh, what this accomplishes is to maintain
a two-story, uh, fagade at the street face, or at the pedestrian level, uh, but as that
it stepped back, uh, at least 20 -feet toward the interior of the lot, uh, may be able
to go taller. Uh, this, uh, required setback may be established at a lower story, but
at least 25 -feet above grade. Uh, as we reviewed the code, uh, we also found
another clause which, uh... we recommend being amended is that the maximum
floor to area ratio requirement, A ... be one flor... floor to area ratio when you are
across from a single-family residential zone. This would be ... apply to all
commercial office zones, uh, not just hospitals ... or not hospitals, excuse me, uh,
but wouldn't... this would not ... this limitation would not apply if you're across
from a multi -family, commercial, or industrial zone. Uh, the intent of this
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requirement was not to limit, uh, commercial office buildings when they are
across from multi -family commercial or industrial zones, only single-family
zones. Uh, and again, hospitals would be exempt from this particular, uh,
requirement. Uh... staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission have
recommended approval of this amendment.
Hayek: Any questions for John (both talking)
Yapp: ... questions?
Payne: The only question that I have is when you were talking you said it would be
stepped back at the ... at the second story.
Yapp: Uh, third story!
Payne: Okay!
Yapp: Beginning at the third story, or above the second story.
Payne: So the third story would be setback... stepped back?
Yapp: That's correct.
Payne: But it says `building facades above the third story are stepped back,' so to me that
means the fourth story is stepped back.
Yapp: Uh, the intent is at the third story. Uh, you're right, it does say above the third
story fagade. And at least 25 -feet above grade.
Payne: So is the intent that that should stay ... say above the second story?
Yapp: I'll clarify that with the, uh, staff person that drafted this.
Payne: Okay.
Hayek: So the ... the actual, the language of the actual ordinance ... is consistent with
what's on the screen. Can ... do you want us to amend that or ... treat it as (both
talking)
Dilkes: I think we need to find out what ... what the plan is. Is it above the second or
above the third story, and then ... then we can decide.
Payne: So should we defer?
Hayek: Want us to continue the hearing and defer consideration?
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Dilkes: Why don't ... why don't I talk to John and ... you can continue your public hearing
and...
Hayek: Okay! Okay, so you guys confer. Is there anyone here from the audience who
wishes to address us during the public hearing on this item 5a? It's going to be a
short public hearing! (laughter) A horse walks into a bar ... (laughs)
Throgmorton: Well one of the things 1 was going to ask about had to do with what ... how this
would apply to other CO -1 zones, cause I was concerned that there might be...
the amendment might actually affect those other zones, uh, in ... worrisome ways,
but apparently that's not the situation, because it applies explicitly to hospitals.
So ... I don't ... my worry has gone away! And I just consumed about a minute.
Best I can do (laughs)
Markus: Maybe we could defer to later in the meeting (mumbled) with the staff.
(mumbled)
Dobyns: Move to defer to later in the meeting.
Hayek: Hold on a second! What would you like us to do?
Dilkes: That's fine!
Hayek: Defer to (both talking)
Dilkes: Sure!
Hayek: All right!
Dobyns: Move to defer till later in the meeting.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: I'll treat that as a motion, uh, from, uh, Dobyns, seconded by Throgmorton to
defer the public hearing, uh.... to continue the public hearing until later this
evening, uh, and defer first consideration until the public hearing closes. Further
discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Terry, you an aye?
Dickens: Aye!
Hayek: Okay! That's a 7-0 motion! We'll take up 5a later this evening.
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
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ITEM 5b NORTHEAST CORNER OF COLLEGE STREET AND
GILBERT STREET (CHAUNCEY) — REZONING APPROXIMATELY
0.62 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST
CORNER OF COLLEGE STREET AND GILBERT STREET, FROM
PUBLIC (P-1) AND CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5) TO
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CB -10) (REZ15-00006)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: I'm going to, uh, reopen (bangs gavel) the public hearing, uh, from our last
meeting. Before we get started, are there any ex parte communications that
people need to disclose, and you've got something...
Payne: Yes! I need to recuse myself due to conflict of interest with my employer, as I
stated at our last meeting. So I will be ... vacating.
Hayek: Well good night! Any ex parte communications from the rest of us to disclose,
from ... the most recent, uh, meeting? Okay! John!
Yapp: Uh, just a quick recap from staff. Uh, this is regarding the northeast corner of
College Street and Gilbert Street, as shown on the attached, uh, overhead. Uh,
this is the aerial photo of that property. Uh, and an image of the ... uh, existing
condition of the property. Uh, we had two questions at the last meeting for which
we prepared some additional information. One was, uh, the height of other
buildings in the downtown area. Uh, this is an image showing, uh, building
heights of other buildings in the downtown area. A majority of the buildings in
the downtown are between two and four, uh, stories in height. Uh, there are three
buildings, uh, over 10 stories, and those are the, uh, buildings shown in red on the
attached overhead. Uh, and the location of the, uh, property under consideration
tonight is at, again, at the northeast corner of College Street and Gilbert Street.
The other request was for a side-by-side, uh, comparison of the initial, uh, project
that City Council selected, uh, approximately two and a half years ago. The
image on the left is the, uh, 20 story version of The Chauncey. Uh, the building
on the right is the, uh, current proposal, the 15 -story proposal. The, uh, main
distinctions are, of course, the overall height of the building and the height of the
base of the building. Uh, the 20 -story version had three stories of office above
two stories of commercial, or five, uh, stories in total, uh, at the base of the
building. With the 15 -story version, one floor of office, uh, use has been
eliminated, uh, bringing the base of the building to four stories, uh, and a lot of
staff's discussion with ... with the applicant, or excuse me, with the, uh, developer
during the negotiation process was that the, uh, bringing that base down to four
stories, uh... is more in line with the, uh ... predominant building height in the
downtown of two and four stories for the base of that building. Uh, it also
brought the step -back, uh, of the tower, uh, lower, uh, at the fourth story. With
that, any questions for staff?
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Hayek: (both talking) John.
Throgmorton: I ... I'd like to ask two questions, John.
Yapp: Sure!
Throgmorton: I meant to ask `em last... in our last meeting, but there were so many people who
wanted to speak, I ... I didn't want to consume time to do it. And I ask these
simply for clarification and full disclosure. So the first is, were City streets and
City right-of-way treated as property within the 200 -foot boundary?
Yapp: Yes. They ... they were.
Throgmorton: Okay. And second, thank you ... and is it standard practice to include City -owned
property in those 200 -foot kinda calculations?
Yapp: Yes, it is.
Throgmorton: Because it's property.
Yapp: That's correct. Uh, we simply take a 200 -foot radius around the, uh, area
proposed for rezoning.
Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks!
Yapp: Thank you.
Throgmorton: And thank you for showing the side-by-side thing and ... coming up (both talking)
Yapp: You're welcome, and I ... I believe the developer can provide more details on the
side-by-side comparison if... if Council wishes.
Botchway: I thought ... see I thought last time I ... I kinda wanted a ... overview of the entire
city, from that perspective. Maybe I didn't ask it. Maybe I'm misremembering,
but uh... thought I ... thought I asked at the last meeting, and I think you showed it
here when the ... in the previous photo, but I guess that isn't what I wanted to see
(both talking)
Yapp: Yeah, this is more of a ... map, if you will.
Botchway: Yeah. Okay. Can you leave it on that one?
Yapp: Sure!
Hayek: Okay, thanks, John.
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Yapp: Thank you.
Hayek: Um, so this is a public hearing. We ... this was continued from our last meeting
and, um, I see many faces in the crowd who spoke to us. There's another
opportunity this evening if you wish to address the Council. We'll follow the
same approach of four minutes per person, but I would say this — I think, uh, the
Council will benefit from voices we have not yet heard. So if there's someone in
the crowd who has not yet spoken on this item at a public hearing, uh, I would
encourage the crowd to defer to those individuals, let them go first, uh, and then if
you believe you, uh, need to address us a second time, the first time having been
at our last meeting, you may do so. But I think that will, um, promote a diversity
of...of input. So ... and, uh, in keeping with our practice again as 1 said four
minutes, but also please sign in and give us your name verbally.
Neades: Okay, Rebecca Neades, Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. I'm also an
Iowa City resident, 3341 Rohret Road. Um, three points I'd like to make is one,
uh, I really truly believe that vertical infrastructure is critical to our downtown to
fill in and it's the highest and best use of that property. Um, I think that it's
important that we have a diverse housing stock, and so right now we have ... for
years we have been, um, very heavily populated downtown by student
populations, and that's great and it brings vitality and energy to our community,
but I think for a downtown that serves all, it's important to have, um, different
levels and different types of housing downtown, and this provides a different, um,
type of housing that we don't have a lot of in our downtown, and um, thirdly, uh,
I think that this developer is very responsible (mumbled) an amazing job of kind
of changing and tweaking this project, and ... really appreciate the fact that he
listens and he's made some pretty significant adjustments, and is listening to the
community as well for bowling alleys, quality of life things that are lacking in our
downtown besides just, um, we have theater and we have great restaurants, but we
also have a very active bar scene, and so this gives, um, people something else to
do with their time downtown Iowa City and of course we want to draw them
there. So, thanks for your time!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Neades: You're welcome!
Sorensen: My name is Donna Sorensen. I've lived in Iowa ... 59 Acorn Court in Iowa City.
I've lived here for 28 years and never attended a City Council meeting.
Hayek: Welcome!
Sorensen: Thank you (laughter) Um, I'm here tonight because in talking with friends,
neighbors, relatives, and others, I hear so often my own personal thoughts echoed,
and that is of absolute, strong, adamant support for the rezoning request that
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would allow this project to go forward. Um, certainly looking at the work of the
City staff, the City staff has done on evaluating, um, and getting objective and,
uh, solid information to support it. Obviously that carries weight. I think, and
...and I'd like to pretty much echo everything the previous speaker just said, but I
think we have a developer who has thoughtfully listened to the objections and the
opinions of others with differing views and made adjustments as we just saw in
the photos, moving from the 20 to the 15 -story, um, project, and I think we, you
know, we all want a vibrant and a relevant downtown and I think this is exactly
the kind of project, I won't repeat everything the previous speaker just said, but
this is innovative entertainment space, um, it's a creative use of the space all the
way around. I mean first class offices. That would be a nice addition to the town.
It's elegant architecture and as we know from previous projects with this
developer, um, the projects are well-maintained and, um, well cared for, and it
really adds to what we have. Um, we do have many students, but we have a lot of
us who are far past student age who want a place to gather, to spend our time, to
spend our money, to support our local communities, and this is the kind of thing
we need to be able to, um, to add to and expand on and continue what we have.
