HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-20 TranscriptionPage 1
ITEM 2. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ITEM
2a July 10th Garage Fire
Karr: Item 2a is the July 10th garage fire and would like to introduce Police Chief
Hargadine, Fire Chief Grier.
Hargadine: Mr. Mayor, City Council, on July 10, 2015, both the Iowa City Police and Fire
Departments were dispatched to an unattached garage fire in the 600 block of
south First Avenue. The caller told 911 dispatchers that a garage was on fire and
there was a person trapped in the garage. Two brothers who lived across the
street saw the flames and approached the garage to see what in fact was going on.
One of the two brothers was carrying a cell phone. Upon reaching the garage, the
brothers could hear a person screaming for help and saying that he was trapped
inside. Shortly afterwards, the two brothers were joined by their older sister who
retrieved the cell phone and dialed 911 to report that there was a fire and that a
person was trapped inside.
Grier: The al ... Engine 11 crew of firefighters Wulfekuhle, Miller, and Hartshorn arrived
on scene to find smoke coming from the garage and they attempted to manually
force the overhead door without success. The crew was able to cut a small
opening in the door and applied water from the outside. As the smoke cleared,
the crew was able to see inside and saw a male victim lying on the garage floor.
The Engine 1 crew of firefighters Recker, Pauley, and Haxmeier arrived on scene
and assisted Engine 11 with forcefully removing the garage door panels in order
to gain access to the victim, affect his rescue, and carry him to medical personnel
on scene. Subsequent investigation revealed that the victim, seeing that his
garage was on fire, attempted to douse the flames with an extinguisher and then
with water that he carried from the house. While the victim was in the garage, the
garage door abruptly closed, trapping him inside. The victim was hospitalized for
many weeks, but is now home recovering from the injuries received in this
incident.
Hargadine: Without the quick actions that Javeyel, Marquelle, and Jaztinique Jones, without a
doubt this would have ... without a doubt this would likely have been a fatal
incident. The quick actions of all three led to the saving of a life. The three are
here tonight along with their mother, Shafona Jones. (several talking away from
mic) (laughter)
Certificates of Commendation
Hayek: This too? Just two! Well, welcome. How are you? Thank you for being here.
Chief ..Chief. Um, I'm, uh Mayor Hayek and this is the City Council behind you,
and um, I just want you to know how proud we are of you. You, uh, the ... the
three of you saved a life that day and I think our community recognizes that. Um,
we have, uh, an award. It's called the City of Iowa City Certificate of
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 2
Commendation and I want to read it. It's made out to your names. (reads
Certificate of Commendation) We have a special Certificate of Commendation
for you. (speaking away from mic) Now which brother are you? All right. You
want to take this one to your brother? Okay! But I ... I just want to tell you,
uh... uh, how ... how grateful we are as a community. You thought... you... you
didn't delay! You took quick action and ... and ... in my eight years, I have not had,
uh, an opportunity to be part of the recognition of young people in Iowa City
doing something as important as what you kids did, uh, not long ago, and ... uh, I
hope you remember this and I hope the community remembers this because what
you did was an incredible thing and ... and an incredible service to your
community. I know the people who are here with you are proud of you. I want
you to know that the City is as well. I want to congratulate you. (applause and
cheers)
Life -Saving Award
Grier: When, uh, called to ar... respond to emergencies, firefighters must perform at
maximum efficiency and know that they cannot fail. Such was the case on July
10, 2015, when firefighters Thomas Hartshorn, Ryan Haxmeier, Mery Miller,
Glenn Pauley, Timothy Recker, and Andrew Wulfekuhle responded to a garage
fire on First ... south First Avenue. Working together, these firefighters set about
attacking the fire, gaining access to the trapped male, removing him from the
garage, and delivering him to medical personnel. Unquestionably the victim
survived due to the quick -thinking actions and team work of the crews involved.
Unfortunately due to a building fire emergency, firefighter Andy Wulfekuhle was
the only one that could join us here tonight with his family, but uh.... in
recognition of your exceptional act of saving another person's life, it is my distinct
privilege to honor each of you with a Life Saver Commendation Award. We have
a red commendation bar that we ... give to each firefighter to wear on their uniform
below their badge, and ... also present them with the Meritorious Exceptional
Performance Certificate, which identifies them as a recipient of the award and
serves as a physical reminder of their commendable actions. So, Andy.
(applause)
Hayek: Well, Andy, uh, we're proud of you. We're proud of the rest of the crew that
responded that day, but ... uh, you have jobs to do and right now, uh, our ... our
firefighting crew is down the street, responding to a house fire, um, and, uh, we're
proud of them, as well. Job well done, um, and I know you appreciate the
assistance these fine young Iowa Citians provided as well that day. So, thank
you. Job well done! (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 3
ITEM 2. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
ITEM 2b Hopeline Champion Award
Karr: Item 2b is the Hopeline Champion Award. I'd like to introduce Kristie Fortmann
Doser, Executive Director, Domestic Violence Intervention Project.
Doser: Good evening! I'm really excited to be here this evening. We, uh, have the honor
and pleasure of making an award to the Iowa City Police Department, uh, from
Verizon for the Hopeline Champion Award. I'd like to introduce briefly, uh,
Ryan Johnson and Andy Chihak from Verizon. They're with the Governments
Accounts, uh, Department and they're going to speak for a few minutes to, uh, tell
you a little bit about the award and we'll go from there!
Johnson: Thanks, Kristie! Good evening, um ... it's very much an honor to be here with
some future heroes and real-life heroes and we're going to talk about DVIP, uh,
with what they're doing tonight. So, I'm here to honor Chief Hargadine with the
Iowa City Police Department with the Verizon Wireless Hopeline Champion Law
Enforcement Partnership Award, as nominated by Kristie and the Domestic
Violence Intervention Program here in Iowa City. This award honors the efforts
of public safety personnel in organizations across the country that have
demonstrated extraordinary commitment to preventing domestic violence...
providing support to victims, and raising awareness and education about this issue
in their communities. Chief Hargadine and the Iowa City Police Department join
a distinguished list of individuals who have been honored with this award. In
part, the list includes Chief Dan Trelka, up from Waterloo, Iowa; uh... Chief
Timothy Dolan of the Minneapolis Police Department; Police Chief Gerald
Whitman of the Denver Police Department; Police Chief Ronald DePompa of the
Glendale, California Police Department; the Georgia Chapter of National
Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, also called NOBLE; and
Sheriff Al Lamberti of the Broward County, Florida Sheriffs Office. Domestic
Violence awareness and prevention is the corporate cause of Verizon Wireless.
It's not something we talk about very often, but it's something that we want to be
out and be known for. We provide support throughout the country to non-profit
organizations with our national Hopeline Phone Recycling Program. Everyone
can partner with Hopeline by not ... donating no longer used devices and
accessories from any carrier and in any condition. You can drop those phones off
at our retail store here in Coralville, or if you're from an outlying location, we
have stores in Cedar Rapids, as well. You can also get a request form mailed to
you for free if you go to verizonwireless.com/hopeline. So in conjunction with
this award, I was also pleased to announce that $10,000 Hopeline grant to the
Domestic Violence Intervention Program to provide critical services for victims
and advanced domestic violence training to law enforcement officers, prosecutors,
victim advocates, victim services providers, and others involved in the criminal
justice system. Thanks to all of those here today for the difference you're making
in Johnson County. (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 4
Doser: DVIP is proud to have nominated the Iowa City Police Department and the Iowa
City Domestic Abuse Response Team for the ri ... the Verizon Hopeline Champion
Award. Our community was the first in Iowa to establish a coordinating
community response to domestic violence. Our vision was to ensure our
community supported victims, held perpetrators accountable, and set a clear
message that violence in intimate relationship was never acceptable. In 1997, out
of that vision came the Domestic Abuse Response Team, including a partnership
between the Iowa City Police Department, Domestic Violence Intervention
Program, and the Johnson County Attorney's Office. Our goal was to create
resources for improved investigation and evidence through a dedicated Domestic
Abuse Investigator, create a safety net for victims that was in place from the onset
of an assault through DVIP victim advocates that accompanied investigators, and
that prosecutors were equipped to move forward with prosecution that relied less
heavily on domestic violence victims and more heavily on the quality
investigations of the Iowa City Police Department's skilled officers. This team
was critical in reducing a perpetrator's capacity to manipulate their victim and
made for an effective criminal justice work. As our partnerships have grown over
the years, the Iowa City Police Department has added another component to their
work — community engagement. Over the past year, the Iowa City Police
Department has responded to more than 600 domestic violence cases.
Throughout these cases, we have witnessed the Iowa City Police Department
move to a community justice perspective in evaluating the barriers victims face in
reaching out to support through the human services and criminal justice systems.
We have witnessed domestic abuse investigators work with victims on the verge
of homelessness, struggling to main employment, and fighting poverty, all of
which are caused by the crimes committed against them. Iowa City law
enforcement have worked to help victims stay in their homes, evaluate the safety
of their homes and their work place, and helped to meet everyday needs we many
times take for granted. In addition, the Iowa City Police Department took
advantage of criminal justice systems' processes to hold perpetrators accountable
when they might otherwise manipulate or threaten their partners. They did this by
tracking phone calls made from jail when 'no contact' orders were in place. For
victims, this kind of thorough and consistent system response increases their
safety. I would like to take a moment to identify current and past domestic abuse
response team members. So if you're here, some of you are already standing so
you may have to wave, um, if you would please stand and remain standing. Our
current DART team includes Investigator Scott Stevens with the Iowa City Police
Department; Alda Burrish. (laughter) I know she's over here! Alda Burrish, who
is a, uh, Client Advocacy Services Coordinator with the Domestic Violence
Intervention Program, and Rachel Zimmerman, Assistant Prosecutor with the
Johnson County Attorney's Office. They are our current team and they are
outstanding! I cannot say enough about them. But I'd also like to really quickly
rattle off the names, in full vigor (laughs) of those who have set the history of this
program in place. Kristen Parks. Some of these individuals are here tonight,
some are not able to be. Kristen Parks with the Johnson County Attorney's
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 5
Office; Bob Hartman with the Iowa City Police Department; Kevin Bailey, Iowa
City Police Department; Denise Brotherton, Iowa City Police Department; Scott
Gardy, Iowa City Police Department; Nichole Bach, formerly with the Iowa City
Police Department; and Chris Atkins, formerly with the Iowa City Police
Department. With the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Angie Manson
and Peggy Makitrik. Can we please give them a round of applause (applause)
They've really set (unable to hear over applause) At this time I would like to
invite Janet Lyness, our, uh, County Attorney to come up and talk just really
briefly about the impact of the Domestic Abuse Response Team and then we'll
open up for the Mayor to make the award.
Lyness: Thank you and beha... on behalf of all of the victims and survivors of domestic
violence, we are very pleased that you're accepting this award and we appreciate
and thank Verizon for giving the award to the Iowa City Police Department, as
well as the money to Domestic Violence Intervention Program. Having worked
for, uh.... more ... more than 25 years at the County Attorney's Office and
prosecuted many domestic abuse cases, I can tell you that having the coordinated
community response is what is really essential in helping victims and provide
safety for our community. It works as a real team effort and as Kristie Doser was
just saying, we recognize the victims of domestic violence need more sometimes
than just police intervention. They may need access to different kinds of services.
They may need shelter. They may need a lot of things, and by us all working
together, the police, Domestic Violence Intervention, uh, Program, the County
Attorney's Office, and connecting up with the social services in our community,
it's made a huge difference in the lives of victims. And so working with the
Police Department, I have to tell you that we occasionally will call upon the Iowa
City Police Department to assist us with domestic abuse cases in other parts of
Johnson County where we do not have the Domestic Abuse Response Team, and
we've been very appreciative of the work they've done and the training that they
are constantly providing also to other, uh... uh, police officers, and the continuing,
ongoing, excellent work of the Domestic Violence Intervention (mumbled)
Program. So thank you, uh, for letting us be here and congratulations on
receiving the award to Iowa City Police Department. Thank you! (applause)
Doser: I would like to invite the current team up to the, uh, stadium and then also the, uh,
members from Verizon, and Janet, as well, and ... Chief. We would want you to
come up here! Did I miss anybody? I don't think I did!
Hayek: Welcome, everyone! I ... I know some of you and I met the rest of you, uh, this
evening. Um ... uh.... I think it's a testament to the priority this pla... this
community places on prevention of and ... and prosecution of, uh, do ... domestic
violence. This room is packed with supporters, uh, and people who are engaged
every day of the week on this very important issue. Um, I ... I want to express our
appreciation to Verizon for being a strong corporate, uh... uh, sponsor of this.
These non -profits need all the help they can get. Um ... uh, and I want to express,
uh, my appreciation of...of the involvement of...of law enforcement, whether
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 6
it's ... whether it's police or ... or our County prosecution team, uh, and the ... and the
non -profits. Kristie, especially yours. You do so much important work and the
CASA volunteers, uh, in our community, seven days a week. Uh, this is a ... this is
a ... clearly a priority for Iowa City and ... and appropriately so. I think this award
is ... is well deserved, and I think it gives us an opportunity to reflect on how
important this issue is, that we cannot take it for granted, um, and ... uh, plaques are
great, uh, but what really matters is the work in the field every day, and I know
that your organizations are committed to that. So, Chief, with that ... let me, uh,
hand the award to you and congratulate you and your team and everyone else!
Thank you so much! (applause)
Hargadine: On behalf of all of the investigators and ... and, uh... uh, present and past, the past
prosecutors and the ones that are still on the team, I accept this. I want to thank,
uh, DVIP for the nomination and thank you for Verizon as well for the ... for the
grant, $10,000, to DVIP. Thanks for coming! (applause)
Hayek: We're good! (laughter) Thank you!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 7
ITEM 3. STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS — Shimek Elementary
Hayek: Okay, we'll wait just a second while some of the audience, uh, clears out and
we ... get back into our regular meeting here. (noises in background) Okay, we'll
move on now to Item 3, which is the, uh, Student Leadership Awards. Would the
students from Shimek Elementary please come forward. Well you guys don't
look very wet, with all this rain (laughter) Must have really good rain coats!
Well I want to ... I want to welcome you. I'm Matt Hayek. I'm the Mayor of Iowa
City. This is your, uh, City Council behind you, and I want to tell you that it's an
honor for us to have you, uh, with us. Um, one of the great things the City
Council gets to do throughout the school year is to recognize the student leaders
of the various elementary schools around the community, and tonight's Shimek's
night, and I gotta tell ya, you're lookin' at a Shimek grad! (laughter) I don't know
if you knew that! Which means I have to tell my annual story about Shimek
school. Now what's your, uh, mascot right now? (several talking off mic)
Sharks? Okay. That's a ... that's a good mascot, an appropriate mascot. I wanna
tell ya that there was a period of time when I was at Shimek, many, many moons
ago, when we were, urn ... no longer the Sharks but instead the Squirrels.
(laughter) True story! (laughter) There was a principal, our principal back in the
day, uh... for a period of time thought the Sharks were a little too aggressive
(laughter) and so changed our mascot to the Shimek Squirrels. (laughter) Well
you can imagine we were a little embarrassed about that (laughter) Squirrels
really don't hold much to ... to Sharks, and so, uh... we got that turned around and
the principal changed the mascot and Shimek went back to being the Sharks
and ... the rest is history! I tell that, uh, story (laughs) every year when the Shimek
kids come in! (laughs) So, um ... uh, but tonight's about you and ... and we want to
hear from you, and we see that each of you has brought your ... your piece of paper
to tell us a little bit about yourself and so I'll just start by handing the mic to you!
