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ITEM NO.3 NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY.
Karr: Nominations are now open.
Dickens: I'd like to, uh, nominate a slate of Jim Throgmorton for Mayor and Susan Mims
for Mayor Pro Tem.
Karr: Is there a second?
Mims: I'll second that.
Karr: Are there other nominations? Other nominations for Mayor of Iowa City?
Throgmorton: Can we ask a question? Uh, if there's a vote on that slate ... then that's the way it is,
right? So ... if...if someone else wants to ... some other, um...
Karr: If there are other nominations, this would be the time.
Throgmorton: ... this would be the time to make other nominations (both talking)
Karr: Yes, sir.
Taylor: For Mayor Pro Tem? Or ... or (muffled)
Karr: Item number 3 is the Office of Mayor. What we have on the floor right now is a
motion and a second for a slate of Throgmorton for Mayor and Mims for Mayor
Pro Tem.
Cole: I move for Jim Throgmorton as Mayor only.
Karr: Is there a second?
Taylor: Second.
Karr: Are there any other nominations?
Throgmorton: And ... and then subsequent nominations, if any, for Mayor Pro Tem (both talking)
MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS
Karr: ...the next item. Would be the next item — that's correct! Are there any other
nominations for Item number 3, Office of Mayor? Is there a motion to close
nominations?
Dickens: So moved.
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Botchway: Second.
VOTE (IN ORDER OF NOMINATION)
Karr: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Botchway to close nominations. All those in
favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Okay. We'll vote in order of the nominations
placed. So the first one is the slate of Mayor, uh, Jim Throgmorton; Mayor Pro
Tem, Susan Mims; and we'll just do a voice vote, if that's acceptable. Okay. All
those in favor of Throgmorton for Mayor and Mims for Mayor Pro Tem say aye.
Opposed same sign. Okay, so I have the vote as 5 — 2 with Dickens and Mims
voting in the... negative. In the affirmative! I'm sorry, 2 — 5. I'm sorry, it was 2 —
5. Okay. Okay, the second nomination is Throgmorton for Mayor. All those in
favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Okay, I have that as 6 —1. Okay. Jim
Throgmorton has just been elected Mayor of the City of Iowa City.
Throgmorton: Before you move on, Marian.
Karr: Yes!
Throgmorton: I ... I guess, um, I ... I wanted to, uh, say something. I feel like, uh....at...at a certain
point, uh, I should, uh, make a statement about how I would expect to perform the
role of Mayor and what I would hope we could accomplish over the next two
years. Uh, I meant to, uh... ask (clears throat) our collective Council wisdom
about whether it would be best for me to do that during our discussion period
which we have just passed by, or immediately after the vote. So, uh... what, um,
would it be all right for me to speak for about five minutes on that particular point
at this moment? Is it up to you or (both talking)
Karr: There's... there's discussion (several talking)
Throgmorton: Okay! Yeah, I wanted to give some sense about ... (clears throat) how I see things.
Uh, first of all I feel very honored by, uh, the nomination from all of you — thank
you! So ... trained as an urban planner, I think of myself as a visionary. When
seeking re-election, I said I wanted to build on what is already great about Iowa
City and help lean it toward becoming a just city. As Mayor, I will do my best to
help lead us in that direction, but ... as an experienced elected official, I'm also very
pragmatic. I want to get good things done, not just envision better futures. Being
pragmatic, I fully recognize that the Mayor has but one vote out of seven. What
matters therefore is not so much my own personal vision, but our collective
vision. That collective vision will be expressed in our new strategic plan. It'd be
premature of me to discuss specific features of that plan. In general, however, I
anticipate that the final version will retain several key elements of the previous
Council's plan, while also shifting significantly in the direction preferred by the,
uh, the ... the new Council majority and the voters who elected them in November.
I expect that this new direction will lead Iowa City toward becoming a more
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inclusive, just, and sustainable city. But what city government actually does in
2016 and 17 will be strongly influenced by the context provided by our city ... by
our city's council/manager form of government, and by the existing set of city
policies, codes, budgets, plans, and personnel. Very little of this context can or
will be changed overnight. Consequently, I expect change to occur incrementally,
step-by-step, in a way that builds on what's already great about our city, but also
leads in the creative new direction called for in November. From time to time,
members of interested publics will disagree about particular steps we propose to
take, and we Council Members will reflect that disagreement. So it should be in a
lively democracy! With that in mind, I should tell you that I'm not just a
pragmatic visionary. I also have considerable experience in conflict resolution.
As such, I intend to facilitate lively but productive dialogue so that we can,
thinking together, make better decisions. This kind of lively engagement will
require us to listen carefully to one another, treat every speaker with respect,
focus on the substantive issues at hand, and avoid letting our disagreements
become personal. We will be working together for at least the next two years and
one never knows when one will need to turn to someone else for support. I'm also
inevitably a flawed human being who makes mistakes. When I do, I count on you
to tell me and to help me correct those errors whenever possible. Last, we are not
completely the masters of our own fate. We will encounter unexpected events.