It's 25 minutes up the road to the Cedar Rapids, which is doing a lot of innovative
development with its New Bo area and the entertainment venues and other things
downtown, and while it's great to run up there occasionally, uh, most of us would
really like to focus and ... and spend our own time, our visitors and family and
friends who come from out of town, um, and spend our time, spend our money
here. So ... I would just very strongly encourage and ... and suggest we move
forward with this. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Mardis: Good evening, I'm Carol Mardis. My husband and I met many, many years ago
here in Iowa City as students. We were both graduate students, and over the years
as we're deciding on where we would like to relocate, uh, we happened to see the
new build that's coming up and would ... really excited that we may have the
opportunity to be a resident here in Iowa City, and so we are looking, um, at the
development and all that it entails, and as two, uh, professional people, uh,
looking for a vibrant type of lifestyle, the Iowa City, uh, particular property does
meet our needs and we're just excited that the potential is there for us to gain
residency in Iowa City at this type of...this type of facility, uh, as we look over,
you know, we want something that's nice, uh, something that's new, something
that accommodates multi -use, and so seeing this particular development in the
potential, uh, gives us the hope that we will be able to be future residents in Iowa
City at a downtown location. Uh, it's something that as we are going through our
life that we would like to live downtown and the things that the Iowa City
community offers, and particular this property with the multi -use gives us that
aspiration that perhaps we will be able to, uh, be residents here in Iowa City at a
location that would meet our upcoming needs and so we are, we're looking
forward to something of this sort, uh, being built and would hope that the Council
would take this on and ... and that the zoning would be approved so that this would
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be something that we would be able to approach immediately as we're making
our decisions and we do ... Iowa City is the place and so we do, we hope that this
would be something that will be developed. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Knight: Hi, my name is Roger Knight. I've come up here on a few occasions about this,
but ... not when it's actually time (laughs) so, um ... I just wanted to say ... what are
we selling the City for? If you go into Coralville, it's lost ... its old ... its old ways.
You mean it looks ... new, it looks great, but ... there's no sense of its history
anymore. It just ... like someone, hey! (makes sound) There's a new town. And,
I mean, seriously, it looks like that! I mean go down 5`" Street. Remember how it
used to be open, you know it was kind of...barren, but ... it was history! You
know? Look at the historic building, kind of ran down but ... fix `er up! Well...
that is nothing Iowa City. Nothing! It has ... the designer's idea of what a
building should be, but it has nothing that says Iowa City to it. I don't mean big
sign, hey, welcome to Iowa City! I mean ... red brick ... it looks like it's been here
for a while, not ran down but like it should be here! You have two buildings that
are glass. You're gonna take this building pretty close to the sidewalk. You're
going to get the exact same feeling as Coralville has. When did this town get put
here? It wasn't here five years ago, it doesn't look like! Just, uh... think before
you vote. I think... it needs to be voted down. There's so many other things that
could be put there. I think they're on the right track. But they're far from
listening to actual Iowa City citizens that have been here forever, and we're losing
it! We're losing our old town, and it's gettin' to a point where, sure ... maybe it's
for any age a little bit more, but money shouldn't come into it. I can't afford to
live here, really! There's no way I could get rent. And any building like this,
with high-class, is helping... everyone else to raise the rent up. Just wanted to...
bring that to your attentions and hope you, uh, vote it down. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Payne: Good evening, my name is Roberta Payne. Uh, 768 Westside Drive. I'm a
transplant from New York City and I'm retired here in Iowa City. I've been
reading in the paper about the building going up and ... I got excited! I got
excited, number one, there ... it's going to be a bowling alley there. Um ... for me
to go or take my grandchildren. It's a dark road going to the bowling alley that,
the only one that I know that's there. And when I look at this building, I see, you
know, I see hope. I see hope for Iowa City. You know ... for me, volunteering...
one thing I know about Iowa is, they don't like change! You know, if everything
stayed the same, Iowa would be very happy. But change is what's happening in
this world. Cell phone and everything else. Not to have a building, and I saw the
corner, and I'm thinking where the building's going to be built — that's kind of a
sore eye! And not to want a building that can add to Iowa City, I mean I ... I don't
understand it. Because Iowa City is going to grow. Technology is growing. And
with that, people are coming to Iowa City. I have a friend, um, from New York
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came to Iowa City cause their mother was here, and she said no way am I going to
live here. But then when the Vetro came up, she saw it — that's a place where she
can be. So when you think about Iowa, you think about the old Iowa — it's going
to stay this way, it's going to be this way and nothing's going to change. You're
not gonna...you're not gonna create job opportunities, you're not going to create
people to come here. When I see the buildings .... I go ... I go downtown now.
Before I really didn't go downtown, because to me downtown wasn't the
downtown that I knew. Iowa is becoming a downtown city ... that's going to
attract people. You're going to have money by attracting people. You're going to
have the ... it's not a place ... I'm retired here, but it's not for old people to come
here and retire, I mean I'm not an Iowa ... you know, downtown, but you can have
everything. You can have what you want in the rural areas, and you can have a
vibrant downtown if you want a vib... a vibrant downtown. And I ... I wish that
people will see that the world is moving. I'm sure a lot of these people that want
things to stay the same didn't want a cell phone. They didn't want a computer.
But you can't live without one now! So please, you know, think progressively.
Think about what it'll bring to your community. Think about the people that will
come. Think about the money that you would get. Think about people just
coming and ... and enjoying bowling. There's going to be a movie! I mean, how
could you not have something that's going to help all the people? So, that's all I
have to say and thank you so much!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Isokovich: Good evening, my name is Martin Isokovich. I live in 221 E. College Street here
in Iowa City. I'm originally from Slovakia, Czechoslovakia. I've been in Iowa
for 15 years, Iowa City nine years, and I think Iowa's a great state. This is a great
city. Offers a lot of diversity, lot of culture, lot of history. There is a lot of
history that deserves preserving, you know, being from Czechoslovakia
(mumbled) Goosetown (mumbled) sign, says (unable to understand) It's in
Czech! There is Preucil School of Music. There is the old cemetery. There is the
Old Capitol. There is Englert. All of these things, I guess, are worth preserving
and they are being preserved. I think Iowa City's growing, it's changing, and it's
progressing, such as the world is. I think we need to take the opportunity,
advance, build new Iowa City. The one that some people know. I don't because I
haven't been here for that long, but I see Iowa changing. Iowa City changing, and
I think the building will support not only the diversity that we are striving for, uh,
but will also extend the opportunities for vibrant downtown. Lot of people said it
before me, I think downtown should be opened not only for students, for bars, but
it should be open for adults, for children. We have playgrounds. We have
restaurants, and I think it's a natural evolution of downtown to expand to the
parking lot that is not (mumbled) and I think it's a ... a very great opportunity to
expand and built. I live in, uh, Marc Moen's building, the ... the, uh, the Plaza
Towers and I work at Mercy Hospital, so I walk to work every day. Pretty much
every other day I try to be little bit creative how I walk to work, but every other
day I kind of like wiggle through the area, and it's a sore eye. I think it needs
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development. I think this is going to naturally extend the downtown, extend the
pedestrian zone. I think it's a good idea, and the people that are behind it,
specifically Marc and Monica that live here. They're not some investors from
New York. Uh, Monica watered the plants, uh, every... every night (laughter) uh,
they care about a community, such as I do. I'm here because I like Iowa City. I
love it, and I want to stay here for years to come, and I think this is a great idea!
Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Moreland: Good evening, I'm Kate Moreland. Uh, I'm an Iowa City resident, live at 914
Honeysuckle Drive. Uh, I work for Iowa City Area Development Group, and so
I'm here, um, on behalf of them tonight. We do support the rezoning and The
Chauncey project for three, um, important reasons. Uh, to remain vibrant, the
City, uh, and to be able to afford to invest in the infrastructure and the social
services that we, our residents, have come to expect, we need to continue to grow
the tax base. Large projects like this are the most expedient way to be able to
tackle the budget challenges that lie ahead and still maintain the vibrant
community for all of our citizens. Secondly, this project, uh, was the result of a
public RFP ... that sought to create a big, bold structure on this specific vacant lot.
The developer responded to the RFP in accordance to the Council's own goals,
and has been amenable to refining his proposal on behalf of the community's
wishes. He's demonstrated a successful track record, uh, to ... um, with both of his
buildings, maintaining these iconic structures, and paying the TIF ahead of
schedule. He's also significantly added to the tax base of our community. And
then lastly, uh, for Iowa City to thrive, we need to grow our population. We hear
from our businesses every day that work force is their biggest concern. We need
more people, and this type of project provides housing, office space, and
entertainment options, which are attractive to residents from across the globe, and
you've heard from some of them tonight. It's essential that we grow our
community for future generations, not the past. We ... communities that are really
laying out visions, that future generations are going to support, are the ones that
are going to succeed. We meet with companies and new residents weekly, and
our vibrant downtown is quickly becoming an attraction, uh, that we need to
continue to build on. Future generations want density, accessibility, and a
positive environmental impact and this project has all of those things. Lastly, on a
personal note, I've lived in Iowa City for 20 years. We have a downtown
business. My husband has a business downtown, and we've chosen to raise our
family here, and I've watched the downtown resurgence over the last five years
and it's very exciting. Our family loves to come downtown. We have friends
now that live downtown, um, and ... I think that it's critical that we keep moving
forward. Um, I'm missing two baseball games to be here tonight, so I will just
leave you with this thought. Progress means taking risks. You can't steal second
base if you're still on first! So, thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
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Cilek: Hi, I'm Dan Cilek. I live on Oakland Avenue. Uh, I've lived here all my life, 58
years, and uh... I think most of the people I know, uh, that have lived here this
long, that I talk to about this project, are all in favor of it. So I think there's a
misconception that, um, "real Iowa Citians are against it." But I'm here mainly,
uh, representing Meta Communications. We're located, uh, in 201, uh,
Washington. We moved our company down there, and uh, it's been very
successful. I think the thing I would like to emphasize, I know I've talked to
everybody here before, uh, is just how important that this type of building is to
business. Um, it, uh, has the, uh... high speed internet. It has the utilities, uh, the
...the, uh, that are high ... high efficient utilities. It's got the type of, uh, amenities
that people want to work in — glass, steel, concrete, that type of thing, and so
when you're recruiting nationwide, like we are, when you can bring people to
Iowa City and they come into our building and it's not a real let down to `em, uh,
that's pretty exciting, and so I think there's other businesses out there like ours
that would also like to probably relocate here. Uh, we have a great workforce,
great university, and uh, I just encourage everybody on the Council to vote in
favor. Thanks!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Cole: My name is Rockne Cole and I reside at 1607 E. Court Street. Um, I think we
sort of know what the outcome of this proceeding is going to be tonight. Um, the
...we are going to get at least four votes for CB -10. Um, one thing though I'd
like to address, sort of a very technical issue, and that is really the cost associated
with height, because you cannot ignore the height without looking at the cost, and
in particular the public investment that's being made and being asked to be...