Hackathorn: Hi, my name is Ella Hackathorn. I have helped with the Crisis Center (mumbled)
with my family before. I recently earned the Bond Award with Girl Scouts. To
earn this award I made a construction board with (mumbled) which is for little
kids to play with. I also made a bag full of stones with little pictures on them.
We donated those to activities to the Ronald McDonald House for little kids ... for
little kids to play with while they are staying there. Our Girl Scout troop recently
held a scavenger hunt downtown. I really liked it because you got to do really
funny things in the pictures and I do safety patrol at my school and ... that's
(mumbled) good citizen in my community. (applause)
Tompkins: Hi, my name is Olivia Tompkins and I'm honored to be presented for this award.
Um, I've been actively involved in Girl Scouts and my troop and I have donated
homemade toys to the Ronald McDonald House, cleaned up litter at local parks,
and we made blankets for the Children's Hospital. Every day after school I serve
on safety patrol and on Tuesdays I meet with my kindergarten reading buddy. I
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 8
also babysit and pet sit regularly. That's how I'm a good ... (mumbled) (laughter
and applause) community. (applause)
Newbold: Hi, my name is Elliott Newbold and at home I babysit my three brothers when my
mom needs to get things done. I also mow our lawn without being paid. At
school I participate in safety patrol. The job is to get kids off and be safe around
the buses. If classmate ... if a classmate is absent, I always volunteer to fill their
patrol position. After school I walk my brother and his friend to meet our parents.
I participate in Tae Kwon Do where I have earned my blue belt. In Boy Scouts
I've ... I've helped clean up debris by the Iowa River and collected food for our
Crisis Center. (applause)
Hayek: Well those were fantastic and very well read. It's not easy to get up here in front
of a big crowd. I know that. You kids are up to so much stuff. I ... I just, I don't
recall doing as many things as you do, uh, presently. I don't know how you get it
all done in ... in the span of a day. Um, but one of the reasons we bring you here, I
know you're busy! You don't ... you don't understand either. Yeah, well you're
doin' a lot (laughter) But one of the reasons we bring you here is to show you off
a little bit and to show you, um, show the community the great things that are
going on in our school system, um, and to show that we have, uh, strong young
leaders who are coming up through the system. Um, you're up to incredible
things and we hope that you continue to do those things, and you are an example,
both within Shimek but within the entire community, and ... and all the children out
there watching Public Access right now (laughter) uh... uh, should... should.... and
their parents, should see that, uh, you are an example to the community. So we're
very proud of you, and we have what's called a Student Leadership Award and it
reads as follows. (reads award) Ella, I know your dad a little bit. Did he tell you
that? Congratulations. I know ... I see him out there. I know he's very proud!
Olivia! And Elliott! Let me shake your hands and congratulate you. You're
welcome to stick around, uh, or go home and do homework. It's your call!
(laughter) You don't have homework? Well that's great! (laughter)
Congratulations! (applause)
Dobyns: Mr. Mayor, had you been a, uh, Shark instead of a Squirrel you probably would
have gotten more things done, so .... (laughter)
Hayek: Duly noted! (laughter) Okay, now we have Item 4, Proclamations.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 9
ITEM 4. PROCLAMATIONS ITEM
4a National Disability Employment Awareness Month — October
Hayek: I may wait just a second while people ... (noises in background)
Throgmorton: We can talk football! (laughter)
Hayek: Yeah! (laughs) Exactly! (several talking and laughing)
Mims: He's ignoring you, Michelle! (laughs)
Hayek: Okay, we'll begin with this proclamation. Reads as follows: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the award is Human Rights Commissioner Harry Olmstead.
(applause)
Olmstead: Thank you very much, Mayor, and I want to thank the Council, as well. We need
to be aware of people with disabilities. They're one of the few ... or, they're one of
the groups that are really, uh ... (mumbled) because they're discriminated against.
And we need to take and work on that. In our community, uh, we have that
problem and we shouldn't ignore it. Thank you. (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 10
ITEM 4. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 4b Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery Day — November 1
Hayek: The next proclamation ... if I can open it here, has to do with, uh... fire protection
and ... and ... and detector clocks. It reads as follows: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Iowa City Firefighter Andy Wulfekuhle.
(applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 11
ITEM 4. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 4c Rotary Month — November
Hayek: All right. Last but not least we have a proclamation regarding Rotary Month.
Reads as follows: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is this year's club president Thais Winkleblack.
(applause)
Winkleblack: I'll be brief, but I just want to say thank you to Mayor Hayek and the City Council
Members, City staff for honoring the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club on our 1000,
anniversary. Um, and I'm proud to represent the 327 members of the Iowa City
Noon Rotary Club. Uh, with over 1.2 million, uh, members worldwide and over
70 countries. Rotary, uh, represents the largest non -religious, non-political
service organization in the world, and we look forward to another hundred years!
So, thank you very much!
Hayek: Thank you, Thais! (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 12
ITEM 6. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
Hayek: This is the opportunity at ea ... each City Council meeting for members of the
audience to address the Council on items that are not on the agenda. So if there's
something that is not on tonight's agenda that you would like to bring to our
attention, we invite you to come forward and our standard practice is to have you
sign in, to verbally give us your name, and to please limit your comments to five
minutes or less.
Kelly: Hello, Mayor and City Council. My name is Melyssa Jo Kelly. You have my
contact information on my letter, uh, regarding the racist remarks of, uh, Council
Member Payne. And, um, I'm here tonight, uh... and I ... I do want you all to know
I ... I did send you all a copy when I sent you the copy of my correspondence to the
City Council, I did include a reproduction of my original, um ... (clears throat)
correspondence with the Council Member, but since she didn't respond, I came to
the full Council to address, urn ... uh, what I found was extremely, extremely
shocking behavior. I'm here to say no to racism. We don't need racist leadership
in Iowa City, and uh... while evidently the, um, inclusion of my letter to the
Council in your agenda packets prompted a long overdue statement, I don't
consider it an apology because in it, um, I believe the Council Member actually
failed to take responsibility, um, for her racist remarks. (clears throat) Basically,
um ... elected officials just cannot get away with referring to persons of African
descent as 'colored people' anymore. This is 2015! I lived back in the day, where
colored people was the polite term. Then negro was the polite term. Then say it
loud, I'm black and I'm proud. Black is beautiful is the polite term. We're going
all the way back to the 30s for colored people! And all I have to say is, if you've
got a sitting Council Member who's trying to get re-elected, she calls persons of
African descent 'colored people' at a candidates' Social Justice Forum, in public,
what the hell does she say in the privacy of her own living room? That's scary!
Come on, white people! Start fighting racism. To end white supremacy and
racism in this country, white people need to take up this cause. After all, we
invented it. We perpetrate it, and we benefit from it! The whole reason the
ideology of white supremacy was created, was to justify the enslavement of
African people, in order ... to kidnap and enslave human beings, work them half to
` death, routinely torture, whip, rape, and kill them during the period of
en ... enslavement in this country. It was necessary to have an ideology that ... that
stated they were less than human. That's the reason we have a white supremest
ideology in this country. I encourage every white person in this country with
res ... with resources to make a pilgrimage to West Africa, to go to one of the slave
markets, to go to the mu. ... go to a ... go to a West Africa museum about the slave
trade, to go for example south of Lagos in Nigeria and walk ... uh, across the spit of
land, drink from the well of forgetfulness, and stand at the point of no return,
where hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people left and never
came back because most of them died during the middle passage. So when I hear
a white woman in Iowa say at a Social Justice, cause I, believe me, I watched the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 13
tape, and a ... a minute before she... she... she used that outdated terminology, uh,
your Council.... your... your colleague was bragging about how many black friends
her son has. The minute ... a minute later she calls persons of African descent, uh,
'colored people.' You know there aren't a lot of protesters here tonight and there
are two reasons for that. This is my third visit to these chambers. Once in
December of last year for Black Lives Matter and once earlier this year for Black
Kids Play Too. And ... most members of the African American community in Iowa
City that I have seen in protest, that I have heard address this Council are so fed
up with dealing with the racism of Iowa City and Johnson County and the State of
Iowa...
Hayek: Ma'am, you're at five minutes. I would ask you to please complete your
comments.
Kelly: Thank you so much! I just want to conclude by saying that I certainly urge the
Council Member to resign and I, um, spoke with your wonderful Clerk of Court.
She told me she doesn't know of an incident where there was public censure, but I
think this would be a great opportunity. Thank you so much. Good night!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Would anyone else like to ... address the City
Council?
Ross: Hi, my name is Brandon Ross. And, um, I want to comment on, uh, some process
and some point of view about the, uh, the City Council. Um ... specifically I will
start by mentioning the letter, uh, which was a guest opinion by the Mayor, uh,
Mayor Hayek, which I believe, uh, personally was very self-serving, very smug,
and very mean-spirited, and uh, which letter he used to attack candidates,
something I have not seen before from any City Council Member. I disagree with
this, um ... I believe that, uh, there was a comment made about Councilman Jim
Throgmorton who has served two terms. He is, uh, he is a city planning professor
who is retired and the letter implied that if he were mayor that it would be a
disaster, and I think that, uh, Mr. Throgmorton, who I voted for and I'm proud that
I have. He's one of the best councilors that we've seen in the past 20 years, and
there's no room for that kind of, uh, of discourse, whether it be in the newspaper
or in the Council chambers. This is a colleague and this is someone you work
with, and I disagree with that. Also, uh, basically talking about the candidates in
general... as if that ... they are something that ... they are not, uh... as if to vote for any
of those candidates. A John Thomas would be someone who would not allow
growth. I don't remember when there hasn't been a pro -growth Council! And
some people would probably say it's been 40, 50 years since you even had a
progressive Council. This Council is a business Council. Business, business,
business, business, business, retired professor. Uh, I don't see the problem of
having two, uh, city development, urban planners on the Council. I was reading,
uh ... something from John Thomas. He said he's interested in wise and equitable
use of funds for public services, infrastructure, capital improvements, economic
development that increases the tax base while being con ... context sensitive,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 14
diverse work opportunities providing quality jobs. I didn't see anything
threatening in there to, uh, the business community here in Iowa City. Likewise
with, uh, Jim Throgmorton. Uh, Pauline Taylor is a nurse. She has spent her
whole life working. She's a working class member. Uh, she got the Citizenship
Award, Lifetime Award from the Federation of Labor, and she represents working
class people, and I don't think we've had a candidate like her since Karen Kubby.
Um ... and Rockne Cole is a ... is a lawyer for immigration. He's for ... he's a human
rights, uh, concern, and I think these are good candidates that should not be called
down. And, I think, uh, I think the letter was... was... was misspoken. In the
meantime, the Mayor, uh, talks about people like, uh ... Candidate Conroy who is a,
uh, real estate salesman, cause what we need perhaps is what, another
businessman on Council. Well let me just say this — the City Council right now is
in a love triangle with the management, City management, and with the Chamber
of Commerce upper bracket, and nothing really expresses that best, uh, better than
when you look up at the Marc Moen penthouse and you see the Con ... you see the
Conroy sign right in that window next to his telescope that's always pointing
down. Okay? You tell me, do we need more business people on the Council
when we are making unaffordable housing for people all over the town. There's
no affordable housing, and I'll tell you something. A friend of mine who had
lived here over 20 years ago — he works for John Hopkins — uh, he came back to
visit for a week and uh, stayed at our house and he's walkin' around and he said,
"What's all this stuff?" and he's pointin' at these buildings. He looked across the
street from the Co -Op, where the Khout Building is, where there used to be
historic buildings over there, 12, 14 businesses. Now there's only one or two.
Affordable apartments, now there's no affordable apartments. And he said, "This
could be Orlando! This looks more like Coralville now!" Okay? That same
night we were walking through the ped mall, and I'll try to close, uh, pretty soon
here, uh...
Hayek: Mr. Ross (both talking) you are at five minutes, so I need you to (both talking)
Ross: I'm closin'! I saw my, uh, my daughter's classmate's sister was sitting on the ped
mall and she was begging for money. And there simply is not enough for people
who are poor, working class, those with disabilities, uh, just normal people.
Hayek: Mr. Ross, would you please finish up? You're over (both talking)
Ross: Thank you, uh, Mayor Hayek. I will say one last thing, the person who came to
accept the disability, uh, award on the back of his wheelchair had a Bernie
Sanders' sticker (both talking)
Hayek: Mr. Ross (both talking)
Ross: ...like to say that's more the direction that we should be in (both talking)
Hayek: ...multiple times. You know the drill. I cannot treat you any differently than
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 15
anyone else. You need to stop.
Ross: Thank you so much, City Council. And everybody, get out there and vote. We
can't have 14% of people voting and actually get representation. Thank you so
much.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Beadleston: Hi, my name is Joy Beadleston and I just wanted to comment, um, I did go to the
Kirkwood event and many others, and um ... I was disappointed in the comment
that was made. I found it, uh, offensive and I do accept apologies. You know,
I'm pretty forgiving, but urn ... note it's very offensive, and when I made a
comment there I talked about connectiveness and dhow the City Council and the
people that are running, if they get elected they need to get connected to their
community and what happened with Michelle Payne, um, saying what she said
was just ... pretty much evidence to me that we're very disconnected as a Council,
to our community. Um, I've been friends with people of diversity and my own
family's extremely diverse (laughs) I have probably nine different, um ... people in
my family representative from the beginning of time when people came on the,
you know, as Pilgrims and then as immigrants from all over the world, um,
especially Europe and the Middle East, and ... I've seen a lot of my ... um,
generations of family members be called really horrible names, including what
Michelle said and, uh, myself experienced it during the Gulf War, um, even
though I am privileged enough ... I guess you'd call it privileged (laughs) to look
white and to appear, you know, blond or whatever, but this is the thing, unless
you guys get connected and people like Jim Throgmorton, um, took Mary's
request, Mary Gravitt's request and rode the bus a few weeks ago with her, who
had been pleading for months for people to do that (laughs) um, he was the first
person that took that up and Rockne Cole also volunteered and I have no ... not just
saying this (laughs) This is what happened, and also, um, Mr. Thomas said he
would like to do that and also Pauline and that just happens to be the way it is. It
has nothing to do with who I favor and who I don't, and I would invite you guys
to start, and ladies, to start getting more connected by ... knowing what the lack of
food in your Crisis Center, the issues on your city. You know we don't all just
want to go downtown. We like to explore. This is a city of people that are ... are
very engaged in their community and they want to go to all sides of town, so we
have to put money everywhere, especially the south side, who suffered extremely
with all the construction, and I've seen many businesses close down because of it,
and I don't think that's right. Urn ... so I ask you to engage in the people that you're
giving money to, make sure they're following up with what they promised and are
contracted to do and ... you know, get out there and ride the bus, get out there and
meet the people door-to-door, you know, when you're campaigning or when
you're not. You need to get more connected with your community.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else? Okay! We'll move on to Item 7,
Planning and Zoning Matters.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 16
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 17
ITEM 7. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 7a COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT, DOWNTOWN
DISTRICT — APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN — TO ADD A THREE BLOCK AREA
BOUNDED BY BURLINGTON STREET, IOWA AVENUE, GILBERT
STREET, AND VAN BUREN STREET TO THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
SECTION OF THE DOWNTOWN AND RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS
MASTER PLAN.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Mr. Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, good evening. Good evening, John Yapp, Development Services. And ... I'll
just get the slide show ... started here. The, uh, impetus for this iteration of the, uh,
proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment was a presentation, uh, the City
Council had several months ago, uh, about the possibility of redeveloping the
parking lot north of City Hall, uh, in conjunction with, uh, preserving the
Unitarian Church structure. Uh, this concept was developed after it was
announced that the Unitarian, uh, congregation would be leaving Iowa City, uh,
and were seeking to sell their property. A local developer approached staff, uh,
with an idea, uh, for a concept to preserve that structure, but allow development
on the surface parking lot, uh, north of City Hall. Uh, as we discussed at that
time, surface parking lots in a downtown area are very inefficient. Uh, both
financially, but also more importantly in terms of vibrancy, uh, in the downtown.
