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Home My WebLink About2015-07-27 TranscriptionPage 1 ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS. ITEM 2a. Paint the Town Purple Day — July 31 Hayek: (reads item) Karr: Here to accept the proclamation, Alzheimer's Ambassador April Holden and staff members Ali Winn and Angelica Vannatta. (applause) Holden: Thank you very much, the entire City Council, for supporting our efforts with Alzheimer's awareness. We do have a fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings in Coralville on Friday, which is our Paint the Town Purple Day. Hopefully we'll see you all there and wearing purple. We also have a Walk to End Alzheimer's at Lower City Park on Sunday, September 20t`. Thank you! Hayek: Thank you! (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 2 ITEM 3. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED Hayek: So, uh... uh, a point of order here. Um, clearly there are a number of people here who want to address the Council on the Rec Center and related police issues, and we welcome that input. Um, what I'm gonna do is this, Item 3 is ... is, uh, where we adopt our Consent Calendar, and the Consent Calendar has among other things all of the correspondence that comes to the Council in between meetings. And Items 3f(8) and (9) are the ... are the portions of that Consent Calendar that represent the petition and ... and the communication we've received from the public. So what we're going to do as a Council is vote on, uh, or ... is consider a motion to pass that Consent Calendar, carving out those two items for separate consideration. The Council will go ahead and vote on the Consent Calendar, um, get that out of the way, and then we'll entertain a motion to get those specific items on the floor. And once that occurs, we'll invite the public to come forward and we'll follow our normal process for community input, and ... and once everyone who wishes to be heard has been heard, we'll end that and have Council discuss and then we'll vote on those items and then we'll move on to other items. Um, there is still Community Comment, which is the item that follows this, and so if you're hear to speak to the Council on something other than, uh, the ... the Rec Center and policing, uh, issues, um, you may do so at that time. So, with that, uh, I'd entertain a, uh, motion to consider adoption of the Consent Calendar as presented or amended, with removal of 3f(8) and (9) for separate consideration. Payne: Move consideration. Dobyns: Second. Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion? Council? Roll call, please. Passes 7-0, and now if we could get a motion to, uh... uh, consider adoption of Items 3f(8) and (9), accepting that correspondence. Mims: So moved. Throgmorton: Move adop... well, second! Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? So, all right, now we've done what I needed to do to get us to this point, and so, um ... these are the ... these are the issues, or these are the agenda items that relate to the Rec Center and ... and policing issues. So, um, what we do in ... in settings, uh, is ... like ... like this is that we invite members of the public to come forward and we'll keep with our standard practice, which is to ask people to sign in, to tell us your name, uh, and then we ask that you keep your comments, uh, to five minutes or less. Um, I'm going to urge you to keep your comments to less than that because I think there are a lot of people here, and if we go for a while and ... and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 3 we're not even close to, uh... uh, running through the list of interested speakers, um, I may shorten that down to four minutes. So, with that, there's no particular, um ... uh, order in which we ... we need to proceed. But if anyone would like to get started, I would invite you forward. McDaniel: Hello, uh, my name is Latisha McDaniel and I live at 331 Willow Wind Place in Iowa City and I am here to actually read, um ... the petition that we are, um, talking about today, as far as what's happened at the Rec Center and some other issues in Iowa City. So ... we believe recreation centers are important community resources where our youth should feel welcome, safe, and included. We believe Iowa City is a place that seeks to value fairness and reject bias or mistreatment based on race. We believe that the police should respond to children with de-escalation techniques, not physical aggression, intimidation, and breaching the trust and openness our children have been told they should have with the police. Black children are often perceived as older than they actually are, are treated as mini adult criminals, and profiled in similar ways to black adults. Black people are often ju... unjustifiably considered looming threats. This reality is particularly problematic when we compare the ways that police, media, school officials, and other adults in power treat and talk about black children versus the way these entities treat ... wait, entities treat and talk about white children. When white children are ... when black children are at play, labels such as altercation, rowdy, or even gang -related activity are used to deem our children's play deviant. When white children play, it's considered horseplay, flirting, or even boys being boys. The Lee Recreation Center should not have pro ... should not have a practice of automatically calling the police when they feel overwhelmed by kids playing. This type of bias often amounts to too many black kids are in one place, in public spaces in Iowa City and abroad. We believe Iowa City is not living up to its liberal ideals. We black community members need our children to be seen as children and not as criminals. We need them to be treated and provide the same opportunities as white children. We need Iowa City and the world to know that black kids play too. So, um, here are the demands, there are eight of them, and um, I'll read them as now. Require City Manager Tom Markus and/or Police Chief Samuel Hargadine con... conduct a formal investigation of Officer Travis Graves' actions on June 17, 2005, at the Lee Recreation Center. The investigation must be conducted by ... with utmost transparency and accountability, including but not limited to, public release of Lee Recreation Center video, documentation, call for service, use of force report, etc. Require the Iowa City Community Police Review Board conduct an independent investigation of Officer Travis Graves' actions on June 17, 2015, at the Lee Recreation Center. Revise City, including police policies, practices, codes, and other governing structures to ensure and enforce the protection of citizens' rights to congregate, play, and live freely. Require the Iowa City Human Rights Commission conduct an independent investigation into human rights' violations by police and other City staff when said (mumbled) entities have citizens disperse or vacate public accommodations. Allocate permanent financial, human, and other resources to Iowa City Police Department for retraining of all officers. Re or restaffing, I mean staffing or This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 4 restaffing and initiatives that build authentic, positive, reciprocal relationships h community members, particularly children. Training topics must include but not limited to de-escalation as required first technique of engagement; developmentally appropriate interventions for children, engaging children. Examples, no physical force, no pepper spray. Privilege, power, oppression, and anti -oppression tactics; um, cultural competency; trauma as related to children and racial stressors; and engaging with children and adults with learning disabilities, behavioral, personality disorders, and/or mental health challenges. Training must be intensive, multi -session, sequence on-going, and officers must be held accountable for satisfactory completion and progress via stin ... standard performance review. Unsatisfactory progress, expressively the use of...officer excessive force and disa ... disproportionate racial, ethnic, minority contact must result in immediate unpaid suspension of officer and begin a formal, independent (mumbled) investigation, oversaw by the Community Police Review Board. Allocate permanent financial, human, and other resources to Iowa City Parks and Recreation for training or re-training of all employees, staffing or re -staffing initials... initiatives that build authentic, positive, reciprocal relationships with (clears throat) Excuse me! Community members, particularly children and to increase programming. Immediate policy change must include Parks and Recreation staff using de-escalation techniques and positive engagement before making calls for police service, including but not limited to consulting Park and Recreation staff supervisor on-call. Allocate permanent financial, human, and other resources for therapy services rendered to children traumatized by police and finally, allocate increased financial, human, and other resources to community agencies proven to best serve black children. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you! (applause) Karr: Mr. Mayor, if you would ... I just, I forgot to put the sign -in sheet (several talking in audience) Thank you! Hayek: Thank you for doing that! Gathright: Hello, my name is Tashundra Gathright. My husband and I are the parents of three children. We work in this community. We own a home in this community. We spend our money in this community, and most importantly, we choose to raise our children in this community. Iowa City is home for our children. I'm here today as a concerned black mother. I'm concerned about the safety of my children. I'm concerned that my children will not be able to have or enjoy the same liberties as other children in this community. I'm concerned about the quick to judge and the aggressive approach to black children in this community. I'm concerned about my ... about ... I'm concerned that my children will be unfairly judged because of racial biases. A few months ago, my husband and I refused to allow our 14 -year-old son to go hang out at the Rec Center because of how black youths are vu ... viewed in this community. There is this perception of especially black male children in this community as being disrespectful, rowdy, and ill - This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 5 mannered. My heart breaks for that child that had such extreme force used against him at the Rec Center. How does this incident shape a child's attitude towards police? Black children can't socialize without calls to the police station requesting etra... extra patrol in an area. They can't hang out at the Rec Center without reports that they're out of control, without any real explanation at ... as to what that means. They can't even hang out in some back yards to play basketball without threats being made to call the cops. And time and time again, when police are called, it's with the attitude that the kids are really the problem. If only the kids behaved better. I'm concerned that we live in a community where my kids can't be kids. I'm concerned that we may be choosing to raise our children in a community that doesn't value what my family may bring to it. I'm concerned that a community that on the surface prides itself on being welcoming and progressive somehow excludes embracing my family. I'm urging each and every one of you to listen, to ask questions, and to respond, to respond with actions, not just talk, not just forming of groups, but with real action. Thank you for your time. (applause) Hayek: Thank you! Ukah: Hello, my name is Okey Ukah. I have lived in Iowa City for the majority of my life. Now, from the first moments my mom has allowed me to venture off into the world on my own, my experiences with the Iowa City Police office ... the Iowa City Police Department have been frequent and unpleasant. Now, from 12 -years - old, when I was taken out of the Iowa City Public Library and... questioned against a police car for under (mumbled) mistaken identity, to the more than 30 times I've been in cars (mumbled) only black men and left without citation from, uh, having six police officers called on myself and several black students, after walking into Sally Mason's office after expressing distaste with the clansmen statue being placed in the Pentacrest, to the multitude of times I am followed, escorted out of shopping malls, rec centers, just like the kids have a few weeks ago, but you see telling you this shouldn't be necessary. It shouldn't ... I shouldn't have to appeal to you and I shouldn't have to convince you that these are children being stripped of their childhoods. I shouldn't have to remind you that you live in the state that you call home is our nation's ... is the national leader in racial disparities and minority incarceration rates... because the black community in Iowa City has been telling you the same things for years. And the things that they tell you are that there are problems. Now, history... history will show you that the black community is more than capable of recognizing their own mistreatment without the half-baked hypotheses of people in City Council as to why the black community is distrustful of the police force. Now, personally I dream of a future where my children can ... state their distrust and the Iowa City listens. I ... I dream of a future where my children will not be harassed for simply existing in these public spla... spaces, and lastly, I just wanted to tell you that black kids play too, and I would also like to give you a message from some youth who did not feel comfortable coming up there and the basic gist of what they would like you to know is that they want to cooperate with the police officers who talk to them. They want to just live This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 6 downtown as kids and have their childhood, and they don't want ... they want to be able to trust the Iowa City Police Department, but ... until the respect is given to them, they don't see how that is possible. Thank you for your time. (applause) Hayek: Thank you. Estes: Good evening, City Council Members. My name is Destini Estes, and I'm here because I'm concerned about what is happening in my community, when it comes to black youth. I have been living in Iowa City for four and a half years and I see at times that everyone is not being treated equally. Me and my friends ... a couple of my friends have went to a store together one time and we walked in the door and we were all told that it was too many of us and only the people who were buying stuff could stay in the store. So we all walked out. We were offended because we felt like they thought we wouldn't be able to have enough money to pay for the things that we wanted or that we would steal. I feel like we need to spend more time being positive with one another and not caught up in stereotypes that keep us negative with one another. I want to feel safe when I'm around police officers in the area because I understand it's an important job, but sometimes I feel very uncomfortable when I am around them. They are here to serve and protect, but what protection have they done lately? Thank you. (applause) DeLoach: Good evening, my name is Latasha DeLoach. I'm a local black social worker here in our community. I took the time to write out a couple words. Hopefully I get through them. Um ... I really understand what this hash tag, uh, #blackkidsplaytoo and I am and will continue to raise my children to be unapologetic about their blackness, and that there is nothing wrong with the skin that they're in and the culture that they come from. For some reason there is this myth that blackness is some type of cultural pathology and that we need programming and we need help, like it's something wrong with us, like we have an illness and I find that problematic and that's really difficult for me to raise my children to think that because you were born with melanin in your skin that was genetically passed to you to protect you from the sun that it's not protecting you but it's causing you problems. And I'm struggling with that, and so this word 'too' means something to me. It means that in addition to other children who are not black that my children might not have the opportunity to learn and develop by play, which is something that is ex ... very important for play for children. Um, and also as children develop into adulthood, they need to be able to develop strong social connections, and this is by playing and expressing themselves fully. Their play should not become stagnant due to