from City taxpayers. We've had at least two or three different proposals. I think
at one point they talked about a $12.1 million money up front. Latest it's looking
like it's a 14.1 million, uh, money upfront TIF. It looks like that the public parcel
is going to be given away. These are very significant issues, and I think what's
most troubling to me is that we've known since January of 2013 that we were
looking at this sort of development, yet we have had virtually no input in terms of
the mechanics of the financing. I checked the meeting packet tonight and maybe
Eleanor could confirm for me. I did not see a copy of the actual development
agreement. Um, I know that that was going to be maybe for June 8t', but we're
talking about, uh, that we're going to address the financial component of this, but
one of the things we've learned is, is that the technical specifications are triggered
at five stories or more. These buildings are en... enormously expensive because
they were call ... they require a steel shell to `em. They're... they're enormously
expensive to maintain. Think the ... the troubling thing here is that here we are
nearly two and a half years later and we're going to vote on the access, on the
public funding June 8b, yet at least I'm not aware that we've actually had the
agreement in hand for us to review. We're looking at a week for the opportunity
to review at least a $15 million investment that ... that this community is being
asked to, um, invest in this project, and I think that we've heard all the talking
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points, but the reality of this project is the following. This is not a project that is
for mixed income. It is for a very specific segment of our community, and I think
when we look at the ... the comments that we're going to be focusing on on June
8t', that's where we're really going to focus on is whose being left out by these
public dollars. Whose voice isn't heard? Who maybe lives here but doesn't have
access, the...the same amount of access the developer has here? I think the
greatest tragedy of this case is that ... I agree with a lot of the fine people that have
spoken on behalf of Chauncey. We believe in mixed use. We believe in
entertainment. We believe in development, contrary to the statement about us
being against change, we love the vertical development that's happening to the
south of Burlington, and have repeatedly emphasized that. We are not against
change. We are good. What we are for is neighborhood -centered growth with
adequate community input, as well as transparent oversight. The reality is is that
we remain in the dark about key aspects of the funding mechanism, which we will
be here again on June 8`t'. So I urge you to vote no, um, because this project is
going to be enormously expensive for the community and we're not going to get
much out of it. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Dilkes: Mr. Mayor, for purposes of clarification, the development agreement has been on
file since May 28t' in the City Clerk's office. Uh, that was the date on which the
public hearing was set, and that is standard practice.
Hayek: Thank you.
Cassell: Hi, um, my name's Ada Cassell, uh, born and raised in Iowa City. My parents are
Martin and Julie. Um, my father's been a professor at the University of Iowa for
34 years and my mom continues to take part and play music and making Iowa
City's community events as wonderful as they still are today. Um, so first, I'd
like to start by saying that if we have to rezone and rebuild on this corner of
Gilbert and College, I think it should be towards a new City Hall for politically
inspired residents of Iowa City. Um, instead of overheating, although it feels kind
of nice tonight, um, and forcing people to sit in the foyer of the `cop shop' and the
conference room, and listen to an echoed version of the meeting, um, the City
Council could be selfish this one time and revamp this corner for our own sake.
Um, and as it stands now, the space is still publicly owned, and judging by the
community's divided response to the Moen's Group really generous proposal, it
seems like the public doesn't want to sell its land right now, and more
importantly, it doesn't want to pay for someone else to build bowling alleys and
new condos on it. Um, I urge Marc Moen and certain Members of the City
Council to start realizing this mistake of a business plan, not because the offer
wasn't genuinely considered, but because the city seems to have spoken, and
downtown pedestrians aren't excited about what's being done anymore (laughs)
so this building will not be as accessible as many of its proponents think that it
will, but I think that if more concessions are made, that tend to the needs of the
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entire resident community and not just those with a financial interest in the future,
that an overwhelming majority will show up and give unwavering support and
things can start moving along. Um, and about the shadow, my dad recently
walked down to that empty lot and measured how much sunlight Trinity Church
would maybe have to lose if this 15 -story complex is built, um ... and it's around
three hours, or we think give or take, um, for the seasons, but ... and he feels the
same as a lot of other citizens, which is to support Marc Moen and ... but he
doesn't think that the shadow argument is disgusting. Um, but as it was
previously described, but um, he knows that Marc Moen has done great things for
this town and we would like to see what he would do next. Um, cause after all the
Plaza Towers and countless other buildings in town are truly (laughs) priceless
additions to our vibrant community, and I agree, but I also think that many others
will too when I say that this echo of our own voices that we can hear is extremely
distracting for people who try to make a difference at these public hearings and
try and listen and be involved. Um, and maybe it sounds kind of naive right now,
but I do think that with the time and money already invested by the Moen Group,
I don't see why we have to kick the group to the curb completely, but ... or start
from scratch, but why couldn't they come up with a different idea or one that's...
involved more in the community since we mentioned that people haven't been
involved, um, in its like financial planning, uh, and if it comes to it, though I hope
it doesn't, I'd like to form a coalition against the echo instead, which my mom
helped me come up with. Um, because this ... like the uncomfortableness of City
Council meetings will have to end some day if this City's really going to expand
as much as everyone keeps talking about it expanding. So ... but to sum up
(laughs) uh, I'd like to thank Council Members Jim Throgmorton and Kingsley
Botchway and other members of the community have spoken. Just for promoting
transparency and public involvement in our political life, uh, I think both sides of
the argument should look around and realize that we don't have to keep fighting
and that we could have already had something built. Thank you (both talking)
Hayek: ... comments.
Cassell: ... listening!
Farkas: Hi, I'm Linda Farkas. I've been here before too and I'm here to support, uh, the
project for The Chauncey. Uh, I am a retired banker and I see it as an incredible
opportunity to increase our ... our business area. Um, I have the opportunity to... l
live, I have just moved into the Plaza, I will tell you that right now, but I've had
the opportunity to see the Moen Group at work before I moved here in December,
and I'm ... I guess the thing that I'm a little confused about is I've ... I'm on a
couple boards in downtown that help people, and any time we need help we go to
the Moen Group. And they're very generous in how they help our community.
So when you're making your decisions, remember what they give back. Thank
you.
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Farkas: Good evening, I'm Ed Farkas and I just want to support what my wife has just
said. Think about ... not only the monetary costs of this project but what the Moen
Group does for the City in support, building the... community. Think about that,
and how that could be with The Chauncey. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Cochran: Hi, my name is Kathy Cochran. I live at 2665 Triple Crown Lane in Iowa City,
Iowa, condo #6. So I think that affordable housing is something that I know
about, whereas a lot of people who have been talking don't know about. I have...
very basic, um, I'm not middle income, and ... the fact that this project, um, I think
that we should have progress and we should have building on this corner, but this
is one of those things that the City Council often talks about how horrible it is and
they wring their hands and they give lip service to the fact that we have kind of
pushed, um, affordable housing to certain segments of the city, but this continues
to push affordable housing to certain areas of the city. A multiple use project like
this isn't going to have affordable housing and I realize that affordable housing is
a subject... subjective term, but to me affordable housing is when somebody who
has a college education is trying to have, um, or not a college education, but is
maintaining a full-time job and has what is considered to be a living wage of over
$11 still can't afford to live in downtown Iowa City. This project doesn't help me
to live closer to downtown, to take in the amenities of downtown Iowa City. And,
um, I just like to remind the City Council that a decade ago, Marc Moen's first
project — Hotel Vetro — it was supposed to have affordable housing in it, and the
TIF money. And then that changed and he decided to have the high, um, rent
condos, or maybe not high rent condos, but nothing that most people who lived in
Iowa City, um, normally and weren't transplants from a suburban area would
have been able to afford. I'm ... a Johnson County resident all my life. And I live
here. I'm not a recent transplant. I love Iowa City. I love Iowa, and I don't think
that this is the project for this corner and I don't think that this is the multiple use
project for this corner, and I'd just like you to ... to consider the fact that ... um, it's
not going to be ... urn ... the multiple use project that you think, and regarding a
bowling alley, I like to bowl, but at one time we had three bowling alleys in
downtown Iowa City, and we even had bowling alleys at the University of Iowa
Memorial Union! And where have those bowling alleys all gone? We have one
bowling alley in downtown ... in ... it's because people don't necessarily want to go
bowling (laughs) Um, so that ... so this just seems crazy to me, but anyway ... um,
have a good night and please reject this proposal. Thank you!
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Christenson: I'm Ann Christenson, 827 Dearborn. The day of the last meeting ... I wrote you a
letter, all the Council, and, uh, and the staff, because I couldn't make it to the
meeting. My sense is ... that if you read the letter, you probably just blew it off.
So I'm going to use part of that letter tonight and repeat what you should have
already seen. I'm representing ... myself, my husband, I00grannies.com....org,
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and Trinity. I'm a member of all. And I want to be very clear despite what
everybody seems to think, we are not opposed to this building. The question is,
why at this site? This is not the appropriate site. The building could be great.
We favor this building. We know it's needed. We know the realtors, the
downtown businesses, want it. But why does it have to be on this site? We feel
that there is a real lack of urgency among the City Council and our leaders about
the very real issue of climate change, that you're not taking this in your decisions
seriously, as serious as this is, and it is ... becoming an emergency seriousness, if
you're paying attention at all. We are concerned about the apparent lack of
understanding and attention given to decisions affecting the ambiance, the
appearance, and the carbon footprint of the whole city. We are opposed to The
Chauncey building at that site on all these counts. All the desires of the
developer, the realtors, the business people can be met at another location... with
the same building, although I don't think it's a very attractive building, and it's
not as green as it should be. But this is not a yes or no situation! There are
alternatives! Why put us through all this when we can have both ... when we can
have a viable, agreeable building on that corner, and The Chauncey -type building
at the Rivercrossing, which is why you've designated that a Rivercrossing area!
Just as with imagination and creativity, those three civil war cottages could have
been saved and a building wrapped around them and they would become tourist
attractions that would help the downtown. It didn't have to be either or! Where is
the creativity with this ... staff and Council? I ... it's unfortunate that the
leadership, you people on the City Council, are not willing to think beyond what
has gone before! Look at ... well, the map isn't up there now (laughs) but ... look at
the three buildings that are highlighted on the map! Isn't it peculiar that they're
all from the same developer! Can we not... do we not have any other worthy a
developers? Can we not look beyond Mr. Moen? Maybe he's got it! But surely
there are others! And do these ... do these really have to be built with tax
increment financing? I think the City is fed up ... with tax infrement financing!
Hayek: Miss Christenson (both talking) your four minutes so (both talking) need you
wrap up, please!
Christenson: (both talking) ...most of these buildings would be built without TIF! It's not too
late! We're looking for bold leadership from our City Council. We're looking
for advanced, creative methods of meeting the needs and desires of all the people,
not just the favored few!
Hayek: You really need to ... finish (both talking)
Christenson: Show us the vision! Show us the benchmarks for a sustainable city in the next
five, 10, 50 years.