Uh, they're places for cars, not places for people. Uh... a few landmarks, uh, for
the affected area. Uh, the Unitarian Church at the northwest corner of this three -
block area. Uh, City Hall. Chauncey Swan Park. Uh, the Recreation Center at
the southwest corner. Uh, the surface parking lot adjacent to the Recreation
Center. Uh, Chauncey Swan parking ramp, and again, the surface parking lot
north of City Hall. Uh, this map is the current, uh, land use map from the City
IC2030 Comprehensive Plan. Uh, the three -block area in discussion is outlined in
green. Uh, a majority of that area is shown in gray, which means it's for public
use. Uh, before considering any development proposals on these properties, the
first step would be amending the Comprehensive Plan to reflect allowing
development, uh, on the surface parking lots, uh, that we are discussing. Uh, few
landmarks to give you some context. Uh, the Unitarian Church, uh, the parking
lot adjacent to the Recreation Center, uh, Chauncey Swan, uh, parking ramp,
which is an approximate 450 -space parking facility. Uh, this is a view standing in
the Recreation Center parking lot looking toward the College Street bridge with
Ralston Creek in the background. Uh, another view of Ralston Creek with the
parking ramp in the background. Uh, one of the, uh, policies and goals in the
Downtown and Riverfront Crossings plan is to improve Ralston Creek, uh, seek
opportunities to add trail access, uh, to the creek and wayside parks along the
creek, and Chauncey Swan Park near the center of the three -block area. And the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 18
parking lot north of City Hall. Uh, what is being proposed is to add these three
blocks to the Downtown District section of the Downtown and Riverfront
Crossings plan. Uh, on the south side of Burlington Street, uh, this district
already extends to Van Buren Street. Uh, and this property is also already a part
of the Downtown and Riverfront Crossings Parking District. Uh, the ... proposed
land use map associated with this proposal, which is, uh ... different than the, uh,
last proposal, uh, Council received, uh, reflects allowing development on the
surface parking lot north of City Hall, with the Unitarian Church identified as a
potential historic building ... and I'll get into the, uh, significance of that in a ... in a
few minutes. Uh, and allowing development east of the Recreation Center on that
surface parking lot. Uh, the other area identified is at the corner of College Street
and Gilbert Street, which has already been, uh, rezoned CB -10. The public
buildings and public space, and Chauncey Swan Park, uh, are not identified as ... as
being appropriate for future development. They're identified as, uh, public
buildings, and the park as a park. Uh, regarding the guidance in this
Comprehensive Plan amendment, this would come into effect with a proposed
rezoning. Uh, the light brown color reflects, uh, four to six stories. The,
uh... lighter color along the Iowa Avenue frontage reflects two to four stories
along that frontage, uh, and east of the Recreation Center, again, four to six
stories, uh, in height. The, uh, land use map, uh, the red color, uh, which would
affect these properties, uh, reflects mixed use ... uh, meaning that, uh, those
properties are appropriate for a mix of commercial, office, and residential uses.
The, uh, public buildings, and this is using the nomenclature in the Riverfront
Crossings plan, uh, the public buildings are identified as either 'government
buildings' for the Rec Center and City Hall, uh, parking structure for the Swan
parking ramp, or park for Chauncey Swan Park. Uh, the characteristics of these
blocks, which led to our recommendation that they be added to the Downtown
District is that they include services that serve the larger community, uh, City
Hall, Police and Fire stations, and the Recreation Center. Uh, the three blocks are
the site of numerous public events that ... that again serve the larger community,
including Farmers Market, uh, City Hall meetings such as the meeting tonight, uh,
other events and recreation activities and downtown events. Uh, the three blocks
are already a part of the Downtown and Riverfront Crossings Parking District,
and that much of the input received through our larger Comprehensive Plan
process emphasized a desire for more diverse housing types downtown and for
more mixed-use development, uh, which could be offered on portions of these
three blocks. Uh, the affect of the Parking District, which these properties are
already a part of, is that it allows for a reduction in on-site parking requirements,
uh, provided the property is in the Parking District, and these properties already
are, and provided that the, uh, resulting project must not result in the demolition
of a property that is either designated or eligible for the National Register. Uh,
staff has determined that the Unitarian Church structure, uh, is eligible for the
Nat ... National Register. It is not yet designated. Uh, the ... Downtown and
Riverfront Crossings Plan already has historic preservation goals, uh, which
include developments, incentives, and policy options to encourage, uh,
preservation. Uh, the zoning code allows for a density bonus for adaptive re -use
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 19
of historic structures, uh, and consistent with these goals, staff has proposed the
note on the plan that shows additional building height may be approved in
conjunction with the preservation of historic property, provision of affordable
housing or other public goals, which I think would be appropriate for, uh, City -
owned properties. Uh, this is a zoning map, again showing the majority of the
three -block area, uh, is zoned public. Uh, the surrounding property to the
north ... uh, the east and the west is, uh, all zoned commercial, uh, with a CB,
um ... zoning, which stands for Central Business District. Uh, again, indicating that
this is in a downtown context. Before staff, uh, can consider any rezonings,
again, a Comprehensive Plan amendment, uh, would be the first step. I ... I think
it's been exciting to consider proposed development, uh, on these parcels,
particularly to try to achieve a public goal, such as historic preservation. Uh, but
before we can get into, uh, the details of those projects, the first step is a, uh,
Comprehensive Plan amendment. Uh, staff has recommended approval, Planning
and Zoning Commission, uh, after several meetings has also recommended
approval. Uh, one of the, uh, discussion items the Planning and Zoning
Commission had was, uh, related to ... are these surface parking lots needed for
future growth of municipal facilities. Uh, and you'll see in your packets staff
prepared some additional information for the Commission. Uh, Geoff Fruin
attended one of the Commission meetings, uh, to address that topic specifically.
Uh, in summary, the ... the amount of traffic in City Hall, for example, has been
decreasing, uh, over the past several years. This is largely due to, uh, increases in
use of technology for things like building permits, paying bills, uh, etc. Uh, a
facility study completed in 2012 found that portions of the Recreation Center
were inefficient and underutilized and recommended renovations in that building,
some of which have already occurred. Uh, and regarding the Recreation Center,
the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, uh, identified some geographic
inefficiencies in having a centrally located, uh, recreation center, and
recommended partnering with the School District to enhance school facilities
within neighborhoods, which is occurring. Uh, to provide those services closer to
neighborhoods, and also enhancing neighborhood parks, uh, and other
neighborhood facilities for those recreation opportunities, not necessarily growing
the central Recreation Center. With that I'd be glad to take any questions.
Hayek: Questions for John?
Throgmorton: I ... I do have some, so ... (clears throat) maybe I ... I think I have maybe three to start
off with, John. So ... in ... in what I was able to read in ... in the press of time, uh... I
couldn't find any compelling reason to amend the Comp Plan right now with
regard to the Rec Center part ... parcel. That, uh, the lower third or whatever. I see
a compelling reason, uh, with regard to the ... the northern part, cause of the
connection to the UU building, and its preservation. So can you restate for me,
please, the compelling reason why we should do this for the lower ... one-third at
least of the property, of.. of the three -block area?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 20
Yapp: I would ... I would agree that the northern third, uh, if you will, is ... is more time -
sensitive. Uh, because of the Unitarian Church situation. Uh, from staff s view,
these ... these three blocks are not currently a part of any sub -district plan. Uh,
they're a ... they're a remnant parcel, if you will. Uh, the properties to the east, uh,
have been added to the Central District Plan. The properties to the west are
already in the Downtown District. Uh, in staffs view it was ... it was an effort
to ... address these three blocks in total, as opposed to piecemeal, but I would agree
that the northern third is ... is more time -sensitive.
Throgmorton: So there's no, uh... compelling reason why, if we chose to, we couldn't extract
the ... the lower third from this particular, uh, resolution and ... and amend the Comp
Plan just for the northern part (both talking)
Yapp: I think that's always Council's option. I would say ... uh, that several years ago
there was a, uh, proposed development on that lower third, uh, parking lot. Uh...
which received quite some media attention. Uh, that, uh, developer is still very
interested in that ... in that site, and is in attendance tonight (both talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah, I understand that that was surely the case, but ... but we ... as a Council, in
public and I think in private, have not seen the kind of, uh, even conceptual detail
that we saw with regard to the building that Jessie Allen has proposed. So it ... it,
that part of it seems vaguer to me. That's all I'm saying. I don't want to push the
point too much, but I just (several talking)
Yapp: I would also say, oh, I'm sorry!
Payne: I was just going to say, I ... I think from readin' the Planning and Zoning minutes,
they also discussed the same thing and then ended up ... a ... agreeing that ... to put
them all in ... into one. And I think it was ... it was a, either a 6 or 7 to 0 vote, wasn't
it?
Yapp: It was unanimous, yes.
Payne: Okay. I couldn't remember how many people were there.
Yapp: I think it was 6 — 0.
Payne: That's what I was thinking. So, I mean I think they did discuss that, Jim, too so...
Yapp: Yeah, and in that discussion with the Commission, a Comprehensive Plan
amendment does not obligate ... the City to, uh... rezone the property. Uh, the
property is still zoned public. It's still owned by the City. Uh, what a
Comprehensive Plan amendment does is really set the stage for further
discussions.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Okay. So do you mind if I keep on going...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 21
Hayek: Yeah, but I think ... we ... they do need to be questions. I mean, we're still in the
public hearing, so if you've got more informational questions (both talking)
Throgmorton: Right. My next one is, I'd like to get some clarification about the building height
limitations. Could you go to the map, please, that shows the building heights? So
that, uh, the text in the box, for one thing there's... there's a slight top...
typographical error I just want to draw your attention to. These kinds of things
slip through all the time. The last word in that box is the word'goods,' and every
other ... all the rest of the text it's 'goals.' So I ... I, you know, just wanted... that...
that's not my question, but I just want to draw your attention to it, but my question
has to do with needing clarity about the building... about the height limitations.
So, uh... um, a ... according to the resolution that we're considering tonight, uh,
Exhibit A, which I think is the map, uh, "Provides guidance on building heights to
be considered in any future rezoning request." So I ... I see the words 'guidance'
and I see the verb 'considered.' And then I look at the map and I see that
"Additional height may be approved by..." looking at that text in the box.
"Additional height may be approved in ... may be approved in conjunction with the
preservation of historic property, provision of affordable housing, and so on."
Uh, so my question basically has to do with ... the height limitations. So ... what ... if
we do this Comp Plan amendment, what zones could the property in the northern
part be rezoned to?
Yapp: Uh, either CB -2 or CB -5. Potentially also a mixed use zone.
Throgmorton: Uh, it could.... just.. just to be clear, it could not be rezoned as CB -10?
Yapp: Oh I suppose in theory it could be rezoned as CB -10, and in that case we would
recommend a height limitation.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Yapp: With that zoning.
Throgmorton: Okay, so if it's rezoned to CB -5, knowing that there're density bonus provisions
within the CB -5 ordinance or whatever, uh, what's the maximum height that the
building could really have?
Yapp: I believe it's 75 -feet in the CB -5 zone.
Throgmorton: With ... with density, with the density bonus included?
Yapp: The ... the density bonus is a, uh, it's a floor -to -area ratio bonus.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 22
Yapp: Not a height bonus. Meaning...
Throgmorton: Right. Okay.
Yapp: ...there's a ... certain number of square feet per lot area you can have, uh, the
density bonus allows you to increase that floor -to -area ratio, uh, standard.
Throgmorton: Okay. I ask because, you know, the map says ... four to six stories for that northern
part, but the text says... additional height may be approved. So ... for me, there's
ambiguity there about what might actually happen the moment Jessie Allen, or
someone else, proposes to rezone that particular piece of property and presumably
to CB -5.
Yapp: Yeah, and I would say a ... a Comprehensive Plan always provides guidance for
future zoning applications. But Comprehensive Plans in and of themselves are
not regulatory. Uh, the ... the regulatory measures are with the zoning (both
talking)
Throgmorton: Right, I understand. I'm just trying to get at the four to six stories in height. I
want (both talking)
Mims: Isn't it (both talking)
Throgmorton:... I want to know if it's not ... if...if whatever gets built there is not going to exceed
four to six stories. That's what I want to know.
Mims: Can I get a clarification? Are you talking about adjacent to ... to Iowa Avenue?
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Mims: Isn't that two to four? The base?
Yapp: It is, yes.
Mims: Okay. Thank you. It's not four to six (several talking)
Throgmorton: Sor... sorry! My bad on that, but the point would still apply, although the
magnitude's different. So, if...if, uh... you know, what ... can we be assured that
whatever will go in there will be two to four stories in height, or ... might it be, uh,
exceed that, uh, limit?
Yapp: Again, I would ... the Comprehensive Plan provides guidance. The assurance of
that would come with the zoning.
Dobyns: So (both talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 23
Yapp: ...which is subject to your approval.
Dobyns: So, Jim, if I may, um ... it's because this northern section is closer to, you know,
shorter residential areas. So, I mean, I guess I'm going to ask the same thing, uh,
Jim did. If it's zoned in the future CB -5, and I'm talking about the northern third,
the one that I assume would be awarded potentially a density bonus because of the
historic value of the Unitarian Church. How high could it go? Now what I heard
you say, it wouldn't go higher. It would be more dense. But...
Yapp: That's correct.
Dobyns: ...like some verification if that is true. I mean if it's ... how high could it go, even
with an awarding of a density bonus from the historic area?
Yapp: I ... I believe it's 75 -feet. Is the maximum height limit (both talking)
Dobyns: How many stories is that? I don't know (both talking)
Yapp: ...typically six stories.
Dobyns: Is that ... Jim, is that kind of what you were...
Throgmorton: Yeah, and since I made the mistake with regard to ... two to four stories instead of
four to six stories.
Dobyns: Yeah, four to six.
Throgmorton: Yeah, so...
Dobyns: I think what he's saying is that it doesn't go any higher, even if awarded a historic
associated dens ... uh, density bonus. I think. Is that true?
Throgmorton: Yeah, if (both talking) 75 -feet, yeah. Yeah, so what ... yeah, go...