You know, floods, tornadoes, great recessions, landfill fires, and the like. When
such events occur, I'm confident we will work together as a team, doing what our
city requires. In the end, I hope to use my skills as a visionary, a pragmatic
incrementalist, and facilitator to help lead our city, step-by-step, toward becoming
a more inclusive, just, and sustainable place. By leading our city in this direction,
we can strengthen bonds of mutual trust among diverse publics. We can serve the
common good, and we can ensure that Iowa City will thrive for decades to come.
Working together we can lead the way for the region and the state as a whole, and
I look forward to it! Thanks! All right, so ... I'm done with that.
Karr: Okay. Any other discussion?
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ITEM NO.4 NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE OF MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY.
Cole: I move for consideration of Kingsley Botchway as Mayor Pro Tem.
Karr: Is there a second?
Thomas: I'll second that.
Dickens: I'll nominate Susan Mims for Mayor Pro Tem.
Karr: Is there a second?
Mims: I'll second it.
MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS
Karr: Are there any other nominations for the Office of Mayor Pro Tem? (pause) Any
other nominations for the Office of Mayor Pro Tem? Motion to close
nominations.
Botchway: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
VOTE (IN ORDER OF NOMINATION)
Karr: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Dickens to close nominations. All those in
favor say aye. Opposed same sign. Okay. We will note in order of nomination
again.
Mims: I would just like to ask a question. Jim had indicated via an email that we would
have an opportunity to speak, um, in terms of our candidacies.
Karr: Okay. This is ... appropriate time, prior to the vote, certainly.
Mims: Do it in the same order as the nominations?
Karr: Um, we've just closed nominations, so prior to the vote discussion.
Dilkes: Do it in order of (both talking)
Karr: ...nominations? Oh, you want to do it in ... okay! So ... then we're going to go
to ... move to the vote, um ... uh, this ... in order of the vote is, um ... first one is
Kingsley Botchway.
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Botchway: (clears throat) Couple of months ago we sat down at the table and developed the
strategic plan. Specifically we added sustainability and racial equity and social
justice to our goals for the upcoming two years. The timing of these additions
reminded me of a panel I participated in, around and looking at systemically, um,
how to specifically embed multi-culturalism and racial equity into various
projects. During the discussion, one of the panelists stated'we live in a time
where to be awake is to be concerned.' The quote gave me pause and made me
reflect on the upcoming work that we ourselves declared to do, to the ... through
the strategic plan through the next couple of years. Sorry I'm going through a, uh,
wisdom teeth issue and so it's going to be harder to talk. I truly believe we are at
a crucial point in our community ... and in the nation. The recent shootings, both
by police and others across the country, and the national campaign spilling hate -
filled rhetoric. There's a lack of trust in government and a lack of trust in elected
officials. We have been lucky not to be engulfed by it, through the hard work by
many of our local community organizations and our wonderful staff for the work
they've done, with community initiatives, our diversity roundtable, the equity
plan, the DIP, the ... the Diversity Implementation Plan, and all other things that
we've done to reach out. 'To be awake is to be concerned,' I believe, is a
statement about how certain things have become "normal." We have become
complacent maintaining different variations of the status quo. I believe this
election was a referendum on the status quo. And let me be clear, this isn't to say
that any ... anyone or anybody has done anything wrong. This is simply to state we
need to do certain things differently. Recent councils have focused strongly on
economic development and increasing our tax base out of necessity to combat
destructive legislation from Des Moines, and to maintain our programs that we
hold dear. While these things were important in recent years, in order to steady
the tide at that time and re ... and remain, excuse me, important still, we need a
shift in perspective. We need ... we did that during our strategic planning process.
We need to have a serious conversation about what equity means. We need to
have a lens of equity with each piece of policy we enact. We need to shift our
focus to how people are accessing resources and not accessing resources. We
need to look at whether we have the best possible process in place, whether that
be from Planning and Zoning to Historical Preservation Commission. We need to
shift our focus and simply our overall approach and demeanor with how we
conduct ourselves, both publicly and privately, and how we do business with
others. For the last two years I've been learning the processes of our city
government. I believe this is an opportunity to step up, and with our recent
declaration, the strategic plan, I believe I can provide much needed support to the
Mayor, the rest of the Council in leadership as we ... shift our perspective. I have a
unique lens for looking at processes and success with this work. Beyond that I
have a compassionate and positive demeanor and nature that I believe our
community needs right now. With that, I humbly ask for your vote for Mayor Pro
Tem.
Karr: Susan.