fear of mistreatment from police, school, and juvenile institutions, and especially not by community members who perceive them as some sort of threat just by sharing the same space. I am concerned that when non people of color ... our community members sometimes see black children in groups playing and doing what their children... what their children would technically be doing, that is looked at as being sinister or that they're up to no good and that the police are called on these children. I am concerned that we are traumatizing children, and as a social worker, that concerns This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 7 me. These adverse childhood experiences have life long medical and mental complications and outcomes. There are too many journal articles that discuss this phenomenon in our community. If we continue the culture of calling the police and the police responding because someone made some stereotypical assumption about what our children are doing when they are just walking down the street, that is problematic. The question is where exactly is the welcoming community, and who is hiding and holding the progressive thoughts that we have in this community that we are an inclusive community. I guess my question is even if you do respond, why would you have to engage the kids if you just see them playing when officers are called to different situations. I need our police and city to do better. I know and I have to believe that they can do better. So many organizations and departments are saying that they want to diversify their staff. Well how can you retain staff of color if when you get off work you do not feel that your children can play outside without being intimidated. And who wants to hear their child say, "Mommy, I want to play outside, like the neighbor's kids, because black kids play too." (applause) Hayek: Thank you! Lewis: Hi, my name's Jason Lewis. I'm ... I live at 1403 Hollywood Boulevard here in Iowa City. And I wanted to come up here to express solidarity with the folks that are speaking tonight. I can't stand here and speak with knowledge of these kinds of experiences because I haven't had them. But I can speak as someone who is running for the uni... the Iowa City Community School District who ... believes that we have better in us .... as a community. I believe that these issues are issues that we can get across and that we can work through and that we can do better at. I want to apologize for my part to the family of the individual who had this happen to them. I haven't heard enough apology... about this instance. I want to talk about the fact that these are issues that we talk about at the school level, at the community level. We talk about them every day. And yet ... we see them in the news and we can't seem to get beyond it. Again, I can't speak from a position of knowledge, but I can speak from a position of personhood. And that's what really everyone's asking for. To be given at birth a sense of personhood, that they can carry into our community, believe that they own with every right that every other person owns, and that they can move freely toward whatever it is that they want to achieve in this life. In the schools we teach kids that that's what they're supposed to do. Work hard! Do as good as you can! Move on! Get a job! Be a member of your community and believe that that's the right thing to do, but yet there are people here who are telling us. There's news stories all over the place that show us, that that kind of...that kind of...situation is not there for so many people. And I ... I know that ... people of color want to believe that the white community wants them to assimilate and be part of what we value here. And I guess as somebody who ... lives down the street from many people who might be in this room right now, who has purchased a home in that community because I love that community, I love its diversity. I love the ... the nature of being able to look out my window and see people of all different colors and creates. I support that This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 8 community with my presence as much as I can. But I want to say to anyone else who might feel fear as they look out their window and see something similar to think back, no matter what your faith is, to think back on these words. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Every single time you feel that twinge of fear, and we have all felt it, every time you feel that twinge of fear, do unto others ... as you would have them do unto you. And your children. When they're out in the world, trying to find their way. So, thank you very much for giving us this venue. (applause) Hayek: Thank you. Watkins: Good evening. I didn't have any prepared remarks, nor did I even plan to get up and talk but um .... I really felt the need to say a few words. Um, my name is Brent Watkins and uh, moved here with my wife and kids a couple of years ago from Cedar Rapids. I have a rather unique perspective in that I have a family of seven, including myself, and I'm the only Caucasian in that family, and I have, uh, been married to my wife for 27 years and uh, in that time, the one thing I've learned in how we can make progress in terms of cross-cultural understanding and bridging the gap between communities when two diverse ... and um, unique communities come in conflict with each other is to be proactive, those of us who are in the majority, those of us who have experienced and enjoyed every privilege of never having to once think about our skin color, or where we were born, or which neighborhood we lived in. If we would to take the time to proactively engage the community, and I'm not talking about having black friends or friends (mumbled) minority friends that make us feel special that we have a few unique relationships. I'm talking about spending a significant amount of time in the community you seek to understand. Over the years I've found that this is the only way we can make real progress. It's a systemic problem. We know all of these issues aren't as clear-cut as we'd all like them to be. We know that not every police officer is a racist. Nor is everyone who is of a certain color, uh, representing a certain, uh, point of view. Everyone has unique points of views and experiences, but until we proactively engage another community, by being intentionally interested in the things that concern them, on an individual basis, and on a group basis through policy, decision making, and advocacy will we really be able to overcome the hurdles that we're facing. I know many of you may be asking yourselves how did we get to this point? How did we get to a point where our room is now filled with people who ... who are seriously concerned with the problem we have with our police department and law enforcement, uh, agencies and their policies of enforcement. The reason is because we have not had a community-based approach that is proactively engaging in that community before these problems arise. When that happens you don't ... you don't get to this point. You can diffuse the situation so much earlier. And I just know speaking from myself, my perspective changed dramatically. Not just because I married a woman who was of a different race, or raised children who had to face the things that have already been mentioned here tonight in terms of the challenges of how others perceive you, but because ... (laughs) but because I ... before I even met her This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 9 had a genuine interest in people who thought differently than I did. And I'm just asking that when you review policies and procedures, when you have those conversations with law enforcement and the officials who represent our Police Department, that included in that conversation is how can we engage this community before these problems arise. How can we be proactive in learning from those people we really know very little about? And how can we stop referring to those people as 'those people?' (applause) Hayek: Thank you! Bakassa: My name is Jerry Bakassa if you don't know. I can look every black person in the face in this room and tell them straight out, if you don't like the way you're being treated in Iowa City by the Iowa City Police Department (mumbled) get on the welfare bus and go back to the slum where you came from. Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Gravitt: My name is Mary Gravitt and uh... I've learned to disregard people like that. (applause) Be ... because I was down at the Senior Center one day, we talk about politics, kind of like we joke back and forth about politics, and he gets up and he says the problem with Iowa Cil ... City is nigger bitches like Chicago, nigger bitches like you. Now I ... I'm ... an offensive old person and he's old, so you don't ... you don't do things, but to get to something that's relevant ... what I am hearing is we're talking about culture. And a lot of people, now I'm ... I'm getting out of the problem with the young man, a lot of people resent the people from Chicago coming here, cause you know, comin' in a big group, lower class people, drawn out here by the Section 8 certificate, and the reason that you have so many ... shall we say'underclass or lower class' black people here is because of the toothbrush factory, that, uh, Oral-B and all those factories. They got tired of being raided by the IMS, or the INS or whoever. They had all those illegal immigrants working at those factories. Now how many times can you get raided and keep business going? So you draw people out here with certain things. You draw'em out with the Section 8. Anybody tell you that in this city it takes five years to get a Section 8 certificate. So what happens is that you need the people, but you gotta have some cultural understanding. I find out as a black person, black people ... I'm loud! Black people talk loud cause when you from the city, you've gotta be loud, cause you gotta get yours in! Out here everybody's quiet and laid back, and like ... I used to go down to the ... to the ped mall and hear the bands, the bands playing. I said how come those people not dancing? And I found out white people enjoy things in their heads, and black people enjoy things in their bodies. So they want to get up and dance and dance and dance! Now where I live ... and then, when you live in the city, you come out in the summer because you're jammed up in the rowhouses, so you come outside and you stay up and you stay up and you stay up, and that can be annoying to people that not used to people being up all night. But ... we havin' a culture thing here. We got meet and talk about culture. Now ... and then even with the police, they're stressed out. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 10 This economy'd stress anybody out! And then you come down and it falls down, and it falls down, like we have that wonderful, uh, Governor! What does he do to save money? Close the mental hospitals down and close... and... and... and squeeze the money for the school. And he's Savin' money, and he ... he closes the home for the girls, the troubled girls. Trouble girls are worse than troubled boys. Because you ... you don't have too many worries, but my thing is ... this is all about culture. And we gotta get used to it. The black people are here to stay. They're not going anywhere, and we gotta have this talk of how we all gonna live here and live in peace, and I didn't even come here to talk about. I came to talk about my bus shelters, on the outbound Towncrest bus, and I came to talk about trying to do the town, downtown on the cheap. Look down there at that cement work. I haven't seen anything like that but amateur work. I'm sorry to take away from what other people came, but don't try to do it on the cheap and then ... the last thing I want to talk about is hire a full-time maintenance man for the Library. The reason I didn't know what happened to the young man, Friday I went into the Library and then the Library, when you go in they have these, uh, rugs, supposed to be so they drain the water off (both talking) Hayek: Miss Gravitt, could I interrupt you? Would you want to save those comments and come back to us during Community Comment so we can hear (both talking) Gravitt: So what time will the Community Comments be cause I'm not missin' my bus for nobody! Hayek: Well, right after this. It's the next thing. Gravitt: Okay! Thank you. (applause) Whiston: My name is Dorothy Whiston and I'm the pastor of First Baptist Church on Clinton Street and a member of the Consultation of Religious Communities. I'm also a native of Iowa City and I remember having distressing conversations much like this in the 1960s, and it's sad to see where we still are today. But more recently we started, um, the Consultation of Religious Communities in 2010 formed a task force, primarily because people of color had been... speaking to religious leaders about incidents of police interaction with black people in the community that they felt were discriminatory or aggressive or somehow unfair. And at that time, the Consultation of Religious Communities made a five-year commitment to make race in Iowa City a priority issue. It's the only time I know if that the Consultation has ever done that. We began a task force that then evolved in the co ... into the Coalition of...on Racial Justice. We started meeting with the Police Chief and the City Manager and some others of you, uh, in the fall of 2010. A lot of work has been done since then by community members, by you all, uh, I hope by the police, and some good things have happened. Uh, task forces have been set up, reports have been issued, conversations have been had, and I think some policies have been changed. However, in the last two years, the intensity, and I think also the frequency of the reports that religious leaders are This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 11 getting has gone up rather than down. Uh, people are feeling less safe in their own neighborhoods and in public spaces downtown. People are feeling that police are more aggressive toward them, rather than less aggressive toward them. Um, and so it's very clear that something is still very wrong, and we need to take a different approach. I was sorry to hear, um, the Police Chief say in the article or he was quoted at least saying in the article that what happened at the Rec Center was not about race. (laughter) We all know it was about race. That does not mean that there was any sort of malevolence in the heart of the police officer who acted the way he did, but it does mean that ... um ... policing affects racial minorities in a worse way than it affects white people. The Supreme Court just upheld the decision saying that racial bias, racial discrimination is measured by the results, not the intention. That was related to housing, but it is also true related to policing. Racism in this country is a systemic problem, much more probably today than it is an individual problem, although I know it's still an individual problem. Um, and it has to be addressed on the systemic level, and we all have to recognize that every institution in our culture has harmful effects on minorities, and policing is one of the ones that has the most harmful affects, both in the trauma... traumatization of kids, uh, and adults, in the immediate sense, but also in the chain of life events that interactions with the police generally and statistically seem to lead to. And our city needs to take a very proactive and different than we have in the past stance to moving away from business as usual. For the police and the City to say, well, it was within policies and procedures, that doesn't matter! Policies and procedures are wrong! And we need to change what it is we're doing, how we think about race. I mean the other thing about race that we know now is that implicit bias has been studied and that not only white people but black people themselves who have been raised in this country are more liable to react negatively to black faces doing the same things that white faces do. That's another serious problem we have, and I hope that all police and all City employees are, um ... educated about and take the kind of evaluations that are out there to take on implicit bias. I think one of the things they also know is that when people become conscious of their implicit bias, they're more likely to curb it. So I do think this is a race -based problem and something that we really need to address. I also think that the problem of just, um ... more aggressive policing in general in our community, as well as nation wide, is a serious