HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-05 TranscriptionPage 1
Council Present: Botchway, Cole, Dickens, Mims, Taylor (electronically), Thomas,
Throgmorton
Staff Present: Markus, Fruin, Havel, Dilkes, Karr, Korpel, Boothroy, Yapp, Bowers,
O'Brien
Others Present: Neal (UISG)
Questions from Council re Agenda Items:
ITEM 7. SUPPORT IOWA CITY MUSLIM COMMUNITY - RESOLUTION
DECLARING SUPPORT FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITIES AND URGING
ALL TO STAND TOGETHER FOR PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING.
Throgmorton/ Okay, so, uh, let's begin the work session on, uh, what ... January 5th. I ... I, uh, the
first item is agenda items and I'd like to take the liberty of, uh, drawing our attention to
three particular topics. One has to do with Item 7, the resolution concerning Muslim
communities in Iowa City. Uh, there's some interest in moving that item up from its
current location — it's Item 7 — to right before the Planning and Zoning Matters. So I
wonder if there's a, um, willingness or an agreement to do that? (several responding)
Right, right, yeah (several talking) Okay, good, so we'll do that.
Karr/ We do need a motion to do that.
Dickens/ So moved.
Karr/ No (laughter) (several talking) Thank you!
Dickens/ I was ready! (laughter)
ITEM 8. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. Applicants MUST reside in Iowa City and be
18 years of age unless specific qualifications are stated.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, at the appropriate .... I guess right after the Public Discussion period ends,
I'll call ... ask for a motion and somebody'll make a motion. (talking in background)
Okay, the second thing has to do with, uh, appointments to boards and commissions.
Usually we have a specific item on our work session agenda for that, uh, but we don't this
time. So I thought we might as well get that out of the way. There, uh, two sets of
appointments, one having to do with Housing and Community Development, two
different positions, both, uh, filling out unexpired terms, and the other having to do with
the Human Rights Commission, and there's one vacancy for that position. So ... uh, as I
understand it there are four applicants, with regard to Housing and Community
Development. There are two separate positions. There were four applicants to fill one
unexpired term, and there's a male gender requirement on it. Uh, and there's a second
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position, three applicants to fill another unexpired term. Again, a male requirement.
Male gender requirement. So ... what we usually do is ... just ... throw out a name and
(mumbled) suggest who would be good appointees. So I'm all ears! With regard to the
first position, the one that, uh, I guess expires (noise, unable to hear speaker) on
September 2017. Are you hearing me okay ... okay, Pauline?
Karr/Pauline, can you hear us? Pauline, can you hear us?
Throgmorton/ ...find out. (redialing phone to connect with Council Member Taylor) Pauline,
this is Jim again. We just decided to move Item 7, uh, concerning a resolution about our
Muslim communities (both talking)
Taylor/ I got that one, uh huh. We were up to the board and commissions when we got cut off.
Okay!
Throgmorton/ Right, so uh... we have two positions on the Housing and Community
Development Commission to fill, so I'm just looking for recommendations with regard to
the one that, uh... which, whose term ends on September 2017. We'll do that one first.
There're four ... four applicants — Harry Olmstead, Matthew Pierce, Don ... Dan Laplotka,
and Chris Harms. So ... what's your pleasure?
Botchway/ So I'm going to throw out Matthew Pierce. No, go ahead, Pauline.
Taylor/ Oh, I ... mean actually make name rec, uh, name recommendations now?
Throgmorton/ Yes.
Taylor/ Is that appropriate? Oh, okay, well certainly, um, Harry had some very, uh, wonderful
recommendations and I know from what I've heard, he's ... he's very dedicated and he's
very involved in the community and obviously comes very highly recommended and I
think he would be a great advocate on .... on that commission.
Botchway/ I would concur. Urn ... so to speak frankly, um, I don't know how this works out in
our boards and commissions policy. I know that Harry's been extensively on
commissions and so I don't ... that played a role in kind of my analysis, but um ... as it
pertains to that, I ... I kind of moved him over to the next appointment because... since he's
on both, right, I think ... yeah, and so I really wanted to focus on, again like I threw out
Matthew Pierce. He's a younger gentleman, um, I think he's recently graduated from the
University of Iowa. Has done extensive work, um in working with, uh... uh, communities
around solar energy. Did some work in Des Moines and um ... I ... I just think he'd be a
good person to kind of get into, um, commission type of work.
Throgmorton/ So you're... you're suggesting Matthew for the term that ends in 2017?
Botchway/ Correct.
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Throgmorton/ Correct. Other thoughts about that?
Thomas/ I also, um, think very highly of Matthew. He's very dedicated and committed to, um, to
the community. Uh... so I would support him.
Cole/ When does the other term expire?
Throgmorton/ 2018.
Cole/ 2018, okay. I don't recall from my review of the packet if they expressed a preference as
to which one they were seeking. (several talking) Only for the 17, okay.
Throgmorton/ Sounds like we have agreement that Matthew Pierce would be a good appointee
for the 2017 position.
Cole/ I would agree.
Mims/ That's fine. I know nothing about him, other than what's on here, but it sounds like some
of the rest of you know him.
Throgmorton/ The only other thing I know about Matthew is that he is a grad of the University of
Iowa, but from the Urban Planning Program, so he has a Masters. From the School of
Urban Planning.
Mims/ Oh, that was in the packet, that he has the Masters in Urban Planning. (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Okay...
Mims/ I didn't know anything about the solar energy. Do you happen to know (both talking)
Botchway/ Yeah, no ... I haven't talked to him, um, he does some work with CWJ and so that was
some conversations around those things and he's done some work prior and he's back in
the area for a while and working with that group.
Mims/ Okay!
Throgmorton/ Okay, how 'bout the 20 ... the position that ends in 2018. There are three applicants
for it — Harry, Dan Laplotka, and Chris Harms. And it's true, Harry got this extraordinary
array of...of recommendations. But...
Botchway/ So quick procedural question. Urn ... cause I would agree with Pauline for Harry in
this role, but then ... where are we at with the balance?
Mims/ They're both male.
Throgmorton/ Both male.
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Botchway/ (mumbled) if they're both male standpoint? Okay.
Cole/ Well I guess I don't know the other two applicants very well, other than what they've
submitted in their application form. Does anyone have anything to say about the other
two? Um...
Throgmorton/ The only thing I know about Chris Harms is that we got a ... an email from Mark
Signs, uh, highly recommending Chris and ... she's obviously done a substantial amount of
work in the community. I don't think I know her personally, but...
Mims/ But we can't appoint her now because we have a (several talking) gender requirement.
(several talking)
Dickens/ It's either Harry or ... Dan.
Cole/ Well I'm a big fan of Harry so I'm going to support Harry.
Throgmorton/ Pauline already did, right? (several talking) Okay, let's go with Harry.
Botchway/ Going back to, just that last point. How do we work through that? I mean I know we
talked about, and that was specifically for one particular commission. I just wanted to
(both talking)
Throgmorton/ Yeah, do you think there are concerns about appointing someone who has lengthy
experience with one commission (both talking)
Botchway/ I don't have a problem with it. I guess I'm just... throwing it out there as something
we should think about, because I think that was along the lines as far as what we ... I
thought we felt was an issue.
Mims/ I ... I would agree. I think we wanted to make sure we had diversity and ... and I don't mean
just ethnicity, but just a lot of different people got the opportunity to participate, um, and
so ... that can be ... can become problematic if we just have the same people rotating from
board to board, commission to commission.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, yeah!
Botchway/ Maybe just throwing it out .... if it happens more often, then we need to (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I think it's not something we actually anticipated. I don't ... I don't remember
in any of our (several talking) All right. So we'll have to pay attention to this (several
talking)
Dickens/ ...we have so many boards that are empty still.
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Throgmorton/ Yeah, yeah, right! Exactly! Okay, so we're going with, uh, Matthew Pierce for
the 2017 position and Harry Olmstead with regard to the 2018 position. Uh, the other,
uh, board or commission was the Human Rights Commission. We have three applicants
to fill an unexpired term and this position ... or term ends at the start of 2018. There's a
female requirement, one female has applied and two men have. And (several talking)
Botchway/ See, when you look at the application it says male.
Mims/ Andrea (mumbled)
Throgmorton/ Oh, I'm sorry, my bad! (several talking)
Mims/ Okay, so it's a mistake on the thing. Okay, so one female.
Botchway/ So that's it. It's gotta be Andrea.
Throgmorton/ And she's been on the Commission before. I don't remember how long she served
and then...
Mims/ Went overseas or something.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, something like that and she felt like she ought to make space for other
people as well, so ... all right. So we'll go with Andrea? (several responding) All right.