Hayek: Miss Christenson, would you please finish!
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Christenson: Leave that corner for a better... more ... uh, approachable building and put The
Chauncey in the Rivercrossing.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Lyon: Lauren Lyon, I'm the Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church. There are all sorts of
reasons why the land in question should be rezoned to make way for the
construction of The Chauncey. The class -A office space that it will provide has
been declared essential to the city's ability to attract new businesses. Perspective
residents of downtown and their real estate agents have told us that The
Chauncey's upscale housing is what they want and intend to buy, to embrace an
environmentally sustainable urban lifestyle. Creatives and arts' administrators
have told us that The Chauncey will showcase their work as it deserves, and offer
their patrons the amenities and ambiance they crave. It has been implied that CB -
10 zoning of the site in question is the only possible way to avoid sacrificing more
prime real estate for the construction of more soulless student housing. Much of
the language we've heard in favor of rezoning to make way for construction of
The Chauncey is spoke from a point of view of privilege. The project, as it is
currently envisioned, has been promoted as a vital incentive to the young, hip, and
wealthy, for whose attention and residency Iowa City competes with Chicago,
New York, and Los Angeles. Iowa City has many positive attributes, among
them the desire and commitment to welcome new residents from all over. Amo
... another of those attributes arguably is its citizens' down-to-earth, Midwestern
authenticity. That has sparked eloquent, resolute, and remarkably tenacious
protest of the zoning change. Citizen opposition to this building at this location
has addressed the incongruity of its height within the existing built environment.
The pressure that its dense occupancy will place on available parking. The use of
public funds for the development and purchasa£..purchase of luxury housing and
the long timeline for return on taxpayer investment in the project. Opposing
voices have called on the City Council to consider ways to develop this site in a
manner that continues to build a downtown community that remains accessible to
citizens of diversability, economic status, and vocation, and to use public
resources prudently and equitably. The response to pleas for the City's fair and
appropriate use of public funds and the ongoing creation of a downtown
community in which all citizens have a rightful place has been the reassertion of
privilege. The intensity and scope of opposition to rezoning and The Chauncey at
it ... as it is presently envisioned ought to be sufficient to prompt reasonable
leaders to take a step back and renew the conversation about what sort of
development in this block truly serves the common good. I urge you to vote
against rezoning to CB -10.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Holton: Good evening. My name is Ann Holton and I am also a representative of Trinity
Episcopal Church. You all know that Trinity objects to this rezoning for a
number of reasons. What I ask you to consider this evening is in a way ... truth in
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advertising regarding sustainability. A value that Trinity holds most dear. It is
my understand that The Chauncey will use geothermal heating and cooling.
Given the small footprint of the parcel, it seems likely that vertical wells will be
drilled, but given the mass of the structure, that hardly seems possible for these
wells to provide the energy necessary for a building of this size. Trinity explored
geothermal energy alternatives during our last renovation. We were assured that
we did not possess enough space to, uh, use this energy choice and ours was a tiny
project in comparison to The Chauncey. So the logical conclusion is that the
array of wells needed will be placed on other property. Would this be The
Chauncey Swan Park? How will the public view this encroachment of public
space? This is a question you will need to answer. We're, uh, told that the
proposed Chauncey is designed and will be constructed to at least LEED silver
standards. We applaud this. There are a number of prominent LEED projects
already completed or underway in Iowa City — the UI Boathouse, the UI Wellness
Center, the new Music Building, and Hancher. Not the tall buildings that you've
seen ... in your drawings. Trinity's last project was LEED gold certified. But
therein lies the rub — designed to be is not LEED certified. To gain LEED
certification requires a third party to review and verify that standards are met and
determines that what the project proposed to do is actually completed. In all
projects, there are hiccups. There are bumps and cost overruns. I've noticed how
projects are reported for the Iowa City Council request for payment. There's the
project estimated cost, the project bid received, and the project actual cost. Rarely
does the final figure match the original projection. This will happen with The
Chauncey, like all projects. Adjustments will be made and priorities changed.
Without The Chauncey committing to go through the LEED certification process,
the hope to meet these standards are empty promises. Should you decide to
proceed, at least draft an agreement that honestly addresses these concerns.
Require LEED certification! If you can't, then for yet another reason you need to
deny this rezoning. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Gravitt: Have all the new people spoken?
Hayek: Yes, ma'am!
Gravitt: I'd like to, uh, I don't know if I'll be able to ... I want to discuss something that
was ... that was, um ... shown last time. I hope my three minutes hasn't started yet.
Hayek: It ... it's four, and I'll tell everyone you're Mary Gravitt. How bout that?
Gravitt: Okay. Now I gotta figure out how to get my picture up here on this ... on this, uh,
piece of equipment here. Thank you, young man. You're always so helpful
(laughter)
Fruin: You're welcome, Mary!
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Gravitt: While he's doing that ... I ... I've heard this thing about how helpful Mr. Moen is,
about bringing this building down lower. I want to say that it was the Federal
Aviation Association that forced Mr. Moen to bring that building down five
stories because it was an endangerment to flight, and as for diverse, we need
affordable housing! Diverse? What does diverse mean if you can't move there?
Diver... and... and then too we have to deal with (mumbled) I want the one about,
urn ... the picture we saw last week (both talking) Yeah! And I want to bring in...
the environment. (audio file playing in background) Now Mr. Yapp showed this,
and notice all those shadows. And the shadow effect is important to the church,
but it's more important to Gilbert Street. With this climate change, that means
ice, and he's gonna go around and talk about all times of day. Now June is all
right! Even though second day of June and I'm freezing! We have had a cold,
wet summer and it's June. It's okay! I'm not worried about that. The problem
is ... going across Gilbert. College Street doesn't matter that much, unless you're
driving and it has ... and you ... and you skid on it, but ... I'm worried about Gilbert
Street. I don't live downtown, but the way that these clocks go, we still in June,
and it's talking about Trinity Church and... and (both talking) No problem.
(audio file playing in background) So he's ... talking about it ... and then I noticed
the picture. It's ... it's, those shadows are very, very important and where they're
going. So have we stopped here or has it decided it's gonna be ... (audio file
playing in background) so we going... so we're still in June. Don't seem like we
can get out of June! (laughter) But the important part is not June. October to
June is the important part! Now I remember last ... last, this past winter, not last
winter. It's still here. How the ice formed on the sidewalk.
Hayek: Miss Gravitt, do you want the audio running as you speak?
Gravitt: Pardon me?
Hayek: Do you want the audio running while you speak?
Gravitt: Well, it can be running or not, I'm talking so loud nobody can hear `em anyway
(laughter) and if you were here last week ... last time, you know what I'm talking
about! The picture is what's important, and the showing how those shadows are
falling across a main thoroughpare is important, and how the shadows just grow
and grow and grow! Now that's about the environment. (audio file playing in
background) All these other things don't matter, cause you can't... accept that that
building, if those shadows fall at that height, it's a danger to public safety. So...
so we, in March and September, 11:00 A.M. we gonna have ice. It's a building
down at Linn Street and College, one story building that casts its shadow, even at
11:00, and the sidewalk is iced up. Belongs to a lawyer, but he never cleans up
the snow anyway. (laughter) But it's true! (laughter) And then, I mean, you
know like uh... I feel sorry for the church, but we pray for the church, but the si
...but you can do something about the street. Now this ... notice these times,
December it's dark, right? So we got ice. We don't have enough people working
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for the City to keep the city clean. You know from last winter if you lived here.
So ... 9:00 A.M., we're still goin'...see? It's still on Gilbert Street. (audio file
playing in background) And this is important, and it's affecting the Chamber of
Commerce building. They're here packing and cracking. If anybody know your
history about Roosevelt how he packed and cracked so he could win the Supreme
Court, you're watching a modern day demonstration of that right now.
Hayek: Miss Gravitt, we ... we do need you to finish up. Even with ... I gave you a little
extra time (both talking)
Gravitt: Okay! This ... this (both talking)
Hayek: ...because of the technical stuff (both talking)
Gravitt: This presentation's only supposed to be three minutes long. And now we're in
December. See? It finished on time.
Hayek: Okay!
Gravitt: What I'm saying — we're not against change. We're against location. Mr. Moen,
uh, I have to leave a copy up for the thing.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Gravitt: Mr. Moen owns that land down there on Gilbert and Burlington, I mean
uh... Clinton and (mumbled) Burlington. Why can't he build there?
Hayek: Thank you for the comments.
Gravitt: Thank you!
Niles: Hi, my name is Phil Niles. I'm a second year ophthalmology resident at the
University of Iowa. Sorry for my attire. They don't let us out very often.
(laughter) Uh, I'm, uh, in a weird position in that I am a young professional w ho
lives in one of those buildings, and I'm someone who moved to Iowa recently.
It's kinda become my adapted home. I'm from Buffalo, and before that I actually
lived in housing and urban development projects in Cleveland. And so, uh... I
can't tell you just how instrumental it was to have a place to live when I was
choosing where to go. When, uh, I was a young professional I had a choice of 20
different cities, interviewed in 20 places for my residency, and if I wouldn't have
had a place to live here in Iowa City that was on the scale of this, I wouldn't have
moved here, period. My family still makes fun of me. They think I'm like living
in a corn field in the middle of Iowa, and when I showed them this and when I
show them where I live in my apartment, it like reassures everyone and actually
makes my friends interested in looking at Iowa City for future places to live and
work. So, in order to attract crowds that I ... I think I (mumbled) to, and maybe
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you don't want to attract this crowd, I'm not sure, but if you do, places to live like
this are just absolutely essential to us. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Adams: My name's Adil Adams. I live here for 17 years, and (mumbled) argument
between both sides, but I support this rezoning or zoning for... especially this area
to expand, uh, city, uh, I mean downtown. Uh, as a taxi driver, any time we see
something (mumbled) so we can get some air too, because now in downtown all
the taxi, they just on like half -mile radius. They just turn around like this. But if
you have expand more, so the taxi can get some stand and the business can
(mumbled) and hopefully they pass this zoning, and I support this zoning. Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Tulls: Hello! My name's Sam Tulls. Um, I'm a member of Local 1260, uh, Carpenter's
Union here in Iowa City. While we understand everybody's concerns to this
project, uh, we're in favor of this because Iowa City is a vibrant... progressive
growing community. We constantly hear people talk about wanting to make this
community a more bike -friendly community, a more walkable -friendly
community. This project gives us that. It allows business, or ... well, business
professionals to live in the downtown area. Um, basically right now downtown
you see mainly nothing but student housing. Um, it gives us a chance to come
into the community, be able to walk to work, uh, be able to walk to ... the grocery
store, to the restaurants, you know, relieve some of the pressure of the parking
ramps. Um ... for Iowa City to keep comm .... to keep growing the direction that
we're wanting to grow, we gotta start looking up. We can't keep growing out.