Payne: I'm going to ask another question. So that asterisk that's up there in that darker
brown spot, is it meaning for ... the whole tria... or rectangle, or does it just mean
the darker brown spot? (both talking)
Yapp: The intent was to refer to the darker brown area.
Payne: Okay, cause that's how I would interpret it. Just means the darker brown area.
That orangey colored is always going to be recommended by the Comp Plan as
two to four.
Yapp: And recommended by staff as two to four, as any rezoning would go through the
process, yes.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 24
Throgmorton: Okay. Thank you. That's very helpful. I don't think... somebody else might have
a question...
Hayek: Good line of questions there. Any other questions for John?
Throgmorton: Let ... let me do one more.
Hayek: Yep!
Throgmorton: ... if nobody else has one. Could... could you, uh, John, please sort of give us a
quick summary of the form -based code, potential applicability of the form -based
code to this three -block area. I know it was addressed in the Planning and Zoning
Commission's (both talking)
Yapp: It was. Yeah, we have on our ... on our work program, uh... a project to develop
form -based code standards for the downtown, which if this Comprehensive Plan
amendment is approved, would include, uh, these blocks. Uh, we've also
discussed internally, uh, as staff ...right now the form -based code only applies to
the Riverfront Crossings District, not to the Downtown District, but in ... in looking
at some of the form -based code standards, particularly, uh, on this northern third,
the ... the idea of...of townhouses wrapping around a, uh, parking structure, uh,
with offices integrated with the parking structure, as was proposed by Mr. Allen,
uh, that concept lends itself well to form -based code standards, uh, which have to
do with mass and scale, uh, and exterior elements of...of the building. To have
that apply to these ... these properties would require a code amendment at this time.
Throgmorton: And something unique would have to be developed for this particular part, or in
combination (both talking)
Yapp: Uh, actually I ... I don't know that it would have to be terribly unique in that we
already have form -based code standards for Riverfront Crossings, which I think
could be applicable to this ... to this property.
Throgmorton: Thanks.
Hayek: Okay, John, thanks.
Yapp: Thank you.
Hayek: Stick around; I'm sure we'll ask you to come back up. This is a public hearing and
so if anyone would like to address the Council on ... uh, 7a, now is the time to
come forward and again, our standard practice is to ask, uh, that you sign in and
to verbally give us your name and keep it to five minutes! Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 25
Doyle: Good evening, Counc... Council, Mr. Mayor, my name is Justin Doyle. I'm with
Blackbird Investments. I'm speaking behalf, uh, or speaking tonight in support of
the Comprehensive Plan amendment, uh, specifically the southern one-third of the
proposed area, the Recreation Center block or the, uh... uh, the surface parking lot.
Um, I took to heart your comments, uh... Councilor, about the, uh, the pressing
need. I would propose that redevelopment of...of that half -block, uh, will provide
a much-needed aesthetic, uh, boost to that area. It'll be a catalyst for the
redevelopment and improvement of the Ralston Creek corridor, including, uh,
trail support, and it'll give an opportunity for, uh, for very progressive, uh,
sustainable design methods to be brought into, uh, new construction in downtown.
Um, I ... I do respectfully request, uh, not only your support in this matter, but also
a vote tonight to allow us to start the process of working with City staff to
incorporate the, uh, the municipal goals into a proposed development to come
back to you in the near future. Thank you!
Throgmorton: Justin, could you say your last name again, please?
Doyle: Doyle. D -o -y -1-e. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Protzman: Mr. Mayor, City Council, I'm the Reverend Steven Protzman. I serve the
Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City as their Minister. We have been part
of Iowa City's history since 1838, in a little church that looks like a house and
stands next door. Has been there 107 years so far! My comments to you this
evening will probably sound somewhat like a sermon, but that's ... what I do!
(laughter) Promise I won't take up a collection, however! (laughs) I want to
begin with a letter to future generations from us. Dear Distant Children, You will
look back on us and wonder about the choices we made and the world we created
and left for you. It may seem strange to you of the future in your gleaming Iowa
City with its libraries and green spaces and fountains, and the sparkling
gemstones of historic buildings, standing as a reminder of us and the generations
that came before us, that we weren't always clear about the legacy we sought to
leave. It may astound you to know that we weren't always sure how to build a
city that would revere the past, a past that belongs to you as well, and preserve it
thoughtfully as well as use our resources of land and buildings to best prepare the
way for you. Know this, in our fumbling and in our best moments we dreamed.
We dreamed of you. Even now it brings us comfort to know that Iowa City will
be a place of pride and joy because your ancestors, that's us, desired to leave you
a legacy that reflects the best of who we are and witnesses to our hopes and
dreams for who you will be. Remember us for this. Members of the City
Council, you have before you an opportunity to decide that our past, our historic
buildings, are a worthy legacy to leave for the generations to come. I am here on
behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Society to endorse the plan proposed by Jessie
Allen for the northern third of the block. I believe his proposal is sensitive and
environmentally friendly construction that respects the surrounding areas, with the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 26
setbacks and gradual increases in building heights, it will not overpower the
neighborhood but will make wise use of land that currently is a parking lot is not
being well used. Mr. Allen's proposal will also preserve our historic church
sanctuary, which my congregation and many people in this community see as a
very desirable outcome. Although the church building no longer serves the needs
of my congregation, there is no reason it cannot serve the needs of the greater
community for many more years. I urge you to approve the amendment to the
Comprehensive Plan and I ask you to call a vote on it tonight. In this age of
change and growth and truthfully every age is one of change and growth, saying
no to development is not always an option. But when we say yes, we can be
thoughtful about how it happens and can make historic preservation one of our
priorities. Let us work together wisely, so that Iowa City will truly be a legacy
that is worth of the generations to come. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Any further public input?
Witzberger: My name is Kirk Witzberger and I'm on the Board of, uh, UUSIC and, um ... I just
very briefly, um ... urge you to vote tonight, uh, the ... uh, purchase agreement we
have has the church ... we have to deliver the land without the church on it, a
vacant lot, have it torn down by November 13`x. Demolition would have to begin
fairly soon, and ... um ... there's, uh, not a lot of time to ... um ... plan a different way to
cut this, and so I just wanted you to be aware that there is this deadline that's in
the current purchase agreement. We must deliver it, in order to complete the
contract, uh, by November 13`h. Thanks!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Would anyone else like to address the Council on
this item? Okay! I'm going to close the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion?
Mims: I'm very supportive of the change, uh, to the Comprehensive Plan. I'm glad to see
the unanimous vote, uh, by Planning and Zoning. Uh, I think this gives us an
opportunity, uh, for the preservation of a significant building in this community
that obviously means a lot to a lot of people, uh, gives us an opportunity to make
better use of City parking lot, um ... probably fairly quickly, right here adjacent to
City Hall, makes some improvements for our Fire Department and some other
areas, um, within City Hall, and certainly, um, we've had in front of us plans, uh,
potentially for near the Rec Center and obviously it sounds tonight like people are
still very interested in beginning work on that again. So I would certainly support
this, uh, change and for all three blocks.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 27
Hayek: Um, I will support the amendment, uh, as ... as well. I note the unanimous vote,
uh, at the Planning and Zoning level, um, which is always significant by the time,
uh, things reach, uh... uh, reach the Council. Um, and would echo, Susan, your
comments, um, about the, you know, the broader implications of this and the
opportunities, but ... but I ... I do have to say one thing here and ... and ... and, um, it is
this. I have great respect for many of the members, um, or for all of the members,
frankly, of...of...of the church. Um, I know many of them, um, and ... and I don't ... I
don't, this isn't easy for me to say, but ... but I don't think the church should
congratulate itself, uh, for having preserved, uh, a historic building. Um, what
I ... what I think occurred was that there was, uh, pressure placed on the City, uh, to
come to the rescue of...of this building, and I think it's a building worth
preserving. Um, I ... I think this situation exploited, um ... uh, the community
sentiment that, uh... uh, surrounding historic preservation, especially in light of,
uh, what occurred with the Red Avocado and those buildings on Washington
Street and ... and the cottages on ... on Dubuque Street. And I know that many
members of the church, um, wanted, uh, to save the building, did not want to see
it be destroyed, um ... but what bothers me is that the church acted by taking out a
demolition permit, um, earlier this year and, uh... from my perspective, taking out,
uh, a demolition permit is ... the antithesis of...uh, professing concern for an
historic structure. Um ... uh... I ... I just don't think it was community minded. Um,
that bothers me. Um, I'm disappointed about it. Um, in the grand scheme, uh,
this is an appropriate thing for us to do with ... with the Comp Plan. I think we
have a lot of opportunity, um, in all three blocks. Uh, and I think this will be a
good thing and I'm glad to see the ... the expressions of interest, uh, in ... in the
private sector and I think this will help us, uh, expand some of the City facilities
and so on and so forth. But I did want to mention that. I will support this
amendment. Further discussion?
Throgmorton: Well, I'm going to discuss the amendment too, uh, Matt. I ... I ... as you can tell by
the questions I asked, I ... I do have concerns, but their more hypothetical I think
than real. I believe that Jessie Allen is committed to the concept plan he ... he and
his associates presented to us, um, back in July, late July, uh, and it would
accomplish, uh, several goals simultaneously that are important. Uh, there is
some risk, it seems to me, that ... we could end up rezoning a ... a couple sites to ... to
CB -5 and then, I don't know ... in one or the other cases ... a developer may not
actually complete the project envisioned and ... and, uh, some different kind of
action would take place that's consistent with the CB -5 zone. And, uh, so I think
we need to look very carefully at...at what's presented to us when we get to that
stage. Uh, but I ... I think upon reflection that this would be a reasonable thing to
do that accomplishes important goals.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6-0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 28
Payne: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by ... Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 29
ITEM 7. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 7b COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT, SOUTH DISTRICT
PLAN — APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN — AN UPDATE TO SOUTH DISTRICT PLAN.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing and the ... hearing is open. (bangs gavel)
Walz: Do you want me just to wait a minute?
Hayek: Yeah, thanks!
Walz: Good evening, I'm Sarah Walz with Development Services, and I'm here tonight
to discuss the update to the ... the proposed update to the South District Plan. Um,
and I always like to start out, if you want to dim the lights ... with a different image
of south Iowa City because it's, uh, a part of our community that, um, a lot has
been written about, a lot has been said about, but, um, it's ... it's a very diverse part
of our district and it's always good to have a different image to have in mind
as ... as we set forth to discuss it. So the, urn ... City Council asked staff to revisit
the South District Plan, which was originally adopted in 1997. Um, more than a
year ago when the ... when the School District identified the, um, site of a new
south elementary school, and there's an image of the groundbreaking and now the
school is complete, um, but City Council wanted staff to look at, um, the future
development of neighborhoods around the school, um, with an eye towards
sustainability and looking at how these neighborhoods could best development,
um, best develop to support, um, Iowa City's goals for sustainability, um, as a
community, but also for those neighborhoods and also for the school itself. So the
South District is defined as that area, um, within Iowa City's growth boundary that
is south of Highway 6, east of the Iowa River, and ex ... extends as far south as the
south waste water treatment facility. Urn ... the boundary is also made, um, by an
area along Snyder Creek. This area that you see in here, um, a lot of this is in, uh,
conservation easement, um, and then of course the Sycamore Greenway. So this
is a wetland area, pretty diverse wetland area. So in ... when we ... initially started
looking, uh, to the South District, uh... one of the things that jumped out at us
immediately was just how much, um, natural area and uh, recreation space and
trails there are in the South District. The district is basically ringed by a series
of...of parks, and also private land that serves as ... as recreation area, everything
from the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, which is something that was
conceived of at the time of the previous South District Plan when that was a sand -
dredging facility, sand and gravel dredging facility, and the community said, you
know, wouldn't it be nice when they were done with that if we could turn it into
something that was for the good of the whole community, and then we have
Kickers Soccer Park, which is actually part of the south waste water treatment
facility. That's a ... a park that's, um, in thinking about sustainability, that's fairly
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 30
interesting because those soccer pitches are all watered with gray water, and so it
was a .... a ... a creative use of that piece of land, and then the Sycamore Greenway,
um ... which is a unique piece of green infrastructure, whereas in most of the
community, um, when it rains, like it did tonight (laughs) uh... the streets drain
into storm sewers and with it goes ... grass clippings and garbage and chemicals
and oil and everything else and goes out to the Iowa River, but in a large part of
south Iowa City, all of that storm water goes into a storm drain, and then it
empties out into a series of natural and man-made wed ... wetlands, where the
water is all, um ... naturally, uh, filtered out before it ever reaches the Iowa River,
and it goes down through that series of wetlands, um, which in part are, um,
maintained by beaver. So it's....it's a unique area. It's an area that, um, also has
afforded an opportunity to create a trail system, connecting from up at Grant
Wood School, all the way down to the Kickers, um, Soccer Complex. And then
another use ... a couple other unique features I want to call attention to is the
preservation of the sand prairie, which is a unique geological feature in this part
of the district, um, and then in terms of private land, um ... you have ... whoops!
Sorry about that! You have, um, Friendly Farm, where that little tractor is up
here. Um, which is the only urban, uh... organic farm in Johnson County, and then
other privately owned land, um, this is just a portion of, of course, the Pleasant
Valley Golf Course. So, um, a lot of unique opportunities for the entire
community, but especially for people in south Iowa City. So as we've set forth on
planning, uh, for ... for south Iowa City, um, staff really need to get ... needed to get
acquaint... reacquainted with, um, the area and so we did a lot of things like bike
tours, um, and a ... and had a number of, um, special opportunities to participate
without going to an official planning event, um, things like get National Night
Out and if we had a family, we participated in a family event, party in the park,
um, we did interviews with a number of neighborhood residents, people with
different organizations and businesses in the area, and an online survey. And then
this culminated in the neighborhood workshop that was held just over a year ago
on October 6t' of last year, and that was followed up with a series of open houses,
um ... where people could come in and ... and look at the comments that had been
gathered through the workshop. Um, I also relied on, because, um, one difficult
thing is, um, in all planning, because it ... because it does take time and that's often
in the evenings, it's hard for young families to participate, um, it's hard to attract
renters to those events, and we also have, uh, more difficulty attracting minorities
to those events. So one of the things we look back at as, um (coughing, difficult
to hear speaker) Broadway Neighborhood Center, several years ago, had done a
whole series of, um ... uh, public input sessions, seeking input particularly from,
um, minority folks and folks that were renting, and got their input. So we drew a
lot from those, um, resources, as well. So as we spoke to people about the assets
of ou... south Iowa City, the obvious ones that I listed before — recreational
amenities, um, a lot of people chose Iowa City because they're close to all those
natural areas and trails. Also location -wise, very close to work, um, all of the ... of
the employment centers along, um, in the industrial zone along Highway 6, but
also a lot of people who work in, um, at the University and folks that have to hop
on 218 or out on I-80 that travel into other areas in the corridor and in the county
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 31
to work. Urn... diversity, um, everyone that I talked to, um ... um, from
homeowners, renters, um, people at the various locations — everyone talked about
loving the diversity in south Iowa City, that that's why they live there. Doesn't
mean everybody likes it, but a lot of people really appreciate, um, the cultural
diversity, the racial diversity, economic diversity, generational diversity — there
are lots of kids and families in south Iowa City, and people see that as a real asset
to that part of the community. Um, affordability, it's great. There's a lot of great
housing down there for young families and empty -nesters and people who are
just, um, coming to Iowa City. So, um, the obstacles ... a lack of street
connectivity, and I'm gonna talk about that a little bit more, um, in a moment.