Okay, so ... those are the items that I wanted to get out of the way, uh, right from the get -
go. Are there other agenda items that you want to draw out attention to?
ITEM 6. APPEAL OF REVOCATION OF MOBILE VENDING PERMIT —
APPEAL OF REVOCATION FOR PERMIT TO OPERATE A MOBILE
VENDING CART.
Karr/ Item No. 6, uh, has been pulled. It was no longer necessary to take any action. The matter
has been resolved.
Throgmorton/ All right, that's the food vendor one?
Dilkes/ The mobile vendor got his permit from the Johnson County Department of Public Health
and his (both talking) reinstated.
Throgmorton/ (both talking) ...when we get to Item 6 that it's been withdrawn for that reason?
Dilkes/ I don't think you have to state it but you certainly could.
Karr/ I would not say withdrawn. It's no longer needed (both talking)
Markus/ He's in compliance.
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Throgmorton/ Right! Okay. Other agenda items?
ITEM 3d(1) PRAIRIE HILL FINAL OPD — RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR TO EXECUTE A DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT AND EASEMENT
AGREEMENTS, AND ACCEPTING THE DEDICATION THEREOF,
ASSOCIATED WITH THE FINAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY
(OPD) PLAN FOR PRAIRIE HILL, IOWA CITY, IOWA.
Thomas/ I, um ... Item 3d(1), the Prairie Hill, uh... the final OPD on that. I spoke with Eleanor
about it. She thought I do have a conflict of interest on that. So, um, I would need to
recuse myself (both talking)
Throgmorton/ So we need to pull that item from the agenda, correct? (several talking) Okay.
(coughing, difficult to hear speakers) ...remember that. So, what...
Dickens/ ...just for separate consideration on that.
Throgmorton/ What's the item number again, John?
Karr/ 3d(1).
Dickens/ 3d(1).
Dilkes/ And while we're on that item, I think that we're gonna need to defer that because I don't
think the ... the, uh, papers are yet ready. (several talking) You can pull it and defer it.
(several talking) Technically you shouldn't probably vote on the deferral either. It's kind
of minor but ... um, yeah, just pull it off Consent agenda and then defer it.
Throgmorton/ All right. I'm learning something about how I have to ... navigate my equipment
here. (several talking) Yeah, I'm (laughing) and have paper, yeah! (laughter and several
talking) Uh, so pull ... Item 3d ... 3d(1)? (several responding) Uh... uh, and vote separately
(both talking)
Dilkes/ Jim, I'm sorry. Ma ... Marian says we can just pull 3d(1)...
Karr/ If staff is recommending we pull it, then there's no action being taken. We'll just pull it and
put it back on when it's ready (mumbled) clean it up.
Dilkes/ That's fine!
Throgmorton/ Okay.
Markus/ Is that... paperwork isn't complete? Yeah, I wonder...
Dilkes/ Yeah, Sarah's been in touch with their attorney and they're just not ... I mean, there aren't
any real issues. It just ... it's not done.
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Markus/ Okay.
Throgmorton/ Okay, good deal! Other agenda items?
ITEM 5c REZONING 600 BLOCK OF S. DUBUQUE STREET — ORDINANCE
CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 1.03 ACRES OF
PROPERTY FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC -2) ZONE TO
RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS - CENTRAL CROSSINGS (RFC -CX) ZONE
LOCATED AT 602, 604, 608, 610, 614, 620, 628 SOUTH DUBUQUE STREET.
(REZ15-00020) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Cole/ Item 5c, um, I'm likely going to be recusing myself on the rezoning of South Dubuque
Street, due to my involvement with one of the cottages. Um, one thing I ... can we make
statements though even though we're recusing ourselves, cause I would like to address
the overarching issue if I'm not going to vote.
Dilkes/ Um ... we probably need to talk about that at the time of the public hearing, because we
can't ... don't discuss the zoning, um ... issues at the work session agenda (both talking)
Cole/ Okay, okay!
Dilkes/ ...so maybe you and I can talk about that.
Cole/ Okay.
Throgmorton/ Okay, um,1 don't hear anything else coming up (both talking)
ITEM 5a CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5) CODE AMENDMENT —
ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14, ZONING CODE, SECTION 4B -4A- 7, TO
ALLOW RESIDENTIAL USES ON THE GROUND -LEVEL FLOOR IN THE
CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5) ZONE IN THE AREA BOUNDED BY
GILBERT STREET, VAN BUREN STREET, BURLINGTON STREET AND THE
MID -BLOCK ALLEY SOUTH OF JEFFERSON STREET, PROVIDED
CERTAIN FORM -BASED ZONING STANDARDS ARE MET.
Botchway/ The last thing ... oh, sorry, last thing, 5a. And Chris, are you the one that worked on
this one (mumbled)
Karr/ Kingsley, I can't ... could you speak up? I can't hear you.
Botchway/ Thought there was a memo around, um ... never mind! It's not 5a. Apologies.
Throgmorton/ Okay! Never mind! I wanted to ask one general question. We ... we routinely
receive letters or emails directed to the Council as a whole, and then they appear in our
agenda packet. So, sometimes the staff responds to those letters and emails, other times
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staff doesn't. So, I was looking at the ones today and thinking, 'well, there probably
needs to be a response by...' How do y'all decide when to respond and when not to?
Markus/ Um ... I think like a lot of things, if it's ... if it can be resolved with an administrative
response where we have an established policy and practice, the City staff'11 respond, but
if it's ... if it's more a policy kind of determination and ... and what comes to mind is Carol
DeProsse, Caroline Dieterle's. Those are some policy determinations, um ... I suppose it's
subjective as to the depth of how much policy is there, but if it's something we can feel
like we can handle, we think that some expedience in responding to those individuals,
rather than waiting for a Council meeting, is the most appropriate thing and so we get
correspondence all the time. Quite frankly, a lot of the correspondence, and I think over
time what we would be better off served is having that correspondence directed to me,
um, if it's talking about existing rules and regulations, and how do I get this (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Right.
Markus/ ...have a complaint about this. Sometimes it gets directed to Council. I mean I think
like so many things that would come to us, we'd just handle it. So those are ... kind of no-
brainers. We take care of that, but when it gets to policy discussions (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Right.
Markus/ ...and I think Carol DeProsse's letter, for example, was kind of a policy ... you folks need
to discuss those things (both talking)
Throgmorton/ ...looking at that one in particular what I was thinking was ... in some cases, we're
already doing things with regard to several of those points (both talking)
Markus/ Exactly!
Throgmorton/ ...but somebody else would have to tell me exactly (laughs) what we're doing
(both talking)
Markus/ ...and so in the past what I think we've done is ... we've, the Mayor and I would sit down
and, you know, uh, just so everybody knows, uh, Jim and I have decided that we will
meet every Wednesday following Council meetings in particular and have those
discussions, and we would take care of those types of discussions and, you know, and
that wasn't unusual with Mayor Hayek, the same kind of process and kind of work
ourselves through those, but as Council Members see that correspondence listed under
Correspondence, and you want to call something out because you have a particular view
or, you know, strong feeling about something that we should be moving on or .... you're
not entirely in agreement with the writer's perspective, it would be good for you to call
those out when we go through correspondence, or pull 'em off, and tell us those things so
that ... Jim and I can benefit from that information before we create a response.
Throgmorton/ Right. Right.
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Markus/ Fair enough?
Karr/ Just to follow up, when a response is provided, then it is also then in the next Information
Packet, a copy of it, so that individual Council Members can see that response and see
that the individual has been responded to, so then we have the paper trail from the initial,
uh, request for the initial correspondence and the response. So that will be provided to all
the Council in the next Info Packet.
Throgmorton/ Yeah. Okay, good deal.
Markus/ The other thing I would say is ... some of the correspondence that comes in is more in the
realm of making a statement and it doesn't really call for a response, and some of it
is ... way beyond my capacity to respond (laughter) (both talking) Jim, you will recall
some of those letters, so...
Information Packet Discussion [December 17,23, 301:
December 17•
Throgmorton/ I would indeed! All right. Moving on, Info Packet Discussions. Start with the
December 17th packet. Are there any topics on ... in that packet that you want to bring our
attention to?
Mims/ IP7 is KXIC.
Throgmorton/ Right. So, um ... Marian, maybe you can, um, remind us all of what's... what's
involved with these interviews.
Karr: KXIC, um, offered the, uh, opportunity for Council Members and staff, uh, to participate
in an 8:00 A.M. every Wednesday morning talk show. Um, in the past we've provided
you the dates ahead of time and we block off roughly no more than three months ahead of
time, simply because people's schedule changes. Um, what you have is IP7, on the 171' is
a list of open dates, uh, starting with January 13t`. In addition the first and third Friday of
each month at 7:15 in the morning is another opportunity for participation. Um, other
jurisdictions have other dates and times. This is the Iowa City slot. Uh, it has been very
well received in the past. Um, again staff helps out as needed, but primarily the
responsibility has fallen to Council.