issue. The kind of aggression, uh, verbal aggression and physical aggression that police are displaying in the most routine encounters with people is not only in my opinion immoral, but it's dangerous. We all know that, um ... people's behavior toward us trigger mere neurons and trigger us to react with the same kind of emotional intensity and the same kind of emotions as those displayed to us. Um, I hear often that police have a very dangerous job, which I know they do, but not in the top 10! According to the Bureau of (both talking) Hayek: Reverend Whiston, could you (both talking) please. Thank you! Whiston: Okay. If a logger or a farmer treated somebody who they felt was interfering with their work in the way police treat ki... kids and adults who are doing really This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 12 nothing, they would be charged with a crime. And I think we really need to take a look at how to change the culture of policing, as well as the wider culture in our community. Thank you. (applause) Marshall: Hello! My name is ... Pauline Nichols Marshall and for 25 years I was an educator at Charles Psychiatry at the University and ... oh, I'm writing where addresses are to be written (mumbled) and uh, I know something about the culture of trying to deal with aggression, and with difficult people, because ... the kids that we dealt with, who were called behavior disorders and had behavioral or ... or social or emotional disorders were often difficult to deal with. Probably more so when they were adolescents than when they were little, but often very much so even when they were little. And here's what I've learned about a culture, because we had to go through periods of time when we were dealing with whether or not we could be aggressive back. I'll just call a spade a spade. In other words, deal with them physically. And we dealt with some of the same things, uh, of...of getting them down on the floor and whether or not they could, uh, we could be really very strongly restrictive of them, and we had to go through a lot of training with people to say, no, you cannot im... impede people's breathing. You cannot squish (laughs) them so that they are incapacitated for being able to really draw a breath, and there were deaths in classrooms — not here — but in Iowa, and ... I was called in as a professional ... uh... person in court in order to talk about some of those cases. It .... but the issues are the same, and it is cultural, but it is about who has power over whom, and how they have been trained. I was for a while the Director of Behavior Disorder programs through Grant Wood AEA and a lot of this was going on then, and what peo... teachers thought would be the real answer was to get a lot of training in how to deal with aggressive kids through... through sort of some behavior management that involves some physical retaliation or physical control mechanisms. And what we found consistently was once you gave them a hammer, then every kid was a nail, because once you gave teachers that extra power of being able to deal with a youngster and wrap them up and get them settled down that way, then that became an easy thing to do and more and more of it happened. And that became then an increasing problem. It was a therapeutic problem because it was not good for kids to have that kind of...of adult control over them. Most of these kids were white. Any number of them were also blacks. So it really was a reaction in the schools of those bad kids (laughs) because they're the kids that were disruptive and giving the schools the problems, and I don't ... I couldn't even say if a disproportionate number of them were black through the years that I ... that I handled this, but certainly they were obnoxious and tough kids (laughs) as far as the other people dealing with them, which would be how probably some of the kids that the police have handled would characterize unfairly as it may be some of the kids that they have to deal with, but they get trained early on to manage this to physical control, and once that is your technique for handling difficult people, that becomes the technique you have as part of your culture, and it takes some real undoing to get that out, cause this is not just a matter of, oh, I'll change my mind about how those kids are and how I should think about them. It takes giving them some skills. It takes giving them This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 13 some ways to handle their anger, and when you're dealing with an angry kid, or a ... a refusing kid or a defiant kid, everybody's angry (laughs) There's just no...it...it, but it ... and ... but you can control that and it is your job when you are dealing with youngsters and you're the adult who has in ... been called in unfairly, or is just in charge of that program. It's your job to learn how to do that, because what we know is that once that begins, once you begin to escalate your anger on top of a youngster who was already feeling riled and defensive, cause this person's gonna get in my face, then the whole battle is lost. There are ways to do that, and I know there has been some talk about, well, we ought to try a little de- escalation first. That de-escalation, that ability to be able to back your anger out of the situation and be able to see the person and that young person you're dealing with and be able to calm your voice and to recognize that probably the person you're dealing with is not going to be able to at that point to suddenly become that respectful and polite as you would have your grandson become. That ... that is not going to be possible for that person then, but you need to have some real training to be able to do that. You're not gonna undo that just because somebody tells you it's wrong. We need to have people do a good deal of work on this. I'm very pleased that Judy Bradford is now going to take over .... she's the former Police Chief in ... of Des Moines, who's now going to take over the Police Academy (both talking) Hayek: Ma'am, you're over five minutes (both talking) Marshall: ...bodes very well for our state. We need change, and it has to be a training and mindful change. Thank you. (applause) Hayek: Thank you. Newell: Good evening. My name is Frederick Newell and I wasn't going to say anything, but to the youth in the room I kinda want to address them that the guy who spoke who said basically that we can go back where we from, um, I think the perception people have, especially black men, um, I want the youth to know that you can achieve greatness, just because you're great. Um, even if your parents are growing up in poverty, that doesn't mean you have to grow up in poverty, and I seen some of their faces and their reactions that they had from what he said, and my ... my hope is that we as a community can come together to take some of those perceptions that people, whether it's black people or white people think that of us, that we can change their perceptions because I know tons of youth who are here tonight that will want to speak but probably wouldn't. There's a greatness in each of them and I hope that we as a community can invest in not just black youth, Hispanic youth, white youth, and all people so that we can come together as one community and not all these different communities. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 14 Eastham: My name is Charlie Eastham. Uh, I'm speaking as the President of the Consultation of Religious Communities. Um ... uh, just want to tell you that I have looked at, I think carefully, at the videos that are available on the City's web site in regard to what happened at the, uh... um, Rec Center on June 17"', I believe. As well I've looked at the videos that, uh, are available from private individuals. The, uh, youth involved was not aggressive. Was not, uh, disruptive. Um ... and did not deserve the treatment meted to him by the police officer. Um, as Dorothy Whiston has said, the Consultation of Religious Communities has worked, um, through, uh, and with the Coalition for Racial Justice and people from the Black Voices Project. We put out about two years ago a report on racial equity in Iowa City. Part of that report focused specifically on the disproportionate number of police contacts and arrests of juveniles in these communities, including predominantly Iowa City. I just wanted to read a little, uh, one sentence from the City Manager's memo that was in the packet for this meeting. On the bottom of page 2, the memo says, "The Police Department recognizes that the officer moved very quickly to a physical control technique that was likely not the most effective way to have dealt with the situation." Likely not the most effective way to have dealt with the situation. Yet the youth in this instance was charged, arrested and charged with two offenses. Those ... that means that this young man will become part of the disproportionate statistics for the Iowa City Police Department for the year 2015. That is not what we want to have continue in this community. We want that to change. We want that to stop. The Police Department should have had ... or should have used, if they already have, uh, methods to essentially do away with the arrest as soon as the, uh, the officer, the acting officer's report was reviewed by his superiors. Uh, I think that's possible and I think that needs to happen in the future. Um ... thank you. Hayek: Thank you! (applause) Porter: Royceann Porter, 136 Appanoose Court. I had no plans (laughs) of speaking. I was going to let everybody else sittin' talk. But as I'm sittin' here listening to the people that's talking ... I still have not heard one, nobody apologize to this kid. I've been in several meetings regarding this young man and Keshon, once again I want to apologize to you and your mother. I am very sorry that you had to experience this. You should not had to because you did not move when somebody told you to. I understand. In several meetings I was told that Keshon... was told four, five times to leave the Rec Center. All kind of kids running around that Rec Center. There's a video and no sound, yet you want to tell me that the officer told him to leave four to five times, and because he did not leave, the officer went from zero to 100. I asked ... was there a way that the officer could have warned him that, son, if you do not leave, I am going to arrest you, or if you do not leave, I'm going to call your mother, anything... but... within five seconds, throw 'em to the ground. Have your knee all in his back and yet the video of that was on Facebook. You sit and say ... that wasn't the video. That video it is what it is. All across the nation people are videotaping. And that's what they're using. The young lady that videotaped that officer with his knee in that kid's back, yellin' at him, tellin' him to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 15 get his arm ... from up under him when the officer was literally on him. He couldn't even get his arm out. So go back and watch the video again, cause if you didn't see it, I saw it. It's not hard to see. And this baby, that's what he is, in this town, school gettin' ready to start. He the talk of the town! What are y'all think he's feeling? That's all I'm askin'. How do you think this kid is feeling? His whole summer was ruined. In the meetings I talked about ... let's talk about use of excessive force. When do you use it? And why would you use it on a child? Why? That's all I'm asking. Excessive force. Let's talk about that, when we talk about policies and procedures and practices. Let's add that, when and when should we use it. Now this is ... we hear of a Keshon but this happens in our neighborhood (mumbled) that's approached by officers. Officers are called to scenes and yet ... our men are thrown down to the ground or hiked up and cuffs are put on 'em right away. If you ask a question or you ask an officer why are you doing this ... you lookin' at interference with the police, that they rated it interference. That's a charge that you might, you yourself, might get just for askin' that question. Now we in ... we live in the country where you can't ask a question. Here in Iowa City we can't ask why are you doing what you're doing. If you know it's not right, don't do it. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you. (applause) Howser: Hi, my name's Jade Howser. I'm at 1025 E. Washington Street. Um, I just want to reiterate that yes this is systemic, pervasive, and I want to, um, encourage you to educate yourselves and all the people in the room, um, who might not truly understand what this is about, and um, I would like to provide, uh, two documentary titles to y'all, um, Mission Critical and Blacked Out Dreams. Uh, just kind of going to, uh, the issues of the school to prison pipeline which I think, uh, really illustrates what's going on here in the community, and I agree — we can do better. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you. (applause) White: My name's Joel Gilbertson White and ... I wasn't planning on speaking today. Okay got my name in there. Um ... but I heard Royceann apologize to, uh, Keshon here and um ... I want to also apologize as a, uh, I don't know if he remembers me, but I was the substitute teacher of yours a couple times, um, last ... I think year before last and um, I think my apology is just that we've been working on this, trying to ... make this city a safe city for all of our kids, for all of the people in this city. And ... we haven't made the progress obviously if we're still having ... the potential for trauma and actual trauma happening to kids, to ... black women, to black men in our community. Um, and I will ask ... for those of you here who are in a decision making place, um, to retroactively hear with hearts broken open, uh, the words of the people who have said what they've said. I ... I ... I know that, uh, there's a whole bunch of anxiety and feelings whenever we talk about race. Um, and ... but that heart broken open thing is something I hope will happen with Iowa City. Um ... so that ... the, that feeling of wanting to defend against the message can ... can kind of turn around 180 degrees. Some people say 360, but I mean 180, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 16 um, to be able to ... embrace the message and so what can we really do so that ... you know, our initial thinking may be so that Iowa City looks like a great place to move to. But I want to go one further, I want to go to the real place — that Iowa City is a great place. So Iowa City is good with respect to this. There's a ton of work. There's a ton of work for us because... looking at the Council, I see one person who I would identify as a person of color who has one seventh of the voice. I think I'm counting correctly. Urn ... and ... we still come from ... because of just the way that our world works, a mono -cultural assumption, that this is where we're inviting people into our city the way that it is. Which means being able to hear, make space for those other cultures. We've heard folks say, you know we go out and ... somebody was saying about living in rowhouses and we stay out late because it's hot and ... and ... and that's a cultural thing, and can we make space for that? Can we make space for the kids to do the things that ... I was on the basketball team when I was 16 and we used to rough -house like stuff that I saw on the video and ... and then we went home! No problems. Um, and I would like ... I would like for our kids to have the chance to grow up without a record, without being seen as ... potential criminals. Um, but being seen as ... potential nurses. Being seen as potential doctors. Being seen as potential... being seen as potential! And it's our job to make that happen. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you! (applause) Would anyone else like to address the Council on this subject? Porter: Keshon, (mumbled) I was .... I just want him to just, you all to hear what he had to tell us, that if this could have been different. Come on, Keshon, don't be scared. Trice: My name is Keshon Trice and (clears throat) I'm gonna start off by saying why do you have to judge everybody in this town, why can't everyone just be happy and be peaceful with each other. I do not like what I had to go through and yes, it was very painful and everyone communicated ... cause everyone thought I was wrong. One, because I was black and everyone thinks that black people just have disrespectful attitudes towards everybody. But no, that was not the cause, and that's not what happened. I just want to thank you ... thank everybody here for supporting me and everyone on my side, and ... I do not like the fact that we always have to be judged and viewed as people that don't care about our community and don't care about each other. Black lives matter too, and we care about each other also. And the .... things that, the things that kill me the most is that we don't give youth the same as white people, or Hispanic people or anyone else. We are just viewed as trouble children that can't focus or do better in our lives, but yet we can and once again my name is Keshon and I just wanted to say that, yes, I'm still fighting strong and I will not give up and that black lives matter and black kids can play too. (applause) Arop: Okay, my name is Tayo Arop. I'm on 620 S. Dodge and um, I just ... I'm a University, uh, a student at the University here. Um ... and when I see videos like Keshon's, um, I think of my brothers. I have two older brothers, the goofiest guys This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 17 I've ever known on the planet, but when I see videos like that I see that ... the officials of our town who are supposed to serve and protect us, they just see a threat. And I've ... I've been in a gas station late at night and seen an officer walking after them, making sure they're not doing anything, when they're just goofing off, and it's scary to think that a simple traffic stop or...just a kid being a kid can result in someone being beat up or even killed, and even as a black woman I know I've been to a gas station late at night, buying snacks, and a police officer came up behind me, sniffed me, and said, 'Oh, it's a good thing you're not buying munchies.' He assumed I was smoking weed. I was studying for an exam the next day. So those type of things, when I see that, it scares me and I'm shaking right now just thinking about it, because I can't even watch these videos any more. I couldn't watch the entire video because it freaks me out to the core, knowing that just being black is my only threat. I'm Nigerian! I ... my parents are both straight from Nigeria. But knowing that race is a thing, that we have to define people by the color of their skin, that's a scary reality for me, and I can't just ignore that. So, I do want to make sure that we are taking into account, um, that we can't just pretend like it doesn't exist and we can't just use ... we also cannot use these type of forums for a place to promote your personal agenda. I know something that bothered me personally was, um, using... stating that you're running for School District when ... this is not what that's about. So ... I ... and I know that there are more white faces in here than black faces but please do not take that time that people are using to express themselves with the things that they have to deal with every day and use that to promote your personal agenda or small things that attrib ... attribute to it. Still remember, this is still a race thing. This is not about overactive kids or people who have never dealt with that type of thing. It's a race thing, and it's still ... it's going to continue though until we actually make legitimate change, so please do. Thank you. (applause) Cox: Good evening, I'm Ernie Cox. I live at 1250 Gilford Court on the east side of town. Um, I appreciate the order being moved to allow everyone present to speak on this issue. Um, I'm a frequent user of the Parks and Recreation facilities and we have a great facilities all over the city. Um, and I think they offer great opportunities, for all of our kids. Uh, if they're available. Um, on Friday I was at the Mercer, uh, Aquatic Center with my daughters and I saw a young man, I think he was probably 8 or 9, a black boy, trying to get into the Parks and Rec facility. And he had been barred. And I overheard the conversation with the person there, trying to figure out if this kid could come back into the facility, and it was clear to me that whatever policy was in place was not working. They weren't clear how long he was supposed to be out. Not even sure they were clear why he was out. In this petition there are really great details and I think a detail that needs to be included there are how many kids are being denied Parks and Rec services, and when is that decision being made and how do we get the services back to them as quickly as possible. Play is hugely important for children. All children. It's hugely important for all of our children to play together, and our Parks and Rec system is one of the most obvious places for that to happen. On the east side and the southeast side of town, that aquatic center is just about the only public space This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 18 available that is for play. We've built some substations for the Police Department, but we haven't built much else. These places have to be open. I've seen this young man at the Parks and Rec Center downtown on multiple occasions, and I think that's a really good sign to us. They want to be in a recreation facility playing, and I really think this petition lays out some clear ways that we can have more kids playing all the time in these rec centers, and I really hope that we'll act on that petition in a meaningful way. Thanks for your time. Hayek: Thank you. (applause) Wheeler: Hi, my name is Kayla Wheeler. I'm a graduate student here. I wanted to talk about the trauma that happens when you're criminalized as a black person, not just in Iowa City but across the nation. Not only is there the physical and psychological trauma, but we also have to talk about the trauma of being arrested and having a criminal record before you're old enough to smoke or vote or go to war. Uh, we have a diversity problem, not only with our City Council and just the City of Iowa City's general, as well as the Police Department, and we have to start to wonder why. Wonder if that is because a lot of the black and other people of color here have records for minor offenses or because a police officer had a bad day and just couldn't deal with a child being a child. So, we have to talk about long-term socioeconomic problems that come when we can't recognize that we live in a racist society and racism doesn't mean just the "N" word, saying the "N" word or being in the KKK, it means not recognizing that we are biased, and not recognizing how that bias affects our daily lives. So thank you! (applause) Hayek: Thank you. Craner: I'm Darren Craner. Um, I've known this young man for more than three years and .... every interaction I've ever seen, I've watched him sometimes, every interaction I see with him with every other adult has always been respectful. Just like that incident. So, I think that we need to really be careful what we do to the youth, where we push them, because he's such a super -respectful young man. I think he will continue to be that way. You know, I've been trying to support him, still saying I was proud of the way he acted, and I still am proud of the way he acted. Um, I'm a little disappointed that, you know, he's got criminal charges because of it, but um, and I'm also disappointed in the people he interacted with when he was in jail. Things like that, that take him down a different path than he was previously going. So, um, with that I would encourage everybody who's, well, my skin complexion or lighter since I just got back from vacation (laughter) but every ... to look inside and ... and to find our own biases. We all have them, and it's not just ... even darker skinned complexion than me have them also, but I think that it's really important as the aging group, you know, why ... there's been some people from the, um, the CRC here, and I just say but for the grace of god go I. Well, why ... why is my life so much different than his? I mean, is it because of my skin color? Um, so ... we need to look inside and find those micro -aggressions that we all have and just the little tiny things that we say and ... you know, you see This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 19 a frown on somebody's face, think about what you said, think about a different way to have taken action, and uh, I think we ... it all starts from within here, but it does, you know procedural change does count. Um, policy change does count, and I was speaking with an officer outside and he does think it will affect practice. Um, but we do need to be careful, we do need to treat our youth with the same respect, especially if they treat us with respect, I think we owe it to them to treat them with respect. So, um, so anyway, I just want to, uh, you know, stand up for this young man and say what he's ... how well he's acted, the whole time I've known him, and I think ... and just encourage him to act that way and to carry himself in a much more mature level than his age actually. So, thank you. Hayek: Thank you. (applause) Is there anyone else who would address the Council on this item? Okay! So we'll ... we'll close down the discussion and have a Council discussion, and I'd be ... I'd be happy to start out with a few comments. Um, first of all this was an excellent and helpful, uh... uh, degree of input from the community to the Council. I thought the, uh, comments were, um ... uh, important for us to hear and we hear you and we, uh ... appreciate your engagement with us on these issues. It's one of the hallmarks of Iowa City. Um, so ... here's how I look at it. Um, you know, we ... we start with a, uh, a ... a police operation that I would describe as very professional, very well trained, um and one that .... that responds to upwards of 70,000 calls, uh, in any given year. Uh, which is not an easy task. And it's our job as City Council, uh, to, uh, ensure that that department has the support it needs, uh, to be effective and successful, uh, in this community. Um, with that support I think comes an expectation, uh, that the operation, uh, of...of...of our Police Department, frankly our entire City Hall, um, will be open and will be transparent, um, and will examine incidents, um, and will identify areas for improvement, and it's our job as a Council, I think, to ensure that that expectation is met. And I've been watching, uh, how this, um ... uh, incident was handled within City Hall for ... about 40 days now, because as ... as the Policy Board, it's incumbent upon us to gauge the reaction, gauge how this was handled, um, and ... and be satisfied that, uh, the kind of change we need is occurring and the ... and that a given incident is ... is receiving the attention it needs and so on and so forth. And when I look back at the last several weeks, urn, of...of how staff has handled this, what I do see is, um ... uh, in response to the Rec Center incident and ... and the ... the incidents in the pedestrian mall area, uh, an immediate, uh, investigation, um, within City Hall of those incidents, involving the City Manager's office, the Police Chief, and ... and everyone on down. Um, I see, uh, that within, uh, two days of the incident, uh, the Police Department initiated a ... a meeting with, uh, a number of community stakeholders, some of them in this audience were present, at which the videos were reviewed and a discussion was held. Um, I see that following the internal review that ... that started almost immediately after the incident, um, that by mid-July, uh, when ... when that review concluded internally, um, there was a recommendation, uh, to ... to modify law enforcement, um, policy, um, that had ... that was enacted, uh, in ... internally, uh, to among other things place a greater emphasis on verbal de-escalation techniques. Um, and I also see, um, a ... that the officer involved and ... and the entire This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 20 department, um, are ... will be receiving additional training on that issue and ... and probably others as well. Um, and ... and I also see, uh, a commitment on the part of staff to examine our staffing at, um, the Rec Center and facilities like the Rec Center. Um, with a goal of, uh, reducing the need to call law enforcement to address issues. Um, while at the same time ensuring the safety of those who work there and those who patronize, uh, those ... those facilities. Um, those are some of the things I've seen over the last 30 to 40 days. Um ... uh, what they tell me is that this was a learning moment for the City. Um, but as I look at what staff did in response to it, um, I ... I conclude that the response was ... was immediate. It was professional. It was genuine, and I think as a ... a Council, uh, it's our job to, um, see how this unfolds and ... and ... and make sure that the, um, changes we're seeing internally, um, play out. Um, and ... and ... and that something occurs. You know, on the broader ... on a broader level, um, there's this national discussion about, uh, about the relationships between police departments and the communities that they serve. Uh, and ... and I've been reading about this as much as possible, and time and again the discussion comes back to this concept of trust. Um, and... and... and... and it also comes back to the concept of civilian oversight of police operations as a key ingredient in restoring and maintaining trust between law enforcement and the public, uh, that it serves. I think it's worth noting that Iowa City, uh, stands alone in this department in the State of Iowa. We're the only community statewide that has a Community Police Review Board. Um, it's not perfect, uh, but we're the only one that does and I think it's important that we maintain and support that institution as well as the many other safeguards, um, that are uh, that ... that we have currently and that we've been, uh, rolling out over the last couple of years (mumbled) as we've had a dialogue here in this community about policing, about race, um, etc. Um, it's important that we in Iowa City restore and ... and preserve that essential trust between our law enforcement and the public, uh, that it serves. Um, and as I said, we ... we've done a lot over the last year or two. Some of you have been a part of that, to look at our practices, to look at our numbers, uh, to ... to ... to ... to try to make our system, um, and our city operation better. Uh, it's important that we continue that process. Um, we want to improve our system. There is always room for improvement. We want to reduce the disparities that we're aware of. We want Iowa City to be a leader on this issue, as it is on so many other, uh, issues, and it's important that we receive and listen to community complaints. Um, this obviously is a tense meeting. People have acknowledged that, um, and ... and there's no doubt about it, but it's also an important one. Um, and I think this dialogue is good for the community, and I appreciate you being here. Thank you. Others? Throgmorton: I kinda wanted to respond at a, uh, kind of a gut level (clears throat) First of all, uh, as Matt has said, thank you for coming. Thank you for speaking. Thanking for ... uh, thank you for bringing yourselves here, for holding a demonstration out front, for drawing our attention to what really matters in your lives and our lives. That's the first thing. Second is, I ... I want to speak as a white guy, which I pretty much am. Even my shirt sort of reinforces the point. Uh... I don't think we can see this, uh, the event that, uh, that affected this young man, uh, as ... as an isolated This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 21 case. We've all been watching these videos, from all over the country, of black people being arrested... for ... ob... obscure reasons and then ... in some cases, just killed, and other cases, um ... some events like, uh, Charleston where that crazy young guy went in and killed nine people at Mother Emanuel AME. So I ... I, seems to me the event that has occurred here is part of that whole thing. So when I try to imagine... well, I am horrified by that whole cascade of events, that's the first thing. The second thing is, when I try to make a very big leap and imagine myself to be a young black man, it's a very big leap. I understand it is! Uh, I think ... if I were in a similar situation, I would be fearful! Not ... maybe not because of what the officer at the moment is doing, but because of (laughs) videos and because of experience in my, you know, day to day life. So, I'd be fearful, and I ... and ... I personally would not react very well. I ... I'm not saying anybody else. I'm not saying you reacted badly. I think I would! So ... I ... I think we need to look carefully, really carefully, at the petition we've received and ask ourselves... how does it differ from the actions we've already taken, good actions, which ... I