The heavy reliance on ... on Sycamore Street and Highway 6 to get anywhere
within Iowa City or to get ... or to get, um ... to travel from, um, south Iowa City to
other areas. The balance of housing, we've always heard a lot about that large
concentrations of multi -family, and maybe it's not, um, the multi -family itself but
we've run into some management issues with, um, at least one of those larger, um,
areas, and then looking at the way multi -family, um, larger multi -family, um,
developments are designed. Um, and then a need for a stronger sense of place,
creating a stronger sense of social connection and belonging, people wanting to
really have a way to identify with their neighbors, and then ... without exception,
everybody, um, saw as the chief obstacle in south Iowa City as a perception that
people have of south Iowa City, um, an inaccurate perception of what south Iowa
City is like, and this comes, um ... through the media. It sometimes comes through
real estate, um .... web sites and ... and things that real estate agents will say to
people. Um, it also comes I think sometimes from, um, people who are well-
meaning, but in forums like with our School District, um ... people start to
characterize in the district in a way that, um, seems less favorable, and um, and so
that was a concern for folks who live there. Um ... so now, um, getting into the
plan itself, the land use plan is similar to the district, is fairly similar to the district
plan. Um, in 1997, in that you know large areas are ... are designated for single-
family, um ... multi -family locations are consistent with what was shown in the
previous plans. But what's a little bit different is that there are other opportunities
for what's called low to medium mixed residential. Um, at this time that would
come through a planned development overlay or, um, development of a form -
based code eventually. Um ... and there's little change to commercial areas. So on
the future land use map that's in the plan, um ... you can see that the lightest color
is single-family, and this is ... these ... this area north of Langenberg is ... is mostly
developed. The, um, darker brown is opportunities for multi -family development,
and then the sort of orangish color is that low to medium, um, mixed residential
that I was talking about, and I won't read through this, but the idea is, um ... that we
have opportunities for a better mix that at those, um, intersections you have the
higher density of multi -family and then that can step down and transition to, um,
townhomes, to smaller, um, opportunities for, um, smaller multi -family units.
Um, another change, um, although the areas identified for multi -family are the
same in the previous plan, there was a cap on multi -family that limited those lots
to 16,000 square feet. We've done away with that cap, and it also limited to no
more than 26 units at any intersection, and we've e ... we've eliminated that cap,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 32
and what we've looked at instead is, um ... uh, stressing the quality of multi -family
development and we have pretty good multi -family design standards now, and
then the plan stresses a lot, um, site layout, so that we get, uh, development that
the site design is such that, um it encourages a safer environment, but also an
environment where, um, the folks that live in multi -family housing feel more
connected to their neighborhood, have more social opportunities to meet. So
that's what we're looking for, um, for multi -family.
Payne: Can I quick ask you a question (both talking)
Walz: Sure!
Payne: ...or will it mess you up?
Walz: No, no, go ahead!
Payne: The ... on, about right smack in the middle of the map...
Walz: Uh huh!
Payne: Yep, right there, it's ... it says commercial, but what's the slash mean, cause I don't
(both talking)
Walz: Yeah, I'm sorry that didn't ... that didn't show up in the legend. That is an area that
we identified for, um, potential future, very small neighborhood commercial. So
that could be an area that, um, had things that would be mostly used by the
neighborhood, not a large-scale commercial area, but maybe you would have like
a daycare center and coffee shop or fitness center. Something small, um ... um,
probably not as large as what you have out at, um... Olde Towne Village, but the
same sort of principle that it's a small commercial area that serves basically the
neighborhoods that surround it.
Payne: Okay. Thank you!
Walz: Um, and getting back to that mixed, uh, residential, we have some really good
examples of that in our older neighborhoods, like the neighborhood that surrounds
North Market Square or College Green Park, um, where there's a mix of different
housing types that work well together, and then we've seen this as well in some
newer neighborhoods. The Peninsula neighborhood being one obvious one, but
also out near St., uh, Pat's Church, um, and ... near Olde Towne Village. Um, this
plan looks a little bit more to mixing things, to not having solid streets that are
just duplexes or just townhomes. These are examples that we picked from around
the community and these were built at a variety of different times, of ways to get
in, um, higher density housing, um, townhomes, smaller multi -family units,
duplexes, things like that, that really mix in with, um, a single family character.
So as for streets, this quote, um, I included in the plan ... because I think it's really
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 33
important and we talked about it a bit at the ... at the district planning meeting.
Um, streets really are the bones of the community, because everything hangs off
them and everything's built off them, and once you have the streets, they're there
forever. It's very hard to change the streets, and the streets account for the
walkability of an area, the circulation of an area, how expensive it's going to be to
serve with transit and garbage collection, how effectively you're going to circulate
water through that area of the community, and so when we look at the South
District Plan, um, what you see is a street system that's pretty difficult to navigate,
save for Sycamore Street, uh, Gilbert Street, and Highway 6. There just isn't a ... a
good way to connect through, such that if you ... if you see where those orange
lines are, in just the last few months we've had traffic calming, as Langenberg was
extended. That's the street... they've requested, um, traffic calming here on
Russell, and then over onto Sandusky because these are ways for people to avoid,
um, Highway 6 and to avoid Sycamore Street, and to ... to move east -west, north -
south, and there just aren't enough through streets, and so it channels all of that
traffic onto those few streets, because people have too few options. Now in the
future, we'll have McCollister Boulevard, and there was a lot ... has been a lot of
discussion about the extension of that, the need for that, to connect to 218 and to
serve those future neighborhoods with better east -west circulation because really
the only way to move east -west right now, efficiently, is to hop on Highway...
Highway 6. Then, um, with our arterial street standards that we have now, you
can see south Sycamore Street, that new extension that serves the school, um,
provides better... better service for everybody that's using the road. We have
narrower travel lanes, bike lanes, opportunity to eventually get street trees in
there, uh, with a wide sidewalk on one side and a ... a standard sidewalk on the
other. So that street's much better. Going to be much better at serving the south
side. Um, Highway 6 was identified by many people as a real barrier for
connecting with the community. And so that's another area that's discussed in the
plan. It's a difficult, um, barrier to get over, but um ... a number of people cited the
improvements to the crossing at Sycamore Street as ... as things they would like to
see elsewhere. And then walkability, um, is a big issue. Um, and people really
connect with this, with that sense of ownership and the sense of belonging issue,
um, and people really connect with this with that sense of ownership and the
sense of belonging, and walkability is not just having the sidewalks, not just
having the physical access but how far is it to get to the places that you want to
go. Are there places to walk to? Is it safe and pleasant to walk? And so one of
the things that we did with the South District Plan was look at ... the density of the
area and in thinking about future neighborhoods, this is Grant Wood School
looking at a quarter mile around it. You have 428 units of housing, and that's not
even touching the multi -family housing. So that's a really good density that will
sustain that school. Um, that's a ... the quarter mile we chose because that's a
walkable distance to school. So in the plan you see, and this is a concept. It's not
a future neighborhood. Doesn't have to be laid out this way, but this was looking
at how you could change that street pattern, with the new school, so that lots of
streets are feeding down and across and into the school area, and between those,
um, arterial streets. And then again ... as Michelle pointed out, that opportunity
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 34
for ... uh, small commercial area at that intersection of McCollister and, um,
Sycamore Street, and then defining these neighborhoods around that area, and so
the density would build out. You can see higher density around the intersections
of those arterial streets. And then back to our arterial streets once more, making
those arterial streets more welcoming. This is a view of Sycamore Street, um...
you know, and it's walled off from the neighborhood. In other areas of town,
we've ... we've done it a little bit better and we can change in that direction. There's
different ways of doing it. Street trees are an option, but also, um ... having
subdivision designs where you have townhomes or other sorts of housing facing
the street. So this is, um, important as we build out those arterial streets, and then
last but not least, there's a lot of information in the South District Plan about
neighborhood identity and quality of life, and I wont' go into the details of that,
but these were really the ... strong desires of people who participated in the
planning, um, process — that fostering a sense of community that embraces all
residents — renters and homeowners. Projecting a positive image of south Iowa
City, and there's a number of different ways that were suggested in the plan for
that, and we've already had -some neighborhood residents and other people, um,
applying for, uh, arts' grants, opportunity for CDBG, opportunities to look to
CDBG funding for some improvements. Um, there are a number of really great
organizations operating in south Iowa City, um, that can help with that, and then
expanding opportunities and organized activities for youth. There's a really high
population of young people in south Iowa City that are looking for things to do,
and I think there are abundant ways, um, to connect them to that sense of place
and to those, um, recreational resources that are in the area. So...
Hayek: Thanks, Sarah! Questions? Good presentation. Appreciate it! Um ... stick
around, this is ... oh, do you have some, Jim?
Throgmorton: Yeah, sorry (mumbled) Um ... sorry I was typing notes (laughter) based on what
Sarah had said. I'm a map kind of guy, I can't help it. You know this from way
back when, Sarah, but uh... you showed two maps that really caught my attention.
Uh, in addition to all the other great work that you've done. I want to
acknowledge that. Uh, one is that map of Grant Wood Elementary.
Walz: Uh huh!
Throgmorton: Which shows, what did you say? 420?
Walz: It's over 400.
Throgmorton: Yeah, and ... that seems to be, that kind of density, even though it doesn't, you
know, you wouldn't think it's dense...
Walz: No!
Throgmorton: ... that kind of density's really necessary for our schools to thrive.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 35
Walz: Yeah!
Throgmorton: And that's true for existing schools and it's true for ... for ones that have just been
built or will be built. So when I look at that map, I think about Alexander
Elementary, and I think about the, uh, the street network map you showed.
Walz: Uh huh.
Throgmorton: And about the, uh, the implications of, um ... well, the implications of choice, about
how to rezone the property as property owners proceed to develop.
Walz: Uh huh.
Throgmorton: So ... I ... so can you go to the, I guess it's ... maybe the next map, the hypothetical.
Walz: Yeah!
Throgmorton: That, um ... a ... appeals to me a great deal, even though it's a concept map and it's
hard to really understand what it really means on the ground, but ... but uh, you
know, been kinda trained to read those things, and ... it looks to me like the kind of,
um, street pattern that would really enable the kind of density that is necessary for
Alexander Elementary to really thrive, without being high density, right?
Walz: Right.
Throgmorton: Partly because of the ... the mix of, uh, housing types that you described for us, but
also the number of single-family units that can be within a quarter mile walking
distance of the school. So, I guess ... (laughs) Sorry, lot of talking there, but I
guess I'm wondering ... uh, what in your judgment, uh, would be necessary in order
for this concept map to kind of be enacted really built out, uh, in ... in, you know,
for the area to develop in a way that's pretty darn consistent with this concept
map.
Walz: Well I think, um ... the one thing this area has, um, in ... going, um, in its favor in
terms of greater density is that the land is fairly level. So, you know, in certain
areas of the community where you have a lot of, um, ravines, things like that,
you ... you get a less dense development, and the market will also, um, dictate that
to a certain respect. In this area, the market demand, the ... the development that's
occurring right now, even the ... even the low-density single-family, the lots are
still pretty close to the minimum. So I think the market is going to dictate that, to
a certain extent. Um, and I should say that we've already had in talking about
that, um, mixing, um, different densities, we've already had some very
preliminary discussions with developers who are interested in doing that, and see
those opportunities down here, but it really comes about at that stage when we're
rezoning land and then we're approving, um ... subdivisions is in ... is making sure
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 36
that we're getting, um, consistent, that once a block pattern is established that we
continue with that, that we don't switch the block pattern around, um, from
subdivision to subdivision and then our subdivision regulations require stubbing
out streets so that ... that it makes it more likely that that pattern will continue.
Throgmorton: Uh huh.
Walz: So there are a lot of things that we already have in place in the regulatory sense,
um, and then I think the market in this area will help ... to dictate that, simply
because of the lay of the land.
Throgmorton: Uh huh. Great, thanks!
Walz: I should say too that, you know, having more development down here, having
more housing in this area, and then having more housing in the Riverfront
Crossings will probably have a benefit for those commercial areas, as well, which
have struggled a little bit. So...
Throgmorton: Right.
Hayek: Thank you! This is a public hearing and so we would... welcome any input from
the audience.
Bright: Good evening, Members of the Council, Mr. Mayor, uh, my name is Dave Bright.
Uh, I'm here in my individual capacity as a member of one of two families, uh,
who own the Saddlebrook development, uh, and its related properties that are
located in the South District Plan. Uh, I'd like to speak briefly to the history and
the value, uh, that we see in our development as, uh, in the context of this plan.
Uh, to give a little history, we started buying parcels, uh, that now make up
Saddlebrook back in the 1980s. Uh, we annexed 422 acres into the City in 1994
in what, uh, we believe is the largest annexation in the City history. Uh, we set
aside 190 acres of that, uh, total, uh, for conservation, which is the, uh, private
conservation, um (mumbled) the ... the Sycamore Greenway's on this map, but on
one of the other maps, I think when Sarah showed it, showed the ... yeah, sure,
thank you! Yeah, that's it. Thank you! Yeah, it's just the large shaded green
portion, uh, to the east, and sort of wraps around the Sycamore Greenway there,
uh, and connects down to the ... and to a degree to the south. Um ... and the rest of
the development was then, uh, designed to be, uh, built to produce and provide
affordable housing for the community. Uh, since that time we have acquired
additional properties adjacent to the original Saddlebrook area. Uh, continue to
developing those, uh, and including those acquisitions, the development is
approximately 500 acres now, uh, has about 700 units built, and it's home to an
estimated 1,500 (coughing, difficult to hear speaker) residents. Um, as you've
heard tonight, uh... um. In the description of the South District Plan, South District
is a great part of Iowa City. Uh, it has wonderful open spaces and rec facilities,
including the new Trueblood area. Uh, has the new elementary school, the Post
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 37
Office, uh, and it has a wide range of...of well-built and affordable housing for
our residents. Uh, within that area, uh, our development, we believe, is a ... a very
good example of what can happen in the South District. Uh, it is a clean
development. It's safe. It's affordable. Uh, it's completely privately funded. Um,
it's well-maintained, and we think it defies a lot of the negative stereotypes, uh,
that have persisted, uh, with respect to the south end of town. Uh, obviously a lot
of those pertain to just specific developments that may have had management
problems, uh, but it also affects the ... the greater area and can create a perception
that the area is not a nice place to live or not a nice place to develop. We don't
think that's true. That's why we're invested there, uh, and we think our ... our
development is an example of responsible developing in that area. Um, when we
became aware of the proposed revisions to the South District Plan, we reviewed
the draft to familiarize ourselves with it, uh, and we became concerned when we
saw that it proposed, um, mostly single-family residential be built on a part of our
land, uh, that is currently zoned IDRM. Uh, it's not designated real clearly here
but it would be just to the west, uh, of the Sycamore, uh, Greenway space, and
sort of south of where Lehman Avenue would extend, uh, into the development.