Throgmorton/ Okay, so I'm doing the one tomorrow (several talking) but we don't have any
others filled, right?
Karr/That's correct.
Dickens/ Throw me on the 13'' (mumbled)
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Karr/ 13th, Dickens.
Dickens/ ...going to be gone and busy later on.
Mims/ I'll take the 20th.
Karr/ 20th, Mims.
Botchway/ I can do the 27th
Karr/ 27th, Botchway.
Throgmorton/ Pauline, are you still there?
Taylor/ Yeah, I'm here!
Throgmorton/ Okay.
Taylor/ (mumbled) March time, sometime in March.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, we'll put you back a little bit.
Thomas/ What ... what are the other available dates?
Karr/ February, um, IP7 lists (mumbled) into February. Now we have February P.
Thomas/ I can do that.
Karr/ February 3rd, Thomas.
Cole/ And I'll do the next one.
Karr/ 10th.
Throgmorton/ Okay, I'll take the 17th, I guess. So...
Karr/ 17th for Throgmorton.
Neal/ (mumbled) and I can do March 4th. The Friday.
Taylor/ What date? (several talking)
Karr/ March ... March 4th, the Friday (several talking in background)
Throgmorton/ So, uh... we don't (several talking)
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Karr/ We are to February 17th right now, and I can mock that in and fill it in...
Mims/ I'll take the 24th (mumbled) get us through February.
Karr/ Okay and that'll get us through February (both talking) at the appropriate time. What about
then January, Friday morning, 7:15, uh... we've got (several talking) January 15th.
Botchway/ Terry, you're doing the 13th?
Dickens/ Yeah.
Karr/ 13th.
Botchway/ (mumbled) I can do the 15`h.
Karr/ 15th is Botchway.
Botchway/ Yes.
Karr/ February 5th.
Throgmorton/ So everybody knows, Rick Dobyns was pretty eager to do Friday mornings
(several talking)
Mims/ I'll take February 5th, if nobody else ... I mean, if somebody else wants it, that's fine!
Dickens/ How many do we...
Karr/ At (several talking) 1St and 3rd (both talking)
Mims/ If people want to do them, we just kind of rotate 'em around so it's roughly equal, but I
mean it just depends upon people's interest, availability, etc.
Dickens/ And as it gets closer to baseball season, I ... I like to do more of 'em cause we have a
Cubs/Cardinal, or Cubs/White Sox feud going on with Jay, so ... (laughter)
Throgmorton/ Kinda helps to see the sun rising too, at least, or it may be even up (several
talking)
Karr/ If we had somebody for February 19th then we'd have January and February taken care of.
Botchway/ I can do February 19th, and actually I can do ... you're doing March (several talking)
Okay, so I can do February 19 .
Karr/ February ... so you've got ... okay. You've got January 15th and February 19th, Botchway.
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Botchway/ Yes.
Karr/ Okay, I'll prepare an agenda and put that in the next ... or a schedule, and put that in the next
Info Packet and we can...
Dickens/ Adjust (mumbled)
Karr/ ...and notify the radio station as well.
Throgmorton/ Okay, good deal. So that's done. Uh, anything else on, uh... uh, the February or
January ... (mumbled) December 17`" packet?
Mims/ Just the, uh, nice report ... annual report from the Summer of the Arts, um (both talking)
Throgmorton/ For sure.
Mims/ ...great, great annual report, uh, lot of good information in there.
Throgmorton/ Really an important set of activities too, as far as City...
Mims/ Yeah. Bring a lot of people downtown.
Botchway/ And, uh, you know, shout -out to, um, Tom for the Cyclo -Cross.
Mims/ Uh huh!
Botchway/ That's pretty exciting. (both talking) It's just exciting!
Markus/ We're supposed to hear after the first of the year. You know, I don't know how man of
the Council Members have been out to Jingle Cross. Can you indicate if you have
been? (laughter) (several talking)
Mims/ Gotta go!
Markus/ You really have (several talking) you really have to go out there! You've, you know, I'll
tell you what, they're your people. You'd love 'em. They're from all over the
country. They're bringing these teams in. It's ... it ... it's an incredible event in our
backyard and it's like nobody knows about it! And Jingle Cross is an event that's
probably recognized across this country, and most of us don't know anything
about it! And yet, it brings all of these outsiders in. Young creatives, um, you
know, bicycling is kind of our ... our niche here in this community and could be
expanded. Um, I think there's a real opportunity to bring the world cup here and
especially if we can combine it with the Las Vegas event. So, I ... I think you're ... I
think you'd be surprised how many of your constituents in this town will
absolutely just gravitate to it, and what we're trying to do is build up the audience.
In Europe, they get 60 to 70,000 people that will actually attend these events and
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across the full spectrum of ages and they just, I mean, they ... they're really excited
about this and it's a growing sport, um ... here in the United States. So I think it'd
be a ... a big hit for us. We're working with the CVB to try and pick an off -football
weekend. It fills up, you know, it's a great economic development tool. But
beyond that, it's ... it's a very exciting event that I think if we get in on the ground
floor getting world cup over here in the United States for that, we can make a long
run of that kind of activity for our city, and it will ... it's really a great, creative, uh,
identification for us. So...
Throgmorton/ I'll admit, I didn't know anything about it until the CVB luncheon...
Markus/ Yeah!
Throgmorton/ ...when we saw, uh, I've forgotten his name, speaking (both talking)
Markus/ Dr. John!
Throgmorton/ Yeah! (both talking) ...with Josh about it afterwards, yeah, it's ... it seems, yeah,
something that's perfect for us!
Markus/ Dr. John Mehan is this phenomenal graduate from the University system. He has
incredible passion about the University of Iowa. He currently lives, he and his
wife are both doctors. They live in Seattle. I think he takes two weeks of his own
personal vacation time to come back here and run this event every year. He's a
robotics surgeon, um, that travels the world teaching other doctors how to use
robotics in surgical procedures. I mean he's...
Throgmorton/ Right.
Markus/ ...he's totally dedicated to this sport. So it's a ... it's a wonderful connection. This is all
being done without any, quite frankly, any previous help from the City. The
County's been a pretty good partner to this whole event through this whole thing.
We've worked out the connections with the ... the Fairgrounds, um, which is a
separate entity by the way. I now know more about Fairgrounds and beer vendors
than I ever wanted to know, but it's ... I'm tellin' ya, if we get this designation here
for the next two years...
Mims/ Uh huh!
Markus/ ...you're gonna love this event. It's a great event for the city.
Dickens/ Is it based in Belgium or not?
Markus/ Yeah, it's, um, the Belgium, um, country is probably produces the bulk of, urn ... cyclo -
cross riders and yet, you know, the Netherlands is really big. Um, the European
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countries is really a big focus for them, but you know, the Belgiums are (both
talking)
Dickens/ ...amazing how many young kids ... we were on the train with Belgium ... and they all
knew where the University of Iowa is and knew (mumbled) from there, cochlear
implant (both talking)
Markus/ This is a huge international identifier for our city.
Throgmorton/ Yeah! So ... we'll follow through (both talking)
Markus/ Sorry for that long-winded, but I...
Dickens/ Excited (both talking)
Markus/ I'm kind of excited about this! (laughter) (several talking)
December 23•
Throgmorton/ All right, anything else on December 17? All right, moving to the 23rd. I want to
bring up a topic on the 23rd, and it has to do with, um, Jeff Schott pl... uh, report on
the strategic plan. At some point tonight during our work session we need to
discuss how we want to proceed with regard to crafting our final version of the
strategic plan. I don't ... I don't know if we need to do it right now, or if there's a
better spot. Do you have any ideas about that, Tom?
Markus/ Yeah, I ... Jim and I have had extensive conversations about how we move forward with
the strategic planning process and ... and as many of you know, when we met, um,
in the session, um, Jim ... had a kind of some very specific thoughts about what he
wanted incorporated in the plan, and I counseled Jim to, uh, make this more of an
inclusive process in terms of how we move forward, and as I told you, I think
yesterday, um ... I think that we need to respect the process that has heretofore been
created but this Council needs to own the strategic plan, and it doesn't do us any
good to adopt a plan that you don't have buy into, or that you don't own. So my
thought process is we should set another separate night for the strategic plan and
we should go about the process of revisiting, uh, Mr. Schott's final document and
then walk through each focus area and in each focus area there's actually ... we
make specific kind of ideas about what we will do to accomplish those focus
areas, we need to walk through those and ... not just Jim, but everybody around the
Council table needs to interject their specific ideas about what should be
incorporated under the focus areas, and then you can send staff off — whether that
takes one work session or two — um, then you can send staff off to redraft this
document and then we can give it some public exposure through the papers and
through the media, I mean through our web site, and other ways that we
can ... contrive to get this out into the public before you actually adopt this
document. The other thing I want to tell you about is through the campaign,
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believe it or not, your staff listens to what gets said, and there was a lot of
discussion about economic development. There was a lot of discussion about
social justice. There was a lot of discussion about environmental issues, and
maybe not known to the entire Council, but one of the things we have been
working on is completing an application for what's called'STAR Communities.'