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Mims: Thank you. Um, I think given the ... the vote on the slate earlier, it's clear that the
decision, um, has already been made in terms of the ... the Mayor Pro Tem
position. Um, but I would still like to put forth for the public, uh, why I believe
that I am, uh, a better candidate for that position. Um, while I do not disagree
with a lot of the things that Kingsley has said in terms of, uh, the need for
improvements in terms of inclusivity. I think we've started on that and
done ... done a good job but still there obviously is more to do and ... and will
always be more to do both in this community and others. But I think when you
look at this position, it also has to do with a person's experience and skill set, and
when I look at the things that I have done over the years, um, having
serve ... served on the School Board, served as School Board President, um, served
on the Chamber, have served as Mayor Pro Tem for four years, um, I have the
knowledge, um, base. I think having those experiences and ... and significant
contacts across the community, um, not only through the University and the
business community and other areas as well. Um, I do my homework. I think I
come to these meetings very well prepared. Um, I think I am a good
communicator. I would ... I would agree with the comment and I'm ... I have a
feeling this was somewhat directed at me and that ... and that's fine and John and I
had this conversation. I understand that I need to, um ... improve on my public
communication from a standpoint of a little softer approach and I will work on
doing that. I ... I'm a Vermont Yankee. That's the way it was brought up (laughs)
Pretty direct, pretty much to the point, and I think some people, um, have found
that maybe a little bit abrasive, um, have felt if they didn't get to know me
personally that I was not empathetic, um, with other people and their situations,
and I would say that's as far from the truth that you could get, and even John in
our conversation said, you know, if people sat down with you they'd see that other
side, and so I recognize that and that's... that's an effort that I will make, um, going
forward because I think that's important for this Council and how people look at,
um, our Council. Um, one of the ... the things that has been talked about is ... is
inclusivity and the whole emphasis has been, I think, on that racial inclusivity.
Um, we have two women out of seven on this Council and we have probably a
population of about 50% female in this community. So by putting two men in the
leadership positions, yes maybe you have added inclusivity on the racial side, but
I think you've taken it away on the gender side. And when you look at a family,
um, Kingsley and I both come from families where there is one Caucasian
American and there is one African American. He happens to be the African
American in his household. I happen to be the Caucasian American in my
household. Yes, he walks a different life because every time he goes out, the
color of his skin can't be hidden, and that ... impacts his experiences. I don't deny
or diminish that at all. Certainly having lived, um, with my husband for over 30
years and ... and knowing his experiences and ... and many other African Americans
as well. But I do think, uh, I think we diminish the role of women, um, as we are
really trying to increase the number of women in politics, in political positions, in
leadership positions, uh, within government, uh, both locally, uh, county level,
state wide, nationally. And so I think you really are trading one for the other.
Um, additionally I think this comes down to, uh, very much a political decision.
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Um, individuals at this table have told me that some of their constituents were
very adamant that I not be the Mayor Pro Tem, that that would indicate that there
was no change in what the City, um, is going to do, and I would disagree with
that! We each sit up here, um, as seven, um, Pauline on the phone, uh, with one
vote and no one has, you know, any more power in terms of the ... those votes than
any other. So it's very clear that the new majority will be able to carry out their
wishes and the new direction that they envision for this city, regardless of who is
in those leadership positions. Um ... so I guess I would just close ... I, obviously I
already know the outcome of this vote, but I think it's very important for the
public to hear that, you know, is this Council going to elect the person who maybe
has the most qualifications or is this going to be a very political decision. Thank
you.
Karr: Any other discussion?
Dickens: I just have, uh... pretty much what Susan said about herself covers a lot of it.
My ... my one concern with ... with Kingsley is the conflict with the Schools,
working for the Schools and there's so many of our interactions with the
Schools ... I just worry that there could be times where that becomes an issue,
working with the ... between the staff and a number of things that (mumbled) It's
nothing personal. It's strictly a ... cause I ... I talked to you the other day about it,
that I think it's just ... that's one thing I really worry about is the conflict between
job, because we are so intertwined with those other governments. That's my only
concern.
Botchway: I think that's a great question (mumbled) respond to that. Um, you know it is ... it
is interesting to me that that has now become a concern, um, simply because, um,
beforehand I had no knowledge of the meetings that happened, um, and so ... and
you can help me out here with the conflict of interest, Eleanor, you know, I mean
you'd have to have some type of knowledge, um, for there to be conflict of
interest. I don't know what occurs at those meetings. Um, and I've... actually
come to find out from researching it more, from (mumbled) standpoint, that not
all the ... maybe not all of the Members of the School Board are aware of these
meetings that go on between, um, folks as well and so ... to be honest with you, um,
I wouldn't say conflict of interest aside because I don't believe there is a conflict
of interest. That worries me. That ... I mean I don't know if we've ever received a
report as far as those discussions. I don't know if we've ever, um, had a talk
outside of simply stating that we've had the discussions, um, and I think it speaks
to some of the concerns that ... I know that people that have talked with me have
consistently brought up — not necessarily about the particular issues, but how
there could be meetings being held without public knowledge. Again, I'll reiterate
for the public cause I do think it's important, um, I don't think there's a conflict of
interest. Again I ... I was unaware of those meetings until I saw, you know, Susan
and Matt there, outside of my window and then asked a question, you know,
what's going on, um ... and so, um ... I would assume that I would maintain that level
of, uh... um ... kind of unawareness, um, with this ... with the situation in ... in that
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regard. Um, beyond that, um ... you know, I think I had this conversation over the
phone with my mom last night. Um, I think that a lot of people are giving me,
um, I ... credit and I appreciate that, um, with my position at the School District,
but um, it's not akin to the Superintendent or the Executive Cabinet. Um, and
that's kind of the upper echelon of the administration within the School District.