Uh, prior to being annexed into the City, uh, the land that I'm talking about was
actually zoned multi -family in the County, and when the annexation process took
place, uh, there were two years of very extensive negotiations with the City, uh,
and ... and with us, uh, over the terms of the zoning, including with respect to this
particular zoning classification. In fact, at one point a disagreement over the
zoning classification for this land led us to pull this parcel out of the annexation,
um, and leave it in the County; however, the City wanted the land to be included
in the annexation, as it wanted it to be contiguous, uh, to the waste water plant,
uh, so that could be part of City property. Uh, so after some further negotiations,
the prop ... the parcel was brought back into the overall part, uh, that was annexed
in. Uh, at the time, IDRS, uh, an interim single-family zone was available, uh, as
an option for zoning. Uh, nevertheless we reached an agreement, uh, to zone the
land and along with many other factors, including the conservation that was set
aside, uh, that was part of the consideration of the annexation of our property.
Um, obviously ID zoning is by its terms interim, uh, and subject to change, uh,
however, we believe that if the City desired to have that be single-family, uh, or
have single-family residential units built on that land, the time to make that
decision was 1994 when it was being annexed in, uh, and not part of a subsequent
amendment to the planning process. Uh, moreover we think the process for the
City to accomplish that is through zoning classification and not through district
planning. Uh, we don't believe that the zoning classification of a property is
trumped by the planning process. In fact as you've heard tonight from staff, uh,
these plans are not regulatory. The code, the zoning code is regulatory, and we
believe that should prevail. Um, we believe this is particularly true, uh, in the
context of this plan because it wasn't in existence at the time of the annexation.
Uh, I believe that the South District Plan was the first plan that was adopted by
the City, but it wasn't adopted until 1997, three years after, uh, the agreement was
reached on the zoning, uh, in an interim basis.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 38
Hayek: Mr. Bright, I will need you to wrap up (both talking)
Bright: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, in other words, we believe that we negotiated for a
certain zoning classification. We believe that that should prevail. We've built a
good development. We maintain it well, uh, we believe that we're a ... a positive
part of the South District Plan, and we would ask that the City defer any action on
approving the South District Plan, uh, partially also because we have a pending
application for rezoning of this land and we believe that it would be appropriate,
uh, for Council to wait until that zoning process has been completed. Thank you
for your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Dalton: Good evening, my name is Bryce Dalton. I'm an attorney with the law firm of
Pugh Hagan Prahm and our office represents the landowners that, uh, were just
spoken about, Sycamore LLC and Lake Calvin Properties LLC. Uh, I'm here
tonight, you should have received in your staff packet a letter from Mr. Mike
Pugh and he, uh, addresses two issues that the landowners have with the proposed
Comprehensive Plan amendments. I'm going to speak briefly just about the
second one, dealing with the 1,000 -foot buffer. On page 20 of the proposed plan
amendments, it states 'areas south of Lehman Road, east of Pleasant Valley Golf
Course fall within 1,000 feet of the waste water plant, an area which the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources recommends careful scrutiny of residential
development. And the issue that the ... the owners have with this specific language
is, uh, that language where careful scrutiny is recommended by the IDNR. It's our
belief, you know this .... 1,000 foot rule has to do with the administrative code that
prohibits a waste water treatment plant from being constructed within 1,000 feet
of an inhabitable residence. We confirmed with the IDNR that this rule only
works one way. It works if an entity goes to build a plant or expand a plant, then
the entity's prohibited from building that plant within 1,000 feet. It doesn't work
to the opposite where the IDNR has any authority to restrict development within
that 1,000 feet. It can allow development... simply by the nature. It has no
authority to prohibit it. So this language saying that the IDNR recommends
careful scrutiny is just not true. Uh, the IDNR, again, doesn't have any authority
to restrict or dictate how a development should occur. Um ... the owners' concern
is that if this language is adopted in the Comprehensive Plan that perhaps the City
will fall back on that language of careful scrutiny as a crux of being able to deny
any type of development within that 1,000 feet that again can happen under law.
Uh, for that reason they ask you that this language be completely removed from
the Comprehensive Plan amendment or modified to again remove that careful
scrutiny language to address perhaps something different, maybe clustering or
something else that would at least allow development to occur, but done carefully.
Uh, and again, um, we ... we appreciate your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 39
Pugh: Mr. Mayor, Council, good evening. Uh, my name is Mike Pugh and I'm also here
representing the owners of, uh, what is sort of broadly described as the Sycamore
Farms, as Mr. Bright, uh, mentioned earlier. It's an area that, uh, was originally
400 -and -some acres. Has now expanded to over, uh, 500 acres and in our specific
objection or comments here this evening really pertain to the area, um, as Mr.
Dalton referenced and Mr. Bright, just west of that Sycamore Greenway and, uh,
the purpose of my comments really is ... is to talk generally about the
Comprehensive Plan and ... and the challenge that I see in ... in comprehensive plans
like this or large district plans is that they are literally a 10,000 foot view of the
area and ... and they contain appropriately so broad, uh, goals, objections,
aspirations, opportunities, those types of things, which is all appropriate for ... for
a, uh, for a ... a planning document or a comprehensive plan. The problem arises
though with the land use map, and if you look at the land use map that was
presented ... (clears throat) Thank you, sir! There are ... thank you ... there are
several colors on that map, and in each of those colors there's a different, uh,
density that's... that's designated and ... on a few of those areas, as Miss Walz had
mentioned, the low -medium mixed residential, that type of zoning or what that
entails has not been fully developed, has not been fully vetted, and so what you
get at the planning process in terms of what you're looking at this plan, when
people object to a certain area is ... for instance, in our property, it's ... it shows as
a ... the lowest density possible for most of the property, the low -medium density
single-family residential, and the response is, well, those colors really don't mean
a whole lot. They are a general plan description. We cannot get into basically
rezoning that entire area which is, uh, several hundred acres, and that's an
appropriate response, cause that's true! That's true! That's not.. that shouldn't be
part of the process, uh, but the problem arises is that when a particular property
owner goes to actually then files a rezoning application for their property, and
they're filing it under a zoning designation that is inconsistent with what the land
use map says ... then there is a very high burden to overcome, and you get
questions like Mr. Throgmorton's tonight is what compelling reason is there to
amend the plan because... cause what goes along with that rezoning request ... at
least in ... in our city, is always a requirement that you amend the Comprehensive
Plan, and you can argue whether or not that's really appropriate or not or even
necessary. Um ... but that poses a real tough challenge for property owners
and ... and developers when large areas of land get adopted... pursuant to a large
land use plan like that, and there is a map included in that plan that contains
several colored shaded areas of different zones that when you actually present a
plan in place, if that area is ... is inconsistent with what the map is colored, there is
a very difficult bar, uh, to overcome, which ... which makes these owners
particularly concerned about the area that has been the subject of...of discussion
with the previous two, uh, speakers. For this property, for the property
immediately west of the Greenway, it is subject now to a rezoning application that
is pending with the City. And that has gone through, uh, City review. There's
been City staff report generated, uh, it has been reviewed by Planning and Zoning.
City staff has been very generous with their time with meeting with myself and
other representatives of the developers. Mr. Markus, Miss Dilkes, uh, Mr. Yapp,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 40
Mr. Boothroy, Miss Walz. All very generous, and I think we're working
toward ... I'm ... I'd like to be optimistic. We're working toward a potential plan that
I think will be favorable both to Planning and Zoning and ... and the Council that is
consistent with the broader concepts of the South District Plan, the mixed use
development, the affordable housing, the different uses of housing types —
those ... those types of things. Uh, but I do know this, that that plan, which I'm
hopeful will... will... will, uh, there'll be consensus on, is going to be inconsistent
with this. It's going to be inconsistent with that map that shows a good portion of
our property low to medium, single-family residential. And so what our concern
is is that ... you adopt this plan and then... immediately following this, in the next 30
to 60 days, we are going to be presenting a plan to the City that is inconsistent
with that, and so opposition to that plan, whether it comes from certain members
of staff or the public or certain members of P&Z, they're going to hold up that
land use map that was just recently approved by the City Council...
Hayek: Mr. Pugh, I do need you to finish up. You're over five.
Pugh: Thank you, and ... and make it very difficult for us. So our request to you this
evening, uh, is ... that you would defer voting on this plan, uh, until a later date, 30,
60 days, until our rezoning has gone, uh, through the process. I don't see any
urgency in approving the plan, uh, this evening. So, thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Throgmorton: Can I ask a question (mumbled) Mike, could I ask you a couple questions,
please?
Pugh: Sure!
Throgmorton: Just.. just trying to be clear, to make sure I understand. Um, I think I know where
you're talking about, but, uh... could you point it out? Do you have a pointer
there? You know...
Pugh: I don't, but if you can look at Lehman Avenue, you see where Lehman Avenue is?
Hayek: (mumbled) ...and a mouse maybe.
Pugh: Okay ... so this is Lehman Avenue, Jim.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Pugh: And so their property extends, this is a multi -family development here. If you
extend the property line all the way down here, to the waste water treatment plant.
Everything east of here to the Greenway ... is zoned by ... is the property in question.
Throgmorton: Okay.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 41
Pugh: It's about 40 acres.
Throgmorton: And ... and unless it's inappropriate for me to ask this question at this moment,
what is it ... how do you want to develop it? How do you want to have it zoned?
Pugh: Well, the pending application is an RM -20 zoning, because of the displacement
of...we think, I mean, there was 191 acres dedicated to that conservation
easement, and ... you know, even at a single-family residential development, and
that's 900 and some units, and so we think that it's appropriate... matter of fact in
1992, it was discussed that that property really was appropriate for an RM -20
zoning and ultimately it ended up being zoned IDRM just because the
infrastructure wasn't there, which as I've said previously, I think was probably
appropriate because it wasn't. Urn ... so that's what ... that's what the pending
application is. To be honest, I don't think that's what it's going to end up. Again,
we are in discussions with the City for some type of, uh, missing middle or mixed
use development. We understand that that's a goal of the area, uh... um, we'd like
to see some multi -family. We'd like to see some single-family. We'd like to see
some stuff in between — townhomes, duplexes, that type of thing. Uh, but we are
in the process of doing that, uh, right now, and trying to get together a plan that,
uh, works for the owners, works for the City, is consistent with the broader
concepts of the plan, um, but it would be inconsistent with this map before you.
Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks!
Hayek: Thank you. Anyone else like to address the Council?
Gordon: Um, good evening, Mr. Mayor and Council Members. Um, I'm Steve Gordon
with AM Management. Um, guess I'm the clean-up hitter tonight, so, uh, as is ... as
was mentioned, we own, um ... um, you know 500 or so acres in the area and a
large landowner in the ... in this area, so obviously this plan is very important to us.
Um, I ... I don't want to go over the same things that were mentioned. Just a couple
quick points. Just want to, um, again say that, um ... um, as part of this annexation,
191 acres, which was about half the original property, urn ... was uh... uh, was put
into that conservation easement that you see, the ... the green area there, the large
green area. Um, and in exchange for that, there was some, um, you know, there
were some concessions made, uh, in the, uh, in a ... in a Conditional Zoning
Agreement, uh, by both sides. And um, and those agreements included, uh,
zoning this particular piece of ground we're talking about that Mike just pointed
out, uh, an ... an RM zone, um, and there's reasons for that — to ... to replace the
density that's lost in, you know, 191 acres being dedicated, um, and uh, you know,
the owners have abided by that agreement and have done what was required of
them under it, and uh, they would expect the same from the City. Um, the
Peninsula is often mentioned by those within the City as a desirable development.
Um, we are not a ... we are not opposed to providing a mixed use of housing in this
area, um, and would expect that if we do so, that would ... we would receive a
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 42
comparable density, um ... and mix of units as the Peninsula. Uh, similar to the
Peninsula, multi -family buildings along the greenways and collector streets, uh,
should be considered, and we are currently working with staff, as Mike
mentioned, um, on such a plan. Um ... as said previously, and given our recent
rezoning request and the ongoing discussion with ... with staff, um, I would also
request and believe it is the prudent thing to do, to defer approval of the ... of the
plan at this time. Um, I just want to make several other comments about the plan
in general. Um, a group of landowners, in ... including us, that represent a majority
of the land in this area — hundreds and hundreds of acres, most ... most of the
undeveloped land — um, was offered the opportunity to meet with staff regarding
the plan, uh, after the initial uh... uh, concept and drafts were done, and we
appreciate their willingness to do that. Um, we ... we thought they're ... they were
very helpful and urn ... and uh... they're willing to hear our ... hear out thoughts and
then ... and some constructive adjustments were made to the plan, um ... and uh,
after those meetings, and we want to thank them for their effort. Just want to
share a couple, um, items that were our top priorities and concerns as the
landowners. Um, we all agreed very, very strongly that McCollister Boulevard
needs to be a priority. Um, just as Camp Cardinal Boulevard was constructed,
and has promoted growth in that area, uh, McCollister is critical for the growth to
the South District. Uh, extending McCollister to Scott Boulevard, um, should be
a top priority as it will allow people to see the beauty of south Iowa City, bring
ease of access as Sarah mentioned for current and future residents in this area, um,
and will be a catalyst in changing, uh, the long -held and ... and I believe, um, false
negative perception of this district. Uh, we also strongly believe that there is not
enough diversity in the current land use map. Um, low density, single-family
housing dominates the map. That's the light yellow color, as you can see. Um,
many factors have changed home ownership. Quality rental units with amenities
are in demand, um, in Iowa City and ... and elsewhere. Um, and Iowa City has a
shortage of these type of non -student, you know, quality, uh, rental units. Um...
small more affordable units are also in demand. Um ... so we believe for the
growth to occur in this area, uh, that you have to provide what ... what the
consumer needs and what they want and what they're asking for. Um, and based
on the ... based on this map, there are thousands of large single-family lots that are
contemplated by the coloring of this map, um, in the district and very few areas to
provide, um ... what ... what we believe is in demand, which would be ... which would
be, uh, multi -family and/or smaller... smaller housing. Um, and lastly, we have
been a develop ... we have been the lead developer in this, in the South District,
for ... for many, many years, um, and we are very happy to, um, see ... see a renewed
interest in this area. Um, a new school and a large commitment by the City on
infrastructure and recreation space, and we are very appreciative of that. Um, the
conservation area you see is ... is our land, privately owned. The Sycamore
Greenway was our land, purchased by the City, um, and we also participate in the
storm water ... uh, sustainability of...of storm water with our own wet lands
and ... and filtering all the water that goes through Saddlebrook. So we feel we've
been a, um, a great partner, um, in ... in south Iowa City, and we just want to make
sure that, um, that we see this progress through and we don't lose the momentum
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 43
and the, um, the investment that we've all made. We don't want to see that go to
waste by not allowing, uh, market demands to be met and uh, creativity to
flourish. So, I thank you for your time!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else? Okay, I'm going to close the public
hearing at this time. (bangs gavel) (mumbled) resolution on the floor?
2. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Dobyns: So moved.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion?
Dobyns: I will be, uh, supporting this, um, I do recognize the concerns by some of those
who have spoken. My sense being on Council for about the last four years is that
a Comprehensive Plan sort of gives you a broad vision, but I think, and I'm
comfortable that if there are specific components of the Comprehensive Plan area
that might need to change due to some specific needs that are mutually beneficial
to Iowa City and the, um, developer community, I don't think, uh, Planning and
Zoning or the City Council in the future will have any, uh, problems with
changing small areas like that. So I do recognize it, um, your concerns, but I ... I
don't think changing this tonight will hold us rigidly, uh, keep us from being able
to (mumbled) future specific changes.