'STAR Communities' stands for sustainability tools for assessing and rating
communities. And STAR uses 44 objectives to measure a community's efforts
and ultimately rates the community on a scale of 1 to 5. And this kind of goes
to ... John, I'm looking right at you, to the whole performance issue that we talked
about yesterday, because what it does is it...it goes across seven areas. Let me just
read these to you. So it evaluates built environment; climate and energy;
economy and jobs; education, arts, and communities; equity and empowerment;
health and safety; and natural systems. It's everything I heard through your
campaigning. It's everything I heard in the discussion we had yesterday about
performance metrics and the other thing that you get is that there's other cities in
Iowa that have already moved into this, and across this country. So now you have
comparable data that you can get to, which we discussed as well.
Thomas/ Brought it up at the ... at the Ashton House, I don't know if you remember.
Markus/ Yes! (both talking) So this is a document. You talked about committees too, and Jim
and I had this discussion about, you know ... I think this refines your discussion
into a strategy that others are working on at the same time, and it will develop
best practices for those core areas that you seem to want to focus on, and I think
this is a pretty solid approach. Otherwise I have a sense that without kind of a
strategic direction on how you go about this, you're going to end up kind of
scattered and ... and not connected, and this gives you a framework to do
something, bring it back, plug it in to our system, and ... and identify it, report out
on its progress, and really show your public that you're accomplishing something
in these areas. So, I would encourage you to all go online ... it's
www.starcommunities.or>;. If you just type in STAR communities, the web site'll
pop up (both talking)
Throgmorton/ All one word, right?
Markus/ Yeah, STAR ... yeah, but you could put STAR communities in and it'll pop anyway, and
start to look at this document so that when you set your strategic plan discussion,
that you have this information in hand and ... I think you're going to find, like John
commented, that this might be the document that really pulls together kind of
these diverse ideas about, you know ... where your focus is, how you ... you measure
performance, how you compare to other places, how you report out to your
public, and how you get this moving in a very ... logical framework. So I'd
encourage you to really give this some strong consideration. Um, there's other
items and ... and, Geoff by the way is kind of the ... the, uh, gatekeeper of pending
work session items, so I thought tonight what we could do is have Geoff kind of
step you through some of these issues and see kind of where the Council ... as a
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majority feels their priorities are in terms of what you want to push first. I would
encourage you to make strategic planning one of the first things that we get done
in terms of -future work sessions, but we'd like to hear from you about ... do you
have an interest in some of these other issues, urn ... you know, for example, taping
for example, or broadcasting, City Council work sessions. That's... that's not a big
deal. I mean, there's a little cost for having staff here, you know, to make sure
that that all happens, but that's something that really doesn't even have to be rolled
into a strategic plan. We can get that done for you if that's what your goal is to
get done.
Throgmorton/ (mumbled) was planning to touch on some of those (both talking)
Markus/ ...walk through those?
Throgmorton/ The ... the one thing I do think we need to do now, be a good time to do it, would
be to schedule a date for our first strategic plan meeting, work session.
Markus/ ...follow up.
Throgmorton/ Cause we need to really get on it. So (several talking) who has, uh... pull out your
calendars.
Mims/ So are you talking a special meeting outside of our regular work sessions?
Throgmorton/ (both talking) Yeah. I ... I know, um...
Karr/ You're meeting next week the 11 th and the 14th.
Throgmorton/ The one on the 14th is another budget work session, if necessary.
Markus/ Yeah, and what I would say ... um ... you'll be able to know once we get through Saturday,
in my opinion, whether we'll need that.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, that's what I thought (both talking)
Markus/ ... that ... that was a good point that you bring that up because I think that is a logical time.
It's already kind of built into our scheduling. Let's plan on that for our strategic
plan, and if we do have some tiny ... follow up from budget, we can deal with that
there. (several talking) ...works for the Council.
Throgmorton/ Makes sense to me, yeah!
Mims/ Sure! Yeah, it's already in the calendar.
Karr/ I'll adjust the tentative work schedule for the two items, budget and strategic plan, so that
you have that latitude.
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Throgmorton/ Yeah, good deal, and you said it starts at 5:00?
Karr/ Yes!
Throgmorton/ Okay, excellent! Uh, so, um, we're all ... still on the 23rd, right? Febru... all right.
December 23rd, um, Info Packet. So any other topics you want to touch on?
Mims/ I just appreciate the staffs response to ... uh, the concerns from the Iowa City Downtown
District on the Washington Street, um, I think we're all aware that's going to
be ... going to be a really big project, you know, there's gonna be some, lot of
complexities and a lot of challenges, but um, you know, with the six years I've
been on Council, uh, I just have a lot of confidence in our staff, really doing the
best they can to work with, you know, the businesses in the downtown, as well as
the whole community, to, uh, make this as painless as possible, so ... (mumbled) It
won't be painless, but ... (laughs) as much so as possible, so...
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I know, Geoff ...I don't know if you want to say anything more about that.
know there's a memo in our ... uh... uh, current, most recent, uh, Info Packet
(coughing, difficult to hear speaker) or in the ... the formal meeting packet, I don't
remember which.
Fruin/ Yeah, the ... the, tonight you're going to be asked...
Throgmorton/ Oh, that's right, set a public hearing.
Fruin/ Tonight you're going to be asked to set a public hearing for January 19th and at that time
we'll go through the ... the project in its entirety, including the phasing plan. Um,
so ... unless there's specific questions tonight, I would suggest we just defer to the
19th and do that at the time of the public hearing.
Throgmorton/ Well I'm trying to remember the one word that really leaped out at me,
like... something like extraordinary ... extraordinarily complicated project, I've
forgotten the exact words you used, but...
Fruin/ Yeah, you know, it's just working in that type of urban environment. You have utilities
below ground that are ... um, probably some close to 100 -years -old, um, you
have ... pardon? (unable to hear person asking question) Yeah, you have the ... the
significant amount of vaults that you're dealing with underneath the right-of-way,
um, it's like workin' in an old house. You start to ... uh, start to, um, knock down
the walls and you find all kinds of things that you didn't necessarily anticipate that
don't show up in ... in the plans, so ... um ... you know, there's not a whole lot of room
to breathe in that project area to, so staging and parking, all those things become
incredibly complex and, uh, it's gonna be a tough one to manage, but you know,
frankly we've been working on, uh, the plans and the construction phasing for
several years now. We think we've got as good a plan as we can develop and
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hopefully we'll ... we'll get a ... a good contractor on board at the right price to ... to
get us through, and after 2016, we shouldn't need to be gettin' back into that area
for several decades. So, little bit of pain next year and I think it's gonna set it up
nicely for, again, several decades.
Throgmorton/ No more underground floods. That'd be a good thing.
Fruin/ That ... that's our goal, yeah.
December 30:
Throgmorton/ Yeah. All right, good deal! Nothing else on the 23rd? How bout the 30th. Packet
for the 30th?
Botchway/ IPS. Do we need to ... do something about that, Marian? It's around the,
um ... proposed board and commission application process.
Karr/ Those were some suggestions that staff had presented and was recommending, as we move
forward. The major thing is that we're looking for, uh, again greater diversity,
more accessibility, more flexibility, um .... again we'll work in that ... in that, with
that direction we'll work in those ways unless any of you have any problems with
that. (several talking)
Throgmorton/ And ... and that topic's on the list of pending items, work session items that Geoff
put together.
Karr/ That's correct. It was put on at the same time we put it in ... in here, but if we don't need ... if
you'd like us to just proceed as outlined, then we can do that. If you want a work
session discussion, that was exactly why it was put on.
Mims/ I'd say proceed as outlined. I like the idea of doing 'em twice a year (laughs)
Karr/ It'll take us some time to change it over.
Mims/ Yeah.
Karr/ Obviously, but we'll work with that, and I think it really will also ... I think the greatest, one
of the greatest things about it is that it allows an individual to apply for more than
one board or commission at a time, and we can work with that. I think that's
gonna be very well received.