Um ... with this, we feel like we'll attract more ... the younger people will want to
stay here after they graduate. They won't look to ... the Chicagos, the St. Louises,
the Minneapolises. They'll want to stay here. We have good schools in this area.
We have ... you know, reasonable costs of living. We want to keep those people
that have invested time getting their education to stay here. Um ... with that...
thank you for your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else?
Kuenzli: My name is Cecile Kuenzli. Um, we've heard a lot tonight about Iowa City being
a vibrant place, a place that people are attracted to and it has been for some time.
It just gets more and more so, but I would argue that it's not contemporary
buildings that make it a vibrant place, it's the presence of the medical school, the
law school, the dental school, the writer's workshop, and the International Writing
Program and the people that it brings here who are interesting. It's because of the
people that Iowa City is vibrant, not because of glass and steel and concrete. I
urge you to ... I ... I like the project. I like the idea, and yes, Mr. Moen does
wonderful things, but as so many speakers have said, not on this site please, and if
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Page 24
the buildings are so popular that everyone wants to live in them, why does he
need a TIF to build them? People are clamoring to get into them.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Mondanaro: My name's Jim Mondanaro and I own the Bread Garden Market. And I've been
in business here since 1976 and I've seen it all. And I still see it, but the one
constant in all that time has been change. And change is good. And the change
that we've been through here with Old Capitol Mall. I remember when we were
building Old Capitol Mall and we had the Quonset huts out there and we had
Bushnell's turtle there and stuff like that. Everybody was saying the Council was
crazy. And I think sometimes the people here will say that the Council's crazy
that it's for this. But it's a good thing because it builds tax base. Tax base pays
for entitlements. We're not talking about a project here that is going to lessen
what Iowa City is a community to live in. It's going to enhance it, and we've
heard that from a lot of different people tonight. But we get so caught up in
change being adversely affecting the mass population that we forget to realize that
change affects it in a positive way. I'm here to promote this change for The
Chauncey, and to tell you that I can't be here next week to talk about it. So
anyway (laughter) let's go!
Hayek: Thanks for the comments.
46erhardt: Hi, I'm Bill GsrhaF& I'm a long-time resident of Iowa City. I'm also President
Gerhard of the Iowa State Building Trades. I wasn't really going to speak tonight, but I
guess I couldn't sit there ... when I keep hearing why this site, why this site. I say
why not this site? I remember it had a... a repair shop called You Smash `Em I
Fix `Em and (laughter) and had a Harry's DX there. The thing ... the area's
always been a borderline brownfield area and now someone comes along and
wants to build something nice, uh, I say go for it! Uh, and for these people that
will talk about the history of Iowa City, uh... you know this ... Iowa City's never
going to be the sleepy little college town that it was. That train left the station in
the 80s with urban renewal, and the Old Capitol Mall, like Jim just mentioned,
and ... all the downtown apartments gave way to the, uh... to the Plaza Tower there
and the Old Capitol Mall and the Public Library, uh, those days are gone. We
have to look to the future, and I think the new ... the new generation of people
want to live downtown, uh, and I think this is the way to go. I think they live
downtown, they talk about carbon footprint, they're talking about, uh... uh,
climate change. There'll be fewer cars, uh, everyone knows it's better to go up
than to go out, so anyway, thank you and I hope you support this project.
Hayek: Thank you for the comments. Okay... looks like we have exhausted the public
input on this and so at this time, um, before we close the public hearing, we do
need to entertain a motion, uh... and I would ask someone to read it and...
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Page 24
the buildings are so popular that everyone wants to live in them, why does he
need a TIF to build them? People are clamoring to get into them
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Mondanaro: name's Jim Mondanaro and I own the Bread Garden M et. And I've been
in b siness here since 1976 and I've seen it all. And I still it, but the one
cons t in all that time has been change. And change is And the change
that we a been through here with Old Capitol Mall. I ember when we were
building d Capitol Mall and we had the Quonset hu out there and we had
Bushnell's le there and stuff like that. Everybody as saying the Council was
crazy. And I . sometimes the people here will that the Council's crazy
that it's for this. ut it's a good thing because it b ' ds tax base. Tax base pays
for entitlements. 're not talking about a projec here that is going to lessen
what Iowa City is a c munity to live in. It's g ng to enhance it, and we've
heard that from a lot o "fferent people tonigh But we get so caught up in
change being adversely a ng the mass po lation that we forget to realize that
change affects it in a positiv way. I'm he o promote this change for The
Chauncey, and to tell you that can't be h e next week to talk about it. So
anyway (laughter) let's go!
Hayek: Thanks for the comments.
Gerhardt: Hi, I'm Bill Gerhardt. I'm ' e a long- ident of Iowa City. I'm also President
of the Iowa State Building Trade . I wash eally going to speak tonight, but I
guess I couldn't sit there ... whe I keep he why this site, why this site. I say
why not this site? I remember t had a ... a rep shop called You Smash `Em I
Fix `Em and (laughter) and a Harry's DX th The thing ... the area's
always been a borderline b wnfield area and now meone comes along and
wants to build somethin 'ce, uh, I say go for it! and for these people that
will talk about the histo of Iowa City, uh...you know s... Iowa City's never
going to be the sleepy ittle college town that it was. Tha train left the station in
the 80s with urban r ewal, and the Old Capitol Mall, like . just mentioned,
and ... all the down wn apartments gave way to the, uh... to a Plaza Tower there
and the Old Capi 1 Mall and the Public Library, uh, those da are gone. We
have to look to a future, and I think the new... the new generatt of people
want to lived town, uh, and I think this is the way to go. I they live
downtown, ey talk about carbon footprint, they're talking about, .. uh,
climate ch ge. There'll be fewer cars, uh, everyone knows it's better o go up
than to g out, so anyway, thank you and I hope you support this project.
Hayek: Thank ou for the comments. Okay ... looks like we have exhausted the public
input n this and so at this time, um, before we close the public hearing, we do
n to entertain a motion, uh... and I would ask someone to read it and...
This rel
regular
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Page 25
2. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE
CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE CONDITIONAL ZONING
AGREEMENT (CZA)
Mims: Move to authorize the Mayor to sign and the City Clerk to attest the Conditional
Zoning Agreement.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Throgmorton: So ... about what we've heard, right?
Hayek: Sure!
Throgmorton: Okay, I...
Mims: Or just this motion.
Hayek: Well this is ... this is the motion to, um, to authorize me to sign the CZA. The
Conditional Zoning Agreement. It's not the rezoning itself. So we'll...
Throgmorton: If we approve the rezoning, then...
Hayek: We can't close the public hearing without signing the CZA.
Throgmorton: Oh, okay. All right.
Hayek: And then ... we will have our Council discussion and vote.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Hayek: Do I have that right, Eleanor? Okay. Any further discussion on ... the pending
motion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. I'm going to count six
ayes and no nos. So at this time ... I will sign the CZA or the Conditional Zoning
Agreement.
3. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: Okay! And at this time I'm going to close the public hearing on 5b. (bangs
gavel)
4. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Dobyns: Move first consideration.
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Botchway: Second.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Throgmorton: I want to pose a question that we've not yet fully addressed. The question
basically concerns, uh, the claims about how much, um ... The Chauncey will
increase the tax base. Uh, it concerns the property tax revenue that would be
generated by The Chauncey and the TIF that will be required to produce the
project. So I've not yet seen the proposed development agreement, and I did not
know it was on file, uh, and has been on file since May 28t' ... until just a few
minutes ago.
Dilkes: Every time we set a public hearing, the item that is the subject of the public
hearing is placed on file with the City Clerk's office.
Throgmorton: Well I ... I'm sure that's true. I ... I'm saying I did not know that. Uh, so ... having
not seen it, I ... I'm going to rely on information that we received 28 months ago.
It'll be clear when I get to the question, okay? Shortly prior to our work session
28 months ago, our consultant Tom Jackson of the National Development Council
gave us a table comparing the City tax revenues that would be generated by The
Chauncey to other projects, and a generic CB -5 apartment building. At the time, I
did not fully understand Tom Jackson's table and I wanted to ask several
questions about it, but before I had a chance to ask those questions, a majority of
the Council said there was no need, uh, to discuss, uh... the details, uh, because,
uh... there was no need to go through the ... the matrix that the staff had given us,
uh, and so suddenly there was a, um, already a decision, uh, to support The
Chauncey. I think I understand Mr. Jackson's table now, and ... and I came to an
understanding by drawing a graph of the data presented in that table. The ... and
both the table and the graph compare the City tax revenues that would be
produced annually by The Chauncey and a generic five -story building. It does so
in terms of...of discounted present value, which basically means a dollar today is
worth more than a dollar tomorrow. So ... when I did that, the chart I drew for
myself shows very clearly that a generic five -story building would over the first
20 years generate $2.88 million more in City tax revenue, discounted present
value, than would The Chauncey. More important, it would be reasonable to
assume that a well-designed modest scale, mixed-use, no TIF alternative would
do even better in terms of property tax revenue over the first 20 years. So, if I
have those facts correct, the facts enable us to ask two basic questions, and I
really pose them to you because I feel we did not do this 28 months ago. First,
should we rezone this property to CB -10 in order to enable a project that will
generate almost $3 million less in City property taxes over a 20 -year period than a
generic five -story building would, and even less than a well-designed modest
scale, mixed-use, no TIF building would, and second, are the attributes of The
Chauncey worth forgoing almost $3 million in City tax revenue over the next 20
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Page 27
years. Now I might have the facts wrong, and if I do, I need to be told that, but...
but we never had this conversation 28 months ago!
Mims: I guess I would say this. One, I have no idea what assumptions you've made.
Um (both talking)
Throgmorton: ... used the table. I'm sorry, go ahead! I didn't mean to interrupt (both talking)
Mims: Yeah, I don't... I've ... I mean, hearing those numbers just off the top of my head I
have, you know, I have no idea if they're accurate or what they are. I guess what
I would like to focus on right now is the question... that... there's a single question
before us at this point in time and that is the rezoning. It's not ... it's not
approving, you know, a TIF. It's not approving, you know, the actual developer's
agreement. There's a lot of other things that we have votes in the next few
meetings that come, you know, before us. So what we have tonight is simply the
rezoning of this particular piece of property. From my perspective going way
back to the beginning when the RFP was ... was put out, uh, people have had a lot
of comments about that RFP and how this project relates to that. Uh, but it was
very clear in that RFP that the City probably would ultimately request CB -10
zoning, and that is the stage that we are at now is doing that request on the CB -10
zoning, because we anticipated from that RFP that we might very well get
proposals that would go beyond the height that was allowed in that ... in the
current zoning. I believe that ... that is in the best interest of the city. I think
somebody said it very well tonight in that the tax revenues, uh, certainly support
the ... the social services and other expenses that we have in the community. I
think the vibrancy that people are looking for downtown with the taller buildings.