And so a lot of the things that I've become aware of are more, um ... I wouldn't say
orders, are more suggestions that my boss and other folks have for me from that
level, and so, um ... again, I think Eleanor has been really adept as far as, you
know, helping me with particular conflict of interests while ... as they have arised,
but um, that one, um, I appreciate you bringing it up as a concern cause I did want
to address that publicly as, uh, something that I ... am not concerned about at all,
from that standpoint. (several talking)
Mims: I think what that does though is ... as you mentioned, you know, Matt and I as
Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, along with staff, have met with staff and President
and Vice President of...of the School Board and it should be the Mayor and
Mayor Pro Tem that are as leaders, as the elected leaders of this Council, that are
involved in those meetings, and I think it ... as you've said, you expect to stay
unaware of those, which means as Mayor Pro Tem you will not be able to fil...
fulfill what should be a significant part of your role, if you're in that position, and
I find that problematic.
Botchway: To respond to that, I do ... don't have to be. I mean, again, because it would be a
new situation, you know, I've wanted to have that discussion as far as, um,
whether there will be an issue. Again, I don't believe there's a conflict of interest.
I've talked with Steve as far as whether or not there was a conflict of interest. The
main concern that I would have is simply whether or not ... Chris and Brian are the
folks from a leadership standpoint on the School District, whether they feel
awkward is more kind of the question I have from that ... not necessarily
with ... whether there be a conflict of interest (mumbled) feelings and thoughts
behind that and going from there.
Mims: Yeah, and I ... I don't see it in some ways as the ... as the defined conflict of interest
where there's, you know, benefit from money involved. What I look at is is ... I do
not see how as a high-level employee of the School District that you can ... as
Mayor Pro Tem... potentially as Mayor Pro Tem, that you can be involved in those
meetings. And ... and here's my point. How can anyone sit in a meeting with their
boss, who evaluates you, assigns you, decides on your raises, and sit there and in
any way be able to advocate for positions that the City might take, that might be
contrary to or in any way adversarial to the way your boss might look at it. No
human being can do that. They're... they're going to be biased because ... you may
have a message from the rest of the Council and/or staff of important issues and
discussions, but if you're sitting there ... and I ... I would be the same way and I think
anybody would be. If you're sitting there and your boss is sitting across from the
table ... from you or next to you, how are you possibly going to advocate for the
City when it is in any way ... when in any way might put you at conflict or at...at
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odds with your boss. And so I don't see how somebody who's a high-level
District employee... and is Mayor Pro Tem, possibly fulfill that role of Mayor Pro
Tem when it comes to School issues.
Throgmorton: I wonder if any other Council Members would want to...
Cole: Yeah, I was going to jump in here. You know, I'm sensing a little tension here in
the room and I think that that's really too bad, because I think what we have an
opportunity here is to elect a dynamic, young leader that's going to make our
community proud. You know I see what's happening in Waterloo, that they
elected the first African American mayor. I think in their city's history. We in the
past have had African Americans that have served in this capacity, as well, but I
think with Kingsley, the reason why I'm supporting him, and I ... I want to get
away from this tension and negativity. We need to celebrate what we have which
is a dynamic leader and that's why I'm supporting him. And the other thing that I
think that makes Kingsley exceptionally qualified for this is he's a passionate
advocate, but by the same token when someone disagrees with him, he'll have a
smile on his face. He'll address those concerns, and he'll listen to what you have
to say. So what we have to do here is get beyond the election. The election
happened in November. Um, let's move on, and we're willing to start with a clean
slate. Uh, our system of government, city -charter, does recognize that it is the
Council's role to make this decision. It's a majority vote. Um, and I think we
have to acknowledge that that is the way the majority wants to go, but we also
want to emphasize one final thing ... which is we don't only represent the people
that elected us, we represent the people that didn't vote for us, as well. So I think
with Kingsley's election of Mayor Pro Tem, we are going to reach out to the
entire community, and if you disagree with this vote, reach out to us, talk to
Kingsley, call us, um, rather than sort of going back to our corner. So I'm, uh, an
enthusiastic vote in favor of Kingsley. I think he's earned it, and I think that this
experience term is sort of a loaded question. Um, experience can blind as well as
guide. Um, so I think in this particular case, Kingsley doesn't have 30 years of
experience, but he does have experience in being a talented young leader who has
proven himself capable of deserving the respect and support of this community,
and that's why I am voting for Kingsley. I don't view that as a rejection of you,
Susan. Um, I think at this particular time there has been a shift, um, but we ... we, I
think we owe it to the community to try to work together on this. I think part of
that is recognizing when you don't get the votes to get behind, uh, what we want
to do. So...