Botchway/ I think it helps from, you know, how we campaign or put it out there, as well. You
know, not to say that the rolling ... I mean, not to say we don't do a good job as far
as rolling that information out and telling people about it, but maybe ... people have
tuned it out, because it happens that we have so many vacancies, and so having it
one ... or two set times a year can give that level of importance that, you know,
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hey, this is an important time to, you know, get ... kind of bid in and go from there,
so I'm...
Karr/ It'll take us, as I said, it'll probably take till summer till we unveil it, just to get some things
(several talking) We'll proceed with that and then come back to you with an
update so that we can rely on you to get the word out (both talking)
Throgmorton/ I ... I want to express one hesitation, uh, and that is ... there are a lot of people who
are not here during the summer, at...at least if they're affiliated with the University
they're not here. Uh, so ... depending on the timing of all this, they may not be
aware of the, uh, openings until they return from wherever they are, and then they
suddenly discover it and so on. So...
Karr/ When we talk about unveiling it in the summer, we have some bylaws we're going to have
to change. Unveiling it simply means we'll have things in place, whether we
initiate that application process or be in a position by summer to announce a
September application process. There are a number of things and a number of
staff, um, research we have to do with individual boards and commissions to
make it work and to unveil it, so I'm not ... when I say summer, I'm not quite sure
we'll be to the (both talking) accepting it (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Uh huh.
Karr/ ....that as much as unveiling it, announcing it, and moving forward to the fall that that's a
good point. (several talking) ...looking for is, we're going to take a look at what
all the boards and commissions... our busiest time of year right now for
applications are, give or take, January 1 and June 1. So we'll aim first to that June
1, realizing it probably won't come to fruition. You'll be making those
appointments in April. See? So it goes farther out than that. We'll be back to
you, but we'll certainly keep that in mind. Your schedule is different in summer,
as well. And we realize that.
Throgmorton/ All right, well it sounded to me like there was support for the idea of moving that
direction. All right.
Karr/ Great, thanks!
Throgmorton/ Okay, anything else on the ... the packet for the 30th?
Botchway/ IP ... 6. Tom, did you want us to kind of discuss priorities or...
Markus/ Yeah ... I ... I thought maybe, Jim, you could lead us through the conversation of each item
and kind of tell us, have the Council tell us where you want to prioritize in terms
of the items on here, and ... you know, what your emphasis is. Again, you know, I
look at some of these issues and it seems to me that you could give the staff ...for
example under suggested new topics, discuss broadcasting City Council meetings.
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If that's something that Council wants to do, tell me! And if -and if, you know,
unless I determine that it's a significant expense, um, I ... I ... I'd probably just go
ahead and get it done and urn ... and if I did think it was an expense, I'd come back
and tell you what that is and you'd have to make that decision, but urn ... that ... that
to me is not a ... big issue. To accomplish! If that's what you want to do.
Throgmorton/ Right.
Cole/ I think we should be televising the info meetings. So I'm a big supporter of that.
Mims/ Fine with me!
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I do too.
Markus/ So, get it done? (several responding) Okay. Took care of that item!
Throgmorton/ All right, with regard to, uh, pending work sessions and ... and that's where we're
gonna be right now, right? Okay, so I'll briefly summarize a few things. Right
now, we have seven items on our pending list. Several of which I asked for,
so ... Terry knows and Susan knows and Kingsley knows, so a few of them I think
could be withdrawn because they could fit in with other topics. Uh, so the ones
that come to my mind in terms of pulling them out, from that current list or
items ... uh, where did they go? Uh, 2, 4 ... sorry, I'm getting a little bit out of whack
here. Items 2, 4, and 6 of the current list, I think, could be pulled.
Karr/ Are ... are you talking about the carried forward from the previous list?
Throgmorton/ Yes.
Karr/ Okay, and pull being taken off?
Throgmorton/ Uh, yeah, that's what I mean. Now did ... I guess I should be clear about that, from
my own point of view anyhow and everybody else has a view about these things.
Item 2 is, uh, reviewing the sensitive areas ordinance. Uh, I think it's still ... is
worthy of review, but that could be done in a different process.
Markus/ I think you could direct staff to ... to review it as their priorities in time permits, and
submit a report back at some point.
Dickens/ That works!
Throgmorton/ Yeah. It works. Okay. And Item 4, Terry, you might have brought this one up,
but ... but discuss Transit route planning framework. Is that one you brought up?
Dickens/ I don't ... think it might have been Kingsley.
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Botchway/ It might have been me, and I'm okay with that pulled because I think I, you know, I
briefly talked to Chris right after our meeting yesterday about where we're at with
the survey and some of the discussion around that, and so ... he's going to be
reporting back kinda on that and so ... he's gonna be reporting back kinda on that
during the budget session on Saturday. That's gonna answer some of those
questions, but I think it's still a process that has to, um ... um, happen, basically. So
I'm okay with, I mean (several talking)
Cole/ I wanted to look at, you know, evaluating higher density routes in terms of the
transportation (several talking)
Botchway/ ...that's what, yeah, that's a part of the survey that ... yeah (both talking)
Cole/ Okay!
Throgmorton/ Okay, so we can pull Item 4. Uh, the other one I suggest that we pull is Item 6,
which is reviewing sidewalk, the sidewalk repair program. Uh, it's ... it's not so
important that we really need to be focusing a lot of attention to that. So .... uh,
let's see now the next thing ... and Geoff suggested that we add ... (mumbled) 7
additional items. Geoff, is that right?
Fruin/ Yeah, these are ... these are items that are ... are just hanging out there that we think that you
might want to take up. There ... there could be something on there that you ... you
don't wish to take up, but ... this is what we felt would be forthcoming in the next
couple of months.
Throgmorton/ Well, reviewing the strategic plan is number 1.
Markus/ Already addressed 1 and 4.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, and we have to do the legislative priorities early on, otherwise it, you know,
why bother.
Markus/ And ... and what we do typically with legislative priorities is the City staff will discuss
at...at a staff table all the legislative issues coming (coughing, unable to hear
speaker) come back with a list of...urn ... legislative issues. We'll bring it to you,
kind of in a resolution format. We'll first put it on a work session, but then
(coughing, unable to hear speaker) the same night you can actually vote on it or
change it, and then vote on it. Um, so that ... quite frankly again with direction,
you don't have to put that on a pending. We need to get that done. And quite
frankly, we'll bring you something back in terms of a suggested action. We can
list it on work session and ... with other items and take care of that so if that's
satisfactory to you, that's typically how we've done it.
Botchway/ Tom, now that... normally that focus is around Des Moines' legislation. (both talking)
Is there any ... well my question is is there any kind of thought to ... local legislation
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that ... are priorities for staff that they want to bring before Council, or is that
something you bring before Council and we have a discussion about? Okay.
Markus/ Yeah that's ... the other thing I would tell you though is that, urn ... and in this year it's
going to be a little different and it ... and it's good that Becky's in the audience this
evening. Typically we've gone out on the Chamber of Commerce trip and, um, as
Rebecca knows, we have, um, we have a conflict when, uh, they're going out
through the Chamber of Commerce and in a discussion between myself and ... and
Jim, we have, um ... decided that we're going to try the NLC, congressional cities
congress this year and that tentatively Jim and I, or ... um, maybe Geoff, um, will
head out to D.C. and do our lobby trip at that point, and so we formulate a whole
list of federal issues as well, but that can come a little bit later because that
session doesn't occur until March. So initially we usually, this resolution usually
just deals with state legislation.
Throgmorton/ All right. So we'll do that one. Um ... I don't know, either right after the strategic
planning session or ... if it's quick enough, we can do it as part of it, but...
Markus/ That's coming up really quick, so ... you know, we have some items that we're ready to
bring back (mumbled)
Throgmorton/ All right. I have a couple other suggestions about priorities, but I don't want to ... to
sort of dominate things here. Do you all have ... ideas about which of these topics,
either the ... um, the ongoing topics or the ones that Geoff has also proposed, which
of them should be addressed? Early on.
Neal/ I'm supportive of the Uber because a lot of students have spoken to us about how they
would like to see Uber in the area, and I think it's worth something, uh, discussing
the ride sharing regulations.
Botchway/ Now ... well, we don't have to have a discussion about it. I think I remember you
having a pretty good Facebook article about Uber, so um, I ... I mean, I think it
needs ... we can discuss it again because I do agree. Um, I've received a lot of
complaints around that, and consistent complaints around that particular issue, so
maybe moving that up is important, but ... it's an interesting topic, to say the least.
Markus/ So, what we've done is is staff, on Uber, because we get a lot of that pressure point as
well.
Botchway/ Right.