Um, certainly when we passed the 21 -ordinance, we talked about the City
working towards alternative entertainment venues for individuals who are not yet
21. So for me there's... there's a lot of issues here that make this, um, the right
thing to do. I would just add a couple of other comments. Um... some (mumbled)
things were said tonight about the same developer. Um, and I made this comment
I think at one of our previous meetings. I think for a lot of us on the Council, and
I know for the Mayor and myself, we had this conversation before we even
looked at the proposals, um, that we might be accepting for this and that was
looking for, uh, hopefully a developer, quite frankly, other than the Moen Group,
because they had done so many things in the community and didn't want it to
seem like we were always using the same people. But as we evaluated this
particular project, we really did feel that it brought so many things to the table that
were far and away better than the other projects. Um, so it was based on a very,
um, very detailed analysis of the project and the amenities, um, and certainly the
very, uh, excellent work that has been done by the group. Couple of other
comments made about transparency in this process and public input. Um, Jim,
you mentioned 28 months ago if that's when we started with this. Um, everything
that we have done, uh, as a Council has been transparent, with open meetings, uh,
with I think extensive public input. That's the way Iowa City does it. Um, I think
it's the only way that we should do it, and we welcome that public input. But
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when I look at this particular piece of property, the location and the potential
project that will be going on it, um, in subsequent votes, I'm totally supportive of
going with the CB -10.
Botchway: I guess for me, um, 28...28 months ago I wasn't here, so I have the opportunity to
kind of have, uh, maybe kind of a third -party perspective, uh, in a sense,
unfortunately ... or fortunately, I guess whatever way you can say. I am on
Council now! I mean, there's a lot of great comments. I mean, there's a lot of
good comments, um, both for and against. Um, you know, it's been pulling at me
from multiple angles. You know, even the young man that came up here and
spoke about his situation and, you know, being here and that ... that group of
people, the young people that would come here and live here, um, kind of spoke
to me and I think that's been comments that have been spoken about before. You
know I ... I want to say a couple of things first cause I ... I agree with Susan, this is
about the, um, the zoning matter but it is, I mean, about the building. I mean, I
don't think a lot of people would just be here if it wasn't about the building as
well. And, um, I think the Moen Group, you know, deserves a lot of praise
because they do do a lot of things, and I'm not going to say everything because
I'm sure that they probably don't want that information to be, um, to be out there
or they would have said it themselves, but they do do a lot for the community,
um, that a lot of people don't know about and I only was recently aware of, um,
just by, you know, dealings with the City and other things that they need to be
commended about and so that's the first thing. Um, beyond that I also want to
talk about the fact that, you know, being somewhat of a city guy, um, I do
appreciate the building. You know, I think a lot of the things that have been
talked about as far as, you know, the people that it's bringing, um ... uh, a lot of
the amenities — the class -A office space I think is something that we talked about
from a Council perspective many times. Um, every time we talk about class -A
office space I think about the Leapfrog situation and where, you know, it's a... it's
a dire need for the City and something that we will continue to look for, you
know, in these new buildings. I just can't get past location. Um, and I know
these comments have been said before, and some of `em have changed a little bit,
um, but that's my biggest thing. I mean, I can't get past location. I mean, even if
it was somewhere else, it was part ... next to Park 201 or, um, I know that a lot of
people talked about, you know, in the Riverfront Crossings area. I don't
necessarily ... I ... I think that'd be a great place but I don't necessarily, you know,
that's not a huge argument from that standpoint for me, um, but the location for
me, I just haven't been ... for me haven't been moved, and so, um, you know that's
why I'm not probably going to go with this proposal today but ... um, that ... I ... I
guess I just want to make sure that people are aware that, you know, I really
appreciate the building and what it ... what it is for, I mean, I understand the
property tax standpoint. I think a lot of people do understand that you do need to
build your property taxes up in order to do a lot of things that the City does, but
again, for me it's just the biggest thing is the location, so...
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Dobyns: There are two components here — one is relevant to the awarding of tax increment
financing. I will save that to a more relevant discussion until next Monday's
meeting. I want to comment on the placement, um, of the current proposal. I
grew up in Rochester, Minnesota, and there was only one building at that time
that was allowed to be over 10 stories tall and that was the Mayo Clinic.
Everything else was smaller. But there was one building closer to where I walked
to my, uh, junior high school that was a little bit different in that it was about, uh,
14 stories and it stuck out away from the then skyline of downtown Rochester.
And I thought it seemed a bit odd there and perhaps out of place until I realized
that it's not about the buildings. It's about the people. It's about the people who
live in those buildings and what they bring to the economy of that certain area.
Uh, the stores in the area, um, the places of faith in the area, um, all made it a very
walkable place so these people could attend, and I realized that the building was
more than the structure itself. (somewhat mumbled) It was the people that live in
it. Um ... when we take a look much of it is in the eye of the beholder, and I could
understand, you know, Kingsley looking at it and just saying, you know, I just
don't like the way that looks, and I think that's very much, you know, is how I
come to this. I have stood all four, uh, directions, um, from this site, of College
Green Park, Burlington, north of City Hall, and at downtown, and when I take a
look at it, it's the pictures that you see before you, to me it looks okay, and I
understand from a very genuine point of view why members of the community
look at the same thing I do and they don't like it. And I understand that. But I've
been elected to vote what I think I see, I hear, and what I think and what I see
with my own eyes. So on the basis of that, um, I will affirm the rezoning
proposal.
Hayek: Um, I'll explain how I've reached my decision, but I want to start by saying I ... I
appreciate the intensity of interest on this issue. We have heard from many
members of the community. Uh, and I've listened carefully to the input. I would
say that, uh, most of the input has been, uh, thoughtful and genuine. Um, Susan
has what ... as Susan said, uh, what's before us tonight is ... is the rezoning, and
you mentioned the RFP, the request for proposals that went out in ... in 2012, and I
reviewed it, uh, before this evening's meeting and, you know, it clearly states
that ... that CB -10 would be applied for. Um, it repeatedly described the project
the City was hoping to, um, undertake as ... as an urban, downtown density
building. Uh, and ... and the request for proposals, uh, described the parameters of
what CB -10, A ... uh, looks like in terms of mass and scale and ... and height, um,
and it also talked about the goal of...of that zoning designation, which is to, um,
accommodate a wide range of commercial and residential and ... and ... and service
and office, and ... and other uses. Um, and it talked about a mixed-use approach
and ... and suggested, um ... uh, set ... set out a number of goals, uh, toward mixed
use, which included that ... that diversity of...of use, uh, office. I mentioned hotel.
Residential and ... and other unique, uh, uses. Um, so ... that's ... that's how we
started the process and ... and some people have suggested that those ... that that
information was not there and ... and to that I would ... I would just disagree. Um, I
do think some clarification ... I ... I think some clarification of some of the input
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is ... is warranted because I think we ... we've ... we have received some
information, misinformation, uh, o ... over time, and I don't know whether it has,
uh... uh, affected Councilors or not, um, but ... but to start with I'll say, and I ... I
haven't heard much from ... from the New Pioneer, uh, crowd, but they ... they've
been here at previous meetings, and I'll say that ... I'm a loyal member of that
organization. My family, uh, was a member way back in the early Bowery Street
days. Um, and ... but the fact is that ... that New Pioneer partnered with a number
of proposals that were not selected by, uh, the City Council, and ... and since that
time, representatives have made some objections to, uh, to the zoning request,
CB -10, and to high-rise building generally. But I checked, and in fact New Pi
had ... back in the 2012, 2013 timeframe joined a number of proposals of varying
heights, including one at 18 stories! Uh, which turned out to be the Council's
second pick. Um, and ... and in addition, most of the proposals that New Pioneer
joined at that point in time themselves would have required CB -10, uh, rezoning.
Um, I ... I think there's... there's certainly a ... a degree of...of...of political
gamesmanship, uh, to ... with some of the input we've received. Um, one of the
advocates has ... has personally sued the City while at the same time running for
City Council. Uh, other people have spoken to us and have ties to organizations
that ... that haven't been mentioned. Um, that probably is just an inevitable part of
the public process. I don't know that it's in the community's interest. Um ... uh,
the thing I am concerned about, and... and do find, uh, very legitimate are the
concerns voiced by Trinity Church. Um, I think it's a beautiful facility and it
plays an incredibly important role in our community. Um, I think churches
should be accessible to the public, uh, I think they should be centrally located
when possible. Uh, Trinity is those things, and ... and I'm grateful to them for the
role they play in our community. Um, it's disheartening to me to know that Iowa
City, uh, no longer has a synagogue and ... and apparently in the not so distant
future will not have a Unitarian church. Iowa City of all places. Um, those
groups are pursuing a car -based suburban, uh, environment. I ... and that
disappoints me. Um, so I've given very car ... caref it consideration to the
concerns, um, from Trinity. Um ... uh, with respect to the parking issue, which
has, uh, been discussed quite a lot more the previous evening than ... than tonight.
You know, I'm satisfied with staff's analysis, uh, of that situation. I don't think it
will adversely, uh, impact, uh, the church. Um, and frankly I think some of the
public amenities that come with this particular structure, um, will have more of an
evening impact when the demand on parking at the Chauncey parking ramp is
diminished, uh, versus other things, whether grocery stores or otherwise, that
would have more of a daytime impact when the demand for parking in the facility
is... is higher, and the parking in the evenings and on Sundays at... at the City -
owned ramp is ... is free, and that's a ... that's a great benefit we can provide.
There's been discussion about the shade, the shadow effect, and we looked at
the ... at the, uh, shadow analysis, um, we heard from staff, and we've heard from
a lot of the community. You know, the primary impact, uh... uh, at least to the
church is ... is first thing in the morning during... during the summer months for
a ... a brief period of time. Um ... and we also know that ... that buildings of a
considerably lower height would have an identical, uh, impact. Um, so I ... I'm
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just not that ... that swayed by ... by that concern and ... and I don't ... for some
reason this hasn't come up, but when ... when your ... when your primary shade
impact on the church is during summer months, the fact is there are also a number
of very tall deciduous trees on the eastern border of that property that must have
some shade impact on the church during the morning hours in ... in the
summertime. I don't think they were factored in the ... in the study. I think the
study assumed no vegetation of any size. Um, and we also know that the
developer has ... has taken steps to shift the upper floors, uh, and to minimize the
shade impact, uh, even further. I think that the church, uh, and... and the entire
area will benefit from, uh, this high-quality project, and from what I think will
become a more vibrant, uh, public meeting space, and certainly a better use of
what, uh, is ... is there presently. Uh, I ... I look at places like, uh, St. Paul's or ... or
Trinity in ... in Lower Manhattan and ... and I know that churches can, uh, thrive
in ... in, uh, many environments, including urban environments. Um, but ... but of
all the concerns, the church's concerns were ... were very ... were right up there at
the top of... of what I was worried about because I do not want this level of
antagonism between the City and a ... and a treasured partner here in our
community. The church does so many incredible things. So to ... to sum up, I
want to state while I support ... why I support the ... the CB -10 in particular. Um,
first it ... it's identified in the Comprehensive Plan as general commercial. Um,
it's ... I think it's consistent with the goals of our Comp Plan, whether it's mixed
use or the pedestrian orientation or, uh, proximity to public amenities, uh, the
compact development, etc. It's on an arterial street. Um, I believe that the
parking ramp, uh, provides adequate separation between that location and the
neighborhoods to the east. Um, and ... and limitations on height and ... and step -
back, and the step -back requirements that are in the Conditional Zoning
Agreement that we, uh, just, uh, sig... signed, um, help with the transition, uh, to
the, uh, properties to the east. I do think CB -5 would be a mistake. I think it
would get us the same, uh, che... cheaply constructed, urn ... residential structures
that ... that frankly dominate too much of our downtown. Um, I think we have an
opportunity with CB -10 to ... to do a much more dynamic, uh, project on that site.