Mims: I would just make one other (both talking)
Taylor: Can I say something, please?
Karr: Go ahead, Pauline!
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Taylor: (mumbled) ...especially since, um, Susan mentioned me as the second female, uh,
on ... on the Council and I do have to tell you, Susan, that I have, uh, great respect
for you and see you as a role model and, uh, hope for some guidance and support
from you on the Council, uh, and I ... I don't see it as diminishing the role of
women, uh, for you not to be Mayor Pro Tem. I ... I see that the voters, again,
elected a second woman on the Council, and I think that speaks loudly to the role
of women. I think you and I will be seen as female role models, uh, in the
community for ... for women, and uh, and I think that's what speaks loudly, uh, for
the Council because (mumbled) have no idea who the Pro Tem even ... even is, but
they would know, oh, there are two women on ... on the City Council and I think -
that speaks highly for ... for, uh, women in the community and ... and as I said, I do
have great respect for you, and as far as this position, I see (mumbled) with the
Schools would be a very small percentage of the position, uh, and uh, if it would
happen then have, uh, Jim as Mayor would be able to, um ... uh, approach someone
or ask someone to ... to sit in for Kingsley if there were going to be any type of
conflict. That's all.
Botchway: Last thing I'll mention, um, cause I do (several talking)
Karr: Yes! Thanks, Pauline! (several talking)
Botchway: Last thing I'll mention, cause (mumbled) important point is, um, there are actually
a lot of people that work for the School District, um, in their particular roles, um,
as mayors and as mayor pro tems, or excuse me, shouldn't say a lot of people.
There's two off the top of my head, but there's been multiple people that work for
the School District from a Councilor perspective. Um, I don't necessarily think
that my conflict of interest should change, uh, with the leadership position. If I
have a conflict of interest now then I would have a conflict of interest on Council,
as well, um, and so I ... that's my response to that. Um, Coralville has an individual
who is a high-ranking leadership official, um, as mayor pro tem, um, within ... um,
and he's at more leadership positions, um, within a lot of the discussions with the
School District as well, and then the other person is the Hills' mayor as well and
so, um, it does happen. Uh.... I haven't been told that that ... um, that change is the
nature of the conversations, um, that ... that occur and so I don't expect it to
happen, but again, um, if there are issues, um ... uh, that I'm not aware of that come
from, you know, Chris and Brian, I'd be willing to discuss and talk through those,
uh, particular issues. I've been very clear about my roles as I took the position,
um, at the School District because I did first acknowledge when I took the
position, um, at the School District whether or not I'd have to resign as a Council
Member, um, and looked at that entire procedure, uh, very closely because of the
conflict of interest that's a part of it. Um, and so I didn't feel like it is ... was a
problem at the time and I don't feel like it's a problem now, uh, but again, if...if
those folks feel, uh, encumbered or whatever the case may be, um, then I'm
definitely willing to have a discussion and sit down and talk about, um, the roles
that I ... I feel like I've been very adept and successful at having those
conversations with, I mean, the colleagues now.
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Mims: I'll just make one last (mumbled) comment and this goes back to what you said,
Rockne. I'm really concerned that as we start our first meeting ... that we have
discussion on an issue that we don't all agree on ... and you immediately call it
tension in the room. To me ... that says that you don't want to hear... different
opinions. I ... I understand ... I understand the vote's already a done deal. I knew
that before I walked in the room. Jim and I met yesterday. He had met with
everybody. I understand it's a done deal and Kingsley's going to get the vote.
But ... that does..to me ... does not diminish the importance of -telling the public
what my opinions are and why I think I'm a good candidate for this, and what I
think the other issues are involved in this, and so to immediately... the minute
Terry brings up something, I bring up something, and start calling it that we have
tension and we have to get past it ... um ... I just find that concerning. So I ... I think
everybody here understands the outcome of the election. Is willing to work
together. Simply because we know the outcome of the vote, doesn't mean that we
have to, uh... you know, vote for Kingsley if we don't support him, but once it's
done I agree! We move on and we'll work together.
Throgmorton: Well said! John, did you want to say something?