Markus/ In the past, there's been an argument made that the taxicab business has been ... is kind of
a ... a social justice kind of argument. It's a ... entryway for, um ... persons to get into
owning and operating their own business. Um, I don't think that necessarily
resounds just in the taxicab business. I think, quite frankly, Uber, uh, drivers, uh,
that may be an entry for them to get into starting their own business, as well. I
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can tell you that we get a lot of commentary about having Uber ser ... service here,
and I will also tell you that Uber doesn't originate rides here, but they do deliver
rides here. So people at the airport will call Uber and they can bring'em in, and
from I think our standpoint we haven't enforced against that. I'm not convinced
that we can necessarily enforce against that, with maybe ... unless we have some
special legislation to prohibit that. Um ... I ... I think there's... there.... there are two
entirely different types of services, and everything I read about what's moving
forward in terms of transportation from driverless vehicles to social media
transportation and ... and non -ownership of cars and trucks and whatever, uh,
it ... we need to really start thinking about how we roll these types of services into
our model going forward as a community, to get those vehicles out of the streets,
off, you know, the needs for parking, and like a parking space, that the vehicle
can turn over and be used in multiple ways, like Zip cars and other social -type
approaches. So, my point is, we're ready. We've ... we've me ... sat down with
Uber, and we told Uber, you know, Uber ... Uber's very effective at lobbying
through social media (several talking) ...the stories around the country, they've
been very effective and so what I would say is ... I've told them through staff that
they need to ... to negotiate with staff and tell us what their bottom line is ... so that
we can present an ordinance to the Council that says if in fact the Council adopts
this, Uber will be here. Okay? Because we attempted to do this before and it just
didn't go, you know, very well at all and ... quite frankly we get darts thrown at us
every so often, so ... we'll be bringing that back after the first of the year (both
talking) soon.
Throgmorton/ I think it's pretty clear that Uber is, uh, and that topic is a significant one. The
question is, does it arise ... is it significant enough to be addressed early on with
regard to our list of priority topics. So are there other priority topics, you know,
that...
Botchway/ Well I would say ... I would actually say it is, based on some of the commentary I've
received, and again, it's consistent, um, but beyond that I would say just kind of
maybe a one to the Uber too, um, and I don't know how other Councilors feel
about whatever they may be bringing — that might change, but the presentation,
um, by Dr. Barnum, I ... I think is, you know, kind of the next piece (several
talking)
Mims/ When did he ... do you guys remember off the top of his head when he did that cause he
was ... we were going to have him come back in a certain period of time and so I
don't know...
Botchway/ I think we're ... I think we're off, like a ... we're past a year, I'm pretty sure (several
talking)
Markus/ But ... but the intent was, I think, to bring it back this last ... at the end of the last year, and
so I think he's ready to come back and make a presentation.
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Mims/ Okay.
Markus/ He did a complete, an extension of the evaluation.
Mims/ Right.
Markus/ But DMC is clearly an issue, um ... that, you know, has a lot of attention and focus, and I
think it's time to bring him back in. I consider it one of our highest priorities to
get that back on the table, and have that conversation. So I would encourage you
to move that...
Mims/ Sounds good!
Markus/ ...near the top of the (both talking)
Throgmorton/ I would agree. It's in my top five.
Taylor/ I agree too.
Botchway/ And in conjunction with how we talk about our indicators, you know, (mumbled)
having the STAR communities conversation, um...
Markus/ Yes, so what I thought about the STAR communities idea that we talked about earlier is
when we have our next strategic plan, we'll bring Brenda in, who's been doing the
application for that, so she can fully vet that with the Council. So I think you can
see how that kind of...glove fits with, um ... with the whole initiative on strategic
plan and some of the things that you focused on in your campaign about what you
want to ... what you want to focus on. I think you're gonna ... I think you're gonna
be pretty pleased with the strategy that's involved in STAR communities. So...
Throgmorton/ All ... (both talking)
Markus/ So we do that at the same time we do the strategic plan. We'll give you a presentation
on that.
Throgmorton/ Good! With regard to other priority items, I ... I want to propose two. Uh, the ... and
these are my own personal judgments, of course. One is to ... uh... begin
assembling an ad hoc committee on climate change, and ... give it a clear goal so
that we can ... begin to really move ahead on that kind of work and ... and uh, I'd ... I'd
personally be very disappointed if we kind of went through many, many, many,
many months and had not taken that step. So ... I don't know what y'all think.
You'll have to tell me, but I ... I'd like to see that done pretty early on.
Markus/ Jim, can I comment on that?
Throgmorton/ Sure!
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Markus/ One of the things that you're gonna find in STAR communities is there is a citizen
committee associated with that, and since our conversation about refining down to
two comm ... two committees, I would suggest to you that there is a committee
structure associated with STAR communities and I would think that you could do
a subcommittee, especially on, uh, climate impact or ... urn ... carbon reduction, um,
kinds of issues, as a part of that structure, so if you could ... leave it on the table,
but ... hold until we have that meeting on strategic planning and hear us out about
STAR communities. You may find that there's a fit that's a little better in terms
of your committee idea and your alignment. We'll put it on here, but let's package
it with the strategic planning discussion.
Throgmorton/ All right. I'm okay with that. Urn ... how bout the rest of you with regard to
priorities?
Thomas/ Well I'm ... I'm thrilled about the STAR community concept because it ... it, I would say
with that approach, I think many of these items which have kind of been floating
with respect to our ... you know our strategic plan now with its bullet points, the
STAR community is comprehensive enough where I think it really can fold in a
lot of issues which really were hard to assign to those categories. So, uh, and then
some, because it does have, urn ... you know, a strong citizen engagement
component, as well, which I thought, um, you know, during the campaign was
something that I was interested in and ... there were just many, many things which
didn't fit into our current strategic plan structure. So I do think ... we, you would
find if you erase something you more than likely would find it ... located
somewhere in that matrix that the STAR community program, uh (both talking)
Markus/ To that end, John, just let me tell you just what one category includes under Climate and
Energy. Climate adaptation, greenhouse gas mitigation, greening the energy
supply, industrial sector resource efficiency, resource efficient buildings, resource
effic..efficient public infrastructure, and waste minimization. That's only one of
the seven categories and those are the subcategories. I mean these are things that
go beyond, quite frankly, even some of the discussions I've heard about where
you want to focus your .... and this then gets measured across the country.
Mims/ I have a question ... not that I want to move it up on the priority list, but ... do any of you
from the former Council, or staff, remember why we've got the review of the sale
of alcohol to minors regulations on here?
Botchway/ Was that around...
Karr/ ...Kingsley...
Botchway/ Was it me?
Throgmorton/ Yeah ... a year and a half ago or something (several talking)
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Botchway/ Yeah.
Frain/ We had a business owner who, uh, I think received a first violation (mumbled) maybe it
was Short's, um, received a first violation and the proprietor came in here
and ... and discussed, uh, how punitive it is, particularly when you get to a second
offense, and ... and recommended that the City explore, um, or at least look into the
ordinance, review it, and ... and perhaps look for, um, incentives, uh... or ... or
rewards, uh, for those establishments that are showing good practice. And so it's
been hanging out there for several months.
Botchway/ I feel like he made a compel ... a really compelling argument. Then beyond that there
wasn't ... I was actually not going to talk about that issue but now I remember it
cause I think it stemmed from that, but also ... um, the bowling alley. I thought
there was another issue that was similar.
Markus/ It's exactly the same issue, and if you look at the way the ordinance is structured,
someone can receive a penalty that lasts a very short period of time, based on the
interpretation that others have an extended period of time where the penalty's in
effect because it's..what is it, Eleanor? Two incidences within ... (several talking)
five years and so ... if you think about over a five-year period, if they happen at the
beginning and then the end, then you know, you're (both talking)
Dilkes/ And it's.. just to fill in a little bit, this relates to, um, the loss of your under -21...
Markus/ Yes, privilege.
Dilkes/ ...exception.
Botchway/ Yeah (both talking)
Markus/ ...and that was the issue. (both talking) And it's ... but there's... there's arguments on both
sides like most things, you know. Why it's set up the way it is, and how it came
about, um ... and ... and you're right. There were some parents that were really
concerned about how we imposed it at the bowling alley and ... so .... didn't close
the bowling alley, but it took their privilege away.
Throgmorton/ (mumbled) ...make a suggestion (both talking)
Mims/ ...getting that background is very helpful, cause I couldn't remember why we had it on
here, but um, it may be something to review at some point. Given the other things
we have I don't see it as a high priority right now.
Botchway/ Well and to that point, um, is there any reason why it couldn't be something
that ... staff provides a report on, that then we can review over a packet and then
come back and make some type of quick decision on?
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Markus/ Yeah. Actually (both talking)
Botchway/ You give a recommendation...
Markus/ (both talking) ...all the information and it just needs to be summarized.