talked with Sam, our Chief, at length about just a few days ago. Good actions that we've taken. What steps remain? What else should ... must we be doing? Should we be doing? In order to really respond, uh, to, um ... uh, the trauma that we've, uh, been hearing about and ... we do live in one community and we must find a way to live well together so I think we need to figure out how that petition differs from what we're doing and take additional steps. (applause) Hayek: Anyone else? Botchway: (mumbled) I think it's tough to have these conversations. Um, I think it's tough to continue to have these conversations. I mean, I do agree with you, Matt. I think there's... always room for improvement. Um, I do think that we've made steps. Um, you know, since I've been on Council, even before then, um, with different things that the Council has initiated. Um ... it ... to be honest with you, I don't really have too much to say. I mean it's just, uh, it's unfortunate, um, situation. Um ... you know, presumably um.. just shouldn't have happened from some of the steps that we've taken, but, um, it did anyways. Um ... you know, I ... I think from ... some of the conversations that I've had over the last 48 days or so, or 30 days or so, have .... have been consistently, um, around, you know, tired of going to meetings, tired of having the same conversations, um ... um, when this type of thing happens, and you know, I ... I understand that, you know, I mean people make mistakes, things happen and, um, you know, I think that for us, um, as policy makers, um, along those lines, um, if it's a ... if it's a matter of funding or need ... more needed funding, more support, um, I think there's an ... this is an opportunity to provide that. Um, I know that some things were discussed at our last work session, the work session between, um, you know, multiple community members about, um, increased funding, increased, um, practices, increased training, and I think some of those things have happened since then. Um, but ... I ... I really see this as a really good opportunity to, um ... um, provide, um ... uh, maybe even some more funding towards that cause. Some more ... I mean obviously we're looking at the Rec Center and some other things, but some This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 22 more... something, and you know, unfortunately I don't have the answer and hopefully too many people aren't looking to me ... looking to me for the answer, but, um, you know, I do think this is an opportunity, um, from an unfortunate situation to make or take meaningful steps, um, in lockstep with the community and maybe having, you know, maybe, um, having that meeting again with, uh, stakeholders that happened not too long ago to make sure that we're, you know, meeting the benchmarks or meeting the goals that we said we would meet at the ... at that meeting. Um, but I ... I think, you know ... we have to be careful of, you know, kind of continually, um ... I don't know, kicking the can down the road so to speak, um, or continually to have those conversations or, um ... um, or putting meetings together, because I think, you know, again, from the conversations I had with individuals ... it ... it's tough to do. I mean that the toll that it takes to have these conversations, um ... it's just, you know, it's exhausting! And ... and so, you know, hopefully we can, um, we can pro ... progress to a point where we are, um, being diligent, um ... um, about, you know, what we want our Police Department to do, what we want our, um, Parks and Recreation Services to do, um, and provide, you know, urn ... like I said, it's a tough situation, um, you know, I feel for the young man and um, you know, apologize that this situation happened to you, as well, and you know, again, I'd like to thank the community for coming out, but, um, or not but, but and, um, you know, I think we ... we may need to be a little more deliberate and, um, in how we handle, um, how we handle this matter and ... and maybe have even more ... I wouldn't say necessarily an oversight but just more progress reports or kind of more coming back to Council as this, um, as this kind of unfolds, and so you know I know that we are coming up on maybe some data that came back from last year and things along those lines, but again, (mumbled) progress in this, um, and more deliberate progress in this I think would be good. Hayek: Anyone else? Mims: Yeah, I would just, uh, first of all I would like to thank everyone who has come out tonight, and everyone who has spoke and, um, I think it's ... it's crucially important that we all talk about these events. I think it's, as you said, Kingsley, it's... difficult to keep having these conversations, but ... there is no way around it, or we won't make progress. Um, it's not to say that the conversations are in place of progress, but I don't think we make progress without the conversations, as well. Couple of comments that were made tonight, and I ... and I think are just so critically important in how we try to move forward as members of this community and as, you know, we work with our staff, as we work with our police staff, our rec staff, and just ... just as good community members, and that is recognizing that we all have implicit bias. No matter, you know, no matter how much we may think we are not biased, um, we have .... it is just ingrained in us, and to really find ways for all of us to understand that about ourselves and address that, and so how that can help change, you know, our behavior. Um, I can tell you about ... I won't go into a lot of detail but Mr. Watkins talked about being part of a bi-racial family and I am as well. Um, my husband's African American. I've got four bi-racial This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 23 children and as I was ... happened to be dropping my oldest son off this morning at work, um, we kind of got into a conversation about this evening, and ... I don't even remember exactly where we were in the conversation, but I made a comment and my son looked at me and said, 'Only from the mouth of a white person.' Okay. That is coming from a white woman who has been married to a black man for 33 years. Okay? Love him dearly, love my children dearly. I ... I raise the point because no matter how we try, we have to understand that that is ... a part of all of us. And I think you can tell it's an emotional thing for me as well. You know, being a part of that family. But we have to make this community better. We have to find ways to work together. And it is understanding those issues. It's understanding those implicit biases. It is accepting the fact that all of us need to address that, that we all need more training. It's not just our police officers. It's all of us in how we interact with each other, you know, as human beings and finding that way to respect each other. I think the City has made a lot of progress. That does not mean that we can't make more progress. We need to make more progress. As someone said earlier, it's not just about making this place a nice, you know, a ... a good place where people think they want to come. It's about making a place where it is ... is a good place for all people to come and to live. And so we have ... we have work to do, but I think a big part of this, as the Mayor mentioned tonight, is .... we are open to that. I think some of those initial steps that have been taken by the City Manager's office, you know, indicate the fact that we are trying to be ... to be open, to have those conversations (mumbled) members of the community were invited in within a couple of days to view that video, start talking about those things. Those aren't the absolute solutions! No, not ... not at all! But they are essential to us moving forward, and as difficult as these conversations are, and as tired as we may get having them, we can't stop having them or we're going to be going in the absolutely wrong direction! So we have to keep doing it, no matter how hard it is, and we have to get more and more people to the table. I was outside tonight after the... the... group had broken up and people were coming inside. I went up to four gentlemen who were out there ... and I said to them, you know, I just want to come out and I want to introduce myself because I do not see enough... mature, black men at these kinds of events. And we need more of you here ... you know, as part of our overall community. And just took the time to stop ... I told 'em get hold of me and I ... you know, invite any and all of you who are here or who are listening, give me a call, send me an email. My contact information's on the City web site. We need to continue to have these conversations and find concrete positive ways that we can move forward in this community. The last thing I would like to say is just quickly in addressing, um ... some of the issues in the petition. I think we need to go back and look at those. I would also say there are a number that we have already done, and there are some that we cannot do. I mean, quite candidly, uh... it talked about the Human Rights Commission. If there's a human rights complaint in Iowa City, that goes to the State Human Rights Commission, because basically of conflict of interest. You're not going to have City employees or City commission investigating, um, a City department. So I just, you know, there's things like that, but we certainly can look at it, and there's things there that we can do. But again, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 24 I would just like to thank everybody for coming. I would hope everybody would stay involved, and please don't hesitate to get in touch with any of us. Thank you. Hayek: Any other... Council discussion? Okay. So 3f(8) and (9) are on the floor. We do need to vote on them. So I would ask for a roll call at this time. Karr: It's a motion. Hayek: Oh, is it? Well there you have it! All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries, uh, 7-0. Thank you very much. Should we ... let's do Community Comment now. Is everybody doing all right? Okay! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 25 ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT Hayek: So, now we move to Item 4, which is Community Comment. Um, and this is the opportunity at each City Council meeting for members of the public to address the Council on items that are not on the agenda. So we'll wait for people to, uh... uh, file out, um, but we would invite people who have, uh, issues, uh, to bring to our attention to come forward. Gravitt: So we're in Community Comment now? Hayek: Yes, ma'am! (several talking and noises in background) Gravitt: Well, my name is Mary Gravitt. And I'm ... my thing is that we need some bus shelters on outbound side for the Towncrest bus. We have a lot of disabled people. I don't even shop at the HyVee anymore cause I don't know when the bus is comin' and the reason that I didn't know what happened to that young man ... on the 17th I went over to the Iowa City Public Library, and Iowa City Public Library, when you go in, there's a mat that covers the floor that the water will drain down in, and it's set out like corduroys. When I was going I didn't notice two of the corduroys had hopped up. My foot went in and I fell over on my face. I had ... I ended up in the Mercy Hospital Emergency Room. The first time ever been to the emergency room in 50 years. Now the reason I see that that happened to me is because there needs to be another full-time maintenance man, not that $10, uh, that's always advertised, and the $10 person can't stay down there long enough so they won't get any kind of tenure to get a job. Now that's a safety hazard, but I blame it on myself, cause I had seen rugs in that Library with ... where people's feet could go in. One time I ... I complained, but I get tired of complaining! How come I'm the only one who sees anything, but I noticed this time. I did more than see it cause when I landed on my face, busted my lip, had to get these...the MRIs and x-rays and so forth, and I'm still waitin' for the bills to come in. Now, that could have been prevented. And like I say, I get tired of seeing those things, and then the Li ... the bathroom on the second floor, the way those stalls are set up, it's going to come crashing down. I noticed that they tightened it up a little bit, but the ... the frightening part is when you go into the disabled... stall, that door sticks. A person can have a panic attack, think they're locked in there. And my third thing is, and ... and hire a full-time maintenance man! Cause that full-time person can walk, walk the building. Now I know that's how it's done because I was here in the old days when people did that. You had, you pay somebody ... and not that, like I said, no $10 temporary person. Squeeze that budget and get another full-time maintenance person. And stop trying to do things down on the cheap downtown. I don't know where you got that cement worker from, but we understand when... when... when how ... how these contracts can work so cheap, and we understand, and I'm not going to be Donald Trump, but we understand. You need to hire some union people to fix those curbs. The curbs are a disgrace. That same curb has been broken for five years. And puttin' coal tar or whatever you're puttin', that ain't gonna get it, and then you want to be This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 26 a world-class ci... city. You gotta fix it up and make it look like a world-class city, and like I say, my main thing is that we in Towncrest, we don't think we get any kind of representation, cause we should have some bus shelters! Bus shelters goin' out. There's some bus shelters that ... that's on the Oakcrest side, inbound, but we need them for our safety cause we have a whole lot of disabled people and old people, and businesses that should chip in and kick in and do something. So that's all I have to say, and I'm ... and I'm saying about that Library, that's a safety issue. And I can warn you right now there's going to be another hot spot in this town on the southside, that Quick and ... Kum n' Go or whatever the name of that thing is. Person called me last night, told me ... children come in there, they say they want ice, they come in to put the ice on the floor and he says, you know, he said he wants to .... this person, this manager, wants to be a good person, but ... there should be someone, some kind of agency that goes out and talks to these business people and tell them what's available. You don't want any more incidents like over at the Recreation Center! But you ... you want the City to be a safe and pleasant city for everybody. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you! Could staff look into that maintenance issue ... at the Library? Please? Thank you. Anyone else during Community Comment? Hanson: My name is Darrell Hanson. Um, I live at 83 Durango Place in Iowa City, and um, are any of you ... (mumbled) with the Press -Citizen article that came out Saturday about the, uh... uh, road diet for Mormon Trek and First Avenue? Had any of you heard about that before ... the article in the Press -Citizen? Hayek: We're not ... we're not really set up for a ... a back -and -forth question. So we need to (both talking) receive your concerns or complaints (both talking) Hanson: Excuse me, this is my first time (both talking, laughing) I apologize for that! I appreciate your patience for ... for everything that's going on here tonight. Um, anyhow, there's, uh, to me there's a traffic problem in reducing the four lanes to three lanes on Mormon Trek, and I use Mormon Trek a lot. Uh, for going ... over to Coralville and out, uh, to Highway 1 on ... on the road there. Um, the issues that I see that would be created is the traffic is much heavier during certain times, uh, would be a problem with reducing it down to three lanes. Uh, for football games, uh, the 7:30 to 9:00 commute, and then when West High is in ... is in session. The 4:00 to 6:00, same type of thing is there. Urn ... the southwest part of Iowa City is expanding from where it is today, so there's going to be more and more traffic that's there. Uh, alls you have to do is look at, there's a 33 -unit complex that's going up on Rohret Road, right there by the bypass on 218. Urn ... there's businesses being added past Mormon Trek and uh... uh, with the heavy traffic, uh, you know, it's just going to be a ... a problem with just two lanes going ... going thr... forward. Urn ... the, uh, the bottom line I guess of what I'm talking about is is that Mormon Trek, the cost that I saw in the Press -Citizen will be $750,000 to make this change and I think that there's a better way that we could spend that type of money in doing something that would not, um, be a ... a detriment to the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 27 city. If you ... there's only one bypass... through from Coralville over to Highway 1 south, and that's through Mormon Trek and First Avenue, out to, uh, Coralville. And by making that a two-lane... section there, it's going to inhibit the traffic going through there. It's going to create a problem. So I just hope that you will think about before you make the decision on going forward with that type of investment. I think that the cost benefits for doing that are ... not fair for the money that's... that's being proposed to make that change. Hayek: Thank you, sir! Hanson: Thank you! Hayek: Is there anyone else during Community Comment? Okay! We will move forward with Item 5, which is Planning and Zoning Matters. Yes? Throgmorton: (mumbled) for a second, so you can keep going, but I need to go... Hayek: Should .... do you want us to take a quick break, Jim? (several talking) Okay! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 28 ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS ITEM 5b COUNTY REZONING BUCHMAYER BEND — MOTION APPROVING LETTER TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGARDING A REZONING FROM COUNTY AGRICULTURE (A) TO COUNTY RESIDENTIAL (R3) FOR APPROXIMTELY 40 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3051 BUCHMAYER BEND NE IN THE IOWA CITY/JOHNSON COUNTY FRINGE AREA (CZ15-00002) Hayek: Get that on the floor. Mims: Move approval. Dickens: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Mr. Yapp! Yapp: Uh, this property is outside of City limits, but it is within the fringe area, uh, which is a two-mile area surrounding Iowa City. Uh, for rezonings in the fringe area, the ... Iowa City makes a recommendation to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors; uh, the Board of Supervisors will, uh ... determine whether this rezoning, uh, should be approved or not. Uh, as shown on the overhead, the property is, uh, north of Iowa City and is accessed via Buchmayer Bend, uh, which is a gravel, uh, road in Johnson County. Uh, the applicant has requested it be rezoned from agricultural to residential. Uh, staff has confirmed with the County Board of Supervisors that the County land -use plan does identify this property, uh, as future residential property and ... and therefore it is in conformance, uh, with the County land -use plan. Uh, with the rezoning, the applicant submitted a concept plan, uh, for the property. Uh, and as discussed with the Planning and Zoning Commission, uh, there are some issues with the concept plan in that it is essentially a ... a cul-de-sac, uh, extending off of Buchmayer Bend and the concern is that a ... a cul-de-sac, uh, is inappropriate, both for traffic circulation, uh, circulation for service, and emergency vehicles, and it could have the effect of cutting off adjacent property from future development and future road extensions. Uh, therefore staff and the, uh, Planning and Zoning Commission have recommended that in the letter, uh, to the County ... uh, we, uh, state the concerns with the concept plan, uh, which would include Buchmayer Bend being a gravel road and needs to be improved to meet County, uh, road standards. Uh, the subdivision being designed to promote open space and create an appropriate street pattern. Uh, an easement being reserved, uh, to provide for future road access for the property to the south, and the subdivision, including storm water management. With that I'd be glad to take any questions. Hayek: Questions for John? Anyone from the audience? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 29 Throgmorton: So, John, if we make these recommendations, I mean I missed part of your presentation. I apologize, but if we make these recommendations, what happens next? Yapp: Uh, what happens next is the Board of Supervisors will, uh, take this up. Uh, the rezoning, will take it up at a Board of Supervisors' meeting and either approve or not approve the rezoning, uh, with said recommended conditions. Throgmorton: Do they have to include the rec... uh, the recommended conditions or... Yapp: They do not! Uh... uh, Iowa City is ... is advisory to the Board of Supervisors in this case. Hayek: So it's just that, a recommendation from us. Yapp: That is correct. If the property is subdivided, uh, in the future — if and when, I should say — uh that will come before the City Council and, uh... City Council does have approval authority over the, uh, subdivision. Hayek: Okay. Vagaries of our fringe area agreement! Yapp: Yes! Hayek: Further Council discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 30 ITEM 10. COURT/LINN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT — APPROVING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE TRANSFER OF LAND DESCRIBED THEREIN, BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA AND CASL HOLDINGS, LLC a. PUBLIC HEARING Hayek: This is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Wendy! Ford: Hi, I'm Wendy Ford, Economic Development Coordinator. I'm going to run through a quick history of the RFP and the selection process that brings us to tonight's consideration of a development agreement for The Rise at Riverfront Crossings. The City issued a request for proposals in the spring of 2014 for the redevelopment of the City -owned property at the corner of Linn and Court Streets. We received six proposals that July and convened a committee ... mmm, I need a little bit of light (laughter) Hayek: Bear with us! We're midstream through a renovation and I don't think we've figured out the light switches and uh, some of the other things (both talking) Ford: I could probably use my cell phone or something. (laughter) Uh... if we really need to see we can flip the lights off for a few seconds at a time. How about that? Um ... we received six proposals and convened a committee, um, to evaluate those proposals, that included two representatives from the City Council, numerous staff members, and Tom Jackson, our Financial Consultant from the National Development Council to evaluate those proposals. In November of 2014 then the Council named four finalists and asked each to make a presentation at a work session. In early December of 14, following those presentations, the Council narrowed the list to their top two and asked for refined proposals from each. The Evaluation Committee met once again to discuss the final proposals and asked for even more clarification on, uh, elements to the, um, adherence of the form -based code in the Riverfront ... in Riverfront Crossings, and also to each developer's, uh, approach to affordable housing. In March then on behalf of the Evaluation Committee, staff recommended naming CS Ventures the preferred developer, and the Council directed staff to begin negotiations. The development agreement for your consideration today contemplates the sale of City -owned land to the developer for $5.5 million. It's key points are that the developer commit to constructing a building totaling at least $74 million, that they agree to lease 10% of the total number of units as affordable, one -bedrooms, and as my eyes adjust, I can see this (laughs) we will all ... and the developer will also make a contribution of $1 million to the City's affordable housing fund. The developer has agreed to purchase the land in its current condition with the St. Pat's parish hall, the parking lot, and the retaining walls as they are. They will be responsible for the demolition of the structures on site and the City agrees to split the demolition costs with the developer. There are several conditions that the developer must meet, uh, before closing with the City, and those include among other things This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 31 agreement between the project architect and the staff Design Review Committee on the exterior design of the building, proof that the developer has secured the financing commitments to complete the building, approval by the City Council of the height bonuses required under the Riverfront Crossings form -based code, um, and other things as well, such as the FAA approval to build a building of this size. The $74 million CA Ventures' project will be known as The Rise of Riverfront Crossings. It is comprised of two towers ... I think you can see there. Maybe you can turn the light off for a second, or maybe not ... sorry! Don't do it! (laughter) Karr: Number 2! Ford: (laughs) Well, I'll ... I'll keep going! (laughter) It's comprised of two towers that are built over a 326 -space parking garage with access from the alley behind. And I'll use this cursor here to show you, uh, the alley behind is here. This is, uh, one, the residential tower, and two, the commercial tower here. The west and the south sides of the parking garage, the ones we can see here, uh, well actually this is the east side (laughs) sorry! Uh, the ... the west and the south sides of the parking garage take advantage of the steeply sloped site and are mostly, uh, below ground, while the east and the north sides that you can see from this view here are, uh, are residential on the left there, or the south, and commercial over here on the right. Oh, that's much better! The south tower will be 15 stories tall and it will include approximately 320 residential units designed primarily for the student housing market. The mix of units is approximately 127 one -bedroom apartments, 149, uh, two-bedroom apartments, and 44 three-bedroom apartment units. And you can see on the far right column there the percentage of the ... the total that each type of unit is. In total there are 320 units, or approximately, and of those, the developer has agreed that 10% will be made, uh, available for rent to, uh, people who qualify, uh, who are income -qualified at the 80% of the area median income. Um, details on that I can share if you're interested, uh, later what those dollar amounts are, but I'll continue... I'll continue here. Um (clears throat) uh, let's see, the unit mix, as we've shown here, is approximate, and the development agreement contemplates that the developer can change these, uh, amounts, uh, up to 5%, either way, without City approval, but at the 10% level they need to get City approval for those changes. Other amenities for the resident population will include a fitness center, a landscaped courtyard, a club room, private and group study lounges, a sun deck, coffee bar, and wi-fi. The north tower ... you can see that on the right here ... the north tower will be 14 stories of a mix of uses, including hotel, hotel restaurant and bar, a retail/restaurant space, and office space. The hotel will have its own restaurant and bar and be located near the hotel lobby with views to the landscaped courtyard. That's on that sort of inside, uh, or the south side of the north tower, which is closest to the front of that slide there. The hotel which comprises the top seven or so stories, or eight stories there, um, the brands to be considered by the developer depending on the agreement are brands such as Hyatt Place, Hilton Canopy, Hilton Curio, Marriott AC, Starwood Aloft, or other substantially, uh, simi... other hotels of substantially similar quality. A large common area on the first floor will provide access to all This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 32 first floor activities, including the hotel, the restaurant, bar, and the retail space. The first floor common area, uh, will also provide elevator access to the office floors above, and the office space ... if built out, will comprise approximately 25,000 square feet on three levels, nearest that corner of Linn and Court Streets, which is really the closest corner to us in this illustration. However, if the developer is unable to secure tenants for the office space within 14 months after the transfer of the property, the developer may convert that space, um, that is not subject to a lease, to another use or uses approved by the City, uh, to other uses in the building. All floors above the retail and office levels will then be dedicated to the hotel. The slope and the size of the site lend itself to allowing for separate access points for various uses. Um, and let me orient you here. This is the alley ... this is Court Street, and this is Linn Street. So north is off to your right. Of particular importance in this illustration and site plan, I think it is ... are the three entries to the parking facility. You'll see one here under the commercial, uh, wing of the building, another two actually on different levels for the residential side ... sides of the building. So, uh, while we have, uh, these three acces... accesses, this helps to separate the activities between, um, the ... the main components of...of the building. Architecturally then the residential units lining the parking garage on the south tower, and let me move back here, um, they complement the retail and office floors. I'm talking about these being residential units here, complement the, uh, retail and offices ... office uses on the north tower. And then between the two is a landscaped courtyard with steps that lead up to and in between with these different landings and ... and planters and the much sought after green space in a large, dense development like this. (clears throat) The residential tower will be designed and constructed to LEED gold standards or higher. The hotel component will be designed and constructed to at least LEED silver standards, with the aspiration to achieve LEED gold. The developers' registered and LEED accredited architect must certify the point calculation for the project and ensure that the project is constructed in accordance with the LEED standards. This certification shall be subject to City approval, prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit. A list of the point calculation based on actual achievements will be submitted for City review. LEED certification by the USGBC or the U.S. Green Building Council shall not be required. In addition to meeting most of the goals, uh, stated in the request for proposals, the project also aligns well with the City Council's strategic planning priorities. The City Council has placed an emphasis on making Iowa City more inclusive and sustainable, and intends for these to be overarching goals that ful... that filter through all activities and initiatives. The Rise and its 557 beds in the 320 -units will help provide relief to the University impacted neighborhoods at a time when the University is expecting increased enrollment of up to 500 students per year for several years. The Rise is a large urban building that will increase downtown density by providing housing for more than 500 people in one tower and commercial activity in another. The urban design will enhance the Riverfront Crossings District with the vibrancy of a mixed-use building, which is esthetically pleasing and efficient. The vibrancy, amenities, and walkability will be attractive to its residents, office workers, and visitors to the hotel. New opportunities for high-quality, high - This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 33 density residential living in the downtown area within walking distance of jobs, retail services, classes, recreational and cultural amenities, uh, and will create new opportunities for people to live close to where they work and rely less on automobiles. The Rise brings an immediate return on investment because the developers will pay $5.5 million for the land and $1 million to an affordable housing fund, a total of $6.5 million coming to the City. And because the building will have a taxable valuation that will generate approximately $1.9 million of...a year. (clears throat) The value of this project can be measured in many ways. We've talked about most of them and I think first and foremost, uh, is the fact that it adds $74 million new ... of new tax base and pumps nearly $1.9 million a year to City, County, and School District general funds. The City will receive $5.5 million for the property, which will be returned to the parking, uh, fund, uh... because the property was initially purchased with parking revenue funds, um, and that's also a federal Transportation Authority requirement. The $1 mil ... the $1 million payment towards our City's affordable housing fund is substantial and uh, goes a long way in assisting us with some of our, uh, affordable housing needs. New high-quality housing will be added to the market and will help to relieve pressure on University impacted neighborhoods, and approximately 32 new high-quality, one -bedroom apartments will be leased at affordable housing rates to those income -qualified, uh, households. Additionally there will be a 152 -room hotel which will generate in excess of $250,000 a year in new hotel/motel taxes, and lastly, City incentives were not required to bring this project to fruition. It is for these reasons that staff recommends approval of the development agreement that you have before you with CASL Holdings, LLC. And I'd take any questions if you had them. Hayek: Thank you, Wendy! Any questions for Wendy at this time? Botchway: I don't have any questions but ... I guess I might be stealing Susan's thunder a little bit just to thank you for the process. I know you normally do that ahead of me (both talking) but um, just from being ... it being the first time for me, um, going through the process, you know, I thought, uh, everybody did a wonderful job, and not just you but you know the entire team, uh, and staff that, um, just kind of walked me through the process and, um ... uh, if I, you know, missed a memo or whatever the case may be, you know, reminding me of it and then also having that, uh, kind of summary of all those different things that we were looking at just helped as well, just from you know kind of a layman's, um, understanding of the process, and so just really appreciate it and uh, you know, staff did a wonderful job. Hayek: I would echo that. I do have a couple of questions. Um, so one ... one is the, um, the $1.9 million in anticipated tax revenue. What valuation is that based on? Again, I think that would be good to just get out there. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 34 Ford: Uh, that's based on a building that will cost at least $74 million to construct, but after the residential rollbacks are applied, will ... will, uh, actually create a taxable valuation of about $50 million. Hayek: Okay. And ... and I ask because the minimum assessment agreed to is $40 million and ... and I just think it ... we should understand that that's ... the, you can spend a lot of money and not necessarily end up with a property that's worth every penny you put into the project. Dilkes: Let me explain a little bit. The only reason we have a $40 million ... the only reason we have a minimum assessment agreement at all is it provides a, what's called a'safe harbor' for any allegation that we've not properly gone through the competitive bidding process or the fair market value. Absent that safe harbor, we wouldn't have one at all. Hayek: Right. Okay. And then the second question is the office space component where there's a commitment on the part of the developer to market that for the intended office purposes. If...if that, I think 14 month period of time expires and ... and a suitable tenant has not been found for the space, or even a portion of it remains un ... uh, unleased, um ... and ... and the option is triggered to, you know, come to the City for permission to go in another direction, do we know what that would be? Would it be likely the ho ... expansion of the hotel or ... or residential or... Ford: It would likely be the expansion of the hotel. I think we have a representative from the developer here today who could maybe more, uh, accurately answer that, but our understanding was that the hotel, uh, would likely expand. Hayek: Okay. I ... I don't have ... I don't know that I need to know that. I was able to find the specific language and to be clear, it's open ended. They could come back to us. So I suppose theoretically could be an expansion of residential. I don't know if that'd be practical within that portion of the building space, but ... anything (mumbled) (both talking) Ford: And they do need City approval for that. Dilkes: Right. In the conversations I've been involved in is I think they were hopeful that there could be a hotel expansion but there wasn't... hadn't been (mumbled) conversation with, um, the hotel. It could be ... I ... I think they were .... seemed to me they were saying, uh, residential was unlikely but maybe retail. So... Hayek: Okay. Mims: And given the demand I hope that 14 -month trigger does not happen. We keep talking about needing office ... class -A office space downtown, so... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 35 Fruin: Yeah, and just to ... to remind you, I think in ... through the RFP process and ... and through the, really the interview process, um, there was a ... a thought that the City may purchase and ... and be a, at least a funding partner in whatever that may be. We decided that that opportunity wasn't worth pursuing right now and that's how we ended up with this clause in there. Hayek: Okay. Dobyns: Wendy, I know the intent of this area is form -based coding but what's the current zoning of this site and ... what would be necessary going (both talking) Ford: I believe it's already been rezoned. Is that ... is Doug here? (several talking) Dilkes: I think that's right. There ... there, it will come back to you for approval of the height bonuses. Dobyns: Okay. That's all! Hayek: Okay. Thanks, Wendy! Uh, let's see if there are members of the audience who would like to address us on this agenda item. Hello. Norbeck: Hi, my name is Martha Norbeck and um, I've been involved with over 25 LEED projects, so I feel that I can make some technical comments with, uh, a lot of experience under my belt. Um, I ... first of all I wanted to say I appreciate that you've selected a project not seeking TIF. I applaud that. Um, and I also appreciate the quality of the project and I appreciate that they're aspiring for, uh, LEED gold level of performance. I have a cou... couple technical questions, comments related to the exact language in the agreement. So my letter that I sent to the City is on page 205 of your packet. Um, now that I have seen these renderings, had I seen them before I might have written that slightly differently because I have new information now. Um, so I'm going to start with the first issue that I have in ... in terms of this idea of...of that the City would be in the position to, urn ... assess whether or not the building has been constructed in accordance with the LEED standard. So if I were an architect and I were working on say a Green Street's project, which is a State program similar to LEED, you have to verify by signing off on something that you've met the Green Street standards, and as an architect, I'm not going to sign off on that unless I am darn tootin' sure that we meet those standards. So I would anticipate that this team having the same level of integrity would be in the same boat. They would want to make sure that if anyone questioned any item of their LEED compliance that they would be able to verify it. So here's the catch. Filling in the paperwork and sending it in to the U.S. Green Building Council is a fraction of a percentage of the total cost of implementing LEED. The big cost in implementing LEED are the energy model and commissioning. Energy model and commissioning are required, period. They're prerequisites. You've gotta do it no matter what level of LEED certification you're seeking. And if I were working on this project, I would This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 36 make sure that those were done with integrity, to meet the LEED requirements. So you've got the vast majority of the LEED costs are racked up in those two items. And then you've got the small amount of paperwork, but instead of filling in the paperwork and sending it in, you're putting the City staff in an awkward position of having to make this assessment before giving the certificate of occupancy of, um, yeah, you meet it or you don't, and that puts the City staff in a bad position and it puts the developer in a bad position because now they've expended 99.5% of the cost of achieving LEED, except the paperwork and the certification costs, and you're not saying, hey, go that extra half a percent over the mark and then we can all win and celebrate that you have certification. Now I trust that the developer's going to understand this and proceed with certification anyhow, but it puts the City staff in a weird position, and it seems logical that if you're going to have that standard, just say we're going to certify it, and there's a number of things you ca ... can't certify until after occupancy. So again, to ... to make this contingent on the certificate of occupancy is awkward and actually can't even be valid because there are things you can't prove until after occupancy. So it ... it's this weird limbo zone. So I encourage you to reconsider that requirement, how it's written, um ... and then the other item is this issue of silver versus gold certification. So you may not be aware that LEED, the current standard, 2009 standard, has ... is using the old State energy code as the basis. The new State energy code that we have right now is 10% better than the ... than, uh, the baseline for LEED, but LEED says to get certified at all, you have to be 10% better than their baseline. So basically LEED says you have to meet the State energy code to get certified at all. So what I concluded by going through the checklist based on my experience is that this project could achieve silver with just meeting the State energy code. It ... because the location is so great. Wendy's talked about that there's so many resources there for so many site points, so you're already at silver with meeting the... basically not breaking the law. And I think that it seems appropriate to raise the bar and say, you know, gold ... you have to be 20% better than State code. I think that's a great aspiration, and I think everyone would benefit — the environment would benefit, the City would benefit, and the developer would benefit, if everyone just said, hey, we're going to make sure this gets gold, and one way to get gold is to actually certify this as one structure, because then you can benefit ... you can borrow efficiency from the residential that you lose on ... on the hotel component, and by certifying it as a single LEED project, you're actually much more likely to achieve gold as the entire project, and to certify them separately would increase your costs substantially because then you have double of everything to verify the energy model, the commissioning, all the paperwork required in that. So it makes sense for everyone agreed to pursue gold as a single project, and to go for real certification, not this sort of half -hey we ...handshake kind of approach. Thank you. Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Others from the audience? Okay. I'm going to close the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 37 Mims: Move the resolution. Botchway: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Throgmorton: Yeah, I guess I want to say a few words (mumbled) other people have already. I don't really know how to respond to Martha's suggestion, though on ... on the face of it it sounds like the developer... it's too late to change the development agreement, I would think, but the developer has the opportunity to pursue what Martha's suggesting and it may be in the developer's self-interest to do it. I ... I don't know; just sounds that way to me! So, but anyhow, I want to, uh, say a couple words about the specific a ... agreement. The staff has, I think, done a superb job on this, uh, and I don't know who all's been involved but I think one of 'ems over here and another one's out there, or wherever Wendy is, and I don't know who else, but it's just a superb job. Uh, it has so many excellent features that I definitely am going to support it, no question about that, but ... but I do want to ask one question having to do with the, uh... um, the cont ... the height, mass ... height and mass of the buildings and their surrounding context. So, Wendy, could you help me a little bit by going back to that other rendering, which you, uh, so kindly brought in with you. Thank you for doing that. Ford: That one? Throgmorton: Maybe we could fade the light a little bit, is that a possibility? Payne: It's a possibility! (laughter, several talking) Throgmorton: You know I'll fade away (several talking) Hayek: ...like a disco ball that's (laughter, several talking) Throgmorton: Man, disco balls! I didn't know you were that young ... or old or whatever! (laughter) Yeah, so anyhow, I ... I studied this, uh, rendering quite a bit today. I was trying to make sense out of it because I ... I see the building, or the two buildings — the hotel and the other tower — and I totally get that, and I was thinking, okay, what else is there around there and ... because I was, uh, I'm conscious that I in general don't think that a 15 -story building is appropriate, uh, for Iowa City in ... in terms of surrounding context. It's just absolutely out of scale, in general. So I was asking myself, well, how about this particular situation. So I know that ... I don't know the name of the building, but the one at the northwest corner of Linn, is a six -story building. Mims: Telluride. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 38 Throgmorton: Thank you! Uh, so there's that and then there's the senior housing, uh, structure, the name of which escapes me. I'm sorry! It's just up the street... Mims: Capitol House. Hayek: Capitol House. Throgmorton: Thank you. Where would I be without you ... well, without you too! (laughs) Uh, so anyhow it's ... what is it, it's a five -story building? Anyhow, it ... they're not terribly out of scale with the ... with the proposed building, but what puzzled me was to look at the row of houses, or two-story du ... uh, townhouses or whatever they are, aren't ... is that on the alley? No, I think it's on Dubuque, and I asked myself, are those houses there, and the answer's no, they aren't there. They don't exist. Uh, and ... and so then I ... and then I was looking down at the bottom. I don't think those structures exist either. So then I'm thinking, okay, the architects taken some liberty here in imagining, uh, a ... a surrounding context, but when I think about the actual buildings that surround this proposed building, I think that in general this proposed building is of a reasonable height and mass, relative to the buildings that actually exist around it. And ... and, you know, it's been an issue for me over time. So I just wanted to say how I kind of worked my way through that on this particular, uh, proposal. Anyhow, so... Hayek: Um ... Geoff, do you want to respond on the ... on the, um, on the LEED issue? Um... Fruin: Well, um, I guess I ... if the developer wants to respond to that I think that'd probably be most appropriate in terms of how, you know, the LEED process and thought process that they go through. Um, Doug Boothroy, I asked him to attend if, you know, there's questions about how staff will review that and the types of things that we'll look at. We can get into that. Hayek: And it might just help to have an explanation of the line of thinking on that issue. Fruin: Sure! Doug, do you mind ... discu... Doug, do you mind discussing the LEED submittal and ... and how your department will ... review that? Boothroy: Well, one of the things that we would obviously make sure ... it's spelled out in the document as to some of the things that they have to provide, uh, through the development process. Not only do we rely on licensed professionals to ... to certify that they do what they say they're going to do, but also, uh... uh, we understand that sometimes things change as the development process goes through its construction bidding, uh, different substitutions of products. So I would think that we would also require, uh, a list of the, uh, submittals that were, uh, provided as part of the bidding process and certified by the architect that they in fact do meet the types of materials and ... and product that they had proposed in the project that was used as part of the scoring for the, uh... uh, LEED certification. Um ... you This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 39 know Kumi Morris is also on staff and she's had experience going through, uh, LEED certification for our fire station, and so we would also rely on her for her expertise in terms of, uh... uh, that process and ... and how best to, uh, enforce those. Hayek: (both talking) It's my understanding that in the area of LEED there ... there are at least a couple of schools of thought, you know, one is to get the actual certification and the other to get ... to ... to build comparable to it, but without actually getting it, urn ... uh, and (both talking) Boothroy: It's not ... it is done in other