Thomas: Just a few words. I ... I think Jim, in your comments, you emphasized, um, your
skills relating to conflict resolution (clears throat) and I know I spoke both with
Kingsley and Susan, uh, over the past couple of weeks and ... at this point in time, I
feel one of the key issues we face as a Council, and as a city, is the question of
conflict resolution and so that, on this decision, was something — in terms of skill
sets, in terms of, uh, ones... aptitude and inclination toward conflict revolution
(laughs) or resolution that that was an issue that is, uh, of particular concern to
me. I think it's something we're facing as a city, uh, we're facing as a country on a
much larger scale, and so that's really what was guiding my decision. It really, in
my view, was not politics. It was about this question of how can we resolve our
differences and reach agreement.
Throgmorton: Well, it's very instructive for me to hear what all of you say and I want to support
what Susan just said. We do need to have and want to have, uh, con... considered
deliberation about what matters, and so expressing views and being clear about
them is a really important thing, and I know, Rockne, you completely agree with
that. So, we'll be able to do that. We just have to kind of get used to being up
here and all that. I guess I'd like to say a few other things so, uh, with regard to
this particular vote. Uh... as any ... everyone I've talked to over the past few weeks
can tell you, I've ... uh, I ... I make my decision with regard to, uh, the Mayor Pro
Tem position with considerable difficulty. Uh, having sat next to Susan for the
past four years, I've come to recognize that she's very .... we've talked about this!
She's very smart, has a ... a really good analytical mind, always comes to meeting
very prepared, takes careful notes when listening to members of the public speak,
and has served as Mayor Pro Tem for the past four years, has ... has that experience
doing that, not to mention the School Board. I mean, this is all a fact and I
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completely recognize it. Uh, I ... I believe that we ... um, would be wise to draw
upon ... um, even though I'm going to support Kingsley here, I think we would be
very wise to draw upon Susan's knowledge, skill, experience, and what did you
say.... contacts, right, contacts within the community, which are extensive. Uh,
for that reason, as Susan knows, I suggested the possibility, uh, yesterday that first
I would recommend that Susan be appointed Chair of the ... our Economic
Development Committee and we'll get to that in a little bit, uh, so that she would
be able to, uh, clearly articulate her views on what I think is the ... the most
important aspect of this, uh, of Council work, from your point of view. But
secondly that, uh, Susan consider the possibility of, uh ... accompanying me, uh,
and whatever other staff people are involved when meetings are held with the
School Board, School District, and the Administrator, and the School Board
officials. I don't know if Susan's had a chance to really reflect upon that. I don't
know if she'd be interested in it, but I do want it to be clear that I suggested that
possibility. So if...if in fact, in our wisdom ... in our collective wisdom we think
that it's appropriate that Kingsley, who presumably will be elected, if we think it's
appropriate that ... that he basically recuse himself from those specific kinds of
meetings, then we could also consider with, uh, if...if Susan's amenable, we could
consider the possibility of asking her to stand in for Kingsley under those
circumstances. So ... um, I ... that ... that's the way I see it, so ... it's clear how I'm
going to vote and I ... try ... trying to find a reasonable accommodation to the
situation. So I ... I don't know if you want to respond or just...
Mims: No! Not right now. Thank you!
Cole: And this may be something we can address at a later time, but I think the issue
with relating to conflict is conflict as to whom. Susan (mumbled) assuming
there's a potential conflict of interest, is the Council prohibited from waiving of
that conflict of interest, visa vie itself, um, in terms of allowing Kingsley to do
that, because a lot of times, uh, we're able to authorize, uh, someone to act on her
behalf and if there's a potential conflict, we can waive that, can we not?
Dilkes: Well I wouldn't address it that way. I did want to comment on the conflict issue.
You call have been having a political discussion about the conflict issue.
Cole: Yeah.
Dilkes: It's really... different than the legal analysis of conflict...
Cole: Right.
Dilkes: ...and the legal analysis, as Kingsley knows cause we've talked about this on a ... on
a couple of occasions is whether, um ... the particular facts and circumstances of
any situation give rise to a conflict. I have not been asked whether ... if Kingsley
does participate in a particular meeting whether that presents a conflict.
I ... I ... he ... he knows, because we've talked about this. There's a, you know, the
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whole master, um, employee relationship is ... is ripe for ... for conflict, but whether
it exists in any particular situation is one that's going to have to be looked at at the
time.
Botchway: Just to be clear, the only reason I haven't had that discussion (noises, difficult to
hear speaker) I'm not sure what those meetings consist of (noises in background)
so that's where, I mean ... (mumbled)
Throgmorton: So we might have to address this later on down the road, yeah.
Karr: Any other discussion?
Throgmorton: Nope!
Karr: We'll now be voting, uh, for the Office of Mayor Pro Tem in order of the
nominations. Those supporting Kingsley Botchway for Mayor Pro Tem say aye.
Opposed same sign. I have it 5 — 2 with Mims and Dickens in the negative.
Okay. Those supporting Susan Mims for Mayor Pro Tem say aye. Those
opposed same sign. I have it 2 — 5 ... Mims and Dickens in the affirmative. Okay.