Throgmorton/ Good idea! Okay. Any ... anything else about priorities?
Botchway/ So, and now I'm wary of our STAR community kind of discussion... you know, that
the ... racial equity impact tool kit analysis that, you know, I think a lot of us went
to, through GARE, I don't know how that ties in, Tom, to (both talking)
Markus/ Let me read it to you!
Botchway/ Okay.
Markus/ Under ... under Equity and Empowerment, it includes civic engagement, civil and human
rights, environmental justice, equitable service and access, human services,
poverty prevention and alleviation, and that doesn't mean you can't add ... you
know, as a specific item disproportionate minority contact. Uh, when I look at
equal services and access, you know, I can make the argument that that's a, you
know, well human service is there. That's, you know, diversifying your staffs.
Botchway/ You know, and Julie had a great way of break ... Julie Nelson, the person that GARE,
that proposed this, she had a great way of breaking it down from a standpoint
of...I... I think those are all important, but it's more on the ... the front end from the
standpoint of when you're (both talking)
Markus/ ...tool kit.
Botchway/ Yeah, the initial... putting it through that (both talking)
Markus/ ...I don't think this would ... would preclude, uh, the tool kit idea one bit.
Botchway/ Okay.
Markus/ I think you could specifically roll that in there, and I think what then happens is ... our
city interjects something like the tool kit into this model. That then becomes a
best practice and the same types of things are happening in other parts of the
country that then becomes a best practice that we pick up on.
Botchway/ So I guess my question then becomes, if we're gonna talk about it from a STAR
community standpoint at the strategic planning session is that something that you
want to wait and then kind of bring in at that ... time? Okay.
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Throgmorton/ Yeah (mumbled)
Botchway/ So it's not ... a work session item but we can talk about it (both talking)
Markus/ I would encourage you to bring it up at that point and we can add it to our ... our list.
Throgmorton/ So as you're looking ahead, Tom, I ... I want to, uh, express a concern. It sounds
like the STAR communities idea is very good in terms of collecting data, in terms
of categories, uh, and providing metrics and all that's good. I ... I'm on board with
that. But action is what I'm most interested in. So I'm worried that if we just kind
of think about all those categories and all those possible courses of action that we
won't end up doing anything new (both talking)
Markus/ Yeah, so...
Throgmorton/ ...different, right?
Markus/ I just read a story about ... was it Plano? Plano, Texas ... same point was made. They
brought in the STAR communities staff and they started engaging the local
community about, okay, here's how ... here's what you submitted that you're
currently doing, here's how you rated, now how do you improve your rating? The
action items, the implementation, and they sat 'em down and they had that
discussion and they listed all those things then that they needed to do in addition
to what they were already doing and being evaluated on. So there's an action step
that follows and there is an implementation, and we've already built in to our
strategic planning process a regular reporting mechanism to show how the
progress is being made, and so ... I think, you know, again, I think this framework
will work for you and I think you can modify this framework to be specific to
Iowa City. (both talking) And I think it can be action dominant.
Throgmorton/ Okay. Any other priorities that anybody wants to draw attention to?
Dickens/ I think having fewer and being the stronger (mumbled) better than adding some that we
just ... keep rolling down the street.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, we've ... we've now chopped out, I don't know, five or something like that
and already acted on one of 'em, so ... and we've added a few. Yeah, we've made
some progress.
Markus/ We'll bring back a summary and show you what you've done.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, so just to scare Terry just a little bit after what he said (laughs) I want to
suggest something else that may blend in to the STAR thing. I'm not sure, but I
(laughter) you might remember that at the end of our strategic plan work session,
I said I thought ... that it would be helpful to create two new City Council
committees consisting of three people each to, um ... uh, give us a better policy -
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making capacity as a Council, and one of 'em was what I called, loosely called 'a
sustainable built environment' committee, and the other was what I called 'a social
justice and racial equity' committee, and they ... in my imagination at least, they'd
be equivalent to or parallel to the Economic Development Committee. So ... I don't
know that we need to probe that right now because we really should discuss it in
the context of the strategic plan, but if we include it in the strategic plan, I would
think we should put this pretty highly in terms of the priorities, for work sessions.
So ... just wanted to get that out there.
Markus/ And I just remind everybody that ... that the staff and community members participate in
a monthly roundtable, and we are discussing these equity issues and making
suggestions on how to make changes and improvements. And so ... I would say,
you know, respect what's there ... and improve on it and change it, you know, to
make it better. Um, that's (both talking)
Throgmorton/ Absolutely.
Markus/ I think then looking at STAR and seeing how this all fits, and if you want additional
committees, you can do that. I mean, it's your prerogative, but ... let's do this in the
most ... not just efficient, but effective way.
Throgmorton/ Yeah. All right. Uh, I ... we don't have anything else we need to deal with, with
regard to work ... pending work sessions? Adding, deleting, etc. Uh...
Cole/ I don't know if it's appropriate to talk about it at this time, but street design is ... is going to
be a big focus of mine, and I'd really like to focus on, uh... one-way to two-way
conversions and road diets. I don't know if that's something that we need to talk
about or if we defer it for a later time.
Throgmorton/ Geoff, it's on the list sort of, isn't it?
Fruin/ The ... that's essentially what the downtown traffic model is. It's studied in ... in numerous
corridors in the downtown area, uh, Market, Jefferson one -ways, uh, Gilbert
Street, Clinton Street, Madison Street, and uh ... effectively offers
recommendations or predictions on what may happen if you pursue a road diet or
two-way, uh, conversion to two-way traffic. So, um, while it may not be one of
the highest priorities on your work session list early on, we do want to get that in
front of you and get a sense from you what your priorities are in terms of pursuing
those projects, and then ... outside of the downtown area, I think we can talk to you,
um, during the budget sessions on Saturday and Monday about some of the road
diets that we have planned because there's, uh, three, uh, that come to mind,
uh... uh, that we already have in the hopper that'll... that'll be pursued, uh, either in
2016 or in 2017.
Throgmorton/ What I was thinking about (several talking) for me it was like ... (both talking) Oh,
sorry!
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Cole/ ...considerable priority placed on that, as it's not a low priority for me. Um ... and I'm aware
of the pending road diets that we have on the outside of town, uh, but I want to
look at the core infrastructure of downtown. So at least from my point of view,
I'd really like to see a key focus on that. Um, cause if we're talking about the
STAR program, reduction of greenhouse gases, I think we need to make critical
focus on our biking and pedestrian infrastructure, um, and if...and if we're not
going to do that, I don't think we're serious about accomplishing those things.
Throgmorton/ Yeah, I ... I completely agree. So for ... for me, uh, this particular topic was like in
the top five of...of (both talking)
Thomas/ I think again, Tom, if I'm not mistaken, transportation is one of the main headings. So
yeah, I have a long shopping list (laughs) of issues related to transportation that,
you know, it did concern me that I wasn't seeing how they were going to fit within
the strategic plan, but I think if we ... we really look carefully at the matrix and
calibrate it to our issues that we're concerned with here in Iowa City...
Markus/ Yes!
Thomas/ ...uh, I think ... I think we should have a good outcome there.
Markus/ Under the category Built Environment, one of the items is Transportation Choices. And
that, you know, that's a little broader, of course, you know, but that's Uber, and
that's ... all those issues, and the other thing (several talking) tell you, across the
country one of the ... the ways that they're implementing road diets is they're trying
'em with paint first, okay? They're not going in and making hardscape changes.
They're... they're, and it's a way to convince the public that it works. So it's ... it is,
you know, your term, John — it's incremental. But you show people that you can
paint these, you know, these road changes into your current pavement and try'em
and let people use 'em, and ... and that brings on a, kind of a support group for you
to make the actual hardscape (several talking)
Thomas/ ...most of, and this is where again Iowa City, you know, let's ... let's look at Iowa City as
a ... as this is what we're focusing on. My sense is that most of the road diets in
Iowa City, we would not be moving the curb lines. It would just be
simply... reusing, recalibrating what that roadway's being used for.
Markus/ Yeah.
Thomas/ So they're very low cost. Very high benefit, and you could say they are, in effect, um, a
test because you're not actually changing the infrastructure.
Markus/ And I think a way to sell it to the public is to say, we're gonna try this for seven, eight
months, and then we'll ... we'll revisit it and we'll talk to the public about
how ... what was the experience. Did it work or didn't it work, and then make it
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permanent, if in fact you don't get a total revolt on your hands, but it's ... usually it's
a softer sell and it's a ... a way to let people experience it.
Upcomins Community Events/Council Invitations:
Throgmorton/ Okay, I guess we are ... we've made it through the ... pending list of work session
topics. Upcoming Community Events/Council Invitations.