communities where they don't actually require that they get the certification because it, uh, it's viewed as being a process that can be lengthy, uh... uh, as well as expensive, and uh, if you, uh, require that certification and hold the CO up I could see where that would be a problem for the development. (mumbled) the ways for the certification to come through. So, urn ... some of the other communities that ... that do look at this either have other types of programs in place, uh, or mechanisms so that they're not locking people, or developers, into actually getting the, uh... uh, the LEED, uh, certification for these projects. And that's what we've tried to done ... do with this developer's agreement is come up with a process that we can work with a licensed professional and make it work, and ... and have a success with regard to that. Hayek: Eleanor (mumbled) Dilkes: I can just give you a little background on the negotiations. The developer was proposing LEED silver and was willing to negotiate to LEED gold if there was an actual certification required. And this is about the third... development agreement where it has been significant to the developer to not have to pursue the actual certification. Hayek: That ... that's helpful. I think it gives some context. Thank you! Well, um, absolutely supportive of this. Um, when I think of the genesis of this project, really in the tornado of, uh... (several responding) 08? (several talking) Six, that's right! Flood was eight! (several talking and laughing) You know, the City came into this property, uh, because of the tornado and the impact to St. Pat's, and we acquired the ... the parish site, um ... urn, for much less than we're getting, so it's good ROI just on the sale itself, but ... but this is a ... a ... entirely keeping with what we hope to achieve, um, for at least portions of the Riverfront Crossings District. Um, and it hits on so many of our objectives. I mean, this is a pretty seminal project and ... I'm glad it's before us. Mims: Yeah I think, you know, as Kingsley mentioned, he and I were on the ... the internal committee that did some of the review at the beginning and um, you know, we had some great, uh, companies who proposed to us and I think we've come up with a great, you know, a really good one here and you said, Matt, hits on a lot of the different issues, and, I mean, I just look back and think where we This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 40 were ... you know, even just three or four years ago maybe on Riverfront Crossings and getting south of Burlington going, and we were talking about, you know, this might take us 20 years to, you know, really kind of get some things happening down here and I think when you look at this project, you look at Midwest One with the parking ramp that's going to go in there, the Harrison Street Townhouses around that. You look at ... uh, what is it, 316 Madison, uh, we've got rezoning at some point here. I can't remember if we did it (laughs) we've done so many things, but down ... yeah, south Clinton, thank you. Um, on the west side of the river we've got a major one that's getting started over there. We've got the new hotel down south, uh, there also. I mean, really in just the last ... year and a half to two years we're really starting to see some major pieces come together, all of which I think are serving as a catalyst for, uh, people seeing that this is a really good area to be buying land and developing and I think we're going to see a lot more good projects there in the next five to 10 years, and certainly once we get moving as a city on the park, um, where the north waste water treatment plant used to be, that certainly will be another major catalyst, cause that'll just be a beautiful area down there, so ... really looking forward to this. Hayek: You know, two other points. First, I'm pleased to see, uh, the introduction of a little more competition in the area of student -oriented housing, and this'll be available for, uh, anybody obviously but ... but primarily it's ... it's intended at a student audience and I ... and I ... and it's good to get some outside, um development interest on ... on that. Um, it's good for the local, uh... uh, builder groups, um, and second, you know, it's important to make the nexus between something we do here and the areas around our cam ... campus, the ... the neighborhood impact area, or the University impact area, rather. You know, we're trying to take some pressure off, uh, of those fragile neighborhoods to the north, to the east, etc. Um ... uh, and with the University's planned enrollment expansion, um, that fragility is even more, uh... uh, enhanced and ... and so, um, we've ... we've got to watch this but... but... it's important for people to understand why we would (mumbled) there, um, and ... and why, uh, that might matter in other parts of the community. This is a great project. Payne: (mumbled) great project. It's exciting to see something like this going south of Burlington. Another item. Botchway: One thing I would sa... I would add is, um, I was able to, uh, be in Columbia, South Carolina for a little bit, you know, just kind of going back home, and uh, I was able to see the other building that they built, and I think it's called The Rise as well. Um, I can't remember, but it looked like an amazing building and, you know, it was great. Wish 1 would have been able to live there when I was a (laughs) undergrad but... Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 41 ITEM 12. CDBG/HOME AMENDMENT FOR HOUSING PROJECTS — ADOPTING IOWA CITY'S FY15 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AMENDMENT #2, WHICH IS A SUB -PART OF IOWA CITY'S 2011-2015 CONSOLIDATED PLAN (CITY STEPS), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT SAID PLAN AND ALL NECESSARY CERTIFICATIONS TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT a. PUBLIC COMMENT Hayek: I'll open the public comment period at this time. (bangs gavel) Hit my post -it note and it (mumbled) very well. Is there anyone who would like to address the Council? Public comment is closed. (bangs gavel) b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Payne: Move the resolution. Botchway: Second. Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Mims: We're having a race here. Botchway: Yeah, I mean (several talking) quick thing, you know, I just ... I mean obviously we're at a timeline so we had to do some things (mumbled) done it before, um, but you know I kinda briefly looked at the, uh, properties that we're looking into, or that ... that are going to be purchased and they looked really good and I'm really excited about this moving forward. Hayek: Further discussion? Uh, thank yo to HCDC and to City staff. Been sitting back there ... Tracy, you've been back there all evening and (laughter) anyway, thanks for your work on this. Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 42 ITEM 13. WILLOW CREEK/KIWANIS PARK RENOVATION PROJECT — RESOLUTION REJECTING BIDS RECEIVED ON JULY 10, 2015 FOR THE WILLOW CREEK/KIWANIS PARK RENOVATION PROJECT. Mims: So moved. Botchway: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Dobyns: I just had a question, I guess, to ... Geoff, what, uh, I missed that part of the work session, this came up. What would ... what happens going forward, um ... (mumbled) Fruin: (both talking) let Mike handle that. Moran: We're gonna go ahead and re -bid this, uh, in another month or so. We went back and talked to the contractors and we put 'em on a tight timeframe to get this done, and they thought they could give us better bids if we opened that up a little bit more. So we'll bid it probably late August, early September, and then make completion due for next spring. Give 'em a little bit longer to commit and complete the project. Dobyns: Sounds like a fairly big ... I mean, as far as scaling back, Mike, um, the... Moran: They told us that they thought we'd get better bids for longer timeframe. So we're gonna keep it the way it is, and then we'll put some add alternates to it in case that happens again, so we don't have to turn it down. Dobyns: Okay. Thank you. Hayek: Thanks, Mike! Anyone from the audience? Council discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 43 ITEM 14. BICYCLE REGULATIONS — ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9, ENTITLED "MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC," CHAPTER 1, ENTITLED "DEFINITIONS, ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC PROVISIONS," AND CHAPTER 8, ENTITLED "BICYCLES," TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF "BICYCLE;" PERMIT THE RIDING OF TWO BICYCLES ABREAST EACH OTHER; REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT BICYCLISTS RIDE TO THE FAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD; AND AUTHORIZE THE IMPOUNDMENT OF INOPERABLE BICYCLES (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Mims: Move first consideration. Payne: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Anyone from the audience? Council? Mims: It just (both talking) Oh, I'm sorry (mumbled) Payne: I was just going to say I think it's important to do what we can to make our streets safer for all bicyclists. So I think this is a good thing. Throgmorton: Me too! Mims: And it sounds like there were some things that were a little bit conflicting maybe with State law and that kind of matched those up, which makes sense (both talking) Dilkes: Actually I don't think they were conflicting (both talking) but this is from ... it's a policy decision. Mims: Okay. Thanks. Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 44 ITEM 15. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS Hayek: Um, we are going to re -advertise the Community Police Review Board position. Karr: For 30 days. Hayek: For 30 days. Um, the action we'll take tonight is, uh, to consider a motion to appoint, uh, to the Housing Community Development Commission Mark Signs, Syndey Conger, and Emily Seipel, and Paul Roesler to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mims: So moved. Botchway: Second. Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 7-0. 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. Uh, there are some commissions for which we are seeking volunteer, uh... uh, applications. Uh, there is a vacancy on the Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment. There's a vacancy on the Board of Appeals for an HVAC or a building design professional. Uh, or otherwise qualified by experience and training. Uh, there is a vacancy on Historic Preservation for a Jefferson Street representative. Uh, and that looks to be it ... oh, and we're re -advertising the Community Police Review Board for 30 days. We encourage, uh, the members of the public to apply for those commissions. They're immensely helpful to the City Council. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 45 ITEM 18. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION Hayek: We'll start down with you! Dobyns: On Saturday morning had a bunch of RAGBRAI'ers come by and have breakfast at my house over on the west side and then I joined them, uh, very early. Moved through the city of Iowa City. I have never bicycled through Iowa City so quickly in my life. Um, I thought it was great, especially coming up the, uh, the Jefferson Street hill, short and sweet, just like they like it, and um ... Iowa Avenue, uh... uh, great in terms of being broad and wide and very inviting. Um, I thought, uh, it was a good look for what I hope will be a future host city overnight for RAGBRAI for Iowa City. Payne: I just want to remind people that this, uh, is Rummage in the Ramp right now, so take a look at what's in the ramp! Dickens: Nothing. Mims: Nothing. Throgmorton: All right! Uh, so lot of time's passed since our last meeting and ... and I, looking back over various events I've had an opportunity to go to, I just wanted to mention the IC, uh, Iowa City Pride Parade, the Affordable Homes Coalition's mixer, a Party in the Park at North Market Square, the ADA's, uh, 25`" anniversary celebration for the Americans With Disabilities Act. Really good things! I also, and I think y'all know this, had an opportunity visit Prague in the Czech Republic, uh, where I was participating in a conference, but the best thing about it was I had an opportunity to walk around the really beautiful city center with a ... a staff official in the Prague City of Literature. So we had a lot of conversation about their City of Literature, our City of Literature, relationships and so on and that kind of thing. It was fun to do! Botchway: The only thing I wanted to mention is, uh, and I forgot to mention this was, uh, 3 d(11) the bike sharing grant. It was an awesome opportunity. I remember riding around, uh, with the bike sharing program in Omaha and I think you were ... I think you went to Omaha or Council Bluffs for that thing, but um, I just think it's a great thing. Um, and (several talking) get that done, so we'll see what happens. See who wins! Hayek: Uh, Jim, you mentioned that ... some of the things you went to and we .... we didn't really get into this but just wanted to mention the White House Conference on Aging that Iowa City was featured at. It was, um, it was just great exposure for the city and uh, I think there was genuine interest among the ... the conference goers, um, in the things we have done to promote successful aging in place, and it allowed us an opportunity to present on what we've done to date, um, and you now, the topics ranged from our complete streets policies to actual incentives we This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 46 provide for, uh, senior related housing, um, to our programming to ... uh, our ad hoc committees, to ... to all the things we do, um, programatically and financially to support, uh, aging in place and ... and one of the take-aways is that every day, roughly 10,000 Americans turn 65. And this baby boomer, um ... uh, demographic is ... is going to swell the ranks of our senior population in the years to come, um, and it presents challenge for cities, um, but also an opportunity, um, and I think it's one that Iowa City is ... is poised to, um, meet, um, but also, um ... uh, benefit from, and I think ... I think we're ... we're positioned to be a competitive city in terms of that senior market, where people choose to live, uh, out the last chapters of their lives. Ironic in a college town that we would have that kind of, uh, ranking, uh... uh, in this category, but I thought it was a great honor for us and I ... and another take -away was, you know, there don't seem to be, um ... uh, home -run solutions to the issue of...of, uh, issues of aging. Um, instead there seemed to be lots of little opportunities and just as Doug Boothroy was talking to us the other day about ... in the area of housing, you know, chipping away incrementally at the issue. Same in this category. Little things here and there all add up to, uh, an overall environment that's conducive to that population and to making them a thriving part of our community, so ... it was great. It was good for Iowa City. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015. Page 47 ITEM 19. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF a. City Manager's Officers Hayek: Mr. Geoff! Fruin: I do have one item. Uh, on September 25th our Parks Director Mike Moran is going to be celebrating 32 years with the City, and uh, what better way to celebrate than calling in the career and uh, walking away from the job that he's been at, uh, for so long, and we're going to miss Mike dearly. He did announce his retirement, uh, a few weeks ago. Um, Mike's, like I said, been with us for 32 years and he was named Director back in 2010, and if you think back, uh... uh, certainly over the 32 year career, Mike has his fingerprints on what I think is a ... a very strong parks and rec system, and ... and one that the City should be proud of. I think there's a great foundation, uh, for us to build on and it's because of, uh, in large part Mike's hard work. Um, the last, uh, five years as director, you know, point out two projects that the community has really embraced, and that's Terry Trueblood Recreational Area and the Ashton House, and those were both, uh, projects very close to Mike and ... and I think, um, turned out magnificently and um ... we'll miss Mike! So ... thank you, Mike! Mims: Congratulations! (applause) Hayek: We're not done with ya quite yet! We got ya for another ... month and a half., Two months! (several talking and laughing) Congratulations! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special formal meeting of July 27, 2015.