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ITEM NO.6 CONSIDER A MOTION MAKING TWO YEAR CITY COUNCIL
APPOINTMENTS
Throgmorton: All right! I don't have a hammer! (several talking)
Dickens: Don't break it! (laughs) (several talking)
Throgmorton: Uh, we need a ... a motion with regard to, uh, appointments, uh, correct? But I
don't have the text right in front of me.
Karr: Uh, do you wish to do them one by one or do you wish to do them as a slate?
Throgmorton: Uh, I'd like to do them as a slate, but I assume that means I need to read off who
would be appointed to which positions?
Karr: Right! I don't have that with me. Do you want me to print it?
Throgmorton: No, I have it in front of me.
Karr: Yeah, go right ahead!
Throgmorton: But, um, just to be clear, I've communicated with every Councilperson
about ... which positions they'd be appointed to (coughing, difficult to hear
speaker) one exception and that has to do with the, uh, ECICOG appointment.
Karr: Mr. Mayor, if you don't mind, could we wait on that one till I get clarification.
We could do it at the next meeting. Let's just stick with the slate we have here. If
that's okay!
Throgmorton: Okay, so...
Karr: Thank you!
Throgmorton: We need a motion to get it on the floor, don't we?
Dilkes: No, first you have to talk about who it is you want (both talking)
Karr: If...yeah!
Dilkes: ...appoint to those positions and (both talking)
Throgmorton: Okay. So...
Dilkes: You can run through 'em all and if you have agreement then the motion could be
made (both talking)
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Throgmorton: Yeah, good, so I'll run through 'em all, so if I make any mistakes here, please tell
me. Uh, I think I've got it right, but ... with regard, uh, with regard to the Rules
Committee, Kingsley Botchway and Terry Dickens. With regard to the
Emergency Management Commission, John Thomas. Uh, the MPOJC, uh, all six
except for me. The Convention and Visitors Bureau, me. The Economic
Development Committee, Susan Mims, Rockne Cole, and me. Am I going too
fast, Marian?
Dickens: Do we have discussion then (several talking)
Karr: ...put 'em all out first, if that's okay. Okay. No, you're fine, sir!
Throgmorton: The JECC Policy Board, uh... Susan Mims and Tom Markus. I skipped one
already.
Karr: Yep!
Throgmorton: Skipped two actually! Iowa Works Region 9, the CEO Board. I'm not sure about
that title because you and I communicated about that, Marian. Uh, that would be
Pauline Taylor. The Metro Coalition of Cities, Tom Markus with me as an
alternate. Uh, ECICOG, we'll come back to that. Uh, I don't know, next meeting
or whatever. Uh, SEATS Advisory Committee, Terry Dickens and Pauline
Taylor.
Dickens: There ... there will only be one seat on that coming up. They're gonna ... get rid of
one so I ... I discussed it with Marian. I don't know if it got on (several talking)
That's... they're reducing how many are on the board.
Throgmorton: Okay, good, thanks, Terry! Uh... the County Criminal Justice Coordinating
Committee, Kingsley Botchway. City of Literature Board, Rockne Cole.
The ... the Downtown SSMID, a City Manager appointee. County E911 Service
Board, uh, I've forgotten first names — sorry! Grier (both talking)
Karr: Grier and Hart.
Throgmorton:... and Hart, yeah. Grier and Hart. My apologies to both. Doug Hart. What is...
Karr: John.
Throgmorton: John Grier, yeah! The Chief s name. Good grief? ICAD Board, John Thomas
and Tom Markus. And ... the Iowa City Assessor Evaluation Committee, Terry
Dickens.
Karr: Now if we could have a motion to put all of 'em on the floor, we can have
discussion.
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Botchway: Motion to put the proposed, uh, slate on the floor (mumbled)
Cole: Second.
Throgmorton: Discussion?
Botchway: Real quick before Terry goes. I just want to make a note that the CJCC has
assembled their structure where they're pairing down, uh (mumbled) okay with
being representative, but it's just not as many meetings and so I just want that to
(mumbled) before I forget.
Throgmorton: Okay. Terry, did you want to (both talking)
Dickens: Yeah, the Paratransit, we discussed at the last meeting, we have to pass it coming
up, but they just would like to have fewer ... it just makes it easier to get things
passed through and I would con ... I've been on it for six years and I ... I think they
all trust me and know me and I'd like to stay on that if possible. My other
question is, uh, I know Rockne's new on this Economic Development, but I don't
know whether the fact that he's involved in a lawsuit with something that has to
do with Economic Development whether that's going to be a problem in the future
or whether that needs to be addressed now or...
Throgmorton: Well, good question! Eleanor, would you have a comment about that?