Botchway/ On January 18t'...double check the date. Yep, January 18'', um, at The Spot, um,
they're having an MLK Day of, um, celebration. Um, 9:00 to 11:00 and 2:00 to
4:00. It was in the packet, late handout packet as well — 9:00 to 11:00, 2:00 to
4:00. It's kind of a community give -back. 11:00 A.M. the program starts.
There'll be various foods and some other things, and then actually at 2:00, um, I'd
have to check my email. It's kind of cluttered, but um, Bethel AME is having a
service, as well, um, that I think Orville's going to be speaking at and another
individual I just can't remember the name.
Throgmorton/ Oh I didn't know about that. Can ... can you make sure we...
Botchway/Yeah, I can ... I can, uh, I can send it to...
Karr/ (mumbled) late handout packet
Botchway/ This was dif...this was different.
Karr/ This is a different one?
Botchway/ Yeah, this is two different events. I just got that today, I think (both talking)
Karr/ ...can send it to me and we'll include it in the packet.
Botchway/ Yeah ... yep, that works!
Throgmorton/ Excellent! Others?
Cole/ And on the 16t' of January there's a Black Worker's Conference at the Center for Worker
Justice (several talking) ...think it should be really illuminating.
Mims/ Again, can you send those things to Marian so they get in the packet (several talking)
Botchway/ ...had to register and I forgot about that. Yeah.
Throgmorton/ Well I ... I wanted to mention that, uh, Tom, Kingsley, and I have been in
communication with President Harreld of the University, and we're ... we
apparently were pretty well set for a luncheon at, uh, the ... the President's mansion,
sometime in February, uh, and I look forward to that. That'll be a ... a terrific
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experience. I look forward to meeting him. Tom, did you want to add (both
talking)
Markus/ ...invited Geoff to join us.
Throgrnorton/ Geoff too, yeah, and I think, uh, Barry Butler, the Provost, and uh, Rod Lehnertz
will be involved as well, right? Yeah. Okay! Anything else on that topic? I
mean, upcoming community events and Council invitations? That's it, right?
Anything else anybody wants to bring up? Tom? Geoff? Eleanor? Marian?
Markus/ Did I tell ya about cyclo -cross? (laughter)
Botchway/ You also almost read through the entire list of STAR communities as well (several
talking and laughing)
Throgmorton/ Hold on! Hold on! Hold on, sorry! Um, John just asked me a question and it's a
reasonable question. Uh, under Council time I was thinking John was going to
bring up another topic but I ... I think ... it didn't happen, so do it now.
Thomas/ (mumbled) okay. And maybe it's a follow up to the discussion of transportation. Um,
you know, we ... we have a, uh, the Iowa City gateway project, the Dubuque Street
project, and I know I've spoken with Jim about this and uh, with Tom at the
Ashton House, uh, you know, my concerns about the ... the project in terms of the
traffic safety related to it, uh, and ... and so there were some conversations that I
had with Jim, and Jim had some conversations with ... with Tom that I were not a
part of, so I ... I didn't really have an opportunity to try to scope exactly what it was
I was talking or concerned about through that string of conversations. Uh, the
primary issue that I'm concerned with at that ... with that project at this time has to
do with the lane widths as they relate to the Dubuque Street component of the
project where we have 25 -mile -per -hour speeds and the ... and the reason I'm
concerned about this is, you know, these decisions were made close to two years
ago. I think it was in April of 2014. Uh, since then there's... there's been
increasing evidence about the ... the correlation between lane width and traffic
safety, uh, that support the notion that ... and I don't know if you've seen these,
Geoff and Tom, but, uh... a Canadian study by traffic engineers in spring of this
year, looked at lane widths as it relates to collision rates, and identified that
the ... the safest lane width, and this applies not only to regular traffic, but
uh... roads which see bus and heavy ... heavy traffic. That the safest lane width was
between 10 and 101/z feet. So that ... that supported the... the... the data that, um,
you know, I had been looking at when we were discussing that project and you
know what we're ... what we're talking about on ... on that design as it stands now is
if you incorporate the gutter lane dimension, we're talking about lane widths
which are 13 -feet on the outside lane. That's two and a half feet over what the
study was finding was the safest lane width. It's a foot over the lane widths you
see on an interstate, which ... we all know how fast you can drive on an interstate.
So ... my feeling was at this point, and I realize of course you know the project's
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ready to be bid and ... and what Tom and I had talked about, and I think still would
be a ... a strategy we could employ at this time, would be to ... to indicate in the bid
package that the lane widths should be ... as an alternate, which means you don't
have to award it. It's something that would be ... could be considered and bid on,
that we, in an alternate, indicate that the lane widths for that segment of Dubuque
where the speed limits are 25 -miles -per -hour be reduced in width to whatever we
agree would be the appropriate width to list, uh, but I would suggest it would be
10 %2 feet to 11 feet ... uh, and ... and just not revise the drawings. Just show that as
a dimension, uh, so we're not actually going through the process of redrawing the
bid package at this point. All we're interested in doing is indicating to bidders
that the land widths in the alternate are 10 % or I 1 feet, rather than 13 feet. So,
it...it could be ... and we're not talking about that in many lines on the drawing
anyway, because it's curb ... where the curb occurs that we're... referring to.
Uh... that would not, in my view, not slow down the bid process. I don't think it
will slow down the project. It will give us an opportunity to discuss this with
Iowa DOT, if that's necessary, uh, the most recent federal legislation that was just
passed in terms of refunding the state ... the federal highway fund, uh, I think also
emphasized the greater latitude in terms of localities making decisions about how
the funds are used. So I think there are a number of things, in other words, that
have come up since we made those decisions that I think have a, um ... a real
impact on the safety of that corridor which the environmental assessment did
indicate has a ... high incidence, given its length, of traffic collisions. Uh, so it
seemed to me, you know ... now we're ... now we are talking about infrastructure.
We're not talking about lines and a roadway. So, uh, this ... this is one we would
want to set those lane widths is during construction. And so ... I wanted to ... discuss
this with Council in general. I think it's, you know, there are many aspects of that
project that ... that one could talk about. Uh, I'm just talking about one of them, the
lane width issue, which I think in terms of...of incorporating that as a bid alternate
would be the most efficient way of improving the safety of the project without in
any way affecting (both talking)
Throgmorton/ ...can you, if you would, translate that into a specific question to direct to Tom.
Can we ... what?
Thomas/ So the question would be ... the request would be, Tom, can we revise the bid package to
include the alternate, uh, so that the lane widths for that segment of the project on
Dubuque where the speeds are 25 -miles -per -hour, so we're not talking about the
northern end of the project. We're not talking about Park Road. We're talking
about just that area where the environmental assessment, uh, data indicated that
we actually have a high incidence of collisions now ... and that, you know, it's, in
my view, something in terms of design, uh, we should be looking at as a way of
trying to reduce that incidence through the roadway design.
Markus/ In ... let me just make sure I understand your ... your commentary about what... composes
lane width. So ... in your calculation, John, are you ... are you making the
determination that the gutter pan is a part of the lane width?
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Thomas/ Yeah, and that's actually something that, uh, you're aware of. I know there was some
correspondence way back two years ago...
Markus/ Yeah.
Thomas/ ... where ... where typically when we, you know, if you look at...at the standards, design
standards, uh, when they talk about lane width, they don't say lane width plus the
gutter pan. They're referring to the lane width as in ... incorporating the gutter,
where the gutter occurs.
Dilkes/ You know I'm going to interject here before the conversation goes farther, cause then I
want to let a couple people talk and then cut off other people, but we're ... we're
really talking about a matter that's ... that the public's been given no notice of. If
we're gonna get ... I think the question for tonight is does the Council want to talk
about ... lane widths or amending the ... doing an alternate or whatever the question
is, but ... but if the Council does want to talk about that, then we need to give notice
to the public that we're going to talk about it and we need to schedule it for a work
session.
Markus/ And ... and Eleanor, maybe another way to handle it is to go back to Jim's comment
about.. just posing the question to me so that I can come back and kind of
summarize this at a future meeting when we can notice it.
Dilkes/ And that's fine. I just don't want to get into a full-blown discussion about whether we're
going to change the parameters of the gateway project when we haven't given the
public notice that that's what we're talking about (both talking)
Throgmorton/ I'd like to give a suggestion. If...if John and Tom can meet to whatever extent is
necessary to be clear about the question that John is asking, so that you can
clearly respond to the question (both talking)
Markus/ And ... and I think, yeah! And I'll ... and I'll ... and we'll have that conversation and
probably I will interject some other parameters that we have to take into
consideration, knowing where we are in the process right now too.
Throgmorton/ Right. Okay. All right, we're done! Thank you everybody.
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