So ... but the legislative process is what it is. We've gone through a long, arduous,
uh, process with lots of public input. That's how Iowa City works and as you
said, that's how we will always work. That's how it should be, but ... and ... and
Planning and Zoning gave it a lot of consideration and they ... they split on the
matter. Um ... and so now it's before us and a decision must be made by this
Council. Um, I will support the rezoning. (several talking)
Dickens: I would ... I'd like to speak real quick. Um, most of the things that I had planned
on saying, Matt pretty much covered, but first of all I'd like to thank all si... over
60 people that took the time to come to the City Council and speak. Um, my
concerns have really been answered — parking, shadow, and the fact that the
density is being ... taken care of. I think that's very important that we continue to
build up and not out, so ... I will be in support of this.
Throgmorton: So, Matt, I really haven't expressed my view yet. All I did was ask a question.
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Hayek: Yeah
Throgmorton: Yeah. So, in, um... Susan, you said basically you don't know where the data...
where I got the data or whatever and you don't have a way to check it. Fair
enough! Uh, I can tell you the data I sited came from Tom Jackson's table that he
presented to us a few days before we had our January 9, 2013 work session. And
all I did was some addition and subtraction. So ... maybe I added wrong, maybe I
subtracted wrong (laughs) and I... it can be double-checked and (both talking)
Mims: Okay! Appreciate knowing where it came from!
Throgmorton: So, uh, in terms of my own views about this. So first of all, thank you everyone
in the audience and everybody who came here to the previous public hearing for
speaking about this topic. It's very clear that views vary. There're very strong
proponents. There're very strong opponents, and that's been the case for the
whole time we've been discussing this. So, but people came, expressed views —
thank you! Especially want to thank the, uh, building and trades unions because
they introduced a new voice, which I had not heard before, expressing especially
the ... the value of construction jobs and so on, so I ... I appreciate hearing that.
Uh, now, uh... 28 months ago, when we did our work session, I said ... I thought
the Council had made a mistake in selecting this project as the preferred
development. In my view, both then and now, the heart of the mistake was that
we did not sufficiently discuss the merits of the alternative proposals during our
work session that night! Nor did we fully respond to the questions and concerns
raised by the public, including those of the one neighbor, Trinity, that is now...
that has ... has now objected to the proposed rezoning. My sense is that by not
fully deliberating in public, that night, we lost the trust of many Iowa Citians and
that has caused all sorts of turmoil that's lasted for over two years. Unnecessary
turmoil, I think. Perhaps the most important missing element in my view... uh,
concerning that night's discussion was the relationship between the features of the
individual projects, the alternatives we considered, and the magnitude of the TIF
subsidies they would require. We did not discuss that that night. That's why I
brought it up tonight. We did not publicly discuss why we thought the various
development proposals (coughing, unable to hear speaker) or not worth the TIF
subsidies they called for. It was as if we had walked into a car dealership,
swooned over the many extras associated with one car, and never talked about
whether those extras were worth the price. As I indicated a few minutes ago, I
think the core question before us is ... are the attributes of The Chauncey worth
foregoing at least $2.88 million in City tax revenue over the next 20 years, in
terms of discounted present value, and should we rezone this property to CB -10 in
order to make that happen. I don't think so. I don't think we should. First, I
think this site should be treated as part of a transitional zone between downtown
and the residential neighborhood to its east. And that any building on this site
should be at a scale, height, and mass that enables such a transition. In brief, I
think the project should be a good neighbor. Second, I think that such a no TIF
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building, I think that a no -TIF building would generate far more property tax
revenue than The Chauncey over the next 20 years, and the ... this, the generic CB -
10, or CB -5 building is a Kennard, I mean, whenever ... I mean I did this too, two
years ago, so I'm not ... I'm blaming myself as well as ... just saying this. Uh,
when we say that the only alternative really is ... is just a conventional apartment
building, which we have too many of on Gilbert Street, we're forgetting the fact
that we own the property! We cannot (laughs) you know ... we don't have to sell
it to a ... a developer that would do that! We have a choice about that. Third, I
don't think we should be subsidizing the construction of luxury penthouses and
other condos in which the vast majority of our city's residents and workers cannot
afford to live. Fourth, I think that any subsiv... any subsidized development on
this site should achieve a substantially higher level of...of affirmable energy
efficiency and sustainability. So, I'm going to be voting no on the proposed
rezoning. But I'll echo something Matt said, as well. Um, assuming... well, given
the fact we're gonna ... we're gonna vote for rezoning, uh, I would hope the City
staff, and the developer, would take a few key steps to help us move ahead
together as a community. Most important I hope that both will take the initiative
to reach out to the objecting neighbor... acknowledge the important contributions
that Trinity and other fa... faith -based institutions make to the downtown and our
city, and constructively respond to the many concerns they've expressed. One of
the key parts of that is parking. I mean, I ... I read the memo too, uh, that, uh, that
our staff put together about parking, but it doesn't really address... par... Trinity's
parking difficulties. I think that can be worked on! So I ... I would just hope the
staff would go to Trinity and say, okay, how can we help you with the pro ... the
factual parking difficulties your elderly, uh, parishioners face, etc. That ... that
would make, uh, a ... a big difference I think. And maybe finding ways to adjust,
um ... uh, the programming of activities at the ... The Chauncey once it's built
would be a real good move as well. So, I'm done!
Hayek: Any further discussion? Let's do a roll call, please. First consideration passes 4-
2, Throgmorton and Botchway in the negative.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Botchway: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries. All right, should we keep going here?
(several talking) Okay. Uh, Eleanor, do you want to go back to 5a at this time?
Dilkes: We can. It's ... it's the third story. It's ... it is as written. Is what's intended.
Botchway: So it is correct.
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ITEM 5a ZONING AMENDMENT FOR HOSPITALS — ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 14: ZONING TO CREATE AN EXEMPTION FROM
THE FLOOR AREA RATIO LIMITATION AND ESTABLISH NEW
HEIGHT STANDARDS FOR HOSPITALS LOCATED IN THE
COMMERCIAL OFFICE (CO -1) ZONE.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: All right, let's ... let's, for the public here. Uh, we're ... we had a motion to defer
5a earlier this evening to allow staff to nail down some information. Um, and we,
uh, de£..we continued the public hearing and deferred first consideration of 5a.
We're now taking that item back up, so we were in the public hearing. With that,
Mr. Yapp.
Yapp: I apologize for my confusion earlier. Uh, as drafted and as recommended, uh, by
the Planning and Zoning Commission the, uh, building fagade above the third
story, uh, would be required to be stepped -back at least 20 feet. Uh... this setback
may be established at a lower story, provided is that .... it is at least 25 -feet above
grade, which is approximately at ... above the second story would be 25 -feet.
Uh... but the maximum, uh, height of the step -back would be at the third story.
Mims: At the top of the third story?
Yapp: That's correct.
Mims: Just (laughs)
Yapp: Thank you (several talking and laughing)
Hayek: Thanks, John! Is there anyone from the audience on this item? If not I will close
the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Roll call, please. Are you
a no, Jim? Okay, so that's, uh.... 5 to ... 5-1, first consideration passes 5-1,
Throgmorton in the negative.
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ITEM 5c VACATION OF BLOCK 43 ALLEY (CHAUNCEY) —
VACATING PORTIONS OF PUBLIC ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY
LOCATED IN BLOCK 43, CITY OF IOWA CITY (VAC15-00001)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) John!
Yapp: Uh, John Yapp, Development Services. Uh, this is a proposed, uh, vacation of
alley right-of-way, uh, for the alley right-of-way, uh, located in block 43, which
is, uh... uh, south of Chauncey Swan Park, as shown on the aerial photograph,
west of the Chauncey Swan parking ramp, and north of the, uh, proposed
Chauncey project at the corner of College Street and Gilbert Street. Uh, in the
analysis, uh, of this, uh, alley right-of-way, many of us were surprised that it was
still right-of-way. Uh, when the Chauncey Swan parking ramp was constructed,
uh, that created a ... a dead-end, uh, alley situation, uh, for that alley right-of-way.
Uh, that alley is a ... a vestige of the past when multiple different properties used
the alley for access. Uh, that is no longer the case. All the surrounding property
is owned by the City of Iowa City, except for the Mid American Energy
substation, uh, for which an easement will be reserved, both for electrical utilities
and access, uh, to those utilities. Uh, because the alley dead ends at the parking
ramp, it is not used for general traffic circulation. Uh, it functions as a service
drive,-uh, to the park and to, uh, the utilities in the area. Be glad to take any
questions.
Hayek: Questions for John? Thank you. Anyone from the audience? Public hearing is
closed. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Matt, I'd like to say for the record that I made a mistake in the prior vote and I
will change it when we ... when we do the second reading, um...
Hayek: Oh, on 5a?
Throgmorton: Yeah, I meant to vote yes for that but I'll vote yes next time on it.
Hayek: Okay. Well there... there're are two more. It's the third one that matters I guess.
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Throgmorton: Yeah!
Hayek: Uh...
Knapp: Late to adjust ... to address the Council?
Hayek: Uh...
Knapp: For a couple of minutes?
Hayek: Yes ... yes it is, sir. Unless you (both talking)
Knapp: Well, I'd like you to know something. Eleanor Dilkes sent a...
Hayek: (both talking) Sir, are you here for...
Knapp: ...memorandum to the Council a few years ago about closed meetings and open
meetings laws and I asked to see the meetings and it comes out in the Press -
Citizen, Wendy Ford says...
Hayek: Sir!
Knapp: ...be kind ... behind closed doors we negotiated this with Marc Moen. That is
wrong! (yelling) That should have been out in the public! I want those papers,
and I don't have to pay for `em because we should have been able to go to the
meetings and have `em!
Hayek: Sir! If you would like to address the Council on anything that we have yet to take
up on our agenda, you may do so.