Dilkes: I don't think the fact that, um ... Rockne has a conflict in connection with that
particular development prohibits him from being on the Economic Development
Committee. In the event that that project was to be discussed at the Economic
Development Committee, he would need to, um (several talking)
Cole: ...going to recuse myself as such in connection with that petition. (several
talking)
Throgmorton: So, uh, with... given what Terry just said about the SEATS, uh, Committee, uh,
and our ambiguity with regard to ECICOG, if in fact we need to appoint someone
to ECICOG, it would seem that Pauline might be the best...
Karr: I and Jay have been updated. I ... we do need a ... a one-year appointment. That has
been updated. Jay, the SEATS Paratransit, I gave the two appointments for 2014
but we just need one, that's the number I in parentheses. So even though there
were 20 ... in 2014 there were two appointees to SEATS, we are now just
considering one.
Throgmorton: Right, so uh... so I'm suggesting that, given what Terry said about wanting to
continue with the SEATS Advisory Board if Pauline is willing, uh, Pauline, you're
still there, right?
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Taylor: Yes, I'm still there. That ... that would be fine!
Throgmorton: Yeah, so Pauline could be the.....our appointee to ECICOG.
Karr: And with an alternate of Dickens, or with .... no alternate?
Throgmorton: Well....
Karr: As needed?
Throgmorton: As needed, I would think. I mean I did that for two years and (several talking)
every once in a while, yeah.
Dickens: I think we both (mumbled)
Botchway: Clarification. Is there any reason why there's not other alternates? Or is that just
the nature of how (mumbled) framework?
Karr: I believe the alternate was selected here because it is out ... out of town and during
the day. So the other ones are more local.
Botchway: (unable to hear)
Throgmorton: Yeah, Kingsley, the ECICOG Board meets up in Cedar Rapids, so you're an hour
up, hour back, you know, that kind of thing.
Botchway: I was just saying that because I ... I know I missed a meeting, maybe even two, um
(mumbled) and so I wasn't able to report back on any of the, you know, changes
but that's fine. It doesn't change anything.
Karr: Then Council could consider alternates as needed, as well.
Throgmorton: Right. Right.
Dilkes: I think if you have to miss a meeting (several talking)
Taylor: ...problem at all for travel up to Cedar Rapids.
Throgmorton: Right. Uh, any other discussion... about the appointments?
Dickens: (mumbled)
Mims: I would just be curious to know ... kind of the process that you went through with
this, because I ... I mean ... to me we're walking in here, and at least I haven't seen
any of this except the two that you asked me to serve on. I mean, have... did... did
you go through this whole list with everybody else or other people or...
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Throgmorton: Well I went through the list with other people the same way I did with you. So I
wrote each individual and said I was... expecting to, uh, appoint, or thinking of
appointing you to X, Y, and Z committees, whatever they were. Would that be all
right. So I did that, but I did that first of all on the base ... on the basis of the
existing, uh ... appointments. So, you know, Tom's appointed to various things and
some City staff are appointed to certain things. So I continued that, and in most
cases, if somebody currently was appointed to a committee or a board, I wanted to
continue that. So then the question was basically how to allocate three new
people, and I tried to balance that out ... so that ... so that there was a reasonable
amount of work, basically, for each individual, and I was trying to think about the
individual... the capacities of the individuals involved and how ... where they might
fit best with ... within this, uh, array of committees and boards.
Mims: Yeah, I guess my question just came from ... from the way it typically, I mean, had
been done, um ... I think in the past we've all had a chance to, um, you know, talk
about what we wanted to do, but also, you know, have that broader discussion of
where, you know, where we thought other Council Members, you know, fit in as
well. And so ... I guess my question was ... you know, given the change in the
dynamics on this Council. Um, you know, quite candidly, you know, were you
sitting down with the other new Council Members, kind of going through the
whole list with them or simply going through ... the ones that (both talking)
Throgmorton: ... went through it the way I just described it.
Mims: Okay! Thank you.
Throgmorton: And one other thing, Susan. I was remembering... um, my first, uh... week or
whatever, uh, on the Council four years ago and Matt, uh, my recollection is the
phone (mumbled) I was thinking of appointing you to so-and-so committees; is
that okay. So I was just remembering that (both talking)
Mims: Yeah, and when I had talked to him he had ... I had remembered it differently and
my question also was .... was I remembering it differently because I was Mayor
Pro Tem and was I getting more information than other Council Members were
and so ... I think, um ... I just think it would be helpful for people to kind of see the
whole list, prior to walking into the meeting ... from a transparency standpoint.
Just to ... to give a little more thought to not just our own individual assignments
but ... how does this work in terms of, you know, balance with the workload and
the skill sets that we see with other people on the Council and having some time
to actually think about it, versus not having any information except for ourselves,
our own appointments, until you sat here and listed those. So, that was my point.
Throgmorton: Further discussion? Is this a role call?
Karr: Motion.
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Throgmorton: Motion...
Karr: Voice.
Throgmorton: Uh, so all in favor say aye. All opposed say aye. Motion passed 7 — 0. Okay,
that's the last item, correct?
Karr: Uh huh.
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