Hayek: I'll, uh, I'm ... I'm supportive of this as well. I'm ... I'm sensitive to the ... to the
concerns expressed, uh, this evening. I know that ... that many of them were ... were
vetted at the Planning and Zoning, uh, level and, um, and I've ... I've read the
minutes and ... and seen the review of that. Um ... uh, and it ... and it was a 6-0 vote,
um, and, uh, I ... I think this Comprehensive Plan, uh... you know, it's ... it's
imperfect. It's ... it does a lot of things, and ... and accomplishes a lot of things. I
think there's some give and take to it, um ... uh, that resulted from the process, uh,
in the ... on balance it's a ... it's a good approach to development in this area. I think
we do need to, as some of the Planning and Zoning minutes alluded to, um,
sp... spark, uh, interest in, uh, this part of the community. We're seeing that
already in some of the City's infrastructure investments, whether the Terry
Trueblood, uh, Recreation Area or otherwise. Certainly the School District's
(clears throat) construction of the school are going to have a catalyic ... catalytic
effect, but I think this will as well, um ... I ... I like the street connectivity,
uh... uh... focus, urn ... won't be on my watch, but ... but I do think McCollister
(laughs) is something we've ... we've gotta be thinking about. Um, but, uh, I ... I'm
not hearing a recommendation from staff to ... to slow this down, um, and so I ... I'm
comfortable voting on it this evening.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 44
Dickens: I just have a question for Eleanor. The fact that they're in the process of working
this through, if we ... approve this tonight, does that affect the fact that they're
already working with us or is that... grandfathered in?
Dilkes: Um, we're not really talking about grandfathering and, um, I've met with Mr.
Pugh. He met with Tom and I. What ... what's perplexing to me about that
argument is that the current Comprehensive Plan, um, designates this area as
appropriate for single-family, duplex, and/or small -lot single-family, and
townhomes. Um, essentially what this plan does. In fact actually a little more
restrictive, and so I ... I ... I'm ... I don't understand the argument that we need to defer
because someone will then point to this plan and say ... I mean, someone would
point to the existing plan, with respect to their current, um, application. So ... I ... I
don't know, I don't understand that. And ... and I don't think it's ... I don't think it's
problematic.
Throgmorton: Well I guess I'd make ... I'm going to support the plan as well. I think the staff has
done a terrific job on this and I'm very pleased to see it emerge, uh, over the past
year. Uh... couple things I think are really crucial is that we ... as I alluded to in my
questioning of, uh, of Sarah, is that we achieve sufficient density in the vicinity
of...of Alexander Elementary so that it will be able to thrive over time, and I think
it's also crucial to have, uh, some, uh... uh, basically a small neighborhood
commercial facility or ... area, uh, close to the school, within ... in ... in, uh, in an area
that kids and others, uh, would be able to, um .... drop in at, uh... uh, when they're
walking to and from school or (mumbled) when they're walking away from
school, uh... uh, not to school. It's a little too early in the morning! But um ... I ... I
think that ... having that kind of facility within easy walking distance of the school
and homes is really crucial, and it ... when I think about that area, I find myself
really dubious about the idea of having RM -20 or its equivalent in the area that
was pointed out. I ... that looks to me like an inappropriate location for that kind of
use. We'll get to that when a rezol... rezoning comes to us, but ... uh, in the end, I
support the plan. I'll vote for it.
Hayek: Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Uh, 7b passes 6-0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Payne: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries 6-0. How's everybody doing?
Throgmorton: Really good! (laughter and several talking)
Dobyns: Don't stop! (laughter)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 45
Hayek: Let's keep on keepin' on! (several talking) All right!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 46
ITEM 7. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 7c REZONING HERBERT HOOVER HIGHWAY — ORDINANCE
CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 18.66 ACRES OF
PROPERTY LOCATED SOUTH OF HERBERT HOOVER HIGHWAY,
FROM COUNTY MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RMF) TO 16.75
ACRES LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY (RS5) AND 1.91 ACRES
MULTIFAMILY (RM -12) (REZ15-00014 / ANN15-00001) (PASS AND
ADOPT)
Payne: Move adoption.
Dickens: Second.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Any ex parte
communications to disclose from the last reading? Further discussion? Anyone
from the audience? Roll call, please. Passes 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 47
ITEM 7. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 7d CHURCHILL MEADOWS, PARTS TWO AND THREE —
RESOLUTION APPROVING PRELIMINARY PLAT (SUB15-00018)
Hayek: Can we get that on the floor, please?
Dobyns: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Mr. Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, this property is, uh, located on the south side of Herbert Hoover Highway, uh,
west of the, uh, Churchill subdivision which was recently approved, uh, south of
Herbert Hoover Highway and north of St. Patrick's Church in east Iowa City. Uh,
the plat consists of 18.6 acres. Uh, 42, uh, lots are proposed. The majority of
which, va... vast majority of which are single-family lots; however, lot 1, uh, along
Herbert Hoover Highway is proposed for townhouse development, uh, consistent
with the subdivision to the east. Uh, five lots in the subdivision are large enough
for duplex, uh, development on corner lots, which, uh, is permitted in the single-
family subdivision, uh, code. Uh, the lots, uh, are a range of sizes. Uh... lots 2
through 10 are small, single-family lots, uh, around 7,000 square feet, uh, in size,
smaller than the standard 8,000 square feet, uh, for a single-family lot, uh, due to
their rear access which allows the garages to be accessed off the rear, and the
front of the houses to face the street. Uh, the remainder of the lots are ... are
largely around 12,000, 13,000 square feet in size. Uh, there's one very large lot at
the southwest corner of the property. Uh... much of that lot is occupied by the
proposed storm water management facility, uh, for this subdivision. Uh,
regarding street connectivity, uh, the streets and block layout extends, uh, from
the subdivision to the east into this property, uh, and it includes, uh, street
extension to the west, uh, an additional access to Herbert Hoover Highway on the
north, and a street extension to the south. Uh, the access to Herbert Hoover
Highway on the north ... is placed where it's placed, uh, to be opposite, uh, a street
on the north side of Herbert Hoover Highway. Uh, regarding neighborhood open
space, the Parks and Rec Commission recommended fees in lieu of, uh, public
open space, uh, for this development, uh, Frauenholtz-Miller Park ... uh, on the
south side of St. Patrick's Church will be ... will be the, uh, formal, uh,
neighborhood park, uh, for this area. Uh, there is a...uh, also, uh, private open
space in the Churchill development, uh, to the east. And with that ... I'd be glad to
take any questions.
Payne: Can you go back to that aerial view?
Yapp: Sure!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 48
Payne: So how would people access the park? Through St. Pat's Church?
Yapp: Uh, as ... well, currently there is not a very good connection. But as (both talking)
but as the area develops (both talking) I'm sorry?
Payne: ...have to wait till that street was extended.
Yapp: Yes.
Payne: And then there would be a sidewalk, eventually.
Yapp: Yes.
Payne: Okay. Thank you!
Hayek: Any other questions for John?
Yapp: Uh, the Conditional Zoning Agreement that you voted on in the previous item
also requires a sidewalk extension, uh, on the south side of Herbert Hoover
Highway to Olde Towne Village. Uh... and also then connects to the larger
pedestrian network for the ... for the city.
Hayek: Right. Thanks, John! Anyone from the audience?
Musser: Good evening, Duane Musser, representing the applicant, um, be happy to answer
any questions. I just want to clarify one question about the access to the church.
If you'll recall when we did Part 1, part of that agreement was that we would
provide a public sidewalk from Churchill Part 1 through the church property,
down to the public street on the south side of the church, so that will be built. I
believe it's already built as part of the improvements for Part 1, so there is access
from Part 2 through Part 1 through the church (laughter) to that park...
Payne: Over the river and through the woods! (laughs)
Musser: Yes, correct! So that was, um, part of the original agreement with Churchill Part
1.
Payne: Thank you for reminding me of that. I had forgotten it.
Hayek: Thanks, Duane!
Musser: Thank you!
Hayek: Anyone else from the audience? Council discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6-
0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 49
ITEM 9. UNIVERCITY SALE, 606 NORTH GILBERT - RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME
LOCATED AT 606 NORTH GILBERT STREET
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Uh, this is another
one of the UniverCity, uh... uh, Program sales. Anyone from the audience?
Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Dobyns: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Payne: I think it's just interesting. You're going to say it, aren't you? (both talking)
Hayek: No, go ahead!
Payne: I think it's interesting that according to the abstract, Emma J. Harvat acquired the
land that includes this piece of property in 1899! (several talking)
Throgmorton: ... stay very long though, right?
Hayek: (several talking) ...less than a year, which ... you know? I mean you wonder
whether she was a land speculator back then (laughter)
Throgmorton: If her photo was up on the wall we could ask her (laughter)
Hayek: Quite the business person, uh, but that ... that was an interesting fact to include. I
appreciate that. The, um, the amount of this sale will be $176,000 plus carrying
costs of roughly $14,000. Urn... congratulations to City staff on yet another
success. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Passes 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 50
ITEM 10. MERCER PARK PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT — APPROVING
PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE
OF COST FOR THE MERCER PARK PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT
PROJECT. DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF SAID
HEARING, AND DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER TO PLACE SAID
PLANS ON FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Uh, the budget for
this project, uh, includes $150,000 in GO bonds and $64,855 in parkland
dedication fees. Uh, this, uh, new playground will meet the latest safety and ADA
standards, um, and has some other bells and whistles. Anyone from the audience?
Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Payne: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? This'll be a really nice, uh,
nice amenity for Mercer ... and some of that equipment is long in the tooth. Roll
call, please. Passes 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 51
ITEM 11. CASH CONTRIBUTION FOR A LIHTC SENIOR HOUSING
APPLICATION - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN
AND THE CLERK TO ATTEST TO AN AGREEMENT TO GRANT
$600,000 TO DEVELOP MIXED INCOME SENIOR HOUSING AT 1030-
1070 WILLIAM STREET
Mims: Move the resolution.
Throgmorton: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? Anyone from the
audience? Council discussion?
Payne: Is this also the same project that we worked on before that didn't go because they
didn't get their matching funds or whatever? So it's ... is it the same group even?
Markus: It's the same project.
Payne: Okay.
Markus: It's a different group?
Hightshoe: (unable to hear, away from mic) ...in 2013 it was through Three Diamond
Development for tax credit. They did not get funding through FIFA. The second
year we applied with, um, Mike Hodge was the developer, um, for CDBG
disaster recovery through Iowa Economic Development Authority. We didn't get
funded. So this is our third one. (laughter) Hope to get funded!
Payne: Is this the same developer?
Hightshoe: It is the same developer, yes. Three Diamond, as the 2013 tax credit developer,
and we hope to ... based on IFA's qualified allocation plan, we hope to maximize
our scoring. Um, there's a lot of things the developer did (mumbled) from Three
Diamond is here tonight if you have questions about the development, but we did
our best to maximize scoring based on IFA's to get the best application, the best
scoring possible this round.
Markus: Talk about how we came up with the $600,000.
Hightshoe: $600,000 maximizes the ... the IFA's contri ... or the scoring criteria through the
qualified allocation plan. We did send the analysis through Tom Jackson of the
National Development Council, so based on that analysis with their source
(mumbled) funds or performa, it's about a 4.5%, uh, return on equity for the
developers of the tax credit. It's an appropriate amount of investment, um, fills
the financing gap, um, so we have ran that through, um, our typical financial
analysis.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 52
Markus: And so we think that with that amount of contribution, that puts us in the best
place to secure the funds to (mumbled)
Hightshoe: Yes. We hope so!
Dobyns: Three time's the charm! (laughter and several talking)
Hayek: Explain for us what the source of the funding, through the bonding and whatnot,
how does that work.
Hightshoe: The City's contribution? Um ... due to IFA's requirement for us to get the
maximum scoring, it has to be taxable bonds or at least not ... it can't be tax
exempt. So we have the ability to use either funding. We have budgeted... this is
part of the Towncrest Redevelopment Area, so we had budgeted $200,000 in bond
funding over the next few years. We collapsed it down to this proposal, so it'll be
up to ... the Finance Director as to whether we're gonna do taxable bonds for this or
if we're gonna look for some other tax exempt ... non -tax exempt source. Um, and
then if...if we don't get funded then the request goes away.
Hayek: Yeah, but this ... this goes through the redevelopment project that we've been
working on in Towncrest for ... a matter of years now.
Hightshoe: Yes!
Hayek: Okay.
Markus: And ... and this will benefit low, moderate income seniors (both talking)
Hightshoe: Yes (both talking)
Markus: ...to what extent to the number of units.
Hightshoe: 36 of the 40 will be affordable to those under 60% of median income, and then
there's further targeting in addition to that. I think four of the units go to
people ... would have to be to households below 30% of median income and then
12 at 40? (mumbled) 12 at 40 and then... yep... then 20 at 60%, and then there will
be five unrestricted rent units and that doesn't mean that it can't be someone below
60%. It's just it's not ... it's not required. So they'll have a resident manager living
in one of the units and then ... so if someone happens to be over that 60%
threshold, there'll be four units that they could live in the ... in this development.
Markus: Should be absolutely ideal for senior housing, considering all the uses that are
surrounding it in terms of (both talking) drug stores and medical and... everything
else.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 53
Hightshoe: We score very well for location. It is an ideal place for senior housing.
Hayek: (mumbled) good redevelopment. Third time let's hope there's a charm. (several
talking) Thank you, Tracy. Anyone else from the audience. City Council. Roll
call, please. Passes 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 54
ITEM 12. SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING FEE CHANGE - ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 3, "FINANCES, TAXATION, AND FEES",
CHAPTER 4, "SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES, CHARGES, BONDS,
FINES, AND PENALTIES", SECTION 8, "PARKING VIOLATIONS", TO
ADD A $50 PENALTY FOR SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING
VIOLATION. (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Payne: Move first consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? From the audience?
Council?
Mims: Just might want to clarify that this isn't technically a new fine. It's something that
was inadvertently left out when some other code changes were made, so...
Hayek: Good clarification. Roll call, please. Passes 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 55
ITEM 13. HOUSING CODE - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 17, ENTITLED
"BUILDING AND HOUSING," CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED "HOUSING
CODE," TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION BY
PROHIBITING FURNITURE ON ROOFS, ADDING STANDARDS FOR
EXTERIOR BUILDING AND FENCE SURFACES, REQUIRING
SCREENING OF DUMPSTERS ON MULTI -FAMILY DWELLINGS AND
UNDER CERTAIN DECKS/PORCHES, LIMITING THE STORAGE OF
LANDSCAPING/CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL, AND REQUIRING
GFCI PROTECTED OUTLETS AND CARBON MONOXIDE
DETECTORS. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Hayek: This is second consideration but we do have a request from staff for expedited
action.
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally
passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that
the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Pass and adopt moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Anyone from
the audience? Well (mumbled)
Baum: Hi!
Hayek: Hello!
Throgmorton: Hi.
Baum: Jennifer Baum, 814 Dewey, Deweyville. I have a few problems with this.