Knapp: Do what?
Hayek: If you would like to address the Council on something that is still on the agenda
that we have not taken up yet, in other words 5d (both talking)
Knapp: (yelling) I just want you to know that you're violating open meeting laws when
you had all this closed door stuff with Moen and... behind closed doors, and that
breaks the law and I am writing to Grassley and we're going to get it wor... and
I'm writing to HUD, and we're going to put a burr under your saddle! (yelling
away from microphone)
Hayek: Sir! (yelling from audience) Sir, stop talking!
Knapp: (yelling at microphone) ...has been non-union forever!
Hayek: Please leave!
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Knapp: (yelling away from microphone)
Hayek: So present we ... we closed the public hearing on Item 5c and first consideration is
on the floor. Is there discussion concerning it? Roll call, please. I see 5-1 in
support of 5c, with Throgmorton in the negative.
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ITEM 5d 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) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Hayek: This is second consideration. Expedited action has been requested.
Mims: Let me get my card! 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 Throgmorton. Uh, initially any ex
parte disclosures from the previous reading? Okay, is there anyone from the
audience who wishes to ... address the Council on this item? Council discussion.
Roll call, please.
Mims: Move final consideration.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Pass and adopt moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Roll call,
please. Passes 6-0.
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ITEM 5e WINDMILL HEIGHTS — RESOLUTION APPROVING
PRELIMINARY PLAT (SUB15-00008)
Mims: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Mr. Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, this is a proposed 22 -lot, uh, 6.9 acre, uh, subdivision located south of
Rochester Avenue, uh, west of Teton Circle, east of Green Mountain Drive. Uh,
this is an aerial photograph of the, uh, location of the property. The, uh, proposed
lots in this single-family subdivision range from approximately 8,000 square feet
to 14,000 square feet in size, with the majority of the lots closer to 8,000 square
feet. Uh, the Northeast District Plan, which is the Comprehensive Plan for this
area, does identify this as appropriate for single-family, uh, development,
consistent with the surrounding, uh, neighborhood. There is a proposed, uh, cul-
de-sac, uh, for the property. Our subdivision design standards discourage, uh,
cul-de-sacs but do allow for them in areas where it is unavoidable. Uh, as shown
on the aerial photograph, the ... the surrounding property is all developed and it
was not feasible to provide a street connection at the south end of the property.
Uh, three street connections are proposed. Uh, Green Mountain Drive to the west,
uh, Westminster to the east, and an access point to Rochester Avenue, uh, to the
north. Uh, for more, uh, regional traffic, uh... staff anticipates the majority of the
vehicles will enter onto Rochester Avenue, uh, to travel either to the west or
downtown, or to the east, uh... uh, out of town. Internal neighborhood traffic
circulation, uh, can be accommodated by, uh, Green Mountain Drive and
Westminster, uh, internal to the neighborhood. The majority of the discussion
and the public input at the Planning and Zoning, uh, Commission level, and I'm
looking for ... uh, can't find the mouse, uh, was regarding storm water
management. Uh, there are two, uh, storm water basins proposed on this
property. One at the northeast... side of the property and a more significant one at
the southwest, uh, side of the property. The, uh, designers for the subdivision
have proposed utilizing an existing storm water management facility, uh, to the
west on neighboring properties. Uh... at the preliminary plat stage, staff
requested, uh, acknowledgement from those property owners, uh, that they were
comfortable proceeding with this design. Those acknowledgements were
included, uh, in your information, both to Planning and Zoning and in your
Information Packet. Uh, and those property owners did acknowledge, uh... uh,
comfort with proceeding with this design, pending the signing of actual storm
water management easements, uh, for use of their storm water facility, uh, for
storm water conveyance for this property. Uh, for the ... the storm water facility at
the southwest corner as it is proposed to be designed, uh... storm water would be
detained, uh, on-site. However, any overflow, uh, would flow onto the
neighboring, uh, storm water facility to the west and then into the, uh, storm water
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network in the larger neighborhood. Uh, we and engineering staff have heard
concerns about existing ... uh, storm water issues, uh, in that neighborhood. The
goal of the storm water management, uh, ordinance is to, uh, detain water and not
exacerbate any existing issues. Uh, engineering staff has also met with, uh,
residents of the surrounding neighborhood about some of those existing issues.
Uh, Planning and Zoning Commission did recommend approval, subject to ... uh,
no grading permit being issued prior to the, uh, property owners to the west
signing easements, uh, for said storm water management, uh, facilities. The, uh,
grading permit is, uh... uh, an administrative approval, uh, but staff will not issue
that grading permit until receiving those signed easements. Any questions for
me?
Hayek: Thanks for a good explanation (both talking)
Yapp: Thank you!
Hayek: ... of the situation. Is there anyone here from the public who wishes to address the
Council? Council discussion?
Throgmorton: Sounds like a reasonable approach ... to me.
Hayek: Uh huh! Yeah, I mean you see those concerns in the P&Z minutes, urn ... and...
and I talked to John a little bit about that today. I mean ... we ... I think we
are ... our staff has looked very closely at it. It sounds like the level of scrutiny
was actually higher than normal, which is generally the result of community
input, um, on something like this, and despite that heightened level of vetting,
uh... staff is comfortable with this and I ... I think their approach is good in terms
of...not, uh, permitting grading until they've got signed easements.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Hayek: So ... I'm comfortable with this! Any further Council discussion? Roll call,
please. Passes 6-0.
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ITEM 7. ASSESSMENTS — RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN ASSESSMENT
SCHEDULE OF UNPAID MOWING, CLEAN-UP OF PROPERTY, SNOW
REMOVAL, SIDEWALK REPAIR, AND STOP BOX REPAIR CHARGES
AND DIRECTING THE CLERK TO CERTIFY THE SAME TO THE
JOHNSON COUNTY TREASURER FOR COLLECTION IN THE SAME
MANNER AS PROPERTY TAXES.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Is there anyone here in
the audience who is here to protest a... an assessment, uh, under Item 7? Doesn't
appear to be any ... body! Council discussion? Roll call, please.
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ITEM 9. COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD — AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 8, POLICE REGULATIONS, CHAPTER 8,
CITIZENS POLICE REVIEW BOARD, TO RENAME THE BOARD TO
COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD AND REMOVE OR REPLACE
THE WORD "CITIZEN" IN ACCORDANCE WITH RECENT CHANGES
TO THE CITY CHARTER. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion?
Botchway: I just think this is a great move! I think it's something that, you know, you'll see
across the nation as people talk about, you know ... what the actual definition and
reference of citizen means and, um, what it means for a city, and so ... I mean this
is something that the City Charter already talked about, but ... I just wanted to
comment on it!
Mims: Yep!
Hayek: Further consi... or further discussion? Roll call, please.
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ITEM 12. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Hayek: Why don't we start with the guy on the telephone. Terry, anything... for us?
Dickens: No comments just, uh, that ... very interesting to do this by phone. It really takes
some concentration (laughter)
Hayek: Consider the source! (laughter) Dr.? Susan?
Mims: Uh, just a couple things. Uh, start of the season for the City, uh, parties in the
park, uh, the one this Thursday, 6:30 to 8:00 at the Kiwanis Park and then also Art
Fest is this coming weekend! So all kinds of activities going on in downtown
Iowa City. Encourage everybody to come down and ... listen to the music, see the
art, uh, enjoy the good food, and have a good time!
Throgmorton: Like Susan, a couple things. On May 28`" I attended two terrific events. The first
was the summer kickoff at Wetherby Park. I thought it went real ... really
beautifully. Uh, the second was Burr Oak Land Trust Celebration and Nancy
Siberling at the Ned Ashton House, and I want to convey to the staff praise I
heard from a good construction friend of mine, John Alumus. He ... he says that's
just a brilliantly designed building. And he's really thrilled that we were able to
purchase it, renovate it, and you know, and reuse it, even though it's in the flood
-plain. Yeah!
Botchway: I'm going to do a little selfish plug! Um, on my, uh, Twitter account,
@kbforcouncil, um, I've talked about, you know, the numerous, uh... uh, projects
and uh, more festivals and stuff that's going on. I think there's a Press -Citizen, or
it might have been a City, um, thing that was sent out that talked about, you know,
the over 30, um, different festivals and events that happen in downtown Iowa
City, or across Iowa City, and so it's a good time to (mumbled) summer and ... and
then, you know, kind of towards axroclamation, um, just note that the Pride
Festival, I think, is the 190 and 20 of this month, cause we're in June ... yeah,
19th and 20th of this month, and so if you have an opportunity come out and
support, um... uh, the diversity of people and diversity of, you know, different
cultures. It'd be appreciated!
Hayek: I just want to congratulate students and teachers on the last day of school!
(laughter) Um ... today was the last day, at least in the ... in the community school
district. Regina got out last week and my kids were not happy, uh, about that. So
now everybody's out of school and uh, it was a good school year. Our teachers
and students, uh, did a great job. I hope you all have a safe, uh, and fun summer,
and before we know it it'll be fall again!
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ITEM 13. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
a) City Manager
Hayek: (mumbled)
Markus: Uh, I was going to mention that Ned Ashton was ahead of his time. I think that
building ... I think the date on the building was in the 40s, but he had actually
designed that to accommodate flood conditions so that the thing could be opened
up, the waters could come through, they could wash it out, close it back up, and
operate a house again. Uh, our two Fellows are, uh, off in Washington, D.C., and
yesterday we watched a web stream of their meeting with President Obama,
which was very impressive. The President took a great deal of time answering
questions, talked about the relationship between the United States and Southeast
Asia, and... and Gen kind of muscled her way through the crowd to shake his
hand (laughter) and that was all on film, as well, so ... (laughter) We're now
empty nesters once again! (laughter) It was a good experience though!
Throgmorton: And bravo for the newspaper article about, uh, about their visit and ... that photo of
you.
Markus: Yeah, they ... they came out and they took pictures, and urn ... I felt compelled to
tell `em that this was the second meal that the students had, or the Fellows had
prepared for us, that they weren't cooking for us the whole time they were here!
(laughter)
Mims: Well and just ... thank you to you and Deb for being such good hosts. I mean, that
just ... that says and does a lot for people coming from halfway around the world,
to come and be able to stay in your home and, you know, have you show `em
around, and not just kind of be their boss for the month, so to speak, but to really
take the time and effort — I know you traveled with `em and took `em places, so...
Markus: Yeah! (both talking)
Mims: Thank you very much!
Markus: It was a... it was a big benefit to us. We got to understand their culture a lot better
and special thanks to Simon who kind of did a lot of the shepherding here, uh, at
the office and around, so ... it turned out really well! I'd like to consider doing it
again and ... and I just think there was a lot of value. I think there's a lot of things
we learned and could better next time, as well.
Hayek: Geoff?
Fruin: Nothing.
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