And ... I'm gonna address this proposal item by item. I promise not to take very
long. Okay, it starts saying at the August 18th work session staff discussed
proposed changes to the housing code as part of the City's ongoing efforts to
stabilize the neighborhoods. How many neighborhood associations have
complained about these items? How many individuals have complained about
these problems in their neighborhoods? And if these issues are pressing enough
to effect the entire city, I'm thinking there should be representatives from each of
the neighborhood associations present to comment this evening. Anyone? From
a neighborhood association? Anyone here? Goes on to say, as directed by
Council, this ordinance amends the code in the following ways. A) Prohibits
storing and use of furniture on roofs and other surfaces above 30 -inches above the
ground. Without guardrails. Don't have any problem with this since it could
prove to be very dangerous. But isn't there already an ordinance prohibiting
indoor style furniture from being on porches and from storing or using any
furniture on roofs, and isn't there already an ordinance about the height of
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 56
guardrails on porches? I might be wrong, but I think that might be redundant. I
think we already have that covered in ordinances. B) Establishes standards for
treatment of the exterior surfaces of buildings, fences, and retaining walls. Who
exactly is going to be in the position of arbiter of aesthetics? Is it going to be a
City position or volunteer? Because their idea of what is acceptable may not be
the same as my idea of what is acceptable. And when it comes to exterior
treatments, does that include paint color? There are two adorable houses on
Sheridan Avenue. One's periwinkle, one's spring green. If those colors bother a
neighbor, will the arbiter of aesthetics fine them? Tell them they have to repaint?
If the problem is that someone hasn't painted their house, at what point is it in
violation? How much paint needs to be missing to qualify as not in compliance?
No paint at all? Two chips? If it's determined not to be to the satisfaction of the
arbiter of aesthetics, then the City ... then does the City have a program in place to
finance the painting if the owner, or occupant, is unable to afford it? If a fence is
somehow offensive to the arbiter of aesthetics, because of fencing style or
materials used, will that fence have to be removed or replaced? Or if the height of
fencing or the direction is facing is in violation of already established guidelines,
then doesn't that make this redundant? C) Requires areas beneath decks and
porches in historic and conservation districts to be screened. I don't live in a
historic or a conservation district, so I have no opinion on this, although ... I will
say that even when my neighborhood has been offered the status, it's rejected it
for exactly this kind of reason. D) First part of D. Requires screening of
dumpsters on existing multi -family sites. I would like to say that I have yet to see
a dumpster of a multi -family dwelling from the street. So I guess I just don't see
the point of this. If a problem is litter around the dumpster, isn't there an al...
already an ordinance in place to deal with litter ... and debris? Second part. Limits
the storage of landscaping and construction material to areas not visible from the
street. Within what limits does this address storage? Again, is it up to the arbiter
of aesthetics to determine length of time or the kind of equipment that is being
stored? Does this mean that if a mower is stored next to a house for the summer
that the owner of the mower can be found in violation? If an owner or occupant is
doing repairs themselves while also working and the building materials are on the
property, weekend to weekend, how many week days qualify to be ... storage?
Hayek: Ma'am, you're over five minutes, so I will need you to wrap up please.
Baum: Okay! I think the whole thing's redundant. I think that, um, if you want to go into
private homes and figure out if they have ... carbon monoxide detectors... I'd like to
know how you're going to get in, and I think that this is just taking care of
problems we already have ordinances for and that we already don't have problems
with, or someone would be here to actually back it up. Thanks very much!
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. Anyone else from the audience? Council?
Throgmorton: Well I think the Mayor of Deweyville raises some really interesting questions,
and ... and, uh, it is, uh, they are ones that I think require an answer, uh, and I don't
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 57
know that we're prepared to answer those questions right now. I mean, I wouldn't
ask Stan to come up and respond directly to each individual question, uh, but they
deserve a response so...
Hayek: I think Stan ... and we, technically we're under the motion to collapse portion of
this, but I think since the community comment was received during this, if...if you
know staff wants to provide any information, uh, I mean, it seems to me this, you
know ... there's a ... there's an enforcement element to this and ... and there are a
number of issues that we discussed at our first reading... with... and ... in ... in a fair
amount of depth, but ... Jim, I don't disagree with you, and Stan, if you could just
come up and ... kind of...hit the highlights in a way that would be responsive to the
concerns, uh (both talking)
Laverman: Yeah, Stan Laverman, Senior Housing Inspector. Uh... as far as do we have
standards in place to pro ... prohibit furniture on, uh, roofs at this point. No we do
not. Uh, that's why we're putting that ordinance in place, or the change in that
ordinance. Um ... when we're referring to the standards, uh, for buildings and
fences and retaining walls, the idea is that we have, um ... buildings that have
very ... uh, great ... a great deal of loss paint on'em. That's what we're looking for.
Um, and as far as ... paint color, I have no interest in picking, uh, paint colors for
the City of Iowa City. That's... that's not covered in this ordinance. Um, again,
we ... we do have an issue with, uh, dumpsters, uh, in existing multi -families not
being screened and it is a ... a trash, uh, issue and we're looking to have a long-term
solution to, uh, that litter issue and ... and screening is a ... a good way to take care
of that. Um ... and as far as, we ... we don't have any plans in going into private
homes and looking for CFGIs and ... and carbon monoxide. It'll ... it'll be on a case-
by-case basis when there's, uh, building permits applied for and mainly that's, uh,
put in place to deal with existing rental properties, to bring them up to current
standards. Is there anything specifically, Jim?
Hayek: Can ... can, oh sorry! (both talking) Can you speak to the, A ... to the funding
available (both talking)
Laverman: Right, and ... we talked about that (both talking) there are funds available to, uh,
lower income, um, homeowners, um, and there is additional programming that
will be put in place, uh, that will ... the funding will be available to pay for exterior
improvements to properties.
Hayek: Thank you, Stan. (mumbled) ...more, Jim.
Throgmorton: Well ... I ... I believe what's called for here is for ... um, I'm really embarrassed. I've
forgotten your first name. Jennifer! Thank you. Uh, for Jennifer to present to us
in writing the questions that you have posed in detail. We haven't seen it before,
right (response from audience) Yeah. Uh, and I..I'd like to make sure that
there ... the questions are... responded to so that she ... in ... in, so that she has a chance
to really respond to them, but...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 58
Hayek: Yeah, go ahead.
Markus: Maybe what we could do is, uh, I think the staff initiated the ... the collapse of the
(several talking)
Hayek: Yeah, that's where (both talking)
Markus: ...the staff could say that we withdraw our request, that you consider the second
reading, that we take that list and that we respond formally, uh, between now and
the third reading.
Hayek: I think that's appropriate. T ... typically we ... we, uh ... entertain requests to collapse
the second and third reading when there's no controversy surrounding an issue
and at our first reading, there ... there wasn't to my knowledge, which is why staff
requested that we just go ahead and get the second and third readings done this
evening, but since you have presented these concerns, um, and we've tried to
answer them a bit on the fly, but frankly need an opportunity to take what is in
writing and provide a response, um, between tonight and ... and a third reading,
why don't we take up a second and only a second reading this evening. We can
wait another couple of weeks.
Laverman: Not a problem! Yep, we'd be happy to respond to those.
Hayek: Okay.
Dobyns: (mumbled) motion on the floor, do we....
Mims: I'll rescind my motion to collapse.
Hayek: Okay, so why don't we take up a new one.
Mims: Move second consideration.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by ... or moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Uh,
discussion, and again, this is simply for second consideration.
Throgmorton: Well I think... the... the fact that Jennifer has appeared tonight and speaking not just
for herself, but I imagine she's speaking for friends who live in the Dewey Street
area, uh, that tells me that ... she and neighbors did not know that this was
unfolding until just recently. I don't know, and ... and, so this just reminds me of
when we first discussed this, uh, I brought up the, uh, what I ... what I took to be a
need for the staff to reach out to the neighborhood associations and ... and to make
sure they knew that this was coming. They had a chance to provide feedback and
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 59
contribute to, uh, to the ... to ... to the assessment of the need for it and the details
and so on, and then when we got back -when it came back to us, I guess for the
first time two weeks ago. Yeah. Um, what I understood was that, um, a meeting
was held with the ... the Council of Neighborhood Associations. Right? Is that
correct? Yeah. And the fact that Jennifer's here speaking, uh, tells me that there's
been a slip a ... along the way, that maybe, uh, some important input has been
missed. So ... you know, I ... I just want to make sure that (laughs) you know,
people that are going to be affected by this have a chance to respond to it. That's
the bottom line.
Hayek: Yeah, I don't disagree, although as I recall from our first discussion, the ... you
know, there was an explanation of the ... of the outreach and ... and ... and the
stakeholder involvement that, um ... uh, led into this ... code, or this ... this ordinance
amendment, uh, on what was presented to the City and, you know, we've ... we've
talked about this several times but ... I ... I don't think everybody was hit. I'm not
sure it's ever possible to hit everybody, but my sense is that there was a fair
amount of outreach, personally. Um ... and I'm comfortable with ... with voting on
this, you know, I ... we have for years followed a practice of not collapsing when
there's, um ... sort of a hint of controversy or opposition to something, so it's the
appropriate thing for us to do this, but... but.... from my perspective, I think there
was a ... a pretty good, uh, interaction between City staff and ... and appropriate
stakeholders out in the community. (unable to hear response from audience)
Okay. So, let's .... is there any further discussion on this item? Why don't we go
ahead and take a roll call on second consideration, which means the third and
final will be at our next Council (both talking)
Throgmorton: Well I want to say I'm gonna vote for it tonight, but I may not vote for it next
night, cause it really depends on this interaction.
Hayek: Roll call, please.
Payne: Motion to accept correspondence. I got it before you said it, Marian!
Throgmorton: Second. (laughter)
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Throgmorton. Discussion? All those in favor say
aye. Opposed say nay. The motion carries 6-0. And Item 13 passes 6-0. Second
consideration thereof.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 60
ITEM 14. ALARM SYSTEMS - ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, ENTITLED
"POLICE REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "ALARM
SYSTEMS," TO UPDATE THE PROVISIONS REGARDING ALARM
SYSTEMS. (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Payne: Move second consideration.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Karr: Mr. Mayor, you have a request for expediting this one as well in anticipation of
14b that was added late, establishing the fees for the Police Department.
Hayek: Ah! So let's...
Payne: Ignore me!
Hayek: Ignore you, uh (laughter) and uh...
Mims: And I will move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and
voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to
be finally passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived,
and that the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Motion to collapse from Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Roll call,
please.
Mims: Move the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Pass and adopt by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Roll call, please.
Passes 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 61
ITEM 18. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Hayek: Start down with you, Jim.
Throgmorton: Sure. I'd just like to observe that election day is Tuesday, November the 3rd and
uh, Rick, Michelle, five other candidates and I will be participating in two
candidate forums over the next two nights. Uh, we're having Think Bicycles
tomorrow night in Room A of the Library. Starts at 6:00 P.M. and ... the following
night in this very room, starting at 7:00 P.M. is the, uh, League of
Women ... Women Voters forum. So ... come on down!
Mims: Nothing!
Dickens: Nothing.
Payne: I just want to reiterate people should, uh, go to the City's web site at, uh, icgov.org
and check out those, um, vacancies that Matt talked about earlier on the
commissions and boards and apply!
Dobyns: I want to give a shoutout to Eric Smith. Eric, you have been here the entire night.
Student at West High School, and uh, taking notes for extra credit for which class,
Eric? Government! All right (laughter) Very applicable! I'm almost as
impressed that his parents have been here the whole night, too, so ... (laughter)
Hayek: Um, the other day, uh, Mayor Pro Tem Mims and I had an opportunity to meet
with a group of Venezuelan, uh, local officials, uh, within government and ... and
some quasi -governmental entities from the Caracas, uh, region and this was
through a State Department program and City staff, Simon and others, worked
very hard to ... to host this group. Um, and we had a very interesting conversation
with them, um ... they are trying to do many of the things we're trying to do in
terms of collaboration with, uh, you know, neighboring municipalities
and ... planning for regional, uh, concerns and ... you know, dealing with budgets
and what not, um, but it struck me that they, uh, that there's also a layer of
difficulty and complexity, uh, for people in that part of the world that we don't
face here, um ... uh... and ... I ... I was just struck by, uh, the ... the things we don't have
to worry about as a local government in Johnson County, Iowa.
Mims: The fact that one individual could not have her picture in the official photos, out
of concerns for her safety when she goes home.
Hayek: And ... and ... and power struggles, uh, between... between federal, national, uh,
entities and ... and ... and state entities and ... and how cities get squeezed and ... it, p.s.
it's Caracas, which is, I don't know, guessing eight million people or something
like that (laughs) very different scale, but ... but uh... uh.... a level of...of challenge
that, um ... we're fortunate not to have to cope with.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 62
Mims: And it was nice the Mayor has good Spanish skills, and so could, uh, actually
communicate with them quite a bit without having to use the interpretors, unlike
myself.
Hayek: So...
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 63
ITEM 19. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
a) City Manager
Hayek: Tom?
Markus: Well keeping on the international theme, we have two guests in the audience this
evening, if we can get the cameras to ... to move over to them. We have two
Fellows. You remember we had Aria and Jen here earlier this season. We have
two more Fellows, uh, that have joined us and they're going to be with us for
about two and a half weeks. Uh, we have, and I ... I apologize, I might slay these
names. I'm still learning the names. Soytavanh Mienmany and she is from
Vientiane, Laos, which is the capital city of Laos, and we have Margaretta
Christita, and she's from Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia, and they're here kind of
studying sustainability and um, environmental issues, and they both have, uh,
science backgrounds. So they're going to be talking to staff about different things
that we're working on in terms of sustainability and climate change and the
environment, and uh... they'll be here, like I said, for about two and a half weeks,
and if they didn't have jet lag coming over here (laughter) they may have it after
tonight's meeting (laughter)
Hayek: (several talking) Welcome! It's an honor for us to have you in our community,
um, we're a ... a small community in a pretty isolated part of the country, but we
have a ... a great deal of interaction with people from other countries, um, and it's a
great way for us to learn about you and for you to learn about us, and I hope you
have a productive stay here and .... are you staying with Tom and Debbie (several
talking) If your hosts, you know, don't bring enough towels or ... or fine meals,
just let us know and we'll crack down! (laughter) Thank you very much (both
talking)
Markus: Originally they were scheduled to go to Virginia and Michigan and they had some
problems in those communities, so at the last moment they got shifted here to
Iowa, and so Dubuque, uh, and Iowa City are splitting, um, the responsibility, and
I think it's ... it may add a new twist to the whole program, actually having them in
two different cities within a state rather than just one and I think they'll get more
out of it in fact, so ... sometimes those things turn out better than expected!
Hayek: Well, thanks to you ... to you and Debbie, Tom, for... it's... it's a big undertaking
and ... and, uh, but it ... but it's great and it's a great way to (both talking)
Markus: Well and I should point out, Simon... Simon was big, uh, you know, he was the
main guy that kept everything moving the last time with Aria and Jen and he will
be this time, as well, too.
Dickens: So are you going back over to see them then? (laughter)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.
Page 64
Markus: Not unless invited! (laughter) And I did have an invitation already!
Dickens: All right! (laughter)
Markus: No, I don't think they let you do that more than once, so...
Hayek: Geoffrey?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of October 20, 2015.